DT Kyon Barrs Lines Up Cardinals, Bengals Visits

Kyon Barrs was unable to make an NFL roster last offseason but he will attempt to do so in 2025. The defensive tackle has a pair of free agent visits lined up.

Barrs will work out with the Cardinals and Bengals this week, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The 6-foot-2, 290-pounder went undrafted in 2024. He joined the Titans shortly after the draft but wound up spending training camp with the Seahawks. Barrs was among Seattle’s final cuts shortly before the regular season.

Immediately after being waived, the five-year Pac-12 performer was retained via a practice squad deal. Barrs wound up being cut from the Seahawks’ taxi squad in September, however. He did not receive another look at the NFL level for the remainder of the season, leading to a campaign spent in the UFL this spring. Playing for the Arlington Renegades, Barrs racked up 23 tackles and one sack.

That level of production has landed Barrs – who amassed 120 stops, five sacks and 13 tackles for loss during his five-year college career – back on the NFL radar. Prior to spending the 2023 campaign at USC, Barrs played at Arizona. A Cardinals agreement would thus come with a degree of familiarity.

The interior of the defensive line saw plenty of turnover in the case of the Cardinals this offseason. Khyiris TongaNaquon Jones and Roy Lopez each departed this spring. Calais Campbell returned to the team as a free agent, though, and Arizona’s first-round pick was used on defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Barrs would aim to carve out a role as one of many new faces at the position during training camp.

The Bengals’ training camp will open amongst uncertainty on the edge given the Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart contract situations, but the team’s interior D-line could be a talking point as well. B.J. Hill was re-signed on a three-year, $33MM pact while Sheldon Rankins was released. The latter was limited to only seven games during his one-and-done Cincinnati campaign, but he operated as a full-time starter over that span. The Bengals did not use any of their draft picks on interior defenders.

Both the Cardinals and Bengals currently have over $30MM in cap space at the moment. As a result, a one-year deal for Barrs depending on how his visits pan out will not be a problem.

Latest On Browns RB Quinshon Judkins

Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins was arrested this past weekend has has since been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. Further details have emerged regarding the running back’s case.

Judkins’ arrest report documents the specifics of the alleged incident (h/t Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). On July 7, the accuser – a woman who was in a relationship between May and December 2024 and again from June 2025 onwards with Judkins – was struck with a closed fist in the chin/lip area and later hit in the left arm and thigh, per the report. The alleged victim initially did not contact police out of concern for the damage it would do to Judkins’ NFL career.

After discussing the matter with family and friends, though, the accuser later filed the report which led to Judkins’ arrest. The second-rounder was booked into Broward County Main Jail in Florida on Saturday and remained in custody overnight. An updated story on the situation from Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal notes Judkins was released Sunday on a $2,500 bond.

The arrest report notes the accuser still had “visible bruising on her chin area” as of July 12. She also provided police with a photograph taken on July 8 detailing her injuries from the previous day. That evidence will be included in the legal process as it plays out; only after its conclusion will the NFL launch an investigation of its own and determine if supplemental discipline under the personal conduct policy is necessary.

One of the top prospects in a deep 2025 RB class, Judkins was selected 36th overall. The Ole Miss and Ohio State product is one of two rookies Cleveland has in the backfield, a group which no longer includes Pro Bowler Nick Chubb. Judkins, 21, will face high expectations when he sees the field at the NFL level. The time at which that will take place is uncertain as training camp approaches, though.

Bears TE Colston Loveland On Shoulder Recovery

The rehab process from an AC joint sprain cost Colston Loveland time during spring practices. The Bears rookie will soon receive clarity on his participation outlook in training camp.

“It’s been good. There haven’t really been live bullets flying yet,” Loveland said at a youth football camp in Michigan this weekend (via MLive’s Aaron McMann). “We’ll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff.”

