Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen To Call Inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic

LOS ANGELES – FOX Sports today announced that Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen will call the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a first-of-its-kind global competition from Fanatics Studios, on Saturday, March 21 from 4:00-8:30 PM ET / 1:00-5:30 PM PT on FOX, FOX One and Tubi. As previously announced, actor and comedian Kevin Hart will serve as the event’s host alongside actor and comedian Druski. Burkhardt, an award-winning veteran broadcaster, serves as FOX Sports’ lead NFL play-by-play announcer, bringing viewers the network’s top games each week during the season. In addition to four NFC Championships, he has called two Super Bowls (LVII and LIX) – including one alongside three-time Pro Bowl tight end and two-time Sports Emmy winner Olsen. The pair reunite in the booth to present the Fanatics Flag Football Classic from BMO Stadium, the same venue that will host flag football at the LA28 Olympic Games. The first-of-its-kind competition includes three 12-player teams: two comprised of an incredible mix of current and former NFL stars as well as world-class athletes, and the third represented by USA Football’s reigning IFAF Flag Football World Champion U.S. Men’s National Team, setting up a can’t-miss showdown between some of the biggest names in sports and the most accomplished flag players in the world. Founders FFC will be captained by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts and coached by Sean Payton while Wildcats FFC will be captained by Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow and coached by Kyle Shanahan. The U.S. Men’s National Team will be captained by Aamir Brown and Darrell "Housh" Doucette and coached by Jorge Cascudo. TUNE IN The Fanatics Flag Football Classic airs live on FOX, FOX One and Tubi from 4:00-8:30 PM ET / 1:00-5:30 PM PT. The event will also be streamed internationally on the Fanatics YouTube channel.

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: Jets Get QB? Cowboys Snag Draft's No. 1 Defensive Player

In recent weeks, most mock drafts have only one quarterback going in the first round. Following the opening week of free agency, though, I see a second signal-caller entering the mix for first-round consideration. Who could be the second first-round quarterback taken after Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft — and which team will get in on the action? Here are my latest projections, in which I also predict a running back will be selected within the first five picks for the first time in eight years. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana We all kind of know this is what’s going to happen. I think Mendoza will be a great fit for the Raiders from a coaching and offensive philosophy standpoint. They went out and paid top-dollar for some free agents, with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum headlining that group. They’re building up the offensive line for not just Mendoza, but also for running back Ashton Jeanty. I think the Raiders are building toward something big, which bodes well for a quarterback who plays his best in crunch time. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State This is where the draft starts. Reese has reminded me of star edge rusher Micah Parsons since the fall. He’s a sensational player, and I know he’s just scratching the surface. This is a guy who played as a starter for just one season and was just learning how to play the edge. He’s an excellent pass rusher, whether he’s rushing from the interior or edge. He’s got bend, athleticism and explosiveness. He’s got tremendous upside, and I believe he could be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate early in his career. 3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech There's a lot of hype around Bailey, and rightly so. This guy is a game-wrecker, and he had a tremendous year in his lone season at Texas Tech. Bailey led all power-conference players in sacks and tackles for loss this past season. The Cardinals need help wherever they can get it, and Bailey will do that. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame This is where things really get interesting. We’ve honed in on positional value come draft time over the past few years and how much we should value running backs, but we’ve seen Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs shine in the NFL after being taken early in the first round of the draft. That said, the Titans should be thrilled to pick Love. He should be a great fit in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s offense and a good piece to put next to quarterback Cam Ward. Love can run and catch the ball, just like the four running backs I mentioned. This would be the first running back selected in the top five in eight years, and Love is a home run. 5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State I wanted to give the Giants Caleb Downs. I think Downs is perfect for coach John Harbaugh and fits the mold of all those smart, versatile safeties he had when he was the Ravens’ head coach. I think it would be a mistake to not draft Downs, but the Giants could use another pass catcher for quarterback Jaxson Dart. Tate, with his ability to make contested grabs down the field, is a good fit for Dart’s gunslinger passing style. Some might debate USC’s Makai Lemon as a better receiver than Tate, but I think Tate is the better fit for the Giants’ offense. 