| A year ago, the Seahawks and Patriots appeared on few, if any, lists of Super Bowl favorites. Matt Verderame of SI.com offers six sleeper teams to hoist Lombardi this season: The favorites are the usual suspects, with the Rams, Bills, Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens and 49ers all among the betting darlings to not only reach Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium but to win it all come Valentine’s Day. But who are the teams nobody sees coming? Last season, the Seahawks and Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl, and neither made the playoffs the year before. In fact, New England was coming off a four-win season, while Seattle had traded away quarterback Geno Smith and star receiver DK Metcalf before reshuffling the roster. So, who are the aforementioned teams waiting to surprise? We looked at each conference and came up with three, starting with the longer shots. The only ground rule to be included as a sleeper is being outside the top 10 of Super Bowl odds going into training camp. Other than that, it’s fair game. Green Bay PackersThe Packers make the list because they have a top-10 coach/quarterback combo in Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love. Green Bay also has experience. The Packers have reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and six of the past seven. While the NFC North projects to be one of the league’s strongest divisions as all four clubs are coming off winning records, the Packers are in that mix, provided tight end Tucker Kraft and edge rusher Micah Parsons can both recover fully from torn ACLs. The big key is Love’s ascension alongside his skill-position talent. Since becoming a starter in 2023, Love hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver. Green Bay hoped to remedy that issue by drafting Matthew Golden in the first round last year. As a rookie, though, Golden posted 29 catches for 361 yards and no touchdowns. Golden must step up, while Jayden Reed and Christian Watson simply need to stay healthy. Last year, the pair missed 17 combined games. Finally, Love was an analytics darling in 2025, finishing third in EPA (+95.6) and second in EPA per dropback (+0.20), but his overall totals were merely solid with 3,381 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. If Love and his receivers level up, the Packers are dangerous. Pittsburgh SteelersSpeaking of quarterbacks (and Green Bay), the Steelers’ ceiling is completely predicated on whether Aaron Rodgers can turn back time for a few months. Rodgers is 42 and hasn’t played at an elite level since winning consecutive MVPs in 2020 and ’21. While hoping he gets back to that form is unreasonable, approaching it might not be impossible. With former Packers coach Mike McCarthy joining him in Pittsburgh, and the acquisition of wideout Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, there are reasons to believe Rodgers can be better. If Rodgers is going to rebound from a middling 2025 showing of 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, it starts with challenging himself and defenses. Last season, he was dead last in air yards per completion (3.7). Additionally, while he attempted the fifth-most passes of 10 air yards or fewer, he ranked 14th in EPA on those plays at +7.4. As for passes of 10-19 air yards, Rodgers was 25th with 76 attempts, seven fewer than Michael Penix Jr., who played in nine games. General manager Omar Khan improved the roster with the signings of corner Jamel Dean, safety Jaquon Brisker and running back Kenneth Gainwell, along with the Pittman trade. Now it’s on Rodgers. Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys are fascinating. They haven’t been to the NFC title game since the 1996 season. They’ve ripped through coaches, quarterbacks and one big swing after the next without finding ultimate success. And yet, this team has some pieces that could make it a force in the NFC. Dallas finished 8–9 last year in coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, primarily held back by its 30th-ranked defense. With new coordinator Christian Parker taking over a unit that traded for edge rusher Rashan Gary and his 7.5 sacks from 2025, Cowboys fans should be hopeful. The big question is whether the five rookies can make a major, immediate impact, led by first-rounders Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. If they can, the offense is Super Bowl–caliber. Dak Prescott was second in 2023 MVP voting and looked excellent again last year, throwing for 4,552 yards on 7.6 yards per attempt with 30 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He’s surrounded by a pair of All-Pro receivers in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who combined for 2,506 yards and 12 touchdowns. Then there’s tight end Jake Ferguson, who notched 600 yards and eight scores, the latter ranking third at his position. In a division that’s wide open, featuring the Eagles as slight +140 favorites with Dallas at +200, the Cowboys are a few improvements away from a home game or two in January. Houston TexansThe Texans are following the Seahawks’ blueprint for a title. Last season, Seattle ran through the NFC and earned home-field advantage before winning it all by having the NFL’s sixth-ranked defense while allowing the fewest points and second-fewest yards per play (4.6). Houston had a similar unit, permitting the fewest yards and second-fewest points, helping the Texans reach the divisional round for the third consecutive year. The Seahawks’ offense was led by a league-average quarterback in Sam Darnold, one great receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a rushing attack paced by 1,000-yard back Kenneth Walker III. Houston has the pieces to match that trio with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and the newly acquired David Montgomery. While it’s unlikely Collins will lead the league in yardage as Smith-Njigba did with 1,793, it’s also reasonable to think Stroud could eclipse Darnold’s 4,048 yards and 25 touchdown passes. With a defense that can argue it has both the best pass-rushing duo in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter (27 combined sacks in 2025), and the best secondary led by Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, a Super Bowl jaunt isn’t an impossible dream. Cincinnati BengalsWhen Joe Burrow is on the field, the Bengals are lethal. In 2022 and ’23, Burrow