2025 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: March 2025

Commanders Preparing Aggressive Pursuit Of Defensive Additions

February 10th, 2025 at 4:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Led by the stellar play of Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, the Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC title game. The team’s defense was a sore spot during the campaign, though, and it is understandably a point of focus for the offseason.

Washington can be expected to be aggressive in pursuing upgrades on defense, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes. That comes as little surprise, given the fact Daniels will be attached to his rookie contract through 2027 (with a fifth-year option possible for the following campaign). Making major financial commitments will be much more feasible now than the period where he will be on an extension as long as he cements his status as a franchise passer.

The Commanders reset on defense midway through last season by dealing away edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. The arrival of new head coach Dan Quinn brought about several new faces on that side of the ball, many of whom were familiar to him stemming from his time as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Washington was active ahead of the 2024 deadline by acquiring Pro Bowl corner Marson Lattimore from the Saints.

The Commanders outbid multiple suitors to acquire the 28-year-old, although injuries limited him to only five appearances with his new team. Lattimore struggled in coverage during the playoffs in particular, but well before that point it was clear the team intended to keep him in the fold via a revised deal. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is set to carry a cap hit of $18MM in 2025 with a projected $18.5MM figure the following year; none of his scheduled base salaries are guaranteed for that stretch. An extension could lower his cap charges while providing a new round of locked in compensation.

Even if Lattimore is retained, the secondary will be an area of focus for Washington this spring. On that note, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes Commanders general manager Adam Peters was a strong advocate for the 49ers drafting safety Talanoa Hufanga in 2021 (subscription required). Peters was a member of San Francisco’s front office at the time, so Hufanga – one of the 49ers’ top pending free agents – would be a logical target if he were to prioritize familiar players in March.

With respect to the defensive line, Osa Odighizuwa could be a name to watch. The 26-year-old has spent his first four years as a Cowboy, so he has experience playing under Quinn in Dallas. Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler writes Odighizuwa is viewed by teams as the top interior defender in the 2025 free agent class, so he could generate a strong market beyond the Commanders. Washington has Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen under contract, though, and the team invested a second-round pick in Jer’Zhan Newton last April. Still, if the Commanders were to target Odighizuwa next month, he could become the latest ex-Cowboy to head to the nation’s capital.

Washington currently sits third in the NFL in projected 2025 cap space, so finances will not be an issue while Peters and Co. look to upgrade a defense which ranked 18th in points allowed and struggled against the run this past season. It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Commanders are this spring as they look to build off the success witnessed during Daniels’ debut campaign.

Raiders’ Maxx Crosby, Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson Could Draw Trade Interest

February 10th, 2025 at 3:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The edge rush position will be one to watch closely as the 2025 offseason unfolds. Myles Garrett is seeking a move out of Cleveland, while the Cowboys have given thought to the idea of a potential Micah Parsons trade.

Those defensive ends have company in terms of needing lucrative new deals in the near future and therefore find themselves as targets for teams looking for upgrades in the pass-rush department. Maxx Crosby (Raiders) as well as Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) are names to monitor on the trade market. That will especially be the case if Garrett – whom the Browns have no intention of moving – and Parsons remain with their respective teams.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Crosby and Hendrickson would be expected to draw notable trade interest if one or both were to become available. The former has two more years on his deal with $21.92MM owed in 2025 and ’26. None of Crosby’s base salaries in that span are guaranteed, though, so he could look to again land a new pact featuring significant up front compensation.

With Vegas struggling this past season, Crosby was named as a potential trade candidate. Owner Mark Davis unequivocally shot down speculation on that front in October, but the team is coming off a 4-13 campaign and does not have a long-term solution at the quarterback spot. Crosby, 27, has seen his team make the playoffs just once in his six NFL seasons despite racking up 59.5 sacks during that time. The four-time Pro Bowler was limited to 12 games by an ankle injury, but his durability during the rest of his career – coupled with his high-end production – would make him an attractive target to any number of suitors.

Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason after his efforts to secure a raise were unsuccessful. The Bengals made it clear they would not look to move him, and the 30-year-old ultimately reported to the team during training camp without issue. Hendrickson delivered another strong season in 2024, leading the NFL with 17.5 sacks. A notable raise is in store as a result, something de facto general manager Duke Tobin is well aware of and quarterback Joe Burrow would be on board with.

