8 Players With Most On the Line as 2025 NFL Minicamps Begin

The NFL is a perpetual motion machine—even in the offseason. There’s always something going on, whether it’s free agency, the NFL Draft or training camp.

Actually, there’s a sizable gap between the draft and actual training camp, but it isn’t spent just sitting around playing Madden. Rookie minicamps are already underway for many teams and will be soon for others. Then comes voluntary workouts for veterans and rookies alike (that are more voluntary for the former than the latter). Then comes mandatory minicamp—the first true get-together of the entire 2025 roster.

As those players arrive at the team’s facility for the first time, each and every one has something on the line. For late-rookies and lesser veterans, it’s showing they deserve a spot on the 53-man roster. Highly-drafted rookies need to show they were worth the draft capital. Some veterans are entering a contract year. Others are trying to shake off a down season. Others still are attempting to take the step to stardom.

You won’t find any rookies here. But for each and every veteran in this piece, the 2025 season is a pivotal one. Perhaps even a career-defining one.

No pressure.

Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts

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Back in the long-ago days of 2023, Athony Richardson was a top-five overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts—the team’s franchise quarterback of the future.

Now, after missing more games than he’s played in to date in his career and Richardson completed just 47.7 percent of his passes a year ago, Richardson has to fight off the challenge of free-agent signee Daniel Jones just to remain Indy’s starter.

While speaking to reporters, Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said that Richardson has already been hard at work improving his game this offseason.

“I think that’s natural for a quarterback as they go through their NFL career, to find aspects of their game to refine, especially in the offseason,” Cooter said. “One year it’s footwork, one year it’s something else — these guys are really, really on top of their craft. I think that’s just a part of Anthony’s sort of work habits in the offseason, what he’s looking to get better, working to improve. This is a good time of year, you guys aren’t out there shooting cameras at them, so they can work on anything they need to work on and sort of try to fine tune it.”

There may not be pressure from outside onlookers yet, but make no mistake—there’s plenty of it on Richardson as we move toward the offseason.

Because unless Richardson shows marked improvement as a passer in camp, Jones is going to be the Colts Week 1 starter.

And Richardson will be one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

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It might seem strange to say that a player who was the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 has a lot on the line just two seasons later.

But that’s where Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers finds himself in 2025.

McCaffrey played a major role in San Francisco’s run to the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, surpassing 2,000 total yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and scoring 21 total touchdowns. But McCaffrey’s 2024 campaign was a mess—an Achilles injury kept him on the shelf until Week 10, McCaffrey went on to play just four games and he averaged just four yards a tote.

While addressing the media, San Francisco offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said that McCaffrey is healthy—and the team has major plans for him this season.

“You guys saw in 2023 how important he is to what we want to be as an offense," Kubiak said. "He’s an elite player and we're going to do everything we can to get him the ball as much as we can. And yeah, his health is really important. He’s one of our central players on offense. We want to hand him the ball, we want to throw him the ball, how he changes defenses when he's on the field for how they have to play us in certain coverages, right? Putting more guys in the box to stop the run, it has an effect on the opponents. And so, Christian's doing great. He looks awesome and we're pumped up that he's out there working every day. So, I look forward to getting him back out there full time.”

If McCaffrey recaptures past form, all will be well in Santa Clara. But if he doesn’t, he’ll be an aging (in running back terms) back with a fairly extensive injury history who signed an extension last year that averages $19 million a season.

George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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George Pickens already had a lot on the line in 2025—the mercurial wide receiver is playing on the final season of his rookie deal.

Now, the stakes are that much higher—because Pickens is playing for a new team. Just a few days ago, Pickens was shipped from Pittsburgh to Dallas. While speaking to reporters there, the 24-year-old said he’s excited for a fresh start playing opposite CeeDee Lamb.

"Oh, it excites me a lot," Pickens said. "In the game of football, we can work off each other. There's no, 'Oh, he gets the ball, I get the ball' -- we're working off each other. That's why I always come back to, you know, building a winning culture and that's kind of what we've been talking about in Dallas. I feel great. I like the mojo here. I like the swag. I feel like they have a great thing going for sure."

Talent has never been the question with Pickens—two years ago, he surpassed 1,100 receiving yards and averaged over 18 yards per catch. But there were a number of incidents in Pittsburgh that called Pickens’ maturity into question—a question that Pickens himself alluded to.

"Just taking one day at a time," Pickens said. "I feel like everybody in the world is working on growing, on their bettering of their self. I feel like growth for me is taking a great direction in me coming to the Cowboys.”

Pickens has been afforded a second chance of sorts with the trade to Dallas.

How he handles that second chance is going to have a massive impact on his career moving forward.

Evan Neal, OL, New York Giants

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There was a time when Evan Neal was supposed to be a Pro Bowl tackle in the making—a “can’t miss” prospect from Alabama who the New York Giants drafted seventh overall back in 2022.

Now, three disappointing seasons later, the Giants have already passed on Neal’s fifth-year option. And as he heads into a contract year, Neal isn’t just fighting for a chance to start.

He’s fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.

With Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor at tackle, Neal’s best chance at sticking with the G-Men now likely lies at guard. But while speaking to reporters, Giants general manager Joe Schoen was non-committal about what position Neal will play in 2025.

"I haven't talked to Evan," said Schoen. "Again, I'll echo what I said two weeks ago at the owners’ meetings. He's going to do whatever he can do to help the organization and do what's best for the Giants."

