NFL

Wiliams missed the final seven games of 2024 with ankle and heel injuries. While he didn’t mention retirement last year, it’s a reasonable speculation for a 36-year-old tackle who has already locked up his spot in the Hall of Fame. He also held out for much of the offseason program last year in search of more guaranteed money. The 49ers eventually obliged, though Williams could soon be eying a new deal entirely. He has two years left on his current contract. Luckily for San Francisco, that doesn’t appear to be an issue at the moment and Williams will be back protecting Brock Purdy’s blindside next season.

Lynch said “It probably makes sense” and the team is allowing Samuel to look for trade partners. He also briefly mentioned Samuel’s contract. The 49ers will eat a $31.6 million dead cap charge if they trade Samuel, reducing their cap space by $15.2 million. That means the team needs to be reasonably compensated by a trade partner for the cap hit they will incur, creating a potential hurdle in negotiations. Still, Lynch seemed understanding of Samuel’s desire to leave and does appear willing to move on from the former superstar wideout. Coming off a frustrating season that amounted to just 806 yards from scrimmage, the second-lowest mark of his career, a mutual split may be best for both sides at this point.

No surprises here as both Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have said they want to keep Purdy around long-term. Even owner Jed York has publicly stated his desire for Purdy to be in San Francisco for a long time. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini previously speculated that Purdy’s deal could be worth $55 to $60 million per season. That would make him one of the five highest-paid quarterbacks if it comes to fruition. While Purdy may not be a top-five quarterback, he’s put up top-five efficiency numbers since entering the league three years ago. It’s also to be expected that any young quarterback getting a new contract will be one of the highest-paid passers for at least a year or two. Purdy’s extension is ultimately a matter of when, not if, it happens.

Whitehead began his career with the Bucs and signed with the Jets after his rookie deal expired. He returned to Tampa Bay last season but only lasted one year on what could have been a two-year deal if the Bucs picked up his option. Whitehead missed time late in the season with a torn pec. Just as he was nearing a return, Whitehead got in a car accident and injured his neck, ending his season. Garafolo noted that he is expected to be recovered “well ahead of the season.” That recovery could delay a new contract, but Whitehead, only 27 years old, should be able to find another starting role elsewhere.

As NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill notes, new head coach Kellen Moore said the Saints feel fortunate to have Carr. Cutting Carr this offseason would saddle the Saints with $21.5 million in dead cap. Trading him could be impossible as Carr has a no-trade clause in his contract. He could waive the clause but would likely prefer to be cut and hit the open market. That was the road he took out of Las Vegas and is likely the only way he winds up on a new team this offseason. Underhill’s read of the situation has Carr on the team for 2025. Carr played well last year when healthy but only appeared in 10 games. Giving him one more chance makes sense for Carr and the front office given the cap implications of moving on from him right now.

The 2024 second-round pick struggled out of the gate and spiraled throughout his rookie season. Billed as an NFL-ready receiver, Polk was anything but prepared for the pros. He consistently dropped passes and ran poor routes while also committing more than his fair share of penalties. The Patriots tried to treat Polk as a starter early in the year but eventually scaled his snaps back as the mistakes piled up. By all accounts, Wolf’s assessment of the situation is correct. A full offseason under a new coaching staff may be what Polk needs to get back on track after the disastrous debut season.

Rodgers, soon to be released by the Jets, could be a replacement for Matthew Stafford, who has been granted permission to work out a trade this offseason. Signing Rodgers to a team-friendly short-term deal, Florio said, would allow the Rams to “devote resources elsewhere in lieu of breaking the bank for Stafford.” Rodgers, 41, struggled in 2024, displaying a reduced mobility and, at times, a lack of his typical world-class arm strength. He seems determined to keep playing in 2025, and the Rams would make sense if Sean McVay is looking for a stopgap game manager in lieu of Stafford. The circus that comes with Rodgers could very much limit his options, however.

Alexander, 28, a two-time Pro Bowler, has been rumored to be on his way out of Green Bay after struggling through a laundry list of injuries over the past few seasons. Alexander refused to speak with reporters after the season, saying he had “nothing good to say” about his situation in Green Bay. The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman said it “would be a win for the Packers if they can get anything in return for [Alexander] instead of just releasing him.” Pro Football Focus graded Alexander as last season’s eighth best cover corner. There will certainly be a market for Alexander in the coming weeks.

The NFLPA report card, which included responses from nearly 1,700 active NFL players, had Johnson as the only owner to get a failing grade. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell, and Panthers owner David Tepper were the only owners to get a D on the NFLPA’s report card. Johnson received a B- grade in 2023. “Rather than addressing concerns, players believed that management responded to feedback by making conditions worse,” the report said about Johnson and the Jets higher ups. It’s hardly a surprise that Johnson would get such low marks after another failed season, his commitment to Aaron Rodgers, and reports that Johnson’s children had made roster decisions based on Madden ratings. Johnson, who reportedly took control over the Jets front office midway through the catastrophic 2024 season, would do well to step aside and let head head coach Aaron Glenn take charge of the organization.

Like most highly-touted draft prospects, Warren won’t do any work at the Combine after his stellar career at Penn State, including a final collegiate season that should make him a top-20 pick in the draft. Warren went for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns on a whopping 104 receptions in 2024. Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin was the only tight end in the nation with more catches and receiving yards than Warren last year. A massive middle-of-the-field target, Warren has been connected to the Colts, who have the 14th overall selection.