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Sam Darnold’s Contract Details Reveal Year-To-Year Structure

March 16th, 2025 at 3:49pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Seahawks used a year-to-year structure on Geno Smith‘s last contract, and they appear to have done the same with Sam Darnold.

Darnold’s new deal with Seattle contains $37.5MM in fully-guaranteed money, which will comprise his 2025 compensation, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. He will then be owed $27.5MM for 2026 and $35.5MM in 2027.

$17.5MM of Darnold’s 2026 salary is guaranteed for injury at signing and can vest to a full guarantee after Super Bowl LX. None of his 2027 money is tied to any guarantees, so the Seahawks could release him immediately after the 2025 season having paid just $37.5MM for one season.

A February release to avoid a vesting guarantee is not common practice in the NFL, but the Raiders did it with Derek Carr in 2023, per Florio. Such a move may draw criticism for being player-unfriendly, but Darnold and his representation must have recognized a one-year out as a possibility before signing the deal. He would still have to perform in 2026, as his 2027 salary is not guaranteed, offering the Seahawks another exit ramp after two years.

Darnold’s contract also includes $5MM per year in incentives, split between “individual performance” ($2MM), “postseason performance” ($2.5MM), and “team performance” ($500k).

Teams typically design their incentives as ‘Not Likely To Be Earned’ (NLTBE), meaning that the player did not meet the milestone in the previous season. After an impressive statistical showing in the 2024 regular season led to a Pro Bowl selection, Darnold’s incentives will likely be tied to things he didn’t do last year. That could include an All-Pro selection, winning a major award, winning the division, or advancing in the playoffs.

The structure of Darnold’s deal offers a wide range of outcomes in Seattle. If he fails to replicate last year’s success, the Seahawks could part ways with him after one year. However, a fruitful partnership could upgrade his APY from $33.5MM to $38.5MM per year and set him up for another big-money extension. In short, despite proving himself as a viable starter in 2024, Darnold still has plenty on the line in 2025 with his new team.

Giants, Seahawks Pursued G Will Fries; Giants Surprised To Land S Jevon Holland

March 16th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Rory Parks

In an effort to improve their offensive front for their rushing attack and for whomever happens to line up at quarterback in 2025, the Giants “went hard for” former Colts right guard Will Fries, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Ultimately, Fries signed a five-year pact worth over $17MM per year with the Vikings.

According to Raanan, Fries’ final decision came down to Minnesota and New York, and it is unclear if his call was purely based on finances or if he also considered the respective competitive situations of the two clubs. In any event, the Giants quickly pivoted to their primary 2024 RG and re-signed Greg Van Roten. 

Van Roten’s deal is unlikely to be a particularly lucrative one, so it should not preclude Big Blue from continuing to explore upgrades. That said, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post indicates the asking price for alternatives like Teven Jenkins is presently too high for the Giants. The same was true of Mekhi Becton, who recently signed a two-year, $20MM contract with the Chargers.

Jenkins is due to meet with the Seahawks tomorrow, and Seattle was also in on Fries, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic (subscription required). Given the value of the contract Fries was seeking, GM John Schneider & Co. wanted to bring him in for a physical, as he underwent surgery in October to repair a tibia fracture. The physical could not take place until the new league year started on Wednesday, and since the Vikings did not require one – it is uncertain whether the Giants did – the ‘Hawks lost out. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times echoes Dugar’s report and adds it was the physical issue, and not contract length or value, that eliminated the Seahawks from the race.

As evidenced by their upcoming Jenkins summit, Seattle remains in the hunt for offensive line help, as the unit was one of the club’s weakest spots in 2024. Left tackle Charles Cross was an exception to that rule, as he started all 17 games and generated an excellent 82.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (which placed him ninth among 81 qualified OTs). Cross, a 2022 first-rounder, is extension-eligible for the first time, and in anticipation of contract talks taking place at some point, the formerly self-represented player has signed with Klutch Sports Agency (as relayed by Dugar in another subscribers-only piece).

