| The NFL now expects the 2026 schedule out next on May 13 or 14. Alexander Sherman of CNBC.com: While the exact day is still in flux, I’m told the NFL plans to announce its full 2026 schedule next week on Wednesday or Thursday. The schedule will include a slight increase in its broadcast footprint from last year, which may make the government happy. Remember, the DOJ and FCC have been looking into the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, which gives the NFL a limited antitrust exemption in return for making its games available on broadcast networks. Greg Auman of FoxSports.com has some factors to be measured including Ed Sheeran’s stadium series: @gregaumanThe 2026 NFL schedule will be out soon, but we can identify a few rare stadium conflicts where venues are already booked for big concerts: — Usher and Chris Brown play AT&T Stadium on Thursday/Saturday/Sunday of Week 1, so Cowboys will open the season on the road (or play Monday). Same for Usher and Chris Brown in Atlanta in Week 9, playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, and at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday of Week 10. — Bruno Mars plays Tampa on Sunday, Sept. 13, so Bucs will either be on the road in Week 1 or play a different day. Same for Mars with Dolphins in Week 2 and 49ers in Week 5, with Sunday dates in NFL venues. — Ed Sheeran plays Saturday night concerts in seven NFL stadiums during the season, meaning those teams will likely be on the road that week or playing Thursday/Monday. His personal NFL schedule: Week 2: EaglesWeek 3: PatriotsWeek 4: FalconsWeek 5: SaintsWeek 6: PanthersWeek 7: CowboysWeek 9: Bucs – – -QB TAYLOR HEINICKE, unwanted last year, announces his retirement. John Keim ofESPN.com: Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who became a fan favorite during his two-plus seasons with the Washington Commanders, announced the end of an improbable NFL career Thursday. Heinicke, 33, posted a message to Instagram thanking those who supported him throughout his seven-year NFL career in which he spent time with seven franchises — appearing in games for five of them. “Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold,” Heinicke wrote. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would’ve been able to live this life… Excited for this next chapter of my life.” Taylor Heinicke got 24 of his 29 career starts with the Washington Commanders during a seven-year NFL career in which he saw action in 42 games with seven teams while throwing for 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. Heinicke was released in August by the Los Angeles Chargers and went unsigned the rest of the season. He had played four games with the Chargers in 2024, attempting five passes. |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTAWR JAUAN JENNINGS, formerly a Niner, finds a one-year home in the Twin Cities. Grant Gordon of NFL.com: Hauling in a career-high nine touchdown receptions didn’t negate a lengthy stay in free agency for wide receiver Jauan Jennings. As spring blooms, Jennings has finally found his new destination, with the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Minnesota Vikings, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday night. The deal has a chance to make Jennings up to $13 million with incentives. Minnesota announced the agreement later Thursday. Jennings bolsters a pass-receiving group that’s already plenty formidable with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson. However, Jalen Nailor signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, leaving a notable need for another set of hands on the Vikings offense. Whether it’s Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy starting at quarterback, they will be fully stocked with targets. And this on the GM position from Kevin Patra of NFL.com: The Minnesota Vikings have identified their first general manager candidate outside the organization. The Vikings requested an interview with Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Terrance Gray for their GM job, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday, per a source. Gray has been with the Bills since 2017, but spent 11 seasons with Minnesota as a scout, so he is well known within the building. Prior to his stint with the Vikings, Gray worked in the Kansas City Chiefs’ front office. The Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January after four seasons. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski assumed the GM duties through free agency and the draft. Brzezinski is a candidate to assume the duties full-time, but not before the club goes through the interview process. Minnesota is coming off a 9-8 season, finishing third in the NFC North. |
| NFC EAST |
