HEADLINES

Bills Engaged In Jaire Alexander Trade Talks; CB Drawing Immediate Interest

June 10th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jaire Alexander‘s Packers tenure officially came to an end yesterday. Green Bay’s decision to move on came after multiple attempts at working out a trade fell through.

One of the teams which pursued an Alexander trade was the Bills. Buffalo and Green Bay discussed a swap this offseason, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. After no agreement was reached, the Bills moved on to other CB options. Given the nature of Alexander’s contract, it is fair to assume finances represented a barrier to a deal being worked out in this case.

Cornerback was seen as a priority for the Bills this spring, one in which Christian Benford was among the many recent draftees who received a long-term extension. Buffalo’s first-round pick was used on Maxwell Hairston, and the Kentucky product will presumably join Benford and Taron Johnson as a starter in 2025. Alexander would have provided Buffalo with a high-profile boundary cover man, but his injuries (10 missed games in each of the past two years) were obviously a source of hesitation on the part of suitors.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Packers attempted to trade Alexander in March, something the team openly discussed prior to the start of free agency. After those efforts failed to yield a deal, per Breer, Green Bay’s attempts were repeated during the draft. With no offers deemed sufficient being made at either juncture, the team’s attention shifted back to the possibility of a pay cut arrangement.

Deep into the offseason, it became clear there was not a restructure to be worked out, however. As a result, Alexander now finds himself on the market in June. In the immediate aftermath of his release, it was reported a strong market would likely exist for the Pro Bowler’s services; it appears that is indeed the case.

Six teams immediately checked in once Alexander was released, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports. The number of suitors for the 28-year-old should increase now that parting with draft capital and taking on the final two years of his contract are no longer necessary. Per Schultz, it is unclear if the Bills are among the teams which will make a free agent push. Given their prior interest, though, it would certainly not come as a surprise if that were to be the case.

Alexander was attached to a $21MM-per-year pact prior to his release, but a less lucrative commitment no doubt awaits him this summer. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to choose his next destination as he weighs a number of possibilities.

Bills Sign LB Shaq Thompson

June 10th, 2025 at 9:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shaq Thompson has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran linebacker signed a one-year deal with the Bills on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

Thompson was informed by the Panthers in February he would not be re-signed. That decision ended his 10-year run with the franchise and left him in need of joining a new team for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old will now spend the summer looking to carve out a role in Buffalo.

Immediately after learning his time in Carolina was over, Thompson made it clear he had no intention of retiring. Since that point, no clear links had emerged to known suitors until today’s news. It comes as no surprise, however, that the Bills have elected to bring the former first-rounder into the fold.

During the first two years of Thompson’s career (2015-16), he worked under then-Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. The latter has been Buffalo’s head coach since 2017, so this deal represents a reunion between the two. Thompson will look to return to his previous form by avoiding the injuries he has dealt with over the past two years. Over that span, he has played just six total games.

Thompson produced a stretch of four consecutive seasons with 104 tackles or more prior to his injury-shortened campaigns, and he if can manage to remain healthy he could offer Buffalo a first-team option at the linebacker spot. More realistically, the 112-game starter could provide experienced depth at the second level of the team’s defense. The Bills have Terrel Bernard, who inked a $42MM extension this offseason, in place as their highest-paid linebacker.

Matt Milano and Dorian Williams will also return from last year’s team, and they will be expected to handle key roles in 2025. Nonetheless, Thompson could carve out a spot on the depth chart during training camp. His acclimation to his new team will begin this week during Buffalo’s minicamp.

The Bills entered Tuesday with a league-low $1.69MM in cap space, leaving them short on finances to make free agent additions. Thompson was on track for a pact at or near the veteran minimum from any suitor, though, and that will no doubt be the case with this Buffalo agreement.

