HEADLINES

Panthers TE Tommy Tremble Underwent Back Surgery

May 27th, 2025 at 6:34pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers will be without one of their top tight ends for at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp. Head coach Dave Canales revealed today that tight end Tommy Tremble recently underwent back surgery that could keep him sidelined at least until the start of training camp.

“Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery,” Canales said today (via the team’s website). “We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the (time). He’s 25 years old. You know, let’s get this thing while he’s young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track.”

Tremble missed a handful of games last season thanks to lingering back issues, and it sounds like the tight end is trying to avoid a similar situation in 2025. Canales said Tremble will miss at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp, and he’ll likely be rehabbing for the start of training camp (per Joe Person of The Athletic). The 24-year-old will be destined for the PUP list until that time.

Person notes that the surgery is “not expected to be season-ending,” although that hints that Tremble’s rehab could extend into the regular season. If the tight end remains on PUP following the first iteration of the Panthers’ 53-man roster, he’d be forced to miss the first four games of the upcoming campaign.

A former third-round pick, Tremble saw a relatively modest role playing alongside the likes of Ian Thomas and Hayden Hurst. He had his best showing in 2024, finishing with 23 receptions for a career-high 234 yards. Following that performance, he inked a new two-year, $16MM deal ($8MM guaranteed) with the organization this offseason.

While the Panthers would surely prefer Tremble in the lineup, the team should be fine without their most experienced tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders actually led the position grouping in offensive production in 2024, finishing with 33 catches for 342 yards. The Panthers also recently used a fifth-round pick on Mitchell Evans, and they’re rostering the likes of Dominique Dafney, James Mitchell, and Bryce Pierre at the bottom of the depth chart.

Bears Extend G Joe Thuney

May 27th, 2025 at 2:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 27: Thuney’s fourth contract (when the 2020 franchise tag is counted) pays out its guarantees by 2026. The accomplished blocker will be due a $1MM roster bonus in March 2027, according to Spotrac. That will help the Bears determine if they want to keep Thuney around for an age-35 season, but he effectively ensured status on the 2026 Bears’ roster via this re-up. Though, Thuney’s cap hit will climb from $8MM this year to $21.5MM in 2026 and ’27.

MAY 20: Before making his Bears debut, Joe Thuney has a new deal in hand. The All-Pro guard agreed to terms on a two-year extension, his agent announced on Tuesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports this pact is worth $35MM and brings Thuney’s scheduled earnings up to $51MM over the next three seasons. $33.5MM is fully guaranteed at signing. Rather than entering the coming season as a pending free agent, Thuney is now on the books through 2027. To no surprise, this agreement will lower his 2025 cap hit, with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noting it will be cut in half to $8MM.

The 32-year-old represented a key element of the Bears’ multi-faceted efforts to improve along the interior of the offensive line. He, like fellow guard Jonah Jackson, was acquired via trade in March prior to the outset of free agency. Those two are set to join free agent signing Drew Dalman, who departed the Falcons on the open market to take on center duties in Chicago.

After a strong five-year run in New England to begin his career, Thuney enjoyed plenty of individual and team success during his time with Kansas City. He added another two Super Bowl titles to his resume with the Chiefs while earning a Pro Bowl nod during each of the past three seasons. That stretch includes the 2024 campaign, during which Thuney took on left tackle duties out of necessity with the team’s other blindside options falling short of expectations.

That setup proved to be effective enough for the Chiefs until their Super Bowl loss, one which did not damper Thuney’s value. Kansas City’s need to budget for a Trey Smith commitment at the other guard spot – which to date consists of using the franchise tag with an extension likely coming in the near future – resulted in the Thuney trade, though. The NC State product was dealt to the Bears in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. He will handle his familiar left guard spot, with Jackson moving over to the RG position upon arrival in Chicago.

At first, Thuney was non-committal about signing an extension prior to the start of the 2025 season. In April, however, general manager Ryan Poles made it clear a new deal on this front was a team priority. Jackson inked a one-year extension shortly after he was acquired, and today’s move means both of Chicago’s guards are under contract until the 2028 offseason. The same is also true of Dalman.

