| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTAAdam Schefter says the Vikings will not be putting a franchise tag on QB SAM DARNOLD: @AdamSchefterVikings QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to be franchise tagged ahead of Tuesday’s 4 pm ET deadline, per league sources. Minnesota still is interested in working to re-sign Darnold, but it is likely to be without any tag.– – -Whether out of conviction or diplomacy, WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON will not be drawn into a discussion of which QB he would preserve. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Sam Darnold? J.J. McCarthy? Daniel Jones? Aaron Rodgers? (I’m kidding, I think.) As far as all-universe receiver Justin Jefferson is concerned, the identity of the Vikings’ quarterback is a detail. “I’m not sure who the quarterback is gonna be, and just like I said last year, it truly doesn’t matter personally, to me,” Jefferson told Pat McAfee and company on Monday. “It doesn’t matter who’s gonna throw me that ball. I’m gonna make the most of my opportunities. I’m gonna try to make him look [like] the best quarterback in the whole NFL. You know, just making the contested catches. Making those catches that look difficult be easy. So, just having that confidence in me and just creating that connection with the quarterback, no matter who the quarterback is gonna be. That’s the main part. And just having that confidence in each other to — when it’s all said and done and it’s getting [to be] crunch time, they know who to go to.” During his five years with the Vikings, Jefferson has caught passes from Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion, Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall, and Darnold. Whether Darnold will be back remains to be seen. If it’s not him, it will likely be McCarthy. Or, possibly, someone like Jones. Regardless, Jefferson has shown that he can produce at a high level regardless of who the quarterback is, especially in the three years that head coach Kevin O’Connell has been directing the team’s offense. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSMike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on the Giants as they head into the offseason without a QB: On one hand, the Giants made no major changes after sinking to 3-14 in 2024. On the other hand, co-owner John Mara declared after the season that he’s “just about run out of patience.” The situation creates a strange dynamic for the Giants in 2025. Mara’s words will naturally make coach Brian Daboll and G.M. Joe Schoen believe they need to win in 2025, or else. Which could cause them to make moves aimed at maximizing the team’s success this year, at the potential expense of laying the foundation for longer-term success. At the center of this difficult balance is the quarterback position. They were interested in adding Matthew Stafford. Now that he’s off the board, they’ve been linked to Aaron Rodgers. Both are the kind of quarterback who can provide, best-case scenario, a short-term boost. But then what? A young quarterback could pay dividends, in time. But perhaps not in time to save the current regime. The vibe has been that they’d like to emerge from the offseason with one of each. If they sign someone like Rodgers, do they still take a quarterback at No. 3? Parking a rookie on the bench won’t help produce the kind of results that will keep Mara’s patience tank from hitting E. If the goal is to win now, they need to take the best available plug-and-play player when they’re on the clock. Mara surely realize the predicament his coach and G.M. face. Between winning now and building for tomorrow, they’ll want to win now. That’s why, now that Mara has decided to keep both men in place, they need to know he’ll indeed have the patience that lets them think about the team’s best overall interests. Maybe he has told them, privately. Maybe his “patience” remark was about blowing off steam and/or pandering to fans who have even less patience than he does. Regardless, it’s rarely an ideal approach to have the coach and the G.M. believe their jobs are on the line in the upcoming season. Because they’ll naturally do what it takes to win in the coming year, without regard to whether they’ll take a step back in the next one. Really, why should they care about the next one if there’s a good chance they won’t be sticking around for it? The fact that this year’s quarterback class lacks the same number of clear-cut future starters as 2024 makes it a little easier. Sign a veteran. Take a quarterback in round two or three. And hope he can be ready to take over after Rodgers or whoever else they sign. It won’t be easy for the Giants to get to the playoffs in 2025. If they do whatever they think they need to do to get there, it could compromise 2026. Watching them strike that balance would make an offseason spin on Hard Knocks nearly as entertaining as it was in 2024. Of course, given how last year’s experience turned out, the Giants will never do that again. Along with the other 31 NFL teams. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOWR DEEBO SAMUEL sends his love to 49ers management despite the trade: Deebo@19problemz49ers know where I stand with them and it’s nothing but love. Love John and Kyle to death no bad blood no way shape or form. They know I’m more than appreciative of everything they done for me as a player and a man nothing but love ❤️. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREJoel Corry of CBSSports.com imagines that QB LAMAR JACKSON was a free agent this year and comes up with a staggering amount he would have earned as a free agent: The Baltimore Ravens took a calculated risk by giving a non-exclusive franchise designation to quarterback Lamar Jackson in March 2023 for $32.416 million. That was after he played the 2022 season under his $23.016 million fifth-year option because he was adamant about getting a fully guaranteed contract. Several weeks later, Jackson’s contract saga finally ended when he agreed to a conventional deal shortly before the start of the 2023 NFL Draft in late April, making him the NFL’s highest-paid player at $52 million per year. Jackson signed a long-awaited five-year, $260 million contract with $185 million of overall guarantees where $135 million was fully guaranteed. The $135 million included a then-record $72.5 million signing bonus. Jackson got a no-trade clause, and there’s also a provision preventing the Ravens from designating Jackson as a franchise or transition player when his contract expires after the 2027 season. Jackson has taken his game to another level since signing the contract. He was named the NFL’s MVP in 2023, which was the second time he won the award. Surprisingly, Jackson didn’t repeat as MVP after having a historic 2024 season. Jackson was the first ever to throw for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 900 yards. His 4,172 passing yards (sixth in the NFL) were a career high, as were his 41 touchdown passes (tied for second), 8.8 yards per pass attempt (first) and 119.6 passer rating (first) — the last of which was the fourth-best mark in a season in NFL history. As a runner, his 915 yards were his most since the 2020 season. He also led the NFL with 6.6 yards per carry. No player in NFL history had led in both yards per pass and yards per run at the same time until Jackson. With only four interceptions, Jackson had an outrageous touchdown-to-interception ratio of more than 10-to-1. Nobody with 40 or more touchdown passes has thrown fewer interceptions in the same season. Fortunately for the Ravens, Jackson signed a multi-year contract rather than follow in Kirk Cousins’ footsteps. Cousins was the last quarterback to embrace the franchise tag. After playing under franchise tags for consecutive seasons with the Washington Commanders in 2016 and 2017, Cousins broke new ground by signing the NFL’s first lucrative, fully guaranteed veteran contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 as an unrestricted free agent. Cousins’ three-year, $84 million deal, which made him the league’s highest paid player at $28 million per year, was worth up to $90 million with incentives. He had regressed statistically in 2017 from the previous year and Washington missed the playoffs with a 7-9 record for third place in the NFC East when he got the deal. Jackson would likely be on the cusp of becoming the most important unrestricted free agent in NFL history when the 2025 league year starts on March 12. Baltimore designating Jackson as a franchise player for a third consecutive year would have been cost prohibitive, especially if the exclusive designation had been used in 2024. The exclusive franchise number is the average of the top-five quarterback salaries (salary cap numbers with some minor adjustments) at the end of the restricted free agent signing period in that year (April 18 in 2025). The salary (i.e.; cap number) at the date the player receives the designation is used in these calculations when there is a subsequent contract restructure strictly for cap purposes prior to the end of the signing period. Jackson’s exclusive franchise number for 2024 would have been $55.717 million. A third and final franchise tag in 2025, with a 44% increase over the 2024 figure, would have been $80,232,480. Using the non-exclusive tag again for $38,899,200, a 20% raise over the first designation, probably would have been too big of a risk for Baltimore to take. After an MVP season, some team could have been more willing to potentially lose two first-round picks by signing Jackson to an offer sheet than in 2023. Jackson didn’t draw much interest from other teams prior to signing his actual contract. In all likelihood, the Ravens would have exercised their rights to match the offer sheet. It would have been $56,014,848 the third time in 2025 after two straight non-exclusive tags. Jackson would be operating under ideal circumstances. He just had a career year. The 2025 quarterback draft class is weak, especially compared to 2024. Several teams with a significant amount of cap space need a quarterback. Jackson undoubtedly would have raised the NFL salary bar by a considerable margin whether he remained in Baltimore or signed with a new team. Dak Prescott is currently the league’s highest-paid player with the four-year, $240 million contract extension averaging $60 million per year he signed last September hours before the Dallas Cowboys’ regular season opener. The deal contains a record $231 million in guarantees where $129 million was fully guaranteed as signing, which includes the largest signing bonus in NFL history at $78,453,333. The biggest increase in the quarterback market from a single deal since the lockout ended in 2011 is Patrick Mahomes’ 28.57% over Russell Wilson’s 2019 extension from the Seattle Seahawks averaging $35 million per year. Mahomes signed a backloaded a 10-year, $450 million extension (worth up to $475 million with incentives) averaging $45 million per year with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. It’s hard to believe Jackson in free agency would have the same impact as Mahomes on the quarterback market. That would put Jackson’s contract at just under $77.15 million per year. The next biggest increase belongs to Aaron Rodgers. He moved the quarterback market up 11.71% in 2022 when he topped Mahomes with a contract from the Green Bay Packers that was widely considered to be $150.815 million over three years averaging $50,271,667 per year, although there were two additional below-market years (2025 and 2026) in the deal. Rodgers’ 2018 extension with the Packers averaging $33.5 million per year was 11.67% more than the $30 million-per-year extension Matt Ryan received from the Atlanta Falcons a couple of months earlier. Jackson getting a similar market increase as Rodgers would be $67 million per year. As another reference point, Prescott’s deal raised the quarterback market by 9.09%. Adjusting Prescott’s contract for the 9.32% increase in the salary cap this year to $279.2 million from $255.4 million in 2024 would essentially be $65.5 million per year. Jackson is clearly superior to Prescott. I consulted a few current and former NFL team front office executives I have good relationships with about Jackson hitting the open market this year. Their responses are anonymous. One NFC team executive thought Jackson not having an agent might hinder the process. “Self-representation probably works better when dealing only with your own team for an extension than a bunch of teams in free agency,” he said. The consensus was Jackson would become the NFL’s first $70 million-per-year player. “An MVP quarterback in his prime has never been a free agent,” said an NFC team negotiator. “Brady was much older. So was Peyton (Manning) and he was coming off a serious injury. I wouldn’t rule out the price being driven up to $75 million per year if the Ravens had a couple of other teams as serious competition.” The Las Vegas Raiders were mentioned the most as a potential suitor for Jackson. After hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll as head coach, signing Jackson would jump start Las Vegas’ rebuilding process. The Raiders have the NFL’s second-most 2025 cap room behind the New England Patriots, who don’t need a quarterback, at just under $97 million, according to NFLPA data. The New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers were regularly named as teams that would likely have interest in Jackson. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will be on the hot seat next season after keeping their jobs with the Giants despite going 3-14 in 2024. The Giants have slightly more than $48 million of cap space. The Steelers have lacked quarterback stability since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season. Jackson would allow the Steelers, who have nearly $60 million in cap space, to “kill two birds with one stone” by also weakening a bitter AFC North rival. A couple of the executives thought an unexpected team would get in the mix for Jackson. One team that fits the bill is the Cleveland Browns because of a tight salary cap situation. Some salary cap gymnastics with restructuring contracts and releasing players would be necessary for Cleveland to sign Jackson. Perennial All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett would surely rescind his trade request with Jackson coming aboard. The majority opinion was Jackson would get the fully guaranteed contract he initially desired, although Deshaun Watson would be a cause for concern. Watson received an unprecedented fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in connection with his March 2022 trade to the Browns despite having four years worth $136 million remaining on the four-year contract extension averaging $39 million per year he signed with the Houston Texans in September 2020. Since the trade, Watson hasn’t come close to resembling the quarterback who led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards and set a Texans franchise record for touchdown passes (33) in 2020. Watson has probably played his last down with the Browns because of the torn right Achilles he suffered seven games into the 2024 season, his subsequent re-rupture of the Achilles and his consistent poor performance with Cleveland — even though a fully guaranteed $92 million remains on his contract, which runs through the 2026 season. “A fully guaranteed contract would probably be the cost of doing business to get Jackson,” said an AFC team executive. I would prefer a shorter deal but would do five years if Jackson insisted.” A former longtime AFC team contract negotiator thought Jackson might choose to sign a three-year contract like Cousins because he would be able to hit the open market again at 31 years old. Cousins had leverage when negotiating two contract extensions with the Vikings because the original contract contained a no-trade clause and language preventing Minnesota from designating him as a franchise or transition player in 2021. Since Jackson’s contract would surely contain these provisions, he would be positioned for an extension after two years, like Cousins got, in 2027 with a three-year deal. Front loading hasn’t been a consideration with the fully guaranteed contracts. The cash in each year of Cousins’ and Watson’s respective deals has equaled the average yearly salary. For example, Watson’s contract averages $46 million per year. He is making $46 million in each year. Presumably, a fully guaranteed contract for Jackson would be structured the same way. Jackson would seem to be looking at a fully guaranteed three-year contract between $210 million and $225 million if he hit the open market next week. At $70 million per year, Jackson would be getting 16.67% more than Prescott. A $75 million per year deal would re-set the quarterback market by 25%. Standard operating procedure is for a quarterback to sign an extension heading into a contract year at the latest. A majority of quarterbacks taken in the first round get extensions with two years remaining on their rookie contracts. Occasionally, a quarterback will play out his contract and receive a franchise tag before signing long term. None of the tag recipients have been willing to take it to the extreme other than Cousins. It’s probably going to take a perfect storm of events for another above-average-to-MVP-caliber quarterback in his prime to hit the open market like Cousins did. NFL teams should be thankful other quarterbacks don’t follow the Cousins blueprint because it would likely be more beneficial financially for these players in the long run. |
| CINCINNATIFor the second consecutive season, the Bengals have used the franchise tag on WR TEE HIGGINS. Word last month was that the Bengals would use the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins if they weren’t able to sign him to a long-term deal ahead of Tuesday’s tag deadline and that’s proven to be correct. Higgins confirmed on Monday that the Bengals have used the tag on him for the second straight season. The tag carries a salary of $26.16 million because of the 20 percent raise mandated for a second tag. Chiefs guard Trey Smith is the only other player to receive a franchise tag at this point. The Bengals have said that they want to sign Higgins to a longer deal, but Higgins doesn’t appear to believe that the team is working as hard as it could to make that happen. They also have wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson up for contract extensions this offseason and keeping everyone may prove to be too much for the Bengals to pull off. Higgins had 73 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2024 season. It’s not like $26 million, or more than $1.5 million per game, is bad compensation for Higgins who might not crack a top 10 list of NFL receivers. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BROADCAST NEWSAs appeared likely if you watched the Super Bowl Pregame Show, Jimmie Johnson will not be back on FOX NFL Sunday. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Fox studio show is going to be a bit different for the 2025 season. Jimmy Johnson announced on a Monday appearance on The Herd that he is leaving the show and retiring from broadcasting. Johnson first worked for the network after his run as the Cowboys head coach ended in March, 1994 and then returned after coaching the Dolphins from 1996 to 1999. “I’ve made an extremely difficult decision,” Johnson said. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, but I’ve decided to retire from Fox. I’m gonna miss it, I’m gonna miss all the guys but it has been a great run starting 31 years ago.” Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Michael Strahan, Howie Long, Rob Gronkowski, and Jay Glazer make up the rest of the studio crew on Fox NFL Sunday. My goodness, 31 years! Here’s hoping that Johnson shows up in some remotes from his home in the Keys even while retired next year. |
| 2025 DRAFTLance Zeurlein of NFL.com came away with this Mock Draft after the Combine: The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is over. And with the results in Indianapolis, there are sure to be some risers (and fallers) on draft boards around the league. This is reflected in my second mock of the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round, as I try things out — including some shakeups at the top — to see where the dominoes might fall. My first few mock drafts always have some aggressive swings — which we often see in the actual draft — and then I respond as I believe the teams might. Now, NFL franchises will address various needs in free agency — which officially kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on March 12 — and that will obviously impact how things play out at April’s draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. But in the calm before the FA frenzy, here is my latest simulation of Round 1. 1 Tennessee TitansAbdul CarterPenn State · Edge · JuniorLet’s just give Tennessee the best player at a high-impact position. The Titans obviously could consider a quarterback here, but my guess is they won’t have one graded highly enough to select at No. 1 overall. 2 Cleveland BrownsTravis HunterColorado · WR/CB · JuniorHunter can come in and start at receiver or cornerback right away. He’d have a big impact at either position for the Browns. 3 New York GiantsCam WardMiami · QB · SeniorHe’s a serious-minded quarterback with a big arm and the ability to grow into a dangerous pitch-and-catch combo with Malik Nabers. 4 New England PatriotsArmand MembouMissouri · OT · JuniorLSU product Will Campbell is tough, but so is Membou — and the Missouri tackle has less technique to clean up. Let’s put a new face into the fourth pick of the draft, giving New England the best offensive lineman on my board. 5 Jacksonville JaguarsTetairoa McMillanArizona · WR · JuniorThe Jaguars are all in on Trevor Lawrence, adding another weapon on the perimeter to create their own version of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 6 Las Vegas RaidersJalon WalkerGeorgia · Edge · JuniorWith Tom Brady in the mix, look for the Raiders to start targeting prospects known for leadership and a love of ball — guys like Walker. 7 New York JetsWill CampbellLSU · OT · JuniorGive the Jets credit: They keep trying to build the fronts. But that undertaking has produced mixed results. They swing again, and I think this one is a hit. Campbell’s a player who can add toughness and football character to this lineup at right tackle. 8 Carolina PanthersMykel WilliamsGeorgia · Edge · JuniorThe Panthers need pass-rush help in the worst way. In this simulation, they turn to an ascending prospect with a high floor, but the physically gifted Williams will need some time to maximize his intriguing skill set. 9 New Orleans SaintsShemar StewartTexas A&M · Edge · JuniorThe Saints could try to trade out if the board falls like this, but in this scenario, they make the risk/reward pick in Stewart. Hopefully, he can take the torch from Cam Jordan, who’s turning 36 this summer. 10 Chicago BearsJosh SimmonsOhio State · OT · Junior (RS)For the second time in three drafts, Ryan Poles takes an offensive tackle with the No. 10 overall pick (SEE: Darnell Wright in 2023). 