Latest On Recent Dolphins Trades
JULY 8: A few additional compensation details trickled in today on Ramsey’s situation in Pittsburgh. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, in addition to the $3MM the Dolphins advanced to Ramsey in order to help facilitate the trade to the Steelers, Pittsburgh, too, provided their new All-Pro with some early funding. Similar to Miami, the Steelers took $1.5MM from Ramsey’s 2026 base salary to increase his base salary this year.
Yates adds that Ramsey’s original deal had language that gave him active game roster bonuses of $45K per game in the final three years of his contract (2026-28). Pittsburgh changed that language, converting the potential bonuses into base salary, meaning he won’t miss out on the bonus if he’s inactive for any games. In all, the conversion adds $765K to each year’s base salary.
JULY 4: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero made an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show yesterday, in which he gave some keen insight on two recent trades made by the Dolphins with the Steelers and Giants. 
Pelissero started by underlining the influence Jalen Ramsey had held in Miami, noting his impact on former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio‘s dismissal from the team. We had noted, shortly after Fangio’s departure was finalized, that Ramsey and a few other defensive backs had expressed issues with the defensive play-caller, and Pelissero confirmed as much, pointing out that the two never clicked due to Fangio’s inflexibility in putting Ramsey in the best position to succeed.
He goes on to say that, while discussions with the Steelers had been ongoing, there was always doubt about whether or not Ramsey would accept Pittsburgh as a trade destination. From the Jaguars to the Rams to the Dolphins, Ramsey has never played for a cold-weather team, and the prevailing assumption was that a return to Los Angeles was most likely. Ultimately, the Rams seemingly lacked the cash and cap space to take on Ramsey’s contract, and while the Chargers exchanged several calls with Miami, they never found a deal that interested them.
Mostly, the Dolphins were focused on player-for-player trades. Knowing how big of a deterrent Ramsey’s contract was for potential trade partners, the team knew that it would have to take on a big salary in return. With that in mind, they turned back to Pittsburgh to reunite with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. They’ll now take on the two remaining years on Fitzpatrick’s contract, which doesn’t contain any guarantees. In fact, if his doesn’t work out on the team in 2025, they can cut him with only $6.86MM in dead money in order to obtain $17.6MM in cap savings.
In order to sweeten the pot and bring the Steelers back to the table, they included Jonnu Smith. Smith is an apparent favorite tight end of Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The two were in Atlanta together in 2023 and will reunite after a career year for the tight end. Smith’s recent production and Fitpatrick’s declining production made taking on Ramsey’s contract a bit more palatable for Pittsburgh. As a result, Pittsburgh extended Smith for another year elevating his annual average salary from $4.2MM on the original two-year deal to $6.8MM per year over three seasons with the extension.
Ramsey also received some money from the trade, Pelissero explains. While, technically, he isn’t receiving any additional funds from the Steelers or Dolphins, he was owed $1.5MM of his salary from Miami this year and $1.5MM of his salary in 2026, as well. With the trade taking place, the Dolphins essentially advanced the $3MM to Ramsey upfront, while the Steelers take on the remainder of Ramsey’s contract.
Pelissero also spoke on the team’s acquisition of formerly retired tight end Darren Waller, a trade, he says, that materialized relatively quickly. Waller and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, reportedly reached out to the Giants last week, telling them that Waller was either going to go play for the Dolphins or stay retired. To his credit, general manager Joe Schoen did not press Waller or try to convince him to stay. Instead, he took his prize of a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for a player he knew wasn’t going to contribute to his team ever again.
Waller’s fit in Miami is already obvious, following the departure of Smith for Pittsburgh, but it works out even more once one digs deeper. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith was the tight ends coach of the Raiders for the first three years of Waller’s tenure in Oakland and Las Vegas. These were the years that saw Waller break out from a fizzled-out Baltimore late-round receiver to a Pro Bowl tight end. Peliserro claims Waller’s relationship with Smith is “unique” and that they’re “like brothers.” Especially with Waller’s troubled history, having a coach he can trust makes his unretiring make much more sense.
