This is the first March edition of The Lineup, a newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports. This edition features the NFL Offseason, NBA Trade Results, WNBA News, MLB Spring Training and the NHL trade deadline.
Leading Off: NFL Offseason
Movement from the Receiver Rooms, by Nate Babcock
The 2025 wide-receiver Free Agency class is riddled with talent and several disgruntled stars on the move. Most notably DK Metcalf sprung the leak that opened the flood gates when the Seahawks sent the two-time pro-bowler to the Pittsburgh Steelers building an impressive receiving core, pairing him alongside George Pickens, Pat Freirmeuth and Jaylen Warren. The Steelers send back the No. 52 Pick in the second round in the upcoming draft.
Deebo Samuels goes to the NFC East to play for the Washington Commanders, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick back to the San Francisco 49ers. Samuels provides a consistency that makes a budding offense all the more likely to flourish, as they look to build off of their success from last season, coming off their first NFC Championship appearance since 1992.
The Houston Texans bolstered their receiving room, acquiring Christian Kirk from the Jaguars for a 2025 seventh-round pick as Jacksonville loses one of Trevor Lawrence’s most consistent receiving options in a struggling offense.
Free agency has also created significant movement thus far as the Los Angeles Rams signed Davante Adams to a 2-year, $46 million contract with $26 million guaranteed.
Major talent is still on the move as All-Pro, Cooper Kupp was released from the Rams on March 12th and signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $45 million deal. Additionally, Brandon Aiyuk’s future still remains uncertain in San Francisco as the two can potentially tip the scales in the playoff picture.
Top contenders in the AFC also looked to provide more offensive versatility to their MVP Quarterbacks as five-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins agreed on a one-year, $5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens and Joshua Palmer is headed to the Buffalo Bills on a three-year, $36 million deal.
Chris Godwin decided to stay rooted in Tampa Bay on a three-year $66 million deal with $44 million guaranteed. Also in the NFC, Darius Slayton signed a three-year, $36 million contract to stay with the Giants.
Over in the AFC North, the Bengals placed their franchise tag on Tee Higgins for the second-straight year, keeping the star receiver in Cincinnati through the 2025-26 NFL season, in the West, Marquise Brown re-signs with the Chiefs on a one-year deal worth upwards of $11 million.
The Free agent market will likely remain active in the coming days as experienced receivers such as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Brandin Cooks have yet to come to terms on new contracts. These veterans offer consistency and serve as quality safety nets in aspiring offenses.
First Few Days of Signings, by Finn Corcoran-Doolin
Davante Adams to the Rams! Sam Darnold to the Seahawks! The NFL offseason up to this point has undoubtedly been one to remember, as we have seen major moves in free agency. So far, the most significant moves have occurred in the West, including Davante Adams linking up with Matthew Stafford, who reconstructed his contract with the Los Angeles Rams last week.
After Sam Darnold’s heroic season with the Vikings, it was only a matter of time until he had a big contract coming. However, with a different team this time, Seattle called after Geno Smith was traded to the Raiders earlier this week. Another receiver, Deandre Hopkins, went to the Baltimore Ravens. He will try to win a chip with Lamar Jackson after his failed attempt with the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59 in February.
The Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles lost big pieces in their pass rush as Milton Williams signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots. Josh Sweat headed to the Cardinals on a four-year contract, which will heavily help both teams’ defenses.
The topic of pass rushing made many teams splash the cash on the position as Jonathan Allen headed to the North after splitting ways with the Commanders, choosing the Vikings as his destination for the next three years. Meanwhile, two-time pro bowler Grady Jarrett headed to a Vikings division foe, signing with the Chicago Bears after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
The New York teams had some fun as Joey Bosa was released from the Chargers last week and has found a new home with the Buffalo Bills, who are still seeking a Super Bowl appearance after Josh Allen’s significant contract extension. The New York Giants signed star cornerback Paulson Adebo to a three-year deal. He leads the NFL in forced incompletions the last two seasons.