The Giants may have been priced out of the Becton market and are currently unwilling to meet Jenkins’ ask, but they were luckier with respect to safety Jevon Holland. Per Dunleavy, New York did not expect Holland – who was linked to a $20MM/year deal before free agency opened – to be available at its preferred price point. When it became clear the Giants could land Holland for less, they acted quickly and acquired the No. 6 FA on PFR’s Top-50 list for a three-year, $45MM commitment. 

With CB Paulson Adebo and D-linemen Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris also in the fold, the club has undergone a significant defensive overhaul over the past week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/25

March 15th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

Jones’ Bears tenure ended midway through the 2024 campaign when he was waived. The former third-rounder saw time on the Jaguars’ practice squad before making a pair of appearances with the Panthers at the end of the year. Jones, entering his age-28 season, will look to compete for a roster spot in New Orleans.

Jean-Charles is signing a one-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The 26-year-old has made 37 appearances across his time with the Packers, 49ers and Saints so far in his career. He has primarily worked on special team to date, and that will likely continue to be the case in Seattle.

Seahawks To Sign WR Cooper Kupp

March 14th, 2025 at 11:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cooper Kupp‘s homecoming is a go. The Washington native is set to sign with the Seahawks, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

Joining the Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots and Saints in pursuit of Kupp, the Seahawks are adding him on a contract expected to be worth at least $15MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. An Eastern Washington alum, Kupp had been in contact with Seahawks brass Friday. He will pass on the non-NFC West interest and will be set to, health permitting, face his former team twice this season.

The Seahawks needed to go big here, as The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports they are giving Kupp a three-year, $45MM deal. While some teams were reported as hesitant at $12MM per year, the market grew. The Seahawks were in front the start, per Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager. Guarantees will tell the full tale, but the Seahawks are bringing back the local product. This will be Kupp’s ninth NFL season, and he will join a team that has seen its receiver situation change dramatically in recent days.

Multiple obstacles stood to impede Kupp on the market. He will turn 32 this summer and has missed 16 games due to injury since his dominant 2021 season. But a host of teams joined this push. The Packers were also among them, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. A Seahawks team that presented a homecoming opportunity — and one that suddenly brings a receiver need due to jettisoning Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf in the same week — won out and will pair Kupp with emerging top receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

While making a significant size downgrade (though, more offseason time obviously remains for the team to add more help) in going from Metcalf to Kupp, the Seahawks do have the player who authored this decade’s most impactful wide receiver season under contract.

Kupp’s 1,947-yard 2021 slate marked the best threat to Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record, and he completed a triple-crown effort with 145 catches and 16 touchdowns. Kupp then passed Hakeem Nicks for the second-most receiving yards in one playoff run, totaling 478 and six TDs that postseason. Only Larry Fitzgerald‘s 2008 performance has that yardage number beat, though Kupp tacked on a Super Bowl MVP award after scoring a game-winning TD.

Forming an immediate connection with Matthew Stafford, Kupp elevated from his years with Jared Goff and powered the Rams — along with obvious contributions from Stafford and Aaron Donald — to a Super Bowl title. The Rams then gave that game’s MVP a three-year, $80MM deal — despite two years remaining on Kupp’s previous pact — during an offseason in which they paid Stafford and Donald. Kupp, however, ran into steady injury trouble on his third contract. And the Rams ripped that deal up Wednesday, taking on some dead money to do so. The Rams will see their former third-round find again soon.

A high ankle sprain ended Kupp’s 2022 season, costing him eight games during a disastrous Rams title defense. He also began the 2023 season late, starting it on IR because of hamstring trouble. Kupp sustained another right high ankle sprain in September 2024, going down soon after Puka Nacua did. That led the Rams into a 1-4 hole, and they looked into a Kupp trade at that point. Ultimately deciding to stand down, the Rams saw both Nacua and Kupp come back to drive a playoff push. Though, Nacua moved into the lead role while Kupp was a capable sidekick.

Missing 10 games over the past two years (though, two were not due to injury), Kupp still combined for 1,447 yards and 11 touchdowns in that span. Kupp’s work when healthy drove a competitive market, but the Seahawks held a location advantage. Kupp was open to leaving the West Coast, but he preferred not to. The Seahawks disbanded a six-year Lockett-Metcalf partnership and will hope Kupp can stay on the field alongside Smith-Njigba to justify this investment.

