The 2026 NFL free agency period was jam-packed with events and surprises last week, as expected, and now, the fireworks are finally winding down for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and every other NFL team.
But, there’s still football action ahead well before the season kicks off in September. Now, NFL experts and analysts are grading each team’s moves and judging those roster changes. Following the free agency period, the next major event up ahead is the 2026 NFL draft, which takes place in April in Pittsburgh.
In a Friday, February 13 feature for NBC Sports, Kyle Dvorchak grades each NFL team’s free agency changes and moves.

In addition to the loss of safeties Kamari Ramsey and All-American Bishop Fitzgerald to the NFL Draft, the USC Trojans have taken a hit at safety this spring.
Christian Pierce is out this spring after undergoing shoulder surgery and Marquis Gallegos is hampered. The Trojans also chose not to sign a safety in the transfer portal. As a result, redshirt freshman cornerback Trestin Castro was taking reps at safety the second week of practice.
Trestin Castro’s Transition to Safety
Whether this is just a move for the spring in a trial basis or a permanent room will remain to be seen.
Castro was a four-star recruit in the 2025 cycle. He appeared in two games this season during the Trojans blowout wins of Missouri State and Georgia Southern to open the season.
The 6-foot-0, 180-pound Upland (Calif.) product was a ball hawk in high school with his receiver background. He will now work with new safeties coach Paul Gonzales.
USC has loaded up in the secondary in recruiting over the past couple of cycles and added a few key cornerbacks in the transfer portal. It’s all about creating depth and maximizing the versatility in the backend of the defense, which means moving players around.
The Trojans have allocated plenty of resources into their development with the hiring of Gonzales, nickels coach Sam Carter and retaining cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson has also been heavily involved with coaching the secondary.
Depth in Safety Room
Pierce started nine games last year at safety and junior Kennedy Urlacher started the final three games after injuries to Ramsey and Fitzgerald in mid-November ended their seasons. Those two are the favorites to start again in 2026 but depth behind them is a question mark.
Prophet Brown, who returns for his sixth season after missing all of last season with a lower body injury, has been working at safety this spring. Brown has primarily been a nickel and corner in his career. Sophomore Dee Reddick was a key special teams contributor and reserve at nickel during his freshman season. He’s taking reps at safety this spring.
Redshirt freshman Alex Graham is going to start at nickel but can also play safety. Freshman Peyton Dyer was viewed as a defensive chess piece in the 2026 cycle. He was rated as a cornerback, USC has him listed as a safety on the roster, but the Georgia native is working at nickel this spring. Freshman Madden Riordan is a player that can play nickel or safety.
Cornerback Room Outlook
Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams and redshirt sophomore Chasen Johnson will join the mix in fall camp as they recover from season-ending knee injuries they suffered early last season.
Williams is the most experienced corner in the room and 247Sports rated him as the No. 1 player at the position in the portal this year. Johnson was a big addition in the portal last year and has experience playing under Reed at UCF in 2024.
Redshirt sophomore Marcelles Williams started the final 11 games this past season. RJ Sermons, who was originally a five-star recruit in the 2026 class, enrolled late last summer after reclassifying and spent this past season developing behind the scenes.
Freshman Elbert “Rock” Hill, the top-ranked cornerback in the 2026 class, per ESPN, has drawn rave reviews since he stepped on campus. Brandon Lockhart adds great size to the room with his 6-foot-2 frame.
Jayden Crowder was a late add to the class and the Santa Margarita (Calif.) product has also made an impression. Carrington Pierce, the younger brother of Christian, transferred from Oklahoma State this offseason.
It’s a position battle that is picking up steam this spring and is very likely going to bleed into the regular season.

Two of Alabama’s best defensive backs elected to return to Alabama for another season and forgo the NFL draft, and it’s a pair of decisions that have Alabama’s defensive coordinator believing that success will follow.
Kane Wommack gave some insight into the process that led to veteran safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb to return to Alabama for another season.
“Well, those are the decisions that are made in January that affect us from September to next January hopefully, and those are some of the biggest wins in recruiting,” Wommack said. “We try to be very open with our players about what we think the best decision is for them, and we’re really fortunate we have such great connections with all NFL organizations that we get great feedback. We’re able to give them accurate information, and then, they make the best decision possible.”
These two have started games for Alabama in the past two seasons, but they are not the only returning starters. On top of Hubbard and Sabb returning, the Crimson Tide still has starting defensive backs like Zabien Brown, Red Morgan and Dijon Lee Jr.
With the core group of Alabama’s secondary room coming back to Tuscaloosa for one more season, Wommack thinks that Alabama history shows that multiple veterans returning for another year can lead to a lot of success.
“But you know, if you look over the past here, when you’ve had a grouping of guys that have kind of made that decision to come back as a group together, there’s typically been success to follow,” Wommack said. “It certainly puts us in a great position.”
Hubbard and Sabb received big reactions from their teammate Lee after the news broke that the two were coming back to Alabama. The 6-foot-4 corner talked to both of them before the decisions were made, and he called both of them up on the phone after the returns were made official.
“Whenever Bray returned, I called him,” Lee said. “I was jumping on the phone, and we was laughing, but you know, we had to get to work. And then Sabb, same thing pretty much. Just happy for them guys to be back.”
It sounds like Lee gave a great pitch to Hubbard and Sabb as he shared with media members that he told them that “we got a lot of returning pieces, a lot of new defensive linemen coming in, linebackers, it’s a whole new year. Let’s run it back.”
Lee, a sophomore corner, talked about how familiarity in the defensive back room is going to help a lot going into 2026.
“It means a lot,” Lee said. “We got Sabb, Bray, ZB, Red, all returning starters mostly, and you know, we kind of already know the playbook. We definitely know the playbook. We all know what to do and when and how to do it. We all communicate well, and it’s kind of just taking a bigger step this year into just trusting each other more. Last year, we had trust for each other, but this year, it’s on a whole different level for sure.”
Lee believes Alabama has the best secondary in the nation because of all the returning pieces, the chemistry between the returning pieces and the belief that the position group is very technical and tackles well. There’s no pressure on the shoulders of Lee as he believes things will happen if the unit can do their jobs and play together.