Surgery on his right shoulder put Loveland in position to be fully cleared in time for the start of the regular season. Last month, head coach Ben Johnson said the No. 10 pick is expected to receive a clean bill of health at some point during training camp, which in the Bears’ case will see rookies report this Saturday. The team will no doubt proceed with caution in this situation, but continued progress in the rehab process will be welcomed by all parties.

Loveland’s latest comments suggest he has not encountered any setbacks to date. His limited action in spring drills consisted of non-padded practices, however, so training camp participation will be notably different. It will be interesting to see if his next medical evaluation reveals any cause for a delay in Loveland receiving full clearance sometime this summer.

Chicago already has Cole Kmet in place at the tight end spot for 2025 and beyond, but Loveland will be expected to contribute as a pass-catcher at the position early and often in his career. The All-Big 10 performer’s ability to do that will of course be impacted by his involvement in training camp and the preseason. As a result, it will be interesting to see when he receives the green light for a full workload this summer.

Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson Addresses Health Entering Training Camp

Aidan Hutchinson confirmed in May that he received full medical clearance after completing the recovery process on his broken leg. To no surprise, then, no limitations are expected for the Lions Pro Bowler during training camp.

“I’m exactly where I need to be,” Hutchinson said in an interview with CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson (video link). “Every year I’ve been able to improve on my own physical attributes along with the mental ones, so I feel like every year I take a step. Despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I’m in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be going into Year 4.”

2025 will be a critical campaign for the former No. 2 pick as he and the Lions look to rebound from last year’s early postseason exit. Hutchinson’s absence was a key factor in Detroit’s defensive performances after his Week 5 injury. Up to that point, he was in contention to receive the Defensive Player of the Year award with 7.5 sacks and 27 QB pressures on that statsheet. If Hutchinson can remain healthy through the coming campaign, the Lions’ pass rush will be in a strong position.

Of course, a clean bill of health will also crucial from a financial standpoint in this case. Hutchinson is eligible for an extension, and at the age of 25 (as of next month) he is a prime candidate to be among the top earning edge rushers. The position’s market stands at $40MM annually for now, but T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons are both candidates to surpass that figure before Week 1. The Lions are aware of the rough cost of a new deal for Hutchinson, and an expectation emerged this spring that talks with the Michigan product were likely to accelerate in the wake of his recovery.

No updates have emerged on the extension front since then, but time still remains for Hutchinson and the Lions to hammer out a lucrative deal. Doing so just before or sometime during training camp will be more feasible based on his health situation.

Steelers Evaluating T.J. Watt’s Trade Value

The Steelers’ standoff with T.J. Watt continues amid the star edge rusher’s desire to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

The impasse in negotiations has naturally led to trade speculation. Though teams have reportedly inquired about Watt, the Steelers’ position has been clear: they have no intention of moving the current face of their franchise.

However, the Steelers have been evaluating Watt’s trade value, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan that Pittsburgh is “obviously inquiring” about the potential return of a Watt trade, characterizing it as “due diligence” as the team is still focused on retaining their all-time sack leader.

Still, exploring Watt’s value on the trade market could give the Steelers information to help them in their negotiation and decision-making process. Lowball offers would indicate that other teams would not sign Watt to a top-of-the-market extension and instead see him as a one-year rental. More aggressive valuations would suggest that other teams see Watt as a long-term investment and may be willing to meet his contract demands.

This is a common practice for teams in contract stalemates, especially with older players. Taking calls on Watt is unlikely to inspire the Steelers to trade him, but it will clarify his value around the league and help them hone in on agreeable extension terms.

Of course, it is possible that another team could blow the Steelers away with their offer and get newly-extended general manager Omar Khan to consider moving the four-time All-Pro. Teams in similar situations have reverse course once the trade compensation hits the table, and Pittsburgh’s desire to add a top quarterback prospect in the 2026 draft may make them more willing to consider a deal. It’s worth noting, however, that interested teams are likely contenders who will only get better by adding Watt, capping the value of their draft picks, which will likely be late in the round.

