HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Stephen Jones: Cowboys Will Be “Selectively Aggressive” This Offseason

February 24th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys are hoping to steal headlines this offseason, but the team is making it clear that they won’t force any moves. While speaking with reporters at the combine today, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told reporters that his team will be “selectively aggressive” when it comes to transactions.

[RELATED: Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa]

“Obviously, our goals historically have been to try to fill as many of our musts and needs before the draft so you can pick the best player on your board,” Stephen Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Didn’t get that totally accomplished last year, but certainly that’s always the goal. And every year is different in terms of what those musts and needs are, and then you also have to marry what’s in free agency vs. where the draft is heavy and where we can help ourselves in the draft.”

The Cowboys’ 2024 season ended in disappointment and change, as the team moved on from Mike McCarthy after failing to make the playoffs. Part of the team’s lack of success was due to Dak Prescott‘s season-ending hamstring injury, although the Cowboys were only 3-5 in their quarterback’s eight starts.

There’s clearly work to do if the Cowboys hope to return to the postseason. The team has holes on both sides of the ball, and while they’ll find a few options via the draft, they’ll be reliant on some newcomers to be productive. That could require the front office to pony up, and it seems like they could be willing…to an extent.

Further, similar to last year, the Cowboys will also be focused on extending their star players. After inking Prescott and CeeDee Lamb to new deals, the team’s now motivated to sign pass rusher Micah Parsons to a new pact. We’ve heard the Cowboys have also talked to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa‘s camp about a new deal, and the team has a long list of additional players who are set to hit free agency.

Therefore, when Jones says his team will be “selectively aggressive,” it could come in many forms. While fans would naturally like to see a big splash via free agency or trade, the team’s notable moves may be more in-house. Still, Jones wasn’t shy about exploring every possible route to improve the Cowboys.

“We’re going to look at everything we can,” Jones said (via Archer). “You have a certain amount of resources they allow you to have. But we’re going to try to improve our football team. Not try. We’re going to improve our football team and we expect to have success [this] year.”

49ers Re-Sign OL Ben Bartch

February 24th, 2025 at 8:02pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers aren’t letting Ben Bartch hit free agency. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the offensive lineman. It’s a one-year deal for Bartch.

A former fourth-round pick by the Jaguars, Bartch got into 41 games across three-plus seasons in Jacksonville. He landed with the 49ers midway through the 2023 campaign and has spent the past-year plus with the organization.

After getting into five games down the stretch with the 49ers in 2023 (plus another three playoff appearances), Bartch was limited to only three games (two starts) in 2024. He fared well in his brief look last year, allowing only one pressure in 65 offensive snaps. He likely would have been in line for more playing time during the final month of the season, but the lineman was sidelined thanks to a high ankle sprain.

With Aaron Banks also set to hit free agency, Bartch does provide the 49ers with some continuity at left guard. Depending on how the offseason plays out, the veteran could actually be penciled in atop the depth chart heading into the 2025 season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/24/25

February 24th, 2025 at 7:23pm CST by Ben Levine

One minor move to pass along:

Miami Dolphins

After getting waived by the Seahawks last week, “Bump” Cooper has already found a new home in Miami. The cornerback bounced around a bit during his rookie season. The UDFA earned a spot on the Ravens practice squad and even got into a game with the big-league club before getting waived. He spent the rest of the 2024 campaign on Seattle’s practice squad, and he was retained via a reserve/futures contract before getting cut.

 

Rams Add Alex Van Pelt To Coaching Staff

February 24th, 2025 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

The Rams formally announced their coaching staff this afternoon, and a previously unreported name was notably listed as a senior offensive assistant. Per the team, Alex Van Pelt is one of the six new additions to the staff for the 2025 campaign.

A long-time NFL coach, this is likely a temporary stop for the 54-year-old. Van Pelt has served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He mostly made a name for himself as a QBs coach, including a stint as Aaron Rodgers‘ coach in Green Bay between 2014 and 2017.

