Lions Expecting Midseason Return For DT Alim McNeill
The impact of the Lions’ 2024 injuries will extend into this season with multiple players sidelined well into the regular season.
One such case is fifth-year defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who suffered a torn ACL in December and missed the team’s last three regular-season games as well as the playoffs. He is not expected to return to the field until “late October or November,” according to senior team writer Tim Twentyman.
2024 was the second year in a row during which McNeill struggled with injuries. He missed four games in 2023 with a knee sprain, but managed to recover by the postseason. Now, the 2021 third-rounder is set for a third consecutive season with 14 or fewer appearances.
The Lions will not rush McNeill back to the field after making a sizable financial investment in the 25-year-old last fall. However, the team will be hoping that he can live up to that four-year, $97MM extension by finishing the 2025 season fully-healthy. That will allow him to build into 2026, when he has $19.85MM of fully guaranteed salary, per OverTheCap, and ensure he remains in Detroit through 2027, when he has a $3MM injury guarantee that will vest into a full guarantee next March.
In the meantime, the Lions will have to find a way to fill the roughly 70% snap share McNeill occupied when healthy over the last three years. Detroit retained Levi Onwuzurike and added depth in Roy Lopez and Raequan Williams this offseason, but rookie Tyleik Williams, selected with the No. 28 pick in April’s draft, might have been the team’s biggest move to prepare for McNeill’s absence.
Williams was considered to be an early second-round talent, but Lions were not on the clock again until the 60th pick. By then, he likely would have been selected by another team. Knowing that McNeill would be sidelined to start the season, the Lions opted to prioritize Williams in the hopes that he could bolster the defensive line as they await McNeill’s return.
Steelers Among Teams Interested In WR Tyler Boyd
Veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd said over the weekend that he would “absolutely” like to sign with the Steelers, and apparently, the interest is mutual.
The Steelers have been in touch with Boyd this offseason, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show, but the veteran receiver has been unsatisfied with the financial offers from Pittsburgh or any other team.
“The word on the street is that all the offers [Boyd is] getting, they’re not very good offers, as in money-wise, so he’s going to play it out,” said Kaboly during a recent episode of the Kaboly + Mack podcast. Kaboly suggested the same was true regarding whatever discussions the Steelers have had with Boyd, whether they have included a formal offer or just more general conversations about potential compensation.
There are other available receivers like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen with better recent track records than Boyd, so he may have to wait for them to find a landing spot before another team meets his demands. He earned just under $2.4MM in Tennessee last year, per OverTheCap, for the worst full-season performance of his career with just 39 receptions for 390 yards. He also went the entire season – 16 games, eight starts, and 635 snaps – without finding the end zone, an unfortunate career-first, causing him to miss out on $2.1MM of available incentives.
Now, Boyd may have to consider a veteran minimum salary of $1.255MM with additional money available via incentives, and unlike his deal with the Titans, his next contract may not include any guaranteed money.
No Formal Discussions Imminent Regarding 18-Game Schedule
It has long been viewed as an inevitability that the NFL will expand to an 18-game regular season. An adjustment to the CBA will be required for that to be possible, and as such an agreement involving the NFL and NFLPA will need to be negotiated. 
Informal talks on the subject of reducing the preseason to two games and adding an 18th regular season contest have taken place between the league and union already. In part due to those discussions, some have pointed to 2027 or 2028 as the point at which an expanded schedule could be implemented. The current CBA runs through 2030, but new media rights deals – and thus the main source of another pending surge in revenues – will be in place by then.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said this spring that no formal discussions are planned about CBA adjustments or extensions. To little surprise, then, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports no serious talks related to the schedule are expected to commence until at least early 2026. Any concession on the part of the union would of course be tied to negotiations on other fronts. Topics such as travel, playing surfaces and the addition of a second bye week have been mentioned as key issues for the NFLPA.
Maske names the period after the 2026 league meeting as a point at which negotiations could pick up. In any case, the nature of talks on this front will make for a notable storyline as efforts on the league’s part continue to expand the regular season schedule. Per Maske, Goodell has not yet “pressed” the union to accelerate discussions, although the NFL’s goals regarding a broader international schedule in particular are of course well known.
Adding an 18th game would likely pave the way for a slate of 16 international contests each regular season. Other matters will no doubt be tied to movement on this front, so a number of key CBA-related issues will be affected if/when an agreement can be reached between the league and union. The timeline for such talks is currently uncertain, though.