The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the NFL world with their Trent McDuffie trade news just before free agency, and the fallout of the decision is expected to impact draft plans.
Before McDuffie was traded, most draft experts had KC selecting a wide receiver, edge rusher or, specifically, running back Jeremiyah Love in round one. Now, following a free agency period that added two running backs (Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado) and lost multiple members of the secondary (Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, and Bryan Cook), there’s been a dramatic shift in positional need.
Theoretically, the Chiefs could still target a wide receiver or an edge rusher, but the greatest team need is now cornerback. And safety may have been bumped up the list, too.
Armed with two first-round picks after the McDuffie deal, Pro Football Sports Network analyst Alec Elijah believes Kansas City could focus on overhauling the secondary in round one.
During a new draft prediction on March 14, Elijah sent LSU star cornerback Mansoor Delane to the Chiefs at No. 9 overall. Then, with the Los Angeles Rams’ former pick (No. 29 overall), he predicted versatile Toledo safety/DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
The 180 move would totally disregard KC’s perceived needs before NFL free agency, instead focusing on replenishing the secondary with young talent as the Chiefs did in 2022.
LSU CB Mansoor Delane Labeled ‘Potential Long-Term Cornerstone’ for Chiefs in NFL Draft
Many believe Delane could be the first cornerback off the board in late April this year. And that’s where Elijah has him going in his new PFSN mock draft.
“Losing several defensive backs in free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs could look to reload their secondary through the draft,” Elijah reasoned.
Continuing: “One strong option would be selecting LSU’s Mansoor Delane with the No. 9 pick. Delane earned the highest PFSN CFB CB Impact score in the class at 96.8, highlighting his production and influence in coverage.”
“What makes him stand out is his fluid movement and sharp instincts in the secondary,” the analyst went on. “Delane transitions smoothly out of his backpedal, changes direction quickly, and reacts to routes with impressive anticipation.”
He concluded that Delane’s “disciplined aggression allows him to stay in phase with receivers and consistently make plays on the football, giving Kansas City a potential long-term cornerstone in the secondary.”
Why NFL Free Agency News Could Lead to Chiefs Doubling Down on Secondary
Cornerback jumped straight to the top of the Chiefs’ list of draft needs, but the safety need is more up for debate.
Kansas City general manager Brett Veach could spend the later first on a position like wide receiver, defensive end, offensive tackle, or defensive tackle. However, there is an argument for doubling down on defensive backs.
The 2026 draft class is deep at both edge/defensive end and wide receiver, so waiting on these two positions makes some sense. Elijah has the Chiefs spending a high second-rounder on Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, for example.
Later, in round three, the PFSN analyst has KC selecting USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.
The Chiefs have also prepped for the Jawaan Taylor cut on the offensive line, bringing in Jaylon Moore, Josh Simmons, and Esa Pole last year. Meanwhile, defensive tackle feels like less of a need with Omarr Norman-Lott returning from injury and veteran Khyiris Tonga joining the franchise in free agency.
Of course, Kansas City did add veteran safety Alohi Gilman last week, but McNeil-Warren could become DC Steve Spagnuolo’s new Swiss army knife, similar to McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed in years past.
“McNeil-Warren stands out immediately due to his impressive physical profile,” Elijah wrote during his draft prediction. “At over 6-foot-3 with a wingspan exceeding 32 inches, he combines elite length with strong athletic traits, including quick foot speed, lateral burst, and fluid movement in coverage.
“For the Chiefs, McNeil-Warren’s versatility could make him a valuable addition right away. His size and athleticism give Kansas City a defender capable of developing into a potential long-term option in the secondary.”
Veach and Spagnuolo love drafting talented DBs. A coordinated first-round plan of Delane and McNeil-Warren would do just that, making it a definite possibility after free agency.

The New York Jets sorted out their quarterback question mark pretty quickly this offseason.
Before the 2025 season even came to an end, the chatter began pointing to various potential candidates for the franchise this offseason. A handful of guys were mentioned and the Jets didn’t wait long to make a move as they acquired old friend Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jets were decisive and agreed to terms on the deal with Las Vegas before the legal tampering period even came to an end.
Right now, the Jets’ quarterback room has Smith, Justin Fields, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that New York will

