JUPITER, Fla. – For the Houston Astros, it did not come as a total shock.

In the wake of franchise cornerstone Alex Bregman ending his nine-year stint in Houston to accept a three-year, $120 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, there’s at least half a moment to spare to appreciate the man who was a driving force in two World Series championships and seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series.

“Alex Bregman had a hell of a run here with us,” Astros general manager Dana Brown told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “We hate to see him go, but we wish him all the best.

“Boston’s getting a really good player. Good defender, will hit for power over the (Green) Monster for sure.”

Yet the pivot to moving forward is coming very naturally for a club that had an agreement to trade for Nolan Arenado, acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Chicago Cubs and largely cinched Bregman’s departure in signing first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract.

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In the aggregate, they can likely make up for a player with a startling .848 career OPS, 191 career homers and a career-best 8.9 WAR season in 2019, one of the Astros’ three trips to the World Series since 2017.

There’s only one “Bregs,” however, that smirking and swaggering ballplayer who might hit a home run and carry the bat to first base, poke their division rivals before popping the cork on a division title and give the Astros that little extra that made them reviled outside the 713.

“It’s hard to replace,” says manager Joe Espada. “because for him, it was genuine and it came out naturally. Replacing those intangibles is difficult, but we do have those guys with those intangibles. One thing our leaders have done in the past is develop other leaders.

“I’m sure our players, after they saw that news in the morning thought, ‘OK, it’s my turn to take over some of that leadership role.’ And I expect someone to do that.”

Bregman was a free agent after his six-year, $100 million extension expired. While he festered on the market into spring training, the $40 million average annual value marks a significantly higher salary than the $26 million he’d have earned had he accepted the Astros’ standing offer of six years and $156 million. He also turned down the Detroit Tigers’ offer of six years and $171.5 million.

Now he gives the Red Sox – Astros playoff combatants in 2017 and 2021 – the sense of a sleeping giant, all while having to replace slugging outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was traded to acquire, in part, Paredes from the Chicago Cubs.

“There’s a chance you may play him again in the postseason,’ says Brown. “That’s part of the game as well. We feel good about our club and some of the things we’ve been able to do, like putting Paredes at third. We feel his bat is going to play in our ballpark.

“He’s got big power. At first base, we felt like we added two guys who we feel fit in the top five in our lineup. And we lost two that hit in the top five in Bregman and Tucker.

“We still feel like it’s a competitive ballclub with a good chance to win the division and go deep in the postseason.”

And they see Bregman working: He will make beautiful music with the Green Monster as he did the short-porch Crawford Boxes in Houston. Bregman can opt out after this season and next – and with a career. 375 average, .490 OBP and 1.240 OPS in 21 games at Fenway Park, look out.

“He knows how to play a pepper game against the left field wall,” says Espada. “He’s had an incredible career there, numbers-wise. So I get it.”

We’ve now officially crossed into the land of willful stupidity. 

Seriously, what are we doing here? 

It’s one thing to do right by players and allow them to earn off their name image and likeness. It’s another to take it one step further by giving them free player movement. 

Sharing media rights revenue? Absolutely, no problem with it. 

But I’m drawing the line at tax-free shelters. And everyone involved in collegiate sports should, too — including the pandering pom-pom wavers in state governments who have decided that players shouldn’t be taxed on NIL income. 

The state of Georgia has proposed a bill to eliminate a 5.49% state income tax on NIL income. And because Georgia did it, it should come as no surprise that the state Alabama followed suit. 

And you better believe a majority of the SEC states will, too. 

PLAYOFF PICKS: Projecting next year’s field of 12 with some surprises

LOOKING AHEAD: Our way-too-early college football Top 25 for 2025

But this line in the sand that now must be drawn has nothing to do with millions in would-be taxes generated on NIL deals, or that those millions could support critical infrastructure (physical and mental) in our cities and states. Good, important things. 

This is something much deeper. It’s not about what we’re giving young people for playing a sport. 

It’s about what we’re taking away. 

What message are we sending to 18-year-old young men, who have been glad-handed all of their sports playing lives? Who have been told, over and over since elementary school, their talent and ability will take them places their parents could only dream of?

Life is their oyster, and they’re the perpetual perfect pearl inside. 

Until they’re not.

