free agency – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Report: Davante Adams would be open to playing for Rams, other West Coast teams

If the Jets release him, Davante Adams would be open to playing for West Coast teams like the Rams and Chargers

The New York Jets have a lot to sort out this offseason, from Aaron Rodgers’ future to Davante Adams’ situation. Adams is still under contract but there’s a chance the Jets will release him as they start their rebuild under new head coach Aaron Glenn.

In the event that Adams gets cut, he’ll likely be a hot commodity on the open market. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Adams would at least be open to playing for teams like the Rams and Chargers as he is intrigued by a return to the West Coast, where he is from.

Here’s what Fowler wrote about Adams’ future in his notebook for ESPN.

The Jets must address the future of receiver Davante Adams, whose $38.3 million cap hit is untenable. A source told me Adams is intrigued by a return to the West Coast and would be open to potentially joining teams such as the Rams or Chargers — if he gets released. I would put the 49ers in the conversation, too. Adams grew up in Northern California.

The Rams have their own wide receiver decisions to sort through first before even considering any potential free agents. They’re attempting to trade Cooper Kupp and plan to part ways with the veteran wideout, while Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson are both pending free agents, too.

Assuming the Rams move on from Kupp and don’t re-sign Robinson or Atwell, they could be in the market for a player like Adams. Of course, Adams may not be as intrigued by the Rams if Matthew Stafford doesn’t return, so that’s another domino that needs to fall.

2024 Saints free agent report cards: Was letting Malcolm Roach go a big loss?

Taking a look back at the 2024 offseason, was letting Malcolm Roach go a big loss? Here’s the New Orleans Saints report card grade for this free agent decision:

The NFL offseason is nearly upon us, as the only thing standing in the way between teams and beginning their roster management is the Super Bowl, held in New Orleans. This gives us a little bit of time to look back in retrospect and cover the New Orleans Saints free agent signings from 2024, but also take a look at those players they let walk.

One of the more intriguing players they let go was defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, who was an exceptional run defender with them, but they chose not to pay and he would move on to the Denver Broncos. Here is how things have played out for his career so far:

Free agent contract

Given the price tags on some of the premier defensive line talents across the league in recent years, Roach signed for a pretty good contract all things considered. He is on a two-year $7 million deal, $3 million of which was guaranteed at signing, and the remainder will come in the form of bonuses and incentives.

He was able to hit one of his performance incentives in 2024, playing more than 40% of snaps which gave him an extra $250,000 this year as well.

Snap counts

The snap counts for Malcolm Roach have been extremely consistent throughout his career, as he is predominantly a run defending rotational defensive tackle who gets on the field in late down scenarios. Here are his snap rates by season, only including games he played in:

2020: 37% (233)
2021: 42% (193)
2022: 37% (315)
2023: 37% (290)
2024: 42% (489)

2024 season review

2024 was a strong season for Roach, as he would accrue his highest snap total of his career, while also posting career highs in total tackles (43), tackles for loss (5), forced fumbles & fumble recoveries (1 each), sacks (2.5), and QB hits (8). Funny enough, he actually had one pass come his way as the closest defender, and it was an incompletion 13 yards down the field, pretty impressive. Overall a good year for the former Saints undrafted free agent.

Report card grade

Grading this loss is relatively easy. The Saints lost a run-stopping defensive tackle who had the best year of his career, while they had one of the worst run defenses in the early half of the year and never fully recovered. Roach was a player that in retrospect they absolutely should have retained, and especially so at the price tag he received.

Saints grade for allowing the departure: D-

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Broncos WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey set to become a free agent in March

Broncos WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey is scheduled to become a free agent in March. Should the Broncos bring him back?

Lil’Jordan Humphrey is not necessarily a fan favorite, but there’s a reason why Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has signed him in each of the last two offseason.

Humphrey has received criticism from fans for his sometimes unreliable hands and infrequent big plays, but he is an excellent blocker and an unselfish, team-first player. That’s the kind of receiver Payton loves, and Humphrey fits Payton’s preferred receiver size (6-4, 225 pounds).

