Giants Could Have Starting Battle At CB
Last year, we saw Cor’Dale Flott overcome Adoree’ Jackson for a starting role as an outside cornerback, playing across from fellow starter Deonte Banks for much of the season. Jackson departed and in walks Paulson Adebo on a three-year, $54MM contract. All of the sudden, Flott is pushed to a CB3 role again. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, though, Flott may, once again, be making moves for the first-team defense. 
Despite missing more than half of the 2024 season, Adebo is making starter money. While this is largely based on a phenomenal 2023 campaign, in which Adebo had four interceptions, 18 passes defensed, 76 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a ranking as the 15th-best cornerback in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Adebo was arguably setting up for an even more impressive 2024 season. In only seven games before breaking his femur, Adebo had already logged three interceptions, 10 passes defensed, and 52 tackles.
The Giants are certainly counting on Adebo to make a full recovery and still be the same player, and so far in camp he’s been participating and working with the first team. The other starting spot is the one held in question, though. Banks was a full-time starter in 2024 for 14 games. He failed to log an interception, but his 12 passes defensed led the team.
Flott started for most of the season before an injury kept him out for two weeks late in the season. When he returned to the field, he worked behind Jackson for a bit before regaining starting honors in the regular season finale. In all, Flott had 10 starts in 14 games with an interception and seven passes defensed in 2024.
While it seems by the metrics of history and experience that Banks has the upper hand, Flott has the analytics on his side. According to PFF, Flott ranked as the 68th-best cornerback of 116 players graded at the position. Banks was all the way down at 108th. While analytics aren’t always a good measure of which player stands a better chance at starting, in this case they might end up being a decent indicator.
Duggan reports that at Organized Team Activities, Banks and Flott continued rotating at the cornerback spot opposite Adebo. Duggan adds that, “notably, Flott was with the starters while Banks was with the second-stringers when the defense broke into separate groups for an install period.”
We know that Flott is a strong camper. We saw it last year when he secured the starting job across from Banks. This year, it appears it’s Banks’ playing time that’s in danger here. There is still plenty of time for things to get shaken up, but at the moment, it’s looking like Flott is in play to relegate a prior year’s starter to CB3 for the second year in a row.
Commanders Unlikely To Pursue Pass Rush Addition
The Commanders’ 2025 offseason has seen a number of changes made in the front seven. Further moves could of course be in store, but until training camp begins Washington’s pass rush group is likely to remain intact. 
[RELATED: Commanders Did Not Anticipate Terry McLaurin Stalemate]
The Commanders can be expected to evaluate their in-house EDGE options before exploring an outside addition, Ben Standig of The Athletic writes (subscription required). With over $21MM in cap space, plenty of finances are available for a move during the coming weeks. Instead, one may not be made until after camp begins.
Since moving on from both Montez Sweat and Chase Young ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, the Commanders have faced questions about their options along the edge. This spring, Clelin Ferrell was retained but Dante Fowler – who recorded 10.5 sacks upon following Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington – returned to the Cowboys in free agency. The Commanders have new faces in the form of Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin.
Those new options will join a group of incumbent defensive ends led by Dorance Armstrong, who was among the ex-Cowboys defenders who headed to the nation’s capital last offseason. Armstrong notched five sacks during his debut Washington campaign, and none of the team’s moves so far – including the decision to avoid drafting any pass rushers – suggest he will not still be counted on as a full-time starter moving forward. After the team’s middling finish in terms of sack totals for 2024 (43), though, there is certainly room for improvement regarding a group which also includes linebacker Frankie Luvu as a part-time pass rusher.
The list of free agent edge rushers includes Za’Darius Smith, Matt Judon, Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller and Preston Smith. Washington general manager Adam Peters and Co. will thus have plenty of options to consider once training camp opens next month, but unless the team’s in-house options suffer injuries or underperform an addition may very well not take place.
Saints Officially Shifting To Base 3-4 Defense
While all NFL defenses play around with formations depending on the situation, every team has a base defense that functions as their identity and the starting point from which they can build out. The base defense is key in determining what types of defenders you bring in, as well. For instance, you might not want to bring in a standup outside linebacker if you run a base 4-3, in which he’ll be required to put his hand in the dirt, which could affect his pass rush arsenal. 
