
5 Key Stories: 6/29/25 – 7/5/25
With the calendar having flipped to July, training camps are not far away around the NFL. The past few days have fallen within what is traditionally the slowest part of the offseason, but they have not been shy on trade action. In case you missed any of the top developments


Bears LB Ruben Hyppolite In Contention For Starting Spot
Earlier this offseason, Bears head coach Ben Johnson made it clear an open competition would take place for the weakside linebacker position. Training camp will of course be critical in determining a winner, but an early standout emerged during spring practices. [RELATED: Bears Not Eyeing Late Pass Rush Signing?] Ruben Hyppolite impressed the


Colts Rookie CB Justin Walley Could See Field Early
Last year, the Colts fielded a strong trio of cornerbacks in Jaylon Jones, Samuel Womack, and Kenny Moore. The team then added Charvarius Ward on a three-year, $54MM contract in free agency. That made it all the more shocking when Indianapolis selected a cornerback — one with a Day 3


Texans Offensive Line Positions Starting To Settle
A week ago, we dove into some speculation about the potential starters that could emerge from several position battles along the offensive line in Houston. According to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN, roles are “starting to sort themselves out for a completely revamped unit. To review, the departures of Laremy Tunsil,


Alvin Kamara gets do-over after hilarious Wrigley Field first pitch
We don’t think Kamara is quitting his day job. This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL


CB Kaiir Elam Expected To Play Big Role In Dallas
The Cowboys’ front office has been busy during the offseason, sending away lots of draft capital to bring in players like George Pickens, Kenneth Murray, Joe Milton, and Kaiir Elam. Pickens was clearly brought in to be WR2 across from CeeDee Lamb, Murray will fill in for the loss of


Extension Candidate: Zach Allen
A central reason the Broncos were able to make the playoffs despite the record-shattering Russell Wilson dead money bill, Zach Allen has played his best football since relocating to Denver in 2023. The short-term J.J. Watt Cardinals sidekick has been one of the NFL’s most disruptive interior D-linemen in two


Bills’ Draft Board Not Aligning At WR Led To Elijah Moore Signing
The Bills took some criticism after waiting until Round 7 to draft a wide receiver. One such instance prompted Brandon Beane to address the matter in a radio interview. But the ninth-year Buffalo GM did have the position on his radar during the draft. Although the Bills gave Josh Palmer


The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs
The NFL’s 2025 HC carousel brought five new sideline leaders; this year’s GM market eventually featured four new hires. Two teams made quick-trigger decisions involving front office bosses this offseason. Not long after the Raiders fired Antonio Pierce, they booted Tom Telesco — brought in to give the inexperienced HC


NFL Draft bust hoping for another shot after injury
Chase Claypool has failed to live up to expectations since he was drafted out of Notre Dame five years ago, but the wide receiver is hoping there is still time to change that. Claypool returned from a lengthy social media absence on Friday to open up about the injury that


QB Joe Flacco Has Support From Browns Veterans
With Deshaun Watson looking like a long shot to play in the 2025 NFL season at all, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is emerging as the favorite to open the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback when they host the Bengals in Week 1. The coaches are starting to feel that


Latest On Recent Dolphins Trades
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero made an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show yesterday, in which he gave some keen insight on two recent trades made by the Dolphins with the Steelers and Giants. Pelissero started by underlining the influence Jalen Ramsey had held in Miami, noting his impact on former defensive


2025 Offseason In Review Series
Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason: AFC East Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New England Patriots New York Jets AFC North Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers AFC South AFC West NFC East NFC North Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings NFC


Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Defense
The 2025 offseason has been defined in no small part by extensions amongst the league’s top edge rushers. A number of high-profile situations on that front remain unresolved at this point, which will make for interesting storylines over the coming weeks. Still, pass rushers once again account for some of


Updated Slate Of NFL Players On CFL Negotiation List Revealed
The Canadian Football League has long used a negotiation list for its teams to acquire the rights to active NFL players. That remains the case in 2025, and after a few updates were revealed earlier the full list is now available. A recent piece from TSN’s Marshall Ferguson breaks down


Five retired NFL players we want back in 2025
In case you missed it, former New York Giants’ tight end Darren Waller announced he’s coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins next season. That’s great, but the NFL can do better. Here are five players we want back in 2025. OT Terron Armstead Armstead was a


Bears Unlikely To Pursue Notable Edge Rush Addition?
Several veteran edge rushers remain unsigned at this point in the offseason. Many will land deals in the lead-up to training camp, but Ryan Poles and the Bears may not be among the top suitors on that front. In a mailbag answer related to Za’Darius Smith, Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports


WR Rashod Bateman Addresses Cowboys’ Trade Interest, New Ravens Deal
Rashod Bateman landed a second Ravens extension this offseason, putting an end to speculation about a potential trade. Multiple teams showed interest in the fifth-year receiver, and the Cowboys looked into a swap which would have sent him to Dallas. “I went through a lot of things with the Cowboys and


