49ers, Dre Greenlaw Discussing New Deal
Dre Greenlaw has spent his entire career in San Francisco, and it sounds like there’s some mutual interest in extending the partnership. While speaking with reporters today, 49ers GM John Lynch said the two sides are engaged in ongoing discussions, and there’s optimism that they agree to a new pact before free agency.
[RELATED: 49ers Want To Re-Sign LB Dre Greenlaw]
At the same time, Lynch acknowledged that Greenlaw may look to test free agency before definitively returning to the only team he’s ever played for.
“Dre should go out and see what’s out there,” Lynch said (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic). “And then we’ll know where we have to be. We know how highly we think of Dre. We’d love to have him back. Hopefully, we’ll come to an agreement. We’ve been having talks. So hopefully we can prevent him from testing free agency.”
Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear during Super Bowl LVIII, but he worked his way back to make his 2024 debut this past December. The linebacker exited his first game after logging 30 snaps, and he got into only four defensive plays the following week. With the 49ers subsequently out of the playoff picture, both sides decided to shut the veteran down for the rest of the 2024 campaign.
A former fifth-round pick, Greenlaw has been a productive member of the 49ers throughout his career. However, the defender’s stint has partly been defined by injuries; in addition to the aforementioned Achilles injury, Greenlaw was limited to three games in 2021 thanks to a groin injury. In his four mostly healthy seasons, the linebacker has collected 425 tackles, and he’s added another 72 stops in 12 playoff starts.
The 49ers struggled to replace Greenlaw’s production in 2024, as the team’s backup plan notably blew up when De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter a game. Even if the organization does re-sign the veteran, it wouldn’t be shocking if they add more depth at the weakside linebacker spot.
49ers To “Honor” Deebo Samuel’s Trade Request
While trade requests don’t always result in a trade, it sounds like Deebo Samuel will get his wish. 49ers general manager John Lynch acknowledged that the team intends to honor the wideout’s recent trade request (per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver).
[RELATED: 49ers WR Deebo Samuel Worth Day 3 Pick?]
After being the subject of trade rumors last offseason, Samuel was the one to actively seek a divorce in 2024. The receiver recently revealed that he asked the 49ers for a trade, and we later learned that the front office granted the wideout permission to seek a new team.
Considering the 49ers’ willingness to send Samuel to a desirable spot, the organization wasn’t expected to get a haul for the former All-Pro. In fact, one report indicated that the organization may have to settle for a Day 3 pick, a notable drop from their first- or second-round asking price from last offseason. Lynch seemed to grasp at his little leverage while speaking with reporters, noting that Samuel has already garnered “a lot of interest around the league” (per Matt Barrows of The Athletic).
Samuel’s All-Pro showing in 2021 earned him a three-year, $71.55MM extension in July 2022. The veteran has continued to be a major part of San Francisco’s offense, but he’s dealt with injuries and a drop in production over the past three years. That seemed to culminate in 2024 when the receiver finished with 806 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns — his worst showing since his seven-game 2020 campaign.
While Deebo may find a new team relatively quickly, it may take a bit for the trade to actually be made official. That’s because the 49ers would create a negative cap charge of over $15MM by trading him before June 1. If the receiver is moved in a post-June 1 trade, the 49ers could spread out his dead cap charge across multiple seasons (and even open up about $5MM in cap space for 2025).
Danielle Hunter Interested In Signing Extension With Texans
Danielle Hunter inked a two-year deal with the Texans last offseason, and the veteran pass rusher is hoping to extend his stay in Houston beyond the 2025 campaign. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, Hunter is interested in signing an extension with the Texans.
[RELATED: Texans To Prioritize Extension For Derek Stingley Jr.]
Hunter is set to enter the second and final season of the two-year, $49MM deal he inked with the Texans last offseason. Following a 2024 campaign where the pass rusher added another 12 sacks to his career totals, Hunter is seeking a slight uptick in his average annual value.
Per Pauline, Hunter is eyeing an extension that will pay him more than $30MM per season. That AAV would put him in an exclusive club, as Nick Bosa is the only edge defender currently attached to a $30MM-plus annual salary. Hunter’s current $24.5MM AAV is tied for sixth among edge defenders.
