ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that it's unlikely the Indianapolis Colts will commit more than $20 million to impending free-agent defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo via the franchise tag when they already have a lot invested in their defensive line, even though Odeyingbo led the Colts with 33 QB pressures in 2024 and has 16 sacks in the last three seasons. The Colts took care of most of their top free agent last offseason -- receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin. The 25-year-old Odeyingbo played a full season for the third straight year in 2024, but his sack total dropped from eight in 2023 to just three. Because of how much the Colts have already invested in their D line, it would not be a surprise to see them let Odeyingbo walk on the open market.

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The San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) on Tuesday. Flannigan-Fowles played in only 12 games (three starts) for the 49ers in 2024 due to a calf injury but was a core special teams player for the organization who played in 73 games in the last five seasons after entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona. He had only 17 tackles (10 solo), his first career interception and two pass breakups in his final season in San Fran last year. In his five years with the Niner, Flannigan-Fowles racked up 96 tackles (54 solo), one sack, six tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups in 73 games played (seven starts). Flannigan-Fowles will now look to latch on with another organization this offseason as special teams depth.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) agreed on Tuesday to move the void date of his current contract to the final day of the new league year on March 12. Godwin's previous contract was due to void soon, which would have triggered $18 million in dead money against the team's 2025 salary cap. Tampa still has the option to place the franchise tag on the 28-year-old, but that won't be happening for the third straight year. The restructure of Godwin's contract gives the two sides more time to work out a contract extension since he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Before suffering a season-ending dislocated left ankle in Week 7 against the Ravens, Godwin was on his way to a career year with 50 catches, 576 yards and five touchdowns. He should be fully recovered for the start of the 2025 season and will reprise his role as a heavily targeted No. 2 WR if he stays in Tampa.

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The Cleveland Browns released running back Nyheim Hines (knee) on Tuesday. Hines has not played in an NFL game due to a torn ACL since 2022, when he split time with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills. The Browns were hoping that the 28-year-old would be ready at some point in 2024, but that never came to pass and he spent all year on Injured Reserve. He'll now have to prove he's past his knee injury in order to get picked up by another team looking for a RB with pass-catching skills out of the backfield as depth at the position. The former fourth-rounder (104th overall) by the Colts in 2018 out of North Carolina State has 306 rushing attempts for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 240 receptions for 1,778 receiving yards and eight TDs in five NFL seasons. Even if Hines latches on with a new team for 2025, he won't be on the fantasy radar.

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The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Kyle Philips to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Philips, a former fifth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of UCLA will head to the AFC West after spending all of the 2024 campaign on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022 and 2023, he caught only 23 of 35 targets for 259 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games played (no starts). The 25-year-old pass-catcher also saw time on special teams as a kickoff and punt returner, which will probably be his best path to a roster spot with the Raiders. Philips will be reuniting with his old head coach at UCLA in Chip Kelly, who is now the Raiders' offensive coordinator under new head coach Pete Carroll. Philips's familiarity with Kelly won't guarantee him a roster spot out of training camp, though.

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The Baltimore Ravens are letting the NFL's investigation play out before making a decision on kicker Justin Tucker, who has been accused by 16 massage therapists of improper sexual conduct. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh said before the 2022 season that "we're kind of zero tolerance" with players accused of sexual misconduct. Tucker has three years left on his current contract. If the Ravens were to cut him before June 1, they'd take a $7.5 million dead cap hit in 2025. So if they do choose to move on from the 35-year-old, he'd likely be a post-June 1 cut, which would create $4.5 million in salary cap savings and spread out the dead-money hit over the next two years. If they keep Tucker, they would likely bring in another kicking option to give themselves insurance in case he's suspended under the NFL's personal-conduct policy. At the very least, Tucker could be hit with a lengthy suspension in 2025.

