NFL To Use New Measurement Technology In 2025
While we already mentioned this technology back in February, the NFL has announced that Sony’s Hawk-Eye system will be used as the league’s primary method for measuring the line to gain starting in the 2025 NFL season, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. On-field officials will still be responsible for spotting the ball and a chain gang will still exist as a backup measure, but the new technology will be the official measuring tool and the increase in cameras will, in theory, provide more angles for replay reviews. 
The new Hawk-Eye tracking services from Sony were reportedly tested in the 2024 preseason and in the background during the 2024 regular season. The technology does not track the ball to determine if the ball crossed the line. An official is still needed to spot the ball and replay assist will confirm the accuracy of that placement. Once the spot is determined the tracking system will optimally notify officials if a first down was reached instantly, speeding up pace of play by avoiding lengthy measurements.
The setup requires six cameras to be used for the virtual line-to-gain technology, along with 12 boundary-line cameras and 14 Hawk-Eye’s SkeleTRACK cameras that monitor more than two-dozen skeletal points on a player’s body. Using the technology behind the scenes last year, the league reportedly saw a reduction in the time it took for a measurement from 75 seconds on average with the chain gang to 30 seconds on average with the new technology.
In order to accommodate and implement the system, all 30 NFL stadiums, as well as any international stadiums where NFL games will be played, will be equipped with 32 cameras each. With the additional cameras, there, theoretically, should be increased and improved replay angles, as well. The league will continue testing the system this spring during UFL games played in NFL stadiums like Detroit’s Ford Field.
While discussions of the use of this type of technology have been ongoing for years, a line is naturally going to be drawn between this rule and a Josh Allen fourth-down quarterback sneak that was ruled short of the line to gain in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs. Similarly, the NFL passed a rule change three years ago that ensure both teams possession of the ball at least once in overtime of postseason games following a Bills’ divisional-round loss to the Chiefs during the 2021 season, a rule that was also augmented in the recent meetings.
Jimmy Haslam Admits Mistake On QB Deshaun Watson
Recent developments in Cleveland’s pursuit of veteran free agent quarterbacks and research into the 2025 rookie draft class’s group of passers seem to indicate that the Browns are perhaps ready to move on from their Deshaun Watson experience. The 29-year-old still has two years remaining on his deal, but it finally appears that the Browns are ready to recognize their mistakes and move forward. According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam admitted as much at Monday’s annual league meeting. 
“We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun,” Haslam told the media. “We thought we had the quarterback; we didn’t. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”
Cleveland acquired Watson from the Texans in a trade package that included three first-round picks before signing the young passer to a five-year, $230MM extension, the league’s largest guaranteed contract in NFL history. Despite record-breaking contract after record-breaking contract being signed each year, no deal has come anywhere close to matching Watson’s $230MM in total guaranteed money at signing. Josh Allen‘s recent six-year, $330MM deal came the closest with only $147MM in total guaranteed money at signing.
In the three years since Watson signed that contract, though, he’s done little to earn that money he’s been guaranteed. He started just six games in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons and seven games this past year. The first shortened season was a result of an 11-game suspension that Watson served as a result of “egregious” and “predatory behavior” that led to several sexual assault allegations. In 2023, Watson missed three games with injury in the first 10 weeks of the season before suffering a broken bone in his throwing shoulder that would end his year.
Last year, we saw Watson suffer a torn Achilles tendon after seven weeks of play. In early-January, Watson suffered a setback in his rehab from the tendon tear that was reported to potentially require a second surgery. Days later, it was disclosed that he had suffered a second Achilles tendon rupture, potentially endangering his availability in 2025.
If the Browns do go after a rookie passer, it could certainly be an indication that Watson’s time in Cleveland has come to an end. The team has worked out multiple restructures with Watson in recent years in attempts to help spread out his cap impact through the 2029 season, but at the moment, he represents cap hits of $36.94MM in 2025 and $81.68MM in 2026. With 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions at the low, low cost of $230MM, it does appear that the Watson-trade has turned out to be a bit of a swing and a miss.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/1/25
Today’s only minor move in the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: RB Raheem Blackshear
Although Blackshear didn’t get much run on offense as RB3 behind Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in 2024, and despite the addition of Rico Dowdle and the health of Jonathon Brooks for this upcoming season likely pushing him to RB4, the signing of Blackshear shores up an important position on special teams for the Panthers.
Blackshear served as Carolina’s regular return man on kickoffs and punts. In a year where the league was trying out something new with the kickoff rules, Blackshear led the NFL with 31 returns. He added 17 punt returns in 2024, as well. He ends up returning to Carolina after the team chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent a month ago.