Humphrey, 26, has earned about $2.2 million over the last two years in Denver, and his team-friendly deal is another factor that swings in his favor. The veteran receiver has totaled 44 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns through 34 games (15 starts) with the Broncos.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Denver offer Humphrey another one-year deal in 2025.

Broncos 2025 free agents

DL D.J. Jones
QB Zach Wilson
QB Jarrett Stidham
LB Cody Barton
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
CB Tremon Smith
RB Javonte Williams
P Riley Dixon
LB Justin Strnad
OL Matt Peart
CB Levi Wallace
LB Zach Cunningham
FB Michael Burton
LS Mitchell Fraboni (RFA)
TE Lucas Krull (ERFA)
OLB Dondrea Tillman (ERFA)
DB Devon Key (ERFA)
DL Jordan Jackson (ERFA)
CB Ja’Quan McMillian (ERFA)

The NFL’s 2025 negotiating period will run from March 10-12 ahead of the official start of NFL free agency on March 12.

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Broncos have 3 linebackers signed for 2025 season

With just three inside linebackers under contract, the Broncos need to address the ILB position during the offseason.

With Cody Barton, Justin Strnad and Zach Cunningham all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in March, the Denver Broncos only have three inside linebackers under contract for 2025 (and there are caveats).

The most notable ILB signed for next year is veteran Alex Singleton, but is 31 years old and coming off a torn ACL. Singleton is currently scheduled to have a $6.9 million salary cap hit in 2025 and Denver could save $5.58 million if the linebacker is released.

So there’s no guarantee Singleton will still be on the roster next fall. Even if he returns on a reduced salary, Singleton might not return to his pre-injury form.

The second ILB* signed is Drew Sanders, but there’s an asterisk because there’s still uncertainty on whether Sanders will play primarily as an inside or outside linebacker. After returning from injury, he played 18 snaps on defense in four games in 2024 as a rotational linebacker.

The third LB under contract is K.J. Cloyd, who signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January after competing on the practice squad in 2024. Cloyd seems unlikely to be more than a rotational backup and special teams contributor if he makes the active roster in 2025.

It’s clear that the Broncos will need to add at least one starting-caliber inside linebacker this offseason, if not two. Even if the team re-signs Barton, Denver needs to add more talent at the position in 2025.

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Broncos aim to draft and develop talent, as they have been

The Broncos have added players including Pat Surtain, Nik Bonitto, Riley Moss and Bo Nix in the last four drafts. That’s a winning formula.

Last year, the Denver Broncos took on a $53 million “dead money” salary cap hit after coach Sean Payton opted to release quarterback Russell Wilson.

With limited remaining cap space, the Broncos weren’t able to make many big splashes in free agency, so they were forced to field a young squad in 2024. Going forward, that could prove to be a positive for the franchise.

“Sean was all-in last year,” general manager George Paton said on Jan. 15. “We had no choice. We could’ve taken less of a [cap] hit last year, but we wanted to take [a bigger] hit because we were going to go young. Sean emphasized that to the coaches. We’re playing our young players. The Riley Mosses of the world. The Nik Bonittos. We’re playing our young players, developing them.

“That came from Sean, and I and Greg [Penner]. He understands the importance of the draft. Some of his best years are because of some of those drafts that he had. The 2017 draft… I can’t remember the years, but he talks about them a lot… Sean understands the importance of draft, develop. We did it this year, but if there is a veteran out there that we like and can help our football team, we’ll certainly be interested.”

Denver plans to be measured again during free agency this spring, with the team continuing to focus on drafting and developing long-term talent. That is a winning formula for teams that draft the right players.

After adding Bo Nix, Jonah Elliss, Marvin Mims, Riley Moss, Nik Bonitto, Pat Surtain, Quinn Meinerz and Jonathon Cooper in the last four drafts, the Broncos certainly appear to be capable of drafting their way to success going forward.