Well, according to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune, the Saints are officially switching to a base 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. Staley learned the scheme from Vic Fangio during their time together in Chicago and Denver, while Fangio was a student of it all the way back during his first NFL gig as the Saints linebackers coach in the 1980s, when the imposing “Dome Patrol” quartet gained notoriety in New Orleans. But the 3-4 went away from the Superdome when then-head coach Jim Mora resigned in the late 1990s, and the defense has been mostly run out of a base 4-3 since then.
For the most part, the responsibilities of the secondary will remain unchanged in the new formation. The base defense will still include two safeties and two cornerbacks with extra defensive backs coming in for special formations. The responsibilities of the middle linebackers will also remain mostly the same, barring the fact that their new base defense allows for two strictly off-ball linebackers.
The differences come with the outside linebackers and the defensive line. When running a base 4-3, defensive ends are the main pass rushers. Outside linebackers can blitz on occasion, but for the most part, they act more as off-ball linebackers than edge rushers. The defensive tackles, in 4-3, are stout and strong, but they also usually to have a bit of a pass rush arsenal. In base 3-4, the outside linebackers become the main pass rushers, though they should also have the versatility to function off ball. The defensive ends now are more akin to defensive tackles in size and pass rush ability. The nose tackles become more important in the 3-4 as an over-the-center, usually heavier, run stuffer.
In New Orleans, determinations are being made as to which defenders will have what roles. Formerly defensive ends, Carl Granderson, Chase Young, Cameron Jordan, and Isaiah Foskey are now outside linebackers. They’ll have to adjust to working out of standup position, as opposed to the three-point stance they have been used to. In order to adjust to this new starting position, Young and Granderson have reportedly shed some weight.
The new defensive ends group is composed of Bryan Bresee, Jonah Williams, and Vernon Broughton, while the nose tackles will be former defensive tackles Davon Godchaux, Nathan Shepherd, and Khalen Saunders. Their responsibilities won’t really change too much, aside from their new three-man lineup being surrounded by pass rushers from the linebacking corps.
Obviously, Staley and company will constantly be changing up looks and rotations throughout the course of games and the season based on different situations and different offenses they will face. But this change in the team’s base defense alters the role of several key, veteran players and will likely affect the prospective players New Orleans looks for in the future.
Jalen Ramsey Trade Not Imminent; Tyreek Hill Wants Him To Stay
After Jaire Alexander found a new home in Baltimore, the trade of Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey is reportedly “the next domino” expected to fall around NFL circles, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Adam Wells of Bleacher Report). While that sounds like we’re on the precipice of a decision, the rest of Fowler’s quote seems to imply that we may be waiting for that domino to fall for quite some time. 
Despite Fowler’s domino analogy and the Dolphins being “optimistic” about working a deal out that will make all parties happy, Fowler tells us, “Nothing hard and fast developing or imminent right now, but they’ve talked to multiple teams in recent weeks and months.”
He goes on to say, “The big hangup still is that big-time money he’s got on his contract, $20-plus million guaranteed for 2025. Teams have a hard time reconciling how much they’re going to have to pay at that contract.” He cites the Rams as a team that is “still sort of in the mix” for Ramsey, considering their need at the position and their familiarity with the star defender who helped them win a Super Bowl.
While that seems like a solid possibility, Miami’s star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has other plans in mind. Yesterday, Hill posted a video on X with a caption indicating he’s going to “get (Ramsey) back.” The video came from an event in New York City called Fanatics Fest, at which Hill was being interviewed.
He told the interviewer that he was going to hang out with Ramsey in this upcoming week, saying, “I’m getting Ramsey back in a Dolphins jersey, I don’t care what they say.” He continued, “He’s a dawg. He’s one of the best corners in the league, man. Great leader. Great teammate, too, though. That’s what he doesn’t get a lot of credit for, man.”
