| Two of the NFL’s lesser brands will meet in Canton to start the season – but each team does have a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Joseph Person and Doug Haller of The Athletic: The Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals will kick off the 2026 NFL preseason this summer with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, the league announced Wednesday. Traditionally, the league has tried to include teams in the game tied to former players headed to the Hall that season. The Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald and Panthers’ Luke Kuechly are among five new members who will be enshrined Aug. 8, two days after the game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig are the other enshrinees. The Panthers haven’t played in Canton since 1995, when they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the inaugural game played by the two expansion franchises. Now 31 years later, Carolina is coming off a season in which it ended a seven-year playoff drought by winning the NFC South with an 8-9 record. While there remains a bit of a buzz around the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in 2023, Young and many of the starters for both teams likely will sit out the preseason opener. Last year’s matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions featured a battle of backup QBs Trey Lance and Kyle Allen, who combined to start one game during the regular season. The Hall of Fame Game appearance comes at an interesting time for the Cardinals. The event will feature Fitzgerald, one of the league’s more respected players during his prime, but it will also showcase an organization in transition. The Cardinals are coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history. They have a new head coach in Mike LaFleur. And with Kyler Murray on his way out, they likely will have a new quarterback. (Jacoby Brissett, who last season replaced the injured Murray, remains an option.) But this could be good. The Cardinals don’t often get the NFL spotlight, which comes at a time when fans will be starved for football. They will get their first look at LaFleur, who has promised a clean and efficient brand of football. First impressions matter. The Cardinals need to take advantage. |
| NFC NORTH |
| GREEN BAYQB MALIK WILLIS is heading to a payday that could be stunning says Charles Robinson of YahooSports.com: As the NFL scouting combine spun down Sunday night and moving trucks began loading the remnants of the event, a sizable slice of free agency felt as if it was solidly unpacked. Specifically: Quarterback Malik Willis. The mystery salary figure that will take to sign him. And finally, the destination where he’ll be starting in 2026. Talking with a prominent league source Monday morning — who will be involved in this offseason’s quarterback market and has been part of several prominent QB negotiations over several decades — it felt as if a pecking order for the Willis chase had emerged over the course of combine week. “I think it will be Arizona, Miami and Pittsburgh in the weeds, depending on what happens with Aaron Rodgers,” the source said. “The Jets, too.” And the contract? “Two years at 50 [million], with $25 to $35 million guaranteed — probably closer to the $35 million.” Of course, all of those potential destinations — aside from the Jets — have some sort of contingency to work out with their 2025 starting quarterback. The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins will likely have to release Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively, in the coming days. And the Pittsburgh Steelers will either have to get some kind of commitment (or de-commitment) from Aaron Rodgers about next season — or simply move on without having the necessary clarity. The Dolphins and Cardinals will also have to do some salary cap and roster gymnastics in the coming days to absorb the dead cap charges associated with Murray and Tagovailoa. The rub for each team: Arizona — The Cardinals can make a contract work for Willis and have some high-end familiarity. General manager Monti Ossenfort was the director of player personnel for the Tennessee Titans when that franchise drafted Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, whose scheme and coaching revived Willis as a starting quarterback candidate. And Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, was on Green Bay’s staff last season as a defensive analyst. There’s little the Cardinals won’t know about Willis’ makeup or what made him successful in his limited starts for the Packers. Arizona also already has a surrounding foundation that is attractive, including first-team All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, and wideouts Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Miami — The Dolphins have their own head coach and front-office ties to Willis, with new head coach Jeff Hafley having served as the Packers’ defensive coordinator last season, and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan having served in a multitude of front-office roles in Green Bay dating to 2004. While the Dolphins also have some offensive talent on their roster, the offloading of Tagovailoa is going to put the franchise in the precarious position of having to either trade or release some players. They may also have to hold off on some contract extensions or get creative with deal structures to get beyond an NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap charge from Tagovailoa that is expected to be split between the 2026 and 2027 seasons. In both the respects of the roster and financial pliability, the Dolphins have an uphill climb. Pittsburgh — Everyone is waiting on Rodgers, but it’s worth noting that new head coach Mike McCarthy still has friends in Green Bay’s building and certainly has the ability to get a handle on Willis beyond the game tape. A $35 million guarantee might be a bit of a stretch for ownership, which hasn’t exactly been wildly loose with cash commitments at the quarterback spot since the end of the Ben Roethlisberger era. But part of the Willis and Steelers buzz at the combine was two fold: McCarthy’s age (62) and his veteran roster straps him with a win-now task. He’s also tasked with finding and developing a young quarterback simultaneously. If Rodgers returns, that’s a two-player balance for McCarthy. But if Willis is signed, it’s realistically the only QB option on the open market who can accomplish winning and grooming all in one player. New York Jets — This is an