Knowing the financial situation Cincinnati is in (wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are in need of lucrative new pacts), Hendrickson is open to securing his next contract via trade. The All-Pro could approach or surpass the $30MM-per-year mark, per Fowler, something which would no doubt be more likely on a short-term pact than a lengthy accord. Still, the All-Pro’s production (57 sacks in 65 Bengals games) would be a welcomed addition for teams with the draft capital and cap space needed to pull off a trade and extension. Echoing Fowler’s report, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network note a strong market will exist for Hendrickson if he becomes available.

Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV with the 49ers currently leads the way for edge rushers (and all defenders) at the top of the market. Several players could surpass that mark in the coming weeks and months, especially if the Raiders and Bengals are unwilling to meet the asking price Crosby and/or Hendrickson submit this offseason. Against the backdrop of other potential movement amongst high-prolife edge rushers, their respective situations will make for intriguing offseason storylines.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins Addresses Health Status, 2025 Outlook

February 10th, 2025 at 2:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

FEBRUARY 10: Cousins and the Falcons have not been in communication since the season ended, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The team could ask Cousins to waive his no-trade clause if a parting ways were to be preferred, although the Michigan State product could request to be released and thus find his next team via free agency. A decision will need to be made by mid-March, and the report notes Atlanta may use most of the time between now and then to make a commitment one way or the other.

FEBRUARY 4: Kirk Cousins came to Atlanta amidst considerable fanfare and expectation last offseason, but his tenure is likely to come to an end soon. The Pro Bowl quarterback faces the prospect of being released by the Falcons shortly, something he addressed along with his health situation.

During an appearance on Good Morning Football: Overtime, Cousins spoke about his uncertain future (video link). The 36-year-old was benched in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the year, and the latter is in position to remain atop the depth chart moving forward. As a result, it was reported in December the Falcons are expected to release Cousins this offseason.

“I definitely feel like I have a lot of good football left in me,” the former Viking said when asked about his outlook for 2025 and beyond. “It’s still kind of uncertain. We’ll get to March and know a lot more. But I think the focus for me really is getting healthy. That’s really my focus is I gotta get healthy.”

On that point, Cousins detailed that his Achilles – which ruptured midway through the 2023 campaign – healed well and did not cause a major problem during his debut Falcons season. After a Week 10 hit which injured his right shoulder and elbow, however, he said his efforts to work through the ailment played a role in his regression. Cousins’ last stretch of starts before being benched saw his production drop off considerably with turnovers becoming an issue.

While a release would be understandable given Penix’s presence for the long term, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot indicated last month the team would be willing to keep Cousins in the fold as a (rather expensive) backup. The latter’s $27.5MM base salary for next season is guaranteed in full, and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 will vest early in the new league year if he remains in Atlanta. Given the compensation he is owed, a trade allowing Cousins a fresh start would come as a surprise.

For now, it remains to be seen how Atlanta will proceed on the Cousins front. Even if he finds himself a free agent once again in the near future, though, retirement will not be considered based on his comments.

Possibilities For A Brock Purdy Extension

February 10th, 2025 at 10:32am CST by Ely Allen

FEBRUARY 10: 49ers owner Jed York confirmed (via Josh Dubow of the Associated Press) the team has recently been in contact with Purdy’s agent regarding extension negotiations. He confirmed a deal remains the organization’s goal, so it will be interesting to see if talks progress in the near future or if this situation drags out deep into the offseason.

FEBRUARY 9: In the past, we may have mentioned 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy as an extension “candidate,” but according to Diana Russini of The Athletic, an “extension is inevitable.” While there was initially some intrigue around the situation due to the team’s earlier than expected elimination for the postseason, Russini assures everyone that the team has always planned on extending Purdy, never wavering on him as their franchise quarterback. Here’s how they got here and what an extension may look like.

Purdy has been the best bargain deal of the past three years. As Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has been letting the Niners off easy with his four-year, $3.74MM rookie contract. Now that Purdy is finally eligible for an extension, he’ll be a bargain no more. There are varying opinions, though, on just what an extension could look like for the 25-year-old.

Since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 13 of his rookie season, Purdy has secured a 23-13 regular season record and a 4-2 postseason record en route to two berths in the conference championship and a Super Bowl appearance. In the time since his first start, Purdy ranks fourth among all quarterbacks in QBR (70.2), third in passing yards (9,452), first in yards per attempt (8.9), and seventh in touchdown passes (64). He’s also recorded the most games with a 120-plus passer rating (13) and 130-plus passer rating (10) of any quarterback in NFL history through his first three seasons.

