2025 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: March 2025

Top Two Teams In Draft Split On Colorado’s Travis Hunter

February 25th, 2025 at 7:31pm CST by Ely Allen

While the quarterbacks have garnered plenty of attention at the projected top of the 2025 NFL Draft, many recent prospect rankings have Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter as the No. 1 overall prospect, usually joined at the top by two-way Colorado athlete Travis Hunter. If Hunter does end up contending for one of the top two picks in the draft, it could mean two drastically different possibilities for his future in the NFL.

Hunter was a unicorn at the collegiate level of football. While we’ve seen players in the past like Charles Woodson, Champ Bailey, and Chris Gamble play through college on both sides of the ball full-time, Hunter did so while being a top-four player on his team in snaps played on both offense and defense and while grading out on Pro Football Focus (subscription required) as the best defensive player for the Buffaloes and the second-best offensive player. In the entire nation, Hunter’s 86.3 offensive grade slotted him as the seventh-best receiver in the FBS, while his defensive grade of 88.2 slotted him as the seventh-best cornerback in the country, as well.

His elite, dual-threat athleticism helped Hunter to become the first non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy since 2020 (DeVonta Smith) and the first player who played significant snaps on defense to win the award since 1997 (Woodson). In addition, he became the first player in college football history to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best wide receiver.

The NFL will be a different story for Hunter, though. In Boulder, coaches knew that, because of the heightened load of playing on both offense and defense on Saturdays, Hunter would need a lightened load in practice during the week. It was also impossible for Hunter to attend both offensive and defensive meetings (as well as broken-down meetings with individual position groups) simultaneously, so he had to budget his time between meetings. Due to the giant learning curve that often accompanies rookies making the jump from college to professional football, that likely won’t fly in the NFL.

So far, the reports we’ve seen coming out of scouting circles have favored Hunter as a cornerback in the NFL who can play in certain packages on offense. This would follow in the footsteps of Woodson, Bailey, and Gamble, who all became defensive backs as pros. Despite the majority seeing this as the probable outcome, there have certainly been a number of teams who are reported to view him as a wide receiver first. It just so happens that one of those teams has the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Titans head coach Brian Callahan and general manager Mike Borgonzi view Hunter primarily as a cornerback, while Andrew Berry, general manager in Cleveland, says Hunter is “a unicorn” that they view primarily as a wide receiver.

That means that, if both teams decide to pass up on quarterbacks and Hunter pushes Carter for the honor of top prospect, Hunter’s NFL future could be decided on if he’s selected No. 1 by the Titans as a corner or No. 2 by the Browns as a receiver. After Tennessee spent a third-round pick and a four-year, $76.4MM extension to watch L’Jarius Sneed be one of the worst cornerbacks in football last year, per PFF, the Titans could use a boost in the secondary. Hunter would also be a solid addition to their wide receiving corps, but with Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, he’s not necessarily needed for every possession.

In Cleveland, while Denzel Ward continues to play at a high level, the Browns could certainly use improved performances around him from young guys like Martin Emerson, Greg Newsome, and Cameron Mitchell. On offense, though, Hunter would immediately step in as WR2 behind Jerry Jeudy. With Elijah Moore entering free agency, the Browns next two returning receivers would be Cedric Tillman (339 yards, three touchdowns) and Michael Woods (65 yards, no touchdowns).

On both teams, it’s clear Hunter could provide a massive improvement to either side of the ball, and perhaps on both sides of the ball, if either team is willing to work him there. The difference between Tennessee’s and Berry’s assessments seems to do less with roster needs and more with personal analysis. While the quarterbacks are sure to keep things interesting atop the first few picks of the draft, if Carter and Hunter end up trending around Nos. 1 and 2, it will be interesting to see exactly how the chips fall and what it will mean for Hunter’s professional career.

Broncos To Discuss Courtland Sutton Extension; Team Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel?

February 25th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Courtland Sutton has now put together back-to-back quality seasons. After helping Russell Wilson rebound from a disastrous 2022 with a 10-touchdown 2023, the Broncos’ top wide receiver aided Bo Nix to boost the team’s playoff chances.

Sutton’s second career 1,000-yard season performed heavy lifting in Denver’s journey to a 10-7 record and first playoff berth in nine years. The veteran wide receiver remains tied to the $15MM-per-year extension he signed during the 2021 season. On one hand, Sutton secured a reasonable deal for a player with his accomplishments at the time. On the other, he tied himself down as multiple market booms transformed the position’s salary landscape.