| PHILADELPHIAZack Berman of The Athletic says the trade for Vikings EDGE JONATHAN GREENARD was a big deal that happened under the cloak of Day 2 of the draft: 1. The Eagles’ trade for Jonathan Greenard is the headlining move of the offseason, but because it occurred during the third round of the NFL Draft late on a Friday night, it didn’t receive the fanfare it might have received if it had happened at the start of free agency or during an April lull. Greenard is the type of top-of-the-depth-chart edge rusher the Eagles badly needed — and that they prioritized this offseason, from trying to retain Jaelan Phillips to pursuing Trey Hendrickson. Greenard has become one of the top edge rushers in the NFL, and the Eagles are buying the dip on sack production because the other metrics remained promising. His pressure rate was the highest of his career, and his quarterback hit rate was not far off his 2024 total (4.2 percent in 2025 compared to 4.4 percent in 2024). He also remained effective against the run. He’s one of the franchise’s highest-paid players, a clear sign that the Eagles view him as a front-line player. And the guarantees in the contract are paid for the years that Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith are locked up, and before extensions for one or both would commence. This is all worth pointing out because I thought the trade on Day 2 of the draft undersold its significance. When you do your ledger of ins and outs of the Eagles’ offseason, Greenard is at the top of the “In” column by a wide margin. It’s within reason to argue that the Eagles should have kept Phillips rather than surrender two picks for Greenard and sign him to a big deal. However, the difference in contracts (a four-year, $120 million deal for Phillips vs. a four-year, $98 million deal for Greenard) cannot be ignored and must be considered part of the equation. That delta carries value in building the roster. The Eagles had a number for Phillips that they weren’t willing to exceed. (They’re also expected to receive a compensatory pick for Phillips’ departure.) If you’re in the mood to quibble, the Eagles had a chance to sign Greenard on the open market in 2024, and they targeted Bryce Huff. Greenard could have been wearing green for the past two years. Howie Roseman made up for it this offseason. |
WASHINGTONA rendering of the new Commanders stadium where RFK used to crumble.  It’s from a long take on the subject of how the project got approval from David Aldridge and Nikki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Here is the part about how DC won out over Virginia (Daniel Snyder’s favorite) and Maryland: Why it had to be RFK RFK was personal. Harris grew up in Chevy Chase, Md., as a fan of the then-Redskins. He and Ein, a D.C.-based venture capitalist, were classmates at Rollingwood Elementary and had the same Redskins varsity jacket. Rales, who grew up in nearby Bethesda, attended every Washington home game from around the time he entered fifth grade. Another kid who grew up in D.C. also had memories of games at RFK: Goodell. His father, Charles Goodell, was a longtime congressman who replaced the late Robert F. Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Roger Goodell has said he became a Washington football fan shortly after George Allen became the team’s head coach and general manager in 1971. Goodell has played a key role in every NFL stadium deal throughout his two decades as commissioner, but he was more deeply embedded in the Commanders deal than any other, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the months-long negotiations, traveling often to D.C. to meet with Bowser’s team, key members of Congress and city council members. Goodell has said his interest was partly due to personal experience in D.C. But others have noted another significant pull for the commissioner: He understands the importance of the market to the NFL. Through an NFL spokesperson, Goodell declined to comment for this story. For decades, the Redskins were the only pro sports team that played in D.C. The Capitals and Bullets (now the Wizards) played at the Capital Centre in Landover before moving to the city in 1997, and the Nationals were in Montreal until 2005, when the then-Expos franchise moved to D.C. The owners suite at RFK Stadium — 2 1/2 miles down East Capitol Street from the seat of the federal government and only 3 1/2 miles from the Washington Monument — was thus the gathering spot for business leaders and politicians. Some of Harris’ most vivid memories were not only of the region’s empty streets on game days, but also the sound of John Madden and Pat Summerall welcoming a TV audience to the nation’s capital as the broadcast showed aerial views of RFK Stadium near the city’s sites. “It is not a clear economic gain, it’s a clear iconic gain, with the Capitol in the far background and the Washington Monument in the far background. I’m old enough to remember the shots where it was so close you could touch it,” said Marc Ganis, the co-founder of Sportscorp and a longtime adviser to pro sports teams and leagues. Harris, knowing a new stadium would be a significant revenue driver for the franchise, prioritized the search for a new site immediately after taking ownership in 2023. Early in