Travis Kelce is officially coming back to Kansas City.
In case you missed it, the Chiefs and the star tight end reached an agreement on a one-year deal last week just ahead of the start of the league’s legal tampering period. Rather than testing free agency for the first time in his career, the 36-year-old is now set to return for a 14th NFL season with the club that selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft.
Sports Illustrated has obtained the full breakdown of Kelce’s one-year deal for 2026. Here’s a complete look at the details.
Travis Kelce contract: Full details ahead of tight end’s 14th NFL season
Kelce gets $12 million fully guaranteed—$3 million in base salary, and $9 million in a series of roster bonuses. One is a training camp bonus of $3 million. The remaining $6 million will come in per-game roster bonuses. But those are 90-man roster bonuses, and fully guaranteed. He doesn’t have to be active to get them.
The contract is broken up this way to manage the cap hits, exploiting the 50% rule and a post-June 1 mechanism to spread them out over three years. Kelce, as such, has a $4,896,667 hit for 2026, and dead-money hits of $3,551,667 for 2027 and 2028.
The Chiefs have a long-standing policy of not doing void years, and the above two rules allow them to sidestep that (using a tactic the Eagles have over the years). Kelce has minimum salaries built into dummy years in 2027 and 2028, with a $40 million guarantee for 2028 vesting June 8 of next year—which will force the Chiefs to release him by then, and allow for them to spread the dead money out, since the date falls after June 1.
Kansas City also has $3 million in available incentives. One tier ties to the Chiefs making the playoffs—if they do, he makes $750,000 if he plays 60% of the regular season snaps, $1 million at 70% of the snaps, or $2 million at 80% of the snaps. The second tier is triggered if the Chiefs win the AFC and go to the Super Bowl—that happens, and he gets another $250,000 at 60% playtime, or $1 million at 70% playtime.
The contract basically paves the way to retirement for Kelce. If that’s the path, after Kelce’s 14th season, the Chiefs would then quietly release him after June 1. If it’s not, then they’d obviously renegotiate well before then.
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MIKE KADLICK
Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master’s in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.
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ALBERT BREER
ALBERT BREER
Albert Breer is a senior writer covering the NFL for Sports Illustrated, delivering the biggest stories and breaking news from across the league. He has been on the NFL beat since 2005 and joined SI in 2016. Breer began his career covering the New England Patriots for the MetroWest Daily News and the Boston Herald from 2005 to ’07, then covered the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News from 2007 to ’08. He worked for The Sporting News from 2008 to ’09 before returning to Massachusetts as The Boston Globe’s national NFL writer in 2009. From 2010 to 2016, Breer served as a national reporter for NFL Network. In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, Breer regularly appears on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, FS1 with Colin Cowherd, The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show. A 2002 graduate of Ohio State, Breer lives near Boston with his wife, a cardiac ICU nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, and their three children.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jalen Reeves-Maybin was re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association’s Board of Player Representatives on Sunday.
The nine-year pro begins his second two-year term.
“I’m honored that the Board has trusted me to continue serving as president,” Reeves-Maybin said in a statement. “There’s important work ahead and I’m looking forward to continue advocating on behalf of our membership to protect our rights and advance our interests.”
Reeves-Maybin played for the Chicago Bears last season. He spent seven seasons with the Detroit Lions over two stints and also played one season with the Houston Texans.
The Board also elected four new players to serve on the Executive Committee:
Tanoh Kpassagnon will serve as treasurer. The nine-year defensive end played last season with the Bears and previously served as an alternate player representative.
Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, New York Jets defensive lineman Harrison Phillips and Green Bay Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin also were elected.
They will join returning Executive Committee members Oren Burks, Cam Heyward, Ted Karras, Case Keenum, Brandon McManus and Thomas Morstead, who were all re-elected Sunday.
___

SAN DIEGO — Jalen Reeves-Maybin was re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association’s Board of Player Representatives on Sunday.
The nine-year pro begins his second two-year term.

The New York Giants’ most important free agency move last week may have been the Jermaine Eluemunor extension news, but the latest NFL draft rumors targeted the offensive line despite that.
Eluemunor re-signed with the Giants on a three-year, $39 million contract, securing the right tackle position. To some, that might have ended any speculation of an offensive line selection at No. 5 overall, but Pro Football Sports Network analyst Alec Elijah disagrees.
During a new March 14 mock draft prediction with PFSN, Elijah has the Giants selecting Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in round one. But his selection came with a bold twist.
Elijah believes Big Blue could draft Mauigoa to start at guard, rather than O-Tackle. And his theory actually makes some sense, considering the Giants whiffed on their top guard targets in free agency.
“The New York Giants could address a major need along the offensive line by selecting Francis Mauigoa,” the PFSN analyst wrote, after making the prediction.
“The former Miami Hurricanes football standout projects as a long-term starting tackle in the NFL, but he also has the versatility to slide inside if New York still needs help at guard early in his career,” Elijah noted. “Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing around 329 pounds, Mauigoa combines elite athleticism with the power needed to handle NFL pass rushers. For a Giants offensive line that has struggled with consistency, his size, movement skills, and physical style could make him a foundational piece as the team builds a more stable, reliable front.”
Draft Target Francis Mauigoa Would Give Giants Insurance on the Offensive Line
Most experts have the Giants targeting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, or another position like cornerback. However, the unexpected Mauigoa prediction does practice what new head coach John Harbaugh preaches.
Harbaugh’s Giants are expected to lean on the offensive line and run the football. This has led to a lot of Love hype in recent weeks, but the NYG running back duo of Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy is very formidable as it currently stands.
What if they bolstered the rushing attack in a different way? Instead, bulking up on blockers.
Mauigoa adds versatility and upside, two important traits on the offensive line. With him inside the building, Harbaugh would have a deep group of options to work with on his OL, in case of injury.
Andrew Thomas and Eluemunor would start at offensive tackle, with Jon Runyan, Mauigoa, and John Michael Schmitz on the interior. The Giants would also have Marcus Mbow for quality depth at multiple positions, not to mention a lesser veteran guard addition (still expected) and the option of moving Mauigoa to tackle if Thomas or Eluemunor gets injured.
Winning football starts in the trenches. If anybody knows that, it’s Harbaugh.
Latest Giants Free Agency News at Guard
After missing out on a top-tier guard target like Alijah Vera-Tucker and a top-tier center like Tyler Linderbaum, the initial thought was that the Giants would be in on the second tier of free agent interior offensive linemen.
However, on March 11, ESPN beat reporter Jordan Raanan relayed a change of heart.
“After speaking with sources Tuesday, it became clear Giants pivoted and were no longer willing to pay a mid-tier guard. Unless that changes, it eliminates the likelihood of signing a vet like Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio or Dylan Parham,” Raanan reported on X. “In the meantime, they wait out that market.”
Parham has since signed with the crosstown rival New York Jets, although Bitonio and Teller are still available, as is 2025 starting right guard Greg Van Roten.
Assuming a low-budget move is made as Raanan suggests, the Giants’ free agency pivot at guard makes the Mauigoa theory much more plausible.

