| A helpful list from Bill Barnwell: @billbarnwellBest free agents still available: QB Kyler MurrayWR Stefon DiggsT Rasheed WalkerG Wyatt TellerG Joel BitonioWR Jauan JenningsEDGE Joey BosaT Jawaan TaylorS Jaquan BriskerCB Cobie DurantEDGE Al-Quadin MuhammadT Taylor DeckerDT Da’shawn HandTE Dallas Goedert |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTAWriting in The Athletic, Michael Silver weighs in on the upcoming nuptuals between QB KYLER MURRAY and the Vikings: He is one of the world’s foremost Quarterback Whisperers, a man credited with spurring Sam Darnold’s stunning career turnaround and kick-starting Daniel Jones’ compelling revival. On Wednesday, Kevin O’Connell prepared to make a statement to the football world that was the opposite of a whisper. O’Connell, in essence, got ready to grab a microphone, crank up the volume and channel fellow Twin Cities icon Lizzo. New man on the Minnesota Vikings. Truth hurts, needed something more exciting … Welcome to the North Star State, Kyler Murray. As O’Connell heads into his fifth season as the Vikings’ coach, he’s doubling down on his reputational superpower. A former San Diego State quarterback who had a brief career as an NFL backup, O’Connell has demonstrated an aptitude for getting the most out of players at the sport’s most important position, from Matthew Stafford (as a coordinator) to Kirk Cousins to Darnold. Now, by all indications, he’s moving on to Murray, an elite talent just released by the Arizona Cardinals, the team that drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2019. It isn’t a dip of the toe into the free-agency pool. This is O’Connell, in a skin-tight Speedo, doing a double-flip off the high dive. O’Connell and the Vikings could have been more conservative. They could have tried harder to trade for San Francisco 49ers backup Mac Jones or swing a deal for former New Orleans Saints (and longtime Las Vegas Raiders) starter Derek Carr. They could have targeted a stopgap veteran like Geno Smith (who was traded to the Jets Tuesday) or Joe Flacco. Or they could have initiated a schmaltzy reunion with Cousins, who’ll turn 38 this summer. Instead, O’Connell will roll with Murray, who’s nine years younger than Cousins and possesses a far more dynamic skill set. In doing so, O’Connell will demonstrate vulnerability by essentially admitting a failure. Despite a dramatic debut last September, J.J. McCarthy, the 10th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, clearly isn’t regarded (by O’Connell or anyone else) as the Vikings’ long-term answer at quarterback. Some of that blame fell on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired in January after four years as Minnesota’s general manager. Yet it’s also apparent O’Connell wasn’t able to develop McCarthy into the player the organization hoped he’d become. And that misfire accentuated a run of regrettable choices — including passing on four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers last spring — that created the mess the Vikings are trying to clean up by signing Murray. As much as O’Connell may have winced watching Darnold help the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX victory last month — given that the QB was essentially gifted to the eventual champions the previous March — getting drowned by regret is not a winning strategy. Reviving a motivated Murray, who’s reeling from a midseason benching that ended his six-and-a-half-year stint as the Cardinals’ starter, absolutely could be. For O’Connell, who remains the most powerful presence in the Vikings’ universe, it better be. The Vikings are expected to hire a new GM after the draft, but this is very much O’Connell’s show — and it will either be a “Hamilton”-level Broadway smash or a flop akin to Elton John’s “Tammy Faye.” O’Connell could have chosen a safer option with a higher floor and lower ceiling, but he locked in on the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner who’s so athletically adept that he went ninth in the 2018 MLB Draft. Murray doesn’t have the height most NFL teams desire when choosing a QB (he’s listed at 5-10), but he’s fast and elusive and has an amazing arm. Remember the Hail Murray? How many humans could even dream about making that throw? Murray had two Pro Bowl seasons with the Cardinals, but he only went to the playoffs once, and it did not go well. O’Connell, who’s 43-25 in the regular season but 0-2 in the postseason, has a similar stigma to erase. Together, perhaps, they can blow up those narratives and strive to create a Sean Payton/Drew Brees-type vibe. Undoubtedly, that is what O’Connell envisions. Signing Murray is a move born of arrogance, and I say that lovingly. As someone who approaches his own craft with, shall we say, a heightened sense of self, I have a soft spot for driven people who take big swings rooted in an immense faith in their own capacities. Like O’Connell, I can also relate to experiencing extreme disappointment and