The veteran coach had a four-year gig as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, and his stint ended in somewhat surprising fashion following the 2023 campaign despite the Browns’ top-10 finish in points scored. He quickly landed on his feet as the Patriots OC in 2024 but wasn’t retained as part of Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Van Pelt’s New England stint saw plenty of ups and downs, with the coach earning credit for Drake Maye‘s development while drawing criticism for his play-calling and lack of creativity.

Now, he’ll have an opportunity to rehabilitate his image while working under one the NFL’s most lauded offensive minds in Sean McVay. At 54 years old, Van Pelt could look to reenter the coordinator carousel next offseason. At the very least, he should be able to garner a promotion from his new Rams gig.

The rest of the Rams’ new staff members includes tight ends coach Scott Huff, pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins, senior defensive assistant Jimmy Lake, assistant special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, and game management coordinator Dan Shamash.

Bills Add Ryan Nielsen To Staff

February 24th, 2025 at 4:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

FEBRUARY 24: McDermott confirmed the Nielsen hire on Monday. He noted (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) the former D-coordinator will work with Buffalo’s defensive linemen in 2025.

FEBRUARY 6: Ryan Nielsen has served as a defensive coordinator on three different teams over the past three years. He will not have another DC gig in 2025, but he has landed a new opportunity in the NFL.

Nielsen has a deal in place with the Bills, as first reported by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. He will be brought in as a senior defensive assistant as part of Sean McDermott‘s staff. Feldman adds Nielsen had interest from multiple teams during the 2025 hiring cycle.

The 45-year-old worked in the college ranks from 2002-16 before joining the Saints. Nielsen spent five years serving as New Orleans’ defensive line coach, earning the title of assistant head coach during the final year of that span. When Sean Payton departed, Dennis Allen was promoted to head coach in 2022; Nielsen was one of the two staffers tapped to fill the vacated role of defensive coordinator for that season.

The Saints ranked fifth in points allowed and ninth in total defense in 2022, but Nielsen found himself on the move after the campaign. He took charge of the Falcons’ defense for the 2023 campaign, but the intra-divisional swap did not produce a duplication of the Saints’ success on defense from the year prior. Arthur Smith was fired at the end of the season, and to little surprise Raheem Morris opted to make sweeping changes at the coordinator spots.

That left Nielsen in need of a new position, and he managed to land another DC gig by joining Doug Pederson in Jacksonville. Pederson made a number of changes to his defensive staff in particular last offseason in advance of a campaign in which he found himself on the hot seat. Things did not go according to plan on either side of the ball for the Jags, and Pederson’s firing has since been followed by several coaching and front office changes. New HC Liam Coen recently brought in Anthony Campanile as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator, paving the way for Nielsen to move on.

The Bills had Leslie Frazier in place as defensive coordinator from 2017-22, but his decision to take a year off from coaching led to McDermott taking over play-calling duties for the 2023 campaign. Last offseason, McDermott promoted Bobby Babich to the role of DC; after dealing with several injuries on defense, Buffalo finished the year 11th in points allowed and 17th in total defense. Nielsen will aim to help the team take a step forward in 2025.

Browns Release LS Charley Hughlett

February 24th, 2025 at 3:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Charley Hughlett‘s run with the Browns has come to an end. The veteran long snapper has been released, per a team announcement.

“This is a bittersweet transaction for our organization because we hate separating from a valued and long-tenured player for our team,” a statement from general manager Andrew Berry reads in part. “However, it also gives us the opportunity to express sincere gratitude and appreciation for all Charley has done for the Browns on and off the field… He’s a special individual who we will welcome home as a Cleveland Brown after his career is complete.”

Hughlett’s entire 10-year career has been spent in Cleveland, and he ranks 15th in franchise history for games played. The former UDFA had not missed a game before the 2024 campaign, but a ribs injury limited him to only five contests this past year. Rex Sunahara took over long snapping duties the rest of the way, and today’s news points to him continuing in that role moving forward.

Two years remained on Hughlett’s contract, but no guaranteed salary was in place. The Browns will generate $1.08MM in cap savings with this release while incurring $346K in dead money charges. This is the second cost-cutting measure of the day for Cleveland; safety Juan Thornhill will be let go via a post-June 1 release.