After Hill, himself, was largely rumored to be on his way out of South Beach for some time before, ultimately, reaffirming his commitment to the Dolphins –an affirmation head coach Mike McDaniel wholeheartedly reciprocated — Hill, perhaps, stands as good a chance as anyone in convincing Ramsey to stay. Seeing Miami make a significant effort to improve its relationship with one star player may be enough to help another remain in place.
For now, though, Ramsey has been absent for all of Miami’s Organized Team Activities and mandatory minicamp, and a month and change remain before training camp begins. He recently continued to express his desire to return to the west coast in a trade, but maybe hanging out with Hill this week will be enough to change his mind. Hill will have plenty of time to work his magic, though, as nothing seems imminent, and the first sign of any sort of soft deadline remains over a month away.
Vikings Did Not Offer QB Sam Darnold Multi-Year Deal
The 2025 NFL offseason was certainly an interesting one for new Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. After a career year in 2024 on a one-year “prove-it” contract with the Vikings, Darnold made it clear to his suitors that he was looking for multiple years on a contract moving forward. 
We saw interest early on from the Steelers and Giants, while presumed interest from the Titans and Raiders was apparently never there. And while there was talk that Minnesota had interest in re-signing him, Michael Silver of The Athletic tells us that the team never offered him the multi-year deal that he desired.
Quarterbacking a top-10 scoring offense that finished sixth in the NFL in passing yards, Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record. Despite only losing three games, Minnesota finished as the NFC’s 5-seed in the playoffs after losing the regular season finale to the division-winning, 15-2 Lions. That game saw Darnold complete a season-worst 18 of 41 pass attempts and pass for a season-low 166 yards. His first and only playoff appearance ended in a similar fashion as he was sacked a season-high nine times and failed to put double-digit points on the scoreboard.
Just like that, a career-defining, phenomenal season came to a crashing halt, and seemingly, so, too, did the Vikings’ favor for Darnold. After the then-27-year-old Darnold, who was handed the starting quarterback job over the 10th overall pick in 2024, J.J. McCarthy, due to injury, led them within a game of the top overall seed in the NFC, Minnesota seemed to have seen enough of him. Because their plans moving forward involved McCarthy taking over the offense as soon as possible, they were only willing to offer Darnold a one-year deal to potentially cover any time between now and whenever McCarthy is ready to take the reins.
Ultimately, Darnold landed in Seattle as the Seahawks new starter, and even though he’s now in a similar situation, with a rookie Jalen Milroe waiting behind him on the depth chart, head coach Mike Macdonald and company have been sure to communicate with the veteran and assure him that the starting job is his. They also affirmed their commitment to him with the three-year, $100.50MM contract they brought him in with.
With that contract, the Seahawks gave Darnold a chance to win the starting job and keep it for more than a year. Darnold will still have to fend off the developing quarterbacks behind him in Seattle, but at least now he’ll be under contract for those future battles and won’t have to worry about leaving early in free agency without still receiving a good amount of guarantees.
Checking In On 2025 Fifth-Year Option Performers
The 2021 draft class has produced some of the NFL’s best players. Patrick Surtain claimed Defensive Player of the Year acclaim, after signing a monster extension that reset the cornerback market, and Ja’Marr Chase posted a triple-crown campaign that ended up pushing the wide receiver market past $40MM per year. Penei Sewell remains the NFL’s highest-paid tackle, and the DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle deals helped shape other WR contracts over the past year.
Several players from that first round also did not pan out, with the quarterback crop being the most notable underachievers. Only Trevor Lawrence received an extension among the five 2021 first-round passers, though Justin Fields did do fairly well as a free agent this offseason. The 2021 first-round class did see 15 options exercised (and three players extended; Rashod Bateman has already been extended twice), marking a bump from the 2020 first-round contingent.
Nine players from that first round, however, exited this year’s offseason programs still tied to their rookie deals. Even though the 2020 CBA helped players on this front by making fifth-year options fully guaranteed, it can still be argued the options do first-rounders a disservice due to teams having five years of player control compared to four on deals ranging from Round 2 to Round 7. But the option system — now in its 15th year — is not going anywhere. And more than a fourth of the NFL’s franchises are moving toward training camp with big decisions to make.