In terms of Waller’s impact on the offense, it seems like it could be another strong fit. Waller’s size and ball-control style of play match well with another offseason addition in wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Both players should be excellent compliments to the speed elsewhere on the offense in Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane, granted Waller can return to a high level of play after sitting out for a full season of NFL play.
Even if Waller can’t, all it cost the Dolphins to find out was a sixth-round pick next year. In order to offload Ramsey and his contract, the team had to part ways with Smith and replace him with Waller for a 2026 sixth-rounder. They take on Fitzpatrick’s contract, as well, but a year from now, the team could be free of both players’ contracts, and virtually no hint of the Ramsey fallout will remain.
Broncos Likely To Use Marvin Mims As WR2
Courtland Sutton‘s extension talks certainly can include a point that the former John Elway draftee’s 1,081 receiving yards last season more than doubled the next-closest Broncos weapon. Although Denver was linked to Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka in Round 1, the team did not make a significant investment at the position this offseason.
As Sutton’s negotiations continue, a sizable gap still appears between he and the rest of the Broncos’ wideouts. One of the team’s holdovers, though, did make noticeable progress during last season’s second half. The stretch run Marvin Mims put together last season looks to have him positioned to be Sutton’s top sidekick in 2025, as the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes the former second-round pick is the Broncos’ most likely WR2.
[RELATED: Assessing DL Zach Allen’s Extension Case]
Mims did not see too much time at receiver as a rookie, playing 38% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps. Denver was believed to be eyeing an increased role for the Oklahoma product after trading Jerry Jeudy, but Mims actually ended up with a lower snap rate (27%) in his second season. The deep threat, though, made considerable progress during the season’s second half.
After sitting on just 15 receptions for 56 yards through nine games, Mims totaled 32 grabs and 447 yards during the final eight. This included a 93-yard score in a shootout win over the Browns and two crucial TDs to force overtime in a Week 17 loss to the Bengals. Mims, 23, has been more impactful as a return-game presence in earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner. But his elusiveness jumps out among the current Broncos’ receiving corps.
Sean Payton‘s first draft featured the Broncos lacking first- and second-round picks, thanks to the Russell Wilson trade, but the team traded back into Round 2 for Mims at No. 63. While the Broncos could certainly use Mims’ explosiveness in an offense that features some big-bodied contributors at the position, the dynamic returner has yet to command a starter-level usage rate through two seasons.
The Broncos used fourth- and seventh-round picks on Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele, respectively, last year and saw each log more offensive snaps than Mims’ 297. Franklin played 37% of Denver’s offensive snaps as a rookie, while Vele — his final-round status notwithstanding — trailed only Sutton in terms of WR usage by playing 54% of the team’s snaps on offense. Vele, who is already 27 despite going into his second season, impressed during OTAs. The Broncos also used a third-round pick on Illinois’ Pat Bryant, a 204-pound prospect who posted just a 4.61-second 40-yard time at the Combine. The presences of Vele, who goes 6-5 and 210 pounds, and Bryant along with the 6-4 Sutton leave room for Mims’ explosiveness in Denver’s offense.
Connections to Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs surfaced earlier this offseason for the Broncos, but no close ties to Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper emerged. It appears Denver will go with its in-house group; Payton pointed in this direction before free agency. Though, the Evan Engram addition will be important to how Bo Nix‘s second-year targets are dispersed. The Broncos still appear to be counting on Mims to build on his late-season form and be a regular offensive contributor for the first time in his career.
LB C.J. Mosley Retires, Launches Agency
JULY 8: Mosley’s retirement won’t keep him completely away from football. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Mosley is launching Legacy Trust Sports Group, a full-service sports agency co-founded with longtime business partner Brandon Wassel.
“Coaching was never my path, but guiding, mentoring and doing the right thing has always been in my DNA,” said Mosley. He will be joined at LTSG by senior agent Joe Gazza, while former Auburn scouting director AK Mogulla will be the vice president of player personnel, per Zenitz.
JUNE 19: Still unsigned deep into the offseason, C.J. Mosley will not continue his career in 2025. The veteran linebacker informed CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Thursday that he is retiring. 
“Today, it is time to wake up from my childhood dream and share it with the next generation,” Mosley said on Instagram while officially announcing his decision (video link). “I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now it’s time to start a new chapter with new dreams.”
