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Formerly a dry period for the NFL, springtime has become one of the most exciting periods on the league calendar. Free agency, which began in the early 1990s, has blossomed into a two-week stream of big signings and team-altering acquisitions. And when the dust begins to settle, NFL fans turn their attention to the draft and the subsequent signing of undrafted rookies.

Championships are won in mid-winter, but the seeds of those championships are sewn in the spring. You don’t have to go back too far in history to see the significance of free agency. Just five years ago, the Buccaneers made one of the biggest offseason signings in history when they inked Tom Brady to a two-year contract. Less than a year later, “Tampa Tom” and his new teammates hoisted a celebratory boat parade.

Brady is just one of many examples of free agents who helped change the fortune of their new franchises. With the 2025 free agency season ready to kick off, let’s take a look at the best all-time free agent signing for all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals
Best signing: QB Kurt Warner (2005)

After a storybook run with the Rams, Warner inked a one-year deal with the Cardinals following a single season with the Giants. After two so-so seasons in Arizona, Warner replaced Matt Leinart as the starter during the 2007 season. In 2008, Warner threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns while helping lead the Cardinals to a division title. He then helped the Cardinals win three playoff games to clinch the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth. Warner led the Cardinals to the divisional round of the 2009 playoffs before retiring during the offseason.

Worst signing: QB Sam Bradford (2018)

Bradford went 0-3 as the Cardinals’ quarterback after receiving $15 million guaranteed. He lost his starting job to then-rookie Josh Rosen, who went 3-10 that season.

2025 NFL All-Free Agent Team: Vikings, Chiefs, Eagles headline best veteran talent on the market
Cody Benjamin
2025 NFL All-Free Agent Team: Vikings, Chiefs, Eagles headline best veteran talent on the market
Atlanta Falcons
Best signing: RB Michael Turner (2008)

It was close, but “Burner” Turner beats out tight end Tony Gonzalez for the top spot. After spending four years as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup in San Diego, Turner inked a six-year, $34.5 million contract during the 2008 offseason. During his five seasons in Atlanta, Turner rushed for 6,081 yards and 60 touchdowns. He earned All-Pro honors in 2008 after rushing for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. A two-time Pro Bowler, Turner had consecutive 1,300-yard rushing seasons in 2010 and in 2011. Turner is second all-time on the Falcons’ career rushing list.

Worst signing: OLB Dante Fowler (2020)

Fowler parlayed his career-high 11.5 sacks into a three-year, $45 million deal with the Falcons. He had just 7.5 sacks in two years in Atlanta before resurfacing with the Cowboys in 2022.

Buffalo Bills
Best signing: WR Steve Tasker (1986)

The special teams star edges out former teammates Kent Hull and James Lofton for the Bills’ top spot. A ninth-round pick in the 1985 draft, Tasker was claimed off of waivers by the Bills during the 1986 season. While he was seldom used on offense, Tasker was a force on special teams. He made seven Pro Bowls, including six straight from 1990-95. Tasker’s play helped the Bills win an unprecedented four consecutive AFC titles. His blocked punt set up the first touchdown of Super Bowl XXVII.

Worst signing: G Derrick Dockery (2007)

Buffalo signed the former Washington starter to a seven-year, $49 million deal back in 2007. Dockery struggled in Buffalo, however and he was released just two years into his deal.

Baltimore Ravens
Best signing: DE Michael McCrary (1997)

McCrary beat out former teammates Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson for the Ravens’ top spot. A former seventh-round pick, McCrary was a backup in Seattle for three years before breaking out with 13.5 sacks in 1996. McCrary’s big year earned him a three-year contract with the Ravens, who were in the process of putting together a championship defense.

After tallying a career-high 14.5 sacks in 1998, McCrary earned a five-year extension in 1999. The following season, McCrary helped the Ravens win their first Super Bowl. He tallied six sacks during the 2000 playoffs that included two sacks in Super Bowl XXXV. A member of the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, McCrary totaled 51 regular season sacks, 299 tackles and 42 tackles for loss during his six seasons in Baltimore.

Worst signing: S Earl Thomas (2019)

Thomas received a four-year $55 million contract in 2019. He lasted just one season in Baltimore; the Ravens released him after he punched a teammate.

Carolina Panthers
Best signing: LB Sam Mills (1995)

After a highly successful nine-year run in New Orleans, Mills signed a two-year deal with the expansion Panthers despite the Saints matching Carolina’s offer. The 36-year-old made an immediate impact in Carolina. In 1995, Mills tallied 110 tackles, 4.5 sacks, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and four fumble recoveries. Mills earned All-Pro honors in 1996 while helping lead the Panthers to an NFC title game appearance.

A member of the Panthers’ Hall of Honor, Mills’ No. 51 has been retired by the franchise. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

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At 37, Mills was the oldest defensive player ever selected to a Pro Bowl in 1996. Getty Images
Worst signing: DE Chuck Smith (2000)

Smith had 58.5 sacks in Atlanta, but he had none during his only season in Carolina. He played in just two games for the Panthers before injuries ended his career.

