Patriots UDFA WR Efton Chism Pushing For Roster Spot
Undrafted rookie reciever Efton Chism has emerged as a potential factor in an already-tight competition for a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
Chism earned praise from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for his play during OTAs, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Chism was effective out of the slot, where he lined up for most of his snaps at Eastern Washington, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also worked as a punt returner (via Reiss), another role he played in college that could help him make the team.
Chism is one of 12 receivers on the Patriots’ roster; six are expected to make the cut, according to Reiss. Free agent signings Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins should be locks, as should second-round rookie Kyle Williams. Demario Douglas, who led New England’s receiver room in catches and receiving yards last year, is another safe bet.
That leaves 2024 draftees Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker competing with 2023 sixth-rounder Kayshon Boutte and eight-year veteran Kendrick Bourne for the last two spots.
Polk and Baker both disappointed as rookies, but the Patriots’ second-round investment in Polk will likely give him a longer leash than Baker, a fourth-rounder. Boutte’s 589 receiving yards in 2024 ranked third on the team, while Bourne has not eclipsed 450 yards since 2021 with just 20 games played in the last two years. That would suggest that Polk and Boutte have the inside track heading into training camp, a view shared by Chad Graff of The Athletic.
After turning heads during spring practices, Chism will need to sustain his momentum into training camp – literally, with the introduction of pads and contact. Carving out a role in the slot on offense and as a returner on special teams will be crucial to the undrafted rookie’s chances of making the 53-man roster.
T.J. Watt’s Next Contract Expected To Top Positional Market
July 3: Watt doesn’t just want to reset his positional market; he wants to be the “highest-paid non-quarterback in the league,” according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show). That bar is currently set by Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25MM per year. Watt would join fellow AFC North edge rusher Myles Garrett as the only defensive players with an APY over $40MM.
Such a contract would require a five-year deal on the Steelers’ end, per Dulac, keeping Watt in Pittsburgh through his age-36 season. The team may have some concerns about Watt’s game declining with age, but they are still willing to sign him to another long-term contract and believe they will come to an agreement before the season. Additionally, Dulac notes, the Jalen Ramsey trade has no financial bearing on the Steelers’ plans regarding Watt.
July 2: T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass rusher on his next deal.
“The Steelers, I’m sensing, are optimistic that they can reach a deal with Watt eventually,” Fowler said during a recent appearance on ESPN2 (h/t Barkley Truax of On3.com). “My sense is that he will probably be the highest-paid pass rusher in the league. When this is all said and done, he wants to be a Steeler for life. The Steelers want that. He’s a legacy type player.
“They believe at 30 years old, he still has several good years left. They’re just going to have to come up with a number and a good guarantee structure. He did miss minicamp, so Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do. But typically, Pittsburgh perks up in these things around training camp and late July.”
Watt is eyeing his third Steelers contract, and it sounds like this next pact could once again break records. Watt’s expiring four-year, $112MM contract ($80MM guaranteed) once made him the highest-paid defender in NFL history. With an average annual value around $28MM, Watt now sits seventh among edge rushers. Myles Garrett recently topped the market with a $40MM AAV; while Watt could temporarily leap the Cleveland pass rusher, impending deals for Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons could quickly create a new benchmark.
Watt skipped out on mandatory minicamp as he pursued a new contract, subjecting him to more than $100K in fines. Teams reportedly reached out to the Steelers about a potential trade, although the organization has continued to express optimism that they’ll eventually agree to a new contract. Both sides are now working to wrap up negotiations by training camp, although it sounds like they continue to haggle over guarantees.
Watt’s age-30 season saw him compile 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles, leading to him earning a second-team All-Pro nod. The Steelers are clearly confident that Watt can continue to contribute well into his 30s, but that hasn’t stopped the front office from considering some depth options. Alex Highsmith inked a four-year extension in 2023, and the team recently used a fourth-round pick on Jack Sawyer.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Latest On Falcons’ LB Situation
Kaden Elliss is in line to once again operate as a full-time linebacker starter for the Falcons in 2025. It remains to be seen who will occupy the other first-team role at that spot. 