Mosley was long seen as a cut candidate for the Jets this offseason, and he was indeed let go in March. The 33-year-old (as of today) became a free agent as a result, but no suitors showed interest up to this point. Mosley intended to keep playing this season, but that will no longer be the case.
A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2014, Mosley immediately took on starting duties and established himself as one of the league’s most productive linebackers. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in four of his five Baltimore campaigns before departing on the open market. Mosley landed a five-year, $85MM pact with the Jets, a deal which did not pay early dividends for the team. The Alabama product was limited to two games in 2019 and he was among the players who sat out the following campaign due to COVID-19 concerns.
Each year from 2021-23, Mosley was able to remain available to his second career team. During that stretch, he continued to record triple-digit tackles (something he managed seven times during his NFL tenure). A herniated disc resulted in considerable missed time this past season, however, and that injury led to new questions about a potential parting of ways. Using a post-June 1 designation, the Jets proceeded with Mosley’s release to get out of the final year of his contract.
New York retained fellow linebacker Jamien Sherwood on a $15MM-per-year deal this spring, and he will be counted on to remain one of the team’s most productive defenders moving forward. With respect to the remaining market at the LB spot, meanwhile, the likes of Eric Kendricks, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyzir White are still available to teams looking to make an addition ahead of training camp. Mosley – whose career included five second-team All-Pro nods – will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.
Thanks in large part to his free agent Jets deal (a record-breaking accord for linebackers at the time), Mosley accumulated over $88MM in career earnings. He will depart the NFL with 136 combined regular and postseason games to his name at the pro level following a college tenure which included a pair of national championships.
Latest On Commanders’ Pursuit Of New Stadium At RFK Site
The Commanders are pursuing a return to the nation’s capital, but the D.C. Council is unlikely to approve a $3.7 billion deal championed by Mayor Muriel Bowser before a July 15 deadline, according to Jenny Gathright of The Washington Post.
In January, former President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that transferred control of RFK Stadium – the franchise’s home from 1961 to 1996 – and the 170-acre property on which it sits to Washington, D.C. The bill also empowered Bowser to negotiate with the Commanders to bring them back to the city, which resulted in a term sheet that requires a council vote by July 15. If the deal is not approved by then – or if the terms are altered “materially” – the city will no longer have exclusive negotiating rights with the team, per Gathright. That would allow the Commanders to explore alternative options for their future stadium, whether it be a continued stay in Landover or another location in the D.C. metropolitan area.
Members of the D.C. Council have requested more information about the deal regarding revenue projections and tax exemptions, arguing that the size of the deal – which includes $1 billion in public funds – merits a more careful approach. They have also suggested changes to the stadium’s parking, rent, and labor agreements. Compiling this information and negotiating the proposed alterations are all but certain to delay the deal’s approval until after the July 15 deadline.
Bowser said in June that the Commanders were “outraged” and “blindsided” by the potential delay, as it could interfere with the team’s “very, very specific timelines” regarding construction. In a statement (via Gathright), the Commanders said that they “need a new home by 2030” and warned that further setbacks could threaten that goal as well as their desire to host other major events, such as the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Indeed, the council scheduled public hearings on July 29 and 30, per Liam Griffin of The Washington Times, essentially guaranteeing that the city will not hit the Commanders’ deadline. Bowser said last week (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk) that her level of concern was a four out of five last week, though council members have expressed confidence in the Commanders’ desire to return to Washington.
Team owner Josh Harris has made it clear on multiple occasions that his intention when he bought the team in 2023 was to bring it back to the city for which it is named. However, it would not be surprising if the Commanders looked into other locations in the meantime, both to give them leverage as they continue working with D.C. and to ensure they have another option for a future home if their preferred plan falls through.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Fully Healthy
A hamstring injury limited Dak Prescott to eight games in 2024. Dallas’ quarterback managed to take part in spring practices, however, and he has continued to make progress in his recovery. 
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Prescott said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) he is now fully healthy. A final checkup with team doctors is scheduled between now and the start of training camp. Provided that goes as planned, the three-time Pro Bowler will be a full participant in padded practices.
