Trade Candidate: George Pickens
Having played out the first three seasons of his rookie contract, George Pickens is eligible for an extension. In spite of that fact – and his status as a potential 2026 free agent – his Steelers future remains a notable point of discussion and uncertainty. 
Entering the draft, Pickens was regarded as one of the most talented prospects at the receiver position. Character concerns played a role in his drop to the second round, but expectations remained relatively high for his rookie campaign. Serving as a No. 2 option to Diontae Johnson, Pickens posted 801 yards on an average of 15.4 per reception in 2022. During the following season he took over as Pittsburgh’s top option in the passing game, leading the league with an 18.1 yards per catch average and recording a 63-1,140-5 statline.
Johnson was traded away last offseason, but that move and the decision to release Allen Robinson left the Steelers short on established wideouts. Efforts to make a major addition by trade (in particular Brandon Aiyuk during the summer and Christian Kirk ahead of the deadline) did not result in a deal being made. Pickens therefore remained the top catalyst on offense for the Steelers, a unit which struggled mightily down the stretch. Part of Pittsburgh’s five-game losing streak (counting the wild-card round) to close out the campaign included Pickens’ missed time due to a hamstring injury, but even upon return he had an inconsistent showing.
While sorting out the quarterback position is an obvious priority for the Steelers this offseason, adding at the WR spot is another. Acquiring a new No. 1 option through free agency, trade or the draft would be challenging for general manager Omar Khan, but doing so could open the door to moving on from Pickens. As Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes, trading away the 23-year-old is an option the team may be prepared to explore if a major pickup were to be made this spring.
Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson are recent midround receiver draftees, but further investment will be needed moving forward. As Kaboly adds, selecting a wideout in the first round of April’s draft would not come as a surprise; that would of course be particularly true if Pickens were to be dealt. Finding a suitor willing to acquire and extend the Georgia product could be difficult, though.
Pickens is in line for a second contract any time between now and next offseason, and the top of the receiver market sits at $35MM per year. Matching Justin Jefferson’s compensation (or that which Ja’Marr Chase is in line to receive soon) would be a stretch, but Pickens could easily join the list of receivers (which currently sits at 23) making $20MM or more on average per year on an extension. He comfortably led Pittsburgh in receiving in 2024 and will be expected to continue as one of the league’s premier deep threats and contested catch specialists on the Steelers or another team moving forward.
Head coach Mike Tomlin – who will remain in place as Pittsburgh’s head coach for 2025 – has a reputation of maximizing the potential of wideouts carrying off-the-field and attitude concerns. That has been the case so far with Pickens, although earlier this year Tomlin admitted in a post-game press conference his team’s WR1 needs to “grow up.” The sentiment regarding Pickens around the league will (along with financial considerations) be a key factor in determining his potential trade market.
Of course, the Steelers have the option of keeping Pickens in place for at least one more season. A franchise tag could also be used to retain him for the 2026 season if no long-term commitment is made, although by that point it will be clearer if team and player wish to continue their relationship. Should the Steelers open extension talks in the near future, the likelihood of a trade would obviously decrease. In the event negotiations are put on hold or do not progress as planned, however, the possibility of making a deal will no doubt be raised in Pickens’ case.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
Two weekends of playoff football have come and gone, providing us with 10 more draft slots cemented into position as NFL teams continue to be eliminated from the playoffs. The top 18 picks were already divvied up at the conclusion of the regular season to the teams who failed to make the playoffs, while picks 19-28 have been determined over the past two weeks.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order has been determined by the inverted 2024 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. The playoff squads are being slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular-season record.
The league’s Super Wild Card weekend resulted in the elimination of Chargers, Steelers, Broncos, Packers, Buccaneers, and Vikings after their respective losses. Tampa Bay benefitted from the three-way tie in record with Denver and Pittsburgh, just as the Chargers did over the Packers.
The divisional round of the playoffs resulted in the elimination of the Texans, Rams, Ravens, and Lions. This time, Houston held the tiebreaker over Los Angeles, gifting it higher draft priority.
We are still at a place that, for the first time since the league expanded to 32 teams in 2002, there is a chance that every team drafts in the first round, as no first-round picks have yet been traded. It’s extremely unlikely that this will remain the case, as draft-day trades are a very common occurrence, but it’s still an interesting concept to note this close to the draft.