Here is a look at where things stand between those teams and the batch of 2021 first-rounders on fifth-year options:
Kyle Pitts, TE (Falcons); option salary: $10.88MM
Flashes of upper-crust tight end play have emerged for Pitts, but Terry Fontenot leaving Chase on the board — months before the Falcons traded Julio Jones — was obviously a mistake. Pitts joined Mike Ditka (and now Brock Bowers) as the only rookie-year tight ends to clear 1,000 yards; the Florida product has not approached that range since. While Pitts has played 17 games in each of the past two seasons, the MCL injury he sustained in 2022 brought a hurdle that became difficult to negotiate. QB play has hurt Pitts, but the Falcons have not seen him justify the No. 4 overall investment. A contract-year uptick certainly could provide a gateway to a big 2026 free agency payday, however.
No Falcons extension rumors have surfaced this offseason, but Pitts has been the subject of trade talk. The Falcons are believed to have listened on Pitts earlier this offseason. A Day 2 pick was believed to be the desired asking price for the 24-year-old pass catcher. Barring a trade, Pitts will be counted on to help Michael Penix Jr.‘s development, alongside fellow Fontenot top-10 skill-position draftees Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Pitts’ age still points to a big-ticket 2026 deal being a reasonable outcome; he can remove notions of a “prove it” contract being necessary with a quality contract year.
Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys); option salary: $24MM
In NFC East drama, the Cowboys traded the No. 10 overall pick to the Eagles, as Philly’s plan to outflank the Giants on Smith worked. Dallas won the prize here, landing Parsons at 12. Although Surtain has received the top honor among this draft class and Chase has become the highest-paid player, Parsons is also one of the NFL’s best players. He will be paid like it, and the Cowboys are operating on an eerily similar timeline compared to their slow-playing of other recent extensions.
A three-time All-Pro, Parsons is the best player still attached to a fifth-year option. And the EDGE market has changed significantly this offseason. Parsons, 26, confirmed the Cowboys’ latest delay will prove costly. A strange subplot between Jerry Jones and Parsons’ agent (David Mulugheta) also became known during these drawn-out negotiations. The former No. 12 overall pick has expected to become the NFL’s highest-paid defender, and it seems likely he will eclipse Chase’s $40.25MM-per-year deal as well. The Cowboys, whose slow-paced dealings with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb defined their 2024 offseason, have been in talks with Parsons.
Even after a value gap was revealed, a report of common ground surfaced. A franchise that accustomed to — prior to the Lamb and Prescott deals, that is — long-term contracts also looks to have hit a term-length snag here. Trade rumors came out here months ago, but nothing on that front has surfaced in a while.
After Maxx Crosby eclipsed Nick Bosa‘s defender AAV record, Danielle Hunter cleared $35MM (albeit on a one-year bump) as well. Myles Garrett‘s $40MM-per-year accord now sets the market, and T.J. Watt and Aidan Hutchinson should benefit. Parsons having waited boosts his prospects as well, and being nearly four years younger than Garrett will present a clear case for the Penn State alum’s second contract to come in noticeably higher. When will the Cowboys complete their latest arduous contractual journey?
Rashawn Slater, LT (Chargers); option salary: $19MM
The Bolts did well to add Slater at No. 13. Like Parsons, not much doubt appears to exist about Slater’s prospects for a mega-deal. The Northwestern alum, who joined Parsons and Sewell in opting out of the 2020 COVID-19-marred college season, has started every game he has played with the Chargers. After missing 14 games due to injury in 2022, Slater bounced back and earned his second Pro Bowl nod (in 2024).
Last year brought extensions for Sewell, Christian Darrisaw (chosen 10 spots after Slater) and 2020 first-rounder Tristan Wirfs. Slater’s market will check in at a similar place. Extension talks began early this offseason, as the Jim Harbaugh–Joe Hortiz regime has now observed him for a season. Slater skipped OTAs but expects his second contract to come from the Chargers.
The period between minicamp and Week 1 regularly brings extensions, and this will be the most likely window for the Chargers to come to terms with their O-line anchor. Slater signing a second contract soon would allow it to overlap with at least two Joe Alt rookie-deal years, providing a benefit to an L.A. team with a $53MM-per-year Justin Herbert deal on the books.
