Commanders Grant Jonathan Allen Permission To Seek Trade
Jonathan Allen‘s future in the nation’s capital is increasingly uncertain. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been granted permission to seek a trade by the Commanders, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. 
Allen has spent his entire eight-year career with Washington, serving as a mainstay along the defensive front during that span. The 30-year-old has only one year remaining on his contract, however, and none of his base salary ($15.5MM) is guaranteed. Set to carry a 2025 cap charge of $21.44MM as things stand, Allen is a candidate to be released in the near future.
As a result, it comes as little surprise he and his camp have received permission to find a trade partner. As Jones notes, teams have contacted the Commanders in recent days about Allen. Talks on that front will no doubt intensify at the Combine. Cutting or trading the former first-rounder would yield $16.47MM in savings for the team while generating a dead money charge of $6MM.
Allen was limited to five games during his rookie season, but after that he had a run of durability which ended in 2024. The Alabama product suffered a pectoral tear which appeared at first to be season-ending. Allen managed to return in time for the end of the campaign as well as all three of Washington’s playoff games, but the team is set to move on at this point. Daron Payne remains attached to the four-year, $90MM extension he signed upon receiving the franchise tag in 2023, while 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton is in place as a candidate to replace Allen (a 108-game starter with 42 sacks to his name) in the starting lineup.
After showcasing his potential on his rookie contract, Allen landed an extension averaging $18MM per year in 2021. His Pro Bowl nods came in back-to-back campaigns upon signing that deal, something which pointed to a long-term run in Washington. Now, his time with the franchise is nearing an end. With the option of signing Allen after a release still a distinct possibility, it will be interesting to see if any of the interested parties are willing to part with draft capital to work out a trade agreement.
Matthew Stafford Seeking $50MM Per Year; Multiple Teams Showing Trade Interest
The future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to dominate the news cycle as the new league year approaches. The Super Bowl winner will manage to secure a new pact ahead of the 2025 season, but whether or not it comes from Los Angeles remains to be seen. 
One of the many recent developments in this situation indicated Stafford is seeking a raise from what he is currently set to collect. As a result of last offseason’s stopgap financial compromise between team and player, the two-time Pro Bowler is owed $32MM as things stand (without much of it being guaranteed). With respect to how much of a pay bump Stafford is seeking, further clarity has emerged.
The 37-year-old is looking to join the signal-callers earning $50MM per year or more, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports (video link). That list currently sits at nine, and each of the players on it are younger than Stafford; only Dak Prescott and Jared Goff are QBs over the age of 30 who find themselves in the upper echelon of compensation. On the other hand, Jalen Hurts is the only $50MM-per-year passer whose resume includes a Super Bowl title.
In the wake of the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald received new contracts cementing their status as the team’s core moving forward. The latter retired after the 2023 season, while Kupp is known to be on the trade block (and in danger of being released if no suitor is found). Moving on from Stafford would allow for the Rams to reset under center and complete the transition to a much younger – and much less expensive – nucleus.
Stafford and his camp have permission to gauge the trade market, and the upcoming Combine will no doubt result in all parties learning more about how much (in terms of draft capital and finances) teams are willing to pay. Any number of suitors could emerge given Stafford’s potential to serve as a short-term quarterback upgrade, and some teams are known to have made contact so far. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders are among those which have expressed interest.
The Giants are known to be in the market for a veteran passer as well as a long-term solution brought about via the draft. A deal for Stafford would meet the first of those goals, and if healthy he could prove to be a worthwhile addition over a short period. New York owns the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, capital the team will not be willing to part with. Whether or not the Rams can work out a trade built around second- (rather than first-)round compensation will be key in determining if a deal can be finalized.
The Browns are set to be without Deshaun Watson for most or potentially all of 2025, and another restructure to his pact will help create the space needed for an inexpensive veteran addition. Provided he is released by the Falcons, Kirk Cousins will be a name to watch on that front based on his history with Kevin Stefanski and the offset language in his contract. Stafford, by contrast, would be a far more expensive target.
At least one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will likely be retained by Pittsburgh this offseason, and a mutual interest exists for a new deal in both cases. A commitment from the Steelers to operate as the clear-cut starter will be an obvious sticking point whichever way the team goes, though, and adding Stafford via trade would leave Wilson and Fields on the move this spring. Pittsburgh would be better placed financially than New York or Cleveland to absorb a raise, but the same holds true of other teams as well.
