Colts, Ryan Kelly To Talk Re-Signing; Braden Smith Intends To Resume Career
As the Colts had entered the 2024 season in better shape up front, they face major questions about the position group early this offseason. Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are free agents, and Braden Smith left uncertainty about his career after leaving the team to deal with an undisclosed personal matter late last season.
The Colts are not ready to separate from this batch of Quenton Nelson sidekicks just yet. Kelly has been expected to hit free agency for the first time, but the Colts are not merely going to let their longtime center test the market without entering discussions as well.
Chris Ballard will speak with Kelly’s camp at the Combine and then meet with the player in Indianapolis next week, per the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson. Huddling back up is a bit interesting, as Kelly sought a Colts extension during the 2024 offseason but did not receive one.
One of two players (along with long snapper Luke Rhodes) on Indianapolis’ roster to arrive before Ballard took over as GM (2017), Kelly played out the extension he signed under the current front office boss. While Kelly’s age (32 in May) will impact his market, the Pro Bowl blocker will garner interest from center-needy teams soon. The Colts have until 11am CT on March 10 to keep Kelly from speaking with other teams, as the franchise tag will not be in play here.
Kelly did miss seven games last season — his most absences since the 2017 slate — to join Fries and Smith among Colts blockers who were regularly unavailable in 2024. The 2016 first-rounder indicating enthusiasm for testing the market points to the Colts being unlikely to re-sign him before that point, but that did not stop them last year. Ballard received criticism for his inward-focused offseason plan, but he was able to re-sign defensive pillars Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart after they had begun the legal tampering period unsigned. A third Kelly contract would still stand to be in play even if he follows suit March 10.
Fries is interested in staying with the Colts, while Smith is under contract at a big number. The veteran right tackle missed Indy’s final five games last season, landing on the reserve/non-football illness list. But Ballard said (via Erickson) the former second-round pick is ready to resume his career. The GM did point to the sides needing to work through some things; that can regularly be interpreted as Combine code for a contract adjustment.
Smith, 29 in March, is tied to a $14.75MM base salary and $19.75MM cap number in the final year of his contract. A release would save the Colts $16.75MM, as they have not touched this contract since authorizing it back in 2021. Of course, Indy would carry a right tackle need in that case as well. Smith has played well when available, but he has been increasingly unavailable.
Third-round Matt Goncalves started eight games (at right and left tackle) as a rookie, and Smith also missed seven games in 2023 due to hip and knee injuries. His missed time over the past two seasons has likely given the Colts pause on moving forward with the contract as is once again.
Seahawks Give S Rayshawn Jenkins Permission To Seek Trade
This year’s Combine is nearing double digits on players allowed to find trade partners. Add a Seahawks defensive back to that list.
Seattle has given Rayshawn Jenkins permission to find a trade, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. Jenkins is tied to a two-year, $12MM Seahawks pact, one he signed after the Jaguars released him last year.
The NFC West is running wild on this front. The Rams have given Matthew Stafford and Jonah Jackson permission to find a trade (though, Stafford’s permission only stands to set his contract range), and Cooper Kupp is squarely on the trade block. The 49ers have also given Deebo Samuel permission to shop around. Some player movement appears imminent in the division — be it via trade or release.
Jenkins, who turned 31 last month, started nine games for the Seahawks last season. The former Chargers and Jaguars starter was in the Seahawks’ lineup for each game before a midseason IR trip — after a hand injury — but logged only three more starts upon being activated. More activity at safety appears likely for Seattle, which made significant moves at the position last year.
The Seahawks scrapped their Jamal Adams–Quandre Diggs plan, releasing both players. They later extended Julian Love, who remains the team’s safety centerpiece. Jenkins came in to start alongside Love, signing not long after the Jags ditched his four-year, $35MM deal. Jenkins returned a fumble 102 yards for a score last season but did not intercept a pass. Pro Football Focus graded the eight-year veteran as a bottom-12 safety last season, however.
For his career, Jenkins has made 89 starts and intercepted 10 passes. He did enough with the Chargers to command a nice Jaguars contract, though PFF has viewed him as a bottom-quartile safety since that deal came to pass. The Jags disagreed with the advanced metrics site’s assessments for a while; the Seahawks might not. Jenkins is due a $4.89MM base salary in 2025; cutting him would save the Seahawks $5.28MM.
Seattle has transitioned Coby Bryant from cornerback to safety; he started 11 games last season. PFF’s No. 22 overall safety in 2024, Bryant is under contract for one more season. Love’s new deal runs through 2027.
Raiders, Matthew Stafford Finding Common Ground On Contract; Team Not Open To Trading First-Round Pick
It appears the Raiders have moved to the front of the line among the Matthew Stafford suitors. In a situation that has begun to remind of the Steelers’ pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk last summer, a trade partner is moving toward agreeing on contract parameters.
