Kendrick missed all of last season due to an ACL tear. Prior to that, though, he started 18 games across two seasons. The 24-year-old will look to find a new opportunity in time for training camp once he clears waivers. Long connected to a potential re-acquisition of Jalen Ramsey, meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if today’s Rams move is soon followed by another at the cornerback spot.
Charles Crosshas handled left tackle duties throughout his three seasons in Seattle. His performance in that role made it little surprise when his fifth-year option was exercised this spring.
That decision marked the first time the Seahawks picked up the option on a player they drafted. As a result, Cross is set to earn $17.56MM in 2026. That figure is guaranteed, but a long-term deal will cost more given the nature of the tackle market.
It remains to be seen if team and player will enter into negotiations on an extension as early as this offseason. The parties have plenty of time to work out an agreement, but Cross – who attended and took part in OTAs and minicamp – would welcome a long-term pact. Remaining in the Emerald City beyond 2026 is a stated goal of his.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but Seattle,” Cross said when asked about his future (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). “I love the fans here. I love the team. One of the greatest organizations in the NFL. I like it here a lot.”
Selected ninth overall in 2022, Cross has started each of his 48 appearances. Having missed only three games to date in his career, the 24-year-old has certainly enjoyed better luck on the health front than right tackle Abraham Lucas. The latter has missed double-digit games each of the past two years, making an extension commitment a difficult one for the Seahawks. Lucas is a pending 2026 free agent, so working out a new deal in his case could be seen as a more urgent matter if Seattle is content to wait until at least next offseason to negotiate with Cross.
The Mississippi State product has shown notable year-over-year improvement in terms of PFF grades. Cross posted an overall mark of 82.5 in 2024, good for ninth amongst qualifying tackles. Another strong outing this year would help his value on a long-term arrangement. A total of 15 offensive tackles (including 12 blindside blockers) are currently attached to a deal averaging $20MM or more per year, and Cross will no doubt look to join that group on his second NFL contract.
It will be interesting to see when serious talks on a long-term pact begin in this case (it should be noted Cross now has an agent for the first time in his career). Regardless, his preference would be a long-term stay in Seattle rather than a foray into free agency following the 2026 campaign.
Seattle made Dickson the NFL’s highest-paid punter in 2021 with a $3.625MM AAV deal that was set to expire after the 2025 season. In May, the Raiders surpassed that number with $3.95MM per year for A.J. Cole, and the Jaguars gave Logan Cookean even $4MM AAV yesterday. That gave Dickson enough leverage to reclaim the top spot after another solid year for the Seahawks in 2024.
The 29-year-old has spent each of his seven seasons in Seattle, and he delivered a strong showing during his rookie campaign. Dickson earned a Pro Bowl nod in addition to first-team All-Pro honors in 2018, raising expectations and cementing his status as a key special teams contributor for the Seahawks. Since then, he has remained among the league’s most consistent punters.
On three occasions, Dickson has recorded a net punting average of 44 yards or more; in 2023, his gross average of 50 yards marked a career best. The former fifth-rounder was unable to duplicate either of those figures in 2024, but his totals still bested his career averages. As a result, today’s news comes as little surprise.
Seattle has kicker Jason Myersattached to one of the league’s most lucrative contracts at his position. He is on the books through 2026. Long snapper Chris Stollis under contract for 2025, so he will spend at least one more year with the team. The coming season will therefore bring continuity on special teams for the Seahawks, and Dickson will remain in place for years to come.
The 2025 offseason has seen a number of high-profile receivers change teams via free agency. The likes of Davante Adams, Cooper Kuppand DeAndre Hopkinshave undertaken a change of scenery so far. The same will also soon be true of Keenan Allenand Amari Cooper.
This spring has also provided notable moves at the position via trade, however. A total of four swaps including wideouts have taken place in 2025; in three of those cases, the player included in the deal changed teams for the first time in their career. For all squads involved, the outcome of the trades will be key in determining their success this season and beyond.
March began with the 49ers sending Deebo Samuelto the Commanders. That deal – which yielded a fifth-round pick in return – came when team and player mutually agreed a parting ways was in order. Samuel had previously requested a trade, but his 2022 extension allowed him to remain in San Francisco. The 29-year-old has been unable to duplicate the production from his All-Pro campaign in 2021 when he showcased his receiving and rushing abilities.
Between a downturn in output and the massive extension which was (eventually) worked out with Brandon Aiyuklast offseason, many expected 2024 would be Samuel’s final year in the Bay Area. Shortly after the season ended, it became clear the Commanders were among the teams pursuing the former Pro Bowler. For at least one year (since he is a pending 2026 free agent), Samuel will offer the Commanders a veteran secondary WR option to complement perennial 1,000-yard performer Terry McLaurin.
Samuel saw his base salary for this year guaranteed via a restructure upon arrival in Washington. $3MM in incentives are present as well, adding to his earning potential on a Commanders team looking to replicate its surprising offensive success from 2024. The 49ers, meanwhile, will move forward with Aiyuk. Jauan Jenningsand a number of younger options capable of handling at least a depth receiver role.
