NFL Free Agent Wide Receivers: The Top 10 WRs Available This Offseason

Is your favorite team in need of some pass-catching help? Well, we've got more than a few names in mind that could potentially help teams who are searching for a wide receiver this offseason. There were 10 wide receivers who appeared in my top 100 free agents ranking and predictions for this offseason. As you could imagine, names like George Pickens and Mike Evans were on the list as their contract are set to expire. But there are some other pretty talented wide receivers who could hit the open market when free agency opens on March 9. So, let's take a closer look at my top 10 free-agent wide receivers and what their markets might be this offseason. 10. Christian Kirk, Texans Kirk, 29, disappeared for much of the 2025 season in Houston, then flashed in the playoffs, with eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Steelers. He'd totaled 104 yards in the previous nine games, mind you, but some team will think they can bring back 2022 Kirk — 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns with the Jaguars. He'll likely cost a third of the $18 million a year he got on his last contract, so there's a chance for value. Perhaps to the Colts if Alec Pierce takes a big payday elsewhere? 9. Keenan Allen, Chargers Allen, 33, returned to the Chargers in 2025 and still found a way to get 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns. He's easing into WR3 mode, but has a résumé with 1,000-plus catches and 70 career touchdowns, so he's a good fit for a team looking for a veteran mentor to pair with a young receiver. That could mean staying with the Chargers, but he'd be a nice value match for the Saints, who could use another playmaker and have Kellen Moore, who had him in 2023. 8. Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants Robinson, 25, is a volume receiver. Only five receivers in the league have more targets in the last two seasons than his 280, and while the other five average 18 touchdown catches in that span, Robinson has just seven. So he's coming off a 1,014-yard season with 90 catches, but only 42% of those catches resulted in a first down. There are lofty projections out there for Robinson. Spotrac has him getting $15 million a year, but that's a lot for someone with nine career touchdowns on 389 targets. 7. Deebo Samuel, Commanders Samuel, 30, has seen his value decline. After being traded from San Francisco to Washington, he agreed to a lesser deal worth $17 million. His one-year production for the Commanders was lackluster: 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns. The same player who once led the league at 18.2 yards per catch averaged a career-low 10.1 in 2025, and the versatile playmaker who once rushed for 365 yards and eight touchdowns was barely used as a ballcarrier, getting 75 yards and a single score. Can a creative offensive mind get more out of his skill set? Perhaps, but it's likely he'll get less this time around, closer to $12-14 million a year. 6. Romeo Doubs, Packers Doubs, 25, has had steady mid-level production in Green Bay, averaging 50 catches, 600 yards and five touchdowns a year in his four seasons there. He stepped up in the playoff loss with eight catches for 124 yards and a score — finding value in a No. 2 receiver can be tough, and he's likely to come in the $12-15 million range, above the $11 million extension Christian Watson signed for last year. By Pro Football Reference's "Approximate Value" metric, the top two picks of the 2022 fourth round were both Packers, in Doubs and tackle Zach Tom, already signed to a nice extension. 5. Jauan Jennings, 49ers Jennings, 28, could benefit as San Francisco is expected to move on from Brandon Aiyuk, who missed 2025 recovering from a major knee injury. The 49ers' receiving corps has underwhelmed — Jennings has 15 touchdown catches over the last two seasons, but he also totaled 643 yards this season on 90 targets, ranking 55th among NFL receivers in yards/target. If he's getting more than $20 million a year, could he price himself out of San Francisco's budget? 4. Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks Shaheed, 27, was electric after Seattle acquired him from the Saints at the trade deadline — the only NFL player with a punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown, adding another kickoff touchdown in the playoffs. His receiving skills — 59 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns — are a nice bonus, and Seattle will have tough decisions on which impending free agents it can afford to keep. He's likely to draw $15 million a year from a team that values a return threat and can use him creatively on offense as well. 3. Mike Evans, Buccaneers Evans, 32, has a Hall of Fame résumé already with 108 career touchdown catches, so this is a three-way fork — does he retire at 32, coming off a year when he played only eight games due to hamstring and collarbone injuries? Does he come back and try to help the Bucs to one more playoff berth after a down 2025? Or if the outside offers are compelling enough, does he finish his career elsewhere? He made $20.5 million a year on his last deal, but Spotrac only has him projected to $13 million for 2026. It's likely he finishes his career with the Bucs, but leave open the slim chance he goes somewhere like Houston, close to his hometown of Galveston, with a strong contender he could help. 2. Alec Pierce, Colts Pierce, 25, is arguably the NFL's best deep-threat receiver, leading the league in yards per catch in each of the last two seasons. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in 2025, and four touchdowns in the last three games helped his market a bit. The Colts have a handful of top free agents and won't be able to keep them all. Pierce is likely to command $20 million a year as an underrated player who could be utilized more — Ja'Marr Chase had 101 more targets in 2025 than Pierce did, but only 409 more yards than the Colts wide receiver. 1. George Pickens, Cowboys Pickens, still just 24, had a breakout year in 2025, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns after the Cowboys acquired him from the Steelers. He's due to make $30 million a year or more, but Dallas is already paying CeeDee Lamb $34 million a year — perhaps the franchise tag, at about $28 million for 2026, is a short-term solution if they don't want to invest more in Pickens. It seems like Pickens is a strong candidate to get the franchise tag as well, which could result in him getting traded. He's averaged at least 15 yards per catch in each of his four NFL seasons. Out of 56 players with 200-plus catches since the start of 2022, he ranks No. 1 in yards per catch at 16.0.

