2026 NFL Draft: The Book on Alabama QB Ty Simpson

With the 2026 NFL Draft less than a month away, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has entered the chat as the most polarizing prospect in the class. After Simpson's impressive throwing exhibitions at the NFL Scouting Combine and Alabama Pro Day created a buzz in scouting circles, evaluators could not wait to dig into the tape to determine whether the consensus QB2 of the class is worthy of a first-round pick. Simpson, who passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025, is a mechanical marvel with flawless footwork and throwing mechanics that stand out on his tape. As the son of a college football coach with an extensive offensive background, Simpson operates like a clinician from the pocket, working through his reads at warp speed before routinely delivering darts to open receivers. The combination of his high-IQ and refined mechanics resulted in a sizzling nine-game run in 2025 — a 66.8% completion rate with 21 touchdowns and one interception during that span — that had scouts buzzing about his prospects as a QB1. Directing a pro-style offense created by former NFL offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Simpson showcased his managerial skills and big-play potential with his surgical dismantling of four ranked opponents — Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee. That scintillating stretch piqued the interest of evaluators intent on finding a potential QB1 in the 2026 or 2027 classes. Few expected Simpson, with another year of college eligibility and only 15 starts on his résumé, to enter this year's draft. But the flashes from his spectacular run have stirred debate between old-school evaluators and new-age scouts on the importance of traits, experience, production and projection for quarterback prospects. After studying Simpson’s 2025 season, here are my thoughts on the most polarizing player in the draft. This Upside If you were coaching a young quarterback on how to play the position and needed to show him a demonstration reel, Simpson’s highlight tape would suffice. The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder is a talented technician with footwork and mechanics that coaches rave about when teaching young players new skills. He complements his polished mechanics with a high football IQ, enabling him to quickly work through his reads until he finds an open receiver or the weak spot in coverage. Simpson’s quickness in processing and game-day urgency separate him from most young quarterbacks who are hesitant and uncertain in the pocket. He has mastered the art of playing quickly without hurrying or rushing through the process when making post-snap reads. As a result, Simpson consistently plays on time, trusting his awareness and diagnostic skills to make anticipatory throws against various coverage. He displays a keen understanding of his scheme and which routes should be available against the defensive coverage or pressure. Moreover, he maintains a big-picture focus, enabling him to play in attack mode and exploit the defense’s vulnerabilities at all times. Additionally, Simpson’s exceptional intangibles enable him to carve up coverage with surgical precision despite lacking elite arm talent. His arm strength grades out at a "plus" level, but it would not rank as a superpower on par with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow. While it has been proven that a strong arm is not required to succeed in the NFL, Simpson must win with superior timing, anticipation and ball placement rather than throwing fastballs past defenders. Coaches intrigued by Simpson will certainly want to incorporate the rhythm throws and play-action concepts that accentuate his game. He consistently nails the strike zone on "catch, rock and throw" concepts with in-breaking routes attached to the progression, and he's just as effective on comebacks and deep outs thrown outside the numbers. With Simpson also capable of layering throws over intermediate defenders after executing play-action fakes, offensive coordinators can open up the playbook with the Alabama product under center. In addition, Simpson’s athleticism, movement skills and effectiveness as a mobile playmaker shine on bootlegs and naked passes. He is a credible dual-threat with the potential to pick up first downs on nifty scrambles or pinpoint tosses to the boundary. The Downside Despite the impressive résumé and highlight reel Simpson has compiled as a one-year starter, there are some concerns about his ability to thrive as a pro due to his inexperience (15 career starts), size and arm talent. The recent failures of Anthony Richardson (13 college starts), Dwayne Haskins (14), and Mitchell Trubisky (13), combined with the inability of Trey Lance (17) to crack an NFL starting lineup, makes Simpson a high-risk prospect due to his limited reps. Additionally, skeptics will point to his late-season struggles, particularly against Auburn and Georgia (in the SEC Championship Game), as potential concerns about his ability to adapt to defensive adjustments. Defensive coordinators successfully copied pressure