Alijah Vera-Tucker, G (Jets); option salary: $15.31MM
After bouncing between guard and tackle, Vera-Tucker has settled at his natural position. The USC product, whom the Jets chose 14th overall in 2021, worked exclusively at right guard last year. Although the Jets faceplanted in Aaron Rodgers‘ only full season leading the charge, Vera-Tucker stayed healthy after suffering season-ending injuries in 2022 and ’23. Vera-Tucker started 15 games last year; Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s ninth-best guard.
The Jets are believed to be eyeing the post-draft period to discuss a second contract with Vera-Tucker, though the team — its struggles notwithstanding — has several extension candidates. Even if Breece Hall may not be one of them, the Jets have 2022 first-rounders Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson extension-eligible now.
Vera-Tucker, who turned 26 this week, could take precedence due to being in a contract year. It is also possible a new Jets regime would want to see more given the guard’s injury struggles. Another quality year would make Vera-Tucker one of the top 2026 free agents, but the Jets hold exclusive negotiating rights until March 2026.
Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Dolphins); option salary: $13.25MM
While Vera-Tucker created some distance from his injury issues last season, Phillips sank deeper into that abyss by suffering an ACL tear after a November 2023 Achilles tear sent him off course. Chosen 18th overall in 2021, Phillips already carried injury baggage based on his UCLA past. He rocketed onto the first-round radar following a transfer to Miami, and the ex-Hurricane showed promise during the early years of his rookie contract. Phillips posted 25 QB hits and seven sacks in 2022 and was on pace to clear that career-high sack mark by a comfy margin in ’23, but the Dolphins soon saw injuries derail their edge rusher plan.
Phillips and Bradley Chubb‘s returns from malady-marred stretches represent a central Dolphins storyline. Their returns, which are nearly complete, will be paramount for a regime suddenly in some hot water. The GM who selected Phillips (Chris Grier) 18th overall remains in place, potentially helping the 26-year-old OLB in the event he can shake the injury trouble. But no extension rumors have emerged. This season will be about Phillips reestablishing his old form. If he does, a 2026 franchise tag or a lucrative deal coming in just south of that rate may await.
Kwity Paye, DE (Colts); option salary: $13.39MM
Paye’s value checks in below the Parsons-Slater tier, but he may also not be in “prove it” territory like Phillips. The former No. 21 overall pick has not battled major injury trouble nor has he delivered A-list production. Settling in as an upper-middle-class edge rusher thus far, the Michigan alum has recorded 16.5 sacks since 2023.
Paye, 26, played a big role in the Colts setting an Indianapolis-era record for sacks in a season (51) in 2023 and has certainly not been a bust for Chris Ballard‘s team. A decision will need to be made soon, though, even as the Colts have bigger issues to sort out. The Colts have done well to extend or re-sign their core players, but Ballard backtracked on an inward-focused approach this offseason by paying Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Will those deals affect Paye’s standing?
Indianapolis also has two veteran D-tackle contracts on the books (for DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart), and the team used a first-round pick on D-end Laiatu Latu last year. A Paye payday would complement Latu’s rookie-deal years, and the Colts acting early could create a discount opportunity due to Paye never eclipsing nine sacks or 12 QB hits in a season. Those numbers also could give the team pause about Paye’s long-term viability. Paye was not interested in a 2024 extension, but it would stand to reason he would be prepared to talk terms now. No extension rumors have followed, though.
Travis Etienne, RB (Jaguars); option salary: $6.14MM
An Urban Meyer draftee, Etienne has now been a Lawrence teammate for eight years. The Clemson-developed running back delivered quality work for the 2022 and ’23 Jaguars teams, becoming a high-usage player under Doug Pederson in that span. Meyer had telegraphed a hope the Jags could draft Kadarius Toney in 2021, but Etienne proved the far better pick by posting back-to-back seasons of 1,400-plus yards from scrimmage after missing his rookie year with a foot injury. However, Etienne’s stock mirrored that of the team last year. Tank Bigsby cut into his RB1 role, and career-worst marks followed.