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8 Ways to Fix Pro Football's Broken Hall of Fame Voting Process

Bill Belichick belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and there isn’t a good counterargument to that. He would be in the Hall already if the selection process wasn’t completely broken. The people who run the Hall have promised to fix it, but the solutions they recently leaked are likely to make it even worse. They need a complete overhaul, a bigger electorate and more transparency — in essence, a completely new approach to selecting Hall of Famers. Here are eight steps they can take to ensure the greatest of the greats all get in accordingly. 1. Add more voters This is the simplest and most common sense fix the Hall could make. The more voters they use, the more accurate the result will be. They currently have only 50 voters — mostly media members, including one representing every NFL city (two from cities with two teams). In small groups, biases can become a very big factor. Think of it this way: If you polled 500 media members and asked if Bill Belichick belonged in the Hall, he’d probably get 98% of the vote, at least. If there are 11 people who voted "No", that wouldn’t matter. But if those 11 people are in a group of 50, suddenly Belichick is out. A big group, like the way baseball selects its Hall of Famers, eliminates the fringe factor. It eliminates power from small groups that might hold a grudge, have a geographical bias, or other nonsensical issues. Many years ago, a voter told me he voted against players from Dallas because "too many Cowboys are in already." Another once told me he voted against Giants and Jets because "New York players are always over-hyped." Stupidity like that becomes minimized by large numbers. So drop the dumb, outdated geographic requirements and give a vote to every member of the media who has been in the Pro Football Writers of America and actively covering games for at least 10 years. Include broadcasters (both TV and radio) and even some who handle media for NFL teams, since the lines are blurred anyway these days. Even in a shrinking media world, that will guarantee a large, experienced and knowledgeable group. 2. Let Hall of Famers and other NFL people vote, too Randy Moss made headlines over the weekend saying only players and coaches should vote on Hall of Famers. That’s a terrible idea, and all you have to do is look at how they vote for the NFL Top 100 or the Pro Bowl to know why. But Moss does have a point that players, coaches and executives have a knowledge and perspective that media members might not have. So let them vote, too. Not all of them, obviously. But start with giving a ballot to every living member of the Hall of Fame. Then add in a select group of historians, former coaches and GMs, and maybe even some players who played 10 or more years in the league, once their own Hall eligibility expires. The more diverse the vote and perspective is, the better. 3. Expand the yearly class of Hall of Famers The biggest complaint I hear from voters is about the "logjam" on the ballot. They tell me that almost everyone who makes the group of 15 finalists is worthy of enshrinement, but because they can only select up to eight each year — including the senior, coach and contributor candidates — a lot of candidates are forced to wait their turn for years. So expand the class and break the logjam, even if it’s only for a few years. They’ve done it before. In 2020, the Hall inducted a 20-person "Centennial Class" and held the ceremony over two days. There’s no asterisk on their busts. They’re all Hall of Famers, period. So increase the class to 10 "modern-era" players and add one coach, one contributor and one senior every year (more on that in a moment). And either split the ceremony or cut down on the length of speeches to save time. 4. Let the voters vote "Yes" or "No" on everybody The process of whittling down the list of nominees from 120 or so to 50, then to 25 semifinalists, then 15 finalists, then to 10 and then to the final class is pointless. There are worthy candidates that don’t regularly crack the final 25, and the process allows for too much jockeying for position. Voters too often have to consider whether a candidate has a better shot now or in future years. The essential question — and only question — every voter should ask is this: Is this person a Hall of Famer? So let them vote that way. Give every voter a ballot with all 120 or so names. Let them vote baseball style, for up to 10 each year. If a player gets 75% of the vote, they’re in (or use the top 10 if somehow more eclipse the 75% threshold). There will still be some hard choices until the logjam is broken. But eventually it will become easier to do. 5. Stop the presentations and eliminate the selection meeting This is the worst of the Hall selection process. Every year the committee meets (in person or via Zoom) and spends eight or nine hours debating and discussing the 15 finalists before they vote. One media member has to "present" each candidate, based on which city or team they represent. First, no voter should have to "present" a candidate. That’s a major conflict of interest. And what if the presentation is bad? What if another presenter is better, more prepared or more convincing? Why should that be a factor at all? Trust a group of experienced voters to do their own research and homework. And if players need a PR push, let them get that from the teams they played for in the league. Those teams can mount big campaigns if they want. But voters shouldn’t be a part of it. Also, that will eliminate the back-room dealing voters have done in the past — a "you vote for my guy and I’ll vote for yours," wink-wink agreement. And it won’t put voters in position to try and convince their fellow voters to see things their way. There should be no electioneering on Election Day from anyone. And that would eliminate the need for a marathon meeting. All that does is guarantee a platform for negative thoughts. If you need an hour to decide if Bill Belichick is a Hall of Famer, you’re not qualified to vote on him. You already know his records, his accomplishments and all about Spygate, too. So make up your own mind. The same is true for every other player, coach or executive that reaches the final 15. These are the greatest of the greats. They don’t need introduction or debate. 