The only thing that could limit Purdy’s income potential is a down 2024 season. While still putting forth a strong performance, Purdy, like the rest of his team, took a step back this year. He completed a career-worst 65.9 percent of his passes, failed to reach 4,000 passing yards, and only threw 20 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Additionally, Purdy understands that the more he makes, the fewer good players can surround him. With offensive stars like tight end George Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams, and wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as defensive playmakers like linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa, taking up the top portions of the salary cap, Purdy may need to be mindful of just how much his salary could affect that.

According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, some league sources believe that his contract could be built around that of Daniel Jones from two years ago (four years, $160MM). Adjusted for inflation, Graziano predicted a four-year, $196MM deal with $112MM guaranteed at the end of January, which would slot Purdy at 10th in average annual salary for quarterbacks. A week later, Graziano’s sources were making the case that Purdy’s deal should be able to rival the likes of those for players like Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in salary. While Lawrence doesn’t have the supporting cast Purdy does, Purdy has achieved much more in the regular and postseason. Still, Lawrence signed an extension last year that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL at the time with $275MM over five years with $142MM guaranteed.

Now, are the 49ers going to give Purdy $55MM per year, too, or even match or top Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott at the top of the pay scale with $60MM per year? Probably not. But these projections give us the basis for where negotiations could start. Both sides have cards they could play during those discussions, as well. Purdy has seen plenty of examples from his teammates on how to holdout for a new contract, something he mentioned may be a possibility, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The 49ers, on the other hand, have the ability to apply the franchise tag to him; they could even threaten to do it twice in a row for cheaper than the possible average salary he could eventually make.

Regardless, the consensus seems to be that, at some point soon, Purdy will be able to secure his future in the Bay Area. We’ll soon see just how well-financed that future will be, but regardless, Purdy won’t likely be the bargain he has been over the past three years for long.

Cardinals Hope To Extend TE Trey McBride

February 10th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Over the past two seasons, Trey McBride has established himself as one of the league’s top young tight ends. He could soon be amongst the highest-paid players at the position as a result.

As a 2022 draftee, McBride is now eligible for an extension. The former second-rounder found himself behind veteran Zach Ertz as a rookie, totaling 29 receptions. Since then, however, McBride has been a focal point in the Cardinals’ passing attack, receiving 253 targets across the 2023 and ’24 campaigns. With a combined total of 192 receptions, 1,971 yards and five touchdowns during that span, he is in line for a considerable raise.

Indeed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes the Cardinals hope to extend McBride this offseason. As things stand, the 25-year-old is on track for free agency next offseason, but allowing him to reach the market is obviously a situation the team will look to avoid. A long-term accord will keep McBride in place as a central figure on offense, and an extension will likely bring him near the top of the position’s market.

Three tight ends are currently attached to a deal averaging at least $15MM per year, and another nine have an AAV of $10MM or more. McBride should have little issue joining at least the latter group, and he could look to become one of the top TE earners in the NFL on his next pact. The Colorado State product has comfortably led Arizona in receptions each of the past two years, and that could very well remain the case moving forward. The team’s tight end depth chart includes another recent Day 2 draft investment (2024 third-rounder Tip Reiman), but McBride will be counted on to continue as a consistent playmaker in 2025 and beyond.

The Cardinals are among the league leaders in cap space as the new league year approaches, and they are also on track to have considerable spending power in 2026. Finding the resources for a long-term McBride deal should not be a problem as a result. It will be interesting to see when serious negotiations begin, and how much success team and player have in working out an extension agreement.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

February 10th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

With Super Bowl LIX in the books, the 2024 campaign has come to a close. The final first-round order for April’s draft is now set as a result.

All 32 teams currently own a Day 1 selection, leaving the door open to each one adding a prospect in the first round for the first time since expansion in 2002. Any number of trades will no doubt take place between now and the draft, though, and it will be interesting to see how teams maneuver in the lead-in to the event. Of course, Tennessee in particular will be worth watching closely with a move to sell off the No. 1 pick being seen as a distinct possibility.

A weak quarterback class will leave teams like the Titans, Browns, Giants and Raiders with plenty of key offseason decisions. The free agent and trade markets do not offer many short-term alternatives which are seen as surefire additions, and teams which do not make moves in March will rely on the incoming group of rookies as part of their efforts to find a long-term solution under center. The two prospects seen as the clear-cut top options in 2025, however, are two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2024 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.

