Ethan Waugh Out As Jaguars’ Assistant GM
Despite being tied to the Trent Baalke regime, Ethan Waugh took part in the Jaguars’ round of interviews to replace him. But Baalke’s right-hand man is out in Jacksonville as well.
The Jags are moving on from Waugh as assistant GM, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton reports. Hiring Waugh just after the 2022 draft, the Jags also named him interim GM following Baalke’s January firing. With James Gladstone now in place as GM, it certainly makes sense a key new hire will take place as restructuring continues under the ex-Rams exec.
Teams often wait until after the draft to make these moves, in order to not disrupt continuity within the front office after extensive scouting work has been completed. Waugh ended up working through the draft, a memorable one for the Jaguars, who traded a 2026 first-rounder as part of a package that secured them (via the Browns) Travis Hunter‘s draft rights.
Gladstone is credited with putting those trade talks in motion, doing so weeks ahead of the draft. Waugh was still with the team at this point. Waugh arrived days after the 2022 draft and had been playing out the string this year. The veteran exec had worked in San Francisco for an extended period, overlapping with Baalke there. It will be expected he lands elsewhere soon, even if Baalke has not.
Despite Baalke’s 49ers ouster after the 2016 season, John Lynch retained Waugh and eventually elevated him to VP of player personnel in 2021. This came months after the Jaguars named Baalke GM, though he held that title while Urban Meyer ran football ops. Post-Meyer, the Jags elevated Baalke to the top of their personnel period. They then added Waugh from the 49ers.
The Baalke-Waugh pairing completed an eventful offseason in 2024, giving out the three most lucrative contract extensions — for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell — in team history. This came after the team gave Gladstone and Co. an ascending talent by drafting Brian Thomas Jr. in Round 1. Last year’s Jags season skidded off track early, however, as a host of close losses turned into a 4-13 record — during a season that brought Lawrence’s first extended absence. Hunter will be brought in to team with Thomas.
Bengals To Exercise DB Dax Hill’s Fifth-Year Option
Dax Hill is coming off a season marred by an ACL tear, but the Bengals are still high on the former first-round pick. Rather than shift the converted safety into a contract year, the team is extending his rookie contract through 2026.
The rehabbing cornerback will see his fifth-year option exercised, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This is an interesting decision, but Hill had won a starting CB job in Cincinnati after being moved from safety last year.
Hill’s option cost likely is motivating a Bengals team, one that changed defensive coordinators earlier this year, to stick with the 2022 first-round pick. Although Hill spent more time at safety than corner during his fifth-year option, Fowler notes his option price is expected to land on the fourth tier at corner. That would call for a $12.68MM guarantee. Were Hill to be classified as a safety, the number would settle at an even more manageable $9.27MM.
Still, this is an interesting decision due to Hill having suffered an ACL tear in Week 5 of last season. The Bengals had moved him from safety to corner before OTAs last year, sliding him closer to the line of scrimmage after Chidobe Awuzie‘s free agency defection. Hill, 24, beat out former Michigan teammate DJ Turner for a starting job opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. Cincinnati’s Tuesday decision provides some momentum for Hill as he completes rehab from a major injury.
Hill had played well at corner after the switch. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot defender in the top quartile at the position last season, though he did not log enough snaps to qualify as a 2024 regular. This, however, differs from how the advanced metrics site assessed his play at safety. PFF graded Hill 90th out of 95 qualified safeties in 2023, as the Bengals struggled to replace Jessie Bates.
Hill only has one full season as a starter under his belt, having played behind Bates and Vonn Bell as a rookie. Hill’s 2024 injury served as part of the Cincy defense’s undoing last year, but Al Golden appears to still view him as a building block ahead of his first year as DC.
As the team prepares to reintegrate Hill into its starting lineup, Turner and Taylor-Britt remain on their rookie deals. Neither is eligible for a fifth-year option due to both having been second-round picks. One season remains on Taylor-Britt’s deal, two on Turner’s. Despite Lou Anarumo‘s defense unraveling — to deny the team a playoff berth and Joe Burrow a potential MVP award — last season, no major CB investments have come this offseason. That points to considerable faith in Hill, and Tuesday’s option decision illustrated that.
Chiefs To Exercise Fifth-Year Options On Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis
Trent McDuffie and George Karlaftis are targets for Chiefs extensions. One or both could be worked out as early as this offseason, but in any case their futures for the next two years are clear. 
Kansas City will exercise the fifth-year option in both of these cases, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. For McDuffie, that sets him up to receive $17.6MM in 2026. Karlaftis will be in line to earn $15.12MM that season. Of course, long-term accords could very well be hand before that campaign begins anyway.