Rams, Kyren Williams Discussing Extension
The Rams will begin preliminary talks on an extension for running back Kyren Williams with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, at annual league meetings this week, per The Athletic’s Jordan Rodrigue.
General manager Les Snead said that the team wants to “engineer a long-term partnership” with Williams, who is entering the last year of his rookie deal. The 2022 fifth-rounder only carried the ball 35 times as a rookie before taking over a starting role in 2023.
Since then, Williams has been the focal point of the Rams’ rushing attack. In 2023, he led the NFL with 95.3 yards per game, earning a selection to the Pro Bowl. His efficiency went down in 2024 with significant drops in success rate and yards per carry, but he still finished with the seventh-most rushing yards (1,299) and the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (14) in the league. Across the last two seasons overall, Williams has rushed for 2,443 yards and 14 touchdowns, which both rank among the top three running backs in the NFL.
Williams will be looking to capitalize off of that production, as well as an increase in the running back market over the last year. From a negotiating standpoint, he may look at his league ranks and aim for a top-three APY at the position. That would push Williams’ initial demands over $14MM per year, a number that Los Angeles would likely be hesitant to match this offseason.
The Rams’ current valuation for Williams’ extension is different than his own asking price, per Rodrigue. He has only one full season under his belt after landing on injured reserve with ankle sprains in each of his first two years in the league. The former Notre Dame standout is a solid receiver with 66 catches in the last two years, but he doesn’t profile as a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield like some of the league’s highest-paid running backs.
Snead indicated that Williams could enter the 2025 season without a new deal, but that doesn’t rule out the possibility of an extension in the future.
“If it doesn’t happen this year, it doesn’t mean that Kyren is not going to be a part (of) next year, doesn’t mean that we don’t do something a year from now,” he said (via Rodrigue).
As a result, the Rams will likely keep a close eye on Williams’ health and efficiency in 2025 as they continue negotiations. His Pro Bowl selection upgraded his 2025 salary to $5.35MM via the Proven Performance Escalator, per OverTheCap. Combined with his $78k signing bonus proration, his cap hit will be $5.42MM, though an extension could reduce that number by $3.4MM.
Titans Re-Sign Justin Hardee
The Titans have re-signed special teams ace Justin Hardee to a one-year deal, as first reported by FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and confirmed by senior team writer Jim Wyatt.
2024 was Hardee’s first year in Tennessee, where he appeared in nine games with 185 snaps exclusively on special teams. He will take up a similar role in 2025 under new special teams coordinator John Fassel, according to Main Street Media’s Terry McCormick.
Originally a wide receiver at Illinois, Hardee converted to cornerback as an undrafted rookie in 2017. He didn’t make the Texans’ 53-man roster, but carved out a special teams role in New Orleans where he made 14 appearances. He remained with the Saints through the 2020 season, playing a handful of snaps on defense while continuing as a core special teams contributor.
Hardee’s reliability on special teams earned him a three-year, $6.75MM contract with the Jets in 2021. He played in every game in his first two seasons, but missed six games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve. Hardee was also named to his first career Pro Bowl in 2022.
He then signed with the Browns in 2024, but was released during final roster cuts. He bounced around a few practice squads – first in Cleveland, then in Carolina – before signing with the Titans at the end of October.
As an eight-year veteran, Hardee will receive a salary of at least $1.255MM. His success on special teams throughout his career could earn him a better contract with a higher base value and/or additional guarantees.
Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin Remain In Contact
APRIL 1: When speaking at the league meetings on Tuesday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) “signs are pointing in that direction” with respect to a Rodgers deal being worked out. He added the team is still willing to wait for Rodgers at this point, although that will not be the case forever (h/t Pryor).
MARCH 31: We may not be any closer to Aaron Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh, but all signs continue to point to the quarterback joining the Steelers. While speaking with reporters today, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he’s remained in contact with Rodgers since their in-person meeting on March 21 (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post).
[RELATED: Steelers Have No Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Deal]
While Tomlin acknowledged that he didn’t have any new updates on the public flirtation between the two sides, he did reiterate that there isn’t any urgency for a resolution. Following reports from yesterday that training camp would represent the “line of demarcation” for the organization, Tomlin said he’s “really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year” (via Maske).
Tomlin also talked about his meeting with Rodgers, noting that he was happy to speak with a long-time competitor.
“There’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together,” Tomlin said (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). “[G]etting to know one another in a non-competitive environment.”
As Rodgers considers his next move, Tomlin isn’t the only Steelers employee he’s been talking to. According to Garafolo, the QB had a throwing session with recent acquisition D.K. Metcalf. Garafolo suggests this could simply be a part of Rodgers’ process as he evaluates the potential landing spot, but it could also be the determining factor before the player puts pen to paper.