Here is a final look at the first-round order:

Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Cleveland Browns (3-14)
New York Giants (3-14)
New England Patriots (4-13)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
New York Jets (5-12)
Carolina Panthers (5-12)
New Orleans Saints (5-12)
Chicago Bears (5-12)
San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
Miami Dolphins (8-9)
Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
Denver Broncos (10-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Green Bay Packers (11-6)
Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Houston Texans (10-7)
Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Detroit Lions (15-2)
Washington Commanders (12-5)
Buffalo Bills (13-4)
Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Philadelphia Eagles Win Super Bowl LIX

February 9th, 2025 at 9:17pm CST by Ely Allen

And, with that, the 2024 NFL season has come to an end. The clock has hit four zeroes, and the Philadelphia Eagles are the Super Bowl LIX champions beating the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22.

After earning their first ever championship since before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger back in 2017, the Eagles have now won two Super Bowls in eight years, not to mention an additional appearance in the game two years ago. That last appearance, a Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs, 38-35, was avenged tonight thanks to a dominant performance from Philadelphia’s defense.

Following that previous Super Bowl loss, the Eagles were a first-round exit last year. This led to a busy offseason that saw them extend the contracts of key offensive players like wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, left tackle Jordan Mailata, and left guard Landon Dickerson. Perhaps most important was the free agent signing of division-rival running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley led the league in rushing, accomplishing the NFL’s first 2,000-yard rushing season since 2020. With the production he had in the offseason, as well, including tonight’s win, Barkley broke the record for most single-season rushing yards including the postseason with 2,504 yards.

The team’s front office did big work on the defensive side of the ball, as well. First, they hired Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator to replace Sean Desai, whom they decided not to retain. Then, they reworked defensive end Josh Sweat‘s contract to keep him around for the year, added free agent pass rusher Bryce Huff across from him, and signed huge contributors in linebacker Zack Baun and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Perhaps most crucial to the defense were the first- and second-round draft additions of cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the former of which finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and the latter of which returned a Patrick Mahomes interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of tonight’s game.

The Eagles’ dominance on defense was felt not only in the secondary but all over the field. In addition to interceptions by DeJean and Baun, Philadelphia racked up six sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and six tackles for loss without blitzing a single snap, per James Palmer of Bleacher Report. The offense spread out the ball well but, ultimately, didn’t do much, as they weren’t really asked to. Fangio and his unit were the unofficial MVPs of the game; quarterback Jalen Hurts was the official Super Bowl LIX Most Valuable Player.

The Eagles season had an up and down start. They opened up the year with a win over the Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before dropping two of their next three games. Following an early Week 5 bye, Philadelphia established what their identity would be, rattling off 10 straight wins. An injury to Hurts resulted in their only loss after September as backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee took over for the remainder of the season. A loss at quarterback wasn’t too detrimental, though, as the NFL’s No. 2 rushing offense was able to continue carrying the NFL’s 29th-best passing offense.

Tonight’s Super Bowl win was a microcosm of what the team’s defense had done all year. Fangio’s defense finished second in the NFL in scoring defense and was the top defense in total yards thanks to a passing defense that had the Eagles as the only team in the NFL not to allow 3,000 passing yards this year. The Eagles blitzed at a rate that was the fifth-least in the NFL in 2024, but that strategy didn’t really pay dividends until tonight as the team was fifth-worst in pressures during the regular season, as well.

This year, the Chiefs were the Chiefs. Despite a down year from Mahomes and injuries that held the team without one or both of wide receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown for most of the season, the Chiefs won 15 games. They were buoyed a bit by a top-four scoring defense and the ninth-best total defense, but Mahomes’ clutch abilities were able to extend an already existing streak of wins in one-score games to 17 straight.

The Chiefs’ goals of being the first threepeat in NFL history will now start over. They’ll expect to return Rice alongside this year’s first-round rookie, Xavier Worthy, next year, but receivers DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Brown are all destined for the free agent market. Also, with Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine both in contract years, the Chiefs will have to decide how to approach the running backs group with only Isiah Pacheco and Carson Steele returning. Aside from that, a number of aging veterans like tight end Travis Kelce (36), left tackle Joe Thuney (33), and defensive tackle Chris Jones (31) may be starting to mull ideas about their future in the NFL.