the process, Harris’ partners convinced him to fly his helicopter over Northern Virginia to scout sites, including a quarry just south of Dulles International Airport. The land was already slated to be transformed into part of a mixed-use development, but acquiring it would have been costly — the influx of data centers in the area has inflated the value of land — and would have alienated the team’s fans in Maryland. Multiple sources involved in the discussions said that the Commanders essentially wrote off Virginia in early 2024, when its $2 billion deal to bring the Wizards and Capitals to Alexandria fell apart because of legislative opposition. Despite the fans’ general disdain for Northwest Stadium, Maryland was initially the most logical of the three jurisdictions, given the available space and financial incentives the state could provide. The team could rebuild on the current site in Landover, or expand its plot and move the stadium closer to the Beltway. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) at one point offered to throw in $400 million in public funding to develop the area around the stadium and pushed hard to keep the Commanders in the state, engaging the help of its two Democratic senators at the time, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen. But Moore couldn’t erase the impact of three decades of dysfunction at the stadium, and it may not have mattered even if he could. “I absolutely could tell that the preference was to go to Washington,” Moore told The Athletic in an interview. “And it wasn’t just from Josh and the team. … I thought they were transparent about it. But there was no doubt that the signals we were getting from the NFL and the signals we were getting from all the people involved was that the priority was to go to Washington, D.C.” For Harris, Bowser and Goodell, no other option rose to the level of the RFK site, and returning was as much about legacy as economics — though the economics mattered greatly. Harris was also adamant about a 2030 opening, both to have a chance to host the Women’s World Cup in 2031 and because he had consistently told his prospective partners during the process of buying the team that he would push for a new stadium to be up and running by that date. The mayor, though, shared Harris’ desire to hold the city to a tight deadline. “Because, I also have an expiration date,” Bowser said, laughing. “You never know, all right? In my early conversations with the team, we all got serious about our dates. Their date was 2030. I said, ‘My date is January 2027.’ So if I’m not here, there’s no guarantee that this gets done. So we have to get it done now.” |
| NFC WEST |
| SEATTLEWe know the Seahawks will be playing on Thursday, September 9 on their home field. Frank Schwab of YahooSports.com looks at who the opponent might be: The Seattle Seahawks did well the only other time they got to kick off the NFL regular season. After Seattle’s first Super Bowl championship, they hosted the Green Bay Packers in the opening game of the 2014 season. In an NFC championship game rematch from the previous season, the Seahawks beat the Packers 36-16. The NFL is hoping for a more competitive game this season when the Seahawks kick off the season at home, a perk of being the defending Super Bowl champions. Seattle has a fun schedule and a lot of good options for the NFL to pick from for that Week 1 game, which will be on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The Seahawks have nine home games this season and we know their opponents, though two potential opponents will be on the other side of the world. Let’s try to predict who Seattle will play to kick off the 2026 NFL regular season. Can’t happen: 49ers, RamsNormally, the NFL might consider the Rams or 49ers for the first game, even though it’s rare for the league to make it a divisional game. Since 2004, when the defending champions were first featured in the kickoff game, there have been only three divisional games including the champs, and all three were NFC East matchups. There was a Packers-Bears game to begin 2019, but that was a special one to commemorate the NFL’s 100th season. This time it’s not even possible, because the Rams and 49ers will be in Australia ready to open their seasons on Sept. 10. No shot: CardinalsThe Seahawks have a pretty good home schedule this season. There’s one opponent that stands out as a dud, and that’s a Cardinals team that was 3-14 last season and didn’t do much in the offseason to fix its quarterback situation. There’s no way, with all the other fun options that the NFL has available for a marquee game to start the season, that the Cardinals are the pick. Normally yes, doubtful this year: ChiefsIf Patrick Mahomes didn’t tear his ACL, the Chiefs might be the favorite to be Seattle’s Week 1 opponent. Even if there was a guarantee that Mahomes would play in Week 1, his comeback game would be great theater. But there’s too much risk in scheduling the Chiefs and having one of the NFL’s premier games