swallowing the accompanying fallout. Murray, too, has been humbled, and that should work to the Vikings’ advantage. He has absorbed a healthy share of scrutiny and criticism, some of it self-inflicted. In a 2021 New York Times profile, Murray leaned into his reputation for not being a grinder, saying, “I think I was blessed with the cognitive skills to just go out there and just see it before it happens. I’m not one of those guys that’s going to sit there and kill myself watching film. I don’t sit there for 24 hours and break down this team and that team and watch every game because, in my head, I see so much.” The next spring, Murray engaged in a messy contract fight that ended up further damaging his reputation, unless the goal was to impress fellow video-game aficionados. Murray’s five-year, $230.5 million contract included an “independent study addendum” requiring him to review four hours of game film per week on his own time. The Cardinals later removed the clause in the face of public backlash, but they’d obviously put it in there for a reason, and the damage was done. As one Arizona veteran told me the following January, near the end of a miserable 4-13 season, “It was like they created a monster.” Once paid, the veteran said, Murray felt less pressure to study or behave like a typical franchise quarterback, and the disastrous campaign that followed felt predictable. It’s tough to predict exactly how Murray’s second act will play out, but to me, it feels promising. Two motivated men, a coach and a quarterback, have joined forces to try to bring out the best in one another and prove their worth. O’Connell will push Murray to deconstruct his game and work hard to perfect his craft. I believe the quarterback, who’ll turn 29 during training camp, will channel his competitive spirit and respond positively. If this goes the way the Quarterback Whisperer thinks it will, both he and Murray will be made men in Minnesota — and throughout the football world. So yes, by going for it, O’Connell is making a statement. Don’t be shocked if he ends up making one hell of a mic drop..This from Mike Florio indicates Murray and his representatives see the Vikings as just a one-year stop: Yes, quarterback Kyler Murray will visit the Vikings on Thursday — his agent, Erik Burkhardt, has confirmed that to NFL Media. But here’s the interesting twist, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media: Burkhardt told him that Murray plans to meet by Zoom on Wednesday night and Thursday with executives from three to five teams that potentially have a quarterback need in 2027. Possibilities (as we see it) include the Jets, the Steelers, the Browns, the Falcons, and the Rams. It gives Murray an opportunity to get a head start on free agency next year, which underscores the likelihood he’ll sign a one-year, $1.3 million deal for 2026. That makes a no-tag clause critical. He needs to be able to hit the market next year, if for whatever reason he plays well and doesn’t get a solid offer to stick around with the Vikings, or whoever he signs with. The Vikings continue to be the clear favorite. There’s really no one else. And, as of last season near the trade deadline, the Vikings were one of the teams in which Murray was interested. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASAfter signing a DT with the initials O.O., the Cowboys have traded another DT with the initials O.O. to San Francisco. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The Cowboys have traded defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. The Cowboys will receive a third-round pick in return. The move was expected after they signed nose tackle Otito Ogbonnia on Tuesday, and a report indicated they were in talks with the 49ers. It reunites Odighizuwa with Matt Eberflus, who was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator last season and now serves as the 49ers’ assistant head coach of defense. The Cowboys will save $4.75 million, but they have a $16 million dead cap charge. Dallas made a splash last offseason, re-signing Odighizuwa, who would have been one of the NFL’s top free agents, to a four-year, $80 million contract with $58 million guaranteed. The Cowboys then traded for defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams during the season. That gave the Cowboys a glut at the position as they switch to the 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Odighizuwa totaled 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 17 games last season. Remember, the old Falcons regime traded UP to draft Pearce despite things like this being on the street. Cory Kinnan of DraftOnDraft Football put his out last March. James Pearce Jr. may fall further than you could imagineEveryone knows how athletic Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. is. He came into the season as some analyst’s top prospect in the class from summer scouting. But his junior year in Knoxville did not go to plan in 2024. I was