patterns and coverage tricks that disrupted his rhythm in the initial Oklahoma matchup, as evidenced by Simpson completing just 58.5% of his passes in his final five games with six touchdowns and three interceptions. With Simpson’s injuries also impacting his play, concerns over his size and durability are also major factors in his evaluation. As a slender quarterback, his late-season decline will lead to questions about his ability to withstand the pounding and wear-and-tear as a pro. [2026 NFL Draft Confidential: Unfiltered Scouting Takes On Top 5 QBs] Factor in his lack of elite arm talent, and there are plenty of red flags for evaluators to consider when breaking down Simpson. The naysayers will point to his underthrown vertical passes and his soft tosses between the numbers as potential concerns, especially since NFL defensive coordinators design game plans that force quarterbacks to make tight-window throws. If Simpson is unable to punish opponents for their aggressive tactics, the offense will face a condensed field, making it harder to operate over a 17-game season. The Verdict Simpson is the ultimate high-risk, high-reward prospect at the position. He dazzles as a pocket passer, with pristine mechanics and a high IQ that will endear him to quarterback gurus across the league. Offensive coordinators employing intricate schemes that rely on touch, timing and precision will fall in love with Simpson due to his ability to execute advanced concepts at the collegiate level. His strongest supporters within the league will see the Alabama star as a Brock Purdy-like playmaker. They'll argue that Simpson could excel in an offense featuring a smorgasbord of creative concepts designed to exploit defensive vulnerabilities through clever scheming and misdirection, including play-action and bootleg passes. While his lack of experience will require a detailed developmental plan that might include a "redshirt" year to adapt and adjust to the pro game, Simpson’s skills could translate into him becoming a successful starter down the road. Due to the time needed for him to develop, and the risks associated with his inexperience and size, I would grade him as a second-round prospect (future starter), knowing that he faces long odds of becoming a franchise-caliber player.

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Fanatics-Owned Topps Becomes NFL's Exclusive Trading Card Licensee

After a decade out of the NFL, Topps is back in the game. Topps will once again become the NFL's exclusive trading card licensee, Fanatics Collectibles, the NFL and the NFL Players Association announced Thursday. Topps, which is now owned by Fanatics, last produced fully licensed NFL cards in 2016. To help commemorate its return to the NFL, Topps will produce one-of-one-numbered Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph cards and NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph cards. The Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph cards will feature a patch from jerseys worn by rookies in the 2025 season. New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward and New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson are among the 2025 rookies who'll have trading cards that are a part of the Rookie PREM1ERE Patch Autograph cards. The NFL Honors Gold Shield Autograph cards will feature game-worn gold shield patches from the jerseys of the winners of the 2024 major individual awards. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels are among the players in that group. NFL stars who have signed exclusive deals with Fanatics will also have trading cards featured as part of the release. That list includes lead NFL on FOX analyst Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and more. The first release as part of the agreement will be the 2025 Topps Chrome Football, which will be available to purchase on April 15. However, pre-ordering will open on Friday. "This partnership between the NFL and Fanatics Collectibles brings together the league, our players and a best-in-class collectibles platform to better serve fans and grow the trading card hobby," NFL SVP of consumer products Casey Collins said in a release. "We’re excited to welcome Topps back as our exclusive trading card partner, and by leveraging their expertise and innovation, we will reach fans and collectors around the world with one-of-a-kind offerings and experiences." "In partnership with the league and the players association, we are excited to build a program that honors the legacy of the game while introducing never-before-seen levels of innovation, storytelling and premium design," Fanatics Collectibles CEO Mike Mahan added. "We look forward to bringing our passion for football to life through our incredible products." Panini previously held the NFL's exclusive trading card license, taking over in 2016. Topps and Fanatics, meanwhile, are now the exclusive trading card licensee for three of the largest professional sports leagues in America. The group became the NBA's trading card licensee in October, four years after it agreed to a deal to become the MLB's trading card licensee in 2021.