Etienne does not appear an extension candidate in Jacksonville, and trade rumors emerged before the draft. Linked to Ashton Jeanty at No. 5, the Jags pulled off a smokescreen operation centered around Travis Hunter. Even with Jacksonville going with Hunter over Jeanty, the team drafted two running backs (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) ahead of Liam Coen‘s first year in charge. Coen did throw cold water on an Etienne trade, but the 26-year-old RB appears set to play out his rookie contract and test free agency in 2026. It will be interesting to see if Coen, who coaxed a promising rookie-year season from Bucky Irving, can move Etienne back on track. But a post-draft report also indicated the new Jags HC is not especially high on the former No. 25 overall pick.
Greg Newsome, CB (Browns); option salary: $13.38MM
As Hunter headed to Jacksonville instead of Cleveland, Newsome saw his status receive an 11th-hour update ahead of the draft. Rather than see Hunter’s two-way role impact him, Newsome enters 2025 in a similar spot. The Browns traded down from No. 2 and took Mason Graham — in a draft that did not see Cleveland draft a cornerback — but Newsome still may not be long for Cleveland.
The Browns dangled the 25-year-old corner in trades before the draft; that followed a pre-deadline trade rumor. In April, it looked like Hunter’s part-time CB role would affect Newsome. But the Browns and Jags had been working on a trade for more than two weeks before the draft. Those trade talks may have been merely a reflection of the organization’s view of Newsome, the 2021 No. 26 overall pick.
Former third-rounder Martin Emerson has operated as Denzel Ward‘s perimeter complementary performer during his career, relegating Newsome to a slot role in sub-packages. Last season, that meant only three starts for Newsome, who described some frustration with his role during the winter. A trade may still be something to monitor ahead of the November deadline, especially if the Browns want to keep stockpiling ammo for a 2026 QB move.
Odafe Oweh, OLB (Ravens); option salary: $13.25MM
Like Paye, Oweh has submitted an extended sample of quality production. Neither had revealed themselves to be difference-making presences going into 2024, but after the Ravens moved on from Jadeveon Clowney, Oweh took a long-awaited step forward. The former No. 31 overall pick broke through for 10 sacks and 23 QB hits. Oweh had never previously surpassed five sacks or 15 hits in a season, with 2024 representing a significant development for a Ravens team that has otherwise relied on veteran stopgaps since Matt Judon‘s 2021 free agency departure.
With David Ojabo not yet panning out, Oweh still has a clear runway in Baltimore. An extension is in play for the ex-Parsons Penn State teammate. Not too much has come out on this front just yet, and the Ravens may also be interested in seeing if Oweh can replicate his 2024 production. Then again, the team has four years of intel on the 26-year-old pass rusher.
Waiting until 2026 to make a play here would run the risk of Oweh’s price rising beyond Baltimore’s comfort zone. No stranger to letting pass-rushing talent walk in free agency and recouping compensatory picks, the Ravens have also not been able to rely on a homegrown pass rusher since Judon. That would stand to make Oweh a reasonable priority in his contract year.
5 Key Stories: 6/15/25 – 6/21/25
As the wait for the opening of training camps around the league begins, a number of high-profile situations remain unresolved. That will likely remain the case for several weeks, but one major free agent move defined the past few days. In case you missed any of the top developments from this week, here is a quick recap:
- Alexander Chooses Ravens: With no trade or pay cut agreement being reached with the Packers, Jaire Alexander hit the open market upon being released. The two-time Pro Bowler drew immediate interest to no surprise, and in short order he decided on his second career team. Alexander had not been heavily linked to the Ravens upon becoming a free agent, but not long after former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson publicly endorsed adding him, Baltimore did just that. Alexander will play on a one-year, $4MM pact with another $2MM available via incentives – a far cry from what he was originally owed but a deal which allows him to test the market next spring. The oft-injured cover man’s preference appeared to be a reworked Packers agreement, but in the absence of guarantees on a pay cut he elected to start over on a new team.
