The BBC wants to make people in the US pay for its content. The public broadcaster announced on Thursday that it will start offering US-based users an $8.99 per month (or $49.99 per year) subscription for “unlimited” access to news stories, feature reports, and the BBC News channel livestream.
Users in the US will still get free access to “select” breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service sites, as well as newsletters and podcasts. BBC.com will use a “dynamic pay model” to show paywalls to certain readers depending on how much they read and how long they’re on the site.
“This approach allows casual readers to explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more,” the BBC writes in its announcement. “By opting to pay, readers gain unlimited access to all the site’s content.” The BBC says its website reaches 60 million users in the US alone.
The move is meant to help the BBC drum up more revenue as the money collected from yearly license fees in the UK — which people are required to purchase to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer — continues to tumble. Last year, around 500,000 households in the UK canceled their license fee as more people turned to streaming services like Netflix. The UK government has considered trying new methods to support the BBC, including extending license fees to streaming-only users and radio listeners, as well as rolling out ads on the BBC and taxing streamers, according to Bloomberg.
In the future, the BBC’s subscription will include ad-free documentary series, films, and podcasts, along with access to exclusive newsletters and other content. It notes that users based in the UK won’t experience any changes to how they access the BBC, as BBC.com will flag users based on their device’s geolocation. UK users who travel to the US can also continue to read or stream BBC content uninterrupted by accessing it through the BBC News app.
The BBC notes that it currently doesn’t have plans to launch a subscription outside of North America.
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid sat in a news conference days after losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers for the second straight season. He was peppered with questions about his future, with unrestricted free agency looming in summer 2026 if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Oilers.
The Edmonton media was fishing for any sign that McDavid was committed to the organization and the city, but he wasn’t biting. Someone asked if he had a sense of unfinished business with his teammates after coming so close to raising the Cup, losing in seven games to Florida last season and in six games this month.
“This core has been together for a long time and we’ve been building to this moment all along. The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the conversations, the endless disappointments and some good times along the way, obviously. We’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line,” McDavid said.
Then came the four words that shook a city to its soul.
“With that being said,” McDavid continued, “ultimately, I still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of first.”
It was the first time McDavid even hinted at hesitation about his future in Edmonton. He’s entering the final season of an eight-year, $100 million deal signed in July 2017. Many assumed the ink would be drying on an extension with the Oilers — in what is expected to be the richest contract in NHL history — when he’s eligible to sign on July 1. But McDavid is unlikely to sign that extension unless he is comfortable with the progress Edmonton’s made in improving its roster for next season and beyond.
“I’m not in a rush to make any decision, so I don’t think that there needs to be any timeline,” McDavid said. “I know people are going to look at July 1 and will be looking to see if there’s anything done. But for me, no, I’m just not in a rush in that way.”
An NHL source said that McDavid isn’t committed, at this point, to staying with the Oilers beyond next season. But he’s also not committed to moving on from the organization that drafted him first overall in 2015.
“He’s trying to find reasons to stay, not to leave,” the source said. “But everything’s on the table for Connor right now.”
IF MCDAVID DOESN’T RE-SIGN with the Oilers, it would be an unprecedented moment in the history of NHL free agency. Never before has a generational talent — with multiple MVP awards and scoring titles to his credit — reached unrestricted free agency in his prime.
There might not be a comparative moment in North American professional sports since LeBron James and “The Decision” in 2010 — although given what fans and players have been chanting about McDavid after the Panthers’ second Stanley Cup win over Edmonton, one assumes McDavid won’t be taking his talents to South Beach.
With Stanley Cup contention as his goal, the pool of teams with whom McDavid would consider signing is limited. There’s been speculation about the Ontario native having a homecoming with the Toronto Maple Leafs, still seeking their first Stanley Cup since 1967; that he could join former Oilers GM Ken Holland with the Los Angeles Kings; that the New York Rangers could make him the king of Broadway while easing his goaltending headaches with Igor Shesterkin; or that well-maintained franchises like the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning could make their pitches.
McDavid is committed to Edmonton for the 2025-26 season. That list of potential suitors could change in that span, depending on their own fortunes.
