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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2026 NFL League Meeting: 5 Storylines to Watch as Owners, Coaches, GMs Convene

Free agency is starting to wind down, and the 2026 NFL Draft is still nearly a month away. However, one of the most important weeks of the NFL's offseason has arrived. NFL owners, general managers, head coaches and league personnel will convene at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel starting Sunday for the league’s annual meeting. The NFL’s busy schedule includes voting on five rule changes put forth by the league’s 11-person competition committee. The owners will also discuss the continued growth of the game globally, with a league-high nine games scheduled internationally in 2026, including the NFL’s first regular-season foray into Australia. The NFL will also continue its initiative to grow flag football, which received a boost from the Fanatics Flag Football Classic last week in Los Angeles, in which teams mostly consisting of NFL players lost handily to USA Football. "We’ll spend a fair amount of time talking about international growth, joined by a couple of special guests – Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kenny Moore will be there," said Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President overseeing Player Health and Safety during a conference call with reporters this week. "And we’ll speak at length about flag and its growth, including the run-up to the Olympics in ‘28 and the premier time for flag to be in the Olympics." Here are five other big storylines to follow during the meetings this week. 5. Proposal to avoid Fail Mary 2.0 NFL owners will consider a new rule allowing replay assist to correct clear and obvious missed calls temporarily for a year in the event of a referee work stoppage, which would mean the implementation of replacement officials. The last time the NFL used replacement officials was in 2012, due to a lockout. However, that ended three weeks into the regular season with an eight-year agreement after a Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, when a replacement official incorrectly ruled a touchdown catch for Golden Tate that ended the game with a victory for the Seahawks. Rich McCay, Atlanta Falcons CEO and chairman of the competition committee, said the league is in a better place to help replacement officials if it gets to the point. At least 24 of the 32 owners are needed to approve the measure. "Replay assist already allows us to do things that we never could do in 2012 and review a ton of plays – scoring plays, turnovers, all those things – and so for us, this was just another bucket we wanted to put in there in case we have to operate under that set of circumstances," McKay said. The league and the referees reached a stalemate on compensation, along with the amount of dead time for officials during the down period from the end of the Super Bowl in February to May 15. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of May. The two sides were scheduled to meet for two days this week, but broke off talks after just a half day, with both sides claiming they were not negotiating in good faith. "The negotiations with the officials have not gone as quickly as we would have wanted," Miller said. "We’ve made a number of proposals. We’re looking to improve the accountability and performance of the officials, and we just haven’t gotten to where we need to go. "We’re going to play football this fall, and we’re going to need officials to do it. So, this is part of the preparation, and we felt compelled to make these sorts of decisions in anticipation of playing football in a different environment." 4. Another Super Bowl in Las Vegas? We've seen a lot of repeat Super Bowl locations in recent years. Be prepared for another city to find out it's hosting the Super Bowl for the second time in a relatively short span this week. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is expected to be approved as the host of Super Bowl LXIII during the meeting. Allegiant Stadium hosted its first Super Bowl in 2024, a Kansas City Chiefs overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is slated to host the Super Bowl for the second time in February 2027. The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl in the team’s home stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals the last time SoFi Stadium hosted the game in 2022. And Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is scheduled to host the NFL’s championship game in 2028 – the second time that facility will host the blockbuster event since the New England Patriots defeated the Rams in 2019. Allegiant Stadium has been home to the Las Vegas Raiders since 2020. 3. The tush push lives The NFL’s most controversial play isn’t going anywhere. A proposal to potentially ban the tush push won't be put forward when league owners meet this week. A proposal to ban the play put forth by the Green Bay Packers mustered 22 votes last year, falling two votes shy of the required 75% majority for a rule change. Last season, NFL referees struggled to accurately officiate the play at times, failing to see offsides in the close quarters of a scrum. However, defenses did a better job of defending the play and teams converted the tush push at a lower rate in 2025. Teams converted first downs on quarterback sneaks 77.4% of the time last season, compared to 76.4% on tush push plays, according to the league. That’s compared to 2024, when offenses converted first downs on 82.4% of Tush Push plays and 75.8% on traditional quarterback sneaks. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, a member of the competition committee and an opponent of the tush push in years past, no longer sees the play as an issue. "There are some optics that you’re saying, ‘It doesn't feel like football,’" McVay said in a conference call. "But it’s like, ‘Hey, get over it.’ It’s not a big deal. If we did it at a high clip like Philly, we would be using it too. "We have to figure out how to stop it and if it becomes a part of our offense, then we’ll figure out how to execute it. … I’m not losing any sleep or thinking much about that one." Still, will there be some chatter about the play in Arizona this week? We'll see if other coaches agree with McVay's assessment and the decision to keep the tush push alive for another year. 2. Where will A.J. Brown land? Teams around the league remain interested in securing the services of three-time All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown via trade, but are the Philadelphia Eagles still willing to move him? Eagles general manager Howie Roseman understands that the Eagles still have a talented roster and remain in a Super Bowl window. However, can the mercurial Brown continue to be a productive part of the team moving forward? And with the draft compensation teams like the Miami Dolphins received for trading Jaylen Waddle this season and the Seattle Seahawks moving DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, maybe it makes sense to trade Brown when his value is potentially at a high point? Philadelphia will take a $43.4 million dead money salary cap hit if they trade Brown before June 1. That lowers to just over $16 million if the Eagles move Brown after June 1, so it makes sense for Roseman to be patient. With the New England Patriots and both teams in Los Angeles as potential suitors, this week provides another opportunity for Roseman to assess Brown’s market. 1. Seahawks sale, Mark Davis succession plan for Raiders The Seahawks announced 10 days after winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl that owner Jody Allen is putting the team up for sale, according to the wishes of her brother Paul Allen, who died in 2018 at the age of 65 after complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The annual meeting in Phoenix provides an opportunity for the league to update fellow owners on potential ownership bids for the Seahawks and the expectation for owners to eventually approve vetted, final bid proposals to buy the franchise. NFL owners are also set to vote on a succession plan for Raiders owner Mark Davis that would give minority owner Egon Durban the option to purchase a majority stake in the team from Davis. Durban, the co-chief executive of tech private equity firm Silver Lake, and Discovery Land Company founder Michael Meldman each bought a 7.5% stake in the Raiders two years ago.

