HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Vikings Unlikely To Let Sam Darnold Walk; ‘Significant’ Rehab Work Remains For J.J. McCarthy?

February 13th, 2025 at 10:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

This year looks a bit light on franchise tag candidates, but the Vikings do have the most significant decision to make before the March 4 tag deadline.

Sam Darnold has come up as a player the team will consider tagging, despite his tough finish to his debut Minnesota season, and J.J. McCarthy‘s recovery timeline stands to factor into the Vikings’ decision. McCarthy has undergone two surgeries after suffering a meniscus tear in the preseason. While plenty of time remains between now and Week 1, last year’s No. 10 overall pick looks to have a ways to go in his recovery.

[RELATED: Byron Murphy Seeking Significant Raise In Free Agency]

McCarthy still has “significant” work to do in terms of rebuilding his body after the injury, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, whose recent conversations with a number of NFL execs point to the NFC North team protecting itself before the tag deadline. The Vikings should not be expected to let Darnold hit free agency, La Canfora notes. This would take the top QB option off the market, but given the Vikes’ situation, it would be understandable if they sought high-priced insurance.

The Vikings have been in talks with Darnold, who would be eligible to speak with other teams beginning March 10 when the legal tampering period starts. Darnold’s best financial play would probably be hitting the market and signing with a starter-needy team, one that would be ready to authorize multiple guaranteed years on a contract that would be expected to top $30MM per annum. The Baker Mayfield price range came up for Darnold recently; Darnold’s ex-Panthers teammate re-signed with the Buccaneers for three years and $100MM just before free agency last year.

While Minnesota could take this route in an effort to avoid a $40MM-plus cap hold clogging its payroll due to a franchise tag, McCarthy’s presence represents a rather notable difference between this situation and the one Tampa Bay navigated in 2024. Darnold also could conceivably be leery of re-signing on a multiyear deal due to McCarthy’s presence. McCarthy’s rookie contract can run through 2028 via the fifth-year option, and while a report after Week 17 — a critical juncture on the Darnold Minnesota timeline, due to his struggles in the two games that followed — indicated teams would call the Vikes on McCarthy. No indications have emerged suggesting the Vikings would entertain trading a player around whom they centered their 2024 offseason.

If McCarthy does need to take major steps forward in terms of rehab and acclimating to the NFL, the Vikings keeping Darnold — after a breakthrough season that produced a 14-3 record, an original-ballot Pro Bowl nod and a Kevin O’Connell Coach of the Year honor — would make sense regardless of cost. Minnesota is projected to carry more than $58MM in cap space. While a Darnold tag would throw a wrench into the Vikings’ ability to retain free agents Byron Murphy, Camryn Bynum and Aaron Jones, prioritizing a quarterback would stand to supersede retaining starters elsewhere.

Though, the Vikings are coming off a season in which they saw a $10MM QB make a stunning leap. A second Darnold year also cuts into Minnesota’s ability to build around McCarthy’s rookie contract. O’Connell also elevated Kirk Cousins‘ play, and the team also worked with Daniel Jones for nearly two months to close the season. Jones would be a less expensive option, in the event the Vikings decide a Darnold franchise tag would be too pricey.

Of course, teams have the choice of two tags to use each year. The lesser-used transition tag would be an interesting play, as our Nikhil Mehta suggested earlier this month. The lower-cost tag has since come up around the NFL as a potential option, according to Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero.

Whereas OverTheCap projects the QB franchise tag to eclipse $41MM, it predicts the transition tag value to check in south of $36MM. That might not be enough of a difference to risk losing Darnold for no compensation, as the franchise tag still calls for two first-round picks to come back in the event of an unmatched offer sheet. But a transition tag also would give the Vikings five days to match any offer, effectively handcuffing the team that submitted the proposal at a time when key free agents will come off the board.