One of those is the Raiders. Vegas entered Monday with the second-most spending power in the NFL, and quarterback is a clear area of need. As a result, it came as no surprise when a report from yesterday noted the Raiders could be a Stafford suitor. New general manager John Spytek would no doubt avoid trading away the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, so another package or one centered on a 2026 Day 1 selection (a possibility Breer mentions) would be required for talks to yield progress.
Schrager adds no animosity exists between Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the door is open to another Rams restructure ending speculation on this front. Still, given the extent to which a trade is receiving consideration, a reconciliation between the parties would be at least somewhat awkward at this point. Los Angeles will look for a long-term successor under center in the near future regardless, but it remains uncertain if that will be necessary in 2025.
Raiders Contender To Trade Up For Cam Ward
While a recent report indicated that the Raiders were focused on Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado QB may not truly be the organization’s top choice at the position. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, there’s a general belief around the NFL that the Raiders are a prime contender to move up in the draft in pursuit of Miami QB Cam Ward.
[RELATED: Raiders May Be Homing In On QB Shedeur Sanders]
This year’s top tier of quarterback prospects only consists of Ward and Sanders. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Miami product has separated himself as QB1. In other words, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the QB-needy Raiders would pursue the top positional prospect.
It is noteworthy that they’d be willing to give up the prerequisite trade haul vs. just settling with Sanders. For what it’s worth, Pauline says there are plenty of league sources who believe the Raiders will just take Sanders at No. 6 if they can’t work out a trade for Ward. Still, it sounds like the front office has a preference, and it seems to match the general sentiment from around the NFL.
According to Pauline, some scouts are discouraged by Sanders’ lack of development in 2024, and the QB could require “a lot of coaching” to refine his throwing fundamentals. If push comes to shove, it sounds like the Raiders are at least willing to tolerate those growing pains, especially since Tom Brady has “a great amount of respect for Sanders’ focus on preparation, his ability to learn and adapt, his accuracy and determination in the pocket, and his toughness to take hits and still be resilient.”
The Raiders were positioned to land the first-overall pick in the draft before winning two of their final three games, dropping the organization to the sixth-overall selection. Despite the fact they won’t have their pick of the litter, it sounds like the Raiders can still walk away with one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects.
Cowboys Expect Trey Lance To Depart, Plan To Draft QB
With Dak Prescott on the books for the foreseeable future, the top of the Cowboys’ quarterback depth chart is set. Dallas may well have a new backup in place for 2025, though. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Open Contract Talks With Osa Odighizuwa]
Trey Lance is a pending free agent with his rookie contract set to expire. The former No. 3 pick’s brief time with the 49ers ended via trade in 2023, with the Cowboys acquiring him for a fourth-round selection. Lance did not not see any playing time during his first Dallas campaign, though, and this past season he made only one start despite Dak Prescott‘s missed time.
“We took a shot a Trey and wanted to do that,” COO Stephen Jones said on Monday (via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News). “We think the world of Trey. But us having Dak signed up for the long-term, I think he’s probably going to be looking for something different.”
Indeed, it would come as no surprise if Lance were to head elsewhere on the open market. The 24-year-old is unlikely to draw much in the way of free agent interest having only made 12 regular season appearances and five starts to date, but a team could allow him the opportunity to compete for a backup gig in the summer. The QB2 role has belonged to Cooper Rush for much of his Cowboys tenure, but he too is set to see his contract expire in March.
Jones spoke positively about Rush, 31, when asked about his situation. The former UDFA has made 13 starts across the 2022 and ’24 campaigns when Prescott has been sidelined through injury. Rush’s last contract (two years, $5MM) was the most lucrative one of his career, but Jones noted he could receive a raise by means of a free agent departure. Especially if that takes place, the Cowboys can be expected to draft Prescott’s next backup (something Moore notes new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko support).
“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said. “I don’t know where that’s going to be. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”
The Cowboys are currently projected to have 10 picks in April’s draft, including four in a stretch from Nos. 150-174. That range could give the team the opportunity to add an inexpensive backup while Dallas manages the cap implications of Prescott’s historic 2024 extension.
Browns Willing To Hear Offers For No. 2 Pick?