The expectation remains that Watt and the Steelers will find a way to agree on terms before the season starts. Watt skipped OTAs and minicamp, but is not expected to hold out from training camp. However, he has never expressed any desire to leave Pittsburgh and seems unlikely to demand a trade to fulfill his financial wishes.

Players To Spend Season On Franchise Tag Since 2015

The Chiefs and Trey Smith have just less than 48 hours to agree on a long-term extension; otherwise, the Pro Bowl guard will play on the franchise tag and negotiations will be tabled until 2026. That is 2025’s only tag situation as the July 15 deadline approaches.

Over the previous 10 offseasons, 77 players received the franchise tag. Many of those signed extensions before the midsummer deadline. Here are the players who did not and ended up playing the season for the tag price:

2015

Pierre-Paul’s infamous fireworks accident led to Giants rescinding $14.8MM tag, setting up revised agreement 

2016

2017

2018

Bell did not collect any money on his 2018 tag, being the 21st century’s lone franchise-tagged player to skip season

2019

Texans applied $15.9MM linebacker tag on Clowney, trading him to Seahawks in August 2019; edge rusher agreed to salary reduction upon being dealt

2020

Ravens, Judon agreed on compromise between defensive end, linebacker tag prices. Ngakoue agreed to salary reduction to facilitate trade from Jaguars. Vikings traded edge rusher to Ravens before 2020 deadline. Prescott received exclusive franchise tag from Cowboys.

2021

2022

2023

Raiders provided raise to Jacobs to bring him into training camp

2024

Extension Candidate: Courtland Sutton

As the Broncos have rebounded from their disastrous 2022 situation, some of the key players to help them climb out of that hole are entering contract years. Nik Bonitto is a traditional extension candidate, coming off a breakout season ahead of the final year of his rookie contract, while Zach Allen jumped a level ahead of his age-28 season. A significant raise will be necessary for the Broncos to keep the ascending interior D-lineman on a third contract.

Denver, however, has a homegrown player residing as a more interesting extension candidate. Courtland Sutton carries a few unusual markers along his journey to another extension case. Even though Bonitto and Allen qualify as higher-value players due to their ages, Sutton stands as a pivotal piece considering the Broncos’ plan on offense. The former John Elway draftee has waited patiently for a deal, reporting to both OTAs and minicamp after skipping some offseason work while pursuing a raise last year. But he looks to have seen the younger defenders leapfrog him in Denver’s extension queue.

Sutton is going into his age-30 season, and he carries an atypical resume for a No. 1 receiver. The 2018 second-round pick’s two 1,000-yard seasons are spaced five years apart. He helped build an initial extension candidacy by eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2019. That 1,112-yard season still stands as Sutton’s career high; it came with Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen and a rookie-year Drew Lock making starts. A 2020 ACL tear paused Sutton’s ascent, and Denver’s QB quagmire lowered the receiver’s ceiling for an extended stretch.

As the Broncos assembled a low-octane Teddy Bridgewater offense, Sutton and Jerry Jeudy became info-graphic fodder due to Aaron Rodgers‘ interest in being traded to Denver in 2021. The Packers held onto the reigning MVP that year and in 2022, leading the Broncos to their blockbuster Russell Wilson trade. That move brought a spectacular failure, as an overmatched Nathaniel Hackett grounded Denver’s offense to 32nd in 2022. Sean Payton elevated Wilson back to respectability in 2023, however, and that season effectively launched Sutton’s second extension campaign.

Wilson’s 26-touchdown pass, eight-interception season ended ugly, with a contract-based benching taking place. But Wilson-to-Sutton became the team’s most notable connection since the Peyton Manning days; the 6-foot-4 WR totaled 10 TD receptions, displaying a penchant for acrobatic grabs. Sutton then submitted a second 1,000-yard season, being a linchpin on a 2024 offense bereft of other reliable pass catchers. This helped Sutton post a 1,081-yard 2024 season, boosting Bo Nix to 29 TD passes — the second-most by a rookie QB in NFL history.