Darnold, 27, represents the top QB domino this year. The Vikings’ call during the tag window (Feb. 18-March 4) will determine if he is available. If a tag takes the seven-year vet out of the equation, teams would need to pivot. Jones, Cousins, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and, if he intends to keep playing, Aaron Rodgers will be the other top veterans to monitor as bridge options (at worst) in a scenario in which Darnold stays in Minnesota.

Bills’ James Cook Seeking $15MM Per Year

February 13th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

James Cook is eligible for an extension, and his level of play over the past two years has helped his value considerably. The Pro Bowl running back will be in line for a major raise on a second Bills contract, and a financial target appears to have emerged.

Cook pinned a post on Instagram which indicates he is seeking an average of $15MM per season on an extension. That figure would place him second in the pecking order at the running back position behind only Christian McCaffrey (whose current 49ers deal moved the top of the market to $19MM). The Bills are known to view Cook as a key member of their future, but the team also faces a number of important decisions on the extension front this offseason.

The likes of linebacker Terrel Bernard, center Connor McGovern, cornerback Christian Benford and edge rusher Gregory Rousseau are among the players who could be extended over the coming months. The latter two in particular could prove to be expensive priorities given the landscape of their respective positions. Still, authorizing a raise for Cook would be an understandable priority for Buffalo given his age and performances as the team’s lead back.

The 25-year-old split time with Devin Singletary as a rookie, but over the past two years he has handled RB1 duties. Cook racked up 1,567 scrimmage yards in 2023 en route to a Pro Bowl nod; this past season, his output dropped off in terms of yards but he was able to find the end zone much more often. After scoring six touchdowns in 2023, Cook raised that figure to 18 in 2024 (including 16 rushing scores, which tied for the league lead). Expectations will be high moving forward for the Georgia product.

On the other hand, the Bills used fourth-round rookie Ray Davis at a notable rate in 2024. Davis received 113 carries during the regular season, amassing 631 scrimmage yards and serving as a short-yardage and goal line option. If his role were to expand further in the near future, making a lucrative investment in Cook as a clear-cut lead back may not be feasible.

The running back market flatlined over a period of several years, but deals sending the likes of Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry to new teams last spring helped the position from a financial standpoint. That was of course driven in part by the weak RB draft class which was in place in 2024 (which will not be the case this year), but it will be interesting to see how the Bills approach negotiations on the Cook front. The former second-rounder is due $5.19MM in 2025, and the franchise tag looms as possibility for the following season. That could be avoided with an extension, but Cook is clearly aiming high with respect to a starting point in contract talks.

Zack Baun Wants To Stay With Eagles; Milton Williams Addresses Free Agency

February 13th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The inside linebacker market has stagnated a bit since Fred Warner and Shaquille Leonard‘s paydays in 2021. Only one player — Roquan Smith — has since eclipsed those deals, and the market saw two of its top AAVs (C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun) drop due to extensions that brought pay cuts last year.

This year’s free agency period is unlikely to feature any true threats to eclipse Smith, but one ILB transformed his market thanks to a 2024 breakthrough. Zack Baun went from a largely unproductive edge rusher — and a player who researched special-teamers’ deals as comps going into free agency last year — to a first-team All-Pro. Baun almost completed the inverse of the Haason Reddick emergence, as the former Eagle revitalized his career after being moved from ILB to an edge role.

[RELATED: Eagles Win Super Bowl LIX]

Baun finished the season with 151 tackles, five forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks. He added a regular-season INT and a pivotal Super Bowl LIX pick, which set up the Eagles deep in Chiefs territory ahead of a second-quarter touchdown. Baun’s breakout year will generate an interesting market, as he is 28 and has no prior history of consistent play. This could make some teams hesitant, but Baun certainly proved he fits in Vic Fangio‘s scheme. And he would like to continue developing in Philadelphia.

“I’m curious. I don’t know what it’ll look like, honestly,” Baun said of his second crack at free agency (via PHLY’s Zach Berman). “…Hopefully it’s here. I love this place. I appreciate what they’ve done for my career and my family — just everything. I got a lot of options to weigh.”