- Ramsey Landing Spots Becoming Clearer? Jalen Ramsey is still with the Dolphins at this point, but nothing has changed with respect to a trade being expected. The list of teams not pursuing him continues to grow, something which is bringing his potential landing spots into greater focus. The Rams have long been known as an interested party in this situation, and they are joined by the Chargers as a team to watch. A Friday report stated Ramsey would prefer being dealt to the West Coast, with the two Los Angeles franchise being listed as destinations. The Bolts had not previously been linked to the 30-year-old, but it will be interesting to see if they partake in a bidding war with the Rams during trade talks with the Dolphins.
- Guarantees Holding Up Steelers’ Watt Negotiations? Along with a number of other notable edge rushers, T.J. Watt is in talks for a new deal. He and the Steelers have a mutual desire to remain together past 2025, but a raise is in store on a third contract. To little surprise, it appears the matter of guarantees are a sticking point in negotiations. Making another massive investment regarding locked in compensation for Watt, 30, could be a trickier decision on Pittsburgh’s part now compared to when the team made him the league’s highest-paid pass rusher in 2021. That negotiation process took well into the summer, whereas this time around an agreement in time for training camp is the goal.
- Mosley Retires: On his 33rd birthday, C.J. Mosley announced his retirement from the NFL. A Butkis Award winner and two-time national champion at Alabama, the linebacker entered the league with high expectations. Mosley enjoyed a productive five-year stint with the Ravens, collecting four Pro Bowl nods. He then reset the LB market with an $85MM Jets deal, a pact which did originally yield the desired results (with only two games played from 2019-20). Mosley was a productive starter when healthy in New York, but few were surprised when he was released this offseason. The five-time second-team All-Pro intended to continue his career, but his attention will now turn to his post-playing days.
- Second-Round Rookies Seeking Fully Guaranteed Deals: Players selected in the first round of the NFL draft have long seen their four-year pacts guaranteed in full. A new precedent was set this offseason when the No. 33 (Carson Schwesinger, Browns) and 34 (Jayden Higgins, Texans) selections received full guarantees for every year of their respective deals. Fellow round two draftees are understandably waiting to sign in the hopes of receiving the same terms. That includes Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who came off the board 40th overall. Locking in all of his contract would mark a notable jump compared to last year’s selection in that slot. Nearly every other member of the 2025 draft class is on the books by now, but it could take until training camp (or longer) for agreements covering the remaining rookies to be worked out. A resolution to the second-round stalemates will be key in that regard.
Daniel Faalele, Andrew Vorhees Leading Ravens’ G Competition
Four of the Ravens’ stating offensive linemen from 2024 are set to return. One of those is Daniel Faalele, whose first full-time season as a guard came last year. 
The 25-year-old Australian struggled as a tackle, but a move inside produced an uptick in PFF grade. Pass protection in particular showed improvement, although after ranking just 45th in overall evaluation amongst qualifying guards Faalele certainly has room to continue developing in the final year of his rookie season. Entering training camp, he is in line to remain Baltimore’s right guard starter.
Head coach John Harbaugh said this week (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) Faalele is in the lead for a first-team guard role. That comes as little surprise, given his 1,100-plus snaps during the regular season at the RG spot. As for the other guard position – vacated when Patrick Mekari departed in free agency – Harbaugh noted Andrew Vorhees is the favorite at this point.
That is also an expected update, since Vorhees entered spring practices as the top candidate to replace Mekari. The former seventh-rounder missed his entire rookie season while rehabbing an ACL tear, but he was healthy in time for the start of the 2024 campaign. Vorhees was Baltimore’s left guard to begin the season, but a Week 3 ankle injury cost him his starting gig. Mekari’s expected departure created a vacancy, one which Vorhees (or a group of challengers including returnee Ben Cleveland) will aim to fill during training camp.
In other offensive line news, Harbaugh provided an injury update on Emery Jones. The third-round rookie has been dealing with a shoulder injury, and Harbaugh noted (via Zrebiec) he is likely to miss the beginning of next month’s training camp. Jones – whom the team intends to use as a tackle before potentially trying him at guard – should be available at some point this summer, though. By the time he is healthy, a clear frontrunner may have emerged for both guard spots with the swing tackle role being the next to be determined.
Malachi Corley’s Jets Roster Spot Uncertain
Malachi Corley was in position to occupy at least a rotational role in the Jets’ during his rookie campaign. Instead, he proved to essentially be a non-factor. 
