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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Jackpot! Las Vegas Named Host of Super Bowl LXIII in 2029

The Entertainment Capital of the World will host one of the premier events in all of sports for the second time in just six years. Super Bowl LXIII will take place at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium in 2029, the NFL announced Monday. Allegiant Stadium, which is the Las Vegas Raiders' home stadium, was expected to be named the host stadium for Super Bowl LXIII, with team owners voting to approve Las Vegas as the host city of the event at this week's owners meeting. The stadium hosted its first Super Bowl in February 2024, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. "We're excited to bring the Super Bowl back to Las Vegas and provide our fans another incredible experience in one of America's greatest sport and entertainment destinations," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Monday. "Super Bowl LVIII demonstrated the scale, energy and hospitality the city brings to global events, and we look forward to working alongside the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Raiders and the community to deliver an even greater experience this time around." "We're excited that the Super Bowl will be returning to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium in 2029," Raiders owner Mark Davis added in the statement. "It's a testament to the Raiders, the LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority), civic leaders, the community, and the NFL working together as one. Super Bowl LVIII set a high bar, and for Super Bowl LXIII we are committed to raising it even further." The NFL's decision to award Allegiant Stadium a second Super Bowl in six years marks a somewhat recent trend of cities playing host to multiple Super Bowls in a relatively short span. It will also be the sixth time in eight years that a Super Bowl will be played in California, Arizona or Nevada. Super Bowl LX was played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this past February after hosting the event 10 years prior. Super Bowl LXI will be played in Los Angeles in February 2027, which will be five years after SoFi Stadium hosted its first Super Bowl. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host Super Bowl LXII in February 2028. That'll mark the first Super Bowl played in the Eastern Time Zone since February 2021. However, Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosted the Super Bowl in February 2019. Allegiant Stadium opened in 2020, but it has quickly become one of the top venues to host some of the nation's biggest events. In addition to hosting two Super Bowls, Allegiant Stadium will host the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2027 and the Final Four of the men's college basketball tournament in April 2028. The stadium also hosted WrestleMania 41 in April 2025 and will play home to WrestleMania 42 in April.

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Packers HC Matt LaFleur Responds to His NFLPA Grade: 'You Can't Please Everybody'

PHOENIX — In late January, Matt LaFleur received a major nod of approval from the Green Bay Packers in the form of a contract extension. That solidified his position in the organization, likely for years to come. But then came the annual NFLPA player survey, which complicated the picture slightly. The report, which was not supposed to be public this year but leaked through multiple media outlets, revealed that players gave him a B- grade, tied for third-worst in the NFL. That’s after LaFleur received an A- grade after the 2024 season. This year, it came down to "respect for players," per the report. At the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix on Monday, LaFleur, who's entering his eighth season with Green Bay, discussed how he’s handling the assessment of his coaching. "I try to take that with a grain of salt, but you don’t want to just dismiss that stuff. You got to look into it," he told reporters. "I feel pretty confident with my conversations with the majority of our players, but certainly some guys felt a certain type of way. And the one thing I've learned in this business is: You can't please everybody. You can't be all things to all people. And ultimately, you got to make decisions that you feel are in the best interest of your football team. "Great leaders are great listeners, but that doesn't mean we're always going to do what that person suggests. It's impossible." The Packers traded for All-Pro edge Micah Parsons at the beginning of the season in a blockbuster deal with Dallas that made them look like a Super Bowl front-runner. But Parsons suffered a knee injury in December and the Packers' defense looked thin without him. It didn’t help that the offensive line suffered injuries and underperformed. And Green Bay lost its final five games of the season, including its wild-card matchup against the rival Chicago Bears. "If I'm being honest about it, I think there were some guys that were upset about roles last year, and I think that took a toll on our football team," LaFleur said. The late-season issues increased speculation that, perhaps, LaFleur might not receive an extension. And the losing streak probably didn’t help with morale in the locker room. He was asked, specifically, about comments in the survey regarding his "respect for players." "I don't feel that way, but unfortunately, some guys did," LaFleur said. "And so that tells me I got to do a better job of communicating. And it goes back to the relationship piece. I think it's so critical. We always talk about, ‘Connected teams are powerful teams.’ And we've got to grow that connection. "So certainly, that's been a topic of conversation within our building. How do we get these guys a little closer? The more they know each other, the more they're going to battle for one another. Although they may be competing within a certain position, they're going to help each other grow and ultimately be better individual players, which should help our collective football team." LaFleur and the Packers didn’t have any blockbuster acquisitions over the offseason, instead bringing in a group of role players — and trading veteran edge Rashan Gary to Dallas for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Green Bay largely stuck with last season's core. As a result, the Packers must feel optimistic they can recreate the way they started their 2025 season, going 9-3-1 in their first 12 games. In a way, that's yet another nod of confidence in LaFleur to generate better results with the same ingredients.