of the season suddenly featuring Justin Fields as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. Not enough juice: Chargers, GiantsThe Giants are a pretty interesting team for this season, with some young talent and John Harbaugh coming aboard as coach, and the NFL loves putting its NFC East teams in prime time. But it still seems unlikely that a Giants team that was 4-13 last season would be trusted with this marquee time slot. It would also be a surprise if the Seahawks draw the Chargers, a good team that has no real rivalry with Seattle. Chargers-Seahawks might be a good game, but it would be a tougher sell. OK, getting warmer: PatriotsMaybe the way the Super Bowl unfolded, with a fairly uncompetitive Patriots loss that provided an unmemorable game, will dissuade the NFL from booking a rematch to open this season. The NFL has had a Super Bowl rematch for the kickoff game before, when the Panthers and Broncos met to begin the 2016 season. Patriots-Seahawks would be a perfectly reasonable opening game matchup, though this seems like a Week 9 or 10 Sunday night game waiting to happen. You know why: CowboysThe Cowboys were part of the opening game last season so you’d think the NFL would like to avoid them being on it again. But when has the NFL ever avoided putting the Cowboys in prime time? The Cowboys are an interesting team coming into the season so it wouldn’t be a bad matchup, but the mainstream appeal of Dallas would be the main reason for the NFL to pick them. Seems like the sweet spot: BearsThis would be a fun one. The Bears won the NFC North last season and have an exciting offense led by head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams. They’re also a huge market, and while the NFL could save other matchups, like the Rams and Patriots, for a prime-time game later in the season, there’s not much reason to save this for later. This would be a great way for the NFL to feature one of its foundational franchises which is in the middle of a rebirth, while also being a really intriguing football matchup between Johnson’s offense and Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense. This seems like the matchup that checks the most boxes, though the NFL has plenty of good options to choose from. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYBack in April, the Jackson County (MO) DA’s office charged Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt with misdemeanor domestic battery after an incident with one of his daughters. Now, the case has been dismissed. Andy Backstrom of YahooSports.com: Longtime Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt is no longer facing a domestic battery charge. The District Court of Johnson County, Kansas, dismissed his case without prejudice on Thursday, just about two weeks after his arrest, per court records. Merritt, a 54-year-old Chiefs assistant who has coached the team’s DBs since 2019, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of domestic battery the night of April 22. He was facing a Class B Person misdemeanor, which constitutes a domestic violence offense, according to the complaint the county’s district attorney’s office filed against him on April 23. In the complaint, it was alleged that Merritt “unlawfully, knowingly or recklessly [caused] bodily harm” to a daughter. Merritt has five children, according to his Chiefs bio, including two daughters. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $2,500 bond, according to court records. “The DA’s office looked at it a little more thoroughly and reviewed some additional information and agreed it was a matter that should be dismissed,” Merritt’s attorney, Ryan Ginie, told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSMore signs that QB JUSTIN HERBERT and singer Madison Beer remain an item. Kalen Hooks of ESPN.com: Justin Herbert has added a music video appearance to his résumé. On Friday, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback made an appearance in his girlfriend, singer Madison Beer’s music video for her song “lovergirl,” which is featured on her just-released album “locket deluxe.” In the video, Beer and Herbert frolic across a beach, share a photobooth, and play cards together. The album features 15 tracks and is available on streaming platforms. While it’s unclear when Herbert and Beer began dating, the couple was first spotted together in August 2025 on the set of a music video Beer appeared to be shooting, which began to spark dating rumors. She’s made appearances at SoFi Stadium to watch the Chargers play, which seemed to confirm they were dating after the two kissed on the sidelines during pregame of the Chargers’ loss to the Washington Commanders. Recently, Herbert posted a photo of the couple together with the caption, “My world!” |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDBad news for LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH. Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com: For the second straight year, the Cleveland Browns have placed linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, sidelining him for the 2026 season. Owusu-Koramoah hasn’t played since October 2024, when he was briefly hospitalized with a neck injury after attempting to tackle Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. Cleveland also placed Owusu-Koramoah on the reserve/PUP list last May. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the NFL combine in February that he wasn’t “overly optimistic” about Owusu-Koramoah playing in the 2026 season. Owusu-Koramoah, 26, is pursuing his master’s degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School this fall. A second-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2021 draft, Owusu-Koramoah was named to his first Pro Bowl after recording a career-high 101 tackles in the 2023 season. In August 2024, the Browns signed him to a three-year extension worth up to $39 million. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWR STEFON DIGGS only played 52% of the snaps last year? If that’s true, he makes quite a point as he contemplates his future. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Free-agent receiver Stefon Diggs spent two days this week in court, in a criminal trial that hinged on a star witness who badly failed to deliver. Now that the criminal case is behind him, will someone sign Diggs? He took to Instagram recently to make this observation: “This is not an opinion-based sport, so here are the numbers. I played 52% of the snaps and finished with 85 catches for 1,045 yards coming off an ACL. Where we going?” It’s a fair question. He had the seventh 1,000-yard season of his career with the Patriots in 2025, his first and only season in New England. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 2020 and a second-team All-Pro in 2022. The NFL has said, following the acquittal, that its investigation of Diggs under the Personal Conduct Policy remains open. If/when the league wants to interview him, Diggs won’t be able to decline to speak. The outcome could complicate his availability for 2026. Regardless, Diggs proved in 2025 that he can still play. The goal for now should be to seek clearance from the league, which could be the last thing that is keeping teams from pursuing his services for the coming season. Eventually, it also could come down to money. Diggs may want more than the market will bear. He may need to eventually abandon what he wants and accept the best offer he’ll get — or select something less than that for a chance to join one of the short-list contenders. 52% is not quite correct, according to ProFootballReference.com, but close: 2023*30BUFWR14171794982%202431HOUWR18843178%202532NWEWR8171759855% |
| NEW YORK JETSFrank Reich says he took the Jets OC job not because of the promise, but because of the challenge. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: Why? New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich replied to the question without hesitation, explaining why at 64 years old he accepted one of the toughest jobs in the NFL — the new leader of a historically poor offense, one that chews up playcallers and quarterbacks at an alarming rate. “Maybe I’m a little backwards,” Reich said this week, “but that’s actually what attracts me.” Spoken like a man who knows what it’s like to defy seemingly insurmountable odds. A former quarterback, he rallied Maryland in 1984 from a 31-0 deficit to one of the most improbable victories in college football history. He did the same thing eight years later for the Buffalo Bills, a playoff win in which he wiped out a 35-3 deficit in the fourth quarter. Present Reich with dire circumstances, and he will challenge himself to find a solution, using a calm, analytical approach to lead those around him. Speaking of the Jets, he sounded like he has been handed an unsolved Rubik’s Cube. “Take what looks on the surface like a difficult situation and figure out how to get it done, knowing that it can get done,” Reich said. “That’s what I love about this business. It’s the best of the best. You’re with the best coaches and the best players in the world.” Many before Reich have tried and failed. He’s the Jets’ 12thplay caller in the last 16 seasons, making this one of the most unstable gigs in the league. He inherits a unit that finished 29th in scoring, its 10th straight year in the bottom third. Reich could be back at his home in North Carolina, collecting the final year of the contract he signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, but he was “re-energized” by his 2025 stint as Stanford’s interim head coach. “It just reminded me of my love for the game, for the sport, for the purity of just coaching, being out on the field with the guys,” said Reich, who took the job as a one-year favor to one of his former quarterbacks, Stanford general manager Andrew Luck. After Stanford, the former Panthers and Indianapolis Colts coach decided he was ready for a return to the NFL, but it had to be the right opportunity. Jets coach Aaron Glenn wanted to shake up his offensive staff, looking to replace first-time coordinator Tanner Engstrand, so he reached out to Reich, an old friend. They were teammates on the 1996 Jets, who produced the worst record in franchise history — 1-15. So, no, they didn’t create a lot of fond memories together, but they did remain in touch over the years. “As soon as AG called, I knew right away this was something I wanted to do, mainly because of him, but also because of the challenge and the opportunity to be a part of a staff and be part of a team, an organization that has an opportunity to do something special and turn something around,” Reich said. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| NINE TEAMS WITH THE BEST OFFSEASONSTed Ngyuen of The Athletic list nine teams – three each in three categories – that he thinks have done the best work this year: The biggest product that NFL teams sell in the offseason is hope. The dreams of an entire fan base hang on every decision and move that teams make. So, which teams actually had good offseasons? Well, that’s complicated since teams are in different stages of championship contention. Some were close and needed a few moves to get them over the top, whereas others are just trying to overhaul their entire roster, while some teams are on the brink of contention. I ranked the top three offseasons for championship contenders, teams on the brink and rebuilding teams. Title contenders 1. Philadelphia EaglesBiggest needs heading into the offseason: WR, CB, Edge, FSKey acquisitions: OLB Jonathan Greenard, WR Makai Lemon, CB Riq WoolenThe Eagles finished fourth last season in pass defense DVOA despite having a major weakness at cornerback opposite of Quinyon Mitchell. Free-agent signing Riq Woolen is one of the most athletic players at his position. He can have lapses in his technique, but he’s worlds better than what they had and can continue to improve. They also added some pass-rush juice, trading for Jonathan Greenard. Defensively, they could be even better than they were last season. Offensively, potentially losing A.J. Brown would hurt. The post-June 1 trade seems imminent, but the Eagles took an interesting approach to replacing him. They drafted Makai Lemon, a slot receiver who does his best work in the middle of the field, and tight end Eli Stowers, who is essentially a big slot that also works in the middle of the field. Jalen Hurts has targeted the intermediate middle of the field at one of the lowest rates of any quarterback in the league, and this has been consistent among multiple different play callers. Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion might try to get him to throw it there more often on play-action concepts and move away from the iterations of the offense that Shane Steichen installed in 2021. What’s interesting is that this is the last season Hurts has guaranteed money left on his deal. As accomplished as he is, he has to prove he can grow as a passer and age gracefully as his athleticism declines. He’s won a lot of games and a Super Bowl, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles owe him a lucrative contract if they think his game could continue to decline. 2. San Francisco 49ersBiggest needs heading into offseason: DL, WR, OL, CB, FSKey Acquisitions: WR Mike Evans, WR De’Zhaun Stribling, DT Osa OdighizuwaThe 49ers found ways to legitimately improve without a ton of cap space to work with and some holes to fill on the roster. It helped that Mike Evans wanted to play for a contender and took a deal far below what he could have gotten. The 49ers finally found a penetrating three-technique defensive tackle who’s perfect for their scheme, trading for Osa Odighizuwa. Christian Kirk is a good slot receiver who should thrive with Kyle Shanahan. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw and cornerback Nate Hobbs obviously have injury risks, but they fill needs and can be plus starters. Receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is considered a reach by some, but his potential to be a supercharged version of what Jauan Jennings did for this offense will bring some much-needed big-play ability on the perimeter. Defensive tackle Gracen Halton and edge Romello Height can also give the 49ers some juice on pass-rush downs. There are legitimate arguments about the 49ers’ ability to properly project value in the draft based on a significant sample size, but in this year’s draft, I liked the players they drafted and believe they can contribute this year. 3. Los Angeles RamsBiggest needs heading into offseason: CB, LBKey Acquisitions: CB Trent McDuffie, CB Jaylen Watson, QB2 Ty SimpsonThe Rams had one of the NFL’s best rosters and more than shored up their biggest weakness at corner, trading for Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs and signing Jaylen Watson. They’re solid across the board, except at linebacker, but they weren’t going to pick one at No. 13. However, they could have used their first-round pick to add wide receiver