That four-year, $60MM pact is up after the 2025 season. The Broncos were believed to have made this offseason the point they would discuss new terms with Sutton, after only agreeing to a minor incentive package in 2024. The talented receiver/trade-rumor mainstay is on the team’s extension radar, though it does not seem likely a new deal emerges soon within days or weeks.

“[GM] George [Paton] and I were just talking about it. Those discussions will take place [between] George, Courtland’s [agent],” Sean Payton said (via 9News’ Mike Klis). “We felt he had a real good season; he’s important to what we’re doing. So all of that will happen in time and I don’t think now’s the time.”

Paton did say he will meet with Sutton’s agent at the Combine. Sutton, 29, has made the interesting transition from a player thrown into trade rumors at just about every trade window between the 2022 and ’24 deadlines — these cycles including the Broncos declining a 49ers third-round pick — to one the Broncos are again ready to build around. After unloading Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick last year, Denver has Sutton still in place from the John Elway era. While Jeudy did re-emerge (particularly in a monster revenge performance in Denver) with a solid season after being traded, the Broncos saw Sutton post 1,081 receiving yards and eight TDs in 2024. The 6-foot-4 target played the lead role in Nix throwing the second-most TD passes (29) by a rookie in NFL history.

Among active WR deals, Sutton ranks 22nd in AAV. He is due a nonguaranteed $13.5MM, an amount Sutton and his agent have informed the Broncos (via Klis) will be untenable for 2025. While the Broncos have some time to resolve this matter, augmenting their skill-position corps around their WR1 will be a near-future task.

Even if the seven-year vet is retained on a deal more in line with today’s market, the Broncos have questions at receiver. Two-for-two in first-team All-Pro nods as a return man, Marvin Mims has slowly made progress on offense. The team also saw sporadic production from rookies Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, but it can be argued the Broncos are in need of another piece. Payton, however, pointed to a tight end being a higher priority compared to receiver. Today brought more in that direction.

The Broncos are not believed to be interested in Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel in trades, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck adds. Both NFC West standouts are not expected back with their respective teams, but the Rams and 49ers also have been linked to potentially cutting the All-Pros. This would open the door for receiver-needy teams and potentially affect the lot of veteran free agents at the position.

Samuel would be closer to what Payton seeks in his perpetual quest to add a “joker” performer to his offense. Denver lacked reliable pass catchers at running back and tight end last season. Samuel profiles as an inside playmaker, albeit an injury-prone one coming off a down season. He amassed just 670 receiving yards in 15 games and has frequently battled short-term injuries; a more serious Jones fracture is also on Samuel’s medical sheet. Making his name as a slot ace, Kupp has also seen injuries hamper him since his triple-crown season in 2021.

Options will be available to the Broncos in free agency, as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen are all high-end route runners out of contract. Diontae Johnson also profiles as such, but he burned plenty of bridges (while torpedoing his value) during a turbulent 2024. The draft will also be an avenue for the Broncos to add a piece at receiver, as the team searches for RB and TE upgrades as well.

Chargers Hope To Re-Sign Khalil Mack; Team Open To Retaining Joey Bosa

February 25th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Khalil Mack‘s career will include at least one more season, but it remains to be seen where he will play in 2025. The former Defensive Player of the Year is on track for his first trip to free agency.

Mack has spent the past three year with the Chargers, collecting a Pro Bowl nod each time in that span. That brings his career total to nine, and even at the age of 34 a notable market could therefore exist in free agency. The Bolts want to work out a new deal with Mack before the new league year begins, though, something general manager Joe Hortiz spoke about on Tuesday.

“Khalil has never been a free agent in his life and so it might be something where Khalil wants to just say, ‘Hey, I was a free agent, I did it and I came back to LA,'” Hortiz said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). ” If it gets to that, that’s my hope.”

During the 2024 offseason – his first as a general manager – Hortiz was tasked with sorting out the Chargers’ cap situation. That was accomplished in large part by the release of Mike Williams and the trade which sent fellow receiver Keenan Allen to the Bears. Instead of moving on from Mack and/or Joey Bosa, Hortiz kept both of the team’s top edge rushers in place on restructured deals.

As a result, Bosa is set to carry a $36.47MM cap charge in 2025. A release would yield considerable cap savings in the case of the pending 2026 free agent, which is why many have pointed to that being a feasible move on the Chargers’ part. Hortiz said, however, he views it as “realistic” for Los Angeles to keep the oft-injured Pro Bowler on his contract as currently constructed (h/t Rhim).

