Rams Re-Sign LB Troy Reeder
Troy Reeder will remain with the Rams for another season. The veteran linebacker was re-signed on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
Reeder has spent five of his six seasons with the Rams; the lone exception came in 2022 when he played for the Chargers. The 30-year-old has played on one-year-deals since 2022. To no surprise, that will be the case once again this time around.
The former UDFA played a notable role as a rookie, logging eight starts across his 16 appearances. He remained a regular on defense over the next two seasons, reaching a career high in tackles (91) during his final campaign before joining Los Angeles’ other franchise. During his one-and-done Chargers stint, though, Reeder primarily worked on special teams. That largely remained the case during his first campaign back with the Rams.
Things changed in 2024, with the Delaware product starting all six of his appearances and logging by far the highest defensive snap share of his career (94%). A hamstring injury cost him the remainder of the campaign, however, something which also hurt his market value. Reeder’s previous Rams pact was worth $1.13MM, and given his missed time this latest one will likely check in at a similar value.
The Rams – who entered Thursday with $17.7MM in cap space – still have plenty of room to make any further moves at the linebacker spot before the upcoming draft. Reeder will re-join a group which also includes low-cost returnees Omar Speights, Tony Fields and Eli Neal in addition to free agent signing Nathan Landman. Even if a rookie is added in the near future, Reeder will be in position to compete for a starting gig during training camp.
Giants To Host RB Omarion Hampton; Latest On Team’s First-Round Plans
Adding a rookie quarterback is certainly on the table for the Giants; with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the books, though, the team has increasingly been seen as situated to avoid a signal-caller with the No. 3 pick. Signs continue to point in that direction. 
Provided the Titans follow through with selecting Cam Ward first overall, the Browns will be left with their choice of top prospects Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Whichever member of that pair remains available when New York is on the clock will no doubt receive strong consideration, especially if general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll do not view Shedeur Sanders as being worth a top-three pick.
The Browns have previously been linked to heavy Carter interest, but more recently Hunter has emerged as the favorite to go second overall. Part of determining the Heisman winner’s NFL landing spot will of course be the evaluation of his position at the pro level, and the Giants – who may have shifted their view on that front – are firmly in play to draft him. A move up the board to accomplish that may be on the table.
Sports Illustratred’s Albert Breer writes either Hunter or Carter are likely headed to the Giants later this month, with the team positioned to take a best player available approach at the top of the board. Selecting the latter would add to an edge rush group already featuring Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, making for what could be a less immediate path to playing time for the Penn State standout. By contrast, Hunter could fill a void at receiver and/or cornerback.
New York’s WR group is headlined by Malik Nabers and includes veteran re-signee Darius Slayton, but room exists for a complementary option. Hunter could meet that requirement on offense, or if deployed on defense he could join a CB depth chart featuring free agent addition Paulson Adebo. 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks has not developed as hoped, and Hunter could compete for a starting spot right away opposite Adebo on the perimeter. Depending on how the Browns’ evaluations shake out, Breer adds a trade up to the second slot could be in play which would ensure the Giants’ ability to add Hunter.
In other draft news concerning the team, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Omarion Hampton is visiting today. The North Carolina product is widely seen as the second best member of a very strong running back class and is firmly on the first-round radar. New York’s post-Saquon Barkley era saw veteran Devin Singletary and fifth-round rookie Tyrone Tracy split time in the backfield. Both of them are under contract for next year, but adding further at the RB position could be under consideration.
Barring a move well down the Day 1 order, though, Hampton is unlikely to be in New York’s range. The second-team All-American can likely be projected to hear his name called sometime in the 20s, Breer predicts (video link). A Hampton selection prior to that could be in the cards, although it would still represent a surprise if the Giants were to find themselves as a serious suitor.
Colts Release K Matt Gay
Matt Gay‘s time with the Colts has come to an end. The veteran kicker was released on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
After a successful three-year stint with the Rams, Gay joined the Colts in free agency in March 2023. That four-year, $22.5MM pact came with high expectations and seemed to end Indianapolis’ efforts to find a long-term Adam Vinatieri successor. After only two years with the team, however, another change at the position has been made. This release creates $2.5MM in savings while incurring a dead money charge of $4MM.
Gay connected on 33 of 41 field goal attempts during his debut Colts season, good for an accuracy rate of 80.5%. That figure was well short of his success with the Rams, but – after undergoing hernia surgery – a rebound of sorts took place last year. The 31-year-old went 31-for-37 on field goals in 2024, including a 100% success rate on kicks under 50 yards. From long range, though, Gay only made three of nine attempts.