6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia The Browns have a hole at left tackle, but all the best offensive linemen in this draft are right tackles. However, Freeling is starting to inch up on big boards and in mock drafts, so I think the Browns might take a swing and select the Georgia left tackle a bit earlier than some think. This might not seem like a big reach as the process goes on, though. Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano might be better offensive tackle prospects, but Freeling is the better fit here. Still, this was probably the hardest pick to figure out in this mock draft. 7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State There hasn’t been a bigger riser following the combine than Styles. He was already a first-round pick, but he put on a show in Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago that might make him a top-10 pick. He has got a safety background, so he has a lot of athleticism in the open field. He is also a great leader. 8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC Lemon is a great player in space. There isn’t a player in this draft who has the feel for space like Lemon does. He operates in the middle of the field as well as anyone. He thrived for USC in that role, and he just understands football. He knows how to work coverage and is great with the ball in his hands. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU They have a glaring need at cornerback following the trade of Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson in free agency. This is too obvious of a selection. I think Delane is the top corner in the draft as well. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami (Fla.) Sure, the Bengals gave Boye Mafe $20 million per year to help replace Trey Hendrickson at edge rusher, but I can’t get over what I saw in the College Football Playoff, and I don’t think anyone will ever say, "We have too many pass rushers." My favorite part about Bain’s game isn’t when he’s able to get pressure in advantageous situations. Rather, it’s his motor. He goes eight million mph on every single snap. I don’t care about his arm length — just watch him play. 11. Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) The Dolphins have holes everywhere, particularly along the offensive line. Luckily for them, there’s an offensive tackle who played his college ball in the same stadium as them who can slot right in for them. Like Bain, Mauigoa also had a great CFP showing. He can develop into a great pass protector as well. I’m not sure if he projects as a left tackle for the long haul, but he’ll flourish right away at right tackle. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State This is exactly what I had the Cowboys doing in my first mock draft. I think Downs is good enough to be drafted earlier than this, but he might get hurt by positional value. Still, Downs is sensational and could elevate a Dallas defense that was the worst in scoring this past season. Ohio State’s entire defense was built around Downs, winning a national championship as a result. Jerry Jones, don’t overthink it. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Man, the Rams have been aggressive. Their pass defense has quickly improved, so that’s settled. How about their passing game, though? Davante Adams is getting a bit older, turning 34. Matthew Stafford’s not going to play forever, but he still has some juice. I love the thought of the Rams picking up Sadiq, who can help replace Adams as a red-zone threat down the line. You talk with the coaching staff at Oregon, and they also rave about his blocking ability. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah I’m not a huge conspiracy theory guy, but the Maxx Crosby dilemma that led to them signing Trey Hendrickson worked quite well for the Ravens. Now, Baltimore has some questions along the offensive line to figure out. Fano’s a good fit for the Ravens and giving quarterback Lamar Jackson more protection is never a bad idea. What might hurt Fano in this process is when general managers look to see how he did against the best competition he faced. Fano didn’t play well against David Bailey and Texas Tech this past season. That might be why he falls here and isn’t a top-10 pick. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn Faulk’s a great player. He’s an excellent athlete and is long at 6-foot-6 with a ton of upside. We’re only seeing just the beginning of what he could potentially turn into. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama The Jets got Geno Smith in a trade with the Raiders this past week. Let’s be real, though, New York shouldn't be saying, "We’re all set" at quarterback after that move. I can’t get Simpson out of my head, either. My knock on Simpson isn’t his size, because he can make throws outside the hashes and down the field, but that he only started for one season in college. However, with Smith in tow, Simpson doesn’t need to start right away. He also played well in some big moments, like at Georgia and at Oklahoma this past season. 17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson The Lions are reshuffling their offensive line this season, with Penei Sewell going from right to left tackle following the departure of Taylor Decker. Miller was one of these Clemson prospects that some might not value as much considering the Tigers’ down season, but he has got a ton of experience and played well. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, EDGE, Clemson Another Clemson guy off the board. Woods is a talented player, and I thought he was going to be a top-10 pick entering the 2025 season. Still, when you look at his entire college career, he’s worthy of being selected here. He could really help the Vikings. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu seems likely to miss the entire 2026 season after rupturing his patellar tendon in the Panthers’ playoff loss to the Rams. While the Panthers just recently signed Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, it’s still smart for them to get as much protection in front of quarterback Bryce Young. Proctor’s an athletic left tackle considering his tremendous size (6-foot-7, 350 pounds). 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee Even though I have them taking Downs with their first pick, the Cowboys still need some defensive help. If McCoy wasn’t hurt, he might have been in the conversation with Mansoor Delane to be the top cornerback in this draft. He could still take that honor if he performs well at his pro day, but watch out for the Cowboys if they’re able to land the players who I think are the best defenders in this draft. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State It feels like Ioane should be off the board by this point, but he isn’t, so he’d be an obvious selection for the Steelers. He’s the best interior offensive lineman in this draft. Maybe he won’t be on the board for the Steelers when their pick comes around, but he’d be a tremendous fit if he is. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech Jesse Minter might be gone as defensive coordinator, but the principles of that defense remain. We know Jim Harbaugh is going to want to build a run wall, and Hunter can help them do that. Hunter had a solid season in his only year at Texas Tech. He might be only 6-foot-3, but he plays bigger than his size. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (Fla.) The Eagles have drafted so well to the point that they’re victims of their own success. Philadelphia has lost some talent in its defensive front seven over the past couple of offseasons, and it has some more defensive players it needs to extend soon. That said, Mesidor was outstanding for Miami in its playoff run. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana The Browns need to get a threat on the outside. Cooper’s film is so good, but he seems to be on the rise during this draft process after what he showed at the combine. He’s fantastic in short areas and can catch the ball well in traffic. Of course, Cooper also made the play of the year when he made that incredible touchdown catch in Indiana’s win over Penn State. I thought Cooper was also the best wide receiver with the ball in his hands in the Big Ten. 25. Chicago Bears: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State The Bears said goodbye to DJ Moore recently, so they could use another pass-catcher. Tyson’s a big-bodied guy, and I love the idea of quarterback Caleb Williams throwing to larger targets. Williams likes to improvise, and he does that well. 26. Buffalo Bills: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Thieneman reminds me of new Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonard back when he was a standout in the NFL. He’s a great player, and Oregon head coach Dan Lanning loved him thanks to his versatility, toughness and anticipation. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah The 49ers need to figure out what they’re doing along the offensive line post-Trent Williams, as reports emerged this past week that he could get traded. Lomu’s a really good player, and these Utah offensive linemen are ready to play at the next level. 28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State Maybe the Texans would move up to get Lomu, but I think Iheanachor is talented enough to be a first-round pick. He also seems to be a riser in this draft process, so maybe he’ll really solidify himself as a first-round pick soon, but it’s clear that the Texans need some offensive help. 29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Rams): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo I really like McNeil-Warren’s game, and I think he could be a great talent injection for that Chiefs’ secondary. Kansas City also needs some young and talented players who come cheap. 30. Denver Broncos: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M The Broncos were able to retain their key linebackers in free agency, so Georgia’s CJ Allen probably isn’t an option here. Denver should look to add some more talent on offense instead. As someone who watches every Broncos game, there’s something about the Bo Nix-Courtland Sutton duo that just isn’t there. Nix needs a target with a shot area quickness, and Concepcion can provide that. However, Concepcion isn’t just a slot receiver, either. He can make plays down the field. 31. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M Howell’s gotten a knock for short arms. Just with Bain, though, go watch Howell’s tape. He was incredibly productive at Texas A&M this past season, and I think Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will love having a guy like him on his roster. 32. Seattle Seahawks: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson The Seahawks lost some key pieces from their title-winning team, so general manager John Schneider will look to add some good value. Parker fits that bill, and he might be a steal if you can get him with the last pick of the first round. The Seahawks still have to deal with Stafford and some other talented passing games this season. Adding another pass rusher would go a long way in helping to repeat.