As for the Eagles, while they will undoubtedly bask in the glow of this victory a little longer, their offseason awaits, as well. Key defenders like Sweat, Baun, cornerback Avonte Maddox, and defensive tackle Milton Williams are all facing free agency, not to mention veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, who, at 36 years old, has already indicated that retirement is in the cards. On offense, starting guard Mekhi Becton will be a free agent, and similar to Graham, right tackle Lane Johnson is 35 and could be thinking about walking out on top, as well. You can add 34-year-old cornerback Darius Slay and maybe even 32-year-old safety James Bradberry to that conversation, as well. Though, Slay spoke of wanting to play one more season.

For now, though, the Eagles will celebrate the accomplishments of the group they have. Led by stars familiar (Hurts, Brown, Smith) and new (Barkley) on offense, and a stout defense with consistent defensive line play, surprise contributors in the second level, and rising stars in the secondary.

While offensive coordinator Kellen Moore may end up getting poached to become the new head coach in New Orleans, the city that just got a front-row seat to see him win a Super Bowl, the rest of the staff, including Fangio and Super Bowl-winning head coach Nick Sirianni will focus on reloading and taking a shot at being the first NFC team to repeat as Super Bowl Champions since the Cowboys did so in the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

49ers Give WR Deebo Samuel Permission To Seek Trade; Parting Appears Likely

February 9th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Rory Parks

8:55pm: Samuel has been given permission to seek a trade, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Schefter’s ESPN colleague, Nick Wagoner, does not expect much of a return given that the club would be selling low.

Samuel said today (via Schefter), “it was a hard conversation to have with [Shanahan] because of the relationship that we have. But I have to do what’s best. I’m more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it’s best that we find another team.”

8:19am: Just like last offseason, 49ers WR Deebo Samuel may be the subject of trade rumors in the weeks and months ahead. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, San Francisco is expected to explore a trade involving the 2021 First Team All-Pro.

Samuel enjoyed a stunning breakout in that 2021 campaign, his third season in the NFL. He piled up 1,405 receiving yards on a league-best 18.2 yards-per-reception rate to go along with six receiving touchdowns, and he added 59 rushes for 365 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and eight more TDs. That performance earned him a three-year, $71.55MM extension in July 2022.

Since signing the contract, Samuel has remained a key cog in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense, though he has not come close to reaching the heights of his 2021 effort. And, in 2024, he set or tied career-lows in targets (81), catches (51), yards per carry (3.2), and rushing scores (one) (excluding the 2020 season, in which he played just seven games).

Last year, the 49ers engaged in lengthy extension talks with fellow WR Brandon Aiyuk – a period that included trade discussions with clubs interested in Aiyuk – and Samuel’s name also came up in trade conversations during the 2024 draft. The Bills, Patriots, and Steelers – all of whom are still in the WR market – showed interest at the time.

After San Francisco selected wideout Ricky Pearsall in last year’s first round and finally agreed to an extension with Aiyuk, it became clear that Samuel’s days with the club could be numbered. However, there were no substantive trade talks centered around Samuel in the run-up to last year’s deadline, perhaps because Aiyuk was lost for the season due to an ACL tear before such conversations would have taken place. And, just last month, GM John Lynch and Samuel indicated the 29-year-old playmaker would see out the 2025 season – the last year of his current deal – with the Niners.

Of course, even if Lynch does speak to clubs interested in Samuel, there is no guarantee he will make a move. If a trade is consummated, though – and Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle describes a parting as “likely” – Rapoport says both player and team will be at peace with it.

Despite 2024’s downturn in production, Rapoport expects plenty of teams to be interested in acquiring Samuel’s services. The South Carolina product said in December that he was “a little frustrated for sure” by his reduced role in the 49ers’ offense, and in a since-deleted post on X that he made around the same time, he said he was not struggling, he just was not getting the ball. Perhaps rival clubs share that sentiment and believe they can help Samuel return to his All-Pro form.

From a cap perspective, a trade could be complicated by Samuel’s September restructure. Trading him prior to June 1 would create a negative cap charge of over $15MM, whereas a post-June 1 transaction would allow the team to at least spread out the dead money and save about $5MM against the 2025 cap. Every little bit will help as the Niners gear up for a lucrative Brock Purdy extension.

Cowboys Have Had Internal Discussions About Micah Parsons Trade

February 9th, 2025 at 8:50pm CST by Rory Parks

Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is entering the fifth-year option season of his rookie deal, has said he is hoping to hammer out an extension with Dallas at some point prior to training camp, but that was before the club elected not to retain head coach Mike McCarthy. As Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com write, Parsons called that decision “devastating,” and the normally candid defender has been quiet since the team promoted Brian Schottenheimer to the HC post.

