Rams, QB Matthew Stafford Likely To Restructure Deal Again
FEBRUARY 17: Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms Stafford’s intention is seen as being to remain with the Rams, although speculation to the contrary will likely continue until a restructure is worked out. How quickly team and player can reach an agreement will be key in shaping Los Angeles’ offseason plans.
FEBRUARY 9: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been contemplating his future in the NFL, especially considering that one of his top targets, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, is now on the trading block. While initially Stafford was reluctant to confirm that he intended to play in 2025, he announced at the end of January that he wanted to come back for another season. In order to do that, though, the Rams are likely going to need to restructure the 37-year-old’s contract. 
Los Angeles did just that a year ago, accelerating future money to increase Stafford’s pay in 2024. It became known during last year’s draft that Stafford was seeking guarantees beyond 2024. He had delivered a healthy and productive season in 2023, putting to rest thoughts of a trade sending him out of Los Angeles or speculation about retirement for the time being. Once again, though, trade speculation has emerged; Stafford has dispelled the rumors of retirement quickly this time around.
Stafford never did get the future security he was seeking. After reaching an agreement on his restructured deal last year, it was reported that the Rams viewed Stafford as a year-to-year proposition. While the team has him under contract for another two years, injuries in 2022 and a decrease in production in the years since have Los Angeles examining its options every offseason.
With the year-to-year approach in place, a quicker resolution to the situation is likely. Stafford is set to carry a cap hit of nearly $50MM next season, and an extension or new reworking of his pact could help lower that figure. He’s set to only make about $27MM in cash in 2025, so a restructure could assist in that regard, as well. Because of this Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report that it’s likely a reworked deal will get done. It will be interesting to see if negotiations can progress on a quicker timeline compared to last year.
Dolphins Will Listen To Tyreek Hill Offers?
FEBRUARY 17: Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes Hill and the Dolphins may well be “motivated” to work out a trade in spite of the public messaging from both parties. The team will have the opportunity to gauge interest in a potential trade next week at the Combine, and it will be interesting to see if any further developments emerge at that time.
FEBRUARY 15: Tyreek Hill hinted at a possible trade following the Dolphins’ season finale, but both the WR and the organization were quick to walk back those comments. While Hill has since stated a desire to stick in Miami, it could actually be the organization that seeks a divorce.
Multiple NFL executives told Armando Salguero and Gates Garcia of Outkick.com that the Dolphins could listen to offers on their star receiver. The reporters seem to hint that it would still take a significant haul to acquire Hill, but it also sounds like Miami could be receptive to an offer that reaches their lofty asking price.
Finances would naturally be a major motivator for the Dolphins front office. Hill is attached to a lofty but manageable $28.6MM cap hit in 2025, but that number balloons to an untenable $51.8MM cap hit in 2026. In between, the Dolphins have a potential out on the contract, but they’d still be left with more than $15MM in dead cap. If the organization determines that Hill won’t be in Miami beyond the 2025 campaign, it could make some sense for the Dolphins to recoup value before they’re forced to choose from two unappealing options.
Hill was pretty clear on his feelings following a disappointing end to the 2024 campaign. With the Dolphins failing to make the postseason for the first time in Hill’s three years with the team, the wideout didn’t mince words when speaking with reporters.
“I’m out,” Hill said at the time. “It was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career.”
Both Hill and the Dolphins quickly went into crisis mode. GM Chris Grier made it clear that Hill hadn’t requested a trade, and agent Drew Rosenhaus later stated that the wideout was “committed” to the organization. It was then the player’s turn to walk back his comments, with Hill admitting his mistake while also stating that his comments were misconstrued.
Either way, the whole fiasco may have emboldened rival squads to make a competitive offer. Hill’s numbers took a hit in 2024 thanks to inconsistent QB play, but he still managed to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The 30-year-old also isn’t far removed from a two-year start in Miami where he averaged 1,778 yards per season. There would surely be a team that’s willing to gamble on a return to form for the five-time All-Pro WR, and a strong opening offer could catch the Dolphins’ ear.
Micah Parsons: ‘Plan In Place’ Regarding Cowboys Extension
Speculation about how Micah Parsons‘ contract situation will play out will no doubt continue until a deal is officially in place. The Cowboys’ All-Pro edge rusher recently provided an update on that front indicating traction could soon be gained. 
Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently met to discuss an extension which will tie him to the franchise for the foreseeable future. A deal moving the 25-year-old near the top of the edge rush market (if not to the top of the pecking order) can be expected, although he has publicly noted becoming the NFL’s highest-paid pass rusher may not be necessary to get a deal done. Parsons spoke positively about the nature of his latest conversations with Jones.
“It was good,” the four-time Pro Bowler said (via the team’s website). “I really have a lot of respect for Jerry. We have great conversations all the time. There’s definitely a plan in place, but we’ll just see how everything plays out. There’s been no progress yet, but I’m pretty confident that something will happen, so we’ll see.”
A lack of inroads being made with respect to term and finances on a long-term pact is certainly a noteworthy remark on Parsons’ part. The Penn State product made it clear in December his preference would be to have a deal in place before the start of free agency, although more recently he moved that timeline to the onset of training camp. In any case, a lengthy wait would come as little surprise given how the Cowboys have operated in recent years.
Dallas’ 2024 offseason was defined in large part by the extensions worked out with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. The latter engaged in a training camp holdout until his pact was in place, while the news of the former’s record-breaking accord broke hours before the start of the regular season. If Jones and the Cowboys opt for a similar approach with Parsons, it may very well take until the summer for an agreement to be reached.
Set to play on the fifth-year option in 2025, Parsons is due just over $24MM this season. A multi-year pact will check in at a much high price, though, and fitting in a massive raise while balancing the Prescott and Lamb accords will be difficult from a cap perspective. The Cowboys have attempted to shoot down trade speculation, but a report from Super Bowl Sunday indicated Parsons was not pleased with the decision to move on from former head coach Mike McCarthy and added the team has held discussions about the possibility of a trade.
In the absence of anything on that front materializing, attention will continue to be focused on extension talks. Parsons’ latest comments prove no firm timeline exists, but if the plan the parties understand to be in place is followed, he will have a new pact in hand sometime this offseason.
Saints Conduct OC Interview With Eagles’ Jemal Singleton
The list of Saints targets for their offensive coordinator vacancy continues to grow. To no surprise, the latest name to emerge is another Eagles staffer.
New Orleans has conducted an interview with Jemal Singleton, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. That makes him the third member of the Eagles’ staff connected to the possibility of joining Kellen Moore on his new team. Of course, Singleton could be a among the candidates to take over from Moore as the Super Bowl LIX winners’ next offensive coordinator if he were to remain with the Eagles.
The 49-year-old began his coaching tenure in the college ranks, spending time at three programs from 2000 to 2015. Singleton spent a pair of seasons coaching the Colts’ running backs before doing the same for one year with the Raiders. He then moved on to the Bengals, staying there for the 2019 and ’20 campaigns. Since 2021, he has held the role of RBs coach with the Eagles.
In addition to those responsibilities, though, Singleton has served as Philadelphia’s assistant head coach during his time with the team. Losing him would deal a blow to Nick Sirianni‘s staff, but joining Moore in New Orleans would give Singleton the opportunity to operate as a coordinator for the first time in his career. Given the strong play of Saquon Barkley in 2024, expectations would be high in the run game for the Saints if they were to move forward with a hire on this front.
With the Combine and free agency approaching, Moore and the Saints have a number of key decisions to make, including how to proceed with quarterback Derek Carr. Before a final call is made in that department, though, Moore will look to fill out his staff, including the hiring of a non-play-caller at the OC spot.
Via PFR’s Coordinator Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with the Saints:
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate; Interviewed 2/16
- 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
Ravens OL Ben Cleveland Arrested For DUI
Ben Cleveland was arrested as a result of a DUI incident on February 12, as detailed by TMZ. Documents from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia indicate the Ravens offensive lineman is facing a pair of citations. 
Cleveland was cited on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol as well as failing to maintain lane. The 26-year-old was pulled over at roughly 10:25pm on the night in question, with the police report noting that he nearly swerved his truck into a ditch. Cleveland admitted upon being stopped to drinking “approximately 3-4 beers” at a country club before driving.
The former third-rounder was taken to a nearby jail after failing a field sobriety test. A Breathalyzer test was later administered, and Cleveland returned a BAC of .178, more than double the legal limit. The incident has produced a legal situation which will no doubt hinder the Georgia product’s free agent market to an extent.