Cincinnati Bengals
Best signing: DE Trey Hendrickson (2021)

Hendrickson only needed one season in Cincinnati to claim this spot. Acquired during the 2021 offseason, the former Saints pass-rusher recorded a career-high 14 sacks during the regular season while helping the Bengals capture the AFC North division crown. He had 3.5 more sacks in the playoffs while helping lead the Bengals to an AFC title. Hendrickson was named to a second straight Pro Bowl in 2022 and recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks in 2023.

Worst signing: CB Trae Waynes (2020)

The former Vikings first-round pick signed with the Bengals in 2020. He missed that entire season because of a torn pectoral. Waynes was released after a hamstring issue limited him to just five games in 2021.

Cleveland Browns
Best signing: OL/K Lou Groza (1946)

An undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, Groza spent a whopping 21 seasons with the Browns. A member of all eight of the Browns’ championship teams, Groza was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro during the 1950s. After a one-year retirement, Groza returned to the Browns as a kicker in 1961. He led the NFL in field goal percentage twice while helping the Browns win the 1964 NFL title. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.

Worst signing: Jeff Garcia (2004)

The Browns were hoping that Garcia would continue to build on the success that made him a three-time Pro Bowler in San Francisco. That didn’t happen, however, as Cleveland went 3-7 during their lone season with Garcia under center. He spent just one season in Cleveland after signing a four-year deal ahead of the 2004 season.

Chicago Bears
Best signing: DT Steve McMichael (1981)

The man known as “Mongo” beat out future Hall of Fame pass rusher Julius Peppers. After just one season in New England, McMichael was cut by the Patriots and was signed by the Bears in 1981.

McMichael broke into the starting lineup in 1983 and remained there for the next decade. During that span, McMichael tallied 92.5 sacks and was a two-time All-Pro. He was also a valuable member of Chicago’s vaunted “46” defense, a unit that overwhelmed nearly everyone in 1985 en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl win, a 46-10 romp of the Patriots.

McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Worst signing: QB Mike Glennon (2017)

Glennon signed a three-year, $45 million deal after making just five starts during his first three seasons (all in Tampa). He was benched in favor of Mitch Trubisky after just four games. He went 1-3 with four touchdowns and five picks during his brief Bears tenure.

A day after parting ways with Super Bowl champion Darius Slay, the Philadelphia Eagles are cutting ties with another top cornerback, informing former starter James Bradberry that he will be designated a post-June 1 release at the start of 2025 free agency, as ESPN reported.

Bradberry’s release will save the Eagles $2.1 million against the 2025 salary cap, per Jeremy Fowler, while the veteran’s agent has received permission to engage with other teams ahead of free agency.

The 31-year-old Bradberry was widely expected to be cut or traded ahead of the 2024 season, but a preseason Achilles tear sent him to injured reserve, where he remained throughout the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. Slay and other Eagles defensive backs credited him for his mentorship behind the scenes.

Darius Slay landing spots: Best fits for veteran CB with Eagles releasing him after Super Bowl win
Tyler Sullivan
Darius Slay landing spots: Best fits for veteran CB with Eagles releasing him after Super Bowl win
Prior to the injury, Bradberry endured a roller coaster of a two-year stint in the Eagles’ starting lineup. Signed in May 2022 after his surprise release by the rival New York Giants, he turned in a career-best performance opposite Slay in his Philadelphia debut, logging 17 pass breakups en route to a Super Bowl LVII appearance. Bradberry’s play declined mightily in 2023, however, and he was benched in the playoffs.

Before joining the Eagles, Bradberry split his first six NFL seasons between the Giants and Carolina Panthers. He’s one of several accomplished cover men set to be available this offseason, with Slay also released and Green Bay Packers standout Jaire Alexander reportedly on the trade block.

The NFL’s version of March Madness is on the horizon with free agency kicking off next week. That said, there’s already been some action that has unfolded across the league. Those moves have the potential to have a ripple effect that alters how these next few weeks and months will play out for an array of teams. Because one club decides to retain or let them go, that may force other teams to pivot and change their focus.

That’s what we’ll be focusing on here as we comb through some of the more notable moves that have already gone down in the NFL and detail the impact they could have before the start of the legal tampering period on March 10 at noon ET and the start of the new league year on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.

Matthew Stafford stays in L.A.
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team logo
Matthew Stafford
LAR • QB • #9
CMP%
65.8
YDS
3762
TD
20
INT
8
YD/ATT
7.28
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One of the biggest early storylines of the offseason revolved around Matthew Stafford and a potential divorce with the Los Angeles Rams. The team allowed Stafford to speak with other teams to gauge his market and it momentarily felt like the quarterback was on the brink of being traded out of the organization. However, the two sides have since reunited and agreed to move forward together on a revamped contract.

Impacted team: New York Giants. New York was one of the teams that spoke with Stafford about possibly acquiring him and inking him to a lucrative extension. This appeared to be the organization’s first choice to revamp its quarterback position, but now the Giants need to look elsewhere. Instead of Stafford, the Giants will need to pivot either to the free agent market or the 2025 NFL Draft where they possess the No. 3 overall pick.

