News About AFC Teams

Cincinnati Bengals News

Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said the team may add a "bigger back" this offseason.

Why It Matters: This item is more about Zack Moss, whose career is in jeopardy after a neck injury ended his 2024 season prematurely, and the lack of options behind Chase Brown than about the team having any reservations about Brown. Pitcher also praised Brown's play in pass protection and said Brown's all-around skills give the team flexibility in their approach to adding to the backfield. Behind Brown and Moss, the Bengals only have 2024 UDFA Kendall Milton, so expect at least one significant addition. The team traded for Khalil Herbert after Moss went down, but the former Chicago Bear is a free agent this year.

The Bengals used the franchise tag on WR Tee Higgins.

Why It Matters: This wasn't a surprise, but it certainly is far from an ending to this saga for the Bengals and Higgins. NFL Insider Ari Meirov said the team "isn't close" to long-term agreements with Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, or DE Trey Hendrickson. Don't be surprised if the talks with Chase go well into the summer, which could force the Bengals hand in a tag-and-trade for Higgins. Cincinnati has until July 15 to sign Higgins to a long-term contract, or instead, he will get $26.2 million playing the tag, which would be a relative bargain in per-year terms. It almost certainly would mark his last year with the team because a third tag would cost Cincinnati almost $38 million. It's far from a sure thing that Higgins will play for the Bengals in 2025. DK Metcalf hitting the trade block for the Seahawks could help the Bengals if they are willing to take less for Higgins in a trade than the Seahawks' reported demands of a first and third-round pick for Metcalf.

Cleveland Browns News

OL Joel Bitonio announced he will return for the 2025 season.

Why It Matters: It is a small item, but still a change in the relative tone around the Browns this offseason. Bitonio returning is a good sign that the team is not going to trade Myles Garrett and instead sign the all-universe defensive end to a new contract.

Jacksonville Jaguars News

The Jaguars released WR Christian Kirk.

Why It Matters: This was easy to see coming with Kirk due $15.5 million in the last year of a four-year, $72 million deal he signed back in 2022. The contract was considered a gross overpay at the time, but Kirk making it to year four is proof it was a better decision than the prevailing reaction at the time gave GM Trent Baalke credit for. 2023 sixth-round pick Parker Washington has seen a lot of playing time in place of Kirk after the veteran went down with a broken collarbone last year. We'll be watching to see what kind of player(s) the team brings in to compete with Washington. It's possible the team will take a wide receiver on the first or second day of the draft next month.

Kansas City Chiefs News

The Chiefs traded OL Joe Thuney to Chicago for a fourth-round pick and used the franchise tag on OL Trey Smith.

Why It Matters: The Chiefs offensive line was their Achilles heel in the Super Bowl, and this only keeps them treading water instead of greatly improving. Smith was one of the best players on the line, so tagging him will keep two of the interior line spots intact. The second, center Creed Humphrey, signed a four-year, $72 million deal last offseason. The Chiefs couldn't afford to have one of the highest-paid options at all three interior line spots, and Thuney will be a free agent next year, so the trade made a lot of sense from a long-term point of view. 2024 second-round Kingsley Suamataia will get the first crack at replacing Thuney at guard, but he was drafted as a tackle, so this also reminds us that the team has a massive hole at left tackle after Thuney was used as a stopgap during the Super Bowl run.

Las Vegas Raiders News

The Raiders signed DE Maxx Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension.

Why It Matters: Matthew Stafford isn't coming to town, but the extension for Crosby is a good sign that the franchise is going in the right direction. The Raiders could pair Crosby up with an elite edge prospect like Georgia's Jalon Walker with the #6 pick in the draft if they don't try to trade up for one of the top two quarterback prospects. 

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the team is trying to trade TE Michael Mayer.

Why It Matters: Mayer isn't an essential piece, with Brock Bowers playing at an all-pro level from day one. The Raiders haven't gotten much out of the 35th pick of the 2023 draft, and the new regime didn't select him. So a trade is probably best for both parties. There is reportedly significant interest in Mayer around the league, so expect a deal to get done, which would increase Mayer's speculative value after a very disappointing beginning to his career.

New York Jets News

The Jets released WR Davante Adams.

Why It Matters: This was all but done when the team decided to move on from Aaron Rodgers. Adams' salary of over $35 million was untenable, so a trade or restructure wasn't going to happen. Perhaps Rodgers and Adams could reunite again in Las Vegas or New York. Wherever Adams lands, his early Underdog ADP around #50 indicates some belief that he'll be a primary option in his new passing game, but that is a significant drop from the second-round ADP he commanded last offseason. 

