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Cardinals CB Garrett Williams, LB Zaven Collins To Play Hybrid Roles In 2025

August 23rd, 2025 at 1:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cardinals are planning to use cornerback Garrett Williams in a hybrid slot-outside role this year, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss.

Williams, a 2023 third-round pick, carved out a role as Arizona’s primary nickel defender by the end of his rookie season. He emerged as one of the NFL’s best slot corners in 2024, allowing a league-low 0.77 yards per coverage snap, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Williams is now set to step into a full-time role that will likely see him line up on the outside in base formations and slide into the slot for nickel and dime sets. That was already the plan before Starling Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting suffered knee injuries, but their absences will put more pressure on Williams to stay healthy and perform in both spots.

Williams only has 21 NFL snaps on the boundary, but he primarily played there in college. He said in July (via Weinfuss) that his thre years of starting experience at Syracuse will help him transition between outside and slot corner throughout the season.

Cardinals 2021 first-rounder Zaven Collins is also expected to play a hybrid role in Arizona’s defense. He started 22 games at inside linebacker in his first two seasons before moving to the edge under new head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in 2023. He started every game over the next two years and led the defense with 8.5 official sacks and 61 total pressures (via PFF).

Collins lined up at inside and outside linebacker at the beginning of camp, per Weinfuss. Rallis complimented his improvements as a pass rusher this week (via Howard Balzer of CardsWire), suggesting that the 26-year-old will primarily line up as an edge rusher while moonlighting as an off-ball linebacker.

Giants Will Look For Safeties On Waivers

August 23rd, 2025 at 12:19pm CST by Ely Allen

For one reason or another, the Giants had only two safeties active in their final preseason game Thursday night. Because of this, the team will reportedly be looking to add some quality safety depth on waivers, according to Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports.

While presumed starters Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, and likely third safety Dane Belton, were probably unavailable due to their importance to the Week 1 roster, Raheem Layne and Anthony Johnson Jr. were unavailable, presumably, for health reasons. This left Makari Paige and K’Von Wallace to play the entire game as the only two active safeties, leading them to the waiver wire.

NFL Players with fewer than four accrued seasons under their belt (and some injured players) are subject to the waiver wire, while vested veterans immediately become free agents that can sign a new contract at their own whim. This is a unique time of year to utilize the waiver wire, though.

Usually, waivers claims are processed at the end of a 24-hour period, claimed players are awarded to new teams, and teams with successful waivers are sent to the back of the priority list. What makes this time of year unique is that, from the final week of preseason games to the day after the roster cut deadline, any waived players will remain on the waiver wire, potentially for days, available to be claimed.

This gives the New York brass ample time to examine the young safeties available to be claimed. With the waiver order on Wednesday being based on 2024 records, the Giants should boast the third-highest waiver priority when claims begin processing.

The Giants should be pretty secure in their group of three safeties at the top of the depth chart. Holland came in this offseason from Miami on a sizeable three-year, $45.3MM deal. He had alternating seasons of outstanding and average play in Miami, which, if the pattern stays true, means the New York should expect the best from Holland in 2025. He should be the easy answer to slide in next to Nubin, the returning starter from last year, replacing Jason Pinnock, who now resides in the Bay Area. Belton has been a frequently used third safety in New York, rotating in often, and starting as an injury replacement as needed in his first three years with the team.

Of the safeties currently in the building, Wallace probably stands the best chance at staying as a fourth safety. After three seasons as a rotation safety in Philadelphia, Wallace started 12 games in a 2023 season that he spent with both the Cardinals (seven games) and Titans (10 games). Unfortunately, neither opportunity led to further contracts, and in 2024, he had a regressive year as an injured depth piece in Seattle.

Layne and Johnson have been depth pieces so far in their short time in New York, and Paige is an undrafted rookie out of Michigan. If the Giants decide that they don’t believe any combination of the four can effectively fill out their 53-man roster, they will have the next four days to evaluate the litany of players who end up on waivers.

NFL Injury Updates: Fisher, 49ers, Samuel

August 23rd, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans right tackle Blake Fisher is dealing with a mild ankle sprain that will sideline him for an indeterminate amount of time, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Fisher suffered the injury in last Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Panthers and missed practice this week. His absence, if it extends into the regular season, will add another wrinkle to Houston’s plans at tackle.