Pass protection was a major issue for the Bears in 2024; improved play from quarterback Caleb Williams in Year 2 will depend in large part on the team’s ability to deliver stronger play up front. New head coach Ben Johnson named changes along the interior of the O-line as something to watch for upon arrival. That took place on multiple fronts, and now all three of the unit’s new faces are attached to overlapping multi-year pacts.

Panthers Aimed To Avoid Jadeveon Clowney Blocking Younger OLBs’ Paths

May 27th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers did not offer a strong response at outside linebacker after trading Brian Burns. Although other issues led to Carolina’s defense sinking to last place across the board, the team struggled to replace the pass rusher it traded after endless extension talks.

Jadeveon Clowney became the top Panthers solution here, having signed his first multiyear deal (two years, $20MM) since his Texans rookie pact back in 2014. But the Panthers made the South Carolina alum’s homecoming short-lived, cutting Clowney after engaging in trade talks earlier this offseason. Carolina’s draft plan played into Clowney’s fourth NFL one-and-done, as the selections of second- and third-round edge rushers (Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen) directly influenced the team’s approach with its veterans.

The two SEC products will have direct routes to playing time, and the team wanted to ensure that by cutting Clowney. The Panthers were not exactly facing a lofty payment for the former No. 1 overall pick, and while they saved $7.75MM with the release, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes the goal of seeing younger talents enjoy extended auditions provided just as much reason for Clowney’s exit as finances did.

“When you watch the 2024 film, [Clowney] was a guy that gave us everything that he had on the field,” Dave Canales said, via Newton. “[But] we’re developmentally minded, and we understand bringing in outside linebackers and [drafting] two edge rushers — all those reps are valuable.”

In addition to Scourton and Umanmielen, the Panthers return D.J. Wonnum and signed Patrick Jones after four seasons as a Vikings rotational cog. Wonnum’s former Minnesota teammate will have the first crack at replacing Clowney in Carolina’s lineup, Newton adds. While Jones’ contract (two years, $15MM) suggested a starter chance, it does not provide open-and-shut first-stringer money. And the Panthers soon using two second-day picks on OLBs changed the position’s outlook from when Jones signed.

Jones started only five games during a four-year Minnesota run but generated free agency interest on the heels of a seven-sack season. Contributing to a Vikings pass rush housing Pro Bowlers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard (along with first-rounder Dallas Turner), Jones saw his Twin Cities path blocked. He will have a chance to prove himself as a starter, though the presences of Wonnum (31 Vikings starts from 2020-23) and the two rookies could may this a short-term partnership.

Jones, 26, will have a chance to up his value while in Charlotte, as another crack at free agency in his 20s would loom. Wonnum is coming off a season shortened by the quad injury he suffered in his Vikings finale, and Canales said Tuesday a back flareup emerged. That will be something to monitor for the Panthers, who did not have much committed to the sixth-year veteran ahead of his contract’s second and final year. Clowney, 32, remains a free agent but intends to play in 2025. He led the Panthers with 5.5 sacks last season and was the team’s only player to post more than eight QB hits (11).

James Cook Absent From Bills OTAs

May 27th, 2025 at 1:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Agreeing to four extensions that produced team-friendly numbers this offseason, the Bills still have a James Cook issue to sort out. The Pro Bowl running back has angled for a second contract placing him near the top of the running back market, and Brandon Beane‘s comments on the situation did not exactly indicate a desire on the Bills’ part to placate him.

Beane pointed toward the possibility of Cook needing to prove himself once again in Buffalo’s offense. The former second-round pick is under contract for one more season, but he is stopping the Bills from reaching perfect attendance at OTAs. Cook is indeed absent to start the final round of voluntary work for the perennial AFC East champions, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Cook has skipped Bills offseason work thus far.

Given the developments that have shaped this stalemate, it would almost be surprising if Cook did show for OTAs. The two-year Buffalo starter floated a $15MM-per-year deal as a price point before the Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry extensions. The latter came in with a $15MM-AAV extension this month, and even though the Ravens standout’s deal became notable due to the likely Hall of Famer’s age (31), Cook matching Henry may be a tough ask for the Bills, who have not paid a running back in a bit.

