Could you imagine what the 2026 NFL Draft would look like if all college football players were eligible to be picked? Would Arch Manning be the first quarterback taken? Would the Las Vegas Raiders dare to make Jeremiah Smith the No. 1 overall pick? Well, there’s no need for you to imagine, because we’re going to find the answers to those questions in our All-College Football Mock Draft. The premise is simple: Every player who played in college football this past season is eligible to be selected in the NFL Draft. So, stars like Smith wouldn’t have to wait another year to enter the NFL. Let’s take a look at how I think the first round would play out in our All-College Football Mock Draft. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana We know the Raiders still need a quarterback in this exercise. But is there a quarterback who played in college last year you’d take over Mendoza? The answer’s no. You would still take Mendoza at No. 1 in this. It might be tempting to go with a guy like Arch Manning — could you imagine Tom Brady drafting a Manning? It’s a fascinating discussion, but Mendoza should still be the pick. 2. New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon The Jets also need a quarterback, and the discussion here would be between Moore and Manning. If you watched the tape, Moore was the better player of the two last season. I think he would win out in the evaluation process as a result. Even this year, when Moore was making his decision whether to enter the draft or not, he was the consensus No. 2 quarterback to Mendoza. Moore’s an elite talent and can further boost his draft stock in 2026. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, Texas The Cardinals also need a quarterback, and luckily for them, this exercise provides them with plenty of talented quarterback options. It would be hard to pass up on Manning with the third pick here, even with the struggles he had early last season. His traits are just too tantalizing at this point, and he’s a Manning. If you’re the owner of the Cardinals, aren’t you sitting there and thinking, "He adds value to our organization immediately." I also think that as Manning gains experience, he’ll become an even better player. Arch didn’t have the best season in 2025, but he improved as the year went along and the upside is still high. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Don’t the Titans need the best offensive player available? That’s what Smith would be at this point in the draft. The Titans get to give quarterback Cam Ward the best threat possible in this hypothetical. Even though Smith still has another year to play in college, I think he’s going to immediately be one of the best receivers in the NFL the moment he enters the league. I think he can also be one of the better receivers we’ve had this generation. 5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame The Giants can finally get their Saquon Barkley replacement. I really love this idea, though, for head coach John Harbaugh, who you know wants to establish the run game. Cam Skattebo might not be the longterm answer for the Giants at running back, especially after that gruesome ankle injury. But pairing Love with quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers as the centerpieces of your offense for the future is a really exciting idea. 6. Cleveland Browns: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU The Browns have a glaring need at left tackle, but even in this exercise, there isn’t a prototypical left tackle prospect that you would put in this spot. I had the Browns taking Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling in my most recent mock draft, which some might view as a reach. But Seaton’s play has gone a bit under the radar. He was really good as a pass blocker at Colorado the last two years before transferring to LSU this offseason. 7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State There are a lot of great wide receivers the Commanders could potentially pick from here. I think Tate would be the second-best wide receiver in this, so Washington takes him to pair with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Tate was overshadowed a bit because of Jeremiah Smith, but he’s a great route runner who has good length and separation ability. Every Ohio State receiver that enters the NFL produces right away, and I think Washington would take that. 8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC I actually had the Saints taking Lemon in my most recent mock draft because the fit for him in New Orleans with quarterback Tyler Shough was too good to pass on. That’s why I think the Saints should take Lemon at No. 8 in this exercise as well. I love the idea of putting him in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. He’s a magician in space. He had the best feel for space among all college football wide receivers this past season, especially in the interior. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Arvell Reese, edge rusher, Ohio State I know the Chiers need a cornerback, and LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Notre Dame’s Leonard Moore would be strong picks at No. 9. But you could also get one of the best players in this year’s draft class instead. Do you think the Chiefs would pass on Reese at No. 9? Reese could be, and don’t roll your eyes at this, the Chiefs’ next Derrick Thomas with his athleticism and explosion. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech Just like with the Chiefs and Reese, the Bengals get a great edge rusher prospect to fall to them in this exercise. I love Bailey. He was a production monster for the Red Raiders this past season. 11. Miami Dolphins: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State You really think that if the Dolphins could draft anyone in college football that they wouldn’t take a quarterback? They would absolutely take a quarterback. I don’t think Malik Willis is the longterm answer in Miami. Sayin should, at least, be highly considered with this pick. He was the most accurate passer in college football this past season. He’s very smart and throws the ball down the field much better than you would anticipate, even though he’s not the biggest guy on the field. I know he didn’t play great down the stretch, but Ohio State’s offensive line was a sieve in front of him, particularly against Indiana and Miami (Fla.). 12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State The Cowboys have got to fix their pass defense. Just like in my regular mock draft, arguably the best defensive player available drops to the Cowboys at No. 12. Downs’ size might make him fall to No. 12 in this exercise and in the real draft, but I don’t think the Cowboys would pass up on him, at least they shouldn’t. They had too many problems stopping the pass last season, and Downs makes you better everywhere. This is a guy who makes you better right away. He’s the smartest defensive player that I’ve covered in my college football broadcasting career. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Styles has rocketed up draft boards after arguably having the best combine performance ever. He’s a great leader with tremendous intangibles. He’s also got some versatility, making the move from safety to off-ball linebacker during his time at Ohio State. He can defend the pass and he’s a great run stuffer. He fits what the Rams need as they look to make a Super Bowl push. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Dylan Stewart, edge rusher, South Carolina This is where it gets a bit interesting because I’m going to have a lot of guys who are still in college starting to come off the board. Even after signing Trey Hendrickson, the Ravens could still use some pass-rushing help. So, if I’m Baltimore, I’m saying, "Sign me up for Stewart." He was a freshman All-American in 2024 and backed that up with a really solid campaign in 2025. I think he’s going to be one of the top picks in the 2027 draft. He’s a really good player. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Colin Simmons, edge rusher, Texas The Buccaneers also need an edge rusher, and this exercise provides a lot of depth at that position. Simmons has really high upside. He’s a pure pass rusher who can impact the game right away. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Cam Coleman, WR, Texas The Jets got their quarterback at No. 2. Now, it’s time to give Dante Moore some help. So, why not go with Coleman? He’s an elite player. When he came out of high school, everyone was talking about how good he and Jeremiah Smith could be in college. Coleman wasn’t able to shine as much, though, because of Auburn’s struggles at quarterback. Physically, Coleman has all the tools and will be catching balls from Arch Manning this upcoming season. I think he can have a really great 2026 season and possibly be a top six or seven pick in the 2027 draft. 17. Detroit Lions: Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame Minnesota could use some help at multiple positions on its defense. Moore can solidify the outside of its defense, and I think he’s the top candidate for the Thorpe Award entering the 2026 season. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Bryce Young could use some help, and the Panthers have an option to help alleviate some of the pressure off their young quarterback’s shoulders in the red zone with this pick. Sadiq is a game-changing tight end in the middle of the field and would be paired with Tetairoa McMillan, who is a really good outside wide receiver. But Sadiq would really help provide some balance to Carolina’s offense with his elite blocking ability. 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Delane is my top cornerback in the 2026 draft, so this would give the Cowboys great value at a position of need. Downs and Delane would really fix that pass defense. Jerry Jones would be all for the all-college football draft. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss Is anyone else tired of waiting around for Aaron Rodgers? I’m sure the Steelers are. Don’t you want a longterm situation at quarterback? I love Chambliss and his mentality and leadership. In the face of adversity with Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss right before the College Football Playoff, Chambliss played so well. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Remember, he transferred to Ole Miss last season after spending time at Ferris State. If he has another year like he did a year ago, his draft stock will only continue to rise. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State The Chargers need help on the interior of their offensive line, and Ioane was the best interior offensive lineman in college football last season. Jim Harbaugh loves players like Ioane, who is versatile, can play different positions and can even motion pre-snap. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) The Eagles have to prepare for life after Lane Johnson at some point, right? Well, they have the opportunity to take the player who I think is the top offensive tackle in this year’s draft with this pick. If the Eagles could do this, general manager Howie Roseman would run to get the pick in. I love Mauigoa as a run blocker. I think he’ll continue to develop and get better as a pass blocker. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (Fla.) We had the Browns filling their left tackle need earlier in this draft. Now, I think they have to add another offensive threat for second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders. This actually might be my favorite pick in this draft because Toney is an unreal talent. He nearly had one of the most incredible catches I’ve ever seen in Miami’s CFP win over Ole Miss. But the Hurricanes were really creative with how they used Toney as a freshman this past season. They tried to get him the football in different ways, especially when they needed to get the offense out of the mud. 25. Chicago Bears: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma Stone might be the top defensive tackle in next year’s draft. I’m not as impressed by the defensive tackles in this year’s class as I am with Stone, who has been a monster for Brent Venables’ defense. He’s only getting better. He was a big reason why the Sooners were one of the three best defenses in college football this past season. 26. Buffalo Bills: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia I actually had the Bills taking a safety with their first-round pick in my most recent mock draft, something that I think new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard might be pushing for. Bolden’s outstanding and has already played a ton of football as he enters his junior season for a program with a lot of NFL talent on defense. He’s got really high upside. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia This is a great example of how fit matters. I have Freeling as the top left tackle in this year’s draft, but he might be a reach to pick in the top 10, which is where I had him going in my most recent mock draft. However, Freeling being selected at No. 27 would be more appropriate and the 49ers can start to prepare for the longterm outlook of their offensive line. He can take over that left tackle spot at some point for the 49ers. 28. Houston Texans: Spener Fano, OT, Utah Fano has position versatility that the Texans could use to improve their offensive line. He can play offensive tackle or guard. More importantly, this would be a great value pick as I had Fano going in the first half of the first round in my most recent mock draft. 29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams): Ellis Robinson, CB, Georgia The Chiefs use the pick they got in the Trent McDuffie trade to replace him with another cornerback. Robinson was the No. 1 overall recruit out of high school before being named second-team All-SEC as a redshirt freshman last year. I think he’s got tremendous upside, giving Kansas City a second player with elite potential in this draft after selecting Arvell Reese. 30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos): Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn The Dolphins need help everywhere, so they have to go with the best player available with this pick. Faulk would be that player here. Faulk checks a lot of boxes. He’s got good length and athleticism and I think he might have an even better NFL career than what he showed at Auburn. 31. New England Patriots: Brandon Baker, OT, Texas It was apparent that the Patriots needed some offensive line help in the Super Bowl. Baker is a heck of a player and I remember seeing him during spring football early in his college career and I thought he would be an outstanding player for a long time. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri Kenneth Walker was vital to what the Seahawks did offensively. I really liked what Hardy did at Missouri this past season, leading the Power 4 in rushing yards with 1,650 yards. He forced 97 missed tackles as well, which also led the Power 4. Hardy’s in the same mold as Walker as a running back, which would be a good addition for the Seahawks at No. 32.
