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The Jacksonville Jaguars made a flurry of moves on the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period.
With the Jaguars agreeing to terms with nine different free agents on the first day of free agency, we are going to take a look at what each player brings to the table and how they fit with the Jaguars.
Here, we break down the Jaguars' addition of Houston Texans safety Eric Murray.
So, what do we make of the Jaguars adding Murray? We break it down below.
Jaguars badly needed to add a veteran at safety
It was clear from the day the offseason began the Jaguars would explore upgrades at the safety position. And while Murray is not a game-changer on the back end of the defense, he does provide a higher floor than the Jaguars saw last year. Safety was one of the Jaguars' worst-performing units last season, and Murray serves as a clear upgrade.
With Andre Cisco having a down year, Andrew Wingard dealing with injuries and Antonio Johnson not taking the leap so many expected, the Jaguars always seemed in a prime position to pick up a safety in the early stages of free agency. It was one of their biggest needs, and it has been filled with Murray joining the defense.
This feels like a low-risk reward
Murray has been a reliable and tough-nosed defender throughout the entirety of his career, so it feels safe to say this is a fairly low-risk signing for the Jaguars. Murray's deal is on the low-end of safety contracts being handed out in free agency, and it is clear Murray is seen as more of a stop-gap for 2025 and potentially 2026 than a core piece of the long-term future.
Yes, Murray is over 30 and is not seen as an ascending player after nearly a decade in the NFL. But he gives the Jaguars experience and dependability at the safety position, and the Jaguars badly needed that last season.
Jaguars shouldn't ignore continuing to add at safety
It remains to be seen how the Jaguars plan to deploy veteran defensive back Darnell Savage after the signing of Jourdan Lewis, who projects best to the slot. The Jaguars could look to play Savage at safety, but he is better closer to the line of scrimmage and perhaps could find a role in the dime defense.
If this is the case, then the addition of Murray shouldn't do anything to dissuade the Jaguars from continuing to add at safety. Whether that is in the later stages of free agency or at some point in next month's draft, the Jaguars could keep their options open when it comes to improving the safety position.
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Aaron Rodgers Declares Steelers Are Super Bowl Contenders With Bold Comments
The Pittsburgh Steelers had their first training camp practice ahead of the 2025 season on Thursday, and it was the first time fans got to see newly-acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers participating in team drills. The quarterback seemed to be shaking off some rust as his first pass of the day was intercepted, but that is expected as he is facing one of the best defenses in the NFL on a daily basis. Overall, it is hard to take much from the first practice of training camp, but new acquisitions have Pittsburgh's eyes set on competing within the AFC. There is good reason to be skeptical about the 2025 Steelers due to the sheer amount of roster turnover, but Pittsburgh brought in a ton of talent. Defensively, the additions of Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay could be huge in the secondary, as could the young guys up front that were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. The offense has been in question over the last several seasons for Pittsburgh, but Rodgers seems to have faith in his unit. He spoke to the media after practice on Thursday, and he shared that he has high hopes for his team going into 2025. The veteran quarterback feels as though the Steelers should be considered contenders for the Super Bowl on paper, but it is all going to come down to coaching and execution. The roster is good, but that doesn't mean anything if the team cannot perform during games, or if Pittsburgh goes through another late-season collapse like it did in 2024. The Steelers definitely have some wild cards when it comes to how the team can succeed in 2025. The offensive line is one of them, as that group is going to have to take a big step forward as a whole in order for the team to reach expectations. Rodgers is going to have to play like he did with the New York Jets at the end of the 2024 season, and the unit is going to have to be consistent. The Steelers have been plagued by slow starts on offense, and that is something that needs to be avoided in 2025.In order for Pittsburgh to set itself up to win the Super Bowl, it is going to have to take care of things within the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens are the favorites to win the division, while the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most potent offenses in the league. The Steelers will have to be competitive against those two teams in order to keep pace in the North, and in turn, set themselves up for any postseason success. The Steelers have to find a way to avoid the seven-seed in the AFC, which is something they have been stuck with in the past two seasons. Steelers' Rodgers Wants To End His Career On A High Note The past two seasons with New York have been rough for Rodgers. He barely played in 2023 as he suffered a devastating season-ending injury, and he was a bit rusty to begin the 2024 season. He played well down the stretch, but it was far too late for the Jets to salvage their season. He has only ever played in one Super Bowl, when he beat the Steelers as a member of the Green Bay Packers. He has already stated he will probably be retiring after the 2025 season, and ending his career while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy would further cement his Hall Of Fame resume.