A record-breaking day should bring only praise, but the story runs deeper. After surpassing the NFL Combine record that’s been held since 2003, a former Arkansas quarterback shared an honest truth. Despite all of it, NFL teams still see his color rather than his talent and hard work.
“I mean, I feel like I’m not trying to make this like a whole like race thing, but I feel like they definitely see my color and think I’m just gonna run or think I’m just a runner and really can’t throw or process things,” Arkansas QB Taylen Green said on the Outta Pocket podcast. “So I’m really, you know, RG3; I’m pretty sure you’ve been through that, been through that at this process too. So I was just trying to beat that stigma and just put everybody on notice that thinks that way, so.”
Taylen Green’s frustration is understandable since last season, he recorded 2,714 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Yet, the front offices are only concerned about his legs while ignoring his arm talent.
Now, NFL teams are expecting him to switch positions, like QB Logan Thomas and Terrelle Pryor. During the combine, NFL Network’s Stacey Dales even asked him about double-checking his move, and from there, the fear and pressure of switching positions started.
One of the major examples of someone who faced that situation is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Before the NFL Draft, some analysts and scouts said Jackson should change his position from quarterback to wide receiver because he was very fast and athletic. Former NFL general manager Bill Polian also said this. This happened even though Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy at Louisville, which means he was the best player in college football that year.
Now, Taylen Green is expressing the same fear of scouts looking at him as a runner rather than a QB. Slowly, things are changing in the league. In the 2024 Super Bowl LVII, history was made when Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts became the first two Black quarterbacks to face each other in the championship game. But, indeed, this kind of success was not common in the NFL before.
For many years, most quarterbacks in the league were white players. While the landscape is changing, with the percentage of games started by Black quarterbacks doubling from 15% in 2011 to 29% in 2022, Green’s experience at the Combine shows that the old biases die hard, and the ‘athlete’ label remains a hurdle.
Former NFL quarterback Michael Bishop explained the entire situation they had to go through.
“They used to label us as athletes, athletic quarterbacks, instead of just quarterbacks,” Bishop said. “For a long time, I think for the Black quarterback, that stigma was a slap in the face, because, yes, we’re athletic, but we can play this position.”
Now, even though more Black players are showing up, like in the 2024 season, 15 of the 32 teams started Black quarterbacks in Week 1, but the challenges are still there.
“An African-American quarterback may throw an interception, but they describe it so much differently from the All-American white quarterback,” Bishop said. “You’re under a bigger spotlight; you’re under a magnifying glass.”
Now, even with all the chaos surrounding Taylen Green, he has shown in the NFL Combine why he is a strong QB. Green ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds, jumped 43½ inches, and had an 11-foot-2 broad jump. What’s interesting is that, as per ESPN research, these are the best numbers for a quarterback at the combine since 2003.
Before Green, Anthony Richardson had the best vertical jump (40½ inches) and broad jump (10 feet 9 inches) for a quarterback in 2003. The fastest 40-yard dash for a quarterback before Green was Robert Griffin III, who ran 4.41 seconds at the 2012 NFL Combine. So, there’s no way he can switch his position, but he does need to work on his skills ahead of the NFL draft.
Taylen Green’s possible NFL teams
Taylen Green is trying to fix all his inconsistencies before turning pro. He sometimes has trouble throwing the ball accurately. His footwork can get messy, which makes some passes miss the receiver or go too high. Improving his pocket presence is a key point of emphasis for NFL scouts. To fix these problems, Green is training with quarterback coach Taylor Kelly from 3DQB.
Kelly has worked with many NFL quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, CJ Stroud, Jared Goff, and Bryce Young. At the NFL Combine, Green talked with about 20 NFL teams. He also had a longer meeting with the New York Jets. However, he did not get the chance to meet his favorite childhood team, the Dallas Cowboys.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper says Taylen Green is the 8th-best quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft class. Before the NFL Combine, many scouts thought he would be picked in the middle or later rounds of the draft. But after performing well at the Combine, he might now be selected earlier than expected.
“If I have time to develop him over time, he’s the one that I’d be willing to take a shot on,” an NFC assistant general manager said to ESPN. “There’s a lot of creative things that you could do with him while he’s developing, but that type of profile is what you typically like to take a chance on.”
Ultimately, the team that drafts Taylen Green won’t just be selecting a quarterback with a rare athletic profile; they’ll be making a statement on whether they see a developmental passer or just another runner, which is a decision that will define the next chapter of his story.

The 2026 NFL free agency period was jam-packed with events and surprises last week, as expected, and now, the fireworks are finally winding down for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and every other NFL team.
But, there’s still football action ahead well before the season kicks off in September. Now, NFL experts and analysts are grading each team’s moves and judging those roster changes. Following the free agency period, the next major event up ahead is the 2026 NFL draft, which takes place in April in Pittsburgh.
In a Friday, February 13 feature for NBC Sports, Kyle Dvorchak grades each NFL team’s free agency changes and moves.

