NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/4/25
Here are today’s reserve/futures contracts signed around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals
Washington Commanders
- OT Bobby Hart
Hart has not played in the NFL since 2022, but he played 98 games over the preceding eight seasons. He has 67 career starts, mostly at right tackle, but only has one year with a Pro Football Focus grade above 60.0 (subscription required).
Jaguars Request GM Interview With 49ers’ Josh Williams
The Jaguars have ramped up their general manager search process, requesting an interview with 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Williams has spent the last 14 seasons with the 49ers, starting as a scouting assistant in 2011. He then spent three years as a pro personnel scout before moving to college scouting. Williams was an area scout from 2017 to 2021 and a national scout from 2022 to 2023. He was then promoted to his current title where he “directs pro and college scouting efforts, supports player development, and assists in contract negotiations,” according to his team bio.
It’s difficult to attribute an individual scout’s contributions to his team’s draft classes, but the 49ers unearthed several future stars on Day 3 during Williams’ tenure. That list includes George Kittle, Dre Greenlaw, and Brock Purdy, though the team’s recent history on Days 1 and 2 is less consistent.
Williams certainly played a major role in the 49ers’ last offseason, which featured several veteran signings on defense with mixed results. Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos combined for 12.5 sacks, but De’Vondre Campbell and Jordan Elliott struggled to make an impact.
It’s still too early for definitive conclusions on San Francisco’s 2024 draft class, but initial returns have been positive. Renardo Green, Dominick Puni, and Malik Mustapha all earned starting roles as rookies, while Ricky Pearsall and Isaac Guerendo both flashed in limited roles on offense.
Williams will join a growing list of candidates for the Jaguars’ general manager job. Below are the rest of the names connected with the vacancy:
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interview requested
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interview requested
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interview requested
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Interview requested
- James Gladstone, scouting director (Rams): Interview requested
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Declined interview
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): One of top candidates?
- Josh Williams, director of scouting and football operations (49ers): Interview requested
AFC West Notes: Raiders, Bolts, Broncos, Nix
The brain drain in Denver continues. Losing high-ranking exec Darren Mougey to the Jets, the Broncos have also seen two Sean Payton staffers (John Morton, Declan Doyle) become OCs elsewhere — Detroit, Chicago. They will now see one of their front office staffers join a division rival. The Raiders hired Mark Thewes as their senior VP of football operations Tuesday. Thewes, 48, will reunite with John Spytek, his coworker in Denver during part of the 2010s. Coming to the Broncos back when Josh McDaniels was hired as HC, Thewes lasted through several regimes, joining Mougey in that regard. Despite McDaniels’ quick dismissal, the Broncos retained his former high school teammate. McDaniels’ quick Las Vegas ouster notwithstanding, he will join Spytek, Tom Brady and Pete Carroll among the Raiders’ bigwigs.
Thewes follows David Shaw out of Denver’s front office; Shaw is returning to coaching, being set to join Morton in Detroit. Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- The Raiders are retaining DC Patrick Graham and D-line coach Rob Leonard, but offensive staffers are departing. Running backs coach Cadillac Williams, wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett and assistant QBs coach Fred Walker are out, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Additionally, linebackers coach Mike Caldwell and cornerbacks coach Ricky Manning Jr. will not be back. This comes a year after the Jaguars fired Caldwell as DC. Williams joined the Raiders’ staff last year, while Bennett’s tenure stretched back to Jon Gruden‘s 2018 return. Formerly the Packers’ OC, the ex-NFL running back coached Raiders receivers under Gruden, McDaniels and Antonio Pierce. He has been an NFL staffer since 2005. Caldwell was part of the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-winning staff, overlapping with Brady and Spytek, making it a bit more interesting he will not be asked back.
- Las Vegas had a name in mind to replace Bennett, but a division rival will not allow it. The Chargers blocked a Raiders request to meet with Sanjay Lal, Fowler adds. Jim Harbaugh hired Lal as his WRs coach last year, and the team is intent on keeping the veteran position coach. Lal was on Carroll’s staff as an offensive assistant in 2020; because he is still under contract with the Bolts, they can block any lateral move.
