Month: March 2025

Brian Gutekunst Addresses Packers’ Free Agent Outlook

Last offseason, the Packers were active on the free agent market. Big-ticket deals for running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney helped lead the team to a record of 11-6 and a playoff berth in 2024.

Given the number of core players Green Bay has attached to a rookie contract at the moment, the team currently sits in the top half of the league in terms of spending power with nearly $50MM in available funds. A portion of that figure will of course be needed for retaining in-house free agents and signing the Packers’ incoming draft class, but room for a notable move exists. As things stand, though, one should not be expected.

“I view every offseason that we have to attack it aggressively,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said (via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal). “Every year there’s not going to be a Josh Jacobs or a Xavier McKinney out there to go get… If it’s right for us, then we’re going to attack it. If they’re not there, it’s not there.”

During Gutekunst’s tenure, the Packers have generally not been known for taking large swings in free agency. Especially after the team made a combined $35.5MM commitment in terms of guaranteed money to McKinney and Jacobs in 2024, it would come as little surprise if Green Bay had a quieter March this time around. Few pending free agents of note are on track to depart, although kicker Brandon McManus represents a priority as the new league year approaches.

Of course, Gutekunst and the Packers will need to look ahead on the extension front while mapping out their spending plans for the near future. Wilde notes 2022 first-rounders Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt could be in line to have their fifth-year options picked up based on how Gutekunst spoke after the season about the Georgia products. A call on both options will need to be made by May 1, but keeping one or both in the fold for 2026 could be followed by a long-term pact being worked out.

Elsewhere on the roster, starting offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are currently on track for free agency next offseason. Committing to one or both (along with other members of the 2022 draft class) will be key for the Packers, and as a result saving funds for future deals would be a sensible move at a number of positions. As Gutekunst and the Packers look to take a step forward in the highly competitive NFC North next year, a splashy signing or two may not be in the cards.

Browns Rumors: Bitonio, Cousins, Newsome

Towards the end of the Browns’ disappointing 2024 season, left guard Joel Bitonio said he had not yet decided whether to return for 2025 – the last year of his current contract – or retire. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported just yesterday, Bitonio is still working through his decision, though he plans to let the team know before free agency opens next month. The 33-year-old blocker confirmed retirement remains “within the realm of possibilities” (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic).

Like teammate Myles Garrett, Bitonio said he wanted to hear the Browns’ plans for a return to contention in 2025, including their quarterback strategy. However, he also made clear that his decision to keep playing or hang up his cleats would primarily be informed by health and family considerations.

Retaining a player as good as Bitonio on a $1.26MM base salary and $3MM roster bonus would doubtlessly be a welcome development for the Browns. Indeed, Cleveland has a major question mark at left tackle – regardless of whether Dawand Jones is medically cleared in time for training camp, as expected – and the team must also navigate Garrett’s trade request and meaningfully address the quarterback position despite having the second-worst cap situation in the league as of the time of this writing.

Previous reports indicated the Browns will sign a veteran QB in free agency even if they plan to select one in April’s draft, and Kirk Cousins was mentioned as one FA possibility. The fact that Browns HC Kevin Stefanski worked as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator with the Vikings from 2018-19 is a driving force behind Cousins-Cleveland speculation, as is the fact that the cap-strapped Browns could likely sign the 36-year-old for the veteran minimum. Albert Breer of SI.com confirms Cousins’ contract with the Falcons includes offset language, meaning that if he is released as expected, the only way he will land a deal in excess of the minimum in 2025 is if another team believes he is worth more than the $27.5MM for which Atlanta is already on the hook (which is highly unlikely, and Cousins has no real incentive to seek a higher payout and reduce his number of potential suitors).

Breer appears to agree that the signs pointing to an accord between Cousins and the Browns are real. He also expects the team to draft a QB regardless of whether Cousins or a different free agent is added to the mix. Cleveland, which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, is already assured of landing either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders – the top prospects in an admittedly maligned class of collegiate QBs – though GM Andrew Berry has said he believes the class includes starting-caliber passers outside of Ward and Sanders.

Many people around the league agree Cousins will be a Browns target, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline writes. Especially if Cleveland does not manage to land Ward in the draft, the veteran could rebuild his value with a familiar face in the form of Stefanski while providing the team with a much-needed affordable short-term option under center.