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Messier: McDavid and Draisaitl are the two best players of their generation
Mark Messier joins “Get Up” and breaks down where Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl stack up in the NHL after the Oilers’ overtime win.
After Leon Draisaitl inked an eight-year, $112 million deal last summer — a contract that will keep him in Edmonton until 2033 — many assumed McDavid’s extension would be a mere formality. After all, why would Draisaitl sign without some indication that his close friend and frequent linemate McDavid would do the same?
But sources told ESPN in January that one signing was not a harbinger of the other, and that McDavid would make his own decision independent of Draisaitl’s.
But make no mistake: Draisaitl is a factor in McDavid’s decision. As are defenseman Evan Bouchard, forward Zach Hyman, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and every other core player who theoretically will be in Edmonton for the next several seasons. As McDavid said, the core has been through playoff battles together, and there’s a sense of unfinished business for him in Edmonton.
“We were two games away from winning. Last year, we were two shots away from winning, so the belief is incredibly high in that room,” he said. “We talked about that all throughout the playoffs, and we do believe that this group can win and will win.”
But for all that belief, McDavid wants to understand the plan for how the team can win in the short term and the long term. It’s an essential part of his decision-making process to remain in Edmonton.
He wants to know how a team with just over $10 million in cap space, without much draft capital and the 30th-ranked prospect pool, can make the necessary moves to get over the championship hump and remain competitive. Last summer, that pool of young players got thinner when forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Phillip Broberg were poached by the St. Louis Blues via offer sheets.
McDavid nodded at that thin prospect pool during his press conference. “It’s not like we have a ton of cap room and we’ve got a long list of highly touted prospects knocking on the door,” he said.
McDavid reiterated: “If I feel that there’s a good window to win here over and over again, then signing is no problem.”
GM Stan Bowman didn’t necessarily agree that pitching McDavid on the Oilers’ window to win was any more vital than meeting his asking price during negotiations.
“I don’t know if you have to sell one thing any more than another,” he said.
But Bowman knows that convincing McDavid of Edmonton’s continuing commitment to win is paramount. When he was hired to replace Holland last summer, Bowman visited with McDavid, who told him that he wanted to win the Stanley Cup.
“That was it. We didn’t talk about anything else. This is his singular focus,” Bowman said.
“I guess it’s my job to connect with Connor and demonstrate that’s what we’re all trying to do. We all have the same objective. I know how passionate he is about winning. It’s what I love about him,” he said. “He’s not just a fantastic hockey player, but he’s a great person, a great leader, and he’s incredibly motivated to do whatever it takes.”
IF MCDAVID ULTIMATELY RE-SIGNS with the Oilers, what he hears from Bowman could determine the length of that contract. There’s a growing belief that McDavid may not sign an eight-year extension like Draisaitl, but could explore something in the three- to five-year range. That would allow him to attempt to finish the “unfinished business” with the core in Edmonton, while reaching UFA status in his early 30s with the NHL salary cap projected to continue its record-setting ascent.
Another reason to believe this could happen is Judd Moldaver, executive vice president at Wasserman and McDavid’s agent. He was the first NHL agent in the salary cap era to seek contracts for superstar clients with significantly less than maximum term. He’s gone shorter than eight years on blockbuster extensions for Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, with a five-year deal in 2019 and a four-year deal signed in 2023, as well as Columbus Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski (six years, signed in 2021). He could seek to do the same for McDavid.
Matthews had the league’s highest cap hit ($13.25 million average annual value) before Draisaitl’s contract ($14 million AAV) kicks in next season.
McDavid is all but certain to eclipse that. His next contract — at whatever length it ends up being — will range between $15.5 million and $19 million per year on a max deal, multiple sources indicated to ESPN. Anything above Draisaitl’s cap hit would set a new NHL record for highest average annual value in the cap era.
The money will take care of itself. It’s Connor McDavid, the guy with three Hart trophies as NHL MVP, a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and five scoring titles. In theory, the contract negotiation with McDavid is essentially a general manager asking how much he needs, and then writing the check.
But McDavid has said that the chance to lift the Stanley Cup is more important than his bank account.
