Pelissero noted that both deals could be completed “in the coming days.” Chase’s extension is the Bengal’s top priority, but Higgins, currently on his second franchise tag, should not be far behind. Chase is expected to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Myles Garrett recently took that crown with a four-year, $40 million deal. Higgins will likely top out at $30 million per year with fewer years in his deal than Chase.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Goedert may not be back with the defending Super Bowl champs. While it doesn’t sound like the Eagles are dead set on moving on from the seven-year vet, they’re certainly not against it if it’s in their best interest. Goedert, 30, is entering the final year of his contract and carries a cap hit just north of $12 million next season. He posted a regular season line of 42-496-2 last season, but was limited to just 10 games due to a knee injury. The Eagles don’t have a tight end of note behind Goedert on the roster, but with this year’s rookie class expected to offer a handful of Day 1 or Day 2 guys, the Eagles could opt to move Goedert in hopes of getting younger and cheaper at the position next season.

Rodgers is reportedly mulling offers from the Steelers and Giants, but with Sam Darnold no longer an option for the Vikings, it’s no surprise that Minnesota could be in play for the future Hall of Famer. The Vikings appear committed to last year’s first-rounder, J.J. McCarthy, as next year’s starter. But after last year’s season-ending knee injury, McCarthy comes with some risk entering 2025. Rodgers joining the Vikes would allow him to join a contender, and wouldn’t come with the expectation of him being “the guy” for a full season. How long he takes to decide on his future is anybody’s guess, but it sounds like we may be up to three teams officially vying for Rodgers’ services this upcoming season.

Cut by the Panthers two days ago, Sanders has ended up finding a new home relatively quickly after a disastrous two-year stint in Charlotte. Overexposed outside the Eagles’ elite offensive infrastructure, Sanders ended up outmatched by Chuba Hubbard. An ankle injury limited him to 11 2024 appearances, but he wasn’t the starter, anyways. Amazingly, Sanders could be the best back currently on the Cowboys’ roster, but fellow free agent addition Javonte Williams will have something to say about that. Six weeks shy of his 28th birthday, Sanders is an unlikely career revival candidate.

This runs directly counter to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo earlier today. It is unclear as to whether the Jaguars have changed their minds, or if the sources are saying that the Jaguars were never interested in signing Kupp in the first place. Regardless, reports have consistently indicated that Kupp is looking for a hefty payday and would prefer to remain on the West Coast. This Floridian squad is, obviously, unable to accommodate the latter request.

Flacco joins Russell Wilson in scheduling a visit with the G-Men. Wilson is expected to be in town Friday. Fellow free agent Aaron Rodgers looms over the conversation. Either Flacco or Wilson would likely end up being paired with a rookie. It seems unlikely they would be signed as a Rodgers backup plan, though maybe beggars can’t be choosers at this point.

Mostert will turn 33 next month. After defying Father Time in his age-31 season, when he ran for 1,012 yards and totaled 21 touchdowns in 2023, Mostert was an afterthought in Miami’s offense last season. A chest injury forced Mostert to miss a handful of games early in the season, the veteran running back appeared in 13 games after that but averaged only eight touches per game when active. The Raiders need more than an aging back to fix an offense that finished dead last in yards per carry (3.6) last season, but Mostert could have stopgap fantasy value while they figure out their back of the future.

It’s not all that surprising to hear that a team that stubbornly struggled to re-sign its key players is equally as difficult when it comes to trading others. Russini reports that “teams are willing to pay Hendrickson the contract he desires,” suggesting that the asking price on the Bengals’ end is simply too much to get a deal done at this time. Hendrickson will be 30 at the start of next season and has racked up 34 sacks over the last two years. By allowing Hendrickson to seek a trade with another suitor, the belief is the team will eventually sign Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term deals this offseason. Their asking price for Hendrickson could eventually come down, but with the offseason just getting underway, the Bengals could opt to wait to see how things develop in the coming months.

Dulac is speaking specifically about Rodgers and the Steelers. “The offer has been made,” Dulac reports. “It’s about Rodgers taking his good ol’ time about making a decision.” In typical Rodgers fashion, he is keeping the Steelers, Giants and supposedly maybe even the Vikings in suspense. The act can’t go on much longer than another day or two, but there haven’t been any indications a decision is imminent. Ultimately, the tea leaves seem to suggest Pittsburgh. Stay tuned.