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Offseason In Review: New Orleans Saints

July 28th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints’ stay as an NFL middle-class bastion ended last season. Two Derek Carr injuries helped sink a 2024 edition that had already seen HC Dennis Allen fired. Mickey Loomis was believed to be against an in-season Allen ouster, but ownership kept the enduring GM on to make a third coaching hire. Kellen Moore is now in command, marking a full separation from the Sean Payton era.

Ensuing developments brought the Saints closer to the elusive rebuild Loomis has delayed for years. Although another batch of restructures took place — three involving players who later retired — the team enters the 2025 season with expectations lower than anything in the Payton or Allen eras. Tyler Shough will be favored to make the bulk of the quarterback starts after Carr’s retirement, but the topic of a potential QB investment in 2026 looms as well.

Coaching/Front Office:

Even as the Jaguars’ search drifted off track, the Saints were the last team to hire a head coach in this year’s cycle. They waited on Super Bowl LIX for Moore, and the field thinned by that point. New Orleans initially sought an Aaron Glenn reunion. Glenn had been the Saints’ DBs coach from 2016-20; that would have brought Loomis another Payton assistant — albeit one he passed over for Allen in 2022.

The team then considered a Mike McCarthy Louisiana comeback; the former Packers and Cowboys HC had been Jim Haslett‘s OC from 2000-04. Loomis overlapped with even that tenure, beginning as GM in 2002. Kliff Kingsbury also drew Saints interest, but he has been understandably hesitant given his current setup and his swift unraveling in Arizona. Ex-Payton assistant Joe Brady also came up during this process.

The Jets’ Glenn hire preceded McCarthy, Brady and Kingsbury withdrawing their names from consideration. New Orleans did not present an ideal setup for a new coach, seeing as the team’s annually dicey cap situation accompanied a middling quarterback (at the time) and Loomis’ overarching presence. The New Orleans fixture has managed these yearly odysseys toward cap compliance, yet serious firing rumors have never cropped up — even as four straight non-playoff seasons have occurred.

This did not present the greatest job profile, and a handful of candidates opted to stay put rather than seriously commit themselves to a fixer-upper. Moore also interviewed for the Cowboys’ HC job, but Jerry Jones made the odd decision to promote Moore’s OC successor (Brian Schottenheimer) despite the second-generation coach not generating interest elsewhere for HC positions in over a decade.

Even as options narrowed, Moore’s decision was somewhat surprising. While the “there are only 32 of these jobs” cliche applies, Moore had rebuilt his stock after a Cowboys firing and a Chargers one-off. He had an elite offensive foundation, as the Eagles battered the Chiefs in a revenge tilt after a 55-point outing in the NFC championship game.

Jobs with established quarterbacks could have opened in 2026 or even ’27. Kingsbury is counting on that, but Moore opted not to parlay his time at the helm in Philly into a long-game play. He stayed in the New Orleans race, and while he certainly could have beaten out some of the above-referenced names who didn’t, the Saints’ preference became clear weeks before the official hire transpired.

On the other hand, Moore has seen his stock fluctuate since he was a regular HC interviewee earlier this decade. The former Dallas play-caller under McCarthy and Jason Garrett was off the HC carousel in 2023 and ’24, and although he is still young (36), the QB-turned-OC took the job offered to him. Given Moore’s 2024 work, he will carry considerable power in New Orleans. Though, Glenn and Liam Coen bring less coordinator experience and carry more weight in their respective organizations. Ditto Ben Johnson in Chicago. Moore not waiting for 2026 figures to draw scrutiny, especially as the Saints may be set for a poor 2025 ahead of a long-overdue rebuild.

Moore’s teams produced top-seven offensive finishes in four of his six years as an OC, and he operated as Nick Sirianni‘s full-time play-caller. The Eagles rebounded from their steep 2023 freefall to submit one of the highest peaks in the Super Bowl era, crushing the Commanders and Chiefs after Saquon Barkley‘s 2,000-yard rushing season. Jalen Hurts operated more efficiently compared to his 15-INT 2023, and he sliced up a top-five Kansas City defense committed to containing Barkley. Moore did not check in as a Johnson-level candidate, but he played a lead role in the Eagles’ second Super Bowl title.

Nussmeier, 54, is aboard as a non-play-calling OC. The Saints’ top two offensive minds both graduated college in Idaho — Moore at Boise State, Nussmeier at Idaho — though the two did not join forces until Dallas. Nussmeier coached in Dallas from 2018-22, moving from tight ends coach to QBs coach. He followed Moore to Los Angeles and Philly (both as QBs coach).

While Nussmeier did interview for the Ravens’ OC job in 2023, that marked his only such meeting before this hire. The Saints also had Eagles staffer Kevin Patullo on their OC radar, but Philly promoted him to replace Moore. Nussmeier’s presence figures to make a potential 2026 Saints QB investigation interesting, as his son (Garrett) could land as a first-round pick next year out of nearby LSU. This is also a reunion for Doug, a 1994 Saints QB draftee who spent four seasons as a backup with the team.

The Saints employing the core of the staff from a poor 2023 Chargers season — one that resulted in mass firings — felt underdiscussed this offseason, and Staley will now work for the coach he hired two years ago. That represents an interesting dynamic, and the three-year Chargers HC is set for only his second DC season.

A 49ers staffer last year, Staley had initially attracted the Bolts’ attention by leading a No. 1-ranked Rams defense in 2020. He did not, however, deliver a top-20 season (in scoring defense) with the Chargers, whose defense took a massive step forward under Jesse Minter last year.

Staley, 42, also shifted the Saints to a primary 3-4 defense for the first time since “Dome Patrol” was at work in the early 1990s. Staley is a Vic Fangio disciple, representing a good reference here due to the accomplished DC being the linebackers coach for that famed unit more than 30 years ago. D-line staples like Cameron Jordan and Chase Young are shifting to OLB posts, while former first-rounder Bryan Bresee is now a 3-4 D-end. Base defenses have certainly seen their relevance decline, but this is one of the more interesting pivots due to how long New Orleans used a 4-3 scheme.

Moore beat out Rizzi for the HC job, with the interim leader generating support during the process. Rizzi went 3-5 as the Saints’ interim boss. He went 0-4 without Carr, however, to close the season. Antonio Pierce‘s disastrous showing after having his interim tag removed also could hurt temp leaders’ chances — seeing as he was the first such promotion since 2017 — in the near future. While the Saints reunited a recent Chargers staff, Rizzi predictably followed Payton and Pete Carmichael to Denver.

Free agency additions:

Reid and Mathieu did overlap as teammates with the 2018 Texans; otherwise, the former third-round pick keeps replacing the All-Decade-teamer. The Texans used Reid as a starter after Mathieu’s Chiefs defection in 2019. The Chiefs signed Reid as a younger option in 2022; Mathieu went back to Louisiana weeks later. The Honey Badger’s recent retirement now leaves Reid replacing the standout safety once again, though Blackmon is also aboard following the 12-year veteran’s July exit. The Saints outbid the Chiefs, Eagles and Titans for Reid.

PFR’s No. 18 free agent, Reid fetched a third contract that matches his second. The Chiefs also gave Reid a three-year, $31.5MM pact; the Saints, though, authorized slightly more guaranteed at signing ($22.25MM to $20.49MM).

Reid maintained this value, even if this is a slight pay cut in the grand scheme due to the 2024 and 2025 cap spikes, by being an essential Steve Spagnuolo chess piece. The versatile DB played at least 160 snaps at free safety, in the box and in the slot last season and at least 250 in all three spots in 2023. Pro Football Focus graded Reid as a top-10 safety, and being set for an age-28 season — the benefits of the three-year second contract strike again — also boosted Reid’s FA stock.

Moore and Cooks did not overlap in Dallas, but this is obviously a reunion move for the veteran pass catcher. The Saints drafted Cooks in the 2014 first round, but the then-deep threat became an auxiliary piece in a Michael Thomas-fronted receiving corps by 2016. Cooks’ trade odyssey began when Loomis and Payton flipped him to the Patriots for a first-round pick that became Ryan Ramczyk. Cooks then migrated to the Rams, Texans and Cowboys as one of the NFL’s few players to be traded four times. Ahead of an age-32 season, Cooks is in decline. But he has remained a usable piece.