- Elsewhere on the Chargers’ staff, they will lose safeties coach Chris O’Leary to the college ranks. Western Michigan is hiring O’Leary as its DC, ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel reports. O’Leary had been safeties coach at Notre Dame from 2021-23.
- Bo Nix passed on a Pro Bowl Games invite, as an alternate, due to a cleanup procedure, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. It is not known what issue this operation will address, but it does not appear Nix is in much danger of missing the Broncos‘ offseason program. Nix played through a transverse process fracture in his back during the season. Any type of back surgery would certainly be notable for the impressive rookie QB, so it will be interesting to learn what exactly will be addressed via this cleanup.
- Asante Samuel Jr. missed 13 games this season, slowing his momentum in a contract year. Samuel said he dealt with “stinger symptoms,” via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper (subscription required). The second-generation NFL corner said he has dealt with these symptoms throughout his career, and a flareup occurred during a practice before Week 1. Another issue cropped up before Week 6, leading to the shutdown. Samuel said he should be fine for offseason work, though it is not certain where that work will be. Playing outside and in the slot for Los Angeles, Samuel said he wants to re-sign. The 47-game Chargers starter joins Kristian Fulton in being a free agent-to-be at CB from this secondary.
Buccaneers’ Mike Greenberg Withdraws From Jaguars’ GM Pursuit
The first name to come up as a Jaguars GM candidate, Mike Greenberg is out of that mix. Tampa Bay will retain its assistant GM, as Greenberg has informed Jacksonville he is out of the running, the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud reports.
Greenberg has been with the Bucs for 15 years, becoming a crucial cog — particularly with regards to the club’s cap management — for a team that has lost two key staffers this offseason. In addition to Liam Coen‘s exit to become the Jaguars’ HC, fellow Bucs assistant GM John Spytek is now the Raiders’ GM. Despite a Jags interview request to potentially follow Coen north, Greenberg will help the Bucs ensure some staff continuity.
[RELATED: Where Does Jaguars’ GM Search Stand?]
It was interesting that Coen wanted to keep working with Greenberg, as the two only overlapped for one season in Tampa. Greenberg also was part of Coen’s messy exit. When Coen was secretly negotiating with the Jags, after having informed the Bucs he intended to stay and sign a lucrative coordinator extension, Greenberg was among the high-ranking staffers who attempted to contact him. Greenberg wanted to reach Coen regarding an offensive staffer, but his call went unreturned. Still, Coen subsequently wanted to see about working with the longtime Tampa Bay front office mainstay.
A report out of Jacksonville late last month indicated Coen was “pushing hard” to bring Greenberg with him. Greenberg’s decision to pass centers around his loyalty to the Bucs rather than any hard feelings toward Coen, Stroud adds, as the Tampa Bay AGM was honored to be considered. He will continue working with Jason Licht, as the Bucs attempt to construct a fifth straight NFC South champion.
Promoted to assistant GM in 2023, Greenberg interviewed for the Panthers and Jets’ GM jobs over the past two years. This Jags decision being categorized as Bucs loyalty is obviously worth noting, but Greenberg’s decision to take those interviews while passing on the Jags job certainly signals some trepidation with the position. The Jags fired their previous GM (Trent Baalke) midway through their coaching search, with the ouster appearing to be the key driver for Coen to move forward and accept their HC offer. The gig came with Coen being free to pick a GM and reside atop the team’s personnel pyramid, Tony Boselli‘s arrival as executive VP notwithstanding.
A Monday report indicated the next Jags GM will not answer to Boselli, but the Hall of Fame tackle will still have a key organizational voice. Boselli will report to ownership, joining Coen in that regard. Boselli’s new presence, along with Coen’s power, would stand to reduce this GM role’s responsibility. That may well have impacted Greenberg’s decision. The Bucs have also blocked Coen from poaching O-line coach Kevin Carberry and assistant OL coach Brian Picucci. Tuesday’s Greenberg news marks another successful Bucs retention effort.
