| Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net catches up with unsigned former Lion TAYLOR DECKER (as reported here by Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com): Longtime Lions left tackle Taylor Decker asked for and received his release this offseason after the team wanted him to take a pay cut. But while Decker is done as a Lion, he wouldn’t want to be a rival of the Lions. That’s the word from Justin Rogers, who interviewed Decker and wrote about him forDetroitFootball.net and learned that Decker wouldn’t want to play for the Bears or Packers. “He wants to play for a winner. Yet he’s kind of thinking about, ‘Is it cheap to go win somewhere else after you’ve invested all your energy emotionally and physically into one franchise?’” Rogers said on the Lions Collective podcast. “I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears or Packers. That’s the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him. I could see him joining a team mid-season, the further he gets away from football and games being played, injuries happening and the right offer occurs. I could also see him not playing.” Decker didn’t appreciate how the Lions approached him this offseason, asking him to take less money after he had been loyal to the team and spent a decade playing for them. But he still very much considers himself a Lion. “Taylor Decker wants to be remembered as a Lion, to the point where he wants back in the fold,” Rogers said. “Wherever this season may go, whether he plays for someone else or doesn’t, he wants to come here, sign the one-day contract, retire a Lion.” Decker will be warmly received by Lions fans whenever he does return to Detroit, and not wanting to play for a rival is one of the things Lions fans love about him. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASBilly Heyen of YahooSports.com on how Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com thinks the Cowboys can and should trade up for the best defensive player in the draft: The Dallas Cowboys need to find defensive upgrades in the 2026 NFL Draft. The good news is there are some potential superstars available on that side of the ball. The bad news is they may not make it to the Cowboys’ spot at No. 12 overall. That would point to a potential trade-up, and in a new article by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Monday, he writes that the Cowboys could target the No. 2 overall pick, currently held by the New York Jets. Barnwell would have the Cowboys send this year’s 12th and 112th picks to the Jets, along with a 2027 first-round and a 2027 third-rounder. In return, Dallas would get the No. 2 overall pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. It’s a steep price to pay, so the Cowboys would then need to get their choice right in the second spot. “What if the Cowboys absolutely, positively love one of the defensive players in this draft and want to make sure they get that guy on their roster immediately?” Barnwell writes. “I know it’s difficult to imagine Jerry Jones doing something rash and dramatic, but the Cowboys’ owner has to fix Dallas’ defense, preferably sooner rather than later. The Cowboys have essentially swapped out Osa Odighizuwa for Rashan Gary and added Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant in the secondary, but even with Quinnen Williams in the mix, the Cowboys lack star power and difference-makers in their front seven.” If a deal like this was coming together, the Cowboys would likely want to keep next year’s first-rounder out of it, but the Jets would likely insist on it. “He can get whoever he wants to make an immediate impact for the Cowboys at No. 2,” Barnwell writes. “With this trade, the Cowboys also hold onto the 20th pick, which would allow them to address the secondary, either by selecting a player or moving down for extra draft capital. Suddenly, Jones can feel like his team is actually … stacked on defense?” The Jets would get another chance at adding their QB of the future next year (or trading up with all their accumulated assets to find him). It might be a win-win trade, if the Cowboys pick the right guy after moving up. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| NEW ORLEANSKatherine Terrell of ESPN.com runs through the Saints roster and needs heading into the draft: The NFL draft is less than a month away, and the New Orleans Saints hold the No. 8 pick. They filled a number of needs in free agency, adding guard David Edwards, linebacker Kaden Elliss, tight end Noah Fant and running back Travis Etienne Jr. The Saints will still need to address positions of need at wide receiver and pass rusher. Here’s what their roster looks like and what Saints coach Kellen Moore recently had to say about each position as they count down to the April 23-25 draft (ESPN, ABC and ESPN the app). Offense QuarterbackThe Saints recently added veteran Zach Wilson, who presumably could compete with Spencer Rattler for the backup job behind Tyler Shough. “We had two quarterbacks, we were going to need to sign some more and our job is to make those environments as competitive as possible. We feel good about watching Zach … have followed him, evaluated him a number of times now, and so I feel like the opportunity was right,” Moore said. The Saints coach said a few months ago that the intent was to sign at least one or two more quarterbacks to compete this offseason, even though the team feels good about both Rattler and Shough. Wide receiverThe makeup of the Saints wideouts is more about potential than experience. Chris Olave is heading into his fifth-year option season and coming off a big year following a difficult 2024 season. But with the departures of Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, there’s not much depth behind him. Ja’Lynn Polk, the New England Patriots’ second-round pick in 2024, caught 12 passes as a rookie but has yet to take snaps with the Saints after they acquired him off the Pats’ injured reserve list via a preseason trade. Trey Palmer, who was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has two seasons of experience but also didn’t play for the Saints last season while on IR. Devaughn Vele, another preseason trade acquisition from the Denver Broncos, showed promise after he got more playing time via the departures of other receivers, but only had meaningful snaps in about half the Saints’ games last season. It would make sense for the Saints to look at this position in the draft as Moore molds the offense to his vision. Moore said one thing he’s looking for is how a new receiver would fit into that vision. “People like to say in the receiver room, you always kind of want it to feel like an NBA starting five. You don’t want all the same-looking bodies,” Moore said. “There’s a lot of different job responsibilities that go into it. And so it’s just us having those conversations that say, ‘Hey, if this guy came into the room, this is what it probably looks like, this is how we structure it.’ If this guy, again, you’ve got to have enough flexibility within your scheme to be able to do that. But I think it’s important to understand what it’s going to look like with a particular player.” Running backThe biggest question in the running back room is whether Alvin Kamara and Etienne will be playing together in 2026. With both backs set to each make more than $11 million this season, there’s also the question of whether Kamara returns on his current contract. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered one of this draft’s top players. If the Saints drafted Love at No. 8, those three salaries would represent a significant investment at the position. Kamara has one year left on his deal, while Etienne signed a four-year deal worth $11.8 million per year. Moore said this week that there would be enough snaps for both considering the high rate of injuries at RB. “We feel like there’s ways you can … put them in plenty of situations, again, look at our season last year, look at probably just about every NFL season. Plenty of running backs play,” Moore said. “Obviously we feel fortunate that we were able to acquire Travis in free agency, but there’s still a lot of work to be had out there.” Tight endThere has been one major departure within the tight end room after Foster Moreau signed with the Houston Texans. “Do-everything” player Taysom Hill (who was listed as a quarterback in 2025 but played a number of roles) remains a free agent. Juwan Johnson will return as the lead tight end, and Fant will have a significant role after the Saints pursued him twice before signing him in free agency. Offensive lineWith Edwards slated to play left guard, the only question mark is who will play on the right. RG Cesar Ruiz has been the starter there for several seasons, but Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in January that they’ll need to get more out of Ruiz this season. The Saints will also have to replace backup center Luke Fortner, who started 10 games when Erik McCoy was hurt. Fortner recently signed with the Carolina Panthers. Defense LinebackerReplacing longtime captain Demario Davis will be the biggest challenge for the linebacker group after the Saints brought Elliss back. “He’s going to be great for the Jets,” Moore said of Davis. “His leadership in the locker room, on the field, the example that he sets every day in practice, in games. Obviously he performed at a really high level last year, and so I think it’s going to be great for all those guys up there to have him in that locker room. He’s going to raise the level for all those guys.” While Elliss was a role player in his first stint with the Saints, he became a starter and captain during his years with the Atlanta Falcons. Elliss cautioned that replacing Davis and his leadership wasn’t something that could simply be done with one person. With Davis gone, second-year player Danny Stutsman should see increased playing time. Defensive lineDefensive end Cameron Jordan, the Saints’ franchise sack leader, remains unsigned. If Jordan, who turns 37 in July, re-signs, it’ll be a question of how he fits in the rotation with Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Jordan got more playing time early in 2025 after Young missed the first five games of the season, but Young still finished with 10 sacks. Jordan said recently on former teammate Terron Armstead’s podcast that one thing he was looking for in a team was not only the right contract but also the right opportunity and role. “Obviously we love Cam, and I think obviously a free agent’s responsibility is to put yourself in the best position to be successful. And so Cam gets to do that,” Moore said. “And so that’s credit to him and his journey and the performance that he had last year. I thought he did a really good job for us. And so we’ll continue to have those conversations.” The Saints have invested money and draft picks in their pass rushers over the years, so adding to this position wouldn’t be out of the question, even if Jordan returns. Defensive backNickel cornerback Alontae Taylor signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency, and the Saints will need to either sign another defensive back or move someone. “We got some guys in our building, obviously we feel like can make that transition, both from the corner and the safety buckets, so to speak,” Moore said. “Sometimes that position has some variables that tie both those positions together. We’ll go through the draft process. We’ll see what comes out of that experience, and then we’ll continue to evaluate it.” One player of intrigue will be safety Julian Blackmon, who signed with the Saints last summer but was hurt in the season opener. Blackmon re-signed with the Saints after spending the season on IR, and considering he has five seasons of starting experience with the Indianapolis Colts, they’ll try to find a place for him. Specialists KickerCharlie Smyth has shown impressive leg strength in the two seasons he has been with the Saints, and he’s the presumed starting kicker after what amounted to a six-game tryout last season. But Blake Grupe’s release late in the 2025 season showed the kicker-of-the-moment can change at any time. Smyth has potential but is only in his third year of kicking an American football after coming to the NFL from Ireland. He’ll need to show consistency in training camp, so it would be plausible for the Saints to bring another kicker to camp to compete against him. PunterThe Saints won’t be going into camp with an open competition for the first time in several years. The Saints traded Kai Kroeger to the Texans and signed former Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright to a four-year deal that is guaranteed for the first two years. That means he’ll be the Saints’ punter through at least his first season. Kick returnerThe Saints traded Pro Bowl kicker returner Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks last season, and things feel fairly open at that position this year. Recently signed running back Ty Chandler got some experience returning punts in his four seasons with the Vikings. |