every-option-on-the-table franchise when it comes to the quarterback spot this offseason. With presumed No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza out of reach, the Jets really have no other choice when it comes to a potential long-term starter. Landing Willis would help the Jets take a major step in their reboot now, but it might take paying Willis more than a two-year, $50 million deal (and $35 million guarantee) to get it done. Team owner Woody Johnson threw last year’s starter, Justin Fields, under the bus in a very public and terrible-looking manner last season. And the overall roster is in a state of rebooting, with a significant amount of traction in the 2027 draft, which includes a haul of three first-round picks. That latter reality could result in patience for the Jets, who could test run a bridge starter like Murray for a season and then have the quarterback-rich 2027 draft as their backstop. The big question here will be whether Willis wants to gamble on the Jets and less-than-ideal ownership, and what other options the Jets can pursue. All of these pursuits are expected to hit the ground running when the legal tampering period begins in free agency on March 9. But one of the first significant markers about how this will unfold could come out of Pittsburgh — if and when Rodgers lets the Steelers know his plans for 2026. If the Steelers and Rodgers are going their separate ways, the Willis market could get heated quickly. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASThe Cowboys used QB DAK PRESCOTT and WR CEEDEE LAMB to get under the cap. Todd Archer of ESPN.com: The Dallas Cowboys have gotten under the $301.2 million salary cap Wednesday by restructuring the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and left guard Tyler Smith, according to sources. The Cowboys were nearly $55 million over the cap before the moves, but the restructuring cleared around $66 million in space. While the Cowboys are under the cap, they will need more room to be as aggressive as owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the team will be when free agency begins. The Cowboys have wide receiver George Pickens on the cap at $27.3 million, but a long-term deal would give them more room to spend. Jones said from the NFL scouting combine the team will rework the deals of defensive tackles Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, who are scheduled to count $63 million against the cap, to add more cap room. “I want you to know that the only way to push more [out] is for me to go borrow some of my future, OK?” Jones said last week from the NFL scouting combine. “Expect me to go borrow some of my future.” The Cowboys have not been major players in free agency in more than a decade, choosing to fill holes with cost-effective moves. Jones coined the phrase “bust the budget” when the offseason began and said from Indianapolis he would be willing to do so to help fix a defense that finished last in yards and 30th in points per game. “I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have,” Jones said. The Cowboys have needs at every spot but defensive tackle. They have two first-round picks but do not have selections in the second and third rounds because of trades they made last year for Williams and Pickens. The Cowboys can look to free agency for help at linebacker, cornerback, safety and pass rusher to help new coordinator Christian Parker put together a unit that can better complement the high-ranked offense. Dallas has it written into the contracts of the players to restructure the deals by lowering their base salaries and turning the difference into signing bonus. It is more of an accounting move since the players receive the same pay during the season and not a signing bonus check. Prescott’s base salary goes from $40 million to $1.8 million, while Lamb’s and Smith’s drop to the $1.7 million range. The differences were turned into “signing bonus” for cap purposes to free up space. While the moves create cap room this year, it adds to the players’ salary cap numbers in the future. For example, Prescott’s 2027 cap number now will be more than $76 million. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| NEW ORLEANSHere is where the Saints stand two months into the offseason from Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com: New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore embedded himself with the team’s college scouting department for two weeks leading up to the NFL combine in Indianapolis. Moore, the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator and the last head coaching hire of the 2025 cycle, didn’t have much time to do that last spring when he was trying to hire a staff and evaluate the Saints roster. “Right after the Senior Bowl I basically spent two weeks with Jeff [Ireland] and the scouting department,” said Moore, who sat down with reporters at this year’s combine. “So I’ve already gotten the first lap, first impressions of all these draft-eligible guys. It was a fun process to go through that because now that I’m kind of going through the free agency process on the back end, now I can kind of see both of ’em together.” The Saints had their entire scouting and coaching contingent at the combine, an event that allowed them to scout draft prospects and also meet with the representation of their own pending free agents such as Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan and Alontae Taylor. With free agency set to kick off with the negotiation window opening on March 9 and the official start to the league year beginning March 11, here’s what ESPN learned about the Saints while in Indianapolis: Improving run game is a top priorityMoore mentioned areas he marked for needed improvement in 2026: Fewer penalties (the Saints had the 10th-most penalties with 118 counted against them); more explosive passing plays and finding ways to disrupt the quarterback defensively. Improving the Saints’ 28th-ranked rushing offense was highlighted as a major need as well. “Certainly we’ve got to run the football better. That certainly dictates games in so many ways,” Moore said. The Saints have the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and there will be speculation about whether Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love could be a target in the first round. Love, who ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine, said in an interview that he could envision the Saints using him in a similar way as they do Alvin Kamara, utilizing him as both a pass catcher and a rusher throughout his pro career. After the run game, the more immediate priority is fixing the Saints’ offensive line. New Orleans has first- and second-round picks invested in four of its offensive linemen but haven’t found a permanent solution at left guard. “We’ve got to figure out that guard spot for sure,” said Moore, who noted multiple options in free agency. Some of the top guards on the market according to ESPN’s Top 100 free agents list include Pittsburgh Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo, 32; Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson, 26; and Buffalo Bills guard David Edwards, 29. Both Moore and Saints offensive line coach Brendan Nugent have worked with Johnson in the past. The Saints have more flexibility with their salary cap situation in 2026 and won’t have to do much work to get under the cap ceiling of $301.2 million. In a worst-case scenario where the Saints have four free agent contracts void (that would add $47.7 million in dead money to the cap), they would still only need to free up about $22 million to get cap compliant, something that can be accomplished with a few restructures. New Orleans will be spending money in free agency in some way, it’s just unclear whether that means adding one top free agent or several middle-tier free agents, as the team has done in recent years. The Saints seem more likely to look at offensive line options than make a splash at wide receiver as they continue to negotiate with wideout Chris Olave on a new deal. Derek Carr’s future is still unknownCarr, the former Saints quarterback, recently addressed the possibility of coming out of retirement on his podcast “Home Grown with David and Derek Carr.” The 34-year-old said he would return and play if he’s healthy, but said it had to be for a team that had a possibility of winning a Super Bowl. “Would I do it? Yes,” he said. “Would I do it for anybody? Absolutely not.” Carr has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning the Saints are restricted on which team they could send him to if he returns. As of combine week, New Orleans had not heard from Carr’s representation or any team interested in possibly acquiring him. Because Carr’s situation is rare, a wide range of compensation would likely be considered if he chose to play for another team, but it could be in the range of a third- to fifth-round pick. The Saints hold the rights to the final two years of Carr’s contract after he did not play in 2025. Futures of several veterans unclearThe Saints expect Taylor to test the market, which isn’t a surprise given a recent post to his social media accounts that sounded like a goodbye. That would leave the nickel corner spot up for grabs heading into free agency. The biggest questions for the team are what happens with Davis, Jordan and Taysom Hill. The Saints gave Hill, who was visibly emotional, some time after the season following what could be his final Saints home game. Whether Hill retires or plays in 2026 remains unclear, although his contract voids on Wednesday. The Saints would like to re-sign Davis, although the 37-year-old has publicly remained neutral as he waits to see how free agency plays out. Jordan has said he would like to finish his career with the Saints, but at a fair price after taking a paycut last year, while the Saints have not commented on potential negotiations for a 16th season. Some of the players currently under contract still have unknown futures. The fate of third-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has been under question after he was benched for Tyler Shough, but the Saints haven’t received calls about his trade value yet. The Saints still plan to bring in another quarterback or two for camp. That number could include Hunter Dekkers, who was with the team last season and is developing in the United Football League, although nothing is set. The Saints have said they like Rattler, so bringing in a veteran behind Shough isn’t a necessity. “You could not ask for a better QB room to handle the dynamics of one guy starting another guy supporting him and then flipping roles,” Moore said. Kamara, who turns 31 in July, also has questions after he finished the past two seasons with an injury. His $18.5 million salary cap hit is one of the teams’s highest. Kamara has $3 million of his $11.5 million base salary guaranteed, although it’s unclear if the Saints plan to approach him for a pay cut like they have with other veterans in the past. If so, it’s not a pressing priority for a team that’s in relatively healthy cap shape. “I love Alvin. We’ve got a bunch of veterans that we’d love to keep here … Alvin’s meant a lot to this place and I’ve had a great one year with him obviously,” Moore said. “Unfortunately it got cut short with the injury and so we’re able to finish it where our team, I think, was finally starting to play a little bit better collectively. I think he would’ve been able to reap some benefits from that. So we’ll let it take its course.” Coaching staff changesThe Saints didn’t make many staffing changes after Year 1 with Moore, despite scrutiny regarding their special teams play. Coordinator Phil Galiano appears to be staying for a second season in the special teams role, although the Saints will likely need to address their punting situation and the unit as a whole. Assistant offensive line coach Jahri Evans was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Saints added former offensive lineman Will Clapp as an assistant on Tuesday. They also hung on to one of the few staff holdovers from the Dennis Allen era, retaining wide receivers coach Keith Williams despite interest from former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and the Las Vegas Raiders. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSIf you thought the Rams would actually use both of their first round draft picks – you thought wrong. Michael Middlehurst-Schultz of USA TODAY grades the trade that brought CB TRENT McDUFFIE from the Chiefs: The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs have swung the first major trade of the NFL offseason. The Chiefs are trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams in exchange for the No. 29 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, along with fifth- and sixth-round picks this year and a third-round pick in 2027, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade could not become official until the start of the new league year on March 11. The deal significantly changes the landscape for two teams desperate to claw back to the front of the pack in their respective conferences. For Los Angeles, it serves as the latest marquee veteran addition – at perhaps the most pressing area of need – for a team seeking to capitalize on NFL MVP Matthew Stafford’s return. The Chiefs, meanwhile, receive more ammunition for resetting a roster that still has several needs and is undergoing some salary cap-related shifts. But who came out ahead in the deal? Here are grades for each team: Rams trade grade: BTurns out Rams general manager Les Snead wasn’t kidding about trying to maximize Stafford’s competitive window. After the 38-year-old quarterback announced after taking home the league’s top individual award that he would be returning for the 2026 season, Snead later suggested that the team was intent on catering its offseason to “make the most of the time we have” with the passer. On Tuesday, Snead seemed to tease the possibility of using one of his two first-round picks to swing a splashy deal. “Is there an All-Pro that you could add?” Snead told reporters. “That would be nice.” Less than 24 hours later, he has one in the former Chiefs standout. McDuffie’s arrival shores up the back end of a Rams defense that unraveled down the stretch, culminating with Sam Darnold torching the group for 346 yards and three touchdowns in Los Angeles’ NFC championship game defeat. Coverage performance can be volatile, but the four-year veteran has reliably clamped down on opposing receivers. And parting with the latter of the Rams’ two first-rounders and holding onto their payoff from the Atlanta Falcons’ ill-conceived gamble last year was a nice touch from Snead. Still, this is a fairly considerable compensation package – including the a likely extension that should be costly – for a player not in an elite tier at his position group. And there are at least a couple areas of concern. At 5-11 and 193, McDuffie doesn’t solve Los Angeles’ lingering problem of matching up with bulkier receivers. Those size limitations led Kansas City to place the 2022 first-round pick in the slot early in his career, and the result was an All-Pro campaign in 2023. Staying there full-time with the Rams might be a non-starter given how much the team gave up to land him, but moving him inside at least occasionally should be a consideration. McDuffie also struggled last season with the Chiefs tilting more toward zone coverages, allowing a career-worst catch rate of 67.9% and a passer rating of 96.3 when targeted, according to Next Gen Stats. That might seem like a bad fit for defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s scheme, which tends to live in zone looks. Maybe the move indicates the team wants to deploy more man coverage to better combat the likes of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and other top-flight targets capable of burning the secondary. There’s plenty to like about the configuration the Rams have to make this work, including the presence of Jimmy Lake, McDuffie’s college coach at Washington, as the newly appointed defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator. And perhaps this was merely an overdue investment for Snead, who had largely scoured the bargain bin at cornerback since parting with Jalen Ramsey in 2023. Still, as Snead somewhat returns to his “(expletive) them picks” roots, it seems clear that the Rams paid a premium to address their most glaring deficiency with a proven entity rather than one of the draft’s top cover men. Whether that apparent overpay will be justified in the end won’t become clear until at least next January. Chiefs trade grade: A-The knee-jerk reaction for many in Kansas City might be best summed up by Patrick Mahomes. “Damn,” the Chiefs quarterback wrote after news broke of McDuffie being sent packing. Some disappointment is only natural for an organization attempting to reclaim its status as the AFC’s alpha after falling to 6-11 last season, the franchise’s worst mark in a decade-plus. Viewed through the proper lens, however, this deal might actually help fast-track a resurgence. That general manager Brett Veach bailed on paying yet another standout cornerback should come as no surprise. Veach previously walked away from both L’Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward rather than pay them top-of-market contracts. If McDuffie wasn’t in Kansas City’s long-term plans, offloading him before he reaches free agency might simply have been good business. Not only do the Chiefs not have to worry about fitting him into a cap-crunched roster this year and beyond, they can now focus on re-signing fellow cornerback Jaylen Watson, who ranked 13th on Nate Davis’ top 100 free agent rankings and likely would not have been able to return without the secondary’s sea change. But the big boon here is the draft picks. As Kansas City gets set to make its earliest selection (No. 9) since 2013, the breadth of the team’s needs at premium positions is rather imposing. Yes, a wide receiver to assist Mahomes would be of massive value. Then again, a massively disruptive defensive end or defensive tackle could also be required. And don’t forget about the lackluster outlook at running back, safety and potentially tight end if Travis Kelce retires. With a second Day 1 selection and additional draft resources in hand, Veach now is well-positioned to build something formidable for the latter half of Mahomes’ career rather than merely cling on to the vestiges of a bygone era. And going this route was necessary given what Kansas City faced with its salary cap. Pressure on Veach, however, ramps up considerably in April. Describing the general manager’s draft track record as uneven would be charitable, and his various missteps in evaluating young talent have played a central role in Kansas City’s roster becoming so lopsided. But Veach has also displayed a shrewd sense for when to sell high on his existing veterans, and he might have timed the market correctly again here. |
| SEATTLEIn 2005, the Seahawks went to the Super Bowl with RB Shaun Alexander having won the MVP. At the time, they felt they had to reward him with a big new contract for that performance even though they also sensed a decline was on the way. Alexander did decline, as did the Seahawks. In 2025, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl with RB KENNETH WALKER III as Super Bowl MVP – and have decided to let him walk. Nick Shook of NFL.com with six spots that Walker could end up. The reigning Super Bowl MVP is headed toward free agency and a potential pay day. The Seattle Seahawks declined to use the franchise tag on Kenneth Walker III ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, meaning unless he and the team reach an agreement before free agency opens next week, Walker will test the open market. So where might the star of Super Bowl LX land? How much might a running back who has only barely broken 1,000 yards twice (in the regular season) in four years command in salary? We have one week to make our predictions; it’s time to forecast where K9 is headed in 2026. Here’s a look at six potential new homes for Walker if he leaves Seattle: Carolina PanthersDespite head coach Dave Canales’ insistence on establishing a tandem backfield with Chuba Hubbard, it became clear that Rico Dowdle was Carolina’s best back in 2025, logging 1,076 rushing yards and six rushing scores on 236 attempts. Dowdle is also headed toward free agency in 2026. Hubbard returns on his rookie deal, but it would behoove the Panthers to both replace Dowdle and also attempt to improve their 19th-ranked rushing attack, especially with another pivotal season approaching for quarterback Bryce Young. Walker enters the conversation because of this need and also because of Canales’ connection to Walker. Canales served on Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle as quarterbacks coach in 2022, Walker’s rookie season with the Seahawks, and Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was also in Seattle in 2022 as an assistant receivers coach before following Canales to Tampa Bay and Carolina. In a huge league that operates in a small world, familiarity often drives new pairings. With a little over $9 million in available cap, the Panthers will need to clear some space in order to make multiple additions to their roster, especially given that Walker will likely command roughly $9 million per year with his next contract. But the pairing makes sense, especially when considering how much Canales likes to lean on a tandem behind center. Las Vegas RaidersSpeaking of tandems and familiarity, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is now manning the top job in Las Vegas and has already publicly stated he’d like to add a running mate for 2025 first-rounder and former Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. In theory, it’s a splendid idea, but these Raiders have needs almost everywhere and need to dedicate resources toward reconstructing what was the worst offensive line in the NFL last season. However, because we’re projecting and living in a dreamland, why not pair Walker with the OC who guided the Michigan State product to the best season of his career, capped by a memorable showing on the sport’s biggest stage? After all, if projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza is going to have a decent chance of turning around the Raiders, he’ll need quality support from the teammates to whom he is handing the ball in 2026. Walker would fill that need and serve as one half of a high-potential tandem wearing Silver and Black. Arizona CardinalsArizona’s season fell off a cliff shortly after James Conner was lost to a season-ending injury in Week 3, underscoring the Cardinals’ significant reliance on the rugged back. Conner is still on the roster and could be back in 2026, but GM Monti Ossenfort cannot afford to leave new coach Mike LaFleur with the same backfield that was entirely ineffective following Conner’s departure. A hypothetical trio of Walker, Conner and Trey Benson looks much better than a group that doesn’t include a player of Walker’s caliber. Convincing Walker to move to the desert — and to the only NFC West team to not reach the playoffs in 2025 — will likely require an above market rate offer, though. Denver BroncosWith all due respect to RJ Harvey and his rookie season performance, it’s clear the Broncos need more juice at the position. Their 2025 leading rusher, J.K. Dobbins (772 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 10 games), is headed to free agency. Despite his minimal usage, it’s fair to expect restricted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin to return. The same is true for exclusive rights free agent Tyler Badie. But if the Broncos truly want to build on their excellent 2025 showing, they’d be wise to pursue an upgrade in their backfield and throw some cash at Walker. With $25.2 million in available cap space, they can get that done. Washington CommandersWashington has a ton of cap space ($72.3 million) entering 2026 and plenty of needs on both sides of the ball. After watching Austin Ekeler‘s season end via a non-contact injury early in the campaign and leaning on rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. for a combined result of 1,305 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores, one might believe the Commanders are in a fine position. It’s not entirely inaccurate, but in the season of turning over every stone in order to improve the roster, Washington should at minimum explore a potential partnership with Walker. Jayden Daniels could undoubtedly use a threat like Walker lining up next to him, especially after Daniels’ health issues cost him 10 games in his sophomore season. Dan Quinn and Co. owe it to themselves and the Washington fan base to at least consider it, especially after they fell incredibly short of expectations in 2025. Minnesota VikingsUnless significant cap gymnastics make it possible — the Vikings are currently more than $46 million over the cap, with roughly $18 million expected in gains if they release Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave — this one probably isn’t going to happen. But as far as needs are concerned, Minnesota is squarely in the market for a running back. Jones’ anticipated departure leaves the Vikings with two running backs under contract for 2026: Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott. I’d expect interim GM Rob Brzezinski to pore over the position in this draft class and also spend plenty of time exploring free agent options in a class headlined by Walker, whose dynamic abilities would serve as an excellent complement to whomever Minnesota settles on as its starting quarterback. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDThe counter for days since the last speeding ticket incurred by EDGE MYLES GARRETT is back to zero (well, actually more like 15 since it is only coming to light now). Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was issued a citation for speeding after he was clocked going 94 mph in a 70 mph zone on the interstate in Northeast Ohio last month, according to court records. It is Garrett’s ninth speeding ticket since entering the league in 2017. Garrett was pulled over at 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 21 in Wooster, Ohio, according to records. He was given a court date of next Tuesday but won’t have to appear if he pays the fine. Last August, Garrett was given a ticket for speeding in a Cleveland suburb after he was clocked going 100 mph in a 60 mph zone. In 2022, Garrett was issued a citation for “failure to control his motor vehicle” in the aftermath of a single-car crash that left him with a left shoulder sprain and right biceps strain after his vehicle went off the side of the road and flipped over. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Garrett was driving at 65 mph on a road with a 45 mph speed limit — an “unsafe speed for the type of roadway” he was on — according to the crash report obtained by ESPN. |
| PITTSBURGHAs the DB remembers it, things were a little frosty between QB AARON RODGERS and Coach Mike McCarthy at the end of their time in Green Bay. But, Rodgers has nice things to say about the new Steelers coach today. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Aaron Rodgers has not said whether he will play this season, for the Steelers or anyone else. But Rodgers enthusiastically endorses the Steelers’ new coach. Rodgers told Pat McAfee today that new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is one of his favorite people in the NFL. “Mike’s one of the great guys in the league,” Rodgers said. “Just an absolutely exceptional human being with a huge heart. We had a lot of great years together, a lot of fun. He really cares about the players. But he also holds guys accountable and creates a lot of structure and details in the process. I loved my time with Mike. Obviously there are times where like a big brother, sometimes you love him, sometimes you’re pissed at him. But deep down, there’s so much love for Mike and appreciation for the time we spent together.” McCarthy coached the Packers for 13 seasons, and Rodgers was his quarterback for all of them. The two of them had a lot of success together, including winning Super Bowl XLV, and Rodgers thinks McCarthy will have a lot of success in Pittsburgh. “I don’t think you can do better at this time in this franchise’s history than bringing in a guy like Mike McCarthy,” Rodgers said. Will Rodgers, who officially becomes a free agent next week, remain in Pittsburgh for one more season with McCarthy as his coach? Rodgers said his appearance today was not to make an announcement about that. “Anybody on here who is expecting me to make a big decision, just shut off, turn it off now,” Rodgers said. Instead, Rodgers will take his time, and McCarthy will wait to see if his former quarterback becomes his current quarterback.– – -TE JONNU SMITH has followed Arthur Smith around to his various stops as OC, but we’re not sure if he will be allowed to enroll at The Ohio State University. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com: The Pittsburgh Steelers will release veteran tight end Jonnu Smith ahead of the new league year, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Releasing Smith, 30, will save the Steelers about $7 million in cap space. The new league year begins March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. Smith, who arrived in Pittsburgh from the Miami Dolphins as part of the trade that also swapped Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey last summer, had 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his lone season with the Steelers. Before Pittsburgh, Smith spent a season each with the Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons. He also played in New England for two years and for the Tennessee Titans for four seasons after being drafted by them in the third round of the 2017 draft. Smith was most productive in Miami when he put up a career-high 884 receiving yards in Mike McDaniel’s offense and scored eight touchdowns in his lone Pro Bowl season. Smith’s addition to the Steelers’ tight end unit reduced the role of Pat Freiermuth, whom the Steelers signed to a four-year, $48.4 million extension in 2024. With Smith’s departure, the Steelers are seemingly signaling a renewed commitment to Freiermuth’s involvement in new coach Mike McCarthy’s offense. Freiermuth had 486 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season after putting up 653 yards and seven touchdowns a year earlier. Freiermuth also played only 51% of offensive snaps in 2025, the lowest volume of his career since being selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWR STEFON DIGGS will not get to enjoy a second season with the Patriots. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com: The New England Patriots informed veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he will be released at the start of the 2026 league year next week, according to a league source. Diggs’ salary cap charge was set to rise from $10.5 million to $26.5 million, which was the catalyst for the move. If he was on the roster by the end of next week, he would have had an additional $6 million of his contract guaranteed. Diggs posted a message on his Instagram story: “Thank you for a hell of a year. We family forever.” Diggs was reliable target for Pats in 2025 Stefon Diggs caught 82.5% of his targets last season (85 out of 103), the second-highest reception percentage among wide receivers with at least 100 targets in the last 10 seasons. Diggs, 32, had signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Patriots last March and quickly became one of the team’s inspirational leaders, as well as their top-producing receiver. He totaled a team-high 85 receptions for 1,013 yards with four touchdowns in the regular season. During the Patriots’ postseason run to Super Bowl LX, Diggs had 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown in four playoff games. Diggs, however, also is facing felony strangulation and other criminal charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his personal chef. Diggs has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is next scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing April 1. The Patriots will now need to find a way to fill that void for quarterback Drake Maye. They return veteran Mack Hollins and fourth-year pro Kayshon Boutte as their top receivers, with DeMario “Pop” Douglas, 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams and 2025 undrafted free agent Efton Chism III also on the depth chart. At the NFL scouting combine last week, head coach Mike Vrabel noted that No. 1 receivers are hard to come by. “They’re not going to be there in free agency. You have to try to draft them. I think that’s where a lot of them are. You develop them,” Vrabel said. The Patriots have 11 selections in this year’s draft, with their top pick at 31st overall. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2026 DRAFTToday’s Mock Draft comes from Dane Brugler of The Athletic: With my 16th combine in the books, it’s time to translate what happened in Indianapolis into how it could affect the early rounds of the NFL Draft. Obviously, free agency is still going to be a major domino in the process, but the combine gives us breadcrumbs to how teams are thinking. I gathered plenty of NFL feedback during combine week and included some of it in this mock draft (including one interesting trade scenario, noted below by an asterisk). 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, IndianaIt was surprising how little Mendoza-to-Vegas buzz there was in Indianapolis. But that likely reflects how much of a foregone conclusion this pairing seems to be at No. 1. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, edge, Ohio StateReese had one of the most impressive workouts at this year’s combine — full stop. His athletic testing was outstanding, as expected, but his on-field performance was even more remarkable. His blend of speed, explosion and violence separates him in this class. “Dude stole the freaking show,” an NFL scout said. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, MiamiIn terms of NFL ceiling, Mauigoa might not be on the level of past No. 3 picks. But this is a different draft, and he brings a high floor — one which would immediately upgrade the Cardinals’ right tackle spot. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre DameShould the Titans, at this point in their roster construction, invest a premium pick at running back? Debatable. But with money to spend in free agency, Tennessee should be in a much more stable place before we get to April. An AFC scout for a team that already has an established running back called Love “the best player in the draft.” Instead of getting hung up on positional value, the Titans should focus on “impact value” and what a talent like Love could do not only for the run game, but the passing game and offense overall. Head coach Robert Saleh spent the last year watching Christian McCaffrey’s impact on the San Francisco 49ers and could see similar potential in Love. 5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio StateFor much of the season and pre-draft process, I felt like I had to convince doubters of why Styles deserved to be a top-10 pick. After his workout in Indianapolis, the skeptics have disappeared. But it wasn’t just what Styles did on the field, which prompted a standing ovation when he walked into one team’s interview room. His interviews with NFL teams were “phenomenal,” according to a team source. 6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah“Easily the best O-line workout this year.” The feedback from others matched that praise from a team source and was universally glowing about Fano’s combine performance. (“He confirmed the big grade I put on him,” was another good reply from a team scout.) His shorter arms (32 1/8 inches) will be interpreted differently by each team, but Fano is too well-liked across the league for him to fall down boards. 7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, edge, Texas TechHead coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are looking for speed and violence off the edge, and Bailey offers both. He took a jump as a run defender this past season and would improve the Commanders’ pass rush immediately. 8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio StateSocial media seems to care more than NFL teams about Tate’s 40-yard dash time — he clocked in at 4.53 seconds, although that official time has been under dispute. He averaged 32.5 yards per touchdown catch in 2025 and showed the ability to win at all three levels of the field, which is something quarterback Tyler Shough would love to see in the Saints’ offense. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, MiamiIt will be interesting to see how the Chiefs address their multiple needs this offseason. If they wait until the draft to make a splash at edge rusher, Bain — and his ability to constrict the pocket with his power — would make sense. He remains a polarizing prospect among NFL teams. He’s got a lot of fans, and plenty of critics. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateCount the Bengals among several teams that generally don’t draft safeties early in the first round. But Downs is different and will force front offices to rethink that stance. His intelligence, intangibles and on-field impact immediately will make the other 10 defenders on the field that much better. 11. Miami Dolphins: Monroe Freeling, OT, GeorgiaOver the last few months, I’ve been pushing Freeling as an ascending prospect with talent worth an early-pick investment. His combine performance was uneven (NFL scout: “His testing was good. His positional workout wasn’t good at all.”), but a 1.71-second 10-yard split in the 40 at his size is impressive. Freeling would be a great building block for a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, looking to revamp the roster. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSUIn the history of their franchise, the Cowboys have drafted only one LSU cornerback (Morris Claiborne) — and it didn’t go well. Delane doesn’t have elite size or speed (we will see if he runs a 40 before the draft), but he has an outstanding feel for coverage in man or zone, anticipating and driving on routes. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonHistory tells us the Rams don’t draft cornerbacks in the first few rounds, but that position on their depth chart needs almost a complete makeover. Terrell, whom several scouts singled out as having the top cornerback workout at the combine, makes plays against both the pass and run. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, G, Penn StateGood players have a habit of falling to the Ravens in Round 1, and this would be just the most recent example. Ioane is one of the best players in the draft, although his lack of positional versatility could help him land in Baltimore’s lap. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, OregonI don’t think general manager Jason Licht is necessarily looking to target a tight end with a top-15 pick, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bucs believe Sadiq is the best player available here. He’s been TE1 in this class from the summer until now, and his freaky combine performance was the cherry on top. 16. New York Jets (from IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USCMaybe the Jets will opt for more size at receiver to complement Garrett Wilson, but Lemon has the competitive DNA that should speak to head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. Glenn had a front-row seat for Amon-Ra St. Brown with the Detroit Lions — it’s a good bet he would want to add a stylistically similar player. 17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, AlabamaThe return of Taylor Decker in 2026 gives the Lions options on draft night, but it doesn’t eliminate offensive line from being the move here. Proctor has the talent to give Detroit immediate depth at both tackle and guard, especially after the release of Graham Glasgow. He’d be a long-term building block. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, OregonWith Harrison Smith’s future in question, the Vikings will have safety near the top of their wish list this offseason. Thieneman was expected to test well at the combine. Based on the reactions from teams, he surpassed even those high expectations and solidified himself in the mid-first-round range. (NFL scout: “It’s hard to find anything bad with ‘T-man.’”) 19. Carolina Panthers: Akheem Mesidor, edge, MiamiGeneral Manager Dan Morgan, a member of the Hurricanes’ Ring of Honor, isn’t going to draft a Miami player because of the connections to his alma mater. But it wouldn’t hurt, especially with the Panthers in the market for a charged-up edge rusher. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Keldric Faulk, edge, AuburnThe Cowboys addressed their secondary at No. 12 in this mock, and they add an edge rusher here. One of the youngest prospects in the class, Faulk will enter the league as a physical edge setter with a developing pass-rush arsenal. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, IndianaThe third wide receiver off the board in this mock, Cooper has the ball skills that would make him a great fit for the Steelers’ quick-strike offense. His strong lower body and toughness make him a chore for defenders to finish to the ground. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeThis is a value pick for the Chargers. McCoy, now more than a year removed from ACL surgery, didn’t work out at the combine and remains a wild card in this class. There might be a discount sticker on his tag come draft weekend. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona StateIheanachor would give the Eagles short-term insurance behind Lane Johnson, and a long-term answer at right tackle. He’s still relatively new to football, so a year spent sitting behind a future Hall of Famer would be a master class for Iheanachor’s development. 24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateMake it back-to-back Sun Devils off the board. Without any concerns about durability, Tyson likely would be a top-10 pick. However, a lingering hamstring issue might create doubt in the minds of some decision-makers, which could in turn lead a team such as Cleveland to find awesome value in the back half of Round 1. 25. Chicago Bears: Peter Woods, DT, ClemsonWoods is a frustrating study, because the talent is evident but doesn’t equate to consistent disruption. Still, his “good” tape is enough for teams hunting interior help to consider him in the late first round. 26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonIf the Bills draft a wide receiver in the first round, should they go with a speedy, smaller option or a bigger, more physical target? Boston would be the latter, with outstanding size and ball skills (and he isn’t a slug, either). 27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, UtahLomu will benefit from another year of strength development, which would leave him ready just in time to potentially take over for Trent Williams at left tackle. His athletic footwork and movement control suggest he has a bright future. 28. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU)*: Ty Simpson, QB, AlabamaThe only proposed trade in this mock draft has the Cardinals getting back into the first round (just ahead of the Rams) to nab a quarterback, giving up a second-rounder (No. 34) and 2027 third-rounder to do so. This would be back-to-back years the Texans have traded down to No. 34 with a team looking for a quarterback (they made a similar deal last year with the Giants, who then selected Jaxson Dart). With the Kyler Murray era in the rearview, the Cardinals could be in the mix for Malik Willis in free agency or get creative on draft weekend to address their quarterback spot. Simpson has the NFL-level processing and instincts to be a starter, although his pro ceiling is the question mark. The decision is the first step in Arizona’s quest to find its next franchise quarterback. 29. Los Angeles Rams: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&MWith Davante Adams in the final year of his deal, Concepcion would give the Rams’ offense immediate firepower plus a long-term solution if Adams isn’t on the roster in 2027. His dynamic inside-outside versatility would be a fun addition to an already exciting passing attack. (Note: Draft submitted before Rams traded this pick to the Chiefs as part of a package for CB Trent McDuffie.) 30. Denver Broncos: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, ToledoThe Broncos have been doing their homework on McNeil-Warren, a long, athletic safety who makes plays in coverage and versus the run. Safety might not be the Broncos’ No. 1 need, but McNeil-Warren’s range would be a nice fit in their secondary. 31. New England Patriots: T.J. Parker, edge, ClemsonUpgrading the pass rush (in multiple ways) is expected to be top priority for the Patriots this offseason. And Parker is a well-rounded player who offers a reliable foundation built on leveraged power and a consistent motor, which will speak to Mike Vrabel. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South CarolinaThe Seahawks plucking another Gamecocks defensive back in this year’s draft would be a fun story. But more importantly, Cisse would give Seattle much-needed cornerback depth, especially if Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen both depart in free agency. |
