NFL Player News
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Jake Haener QB | KC
Chiefs' Jake Haener: Inks future deal with KC
The Chiefs signed Haener to a reserve/future contract Monday, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Haener didn't take a single snap during the 2025 season while serving as the QB3 behind Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler (finger) in New Orleans. Haener -- a fourth-round selection of the Saints in the 2023 NFL Draft -- appeared in eight games (one start) in 2024, when he completed 18 of 39 pass attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Now in Kansas City, Haener will have the opportunity to earn a reserve QB role behind Patrick Mahomes (knee).
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Dadrion Taylor-Demerson DB | ARI
Cardinals' Dadrion Taylor-Demerson: Picks off two passes in 2025
Taylor-Demerson compiled 59 tackles and six pass defenses, including two interceptions, over 12 regular-season games in 2025.
Taylor-Demerson sat out Weeks 11-15 due to an ankle injury, but he otherwise served as the Cardinals' third safety behind Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Taylor-Demerson surpassed his rookie tackle tally by 18 and also recorded the first two picks of his career. Considering that Thompson's contract voids on Feb. 15, Taylor-Demerson could be poised for a starting gig in 2026.
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Mack Wilson LB | ARI
Cardinals' Mack Wilson: Has 60 stops in abbreviated season
Wilson (ribs) posted 60 tackles, six pass defenses including one interception, and one forced fumble over eight regular-season appearances in 2025.
Wilson played all but two defensive snaps before the Cardinals' Week 8 bye, but a rib injury then sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. That allowed rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon to step into an every-down role alongside Akeem Davis-Gaither. All three off-ball linebackers are under contract next season, so the defensive scheme under new head coach Mike LaFleur will determine who among them takes on starting roles.
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Cody Simon LB | ARI
Cardinals' Cody Simon: Productive rookie season
Simon notched 76 tackles including 0.5 sacks, two pass defenses and one forced fumble over 16 regular-season contests in 2025.
Prior to the Cardinals' Week 8 bye Simon had logged just three defensive snaps, but after Mack WIlson (ribs) was lost for the season, the rookie fourth-round pick played 100 percent of the snaps seven times over the last nine games. Simon, Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither are all under contract in 2026, so it remains to be seen who among them will settle into starting roles at linebacker once new head coach coach Mike LaFleur finds a defensive coordinator.
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Josh Sweat DE | ARI
Cardinals' Josh Sweat: New career high in sacks
Sweat recorded 30 tackles including 12.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, two pass defenses and one fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games in 2025.
After totaling 43.0 sacks in 104 regular-season contests to begin his career with the Eagles, Sweat secured a four-year, $76.4 million contract in free agency from the Cardinals last March. The 28-year-old responded with a career-high sack tally, tying for eighth in the NFL with the Texans' Will Anderson and Rams' Byron Young. Sweat should again be Arizona's primary threat off the edge in 2026.
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Jalen Thompson DB | DAL
Cardinals' Jalen Thompson: Records 95 tackles in 2025
Thompson tallied 95 tackles including 1.0 sack, six pass defenses and one forced fumble over 15 regular-season appearances in 2025.
Missing Weeks 15 and 16 due to a hamstring injury impacted Thompson's bid for his first campaign with 100-plus tackles since 2022. He still ended the year third on the Cardinals in stops behind Budda Baker (120) and Akeem Davis-Gaither (117). Thompson's contract voids on Feb. 15, so he appears set to become an unrestricted free agent and could be on the move if Arizona deems second-year pro Dadrion Taylor-Demerson ready to be a suitable replacement at strong safety.
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Akeem Davis-Gaither LB | IND
Cardinals' Akeem Davis-Gaither: Career-best season in 2025
Davis-Gaither racked up a career-high 117 tackles in 17 regular-season contests in 2025. He also added one interception among five pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Davis-Gatiher was a mainstay at off-ball linebacker for the Cardinals all season while working first with fellow veteran Mack Wilson (ribs) and then rookie fourth-round pick Cody Simon. Davis-Gaither logged career bests in just about every statistical category, but with all three players under contract in 2026 and the team hiring offensive-minded Mike LaFleur as head coach Sunday, it's not yet clear which of them will man starting roles next season.
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Budda Baker S | ARI
Cardinals' Budda Baker: Another 100-plus tackles in 2025
Baker accrued 120 tackles including 0.5 sacks, five pass defenses including one interception, and one fumble recovery over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
After posting a career-high 164 tackles in 2024, Baker was a bit more muted in box scores this season, but he still finished with triple-digit stops for the sixth time in his nine-year career and was one of five defensive backs leaguewide to reach 120. He also picked off a pass for the first time since 2022. The 30-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract, so he should remain a top-tier IDP option this coming season.
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George Pickens WR | DAL
Cowboys' George Pickens: No contract talks with Cowboys yet
Dallas has not yet engaged in discussions about a potential new contract with Pickens, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Pickens broke out as the Cowboys' leading receiver in 2025, with his 93-1,429-9 line on 137 targets outpacing CeeDee Lamb by six scores and roughly 350 receiving yards. That stands as a notable margin even considering that Pickens played all 17 regular-season games while Lamb suited up for just 14 contests. All expectations are that Dallas will retain Pickens, either via the franchise tag or with a contract extension following the tremendous chemistry he's demonstrated with quarterback Dak Prescott. As Watkins notes, however, the Cowboys' contract negotiations last offseason were tumultuous, culminating in the trade of Micah Parsons (knee), and if Pickens were to hit the open market he'd be one of the most sought-after free agents in the league.
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Matthew Stafford QB | LAR
Rams' Matthew Stafford: Taking time to weigh playing future
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday that Stafford will take time this offseason to decide whether to return for the 2026 campaign, but the team is "hopeful" the veteran quarterback will decide to play an 18th season in the NFL, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
McVay and GM Les Snead both signed contract extensions with Los Angeles on Monday, providing continuity for Stafford if he decides to return for the final year of his current deal with the team and play out next season. Top wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams also remain under contract for one more year. The 38-year-old signal-caller put together an MVP-caliber showing in 2025 despite nursing an aggravated disk in his back to enter the year, completing 388 of 597 pass attempts for 4,707 yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns, to go with just eight interceptions, while playing all 17 regular-season games. Per Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register, McVay confirmed Stafford will not need any offseason procedures to address that back issue. Given the success the Rams found this season, culminating in a narrow 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, it seems likely that Stafford will opt to run it back for at least one more year.