One would not expect the McCarthy decision to be an insurmountable obstacle to a Parsons-Cowboys re-up, a deal that has been discussed for some time. However, like fellow standout EDGE Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade from the Browns, Parsons may see the Cowboys as a club that could be in something of a transition phase.

In addition, Dallas has both QB Dak Prescott and WR CeeDee Lamb on deals at or near the top of the market for their respective positions, and Parsons is on track to top the highly-lucrative pass rusher market (currently paced by Nick Bosa’s $34.2MM AAV). And, depending on when he signs his deal relative to positional peers like Garrett, T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, and Trey Hendrickson – all of whom are older than Parsons and arguably not as talented – Parsons could leave Bosa’s number in the dust.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones recently said team brass will evaluate the wisdom of having so much money tied up in so few players, though he also indicated he did not envision Parsons playing for any team other than Dallas. However, Pelissero and Rapoport hear that the team has at least had some internal discussions about whether to trade the Penn State product.

If the Cowboys do entertain a trade, the return could be staggering (some league execs and coaches believe Garrett, who is three years Parsons’ senior, could fetch a haul including two Day 1 picks). Parsons, who is entering his age-26 season, has strung together four remarkable years that have him on a surefire Hall of Fame trajectory. Strong against the run and dominant when rushing the passer, Parsons is 4-for-4 in Pro Bowl nods and has two First Team All-Pro bids as well (to go along with several near misses in Defensive Player of the Year voting and even some down-ballot MVP consideration in 2022). Despite missing some time due to injury in 2024, Parsons tallied 12 sacks, bringing his career total to 52.5 (an average of over 13 per year).

It would be easy to see a team ponying up the draft capital and the contract necessary to get a deal done, but it would still be surprising if the Cowboys moved on from a talent like Parsons (especially since the team presumably does not see itself in a transitional posture). Indeed, Clarence Hill Jr. of ALL CITY DLLS unequivocally states that such a trade will not happen, and Joel Corry of CBS Sports expects Dallas and Parsons to come to terms on a new contract over the next few months.

Nonetheless, the possibility creates one more intriguing storyline in a 2025 pass rusher market that is rife with them.

Derek Carr Expected To Draw Trade Interest If Saints Move On

February 9th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets will not have Aaron Rodgers in the fold next season, meaning the team is committed to moving in a new direction under center. The Saints also have a notable call to make regarding their veteran quarterback.

Derek Carr is on the books for the next two years, and his compensation for the coming season represents a potential sticking point for New Orleans. A $10MM roster bonus is due for 2025, and early in the new league year next month the 33-year-old’s $30MM base salary is set to vest. A decision will need to be made before that point as a result.

Given the inconsistent nature of Carr’s two seasons to date (not to mention that fact he was limited to 10 games in 2024), the Saints could look to move on. In the event that were to take place, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes a market would likely exist for Carr’s services (video link). No commitment either way has been made at this point, something which obviously remain the case until a head coaching hire is made.

General manager Mickey Loomis said last month the team’s next HC will have a say in deciding how the organization proceeds with Carr. The longtime Raider is by far the most experienced option on New Orleans’ depth chart, but turning to Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener would allow for the Saints to operate with a much less expensive QB starter. Considering the fact the team is once again projected to be well over the salary cap, financial savings would certainly be welcomed at any position. Carr has made it clear he is not prepared to accept a pay cut.

The Saints are of course the only team in the NFL without a head coach at the moment, but that will likely change shortly. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is universally expected to be hired when New Orleans is allowed to bring him into the fold (i.e. any time after tonight’s Super Bowl). The former Cowboys and Chargers OC played as a quarterback, and expectations will be high for the Saints’ offense in general and the team’s play at that position in particular provided he is hired. A key decision will need to be made by Moore and Co. shortly after his (presumed) arrival, though.

As Garafolo notes, the pending free agent quarterback class is not well regarded. Aside from Sam Darnold, the likes of Rodgers, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and – in the likely event the Falcons cut bait this offseason – Kirk Cousins are the top veteran options suitors will have to choose from. Especially with the crop of 2025 rookies viewed as lacking in clear-cut franchise passers, Carr could be a suitable short-term addition in the eyes of at least some suitors.

A Carr trade before June 1 would create over $11MM in cap savings for the Saints, but it would generate a dead money charge of more than $40MM. Waiting until after that date to trade (or, for that matter, release) him would be much more beneficial from a financial perspective. A direction will need to be chosen along a much shorter timeline, however, so it will be interesting to see how the Saints proceed.

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