[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
The Chiefs appeared at one point to be on track to lose guard Trey Smith in free agency, but using the franchise tag prevented such a development. Tagging the Pro Bowler ensures he will remain in Kansas City for at least 2025, but general manager Brett Veach recently said a Smith extension will be the team’s top post-draft priority. To no surprise, McDuffie and Karlaftis are in the team’s plans as well.
McDuffie has operated as a full-time starter during his time with the Chiefs. The Washington product does not have a Pro Bowl nod on his resume despite the fact he earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and a spot on the second All-Pro team last year. McDuffie has only managed two interceptions to date in his career, but his strong coverage performances and 13 pass deflections from last year showcase his value to the team.
The cornerback market jumped to $30MM this offseason thanks to Derek Stingley Jr.‘s Texans extension. Seven cover men are now attached to a pact averaging at least $20.1MM annually, and McDuffie will no doubt aim to join that group on his second contract. Team and player will have plenty of time to work out a deal with the option being picked up.
Karlaftis, 24, has seen his workload increase with each passing season. After posting 10.5 sacks in 2023, that figure fell slightly to eight last season. The Purdue alum increased his pressure totals (from 35 to 37), though, and continued development can be expected for several more years. Providing Kansas City with a consistent presence off the edge will be key for the team as defensive tackle Chris Jones moves toward the latter stages of his career.
Myles Garrett‘s trade request was rescinded when he and the Browns worked out an extension averaging $40MM per season. That represents the top of the market at this point, but the likes of Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are all in position to ink monster new pacts of their own. That could drive up the asking price on a new Karlaftis pact once negotiations begin on that front.
The Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl every year since adding the McDuffie-Karlaftis tandem to the mix, winning the title game twice. Both members of that pairing will be counted to remain impactful starters moving forward during a stretch which will last through the 2026 campaign at a minimum.
Titans To Add Dan Saganey To Front Office
11:37am: Saganey’s title will be vice president of player personnel, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. This represents a lateral move as a result. As for Gardner, meanwhile, Stratton notes he and the Titans have parted ways. Tennessee will remain a team to watch for further front office moves this offseason.
9:40am: Once the draft concludes, movement often takes place amongst NFL front office and scouting personnel. In the case of the Titans, an addition is set to be made in the scouting department.
With Dan Saganey‘s Browns tenure coming to a close, he is headed to Tennessee. Cleveland’s former player personnel director is expected to be hired by the Titans, per veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. Saganey will take on a “high-level scouting role” upon arrival, Kuharsky adds.
In recent years, the Titans have seen plenty of executive turnover. This offseason has included the firing of general manager Ran Carthon, who was replaced by Mike Borgonzi. The latter led the way during the draft, but president of football operations Chad Brinker will serve as the organization’s top decision-maker in many other areas. Saganey – who had been in his post since 2016 – will join the fold as Tennessee continues to make moves in the front office.
Per Neil Stratton of Inside the Lines (via Kurhasky), the Titans recently moved on from A.J. Highsmith as their scouting director. He had been in that spot for only one year, but with changes coming at the top of the organization that department will also have a new face for 2025. Saganey is obviously a candidate to take over Highsmith’s role (although college scouting director Jon Salge as well as pro scouting director Brian Gardner remain in the organization and are candidates to be promoted).
Tennessee followed up the Borgonzi hire by adding a pair of former general managers to the fold. Reggie McKenzie and Dave Ziegler will each play a notable role with the team moving forward. The same is set to be true of Saganey.
Commanders To Sign K Matt Gay, Release K Zane Gonzalez
Matt Gay‘s time as a free agent has not lasted long. The veteran kicker has agreed to a deal with the Commanders, per his agents (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). 
This will be a one-year deal worth $4.25MM fully guaranteed. That figure represents the highest locked-in total for a kicker on a one-year accord in league history. Pelissero notes Gay’s 2025 earnings can top out at $5MM via incentives.
Earlier this month, the Colts released Gay halfway through his four-year, $22.5MM pact. The 31-year-old became a free agent as a result, but to little surprise he did not line up a deal prior to the draft taking place. Like almost all teams, the Commanders did not use a draft pick on the position this past weekend. That opened the door to Zane Gonzalez remaining in place as the team’s kicker for 2025, but Pelissero reports he has been released in a corresponding move to the Gay signing.
Gonzalez was limited to six games in 2024, his first year of regular season action since 2021. The former Brown, Cardinal and Panther connected on five of seven field goal attempts for Washington when healthy, with the team cycling though numerous other options during the campaign. One year remained on Gonzelez’s contract; this release will result in $1.03MM in cap savings for the team without generating a dead money charge.
Gay’s career accuracy rate sits at 85.5%. He was unable to reach that figure (or match his Rams success) during his two seasons in Indianapolis as issues with long-range attempts proved to be key. Gay missed six field goal attempts in 2024, each of which were at a distance of 50-plus yards. From within that range, he was a perfect 31-for-31 along with a 100% success rate on extra points.
The Commanders entered Tuesday with more than $26MM in cap space, so this move will not alter the team’s post-draft free agent plans. If Gay manages to remain healthy next season, he will likely provide them with a strong option in the kicking game.
Saints Release QB Ben DiNucci
The addition of a quarterback via the draft added to the logjam at the position for New Orleans. The team’s depth chart has now be thinned, however. 
Ben DiNucci announced on Tuesday he has been released. The 28-year-old joined the Saints in December in the wake of Derek Carr getting injured. DiNucci did not see any playing time down the stretch, and he will not have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp as a result of today’s move.
To close out the 2024 season, New Orleans used Spencer Rattler as a starter for six games. The 2024 fifth-rounder is joined by Jake Haener (selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft) as a depth option behind Carr. Of course, it remains to be seen when the Saints’ starter will be available as he weighs the option of undergoing surgery on his shoulder.
As expected, New Orleans drafted a quarterback for the third consecutive year. Tyler Shough heard his name called 40th overall, and the Louisville product will compete for the backup gig during his rookie season (provided Carr is available to start the season). With that quartet of signal-callers in place – along with Hunter Dekkers as an invitee to rookie minicamp (h/t Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football) – it comes as little surprise DiNucci has been let go.
A seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2020, DiNucci made three appearances and one start during his rookie campaign. He has yet to see any regular season NFL action since then, and with the draft now in the books most teams’ depth charts are set for the summer. DiNucci will nevertheless turn his attention to finding a new opportunity for 2025.
Browns Did Not Anticipate Selecting Two QBs; Latest On Shedeur Sanders’ Pre-Draft Process
Entering the draft, the Browns were among the teams seen as a logical landing spot for a rookie quarterback. The team did wind up adding at the position, although not in the way they (or many others) anticipated. 
Cleveland declined to draft a signal-caller until late in the third round when Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel was added. That move seemed to close the door to Shedeur Sanders being selected, but on Saturday the Browns moved up into the fifth round to acquire the Colorado product. More details have emerged regarding the latter’s slide down the order.
[RELATED: Giants Considered Sanders Trade-Up; Teams Took QB Off Draft Boards?]
Sanders met with one team at the Combine which discussed an interception dating back to his college career (with breakdowns of such plays being standard practice), as detailed by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. He writes Sanders declined to take the blame when speaking about the play, and added his feelings that he and the team may not be the best match for one another. Per Breer, a different visit resulted in a disagreement between Sanders and an NFL coach when he failed to recognize intentional mistakes in a hypothetical offensive install.
Off-the-field factors have been cited as presumed reasons why Sanders – once viewed as being in the running to be drafted as high as second overall by the Browns and the subject of considerable scouting attention this season – fell all the way to pick No. 144. Being the son of Deion Sanders has long been regarded as an element of drafting Shedeur which would give many NFL teams pause. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi report, though, multiple evaluators assigned a late first-round grade on Sanders while many others listed him as a Day 2 pick. A slide out of the top of the order thus came as little surprise, but remaining on the board as late as he did comprised one of the draft’s top talking points.
“I feel like in life, there’s always a way I can improve,” Sanders said (via Oyefusi). ” I’m able to improve. And some things that I [did] that seemed right at the time, I could’ve went about it a different way. I think what happened was I had a great interview and had a great process with the Browns, and that’s why they were able to pick me. So anything outside the organization is really a [non-factor] for me now.”
Sanders is now a member of a quarterback room which includes veteran Joe Flacco and trade acquisition Kenny Pickett along with Gabriel. General manager Andrew Berry noted (via the ESPN report) the Browns did not expect to draft two passers this weekend. Since they have, though, the team’s QB situation will be an interesting storyline to follow as the offseason unfolds.
Titans Did Not Try To Trade Will Levis During Draft
The Titans’ plan to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft raised obvious questions about Will Levis‘ future in Tennesee.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi shot down a late-March report that the team was looking to move Levis, but trade rumors persisted up until the draft. Levis remained in Tennessee through the weekend, and Borgonzi insisted after the draft that Levis still has “a lot of value.”
“There is going to be competition in every room, and he elevates the competition in that room,” said Borgonzi (via senior team writer Jim Wyatt). No. 1 pick Cam Ward is expected to take over as the Titans’ starting quarterback, but he will have to earn the gig during the preseason. Levis will likely be Ward’s primary competition, as veteran free agent signings Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle have never earned a starting job out of training camp.
Borgonzi said that all four QBs would get an “equal amount of reps” at the beginning of camp with head coach Brian Callahan and his staff making adjustments as they evaluate the position.
“We’re not going to name any starters right now, here in the offseason,” added Borgonzi.