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: Every First-Round Pick Gets Traded!

In a public response to a recent proposal by the Cleveland Browns to allow NFL teams the ability to trade draft picks five years out, Los Angeles Rams president Kevin Demoff wrote on social media, "Nothing creates more interest in the NFL than trades… More picks to trade = more trades = more interest and team-building options." We took those words to heart in this mock draft, projecting trades for every pick of the first round. Not all these trades will occur, obviously. But this exercise is intended to demonstrate which teams have the draft capital to be aggressive and which fan bases should be fully expecting their favorite clubs to trade down, rather than stick and pick. FIRST ROUND 1. New York Jets (from Raiders): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana To be clear, I don’t think there is any way the Raiders trade the No. 1 overall pick. They currently have just one QB on their roster (Aidan O’Connell) and a huge part of their recruitment of new head coach Klint Kubiak was surely the opportunity to select Mendoza, a terrific fit for his offense. However, the Jets have the assets necessary to tempt the Raiders and their actions this offseason — including the Nos. 2, 16 and 44 picks in this draft. Moreover, their decision to retain Breece Hall, sign veteran LB Demario Davis and trade for both Geno Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick speak to the urgency GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn are operating with to save their jobs. Mendoza has the talent and intangibles to handle the unique pressure of playing in the country’s largest media market, and he wouldn’t be forced onto the field early with Smith already on the roster. 2. Las Vegas Raiders (from Jets): Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State The Jets would have to pay plenty to move up to the first pick for Mendoza. While I’m still not convinced the Raiders would do it, if they liked any other quarterbacks in this class, the possibility exists. Reese’s ability to play both off-ball linebacker and attack off the edge opposite Maxx Crosby is certainly intriguing, especially given his ability to spy the mobile quarterbacks of the AFC West. 3. Washington Commanders (from Cardinals): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame If the Commanders are really serious about protecting Jayden Daniels, they’ll insulate him with a dynamic runner and won’t risk losing the opportunity to draft him by waiting until they are on the clock at No. 7 overall. With just six draft picks in 2026 (including no second-round selection), Washington would have to be bold, indeed, to make this move, likely having to trade not only this year’s first round pick but next year’s, as well. 4. Kansas City Chiefs (from Titans): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Jumping from the No. 9 selection to No. 4 overall would likely cost the Chiefs at least their third- (No. 74) and fourth-round (No. 109) picks this year, but adding a difference-maker like Styles would be worth it. The Chiefs need to find a new star to build a reshuffled defense around, and with the dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the AFC West, the speedy Styles would be an excellent choice. 5. Miami Dolphins (from Giants): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The Dolphins are looking for new playmakers after an offseason in which longtime stalwarts Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle (and Tyreek Hill) have been cast aside. New QB1 Malik Willis has little chance at success if the Dolphins don’t give him some weapons. With an NFL-best seven picks among the top 94 — beginning with the No. 11 pick — and 11 overall, Miami has the draft capital needed to be aggressive. 6. Dallas Cowboys (from Browns): David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech Jerry Jones is perennially in win-now mode, but with longtime NFC East rival Washington making the splashy trade up to secure star running back Jeremiyah Love a few picks earlier, the Cowboys may react even more aggressively. It might cost the Cowboys both of their first0round picks in the 2026 draft (Nos. 12 and No. 20) to secure the best pass-rusher in this class, but boosting a rush that finished last season tied for 28th in the NFL should be a top priority. 7. Arizona Cardinals (from Commanders): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami New head coach Mike LaFleur inherits a team that finished a distant fourth in the NFL’s top division a year ago. This will not be a one-year rebuild. Adding Washington’s first-round pick in a 2027 draft class that is widely expected to be loaded with QB talent gives LaFleur and general manager Monti Ossenfort plenty of flexibility. For now, adding a bully along the offensive line to help protect that future investment at quarterback makes the most sense. 