ESPN's Brooke Pryor writes that it would be cost prohibitive for the Pittsburgh Steelers to use the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Najee Harris this year after they declined his fifth-year option a year ago. Additionally, neither quarterbacks Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields is worth the hefty price that would come with a franchise tag for a QB. However, Pittsburgh could consider using the transition tag on Wilson or Fields that would give them the ability to match another team's offer. RB Jaylen Warren will also be a restricted free agent, so the Steelers RB room could look quite different in 2025. Harris has over 1,000 yards rushing in all four of his NFL seasons and has started all 68 games, but he's lacked explosiveness by averaging 3.9 yards per carry on his 1,097 rushing attempts. Still, the Steelers could very well re-sign him, especially if they let Warren walk.

ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that the Houston Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) this year because they have limited salary cap space in 2025 and don't want to dump almost $26 million into an aging player coming off a torn ACL. Diggs will also be 32 years old in November. The $26 million this year would be a higher yearly salary than what No. 1 wideout Nico Collins makes at $24,250,000. It means that Diggs might be one-and-done in Houston after they acquired him in a trade with the Buffalo Bills last offseason, even though receiver Tank Dell also suffered a season-ending injury that could keep him out for all of 2025. In his eight games with the Texans, Diggs had a 47-496-3 line on 64 targets. Coming off a serious knee injury, it will be interesting to see what kind of market he'll have, but his landing spot will ultimately determine his fantasy value.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has led the team in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, yet his $8.3 million annual average salary ranks 37th among all wideouts. The 34-year-old posted a 1,000-yard campaign in 2023 before a 615-yard season in just 10 games in 2024. The veteran is reportedly wanting a new deal, but the organization is unlikely to extend him long-term due to his age. However, Joseph Person of The Athletic said the team could offer him a pay bump in the form of converting his per-game bonuses into more guaranteed money. While Thielen is past his prime, he's been a valuable weapon for young quarterback Bryce Young on a team that is lacking high-end pass catchers.

The Indianapolis Colts will likely have quarterback Anthony Richardson under center to begin the 2025 campaign, but after Richardson's struggles to begin his career, the team would be wise to sign a backup with upside. Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions through his first 15 games. According to Colts reporter James Boyd of The Athletic, former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones could be a free-agent target for Indianapolis. "Ballard made it clear the Colts will bring in another QB to push Anthony Richardson, and my best guess on who that quarterback will be is Daniel Jones," Boyd wrote. "I suspect my No. 1 choice, Justin Fields, will stay in Pittsburgh, making Jones the next-best/most realistic option in free agency because of his dual-threat abilities." Jones has passed for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions in 70 career games. While it's tough to be optimistic about his future, quarterbacks have gone on to find success with new teams in the past.

The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Andy Dalton agreed on a two-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday that includes $6 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of $10 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The veteran signal-caller will remain in Carolina, where he's developed a close relationship with starter Bryce Young. Dalton, 37, ended up making five starts for the Panthers in 2024 after the team benched Young following his slow start. In his six appearances in his second year in Carolina, the Red Rifle completed 66.3% of his 160 pass attempts for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions before suffering a thumb injury in a car accident that gave the Panthers a reason to go back to Young to end the year. Young looked the best he has in his young career to close out 2024, so Dalton will be entrenched as his backup entering the 2025 season.