ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Minnesota Vikings haven't made a firm determination on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold's future with the organization. Darnold exceeded all expectations in 2024, and bringing him back is a stronger possibility that it was five or six months ago. However, the Vikings have a cap on what they'll spend on the QB position, especially after he struggled to close out the year. Some agents think Darnold shouldn't take a penny less than Daniel Jones' four-year, $160 million deal with the New York Giants two years ago. He could get something similar to Baker Mayfield's three-year, $100 million deal, or the Vikes could slap the $35.3 million transition tag on him. Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 TDs and 12 interceptions in 17 games, but his struggles in the final two games will ultimately cost him a lot of money on the open market. Whether the Vikings keep him will depend on how confident they are in J.J. McCarthy and Jones.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that team personnel that he spoke with think Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent wide receiver Tee Higgins' market is $30 million per year, with most of them thinking he'll hit or clear the over on that mark. The lowest estimate is somewhere slightly above DeVonta Smith's three-year, $75 million deal. Higgins should do very well for himself in free agency because of his status as a No.1-caliber wideout and the fact that plenty of NFL teams are desperate for pass-catching help this offseason. If the Bengals wanted to, they could put the franchise tag on Higgins for less than $30 million in 2025, but the expectation is that they'll either sign him to an extension or let him walk. The 26-year-old has played in only 12 regular-season games in each of the last two years due to injuries, but when healthy, he's been productive. Higgins had a career-high 10 TDs and 911 receiving yards in 2024.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart looked to be more comfortable as the week progressed during Senior Bowl practices last week. Dart's draft stock could be rising after Alabama's Jalen Milroe struggled during the week. "I could see him getting pushed up in the draft, maybe not in the first round but close," a scout said. "He shouldn't be a first-rounder, but it's a weak class and that's how these things go sometimes." Fowler thinks the safer bet for Dart would be early on Day 2 of the draft, and an NFC executive said that Lane Kiffin's system at Ole Miss is a "mess" for incoming NFL quarterbacks. There's a case to be made that Dart is the QB3 of what is considered a weak QB class behind Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. In his final season at Ole Miss, Dart threw for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

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Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart wowed scouts during last week's Senior Bowl with his power off the edge, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. Stewart stands at 6-foot-5 and 281 pounds, and his 83-inch wingspan is the same as Jadeveon Clowney. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says that Stewart received the most "wow" responses of all the first-round talents for this year's NFL draft. However, he doesn't come without risk, as he only had 4.5 sacks in three years and 1.5 sacks in 2024. "He stamped himself as the best player," an NFL personnel evaluator said. There's no denying Stewart's physical prowess, but many NFL teams could be torn on draft day between his production at the collegiate level and his potential at the next level. Either way, someone will be taking a chance on him in the first round in April.

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ESPN's Pete Thamel writes that University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward is likely to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft over Colorado's Shedeur Sanders based on sentiment from scouts and executives at the Senior Bowl last week. Ward's versatility at the position and ability to run have separated him from Sanders. "The reason I thought Jayden Daniels had a great rookie season is ... when it wasn't there, he could make a play," said Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. "And Cam has that same ability." If the Tennessee Titans keep the No. 1 pick, they could roll with Ward to take over after Will Levis flopped in 2024. The 22-year-old Ward started at Incarnate Word and then moved to Washington State before settling in at Miami in his collegiate career. Dawson also said that Ward is "obsessed with the game."

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on his X account on Monday that he was "informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships." The 31-year-old wideout said after the Rams were eliminated in the postseason that he planned on continuing his playing career into 2025, but it looks like that won't be back in L.A. Kupp is under contract with the Rams through the 2026 season. If the Rams cannot find a trade partner, they could save $15 million in cash by releasing him. Another injury early in the 2024 season caused Kupp to miss some time, and he finished his eighth year in L.A. with a 67-710-6 line in 12 regular-season contests. Kupp has not played a full season since leading the league in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2021, making him a big injury risk, regardless of where he winds up in 2025.

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Despite suffering a hip injury in 2024, Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) participated in the relay race and the flag football game in this year's Pro Bowl festivities last week. Horn was a first-time Pro Bowl participant after a strong 2024 campaign in which he had a career-high 68 tackles (49 solo), his first two career sacks, five tackles for loss, one interception and 13 pass breakups in a career-high 15 regular-season starts. The former eighth overall pick by Carolina in 2021 out of South Carolina has dealt with his fair share of injuries in his first four NFL seasons -- he's played in only 37 games over four years -- but the Panthers could be considering giving him a long-term contract extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025.