8. Baltimore Ravens (from Saints): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Delane grew up in Silver Spring, Md., rooting for the Baltimore Ravens, and a bold move up by GM Eric DeCosta to make him the first defensive back drafted in 2026 would undoubtedly be a dream come true for the gifted cornerback. Boosting the secondary could go a long way toward resurrecting Baltimore’s Super Bowl aspirations, making it worth it — at least in my opinion — to consider offering the Saints a couple of middle-round picks (like No. 73 and 136, for example) to do it. 9. Tennessee Titans (from Chiefs): Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami Pairing Bain — the most violent player in this class — with Jeffery Simmons would be just the sort of move that Robert Saleh would push for at No. 4 overall. The short arm concerns, however, could push him down the board and would certainly make the Titans an early "winner" if they were able to add him, as well as a couple of extra mid-round picks, by trading down. 10. Minnesota Vikings (from Bengals): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Some believe that safeties just aren’t valuable enough in today’s NFL to justify a top-10 selection, but I think Downs’ tape over the past three seasons proves that he is the best player in this draft class. If he slips far enough, some savvy team is going to look brilliant. Sign me up for Downs in Brian Flores’ defense. Minnesota might have to give up both of their third-round picks (Nos. 82 and 97) to pull off a trade into the top 10, but as the signing of Kyler Murray proves, the Vikings aren’t afraid of bold action. 11. New York Giants (from Dolphins): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama The Giants would be living up to their name with the addition of the 6-foot-7, 352-pound Proctor, who ranks among the most polarizing prospects in this class. John Harbaugh won with massive offensive lines in Baltimore, and I don’t expect his style to change now. Whether it be at tackle or guard, I believe Proctor projects as a decade-long NFL starter. The Dolphins have four picks in the third round this year. The Giants can net at least two of those to move out of the top 10. 12. Cleveland Browns (from Cowboys): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah The Browns have addressed their offensive line in free agency, but if arguably the most gifted blocker in this class is still on the board after a trade down, they shouldn’t hesitate to take him. With improved blocking and receiving (more on that later), Cleveland can accurately evaluate its young QBs and determine whether Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel is its long-term answer or if it will, again, be heavily scouting next year’s crop. 13. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Rams via Falcons): Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State Pittsburgh is hosting the draft this year, and with a league-high 12 draft picks at his disposal, GM Omar Kahn is well-positioned to make a splash for the home crowd. While a gamble on Alabama QB Ty Simpson would make some Steelers fans happy, an investment in the trenches would seemingly be more Pittsburgh’s style, especially if it was done to steal a local fan favorite from Baltimore, the hated divisional rival picking next (who is also thought to view Ioane highly). The rugged Ioane would be an upgrade over free-agent defection Isaac Seumalo and perhaps offer a comfy enough pocket for Aaron Rodgers to return. Trading away two of the five picks the Steelers currently have between Nos. 76 and 161 overall would probably be enough to convince the Rams it's worth trading back. 14. New Orleans Saints (from Ravens): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon The Saints appear to be moving on from veteran Taysom Hill, and Kellen Moore knows as well as anyone that a playmaking tight end can be a huge help for a young quarterback. Sadiq is a remarkable talent just scratching the surface of his potential. To drop down this far, the Saints can expect at least two middle-round selections from Baltimore, as well as the swap of first-round picks. The extra picks could go a long way in resetting this roster to best fit Moore’s vision. 