Impacted team: Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders were the other team that was named as a suitor for Stafford and despite run-ins with the Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the mountains of Montana, they are now back to square one as they try to rectify the position. Because they hold the No. 6 overall pick at the upcoming draft, Las Vegas would likely need to strike a trade to get within range of taking a quarterback. If the Raiders are unable or unwilling to do that, it may make more sense to dip into free agency.

Impacted player: Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers may have been a sneaky candidate to replace Stafford as a stop-gap quarterback option for the Rams had they decided to trade him. Instead, the former Jets quarterback is reportedly now turning his attention to the New York Giants, reportedly making calls to the organization to see if they are interested.

Ranking NFL teams with best free agent crop: Eagles, Vikings have key starters set to hit open market
Tyler Sullivan
Ranking NFL teams with best free agent crop: Eagles, Vikings have key starters set to hit open market
Deebo Samuel traded to Commanders
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team logo
Deebo Samuel
SF • WR • #1
TAR
81
REC
51
REC YDS
670
REC TD
3
FL
1
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The San Francisco 49ers granted Deebo Samuel’s trade request and have agreed in principle to send the star wideout to the Washington Commanders. In return, the team is set to receive a 2025 fifth-round pick. This trade now fills a massive need on the Commanders depth chart, as they were due for an upgrade at the receiver position opposite of Terry McLaurin. It now allows the organization to use its remaining cap space on other needs in free agency.

Impacted player: Brandon Aiyuk. Along with Samuel, Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason and GM John Lynch even acknowledged at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team is listening to calls. Now that the team has traded Samuel, however, could that result in the Niners keeping Aiyuk in the fold? The pass catcher is coming off a torn ACL, so his market could be depleted. With Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings the other receivers on the roster, it may now make the most sense to retain Aiyuk to keep the position group robust.

Impacted team: Pittsburgh Steelers. Once again, the Steelers have swung and missed on trying to land another receiver. They were reportedly one of the teams in the mix for Samuel, but San Francisco ultimately decided to send him to Washington. On top of trying to identify who’ll be their starting quarterback going forward, the Steelers will again need to pivot in their hunt for another pass catcher.

Bengals place franchise tag on Tee Higgins
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Tee Higgins
CIN • WR • #5
TAR
109
REC
73
REC YDS
911
REC TD
10
FL
1
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For the second season in a row, the Cincinnati Bengals have deployed the franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins. That means he’s currently under team control for the 2025 season for $26.2 million, which is fully guaranteed. While announcing that they are tagging Higgins, the team also noted that it’s with the hopes of reaching a long-term contract.

Impacted player: Trey Hendrickson. In a perfect world, Higgins getting tagged shouldn’t have anything to do with Hendrickson. However, it will be interesting to see how the financials, as they relate to Higgins, bleed into Hendrickson’s current negotiations with the organization. After all, on top of Higgins’ $26.2 million salary on the tag being fully guaranteed, that entire sum will also hit Cincinnati’s salary cap. At the moment, the team has $43.6 million in space. With the club also negotiating with Ja’Marr Chase on what is expected to be a market-shattering extension, something may need to give.

Impacted team: New England Patriots. While it’s truly unclear if the Patriots would’ve been a legit suitor for Higgins, the organization has a clear need for a top-tier pass catcher and possesses the most amount of cap space by far at $127.6 million. Given that need and cash to burn, the Patriots were looked at as one of the favorites to land Higgins. Now, they’ll need to spend that money elsewhere and look in a different direction to boost their receiver room.

Vikings unlikely to use franchise tag on Sam Darnold
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team logo
Sam Darnold
MIN • QB • #14
CMP%
66.2
YDS
4319
TD
35
INT
12
YD/ATT
7.92
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The Minnesota Vikings are unlikely to use the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, which will then set up the veteran to reach unrestricted free agency. While the tag would’ve guaranteed Darnold $40.2 million for the 2025 season, he now gets to search for a long-term deal that could pay him similar figures, if not slightly more.

Impacted player: J.J. McCarthy. With Darnold possibly leaving town, that paves the way for McCarthy to take the reins in Minnesota. The Michigan product with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but was sidelined for the year due to a torn meniscus. If the Vikings are comfortable letting Darnold walk, that could signal their confidence in McCarthy not only being healthy for the start of 2025 but assuming the role of QB1 after a rookie year behind the scenes rehabbing and learning the ways of the NFL.

Impacted team: Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders make sense as a possible Darnold landing spot. The team has a clear need for the position and owns the second-highest amount of cap space in the league at $96.3 million. That’s enough to lock in Darnold and add other pieces to the roster.

Another chapter will be added to one of sports’ greatest rivalries on Sunday. Adding to the drama of the latest Steelers-Ravens showdown is the fact that this game will determine which team is in first place in the AFC North through 11 weeks.

Pittsburgh is off to a surprising 7-2 start, largely because of the play of its quarterbacks and a defense that is currently No. 2 in the NFL in points allowed. Russell Wilson has taken the baton from Justin Fields and has run with it. He’s 3-0 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass in last Sunday’s upset win over Washington.

