HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

49ers To Promote Klay Kubiak To OC; Brian Griese No Longer On Staff

February 26th, 2025 at 8:05am CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 26: Griese has decided to leave coaching after three seasons, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch reports. The former NFL starter, 49, had weighed leaving after his first season with the 49ers but opted to keep going. Two years later, Purdy’s position coach is leaving the profession.

FEBRUARY 25: The 49ers are following through with their expected OC plan. They will promote Klay Kubiak to the post, according to a team announcement. That will give the NFC West two second-generation Kubiaks as OCs.

Klint‘s Seattle role will differ from Klay’s San Francisco description, as Kyle Shanahan will remain the 49ers’ play-caller. However, the 49ers are making a notable change just south of the OC level. Mick Lombardi is moving up to QBs coach, replacing Brian Griese.

To comply with the Rooney Rule, the 49ers interviewed Iowa State wide receivers coach Noah Pauley for the job. They also met with Oregon assistant Junior Adams, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweets. Adams has since taken over as the Cowboys’ wide receivers coach. This non-play-calling post was always expected to go to Klay Kubiak, who has been with the team since 2021.

This will mark a climb for the younger Kubiak brother, who was the team’s assistant QBs coach in 2023 and a pass-game specialist last season. Shanahan has not always filled his OC position, last using the title before Mike McDaniel‘s exit in 2021. While Shanahan will still run the show, Kubiak moving up a rung is somewhat consequential. He will be in place as the accomplished HC’s right-hand man on offense. That role has produced HC and play-calling opportunities in the recent past.

The Lombardi-for-Griese move changes out second-generation NFL personnel. This brings about an interesting development for Griese, who turned down the chance to interview for the Jets’ HC position earlier this offseason. The former QB-turned-announcer-turned-assistant was with the 49ers for three seasons, moving straight from the Monday Night Football booth to Shanahan’s staff. Griese was in place when Brock Purdy made a stunning surge from Mr. Irrelevant to late-season injury replacement to Super Bowl starter who went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes. It will be interesting to see where Griese lands next.

After Michael Lombardi followed Bill Belichick to North Carolina, his son will reemerge in a prominent NFL role. Fired after 1 1/2 seasons as Raiders OC under Josh McDaniels, Mick Lombardi landed as a senior offensive assistant for the 49ers last season. The ex-Patriots staffer will work more closely with Purdy in 2025. This will be Lombardi’s first QBs coaching role at any level.

Bengals Prepared To Make Ja’Marr Chase NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB

February 25th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals were unable to work out an extension agreement with Ja’Marr Chase last offseason, and the decision to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins led to doubt about his future beyond 2024. In the case of both receivers, the team remains intent on inking both to long-term deals.

Chase in particular will require an historic investment in the wake of Justin Jefferson resetting the market for non-quarterbacks last year. Chase’s LSU teammate secured $35MM per year on average from the Vikings, but a new Bengals deal will check in at a higher rate. Coming off the back of a triple-crown season, Chase has been connected to an asking price of $40MM per season.

In spite of the organization’s track record regarding massive player investments, reaching an agreement at least in the vicinity of that figure is the target. De facto general manager Duke Tobin said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the Bengals are planning to “reward” Chase by making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. Head coach Zac Taylor echoed that sentiment when speaking to the media (h/t Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer).

As Joe Burrow has turned up the heat on the franchise regarding doing what it takes to retain Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, Tobin has offered some support that the QB will see a positive outcome here. The longtime Bengals exec said (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) he is optimistic extensions for all three are doable.

The Bengals are paying for delaying the Chase deal, as the hesitancy — a delay not shown by the Eagles and Dolphins with first-rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle — preceded a price-raising season from the 2021 fifth overall pick. Miami and Philly became the first teams — in the fifth-year option era — to extend a first-round wideout with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. Mike Brown said early in training camp the Bengals were unlikely to follow suit. Although the team was believed to have come close to extending Chase before last season, not doing so will lead to a bigger payment being required. While surpassing Jefferson’s $35MM AAV is one matter, a team not known for post-Year 1 guarantees going past the $88.7MM the Vikings fully guaranteed their All-Pro wideout is another.

Regarding Higgins, the Bengals paying him would contradict a years-long expectation. Higgins had been expected to depart, via free agency defection or tag-and-trade transaction, for a while. Last month, Tobin said the team would aim to re-sign Higgins at the “right number.” It would seem Burrow’s efforts, years after Carson Palmer forced his way out due to frustration with the organization’s transactional aggressiveness, are not going unnoticed in the Cincinnati building.