“Winning would be at the top of the list,” he said. “It’s the most important thing.”
The Oilers are confident that, after two trips to the Stanley Cup Final, they offer the best shot at winning for McDavid. But they also offer the comfort of being the only NHL home he’s known.
McDavid and his wife, Lauren Kyle McDavid, have a house in the Parkview area of Edmonton that was featured by Architectural Digest. Kyle McDavid also recently helped open the stylish Bar Trove in Edmonton that features Trove Living, a retail home furnishing store on the floor above it. Her company, Kyle & Co. Design, is located on the third floor of the building.
Given his history with the team and his roots in the city, the Oilers are optimistic but patient with McDavid.
“He’s earned the right for us to be respectful of his timing. Certainly we’re eager to meet with him whenever he wants, but we also understand that he just went through a very tough ending to the season,” Bowman said.
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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman: Connor McDavid transcends hockey
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tells Stephen A. Smith that Connor McDavid’s impact transcends the game of hockey.
Last year, Leon Draisaitl didn’t sign his extension until Sept. 3.
“Timing-wise, Connor’s going to drive that process, but there’s no question he’s a pivotal player on our team for not just what he does on the ice, but his leadership,” Bowman said. “I’ve had a chance to work with him now and I’ve been just so impressed with things you guys probably don’t see. He’s incredibly important to our group and whenever he’s ready, we’re going to dive into that.”
Near the end of his news conference, McDavid was asked by a local reporter for a message to the fans. The ones that have been on this journey with the Oilers during his time with the team. The ones “wanting to see what exactly happens with your future here” in Edmonton, as the questioner put it.
“My message to the fans would be to keep being patient and keep believing. They’ve been through a lot, just like our team has. The emotional highs, the lows. I look at what these playoff runs do to my family. It’s hard on them. It’s hard on the fans. It’s hard on everybody. But ultimately when that day comes, it’ll all be worth it,” he said. “These moments are tough now. But when that moment comes, it’ll be worth the wait for sure.”
The message wasn’t a passionate commitment to stay in Edmonton nor was it a declaration that his bags are packed for free agency. The message was that a championship will make all the postseason heartache worth the pain. As the NHL offseason begins, where McDavid might eventually win that championship is, at this moment, uncertain.
Taylor and Travis, 35, weren’t the only couple in the Tennessee venue, as the singer also invited her longtime friend Abigail Andersonand her husband Charles Berard—who welcomed their first baby together in August—to the event.
This brief show was major for Taylor, considering she last performed the hit on her Eras Tour in December. But unlike the tour’s strategic setlist, this recent performance wasn’t planned.
“We decided we were gonna perform that three minutes ago,” Taylor joked while onstage, sporting a black dress and her signature red lip. “We’re up there, me and Kane are having some drinks, and we were thinking, ‘How loud could this place get?’ Theoretically, how loud could the singing get in here?”
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been charged with drink driving and failing to co-operate with police after a car crash in April.
The 29-year-old was arrested after a grey Mercedes A Class crashed into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire.
Thames Valley Police said he has been charged with one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and one count of failing to co-operate with a preliminary test at the roadside.
“The charge is in connection with a single vehicle road traffic collision around 12.05 BST on Sunday 27 April this year when a grey Mercedes A Class left the road and crashed into a tree,” police said in a statement.
Murphy, a four-time champion jockey, is due to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 3 July.
The freeze applies to all flagship and regional campuses across the state and will maintain current tuition costs and mandatory fees for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
Braun called the move a “historic” step toward making higher education more affordable.
“The commitment made by all of Indiana’s public colleges and universities puts students and parents first and demonstrates to the rest of the country that Indiana is a leader in providing a high quality education at an affordable price,” Braun said in a statement.
The move includes all 15 of Indiana’s public higher learning institutions:
Ball State University
Indiana State University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University East
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indiana University Kokomo
Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University South Bend
Indiana University Southeast
Ivy Tech Community College
Purdue University West Lafayette
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Purdue University Northwest
University of Southern Indiana
Vincennes University
Braun had requested a 0% increase last month and challenged the schools to “eliminate redundancies and identify ways to streamline services without compromising quality.”