RT Taylor Moton Hopes To Finish Career With Panthers
One year remains on Taylor Moton‘s contract. The Panthers are set to have their longtime right tackle play out the 2025 campaign while carrying an inflated cap charge, but it remains to be seen how the parties will move forward beyond that point. 
If Moton has his way, however, he will stay in Carolina through the remainder of his career. The 30-year-old has handled starting duties since his second NFL season, compiling an Ironman streak of 104 consecutive starts along the way. That franchise-record mark came to an end in 2024, but Moton does not feel as though his playing days are nearing an end at this point.
“Looking forward, I do believe I have another contract in me,” the ninth-year veteran said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “But right now my focus is on the 2025 season and making sure I do whatever I can to have the best season I can for everybody involved.”
Moton inked a five-year, $85MM extension in 2021. That pact has been restructured three times, resulting in a $31.35MM cap charge for the 2025 campaign. General manager Dan Morgan made it clear early in the offseason the team would be comfortable with that figure for one year. In the absence of an extension, though, Moton’s Carolina future and market value will be dictated by his level of play this season.
The former second-rounder has remained consistent throughout his Panthers tenure, grading out between 13th and 23rd amongst qualifying tackles in terms of PFF evaluation over six of the past seven years. A similar performance in 2025 would help Carolina’s efforts to build off the offensive momentum shown at the end of last season. The tandem of Moton and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu will remain together for at least one more campaign, but the latter hopes to land a Panthers extension tying him to the team well past 2026.
Moton was limited to 14 contests last year, and a pectoral injury limited his workload during OTAs and minicamp this spring. He expressed confidence in his ability to deal with the knee issues which have arisen in recent years, though, something which will be key in determining his availability and level of play in 2025. It will be interesting to see if a strong start to the campaign opens the door to extension talks or if the Panthers prepare for a potential departure in the spring.
Browns Finalize Land Purchase For Domed Stadium Construction
JULY 1: Ohio’s budget has been finalized, and the Browns are officially set to proceed with construction on the new stadium. A statement from Jimmy and Dee Haslam confirms the project will move forward with the land deal now in place.
JUNE 28: Efforts on the part of the Browns to construct a new, domed stadium have seen a notable development. An agreement has been reached for the purchase of land 12 miles outside of downtown Cleveland. 
Primacy Development – a company located at the Browns’ headquarters with ties to the Haslam Sports Group – has closed on the purchase of a 176-acre plot in Brook Park, Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan reports. Cuyahoga County records indicate the price will check in at more than $76MM. This news comes after the Browns exercised their purchase option on the land in December.
To pave the way for the agreement to be finalized, the Modell Law (which prevented the Browns from leaving Cleveland) has been amended. Ohio governor Mike DeWine is now in position to sign the necessary provisions into law next week while finalizing the state’s budget. That includes $600MM in state funding for the construction of the team’s new stadium, which is currently expected to cost a total of $2.4 billion.
The Browns’ new home will be a domed (rather than outdoor) stadium, making it the first of its kind in the AFC North (and marking a departure from the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals). Once construction is complete, the AFC East will be the league’s only division consisting entirely of teams – the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots and Jets – which play outdoors when at home.
The targeted start time for construction of Cleveland’s new stadium is early next year, with the Browns planning to move there in time for the 2029 campaign. Provided the land purchase agreement is indeed finalized in the coming days, the process will take an important step forward.
Dolphins Trade Jalen Ramsey To Steelers For Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Jalen Ramsey trade saga is coming to an end. The All-Pro corner is on the move, but not out west as many predicted. 
The Dolphins have reached agreement with the Steelers on a Ramsey swap, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Pittsburgh recently emerged as the most recent team likely to be eliminated from the list of landing spots in this case, but a trade has nevertheless been worked out and is now official. Ramsey will receive a $3MM bump in pay as part of this deal.
[RELATED: Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith]
With the Dolphins paying $7MM of the $26.6MM Ramsey was owed this season, Rapoport reports the Steelers will be responsible for the remainder of that total. Pittsburgh will thus pay him $19.6MM in 2025.
Adding an unexpected layer to this blockbuster deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is headed the other way in the swap. Fitzpatrick began his career in Miami, and the former first-rounder was dealt to the Steelers in 2019. He will now return to his original team for 2025. This represents the first time since 2002 there have been players with five or more Pro Bowl nods traded for one another (h/t Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).