Atlanta added Divine Deablo on a two-year, $14MM pact in free agency. The former Raider made 42 starts while playing out his rookie contract, handling a regular defensive role over each of the past three seasons. That could continue during his debut Atlanta campaign.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi writes head coach Raheem Morris has been impressed with Deablo so far. The 26-year-old is candidate to start alongside Elliss in 2025, with Deablo also a candidate at this point to wear the green dot as the defense’s signal-caller. His best season came in 2023, with 106 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. A repeat of that production would certainly help Deablo’s chances of maintaining a full-time starting gig.
In other Falcons linebacker news, the status of Troy Andersen remains unclear at this point. The 26-year-old was limited to just two games in 2023 due to shoulder and pectoral injuries. He once again finished the campaign on injured reserve last season after seven games played. Andersen’s situation has not been specifically updated recently, but Morris said in June the Falcons had a few players they would be “extremely cautious” with.
Will McFadden of the team’s website notes Andersen can be put in that category. The Montana State product is nevertheless expected to be available at some point this season, per McFadden, with Week 1 not out of the question. When healthy, though, Andersen may not be in line for the starting spot he appeared to be on track to handle at the start of the 2023 campaign. As a pending free agent, his showing this year will be critical, and a cautious approach on the recovery front is an understandable one for team and player.
Elliss has been with the Falcons since 2023 after a four-year run with the Saints. He has eclipsed 120 tackles in both of his Falcons campaigns, adding nine sacks over that span. Expectations will remain high for the coming campaign as a result, but it will be interesting to see how the team proceeds with respect to who will join him as a starting linebacker.
TE Jonnu Smith On Dolphins Departure
Coming off a career year in 2024, Jonnu Smith aimed to remain in Miami for the coming season and beyond. Talks on an extension did not produce an agreement, however, leaving a trade as a distinct possibility. 
Indeed, Smith was included in the blockbuster deal which saw All-Pro defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick traded earlier this week. Smith, like Ramsey, is headed to Pittsburgh. That will allow him to reunite once again with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Nevertheless, the trade came as a surprise in Jonnu Smith’s case.
“I didn’t foresee this happening with how the season went for me individually,” the 29-year-old said during an appearance on former teammate Terron Armstead‘s podcast (video link). “I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out.”
2024 saw Smith record the most productive campaign by a tight end in Dolphins history with 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That helped his leverage in attempting to secure a raise on a new deal compared to the $4.09MM he was owed for the coming season. After a number of other offseason moves took place, though, the Dolphins made it known a new pact in line with Smith’s asking price was not forthcoming.
“We started this conversation in January with Miami and, obviously, giving me the run-around, ‘We’ll [get] back to it,’” Smith added. “I was patient with them throughout the whole entire process, and eventually it came to a point in time where they told me that they just can’t do it and they weren’t economically in a position to pay me like a Pro Bowl tight end.”
Over his first seven years in the league, Smith topped 500 receiving yards once. As a result, it is understandable the Dolphins viewed his Pro Bowl campaign in 2024 as an outlier more than an indication he would be able to duplicate that success moving forward in head coach Mike McDaniel‘s scheme. After agreeing to trade Smith to Pittsburgh, Miami took an unexpected route to find his replacement, acquiring the now-unretired Darren Waller from the Giants.
The Steelers worked out a one-year, $12MM Smith extension as part of the trade. The former third-rounder will be expected to operate as part of a productive TE tandem with Pat Freiermuth during a 2025 campaign which will feature several new faces on offense in Pittsburgh. How Smith fares in his latest NFL gig will be key in determining whether or not the Dolphins’ decision to move on was the right one.
Broncos S P.J. Locke Expected To Be Healthy By Training Camp Following Spinal Fusion
P.J. Locke played in the Broncos’ wild-card loss but was then unable to participate in team drills during minicamp this spring. The sixth-year safety was sidelined as a result of the spinal surgery he underwent following the 2024 campaign. 
As detailed in a video released on Locke’s YouTube channel, an MRI conducted one day after Denver’s season came to an end revealed a spinal fusion would be necessary. The procedure was a success, something which is key for Locke and the Broncos’ secondary. A full recovery in time for training camp is expected, Luca Evans of the Denver Post reports.