The agreement marks the first time since at least 2010 that more than two state campuses have kept tuition flat, according to Braun’s office.
The two-year annual tuition ranges from a low of $2,577 at Ivy Tech to a high of $12,144 at Indiana University Bloomington, which is still below the national average of $12,201 per year, according to NewsNation affiliate WXIN. Purdue University’s tuition was set at $9,992 in 2013 and remains frozen.
Braun urged schools not to make up the tuition freeze shortfall by raising rates for room and board.
”I don’t want you playing tricks on raising costs in other ways,” he said. ”The parent and the child are gonna be sophisticated enough, hopefully, with all the information they receive to see that they can’t have one part of it actually being held in line, and they’re doing it in a different way.”
Some institutions will likely increase tuition costs for international students.
LGT, a Liechtenstein-based private bank, has collaborated with iCapital to digitise its alternative investment portfolio.
The alliance has resulted in the development of a technology platform, which integrates directly with LGT’s banking systems.
This offers tools for relationship managers, investment advisors, and operations teams to oversee the full spectrum of the alternative investment process.
It includes functionalities for marketing, document management, and detailed reporting and analytics tailored to client needs.
Following its initial introduction in Europe, the platform has expanded its reach globally.
LGT Group products & services management business area head Christian Buchli said: “What began as an internal intrapreneurial initiative to digitalise the private markets value chain has now evolved into a globally deployed platform. The platform empowers our colleagues and clients with unparalleled insights into their private markets portfolios, setting a new standard for innovation and efficiency in this space.”
iCapital international head Marco Bizzozero stated: “LGT’s deep expertise in wealth management and its commitment to innovation and delivering efficient, technology-driven alternative investment solutions for its advisors and their clients is at the forefront of our collaboration.
“This partnership further underlines wealth managers’ trust in iCapital, highlighting their broader commitment to expand access to private markets through a fully digital and streamlined investment experience for advisors and their clients.”
This announcement follows iCapital’s acquisition of Citi Global Alternatives, an indirect subsidiary of Citi. The subsidiary advises Citi Wealth’s global alternative investment fund platform, which manages a suite of over 180 alternative funds globally.
With a workforce exceeding 6000, LGT operates out of more than 30 international locations spanning Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and the Middle East.
“LGT ties up with iCapital to digitise alternative investment offerings ” was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Intel is shutting down its business dedicated to making processors for cars. In a memo seen by The Oregonian, Intel tells workers that it plans to lay off “most” employees in the division, citing plans to shift focus to its “core client and data center portfolio.”
“As part of this work, we have decided to wind down the automotive business within our client computing group,” Intel writes in the memo. “We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our customers.” Intel didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Over the years, Intel has invested heavily in its automotive business, which builds chips that power a car’s infotainment system, instrument clusters, and other controls. Intel’s technology runs in more than 50 million vehicles, and up until now, it seemed set on expanding its reach. Last year, it announced new AI-enhanced chips for cars that will help improve a vehicle’s navigation system and voice assistant. It revealed plans to bring its Arc GPU to cars as well.
Intel’s newly appointed CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, said in April that the company would need to “reduce the size” of its workforce in the second quarter of 2025 as part of plans to get the chipmaker back on track. The company also informed employees of layoffs coming to its foundry business as well, according to The Oregonian, and a recent WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice in California suggests layoffs impacting 107 employees at its Santa Clara headquarters.
Aaron Schatz is an NFL analyst for ESPN.com. He has more than 20 years of experience working in NFL analytics and is the creator of the DVOA and DYAR metric. He also serves as the Chief Analytics Officer at FTN Network.
Although we are far along in the 2025 NFL offseason, all 32 rosters aren’t final yet. There is still time for teams to make bold moves and try to improve. Just look at the Steelers bringing in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Ravens signingJaire Alexander. A few salary cap situations are in flux, so now’s the time for teams to get players locked down before the regular season.
I’ve suggested one final move for each NFL team — something they can take care of in late June or early July that will put them in a better situation for the 2025 season and/or beyond that. Some of my suggestions include contract extensions, last-minute signings and even trades. But I limited myself to just one landing spot for each of the top remaining free agents.