Although trade terms would still need to be worked out, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports the Raiders and Stafford are believed to have found “common ground” on contract terms. That would represent an important step. As the Aiyuk matter showed, however, the Rams still hold the hammer here.
[RELATED: Giants Pursued Stafford Before 2024 Trade Deadline]
While the 49ers viewed Aiyuk as important to their NFC title defense last year, Stafford obviously is the centerpiece of his current team. The Rams and their four-year quarterback are not in agreement on contract terms, leading to the team allowing other clubs to effectively set the market here. Sean McVay has expressed a desire to keep Stafford in Los Angeles, and the veteran starter has not requested a trade. Still, a few teams — the Raiders, Giants, Browns and Steelers — have been connected to the QB. Trade compensation would become the next step.
The Raiders look to share the Giants’ view of Stafford’s trade value. The Giants are not interested in trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, even as the Rams are believed to want a first-rounder in a potential swap, and Bonsignore adds the Raiders view their first-rounder (No. 6 overall) as off the table. Considering Stafford’s age (37), it is unsurprising the Raiders would balk at moving such a high pick. They view that choice as essential to building a roster — either around Stafford or in a reality that does not feature the 17th-year vet donning silver and black.
Las Vegas will not be punished for tampering regarding the Stafford-Tom Brady summit in Montana, as the Rams have given their QB permission to speak with other teams. Stafford is believed to be seeking a contract worth $50MM-plus per year. The Rams are not expected to reach that place, and Bonsignore adds it is not known if the Raiders would sign off on that salary range. Stafford would be nearly six years older than anyone in the current $50MM-AAV club.
Stafford is largely in this place because he did not pursue a player-friendly contract in 2022, having left money on the table (via the $40MM-per-year extension) to help the Rams build around him. After coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season, however, Stafford has turned in back-to-back quality years. With the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa in the $50MM-per-year contingent — along with the player who was the throw-in in the 2021 Stafford trade (Jared Goff) — it is understandable that L.A. QB would want a raise commensurate with his accomplishments and present form. Along that line, the Rams are taking a risk exposing their starter in the manner they are.
For now, Stafford remains a Ram. He is due a $4MM roster bonus soon, though that would seemingly not be enough money to derail a trade if there is one to make down the line. But Stafford suitors will want an answer soon, as they would need to move on to other options if no trade with the Rams can happen.
Bears Eyeing Multiple Edge Rush Additions?
Having made DeMarcus Walker one of their cap casualties, the Bears could stand to add in the edge rush department. When asked about the position at the Combine, general manager Ryan Poles left the door open to making moves on the veteran market as well as early in the draft. 
“There’s a strategy to that,” Poles said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “I would probably argue and say if you get a good pass rusher [in March] and you draft a pass rusher, you can’t have enough good ones. You want to see how you could put the puzzle together where you can kind of fill all the needs perfectly. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
The Bears’ pass rush is of course centered on 2023 trade acquisition Montez Sweat, but finding an effective complement remains a key organizational priority. The Bears were linked to a late-offseason EDGE addition last offseason, and they ultimately worked out a trade with the Seahawks for Darrell Taylor in August to provide depth. Taylor (who posted three sacks in a part-time role) is a pending free agent, and his departure would create another vacancy for Poles to fill in the near future.
Chicago is among the league leaders in terms of projected 2025 cap space, and a higher-than-expected jump in the cap ceiling could allow for a lucrative addition. The Bears have Sweat on to a $24.5MM-per-year deal through 2027, and 2024 fifth-rounder Austin Booker is attached to his rookie contract for another three years. The latter logged a 27% snap share last year, and he could be in line for an increased workload moving forward.
Even if that is the case, though, one or more notable moves could be coming in the Bears’ case. Myles Garrett has made it clear he wants a trade from the Browns, although Cleveland has not shown a willingness to move him yet. Fellow veteran Harold Landry, meanwhile, has received permission to seek a trade from the Titans. The 2025 draft class is also seen as being deep along the defensive interior and on the edge, so Chicago could add as early as the 10th overall pick. The Bears have eight total selections, and even if an experienced pass rusher were to be added it would not come as a surprise if at least one of those were to be used at the position as well.
Top Michigan Prospects Won’t Work Out At Combine
Two top prospects from Michigan – cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Kenneth Grant – will not work out at the Combine, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Fellow Wolverine Mason Graham will only participate in the bench press, according to Rapoport.
Graham opted out of his workout, while Grant was diagnosed with a hamstring strain during Combine medical evaluations. Johnson missed the second half of the season with turf toe and is waiting until Michigan’s pro day to return to the field. He will be joined by Graham and Grant, and all three are expected to go in the first-round of April’s draft.