Bosa played 14 games last year, a positive step after he was limited to five in 2022 and nine the following year. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year has spent his entire nine-year career with the Chargers, and Hortiz is clearly open to allowing him to continue on with the organization. If that proves to be the case with Mack being re-signed, the team will have veteran continuity along the edge in 2025.

Bengals To Add Sean Desai To Staff

February 25th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a quick demotion from his role as Eagles defensive coordinator, Sean Desai resurfaced in Los Angeles on Sean McVay‘s staff. The veteran defensive coach is now on his way to a fifth team in five years.

The two-time DC is expected to join the Bengals’ staff, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This will mark a reunion for Desai and new Cincinnati DC Al Golden. The two worked together on Golden’s Miami Hurricanes staff in 2011. Desai served as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of football ops that year.

Desai has seen both his NFL DC stops end after one season. The Vic Fangio disciple succeeded Chuck Pagano as Bears DC in 2021, and while the team had some success on that side of the ball that season, Matt Nagy being fired scattered his staff as well. The Bears ranked sixth in total defense that year, despite Khalil Mack going down midseason with a foot injury. Robert Quinn proceeded to break Richard Dent‘s single-season franchise sack record, totaling 18.5.

Following a one-off with the Seahawks in 2022, Desai landed the Eagles’ DC job. Philly looked to have had Fangio in mind to take over, but timing involving the clunky Jonathan Gannon exit scuttled that. As Fangio proved out of place in Miami, Desai did not succeed in Philly. Nick Sirianni stripped Desai of play-calling responsibilities as the Eagles’ defense struggled to match its 2022 form, leading to Matt Patricia being elevated. Patricia could not stop the bleeding, and the two staffers oversaw a collapse that ended with a Buccaneers runaway wild-card win.

As the Eagles’ belated Fangio hire produced a Super Bowl LIX romp, Desai spent the year as a Rams senior defensive assistant. This Bengals gig will be Desai’s third senior assistant-type role in four years, as he was not assigned to a specific position in Seattle, either. But Desai will bring considerable experience to Golden’s staff. The 41-year-old staffer has been in the NFL since 2013.

Panthers Conducting Extension Talks With Jaycee Horn; Team Communicating With Austin Corbett, Cade Mays

February 25th, 2025 at 2:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jaycee Horn is known to be high on the Panthers’ financial to-do list. To no surprise, efforts to work out an extension are underway.

Second-year general manager Dan Morgan said on Tuesday (via Joe Person of The Athletic) the Panthers are engaged in talks on a new Horn contract. The former No. 8 pick is currently set to play out his fifth-year option for $12.47MM in 2025. A multi-year accord will check in at a higher rate.

Horn was limited to only three games as a rookie, and he made just six appearances during the 2023 campaign. In his two other Carolina seasons, though, he managed to serve as a full-time starter on a team which has been lacking in impact defenders. The South Carolina product earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024 after posting 13 pass deflections and a pair of sacks.

While Horn’s coverage statistics included career-worst figures in touchdowns (six) and passer rating (92.7) allowed last year, he is a strong candidate for a lucrative pact provided the Panthers are confident he can remain healthy. Less proven options are on track to fill other roles in the secondary, but Horn (25) can be retained through his prime on a new pact. While the top of the cornerback market – which includes five players averaging at least $20.1MM per season – should not be in reach, a notable second contract will be in play if the sides can make progress in the near future.

As for the Panthers’ offensive line, Morgan and Co. have a number of key decisions to make. Longtime right tackle Taylor Moton is entering the final year of his contract, and none of his $14.3MM roster bonus is guaranteed. The eight-year veteran is slated to carry a cap charge of $31MM, but Morgan noted the team could be willing to keep that figure as is. With a $3MM roster bonus due next month, a restructure or extension could nevertheless be worked out.

Carolina also has to sort out the futures of pending free agents Austin Corbett and Cade Mays. The former recently had his void date pushed back to buy team and player more time to negotiate. Morgan noted (via Person) talks are ongoing with Corbett, who has operated as a starter in Carolina but has been limited to just nine games across the past two years. Mays represents a replacement candidate at center, but as a pending restricted free agent the Panthers will need to work out an extension or commit to a tender shortly. It will be interesting to see how talks go in his case, with the same being true for Horn and the Panthers’ other top priorities in the coming days.