The Bills have two veterans on their offensive line entering free agency in 2026, and it would be a good idea to get at least one of them nailed down for an extra couple of years. I’m going with Edwards over center Connor McGovern, but the Bills should get by with either deal or both. Edwards was 16th among qualifying guards in pass block win rate (93.5%) last season and was also above average in run block win rate (73.1%). He’ll be 28 during the 2025 season, so he still has plenty of prime left in his career.
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle give the Dolphins two excellent outside receivers, but there are questions about the slot. Right now, Miami’s top slot options are the Washington not-brothers, two low-round draft picks from a year ago. In 2024, Malik Washington had just 26 catches for 223 yards with no touchdowns, while Tahj Washington missed his entire rookie season with an undisclosed injury. That makes Miami the perfect landing spot for a seasoned veteran slot receiver like Allen.
Allen is 33 but still had 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns in Chicago a season ago. He did poorly in ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics last season but still got open, as indicated by his 57 open score. Hill and Waddle would give Allen a ton of room to work with underneath, giving quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a nice security blanket.
It’s not easy to find one move to suggest for the Patriots. They need to spend the season sifting through players to keep for their future core, and there aren’t a lot of important players on rookie contracts who will be free agents in 2026. The only one who really matters is Jones, the nickelback and return man.
The Patriots can get him under contract with an extension to solidify their special teams and the nickelback position. Jones had 10 passes defensed last season and ranked eighth in success rate in coverage, although the completions he did give up went for a lot of yardage.
The problem with having both the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year on your team is that you have to extend both guys a couple of seasons later. Thanks to the fifth-year option, the Jets know they have both Gardner and Wilson through 2026. But let’s be honest, they want to have them both a lot longer than that.
It would be nice to get deals done before the season starts. Gardner’s contract might be easier to sign because we know that Derek Stingley Jr., selected one pick ahead of Gardner in the 2022 draft, got a three-year, $90 million deal. Gardner should just get the same contract.
My original suggestion for the Ravens was that they sign cornerback Jaire Alexander. But they went ahead and did that on a one-year deal, so let’s strike up a deal with Jackson, Alexander’s old Louisville teammate.
Extension talks with Jackson are in an “introductory stage,” according to general manager Eric DeCosta. Jackson is signed through 2027, but the two-time MVP is now 10th among quarterbacks in average annual salary. An extension would make him happy and open up a ton of salary cap space for the Ravens to use in 2026 and 2027. (Jackson is set to have a cap number of over $74 million next season.)
The Bengals’ contract impasse with first-round pick Stewart is complicated. The dispute is related to specific contract language regarding the potential voiding of guarantees in case of default by the player. This is language that a lot of players have put into their contracts. The problem is that it is not language that past Cincinnati first-round picks have in their contracts, and Stewart does not want to be the first.
The Bengals must decide how much they want to hold their ground on this issue versus how important it is to get their first-round pick practicing with the team, especially considering that Stewart was considered a raw talent. If they want Stewart to accept this language, they probably need to make a concession in some other area. Otherwise, they should just use the same language they used with last year’s first-round pick, Amarius Mims, getting Stewart into the building as soon as possible.
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Schefter: ‘No excuse’ for Bengals to not get deal done with Shemar Stewart
Adam Schefter talks with Pat McAfee about the Bengals’ contract disputes with Trey Hendrickson and rookie Shemar Stewart.
Make some decisions on the offensive line
Four of the five starters on Cleveland’s offensive line will see their contracts void after the 2025 season: left guard Joel Bitonio, center Ethan Pocic, right guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin. But wait, there’s more! The Browns signed Teven Jenkins as their top offensive line backup, but that was a one-year contract, so he’s also a free agent in 2026.
The Browns need to decide which players they want to try to keep past 2025 and extend one or two linemen. Jenkins is the only one of those players under 30, making him the most likely to stick around long term.
It’s not necessary for me to list stats to explain Watt’s talent. And this would be the right time for the Steelers to consider dealing Watt, 32, for draft picks as part of a rebuilding effort. But let’s be honest, a team that just signed 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers is not rebuilding.