Cleveland has spent his first four years with the Ravens, playing a combined total of 59 regular and postseason games. Only seven of those have been starts, though, as he has been unable to earn a first-team gig at either guard spot. A fresh start would have come as no surprise this spring, although this news could limit the number of suitors for his services.
Patrick Mekari logged left guard duties for much of the 2024 season, and he too is a pending free agent. He could cash in on the open market based on his 53 starts and positional versatility, but even in that case Cleveland did not appear to be a candidate for a second Ravens contract (or at least one offering a clear path to a first-team gig). If anything, this development will increase Baltimore’s chances of moving on during the offseason.
Buccaneers Aim To Re-Sign Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin has played on the franchise tag once in his career, and receiving the tag the second time around was followed by a three-year deal. The veteran wideout is on track for free agency, but another Buccaneers agreement would come as no surprise. 
Executives around the league expect Godwin to once again re-sign in Tampa Bay. Adding further to that sentiment, ESPN’s Jenna Laine writes the team will “do what it takes” to keep the former Pro Bowler in Tampa Bay. Godwin was limited to seven games in 2024 by an ankle injury, but he would be counted on as a key member of the team’s passing attack in the event he were to sign another Bucs contract.
Approaching his 29th birthday, Godwin has surpassed 1,000 yards four times in his career. Across his eight years in Tampa Bay, he has proven to be a highly effective complement to Mike Evans by providing consistent production in the slot in particular. Prior to his injury this past season, Godwin was averaging just over 82 receiving yards per game, the second-highest total of his career. Keeping him in place would be a sensible move from the team’s perspective as yet another coordinator change is implemented in 2025.
“I love Chris,” new OC Josh Grizzard said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “And you guys know Chris is as good of a human being and football player as you’re going to be around. He was a huge asset to us last year, being a coach on the field and playing all those different roles.”
Grizzard was promoted from pass-game coordinator to his current title in the wake of Liam Coen‘s departure. He will look to continue the success that Bucs had on offense in 2024, and continuing to lean on the Evans-Godwin tandem would be a reasonable path to take on that front. Tampa Bay did, on the other hand, invest a third-round pick in Jalen McMillan last spring and he logged a 70% snap share as a rookie. Still, if Grizzard and the team have their way, Godwin will again be in the fold for 2025.
The pending free agent class at the receiver spot is headlined by Tee Higgins, but after that a number of veterans with injury histories of questions about declining play are set to reach the market. Godwin’s ACL tear coupled with the ankle injury which sidelined him last year could hinder his earning power, and a similar deal to the three-year, $60MM one he signed in 2022 may not be attainable at this point in his career. With Evans on the books for 2025, though, a short-term accord keeping Godwin in place can be expected.
Vikings Could Extend Andrew Van Ginkel, Josh Metellus
It remains to be seen how the Vikings will proceed at the quarterback spot this offseason. While the team weighs its options on the Sam Darnold front, other positions could receive financial attention. 
Edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and safety Josh Metellus are both on the books for 2025, but their respective performances this past season could put them in line for new deals. Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune names both players as logical extension candidates. Working out new pacts would prevent potential free agent departures next spring in each case.
Van Ginkel spent the first five years of his career with the Dolphins, seeing a varying degree of playing time in Miami. He departed on the open market last spring, inking a two-year, $20MM pact. The Rams and Eagles both showed interest, but by signing with Minnesota the 29-year-old took on a large role in his new team’s post-Danielle Hunter plans. Along with fellow signee Jonathan Greenard, Van Ginkel thrived in a starting role.
The latter set a new career high with 11.5 sacks while adding a forced fumble and two pick-sixes. Van Ginkel’s production yielded a Pro Bowl invitation and a second-team All-Pro nod, honors which could help his case at the negotiating table if he and the Vikings discuss a new deal. As things stand, the former fifth-rounder is set to carry a $12.4MM cap hit next season.