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2026 NFL Free Agency: The 10 Best Under-the-Radar Deals So Far This Offseason

Most of the splashy deals in NFL free agency have already been executed, with billions of dollars in contracts being dished out through the first two-plus weeks. But as some of those contracts approached or went over the $100 million mark, there were some that weren't as pricey that might shape how the 2026 NFL season plays out. Which signings were bargains? Which moves received less fanfare than they should've? Let's take a look at our top 10 under-the-radar signings so far in free agency before we start to turn our attention to the NFL Draft. 10. Alohi Gilman, S, Kansas City Chiefs (Three years, $24.75 million) Kansas City had a lot of institutional knowledge and talent on the defensive side of the football leave the building this offseason. Slot corner Trent McDuffie was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, with teammate and fellow cornerback Jaylen Watson following him in free agency. Safety Bryan Cook also departed, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. Signing Gilman to a three-year, $24.75 million deal from the Baltimore Ravens in free agency brings some experience and versatility to Kansas City’s defense.  The former Los Angeles Charger returns to the AFC West and should provide some leadership for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as he attempts to remake the defense with more additions through the draft. 9. Cobie Durant, CB, Dallas Cowboys (One year, $4 million) A versatile, playmaking cornerback who mostly fills a need as a slot defender, Durant will not only be an upgrade to the Cowboys' secondary, but he'll improve the backend of their defense on a pretty valuable contract. Dallas signed Durant to a team-friendly deal that includes $1.5 million in guaranteed money. Durant has seven career interceptions, including two returned for four touchdowns in four NFL seasons. Durant played in a multiple, 3-4 base scheme with the Rams, and should help as the Cowboys transition to a 3-4 scheme with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The Cowboys also signed Arizona Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson in free agency. The addition of Thompson and Durant provides experience and position flexibility in the back end defensively. 8. Jason Sanders, K, New York Giants (One year, $1.425 million) New Giants head coach John Harbaugh brought in one of the best kickers from last season to fix an inconsistent kicking game for New York in 2025. The Giants used three different kickers last season, including 38-year-old, injury-prone Graham Gano, who moved on at the end of the season. Yes, Sanders had injury issues last year. Sanders did not play last season due to a hip issue and was released by the Miami Dolphins at the end of the season. However, in 2024, Sanders made a franchise-record 27 consecutive field goals, including nine from 50-plus yards. Sanders is still 30 years old, and if healthy, is a low-cost option to help solidify New York’s kicking game. 7. Coby Bryant, S, Chicago Bears (three years, $40 million) The Cincinnati product emerged as a part-time role player at cornerback in his first two years with the Seattle Seahawks, into a full-time starter at safety who helped propel one of the best defenses in the league to a Super Bowl. Bryant is a versatile playmaker who is a sure tackler in the running game and should help solidify a defense that lost safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in free agency. 6. Tyler Biadasz, C, Los Angeles Chargers (Three years, $30 million) The Chargers desperately needed to upgrade the offensive line and better protect Justin Herbert. And while more expensive options like Tyler Linderbaum proved out of reach, the Bolts secured a financially reasonable alternative who fits their scheme and at 28 years old, has some upside in Biadasz. Herbert was pressured a league-high 268 times in 2025. But with Biadasz serving as the anchor of the offense, along with the return of bookend offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, the Chargers should have much better pass protection. Los Angeles also worked to improve depth upfront by signing guard Curtis Strange, along with re-signing Tre Pipkins and Trevor Penning. Expect the Chargers to draft another interior offensive lineman early