Pelicans' exec makes team's stance on Zion Williamson crystal clear
It’s wild how quickly the NBA narrative can flip. A year ago, Zion Williamson was in every trade rumor possible. People were questioning his health, his work ethic, even his future in New Orleans. And the Pelicans? They didn’t really deny any of it. It felt like both sides were one step away from walking. But things have shifted this offseason — quietly, but clearly. The Pelicans could’ve pulled the plug. Zion’s contract gave them outs, and the trade market might’ve still brought back some real value. Instead, they stuck with him. And based on what one of their own just said, they’re not just keeping him around — they’re still betting big on him. In a recent interview with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, an anonymous Pelicans executive made it crystal clear. “Zion is still our guy. We’re all in on him. We think he’s going to have a huge year. We’ve had some bad injury luck and some things that just haven’t worked out. This partnership hasn’t even come close to reaching our best yet.” That’s not something you say if you’re halfway in. They backed it up with their offseason moves, too. They traded CJ McCollum and brought in Jordan Poole, a high-usage creator who can take pressure off Zion. They drafted Jeremiah Fears with the No. 7 pick, a dynamic young guard. They added Kevon Looney, a reliable veteran who brings playoff experience and toughness. Those aren’t tear-it-down moves — those are “let’s try this another way” moves. Of course, Zion’s health is still the question. That never really goes away. He played just 30 games last season, but in those games he looked solid: 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night on 56.7 percent shooting. The explosiveness was there. The playmaking was sharp. And the hope for New Orleans is that this time, he can finally sustain it. What’s interesting is how the front office is trying to create a better environment around him. Joe Dumars has stepped in to lead basketball operations and is reportedly building a closer relationship with Zion — dinners, real conversations, not just surface-level stuff. It feels like, for once, the team is trying to meet him halfway. It’s a risk, sure. But it’s a calculated one. The West is brutal and the margin for error is thin. Still, if Zion can stay healthy for 60 games, and if Poole finds a rhythm and guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones keep improving — this team has a shot to be in the mix. The quote from the exec says it all. They could’ve hit reset, moved on, cleaned house. But they didn’t. They’re still in. And now it’s on Zion to hold up his end of the deal. After everything that’s happened, they’re telling the world they still believe. Now it’s time to find out if they’re right.
Yankees Top Trade Partners Make Deadline Decision
With just a week to go before the July 31 trade deadline passes, the New York Yankees should now have a better idea of how one of their top potential trade partners plans to operate in the coming days. Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Arizona Diamondbacks have told opposing clubs that they intend on moving some of their veteran players. The degree to which they sell is still up for debate, however, and will be determined by several factors. "The number of deals the DBacks complete before next Thursday’s trade deadline will hinge on a variety of factors," Rosenthal wrote. "The level of interest in their players. Whether the proposals they receive for their qualifying-offer candidates exceeds the potential draft-pick compensation. The assessment of club officials about the team’s ability to compete for the third wild-card spot." Eugenio Suárez, Arizona's All-Star third baseman who has posted 36 home runs and a .918 OPS this season in a contract year, is perhaps the top position player available and has been regularly connected to the Yankees given the club's need at the hot corner. Rosenthal noted that the Diamondbacks have scouted the Yankees' farm system amidst their interest in the 34-year-old. "The Diamondbacks, according to a source, are scouting the minor-league systems of at least some of the teams interested in Suárez," he wrote. "Those teams, according to sources and published reports, include the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners." Right-handed starting pitchers Zac Gallen (5.58 ERA in 121 innings) and Merrill Kelly (3.32 ERA in 122 innings), both of whom are rentals like Suárez, may also catch New York's eye as it looks to fortify the rotation behind All-Star lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Arizona came into the year with aspirations of contending in a loaded National League, but season-ending injuries to ace Corbin Burnes and closer Justin Martinez have spelled trouble for the club. The Diamondbacks are currently 50-53 and sit 5 1/2 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the NL. Suárez being dealt is a near certainty, which bodes well for the Yankees, but Arizona's performance over the next week will ultimately establish how many veterans the team ships off before the deadline. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! Yankees Pursuing Pirates All-Star Outfielder Analyst Proposes Wild Yankees, Pirates Trade MLB Insider Makes Brutal Yankees Prediction MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Linked To Red-Hot Reliever Yankees Linked to Former Outfielder in Juicy Trade Rumor
Insider shares promising update on Jets QB Justin Fields' toe injury
New York Jets fans understandably panicked when it was learned on Thursday morning that quarterback Justin Fields was carted off the practice field with an apparent lower right leg injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra) later reported that "the initial diagnosis is that Fields suffered a dislocated toe," which isn't his big toe. ESPN's Rich Cimini offered more positive news regarding the situation, claiming that a source revealed "that the injury is not considered significant and that the quarterback should not be sidelined for long." The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed in March to be their starting QB after he spent last summer competing with Russell Wilson for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 gig. Fields went 4-2 as Wilson spent the first six weeks of the 2024 season recovering from a lingering calf problem before Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin started Wilson from Week 7 through the wild-card round of the playoffs. The Jets can escape Fields' contract as soon as next offseason, meaning backup Tyrod Taylor theoretically could give first-year head coach Aaron Glenn something to think about by performing well in Fields' absence. Gang Green opens the regular season with a home game against the Steelers on Sept. 7. "I think the most important part is, if anything does happen to Justin, I don't think there's any drop-off as far as what we want to do when it comes to play," Glenn said on Thursday about having to turn to Taylor temporarily. If Fields' injury is worse than feared, the Jets could give the Cleveland Browns a call about the status of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. Cleveland is expected to carry rookie signal-callers Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel on the active roster through September, meaning either Flacco or Pickett could be deemed surplus by the end of the preseason.
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