HEADLINES

Month: February 2025

Rams To Retain Matthew Stafford

February 28th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

Speculation about Matthew Stafford‘s future is now over. The decorated quarterback will remain with the Rams for at least one more season.

A new, restructured deal was first reported to be agreed upon by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since announced the news that Stafford is staying put. He will play a fifth season with the Rams.

Financial details have not yet emerged, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes this new Rams deal will be worth less than Stafford could have landed on a pact with a new team. A trade remained a distinct possibility once his camp received permission to find a trade partner, a development which came about amidst challenges with respect to working out another short-term arrangement. Team and player avoided a training camp holdout last year by increasing Stafford’s 2024 pay without adding new years (or future guarantees) to his pact.

As a result, the Super Bowl winner approached the new league year with $27MM in base pay scheduled, including a $4MM roster bonus due next month. Finding a resolution before that point represented a logical goal for all involved, and an agreement has in fact been made. The most recent reporting on this storyline – the dominant topic of conversation at the Combine – noted Stafford was set to speak with the Rams today.

To say the least, that summit has gone over quite well. Stafford will continue his tenure in Los Angeles, which has included a Super Bowl win and one of his two career Pro Bowls. He has continued to deal with a number of ailments during the second chapter of his NFL tenure, however, and in 2022 he was limited to only nine games played. The Georgia product has remained generally durable since then, but questions of availability will remain moving forward.

In the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss, Stafford took time to contemplate his future. He quickly made it known he intended to continue playing in 2025, and Sean McVay and the Rams have repeatedly stated their desire to keep him in the fold. That will be the case in spite of numerous conversations taking place between Stafford’s camp and interested teams. In particular, the Raiders and Giants made pitches to work out a contract agreement in the hopes of then attempting to generate a suitable package of draft capital to send to Los Angeles.

Both Las Vegas and New York were believed to be prepared to make a two-year offer including between $90MM and $100MM in guarantees. That comes as little surprise considering Stafford was known to be angling for an AAV of $50MM on his next pact. The Rams were reportedly unwilling to meet that asking price, so it will be interesting to see how this new arrangement takes shape. If additional void years are included as part of today’s arrangement, Stafford’s 2025 cap hit ($49.67MM) could be reduced.

The Raiders and Giants will now be forced to look elsewhere at the QB position. Stafford represented a massive offseason domino at the position, and the effect today’s news has on the other experienced passer set to reach the market will be notable. With an underwhelming draft class looming, teams could move with urgency in March to secure short-term fixes under center.

Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a pending free agent, and his departure could lead to the Rams leaning on 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett (who has yet to play in the regular season) to handle QB2 duties. A Stafford successor is not in place in the organization, and his regression in statistical output from 2024 offers a warning sign that more could be coming in that regard moving forward. Nevertheless, McVay and the Rams will enjoy continuity atop the depth chart next season.

Giants Looking At Aaron Rodgers, Other Veteran QBs

February 28th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After their failed pursuit of Matthew Stafford, the Giants are “shifting their interest” to Aaron Rodgers, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

Rodgers has been reaching out to teams since the Jets decided to release him, including multiple calls to the Giants, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The Giants have been discussing the possibility of signing Rodgers “all week,” according to Russini.

Acquiring Rodgers would be considerably less expensive than trading for Stafford. The Giants were prepared to give up significant draft capital and give Stafford a contract exceeding $50MM per year, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. Rodgers, meanwhile, will be a free agent once the Jets formalize his release with a post-June 1 designation. He is unlikely to command a top-of-the-market salary and signing him would not require the Giants to part with any draft picks.

Rodgers is not the Giants’ “leading candidate,” according to FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacciano. The team is discussing other free agent quarterbacks, per Hughes, including Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, and Justin Fields. The Giants had interest in Darnold last offseason, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, but he was too expensive at the time. His value has certainly risen in the last year, but so has the Giants’ need for a quarterback.