Kupp, who also suffered an ACL tear midway through the Rams’ Super Bowl LIII-bound 2018 season, has two 1,000-yard years on his resume. That checks in as one fewer than Metcalf, who is now on a $33MM-per-year Steelers extension. This is certainly a risk for the Seahawks, in John Schneider‘s second season at the wheel post-Pete Carroll, but Kupp did contribute three 100-yard games for the Rams last year. His hometown team will bet on Kupp joining Smith-Njigba and Noah Fant in providing key support for free agency addition Sam Darnold.

Geno Smith Trade Resulted From Failed Extension Talks

March 14th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Ely Allen

One of the bigger pieces of information that we didn’t expect to come out during this free agency craziness was the trade of quarterback Geno Smith from Seattle to Las Vegas. The deal seemed to come out of nowhere, as many reports indicated that negotiations on an extension were underway.

After seeing a resurgent past three seasons in Seattle that included two Pro Bowl berths, Smith was hoping for the team to give him some commitment moving forward, though the team was expected to explore their options. After head coach Mike Macdonald delivered his endorsement of a new deal for Smith and new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak cited Smith as a “huge draw” for the job, it began to seem that things were trending in the right direction for an extension to keep Smith in Seattle.

A little over a week after negotiations opened, though, the trade was announced. According to a couple of sources, the trade was a direct result of the Seahawks and Smith failing to come to agreeable terms on the extension. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, general manager John Schneider claimed that it had become “apparent” that the two sides were not going to be able to meet in the middle.

The 34-year-old quarterback still had one year left on his current deal, but he had been public about his desire for a new contract that reflected his status as a “top-tier” passer. Dugar’s report from Schneider says that when Seattle submitted what they thought was a fair offer, it quickly became clear that “there was no back and forth coming.” Schneider said that “it wasn’t a very long negotiation” before it became “pretty evident” that Smith would need to be traded.

Despite the hardball-negotiation-nature that that implies, Schneider told The Athletic that Smith did not ask for a trade. Likewise, the Seahawks did not shop Smith out. The Raiders simply reached out with interest at the right time, and after not getting a counteroffer from the extension they offered to Smith, Seattle felt it was making the right move for all parties involved.

The other report on this situation comes from Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. While Schultz’s rendition aligns with Dugar on much of the developments of the extension discussions, Schultz disagrees with Dugar on two major points. Schultz claims that, after four days of unsuccessful contract negotiations — which doesn’t seem to agree with Schneider’s description of quick negotiations — Smith requested a trade last Thursday night.

Whether or not it was Smith that requested the trade, the Seahawks that shopped Smith out, or the Raiders who intervened on Smith’s behalf ultimately may not end up mattering that much. Seattle was never going to get up to the number Smith desired, and with a “major sign-off from Tom Brady,” new head coach Pete Carroll was able to bring over his former quarterback to the Raiders. Now, we’re seeing reports that Las Vegas is nearing an extension agreement with Smith, indicating that the Raiders may be more willing to reach that number that Smith desired.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/25

March 14th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves after a busy week of transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Cowboys Never Made An Offer To DeMarcus Lawrence?

March 14th, 2025 at 6:17pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cowboys did not offer a contract to retain defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence before he signed with the Seahawks, per WFAA’s Ed Werder.

Lawrence signed a three-year, $32.5MM contract with Seattle that includes $18MM guaranteed and a maximum value of $42MM. In one of his first interviews after signing his new deal, he took a clear shot at his former team by saying he would never win a Super Bowl in Dallas.

Lawrence’s comments, according to Werder, “were directed at Jerry and Stephen [Jones] as they declined to offer him a contract and he was forced to find another team to finish his career and achieve his goals.”

Micah Parsons responded to Lawrence on X, saying he was driven by “rejection and envy.” Lawrence responded, doubling down on his claim and exposing simmering tensions between the former teammates. According to Werder, the two “disagreed on personality or approach” while together in Dallas.

Lawrence was already a two-time Pro Bowler by the time Parsons was drafted by the Cowboys in 2021. Lawrence played in only seven games that year, but he earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods with Parsons in 2022 and 2023. A foot injury ended Lawrence’s 2024 season after just four games, and the Cowboys opted to get cheaper and younger at the position.