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4 Takeaways From NFL Owners Meeting

PHOENIX — Rule changes were at the forefront of the NFL owners meeting this week, with the most notable approved proposal being a one-year rule that allows officials "to correct clear and obvious mistakes" as the league's referees face a potential lockout. It’s clear the NFL anticipates having to use replacement referees — and because it was a largely damaging decision last time, with the replacement refs struggling enormously in 2012 (see: the Fail Mary), the league is doing what it can to help preserve the product in the event of a work stoppage. But there were other newsworthy items that came from coaches, execs and owners about their respective teams during the week. What potential moves might come next in the NFL this offseason? Who should we keep an eye on as we're five months away from the start of the regular season? Let’s dive into those items as we share our four takeaways from our time in Arizona. 1. Teams only created more burning questions around some of the league’s top wide receivers Henry McKenna: At any given time of year, the quarterbacks are typically the most polarizing players, a lightning rod for discussion. But it was the receivers who — for better and for worse — generated the most buzz at the NFL owners meeting. Puka Nacua: If you look at the NFL’s receiving yards leaders, you’ll see Nacua up there at No. 2 behind Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who received an extension for four years worth $168.6 million. Nacua is eligible for a new contract, and could demand as much as Smith-Njigba. But that ignores the ways their careers have diverged off the field, with Smith-Njigba acting as a leader in the locker room and a no-nonsense professional. Nacua, meanwhile, has struggled to conduct himself with the same professionalism. This offseason, after several incidents, the Rams receiver has checked himself into rehab, his attorney confirmed. Prior to the news that Nacua was in rehab, Rams general manager Les Snead was asked how Nacua’s off-field issues could impact a future contract. "The impact is continuing to evolve," Snead said at the owners meeting. "Not only as a person but as a football player. And you need to be on your P’s and Q’s in both categories to earn that type of contract. Right now we’re focused on the human being, and then we’ll get to that stuff." George Pickens: Pickens proved he is capable of being a WR1 in the times when CeeDee Lamb was hurt — and so that probably makes Pickens the best WR2 in the NFL. That should increase the Dallas Cowboys’ urgency to get a deal done, rather than force him to play on the franchise tag. And yet Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that he has not been in touch recently with Pickens’ agent, who — by the way — has a history of encouraging his franchise-tagged players to hold out. "The franchise tag is an integral part of all teams and certainly an integral part of our strategy over the next two or three years as we look at how to keep the best players," Jones said. To Jones’ credit, the Cowboys are getting Pickens on a discount on the tag (one-year, $28 million). So you can see why he’d like to have the wide receiver play on those terms. It’s just unrealistic to expect that to go smoothly — and without Pickens putting up a fight. Given the way everything fell apart with Micah Parsons and Jones last offseason, you’d think the Cowboys wouldn’t want to make the same mistake twice — overcomplicating their relationship with one of their best players. But maybe that contract dispute won’t inform this one. A.J. Brown: The Philadelphia Eagles appeared to spend the meetings working to create leverage in the trade, which now seems extremely likely. Both general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that "A.J. is an Eagle." And while that’s factually accurate, it still left us without an answer about whether he’ll be an Eagle in September for Week 1. But if you listen to what New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had to say about Brown, you’ll hear a coach who is deeply interested in taking on Brown, for all his pros (outstanding play) and cons (outspokenly critical, at times). Do I think Brown will be a Patriot? Yes. But we likely won’t know for sure until after June 1, when the receiver’s contract becomes easier to trade from a salary cap standpoint. 2. Rams’ GM Les Snead offers remedy to avoid another Maxx Crosby trade debacle Eric D. Williams: Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby’s rescinded trade by the Baltimore Ravens due to a failed physical over his surgically repaired left knee serves as a cautionary tale for the rest of the league. The Ravens traded two first-round picks for Crosby, including the 14th overall selection in the upcoming draft. It marked the first time Baltimore relinquished a first-round pick for a player via trade in franchise history, so the Ravens were certainly excited to acquire Crosby. However, less than 24 hours before the trade could become official at the start of the new league year, the Ravens informed the Raiders they were backing out after Crosby failed his physical in Baltimore. A long-time NFL medical staff member familiar with the process of team physicals told me the issue could have been avoided had the two sides agreed to have Crosby evaluated by a Ravens team doctor before the announcement of the trade. Count Rams general manager Les Snead as someone who believes a more