The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Additionally, the Jets need to figure out when to extend wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who is seeking in the range of $25-30 million per year. Gardner has stated that he would like to retire as a Jet, but the team will probably need to move fast to avoid prices going up. The 24-year-old defensive back is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and has already become one of the top shutdown corners in the NFL. The former fourth overall pick in 2022 out of Cincinnati is a two-time Pro Bowler and also won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. Gardner finished with 49 tackles (36 solo), his first career sack, an interception and nine pass breakups in 15 starts in 2024.

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The New England Patriots gave running back Rhamondre Stevenson a four-year, $36 million extension last summer, which kicks in for the 2025 season. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that the extension for Stevenson already looks like a bad move after he had 207 carries for 807 yards (career-low 3.9 yards per carry) last year, although he did score a career-high seven rushing touchdowns. On top of it, the Pats selected rookie TreVeyon Henderson in the second round this year, so New England now have an out to move on from Stevenson if he struggles again in 2025. The biggest drawback to the 27-year-old last year were his seven fumbles. He has nice size and abilities in the passing game, but he won't be guaranteed much under the new coaching staff and will face plenty of competition from Henderson. RotoBaller has Stevenson ranked as the RB35 in fantasy.

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The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that safety Josh Metellus and the Minnesota Vikings have mutual interest in hammering out a contract extension, but it remains to be seen if they can find common ground on a deal. Metellus has been an integral contributor for defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play as a linebacker and in the slot, so the Vikings would surely like to keep his versatility around as he heads into the final year of his current contract. The 27-year-old defensive back is also a captain and contributes on special teams. The former sixth-rounder has had 100-plus combined tackles the last two years in Minnesota, and while his versatility could complicate extension talks, it also allows him to play up in the box more often than most safeties and rack up tackles for fantasy managers in IDP leagues.

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While it's probably unlikely, The Athletic's Jim Ayello points out there's a chance that the 2025 season is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's last year with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins aren't in a pretty salary-cap situation moving forward, so if they have a five- or six-win season this year, it's possible that ownership decides it's time for a hard reset. It's quite possible that Miami's decision-makers going into next year think that Tua's concussion history and limitations as a pocket passer don't make him an ideal franchise signal-caller. The former first-rounder's value, both in fantasy and real life, all depend on his health and what he can produce in 2025. If the Dolphins were to cut Tagovailoa after this year, it would come with a hefty $79 million dead-cap hit. There's bounce-back potential for Tua and the Dolphins offense, but fantasy managers shouldn't be taking him as anything more than a QB2 with upside.

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The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles have reached an agreement on a contract extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The new deal will keep Poles in Chicago through the 2029 season, and his contract length now matches that of first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Poles has a mixed track record in his time at the helm for Chicago. The team has struggled on the field, going 15-36 through his first three seasons in charge. However, Poles positioned the team to acquire quarterback Caleb Williams by pulling off a trade with the Carolina Panthers that netted the Bears the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft. Poles' future with the team will be closely linked to the success of both Williams and his second head coaching hire in Johnson, but he's locked in some additional security with this extension.

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Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is "in a much better spot" and the team has "a lot of high expectations for him," Green Bay running backs coach Ben Sirmans told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Drafted in the third round in 2024, Lloyd had a lost year as a rookie. He appeared in just one game for Green Bay last season, totaling six carries for 15 yards. Lloyd suffered myriad injuries to his hip, ankle, hamstring, and appendicitis. In the same article, Schneidman notes that Lloyd is "essentially a lock" to make the Packers' 53-man roster, but may not start as the number two running back on the depth chart behind Josh Jacobs. He's competing with Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks for the role, both of whom flashed at different points in 2024. Lloyd has a ways to go before he's relevant for fantasy managers, but his progress in camp should be monitored by those looking for a Jacobs handcuff.

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Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins will "get every opportunity" to rebound from a down year in 2024, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Hopkins had an excellent year in 2023 when he made 33 of his 36 kicks, including all eight attempts from beyond 50 yards. He was significantly worse in 2024, going just 18-27 overall and four-for-eight from 50+ yards out. Easterling notes that Hopkins' primary competition in Browns' camp is Andre Szmyt, who has yet to record a kick in an NFL game. Hopkins is just starting a three-year contract extension that he signed in July 2024, so the team is counting on him regaining his prior form. RotoBaller currently has Hopkins ranked as kicker #27 for fantasy.

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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor "will be the team's No. 3 receiver," according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Lewis also notes that Nailor showed up to organized team activities in the "best shape of his life." Nailor played 17 games for Minnesota last season, recording 28 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns. His most productive stretch of the season might have been from Week 2-3, where he tallied a combined six catches for 85 yards and two scores. That's noteworthy because those are the two games that fellow Minnesota wideout Jordan Addison missed in 2024. Addison could be facing an early-season suspension due to a DUI citation he received last summer. If that happens, Nailor could be a sneaky end-of-roster add for fantasy managers.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was sentenced to three years' probation as a result of a DUI charge he received last November, according to The Orange County Register. Robinson was a member of the Los Angeles Rams at the time but signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with San Francisco in March. The NFL has not yet announced whether Robinson will face a suspension or any other sort of discipline. Last season, Robinson played 17 games for the Rams and caught 31 passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns. He figures to slot in behind Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings on the 49ers' depth chart at receiver. However, Aiyuk may miss the start of the season as he recovers from an ACL tear he suffered last October.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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 his NFL future was up in the air just eight months ago. However, he has since been cleared to practice, and Chad Graff of The Athletic reports that he had a fantastic spring under new head coach Mike Vrabel. "Barmore was one of the most dominant players at practice," Graff wrote. "In many ways, he looked like his 2023 version, continually pushing the pocket against a reshuffled interior O-line." Barmore had a breakout campaign in 2023, collecting 64 tackles (39 solo), 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 8.5 run stuffs, and six pass deflections. With newly signed free agents Milton Williams and Harold Landry III playing next to him on New England's new-look defensive line, Barmore could be freed up for more favorable pass-rushing matchups. The 25-year-old is one to watch for the end-of-season Comeback Player of the Year award.

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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 and MCL tears in his right knee that he suffered in October of last year, per 49ers Webzone's David Bonilla. The Niners have already said that Aiyuk won't be ready for the start of training camp on July 22, and he's unlikely to be ready to go for Week 1 against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7. However, the 27-year-old wideout has looked great during his rehab this offseason, which suggests there's still a chance he could be ready for the season opener. San Fran will likely play it safe with Aiyuk, who disappointed with 25 catches for 374 yards and no touchdowns in 2024 before his injury. Even with Deebo Samuel Sr. gone, Aiyuk will face plenty of competition for targets when he returns, and will he even be the same receiver? His fantasy stock has taken a huge hit going into 2025.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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