Considering the Steelers’ lack of free agent options and Rodgers’ dearth of remaining suitors, the two sides seem to be a natural pairing. While the assumption is that they’ll eventually link up, the organization seems to be proactively planting the seeds in case a contract doesn’t come to fruition. While speaking with reporters today, Tomlin said the Steelers would be comfortable heading into next season with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback.
“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I’m comfortable with that. We’ve been there before. He’s a very capable guy.”
Of course, the Steelers got a look at Rudolph as a starter during his first stint in Pittsburgh, as the former third-round pick went 8-4-1 as a starter between 2019 and 2023. Rudolph didn’t fare nearly as well during his 2024 stay in Tennessee (1-4 as a starter), but the Steelers were still confident enough in his ability to bring him back on a two-year deal. Skylar Thompson is the only other QB currently on the Steelers roster.
NFL Approves Kickoff Tweaks; Vote On Onside Kick Adjustments Postponed
APRIL 1: As expected, owners approved the proposed amendment to tweak the kickoff setup (h/t Dianna Russini of The Athletic). Touchbacks will be moved up to the 35 starting next season as a result. No decision was made with respect to amending onside kicks, meanwhile; the vote on that front will take place in May.
MARCH 29: When the league meeting kicks off tomorrow, one of the topics of discussion will be related to the dynamic kickoff instituted on a trial basis for 2024. The expectation remains that the new setup will be made permanent, albeit with a few alterations.
The competition committee has proposed moving forward with the dynamic kickoff alignment on a full-time basis, as detailed by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. That comes as little surprise, as indications from last month pointed to such a move. In response to dwindling kick return rates, the NFL adopted the XFL-style setup for one year; a spike in the frequency of returns took place, but not to the extent that many predicted.
[RELATED: Owners Likely To Discuss 18-Game Schedule]
32.8% of kickoffs produced a return in 2024, and the competition committee’s latest proposal aims at increasing the figure moving forward. The committee has officially proposed moving the point of touchbacks up from the 30-yard line to the 35, as first reported by Mark Maske of the Washington Post. The league projects a return rate between 60% and 70% as a result of that tweak, which the owners will discuss in the coming days.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote earlier this month the league could consider not only moving up the spot for touchbacks but also altering where kickoffs take place. Moving kickers back five yards could have helped achieve the goal of fewer touchbacks, but, per Jones, a view exists around the league that many would still be able to reach the end zone even with that tweak. While moving touchbacks will receive consideration, it does not appear the same will be true for pushing back the location of kickoffs.
In past years, teams have proposed alternatives to the increasingly-challenging onside kick. For 2025, however, no fourth-and-15 or fourth-and-20 ideas will be on the table (h/t Maske). Many have viewed an offensive alternative to onside kicks as being too gimmicky, and that likely remains the case at this point. As Jones notes, the NFL will contemplate tweaking the existing onside kick rule to allow all members of the team attempting an onside kick (rather than just the kicker) to line up on their 30-yard line. That one-yard difference could help the success rate of the play to a small extent.
As things stand, teams can only attempt an onside kick during the fourth quarter, but that too could soon change. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports writes the owners will vote on allowing teams to declare their intention at any point in a game, provided they are trailing at the time. He predicts that measure – along with the aim to formalize dynamic kickoffs and move up the touchback spot – will be ratified.
At least 24 of 32 owners will need to support any change for it to pass at the upcoming meeting. If all goes according to plan, multiple special teams plays will have slightly different rules in play for 2025 and beyond.
49ers, Brock Purdy Zeroing In On Extension?
There’s been growing optimism that the 49ers would eventually sign Brock Purdy to a new deal. GM John Lynch all but confirmed that sentiment today.
[RELATED: 49ers, Brock Purdy “Actively Negotiating” New Contract]
When asked if Purdy could play the 2025 campaign on his expiring rookie contract, Lynch dismissed the notion and expressed belief that the two sides will “get the deal done” (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). In fact, the executive even hinted that a contract could be completed before the offseason program begins in a few weeks.
“I don’t think it’s too optimistic,” Lynch said (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). “I understand why Brock wants that. We’d like that very much so. We’ve just got to find that right place for both sides. I would love nothing more for that to be the case.”
Since the 2024 campaign ended, both sides have publicly expressed interest in completing a long-term pact, and the organization’s money-cutting efforts have certainly signaled that a massive investment was coming. Lynch acknowledged as much when discussing the negotiations, but he also left the door open to Purdy playing out next season on an expiring contract.
“Brock wants to be with us,” Lynch said. “We want Brock to be with us. When that’s the case, these things typically get done. And does it happen this offseason? I don’t know. Hopefully, it happens real soon this offseason.”