Baltimore enters Sunday’s game with a 7-3 record. The Ravens have responded to their ugly Week 8 loss to the Browns with impressive wins over the Broncos and Bengals. Baltimore is getting treated to MVP-caliber seasons from Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Defensively, the Ravens are tops in the league against the run but are last in passing yards allowed.

Where to watch Ravens vs. Steelers
When: Sunday, Nov. 17 | 1 p.m. ET
Where: Acrisure Stadium — Pittsburgh
TV: CBS
Live stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Ravens -3, OU 47.5 (via BetMGM)
When the Ravens have the ball
A lot has rightfully been said about the Lions offense, but the league’s highest-scoring unit resides in Baltimore. Baltimore is averaging 31.8 points per game, has scored 41 points in a game three times and has scored at least 30 points on three other occasions.

The catalyst for that success continues to be quarterback Jackson, who once again finds himself in the middle of league MVP talk. Jackson has thrown a league-best 24 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He also leads the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio, yards-per-attempt, and passer rating. Jackson also remains the NFL’s most dangerous running quarterback, although he doesn’t run as much as he used to.

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Lamar Jackson
BAL • QB • #8
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A big change in Baltimore’s offense has been the unit’s dependency on Jackson. Yes, Jackson is still leaned on heavily, but he no longer has to shoulder the burden of carrying the entire load. That has led to less running and fewer mistakes, which in turn has led to a better offense and possibly the best version of Jackson at this point in his career.

A better, deeper receiving corps, an improved offensive line and the arrival of Henry are the reasons why Jackson no longer has the weight of the world on his shoulders. At age 30, Henry is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. He leads the NFL in carries (184), yards (1,120) and touchdown runs (12) and is on pace to win his third rushing title. If Henry wasn’t already a slam dunk future Hall of Famer before this season, he certainly is now.

“We have been really good at running the ball for a long time, but he is different,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of Henry following his team’s blowout win over the Broncos. “He’s adding a dimension that we have not had before. I don’t know, you can go back to Jamal Lewis, maybe? This is different, and I’m excited about it.”

On Sunday, Baltimore’s offense will go toe to toe with Pittsburgh’s second-ranked scoring defense. While they’re a pedestrian 19th in the league in passing yards allowed, the Steelers secondary is fifth in the NFL in both interceptions (10) and touchdown passes allowed (8). The Steelers have gotten back to be dominant against the run as they are No. 4 in league in rushing yards allowed as well as average yards-per-carry allowed.

Stalwarts Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick continue to lead the Steelers defense. But the trio has been aided by the play of several newcomers, including two former Ravens in linebacker Patrick Queen and safety DeShon Elliott. Elliott has been a stellar run-stuffer for Pittsburgh. Queen is coming off of possibly his best game since coming to Pittsburgh.

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Patrick Queen
PIT • LB • #6
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Fellow offseason acquisition, cornerback Donte Jackson, has played extremely well opposite Joey Porter Jr., who has continued to evolve during his second season. Undrafted rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for October after picking off Aaron Rodgers twice and Daniel Jones once in Pittsburgh’s wins over the Jets and Giants.

Pittsburgh recently added to its defense by acquiring veteran pass rusher Preston Smith just before the trade deadline. Smith and and second-year linebacker Nick Herbig (who is coming back from an injury) will fill the void left by Alex Highsmith’s recent ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for several weeks. Pittsburgh’s pass rush will be a critical element to Sunday’s game, led by Watt, who pressured Jackson into an incomplete pass on a 2-point conversion attempt to seal the Steelers’ 20-19 win over Baltimore back in 2021.

A key matchup on Sunday will be Zay Flowers against Porter, who was flagged several times this past Sunday as he struggled in his one-on-one matchup against Commanders veteran wideout Terry McLaurin. It’ll be interesting to see if Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken gives former Steelers Pro Bowl wideout Diontae Johnson a chance to make a play during his first game against his old team.

When the Steelers have the ball
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is getting Coach of the Year hype, largely because of his decision to change quarterback from Fields to Wilson after six weeks and a 4-2 start. While Fields played well, Wilson has been even better and has made Tomlin’s decision age remarkably well.

Wilson doesn’t have Fields’ mobility, but he can still make the occasional play with his legs. Wilson also still possesses his patented moon ball that was on display during his game-winning touchdown pass to recently acquired wideout Mike Williams in Washington. Wilson also brigs valuable leadership and experience to a young Steelers offense.

Wilson has also helped improve Pittsburgh’s efficiency in the red zone, which was one of the main reasons why the Steelers wanted him this past offseason. He threw a pair of red zone scoring strikes (one to George Pickens, the other to tight end Pat Freiermuth) during the recent win over Washington.

Much has been made about Pittsburgh’s lack of depth at receiver. The Steelers somewhat remedied that with the acquisition of Williams, a two-time 1,000-yard receiver with the Chargers. Pittsburgh’s receivers have also continued to display growth, especially Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson. The speedy Austin scored big touchdowns in wins over the Chargers and Giants. Jefferson was quiet against Washington, but he did catch four passes for 62 yards in Pittsburgh’s previous game against the Giants.