The Texans already overhauled the position this offseason. They traded Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders and replaced him by aqcuiring Cam Robinson from the Vikings. Houston also signed veteran Trent Brown in free agency and drafted Aireontae Ersery in the second round of April’s draft. Along with Fisher and Tytus Howard, who combined to play every snap at right tackle in 2024, the Texans have a variety of options on either end of their offensive line.

Robinson returned to the field this week after missing a few practices with a minor leg injury. He has been splitting first-team LT reps with Ersery. The rookie has been cross-training at right tackle as well, but only lined up on the blind side during the preseason. With Brown still on the physically unable to perform list, Howard has been playing right tackle in camp and sat out both preseason games, suggesting he will start in Week 1. Fisher started both preseason games at right tackle; if his ankle has recovered by the start of the regular season, he’ll likely be the Texans’ swing tackle.

As teams prepare to finalize their initial 53-man rosters by the Tuesday deadline, here is the latest from the injury front:

Falcons RT Kaleb McGary To Miss ‘Significant Time’

August 23rd, 2025 at 9:50am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced that starting right tackle Kaleb McGary will miss “significant time” with an injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice.

McGary went down during individual drills and had to be carted off the field. Morris indicated that the six-year veteran will land on injured reserve, though that could come with a return designation if the Falcons believe he can return this season.

The 30-year-old just negotiated a $3.5MM raise earlier this month with a two-year, $15MM extension. With Michael Penix entering his first full season as a starter, McGary may have had some added leverage as the left-handed quarterback’s new blind side protector.

McGary’s injury will stretch an already-injured tackle room even further. Swing tackle Storm Norton is recovering from ankle surgery and former UDFA Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is out for the year. Norton is unlikely to be ready for Week 1, making it unclear who will start at right tackle.

Morris specifically mentioned Elijah Wilkinson as a player who is expected to step up amid the injuries. He’s currently listed as the backup left guard on the Falcons’ unofficial depth chart, but the eight-year veteran moved to left tackle for the team’s second preseason. He also has 20 career starts at right tackle, though the last came in 2021. Brandon Parker is listed as Atlanta’s backup right tackle, but has lined up at left tackle in the preseason. Like Wilkinson, he has plenty of past experience at right tackle as well.

Rookie Jack Nelson could also be a factor after starting both preseason games at right tackle, but the seventh-rounder may not be trusted to protect Penix’s blind side right away. If McGary and/or Norton begin the season on IR, UDFA Jordan Williams could make the roster as extra depth after getting a handful of snaps at right tackle in the preseason.

49ers To Acquire RB Brian Robinson From Commanders

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brian Robinson‘s tenure in Washington is coming to an end as expected. The fourth-year running back will spend the coming season in San Francisco.

The 49ers and Commanders agreed to terms on a Robinson trade Friday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A 2026 sixth-round pick will head the other way as a result of the swap. San Francisco had been in the market for a backfield addition, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Efforts to pull off a move have now paid off ahead of roster cutdowns. Washington will retain a portion of Robinson’s 2025 salary ($3.4MM), Garafolo adds.

It recently became clear Washington was looking to move on from Robinson, who did not dress in the team’s second preseason game with a trade looming. The team’s Dan Quinn-Adam Peters regime has been open to a trade since last year, and with a swap now agreed to it will proceed with its other in-house RB options. Washington has veteran Austin Ekeler in the fold along with 2023 draftee Chris Rodriguez and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has enjoyed a strong training camp.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders in rushing last year, and today’s deal indicates he will once again be counted on as a central element of the team’s ground game. Expectations are high after Washington made a surprise run to the NFC title game during Daniels’ rookie campaign. Robinson will not play a role in the team’s efforts to duplicate that success, though.

Racking up 570 carries across his three seasons in the nation’s capital, Robinson was a key figure on offense with the Commanders. The former third-rounder saw his touchdown total and yards per attempt figure increase with each passing campaign. That included eight scores and 4.3 yards per carry in 2024. Instead of retaining Robinson on the final year of his rookie pact, however, Washington will proceed with a less expensive backfield.