Thanks to being Mr. Irrelevant during the 2022 draft, Purdy is owed only $5MM in 2025. A recent report indicated that the QB should easily surpass the $50MM AAV mark. There were even rumblings that Purdy could take a slight discount to help San Francisco’s front office, and the seemingly speedy negotiations signal that there isn’t a massive divide between the two sides.
Ravens Discussing Lamar Jackson Extension, Eyeing Second Derrick Henry Contract
Lamar Jackson‘s 2023 Ravens extension helped set the market at the time, and as less accomplished quarterbacks have surpassed him in terms of average annual value, it has not been difficult to see the leverage even capable QB1s possess presently. Much more than merely a capable starter, Jackson has three seasons remaining on the deal he signed in April 2023. 
That contract took the Ravens and Jackson more than two years to finalize, but it helped a few inferior quarterbacks receive higher AAVs. Jackson exited the 2024 season as the NFL’s ninth-highest-paid QB, and the Ravens saw the Bills take care of Josh Allen despite the reigning MVP’s previous deal running well into the late 2020s. It appears Baltimore is fine following suit.
Teams rarely add years to a player’s deal when three are remaining on it, but Jackson is certainly one of the NFL’s top players. It appears the Ravens are ready to update his contract, as head coach John Harbaugh confirmed internal conversations about a new deal have taken place this offseason (video link). Jackson, 28, still has guaranteed money remaining on his extension. Those guarantees stretch into 2026, but being proactive would benefit the Ravens.
As things stand, Jackson is due to carry a cap charge of $43.5MM next season, keeping in line with the incremental jumps it has seen since his deal was signed. For the 2026 and ’27 campaigns, however, he is scheduled to count for $74.5MM on the Ravens’ cap sheet. Lowering those totals – while, in all likelihood, creating immediate breathing room as well – could be achieved via another extension. Harbaugh did not provide specifics on a timeline, but added a deal will likely get done at some point this offseason.
Extension candidates on Baltimore’s roster include former first-rounders Odafe Oweh, Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. Oweh’s 2025 fifth-year option was picked up last year, and it would come as no surprise if the team took the same route with Hamilton and Linderbaum. Extensions with one or more members of that tandem could very well be in store, and ascending tight end Isaiah Likely is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. Working out a third Jackson accord would help create cost certainty over the short-term future as Ravens aim to keep as many members of their young core in place as possible.
Harbaugh also said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) he would welcome a Derrick Henry extension. The All-Pro running back joined Baltimore on a two-year deal last offseason, and his debut campaign produced 2,114 scrimmage yards (the second-highest figure of his career) and 18 total touchdowns (which matched his personal high). An extension was raised as a possibility in the wake of the team’s divisional round loss, and Henry has since publicly stated his desire to finish his career in Baltimore.
The 31-year-old has already been paid out a $1MM roster bonus, and he is due a $6MM base salary for 2025. Henry’s scheduled cap charge of just under $12.9MM is more than double what it was last year, and it could be lowered by an extension. Baltimore entered Monday with nearly $12MM in cap space, but the team’s financial breathing space could increase in the relatively near future if new agreements on the Jackson and/or Henry fronts were to be reached.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Colts To Begin QB Competition During Spring Practices
Daniel Jones elected to depart the Vikings in free agency by taking a deal with the Colts. The former Giants first-rounder did so because he felt the move gave him a better chance at operating as a starter. 
Jones will collect a base value of $14MM on his one-year Indianapolis contract, a sign of his opportunity to handle QB1 duties. If that is to take place, he will need to outperform incumbent Anthony Richardson. The latter has not developed as hoped during his two seasons in the NFL, creating the need for veteran competition. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Monday the evaluation of both Jones and Richardson will begin during upcoming offseason workouts.
“It’ll start in the spring,” Steichen said of the competition (via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star). “They’re going to split the [first-team] reps through practice and going into training camp, and really, it’s going to come down to who’s the most consistent, who’s the most productive, will be the starter.”
Selected fourth overall in 2023, Richardson faced questions upon arrival in the NFL based on his lack of starts in college and issues related injuries and accuracy. He won the starting position right away as a rookie, but a shoulder injury limited him to only four contests. The 22-year-old made 11 starts last season, one in which he found himself benched in favor of Joe Flacco at one point.
Steichen added the decision to bring in a veteran capable of earning the starting gig was made immediately after the season ended. Consistency will be a requirement in Richardson’s case if he is to operate atop the depth chart in 2025 and beyond. The Florida product completed only 47.7% of his pass attempts last season, and matching improved accuracy with his high rushing upside, will be necessary this offseason.
Jones’ Giants tenure ended when he was waived midway through the 2024 campaign. He did not see any game action with the Vikings, but he will have the opportunity to change that situation with the Colts starting in the near future.