15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Buccaneers): Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal Howie Roseman has put together one of the NFL’s best rosters, making it unlikely that all nine of this year’s draft picks will make the team. Packaging some of those — or even adding next year’s projected third-round compensatory pick (for Jaelan Phillips) to add a skilled, versatile and hungry playmaker like Lemon would provide the club insurance if things get to a breaking point with A.J. Brown. Lemon is a pinball who could feast on the single coverage he would see should Brown remain flying for the Eagles this fall. 16. Las Vegas Raiders (from Jets via Colts): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington One of the few (only?) reasons why the Raiders might consider trading Mendoza at No. 1 overall is the fact that the team currently lacks proven difference-makers at receiver. Boston has the frame and game to contribute immediately, especially given the one-on-one opportunities he’ll likely see with defenses focused on Vegas’ stellar tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and promising running back Ashton Jeanty. 17. Carolina Panthers (from Lions): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Carolina GM Dan Morgan made a career at middle linebacker anticipating where ballcarriers were headed, and with Thieneman seemingly a perfect fit for the Vikings picking at No. 18 overall (or the Bengals in this scenario), the Panthers might need to trade up to secure his services. The Lions have nine picks but only two of them in the top 117 selections. Carolina might offer their fourth-rounder (#119 overall) as fair compensation for Detroit to move down two spots. 18. Cincinnati Bengals (from Vikings): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee In yet another example of a team receiving extra picks in a trade down and yet still filling a key need, the Bengals should be able to take advantage of this year’s quality cornerback depth while moving out of the top 10. Hood has the pure cover skills and untapped potential the Bengals have long prioritized under Duke Tobin. 19. Detroit Lions (from Panthers): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Like the Bengals a pick earlier, the Lions can add to their draft class — acquiring a 10th pick — and still nab a tackle they understandably could be targeting at No. 17 in Lomu. The precocious 6-foot-6, 313-pound redshirt sophomore might one day prove the best tackle of this class. 20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Browns via Cowboys via Packers): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State The Jaguars refuted offseason reports that 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. was on the trade block. They can deal him here, however, and pounce on an opportunity to reset the position with arguably the most talented pass-catcher of this class. Jacksonville and Cleveland have recent trade history, of course, with the Jags boldly moving up in the 2025 draft to select Travis Hunter. This time, they add a dynamic playmaker to complement Hunter and ship another one who doesn't appear to be in their long-term plans to a franchise desperate for talent at receiver. To complete this trade, Jacksonville would probably have to sweeten the deal with a couple of its 11 draft picks, including three selections in the third round. 21. Los Angeles Rams (from Steelers): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana Speaking of the offseason, the aggressive upgrades at cornerback make it clear that the Rams are all-in on another Super Bowl run, so a trade up might seem more likely than moving back. But with so much salary dedicated to some of their stars, GM Les Snead might be looking for young, cheap talent. While the Rams have seven picks to work with in this draft, four of them are between 207-252. Cooper could feast on the one-on-one matchups he’d see with the Rams and replace the jet-sweep possibilities they lost with Tutu Atwell leaving in free agency. 22. Miami Dolphins (from Chargers): Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson Changes on offense have dominated the Dolphins’ offseason, but there are plenty of concerns on defense, as well. Behind likely top-10 pick Mansoor Delane, Terrell — an NFL legacy — is viewed by some scouts as the safest cornerback of this class. The Dolphins have a league-high four picks in the third round to part with. 23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Eagles): Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn GM Jason Licht has some retooling to do with Mike Evans now playing for the 49ers and Lavonte David officially retiring this week. Faulk is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-6, 276-pound ball of clay whose best football is ahead of him and quite the consolation prize at this point in the draft following a trade down to add to their seven selections. 