During OTAs, the Cowboys understandably took a cautious approach with Prescott. He managed to participate in all drills then and in last month’s minicamp as well, though. As a result, this latest update comes as little surprise. Of course, it is nonetheless significant for Dallas to have a healthy Prescott well in advance of Week 1.
Set to carry a league-leading cap charge of over $50MM in 2025, expectations will be high once again for the 31-year-old this campaign. Prescott has four years remaining on the record-breaking extension he inked just before the start of last season, and his performance will be key in determining the Cowboys’ success. Dallas went 7-10 in 2024, a year marred by injuries to Prescott and other core players. A new coaching staff will look to return to the team to the success found during much of the Mike McCarthy era which preceded it.
Of course, a strong regular season will be largely ignored if the Cowboys once again fail to make a deep playoff run. Prescott and Co. have not advanced past the divisional round dating back to well before his arrival in 2016, but he will again have the opportunity to end the team’s drought in that regard this year. Dallas lost Cooper Rush and Trey Lance in free agency but traded for Joe Milton as a new backup. The 2024 Patriots draftee will see second-string reps during camp.
As a result of Prescott’s missed time in 2024, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes the Cowboys were able to recoup roughly $6.4MM of his signing bonus through insurance. The team will obviously look to avoid a similar situation moving forward, and the signs are positive on that front entering training camp.
Dan Orlovsky Agrees To Extension At ESPN
July 8: ESPN officially announced Orlovksy’s new contract on Wednesday. He will continue to headline NFL Live and serve as an analyst for some Monday Night Football games, along with appearances on Get Up, First Take, The Pat McAfee Show, and SportsCenter.
Orlovsky’s consistent presence on some of the network’s biggest shows will continue to raise his profile as he looks to eventually return to the NFL as a coach.
July 7: Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has agreed to terms with ESPN on a contract extension, according to Ryan McCarthy and Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
Orlovsky was drafted by the Lions in 2005 and remained active in the NFL for a decade. He logged 26 appearances across seven seasons with four different teams and compiled a 2-10 record as a starter. His post-playing career has been far more successful; Orlovsky has been one of ESPN’s top football analysts since he joined the network in 2018.
His contract extension will keep Orlovsky in Bristol for the foreseeable future, but the 41-year-old could be looking to parlay his prominence as an analyst and commentator into a coaching gig. He said in January that he loves being on ESPN but admitted that he missed the feeling of being part of an NFL team.
“There is a desire and craving to have that,” said Orlovsky during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “If it’s the right place, right time, right people, it seems to be a really, really fun experience.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter later confirmed on McAfee’s podcast that Orlovsky had been in touch with teams regarding an offensive coaching position, though discussions have not proceeded past that point.
Offseason In Review: Carolina Panthers
Within a 10-month span, the Panthers had seen their owner throw a drink at a fan — amid a string of headlines involving the Carolina boss — and the team’s handpicked quarterback benched by Week 3. This came after the Panthers’ 2024 coaching search, due in part to David Tepper‘s past meddling, saw some big names bow out. As bleak as the franchise’s outlook appeared after Bryce Young‘s September struggles, signs of life emerged as the season wound down.
Carolina’s defense still ranked last, as the season ended with an NFL-worst minus-193 point differential, but the team saw Young make strides weeks after reentering the lineup. The Young-Dave Canales partnership began to pay some dividends, moving the team’s nearly scrapped plan back into focus. Coming out of the season, no Tepper- or Young-driven headlines have dragged down the NFC South club. The Panthers made significant updates to their defense, while Young will enter the season with another first-round wide receiver to target.
Extensions and restructures:
- Extended CB Jaycee Horn on four-year, $100MM ($46.71MM guaranteed) agreement
- Agreed on one-year, $8.75MM ($1.5MM guaranteed) reworking with WR Adam Thielen
- Agreed on revised one-year, $3MM guaranteed deal with C Austin Corbett
- Yosh Nijman accepted pay cut; T now on one-year, $2MM ($400K guaranteed) deal
In a remarkable turnaround, Horn managed to score a $25MM-per-year deal that briefly topped the cornerback market. The Panthers had seen the former No. 8 overall pick fall well behind the No. 9 pick in that draft (Patrick Surtain), with injuries frequently impeding the South Carolina alum. Horn exited 2024 having played in just 37 of a possible 68 games as a pro. Up until days before last season, the cornerback market had remained frozen for more than two years. Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM-AAV Packers deal topped the market, but Surtain and Jalen Ramsey changed that. Horn submitting his healthiest NFL season placed him in position to receive a monster raise as well.