in this year’s draft. But Biadasz gives Herbert someone to ably serve as the quarterback of the offensive line. 5. Jonathan Allen, DT, Cincinnati Bengals (Two years, $25 million) Released by the Minnesota Vikings at the start of free agency in a cost-cutting move, the 31-year-old Allen brings grit and experience to a Cincinnati defense that struggled to get off the field all season. Even with one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Joe Burrow, the Bengals have missed the playoffs the last three seasons. Yes, Allen has struggled from a production standpoint in producing sacks, with just 12 over the last three seasons. But Allen should be more of an impact player as a situational pass rusher with a reduction in snaps. And the Bengals could use competency and versatility up front defensively. Allen joins former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook from Kansas City to add reinforcements to a Cincinnati defense that finished No. 30 in scoring last season. 4. Nahshon Wright, CB, New York Jets (One year, $3.5 million) Under first-year head coach and defensive guru Aaron Glenn, the Jets shockingly became the first team in NFL history to go without an interception for an entire season. The addition of Wright should help rectify that issue. He finished with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 2025 for the Bears. At 6-foot-4, Wright is a rangy, playmaking cornerback who should elevate New York’s defense's ability to create turnovers. Wright is part of a veteran overall on defense for the Jets that includes trading for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, along with signing linebacker Demario Davis, defensive tackle David Onyemata, safety Dane Belton and defensive tackles Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. 3. Rico Dowdle, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Two years, $12.25 million) After back-to-back, 1,000-yard seasons, the former Carolina Panthers runner cashed in for a decent deal in free agency. A physical runner capable of producing explosive plays, Dowdle also lands in a spot where he should get the opportunity to be the lead back in a rotation that includes Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson. Dowdle is also familiar with head coach Mike McCarthy’s offense from spending time together with the Dallas Cowboys. Along with the expectation that Aaron Rodgers returns for another season, the addition of Dowdle, along with the trade for Michael Pittman Jr., should help create a more efficient offense for the Steelers. 2. Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers (One year, $6 million) San Francisco never wanted to let him get away to begin with, but after one year with the Denver Broncos, the tone-setting linebacker returns to the 49ers on a reasonable one-year deal. Paired with perennial All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, Greenlaw and the BYU product formed one of the best linebacker combos in the league. With his return, along with Warner’s recovery from a season-ending leg fracture, the two should help repair a San Francisco defense that surprisingly struggled to stop the run last season. Greenlaw’s return also should help with the transition from Robert Saleh to Raheem Morris at defensive coordinator, as the 49ers gear up to take full advantage of a closing Super Bowl window. 1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Atlanta Falcons (One year, $1.215 million) After one of his worst seasons as a pro, getting benched down the stretch in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers, the Alabama product gets a second opportunity in Atlanta with head coach and offensive guru Kevin Stefanski. While first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. is the starter in Atlanta, that’s only written in pencil as he returns from a season-ending ACL injury. That means that Tagovailoa will get all the offseason reps with a starting group that includes Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London. With Tagovailoa being paid $54 million by Miami this year, he’s a steal in terms of the talent he brings to the roster. Just 28 years old, Tagovailoa posted a 44-32 record with the Dolphins. In 2023, Tagovailoa made the Pro Bowl, leading the NFL in passing yards that season. In a winnable NFC North, the Falcons would like to help Tagovailoa reach that potential again.