24. Indianapolis Colts (from Browns via Jaguars): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Colts GM Chris Ballard might have to trade back into the first round, after shipping his initial top pick a year ago to the Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner. It would probably take Indy's second-round pick this year (No. 47) and another Day 2 selection next year to move up this far, but the club would be wise to give young right tackle Jalen Travis quality competition to replace longtime standout Braden Smith. 25. New England Patriots (from Bears): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo The Patriots got an up-close look at Seahawks rising star Nick Emmanwori in the Super Bowl. And given the talent the Pats already have at cornerback, one couldn’t blame general manager Eliot Wolf if he saw McNeil-Warren, who boasts comparable size and athleticism to Emmanwori, as capable of making a similar type of immediate impact on New England's defense. The Pats have 11 draft picks in 2026, and they can be aggressive with them in hopes of returning to the Super Bowl. 26. Houston Texans (from Bills): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State In a case of the rich getting richer, the Texans boost one of the league’s dominant defenses with this year’s top interior lineman. Houston might be able to get McDonald at No. 28 overall, but they shouldn’t balk at giving up a Day 3 pick if it means ensuring they land one of the few nose guards with legitimate pass rush ability. 27. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State Packaging the No. 29 overall selection acquired in the deal with the Los Angeles Rams that sent cornerback Trent McDuffie to the NFC, the Chiefs boldly move up to land a similarly smooth cover-corner in Johnson, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. 28. Buffalo Bills (from Texans): Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M The Bills must add pass-rushers, and Howell is among the elite QB hunters of this draft class. He lacks the frame some teams require at the position, but his burst and bend off the edge could make him a 10-plus sack artist in the NFL. In this scenario, the Bills likely could pry pick No. 141 — the first pick of the fifth round — from Houston to move down two spots. 29. San Francisco 49ers (from Chiefs via Rams): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M Even after the signings of veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, the 49ers have been kicking the tires on several wideouts expected to be drafted in the first round. San Francisco knows all too well the impact that Rashid Shaheed had for the Seahawks a year ago. Concepcion is a similar brand of playmaker in the receiving, running and return game. The 49ers should be able to get at least Kansas City’s fifth-round pick (#148) for this small move down, which would give San Francisco an enviable five picks in a 22-selection span early on Day 3. 30. Los Angeles Chargers (from Dolphins via Broncos): Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon The Chargers enter the draft with just five picks. They happily add one of the Eagles’ three Day 2 picks while still reinforcing the interior of their offensive line with the powerful and pro-ready Pregnon. 31. Chicago Bears (from Patriots): Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF The Bears enter the draft with seven selections, but that number is deceiving as they have a 110 pick gap on Day 3 between the fourth and seventh rounds. I expect Bears GM Ryan Poles will trade down at some point to bridge that gap. If he can do so early and still get a dynamic edge rusher (who, frankly, should be in consideration with their original pick at No. 25), Poles will be giving the Bears their best chance for the kind of draft class that can spring a Super Bowl run. 32. Las Vegas Raiders (from Seahawks): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama I cannot see a way in which the Raiders end the first round of the 2026 NFL draft without adding another quarterback to the roster. Given the connections Kubiak has with Seattle, a trade with the defending Super Bowl champs might be his last, good opportunity to do so. Simpson possesses the IQ, accuracy and mobility to be successful in Kubiak’s scheme. He might very well be available at No. 36, but the fifth-year option on the rookie contract all first rounders receive makes it more responsible financially to draft quarterbacks in the first round. To pry this pick from the Seahawks, the Raiders give up No. 36 overall, as well as veteran defensive end Tyree Wilson. SECOND ROUND (*teams without a first-round pick) 36. Seattle Seahawks (from Raiders): Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame The Seahawks are Super Bowl champions, but with a league-low four draft picks, winning this year’s draft is going to be nearly impossible. Adding a back with a skill set well-suited to their wide zone running scheme would be a good start, however, especially if in doing so, Seattle also received veteran edge rusher Tyree Wilson. 