Until they eventually become part of the 98.4% of college football players who don’t make it to the NFL. Until those years of avoiding hard life truths, of making the road easier (tax-free NIL), and making excuses for failure (free player movement) suddenly come to a screeching halt. 

Then somebody has to get a job. Then somebody has to function within a society that doesn’t care who or what you were, just what you can do. 

And if you can’t do it, we’ll move on to the next who can. 

No free passes, no special treatment. No bending over backward to do everything we can to make sure life works in conjunction with your schedule. The utter absurdity of it all. 

Frankly, it’s not only willful stupidity by the adults in the room — parents, high school coaches, college coaches, university presidents, the NCAA — who have haphazardly crafted this wildly inaccurate idea of life for college athletes, it’s reckless abandonment.

And for what, a football game? 

Grown men and women in the Georgia and Alabama state legislatures trying to pass a bill to hand out tax-free candy like it’s a four-year Halloween bender. And guess who’s standing there, bag wide open, accepting another freebie – another avoidance of responsibility – because it’s all they’ve ever known?

When athletes receive endorsement deals (the original idea of an NIL deal) as professionals, they’re taxed on the money. This is how life works.

Yet these pom-pom wavers in state governments, these fans dreaming of another championship, want to eliminate all sense of the grind away from the field for young men ― by building a bulletproof bubble that won’t last for all but 2% of them. 

When an 18-year-old football player enters college, this is what he walks into (this is NOT a complete list):

— A fully-funded scholarship, including room and board, and tuition and books.

— Health insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance (in case of a career-ending injury). 

— Elite training and development from the top coaches and sports nutritionists. 

— Full-time, on-demand academic tutoring.

— A competitive salary, beginning July 1 with the advent of pay for play.

— Guaranteed NIL deals. 

— Free movement from school to school.

And now the state legislatures of Georgia and Alabama have decided, let’s give them more. Only they’re taking away.

They’re taking away accountability and responsibility, and four or five years down the road when a huge majority of players are looking for life’s answers, what do they have to fall back on? 

Years of pandering and protection.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, a college education isn’t so much about book smarts – or in this case, playing football – as it is young people proving they can do life on their own. And survive and thrive. 

Pay rent, pay bills, have a budget. Prepare food, launder clothes. Get up every morning with a plan and a purpose, and meet deadlines. 

And now these dopes in the states of Georgia and Alabama, with their pom-poms wildly waving, want to do more damage.

Seriously, what are we doing here? We’re sending young men into a world that’s brutally hard with the idea that it’s effortlessly easy.

And for what, a football game?   

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

Five wins in a row, capped by Tuesday night’s victory at home against Purdue, has sent Michigan to the top of the Big Ten and pushed the Wolverines to the No. 4 line in our Bracketology projecting the NCAA men’s tournament field.

After leading Florida Atlantic to back-to-back tournament berths and a Final Four appearance two seasons ago, Dusty May has already tied the program record for Big Ten wins by a first-year coach. The Wolverines are a half-game ahead of Purdue heading into Sunday’s trip to Ohio State.

Michigan has a chance to continue scaling the tournament ladder — or getting knocked back a few rungs before the start of March Madness.

Six of the Wolverines’ final seven games before the Big Ten tournament come against teams currently in our bracket. Two of those matchups come against rival Michigan State. They also play Nebraska on the road and host Illinois and Maryland.

Connecticut’s win this week at Creighton – Dan Hurley would like to remind all of us he has two rings, by the way – moves the Huskies up to the No. 7 line, replacing Mississippi State. The Bulldogs fall to a No. 8 seed amid six losses in nine games, most recently at home to Florida.

Two new teams join the bracket. One is John Calipari’s Arkansas, winners of three of four. The Razorbacks are up to No. 41 in the NET rankings. The second is Brigham Young. The Cougars won at West Virginia on Tuesday and will face Kansas State on Saturday in a game with major bubble implications.

And it’s an ugly bracket for the extremely top-heavy ACC. After sending nine teams into March Madness a year ago, the league has only three teams in the projected field: No. 1 seed Duke, No. 7 Louisville and No. 7 Clemson. The last time the ACC had fewer than four teams in the bracket was 2000.

STARTING FIVE: SEC, Big 12 lead biggest games of the weekend

BEST EVER?: SEC can make claim even if Big East has own case

Bracketology: NCAA Tournament field projection

Last four in

San Diego State, Virginia Commonwealth, Brigham Young, Arkansas.