In addition to the loss of safeties Kamari Ramsey and All-American Bishop Fitzgerald to the NFL Draft, the USC Trojans have taken a hit at safety this spring.
Christian Pierce is out this spring after undergoing shoulder surgery and Marquis Gallegos is hampered. The Trojans also chose not to sign a safety in the transfer portal. As a result, redshirt freshman cornerback Trestin Castro was taking reps at safety the second week of practice.
Trestin Castro’s Transition to Safety
Whether this is just a move for the spring in a trial basis or a permanent room will remain to be seen.
Castro was a four-star recruit in the 2025 cycle. He appeared in two games this season during the Trojans blowout wins of Missouri State and Georgia Southern to open the season.
The 6-foot-0, 180-pound Upland (Calif.) product was a ball hawk in high school with his receiver background. He will now work with new safeties coach Paul Gonzales.
USC has loaded up in the secondary in recruiting over the past couple of cycles and added a few key cornerbacks in the transfer portal. It’s all about creating depth and maximizing the versatility in the backend of the defense, which means moving players around.
The Trojans have allocated plenty of resources into their development with the hiring of Gonzales, nickels coach Sam Carter and retaining cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed. New defensive coordinator Gary Patterson has also been heavily involved with coaching the secondary.
Depth in Safety Room
Pierce started nine games last year at safety and junior Kennedy Urlacher started the final three games after injuries to Ramsey and Fitzgerald in mid-November ended their seasons. Those two are the favorites to start again in 2026 but depth behind them is a question mark.
Prophet Brown, who returns for his sixth season after missing all of last season with a lower body injury, has been working at safety this spring. Brown has primarily been a nickel and corner in his career. Sophomore Dee Reddick was a key special teams contributor and reserve at nickel during his freshman season. He’s taking reps at safety this spring.
Redshirt freshman Alex Graham is going to start at nickel but can also play safety. Freshman Peyton Dyer was viewed as a defensive chess piece in the 2026 cycle. He was rated as a cornerback, USC has him listed as a safety on the roster, but the Georgia native is working at nickel this spring. Freshman Madden Riordan is a player that can play nickel or safety.
Cornerback Room Outlook
Iowa State transfer Jontez Williams and redshirt sophomore Chasen Johnson will join the mix in fall camp as they recover from season-ending knee injuries they suffered early last season.
Williams is the most experienced corner in the room and 247Sports rated him as the No. 1 player at the position in the portal this year. Johnson was a big addition in the portal last year and has experience playing under Reed at UCF in 2024.
Redshirt sophomore Marcelles Williams started the final 11 games this past season. RJ Sermons, who was originally a five-star recruit in the 2026 class, enrolled late last summer after reclassifying and spent this past season developing behind the scenes.
Freshman Elbert “Rock” Hill, the top-ranked cornerback in the 2026 class, per ESPN, has drawn rave reviews since he stepped on campus. Brandon Lockhart adds great size to the room with his 6-foot-2 frame.
Jayden Crowder was a late add to the class and the Santa Margarita (Calif.) product has also made an impression. Carrington Pierce, the younger brother of Christian, transferred from Oklahoma State this offseason.
It’s a position battle that is picking up steam this spring and is very likely going to bleed into the regular season.

Two of Alabama’s best defensive backs elected to return to Alabama for another season and forgo the NFL draft, and it’s a pair of decisions that have Alabama’s defensive coordinator believing that success will follow.
Kane Wommack gave some insight into the process that led to veteran safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb to return to Alabama for another season.
“Well, those are the decisions that are made in January that affect us from September to next January hopefully, and those are some of the biggest wins in recruiting,” Wommack said. “We try to be very open with our players about what we think the best decision is for them, and we’re really fortunate we have such great connections with all NFL organizations that we get great feedback. We’re able to give them accurate information, and then, they make the best decision possible.”
These two have started games for Alabama in the past two seasons, but they are not the only returning starters. On top of Hubbard and Sabb returning, the Crimson Tide still has starting defensive backs like Zabien Brown, Red Morgan and Dijon Lee Jr.
With the core group of Alabama’s secondary room coming back to Tuscaloosa for one more season, Wommack thinks that Alabama history shows that multiple veterans returning for another year can lead to a lot of success.
“But you know, if you look over the past here, when you’ve had a grouping of guys that have kind of made that decision to come back as a group together, there’s typically been success to follow,” Wommack said. “It certainly puts us in a great position.”
Hubbard and Sabb received big reactions from their teammate Lee after the news broke that the two were coming back to Alabama. The 6-foot-4 corner talked to both of them before the decisions were made, and he called both of them up on the phone after the returns were made official.
“Whenever Bray returned, I called him,” Lee said. “I was jumping on the phone, and we was laughing, but you know, we had to get to work. And then Sabb, same thing pretty much. Just happy for them guys to be back.”
It sounds like Lee gave a great pitch to Hubbard and Sabb as he shared with media members that he told them that “we got a lot of returning pieces, a lot of new defensive linemen coming in, linebackers, it’s a whole new year. Let’s run it back.”
Lee, a sophomore corner, talked about how familiarity in the defensive back room is going to help a lot going into 2026.
“It means a lot,” Lee said. “We got Sabb, Bray, ZB, Red, all returning starters mostly, and you know, we kind of already know the playbook. We definitely know the playbook. We all know what to do and when and how to do it. We all communicate well, and it’s kind of just taking a bigger step this year into just trusting each other more. Last year, we had trust for each other, but this year, it’s on a whole different level for sure.”
Lee believes Alabama has the best secondary in the nation because of all the returning pieces, the chemistry between the returning pieces and the belief that the position group is very technical and tackles well. There’s no pressure on the shoulders of Lee as he believes things will happen if the unit can do their jobs and play together.