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Chiefs Land New Backup for Patrick Mahomes, Reportedly Trade for Justin Fields

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting an experienced quarterback to backup Patrick Mahomes as he rehabs from an ACL tear. The Chiefs are acquiring Justin Fields from the New York Jets in a trade, ESPN reported Monday. New York will reportedly receive a sixth-round pick in the 2027 draft from Kansas City, while the Chiefs will get a seventh-round pick from the Jets. As part of the deal, the Chiefs will also eat $3 million of Fields' $10 million guaranteed salary for this season, NFL Media reported. The trade will presumably make Fields the Chiefs' top quarterback for their offseason program, at the very least. Mahomes tore his ACL in December, likely sidelining him for much of the offseason. Mahomes and the Chiefs have expressed optimism, though, that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. But Kansas City didn't have another experienced quarterback on its roster prior to Monday's trade, making a move for a veteran quarterback necessary. With Gardner Minshew becoming a free agent earlier in March, the only other quarterbacks on the Chiefs' roster prior to Monday were Chis Oladokun and Jake Haener. Fields, meanwhile, could use the opportunity to potentially jump-start his career. He was given the chance to start for the Jets last season, but struggled after signing a two-year, $40 million deal. He went 2-7 in nine starts, throwing for just 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception. He also added 383 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. However, Fields was eventually benched as New York's offense ranked among the worst in football for much of the year. The Jets further indicated their plans to move on from Fields in the opening week of free agency. They swung a trade for Geno Smith, acquiring the veteran quarterback from the Las Vegas Raiders. Fields, who turned 27 earlier in March, has shown promise at points in his five-year career, but has largely struggled as a passer. He's 16-37 all-time as a starter, posting a career 84.7 passer rating.

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Sound Smart: 4 Observations on the First Wave of NFL Free Agency

Let the second week of free agency begin. After the first week, the quarterback carousel looks relatively settled. Kyler Murrray signed with the Vikings, Malik Willis signed with the Dolphins, Daniel Jones signed an extension with the Colts, Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons. Aaron Rodgers has not signed, but he figures to return to the Steelers at some point before training camp. Elsewhere, receiver Alec Pierce got a massive deal to return to the Colts and former Eagles edge Jaelan Phillips got a massive deal from the Carolina Panthers. It has already been a busy and expensive free agency window — a record $5.83 billion was committed to player contracts in the first week. But that’s what we saw at 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 just happened in NFL free agency. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW The Ravens were winners by backing out of the Maxx Crosby trade. Baltimore did something that's every NFL general manager’s nightmare: cancel a massive deal that included huge draft capital. By backing out, the Ravens stamped five-time Pro Bowl edge Crosby with a "damaged goods" label. And they did it at a time when most of the elite free-agent pass-rushers had already landed with teams that desperately needed help at the position. In other words, the Ravens deflated Crosby’s value in just about every way. The Raiders got wholly and totally screwed. If you check out what The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported about how the Ravens had their team doctor and four or five independent doctors check Crosby's medicals, it's apparent that Baltimore was at least thorough before canceling the deal. If all was really hunky-dory with Crosby's knee, wouldn’t several other teams show a real interest in him — particularly given that the cost would surely be lower than the two first-round picks the Ravens were giving up? That shouldn't completely excuse Baltimore's shadiness. What the Ravens did was absolutely sketchy. And we can all speculate about whether they got buyer’s remorse. But the truth is that they were within league rules to reverse this trade. They were within league rules to set up a free-agent deal with Pro Bowl edge Trey Hendrickson. They definitely violated some unwritten rules — but none that will permanently damage GM Eric DeCosta’s reputation. As he said last week: "It hasn't stopped my phone from ringing." And so, by trusting their doctors and observing the shifting landscape of pass-rushers, the Ravens made the controversial decision to back out of a trade — knowing full-well that they’d be the brunt of criticism and every internet meme known to man. And then they did that most antagonistic thing imaginable: signing Hendrickson — practically right after Crosby’s plane took off from Baltimore. All that is true. But what's also true is that they landed on the most sensible outcome. Crosby is a better run defender and Hendrickson is a better pass-rusher. So they’re not a one-for-one swap. But to get Hendrickson for roughly the same dollar amount as Crosby — and not have