News From the NFL

The NFL has informed teams that the 2025 salary cap will be between $277.5 and $281.5 million, up from $255.4 million in 2024.

Why It Matters: This represents a bump of around 9-10%, which is less than the 2022 (14.08) and 2024 (13.61), but more than 2023 (7.97). Once again, teams that sign players to top-of-the-market extensions before their contracts are up are getting rewarded. Teams that wait (we're looking at you, Cincinnati) are punished. Having a quarterback on a rookie contract is even more valuable now, and hitting on draft picks will be rewarded more.

News From AFC Teams

Baltimore Ravens News

According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Ravens and TE Mark Andrews have a "good chance" of staying together in 2025.

Why It Matters: Andrews is due a $4 million roster bonus on March 17 and has a non-guaranteed $11 million salary. While his contributions might not be worth $15 million and his 2024 season ended on a low note, Andrews is still a core piece of the team. The Ravens probably value him as much as or more than any other team, and both would benefit from continuity. Isaiah Likely is going to break out in fantasy leagues eventually, but it won't be in 2025 if Graziano is right.

Cleveland Browns News

Zac Jackson of The Athletic wrote that "all indications are that (the Browns) are going to continue to hold Myles Garrett and try to present him with a monstrous new contract" to keep him with the team.

Why It Matters: If Garrett is dealt (as he requested), he would be one of the biggest names traded in NFL history and likely spark an exodus of veterans from the Browns roster. It would represent a reboot of the team and almost certainly put them back at the top of the draft next year, which could change the math on whether they should take a quarterback this year. Convincing Garrett to stay with a new contract boosted by an ever-rising salary cap would signal an attempt to extend their window of competitiveness.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that people are "connecting the dots" between the team and QB Kirk Cousins.

Why It Matters: Cousins has a good history with head coach Kevin Stefanski and will likely get the veteran minimum a la Russell Wilson in 2024, a boon for a team that is still a bad place with the cap even after the 2025 increase. Cousins should be better in 2025, another year removed from a torn Achilles. If he ends up with the Browns (he hasn't been released… yet), it would be good for David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy.

Cincinnati Bengals News

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Bengals will attempt to sign WR Ja'Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins, and DE Trey Hendrickson to long-term contracts this offseason. James Rapien of Sports Illustrated also reported that the team plans to use the franchise tag on Higgins.

Why It Matters: Chase is almost certain to remain a Bengal for the foreseeable future, but Higgins' next chapter is cloudier. The tag could be a precursor to a new deal or a trade if the two sides can't agree on terms. Higgins and Chase have the same agent after Higgins made a change last year, presumably evidence of a desire to sign long term with the team. We would project Higgins as a Bengal for 2025, which is the best possible spot for his fantasy value. If Higgins is traded, Andrei Iosivas would become the #2 receiver.

Houston Texans News

Aaron Wilson of NBC Houston reports that WR Tank Dell's ACL surgery is pending now that his LCL and MCL repairs are completed.

Why It Matters: This timeline is not optimistic for his chances of playing in 2025. The Texans have John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson on the roster to play complementary roles to clear #1 Nico Collins, but Robert Woods and Stefon Diggs are free agents, so they should be in the market for at least one significant addition via free agency or the draft. Some project Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka to be reunited with C.J. Stroud if he's on the board when the Texans pick 25th in the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars News

ESPN's Dan Graziano believes there is a 75% chance the Jaguars will release WR Christian Kirk.

Why It Matters: Kirk is due $15.5 million, which isn't exorbitant by 2025 cap standards, but still potentially prohibitive, Parker Washington is developing behind him. Washington wasn't especially impressive in place of Kirk after his season was ended by a broken collarbone, but he is only going into his third year. If the Jags release Kirk, it could be a sign that they believe in Washington, but there are plenty of good slot receiver prospects in the draft, and the slot receiver skillset is the easier to find at wide receiver. Kirk could be a fit in a primary role in Washington or Arizona, among other places, and actually gain fantasy value if he's released.

Kansas City Chiefs News

ESPN's Adam Schefter believes the Chiefs could use the transition tag on OL Trey Smith, but Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported that they are not expected to use a tag on Smith.

Why It Matters: The Chiefs offensive line was the weak link in Super Bowl LIX, even though Smith was one of the strong pieces. The transition tag number is about $22 million. While there was some speculation that the Chiefs would consider it, the league lumping all line positions together for tags means that the price is a bit inflated since it includes salaries at the more premium position of tackle. Smith would be one of the marquee interior offensive linemen on the market after the Chiefs only had to use a sixth-round pick to draft him back in 2021.

Las Vegas Raiders News

Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports that QB Gardner Minshew II will not be part of the team's plans for 2025.

Why It Matters: It's much easier to say who won't be an option for the Raiders at quarterback than who will be. The team will incur a $10.82 million cap hit for releasing him, with the ability to defer $3 million to 2026 if they designate him as a post-June 1 cut. Aidan O'Connell is the current starter, but the Raiders are in position to take a quarterback in the first round. They could see one of the top two prospects fall to their natural pick of #6, but new GM John Spytek might be willing to move up to land their guy if they fall in love with one of Cameron Ward (Miami) or Shedeur Sanders (Colorado).

