HEADLINES

Trey Hendrickson Prepared To Hold Out Into Regular Season

May 15th, 2025 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 15: It is indeed safe to assume guarantees beyond the 2025 season are a key issue in this situation, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes. The Bengals were willing to break with organizational tradition with Burrow, Chase and Higgins when they were 26 at signing, but whether or not that will be the case for Hendrickson at his age will be worth watching when (or if) talks resume.

MAY 14: The Bengals have developed an earned reputation as slow starters during Zac Taylor‘s time at the helm. This pattern has been a significant impediment to the team, one that began 0-3 last year and stood 0-2 to start the 2022 and ’23 seasons. With the team now having paid both its wide receiver standouts, more pressure will be on Taylor to have his crew ready to go when the season starts.

Trey Hendrickson‘s status suddenly factors into this equation. The Bengals’ top defensive player has gone public with his frustrations, with a Monday text from Taylor prompting a Tuesday grievance rundown. Hendrickson has officially threatened a holdout. Training camp holdouts have become more difficult to wage under the current CBA, leading to the hold-in tactic, but some players have bucked that trend and stayed away anyway.

[RELATED: How Will Hendrickson’s Situation Play Out?]

CeeDee Lamb held out well into Cowboys camp last year, with Zack Martin doing the same in 2023. Trent Williams did the same, and teammate Nick Bosa held out in 2023 as well. All four of these Dallas- and San Francisco-based absences led to new contracts. Haason Reddick staged an unsuccessful holdout last year, eventually reporting to the Jets in late October and playing out the string.

The Chiefs went into the 2023 season with Chris Jones engaged in a holdout. After a Week 1 loss to the Lions, the Chiefs agreed to a temporary solution that brought the future Hall of Famer back into the fold. Kansas City then caved on a player-friendly deal for Jones two days before the 2024 free agency period began. Jones was 29 when he signed that monster Chiefs extension. By the time Hendrickson would be free agency-eligible, he will be 31. The All-Pro defensive end’s age represents a key component in his Bengals stalemate.

Few players have proven willing to pass on game checks to extend holdouts into the regular season. Le’Veon Bell famously did on the franchise tag in 2018, while Duane Brown (2017) and Vincent Jackson (2010) sat out lengthy stretches as well. It is still too early to predict Hendrickson will follow suit, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes some close to the disgruntled pass rusher believe his contract stance would lead to him skipping regular-season games — should Cincinnati not reward its ace sack artist before Week 1.

As part of a one-year, $21MM extension he signed in 2023, Hendrickson is due a $15.8MM base salary this season. This works out to just more than $920K in game checks. Teams regularly win bets on players being unwilling to pass on game checks, but Hendrickson’s only play against the Bengals would be to withhold services. He managed Defensive Player of the Year runner-up status on one of the league’s worst defenses last season. Removing Hendrickson from the mix would certainly threaten a Bengals team committed to complementing Joe Burrow better than it did in 2024. That will be an interesting storyline to follow.

Although the Bengals let Hendrickson seek a trade just before free agency, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway notes the team wants its All-Pro sack artist back in 2025. What is unclear is how much Cincy wants Hendrickson beyond this season. Contract structure represents the central hang-up here, Hendrickson said, as negotiations have paused. A structural issue would seemingly point to guarantees. The Bengals almost never authorize post-Year 1 salary guarantees, though they made exceptions for Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

While the franchise has a history extending D-lineman in Hendrickson’s age range (via the 2018 Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins paydays), a March report pointed to hesitancy regarding the new edge rusher going rate. Hendrickson is not a candidate to eclipse Myles Garrett‘s $40MM-per-year number, but Maxx Crosby‘s $35.5MM-AAV accord — which settled in north of Bosa’s ($34MM per) — represents a lofty number as well.

As the Hendrickson saga keeps producing notable plotlines, the Bengals also saw first-round pick Shemar Stewart — their potential long-term Hendrickson replacement — sit out rookie minicamp due to his contract. Bonus structure kept Stewart off the field last weekend, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Players regularly participate in offseason work unsigned, as many first-rounders have yet to put pen to paper. Waivers protecting them are commonplace, but while the Bengals attempted to complete a Stewart deal early, nothing transpired.

First-round contracts (and now at least two second-round draft slots) bring fully guaranteed deals, but the percentage of Stewart’s money to be paid as a training camp roster bonus, per Florio, became an issue. That percentage checked in lower than last year’s No. 17 overall pick received, leading to the absence. First-round contract drama does not rival what took place before the rookie-scale system debuted in 2011, but the Bengals have brought at least a hiccup during Stewart’s first weeks in town. And it has come amid the higher-stakes Hendrickson dispute.

