Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort and owner Michael Bidwell said that the team plans to be active in free agency this offseason with more than $76 million available in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap. It's the fourth-most cap space available of any NFL team. "We're going to look for every avenue to improve the team, but we have to be smart about not only this year's team, but as we build for the future and our own players that we want to extend," Ossenfort said. The Cardinals will also continue working on a contract extension for Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride. Arizona didn't make the playoffs in 2024 but managed to double their win total from the previous season. In addition to locking up McBride long term, don't be surprised if the Cardinals give quarterback Kyler Murray more help in the passing game alongside McBride and former first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr.

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The Carolina Panthers released veteran cornerback Dane Jackson on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jackson signed with the Panthers last spring after spending four years with the Buffalo Bills. It's pretty much a no-brainer move for the Panthers to save a little bit of salary cap space in 2025 after Jackson played in only nine games (three starts) in his lone season in Carolina. In those nine contests, the 28-year-old had just 23 tackles (15 solo), one tackle for loss and two pass breakups. He could have a decent market in free agency and will get a head start, but the Panthers are choosing to go a bit younger in the secondary. Jackson was selected in the seventh round by the Bills in 2020 out of Pittsburgh. In his four seasons with the Bills, Jackson accumulated 152 tackles (129 solo), three interceptions, 28 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 52 games (28 starts).

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The Chicago Bears informed veteran tight end Gerald Everett on Friday that he is being released after one season, according to The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. The move to cut Everett will save the Bears $5.5 million in salary cap space for the 2025 season. He'll leave behind just $1 million in dead-cap money after catching only eight passes for 36 yards and no touchdowns as the No. 2 behind Cole Kmet in his lone season in Chicago after signing a two-year, $12 million deal last year. Everett will turn 31 years old in June and probably isn't anything more than a veteran No. 2 TE at this point in his career. Heading into last year, Everett had five straight seasons of at least 408 receiving yards with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Chargers. His best season came two years ago in 2022 with the Bolts, when he had a 58-555-4 line in 16 games.

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who will eventually be released by the Jets this offseason, is looking to play again in 2025 and wants to play for a contender, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. When asked what Rodgers is looking for in his next team, he said, "If they got a good team." The 41-year-old four-time MVP tore his Achilles in Week 1 in 2023 and was inconsistent for the Jets in 2024, so it remains to be seen if any contending teams will actually want to sign him this offseason. The teams that are in the market for a veteran QB, such as the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, aren't exactly good teams. The future Hall of Famer might have to wait until after the draft in April until later this offseason to figure out the best situation that suits him after throwing for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 games in his final year with Gang Green.

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ESPN's Dan Graziano puts the odds at 75 percent that the Jacksonville Jaguars cut wide receiver Christian Kirk (collarbone) this offseason. Kirk has one year left on his current deal and is scheduled to make $16.5 million in 2025. However, he's coming off a season-ending broken collarbone and has seen his production decline the last two years due to injuries, and the Jaguars have a new head coach and offensive system and will have a new general manager soon. They also signed Gabe Davis last offseason, and Brian Thomas Jr. took over in 2024 as a legitimate No. 1 wideout. Cutting Kirk would save $10.4 million in 2025 salary cap space. Other potential cap cuts to free up money are receiver Josh Reynolds ($4 million) and tight end Evan Engram ($6 million). It's highly unlikely Jacksonville cuts both Kirk and Engram this offseason.

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The Detroit Lions have a lot of reasons to bring back edge rusher Za'Darius Smith after he proved to be a perfect fit for the team down the stretch last year -- he was the team's best pass-rusher after Aidan Hutchinson (leg) went down -- but The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner thinks it's hard to see Smith coming back on the contract the Lions inherited from the trade with the Cleveland Browns. Designating the 32-year-old as a pre-June 1 cut would save Detroit almost $6 million in 2025 salary cap savings with no dead-money penalties. If he's cut, the Lions would almost certainly then look to bring him back on a new friendlier cap deal. The Lions have the cap space to make a big-time edge-rush move this offseason (potentially trading for Myles Garrett), but that would be a little out of character for this franchise. In eight regular-season games for Detroit after being traded, Smith recorded four sacks.

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The Athletic's Mike Jones lists Houston Texans defensive tackle Denico Autry as an obvious salary cap casualty this offseason after starting just two of the 10 games he played in after signing a two-year, $20 million deal last year. The 34-year-old veteran did not live up to expectations and recorded only 13 tackles and three sacks in 2024. If the Texans were to cut him with a post-June 1 designation, they would save $9 million on the 2025 salary cap. It's a move that seems likely to happen since the Texans are projected to have barely more than $3 million available in cap space when the new league year begins in March. Autry was suspended for the first six games of 2024 due to performance-enhancing substances and then served as a depth option on the defensive line behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.