Jaguars’ Travis Hunter To Expand Two-Way Practice Workload During Training Camp
The Jaguars are prepared to use Travis Hunter on both sides of the ball during his rookie season, and the spring saw him spend time on offense and defense. That split in practice reps will, to no surprise, continue during training camp. Hunter’s more natural position coming into the NFL was cornerback,


Four last-minute free agents for NFL teams
If he can stay healthy, Allen would fit perfectly on a contender like the Chiefs. Unfortunately, the 33-year-old pass-catcher has appeared in just 38 of a possible 58 games over the past three seasons and battled a heel injury for most of the 2024 season. WR Amari Cooper Up until


Jason Pierre-Paul Would Welcome Giants Reunion
Jason Pierre-Paul made it known during the spring that he hopes to resume his NFL career in 2025. While the two-time Super Bowl winner is open to taking a deal with other teams, he recently noted he would welcome a return to the Giants. [RELATED: Recapping Giants’ Offseason] Pierre-Paul spent his


Jayden Higgins To Compete For Starting Role In Houston
Texans rookie receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to compete for a starting job during training camp after an impressive showing during spring practices. The No. 34 pick made a number of plays downfield this spring, according to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime, though few of those passes were thrown by C.J. Stroud.


CB Stephon Gilmore Aims To Play In 2025
July 3: Gilmore confirmed on The Money Down podcast that he wants to play in 2025, though he is looking for “the right place” for his 14th NFL season. “I’m not just going to sign anywhere,” said Gilmore (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams), “so it’s got to be the right situation.” June 29:


Bills Optimistic About James Cook Extension; Unclear If RB Will Hold In
The Bills have not made significant headway in extension negotiations with star running back James Cook, but the team is still hoping to get a deal done before the regular season. “I still think the door is open,” said ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on the team’s One Bills Live podcast. “Last


Giants Notes: Hyatt, Belton, Bellinger, Gano
Giants WR Jalin Hyatt has added more than 20 pounds to his frame heading into a crucial third season in New York. “I played at like 170, 171 last year, I’m about 194, 195 now,” said Hyatt on a recent team podcast (via NFL.com’s Coral Smith). “I’m telling you, that’s


Steelers reward GM Omar Khan after busy offseason
“I am excited to announce we have signed Omar to a new three-year contract,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said, per a team release. “Omar and his team have done a great job over the past three years in constructing our roster through the NFL Draft, strategic trades, and free


Jonnu Smith calls out Dolphins for trading him
Tight end Jonnu Smith does not have many nice things to say about the Miami Dolphins after they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Smith was traded, along with cornerback Jalen Ramsey, to the Steelers for cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick. In an appearance on Terron Armstead’s podcast, Smith said


Patriots UDFA WR Efton Chism Pushing For Roster Spot
Undrafted rookie reciever Efton Chism has emerged as a potential factor in an already-tight competition for a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster. Chism earned praise from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for his play during OTAs, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Chism was effective out of the slot, where he lined up


Reporters questioning Steelers’ alleged stance on trading Watt
Multiple reports shared during the opening week of July insisted that the Pittsburgh Steelers trading unsettled pass-rusher T.J. Watt this summer isn’t “on the radar” and is “not gonna happen” amid his desire for a lucrative contract extension. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is among NFL insiders who aren’t


NFL Draft intel: Peyton Manning praises these SEC QBs
Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. From two SEC quarterbacks to an Arizona State wideout, here are five players we’re tracking: Texas QB Arch Manning and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier On Monday, Peyton Manning, Arch’s uncle, told ESPN’s Pat McAfee the SEC QBs made


Latest On Falcons’ LB Situation
Kaden Elliss is in line to once again operate as a full-time linebacker starter for the Falcons in 2025. It remains to be seen who will occupy the other first-team role at that spot. Atlanta added Divine Deablo on a two-year, $14MM pact in free agency. The former Raider made 42 starts while


Why Yaya Diaby is ‘super geeked’ Buccaneers have Haason Reddick
As Dan Pompei of The Athletic noted, eyebrows were raised when pass-rusher Haason Reddick skipped some offseason workouts after he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coming off a rather forgettable 10 games he played as a member of the New York Jets last season. Like Reddick,


Insider shares claim about how former Steelers players view Tomlin
Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is widely viewed among analysts and fans as a head coach players around the NFL would love to have as their leader. However, NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala of CBS Sports suggested during a Wednesday appearance on 93.7 The Fan that not everybody who has


Steelers Extend GM Omar Khan
Omar Khan‘s tenure as general manager of the Steelers will not be ending any time soon. The team announced on Thursday that Khan has received a contract extension through 2028. Kevin Colbert handled GM responsibilities in Pittsburgh from 2000-21. Khan loomed as a potential in-house successor during the latter stages of