Hunter overcame injury issues in 2020 and 2021 with a pair of strong final seasons in Minnesota. The long-time Vikings standout collected 26.5 sacks between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, setting himself up for a lucrative payday last offseason. The former third-round pick didn’t crack the top of the market at his position, although he reportedly turned down more money to catch on with the Texans.
The 2025 season will represent Hunter’s age-31 campaign, and he will likely have one last chance to cash in next offseason. If Hunter has his way, he won’t have to make any tough decisions and will simply re-up with the Texans.
Hunter’s extension isn’t the only deal potential extension on Houston’s radar. We heard recently that there was mutual interest in a new deal for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.. That extension most certainly won’t be cheap, qw Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston reports that an extension would be worth at least $25MM. There’s even a chance Stingley resets the cornerback market, which is currently topped by Jalen Ramsey’s $24.1MM average annual value and Patrick Surtain II‘s $77.5MM in total guarantees.
Steelers To Prioritize 2025 T.J. Watt Deal
Although Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson have generated far more headlines this offseason, T.J. Watt is a central part of what promises to be a transformative edge rusher year. As expected, the Steelers are readying a second extension.
Fourth-year GM Omar Khan said (via the Pat McAfee Show‘s Mark Kaboly) extending Watt will be a priority. Watt, who said he wants to remain with the Steelers beyond 2025, joins Hendrickson and Micah Parsons as All-Pro edge defenders entering contract years.
It took the Steelers until days before Week 1 to complete a Watt deal in 2021, as the Pennsylvania pass-rushing icon scored three fully guaranteed years — breaking a Steelers non-QB precedent — at that point. With other standouts (Garrett included) on the radar for big-ticket extensions, more complications may be afoot for the Steelers this time around.
Watt’s four-year, $112MM extension held the title for most lucrative EDGE contract for two years, as it took until Nick Bosa‘s holdout produced a $34MM-per-year deal. It took until March 2024 for another player (Brian Burns) to surpass Watt’s $28MM-AAV pact. Bosa remains the only edge player earning more than $29MM per annum. That will almost definitely change this offseason.
Early word about a Watt number has produced a price between $35-$37MM per year, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. The cap has ballooned by a staggering amount since Watt signed his deal. The COVID-19 pandemic had dropped the 2021 cap $182.5MM. Projections for the 2025 cap have it checking in nearly $100MM north of that place. Some of the league’s best players are in contract years, and their extensions should reflect where the cap has gone.
Garrett, Hendrickson and Parsons’ situations will naturally impact Watt’s. The Pittsburgh superstar is the most decorated player from this contingent, and he is going into an age-31 season. Watt will glide to the Hall of Fame one day, but he remains in his prime. A deal that approaches $40MM per year would not be out of step with a market that could produce some eye-popping numbers before Week 1. As the Bengals are prepared to make Ja’Marr Chase the league’s highest-paid non-QB, the superstar wide receiver will have competition beyond his own position for that title. Justin Jefferson is currently the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, at $35MM per year. It will probably take more for the Steelers to extend Watt.
One of Watt’s practice opponents is again in position-change rumors, as Kaboly adds the Steelers are planning to slide Broderick Jones to the left side. The Steelers’ starter at RT for the past 1 1/2 seasons, Jones was rumored to be heading to LT to challenge Dan Moore Jr. for the past two years. No stiff challenges emerged, as Moore continued to fend off first-round picks.
With Moore expected to depart in free agency and Troy Fautanu returning after missing most of his rookie season, a Pittsburgh line featuring their 2023 and ’24 first-round picks at left and right tackle will be the plan.
Jones has not yet justified the Steelers’ No. 14 overall investment. Pro Football Focus rated the Georgia alum as the 65th overall tackle. He allowed 10 sacks — the third-most in the NFL — in his second season. While the Steelers employing sack-prone QBs in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields did not help either Jones or Moore (NFL-high 12 sacks allowed), the team is counting on Jones to step up. Jones moving to LT, where he has only played 129 snaps, will be his next step, as the 2025 season will largely determine how the Steelers proceed with the Jones’ fifth-year option come 2026.
Rams Letting Jonah Jackson Seek Trade
Although other offseason storylines are taking shape, 2025 has featured a number of teams giving players permission to shop around. The Rams serve as the headquarters for this tactic, with disappointing free agency addition Jonah Jackson the latest player the team will allow to speak with other teams.