Watt skipped mandatory minicamp because of contract negotiations. If the Steelers want to have a competitive defense in 2025, they need to get him back in the building.
Douglas, 29, didn’t have a great season for Buffalo in 2024, but two seasons ago he ranked third in the NFL in my coverage DVOA metric. He can play both inside and outside, which gives coach DeMeco Ryans some more flexibility.
The Colts addedCamryn Bynum from Minnesota as their new free safety, and they still have Nick Cross, who had 146 tackles last season. But Indianapolis could use some depth at the position since Daniel Scott has never seen the field in the regular season through two seasons and Hunter Wohler is a seventh-round rookie. Enter Simmons, who started for Atlanta last season and was second-team All-Pro in 2023. Simmons would also give Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo the ability to play three-safety packages.
The Jaguars have a strong pair of starting edge rushers with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. But there are questions about the depth behind them. Emmanuel Ogbah is 32 years old and had just five sacks as a full-time starter in Miami last season. Myles Cole had no sacks on 11.3% of defensive snaps as a seventh-round rookie.
The Jaguars could use a third strong edge rusher who can rotate with Hines-Allen and Walker, and there are a number still on the market. I’m picking Clowney over Matthew Judon, Preston Smith or Za’Darius Smith because his strength setting the edge on run plays makes him a good sub for Walker specifically.
The Titans don’t really have a lot of inside linebackers on the roster that they can trust. Tennessee signed Cody Barton away from Denver, but nobody else at the position played more than 10.5% of defensive snaps last season.
A strong veteran to play up the middle would be a big help, and White is still out there. He’s a steady player who had 35 more tackles last season for Arizona than any other Cardinals defender other than Budda Baker.
Allen had a phenomenal 2024 season. He had a run stop rate of 89% — second at his position — and he had 59 pressures, which tied with Chiefs’ Chris Jones for the highest total among interior linemen. However, Allen’s contract voids after the 2025 season. He’ll be 29 in 2026, still in his prime, so the Broncos should extend him to solidify the middle of their defense for the next three or four seasons.
The Chiefs already decided between Joe Thuney and Smith. They could pay only one of them, so Thuney was sent to Chicago and they kept the younger Smith. Right now, Smith is set to play on the franchise tag for 2025 and then become a free agent again in 2026. We know that’s not going to happen. The Chiefs need to get the extension worked out and lock one of the league’s top interior linemen down for the next few seasons.
Miller is easily the best Raiders offensive lineman. He ranked only 37th in pass block win rate (88.1%) in 2024 but was 25th (89.4%) the season before, and the Raiders were also much better running to the left than running to the right in 2024.
There’s a lot of youth on the Raiders’ line, and it would be good to nail down a couple of more years with Miller as the veteran leader of the group. Miller skipped voluntary workouts in April in pursuit of a new contract but told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he wants to “be a Raider for life.”
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Why Loza is taking Jeanty over Saquon in fantasy drafts
Liz Loza explains why she is ranking Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty ahead of Eagles superstar Saquon Barkley in fantasy drafts.
We’re going 4-for-4 on extensions in the AFC West, where some really important offensive linemen are facing free agency after the 2025 season. For the Chargers, that means left tackle Slater, whose rookie contract is about to end.
Last season, Slater ranked 22nd among qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (90.7%) and 10th in run block win rate (78.6%). Los Angeles has a few linemen who will be free agents after 2025, including Zion Johnson and Trey Pipkins III, but there’s no question that Slater is the one it needs long term.
There are no stats needed here, right? It’s Parsons. He’s one of the best defensive players in the NFL. At 26, he’s right in his prime. Why on earth haven’t the Cowboys extended his contract yet?
The Giants now have three starting edge rushers for two spots after drafting Abdul Carter to go along with Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. Thibodeaux has two years left on his rookie contract, and he’ll need an extension after the 2025 season. The team won’t want to pay him at the going price for starting edge rushers if he’s not going to be starting.