| TAMPA BAYOnce again QB BAKER MAYFIELD has played through an immense number of injuries as he did with Cleveland in 2021. Although this time, the Buccaneers seem to have been more understanding as this from LB LAVONTE DAVID. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has a reputation for playing through anything. In 2025, he may have been playing through everything. Retired Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David recently opened up about Baker’s many bumps and bruises during an appearance on The Arena. “The season’s over now, I can talk about it,” David said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “Man, Baker was going through a lot, bro. Baker had a lot of injuries that you didn’t expect a quarterback to play through. You know what I’m saying? He had the oblique injury, he had the shoulder injury, he had a lot of things. You know, ankle injury, knee injury. . . . He was really trying to push through and really trying to be the player that we needed him to be.” Mayfield started all 17 games. He was listed as questionable only twice. In Week 4, he was questionable with a right biceps injury. In Week 13, Mayfield was questionable with a left shoulder injury. In all, Mayfield appeared on the injury report for 10 games: Week 3 (foot/toe), Week 4 (right biceps), Week 5 (right knee/biceps), Week 8 (knee), Week 10 (knee/oblique), Week 12 (illness), Week 13 (left shoulder), Week 14 (left shoulder), Week 15 (left shoulder), Week 18 (right shoulder/knee). And that’s just the stuff that was listed. If he didn’t get treatment and/or otherwise kept it to himself (David mentioned an ankle injury that was never listed), it wouldn’t have been listed. Bottom line? Mayfield is tough, determined, and able to play through injury. It gets potentially awkward if/when the team thinks a backup at 100 percent would be better than Mayfield at something less than that. If that question ever emerged for the Bucs in 2025, they did a very good job of keeping it quiet. |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYAlready with a 6-game suspension for horrible driving in 2024, WR RASHEE RICE will not be investigated for accusations made by his former girlfriend. Nate Taylor of ESPN.com: The NFL announced Friday that it concluded its own investigation into Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice, stating that he “has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy.” The NFL also said its investigation into the accusations from Dacoda Jones, Rice’s former girlfriend, is closed. At this time, Rice, 25, is not going to be disciplined by the league, which determined that “there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that he violated the personal conduct policy.” “Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season,” Sean Lindsey, Rice’s attorney, said in a statement. The Chiefs had no comment on the NFL’s decision Friday. In early January, Jones posted photos on her Instagram account that show bruises and wounds on multiple parts of her body, alleging abuse for numerous years. Jones didn’t name Rice or anyone else in the post, but she says that the person who abused her is the father of her children. Jones has two children with Rice. In the since-deleted Instagram post, Jones wrote: “I’m so tired of keeping quiet. I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through too much in a span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH!” She said she and Rice broke up in 2025 “and since then it’s been nothing but hell.” Jones also filed a lawsuit in Texas in February, alleging Rice repeatedly assaulted her during an 18-month span from 2023 to 2025. She said she was pregnant during many of the alleged assaults. She is seeking more than $1 million. Jones also alleges that Rice strangled her in December 2023. “Rice has grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects,” the lawsuit says. In response to the lawsuit, Lindsey released a statement: “On October 9th, 2025, well after the parties’ relationship had ended, Ms. Jones stated under penalty of perjury in a sworn Affidavit for Non-Prosecution that ‘Mr. Rice and I had a verbal argument, but he did not punch me.’ We will allow the legal process to run its course.” Following Jones’ claims, the NFL conducted its investigation. |
| LAS VEGASBryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com traces the financial genius of QB KIRK COUSINS. While he may not be a future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, Kirk Cousins is a undoubtably a first ballot Hall of Fame earner. Cousins, who has effectively signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, is the third-highest-earning player in NFL history. Only fellow quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers have accrued more career earnings than Cousins, who recently passed seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady on the all-time earnings list. The 2026 season will also be the 11th straight year where Cousins’ contract is fully guaranteed. Of his career salary, 99% of it has been fully guaranteed. Cousins’ $339,369,288 guaranteed salary is an NFL record. Highest-paid players in NFL history (via Over the Cap) Player Years active Career earnings1. Matthew Stafford 2009-present $408,000,0002. Aaron Rodgers 2005-present $395,812,7943. Kirk Cousins 2012-present $341,469,2884. Tom Brady 2000-22 $317,619,794 5. Russell Wilson 2012-25 $315,840,12 6. Matt Ryan 2008-22 $306,205,882 7. Dak Prescott 2016-present $295,437,392 8. Drew Brees 2001-20 $273,933,000 9. Ben Roethlisberger 2004-21 $266,724,382 10. Jared Goff 2016-present $259,607,504 While his career hasn’t been as good as most of the other quarterbacks on the above list, Cousins has been good enough over the years to be in the same vicinity as them from a financial standpoint. He’s certainly done well — both on the field and the negotiation tables — for a player who was drafted in the fourth round and who began his career as a backup behind then rookie phenom Robert Griffin III. While Griffin’s career was derailed by an injury sustained at the end of his rookie season, Cousins has enjoyed a lengthy career that has included four Pro Bowl selections and four playoff runs with Washington and Minnesota. And while his two years in Atlanta didn’t go as planned, Cousins still showed enough there to convince new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak that he deserves at least one more shot to be a starting NFL quarterback, albeit the Raiders are expected to select Indiana Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick later this month. How did Cousins join such exclusive company? Let’s find out by looking back at each of his contracts. 