44. Green Bay Packers (from Falcons): Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech Even after trading away their top pick for Micah Parsons, the Packers still have seven selections in this draft. But five of those are on Day 3, giving GM Brian Gutekunst minimal flexibility to move up. Adding a true nose guard is critical to the run defense, however, and the Packers don’t want to risk losing on a talent like the block-eating Hunter, so offering the Falcons No. 52 overall, as well as this year’s fifth-round pick (No. 160) might do the trick. 52. Atlanta Falcons (from Titans via Chiefs): R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma Ian Cunningham wasn’t with the Falcons last year when the club traded up to select James Pearce Jr. With the star pass-rusher currently facing multiple felony charges, the new Falcons GM might have little choice but to seek a replacement. Thomas has the burst to wreak havoc off the edge, and a trade with Green Bay would net the Falcons at least one more selection. Atlanta has just five picks in 2026, with a league-low two of them among the top-100 selections. 54. Denver Broncos (from Buccaneers via Eagles): Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt As it stands now, the Broncos’ first pick in the 2026 draft is No. 62 overall, significantly lower than any other NFL team. Of course, that is because Denver exchanged their top original first-round slot for speedy Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle. Doubling down on that decision with another aggressive trade for a playmaking pass-catcher like Stowers seems like a Sean Payton-type move, and this time it might only cost the Broncos’ the second of their two third-round picks (No. 111) this year.

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Sound Smart: 5 Observations on the NFL Offseason Entering the Owners Meetings

PHOENIX — With the 2026 Annual NFL League Meeting officially in session, information is flying fast. We’ll hear from NFC coaches on Monday and AFC coaches on Tuesday. So let’s delve into what's been going on around the league lately. 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. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY What to make of the Ty Simpson debate It’s unusual when scouts and coaches reach out to me to ask what I think about a topic. Because of course, 99.99% of the time, it’s the other way around. That’s how upside-down things are when it comes to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. If you somehow missed it, it went like this. Last week, ESPN’s Dan Orlovski said Ty Simpson is the QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Yes, over Fernando Mendoza, the presumed No. 1 overall pick. And what we found out — in the days that followed — is that Orlovsky is more or less the only person who feels that way. The consensus remains: Mendoza over Simpson. The conversation was loud enough to reach the Simpson family, including Ty’s father, Jason, who is the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin. "The quarterback is what fans are interested in, so that's why Ty’s in that news cycle every day," Jason Simpson told me. "If he wasn't my son, I'd be paying attention to his film because it's interesting. So we're pretty thick-skinned about it. We get it. We understand that's what fills the stadium. Simpson added: "We feel pretty good about the situation that he's in right now with the teams that we're having conversations with, and so I'm excited for him." One silver lining of the controversy is that people began to take Simpson more seriously as a first-round prospect. His dad suggested to me that Ty wouldn’t have declared for the draft if he didn’t have a strong sense that he had solid Round 1 potential. Since the beginning of this process, the Alabama QB has been on the radar of NFL teams for a spot in the top 32. Simpson belongs in that conversation, in large part because of what he did in the first eight games of the season. But, even with eight great games, his 31 appearances and single season as a starter make for an excruciatingly limited evaluation. Even if he were a more complete prospect than Mendoza (and he’s not), there are far too many risks associated with Simpson’s small body of work. This conversation might actually say less about Simpson and more about Mendoza, who — in other draft classes — would not be regarded as the unquestioned top QB prospect. There are plenty of legitimate questions about Mendoza’s pro prospects. But even if we would like there to be a prospect who could challenge Mendoza — like Oregon’s Dante Moore might have done, if he had not returned to school — we can’t manufacture one. Mendoza faces fewer uncertainties than Simpson. It’s not a glittery conclusion, but it’s an important one to acknowledge. 