After playing for four different teams over the last five years, Darnold may be looking for a long-term situation if he hits free agency. That could clash with the Giants’ vision for the position. They would prefer to pair a veteran signing with a top rookie from this year’s draft, according to Hughes.

Rodgers might fit better into those plans. The team views the four-time MVP as a “viable option” for one season, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. The Giants could then use a first-round pick on a quarterback prospect who would sit behind Rodgers as a rookie before taking over in 2026.

That rookie would likely be either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, who are generally considered the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class. The Giants currently hold the No. 3 pick, but are exploring a trade with the Titans to acquire the first overall pick that they would then use on their preferred quarterback prospect.

Clearly, the Giants’ pursuit of a new quarterback remains fluid. Stafford was the first domino to fall, and other signings and trades will certainly impact the team’s plans. They will have to balance the financial investment of a free agent signing with the draft capital required to secure their top choice in April. The Falcons were criticized last year for signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency and using the No. 8 pick on Michael Penix a month later. That has left Atlanta at an impasse with Cousins after moving to Penix during the season, something Schoen will likely consider as he navigates the quarterback market in free agency and the draft.

Commanders, Texans Aggressively Pursuing Deebo Samuel Trade

February 28th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deebo Samuel is known to be on the trade market, and the 49ers are prepared to honor his request to be moved. A pair of serious serious suitors have emerged.

The Commanders and Texans have shown “significant interest” in acquiring Samuel in recent days, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. He adds that talks have progressed at the Combine, meaning an agreement could soon be in place. While other teams could find themselves in play, Washington and Houston have been the most aggressive to date, per Schultz.

Both teams represent logical suitors for a veteran receiver addition. Washington has 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels attached to his initial NFL contract through at least 2027, giving the team a window of opportunity to make a strong push in terms of acquisitions this offseason. Bringing in a secondary option to complement Terry McLaurin is known to be on the Commanders’ radar.

McLaurin is only on the books for one more year, and none of his 2025 base salary ($15.5MM) is guaranteed. An extension could be on tap as a result, and Washington could stand to make a number of additions on the defensive side of the ball during free agency and the draft this spring. Still, adding a wideout with a stronger track record than the likes of Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luke McCaffrey or Noah Brown – the latter of whom wants to re-sign – would be feasible.

Just like the Commanders, the Texans have the benefit of an affordable high-end quarterback under team control for years to come in the former of C.J. Stroud. Houston assembled a strong trio atop the WR depth chart last year, acquiring Stefon Diggs via trade from the Bills. Given his presence, along with that of Nico Collins and Tank Dell, expectations were high in 2024. The team’s offense did not preform as hoped, though, and both Diggs and Dell wound up suffering ACL tears.

Diggs is a pending free agent as a result of the restructure he worked out upon arrival in Houston. The team is open to bringing him back, but the injury could complicate his market value. Dell, meanwhile, is in danger of missing most (potentially all) of the 2025 campaign. An experienced pass-catcher would therefore be welcomed, particularly if veteran Robert Woods – who handled a small workload this past campaign – departs in free agency.

One year remains on Samuel’s pact, part of the reason he has long been seen as a trade candidate. That become true to an even larger extent last offseason when the 49ers selected Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the draft and (eventually) worked out a big-ticket extension with Brandon Aiyuk. Samuel, 29, could soon see his San Francisco tenure come to an amicable end.

The former second-rounder earned All-Pro acclaim in 2021, the year in which he best highlighted his unique skillset. Samuel led the NFL in yards per reception (18.2) with a 77-1,405-6 statline. Toward the end of the campaign, he increasingly handled ‘wide back’ duties and racked up eight rushing touchdowns. On the back of that success, he secured a three-year, $71.55MM extension (the end result of a process which included a trade request at one point).

Samuel has missed multiple games each year since signing his pact, though, and only once in that span has he eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards. The 49ers could be equipped to move forward with Aiyuk and Pearsall leading the way at the receiver spot, with Jauan Jennings in the fold in a notable complementary role as well. Samuel, if healthy, would nevertheless add a distinct element to any number of offenses.

