Bill Barnwell

Some personal news courtesy of @TonyReali and the wonderful people at @AroundtheHorn!

On NFL Live with @billbarnwell and @minakimes at 4 pm in ESPN.

New podcast: @Marcel_LJ on the Jaylen Waddle trade: - Does this put the Broncos over the top? - How did the Dolphins really view Waddle? - Was this a fair price? - Are the Dolphins tanking? Should they be? youtu.be/3xnjswsuaLE

Two columns today: 1) Breaking down the Jaylen Waddle trade, which is a little win-win, a little lose-lose espn.com/nfl/story/_/id… 2) Identifying holes for 20 contenders after Week 1 of free agency and how to fill them espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…

actual contract reveals: - Michael Pittman had no guaranteed “new money”. He’ll make $17.5m per-year in ‘27-28 if he’s on the Steelers. They'll pay him $24m this year. - Jamel Dean got $12m guaranteed. It acts like a one-year, $13.5m deal with Steelers team options after that. - Mike Evans basically signed a one-year, $14.3m contract with two team option years at 14 per - Rasheed Walker’s base value contract is $4m - McDuffie didn’t get $100m guaranteed. It’s $50m but practically its $73.7m. The Rams could still get out early if it went sideways

New column: Breaking down the Jaylen Waddle trade and why it does (and doesn't) make sense for both teams espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…

Snap weighted age for 2025* Five oldest teams: Commanders, Steelers, Vikings, Falcons, Broncos Five youngest teams: Packers, Jets, Seahawks, Cowboys, Eagles

Malik Willis in Green Bay: No #1 receiver Malik Willis in Miami: No #1, #2, #3, or #4 receiver

The new NFL market efficiency is getting quarterbacks who other teams are so sick of that they're willing to pick up the tab

This was one of the more interesting markets for a player. He was clearly the best free agent option at a premium position. But a few teams wondered whether Dan Moore's deal last year ($82M over four) spooked teams, hurting the market more than it helped.

New column: Finding landing spots for nine remaining free agents espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…

Some NFL Football matters discussed w/@billbarnwell, so take some notes NOW!!! WATCH: bit.ly/4retc6o LISTEN: bit.ly/49Lqpf1

Ravens didn't tender Mitchell for $3.5 million and he ends up getting $5 million in 2026 from the Chargers, which suggests that they could have probably landed a late-round pick in a trade. Mitchell's going to have a week in 2026 where he's the league-wide RB1 with Mike McDaniel.

Best free agents still available: QB Kyler Murray WR Stefon Diggs T Rasheed Walker G Wyatt Teller G Joel Bitonio WR Jauan Jennings EDGE Joey Bosa T Jawaan Taylor S Jaquan Brisker CB Cobie Durant EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad T Taylor Decker DT Da'shawn Hand TE Dallas Goedert

AJ Brown for Maxx Crosby on June 3rd. Who says no? x.com/espnpodcasts/s…

New podcast: Breaking down the Maxx Crosby situation, what comes next, and talking about the Daniel Jones signing under duress with @robertmays youtu.be/j7KibFaTH9w?si…

@FB_FilmAnalysis this deal really shook me

Seems like teams around the league also believe they could get more out of the Raiders OL with better coaching

Saints really ended up making a surprisingly big commitment in their deal with David Edwards. Guaranteed him $10 million of his $15 million salary in 2028. Very rare to see anyone besides QBs or superstars get most or all of a third year guaranteed at signing in free agency.