The Commanders will recoup draft capital in this swap, something which is needed given the number of veterans on their roster. For the 49ers, meanwhile, today’s deal marks another addition on offense for the 2025 season. A trade was worked out on Wednesday for Skyy Moore, giving San Francisco a healthy receiver option. Moore, like Robinson, is a pending 2026 free agent.

The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey atop the RB depth chart, and all parties involved will aim for a healthier season this time around than 2024. After trading away Jordan Mason, the team was in position to have 2024 fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo handle backup duties. Now, he and Robinson will compete for playing time in the backfield (although using McCaffrey and Robinson on the field together could be an option, per Garafolo). Robinson’s market will of course be dictated in large part by the level of success he has with his new team.

San Francisco entered Friday with with nearly $49MM in cap space. Taking on Robinson will eat into the figure, and it will be interesting to see how much Washington retained on his pact to finalize the trade. The Commanders, meanwhile, should see partial cap savings and thus add to their roughly $17MM in available funds ahead of cutdowns. As both NFC teams prepare for the campaign in the coming days, they will do so with differences in their backfields.

Panthers, Taylor Moton Agree To Extension

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

Taylor Moton‘s tenure in Carolina is set to continue beyond the coming season. The ninth-year right tackle has agreed to an extension, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This new Panthers accord – which is now official – is two years in length and is worth $44MM, Moton’s agents informed Schefter. $40MM of that figure is guaranteed. Moton was entering a contract year, but he is now on the books through 2027.

Prior to today’s news, Moton was on course to carry a 2025 cap charge of over $31MM. The Panthers maintained a level of comfort with that figure remaining intact, but an extension always loomed as a means of reducing it while ensuring no free agent departure could take place next spring. Moton saw his ironman streak come to an end in 2024 with three missed games, but he has remained an anchor up front since his second year in the NFL.

Moton, who just turned 31, has been consistent not only in terms of availability but also performance during his Carolina tenure. With the exception of 2022, he has ranked between 13th and 23rd in terms of PFF grade amongst offensive tackles every year during his time as a starter. The Panthers will aim for a continuation of that run over the near term by means of their latest investment up front.

Carolina added a pair of starting guards via free agency last offseason by signing Robert Hunt (five years, $100MM) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53MM). Those big-ticket deals came about with left tackle Ikem Ekwonu on his rookie pact and Moton attached to his $17MM-per-year extension. A raise – coupled with a notable guarantee, although the structure of the contract is not yet known – has been authorized to ensure stability at the tackle spots. That will especially be true if Ekwonu’s desire for a new Carolina deal is met.

In any case, 2025 will see the same starting unit up front for Carolina. Ekwonu and Moton will spend a fourth season together, with Lewis and Hunt manning the guard spots. Austin Corbett won out this summer’s competition with Cade Mays, meaning he will retain his starting role at center. Continuity along the O-line will be a key factor in what the team hopes will be continued development from third-year quarterback Bryce Young in 2025.

At $22MM, the average annual value of his deal moves Moton into a tie with the recently-extended Zach Tom in terms of yearly compensation at the right tackle position. Only Lane Johnson ($25MM) and Penei Sewell ($28MM) are attached to a higher figure at that spot. If Moton can maintain his level of play over the course of his third contract, this latest commitment on the part of the Panthers will likely prove to be worthwhile.

Teams Inquiring On Micah Parsons; Cowboys Remain Against Trading DE

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following Jerry Jones‘ latest comments on the Micah Parsons situation, the All-Pro pass rusher took the increasingly common step of scrubbing his X profile of Cowboys material. The Cowboys have been known to prolong negotiations, regardless of price hikes, and they are well down this road once again with another standout.

Multiple teams have inquired about Parsons’ availability, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance. Nothing is moving on that front, as Dallas continues to hold tight during its latest contract saga.

That aligns with what we heard last week, with GMs indicating they have not gotten the sense Parsons is available following his trade request. Noting it would take a Herschel Walker-like offer for the Cowboys to move Parsons, Fowler points to team optimism a deal can still be finalized before the season. It should also be noted Parsons’ camp is less optimistic.

