Smokescreen or Real Hype: Latest NFL Rumors Heading into 2025 Scouting Combine Week

The NFL will be taking Indianapolis by storm this week as the league gears up for its first major offseason milestone—the 2025 scouting combine.

While getting a closer look at the hopeful draft prospects is the main focus of the combine, it certainly won't be the only NFL-related business happening in central Indiana over the coming days. With so many executives convening in one city, talk among these decision-makers naturally tends to shift toward trades and other transactions.

That will be the case again this year, especially with a handful of big names having recently requested trades or rumored to be on the block.

There's always a chance players are moved based on negotiations that occur at the combine, but there are sure to be far more rumors than legitimate information coming out of Indy this week.

Whether these reports are smokescreens being leaked by an organization to mask true intentions or agent-fueled rumors to help their clients, it's best not to believe every rumbling coming out of Lucas Oil Stadium.

With that in mind, let's take a fact-or-fiction look at some of the rumors that are swirling ahead of the combine's official start on Thursday.

Rumors that Matthew Stafford could be playing for the New York Giants next season have heated up over the past week.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler initially fueled the fire when he reported that the Los Angeles Rams believe the quarterback's current deal is "untenable" and claimed that there will be a "robust" trade market for Stafford should the two sides fail to strike a new deal.

With Stafford set to account for a nearly $50 million cap hit in 2025, the Rams could opt to save $27 million by trading him after June 1.

The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah believes that could be the case, as he recently paired WR/CB Travis Hunter with the New York Giants at No. 3 overall in his latest mock—a change from QB Cam Ward in previous editions.  When asked about the adjustment, Jeremiah alluded to Stafford's potential availability.

The Rams themselves have stoked trade speculation as well. According to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Stafford's camp was recently given permission to discuss contract details with other clubs around the league.

The Giants are a natural landing spot in a potential Stafford deal, especially after team owner John Mara placed head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen firmly on the hot seat following a dismal 2024 campaign.

Even if Big Blue did want to make a real run at the quarterback, it's unlikely Stafford will truly be made available. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport expanded on Pelissero's report by revealing how L.A.'s brass plans could utilize Stafford's discussions with other clubs as a jumping off point in their upcoming contract negotiations.  

With nothing but question marks under center and time running out, the G-Men may be desperate enough to mortgage their future with a Godfather offer for an injury-prone 37-year-old.

However, it appears far more likely that the Rams wind up retaining Stafford and try to make at least one more run with the passer who helped lead the squad to a Super Bowl LVI championship.

Fiction: The Rams will not trade Matthew Stafford to the Giants.

The Minnesota Vikings have perhaps the most intriguing quarterback situation of any team this offseason. With only 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy and veteran journeyman Brett Rypien under contract for 2025, the franchise has some tough decisions to make regarding the futures of both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones.

Darnold is poised to cash in on a standout season serving as Minnesota's starter. His career-best campaign resulted in the team finishing with an impressive 13-4 record and playoff berth, although a rough end to the year that included back-to-back blowout losses in the finale (which cost the Vikings the NFC's top seed) and Wild Card Round may have impacted the 27-year-old's future in the Twin Cities.

Despite the poor end to a dream season, the Vikings are reportedly "still open to doing a deal" that keeps Darnold around a little while longer. It likely won't be on a franchise tag, however, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that $40 million is too pricy for another season.

With Spotrac projecting Darnold's market value at $40.1 million annually and a slew of teams desperate for competent quarterback play, it seems unlikely the Vikings will be able to get a cheap deal on their incumbent starter.

That leaves them with a decision to make on Jones, who joined the club midway through the year after being released by the New York Giants.

Fowler said Jones "could make some sense" as a bridge option for 2025, calling him a "cheaper alternative" to Darnold as someone who could keep the seat warm until McCarthy—who spent his entire rookie season recovering from a torn meniscus—is ready to take over.

Given his experience in head coach Kevin O'Connell's system—as well as starting 69 contests for the G-Men—and a far lower market value than Darnold, Jones is a much more sensible option for a club that Fowler said isn't willing to mortgage its future by overpaying for a stopgap signal-caller.

Fact: Vikings will retain Daniel Jones in free agency.

Myles Garrett rocked the NFL world earlier this month by releasing a statement detailing his request to be traded away from the Cleveland Browns.

As much as Garrett would like to escape the Browns on the heels of a campaign he called "more disappointing" than going 0-16 as a rookie in 2017, Cleveland's brass holds most of the cards at the negotiating table.

The Browns have not been willing to oblige Garrett's request, and it appears that position isn't changing as the combine inches closer. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the team's has "no plans to trade" the superstar edge-rusher.

Fowler also noted that "not a lot of teams have inquired" about a Garrett trade, which makes sense given Browns general manager Andrew Berry told Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot that he would reject an offer of two first-round picks and wants the six-time Pro Bowler to retire as a member of the organization.

Despite these statements, there are whispers that teams might still find a way to free Garrett from Cleveland's grasp.

One of the more notable franchises being linked to the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is the Buffalo Bills. The team has continually come up short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs and desperately needs to find a way to consistently pressure Patrick Mahomes.

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia said that although Buffalo's brass won't make public their intent to trade for Garrett, "looking for signs of [the Bills] going for a big move this offseason will be the biggest thing to track in Indianapolis."

Even if the Bills did find a way to convince Cleveland to part with Garrett, orchestrating the move would be financially difficult.

Garrett is scheduled to make $44.8 million over the next two years, the Bills are $14 million over the projected 2025 cap and Cleveland would take a huge dead-cap hit north of $36 million for trading the superstar—a concerning figure for a team currently sitting $28 million over the cap.

Given these complications in addition to the excessive draft capital costs it would take to acquire a single player heading into an age-30 season, it's likely this deal fizzles out rather than comes to fruition.

Fiction: The Browns will not trade Myles Garrett to the Bills.

The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a trying 2024 campaign and now have some tough decisions to make this offseason. With several stars and key veteran contributors due for contract extensions, the organization could opt to part ways with wideout Deebo Samuel to clear some cap space.

Samuel has been with the Niners since he was selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, and he emerged as a star in his third NFL season. While Samuel earned his lone Pro Bowl selection after exploding for 1,770 yards and 14 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2021, he's struggled to get back to that level over the last three years due to injury and inconsistency.

Coming off a down season in which he mustered just 806 yards from scrimmage and four scores, Samuel's $15.8 million cap hit for 2025—the final year of his current deal—may be too pricy for a cash-strapped San Francisco squad to bear.

Samuel is hoping for a change of scenery as well. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the playmaker officially requested a trade during his exit meeting—the second time he's asked the Niners to deal him during his career. While the team smoothed over the first request with a new contract in 2022, it's unlikely that a similar resolution will be reached this time.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "several teams have expressed interest" in trading for the 29-year-old.

Although suitors are emerging, ESPN's Jeff Darlington believes San Francisco won't return much Samuel. The insider said that between the need for a contract extension and the likelihood that the 49ers outright cut the aging star if a deal isn't struck, the team doesn't "hold much leverage" in negotiations.

Given the trade request, San Francisco's financial situation and the projected cheap costs to acquire Samuel, it seems inevitable that a deal will get done.

While it remains to be seen which club will ultimately come away with Samuel and at what cost, talks should heat up at the upcoming combine and the framework for a trade may even be hammered out at that time.

Fact: The 49ers will trade Deebo Samuel in the near future.