The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the NFL world with their Trent McDuffie trade news just before free agency, and the fallout of the decision is expected to impact draft plans.
Before McDuffie was traded, most draft experts had KC selecting a wide receiver, edge rusher or, specifically, running back Jeremiyah Love in round one. Now, following a free agency period that added two running backs (Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado) and lost multiple members of the secondary (Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, and Bryan Cook), there’s been a dramatic shift in positional need.
Theoretically, the Chiefs could still target a wide receiver or an edge rusher, but the greatest team need is now cornerback. And safety may have been bumped up the list, too.
Armed with two first-round picks after the McDuffie deal, Pro Football Sports Network analyst Alec Elijah believes Kansas City could focus on overhauling the secondary in round one.
During a new draft prediction on March 14, Elijah sent LSU star cornerback Mansoor Delane to the Chiefs at No. 9 overall. Then, with the Los Angeles Rams’ former pick (No. 29 overall), he predicted versatile Toledo safety/DB Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
The 180 move would totally disregard KC’s perceived needs before NFL free agency, instead focusing on replenishing the secondary with young talent as the Chiefs did in 2022.
LSU CB Mansoor Delane Labeled ‘Potential Long-Term Cornerstone’ for Chiefs in NFL Draft
Many believe Delane could be the first cornerback off the board in late April this year. And that’s where Elijah has him going in his new PFSN mock draft.
“Losing several defensive backs in free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs could look to reload their secondary through the draft,” Elijah reasoned.
Continuing: “One strong option would be selecting LSU’s Mansoor Delane with the No. 9 pick. Delane earned the highest PFSN CFB CB Impact score in the class at 96.8, highlighting his production and influence in coverage.”
“What makes him stand out is his fluid movement and sharp instincts in the secondary,” the analyst went on. “Delane transitions smoothly out of his backpedal, changes direction quickly, and reacts to routes with impressive anticipation.”
He concluded that Delane’s “disciplined aggression allows him to stay in phase with receivers and consistently make plays on the football, giving Kansas City a potential long-term cornerstone in the secondary.”
Why NFL Free Agency News Could Lead to Chiefs Doubling Down on Secondary
Cornerback jumped straight to the top of the Chiefs’ list of draft needs, but the safety need is more up for debate.
Kansas City general manager Brett Veach could spend the later first on a position like wide receiver, defensive end, offensive tackle, or defensive tackle. However, there is an argument for doubling down on defensive backs.
The 2026 draft class is deep at both edge/defensive end and wide receiver, so waiting on these two positions makes some sense. Elijah has the Chiefs spending a high second-rounder on Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, for example.
Later, in round three, the PFSN analyst has KC selecting USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane.
The Chiefs have also prepped for the Jawaan Taylor cut on the offensive line, bringing in Jaylon Moore, Josh Simmons, and Esa Pole last year. Meanwhile, defensive tackle feels like less of a need with Omarr Norman-Lott returning from injury and veteran Khyiris Tonga joining the franchise in free agency.
Of course, Kansas City did add veteran safety Alohi Gilman last week, but McNeil-Warren could become DC Steve Spagnuolo’s new Swiss army knife, similar to McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed in years past.
“McNeil-Warren stands out immediately due to his impressive physical profile,” Elijah wrote during his draft prediction. “At over 6-foot-3 with a wingspan exceeding 32 inches, he combines elite length with strong athletic traits, including quick foot speed, lateral burst, and fluid movement in coverage.
“For the Chiefs, McNeil-Warren’s versatility could make him a valuable addition right away. His size and athleticism give Kansas City a defender capable of developing into a potential long-term option in the secondary.”
Veach and Spagnuolo love drafting talented DBs. A coordinated first-round plan of Delane and McNeil-Warren would do just that, making it a definite possibility after free agency.

The New York Jets sorted out their quarterback question mark pretty quickly this offseason.
Before the 2025 season even came to an end, the chatter began pointing to various potential candidates for the franchise this offseason. A handful of guys were mentioned and the Jets didn’t wait long to make a move as they acquired old friend Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jets were decisive and agreed to terms on the deal with Las Vegas before the legal tampering period even came to an end.
Right now, the Jets’ quarterback room has Smith, Justin Fields, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that New York will

