2025 NFL Scouting Combine rumors, news and notes: What's the latest on Myles Garrett?
INDIANAPOLIS -- There's no real movement on Myles Garrett's trade request.
The Cleveland Browns don’t want to trade the star defensive end as Browns general manager Andrew Berry stated at the NFL combine. However, the Browns have had preliminary dialogue with teams about a trade, per a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. No trade is imminent.
Cleveland does hope its best defensive player has a change of heart and remains in Northeast Ohio.
“Trade requests in general, they happen across the league. Ultimately, it’s our responsibility to have dialogue,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry told Paste BN Sports. “But in terms of the actions that we take, again, it’s always got to be with the organization’s best interest in mind.”
Here are other rumors, news and notes from the NFL combine:
Green Bay Packers could trade CB Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers have looked at the market on a possible Jaire Alexander trade, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to Paste BN Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
NFL Network was the first to report the news.
Alexander has two years remaining on his current deal. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler at just 28 years old. He would be the top free agent cornerback if he were a free agent.
The Packers could also decide to release Alexander if they don’t find a trade partner. Green Bay would save over $6 million if the cornerback is a pre-June 1 cut, via Over the Cap.
Kansas City Chiefs to place franchise tag on Trey Smith
The Chiefs have informed Smith that they are placing the franchise tag on him, a person with knowledge of the situation told Paste BN Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because it’s not official yet.
The tag is worth approximately $23.4 million, which would make Smith the highest-paid guard next year.
Smith and the Chiefs plan to continue to negotiate a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline for tagged players to sign a long-term deal.
NFLPA Team Report cards
The NFLPA had 1,695 total respondents in the third edition of its players survey.
The Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers were the top five teams on the NFLPA’s report card.
The Arizona Cardinals had the worst score among all 32 clubs. Arizona’s scores included a F- for its locker room, F for the weight room and a D- for the training room. They released a (damage control) statement after the report card was released.
"Our goal is to provide the best possible environment, facilities and resources and to give our team the greatest opportunity to succeed. We are working hard to achieve that. Last season, we shared with our players the plans for a new training facility at the existing Tempe location with a targeted completion date of 2027,” the statement read. “We have hired Rossetti, a leading architecture firm that has worked with a number of NFL teams on their new facilities, and the design process is underway. We will continue to explore all the other ways - large and small - that we can get better in every single area of our operation."
Tee Higgins cryptic social media post
The Bengals wide receiver posted a cap emoji on social media just hours after Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said he wants to sign Higgins to a long-term extension.
Was Higgins’ social media post a subliminal message? The timing suggests it was.
"Cap" is generally used to describe something as fake or dishonest.
Higgins begrudgingly played under the franchise tag last year. The Bengals could decide to place the wideout under the tag again.
Trent Williams motivated to bounce back
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch shut down any rumors about Trent Williams retiring.
“Trent's playing, and he's ready,” Lynch said of the 36-year-old left tackle. “I think he's really motivated to come back. That’s rarefied air that Trent lives in. When you're a player that has experience playing at those heights, you don't want to play unless you're playing at that level. And I think that's where Trent's at. I think we're going to see a real motivated Trent Williams to come back and have a great year, and that's a good thing for us.”
The 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro only appeared in 10 games last year. He ended the season on injured reserve due to an ankle injury.
Chargers, Khalil Mack having ‘good’ dialogue about extension
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said the team’s had good conversations with pending free agent Khalil Mack about an extension.
“Just keep on chipping away at it,” Hortiz said.
Mack, 34, was mulling retirement following the season but does want to continue playing football.
“Khalil’s got more than one year left in his body if he wants to do it,” Hortiz said. “I mean, he played great in 2023 and he played great last year.”
The 2025 season will be the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year's 12 season in the league.
Follow Paste BN Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.