The Rams benched Jackson last season, doing so despite signing him to a three-year, $51MM deal in free agency. They are now giving the guard/short-lived center a green light to look elsewhere, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
This might not be the easiest task, as the Rams benched Jackson to use a sixth-round rookie (Beaux Limmer) in their lineup. The team had signed Jackson, triggering a Steve Avila position change. By season’s end, Avila was back at guard opposite the retained Kevin Dotson. Jackson would not seem to have a place on the 2025 Los Angeles roster, beyond overpriced backup, so the Rams will see if they can convince a team to take his contract.
A key date here looms March 12, at the start of the 2025 league year. Jackson will see $8.5MM of his 2025 base salary become guaranteed, Fowler adds. The Rams likely needed to agree to the advanced guarantee date due to the interest the four-year Lions starter garnered in free agency. Jackson finished as last year’s guard-heavy class’ second-highest-paid player at the position — behind only Robert Hunt‘s five-year, $100MM Panthers pact. (The Patriots’ Michael Onwenu did land between the two, AAV-wise, but he continues to rove between guard and tackle.)
The Rams shuttled Jackson from guard to center, after shuttling Avila back to guard during a complicated season up front. Limmer, however, emerged from lottery ticket to starter. The Rams used one of their IR activations on Jackson in mid-November but benched him one game into his return. Jackson’s fourth start did not come until Week 18, when Sean McVay benched many key starters to rest them for the playoffs. In Jackson’s defense, he battled shoulder trouble for a while. A shoulder injury sidelined Jackson for weeks during training camp, and he sustained a fractured scapula in Week 2.
If no trade partner emerges, the Rams would be forced to strongly consider admitting defeat and releasing the five-year vet. If the Rams cut Jackson, they would eat $11.3MM in dead money. This trade news comes after the Rams have let Cooper Kupp know they are not planning to bring him back. More significantly, of course, the Rams have let Matthew Stafford shop around — as the QB and his current team haggle over a new contract.
Jackson, 28, operated as the Lions’ LG starter for the duration of his rookie contract. The former third-round pick drew late Lions interest, but the team backed out when it learned how high the bidding ran. It would stand to reason that a Lions team that also found success re-signing Graham Glasgow at a cheaper rate would look back into Jackson — especially with Kevin Zeitler again a free agent. A Bears team that hired Ben Johnson would seemingly look into Jackson as well. But the Rams would likely either need to eat some of Jackson’s salary — as they are willing to do with Kupp — or accept a low-end return in a trade to move on without outright releasing the experienced blocker.
Patriots Grant DT Davon Godchaux Permission To Seek Trade
The Patriots have given veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Godchaux was mentioned as a trade candidate before the 2024 trade deadline, but he indicated a preference to stay in New England after signing a two-year extension in July. That seems to have changed in recent weeks, possibly because new head coach Mike Vrabel is expected to install his own defensive scheme. That could lead to a reduced role for Godchaux, who has played in all 68 games since signing with the Patriots in 2021.
There are a few teams interested in Godchaux, per Rapoport, though he’s unlikely to fetch significant draft capital on the trade market. The 330-pound nose tackle is a proven run-stopper but offers little pass-rushing upside with just 5.5 career sacks in 120 total appearances.
Godchaux’s contract should not be an obstacle to finding a trade partner. The Patriots have enough cap room to absorb the remaining $6.7MM in signing bonus prorations as dead money and could even eat some of Godchaux’s $4MM fully-guaranteed base salary to facilitate a deal. An acquiring team would pick up the remainder of his 2025 salary as well as $850k in per-game roster bonuses and a $150k workout bonus, per OverTheCap. Godchaux is also due a $6.5MM salary in 2026 with $1.75MM in per-game roster bonuses and a $250k workout bonus, though none of that money is guaranteed.
However, no defensive tackle has netted more than a Day 3 pick in a trade since 2020. Veteran Maliek Collins was traded from the Texans to the 49ers for a seventh-round pick last year, and he brought considerably more pass-rushing prowess than Godchaux. Other teams may look to a deep defensive line class in free agency and the 2025 draft before making a move for Godchaux. Unless the Patriots are especially motivated to deal him – or another team is especially motivated to acquire him – a trade could take a while to come together.