11 San Francisco 49ersMason GrahamMichigan · DT · JuniorGraham doesn’t offer the eye-popping traits that some prospects possess, but he’s very safe and fits what the 49ers are looking for. 12 Dallas CowboysAshton JeantyBoise State · RB · JuniorJeanty is one of the best players in this draft. While this is a deep RB class, I’m guessing Jerry Jones will take a swing at special here over good later on. 13 Miami DolphinsNick EmmanworiSouth Carolina · S · JuniorThe Dolphins simply don’t have many safeties under contract. Emmanwori provides elite traits and outstanding potential if the motor runs hot. 14 Indianapolis ColtsTyler BookerAlabama · IOL · JuniorI wanted to put tight end Tyler Warren here, but the opportunity to pair Booker with Quenton Nelson might be too enticing for Chris Ballard to pass up. 15 Atlanta FalconsMike GreenMarshall · Edge · Junior (RS)The Falcons desperately need pass rush. Green absolutely dominated his competition en route to a huge 2024 campaign (FBS-high 17 sacks). He’s an explosive, ready-made rusher with start-now talent. 16 Houston Texans PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALSKelvin Banks Jr.Texas · OT/OG · JuniorThe Texans are officially in “win now” mode, as they trade up to grab a player who can improve protection at guard in Year 1 before eventually bouncing out to take over a tackle spot. 17 Cincinnati BengalsTyler WarrenPenn State · TE · SeniorThe AFC is an arms race, and the Bengals are lucky enough to snare a do-everything tight end who adds another layer of danger to their offense. 18 Seattle SeahawksMatthew GoldenTexas · WR · JuniorWith Tyler Lockett as a potential cap casualty and rumors swirling that DK Metcalf could be traded, Golden becomes an easier fit here. 19 Tampa Bay BuccaneersJames Pearce Jr.Tennessee · Edge · JuniorPearce is a slippery pass rusher with an explosive get-off — that might be hard for the Bucs to pass up, considering their need for edge juice. 20 Denver BroncosColston LovelandMichigan · TE · JuniorBuilding around Bo Nix is likely to continue to be a priority. An athletic pass catcher with good size could be high on the Broncos’ wish list. 21 Pittsburgh SteelersWill JohnsonMichigan · CB · JuniorThe slide ends for Johnson. If he runs a strong 40-yard dash at Michigan’s pro day, that will boost his stock. For now, he ends up taking his impressive ball talent to Pittsburgh. 22 Los Angeles ChargersKenneth GrantMichigan · DT · JuniorJim Harbaugh’s quite familiar with this jumbo DT out of Michigan, and the Chargers need help up the middle. It’s a perfect match. 23 Green Bay PackersJahdae BarronTexas · CB · SeniorWith CB Jaire Alexander seemingly on the way out, the Packers might run this card up to the podium. 24 Baltimore Ravens PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGSJosh Conerly Jr.Oregon · OT · JuniorThe Ravens make a small move up the board — leapfrogging the Rams — to grab their long-term replacement for Ronnie Stanley at left tackle. 25 Arizona Cardinals PROJECTED TRADE WITH HOUSTON TEXANSLuther Burden IIIMissouri · WR · JuniorArizona adds an underrated weapon to pair with Marvin Harrison Jr., helping to unlock the offense’s potential. 26 Los Angeles RamsJihaad CampbellAlabama · LB · JuniorThe Rams are light at linebacker. Campbell offers a terrific blend of chase-down speed and third-down talent (in coverage and as a rusher). 27 Minnesota Vikings PROJECTED TRADE WITH BALTIMORE RAVENSMaxwell HairstonKentucky · CB · Junior (RS)Minnesota adds the buzziest cornerback coming out of the combine. Hairston lit up the track at Lucas Oil Stadium with a 4.28 40-yard dash. 28 Detroit LionsAzareye’h ThomasFlorida State · CB · JuniorDetroit could go in a few directions here, but improving the back end with a long, physical, press-man cornerback might be the top priority. 29 Cleveland Browns PROJECTED TRADE WITH WASHINGTON COMMANDERSShedeur SandersColorado · QB · SeniorSanders’ slide is over, as the Browns flip their No. 33 overall pick and an additional selection to the Commanders in order to take a swing at a QB of the future. 30 Buffalo BillsWalter NolenMississippi · DT · JuniorNolen’s maturity has come into question in conversations I’ve had with some team sources, but his talent is undeniable. 31 Kansas City ChiefsNic ScourtonTexas A&M · Edge · JuniorScourton has good size and toughness, plus the ability to make plays on all three downs as a dual-phase edge. 32 Chicago Bears PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLESGrey ZabelNorth Dakota State · IOL · SeniorIt could be tempting to grab a receiver like Emeka Egbuka, but Ryan Poles is determined to fix his offensive line, so a trade up for a sturdy C/OG like Zabel would make sense. Caleb Williams certainly would benefit from two first-round O-linemen. |