Shemar Stewart Attends Bengals Minicamp, Won’t Practice

June 10th, 2025 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

As Shemar Stewart continues to engage in a unique contract dispute with the Bengals, the first-round rookie will not practice with his new squad. However, Stewart was in the building for the first day of mandatory minicamp.

[RELATED: Details Revealed Regarding Shemar Stewart-Bengals Contract Dispute]

According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the rookie defensive lineman was in attendance for the start of minicamp today, but he doesn’t intend to hit the practice field until he inks his rookie contract. The stare down has gone on for more than a month, as the player’s camp pushes against a clause that would “turn a default in any given year into a void of all remaining guarantees” (per Florio).

This is a new tactic from the Bengals front office, as recent Day 1 picks signed contracts that simply voided the guarantees for the year in which the default occurred. Cincinnati also apparently proposed a payment schedule that did not match that of Myles Murphy and Amarius Mims, the team’s first-round picks in 2023 and 2024. That issue seems to have been resolved.

This seems like a relatively minor detail that could be hammered out quickly, but the two sides continue to struggle to find common ground on the generally straight-forward rookie pact. Even Stewart admitted to reporters that he expected to be on the practice field by now.

“Very bad,” Stewart responded when asked how badly he wants to practice (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “I’ve been doing this for most of my whole life, then all of a sudden it’s gone over something very simple to fix. It’s kind of disappointing.”

As the rookie pushes back against a new precedent set by the Bengals front office, he has the support of the locker room. Stewart told reporters that his veteran teammates have told him he’s doing the right thing by pushing for a more traditional rookie contract (via Jay Morrison of BengalsTalk.com).

Stewart’s dispute with the organization comes as Trey Hendrickson is in a public showdown with the organization. The rookie pointed to his veteran teammate’s absence when addressing his own “hold-in.”

“We all agree Trey will be alright,” Stewart said (via Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports). “But technically he’s still 1% wrong for being under contract. In my case, I’m 100% right.”

Considering the uncertainty surrounding Hendrickson’s future in Cincy, the Bengals would surely want their first-round pick on the practice field sooner than later. Still, it sounds like neither side is inclined to blink, meaning this staring contest could continue for the foreseeable future.

RB James Cook Attends Bills Minicamp

June 10th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Ben Levine

James Cook is still pushing for a new contract, but the Bills running back was in attendance for the first day of mandatory practices. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Cook was present at Bills minicamp today.

[RELATED: Bills, James Cook Failed To Make Progress During Extension Talks]

Cook was absent from voluntary OTAs as he continued to seek an extension. We recently heard that the two sides had indeed discussed a new deal, but they were never particularly close on finalizing an agreement. As a result, there was some speculation that the running back could skip out on the team’s mandatory minicamp. Cook also isn’t expected to stage a hold-in, as the RB told reporters that he intends to practice with his teammates (per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones).

Instead, Cook showed up, with the former second-round pick pointedly noting that he didn’t want to get fined.

“I like my money. Definitely do,” Cook said (via Jones). “So, that’s why I’m here.”

After finishing tied for the league lead in rushing TDs (16) in 2024, Cook is currently on track to play out the final season of his rookie contract in 2025. The 25-year-old is reportedly seeking a contract that would pay him around $15MM annually; that AAV would be tied with Derrick Henry for third at the position (behind Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey).

While the Bills appeared willing to extend the running back on their terms, it sounds like the front office is wary of handing out a contract that flirts with the top of the position. GM Brandon Beane even implied that he’s prepared to wait out the coming season before deciding on a big contract for Cook, and it seems increasingly likely that the RB will play out the 2025 season as an impending free agent. Cook wouldn’t have been the first player in this scenario to skip out on practices, and coach Sean McDermott respected the player’s decision to report.

“I credit James,” McDermott said (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “Business is business. At the end of the day, I know he loves being around this team and the guys in the locker room and he loves to play football.

“So, I respect his decision to be here and be amongst the team and get some work in today, and we’re looking forward to that.”