uniform, collaborative process needs to be installed by the NFL. "There’s a conundrum there, where a lot of times these things get announced, or maybe even reported before the league year," Snead told reporters at the NFL annual meeting this week. "And then people can go and do physicals. But here’s what I would say: I think we as clubs need to be more proactive. "We can wait on the governing body, per se. But I think you should get into really sharing the information before you bring someone in, if you can, or you’re going to have that issue. The trade gets announced or reported. A week later, he shows up for a physical [and he fails]. … You should be able to put your medical people on with their medical people and make that a sensible thing." While Crosby says he’s staying with the Raiders for this season, that doesn’t mean other teams are not interested. Dallas was one of the teams interested in Crosby before the trade, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated he hasn’t shut the door on the possibility of seeking the talented pass rusher’s services. "I don’t anticipate — standing here right now — revisiting that situation," Jones told reporters at the NFL owners meeting. "I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes." 3. Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer has a plan to upgrade Dallas' miserable defense Williams: With Dak Prescott leading the offense, the Cowboys averaged 28 points a game, good for seventh in the NFL this past season. However, the defense let the Cowboys down all season, giving up a league-high 30 points per game. Specifically, Dallas struggled in the back end defensively, allowing a league-high 252 passing yards per contest, the second-most passing touchdowns in the league (35) and totaling just six interceptions on the year. But Schottenheimer believes he’s created an opportunity to improve the defense by moving on from Matt Eberflus and replacing him with former Philadelphia Eagles defensive passing game coordinator Christian Parker as his new defensive coordinator. Schottenheimer said he would like to see more pre-snap disguise and multiplicity from his defense, like Parker’s protégé Vic Fangio. That could also mean the Cowboys using more defensive groupings with six defensive backs. The Cowboys signed former Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson, former Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke and ex-Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant in free agency, adding versatility and playmaking ability to the secondary. The Rams used six defensive backs on a league-high 347 defensive plays last season, while the Cardinals used six defensive backs in 176 defensive plays. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks used six defensive backs on 167 defensive snaps in 2025. The Cowboys? They used six defensive backs on just four plays last year. "The disguise element to me is exciting," Schottenheimer said when I asked for a couple of characteristics he wants to see from his defense. "It’s one of the things I fell in love with – maybe not fell in love with because it sucks going against Vic Fangio’s style of schemes – but just the confusion that they give you at the start of the snap, because they’re all sitting back there at the quarter shell. "When I listen to these guys talk, because it’s still a little bit of a foreign language when I listen to Christian Parker, [passing game coordinator] Derrick Ansley and [inside linebackers coach] Scott Symons talk about some of the coverage variations we can get to, what I love about it is the ability to take away the side of the field, a player and different ways to take away the leverage of a slot receiver. Christian is a great coach at every level, but I think he’s a Superstar when it comes to the secondary." 4. There is no more compelling experiment than Kyler Murray and Kevin O’Connell McKenna: Every offseason, there’s a rearranging of personnel — a change of scenery — that has the potential to be special. Or to fail fabulously. The Vikings' signing of Murray might be the transaction with the greatest boom-bust potential. Murray has enjoyed legitimately elite quarterback play, but he has never sustained it. And O’Connell has a track record of doing just that, with Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold putting together seasons that completely rearranged what we thought we knew about them. In this sense, Murray should be the next guy in line. It would be oversimplistic to call Murray a reclamation project. But it’s fair to say he has yet to realize his full potential. The problem with this narrative is that O’Connell hit his first snag in QB development with J.J. McCarthy, a former first-round pick who was probably the league’s worst starter in 2025. Even after two seasons in the NFL, we have no idea what McCarthy can offer. O’Connell’s reputation is on the line with Murray. Murray’s career is on the line with O’Connell. And to make it even more compelling, Murray’s outstanding mobility makes him unlike the pocket passers who have preceded him in O’Connell’s system. "I don't think he's gotten enough credit for, you know, playing in-rhythm," O'Connell told reporters at the owners meeting in Phoenix. "We all recognize some of the highlight reel ability that he has, and Kyler Murray has always had that level of talent. But I think sometimes what we don't recognize is … him play with really, really good technique and fundamentals either in the dropback game." Let’s see it.