The Browns have understandably stated they do not want to trade Garrett, but if they reverse course and unload him, they could also have a decision to make on their top cornerback, Denzel Ward. Ward, who is under club control through 2027 but who has no guaranteed salary due to him beyond 2025, has said Garrett’s trade request has a “huge impact” on his own future (thereby suggesting he could be planning his own exit strategy if Garrett were to be dealt).

For what it’s worth, Ward’s fellow CB, Greg Newsome II, previously said he wants to remain with the Browns for the long haul, a desire that he recently reiterated (via Cabot). He said he would try to talk Garrett out of his trade request, as he believes the team is just a quarterback away from being a legitimate contender.

Newsome is due to play out the 2025 campaign on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which will pay him over $13MM. His hope to be a long-term member of the Browns notwithstanding, he indicated he is looking for a larger role in the defense.

In 2024, the former first-round pick played a career-low 70% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps, as Martin Emerson – who is extension-eligible for the first time this offseason – was Ward’s primary partner on the boundaries. That left Newsome to man the slot, and with opposing offenses favoring two-tight end sets, he did not see as much action as he would have liked.

[T]here were games I was on the field 25% and 30% of the game, and as a football player, I feel like fans don’t understand, you can’t get in a rhythm for being on the field, out of 50 snaps, 15 snaps,” Newsome said. “That’s not how you play football. And that’s never what I’ve had to do in my career so far, so this was the first year of that and it was obviously a little frustrating, but I think we’ll figure this out.”

Newsome added that there have been no real extension talks between his camp and the Browns this offseason. Such conversations may not be at the top of Berry’s agenda at the moment, and if and when substantive talks do take place, Newsome’s recent trouble with his left hamstring – he had surgery on it prior to last summer’s training camp and then reinjured it in December – will be raised.

Nonetheless, Newsome said he is fully healthy and is ready to prove as much in what could be a platform year.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak: Geno Smith Was A “Huge Draw” For Seattle Job

Earlier this month, we heard that the Seahawks are expected to address the contract of quarterback Geno Smith in the near future (with an extension seemingly more logical than a restructure). That report came on the heels of head coach Mike Macdonald’s endorsement of a new deal for his starting signal-caller.

Even if Seattle GM John Schneider stays true to form and explores possible succession plans, we now have more indication that Smith may receive the renewed commitment he has been seeking.

During his introductory press conference, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said Smith’s presence is one of the primary reasons he took the job.

I have a lot of respect for Geno,” Kubiak said (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic (subscription required)). “It was a huge draw to come here and be able to get to coach him … We have high expectations for him. [We’ll] push Geno and get the best out of him, and we’ll do that by pushing his teammates as well. It’s not just his show; it’s a team thing, and he’s got to be the head of that.”

The fact that Smith will apparently be retained for 2025, the final year of his current deal, does not necessarily mean the parties will come together on a new contract. Smith is, after all, about to enter his age-35 season, and while he regularly shows plus form, he ultimately finished the 2024 campaign with a traditional quarterback rating of 93.2 that was just above average and a QBR of 53.8 that slotted between Bryce Young and Joe Flacco (numbers that were pulled down by his 15 interceptions, the second-highest figure in the league).

On the other hand, Macdonald adamantly reiterated his belief that his club can win a championship with Smith under center.

“It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback,” Macdonald said. “He’s our quarterback. We love him. Can’t wait to go work with him … He’s a great player, man. We can win a championship with Geno Smith. We really believe that.”

Plus, while the typical dearth of obvious QB upgrades on the free agent market and the perceived weakness of the 2025 collegiate class of signal-callers would make Smith a quality trade chip if the ‘Hawks chose to market him, those same factors would make it difficult for Seattle – a 10-win outfit in 2024 that clearly has designs on a postseason run in the upcoming season – to immediately replace 2022’s Comeback Player of the Year. As such, a short-term deal that rewards Smith with another influx of guaranteed cash while still keeping him on a relatively team-friendly rate could make sense for both sides.

The Seahawks’ O-line was the club’s weak link last year, and improving that group – a goal that Schneider expressly acknowledged – will naturally help Smith. Kubiak also intends to implement a run-first identity, which will also take some of the pressure off of the former Jets second-rounder.

Getting talented wideout D.K. Metcalf more involved in the offense will also be critical, both for Smith and for the offense as a whole. As Dugar writes, the Ryan Grubb-coordinated offense allowed Metcalf to simply serve as a decoy too often, and according to Macdonald, every OC candidate he interviewed to replace Grubb had plans for improved Metcalf usage at the top of their list of ideas.