played 32 of a possible 34 games. In those years, Cincinnati reached the AFC title game twice, including a Super Bowl appearance. Since, Burrow has played in only 35 of 51 games, and the Bengals haven’t made it to the postseason. Burrow will turn 30 in December, and a significant part of Burrow’s career should be ahead of him. One ring, and he’s a likely Hall of Famer, two things other great Bengals quarterbacks, Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason, never achieved. But for Burrow to reach those benchmarks, he needs to play, and so does his defense. After finishing 25th in points and yards allowed in 2024, Cincinnati fired longtime coordinator Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden, who came over from Notre Dame. His first season went poorly, as the Bengals were 31st defensively (30th in scoring) and allowed 31-plus points in seven games. This offseason, general manager Duke Tobin made sweeping changes. Although former All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson left in free agency, Tobin sent a first-round pick to the Giants for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II. Lawrence had just eight quarterback hits and a half sack in 2025, but in the three prior seasons, Lawrence made the Pro Bowl each time while totaling 65 quarterback hits and 21 sacks. Tobin also signed Cincinnati native and safety Bryan Cook, along with edge rusher Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. If the defense can gel with its infusion of talent and Burrow can maintain an upright posture, the Bengals are a threat to win the AFC North and more. Chicago BearsHow are the Bears sitting at 25-to-1 odds after last season? In his first season, coach Ben Johnson won 11 games and led Chicago to its first NFC North title since 2018, when Mitchell Trubisky was under center. Much of the team’s resurgence can be credited to the combo of Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was also electrifying in the postseason, navigating an 18-point comeback in the wild-card round over the Packers before going toe-to-toe with the Rams in an overtime defeat. Also, the revamped offensive line deserves credit. Last winter, the Bears brought in guards Jonah Jackson and All-Pro Joe Thuney, along with center Drew Dalman. Dalman earned Pro Bowl honors but shockingly retired this offseason, leaving his void to be filled by rookie second-round pick Logan Jones and/or veteran Garrett Bradbury. Behind the new interior, Williams’s sacks went from a league-high 68 as a rookie to 24 last season. If center isn’t a constant issue, the front remains a strength with second-team All-Pro Darnell Wright anchoring the right side. If there’s a concern beyond center, it’s the defense. In 2025, Chicago ranked 29th in yards and 23rd in points allowed, while also finishing 25th in sacks (35) and quarterback hits (84). While the safeties were addressed with first-round pick Dillon Thieneman and the signing of former Seahawks star Coby Bryant, the rest of the defense is primarily the same, save for depth signings and the release of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. If something is going to sink Chicago’s dream of its first Super Bowl victory since the 1985 season, that’ll likely be it. None of Verderame’s six teams come from that far off the 2025 pace with four making the playoffs (the two that didn’t were Dallas and Cincinnati). We looked at the odds at FanDuel and note that Verderame passed over the Broncos (+2000) and Jaguars (+2500), playoff teams (indeed division champs) from a year ago. The Steelers (+7000) are the team with the longest odds currently on his list. For another true longshot the DB has a chance, we would have found room for the Giants (also +7000). Accomplished new coach, second year quarterback on the rise, big incoming rookie class, better defense than you might think a year ago – it all kind of mirrors the Patriots a year ago. The difference is the Giants have a harder schedule than the 2025 Patriots did – but still it is easier than the brutal slog Big Blue faced last year. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOThe Bears are counting on WR ROME ODUNZE to be a legitimate number one receiver in 2026, a role that has eluded the onetime first round pick so far. Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com: – On Dec. 14, Necia Bunnell felt her phone buzz moments before kickoff at Soldier Field. Her heart sank when she saw who was calling, as her motherly intuition was kicking in. “As a mom, you want to fix everything for your kids,” she said. On the other line was Chicago Bears receiver Rome Odunze ringing his mother on this frigid Sunday. The 23-year-old receiver, who dealt with a persistent stress fracture in his foot since before the midway point of the season and was set to return after a one-game absence, aggravated his injury at the end of pregame warmups so significantly that he was scratched from the lineup. Before the ripple effect cascaded through the NFL world, he was giving his mom the heads-up that she wouldn’t see him on the field that day — a 31-3 rout of the Cleveland Browns. Shortly thereafter, Odunze learned that the Bears were shutting him down for the rest of the regular season. His sophomore campaign in Chicago, which included just four catches for 88 yards when he returned for the Bears’ two playoff games, fell way short of expectations. He masked his disappointment with the same fervor he displayed while punching a hole through the ceiling of the visitors locker room after the Bears beat the Eagles two weeks prior. While Odunze celebrated the plays his teammates made while he was sidelined, he learned an important lesson in patience and navigating the ebbs and flows of emotions that spark doubt. “Your career is going to invite those moments of adversity,” Odunze told ESPN. “That’s the moment that I was in, and I embraced that. I know I’m better for it to be able to go through something like that and have the season that I did that brought me to that sort of disappointment. I feel like there’s those moments can tell you who you are and where you’re going to go from there.” The destination Odunze believes is within his reach is a trip straight to the top of the Bears’ depth chart. His foot has healed and he has put in the work this offseason to make sure an injury of that magnitude doesn’t again hold him back. Though DJ Moore’s departure this