So much happened between the Rodgers rumors and Nix’s rookie season, though. Sutton signed a four-year, $60MM extension days after Tim Patrick‘s three-year, $30MM deal. While injuries dogged Patrick in the years that followed, Sutton remained a productive starter. Being an Elway-era draftee extended under George Paton, Sutton became a trade-rumor mainstay during Payton’s initial months on the job. The Broncos listened closely on Sutton and Jeudy during the 2023 offseason, aiming for a second-round pick for Sutton and a first for Jeudy. Nothing on that level emerged, but the Ravens came close to acquiring Sutton — before pivoting to Odell Beckham Jr.‘s $15MM guarantee.

Denver declined a Jeudy offer that included third- and fifth-round picks before the 2023 deadline, holding onto Sutton as well. That Jeudy decision became a mistake, as the team both sold low in March 2024 (fifth- and sixth-round picks) before seeing him post a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland. Jeudy’s departure solidified Sutton’s WR1 standing, to the point the Broncos declined a third-round pick from the 49ers during the summer 2024 Brandon Aiyuk saga. Sutton more than doubling any other Broncos pass catcher in yardage last season strengthened his extension case.

Missing out on Emeka Egbuka in the draft, the Broncos did not address the receiver position until Round 3 (Pat Bryant). The Illinois prospect’s 4.61-second 40-yard dash time docked his value, and while Marvin Mims has flashed, the Broncos have mostly deployed him as a gadget cog on offense. The team’s 2024 rookies (Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin) also appear role players, even if Vele’s skillset resembles Sutton’s (Vele is also set to turn 28 before year’s end, complicating the second-year player’s long-term NFL future).

Everything since the 2023 season has boosted Sutton’s stock, but finding a price may be proving tricky. The Broncos agreed to only an incentive package with Sutton last year, telling his camp 2025 would be the window for true extension talks. We are here now, and nothing has transpired since Sutton labeled the 2025 talks positive in April. Denver completed summer extensions with Patrick Surtain and Quinn Meinerz last year; Sutton drama could resurface if no deal emerges this summer.

It would surprise if the Broncos revisited trade talks in the event they could not come to terms with Sutton before Week 1. The SMU product remains valuable due to the dearth of proven WR help ahead of Nix’s second season.

Finding contractual comps does prove difficult. Mike Evans and Davante Adams signed similar deals — two years, $41MM (Evans) and 2/44 (Adams) — while Calvin Ridley‘s resume did not match Sutton’s ahead of a four-year, $92MM Titans deal. Ridley signed that contract months before his 30th birthday, though his standing as last year’s top WR free agent — after the Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. tags — boosted his value. Evans and Adams are much more accomplished players, both of whom also being more than two years older.

Jeudy signed a Browns-friendly extension (three years, $52.5MM), but it came after the Broncos’ QB struggles suppressed his stats. Sutton is in a similar boat, but after being tied to an AAV ($15MM) that sits 25th at the position — following market booms in 2022 and ’24 — it would surprise if the eighth-year vet settled for anything south of $20MM per year.

Pittman’s three-year, $70MM accord could be a comp for Sutton, as the Colts’ No. 1 target is just two years younger and agreed to that deal before another salary cap spike commenced. Jeudy fetched $41MM guaranteed at signing, Pittman $46MM. That is probably beyond where the Broncos will go regarding locked-in compensation, though Sutton residing in a gray area due to age, production and importance makes that number harder to peg as well.

A short-term extension seems the most likely outcome here. The sides’ price points will be interesting to learn. Sutton would command reasonable value as a 2026 free agent, but will he want to chance negotiating ahead of an age-31 season? Many variables have led to this point, as the next several weeks figure to determine where this years-long saga ends.