In the past week, Dallas signed Payton Turner and Dante Fowler for less money combined than Lawrence received from the Seahawks. They will join Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams in a deep, talented edge rusher room.

Seahawks Talking Deal With Cooper Kupp; Cowboys Cooling On WR?

March 14th, 2025 at 2:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:35pm: The prospect of Kupp coming back home to Washington remains firmly in play. The veteran receiver has been in contact with members of the Seahawks organization, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson, who add the team is attempting to sell with receiver on its 2025 plans. As Seattle separated from a six-year WR tandem, Kupp is a clear option to join Jaxon Smith-Njigba next season.

12:51pm: Confirming the Seahawks, Saints and Broncos‘ interest, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicates the Cowboys are viewed as a long shot. Not big in recent years of signing pricey outside free agents, Dallas may need to go well past the $10MM-AAV place to sign Kupp. Previously mentioned at $12MM per year, Kupp’s market may surpass even that range.

Despite Kupp’s spate of injuries, his per-year asking price has hovered as high as $15MM, Howe adds. Though, Howe indicates Kupp would probably drop his price for one of his preferred destinations (and expand his list if another team comes up to the $15MM-AAV neighborhood). That will not be an easy sell for a player who has missed 18 games over the past three years, but it is clear Kupp has generated a nice market early in his first free agency tour.

8:41am: One of the top remaining storylines in free agency is the looming Cooper Kupp decision. The now-former Ram is expected to sign with a new team soon, and further details about his potential destination have emerged.

The Seahawks have already been mentioned as a Kupp suitor, which comes as no surprise. Seattle cut Tyler Lockett shortly before trading away D.K. Metcalf, creating the need for at least one veteran addition. Kupp is a Yakima, Washington, native, so a Seahawks agreement would represent a homecoming and allow him to remain on the West Coast after eight years in Los Angeles.

Confirming Seattle is “very interested” in Kupp, a report from Dianna Russini, Jourdan Rodrigue, Jon Machota, Saad Yousef and Mark Puleo of The Athletic adds the Cowboys fit that same description (subscription required). Dallas is in the market for a new No. 2 receiver with Brandin Cooks currently without a deal. The veteran has expressed a willingness to re-sign, although he also feels he was not utilized properly during his two-year tenure with the team.

While a departure on that front would leave a notable vacancy on the depth chart behind CeeDee Lamb, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Cowboys’ “push” to land Kupp has not elevated the team to the status of favorites. Taking things further, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News adds the team is “not in the mix” for Kupp at this point. The Cowboys re-signed returner Kavonte Turpin – who has taken on a larger offensive role in each of three years with the team – but a proven receiver would be welcomed as part of the team’s efforts to take a step forward in 2025.

Yesterday, Kupp was connected to an asking price of around $12MM per year. Teams were seen as unwilling to go that high for the 31-year-old (who has missed considerable time since his ‘Triple Crown’ campaign in 2021), and Russini adds that remains the case at this point. The Rams were willing to retain salary in a potential Kupp trade, but his release has left him free to ink a deal with any suitor. The Pro Bowler will not be able to match the $26.7MM AAV of his previous pact, though, of course.

The Jaguars emerged as a potential team to watch on the Kupp front, but an update indicated they are not in the running. The Patriots, meanwhile, are seen as a contender as they continue to seek out a veteran receiver. Thursday also produced a report stating a mutual interest exists between Kupp and the Broncos. The Athletic piece notes a decision can be expected today, so clarity on his future should emerge very soon.