Recording 1,000-yard seasons for the Saints, Pats, Rams and Texans, Cooks did not approach that benchmark with the Cowboys. Cooks, 31, has not eclipsed 700 yards in a season since 2021. After helping Dak Prescott to a second-team All-Pro season in 2023 (with 657 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches), Cooks averaged a career-low 10.0 yards per reception (259 total) in an injury-shortened 2024.

He still commanded a decent market and will give the Saints a reasonable third option alongside Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. The Saints, who hosted Gabe Davis and were linked to Cooper Kupp, will still roll out a top trio of WRs coming off injury-shortened seasons (each missed at least seven 2024 games).

Blackmon has been unable to command a multiyear deal since his Colts rookie contract expired. After a one-year, $3.7MM Indianapolis re-up, Blackmon will be ticketed to start alongside Reid. Though, PFF slotted Jordan Howden 34th among safety regulars last season — after New Orleans cut Marcus Maye. PFF, though, ranked Blackmon 30th on more than twice as many snaps (1,084). The former third-rounder is going into an age-27 season and has made 62 career starts.

Yiadom has only put together notable defensive work in New Orleans. The 49ers used him as a spot starter (five games) last season, while the former third-rounder never stuck with the Broncos, Giants, Packers or Texans. In 2023, however, Yiadom saw extensive run under Dennis Allen despite initially being added on a practice squad deal. Making eight starts in ’23, Yiadom posted a career-high 14 passes defensed and allowed a completion percentage of just 48.9%.

With Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo gone, the Saints will likely need Yiadom to start again. At $3MM per year, starter-level work would be a bargain from the eighth-year journeyman. Yiadom, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor residing as New Orleans’ top CBs will give Staley a tough-looking task as he prepares to call a defense again.

Re-signings:

With Adebo committing to the Giants early during the legal tampering period, the Saints carried cash — via their latest jagged odyssey toward cap compliance — to hand to their other top in-house target. Young did not seem a lock to land a multiyear deal, given his injury past, but he parlayed a “prove it” contract into a nice midcareer guarantee.

The former No. 2 overall pick stood perhaps as the PFR top 50’s biggest wide card. Settling in at No. 20, Young still carried good value by having flashed brightly when healthy and only heading into his age-26 season. With Jordan’s career winding down, Young is now the Saints’ top edge-rushing talent.

The Saints missed on Payton Turner and have not seen Isaiah Foskey (zero sacks in 27 games) pan out; enter Young, who opted to stay on a team with low expectations. The ex-Heisman runner-up posted a career-high 21 QB hits (to go with 5.5 sacks and eight TFLs) last season, doing so despite working as an overqualified DE3 behind Jordan and Carl Granderson. The Saints still gave Young a 63% snap share and will ask more of him in 2025. Young made a successful recovery from a neck injury that nagged him in 2023 and is nearly four years removed from a career-altering knee setback.

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Offseason In Review: Chicago Bears

July 27th, 2025 at 10:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thanks to the Bryce Young blockbuster, the Bears owned the No. 1 selection in last year’s draft. As expected, general manager Ryan Poles and Co. used that as an opportunity to move on from Justin Fields and reset at the quarterback spot. 2024 marked the beginning of the Caleb Williams era.

The ensuing campaign was littered with missteps on the part of Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff, however, and notable sideline changes transpired at multiple points. Finding a coach capable of maximizing Williams’ potential was a central priority entering the offseason, and the Bears managed to land the top candidate on the market. Poles has since received a new commitment to continue overseeing the rebuild he took on in 2022. The progress of that effort will be measured largely by how this campaign plays out.

Coaching/Front Office:

Over the course of his three seasons as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Johnson established himself as one of the top offensive minds in the NFL. That led to widespread interest over multiple years and the expectation a jump to a head coaching gig would come relatively soon. Going deep into the hiring process in 2024, Johnson instead chose to remain in place for another year.

As expected, the Lions were again one of league’s most balanced and productive offenses. Johnson’s unit led the NFL in scoring while ranking top six in both rushing and passing yardage. The timing and frequency of Detroit’s many trick plays drew criticism on more than one occasion – including the Lions’ upset loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. Still, Johnson emerged as the top prize during the 2025 hiring cycle.

The 39-year-old interviewed with the Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots prior to his Bears hire. Johnson’s meetings with Chicago obviously drew interest leading up to his decision to head to the Windy City but they were also part of a very wide-ranging search. The team was connected to a number of high-profile pro and college coaches, including an unsuccessful attempt to speak with (and potentially trade for) Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The Chicago opening was of interest to Bill Belichick, but no interview took place with the now-North Carolina staffer.

The Bears did speak with previous (and, in two cases, active) NFL HCs in the form of Pete Carroll, Mike Vrabel, Mike McCarthy and Ron Rivera during their search process. Brown also received one interview for the full-time gig before ultimately joining the Patriots. In the end, Johnson received a deal averaging a reported $13MM per year – more than double Eberflus’ rate as a fellow first-time head coach when he was hired – to lead the way for Williams and Co. In 2025 and beyond, he will be counted on to provide stability on the sidelines and maximize the former Heisman winner’s potential.

At the time of Johnson’s hire, Poles had two years remaining on his pact. Having been brought in only two days before Eberflus, he was a far more central figure in the search process which brought in Johnson. A February report indicated Poles was expected to receive a new deal, and he is indeed now aligned with Johnson from a contract perspective.

The Eberflus era failed to produce any winning seasons, but in his three years at the helm Poles has succeeded in turning over much of the roster and cleaning up the team’s finances. A largely young core is in place for years to come and Chicago’s offense in particular has a notable amount of potential moving forward. Of course, moves like the ill-fated Chase Claypool trade illustrate the downside of Poles’ GM run.

A lack of emphasis along both sides of the line of scrimmage also proved costly in 2024. Before finding out how this year’s moves fare in term of rectifying the situation, though, Chicago’s front office authorized a new Poles commitment. President and CEO Kevin Warren outranks Poles in the current power structure, something which can be expected to continue for the foreseeable future. If this sign of confidence – premature, some would argue – proves to be fruitful, though, a high degree of stability at all levels of the organization will be possible over a lengthy tenure.

Mass turnover is common around the NFL once new head coaches are brought in. Given the nature of Chicago’s staff both before and after the in-season dismissals made in 2024, it came as no surprise that was the case in this situation. Shortly after being installed, Johnson made it clear there would be new faces in several positions on his staff.

Beatty is among them, although he will not call plays. The former Saints assistant spent the past two years coaching the Broncos’ tight ends, and he could find himself regularly working with that position group in his new gig as well. In any case, Beatty’s time in New Orleans makes him a familiar face for Allen, who will provide the Bears with an ex-NFL head coach during Johnson’s first year in that role.

After his run in charge of the Raiders ended, Allen spent nearly seven full seasons leading the Saints’ defense. The 52-year-old was promoted to head coach after Sean Payton’s 2022 departure, but he was unable to lead the team to the playoffs. Improvement from seven to nine wins across his first two years suggested Allen could enjoy continued progression in 2024. Midway through an injury-plagued campaign, however, the Saints sat at 2-7 and Allen was dismissed.

A third opportunity as an NFL head coach does not seem plausible at this point for Allen. Still, expectations will be high for his unit. From 2020-23, the Saints ranked between fourth and ninth in points allowed with a top-seven finish in total defense during three of those years. Especially if Allen can help oversee an improvement against the run, his hire will prove to be worthwhile.

Randle El worked together with Johnson in Detroit; in addition to his new title he will maintain his familiar role as receivers coach. A key element of the Bears’ success on offense will be the development of the team’s wideouts not named D.J. Moore, so that unit will be worth watching closely. Barrett is another member of the staff who followed Johnson from Detroit to Chicago.

Just as the Bears have head coaching experience at one coordinator spot, they will also have ex-coordinators serving as position coaches in 2025. Bieniemy spent 2024 in the college ranks, but a mutual decision was made to part ways with UCLA after the campaign. A return to the NFL was sought as a result, although the former Chiefs offensive coordinator’s stock was in a worse spot than it was when he took charge of the Commanders’ offense for one year.

Nevertheless, Bieniemy met with the Patriots about their OC gig before it went (for the third time) to Josh McDaniels. In the end, the 55-year-old joined the Bears in a move which will see him oversee a unit in need of improved production in 2025. D’Andre Swift averaged a career-worst 3.8 yards per carry during his debut Chicago campaign; increasing that figure and/or establishing a strong backfield tandem could help the team’s offense but also increase Bieniemy’s chances at another play-calling gig in the NFL.