2012-2015: Rookie contractTeam: Washington Commanders Four years, $2.57 million Cousins officially began his NFL career after he signed his first contract with Washington after being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After making just nine starts during his first three seasons, Cousins’ career was changed for good after he led Washington to an unexpected division title in 2015, a year before he was slated to enter free agency for the first time. Cousins’ stock was probably never higher than after the 2015 season. And while that season ultimately paid dividends from a financial standpoint, Cousins first had to settle for the first of two one-year deals. 2016: Non-exclusive franchise tag Team: Washington Commanders One year, $19.953 million Cousins followed up his breakout 2015 campaign with a largely successful 2016 season that culminated with his first Pro Bowl selection. Washington wasn’t quite as good, however, missing the playoffs after going 8-7-1 (Washington went 9-7 the previous season). The 2016 season was in many ways the start of the enigma of Cousins, a prolific statistical player who for whatever reason has not been able to parlay that individual success into more team success. It might be more accurate to say that Cousins’ teams haven’t parlayed his success into more team success. Either way, the fact that Cousins hasn’t had more team success despite him having some very impressive individual seasons is nothing short of puzzling. 2017: Franchise tag Team: Washington CommandersOne year, $23.9 million Instead of a long-term deal, Washington again decided to hold on to Cousins for one year. But after another non-playoff season despite solid play from Cousins, the writing was on the wall regarding Cousins’ time in D.C. 2018-2020: First long-term contract Team: Minnesota Vikings Three years, $84 million Cousins was viewed as the missing piece to a potential championship puzzle for a Vikings team that was coming off an NFC Championship game appearance. That wasn’t ultimately the case, though, as the 2018 Vikings sputtered through a forgettable, 8-7-1 season despite another good statistical season from Cousins. The 2019 season, though, may have done as much for Cousins’ career than his breakout 2015 season, as his success that year contributed to a successful season for Minnesota that included an overtime win against the Saints in the wild card round that remains Cousins’ only postseason win. It also led to Cousins’ next big deal. 2021-2022: First contract extension Team: Minnesota VikingsTwo years, $66 million While 2019 led to another big contract, the following four seasons reinforced the narrative surrounding Cousins and his teams’ inability to win more games despite his gaudy numbers. Despite being named to two more Pro Bowls and throwing a career-high 35 touchdowns in 2020, the Vikings made the playoffs just once during Cousins’ final four seasons in Minnesota. In their lone playoff game over that span, Minnesota was upset by the Giants despite Cousins throwing for 273 yards and two touchdowns (and no interceptions) and rushing for another score. 2023: Second contract extensionTeam: Minnesota VikingsOne year, $35 millionCousins’ last season in Minnesota lasted just eight games when he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in a Week 8 victory against the Green Bay Packers. However, he was still able to land another lucrative deal as a free agent with the Falcons. 2024: Second long-term contract Team: Atlanta Falcons Four years, $180 million Like the Vikings had six years earlier, the Falcons clearly believed that Cousins was the missing piece for a team that was coming off three straight 7-10 seasons. Right from the start, though, the situation in Atlanta proved to be far different than the one Cousins had in Minnesota. Shortly after signing Cousins, the Falcons shocked everyone by using their first-round pick to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a move that led to Cousins publicly stating that he probably would have done something different in free agency had he known that the Falcons were planning to draft a quarterback in the first round. While it wasn’t as stunning as drafting Penix, the Falcons’ decision to not play Cousins in the preseason was perplexing. Cousins’ rustiness showed during Atlanta’s season-opening loss to the visiting Steelers that seemed to be a foreshadowing of Cousins’ short run in Atlanta. Unlike his years in Washington and Minnesota, Cousins’ mistakes largely overshadowed his highlights during his first season in Atlanta. It got to the point where he was benched late in the season with Atlanta sitting at 7-7 and clinging to its playoff hopes. The Falcons finished with an 8-9 record as Penix won one of his three starts. In a twist of irony, Cousins relieved Penix when the later sustained a season-ending injury during the second half of the 2025 season. Cousins (whose struggles in 2024 can at least partly be attributed to injuries that he opted to play through) played well enough to win five of his eight starts that included four straight wins to close out the season. 2026: Latest contract Team: Las Vegas RaidersFive years, $172 million ($20 million guaranteed)Cousins will earn $20 million in 2026 with a team option for two additional years at $80 million. Atlanta will pay Cousins $8.7 million this season and Las Vegas will pay him another $1.3 million. The Raiders have also agreed to pay Cousins a $10 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2027 new league year. Similar to Atlanta, Cousins is likely a short-term solution at QB1 as the Raiders prepare to bring aboard Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. The difference this time is that Cousins is fully aware of the situation he is walking into. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISFormer TE Eric Ebron thinks he knows why QB Andrew Luck retired seven years ago, but Luck says Ebron is off base. Former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has rejected a claim that the team’s General Manager Chris Ballard influenced his retirement decision ahead of the 2019 season. Word of Luck’s retirement surfaced during a preseason game that August and Luck explained the decision as a result of the effect that numerous injuries had on his physical and mental health. During an episode of his podcast On My Soul, former Colts tight end Eric Ebron suggested there was more to it than that. Ebron said Ballard, who he described as someone who “gets on everyone’s nerves,” told Luck “you’re either playing this year or we’re moving on.” Luck was dealing with an ankle injury at the time and, per Ebron, felt he was “not going to be ready” and made the choice to retire given the way Ballard laid things out. In an email to Mike Chappell of Fox 59, Luck said that was not the way things unfolded. “Chris and I had a wonderful partnership, especially through my decision to retire, and we remain close,’’ Luck wrote. “Any notion of internal pressures that influenced my decision are without merit.’’ The Colts have played one playoff game since Luck retired and have struggled to find a long-term answer at quarterback over that time. They hope it will be Daniel Jones after signing him to a new deal this offseason and having that bet pay off would help put the Luck discourse to rest once and for all. |
| JACKSONVILLEArmed with his second contract, EDGE TRAVON WALKER is determined to emulate Aaron Donald. Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com: – Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker instantly got the message when head coach Liam Coen used an Aaron Donald comparison during their end-of-season meeting. Coen wasn’t comparing Walker to Donald, one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, as a player, but to emulate the way Donald prepared, practiced and played. He wants to see the same things from Walker. That’s what Walker, who signed his four-year, $110 million contract extension on Saturday, wants, too. “It’s just like taking my game to another level,” Walker said. “Obviously, he’s seen Aaron Donald. He was on the team with Aaron Donald. So it just kind of helped put things in perspective for me to be able to just click it to a different type of mindset from how I was going throughout the year. “And I feel like it really clicked [and] dawned on me that it’s just time to ramp things up, take it to the next level.” Walker has 27.5 sacks, 200 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 57 quarterback hits in 60 career games since the Jaguars drafted him first overall in 2022. Though he had a lot of success while playing inside at Georgia, he has played mainly on the edge with the Jaguars and was coming into his own as a pass rusher with 10 sacks in 2023 and 10.5 in 2024. However, wrist and knee injuries limited him to 3.5 sacks in 2025. He can be a dominant player, Coen told him, but for that to happen during games it has to happen in practice, which is why he brought up Donald, an eight-time All-Pro, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time Pro Bowler as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams. “We literally had to take [Donald] out of practice in order for us to gain yards on offense,” said Coen, who was a Rams offensive assistant for four years, including the offensive coordinator in 2022. “And so if you want to get where you want to go and where we want you to go and where you can go, I need to be taking you out of practice so that we can operate on offense. I want that kind of destruction and mindset and mentality. “Habits. Not talent. It’s just habits. Elite habits, elite practice, preparation, game preparation, those habits and the way that you practice on a day-to-day basis.” Walker described the way he must operate going forward this way: “Pure dominance.” He can do that now without wondering about his financial future. His extension includes $77 million guaranteed and $50 million fully guaranteed at signing. “It’s just time to go play ball now,” he said. “I don’t have to think about none of that.” |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIAlthough not an owner (as far as we know), Troy Aikman has taken on a role with the Dolphins along the path of Tom Brady with the Raiders. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Once upon a time, the Cowboys beat the Dolphins in the Super Bowl. If the two teams somehow cross paths in the championship game in the not-too-distant future, Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman will definitely have a dog in the fight. In an interview with Clarence E. Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports, Aikman made it clear that he’s now all-in for the Dolphins. It’s still not clear, however, what Aikman will be doing. Aikman explained that he was approached by the Dolphins to assist with the General Manager search. Then, he was asked to help find a new head coach. Now, he’ll be sticking around. “I’ll continue to help in ways that are yet to be defined,” Aikman said. While Aikman’s specific role is TBD, the thinking is that Aikman can help the effort. In the same way that Tom Brady is helping the Raiders. “I think all franchise quarterbacks that have been in the league for any length of time,” Aikman said, “I think we all come out of the game thinking that we could run a team, and know what it takes, and certainly having been a part of some championship teams, and I know what the locker room feels like, and what a winning locker room should be like. “And so I really thought I would go in that direction when I was getting out of football, but because of things in my personal life, it kept me from really being able to devote time in that way. But, in the back of my mind, I kind of hoped it’d come along, and then, you know, I was so far removed at this particular time, I didn’t think it would ever happen. But so it’s kind of scratched that itch, but, you know, I don’t have any ownership. I don’t have the influence, if you will, that Tom seemingly has there with the Raiders. So it looks similar, but I’m not so sure that is.” It is similar in one important respect that continues to be glossed over by the league and the broadcast networks. While calling games for all 32 teams, Aikman now has a clear interest in the success of one of them. And he apparently plans to leverage the things he learns in his primary job to assist the performance of his second one. “I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league,” Aikman said. “And knowing that I have information that they don’t have or can’t get. And I think they were smart in taking advantage of that — whether it was through me or through somebody else. The Cowboys have never elected to do that, at least with me. You know, maybe they have with others. But, no, I don’t feel there’s a conflict [with