Raiders, Maxx Crosby Agree On Extension
As several edge rushers will have plenty to say about where that market goes this offseason, Maxx Crosby is beating his peers to the punch. Despite not being in a contract year, the star Raiders pass rusher now has a monster extension in place.
The Raiders and Crosby have agreed on a deal that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Crosby is signing a three-year, $106.5MM accord that includes a whopping $91.5MM guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Crosby going first will help the likes of T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and perhaps Aidan Hutchinson this offseason. The six-year Raider’s new AAV checks in at $35.5MM — $1.5MM north of Nick Bosa‘s previous defender record. Crosby surpasses Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings re-up by $500K per year, elevating him past all his non-QB peers. While it will now be expected some other edge rushers will top where Crosby has gone, he receives an update on a contract he had outplayed.
Crosby’s $91.5MM guarantee number jumps out here, as he managed to secure it on a three-year extension. Bosa landed $122.5MM in total guarantees, Garrett $100MM back in 2020. The 49ers and Browns standouts, respectively, gave their teams four and five years on their deals. Crosby getting here on a three-year contract illustrates how highly the Raiders value him, while setting the table for what could be one of the most explosive contract offseasons at one position in NFL history.
Of course, this can be classified as a three-year deal in name only. Since two seasons remained on Crosby’s previous contract (four years, $94MM), Crosby will still be under Raiders control through 2o29. Still, it cost the Silver and Black plenty to tack on three years here. Crosby was by far the best investment the Raiders made during Jon Gruden‘s second stint at the controls, and he has now been extended by two different regimes.
The Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler pair gave Crosby his first extension, which came in 2022. He played two seasons on the deal, leading the NFL in tackles for loss on both. Mark Davis then slammed the door on Crosby trade inquiries last year. Crosby had gone from expressing hope of being a one-team player before some frustration with the Raiders’ struggles showed before the trade deadline. It is safe to say today’s news will put Crosby trade rumors to rest for a while.
The Raiders also moved money around on Crosby’s contract last year; even though that Tom Telesco move was not an extension, Crosby has now seen four Raider regimes pay him. That speaks to both Crosby’s talent and the swift organizational turnover during his tenure.
Crosby, 27, combined for 45 TFLs between the 2022 and ’23 seasons. He added 17 last year, doing so despite missing five games. He ended last season on IR due to a high ankle sprain, which required surgery. The Raiders clearly have no concerns about their EDGE dynamo’s status for 2025. The Eastern Michigan alum notched 7.5 sacks last year but has three double-digit sack seasons — including a career-best 14.5 in 2023 — on his resume. Charting a potential Hall of Fame course, Crosby is certainly now paid like his top peers after having seen some lesser pass rushers move well ahead of him over the past few years.
The Raiders came into the day with more than $95MM in cap space; only the Patriots hold more. They have since extended Crosby and given ex-Tom Brady blocker Alex Cappa a two-year deal days before unrestricted free agency starts. While Cappa checks in as a standard addition, Crosby is among the first players to reap the benefits of the NFL’s latest cap spike. After ballooning by a record $30.6MM in 2024, the cap climbed by $24MM this year. It resides $71MM higher than it did when Crosby was last paid.
It continues to make sense for players to sign short-term deals, as the cap is on a trajectory that does not closely resemble the previous CBA’s course. Crosby has now scored two big-ticket extensions by 27, playing well enough for his team to rip up a previous deal with two years remaining. While other Raiders will take notice, the team does not have anyone on Crosby’s level just yet. Though, Brock Bowers has certainly started well. The team has the likes of Malcolm Koonce, Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane and Nate Hobbs set to hit free agency soon.
The Raiders also will be shopping for a veteran quarterback — before the draft brings another research project at the position — next week. They have plenty of funds remaining to both keep players and add more talent, as the franchise hopes the Tom Brady–John Spytek-Pete Carroll regime will begin an upward trend at long last.
Seahawks LB Ernest Jones Undergoes Surgery Before Free Agency
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones has been an interesting name to watch over his time in the NFL. Playing for three teams over the course of his four-year rookie contract, the 25-year-old has developed into a tackling machine. With free agency on the horizon, the Seahawks have been working to re-sign Jones and keep him in Seattle long-term. A recent surgery may put a speed bump in their plans, though. 
Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times was the first to report that Jones underwent surgery shortly after the regular season. Per Condotta, the procedure on Jones’ knee was performed to clean up an injury issue that Jones had been dealing with throughout the 2024 season. The surgery is not being portrayed as serious as Jones is expected “to return to football activity as soon as June, if not earlier.” Still, Condotta suggests that, should Jones reach free agency, interested teams may feel the need to put him through a physical before finalizing a deal.