Pro Football Focus ranked Horn 60th among CB regulars last season, and Pro-Football-Reference charged him with six touchdowns allowed to go with the highest passer rating (as the closest defender) yielded of his career. Even as Ejiro Evero‘s defense sunk to 32nd in points and yards allowed, Horn made his first Pro Bowl. Perhaps more importantly, he missed only two games. Rather than have Horn play on a fifth-year option, the Panthers extended him at a top-market rate.
NFL contract value is not always a merit-based; timing matters significantly as markets are established. Horn had seen a broken foot sideline him for 14 games as a rookie and then a hamstring injury shelve him for 10 games during a 2023 in which the second-generation NFLer missed 11. Horn has delivered flashes, and the Panthers had a big-ticket salary slot open after trading Brian Burns in 2024.
Ahead of his age-26 season, Horn managed to eclipse Surtain in terms of AAV ($24MM) and fully guaranteed money ($40.7MM) despite the Denver ace’s Defensive Player of the Year season. After the cap spiked by another $24MM, however, Horn and then Derek Stingley Jr. pounced.
The Panthers are making an expensive bet on Horn shaking his early-career injury trouble. This represents a course change for the team, which let both Josh Norman and James Bradberry walk in free agency (under Dave Gettleman and Matt Rhule, respectively) rather than authorize an extension. Guarantees here only go through 2026, however, providing some protection for the team in case Horn cannot shake the injury trouble that largely defined his rookie-deal tenure. Horn receiving Pro Bowl recognition given the Panthers’ anemic 2024 pass rush also undoubtedly raised the team’s confidence in the Rhule-era draftee.
Thielen’s underdog story is poised to continue into a 13th NFL season, as the former Vikings rookie-camp tryout body heads into a third Panthers campaign. Despite the team making three first- or second-round receiver investments over the past three drafts, Thielen has persisted. He entered the offseason with no guarantees remaining on his contract. The Panthers gave him a slight bump, though not one that would prevent a release in the event the aging pass catcher (35 in August) showed a notable decline in camp.
Outlasting the likes of Jonathan Mingo and Diontae Johnson in Charlotte, Thielen produced after the Panthers opted against trading him at the 2024 deadline. Thielen accumulated at least 99 receiving yards in three of the seven games after he came back from a hamstring injury, providing a reliable option as Young made late-season strides.
The Panthers asked about D.K. Metcalf, a former Canales Seahawks pupil, but did not make an offer. They then chose Tetairoa McMillan eighth overall. Thielen could find himself in trade rumors again this year, which may well be his NFL finale, but the three-time 1,000-yard target also is positioned to continue serving as a Young security blanket and mentor to a cast now comprised of three first- or second-year receivers.
Free agency additions:
- Tre’von Moehrig, S. Three years, $51MM ($34.05MM guaranteed)
- Tershawn Wharton, DL. Three years, $45.1MM ($30.25MM guaranteed)
- Patrick Jones, OLB. Two years, $15MM ($10.25MM guaranteed)
- Bobby Brown, DL. Three years, $21MM ($6.8MM guaranteed)
- Rico Dowdle, RB. One year, $2.75MM ($2.75MM guaranteed)
- Christian Rozeboom, LB. One year, $2.5MM ($1.97MM guaranteed)
- Sam Martin, P. One year, $1.6MM ($1.6MM guaranteed)
- Hunter Renfrow, WR. One year, $1.34MM ($50K guaranteed)
Losing Derrick Brown in Week 1 came after the Panthers devoted curiously modest resources to replacing Brian Burns. The result: a defense that allowed by far the most points in franchise history. Carolina yielded 534 points; the 30-year-old franchise’s previous-worst was 470 (in 2019). Even if the 17th game is factored in, Evero’s second Panthers defense allowed a team-worst 31.4 points per game. Horn managed an extension coming out of this mess, and Evero has a chance to rebound. Carolina devoted plenty of resources to fixing this broken unit this offseason.