Travis Kelce is officially coming back to Kansas City.
In case you missed it, the Chiefs and the star tight end reached an agreement on a one-year deal last week just ahead of the start of the league’s legal tampering period. Rather than testing free agency for the first time in his career, the 36-year-old is now set to return for a 14th NFL season with the club that selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft.
Sports Illustrated has obtained the full breakdown of Kelce’s one-year deal for 2026. Here’s a complete look at the details.
Travis Kelce contract: Full details ahead of tight end’s 14th NFL season
Kelce gets $12 million fully guaranteed—$3 million in base salary, and $9 million in a series of roster bonuses. One is a training camp bonus of $3 million. The remaining $6 million will come in per-game roster bonuses. But those are 90-man roster bonuses, and fully guaranteed. He doesn’t have to be active to get them.
The contract is broken up this way to manage the cap hits, exploiting the 50% rule and a post-June 1 mechanism to spread them out over three years. Kelce, as such, has a $4,896,667 hit for 2026, and dead-money hits of $3,551,667 for 2027 and 2028.
The Chiefs have a long-standing policy of not doing void years, and the above two rules allow them to sidestep that (using a tactic the Eagles have over the years). Kelce has minimum salaries built into dummy years in 2027 and 2028, with a $40 million guarantee for 2028 vesting June 8 of next year—which will force the Chiefs to release him by then, and allow for them to spread the dead money out, since the date falls after June 1.
Kansas City also has $3 million in available incentives. One tier ties to the Chiefs making the playoffs—if they do, he makes $750,000 if he plays 60% of the regular season snaps, $1 million at 70% of the snaps, or $2 million at 80% of the snaps. The second tier is triggered if the Chiefs win the AFC and go to the Super Bowl—that happens, and he gets another $250,000 at 60% playtime, or $1 million at 70% playtime.
The contract basically paves the way to retirement for Kelce. If that’s the path, after Kelce’s 14th season, the Chiefs would then quietly release him after June 1. If it’s not, then they’d obviously renegotiate well before then.
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MIKE KADLICK
Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master’s in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.
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ALBERT BREER
ALBERT BREER
Albert Breer is a senior writer covering the NFL for Sports Illustrated, delivering the biggest stories and breaking news from across the league. He has been on the NFL beat since 2005 and joined SI in 2016. Breer began his career covering the New England Patriots for the MetroWest Daily News and the Boston Herald from 2005 to ’07, then covered the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News from 2007 to ’08. He worked for The Sporting News from 2008 to ’09 before returning to Massachusetts as The Boston Globe’s national NFL writer in 2009. From 2010 to 2016, Breer served as a national reporter for NFL Network. In addition to his work at Sports Illustrated, Breer regularly appears on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston, FS1 with Colin Cowherd, The Rich Eisen Show and The Dan Patrick Show. A 2002 graduate of Ohio State, Breer lives near Boston with his wife, a cardiac ICU nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, and their three children.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jalen Reeves-Maybin was re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association’s Board of Player Representatives on Sunday.
The nine-year pro begins his second two-year term.
“I’m honored that the Board has trusted me to continue serving as president,” Reeves-Maybin said in a statement. “There’s important work ahead and I’m looking forward to continue advocating on behalf of our membership to protect our rights and advance our interests.”
Reeves-Maybin played for the Chicago Bears last season. He spent seven seasons with the Detroit Lions over two stints and also played one season with the Houston Texans.
The Board also elected four new players to serve on the Executive Committee:
Tanoh Kpassagnon will serve as treasurer. The nine-year defensive end played last season with the Bears and previously served as an alternate player representative.
Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, New York Jets defensive lineman Harrison Phillips and Green Bay Packers linebacker Zaire Franklin also were elected.
They will join returning Executive Committee members Oren Burks, Cam Heyward, Ted Karras, Case Keenum, Brandon McManus and Thomas Morstead, who were all re-elected Sunday.
___

SAN DIEGO — Jalen Reeves-Maybin was re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association’s Board of Player Representatives on Sunday.
The nine-year pro begins his second two-year term.

The New York Giants’ most important free agency move last week may have been the Jermaine Eluemunor extension news, but the latest NFL draft rumors targeted the offensive line despite that.
Eluemunor re-signed with the Giants on a three-year, $39 million contract, securing the right tackle position. To some, that might have ended any speculation of an offensive line selection at No. 5 overall, but Pro Football Sports Network analyst Alec Elijah disagrees.
During a new March 14 mock draft prediction with PFSN, Elijah has the Giants selecting Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in round one. But his selection came with a bold twist.
Elijah believes Big Blue could draft Mauigoa to start at guard, rather than O-Tackle. And his theory actually makes some sense, considering the Giants whiffed on their top guard targets in free agency.
“The New York Giants could address a major need along the offensive line by selecting Francis Mauigoa,” the PFSN analyst wrote, after making the prediction.
“The former Miami Hurricanes football standout projects as a long-term starting tackle in the NFL, but he also has the versatility to slide inside if New York still needs help at guard early in his career,” Elijah noted. “Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing around 329 pounds, Mauigoa combines elite athleticism with the power needed to handle NFL pass rushers. For a Giants offensive line that has struggled with consistency, his size, movement skills, and physical style could make him a foundational piece as the team builds a more stable, reliable front.”
Draft Target Francis Mauigoa Would Give Giants Insurance on the Offensive Line
Most experts have the Giants targeting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, or another position like cornerback. However, the unexpected Mauigoa prediction does practice what new head coach John Harbaugh preaches.
Harbaugh’s Giants are expected to lean on the offensive line and run the football. This has led to a lot of Love hype in recent weeks, but the NYG running back duo of Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy is very formidable as it currently stands.
What if they bolstered the rushing attack in a different way? Instead, bulking up on blockers.
Mauigoa adds versatility and upside, two important traits on the offensive line. With him inside the building, Harbaugh would have a deep group of options to work with on his OL, in case of injury.
Andrew Thomas and Eluemunor would start at offensive tackle, with Jon Runyan, Mauigoa, and John Michael Schmitz on the interior. The Giants would also have Marcus Mbow for quality depth at multiple positions, not to mention a lesser veteran guard addition (still expected) and the option of moving Mauigoa to tackle if Thomas or Eluemunor gets injured.
Winning football starts in the trenches. If anybody knows that, it’s Harbaugh.
Latest Giants Free Agency News at Guard
After missing out on a top-tier guard target like Alijah Vera-Tucker and a top-tier center like Tyler Linderbaum, the initial thought was that the Giants would be in on the second tier of free agent interior offensive linemen.
However, on March 11, ESPN beat reporter Jordan Raanan relayed a change of heart.
“After speaking with sources Tuesday, it became clear Giants pivoted and were no longer willing to pay a mid-tier guard. Unless that changes, it eliminates the likelihood of signing a vet like Wyatt Teller, Joel Bitonio or Dylan Parham,” Raanan reported on X. “In the meantime, they wait out that market.”
Parham has since signed with the crosstown rival New York Jets, although Bitonio and Teller are still available, as is 2025 starting right guard Greg Van Roten.
Assuming a low-budget move is made as Raanan suggests, the Giants’ free agency pivot at guard makes the Mauigoa theory much more plausible.