Ira Turner, Jones’ agent, took to X to confirm the news of Jones’ surgery and to attempt to spin it in a more positive light. He insisted that the surgery is, in fact, not “a bad thing” but instead “the best thing to happen to Ernest since the trade to Seattle.” Turner emphasizes that “the doctors fixed a knee issue (Jones has) had for more than a year” and that “he’ll be healthy going forward.”
With big new deals expected for free agents like Nick Bolton and Zack Baun (Baun today signed a three-year, $51MM contract), Jones was expected to find a spot in the market as a top linebacker just behind the most expensive options. There’s been plenty of talk that a discount might be available to his current team as he immediately meshed with his teammates and coaches in Seattle upon being traded there midseason. The two sides were discussing a new contract, but discussions paused in early-January, and perhaps this was the reason why.
The surgery may cost Jones a bit of value in free agency, but he is still one of the most promising, young linebackers to potentially become available this offseason. He should still draw plenty of interest should he reach free agency next week. The team that knows him and his injury history best, though, may be the team that inks him to a new contract when all is said and done.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/25
More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: LS Mitchell Fraboni
Fraboni has served as the Broncos’ primary long snapper for each of the past two seasons, playing in all 17 games of each year as well as this year’s playoff contest. Denver will have until next Wednesday to keep him from hitting the market if they intend to retain him.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Daniel Hardy, G Bill Murray
- Bengals: G Jaxson Kirkland
- Broncos: DT Jordan Jackson, S Devon Key, TE Lucas Krull, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, LB Dondrea Tillman
- Chargers: TE Tucker Fisk
- Cowboys: DE Tyrus Wheat
- Dolphins: LB Cameron Goode, T Kion Smith
- Packers: S Zayne Anderson
- Patriots: CB Alex Austin
The Broncos tendered all five of their exclusive rights free agents today. The Packers made an easy decision to retain Anderson, who started two games this year and recorded his first career interception.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/25
Today’s minor moves across the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed ERFA tender: G Jaxson Kirkland
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed ERFA tender: DE Tyrus Wheat
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: C Ryan Coll
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
New England Patriots
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Alex Austin
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LS Casey Kreiter
Chargers A Team To Watch For WR D.K. Metcalf
Following up on today’s earlier news that veteran wide receiver D.K. Metcalf had requested a trade from the Seahawks, a few teams have been established as likely possible destinations for the 27-year-old. Most notably, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times has noted some connections to the Chargers. 
Metcalf has been in Seattle since 2019. A year after Metcalf was drafted in the second round out of Ole Miss, Sanjay Lal came on staff with the Seahawks as a senior offensive assistant after stints as a wide receivers coach with the Raiders, Jets, Bills, Colts, and Cowboys from 2009-2019. After only a year in that role with Seattle, Lal spent a season as wide receivers coach in Jacksonville before returning to the Seahawks as passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach, a role he held for two seasons. Last year, Lal was hired by Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers’ staff as wide receivers coach over a group devoid of veterans.
Another writer at The Seattle Times, Adam Jude, had done a deep dive back in 2022 concerning the close relationship between Metcalf and Lal. The piece detailed how Metcalf trusted Lal to assist him in his quest to become the league’s best receiver. Condotta adds that Metcalf has spent recent offseasons in Los Angeles. He’s clearly familiar and comfortable with the area and knows a friendly face in Los Angeles’ position room.
On the Chargers’ side of things, Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports mentioned that Los Angeles was “the one team that quietly but aggressively pursued (Metcalf) in trade talks (last year)…only to be rebuffed by Seattle.” Although rookie second-round receiver Ladd McConkey put forth a strong 1,149-yard, seven-touchdown season and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston delivered a much-improved sophomore campaign, the room was absent a veteran playmaker. Though offensive coordinator Greg Roman‘s offense tends to be run-heavy, the Chargers’ wide receiving corps would be much more well-rounded with a depth chart of Metcalf, McConkey, and Johnston.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe threw the Bills into the mix, as well, though he didn’t seem to be reporting off of any sort of intel. Buffalo could certainly use the wide receiver help as they are only set to return Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman with Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins‘ contracts expiring. Unfortunately, the team currently ranks 30th in the NFL in cap space, per OvertheCap.com, so taking on any of Metcalf’s $31.88MM cap hit in 2025 would be tough to do without an immediate extension or restructuring to relieve cap space.