It’s no secret that Pittsburgh’s most explosive offensive player is Pickens, who pulled down the game-winning touchdown the last time these two teams met in Pittsburgh. After years of being underutilized, Pickens is finally getting the targets that befit a No. 1 receiver, and he is making the most of those targets. He’ll have his work cut out for him on Sunday against Marlon Humphrey, who has already picked off four passes this season.

Pittsburgh’s tight ends will be a key element of Sunday’s game, in both the passing and running games. The Steelers offense has embraced multiple tight end looks under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and the result has been a vastly-improved running game, led by four-year veteran Najee Harris. The Steelers running game should be even better now with Jaylen Warren back to his usual form after fighting through injuries during the season’s first half.

Another key to Pittsburgh’s offensive success has been the play of its offensive line that includes two rookie starters in center Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick. Sunday will be a best test for not only them but for the Steelers’ entire offensive line, as Baltimore boasts a formidable front-seven, led by All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike.

Prediction
As good as Pittsburgh’s defense is (in addition to the Steelers’ 3-1 lifetime record vs. Jackson), the Ravens are going to score some points. This game will instead come down to whether or not the Steelers offense can keep pace while taking advantage of Baltimore’s 32nd-ranked pass defense.

In order to do that, the Steelers will also have to run the ball, which will be a challenge against Baltimore’s stiff run defense. Additionally, Pittsburgh’s offensive line (specifically tackles Dan Moore Jr. and Broderick Jones) need to do an adequate job minimizing the impact of Baltimore’s formidable pass rush.

In games between similar teams, I often look for two things: the quarterback comparison and whether or not one team has a significant advantage anywhere. The Steelers’ offense appears have a significant advantage against Baltimore’s 25th ranked scoring defense, but something tells me that Jackson will make a few more plays on Sunday that will put Baltimore over the top.

The NFL playoff picture is starting to come into focus heading into the Week 11 of the 2024 season. Thanks to a blocked field goal on the final play of the game, the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) kept their perfect record in tact with a 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 10. The Chiefs will hit the road to take on the Buffalo Bills (-2.5, 46) in one of the marquee matchups on the Week 11 NFL schedule. Will Kansas City stay undefeated and tighten their grip on the top spot in the AFC standings, or will the Bills end their perfect season and move within one game of Kansas City in the race for the AFC’s playoff bye? The game marks just the second time this season the Chiefs have been underdogs. Before you lock in any Week 11 NFL picks or prop bets, be sure to check out the Week 11 NFL best bets and predictions from SportsLine expert Jimmie Kaylor.

Kaylor is an NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big on sports betting apps for the last two years.

Kaylor has destroyed the sportsbooks in NFL betting this season, netting 16.1 units while posting a 65-46-1 record since Week 1. All of his picks have been featured on his SportsLine expert page or in his weekly bylined articles. Anyone who followed his picks is way up. You can only see Kaylor’s Week 11 NFL picks, predictions, and prop bets at SportsLine.

Top Week 11 expert NFL picks
With the betting lines and prop bet markets now fully available, Kaylor has locked in the Green Bay Packers (-5.5, 40.5) covering against the Chicago Bears as one of his top Week 11 NFL picks. The Bears have lost three straight games, and are averaging only nine points per game during that stretch. Heralded rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has struggled mightily, and the Packers have one of the top defenses in the NFC this season. Moreover, Green Bay has covered the spread in five straight trips to Soldier Field.

“What’s more troubling to me, though, are the rumblings of divide within Chicago’s locker room. There were reportedly multiple veterans who would have rather seen rookie Caleb Williams benched before (Shane) Waldron getting fired. That doesn’t bode well when matching up with a well-coached Green Bay team that is coming off a bye,” Kaylor told SportsLine. You can see the rest of Kaylor’s Week 11 NFL best bets here.

How to make Week 11 NFL against the spread picks
In addition, Kaylor has locked in seven additional picks, including one touchdown prop bet that pays 7-1. You can only find out what it is, and see the rest of Kaylor’s Week 11 NFL best bets, at SportsLine.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is coming off a strong showing in last week’s win over the Buccaneers, throwing for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy will now lead the 49ers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West showdown on Sunday. San Francisco’s signal-caller torched Seattle’s secondary for 255 passing yards and three touchdowns on Oct. 10. Purdy’s over/under for total passing yards on Sunday is 262.5 according to the latest Week 11 NFL props. Purdy has eclipsed that total four times this season, but should he be included in your Week 11 NFL prop picks?

There is plenty of value in the numerous of NFL players props available in the latest Week 11 NFL odds. With sites like DraftKings, FanDuel, PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, Sleeper Fantasy, and more offering tons of games surrounding Week 11 NFL player props, you’ll want to check out the top Week 11 player props and NFL prop predictions from the SportsLine AI PickBot.

Built using cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques by SportsLine’s Data Science team, AI Predictions and AI Ratings are generated for each player prop. The AI predictions are determined by statistically learning from each player’s historical data and then quantitatively evaluating the strength of the opponent’s defense by assigning a numeric value out of 100 called a matchup score.

Once a prediction is formulated, the AI rating is generated using the prediction, the matchup score, and the odds of the market. SportsLine’s AI PickBot has nailed 2,029 4.5- and 5-star prop picks since the start of last season. Anyone who has followed it at their favorite sports betting site and betting apps is way up.

