NFL Player News

Bridgewater is planning to coach high school football. Always in-between starting and “bridge” status, Bridgewater is only 31 but has had a “football life"-type career, including devastating injury setbacks. Bridgewater has had increasing difficulty staying healthy in recent seasons. It is probably a good decision to hang ‘em up while currently healthy. Bridgewater could still have another big moment or two in store for the playoff-bound Lions. He seems like someone bound to stay around the game, perhaps in a professional coaching capacity after he gets his feet wet at the high school level.

Davis signed a two-year deal with the Colts last offseason. The fifth-year tackle appeared in all 17 games but never made a start while playing on 349 defensive snaps, per PFF. Davis totaled just 15 tackles and one TFL while failing to record a sack, and has seen his tackle numbers decline each of the last three seasons. Davis doesn’t profile as an every-down tackle, but should have something to offer in the run game as a rotational player wherever he lands next.

A day after learning he would be released, Kirk now has a new home in Houston. The wide receiver-needy Texans gave up virtually nothing to acquire the veteran slot receiver, who is on the final year of a four-year, $72 million deal he signed in 2022, and will hope he can make for an adequate pairing with Nico Collins. Kirk underperformed his contract while with the Jaguars, catching 168 passes for 2,274 yards and 12 touchdowns in 37 games, as his last two years have been plagued with injuries. Kirk has played over 75 percent of his snaps from the slot since 2021 and will likely play a similar role for the Texans next season. While he should make for a solid addition, the Texans would still benefit from adding another outside receiver this offseason.

With Hendrickson now permitted to seek a trade, we would expect to hear several more teams are interested in the star pass rusher’s services. The Commanders finished 11th last season with 43 sacks, but it was the Falcons whose pass rush truly struggled, as they managed only 31 sacks on the season, the second-lowest total of any team in the league. The Commanders have ample cap space to trade for Hendrickson and sign him to a new deal if they desire to do so, while the Falcons have some work to do just to be in compliance with the cap space for this upcoming season. This is worth considering, as Hendrickson will likely be eyeing a new deal from whatever team deals for him. We’ll see what other suitors emerge in the coming days, but Hendrickson’s days in Cincinnati appear all but finished.

According to Texans beat writer, Aaron Wilson, Hinish can earn up to $2.35 million on this deal. Hinish played on 400-plus defensive snaps in each of his first two seasons with the Texans, but was limited to 231 snaps over 10 games last season. The former UDFA totaled 12 tackles and two TFLs last season and has 57 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks in 42 career games overall. Hinish has just four starts in his career and should continue to serve as added depth for the Texans next season.

The Bengals have three star players in need of new deals. Now, as the new league year continues to draw closer, the team appears to have made the decision to not extend a new offer to Hendrickson. The veteran pass rusher joined the team in the 2021 offseason and has been one of the league’s premiere sack artists during his four-year run with the team. Hendrickson has totaled 57 sacks over that span, with 35 of those sacks coming in the last two seasons. After earning his first First-Team All-Pro nod and finishing second in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting, it’s fair to assume Hendrickson will have a solid trade market heading into his age-30 season. The asking price will be high, and whatever team acquires him will need to get an extension done in short order, but Hendrickson should have a handful of prime years left in the tank, making him a coveted player on the market.

Alford entered the league in 2022 after playing the first two seasons of his post-college career playing in the CFL. Alford started a career-high 11 games last season and racked up 83 tackles and 11 pass breakups while earning a PFF coverage grade of 55.9. Alford allowed 76 receptions for 706 yards and eight touchdowns last season while being targeted 102 times — the fourth-most of any cornerback last season. Alford, 27, should generate enough interest to have a chance to make a roster as added depth next season.

Martin was set to enter the final year in his contract and had discussed an extension with the team. Now, the two sides will part ways in a move that will save the Bills $1.885 million against the cap for next season. Martin is a 12-year league vet who began his career with the Lions in 2013. Still a reliable punter, Martin averaged 46.7 yards per punt while landing 46.3 percent of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line — the 11th highest mark among qualified punters. Martin should have plenty of opportunities to continue his career this offseason and will likely get a chance to compete for a job in camp.

Jobe was set to be a restricted free agent in 2025. The former undrafted free agent has appeared in 38 games over the last three years, and started six of the 10 games he appeared in for the Seahawks last season. In those games, Jobe totaled 37 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one interception while earning a PFF coverage grade of 49.9. Jobe has been a replacement-level corner for most of his career. Whether he returns as a starter or for added depth, Jobe’s return should help a pass defense that ranked sixth in yards per attempt and 11th in total pass yards allowed last season.

After being sidelined for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Gonzalez caught on with the Commanders late in the 2024 campaign and ended up converting 5-of-7 field goals (71.4 percent) during six regular season games while also going 7-for-8 in the playoffs with one field goal of 50-plus yards. Gonzalez is unlikely to be handed the Commanders’ starting kicker job for next season, but will clearly have a chance to compete for it in camp.