After the horror show with Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets have hopefully found their new starting quarterback, as Justin Fields reportedly has signed a two-year deal worth up to $40 million. We are clearly in the first hectic week of the 2025 NFL season, which has been cinematic. We have seen many teams win or lose in their offseason deals, and team building has only just begun for teams striving for their individual goals to reach Super Bowl 60 in 2026.
Offensive Lineman Trades, by Stephen Zaglin
On March 4, the Bears traded a sixth-round pick for Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, a Pro Bowler in 2021. Because of his $17 million salary and age (28), he is an effective option to improve the position group.
On March 5, Chicago traded for All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs, in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Thuney is a four-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time pro bowler and has been one of the better guards in the NFL during his career. Thuney should help change the culture in Chicago, with a high level of experience that will be valuable to a team on the rise.
On March 10, Houston traded away star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-rounder to the Washington Commanders for a 2026 second and fourth-round pick, along with a 2025 third and seventh-round pick.
During his six-year tenure with the Texans, Tunsil was a five-time Pro Bowler and has been considered one of the better offensive tackles in the league. The move should help Washington continue building around and protect quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is now entering his second season after a stellar rookie year.
As for Houston, the move is a bit perplexing. While Tunsil likely would have wanted a new contract, he was not the reason why the Texans had a shaky season. Another offensive line adjustment that Houston made was on March 11, trading guard Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Eagles for defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Green never got going in Houston—as a rookie in 2022, he was graded as the worst guard in the NFL, with a PFF grade of 37.7, not seeing much playing time since then. This move likely signifies that Philadelphia does not plan on bringing back starting right guard Mekhi Becton, who is a free agent. Green could slot into that spot and try to revive his career by playing for respected offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
As for the Texans, the trade shows their continued effort to dismantle their front seven after a disappointing season. In Gardner-Johnson, who turns 28 in December, Houston is getting a proven veteran who added Super Bowl champion to his resume. This also shows the trust the Eagles have in second-year players Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to inherit the secondary.
Big Money for Franchise Players, by Pat Sypher
When a team obtains a foundational player, keeping them around should always be a priority. Despite some early offseason trade rumors, the Rams kept their veteran quarterback, Matthew Stafford, around. They currently have a very young foundation built around him, with a lot of their success last year coming from a star-studded defensive line made up entirely of players on their rookie contract. To take advantage of this great roster they have built, they need to keep their field general, therefore prompting the four-year, $160 million contract he received.
Matthew Stafford wasn’t the only quarterback to receive an extension, as Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen agreed to a five-year, $330 million contract. With the most guaranteed money in NFL history at $250 million, the MVP’s contract revolutionizes the entire NFL market. As the league salary cap continues to skyrocket, market-changing contracts like this will continue to be given out, such as the recent extensions on the defensive side of the ball.
Myles Garrett, 2023’s Defensive Player of the Year, received a four-year, $160 million contract, making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. After an interesting standoff between Garrett and the Cleveland Browns, general manager Andrew Berry was willing to do whatever it took to keep the four-time First Team All-Pro in Cleveland, ultimately leading to this huge contract. This contract came just four days after Raiders’ star edge rusher, Maxx Crosby, got a three-year, $106 million contract. These two deals along with the Panthers’ Jaycee Horn becoming the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history show that there is no better time to be a defensive player in the NFL.
Running back is a position that has had very questionable value over the past couple of years. Following Saquon Barkley’s ridiculous season in Philadelphia, it is immensely difficult to doubt the value a great running back can add to a roster. Historical seasons often get rewarded with historical contracts, no matter the player’s position; Saquon was no exception, receiving a two-year, $41 million extension, making him the first running back ever to make over $20 million per year.
The Future of Unreleased Players in the NFL: Where Will They Go Next? by, Victoria DiTullio
It’s that time of year again where NFL free agency is in full swing. Players from all different teams have either been released or hit free agency without any talks of a new contract. While it is a surprise to some, teams are realizing that they need to move on from these players as the NFL draft approaches.