The team chased the biggest fish in the D-line waters in free agency, coming close to having a deal done with Milton Williams. The ascending Eagles supporting-caster, PFR’s No. 3 free agent, was deep in talks with the Panthers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated the sides were working to finalize a deal hours into the legal tampering period. The talks took a turn when the Patriots swooped in, submitting an offer the Panthers did not match. Both New England (Christian Barmore) and Carolina (Brown) already rostered D-tackles at $20MM-plus per year, and the Panthers stood down.
The Pats have Milton on a four-year, $104MM deal that came with $51MM fully guaranteed. Williams sits behind only Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins for DT AAV and full guarantees, and the cap-rich Pats’ actions led the Panthers elsewhere in this market. Wharton used a big contract year alongside Jones to land a monster payday given his UDFA NFL entrance. Dan Morgan‘s right-hand man, Brandt Tilis, was on the Chiefs’ staff when they plucked Wharton out of Division II Missouri S&T in 2020.
PFR’s No. 46 free agent, Wharton saw his market form after both Williams and Osa Odighizuwa were signed early (the latter re-signed with the Cowboys before free agency). The Chiefs wanted to retain him but saw that become unrealistic, due to Jones’ DT-record deal, early in free agency. The Panthers added another interior rusher, albeit one without much pre-2024 production.
Never clearing two sacks or five QB hits in a season before 2024, Wharton broke through in a contract year by registering 6.5 sacks and 11 hits alongside Jones. He added two more sacks in the playoffs. In Wharton’s defense, he had never started more than one game in a season until last year. The increased usage attracted FA interest. It will be interesting to see if the attention Brown will command from O-lines can help Wharton in a similar way.
PFF did not rank Wharton as a strong run defender last season, but the Panthers landed on Bobby Brown to help in that department. Squeezing into our top 50, Brown overlapped with Evero as a rookie in 2021. The former Rams fourth-round pick became a starter after the 2023 losses of Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson, and PFF graded him as a top-30 run stopper (among interior D-linemen) in each of the past two seasons.
Brown remaining productive in this area post-Aaron Donald helped his free agency cause, and only going into his age-25 season helped his cause as well. Though, the Panthers are holding onto some guaranteed money until they observe his 2025 work. Whereas Wharton received two years fully guaranteed, half of Brown’s $5.55MM base salary will lock in on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
This year’s safety market saw an upswing for the position; no player did better than Moehrig. As the cap ballooned by another $24MM, Moehrig fared better than the top free agent safeties in 2023 (Jessie Bates) and ’24 (Xavier McKinney). Moehrig is now the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid safety. Like Wharton, he used a big contract year to secure a nice FA payday. Unlike Wharton, Moehrig was a four-year starter on his rookie deal. The Raiders’ struggles after their 2021 playoff berth dimmed Moehrig’s profile, but teams were waiting in free agency.
Marcus Epps going down in Week 3 allowed for more Moehrig plays near the line of scrimmage (439 box snaps in 2024 compared to 326 in ’23), and he responded with a career-best 104 tackles to go with five TFLs and a sack. Moehrig also snared two interceptions, giving him five over the past two seasons. The Panthers still hosted Julian Blackmon on a visit after this signing, and an Evero-Justin Simmons reunion — the DC already has several former Rams and a Bronco (Josey Jewell) on this defense — came up recently despite the team choosing a safety (Ohio State’s Lathan Ransom) in Round 4.
Although the draft became the gateway to the Panthers attempting to solve their post-Burns EDGE issue, the team took a flier on Jones. Formerly a D.J. Wonnum teammate in Minnesota, Jones made an impact as a rotational rusher for a top-five defense last season. While backing up Pro Bowlers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, Jones tallied seven sacks and 12 QB hits. The Vikings, who also drafted Dallas Turner in the 2024 first round, were not in a position to re-sign Jones. The Panthers will provide more playing time for a player with just five career starts.