Jason Peters Expected To Retire, Join Seahawks’ Staff

February 25th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jason Peters was unable to see any game action during his age-42 season, but the decorated veteran was still in the NFL as a member of the Seahawks’ practice squad. His next gig is not expected to be as a player, which stands to bring an end to one of this era’s best O-line careers.

The Seahawks are hiring Peters to a full-time staff position, GM John Schneider said, with the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta indicating the 21-year veteran’s title will come under the player-engagement umbrella. But Peters will work with the Seahawks’ O-linemen. While this would not slam the door on an emergency return, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds a retirement is expected. Peters turned 43 in January.

Although Peters only saw game action in 19 seasons, he was in the league for 21. He missed the 2012 season due to two Achilles ruptures and did not move up to Seattle’s active roster in 2024. Regardless, Peters is expected to walk away after playing in 248 games. While 61 players reside above Peters on the all-time games-played list, few of them are offensive linemen. Among pure O-linemen, only four (Bruce Matthews, Ray Brown, Jackie Slater and Mike Kenn) played in more games. Peters will be expected to join Slater and Matthews in the Hall of Fame.

A nine-time Pro Bowler, Peters forged a Canton path despite being passed over in the 2004 draft. The former Bills UDFA will be best remembered for his time with the Eagles, whom he helped win a Super Bowl. Peters did not play in Super Bowl LII, having suffered ACL and MCL tears, but opened that season as the team’s left tackle starter. Peters booked both his first-team All-Pro nods (2011, 2013) with Philly and made his final Pro Bowl (2016) during Carson Wentz‘s rookie season.

The Eagles initially acquired Peters in 2009, Donovan McNabb‘s final season. Peters is experienced enough he signed with the Bills during Drew Bledsoe‘s time as the team’s starting QB. Peters moved into Buffalo’s starting lineup at right tackle in 2005. His first full season as a left tackle, 2007, produced a second-team All-Pro honor. Peters had signed a midlevel extension — a four-year, $16.1MM deal — in 2006, but as he picked up a second All-Pro accolade, an impasse on a third contract formed.

Peters did not report to Bills training camp on time in 2008, and while he eventually showed, a trade commenced after that season. The Eagles traded first-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to the Bills for Peters, who landed a four-year extension worth $51.45MM before his first Philadelphia season. Peters then spent the next 12 seasons with the Eagles, agreeing to four more contracts to stay with the team. Peters helped Michael Vick to the Pro Bowl, and joined future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce and then-rookie Lane Johnson in boosting LeSean McCoy to the 2013 rushing title. As the Eagles retooled around Wentz, they had Peters as an upper-crust blindside blocker.

Peters’ final seasons took on an Adrian Peterson-like arc, as the veteran blocker stopped through three teams in three years. The Bears used him as an emergency LT, as Teven Jenkins sustained a back injury before the 2021 season. After 15 starts for that Bears squad, Peters came to Dallas after Tyron Smith‘s season-defining hamstring injury sustained in training camp. Working more in a backup capacity (including some guard time) that year, Peters made his last stop in Seattle. He played in eight games and made two starts for a Seahawks team dealing with RT Abraham Lucas‘ injury trouble.

No pure NFL O-lineman has seen action in a 21st season, but Peters came closest. The Seahawks signed him to their practice squad in October, as Lucas and veteran George Fant dealt with injuries, doing so despite having changed coaching staffs. The Mike Macdonald-led group will keep the veteran around as a mentor.

If this is it for Peters, he will retire with nine Pro Bowl invites and six All-Pro honors. He joined Smith as an All-Decade-teamer for the 2010s. He earned $119.9MM during his 21-year run. It will be interesting to see if the Arkansas alum moves up the coaching ladder in the coming years.

Seahawks To Begin Geno Smith Extension Talks

February 25th, 2025 at 1:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Geno Smith was unable to secure a Seahawks extension last offseason, but he is still firmly in the team’s plans for 2025 and beyond. Talks on a new pact are set to commence.

When speaking to the media on Tuesday, general manager John Schneider said (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) the Seahawks will begin negotiation on an extension this week. He added no firm deadline is in place but repeated the organization’s stance that having Smith under center now and in the future is still a priority. One year remains on the veteran’s current contract.