A new pact could lower that figure, something which is of course also the case for Metellus (who is set to count $7.38 against the cap in 2025). The 27-year-old played primarily on special teams during his first three years with the team, but he became a full-time starter in 2023. An extension had been worked out by early September of that year, and Metellus proved that investment to be worthwhile by notching 116 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
After restructuring his deal this past summer, the former sixth-rounder was again a key safety contributor in 2024. Metellus reached triple-digit tackles for the second straight campaign, adding a pair of interceptions. He will be counted on as an important secondary figure in 2025, but that will especially be the case if Harrison Smith retires.
The Vikings are near the top of the list in terms of projected cap space as free agency approaches, and a notable addition or two could be feasible as a result. With respect to in-house priorities, though, it will be interesting to see if at least one of Van Ginkel or Metellus receive an extension.
Patriots Targeting OL, DL Additions
Mike Vrabel‘s first offseason as the Patriots’ head coach could involve a number of high-profile moves being made in the near future. New England is set to have the most cap space in the league at the onset of free agency, and the team also owns the No. 4 pick in April’s draft. 
The wide receiver position is one the Patriots have understandably been connected to during the lead-in to the new league year. If Tee Higgins reaches the open market, New England is a suitor to watch closely. Regardless of what happens on that front, though, multiple additions at the line of scrimmage can be expected for the Patriots in the coming months.
“Certainly, you look at the teams that are able to protect the quarterback and dictate the flow of the game offensively, making sure that up front we’re sound, we’re strong,” Vrabel said when speaking about his priorities (via MassLive’s Karen Guregian). “Whether that’s through free agency or the draft, that’s something that’s critical.”
Offensive line play was a major issue for the Patriots in 2024, a year which began with questions being raised up front. The team finished 31st in PFF grade with respect to pass protection and last in run blocking, so plenty of room for improvement exists this offseason. Veteran Chukwuma Okorafor – signed as a free agent in 2024 to handle left tackle duties – played only one game with the team and was predictably released last week. Finding a starting-caliber option at the left and right tackle spots will be a key goal this offseason.
Will Campbell is a prospect frequently linked to the Patriots regarding the top of the draft board, given the LSU product’s standing as arguably the top O-lineman in the 2025 class. Just like the Titans, though, some (or all) of the other teams set to select in the top five could very well entertain the idea of moving down the board. If the Patriots took that route, other candidates to fill roster holes on the offensive or defensive lines would come into play.
Christian Barmore was limited to only four games in 2024, and a healthy campaign from the $21MM-per-year defensive tackle would be critical in helping the Patriots rebound against the run next season. Depth along the defensive interior has already been retained with the re-signing of Jeremiah Pharms, but it would come as no surprise if adding further options behind Barmore and Davon Godchaux were to be high on the organization’s to-do list.
Jets Likely To Release Allen Lazard; Garrett Wilson’s Future Less In Doubt?
The Jets are officially set to part ways with Aaron Rodgers. To little surprise, that decision is expected to also include the departure of wideout Davante Adams after his brief Rodgers reunion at the end of the 2024 campaign. 
Acquiring Adams was one of many moves the Jets made aimed at providing Rodgers with former Packers teammates; one of the others was the free agent addition of Allen Lazard. That four-year, $44MM investment did not pay of as expected, and the decision to release Rodgers could very well see Lazard cut as well. ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes Lazard (along with Adams) will “probably” be released in the near future.
Such a move from the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn would not come as a surprise. Lazard came to New York with high expectations after his final Packers campaign saw him post career-highs in receptions (60) and yards (788). In 2023, though, the 29-year-old’s production saw a steep decline. A full season from Rodgers this past year brought about a return to an extent of Lazard’s impact (including six receiving touchdowns), but on the whole his tenure has not gone as planned.
Lazard is owed a non-guaranteed base salary of $11MM in 2025 and ’26; releasing him before June 1 would essentially create an even split between cap savings and dead money. Taking the post-June 1 route – as the team will likely do in Rodgers’ case -would give the Jets $11MM in savings against a small dead cap charge, but those funds would not be freed up until June 2. Parting ways with Adams and Lazard would leave receiver as a position of focus this offseason, but Garrett Wilson‘s future with the organization may become less of a talking point moving forward.
The latter was connected to a potential trade request late in the season, with perceived tension with Rodgers and competition for targets from Adams seen as key reasons. With Wilson set to no longer have Rodgers as a teammate or (presumably) Adams vying for the top spot on the WR depth chart, though, Cimini notes that Wilson is likely to be more amenable to making a long-term Jets commitment. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year is eligible for an extension for the first time this offseason, and his production given the level of quarterback play New York has had over his three-year career could put him line for a major raise.