Dowdle entered free agency with an interesting resume. With the Cowboys for five years, he logged only seven carries from 2020-22. Waiting behind the Ezekiel Elliott–Tony Pollard pair, Dowdle served as a special-teamer. But the Cowboys used him as a Pollard backup in 2023 and then needed him to start a year later. Dallas letting Pollard walk and not drafting a running back opened a door for Dowdle, who quickly overtook a shopworn Elliott, who had returned on a low-cost deal.
Dowdle glided for 1,079 yards (4.6 per carry) last season. While the former UDFA’s 61 rush yards over expected (per Next Gen Stats) was a mid-pack number, the South Carolina native carries low tread on his tires — at 331 career carries — entering an age-27 season. He will be positioned as a Chuba Hubbard backup likely to see notable work with Jonathon Brooks out for the season.
Renfrow, 29, is back after spending the 2024 season out of football. A post-June 1 Raiders cut last year, Renfrow quickly fell out of favor with the team during Josh McDaniels‘ HC tenure. Bizarrely going from 1,000-yard receiver to $16MM-per-year extension recipient — a deal McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler authorized — to a cog that did not fit into McDaniels’ scheme, Renfrow totaled only 585 yards from 2022-23. An ulcerative colitis diagnosis helped keep Renfrow out of football last year, but the Clemson alum — a player who led the 2021 Raiders playoff team in receiving — has recovered from the autoimmune disease and will attempt a comeback.
Re-signings:
- Tommy Tremble, TE. Two years, $10.5MM ($6MM guaranteed)
- Andy Dalton, QB. Two years, $8MM ($6MM guaranteed)
- Michael Jackson, CB. Two years, $10.5MM ($5.7MM guaranteed)
- Brady Christensen, G. One year, $2.79MM ($2.79MM guaranteed)
- J.J. Jansen, LS. One year, $1.42MM ($1.2MM guaranteed)
- David Moore, WR. One year, $1.4MM ($600K guaranteed)
- Cade Mays, G. One year, $3.41MM (tendered as RFA)
- Nick Scott, S. One year, $1.34MM
- Raheem Blackshear, RB. One year, $1.1MM
Dalton’s Charlotte trajectory took a turn last season. Brought in to mentor a to-be-determined first-round QB in 2023, Dalton did so until Week 3 of last season. The Panthers benched Young, and trade rumors swirled after the former No. 1 overall pick’s shocking freefall. It did not appear Canales and Co. had immediate plans to give Young more time, as the undersized passer had looked terrible in Weeks 1 and 2. A Dalton car accident, however, changed the team’s QB course.
Terry McLaurin ‘Not Happy’ With Commanders Extension Talks
Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is “not happy with where things are with an extension,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker).
McLaurin and the Commanders have been working on a new contract throughout the offseason, and this is not the first report of his dissatisfaction with negotiations. He skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp over frustration with extension talks as he enters the final season of a three-year deal signed in July 2022.
Since signing his first extension, McLaurin has continued to produce as one of the league’s top pass-catchers. 2024 was his fourth fully-healthy season in a row and his fifth with at least 1,000 receiving yards; he also posted career-highs in catch rate (70.1%), success rate (58.1%) and touchdowns (13), the last of wich trailed only Ja’Marr Chase. For his efforts, McLaurin earned the second Pro Bowl nod of his six-year career and his first selection as an All-Pro (second-team).
With an ascending offense led by a quarterback on a rookie contract, the Commanders would appear to be in a position to reward one of their best and longest-tenured players. Extending McLaurin would also lower his 2025 cap hit, which currently ranks 20th among all players. However, the sides had made little progress as of late June, and that still seems to be the case, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“There’s no update…and that’s the problem,” said Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show, noting that comparable receivers like D.K. Metcalf signed for over $30MM per year this offseason. However, as Schefter added, perennial 1,000-yard wideout Mike Evans signed for just $24MM last offseason.
“There really is quite a difference and a gap between what both sides would want,” continued Schefter. “They have not made any progress.”
Teams may inquire about trading for McLaurin, per Schefter, but he “cannot envision the Commanders moving on.” He characterized the stalemate in Washington as similar to T.J. Watt‘s situation in Pittsburgh: both sides want to get a deal done with the expectation of reaching an agreement before the season, but as of now, they are “not close.”