“I feel like, man, it’s just been a miracle,” Locke said in the video when reflecting on his recovery process. “I feel like it’s been a breakthrough that I’ve been praying for.”
A former UDFA, Locke did not register any starts across his first three Broncos seasons. He took on a much larger workload in 2023, however, logging a 69% snap share. Last season, the 28-year-old was on the field for over 1,000 defensive snaps.
The Talanoa Hufangaaddition, though, is expected to demote Locke to the backup level. Hufanga and Brandon Jones are positioned to start, but Locke — after two seasons as a defensive regular — represents high-end depth. This safety trio will be counted on to help Denver’s defense repeat last year’s defensive success (No. 3 in points allowed) in 2025.
Locke re-signed with the Broncos last March, and the $3.5MM average annual value of that pact represented a notable raise from his previous deals. The Texas product enters the coming campaign as a pending free agent, though, so his performance will be critical in determining his future. Provided the final stages of his rehab process go as planned, Locke will be available once training camp starts later this month in advance of an important campaign for himself and the Broncos.
Offseason In Review: Las Vegas Raiders
With owners delaying Tom Brady‘s approval as a Raiders minority owner for over a year, Mark Davis‘ plan to install the all-time QB great/FOX lead analyst as his top football exec was on hold. This delay brought both good and bad news for the Raiders’ 2024 power structure. Davis removed Antonio Pierce‘s interim tag and arranged a shotgun marriage with ex-Chargers GM Tom Telesco. Brady’s first months in charge, however, led to both being fired and yet another batch of new Raider leaders being brought in.
The Raiders’ latest reboot soon brought a full-on Seattle feel, as new HC Pete Carroll added three-year Seahawks starting quarterback Geno Smith in a trade. As the Raiders attempt to raise their floor with Carroll and Smith, Brady and new GM John Spytek created some long-term questions with their decisions this offseason.
Coaching/Front Office:
- Fired Antonio Pierce, hired Pete Carroll as HC replacement
- Fired Tom Telesco, hired John Spytek as GM replacement
- Hired Chip Kelly as OC, retained Patrick Graham as DC
- Added Brennan Carroll as O-line coach, Nate Carroll as assistant QBs coach
- Parted ways with assistant GM Champ Kelly, brought in Brian Stark as replacement
- Rehired Greg Olson as QBs coach, Joe Woods as DBs coach,
- Did not retain director of player personnel JoJo Wooden; Mark Thewes added as VP of football operations
- Hired Brandon Hunt from Eagles as VP of player personnel
We covered in last year’s Raiders Offseason In Review effort how unusual the Pierce promotion was, as the former Super Bowl-winning linebacker’s experience level was unlike just about any modern HC hire’s. That turned out to be an issue for the Raiders, who trudged through a 4-13 season, losing the momentum their Pierce-led 2023 stretch created. Pierce, who drew HC interest from other teams last year, fired his OC hire (Luke Getsy) halfway through the season and could not stave off an ouster himself. No team has hired the former Arizona State DC this offseason.
Pierce and Telesco did not see eye to eye at quarterback; an eventful (for the wrong reasons) season transpired. Pierce was closely linked to preferring a blockbuster trade-up to reunite with Jayden Daniels, but Telesco was believed to be unready to part with the draft capital that would have been necessary to make that happen. Both power brokers paid the price, and while the Raiders were likely the one team that made the Commanders an offer for No. 2 overall, it never sounded like Washington would have made that trade.
The Raiders finding themselves shut out after not making any move up the board (from No. 13) created a predictable QB issue. Even as Brock Bowers dominated, Telesco paid for not addressing the QB situation last year.
Not wanting Pierce’s replacement tied to a holdover GM, Brady orchestrated Telesco’s ouster. Davis was not exactly displeased with Telesco’s draft, as it produced a record-setting tight end season and two O-linemen (Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze) poised to start this year, but the Christian Wilkins signing — and the deal given to stopgap Gardner Minshew — worked against the longtime AFC West exec. The Raiders fired Telesco less than 13 months after a Pierce-led 63-21 demolition led to Telesco’s Chargers ouster. No team has hired since hired Telesco.
