All articles tagged with #offseason
Steelers GM Omar Khan says Rodgers’ decision this year shouldn’t drag on like 2025; ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a mid‑March decision window around the start of the new league year, with optimism Rodgers could return to Pittsburgh after a season that produced an AFC North title and 24 TDs to 7 INTs.
Bills GM Brandon Beane says Keon Coleman must replicate his outstanding offseason to earn trust, citing his 2025 production (38 receptions, 404 yards, 4 TDs) and the need for off-field maturity under a new coaching staff.
Patriots GM Eliot Wolf offered lengthy, guarded answers at the NFL Scouting Combine, signaling openness to trades and a broad plan for free agency and the draft while avoiding specifics on Stefon Diggs, Christian Gonzalez’s extension, or other players. A narrator-style translation suggests Hawkins will be re-signed if market conditions allow, edge rushers are a focus in a deep draft, and guard/center considerations loom, all under ongoing ownership support but with spend limits in mind. In short, New England aims to improve through a mix of drafting, targeted signings, and strategic trades rather than sweeping, high-cost moves.
Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf used his NFL Scouting Combine podium to outline a holistic offseason: building around a young 2025 draft class, upgrading a versatile safety group, and pursuing short- and long-term improvements through free agency, trades, and the draft. He emphasized player culture and communication, noted Drake Maye's progress, and discussed plans for the 2026 edge class while confirming ongoing talks with internal free agents. Off the podium, he denied reports of interest in Rasheed Walker, indicated Harold Landry should return, and stressed retaining Jaylinn Hawkins as a priority.
The Vikings say they are exploring every quarterback option for 2026 after J.J. McCarthy’s uneven, injury‑plagued season; with a GM shakeup, acting GM Rob Brzezinski says the team won’t rule out any option and is reassessing timelines as they search to stabilize the position.
At the NFL Combine, analysts project eight veteran QBs finding new homes: Geno Smith to the Dolphins, Kirk Cousins to the Vikings, Daniel Jones to the Colts, Tua Tagovailoa to the Colts, Mac Jones to the Falcons, Kyler Murray to the Jets, Aaron Rodgers to the Cardinals, and Malik Willis to the Steelers, underscoring a chaotic market where teams weigh age, contracts and system fit ahead of 2026.
The piece outlines four potential offseason missteps for Kansas City: (1) failing to add a running back before the draft, which could force a Love-like pick or leave the RB class thin; (2) pursuing another small receiver instead of adding a true outside threat to stretch the field; (3) re-signing aging free-agent defensive linemen rather than injecting youth and depth; and (4) delaying a decision on Trent McDuffie’s future (extend, trade, or wait for a 2027 franchise scenario), potentially harming cap space and future draft capital. An overarching theme is balancing immediate needs with long-term flexibility.
Dallas Cowboys expect to franchise-tag wide receiver George Pickens within the next week, keeping him from free agency and extending the negotiation window into July for a possible long-term deal. The tag would guarantee a 2026 salary and cap hit over $28 million, with a long-term contract potentially reducing the cap, though it’s unclear whether Pickens will attend offseason workouts while tagged.
NFL Pro’s NFC offseason guide outlines the top priority fixes for every NFC team before the 2026 season, from the Cardinals needing a quarterback identity under new coaches to the Seahawks adding a second receiver, the 49ers boosting the pass rush, and the Commanders rebuilding the defense, all supported by Next Gen Stats insights.
Dallas signs running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million extension after a career-best 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, keeping him in Dallas as the team prioritizes the backfield and eyeing additional moves like WR George Pickens ahead of the NFL Combine.
A comprehensive, team-by-team forecast of potential 2026 NFL salary-cap cuts and pay adjustments, outlining which players are most at risk of being released or restructured to free cap space (often via June 1 designations) and how teams balance cash vs. cap savings, dead money, and roster needs as the new league year approaches March 11 and the Scouting Combine.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur unveiled his first staff, keeping 10 holdovers from the previous regime to emphasize character and capacity. Notables include Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator and Justin Frye as offensive line coach; Cristian Garcia shifts from linebackers to safeties. The OC is Nathaniel Hackett and QB Matt Schaub is on the roster, with several other assistants listed across offense, defense, and special teams. The strength and conditioning staff is still to be finalized. The team will attend the NFL scouting combine and begin offseason programs in early April, with an extra minicamp possible for first-year coaches.
An opinion-heavy, team-by-team forecast predicting bold offseason moves for all 32 NFL teams ahead of 2026, including quarterback shuffles, high-profile free-agent targets, trades, and coaching changes; the piece blends serious projections with humorous or wild scenarios, underscoring how the league’s combine and cap space will shape the offseason.
Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle says the voluntary offseason program is essential for installing a new offense and building a championship-standard team, stressing that work, collaboration, and early relationship-building with coaches and players are required; veteran attendance is expected, and quarterback Lamar Jackson’s participation will be a focal point given his history with OTAs.
The 2026 quarterback market will prize low-cost, dependable starters and veteran bridge options, with an expected 9–12 teams pursuing upgrades. The landscape is split into (1) established stars with constraints (Murray, Tagovailoa), (2) 27-and-under upside bets (Willis, McKee, Lance, Mills, Fields, Richardson), and (3) a group of veteran backups (Carr, Jones, Cousins, Rodgers, Garoppolo) likely to move quickly. Plausible fits include Carr to the Raiders/Steelers/Dolphins/Colts; Jones staying with the 49ers; Cousins to Falcons/Vikings/Dolphins; and Rodgers potentially to Vikings/Steelers/Rams, among others. The piece also emphasizes how teams like the Eagles and Texans influence Stroud’s trajectory, underscoring the ongoing need for stable, productive quarterback play in a crowded, youth-forward market.