July 11, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed back franchise-tagged offensive guard Trey Smith to mandatory minicamp last month, a good sign that both sides will eventually work out a new long-term contract extension, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer. "There's no secret we'd like to get Trey locked up," general manager Brett Veach said earlier this year. The 26-year-old allowed only 1.5 sacks in 2024 and has been part of two of the team's Super Bowl championships. If the two sides cannot agree on an extension before the start of the 2025 season, Smith will make $23.4 million, which would make him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. He has started 67 of 68 regular-season games for KC and all of their 13 playoff games since he was selected in the sixth round back in 2021. Smith has become one of the best right guards in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zak Keefer
July 11, 2025
The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann is a candidate to receive a contract extension from the team, possibly as early as this summer. The former third-round selection in 2022 is entering the final year of hi four-year, $5.3 million rookie deal. Raimann initially struggled when he was thrust into a full-time starting role halfway through his rookie campaign, but he's now become one of the better left tackles in the league since that point. According to Spotrac, the 27-year-old tackle is projected to earn $20 million annually on his next deal. If the Colts fail to extend him, Raimann will have plenty of suitors on the open market next March. In the meantime, he'll be protecting the blind side in 2025 for either quarterback
Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson (shoulder).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
July 11, 2025
If Houston Texans quarterback
C.J. Stroud has a strong 2025 season, it's more likely that the team will work out a multi-year contract extension with him before the start of the 2026 campaign, writes The Athletic's Mike Jones. Stroud took the league by storm in 2023 as a rookie but regressed last year because of poor offensive line play and struggles by then-offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. If Stroud and the Texans offense are able to rebound in 2025, Jones thinks that Stroud could follow San Francisco 49ers QB
Brock Purdy as the next signal-caller to get a five-year, $250 million-plus contract. Given Stroud and the offense's struggles in 2024, RotoBaller now has him ranked as the No. 20 fantasy QB going into the 2025 campaign. The Texans remade their O-line, but there's no guarantee it will be better and give Stroud more time to find his weapons.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike Jones
July 11, 2025
San Francisco 49ers fullback
Kyle Juszczyk said that running back
Christian McCaffrey (knee) "looks incredible. He looks so healthy, he looks so explosive." McCaffrey got a late start to the 2024 season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis before spraining the PCL in his knee in Week 13. All in all, the 29-year-old All-Pro back played in just four games for the Niners last year, putting up 348 scrimmage yards and one touchdown. He was an absolute bust for fantasy managers after going off the board first overall in many drafts, but CMC is now fully healthy and was a full-go for minicamp practices this offseason. McCaffrey's extensive injury history makes him a pretty big risk-reward as a top-five fantasy RB, but he's still a high-end, three-down threat out of the backfield when he's healthy. If he stays healthy, McCaffrey could easily bounce back in 2025 and carry fantasy squads.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
July 11, 2025
Los Angeles Rams running backs coach Ron Gould has noticed this offseason that running back
Kyren Williams is more explosive. Williams ranked seventh in the league with 1,299 rushing yards in 2024 and tied for fifth with 14 rushing touchdowns. However, his 27 explosive rushes of 10-plus yards ranked tid for 11th in the NFL. They were also the second-fewest of any RB with over 250 carries. Williams' five fumbles tied for second-most among backs. "The first thing that stood out to us was his explosiveness," Gould said. The 24-year-old's numbers have been solid, but his lack of size and speed leave him less room for error than most feature backs, and he's expected to face more competition for touches, mostly from
Blake Corum. Williams is still L.A.'s featured back, but he's on the RB1/2 borderline in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: TheRams.com - Wyatt Miller
July
11,
2025
New
England
Patriots
defensive
lineman
Christian
Barmore
played
in
just
four
games
during
the
2024
campaign
after
experiencing
blood
clots.
The
former
second-round
pick
out
of
Alabama
in
2021
was
entering
his
first
season
following
a
four-year,
$83
million
contract,
and
read more...
July
10,
2025
San
Francisco
49ers
wide
receiver
Brandon
Aiyuk
(knee)
is
expected
to
start
the
2025
season
on
the
Physically
Unable
to
Perform
list,
which
would
sideline
him
for
the
first
four
games
as
he
recovers
from
ACL
read more...