Last offseason, the Jaguars cleaned house on the defensive side of Doug Pederson’s coaching staff. The offense remained largely intact, and Taylor maintained his role calling plays for Jacksonville last season. That arrangement drew scrutiny from then-general manager Trent Baalke and carried into the campaign as a source of tension between the two. Taylor joined Pederson in departing Duval County following the season, and Baalke did the same after it appeared he would be safe.

Taylor (along with Pederson) was unable to help quarterback Trevor Lawrence meet the expectations associated with his draft pedigree and $55MM-per-year extension. It would thus come as a surprise if Zac Taylor’s brother were to receive another coordinator opportunity – or at least one with play-calling responsibilities – in the near future. This Bears stint could also result in a rebound in terms of coaching stock, though.

The Colts’ day-to-day operations (among other things, of course) were greatly impacted by owner Jim Irsay’s passing this offseason. The situation was different in the Bears’ case, as McCaskey’s son George has chaired the team’s board of governors since 2011. Nevertheless, Virginia McCaskey’s death means the coming season will be the first since 1982 without her in place atop the ownership group.

The McCaskey family still has an 80% stake in the franchise, and that will not change any time soon. The Bears could, however, sell off the non-controlling share which belonged to the late Andrew McKenna Sr. at some point in the future. A number of teams around the league have taken the private equity route for an influx of cash, and Chicago could be among them.

Trades:

Prior to free agency, it became clear upgrading the interior of the offensive line was a major Bears priority. Familiarity played in a role in both cases with respect to targeting new guards, of course. Ben Johnson previously worked alongside Jackson in Detroit and Ryan Poles was a member of the Chiefs’ front office in 2021 when Thuney signed with Kansas City in free agency that year.

During his four years in Detroit, Jackson operated as a full-time starter. The former third-rounder managed to play double-digit games every year, but that was not the case upon arrival with the Rams in 2024. Jackson dealt with a shoulder injury during his debut Los Angeles campaign, and the ailment caused him to miss time during the middle of the season. Upon returning to full health, though, he only played another two games; Jackson finished the year as a backup after a brief trial period at center.

Even though the Rams signed him to a three-year, $51MM pact last spring, it came as little surprise when they allowed Jackson to seek a trade. The Bears swap took place prior to March 12, which was key based on the timing of an $8.5MM roster bonus in 2025. Chicago took on the remaining money on the Ohio State product’s pact and then added another year via an extension. Jackson received $7MM in a new, full guarantee for 2026 with another $5.25MM guaranteed for injury.

Expectations will be high during his time in Chicago as a result. Jackson will handle right guard duties on his new team, something which he has not done much of to date in his career. Provided he can provide consistent play at that spot for the coming years, however, the Bears’ decision to reunite him with Johnson will prove to be worthwhile.

At 32, Thuney is four years older than Jackson. He will nevertheless be counted on to an even larger extent to serve as a high-end performer up front. Thuney already had a strong track record upon arrival in Kansas City, but during his tenure with the Chiefs he collected three Pro Bowl nods. In each of the past two seasons, the former Patriot has landed on the All-Pro first team at left guard. Even considering Thuney’s rough ending — as a left tackle fill-in — to his Chiefs tenure, Thuney has been one of the NFL’s best O-linemen this decade.

Maintaining that level of play will be a key aspect of Chicago’s retooling efforts up front. Thuney has graded out as a top-10 guard in terms of Pro Football Focus grade every year since 2018 and he has missed just two games over that span. The Bears are counting on that remaining the case for a few more years; a two-year extension surfaced in May. As a result of the new deal, Thuney is owed $51MM over the next three years, with the guaranteed money included in that figure to be paid out this season and next.

Just like Jackson, Thuney is on the books through 2027. That duo will be the subject of scrutiny if things do not go according to plan, but if each of its members plays to their potential they – alongside established right tackle Darnell Wright – will help offer stability to a unit where it has been lacking in recent years. Johnson’s ability to bring about improvements to the offense in general will of course depend on the success of Poles’ efforts to provide him with a stronger unit up front than his predecessor had to work with.

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Poll: Who Will Win Saints’ QB Competition?

July 20th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Speculation about Derek Carr’s Saints future came to an end when he elected to retire in lieu of undergoing shoulder surgery. The procedure would have kept him from playing in New Orleans (or elsewhere) in 2025, so the four-time Pro Bowler brought his career to an end and began the team’s next era under center.

Carr handled starting duties for a pair of campaigns with the Saints after his Raiders tenure came to a close. The arrival of new head coach Kellen Moore brought about questions regarding a departure, but that is of course a moot point now. This year’s training camp will see Moore and his staff evaluate New Orleans’ four remaining signal-callers to determine the pecking order.

That quartet includes undrafted free agent Hunter Dekkers. Like in essentially any case regarding UDFAs, he profiles as a practice squad candidate once roster cuts are made at the end of the summer. The Saints’ other three quarterbacks – Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener – are positioned to battle for the starting gig.

In the wake of the Carr retirement, Moore left the door open to a veteran addition under center. None came about during the late stages of free agency, though, so the Shough-Rattler-Haener trio is set to take part in an open competition. New Orleans has drafted a quarterback during each of the past three years, leaving each contender short on experience.

Shough emerged as a name to watch for the Saints during the pre-draft process as the team sought out a Carr successor capable of playing as early as this year. Entering the league as a 25-year-old, he certainly profiles as a candidate to see the field early at the NFL level. Over the course of his seven years in college, however, Shough only had one full campaign as a starter.

The Oregon/Texas Tech/Louisville product dealt with a number of injuries before managing to remain healthy for a full campaign in 2024. Shough’s size and arm strength made him an intriguing option in this year’s quarterback class, one which is not held in high regard compared to next year’s. Nevertheless, New Orleans could turn to him right away in a bid to evaluate his candidacy as a long-term answer under center.

2025 has seen a notable uptick in guaranteed compensation for second-round rookies. Shough, taken 40th overall, was a figure to watch as he joined the players selected around him in seeking a fully guaranteed pact. He recently succeeded in doing so, securing a favorable structure in terms of the payment schedule. That commitment does not ensure Shough will begin his career atop the depth chart, of course, but it illustrates how he will be a member of New Orleans’ QB setup for years to come.

Rattler fell to the fifth round of his draft class despite being the first signal-caller selected after the six first-rounders in 2024 came off the board. The Oklahoma and South Carolina product saw time after Carr was injured, recording a total of six starts. The Saints lost each of those contests while dealing with a number of other absences and ultimately finishing out the campaign under interim head coach Darren Rizzi. Rattler reached 240 passing yards only twice during his time as a starter, and he threw more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (four).

Expectations are certainly muted entering Year 2 as a result, although Rattler, 24, represents at least an affordable backup option for the remainder of his rookie contract. The arrival of Moore as head coach will offer him a fresh start after last year’s poor showing. A stretch with better health up front and at the receiver position could allow for a better evaluation of Rattler’s ceiling in the NFL. Whether or not he is capable of handling starting duties will be determined to a large extent in 2025, and training camp and the preseason will be key in Rattler’s assessment.

Haener did not see the field during his rookie campaign, one which included a PED suspension. The 26-year-old made one start after Carr’s injury last season, a one-point loss despite his 49 passing yards on four completions. If Moore and Co. keep Haener behind Rattler in the pecking order, the QB2 spot is the best-case scenario for the Washington/Fresno State alum.

Winning the starting gig is certainly a possibility entering camp, but Haener is also candidate to operate as the Saints’ emergency third quarterback if Shough and Rattler are still healthy by Week 1. It will be interesting to see if he can alter the depth chart based on how it stood during his first two NFL seasons.

How do you think New Orleans’ competition will play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll on who you think will emerge as the team’s Week 1 starter and have your say in the comments section below.

