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He’s taken 10 sacks in the last two weeks and the offensive line play was so bad that Joe Thuney, an All-Pro guard, kicked out to left tackle to replace Wanya Morris late in the game. A promising third-quarter drive was derailed by a 17-yard gigasack where he fumbled while backpedaling. Mahomes wasn’t without blame — he missed some open deep balls and it appeared he went to the wrong shoulder on a red zone throw to Travis Kelce, which is a rare miscommunication between those two. But it largely has not been his fault that this operation continues to struggle. A Week 14 matchup with the Chargers will probably remain firmly in fantasy football stayaway territory.

The Cowboys continue to take contract extensions down to the wire with their star players. The team declined to extend Odighizuwa last offseason, with one year remaining on his rookie contract and the decision will likely cost them quite a bit. The 26-year-old DT totaled 60 regular season QB pressures in 2024, ranking third at the position. The interior difference-maker would presumably generate considerable interest from DL-needy teams if he is allowed to hit the open market.

The New Heights page posted a video depicting Kelce’s image over Jordan Belfort’s head in the iconic scene from The Wolf of Wall Street where Belfort not so subtly announces he’s “not leaving” the company. You know the scene. Kelce’s return was reported earlier by Pat McAfee, who read a text from an unnamed source — which was very clearly Kelce — that said, “I’m coming back for sure.” Kelce said his performance in the Super Bowl left a “bad taste” in his mouth and that he’s hoping to return next season in the best shape of his life as he prepares for his 13th NFL season. By his standards, Kelce had a down 2024. While we wouldn’t expect him to bounce back to his old form, he should still have plenty to offer as a reliable option in the passing game, and could still prove to be among the best producers at the tight end position, even if his efficiency totals continue to fall off.

Watson re-tore his Achilles in January and is expected to miss “significant time” next season. What Watson was doing at the time of his injury was of interest to the Browns, as anything outside the scope of his rehab and recovery may have created an out for them when it comes to the remaining money on his contract. Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. There’s a very real chance he never plays another snap for the Browns again. That said, knowing he’ll remain with the team for at least 2025, Berry officially cleared the air of any speculation regarding his second injury, and said Watson is determined to return to the field.

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.