Doug Nussmeier Favorite For Saints’ OC Position; Joel Thomas Returning To Staff
Three of the staffers connected to the Saints’ offensive coordinator vacancy are currently with the Eagles. To no surprise, one of them is in pole position to join Kellen Moore in New Orleans. 
Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier is seen as the favorite at this point, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. While nothing is imminent, he adds the situation is likely heading toward Nussmeier taking on the position. This would represent his first OC opportunity at the NFL level.
Nussmeier’s coaching career began in the CFL, and he has experience at a number of levels as a QBs coach. The 54-year-old also handled coordinator duties at five different college programs from 2008-17 before beginning his time in the NFL. During his time with the Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles, Nussmeier has overlapped with Moore with the latter operating as offensive coordinator.
Moore now has his first head coaching gig, and once it became clear he would depart the Eagles to join the Saints Nussmeier’s name came up as a logical candidate to join him. As expected, Moore will call plays in 2025, but his coordinator hires will of course be key as he puts together his initial staff. That process will include a return to New Orleans for a familiar staffer.
Running backs coach Joel Thomas is set to join the Saints once again, as first reported by Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Thomas spent the 2024 campaign coaching the Giants’ running backs, but he will now make the lateral move back to New Orleans after working there from 2015-23. Brian Daboll will once again need to find a replacement at the RBs coach spot, something which has become an annual endeavor during the hiring cycle.
With Thomas in the fold and Nussmeier the top name to watch on the OC front, here is how the Saints’ coordinator search is shaping up:
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16; favorite?
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Robert Prince, receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 2/15
- Jemal Singleton, assistant head coach/running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/17
Bengals Extend P Ryan Rehkow
For 14 years, Kevin Huber handled punting duties in Cincinnati. The team found a new contributor at the position in 2024, and he appears set to operate as Huber’s long-term successor. 
The Bengals announced on Tuesday that Ryan Rehkow has signed a two-year extension. As a result, he is on the books through 2026 and will avoid ERFA status this offseason. The former undrafted free agent proved to be the team’s top option throughout his rookie season after winning out a competition with Brad Robbins.
The latter handled punting duties in 2023, the first season after Huber’s retirement. Robbins, selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, began this past campaign on IR but was among the players slated as designated for return during roster cutdowns. He returned to the active roster in September, but by that point Rehkow had cemented his status as the Bengals’ preferred choice. As a result, Robbins was waived immediately after his activation.
Rehkow grossed 49.1 yards per punt on average, with a net of 43.3. Both figures represented franchise records, and over 47% of the BYU product’s punts landed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. As a result of that performance, today’s news comes as little surprise.
At the age of 26, Rehkow has the potential to serve as the Bengals’ punter well into the foreseeable future. After he earned $795K during his rookie campaign, a modest raise is likely coming his way as a result of his new pact.
Departure Likely For Packers CB Jaire Alexander; Team Hopes To Re-Sign K Brandon McManus
As the Packers map out their offseason, they have a number of important decisions to make. Among the most notable of those is a call on Jaire Alexander. 
Green Bay made Alexander the league’s highest-paid cornerback when he inked a four-year, $84MM extension in the spring of 2022. While his $21MM AAV has since been surpassed on two occasions, expectations have remained high as a result of the pact. Alexander has delivered strong play when on the field since signing his second contract, but the frequency with which he has been sidelined (along with perceived tension with the team) has led to speculation about a release.
“There’s frustration, I think, on both sides, from the fact he can’t get out there,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said when speaking about Alexander’s situation (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “That’s tough. I feel for him because he wants to be out there, he wants to play. But no disconnect.”
While it is certainly possible at this point that the Packers could elect to keep the former first-rounder in place for 2025, a parting of ways would not come as a surprise. Indeed, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky writes there are “strong indications” Alexander will not be back, adding multiple sources from within the organization are frustrated with his injury-driven absences. After making 16 appearances in 2022, the Packers’ top cover man has been limited to seven games in each of the past two years.
Alexander is set to carry cap hits of $24.96MM and $27.38MM in 2025 and ’26, the final two years of his pact. A release before June 1 would not create a net savings for the team, but a post-June 1 designation would yield just over $17MM in cap space along with a dead money charge of $7.88MM. Those funds could be put towards a less expensive replacement at the CB spot as the Packers also seek out upgrades along the defensive front through free agency and the draft this spring.