5 Key Stories: 7/13/25 – 7/20/25

July 20th, 2025 at 4:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

As players begin reporting to training camp, activity has picked up around the league. A number of contract situations remain unresolved at this point, but several have been taken care of in time for summer practices. In case you missed any of this week’s top developments, here is a quick recap:

  • Steelers Extend Watt: After T.J. Watt skipped minicamp in June, it appeared he could be on course to engage in a training camp hold-in like he did during extension talks with the Steelers in 2021. That will not be the case this time around, however, as team and player agreed to a three-year, $123MM deal. The pact keeps Watt in place through 2028 and carries an AAV of $41MM, which is the new watermark for non-quarterbacks. Once again, the former Defensive Player of the Year holds the title of top earner outside the QB spot (for now, at least) and with $108MM fully guaranteed his Pittsburgh tenure is assured for the foreseeable future.
  • Wilson, Gardner Ink New Jets Deals: The new Jets regime was clear this spring that extending receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner was a priority; in consecutive days, both deals were taken care of. Wilson secured $130MM (including $90MM in total guarantees) on a deal which has him under contract for the next six years counting the term remaining on his rookie pact. His $32.5MM AAV ranks fifth amongst receivers. Gardner, meanwhile, also signed a four-year extension and his average annual value of $30.1MM represents a new benchmark for corners. The two-time first-team All-Pro fell just short of Derek Stingley Jr. in terms of total guarantees with $85.65MM but he joins Wilson as a foundational player for New York through the remainder of his 20s.
  • Smith, Karlaftis Land Chiefs Extensions: Hours before the deadline to do so, the Chiefs finalized a long-term deal with franchise tag recipient Trey Smith. The four-year extension is worth $94MM, and his AAV of $23.5MM has reset the guard market. While Smith, 26, secured less in full guarantees ($46.75MM) than he would have received on consecutive tags, his future is assured beyond the next two years. Expectations will remain high given his durability (one missed game in four years) and status as a 2024 Pro Bowler. Kansas City has also taken care of a major extension in the form of edge rusher George Karlaftis. His four-year deal has a base value of $88MM and keeps him in place through 2030. With Smith and Karlaftis signed for the long term, the Chiefs will have continuity on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
  • Howell, Tretter Resign Amidst NFLPA Scrutiny: Recent weeks have seen pressure mount on Lloyd Howell with clarity emerging regarding the NFLPA’s role in burying the findings of its collusion case against the NFL. Issues related to a conflict of interest soon followed stemming from Howell’s role as a consultant for one of the private equity firms eligible to purchase an ownership stake in a team. While the union initially offered a statement supporting him, Howell decided to resign his position as executive director days later. The search for his replacement has begun, but at the early stages of that process chief strategy officer J.C. Tretter decided to resign as well. As such, veteran NFLPA executive Don Davis and union general counsel Tom DePaso are among the early names to watch regarding Howell’s successor on an interim or full-time basis.
  • Williams Retires After Eight Seasons: 2025 was set to mark Mike Williams’ return to the Chargers. Instead, his NFL career came to an abrupt end when he elected to retire after eight seasons in the league. The first seven of those came as a member of the Bolts and included a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. Williams, 30, battled injuries during his career but he did not miss any time last year during his tenure with the Jets and Steelers. His decision (along with its timing just ahead of training camp) thus comes as a surprise. Receiver will be a position to watch before Week 1 if Los Angeles deems an outside addition necessary to replace Williams.

Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Eagles

July 17th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Quickly revealing the Chiefs’ tightrope walk toward a threepeat would not go the distance in Super Bowl LIX, last year’s Eagles edition cemented itself among the great modern-era NFL teams. In terms of roster strength, the 2024 Eagles proved they belonged in the conversation with the century’s best squads.

After entering last season with questions stemming from a 2023 collapse, the Eagles used a savvy offseason blueprint to assemble a force that submitted one of the great peaks in NFL history. The defending champions passed on paying some starters from last year’s outfit while using this offseason to lock down some crucial cogs as well. A similar Philly roster will attempt to run it back, and the team will enter the season as the clear frontrunner to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX.

Extensions and restructures:

As the RB market reached rough waters exiting 2023, Roseman saw an opportunity. The Eagles landed an elite back at a reasonable price, and Roseman received deserved credit for acquiring an ultra-talented RB at a second-tier price. The six-year Giant proceeded to deliver one of the best seasons in the position’s history, going from an injury-prone player who did not have a realistic Hall of Fame case to one that has at least approached the conversation.

Barkley was on track to break Eric Dickerson‘s hallowed rushing record, before being rested in Week 18, but he did eclipse Terrell Davis‘ mark for most rush yards in a season (counting playoffs). The 1998 MVP had totaled 2,476 yards between the regular season and the Broncos’ three playoff games that year; Barkley followed his 2,005-yard regular season with 499 more in the playoffs to eclipse Davis’ mark.

It did come in one more game, as the Eagles were sent to the wild-card round as the No. 2 seed, but the upgrade from D’Andre Swift to Barkley played a lead role in Philly’s championship surge. Barkley’s 205 yards against the Rams were certainly needed to eliminate them.

The Eagles had Barkley signed through 2026 via their three-year, $37.75MM ($26MM guaranteed) contract, but the team rewarded its most talented player with a market-resetting payday. Barkley became the first running back to cross the $20MM-per-year barrier.

This second payday in two years brings a stark contrast to Barkley’s New York exit, as the Giants did not make an offer to retain him. Barkley’s success did not bode well for HBO’s chances of seeing a second Hard Knocks: Offseason effort come to pass, and he managed to score a monster payday at 28 despite missing chunks of four seasons previously.

Although this looks great for one of the RB position’s top earners, the Eagles are taking a risk based on Barkley’s past. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has missed 26 games due to injury as a pro. His 2026 pay transformed from nonguaranteed to a $16.75MM full guarantee while the option bonus-laden (as this is the Eagles) contract includes a $2.5MM guarantee in 2027. It would cost the Eagles $16.6MM in dead money to move on in 2027. The Eagles have not shown much fear of dead money in recent years, and they will bet on the three-time Pro Bowler after his otherworldly contributions to last season’s cause.

Johnson is pushing Mike Tomlin for extension volume at this point. This is the decorated right tackle’s fifth Eagles contract. Roseman has made a habit of early extensions for his O-linemen, and Johnson has regularly been paid with multiple years left on a previous contract. The Eagles rewarded their stalwart right tackle after he collected a fifth All-Pro accolade; he joined Jurgens and Landon Dickerson as Pro Bowlers on one of the best NFL position groups this century.

Johnson, 35, has likely done enough to be enshrined in Canton. He has won two Super Bowls, helped RBs to rushing titles 11 years apart and is the last active member of Philly’s “Core Four.” This contract will be difficult to escape until at least 2027 — due to six void years being included — and then would bring a $25.53MM dead money hit. These consequences have not mattered much for the Eagles, who are ahead of the curve here. Now the NFL’s second-highest-paid RT, Johnson (just four injury-driven absences since 2022) is also aiming to play until his contract expires in 2027.

Philly’s development strategy up front is second to none, and the team now has four of its five starters on extensions worth between $17MM and $25MM per year. Jurgens impressed at guard in 2023 and in replacing Jason Kelce last season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2024. This deal came after the Eagles paid Dickerson months into his first offseason of extension eligibility and gave Jordan Mailata a second extension when two years remained on his first.

Despite Jurgens’ resume not rivaling Creed Humphrey‘s, the Eagles closed the gap between the Chiefs center and the field with this accord. ESPN’s pass block win rate placed Jurgens 10th among interior O-linemen last season, though Pro Football Focus only slotted him as the game’s 14th-best center. The former second-round pick anchored the Eagles’ signature play, one that received a reprieve thanks to a hotly contested offseason vote, and the Eagles were comfortable with a top-market deal. It is difficult to doubt their O-line vision at this point, given the success in the Jeff Stoutland era.

A $14MM 2025 option bonus affected Goedert’s contract-year trade value — to the point the Eagles considered accepting 2026 draft capital in a swap. This situation differed from the Zach Ertz ending, as no Goedert-level presence lurked as an heir apparent. A steep drop-off would have come had the Eagles not found a way to retain the eight-year tight end.

Goedert, 30, has been entrenched as Philly’s No. 3 pass-game option for years and remains one of the league’s best all-around TEs. The team has seen him run into annual availability trouble, missing 20 games due to injury this decade. This led to the pay-cut ask succeeding.

The Division I-FCS product did not seek a relocation, even as his 2025 pay drops from $14.25MM to $10MM. Trade offers did emerge during this process, however, and the Eagles — thanks to their void years M.O. — will face a $20.49MM dead money hit if they do not extend Goedert by the 2026 league year.