Hendrickson is eyeing a lucrative fourth contract, after tacking a one-year extension onto his initial Bengals agreement, and would be OK if it came after a trade. The All-Pro defensive end wants a quick resolution, however. Like Chase, one season remains on Hendrickson’s deal. For all the criticisms lobbed the Bengals’ way regarding contract matters, they do have a recent history of authorizing third contracts for D-linemen. They paid both Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap in 2018. Of course, paying Hendrickson with Burrow tied to a $55MM-per-year deal is a different matter even with the recent cap spikes considered.

As we detailed in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, how the Bengals proceed this offseason may well affect their long-term relationship with Burrow. The superstar QB will undoubtedly be monitoring these situations closely, with the Higgins matter — expected to produce at least a placeholder franchise tag — first on the docket.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Josh Sweat Expected To Depart In Free Agency; Eagles On Radar For Myles Garrett

February 25th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andrew Berry is not budging on his early-offseason Myles Garrett stances. The Browns are set against trading the future Hall of Fame pass rusher.

Reaffirming that at the Combine, the sixth-year GM said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the Browns are “not interested in moving him.” Other teams continue to circle, with the Browns having received calls on a player who has made it clear he wants out. Cleveland is prepping a monster Garrett extension offer — during what should be an explosive offseason on the EDGE market — but it is unclear how much that would move the needle for the disgruntled All-Pro.

[RELATED: Sweat Makes Agency Change]

As teams look into this matter, execs around the league are connecting the Eagles as a team that will be pursuing a pass rusher. This loose Philly-Garrett tie comes as Josh Sweat nears free agency. It does not look like the reigning Super Bowl champions will re-sign the standout edge rusher, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicating (h/t iHeartRadio’s Victor Williams) expectations are pointing to a Sweat exit in free agency.

Sweat could hardly have done more to finalize his case as a top-tier free agency in the upcoming class, having hounded Patrick Mahomes throughout Super Bowl LIX. Exposing a Joe Thuney-at-LT plan that had been moderately effective for the Chiefs en route to the Super Bowl, Sweat collected 2.5 sacks and forced an interception when he drove the Kansas City LT into Mahomes late in the first half. Sweat, 27, finished the season with eight sacks and did well to reestablish his value after accepting a March 2024 pay cut.

Playing for $10MM last season, Sweat will be aiming much higher as a first-time free agent. The former fourth-round pick signed a three-year, $40MM extension with the Eagles in 2021. He became the team’s 2024 edge-rushing centerpiece, as Brandon Graham went down with a triceps tear and Bryce Huff — thus far, at least — proved unworthy of the three-year, $51.1MM deal. Although the Eagles have Nolan Smith set to play a lead role in next year’s pass rush, third-round rookie Jalyx Hunt may still be viewed as a backup.

This has connected execs to Garrett for Philly. Some around the league mentioned the Eagles as a landing spot previously, citing Berry’s past working for Howie Roseman. The Eagles, who added a third-round pick by unloading Haason Reddick last spring, have made splashy trades under Roseman. They moved a first-rounder to add A.J. Brown in 2022, parted with a second to acquire Ronald Darby in 2017. Roseman was in the Eagles’ front office (but not yet GM) when they dealt first-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to obtain Jason Peters from the Bills back in 2009. Peters and Brown proved worthy of the trade costs.

Teams are prepared to part with a first-round pick and change for Garrett, even though Berry has continued to come out against any trade. Garrett, 29, would also be eyeing a big-ticket extension. That would affect teams’ trade offers, but the Eagles have shown a willingness to be creative to help fit contracts onto their cap sheet in the recent past. It might take a while to pry Garrett from Cleveland, with the draft looming as the first notable deadline here. But the Eagles have been willing to wait on big trades in the past.

Giants Called Rams On Matthew Stafford Before 2024 Deadline; Team Eyeing Shedeur Sanders?

February 25th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

One two of the hottest seats in the NFL, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are carrying a quarterback depth chart without any names. While Tommy DeVito is expected to be tendered as an ERFA and retained, the Giants’ pursuit of a starter — and perhaps a backup — will define their offseason.

A recent report suggested the team will be interested in pairing a veteran and a rookie to join DeVito on the 2025 roster, and while this year’s free agent class (particularly if Sam Darnold is taken off the board via the franchise tag) is not especially impressive, Matthew Stafford trade buzz persists. The Giants have been mentioned as a team interested in swinging a deal, and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes their interest in the talented passer stretches back to before last year’s trade deadline.