Zack Rosenblatt of The Atlantic reports that it would not be "shocking" if Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback for the Jets next season.

Why It Matters: The Jets could try to trade up for Miami's Cam Ward, but that would require a massive package to get to #1 from the #7 pick. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders was reportedly not received well by some teams at the combine, so he could be there at #7, but it's not clear that the Jets are interested. The best option on the free-agent market is Sam Darnold. A reunion with the Jets would be awkward, to say the least. Would Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, or Kirk Cousins (assuming the Falcons release him) really be significantly better than Taylor? New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand should be at least exploring what a Taylor-led offense will look like since the veteran is under contract for only $6 million and would give the team more flexibility in free agency as a very low-priced starter.

Tennessee Titans News

Turron Davenport and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN report that a majority of league personnel believe the Titans' Plan A is to trade out of the #1 pick.

Why It Matters: The Titans reportedly like Miami's Cam Ward. However, they may like moving down to the Giants' #3 pick, landing one of Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter or Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter, and getting a significant future draft capital bump. The Jets are also reportedly interested in Ward. While the Titans would not get one of the elite prospects at #7, they might recoup multiple future firsts in a deal with the Jets. Ward came out of the combine as the clear #1 quarterback in the draft, giving him a good shot of being the #1 pick in the draft, whether by Tennessee or another team. This doesn't mean that Will Levis is going to get yet another chance to start, as the Titans will add at least one quarterback via free agency and should still draft a quarterback at some point, even if they trade out of #1.

News About NFC Teams

Arizona Cardinals News

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team will have "two starting backs" if RB Trey Benson makes the necessary leap heading into the second year of his rookie contract.

Why It Matters: Benson's role should grow, but this item might overstate how much. James Conner will lead the backfield in touches when healthy after the team signed him to a two-year, $19 million extension during last season, so the team still loves him. Gannon was being hopeful with his quote about Benson's projected year two growth. Conner is going around the 70th pick of early Underdog drafts, and Benson is around pick #140. Conner would be a big value if Benson's role doesn't grow significantly, and both could be values if Benson satisfies Gannon's expectations this offseason and summer. Overall, the Cardinals backfield appears to be undervalued.

Chicago Bears News

The Bears traded a fourth-round pick to Kansas City for OL Joe Thuney and a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for OL Jonah Jackson.

Why It Matters: You have to be pleased if you're a Bears fan. Rebuilding the offensive line was job one for new head coach Ben Johnson, and these two deals plug the holes at guard without giving up much in the way of draft picks. Thuney is only under contract for one more season but is still one of the best guards in the game at age 32. Jackson broke out in Detroit playing for Johnson but was hurt and played only four games last year after signing a three-year, $51 million with the Rams last offseason. Caleb Williams is still QB11 and going in the top 100 of early Underdog drafts, and that seems wise in light of the team's urgency to immediately improve the line in front of him.

Dallas Cowboys News

The Cowboys signed DL Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal.

Why It Matters: Odighizuwa was set to get tagged if he and the deal couldn't agree on a contract. The deal is reasonable by 2025 cap standards. Next up is getting DE/LB Micah Parsons signed to a long-term deal to give the team a signature duo on the defensive line to go with their cornerback combo of DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, who have had trouble staying healthy in recent years.

The Cowboys used a second-round tender on restricted free agent WR/KR KaVontae Turpin.

Why It Matters: Turpin should be a fantasy star in return yardage leagues, and the Cowboys could use him more on offense after committing $5.34 million to him via this tender. The second-round price for signing Turpin to an offer sheet should discourage interest in him from the other 31 teams and show the level of commitment the team has to him for the 2025 season.

Los Angeles Rams News

The Rams and QB Matthew Stafford agreed to a contract revision that will keep him in Los Angeles for the 2025 season.

Why It Matters: After a short burst of drama that appeared to move Stafford closer to a trade to the Raiders or Giants, cooler heads prevailed. The Rams were very close to beating the Eagles in an improbable comeback and should be contenders with Stafford even after they move on from Cooper Kupp. We don't know the final numbers of the reworked deal, but it is probably less than the quarterback-desperate Giants were offering, reportedly $90-100 million over two seasons. The value of Puka Nacua and the rest of the Rams offense is intact for 2025.

The Rams and WR Tutu Atwell agreed on a one-year, $10 million deal.

Why It Matters: This seems to put a nail in the coffin of Cooper Kupp returning to the Rams and doesn't bode well for the prospects of Demarcus Robinson returning to the Rams in free agency this year. Ten million seems like a lot for Atwell, but the team knows him well and might not see anyone in free agency that can replace his speed and experience. Atwell's fantasy value is still marginal, but this does put him on the late-round radar in deep best-ball leagues.