Here is how the draft order looks following two weeks of playoff football:
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- Cleveland Browns (3-14)
- New York Giants (3-14)
- New England Patriots (4-13)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
- New York Jets (5-12)
- Carolina Panthers (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (5-12)
- Chicago Bears (5-12)
- San Francisco (6-11)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
- Miami Dolphins (8-9)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
- Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
- Denver Broncos (10-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Green Bay Packers (11-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
- Houston Texans (10-7)
- Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
- Detroit Lions (15-2)
- Washington Commanders (12-5)
- Buffalo Bills (13-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
Cowboys Expected To Expand HC Search; Kliff Kingsbury On Team’s Radar?
Given the timing on the decision to move on from Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys are slightly behind other head coach-needy teams around the NFL. A list of candidates has emerged over the past few days, but it could grow in the near future. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Dallas is expected to speak with more potential hires over the coming days (video link). Once the divisional round concludes, several notable coaches will become eligible to conduct in-person interviews with the six teams still in need of a new HC. The Lions’ in-demand duo of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are among the staffers available to be hired at any time starting tomorrow, and to no surprise ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes they represent the next two dominoes to fall in the hiring cycle (video link).
Glenn was mentioned yesterday as a potential Cowboys target, but to date no connections have been made between Dallas and Johnson. A different candidate with an offensive background could be on the team’s radar, though. Rapoport names Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as someone who could receive an interview request from the Cowboys. Washington’s season is ongoing, of course, something which will delay the process by which he could land his next head coaching gig.
Kingsbury returned to the pro game this offseason by joining Dan Quinn‘s staff. The former Cardinals coach and USC staffer has drawn praise for the performance of the Commanders’ offense in general and the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in particular. The Bears and Saints have submitted interview requests for the 45-year-old, while the Jaguars have also been mentioned as a potential suitor. Kingsbury made it clear last week he will not take part in any interviews (even virtual ones) until the Commanders’ season comes to an end.
The only remaining interview on the Cowboys’ docket as things stand is with Seahawks assistant Leslie Frazier. Dallas was not among the teams to request an interview with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, although he is now off the market for at least one more year as a result of his Longhorns extension. It will be interesting to see which other targets emerge for the Dallas vacancy with an increased pool of candidates available.
For the time being, though, here is where things stand with the Cowboys:
- Bill Belichick, head coach (North Carolina): Mutual interest would have existed
- Leslie Frazier, assistant head coach (Seahawks): To interview 1/20
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): Mentioned as candidate
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Interviewed 1/18
- Deion Sanders, head coach (Colorado): Discussions commenced; no deal expected
NFL Staff Rumors: Allen, Sanders, Williams, Panthers, Saints
Former Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich was hired to rejoin his old coworker, Raheem Morris, in Atlanta as defensive coordinator. This threw a wrench in some other plans in coaching searches around the league. Specifically, two teams that viewed him as a defensive coordinator candidate will have to look elsewhere to fill the position.
After Ulbrich filled in for a fired Robert Saleh in New York, he was likewise being viewed as a backup candidate for defensive coordinator behind Saleh in San Francisco. The 49ers are hoping to hire Saleh back to his old job as their defensive play-caller. Saleh is still interviewing for some open head coaching positions, though, and in case he becomes unavailable, Ulbrich was seemingly the second option.
The second team watching Ulbrich was whatever team ends up hiring former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Johnson had Ulbrich tabbed as the potential defensive coordinator on his first staff as an NFL head coach. Rapoport claims former Saints head coach Dennis Allen is the new name to look out for to join Johnson’s first staff.
Here are a few other rumors in staff conversations around the NFL:
- As more and more hurdles continue to present themselves in the Cowboys‘ pursuit of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, it’s beginning to seem like him becoming their next head coach is an unlikely scenario. According to another Rapoport report, the NFL Network reporter claimed he “would be surprised — probably very surprised — if (a formal interview) did, in fact, get scheduled.”
- New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hasn’t spoken much of how much of the existing staff in New England will be salvaged, but the understanding seems to be that, like in most new head coaching situations, Vrabel will likely be replacing both coordinators. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, one name to watch for defensive coordinator is Lions defensive line coach and run-game coordinator Terrell Williams. Williams was one of Vrabel’s most-trusted assistants during his time as head coach in Tennessee, where Williams served as assistant head coach in addition to his duties as defensive line coach. Especially with the likely turnover expected on the defensive staff in Detroit, it makes perfect sense that Williams would explore the opportunity to take his first coordinator position.
- The Panthers are reportedly moving on from passing game coordinator Nate Carroll, son of former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Joe Person of The Athletic confirmed the report, adding that the team does not expect Carroll back in any capacity.