Aaron Rodgers: The New York Jets quarterback was excited for his future with the team, and while it didn’t go as planned, rumor has it that the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings or Pittsburgh Steelers will possibly make a move on him.
Brandon Aiyuk: After getting a massive $120 million contract from the 49ers, they are looking to trade the star wide receiver. It is a tricky situation and unclear what team will make a move on Aiyuk since the contract was $76 million guaranteed with a $23 million signing bonus.
Tyler Lockett: Lockett was with the Seattle Seahawks for the last decade. It is uncertain where Lockett will be by next season after the surprise cut by the team.
Cooper Kupp: The Rams are expected to release Kupp if no team is interested in trading for him. Kupp has been a part of the Rams since 2017, making him their top wide receiver. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $45 million deal.
As NFL free agency continues, there will be many more surprise cuts and players that will be on different teams next season. For NFL fans, they can expect quite an exciting free agency and an even more exciting NFL Draft.
The Cleanup Spot: Marquee NBA Faces in New Places
Luka Doncic and the Lakers, by Nick Chiarito
The NBA world was taken by storm when Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now that we are over a month removed, the Lakers have been one of the better teams in the NBA.
Los Angeles is 11-2 since the trade occurred, 7-2 with Doncic in the lineup and have won their last eight games. Moreover, they have a league-leading 19-4 record over their last 23 games while posting the best defensive rating in that span. They have not fallen to a team above .500 since January 19.
Doncic was off to a slow start, averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on .356/.208/.583 shooting splits in his first three games as a Laker. Since then, his numbers are 27 points, nine rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 2.2 steals on .419/.339/.746 shooting splits.
Light is shining on JJ Redick’s coaching ability. He’s developed a flowing offense that has three primary ball handlers in Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves—enhanced by James and Reaves’s ability to play off the ball, and the shooters around them.
Redick turned them into one of the best defensive teams in the league when they lost their best defender, Anthony Davis.
No one has benefited more from the trade than James, putting up 28.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.3 steals on .542/.437/.800 shooting splits since the trade.
Redick’s coaching, Doncic’s offensive magnitude and James’ revitalization simply put the Lakers into title contention.
Jimmy Butler and the Warriors, by Alex Leppo
After endless drama in Miami, Jimmy Butler got his wish and was traded to the Golden State Warriors.
To recap, after having sustained success and leading the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, Butler’s tenure ended miserably. This season, Butler has been suspended without pay multiple times after what was described as a “continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team.” After the suspensions, Butler requested a trade, stating that he no longer enjoyed playing for the team and wanted to “get his joy back.”
Shortly after those comments were made, Butler was officially traded to the Bay Area. Since the trade, the Warriors have done nothing but win. On February 8, Butler debuted, dropping 25 points along with four assists in a 132-111 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Since that game, the Warriors and Heat have gone in two completely different directions. The Warriors are 10-2, with Butler averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, while the Heat are 4-9 and slipping down in the standings, currently sitting as the ninth seed in the East.
With roughly a month to go in the regular season, Butler, Stephen Curry and the Warriors are currently the sixth seed in the West, looking to continue stacking wins and quickly becoming a threat in this year’s postseason.
Kyle Kuzma’s Arrival has Sparked a Bucks Run, by Marley Pope
The Milwaukee Bucks continued to push all their chips in when they traded franchise cornerstone Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards. Middleton’s done so much for the franchise but some recent injury issues have created problems, opening the door to a possible move.
In 14 games as a Buck, Kuzma averaged 15 points and seven rebounds on 44/32 shooting. He’s offered a more agile and quick forward that can handle the rock and attack the rim. He is not the scorer Middleton is, but is more versatile and a better defender.