In addition to making a decision on Alexander, Green Bay will look to find stability at the kicking spot. The Anders Carlson selection in 2023 did not go as planned, and the Packers spent last offseason cycling though several options at the position. Brandon McManus proved to be a worthwhile midseason addition, though, connecting on 20 of his 21 field goal attempts and each of his 30 extra point kicks. Despite one miss in the wild-card round of the playoffs, McManus is a priority for the Packers with respect to a new deal.
“If we were able to get Brandon back, I think certainly that would make me feel very, very, very good about that [specialist] group,” Gutekunst said (via Demovsky) when asked about retaining McManus.
The Packers currently sit mid-pack in terms of projected cap space, and a modest deal is no doubt all that will be required to keep McManus in place. Green Bay could free up additional funds by moving on from Alexander, and his situation will remain one to watch closely as cost-cutting season unfolds around the league.
Bengals “Likely” To Hit Tee Higgins With Franchise Tag
Tee Higgins is generally considered the top offensive free agent, but the Bengals WR might not even make it to the open market. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack), the Bengals are considered “likely” to hit Higgins with the franchise tag if the two sides can’t work out a long-term deal.
According to Pelissero, the Bengals front office is currently focused on signing the star wideout to a long-term pact, and there’s “hope” they won’t have to opt for the franchise tag for the second-straight year. If the organization does ultimately turn to the tag, they’ll effectively be committing to Higgins for yet another season (barring a trade), and they’d still have until the middle of July to work out an extension with the receiver.
The former second-round pick saw his rookie contract expire last offseason, but the Bengals held on to Higgins via the franchise tag. A second-straight franchise tag would be valued at 120% of Higgins’ 2024 earnings, which would come in at $26.2MM. The Bengals would presumably hope that number is a placeholder as they pursue a long-term deal, but it could also represent a slight discount as Higgins pursues a deal worth more than $30MM per year.
Joe Burrow has made it clear that he wants the Bengals to retain one of his top targets, but the organization’s upcoming financial commitments would make a Higgins deal difficult to navigate. Burrow himself is playing on a once-record-breaking extension, and the Bengals have yet to work out a long-term deal with fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase. The organization could theoretically commit a significant chunk of their cap to their three offensive stars, but there’s also a chance the team will just be keeping the trio together for one last run.
The 2024 campaign was one of Higgins’ most productive showings of his career, as he compiled 911 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. His recent injury woes only slightly clouded his free agency outlook, as the WR was still expected to have plenty of suitors this offseason. If Higgins is ultimately slapped with the franchise tag, it will bode well for the rest of the free agent class, a group that includes veterans coming off injuries (like Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs) and veterans who underwhelmed in new spots (like DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper).
Aaron Rodgers Has “Tentative Intention” Of Playing In 2025
The Jets unofficially ended their brief Aaron Rodgers era last week, with the team (and new leadership) announcing they’d go in a different direction at the position in 2025. Even before the Jets publicly announced the divorce, there were some questions surrounding the future Hall of Famer’s playing status. For what it’s worth, the Jets were left with the impression that Rodgers intends to play next season.
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, Rodgers told general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn that “it was his tentative intention” to continue playing in 2025. Jets leadership was also left with the impression that Rodgers wanted to handle some “unfinished business.”
There were high hopes in New York as Rodgers returned from his Achilles injury from 2024. We’re all plenty familiar with what happened next. Robert Saleh was the first scapegoat in a season that eventually ended with a 5-12 record, but the veteran QB was also plenty to blame, as Rodgers finished the year with one of the worst completion percentages (63.0) and passing success rates (43.9) of his career.
For what it’s worth, Breer notes that Rodgers showed plenty of self-awareness during his postseason meeting with Jets leadership, with the veteran understanding that the organization may want to go in a different direction at the position. On the flip side, the Jets still believe that Rodgers has something left in the tank, and the team’s decision to move on was more about differing timelines than a lack of confidence in the player.