Hughlett, 34, will now look to find a new opportunity. Teams do not make lucrative investments when signing in-house options or outside free agents at the long snapper position, and with the draft not far away potential suitors could elect to wait to see if a younger player is available during the spring. Failing that, Hughlett could manage to continue his career in 2025.

The Browns have also signed cornerback Anthony Kendall. The 25-year-old made 16 appearances with the Titans in 2023 but he did not see any game action this past campaign, most recently spending time on the Ravens’ practice squad. Kendall will look to compete for a roster spot this summer.

RB Ashton Jeanty Opts Out Of On-Field Combine Drills

February 24th, 2025 at 1:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

It was learned yesterday that quarterback Shedeur Sanders will attend the upcoming NFL Combine but will not throw at the event. Several other players will no doubt do the same, and the top running prospect in the 2025 class is among them.

Ashton Jeanty will not participate in on-field work during the Combine, per an announcement from his agency (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). He will instead focus on interviews and medical checks over the coming days. Jeanty will then perform workouts during Boise State’s Pro Day.

In recent years, many of the top prospects have opted out of on-field work at the Combine and turned their attention to individual workouts later in the pre-draft process. Taking that route will likely have no ill effect on Jeanty’s stock based on his level of play during his college tenure. He enters the build-up to the draft as the consensus top RB in the class.

Across his three seasons with the Broncos, Jeanty produced several major statistical feats. He enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign, averaging 7.0 yards per carry and racking up 2,739 scrimmage yards as the focal point of Boise State’s offense. Jeanty’s 30 total touchdowns brought his career mark to 56 and helped him earn All-American honors. The Heisman runner-up cemented his status as the No. 1 option at the running back position in a year where several other prospects are highly acclaimed.

Jeanty has spoken publicly about his desire to play for the Cowboys; Dallas owns the No. 12 selection, and it would come as no surprise if he were hear his name called near the middle of the first round. As Jeanty elects not to participate in the Combine, it will be interesting to see if some of the other running backs who received an invite do so in a bid to help their draft stock.

Raiders Re-Sign S Isaiah Pola-Mao

February 24th, 2025 at 12:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Isaiah Pola-Mao was on track to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but that will not be the case. The Raiders safety signed a new deal on Monday, per a team announcement.

Providing details on the pact, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report this is a two-year deal. The maximum value of the contract is $8.45MM, making this a notable raise compared to Pola-Mao’s previous deals. The former UDFA has spent each of his first three years with the Raiders.

Pola-Mao did not log any starts during his first two seasons with Vegas, operating instead as a key special teams presence. The USC alum’s third phase success made it little surprise when he was re-signed last March. That move set up the potential for an RFA tender being necessary this spring, but such a scenario has now been avoided. Pola-Mao will be able to continue as a first-team presence on defense, a role he took on in 2024.

The 25-year-old started 14 of the Raiders’ 17 games last season, and to no surprise he set career highs across the board from a statistical standpoint. Pola-Mao totaled 89 tackles, five pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2024. While his performance in coverage (129.6 passer rating and three touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender) left plenty to be desired, it comes as little surprise the Raiders have opted to keep him in the fold for the next two years.

Tre’von Moehrig has operated as a full-time safety starter during his time with the Raiders, and he enjoyed a career-year in 2024. A lucrative free agent deal sending him to a new team in free agency is therefore on the table, and it will be interesting to see if Vegas’ new regime looks to keep him in the fold. Regardless of what happens on that front, Pola-Mao will remain in the team’s plans moving forward.

RB James Cook Addresses Asking Price On Bills Extension

February 24th, 2025 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this month, James Cook hinted at an asking price of $15MM per season on an extension. The Bills’ top running back has since spoken about his extension situation.

“I just feel like we’re deserving of it. Like, why not? We work all of our life to get paid. Feed me the big bucks,” the former second-rounder said during an appearance on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson (video link). “I’m going to stand on what I stand on.

“And I don’t want to feel like a cancer at all. Because I don’t like all that attention and all that… I just want to get what I deserve. That’s all. I just want to get what I ask for.”

