ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that trading quarterback Kirk Cousins before March 17 is the best course of action for the Atlanta Falcons from a salary cap standpoint. However, it might be tough for the Falcons to find a trade partner willing to take on $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025 and $10 million next year after Cousins was benched after throwing 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2024. The Falcons would absorb $37.5 million in dead money on their 2025 camp if they trade him. If they release him outright before March 17, they'd take on $65 million in dead money this year. If they release him before March 17 as a post-June 1 cut, they'd take on $40 million in dead money this year and $25 million in 2026. The 36-year-old didn't look great coming off a torn Achilles in 2023 and also dealt with a right-shoulder injury in 2024. It remains to be seen if a QB-needy team will be desperate enough to trade for Cousins.

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Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is likely to be on the team's roster in 2025 -- he'll be making $8 million this year, with $6.11 million fully guaranteed. However, ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that there has been a lot of chatter about Chicago adding another running back this offseason, based on the formula that worked for new head coach Ben Johnson when he was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions and they used RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. This year's crop of free-agent RBs isn't nearly as strong as last year's, though -- it's headlined by Najee Harris, Aaron Jones and Alexander Mattison -- so Graziano thinks it's more likely the Bears draft a RB in the early rounds rather than sign one in free-agency to pair with Swift. This year's draft class is expected to be very deep, which can't be said about the free-agent RB class.

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (shoulder), who will not work out at the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis due to a shoulder injury that he suffered late last year, said he is close to being 100 percent healthy. Once he's cleared, Carter plans to do a battery of workouts at Penn State's Pro Day on March 28. "I think I'm about 90 percent right now. I feel like the next month, it's going to be really close to 100," Carter said. While either Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders are projected to No. 1 overall in this year's NFL draft, Carter is also in play and said he feels "like I'm the best player in the country." The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder proved to be a game-changer while recording 12 sacks for the Nittany Lions in 2024 to earn All-American status. Despite his shoulder injury, Carter should be a top-five pick in April's draft.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers informed safety Jordan Whitehead (neck) that they will not exercise his $3.75 million option bonus for the 2025 season, which will make him a free agent in a few weeks, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. A neck injury that Whitehead suffered in a car accident caused him to miss the Week 18 regular-season finale and the loss to the Washington Commanders in the wild-card round. The 27-year-old ended up suiting up to start 12 games in 2024 in his return to Tampa and had 79 tackles (49 solo) and three pass breakups in his seventh year in the NFL. It was a drop in production after he recorded a career-high 97 combined tackles and career-high four interceptions in 17 starts for the New York Jets in 2023. Whitehead is expected to be fully recovered from his neck injury in time for the start of the 2025 season, so he should be able to find a landing spot elsewhere.

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San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle has had contract extension talks with the 49ers this offseason but an agreement may take some time because the 49ers have other things to work out, according to general manager John Lynch.

Fantasy Spin: Kittle has been a reliable option for the 49ers and fantasy players for multiple seasons and should see a good amount of targets again in 2025. He will be a weekly starting option in all fantasy leagues.

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Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent DT Jarran Reed is a player head coach Mike Macdonald would like to re-sign this offseason.

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Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford's representatives met with the New York Giants Tuesday, Feb. 25, according to a source.

Fantasy Spin: Stafford is being allowed to talk with other teams about his value, but the Giants likely will have to acquire him in a trade if they want to have him play for them in 2025. Fantasy players can keep an eye on the situation to see where Stafford plays next season, but he probably will be a high-end No. 2 fantasy quarterback.

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Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is believed to be deciding on his playing future, but general manager Brett Veach said the Chiefs expect Kelce to play in 2025.

Fantasy Spin: Fantasy players will need to monitor the situation over the next few weeks because Kelce likely will make a decision soon. He is a big part of the Chiefs passing game and will be a weekly starting option in fantasy leagues if he continues playing.

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If the Minnesota Vikings bring back impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold, ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that they'd be blowing up their plans for young quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee) and their entire roster. Putting the franchise tag on Darnold this year and again next year would cost around $40 million in 2025 and around $48 million in 2026. If they reach an extension with him, he'd likely have a salary cap number around $28 million in 2026. In comparison, McCarthy's cap numbers over the next three years are around $5 million, $6 million and $7 million. Meanwhile, receiver Justin Jefferson's 2026 and 2027 camp numbers are around $39 million and $43.5 million, respectively. Minnesota obviously believed enough in McCarthy being their future franchise QB when they took him 10th overall in 2024, but then he required season-ending knee surgery and Darnold had a career year. Based on this logic, it seems likely the Vikes will let Darnold walk in free agency and turn to McCarthy in 2025.

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Denver Broncos impending free-agent DT D.J. Jones' representatives are scheduled to talk with the Broncos this week about a possible contract, according to general manager George Paton.

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ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who is heading into his fifth-year-option season in 2025, might end up being the highest-paid defensive player in the league whenever he signs a contract extension. Because that distinction could also be made for a few other players as well, Graziano thinks the Cowboys would be smart to get Parsons locked up long term sooner than later. There are no salary-cap implications here, as Parsons' salary and 2025 camp number for 2025 are both $24.007 million. An extension will create much more cap space for the team since it would likely come with a big signing bonus and drop Parsons' 2025 salary to the veteran minimum. The former 12th overall pick has been a Pro Bowler in all four of his NFL seasons and has at least 12 sacks a year since entering the league in 2021.