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The Minnesota Vikings and cornerback Byron Murphy agreed to a contract restructure on Tuesday that will push back the void date on his contract to the day before the start of the new league year, a league source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. It means that the Vikings cannot use the franchise tag on Murphy in 2025. Graziano also writes that Minnesota didn't reach the same agreement with impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold. If they don't reach a new deal with Darnold before his contract voids, then $5 million in remaining signing-bonus proration would accelerate onto their 2025 salary cap as dead money. The 27-year-old Murphy was a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career in 2024 and finished with a career-high 81 tackles (62 solo), six tackles for loss, a career-high six interceptions, 14 pass breakups and one forced fumble in 17 regular-season starts.

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The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton could target New Orleans Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill (knee) this offseason. Johnson signed with the Saints when Payton was still the head coach in 2020 and had seven touchdowns in Payton's final season in 2022. The 28-year-old played in all 17 games in 2023 and finished with career-highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (548). His 18 TD receptions since 2021 are tied for seventh-most among all TEs in that span. Johnson also ranks sixth among all TEs the last four years in average air yards per target (8.64). He'd give Denver a downfield threat at the position that they've been lacking. Hill, a do-it-all 34-year-old that has been a RB and WR for Payton in the past in New Orleans, could be cut by the Saints this offseason after tearing his ACL in 2024. He'd give Denver another option in the short-yardage running game, an area they struggled at this past season.

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The Athletic's Nick Kosmider suggests that the Denver Broncos could look to sign Philadelphia Eagles impending free-agent linebacker Zack Baun this offseason. Baun was a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2020 when Sean Payton was still the head coach. He didn't have a single sack in his first three NFL seasons as an outside edge rusher mainly, but he thrived in his first year with the Eagles in 2024 when he was moved to inside linebacker, finishing with 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks and five forced fumbles to become a finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The 28-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent in March, and the Eagles could struggle to re-sign him, potentially opening the door for Denver to get involved and add Baun to an already strong defense that led the NFL in sacks in 2024.

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Dynasty | The Panthers have re-signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a two-year deal. Dynasty Analysis: This seems like a good move for a Panthers team who again has pushed their chips into the middle of the table with a new improved Bryce Young, but still now maintain some insurance should he again falter. Dalton is a capable backup player but has no dynasty value unless Young should faceplant again.

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ESPN's Adam Schefter believes that New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to be a post-June 1 cut by the Jets, would be thrilled by the idea of going to the Los Angeles Rams to play for head coach Sean McVay. However, for that to even be a possibility, the Rams and current QB Matthew Stafford would have to fail to work out a contract restructure for 2025 and then trade him to another team. L.A. would probably be able to sign Rodgers for a lower cost than what they'd have to pay Stafford, but that's assuming McVay and the Rams' front office would even want a 41-year-old aging QB that is probably heading into the final year of his career. Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 of 2023 and threw for 3,897 yards, 28 TDs and 11 interceptions in a disappointing 2024 campaign for the Jets. There's no guarantee he'll be any better if he plays at all in 2025 for a different organization.

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ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the Minnesota Vikings are in no rush to place the franchise tag on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold despite his career year in 2024. It doesn't mean they won't eventually use it on the 27-year-old signal-caller, and it doesn't rule out the team giving him a multi-year extension. Another option is that the Vikings tag Darnold and then trade him for draft-pick compensation. Keeping Darnold on the tag in 2025 would cost Minnesota around $40 million, which would be a questionable decision with former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy (knee) waiting in the wings as the franchise QB. Seifert believes the most likely scenario is that the team lets Darnold sign elsewhere while saving the tag for a player like cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024. Darnold set career-highs last year across the board but also had just one TD and a 53% completion percentage in the last two games.

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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Cincinnati Bengals will attempt to sign wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to long-term contract extensions this offseason, according to sources. Higgins will hit free agency on March 12, but a team source thinks Cincy will use the franchise tag on him for a second straight year if an extension isn't reached by the March 4 tag deadline -- a report surfaced on Monday that the Bengals will use the non-exclusive tag on Higgins. Chase, meanwhile, is set to become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL after leading the league in receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and catches (127) in 2024. Hendrickson could command over $30 million per year after back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Burrow is willing to alter his contract to allow the Bengals a realistic chance to keep all three star players.