The Titans have made it clear that they’re willing to move back from the No. 1 pick, but there could be a better chance that the No. 2 pick is ultimately moved. According to Josina Anderson of Bovada, the Browns are “most willing to listen” to offers among teams in the top-six of the draft.
[RELATED: Titans GM Says Team Open To Trading No. 1 Pick]
Armed with the second-overall pick, the Browns are a clear suitor for a rookie quarterback. Unfortunately, this year’s draft doesn’t feature a blue-chip signal caller, and there’s a chance Cleveland could move back from No. 2 and still land one of the top positional prospects like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Of course, that would still require the Browns to hang around the top of the draft board, but the team may be tempted by a trade offer that pulls them out of that range.
Browns GM Andrew Berry may have already hinted that the organization was pivoting away from Ward or Sanders. Berry has opined that he can find a long-term starter in this year’s much-maligned crop of collegiate QBs, even beyond the top duo. If the organization is committed to spending their top selection on a QB, they could pick up some extra assets along the way vs. just reaching for a prospect with the No. 2 pick. Of course, the organization could also select Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick and figure out QB later.
Even if the Browns are willing to trade their top pick, they’d still have to find a willing trade partner. While the No. 2 pick would still assure a team a blue-chip prospect in Carter or Hunter, there’s a belief that this year’s lackluster draft quality could impact trades atop the depth board. As ESPN’s Matt Miller writes, we may see fewer trades in the top-10 and more towards the end of the first round or beginning of the second round due to a “a lack of league-wide consensus regarding the top players.”
There is some elevated pressure for the Browns to get this pick right. The team sacrificed a good portion of their future in the regrettable Deshaun Watson trade. As a result, the organization is positioned to pick in the opening round for the first time since 2021. If the Browns have any hopes of returning to relevancy, it’ll likely start with how the team handles the second-overall selection.
Stephen Jones: Cowboys Will Be “Selectively Aggressive” This Offseason
The Cowboys are hoping to steal headlines this offseason, but the team is making it clear that they won’t force any moves. While speaking with reporters at the combine today, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters that his team will be “selectively aggressive” when it comes to transactions.
[RELATED: Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa]
“Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of our musts and needs before the draft so you can pick the best player on your board,” Stephen Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Didn’t get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that’s always the goal. And every year is different in terms of what those musts and needs are, and then you also have to marry what’s in free agency vs. where the draft is heavy and where we can help ourselves in the draft.”
The Cowboys’ 2024 season ended in disappointment and change, as the team moved on from Mike McCarthy after failing to make the playoffs. Part of the team’s lack of success was due to Dak Prescott‘s season-ending hamstring injury, although the Cowboys were only 3-5 in their quarterback’s eight starts.
There’s clearly work to do if the Cowboys hope to return to the postseason. The team has holes on both sides of the ball, and while they’ll find a few options via the draft, they’ll be reliant on some newcomers to be productive. That could require the front office to pony up, and it seems like they could be willing…to an extent.
Further, similar to last year, the Cowboys will also be focused on extending their star players. After inking Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to new deals, the team’s now motivated to sign pass rusher Micah Parsons to a new pact. We’ve heard the Cowboys have also talked to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa‘s camp about a new deal, and the team has a long list of additional players who are set to hit free agency.
Therefore, when Jones says his team will be “selectively aggressive,” it could come in many forms. While fans would naturally like to see a big splash via free agency or trade, the team’s notable moves may be more in-house. Still, Jones wasn’t shy about exploring every possible route to improve the Cowboys.
“We’re going to look at everything we can,” Jones said (via Archer). “You have a certain amount of resources they allow you to have. But we’re going to try to improve our football team. Not try. We’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success [this] year.”
49ers Re-Sign OL Ben Bartch
The 49ers aren’t letting Ben Bartch hit free agency. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the offensive lineman. It’s a one-year deal for Bartch.
A former fourth-round pick by the Jaguars, Bartch got into 41 games across three-plus seasons in Jacksonville. He landed with the 49ers midway through the 2023 campaign and has spent the past-year plus with the organization.
After getting into five games down the stretch with the 49ers in 2023 (plus another three playoff appearances), Bartch was limited to only three games (two starts) in 2024. He fared well in his brief look last year, allowing only one pressure in 65 offensive snaps. He likely would have been in line for more playing time during the final month of the season, but the lineman was sidelined thanks to a high ankle sprain.