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Cowherd on Toxic Jalen Hurts-Eagles Report: Feels Like 'Russell Wilson-Seahawks'

It's not always sunny in Philadelphia. On Wednesday morning, a damning report was published by ESPN, detailing how Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a source of frustration for the franchise. "Poor body language, not always bought in, not the most coachable and the players notice," one person told ESPN about Hurts, who the story noted tends to be closed off, "continually fights" being under center and has "pushed back on changes" to the team's offensive scheme. The report notes that Hurt is viewed as a primary catalyst for Philadelphia's offense becoming "calcified" and that he "has shown a reluctance to let it rip at times, particularly against zone coverage." Moreover, just months after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX in 2025, Hurts' character and the way he rubs off on those around him was labeled a "disaster." What's really going on here? "This is exactly what I was told [about Hurts by a source]. And when does the truth come out? When people think their jobs are in trouble; when people get replaced; when people are somewhere, get blamed for something, and they're out of town; they move to another job, then they'll talk. This is a reporter I trust, I was told this is starting to feel very like Russell Wilson with the Seattle Seahawks," Colin Cowherd said on Wednesday's edition of "The Herd," "where the quarterback, who has critics, is getting all the credit and the roster's stacked, and when they do infrequently lose, the roster gets the blame, and the quarterback doesn't." Last season, Philadelphia won the NFC East at 11-6 but proceeded to lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card round. In the regular season, Hurts totaled 3,224 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, six interceptions and a 98.5 passer rating, while completing 64.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 421 yards and eight touchdowns. In all, Philadelphia's offense was just 24th in the NFL in total yards (311.2 per game), 23rd in passing yards (194.3 per game), 19th in points (22.3 per game) and 18th in rushing yards (116.9 per game). Hurts' relationship with star wide receiver A.J. Brown has continually come into question, especially after the latter told fans to "get rid" of him in fantasy football during the regular season; Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, totaled 1,003 receiving yards in the 2025 regular season, his lowest mark since 2021. Hurts, a Pro Bowler in three of the last four seasons, was the Super Bowl LIX MVP for the Eagles and has helped them reach two Super Bowls across his five seasons as their full-time starting quarterback (2022 and 2024 seasons). He signed a five-year, $255 million extension after the 2022 season. Change has been a constant for the Eagles at offensive coordinator, as Philadelphia has a new offensive coordinator in former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion, who replaces the outgoing Kevin Patullo — who was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2025 season after Kellen Moore left his position following Super Bowl LIX to become the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The year prior (2023), Brian Johnson was the Eagles' offensive coordinator, replacing Shane Steichen, who was in the role from 2021-22 before leaving to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. [2026 NFL Draft Confidential: Unfiltered Scouting Takes On Top 5 QBs] "Saquon Barkley didn't get enough love, the D-Line and O-Line were dominating, but who got $255 million? Who's getting the commercials? Who's getting the magazine covers? It feels very Russell Wilson in Seattle," Cowherd said of the Eagles. "And GM Howie Roseman [has been] very reluctant to trade [star wide receiver] A.J. Brown. I've been saying this for two years: 'I don't get it.' Now, I do. [With] A.J. Brown, the general manager's like, ‘Yeah, that’s not the issue,' so the truth comes out." As for the comparison, Wilson was Seattle's starting quarterback from 2012-21, highlighted by the Seahawks winning Super Bowl XLVIII. While Wilson was a Pro Bowler in nine of his 10 seasons in Seattle, the franchise also had one of the more iconic defenses in recent memory in the early portion of the quarterback's career, highlighted by the "Legion of Boom" — a secondary that included star defensive backs Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Byron Maxwell, among others. Dating back to the four starts he made in his 2020 rookie season, the Eagles are a combined 57-25 in the regular season and 6-4 in the postseason with Hurts under center.

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2026 NFL Offseason: Who's Next In Line To Be Highest-Paid At Each Position?