Yes, New York can use an edge rusher rotation and get plenty of value out of him. It can create a NASCAR-style package where one of its edge rushers moves inside on third down. But the Giants can also trade Thibodeaux to a contender that needs help on the edge, such as the Packers or the Lions, and probably get a Day 2 pick in return. More draft capital would be a huge help for 2026 when they’ll be trying to find as many strong offensive players as possible to build around quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers.
What do you suggest for the team that has basically everything? I can’t even really suggest a contract extension here; Philadelphia’s top young player approaching free agency is Nakobe Dean, but the team already prepared for his departure by using a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell in the most recent draft.
One thing the Eagles could use is more depth at the wide receiver position, particularly a slot receiver who can open underneath and convert third downs. Keenan Allen would fit, but we have him going to the Dolphins, so how about Boyd here?
Boyd had just 39 catches for 390 yards with Tennessee last season, but he was an important part of the Bengals’ offense from 2016 to 2023. Jahan Dotson feels like he’s in a better position to be productive in his second season in the Eagles’ offense, but Boyd would provide a strong backup in case he is not.
McLaurin has been one of the league’s best receivers for years, but he never reached his highest potential because of poor quarterback play prior to 2024. That’s not a problem now with Jayden Daniels in town, and McLaurin ranked fifth in DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) last season.
However, McLaurin’s current contract voids after the 2025 season, and the Commanders need to fix that. He skipped a recent mandatory minicamp in hopes that it would prod the Commanders into coming closer to the number he wants on the next contract.
Linebacker depth is a bit of a problem for the Bears right now. They don’t need a starter because they have T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, but former Lions linebacker Reeves-Maybin would be a good depth addition. He also is a big help on special teams, having made the Pro Bowl for special teams just two seasons ago. The Bears’ special teams were strong in 2024, but another good gunner never hurts.
Yes, Aidan Hutchinson will be back from his tibia/fibula injury, but there still are questions about the edge rusher depth in Detroit. It was a surprise when the Lions didn’t draft an edge rusher until Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round. So why not bring back a veteran who wants to be there? Smith recently told USA Today, “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great.” He had four sacks in eight games for Detroit last season.
The Packers have both their starting tackles coming to free agency after the 2025 season, Tom and left tackle Rasheed Walker. However, Tom has been the better player, and the Packers drafted a potential replacement for Walker in Anthony Belton this past April. Tom ranked 18th in pass block win rate (95.1%) last season among tackles, was above average in run block win rate (75.4%), and has the versatility to play other positions along the line.
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Matt LaFleur shares how Matthew Golden will fit around Jordan Love
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur joins “The Pat McAfee Show” and talks about adding Matthew Golden to his roster.
The Vikings are set with their starting edge rushers, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. They have 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner waiting in the wings. And then after that, well … who is Bo Richter? Answer: He’s a second-year undrafted free agent who played 29 defensive snaps last season and is probably currently Edge 4 on the Minnesota depth chart.
The Vikings could really use a veteran to provide depth and rotate in every so often. Judon had a disappointing 2024 season with just 5.5 sacks for the Falcons, and he seems to be on the decline (he turns 33 in August). Still, he can get after the passer, and some reps as a backup might really rejuvenate his career.
Pitts has never matched the heights of his 1,000-yard rookie season, nor has he matched expectations as the No. 4 overall pick. It’s very unlikely that the Falcons extend or re-sign him after the 2025 season, so perhaps the best thing is to get some value for him now and let him see what he can do with a change of scenery.
The Jets might be an interesting landing spot for Pitts, as he could play next to rookie Mason Taylor in two-tight end sets. The Giants could also use an upgrade at the position. Even the Eagles might be an interesting trade target, as Dallas Goedert is now 30 years old.
The Panthers have their starting cornerbacks set, but they need to think about backup plans. I think Fuller would be a good fit here. He had reasonable charting metrics in Miami last season and really good metrics in Washington in 2023. He’s also versatile, with the ability to play both outside and in the slot.
The Saints actually have salary cap room, which is a remarkable statement. They’ve moved enough money around and restructured enough contracts to be in the middle of the pack in the current effective cap space for 2025, no matter how mangled their cap space is for 2026 and beyond. That gives them the ability to bring in a veteran to help fill a hole, and they could use one at outside cornerback.