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Monday, 23 March 2026
Sound Smart: 6 Observations on the Latest NFL Moves
The NFL never sleeps, not even in March amid free agency's doldrums and still a month away from the draft. Last week, the Denver Broncos traded a first-round pick (and more) to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Kansas City Chiefs traded with the New York Jets for QB Justin Fields. And the Dallas Cowboys, usually one of the NFL's loudest teams, have been suspiciously quiet. We also saw current and former NFL players fall hard to a group of all-star flag football players. That’s what we saw at the surface level. This is "Sound Smart," where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what's happening this NFL offseason. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW With the Jaylen Waddle trade, the Broncos got outstanding (hidden) value. But what do the Dolphins know that we don’t? For the Broncos, this is the perfect trade. There aren’t many offenses that fit Waddle better than what Sean Payton runs. The Broncos have been seeking a Waddle-type receiver — the kind of set-it-and-forget-it outside burner who will consistently beat man coverage downfield. (And that’s hardly the only thing he does well.) Denver receivers Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. haven’t gotten it done in that role, not even alongside the most underrated possession receiver in the NFL: Courtland Sutton. I’d be curious to see what becomes of the tight end position — whether the Broncos find a way to address that role in the draft or whether one of their veterans can step up. I could see them drafting a mid-round tight end (assuming Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq isn’t within striking distance in Round 1) and a mid-round running back to see if they can find a rookie upgrade. But the Denver offense is getting increasingly more dangerous, and it was already dang good last season. For Miami, the move makes a little bit of sense, in a cold and calculated way. For a team that’s clearly eyeing a rebuild, the Dolphins apparently didn’t feel they could take on the risks of holding onto Waddle, 27, for a year too long — with the worry that, by the time the team is competitive, he’s not an elite threat anymore. But I don’t think this is as perfect for Miami as it is for Denver. And that’s because Waddle is a proven entity, which the Dolphins will not be getting at 31st overall or at 94th overall (in the third round). To complicate matters more, the 2026 draft is lacking in star power. And while we’ve said that in years past, it’s truer than ever. That 31st overall pick is going to get the Dolphins a second-round prospect, given the weakness of this draft class. So on paper, Miami got the value they probably wanted, but when we see those players, I’m dubious that the Dolphins will be pleased with the results. The other issue is that this is clearly not what’s best for Miami's new quarterback, Malik Willis. He’s set to turn 27 before the 2026 season, and while the team's offensive line isn’t a disaster, the QB has no one of relevance to throw to outside of RB De’Von Achane. I’m more than a little confused about why the Dolphins signed Willis. They could have added a budget option like Geno Smith. They could’ve just hung in there with Tua Tagovailoa for one more year. There were options that wouldn’t have had them investing in Wills for three years and $67.5 million. Maybe the Dolphins have big plans: drafting USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 11 overall and signing a cheap(ish) but reliable veteran such as Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel or Keenan Allen. But right now, the Willis signing — a two-year deal — seems to be on a different timeline than the rest of their moves. What do they have up their sleeves? Is this situation as rough as it looks? Or do they know something we don't? 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY The Team USA flag football team made it clear that NFL athletes might not make the Olympic national team. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Saquon Barkley, Jayden Daniels and other elite NFL athletes would represent the U.S. in flag football at the 2028 L.A. Olympics. But after what we saw on Saturday at the Fanatics "Flag Football Classic," I'm not so sure that there will be many NFL players on Team USA. At the Fanatics event, the pro flag football players went undefeated against two teams made up of current and former NFL players. The aggregate score: 106-44. The flag players put on a show. But … there are some important pieces of context. Receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Odell Beckham Jr. were out there. Tom Brady was out there. So was newly-elected Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly. Some of those veteran or retired NFL players were misfits stylistically for flag football, a game best suited to agile, smaller, explosive players. (That was why Barkley, a power-based back, wasn't all that useful either.) The pro flag players no doubt wanted to prove their value against the NFL stars, who no doubt wanted to win but also wanted to make sure they didn't get hurt. And finally, the NFL players were new to these rules and could train to improve their skills. Would they? I don't know. But they are such incredible athletes that there's no doubt they could drill away at some of the key differences in the two games. Now that we've acknowledged all that, these games showed that it's a real risk to pick an NFL pro over a flag pro, particularly on defense. The bottom line is that the pro flag players dominated the likes of Daniels, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. There was such a clear advantage for the flag players, masters of their own game (which was far less transferable than anyone in the NFL community anticipated). It would be humbling for NFL players to get an invite to Olympic Trials for flag football, particularly if they genuinely weren't sure if they could beat out the flag football pros. But that might be what gets the best on-field product for the Olympics — a tryout that mixes players from both games to create the most impressive and dominant unit. But that begs the question: Would any NFL players show up to a tryout? It's going to be a complicated selection process. 3. WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS AFRAID TO SAY Justin Fields is back! He's a Chief — and what a fascinating match between team and quarterback. But first, let’s go back to the QB's days in Pittsburgh. In 10 games in 2024, including six starts, Fields showed serious promise, playing within the system and without recklessness. His immense tools were on display, but there weren’t many situations where he tried to do too much. In other words, it was a great situation for him. The Jets were the opposite. It was just a brutally obvious place for Fields to regress, with the organization dragging him down — perhaps further than where he was in Chicago. Field’s trip to New York was yet another reminder that young quarterbacks should not — under any circumstances — choose to go to the Jets, particularly not if their development is at a fragile stage. But Fields will get another shot in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes might be the ultimate competitor, but even he might not be able to get back on the field for Week 1 after his ACL tear in December. This is a legitimately good opportunity for Fields. As bad as the Chiefs' offense was in 2025, they’re clearly invested in improving it in 2026, with former Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker joining the team as a free agent. There has always been a disparity between Field’s top-end skill and Fields’ consistency in playing the QB position. If anyone can help him bridge that gap, it’s Andy Reid and his staff. If Fields can get back on track in 2026, we are seeing teams give quarterbacks a second chance to start, particularly when they prove themselves as professionals and QB2s. Fields just landed in an ideal spot to — again — rehabilitate his game film. And with a few games to start at the beginning of the season, Fields can keep his dreams alive as a potential starter. 4. WHAT I’M HEARING 5. OFFSEASON ODDITY Has anyone heard from the Cowboys in a while? It’s been an offseason custom for Dallas and owner Jerry Jones to make major headlines in one way or another. But this offseason hasn’t been like that. And that’s despite them having the most highly-coveted pending free agent, All-Pro receiver George Pickens, whom the team tagged to retain. That should have led to ongoing contract talks, but it’s been mostly quiet. The Cowboys traded a 2027 fourth-rounder for Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (rather than make a much larger trade for someone like Maxx Crosby) to hold down the edge. Dallas also signed defensive players in safety Jalen Thompson, DT Otito Ogbonnia, and cornerback Cobie Durant. Gary and Thompson are likely starters and Durant and Ogbonnia are solid contributors. None of those players is likely to transform the defense to the level that the team needs. To the Cowboys' credit, they haven’t done anything careless. But of course, there's still time. Dallas has two first-round picks and four picks inside the top 112 picks for 2026. The Cowboys have serious firepower to add more talent in the draft, hopefully more on defense. And of course, there are talented — albeit aging — defensive players on the free agency market. But it’s surprising that Thompson and Gary are the Cowboys’ biggest splashes. We already knew draft night would be huge for the Cowboys. Knowing them, it'll probably be fireworks. 6. WHAT IF … Malik Willis had signed with basically anyone other than the Dolphins. It’s unclear what other teams were in the hunt for Willis. (Maybe it was really just Miami.) But we have yet to see the Dolphins work to set up Willis for success. In fact, their fire sale could end up doing the opposite. Given what I just wrote about Fields, I worry about a similar outcome for Willis. It’s a deeply comparable situation, with Aaron Glenn (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Lions to take over the Jets — much like Jeff Hafley (a defensive-minded coach) leaving the Packers to take over the Dolphins. When Hafley signed Willis, I thought the Dolphins might have a plan to honor the QB’s development. But that developmental trajectory is now looking murky. Which is why I’m wondering… What if he’d signed with the Arizona Cardinals? What if he’d signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers? In either place, he’d have an offensive-minded head coach with at least two pass-catchers who have a track record of outstanding production. The Steelers' offensive line is substantially better than the Cardinals'. (And I suspect new Steelers boss Mike McCarthy will be a substantially better coach than new Cardinals boss Mike LaFleur in 2026.) But in my mind, both cities would have been a better place for Willis to sign and develop at a healthier pace and trajectory than he currently projects in Miami. Willis had only 28 high-difficulty dropbacks during his time at Green Bay, when you take out the quick game and the screen passes. He reversed a downward developmental trend that started in Tennessee. But he's not forever safe from regression. I don't trust Miami to protect Willis' development — not with the Dolphins trading Waddle. Here’s hoping that Willis knew what he was doing when he picked the Dolphins. Here’s hoping the Dolphins knew what they were doing when they picked Willis.
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Who Are The NFL's Highest-Paid Players at Each Position?