Minnesota Vikings News

The Vikings did not use a franchise or transition tag on QB Sam Darnold.

Why It Matters: Strangely, this actually increases the chances that Darnold stays in Minnesota. We can only assume that the trade market for a tagged Darnold was soft or even non-existent. The Giants, Raiders, and Titans are all possibilities for Darnold in free agency, but any of them could take a quarterback in the first round. None of them should be willing to commit big money to Darnold if they are pondering adding Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, so Darnold may only get one-year offers in free agency. If that's the case, he might be open to coming back to Minnesota for a discount because of continuity and the chance to distance himself from his late 2024 collapse and rehabilitate his value for a return to free agency in 2026. J.J. McCarthy may wait to start for the Vikings yet.

Philadelphia Eagles News

The Eagles signed LB Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million deal.

Why It Matters: Baun's $17 million per season comes in well under the inflated franchise tag number for linebackers but still represents a big payday in the off-ball linebacker market and a reward for a defensive player of the year level season from Baun in his first year with the team. 

The Eagles signed RB Saquon Barkley to a two-year, $41.2 million extension.

Why It Matters: Often, we see key members of Super Bowl winners get big contracts in free agency from new teams, but Howie Roseman is spreading the wealth in-house after the team won Super Bowl LIX. The reported terms make Barkley the highest-paid running back in NFL history and would keep him with the team through the 2028 season.

San Francisco 49ers News

The 49ers traded WR Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick.

Why It Matters: It is more surprising that the 49ers got something for Samuel than that they parted ways with him. Samuel was due a $15.4 million roster bonus later this month that was certainly not going to be paid, so Washington could have waited that out and hoped to be first in line to sign Samuel at a cheaper price and without giving up draft capital. Brandon Aiyuk is also reportedly available via trade, so we could see more change in the 49ers wide receiver corps before the season. Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall are all going after pick 70-80 in early Underdog drafts. Jennings is the best value of the trio by a good margin and is likely to be the team's #1 receiver in 2025. George Kittle is also a good value in the early 50s as the third tight end off of the board, but well after Brock Bowers (ADP: 17) and Trey McBride (ADP:28).

GM John Lynch said RB Christian McCaffrey will be able to participate in "at least parts" of the offseason program.

Why It Matters: Bilateral Achilles tendinitis and then a PCL injury made McCaffrey's 2024 a bust. He's still only falling to the early second round of early Underdog drafts, so fantasy players are willing to risk a high pick for the chance to get a big reward if McCaffrey can actually stay healthy in 2025. We'll be watching to see what level the team tenders restricted free agent RB Jordan Mason next week after Mason performed well in place of McCaffrey last season. There are teams interested in trading for Mason, so a right-of-first-refusal tender of a little over $3 million could draw some offer sheets that force the 49ers' hand since they would get no draft pick compensation if they don't match.

Seattle Seahawks News

The Seahawks released WR Tyler Lockett. WR DK Metcalf requested a trade, and the team agreed to "explore options".

Why It Matters: Everything is pointing to a massive breakout season incoming for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, whose ADP was only 28.5 in early Underdog drafts. Seattle was never going to keep Lockett at a salary of $17 million for 2025, so the release is no surprise, but it is still worth pausing to consider what an all-time franchise great Lockett has turned out to be after the team took him in the third round in 2015. Only Steve Largent has more receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns for the team. The Seahawks reportedly want a first- and third-round pick for Metcalf, who is entering the final year of his contract. He would get a new deal from his new team, but the trade compensation is much more likely to be a second-round pick than a first and third. We'll see if the Seahawks are willing to accept that. The upcoming draft doesn't have a lot of top prospects who can provide the size and speed Metcalf does on the perimeter, so Seattle may get a team to overpay for the privilege of making Metcalf one of the highest-paid receivers in the game.

Washington Commanders News

The Commanders traded a fifth-round pick to the 49ers for WR Deebo Samuel Sr.

Why It Matters: This is the best possible destination for Samuel. The Commanders only have Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey under contract at wide receiver. Kliff Kingsbury's offense features a lot of wide receiver screens and short passes to maximize Samuel's run-after-catch value. Ending up on a team that saw Samuel as worth a draft pick even though he is due a $15.4 million roster bonus also helps, as many expected Samuel to be released. Samuel even ends up on a Super Bowl contender with Jayden Daniels leading the way. The early Underdog ADP of 65 for Samuel is very reasonable, assuming he returns to the pre-pneumonia form he showed in 2024.