2025 has seen the Jets bring in a regime other than the one which drafted Corley, a factor which often carries considerable weight in roster decisions. The 23-year-old made only nine appearances as a rookie, with his most memorable moment coming in a Thursday night game in which he prematurely dropped the ball and nullified what would have been a touchdown. Corley never managed to carve out a role, and he has been unable to do so this spring.
While dealing with an undisclosed injury, the Western Kentucky product has missed considerable time during the offseason (including the Jets’ recent minicamp). As a result, Corley is behind in terms of his acclimation to new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand‘s scheme. Between the missed reps, his lack of connection to the new decision-makers and his underwhelming rookie season, ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes Corley does not have a clearly defined role at this point, adding his roster spot is not a lock.
“There’s a plan for him, and we’re going to make sure that we try to utilize him to what he can do best, and we’ve seen that in college,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “Hopefully, he gets well soon, and we get a chance to utilize his skillset.”
Corley did not showcase a strong route-running ability in college, but he was dynamic with respect to yards after the catch. A role as a gadget player on offense and/or as a returner would be sensible as a result, but the New York’s third-rounder from last April will need to impress during training camp to solidify a roster spot. The Jets’ WR depth chart no longer includes Davante Adams, although Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds and fourth-round rookie Arian Smith are in place. Xavier Gipson is in position to round out the receiver room but he could also handle return duties, something which would make it more challenging for Corley to lock down a spot.
The latter is attached to his rookie contract for the next three years, meaning he will provide the Jets with a cost-effective depth option provided he survives roster cutdowns. Unless Corley can return to full health in time for training camp and play his way into a defined role, though, he will face an uncertain future.
Browns Rookie LB Carson Schwesinger Likely To Start
For much of the 2024 NFL season, it seemed like off-ball linebacker was not going to be an offseason need for the Browns. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Devin Bush, and Jordan Hicks finished the year graded as the seventh-, ninth-, and 11th-best linebackers, respectively, in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Yet, somehow, there’s a decent chance that a second-round rookie will be starting at the position in 2025, per ESPN’s Tony Grossi. 
First off, we need to address the occurrences that led to the Browns needing to select UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger with the first pick of Day 2 of the draft. Owusu-Koramoah’s best campaign of his young career came to an early end when a neck injury landed him on injured reserve. While he avoided a career-altering injury, he’s expected to miss a portion of this upcoming season and may take a while to get back to full speed and strength.
Bush, after having an uncharacteristically impressive season, was set to return on another one-year deal. Unfortunately, his NFL future remains in question as he spends some time in court dealing with charges of simple assault and harassment. The six-year veteran was arrested days after the draft, but with the team using such a high pick on Schwesinger, there’s certainly a possibility that they were aware of the soon-to-come legal situation.
Even with Bush back in the fold, though, Grossi posits that Hicks and Schwesinger will be the two linebackers on the field most often in 4-2-5 formations. Whenever third linebackers are on the field, Grossi believes it will be a battle between Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Jerome Baker, and Winston Reid for those snaps.
Coming out of Oaks Christian (CA) without a recruiting ranking, Schwesinger passed up a partial scholarship with Bucknell in order to walk on at UCLA. After redshirting his freshman year, he earned a scholarship and appeared in all 13 games his redshirt freshman year. Most of that season and the subsequent one were spent on special teams, though he did record 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in limited time on defense. As a redshirt junior, Schwesinger earned a starting role and filled the stat sheet with 136 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble.
What he lacks in natural strength and technique, he makes up for in vision and tenacity. Schwesinger is quick to recognize and diagnose plays as they develop, watching the quarterback’s eyes and finding his lane of attack throughout the play. His effort takes him from sideline to sideline, and he doesn’t miss many tackles.
The same mentality that took him from walk-on to special teamer to starter to second-round pick is expected to take him to NFL starter, as well, at least to open the season. Things could change as camps progress and when Owusu-Koramoah eventually gets healthy, but for now, Schwesinger is likely to be working with the first-team defense after failing to garner a single scholarship offer just four years ago.