First four out

Georgia, SMU, Kansas State, Villanova.

NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (10), Big 12 (8), Big East (4), ACC (3), Mountain West (3), Atlantic 10 (2), West Coast (2).

By now, casual sports fans and die-hard college hoops junkies alike should be fully engaged with March Madness now just a few weeks away. We’re back once again to help you plan your weekend of viewing by picking the five games in men’s college basketball we think will be most worthy of your attention.

Those who have peeked ahead at the calendar will undoubtedly anticipate most of our offerings, but if you have not done so hopefully we can save you a little time. Of course your interest may vary based upon your own rooting preferences, but here is our Starting Five for the weekend after the Super Bowl with college basketball taking the stage.

No. 2 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama

Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN

It’s not at all a stretch to state that this is the most significant meeting in basketball in the history of these schools best known for their rivalry on the gridiron. On the other hand, it’s only round one, as they’re slated to meet again in three weeks at Auburn and possibly a time or two after that in the postseason. Both teams handled their midweek business leading up to this showdown, as the Tigers prevailed at Vanderbilt and the Crimson Tide hit the century mark for the fourth time in SEC play at Texas. Alabama’s high-scoring, fast-paced approach means no lead is safe for its opponent, but it also means protecting its own lead can be an issue. That figures to be the case against Auburn, whose defensive tenacity often results in lengthy scoring droughts. Pesky Tigers guard Chad Baker-Mazara will likely be assigned to shadow top Alabama perimeter threat Mark Sears, while the Tide’s Grant Nelson will be tasked with keeping Auburn big man Johni Broome from dominating the glass.

MAJOR MOMENT: Alabama, Auburn meet in rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash

BRACKETOLOGY: Michigan surges in NCAA tournament projection

No. 6 Houston at No. 13 Arizona

Time/TV: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN

First place will also be on the line in the Big 12. That remains the case despite Arizona on Wednesday becoming the latest victim of a suddenly red-hot Kansas State squad making a late push for the bubble. But the Wildcats can regain a share of the league lead if they can take down the Cougars, who have won three in succession since dropping their lone conference decision to Texas Tech. The Wildcats had a terrible night from the three-point arc in Manhattan, making just two of 22 attempts. Caleb Love and Co. usually fare better in the more friendly environs of the McKale Center, but Houston also guards the perimeter effectively. The Cougars have yet to lose in the Big 12 on the road, where it helps to have a primary ball handler like Milos Uzan who rarely turns it over.

No. 15 Wisconsin at No. 7 Purdue

Time/TV: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

We now move over to a double dip in the Big Ten, starting with this clash of likely top-16 NCAA seeds in Purdue’s Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers look to bounce back after letting a lead get away at Michigan on Tuesday, while the Badgers come to town riding a three-game winning streak. Expect to see a lot of long balls attempted in this one, as both teams hoist well over 20 three-point tries per game. Purdue is usually a bit more accurate, connecting at a 37.4% clip from distance to Wisconsin’s 36.5%, but it’s fair to say both squads are capable of mounting a rally if needed. The Badgers will need a big day from Steven Crowl on the boards to stick with the Boilermakers’ Trey Kaufman-Renn.

No. 11 Michigan State at Illinois

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

The Big Ten’s prime-time tilt features a pair of teams that could both use a positive result. The Spartans got off to a 9-0 start in league play but have dropped three of their last four. The Fighting Illini have struggled for consistency all season, capable of a dominating win or a puzzling loss on a given day. Various illnesses and injuries have been in part to blame for Illinois, but the team might finally have all of its key parts available if guard Tre White is able to go after missing time with a flu bug. Michigan State’s biggest strength continues to be its depth, with 10 players averaging at least 15 minutes and five points per game. But in general the offense is most efficient when Jeremy Fears (6.0 apg) is running point.

No. 21 Creighton at No. 8 St. John’s

Time/TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, FS1

The Sunday headliner takes us to Madison Square Garden for this key Big East contest. At the start of the week this shaped up as a clash between the league’s hottest teams, but both had lengthy streaks snapped Wednesday night. The Red Storm experienced some rare defensive lapses in a two-point loss at Villanova, while the Bluejays found out the hard way how much better Connecticut is with Liam McNeeley healthy. Creighton did get the better of St. John’s in their first encounter on New Year’s Eve before the Red Storm got hot, but the 57-56 final score was still a typical St. John’s game. Bluejays guard Steven Ashworth will have to be especially careful with the ball against constant pressure. The Red Storm generate a lot of points via second chances, but that could prove more challenging against Creighton’s veteran postman Ryan Kalkbrenner.