Christian Kirkinitially appeared to be a cap casualty for the Jaguars this offseason. Instead of cutting the former Cardinal, however, the team’s new regime traded him inside the division to the Texans. A seventh-round pick in next year’s draft prevented Houston from having to win a bidding war for his services. Just like Samuel, Kirk restructured his contract shortly after being acquired.
The 28-year-old is also a pending free agent, so he too could prove to be a rental. Nico Collinswill remain WR1 for the Texans in 2025, but the loss of Stefon Diggsand the likelihood of Tank Dellmissing considerable time while recovering from multiple knee surgeries will give Kirk a notable role on his new team. Mentioned as a Steelers trade deadline target last fall, the former second-rounder saw his production decline over each of his three Jaguars seasons. Kirk should nevertheless be able to operate as a useful deep threat as the Texans transition to new offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
The skill positions have undergone many changes in Jacksonville this offseason. Kirk’s trade was accompanied by the decision to cut wideout/returner Devin Duvernay, along withGabe Davis. With Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engramalso no longer in the picture, first-year head coach Liam Coen will have a number of new pass catchers in place for 2025. The success of that new group will be a key talking point.
Even before March, D.K. Metcalf’s Seahawks future was uncertain. A desire to land a second extension (putting him near the top of the position’s market) paved the way for a trade request. General manager John Schneiderlater said finances were not at the heart of the decision to pull off a trade, noting the two-time Pro Bowler’s strong desire to move on. Seattle’s asking price originally included a first-round pick, but that was soon lowered.
In the end, a second-round selection (in addition to a swap of Day 3 selections) proved to be sufficient for the Steelers to acquire Metcalf. The trade was immediately followed by a four-year, $132MM extension agreement. As a result of that pact, Metcalf, 27, met his known goal of joining the list of receivers earning at least $30MM per season on average. His AAV of $33MM ranks fourth at the position.
As Seattle moves forward with a receiver group centered on Kupp (who was added on a homecoming deal following his Rams release) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Pittsburgh will rely heavily on Metcalf for 2025 and beyond. Questions loom about Pittsburgh’s 2025 quarterback starter and his upside, but expectations will be high for in Metcalf’s case as a player who has posted no fewer than 900 yards in each of his six NFL seasons.
At first, the Metcalf addition seemed to put the Steelers in place to pair him with George Pickensfor at least one campaign. The latter found himself on the move one month ago, however. Pickens was dealt to the Cowboys in exchange for a third-round pick in next year’s draft (with late-round selections in the 2027 event being exchanged as well).
Pickens – who did not request to be moved – has one year remaining on his rookie contract. The 24-year-old is not aiming to sign a Cowboys extension at this point, so much will depend on his performance with his new team. Of course, this situation will also contain plenty of scrutiny in terms of maturity and locker room fit in Dallas. Issues on those fronts led to an ambivalence among many Steelers with respect to Pickens’ departure.
The Cowboys did not draft a first-round receiver as many thought they would, but adding Pickens will provide the team with a high-potential CeeDee Lambcounterpart. A strong showing from that tandem will help Pickens’ market value on a re-signing or a long-term arrangement with a third team. For Pittsburgh, meanwhile, Metcalf’s supporting cast faces questions (although another pass-catching addition is being explored). The Steelers’ decision to make one lucrative investment at any given time in a receiver is common enough, but the impact of replacing Pickens with Metcalf will be felt in 2025 as well as future years.
Keeping in mind the prices paid in these trades and the other receiver-related moves made by the teams who parted ways with those involved in the swaps, which do you think will work out the best? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section below.
Despite a top-10 finish in the 2024 MVP race, doubts surrounding Sam Darnold‘s future as a starter have persisted into his tenure in Seattle. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald put an end to those doubts on Tuesday, emphatically shooting down a question about another quarterback earning the starting job.
“No, you guys are crazy,” said Macdonald on Seattle Sports 710-AM (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s just not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”
Darnold struggled at the start of practice on Monday, per Henderson, throwing two interceptions within the span of three plays and holding onto the ball for too long behind the line of scrimmage. The veteran did turn things around as practice went on and, reportedly, bested the defense on some goal line reps. Those early mistakes did not seem to concern Macdonald, though. “We’ve got time. It’s June 3,” he said. “They’re going to get plenty of reps. We’ll get those things fixed.”
Darnold came to Seattle on a three-year, $105MM contract, looking to fill the shoes left vacant by another bust-turned-Pro Bowler, Geno Smith, traded away just days earlier. The only competition Darnold faces for the starting gig is returning backup Drew Lock and rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe, a prospect widely seen as a developmental project with outstanding athleticism.
The use of a third-round pick on a quarterback so soon after signing your new starter could certainly have ruffled some feathers, but Macdonald made sure to avoid the awkwardness we’ve seen in situations past, like in Baltimore with Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson or in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. The head coach made sure to communicate with Darnold about their intentions to take a younger prospect who could impact the offense in a lot of ways.