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Colts 2025 free agency predictions: Will RB Trey Sermon return?

Next up in our Colts’ free agency predictions, we take a look at whether or not RB Trey Sermon will return for the 2025 season.

In the coming weeks, we will be taking a closer look at each of the Indianapolis Colts’ unrestricted free agents and making a prediction as to whether or not they will return for the 2025 season.

Up next, let’s take a look at running back Trey Sermon. If you’ve missed any of our other free agency predictions, you can find them below.

Will Fries
Julian Blackmon
Grant Stuard
Ryan Kelly
Dayo Odeyingbo
Mo Alie-Cox

Sermon returned on a one-year free agent deal for the 2024 season and was the Colts’ second running back behind Jonathan Taylor.

On the year, Sermon carried the ball 56 times and averaged just 2.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns–down from the 4.6 yards per rush on 35 carries the season prior. He would catch the ball 16 times for 99 yards as well.

While Taylor is still under contract for two more seasons, the running back position is still a need for the Colts this offseason.

For one, as I detailed here, I do believe the Colts could benefit from having more of a pass-catching presence out of the backfield, adding another dimension to the offense that defenses have to account for.

I also think having a secondary back who the Colts are more willing to give carries to could be beneficial for Taylor over the course of a season. Of course, he would still be the lead back, but lightening his workload a bit over 17 games might not be a bad idea.

So with those being boxes that the Colts should attempt to check this offseason, I would guess that they go in a different direction at running back rather than bringing back Sermon.

Adding to that, the team did already re-sign Tyler Goodson to a one-year deal for the 2025 season, and this year’s draft class at the running back position is absolutely loaded.

In fact, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has a whopping 33 running backs with draftable grades on his big board. So the opportunity to add young, high end talent at this position and do so on a relatively inexpensive rookie deal will very much exist for the Colts.

Prediction: Sermon signs elsewhere.

2025 NBA free agent rankings: The best players available this summer

The 2025 free agent class was hyped as potentially the strongest since 2019, thanks to a speculated salary cap surge from a new TV rights deal. However, the NBA and the players’ union capped salary increases at 10 percent annually to avoid a drastic spike like in 2016. Additionally, players can now earn more through extensions, narrowing the financial difference between extending and testing free agency. This change has seen players favor extensions to avoid market uncertainties.

Still, some elite names are going to be free agents, proven stars like LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Brandon Ingram and more. Check out the full list of top 2025 NBA free agents below.

POINT GUARDS / SHOOTING GUARDS / SMALL FORWARDS
POWER FORWARDS / CENTERS

Colts 2025 free agency predictions: Does Dayo Odeyingbo return?

Continuing on with our Colts’ free agency predictions, will DE Dayo Odeyingbo return for the 2025 season?

In the coming weeks, we will be taking a closer look at each of the Indianapolis Colts’ unrestricted free agents and making a prediction as to whether or not they will return for the 2025 season.

Up next, let’s take a look at defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. If you’ve missed any of our other free agency predictions, you can find them below.

Will Fries
Julian Blackmon
Grant Stuard
Ryan Kelly

On a Colts’ pass rush unit that ranked 22nd in pressure rate and 26th in sacks, Odeyingbo was the leader on this Colts’ team last season in total pressures. He also brings versatility to the front, able to line up inside as well for an added pass rush presence.

If this was the 2024 offseason or before, given how GM Chris Ballard has operated, Odeyingbo returning would be considered likely, in my opinion.

But this offseason, I’m not as sure. While ultimately, we are in wait-and-see mode to see if Ballard’s comments from his season-ending press conference match his actions, he did emphasize the need to add competition throughout the roster this offseason.

And as we evaluate the Colts’ current roster, there are quite a few position groups that could be added to. As Ballard said, after an 8-9 season, this team isn’t close.

So when it comes to Odeyingbo, at a position group that already has Laiatu Latu, Kwity Paye, and Tyquan Lewis, along with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart along the interior, do the Colts prioritize adding to the defensive end unit when tight end, cornerback, safety, and potentially the offensive line are all more pressing needs?