Contract Details: Fries, Hargrave, Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bengals, Bills

March 14th, 2025 at 2:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to during free agency:

  • Will Fries, G (Vikings). Five years, $87.72MM. Unlike other splashy Minnesota deals this week, Fries’ initial numbers were close to the true value. Fries will see $34MM guaranteed at signing. If he is on the Vikings’ roster by Day 3 of the 2027 league year, another $10MM becomes guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Up to $6MM in incentives are also included in this deal.
  • Camryn Bynum, S (Colts). Four years, $60MM. The ex-Viking will see $26MM at signing, per OverTheCap, while KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds $32MM is guaranteed in total. The remainder of that guarantee impacts Bynum’s 2026 and ’27 base salaries. Of Bynum’s 2026 salary ($10MM), $6MM is fully guaranteed. Of Bynum’s 2027 base ($13.47MM), $4MM is already guaranteed for injury. That $4MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the league year, giving Bynum some advanced protection.
  • Carlton Davis, CB (Patriots). Three years, $54MM. This checks in $6MM south of the initial report, but Wilson notes Davis will still see $34.5MM at signing. Davis’ 2025 and 2026 base salaries are fully guaranteed, with a $15MM 2027 base nonguaranteed.
  • Javon Hargrave, DL (Vikings). Two years, $30MM. Minnesota is guaranteeing Hargrave $19MM at signing, while Wilson adds $4MM of the veteran DT’s $14.2MM 2026 base salary is already locked in. Hargrave’s full guarantee on a two-year deal nearly matches Jonathan Allen‘s ($23.26MM) on a three-year pact.
  • Ernest Jones, LB (Seahawks). Three years, $28.5MM. Jones will receive $10MM at signing and $15MM guaranteed in total. Of Jones’ $7.15MM 2026 base salary, Wilson notes $5MM is guaranteed for injury; that $5MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Mike Gesicki, TE (Bengals). Three years, $25.5MM. A $6.5MM signing bonus represents the full guarantee, as per usual for the Bengals’ non-quarterback deals (though, Cincinnati’s receivers may have something to say about this policy soon). A $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • James Daniels, G (Dolphins). Three years, $24MM. $7.26MM is fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The Dolphins guaranteed $3.48MM of Daniels’ $6.49MM 2026 base salary for injury at signing, per Wilson; that $3.48MM shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
  • Jarran Reed, DL (Seahawks). Three years, $22MM. Seattle guaranteed Reed $8MM at signing, per OverTheCap. After a fully guaranteed 2025 base salary, $2MM of Reed’s $5.49MM 2026 base will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
  • Michael Hoecht, DE (Bills). Three years, $21MM. Buffalo is guaranteeing Hoecht $13.43MM at signing. Both Hoecht’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed, Wilson adds. His $5.74MM 2027 paragraph 5 number is nonguaranteed.

NFL Announces 2025 Compensatory Picks

March 14th, 2025 at 12:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 14: In an unusual step, the NFL has awarded the Saints a seventh-round compensatory pick and stripped one from the Dolphins. The Saints’ pick appears to check in in front of the Browns and Chargers’ Nos. 254 and 255 slots, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes Cleveland and Los Angeles’ last 2025 picks will slide down one spot. The Dolphins will retain their other seventh-round comp pick, however.

MARCH 11: The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2025 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2024 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.

This year, the NFL awarded 35 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.

Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2025 compensatory selections:

By round:

Round 3: Vikings (No. 97 overall), Dolphins (98), Giants (99), 49ers (100)*, Rams (101)*, Lions (102)*

Round 4: Dolphins (135), Ravens (136), Seahawks (137), 49ers (138)

Round 5: Bills (169), Cowboys (170), Cowboys (171), Seahawks (172), Bills (173), Cowboys (174), Seahawks (175), Ravens (176)

Round 6: Chargers (209), Ravens (210), Cowboys (211), Ravens (212), Raiders (213), Chargers (214), Raiders (215), Browns (216)

Round 7: 49ers (249), Packers (250), Chiefs (251), 49ers (252), Dolphins (253), Browns (254), Chargers (255), Dolphins (256), Chiefs (257)

By team:

  • Baltimore Ravens: 4
  • Dallas Cowboys: 4
  • Miami Dolphins: 4
  • San Francisco 49ers: 4
  • Los Angeles Chargers: 3
  • Seattle Seahawks: 3
  • Buffalo Bills: 2
  • Cleveland Browns: 2
  • Kansas City Chiefs: 2
  • Las Vegas Raiders: 2
  • Detroit Lions: 1
  • Green Bay Packers: 1
  • Los Angeles Rams: 1
  • Minnesota Vikings: 1
  • New York Giants: 1

* = special compensatory selection

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