The Eagles have some important defensive pieces nearing the market. Josh Sweat is chief among them, with Milton Williams also out of contract. Mekhi Becton joins Baun in being interested in staying with the Eagles, who saw both bargain-bin 2024 FA signings raise their values in helping Philly to its second Super Bowl championship. While Becton plays a higher-valued position, Baun was one of the NFL’s best defenders last season, getting there on a $3.5MM contract. He will be looking for a significant raise soon.

Last year’s market saw two eight-figure-per-year free agent ILB contracts handed out. The Texans gave Azeez Al-Shaair a three-year, $34MM deal; the Steelers signed off on a three-year, $41MM Patrick Queen pact. These contracts respectively check fifth and seventh among off-ball LBs. Considering Baun is 28 and just put together a first-team All-Pro season to help a team to a championship, it would seem reasonable he could target that price range.

Philly is projected to hold more than $18MM in cap space, a mid-pack number three-plus weeks ahead of the 2025 league year. The team’s creative 2024 maneuvering on offense showed an ability to afford a number of pricey extensions, as void years and option bonuses flood Howie Roseman‘s payroll. If the Eagles lose Baun, they would have a glaring need at linebacker thanks to Nakobe Dean having suffered a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card round. The team has not devoted much in the way of funds to this position in recent years, but Dean’s latest injury provides a complication.

Williams mentioned (via Berman) a desire to stay in a winning situation. That is often not prioritized by players seeking second contracts, as this window represents a key opportunity to cash in. The Eagles also have both Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis signed for multiple additional seasons, should the team pick up Davis’ fifth-year option by May. Williams could be an odd man out, as the Eagles figure to be saving up to extend the Georgia alums down the line. This could certainly mean Williams’ best offers will come from other teams, and the four-year veteran did add he would want “a situation to as close as this as possible.”

More than two years younger than Baun, Williams will be 26 by Week 1 of next season. He finished his contract year with career-high marks in sacks (five) and QB hits (10). Pass rush win rate slotted the former third-round pick sixth among interior D-linemen, who added two sacks and a forced fumble in Super Bowl LIX. Like Sweat, Baun and Becton, Williams made some money this past season.

Elsewhere on the Super Bowl champions’ roster, Landon Dickerson is likely to undergo knee surgery (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane). The Pro Bowl guard left the NFC championship game with a left knee malady and played through it in the Super Bowl. The Eagles have the All-Pro guard signed to a position-record $21MM-per-year deal.

James Bradberry Suffered Achilles Tear, Aiming To Return To CB Role

February 13th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

A blend of new additions, one important reunion and holdovers from previous defenses helped the Eagles complete a turnaround in the secondary. This rejuvenated group, however, did not involve James Bradberry, who went through a complicated offseason before suffering an injury that kept him off the field throughout the year.

The Eagles kept Bradberry in the equation by waiting until after roster-cutdown day to place him on IR. That left the door open to the veteran DB returning, but Philadelphia never activated him. Bradberry did not practice with the team following training camp, and he shed some light on why following Super Bowl LIX.

The nine-year veteran said Thursday (via The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena) he had suffered an Achilles tear in training camp, and the summer setback also involved a soleus muscle tear. Despite this, Bradberry said (via 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks) he was ready to help during the season. He expects to be ready for OTAs. The Eagles did not have to disclose Bradberry’s injury, as he was not on the active roster all season.

Achilles tears regularly end seasons, but a few examples — involving Terrell Suggs, Michael Crabtree and Cam Akers — exist of players sustaining offseason tears before resurfacing for Super Bowl teams. Of that trio, only Akers suffered his tear during training camp. Akers returned to the Rams by Week 18 of the 2021 season but was not particularly effective. He still played in Super Bowl LVI. Bradberry will collect a Super Bowl LIX ring, but his Philly future is in doubt after this season-long absence.