Schultz’s report also names the Steelers and Broncos as teams which have shown some level of interest. Pittsburgh was linked to many receiver additions last offseason, including extensive trade talks and extension negotiations related to Aiyuk. Denver aims to keep Courtland Sutton in the fold, but the team is not believed to have serious interest in adding a pricey veteran such as Samuel or Cooper Kupp.

A Day 3 pick was recently mentioned as the potential trade price in a Samuel deal. The Commanders are on track to own seven selections, including four on the draft’s final day. The Texans only have six picks at the moment, but they own one in each of the fourth and fifth rounds. It will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached with either team in the near future.

Rams To Re-Sign LT Alaric Jackson

February 28th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alaric Jackson will indeed be avoiding a trip to free agency. The fourth-year left tackle was known to be making progress on a new deal, and one is now in place.

Jackson and the Rams have agreed to a three-year contract, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. This will be a $57MM pact including $35MM in guarantees. Instead of hitting free agency, Jackson will now be on the books through the 2027 campaign.

The former UDFA took over from Joe Noteboom as the Rams’ preferred left tackle ahead of the 2023 campaign. Noteboom’s efforts to serve as Andrew Whitworth‘s long-term successor did not go according to plan, opening the door for Jackson to step in. The latter has started all 29 of his appearances across the past two campaigns.

Jackson earned a PFF grade of 66.6 during his first full campaign atop the depth chart. That left plenty of room for improvement, but the Rams made a short-term commitment to him via the second-round RFA tender last offseason. That move allowed him to collect $4.89MM during the 2024 campaign; the 26-year-old’s play certainly allowed him to command a much more lucrative pact this time around.

Showing improvement in pass protection in particular, Jackson graded out as PFF’s 18th-best tackle in 2024. It thus comes as no surprise he represented a key offseason priority for the Rams. Shortly after an agreement was reached which will keep quarterback Matthew Stafford in the fold for at least 2025, the team has additional cost certainty on offense.

12 offensive tackles are currently attached to an AAV of at least $20MM. Jackson’s deal checks in at $19MM per season, confirmation that he does not have the track record of many of the blockers ahead of him in the financial pecking order but also a strong commitment on the part of the Rams that he will continue developing over the life of the deal. Details on Stafford’s new pact are not yet known, but it is safe to assume Jackson will remain in place through the team’s transition to a new starting QB.

The right tackle spot could be a question mark in the future for the Rams since Rob Havenstein‘s $11.5MM-per-year deal will expire after the 2025 campaign. Regardless of whether or not the 32-year-old is retained past the coming season, though, Jackson’s medium-term future is now secure. The Windsor, Ontario native will look to justify this lucrative investment while remaining a key figure up front for Los Angeles.

The Rams can now turn their attention to sorting out their interior O-line situation. 2024 free agent signing Jonah Jackson has been given permission to seek a trade, having been benched midway though his debut Los Angeles season. A parting of ways could be on tap in that situation, but Alaric Jackson will remain a mainstay on the blindside for years to come.

NFC Staff Updates: Loeffler, Packers, Bears

February 28th, 2025 at 10:56pm CST by Ely Allen

The Super Bowl champion Eagles have brought on a former collegiate staffer to help fill out their pillaged coaching staff.

After watching quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier follow offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to New Orleans, Philadelphia has brought in Scot Loeffler to fill Nussmeier’s old position. The report came from Bowling Green State University, where Loeffler had spent the past six years as head coach of the Falcons. His overall record with the team was 27-41, though he appeared to lead the team in the right direction, securing berths in three straight bowl games before his departure.

Loeffler took a passing offensive that typically ranked in the 120’s out of 134 collegiate teams and helped them to finish as the 48th-best passing offense in the FBS this season.

