It’s one of a few rules tweaks proposed by teams for the 2025 season, and it comes after Green Bay’s defense was totally unable to stop the Eagles’ use of the tush push in their postseason loss to Philadelphia in January. The tush push — a play in which the QB is pushed from behind by a teammate to convert a short yardage play — has proven nearly unstoppable for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense. The combination of an elite offensive line and Hurts’ unmatched lower body strength has made the tush push a cheat code for the Eagles over the past few seasons. Some teams with far less powerful quarterbacks — including the Packers — have used tight ends to run the tush push. The Eagles in 2024 converted 71 percent of their fourth down attempts, the fourth highest rate in the NFL.

According to Fowler, the team’s interviews with Ward have gone well, and there’s now “momentum” toward Tennessee staying put and taking Ward with the first pick. In his interview with Titans coaches and front office officials, Ward has “done a good job of explaining” the mistakes he made as quarterback at Miami. The team sees Ward’s sometimes-erratic play as fixable, Fowler said. This comes about a month after Fowler reported Shedeur Sanders was the best fit for the Titans offense, a belief that could prompt the Titans to trade down a few spots with a team bound and determined to get Ward.

NFL Network reported Wednesday that the Vikings planned on moving forward with J.J. McCarthy as their QB1 this spring, and were not considering Rodgers “at this time.” Russini said the Vikings “have strongly considered and will continue to monitor Aaron Rodgers as an option, but they’re not ready to commit at this point in the offseason, per sources. They understand this could lead to him signing elsewhere or retiring.” Meanwhile, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Rodgers is in “no hurry” to make a decision on which teams to play for in 2025. The Giants and Steelers will continue waiting for the unpredictable Rodgers to make a decision about the 2025 season. The Steelers are reportedly comfortable with starting Mason Rudolph if Rodgers, 41, signs elsewhere or calls it quits.

If the Steelers can’t land Aaron Rodgers in the coming weeks, Pelissero claims the team would be open to rolling with Rudolph in 2025. Pelissero said several key members of the Pittsburgh offense — including the mercurial George Pickens — are supportive of Rudolph, who on March 13 signed a two-year contract worth $8 million with the Steelers. Rudolph started 13 games for the Steelers in 2023, going 8-4-1 and targeting Pickens heavily throughout. He has passed for 4,615 yards with 28 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 29 career games with the Steelers. Last season with the Titans, Rudolph was 13th out of 40 qualifying QBs in drop back success rate.

McCarthy, after missing his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury, “enters the offseason” as Minnesota’s QB1, per Pelissero, adding that the Vikings are not pursuing Aaron Rodgers “at this time.” The Vikings are widely expected to add a veteran quarterback in the coming weeks, though Rodgers seems to be out of the equation as the Giants and Steelers pursue the 41-year-old two years removed from an Achilles rupture. McCarthy would certainly be set up for success in Kevin O’Connell’s QB-friendly system: The pass-catching trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson represent one of the best in the league. In his lone 2024 preseason appearance, McCarthy completed 11 of 17 attempts for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. If the Vikings are truly out on Rodgers, his options have narrowed considerably.

“Do I think that that’s happening? Not today. Not next week. Do I think it’s out of the question? Not entirely. Do I think it’s likely? No,” Schefter continued. This is not the first Rodgers-floated balloon of the offseason, as he previously wanted to replace Matthew Stafford with the Rams prior to Stafford agreeing to return. It doesn’t seem like it makes any sense for the Vikings to potentially block J.J. McCarthy with Rodgers if they weren’t willing to do it with Sam Darnold. But the only certainty with Rodgers is that there will be at least fifteen more blurbs before he actually picks a team.

Graham, 36, is one of the few modern NFL players to spend his entire career in one city. “My life has been forever changed because of this magical place,” Graham said of Philadelphia during his retirement presser. Graham earned legendary status over the second half of his career with the Eagles, helping the team earn three Super Bowl berths and winning two, including last year’s championship domination of the Chiefs. He told reporters Tuesday that he re-tore his triceps in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over KC. Graham retires with 76.5 sacks over 206 games. His best season came in 2022, when he recorded 11 sacks along with 11 tackles for a loss. Pro Football Focus graded Graham in 2024 as the league’s 20th best defensive end. His 13 hurries in 2024 ranked 86th among all defensive ends.

The Browns having so many resources tied with with Deshaun Watson — who won’t play in 2025 after two ruptures of his Achilles tendon — means the Browns are not in position to pay Wilson the way the Steelers or Giants might. Schefter added that there’s no urgency among any of the three teams to sign Wilson. The Giants and Steelers are likely waiting to see where Aaron Rodgers lands before making a real run at Wilson, who was 22nd out of 33 qualifying QBs in dropback EPA from Week 7 — when he took the team’s starting gig — to Week 18. There’s no guarantee Wilson, 36, will be a Week 1 starter in 2025.

Of course he did: It’s the rare restructure that’s a raise. The five-time All-Pro tackle will make an additional $8 million over the next two seasons including an additional $30 million in guaranteed money. That brings his ledger to $48 million, $40 million of which is guaranteed, over the coming two seasons. The Eagles continue to reward the mainstays of their roster following a Super Bowl Championship. The updated contract now ties Johnson to the Eagles through the 2027 season, effectively serving as a one-year extension.

The Giants continue to wait for a decision from Aaron Rodgers, but they aren’t letting this hold-up stop them from exploring other options. Having already met with Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson, the Giants are now setting their sights on Winston, who threw for 2,121-13-12 in 12 games with the Browns last season. The former No. 1 overall pick wouldn’t be expected to solve any long-term issues for the Giants’ quarterback conundrum, but he would provide a solid veteran presence for whatever young quarterback they bring in. Winston would also give Malik Nabers a chance to thrive as long as he’s under center.