to pay two first-round picks? That’s a coup. I hate to admit it, because it sure feels like the Ravens did the Raiders dirty, but Baltimore wound up with a better situation. The upgrade from Hendrickson to Crosby wasn't worth what Baltimore had to give up to get there. And since I’m spouting unpopular opinions, I’ll say this, too: There’s also a scenario where the Raiders are winners, too. They had the cap space to take Crosby back without altering any of their quarter-billion dollars in free-agent deals. Behind a record-breaking (and laudable) deal for center Tyler Linderbaum, the Raiders' free-agent class is impressive and could immediately help them begin to change their identity under new head coach Klint Kubiak. And it’s possible Crosby has had a change of heart about wanting to leave Vegas — whether by seeing how cold the business is elsewhere or by seeing the way the Raiders have invested in this team. And don't forget: Las Vegas has the first pick in the draft, which is expected to be Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza. Maybe Crosby stays. Maybe he helps Las Vegas become relevant in 2026. Maybe this trade really wasn’t meant to be. 2. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN Of all the quarterbacks available, why did Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings pick Kyler Murray? Given all the options in free agency, I thought O’Connell and Minnesota interim GM Rob Brzezinski might have interest in just about every other quarterback before Murray. And that’s because there were obvious ties between the Vikings and Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers. Even Tua Tagovailoa made sense for the Vikings, given he's a sound decision-maker and a solid system quarterback. (His veteran-minimum contract doesn’t hurt either.) All those quarterbacks fall into the "system QB" and/or "pocket passer" categories, even Rodgers at this point in his career. Murray is unlike the others. He has shown the ability to operate in the pocket, but given his size (6-foot) and athleticism, he is just as dangerous — and often more dangerous — outside of the pocket (and outside of the system). With Murray comes a handful of questions, including about his work ethic. He had a clause in his contract extension (worth $230.5 million) that required him to spend four hours per week on game prep without distractions like video games, TV or internet browsing. This was four years ago. A lot has changed since then, but his play on the field has not — at least not substantially. After seven NFL seasons, the 28-year-old Murray still has too many moments of immaturity and thrill-seeking throughout games. It made for a streaky Cardinals offense, a unit that changed drastically under journeyman Jacoby Brissett’s steady (and admittedly boring) hand in the second half of last season. This offseason, the Cardinals seemed happy to see Murray go. Now, this scenario is supposed to be O’Connell’s specialty. He takes veteran quarterbacks who have underachieved — or were underappreciated — elsewhere and turns them into something special. So if anyone is going to help Murray, it’s O’Connell. Murray is the real winner here, working with a coach who should be as capable as anyone to maximize the QB’s potential — even if O’Connell’s track record is with a different style of QB. But we saw some fallibility as O’Connell worked with J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota's first-round pick in 2024 who had a rough debut season in 2025. So Murray will be a fascinating test for O'Connell. And because of the Vikings' financial commitment to Murray — he's getting the veteran minimum from Minnesota while the Cardinals pay him more than $35 million — this probably won’t go wrong in any catastrophic way. But if their partnership does fail, then I could see O’Connell ending up on the hot seat by the end of the 2026 season. Even so, it’s a risk worth taking. Given Murray’s upside, this could be one of the most exciting QB-coach tandems in the league. 3. THE GREAT, THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY Great: The Seahawks let four key players go in free agency. It’s wise for Seattle to let other teams pay the Super Bowl tax. It will no doubt hurt to see the following players go: RB Kenneth Walker III, edge Boye Mafe, safety Coby Bryant and CB Tariq Woolen. Walker, who signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs, will be the toughest to replace, but the Seahawks can draft a running back and hunt for a value option in free agency (Brian Robinson, Kene Nwangu or Dameon Pierce). And then it’ll be on Mike Macdonald, considered the best defensive coach in football, to work with GM John Schneider to find ways to replace the defensive departures. It’s also not like the Seahawks let every free agent go. They let key players such as cornerback Josh Jobe and receiver Rashid Shaheed test the open market and then re-signed them to modest contracts. That’s good business. They can't get caught chasing last year’s success. They have to build something new for 2026. Good: The Chiefs sign RB Kenneth Walker III for $43 million over three years. If there was one thing that held the Chiefs back the past couple of seasons, it was their inability to run the ball. It was, by far, their most profound and fundamental issue. They’ve tried to draft to fix the issue. They’ve tried to