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Gone after this year? These players may not be long for their current team

Heading into 2025, so many players have much to prove as they potentially enter their final year with their current teams. A few of our writers threw together several lists containing prominent players that may be entering their last year with their teams, whether it be due to contract terms, age, performance or other reasons.

Below are some notable names worth highlighting:

Rams RB Kyren Williams: “Williams has been one of the most consistent backs in football over the last two seasons. He does the little things well and runs hard despite not being a bigger back. The challenge comes with trying to value Williams as a part of the Rams' offense. He's running behind a well-invested in offensive line and has players around him that keep opposing teams off-balance.

“Williams has also seen the Rams draft a running back in the middle rounds of the past two NFL Drafts in Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter. The need for more explosive plays on the ground was painfully evident last season — leaving Williams as an undoubted asset but a difficult one to value. He's scheduled to be a free agent after the season.” —Kyle Crabbs

Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill: “Hill is not in a contract year in 2025, but he is scheduled to be a costly asset in 2026. And with Hill's revolving door of drama, he's going to need to return to his 2023 form if Miami is going to consider signing themselves up for another year of the experience.

“Hill is scheduled to make $36 million in cash in 2026, but none of it is guaranteed until the third day of the league year next March, when $11 million in salary guarantees and a $5 million roster bonus comes due. That means the Dolphins could sever ties with Hill in early March and save $36 million in cash and $23.65 million in cap space.” —Kyle Crabbs

Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio: “The Browns’ longest-tenured player is entering his 12th season with the team in 2025, and it could very well be his last. Bitonio has had a standout career, even though team success has been limited during his time. He has openly considered retirement in each of the past few offseasons and weighed it heavily this spring. It would not be a surprise if Bitonio walks away after this season.” —Brandon Little

Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant: “He's an impressive talent who cut down on missed tackles, created more splash plays in coverage and played a career-high in snaps on both defense and special teams in 2024. Entering into his fourth season in the NFL, Bryant should be considered a viable long-term starter in the prime of his career.

“Safety contracts are on the up, however. The Seahawks just went hard after another safety, Nick Emmanwori, in the NFL Draft as well. With the Seahawks also needing long-term deals for Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon in the secondary, plus Julian Love playing on an $11 million annual average salary through 2027, Bryant may play himself into a big contract elsewhere next spring.” —Kyle Crabbs

San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings: “Jennings has been the sneaky counter-punch for the 49ers' passing offense for several seasons — until last year. His targets exploded in 2024, pushing him to nearly 1,000 receiving yards in the first year of a two-year contract signed last offseason.

“Jennings could very easily be tabbed as a more long-term option but with the team paying Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers may deem themselves to be facing too steep of a numbers crunch with their skill group to run it back after 2025. Especially if there's another productive season like the one Jennings had last year.” —Kyle Crabbs

Baltimore Ravens edge Odafe Oweh: “Oweh is entering into a contract season after breaking out in a big way last season. Oweh has stacked on some major weight this offseason in hopes of an even better year this year. Baltimore has maintained a steady diet of edge rushers in the draft over the years, leaving them with plenty of options to serve as successors to Oweh if he plays himself out of Baltimore's price range for an extension. If a deal here gets done, one would expect that Oweh, in the prime of his career, would have to take a hometown discount.” —Kyle Crabbs

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt: “Taylor-Britt is not locked in as a starter quite yet, but if he regains his 2022-23 form, there aren't three better cornerbacks on the roster. It was his quick development during his first two years that created the conversation about a future extension last year. Getting benched twice during the 2024 season created a discussion much less bullish on his future.

“There will not be an extension for Taylor-Britt this summer, but hopes are cautiously high for the former second-round pick to shine in his first contract year. Whether he stays with the team beyond this year may depend on it.” —John Sheeran

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson: “Wilson's contract in New York was a one-year deal worth $10.5 million. The Giants subsequently traded up to acquire quarterback Jaxson Dart in the 2025 NFL Draft, which leaves little doubt about the future of the position with the Giants.

“It's hard to image a world where Wilson, who is looking for opportunities to keep starting, is open to coming back with New York after the 2025 season. By the end of this year, Dart figures to be entrenched as the starter — meaning Wilson is all but certain to be one-and-done.” —Kyle Crabbs

Buffalo Bills center Connor McGovern: “There's not a lot of doubt about the value of a good interior offensive lineman these days. The Bills have that in McGovern, who will turn 28 this fall and is in the prime of his career. McGovern is owed just short of $6.5 million in cash this season and, after making the Pro Bowl last season, looks like a strong bet to cash in on his personal development.

“Positional versatility is a strength, too. It makes McGovern a fascinating case study amid offensive guards seeing their salaries swell up to $19-20 million per season over the last 15 months. McGovern was a full-time starter at left guard in 2023 in Buffalo and played full-time last year at center. The question now is if 2024 fifth-round draft choice Sedrick Van Pran-Granger shows enough development for the Bills to feel comfortable transitioning and applying the funds elsewhere. Or if David Edwards, who is also an expiring contract, is deemed a viable alternative to stay at guard for cheaper in the long-run.” —Kyle Crabbs

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Dolphins, Steelers complete huge trade — Here are the deets

The Dolphins finally offloaded CB Jalen Ramsey, and they did it in a big way. Miami sent the three-time All-Pro to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Ramsey wasn’t the only notable name in the trade. Let’s check the deets:

What the Steelers get: Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick

What the Dolphins get: Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick

Why did the Dolphins make this move? Ramsey has been vocal about wanting out of Miami, hoping to play for a contender. The Dolphins also needed to clear cap space, and trading these two players offloads $25 million while bringing on Fitzpatrick takes up $15 million. So, in all, the Dolphins save about $10 million in salary cap room with this trade. This allows them to build for the future, yet bring in a good vet to keep the defense solid.

Why did the Steelers make this move? Three words: Super Bowl window. They’re in win-now mode with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, so bringing in Ramsey helps them strengthen their defense while Smith acts as a cushion for the offense which needed another solid playmaker. Regarding Fitzpatrick, trading him was likely a cap issue. He’s due $32 million in the next two years and has seen a slight decline in production and availability over the last two years. Sending him to Miami allows Pittsburgh to take on the contracts of their two new acquisitions.

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