Rapoport notes the Rams and Steelers were the two main Ramsey suitors, with Los Angeles long representing the expected destination in this situation. He adds Pittsburgh was out of the running until very recently, but that has obviously changed rather quickly. Ramsey himself has confirmed that he is headed to the Steelers, which will be his fourth career team.
The three-time All-Pro spent the past two seasons in Miami, rebounding from his injury-shortened 2023 campaign to play a full slate last year. Ramsey appeared set to remain in South Beach for the foreseeable future when he agreed to a lucrative extension last offseason, but a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel led to the mutual decision a parting of ways would be best. Ramsey was on the trade block through the spring, but the list of suitors publicly expressing interest proved to be rather short.
Rams head coach Sean McVay made it clear the team was open to a Ramsey reunion (after he helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2021). Finances were a sticking point in this case, however. The seven-time Pro Bowler has already received a $4MM roster bonus from Miami, but his outstanding $21MM-plus in compensation for the year is guaranteed. Ramsey is on the books for another three yeas after the coming campaign, but an adjustment to his pact has been expected upon arrival with an acquiring team.
Despite a limited market emerging, the Dolphins remained steadfast in their desire to move on from Ramsey. The 30-year-old has proven to be one of the league’s top corners over the course of his career, although age will become a concern during his Steelers tenure. Nonetheless, Pittsburgh’s CB depth chart now includes another standout veteran after the team added Darius Slay in free agency. Those two will join returnee Joey Porter Jr. in a secondary which will look much different in 2025.
Fitzpatrick only played 18 games during his first Dolphins tenure. Expectations were high for the former No. 11 pick, but his departure came about as part of the team’s maneuvering in advance of the 2020 draft (which brought about the selection of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa). Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, Fitzpatrick shone and earned first-team All-Pro honors. He remained productive through the following years.
However, things took an unwanted turn following the 2022 campaign (one in which Fitzpatrick recorded a league-leading six interceptions). Over the past two seasons, the Alabama product has been limited to just one pick and seven pass deflections while operating in different areas on the field. A five-time Pro Bowler, Fitzpatrick will aim to return to his previous form during his second Dolphins stint. His original team has a notable vacancy at the cornerback spot, but he will provide starting play at the safety position.
Two years remain on Fitzpatrick’s contract, and he is set to carry cap charges of $22.36MM and $24.46MM as things stand. With none of his remaining base salaries guaranteed, the Steelers will create $15.5MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of only $6.86MM. Those figures will help absorb the incoming Ramsey pact.
Pittsburgh has made a number of aggressive moves this offseason, deviating from standard operating procedure. The additions of Aaron Rodgers and D.K Metcalf were aimed at upgrading on offense, a unit which has been further augmented with today’s blockbuster. Ramsey will aim to further fuel the team’s Super Bowl aspirations for what will likely be a one-and-done Rodgers season. The Dolphins, meanwhile, will move forward in 2025 with a much different core in terms of veterans on both sides of the ball.
Steelers Acquire, Extend TE Jonnu Smith
Part of the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick blockbuster will see the Dolphins and Steelers agree to another swap. Tight end Jonnu Smith is headed to Pittsburgh.
With the dust having settled on all portions of this singular trade (which is now official), here are the full details (courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport):
Steelers receive:
- Ramsey
- Smith
- 2027 seventh-round pick
Dolphins receive:
- Fitzpatrick
- 2027 fifth-round pick
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Smith will receive a one-year, $12MM extension upon arrival in Pittsburgh, allowing him to earn a raise as hoped. Finances were a sticking point between he and the Dolphins. Smith preferred to remain in Miami, but after enjoying a career year and setting a new franchise record for tight end production he aimed to parlay his play into a new pact.
[RELATED: Fallout From Dolphins, Steelers’ Sides Of Ramsey Trade]
On more than one occasion, the Steelers emerged as a potential landing spot for Smith in the event no new Dolphins pact could be worked out. Talks on a Miami extension took place, but the 29-year-old’s absence from minicamp was a sign this situation could end in a change of scenery. After only one year with the Dolphins, Smith is indeed on the move once again. Of course, today’s news means he is in store for another reunion with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Jonnu and Arthur Smith worked together with the Titans and again when they were alongside each other with the Falcons. The latter took on OC duties in Pittsburgh last season, overseeing an offense which used both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback. QB1 duties are now held by Aaron Rodgers, who will likely retire after this season. The Steelers are certainly not being shy in terms of notable moves on both sides of the ball in preparation for the coming campaign.