Jones attempting to go around high-powered agent David Mulugheta in negotiations has understandably irked Parsons, who employs an agent to negotiate his contract. The longtime Cowboys owner referencing a $200MM guarantee also reflects what is likely a five- or six-year Dallas extension offer. With the cap soaring annually, players are increasingly opting against long-term deals. The Cowboys prefer them, but it is notable Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb convinced the team to budge here by each scoring four-year extensions. It would surprise if Parsons signed for beyond four years, but Jones continues to reference his negotiations with the player — talks Parsons classified as informal — this offseason.

A Cowboys source mentioned the 49ers’ Nick Bosa situation re: Parsons. San Francisco did not have Bosa signed until four days before the 2023 regular season. Bosa played in Week 1 despite holding out until his extension was done. Parsons has spoken out about how not practicing during a negotiation can negatively impact a season, and he long preferred to have his deal done by training camp. The Cowboys are well past that artificial deadline, as these talks now remind of the Prescott and Lamb pace. Neither of those performers requested a trade, which is a notable difference between this Parsons back-and-forth and previous Cowboys extension struggles.

While Fowler adds Mulugheta certainly didn’t tell Jones to stick the team’s offer “up their (expletive),” the Cowboys going to these lengths to avoid dealing with one of the game’s top agents has been an interesting chapter. As our Nikhil Mehta mentioned Thursday, Jones taking this route is not out of character. But Parsons taking issue with it to the degree he has would seem to require the team to change course and huddle up with Mulugheta — if the intent is to finalize a deal before Week 1. The Cowboys’ Thursday-night assignment in Philadelphia to open the season also gives them less time than they had with Prescott last year.

Mentioning the Packers, Cardinals and Ravens as potential trade fits, Fowler outlines what would certainly be a robust market if the Cowboys did decide to explore what they top player would fetch in a trade. Of course, dealing Parsons would significantly weaken the 2025 Cowboys.

Jones mentioned during his Michael Irvin podcast conversation the prospect of franchise-tagging Parsons next year. That would be an option, but the Cowboys are not giving up on a 2025 deal yet.

TE Cade Otton Would Stay In Tampa Long-Term If Offered

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton is set to play out the 2025 NFL season on a contract year. Tampa Bay’s top tight end for the past three years, Otton expressed hope for an extension in a recent media appearance (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and Greg Auman), though he seemed to indicate that the feeling may not be mutual.

As a rookie fourth-round pick out of Washington in 2022, Otton immediately surpassed long-time backup Cameron Brate for the top tight end honors in the wake of Rob Gronkowski‘s second retirement. With Gronk out of the offense, quarterback Tom Brady didn’t look often to his tight end group to move the ball, so it didn’t take much, but Otton’s 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns were all team highs at the position.

He and fellow rookie Ko Kieft — picked two rounds after Otton — were the only two returning tight ends in 2023. Kieft played much more of a blocking tight end role, earning more starts than Otton in 2022 but recording far fewer yards. Kieft was joined in that role by a sixth-round 2023 draftee, Payne Durham. With Kieft and Durham in blocking situations most of the time, Otton once again quietly led the group with 47 receptions, 455 yards, and four touchdowns.

For the third year in a row, the Buccaneers spent another Day 3 pick on a tight end in 2024, using a seventh-rounder to bring in Otton’s former Huskies teammate Devin Culp. Once again, Kieft, Durham, and Culp remained mostly nonfactors in the passing game, leaving Otton to post a career-best receiving line of 59-600-4, despite missing three games.

The reason Tampa Bay hasn’t come forward to discuss an extension yet may be the same reason they’ve been taken flyers on late-round tight ends each year. Sure, they’ve been appreciative of Otton’s contributions as the leading tight end, but every year there’s been an expectation that he might take off. Yet, despite the lack of a serious competitor, instead of taking leaps, Otton has merely continued taking steps forward. He’s improved each year but not to the level of a clearcut TE1.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that this is Otton’s last year in pewter and red (and, occasionally, Creamsicle). While he has his sights set on his future, Otton has 17 games ahead of him in which he can give Tampa Bay every reason why they should extend him as their tight end of the future. Otherwise, the Buccaneers may just go back to the draft for the position in 2026.