No Deal In Place Between 49ers, LT D.J. Humphries

May 15th, 2025 at 3:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly after the draft, it appeared as though D.J. Humphries was signing with the 49ers. No agreement is formally in place between team and player, however.

An announcement from Humphries’ agency was made on April 29 stating a contract was in place. The 49ers themselves have not yet confirmed that news, and that does not seem likely to change any time soon. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports no deal has been agreed to, adding nothing is imminent with respect to an agreement coming to bear.

San Francisco made 11 selections during the draft, tied for the most in this year’s event. Many expected an offensive tackle to be targeted early, but the only addition of any kind made up front was guard Connor Colby in the seventh round. As general manager John Lynch noted after the draft, the board never fell in a way where the 49ers were in position to select a tackle prospect rated in that range.

“There were a number of times that we were interested in adding, and it just didn’t come our way,” Lynch said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). “And you’ve got to stay true to where you have guys graded, not take guys just to take them, but to take guys that you’re interested in at that point. And it just never really aligned.”

The 49ers lost swing tackle Jaylon Moore in free agency this spring, while right tackle starter Colton McKivitz has one year remaining on his pact. Left tackle stalwart Trent Williams remains in place, but he is entering his age-37 season. A long-term investment at the position thus would have come as no surprise, but instead San Francisco has elected to take the veteran route.

Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere were jointly signed last week, giving the former Titans starters an opportunity to play together once more while competing for a roster spot. That move came in the wake of Humphries’ presumed addition, but the fact the latter has not actually been signed adds context to the arrival of the other two. With no deal on the horizon, Humphries will once again turn his attention to free agency.

The 31-year-old made two two starts before being replaced last season by the Chiefs in 2024, his first year after his release ended an eight-year run with the Cardinals. Humphries could provide an interested team with experienced depth at the tackle spot, but barring an unforeseen development that suitor will not be the 49ers after all.

Raiders Add Brandon Hunt To Front Office

May 15th, 2025 at 1:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brandon Hunt‘s time with the Eagles has come to an end. He is the latest addition to the Raiders’ front office, as first reported by ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. The team has since announced the news.

Hunt will head to Vegas with the title of VP of player personnel. He had previously spent time as a key figure in the Eagles’ scouting department, serving as senior director of scouting in 2024. During the previous two years, Hunt held the title of scouting director.

Prior to his stint in Philadelphia, Hunt had a lengthy spell in Pittsburgh. That run from 2010-21 saw him operate as the Steelers’ pro scouting coordinator. As a result, Hunt represents a highly experienced addition to the Raiders’ new-look front office. Of course, this does not mark the first time an Eagles staffer has made the move to Vegas since the draft concluded.

Anthony Patch was hired last week to serve as the Raiders’ new senior personnel executive. That move ended his lengthy run with the Eagles, and the Super Bowl champions will now have even more work to do in terms of replacing high-level front office contributors. The new Raiders regime led by general manager John Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll and minority owner Tom Brady has made a number of notable changes recently, including the hiring of Brian Stark as assistant GM.

This latest move comes in the wake of recent departures in the Raiders’ front office. Per Neil Stratton of Inside the League, Curtis Knox will not be back with the franchise after working as Vegas’ personnel coordinator; likewise, Shaun Herock is no longer in place as the team’s senior personnel advisor. That department will have a number of new faces moving forward, with Hunt taking on a key role with his latest team.

Back Injury Affected Commanders CB Trey Amos’ Draft Stock

May 15th, 2025 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cornerback represented a key need for the Commanders entering the draft. The team addressed it in the second round with the selection of Trey Amos, something which was possible since he remained on the board late into the order.

A partial reason that was the case was injury-related. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a back ailment was uncovered during Amos’ pre-draft process. While the issue did not prove to be severe enough to precipitate a major fall down the board, one AFC executive informed Fowler it likely contributed to a slight slide. Amos heard his name called at pick No. 61.

After spending his first three seasons at Louisiana, Amos transferred to Alabama. In 2023, he played sparingly and was held without an interception. That campaign was followed by another transfer, this time within the SEC to Ole Miss. Amos enjoyed a strong final college season with new personal marks in tackles (50) and pass breakups (13) while notching the first three interceptions of his career.