offseason creates a void in leadership and on-field production, Odunze sees a prime opportunity to grab hold of the WR1 role he has been expected to fill since being drafted ninth in 2024. “Oh, I’m ready for it,” Odunze said. “I’m 100% confident in it.” The 2025 season reinforced the type of patience that Odunze has encountered throughout his life, whether via his own terms or while having to navigate circumstances out of his control. It’s a trait that helped him master a headstand at 3 years old and perfect the lines of his sketches in art class, a skill that later made him the perfect person to emulate artist Bob Ross in the Bears’ schedule release video. It helped him overcome a broken collarbone that cost him nearly his entire sophomore season in high school and deal with the discontent of falling short of his own aspirations during his second season in the NFL. Now, it’s a big part of what will fuel Odunze to be the playmaker the Bears can rely on in 2026. WHEN THE BEARS drafted Odunze, eight selections after securing quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, they were not only bringing in college football’s leading receiver (1,640 yards for national champion runner-up Washington) but the most dominant wideout on 50-50 balls. Odunze’s 24 contested catches during his final season with the Huskies in 2023 were tied for the most in the FBS. Dropped passes were never part of his makeup in college, which is why the receiver was so critical of himself as missed opportunities became as magnified as the plays he made. According to ESPN’s tracking, Odunze’s three drops were tied for the team lead with rookies Kyle Monangai and Luther Burden III and tied for 54th in the NFL with 38 others. After a strong start over the first month of the season, Odunze’s momentum slowed following Chicago’s Week 5 bye. He managed one 100-yard performance — Week 8 in Baltimore — which coincides with when he developed his foot injury. As players returned to Halas Hall for the offseason program, coaches took to reminding Odunze about the type of receiver they expect him to be. “You go back and you pull [the contested catches he made in college] from that film, match it up with the plays he has made in the NFL as it relates to those 50-50 balls or what have you,” Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El said. “The one thing you get is like, all right, the confidence is restored. Now let’s go do it from that standpoint. So it’s just about showing him. That’s what we’ve done, and we fully expect him to go out and make those plays.” The Bears’ own metrics for drops reveal that they accounted for 43 in 2025. From Randle El to head coach Ben Johnson, the staff was quick to label Odunze’s drops as an anomaly and easily correctable. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the 11-year NFL veteran receiver whom Odunze trains with in Southern California, sees the path toward fixing this issue similarly. “The way Rome caught the ball in college, I would always tell my guys, Rome was playing with six fingers. Everybody else is playing with five,” Houshmandzadeh said. “He caught the ball so effortlessly. Great hand-eye coordination in college that when you start dropping the ball in NFL, you’re pressing. It’s your concentration. You’re not getting many opportunities. So when opportunity comes, you start to press. And I don’t really worry about guys that drop the ball that I know that have good hands. “Him catching and dropping a ball, on a scale of one to 10 concerned, it would probably be a zero.” ODUNZE LEARNED OF the dynamic shift in the Bears’ wide receivers room when he received a text from Moore shortly before Chicago sent Moore to Buffalo in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. So much was about to change for the Bears’ offense and for what would be asked of Odunze in Moore’s absence. “It was tough for sure,” Odunze said. “DJ’s my brother. He was a big mentor for me being here, and I’m happy he’s now with a great team, a contender that has awesome players as well. I’m excited to kind of fill that role that he was playing here and kind of absorb some of that void collectively.” The pressure associated with being WR1 is a challenge the Bears don’t expect Odunze to shoulder alone. Insulating the young receiver was a strategic play by the Bears during free agency, which led them to veterans Kalif Raymond, who played for Johnson and Randle El in Detroit, and Scotty Miller, who won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. “As long as there’s an older guy in the room, you always learn from that guy because that guy has played more ball,” Randle El said. “… But [Odunze has] still got to go play. I don’t think it takes any pressure [off] from that standpoint because I always feel like the coaches helped it. Let’s say if I didn’t have the veterans, and he is the lead guy, it’s like I’ve got to help him with that. The pressure is always going to be there because that’s just the game. And if you continue to make those plays, you feel the pressure less.” Odunze has put the onus on himself to turn those pressure moments into triumph by how he set up his offseason training. That began with focusing on specific exercises to strengthen his feet by working the intrinsic foot muscles, a group of 20 small but powerful muscles that aid with balance, arch support, toe movement and shock absorption. Applying these techniques to routes and cuts he has repped repeatedly throughout his training helped Odunze regain the confidence in two of his most important weapons: his feet. Honing the rest of his confidence comes from the work put in during throwing sessions with Williams and his teammates, receivers Jahdae Walker and Burden and tight end Colston Loveland. Odunze said he never saw a disconnect between Bears receivers and Williams in moments where drops and missed opportunities felt prevalent but understands that the rhetoric of not being on the same page won’t cut it as Chicago’s offense progresses into Year 2 under Johnson. In these side sessions, Williams has encouraged receivers to flip their hands upward to receive passes to make it easier to haul in the throws he makes with such speed and velocity. Bears coaches call it the “Cs,” where receivers are taught to form their hands like the letter C facing inward while keeping their eyes locked on the quarterback through the opening created by their hands. “You can’t catch it if you