depth. Davante Adams isn’t getting younger and missed time because of his hamstring last season. They could have drafted guard Olaivavega Ioane or defensive end Rueben Bain. They don’t necessarily need starters at those positions, but injuries happen. You’ve heard enough about the Ty Simpson discussion, but hopefully, it’s a decision that won’t hurt their chances at a Super Bowl in the short term. Honorable mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks Rebuilding teams 1. Las Vegas RaidersBiggest needs heading into offseason: OL, WR, FS, LB, DTKey Acquisitions: QB Fernando Mendoza, C Tyler Linderbaum, ILB Nakobe DeanThe separating factor between the Raiders and the rest of the rebuilding teams is that they landed their franchise quarterback. They’re having one of the league’s best offseasons after decades of dysfunction. And aside from Fernando Mendoza and Tyler Linderbaum, they aren’t taking huge swings. General manager John Spytek is just hitting singles, but he’s hitting a lot of them, and they’re adding up. First, they got the best offensive play caller in the cycle, hiring Klint Kubiak after patiently waiting for the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl. They brought in a free-agent haul, signing players 27 or younger to their second contracts, like linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. They gave Linderbaum a huge market-resetting contract, but Kubiak values center more than guards for his system, so it makes sense and they had the cap space to outbid everyone. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked the Raiders’ draft as his third favorite. Second-round pick Treydan Stukes is a perfect scheme fit, and there are coaches in the league who believe Stukes can be special. Fourth-round pick Mike Washington Jr. can be an explosive spell back for Ashton Jeanty and should get plenty of carries. They didn’t invest heavy capital at wide receiver, but tight end Brock Bowers will be a target funnel, and the team believes Tre Tucker and free-agent signing Jalen Nailor can take their games to the next level. The team also wants to give last year’s second-round pick, Jack Bech, a chance to develop. This year could be the foundation that sets the Raiders up for long-term success. 2. Cleveland BrownsBiggest needs heading into offseason: OL, QB, WRKey Acquisitions: LT Spencer Fano, WR KC Concepcion, OL Tytus HowardThe Browns will have almost their entire top-10 defense returning. Losing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz isn’t ideal, but I like the thought process behind hiring Mike Rutenberg, who was the Falcons’ defensive pass game coordinator last season. Rutenberg has experience in a single-high, aggressive defense, which is what the Browns were last year and should continue to be. Their biggest issue of the offseason was having to replace their entire offensive line. General manager Andrew Berry deserves a ton of credit for his work in that department. Trading for Tytus Howard gives them a strong starter with position flexibility, and drafting Spencer Fano gives them an athletic blindside protector. Interior linemen Elgton Jenkins and Tevin Jenkins have injury histories, but the Browns had to take some risks. Last year, the Browns knocked it out of the park with their draft, as multiple picks showed they can be plus starters. This year, they’ve seemed to have done it again with Fano and completely rebuilding their receiving corps with KC Concepcion, the most explosive receiver in the draft, and Denzel Boston, who gives them a complementary big X receiver. The biggest question is obviously at quarterback. There will be a competition with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, but if they find that the long-term starter isn’t currently on the roster, they’ve built a great ecosystem to drop a quarterback into next year. 3. New Orleans SaintsBiggest needs heading into offseason: WR, CB, DTKey Acquisitions: LG David Edwards, WR Jordyn Tyson, RB Travis Etienne Jr. The Saints are in the second stage of their rebuild, but their roster was in such bad shape the year before that they can stay in this category for one more year. This offseason was about surrounding second-year quarterback Tyler Shough with talent. Through free agency, they added the best guard on the market in David Edwards. Tight end Noah Fant gives them the ability to line up in a very athletic 12 personnel grouping with Juwan Johnson, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. is a solid chain mover. First-round pick Jordyn Tyson has naturally deceptive body language that the NFL’s top receivers have, and he pairs with Chris Olave, coming off a career year. Shough now has all the tools he needs to prove that he can be the franchise quarterback. Honorable mention: Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins Teams on the brink 1. Dallas CowboysBiggest needs heading into offseason: Edge, DT, CB, LBKey Acquisitions: DB Caleb Downs, DE Malachi Lawrence, LB Jaishawn BarhamThe Cowboys