6. Have separate ballots for contributors, coaches and senior candidates I’m honestly not in favor of owners being elected to the Hall of Fame. It feels like a reward for being rich, making others richer, and being smart and lucky enough to hire the right people to win a championship or two along the way. And I feel the same about commissioners because it feels like it’s almost mandatory to put them in the Hall. I prefer this category be for "builders" — people who really did something special to change the league, not just increase its revenue. But whatever we call this non-player, non-coach category, has to be separate. Let a select committee choose 5-10 people for the ballot each year, then put it up for a vote. Whoever gets the most votes (assuming they get at least 75%) that year gets in. And do the same for the coaches, too. One gets in per year (with the same 75% threshold). And the same for the senior candidates too. There should be one spot — and only one spot — reserved for each group in every class, every year. And it has to be separate from the modern-era players. This eliminates the moronic system in place now, where voters get three senior candidates, one coach and one contributor and can only vote for three. I don’t know how you compare Belichick to Robert Kraft to Roger Craig, but I know that voters shouldn’t have to do it. 7. Push the waiting period back for coaches I know at least one voter who questioned the wisdom of voting for Belichick this year because of the fact he may want to return to the NFL (I don’t know how that voter ultimately voted). That’s fair, and a good reason not to vote for him. So eliminate that possibility. No coach is eligible for the Hall until five years after they coached their last NFL game. Every once in a while, a coach will slip through that crack (à la Joe Gibbs) and return after they’re enshrined in Canton. But it will be rare. 8. Make all the ballots public There is danger to this, to be sure. And for proof, just look at the witch hunt that took place to find the people who didn’t vote for Belichick (the fact that many media members participated was particularly disgusting, by the way). It’s admittedly hard to have an honest opinion on something if you’re afraid that an internet mob will want you tarred and feathered for an honest and different thought. But if you can’t take the heat … don’t vote. This isn’t the MVP or Comeback Player of the Year. Voters for Halls of Fame are stewards of a public trust and guardians of an important institution. They are allowed diversity of thought. But they shouldn’t hide behind a wall. The rest of us should call off the dogs when we see a vote we don’t like. But at least we should be allowed to see it. Conclusion Implement all of these measures, and this is what you get: fairness, opportunity, and a still-difficult path to the Hall of Fame. It should be hard. It’s for football immortals. If you can't get a 75% vote from experienced media members, fellow Hall of Famers, historians, coaches, etc., over the 20 years you're eligible to be on the ballot, that probably says you don’t belong in the Hall of Fame. But for those that do make it, it will be a true measure of their qualifications, not the process, groupthink or electioneering. The plan above boils the Hall selection process down to what it should always be about: Is this person a Hall of Famer? That is all that ever should matter in the end.

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NFL Coaching Hot Seat Rankings: Who's Already on the Hot Seat in 2026?

Half of the NFL’s 32 teams have changed head coaches over the past two years, including the Las Vegas Raiders doing so twice. So the odds are strong that plenty more will be fired over the next 12 months, too. That means that even though Week 1 of the 2026 season is seven months away, the pressure is already on several coaches. Here are the ones who’ll be sitting on the hottest seats when the games begin. 10. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones is painfully patient with his coaches, and the last one he fired after just two seasons was Chan Gailey (1998-99). But he’s also used to winning. The Cowboys just suffered back-to-back losing seasons (including one under Mike McCarthy) for the first time since the disastrous Dave Campo regime (three straight 5-11 seasons between 2000-02). If the Cowboys don’t get back to the playoffs next season, are we sure Jones won't make a change? He’s going to be 83 later this year. He’s convinced he’s got a Super Bowl contender. And a ready-to-win Cowboys team might be the one opportunity that could lure Mike Tomlin back to the sidelines for 2027. 9. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers He just got a multiyear contract extension, but since when has that mattered (anywhere outside of Cincinnati)? New team president Ed Policy was unsure enough about LaFleur last year that he made him twist until the end of this season. Part of that is because the stakes are high in "Titletown" and LaFleur’s Packers teams haven't made a deep run in five years. His 76-40-1 record is stellar, and it’s great that he’s made the playoffs six times in seven years. But he has one playoff win since the 2021 season and a 3-6 postseason record overall. If the Packers slip next season or fail to get beyond the divisional round of the playoffs, that contract extension might not be enough to save him. 8. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders It feels unfair to put him on this list, given the sheer volume of injuries that ruined the Commanders' 2025 season — especially the one to quarterback Jayden Daniels. Quinn, after all, is still the coach who led Washington to the NFC Championship Game in his first year with the club (2024). But he also just purged his staff, including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who is widely credited for Daniels having perhaps the greatest season for a rookie quarterback ever. How Daniels responds to a new OC will be crucial to Quinn’s future. Also important: how the Commanders fix a defense that has been terrible during his two-year tenure. 7. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings He’s incredibly well-respected, has a reputation as one of the greatest "quarterback whisperers" in the league, and has won nearly twice as many games as he's lost during his five seasons. He just got a lucrative contract extension, too. But his boss, owner Zygi Wilf, clearly wasn’t happy with the Vikings’ 9-8 record this past season and some of their recent quarterback decisions. That’s why he fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. And while, yes, that means O’Connell emerged the victor of a power struggle, it also puts the heat on him. He’s got to prove Wilf was right, which means developing QB J.J. McCarthy and probably returning to the playoffs next season. Anything else, and who knows what Wilf will do? 6. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts When new Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon decided to keep her coach and GM Chris Ballard in place for 2026, she cited one reason in particular: "We were all encouraged by our first half." That’s when a revived Daniel Jones was playing like an MVP and Indianapolis was 8-2. Then came Jones’ injury and a season-ending, seven-game losing streak that cost the Colts a playoff berth. Between the injured Jones being a free agent and Anthony Richardson appearing to be a bust, Indy first has to figure out who its starting QB will be next season. Moreover, Irsay-Gordon made it clear that amid a five-year postseason drought, the urgency to win in Indy has "never been higher." That sure feels like a shot across the bow of Steichen heading into his fourth season, and a warning that more mediocrity (or worse) could result in a complete regime change next year. 5. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals He is still around for two reasons: 1) Nobody can seriously blame him for the run of injuries to Joe Burrow; and, 2) The Bengals are notoriously cheap and don’t want to pay him not to coach. But even the Bengals owners have their breaking point, right? If Burrow is healthy in 2026, there is no reason this team shouldn’t make the playoffs and compete for the AFC North title, and given how much money the Bengals have put into this roster — mostly on offense — those should be the least of their expectations. Also, everyone noticed how unhappy Burrow looked at the end of last season. By all accounts, he is in Taylor’s corner (for now). But if the losing continues, and he grows unhappier, will that change? At some point, they might want to pair one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with a more competent coach. 4. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers His 2025 season was a nauseating roller-coaster ride. He went from the hot seat to Coach of the Year candidate to the hot seat again and then to the playoffs, where his team gave the Rams all they could handle. So it ended on a relative high, but is that sustainable? It better be, considering Canales enters Year 3 working for an impulsive owner. There’s not much room to slide backwards from an 8-9 season and 13-21 overall record. It doesn’t help that his primary job has been the development of quarterback Bryce Young, and the progress there has been inconsistent. Canales was supposed to turn the former top pick into a franchise quarterback. If that doesn’t happen by next January, the Panthers could be looking for both a new coach and quarterback. 3. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers The fact that a team loaded with talent couldn’t emerge from the worst division in football doesn’t speak well of Bowles’ ability as a head coach. Neither does his 35-33 record in four years in Tampa despite three playoff berths. Yes, injuries hurt the Bucs last season, but that’s not the only reason they lost seven of their last nine games. Even when they were relatively healthy, Bowles couldn’t shake them out of their funk. If history holds, he’ll coach well enough that the Bucs will be mediocre again, but he’s got the quarterback and enough players to do better than that. It’s hard to imagine the Glazer family will be OK if the Bucs don’t break out of the pack in their awful division again. 2. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles If this seems ridiculous given Sirianni’s 59-26 record, three division titles, two trips to the Super Bowl and one championship in his four years … well, you don’t know Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie then. His standards are crazy high and there is deep disappointment inside his organization over the wasted opportunities in both 2023 and 2025. Not all of that is directed at Sirianni, but sources said there has been internal frustration about his staffing choices and, at times, the way he manages what is sometimes a difficult locker room. But mostly it’s the late fade and playoff failures in those two seasons. The Eagles will probably win double-digit games and the NFC East again in 2026. But if they don’t advance in the playoffs, no one will be shocked if they make a change. 1. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets There was a good case to be made for Glenn to be one-and-done after the Jets’ disastrous 3-14 season. Instead, Woody Johnson showed surprising patience, despite a bumper crop of potential replacements, and let Glenn fire most of his coaching staff instead. That staff purge is telling, since it’s usually a coach’s last-ditch effort to keep his job. Add in Glenn’s prickly relationship with the New York media, the fact that his team still doesn’t have a viable option at quarterback, and a pitchfork-wielding mob of a fan base, and his short-term future doesn’t seem bright — especially with Mike Tomlin looming in the pool of candidates for next year.

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Backed by NFL, Flag Football Gains Momentum In NCAA Emerging Sports Program

Thousands gathered in San Francisco in the days leading up to the most anticipated game on the NFL calendar. But before the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots took center stage in Super Bowl LX, it was the contactless version of the game that repeatedly found itself in the spotlight. Whether it was the NFL’s top players going head-to-head in the Pro Bowl, the 2026 NFL Flag International Championship, or a number of showcases highlighting the talents of athletes across the globe, the rapid rise of flag football was represented accordingly in San Francisco. A game once confined to recess has surged in recent years. It helps that three powerhouses are aligned in backing the growth of the sport: the NFL, NCAA and International Olympic Committee. A strong backing is one of the reasons why flag football is on track to move through the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program at a pace few sports have experienced. "With any sport that we’ve had move through the program, and flag being a good recent example of this, when there are multiple entities that are behind it and are working together towards the shared goal, that’s been a lot more successful for growth," Gretchen Miron, the NCAA's director of education and external engagement, told The Associated Press. The emerging sports program has helped eight women’s sports reach championship status since its creation in 1994: beach volleyball, rowing, ice hockey, water polo, bowling, wrestling, stunt and acrobatics & tumbling. Once in the program, a minimum of 40 schools must sponsor the sport at a varsity level for it to be considered for the next stages. It’s a benchmark that sports like equestrian and rugby haven’t been able to meet after years in the program. Flag football, which entered the program in mid-January, is expected to have well beyond 40 varsity programs by the spring. The sport also offers a solution to equity questions that college athletics have long grappled with. In a college sports landscape historically dominated by men’s football and basketball, women’s flag football offers a new way to broaden participation opportunities. At the very least, it could help with Title IX compliance, which calls for athletic departments to offer opportunities that adequately reflect the student population. "One of the reasons why we see lots of schools add women’s sports is because they are continuing to evaluate and make sure that they’re balanced from a Title IX perspective," Miron said. Equestrian and rugby require larger rosters, so a school with a slight imbalance might opt for a smaller addition. Flag football, with rosters averaging around 20 to 25 athletes, could help fill that gap. "I would say that we have really high participation numbers right now for women," Miron said. "But there is still a significant gap between men and women as far as overall participation opportunities." In 2023, the IOC voted in favor of adding flag football as an official Olympic sport set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, signifying just how broad its reach has become. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pointed to access as a driving force behind that growth. "It’s one of the hottest sports in the world," Goodell said in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. "I’m tremendously inspired when you see people who didn’t have access to this game and they have a chance to play. That’s particularly true for young women." An Olympic presence can only help an emerging sport, according to the NCAA Office of Inclusion. The visibility associated with being on the biggest stage can lead to increased participation levels and an accelerated path through the NCAA pipeline. The Olympic announcement unlocked a future that some of the best flag football players in the game, like quarterback Diana Flores, had only dreamt of. "The Olympics is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career," Flores said. "As a young girl, I grew up watching the Olympics every four years and just, like, wondering how it could be to have that opportunity because flag was not even considered. ... The door was not even there. It’s a dream come true just to have the opportunity to be part of that — for me, for all the flag football community worldwide." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Seahawks Defense Still Feels Disrespected After Dominant Super Bowl Victory

DeMarcus Lawrence gave me a sideways look when I asked the question. Did the Seattle Seahawks really believe they could totally suffocate NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye the way they did in one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history? "Yes," Lawrence told me at his locker after Seattle dismantled the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Care to expand? Lawrence paused for a beat, then the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end revealed how he thinks the league perceives his team’s defense. "We’re ‘The Dark Side,’" Lawrence said. "Ya’ll was able to witness it all year long, what we were able to do as a defense, as a unit. But I don’t feel like nobody still gave us that respect. When everybody’s in Cancun and nobody’s on TV to watch but the Hawks, that’s when you get to see a real show. "We proved it tonight." Lawrence has a point. Even though Seattle convincingly won the franchise's second NFL championship, the Seahawks didn't even open in Vegas as the favorites to win the NFC West next season. Seattle overwhelmed a New England offense led by experienced coordinator Josh McDaniels that seemed unprepared for the relentless pressure. The Seahawks sacked Maye six times and hit him 11 times. They forced three Maye turnovers, two interceptions and a Devon Witherspoon forced fumble that edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu returned 45 yards for a score. The Seahawks forced New England’s offense to punt eight times and kept the Patriots off the scoreboard for the first three quarters. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV took a break between puffs on a victory cigar in the locker room afterward. A Super Bowl champion as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams five years earlier, Jones said this one means more because he now understands how hard it is to get here. Plus, Jones also said the victory helped him pay homage to his father, who passed away in July from cancer. Like Lawrence, Jones wasn't surprised by the result. "The way we play football is just different than what you can get from watching the film," Jones told me. "Once we get in front of your face, it’s a different ball game. I think we were able to do just that and get after [Maye]." The perception of disrespect was a familiar refrain from members of the Seahawks, including head coach Mike Macdonald, who said it’s time to put to rest the narrative that quarterback Sam Darnold is chasing a redemption story and doesn’t show up in big games. Darnold didn’t win the game with his play on Sunday, but he didn’t lose it either. He had a league-high 20 turnovers during the regular season but didn’t have any giveaways in the postseason. Darnold finished 19-of-38 for 202 yards on Sunday, with a 16-yard touchdown to tight end AJ Barner and no interceptions. Darnold became the first QB in NFL history to win more than 30 games in a two-season span with multiple different teams. "Sam doesn’t care about the obstacle," Macdonald said. "Everyone has made a narrative of this guy. They have tried to put a story and a label on who he is as a person and who he is as a quarterback. And he does not care. "He’s the same guy every day when he shows up. He’s so steadfast. He’s a great teammate. His teammates love him. All he’s done since he’s walked in the door has been a tremendous player for us, a tremendous leader." Darnold didn’t need to play at an elite level because running back Kenneth Walker III carried the offense, finishing with 135 yards on 27 carries to earn the Super Bowl MVP award. Walker is the first player to rush for at least 130 yards in a Super Bowl since Terrell Davis, the last running back to win MVP, finished with 157 in Super Bowl XXXII. And Walker’s father was on hand to watch his son play in person for the first time as a pro. "My dad comes to Seattle all the time to watch games, but he never comes [to the game] because he doesn’t like crowds," Walker said. "This is his first NFL game, and we won a Super Bowl, so it means a lot to me." Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, said his team’s offense hits differently when Walker is leading them. "I’ve been saying it, you’ve got to respect the running game," Smith-Njigba told me. "Kenneth Walker is a special talent. You’ve got to respect it, and that’s what springs me open. We play off each other, and it was his night tonight." There's that word again. Whether it's on defense or offense, the Seahawks proved in Super Bowl LX that they deserve the entire league's respect.

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Joel Klatt's 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Cowboys Get a Future All-Pro?