Trades:

The Eagles also capped Gardner-Johnson’s second stint at one season, making a curious trade of a proven safety for a future Day 3 pick and a guard teetering on bust status. Gardner-Johnson said the Eagles informed him on the first night of free agency they would trade or cut him. The Eagles benefited from Gardner-Johnson’s 2024 return, after an injury-plagued Lions season, and had him on an affordable deal (three years, $27MM). That certainly made it interesting the team once again moved on early.

Despite learning another new system — his fourth defense in four years — the cover man/known agitator nabbed six INTs in 2024. That matched his 2022 Philly total and helped Vic Fangio‘s defense lead the league in yardage and finish second in points allowed. Gardner-Johnson did not carry significant guaranteed money beyond 2024 and is only going into an age-27 season. He will be positioned to boost the Texans’ secondary, while the Eagles — who used this as a cost-cutting space as Barkley, Johnson, Jurgens and Zack Baun received raises — have safety uncertainty again.

The team’s issues at the position, among other problems, in 2023 prompted the CJGJ re-signing. Philly’s 2025 approach also spotlighted the decision to move on early, as the team made an offer to Justin Reid. The Saints won out for the three-year Chiefs starter (on a three-year, $31.5MM deal). Philly, however, has also been connected to a Fangio-Justin Simmons reunion. This will be a 2026 need as well, as Reed Blankenship is on an expiring contract.

Adding to the 2024 Eagles’ achievement: their highest-paid edge rusher was a Super Bowl healthy scratch. Huff did not work out in Philly, failing to make the transition from Robert Saleh‘s scheme to Fangio’s. The former Jets situational rusher posted 10 sacks in his 2023 contract year and drew a wave of free agency attention; the Eagles won out with a three-year, $51MM deal that included $34MM at signing. By November, Huff was barely playing 20% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. After a wrist injury led him to IR, the former UDFA find made just two more appearances and did not record a statistic in his two playoff cameos.

The Eagles found an interesting taker, as Huff will reunite with Saleh in San Francisco. They managed this trade return despite it being clear, even after Josh Sweat‘s departure, Huff would not receive a second chance. While Fangio cited Huff’s hand injury as a key reason for the struggles, the player confirmed the bad fit upon being dealt. The Eagles are taking on more than $20MM in dead money — $4.94MM in 2026, $16.6MM in ’26 — based on this quick divorce.

One of the teams to show interest in Joe Milton, the Eagles are handing the QB2 reins to Tanner McKee. The 2023 sixth-round pick played well against Giants starters, as the Eagles were sitting most of their lineup in Week 18, by finishing with 268 passing yards and two TD throws. Pickett’s downward trend continues, even as he has a chance to earn the Browns’ starting job. The former No. 20 overall Steelers selection has been traded twice, with the second swap generating a lesser return compared to the Eagles’ package — which included a third-round pick — from 2024.

Re-signings:

Like at running back, the Eagles had kept costs low at linebacker for years. The team moved on from Mychal Kendricks and Nigel Bradham by the late 2010s, finding UDFAs (Alex Singleton, T.J. Edwards) as fill-ins. Singleton and Edwards collected their money elsewhere (Broncos, Bears), while the Eagles cycled through more low-cost options. The team did not re-sign Super Bowl LVII starter Kyzir White, either. Although Philly’s 2023 linebacker setup contributed to the team’s late-season unraveling, no major investments came at the position in 2024. In fact, Baun received less money ($3.5MM) than Devin White ($4MM). Baun’s showing changed the team’s calculus.

The first Eagle linebacker to be named first-team All-Pro since Jeremiah Trotter in 2000, Baun dominated in his first extended look on defense. Formerly used as a backup Saints edge rusher, Baun researched special teams contracts as free agency comps. Fangio had initially looked at Baun as an edge piece, but with White not seizing the job alongside Nakobe Dean, the former third-round Saints draftee capitalized.

By season’s end, Baun had posted 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. His diving interception of Patrick Mahomes, giving the Eagles a knockout opportunity before halftime, punctuated one of the best LB seasons in recent memory. The Shaquille Leonard-like (healthy version) stat line raised Baun’s value to the point the Eagles kept him out of free agency with a top-five ILB contract.

The off-ball linebacker market had sustained hits in recent years. Leonard saw injuries move him off his monster Colts contract, while the Jets (C.J. Mosley) and Jaguars (Foye Oluokun) gave their top tacklers pay cuts. It had become more affordable to roster top-tier ILBs, but Baun (28) helped reset the second tier of this market. His $17MM-per-year deal topped all free agent LBs, as Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood came in at $15MM AAV. Still, only six players at this position earn more than $14MM per year. This allowed Roseman to capitalize on another depressed market.

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PFR Originals: Panthers, Jackson, Smith, Jaguars, McLaurin, Texans, Ojabo, Sutton

July 15th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Here is a roundup of PFR’s latest originals:

  • Recapping Panthers’ Offseason: The 2025 Offseason in Review series rolls on. Sam Robinson broke down the Panthers‘ moves on and off the field since the 2024 campaign came to an end. Bringing in needed help on defense was a major priority in free agency, and many thought a pass rush addition would be coming on Day 1 of the draft. Instead, Carolina opted to take a first-round receiver (Tetairoa McMillan) for the second year in a row while trying to add further to Bryce Young‘s supporting cast.
  • Previewing Jackson’s Second Extension: Three years remain on Lamar Jackson‘s current Ravens deal. Team and player have spoken about a new extension, though, and one could be in place by the start of the season. Ely Allen detailed what a third pact could look like for the two-time MVP, whose cap hit is currently scheduled to spike considerably ahead of the 2026 campaign. Working out a deal before then would be welcomed by all parties.
  • Detailing Smith‘s Extension Candidacy: Only one franchise tag recipient has yet to sign a long-term pact this offseason: Trey Smith. The Pro Bowl guard was given the one-year tender by the Chiefs to avoid reaching free agency despite the tag grouping all blockers together as one position. Ahead of today’s deadline for inking a new pact, I looked into what a long-term accord could turn out to be in this case. Smith’s age and durability should help him secure one of the NFL’s highest AAVs for guards but also lower his 2025 cap hit ($23.4MM, the value of the tag) in the process.
  • Reviewing Jaguars’ Changes: The past few months have seen sweeping changes made in Duval County. General manager Trent Baalke was belatedly dismissed in a move which paved the way for Liam Coen to take an unorthodox route to the head coaching position of the Jaguars. Sam recapped the process which resulted in Coen and new GM James Gladstone coming aboard. First-timers in their respective roles, their performances along with that of two-way player Travis Hunter will be central in determining Jacksonville’s success.
  • Breaking Down Potential McLaurin Extension: One of the more surprising contract standoffs of the offseason has been between Terry McLaurin and the Commanders. Both sides are seeking to continue their relationship beyond 2025, but valuation has proven to be challenging. Entering his age-30 season, McLaurin could experience a downturn in production but his consistency and chemistry with Jayden Daniels could land him in a higher tier regarding receiver compensation. Ely looked into the figures surrounding this situation, which all parties involved will hope comes to an end soon.
  • Summarizing Edge Rush Standoffs: 2025 has seen several key developments amongst edge rushers, and more is yet to come. Sam recapped where things stand regarding Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart (Bengals), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), Micah Parsons (Cowboys) and T.J. Watt (Steelers). The pass rush market sits at $40MM per season for now, but that figure could move more than once before the start of the regular season.
  • Detailing Texans’ Offseason: The Texans entered the offseason once again looking to take a step toward genuine contender status in the AFC. As Sam wrote, changes at the offensive coordinator position (with Bobby Slowik being replaced by Nick Caley) along with a major overhaul of the O-line were aimed at bouncing back on that side of the ball. Houston’s defense – led by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and his record-breaking extension – will again face high expectations in 2025. Favored to top the AFC South for a third straight year, the Texans will be an interesting team to follow as the conference’s pecking order takes shape this season.
  • Exploring Ojabo Release: While a number of edge rushers are set to cash in soon, others find themselves on the roster bubble. David Ojabo enters training camp as a Ravens cut candidate. I broke down the former second-rounder’s injury-plagued NFL tenure to date and how he could be waived ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. Baltimore’s starting edge rushers remain from 2024, and the team added Mike Green during this year’s draft. Ojabo – who has totaled just four sacks so far – could end up on the outside looking in when the Ravens make their final cuts after training camp.
  • Listing Past Decade’s Franchise-Tagged Performers: In light of the Chiefs’ approaching deadline on a Smith extension, Sam recalled each of the players who have played out a campaign on the franchise tag since 2015. As few as one player and as many as 12 (in 2020) have found themselves in the situation Smith will face in a given campaign unless he signs a long-term pact. It will be interesting to see if he does, and the league winds up not having any tagged players for the season as a result.
  • Tracking Unsigned Rookies: 33 members of this year’s draft class have yet to sign their rookie deals. That includes 30 second-round selections. Ely listed the players in question, including the Day 2 rookies who are aiming to follow in the footsteps of Carson Schwesinger and Jayden Higgins. Picks 33 and 34 received fully guaranteed contracts, which had previously only been the case for first-round picks. Tre Harris of the Chargers has elected not to attend training camp (at least for now) in a sign the wait for second-round selections to sign could last deep into the summer.
  • Looking Into New Sutton Deal: After plenty of time attached to trade rumors, Courtland Sutton is in position to continue his Broncos tenure in 2025. The team’s top receiver has one year left on his deal after a short-term financial compromise was reached last offseason. While Sutton is not Denver’s top extension priority, Sam detailed what a new pact could look like. His resume would not set Sutton up for a monster pact like other producers at his position, but a raise keeping him in Denver for years to come could prove to be a mutually beneficial move.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 14th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Texans showed their 2023 rebound was far from a fluke, DeMeco Ryans‘ second season saw the team plateau. C.J. Stroud did not take the second-year step many anticipated, and Houston finished with an even point differential despite playing in one of the NFL’s worst divisions. After a second straight 10-7 season, the Texans made widespread offensive changes while fortifying Ryans’ defense for the long term.