Did personnel evaluator take shot at Browns over Baker Mayfield?
Roughly three years after the Cleveland Browns agreed to trade Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers, he is seen by analysts and observers as a top-10 quarterback who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claim back-to-back division titles. While speaking with Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated, an unnamed NFC personnel evaluator may


The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches
By the end of the 2024 regular season, the Bears, Jets and Saints had already moved on from their head coaches. Those teams were joined by Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots in making a change on the sidelines. After their midseason terminations, Matt Eberflus, Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen each


How Levis impressed teammates amid difficult Ward situation
As recently as June 30, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer claimed “it’s fair to say” that the Tennessee Titans will name 2025 first overall draft pick Cam Ward their Week 1 starting quarterback over 2023 second-round choice Will Levis before August concludes. However, Titans right tackle JC Latham indicated during a


Steelers, T.J. Watt Not Close To Extension Agreement
Throughout the offseason, it has become clear that T.J. Watt and the Steelers have not had a smooth process with respect to extension talks. Since the former Defensive Player of the Year’s absence from minicamp, uncertainty has picked up regarding his future. Team and player have publicly expressed a desire to work


Insider says Pickett has advantage in Browns’ QB competition
A recent story suggested that Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski believes Kenny Pickett will prove he can “thrive” in his offense while competing for the starting quarterback job alongside veteran Joe Flacco, rookie Dillon Gabriel and first-year pro Shedeur Sanders. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote


TE Jonnu Smith On Dolphins Departure
Coming off a career year in 2024, Jonnu Smith aimed to remain in Miami for the coming season and beyond. Talks on an extension did not produce an agreement, however, leaving a trade as a distinct possibility. Indeed, Smith was included in the blockbuster deal which saw All-Pro defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Minkah


Why Marcus Mariota re-signed with Commanders
Quarterback Marcus Mariota understood when he re-signed with the Washington Commanders this past March that he won’t see significant playing time during the upcoming season unless starter Jayden Daniels goes down with an injury. Mariota seems just fine with continuing to mentor Daniels for at least one more year. “For


Broncos S P.J. Locke Expected To Be Healthy By Training Camp Following Spinal Fusion
P.J. Locke played in the Broncos’ wild-card loss but was then unable to participate in team drills during minicamp this spring. The sixth-year safety was sidelined as a result of the spinal surgery he underwent following the 2024 campaign. As detailed in a video released on Locke’s YouTube channel, an MRI


The ‘2024-25 NFL first-team All-Pro roster’ quiz
Happy 31st birthday to six-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion pass rusher Chris Jones! Jones has spent his entire nine-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, racking up 80.5 career sacks, 310 total tackles, 13 forced fumbles and a pick-six. How many of the players


Browns QB likely headed to reserve/PUP list, long shot to play in 2025
Watson had resumed throwing to receivers in the spring, having shed his walking boot. As for where Watson stands now, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot offers a few key details on the fourth-year Browns performer’s rehab journey from two Achilles tears. As the Browns began a four-man competition between Joe Flacco,


The NFL’s best position groups for 2025 season
Teams have mostly set their rosters for 2025. Here are the best position groups going into training camp. For defenses, we are organizing these as though everyone is in nickel. This list will not cover quarterback rooms, which we assessed post-draft. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Chiefs turned to the


Trade Candidate: Darnell Washington
While the Jalen Ramsey–Minkah Fitzpatrick swap stole headlines earlier this week, the Steelers also added some major tight end depth in Jonnu Smith. It’s not hard to understand Pittsburgh’s thinking. As the team looks to load up around Aaron Rodgers, they added a savvy veteran who’s coming off a career


Some Giants personnel preferred former No. 1 overall pick over Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson remains penciled in as the Giants QB1, even after the team used a first-round selection on Jaxson Dart. However, if anyone was going to unseat Wilson from his unofficial starting gig, it’d likely be another notable name on the depth chart. As Paul Schwartz of the New York


Some Giants Personnel Preferred Jameis Winston To Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson remains penciled in as the Giants QB1, even after the team used a first-round selection on Jaxson Dart. However, if anyone was going to unseat Wilson from his unofficial starting gig, it’d likely be another notable name on the depth chart. [RELATED: Russell Wilson Expects To Remain Giants’


T.J. Watt’s next contract has historic expectation
T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass-rusher on his next deal. “The Steelers, I’m


T.J. Watt’s Next Contract Expected To Top Positional Market
T.J. Watt‘s next contract was always expected to approach the top of his position, but it sounds like the former Defensive Player of the Year could reset the market altogether. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently stated that Watt will “probably” become the highest-paid pass rusher on his next deal. “The Steelers,