ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that the franchise tag isn't an option for the Seattle Seahawks to use on impending free-agent linebacker Ernest Jones IV this offseason, and the team has only used the tag twice since general manager John Schneider took over in 2010. Inside linebackers, which is what Jones is, and pass-rushing outside linebackers are all viewed the same for tag purposes, and Over The Cap projects the tag number for all linebackers in 2025 to be north of $27 million. That's well beyond what the 25-year-old would fetch on the open market on a per-year average. Jones played for the Seahawks and Tennessee Titans in 2024 and finished with 100-plus combined tackles for the third straight year, which is why it's likely that he and Seattle figure out a new deal before he actually hits the open market in early March.

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ESPN's Katherine Terrell writes that New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (leg), who is coming off a broken femur last year that required surgery, is a long shot to be franchise-tagged this offseason. Not only is Adebo coming off a pretty serious injury, but it wouldn't be the best financial move for the organization with other young cornerbacks already on the roster. Additionally, the Saints have one of the worst salary cap situations in the entire league, so using the franchise tag for the first time since 2021 doesn't make much sense. The 25-year-old had 52 tackles (43 solo), three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in seven games before suffering his season-ending injury in 2024 in his fourth year with the Saints. Adebo was on pace to shatter his career-highs but will now become an unrestricted free agent next month.

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The New England Patriots announced on Wednesday that they released linebacker Sione Takitaki. The 29-year-old former third-round pick (80th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in 2019 out of BYU, Takitaki played in 11 contests (four starts) with New England last season and had just 21 tackles (seven solo) for the Patriots in a rotational role. The Patriots will save around $2.8 million on the 2025 salary cap with the move to release Takitaki. He'll hit the free-agent market a bit early and will hope to latch on with another team to provide linebacker depth. In his six seasons in the NFL, Takitaki has produced 289 tackles (164 solo), four sacks, 14 tackles for loss, eight QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 83 games played (40 starts).

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ESPN's Courtney Cronin writes that it's more likely that the Chicago Bears let both wide receiver Keenan Allen and offensive guard Teven Jenkins walk in free agency this offseason. Allen and Jenkins are Chicago's top two free agents this year, but neither are candidates to be slapped with the franchise tag. Allen will turn 33 this year and has clearly declined, while Jenkins missed 23 games over four seasons due to injuries. Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, predictably disappointed in his first and potentially only year in the Windy City with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggling in 2024. In 15 starts, he caught 70 of 121 targets for 744 receiving yards (his fewest in a season since 2016). However, he was money in the red zone with seven touchdowns for the second straight season. Allen developed chemistry with Williams, but he could have more bounce-back appeal in fantasy if he goes elsewhere in free agency.

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The Baltimore Ravens re-signed veteran wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to the league's personnel notice. Kirkwood spent the entire 2024 season on Baltimore's practice squad and will now return to workout with the team this offseason and through training camp this summer. The 30-year-old pass-catcher made his NFL debut in 2018 with the New Orleans Saints and spent two years in the Big Easy before playing two seasons with the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and 2021. He then returned to New Orleans in 2022 and 2023. Kirkwood's best season was his rookie year, when he caught 13 of 21 targets for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He has accumulated only 24 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets in his six seasons in the NFL.

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Wide receiver Darius Slayton is the New York Giants' top free agent this offseason, but ESPN New York's Jordan Raanan writes that Slayton isn't a candidate to be franchise-tagged with the number being well over $20 million in 2025. Raanan compares Slayton more to Darnell Mooney, who got $13 million per year in free agency last year. The 28-year-old has proven that he's not a No. 1 receiver type that would typically command a franchise tag, and the last time New York let him test the market, they ended up re-signing him on a two-year, $12 million deal after the 2022 season. In his sixth year with the G-Men in 2024, Slayton had just 39 catches on 71 targets for 573 yards (the second-lowest total of his career) and only two touchdowns in 16 games (13 starts). Given the Giants' uncertainty at the QB position, Slayton is probably better off going elsewhere in 2025.

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ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer writes that defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa is the only impending free-agent candidate that the Dallas Cowboys would even consider using the franchise tag on this year, but they are unlikely to do so because of the projected cost of more than $23 million against the 2025 salary cap. However, the Cowboys could still make an attempt to sign him before the new league year starts in March. Odighizuwa's position should be very important in new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus' scheme, and the 26-year-old managed to set career-highs in sacks (4.5) and QB pressures (54) in 2024. The former third-rounder started all 17 games for Dallas last year and played a career-high 816 defensive snaps. If the Cowboys are unable to re-sign him, Odighizuwa should attract plenty of interest on the open market.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams will not face discipline from the NFL for carrying an unlicensed gun, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. The 23-year-old avoided criminal charges after a gun was discovered by police during a traffic stop for speeding. Williams possessed a gun without a concealed pistol license to carry but later obtained one. Williams has been suspended by the NFL in the past for gambling, but he will not face any suspension for this incident. Williams, a former first-round pick, posted career highs in receptions (58), receiving yards (1,001), and receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2024.

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The Philadelphia Eagles promoted former pass-game coordinator/associate head coach Kevin Patullo to offensive coordinator on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. The 43-year-old replaces Kellen Moore, who landed the head-coaching gig with the New Orleans Saints following to Eagles' Super Bowl LIX victory. Patullo has worked with head coach Nick Sirianni since 2018 when both joined the Indianapolis Colts' offensive staff under Frank Reich. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is set to have his third offensive coordinator in three seasons.

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Rumors have been swirling about the future of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason. With Los Angeles continuing to rebuild a young roster, there has been speculation that he could be traded. However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports league sources are "adamant" that head coach Sean McVay and the organization want him back in 2025. Trading the veteran would result in a $45.3 million dead cap hit in 2025 and a $23 million dead cap hit in 2026, and there's no evidence to support Stafford wants to leave, either. Stafford completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season despite playing a significant stretch of the year without Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Kupp is almost certainly going to be dealt, but it sounds unlikely that Stafford will be playing for a new team next season.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is due for a contract extension after leading the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) in 2024. The former first-round pick out of LSU could command an average salary of $40 million, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. This would make Chase the highest-paid wideout in NFL history and $5 million ahead of former college teammate Justin Jefferson. Chase is off to one of the best starts for a wide receiver in NFL history, and the Bengals hope to lock him up long-term this offseason along with fellow wideout Tee Higgins.

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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.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin and the team mutually agreed to push back the void date on his contract to Tuesday, March 11, which is the day before NFL free agency officially begins.

Fantasy Spin: This would seem to be a positive sign for Godwin to re-sign with the Bucs since it gives the two sides about two more weeks to agree to a new contract. At the very least, pushing back the void date delays the $18 million of dead money that was about to go on the team's 2025 salary cap. At this point, it appears more likely than not that Godwin will remain in Tampa and play for his third different offensive coordinator in as many years (Josh Grizzard).

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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 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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