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University of Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson declared his intentions of entering the 2025 NFL draft back in December. Johnson chose to skip the Hawkeye's Bowl game and enter the draft after going off in 2024 with 1,537 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. He had 240 rushing attempts and also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Johnson's quickness as a ball-carrier stands out more than his straight-line speed, and he stands at 6-foot, 225 pounds. The 21-year-old could see his draft stock continue to rise if he performs well at the NFL scouting combine at the end of February, making him potential sleeper selection in Rounds 2 or 3. Johnson lacks elite speed at his position but showed last season that he has a knack for breaking tackles and finding the holes to exploit on the ground.

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The New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end Giovanni Ricci (knee) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday. Ricci was on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in 2024 but never was active for a regular-season game and was cut in August due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan made his NFL debut in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, with all 36 of his career games coming with Carolina. In three NFL seasons, Ricci has caught only nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and no touchdowns with the Panthers. Ricci is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher and will now represent tight end depth for the Patriots throughout the offseason and into training camp this summer. The most likely scenario is that he'll effective serve as a fullback for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

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ESPN's Jordan Reid reports that University of North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton has declared for the 2025 NFL draft. Hampton finished second in FBS in rushing yards (1,660) and yards after first contact (1,026) in 2024 and added an impressive 15 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. The 21-year-old running back was extremely impressive in his final two collegiate seasons, putting up two straight 1,500-yard rushing campaigns. He also added 67 catches for 595 yards and three touchdowns in his career at North Carolina as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. There's a case to be made that he will be taken in the first round of the upcoming draft this April, although concerns about his abilities in pass-protection could make NFL teams wary of making him a Day 1 selection. Still, he could be the second RB off the board behind Ashton Jeanty in 2025.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Washington Commanders impending free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota is very much on the Miami Dolphins' and Las Vegas Raiders' radar this offseason as they seek to add a proven, established No. 2 QB. The Dolphins are seeking insurance for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose history of head injuries are well-documented. In Vegas, the Raiders could look to reunite Mariota with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who coached Mariota for two years at Oregon. The 31-year-old played well in limited action in 2024 with Washington, going 34-for-44 for 364 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He's started 74 games in the NFL and has a 90.1 career passer rating, 97 TDs and 55 interceptions after the Titans made him the second overall pick in 2015. If Miami can't sign Mariota, they could pivot to 37-year-old Andy Dalton.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday that the league will look into the "serious issues" involving multiple sexual-misconduct allegations that recently surfaced against Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. Goodell also noted that it could be both civil and criminal. In total, nine massage therapists in the Baltimore area have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior, with all of the incidents reportedly happening from 2012-16, Tucker's first five seasons in the NFL. His lawyer's have called the allegations "unequivocally false." The 35-year-old had the worst season of his career in 2024, but he's a seven-time Pro Bowler and is still the most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 89.1% success rate on his 468 attempted field goals over 13 seasons. Depending on what the league finds in its investigation, Tucker could be subject to a lengthy suspension under the NFL's personal-conduct policy.

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The Houston Texans hired Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Nick Caley as their new offensive coordinator on Monday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Caley spent the last two seasons in L.A. under head coach Sean McVay and will now replace Bobby Slowik, who was fired by Houston after two seasons on the job. Before joining the Rams, Caley spent six seasons as the New England Patriots' tight ends coach. The 42-year-old will be calling Houston's offensive plays in 2025 as a first-time offensive coordinator. He has plenty to work with, though, including quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back Joe Mixon and receiver Nico Collins. The expectation were high for the Texans offense in 2024 after a strong rookie campaign from Stroud in 2023, but they ranked 22nd in total offense (319.7 yards per game) and 18th in offensive points per game (20.5).

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On Friday, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase told ESPN's Laura Rutledge that he's hoping to get "what's fair" regarding his new contract. "Hopefully, I don't put too much pressure on anybody, but I just want it to be fair, that's all." As for what's "fair" from the 24-year-old's point of view: "I can't really say everything I want to say. It's what I deserve." Chase is coming off his best season as a pro, and it couldn't come at a better time for his looming contract. The superstar wideout became just the sixth pass-catcher in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- effectively taking home the Triple Crown. It appears he's insinuating he wants to match or exceed his former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson's contract value, which would make him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. Hopefully, the negotiations don't linger into the summer, as it's the only outcome that could prevent Chase from being a highly-selected fantasy asset in 2025.