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season begins in earnest this weekend with one of the biggest races of the year: the Daytona 500.

The first crown jewel race of the year kicks things off three months after Joey Logano won his third career Cup Series championship in Phoenix in the 2024 season finale. Logano’s title was his second in the last three years and marked three in a row for Team Penske (Logano in 2022 and 2024, Ryan Blaney in 2023).

A nine-month journey for the next champion begins this weekend at the Daytona International Speedway. But the season begins as an off-track storyline continues: a lawsuit by two racing teams, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, against NASCAR.

The two teams initially filed the lawsuit last October in the Western District of North Carolina. The lawsuit accused NASCAR of restraining fair competition and violating the Sherman Antitrust Act as teams signed a new charter agreement with NASCAR’s governing body ahead of the 2025 season.

‘[The] France family and NASCAR are monopolistic bullies,’ 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports claimed in the lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY Sports. ‘And bullies will continue to impose their will to hurt others until their targets stand up and refuse to be victims. That moment has now arrived.’

It’s been four months since the lawsuit was originally filed. Here’s the latest on where things stand entering Daytona:

NASCAR lawsuit latest

Both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will compete in the 2025 Cup Series season despite not signing the new charter. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell granted both teams an injunction in December that permits them to race while the lawsuit continues.

Each team will have three charters for the 2025 season. 23XI Racing will run the No. 23 Toyota of Bubba Wallace, the No. 35 Toyota of rookie Riley Herbst and the No. 45 Toyota of Tyler Reddick. Front Row Motorsports will run the No. 4 Chevrolet of Noah Gragson, the No. 34 Chevrolet of Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 Chevrolet of Zane Smith.

NASCAR lawsuit timeline

Oct. 2, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR’s sanctioning body and CEO Jim France.

The lawsuit argues that NASCAR presented a take-it-or-leave-it deal to the teams on Sept. 6, giving them until 6 p.m. to sign or risk not having a charter for the 2025 Cup Series season.

Both teams say in a statement that NASCAR operates without transparency and unfairly benefits from the sport at the expense of fans, drivers, owners and sponsors.

‘Everyone knows that I have always been a fierce competitor, and that will to win is what drives me and the entire 23XI team each and every week out on the track,’ 23XI Racing co-owner and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player Michael Jordan said in a statement. ‘I love the sport of racing and the passion of our fans, but the way NASCAR is run today is unfair to teams, drivers, sponsors and fans. Today’s action shows I’m willing to fight for a competitive market where everyone wins.’

Nov. 4, 2024

The two sides meet in a courtroom to decide whether or not the two teams can race in 2025 without signing the charter.

Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing wanted a clause in the new charter agreement preventing signees from bringing antitrust action against NASCAR waived so they could race in 2025. That way, they could continue to earn the money charters bring and continue racing in the sport.

NASCAR argued that the charter was no longer available to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports because they brought a lawsuit.

‘I put all my cards on the table,’ Jordan said after the hearing. ‘I think we did a good job of that.’

Nov. 8, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ injunction request is denied.

Judge Frank Whitney ruled that it was too soon for both teams to meet a standards of harm that would justify the request.

Nov. 26, 2024

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports file a new preliminary injunction request.

It’s later revealed that the new request provides examples of how both teams could lose their drivers and sponsors without being guaranteed a charter for the 2025 season, including 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick and sponsor Monster Energy.

Both 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports were in the process of gaining a third charter from the downsizing Stewart-Haas Racing team for the 2025 season. The new request included those acquisitions as potential harm done without this injunction.

Dec. 2, 2024

NASCAR motions to dismiss the lawsuit.

The sanctioning body argued it is not a monopoly in stock car racing and that NASCAR does not want to work with the two teams because of the suit. They argue that the two teams didn’t get what they wanted in the charter agreement and it doesn’t justify an antitrust issue.

NASCAR also indicated it would not allow the two teams to acquire a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing without accepting the new charter agreement.

Dec. 12, 2024

Both teams argue NASCAR backtracked on initial approval for acquiring a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing.