Connections to Bill Belichick and Deion Sanders emerged, but no real traction came regarding either college coach. Mike Vrabel also turned down a meeting with his former Patriots teammate due to being set on returning to New England. These were not the most notable “what if?” regarding this Raiders coaching search.
Brady’s presence convinced Ben Johnson to give the Raiders serious consideration, whereas the high-demand candidate was otherwise prepared to pass on an interview. The optics of Brady calling Lions games, including their playoff loss to the Commanders, for FOX and simultaneously eyeing him for the Raiders created an obvious conflict of interest. Brady is not leaving the booth, however, and he used the time to scout Johnson for a Vegas pitch.
While the Raiders prepared a big offer for Johnson, a later report indicated they never actually made it. Johnson ended up backing out of the Raiders and Jaguars’ searches, informing the Bears he would mentor Caleb Williams. The Raiders’ lack of a surefire quarterback option at that time hurt their cause, and Brady and Co. soon completed about as drastic a pivot as possible. They have gone from attempting to hire a 39-year-old to choosing Carroll, who will become the oldest HC in NFL history after turning 74 in September.
Carroll did not advance as far on last year’s HC carousel but rocketed back for what will be his fourth NFL HC opportunity. The former Jets, Patriots and Seahawks leader did not overlap with Brady in Foxborough, being fired as Robert Kraft engineered the 2000 Belichick hire/trade, but faced him with the Seahawks. Carroll said Brady’s part-owner status became a draw for him. While other teams had interviewed Carroll since his Seahawks ouster, it is also fair to say the Super Bowl-winning HC was not an in-demand candidate.
Few coaches receive fourth chances, separating Carroll from most of his peers. His four AFC East seasons notwithstanding, the veteran leader will obviously be best remembered for his Seattle stay. The ex-USC national champion HC held final personnel say with the Seahawks, and while John Schneider has seen more credit for the team’s draft finds (Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson), Carroll held the hammer.
The Seahawks went 170-120-1 under Carroll. That regular-season win total sits 17th all time; he can move to 14th with a four-win season. The Raiders will expect more, as the defense-oriented coach never posted fewer than seven wins in a season in 14 Seattle years.
Wilson’s prime and the Legion of Boom’s presences raised the Seahawks’ ceiling, and the organization capitalized on the former’s rookie contract to supplement the Sherman, Chancellor and Earl Thomas extensions. That formula produced one of the NFL’s best 21st-century teams, as the 2013 Seahawks demolished the Broncos — who had Spytek on staff at the time — in Super Bowl XLVIII before a banged-up successor fell just short to Brady’s Patriots a year later.
The Seahawks became the first team since the mid-1950s Browns to lead the NFL in scoring defense in four straight seasons, running that streak from 2012-15. But Carroll’s unit gradually declined to the point it became a weakness during the Smith years. The Seahawks ranked 25th in points allowed in 2022 and ’23, and they Ken Norton Jr.– and Clint Hurtt-run units were 26th or worse four times from 2019-23.
While Carroll deserves some credit for providing key input to tailor an offense around Wilson’s skillset, the Seahawks hovered around the .500 mark during the coach’s final three seasons. Carroll lobbied to keep his job in 2024, but ownership disagreed and moved on with Schneider at the controls (and the NFL’s youngest HC — Mike Macdonald — on the sideline).
Marv Levy and George Halas were both 72 when they coached their final seasons; Romeo Crennel was an interim Texans HC at 73. This season, Carroll will be two years older than any other full-time HC in NFL history. That invites obvious questions about the Raiders’ plan, as it features a shorter coaching contract (three years) compared to standard deals. Kelly and Graham would make unusual successors, and it is fair to wonder if the Raiders have Carroll’s replacement on staff. A rumor indicating Brennan Carroll could be in that mix certainly proved interesting. How the Raiders plan to transition after this short-term Pete Carroll run will be a central storyline for as long as this partnership lasts.
