The Steelers parted ways with Najee Harris, now a Charger, after four seasons and in March signed former Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell to play alongside nominal lead back Jaylen Warren. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin complimented Gainwell for his success as a pass catcher in the flat, adding Gainwell has “a well-rounded game. He’s a capable and willing special teams player. Plays a lot on possession down ball.” Tomlin, however, said this year presents a “uniquely deep draft at [running back].” The team has completed pre-draft visits with a few high-profile backs: Ohio State’s tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, along with Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Warren, who has averaged a healthy 5.4 yards per carry over his first three NFL seasons, could face significant competition for backfield touches in 2025. Pittsburgh holds the 21st pick in the draft.

Whether the Patriots engage with trade talks remains to be seen. MassLive.com reported sources close to Milton said he “would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.” These aren’t the first reports we’ve seen about Milton, 25, leaving New England after one season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowlers reported in March that the Cowboys are interested in acquiring Milton — the 193rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — as a backup to Dak Prescott. Apparently Milton turned some heads around the NFL with his Week 18 start against the Bills last January. He completed 22 of 29 attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 16 yards and another score. Milton had the eighth highest drop back EPA of Week 18 out of 33 qualifying QBs; he posted the week’s third best completion rate over expected. The big-armed Milton threw for more than 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Tennessee before being drafted by New England.

It was Rodgers who initiated the talks as he waffles between signing with the Steelers or waiting on the Vikings to show real interest. “Rodgers and O’Connell spoke multiple times, and O’Connell relayed those conversations to key decision-makers,” Seifert said. “That prompted several days of discussions about what it would look like to add Rodgers and push back McCarthy’s timetable to the 2026 season.” It very much appears Rodgers wants to complete the so-called Favre Cycle and finish his NFL career with the Vikings after a forgettable stint with the Jets. The Vikings are expected to evaluate J.J. McCarthy — returning from a knee injury that wiped out his rookie campaign — during offseason workouts. If they have questions about McCarthy’s progress, the Vikings could begin a real pursuit of Rodgers, 41. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor said Rodgers “could wait for another team to come calling in the event of an injury” or simply call it a career if he doesn’t like his options in the coming weeks and months.

Russini said her “sense” in talking to league sources was that the Titans have not fully committed to keeping the draft’s first pick and presumably taking Miami QB Cam Ward. After disastrous recent drafts and some of the worst free agency signings in recent memory, the Titans — who have a grand total of 16 wins over the past three seasons — are in full-blown rebuild mode. Russini said the Titans are “an organization that is trying to completely revamp.” It’s that kind of organization that could be open to trading away the top pick in exchange for a bevy of high-value picks in 2025 and beyond.

“We’ll see,” Reid ominously added. “He’s working his tail off right now, I know.” Rice’s Week 4 LCL tear puts him in a better spot than a few other notable injury returners this season, but we wouldn’t be shocked if he was brought along slowly in training camp. With Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy back for a second season together, the Chiefs have the luxury of slowly working Rice in. Still, this is a great update for Rice, who was on track for a breakout season with a 24/288/2 line in four games before suffering the injury.

Shanahan expressed no concerns about McCaffrey’s 2025 status after he missed much of the 2024 season with an ongoing Achilles injury. CMC totaled 348 yards over four games last season, posting the lowest rushing success rate of his NFL career. Shanahan complimented Isaac Guerendo, who “ran harder as the year went, which is a good sign.” This offseason, the 49ers parted ways with RB Jordan Mason, who was traded to the Vikings. Guerendo started three games and averaged a healthy five yards per carry on 84 rushing attempts last season. He could be used as a complement to McCaffrey in 2025 if the Niners are intent on keeping the veteran healthy and upright in his ninth NFL season.

Rooney pointed to “positive signs” that Rodgers could finally be ready to sign with Pittsburgh after flaming out with the Jets last season. He added that the team would not wait “forever” for Rodgers to make his final decision. Rodgers, entering his age-41 season, reportedly meshed well with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in a March visit to the team facility. With the Giants signing Russell Wilson, the Steelers are the last viable landing spot for the mercurial veteran. The Vikings could change that calculus if they don’t commit to JJ McCarthy as their Week 1 starter, however.

Proposed by the Packers, who could not stop the Jalen Hurts-led tush push in last year’s postseason, the tush push ban will be kicked down the road to another owners meeting. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones said 16 teams opposed the rule to ban the tush push. “There will be much more conversation, with many teams in favor of having the NFL’s competition committee continue to study the play,” Jones said. NFL head coaches have spoken out against the tush push in part because they can’t stop it and partly due to concerns about injuries, even though there is no evidence to suggest the tush push results in more injuries. A ban of the short-yardage play would constitute a major blow to the Eagles offense, and it appears the issue will be brought back again in May.

Gladstone said Brown, who last month signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Jacksonville, will be a solid complement to alpha WR Brian Thomas in the Jaguars offense. “Somebody else that can go down the field so [Thomas] is not always having to be that guy on the top shelf,” Gladstone said when asked about acquiring Brown, who had his most productive stretch as a pro last December and January for the Commanders. Jaguars head coach Liam Coen described Brown as “somebody that’s able to attack the field at all three levels.” Brown, entering his age-26 season, should be the team’s No. 2 target behind Thomas now that Evan Engram is in Denver.