NFL Player News

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said the team thinks highly of Rush but won't necessarily re-sign him, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

"You know how much we think of [Rush]," Jones said. "We just don't know what he's going to cost. When we're paying Dak [Prescott] what we're paying him, unfortunately we do have to go cheap there." Jones also hinted at the likelihood of third-stringer Trey Lance moving on to a new team, potentially leaving the Cowboys to sort through rookies or bottom-of-the-barrel veterans for the backup QB work in 2025. Rush has won nine of 14 starts in his career, likely putting him near the top of the backup market even though he's 31 years old.

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Lance is "probably going to be looking for something different" this offseason, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Lance was the Cowboys' third-string quarterback the past two seasons, after they traded a fourth-round pick for him shortly before the start of the 2023 campaign. He played decent in his one start -- a 23-19 loss to Washington in Week 18 of this past season -- but it sounds like the Cowboys would rather draft a new quarterback to develop behind starter Dak Prescott. Both Lance and second-stringer Cooper Rush are scheduled for free agency this spring, with Jones already suggesting that Rush's solid work as a backup may have priced him out of the Cowboys' range.

The Rams hope to reach a contract agreement with Stafford (ribs) but may try to trade him if the two sides can't agree on numbers, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Friday that the Rams recently gave Stafford's agent permission to talk with other teams to help assess the QB's value. The idea, it would seem, is for the Rams to figure out if they're willing to pay Stafford as much as another team would, which can move negotiations forward (or not). His contract was also an issue last offseason, when Stafford had three years remaining without any guaranteed money. The Rams adjusted his contract in July, but now they have a similar situation at hand, with Stafford scheduled to make $27 million and $31 million for the final two years of his contract. Those figures are way below market value for a competent starting QB, but that's partially because Stafford received a huge signing bonus in 2022 and a restructure bonus in 2024, which is reflected in his cap hits for the next two seasons ($49.7 million and $53.7 million). An extension would allow the Rams to lower those cap hits while making Stafford happy, but it would also mean adding to the eventual dead-money cap charge when he's retired or released. Stafford turned 37 earlier in February, and right now it's not clear he'll be back in Los Angeles for 2025.

Rodgers recently said he's more likely to continue his football career if he can find a good team that really wants him, NFL.com's Kevin Patra reports.

That's more difficult than it sounds, especially after Rodgers' unsuccessful tenure in New York. The Jets have already informed him they're "moving in a different direction", and with minimal chance of trade interest it's only a matter of time until he's released. The teams most likely to consider signing the 41-year-old QB aren't the ones generally considered to be "good," and Rodgers may end up looking at a short list of suitors even if he's flexible on his stated criteria. A couple of the teams that theoretically might have interest would probably prefer to see what happens in free agency and the NFL Draft before settling for Rodgers as their Week 1 starter in 2025.

The Panthers signed Dalton on a two-year, $8 million contract extension Tuesday.

Dalton's new extension includes $6 million guaranteed and carries a maximum value of $10 million with incentives, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. In nine appearances with Carolina over the last two seasons, the 37-year-old signal-caller has tossed nine touchdowns and six interceptions, with perhaps his most impactful contribution coming as a mentor for Bryce Young. Dalton will give the Panthers some stability in the quarterback room as Young looks to build on his Year 2 improvement.

Allen appeared in one regular-season game for the Steelers in 2024, completing his only pass attempt for 19 yards.

Allen saw little action behind Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The team's quarterback situation for 2025 is up in the air, but Allen is set to become an unrestricted free agent and it's unclear what the chances are that he will be brought back.

Taylor appeared in two regular-season games for the Jets in 2024, completing 17 of 22 passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 13 yards on three carries.

The veteran QB remained on the sidelines for the vast majority of the season as Aaron Rodgers stayed healthy enough to start all 17 regular-season games. Taylor is under contract for next season, and assuming he remains with the Jets, will likely be competing for a backup job again behind whoever the team brings in to start, assuming they follow through with releasing Rodgers as expected.

Ridder completed 52 of 85 pass attempts for 458 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions across six regular-season appearances with the Raiders in 2024.

Ridder only started one of his six appearances with Las Vegas, a Week 15 loss to the Falcons -- the team that drafted him -- in which both Gardner Minshew (collarbone) and Aidan O'Connell were unavailable due to injury. A 2022 third-round pick, Ridder has now logged a 14:14 TD:INT rate across the last two seasons, with ball security issues also remaining a consistent concern -- he has three fumbles (two lost) during his time with the Raiders. The 25-year-old is slated to become a restricted free agent this offseason, making it easy for Las Vegas to retain him as a reserve option at quarterback should the team choose to do so.

Tune completed two of two passes for eight yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, recorded seven carries for minus-4 yards and lost his only fumble in six games during the 2024 regular season.

The majority of Tune's appearances in his second pro campaign occurred in kneel-down scenarios, as Kyler Murray handled 96.6 percent of the offensive snaps. A 2023 fifth-round pick, Tune has 23 passes without a touchdown and 15 carries with one TD on his resume in 13 career contests. With Murray entering the second year of the extension he signed in July 2022, Tune will continue to operate as the Cardinals' primary backup QB in 2025.

Wolford signed a contract with the Jaguars on Monday.

Wolford joined Jacksonville's practice squad in December, after stints with the Buccaneers and Rams. The 29-year-old now will have the opportunity to earn a backup role behind Trevor Lawrence during the Jaguars' offseason program.