[RELATED: Giants Not Prepared To Trade No. 3 Pick For Stafford]

The Giants inquired about the Rams quarterback’s availability before that point, per Raanan. The Rams, who started 1-4 as injuries mounted early in the season, also received inquiries on Cooper Kupp. A Giants-Stafford partnership would have been odd at that point, too, considering their sluggish start. But the parties are being closely tied together now due to the latest Rams-Stafford contract issue.

While Kupp is not expected to be part of their 2025 roster, the Rams are believed to want Stafford back. But the QB is eyeing a bigger commitment, seeking to join the ballooning $50MM-per-year club. While Stafford’s talent and performance warrant inclusion, the Rams are not certain to move into that territory for a player going into an age-37 season. Of the QBs on such contracts, none is older than 31.

The Rams are running out of time to find a solution with Stafford, whom they have let speak with other teams for a bit now. Stafford would give the Giants a locked-in starter, and it would stand to reason they would pass on this year’s underwhelming lot of QB prospects and focus on bettering their roster around the 16-year veteran. But the Giants are also still being linked to arms in this class. Some around the league believe Shedeur Sanders is their preferred arm in this year’s class, Raanan adds. The Giants have been tied to the Colorado QB for months and will meet with him on a “30” visit soon. Even though Cam Ward was viewed as New York’s preference in early January, the Miami transfer may not be there at No. 3.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the draft; we don’t know who’s going to be there,” Schoen said at the Combine. “When we get around these kids, they may or may not be fits for us. We’re going to have to address the position somewhere. Even if you get a young quarterback, you’d like to have a vet in the room with them to show them the ropes and how to be a pro. We’re looking at all different avenues.

“We’re going to look at vets. We’re going to look at the draft. We’re going to look at trade candidates. We’re going to look under every rock to find the best prospect for us going into the ’25 season.”

The Giants would have a decent shot to land one of the top two arms in this class. The Titans and Browns have each been linked to trading down — though, teams annually are tied to doing so — while Schoen said (via the LandOnDemand.com’s Tony Grossi) the Giants are open to moving up or down. Colorado two-way phenom Travis Hunter has been connected to the top spot, while Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter has as well. Those prospects would stand to provide the Titans with better value, but the team also could be readying a move back to recoup assets (perhaps via the QB-needy Raiders) to start GM Mike Borgonzi‘s tenure.

The Giants tried to swing a trade to land Drake Maye last year but passed on the Michael Penix Jr.–J.J. McCarthy–Bo Nix contingent at No. 6. The Patriots passed on a trade offer that included the team’s 2025 first-round pick. The Giants would probably balk at dealing No. 3 for Stafford, but the Rams will certainly ask about that pick, as they are eyeing a first-rounder in a potential swap. The team’s No. 34 choice and more would stand to be in play for Stafford.

John Mara kept Daboll and Schoen after a 3-14 season, but a similar showing in 2025 will almost definitely lead the duo out of town. Even starting the season slowly would likely put jobs in jeopardy. Stafford does not hold a no-trade clause, but like Aaron Rodgers in 2023, it would stand to reason he would need to greenlight his destination since a team will be both giving up notable assets for him and authorizing a big-ticket contract. While the Giants do not match the Rams for roster talent or coaching acumen, being willing to give Stafford a raise makes them a team to monitor. Though the Giants still have Daniel Jones dead money ($22.2MM) on their books, that would be unlikely to impede a Stafford swap due to the power brokers’ hot-seat statuses.

Although it would stand to reason for Stafford to prefer staying in the system he knows, as he has signed four lucrative contracts in a career that dates back to a pre-rookie-scale-era Lions deal, money may be a more critical factor here. That would stand to benefit the Giants and other teams in pursuit.

Chargers Have Discussed Extension With Rashawn Slater

February 25th, 2025 at 10:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chargers have discussed a contract extension with left tackle Rashawn Slater, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

“We’ve had conversations,” said general manager Joe Hortiz (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “I love Rashawn. And Rashawn is a great player, and he helps us win football games, so I’d love Rashan to be around for a long time.”

Slater has been one of the league’s best left tackles since being drafted with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. His rookie season featured Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, as well as a fourth-place finish in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. A torn biceps prematurely ended his second year, but he bounced back with a solid season in 2023 and another Pro Bowl nod in 2024.