The former fifth-rounder only missed one extra point attempt during his two-year Indianapolis tenure, something which (coupled with his short- and medium-range accuracy) should help him land a new gig in relatively short order. With the draft approaching, however, the Colts could now find themselves in the market for a rookie kicker. As of now, only Spencer Shrader is on the team’s roster.
A 2024 UDFA, Shrader spent time with three different teams last season, making a total of four appearances. The 25-year-old played one game with the Colts and returned to the team in free agency last month. Schrader now finds himself atop the depth chart, but Indianapolis can be expected to bring in competition in the form of a veteran or a rookie in the near future.
Raiders Arrange Visits With Shedeur Sanders, Will Campbell, Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger
Set to select sixth overall, the Raiders find themselves in an interesting position as the countdown to the draft continues. The team could go in several different directions, and a number of first-round options are being examined through pre-draft visits. 
Vegas lined up a large number of top-30 visits yesterday, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the group included LSU tackle Will Campbell and Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham. Both prospects are viewed in the tier below presumed No. 1 pick Cam Ward and the highly-regarded duo of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Depending on how the Patriots and Jaguars operate with the fourth and fifth selections, though, neither Campbell nor Graham may be available once Vegas is on the clock.
The Raiders’ work also included their previously-reported visit with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. The Heisman runner-up has frequently been mentioned as a logical fit for Vegas given the team’s struggles on the ground last season and resultant need to find a long-term Josh Jacobs successor. Selecting Campbell or Graham instead would leave a vacancy in the backfield (at least until later in the draft), but it would help shore up the line of scrimmage for a team looking to rebound from a 4-13 season.
A large part of that effort has been the acquisition of quarterback Geno Smith. The trade sending him to the Raiders was recently followed by a two-year extension putting him on the books through 2027, but the team is still interested in exploring rookie signal-callers. Among those with a visit planned is Shedeur Sanders, per Breer. The Colorado passer’s Vegas meeting will take place on Monday, he adds.
Vegas has previously been connected to Sanders, whose stock remains a key talking point in advance of the draft. A fall out of the first round is not expected, but the strength of prospects at other positions for teams not immediately in need of a signal-caller could lead them in another direction. Still, the Browns and Giants have been linked to Sanders interest, and his visit with the Steelers (set to select 21st overall) today illustrates the extent of his list of suitors.
Sanders is not the only QB prospect being looked into. As Breer notes, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Ohio State’s Will Howard were present yesterday, along with Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart. Those three passers face a wide range of draft outcomes, but Dart has gained steam for first-round consideration. Ewers and Howard are more logical targets if Vegas – now led by head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and (to a notable extent) minority owner Tom Brady – plans to wait until after Day 1 to add a quarterback .
Also present for Wednesday’s prospect summit was Carson Schwesinger, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic. The UCLA product is seen as one of the top linebackers in the 2025 class, and he is slated to hear his name called sometime in the second round. Vegas owns pick No. 37, which could be used on Schwesinger based in part on how yesterday’s visit went. With respect to the team’s top selection, though, several options are on the table and are receiving consideration.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Extension Could Be More Expensive Than Anticipated?
T.J. Watt is one of several edge rushers still in line for a new contract this offseason. The position’s market has jumped thanks to Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett working out raises with their respective teams, and that could push the value Watt’s next Steelers pact upward. 
One season remains on the former Defensive Player of the Year’s deal, one which carries a 2025 cap charge of $31.42MM. That figure could be lowered with an extension, although a third Pittsburgh contract will require a raise in annual average value. Watt’s existing pact is worth an average of just over $28MM per season, whereas Garrett’s has an AAV of $40MM.
Resetting the market once again may not be necessary, but a sign indicating talks have not gone well to date emerged on Wednesday. An Instagram post from Watt which shows him holding up the peace sign while walking off the field has led to speculation about his desire to remain in Pittsburgh moving forward. Such developments rarely prove to be particularly relevant during contract talks, but Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes this situation remains worth watching closely.
Watt, 30, has expressed a desire to remain with the Steelers, and general manager Omar Khan recently confirmed the team’s goal of ensuring he finishes his career in Pittsburgh. Kaboly predicts this situation will still likely end with an extension agreement, although he adds the price of doing so may prove to be higher than initially thought. The Steelers already have high price tags (with respect to cap charges) to deal with in the form of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward and Patrick Queen.