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The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended up making five starts for the Panthers in 2024 after the team benched Young following his slow start. In his six appearances in his second year in Carolina, the Red Rifle completed 66.3% of his 160 pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions before suffering a thumb injury in a car accident that gave the Panthers a reason to go back to Young to end the year. Young looked the best he has in his young career to close out 2024, so Dalton will be entrenched as his backup entering the 2025 season.

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The Indianapolis Colts will likely have quarterback Anthony Richardson under center to begin the 2025 campaign, but after Richardson's struggles to begin his career, the team would be wise to sign a backup with upside. Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions through his first 15 games. According to Colts reporter James Boyd of The Athletic, former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones could be a free-agent target for Indianapolis. "Ballard made it clear the Colts will bring in another QB to push Anthony Richardson, and my best guess on who that quarterback will be is Daniel Jones," Boyd wrote. "I suspect my No. 1 choice, Justin Fields, will stay in Pittsburgh, making Jones the next-best/most realistic option in free agency because of his dual-threat abilities." Jones has passed for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions in 70 career games. While it's tough to be optimistic about his future, quarterbacks have gone on to find success with new teams in the past.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, yet his $8.3 million annual average salary ranks 37th among all wideouts. The 34-year-old posted a 1,000-yard campaign in 2023 before a 615-yard season in just 10 games in 2024. The veteran is reportedly wanting a new deal, but the organization is unlikely to extend him long-term due to his age. However, Joseph Person of The Athletic said the team could offer him a pay bump in the form of converting his per-game bonuses into more guaranteed money. While Thielen is past his prime, he's been a valuable weapon for young quarterback Bryce Young on a team that is lacking high-end pass catchers.

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Former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien is joining the New Orleans Saints coaching staff in the same role, according to NFL.com. Former Cowboys, Chargers, and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is now the head coach in New Orleans, and the two former NFL quarterbacks worked together in Dallas from 2020 to 2022. Tolzien appeared in 10 NFL games from 2013 to 2017 and threw for 1,065 yards, two touchdowns, and nine interceptions in his career. Despite offseason trade or cut rumors, recent news suggests the Saints are likely to roll with Derek Carr in the QB1 role for at least one more season.

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ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that the Houston Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) this year because they have limited salary cap space in 2025 and don't want to dump almost $26 million into an aging player coming off a torn ACL. Diggs will also be 32 years old in November. The $26 million this year would be a higher yearly salary than what No. 1 wideout Nico Collins makes at $24,250,000. It means that Diggs might be one-and-done in Houston after they acquired him in a trade with the Buffalo Bills last offseason, even though receiver Tank Dell also suffered a season-ending injury that could keep him out for all of 2025. In his eight games with the Texans, Diggs had a 47-496-3 line on 64 targets. Coming off a serious knee injury, it will be interesting to see what kind of market he'll have, but his landing spot will ultimately determine his fantasy value.

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ESPN's Brooke Pryor writes that it would be cost prohibitive for the Pittsburgh Steelers to use the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Najee Harris this year after they declined his fifth-year option a year ago. Additionally, neither quarterbacks Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is worth the hefty price that would come with a franchise tag for a QB. However, Pittsburgh could consider using the transition tag on Wilson or Fields that would give them the ability to match another team's offer. RB Jaylen Warren will also be a restricted free agent, so the Steelers RB room could look quite different in 2025. Harris has over 1,000 yards rushing in all four of his NFL seasons and has started all 68 games, but he's lacked explosiveness by averaging 3.9 yards per carry on his 1,097 rushing attempts. Still, the Steelers could very well re-sign him, especially if they let Warren walk.

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ESPN New York's Rich Cimini writes that the New York Jets aren't expected to use the franchise tag this year on any of their seven starters that are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. It makes sense that the Jets aren't looking to retain old players under a new regime with head coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. Cornerback D.J. Reed should attract plenty of interest as a free agent and is expected to test the market after ranking 14th out of 77 cornerbacks in 2024 in EPA per target, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With the tag amount expected to be more than $20 million for cornerbacks, it will be too rich for the Jets. The 28-year-old missed three games due to injury but was reliable otherwise with 64 tackles (52 solo), one sack and 11 pass breakups in 14 starts for the Jets. There's a good chance he'll sign elsewhere this offseason.

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