Milwaukee is 9-5 in that stretch and playing notably better defense. Part of that is Kuzma, but another part is the absence of Bobby Portis, who was suspended 25 games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Bucks still need to find a secondary playmaker when Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard is not on the floor. The hope is Kuzma can help facilitate a second unit with Kevin Porter Jr. and several shooters to take the load off his two superstar teammates.
Mavericks Injuries, by Max Moughan
On February 1, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, believing it would result in a championship after falling three games short in the 2024 season. But three quarters into his Mavericks debut on February 8, Davis suffered a left adductor strain.
Kyrie Irving had to carry the team on his back until he went down with an injury late, hosting the Sacramento Kings on March 3. He made two free throws before hobbling off the court with what was revealed to be a torn ACL, keeping Irving out for the remainder of the season.
This tops Dallas’ long injury report, including key big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II who are both out with an MCL sprain and a stress fracture in the right ankle, respectively. Davis is almost back, and the big men should return by playoffs, but they likely won’t go far with Irving out for the season.
This has been a year from hell for Dallas, going from a team that was in the NBA Finals just a season ago to a skeleton crew crawling its way to the Play-In Tournament. Ironically, a large factor in trading away Doncic was reportedly his conditioning. Harrison was not prepared to offer Doncic a supermax contract, claiming his recent injuries were due to him not treating his body correctly.
Since the trade, Doncic has played in 12 of 16 games for LA, while a majority of Dallas’ rotation has been injured. With Davis and Irving getting another year older this March and having a history of frequent injuries, their championship window is shrinking. It seems something goes wrong in Dallas every day since Luka has been traded, and this may go down as the quickest collapse of a contender in sports history.
DeAndre Hunter Is a Perfect Fit for Dominant Cavaliers, by August Lieberman
Entering the February 6th deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers were already an impressive 41-10, sitting atop the Eastern Conference and well into the conversation as title favorites. Before the All-Star break, the Cavs posted a league-best offensive rating at 121.9 and a top-10 defensive effort at 111.5—giving them the NBA’s second-best net rating at +10.4.
Cleveland was on track for one of the best seasons of the past twenty years. Most general managers would let the season ride, content with their team’s historic pace, and look ahead to playoff preparation.
Cavaliers’ General Manager Mike Gansey did not, seemingly finding a perfect fit for his unit on the market. Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter, the 6’8” 27-year-old forward, was Gansey’s big move of the deadline season.
Hunter is having his best year in his fifth season—averaging a career-high 18.8 points on 40% from deep before the All-Star break. Viewed as a bust as the fourth pick back in 2019, it appeared that the wing had finally arrived.
The scoring output combined with the three-ball efficiency would be enough for Hunter to earn a spot anywhere, but he stood out to the Cavs due to his frame and defensive ability. As noted, the Cavaliers already had a strong defense, but that mainly came from the defensive impact of all-star Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen in the paint. Their all-star backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, despite their dynamic offense, are both on the shorter end of NBA players.
Hunter has been everything Gansey envisioned. In 12 games for the Cavs, Hunter has logged 14.3 points per game on 50% from the field and from deep—thriving in his subsidized role on a team full of offensive talent. Moreover, since the February 6th deadline, the Cavaliers have yet to lose a game, going on a 14-0 tear—posting a league-best 14.3 net rating along the way. Adding a player like Hunter to this Cavaliers roster has firmly placed them as the top dogs of the Eastern Conference come playoff time in April.
The Utility Player: WNBA and Athletes Unlimited
Maddy Siegrest, by Cara Lacey
Poughkeepsie local forward for the Dallas Wings Maddy Siegrest just closed on her second season with Athletes Unlimited (AU). AU is a unique league for players to gain new experiences during the offseason of the WNBA.
The league consists of 40 of the best players in the women’s game around the world; running for four weeks with a player-led format, meaning that the teams change weekly. Top players of the league each week get named team captain and then draft their team for the following week.