Although the Eagles’ 2023 plan involving C.J. Gardner-Johnson featured reports of the team having him in their plans and then making an offer, the now-two-time Eagle DB said no offer came. It had appeared Gardner-Johnson was higher on the team’s priority list than Bradberry that year, but as CJGJ awaited a better offer from the Eagles or elsewhere, the team pivoted to re-signing Bradberry on a three-year, $38MM deal that included $20MM guaranteed at signing. The 31-year-old defender is under contract for 2025, but he has seen the team make major updates to the secondary, as first- and second-round picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean played integral roles in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX romp.

By training camp last year, the Eagles were trying Bradberry at safety. Bradberry, 31, suggested the move and said today (via Kubena) he made the safety call upon looking at the depth chart. However, he said today a switch back to CB will be preferred. The Eagles not only added the two highly drafted CBs but had Isaiah Rodgers in the fold after his gambling suspension ended. All three joined holdovers Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox in the team’s championship-winning formula. Rodgers and Maddox are due for free agency, while Slay is under contract through 2025.

Slay, 34, wants to play one more season — ideally with the Eagles — before retiring. The team has Mitchell and DeJean signed through 2027. While the two rookie contracts help, Philly has allocated considerable cash to its high-powered offense. As for Bradberry, his contract includes four void years — an Eagles staple — and is due a $1.26MM base salary this year. A $16.6MM option bonus due would point to the Eagles moving on, but the team would eat $10.8MM in dead money but cutting Bradberry. Slay is also due a $16.1MM option bonus, calling his Philly future into question.

The ex-Panthers and Giants No. 1 corner excelled in 2022 but took a step back in 2023, helping lead to the Eagles starting their draft with two corner picks. He will now be attempting to bounce back from a serious injury ahead of an age-32 season.

Saints Re-Sign RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire

February 13th, 2025 at 9:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s stock has dropped since he entered the NFL as a first-round pick, a new Saints coaching staff will soon start working with the LSU alum.

Edwards-Helaire is sticking with the Saints, agreeing on a one-year deal Thursday. This will allow new HC Kellen Moore and his to-be-assembled staff to assess the 5-foot-7 running back’s fit this offseason.

The Saints picked up Edwards-Helaire in free agency shortly after the Chiefs waived him. Edwards-Helaire, who had seen Isiah Pacheco and others usurp him on Kansas City’s depth chart, did not play in a Chiefs game last season. Upon joining New Orleans, however, he saw action as one of Alvin Kamara‘s injury replacements. Last season, Edwards-Helaire gained 46 yards on 13 carries over the Saints’ final two games.

A Baton Rouge native, Edwards-Helaire joins Foster Moreau and ex-Chiefs teammate Tyrann Mathieu as Louisiana natives and LSU alums to find their way to New Orleans’ pro team. The Saints have Kamara signed through 2026, via the extension he signed during the season, and third-round pick Kendre Miller remains under contract as well. Jamaal Williams has not been able to carve out a steady role in New Orleans, but the NFL’s 2022 rushing touchdowns leader is under contract for one more season.

Set to turn 26 in April, Edwards-Helaire is attempting to hang on after his career has not panned out as hoped. The Chiefs used him as an immediate starter in 2020, following 2019 playoff hero Damien Williams‘ decision to opt out due to COVID-19 concerns, but could not rely on the No. 32 overall pick. CEH sustained injuries in 2020 and ’21, missing 10 games in that span, and saw Pacheco’s 2022 arrival change the backfield equation for the AFC superpower. Pacheco’s fractured fibula last September did not prompt the Chiefs to reinstall CEH as a part of their offense, as a Kareem Hunt reunion led to the veteran taking over as the team’s starter.