In the NFL, the bar is always rising. Each offseason, superstars reset the market, altering the salaries that the best players at each respective position expect to receive. Well, we're only a few weeks into the 2026 offseason, and we've already seen a few players become the new highest-paid star at their respective position. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the most recent player to earn that honor, agreeing to a four-year, $168.6 million pact with the Seattle Seahawks. Smith-Njigba joins an illustrious list of players to be the highest-paid player at their respective position. So, who does he join on the All-Highest-Paid-Player-Per-Position Team? Here are the NFL's highest-paid players at each position, per average annual value (AAV), via Spotrac: QB: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys ($60 million AAV) Prescott became the NFL's highest-paid player when he signed his extension on the eve of the Cowboys' Week 1 game against the Browns in 2024. The four-year, $240 million deal was the culmination of an awkward offseason in which Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was wishy-washy about paying Prescott. Prescott earned his long-term deal after the best season of his career in 2023, when he completed a career-high 69.5% of his passes and threw a league-leading 36 touchdowns. RB: Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles ($20.6 million AAV) The value of running backs is constantly being disputed and Barkley did a lot to help his peers, and himself, out. Barkley was rewarded with a two-year, $41 million extension after winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in his first year with the Eagles. The New York Giants didn't want to pay Barkley after six seasons with the team, so the Eagles took advantage of that, scooping him up in free agency in 2024. WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks ($42.15 million AAV) Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase held the honor of being the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history for roughly a year, thanks to a contract that paid him just north of $40 million per season. But Smith-Njigba's memorable 2025 campaign helped him usurp Chase for that honor. Smith-Njigba has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks. Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, leading the league in receiving yards (1,793). His dominant regular season preceded Seattle's run to a Super Bowl title, which saw Smith-Njigba put up a 153-yard performance in the NFC title game. TE: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers ($19.1 million AAV) A few days after the 2025 NFL Draft ended, Kittle agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension with the 49ers. His new deal is worth an average of $19.1 million, surpassing the contract Trey McBride ($19M AAV) signed with the Arizona Cardinals earlier in April of that year. The 31-year-old Kittle is the only remaining player from San Francisco's 2017 draft class, the first with head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. Since the 49ers drafted him in the fifth round that year, Kittle has been one of the top tight ends in the league. In his eight seasons, he's been a dependable receiver and blocker for the Niners offense. He's made an All-Pro team five times and earned six Pro Bowl nods, totaling 595 receptions for 8,008 yards and 52 touchdowns. However, Kittle might be facing his toughest test yet following another injury-plagued season in 2025. He missed time due to a hamstring tear before tearing his Achilles in the playoffs. OT: Laremy Tunsil, Washington Commanders ($30.1 million AAV) Tunsil agreed to a two-year, $60.2 million extension at the start of the 2026 offseason that made him the highest-paid offensive tackle. The 31-year-old took that honor from Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, who signed a five-year, $140.6 million extension in 2024. Tunsil has been one of the game's top offensive tackles since he entered the league in 2016. He's been named a Pro Bowler five times, and was graded as Pro Football Focus' sixth-best offensive tackle in 2025. OG: Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys ($24 million AAV) Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler in his first four years in the league, became the highest-paid guard in the NFL in September when he agreed to a four-year, $96 million extension. He did play at left tackle for a bit, though, in 2025. OC: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs ($18 million AAV) Humphrey has been the NFL's highest-paid center for nearly two years. He signed a four-year, $72 million extension in August 2024. Since then, Humphrey has been named first-team All-Pro twice and became a four-time Pro Bowler through the first five years of his career. DE: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns ($40 million AAV) Garrett was briefly the highest-paid non-quarterback of all-time, signing a contract worth $160 million, including $123.5 million in guarantees, in March 2025. The extension came more than a month after the Browns' star pass-rusher had requested a trade. Cleveland's front office, though, was adamant that Garrett would not be dealt. In the end, both sides came to an agreement to keep him in Ohio. Garret repaid the Browns by setting the single-season sack record in 2025, winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award. DT: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs ($31.75 million AAV) Jones became the highest-paid defensive tackle when he agreed to a five-year, $158.75 million deal to remain in Kansas City during the 2024 offseason. The Chiefs star certainly made a strong claim to earn the title of highest-paid player at his position. The six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro has recorded at least nine sacks in five of the last eight seasons, helping Kansas City win three Super Bowls during that time. Jones had 29 total tackles and seven sacks this past season. While his box score stats might not pop out, Jones led all defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate (20%) and was third in pressures (63) at the position, per PFF. OLB: Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers ($46.5 million AAV) As part of the surprising trade that saw Parsons go from the Cowboys to the Packers in August 2025, the star edge rusher signed a four-year, $186 million extension to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Parsons was the definition of consistency during his time with the Cowboys, racking up over 12 sacks and 40 tackles each season. He continued that in his first year in Green Bay, logging 12.5 sacks and 41 total tackles despite playing just 14 games as an ACL tear sidelined him for the end of the 2025 season. ILB: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers ($21 million AAV) Of the defensive positions, inside linebacker has the cheapest average annual value contract leader. Still, Warner is making a pretty penny. He reached a three-year, $63 million extension ($56 million guaranteed) when he re-signed with the 49ers in May 2025. Warner is one of the longest-tenured 49ers, having played seven seasons with the team since he was drafted in 2018. He is arguably the NFL's best inside linebacker, and if not, he's at least the most consistent. He had been named to three consecutive All-Pro teams before an injury cut his 2025 campaign short. Warner was also the engine of San Francisco's defense during its run to Super Bowl LVIII. He had recorded at least 118 total tackles in each season of his career prior to his injury-shortened 2025 season. While Smith has never led the league in tackles, he's finished in the top 10 five times and has finished in the top five in run stops three times, per PFF. CB: Trent McDuffie, CB, Los Angeles Rams McDuffie became the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL just days after the Rams agreed to give up a first-round pick for the star corner. McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million extension with $100 million guaranteed, taking over the highest-paid cornerback honor from Indianapolis Colts star Sauce Gardner. McDuffie, 25, has been one of the NFL's top cornerbacks since the Chiefs selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He helped Kansas City win back-to-back Super Bowls in his first two seasons and is a two-time All-Pro. Even though McDuffie missed five games in 2025, he was still productive. He allowed 37 receptions on 55 targets for just 342 yards and three touchdowns this past season, per PFF. McDuffie has allowed just 6.6 yards per attempt when targeted in coverage over his career as well, per PFF. S: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens ($25.1 million AAV) Kyle Hamilton's monster 2024 campaign (107 combined tackles, 77 solo tackles) earned him a four-year, $100.4 million extension, with $82 million of that guaranteed. The 25-year-old safety is heading into his fifth year in the NFL, all with the Ravens, and has already been named an All-Pro and Pro Bowler three times in his career. K: Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans ($6.5 million AAV) Fairbairn became the highest-paid kicker in the NFL when he agreed to a two-year, $13 million extension with the Texans earlier this offseason. His 44 made field goals in 2025 were the most ever made by a kicker in a single NFL season. P: Jordan Stout, New York Giants Stout was one of a few members of the Ravens' organization to follow head coach John Harbaugh to the Giants, and he was paid handsomely for doing so. Stout received a three-year, $12.3 million deal at the onset of free agency this offseason. Stout was named first-team All-Pro in 2025, with his 44.9 average net yards per punt leading the league.
