Happy midweek, everyone! John Breech is taking the day to dissect Trey Hendrickson's social media posts (more on that below), so today's Pick Six Newsletter is brought to you by Cody Benjamin, with tidbits on all the latest from around the NFL.

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Cash is flowing in the NFL this week, with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets both issuing record contracts to cornerstone players: First up, the reigning AFC champions secured offensive guard Trey Smith, this offseason's lone franchise tag recipient, on a four-year, $94 million deal that makes the two-time Super Bowl champion the highest-paid interior lineman in league history. Then the Jets followed suit, inking cornerback Sauce Gardner to a $120 million deal that makes him the highest-paid cover man.

With Sauce Gardner and Trey Smith resetting the market at their respective positions, we decided to take stock of the top deals at literally every position. Who are the biggest earners going into 2025, from quarterback to punter? Here are a few of the current leaders according to the average annual value of new-money contracts and extensions:

• QB: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), $60 million per season
• RB: Saquon Barkley (Eagles), $20.6 million
• WR: Ja'Marr Chase (Bengals), $40.25 million
• TE: George Kittle (49ers), $19.1 million

Check out the full breakdown of the highest-paid current players right here.

The Washington Commanders have an unhappy soldier on their hands in Terry McLaurin, who emphasized his frustration and disappointment with team brass while speaking with reporters Tuesday. The star wide receiver hasn't had meaningful dialogue regarding a new contract with the Commanders in more than a month, he said, adding that he doesn't expect to take the field in 2025 without an agreement. Which teams might come calling Washington about a potential trade, even if McLaurin has also emphasized his desire to stay put? We identified some of the most logical suitors:

• Chargers: Jim Harbaugh has prioritized old-school toughness in building the Bolts, adding not one but two bruising running backs in Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton this offseason. What better way to finish constructing a firm infrastructure for Justin Herbert than by reeling in a legitimate field-stretcher to pair with route-running extraordinaire Ladd McConkey, especially with Mike Williams nursing an injury? The Chargers still have $27 million in remaining cap space going into 2025.
• Jets:  They aren't necessarily angling to contend in 2025. They have money to spare, however, with close to $30 million in remaining cap space, plus a relatively dire need for pass-catching weapons opposite Garrett Wilson, who's now locked in with a deal of his own. As a bonus, new quarterback Justin Fields shares an Ohio State background with McLaurin, and Jets passing game coordinator Scott Turner was previously McLaurin's play-caller in Washington.
• Raiders:  Are the Raiders one wideout away from contending? No, probably not. But when you turn the keys over to a 34-year-old quarterback (Geno Smith) and 73-year-old coach (Pete Carroll), you're clearly interested in making the most of 2025. And they could use a pass-catching complement for star tight end Brock Bowers. Better yet, they have money to offer McLaurin, boasting $31 million in remaining salary cap space, plus a whopping $90 million in 2026.  

Washington drew widespread support this week for announcing plans to officially retire Art Monk's No. 81 jersey, decades after the star wide receiver helped drive the franchise's Super Bowl era. So it got us thinking: Which current players are on track to have their jerseys retired down the road? Here are a couple of the biggest names on our radar:

• Patrick Mahomes (No. 15):  Mahomes is entering his eighth season as the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback in 2025, but he's accomplished more in seven years than most signal-callers dream of achieving. A three-time Super Bowl champion and the face of an ongoing dynasty, his only issue is that the Chiefs have already retired 10 numbers, prompting owner Clark Hunt to forecast an even stricter policy for the practice. But let's not kid ourselves: K.C. isn't going to let anyone else rock No. 15 after Mahomes is done with it. The man could retire tomorrow and go down in the same conversation as legends like Tom Brady thanks to his clutch reliability.
• Aaron Rodgers (No. 12):  His days as the centerpiece of the Green Bay Packers may feel like an increasingly distant memory; that's what two sluggish years with the New York Jets will do. But Rodgers was just as, if not more, dynamic and reliable than Brett Favre, his Hall of Fame predecessor in Green Bay, who had his No. 4 jersey retired in 2015. Team president Mark Murphy has already indicated the Packers will give Rodgers' No. 12 the same treatment once he finally rides off into the sunset, and Rodgers has also teased a reunion, hinting this offseason he'd be open to signing a ceremonial deal to retire a Packer after his Pittsburgh Steelers sendoff.
• Mike Evans (No. 13):  Evans has been around for a long time, but not everyone gives the big man proper due for his hand in bringing a Lombardi Trophy to Tampa Bay in 2020, the year he served as one of Tom Brady's top targets. The biggest reason for his inclusion is his consistency: He'll be looking for his record 12th straight 1,000-yard receiving season in 2025. Scoring north of 100 career touchdowns should also help him join the likes of Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp as Buccaneers whose digits were dignified.

Not long ago, we highlighted the top 25 NFL moments of the first 25 years of the 2000s. Now, resident historian Bryan DeArdo is offering a different dive into recent NFL history: identifying the best talent of the last 25 years with an All-Quarter Century lineup. It should come as no surprise that one quarterback in particular headlined the honorary offense:

Tom Brady, the 199th overall pick in the first draft conducted in the 21st century, enjoyed an unparalleled career that included seven Super Bowl wins, five Super Bowl MVP awards and three league MVPs. Brady is also first all-time in career passing yards and touchdown passes. Part of his legend is his longevity; he won three Super Bowls in his twenties, two in his thirties and his final two after turning 40.

There's rarely a dull moment in Cincinnati, where disgruntled pass rusher Trey Hendrickson recently shared a highlight video of his 2024 season, along with a potential reaffirmation of his contract dispute with the Bengals front office. On a lighter note, star wideout Ja'Marr Chase, who had his own contract issues resolved earlier this offseason, told CBS Sports he expects he or fellow LSU product Justin Jefferson to become the NFL's first 2,000-yard receiver within the next three years.