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The Denver Broncos are operating with more than $50 million in salary cap space this year and won't be forced into cost-saving moves like they were a year ago to account for the financial ramifications of releasing quarterback Russell Wilson. However, The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes that they could still cut linebacker Alex Singleton (knee) and save $5.6 million on this year's salary cap, according to Over The Cap. The 31-year-old suffered a season-ending torn ACL early in 2024 and has no guaranteed money left on the three-year deal he signed in 2023. Singleton would also leave behind just $1.3 million in dead money if he's cut. Another salary cap casualty for Denver could be safety P.J. Locke. The Broncos would save $4.2 million against the 2025 cap if they cut him. Before getting hurt, Singleton had 31 tackles (17 solo) and an interception in just three games played.

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The Athletic's Jon Machota writes that the Dallas Cowboys' safety position stands out as one that cut see a cut for salary cap purposes this offseason. It's likely that safety Donovan Wilson stays with the team, but another option would be safety Malik Hooker. Wilson has a base salary of $6.5 million in 2025, and cutting him would leave $3.3 million in dead money. The 30-year-old started all 17 games last year, finished third on the team in tackles (82) and fifth in sacks (4.5), and ranked 61st among all safeties on Pro Football Focus. Hooker, meanwhile, also played every game in 2024, ranking fourth in tackles (81) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (two). He has a $5.5 million base salary this year and $6.5 million in 2026. He'd leave behind $4 million in dead money if he was cut. Machota thinks the Cowboys will keep both safeties.

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The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that the Cleveland Browns could save $3 million by designating edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo as a post-June 1 cut this offseason ahead of his age-30 season. The Browns have plenty of important decisions coming and also have to decide on the futures of veteran defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris. Of course, the elephant in the room is dealing with the trade request from All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett. The 29-year-old Okoronkwo's production was down across the board for the Browns in 2024, as the former fifth-rounder of the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 out of Oklahoma had only 23 tackles (15 solo), three sacks, five tackles for loss, six QB hits and a forced fumble in 16 games (five starts) in his second year in Cleveland. The rotational D-lineman is entering the final year of his three-year, $19 million deal.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have several veterans that are likely to be salary cap casualties this offseason, including defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness), offensive lineman Alex Cappa, defensive lineman Sam Hubbard and linebacker Germaine Pratt, but The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Rankins is the most certain cut of the group. When healthy, Rankins only had one sack and four QB pressures and then missed the second half of the season with an illness. The Bengals signed the 30-year-old to a two-year, $24.5 million deal last offseason but will save $9.6 million against the 2025 cap if they cut him. Rankins isn't going to see a roster bonus that he's due on March 17. In addition to just his one sack recorded in 2024, Rankins had only 18 tackles (10 solo) over his seven games played.

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The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to a three-year contract extension with safety Elijah Molden (leg) on Thursday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In his first year with the Chargers in 2024, Molden played in 15 games (12 starts) before suffering a fractured fibula on Dec. 28 in the win over the New England Patriots. In his 15 starts, the 26-year-old defensive back had a career-high 75 tackles (43 solo), a career-high three interceptions, seven pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for the Bolts. The former third-round selection (100th overall) by the Tennessee Titans in 2021 out of the University of Washington will now continue his career in L.A. and be a staple of their secondary under head coach Jim Harbaugh. In his three years in Tennessee, Molden had 140 tackles (94 solo), two picks returned for TDs, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD).

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NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that seven-time All-Pro offensive guard Zack Martin has informed the Dallas Cowboys that he plans to retire, according to sources. Martin is one of the greatest linemen of his era and will surely get into the Hall of Fame down the road. The 34-year-old stepping away and hanging up his cleats will obviously be a big blow to a Cowboys offense that will be run by new head coach Brian Schottenheimer in 2025. In addition to being a seven-time All-Pro, Martin was named to nine Pro Bowls in his 11 seasons in Dallas. His seven first-team All-Pro selections are tied with Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel and John Hannah for the most among guards all time, according to ESPN Research. Martin was a first-rounder back in 2014 and ended up starting 162 games and missing more than one game in a season just twice (2020, 2024). He was named to the NFL's All-Decade team from 2010-20.