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Team USA Stars Reveal What It Would Take for NFL Players to Master Flag Football

A minute before halftime of the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic last weekend, Team USA’s Velton Brown Jr. caught a pass just past midfield. He surveyed the open field around him and scanned the defense. Then he accelerated. As Team Wildcats' Luke Kuechly tried to pull one of his flags from behind, Brown contorted his body mid-sprint to make the Hall of Fame linebacker miss. When veteran NFL receiver DeAndre Hopkins lunged toward him by the sideline, Brown niftily jumped backward to avoid his arm. Then, with both Kuechly and Hopkins in front of him, Brown started a series of jukes. He slipped between them. Still, they couldn’t pull his flag. Brown’s dazzling array of moves finally ended at the 7-yard line, where his right knee touched the ground. But the viral highlight on Saturday — on top of Team USA’s dominance of current and former NFL stars throughout the day — encapsulated the message that the flag players hoped to send. Team USA went 3-0 to win Saturday’s round-robin tournament in Los Angeles, scoring on every possession except a kneel-down at the end of one victory. "I think truly that guys understand that flag football is its own sport," Darrell "Housh" Doucette, a Team USA flag national team member since 2021 and MVP of Saturday’s tournament, told me. "We are in our own lane." The flag players were noticeably smaller and quicker than their NFL counterparts. Their shiftiness often made their opponents look silly. But the biggest takeaway was the flag players’ mastery of their sport, prompting discussion about what it would take for NFL players to challenge for spots on the U.S. flag team that will compete in the 2028 Olympics, when flag football will make its Olympic debut. [4 Takeaways From Fanatics Flag Football Classic] As a discipline of football, the flag game’s similarities to tackle football are clear. The ball looks the same. The ability to throw, catch and cover translates. Speed, athleticism and versatility matter, too. But flag football is a faster game than tackle football. It’s played on a much smaller field (50 yards long between the end zones, 25 yards wide). Receivers have to run routes differently in a smaller space. For quarterbacks, the clock in their head is sped up because the rush gets to them a lot faster than what they’re accustomed to. The non-contact component of flag is "obviously a glaring one" for NFL players, according to former NFL assistant coach Callie Brownson, USA Football’s senior director of high performance and national team operations. "I think when we say non-contact, everybody just automatically goes to tackling, which obviously is very true. You can’t tackle in a 5-on-5 game. But what also falls under that category of non-contact that people don’t give enough credit to is, for example, you can’t hold somebody up while you’re trying to pull their flag," Brownson told me. "You can’t initiate any sort of contact with a player at the top of the route. You can’t run through a player in order to make a play on the ball. You can’t shield or block or post anybody up. Non-contact is actually a little more complex than just the tackling component. "Then the other piece is flag-pulling," she added. "It’s a super, super unique skill that I don’t think enough people appreciate until they go through that process. You’re not just pulling a stationary flag. As you saw on Saturday, these are unique, dynamic movements that these ball carriers are making. The plane and the level of the flag is changing. The axis of the flag is changing on a dime. Flag-pulling is a super unique skill that’s particular to our sport. It [requires] a certain type of hand-eye coordination that has to be trained over time." Brown, the cousin of Detroit Lions star safety Kerby Joseph, played high school and semi-pro football before getting involved with flag football. He says there was an acclimation process to learning the nuances of flag. "A lot of people are used to the blocks," Brown told me. "A lot of people are used to the heavy hits and things like that, but flag consists of more finesse, more IQ to where it’s a smaller field. "You don’t necessarily get to read a hole like a running back. It’s a totally different game," he added. "Maybe a guy is trying to pull your flag and you may stiff-arm just because that's the natural instinct of what you’re used to. That was kind of the adjustment for me, learning how to keep my hands up and not to necessarily want to jam somebody or slap the ball out of their hands, things like that." Team USA member Isaiah Calhoun, who had a pick-six off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, places a higher emphasis on smarts than athleticism in flag football. "If you just athletic and not smart, you’re not going to know what to do. But if you’re smart and add your athleticism to the game, then you’re going to be one of the best players in the world or one of the most known players in the world," Calhoun told me. "You have to learn from various people that have been playing for a long time before you get on the field. If you just get on the field and not know what to do, you’re going to be embarrassed out there." While it’s clear that there will be a learning curve for them to master flag football, NFL players remain on track to participate in the sport at the 2028 Olympics. Last May, NFL owners approved a resolution permitting it, though specifics of their participation must still be finalized with the NFL Players Association and relevant Olympic authorities. Doucette, Brown and Calhoun don’t see a problem with NFL players challenging for roster spots on the flag team. They view their involvement as part of their sport’s growth. "When [NFL players] step on the flag football field and they’re competing with us, they’re not NFL guys in my eyes," Doucette told me. "We all feel that we are one, we are equal and we are all flag football players at that time. And if they study the game and they’re willing to take the time out of their busy schedule and to come out and learn it, hey, man, hats off to them. Come out and be great, because now you’re a part of our community and we accept you with open arms, the same way they accepted us as peers over the past weekend. "We are the USA national team, but the USA national team also gives open invites to guys to come out and make the team better," Doucette added. "And if you say, OK, 10 [NFL] guys would be better suited for the game, and they go out there and win gold, you can’t blame them for putting out the 10 best guys. And I think that’s what it’s all about." Brownson said that "time on task" is the biggest thing that NFL players need with flag football. Athletes in basketball, soccer and track & field have also found success in the sport due to transferable skills, she said. "What you see sometimes in the tackle [football] world, a player has a predominant position in college and they get drafted and have to do something else at the NFL level. It’s no different than that in the sense that it takes reps and it takes time [to master flag football]," Brownson told me. "It’s specific to each player on how quickly they pick things up or how much practice they need. "There’s no really true, ‘Hey, here’s how much time it takes for you to be a great flag-puller.’ It’s unique to the player. But I’d say, holistically speaking, it’s time on task just like anything else to be able to build instincts that are applicable to flag." Team USA came out of the Fanatics event feeling like the NFL and celebrity players acknowledged the time they have put into their sport. "It was just like, ‘We understand why y’all do this,’" Doucette said of the conversations that transpired. "‘People look at y’all size, but they don’t understand how twitchy you guys are, how fast and how quick y’all can break down, whether it’s stopping on the dime or dropping low to dip through defenders.’ "Those guys really had the utmost respect for us," he added. "A big salute to those guys for accepting us."