bring in old and new veterans to fix the issue. Nothing has worked. But Walker seems like the perfect solution to their lack of explosiveness on the ground. He had 10 runs of 20 yards or more last season — collectively, the Chiefs’ running backs had just one. He is, admittedly, a very expensive solution. But by spending big to get an elite RB, the Chiefs won’t have to chase Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love, the consensus top running back prospect in the draft. They will be free to draft whomever they want at No. 9 overall, be it Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate or safety Caleb Downs. Bad: The Panthers sign edge Jaelan Phillips for $120 million over four years. It was a tough call between Phillips and Odafe Oweh, the former Ravens and Chargers edge who signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Commanders, for this category. The nature of buying a premium position in free agency is that you’re going to overpay dramatically. Every offseason, free-agent quarterbacks, receivers and edge rushers get record-setting sums, even if they are not even close to being the best players at their position. (Teams extend or tag the best players before they can hit the open market. Look at All-Pro receiver George Pickens, who was franchise-tagged by the Cowboys.) Phillips is a pressure specialist, not typically getting home for gaudy sack statistics — he's never logged double-digit sacks — but creating enough havoc to have league-wide respect. He’s a good player, but he’s also often injured, with both ACL and Achilles tears in the past three years. He nearly retired in college due to injuries. I could see a scenario where the Panthers regret their decision to pay him the eighth-most per year among edge rushers. Ugly: The Bills trade a second-round pick for receiver DJ Moore. You could squint and justify the Bills sending a second-round pick to the Bears in exchange for Moore. But it was an overpay. We can plainly see that, given what the Steelers sent in exchange for Colts receiver Michael Pittman: a swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks. But given new Buffalo head coach Joe Brady has a history with Moore in Carolina and given how badly the Bills needed help at receiver, it made sense that they went out and got their guy. The deal got ugly, however, when it came out that the Bills weren’t just putting themselves on the hook for Moore's $24.5 million guarantee in 2026 and $15.5 million guarantee in 2027 (as a part of a total salary of $24.5 million). They decided to also guarantee $15.5 million in 2028 (again, as a part of a salary of $24.5 million). That’s a long-term commitment to a guy who will be 31 in 2027. And suddenly, the deal became a financial and draft-asset overpay. The Bills have taken on a severe risk to get Moore, who has one 1,000-yard season in the past four years despite playing 17 games each year. Buffalo is betting big on getting more from Moore. 4. WHAT WE STILL DON’T KNOW Where and when is Aaron Rodgers going to sign, if he signs at all? It seems obvious that he’ll return to the Steelers, and he’ll probably make everyone — including the folks in Pittsburgh — wait until August. But also … expect the unexpected with Rodgers. Which second-week free agents are going to complete a Super Bowl roster? It’s absolutely possible to build a juggernaut in free agency, particularly by shelling out massive sums of money to rebuild a downtrodden roster. But more often, we’ve seen teams identify key players — and for great value — during this phase of free agency. That's how a good team becomes great. Here are a few players I think might qualify: tight end David Njoku, tackle Jonah Williams, guard Joel Bitonio, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Matt Milano, and edges Calais Campbell and Cam Jordan. What are the Cardinals going to do at quarterback? They have Jacoby Brissett, and they could draft one of the second-tier rookies, like Alabama's Ty Simpson. Jimmy Garoppolo is also available, and he worked with new Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur in Los Angeles. There’s even the option of trading for Mac Jones, though I think that would be ill-advised, given the 49ers have reportedly set an astronomical asking price. Maybe the Cardinals' plan is to sit and wait for the 2027 NFL Draft — and Arch Manning. How high will Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love go in the draft? The Chiefs (ninth overall) signed Kenneth Walker and the Saints (No. 8) signed Travis Etienne. Even the Commanders added Rachaad White. Might this mean they all expect the Titans to draft Love at No. 4? Several executives view Love as the draft’s best prospect. It’s a question of value (and opportunity cost) — and how high a team can justify taking a running back. How much will George Pickens make? He would have been the No. 1 free agent on the market if the Cowboys hadn’t tagged him. Dallas has a history of contract tomfoolery. So far, Pickens has yet to agree to an extension. What is Jerry Jones up to now? Where will Crosby play in 2026? Not long after the Ravens reversed the trade, an NFL executive texted me that Crosby would inevitably get "traded elsewhere." But perhaps not in a hurry. If Crosby still wants to leave (and the Raiders still want to trade him), we might not know where he’s playing until training camp.