That could be possible, though, as, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, Metcalf is seeking a new deal as he heads into the final season of his current three-year, $72MM extension. Additionally, Metcalf’s stated desire to play for a contender makes Buffalo a tantalizing destination.
Despite mutual interest between Metcalf and either party, the decision will ultimately land on the Seahawks. It’s never great to hold a player hostage, but they’re set to eat $21MM of dead money if they cut or trade him with a pre-June 1 designation. A post-June 1 designation only slightly improves the situation as that dead money figure reduces to $13.88MM. Regardless, if the team can’t reach an extension agreement to keep him in Seattle long-term, it could be more beneficial to get some value back in a trade rather than watch him walk and get nothing in return a year from now. For the moment, NFL reporter Josina Anderson is reporting that there is a team willing to give up a third-round pick for Metcalf.
Texans Re-Sign RB Dare Ogunbowale
The Texans have re-signed veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale on a one-year, $1.2MM deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
2025 will be Ogunbowale’s ninth season in the NFL and fourth in Houston. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Texans in 2017, but did not make the 53-man roster as a rookie. He spent the rest of the season bouncing between practice squad and made his regular-season debut with the Buccaneers in 2018.
Ogunbowale earned a full-time roster spot and a team captaincy in Tampa Bay in 2019. He carved out a role as a third-down back with 35 receptions for 286 yards and also served as a core special teams contributor. He played 361 snaps on offense and 381 on special teams, which both remain career-highs, but was not retained for the 2020 season.
The Wisconsin product was signed by the Jaguars in 2020 and amassed 282 yards on 75 carries across the next two years. He maintained his role on special teams, but did not feature in the passing game with just 23 receptions in Jacksonville.
Ogunbowale then landed in Houston, where he has spent the last three years. He continued to feature on special teams with rotational roles on offense in 2022 and 2024. Last year, he appeared in all 17 games with 112 yards on 30 carries and 198 yards on 19 receptions while playing 56% of the Texans’ special teams snaps.
In 2025, Ogunbowale will likely take up a similar role behind Joe Mixon, though a resurgence from fourth-year back Dameon Pierce could cut into his workload.
Bradley Chubb Agrees To Reworked Deal With Dolphins
Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb has agreed on a reworked contract with the Dolphins, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
The new deal will reduce Chubb’s base salary in 2025, which was originally $19.45MM, per OverTheCap. He can still earn his full 2025 compensation through incentives based on playing time and sacks.
Chubb spent last year on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to a knee injury suffered at the end of the 2023 season. The Dolphins expressed some optimism about Chubb’s return and opened his practice window in December, but he didn’t progress enough to be activated. It was later revealed that Chubb’s injury impacted his meniscus and patellar tendon in addition to the originally-reported ACL tear.
The Dolphins’ revision of Chubb’s deal is a clever move to clear 2025 cap space while providing insurance if Chubb can’t return to his pre-injury form. Since he missed the 2024 season, all of his 2025 incentives will be considered not likely to be earned. Any incentives that Chubb hits wouldn’t have to be accounted for until 2026, when Dolphins will have more financial flexibility with their own contracts and an increased salary cap.
Miami entered the day above the 2025 salary cap by $1.64MM, per OverTheCap. Chubb’s new deal will make them cap-compliant, and the Dolphins will likely made additional moves before free agency begins next week. The simplest move would be a restructure of Tua Tagovailoa‘s contract, which could create up to $19.3MM in cap space. Extending Jaelan Phillips off of his fifth-year option could create up to $9.66MM.
Zach Allen Seeking Extension With Broncos
Coming off the best season of his six-year career, defensive lineman Zach Allen is seeking a “lucrative extension” with the Broncos, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.
Allen is entering the final year of a three-year, $45.75MM contract, per OverTheCap. He has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal and will count for $19.8MM against the 2025 salary cap. An extension could reduce that to $10.5MM, though that would require a sizable financial commitment from the Broncos.
The interior pass-rusher market has skyrocketed since Allen signed with the Broncos in 2023, so he will be looking for a sizable raise from his current $15.75MM APY. After a second-team All-Pro nod in 2024, Allen’s demands are expected to start at $25MM per year, according to Tomasson. That would be the third-highest APY among active interior defensive linemen and the fourth-highest at the position in league history.
Allen set career-highs in 2024 with 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss, but the Broncos may not be willing to give him a top-of-the-market contract. He compiled 13.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss over the previous three seasons, so Denver may wait for Allen to repeat his current production before meeting his asking price.