Bucs Do Not Plan To Pay Jordan Whitehead’s Roster Bonus; Door Open For Return
Todd Bowles mentioned a potential position switch for Tykee Smith; the Buccaneers’ 2024 nickel could move to safety. That would stand to conflict with Jordan Whitehead‘s role, but the Bucs may end up separating from a player they brought back in 2024.
Tampa Bay will not exercise Whitehead’s roster bonus, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. That will make him a free agent two weeks from today. The door is open to another deal — which would be a third Bucs-Whitehead pact — but GM Jason Licht mentioned (via Garafolo) the team will need to see how the veteran safety recovers from injury.
Whitehead, who signed a two-year deal worth $9MM to return to Tampa in 2024, missed five of the Bucs’ final six games last season. It would stand to reason the Bucs would want him back at a lower rate — if a return will be seriously considered. Whitehead is only due a $750K roster bonus on Day 5 of the league year. The Bucs not being prepared to pick that up would stand to diminish the chances the seven-year veteran comes back. Whitehead was due a $3.75MM base salary in 2025.
A November setback halted Whitehead’s run alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. A pectoral injury led Whitehead to IR, but he ran into more trouble upon returning. Whitehead had made it back in time for the Bucs’ Week 17 game, but injuries sustained in a car accident led him to the NFI list, where he remained to close out the season. Whitehead, 28 in March, still has some work to do to rehab those injuries. Licht expressed fondness for the player he once chose in the 2018 fourth round, but the Bucs will protect themselves in the meantime.
Among a wave of Bucs DBs chosen in the draft from 2018-20, Whitehead started 12 games for the team last season. Whitehead has started 101 career games; 67 of those have come with the Bucs. The Jets signed Whitehead to a two-year, $14MM deal in 2022; Licht said he regretted letting the former Super Bowl LV starter leave. Although the veteran GM rectified that by signing off on a reunion last year, Pro Football Focus ranked Whitehead 72nd among safety regulars in 2024.
A Smith move to safety could lead Christian Izien back to a full-time slot role. Whitehead will likely remain on the Bucs’ radar, but it could be a bit before the team strongly considers a third contract due to how his season ended. Whitehead’s crash occurred on his way to the Bucs’ facility before their regular-season finale. The Pitt product had never previously missed more than three games in a season.
Nick Chubb Expected To Reach Free Agency
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that the team is not planning to re-sign running back Nick Chubb ahead of next month’s free agency.
“I would say at this point that we do expect Nick to hit the market,” said Berry at the Combine (via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot). “Obviously his contract is up this year. We’ll meet with his reps and everything like that, but it’s something that obviously we need to work through over the next couple weeks.”
Chubb was one of the NFL’s most consistent running backs for the first five seasons of his career before a brutal injury ended his 2023 season after just two games. A lengthy rehab process sidelined him until Week 7 of the 2024 season, and a broken foot in Week 14 put him back on the shelf for the last three games of the year.
A report right before Chubb’s second injury indicated that the Browns were interested in retaining Chubb, but based on Berry’s comments, their stance has clearly changed. Cleveland’s reluctance to re-sign the veteran running back is understandable given their cap situation and his injury history, but they will have to address the position this offseason. They have just two running backs under contract and neither is signed beyond the 2025 season. Expect the Browns to add to their backfield via the draft in April.
Chubb recently expressed a desire to stay in Cleveland, but he will first have to test a free agency market that has several younger starting options. If Chubb doesn’t receive much interest, he may be motivated to return to the Browns on an inexpensive one-year deal to rebuild his value next season.
Broncos Notes: Sutton, Williams, Nix, Staff
Courtland Sutton and his agent have let the Broncos know he will not play on the final year of this contract, which calls for a $13.5MM base salary. That amount will not become guaranteed until just before Week 1. The Broncos are preparing eventual Sutton extension talks, and a potential price range has circulated. A rumor that emerged earlier this offseason pointed to a deal worth upwards of $25MM per year, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. This would mark a significant raise for Sutton, who signed a $15MM-AAV extension in 2021.