Every year, there are record-setting deals in the NFL. In this free-agency cycle, we saw center Tyler Linderbaum receive a contract from the Raiders that blew the top off of the market at his position. Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, topped the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase as the highest-paid wide receiver by average annual value with his $42.15 million per year extension. So, who’s next in line to become the highest-paid player at their position by average salary? Here is my pick for each position on offense and defense, with players drafted as late as 2023 now extension eligible: Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Ravens Current highest paid: Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($60 million APY) The Ravens restructured Jackson’s contract last month to create cap space, but a historic extension remains on the table for the 29-year-old QB before the start of the 2026 season. Since signing his last deal in 2023 — a five-year, $260 million extension — Jackson has won a second league MVP award and earned two of his three first-team All-Pro nods. Running back: Bijan Robinson, Falcons Current highest paid: Saquon Barkley, Eagles ($20.6 million APY) Last season, Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards (1,478 rushing, 820 receiving) en route to first-team All Pro honors, the first of his career. An extension for the 2023 No. 8 overall pick should be a no-brainer priority for the Falcons, especially given their quarterback uncertainty entering 2026. Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, Rams Current highest paid: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($42.15 million APY) Despite recent off the field issues, Nacua remains on track to top Smith-Njigba as the NFL’s highest-paid wideout before next season. In 2025, the former fifth-round pick led the league in receptions (129), receiving first downs (80) and receiving yards per game (107.2) and ranked second in receiving yards (1,715) despite missing a game. Tight end: Kyle Pitts, Falcons Current highest paid: George Kittle, 49ers ($19.1 million APY) After getting franchise-tagged in February, the 25-year-old Pitts is well-positioned to surpass Kittle's number. The No. 4 overall pick in 2021, Pitts caught a career-high 88 passes last season for 928 yards and five touchdowns en route to second-team All-Pro honors. The Lions’ Sam LaPorta and Packers’ Tucker Kraft, other contenders to set the market at the tight end position, are coming off season-ending injuries, paving the way for Pitts to become the first of the three to get a second contract. Offensive tackle: Darnell Wright, Bears Current highest paid: Laremy Tunsil, Commanders ($30.1 million APY) Wright isn’t a left tackle, but the former No. 10 overall pick has a chance to surpass Tunsil's deal with the league's rising salary cap. Still just 24, the former Tennessee Vol has started all 49 games of his career at right tackle and earned second-team All-Pro honors last season. Guard: Peter Skoronski, Titans Current highest paid: Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($24 million APY) The 11th overall pick in 2023, Skoronski has gone from a college tackle to one of the best young guards in the NFL. The 24-year-old standout has started 48 career games at left guard. Center: Jared Wilson, Patriots Current highest paid: Tyler Linderbaum, Raiders ($27 million APY) Linderbaum's deal shattered the previous high for centers owned by the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey ($18 million APY). Since it marked such a substantial market reset, the Linderbaum contract could be viewed as an outlier by the greater NFL community, meaning it could be a while until we see another reset. Wilson is a candidate to do so in two years, when he becomes extension eligible for the first time. The 2025 third-round pick started 13 games for the Patriots last season at left guard, but New England intends to move him to center following the signing of Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency. Edge rusher: Will Anderson Jr., Texans Current highest paid: Micah Parsons, Packers ($46.5 million APY) Already one of the NFL’s best defensive players, Anderson registered 12 sacks and 85 pressures last season en route to first-team All-Pro honors. The former No. 3 overall pick has 30 sacks in three seasons. Defensive tackle: Jalen Carter, Eagles Current highest paid: Chris Jones, Chiefs ($31.75 million APY) In just three seasons, Carter, the ninth overall pick in 2023, has become one of football’s most disruptive defensive tackles. He was a second-team All-Pro honoree in 2024 and has made the Pro Bowl in back-to-back seasons. The former Georgia star had three sacks, 29 pressures and seven pass breakups in 11 games in 2025. Inside Linebacker: Jack Campbell, Lions Current highest paid: Fred Warner, 49ers ($21 million APY) Campbell, the 18th overall pick in 2023, has seen a significant jump in his production in each of his three seasons. In 2025, the former Iowa star had 176 tackles (second in the NFL), five sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles en route to first-team All-Pro honors. Cornerback: Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks Current highest paid: Trent McDuffie, Rams ($31 million APY) Witherspoon is slated to become the league’s highest-paid player at his position in short order, following in the footsteps of his Seahawks teammate and fellow 2023 first-rounder Smith-Njigba, whom Seattle just made the league's highest-paid receiver. Witherspoon has been named to the Pro Bowl three straight times to begin his career. The ex-Illinois star recorded an interception, seven pass breakups and 72 tackles in 12 games last season. Safety: Xavier McKinney, Packers Current highest paid: Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($25.1 million APY) The Packers restructured McKinney’s current contract for cap relief, but the star safety is in line for a big deal in 2027, when his cap hit is scheduled to be a hefty $24.8 million. The former Giants second-round pick has 13 interceptions over the past three seasons and has made an All-Pro team in back-to-back years.