Hired years before Licht’s arrival, Greenberg has been an integral part of the Bucs’ 2020s success. Ending a 12-year playoff drought, Greenberg helped the Bucs build their Super Bowl LV roster and was one of the key drivers in crafting a strategy that helped the team bring back every core player for the 2021 season. After Tom Brady‘s retirement left the franchise with a $35MM dead money bill, Licht, Greenberg and Spytek weathered the storm and still had the team in the divisional round. This past offseason, the Bucs found room to pay Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield Jr. Licht will have Greenberg by his side for at least one more offseason.
K Mason Crosby Retires
Mason Crosby did not play in 2024, and he will not attempt a comeback this offseason. The veteran kicker announced his retirement on Tuesday. 
Crosby said during an appearance on his 105.7 The Fan Milwaukee radio show that he has elected to hang up his cleats. As a result, his career is over after 17 seasons in the NFL. Of course, he will be best remembered for his 16-year run with the Packers prior to a brief stint as a Giants fill-in in 2023.
A former sixth-round pick, Crosby handled kicking duties during his rookie campaign and was not sidelined at any point during his Green Bay Run. The Colorado product never missed a game during his time with the organization, a stretch which included winning Super Bowl XLV. Crosby posted a field goal accuracy rate above 80% nine times in his career, going a perfect 16-for-16 in that department in 2020.
On three occasions, the Packers’ offensive efficiency helped Crosby lead the league in extra points. For his career, he connected on 739 of 760 XP attempts in the regular season. In terms of playoff production, Crosby missed only four of his 35 field goal tries while posting a perfect mark on extra points. That consistency helped him enjoy a lengthy run with the Packers, one which was followed by a brief stretch on the Rams’ practice squad but not any games played for Los Angeles.
Overall, Crosby ends his career as the Packers’ all-time leader in points; he sits 11th in league history with 1,939. The 40-year-old amassed just over $40MM in career earnings, having signed multiple Green Bay extensions during his time with the team. Now, his attention will officially turn to his post-playing days.
Raiders Interested In QB Marcus Mariota?
Quarterback will again be a position to watch closely this offseason for the Raiders. With the much of the team’s new coaching staff in place, one veteran name has emerged as a free agent option. 
“There could be a little bit of interest in Marcus Mariota between the Raiders and Dolphins,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “He’s gonna have some choices this offseason.”
Mariota’s relationship with Tua Tagovailoa is a factor which could make him a Dolphins target. Miami is aiming to acquire a high-floor backup, and the 31-year-old would meet that criteria. Mariota has 93 appearances and 74 starts to his name, although his last run of first-team action came with the Falcons in 2022.
In the event he were to return to the Raiders (after playing there from 2020-21) , the Oregon product could be an option to compete for bridge starter duties depending on how the team operates in the draft. A Vegas deal would represent a reunion with Chip Kelly, who coached Mariota in 2012 and is now back in the NFL as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. The team will of course have other options to consider, though.
With the second-most projected 2025 cap space in the league, the Raiders will have the wherewithal to win a potential bidding war for the top passers in this year’s free agent class. Sam Darnold is therefore a name to watch, as is Russell Wilson since he and head coach Pete Carroll are once again on good terms. Vegas currently holds the No. 6 pick in April’s draft, which may put the team in range for a first-round QB.
Even if a young passer is added on Day 1 of the draft (or later), Mariota could be signed as competition or a veteran capable of handling QB1 duties while a rookie develops. As things stand, Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are in place for the Raiders; the new regime led by Carroll and general manager John Spytek could very well make one or more changes to that room over the coming months, however.
Bears Could Attempt To Work Out Kyler Gordon Extension This Offseason
Last offseason, one of the Bears’ top priorities was working out a deal with cornerback Jaylon Johnson. After applying the franchise tag, a four-year, $76MM extension was signed; 2025 could see another long-term commitment made at the position. 
As a 2022 draftee, Kyler Gordon is now eligible for a new deal. He is still attached to his rookie contract for 2025, but without a fifth-year option being in place, it would be feasible for the Bears to negotiate an extension this spring. Indeed, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes it would not come as a surprise if Gordon were to be among the team’s top financial priorities.