Here are couple other staff updates from around the NFC:

  • The Packers will lose coaching assistant Myles White to the collegiate ranks, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. White, who joined the team just last year after roles as wide receivers coach at Stephen F. Austin and Miami (OH), will return to college coaching as the pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach for the Orange at Syracuse.
  • Lastly, in front office news, Matt Feinstein was named the new vice president of football administration for the Bears. His appointment comes via promotion after Feinstein spent the past three years as director of football administration for Chicago. Before his time with the Bears, Feinstein spent seven years on the NFL’s Management Council, serving part of that time as a director within labor relations. The Management Council serves as the league’s primary council of governance.

Texans Announce Finalized 2025 Coaching Staff

February 28th, 2025 at 10:33pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans switched things up this offseason when they fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik following a sophomore slump calling the offense for C.J. Stroud and company in Houston. Despite changing coordinators, most of the staff remains the same heading into 2025, according to the team’s finalized coaching staff announcement.

We already reported on Slowik’s replacement, Nick Caley, taking over as offensive coordinator, as well as the promotion of assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich to replace Chris Strausser as offensive line coach with the added title of run game coordinator. We also reported already on the hiring of Jerry Schuplinski, who followed Caley from the Rams, though now we know his title to be senior offensive assistant/pass game specialist.

The new updates from the announcement tell us that Patrick Reilly has come over from the division-rival Jaguars, where he served as a defensive quality control and assistant linebackers coach, to be an offensive assistant for the team. Asauni Rufus has been hired into the same role after some time as an offensive quality control coach for the 49ers.

On defense, we already reported on Frank Okam joining the team as assistant defensive line coach, replacing Nate Ollie, who left to become the defensive line coach of the Falcons. The only other updates on the defensive staff saw Ben Bolling get promoted from defensive assistant to assistant linebackers coach and Sean Baker add “special teams” to his title of special teams/defensive assistant. Lastly, Cole Weeks, who recently worked at Troy University as an offensive assistant coach, was hired as a defensive assistant in Houston, as well.

With this staff, many of which are holdovers from 2024, DeMeco Ryans will hope to lead his team to another playoff berth. With another year of development for Stroud under a new play caller, they will hope to advance further in the postseason and establish themselves among the other AFC powers.

Mutual Interest In Extension For Jets LB Jamien Sherwood

February 28th, 2025 at 8:44pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets were expected to have a strong couple of linebackers with C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams leading the group in 2024 before Mosley got knocked out for most of the year as he dealt with a herniated disk in his neck. With Mosley out for an extended period, New York got a surprise strong contribution from fourth-year linebacker Jamien Sherwood, whose performance in a contract-year could pay big dividends, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

Despite signing an extension almost a year ago, Mosley is now expected to be released by the Jets sometime this offseason. Mosley’s extended absence in 2024 was the third time he had missed most of a season in New York since signing with the Jets in 2019. If the team moves on from Mosley, as expected, Sherwood’s career-year could have been a successful audition to replace Mosley for good.

Sherwood’s first three years in the league were relatively quiet. A torn Achilles tendon cut the fifth-round pick’s rookie season short after he started four of the first six games that year. Despite showing that starting potential, Sherwood didn’t make a single start in any of the 17 games he appeared in the following year. He returned to the starting lineup three times in 2023.

After entering the year slotted as a backup to Mosley once again, Sherwood ended up starting 16 of the team’s 17 games. While notching career highs in most statistics, Sherwood recorded an impressive 10 tackles for loss while leading the league in solo tackles (98) and tying for third in the league in total tackles (158).

The analytics were impressed with the 25-year-old, as well. After his first full season as a starter, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Sherwood as the league’s 18th-best linebacker. He’d had favorable analytics in 2022 and 2023, as well, but he didn’t log enough playing time to rank among the linebackers who did in those years.

With Sherwood’s rookie contract expiring, he’s bound for free agency, and after a career year, he’s well-positioned for a strong second contract. Rosenblatt said as much on the Flight Plan Podcast, claiming that Sherwood should expect “a pretty big contract for a linebacker.” Rosenblatt later added that he was hearing about interest from both sides in reaching a new deal with the Jets.