can’t see it, and then when you catch the ball, you want to ‘C’ it,” Randle El said. Over the next two weeks, before the Bears break for summer, Odunze will have a chance to see how the efforts he has already put in this offseason are paying off. The balancing act of being patient while wanting to make an immediate impact for a Bears team coming off an 11-win season is one he’ll have to learn to master while taking on an even bigger role in the offense. Though Odunze’s regular season ended on that frigid day in Week 15, he has worked his way back to fill that void that he knows awaits the team, but in that moment in December, his mom couldn’t help but feel for her son. “You don’t want them to go through the hard things,” Bunnell said, “understanding, though, that that’s a part of life, but you still don’t like to see your kids struggle.” That struggle is something that has fueled Odunze, though, and he looks forward to what Year 3 will bring in his new role. “The biggest thing for me is my actions daily,” Odunze said. “I feel like if I take the proper steps daily, I’m doing the right things and people will be able to follow. And then when things might find themselves out of line, being able to correct those things — whether it’s vocally or through more action, whatever that takes.” |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSWR ODELL BECKHAM, Jr. explains why he signed with the Giants. Charean Williams ofProFootballTalk.com: Odell Beckham spent his first five seasons with the Giants. He insists he never wanted to leave, but in the 2019 offseason, the Giants sent him to the Browns in a blockbuster trade. Eight years and three other teams later, Beckham has returned to where it all started when the Giants used a first-round pick on him. Beckham called being back with the Giants, with whom he signed a free agent deal this week, “a pretty surreal feeling.” “Just the way that I had to walk away, it was just unsettling in my soul, in my spirit,’’ Beckham said, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “It’s not who I am. I’ve never surrendered or quit or felt like I’ve given up on myself or anything. It just wasn’t sitting with me well.’’ Beckham expressed gratitude to co-owner John Mara and the organization for giving him another opportunity. Beckham has not played an NFL game since Dec. 8, 2024, with the Dolphins, as he sat out the 2025 season. He has played only 23 games over the past four seasons. “This family brought me in; they gave me my first opportunity,” Beckham said. “Something I’ll forever be grateful for. So many amazing memories. My life was here. I never thought I’d be anywhere else. To even have the opportunity to put a jersey and a helmet back on – I actually left one of my helmets here, it had dust on it. — it was good to see. “But yeah, I want to do it for that family, for this building, for Giants Nation. This is my squad. It’s just going to come with everyday work, being the best me I can be.” Beckham is 33, hasn’t made a Pro Bowl since 2016 and hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019. This is likely his last chance, even if he’s not looking at it like that. “I look at it like this: God has given me one more opportunity to play,” Beckham said. “Whatever I do with that is that. I’m not saying this is my only year and I’m not saying that I’ve got five more for you. I’m just looking at it like this is my opportunity now. We’ll see where it goes from there.” |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAWR DRAKE LONDON has an extension at significant money. Marc Raimondi ofESPN.com: Ian Cunningham sat at a table inside a closed restaurant at The Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. It was late March, right after the first wave of free agency and before the NFL draft came fully into focus. The new Atlanta Falcons general manager was asked about the team’s star wide receiver Drake London, who he had yet to actually meet in person at the time. “I remember evaluating him at USC coming out [of college], and what we thought of him then he’s already showcased in the NFL,” Cunningham said. “Just his ability to high-point balls, the tenacity and personality he plays with on the field. I feel like if I were a teammate of his, I would like playing with him.” Did that mean an extension for London was a high-priority item this offseason as he was heading into the fifth-year-option year on his rookie contract? “I think it’s on top of mind,” Cunningham said then. Cunningham was somewhat coy, wanting to focus the conversation more on the upcoming draft. But keeping London in Atlanta was probably an easy decision — the first big one on a lengthy checklist for the new regime. The Falcons signed London to a four-year, $141 million extension Tuesday. The deal could go up to $150 million with incentives and London will make $100 million guaranteed. He is now the third-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL in terms of annual average salary ($35.25 million). That might sound like a lot of money for a wide receiver who has had only a single season with more than 1,000 yards receiving. In reality, London is only 24 years old, one of the team’s emotional leaders and has not yet experienced consistent quarterback play in Atlanta. In 2024, he was one of the league’s most productive wideouts. With the way receiver dollars have grown exponentially over the past few years, this will probably look like a steal by the back half of the contract. With London now on the books long term, the Falcons will turn their focus to another young star skill player: 24-year-old running back Bijan Robinson. He could command the highest salary at his position in the league and rightfully so. Robinson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,298) in 2025. Robinson is heading into his fourth season and the Falcons already picked up his fifth-year option for 2027. An extension seems likely. No one was sure exactly how this offseason would play out with a new front office (led by Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan) and new coaching staff (led by head coach Kevin Stefanski). London and Robinson are stars but were both selected No. 8 overall in the draft by the previous brain trust, general manager Terry Fontenot and his group. There are never any guarantees following an overhaul like the Falcons made over the past few months. But extending London indicates that