2. HE SAID WHAT?! Bills coach Joe Brady said Josh Allen "couldn’t walk" at the end of last season due to a foot injury On the field, Josh Allen was as dominant as ever in 2025, with the Bills once again riding their star QB. Off the field and behind the scenes, Allen’s foot injury was more severe than Buffalo let on. He had a broken bone in his right foot that required offseason surgery. "The thing about Josh Allen, he got surgery after the season, but he's playing as if you think there's nothing wrong with him. The guy could barely walk, and then he's playing games and it's not impacting [his play]," Joe Brady told NFL Network. "He's built different. And let's hope it continues that way, but he'll be good to go in the offseason." It’s a necessary piece of context for a QB who appeared to be slogging through with not just an underwhelming supporting cast but also a handful of physical maladies. It sounds like the injuries are healing. And it appears the Bills have begun to address the supporting cast, with Buffalo trading for former Chicago Bears receiver DJ Moore this offseason to be the team’s WR1. The hope is that — under new head coach Brady — Allen won't have to overcome quite so much adversity. And that, in turn, could finally get the Bills back into the Super Bowl. 3. EVERYONE’S AFRAID TO SAY The Jaxon Smith-Njigba contract has a whole lot to do with Sam Darnold Smith-Njigba got paid in a way we’ve never seen before, with the receiver resetting the market at $42.15 million per year — a four-year, $168.6 million contract. It’s well-deserved, with the Seahawks rewarding their guy, who has exceeded expectations by ascending not just into the WR1 role in Seattle's offense but, arguably, into the NFL’s WR1 spot. He led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and accounted for 46% of his team’s passing yards, the highest percentage by a pass-catcher last season (by a significant margin). There are a lot of reasons why the Seahawks can and should feel good about rewarding their receiver, including the simple fact that he is — by all accounts — a terrific person on top of being a terrific player. But the less obvious reason is that quarterback Sam Darnold makes just $33.5 million per year. And much like teams work to maximize a rookie QB’s contract, the Seahawks are enjoying the benefits of Darnold occupying the NFL’s middle class when it comes to cap percentage for a QB. At no point during Darnold’s three-year contract will Smith-Njigba take on a bigger cap number (because the Seahawks have backloaded the receiver's extension). So the Seahawks aren’t exactly signaling Smith-Njigba is more valuable than their QB. But also, they’re not not saying it. Again, Darnold is making $33.5 million per year on his three-year, $100 million deal. It’s not a mystery: Darnold exceeds his station because of Smith-Njigba’s support. The QB had the best season of his life in 2025, leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title. But while Darnold continues to demonstrate a level of progress that few thought he’d achieve, it has to be nerve-racking for Seattle to expect consistency. One way to keep working toward consistency is to keep Smith-Njigba around — and to keep him happy. Darnold’s success is as reliant upon Smith-Njigba as much as any QB relied upon a receiver this year. So you can argue that Smith-Njigba is or isn’t the best receiver in the NFL. You can’t argue that he wasn't the most important piece on offense. 4. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN The Travis Kelce contract is absolutely not what it seems At the first news of Kelce’s contract, it frankly made no sense: three years and $54.7 million, according to multiple reports, for the Chiefs' 36-year-old tight end. Not only did it seem like an enormous commitment to a guy on the verge of retirement, but it seemed like an absurd allocation of resources for a team that frankly has a lot of needs across the board, especially on offense. So it should come as a relief to Chiefs fans that those numbers are basically nonsense. The reality is that Kelce signed a one-year deal worth $12 million. He can earn another $3 million based on playing time, a playoff berth and a Super Bowl victory. So while the initial number placed Kelce in the top three among the highest-paid tight ends in average annual value, the actual number ranks him at 11th, between Denver's Evan Engram and Pittsburgh's Pat Freiermuth — which is a reasonable deal for Kelce and for the Chiefs. Kelce should do enough to earn his paycheck in 2026. Even if he doesn’t, I don’t think ownership will be upset to keep him in a Chiefs jersey for a 14th season, in part because of how many of those jerseys will sell over the next year. 5. DRAFT GEMS KC Concepcion thinks he’s underrated … because he absolutely is There’s been plenty of conversation about Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate and even Makai Lemon as the top receiver in this year’s draft. There’s been plenty of conversation about the next tier that includes Denzel Boston and Omar Cooper Jr. But perhaps we’ve lost KC Concepcion in the fray. The Texas A&M receiver finished his 2025 season with 61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. He demonstrated a consistent ability to win on just about every route — and against both man and zone coverages. In essence, he earned the right to be in the Round 1 conversation. It feels like people are only just starting to pay attention to his outstanding body of work. "I've always been underestimated all my life," Concepcion told me at the Adidas Pro Day in Portland, Oregon, in mid-March. "It’s really nothing I'm not used to, so I have proven myself ever since I got to college. And I mean, I'm happy to do it at the next level." Concepcion has a speech impediment and has spoken openly about wanting to be a role model for "people who might be scared to speak up [and] who may be afraid and not confident in yourself." I wondered if he felt people underestimate him because of his speech impediment. "I don’t really think that plays a role," Concepcion told me. "I think a lot of people forget I’m a really damn good football player, and that’s what every team wants. I was born with it. I can’t really do anything about it. That shouldn’t take away from anything on the field." There are so many teams that make sense for Concepcion in Round 1, from the Los Angeles Chargers (with new OC Mike McDaniel utilizing the WR’s agility and speed) to the New England Patriots (with QB Drake Maye attacking the intermediate and deep areas with Concepcion) or even the Los Angeles Rams (with Concepcion complementing WR1 Puka Nacua).

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NFL to Begin Hiring, Training Replacement Officials as Potential Ref Lockout Nears

The NFL is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the conversations are private. The league and the NFL Referees Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024. The current CBA expires on May 31. The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the people said. The league wants compensation tied to performance so that only high-performing game officials during the regular season share in the year-end bonus pool. The league is also seeking greater flexibility to ensure the best officials are on the field during the postseason. The current CBA includes seniority as a factor in making postseason assignments. Shortening the "dark period" is also a priority for the NFL. Currently, the league has no communication with game officials during the roughly three-month stretch between the Super Bowl and May 15. The goal is to increase access to game officials for rules discussions, video review, mechanics and appropriate football operations and committee meetings in order to improve the game and officials’ performance. The NFL is offering to hire some full-time officials, but one of the people said the union is resisting and is asking for "full-time pay and part-time hours." "Apparently ‘League sources’ are continuing to put out false and misleading information instead of wanting to meet at the negotiating table," NFLRA executive director Scott Green said in a statement. "The bottom line is our officials work for the wealthiest sports league in America, with profits that far exceed any of the others. That’s normally a point of pride for the NFL. However, our officials are substantially under-compensated when compared to baseball and basketball umpires and referees. Our officials also aren’t provided the health care benefits that those at 345 Park Avenue have. "As far as performance pay, we had ‘high performing officials’ who worked this year’s championship games and the Super Bowl who were paid less for those games than what they were paid for a regular-season game. That certainly isn’t rewarding performance, as the NFL claims is their goal." In preparation for potential use of replacement officials, the NFL competition committee has proposed a contingency that would allow the replay center in New York to advise the on-field officials on any missed roughing the passer or intentional grounding penalty, as well as any act that would have led to an ejection had a penalty been called. NFL owners will vote on the proposal this week at the annual meeting. The NFL used replacement officials for the first three weeks of the 2012 season and resulted in several mistakes and wrong calls, including the disputed TD catch known as the "Fail Mary." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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