Neal’s tenure in New York has been a mess—he’s missed at least four games in all three pro seasons and hasn’t played 500 snaps in a season since his rookie year. Per Pro Football Focus, Neal allowed just two sacks last year, but his pass-blocking grade ranked outside the top-100 tackles.

The biggest thing working in Neal’s favor is that the Giants wouldn’t save a dime against the cap by cutting him. And we have seen other players who struggled at tackle revive their careers with a move inside.

But unless Neal can turn things around in 2025, free agency next year is going to bring lukewarm interest—and a modest one-year, “prove it” deal.

Haason Reddick, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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There was a time when Haason Reddick was considered one of the better veteran edge-rushers in the NFL—and that time was a year ago.

From 2020 to 2023, Reddick logged at least 11 sacks in four straight seasons, earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods. But after being traded to the New York Jets last year, Reddick held out for a new contract—and it was a disaster. The 30-year-old wound up playing in 10 games for the Jets, but managed just a single sack.

Reddick’s previous production was enough to get him a one-year, $14 million pact with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa general manager Jason Licht told reporters that Reddick, who has participated in offseason activities with his new team, has said and done all the right things since heading south.

"He's a really unique player," Licht said. "He's got a lot to prove; he's very hungry. I really enjoyed the conversations we've had since we signed him. He's going to play to try to get another bite at the apple, which I like. He's really excited to help the young guys. He's talked about that -- being a leader and all those things. So that's always going to help. I'm just excited what he can do for all the young guys."

Reddick isn’t just playing for one more multi-year payday this year in Tampa. Or for one more chance to make a deep playoff run.

He’s playing for redemption—for a chance to wash off the stink of last year’s miserable campaign in New York.

Joey Bosa, EDGE, Buffalo Bills

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Haason Reddick isn’t the only veteran edge-rusher attempting to turn his career around in 2025.

But for Joey Bosa of the Buffalo Bills, the reason for the rebound is different.

The third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Bosa topped 10 sacks in three of his first four seasons, making the Pro Bowl three times. But in the five seasons since, Bosa has hit the 10-sack mark just once, and that was back in 2021. Since then, Bosa has missed 23 games and amassed just 14.5 sacks.

After nine seasons with the Chargers, Bosa inked a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, and per Coral Smith of NFL.com, Bosa said he’s eager to show that he can still be an elite edge-rusher.

"I know it's been a tough last few years, but I know when I'm healthy and I'm on the field, I play really well, and I'm at a high level," he said. "I know winning is obviously a huge part of it, but I think I have a lot to prove to people, but mostly just myself. That I can prove to myself that I know the kind of player that I am, and I know I've had some good moments over the last few years, but it's about putting it all together throughout the whole season and being available for my team."

Bosa’s 10th season may be the most important of his career. It’s not so much a matter of money—Bosa has plenty of that. It’s a matter of his legacy as a player—whether he goes down as a borderline Hall of Famer or a “What If?” player.

Never mind that helping the Bills win a Super Bowl would immortalize him in Western New York.

DaRon Bland, CB, Dallas Cowboys

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That’s right, a second Cowboy.

The stars at night are big and bright and all that happy stuff.

DaRon Bland of the Dallas Cowboys appeared headed for superstardom a couple of years ago. Not only was Bland the league’s interceptions leader, a first-team All-Pro and fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, but he returned five of those interceptions for touchdowns.

No player in NFL history had ever done that.

However, last year was a much different story. Bland missed over half the season, failed to record an interception for the first time in his career and posted a passer rating against of 105.7—almost 45 points higher than the year before.

Now, Bland in entering the final year of his rookie deal, and there has been very little movement on a new contract. But while speaking to reporters, Bland said that he’s focused more on getting ready for his fourth season than his paycheck.

“No talks. Just worried about the season right now,” Bland said. “Really just play my heart out, try to do my best out there and do whatever I can.”

The Cowboys are in a sticky spot. With edge-rusher Micah Parsons all but certain to receive a deal averaging over $40 million a season in the weeks to come, finding the scratch to also re-up Bland could be challenging. He’s been a popular name in trade speculation as a result.

The farther we move into the summer without Bland being signed, the more the possibility increases that he will be playing in 2025 for a huge deal in 2026—either in Dallas or somewhere else.

Provided he plays more like his 2023 version, that is.

Josh Metellus, S, Minnesota Vikings

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Unlike many of the players in this piece, Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus doesn’t have to show that he can play. Or that he can still play. Or play for his supper—while the 27-year-old is entering a contract year, quite a few pundits believe that Metellus will be extended over the summer.

No, what Metellus has on the line is ascending to stardom. To becoming one of the best players in the game at his position.

Per Alec Lewis of the Athletic, Metellus was one of just two players in the league to play 10 percent of his team’s snaps on the line of scrimmage, as a slot corner, at safety and at linebacker.

Not only is Metellus versatile, but Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones told reporters that the sixth-year veteran is like a coach on the field.

“When he’s out there, he’s thinking like a coach,” Jones said. “We joke all the time. We always say, ‘Josh, when you’re coaching in a few years.’ Whether he admits it or not, but when his time is done, he’s going to be one of these other guys that you’ve seen who have played in the league a while that’s now a coordinator in this league. He has that potential.”

Back in 2020, Metellus was the 205th pick in the NFL draft. Now, he’ll likely soon be among the highest-paid safeties in the league. There’s really only one thing left on the “to do list.”

Posting a third straight 100-tackle season, showing that he’s worth all that cheese. Making his first Pro Bowl.

And showing that he’s a legitimate star.