NFL Front Office Updates: Falcons, Broncos, Chargers

August 22nd, 2025 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons announced a number of changes to their front office earlier this month. The team’s scouting department saw three promotions, made two new hires, and named a group of short-term workers.

For the promotions, BLESTO scout James McClintock was elevated to area scout and scouting assistants Cami Pasqualoni and Kevin Weisman moved up to new roles, as well. McClintock is in Year 4 with the team after starting as a scouting assistant and getting promoted to his most recent position after only a year. Pasqualoni, the daughter of former Lions defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, and Weisman joined the team a year ago. Pasqualoni will now serve as personnel and coaching assistant, while Weisman will now hold the title of football administration and personnel assistant.

Taking McClintock’s role as BLESTO scout will be new hire Alex Brown. Brown was announced as a new area scout for the team back in July, but it appears he will swap that title with McClintock’s. The other new hire is Kevin Melore, who will fill one of the scouting assistant roles vacated by Pasqualoni and Weisman. Melore spent last year as a senior personnel assistant at the University of Texas.

Atlanta also announced three Bill Walsh Diversity Fellows. Former NFL safety Erik Harris — played for the Falcons for two years — filled the role in the offseason, Jarred Gray filled the role in training camp, and Jalen Harris served in the role for both the offseason and training camp. After their fellowships, Harris will return to his usual role as special teams coordinator at Gulf Breeze HS (FL), Gray will return to Austin as the Longhorns defensive analyst/senior personnel analyst, and Harris will go back to work as the player development coordinator/assistant wide receivers coach at Georgia.

The other two temporary workers were Shaunessy Fisk and Jordan Young, who served as scouting training camp assistants. Fisk is a recruiting and scouting graduate assistant at Boise State who worked a player personnel internship with the Seahawks last year. Young, a former undrafted outside linebacker for the Buccaneers out of Old Dominion, returned to his alma mater as a defensive quality control coach in 2024.

Here are a couple other front office updates from around the NFL:

  • The Broncos also announced a few promotions in their front office, per Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. The headlining moves saw Kelly Kleine Van Calligan and Tony Lazzaro elevated into VP roles. Formerly the executive director of football operations/special advisor to the general manager, Van Calligan becomes the vice president of football operations in her 14th year in the NFL and her fifth with the Broncos. Gabriel notes that Van Calligan, who interviewed for the Raiders’ general manager job in 2024, now stands as the second-highest ranking woman in an NFL front office, behind only Browns assistant general manager and vice president of football operations Catherine Hickman. Lazzaro, entering his 25th year with the team, receives a title bump after leading Denver’s football information systems and football analytics departments since 2020. Denver also saw western national scout Sae Woon Jo promoted to national scout and football administration & strategy coordinator Rob Simpson promoted to football administration & strategy manager.
  • Finally, Walder reports that the Chargers have hired Ben Wendel to their analytics staff. A finalist in this year’s Big Data Bowl, Wendel’s title is unknown at this moment.

NFL Roster Updates: Doubs, Lazard, Smith, Ward, Bush

August 22nd, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur emphatically shut down rumors that wide receiver Romeo Doubs wouldn’t make the team’s 53-man roster.

“I’d be very shocked if he was going anywhere,” LaFleur told Kay Adams during an Up & Adams appearance on Thursday.

When asked again if Doubs would be cut, LaFleur responded, “No. That will not happen.” 

The uncertainty surrounding the fourth-year wideout stems from the Packers’ depth at the position after adding Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in April’s draft. However, LaFleur noted that the team was “missing a lot of guys,” namely returning starters Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Watson, coming off an ACL tear in January, is expected to begin the year on the PUP list, while a sprained foot may sideline Reed for the beginning of the regular season. Williams (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (calf) also missed practice on Tuesday, per ESPN.

As a result, Doubs’ roster spot is safe. Judging by LaFleur’s comments, he would’ve made the team even with a healthy receiver room.

“‘Rome’ is out there competing and doing everything that we need to see from him,” said LaFleur. “And obviously he’s played a lot of ball for us, and at a high level. He’s been a great teammate, he goes out there and you can count on him every day.”

Here are a few other updates on key roster situations around the league:

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