Buffalo’s current regime has shown some reluctance to reward RBs. While previous Bills front offices passed on second contracts for Marshawn Lynch or C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and LeSean McCoy were ultimately rewarded. McCoy received an extension upon being traded to Buffalo in 2015, but that deal occurred on Doug Whaley‘s watch. McCoy’s Buffalo separation transpired early in the Beane-Sean McDermott era. The Bills released McCoy months after drafting Devin Singletary in the second round. Singletary then played out his rookie contract, doing so as the team traded Zack Moss midway through his. Cook had arrived as a potential starter just before the Moss trade, but the time is near for the Bills to decide on his future.

Beane has said he does not expect a holdout from Cook, who would face roughly $100K in fines by skipping minicamp next month. A true holdout would not begin until training camp, and the language in the CBA pertaining to holdouts makes them difficult to wage — especially for fourth-year players. While teams can waive fines levied upon players holding out on fifth-year options, a complication emerges for non-first-round holdouts. With Cook needing to report by early August to ensure he accrues a fourth season toward free agency, a holdout will indeed be unlikely (and is not anticipated). A hold-in, however, will be something to monitor if he and the Bills cannot come to terms by then.

Leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16) despite Josh Allen‘s imposing goal-line presence, Cook posted a second 1,000-yard season in 2024. He served as an integral part of the Bills’ success, as the team has leaned into its run game following Joe Brady‘s climb to OC. It would be interesting, then, for the team to play hardball with the 25-year-old back. But that is nonetheless transpiring, even after the Bills paid Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Terrel Bernard and Christian Benford this offseason.

Bengals, Cordell Volson Agree To Revised Contract

May 27th, 2025 at 10:17am CST by Nikhil Mehta

MAY 27: Volson’s base salary for the year has been reduced to $1.5MM as a result of the restructure, per Over the Cap (h/t Baby). He is now set to collect $500K in guarantees, and a total of $600K in per-game roster bonuses are present in the new deal. Volson’s 2025 cap charge is now $3.1MM.

MAY 23: The Bengals have agreed to a revised contract with offensive guard Cordell Volson, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.

Volson started 48 games across the first three years of his career, qualifying him for the Level Two Proven Performance Escalator and boosting his 2025 salary to $3.656MM, though none is guaranteed.

That would normally be a bargain for a starting guard, but Volson was benched twice last season for Cody Ford, who re-signed in Cincinnati on a two-year, $6MM deal this offseason. The Bengals added even more guard depth by signing veteran Lucas Patrick and drafted Dylan Fairchild (third round, No. 81) and Jalen Rivers (fifth round, No. 153). Of the five, Volson had the biggest 2025 cap hit and the least guaranteed money remaining, putting him at risk of missing the 53-man roster if he didn’t emerge as a starter in training camp.

With more competition along the interior of the Bengals’ offensive line, Volson accepted the team’s offer of a reduced salary in exchange for guaranteed money, per Baby. Precise details have yet to be reported, but Volson may have the opportunity to earn additional money if he can hold down a starting guard job.

Volson has only played left guard in the NFL, so that’s likely his best path to starting. Ford started two games there in 2024, along with seven at tackle, while eight of Patrick’s 10 starts came at left guard for the Saints with the remaining two at center. Cincinnati’s rookies will offer some competition, too; both logged at least 850 snaps at left guard during their college careers. Fairchild was Georgia’s starting LG in 2023 and 2024, while Rivers started there in 2022 with another 219 snaps last season.

With a lower cap hit and added guaranteed money, Volson’s new contract should give him a better chance of hanging onto a roster spot even if he can’t carve out a starting role, though the versatility of his veteran competition may force him to develop some of his own.

Browns Sign First-Round DT Mason Graham

May 27th, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns’ top pick from last month’s draft is now on the books. Defensive tackle Mason Graham agreed to terms on his rookie deal this morning.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the pact is worth a total of $40.87MM over four years. That figure is guaranteed in full. Graham will be under team control through at least 2028, but the Browns will be able to extend that via the fifth-year option.

One of the defining characteristics of the 2025 draft was the strength of its defensive tackle class. In a year which saw five interior defenders selected on Day 1, though, it came as no surprise Graham was the first to hear his name called. The Michigan product was long seen as one of the top prospects – based on his floor in terms of production but also upside – at any position during the pre-draft process.

