NFL Player News

General manager Joe Douglas said Wednesday that Wilson (concussion) has been given permission to seek a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Wilson ended the 2023 season on injured reserve while recovering from concussion symptoms, which cost him the Jets' final three games. The 2021 second overall pick's time being up in New York almost looks inevitable at this point, especially after he was moved back and forth between the starting lineup and bench throughout the 2023 campaign. If a trade partner doesn't emerge for Wilson, the Jets could opt to waive him rather than keeping him in the fold at a cap hit of $11.18 million for 2024. In any case, the Jets seem likely to prioritize an upgrade at the backup quarterback spot behind Aaron Rodgers (Achilles), with Trevor Siemian and Brett Rypien being the other signal-callers on the roster.

General manager Ryan Poles said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that if the Bears decide they will be selecting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, the team would attempt to trade Fields before the start of free agency March 13, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Poles' comments could be read as a response to Fields' recently stated desire for clarity on his future in Chicago, and it sounds like a decision could be made more quickly than expected. The official start of free agency is just over two weeks away, while the legal tampering period will begin March 11. If, as expected, the Bears determine they will be selectin a QB like Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft, trade options for Fields could include the Steelers, Falcons, Patriots, Raiders and Broncos. In 13 games last season, the 2021 first-round pick compiled 2,562 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions, to go with 657 rushing yards and four scores.

Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that a decision on Wilson's future with the Broncos will come "in the next two weeks," Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Wilson may realistically be released before the start of the new league year March 13, but Payton's comments suggest that a decision on the veteran's future in Denver won't come down to the wire of that deadline. If Wilson is released, the Broncos will eat a massive $85 million dead-money cap hit, but the size of his contract likely eliminates the possibility of a trade. Payton also referenced the Broncos' recent history of QB woes, stating "our job is to make sure this next one doesn't have a line through it," per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. While it doesn't seem like a final decision of Wilson's future has yet been made, the fact that Payton is already thinking about the "next one" under center could be read as a strong hint that the former Seahawk's release is imminent.

General manager Joe Schoen said Monday that Jones (knee) has resumed stationary throwing and is on track to be ready for training camp, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Jones, who is recovering from a right ACL tear, resumed throwing two weeks ago. Schoen added that Jones could take part in 7-on-7 work this spring. The Giants have backed Jones as their starter since the end of the regular season, and he's only one year into his four-year, $160 million contract extension, but the soon-to-be 27-year-old's miserable 2023 campaign also can't be overlooked. In six games before his season-ending injury, Jones compiled just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 108 of 160 pass attempts (5.7 YPA). If a solid quarterback prospect falls to New York at the No. 6 overall pick in April's draft, the team's confidence in Jones will be put to the test.

Cousins, who is recovering from a torn right Achilles' tendon, posted a video Monday which showed him backpedaling and throwing recently in an indoor tennis facility, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Cousins, whose 2023 season came to an end when he sustained the season-ending injury Oct. 29, noted in his social media post that he was "encouraged by the progress" he's made thus far. He's eligible to become a free agent next month and said earlier in February that he's on track with his recovery and expects to participate in OTAs and minicamp this spring. According to Seifert, the Vikings and Cousins have mutual interest in a reunion, but for now, the 35-year-old profiles as the best available option at his position ahead of NFL free agency.

Daniels will attend the NFL Scouting Combine this week but doesn't plan to take part in throwing drills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Daniels reportedly intends to wait until LSU's Pro Day on March 27 to throw and work out for NFL scouts. He spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Arizona State from 2019 through 2021 before winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy in his second season at LSU, making him a candidate to be selected early in the first round even though he's already 23 years old. USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye are strong favorites to be the first two quarterbacks drafted, with Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy the other two often mentioned as potential top-10 picks.

Williams doesn't plan to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine this week and will instead wait to throw at his pro day, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The expected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will be in attendance for interviews and meetings at the combine in Indianapolis, but on-field drills aren't expected to be a part of the equation. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, has long been considered to be the favorite to go first overall, but his resume is being more closely scrutinized as the draft approaches. He finished his college career with a 66.9 percent completion rate, 9.2 yards per attempt, 93 passing touchdowns and 27 rushing touchdowns in three seasons spent between Oklahoma and USC. After his Heisman-winning campaign, Williams saw his production drop off in 2023, as his touchdown total dropped from 42 to 30, albeit in two fewer games. Williams' pro day is set for March 20, at which point his draft stock will become more solidified.

Buccaneers' GM Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield's agent, Tom Mills, during the NFL scouting combine next week, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Stroud notes that while no deal for the QB to remain with Tampa Bay is imminent, the team and Mayfield have had some preliminary talks about a potential new contract. In his first season with the Bucs, Mayfield recorded a career-high 4,044 passing yards to go along with a 28:10 TD ratio en route to leading the franchise to a third straight NFC South title. The report adds that Mayfield -- who the Browns made the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft -- would prefer to stay put after having split the 2022 campaign with the Panthers and Rams -- but if the veteran signal-caller hits the free agent market next month, the Buccaneers could have some competition for the 28-year-old's services.

The Saints are slated to restructure Carr's contract for salary cap purposes, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Per the report, the looming move -- which entails converting a portion of Carr's base salary for 2024 into a signing bonus -- is expected to garner the team in the neighborhood of $23 million in terms of cap relief. In his first campaign with the Saints, the veteran QB -- who remains under contract through the 2026 season -- logged 17 starts while throwing for 3,878 yards and compiling a 25:8 TD:INT ratio. Though Carr is set to reprise his starting role in 2024, the composition of New Orleans' wideout corps this coming season has yet to be solidified, with Katherine Terrell of ESPN having previously suggested that Michael Thomas could potentially be released this offseason.

Smith and the Seahawks agreed Thursday to a restructured contract, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

It's a simple restructure, converting Smith's $9.6 million roster bonus into a signing bonus to create $4.8 million in 2024 cap space (while adding $4.8 million to the 2025 sheet). The Seahawks already signaled intent to bring Smith back as their starting QB in 2024 when they kept him on the roster through mid-February once his $12.7 million base salary became guaranteed. His contract runs through 2025 but doesn't have any guarantees in the final year, potentially setting up the Seahawks for a tough decision next March when Smith is scheduled for a $10 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2025 league year. The upcoming NFL Draft could provide a hint about how the Seahawks feel about Smith long term.