From Extensions to Cuts: This Week’s Biggest NFL Moves
August 26, 2025
This week started off with a bang with many hold outs ending, trades happening and more! We’ve got it all covered below:
Terry McLaurin
Extended! ScaryTerry and the Commanders finally came to an agreement, ending the summer long holdout. The new deal of three years/$96 million with a $30 million signing bonus will place him in the top 10 for highest paid receivers heading into 2025.
Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals defensive star finally gets his deal completed. Hendrickson essentially agreed to a $14 million pay raise for the 2025 season and will stay on the one year term. Should he repeat his 2024 numbers of leading the league in sacks, you’d have to imagine he’ll be in for an even greater deal come next off season.
Kenny Pickett
Just a few short months after Cleveland had traded Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 5th round pick to acquire Pickett, they sent him packing to Las Vegas to recover that lost 5th round pick. Pickett spent much of camp and the preseason injured and more than likely wouldn’t see much action due to the popularity of the backups in town.
Amari Cooper
Speaking of Las Vegas, they brought their 2015 first round pick back home.. Cooper signs a one year, $5 million deal and will hope to rebound after a disappointing season with the Bills where he posted career lows in rec (44), yards (547) and touchdowns (4).
Jakobi Meyers
The Cooper signing couldn’t have happened a moment too soon as the Raiders current leading receiver in Meyers requested a trade due to contract negotiations stalling out. As of this moment, Vegas seems unwilling to negotiate a pay raise which may result in some additional change coming to their depth chart.
Joe Mixon
Will not be activated from the non football injury list (ankle) which will make him ineligible to return for the first 4 weeks of the season. With the acquisition of Nick Chubb over the winter, this could make for an interesting backfield when he returns.
Desmond Watson
The Bucs have officially cut ties with the famous Desmond Watson who did not see preseason action and spent the summer on a weight loss program. Watson would have been the heaviest player in NFL history had he played, currently weighing in at 449 lbs. He will now become an undrafted free agent, who has already been cut, looking to catch on elsewhere.
Hendon Hooker
Just one day after Dan Campbell suggested Hooker may “need a change of scenery”, it’ll appear that he’ll get it as the Lions have officially cut ties. Hooker was a third round draft pick just two years ago and should be a coveted pickup for teams in the market for quarterback depth.
Keith, Author
Keith runs youth flag football leagues by day, and by night he hosts the podcast and writes articles with the confidence of a man who’s been rushing quarterbacks since dial-up. A longtime flag football DE and lifelong Falcons fan, he’s no stranger to heartbreak and enjoys watching the bears get slaughtered each week. Equal parts coach, critic, and chaos, Keith calls it like he sees it… even if it hurts.
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