the Cowboys]. But I will say I’m pulling for the Dolphins . . . because now I have something at stake, and I think they hired two really talented, wonderful people, and I think that’s gonna prove itself out. . . But, yeah, I’m pulling for them. I want to see them do well because I feel like my fingerprints are on it as well.” While there may be no direct conflict with the Cowboys until they play the Dolphins, the conflict of interest between Aikman’s main job and his side job is clear. And it will become an issue the moment Aikman shows up to visit another team’s facility and/or attend another team’s practice — especially if that team is on Miami’s 2026 schedule. As to Aikman’s dual role, the league has said it will address the situation “at the appropriate time.” In the interim, Aikman will be in the draft room with the Dolphins, further cementing the fact that he’s on the payroll and working to advance the team’s interests. Having a slice of equity doesn’t matter. Aikman is on the payroll. He wants the Dolphins to win. They’ve hired him, as Aikman said, due to the fact that he has “information that they don’t have or can’t get.” His two jobs have clearly conflicting interests. One employer will expect him to gather information that will help him perform that job to the best of his abilities. The other employer will expect that the information gathered in the first job will be shared for strategic purposes in the second job. Aikman is right about one thing: If the league is going to allow teams to hire broadcasters to funnel “information that they don’t have or can’t get,” every team should be smart enough to do it. It all goes back to Brady’s dual role. The moment the league shrugged at Brady working as Fox’s No. 1 analyst and owning a piece of the Raiders, a bridge was crossed. Aikman is merely the second guy across that bridge. Unless the league burns that bridge down, any team that doesn’t follow suit will be at a competitive disadvantage. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| ESPN’S #2 TEAMPartly due to the likelihood that ESPN will be showing games in Europe at 9:30 on Sundays, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic details the likelihood that Chis Fowler and the rest of ESPN’s #2 announcing team will change. ESPN is expected to change its No. 2 NFL game-calling team of Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick Jr. due to its new NFL deal, according to sources briefed on ESPN’s plans. As part of a potential new booth, Jason Kelce has emerged as a dark horse candidate on the analyst side, according to sources briefed on discussions, while NFL Network’s Kurt Warner is also in the mix. Kelce is a studio analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.” ESPN’s Dave Pasch and Mike Monaco are contenders to be a part of the new booth as play-by-play announcers. ESPN executives are still sorting out their plans, and other candidates, like Bob Wischusen, could emerge. As part of its agreements with the NFL, ESPN will no longer have “Monday Night Football” doubleheaders among its seven extra games included in the deal. There is a high likelihood that these seven matchups will be international, which would not allow Fowler, ESPN’s No. 1 college play-by-play announcer, to be regularly available, while also taking Orlovsky and Riddick out of the country for their studio work for a few days. Riddick also calls college football games, while Orlovsky does some college football studio work. Depending on the schedule, which is at the NFL’s discretion, there is a chance that Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick could still end up in the mix for a game here and there, but nothing is officially decided as of yet. ESPN declined to comment. ESPN’s No. 1 NFL broadcasting team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman remains as they enter the final seasons of their five-year deals for a total combined value of $165 million. The duo will call ESPN’s first Super Bowl next February. ESPN officially took over NFL Network this week as part of a series of agreements in which the league took a 10 percent stake in ESPN. ESPN views NFL Network similarly to the SEC Network, and ESPN is not looking to make major changes in how it is run, evidenced by NFL Network’s executive producer, Charlie Yook, continuing in his position. Yook will now report to ESPN executive vice president Mike McQuade. ESPN is interested in retaining NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, whose contract is up at the end of the month, according to the same sources. ESPN will keep the NFL Network’s Draft presentation, led by Rich Eisen, the same for this April. The initial plans are to have two separate draft shows in the future, but there could be more cross-pollination. However, with the draft just three weeks away, ESPN does not plan to alter its coverage for this year. Eisen had called many of the NFL Network’s international games with Warner, but does not appear to be a leading candidate to continue in that role. Eisen already has his radio show on ESPN Radio and ESPN’s direct-to-consumer apps. Warner was a candidate for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” in the past, but a deal never materialized. The team of Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick began together three seasons ago and never fully jelled. They all have other assignments, as Fowler is also ESPN’s lead tennis announcer. Orlovsky is a regular on all of ESPN’s studio shows, including “NFL Live.” Riddick, who has a player personnel background, was previously on the No. 1 “Monday Night Football” team. He is a featured contributor on ESPN’s draft coverage and studio shows. |