told that the Tennessee football program could not only breathe easier once Pearce left campus but that his pitch count in SEC play was not injury related. Pearce was seen as undeniably uncoachable and as a player with one foot out the door already this season, giving his coaches little incentive to put him on the field full-time. Pending the Mike Green reports that have flooded the media over the past month, I was told by one scout that Pearce Jr. is seen as the player with the worst character report of any player in this draft class. Another scout told me they think the environment and people around him in Tennessee are the main issues, and they think he could become a pro when he enters an NFL building. I was left with a final note that while the general public would be stunned to see it happen, NFL personnel won’t be shocked to see him on the board after the first 64 picks in the draft. Sounds like the guy in boldface was from the Falcons. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| ATLANTAEDGE JAMES PEARCE, Jr’s transgressions are detailed by Mike Florio: In a petition filed following the February 7 incident during which Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. allegedly rammed her car repeatedly, WNBA player Rickea Jackson told a court that she was “in fear of my life,” according to ESPN. She also said she believed that, without court intervention, “James will kill me.” She further explained that Pearce “verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion.” Her request for a temporary protective order was previously granted. A permanent injunction hearing is set for April 21. Currently, Pearce is not permitted to make contact with Jackson or to be within 500 feet of her home, 500 feet of her place of employment, or 100 feet of her vehicle. Earlier this week, ESPN reported that at least seven 911 calls preceded Pearce’s arrest. He faces five felony counts from the February 7 incident. His lawyers have professed his innocence. The NFL is reviewing the situation under the Personal Conduct Policy. Pearce could be placed on paid leave until the criminal case is resolved. The Falcons also could cut him. If Pearce had been drafted in round seven of the 2025 draft and not round one, they surely would have by now. That’s not a criticism of the Falcons. It’s a basic reality of pro football, for any team. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSAccording to Zachary Pareles of CBSSports.com, the last team to Hoist Lombardi in its home stadium will do so again in Super Bowl 61. Super Bowl winners are not determined in March. Or April. Or any other time we declared offseason “winners,” whether it’s in free agency or the draft. One year ago, there were very reasonable doubts the Seahawks had taken a step back by trading away Geno Smith and bringing in Sam Darnold. Plus, Mike Macdonald had brought in a new offensive coordinator, and though Jaxon Smith-Njigba had emerged, the offense seemed to be lacking that little extra *something* across the board. The defense looked strong, but could it really be carry-a-team strong? Entering the season, Seattle was +6000 to win the Super Bowl, longer odds than the Cardinals. Often, offseason “winners” are losers on the field. Big contracts are big risks that don’t pay off. Plus, even the teams that do get bang for their buck are still far away from contending in the first place, hence why they had so much money to begin with. Still, a little projecting forward never hurt anybody, right? That’s part of the fun. With that in mind, I’m here to plant my flag. Write it down, here on March 11, 2026, with the NFL league year officially starting and Super Bowl 60 still just weeks old: The Los Angeles Rams are not only offseason winners, but they should be the clear favorite to be Super Bowl winners as well. I understand all the risks that come with it. I understand it is March. I understand placing my trust in Matthew Stafford’s back is like building a mansion teetering on a cliff. I get it. Still, I am enamored — perhaps too enamored for my own good — for what the Rams could look like. Let’s start with why the Rams have been winners so far, and it goes back to before any player moves. First, Sean McVay was able to keep defensive coordinator Chris Shula and passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, who got elevated to offensive coordinator with Mike LaFleur’s departure to become Arizona’s coach. Both Shula and Scheelhaase generated significant interest this coaching cycle. Neither left. Coach retention is one of the more underrated pieces of team building, especially when said team is already very good. The Seahawks lost their offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, this offseason. The Chargers and Packers both lost their defensive coordinators to head coaching gigs. Same with the 49ers. It’s hard to nail any hire. It’s even harder to replace one good hire with another. So the Rams took a big step there. Then