Metcalf is entering the final year of his current contract, and Dugar writes in another subscribers-only piece that an extension could also be in play for the two-time Pro Bowler. That would help smooth out his massive $31.88MM cap charge for 2025 while keeping the talented wideout under club control for the foreseeable future. 

Panthers, C Austin Corbett Push Back Void Date

The Panthers have bought themselves a bit more time to determine whether center Austin Corbett will continue his playing career in Charlotte. Per OverTheCap.com, via Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, player and team have agreed to push the void date on Corbett’s contract to March 11, one day before the start of the 2025 league year.

Corbett, 29, just completed the final season of the three-year, $29.25MM deal he signed with the Panthers in March 2022. He suited up for a full complement of games in his debut Carolina campaign, and his play was mostly in line with his platform-year performance with the Rams in 2021, which is what convinced the Panthers to authorize a notable free agent contract in the first place. 

Unfortunately, Corbett suffered an ACL tear during the 17th and final contest of the 2022 season, which led to missed time the following year. The former Browns draftee briefly returned to action in 2023, but an MCL injury limited him to only four games. Then, in Week 5 of the 2024 slate, Corbett sustained a season-ending biceps tear.

Having played just nine games due to significant injuries in each of the past two seasons, Corbett would not be hitting the open market with any kind of positive momentum if he were to leave the Panthers. And a new contract with Carolina would likely be a modest one, although his familiarity with the offense may be attractive to him as he seeks to rebuild his value. 

From the club’s perspective, a new contract would allow the Panthers to reduce the nearly $8MM dead cap charge they would incur if Corbett’s current deal simply voids. It would also allow them to retain a player who has proven to be a capable blocker when healthy, a player to whom they entrusted the starting center job last spring in the critical second year of QB Bryce Young’s development (Corbett had operated exclusively at right guard in each of his four prior seasons and had never played the pivot at the professional level).

As Kaye notes, the delay of the void date does not guarantee that the two sides will strike a new agreement, though there is clearly at least some interest in a reunion. Even if Corbett does return, however, it would be fair to expect the Panthers to further bolster the center position in the draft and/or free agency. 

Rams Give QB Matthew Stafford Permission To Speak With Other Teams

We’ve seen some interesting developments in the past couple of months concerning the future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. Today’s newest update comes from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network who tells us that the team has given Stafford’s agent permission to speak with other teams about his value. Rapoport makes it clear that this is not a trade request, just an external appraisal.

Following the end of the Rams’ 2024 campaign, Stafford began to contemplate his future in the league, potentially weighing the possibility of retirement before ultimately making the decision to play in 2025, after some pressure for clarity from the team. As the team was waiting for that clarity, though, the Rams made it known that they were considering trading the veteran quarterback. This rumor led to interest from several teams who began to contact Los Angeles with interest in Stafford.

With today’s update, we see that the Rams have been hearing these offers and are hoping to use them to assist in their contract negotiations. Our previous most recent update hinted that the 37-year-old was seeking a raise on his next deal. This new tactic from the Rams could be seen as an attempt to let the rest of the league do their work for them. This would be similar to what the Ravens attempted last year, when they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, and most teams expected them to match any offer sheet after letting other teams determine Jackson’s worth.

This is a less official version of this. This is closer to the MLB’s arbitration process, in which the team and player can’t come to an agreement on a player’s value, so they use a third-party arbiter to make the determination for them. As the Rams and Stafford struggle to find level ground in contract discussions, the hope is that outside teams will participate and give their two cents on what Stafford’s next contract should look like.

More likely, teams, if they don’t really believe they have a chance to land Stafford in a trade, could try to inflate the cost of a Stafford deal in order to handicap the Rams as much as possible. This possibility is underlined by a report from Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo, who tells us that these other teams don’t believe this means the Rams and Stafford are headed for a split and that trade compensation will remain a hurdle to them actually acquiring the passer.

Another hurdle to acquiring Stafford via trade is the $45.3MM in dead money trading Stafford’s contract would cost the Rams, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com. Still, Fitzgerald believes that the Rams would be willing to deal Stafford for a return they deem worthy, but if that adequate trade offer doesn’t come, they would work with the veteran on a modified contract.

Chargers Expected To Move On From Joey Bosa?

Joey Bosa‘s nearly decade-long stint with the Chargers may be coming to an end. Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post believes the organization will look to move on from their defensive star, while multiple sources told ESPN’s Dan Graziano that they expect the Chargers to cut the pass rusher.