Ryan, Cunningham, Stefanski and company will be building the offense around him and Robinson for the foreseeable future. Plus, the Falcons made only incremental, short-term signings in free agency. The only non-specialist to get more than a one-year contract was wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who is 26 years old. A decision still needs to be made about tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., the No. 4 pick in 2021. He has shown major upside, but has been inconsistent. Pitts will play this season on the franchise tag. It appears like the new Falcons regime will evaluate him in a new scheme in 2026 before determining what to do next. Atlanta will probably address an aging offensive line next offseason. And, most importantly, a franchise quarterback still needs to take shape. Perhaps that could be Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. But Tagovailoa is only making $1.3 million this season and will be a free agent next offseason. If he wins the starting job and has a great 2026, he would need to get paid significantly for 2027 and beyond. Would that be a gamble Atlanta would want to take? All of that is hypothetical right now. The one thing we do know: After Tuesday’s big extension news, these Falcons decision-makers are not going to blow this roster up completely. They are going to keep London and likely Robinson and have them be their offensive core — for years to come. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAIan Rapoport issues a stand down on the rumor the Cardinals are shopping EDGE JOSH SWEAT: @RapSheetThis has gained some steam on social media, so just to provide some clarity: #AZCardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat is not being traded. Not to the #Packers or anywhere. Carry on… |
| SAN FRANCISCOWR BRANDON AIYUK, still technically a 49er, is wanted by authorities throughout Santa Clara. The manhunt was caused by Aiyuk’s confession in December to knucklehead driving. Evidence of bad driving in December, referred to District Attorney’s office in January, arrest warrant issued in June. Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com: — The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office issued a warrant for the arrest of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding. The warrant is in reference to a video Aiyuk posted to YouTube in December, in which he appears to tape himself from the driver’s seat going well over the posted 40 miles per hour speed limit on a road that runs past Levi’s Stadium, the DA’s office confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday. A few days after posting the video, Aiyuk apologized for sharing the video of himself driving a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing on Tasman Drive, just outside of the Niners’ home field. “Sorry ya’ll, my car content won’t come with speeding anymore,” Aiyuk wrote in a post to YouTube. “Was praying with my son tonight and wouldn’t want anybody else to miss out on an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones! My apologies.” Amid news of the warrant being issued for his arrest, Aiyuk posted video to Instagram on Wednesday of himself driving a car on a racetrack. Following the incident, the Santa Clara Police Department indicated it would investigate whether any criminal charges would be filed. The case was forwarded to the DA’s office on Jan. 15. The California Post first reported the warrant being issued. The estranged wide receiver has not been with the 49ers since late last season when the team acknowledged that it placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list and voided the nearly $27 million in guaranteed money remaining on his deal last July. The voided guarantees came because he failed to participate in mandatory rehab sessions for his injured right knee. The 49ers have been hoping to trade Aiyuk this offseason after general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear in January that he’d played his final snaps in San Francisco. Aiyuk has not played in a game since October 2024 when he tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his knee. Now that June 1 has passed, the Niners are free to trade or release Aiyuk with the remainder of the dead money owed to him split up over the next two years rather than just 2026. San Francisco’s hopes of trading Aiyuk have proved futile so far. After the draft in April, Lynch said there hadn’t been much movement on that front, though the Niners have been reluctant to simply release Aiyuk and give another team a chance to get him acclimated this offseason without compensation going back to the Bay Area. “We’re available,” Lynch said then. “Give us a call. I think it’s the prudent thing to do. He’s an extremely talented player. He’s been an extremely effective player in our league. The situation didn’t work itself out here. That’s not to say it can’t be rekindled somewhere else. And we’d be happy to do something with anyone if the opportunity presented itself.”– – -QB MAC JONES starts June with a sore arm. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The 49ers canceled next week’s mandatory minicamp, so they will wrap up their offseason program on Thursday. 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones did not throw last week or this week as he rests his throwing arm. Jones, though, isn’t concerned. “Just a little soreness in my shoulder,” Jones said on Wednesday, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Everything’s clean and looks good, so just kind of being precautionary, I guess is the word. But yeah, I’ll be ready for training camp.” Jones, 27, started eight games in place of Brock Purdy last season, and the 49ers went 5-3 in his starts. His success spurred trade rumors in the offseason, but the 49ers made it clear to him that they had no plans to trade him. While he wants another starting opportunity, Jones isn’t in a rush to leave a good situation. “I also love it here, and I’m not really in the business of leaving good people, so I’m not mad about it at all,” Jones said. “I think it’s a great organization, and I did a lot of fun stuff last year, but it’s a new year. I feel like this is the first year I’ve had the same offensive playbook, being in the NFL, so that’s kind of nice. If you go to a new team, you’ve got to learn a new playbook again and kind of do everything over, so it’s good. “I’m excited, and really, just looking forward to this summer and getting everything going again.” The 49ers gave Jones a pay raise for 2026 as he enters the final year of his contract. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASRyan Wilson of CBSSports.com has a formula, and with it he offers a best case and worst case scenario for QB FERNANDO MENDOZA: Fernando Mendoza: The burden of being No. 1 Fernando MendozaLV • QB • #15Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to a 16–0 record and CFP National Championship If this were based solely on college performance, Fernando Mendoza would be the easy favorite — and it’s not hard to understand why. His 37.6% first-down rate ranked in the 91st percentile despite facing pressure on more than 32% of his dropbacks. Unlike many modern quarterbacks, he wasn’t propped up by a screen-heavy offense. Just 23.1% of his throws came behind the line of scrimmage. That’s why Mendoza enters the NFL with arguably the cleanest analytical profile in the class. The problem is that he landed behind one of the weakest offensive lines in the league. Las Vegas ranked near the bottom of the league in pass protection in 2024 and somehow got worse in 2025. Sack rate ballooned from 7.3% to 11.1%, the worst mark among the teams discussed here. Pressure rate climbed from 35.8% to 40.5%, while the running game remained one of the least efficient units in football. That’s a problem because Mendoza wins from the pocket. He’s not going to erase protection issues with athleticism (though he’s certainly not a bad athlete). His game is built on anticipation, timing and a willingness to stand in against pressure. Klint Kubiak’s offense can manufacture opportunities through motion and play-action. But even the best scheme eventually requires functional protection. That’s what makes Mendoza such a difficult projection. The most NFL-ready quarterback landed in the least QB-friendly environment. And unlike Beck, Allar, Klubnik or Simpson, he probably won’t have the luxury of sitting and learning. If Mendoza is going to succeed early, he’ll likely have to do it while overcoming many of the same structural issues that have made life difficult for young passers before him. Range of outcomes for Fernando Mendoza’s rookie seasonStat Worst Case Median Case Best CaseCompletion % 58.6% 61.4% 65.2%Yards/Attempt 6.0 6.6 7.6Passing yards 2,780 3,360 3,920Passing touchdowns 13 17 21Interceptions 17 14 10Sacks taken 54 48 37Passer rating 72.4 82.1 91.8Rush yards 120 165 210 The numbers tell the story. Mendoza may have the strongest analytical profile in the class, but his most likely outcome lands much closer to the middle of the distribution than the ceiling. That’s not a reflection of talent. It’s a reflection of where he landed. The model repeatedly penalized quarterbacks entering poor pass-protection situations, and no rookie faces a steeper challenge than Mendoza. That said, this projection is also one of the most sensitive to environmental changes. The Raiders spent the offseason trying to address the offensive line, signing one of the top free agents available in Tyler Linderbaum and drafting Trey Zuhn III, who brings versatility across the interior. If those additions help stabilize the protection and Las Vegas moves closer to league average up front, Mendoza’s outlook changes considerably. More than any rookie quarterback, his projection may depend on whether everything around him improves as much as he does. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDThe Browns put a clause into the EDGE MYLES GARRETT deal that should prevent him from returning to haunt Cleveland in the AFC North. Yagya Bhargava of Athlon Sports: Myles Garrett spent nine seasons turning the Cleveland Browns’ defensive line into one of the most feared units in the NFL. He was the face of that franchise for nearly a decade and leaving wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan. But the Browns moved on and now Garrett has landed in Los Angeles. Cleveland agreed to trade the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to the Los Angeles Rams in a deal that sent edge rusher Jared Verse back to the Browns along with a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028 and a conditional third-round pick in 2029. The trade itself made headlines the moment it dropped, but it was that final pick that came with a twist worth paying attention to. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the 2029 third-round pick would automatically escalate to a first-rounder if the Rams trade Garrett to any AFC North team. That means the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals are all off the table without Cleveland getting significantly compensated in return. It’s a smart clause for a franchise that just gave up one of the best defenders in the game. Garrett arrived in Cleveland as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and never stopped producing. |
| PITTSBURGHThe Steelers have signed TD DARNELL WASHINGTON to a four-year extension. Mike DeFabo of The Athletic: For the second time in two days, the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms on a contract extension with a member of the 2023 draft class. This time, it’s tight end Darnell Washington, who received a four-year, $42 million extension, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. The contract comes with $21 million guaranteed and ties Washington to Pittsburgh through 2030. Washington, who was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal, joins linebacker Nick Herbig, who agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension Tuesday. Washington, a third-round pick out of Georgia, arrived in Pittsburgh as a unique chess piece. At 6 feet 7 and 300-plus pounds, he’s as tall and physical as many offensive tackles. He called himself the “sixth offensive lineman” early and was initially deployed as a physical presence to help double-team dominant defensive ends such as Myles Garrett in the AFC North. Even as early as his first training camp, Washington held his own in one-on-one situations against T.J. Watt and others. The towering tight end always had the potential to be more than just a blocker. Not until Aaron Rodgers arrived last summer, however, did Washington become more of a threat in the passing game. Washington set career highs in receptions (31) and receiving yards (364). That side of his game should only continue to grow, especially in the red