The third pillar in the Raiders’ power trio carries by far the lowest Q rating, but Spytek has a unique relationship with Brady. The two were teammates at Michigan, more than two decades before Spytek resided in a Buccaneers front office that wooed the QB legend to Tampa. Spytek, 44, moved from national Broncos scout to Bucs player personnel director after Denver’s Super Bowl 50 win. The Bucs assembled pieces that eventually attracted Brady as a free agent, and Spytek was integral to that combination delivering the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.
The veteran exec also helped the Bucs establish a four-year NFC South title streak — albeit in a rather down period for that division — despite Brady’s retirement creating a $35MM dead money bill in 2023. Tampa Bay still managed to re-sign and extend its key players, producing winning records both with Brady’s dead cap bill on the books (2023) and after Baker Mayfield received a major pay raise (2024).
Carroll does not hold full personnel control in Vegas; it is unclear who is making the final calls. Brady has described himself as a sounding board — a good nominee for undersell of the year — while Carroll has said he, Spytek and Brady are involved in the decision-making.
Kelly became a borderline reviled presence in Philly by 2015, when his power grab nearly led Howie Roseman out of town. Kelly’s 2016 49ers stop led to the 49ers cleaning house a year later. Both teams became NFC powers after firing Kelly. Still, the former UCLA HC-turned-Ohio State OC received interest in another try. This included Raiders OC interest in 2024, making it interesting they circled back — after another regime change — this year.
The Raiders interviewed Kelly twice in 2024, and it undoubtedly cost more to hire him a year later due to the Buckeyes’ national championship season. Kelly, 61, made the unusual transition from HC to OC at the college level. Ohio State’s ascent to a title — 14 years after Kelly’s Oregon squad fell short to Cam Newton‘s Auburn team — after losing Marvin Harrison Jr. led to interest from a few teams.
The Raiders’ $6MM salary — believed to be the highest for an active coordinator — brought in Kelly, as Brady and his ownership group partners are helping deliver funding into a traditionally cash-poor franchise.
Graham, 46, has been on the HC carousel for a bit. This year did not produce as much attention, even with the Jaguars having Graham as an option behind top choice Liam Coen. The Jags and Bengals, though, did consider Graham for DC. This came after a Graham-led bounce-back gave the Raiders their first top-16 scoring defense (ninth) since the Super Bowl XXXVII year.
Dating back to Al Davis‘ final decade in charge, the Raiders have been unable to rely on their defenses. This included last year, when Graham’s unit regressed to 25th in points allowed. Graham has no history with Carroll, but he was on the Patriots’ staff during seven Brady years.
Signaling their latest fresh start, the Raiders rehired both Olson and Woods. Olson had been the Silver and Black’s OC for six seasons across a two-stint stretch (from 2013-14 and again from 2018-21). Olson took over after Raiders play-calling after Jon Gruden‘s forced resignation. The Raiders’ DBs coach in 2014, Woods joined Spytek in collecting a ring with the 2015 Broncos — before three DC opportunities (in Denver, Cleveland and New Orleans) followed.
Trades:
- Acquired QB Geno Smith from Seahawks for No. 92; sides agreed on two-year, $75MM extension ($58.5MM guaranteed)
One of many teams to enter the offseason with a QB need, the Raiders passed on free agency and a lowly regarded draft class at the position. While Las Vegas was linked to both a Wilson-Carroll reunion and being in on Sam Darnold and Justin Fields, the team made a preemptive strike.
As it turned out, Brady did not want the Raiders to bring in Darnold. But they joined the Giants in making a strong push for Matthew Stafford. Both teams had agreed to provide the aging signal-caller with a sizable guarantee package — from $90-$100MM. (The Raiders, however, were not going to trade their No. 6 overall pick even as the Rams sought a first-rounder for their centerpiece player.) Brady and Stafford met at a ski resort in Montana, after the Rams had given their starter permission to discuss trades, as Davis’ new ownership weapon appeared to give the team a boost in QB recruitment.
Reminding of Brady’s Ben Johnson pursuit, the mission brought intrigue from the courtship’s object but ultimately failed when Stafford — as could be expected given his importance to the Rams and fit with Sean McVay — regrouped and stayed in L.A. Stafford heading from the friendly confines McVay has created in L.A. for Vegas uncertainty at 37 would have been a big gamble.
