Big Picture: Buccaneers Forced to Forge New Identity Without Mike Evans, Lavonte David

TAMPA BAY — For well over a decade, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans have always known that any season, good or bad, started with a foundation of two iconic players in receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David. The pain of Evans leaving in free agency to sign with the San Francisco 49ers had not yet subsided for those fans when Tuesday brought news — not surprising, but certainly not easy — that David was retiring after playing his entire 14-year career in Tampa. Between them, Evans and David played 411 games over 26 seasons for the Bucs, and were arguably the team's most beloved players before and after the Tom Brady years. David enjoyed one winning season in his first seven years in Tampa, and Evans the same in his first five. They both stuck around through the lean times so that when the franchise won a Super Bowl championship in the 2020 season and division titles the next four years, an entire fanbase had been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows with David and Evans. Both are no-brainer locks for the Bucs' Ring of Honor, and both have compelling cases for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Evans already having 108 receiving touchdowns and 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons; David finished his career with 1,716 tackles, tying him with Derrick Brooks for a franchise record that may never be broken. His 177 tackles for loss are the fourth-most in NFL history. And now both players are gone, in a span of two difficult weeks. Replacing them as playmakers is a daunting challenge, but what the Bucs lose in leadership and character and veteran guidance is even more immeasurable. Evans was the very first draft pick that Bucs general manager Jason Licht made in 2014, and David is literally the model the Bucs use when evaluating draft prospects — as players and as people. A wall-sized mural in the team's draft room has his silhouette with the words "I AM THAT MAN," listing five adjectives the team seeks in any new player: accountable, competitive, confident, passionate and resilient. "It's super-rare," Licht said of finding players that meet those standards the way David has during the linebacker's retirement press conference. "I can only hope that we draft a player like him again. It's hard. It's almost impossible." So how do the Bucs move forward without two such foundational pieces? The franchise was already in a harsh downturn, having gone from a 6-2 start to losing seven of eight games and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Free agency has been more about significant losses — Evans to the 49ers, corner Jamel Dean to the Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive lineman Logan Hall to the Houston Texans. The Bucs' sustained success had set them up for a run-it-back offseason where the goal was to keep a winning core as intact as possible. This spring has been different. Of their 21 unrestricted free agents, they have re-signed only four, and tight end Cade Otton was the only big name in that group. They've found value in seven outside additions, including linebacker Alex Anzalone, who steps into David's role, but there is now uncertainty where the team had enjoyed steady optimism for so many summers of late. With Evans, David and Dean gone, there are now only five players left from Tampa Bay's Super Bowl team just five years ago — receiver Chris Godwin, tackle Tristan Wirfs, defensive tackle Vita Vea, safety Antoine Winfield and outside linebacker Anthony Nelson. They are the last remnants of that championship team, tasked with keeping expectations high even as the outside perception fades. Wirfs, Winfield and Nelson were in attendance Tuesday as David bid farewell to the Bucs, and the linebacker pointed to other young players as emerging leaders. David was a 12-time captain in Tampa, from his third season on, so he knows that leadership isn't only from the most experienced players in the room. He mentioned safety Tykee Smith, whom he took under his wing, and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who went to the same Miami high school he attended. If Evans' departure was a shock for Bucs fans who had hoped he would play his entire career in one place, David's news was a chance to appreciate how rare that is. Tampa Bay's five Hall of Famers fit neatly into both categories. Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks and Ronde Barber were monogamous players, wire-to-wire Bucs and beloved for that. John Lynch and Warren Sapp finished their careers in Denver and Oakland, respectively, but are still loved by Tampa fans, as Evans will be. The closest thing to what Bucs fans have endured in the last two weeks might have been the spring of 2004, when they lost Lynch and Sapp, again two core leaders from a Super Bowl team. They did not win another playoff game until 2020. So this year's Bucs are tasked with avoiding an expected letdown, something they did well after Brady's retirement three years ago. The Bucs are still in a bad division, and the oddsmakers still have them as the team to beat in the NFC South, even with an underwhelming projected win total of 8.5 wins in 2026. The Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints are all within two games of that. Tampa Bay will forge a new identity without Evans and David, trying to fill voids on both sides of the ball to maintain the high standard both set in the second half of their Tampa Bay tenures. "It goes to show you what the future holds for this organization," David said Tuesday. "Winning football, underdog mentality, going out there and playing every game like it's your last. I know this organization will be in a great place."