| THE CASE OF THE INJURED PAINTERBill Belichick was “negligent” in maintaining his house and a painter with the presidential name of Andrew Jackson fell to the extent he injured his ankle so badly he missed out on $161,000 in income in the last 19 months. Or so are the allegations as recounted by Mike Florio: Bill Belichick’s second offseason as head football coach at North Carolina has yet to include the storm of distractions that emerged a year ago. But the experience is not distraction-free. Via the Daily Mail, a painter has sued Belichick for injuries suffered while painting at Belichick’s home in July 2024. Andrew Jackson contends that Belichick’s $5 million property on Nantucket had improperly maintained plastic sheeting or coverings to protect the floor and furniture, which created a “dangerous and unsafe” work environment. From the lawsuit, which reportedly seeks nearly $300,000 in compensation: “Defendant owed Plaintiff a duty to use reasonable care to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, to inspect for hazards, to warn of dangers of which it knew or should have known, and to coordinate the site in a reasonably safe manner for lawful workers present there.” Jackson claims he fell at the work site, suffering a severe ankle injury. Jackson allegedly suffered pain, disability, lost wages, and medical expenses. He contends that he has incurred $61,000 in hospital expenses, $4,600 in doctors’ visits and $2,000 in physical-therapy bills. Jackson also alleges that he has lost $167,828.25 in wages, and that he will lose another $50,000. The total financial losses specified by Jackson total $285,436.39. If Jackson can prove Belichick was responsible for the injury, and if the financial harm can be established to the satisfaction of a judge and jury, Jackson would also be eligible for an award of general damages based on his pain. That would be over and above the financial consequences — and it could push the final award well north of $300,000. Belichick presumably has insurance that will cover the case. Still, he’ll be expected to cooperate with the litigation, unless and until a settlement is reached. Depending on the limits of Belichick’s liability coverage (and someone with his assets would be crazy not to have an umbrella policy worth at least $10 million), he’ll possibly face no specific financial losses. Unless, of course, the insurance companies try to claim that all or part of the incident isn’t covered. Which is the first question most insurance companies ask when faced with the prospect of paying out money to anyone. |
| 2026 DRAFTNick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman come up with some perfect fits for some of the current crop of draftees. Putting together NFL mock drafts is fairly linear. Teams have needs and slots to fill with players available in those areas. What’s better — and perhaps more challenging — is finding the right fit no matter the slot or round. In this exercise, NFL Draft senior writer Nick Baumgardner and college football writer Scott Dochterman try to marry a prospect’s fit with team needs and styles of play. Although the majority of players are likely first-round selections, a few won’t be. Sometimes, the best draft picks come on Days 2 or 3. Here’s a look at a few pairings we’d love to see: QuarterbackN.Y. Jets: Diego Pavia, VanderbiltNobody said these selections have to involve first-rounders — or even fourth-rounders. Such is the case with, well, making the case for Pavia, who isn’t going to be for everyone (or even most teams). For the Jets? Sure, maybe Pavia is rambunctious and immature and stands 5 feet 10 inches tall with the shortest arms of any quarterback at this year’s combine. For every reason he doesn’t make sense, though, you can’t deny how he impacts his teammates and the players around him. He was the SEC’s player of the year and Heisman Trophy runner-up, while guiding Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season, passing for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 862 yards and 10 scores. So, why should the Jets take a chance on Pavia? Well, it’s the Jets. Seemingly every quarterback the Jets draft early flops (as Zach Wilson did) or flounders until they wipe away the stench (as Sam Darnold did). Pavia is a low-risk, high-reward possibility — nobody should be naive about his antics or competitive nature. He’s far from a prototype, but maybe the Jets just need a baller. If he performs well, he instantly becomes a fan favorite. If he doesn’t, cut him and move on. — Scott Dochterman Running backSeattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, Notre DameNotre Dame’s other outstanding running back, Price, had no problem shining through Jeremiyah Love’s enormous shadow. Despite being a clear No. 2 RB in college (to arguably the best player in this draft), Price has the goods to grow into a lead NFL back — possibly sooner than later. Price’s first step and ability to sink before exploding into a cut make him a terror in the box and off the edge. He’s an explosive kick returner who isn’t afraid to run people over. With the loss of Kenneth Walker III, and with Zach Charbonnet rehabbing from winter ACL surgery, Seattle is in the market for a difference-making back. (Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne, Washington’s Jonah Coleman or Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. are other names to watch.) Price is the best of the bunch behind Love, and he should be ready to compete for starting carries quickly. Price absolutely could be available for Seattle at No. 64 and could even be worth a slight trade-up, if need be. — Nick Baumgardner Wide receiverPhiladelphia Eagles: Omar Cooper Jr., IndianaThe constant drama swirling about A.J. Brown’s situation leads one to believe he’s not long for Philadelphia. Whenever he leaves, the Eagles will need a high-level replacement to play alongside DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. Cooper fits everything Philly desires — and needs — at receiver. Cooper (6 feet, 196 pounds) is compact and one of the draft’s top route runners. He also might be this class’ best pure slot receiver (he played 83.3 percent of his snaps last season in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus). Cooper isn’t as physical as Brown, but he’s a tough dude, which will endear him to Eagles fans. I’m sure plenty of them will remember Cooper’s incredible game-winning catch against Penn State. — Dochterman Tight endKansas City Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, OregonNo one is trying to force Travis Kelce into retirement (and his future life as a concert roadie), but let’s consider two things: one, he can’t play forever; two, even the short-term potential of a Patrick Mahomes-led offense featuring Kelce, Sadiq, Walker and Xavier Worthy is something I’d buy a ticket to see. Sadiq’s long-term potential as Kelce’s successor and Mahomes’ new best friend is obvious. He is an extremely special athlete and the prototype for a modern tight end prospect — he can play inline and hold his own against tackles and edges; he’s an excellent space blocker who can deliver a blow on the move; he’s big enough to body small defensive backs and fast enough to run around many of them. The number of NFL linebackers who’ll be able to run with a fully operational Sadiq will be counted on one, maybe