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Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba Becomes NFL's Highest-Paid WR, Reportedly Inking $168M Deal
Jaxon Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title in 2025. Now, weeks into the 2026 offseason, the Seattle Seahawks' star is adding a new accolade to his name: highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Smith-Njigba has agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks that includes $120 million in guaranteed money, ESPN reported Monday. The contract will pay Smith-Njigba $42.15 million per year, which is nearly $2 million more per year than what Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase is making ($40.25 million). Chase signed a four-year, $161 million extension last offseason to become the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. The deal for Smith-Njigba came a few days after the team announced that they would be picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. With that move, Smith-Njigba was set to be under contract through the end of the 2027 season. However, he became extension eligible earlier in March, and with other star receivers (like Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams) due for new contracts, Monday's extension allowed the Seahawks to set the market rather than react to it. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, whom the Seahawks took alongside Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 draft, also had his fifth-year option picked up by Seattle recently. Witherspoon can sign an extension this offseason as well. Seattle also extended offensive tackle Charles Cross, its 2022 first-round pick, to a four-year, $104.4 million extension in January as it looks to maintain its core pieces. Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon were both key to the Seahawks' Super Bowl run this past season. Smith-Njigba had 119 receptions for a league-best 1,793 yards in the regular season, adding 10 touchdowns. His postseason wasn't as dominant, but Smith-Njigba had 153 receiving yards in the Seahawks' NFC Championship Game win over the Los Angeles Rams. As for Witherspoon, he had 72 total tackles and an interception this past regular season. On top of that, Witherspoon graded out as Pro Football Focus' top cornerback for the 2025 season. He allowed opposing receivers to get just 409 receiving yards on 59 targets (8.09 yards per target), per PFF, and he could become one of the game's highest-paid corners this offseason. The extension for Smith-Njigba followed the departures of a handful of players from the Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning squad earlier this month. Running back Kenneth Walker III signed a multi-year deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Edge rusher Boye Mafe departed Seattle to sign a three-year, $60 million pact with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cornerback Riq Woolen joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year deal. Seattle was able to keep Rashid Shaheed, though, further stabilizing their wide receiver group as quarterback Sam Darnold looks to have another strong year in 2026. Shaheed re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $51 million deal.
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2026 NFL Draft: Inside Adidas Rookie Pro Day with Fernando Mendoza, Other Top Prospects
PORTLAND, Ore. — At Adidas' North American Headquarters last week, Fernando Mendoza held a cleat in his hands that, uncharacteristically, didn’t have the three diagonal stripes the brand is known for. Not yet. That’s because this shoe is a prototype, still in the design process. Those distinctive stripes will be the finishing touch. But first, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick had a few suggestions. This cleat, after all, is special because of its potential for customization. Adidas uses 3-D printing to empower its innovation lab technicians to make a boutique shoe, in this case one specially made for Mendoza. The innovation lab takes up an entire floor and features a small basketball court, a 40-yard dash track, a batting cage and other spaces for athlete-cleat testing. Mendoza was here for Adidas' first-ever Rookie Pro Day, a promotional event to announce the brand's 2026 signing class. The class also includes a number of other top NFL prospects: defensive linemen Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr., safety Caleb Downs, receivers Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon and KC Concepcion, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. At the event, Mendoza sat with seven members of the Adidas innovation team, including Marc Makowski, SVP of creative direction and innovation. "Could you put extra traction on the cleat here?" Mendoza said, pointing to the inside heel of the right cleat. He demonstrated how he pushes off that back foot during his throwing motion, with that heel often sitting at an angle, akin to a receiver breaking out of a cut. One technician asked: "Would that be weird if you only had the extra traction on the back foot?" "No, I think that would be good," Mendoza replied. The innovation team pulled out a 3-D rendering of Mendoza’s foot. One technician explained that because the QB’s midfoot is a little more advanced than the average person's, the team could use the surface area for the additional points of grip that Mendoza wants. The group also discussed his toe box — and his bunions. And they discussed different plates they could put in for protection and support. "This is awesome," Mendoza said. "This is the perfect solution." For a quarterback who spent the better part of his interviews, including at the NFL Combine, discussing the importance of the "fine details" of the game, this was his sort of meeting. "He’s the perfect face for you," one Adidas employee said. "Innovation, analytical, scientific." It’s hard to argue, particularly if Mendoza can live up to the expectations — not only to be the first-overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, but also to be a franchise quarterback for years to come. After Mendoza left, the seven innovation lab technicians huddled to discuss how they will accommodate the QB's requests. One of them asked: "Should we consider a silver-and-black color scheme?" Yup. In 2024, Adidas went through a similar process with Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze, who was the Bears' first-round pick that year. As a result, the company is now known for locking in wideouts, including the top five prospects this year, according to Rob Rang's big board. Adidas worked with Odunze to develop a shoe that helped him with separation, not just to increase his acceleration out of his cuts but also to improve his deceleration into his cuts. That fueled