For NFL Week 11 NFL betting, the AI PickBot has evaluated the NFL player prop odds and provided prop picks for every position and every available prop market sites like PrizePicks, FanDuel and DraftKings. You can only see the AI player prop predictions for NFL Week 11 at SportsLine.

Top Week 11 QB, RB, WR player prop picks
Here’s a look at some of the top Week 11 NFL prop picks from SportsLine AI:

Quarterback: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: 257.5 passing yards

Burrow is coming off a sensational performance against the Ravens, throwing for 428 yards and four touchdowns. This number appears to be a bit inflated due to that performance given the fact Burrow has finished with 251 passing yards or less in four of his last five outings. Burrow and the Bengals take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football, a defense that’s giving up only 191.6 passing yards per game. The AI PickBot is projecting Burrow will finish with 224.8 passing yards against the Chargers, rating the Under as a 4.5-star play. The pick: Under 257.5 passing yards. See more NFL props here.

Running back: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots: 56.5 rushing yards

Stevenson received a large workload in New England’s victory over the Bears last week, recording 20 carries for 74 yards. He’s racked up 50 carries over his last three outings, which bodes well for his usage heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Rams. The AI PickBot is projecting Stevenson will finish with 70.6 rushing yards against Los Angeles, rating the Over as a 4.5-star play. The pick: Over 56.5 rushing yards. See more NFL props here.

Wide receiver: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers: 66.5 receiving yards

Pickens has quickly built a solid rapport with quarterback Russell Wilson. He’s finished with 74 or more receiving yards in each of his last three games and is averaging 19.7 yards per reception during that three-game stretch. In last week’s win over the Commanders, Pickens hauled in five receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. The AI PickBot is predicting Pickens will finish with 86.4 receiving yards against the Ravens, rating the Over as a 4.5-star play. The pick: Over 66.5 receiving yards. See more NFL props here.

How to make Week 11 NFL prop bets
In addition, the AI PickBot has also locked in confident Week 11 NFL prop picks involving Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, D’Andre Swift, Puka Nacua and Travis Kelce. It’s also identified a star quarterback who sails past his total and has 11 other NFL props rated 4.5 stars or better. You must see the AI PickBot’s analysis before making any NFL prop bets.

Jared Goff had five interceptions against the Texans last week. However, the Lions still defeated Houston, 26-23, and Goff finished as the QB13 with 240 yards and two touchdowns. Goff also entered the game completing at least 80% of his passes in four of his last five games. Which version of Goff should daily Fantasy football players expect against the struggling Jaguars when making Sunday Week 11 NFL DFS lineups? The Lions are 13.5-point favorites against the Jaguars, according to the latest Week 11 NFL odds from the SportsLine Consensus, so your NFL DFS strategy should factor in the possibility Goff may not be asked to throw often. Are you better off rostering Lions running backs like Jahmyr Gibbs from the NFL DFS player pool? Before making any NFL DFS picks for Sunday or locking in NFL DFS lineups on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, be sure to check out SportsLine’s advanced NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer.

The DFS Optimizer uses info from the SportsLine Advanced-Data Projection Model and DFS Professional Millionaire Mike McClure to identify top DFS picks/plays for any slate on betting apps like DraftKings and FanDuel. It simulates every game 10,000 times to help DFS players optimize and build winning DraftKings and FanDuel lineups. Optimize, export, and enter lineups confidently with injury updates, floor and ceiling player projections, and Vegas lines and picks all with one winning tool for sports betting apps.

Now, SportsLine’s NFL DFS Optimizer has turned its attention to Sunday’s 2024 NFL Week 11 schedule and just locked in its top daily Fantasy football lineups. You can only see its optimal lineups at SportsLine.

Top NFL Week 11 DFS picks for Sunday
One of the Optimizer’s top DFS value picks for Sunday is Patriots tight end Hunter Henry ($3,900 on DraftKings and $5,300 on FanDuel). Henry’s spike in production has coincided with Drake Maye taking over at starting quarterback as the rookie has been seeking out the veteran tight end often. Hunter has at least 40 yards in four of the last five weeks, all games started by Maye. He only had one game with more than 40 yards over his first five games of the season.

Henry (questionable, foot) is TE11 in Fantasy football over the last five weeks and he was TE8 from Weeks 6-9 before having just one reception for 14 yards against the Bears last week. But given Henry had at least five receptions in three of the prior four contests, last week’s lack of production doesn’t appear to be the norm. Henry still comes at a cheaper price tag and the Patriots play the Rams, who are allowing the ninth-most Fantasy football points to opposing tight ends this season.

The Optimizer’s NFL DFS strategy also includes rostering Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill ($7,400 on DraftKings and $8,500 on FanDuel). The 30-year-old was held to three receptions for 16 yards last week, but one of those receptions resulted in a 1-yard touchdown to salvage his performance for NFL DFS lineups. He had at least 70 receiving yards in back-to-back games before last week as Hill remains a crucial part of the Miami offense.