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The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain writes that it's hard to see Chicago Bears tight end Gerald Everett sticking around in 2025 to be part of new head coach Ben Johnson's offense after he fell into the team's No. 2 TE role behind Cole Kmet in 2024. Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract last offseason and caught just eight of 13 targets for a career-low 36 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (four starts). The 30-year-old veteran carries a $6.5 million salary cap hit for the 2025 season and only $1 million in dead money if he's cut. Everett played in just three snaps in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Heading into his age-31 season, Everett is unlikely to attract much interest on the open market if he's cut, although he did have at least 408 receiving yards in five straight seasons before joining the Bears.

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Running back Miles Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 season, but his biggest supporters, head coach Frank Reich and assistant coach Duce Staley, were fired 11 games into that season. Sanders then took on a backup role behind Chuba Hubbard. The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that the Panthers will create $5.23 million in salary cap space this year by cutting Sanders. Jonathon Brooks is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after a second ACL surgery, but Carolina should be able to find cheaper RB options than Sanders to serve in a backup role to Hubbard. The 27-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in his final season with the Eagles in 2022, but he was not the same back in Carolina, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry while racking up 637 rushing yards and only three touchdowns on 184 rushing attempts in 27 games (seven starts).

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Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller had a bounce-back season in 2024, but he carries the second-largest salary cap hit on the team for 2025 at $23.8 million as a rotational player. The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia writes that the Bills must do something about Miller's contract, and without taking a pay cut, he's likely to be released. If Miller is cut, Buffalo would save $8.4 million on this year's salary cap while accounting for a $15.4 million dead-cap hit. Buscaglia suggests the Bills could negotiate a pay cut with Miller equal to or greater than how much they'd save on the cap by releasing him. He turns 36 next month and is under contract for three more years, but none of his remaining money is guaranteed. The eight-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl MVP did have six sacks last year but totaled only 17 tackles (13 solo) in 13 regular-season games for the Bills.

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The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that the Atlanta Falcons releasing defensive tackle David Onyemata would save $16 million on the 2025 salary cap while incurring an $8.8 million dead-cap hit. Cutting fellow defensive tackle Grady Jarrett might make more sense, but he seems untouchable. Atlanta is in need of getting younger up front on their defensive line. Onyemata hasn't been anything special since joining the Falcons as a free agent before the 2023 season, but he's been serviceable with seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss. He and Jarrett are both heading into their age-32 seasons in 2025. Onyemata, a fourth-rounder in 2016 out of Manitoba by the New Orleans Saints, had 45 combined tackles (second-most in his career), three sacks, eight tackles for loss and five QB hits in all 17 games (16 starts) in Atlanta last year.

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Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams being cut this offseason is viewed as a formality after he was benched in 2024 and made a healthy scratch for the final seven games, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. The 28-year-old will likely be a post-June 1 cut. Williams restructured his deal last month to make it easier for both sides to move on. The Ravens have a tight salary-cap situation this year, which means that veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet is another potential cap casualty in 2025. In his three seasons with Baltimore, Williams recorded 149 tackles (105 solo), four tackles for loss, five interceptions, 18 pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 32 games played (30 starts). He had a career-low 33 tackles (26 solo) and two pass breakups in 11 games (nine starts) for the Ravens in 2024 before he was benched in favor of Ar'Darius Washington.

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The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that the Arizona Cardinals don't have an obvious potential salary cap casualty on their roster this offseason with the fourth-most available cap space ($71.3 million), per Over The Cap, but safety Jalen Thompson could be a possibility. Thompson has been a starter for most of his six seasons and has been dependable, but he's also entering the final year of his current contract, and the Cardinals locked up Budda Baker last December. In addition, Arizona drafted Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in the fourth round in 2024. Releasing Thompson would save the Cardinals almost $6.6 million in cap space this year. The 26-year-old was pretty productive in 2024 in his sixth year in the NFL, recording 98 tackles (61 solo), three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries in 15 starts, but he didn't have an interception for the first time since 2020.

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Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Sports Radio 610 on Wednesday that the team is open to bringing impending free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) back. "I had a good relationship with Stef and his representation. We enjoyed having Stef in the building, so the door is always open," Caserio said. The 31-year-old's 2024 season with the Texans was cut short due to a torn ACL, and he finished with 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns in eight games played. Fellow wideout Tank Dell also suffered a serious knee injury that could keep him out for all of 2025, so the Texans will surely be looking for additional help for top wideout Nico Collins this offseason. Diggs' days of being a No. 1 fantasy wideout are likely gone, especially coming off a torn ACL, but he could still put up solid numbers if he returns to Houston as the No. 2 behind Collins.

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