Edwards-Helaire has been unable to match his LSU pass-game production in the pros, topping out at 297 receiving yards as a rookie. He totaled 453 on 55 catches for LSU’s unbeaten national championship team in 2019, attracting the Chiefs’ attention. Edwards-Helaire also gained 803 rushing yards as a rookie, but he has not topped 350 in a season since 2021.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/13/25

February 13th, 2025 at 8:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs retained one of their backup running backs Thursday:

Kansas City Chiefs

A former Cardinals sixth-round pick, Ingram has been with the Chiefs since November 2023. Ingram has moved up to the Chiefs’ active roster on multiple occasions, including in September 2024 after the team lost Isiah Pacheco to a broken leg. Upon reuniting with Kareem Hunt, however, the Chiefs moved Ingram back to their practice squad. As Hunt is again a free agent, Ingram will sign another reserve/futures deal with Kansas City.

NFC Coaching Notes: Haslett, Saints, Cowboys, Choice, Lions, Giants, Falcons

February 13th, 2025 at 8:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

No Saints–Mike McCarthy reunion is on tap, but the team will go forward with an interesting hire that will bring about a reunion of sorts from that era. The team is hiring Chase Haslett as tight ends coach, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Chase Haslett is the son of ex-Saints HC Jim Haslett, who coached the team from 2000-05. Jim Haslett was steering the ship when the Saints won their first playoff game, a wild-card thriller over the Rams in 2000. The Saints gave Jim Haslett his only NFL HC job; they will give his son his first position-coaching role. Mickey Loomis became Saints GM during Jim’s HC tenure and led the search to name Moore as HC this year.

Chase will come over after three Cowboys seasons, the last of which overlapping with new Saints HC Kellen Moore. Chase assisted with Cowboys TEs, helping Dalton Schultz to a productive 2022 before aiding in Jake Ferguson‘s development.

Here is the latest from the NFC coaching ranks:

  • Elsewhere on the Saints’ staff, they are also bringing back a familiar face to oversee the offensive line. Brendan Nugent is coming back to head up this group, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill and Mike Triplett. Nugent coached the Saints’ O-line from 2015-21; he will replace John Benton, who is following Klint Kubiak to Seattle. Nugent comes over from Seattle, having been the Seahawks’ assistant OL coach last season. He was the Saints’ assistant OL coach from 2015-20 and their O-line boss in 2021. This hire will bring about familiarity for Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz, who were in place when Nugent was last with New Orleans. More familiarity will be in place at wide receiver, with Underhill adding Keith Williams is staying on as WRs coach. The Saints had hired Williams in 2024.
  • Tashard Choice recently interviewed for the Cowboys’ RBs coach position, but the ex-Dallas running back is heading to Detroit. The Lions are hiring Choice as their backfield coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Texas is believed to have offered a significant raise to keep Choice in Austin, but he will join Dan Campbell‘s staff. Choice coached Jahmyr Gibbs at Georgia Tech. The Lions are moving previous RBs coach Scottie Montgomery to wide receivers coach, per the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. A former NFL wideout, Montgomery has not coached the position in the NFL since overseeing the likes of Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders in Pittsburgh from 2010-12. The former college HC, who will replace Antwaan Randle El (now the Bears’ WRs coach), is also now an assistant head coach in Detroit.
  • The Lions are also hiring Tyler Roehl to coach tight ends, Rogers adds. Previously reported (via Zenitz) to be coming to Detroit as an offensive assistant, Roehl is making the jump after one season as Iowa State’s RBs coach. He is better known for work at Division I-FCS power North Dakota State. Roehl was with the Bison from 2014-23, finishing his tenure with five seasons as OC. This included mentorship during Trey Lance‘s 28-TD, zero-INT 2019 season, one of the program’s many national titles.
  • T.J. Yates is heading into his second season as Falcons QBs coach; the former NFL signal-caller will also serve as Atlanta’s pass-game coordinator in 2025, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. After the Falcons attempted to make the Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup work, Yates will be tasked with developing Penix (after a Cousins release) in 2025.
  • Brian Daboll‘s son will not be part of his father’s 2025 Giants staff. Christian Daboll is leaving to pursue another career path, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard tweets. Brian hired his son out of college; Christian was part of the past two New York staffs, working as an offensive assistant.
  • UTEP defensive coordinator JJ Clark is joining the Cowboys in a quality control role, Zenitz tweets. Clark coached the Miners’ defense for one season, coming over from Austin Peay in 2024. UTEP ranked 113th in Division I-FBS defensively last season.