The Dolphins play the Raiders, who have the third-worst scoring defense in the NFL, allowing 27.9 points per game. Las Vegas enters on a five-game losing streak, allowing at least 30 points in three of those contests and is most recently coming off a 41-24 loss to the Bengals in Week 9 before the bye. Miami’s victory last weekend keeps the Dolphins at least as a longshot in the playoff mix at 3-6 and if Miami is going to go on an extended winning streak to challenge for a playoff spot, Hill will be a major part of that. You can see the rest of the Optimizer’s NFL DFS picks here.

How to build Sunday Week 11 NFL DFS lineups
The NFL DFS Optimizer is also targeting multiple undervalued players who could explode for huge numbers on Sunday. Those players could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who they are, and the rest of the Optimizer’s NFL DFS picks, at SportsLine.

A primetime AFC contest has the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) linking up on Sunday Night Football. The Bengals have lost two of their last three games, including a gut-wrenching 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week. Los Angeles has strung along a three-game winning streak. Last week at home, the Chargers outlasted the Tennessee Titans, 27-17. Both teams covered the spread last week.

Kickoff from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Bengals vs. Chargers odds from the SportsLine Consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 48. The Chargers are -124 money line favorites (risk $124 to win $100), while the Bengals are +104 underdogs. Before locking in any Bengals vs. Chargers picks, make sure to check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 17-7 betting hot streak on top-rated NFL picks this year. Longer term, it is on a 197-136 roll on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season and a 51-29 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022.

The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen strong returns.

Now, the model has simulated Bengals vs. Chargers 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NFL picks and NFL betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NFL odds and NFL betting lines for Chargers vs. Bengals:

Chargers vs. Bengals spread: Los Angeles -1.5
Chargers vs. Bengals over/under: 48 points
Chargers vs. Bengals money line: Los Angeles -124, Cincinnati +104
CIN: Bengals are 6-4 against the spread this season
LAC: Chargers are 6-3 ATS this season
Chargers vs. Bengals picks: See picks at SportsLine
Chargers vs. Bengals streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Chargers can cover
Quarterback Justin Herbert has pinpoint accuracy and a rocket of an arm. He also has the athleticism to pick up yards with his legs. He has done an strong job of protecting the ball (one turnover) in his first season playing for Jim Harbaugh. This season, he’s completing 66% of his passes for 1,889 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns. Herbert has thrown at least 230 passing yards in four of his last five games.

Running back JK Dobbins is the lead bellcow in the backfield. Dobbins has contact balance and power when running the ball. The Ohio State product ranks 10th in the NFL in rushing yards (670) and is tied for eighth in rushing touchdowns (8). He’s finished with more than 50 rushing yards in five games. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why the Bengals can cover
Quarterback Joe Burrow has strong field vision and is playing at an elite level. The LSU product leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (24) and passing yards (2,672). Burrow has seven games with at least two passing touchdowns this season. Last week against the Ravens, Burrow went 34 of 56 for 428 yards and four passing scores.

Receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been unstoppable in 2024. Chase is explosive in the open field and is a big play waiting to happen. He leads the NFL in receptions (66), receiving yards (981), and touchdowns (10). Chase also has 12 catches of 20-plus yards. In his last outing, the 24-year-old has 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns. The 24-year-old has gone over 100 yards three times this season. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make Bengals vs. Chargers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 51 points. The model also says one side of the spread cashes in more than 60% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s picks.

So who wins Bengals vs. Chargers on Sunday Night Football, and which side of the spread cashes more than 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Bengals vs. Chargers spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $7,000 on top-rated NFL picks, and find out.

It’s insane we’re already in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season. We’re hoofing through the regular season at breakneck speed and probably setting up for a pretty incredible playoff run, with several teams we know are good and a whooooooole lot of teams who might be terrible but might still be playoff teams as well when it’s all said and done.

We mentioned previously the last time we had such a murky layer of mediocrity around the back end of the bracket was 2006, when the last undefeated team — the Colts, with Peyton Manning — won the Super Bowl. It feels familiar to this year with what the Chiefs are doing, and no one should be surprised if/when we end up with a reasonably chalky matchup in New Orleans (think Chiefs/Lions or something similar).

But Sunday also features (on CBS) the best matchup of the whole season with the Bills hosting the Chiefs. This isn’t the Super Bowl. No regular-season game is. But it might as well be a playoff matchup, because the winner is most likely to score the No. 1 seed in the AFC, therefore securing a bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

And while we’ve seen Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid go on the road and win, obviously asking them to return to Buffalo for an AFC title game makes life much more difficult than ripping off a pair of games in Arrowhead.

It’s unfair to call anything “the Brady vs. Manning of this generation” because those two might be the two best quarterbacks in the history of football, if you’re willing to slice the stats a certain way and have a legitimate discussion about greatness. But Josh Allen vs. Mahomes is pretty darn close to being just that. I’ll confidentially call Mahomes “a top-five quarterback of all time” right now, assuming he isn’t retiring anytime soon, given his stats and awards and Super Bowls under his belt already.