The team may still be willing to come to the negotiating table due to Allen’s youth and cap hit. He’s only 27 years old and could anchor the middle of the defensive line for the foreseeable future. Denver currently has $40.85MM of cap space ahead of free agency, and they have other avenues to create more room. Still, the extra $9.25MM created by an Allen extension certainly wouldn’t hurt, especially if they secure his services for a few more years.
Cowboys Restructure Dak Prescott’s Deal
The Cowboys have restructured Dak Prescott‘s contract, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, creating $36.6MM of cap space on top of the $20MM created by yesterday’s restructure of CeeDee Lamb‘s deal.
The move converts $45.75 of Prescott’s 2025 salary to a signing bonus that is then prorated across the next five years of the contract. His cap number in 2025 dropped to $53MM with increases of $9.15MM in each of the next four seasons. Prescott’s cap hits in 2026, 2027, and 2028 are now above $70MM, giving him leverage to negotiate another extension in the next two years.
Dallas entered the week above the the 2025 salary cap. By avoiding a franchise tag for Osa Odighizuwa and restructuring the contracts of Lamb and Prescott, the team now has $54.3MM in cap space, the eighth-most in the NFL.
That’s not a final number, as the Cowboys could still make a few moves in the next week. They are expected to place a second-round RFA tender on KaVontae Turpin that will cost $5.35MM, and negotiations are underway with Micah Parsons on an extension that could lower his $24MM cap hit.
All told, Dallas should enter free agency with about $50MM in cap space, but recent comments from owner and general manager Jerry Jones should temper expectations of a spending spree.
“I don’t think aggressive is the right word,” said Jones (via WFAA’s Ed Werder). “I’m not looking at free agency as a place to fill voids.” Jones added that the team is planning to prioritize the draft over free agency, though their creation of cap space suggest that they intend to make some signings.
Eagles To Re-Sign LB Zack Baun
Submitting one of this decade’s premier contract years, Zack Baun moved the needle in a big way toward the Eagles’ second Super Bowl championship. The Eagles are not letting the veteran linebacker return to free agency.
Baun was set to join other Eagles starters on the market, but a Wednesday payday will instead come to pass. The Eagles are keeping Baun on a three-year, $51MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Baun will have two fully guaranteed years on this contract, as Schefter adds $34MM will be locked in at signing.
The Eagles had expressed interest in keeping Baun, who in turn wanted to stay with the team he just helped to a dominant Super Bowl win. Baun will take himself off the market, with the two fully guaranteed years doing well to convince the ex-Saints draftee to pass on a second free agency go-round. Baun played a central role in the Eagles’ latest championship, and he has scored a top-market ILB deal as a result.
At $17MM per year, Baun becomes the fourth-highest-paid off-ball linebacker. He sits behind fellow first-team All-Pros Roquan Smith and Fred Warner and Bears 2023 signee Tremaine Edmunds. Baun, however, lands his contract at an older age than that trio did. Baun turned 28 late last year. The Eagles are willing to invest in his late 20s, at the very least, before reassessing. The former third-round pick gave the defending champs plenty of reason to do so.
Baun went from researching special-teamer contracts as comps to being a first-team All-Pro. The Wisconsin alum totaled 151 tackles – a cool 121 more than his previous career high – and added 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 11 TFLs. Baun’s five fumbles forced were second in the NFL, and his diving Super Bowl LIX interception effectively ensured viewers needed to brace for a blowout. Baun’s 2024 goes in the contract-year hall of fame.
This agreement comes a day after the Eagles extended Saquon Barkley, who was already under contract through 2026. The superstar running back received a significant guarantee bump after soaring past 2,000 yards. Baun did not enjoy quite that productive of a season, but his breakthrough was more surprising. This continues Howie Roseman‘s recent zags when it comes to these positions, as the Eagles had gone a while since paying a running back and a linebacker before Barkley and Baun’s arrivals.
The Eagles’ 2024 free agent class, thanks largely to these two, probably goes down as an all-timer. The team must decide on 2024 bargain buy Mekhi Becton soon, but this Baun agreement — coupled with the team already having four well-paid offensive linemen — points the mammoth guard to the market.
Two other Eagles Super Bowl standouts — Josh Sweat and Milton Williams — are en route to free agency. It would seem the Eagles made Baun the top priority here. They are not expected to retain Sweat, and Williams — with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis rostered — will probably fetch a better offer elsewhere. But the Eagles will still ensure some front-seven continuity in Baun, who will help as Nakobe Dean is likely to miss time in 2025.