However, it’s hard to imagine that the Titans took Ward without the intention of starting him right away. Of the six quarterbacks taken with the first overall pick in the last decade, only Jared Goff didn’t open his rookie season as a starter. (He took over for Case Keenum after nine games.) If Levis struggled to keep his job against lesser competition last year, there’s little reason to believe that he can fend off Ward this summer.
Commanders Showed Interest In Joey Bosa, DeMarcus Lawrence
The Commanders’ five-pick haul did not include a defensive end, and the ascendant team may still have work to do at the position between now and Week 1. Big names had been on the team’s radar leading up to the draft.
In addition to pursuing Trey Hendrickson, the Commanders looked into other high-profile options in March. The team showed interest in Joey Bosa and DeMarcus Lawrence, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim. Those rushers respectively signed with the Bills and Seahawks.
[RELATED: Cowboys Did Not Submit Offer To Lawrence]
Lawrence made sense as an obvious Commanders target, given the longtime Cowboy’s ties to Dan Quinn and DC Joe Whitt. Quinn coached Lawrence for three seasons, and the team agreed to a deal that provided $30MM in additional guarantees (2022) during Quinn’s tenure. Lawrence is coming off a season-ending Lisfranc injury, but he still fetched a nice contract from the Seahawks, who employ ex-Cowboys assistant Aden Durde as DC. Lawrence, who is now healthy, signed a three-year, $32.5MM deal.
Committing to Seattle shortly before Bosa made a surprise Buffalo pledge, Lawrence scored a similar guarantee at signing ($13MM) despite Bosa’s one-year deal. Illustrating the value Bosa still carried following his Chargers release, the Bills gave him a one-year, $12.61MM that came with $12MM at signing. Buffalo will roll the dice on Bosa, who has battled injuries for most of his career, as its top Gregory Rousseau complementary rusher.
It stands to reason the Commanders will reexamine the free agent market for an option. The team lost its top 2024 sacker, Dante Fowler, after he returned to Dallas on a one-year, $6MM contract. That deal illustrates minimal interest from Washington, which devoted more offseason attention to its D-tackle corps than its edge-rushing contingent. The team did re-sign Clelin Ferrell and add potential rotational cogs in Jacob Martin, Deatrich Wise and Jalyn Holmes, but the team may be missing a starter opposite Dorance Armstrong.
Bosa’s Bills agreement points Von Miller to needing to continue his Hall of Fame career outside of Buffalo. Za’Darius Smith came up as a Lions option, and while he may still be in play to return to Detroit (after its draft haul was light at the need area), no known talks have transpired. Matt Judon is also available, as is ex-Washington draftee Preston Smith. The Bengals have not exactly wrapped matters with Hendrickson, either, potentially keeping the door open to a trade.
The Commanders are likely still open to addressing this premium position via trade as well, but ahead of OTAs, the team still looks to need an Armstrong sidekick — or a big-ticket addition that drops him in the pecking order.
Browns Place UFA Tender On Elijah Moore
The Bills hosted Elijah Moore on a visit Monday. Soon after, the Browns became the first team to unholster the UFA tender since the Chiefs and Ravens did so in 2022.
Cleveland brought the seldom-used tender out for Moore, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports. This will include a potential Moore signing into the Browns’ 2026 compensatory formula. The tender is worth $3.43MM, per Yates. This covers 110% of Moore’s 2024 salary.
Baltimore and Kansas City placed UFA tenders on Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram, respectively. Neither player returned to the team, but the tenders gave the Ravens and Chiefs exclusive negotiating rights had those edge rushers not signed by July 22. That will apply to the Browns with Moore, who could either return to Cleveland at that rate or aim for another team’s offer before July 22.
If Moore signs elsewhere before that date, he will factor into the Browns’ comp-pick haul for 2026. Moore’s path back to Cleveland became somewhat foggy later Monday, when the Browns took a flier on mercurial wideout Diontae Johnson. The Browns had originally acquired Moore in a trade with the Jets, in March 2023, as New York was reshaping its WR room ahead of Aaron Rodgers‘ arrival. Moore worked as a reasonably productive auxiliary target for two largely QB-deficient Browns teams, posting 640- and 538-yard seasons as a slot presence.
The Browns have Jerry Jeudy entrenched as their No. 1 wideout, after his belated 2024 breakout that produced a Pro Bowl nod, and Johnson joins 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman Jr. as supporting-cast options. The Browns did not draft a receiver over the weekend, potentially keeping a Moore return in play.
While Houston, Ingram and LeGarrette Blount (2017) represent instances of players hit with UFA tenders before leaving as free agents, players have returned to their previous team on a UFA tender before. Markus Golden did so in 2020, rejoining the Giants after that year’s July deadline came and went. Golden signed the tender a week after the deadline, reporting to camp. The Giants eventually traded Golden back to the Cardinals before that year’s trade deadline.