The Commanders struggled to stop the run in 2024, the first season with Joe Whitt Jr. in place as defensive coordinator upon following Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington. The team fared much better in comparison against the pass, but its cornerback setup has seen multiple changes. Benjamin St-Juste departed in free agency, while Michael Davis remains unsigned at this point. Jonathan Jones was added in March, and he is in position to handle a starting role during his debut campaign in the nation’s capital.

Amos is in the fold along with Jones, Noah Igbinoghene – who re-signed this offseason – midseason trade acquisition Marshon Lattimore and 2024 second-rounder Mike Sainristil. A healthy offseason will be key in Amos’ case as he looks to carve out a role for his rookie season and move past the ailment which he dealt with prior to the draft.

Jordan Poyer Aims To Play In 2025; S Would Prefer Bills Reunion

May 15th, 2025 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

In 2024, the Bills had neither Micah Hyde nor Jordan Poyer on the field at the safety position. The former spent the campaign on the practice squad and has since retired, while the latter played in Miami upon being released last March.

Poyer remains on the market well past the draft, and a second season with the Dolphins should not be expected. The 34-year-old knows his career is nearing an end, but he does not intend to join Hyde in retirement at this point. Poyer made it clear during an appearance on Good Morning Football he is looking to play in 2025.

“I’m in a place right now where I played 12 years, extremely thankful and blessed to have played the game for such a long time,” Poyer said (via NFL.com). “Would I like to play again? Absolutely. Whatever that looks like… It’d be dope, it’d be ideal to have a fantasy ending and be able to retire a Bill, but who knows? I’m just being an open book right now, really enjoying life for what it is.”

Poyer began his Buffalo tenure in 2017, and he remained a full-time starter with the team for seven years. The tandem which was in place with Hyde was among the league’s best for a time, but Buffalo went in a different direction in 2024. Hyde was replaced in the starting lineup while Poyer was released. That led to an intra-AFC East deal, but it did not yield the desired result. The former seventh-rounder was held without an interception for the second straight year on a Dolphins team which fell short of the postseason.

Between that and his age, Poyer will be hard-pressed to generate a notable market for his services in 2025. Buffalo has veterans Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin still in place along with 2024 second-rounder Cole Bishop. The Bills’ most recent draft leaned heavily on defense, but it did not include any new safeties being brought in. A low-cost deal over one year would likely be sufficient to bring about a reunion in this case, but Buffalo sits second-last in the league with only $1.77MM in cap space at the moment.

Fellow veteran safeties Justin Simmons and Julian Blackmon are also on the market at this point. They may have new deals in place before Poyer does, whether that takes the form of another Bills pact or one sending him to another team during the waning stages of his career.

Cowboys’ Tyler Smith Changes Agents

May 15th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Tyler Smith is one of several extension-eligible players on the Cowboys’ radar for a new deal. The Pro Bowler will have new representation when his second NFL contract is signed, though.

Smith is now a client of Athletes First, per an agency announcement. Joe Panos and Todd France now represent the 24-year-old, who as expected had his fifth-year option picked up this spring. That means Smith is on the books through 2026, giving team and player plenty of time to negotiate a long-term pact.

For now, Micah Parsons represents priority No. 1 for Dallas since he is entering his option season. Making the two-time All-Pro the league’s highest-paid defender may be necessary to finalize an agreement on that front, but in any case Smith is a logical target for a lucrative pact of his own. The Tulsa product handled blindside duties as a rookie out of necessity, but since then he has primarily been used as planned at guard. Smith has missed three total games during that span, but he has collected a Pro Bowl nod each time.

Having posted top-15 PFF grades amongst guards in 2023 and ’24, Smith’s performance and age could set him up for a notable payday. As things stand, he is set to earn $21.27MM in 2026. That figure outpaces the AAV of Landon Dickerson‘s Eagles pact, the most lucrative multi-year deal in the league for guards (Trey Smith is currently scheduled to earn more on his Chiefs franchise tag this year, but an extension would change that). Having Smith in place at a $21.27MM cap charge would be challenging for Dallas, of course, creating added incentive for a long-term accord.

Dallas has invested considerable draft capital up front in recent years. The Cowboys used their top choice in 2024 on left tackle Tyler Guyton, and they went with guard Tyler Booker at No. 12 last month. Those two are in place to handle starting roles for years to come if things go according to plan, and Smith will join them as a key figure up front. Strong O-line play will be critical if Dallas is to bounce back from an underwhelming 2024 showing this year.