Allen isn’t on Manning’s level, but he is a perfect foil for the Patriots-esque dynasty being built in Kansas City. Like Manning with Brady and the Pats, Allen’s career can’t be discussed without mentioning the presence of Mahomes and the Chiefs. You could argue Allen might have a couple Super Bowls or a couple MVPs or a couple of both if weren’t for Mahomes existing.

Will Allen end up being a Charles Barkley to Michael Jordan’s 90s Bulls teams? Or will the Bills eventually break through and steal one from Mahomes like Manning did twice against the Patriots? They forced them to come to Indy in 2006 and it helped the Colts do just that.

I don’t want to overstate how important Sunday afternoon’s matchup is, but if it determines home field in the playoffs, it might very well shift the paradigm for viewing Allen and Mahomes when their careers are over.

THE NFL TODAY will be live from Buffalo on Sunday. Fans can join the crew in Lot 6 at Highmark Stadium starting at noon ET on Nov. 17.

Week 11 best bets
Bills ML (-130)
I’m backing Allen and Sean McDermott to get it done against Kansas City this week. The playoffs might be another story, but the Bills have had a lot of success against the Chiefs … in the regular season. Allen is 3-1 against Mahomes before the postseason rolls around in his career. And unlike in previous years, you can argue the Bills are the better team anyway. Buffalo’s been more dominant for most of the season, even though Kansas City has the better record. They’re a weird level of undefeated, probably the “worst” (I’d prefer “least impressive”) undefeated team since the Chiefs of 2013, when Alex Smith came to town. This version of K.C. is different because we saw the Chiefs do something similar last year, which is also very much like the Patriots. Stack wins, figure out who your team is throughout the regular season, then turn it on during the playoffs offensively. Adding DeAndre Hopkins is a huge benefit too, with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown already being out for the year. But the Bills have enough firepower to overcome this defense and find a way to win the game on Sunday.

Bet on the Bills vs. the Chiefs at Ceasar’s Sportsbook

Bonus: The SportsLine Projection Model revealed its Week 11 NFL score predictions. Check out every exact score prediction for the upcoming games, including what is expected from the AFC showdown between the unbeaten Chiefs and the Bills.

Rams/Dolphins ML parlay (-106)
The Dolphins took care of the Rams on Monday night, winning a massive game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both teams are on a short week here, but I’m going to back them each to take care of very winnable games. The Dolphins return home to play the Raiders, who will be trotting out Gardner Minshew in a spot where you can expect Miami’s defense to once again perform at a high level and potentially shift the game/field in a way that impacts the final score. At relatively full health now, the offense should could against Antonio Pierce’s defense, even with the Raiders off the bye. The Rams simply can’t lose this game in New England. It’s not a freebie, with the Patriots getting frisky again the last two weeks, but at 4-5 the Rams want to stay alive in the NFC West race as well as the wild-card battle. I think they’ll show up in a much better way offensively against the Pats and find a way to snuff out Drake Maye and Co. with pressure on defense.

Bet a Rams/Dolphins moneyline parlay at Fantatics Sportsbook

Jonathan Taylor over 86.5 rush yards (-110)
The Jets find themselves in their eighth straight must-win game, having lost most of them over the last month plus. October was an unmitigated disaster for New York and people are asking Aaron Rodgers if should bother coming back for next year already. The Jets defense isn’t nearly as good as it was when we thought they were a quarterback away and they’re still a quarterback away. I think the Jets offense probably shows up for this game, but I also expect the Colts running game to travel. Jonathan Taylor should run wild with Anthony Richardson back in the fold, presumably with some designed runs built in. I like Taylor’s anytime TD number (-105) as well but am a little worried Richardson could vulture scores for a team willing to throw out the kitchen sink in his return to save their playoff hopes.

Bet on Jonathan Taylor props at Bet MGM Sportsbook

Jalen Hurts anytime TD (-105)
Once again, Jalen Hurts isn’t being priced properly for a guy who is getting all the goal line work for Philly. Saquon Barkley should have a solid if not elite day against the Commanders and I wouldn’t be shocked if he scores. But he has a knack for being tackled inside the 5-yard line this year (perhaps a bit unlucky in that regard) and Nick Sirianni has a knack for dialing up the ‘tush push’ when the Eagles get to the goal line. It’s been highly effective this season and in particular the last month. Hurts has EIGHT rushing touchdowns in his last four games and I think at this price I’ll keep playing it, especially when there are multiple paths to him scoring a rushing TD or getting the rock on the goal line.

Bet Jalen Hurts touchdown props at DraftKings Sportsbook

Drake London under 5.5 receptions (-130)
This is a Patrick Surtain II bet, not a Drake London fade. Regardless, I think the expectation for this matchup between two playoff contenders — and a sneaky interesting game on a loaded slate — should be that the offense funnels through Bijan Robinson and Darnell Mooney, a thing I actually typed in the Year of our Lord, 2024. Denver’s defense has been elite so far this season and Sean Payton hates the Falcons as much as anyone, so I expect maximum effort from a surprising Broncos squad. I also expect Surtain to spend all day with London, forcing Kirk Cousins to look in another direction and keeping his receptions and yardage total at a minimum.

Bet Drake London props at DraftKings Sportsbook