2 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals have several veterans that are likely to be salary cap casualties this offseason, including defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness), offensive lineman Alex Cappa, defensive lineman Sam Hubbard and linebacker Germaine Pratt, but The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Rankins is the most certain cut of the group. When healthy, Rankins only had one sack and four QB pressures and then missed the second half of the season with an illness. The Bengals signed the 30-year-old to a two-year, $24.5 million deal last offseason but will save $9.6 million against the 2025 cap if they cut him. Rankins isn't going to see a roster bonus that he's due on March 17. In addition to just his one sack recorded in 2024, Rankins had only 18 tackles (10 solo) over his seven games played.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
2 weeks agoThe New England Patriots signed exclusive-rights free-agent center Ben Brown (concussion) and offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs on Thursday. Brown's one-year deal is worth a base salary of $1.3 million, while Jacobs' one-year deal is worth $960,000. Brown ended the 2024 season on Injured Reserve due to a concussion and missed the final two games of the regular season. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Mississippi was New England's starting center in all 10 of his appearances in his first year with the team after spending his rookie year with the Seattle Seahawks. Jacobs signed with the Denver Broncos last January but ended up starting 13 of the 15 games he appeared in with the Patriots last year in his first season in the NFL. Brown should be fully recovered from his head injury for training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Mark Daniels
2 weeks agoESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones (knee, leg) recently had arthroscopic surgery to address a lingering knee injury that he played through in 2024, according to a league source. In addition to battling through a knee issue, Jones missed the last seven games with a fractured fibula. The 23-year-old will ditch his crutches and begin running soon and is expected to be ready for training camp in late July. The 2023 fourth-rounder made three straight starts at left tackle last year before suffering his fibula fracture. Injuries have been hard to avoid for Jones early in his NFL career, as he also missed the final games of his rookie season due to a torn MCL. The good news is that barring an injury in training camp or the preseason, Jones should be ready for Week 1 this fall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Chargers agreed to a three-year contract extension with safety Elijah Molden (leg) on Thursday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In his first year with the Chargers in 2024, Molden played in 15 games (12 starts) before suffering a fractured fibula on Dec. 28 in the win over the New England Patriots. In his 15 starts, the 26-year-old defensive back had a career-high 75 tackles (43 solo), a career-high three interceptions, seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for the Bolts. The former third-round selection (100th overall) by the Tennessee Titans in 2021 out of the University of Washington will now continue his career in L.A. and be a staple of their secondary under head coach Jim Harbaugh. In his three years in Tennessee, Molden had 140 tackles (94 solo), two picks returned for TDs, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoNFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that seven-time All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin has informed the Dallas Cowboys that he plans to retire, according to sources. Martin is one of the greatest linemen of his era and will surely get into the Hall of Fame down the road. The 34-year-old stepping away and hanging up his cleats will obviously be a big blow to a Cowboys offense that will be run by new head coach Brian Schottenheimer in 2025. In addition to being a seven-time All-Pro, Martin was named to nine Pro Bowls in his 11 seasons in Dallas. His seven first-team All-Pro selections are tied with Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel and John Hannah for the most among guards all time, according to ESPN Research. Martin was a first-rounder back in 2014 and ended up starting 162 games and missing more than one game in a season just twice (2020, 2024). He was named to the NFL's All-Decade team from 2010-20.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoThe New Orleans Saints are hiring Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier as the team's next offensive coordinator, according to Nick Underhill. Nussmeier has worked with new Saints head coach Kellen Moore with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Philadelphia Eagles. The 54-year-old has seven years of NFL coaching experience after working in the college ranks for 15 years. He is also the father of current LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who could be a top quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. With New Orleans likely to be in the QB market after the 2025 campaign, that relationship could be noteworthy.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Nick Underhill
2 weeks agoFormer Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jon Feliciano is retiring from football, according to NFL.com. The 33-year-old was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Miami and played in 113 games with 61 career starts. Feliciano missed the entire 2024 season after being placed on Injured Reserve on August 28. He started seven games for the Niners in 2023.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens (back) recently underwent a back procedure after playing with nerve pain toward the end of the 2024-25 campaign. However, the 25-year-old is expected to be ready to return for camp in July. The 2022 second-round pick out of Nebraska earned his first Pro Bowl honor in 2024 after taking over for future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce. Jurgens has started 11 games at guard and 16 games at center over the last two seasons and is a key piece of the dominant Philly offensive line.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that it's hard to see Chicago Bears tight end
Gerald Everett sticking around in 2025 to be part of new head coach Ben Johnson's offense after he fell into the team's No. 2 TE role behind
Cole Kmet in 2024. Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract last offseason and caught just eight of 13 targets for a career-low 36 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (four starts). The 30-year-old veteran carries a $6.5 million salary cap hit for the 2025 season and only $1 million in dead money if he's cut. Everett played in just three snaps in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Heading into his age-31 season, Everett is unlikely to attract much interest on the open market if he's cut, although he did have at least 408 receiving yards in five straight seasons before joining the Bears.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
2 weeks agoRunning back
Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season, but his biggest supporters, head coach Frank Reich and assistant coach Duce Staley, were fired 11 games into that season. Sanders then took on a backup role behind
Chuba Hubbard. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the Panthers will create $5.23 million in salary cap space this year by cutting Sanders.
