šŸŗ Wolf Sports Weekly

Wild 2025 NFL offseason kicks into gear

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Wolf Sports
March 11, 2025

The NFL offseason has been crazy so far, and weā€™ve done our best to consolidate all the top news in this weekā€™s edition.

šŸ”’ Josh Allen leads massive extensions

Weā€™ll start with the reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen signing a new six-year, $330 million deal with a record $250 million guaranteed with the Bills. There was zero doubt Allen would be going anywhere anytime soon, but Buffalo rewards the face of their franchise after his first MVP season. The Bills also locked up LB Terrel Bernard and DE Gregory Rousseau after already extending WR Khalil Shakir.

In a shocking turn of events, Browns DE Myles Garrett signed a four-year extension after weeks of taking a hard stance on a trade request. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam reportedly wouldnā€™t meet with the star defender, and days later the franchise handed out a stunning contract. Garrettā€™s $40 million per year deal makes him the highest-paid non-QB in the league by $4.5 million per year. (Maybe it was just about the money.)

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby was briefly the highest-paid non-QB in the league, inking a three-year, $106.5 million extension to remain in Vegas. Before the deal, the Seahawks reportedly called about seeing if Crosby would be available for QB Geno Smith and WR DK Metcalfā€”two players weā€™ll get to in a minuteā€”and Vegas said they arenā€™t trading the pass rusher.

Eagles extensions: Philadelphia made Saquon Barkley the first $20+ million per year RB in NFL history, rewarding him after his phenomenal first year with the club. And LB Zack Baun returns to the defending champs on a three-year deal before he could hit free agency.

Bucs lock up cornerstones: LB Lavonte Davis is back in Tampa Bay for his 14th season, and star WR Chris Godwin tested free agency but turned down bigger offers and returned to the Bucs on a three-year, $66 million deal.

The Panthers made CB Jaycee Horn the highest-paid DB in league history with a four-year, $100 million contract.

šŸ¤Æ Big trades: Seahawks deal Geno and DK

The Raiders pulled off a QB trade out of nowhere, acquiring Geno Smith from the Seahawks for a third-round pick. This move of course reunites Geno with new Raiders HC Pete Carroll, who believed in the future Comeback Player of the Year enough to make him his starter in Seattle. Also, Raiders OC Chip Kelly just coached Smithā€™s cousinā€”superstar WR Jeremiah Smithā€”at Ohio State last season.

The Steelers are acquiring star WR DK Metcalf from the Seahawks for a second-round pickā€”and theyā€™re signing Metcalf to a five-year, $150 million extension. This now gives Pittsburgh what should be a very dangerous (and very entertaining) WR duo in Metcalf and the ultra-talented George Pickens. Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger joked about coming out of retirement to throw to Metcalf and Pickens.

The Commanders are trading a package of picks to acquire LT Laremy Tunsil from the Texans. Washington gets Tunsilā€”a five-time Pro Bowlerā€”and a 2025 fourth-rounder for a 2025 third-rounder, a 2025 seventh-rounder, a 2026 second-rounder, and a 2026 fourth-rounder.

Bears beef up: Chicago added All-Pro G Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a 2026 fourth-round pick, and theyā€™re trading a 2025 sixth-rounder for Rams G Jonah Jackson.

Veteran trades: Ahead of his release, the Texans traded a seventh-round pick to the AFC South rival Jaguars for WR Christian Kirk. The Browns are getting former first-round QB Kenny Pickett from the Eagles for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-rounder. And the Saints are acquiring DT Davon Godchaux from the Patriots for a seventh-rounder.

Finally, the Bengals granted reigning sack leader Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade.

šŸ’° NFL free agency kicks off

Many see the 2025 free agent class as a weak one, but teams are spending plenty of money on the depth available.

šŸŽÆ The quarterbacks: As expected when Geno Smith was traded, the Seahawks are signing QB Sam Darnold to a three-year contract. The Jets signed QB Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal. Former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson agreed to a backup deal with the Dolphins. Among the other guys available in the musical chairs at the gameā€™s most important position are Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones, Russell Wilson, and Marcus Mariota.

ā­ļø Davante Adams to LA: The Rams signed the All-Pro WR to a two-year, $46 million deal, pairing him with Puka Nacua with Cooper Kupp set to be released tomorrow. Los Angeles is also signing DT Poona Ford.

šŸ¤” Patriots get aggressive: New England has been the most aggressive team in FA, headlined by DT Milton Williams, CB Carlton Davis, DE Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, and OT Morgan Moses.

šŸ§± Bears build the trenches: Chicago has been right there among aggressive teams, signing DT Grady Jarrettā€”a surprise release by the Falconsā€”DE Dayo Odeyingbo, and C Drew Dalman to go with Thuney and Jackson.

āœļø Other big signings: CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland to the Giants, LB Dre Greenlaw and S Talanoa Hufanga to the Broncos, DE Josh Sweat to the Cardinals, OLB Haason Reddick to the Bucs, DT Jonathan Allen to the Vikings, OT Dan Moore Jr. to the Titans, CB Charvarius Ward and S Camryn Bynum to the Colts, S Treā€™von Moehrig to the Panthers, CB D.J. Reed to the Lions, OT Jaylon Moore to the Chiefs, G Aaron Banks and CB Nate Hobbs to the Packers, DT Tershawn Wharton and DT Bobby Brown III to the Panthers, G Patrick Mekari and CB Jourdan Lewis to the Jaguars, CB Brandon Stephens to the Jets, WR Joshua Palmer to the Bills, CB Darius Slay to the Steelers, CB Donte Jackson to the Chargers, RB Javonte Williams to the Cowboys, DT Javon Kinlaw to the Commanders

A plethora of players let go who have not yet found new homes ahead of the start of the new league year:

šŸ“° More NFL news and notes

Retirements: DE Sam Hubbard has retired at 29 after playing his entire seven-year career with the Bengals, and C Mitch Morse has retired after 10 seasons with the Chiefs, Bills, and Jaguars.

Former Cowboys and Raiders WR Michael Gallup plans to make an NFL comeback after retiring last season, and Vegas has granted his release. Heā€™s visiting with the Commanders.

Contract adjustments: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb, and Saints QB Derek Carr all adjusted their deals to create 2025 cap space.

Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy was arrested in Texas for a criminal charge of assault against a family or household member, but the charges were quickly dropped.

ā€œCan I, you know, grab a little fruit snack every now and then?ā€ Bills WR Keon Coleman hilariously discussed how weird the NFL Combine was for him last year.

Other Sports Updates

šŸ“ŗ Update: Bill Belichick and North Carolina will not be participating in Hard Knocks this offseason after talks broke down.

šŸ¤• Yankees star SP Gerrit Cole is getting Tommy John surgery, the team announced.

šŸ’ NHL trade deadline: The Panthers acquired longtime Bruin Brad Marchand, the Hurricanes traded Mikko Rantanen to the Stars after acquiring Rantanen earlier this season, and the Avalanche acquired Brock Nelson from the Islanders.

šŸˆ Eddie George has been named the HC at Bowling Green.

āš¾ļø The Dodgers extended manager Dave Roberts through 2028.

šŸ„Š TKO Group is getting into boxing promotion via an international partnership. The company owns UFC and the WWE.

ā›³ļø Russell Henley won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the 18th hole.

šŸŗ Found on wolfsports.com