While Rodgers will likely be a post-June 1 cut, the Jets are expected to allow the quarterback and his representation to speak to interested teams before he officially hits free agency. Considering his age, underwhelming 2024 production, and the circus that would inevitably surround his acquisition, it’s uncertain if Rodgers will have a long list of suitors waiting for him. The veteran will also surely be looking for a team that wants to win now, so it will certainly take a unique pairing.
Assuming Rodgers does end up playing, he’ll have an opportunity to continue climbing the all-time leader boards. Rodgers sits seventh in passing yards but could easily jump to fifth (ahead of Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers) with a healthy 2025 campaign. Rodgers could also easily pass Brett Favre for fourth on the all-time touchdowns list, and a return to his old form could have him approaching Peyton Manning‘s third-place spot.
Before Rodgers’ can focus on the all-time lists, he’ll need to find a new home. Considering his long track record, there will surely be at least one team that’s willing to take a chance on the former MVP.
Release Candidate: Von Miller
When Von Miller signed a six-year, $120MM free agent deal in 2022, questions were raised about how he would be able to remain productive over the life of that pact. Halfway through the deal, a release looms as a distinct possibility. 
Miller had a strong debut campaign with Buffalo, notching eight sacks in 11 games. An ACL tear ended his season, however, and it delayed his debut the following year. The former Bronco and Ram Super Bowl winner managed to suit up for 12 contests in 2023, but he was held without a sack and handled only a rotational role. That was followed by a pay cut being worked out last March.
The 35-year-old was again a part-time contributor off the edge in 2024, logging a snap share of 33%. Miller did rebound to an extent on the statsheet with six sacks and 16 pressures in 13 games (played on either side of his four-game suspension), but reducing his impact on the team’s cap moving forward is a sensible goal. Unless Miller agrees to reduce his pay again, Joe Buscaglia writes a release can be expected (subscription required).
Miller’s scheduled compensation ranges from $17.5MM to $30MM over the next three years, but none of his base salaries over that span are guaranteed. A release before June 1 would create a larger dead money charge than cap savings for the Bills. If the team designated him a post-June 1 cut, though, $17.44MM in cap space would be created while incurring a dead money charge of only $6.37MM. Miller’s scheduled cap hit of $23.81MM certainly leaves the door open to such a move.
The Bills are led along the edge by Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa. The former is currently on track to play on his $13.39MM fifth-year option in 2025, but it would come as no surprise if the team targeted a long-term extension in his case. The latter, meanwhile, inked a two-year pact last March. Buffalo could continue to depend on those young pass rushers moving forward with 2024 fifth-rounder Javon Solomon in place as a developmental option.
Veteran Dawuane Smoot is a pending free agent, though, and losing him on the open market in addition to cutting Miller would leave the Bills in need of depth additions via free agency and/or the draft. The 2025 class contains a number of highly-regarded pass rush prospects and with 10 projected selections this April Buffalo will have plenty of opportunities to add at least one. Moving on from Miller would of course be a sign the team prefers to go in a younger direction along the edge for 2025 and beyond.
Bears Open To Letting Keenan Allen, Teven Jenkins Depart In Free Agency?
Wideout Keenan Allen and guard Teven Jenkins headline the list of pending free agents for the Bears. A departure on the open market in both cases would not come as a surprise. 
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin writes neither player is a suitable candidate for the franchise tag, which Chicago used last year on Jaylon Johnson before a four-year extension was worked out. Rather than making a fully-guaranteed commitment in the case of Allen or Jenkins, Cronin notes to no surprise a likelier outcome would see both of them depart in free agency. For the former, that would lead to increased speculation about a return to Los Angeles.
It was reported in January that Allen would only continue his career if he re-signed with the Bears or took a deal with the Chargers or Rams. The six-time Pro Bowler spent the first 11 years of his career with the Bolts, but the trade which sent him to the Windy City came after a restructure agreement could not be reached. Allen wanted to continue with the Chargers, and the potential for a reunion would make for an interesting storyline if no new Bears deal were to be signed.
Allen (who changed agents this summer) would welcome a Chicago contract, and with a 70-744-7 statline from 15 games in 2024 he could remain a starter on the team’s offense moving forward. The Bears already have D.J. Moore on the books, though, and 2024 No. 9 pick Rome Odunze will be counted on to handle a major role for the foreseeable future. Chicago could therefore look to devote cap resources elsewhere this spring.