- Switching for moment from coaching staffs to the front office, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis addressed the consistency of staff in the team’s personnel department. Amidst questions concerning job security, Loomis claimed that “he loves (vice president/assistant general manager — college personnel) Jeff Ireland and (director of pro personnel) Michael Parenton in their” current roles, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. While he does expect changes and tweaks in their processes and procedures, Irelend and Parenton’s jobs appear secure.
Todd Monken Interviews Go Well; Previous HC Experience Helping
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is currently calling one of the most important games of his coaching career, something he spent almost all week preparing for. Unfortunately, he had to spend any free time he had interviewing for what could be the biggest jobs of his career. Despite the distraction of the playoffs, Monken has done well in his interviews, thanks, in part, to his previous experience as a head coach at the collegiate level, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
Firstly, Monken commiserated with fans, lamenting that he was being forced to split his attention between two outstanding opportunities: the chance to continue competing for a Super Bowl and the chance to coach an NFL team for the first time in his career. Still, he understood the necessity of the situation while the NFL presumably seeks a solution to the conflict.
The plus is that the Ravens’ performance in the playoffs acts as a sort of supplement to his interviews, giving NFL teams a real-life example of what his coaching and leadership can lead to. As long as the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson continue to put up impressive performances against the league’s best, Monken will continue to improve his chances at landing an opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL.
As much as his current performance is factoring in, the teams interviewing him have been looking into his past, as well. Monken has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator for three different universities and three different NFL teams, but he also has three years of experience as the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Monken took over a Southern Miss program in 2013 that had just fired Ellis Johnson following an 0-12 season. With an offensive nucleus of Nick Mullens at quarterback and Ito Smith and Jalen Richard at running back, Monken gradually turned the Golden Eagles around. A 1-11 debut improved to a 3-9 second year at his post before, ultimately, Monken had the team in the conference championship game with a 9-3 regular season record. As impressive as Monken’s recent experience as a coordinator is, his record turning around a winless team in college as a head coach is perhaps just as impressive.
Monken participated in two interviews this week. His first interview was with the Jaguars, who are currently considering him and 10 other candidates for the position. All of those candidates are former coordinators in the league, while four of the candidates have former head coaching experience in the NFL, as well.
His second interview was with the Bears who have no shortage of candidates. Chicago has interviewed 17 candidates so far and have plans to interview three more; they had two other candidates who turned down requests to interview. The candidates include former NFL head coaches (Pete Carroll, Brian Flores, Kliff Kingsbury, Mike McCarthy, Ron Rivera, and Arthur Smith), NFL coordinators (Joe Brady, Aaron Glenn, Ben Johnson, Mike Kafka, Drew Petzing, and Adam Stenavich), and current and former college head coaches (Matt Campbell, Marcus Freeman, Eddie George, and David Shaw), so Monken’s litany of experience gets a bit drowned out in comparison to the other candidates for the Bears’ job.
Monken currently has a lot on his plate in the NFL playoffs. He also has an interview planned with the Raiders. When he’s done padding his résumé this postseason, it will boast his playoff experience as a coordinator. Just as valuable will be his experience turning a winless college team into a winner as a college head coach.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Undergoes Minor Wrist Surgery
Caleb Williams‘ offseason development will be key for the Bears’ chances of taking a step forward next year. Chicago’s franchise quarterback is set to be fully healthy for 2025, but he did undergo a recent procedure. 
Williams had a minor elective surgery on his right (i.e. throwing) wrist, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports. The procedure removed a cyst. The recovery period in this case is not expected to impact the No. 1 pick’s offseason schedule.
To no surprise, Williams immediately handled starting duties to begin his rookie campaign. The Oklahoma and USC product did not have the season he or the team hoped for, with a midseason coaching change and inconsistent performances resulting in a 5-12 record. Williams was not listed with a wrist ailment at any point during the year, which explains why this surgery has only taken place after the end of the campaign.
The Bears are one of six teams currently in need of a new head coach, and developing Williams is an obvious priority for the organization. The 23-year-old seemed to take a step forward when Thomas Brown was promoted to offensive coordinator, although shortly thereafter Brown took over from Matt Eberflus as head coach. An interview for the full-time gig has taken place, but Chicago is looking into a long list of outside candidates as well.
Regardless of which direction the Bears ultimately go in on the sidelines, Williams’ ability to build off his rookie showing will be a major storyline for the team moving forward. He managed a 62.5% completion percentage and a 20:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2024, adding 489 rushing yards. On the other hand, Williams was sacked a league-leading 68 times and improving his decision-making in the pocket (along with upgrades along the offensive line) will be imperative in the future.