Smith is owed $25MM in 2025 as things stand, though – a mark well below the market for veteran starters. His cap hit of $44.5MM is also a cumbersome figure for a Seahawks team which is among those slated to be over the projected cap once the new league year begins in March. A multi-year commitment in the 34-year-old will carry risks for Seattle, of course, but he has posted a winning record during each of his three full seasons as the team’s starter.

Head coach Mike Macdonald has made it clear he wants Smith to remain in place for 2025 and beyond, and a report from the Super Bowl indicated a new arrangement (through a restructure or an extension) could be expected. During Seattle’s offensive coordinator search, the prospect of coaching Smith was an obvious talking point. Klint Kubiak said the opportunity to coach Smith played a role in his decision to head to Seattle.

While the former Comeback Player of the Year intends to continue his career to the age of 40, it came as no surprise when a December report indicated the Seahawks will look into options to succeed Smith this offseason. That could still result in a QB addition through the draft, but no change atop the depth chart will be forthcoming if a deal can be reached. Smith inked a three-year, $75MM pact in 2023; it will be interesting to see where his asking price lands this time around.

Schneider also confirmed (via Condotta) Seattle has engaged in contract talks with linebacker Ernest Jones. The trade acquisition proved to be a productive addition, but team and player paused negotiations at the end of the campaign. The Seahawks still hope to get a deal done with the pending free agent, though, and the looming start of the league year could spur action.

As for wideout Tyler Lockett, Schneider added conversations will take place with his agents. Lockett’s future in the Emerald City has been in question given his lack of guaranteed money for 2025 (the final year of his deal) and scheduled cap hit of nearly $31MM. Schneider is unsure of whether or not Lockett will return next year, but there is a strong chance the Seahawks will have continuity under center moving forward.

Chiefs In Talks With Trey Smith, Looking Into LT Options

February 25th, 2025 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Already carrying three eight-figure-per-year contracts along their offensive front, the Chiefs will have a difficult time re-signing Trey Smith. The right guard may well, depending on the franchise tag statuses of Tee Higgins and Sam Darnold, secure the top AAV among free agents this year.

While the Chiefs have been linked to losing Smith soon, GM Brett Veach will not simply let the four-year starter hit the market without dialogue. The three-time reigning AFC champions are in talks with Smith and will move forward with those this week at the Combine. The ninth-year GM said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) he is “pretty optimistic” about the situation.

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 in Round 6, while the Chiefs are not expected to tag the guard. This position is rarely tagged, due to all O-linemen being grouped together under the tag formula, and the Chiefs 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. Of course, the Combine does serve as the unofficial tampering period. The Pro Bowl blocker will probably learn more about who is interested this week. 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 advantage of being on the open market soon.

The Chiefs have left guard Joe Thuney, center Creed Humphrey and, for better or worse, right tackle Jawaan Taylor tied to lucrative deals. Taylor’s 2025 salary ($19.5MM) is guaranteed thanks to a rolling structure that locked in his 2025 money as of March 2024. While Thuney is nearing the end of his career, he is the most decorated Kansas City O-lineman presently, earning four All-Pro nods — including a first-team placement last season — on his resume. Thuney, however, appears set to return to his best position soon.

Andy Reid stopped short of confirming Kansas City’s next left tackle starter was on the roster, but the three-time Super Bowl winner said (via Herbie Teope of the KC Sports Network) that is a position the Chiefs are looking into. The Chiefs could not count on the three players they initially tried at LT — Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris, D.J. Humphries — which led to kicking Thuney outside. That plan worked fairly well, helping the team to another AFC title, but the Eagles exposed it in Super Bowl LIX.

Fortunately for the Chiefs, a few options will be available. Veterans Ronnie Stanley and Cam Robinson are unsigned, while a younger option — two-year Rams starter Alaric Jackson — is also poised to hit the market. Tyron Smith is again available as well, though the decorated ex-Cowboy is a significant injury risk. The Chiefs are projected to sit barely $7MM under the cap, so they will have some work to do between now and the cap-compliance deadline (March 12) before they determine their free agency budget.

While it would be premature to give up on Suamataia as a starter, given his second-round status, the Chiefs may want at least an insurance option in the Donovan Smith mold rather than pit the BYU product against Morris once again.

Dolphins Preparing To Lose Terron Armstead; Team Not Slamming Door On Tyreek Hill Trade?

February 25th, 2025 at 1:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

1:03pm: Armstead intends to reduce his pact to the veteran’s minimum, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. That is another strong indication he will hang up his cleats, but substantially reducing his base pay will ease the burden of his retirement on the Dolphins’ cap situation. Acquiring depth at the left tackle spot (and others up front) will of course remain a key Miami priority, but the team will soon have added flexibility to do so.