Pittsburgh already has Pat Freiermuth in place at the tight end spot. The former second-rounder is under contract through 2028, something which made a potential Smith move a somewhat awkward one. Now that it is in place, though, the Steelers can be expected to lean heavily on two-tight end sets. With uncertainly looming over the team’s WR options aside from D.K. Metcalf, Smith will give Pittsburgh a veteran pass-catching option.
The former third-rounder posted a statline of 88-884-8 last season, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Expectations will be high for Smith with his fifth NFL team given his production and the fact he will be in a familiar scheme. For the Dolphins, meanwhile, Ramsey’s departure has created a notable vacancy at the CB position; the loss of Smith will likewise leave the team short on experienced tight ends.
The 2025 offseason has seen a major exodus in terms of veterans in Miami, by means of free agent departures, releases and trades. As the Dolphins look to bounce back from last year’s underwhelming campaign, they will do so with a slew of new faces on both sides of the ball. Smith is now under contract for the next two years. He will look to operate as a complementary option for Rodgers and Co. as Pittsburgh takes a run at a Super Bowl in 2025.
Steelers Receiving T.J. Watt Trade Interest; Extension Remains Goal
The Steelers’ willingness to trade one star defender could inspire attempts to acquire T.J. Watt amid his contract standoff with the team.
Multiple teams have been exploring trading for Watt since he skipped Pittsburgh’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who added that “sources believe outside team interest is likely to increase given today’s trade.” Schefter also noted that “Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far,” and 10 minutes later, that was confirmed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
[RELATED: Role Issues Led To Steelers-Minkah Fitzpatrick Split]
“The Steelers have no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt’s contract, per sources,” wrote Pelissero. That aligns with virtually every other report regarding the situation, which have expressed confidence that the two sides will come to an agreement before the season.
It is easy to see why the Steelers want to hold onto Watt, who ranks second in the NFL with 30.5 sacks since 2023. All of the team’s offseason moves, especially their signing of Aaron Rodgers, indicates their intention to try to compete in 2025, but dealing Watt would be a critical blow to their pass rush.
However, the Steelers are planning to draft a quarterback early in the 2026 draft, which could be part of a broader organizational reset. The team’s success under Mike Tomlin has consistently positioned their top pick in the back half of the first round, making it difficult to acquire a top quarterback prospect. A sizable offer for Watt could draw Pittsburgh’s attention if they believe it will help them land a franchise signal-caller in 2026.
A number of edge rushers have been traded in the last few years, but none have merited a first-round pick (or equivalent value) since the Broncos dealt Bradley Chubb in 2022. The Steelers should be able to get at least as much for Watt, even considering his contract demands, based on his age and the Hall of Fame-caliber resume he has compiled. But they seem to have little desire to hear such offers until and unless they have exhausted every possible path for an extension.
Dolphins Feeling Positive Effects From Trading Jalen Ramsey
It’s no secret that today’s big trade was the result of a bit of bad blood between veteran cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins. While it can be tough for fans to watch their favorite players depart for greener pastures, the trade is ultimately a net positive for both Ramsey and Miami. 
According to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier made it known that “Ramsey did not ask for a salary adjustment or a trade.” He did make it clear, though, that he thought it was in the best interest of both parties to part ways. In that sense, Ramsey got his wish today, and per Louis-Jacques, so, too, did the Dolphins.
Louis-Jacques reports that, following a disappointing 8-9 campaign in 2024, the relationship between Ramsey and the team “soured.” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald echoed this sentiment today, saying that “Ramsey was unhappy in Miami for reasons that he never fully explained,” though Ramsey implied that, in his view, the Dolphins harbored a “willingness to accept mediocrity.”
Regardless, the team was looking for a culture change in the building, and when searching for names that could add to the team through their subtraction, Ramsey’s came up. So, in the end, both parties got what they wanted today.