NFLPA Leadership Backing Executive Director Lloyd Howell

Lloyd Howell‘s tenure as the NFLPA’s executive director has run into choppy waters. As the prospect of an 18-game season looms, the staffer set to be tasked with shepherding those negotiations on the players’ side has seen multiple issues come up this offseason.

After a collusion grievance produced some eye-catching headlines, some of them shedding light on the quiet power transfer to Howell in 2023, DeMaurice Smith‘s successor has run into conflict-of-interest trouble. Howell has been working as a consultant for The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm approved by the league to pursue a minority ownership stake in an NFL team.

A recent report indicated a Change.org petition calling for Howell’s resignation had circulated among NFL players and NFLPA staff. Pushing back on that, NFLPA leadership released a statement backing its chief. The NFLPA allows player reps to remove the executive director with a two-thirds majority vote at a meeting with a two-thirds quorum, but with the executive committee holding the line for now, no change at the top of this pyramid is imminent.

As members of the NFLPA Executive Committee, we categorically reject false reports insinuating doubts within this committee or suggestions that we have asked our Executive Director to step down,” the statement reads (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “We further reject attempts to mischaracterize the committee’s views or divide our membership. We have established a deliberate process to carefully assess the issues that have been raised and will not engage in a rush to judgement.

We believe in and remain committed to working with our Executive Director and other members of NFLPA staff and player leadership who have a shared mission to advance the best interests of players. As we approach the 2025 season, we look forward to continuing our important work together and ensuring the strength and unity of our association.”

Howell received $3.4MM consulting for Carlyle in 2024, and although the firm (via an emailed statement) indicated Howell had “no access to information about the NFL and Carlyle process beyond public news reports,” the optics are obviously not ideal for the third-year union chief. Howell also received almost $700K from board positions at GE HealthCare and Moody’s, according to ESPN. This multi-front workload differs from previous NFLPA executive directors, who had neither outside jobs nor paid board seats during their respective tenures.

Smith was at the wheel when the NFLPA ratified the 2011 and 2020 CBAs, the second of those accords running through the 2030 season. Howell and NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin are unlikely to be in position to negotiate a new CBA for a few years at least. But Howell is positioned to be the union’s point man when that time comes. Based on the stakes, scrutiny from NFLPA ranks would be understandable.

The appeal of the recent grievance ruling — one that determined owners likely aimed to reduce guaranteed money in high-profile contracts (while stopping short of deeming collusion occurred) — surfaced days after veteran reporter Pablo Torre made the grievance findings public. The ruling came down in January, however, meaning it took the release of the report to prompt the union to act here.

Howell having quietly added former NFLPA president J.C. Tretter as the union’s chief strategy officer has drawn scrutiny due to the latter’s involvement in the Russell Wilson leg of the collusion grievance. Tretter not wanting his texts to Smith about Wilson being “a wuss” for not sticking to his ask for a fully guaranteed Broncos extension (in 2022) to be made public was believed to be a driving force behind an NFLPA effort to conceal the report’s findings.

Howell conducted a conference call with the executive committee (which includes 10 members and Reeves-Maybin) shortly after the ruling was made. He passed along the outcome of the case but did not mention specifics or distribute copies of the findings from Droney. The lack of transparency during the early part of Howell’s tenure has certainly generated questions about his leadership, especially as these developments have come after he was elected in relative secrecy in June 2023. As the appeal process begins, however, the NFLPA is sticking with the leader it tabbed.

Browns Planning To Return To Previous Stefanski Scheme

After finishing the 2024 season as one of the league’s worst offenses, the Browns are making some schematic changes in a transitional year for their running and passing game.

Cleveland is planning to return to an earlier iteration of Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme, according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi, with a stronger emphasis on running the ball from under center to open up the play-action passing game.