Johnson, Graham, and Grant join a growing list of players who are not working out at the Combine. Some, including Michigan teammate Colston Loveland, cannot participate due to medical reasons. Other top prospects like Travis Hunter are simply opting out.
Graham is the fourth-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s pre-combine big board after three excellent seasons at Michigan. He is projected to be the first defensive tackle taken in the draft, with Grant battling for DT2 with a few other players. Johnson is among the top cornerbacks in the draft, but will need to prove that he’s healthy after last year’s absence.
The three Wolverines were major contributors to Michigan’s top-ranked defense in 2023 en route to a national championship. The team took a step back in 2024, but all three players still showed that they’re ready for the NFL.
2025 Salary Cap Set At $279.2MM
With the new league year not far away, teams have found out exactly what the cap ceiling is for the coming campaign. The NFL and NFLPA have arrived at a 2025 cap of $279.2MM, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The league has since confirmed the news. 
In December, clubs were planning on seeing a jump to the $265MM-$275MM range. More recently, a league memo made it clear a larger increase was coming. The 2025 cap was known to be checking in between $277.5MM and $281.5MM as of last week, and now a final figure has emerged. This represents another new water mark in spending limits as the NFL’s revenue continues to soar.
Last year saw a record jump in the salary cap, as it spiked by $30.6MM to $255.4MM. This time around, a $23.8MM increase will give teams more spending power on the open market and a stronger chance of retaining pending free agents. For the top players set to become available next month in particular, today’s news confirms that lucrative new deals await them.
The 2011 CBA brought about gradual growth in the cap compared to the spikes seen since the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement in 2020. The pandemic led to a temporary drop in the cap ceiling, but since then the league has seen considerable jumps on an annual basis. The expansion of the regular season to 17 games and adding two contests to wild-card weekend have played key roles, of course. The same is also true for the NFL’s new media rights deals and the revenue brought in from gambling.
The quarterback, receiver and defensive tackle markets have surged recently in response to the regular jumps in the cap. As things stand, Justin Jefferson is the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks at $35MM per year, but Ja’Marr Chase could overtake him soon. The edge rush position will be worth watching as the 2025 offseason unfolds; Micah Parsons is set to ink a monster Cowboys extension, while the likes of Myles Garrett (with the Browns or an acquiring team), T.J. Watt (Steelers) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are in line to receive notable raises on their next pacts.
Now that the 2025 figure is known, here is a look at how the cap has risen since 2011:
- 2011: $120.4MM
- 2012: $120.6MM
- 2013: $123.6MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.3MM
- 2016: $155.3MM
- 2017: $167MM
- 2018: $177.2MM
- 2019: $188.2MM
- 2020: $198.2MM
- 2021: $182.5MM
- 2022: $208.2MM
- 2023: $224.8MM
- 2024: $255.4MM
- 2025: $279.2MM
Travis Hunter Will Not Work Out At Combine
Travis Hunter was listed with the wide receivers and the defensive backs on the NFL’s Combine invite list, but he won’t be participating in drills for either position this week, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.
His decision continues a trend of Combine opt-outs in recent years, a list that includes Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers in 2024. Players that are already projected to go in the top 10 have less to gain and more to lose by working out alongside their peers. A slow 40-yard dash or even worse, an injury, could tank their stock and cost them millions of dollars. Instead, Hunter will wait until Colorado’s pro day (date TBD) to showcase his athletic skills and technique on both sides of the ball.
Teams are split on Hunter’s position in the NFL. Some see him primarily as a receiver, while others see him as a cornerback who can play in certain packages on offense. Hunter has met with teams in both camps, per CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala, but he does not have a preference for either position. He wants to continue playing both ways full-time as he did in college, something he reiterated at his podium session.
Positional drills and athletic testing for receivers and defensive backs take place on back-to-back days at the Combine. They’re not physically taxing compared to a live game, but the visual of Hunter participating in both sets of workouts could emphasize his potential as a two-way player, especially to front offices who are not yet sold on the concept.
However, flipping from receiver to cornerback within the span of a few hours at Colorado’s pro day could have an even more pronounced effect. Hunter will also be able to catch passes from longtime teammate Shedur Sanders as opposed to a rotation of quarterbacks throwing at the Combine.
Giants Speak With Matthew Stafford’s Camp; Raiders Will Not Face Tampering Charges
A quartet of teams was recently mentioned as suitors to watch for on the Matthew Stafford trade front. The Giants and Raiders in particular have shown strong interest, and a bidding war could ensue as a result. 
The Giants met with Stafford’s representatives at the Combine on Tuesday night, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That comes as no surprise given the interest the team has shown dating back to at least the 2024 trade deadline. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear adding multiple quarterbacks (including, quite possibly, acquiring a veteran and then selecting a rookie early in the draft) is a priority this offseason.