After only one strong season, it’s hard to imagine Sherwood coming out and making Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, or Tremaine Edmunds money. We’ve seen a few of the league’s more frequent tacklers (Zaire Franklin, Bobby Okereke, Foyesade Oluokun) all sign contracts around $10MM per year in recent years, so there’s a chance he lands in that range. The Jets know that he works in their system and have need with Mosley expected to be gone, so they may just be willing to make a new deal like that work for Sherwood.

2025 RFA Tender Numbers

February 28th, 2025 at 7:00pm CST by Ely Allen

In addition to recent salary cap, franchise tag, and transition tag numbers for 2025, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported today on the numbers for restricted free agent tenders.

Restricted free agent tenders apply to players who are entering free agency with only three years of accrued NFL experience. While unrestricted free agents (players entering free agency with four or more years of experience) are able to determine their new contracts off of market demands, restricted free agents are limited to different tender categorizations. If a team doesn’t tender a restricted free agent by the start of the new league year, they’ll immediately become unrestricted free agents who can sign anywhere with no market limitations.

If a team does tender a restricted free agent, they can place first-round, second-round, original-round, or right-of-first-refusal tenders on the player. Other teams can submit offer sheets for the tendered player if they wish to acquire him, but the team that tendered him can match the offer sheet to keep the player if they choose. If a first-, second-, or original-round tender is placed on the player, the tendering team can receive draft compensation if it allows the player to walk for the offer sheet.

Like the franchise and transition tag, the restricted free agent tender is a one-year contract. The value of that contract is limited and determined by what tender is placed on the player.

For 2025, if a team places a simple, right-of-first-refusal tender on a player, he will earn a salary of $3.26MM for the year, should he sign that tender. If the team places a right-of-first-refusal tender with compensation set at the player’s original draft round, he will earn the higher of $3.41MM or 110% of the 2024 Paragraph 5 salary for the year, should he sign. The same tender with a designated second-round compensation will result in that player earning the higher of $5.35MM or 110% of the 2024 Paragraph 5 salary for the year, should he sign. The same tender with a designated first-round compensation will result in that player earning the higher of $7.46MM or 110% of the 2024 Paragraph 5 salary for the year, should he sign.

Lastly, should a player with a first-round tender receive an offer sheet from another team that waives or limits the new team’s ability to place the franchise/transition tag on that player and that provision is not matched by the tendering team, the player can earn the higher of $7.96MM or 110% of the 2024 Paragraph 5 salary for the year, should he sign.

2025 NFL Franchise/Transition Tags

February 28th, 2025 at 6:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The NFL has officially set the 2025 salary cap at $279.2MM, a figure that will shape teams’ financial plans as they navigate the offseason.

The salary cap doesn’t just dictate how much money teams can spend; it also factors into the calculation of franchise and transition tags. For more than three decades, teams have been able to use a franchise or transition tag on one player during the offseason to retain them on a one-year deal. The value of the franchise tag is based on the top five salaries at each position, while the transition tag is calculated using the top 10 salaries at each position.

Teams have already been able to tag players since February 18, but now they know exactly how much that decision will cost. The Chiefs, for example, moved forward with placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith. That will cost them $23.4MM this year, though the two sides are expected to continue negotiations on a long-term extension.

Other teams who were considering tags – including the Vikings with Sam Darnold and the Dolphins with Jevon Holland – will now have exact numbers to work with. Here are those figures for the non-exclusive franchise tag (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero):

  • Quarterback: $40.24MM
  • Running back: $13.64MM
  • Wide receiver: $23.96MM
  • Tight end: $13.83MM
  • Offensive line: $23.4MM
  • Defensive end: $22.06MM
  • Defensive tackle: $25.12MM
  • Linebacker: $25.45MM
  • Cornerback: $20.19MM
  • Safety: $18.6MM
  • Kicker/punter: $6.31MM

However, the new tag figures will not apply to players who were tagged last season, like the Bengals’ Tee Higgins. Those players can be tagged for 120% of last year’s salary. The Bengals are expected to use a second tag on Higgins, which would pay him $26.2MM in 2025. The rest of 2024’s tagged players all signed long-term extensions, making them ineligible for a tag this year.