11:29am: Terron Armstead has not given the Dolphins an answer on his 2025 plans, but the team is prepared to move on if need be. Miami is currently operating as though its three-year left tackle will not be back.

The 12-year veteran was not committed to playing in 2024 coming out of the team’s frigid wild-card loss in Kansas City, but he decided to come back. Miami still drafted his heir apparent, choosing Patrick Paul in Round 2. Paul would be in line to take over opposite Austin Jackson if Armstead retired.

“He’s going to take his time with his family and loved ones and make that decision because it’s not an easy one,” Mike McDaniel said (via C. Isaiah Smalls II) at the Combine. “But we will be operating as though we’re moving on in that way simply for the execution of free agency and the draft.”

Armstead, 33, is tied to a nonguaranteed $13.3MM base salary for the 2025 season. He is signed through 2026. The Dolphins went through with a restructure last year, and that will help create a dead money bill if the Pro Bowler retires. If the former Saints draftee walks away this year, the Dolphins will take on $18.4MM in dead cap. But they have a hopeful successor ready.

Paul made three starts last season, as Armstead played well while matching his career high by making 15 starts in a season. For a Dolphins team that has seen injuries largely define Tua Tagovailoa‘s career, losing Armstead will sting. The team is planning to make other O-line updates this offseason as well.

While Miami is not certain to have Armstead, it is safe to say the team is not 100% on retaining Tyreek Hill as well. The mercurial wideout has since backtracked on what appeared to be a clear trade demand, when he refused to reenter a Week 18 game against the Jets. That preceded a call for a South Florida exit. Hill, who will turn 31 this week, attempted to walk it back during Super Bowl week. But the Dolphins have not unequivocally stated (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) they are prepared to retain him after the January dustup.

The Dolphins reworked Hill’s contract to provide the future Hall of Famer with a significant guarantee boost. It would cost them just more than $28MM in dead money in a pre-June 1 trade; that would approach the wide receiver dead cap record the Bills set when they moved Stefon Diggs last year. The Dolphins are believed to be prepared to hear offers for Hill.

Hill is still signed through 2026, but his antics and off-field history do not make him a particularly stable investment — the two 1,700-yard seasons notwithstanding. If the Dolphins want to move on from this level of WR talent, doing so before his age-31 season would naturally yield a better return compared to the team cutting the cord next year. In an offseason in which Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel are expected to move, Hill is a variable to watch as well.

As for Hill’s wrist rehab, McDaniel confirmed (via Wolfe) the nine-year vet did undergo surgery. But Hill did not suffer a broken wrist; the surgery instead addressed ligament damage. Hill is expected to be fine for training camp.

Chiefs Expect Travis Kelce To Play In 2025

February 25th, 2025 at 12:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Travis Kelce has yet to make a firm declaration about his playing future. As the Chiefs await word on that front, it is clear they anticipate having him in the fold next year.

To no surprise, both head coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach were asked on Tuesday about Kelce’s status. Neither confirmed the future Hall of Famer will play in 2025, but that is the team’s expectation at this point. While Kansas City was recently connected to setting a deadline for a decision (March 14, early in the start of the new league year) Veach’s comments point to Kelce having all the time needed to make a commitment one way or the other after recent conversations with the team.

“He has one more year under contract and still think he has that fire and desire to play,” Veach said of the 35-year-old (via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). “As far as I’m concerned, there is no deadline. I think we left it at he’d be back and we’re excited to get him back and get him going.”

Kelce’s 823 yards in 2024 marked his lowest total since his rookie year, and his yards-per-reception average (8.5) continued his notable decline in efficiency. Still, the four-time All-Pro has proven to be a reliable target throughout the Chiefs’ run of success and he would be counted on to remain atop the depth chart in the event he were to suit up for a 13th campaign. Kelce is due $17.25MM in 2025 with a scheduled cap hit of $19.8MM.

Kansas City could look to lower the latter figure with a restructure adding further void years onto the 10-time Pro Bowler’s pact. A call on that front will of course not be needed until a final decision is made on Kelce’s part. No timeline is in place for a 2025 commitment to be announced at this point, but how Kelce decides to proceed will be critical as the Chiefs aim to make another Super Bowl run. Optimism is obviously high in the organization that he will remain available for at least one more campaign.

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