Smith’s value had sunk so low the Seahawks had cut him while they rearranged their roster in August 2019. That began a three-year stint as Wilson’s backup, but when Carroll signed off on the March 2022 Wilson blockbuster trade, Smith beat out Drew Lock for the ’22 Seattle gig.
Smith’s stunning turnaround captured attention and brought a substantial raise. But the Seahawks paused on committing true franchise money to their Wilson replacement. That pattern persisting in 2024 and into this offseason opened the door for the Raiders, who obtained Smith for a modest trade price.
They also acquired the QB’s Seahawks-designed three-year, $75MM contract. Agreed to in Carroll’s final Seattle offseason, the deal’s true numbers had placed Smith in no-man’s land at the position. Hovering a couple tiers south of the new franchise-QB market and well above backup money, Smith had pursued a Seahawks extension in 2024. Talks about a deal this year led to the trade, as the Seahawks and Smith’s camp did not see eye-to-eye on value.
The outcome of the Raiders’ subsequent Smith negotiations proved interesting, as the 13th-year passer’s AAV sits 17th at the position. Smith did pass Derek Carr‘s Saints contract — still active at the time the Raiders extended Smith — and Baker Mayfield‘s midlevel Buccaneers accord, but he did not clear the $40MM-per-year bar he hoped to in Seahawks talks. The NFC West team had proposed Smith numbers similar to the Darnold contract (three years, $100.5MM); he declined. Darnold’s deal carries a year-to-year structure; the team offering that to Smith illustrates hesitancy despite a solid three-year starter tenure.
Details Of Bengals’ Rookie Waiver Dispute With Shemar Stewart Revealed
The Bengals’ standoff with first-round pick Shemar Stewart kept him on the sidelines through mandatory minicamp amid a dispute over both his offseason participation agreement and his rookie contract.
Offseason participation agreements (or waivers) ensure that players are protected if they get injured during the team’s offseason program, including rookie minicamp, OTAs, and mandatory minicamp. Should an injury occur, the agreement guarantees that rookie contract negotiations continue in good faith so players can still receive the same deal as if they were not injured. That goal is explicitly stated in at least one other team’s agreement, but not the Bengals’, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio
Florio revealed two other major differences that could be disadvantageous to Stewart. First, the Bengals’ rookie waiver takes effect if the player “sustains a disabling NFL football-related injury.” Another team omits “disabling” to ensure that all injuries suffered by a player while participating in the offseason program are covered by the agreement.
Second, the other team includes a commitment that the player’s rookie contract “shall be commensurate” with their draft slot. Cincinnati does not include such a commitment. While rookie contract values are predetermined by draft slot, players can still negotiate for better guarantee or payment structures, which has been a key issue with Stewart’s deal.
In short, the Bengals’ offseason participation agreement “did not provide the same level of protection as other teams give their rookies,” according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He said on the Rich Eisen Show that Bengals second-round pick Demetrius Knight initially refused to sign his waiver because of the same issue, though it was resolved by the second day of rookie minicamp. Importantly, the Bengals used the same language for 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims last year, per Florio.
With Cincinnati’s offseason program complete, the rookie waiver itself no longer matters as it does not apply to training camp. Stewart will have to come to an agreement on his full contract to participate. However, the different language is still important. The Bengals wanted Stewart to sign the same waiver as Mims – with language that diverges from other teams – while asking him to accept language in his rookie deal that differs from Mims’ but matches other teams. Essentially, the Bengals were asking Stewart to accept worse terms relative to the rest of the league in his offseason participation agreement and worse terms relative to Cincinnati’s other first-round picks in his first rookie deal.
However, NFL contract negotiations are largely driven by existing team precedent. If the Bengals wanted to change their precedent in Stewart’s rookie deal to match other teams, they could have offered him better terms in his participation agreement that would do the same. That potential fix is now off the table, and Stewart has not budged from his position.
With those details now revealed, it is hardly surprising that Stewart would hold firm, especially given the franchise’s history of difficult, protracted negotiations with top players. If he were to give in to the Bengals’ desires, he would set a worse precedent for himself and both present and future teammates. Stewart’s stance also sends a clear message to Cincinnati’s front office that he will not be pushed around in future negotiations, either.