Right now, their starters at the position are 2024 second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry and veteran Isaac Yiadom, who returns to New Orleans after playing in San Francisco last season. Gilmore maintained his high level in 2024 with Minnesota, ranking 30th in my coverage DVOA metric while being assigned to some of the league’s toughest receivers. He could challenge Yiadom for a starting job, while serving as an important mentor for McKinstry and fourth-round rookie Quincy Riley.
Tristan Wirfs is the anchor of the Tampa Bay offensive line, but Goedeke has been playing very well recently. Last season, he ranked 27th among qualifying tackles in pass block win rate (89.5%) and was above average in run block win rate (75.3%). Goedeke has one year left on his rookie contract, so it would be good for the Bucs to lock him in long term.
The Cardinals have a strong set of young wide receivers with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, but the depth past that is questionable. Greg Dortch is a useful slot receiver, yet he’s not an outside starter if Harrison or Wilson go down. Zay Jones has wrestled with injuries for two seasons and caught only eight passes for 84 yards in 2024. Simi Fehoko has 10 career catches at the age of 28.
The Cardinals could use a veteran who can come in for Harrison and Wilson when both need to rest or if either of them is injured. The best outside receiver still on the market is Cooper, who spent last season with Cleveland and Buffalo. He did not have a good showing in 2024; he was poor in ESPN’s receiver tracking metrics and finished 80th in receiving DVOA. But at this point in his career, it wouldn’t cost much to take a chance that Cooper can rebound and provide some value.
Lake, a sixth-round pick in 2022, has become an important part of the Rams’ defense as both a safety and a nickel slot defender. He’s a big reason the Rams led the NFL in DVOA against receivers lined up in the slot last season. Lake’s rookie contract ends after 2025, and he’ll still be only 27 in 2026. It’s time for the Rams to make sure he’s around for a while.
The problem here is less right tackle McKivitz and more the fact that left tackle Trent Williams turns 37 in July. He could decide to retire at any time.
McKivitz’s contract ends after the 2025 season, and the 49ers don’t want to be stuck having to replace both tackles at the same time. So the wise thing to do is to give McKivitz a small extension, maybe a couple of more seasons. He’s not a great tackle — he ranked 52nd out of 66 qualifying tackles with an 85.9% pass block win rate in 2024 — but he has improved in recent seasons. An extension would also give the 49ers some offensive line stability.
The interior offensive line was a major problem for the Seahawks in 2024, and while first-round rookie Grey Zabel should stabilize the left guard position, the other positions are still in flux. Olu Oluwatini is penciled in at center, where he was below average in both pass block win rate (92.4% versus NFL center average of 93.8%) and especially in run block win rate (64.5% versus 72.8%) last season.
The current leader at right guard is 2024 third-round pick Christian Haynes. Why not bring in a former Pro Bowler who can provide some stability and veteran leadership? Scherff is still available and could take the right guard position, kicking Haynes over to battle Oluwatini for the center position at training camp.
The parents of Daisy Dove Bloom—who first went public with their romance in 2016 and later got engaged—have broken up after nine years together, multiple outlets confirm.
E! News has reached out to reps for Katy and Orlando.
Earlier this year, the “Teenage Dream” singer and Lord of the Rings alum became the subject of split rumors after she kicked off her Lifetimes Tour and the duo began spending more time apart.
And although they’re entering a new chapter as coparents, this isn’t the first time Katy, 40, and Orlando, 48, have gone their separate ways.
Less than a year after making their romance Instagram official, the pair briefly called it quits as well, with their reps telling People in a February 2017 statement, “We can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time.”
Two of three police officers who conducted the strip-search of a 15-year-old schoolgirl committed gross misconduct, a panel has found.
Misconduct has been proven in case of a third police officer, after the girl, known as Child Q, was searched at her school in Hackney, east London, in December 2020.
Child Q, who was wrongly suspected of possessing cannabis, was on her period at the time and forced to expose her intimate parts while no appropriate adult was present.
Trainee Det Con Kristina Linge, PC Victoria Wray and PC Rafal Szmydynski, who were all constables at the time, denied gross misconduct over their treatment of the girl.