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4 Takeaways from Roger Goodell's Press Conference at NFL Owners Meeting

PHOENIX — The end of the NFL's owners meeting has arrived. But before we departed the Biltmore Hotel on Tuesday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave another State of the Union that dropped some crumbs on what to possibly expect around the league next season and in the years to come. Finding a new stadium for the Chicago Bears, NFL players competing in flag football in the Olympics and proposed rules for the expansion of instant replay to help replacement officials were part of a packed agenda this week. Will there be replacement refs in 2026? Where will the Bears play next? Here are my four takeaways from Goodell’s latest press conference. 1. Get ready for NFL replacement officials NFL owners approved, for one year only, a new rule allowing replay assist to correct clear and obvious missed calls in the event of a referee work stoppage, which would mean the implementation of replacement officials. It was one of four rule changes approved by the league. The rule change is possibly the clearest sign yet that we're heading toward a work stoppage for NFL refs in the 2026 season, and Goodell's comment on the situation indicated that replacement refs are on the way. "The negotiations have not progressed the way we had hoped from a timing standpoint," Goodell said. "We obviously have obligations to our fans and everybody in the National Football League to play. So, we are taking the appropriate steps to be ready, but we’re also keeping focused on the negotiations. "So, we’d like to get a negotiated deal, and we certainly are focused on that." The last time the NFL used replacement officials was in 2012, due to a lockout. However, that ended three weeks into the regular season with an eight-year agreement after a Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, when a replacement official incorrectly ruled a touchdown catch for Golden Tate that ended the game with a victory for the Seahawks. The league and the referees reached an impasse on compensation, accountability for poor performance and shortening the amount of dead time for officials during the down period from the end of the Super Bowl in February to May 15. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of May. "There is frustration discussed among the ownership about the state of our negotiations with our officials," NFL Executive Vice President overseeing Player Health and Safety Jeff Miller told reporters on Thursday. "The effort has been pretty straightforward. And I think we’ve been crystal clear on it, which is this is an opportunity to improve the state of our officiating. "There needs to be accountability measures. There needs to be performance measures. And that’s what our negotiation posture has been. … What [the NFL owners] are insistent upon – insistent upon — is that the performance of the officials and the accountability for that performance has to improve." Owners also approved a new rule that allows replay assist to put a flag down and eject players for flagrant football acts or non-football acts not penalized by officials on the field. Rich McKay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and co-chairman of the competition committee, said there was some concern about transparency for fans considering the expanded use of instant replay, but that did not override impeding the speed of the game. McKay said the NFL also would have more staff on hand to deal with the expanded use of replay assist. 2. NFL players expected to compete in Flag Football in 2028 Olympics The NFL is all in on flag football, according to Goodell. Even after current NFL players were soundly beaten by USA Football in the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles earlier in March, Goodell said the league is committed to improving the game and believes NFL players will compete in the sport for USA Football in the 2028 Summer Olympics. "I think we’ll see NFL players in the Olympics," Goodell said. "They want to play. We just had a player here who wants to compete in the Olympics. That’s his intent. I think it will be great for football. I think it will be great for the fans. And I’m even more excited for the opportunity for young women to play flag football in general, but also participate in the Olympics." The league's actions earlier in the week certainly showed the NFL's commitment to growing flag football. A day prior to Goodell's press conference, the NFL announced that it's partnering with TMRW Sports to develop and operate a professional flag football league for women and men. 3. Chicago Bears need clarity on new stadium project The stadium situation for the Bears remains in flux. The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971. It’s the smallest NFL stadium, with a capacity of 61,500. However, the team is working on a couple of different tracks that they hope will lead to a new facility. The Bears have received approval from