NFL Player News

Derek Carr, Josh Jacobs, and Maxx Crosby spoke glowingly of Rich Bisaccia’s leadership in the days before the Raiders hired McDaniels as their next head coach. Bisaccia, a real football guy who endeared himself to players and fans, helped right the Raiders ship after Jon Gruden was fired following the publication of racist emails. He led Vegas to an improbable playoff berth and fell just short of upsetting the Bengals in the Wild Card round. Tafur reported the Raiders “coaching staff was disappointed and a little bitter” by the news of McDaniels’ hiring. McDaniels, whose first head coaching stint (with Denver) was an abject disaster, has a lot of trust-earning to do in the coming weeks and months. “The players will get over it. They always do,” Tafur said. “They have no choice. They will meet McDaniels and be optimistic by training camp.”

Winfield had a $21 million base salary that was shifted to a minimum salary and bonus, with the Bucs also adding a void year. He signed a four-year, $84.1 million contract last offseason and now Tampa Bay frees up $15.86 million in cap space for 2025 by restructuring a contract that ends in 2027. The Bucs also restructured WR Mike Evans’ contract, though it was not for any cap savings. Evans had some compensation moved forward to pay him sooner, but cap space was not created.

Pre-draft visits aren’t everything, but the Steelers have historically drafted from their visit list at a strikingly high clip. Five of Pittsburgh’s seven draft picks last year were brought in for a visit. Golden was a Day One hopeful after going for 987 yards and nine scores at Texas last year. He then cemented his status as a first-round wideout at the NFL Combine with a 4.29 Forty. With George Pickens entering a contract year, the Steelers could be looking for his successor via the draft, even with DK Metcalf also on the roster.

Hendrickson said the Bengals told him a deal would get done this offseason. He also noted that he began asking for a long-term deal with guaranteed money three years ago. Earlier this week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the team is still working on a potential extension, though Hendrickson didn’t make it sound like a deal was imminent when talking to McAfee. The Bengals have prioritized bringing their offensive players back in thus far. Ja’Marr Chase was made the highest-paid non-quarterback this offseason while Tee Higgins got a healthy contract extension as well. Hendrickson is currently the odd man out and could be headed for free agency next offseason.

The Saints have reportedly “shown a considerable amount of interest” in Ewers, who threw for more than 9,100 yards and 68 touchdowns over 37 games for the Longhorns from 2022 to 2024. Ewers, 22, is projected as a Day Three pick and could sit behind starter Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler if the Saints use a fourth or fifth round selection on the quarterback. The Raiders have reportedly been impressed with Ewers in the pre-draft evaluation process. Wherever he lands, Ewers — who went 27-9 at Texas — is likely to be a backup at best.

The Steelers parted ways with Najee Harris, now a Charger, after four seasons and in March signed former Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell to play alongside nominal lead back Jaylen Warren. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin complimented Gainwell for his success as a pass catcher in the flat, adding Gainwell has “a well-rounded game. He’s a capable and willing special teams player. Plays a lot on possession down ball.” Tomlin, however, said this year presents a “uniquely deep draft at [running back].” The team has completed pre-draft visits with a few high-profile backs: Ohio State’s tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, along with Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Warren, who has averaged a healthy 5.4 yards per carry over his first three NFL seasons, could face significant competition for backfield touches in 2025. Pittsburgh holds the 21st pick in the draft.

Whether the Patriots engage with trade talks remains to be seen. MassLive.com reported sources close to Milton said he “would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.” These aren’t the first reports we’ve seen about Milton, 25, leaving New England after one season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowlers reported in March that the Cowboys are interested in acquiring Milton — the 193rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — as a backup to Dak Prescott. Apparently Milton turned some heads around the NFL with his Week 18 start against the Bills last January. He completed 22 of 29 attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 16 yards and another score. Milton had the eighth highest drop back EPA of Week 18 out of 33 qualifying QBs; he posted the week’s third best completion rate over expected. The big-armed Milton threw for more than 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Tennessee before being drafted by New England.

It was Rodgers who initiated the talks as he waffles between signing with the Steelers or waiting on the Vikings to show real interest. “Rodgers and O’Connell spoke multiple times, and O’Connell relayed those conversations to key decision-makers,” Seifert said. “That prompted several days of discussions about what it would look like to add Rodgers and push back McCarthy’s timetable to the 2026 season.” It very much appears Rodgers wants to complete the so-called Favre Cycle and finish his NFL career with the Vikings after a forgettable stint with the Jets. The Vikings are expected to evaluate J.J. McCarthy — returning from a knee injury that wiped out his rookie campaign — during offseason workouts. If they have questions about McCarthy’s progress, the Vikings could begin a real pursuit of Rodgers, 41. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor said Rodgers “could wait for another team to come calling in the event of an injury” or simply call it a career if he doesn’t like his options in the coming weeks and months.

Russini said her “sense” in talking to league sources was that the Titans have not fully committed to keeping the draft’s first pick and presumably taking Miami QB Cam Ward. After disastrous recent drafts and some of the worst free agency signings in recent memory, the Titans — who have a grand total of 16 wins over the past three seasons — are in full-blown rebuild mode. Russini said the Titans are “an organization that is trying to completely revamp.” It’s that kind of organization that could be open to trading away the top pick in exchange for a bevy of high-value picks in 2025 and beyond.

Cousins is now the backup quarterback for the Falcons, a position he did not expect to be in as he now hopes to find a way out of the situation. The Browns are currently without a starting quarterback and Russini reports that “there’s enough conversations being had” for Cousins going to the Browns to not be surprising. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he spoke with Cousins and took notes in a conversation that likely revolved around Cousins’ future in Atlanta. If he does get traded, the Browns are a team where Cousins can come in and start, even if they draft a rookie.

O’Connell emphasized that Jones excelled in “1a-1b backfield structure” and the team brought in Jordan Mason to complement Jones. He continued that Mason will “bring something to the table” in short-yardage situations and goal-line scenarios. Meanwhile, Jones will be used more in early-down, third-down, and passing-down situations. The Vikings backfield is shaping up to have both backs useful in fantasy. Jones will have more value as a pass-catcher while Mason will be a downhill runner with goal-line utility.