In addition to Smith, Athletes First represents Parsons along with quarterback Dak Prescott and recent trade acquisition George Pickens. Of that group, only Prescott’s future beyond 2026 is assured, so negotiations with those clients will be interesting to monitor over the coming weeks and months.

NFL Contract Details: Stafford, White, Moss

May 14th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are recently released details on deals from around the NFL:

  • Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): Two years, $84MM. This restructured deal was announced two weeks ago, but the details were just recently announced, including $40MM of guaranteed money. $4MM of the $84MM comes in the form of a roster bonus paid out in March, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The remaining $80MM is split evenly over the next two seasons with $16MM base salaries and four $6MM bonuses ($24MM total) in each year. The bonus structure gives Los Angeles a bit of flexibility with the salary cap. The $40MM from 2025 is what makes up the guaranteed amount, and the 2026 $40MM fully guarantees on the fifth day of the new league year. On The Breer Report, Breer also mentioned that the new deal pays out $26MM more than Stafford was set to earn through 2026 and that Stafford essentially turned down what could’ve been deals from the Raiders and Giants for over $50MM per year in order to remain with the Rams in 2025.
  • Tre’Davious White, CB (Bills): One year, $3MM. The new deal for the veteran defender was reportedly worth up to $6.8MM. Now that we know the base value of the contract is only $3MM, we can see how much the incentives of the deal are worth, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire. White’s deal contains $2.2MM of guaranteed money, composed of his $1MM signing bonus and $1.2MM of his 2025 base salary (worth $1.56MM in total). White will have non-cumulative playing time-based incentives — $500K for 45% of defensive snaps, $750K for 55%, $1MM for 65%, $1.5MM for 75%, and $2.25MM for 90% — and non-cumulative interception-based incentives — $250K for two interceptions, $500K for three, $750K for four, and $1MM for five. Lastly, he’ll earn a per game active roster bonus of $20K for a potential season total of $340K.
  • Zack Moss, RB (Bengals): One year, $1.7MM. Like Stafford, Moss is another restructured deal. Previously set to earn $3.47MM for the 2025 season, Moss took a pay cut to hopefully avoid being a cap casualty and increase his guaranteed money for the year. The guaranteed money Moss added on the deal was a $375K signing bonus. He’ll also earn a $9K per game active roster bonus for a potential season total of $155K.

49ers Sign First-Round DE Mykel Williams

May 14th, 2025 at 9:26pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers were one of five teams in the 2025 NFL Draft who had the highest number of drafted rookies (11). According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, San Francisco pushed its ninth rookie contract across the finish line tonight, inking first-round defensive end Mykel Williams. Per Wilson, Williams’ four-year rookie deal (with a fifth-year option) is worth $29.94MM fully guaranteed, including a $14.78MM signing bonus.

Williams spent three years at Georgia, earning second-team All-SEC honors in each of his final two seasons. A former five-star recruit, Williams didn’t quite live up to expectations in Athens. He failed to eclipse five sacks or nine tackles for loss in any season with the Bulldogs. He only started 17 of 40 games, though he was still a regular on three Georgia defenses — including a national championship-winning 2022 group.

An ankle injury hindered Williams’ play in 2024, as well. Still, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher’s size and athleticism had him squarely on the first-round radar. He’s a common type of prospect that we see with more tools and potential than production in college.

The 49ers are hoping that WIlliams will be able to fill in the spot vacated by another former Bulldog, Leonard Floyd, who spent the most time across from Nick Bosa on the defensive line last year. The team also sees Sam Okuayinonu, Yetur Gross-Matos, and yet another former Georgia player, Robert Beal Jr., returning from last season. The three players combined for only seven sacks in 2024.

Unless Okuayinonu, Gross-Matos, or Beal are ready to take the next steps in their careers, Williams may be expected to step into a starting role early. San Francisco will need to tap into that athleticism and potential and hope that Williams can produce more against NFL competition.

Here’s a look at the 49ers’ draft class including the final two players that need to sign their rookie deals:

Vikings Sign G Donovan Jackson, Complete Rookie Class

May 14th, 2025 at 8:09pm CST by Ely Allen

With only five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft (tied with Atlanta and Washington for the fewest in the league), the Vikings didn’t have much work to do in order to finish off their rookie class signings. Regardless, they’re the first to get it done this offseason.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Minnesota came to terms with first-round guard Donovan Jackson, closing out the signing process for their rookies. The four-year deal (with a fifth-year option) is fully guaranteed for $17.18MM and will include a $9.42MM signing bonus. After the conclusion of his rookie season, he’ll also earn training camp roster bonuses of $616K in 2026, $1.28MM in 2027, and $1MM in 2028.

During his time at Ohio State, Jackson spent time at both guard and tackle. He started at left guard for the Buckeyes in his sophomore and junior years. When Josh Simmons suffered a midseason patellar tendon tear last year, Jackson slid out to left tackle for the remaining nine games of the season. Jackson put himself on the NFL radar after earning second-team All-Big Ten acclaim in his first season as a starter and first-team honors the next year. He upped the stakes with first-team All-American honors last season, helping Ohio State to a College Football Playoff championship.

With their only decent interior offensive line play last year coming from Dalton Risner, now a free agent, the Vikings worked to seriously upgrade their guard and centers spots, bringing in former Colts Will Fries and Ryan Kelly at guard and center, respectively. Jackson is projected to slot in opposite Fries in order to form a completely new interior for Minnesota.

With their rookie class complete, here’s a look at the five first-year players that the Vikings drafted:

Packers C Elgton Jenkins Seeking Contract Adjustment

May 14th, 2025 at 7:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 14: Jenkins is indeed looking for a contract adjustment to protect his future financial earnings if he remains at center past this season, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. However, the Packers rarely renegotiate with players who have more than one year left on their contracts. A compromised proposed by Demovsky would be to guarantee some of the $32.8MM remaining on Jenkins’ deal.

MAY 13: The Packers hatched an interesting plan to replace departed center Josh Myers. Elgton Jenkins is changing positions again, as a guard-to-center shift is on tap ahead of his seventh season.

Two seasons remain on the extension Jenkins signed late in the 2022 season, and while a center switch would stand to hurt his long-term earning potential, the standout blocker may be angling for the team to reward him for the sacrifice he is making this offseason. Jenkins is seeking a contract adjustment, according to WISC-TV’s Jason Wilde.

Jenkins has not yet showed for early Packers offseason workouts, though OC Adam Stenavich said the absence is not related to the new center’s contract. Stenavich had described Jenkins as “open” and “excited” about the switch. Jenkins, who has played all five positions along Green Bay’s front during his career, played 72 snaps at center last season. His other NFL center work came back in 2020, when he made 297 snaps. Otherwise, the former second-round pick has settled at guard and tackle.

After the Packers used Jenkins as their 2021 David Bakhtiari LT replacement, they shifted him back to left guard in 2022. Jenkins’ play at that post prompted the team to extend him — on a four-year, $68MM deal — as a runway for Jordan Love formed. Love’s first starter season featured only a one-game Bakhtiari cameo, leaving Jenkins as the team’s veteran presence up front. After Jon Runyan Jr. left in 2024, the Pack continued to field a young O-line around Jenkins, who has now seen the guaranteed money on his contract run out.

The Packers regularly refrain from post-Year 1 salary guarantees on non-QB contracts; they have Jenkins tied to a nonguaranteed $11.7MM base salary this season. He will count $17.6MM against Green Bay’s cap. This will be a situation to monitor, especially as the Packers continue to navigate the Jaire Alexander issue, and Jenkins’ contract will likely need to be adjusted before 2026. He is due to count $24.8MM on Green Bay’s cap sheet next year.

While four guards are tied to $20MM-per-year contracts, the center market only features one player (Creed Humphrey) earning more than $14MM per year. The All-Pro Chiefs snapper is at $18MM AAV. Jenkins, 29, would likely not be amenable to a discount based on agreeing to help the team regarding a position switch. An organizational hesitancy to pay players post-30 also may factor into a true Jenkins standoff, per Wilde, who adds the Mississippi State alum could become a 2026 release candidate if the center move does not go smoothly.

Another factor that could conceivably be affecting this Jenkins push would be the Packers giving more money to a less proven outside addition (free agent Aaron Banks); the ex-49ers starter is now on a four-year, $77MM agreement. Banks could operate opposite 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan, though the latter is first expected to compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle. A “best five” scenario, though, could see a Walker-Banks-Jenkins-Morgan-Zach Tom configuration.

It will first be interesting to see if Jenkins will threaten a holdout or if he changes course to avoid a center move, especially as the center market pales in comparison to where the guard salary landscape sits. Alexander may be Green Bay’s front-burner contract matter, but Jenkins’ is now one to monitor.

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