Wilson, 24, has topped 1,000 yards in each of his Jets campaigns. He will be expected to remain a focal point of New York’s passing attack through at least 2026, since the team will no doubt exercise his $16.63MM fifth-year option this spring provided no trade request emerges over the coming weeks. A long-term accord would check in at a much higher price tag given the upward trend in the receiver market over the past few years. Questions about the Ohio State product’s willingness to remain with the Jets will no doubt linger until such a pact is worked out, but if the new decision-makers start over on offense Wilson will remain a central figure for the unit.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Ronnie Stanley
After taking a $7.5MM pay cut ahead of the 2024 season, left tackle Ronnie Stanley started every game for the first time in his career and earned Pro Bowl honors as a crucial piece of the Ravens’ league-leading offense.
Now, he is set to enter free agency following his best and healthiest season since his devastating ankle injury in October 2020. Stanley tried to come back to start the 2021 season but played just one game before undergoing surgery for a second time. He took a more gradual approach to his return in 2022, waiting until Week 4 to start and even rotating snaps with Patrick Mekari. He missed a few weeks with another injury, but returned as the Ravens’ full-time left tackle for the rest of the year. The injury concerns continued when Stanley missed Weeks 2 to 4 in 2023 and ended the season once again rotating with Mekari.
Stanley bounced back in 2024, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,089 snaps. The 2016 first-round pick is still not the dominant pass protector that earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019, but he is clearly one of the more capable left tackles in the NFL. Given the league’s scarcity at the position, Stanley will likely draw a strong market in free agency.
The Ravens may not let him get that far. Baltimore used the sixth overall pick – the franchise’s highest selection since 2000 – on Stanley in 2016 and signed him to a five-year, $98.75MM extension just three days before his 2020 injury. He has been the team’s preferred left tackle for his entire career when healthy, including the duration of the Lamar Jackson era.
With Mekari also hitting free agency, the Ravens have an uncertain future at the position. They could flip second-year tackle Roger Rosengarten to the blindside, but they would then have to replace him on the right side and deal with the bumps of two new starters on the offensive line. Re-signing Stanley would allow them to bring some continuity into 2025 and keep Rosengarten in the spot where he showed tremendous growth as a rookie. Stanley is an also an excellent fit in Todd Monken‘s offense and a respected leader in the Ravens’ locker room.
Stanley proved his value after accepting a pay cut, so he will be looking to re-establish himself as one of the league’s highest-paid left tackles. He has expressed a desire to stay in Baltimore for the rest of his career, but that doesn’t mean he will give the Ravens a hometown discount. Stanley will likely be seeking upwards of $20MM per year after Garett Bolles signed a $20.5MM APY extension with the Broncos in December. Given his injury history and struggles against elite competition like Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson in 2024, Stanley will likely find it difficult to break into the top tier of left tackle contracts at $22MM APY and above.
Stanley is the most proven pending free agent as his position, though a number of potential starters will be available in March. Cam Robinson and Alaric Jackson started for most of last season, while Tyron Smith, Joseph Noteboom, and Jedrick Wills all missed significant time due to injury. None played as well as Stanley in 2024, though he did benefit from Lamar Jackson‘s elite ability to evade pressure and avoid sacks.
Unlike last year’s tackle-rich draft class, the 2025 draft has just two surefire first-round tackles: Will Campbell out of LSU and Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas. Neither is expected to fall to the Ravens at the 27th overall pick, and general manager Eric DeCosta is extremely unlikely to trade up. Re-signing Stanley has long seemed like Baltimore’s best and most likely option, though the team was willing to gamble with their offensive line last year.
In addition to the Ravens, Stanley could receive interest from teams like the Patriots and the Jaguars. Both teams have ample cap space this offseason and need new left tackles to protect their franchise quarterbacks. After their stunning Super Bowl defeat due to a leaky offensive line, the Chiefs could also be a dark-horse contender for Stanley’s services. However, he will be 31 by the time the 2025 regular season rolls around. The longtime Raven may very well conclude that his best fit and chance to win a championship will be in Baltimore where he has spent his entire career.