The Bears are near the top of the list in terms of projected cap space for free agency, but upgrading along the offensive line represents an obvious priority. Jenkins has played a starting role for the unit when healthy over the past three years, seeing time at right guard in 2022 before splitting his time at both guard spots the following year. The 26-year-old worked exclusively at the LG position in 2024.
Drafted as a long-term tackle investment, Jenkins has drawn strong PFF evaluations since he moved inside. The Oklahoma State product approached Chicago about an extension, but to no avail. Injuries have been a consistent issue in his case, with 23 games being missed as a result of different ailments across his first four years in the league. That represents an understandable reason for pause on the Bears’ part as they consider their O-line options.
Aside from right tackle (thanks to 2023 first-rounder Darnell Wright), every starting spot up front is at least something of a question mark for Chicago at this point. Multiple additions to the unit over the coming months would not come as a surprise, and Trey Smith – the top interior blocker set to reach free agency – is a name to watch with former Chiefs staffer Ryan Poles in place as general manager. Making a lucrative move for a guard would signal a likelihood of Jenkins departing.
Quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson will face high expectations regarding the Bears’ offense for 2025. That will be the case regardless of if Allen or Jenkins are retained, but it will be interesting to see how the team proceeds on both fronts.
Jaguars Sign QB John Wolford
It didn’t take long for the new Jaguars regime to start adding to their roster. The team announced today that they’ve signed quarterback John Wolford and wide receiver Louis Rees-Zammit. Both players were signed to the active roster, which is a more significant commitment than the standard reserve/futures contracts you see at this time of year.
Wolford has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2018. Following stints with the Jets and in the AAF, the QB seemingly found a home with the Rams, where he spent several years serving as a backup to Jared Goff and later Matthew Stafford.
Wolford ultimately spent four years with the organization, going 2-2 in his four starts. In seven total appearances with the Rams, the QB completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 626 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions. He also added another 87 yards on 16 carries.
The 29-year-old could be part of Jacksonville’s solution behind Trevor Lawrence in 2025. Mac Jones filled in admirably in 2024, but the former first-round pick is set to hit free agency. C.J. Beathard also has an expiring contract, so it could be a new-look QBs room for the Jaguars next year.
A former rugby union player, Rees-Zammit got his NFL start with the Chiefs last offseason. He later caught on with the Jaguars’ practice squad, where he spent the majority of his rookie campaign.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/17/25
One reserve/futures deal to pass along:
Houston Texans
Interestingly, the Texans gave Tucker Addington some extra cash to join their offseason roster. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the long snapper got $10K in bonus money for putting pen to paper. The Sam Houston State has bounced around the NFL a bit during his career, getting into 10 games in stints with the Patriots, Commanders, and Dolphins.
Raiders, Assistant GM Champ Kelly Part Ways
With John Spytek taking over the front office in Las Vegas, the Raiders are making some significant changes to their operations. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders and assistant general manager Champ Kelly have mutually agreed to part ways.
Spytek would have represented the third GM that Kelly has worked under during his short stay with the organization, so it’s not a surprise that the assistant is looking for a fresh start elsewhere. The executive interviewed for the GM role in 2022, and he was hired as the assistant after the organization opted for Dave Ziegler. He took over as interim GM when his boss was canned in 2023, but he once again landed in an assistant role when the team added Tom Telesco last offseason.
During his time in Las Vegas, Kelly was credited with helping to retool a roster that sorely needed some upside on both offense and defense. He helped build an impressive group of offensive skill players like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers (and later Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker), and his defensive wins include the likes of Robert Spillane, Tyree Wilson, and Jack Jones.
The veteran executive got his NFL start with the Broncos in 2007, where he worked his way up from a college scout to assistant director of pro personnel. He joined the Bears in 2015 as their director of pro scouting, a role he held for two years before transitioning to assistant director of player personnel.
Despite his inability to earn the top front office role, Kelly hass still been a popular name on the interview circuit. He interviewed for the Jaguars job earlier this offseason, and besides his numerous interviews with the Raiders, he also received previous interest from the Broncos and Panthers. Considering his track record, it shouldn’t take long for Kelly to land on his feet.