Super Bowl LX is in the books, so you know what that means: We're now officially in draft season, and what better way to enter draft season than with a mock draft? That's right, it's time for me to unveil my first mock draft ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. We all know some of the stars in this draft class, but this year's draft seems pretty unpredictable. So, let's dive right in and start finding some new homes for the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza We all know where they're going here with this pick. Nothing went right in Pete Carroll's only year as head coach, and this was one of the worst scoring offenses in a long time. Geno Smith didn't work out at quarterback, so they need a quarterback. We know this is going to be Fernando Mendoza. He had a remarkable year at Indiana. I was always impressed with him in the few times I got to speak with Mendoza. Everyone loves his postgame interviews, and rightfully so. This guy's a football nerd in the best possible sense. Mendoza was accurate and Indiana utilized a lot of NFL and college concepts with its offense. What I love the most about Mendoza, though, was that when his best was needed, he was great. Every single time, whether it was on the road or in the national championship, when Indiana needed a play, Mendoza delivered with his arm or legs. If the Raiders want to get to where they want to be, they need a guy like Mendoza at quarterback. 2. New York Jets: Ohio State OLB Arvell Reese The draft suddenly gets interesting at No. 2. The Jets have a big quarterback need, and they could use Ty Simpson. But this roster needs a lot of help after trading away all its stars. So, the Jets take quite possibly the best player in the draft. Reese is a versatile defender. I think he's best when he's on the ball — he's explosive, flexible and can bend. All of those things are going to pay off in a big way for Reese at the next level. He reminds me so much of Micah Parsons, who flashed some of his pass-rushing ability in college before majoring as a pass rusher in the NFL. Reese can blitz up the middle and can tackle, too. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Miami (Fla.) OT Francis Mauigoa New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur needs to figure out what to do at quarterback. But they've got to fix the offensive line, too. They were bottom-five in the league in sacks allowed and rushing. So, the Cardinals should take Mauigoa, who is my top offensive lineman in this draft. He didn't just dominate lesser opponents, but Mauigoa also stood out over the course of the CFP. That offensive line dominated in the CFP against some pretty stout defensive lines, with Mauigoa allowing just one quarterback hit. 4. Tennessee Titans: Miami (Fla.) EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. I'm a big believer that you have to try and give your young quarterback some help. They could certainly use some help upfront. But Robert Saleh comes in and I believe that Bain is the type of player that the Titans' new head coach can rely on. I loved watching Bain. He has an elite motor and talent. There will be a lot made about his arm length, but I'm not concerned about that. Just watch the tape. Watch the production. He's an absolute gamewrecker. 5. New York Giants: Ohio State WR Carnell Tate John Harbaugh has a really specific blueprint and the Giants have some really pressing needs on their roster. However, I think they'll make a vanity pick here. They can give Jaxson Dart some help as wide receiver Malik Nabers makes his way back from an ACL tear. I think Dart is at his best when he's pushing the ball down the field, and no wide receiver in this draft was better at making contested grabs. Tate is so good and was largely overshadowed because of Jeremiah Smith. But he was incredible down the field this past season, constantly getting open and creating space. 6. Cleveland Browns: Utah OT Spencer Fano This offense needs some talent. They struggled to throw and run the ball, ranking second in scoring offense this past season. So, you could probably get better with a good offensive lineman. I think there will be several good offensive linemen picked in the first 15 to 20 selections, and Fano fits that bill. Fano might be the best offensive lineman in the draft after playing left and right tackle at Utah. Cleveland can play him on either side, and maybe Shedeur Sanders, or whoever is at quarterback, can have a respectable 2026 season. 7. Washington Commanders: LSU CB Mansoor Delane The Commanders gave up the most passing yards in the league last season, so they have to address that side of the ball. Delane's my top corner in this draft. So, a natural fit here. 8. New Orleans Saints: USC WR Makai Lemon This is an interesting pick here. I think the Saints will look to build around Tyler Shough, who I thought showed flashes as a rookie quarterback. Because of that, I think Jeremiyah Love should be an option for the Saints here. But I went with Lemon, who is an outstanding wide receiver. The way he operates in space and over the middle shows how he has such a strong feel for the game. He knows how to attack the grass thanks to the offense he played in at USC. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love This guy's phenomenal. I actually got to meet him at the Doak Walker Award Show and he told me about his Hall of Fame aspirations. Well, getting paired with Patrick Mahomes would help that. I think about what the Chiefs' offense could be if they had someone with Love's ability to run and catch the ball. The Chiefs also need some running back help with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt hitting free agency. But I really love the idea of giving Mahomes his Jahmyr Gibbs or Christian McCaffrey. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey Cincinnati would be ecstatic if the draft played out this way. If the Bengals saw Bailey on the board here, they'd jump right up and make this pick. It sounds like edge rusher Trey Hendrickson might move on in free agency this offseason, but the Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the league again this past season. So, they need defensive help, regardless. 11. Miami Dolphins: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy I can't wait to see what first-year head coach Jeff Hafley does with the Dolphins. The former Packers defensive coordinator takes over a Dolphins pass defense that needs help, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 72% of their passes last season. McCoy might have been my top corner had he not torn his ACL last January. When he's on the field, he's outstanding. And what I know about Hafley is that when he was at Ohio State, he built his defense around having three great cover corners. So, I think he'd appreciate McCoy. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Ohio State S Caleb Downs The Cowboys were a disaster on defense, if only they could've had one of the league's best pass rushers. Oh well, they have to live with that mistake. But they can address their defensive needs by getting the player who I feel is the safest pick waiting to happen. Caleb Downs is an All-Pro waiting in the wings. He's the smartest defender I've ever covered in college football. He can do everything. We called him the Swiss Army Knife because of that. He is incredible over the middle of the field. He can rush the passer. He's excellent in the run fit. He's tremendous in the slot. Downs should get picked higher than this, but the positional value might hurt him a bit. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Penn State OG Vega Ioane The Rams might feel tempted to go after another weapon on offense. If Makai Lemon were still available, he'd be a no-brainer pick for them. So, the next best thing they can do to help Matthew Stafford out would be to get him some protection. I love Ioane. He didn't allow a sack in the last two years, and he might be the best interior offensive lineman in the draft. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell I got to know new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter when he was Michigan's defensive coordinator for a couple of seasons, and the principles of that defense start with hard edges. The Ravens also have a need for some pass rush help, ranking in the bottom-five in sacks. Howell was one of the better pass rushers in the country this past season, getting 11.5 sacks in 13 games. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ohio State LB Sonny Styles Lavonte David is 36 and a free agent. So, the Buccaneers are probably looking at replacing this offseason or sometime soon. Styles is the best inside linebacker in the draft, showing he can do it all at Ohio State this past season. He actually started his college career at safety, but they moved him to linebacker because of his massive 6-foot-5 frame. He's also got three years of starting experience and he's still just 21 years old. 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Tennessee CB Colton Hood I don't think it makes a ton of sense for the Jets to take a swing at wide receiver here, and we still don't know who their quarterback will be. They've got so many holes to address and I think they might be smart to wait until next offseason to be aggressive in getting a quarterback. But this was the first team in NFL history to not get an interception in a season. So, they need someone who can help in the secondary. Hood's a really good player. 17. Detroit Lions: Miami (Fla.) EDGE Akheem Mesidor Aidan Hutchinson draws too many double teams, so it'd be wise for the Lions to get another edge rusher to pair opposite him. Edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad might also cash in on his 11-sack year in free agency this year. Mesidor is massive, weighing 280 pounds. He is older, though, as he'll be 25 when he's drafted in April. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren This is a weird spot for the Vikings as they recently fired their general manager. But Harrison Smith seems likely to retire, so the Vikings need some safety help. McNeil-Warren was probably the top non-power conference player this season, logging nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 19. Carolina Panthers: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu seems set to miss a lot of time after rupturing his patellar tendon in the Panthers' playoff to the Rams, so Carolina needs some offensive line help. Proctor would certainly fit the bill. He's massive and was pretty highly-touted coming out of high school. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk The Cowboys could afford to double up on defense with their two first-round picks. The trade of Micah Parsons left a sizable hole in terms of pass rush. Faulk is versatile and explosive, so I think he could get the job done. These two picks might turn Dallas' defense around. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Alabama QB Ty Simpson We wondered if the Steelers would pick a quarterback early on last year. They didn't do that, opting to sign Aaron Rodgers instead. Well, the Steelers are in need of a quarterback, and I really like Simpson. I know Simpson doesn't have tremendous size, but he can make all the throws. He can make anticipatory and leverage throws. He's accurate on the outside. I know Indiana was able to get to Simpson in the Rose Bowl, but he was the reason why Alabama defeated Georgia in Athens this past season. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter As I mentioned with Minter earlier, Jim Harbaugh still believes in that defensive philosophy of being big upfront and creating a run wall. Hunter fits the bill. He's very good in the interior and was a big winner at the Senior Bowl following his All-American season. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Jalen Hurts and the Eagles threw for 17 touchdowns in the red zone this past season. Tight end Dallas Goedert had 10 of them, and he's a free agent this offseason. I'm a huge proponent of getting a great tight end, and Sadiq is the best at his position in this draft class. This would also allow the Eagles to reallocate some resources and get more athletic. Sadiq is outstanding, showing great pass-catching skills for a tight end and is strong as a run blocker. 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson Just like the Cowboys, the Browns need to double-dip on one side of the ball in the first round of the draft. Tyson would not only provide much-needed wide receiver help. It would also create an interesting fit with Sheduer Sanders. Tyson spent his freshman season at Colorado, but transferred when Deion Sanders became the head coach. Tyson actually apologized to Deion for the way things went when he left Colorado. That shows maturity. But Tyson would give Sanders a strong option on the outside. 25. Chicago Bears: Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald The Bears went heavy on drafting skill players over the last couple of drafts, which paid off. Now, they need to address their defensive interior, especially as they can't rely on turnover luck to carry over from last year. McDonald was terrific in the interior for Ohio State, and it allowed the Buckeyes to play that odd defense. He plays with great effort and force. 26. Buffalo Bills: Washington WR Denzel Boston The Bills need to improve their run defense, but they also need more playmakers on the outside offensively. We all saw what owner Terry Pegula said about the team's decision to draft wide receiver Keion Coleman, which was pretty wild. Boston is a tremendous player and I was impressed with him when I watched him on tape. He's got solid body control and athleticism, giving Josh Allen a potential strong target on the outside. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Utah OT Caleb Lomu Life after Trent Williams is coming sooner rather than later. We know he's coming back for 2026, but he'll be 38. And you always need some depth along the offensive line. Lomu could be a potential successor to Williams. He played a lot of left tackle at Utah, making him a solid fit for the 49ers. 28. Houston Texans: Clemson OT Blake Miller Houston's defense is elite, so it needs to keep building on the offensive side of the ball. The Texans' offensive line was better this past season, but it can still improve. Miller started all 54 games in his career and is reliable. 29. Los Angeles Rams: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell The Rams have a few corners that are set to be free agents this offseason. So, why not bring in an All-American corner? Yes, I know it's another Clemson player going in the first round after its underwhelming season. That doesn't mean some of the Tigers' top players aren't NFL-caliber, though. Terrell is one of those guys and can play on the outside. 30. Denver Broncos: Georgia LB CJ Allen As we get later into the first round, teams will seemingly prioritize need. For the Broncos, that's linebacker. Allen is another experienced guy, starting 29 games. He's also a talented player, earning an All-American nod and being named a finalist for the Butkus Award this past season. What we know about Georgia defensive players is that they're going to be ready to succeed in the NFL. 31. New England Patriots: Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker The Patriots could use some more firepower at wide receiver, but they need some pass-rushing help, too. Parker was considered to be a candidate to be a top-10 pick at the start of the season. He disappointed a bit, although the upside with Parker is still strong. 32. Seattle Seahawks: South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse The Seahawks' secondary seems set to lose multiple players in free agency. So, addressing the secondary would be smart. Cisse is a really good player and is explosive. Mike Macdonald can refine him a bit and make him a contributor to that already strong defense.