faster change of direction and, in turn, helped with separation. In the cleat that Adidas designed with Odunze — the "Adizero One Horizon" — the brand reported a 3% improvement in an athlete’s ability to decelerate and a 2% improvement in acceleration. It might not sound like much, but in a league defined as a game of inches, those marginal gains can be huge for a receiver. That’s what made Mendoza’s conversation so compelling. It's possible that he and Adidas will create a unique cleat that one day will appeal to quarterbacks in the way that the Adizero One Horizon will with receivers when it comes out this fall. "I do think customization is something that has a potential future," Aaron Seabron, VP/GM of Adidas' U.S. Sports and Creation Center, told me at the Pro Day. "Because if you think about it, right, the ads on your phone and my phone are different. So I think customization is certainly prevalent in all of our lives, and I think eventually, does that make its way into the product? In time — probably, yeah." To be clear, Adidas isn’t pivoting away from its receiver emphasis. The wideout position is important to the company, and Seabron echoed a statement that multiple Adidas executives mentioned, which was that they were excited to have signed Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith last August and that they hope to retain him when he joins the pro ranks next year. Smith was arguably the best receiver prospect in college football in 2025 despite not being draft-eligible. "We strive to be the fastest brand in football, and we do that by fusing speed and culture," Seabron told me. "If I can think of one position that is truly a speed and culture position, it's wide receiver, right? They're normally the ones that make the biggest plays, the biggest catches, and they're normally some of the biggest personalities on the field. I think our athlete signings reflect who we’re trying to be as a category." At the Pro Day, most members of Adidas’ 2026 signing class had their feet and gates measured. They ran through drills and wore sensors to help the innovation lab's 70 cameras measure their every move. To help with the precision, Adidas has 20 "force plates" embedded into the 40-yard dash track. These force plates are planks in the floor that measure the force and angle at which the players are striking their feet. It’s all designed to deliver a special shoe for Adidas athletes. "They put a lot of detail into [the cleats]," Denzel Boston, who had 20 touchdown catches for Washington the past two seasons, told me. "They discuss what goes into the making of the cleats, when it comes to all the different tests that they do. Not only that, but also the way they design cleats, whether it's to tell a story or it's a collaboration through another brand to tell their story. They're very detail-oriented in both those spaces." Most of the athletes wanted to undergo extensive testing before they pick a shoe to wear during their rookie NFL seasons. And of course, the color scheme could change on April 23, when they hear their names called on draft day. But while they focus on footwear, the athletes spoke highly of Adidas’ overall presentation at the Pro Day. "I haven't seen anything like that before," Arvell Reese, Ohio State's All-American linebacker, told me. "It was a surprise seeing all the tech. "It’s next level."
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Saturday, 21 March 2026
4 Takeaways From Fanatics Flag Football Classic: USA Football Dominates the Pros
BMO Stadium (Los Angeles) – Put some respect on his name. USA Football player Darrell Doucette spoke for the rest of his teammates after manhandling some of the best NFL players in the game, winning the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Championship on Saturday. An emotional and teary-eyed Doucette was thankful for the opportunity for his team to highlight their skills, letting the world know what they do is much different than the tackle football being played on Sundays. "Those guys that we competed against, they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into," Doucette said. "They just thought that they were going to come out and play. But I think we gained a lot of respect from those guys. "Of course, we are fans of those guys. We love just being in their presence, not necessarily competing against them, but being in their presence and them accepting us. They gave us a lot of respect and a lot of credit." USA Football's cat-quick, shifty athletes routinely slid past their NFL counterparts, as the more experienced national team players dominated play on Saturday, finishing 3-0 in the round-robin tournament. Here are my takeaways: 1. Yep, Tom Brady can still play On the opening drive of the game, Brady engineered his most impressive two-play sequence on the day. Brady evaded a would-be pass rusher who attempted to grab his flag by side-stepping him to the left, then delivering a dart to the back of the end zone to Stefon Diggs. Brady followed that up by finding his security blanket in the pros, connecting with tight end Rob Gronkowski for the two-point version as Team Founder took an 8-0 lead to start the game against USA Football. It was short-lived, though, as USA Football marched down the field to tie the game en route to a runaway victory over Brady’s hand-picked team. The seven-time Super Bowl champion finished 8-of-12 for 61 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions, while his team finished 0-2 on the day. While the NFL players struggled, Brady said not to rule out the possibility of elite athletes from the highest level of football learning the flag football game over the next two years to make their way onto the USA Football team by the Olympics. "There’s going to be a selection process, and may the best people play," Brady said. "That’s the best thing about team sports, it’s a meritocracy. Whoever gives the team the best opportunity to win, that’s who should be out there. There’s a long way from that happening, a couple years. "But I think it’s just good for NFL players to see what this is all about. The NFL players are great athletes. We were literally learning how to take flags off two days ago. Those guys did a great job. I don’t want to take anything away from them. But there’s certainly a long way to go before the selection process happens." 