The latest news from around the division.
Steelers blockbuster just flipped the script on Brian Burns’ $141M payday – Matt Sidney, GMenHQ.com
A rising market makes the Brian Burns deal feel like a steal.
It wasn’t long ago that the New York Giants pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers and handed Brian Burns a five-year, $141 million extension. Time moves fast in the NFL. When the ink dried, Burns became the second-highest-paid edge rusher behind Nick Bosa, who landed a $170 million deal from the San Francisco 49ers one year prior.
At the time, the reaction was mixed. Some saw it as a smart long-term investment — locking down a top-tier pass rusher without breaking the bank. Others questioned whether Burns’ production really justified that kind of money. But now that the dust has settled, hindsight is doing the Giants a favor.
Burns’ $28.2 million per year once raised eyebrows. Now it looks like a discount. After ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that T.J. Watt reset the market with a jaw-dropping three-year, $123 million deal ($41 million AAV) in Pittsburgh, Burns’ deal isn’t just digestible — it’s borderline team-friendly.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt contract makes Brian Burns look like a bargain
Burns may not have the same resume as Watt — few do. Watt has the most sacks out of anyone over the past five seasons (73.5). His 108 career sacks blow Burns’ 54.5 out of the water, but at least Burns still has youth on his side — Watt will turn 31 this upcoming season, while Burns turned 27 this past April.
Watt’s talent is undeniable, but he has played with an objectively better defense than Burns has, both in Carolina and New York. But the tides could be turning quickly in the 27-year-old’s favor.
Over the past two offseasons, it’s clear general manager Joe Schoen is going back to Big Blue’s Super Bowl roots by revamping and reinforcing the defensive line. Burns was already joined by Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence in Year 1, but Year 2 offers much more support.
Schoen signed free agent defensive end Chauncey Golston early in free agency before adding Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander via the draft. Carter was the class’ de facto best pass rusher, equipped with athleticism and bend few players in the league possess. Alexander offers run-stuffing abilities with pass-rushing potential, making New York’s defensive line one of the most feared units.
5 Commanders veterans who could lose their jobs in a hurry at training camp – Dean Jones, RiggosRag.com
Expectations are higher this year in Washington.
Michael Deiter – Commanders OL
The Washington Commanders’ offensive line underwent some positive improvements this offseason. Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. lead the way as the new starting tackle tandem. The arrival of one more intriguing veteran could also shake things up on the interior for good measure.
Nate Herbig missed the 2024 campaign through injury, which ended his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers as expected. The Commanders seemed satisfied enough by his medical assessments to take the plunge, and the versatile piece has his sights set on a key backup role when the 2025 campaign arrives.
Deiter joined the Commanders last year in the same spot as Herbig is now. He was expected to be a dependable depth piece behind the starting five, but he never came close to providing the assured production needed. Getting a new one-year deal this offseason kept continuity, but it would be surprising if he made the squad when push came to shove.
K.J. Osborn – Commanders WR
Many were surprised when the Washington Commanders gave K.J. Osborn another one-year deal this offseason. The wide receiver didn’t get a legitimate opportunity to impress after coming into the organization late in 2024. This was no doubt disappointing, but those in power want to see what the veteran pass-catcher can do with a full offseason on the squad.
Osborn has some decent previous production on the Minnesota Vikings. Things didn’t go nearly as well with the New England Patriots, but it was clear from a long way out that it wasn’t a good fit for either side. The Commanders brought him in as an insurance policy after Noah Brown’s injury, but chances were at a premium.
Jeremy McNichols – Commanders RB
The Commanders’ running back dynamic didn’t change much this offseason. But if Jacory Croskey-Merritt builds on his exceptional transition over Washington’s offseason program, it could shift quickly.
Croskey-Merritt is a seventh-round pick with a potentially bright future. It was a rollercoaster journey to the NFL, but he’s eager to make up for some lost time. That should put everyone on edge when training camp commences.
Washington will give everyone a chance to impress. Croskey-Merritt is the new arrival with big ambitions, but he might not unseat the projected starting tandem of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler just yet. What is more attainable for the rookie is becoming the No. 3 option, which puts Jeremy McNichols’ status firmly under the spotlight.
It Wasn’t T.J. Watt The Eagles Let Get Away, But Another Hall Of Famer – Ed Kracz, Sports Illustrated
Philadelphia missed out on signing a pass rusher of their own.
It feels like the Washington Commanders have everything they need to stretch the streak of no repeat NFC East champions to 21 years and maybe take that next to the Super Bowl after making a move the Eagles probably should have, which is to sign Von Miller.
Forget T.J. Watt. That was never going to happen no matter what anyone says or writes. The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t letting go of their future Hall of Fame pass rusher and arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. Not even the copious amounts of pixie dust Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has stockpiled would have been enough.
Miller was the one the Eagles missed on. Think what you want about Miller being 36. He certainly isn’t the same player who has collected 129.5 career sacks, but the future Hall of Famer was good enough to sack enemy quarterbacks six times last season, and he did it in just 33 percent of the Buffalo Bills’ defensive snaps.
That would have tied for third among Eagles sack leaders last year, and two of those three are no longer on the team – Josh Sweat (8.5 sacks) and Milton Williams (5). The other is Nolan Smith (6), who is rehabbing his way back from a torn triceps in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.
Tell me that Miller wouldn’t have helped that rotation, even after it was bolstered with the free-agent additions of Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche.
Maybe those are the two reasons Roseman didn’t shower Miller with a one-year deal (the contract’s value has yet to be released) the way the Commanders did. Maybe defensive coordinator Vic Fangio saw what he needed to see during the spring to not knock on Roseman’s door.
Still, Miller would have delivered experience to a young Eagles team, whose average age of 25.40 is the second-youngest roster in the league. Even better, had the Eagles signed him, Washington wouldn’t have been able to get him.