they took an even bigger one on the player acquisition front. On March 4, the Rams sent a first-round pick — and several other selections — to the Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie, who they then gave a four-year, $124 million extension. Lest you think Los Angeles was done addressing its secondary, it brought back reliable safety Kamren Curl on a three-year deal and then signed cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract. Before the league calendar had even officially flipped, the Rams had not only addressed the most glaring hole on its roster, but made it a strength. The Rams had mostly made do with an underwhelming cornerback group the past few years. As the Rams had restocked their defensive front with top picks, the secondary had been mostly been a group cobbled together by castoffs, journeyman veterans and middle-round picks. It showed. Pro Football Focus is not the be-all, end-all for anything, but perhaps I can show you how glaring the cornerback spot was by using it. Rams’ top PFF-graded player at notable positions Position RankMatthew Stafford QB 1stKyren Williams RB 7thPuka Nacua WR 1stAlaric Jackson OT 8thKevin Dotson OG 3rdColeman Shelton C T-9thPoona Ford IDL 4thByron Young EDGE 10thRoger McCreary CB 25thKamren Kinchens S 10th One of those things is not like the others. And in several cases — Davante Adams at wide receiver, Steve Avila and Warren McClendon Jr. on the offensive line, Jared Verse at EDGE and Curl at safety — there was a second highly ranked player. At cornerback after McCreary, there was Cobie Durant (43rd), Darious Williams (45th) and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (91st). Now, enter McDuffie, who was 12th, and Watson, who was 17th. Cornerback stats can be notoriously finicky, but in man coverage, Watson allowed a 43.4 passer rating as the primary defender. McDuffie was at 54.7. None of McCreary, Durant, Forbes or Williams were below 79. When the Rams lost, they lost because they couldn’t contain opposing wide receivers. Week 3 — A.J. Brown: 6 rec, 109 yds, 1 TDWeek 5 — Kendrick Bourne: 10 rec, 142 ydsWeek 13 — 43-yd rec TD by Tetairoa McMillan, 33-yd rec TD by Jalen CokerWeek 16 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 8 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD (all in second half)NFC Championship – Smith-Njigba: 10 rec, 153 yds, 1 TD The Panthers loss was especially illustrative, because outside a few chunk plays, the Rams dominated. Watson brings length, McDuffie toughness and versatility. Both are Super Bowl champions who can guard opponents’ best wide receivers. Last year, the Rams didn’t even have one player who could do that reliably. Now they have two. Both play the run at a high level, too. These additions are massive for Shula, a creative defensive mind whose creativity was limited by his personnel. The Rams played man just 15% of the time, the fourth-lowest rate in the league. Shula will be able to dive into his bag of tricks more confidently with McDuffie and Watson in tow, divvying up coverages and looks at a rate he simply couldn’t do last year. It’s totally understandable if the argument of “two cornerback additions makes this team the top Super Bowl contender” doesn’t move you. But it’s more than that. The Rams were one of the best teams teams of this millennium according to total DVOA. They were first in scoring offense and seventh in scoring defense in 2025. They bring everyone back in positions of strength, and they made their biggest weakness yet another strength. The Rams aren’t going to be perfect. Stafford will have a dud here or there. The defensive front is good, but it doesn’t have a true ace (though Verse could get there). Let’s not forget the Rams still have the 13th overall pick in next month’s draft thanks to their trade with the Atlanta Falcons last year. The Rams could use that pick on another pass rusher — this class is loaded with them — a dynamic safety, a powerful offensive lineman or simply the best player available in their estimation. After all, this roster is tremendous already. They’ve gotten there using a variety of strategies, and McVay and GM Les Snead deserve major credit for that. In 2021, they were all in on a veteran-laden team that won it all. Then they had to restructure and re-strategize. Snead couldn’t “F Them Picks” his way to more success. He has instead nailed them picks, with Williams in 2022, Nacua, Avila, Young, McClendon and Kobie Turner in 2023, Verse, Kinchens and Braden Fiske in 2024. He has added veterans where appropriate along the way. Stafford can’t play forever. If this is a last hurrah for him, the Rams are rightfully all-in. They’ve gotten there with a mix of smarts, aggression and opportunity. That mix — combined with the losses of other top contenders — should have them a step ahead of all other teams when picking a team to win it all. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASAccording to Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com EDGE MAXX CROSBY now wants to remain a Raider. And the Raiders apparently can still sign all those free agents: All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby expressed his commitment to the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday night in his first public comments since the Ravens nixed a trade that would’ve sent him to Baltimore. “Everything Happens For A Reason,” Crosby wrote in a post on X. “Believe Nothing You Hear & Half Of What You See. Im A Raider. I’m Back. Run That S—.” Crosby’s post came just days after he bid an emotional farewell to the Raiders, whom he has played for since 2019, and expressed excitement about joining the Ravens after they agreed to acquire him in exchange for two first-round picks, including the 14th draft choice in 2026. On Tuesday night, the Raiders announced that the Ravens “backed out” of the trade agreement, with sources telling ESPN it was due to medical concerns that arose during a physical in Baltimore. Crosby, 28, underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He was aware that he needed surgery in the fall but continued to play until the Raiders decided to shut him down for the final two games of last season, a decision that left Crosby frustrated. Crosby’s agent, CJ LaBoy, issued a statement via X on Tuesday saying that Crosby was ahead of schedule in his recovery and on track to return during the offseason program. He was back in Las Vegas on Wednesday working out at the Raiders’ facility. Meanwhile, a day after they backed out of a deal for Crosby, the Ravens pivoted Wednesday morning by agreeing to terms with former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112 million deal. Las Vegas has received calls from several teams inquiring about Crosby’s availability and was open to potentially repackaging a Crosby trade, according to a source. But Crosby made it known Wednesday night that he is committed to playing for the Raiders. Despite the Crosby trade being nixed, the Raiders are still expected to sign all of their free agents and have announced deals for cornerback Eric Stokes (three years, $30 million), edge rusher Malcolm Koonce (one year, $11 million) and linebacker Nakobe Dean (three years, $36 million) as well as their trade for former Buffalo Bills slot cornerback Taron Johnson. Las Vegas also made free agent deals with three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum on a three-year, $81 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN; linebacker Quay Walker (three years, $40.5 million); edge rusher Kwity Paye (three years, $48 million); and wide receiver Jalen Nailor (three years, $35 million). |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREShortly after we went to press on Wednesday, it was announced that the big trade for EDGE MAXX CROSBY was off. Shortly thereafter, the Ravens announced the signing of EDGE TREY HENDRICKSON. Some thought (the DB included) that failing Crosby on a “failed physical” was a tactical choice, that the idea of having Hendrickson at a falling price plus retaining the draft picks was suddenly thought to be better than just having Crosby – so Crosby was “failed.” But the Ravens are saying that they are gutted not to have Crosby, that it was all part of what could have been a masterful double strike to add both gifted pass rushers. Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com: – Talking for the first time since backing out of the trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta struck a somber tone Wednesday over the decision to not complete the deal and pushed back on the narrative that he had buyer’s remorse. “I understand how people might maybe from afar would feel that way, but nobody’s more upset about this than me — gutted by it actually,” DeCosta said during his 19-minute media session. “And so a regret, a big regret for me, but we will move on as a football team.” DeCosta got emotional at times in explaining it was a difficult but necessary decision, pointing out that Crosby is one of his favorite players in the NFL, but he had to do what was best for the organization. He veered away from mentioning any medical concerns with Crosby and said the trade was nullified “based on our assessment of the situation.” League sources told ESPN the Ravens had medical concerns that arose during Crosby’s physical. The Ravens were within their rights to move on from the deal because trades are contingent on players passing a physical. But Baltimore has drawn criticism among league circles because the team voided the trade with Crosby, which included sending two first-round draft picks to the Raiders, and quickly pivoted to a deal for four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson that didn’t require giving up any draft capital. “I understand it,” DeCosta said. “We live in that age of skepticism and people question, especially people that don’t really know me or know the Ravens culture and the