NFL Player News

The Cowboys and Gallup (knee) are reportedly working on a deal to keep the pending free agent with the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter's sources indicate that an agreement is considered close, with the latest on Gallup's chances of landing a new deal with Dallas arriving in the wake of a report that the team is prepared to move on from fellow pass-catcher Amari Cooper. In such a scenario, the Cowboys would free up needed cap space, some of which could go toward re-signing Gallup. Though the wideout is coming off a torn ACL suffered late last season, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News previously indicated that there is some optimism that the 26-year-old could be ready for start of the 2022 campaign.

The Chiefs and Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have reportedly exchanged contract proposals this week, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

With Hill -- who is slated to count $20.685 million against the salary cap in 2022 -- approaching the final season of a three-year extension he signed in 2019, the two sides seem amenable to crafting a deal to keep the wideout in Kansas City for the long term. Moreover, the report notes that an extension for Hill would likely feature a structure aimed at lowering his cap hit this year, which would help the team's ability to bolster an offensive nucleus that currently also includes franchise QB Patrick Mahomes and star TE Travis Kelce.

The Bills granted Beasley permission to seek a trade Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Garafolo adds that general manager Brandon Beane told him Thursday that the Bills would welcome the slot man back and "no door has been closed" -- however, at this stage, it looks like the 32-year-old could be on the move, either via a trade or by being cut, given his non-guaranteed salary for 2022. Beasley, who is approaching the final year of a four-year contract that he signed with with Buffalo in 2019, is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 82 catches (on 112 targets) for 693 yards and a TD in 16 games.

The Cowboys plan to try to trade Cooper before the start of the new league year March 16, but if no deal is reached, the wideout is likely to be released, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports.

If the 27-year-old ends up being cut, the wideout would count $6 million against the Cowboys' salary cap in 2022 versus $22 million otherwise. Cooper is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he caught 68 passes (on 104 targets) for 865 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. If the Cowboys indeed part ways with Cooper, CeeDee Lamb would profile as the offense's top receiver option, while the team could elect to focus on re-signing Michael Gallup (knee), who is bouncing back from a torn ACL.

GM Mickey Loomis noted Thursday that Thomas is on track to return to the mix in 2022 after not playing last season due to a left ankle injury that required surgery, John DeShazier of the Saints' official site reports.

"We're expecting to have Mike back," Loomis said of Thomas, who was the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. "His progress hopefully is going well, and the reports are that it's been going well. I know he is certainly motivated; Michael is always motivated, so that's not an issue." While the Saints expect Thomas back this coming season to provide a boost to their pass-catching corps, which wideouts the 29-year-old -- who is signed through 2024 -- will be working alongside in 2022 remains to be determined, with Tre'Quan Smith slated to become an unrestricted free agent and Deonte Harris a restricted free agent.

The Cowboys could seriously consider releasing Cooper prior to the start of the new league year, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter quotes a league source as saying Dallas is "likely" to release Cooper, who will be owed a fully guaranteed $20 million March 20, the fifth day of the new league year. The news seems a likely indication that the Cowboys would listen to trade offers for the 27-year-old wideout, who was limited to 68 catches for 865 yards and eight scores through 15 appearances in 2021 but previously put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Releasing Cooper would free up $16 million for Dallas with just $6 million in dead cap, and position CeeDee Lamb to take over as the unquestioned No. 1 target in the passing game. If he does hit free agency, Cooper will undoubtedly have a plethora of interested suitors.

Beckham (knee) is expected to return to game action in early November, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl and underwent surgery Feb. 23. It's expected that he will return to the field toward the latter portion of a six-to-nine month timeline, lining him up for a return in the middle of the 2022 campaign. It's less certain where Beckham will be playing, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent once the new league year begins. Rapoport noted that there is mutual interest between Beckham and the Rams for a reunion, but that his recovery timeline could impact whether a deal ultimately gets done.

Coach Pete Carroll clarified Wednesday that Metcalf underwent a minor offseason procedure to remove a screw from his left foot, Liz Matthews of USA Today reports. "They fixed a surgery that he had on his foot a couple of years back," Carroll noted of the wideout, whose practice reps were managed last season as he dealt with a lingering foot issue. "They just had to go in there and adjust some stuff in his foot. It bothered him all year long."

Though the report doesn't specify when the 2019 second-rounder will be able work fully on the field, the hope is that by addressing the issue, Metcalf will be able to practice on a regular basis this coming season. Despite his foot woes, Metcalf played all 17 of Seattle's games last season en route to catching 75 of his 129 targets for 967 yards and career-high 12 TDs. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder is set to continue to combine with Tyler Lockett in 2022 to form a talented 1-2 punch atop the team's wideout depth chart.

The Giants have discussed the possibility of Shepard (Achilles) needing to take a pay cut this offseason, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Shepard is scheduled for a cap hit of roughly $12.5 million in the 2022 season, while coming off an injury-plagued campaign that ended with a torn left Achilles mid-December. However, his recovery is apparently progressing nicely, as he could be good to go by early summer, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Nor are injury concerns a new development for Shepard, who missed eight regular-season games from 2019-20. While the Giants do have incentive to keep Shepard in house, as he's proven to be one of Daniel Jones' most trusted targets when healthy, it's worth noting that the team can also get out of the final two years of his contract for just under $8 million in dead cap.

Brown and the Titans have engaged in preliminary extension in the early stages of the offseason, Jim Wyatt of Tennessee's official site reports.

Brown is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and the Titans are seemingly eager to come to terms on a long-term deal to ensure he doesn't reach free agency. The wideout has served as a key in the passing offense since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, topping 50 receptions and 850 receiving yards in each of his three seasons. Durability has been just about the only knock on Brown, as he has dealt with chest, knee and hamstring issues in the past couple of years. Nevertheless, he should be in line for a lucrative extension given his notable production he's already put up despite not turning 25 years old until June.