The Browns used more under-center formations in the first few years of Stefanski’s tenure as head coach and regularly posted top-10 rushing numbers. They moved to more shotgun looks after the acquisition of Deshaun Watson in 2022 and the running game suffered as a result, dipping to 19th in 2023 and 29th in 2024. (Injuries to Cleveland’s offensive linemen and running backs also played a role in their rushing regression.)

Stefanski has also dialed up play action less frequently in recent years. In 2020, his first year at the helm, the Browns’ 29.4% play-action rate ranked eighth in the league, per Next Gen Stats (subscription required). Since then, their highest rank was 19th in 2023 with a 25.1% play-action rate. A heavier usage of under-center runs will naturally provide a foundation off of which Cleveland can build more play-action concepts.

The Browns’ four-man quarterback room has varying amounts of experience with this type of offense. Joe Flacco, a 17-year veteran, is no stranger to adapting to new schemes after playing for three teams in the last three years and five in the last six, including a 2023 stint in Cleveland. Flacco has also spent plenty of time operating from under center and pushing the ball downfield off of play action dating back to his days in Baltimore.

The Steelers had a strong under-center running game during Kenny Pickett‘s tenure as a starter, but his play-action rate in Pittsburgh across the 2022 and 2023 seasons was just 16.7%, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That ticked up to 23.5% in Philadelphia last year, though the Eagles primarily used a shotgun spread system. Pickett said (via Oyefusi) that he is familiar with many of the Browns’ concepts and is more focused on learning the new terminology.

Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders both have experience with RPOs and play action, but the vast majority of their college snaps came out of the shotgun. Their adjustment to the Browns’ under-center operation is another reason that neither is likely to win the starting job out of training camp.

Regardless of their move back to Stefanski’s previous scheme, the Browns will need better quarterback play on a fundamental level to improve their passing game, though more robust under-center rushing attack could certainly help take some pressure off of the air attack. Cleveland’s changes this year will also be subject to next offseason’s roster moves, which are expected to include an early quarterback selection in the 2026 draft.

Bengals Could Cut LG Cordell Volson

Bengals left guard Cordell Volson is in the unique situation of being both a starting option and a cut candidate. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required), Volson could regain his role as Cincinnati’s starting LG, but Dehner also sees the fourth-year pro as a player the team could cut in favor of a better and/or cheaper option.

Volson, who will turn 27 in one week, was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and prior to a late-season demotion last year, he had served as the club’s primary left guard since entering the league, racking up 48 starts along the way. Despite being afforded such an extensive opportunity to establish himself, he has failed to impress. 

The North Dakota State product has yet to earn an overall Pro Football Focus grade above 59.3, and while his run-blocking has been adequate over the past two seasons, his pass-blocking has never been up to snuff. Last season, he allowed 43 pressures (which led to six sacks) and racked up eight penalties in 984 snaps. As Dehner points out, the strength of the offense in general and the abilities of the team’s tackles and center mean that the guards need to be merely serviceable, but Volson is arguably not even at that level.

That said, Dehner himself recently reported that the Bengals do not plan to add to their guard depth. It therefore appears Volson will need to fend off rookie third-rounder Dylan Fairchild to retain his job, but it is worth noting that Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick are also on the roster. Though both players are currently fighting for the right guard post, they both have spent time at left guard in their careers, so it is theoretically possible that one of them could factor into the LG mix.

Unproven options like Jaxson Kirkland and Tashawn Manning round out the guard depth chart. 2025 UDFA Caleb Etienne saw action at guard in college in 2023, but he spent all of 2024 as BYU’s starting left tackle, and Cincinnati presumably wants to keep him on the outside.

The playing time that Volson amassed over his three professional seasons qualified him for the Level Two Proven Performance Escalator and boosted his 2025 salary to $3.656MM, but his on-field performance forced him to take a pay cut in May. Parting ways with Volson would lead to a net cap savings of roughly $2.5MM, which contributes to Dehner’s belief that the blocker could be on the outs if he does not show significant improvement in camp.