zone. When Washington was coming out of college, there were questions about the status of his knees. That’s part of the reason such a dynamic player slipped into the third round. At the time, some wondered if maybe he’d be a so-called “one contract” player. Injuries, however, have not been a concern. Instead, he’s continued to develop and earn more opportunities as his career has unfolded. At the NFL Scouting Combine, general manager Omar Khan made his intentions clear: “I’d take 20 of him.” On a personal level, the contract extension represents a huge moment in Washington’s life. As a kid, he had to move often due to financial hardship and several times experienced homelessness. In an interview with The Athletic during his rookie season, he detailed sleeping in a U-Haul in a parking lot because his family had nowhere else to go. Now, a gentle giant with an easy smile and big laugh has created generational wealth for his family. “Anytime you look at the development of your roster, the second contract is huge,” Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said. “The second contract is important, not only to the individual, but for me personally with a new program, new direction and process. I’m counting on those second-contract individuals to not only do what they’ve been doing on the field … but more importantly, they got to be about the new program moving forward. That’s a part of their job description that’s been identified, so I’m all for every one of them getting contracts.” What does it mean for the TE room?The Steelers have done several pieces of business at this position this offseason. They cut Jonnu Smith, let Connor Heyward walk in free agency and drafted H-back/tight end Riley Nowakowski. They also renegotiated Pat Freiermuth’s contract to create more cap space. Now, with Washington under contract through 2030 and Freiermuth through 2028, the Steelers have some high-end talent and stability at the position to go along with Nowakowski’s versatility. McCarthy mentioned that some schemes “may tilt” a different direction or have subtle variations due to different body types, but he has a place for a 6-7, 300-plus pound player in his offense. “I love Darnell,” McCarthy said. “He’s been here every day in the classroom. Good student. He’s a pros’ pro. I’ve been very, very impressed with him. So he’s done everything we’ve asked.” Who is next?Two down. Two to go? The 2023 draft class is one that will always hold a special place in Steelers history, as it was Khan’s first as general manager. With Washington and Herbig extended, the Steelers still have some work to do. Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton have played well enough to seriously consider new contracts. It wouldn’t be surprising to see one or both get their money soon. That the Steelers have already taken steps to lock up two players from that class and plan to continue talks with others shows that the draft-and-develop process is still part of the team’s DNA and Khan’s strategy. “The fact that we feel that good about that many guys tells how good of a class it is,” McCarthy said. “The second contract’s got to be about doing things the right way, Monday through Saturday, and also being who you are on Sunday.” |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIIt’s only OTA’s but QB MALIK WILLIS is doing good things per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com: The Dolphins haven’t exactly revealed their offensive playbook during practices open to the media, and we’ve largely seen a flurry of checkdowns and shots to the sideline from Miami’s quarterbacks. But Malik Willis helped deliver the highlight of minicamp thus far during Wednesday’s practice, threading the needle to find tight end Ben Sims for a 40-yard touchdown during team drills. Willis completed a series of passes during the game-winning scenario drill before hitting Sims over the middle. It was Willis’ longest touchdown pass of spring practices and displayed the quarterback’s trademark arm strength. |
| NEW ENGLANDZachary Parales of CBSSports.com tries to predict what the Patriots got in WR A.J. BROWN at age 29: Even though it was a long-expected move, it’s a big one. Massive, even. Given his talent, production and landing spot, this is as big as any wide receiver trade since the Dolphins acquired Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs in 2022. Brown is a three-time All-Pro (second team) and a Super Bowl champion. Since joining the Eagles in 2022, he ranks fifth in receiving yards, and his yards-per-reception mark is higher than those of the four players ahead of him — Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown — as well as the two players behind him, Hill and Davante Adams. Brown’s combination of volume and explosiveness is truly impressive. That’s one reason the Patriots were willing to move significant draft capital for him, even with Brown turning 29 at the end of this month. He’s the oldest wide receiver to fetch a first-round pick since Adams went to the Raiders in 2022. All the prior accolades and eye-popping stats are nice, but the Patriots are adding Brown for what he can do moving forward, starting right now. Coming off a Super Bowl appearance and with MVP runner-up Drake Maye still on his rookie deal, New England is pressing the gas to win right now, and this is a crucial part of that. A.J. Brown’s big-play ability fits Drake Maye’s approachBrown has been among the NFL’s premier deep threats over the past four years. His 33 receptions on throws 25-plus yards downfield are tied with George Pickens for the most in the NFL over that span. Brown combines big-time speed, size and strength with contested-catch ability. Plus, with his ability to win on quicker, shorter routes — more on that in a bit — he can get defenders to bite before beating them over the top, as he did to clinch a win over the Vikings last season. And when he does win deep, he rarely misses a chance to make defenses pay. Over the past four years, he has had just one regular-season drop on those throws. Yes, he had a bad one in the playoffs against the 49ers last year — a fitting final piece of his frustrating 2025 season — but, in general, if the ball is catchable, he cashes in. Now, is Brown’s explosiveness the same as it was in 2022 and 2023, when he topped 1,400 receiving yards in both seasons? Perhaps not. There are injury and age concerns. But it’s not hard to connect