July 10, 2025
The Athletic's Colton Pouncy writes that Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has paused when discussing wide receiver
Jameson Williams' future with the team, even though coaches have raved about him this offseason following a breakout 2024 campaign in which he caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. Pouncy adds that the Lions might not be able to afford Williams in the long run if he continues on his current trajectory. The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Ohio State is under contract through the 2026 season. If the Lions cannot get close to an extension with him before the start of next season, he could become a trade candidate. The volume is unlikely to be there for Williams in 2025, but he can still be an explosive WR2/3 in fantasy, especially if the Lions emphasize the deep passing game more under new coordinator John Morton.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
July 10, 2025
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who is heading into the fifth year of his rookie deal in 2025, said he will be with the team this summer for the start of training camp, whether a new deal has been reached or not. However, Parsons didn't say whether he'd participate in on-field work without a new contract, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. If a new deal isn't reached by July 22, the first day of training camp practice for Dallas, Parsons will likely be a hold-in at camp. The 26-year-old linebacker is reportedly seeking a contract in the range of $200 million. Contract issues aside, Parsons remains one of the most attractive pass-rushers in IDP fantasy leagues. The former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State has been a Pro Bowler in all four of his NFL seasons and has at least 12 sacks in all four years.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jon Machota
July 10, 2025
The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu appears to be next up for a contract extension after the team has locked up core players such as Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn to extensions since Dan Morgan took over as general manager in 2024. Carolina already picked up Ekwonu's fifth-year option for 2026 that's worth $17.6 million. The 24-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2022 is the same dominant run blocker that he was at North Carolina State, but he could still stand to improve in pass protection. Pro Football Focus had Ekwonu ranked 126th out of 140 tackles in sacks allowed (seven) last year, even though he gave up four fewer sacks than he did the previous year. He'll enter the 2025 season as the presumed starter at left tackle for the Panthers.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person
July 10, 2025
Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson, who turns 27 in July, is approaching the final year of his contract in 2025 -- he has a void year in 2026. Thompson has been a key defensive piece of Arizona's defensive backfield during his six years with the team, but The Athletic's Doug Haller writes that time is running out for him to get an extension. He finished third on the team in tackles in 2024 and has been productive and reliable in the desert, but Haller writes that the Cardinals seem to be grooming Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, a fourth-rounder last year, as Thompson's eventual replacement. Thompson had 100-plus combined tackles in 2021 and 2022 and almost returned to that mark a year ago with 98 tackles (61 solo). He could have some fantasy appeal in IDP leagues if he can stay healthy in what could be his last season with the Cardinals.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Doug Haller
July 10, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Najee Harris (eye) suffered a superficial eye injury during a Fourth of July fireworks mishap that resulted in injuries to several attendees, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson. However, Harris is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season. It's unclear if Harris will be forced to miss any practices once training camp gets underway later this month, though. When healthy, the 27-year-old former Pittsburgh Steeler is expected to be a big part of the Chargers' run-first offense in 2025, although rookie first-rounder
Omarion Hampton, who was taken 22nd overall in April, will command plenty of touches himself. Harris has had 1,000 yards rushing in all four of his NFL seasons to this point, but he lacks the big-play ability that Hampton should provide. Fantasy managers won't be able to count on volume for Harris, who has become more of an RB3/flex.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
July
10,
2025
Atlanta
Falcons
wide
receiver
Nick
Nash
went
unselected
in
the
2025
NFL
Draft
despite
leading
all
college
wideouts
in
receptions
(104),
receiving
yards
(1,382),
and
receiving
touchdowns
(16).
The
Falcons
added
him
as
a
priority
undrafted
read more...
July 10, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro and likely future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Lane Johnson is entering his 13th NFL campaign since being selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. The 35-year-old is one of the longest-tenured players in Eagles history, and his six Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections demonstrate his elite level of play over a long period. During an interview with NFL Network's "Good Morning Football", Johnson spoke on his potential retirement plans. "I still feel young in heart, but you can't ignore Father Time. I'm still having fun and enjoying what I do. I love being around the guys, competing, and it's just something that I really love doing every minute of it." Johnson signed a one-year contract extension this offseason to keep him in Philly through 2027, so he could be looking to play at least three more seasons if he continues to perform at a high level, which is great news for
Jalen Hurts and company.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
July
10,
2025
Los
Angeles
Rams
running
back
Blake
Corum
was
a
popular
fantasy
sleeper
heading
into
last
season
after
being
selected
in
the
third
round
of
the
2024
NFL
Draft
out
of
Michigan.
However,
the
24-year-old
failed
to
read more...
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