McLaurin is due to report to training camp on July 27, so the parties have a few weeks to hammer out a deal to stave off a potential hold-in this summer.
Extension Candidate: Trey Smith
July 15 looms as the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign a long-term deal. In the case of 2025, that is only applicable to the Chiefs and right guard Trey Smith. 
A trip to free agency appeared to be in store given the cumbersome nature of using the tag on offensive lineman. Tackles, guards and centers are grouped together for the purposes of tag calculations, which often serves as a deterrent when teams consider using it on interior blockers. The Chiefs nevertheless prevented Smith from testing the market by applying the $23.4MM one-year tender in February.
A long-term pact has represented a logical goal for both parties since well before the decision to use the tag. Smith has operated as a full-time starter during each of his four seasons in Kansas City, missing only one game to date. Given his availability concerns coming into the league, remaining healthy has been key for the 26-year-old in establishing his value.
Smith has consistently been amongst the league’s top guards during his Chiefs tenure. The Pro Bowler has ranked between 10th and 15th each season in terms of PFF grade, and he will be expected to remain a strong contributor up front for years to come if a multi-year Kansas City pact can be worked out. The team traded away All-Pro guard Joe Thuney this offseason in a move which freed up money but also signaled an investment in Smith (who is six years younger) would be coming.
Indeed, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in April a long-term deal on this front was among his top post-draft priorities. In the months since then, few updates have emerged suggesting the sides are close to an agreement. As the deadline approaches, though, that could of course change in short order.
At the moment, the value of Smith’s fully guaranteed tag is set to match his 2025 cap hit. That figure is the highest for interior O-linemen, but it would be reduced with a long-term pact. The guard market currently includes four players attached to an AAV over $20MM on a multi-year accord, with Landon Dickerson leading the way at $21MM. Smith could certainly look to join that group given his performances, age and the jump in the salary cap since the other deals were signed.
Kansas City already has center Creed Humphrey on the books at an average of $18MM per season (the most at that position). Right tackle Jawaan Taylor also has a notable cap number for the year, although he is not assured of a starting spot this season. The left side of the team’s line, meanwhile, will be the subject of considerable scrutiny as the prospect of first-round rookie Josh Simmons handling blindside duties right away is considered.
Regardless of how that shakes out, Smith will be counted on to remain an anchor up front. Improvement in terms of both run blocking and pass protection will be a key goal for Kansas City in 2025 irrespective of Smith’s contract status. Well before Week 1, however, it will be known if he has a contract beyond the coming campaign.
DE Bryce Huff Addresses Eagles Departure
Things did not go according to plan for Bryce Huff in 2024. The high-priced free agent addition was present for only year with the Eagles, spending time in and out of the lineup before being among the team’s healthy scratches for the Super Bowl. 
In all, Huff managed just 2.5 sacks in 12 games as an Eagle. Despite having two years left on his $17MM-per-year contract, it came as little surprise when a trade was worked out to send him to the 49ers. The 27-year-old will reunite with Robert Saleh as a result of the swap, something he anticipated last summer.
“If I’m being 100% honest with you, I wanted a trade like fairly early on,” Huff said during an appearance on The SFNiners podcast (video link). “And just ’cause of how things went in Philly, I knew pretty early on it wasn’t a fit.
“There’s a plethora of things that went down. I don’t wanna get into specifics. Being in the league for five years, I kinda knew what it felt like to be in a good situation… I kind of knew where it was headed fairly early on into the season, probably even training camp if I’m being honest.”
Scheme fit was seen as a potential issue for Huff in Philadelphia, although he handled a similar workload with his second career team as he did during his final year with the Jets. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio noted the wrist injury which required surgery and led to missed time as a key factor in Huff’s underwhelming production. He predicted a return to form will take place in San Francisco, where Huff will again work with Saleh (who took his former 49ers DC gig after the two were together during his Jets head coaching stint).
In San Francisco, Huff will be used as a third-down specialist, a role he thrived in with New York. The former UDFA will look to earn snaps as part of a rotation including Nick Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos and first-round rookie Mykel Williams. If things play out as team and player hope, the 49ers’ decision to take on the remainder of Huff’s pact will prove to be an effective one and a repeat of his situation from last summer will be avoided.