As Houston attempts to infiltrate the AFC’s upper crust and reach the first conference championship game in franchise history, some points of emphasis emerged between free agency and the draft.

Trades:

The Texans made the interesting decision to both label their offensive line a problem, the correct determination, while also trading away the best piece from it. Tunsil is out after six Texans seasons, having commanded two monster contracts since the 2019 blockbuster trade brought him in from Miami.

ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted Tunsil just outside the top 10 in 2023 and ’24, and the nine-year veteran had stayed mostly healthy since his injury-plagued 2021. Tunsil represented a key component in the Texans’ Stroud developmental effort, and they will pivot from a five-time Pro bowler (all five nods coming in Houston) to an eight-year vet (Cam Robinson) without any honors on his resume. Though, the Texans addressed this position early in the draft as well.

Tunsil is also weeks from his 31st birthday and would have been a candidate for an even higher-priced extension, as two seasons remain on his three-year, $75MM accord. Even though the Texans are light in terms of salary along their O-line — beyond Tytus Howard‘s three-year, $54MM deal — Tunsil said the team was prioritizing younger players over his fourth contract. That could have become a disruption along an O-line that had become a problem in 2024.

That said, this is a gamble due to the potential downgrade Tunsil to Robinson could bring. Still, the Texans fetched a nice haul for a player acquired before Nick Caserio‘s GM tenure began.

One of Caserio’s failed O-line projects is now in Philadelphia, being dealt for a proven safety. As Green did not pan out, the Texans will bet against the Eagles resurrecting his career a la their Mekhi Becton effort. Green struggled during his two seasons on the field while missing all of 2023 due to an offseason injury. A midseason IR trip ended Green’s starter run last season, as the Texas A&M product returned as a seldom-used backup by year’s end. One year remains on Green’s rookie deal; the Eagles declined his fifth-year option.

Gardner-Johnson is an interesting bet, especially in giving up an underperforming guard. Two years also remain on the two-time Super Bowl starter/renowned trash talker’s three-year, $27MM contract. No guaranteed money remains on Gardner-Johnson’s deal post-2025, giving the Texans flexibility if this fit does not work out. The Eagles have now ended both CJGJ’s stints at one season, letting him walk (to the Lions) in 2023 and trading him for a Becton replacement option after the second season.

Philly did see Gardner-Johnson prove an important piece. He tied for the NFL INT lead, with six, in 2022 despite missing five games. Although the Eagles had changed their defensive scheme yet again by the time Gardner-Johnson re-signed, he matched that six-INT season for a No. 1-ranked defense in 2024. Pro Football Focus graded Gardner-Johnson 14th among safety regulars last season, ranking him sixth in terms of coverage.

The former Saints draftee is also still just 27, creating upside in Ryans’ defense. Gardner-Johnson’s arrival could be much more important after Jimmie Ward‘s recent arrest, but he adds to an equation featuring Ward and emerging talent Calen Bullock at safety.

Capitalizing on Stroud’s rookie contract, the Texans parted with low-end compensation to add Kirk. This flier carries considerable upside, as the veteran slot receiver had been the Jaguars’ top Trevor Lawrence-era target. The retooling Jags were prepared to cut Kirk; the Texans made sure they would obtain his rights, picking up the final season of the 1,000-yard weapon’s four-year, $72MM contract.

The Jags’ 2023 freefall came just after Kirk’s season-ending core muscle malady. They went 1-5 without Kirk available down the stretch. The former Cardinals second-round pick had notched his first 1,000-yard season (1,108) in 2022 to justify a contract most labeled outlandish earlier that year. Kirk then beat that per-game yardage number by averaging a career-best 57.6 in 2023.

While Kirk was not as productive to start 2024, he drew trade interest before suffering a broken collarbone. A year after trading for Stefon Diggs, the Texans made a lower-stakes move with a younger cog; Kirk will not turn 29 until November. Given Diggs’ departure and Tank Dell‘s uncertain future, Kirk is probably a low-cost bet worth making.

Ingram is a true flier, having been benched by the Vikings last season. A former second-round pick out of LSU, Ingram made 41 starts with Minnesota. He factors into a crowded Houston guard mix. PFF ranked Ingram 66th among guard regulars last season, and while the advanced metrics site did slot him inside the top 40 in 2023, the Texans are attempting to revive a depressed asset.

Extensions and restructures:

This offseason featured the first batch of highly drafted Caserio players become extension-eligible, marking a turning point for an organization that had bottomed out earlier this decade. Once deploying rosters chock full of average or subaverage veterans, Caserio restocked it with several extension-worthy performers. The fifth-year GM operated proactively, potentially establishing a blueprint for when Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. are up for new deals in 2026.

After an abbreviated rookie season, Stingley has become one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Caserio’s initial first-round pick as a GM hit big, intercepting five passes in back-to-back seasons and reaching the first-team All-Pro level. The Texans chose Stingley one spot over Sauce Gardner in 2022, and while the LSU product initially trailed the physical Jets cover man, a changing of the guard occurred — as the No. 1 contender for Patrick Surtain‘s belt, if you will — in 2024.

Pro Football Focus rated Stingley fifth among CB regulars last season, after placing him ninth in 2024, while Gardner struggled. Stingley, 24, already established himself by 2023, though, as his coverage metrics from last season closely resemble his second-year work. After allowing a 47.9% completion rate as the closest defender in 2023, Stingley posted a 47.1 number last year. His passer rating allowed only climbed from 41.3 to a still-elite 51.2, and the boundary defender’s yards-per-target number dropped significantly — from 12.5 to 9.6. A natural in Ryans’ defense, Stingley has become the Texans’ top player. Houston paid him as such.

Despite Surtain’s Defensive Player of the Year season, he now trails Stingley by $6MM in terms of AAV. Both players are signed through 2029, as the Texans still had two years of control on Stingley’s rookie deal (via a fifth-year option that would have been exercised), and the extension includes no full guarantees beyond 2026. Though, a rolling guarantee structure makes this a more player-friendly agreement. Stingley’s 2027 base salary locks in by March 2026; that pattern recurs a year later for his 2028 paragraph 5 number.

Although Stingley does not have a runaway lead in terms of two- and three-year cash flows like he does in CB AAV, it was still surprising to see the Texans agree to make him the NFL’s first $30MM-per-year DB on just a three-year contract. The corner market did not move between May 2022 and September 2024, needing Surtain to break through a $21MM-per-year ceiling — one that had fallen behind safeties by spring 2024. Seeing Surtain and Jalen Ramsey set the table, Stingley collected the final piece of leverage when Jaycee Horn scored a then-market-setting $25MM-per-year deal in early March.