The 25-year-old has started 34 of his 42 games with Chicago, operating as a key figure in the team’s secondary. Gordon has settled into a full-time role as slot corner, and he has amassed 17 pass deflections and five interceptions during his three years in the league. While high-end producers on the perimeter have landed lucrative deals in recent years, the top of the market for slot CBs has not enjoyed the same forward momentum. Gordon – who has played all-but exclusively on the inside the past two seasons – could look to close the gap on an extension.
“That [pay difference] is crazy because to me I feel like I play three positions, really four positions almost,” the former second-rounder said. “I feel like I play linebacker, safety, nickel and corner. It’s crazy to think that doesn’t get incorporated. That’s just what the business is.”
11 corners (including Johnson) are currently averaging at least $19MM per season on their contracts. With respect to players who primarily (or entirely) play in the slot, though, the top of the market is $10.25MM. That is the average annual value of Michael Carter II and Taron Johnson‘s extensions signed last year with the Jets and Bills, respectively. As a result, any new Gordon pact will likely check in near that figure.
Chicago already has Johnson in place as a long-term commitment, and safety Jaquan Brisker is also eligible for an extension. Tyrique Stevenson, meanwhile, will be in the same position one year from now, so the Bears’ secondary will soon become much more expensive if it is to remain intact beyond the next few seasons. A key factor in determining whether or not that will be the case will of course be how the team proceeds with Gordon.
Jaguars Request GM Interview With Rams’ James Gladstone
The list of candidates for the Jaguars’ general manager position continues to grow. Several interview requests went out on Monday, but the team is not done on that front.
[RELATED: Jags Name Tony Boselli VP Of Football Operations]
Jacksonville hopes to speak with James Gladstone for the GM position, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. He has spent his entire career with the Rams, and he currently holds the position of scouting director. New head coach Liam Coen worked alongside Gladstone during his two stints (2018-20 and 2022) in Los Angeles.
The Rams have produced a strong track record in the draft over recent years, and as Gladstone has worked his way through the ranks he has become a key figure alongside general manager Les Snead. Los Angeles has managed to re-tool on defense in particular over the past two seasons in large part due to the team’s success in the draft. Expectations would be high for the Jaguars in that department if Gladstone were to be hired.
Despite his status as a rookie head coach, Coen is set to have a major role in deciding on Jacksonville’s new GM. The team was set to continue with Trent Baalke in that role until an abrupt change was made immediately before Coen was hired. That move came as little surprise given the extent to which Baalke’s presence turned other candidates off of the position, but it added to the unorthodox nature of the situation. In any case, it will be interesting to see how this Coen-driven process plays out over the near future.
Via PFR’s general manager tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand with Jacksonville:
- Chad Alexander, assistant general manager (Chargers): Interview requested
- Brandon Brown, assistant general manager (Giants): Interview requested
- Trey Brown, senior personnel executive (Bengals): Interview requested
- Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Interview requested
- James Gladstone, scouting director (Rams): Interview requested
- Mike Greenberg, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Jon Robinson, former general manager (Titans): One of top candidates?
QB Jameis Winston Open To Giants Deal
During the events of Super Bowl Media Day, Jameis Winston assumed the role of past-time correspondent. That produced a notable interaction with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley in which the veteran passer spoke about his future. 
Winston is a pending free agent, and the Browns may look elsewhere for help under center on the open market or during the draft. The former No. 1 pick could still have a number of suitors, though, given the excess of demand at the position relative to supply (especially given this year’s group of QB prospects). One team in need of a new quarterback is the Giants.
Barkley mentioned his former team when speaking to Winston about the latter’s options on the open market this spring. New York moved on from Daniel Jones midway through the 2024 campaign, ending his time with the franchise not long after he inked a four-year, $160MM extension. Drew Lock is a pending free agent while Tommy DeVito‘s future is also uncertain. Using the No. 3 pick on a passer looms as an option, but bringing in a veteran like Winston could also be on the table. The 31-year-old would be on board with such a move.
“Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely!” Winston said when speaking with Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com. “I want to keep playing and do what I do best.”