Miami likely also feels accomplished in what they returned by offloading Ramsey. After throwing in tight end Jonnu Smith as a sweetener, the Dolphins were able to exchange two of their older contributors for a younger one that filled a major position of need. Jackson pointed out how, in the aftermath of the news breaking, several teams were surprised to see Miami get the value it did out of difficult situation. Now, doing so certainly made them extremely thin at the cornerback and tight ends positions, and the team has already begun to address that, but it also provided them some flexibility that they can now use to help fix those problem spots.
The Dolphins made an offer to veteran free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas back in May, per Jackson, but Douglas rejected the offer. Similarly, they inquired about Asante Samuel Jr. after his rookie contract with the Chargers expired. Jackson adds that the team told another free agent cornerback that they were hoping to gain “clarity on (Ramsey’s situation) before moving forward with anyone expecting a sizable contract.” They kept in contact with Douglas, and Samuel remains unsigned as he recovers from neck surgery. Other veteran cornerbacks, like James Bradberry, Stephon Gilmore, Mike Hilton, and C.J. Henderson, remain on the market, as well.
And, now, with the clarity and cap relief from this trade, the Dolphins have a bit of breathing room they can utilize to fill these holes. Instead of shouldering Ramsey’s $16.7MM cap hit, they only have to stomach $6.7MM of dead money. Even after Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s cap impact is factored in, the team is left with over $15MM in cap space. Even better, any of that unused cap can be rolled over into next year, when the Dolphins have to contend with $18MM in dead money from Ramsey’s contract, though that figure also improved from $25MM as a result of the trade.
So, with no negative implications, we can see where the Dolphins could be happier having parted ways with Ramsey. They gave Ramsey the change of scenery he desired, initiated a change in culture in their building, and did so in a way that allows them to try and build a better team.
Jalen Ramsey Could See Hybrid Role In Pittsburgh
In the aftermath of today’s headlining trade, many questions arose concerning the ramifications of the roster changes. Namely, a big one of these questions was centered around the idea of, now that the Steelers have brought in some cornerback help, how do they address the new hole at safety? The answer to that question could come in a couple different forms. 
The simplest answer is the most obvious one: next man up. Earlier in the offseason, Pittsburgh signed Juan Thornhill to serve in a third safety role behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott. It was a role that Damontae Kazee filled in 2024, but Kazee was not re-signed after his contract expired. The team could just count on Thornhill, who has started 74 of 87 game appearances in his six-year career, to step up next to Elliott, but Pittsburgh may have other ideas.
Jalen Ramsey has been an outstanding outside cornerback throughout his professional career, playing about 80 percent of his NFL snaps at the position, but he’s excelled elsewhere in the past. As one of the top recruits in Florida State’s 2013 signing class, Ramsey played a big role for a true freshman as one of the school’s two starting safeties. The following year Ramsey led the Seminoles defense with most of his snaps coming in the slot. In his final collegiate season, Ramsey played most of his defensive snaps at outside cornerback.
He stayed at outside corner for most of his NFL career, starting in Jacksonville. After a move to Los Angeles, the Rams decided to start giving him some more work in the slot in his sixth NFL season. In the slot, his coverage abilities allowed him to stay with receivers on the inside, but his size allowed him to cover tight ends and stop the run. His versatile usage in college prepared him perfectly for that role, and it resulted in All-Pro honors and a Super Bowl.
ESPN’s Ben Solak speculates that a full-time move to “safety might maximize Ramsey’s remaining athleticism and football intelligence.” Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show speculates that the Steelers may see more value in Ramsey’s versatility and use him in a hybrid role that sees him playing at outside corner, nickelback, and safety. NFL Insider Josina Anderson went even further, asserting that, barring the future addition of another a true free safety, Pittsburgh could field a base defense with three cornerbacks and one safety on the field.
Where most teams’ base defense would feature two of each position with an additional cornerback coming onto the field in packages that require more defensive backs, Anderson believes that the Steelers could field a secondary with Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, Elliott at strong safety, and Ramsey at free, until they need to run with five in the secondary, in which case Ramsey would shift up into the nickel or outside cornerback role, allowing Thornhill to come in at safety. Or, perhaps, Ramsey stays at safety, and the fifth defensive back is last year’s primary nickelback, Beanie Bishop.
There are many possible solutions to this equation. Adding Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the roster certainly made the team better, albeit a bit older and more expensive. Pittsburgh has had a busy offseason buying several new (used) toys from Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf to Robert Woods to Slay and Ramsey. Now it’s up to the league’s longest-tenured head coach to make sure all his new toys play well together.