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Buccaneers Star LB Lavonte David Announces Retirement From NFL After 14 Seasons

Lavonte David is retiring after playing all 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. David made the announcement Tuesday at the team’s practice facility. "I feel it’s time to move on and find a different path in life, be a dad to that amazing little girl over there," David said. "Having a girl helped me become a man, helped me understand what’s important in life." The 36-year-old linebacker was the heart and soul of Tampa Bay’s defense, helping the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl by dominating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 on Feb. 7, 2021. David is one of only five players in the past 35 seasons with 40 or more sacks and 35 or more takeaways. Hall of Famers Jason Taylor, Junior Seau, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the other four. David finished tied with Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the most tackles (1,714) in franchise history, according to team stats. David is the franchise record holder in forced fumbles (33) and fumble recoveries (21), third in games played (215) and games started (215) and fifth in sacks (42 1/2). Additionally, David holds the franchise playoff records for total tackles (79) and solo tackles (57). "Lavonte’s mark on our franchise could never be overstated," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. "For the entirety of his 14-year career, Lavonte set the standard for professionalism, leadership and consistency. He embodies everything that it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and he is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever put on this uniform. His contributions to our franchise, to his teammates and to this community will leave an impact far beyond his playing years." A second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2012, David was a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and made the second team in 2016 and 2020. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and missed just 14 games in 14 years. David choked up talking about his parents and the sacrifices they made for him and his siblings, saying his dad would take him to practice on a bicycle because his mom needed the family car for work. He said he almost quit football when his mother passed away in 2016. "The day she passed away, I thought I lost it all," David said. "Luckily, I had friends and family by my side." The Buccaneers signed veteran linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in free agency, providing depth in advance of David’s departure. David’s decision marks the end of another era in Tampa Bay. Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans left the Buccaneers after 12 seasons, signing with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Both David and Evans were fan and coach favorites, team leaders and staples in the community throughout their tenure with the team. Several of his teammates and members of the organization filled the auditorium for David’s announcement. "For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game. He leaves a legacy as a Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history, setting a standard that will continue to impact our organization for years to come," The Glazer Family, owners of the Buccaneers, said in a statement. "Today, we celebrate Lavonte’s legendary career as one of the most accomplished players of his era and thank him for the many memorable moments he provided our fans. Beyond the statistics and accolades, he will be remembered throughout Tampa Bay for his humble demeanor and strong commitment to our community. We wish him well on his journey after football and look forward to honoring his Hall of Fame-worthy achievements in the near future." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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2026 NFL Draft: Meet The Kicker Who Can Make a 70-yard FG and Run a 4.5 40