The 6-foot-2 forward stood in the captain’s chair for three consecutive weeks, averaging 24 points per game, scoring 20 or more points in 9 of 12 matchups. Siegrest led her team to the AU season championship and was crowned the AU basketball MVP, with a league-record 7,052 points. The league’s record was previously set by shooting guard Allisha Gray with 6,918 points.
Points are accumulated through team wins, individual stats, MVP voting and leaderboard rankings. Siegrist will now return to training with the Wings, preparing for her third season in the WNBA after being drafted third overall.
Starting Pitcher: MLB Injuries
Bruised in the Big Apple, by Tommy Mullen
With spring training underway and Opening Day two weeks away, the Yankees and Mets entered camp with high expectations for 2025. However, the two squads have experienced a plethora of major injuries that can halt those expectations.
The Yankees’ biggest blows have been to the pitching staff. Just a few days ago, it was announced that former Cy Young award winner and ace Gerrit Cole will be shut down for the season and undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a right torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will be out for at least three months with a lat injury. With both going down, more pressure is on Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, and the door opened for Marcus Stroman or Will Warren to be in the rotation.
Another key injury is Giancarlo Stanton, suffering from tennis elbow in both elbows. With the timetable for the slugger’s return being unknown, there is an opportunity for veteran Dominic Smith and youngster Ben Rice to get significant playing time.
On the other side of town, the Mets have also experienced injuries early in camp. Similarly, to the Yankees, the Mets have taken multiple hits to their pitching staff.
Sean Manaea suffered an oblique injury and Frankie Montas is out multiple months with a lat strain, with both expected to start the season on the injured list. These injuries open the door for depth players Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning, and Tylor Megill to make starts to begin the season. Lastly, catcher Francisco Alvarez will be out for six-to-eight weeks due to a hand fracture. This hit to the lineup gives Luis Torrens the reins of being the everyday catcher until Alvarez’s return.
The Closer: NHL Trade Deadline
NHL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers, by Tyler Steinberg
Another NHL trade deadline has come and gone, which means many players have new homes. The question now becomes which teams benefited the most from this year’s deadline and which teams took a huge step in the wrong direction.
My first winner of this year’s deadline is the Dallas Stars. After acquiring Mikael Granlund earlier in the season, general manager Jim Nill decided to make another big splash. The Stars sent a young and promising forward in Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks, and two third-rounders to the Carolina Hurricanes for perennial superstar Mikko Rantanen. Although Rantanen had a short but disappointing stint with Carolina, he should fit right into a very stacked line with Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston. If there is any year the Stars can shine bright, it’s this one.
One more team that had a great deadline was the Boston Bruins. After the lackluster season the Bruins have had so far, Don Sweeney, the general manager, decided it was best to sell and help out the future of such a prestigious organization. Although getting a conditional second-round pick for Brad Marchand was a little disappointing, I love the returns they got on Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic. Casey Middlestat has been inconsistent at times but can help out the middle six scoring and is still relatively young.
The Bruins now have a lot of draft capital, which gives Sweeney the flexibility to fix what was ranked as one of the worst farm systems in the NHL or to trade those picks to retool the core around the cornerstone pieces they already have.
My losers at the trade deadline were the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. This year’s deadline just felt like a missed opportunity for both squads. Tied for first in the league, I wanted to see at least one big move made, but it was swing-and-miss after swing-and-miss for Winnipeg. The Jets did land forward Brandon Tanev and defenseman Luke Schenn, which are solid additions, but after hearing rumors of heavy interest in players like Brock Nelson and leaving with what they did, it won’t be easy to make it out of the West.
The Canucks fell into the same boat, with many rumors being thrown out there but little to no improvement to a roster that could use another talented forward. The JT Miller trade brought in a decent haul considering the circumstances, but with a slumping Ellias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes currently hurt, bringing in Filip Chytil and Marcus Pettersson doesn’t seem like the move that will push Vancouver over the edge. I question if the Jets or Canucks have the firepower to go far come June, but only time will tell.
Edited by August Lieberman, Aidan Lavin and Marley Pope
Graphic by Cara Lacey
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