While the front office would surely rather keep Bosa or get something in return for the five-time Pro Bowler, the untenable financial commitment makes the player a prime cut candidate. Bosa is attached to a massive $36.47MM cap hit next season, the highest at his position. The team could save $25.36MM by either cutting or trading the veteran, an option that may be too enticing to deny (even with the Chargers armed with the sixth-most effective cap space in the NFL).

That $25.36MM savings also represents Bosa’s true earnings for the upcoming 2025 campaign, although none of that is guaranteed. As Graziano notes, the pass rusher is due a $12.36MM roster bonus in March, so the Chargers will surely look to make a decision on Bosa’s future before the bonus is due.

Bosa has continued to be productive when he’s on the field. Unfortunately, he’s rarely made it through a season unscathed. After being limited to 14 games before the 2022 and 2023 campaign, Bosa did manage to get into 14 games this past season, finishing with five sacks and 13 QB hits. Still, with only two fully healthy seasons on his resume, any suitors would have to account for Bosa missing at least a handful of contests in 2025.

While the two sides could go back to the negotiating table, Bosa already gave up some money last offseason. Still attached to the five-year, $135MM contract he inked in 2020, Bosa reworked his deal in 2024, saving the Chargers more than $10MM on his projected $32MM cap hit. The front office could once again try to convert some of his salary into bonuses, but they’d still be committed to a healthy cap charge either way.

On the flip side, Graziano notes that the Chargers may have no choice but to hang on to Bosa for at least one more season. That’s because Khalil Mack is hitting free agency, and the organization is prohibited from slapping the star edge rusher with the franchise tag. If Mack is destined to leave Los Angeles, the front office may want to retain some semblance of continuity on the edge.

Giants Targeting Veterans, Rookie At QB

Last month, Giants owner John Mara acknowledged the team’s need for a quarterback and said the front office could target the position either via free agency or the draft. With more time to reflect, it sounds like the organization is considering adding players from both of those buckets.

[RELATED: Giants Open To Resolving QB Issue With Draft Pick, Veteran]

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler expects the Giants to sign a veteran quarterback and select a rookie at that position in the draft. Fowler notes there’s urgency for coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen to get this right, as the duo’s job status could be tied to their handling of the QBs room in 2025.

It’s obviously not a profound concept to pair a bridge QB with a young signal caller, but it sounds like the Giants have their eye on someone more significant than a one-year veteran stopgap. Fowler believes that free agent Russell Wilson and trade option Matthew Stafford could be targets for the Giants, and there are plenty of additional options that will or could be available (including Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins).

None of those options will truly change the long-term trajectory of the franchise, but they should still command a pretty penny. Fortunately for the Giants, they have some financial wiggle room to compete in a bidding war. The team is projected to have more than $44MM in cap space, and they could easily carve out additional breathing room by releasing players or restructuring contracts.

Armed with the third-overall pick, the Giants should also be in prime position to take one of the draft’s top QB prospects. While neither Shedeur Sanders nor Cameron Ward are considered blue-chip prospects, the Giants wouldn’t have to be entirely reliant on their rookie if they add a veteran atop the depth chart.

Interestingly, the Giants are turning to one of their offensive stars for opinions on draft options. Wideout Malik Nabers told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post that the Giants have reached out to him about his thoughts on the quarterback prospects.

“I’m paying attention to it with the eyes of a hawk,” Nabers said. “[The Giants] have been keeping me in the loop, whether it’s who I like. They always ask me questions like that. When I watch [Sanders and Ward], I pick the things I like about both of them and go back and tell them.”

Monti Ossenfort: Cardinals To Be ‘Active’ In Free Agency

Teams around the NFL recently received further clarity on where the 2025 salary cap is expected to land. This year’s increase will be higher than expected, giving those which were already on track to have plenty of space even more spending power.

That list includes the Cardinals. Arizona is currently projected to hold the fifth-most space in the NFL with over $76MM available (h/t Over the Cap). As a result, Monti Ossenfort could be among the more active general managers in the league once the new league year begins in March. Veteran additions via the open market are clearly on the team’s radar.

“We are going to be active [in free agency],” Ossenfort said when speaking about the Cardinals’ offseason outlook (via the team’s website). “We’re going to look for every avenue to improve the team, but we have to be smart about not only this year’s team, but as we build for the future and our own players that we want to extend.”

Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon took on a rebuilding effort upon being hired in 2023. After improving from 4-13 during their first season at the helm to 8-9 in 2024, progress has been made in that process and the coming months will offer plenty of opportunities to take another step forward. Additions along the offensive line could be a priority, with the same being true along the edge and at the cornerback spot given the current makeup of Arizona’s roster.

Of course, in-house matters will be key this offseason as well. Working out an extension with Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride is something the Cardinals were recently reported to be prioritizing; Ossenfort said work on that front will take place “as it comes up.” A McBride raise granted through a long-term deal will still leave plenty of resources to supplement the team’s draft additions of the past two years.

The NFC West was wide open throughout the 2024 campaign, and continued development on the part of the Cardinals could make at least a wild-card berth a realistic target for next season. Free agency will provide Ossenfort and Co. with the first opportunity to make a notable move, and it will be interesting to see if a lucrative addition is made soon.

NFL, Owners To Discuss 2028 Olympic Participation In March

March will bring about the franchise tag deadline and, shortly thereafter, the start of the new league year. The next league meeting is also upcoming, and it will provide the NFL and its owners the opportunity to discuss the potential of participating in flag football during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Shortly after it was confirmed flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, it was confirmed to no surprise that the NFL and NFLPA opened discussions about the possibility of NFL players taking part. Further developments on that front could be coming soon. The league is set to make a full presentation about Olympic participation during the March meeting, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports.

A vote could take place in the near future as a result, but that would come as a surprise. A number of issues related to finances, logistics and insurance will need to be sorted out if any agreement is to be reached allowing NFL players to take part. Nothing in the current CBA covers international competitions, so an amendment would need to be added relating to the 2028 Olympics and future games. As Jones notes, the NFL has a “strong desire” to make flag football a permanent Olympic event beyond the Los Angeles debut. High-profile players such as Tyreek Hill have previously expressed interest in taking part, and he is not alone in that respect.

“Most likely I’ll be retired by 2028,” Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “I don’t know. But if I am retired, I would definitely like to play in the Olympics.”

In other flag-related news, commissioner Roger Goodell said in advance of the Super Bowl that the creation of a professional flag football league is under consideration. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports work is already underway on that front, which should should not come as a shock. The NFL has made a highly public effort in recent years to promote and develop flag football at the youth level in particular, so establishing a pro league represents a logical next step.

The league’s international calendar has expanded recently and regular season games played abroad is set to become an increasingly frequent staple of the league moving forward. Pairing a growing presence abroad with Olympic participation is something the NFL and NFLPA would welcome, and it will be interesting to see if progress toward that goal will be reached in the near future.

John Schneider Addresses Seahawks’ Offseason Approach

Year 1 of the Mike Macdonald era as head coach of the Seahawks produced a 10-win campaign but not a playoff berth. Changes on the sideline have been made, with Klint Kubiak now in place as offensive coordinator while the team contemplates its upcoming offseason moves.

General manager John Schneider has work to do in the near future for the Seahawks to achieve cap compliance. Once that happens, he and the front office will set out to improve a roster which proved to be lacking along the offensive line in particular in 2024. As Schneider’s comments on the matter demonstrate, there is a roadmap in place.

“We know exactly what our deficiencies are,” he said during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ John Schneider Show“We can all see it, right? And we have a plan to address everything.”

With and without lead back Kenneth Walker in the lineup, the Seahawks struggled on the ground in 2024. The team finished 28th in the league in rushing, something which put added pressure on the passing attack. Seattle allowed 50 sacks, something which contributed to a drop in production on the part of quarterback Geno Smith and the team’s second straight failure to make the playoffs.

To no surprise, then, upgrading up front is widely seen as a top priority for the Seahawks. As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, offensive line is a very popular position for the team in mock drafts. With the No. 18 pick in April’s draft, Seattle will have the opportunity to add a starting-caliber guard or competition for right tackle Abraham Lucas, who has struggled with injuries each of the past two years. The draft will represent a prime opportunity to help address needs along the offensive and defensive lines, but Schneider cautioned that a lucrative free agent splash should not be expected.

“You can’t just throw money at something to fix it, to fix a perceived need,” he added. “We’ve made mistakes there in the past and we’re not try not to repeat the mistakes we made.”

Seattle is among the teams currently projected to be above the cap, but moves like releasing Tyler Lockett can be used to free up finances ahead of free agency. The coming months will be key for the Seahawks at the line of scrimmage in particular as they look to implement Schneider’s plan