After a five-year run with the Buccaneers, Winston spent four seasons in New Orleans. That spell included 10 starts, and the Florida State product made it clear he still viewed himself as being capable of handling QB1 duties. In 2024, he found himself making seven starts in the wake of Deshaun Watson‘s Achilles tear, although Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe also saw time atop the depth chart at the end of the campaign.
Watson is set to miss some (potentially all) of the 2025 campaign in the wake of his second Achilles tear, and Thompson-Robinson’s time as a starter has not been sufficient to ensure competition will not be brought in. Winston could be retained on a another one-year deal, but outside suitors could be willing to bring him in as veteran insurance. It will be interesting to see if the Giants prove to be one of them. In any case, Winston is clearly intent on continuing his NFL career in 2025.
Browns’ Myles Garrett Requests Trade
The Browns have no plans of trading Myles Garrett, but the latest development in his situation has again raised the possibility of such a move taking place. The perennial All-Pro edge rusher has formally requested a trade. 
“As a kid dreaming of the NFL, all I focused on was the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl — and that goal fuels me today more than ever,” a statement from Garrett reads (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). “These past eight years have shaped me into the man that I am today. While I’ve loved calling [Cleveland] my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent.
“The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton, it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”
[RELATED: Browns Offseason Not Expected To Change Garrett’s Stance]
This scenario became a talking point at the end of the campaign, one in which the Browns finished 3-14. Garrett made it clear he would be seeking clarity on the franchise’s long-term plans regarding a potential rebuild, something the former Defensive Player of the Year has no interest in. While the Browns do not intend to embark on an organizational reset, questions at the quarterback position in particular leave them with a murky outlook with respect to Super Bowl contention in the near future.
Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry – who, along with head coach Kevin Stefanski signed an extension last offseason and will remain in place for 2025 – has been adamant no consideration will be given to dealing Garrett. He said after the end of the campaign the Browns expect the former No. 1 pick to retire with the franchise, adding less than one week ago that an offer including two first-round picks would not be enough to entertain the thought of a trade.
To no surprise, then, Rapoport adds the Browns’ stance on this matter has not changed. Still, teams will no doubt make calls gauging the team’s willingness to part ways with Garrett. The Texas A&M product has posted no fewer than 10 sacks in each of the past seven seasons, earning six Pro Bowl nods and being named first-team All-Pro four times so far in his decorated career. Garrett is comfortably Cleveland’s all-time sack leader, and with 2025 representing his age-29 season he has plenty more to offer the Browns or another team.
On only two occasions during his Cleveland tenure has Garrett reached the postseason. His time with the franchise included the Browns’ 0-16 campaign during his rookie year along with multiple coaching changes. The arrival of Stefanski brought about a run to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2020, but since then the team has only reached the postseason once more (a wild-card loss to the Texans last season). With an unclear outlook under center and a long list of AFC contenders to deal with regarding a Super Bowl run, Garrett’s desire to move on can be easily understood.
Two years remain on Garrett’s current contract, a $125MM extension which has proven to be a worthwhile investment on the team’s part. Berry has said he is open to working out another extension this offseason, one in which the top of the edge rush market could change dramatically. Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt join Garrett as veterans in line for new deals, while Micah Parsons‘ pending extension is also likely to challenge Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV. Before agreeing to a new Garrett pact, though, the Browns will now have to deal with this trade request.
Players who ask to be dealt quite often wind up remaining on their teams through a new contract. Still, this escalation is a notable chapter in the Garrett-Browns relationship as the team prepares for a crucial offseason. Cleveland is currently on track to be over the cap in 2025, thanks in no small part to the nearly $73MM hit Deshaun Watson is set to account for. The former Texans Pro Bowler has not met expectations during his three Cleveland campaigns, and his second Achilles tear threatens to keep him off the field for most, if not all, of the coming campaign. A free agent QB acquisition will certainly be challenging given the team’s financial situation.
Of course, the Browns own the No. 2 selection in this year’s draft. That could give the team the opportunity to add a new franchise passer, although the presence of Penn State’s Abdul Carter could leave a major edge rush addition as a possibility. Whether or not that receives consideration will depend at least in part on how this Garrett saga unfolds.