two, hands. — Baumgardner Offensive tackleDetroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, GeorgiaThe Lions need a future tackle, but they’re in a pretty unique spot. After letting Taylor Decker walk in free agency, they signed swing tackle Larry Borom (11 starts at right tackle for Miami last season). Detroit hasn’t committed to starting Borom in 2026, but it hasn’t ruled that out, either. Detroit also has the luxury of playing superstar OT Penei Sewell on the right or left side of the line. Freeling has the tackle class’ best blend of size and athleticism — purely as an athlete, the 6-foot-7, 315-pounder moves like Eagles legend Lane Johnson. As a football player, however, Freeling still has plenty of work ahead of him. He’s young and struggled with technical consistency in 2025, his lone year as a full-time starter. The Lions have a huge need, and Freeling’s long-term potential is outstanding. Detroit also would have the ability to ease Freeling into an already talented offensive outfit. — Baumgardner Interior offensive lineLos Angeles Rams: Logan Jones, IowaJones (6-3, 299) has the measurables that will give some teams pause, especially those who prefer mass and power at the point of attack. Plus, as a pure center, Jones has limited position flexibility. But what he does well, he does at a high level. As a four-year starter at Iowa, Jones followed his predecessor, Tyler Linderbaum, in moving from defensive line and built a similarly sterling career as a first-team All-American. Jones, however, is faster than Linderbaum — his 4.90-second 40-yard dash was the seventh fastest ever recorded by a center at the combine, just behind Jason Kelce. Jones also holds Iowa’s squat record (705 pounds), and his 470-pound hang clean ranks second only to Tristan Wirfs’ 500-pound explosion. That quickness and explosiveness come out on video in Iowa’s zone scheme, which is identical to the Rams’ style of play. Jones is cerebral and technically sound enough to start on day one for a Sean McVay-Kyle Shanahan style of play, without needing to put on more weight. — Dochterman EdgeDetroit Lions: Cashius Howell, Texas A&MThe Lions’ injuries up front and lack of a pass rush, save for Aidan Hutchinson (and new Tampa Bay edge Al-Quadin Muhammad), were key reasons why they missed on the postseason. Along with health, Detroit needs a consistent edge opposite of Hutchinson. Howell could provide that, and more. While Hutchinson is in the mold of J.J. Watt and Howie Long, Howell (6-2 1/2, 253) is sleek but has incredible quickness. He tied Arvell Reese for the second-fastest 10-yard split (1.58 seconds) at the combine among front-seven defenders, and that burst showed frequently last season as he helped lead the Aggies to the College Football Playoff. Howell was the SEC’s defensive player of the year, with 11 sacks and six pass breakups. As a different style of pass rusher capable of lining up on either side, Howell could give Detroit options — and opponents headaches. Now, whether Howell slides to the second round (if the Lions select Freeling in Round 1, as we suggest here) remains another question. — Dochterman Defensive lineChicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, Ohio StateMcDonald reminds me quite a bit of his former Buckeyes teammate (and current Detroit Lion) Tyleik Williams. He’s a versatile 6-foot-3, 330-pound run stuffer, with an ability to chase and find the ball outside his square. McDonald has better long-term pass-rush potential than Williams and could be a legitimate three-down three-tech, because of his ability to slide over to nose when the moment requires. The biggest drawback with McDonald right now is his youth. He only had one season as a starter in college and hasn’t quite put it all together just yet, pass-rush-wise. Bottom line, though, is that McDonald is a disruptive presence capable of pushing the pocket. He would offer immediate help to a so-so defensive interior. A long-term duo of McDonald and Gervon Dexter Sr. in the Windy City sounds like a successful one. — Baumgardner LinebackerBuffalo Bills: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas TechThe Bills seemingly need help at off-ball linebacker every year — they’ve been trotting out Matt Milano to make every tackle. As they make a switch to a 3-4, the Bills must prioritize that position, and Rodriguez is among the “safest” picks in the draft. He was a tackling machine for the Red Raiders, who won the Big 12 championship and earned a College Football Playoff spot, finishing with 128 tackles (11 for loss) and forcing seven fumbles to go with four interceptions. You can nitpick his measureables and combine times, but you’ll immediately get a solid starter and a team captain. Buffalo needs that now as it transitions into a new era on defense. — Dochterman CornerbackDallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, LSUThe best man-to-man coverage defender in the 2026 NFL Draft, Delane was a true diamond in LSU’s rough last season. A controlled, explosive athlete who is hard to stack and harder to fool, Delane broke up seven passes and forced 11 more incompletions last season to emerge as the SEC’s most productive on-ball corner. He committed zero penalties; he gave up zero touchdowns. Jermod McCoy is bigger, and Avieon Terrell’s a smoother athlete, but Delane is the most consistent corner in this class. He already plays with an NFL starter’s mindset and will be ready to roll on day one. Does he make it to No. 12? We’ll see. For Dallas, though, this could be the case of best player available meeting an immediate need. — Baumgardner SafetyMinnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, OregonThe Vikings are staring at replacing future Ring of Honor member Harrison Smith at safety, and Thieneman can immediately fill that role. Smith was a little bigger, but Thieneman is as athletic as anyone at that position, save for Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. At the combine, he cruised to a 4.35 40 time and posted a 41-inch vertical. He also was one of the few defensive backs to hit the bench — he put up 225 pounds 18 times. But Thieneman is more than a workout warrior. He was a freshman All-American at Purdue in 2023, with six interceptions and 106 tackles. After a coaching change following the 2024 season, Thieneman moved to Oregon, and he finished last year second on the team in tackles (96) and added two interceptions. He can fill multiple roles in the secondary, which is just what the Vikings desire under Brian Flores. — Dochterman |