Cap space-wise, the Colts rank 18th in available room currently. They also have seven draft picks. In both instances, that’s fine, but it’s not as if Indianapolis has an abundance of capital this offseason either.

The way I see it, keeping Odeyingbo would be a luxury and I don’t think that’s something the Colts have this offseason. There are too many other needs that have to be addressed.

Prediction: Odeyingbo signs elsewhere

3 Free agents who played with new Jaguars’ OC Grant Udinski

Let’s take a look at three Vikings’ free agents on offense who played alongside new Jaguars’ offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially named Grant Udinski as the team’s next offensive coordinator under head coach Liam Coen.

Udinski comes to the Jaguars as a fast riser in the coaching ranks and has worked very closely with Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell and this past season with quarterback Sam Darnold, who had a career year in Minnesota.

Of course, the top item on the to-do list for Udinski and Coen will be getting quarterback Trevor Lawrence back on track.

Like any four-win team, there are positions of need for this Jaguars’ team to address this offseason. The team currently has just over $32 million in available cap space, which ranks as the 17th-most in football, although the Jaguars do have the means to create quite a bit more room if needed.

So, are there any pending Vikings’ free agents who could follow Udinski to Jacksonville? Potentially helping the transition would be that there is some overlap between what Coen does schematically and what O’Connell does in Minnesota.

Let’s take a look at three options.

RB Aaron Jones

With Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, running back certainly isn’t a pressing need for the Jaguars. However, as Coen described in his introductory press conference, a big factor in getting Lawrence and the passing game going will be having a strong running game to lean on.

In Jones’ first season with the Vikings, he rushed for 1,186 yards at 4.4 yards per attempt with five touchdowns. He was also a big factor in the passing game with 64 targets, and as we look at the Bucs’ offense from 2024 under Coen, both Rachaad White and Bucky Irving were featured often in the pass game.

G Dalton Risner

In order to have a strong run game to lean on, as Coen said, the offensive line play in Jacksonville has to improve, and potentially that will have to be accomplished without Brandon Scherff who is set to be a free agent as well.

Throughout his career, Risner has been a steady presence as a pass protector and can provide the Jaguars’ offensive line unit with added experience along the interior having played over 5,100 career snaps.

TE Johnny Mundt

At a minimum, depth at the tight end position is needed for the Jaguars this season. Mundt had just 28 targets in the passing game in 2024, but was often utilized as a blocker. And as you can sense from the theme of these additions, an added blocking presence at the tight end position will further help the Jaguars’ running game.

Saints’ offseason assets ranked among the NFL’s worst war chests

PFF has the Saints in the worst position to be in: a bad team without many offseason assets. They need more draft picks and more salary cap space to compete:

Pro Football Focus has New Orleans Saints in the worst position to be in as we get closer to the talent acquisition portion of the offseason. The Saints are a bad team without a lot of assets to change this reality. That means they’re short on draft picks and salary cap resources.

PFF ranked New Orleans as having the third-worst assets this offseason. Most teams at the bottom of the asset rankings are playoff teams. The Seahawks, who rank at the bottom, were a tiebreaker away from winning the NFC West. Then you have the Saints and Atlanta Falcons at 30 and 31st.

These rankings were determined by three categories: effective cap space, restructure potential and draft capital. The problem for the Saints is they’re the only team without any effective cap space after pushing so much money from past deals into this fiscal year.

New Orleans does have a good amount of restructure potential, as always, but most of the restructuring will be to get under the salary cap. It doesn’t mean they won’t sign anyone in free agency. New Orleans signed Chase Young last year after starting in a similar situation. However, the restructuring won’t give the Saints much to play with this offseason.

Building the roster will come through the draft for New Orleans in 2025. PFF’s rankings is a great depiction of that. Having one of the lowest sets of assets shouldn’t be too startling for New Orleans. This was expected to be a job that required a multi-year renovation.

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