Jonathon Brooks is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after a second ACL surgery, but Carolina should be able to find cheaper RB options than Sanders to serve in a backup role to Hubbard. The 27-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in his final season with the Eagles in 2022, but he was not the same back in Carolina, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry while racking up 637 rushing yards and only three touchdowns on 184 rushing attempts in 27 games (seven starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
2 weeks agoBuffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller had a bounce-back season in 2024, but he carries the second-largest salary cap hit on the team for 2025 at $23.8 million as a rotational player. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia writes that the Bills must do something about Miller's contract, and without taking a pay cut, he's likely to be released. If Miller is cut, Buffalo would save $8.4 million on this year's salary cap while accounting for a $15.4 million dead-cap hit. Buscaglia suggests the Bills could negotiate a pay cut with Miller equal to or greater than how much they'd save on the cap by releasing him. He turns 36 next month and is under contract for three more years, but none of his remaining money is guaranteed. The eight-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl MVP did have six sacks last year but totaled only 17 tackles (13 solo) in 13 regular-season games for the Bills.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
2 weeks agoBaltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams being cut this offseason is viewed as a formality after he was benched in 2024 and made a healthy scratch for the final seven games, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. The 28-year-old will likely be a post-June 1 cut. Williams restructured his deal last month to make it easier for both sides to move on. The Ravens have a tight salary-cap situation this year, which means that veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet is another potential cap casualty in 2025. In his three seasons with Baltimore, Williams recorded 149 tackles (105 solo), four tackles for loss, five interceptions, 18 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 32 games played (30 starts). He had a career-low 33 tackles (26 solo) and two pass breakups in 11 games (nine starts) for the Ravens in 2024 before he was benched in favor of Ar'Darius Washington.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that the Atlanta Falcons releasing defensive tackle David Onyemata would save $16 million on the 2025 salary cap while incurring an $8.8 million dead-cap hit. Cutting fellow defensive tackle Grady Jarrett might make more sense, but he seems untouchable. Atlanta is in need of getting younger up front on their defensive line. Onyemata hasn't been anything special since joining the Falcons as a free agent before the 2023 season, but he's been serviceable with seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He and Jarrett are both heading into their age-32 seasons in 2025. Onyemata, a fourth-rounder in 2016 out of Manitoba by the New Orleans Saints, had 45 combined tackles (second-most in his career), three sacks, eight tackles for loss and five QB hits in all 17 games (16 starts) in Atlanta last year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Doug Haller writes that the Arizona Cardinals don't have an obvious potential salary cap casualty on their roster this offseason with the fourth-most available cap space ($71.3 million), per Over The Cap, but safety Jalen Thompson could be a possibility. Thompson has been a starter for most of his six seasons and has been dependable, but he's also entering the final year of his current contract, and the Cardinals locked up Budda Baker last December. In addition, Arizona drafted Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round in 2024. Releasing Thompson would save the Cardinals almost $6.6 million in cap space this year. The 26-year-old was pretty productive in 2024 in his sixth year in the NFL, recording 98 tackles (61 solo), three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 15 starts, but he didn't have an interception for the first time since 2020.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Doug Haller
2 weeks agoHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Sports Radio 610 on Wednesday that the team is open to bringing impending free-agent wide receiver
Stefon Diggs (knee) back. "I had a good relationship with Stef and his representation. We enjoyed having Stef in the building, so the door is always open," Caserio said. The 31-year-old's 2024 season with the Texans was cut short due to a torn ACL, and he finished with 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games played. Fellow wideout
Tank Dell also suffered a serious knee injury that could keep him out for all of 2025, so the Texans will surely be looking for additional help for top wideout
Nico Collins this offseason. Diggs' days of being a No. 1 fantasy wideout are likely gone, especially coming off a torn ACL, but he could still put up solid numbers if he returns to Houston as the No. 2 behind Collins.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Josh Alper
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