While the current setup shows similarities to when a rookie Russell Wilson won the Seahawks starting job as a third-round rookie over free agent addition Matt Flynn (2012), Flynn never displayed a full season of talent as Darnold did last year. Macdonald has instead said that the plan is for Milroe “to play a few plays a game in specialty packages,” while Darnold will “still get well over 90% of the snaps.”
Gill becomes the 13th wide receiver on the Browns roster. While that certainly seems like a lot, keep in mind that the Browns need to run drills for four quarterbacks and some receivers aren’t able to participate at the moment. An undrafted receiver out of Fresno State last year, Gill spent the last two months of the season on the Browns’ practice squad.
The Eagles add another undrafted rookie to their group in Adeyi. The speedy, diminutive wideout spent his final two collegiate seasons at Sam Houston State. He had 30 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown, with another score on the ground. He returned punts for the Bearkats in 2024, as well.
This week started with a point on the NFL calendar that has been important for decades. Although teams have not needed to wait until June to make their most expensive cuts in many years, they do not see the funds from post-June 1 designations until that point.
With June 1 coming and going, a fourth of the league has seen the savings from post-June 1 releases arrive. That has affected the NFL’s cap-space hierarchy. Here is how every team stands (via OverTheCap) following June 2 changes:
New England Patriots: $67.34MM
San Francisco 49ers: $53.49MM
Detroit Lions: $40.12MM
New York Jets: $39.8MM
Las Vegas Raiders: $36.16MM
Arizona Cardinals: $32.11MM
Dallas Cowboys: $32.11MM
Pittsburgh Steelers: $31.88MM
Seattle Seahawks: $31.21MM
Tennessee Titans: $30.16MM
Green Bay Packers: $28.94MM
Cincinnati Bengals: $27.08MM
Los Angeles Chargers: $26.83MM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $26.63MM
Jacksonville Jaguars: $26.54MM
Philadelphia Eagles: $25.79MM
New Orleans Saints: $22.62MM
Washington Commanders: $21.13MM
Indianapolis Colts: $20.09MM
Los Angeles Rams: $19.44MM
Baltimore Ravens: $18.95MM
Carolina Panthers: $18.69MM
Minnesota Vikings: $18.49MM
Cleveland Browns: $18.2MM
Houston Texans: $16.3MM
Denver Broncos: $16.23MM
Chicago Bears: $14.76MM
Miami Dolphins: $13.81MM
Kansas City Chiefs: $10.75MM
Atlanta Falcons: $5.02MM
New York Giants: $3.82MM
Buffalo Bills: $1.69MM
The Jets saw their situation change the most from post-June 1 designations, as $13.5MM became available to the team after itsAaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosleycuts. Teams have up to two post-June 1 designations at their disposals. Five clubs — the Jets, Browns, Ravens, Eagles and 49ers — used both slots. Only three other teams made a post-June 1 cut before that seminal date. The eight that made these moves will have dead money split between 2025 and 2026.
Baltimore used the cost-defraying option to release Marcus Williams and Justin Tucker, while Cleveland — in Year 4 of the regrettable Deshaun Watson partnership — used it to move on from Juan Thornhill and Dalvin Tomlinson. As the Eagles’ option bonus-heavy payroll included two hefty bonus numbers for Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the reigning Super Bowl champions released both 30-something cornerbacks. Together, Slay and Bradberry will count more than $20MM on Philadelphia’s 2026 cap sheet. As for this year, though, the Browns, Eagles, Ravens and 49ers respectively saved $9.85MM, $9.4MM, $6.3MM, $6.4MM and $5.6MM, according to Spotrac.
Derek Carr‘s retirement being processed Tuesday also changed the Saints’ funding. The team will spread the dead money ($50.13MM) across two years. Even with the number being reduced this year, the Saints will be hit with the second-highest single-player dead money hit (behind only the Broncos’ Russell Wilson separation) in NFL history as a result of the Carr exit. The Saints will only be responsible for $19.21MM of that total in 2025. As they did with Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox‘s retirements last year, the Eagles will also process Brandon Graham‘s hit this way.
Prieskorn is a 6-foot-5, 255-pound rookie out of Ole Miss who initially signed with the Lions after the draft. He was waived on May 12 and now lands in Denver, where he will likely serve as depth during training camp with a slim chance of making the 53-man roster. Prieskorn recorded 850 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 receptions over his final two seasons in college.
Almost a decade after he announced a seventh-round draft pick (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), Van Vooren will make the jump to the NFL himself. The former St. Norbert tight end will be the latest Division III college player to ply his trade in the pros.
The Packers added a wideout to their squad today, as the team signed UDFA Sam Brown Jr. The receiver bounced around during his collegiate career, with his best showing coming during his time in Houston. Between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Brown hauled in 103 catches for 1,286 yards and seven touchdowns. He transferred to Miami (FL) for the 2024 campaign and proceeded to catch 36 passes for 509 yards and a pair of scores.
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market between windows two and three.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:
