NFL Player News

To O’Connell’s credit: This was a better game than we expected for him. He was a beat slow in making his throws, but he was willing to push the ball downfield in a way that Gardner Minshew wasn’t able to. He was lobbing balls above underneath zone defenders all day, and he found Tre Tucker isolated down the sideline for 58 yards to briefly take a 17-16 lead. O’Connell had led the team from the Vegas 8 all the way down to the Kansas City 32, roughly in field goal range notwithstanding the struggles of kicker Daniel Carlson, before an errant snap by Jackson Powers-Johnson clunked off O’Connell’s right arm and was recovered by the Chiefs with 15 seconds left. O’Connell finds himself as a potential superflex QB2 in Week 14 against the Buccaneers after this performance.

Lawrence appeared in just four games in 2024 before suffering a Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The 11-year pro is reportedly set to play a 12th season, according to Canter, but where that season will be played is to be determined, as Lawrence is scheduled to hit free agency next month. Lawrence will be 33 at the start of next season and has totaled just 13 sacks in his last 38 games. Far from the player he was in 2017 when he racked up a career-high 14.5 sacks, Lawrence could still provide value as a situational pass rusher to a team — assuming he’s fully recovered from his injury. While Canter expressed optimism about Lawrence returning to the Cowboys, that could ultimately come down to price. Per Over the Cap, the Cowboys have just over $3.8 million in cap space to use, and have several key players work out deals with this offseason.

Jenkins was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers back in 2017 and joined the Seahawks on a two-year contract last offseason. Jenkins started nine of the 13 games he appeared in for the Seahawks last season, totaling 53 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery that he returned 102 yards for a score. Jenkins carries a $7.780 million cap hit next season, but can be cut for a savings of $5.280 million. Seattle would also take on a dead cap hit of $2.5 million if they do release Jenkins, meaning there’s a good chance his days with the Seahawks are done whether it’s by trade or release. At 31 years old, Jenkins days as an every-down starter may be coming to an end, but he should still have plenty to offer as depth in any team’s secondary.

This news came in an email that was sent to ProFootballTalk on Thursday morning. We’re not sure why this meeting would be drawn into question, as it was reported nearly a week ago that the Rams granted Stafford and his agent permission to speak to other teams, but we have clarity nonetheless. Stafford reportedly met with Brady to discuss a potential fit in Vegas, but whether that was an arranged meeting or a one that occurred out of happenstance isn’t quite known, but the two sides speaking seems undisputed. The Raiders aren’t the only team being connected to Stafford, as the Giants are also rumored to be “firmly on the table.” This situation remains wait-and-see for the time being.

Speaking at Wednesday’s press conference, Lynch said McCaffrey was “doing really well” in his recovery from the Achilles tendinitis and PCL injuries that limited him to just four games last season. McCaffrey isn’t getting any younger. He’ll be 29 at the start of next season, and his injury-plagued 2024 only serves as a reminder for how quickly a running back’s career can go sideways. While he’s expected to serve as the 49ers’ RB1 if healthy, the Niners need to figure out what to do at the position outside of McCaffrey. Explosive rookie Isaac Guerendo remains on the team, but Elijah Mitchell will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and last year’s leading rusher, Jordan Mason is no lock to return as a restricted free agent. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 49ers address running back via the draft or free agency, but it’s good to hear that CMC appears to be on the path toward a return for next season.

According to Cabot, Garrett has “slammed the door” on any possibilities of an extension to remain with the Browns. The four-time All-Pro requested a trade earlier this offseason in hopes of landing with a contender for the 2025 season, but so far, the Browns have appeared unwilling to deal him. There were some reports that the Browns would try to entice Garrett to stay with a hefty extension, but it sounds like Garrett wants no part of the Browns going forward. Whether or not the team changes its mind when it comes to a trade is to be determined, but it sounds like Garrett is doing everything he can to make it known that his days in Cleveland are over.

Had he hit free agency, Smith would have been viewed as the best guard on the market and one of the top players overall. For now, the Pro Bowl guard will remain with the Chiefs on the franchise tag, which would pay out $23.4 million in 2025, but the Chiefs hope to get a long-term deal done with Smith in the near future. Smith was a sixth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2021 and has been among the league’s best guards since entering the league. Last season he earned a PFF grade of 78.8 and a run blocking grade of 80.8 — the seventh-highest grade of any guard in the league (min. 500 snaps). It wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith and the Chiefs agree to a long-term deal before the start of the season.

Without directly naming Kelce as his source, McAfee, who was reading text messages from his phone, all but confirmed it was Kelce who confirmed his return. McAfee said the “source” he reached out to regarding Kelce’s future replied to his text saying, “I’m coming back for sure. I’m gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.” This “source” also said he had a “real bad taste” in his mouth about how he played in his last game. Kelce caught 97 passes for 823 yards and three touchdowns last season — all very strong numbers by most tight end standards. That said, his play took a noticeable dip last season, as the 823 yards he totaled were his fewest since 2014, while his 8.5 YPR set a new career low by more than two yards. Kelce will be 35 at the start of next season and can still provide the Chiefs reliable hands in the passing game, but it seems clear that his best days are likely behind him, even if he does manage to get in the best shape of his career.

This marks the fourth-straight season that the league has increased the cap number after it fell to $182.5 million in 2021 following a COVID-stricken 2020 season. The $279.2 million ceiling also sets a new league record for the fourth-straight season, and will raise every team’s cap space for the upcoming season once adjustments for the approved amount take effect.

Disappointing, but not surprising. Per Tomasson, an NFL official passed on this information regarding Hunter’s decision to skip combine workouts, meaning we won’t get a chance to look at the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner until Colorado’s pro day. An elite two-way player in college, Hunter could have the opportunity to play a similar dual role in the NFL, although that decision will likely depend on the team that drafts him. Colorado has not yet set a date for their pro day, but with Shedeur Sanders also expected to participate, it’s safe to say it will be one of the most anticipated pro days of this year’s NFL Draft news cycle.

The latest rumors on Higgins are that the Bengals will franchise tag him if they cannot reach a deal before free agency kicks off. Even if that doesn’t come to fruition, Graff believes the Patriots will prioritize the offensive and defensive lines. Patriots executive VP of player personnel reinforced those sentiments at the combine when he said “The game is always won on the lines — offensive line, defensive line.” Graff adds that the Patriots are “going to feel out the trade market for a receiver,” but any move for Higgins appears unlikely at this point.