the state of Indiana to fund a new stadium in the town of Hammond, about 28 miles from Chicago. Meanwhile, the Bears also purchased a 326-acre, $197.2 million property in Arlington Heights, Illinois, to build a new facility for home games. However, there’s no clear timeline for completion of the project and the franchise is seeking $855 million in public funding to cover the stadium's infrastructure costs. Goodell said the Bears need to gain clarity on which project to move forward with sooner rather than later. "They need to find a solution for a stadium," Goodell said. "And they have looked not only in Indiana, but Illinois and other sites. And they’ve also invested in a site. So, I think they’ve been responsible, and I think it’s really important that they come to a resolution on this relatively soon." 4. NFL expands access for players to address mental health The league also approved an initiative to expand behavioral and mental health services for NFL players and their families. Franchises must now hire a full-time mental health professional who works from the team facility each day. NFL owners have approved a proposal to expand behavioral and mental health services offerings to players. Teams must now employ a full-time mental health clinician who operates out of each facility. The league also voted to better support vulnerable players on injured reserve separated from their families, and to expand health coverage for players and their families. Previously, the NFL mandated in the last collective bargaining agreement seven years ago that every team must have some mental health resource available to players and coaches. Further, the NFL requires every team to have a mental health emergency action plan. There’s been an increased emphasis nationally on mental health in the NFL, with the recent tragedies of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore dying by suicide.

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The Orlando Jaguars? Jags to Play Majority of 2027 Home Games in Orlando

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Disney World! The Jaguars will play most of their 2027 home games in Orlando after NFL owners rubber-stamped a proposal Tuesday that has been years in the making and essentially a done deal for months. Owners voted unanimously at the league's annual meetings in Arizona to allow the team to temporarily relocate next year’s home slate during the final stages of a $1.4 billion stadium renovation. Jacksonville started searching for a home away from home when it unveiled plans for a "stadium of the future" in 2023. The Jags considered playing at Daytona International Speedway, at Florida Field in Gainesville and at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Camping World was always the front-runner. And it became a no-brainer when Orlando leaders cleared a $10 million sports-incentive package to help land the Jaguars earlier this year. The aging stadium is also undergoing a $400 million facelift — a project that will give the venue a modernized, NFL-friendly infrastructure. "I look at it as an exciting opportunity," Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. "You have a chance to breach a region of the state that you otherwise wouldn’t have the luxury of doing." The Jaguars are scheduled to play 10 home games in 2027, including a preseason exhibition. But not all of those will be played in Orlando; Jacksonville can play up to three home games in London that season. So Orlando is likely to land seven or eight NFL games, including in-state matchups featuring Tampa Bay at Jacksonville and Miami at Jacksonville. The Jaguars announced plans in February to play consecutive home games in London this fall, with ongoing construction reducing capacity at EverBank Stadium to 42,507 for the 2026 season. The timing is far from ideal. The Jaguars are coming off a 13-4 season in which they won the AFC South in the first year of a new regime that features Gladstone and coach Liam Coen. Now, they essentially have to go two years without much of a home-field advantage. "Hard for me to comment that far into the future," Coen said. "I can’t go there. The only thing I can say is that I’ve been there. I coached there when I was at Kentucky; we coached at Camping World. "I think it will be a cool thing because your average football fan is in Disney a lot. And so I do think it could be a way to connect with a new fan base. Are there going to be challenges and stressors and things that we have to work through? Absolutely. But I do think generally for our brand and for Jacksonville Jaguars football, I don’t think it’s going to kill us." For Orlando, hosting the Jaguars — even as a one-year rental — provides the city a chance to showcase its capabilities. After all, Orlando is the largest U.S. media market without an NFL team and has the infrastructure (major airport, hotels, restaurants, nightlife) to handle big events. Reporting by The Associated Press.

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