Front Row Motorsports general manager Jerry Freeze provided an email exchange that shows NASCAR president Steve Phelps approved the charter transfer pending a $50,000 fee. Freeze also stated that Phelps told him in a phone call three months earlier that Front Row Motorsports was approved for the transfer, pending customary documentation.

Stewart-Haas Racing president Joe Custer stated in an affidavit that NASCAR officials conveyed to him multiple times that the transfers would be approved.

Front Row then alleged Phelps backtracked by Dec. 8 and said the transfer would not go through unless the the lawsuit was dropped.

NASCAR reiterated its original request to dismiss the lawsuit and stated both teams were now seeking more than what was in previous filings. As such, it should be viewed as a new motion.

The teams respond and stated they had no reason to suspect NASCAR would reject the charter acquisitions from Stewart-Haas Racing.

Dec. 16, 2024

Both sides propose deadlines for the lawsuit.

The teams and NASCAR agree on a Jan. 10 deadline for initial disclosures. NASCAR asked for discovery to be completed by Oct. 17, the two teams asked for that to be completed by July 18.

Dec. 18, 2024

Judge Bell grants 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports their preliminary injunction request.

Bell, who took over on the case in early December from Judge Whitney, rules that both teams can race with their original two charters in 2025 as the lawsuit continues. He cites the possibility of losing drivers as a clear reason to grant the request.

Bell also found that NASCAR holds monopoly power in stock car racing.

“NASCAR’s Cup Series is the only premier stock car racing series in the United States, and premier stock car racing is a distinct form of automobile racing with unique cars and highly specialized racing teams for which other types of motorsports like Formula 1 and IndyCar are not substitutes,” Bell wrote in the ruling. “Therefore, NASCAR fully controls which race teams can compete at the highest level of stock car racing — effectively, it has a 100 (percent) market share.”

Dec. 23, 2024

Judge Bell rules that both Front Row Motorsports and 23XI Racing be approved for a third charter acquired from Stewart-Haaas Racing but in different ways.

Bell ruled earlier that both teams could continue in the 2025 season with their two charters each from the 2024 season. NASCAR had to approve Front Row Motorsports’ acquisition, but 23XI Racing had to ask the court specifically for the charter purchase to be approved by NASCAR.

This is because 23XI Racing did not ask for the charter transfer to be approved in its initial injunction request. That meant the team had to file a separate motion.

Jan. 10, 2025

Judge Bell denies NASCAR’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Two days earlier, Bell had heard from both sides in a hearing regarding the motion. He indicated it would likely be denied by stating ‘this case is going to be tried this year, and deserves to be tried this year.’

Bell denied the motion to dismiss and denied NASCAR’s motion to have both teams post bond in excess of $10 million for each of their cars. NASCAR had argued for that in case it won the lawsuit and was entitled to damages, but Bell reasoned the sanctioning body could ask for damages at a later date.

Feb. 12

On Wednesday, while Daytona Speedweeks was taking place, NASCAR filed its appellate brief to the injunction that allows 23XI and Front Row to operate as charter teams while suing NASCAR for antitrust violations.

NASCAR argued that two teams are not likely to succeed on the merits of the case, reiterating that 13 of 15 teams signed the charter agreement, there are other racing options 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could join and the NASCAR Cup Series can’t be the defined ‘market’ when it comes to antitrust issues. NASCAR also took aim at Bell in its brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals, criticizing his ruling that the clause in the charter agreement that releases NASCAR from legal claims violates antitrust law.

‘These injunctions misuse the judicial power to force NASCAR to treat its litigation adversaries as its business partners and confidants, undermining the mutual trust that has fueled NASCAR’s growth and success,’ NASCAR says in its brief.

What’s next in the NASCAR lawsuit?

Front Row Motorsports’ and 23XI Racing’s response to NASCAR’s appeal is due March 14. NASCAR’s reply is due April 12. A likely hearing on the appeal will be May 9 or May 15 in the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit (Richmond, Virginia) with a decision likely by the end of June.

Bell had indicated earlier that if appeals were denied, a jury trial would begin in December.

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The NFL world’s obsession with the player movement market doesn’t stay on the sidelines for long, even around the league’s marquee event.