The Browns began the opening round of the draft with the No. 2 pick, leading to a widespread expectation they would select Travis Hunter. The Heisman winner did in fact come off the board at that spot, but only after Cleveland traded the pick to Jacksonville. That swap (which had been agreed to well before the start of the draft) moved the Browns down to No. 5 in the order. With Hunter, along with Cam Ward (Titans), Abdul Carter (Giants) and Will Campbell (Patriots) no longer available, the Browns made an expected move in selecting Graham.

The Michigan product played a central role in the team’s national championship in 2023, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the season. That feat was repeated during his junior campaign, one in which Graham also received a consensus All-American nod. The 6-4, 306-pounder totaled 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss during his two full seasons as a starter, and he will look to develop into an disruptive presence against the run and pass at the NFL level.

The Browns have veterans Maliek Collins, Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst in the fold for 2025 after releasing Dalvin Tomlinson in March. Cleveland has cycled through a number of young options along the defensive interior, but Graham will be expected to make an impact during his rookie year and for several seasons beyond that as a key member of the D-line.

Lions, LB Zach Cunningham Agree To Deal

May 27th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

One day before the start of their OTAs, the Lions have brought in depth at the linebacker spot. Zach Cunningham has agreed to a deal with Detroit, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A longtime starter with the Texans, Cunningham spent four-plus years in Houston to begin his career. The former second-rounder led the NFL with 164 tackles in 2020, but midway through the following season he found himself on waivers. The Titans’ decision to claim him left Cunningham in the AFC South through the end of the 2022 campaign; his tenure in Tennessee consisted of only 10 total games due to multiple injuries, however.

Cunningham spent 2023 with the Eagles, starting 10 of his 13 appearances. His 85 tackles and four pass deflections were not enough to land him an extended stay in Philadelphia, and this past September the Vanderbilt product took a deal with the Broncos. That in-season signing came in the wake of Alex Singleton‘s ACL tear, an injury which led to Denver making a number of linebacker moves. After initially joining the team’s practice squad, Cunningham wound up making seven regular season appearances, and he suited up for the Broncos’ wild-card loss as well.

The 30-year-old barely saw the field on defense, however, and his sparse usage (41 snaps) applied to special teams action as well. That helps explain why Cunningham remained on the open market this deep into the offseason and it will lower expectations upon arrival in the Motor City. OTAs this spring and then training camp during the summer will allow him to compete for a roster spot in 2025.

The Lions have Jack Campbell set to remain a full-time starter this season, and the former first-rounder will be joined by Alex Anzalone on the first-team defense. The latter is entering the final year of his contract, though, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes Anzalone is currently away from the team. That absence will be filled in part by Cunningham’s arrival as the Lions look to sort out their linebacker depth over the coming months.

Steelers Still Interested In Kirk Cousins

May 26th, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The wait continues for Aaron Rodgers to make an official commitment to playing in 2025. Provided he does so, a deal sending him to the Steelers for at least one season remains the expectation around the league.

Rodgers has plenty of time to sign ahead of training camp (or in advance of next month’s mandatory minicamp), but before that takes place Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation carries uncertainty. One other option is still attainable this deep into the offseason, and the team is continuing to monitor that situation. The Steelers still have Kirk Cousins on their radar, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (h/t Bleacher Report’s Adam Wells).

The Falcons have been open to trading Cousins for much of the offseason despite their stated willingness to keep him in place as an expensive Michael Penix Jr. backup. The four-time Pro Bowler’s preference would be a fresh start after only one year in Atlanta, but his contract represents an impediment to a trade taking place. $37.5MM in guaranteed money is owed over the course of the 2025 and ’26 seasons, and the Falcons are uninterested in retaining a large potion of that amount to facilitate a deal.

Early last month, Atlanta was reportedly asking suitors to absorb at least $20MM of Cousins’ 2025 salary for a trade to take place. To no surprise, that stance did not generate offers, although a list of interested teams remained in place just before the draft took place. The Steelers were among them, and they find themselves as the only team whose presumed starting quarterback is not already on the roster at this point.

Per Fowler’s report, a Cousins trade would have already taken place by now if the Falcons had been willing to absorb a portion (such as $7MM or $8MM) of his $27.5MM base salary for the coming season. They are clearly not prepared to do so, and that position is unlikely to change any time soon. The Browns and Vikings added to their QB depth charts during the draft (through the selection of rookies in one case, and a trade in the other). The Saints, meanwhile, are not aiming to make an outside addition in the wake of Derek Carr‘s retirement.