With Aaron Banks also set to hit free agency, Bartch does provide the 49ers with some continuity at left guard. Depending on how the offseason plays out, the veteran could actually be penciled in atop the depth chart heading into the 2025 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/24/25
One minor move to pass along:
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): CB Ryan Cooper Jr.
After getting waived by the Seahawks last week, “Bump” Cooper has already found a new home in Miami. The cornerback bounced around a bit during his rookie season. The UDFA earned a spot on the Ravens practice squad and even got into a game with the big-league club before getting waived. He spent the rest of the 2024 campaign on Seattle’s practice squad, and he was retained via a reserve/futures contract before getting cut.
Rams Add Alex Van Pelt To Coaching Staff
The Rams formally announced their coaching staff this afternoon, and a previously unreported name was notably listed as a senior offensive assistant. Per the team, Alex Van Pelt is one of the six new additions to the staff for the 2025 campaign.
A long-time NFL coach, this is likely a temporary stop for the 54-year-old. Van Pelt has served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He mostly made a name for himself as a QBs coach, including a stint as Aaron Rodgers‘ coach in Green Bay between 2014 and 2017.
The veteran coach had a four-year gig as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, and his stint ended in somewhat surprising fashion following the 2023 campaign despite the Browns’ top-10 finish in points scored. He quickly landed on his feet as the Patriots OC in 2024 but wasn’t retained as part of Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Van Pelt’s New England stint saw plenty of ups and downs, with the coach earning credit for Drake Maye‘s development while drawing criticism for his play-calling and lack of creativity.
Now, he’ll have an opportunity to rehabilitate his image while working under one the NFL’s most lauded offensive minds in Sean McVay. At 54 years old, Van Pelt could look to reenter the coordinator carousel next offseason. At the very least, he should be able to garner a promotion from his new Rams gig.
The rest of the Rams’ new staff members includes tight ends coach Scott Huff, pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins, senior defensive assistant Jimmy Lake, assistant special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, and game management coordinator Dan Shamash.
Bills Add Ryan Nielsen To Staff
FEBRUARY 24: McDermott confirmed the Nielsen hire on Monday. He noted (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) the former D-coordinator will work with Buffalo’s defensive linemen in 2025.
FEBRUARY 6: Ryan Nielsen has served as a defensive coordinator on three different teams over the past three years. He will not have another DC gig in 2025, but he has landed a new opportunity in the NFL. 
Nielsen has a deal in place with the Bills, as first reported by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. He will be brought in as a senior defensive assistant as part of Sean McDermott‘s staff. Feldman adds Nielsen had interest from multiple teams during the 2025 hiring cycle.
The 45-year-old worked in the college ranks from 2002-16 before joining the Saints. Nielsen spent five years serving as New Orleans’ defensive line coach, earning the title of assistant head coach during the final year of that span. When Sean Payton departed, Dennis Allen was promoted to head coach in 2022; Nielsen was one of the two staffers tapped to fill the vacated role of defensive coordinator for that season.
The Saints ranked fifth in points allowed and ninth in total defense in 2022, but Nielsen found himself on the move after the campaign. He took charge of the Falcons’ defense for the 2023 campaign, but the intra-divisional swap did not produce a duplication of the Saints’ success on defense from the year prior. Arthur Smith was fired at the end of the season, and to little surprise Raheem Morris opted to make sweeping changes at the coordinator spots.
That left Nielsen in need of a new position, and he managed to land another DC gig by joining Doug Pederson in Jacksonville. Pederson made a number of changes to his defensive staff in particular last offseason in advance of a campaign in which he found himself on the hot seat. Things did not go according to plan on either side of the ball for the Jags, and Pederson’s firing has since been followed by several coaching and front office changes. New HC Liam Coen recently brought in Anthony Campanile as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator, paving the way for Nielsen to move on.
The Bills had Leslie Frazier in place as defensive coordinator from 2017-22, but his decision to take a year off from coaching led to McDermott taking over play-calling duties for the 2023 campaign. Last offseason, McDermott promoted Bobby Babich to the role of DC; after dealing with several injuries on defense, Buffalo finished the year 11th in points allowed and 17th in total defense. Nielsen will aim to help the team take a step forward in 2025.