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2026 Super Bowl Betting Recap: Seahawks' Dominance Equals 'Helluva Day' for Books

Super Bowl betting often gets much more interesting as kickoff draws closer. That was certainly the case at Circa Sports, literally minutes before Super Bowl 60 got underway on Sunday. A $1 million bet landed on Patriots moneyline +200. It was the second seven-figure New England wager at Circa, prompting this response on X from director of sportsbook operations Jeff Benson: "Well, things just got a lot more interesting. … Another bomb comes in on the Patriots at +200 for $1M. We are now very big Seahawk fans." By now, you know Seattle delivered for the book, while the Patriots fell well short. More on Super Bowl 60 betting results, as multiple oddsmakers recap the final game of the 2025-26 season. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Mega Millions In the first 24 hours after Super Bowl 60 odds went up, back on Jan. 26, Circa Sports took a $1.1 million bet on Patriots moneyline +188. That bet stood a chance to profit $2.068 million, for a total payout of $3.168 million. So Circa was already hoping for a Seahawks win on Sunday, although Benson and his team didn’t want Seattle to cover as a 4.5-point favorite. The preference was a Seahawks win by 1-3 points. Then came the second major wager pre-kickoff. The $1 million Pats moneyline play at +200 had a potential profit of $2 million, for a $3 million total payout. At that point, Circa didn’t care if the Seahawks won by one or 100. Seattle held New England scoreless through three quarters, leading 12-0, and went on to a 29-13 victory. "It was a helluva day, given our futures position," Benson said, alluding to substantial Seahawks liability from preseason futures bets, which then got offset by the two huge Patriots wagers. "We took two $1 million bets on the Pats, which worked out well." Defenses Dominate Generally speaking, Super Bowl 60 worked out well in all ways for not only Circa, but many other books in Vegas and nationwide. That’s what happens when a game is 9-0 at halftime and 12-0 through three quarters. Low-scoring Super Bowls are the death knell for the public betting masses, who love to pile on all the props, wagering on Yes or Over on practically everything. And while the fourth quarter featured 30 points, that still didn’t help prop bettors that much. Nor was it enough to get the Over in on a total of 45/45.5. "A lot of Unders on props. The game staying Under was beautiful. Kenneth Walker III as MVP was good. We cleaned up," Benson said, before adding a little tongue-in-cheek finale to his summary. "I’ll be heading to the beach to enjoy my riches!" Flag on the Play Through three quarters, sportsbooks across the country were pretty happy with Super Bowl betting. Bookmakers tend to root for things not to happen, and as noted above, not much was happening, with the Seahawks up 12-0. Then came four touchdowns and a field goal — and one missed two-point conversion — to bring the score to 29-13 Seattle. And then Walker nearly struck a huge blow in favor of the public betting masses, with a 49-yard touchdown run. That would’ve clinched not only the Over, but a myriad of Walker prop bets and a boatload of parlays. "Our hearts were in our mouths when Walker ran in the needless touchdown. That would’ve been a monumental swing for bettors," Caesars Sports vice president of trading Craig Mucklow said. Alas, it was instead a monumental letdown for bettors. Seattle was flagged for holding on the play and ultimately had to punt. The 29-13 result held up when the clock expired with the Patriots at the Seahawks’ 29-yard line. And bookmakers around the nation breathed a sigh of relief. Exception to the Rule While Caesars Sports and many others escaped a lot of damage thanks to that holding penalty, Caesars didn’t do as well to the game as other operators. And it started even before kickoff. An hour before the game began, a high-roller put a whopping $253,000 on Heads -103 for the coin toss. It was indeed heads, so that bettor profited $245,631.07, before even a down was played (total payout $498,631.07). Caesars got a chunk of that back from a bettor who put $100,000 on Tails -103. But heavy Seahawks action on the game itself paid dividends for Caesars customers. "The game was overwhelmingly controlled by Seattle, and that ended up being a very popular side among bettors throughout the week," Caesars head of football trading Joey Feazel said. "As a result, players generally fared well in this matchup. "Overall, it was a strong outcome for Seattle backers." Caesars had multiple six-figure Seahawks moneyline bets, as well as a $200,000 Seahawks -4.5 wager. So all those major wagers cashed. On the flip side, though, Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale’s $2 million AFC +200 futures bet — made before the conference championship games — ended up being a huge donation to Caesars’ coffers. Speaking of seven-figure bets … Big Winners … and Losers As noted above, the two Patriots moneyline wagers at Circa fell by the wayside, as did Mattress Mack’s bet. So too did model, socialite Kendall Jenner’s $1 million Patriots +190 moneyline wager, at Fanatics Sportsbook. And a couple of hours before kickoff, BetMGM took a $1 million Patriots +4.5 (-105) bet, another loser. However, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker put $1 million on Seahawks -3.5 (-125) at Fanatics. That bet cashed with relative ease, profiting $800,000 (total payout $1.8 million). And a BetMGM customer completed a tremendous ladder of wagers, though the bettor gave back a chunk via hedging on the Super Bowl. The customer banked $1,492,500 in profit on $50,000 bets of the Seahawks making the playoffs and winning the NFC. The topper was another $50,000 bet on Seahawks +6000 to win the Super Bowl, with all three bets made in August. Seattle got there Sunday night, giving the bettor a $3 million win and hiking the total profit to $4.492,500. Just to play it safe, though, the bettor hedged with a $725,000 Patriots +195 moneyline bet on the Super Bowl. So that’s a $725K loser. But I think the bettor is just fine, banking $3,767,500 in profit. Not a bad season’s work, if you can afford it. Which most of us can’t. So just continue to bear that in mind. Keep your wagers and expectations reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

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