Brandon Brown Strong Candidate For Jaguars’ GM Position?

February 13th, 2025 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars’ general manager search is in full swing, with the team’s first round of interviews ongoing. Brandon Brown is among the candidates who have conducted a virtual meeting with the team so far, and he appears to be a name to watch closely.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports Brown (who is currently the Giants’ assistant general manager) has a similar vision to that of new head coach Liam Coen. The latter is playing a central role in Jacksonville’s GM search process despite the fact he is a first-time head coach. As a result, Dunleavy notes Brown could be a strong contender to land the position.

Connected to the Panthers’ and Chargers’ GM gigs last offseason, Brown was again heavily involved in the 2025 hiring cycle. He was among the candidates who interviewed twice with the Raiders before they ultimately hired John Spytek for the position. Brown’s first NFL came as a Jets intern in 2012, and he has held a number of titles across his time with Boston College and later the Colts, Eagles and Giants.

Coen’s preferred GM hire appeared to be his (and Spytek’s) former Buccaneers colleague Mike Greenberg. Since his decision to withdraw, though, the Jags have seen their list of targets expand. External candidates (along with at least one internal one in the form of interim general manager Ethan Waugh) are being considered, and the team hopes to have a hire in place by the start of the Combine (February 24).

Brown has never been a GM in his career, and pairing him with a rookie head coach would be a notable departure from the Trent Baalke-Doug Pederson pairing which had been in place the past three years. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if he lands a second interview in the near future.

Via PFR’s GM Search Tracker, here is a look at how things are shaping up for the Jaguars:

Shedeur Sanders Lines Up Visits With Browns, Giants

February 13th, 2025 at 4:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL’s annual Scouting Combine is approaching, and the evaluation of the top prospects will be centered on the event when it takes place. After its conclusion, though, attention will turn to pre-draft visits.

Teams are permitted up to 30 visits with prospects in the period after the Combine and before the draft. Given the lack of high-end quarterbacks available in 2025, one of the top storylines will be how teams near the top of the board operate with respect to Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. The latter already has his first two visits on the books.

Sanders revealed in a video posted by Well Off Media (operated by his brother, Deion Sanders Jr.) that he is set to meet with the Browns and Giants. That comes as no surprise considering the uncertainty both teams face under center. Cleveland is set to select second overall in April’s draft, while New York owns the No. 3 pick.

Deshaun Watson will remain with the Browns for 2025, but his second Achilles tear has created the strong possibility he will miss most (potentially all) of the coming season. Cleveland has Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the books, while Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe are pending unrestricted and restricted free agents, respectively. The first round of the draft would offer the opportunity of adding a long-term Watson successor, but even if a Myles Garrett trade does not take place Cleveland’s roster has other notable holes.

Once the Giants elected to move on from Daniel Jones, it was clear they would be in the market for a draft addition. Indeed, the team is one to watch closely regarding a possible trade-up maneuver to secure either Sanders or Ward. New York could make a notable veteran addition before the draft, but especially if that does not take place adding either of the class’ top signal-callers in the first round would be expected.

The Titans own the No. 1 pick, and given the opportunity to add a Will Levis replacement they are of course looking heavily into their options. Tennessee has been connected to moving down the board given the relative lack of surefire prospects in the 2025 class, but the same is also true of the rest of the teams slated to select in the top five. How the Browns and Giants view Sanders will of course be central in determining the direction they go in come Day 1 of the draft.

Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado, putting himself on the round one radar in 2023. This past season, he posted 4,134 yards and a 37:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with a 74% completion percentage. Those figures helped him earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and led to an eighth-place finish in Heisman voting. Concerns have been raised about the impact Deion Sanders will have with whichever team selects Shedeur, but his son – who did not practice or play in the Shrine Bowl – said he does not have a preferred destination at this point.