Pelissero believes that Stewart and the team will ultimately come to an agreement at or around the start of training camp, but it remains unclear what middle ground both sides would be willing to accept.
Deshaun Watson Likely Headed To Reserve/PUP List, Longshot To Play In 2025
Jimmy Haslam effectively closed the book on the Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland, labeling the high-priced quarterback “a big swing and miss” earlier this year. Two years, however, still remain on the embattled QB’s five-year, $230MM fully guaranteed contract — a deal that has produced some significant headlines pertaining to an NFLPA grievance recently. Watson’s rehab also may soon create a complicated situation for a team that has added four new passers this offseason.
Watson had resumed throwing to receivers in the spring, having shed his walking boot. As for where Watson stands now, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot offers a few key details on the fourth-year Browns performer’s rehab journey from two Achilles tears.
[RELATED: Browns Not Planning To Trade One Of Their Rookie QBs]
As the Browns began a four-man competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the team was “thrilled” Watson participated and has offered advice. Conversely, Watson beginning his rehab in Miami after his October 2024 injury did not go over well with some among the Browns, Cabot indicates. Watson as a mentorship presence certainly presents interesting optics given the on- and off-field developments that occurred since his Pro Bowl Texans days, but that appears to be happening as the Browns hold their competition.
Watson is mentoring both Gabriel and Sanders, per Cabot, who adds the veteran has taken Sanders “under his wing.” The 29-year-old passer has also shared thoughts on Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme with the two veterans, even after he fared poorly — as regular calls for his benching rang out last year — before going down with the first of his two Achilles tears. The second still appears likely to force Watson to miss a second full season; the first came when the Texans made him a healthy scratch throughout 2021.
As for Watson’s potential hopes of infiltrating the Browns’ QB mix at some point this season, Cabot notes he is expected to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That will knock Watson out for at least four games, and the Browns do not have to activate him immediately. Even if the Browns do designate Watson for return, they would have a three-week window before an activation decision would loom. Even as Watson has displayed progress thus far this offseason, Cabot adds a return to Cleveland’s active roster this season remains an “enormous longshot.”
Though, after parking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the PUP list early (to end his season), the team has not made that move with Watson. A reality in which Watson is ready to practice in October is on the radar, per Cabot; the ninth-year vet underwent his second Achilles surgery in January.
Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), will undoubtedly remain a Browns issue for the foreseeable future. The Browns would be on the hook for an unfathomable dead money amount if they cut him next year; they would surely spread the $131.16MM across two years via a post-June 1 designation. Though, Cabot adds Watson remaining on the team — a scenario which would come about due to the restructures on his contract — as a veteran to complement the likes of Gabriel and Sanders in 2026 is not out of the question. In that scenario, another restructure — which would likely to require more void years manipulation — would happen, according to Cabot.
Cleveland is also setting up for a potential battle via an insurance measure taken out on the contract. Watson being unable to play this season puts a $44.27MM sum in play for the Browns to recover. Although the team could collect on other components of the policy to help soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being healthy enough to play in 2025 would affect a sizable chunk of the return. This will make potential Watson clearance an interesting storyline to follow, even as Haslam’s comments point to the team not having any plans of redeploying him.
Trade Candidate: Darnell Washington
While the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick swap stole headlines earlier this week, the Steelers also added some major tight end depth in Jonnu Smith. It’s not hard to understand Pittsburgh’s thinking. As the team looks to load up around Aaron Rodgers, they added a savvy veteran who’s coming off a career year in Miami.
[RELATED: Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith]
When paired with incumbent Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers now have one of the strongest TE tandems in the entire NFL. However, the Smith acquisition pushed another notable tight end down the depth chart…and potentially off the roster altogether.
Darnell Washington is known more for his measurables than his actual NFL production, and for very good reason. At six-foot-seven, the Steelers tight end is one of the most physically intimidating individuals in the entire league. He doesn’t lead his position in height; that achievement belongs to teammate Donald Parham Jr., who is out for the upcoming season thanks to a torn Achilles. Unlike Parham and similar to fellow 6’7″ tight ends like Colby Parkinson and Tyree Jackson, Washington stands out on the scale, where he weighs in at 264 pounds.