As a result, Pittsburgh will continue to be a team to monitor on the Cousins front. The 36-year-old is under contract through 2027 (although the Steelers could move on from him prior to that point), and he could be seen as a multi-year investment under center. Rodgers, by contrast, will likely represent a one-and-done addition presuming a contract agreement is eventually reached. Until and unless that happens, though, the Steelers will no doubt continue to keep tabs on Cousins’ availability.

Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver Addresses Pending Jalen Ramsey Trade

May 26th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Over one month has passed since it became clear Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins are looking to part ways. Potential suitors have known about the possibility of a trade for even longer, but the All-Pro corner remains a member of the organization for now.

That is still expected to change shortly, however. Neither finances nor skill are seen as the driving forces for a split between team and player in this case. Rather, tension between Ramsey and head coach Mike McDaniel was reported to have resulted in a mutual decision to move on. The latest comments on the matter from defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver confirm that is the case.

“In this game, things change by the day,” Weaver said (via C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald). “I have a tremendous amount of respect [for] Ramsey. He played very good ball for us but relationships are hard. Both sides have mutually chosen to go the other way. I respect that and wish him nothing but the best.”

Ramsey has spent the past two seasons in South Beach, and after a knee injury limited him to 10 games in 2023 he managed a full season last year. The seven-time Pro Bowler is under contract for the next four years as a result of Miami’s willingness to keep him in place through the remainder of his prime, but a reversal of that move should be coming soon. A trade after June 1 rather than before will be more feasible for the Dolphins from a cap perspective, leaving time for an agreement with an interested party to be worked out.

Ramsey hopes to continue his career on a contender, and a reunion with the Rams has been mentioned on multiple occasions as something Los Angeles would welcome. It remains to be seen how much – if any – of the 30-year-old’s outstanding guarantees the Dolphins are prepared to absorb in a trade, something which will no doubt be a crucial factor in any agreement. The Cowboys could find themselves in the running for a Ramsey acquisition, but that does not appear to be likely at this point.

The Dolphins created one need for a new starting cornerback when they released Kendall Fuller. Moving on from Ramsey will open another first-team vacancy, so it comes as no surprise they have shown interest in some of the top remaining free agents at the position. Miami has been in contact with Asante Samuel Jr., while an offer has already been made to Rasul Douglas. James Bradberry could be an outside option, although expectations would be limited in his case if he signs anywhere for 2025.

Miami’s in-house corners will also be counted on to develop this season with multiple starters no longer in the fold; Cam Smith in particular could be in store for an uptick in workload. Plenty of uncertainty looms over how the Dolphins’ secondary will take shape this season, although it remains a foregone conclusion in the team’s view that Ramsey will not suit up for them again.

Raiders, P A.J. Cole Agree To Extension

May 26th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

A.J. Cole‘s tenure with the Raiders will continue for the foreseeable future. The veteran punter agreed to an extension on Monday, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports.

This will be a four-year, $15.8MM deal, per Schultz. The pact includes $11MM in guarantees and makes Cole the NFL’s highest-paid punter in terms of annual compensation. The 29-year-old is now under contract with the Raiders through 2029.

This is Cole’s second extension with the organization. Midway through the 2021 campaign, he inked a four-year, $12MM deal. This latest agreement represents a slight raise in terms of AAV and moves him ahead of the Seahawks’ Michael Dickson ($3.67MM) in that respect. Cole did not receive a Pro Bowl nod in 2024, but he did for each of the three prior seasons.

That stretch also included a pair of first-team All-Pro nods, an indication of Cole’s success during his Raiders tenure. The former UDFA has posted a gross average of 50 yards per punt or more three times since 2021, and in each of the past two seasons he has set a new career high in that regard. In terms of net average, Cole steadily improved early in his career and he has remained consistent for several years.

“I love the organization, I love the fans and I love Las Vegas,” Cole said while reflecting on the deal in a conversation with Schultz. “I told my agents: I want to be here for a long time. I want to play until I’m 40. I want to play forever.”

Cole certainly has a long way to go to remain in the NFL by that age, but the first six years of his career have been highly successful. He is on track to continue operating as one of the league’s top punters for years to come, and the new Raiders regime has ensured that will still take place with him in Vegas.

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