“Out of the teams [reportedly interested], there’s not really one that I’m looking forward to, there’s not really one I’m looking past,” he said (via NFL.com). “It’s all about the process. The teams picking me, I don’t really have much of a say on that.”

Byron Murphy Aiming For Significant Raise; Vikings-Camryn Bynum Deal In Play

February 13th, 2025 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 13: In another indication of Murphy’s desire for a notable payday, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune notes he turned down an extension offer from the Vikings prior to the start of the 2024 campaign. Murphy’s value has certainly risen since he made that decision, and Minnesota would have a large vacancy to fill at the cornerback spot if Murphy were to depart on the open market.

FEBRUARY 3: Ranked highly on PFR’s top 50 free agents list in 2023, Byron Murphy took a middle-class deal to position himself for a better 2025 payday. After playing out his two-year Vikings contract, the former second-round pick will look to cash in again.

The Cardinals draftee played an integral role on Brian Flores’ defenses over the past two seasons, Murphy started all 31 Minnesota games he played and intercepted nine passes in that span. Six of those came last season, helping the versatile defender set himself up for another payday. At 27, Murphy should be able to command one on a market light on proven corners seeking second contracts.

Indeed, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler offers that Murphy is looking for a significant raise on this year’s market. Murphy played out a two-year, $17.5MM deal last season. The 5-foot-11 defender earned his first Pro Bowl nod this past season; that came with a starter designation. Pro Football Focus ranked Murphy as a top-25 corner in 2024, as he improved on yards per target (7.2) and passer rating allowed as the closest defender (76.7) compared to his first Minnesota season.

The top free agent corners this year join Murphy in going through free agency for a second time. D.J. Reed, Carlton Davis and Charvarius Ward are in that camp. That trio, however, played out three-year deals. Murphy having inked a two-year pact with the Vikes may well give him a advantage this time around, as he will have an age-27 season to market. Davis, Reed and Ward will all turn 29 in 2025.

Chidobe Awuzie did quite well as third-contract-seeking corner last year, securing a three-year Titans deal worth $36MM ($19MM guaranteed at signing). Awuzie going down early in the year may not help the 2025 batch of veteran CBs, but Murphy has missed more than three games in a season just once (2022). And he still commanded a quality FA deal on the heels of it. With 22 corners tied to eight-figure AAVs, Murphy can expect to join that list.

Elsewhere in the Vikings’ secondary, Camryn Bynum — a starting safety and key cog in the defense’s myriad post-turnover dance choreography efforts — is out of contract as well. This will be Bynum’s first shot at free agency, even though he is only a few months younger than Murphy. As such, this will be a pivotal offseason for the 26-year-old defender. PFF viewed Bynum as taking a step back in his contract year, ranking him outside the top 60 after a 21st-place assessment in 2023. Though, Bynum has been durable (51 starts since 2022) and has intercepted eight passes on his rookie deal. Bynum also forced three fumbles in 2023.

The Vikings discussed an extension with Bynum before last season, and while nothing came to pass, Fowler indicates both sides remain open to it — to the point a re-up before free agency could be in play. Free agents-to-be can discuss terms with other teams beginning with the legal tampering period March 10, with deals becoming official when the 2025 league year begins March 12.

Murphy and Bynum represent two important dominoes for the Vikings, who have missed on some draft investments (Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth) in recent years. The Vikings have Josh Metellus signed for one more season, at a team-friendly rate (two years, $8MM), but used veteran stopgap Stephon Gilmore as Murphy’s tandem partner outside. With Harrison Smith going into an age-36 season, the Vikings have major questions to answer soon.

The Murphy and Bynum free agencies will be critical to determining the team’s 2025 DB outlook. Minnesota is projected to hold more than $58MM in cap space. It would seem likely the Vikes will attempt to get by without a $40MM-plus Sam Darnold franchise tag going on the books, though no call has been made there. Such a decision would impact how the team proceeds in the secondary.

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