A $25MM AAV would place Sutton in a tie for 11th among receivers. That might be a bit lofty for a two-time 1,000-yard going into an age-30 season, but the cap continues to spike and the Broncos relied on him to both coax improved play from Russell Wilson (in 2023) and quick development from Bo Nix (2024). Sutton finished with 1,081 receiving yards last season and has caught 18 TD passes over the past two. A $25MM-per-year deal would put Sutton ahead of emerging Texans standout Nico Collins while matching him with DeVonta Smith. It would stand to reason the Broncos would aim to have his third contract come in lower than $25MM on average, but that number emerging early is interesting.
Here is the latest out of Denver:
- Sean Payton confirmed at the Combine (via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) running back and tight end will be priorities soon; the third-year Broncos HC mentioned this during a Kay Adams interview earlier this month as well. Denver rosters little of note at tight end, having seen its Greg Dulcich miss prove costly ahead of an in-season cut, but does return Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime in the backfield. Javonte Williams wants to stay, but recent rumors had the former second-rounder more likely to depart. George Paton said (via DenverSports.com) there is “a chance” Williams stays, noting that the once-productive back will be another year removed from the ACL and LCL tears he sustained in October 2022. Williams has not been the same player since that malady, however, his return would limit the Broncos from a potential upgrade — particularly a player who could be the coveted “joker” performer Payton regularly mentions.
- Although Nix dealt with a transverse process fracture, the QB’s back was not the area his recent surgery addressed. Rather, an ankle procedure took place, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Nix skipped the Pro Bowl Games, as an alternate invitee, to deal with an issue that nagged him before last season. It affected him at the 2024 Combine, per Renck, who notes the Oregon prospect was dealing with turf toe at that time. That explains why Nix threw at the event but did not run the 40-yard dash. The Broncos benefited from the QB’s mobility last season, and he may be in better form in Year 2 after this surgery.
- Vacillating between edge rusher and inside linebacker during his career, Drew Sanders will be focusing on the latter area in his third season. Payton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he considers the 2023 third-round pick an ILB moving forward. After suffering an Achilles tear last spring, the Arkansas alum will be in line to help a Broncos team that has regular LBs Cody Barton and Justin Strnad due for free agency.
- Sanders’ former position coach has run into some trouble, however. Broncos OLBs coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault in connection with an incident at the Denver International Airport on Sunday, Klis reports. A Denver police officer working on assignment told Wilhoite he could not leave his car unattended at a departure terminal. After allegedly cursing at the officer, Wilhoite bumped his chest into him. After the officer is alleged to have pushed Wilhoite, the former linebacker is accused of punching him in the face. The officer then used his taser, but Wilhoite still drove off before being apprehended soon after. Wilhoite, 38, has been released on bail. A former Saints assistant, Wilhoite has coached the Broncos’ OLBs for two seasons.
Eagles Want To Re-Sign Zack Baun
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said that the team will make a “concerted effort” to re-sign linebacker Zack Baun, per PHLY’s Zach Berman.
Baun broke out in Philadelphia last season after four inconsistent years in New Orleans to start his career. The 2020 third-rounder struggled to find a role in the Saints defense, but he was a perfect fit in Vic Fangio‘s scheme in 2024. Baun led the Eagles with 153 total tackles (sixth-most league-wide) and earned a 90.1 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) that led all linebackers.
Baun far outplayed his one-year, $3.5MM contract last year. After proving himself with first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors – not to mention a fifth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting – the former Wisconsin Badger will be looking to cash in on his next contract. However, he is 28 years old with just one elite season under his belt, which could limit his value, especially in terms of guaranteed money.
Baun has expressed a desire to stay with the Eagles, who are no stranger to paying premium talent at top-of-the-market rates. Their contract structures would easily allow them to re-sign Baun, who could command more $15MM per year on a new deal.
The Eagles do have a few other starters slated to hit free agency, including Mekhi Becton, Josh Sweat, and Milton Williams. The team has been proactive with extensions in recent years, but didn’t reach any long-term agreements during the 2024 season. With several players putting up strong seasons on the way to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory, it will be difficult to retain them all.
“We didn’t do any deals during the season, which probably could have prevented some of these problems, but we just didn’t feel like the timing was right,” said Roseman.
It’s not easy to find elite middle linebacker play in the NFL. Given Baun’s ascension in Philadelphia, both sides should be properly motivated to continue their partnership into 2025 and beyond.