Teams rarely use the exclusive franchise tag, which costs more than the non-exclusive tag as it prevents players from negotiating with other teams. The non-exclusive tag is more frequently used, which allows players to negotiate and sign offer sheets with other teams. The player’s previous team can then match that offer sheet to retain the player or decline to match and receive two first-round picks from the player’s new team. That process rarely plays out in full; instead, franchise tags typically lead to players signing long-term extensions with the team that tagged them.

The transition tag is similar to the non-exclusive tag in that it allows players to negotiate and sign offer sheets with other teams. The previous team maintains the right to match such offer sheets, but if they decline, they are not entitled to any draft pick compensation.

Here are the 2025 transition tag numbers:

  • Quarterback: $35.38MM
  • Running back: $11.07MM
  • Wide receiver: $21.44MM
  • Tight end: $11.71MM
  • Offensive line: $21.27MM
  • Defensive end: $19.87MM
  • Defensive tackle: $20.85MM
  • Linebacker: $20.86MM
  • Cornerback: $17.6MM
  • Safety: $15.03MM
  • Kicker/punter: $5.73MM

It’s worth noting that the NFL maintains two archaic positional designations in its calculations for franchise and transition tags (as well as fifth-year options.) All offensive linemen are grouped together, rather than separating centers, guards, and tackles. All linebackers also fall under one category, meaning that inside linebackers fall under the same category as outside linebackers, even those who are primarily edge rushers. These distinctions have made it difficult for teams to tag interior offensive linemen and inside linebackers due to the significantly larger salaries of offensive tackles and edge rushers, though the Chiefs didn’t let it stop them this year.

Patriots To Explore WR Trade Market; Team Out On Tee Higgins?

February 28th, 2025 at 5:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tee Higgins was long known to be the top option at the receiver position in the 2025 free agent class. As the Bengals aim to keep him in place on a long-term pact, they are prepared to use the franchise tag on him for the second year in a row, however.

Before it was learned Cincinnati would take that route, the Patriots were named on more than one occasion as a strong suitor. New England has ample cap space and the need to upgrade at the receiver position, so a lucrative offer would have come as no surprise. Now, the only way Higgins could be acquired would be through a tag-and-trade.

Even if the Bengals were to entertain such a move, though, New England may not be a suitor. Chad Graff of The Athletic reports the Patriots’ offseason plan “does not include” an attempt to trade for Higgins (subscription required). That marks a departure from the team’s previous stance, but a consensus does not appear to exist on this front. The Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi writes New England should in fact still be counted among the teams willing to pursue Higgins should a trade become feasible.

Regardless of how things shake out in that respect, Graff confirms to no surprise the Patriots intend to focus on making additions on the line of scrimmage this offseason. Upgrading multiple O-line spots represents an obvious priority given the way 2024 played out. If Davon Godchaux ends up being traded, meanwhile, adding at the defensive tackle spot will increasingly become important.

Still, Graff’s report states the Patriots intend to be active on the trade market as it pertains to wideouts. Two high-profile names – Cooper Kupp (Rams) and Deebo Samuel (49ers) – are known to be available. The former was informed by Los Angeles the team (which is willing to retain money in a deal) will be moving on, while the latter has seen San Francisco’s front office confirm it will honor his trade request. Early Samuel suitors have emerged, but the Patriots are not believed to be among them.

On that note, Giardi reports Samuel’s play against man coverage has been raised as a concern by teams at the Combine. The 29-year-old’s skillset makes him one of the more unique players in the league, but injuries in addition to his age could give suitors pause when contemplating a trade. Given their league-leading cap space (nearly $128MM), however, the Patriots are better equipped than many to absorb a notable contract in a deal and/or work out an extension with a new wideout upon arrival.

New head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear earlier this week he expects the Patriots to be aggressive in free agency. It will be interesting to see if the new league year also brings about movement on the trade front as the team looks to improve from its last-place finish in passing offense from 2024.

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