Days before the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 59 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, players from two teams not involved in the game managed to shift the spotlight. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett went public with his trade request, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp revealed the team’s plan to move him in the coming weeks. And while no deal can become official until the start of the new league year on March 12, the lead-up to free agency is sure to spark some conversations between teams about potential swaps.

Here are some of the notable players who could be candidates to be moved in trades this offseason:

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Four years after being dealt to Los Angeles, Stafford could again reshape the league’s power structure if he ends up being moved. On its face, such a decision would seem outlandish for the Rams, who came within striking distance of reaching the NFC title game. But coach Sean McVay has remained noncommittal on the team’s plans at a time when Stafford has just $4 million in guaranteed money for next season and none for 2026. If the two sides can’t find common ground on a new contract, Stafford should have no shortage of suitors given his track record of quickly adapting to a new setting and the underwhelming crop of passers available in this year’s draft class.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints

Carr has a no-trade clause, so the Saints don’t have a wealth of options here. But something finally might have to give with the signal-caller, who is due to have $30 million in base salary become fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the third day of the new league year. Carr has openly stated he would refuse a pay cut, so this is likely a matter of whether New Orleans wants to expand the scope of its reset or forge ahead for at least another year. But Carr would surely draw interest elsewhere, so the Saints have to at least ask around.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Like Carr, Cousins has a no-trade clause, so an agreeable swap will be hard to come by. The Falcons, meanwhile, have indicated that they don’t necessarily need to ditch their marquee free-agent signing of a year ago even as they pivot to Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback, with general manager Terry Fontenot saying in January that the team was ‘very comfortable moving forward with him as a backup.’ But there’s a clear bottom-line appeal for Atlanta to orchestrate a deal, as that scenario would leave the organization on the hook for just $37.5 million of the $65 million dead cap hit it would face with a release of Cousins before June 1. The veteran signal-caller is also due a $10 million roster bonus for 2026 if not released by the fifth of day of the upcoming new league year, so the Falcons’ plan should come into focus over the course of the next month.

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

The Aaron Rodgers era is coming to an end, but three years of losing and subpar quarterback play seem to have taken a toll on Wilson. While scraping his way to career highs of 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns, Wilson had a sideline blow-up late in the season and vented his frustrations, with his future with the organization being thrown into question. It’s up to the new regime of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey to make things right with the star target … or flip him for what should be substantial draft capital. But if Wilson is willing to stick around, keeping one of the few offensive building blocks seems like the clear-cut choice.

Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams

Kupp already aired out the Rams’ intention to move him, as well as his displeasure with the decision. Having missed 18 games due to injury the last three seasons, the Super Bowl 56 MVP could be difficult to deal on his current contract, which might necessitate Los Angeles paying a chunk of his upcoming $12.5 million base salary to facilitate a deal. Still, even though he’s set to turn 32 in June, don’t discount his potential value to a contender. Kupp could be a valuable secondary option as someone who can reliably work the middle of the field and bolster the run game with his blocking.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

If there’s an odd man out in the Seahawks’ receiving corps, it’s likely Tyler Lockett, who is 32 and has a $30.9 million cap hit net season. But Metcalf has only a year remaining on his deal, and general manager John Schneider might be hesitant to dip into the pricier end of the booming receiver extension market, especially as coach Mike Macdonald signals a pivot to an offense led by the ground game. Still only 27, the ultra-athletic target could be of interest to one of several contenders looking for a primary weapon in the passing game.

Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

In January, 49ers general manager John Lynch dismissed the notion the team would deal its all-purpose standout, saying ‘we’re not in the business of letting good players out of here.’ Fast forward a month and Samuel’s request to seek a trade has been granted. While the wide receiver and team were able to patch things up three years ago when Samuel last sought his ticket out of town, a split appears more likely this time given that San Francisco needs to embrace a new financial landscape with the forthcoming Brock Purdy extension. With 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall and fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing waiting in the wings behind a bevy of established playmakers, it’s likely best for all parties to move on.

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

This would only be in a tag-and-trade scenario, so the March 4 deadline will make it clear whether Higgins will hit the open market or the Bengals will try to extract more than a comp pick down the line if an extension can’t be agreed to. If he does receive the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, even only as a temporary measure, Higgins would be owed a salary of $26.17 million – well short of what he’d earn in a long-term deal.

Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

His name carried a significant amount of buzz near the trade deadline before he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in Week 8. With a new regime led by first-year coach Liam Coen coming in and Brian Thomas Jr. now established as Trevor Lawrence’s go-to target, Kirk sure looks superfluous given the gulf between his contract ($24 million cap hit in 2025) and contributions (his 47.4 yards per game ranking as his lowest output since 2021). At 28, though, he could still be a meaningful contributor to another team.

Evan Engram, TE, Jaguars

Like Kirk, his standing in Jacksonville looks uncertain after injuries limited Engram to just nine games in 2024. And 2023 second-round pick Brenton Strange fared well in Engram’s absence, notching 40 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns. Some action is in order given his looming $19.5 million cap hit and the potential $6 million in savings that could be had if Jacksonville deals him.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons

Selected ahead of the likes of All-Pros Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell and Micah Parsons in the star-studded 2021 class, Pitts has been put on notice for not yet living up to his lofty draft status as the former No. 4 overall pick. Said Fontenot in January: ‘When you take a player that high, obviously you expect a certain level. We understand Kyle had a really good rookie year and it hasn’t equaled that since then. There are no excuses we’re making about it.’ Atlanta might not recoup much if it dealt Pitts after he averaged just 35.4 yards per game last year, but maybe another team would be enamored with his unrealized potential.

Trey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals

Hendrickson called for a trade last offseason but was ignored by Cincinnati’s front office. He responded with an NFL-leading 17 ½ sacks in 2024 for a unit that underwhelmed at almost every other spot. That performance could push things to their tipping point, as Hendrickson told ‘the Pat McAfee Show’ last week, ‘I want to help win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati, whether I’m there or not.’ With Chase and possibly Higgins likely ahead of him in line for extensions, this stalemate could stretch out – if it’s not ended early by Cincinnati finding a taker for a premier pass rusher.

Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

For now, Cleveland appears to be tuning out its star player going public with his desire to play elsewhere. It remains to be seen how long that will be a viable approach, especially after Garrett ribbed Andrew Berry by referencing the general manager’s ‘Cleveland to Canton’ remark in his trade request statement. Between the financial elements of the Browns’ inauspicious cap outlook and Garrett’s potential contractual expectations, as well as the difficulties of finding the right price for a six-time Pro Bowl pass rusher on the verge of 30, hammering out any deal – if the Browns even open themselves up to that possibility – will be remarkably complicated. But a trade could end up being the most consequential move of the offseason, as it could reshape part of the league’s contending class as well as the top of the draft order.

Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Trading Parsons would be nothing short of shocking for an organization that has prioritized developing in-house talent and not making seismic personnel moves. But however remote, the possibility has to be acknowledged after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported there have ‘at least been some internal discussions about whether to pay Parsons or trade him for a king’s ransom.’ Jerry Jones in recent months has repeatedly shot down the notion of any potential movement. The most likely outcome remains a massive extension, which would have him joining Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb in resetting the market.

Denzel Ward + Greg Newsome II, CBs, Browns

Could Garrett’s declaration of discontent have other Browns standouts eyeing the door? Ward told cleveland.com that the defensive end’s fate would have a ‘huge impact’ on his own future. The four-time Pro Bowler, who turns 28 in April, could surely fetch some premium draft capital if Cleveland does opt to blow things up. Newsome drew some buzz around last season’s trade deadline and could be a candidate to be moved sometime this calendar year, though the acquiring team would need enough flexibility to take on his nearly $13.4 million payout stemming from his fifth-year option.

Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers

A release is the most likely outcome for the two-time Pro Bowl selection, who has managed to play seven games in each of the last two seasons. Despite Green Bay’s deficiencies at the position, they probably aren’t inclined to cling onto that limited production given that Alexander’s nearly $25 million cap hit would the be the third-largest figure of any player on the team for 2025. Cutting Alexander outright would free up more than $6.8 million in cap space, but it’s worth at least checking around to see if any teams would take a flier on him.

Riq Woolen, CB, Seahawks

The first year under Macdonald was rough for Woolen, who was benched for the opening drive of a December game due to a violation of team rules and was called out by his coach for his wandering focus leading to technique issues. With top cornerback Devon Witherspoon eligible for an extension after next season and Woolen only having one year left on his rookie deal, it might be time for Seattle to evaluate whether the franchise should try to find a buyer now for a player who had six interceptions and earned a Pro Bowl nod in his debut 2022 campaign.