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The New England Patriots have given defensive tackle Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Interested teams have already made contact with Godchaux, and the veteran defensive lineman will likely be on the move this offseason given the team's scheme change on defense. In his fourth year in New England, the 30-year-old accumulated 67 combined tackles (second-most in his career) and a pass breakup in 17 starts. While he hasn't been an asset to fantasy managers in IDP formats (only 5.5 career sacks in eight seasons), Godchaux has been extremely reliable for the Patriots and has played in every single game since joining the team in 2021. He was originally taken in the fifth round (178th overall) by the Miami Dolphins in 2017 out of LSU and spent his first four years in the NFL in Miami.

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New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said on Wednesday at the NFL Combine that the team feels like they can win with quarterback Derek Carr, and new head coach Kellen Moore also said the team feels fortunate to have Carr on the roster. The Saints still have contract stuff to figure out with Carr, but as things currently stand, it sounds like the team plans on bringing the 33-year-old veteran back in 2025. Carr has a $51.4 million cap hit in 2025, and the Saints currently have the worst cap situation in the NFL, so something has to give. Restructuring his contract could free up $31 million this year, although it would push his cap hit to around $69 million in 2026. Carr played in a career-low 10 games in 2024 due to a broken hand and a concussion. Even with Moore in town, fantasy managers in 12-team, one-QB leagues are going to be avoiding him in drafts this fall.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday at the NFL Combine that the team has started negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy on long-term contract extension. Despite a down year in 2024 in which he threw for 3,864 yards (career-low 65.9 completion percentage), 20 touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions in 15 starts, the 49ers are fully committed to the former seventh-round selection and have every intention of locking him into a long-term extension early this offseason. The speculation around the league is that Purdy will be making $55-60 million per year once he officially signs an extension with the Niners. Even in his down year in 2024, Purdy finished as the QB13 in fantasy and could easily bounce back in 2025 if running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) can stay healthy for a full season.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday at the NFL Combine that the team is on good terms with wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and will honor his trade request. "He asked for a fresh start and we're going to honor that," Lynch said. Samuel asked for a trade right after the 2024 season following a disappointing season for both himself and the team. If the Niners do trade the 29-year-old pass-catcher, they will have a $31.6 million dead-cap hit while saving $15.2 million on the 2025 salary cap. It appears that San Fran has every intention of trading Samuel this offseason, but now the question becomes whether any teams will be willing to meet the 49ers' asking price after Samuel had just 51 catches on 81 targets for 670 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 15 starts. He's had added value while being used as a runner, too, but Samuel has battled injuries and his fantasy value could drop further, depending on where he winds up.

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New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr is expected to remain with the team under new head coach Kellen Moore, according to sources Wednesday, Feb. 26.

Fantasy Spin: Carr finished the 2024 season averaging 15.1 fantasy points per game while missing seven contests due to injury. The addition of Moore is intriguing, but Carr is best viewed as a mid-QB2 option with limited upside.

From TheHuddle

According to SNY's Connor Hughes, the current sentiment shared by most right now is that the Los Angeles Rams won't trade veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason. The permission that the Rams granted Stafford to talk with other teams is likely nothing more than a means to figure out his value. Hughes believes that eventually, the Rams and Stafford will agree to a new deal, and that common sense will ultimately prevail that Stafford's best chance to win another Super Bowl will be in L.A. However, it's not going to stop teams like the New York Giants or possibly the Las Vegas Raiders --teams that are desperate at the QB position -- from making a big push to try and pry Stafford away from the Rams. The 37-year-old two-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,762 yards, 20 TDs and eight interceptions in 16 regular-season games in his fourth year in L.A. in 2024 but was playing at a high level late in the year and nearly led the Rams to the NFC Championship.

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be released in two weeks and will then be free to sign with any team for the first time in his 20-year career. Rodgers, who turns 42 this December, wants to play for a contending team, but he could have trouble finding a good team that actually wants him after he failed to lead the Jets to the playoffs in 2024. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florida reports there was some chatter at the NFL Combine on Tuesday that the future Hall of Famer has reached out to the New York Giants. It's unclear if the Giants, who are also rumored to be interested in trading for Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, would be interested in Rodgers, even if he'll be on the cheap side as a free agent. If Rodgers is actually interested in the G-Men, it would suggest that he's not generating much interest from other contending teams that are in the market for a signal-caller this offseason.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers (Jets) could be cheap if the Los Angeles Rams opt to sign him, according to sources.

Fantasy Spin: Rodgers is no more than a QB2 regardless of where he plays, if he plays, in 2025.

From TheHuddle

The Green Bay Packers have had trade conversations involving Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and are willing to trade him this offseason, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 2018 first-round pick out of Louisville has spent his entire professional career with Green Bay, racking up 287 tackles (240 solo), 12 interceptions, 70 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks in 78 career games. However, Alexander has played in just 14 of 34 possible regular-season games over the last two seasons. The 28-year-old could be headed toward a steep decline in play, so he should not be too expensive to trade for. Still, a contending team with a significant need at cornerback could be interested in taking the flyer on the two-time All-Pro selection.

From RotoBaller