The Chargers picked up Slater’s fifth-year option last March and are set to pay him just over $19MM this year. A long-term extension could lower his cap hit considerably, giving Los Angeles even more money for free agency next month.

Slater, who will turn 26 in March, will likely seek a top-of-the-market left tackle contract. For comparison, fellow 2021 first-rounder Christian Darrisaw signed a $26MM APY extension with the Vikings heading into his age-26 season in 2024. With another significant cap increase this offseason, Slater will likely surpass that number and could even push to match the $27.5M per-year salary of Trent Williams.

Both Hortiz and director of player personnel strategy Corey Krawiec came up in Baltimore, where the Ravens have a history of extending franchise cornerstones. Slater would certainly fall under that category as a premier left tackle, making an extension with the Chargers seem like an inevitability.

Colts’ New QB Will Compete With Anthony Richardson

February 25th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Colts are planning to add a quarterback this offseason and hold an “open” competition with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback job, according to general manager Chris Ballard.

“It’s got to be the right guy to create real competition,” said Ballard (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder), adding that such competition would be good for Richardson and the team as a whole. The Colts have struggled to develop Richardson since taking him fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, in no small part due to his injuries. The 22-year-old has missed 17 of 34 regular season games since being drafted, which is especially detrimental to a player who was considered a raw prospect coming out of college.

“We drafted Anthony high knowing it was going to take some time and we knew there’s going to be some hiccups along the way,” continued Ballard. “I know we all want a finished product right now…But I think as he continues to progress in his young career, us adding competition, I think, will help up everybody’s game.”

The Colts still believe that Richardson can eventually refine his physical gifts into a more finished product on the field. They hope that the competition will spur faster improvements while giving them an alternate option at quarterback to remain competitive if Richardson struggles.

“We’ve had good conversations,” said Ballard. “Anthony’s accepted all of it. He understands there needs to be some growth and there’s work.”

Both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen mentioned consistency as a key area of improvement for Richardson. He completed a league-low 47.7% of his passing attempts in 2024 with a league-high 4.5% interception rate.

As for the new quarterback, Ballard said that the Colts will be looking to free agency, the draft, and even the trade market. Their investment will reflect their faith in Richardson to develop into a franchise quarterback. Spending a first-round pick or pursuing a premium veteran like Sam Darnold would signal a willingness to move on from Richardson just two years after drafting him. A later draft pick or lesser free agent like Mac Jones would indicate more belief in Richardson’s ability to overcome a slow start to his career. Justin Fields may be an ideal blend of investment and starting potential, especially since his mobility would fit well in Indianapolis’s offense.

Giants Won’t Move No. 3 Pick For Matthew Stafford; Rams Unwilling To Meet $50MM Asking Price?

February 25th, 2025 at 9:27pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants are interested in trading for Matthew Stafford, but the No. 3 pick is (unsurprisingly) off-limits in a potential deal, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

New York’s second-round pick (No. 34 overall) would likely be a “starting point” in negotiations with the Rams, per Duggan, though that would also mean that the Giants are willing to meet Stafford’s financial demands.

He reportedly wants $50MM per year, which would represent a 25% increase on the $40MM APY of his current deal. The Rams, for their part, are willing to give Stafford a raise of some sort, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, they are not believed to be comfortable giving him the upper-echelon quarterback contract he’s seeking. The Rams clearly didn’t feel comfortable meeting his asking price, which is why they’re allowing Stafford to speak with other teams. He can assess his value and decide if his future is in Los Angeles or elsewhere.

Fowler said that he expects the Steelers and the Giants to explore acquiring Stafford in the coming weeks. Both teams are seeking stability at quarterback after multiple years of turmoil under center, though spending premium draft capital and $50MM per year on Stafford may not be a long-term solution.

Stafford wants his contract situation to be “resolved fairly soon,” per Fowler, who believes the veteran quarterback’s future is still with the Rams. Los Angeles would want to reach an agreement with Stafford as soon as possible to clarify their salary cap picture ahead of free agency.

Long-Term Deal Coming For RG Trey Smith In Kansas City?

February 25th, 2025 at 8:59pm CST by Ely Allen

An earlier report today discussed how, despite the difficulty the Chiefs would face in adding another eight-figure-per-year deal to their ledger, general manager Brett Veach felt “pretty optimistic” about extending right guard Trey Smith to a long-term deal. An even more recent report from Nate Taylor of The Athletic tell us that there’s “growing optimism” that Kansas City will sign Smith to a five-year deal soon.