Christian McCaffrey leads the way in terms of annual average value at the running back spot at $19MM per season. Four other backs currently have an AAV of $12MM or more, with Jonathan Taylor currently sitting second in the position’s pecking order ($14MM). Cook’s target would supplant him as the No. 2 backfield earner in the league if he were to hit it on a long-term pact. One year remains on the Georgia product’s rookie deal, but the Bills could attain long-term certainty in the backfield with a lucrative Cook commitment.

After a rookie campaign which featured only 89 carries, Buffalo has leaned on Cook with over 200 attempts each of the past two seasons. The 25-year-old recorded over 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2023 and then tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) this past campaign. With 883 yards and seven scores in the passing game to date, Cook figures to be a prominent two-way producer for years to come.

Of course, that does not mean Buffalo will be willing to make him one of the league’s highest earners at the running back spot. The team used a fourth-round pick on Ray Davis last April, and the Kentucky product (along with quarterback Josh Allen, of course) represents a short-yardage option for 2025 and beyond. It will be interesting to see if the Bills take that into account as a potential mitigating factor in Cook’s asking price.

If contract talks take place in the near future, a lack of progress could leave the door open to a holdout during the spring and/or missed on-field work in training camp. Plenty of time exists before such a scenario could come into play, though, and if negotiations take place soon clarity on where things between team and player stand could emerge.

Cowboys Begin Negotiations With Osa Odighizuwa; Team Hopes To Retain Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle

February 24th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the Cowboys’ offseason will center on the Micah Parsons extension situation. The team has other priorities as the new league year approaches, though, and that includes talks with a number of pending free agents.

One of those is Osa Odighizuwa. The former third-rounder is currently set to be one of the top defensive tackles in free agency, but there is still time for the Cowboys to work out a deal preventing him from reaching the market. COO Stephen Jones recently made it clear talks have begun on a second contract for Odighizuwa.

“We have had negotiations with Osa,” Jones revealed during an interview with David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I just think Osa is a really good football player. He’s an important piece.”

The 26-year-old has started all but four of his 67 career games, collecting 13.5 sacks to date. Improving against the run is a key need for the Cowboys this offseason, and multiple changes in the front seven could be in store as a result. With the chance of a departure to Washington (and thus a reunion with Dan Quinn) looming, it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached before the start of the new league year in March.

As for other roster priorities, Jones noted the Cowboys also hope to retain slot corner Jourdan Lewis and lead running back Rico Dowdle. Lewis has spent his entire eight-year career in Dallas, playing out his rookie contract, a three-year deal worth an average of $4.5MM per year and the less lucrative one-year accord signed last March to keep him in place. Approaching his age-30 season, Dallas could make another short-term commitment while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs remain perimeter starters.

The Cowboys opted for a committee approach early in the 2024 season in particular, and it did not go according to plan. The shift in approach later in the year allowed Dowdle to surpass 1,000 rushing yards while handling by far the heaviest workload of his career, though, something which could help his market value. Dallas ranked 27th on the ground last year, and improving in that department could involve selecting a running back in April’s draft, one which is viewed as being deep at the position. Re-signing Dowdle would nevertheless allow for backfield continuity and at least provide the team with an experienced backup.

Jones added the Cowboys are awaiting a decision from defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on his future. The 33-year-old was limited to just four games last year and is a pending free agent. Lawrence received the franchise tag twice, and his career earnings also include the five- and three-year Cowboys pacts he has played on. After seeing that fellow 2014 draftee Zack Martin intends to retire, Lawrence could do the same; taking that path would leave Dallas in need of at least a depth addition along the edge.

As for Parsons, Jones declined to give a firm timeline on when negotiations for his pending mega-extension will begin. He did say, though, that talks will pick up over the coming weeks as the team navigates the lead-in to free agency while preparing for the draft. Parsons has a case to become the league’s highest-paid defensive player, but before a deal reaching (or approaching) that mark is worked out the Cowboys will look to attain clarity on how their 2025 roster shapes up at several positions.

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