As Getzenberg notes, three other members of the Bills’ 2022 rookie class have earned new deals (including wide receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and cornerback Christian Benford). As a result, Cook could naturally have some hard feelings towards the organization. Fortunately, the RB understands that it’s a business.

“I don’t look at it [as a distraction],” Cook said (via Getzenberg). “I just be where my feet are every day and just want to play football. That’s what I’m here to do.”

Patriots Place OL Wes Schweitzer On Reserve/Retired List

June 10th, 2025 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after Ronald Darby went from offseason free agent signing to retiree, Wes Schweitzer is traveling the same path. The Patriots placed the offseason pickup on their reserve/retired list Tuesday.

Assuming this is it for the veteran offensive lineman, he will close his NFL service with nine seasons of work spent in Atlanta, Washington and New York. Following his two Jets seasons, Schweitzer signed a one-year deal worth $1.56MM in mid-March. The Patriots pact included just $150K guaranteed.

A 62-game starter, Schweitzer played in only 10 contests with the Jets (on a two-year, $5MM deal) over the past two seasons. The 2025 season would have been an age-32 campaign for Schweitzer, who managed to become an NFL regular as a sixth-round Falcons draftee out of a mid-major program. He had been competing for a guard spot during the Pats’ offseason program, as the team signed Garrett Bradbury to take over at center.

Schweitzer brought experience at center but spent most of his NFL days at guard. The San Jose State alum surpassed the 300-snap mark at both center (2021) and right guard (’22) with Washington, doing so after splitting time (nearly 1,000 snaps) at left and right guard for the 2020 Washington squad that made the playoffs at 7-9. Schweitzer had signed a three-year, $13.5MM Washington contract in 2020; that became his most notable NFL agreement, one he played out.

The Falcons, however, served as the most notable stop for Schweitzer. Drafting him 195th overall in 2016, Atlanta did not use him in a game during its Super Bowl LI season but deployed him as a full-time starter in Year 2. Schweitzer started 16 games at right guard during the Falcons’ most recent playoff season (2017) and made 33 more starts with Atlanta until his rookie contract expired. Pro Football Focus graded Schweitzer as a top-20 guard in 2020, as the Falcons paired him with first-rounder Chris Lindstrom, helping to command that free agency accord.

Schweitzer landed on IR in both Jets seasons, with the 2023 season featuring two such placements (and two return designations). This came after a concussion keyed a 2022 IR trip in Washington. A hand injury sent Schweitzer to IR before Week 1 last year, and he missed three months. A late-season activation from IR commenced. For his career, Schweitzer will retire having earned more than $21MM.

Steelers’ T.J. Watt Not Present At Minicamp

June 10th, 2025 at 3:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

When T.J. Watt‘s previous contract year arrived, he reported to Steelers minicamp and staged a training camp hold-in. This preceded a monster extension agreed upon days before the 2021 season. This time around, the future Hall of Fame edge rusher is taking a different route.

Watt did not show for the first day of Steelers minicamp, ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor notes. This came after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicated the former Defensive Player of the Year was not expected to report for the mandatory set of workouts. Missing all three days will cost Watt just more than $104K; he made $21.1MM in base salary last season.

Minicamp absences have ticked up in recent years, and Watt will opt to make a point rather than take the hold-in route. Considering his importance to the Steelers’ mission — one that now officially includes a 41-year-old quarterback — Watt holding out at training camp would apply some pressure on the Steelers, who regularly use the late-summer camp period to hammer out extensions with the players they deem priorities. Watt is obviously one, as the Aaron Rodgers signing moves the OLB’s contract to the top of that list.

This is not viewed as a particularly contentious situation, though Watt’s minicamp absence is certainly not ideal for the AFC North team. Going into his ninth year with the Steelers, Watt has established himself as one of the most important defenders in modern NFL history. The Steelers are 1-10 without Watt in the lineup. Fortunately for Pittsburgh’s annual tightrope walk to playoff contention, the superstar pass rusher played in every game over the past two years.