Taylor dropped the news on the Only Weird Games podcast, changing the perspective a bit on the Chiefs’ chances to extend their impressive young guard. Depending on the franchise tag statuses of quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Tee Higgins, Smith has a chance to land one of the largest contracts (per annual average value) in free agency this offseason.

Coming into 2025, the Chiefs already have Patrick Mahomes ($45MM per year), Chris Jones ($31.75MM), Jawaan Taylor ($20MM), Creed Humphrey ($18MM), Joe Thuney ($16MM), and potentially Travis Kelce ($17.13MM) on deals averaging eight figures per year. With three of those big salaries already coming along the offensive line and all but one on the offensive side of the ball, it seemed relatively unlikely that we would see Kansas City dedicate yet another big-money, long-term deal to that particular area of the team. Nevertheless, Taylor seems to be indicating that it’s more likely than we presumed.

Since getting drafted in the sixth round in 2021, Smith has consistently been a top-15 guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), grading out as high as the 10th-best guard in the league last year. It took him until this year to be recognized for those efforts, as he earned his first career Pro Bowl invite in 2024, though two Super Bowl rings are probably decent consolation.

We have heard plenty about the Smith situation over the past several months. The Bears have been linked to reuniting him with Ryan Poles, who was on the Chiefs’ staff when they drafted Smith. The Chiefs are not expected to tag the guard, as the position is rarely tagged, due to all offensive linemen being grouped together under the tag formula, meaning that tackles drive up the tag prices for guards. The team will have until 11am CT on March 10 to negotiate exclusively with Smith’s camp. Considering Smith has made it this far, it would take a monster offer to keep him from speaking with other teams.

While the “growing optimism” is surely encouraging, the Chiefs have work to do. It sounds like the groundwork is being laid to establish Smith as the right guard of the future in Kansas City, but they have not crossed the finish line yet. The upcoming NFL Scouting Combine serves as an unofficial tampering period, and the Pro Bowl blocker will probably learn more about who is interested this week while getting an idea of his value. A deal that eclipses Landon Dickerson‘s guard-record extension (four years, $84MM) should be expected, as the cap is again spiking by more than $20MM, and Smith will have the leverage of a tantalizing open market that is sure to reward him handsomely.

Regardless, it seems that things are trending in the right direction for Kansas City to hold on to their talented, consistent, young guard. The sooner they can push this deal across the finish line, the better for the team. Either way, Smith is fast on his way to securing the big bucks and solidifying himself as a household name in the NFL.

Kirk Cousins To Remain Falcons’ QB2

February 25th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons are planning to move forward with Kirk Cousins on the roster, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Cousins was tabbed for an offseason release after he was benched for the last three games of the 2024 season. After the season ended, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that Cousins would remain in Atlanta as the backup quarterback behind Michael Penix.

Fontenot restated those plans at the Combine, adding, “We have to do what’s right for the Falcons,” per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Cousins’ contract has created a complicated situation in Atlanta. His $27.5MM base salary in 2025 is fully-guaranteed, making a pre-June 1 release almost impossible for the cap-strapped Falcons. A 2026 roster bonus worth $10MM will become fully-guaranteed on March 17, per OverTheCap, which would increase the dead cap hits resulting from a post-June 1 release.

Trading Cousins would allow the Falcons to pass on Cousins’ remaining salary and roster bonuses, but the struggles that led to his benching will likely dissuade any team from giving up draft picks and taking on his contract. Cousins has been linked with the Browns on multiple occasions, but only as a free agent signing, not a trade acquisition.

Cousins’ health also remains a concern. The 36-year-old was noticeably immobile in 2024 after recovering from a torn Achilles the season before. He also suffered injuries to his right shoulder and elbow in Week 10 that contributed to his downturn in play. With such a sizable contract, Cousins is unlikely to draw trade interest until he proves that he can be a healthy, starting-caliber quarterback.

All indications suggest that the Falcons are willing to play out the situation until a more palatable solution presents itself, either via trade or release further down the line. It’s worth noting that the Broncos opted to move on from Russell Wilson – even if it mean absorbing the largest dead cap hit in league history – so that Sean Payton could get a clean start with Bo Nix under center. If Cousins’ continued presence on the roster serves as a distraction, Atlanta may opt for a clean break rather than holding out hope of recouping some value in a trade.

Load More Posts