Also unlike those other physical behemoths, Washington has actually shown some major athleticism. During the 2023 combine, the tight end recorded a 4.64-second 40-yard dash time. For comparison’s sake, Steelers rookie RB Kaleb Johnson recorded a 40-yard time of 4.57 seconds, and while 2025 first-round tight ends Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren didn’t participate in the dash, their estimated times came in lower than the Steelers TE (4.70 for Loveland, 4.68 for Warren).
Washington won a pair of National Championships during his time with the Bulldogs, and despite topping out at 454 receiving yards, the Steelers still snagged him with the 93rd-overall pick in the 2023 draft. Now known affectionally as “Mount Washington” in Pittsburgh, the tight end still hasn’t truly clicked on offense through his first two NFL seasons. After hauling in only seven catches as a rookie, the 23-year-old took a mini leap this past season, finishing with 19 receptions for 200 yards and one touchdown. Understandably, the Steelers have clearly been looking for a bit more.
That lack of production probably explains why the Steelers anxiously inked Smith to an extension following yesterday’s trade, and with Freiermuth also signed to a long-term deal, Washington appears destined to play out his rookie contract as the Steelers’ third tight end. Considering his draft status, Washington’s contract hardly breaks the bank ($1.46MM cap hit in 2025, $1.70MM cap hit in 2026), so the Steelers certainly won’t feel any urgency to trade him.
However, that also doesn’t mean other teams won’t come knocking. Washington’s incredible size and skills certainly makes him a worthy gamble, especially if a team is looking for a giant red zone target. If he doesn’t end up working out, a suitor could also consider moving him to the offensive line. There were rumblings that Washington may be destined for an offensive tackle role in the NFL, and Pro Football Focus handed him the sixth-highest run blocking score among TEs in 2024 (he finished 25th for pass blocking).
Sure, Washington isn’t the biggest name, and there will probably be bigger-name tight ends who shake loose over the next few months. Still, not every trade candidate is intended to drive jersey sales. For squads seeking some high-upside tight end depth, Washington certainly warrants consideration.
Some Giants Personnel Preferred Jameis Winston To Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson remains penciled in as the Giants QB1, even after the team used a first-round selection on Jaxson Dart. However, if anyone was going to unseat Wilson from his unofficial starting gig, it’d likely be another notable name on the depth chart.
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As Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes, there are some inside the franchise who preferred Jameis Winston to Wilson. Specifically, the Winston proponents were focused on how the two acquisitions “came off in their visits” with the franchise before putting pen to paper.
To Wilson’s credit, he’s been putting in work on building a rapport with his new teammates. Per Schwartz, the QB has gone into “overdrive” as he tries to build relationships with his new squad. The veteran also drew praise for his showing at spring practices, although he’ll obviously only be judged on his performance during the regular season.
The two veterans signed within a week of each other, but the Giants have made it clear all along that Wilson will lead the depth chart and Winston will serve as the QB2. Wilson, of course, brings the track record and recent starting experience. The former Super Bowl champ has continued to start in his post-Seahawks career, including stints with the Broncos and Steelers. He’s only gone 17-24 over those three seasons, and it’s fair to wonder how short of a leash he’ll have in New York as Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen remain on the hot seat.
Winston doesn’t bring the same recent starting experience as his new teammate. Since leaving the Buccaneers after the 2019 season, the former first-overall pick has started only 17 games across five years. He went 5-2 with the Saints in 2021, but he’s since gone 3-7 in his last 10 starts. While Winston seemed to temporarily curb his turnover issues in New Orleans, he’s seen his interception rate come in at 4.4 percent over the past three years.
Both options are relatively uninspiring, especially for a Giants regime that’s on the brink of losing their jobs. Dart represents the unknown, and on most squads, it wouldn’t be surprising for a coach to eventually give their rookie a shot. In New York, it sounds like Dart may have to leapfrog two veterans if he has any hope of starting in 2025.