Watt’s potential holdout comes amid a transformation for the edge rusher market. Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter moved the market past $35MM per year. Garrett secured a $40MM-per-year accord. He and Watt’s careers having traversed parallel paths, save for a rather notable suspension handed to the Browns’ premier rusher, points to Watt wanting to reach that price range as well. Watt, though, is more than a year older than Garrett; he will turn 31 in October. Micah Parsons will also be interested in where Watt’s third contract comes in, as he can use his age (26) to leverage the Cowboys into making him the NFL’s highest-paid defender. Aidan Hutchinson‘s camp will be closely monitoring the Pittsburgh proceedings as well, but one of these players obviously will need to go first this summer.

The Steelers’ $28MM-per-year Watt extension stood as the league’s top EDGE deal for two years, before Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-AAV re-up moved the market. It took until this offseason for Bosa’s 49ers deal to be topped, but less accomplished edge performers Brian Burns and Josh Hines-Allen also topped Watt’s AAV in 2024. It is not known if the Steelers have submitted an offer in the Garrett range; based on Watt skipping OTAs and now Day 1 of minicamp, it would be safe to bet that has not happened. This deal may well end up costing more than the Steelers expected.

Steelers GM Omar Khan naturally wants Watt to finish his career in Pittsburgh, and another deal before a contract year commences will be expected (as the Steelers do not negotiate in-season). While it would be unexpected that this Watt saga drags to the 2026 franchise tag deadline, that would be a weapon the Steelers can use if no common ground can be reached by Week 1.

Colts To Work Out QB Desmond Ridder

June 10th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Anthony Richardson‘s concerning form when healthy played a major part in Daniel Jones‘ arrival, the Colts have continued to see the former No. 4 overall pick run into injury trouble. That is again the case, with the third-year player set to miss minicamp with a new malady.

A Richardson shoulder issue has left Jones a clear runway to work with Indianapolis’ first-stringers this week, but the team will also look at an experienced backup option at minicamp. Desmond Ridder will participate at the Colts’ mandatory workouts, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes.

Given command of the Falcons’ offense well before their 2023 training camp, Ridder could not keep the job throughout the season and was then traded to the Cardinals straight up for Rondale Moore. Ridder washed out quickly in Arizona, failing to make the team’s 53-man roster out of training camp. That led him to Las Vegas, but as another new coaching staff took over, it did not prioritize Ridder. The Raiders nontendered the former third-round pick as an RFA, after he appeared in six games and made one 2024 start, and he has remained in unrestricted free agency since.

A Broncos workout possibility emerged last month, but it turned out Sean Payton‘s team did not have such plans. Ridder will now make a case he can be a Colts backup. The Broncos added ex-Indy reserve Sam Ehlinger as a third-stringer this offseason, but the Colts soon addressed the position in the draft by choosing Riley Leonard in Round 6. Leonard joins second-year UDFA Jason Bean as healthy options at Colts minicamp.

Richardson’s second opinion did not reveal anything different from his first, according to Fox59’s Mike Chappell. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the QB’s 2023 shoulder surgery, concurred with the Colts regarding a rest-based rehab program. Shane Steichen said Tuesday no timetable is in place, but Richardson will be expected back either before or during training camp. He has yet to be cleared to resume throwing, but missing this week certainly will deal a blow to the Florida product’s chances of beginning a third season as the Colts’ starter.

Cardinals Sign First-Round DT Walter Nolen

June 10th, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Walter Nolen is the latest member of the 2025 draft class to sign his rookie deal. The Cardinals’ top choice is officially on the books, per a team announcement.

Nolen’s four-year deal is worth $19.3MM (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). That figure includes a $10.7MM signing bonus and is guaranteed in full. If the Cardinals pick up his fifth-year option, Nolen will be under team control through 2029.