Adding further to the team’s commitments on defense could prove to be challenging, but as a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL sack leader Watt certainly has a case to receive another major pay day. Alex Highsmith is on the books as a strong complementary option along the edge, though Watt would of course be expected to remain a foundational presence on defense if he were to remain in the fold for 2025 and beyond.
The likes of Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and Aidan Hutchinson could all have lucrative new deals in place soon. If the bar moves any higher in terms of EDGE compensation, Watt’s earning potential could increase even further. Whether or not his next contract will come from the Steelers will remain a talking point until and unless an agreement can be reached, though.
Jets, WR Allen Lazard Agree To Restructure
Allen Lazard‘s time with the Jets seemed to be coming to an end earlier this offseason. Not long after granting the veteran receiver permission to seek a trade, however, it became clear New York would attempt to keep Lazard in the fold via a restructure. 
That effort has now produced an agreement. Team and player have a new arrangement in place, Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald reports. Originally scheduled to earn $11MM this year, Lazard will take an $8.5MM pay cut for 2025. $1.75MM of his new base salary is guaranteed, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds $2.5MM in incentives are in place to allow him to earn back some of his previously-owed compensation. The 29-year-old’s cap charge will drop to $4.6MM for this season.
Notably, today’s new deal also sets Lazard up for free agency after the 2025 campaign. The former UDFA originally had two years left on his pact, but he will now hit the open market next spring. Lazard’s debut Jets campaign fell well short of expectations, but he rebounded to an extent in 2024 with 530 yards and six touchdowns on 37 catches. Former Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers is no longer New York’s quarterback, but Lazard will have a role on offense as Justin Fields takes on starting duties.
The Jets’ midseason Davante Adams acquisition did not spark a run to the postseason, and as expected the All-Pro was released last month. That move leaves Garrett Wilson in line to serve as the focal point of the team’s passing attack, and he represents one of New York’s top extension candidates. Free agent addition Josh Reynolds and 2024 third-rounder Malachi Corley will be joined by Lazard in 2025 as secondary receiving options.
Once the latter’s contract voids, his 2026 cap charge will be $4.37MM. A departure next spring would still come as no surprise given the new Jets regime which is in place, but Lazard will have one more year in the Big Apple to help his free agent value.
NFL Teams Remain Split On Travis Hunter’s Position
Colorado draft prospect Travis Hunter wants to play both receiver and cornerback full-time in the NFL, but the consensus in league circles is that he will likely focus on one position with a situational role at the other.
Even that would be a physical and mental challenge, not to mention a logistical one, too. Hunter would need to attend meetings for the full offense and defense, plus both of his positions, and he’d have to continue the juggling act during practices. He did it throughout his college career, but the jump in NFL competition and complexity would require even more discipline and time management.
A “slight majority” of teams polled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler see Hunter as a cornerback. One executive said that he could be among a top-10 receiver, but one of the league’s best corners by the end of his first contract.
If forced to choose, Hunter would prefer to primarily play wide receiver, a sentiment that is shared by some scouts. Among them is ESPN’s Matt Miller, who argued that Hunter’s slender frame would face more wear-and-tear at cornerback and his playmaking ability offers higher upside at receiver.
Miller also noted that Hunter ran routes at Colorado’s pro day but did not participate in any cornerback drills, reinforcing the message that he will be receiver first in the NFL.
A quick comparison of wide receiver and cornerback contracts make it clear why Hunter would want to be classified as a receiver. His ability to play on both sides of the ball will already boost his earning potential, but his official classification is still important. The NFLPA will need to list him at one position, so being a receiver would offer him more money for both his fifth-year option and any potential franchise tags. In the long run, he stands to make significantly more money as a wide receiver who also contributes at corner as opposed to the inverse.
The Giants reportedly view Hunter primarily as a cornerback, but head coach Brian Daboll expressed openness to playing him at wide receiver.
“It’s really remarkable what he has done and the ability to perform at that level, not really getting a rest,” said Daboll (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “We’ll evaluate him at both spots.’’
Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence To Throw At OTAs; QB Expects To Be Fully Cleared By Week 1
Trevor Lawrence was limited to 10 games last season as a result of the AC joint sprain he suffered in his non-throwing shoulder. He will participate in the Jaguars’ offseason team activities, though, as his rehab continues to take place smoothly. 
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jacksonville’s franchise passer said he has already been throwing this spring (video link). He added he will take part in OTAs but will be on a pitch count when doing so. Lawrence also expects to be fully cleared well in time for the start of the 2025 season, something which was the case when he underwent surgery in December.