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Jerry Jones Compares Pato O'Ward's 'Controlled Intensity' to Deion Sanders' Approach

Unsurprisingly, Jerry Jones was as excited as anyone for Sunday's INDYCAR race, as the series made its debut on a street course around the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. "I said one thing when we first started talking about the idea: it has to be extremely high quality," Jones told the INDYCAR on FOX pre-race broadcast. "Everything about it, the track, the equipment, everything involved, it's beyond anything I could have expected," Jones said. "We know this had to go up. What have they done to my football stadium? But no, it is great. And to think these guys are going to be upwards of 200 miles an hour in these turns, that just gives me a chill. Start your engines." While speaking with the INDYCAR on FOX broadcast pre-race crew, Townsend Bell brought up Jones getting the opportunity to spend a little time with Arrow McLaren star Pato O'Ward, and the broadcaster mentioned his own experience meeting and watching Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, praising his "high energy, his leadership, his enthusiasm." [INDYCAR: Everything to Know About the Grand Prix of Arlington] Bell then asked Jones to share his perspective on O'Ward after decades of working with elite athletes, and Jones was impressed by the No. 5 Chevrolet driver. "The controlled intensity," Jones said about O'Ward. "You can feel it, boy, and he's driving for the marbles. Everything, every motion he has looks [effortless], looks natural. "Deion Sanders used to say, ‘It’s natural.' No, Deion worked at every nuance of it because he was intense and wanted to win. And that reminds me of what I see in these great athletes that are driving these cars." Ahead of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington's green flag, Jones continued to praise the magnitude and challenges of putting on an INDYCAR race outside of AT&T Stadium. "I don't know when, logistically, we have been a part of anything that had the coming together, the nuances of everything that it takes to make this work," Jones told James Hinchcliffe on FOX's pre-race broadcast. "Tangible and intangible, everything that goes. And it can't miss because, frankly, this is serious business going up a couple of hundred [miles an hour]." Follow INDYCAR's Grand Prix of Arlington LIVE HERE.

