NFL

The 13-year veteran quarterback did not attend the Falcons voluntary OTAs in May, but did work out with the team in April. The team has repeatedly committed to Michael Penix as the Week 1 starter, even suggesting they could keep Cousins — scheduled to make $40 million in 2025 — as Penix’s backup. Cousins, who will be 37 at the start of the 2025 season, threw for 3508-18-16 in 14 games last season and had an abysmal five-game stretch in which he threw just one touchdown to nine interceptions, which ultimately led to his benching. The Falcons remain open to trading Cousins for the right price but that has not been met by any teams who have shown interest.

Fantasy managers taking late-round stabs on Wright this season will be happy to hear this. The speedy second-year back said he “lost a lot of body fat” this offseason while gaining “a lot of muscle” and estimating that he’s put on roughly six pounds. It’s a marginal increase, but one that Wright clearly hopes will help him better manage his second year in the pros as he’s expected to take on a bigger role with Raheem Mostert now out of the way. Wright rushed 68 times for 249 scoreless yards last season and posted a 9-6-0 rushing line over his final five games of the season. It was disappointing, to say the least. Wright will hopefully have more value as a handcuff to De’Von Achane this season, but any stand alone value will likely be dependent on Achane’s availability.

A six-year vet of the league and 2024 team captain, Pratt, 29, now hits the open market. Coming off a season in which he amassed a career-high 143 tackles and two interceptions, Pratt is a stat sheet stuffer who was entering the final year of his deal and clearly not considered to be worth the $8.183 million he was set to earn in 2025. His release saved the Bengals $5.850 million against the cap this season.

Arnette is a former first-round pick of the Raiders, drafted in 2020, and has struggled to stay in the league due to poor play and legal issues. His last NFL stint was in 2022 with the Chiefs, but he was released after being arrested for assault, gun, and drug charges. Now with the UFL’s Houston Roughnecks, Arnette, 28, has totaled one interception and 18 tackles in six games, and could draw some NFL interest after he “significantly reordered his life and has matured,” per Wilson. Whether it’s with the Texans or another team, Arnette would likely have to battle for a spot on a 53-man roster in camp.

With Alexander now set to be released by the Packers, the Bills could become a team to watch as Alexander begins looking for a new home. The 28-year-old vet has had back-to-back injury-riddled seasons that limited him to just 14 regular season games since 2023, but Alexander could still provide serviceable play if healthy. It’s worth noting that Buffalo did use the No. 30 overall pick on cornerback Maxwell Hairston in April, which could create too crowded a room for Alexander, who will be looking for a starting gig wherever he lands.

The Packers and Alexander hoped to find a trade partner for the veteran cornerback this offseason, but after failing to do so, Alexander, 28, will now be free to sign with any team. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the two sides also considered a restructured contract. Alexander was limited to seven games in each of the last two seasons due to injuries and seemed to be at odds with the organization late last season. Alexander is being released with two years left on his current deal. As a result, the Packers will be hit with a dead cap hit just north of $7.5 million in 2025 and 2026, but will also save just over $36.6 million in cap space over that same span, per Over The Cap.

Lynn uses the “A-back” label to denote big running backs who can be used as “a volume ballcarrier,” capable of running between the tackles. The “B-back” label is conversely used to describe quicker, scat-back and pass-catcher types. The “A-back” labeling puts Croskey-Merritt in a group with Brian Robinson Jr. and Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Lynn reportedly told Ben Standig that Croskey-Merritt is “bigger than he thought” he would be. Croskey-Merritt (aka Bill) has a long way to go before the coaches would seriously consider him as a replacement for Robinson, and Lynn recently complimented Robinson’s “good mindset” at organized team activities. Still, it’s a positive start for a seventh-round rookie. Stay tuned.

The Saints make sense as a landing spot. Davis can compete against relatively soft competition for the No. 3 role, which could allow him to get his career back on track after a disappointing 2024 season. He’s been popular on the tryout circuit, with visits to the Steelers, Giants, and 49ers this offseason.

FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz’s Friday report regarding McLaurin’s frustrations prompted Standig to check in with his sources, who gave him no reason to change his stance that this will get done. Standig advised listeners to be prepared for this to remain a topic past mandatory minicamp, which runs June 10-12, and adds that he will only become concerned if the issue is not resolved within a day or two of the Commanders’ first training camp practice in July.