2. USA Football is the clear winner The USA Football team accomplished its goal of proving it can compete against the NFL-level talent that was on the field opposite it on Saturday. More experienced and practiced in playing flag football, that wizardry showed as NFL players were routinely fooled schematically or just could not catch the smaller, quicker players on USA Football on the smaller field in open space. It was surprising to see elite NFL athletes struggle to keep up with the USA Football team, which makes you wonder how the selection process will be handled two years from now for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "With that 5-vs-5 field, it’s not as big as a natural football field," Doucette said. "You can’t get into the deep balls like they’re accustomed to. A 40-yard dash doesn’t mean anything. It’s 50 yards. You’re only going to run 40 yards when you run down the field to the end zone. So, a 40 doesn’t matter. "It’s all about being able to be a little twitchy or quicker. But we just wanted to showcase our talents. And those guys respected us. They treated us great all week, and it’s been a blessing." 3. Odell Beckham Jr. is still that dude The LSU product sat out last season and served a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 33-year-old receiver certainly looked like he could help an NFL team during the flag football event, though, finishing with a handful of spectacular catches, including a one-handed grab over two USA Football defenders in the back of the end zone for a score. USA Football head coach Jorge Cascudo took notice, pointing to Beckham as an NFL player who could successfully make the transition to his team. "Odell’s a great athlete," Cascudo said. "He made an excellent catch in our game, and I was like, ‘Whoa. There’s a spot whenever you’re interested. Come talk to me. We’ll put you in trials and come compete.'" 4. NFL players face a steep learning curve in flag football Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly understands NFL players have an uphill climb to learn the flag football game and compete for a spot on the USA Flag Football team. Bulkier players like Kuechly are not built for the short-area quickness required to make plays on the smaller flag football field. "Me and Logan (Paul), were not built for this type of game," Kuechly said. "I think when you look at it, you build it with corner and nickels (defenders) on the defensive side of the ball. And then fast, skilled guys on the other side of the ball. "It was a tremendous opportunity for me to play. I loved it. The fellowship, camaraderie and the opportunity to put cleats on again was great. … But it feels like a nickels and corners game on the defensive side of the ball."
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Big Picture: Tom Brady Feels 'Great' in Return for Fanatics Flag Football Classic
LOS ANGELES – For Tom Brady, throwing the football is like riding a bike – something perfected over time that never leaves your muscle memory. And during practice for Saturday’s inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, it certainly looked like Brady had spent some time working and preparing for his return to competitive play. "I feel great," Brady said, when I asked what kind of shape he was in. "Fortunately, as an athlete your body is your asset over a period of time and you learn how to take care of it. Even when you retire, I felt like I still wanted to do the same things after football when I was playing. I still want to be active. I want to be outside. I want to continue to live a healthy, active lifestyle. "And I learned a lot of good, healthy habits over the course of a 23-year career. So, it’s basically been the same. I ran and I threw a little bit. I’ve thrown more over the last three months than I’ve had over a period of time. But there’s no feeling like going out there and throwing a football, and to watch it go exactly where you want. I don’t think that feeling will ever get old." Brady was the headliner of the three-team flag football event at BMO stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday. Loaded with current and former NFL stars, the three-team tournament featured Team Founders and Team Wildcats as well as Team USA, the reigning world champion in flag football. The game followed modified Olympic-style flag football rules, featuring two, 15-minute halves with a running clock on a 50-by-25-yard field. All three teams met in a round-robin tournament, with the top two teams advancing to the championship. Brady’s Founders were beaten by Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow’s Wildcats, as well as Team USA. Those two other teams faced off for the championship on Saturday night. While the 48-year-old seven-time Super Bowl champ looked like he could still lace him up, Brady dispelled speculation that he was interested in playing for Team USA Football in the upcoming Olympics set for Los Angeles in 2028. "I would love to play some role in USA flag football, but it won’t be on the field," Brady said. However, other current players, like Burrow, were looking forward to earning a chance to play on Team USA Football and represent their country in the Olympics. "The Super Bowl is obviously the pinnacle of what we do," Burrow said. "Tom brought up being an ambassador for the game and for the league. And that’s something I take very seriously. And I think the league tries to reward people that go out of their way to help in that context. "I’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics. I never necessarily played in an Olympic sport before. So, when this got announced, I was pretty excited about it. The opportunity to win a gold medal is something I’ve thought about an opportunity like that for a long time as a kid. And I think it would be something that’s very special." Of course, Burrow will have to compete for one of those spots against current players on USA Football like quarterback Darrell Doucette, whose team haven’t lost an International Federation of American Football (IFAF) tournament since 2018. Doucette said he appreciates the respect elite NFL players like Burrow has shown him and his teammates this week, but also understands Saturday is a prime opportunity to show that he and his teammates can compete with the best athletes in the world. And that means keeping things close to the vest when it comes to scheme. "We give them little things like rules, but we’re not going to give them strategies," joked Doucette. "There’s too much on the line. We’re not going to give them any secrets." Doucette did lead Team USA to a 2-0 record on Saturday in round-robin play, impressively beating both teams full of NFL stars. While he’s looking forward to taking the field again, Brady said the overarching goal is to bring more attention to one of the fastest growing sports in the country in flag football, with the Olympics two years away. "For me, it’s seeing some of the best athletes in the world try something different," Brady said. "Some of the skill sets are similar, but the rules are quite a bit different. But really, it’s a great gauge for all these players, and the players that will be playing in L.A. in 2028 to see where we’re at, and what we need to do in the next two years."
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