Miami Dolphins News

The Dolphins released RB Raheem Mostert.

Why It Matters: 2024 fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright will move up to the clear #2 back behind De'Von Achane. The team should add another back in free agency or the draft. The quality of that back and the amount of investment should be an indication of what they think of Wright, who struggled to break long plays along with the rest of the previously high-powered Miami running game during a year-long slump.

New York Jets News

ESPN's Rich Cimini reports that the chances of WR Garrett Wilson staying with the team "greatly increase" with Aaron Rodgers no longer on the roster.

Why It Matters: Some players believed that Rodgers was targeting Davante Adams over Wilson once the team acquired his old #1 receiver, so it makes sense that Wilson would not want to run it back with him. Even if the Jets go into the season with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback, Wilson could be better off for fantasy than he was in 2024, when the promise of Rodgers being the best quarterback he has played with in his career had Wilson going in the late first round of fantasy drafts even though he hadn't yet proven he could produce at that level. He has been going in the first half of the third round in early Underdog drafts, a massive drop from last year's ADP.

News From NFC Teams

Carolina Panthers News

The Panthers re-signed QB Andy Dalton to a two-year, $8 million deal with $6 million guaranteed.

Why It Matters: Dalton has become a mentor to Bryce Young, so this is good news for Young's development. Dalton might have been able to get a chance to start as a bridge quarterback or stopgap if he had tested the market, but he's happy to stay with the Panthers and assist Young. This also gives the Panthers one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league, making the value of their offensive players more resilient if Young misses time with an injury.

Los Angeles Rams News

Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports that it is "not a given" that QB Matthew Stafford will be on the team this season.

Why It Matters: This is probably a product of the typical gamesmanship that happens when negotiating partners are trying to maximize the strength of their position. The quarterback is due a paltry $23 million plus a $4 million roster bonus and will certainly make more than that next season, whether it is with the Rams or elsewhere. Stafford wants to get the most he can for his final viable years in the league, and the Rams want to see if they can get a first-round (and maybe more) if Stafford's demands are too high. The most likely outcome here is that the two find a middle ground in the offseason unless a team comes with a foolishly rich offer to obtain him in an attempt to reproduce the Rams Super Bowl run after acquiring Stafford in 2021. We would project the Rams offense with Stafford as the starting quarterback.

Minnesota Vikings News

The Vikings agreed to move the contract void dates of CB Byron Murphy II and RB Aaron Jones to March 12, the final day of the 2024 league year.

Why It Matters: This gives the team a longer window to negotiate a new deal with Jones. The Vikings are going into the offseason with only Ty Chandler under contract in their backfield, and their midseason acquisition of Cam Akers showed what they think of Chandler. Even if they strike a deal with Jones before or after the opening of free agency, they will add another back of consequence. Jones' best fantasy outcome is probably to return to the Vikings after posting over 1500 total yards with them and suiting up for all 17 games last season.

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the Vikings are in no rush to use the franchise tag on Sam Darnold, and they are gathering information on the possibility of a trade market.

Why It Matters: It's not clear that any team would give up more than the third-round compensatory pick Darnold would bring in 2026 if he walks in free agency. A tag and trade could move the draft capital received in return up a year to 2025, and the Vikings could have plans to make additions in free agency that would cancel out the pick, so it's smart for them to fully explore this. We do know that they trust J.J. McCarthy enough to start him in Week 1, so Darnold will probably start somewhere else. Any of the Titans, Browns, Raiders, and Giants could be interested in Darnold if they are not sold on taking Cameron Ward or Shedeur Sanders with their early first-round picks.

New Orleans Saints News

The Saints hired Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier as their offensive coordinator.

Why It Matters: Nussmeier follows Kellen Moore to a fourth straight stop after coaching under him with the Cowboys, Chargers, and Eagles the last three years. The Saints offensive renovation should be able to get underway immediately with this kind of familiarity between head coach and coordinator.

Philadelphia Eagles News

The Eagles hired passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo as their new offensive coordinator.

Why It Matters: Patullo was the Eagles passing game coordinator before Kellen Moore arrived, and he has presided over some good and bad during Jalen Hurts' tenure as the starting quarterback. We saw the offense take a downturn when Brian Johnson was promoted to replace Shane Steichen as offensive coordinator in 2023, so we shouldn't assume the offense will maintain the high level of play it established in 2024 under Moore.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

The Buccaneers and WR Chris Godwin agreed to move his contract void date to March 12, the final day of the 2024 league year.

Why It Matters: This is a good sign that Godwin and the Bucs will be working to forge a new deal before he reaches free agency. The team loves him and should be willing to invest fully in him despite his continued recovery from a dislocated ankle that ended his 2024 campaign. Staying with the Bucs would be the best outcome for his fantasy value and help keep Baker Mayfield among the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks - if not the top 5.