Brown’s downfield numbers to Maye’s downfield acumen. In 2025, Maye had the NFL’s fifth-highest deep-throw rate and the league’s second-highest explosive-play rate and air-yards-per-attempt rate. His massive leap as a downfield passer fueled his overall improvement. It’s not hard to envision Maye-to-Brown being one of the top big-play-producing combinations in the NFL if things go to plan. Maye is not only outstanding from the pocket but also when extending plays. Brown can thrive in this manner as a player who also had to get creative when Jalen Hurts improvised. Maye’s top downfield threat in 2025 was Kayshon Boutte, whose 16.7 yards per reception led the team and whose six touchdown catches were second-most behind only Hunter Henry. Boutte made some spectacular grabs, including this one in the playoffs, and seeing Brown make plays similar to the ones Boutte made wouldn’t be a surprise. If Brown were only a downfield threat, that’d be one thing. But he is much more. A.J. Brown in the quick passing gameIf the first image that comes to mind regarding Brown is his downfield skills, the second should be what he does in the quick game. The two go hand-in-hand. Because opponents have to respect Brown’s verticality — and also because Brown is just really good — he wins quickly, too. Even in his “down” 2025, Brown finished with 17 catches on slant routes, tied for second-most in the NFL. His 5.4 yards per route run on slants ranked fourth. The film shows a guy who can make cornerbacks look silly. Even when he doesn’t, he presents a big, physical target able to shield off tight coverage. As much fun as the big plays in the first two clips are, it’s the final two — simple chain movers — that showcase Brown’s all-around value. In the final clip, he converts a second-and-7 against Patrick Surtain II, one of the game’s very best. It’s nothing special until you realize how few wide receivers do this consistently and make it look easy. Even if we look at just the last two years, Brown’s ability in the short and intermediate areas stand out. He can produce all over the field, both vertically and horizontally. Maye had the NFL’s second-highest expected points added per dropback when targeting slant routes in 2025. How A.J. Brown fits the Patriots’ personnelWith Brown in tow, the Patriots have added significant size to their receiving corps. Brown is 6’1″ and 226 pounds, and Romeo Doubs is 6’2″ and 204 pounds. New England still has Mack Hollins (6’4″ and 221 pounds) as well; Boutte and Kyle Williams are 5-foot-11 and DeMario Douglas is 5-8. There’s a well-versed skill set here. Brown has lined up primarily at either outside wide receiver spot, though the Patriots getting him into the slot more could be helpful; he was in the slot for 27% of his snaps in his excellent 2022 and 2023 before that number fell in 2024 and dropped to a minuscule 11% last year. Still, this will be the Patriots’ most major departure from last year, when the team’s top target, Stefon Diggs, played 52% of his snaps in the slot and 48% of his snaps out wide. Doubs has primarily been an outside wide receiver with just a few snaps per game in the slot. Douglas would appear to be the primary slot guy here, though New England also used Hollins as a power slot (and a good blocker) there at times. The Patriots ranked just 24th in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) usage rate last year, but with Brown and Doubs in the mix, the Patriots could significantly increase that rate. The big question: Does A.J. Brown still have it?Brown had his lowest yards per reception and yards per route run of his career in 2025. His expected points added per target was also a career low, as was his YAC per reception. He missed a game with a hamstring injury and reportedly dealt with hamstring and knee issues for the second straight year. In 2024, he missed three games due to injury. His average separation was down from its peak. That doesn’t exactly paint an inspiring picture for a player who is about to turn 29. And yet Brown still had 25 explosive catches (16+ yards), tied for 11th in the NFL, even in a limited passing offense. His 20.7% explosive rate was only slightly below his career rate of 21.4%. His career-low 3.4 YAC per catch is concerning until you realize he was only expected to record 2.4 YAC per catch, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Though he wasn’t the YAC terror he was in his first three years in Philadelphia, he was still easily on the positive side. Brown didn’t produce as many big plays down the field the past two years as he did his first two years in Philadelphia, but there were multiple opportunities where either he and Hurts weren’t on the same page or the connection was just a few inches off. That career-low 2.09 yards per route? It was still 13th out of 76 wide receivers who ran at least 300 routes, ahead of Jefferson, Adams and even his own teammate, DeVonta Smith. And the separation issue? Though it’s not great, it’s also never been the strength of his game. Brown is a big-time ball winner who can also win quickly. The Patriots haven’t had that combination for Maye until now. ESPN’s receiver scores — a combination of “open,” “catch,” and “YAC” — had Brown sixth in 2025. He was first in 2022 and 2024 and second in 2023, but let’s not overcomplicate it: Sixth is still excellent. Brown’s frustration boiled over multiple times in 2025. The passing offense was somehow both simple and a mess, or, as Brown put it, a “shit show.” Plus, the Patriots figure to actually throw the ball more than the Eagles did; New England was ninth in pass rate over expected last year; Philadelphia was 28th. Brown likely won’t hit his monster 2022 and 2023 numbers. But he should be a major help for Maye in all areas of the field, especially deep. He is still a bona fide No. 1 receiver who can break games open. His four 100-yard, one-touchdown games last year, in an offensive environment not conducive to big receiving numbers, were tied for second-most in the NFL. Perhaps it doesn’t work out. Injuries and age can accrue quickly. But Brown is soon-to-be 29, not soon-to-be 32. He has played in at least 13 games every season. The Eagles hit a home run when they acquired him from Tennessee, and now the Patriots are hoping to do the same. Deployed correctly and paired with an aggressive, accurate quarterback on the rise, Brown can lift yet another offense with championship aspirations. |