Is Hunter quietly building a Hall of Fame resume? No first-team All-Pro accolades hurt that potential case, but the consistent sack artist’s prime has gone against those of Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons. The youngest player to reach 50 sacks also saw his prime interrupted by injury, as he missed 26 games between the 2020 and ’21 seasons. Despite this sizable chunk of missed time, Hunter ranks 11th in career sacks through an age-30 season (99.5) in NFL history. Houston could be ground zero for a back-door Canton ascent, and Caserio ensured the Hunter-Anderson duo would last longer.

The Texans gave the 2024 free agent signee a deal that narrowly eclipsed Maxx Crosby‘s $35.5MM AAV number, though this obviously differs from the Raiders’ three-year extension. After griping about his Vikings extension — a deal that was team-friendly at the time and only swung further in that direction — for years, Hunter has done well for himself in Houston. He scored a near-fully guaranteed first Texans contract (two years, $49MM; $48MM guaranteed), and the team effectively gave him a $6.1MM raise for 2025. More importantly, Hunter’s re-up secured a near-fully guaranteed 2026.

Hunter, 30, tacked a fifth Pro Bowl onto his resume with a 12.5-sack season. The Texans-Vikings’ Hunter-Jonathan Greenard free agency switch proved a win-win, as the latter earned Pro Bowl recognition as part of a top-five Minnesota defense. Since returning from a 2021 chest injury, Hunter has not missed a game and has displayed consistency by staying between 22 and 23 QB hits in each of those three seasons. Being paired with Anderson will allow a good chance at a seventh double-digit sack season, while his presence helped the younger rusher make strides forward.

Houston moved Pitre from safety to the slot last year, and the early extension reflects a belief that change worked. Shortly after making Stingley the NFL’s highest-paid perimeter corner, the Texans moved Pitre to the top of the slot salary list. This set the bar for Kyler Gordon‘s Bears extension to raise the ceiling to $13.3MM per year.

The slot market keeps growing, as teams are taking advantage of a bargain rate attached to this underrated position. As recently as March 2024, no pure slot had crossed the eight-figure-per-year barrier; after historic cap spikes in 2024 and ’25, six pure slot CBs are there now.

This came after Pitre’s season-ending pectoral injury, which required surgery. The contract certainly renders that a nonissue, as the Texans have the makings of a long-term CB trio. These two deals pair well with Kamari Lassiter‘s rookie pact. The 2024 second-rounder’s rookie deal runs through 2027.

Free agency additions:

Having a biannual look at Robinson through his AFC South past, the Texans decided to add one of this market’s top players days into free agency. While it appeared Robinson’s market — thanks to Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson taking themselves off the table via pre-free agency agreements — would rival Dan Moore Jr.‘s, the longtime Jags LT-turned-Vikings stopgap took a one-year accord with an eye on 2026. Based on the Texans’ offseason, this looks set to be a one-year partnership.

The pure left tackle carrying 101 career starts divided some entering free agency, as no Pro Bowls are on his resume. Then again, Pro Bowl LTs entering age-30 seasons rarely hit the market barring noteworthy injury concerns. PFF slotted Robinson outside the top 50 among tackles last season, and his 88.2% pass block win rate did not wow. But the Texans will add the twice-franchise-tagged blocker as a stopgap while second-round pick Aireontae Ersery develops.

The Hall of Fame will need to adjust its criteria if modern running backs are to be enshrined, as workloads plummeted compared to prior eras. Chubb looked to be one of the players who could create a case, provided the goalposts are moved to accommodate some of this period’s best ballcarriers, but the injuries he sustained in 2023 and ’24 altered that path. The former Browns dynamo missed 15 games in 2023 due to a severe knee injury, one that kept him from debuting until late October of 2024. He then saw a broken foot shelve him after eight games last season. As a result, Chubb’s free agency predictably tanked.

Chubb, 29, had taken a steep Browns pay cut after his 2023 knee injuries — a partially torn ACL, a fully torn MCL along with medial capsule and meniscus damage — and is certainly at a make-or-break point. The former second-round pick had zoomed to four straight Pro Bowls, running behind a well-built Browns O-line. This included two 1,400-plus-yard rushing seasons (2019, 2022), the first of which coming before the team rebuilt its O-line.

One of the NFL’s top pure runners of the past several years, Chubb now joins Joe Mixon — who is nearly a year younger despite being drafted a year earlier — in Houston’s backfield. After not seeing Dameon Pierce pan out, the Texans have one of the more experienced backfields in recent NFL history.

Chubb did not look himself before going down with the foot injury last season. He averaged 3.3 yards per carry, after topping 5.0 in each of his first five seasons, and is likely done as a regular starter. Still, the Texans have a former top-tier RB on a low-cost contract; they will hope the eighth-year vet being nearly two years removed from the major knee injury can spark a resurgence.

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Players To Spend Season On Franchise Tag Since 2015

July 13th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs and Trey Smith have just less than 48 hours to agree on a long-term extension; otherwise, the Pro Bowl guard will play on the franchise tag and negotiations will be tabled until 2026. That is 2025’s only tag situation as the July 15 deadline approaches.

Over the previous 10 offseasons, 77 players received the franchise tag. Many of those signed extensions before the midsummer deadline. Here are the players who did not and ended up playing the season for the tag price:

2015

Pierre-Paul’s infamous fireworks accident led to Giants rescinding $14.8MM tag, setting up revised agreement 

2016

2017

2018

Bell did not collect any money on his 2018 tag, being the 21st century’s lone franchise-tagged player to skip season

2019

Texans applied $15.9MM linebacker tag on Clowney, trading him to Seahawks in August 2019; edge rusher agreed to salary reduction upon being dealt

2020

Ravens, Judon agreed on compromise between defensive end, linebacker tag prices. Ngakoue agreed to salary reduction to facilitate trade from Jaguars. Vikings traded edge rusher to Ravens before 2020 deadline. Prescott received exclusive franchise tag from Cowboys.

2021

2022

2023

Raiders provided raise to Jacobs to bring him into training camp

2024

Extension Candidate: Courtland Sutton

July 13th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Broncos have rebounded from their disastrous 2022 situation, some of the key players to help them climb out of that hole are entering contract years. Nik Bonitto is a traditional extension candidate, coming off a breakout season ahead of the final year of his rookie contract, while Zach Allen jumped a level ahead of his age-28 season. A significant raise will be necessary for the Broncos to keep the ascending interior D-lineman on a third contract.

Denver, however, has a homegrown player residing as a more interesting extension candidate. Courtland Sutton carries a few unusual markers along his journey to another extension case. Even though Bonitto and Allen qualify as higher-value players due to their ages, Sutton stands as a pivotal piece considering the Broncos’ plan on offense. The former John Elway draftee has waited patiently for a deal, reporting to both OTAs and minicamp after skipping some offseason work while pursuing a raise last year. But he looks to have seen the younger defenders leapfrog him in Denver’s extension queue.

Sutton is going into his age-30 season, and he carries an atypical resume for a No. 1 receiver. The 2018 second-round pick’s two 1,000-yard seasons are spaced five years apart. He helped build an initial extension candidacy by eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2019. That 1,112-yard season still stands as Sutton’s career high; it came with Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen and a rookie-year Drew Lock making starts. A 2020 ACL tear paused Sutton’s ascent, and Denver’s QB quagmire lowered the receiver’s ceiling for an extended stretch.

As the Broncos assembled a low-octane Teddy Bridgewater offense, Sutton and Jerry Jeudy became info-graphic fodder due to Aaron Rodgers‘ interest in being traded to Denver in 2021. The Packers held onto the reigning MVP that year and in 2022, leading the Broncos to their blockbuster Russell Wilson trade. That move brought a spectacular failure, as an overmatched Nathaniel Hackett grounded Denver’s offense to 32nd in 2022. Sean Payton elevated Wilson back to respectability in 2023, however, and that season effectively launched Sutton’s second extension campaign.