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Alabama QB Ty Simpson: I'm 'Absolutely' a 1st Rounder in 2026 NFL Draft

Ty Simpson felt like he made a final impression at Alabama's pro day in front of NFL scouts. The Crimson Tide quarterback went through a 40-plus-minute throwing session Wednesday for dozens of the league's key decision makers. He previously threw at the NFL Scouting Cmbine in February but elected to go through another workout in Tuscaloosa. "Why not?" Simpson said. "Go have fun. Go sling it. You watch the tape of the pro day. There wasn’t any easy throws. I didn’t want to make it easy." Simpson is widely considered the No. 2 quarterback available in the draft behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, although at least one draft analyst believes Simpson is the top QB available. Simpson said he was invited to attend the draft in person in Pittsburgh. While he hasn't decided whether he will make the trip, his play on the field paired with his rise during the process reaffirmed what many believe: that he's a lock to be a first-round pick. "Absolutely," Simpson said. "I feel like I’ve done everything I can, but it’s not up to me. I just know that wherever I go, I’m going to give it my all and make sure I’ll put my best foot forward. "There’s going to be a lot of questions around my name. I know what I’m capable of, and I know whoever gets me is going to get a good player and a guy who loves football and a guy who loves the team and loves being a part of something bigger than himself." Simpson completed 64.5 % of his passes last season for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was much more efficient early in the season. In his final five games, he averaged 156 yards passing with six touchdowns and three interceptions. It turned out he was dealing with injuries, including gastritis that dropped his weight below 200 pounds before the College Football Playoff; he left Alabama's blowout loss to eventual national champion Indiana in the Rose Bowl with a rib injury. Simpson weighed 211 pounds at the combine and is fully healthy entering the final phase of the draft process. He has already met with two teams: the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Jets. The Rams have the 13th overall pick, while the Jets select second and 16th. "I feel great," Simpson said. "Just getting back to normal — sleep, recovery. Things in the season you get caught up in because you’re watching tape, you’re practicing, you’re trying to cram everything in to make sure you’re ready for Saturday. I feel healthy as an ox." Simpson's positioning on draft boards will continue to drive conversation leading into next month's event. Now healthy, he hopes to display what he showed early in the 2025 season: a quarterback capable of elite play. He's confident he'll be able to convince teams that he's worthy of being one of the first players chosen. "When I go into a program, I’m program-changing," Simpson said. "I don’t just make myself better, I make other people better. If you draft me, and you want me to be your franchise quarterback, I’m not just coming in to look after myself. I’m looking after the whole team and making sure I leave it better than I left it." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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2026 NFL Draft No. 1 Pick Odds: Fernando Mendoza Heavy Favorite

Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is currently the clear favorite to be selected No. 1 in April's NFL Draft. However, it's not over until the commissioner calls the first name, and the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock. Let's check out the latest lines for the next No. 1 pick at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 25. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total)Arvell Reese (Ohio State): +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)David Bailey (Texas Tech): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)Ty Simpson (Alabama): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)Rueben Bain, Jr (Miami): +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)Caleb Downs (Ohio State): +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total)Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Here's what to know about the No. 1 pick oddsboard: The Favorite: Currently, the heavy favorite in this spot is Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, who moved all the way to -20000 from -8000 since the end of the college football season. In 2025, Mendoza had a dazzling year for the Hoosiers. Including the postseason, he passed for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner also helped lead the Hoosiers to a perfect season that culminated in a national championship. "The Raiders need a quarterback and Mendoza is the best one in this draft," FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz wrote about Mendoza getting drafted first. "This is a no-brainer draft pick and no need to discuss the reasoning. Mendoza will be a Raider." Buckeye Long Shot: Considering Mendoza's odds to be selected No. 1 are so incredibly short, it seems unlikely that another player will end up hearing his name called first. With that in mind, the name closest to Mendoza's on the board is Ohio State's Arvell Reese at +8000. Schwartz noted that Reese is a "physical freak" whose on-the-field profile is similar to Micah Parsons. FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt echoed Schwartz's sentiment. "Reese has reminded me of star edge rusher Micah Parsons since the fall," Klatt noted. "He’s an excellent pass rusher, whether he’s rushing from the interior or edge. He’s got bend, athleticism and explosiveness." In 2024 and 2025, Reese racked up 52 solo tackles and assisted on 60. While he's a long shot in this spot, Reese does have the shortest odds to be the No. 2 draft pick.

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2026 NFL Draft No. 3 Pick Odds: David Bailey Leads Close Race at Top of Board

According to most analysts, bettors and bookmakers, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in April. He's the heavy favorite to hear his name called first, with odds at some books as short as -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total). When it comes to the second pick, Arvell Reese is at the top of that board. Although he's not as clear a favorite as Mendoza, his odds to go No. 2 are as short as -250. The No. 3 pick, however, is still a toss-up. In fact, there's not much separation between the first and third names. Let's take a look at the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 25. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. No. 3 NFL Draft Pick David Bailey (Texas Tech): +255 (bet $10 to win $35 total)Francis Mauigoa (Miami): +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)Arvell Reese (Ohio State): +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)Sonny Styles (Ohio State): +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)Spencer Fano (Utah Utes): +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)Monroe Freeling (Georgia): +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami): +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Ty Simpson (Alabama): +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Caleb Downs (Ohio State): +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Carnell Tate (Ohio State): +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total) Here's what to know about this oddsboard: Red Raider at 3: Texas Tech's David Bailey is the 6-foot-3 linebacker who played his first three seasons at Stanford before transferring to Tech in 2025. During his short stint as a Red Raider, he had 32 solo tackles, assisted on 20 and had three defended passes. In his most recent mock draft, FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt has Bailey going third. "There's a lot of hype around Bailey, and rightly so," Klatt explained. "This guy is a game-wrecker … Bailey led all power-conference players in sacks and tackles for loss this past season. The [Arizona] Cardinals need help wherever they can get it, and Bailey will do that." Hurricane Mauigoa: Francis Mauigoa made a name for himself at Miami and is considered by some to be the best offensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was a three-year starter for the Hurricanes, and during that time, he earned All-ACC First Team honors and was a 2025 consensus first-team All-American. Klatt, though, believes Mauigoa would be a good fit with the Dolphins and could get drafted with the 11th pick — not the third. "I’m not sure if he projects as a left tackle for the long haul," Klatt wrote, "but he’ll flourish right away at right tackle." Noteworthy Buckeye: Like Mauigoa at Miami and Bailey at Texas Tech, Arvell Reese had a valuable impact on his squad during his time at Ohio State. In 2024 and 2025, he had 52 solo tackles and assisted on 60 others. The 6-foot-4 Reese had seven total tackles in the Buckeyes' semifinal loss to Miami, including three solo. According to FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz, Reese at three could be a perfect match. "Reese is a physical freak who projects to rush the passer in the NFL," Schwartz acknowledged. "His on-the-field profile (not projection) is Micah Parsons … He will make plays from a variety of alignments and the Cardinals can use him as it best fits their defense."

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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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