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A.J. Brown Trade Rumors: Latest News Concerning Eagles' Star Wide Receiver

"Hello, A.J. … what's happening?" Star wide receiver A.J. Brown remains a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Nonetheless, Brown's four-year stint with the Eagles (2022-25) has come against the backdrop of the three-time Pro Bowler publicly complaining about his role in the team's offense and rampant speculation about his relationship (or lack thereof) with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Just last season, Brown told fans to "get rid" of him if they have him on their fantasy football team and that playing "Madden NFL 26" is the only way to find "highlights" of him. Meanwhile, former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson said in November of last season that he knew "something else" was "going on" between Brown and Hurts. Earlier this week, reports circulated that the Eagles were discussing a potential Brown trade with multiple teams. Here's what's going on with Brown and an explainer on the situation. Who's interested in trading for Brown? The Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots discussed a trade with the Eagles for Brown during the opening week of NFL free agency, according to The Athletic. Brown played for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel over his first three seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans (2019-21). The report noted that Philadelphia is tabling any trade discussions regarding Brown. What are the Eagles asking for in a potential Brown trade? At least one first-round pick and a top-100 draft pick in any trade for Brown, according to Sports Illustrated. What is Brown's current contract? Brown, who will be 29 at the start of the 2026 season, signed a three-year, $96 million extension with the Eagles in April 2024, a contract that includes $84 million guaranteed and one that doesn't begin until 2027. Why is a Brown trade more likely after June 1? If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they would incur a $43 million dead cap hit, whereas if they trade the receiver after June 1, the dead cap hit would be just $16.4 million. Beginning on June 1 of every NFL year, teams can spread out a dead cap hit for a player in a trade or release over two years, whereas it directly impacts their payroll for the upcoming season if a player is released before June 1. What have the Eagles done this offseason? On Mar. 7, Philadelphia extended defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal. On the free-agent front, the Eagles have signed cornerback and 2022 Pro Bowler Riq Woolen (one-year, $12 million deal) and linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (one-year, $7.3 million deal), among other deals. What did Brown do last season? Coming off the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX triumph, Brown totaled 78 receptions for 1,003 yards (career-low 12.9 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns through 15 regular-season games in 2025. It marked the sixth time that Brown reached 1,000 receiving yards in a single season in his seven-year NFL career (2019-25). At the same time, Brown had four games where he logged two or fewer receptions, and he had just three receptions on seven targets in Philadelphia's NFC wild-card round loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers.

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Falcons GM: Tua Tagovailoa 'Coming in to Compete' With Michael Penix Jr.

Any doubt about whether there's a quarterback competition with the Atlanta Falcons between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa was settled by the one who signed the latter earlier this week. "For Tua, coming in here, he knows he's coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he's coming in to compete," Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said at a press conference on Friday about the team signing Tagovailoa, according to NFL.com. "Everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody is coming in to compete. There are no starters right now. "We're excited to have Tua, but we're excited to have all the players that we were able to get in this free-agent class." Atlanta promptly signed Tagovailoa to a league minimum contract after the Miami Dolphins officially released him on Monday; Tagovailoa's release created an NFL-record $99 million dead cap hit for the Dolphins (he was entering the second season of a four-year, $212.4 million deal). Tagovailoa, a 2023 Pro Bowler, is coming off a down year, as he totaled 2,660 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, a career-high 15 interceptions and an 88.5 passer rating across 14 starts in 2025 (he was benched after Week 15), while completing 67.7% of his passes. The year prior (2024), Tagovailoa led the NFL in completion percentage (72.9%). He also led the sport with 4,624 passing yards in 2023 and a 105.5 passer rating in 2022. Where does Tagovailoa's arrival leave Penix? "We talked to him. [Head coach] Kevin [Stefanski] talked to him. I talked to his agent when we knew that this was the direction that we were going," Cunningham said about Atlanta's communication with Penix. "You don't want to blindside somebody, and that's just how we operate. We want to have open conversations and communication, and I feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua." Penix, whom Atlanta selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, started the last three games of his 2024 rookie campaign and opened the 2025 season as the Falcons' starting quarterback. With that said, his 2025 campaign ended after nine starts due to a torn ACL. Across the nine games he started last season, Penix totaled 1,982 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, three interceptions and an 88.5 passer rating, while completing 60.1% of his passes. Why does "communication" loom large for the Falcons? Two years ago, they drafted Penix after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, with the veteran quarterback's camp feeling misled by Atlanta's draft selection. Cousins was benched for Penix in Week 16 of the 2024 season, got back under center on a full-time basis after Penix went down last season and was officially released earlier this week. Of course, Atlanta has a new regime than the one that executed the aforementioned 2024 offseason, as the Falcons hired former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan as their President of Football, Cunningham — who was previously the assistant general manager of the Chicago Bears — as their general manager and Stefanski, the former coach of the Cleveland Browns, as their new coach. Last month, Ryan expressed that he was "excited" about what the future holds for Penix.

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