Wilson’s 26-touchdown pass, eight-interception season ended ugly, with a contract-based benching taking place. But Wilson-to-Sutton became the team’s most notable connection since the Peyton Manning days; the 6-foot-4 WR totaled 10 TD receptions, displaying a penchant for acrobatic grabs. Sutton then submitted a second 1,000-yard season, being a linchpin on a 2024 offense bereft of other reliable pass catchers. This helped Sutton post a 1,081-yard 2024 season, boosting Bo Nix to 29 TD passes — the second-most by a rookie QB in NFL history.

So much happened between the Rodgers rumors and Nix’s rookie season, though. Sutton signed a four-year, $60MM extension days after Tim Patrick‘s three-year, $30MM deal. While injuries dogged Patrick in the years that followed, Sutton remained a productive starter. Being an Elway-era draftee extended under George Paton, Sutton became a trade-rumor mainstay during Payton’s initial months on the job. The Broncos listened closely on Sutton and Jeudy during the 2023 offseason, aiming for a second-round pick for Sutton and a first for Jeudy. Nothing on that level emerged, but the Ravens came close to acquiring Sutton — before pivoting to Odell Beckham Jr.‘s $15MM guarantee.

Denver declined a Jeudy offer that included third- and fifth-round picks before the 2023 deadline, holding onto Sutton as well. That Jeudy decision became a mistake, as the team both sold low in March 2024 (fifth- and sixth-round picks) before seeing him post a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland. Jeudy’s departure solidified Sutton’s WR1 standing, to the point the Broncos declined a third-round pick from the 49ers during the summer 2024 Brandon Aiyuk saga. Sutton more than doubling any other Broncos pass catcher in yardage last season strengthened his extension case.

Missing out on Emeka Egbuka in the draft, the Broncos did not address the receiver position until Round 3 (Pat Bryant). The Illinois prospect’s 4.61-second 40-yard dash time docked his value, and while Marvin Mims has flashed, the Broncos have mostly deployed him as a gadget cog on offense. The team’s 2024 rookies (Devaughn Vele, Troy Franklin) also appear role players, even if Vele’s skillset resembles Sutton’s (Vele is also set to turn 28 before year’s end, complicating the second-year player’s long-term NFL future).

Everything since the 2023 season has boosted Sutton’s stock, but finding a price may be proving tricky. The Broncos agreed to only an incentive package with Sutton last year, telling his camp 2025 would be the window for true extension talks. We are here now, and nothing has transpired since Sutton labeled the 2025 talks positive in April. Denver completed summer extensions with Patrick Surtain and Quinn Meinerz last year; Sutton drama could resurface if no deal emerges this summer.

It would surprise if the Broncos revisited trade talks in the event they could not come to terms with Sutton before Week 1. The SMU product remains valuable due to the dearth of proven WR help ahead of Nix’s second season.

Finding contractual comps does prove difficult. Mike Evans and Davante Adams signed similar deals — two years, $41MM (Evans) and 2/44 (Adams) — while Calvin Ridley‘s resume did not match Sutton’s ahead of a four-year, $92MM Titans deal. Ridley signed that contract months before his 30th birthday, though his standing as last year’s top WR free agent — after the Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. tags — boosted his value. Evans and Adams are much more accomplished players, both of whom also being more than two years older.

Jeudy signed a Browns-friendly extension (three years, $52.5MM), but it came after the Broncos’ QB struggles suppressed his stats. Sutton is in a similar boat, but after being tied to an AAV ($15MM) that sits 25th at the position — following market booms in 2022 and ’24 — it would surprise if the eighth-year vet settled for anything south of $20MM per year.

Pittman’s three-year, $70MM accord could be a comp for Sutton, as the Colts’ No. 1 target is just two years younger and agreed to that deal before another salary cap spike commenced. Jeudy fetched $41MM guaranteed at signing, Pittman $46MM. That is probably beyond where the Broncos will go regarding locked-in compensation, though Sutton residing in a gray area due to age, production and importance makes that number harder to peg as well.

A short-term extension seems the most likely outcome here. The sides’ price points will be interesting to learn. Sutton would command reasonable value as a 2026 free agent, but will he want to chance negotiating ahead of an age-31 season? Many variables have led to this point, as the next several weeks figure to determine where this years-long saga ends.

Extension Candidate: Terry McLaurin

July 12th, 2025 at 10:37pm CST by Ely Allen

There’s been no shortage of noise coming out of the District of Columbia — technically 25 miles or so west of DC — concerning the extension negotiations for veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin. It should be a no-brainer: a second-team All-Pro heading into a contract year with a $25.5MM cap hit while he’s catching balls from a quarterback on a rookie deal? Up to this point in the offseason, though, the two parties have been unable to make progress towards a new deal.

It started early in the offseason, with the team acknowledging that an extension for McLaurin was something it was interested in. McLaurin showed the team how serious he was about receiving new terms when he held out of Organized Team Activities and mandatory minicamp, racking up over $104K in fines. Reportedly, the Commanders were taken aback at the difficulties they were having reaching agreeable terms with their star receiver, and as it became clear that the two sides were very far apart on an agreement, McLaurin voiced his frustrations with the procedures.

But why has this been such a struggle? Does the team not want to lower McLaurin’s cap hit and make sure he’s around for all of the years Jayden Daniels plays on a rookie deal? It seems multiple factors are proving challenging when negotiations are taking place as performance and status say one thing, while age and potential for decline say another.

To start, McLaurin just completed his best season to date. While he didn’t put up a career high in receiving yards (1,096), his 13 touchdowns catches were more than half of his five-year career touchdown-total coming into the season (25). He also did it all in the fewest targets since his rookie year, showing improved efficiency with his new quarterback.

That’s the other thing to consider when looking at McLaurin’s career production. After falling 81 yards short of 1,000 receiving yards in his 14-game rookie campaign, McLaurin has been a 1,000-yard receiver in every season since. While that’s impressive on its own, consider that he put up consistent production while catching passes off the arms of players like Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz, and Sam Howell. He’s a modern-day Andre Johnson in that regard. Now that you’ve paired him with a talented, young passer, he puts up an All-Pro season.

So, what does his production say he should be making on a new deal? First, let’s set the floor. Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins set the new mark for WR2s this year, surpassing Jaylen Waddle as the league’s highest-paid WR2 with an average annual value of $28.75MM. As a high-performing WR1, McLaurin should at least be making more than the highest-paid WR2. After that, the comparisons become difficult to make. The top-earning receivers market has drastically jumped in recent years with Ja’Marr Chase (AAV of $40.25MM), Justin Jefferson ($35MM), and CeeDee Lamb ($34MM) leading the pack.

Age becomes a factor, as well, though. Coming in as a 24-year-old rookie, McLaurin is set to turn 30 this season. Tyreek Hill was 30 years old when he signed his most recent contract ($30MM) that gave him a $54MM signing bonus. Older receivers like 29-year-old Calvin Ridley ($23MM), 32-year-old Davante Adams ($22MM), 29-year-old Chris Godwin ($22MM), 31-year-old Stefon Diggs ($21.17MM), and 30-year-old Mike Evans ($20.5MM) hurt McLaurin’s case. D.K. Metcalf ($33MM), though two years younger that McLaurin, may have helped McLaurin’s case a bit with his recent four-year, $132MM extension in Pittsburgh.

The last point of comparison may come from his status as an All-Pro. Chase and Jefferson were both first-teamers, along with Amon-Ra St. Brown ($32MM), while joining McLaurin as second-team All-Pros were Lamb and A.J. Brown ($32MM). With the lowest AAV of those five coming in at $32MM, one would expect that to be a target for McLaurin, as well. To McLaurin’s credit, he doesn’t seem intent upon resetting the market at the position. Reasonably, he is just looking to enter the echelon of pass catchers making $30MM or more.

Ultimately, there’s so many directions in which this deal can go. We’ve focused mainly on AAV, but term length, guarantees, and fee structure can all play huge roles in negotiating that AAV up or down. McLaurin could settle for a two-year commitment in order to try and get up to $33MM or $34MM. The Commanders could try to backload base salary, while supplementing the low-salaried early years with a substantial signing bonus. There’s no shortage of predictions for how this contract may end up looking, and that’s one of the reasons why there’s been so little progress and so much frustration.

Despite the frustrations, the two sides have been in constant communication and are expected to come to terms at some point. The oft-injured Deebo Samuel can be strong while on the field, but behind him and McLaurin, the receiving corps depth is either old or unproven. Look to McLaurin’s participation in training camp, and depending on what we see, we may look for an extension in the days leading up to the regular season.

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