look like they are finally putting together a team that can contend in the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade. Players have responded well to coach Brian Schottenheimer and the hiring of offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was inspired. Former coordinator Matt Eberflus’ defense was too predictable and exacerbated a lack of talent. The Cowboys are attempting to rectify that by replacing Eberflus with Christian Parker from Vic Fangio’s Eagles staff to modernize the unit. The front office fulfilled much of Parker’s checklist of needs through the draft. Getting a dynamic nickel was the top item on Parker’s list, and they got Caleb Downs, who is going to be the leader of their secondary. They also got edge help with their second first-round pick, Malachi Lawrence. Third-round pick Jaishawn Barham perfectly fits the Zack Baun archetype that is key to a Fangio-influenced system. He can play off-ball but can also move up to the line of scrimmage and play the run when they stem their fronts. Cornerback is still a major concern, but that should be partially mitigated by the two-deep safety shells Parker will deploy. Owner Jerry Jones has paid the premium for dragging out negotiations and waiting to pay players, but I think franchise-tagging George Pickens was the right move. Pickens had one great season after years in which effort was a legitimate issue. Seeing if he can achieve consistency before giving him a lucrative contract is wise. It’s a win for the Cowboys that Pickens signed the tag, keeping his lethal partnership with CeeDee Lamb alive for another year. The offense still can win shootouts, and the defense should be a much feistier unit. 2. Minnesota VikingsBiggest needs heading into offseason: QB, DT, OLKey Acquisitions: QB Kyler Murray, DT Caleb Banks, CB James PierreSigning Kyler Murray for the veteran minimum is enormous value — the Cardinals are still covering the vast majority of his $36.8 million salary, meaning Minnesota gets a former No. 1 pick for just $1.3 million against their cap. At his best, Murray has played like a top-10 QB, but even if he’s average, he’ll be an enormous upgrade for an offense that has one of the best receiving duos in the league and a top-tier play caller. Additionally, some of coach Kevin O’Connell’s favorite passing concepts mesh with what Murray does well. The interior of the offensive line is still shaky, and that could be an issue for a shorter quarterback, but protection should be much better than last season with tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill healthy again. Defensively, they traded away Jonathan Greenard, and they can really use Harrison Smith back — his ability to make on-field adjustments is critical. However, their defensive line could be better if rookie defensive tackles Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange are as good as I think they can be. Banks has the potential to be an elite disruptor if he can stay healthy, and Orange was one of the best run stuffers in the draft. Safety Jakobe Thomas is an intelligent, big hitter who gives defensive coordinator Brian Flores a good option if Smith doesn’t return. Free-agent corner James Pierre is an ascending player and could benefit from the pressure Flores creates. The Vikings offense will have its mojo back, and the defense will keep giving opponents headaches. 3. New York GiantsBiggest needs heading into offseason: WR, CB, OL, DTKey Acquisitions: OL Francis Mauigoa, LB Arvell Reese, TE Isaiah LikelyThe Giants’ biggest upgrade might be at head coach, where they brought in proven winner John Harbaugh to change the culture and set the foundation for long-term success for a franchise that desperately needs it. Quarterback Jaxson Dart showed potential to be a game-changing dual-threat quarterback last season. Going all-in on a young, promising quarterback’s sophomore season has proven to be a successful formula for big NFL turnarounds. The Giants didn’t make huge splashes in free agency, but they added useful pieces such as receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Isaiah Likely, who has experience uncovering in scramble drills. Fullback/tight end Patrick Ricard will help unlock the Giants’ heavy personnel running game. The Giants took advantage of so much draft capital, and their draft was universally loved. First-round pick Francis Mauigoa played tackle in college but will likely bump inside and bolster the interior of the line. Arvell Reese will play off-ball linebacker, and his ability to blitz is going to boost an already dangerous pass rush. The biggest questions are Malik Nabers’ health and whether they can improve on run defense after trading away nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. The Giants ranked dead last in defensive rushing success rate last season. Their highly drafted pass rushers won’t have a chance to pin their ears back if they can’t stop the run. Honorable mentions: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears |
