| Fewer teams are playing tag as Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com gives us the 2026 tally: From 2015-24, the NFL saw five or more franchise tags placed on players each of those offseasons. A total of five tags were used the past two years. The deadline to tag players in 2026 passed Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Only three teams used a franchise tag, with Jets running back Breece Hall, Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts tagged as non-exclusive franchise players. In 2025, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins and Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith were the only players tagged. The only other time two or fewer players were tagged was 1994, the first year of the franchise tag, when Pittsburgh tight end Eric Green and Vikings defensive tackle Henry Thomas received their team’s franchise tag. The Colts placed the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones on Tuesday. Teams will have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal with tagged players, or the players will play on the tag for 2026.– – -Mike Florio worries about a negative for the players resulting from the incredible growth of the salary cap: Before 1994, the NFL had no salary cap. It also had no salary floor. Teams could spend as much, or as little, as they wanted on players. With limited (at best) free agency, there was never an arms race among the various franchises for available veterans. With the 1993 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which settled the antitrust lawsuit filed by the NFL Players Association after the failed 1987 strike, came free agency and a salary cap. It debuted the next year, at a limit of $34.2 million per team. In the 32 years since then, the cap has mushroomed to $301.2 million per team. In only five years, it has exploded from $182.5 million. That’s an increase of nearly $120 million, a 65-percent leap. It’s good for the players, a direct impact of the much-criticized 2011 labor deal that resolved an offseason lockout and created (roughly) a 50-50 split of revenue between the owners and the players. Arguably, it’s too good. When Commissioner Roger Goodell made a gratuitous pivot during a May 2025 press conference regarding a “lengthy discussion” among owners regarding “the cap system itself, the integrity of that system, how’s it working, where do we need to address that in the context of collective bargaining, when that does happen,” the message was sent. In the next wave of negotiations, the owners will try to revamp the system. Revenue sharing works, until the revenue grows to astronomical levels. Plenty of owners are surely looking at the split and asking why they need to keep carving the pie in half. Whether they’ll seek a reduction of the percentage or the introduction of specific cap figures determined years in advance, the owners seem to have realized that 50-50 results in higher player costs than they need to pay. It may just be a leverage play. An effort to create a false crisis on a point that will be abandoned in a way that will feel like a win for the players. The prevailing view is that the players will agree to 18 regular-season games and 16 annual international games if the players get enough in return. If “getting enough” means preserving the current formula (or something close to it), that can be couched as a win. Which could be why the owners are laying the foundation for a trumped-up fight over whether the existing approach leaves them with enough money to otherwise run the overall business. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOThe Bears learn their Pro Bowl center is retiring at age 27. Dylan Svoboda of the New York Post: Bears center Drew Dalman is retiring at 27 years old. The Pro Bowl offensive lineman informed the team Tuesday that he’s stepping away from the game after five seasons in the NFL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A fourth-round pick out of Stanford by the Falcons in 2021, Dalman spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta. Last offseason, Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million deal to come to Chicago. He played all 17 games and every single offensive snap for the Bears last season en route to his first career Pro Bowl nod. Dalman ranked in the top 15 in both run-blocking and pass-blocking, according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just one sack and 24 pressures all season. While he had a perfect bill of health last season, Dalman missed 11 games between 2023 and 2024 with an ankle injury. Dalman was a key part of the Bears’ revamped offensive line, which allowed just 25 sacks all season, fueling a massive turnaround in Chicago, who went 11-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) takes the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. The Bears also have some uncertainty at left tackle after 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon, which is expected to take him out for most, if not all, of the 2026 season. The franchise wasted no time looking for Dalman’s replacement, having planned to host a visit with former Commanders center Tyler Biadasz, who recently became a free agent, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Chicago has “sniffed around” on star free agent center Tyler Linderbaum. He is expected to get a massive haul on the open market. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com looks at whether or not the Bears will seek to re-claim $4 million in bonus money from Dalman: The surprise retirement of Bears center Drew Dalman comes with a potentially significant cost. Beyond the decision to walk away from $24 million over the next two years of his three-year, Dalman could be required to return to the Bears the balance of his signing bonus payment. He received $6 million up front on a three-year deal. He has earned $2 million of it. The Bears may seek to recover $4 million. The logic is simple. A signing bonus isn’t free money; it’s an advance against future performance. The $6 million covers the three years of the contract, earned at the rate of $2 million per year. In 2025, his first with the Bears, Dalman started all 17 regular-season games and two playoff games. He took 100 percent of the regular-season snaps in a year that ended with his first Pro Bowl berth. It’s unknown why Dalman walked away from football at age 27, and after only five NFL seasons. It would be foolish to completely rule out the possibility that he wanted the Bears to adjust his deal after a stellar first season in Chicago, and that the Bears declined to do so. Until Dalman addresses the decision himself, the reason(s) for it won’t be known. If, however, the move had anything to do with his contract, it’s possible that a sweetener from the Bears could lure him back. |
| MINNESOTATrading LB JOSH GREENARD may be part of Minnesota’s escape from salary cap jail. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: The Minnesota Vikings are open to trading outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard as they work through a salary cap deficit that could have a wide-ranging impact on their roster, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. Greenard, 28, is one of the team’s top defensive players and has two seasons remaining on the four-year deal he signed in 2024. But the Vikings entered this month roughly $43 million over the NFL’s salary cap. They want to keep Greenard, Schefter reported, but their work to eliminate that cap deficit has led to trade discussions. Greenard’s contract calls for a $22.3 million cap number and a $19 million cash salary for 2026, but none of that money is fully guaranteed. If he is still on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year, $4 million of his base salary will become guaranteed. A trade would save them about $12 million in cap space. The Vikings have already told two other veterans, running back Aaron Jones and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, that they will be released or traded for cap purposes. Their departures would save $18.65 million in cap space. Greenard spent the first four years of his career with the Houston Texans before signing with the Vikings. He recorded 12.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2024 but was slowed by a shoulder injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery in 2025. Although he managed only three sacks in 12 games last season, his pressure rate of 13.5% ranked No. 7 in the NFL. One mitigating factor in Greenard’s possible departure is the development of Dallas Turner, a first-round draft pick in 2024 who led the team with eight sacks in 2025, including 6.5 in the final eight games. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThe Giants have parted ways with LB BOBBY OKEREKE. Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com: – The New York Giants are releasing starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke after three seasons with the team, a source told ESPN. The move frees up $9 million in salary cap space. Okereke, one of the team’s defensive captains, was set to count $14.46 million against the cap this season. It’s the beginning of a series of moves for the Giants to free space. New York had less than $2 million in cap space heading into this week. The free agent negotiating window opens Monday. Okereke was signed before the 2023 season after four years with the Indianapolis Colts. He played the best football of his career during his first season with the Giants, making 149 tackles, 11 for a loss, while notching a career-best 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. But a back injury and new defense slowed Okereke in his second season in New York. He played in 12 games in 2024 and finished with 93 tackles. He never seemed to fully regain his previous form. The Giants moving on from the veteran linebacker was always a possibility after they finished 31st in run defense (145.3 yards per game) and 32nd in yards allowed per rush (5.3) in 2025. They also overhauled the coaching staff and are installing a new defense under coach John Harbaugh, who hired Dennard Wilson from the Tennessee Titans as his defensive coordinator. Moving on from Okereke opens a massive hole in the middle of the Giants’ defense. It’s expected to be addressed in free agency or the draft. New York could also re-sign inside linebacker Micah McFadden, who missed most of this past season because of a right foot injury and is set to become a free agent. Harbaugh’s track record suggests the Giants could make a significant move to fill the position. During his time in Baltimore, Harbaugh had a group of high-profile inside linebackers — Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosely, Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith — to lead his defense. Harbaugh’s comments at the NFL combine last week seemed to foreshadow a significant move. “The inside linebacker isn’t always considered a value position, but you can’t stop the run without an inside linebacker making tackles in the middle, right? You can’t do it,” Harbaugh said. “So, that becomes pretty important.” Ohio State’s Sonny Styles performed well at the combine to solidify his status as one of the best linebacker prospects in this year’s draft. Devin Lloyd, Leo Chenal and Quay Walker are considered by most to be the top available middle linebackers in free agency. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAThe QB KYLER MURRAY Era with the Cardinals will end next Wednesday. Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com: The Kyler Murray era with the Arizona Cardinals is officially coming to a close. After months of speculation about Murray’s future with the team, Arizona has informed the 2019 No. 1 draft pick that they plan to release him next Wednesday, when the new league year begins, barring a trade, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday. Murray was already guaranteed $36.8 million for 2026 and would have been guaranteed another $19.5 million for 2027 if he was still on the roster on the fifth day of the 2026 league year, which is March 16. Getting released was Murray’s preferred outcome, a source told ESPN. With him hitting free agency next week, Murray has two teams he prefers to join, the source said. “To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Murray wrote Monday in a post to X. “I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77 year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best. I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatever’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.” Murray’s seven seasons in Arizona were chock full of highlight-worthy plays but ended with just one playoff appearance, a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of three players, along with the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, to throw for more than 20,000 yards and run for more than 3,000 yards. |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSSean McVay believes the Rams will be able to satisfy QB MATTHEW STAFFORD in a responsible way. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford announced his plan to return for the 2026 season while accepting the 2025 MVP award and that took care of one bit of offseason business for the team. Another one could involve revisiting the contract that Stafford signed before last season. Stafford signed a two-year deal that has him set to make $40 million in 2026 with a cap number of more than $48 million and head coach Sean McVay said on Tuesday that the two sides have had “great dialogue” about revising that pact. “We’ll work through all of those things,” McVay said, via Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. McVay didn’t delve into what is on the table, but adding another year to Stafford’s deal in order to better manage the team’s cap exposure is likely one of the things that will be considered as the Rams move toward another season with Stafford at the helm of the offense |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIAt long last, EDGE TREY HENDRICKSON will be free of the Bengals. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: This year, Trey Hendrickson will be able to move on from the Bengals. According to multiple reports, Cincinnati will not use the franchise tag on Hendrickson before the Tuesday afternoon deadline. Hendrickson, 31, went through a long negotiation over his contract with the team last offseason, which resulted in Hendrickson getting a raise just before the season. But he did not have any more years added to his deal. Due to injury, Hendrickson was able to play just seven games in 2025, recording 4.0 sacks with three tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits. In 2024, Hendrickson made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, having recorded a league-leading 17.5 sacks with 19 tackles for loss, and a career-high 36 quarterback hits. Hendrickson joined the Bengals in 2021 after spending his first four seasons with New Orleans. But at this point, it appears Hendrickson will be headed elsewhere for 2026 after five years with the club. In 117 career games with 88 starts, Hendrickson has recorded 81.0 sacks with 74 tackles for loss and 163 quarterback hits. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISAnd it’s the transition tag for QB DANIEL JONES. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: Instead of using the franchise tag, the Indianapolis Colts have placed the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones as the two sides continue to work toward a multiyear deal, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. Jones is the first quarterback to receive the transition tag since the Atlanta Falcons used it to retain Jeff George in 1996. The transition tag will pay Jones $37.833 million for the 2026 season, roughly $6 million less than he would have made under the franchise tag. The transition tag, however, gives Jones the opportunity to field offers from other teams. He can sign an offer sheet with another team, while the Colts retain the right to match. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jones signed with the Colts last offseason following a roller-coaster six-year run with the New York Giants. He also briefly played for the Minnesota Vikings after the Giants released him late in the 2024 season. Jones enjoyed a hot start in Indianapolis as he and the Colts jumped out to an 8-2 record. An Achilles injury in Week 14, however, sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Without Jones, the Colts did not win another game and finished 8-9. Jones’ transition tag also means the Colts cannot place the franchise tag on wideout Alec Pierce. Like Jones, the Colts will continue working toward a long-term deal with Pierce, who has led the NFL in average yards per catch in each of the past two seasons. By transition tagging Jones, the Colts are opening themselves up to the risk of another team making him a sizable offer. It’s possible the Colts feel his injury could scare some teams off. It’s also conceivable that Jones may choose not to sign an offer sheet from certain teams. One team that could take advantage of the Colts’ decision is the Minnesota Vikings, who are monitoring the situation, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. The Vikings are motivated to upgrade at the position after watching Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl in Seattle months after they allowed him to test free agency. Another team in need of a quarterback is the Arizona Cardinals, who are releasing Kyler Murray. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSRB BREECE HALL has been tagged. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: — The New York Jets dusted off their franchise tag, placing it on running back Breece Hall ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. Hall’s tag is the nonexclusive version ($14.293 million), meaning he can negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet. The Jets have the right of first refusal and would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation if they decline to match — a prohibitive price for a running back. In short, this means Hall isn’t going anywhere unless he’s traded or the tag is rescinded, which is rare. General manager Darren Mougey, speaking last week at the NFL scouting combine, gave no indication that a trade is under consideration. He said Hall “is a good player and we want to find a way to keep him around.” Hall would’ve been one of the most coveted free agents available. The free agent negotiating period begins Monday. After news of the Jets’ decision broke, Hall posted to X: “Always been the type to bet on myself. Been working…see yall soon, Love.” Mougey was clear on the Jets’ plans, saying they’d use a franchise or transition tag if they couldn’t sign Hall before the tag deadline. The transition tag would’ve been less costly ($11.3 million), but it would’ve increased the chances of an offer sheet from another team. The two sides were unable to reach a deal after at least two weeks of active negotiations, a source said. The Jets and Hall have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement. Failing that, he will play the 2026 season for $14.293 million, which counts immediately on their current salary cap. This is the first time the Jets have exercised the tag since 2021, when it was used on safety Marcus Maye, who never signed a long-term contract. He wound up leaving as a free agent in 2022. By declining the Jets’ contract offer, Hall might be able to capitalize on an anticipated spike in the running back market. Stars Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are eligible for extensions, and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is poised to become a free agent Monday. Hall, who turns 25 on May 31, rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025 — no easy task on a 3-14 team. The coaches hyped him as a dual threat who would have a huge impact in the passing game, but that never materialized. He finished with only 36 receptions, his second-lowest total in four seasons. Things could be different under new offensive coordinator Frank Reich. In four seasons, Hall has compiled 5,040 scrimmage yards, which ranks 14th in the league. He generated significant interest at the midseason trading deadline, later expressing disappointment that he wasn’t traded. Hall, a 2022 second-round pick, has expressed frustration about the Jets’ losing ways. The Jets’ record with Hall is 22-46, under three different coaches, but he and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are the team’s only two proven playmakers. “I do get the sense that Breece wants to be here,” Mougey said. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| QB CAROUSEL AT STANDSTILLJeff Howe of The Athletic studies the nine teams that might need QBs and the market tht is still trying to figure out how to process veterans KYLER MURRAY and TUA TAGOVIALOA: The shortage of talent available via free agency and the draft has compelled teams to get creative. Should they take a big swing on the talented but unproven Malik Willis, or bide their time with a capable (if unspectacular) aged-out starter before shifting focus to 2027? After numerous conversations with team and league sources at the NFL Scouting Combine, there’s still so much uncertainty in the market, even with free agency a week away. Philosophically, teams have worked to determine the best fit for their roster, as well as their roster’s ability to support that quarterback. Since there isn’t a bona fide franchise QB on the market, it’s crucial for teams to be honest with themselves about the fit — jobs are on the line, and mistakes are costly. Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa are the two biggest names to watch, yet teams have appeared content to do just that. The Arizona Cardinals (Murray) and Miami Dolphins (Tagovailoa) would love to trade their QBs to alleviate cash flow, but there’s been minimal buzz about interested parties. The Cardinals and Dolphins would almost certainly have to absorb significant money to facilitate a trade. Tagovailoa has $54 million guaranteed in 2026, while Murray has $36.8 million. Neither quarterback has performed up to the standard of their contract, so there’s little reason to believe a deal is likely without an added incentive, especially with teams predicting both will ultimately be released. It’s conceivable the Cardinals and Dolphins could attach a draft pick to facilitate a trade, as the Houston Texans did when they sent QB Brock Osweiler and a second-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in 2017. The Texans wanted to get out of Osweiler’s $16 million guaranteed (for context, that’s roughly $29 million relative to the 2026 salary cap) badly enough to sacrifice a draft asset. Various league sources loved the thought of replicating that scenario with Murray or Tagovailoa, but they are skeptical it will happen. The Dolphins’ new regime already inherited a messy cap situation, so they wouldn’t be in a rush to attach the No. 11 pick to free up cash — not when they’d still incur $45.2 million in dead money against the cap. Tagovailoa, who turned 28 on Monday, hasn’t processed his reads as efficiently as he did earlier in his career, according to sources from teams that have studied him. His history of concussions is also a concern. If Tagovailoa hits free agency, he’ll likely have to settle for a spot where he’d need to compete for a job. Murray’s contract isn’t as restrictive, and he’s viewed as the more talented of the two. But multiple league sources relayed concerns about his leadership skills, and he has accrued injuries throughout his career that have caused late-season tailspins. Murray, 28, might be the best plug-and-play quarterback on the market for a team with a veteran roster, but there’s skepticism when it comes to a long-term commitment. Including the Dolphins and Cardinals, nine teams are at the center of the QB market: the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons. You can essentially cross the Raiders off the list, as it would require wildly unforeseen circumstances for them to pivot away from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the draft’s No. 1 pick. There’s also belief Daniel Jones will remain with the Colts, and the Steelers have stated their intention to retain Aaron Rodgers for one more season. The six remaining teams will have to choose between a pool of nine free agents, cut candidates, trade targets and draft prospects. And because the supply outweighs the demand — with that supply being loaded with question marks — teams want to identify the best bang for their buck. Free agents include Willis, Joe Flacco and Kirk Cousins, who will be released next week. Geno Smith is a cut or trade candidate, along with Murray and Tagovailoa. Derek Carr, whose rights are controlled by the New Orleans Saints, has seriously considered unretiring. Mac Jones, who is under contract with the San Francisco 49ers for another year, is a coveted trade target. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is viewed as the only other QB who could be a first-round pick in April. Willis has the most upside of any free agent, as the 2022 third-rounder flashed his potential in three starts with the Green Bay Packers over the last two seasons. As a draft prospect, Willis stacked traits to the sky, but he needed a long runway in the NFL after operating then-Liberty coach Hugh Freeze’s overly simplistic playbook at the college level. It’s natural to link Willis to the Dolphins, who hired coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from the Packers. But don’t overlook the Jets, whose $89 million in cap space is the third most in the league, and $50 million more than anyone who would be in the free-agent QB market, according to figures from Over The Cap. Willis’ market has been projected at two years and $40 million to $50 million annually, though the guaranteed money is the more important factor. Of course, demand could push that total to $60 million, but sources from teams outside the QB market thought that was an aggressive number. It’s entirely plausible a cap-strapped team such as the Dolphins could dress up the contract with extra years and bloated dollar figures to spread out the cap hits, too. But what will Willis ultimately prioritize? He had an unexpected draft fall, got traded to the Packers for a seventh-round pick just before the 2024 season and has started six games in four years. It would be entirely understandable if Willis jumps on the biggest offer after navigating so much adversity. However, the short-term money grab could be a cautionary tale. Desperate teams such as the Dolphins, Jets, Browns and Cardinals cycled through quarterbacks last season and don’t have rosters that are ready to support a QB who is short on experience. Willis still needs to go through growing pains, and those will be exponentially more taxing if there’s chaos around him. The Vikings and Falcons probably won’t have the highest offers (if they extend one at all), but they could present better situations. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is incredibly well-regarded by his peers and was sought out by Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones along their journeys toward career revival. Willis, an Atlanta native, could also be enticed by coach Kevin Stefanski’s system and the skill players on the Falcons’ roster. Willis must carefully calculate his next move. If he joins a rebuilding team that stays bad in 2026, it will be awfully difficult for that organization to ignore a 2027 draft class with a ton of potential. Justin Fields made $30 million with the Jets last season but will join the backup circuit this offseason, and Willis needs to avoid a similar fate. If Willis takes short money from the Vikings or Falcons and then produces, he’ll have a nine-figure offer soon enough. Speaking of the Vikings, they’re scouring every possible option to compete with J.J. McCarthy. The 2024 first-round pick has dealt with injuries and performance issues, and O’Connell wants a veteran who is capable of winning the starting job if McCarthy doesn’t progress. The Vikings have done background work on Carr, who has been retired for a year, so they’ve cast a wide net. The plug-and-play option with Murray could also make a ton of sense. Also on the organizational front, it’s necessary for these teams to figure out whether they want to go all-in on someone such as Willis or if they’d prefer a cheaper stopgap option such as Cousins, who played well down the stretch and is viewed as more of a sure thing. That’s where cost and opportunity come into play, too. If there are six teams targeting eight veteran quarterbacks — knowing Simpson will be there in the draft, too — they won’t all be overextending. Some will be perfectly happy waiting to see which one is the most affordable. That’s why people around the league noted it felt like one big staring contest last week in Indianapolis: For many teams, there might not be much of a difference between Plan A and Plan C.The Mac Jones trade front is also fascinating, more so because the 49ers have a compelling case to keep him. Jones played at a high level in eight starts last season filling in for an injured Brock Purdy, who has missed time with injuries in all four seasons. Jones also has a $3.07 million cap hit, so the Niners aren’t financially motivated to move him. Of course, it would be a massive win to turn a budget-friendly free-agent pickup into a second-round pick, particularly for a team with such a top-heavy roster. But with that talented roster and coach Kyle Shanahan, the Niners don’t want a season to go to waste if Purdy goes down again. Since Jones was a major reason the Niners stayed afloat in 2025, they could rightfully be stubborn and hold out for a first-round offer. And who’s to say it wouldn’t come after the draft? Simpson is largely viewed as a second-round prospect who will likely be taken somewhere in the first round. If a team strikes out in free agency and the draft, it could circle back with the Niners on Jones. Simpson, meanwhile, is a high-level processor who wins before the snap, and his intangibles are through the roof. His ceiling might be as a Purdy type, though Purdy has a thicker frame and Simpson’s durability and shortage of starting experience are concerns. Because of Simpson’s attributes, along with the time needed for his development, he was viewed as a potential fit for the Los Angeles Rams and coach Sean McVay. With all of these evaluations, the 2027 QB class remains the supersized elephant in the room. Texas’s Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers headline a star-studded prospect pool, and there are at least another half-dozen who could easily jump into the first-round discussion. While it’s possible the 2027 class could fall apart like the 2026 group did, the projections are part of the roster-building process. If a team uses a first-rounder on Simpson, for instance, it would require a colossal admission of failure to use another top pick on a QB a year from now. The Falcons are another wild card because they’ve overhauled their power structure, will split with Cousins for logical financial reasons and can’t be sure Michael Penix Jr. will be ready for the season after his third torn ACL. Plus, Penix’s performance waned before the injury, so they could reunite Stefanski with Flacco or take a flier on an Anthony Richardson trade with the Colts. But with a roster that can contend for an NFC South title, the Falcons should be attractive for Murray, Smith or even Carr if they can somehow pull off a trade with a hated rival. Eventually, someone will make a decision, and the carousel will get moving. But until that happens, the what-ifs are creating a ton of uncertainty with free agency quickly approaching. |
| 2026 DRAFTA Mock Draft from Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com: The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is over and we’ve all had time to react to the 40 times, vertical leaps and arm length to have nuanced and reasoned takes on why a player with years worth of tape is now demonstrably better or worse than he was a week ago. I’m mostly joking but we’re all guilty of letting our biases creep in after seeing most of the players below perform in Indy. And while the on-field workouts have some importance, I am here to confirm that the tape is still, in fact, the tape. I do not care that Carnell Tate ran a 4.53. Because, it turns out, that time is a) in dispute, according to The Athletic, and b) Tate plays way faster than that. It’s why I have the Bills trading all the way up to No. 3 to land the Ohio State wideout, and take their middle-of-the-road-in-the-AFC Super Bowl chances and puts them in overdrive. Yes, the cost to move up is steep – and history says that shouldn’t scare contenders. The Falcons did something similar back in 2011 when they jumped 21 spots to take Julio Jones. Five years later, they should have won the Super Bowl. And even though they fell short no one would argue that going to get Jones wasn’t the right decision. In this post-combine mock, three Ohio State players come off the board in the top five (none are named Arvell Reese) — and the madness starts early with that Bills trade that reshapes the entire first round. 1 LAS VEGASFernando Mendoza QBIndiana • Jr • 6’5″ / 236 lbsIn a world of uncertainty, this feels like the closest thing to a sure bet. It makes too much sense not to happen. 2 NY JETSDavid Bailey EDGETexas Tech • Sr • 6’4″ / 250 lbsThe Jets are in no position to be rolling the dice on a high-end prospect like Arvell Reese, mostly because they’re in we absolutely have to win right now mode — and those words are in all caps and bold when talking about second-year coach Aaron Glenn. Reese has a chance to be really special. David Bailey has a chance to be really special … next season. Mock Trade from Arizona Cardinals3 BUFFALOCarnell Tate WROhio State • Jr • 6’2″ / 192 lbsYou want to get nuts? Let’s get nuts. I explained the trade above — and even devoted 1,800 words to why it makes sense for the Bills to proactively pursue a big-time receiver. 4 TENNESSEESonny Styles LBOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 243 lbsWe are now living in a world where Styles is the first Ohio State defender off the board (and the second Buckeye, behind Tate). Some of it has to do with his combine performance, but that athleticism was all over his 2025 tape, when he made huge strides another year removed from safety and fully settled in at linebacker. In the right scheme, he’ll be used to rush off the edge too. 5 NY GIANTSCaleb Downs SOhio State • Jr • 6’0″ / 205 lbsIn a quirky draft where one, maybe two QBs go in Round 1, and the board is littered with really good football players, we could see an off-ball linebacker and a safety go in the top five. History says that’s crazy talk, but both Styles and Downs will immediately make their football teams better. 6 CLEVELANDFrancis Mauigoa OTMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’6″ / 329 lbsWith WR1 off the board, the Browns go chalk and take the best offensive lineman in the class to protect Shedeur Sanders … or Dillon Gabriel … or Deshaun Watson … or a QB4 to be named later. The point remains: the offensive line is a huge need and Cleveland addresses it here. 7 WASHINGTONArvell Reese EDGEOhio State • Jr • 6’4″ / 243 lbsCould Reese fall to No. 7? It seems like a long shot, but if the Bills trade up for a WR, things can get interesting quickly. This is a best-case scenario for the Commanders, who have to upgrade their pass rush. 8 NEW ORLEANSJeremiyah Love RBNotre Dame • Jr • 6’0″ / 214 lbsThis has been a popular pick in recent weeks, and after Love’s combine workouts, all the more reason to lean into it here. An explosive RB is every QB’s best friend, and that’s especially true for second-year passer Tyler Shough. 9 KANSAS CITYSpencer Fano OTUtah • Jr • 6’6″ / 311 lbsFano is a technician on the right side, and the Chiefs have to upgrade the position. Now they’ll have two young bookend tackles as they look to reassert themselves in the AFC West. 10 CINCINNATIRueben Bain Jr. EDGEMiami (Fla.) • Jr • 6’2″ / 263 lbsDepending on the day, Reese and Bain could both be off the board inside the top five, or somehow still be available between picks 6-10. This has very little to do with the players and almost everything to do with how teams ultimately stack their boards. Whatever the explanation, the Bengals would be ecstatic to see Bain staring them in the face at No. 10. 11 MIAMIMansoor Delane CBLSU • Sr • 6’0″ / 187 lbsDelane might not be the most athletic cornerback in this class, but he has the best tape, and it’s not particularly close. He was good at Virginia Tech in 2024 and consistently great at LSU last season. 12 DALLASJermod McCoy CBTennessee • Jr • 6’1″ / 188 lbsMcCoy tore his ACL in January 2025, didn’t play at all last season, and chose not to work out at the combine despite being medically cleared. That will naturally raise questions, but if teams are convinced he’s good to go, he’ll be among the first DBs off the board based solely on his 2024 tape. Dallas needs a physical, playmaking CB, and McCoy is exactly that. 13 LA RAMS From Atlanta FalconsColton Hood CBTennessee • Soph • 6’0″ / 195 lbsThe Rams need to bolster their secondary, and Hood is a physical, ultra-competitive press-man specialist with elite perimeter run-support skills. 14 BALTIMORECaleb Banks DLFlorida • Sr • 6’6″ / 327 lbsThe Ravens struggled to stop the run last season, and even with Nnamdi Madubuike at full health, there is room for a game-wrecker like Banks along the defensive line. 15 TAMPA BAYKenyon Sadiq TEOregon • Jr • 6’3″ / 241 lbsSadiq’s 2025 tape might not have been as consistent as what he showed in 2024, but it was still really, really good. He also confirmed his high-end athleticism at the combine. Beyond his God-given traits, he’s one of the best blocking TEs in the class and a difference-maker on special teams. Hard to imagine Baker Mayfield wouldn’t love throwing to Sadiq and Egbuka on Sundays next fall. 16 NY JETS From Indianapolis ColtsMakai Lemon WRUSC • Jr • 5’11” / 192 lbsThis would be an outstanding start to the draft for the Jets, who land edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 and then find Lemon staring them in the face here. Lemon reminds me (and a lot of folks, it turns out) of Amon-Ra St. Brown, which is music to Garrett Wilson’s ears. 17 DETROITT.J. Parker EDGEClemson • Jr • 6’4″ / 263 lbsI think Parker is a much better player than the media have portrayed during the pre-draft process. Some of that has to do with Parker — and the entire Clemson team — not living up to lofty expectations in 2025. Still, he finished with a flourish and reminded everyone at the Senior Bowl that he can take over games when he’s locked in. 18 MINNESOTAPeter Woods DLClemson • Jr • 6’3″ / 298 lbsLike Parker, Woods didn’t look the same in ’25 that he did in ’24. That said, he was still frequently dominant, and I could see him going off the board 5-10 picks earlier. The Vikings have serious needs along the defensive line, so they’ll happily take Woods here. 19 CAROLINAKadyn Proctor OTAlabama • Jr • 6’7″ / 352 lbsThis isn’t the Panthers’ biggest need, but it’s also unclear when LT Ikem Ekwonu will be fully recovered from a late-season knee injury, and he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. Proctor, meanwhile, is a built-in-a-lab specimen who can take over games when he’s focused. 22 DALLAS From Green Bay PackersKeldric Faulk EDGEAuburn • Jr • 6’6″ / 276 lbsThe Cowboys land a CB at No. 12 and a young edge rusher at No. 20. Faulk measured 6-foot-5, 276 pounds with 34⅜-inch arms at the combine. At 21, he’s still growing into his body, but he’s flashed all the tools to be an elite pass rusher at the next level. 21 PITTSBURGHDenzel Boston WRWashington • Jr • 6’4″ / 210 lbsI gave some thought to taking Olaivavega Ioane here, but the guard class is deeper than the WR class when talking about starter-capable talent. Boston is a long-striding, contested-catch machine who has also flashed punt-return ability, and he would be a natural No. 2 on a Steelers team that desperately needs receiving options. 22 LA CHARGERSOlaivavega Ioane IOLPenn State • Jr • 6’4″ / 323 lbsIoane is one of the cleanest prospects in the class, and the Chargers have to get better along the interior offensive line. 23 PHILADELPHIACaleb Lomu OTUtah • Soph • 6’6″ / 308 lbsI talked to Lomu at the combine and he said that while he primarily played left tackle in college, he’s working at right tackle during the pre-draft process. Thirty-five-year-old Lane Johnson is returning for a 14th season, but who knows what the future holds beyond that. Lomu, who is one of the most athletic OTs in this class, would be next in line once Johnson retires. 24 CLEVELAND From Jacksonville JaguarsJordyn Tyson WRArizona State • Jr • 6’2″ / 203 lbsTyson has fantastic tape. The issue — and this was a frequent topic of conversation at the combine — is his ability to stay on the field. He has legit WR1 skills, but he’s missed time with a range of injuries, both serious and minor. If the Browns are convinced those issues are behind him, he would be a steal here and a welcome addition to a WR room desperately lacking depth and playmaking ability. 25 CHICAGOAkheem Mesidor DLMiami (Fla.) • Sr • 6’3″ / 259 lbsI don’t care that Mesidor will be 25 before he plays his first NFL snap. If he’s anything like he was in 2025 for Miami, the Bears will get five fantastic seasons out of him and can decide ahead of the 2030 season whether he’s worth a second contract. For now, Montez Sweat is ecstatic. 26 ARIZONA Mock Trade from Buffalo BillsBlake Miller OTClemson • Sr • 6’7″ / 317 lbsThe Cardinals are vying to be the latest version of the Pats, Commanders or Texans — a team that goes from truly terrible to the playoffs in one calendar year. Arizona will have to get the QB right this offseason, but they’ll have enough picks to restock the roster and compete immediately. Landing Blake Miller here, to go along with all that fresh draft capital, almost feels like stealing. Miller can man the right side while former first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. stays at left tackle. 27 SAN FRANCISCOOmar Cooper Jr. WRIndiana • Jr • 6’0″ / 199 lbsWe’ll see what happens with Jauan Jennings in San Francisco, but Brandon Aiyuk may have played his last snap. As it stands, the WR room includes Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing under contract … and that’s it. There’s a need at guard too, but Cooper Jr. feels like a Kyle Shanahan-type receiver. 28 HOUSTONKayden McDonald DLOhio State • Jr • 6’2″ / 326 lbsThe Texans would love to land an interior offensive lineman here, but with Ioane long gone, they instead bolster the defensive line with the best run-stuffing defensive tackle in the class. 29 LA RAMSTy Simpson QBAlabama • Jr • 6’1″ / 211 lbsSome Rams fans may not love the idea of taking Simpson, but I can’t say it loudly enough: fit matters. And if Matthew Stafford plays another year — or two — Simpson has the game to flourish in Sean McVay’s offense. 30 DENVERCJ Allen LBGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 230 lbsThe Broncos have few needs on defense, but they do need to restock the linebacker room. Allen may not be as fluid as Styles, but he’s a between-the-tackles enforcer who would fit right into a Vance Joseph unit. 31 NEW ENGLANDEmmanuel McNeil-Warren SToledo • Sr • 6’4″ / 202 lbsThe choice here is to settle for OT6, WR6, ED6 or S2. I love the idea of McNeil-Warren in the same secondary as Christian Gonzalez — two big, fast, physical, ball-hawking defensive backs. 32 SEATTLEAvieon Terrell CBClemson • Jr • 5’11” / 180 lbsThe Dark Side gets a new member in Terrell, who plays much bigger than his 5-10, 186-pound frame. That also means he’ll fit right into a defense that was among the NFL’s best last season and could lose key members of its secondary in free agency. |