Dealing the No. 3 pick in April’s draft is not on the table, but the Giants could look to put together a package built around other compensation. Confirming the Giants-Stafford meeting, a report from Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed, Jourdan Rodrigue and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes Los Angeles would likely ask for a second-round selection and more if a Day 1 pick becomes unattainable (subscription required). The Giants are on track to own seven other 2025 picks, including No. 34.
Stafford is known to be seeking a new Rams pact averaging $50MM per year, but the team is not prepared to meet that asking price. Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear the team’s preference would be for the Super Bowl winner to play a fifth season in Los Angeles. While his camp has permission to seek out a trade partner, Stafford has not asked to be dealt to a new team.
The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicts this situation will be resolved one way or another relatively soon. The Rans will of course need to know if their 37-year-old passer will remain in place for another year or if a successor will need to be acquired this offseason. Suitors like the Giants and Raiders (along with the previously-mentioned Browns and Steelers) will also build their offseason plans on whether or not a Stafford swap can be worked out. As the Combine continues, traction on a potential deal could continue to be gained with respect to New York and/or Las Vegas in particular.
Buccaneers Meet With Lavonte David; LB Drawing Outside Interest
Retirement was on the table last year for Lavonte David, but he ultimately signed a one-year deal to continue his decorated Buccaneers career. It remains to be seen if he will play in 2025. 
A report from last month indicated David is likely to hang up his cleats. No final decision has been made yet, though, and the door is still open for another Tampa Bay campaign in his case. Bovada’s Josina Anderson reports the Bucs met with David’s agent yesterday at the Combine, adding the team is prepared to give him time to weigh his options.
The 13-year veteran has been a mainstay on the Buccaneers’ defense since his arrival, and David remained productive in 2024 (122 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles). He could very well find himself in the team’s plans as a result; Anderson notes the talks were “positive.” Given David’s age (35), though, Tampa Bay will need to find a long-term linebacker successor in the near future, especially since Devin White did not develop as hoped prior to his 2024 free agent departure.
Losing David to retirement would deal a blow to the second level of Tampa Bay’s defense, but the possibility of a departure on the open market exists as well. Per Anderson, other teams are gauging the former Pro Bowler’s interest in playing elsewhere in 2025. Prior to signing his most recent Bucs pact, David gave thought no only to retiring but also to joining a different team for the first time in his career. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the near future.
No timeline is in place for the Super Bowl LV winner to make a call on his 2025 intentions, but the Buccaneers will no doubt want to know his plans before the start of the new league year next month. Tampa Bay is currently projected to have roughly $8.4MM in cap space once free agency begins, and a portion of that figure will be needed to retain David once again or add a veteran tasked with filling a starting role in the event he is no longer with the team next year.
Ravens K Justin Tucker Addresses Latest Sexual Misconduct Allegations
A second wave of accusations against Justin Tucker has brought the total number of women alleging sexual misconduct at massage therapy sessions to 16. The Ravens’ kicker has denied any wrongdoing already, and his second set of public remarks on the matter repeat that stance. 
“I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider,” Tucker’s most recent statement reads in part (via Outkick.com). “Throughout the last four weeks, I have spent countless hours replaying every interaction I have had with bodywork professionals over the last thirteen years. I can assure whoever is reading this that I have never intended to disrespect anyone, cross any boundary, or make anyone feel uncomfortable in any way whatsoever.”
Earlier this month, a report from the Baltimore Banner publicized allegations of inappropriate conduct on Tucker’s part during message sessions from 2012-16. Tucker unequivocally denied the claims, doing so again when another three therapists made similar accusations. No criminal investigation has been opened, and no civil claims have been filed.
Tucker’s attorneys have pushed back against the claims he was banned from a number of Baltimore-are spas in response to the alleged misconduct. A reply from the law firm representing many of the accusers says: “We do not represent the spa owners, only the affected therapists. Whether the owners acted appropriately and in protection of their respective employees when faced with complaints is a question better directed to the them”
In recent days, the NFL opened its own probe to investigate a potential personal conduct policy violation; interviews with the accusers have begun and will continue in the near future. When addressing the subject at the Combine earlier this week, general manager Eric DeCosta said the Ravens will wait for that process to unfold before making a decision on Tucker’s future with the team. The five-time All-Pro has spent his entire 13-year career in Baltimore.
Head coach John Harbaugh said at the Combine (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo) the Ravens are evaluating kicker prospects, noting the team intended to do so before the Tucker allegations went public. Given the 2010s All-Decade Team member’s age (35) and struggles early in the campaign (resulting in a field goal accuracy rate of 73.3%, by far the lowest of his career) it would not come as a shock if the Ravens elected to move on this offseason. Three years remain on Tucker’s contract; releasing him with a post-June 1 designation would yield $4.2MM in cap savings while generating $2.87MM in dead money.