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Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane defended his teammates during last Friday's appearance on the 'Up and Adams Show' regarding wide receiver Tyreek Hill's most recent comments about the team. Hill has rocked the boat a few times this offseason and recently reportedly stated Miami needed to add some "dogs" to the roster. Achane, however, disagreed and was a bit more optimistic. "We got dogs," said the 23-year-old. "We just need more people to bring it out, you know what I'm saying?" He'd also go on to say that he left some big runs on the table last season and appears focused on eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in 2025 after noting he felt like he could have in 2024. It was a disappointing year for Miami, and the former third-round pick remarked that he was even more frustrated that the season had ended when the offense finally began to gel. Whether they will succeed next season remains to be seen, but Achane will surely be one of the first few names off the board in 2025 fantasy drafts.

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Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the Seattle Seahawks have hired ex-New Orleans Saints coaches Andrew Janocko and John Benton to fill their quarterback and offensive-line coaching positions. Janocko has now been the QB coach for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at three separate stops (New Orleans, Minnesota [2021]), holding the same position in Chicago for the Bears from 22-'23. Benton also has strong ties to the Kubiak family, as he previously worked for Klint's father, Gary Kubiak, in Houston. Additionally, he served four seasons under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco before linking up with his new OC in New Orleans last season. There have been rumblings recently that quarterback Geno Smith is a good fit for Kubiak's system -- if he remains the team's signal-caller in 2025 -- and if that's the case, it's exciting to see the OC bring in people around him that he trusts.

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San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner expressed his enthusiasm about the team's hiring of ex-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. "It means a lot," said Warner. "Obviously, coach Saleh has been amazing for us...So it will be interesting, being the old guy now, myself, being with him again. It's going to be fun, though." The All-Pro also noted that he believes the unit can return to its dominant ways. 2024 was a strange season for the 49ers; the same can be said for Saleh. However, his Jets allowed the fewest passing yards per game from 2022-2023 (178.9), and New York's defense was noticeably worse off after his departure this past season. Despite finishing 2024 eighth in yards per game allowed (317.4), the 49ers gave up 25.6 points per game (29th). San Francisco will likely bounce back as a team next season, and they've already started on the right foot defensively.

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The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed tight end Nick Muse to their practice squad over the weekend and released running back Lew Nichols in a corresponding move. Muse was cut from Philly's practice squad last Thursday but is quickly back with the organization as additional tight end depth as the Eagles prepare for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Muse, a 26-year-old former seventh-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, spent most of the 2024 season with the Vikings. He was active for four regular-season games but was not targeted at all in the passing game. In his first two years in the league with Minnesota, Muse played in 12 games and caught his only target for a gain of 22 yards. Muse will most likely not be active for the Eagles for the Super Bowl.

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Sports Illustrated's John Shipley reports that former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the weekend for an undisclosed coaching role, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It would make logical sense for Rivera to join Jacksonville as a senior assistant for first-time head coach Liam Coen to lean on. In addition to Coen being a first-time head coach, they have a first-time defensive coordinator in Anthony Campanile. The 63-year-old Rivera interviewed for head-coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets this cycle, so he clearly has a desire to return to the NFL after he was out of football in 2024. Rivera went 26-40-1 with the Commanders from 2020-23 and led the Panthers to seven playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl, from 2011-19.

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Los Angeles Rams offensive assistant/passing-game specialist Nate Scheelhaase has emerged as a leading candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive-coordinator job, multiple sources told KPRC's Aaron Wilson. The expectation is that Scheelhaase will ultimately be hired for the position to assist first-time head coach Liam Coen in Jacksonville. Scheelhaase interviewed with the Jaguars for the offensive-coordinator job after he interviewed for the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before spending the last four years with the Rams, he was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. Scheelhaase began his coaching career at Illinois after he w a second-team All-Big Ten quarterback in 2013. The 34-year-old has quickly developed a reputation for being a bright offensive mind. Coen has already announced that he will call plays for the Jaguars offense in 2025.

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