Lamar Jackson’s Contract Extension Talks
The Baltimore Ravens are considering a contract extension for their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Head coach John Harbaugh revealed this during the NFL’s annual league meeting. Jackson, who represents himself without an agent, is currently in the third year of a five-year, $260 million contract. This deal includes a $72.5 million signing bonus and $185 million in guarantees, with $135 million fully guaranteed at signing. Despite being the ninth-highest-paid player by average yearly salary, Jackson remains one of the top earners in actual cash due to his performance and existing contract terms. In 2023, he was named NFL MVP for the second time and had a historic 2024 season with record-breaking stats in passing and rushing yards. The Ravens are advised to consider an early extension to avoid higher costs later due to Jackson’s All-Pro caliber performance.
Julio Jones Announces Retirement
Julio Jones, a prominent NFL wide receiver, announced his retirement after 13 seasons. Recognized as one of the best receivers of his generation, Jones was a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro. He spent 10 successful seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and was the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. His first Pro Bowl selection came in 2012, and he was selected each year from 2014 to 2019. In 2015, he tied for the NFL lead with 136 receptions and led the league with 1,871 receiving yards. Jones played a key role in leading the Falcons to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Despite recent challenges faced by receivers entering Hall of Fame discussions, Jones is expected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame when eligible in 2029.
Joe Milton Trade to Dallas Cowboys
The New England Patriots have traded quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys. The trade includes the Patriots sending a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Several teams showed interest in acquiring Milton, who was a 2024 sixth-round pick and impressed with his performance in his first career start against the Buffalo Bills. Despite having better offers, the Patriots honored Milton’s preference to join the Cowboys, as he has personal ties and aspirations related to the team. In Dallas, Milton will serve as a backup to Dak Prescott, who is recovering from a previous season-ending hamstring injury. The Cowboys are pleased with Prescott’s recovery and hope he returns to his top form from the 2023 season when he led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes.
2025 NFL Free Agency Highlights
The 2025 NFL free agency period began on March 10, leading to significant offseason activity. Notable players who have changed teams through free agent signings and trades include Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, DK Metcalf, Davante Adams, and Josh Sweat. ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder is grading the major signings and trades of the offseason by evaluating each deal’s impact on teams and players. Walder’s grading criteria include on-field impact, salary cap implications, compensation, player value/age, and the context of a team’s short- and long-term outlooks. The analysis considers how decisions affect a team’s chances to win the Super Bowl in the current season or future seasons.
2025 NFL Mock Draft Insights
Meta AI created a mock draft for the 2025 NFL Draft, predicting the first-round picks. Notably, Meta AI omitted two top prospects, Shedeur Sanders and Tyler Warren, from its first-round predictions. The AI’s mock draft included some surprising player-team fits, such as Ashton Jeanty to the New York Jets. Mock drafts are challenging to predict accurately due to unexpected picks that can disrupt even well-prepared analyses. USA TODAY Sports used Meta AI to explore how an artificial intelligence chatbot might construct a mock draft. The results highlighted limitations in using AI for predicting events like the NFL Draft.
Team Trades and Movements in the Draft
The 2025 NFL mock draft highlights team trades and movements, with a team trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart. The Commanders and Buccaneers also moved up in the draft order. As the NFL Draft approaches, rumors about prospects’ off-field maturity concerns often surface. Some of these concerns are justified, while others may be fabricated to influence draft positions. Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce is one such prospect facing scrutiny this draft cycle. Despite his on-field talent, he is not frequently found in Round 1 of many mock drafts online due to off-field concerns.
In summary, the NFL continues to see significant player movements and strategic decisions as teams prepare for the upcoming season. From contract negotiations to retirements and trades, the league remains dynamic and full of surprises.