The NFL Draft is a month away, and pro days can yield the kind of ridiculous numbers that build intrigue around outside-the-box prospects you might have never heard of before. That's the case with UTSA kicker Jaffer Murphy, a former college soccer player who turned heads at the Roadrunners' pro day last week when he not only hit a 70-yard field goal, but then was timed at 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash. "I definitely wanted to stand out and do something that would impress the scouts," the 24-year-old told me over the phone. "I was very blessed that it went the way that it did." Murphy's path to where he is now is unique, to say the least. He was born in Liberia in West Africa, moved to the United States in 2006 and was adopted here. He played soccer, basketball and football in high school, and was talented enough to play soccer in college at Drake and Florida Gulf Coast. He decided to give college football a try in 2024, playing at Division II Erie College, going 13-for-21 on field goals and connecting from as far out as 60 yards. That got him a spot at North Carolina as a preferred walk-on in spring 2025, but after sitting down with coach Bill Belichick, he wasn't guaranteed a spot on their 105-man roster. So, he drove 20-plus hours to Texas to work out for coaches at UTSA and landed a roster spot there. He couldn't win the place-kicking job, but handled kickoffs for UTSA, with 54 touchbacks in 88 kicks and two tackles on special teams. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor had lost his kicker to Oklahoma at the end of spring drills, and said while Murphy didn't handle field goals for the Roadrunners, he was exactly what they needed on kickoffs. "We were in desperate need," Traylor told me. "He hadn't played football very long, but he was a wonderful, wonderful kid. All he needed was some time on task. He did a really good job for us on kickoffs. Super human, super athlete, and his best football is still in front of him." What made a splash was his showing at UTSA pro day last week, going 12-for-13 on field goals, connecting from as long as 70 yards, and then showing off his athleticism with a 4.50 40-yard dash. Such speed from a kicking specialist is rare, of course — Georgia's Jake Camarda ran a 4.56 at the combine in 2022 and was a fourth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending two years as their punter. Murphy ran the 40 and did the vertical and broad jump with other UTSA draft prospects, and said scouts walked up to him and asked him if he would run the "L drill" or three-cone drill, which can show agility and quickness. He did them, and the same scouts asked if he would be comfortable doing positional drills as a defensive back, a position he'd never played or practiced at. "I'm a kicker, but I can also be an athlete, so I'd love to," said Murphy, who borrowed gloves from a teammate and went through drills, acknowledging his footwork may not be the best. "I just wanted to go out and have some fun, and they reminded me I had nothing to lose." Jacob Enns, a trainer and kicking specialist in Tampa who has worked with Murphy over the past three years, said he was making field goals from 71 yards in their second workout together, showing a natural talent for long-range kicking. "When he kicked off, the comments on his Twitter posts were 'This kid kicks like a Madden kicker,' because it looked just like a video game," Enns told me. "Now, hopefully, he'll be able to do that at the next level. ... A lot of it is God-given ability, and he has that aspect of it. When we started this journey, he told me [the NFL] was his goal. He's doing the same thing he's done each step of the way, trusting God to open the right door. He's going to keep working hard to earn his spot." Murphy is working on getting his accuracy to match his strength, and he'll need to show teams he can handle the pressure of game-on-the-line kicks in real, high-level situations. In the last game Murphy kicked a field goal, the announced attendance was 250, which came during his time at Erie College. NFL kickers come in all sizes. Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders is 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, while Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles is 5-9 and 167. Murphy measured at 6-1, 180 pounds at his pro day, and said he "hopefully can change the way kickers are viewed in the NFL." He's gifted with a strong leg, but how does athleticism help a kicker? That could be in coverage after a kickoff, in the potential for trick-play gimmickry on field goals and extra points. Murphy is unlikely to get drafted next month, but could land with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent or as a tryout player for rookie minicamp. If a strong-legged soccer player with little to no college football experience becoming an NFL kicker seems far-fetched, it shouldn't be. Cowboys star Brandon Aubrey, now a three-time Pro Bowl selection, played soccer at Notre Dame and in the MLS before trying football with two years in the USFL before he landed in Dallas. An even closer parallel is Lions kicker Jake Bates, who played college soccer and did kickoffs only at Texas State and Arkansas, then played a year in the UFL before making the cut with Detroit. "I love their game, love what they do, and I felt like I could go and do something that's never been done before, whether that's kicking or being utilized out on the field as well," Murphy told me. Traylor said the interest from scouts was strong enough that he'll have demand from NFL teams, either during or after the draft, but he's eager to see what he can do on a larger platform. "Great teammate, high IQ. I'm a big fan," Traylor told me. "He's going to get into a camp. He's probably got about 20 opportunities right now. We'll see how long he lasts, but he'll get into a camp."

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: Where Would Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith Be Picked in All-CFB Draft?

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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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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