Ravens organization.” In looking back at how the process transpired, DeCosta said he doesn’t believe there is anything he would do differently. “There were moments yesterday when, honestly, I was probably speechless, just sitting in my chair in my office and just thinking about what the next step would be and trying to get as much information as possible,” he said. DeCosta acknowledged the Ravens had begun talks with Hendrickson and his agent before they voided the trade for Crosby. But DeCosta explained that Baltimore engaged in negotiations with Hendrickson after losing center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and had hopes of pairing Hendrickson and Crosby as bookend pass rushers. Then, 13 hours after the Raiders announced the Ravens backed out of the trade for Crosby, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Hendrickson reached a four-year, $112 million deal with Baltimore. When asked whether rescinding the trade would negatively impact the Ravens’ relationship with other teams, players and agents, DeCosta replied, “Well, it hasn’t stopped my phone from ringing. I’ll tell you that.” When the Ravens agreed on the trade Friday night, it marked the first time in the team’s 31-year history that it was giving up a first-round pick to acquire a veteran player. Four days later, it didn’t sound like the sides tried to renegotiate the parameters of the deal to stop the trade from unraveling. “I think, at some point, you get to the point where when you look at the situation, you have to make the right decision,” DeCosta said. “It’s not always about the value. It’s just [about] what is the right decision for the club at the time, and that’s a hard thing to do. But as I said, when you’re a steward of the organization and you’re put in that position, you have to make the tough call.” In addition to striking a deal with Hendrickson, the Ravens restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract before the start of the new league year Wednesday to create nearly $40 million in salary cap space. DeCosta said he is still optimistic that the sides can reach a new deal with Jackson. Without a contract extension, Jackson can become a free agent after the 2027 season. “We kind of ran out of time,” DeCosta said. “I am certainly hopeful that we’ll get an extension done. I think it’s important to both parties, but we remain to see what’s going to take place in the future.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONTE FOSTER MOREAU is moving from his hometown of New Orleans up the coast to Houston. ESPN.com: The Houston Texans have agreed to a contract with free agent tight end Foster Moreau, according to NFL Network. The move adds depth to the Texans’ tight end room, which features Dalton Schultz as the starter. Moreau, 28, played in 11 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2025 after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Moreau was coming off a knee injury that occurred in the 2024 season finale. He caught seven passes for 59 yards last season and missed the final two games of the season due to an ankle injury that was not considered a long-term issue. The Saints added veteran tight end Noah Fant in the free agent negotiating period. Moreau has spent the last three seasons in New Orleans after signing with them as a free agent in 2023. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Raiders, who selected him out of LSU in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. He tied a career-high of five receiving touchdowns in 2024 prior to his injury. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOIf EDGE BRADLEY CHUBB has any gas left in the tank, this could be a good signing for the Bills. ESPN.com: Pass rusher Bradley Chubb reached agreement on a three-year, $43.5 million deal worth up to $52.5 million that includes $29 million guaranteed with the Buffalo Bills, agent Erik Burkhardt told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Dolphins officially released Chubb on Wednesday, clearing him to sign with Miami’s AFC East division rival. Chubb is the latest veteran pass rusher brought in by the Bills, who signed Joey Bosa last year to try to improve their pass rush. Bosa, who is a free agent, had five sacks for the Bills last season. Chubb had a team-high 8.5 sacks for Miami in 2025, playing all 17 games. He was a team captain and won the local media’s “Good Guy” award for his consistent availability and professionalism with the press. The Dolphins sent a first-round pick to the Denver Broncos in 2022 in exchange for Chubb and immediately signed him to a five-year, $110 million extension. He posted his second double-digit-sack season with 11 in 2023 but suffered a significant injury in his right knee in Week 17, which included a torn ACL, meniscus and patellar tendon. Although his 10.5% pressure rate in 2025 was the third highest of his career, he was double-teamed on a career-high 23.1% of his pass rushes, which contributed to his career-low 7.8% pass rush win rate. He also represented a $31 million cap hit in 2026, turns 30 years old in June and has torn his ACL in both knees during his eight-year NFL career. Drafted fifth by the Broncos in 2018, Chubb has 48 career sacks. The Bills are also keeping TE DAWSON KNOX. Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com: The Buffalo Bills found a way to keep tight end Dawson Knox on the 2026 roster amid a difficult cap situation by signing him to a new three-year contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday. Knox is now under contract through the 2028 season. Knox was set to account for $17.1 million in cap space this year with $12 million due in cash. Cutting him would have saved the Bills about $9.7 million on the salary cap. Instead, the Bills found a way to keep the seven-year veteran who desired to play and continue working with tight ends coach Rob Boras — with whom he shares a good relationship — and new head coach Joe Brady. Boras has been promoted this offseason to also be the Bills’ run game coordinator. Knox expressed a desire to remain with the Bills. However, president of football operations and general manager Brandon Beane was honest that the cap situation made that an unknown during the team’s exit meetings, as he shared on former teammate Mitch Morse’s podcast. Knox, 29, was drafted by the Bills in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft and has developed into an important part of the team’s run game and a valuable receiving outlet for quarterback Josh Allen. He is part of a tight ends room that is now secure for the 2026 season, rejoining 2023 first-round pick Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes, a fifth-round pick last year. The veteran tight end was third on the team in receiving yards last year (417) and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (four). Knox is the latest offensive player the team has elected to re-sign, joining center Connor McGovern, who was given a new four-year deal Saturday. The deal for McGovern came together quickly last week, and it was aided by Allen. McGovern said that the pair are always in contact and that the quarterback reached out to him last week to check in. Allen’s involvement in keeping McGovern in Western New York was more extensive as he was also engaged in talking with the Bills about retaining his center. “[Allen] called just to check in and make sure I was doing well before free agency,” McGovern said. “Trying to give his two cents on everything and we got the ball rolling from there. He was talking to both sides.” |
| NEW ENGLANDVeteran S KEVIN BAYARD has moved on from the Bears after leading the NFL in INTs. EPSN.com: Free agent safety Kevin Byard III has agreed to sign with the New England Patriots on a one-year, $9 million deal, according to NFL Network. The move reunites Byard with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, who was his coach with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. Byard, 32, led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2025. It was the second time in his 10-year career that he was the league’s interceptions leader (2017, when he had eight), which earned the safety first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for a third time. Byard’s impact was felt throughout the Chicago Bears’ secondary where he started 34 games since the Bears signed him to a two-year, $15 million contract as a free agent in 2024. In addition to his seven interceptions last season, Byard had 93 tackles (tied the team-high with 61 solo), eight passes defended and four tackles for loss. He played nearly 100% of defensive snaps (1,070) in 2025 and has never missed a game since entering the NFL as a third-round pick by the Titans in 2016. Byard has logged 164 consecutive regular-season appearances (with 155 starts) and 10 playoff games. He has posted at least four interceptions in six of his 10 seasons. His 36 career interceptions rank second among active players behind Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (39). He spent the first eight years of his career with the Titans before he was traded midseason to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Byard was a team captain in back-to-back seasons in Chicago. Meanwhile, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports on this departure: The New England Patriots have informed outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, their longest-tenured player, of their intention to release him, sources told ESPN. A third-round draft choice out of Alabama in 2020, Jennings joined right guard Mike Onwenu as the team’s longest-tenured players – having played under head coaches Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Jennings was due to earn $4 million in cash in 2026, which was the final year of his contract. He had a salary-cap charge of $4.86 million. The team will create about $3.8 million in cap space by releasing him. |