Provided his wrist heals in full as expected, though, Williams will be able to take part in Chicago’s offseason program without any injury concerns. Once a coaching hire is made, attention will turn to the team’s roster-building efforts through the spring in preparation for Year 2 of Williams handling QB1 duties.
Commanders’ Sam Cosmi Suffers ACL Tear
2:45pm: Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has since confirmed (via Rapoport) Cosmi suffered a torn ACL. He will miss the rest of Washington’s playoff run in addition to considerable time next season as a result.
12:10pm: The Commanders pulled off a stunning upset of the NFC’s top-seeded Lions in last night’s divisional round contest, though the win came with a price. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), Washington fears that starting right guard Sam Cosmi suffered a significant knee injury during the game, and Cosmi is likely to miss the remainder of the club’s postseason run as a result.
Cosmi, who will turn 26 next month, was selected by the Commanders in the second round of the 2021 draft. He would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency this offseason, but after he turned in a stellar 2023 campaign – Pro Football Focus ranked him as the fourth-best guard out of 79 qualifiers – Washington made sure to prevent the converted tackle from hitting the market.
Before the 2024 regular season got underway, the Commanders authorized a four-year, $74MM pact for Cosmi, a deal that keeps the Texas alum under club control through 2028. While only $26.6MM of the contract value was guaranteed at signing, the team clearly envisions him as a long-term O-line fixture.
PFF was not as high on Cosmi’s 2024 work as it was on his 2023 efforts, but his 67.8 overall grade still positioned him as the site’s 23rd-best guard out of 75 qualified players. His work in pass-blocking remained strong – he yielded just one sack and even fewer pressures than he did in 2023 – though his run-blocking suffered a bit in PFF’s estimation.
Nonetheless, his loss will be acutely felt as the Commanders seek to secure their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1991 season. Cosmi is arguably the best blocker on the club’s offensive front, and as good as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is, losing one of Daniels’ top protectors will sting.
Plus, any knee injury of a certain magnitude that a player sustains at this point in the calendar could affect that player’s availability for the following season. An upcoming MRI will reveal more, but for now, it appears certain that the Commanders will rely on Trent Scott to fill the RG void for the rest of the playoffs.
Saints’ Paulson Adebo Expecting Training Camp Return; CB Addresses Free Agency
One of several key contributors who missed considerable time in 2024 for the Saints was Paulson Adebo. The fourth-year corner continues to recover from a broken femur as he approaches his first trip to free agency. 
Adebo suffered his injury in mid-October and immediately underwent surgery. His absence was strongly felt given his status as a full-time starter, something which became especially true once the Saints traded away Marshon Lattimore. Replacing the latter’s production will be a key offseason priority, and another CB move will be needed if Adebo leaves on the open market.
While his future is uncertain at the moment, Adebo recently noted (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) he is progressing well in his recovery and expects to be healthy by training camp. The 25-year-old’s return to full health would of course be welcomed by the Saints if he is still a member of the team by the summer. Adebo hopes to remain in New Orleans on his next contract, but he admitted a departure is a possibility.
“At the end of the day, it’s a business. I love New Orleans, I love the opportunity they gave me,” the former third-rounder said. “So there’s no ill intent or animosity. It’s really just about finding the best fit. If it’s the best fit here, then boom. It’s a two-way street, it’s not completely up to me. It has to work both ways.”
Adebo handled a notable 76% defensive snap share as a rookie and he has hardly left the field when healthy in the three years since. The Stanford product amassed four interceptions and 18 pass deflections in 2023, and he was on his way to matching that ball production this year prior to his injury. After being charged with 11 touchdowns allowed in coverage across his first two campaigns, Adebo has given up only two as the nearest defender since the start of last season.
As a result, he could have a healthy market in free agency should he have the opportunity to speak with other teams. New Orleans does not have a long list of key pending free agents compared to other teams this spring. As always, though, major financial maneuvering will be needed over the coming weeks on the part of general manager Mickey Loomis (the Saints are currently projected to be more than $50MM over the cap for next year). It will be interesting to see if talks take place shortly on a new Adebo pact or if he will ultimately find a new home in time for the 2025 season.
Bucs LB Lavonte David Likely To Retire? Team Likely To Part Ways With OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
After the Buccaneers’ season came to an end in the wildcard round of the playoffs last week, linebacker Lavonte David expressed uncertainty about his playing future. The franchise icon also contemplated retirement last offseason before re-signing with the club on a one-year, $9MM accord, and according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, retirement seems to be the most likely outcome this time around.
David, who will turn 35 this week, was selected by the Bucs in the second round of the 2012 draft and has never played for another team. A pillar of reliability, availability, and consistency, the Nebraska product turned in the 11th 100-tackle season of his 13-year career in 2024, racking up 122 stops to go along with 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Over the course of his career, he earned First Team All-Pro acclaim (2013) and a Pro Bowl nod (2015), and he was a key part of the club’s Super Bowl-winning run in 2020 (it is likely that he would have more individual accolades if the league didn’t group rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together for those purposes).
On the other hand, his abilities in coverage, which long separated him from the majority of his fellow inside linebackers, regressed in a big way last season. That was underscored by the subpar coverage grade of 56.9 that Pro Football Focus assigned to him, which was easily the lowest mark of his career.
David’s strong work against the run helped make up for his coverage deficiencies, and all things considered, PFF ranked him as the 32nd-best LB in the league out of 82 qualified players. As such, he could surely still serve as at least an early-down defender if he chooses to continue his playing career, but with nearly $100MM in career earnings and a championship ring to his name, he has nothing left to prove.
“As a grown man, you’ve got other responsibilities and other priorities to take care of,” David said. “The love of football is still there, but it probably doesn’t burn like it did when I was younger.”
Per Stroud, the Bucs are likely to draft an inside linebacker in April. The team also hopes that 2023 fifth-rounder SirVocea Dennis – who sustained a season-ending injury in Week 4 – will make a full recovery and will be able to contribute in 2025.
In the same piece linked above, Stroud discusses the rest of Tampa Bay’s impending free agent class, and he notes that the team is likely to move on from former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. That is not particularly surprising, since the Bucs declined JTS’ fifth-year option last April, and the edge defender did nothing in his platform campaign to make them regret that decision.
In 15 games (11 starts), Tryon-Shoyinka tallied career-lows in sacks (two), total tackles (24), and tackles for loss (three). As Stroud writes, the club is seeking a major upgrade to bookend with 2023 draftee YaYa Diaby, and GM Jason Licht is likely to pursue a pass rusher in free agency or the early rounds of the upcoming draft.
Bills Could Adjust QB Josh Allen’s Contract In Offseason
Bills QB Josh Allen will square off against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in a highly-anticipated divisional round matchup today. This offseason, Allen may receive a bump that puts his pay more in line with his Baltimore counterpart and his other peers in the top tier of the league’s signal-callers.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link), Buffalo could offer Allen a contractual adjustment in the coming months, which sounds as if it would take the form of a raise. The Bills restructured their franchise passer’s deal last March – a standard maneuver that converted salary to signing bonus for cap purposes – though Allen subsequently said he was not looking for an increase in pay.
That is despite the fact that the six-year, $258MM deal Allen signed in 2021 is looking more and more like a team-friendly accord. Not only is Allen under club control through 2028 – he is the only non-Patrick Mahomes passer to have signed for more than five years since the Chiefs icon’s pact was finalized – but his $43MM AAV currently ranks 14th in the league’s QB hierarchy, behind a number of less-accomplished players like Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love, among others. His $100MM in full guarantees is now outside the top-10.
On the other hand, Allen’s cap charge increases from just over $30MM in 2024 to over $43MM in 2025, and then it spikes to a perhaps untenable ~$64MM in 2026. Some sort of reworking could serve the dual purpose of smoothing out those cap hits while bringing Allen closer to the top of the market.
And he has certainly earned it. While it remains to be seen whether the Wyoming product will land the first MVP award of his career for his 2024 efforts, his consistently excellent play has transformed the Bills from one of the AFC’s doormats to a conference powerhouse.
Since Allen entered the league in 2018, he has piloted Buffalo to a 76-34 regular season record, and the team has reached at least the divisional round of the playoffs in each of the past five years. Like Jackson, his fellow 2018 draftee, the lone knock on Allen is the fact that his club has not yet secured a conference championship, a shortcoming that one of those players will be able to address next week.
In 2024, Allen compiled his lowest passing TDs (28) and passing yards (3,731) totals since 2020, but he led the league in QBR (77.5) and was eighth in traditional quarterback rating (101.4), largely because he was much more careful with the football. He threw just six interceptions – compared to 18 picks in 2023 – and fumbled just five times (the lowest mark of his career). He remained an invaluable asset in the running game, racking up 531 rushing yards (on a 5.2 yards-per-carry average) and 12 rushing scores. That production was in spite of the fact that Allen played through a fractured non-throwing hand for most of the season.
As Rapoport notes, Allen has a great relationship with the Bills, and a revised deal benefiting both parties makes plenty of sense.