The top recruit amongst defensive linemen in 2022 (and second nationally to only Travis Hunter), Nolen faced massive expectations in college. During his two years at Texas A&M, however, things did entirely go according to plan. He totaled five sacks and 11 tackles for loss with the Aggies before deciding to transfer within the SEC for his junior campaign. Nolen spent 2024 at Ole Miss, and he enjoyed a strong campaign there.

Nolen racked up 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three pass deflections with the Rebels. Those totals helped earn him first-team All-SEC and All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top options in a deep defensive line class. While questions were raised early in the pre-draft process about his range, it was clear just before the opening round Nolen would likely not need to wait long to hear his name called.

Indeed, it came as little surprise when the Cardinals selected him at No. 16. Nolen joins an Arizona team which has been in need of improved play along the defensive front. Plenty of departures have taken place along the D-line this offseason, but the Cardinals reunited with Calais Campbell in free agency. The team also made notable splashes on the open market in the form of Dalvin Tomlinson and edge rusher Josh Sweat. Expectations will be high for a step forward from that unit in 2025.

Nolen will have at least a rotational role during his rookie season as part of the D-tackle group. Beyond that, he will be seen as a key figure along the interior for years to come if he develops as planned. Given today’s news, second-round corner Will Johnson is now the only unsigned member of the Cardinals’ draft class.

Packers Release CB Jaire Alexander

June 10th, 2025 at 1:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

JUNE 10: The Packers had the option of splitting the dead money charge from the Alexander release across the next two years. Instead, Schneidman reports the team will take that hit in full in 2025. As a result, Alexander will account for $17.04MM this year before coming off the books entirely in 2026.

JUNE 9: Jaire Alexander‘s time in Green Bay has come to an end. After talks regarding both a trade and a restructure took place this offseason, the Pro Bowl corner will hit free agency. Alexander is being released today, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move is now official.

The team spoke with Alexander’s camp yesterday, Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic add. It was during that meeting that the 28-year-old learned he would be let go. Instead of continuing to pursue a trade or a pact keeping Alexander in Green Bay at a reduced rate, team and player will now go their separate ways. Despite the financial impasse the parties arrived at, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes Alexander was planning to attend this week’s mandatory minicamp.

[RELATED: Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Efforts]

Two years remained on the former first-rounder’s contract, one which included nonguaranteed base salaries for the remainder of the pact. Alexander was due to carry cap charges of $24.64MM and $27.02MM, figures which were not feasible from the team’s perspective given his inability to remain healthy in recent years. By making this move after June 1, the Packers will see $17.12MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $7.52MM.

Alexander has spent each of his seven NFL seasons in Green Bay, operating as a full-time starter throughout his time with the team. The Louisville product has been one of the league’s top corners when healthy, and he collected a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 and ’22. During the latter campaign, Alexander set a new career high with five interceptions while recording double-digit pass deflections (14) for the fourth time. Both years since then, however, he has played only seven games.

That lack of availability has made Alexander’s Packers future a talking point for some time now. A trade was not only explored in this case, but the team shopped him prior to free agency. No agreement was worked out on that front, and shortly after the new league year began Green Bay inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48MM pact. The former Raider will be a key member of the Packers’ new-look secondary this season as the team looks to move forward without a defensive mainstay in the fold any longer.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how much of a market develops for Alexander late in the offseason. Suitors were understandably hesitant about parting ways with draft capital given his injury issues and the possibility of a release taking place. Now that Alexander is indeed set to become a free agent, any number of teams have the financial wherewithal to pursue what will no doubt be a short-term deal. Alexander was the league’s highest-paid corner at the time he inked his Packers extension, but his earning power will of course be greatly reduced this time around.

Jalen Ramsey looms as another high-profile corner available to interested teams, although the Dolphins All-Pro will (in all likelihood) be acquired via trade. Alexander, by contrast, can begin lining up visits with suitors once his release is processed later today.

Load More Posts