NFL Player News

This will be Washington’s fourth stint as an NFL DL coach. He previously served as the Bears’ DC in 2024 and operated as the Bills’ assistant head coach and DL coach before that. Washington will now work with a highly talented Jets defensive line as the team attempts to rebound from a lost 2024 season.

Cooks also relayed that he is “expecting a good free agency... but I’m also open to returning to Dallas.” Now 31 years old and healthy after missing seven games in 2024, Cooks appears primed to contribute in a complementary capacity after serving as a primary option earlier in his career. He finished the quote by hinting that his relationship with the players in Dallas is good but added, “I would love to play for the Cowboys, at the same time they have to use me right. I don’t think they fully used my to my strengths.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal includes $54 million guaranteed. The Bills wasted no time in extended their defensive end, doing so prior to the final year on his rookie contract. The extension will now tie Rousseau to the Bills through his age-29 season. Rousseau has played three seasons for the Bills after opting out of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, amassing 129 tackles, 30 tackles for a loss, and 17 sacks in his time with the team.

Ferguson, Buffalo’s longest tenured player, will now be under team control through the 2029 season. He initially joined the Bills as a undrafted free agent in 2016, with his new deal potentially keeping him in a Bill’s uniform for 14 seasons.

Hollywood returns to the Chiefs after appearing in just two regular season contests following a pre-season injury. The once-stalwart Chiefs have dealt with numerous off-the-field issues at wide receiver the previous two off-seasons, with the most recent being second-year wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s arrest on Saturday. Brown’s speed and veteran status bring an inkling of stability to a pass-catching corps seemingly in continuous turmoil in recent history. Brown averaged 66% of the team’s offensive snaps in his two playoff appearances last season.

Gesicki enjoyed a nice bounce back season with the Bengals in 2024. He caught 65 passes for 665 yards, which were both the most he’s had in a season since 2021. Bringing back Gesicki was part of Joe Burrow’s offseason plan as the quarterback has publicly lobbied for all of his offensive weapons to get paid. The 29-year-old tight end is still frisky, but likely a TE2 in fantasy at this point in his career.

The extension includes $54 million guaranteed for Rousseau while making him the eighth-highest paid EDGE on average in the NFL. A former first-round pick who had his fifth-year option picked up a year ago, he’s had eight sacks in two of the last three seasons. In 2024, Rousseau, who turns 25 next month, forced three fumbles, earned an 83.1 overall grade from PFF (12 among EDGEs), and had 63 QB pressures (10th among EDGEs). The extension is the third the Bills have handed out already this offseason as Khalil Shakir and Terrell Bernard also got new deals. Rousseau will now be in Buffalo through the 2029 season.

Worthy has been charged with assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation. The 21-year-old will face serious consequences from the criminal justice system and could also face a possible suspension from the NFL under the league’s personal conduct policy once the legal process unfolds. We’ll have additional updates and more information on this story as it develops.

The Seahawks’ trade of Geno Smith to the Raiders appears to have cleared the way for the team to make a run at Sam Darnold in free agency. Darnold, who turns 28 in June, is said to be looking for a three-year deal. With Smith poised to sign a new contract with the Raiders, the Seahawks would be getting younger and cheaper at the most important position in sports by bringing in Darnold.

Garafolo believes the Seahawks’ trade of Geno Smith to the Raiders appears to have started some quarterback chaos. With Sam Darnold expected to leave Minnesota, the Vikings are focused on Daniel Jones. However, if Jones doesn’t re-sign, Rodgers could be in play for the Vikings, according to Garafolo. Rodgers, the longtime Packers quarterback who flamed out with the Jets, would complete the full Brett Favre cycle if he ends up with the Vikings. It’s unlikely to actually happen given Rodgers’ likely preference to start and the presence of former top-10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy, who’s returning from a torn meniscus.

McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season with a torn meniscus that required two surgeries with the second one coming in November. The 22-year-old former National Champion at the University of Michigan resumed training in January and is expected to be ready for spring practice. While the reports on McCarthy’s progress have been positive and the team is poised to let last year’s starter Sam Darnold to walk in free agency, expect the Vikings to bring in another veteran backup to pair with McCarthy.