“I’m very optimistic I’ll be perfectly good for the season,” the former No. 1 pick said. “But as far as just right now, I think just kind of pacing ourselves as OTAs go and working myself up to where I’m in shape as far as throwing. Just the amount of throws might be a little lighter to start and work our way up, just until I get really fully back.”
Through his first three NFL seasons, Lawrence only missed one game. That level of durability changed in 2024, with the shoulder injury resulting in what was at first a brief absence. The 25-year-old returned to the lineup after missing two contests, but it was in that game that he suffered a concussion after taking a hit to the head from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. With the Jags out of contention by that point, it came as no surprise the team shut Lawrence down for the rest of the campaign.
Expectations will once again be high for the Clemson product once the new season starts. Lawrence is attached to a deal averaging $55MM per year, which puts him in a tie for second in the league in terms of annual compensation. Jacksonville has made the postseason once in four years since drafting Lawrence, who has yet to throw more than 25 touchdowns in a season.
The Jaguars expectedly moved on from head coach Doug Pederson following the 2024 campaign after he was unable to duplicate the team’s run to the divisional round from 2022. General manager Trent Baalke was initially retained, but he too was ultimately dismissed. The team now has a regime led by Liam Coen and James Gladstone in place, and maximizing Lawrence’s potential will be critical in determining its success.
Mac Jones departed in free agency, but Jacksonville has a new backup quarterback in the form of Nick Mullens. The latter could see some additional reps during spring practices, but Lawrence remains on track to be at full strength in time for the season.
Cowboys To Sign OL Saahdiq Charles
Saahdiq Charles recently visited the Cowboys, and that meeting has produced a contract. Team and player agreed to terms on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. 
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Charles retired in August (months after inking a Titans contract), but his desire to resume his career after missing the 2024 campaign brought about interest from Dallas. Shortly after his recent visit, the veteran offensive lineman now has an opportunity in place to compete for a roster spot this offseason. The Cowboys could still be in the market for O-line help during the draft, but in any event Charles will aim to provide them with depth up front.
The 25-year-old played out his rookie contract in the nation’s capital. Charles logged only two offensive snaps during his rookie season, but over the following two years he operated on a part-time basis. 2023 was by far his busiest campaign; Charles started 10 of his 11 appearances, working exclusively at left guard. The LSU product was charged with four sacks and 37 pressures allowed by PFF, helping result in an overall grade of just 55.5.
Between that level of performance and the fact he was out of the game last season, Charles’ Dallas pact will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum. ESPN’s Todd Archer adds, to no surprise, this is a one-year agreement. The Cowboys entered Wednesday with $37.66MM in cap space, so this agreement will not have an impact on any other veteran additions being planned before or after the upcoming draft.
As expected, Dallas lost 2010s All-Decade Team member Zack Martin to retirement this offseason. As a result, the team’s right guard position is a question mark for the first time since 2014. Charles will likely receive a look at that spot as the Cowboys aim to find a short- and long-term Martin replacement. At a minimum, he will have the opportunity to restart his career with a strong training camp performance.
DeMarcus Walker Visits Giants, Lions
The market for DeMarcus Walker is apparently heating up. ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported yesterday that the veteran pass rusher was meeting with the Giants. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added on to the report this afternoon, noting that Walker met with the Lions last week.
A former second-round pick, Walker has transformed from a rotational contributor to a starter later in his career. He spent his first four seasons in Denver, collecting 10.5 sacks in 36 games. Following a one-season stop in Houston, Walker had his most productive season with the Titans in 2022, compiling a career-high seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
That performance earned him a three-year contract from the Bears, and he proceeded to start 29 of his 34 appearances for Chicago between 2023 and 2024. Over that span, he collected another seven sacks, and he finished the 2024 campaign with a career-high 47 tackles. The Bears moved on from the veteran back in February, saving the organization $5.25MM against the cap vs. just under $700k in dead money.
Even if the 30-year-old reverts into a backup role, he could still be a useful piece for teams seeking pass-rush help. In New York, Walker would reunite with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who was in the same role in Tennessee during the player’s best season. Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux lead the Giants’ pass-rush efforts, and the organization could further fortify their corps by landing Abdul Carter in the draft, but there could still be some playing time available for Walker.
The Lions should have more help on the edge than they did in 2024. Aidan Hutchinson will return from his injury-shortened campaign, and the team will also bring back Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who both got long looks last year. Plus, while the team cut Za’Darius Smith in a cap-saving move, they’ve been in contact with the veteran about a new deal. There could still be a role behind all four of those aforementioned players, albeit limited.