A record-breaking day should bring only praise, but the story runs deeper. After surpassing the NFL Combine record that’s been held since 2003, a former Arkansas quarterback shared an honest truth. Despite all of it, NFL teams still see his color rather than his talent and hard work.
“I mean, I feel like I’m not trying to make this like a whole like race thing, but I feel like they definitely see my color and think I’m just gonna run or think I’m just a runner and really can’t throw or process things,” Arkansas QB Taylen Green said on the Outta Pocket podcast. “So I’m really, you know, RG3; I’m pretty sure you’ve been through that, been through that at this process too. So I was just trying to beat that stigma and just put everybody on notice that thinks that way, so.”
Taylen Green’s frustration is understandable since last season, he recorded 2,714 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Yet, the front offices are only concerned about his legs while ignoring his arm talent.
Now, NFL teams are expecting him to switch positions, like QB Logan Thomas and Terrelle Pryor. During the combine, NFL Network’s Stacey Dales even asked him about double-checking his move, and from there, the fear and pressure of switching positions started.
One of the major examples of someone who faced that situation is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Before the NFL Draft, some analysts and scouts said Jackson should change his position from quarterback to wide receiver because he was very fast and athletic. Former NFL general manager Bill Polian also said this. This happened even though Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy at Louisville, which means he was the best player in college football that year.
Now, Taylen Green is expressing the same fear of scouts looking at him as a runner rather than a QB. Slowly, things are changing in the league. In the 2024 Super Bowl LVII, history was made when Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts became the first two Black quarterbacks to face each other in the championship game. But, indeed, this kind of success was not common in the NFL before.
For many years, most quarterbacks in the league were white players. While the landscape is changing, with the percentage of games started by Black quarterbacks doubling from 15% in 2011 to 29% in 2022, Green’s experience at the Combine shows that the old biases die hard, and the ‘athlete’ label remains a hurdle.
Former NFL quarterback Michael Bishop explained the entire situation they had to go through.
“They used to label us as athletes, athletic quarterbacks, instead of just quarterbacks,” Bishop said. “For a long time, I think for the Black quarterback, that stigma was a slap in the face, because, yes, we’re athletic, but we can play this position.”
Now, even though more Black players are showing up, like in the 2024 season, 15 of the 32 teams started Black quarterbacks in Week 1, but the challenges are still there.
“An African-American quarterback may throw an interception, but they describe it so much differently from the All-American white quarterback,” Bishop said. “You’re under a bigger spotlight; you’re under a magnifying glass.”
Now, even with all the chaos surrounding Taylen Green, he has shown in the NFL Combine why he is a strong QB. Green ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds, jumped 43½ inches, and had an 11-foot-2 broad jump. What’s interesting is that, as per ESPN research, these are the best numbers for a quarterback at the combine since 2003.
Before Green, Anthony Richardson had the best vertical jump (40½ inches) and broad jump (10 feet 9 inches) for a quarterback in 2003. The fastest 40-yard dash for a quarterback before Green was Robert Griffin III, who ran 4.41 seconds at the 2012 NFL Combine. So, there’s no way he can switch his position, but he does need to work on his skills ahead of the NFL draft.
Taylen Green’s possible NFL teams
Taylen Green is trying to fix all his inconsistencies before turning pro. He sometimes has trouble throwing the ball accurately. His footwork can get messy, which makes some passes miss the receiver or go too high. Improving his pocket presence is a key point of emphasis for NFL scouts. To fix these problems, Green is training with quarterback coach Taylor Kelly from 3DQB.
Kelly has worked with many NFL quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, CJ Stroud, Jared Goff, and Bryce Young. At the NFL Combine, Green talked with about 20 NFL teams. He also had a longer meeting with the New York Jets. However, he did not get the chance to meet his favorite childhood team, the Dallas Cowboys.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper says Taylen Green is the 8th-best quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft class. Before the NFL Combine, many scouts thought he would be picked in the middle or later rounds of the draft. But after performing well at the Combine, he might now be selected earlier than expected.
“If I have time to develop him over time, he’s the one that I’d be willing to take a shot on,” an NFC assistant general manager said to ESPN. “There’s a lot of creative things that you could do with him while he’s developing, but that type of profile is what you typically like to take a chance on.”
Ultimately, the team that drafts Taylen Green won’t just be selecting a quarterback with a rare athletic profile; they’ll be making a statement on whether they see a developmental passer or just another runner, which is a decision that will define the next chapter of his story.

Winning free agency doesn’t guarantee success.
It’s still a good start.
NFL teams have committed billions of dollars in free agency, hoping the players they’ve added can help them win a Super Bowl.
Some of the more aggressive teams — the Raiders and Titans — would be happy if new players just make them more competitive after futile seasons.
There have been several surprises, including a voided blockbuster trade that sent star edge rusher Maxx Crosby back to the Raiders.
Here’s some early winners and losers:
WINNERS: Carolina Panthers
The NFC South champion Panthers added edge rusher Jaelan Phillips ($120 million) and linebacker Devin Lloyd ($45 million), two of the best players available at their positions. Phillips and Lloyd join interior lineman Derrick Brown and cornerback Jaycee Horn to give Carolina top players at each level on defense.
The Panthers lost defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, running back Rico Dowdle and center Cade Mays.
WINNERS: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers snagged six-time Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans from Tampa Bay on a three-year deal that could be worth $60.4 million but only includes $16.3 million guaranteed over one year, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details weren’t public. San Francisco also acquired defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa from Dallas for a third-round pick; added swing tackle Vederian Lowe and center Brett Toth; and re-signed tight end Jake Tonges and kicker Eddy Piniero.
The 32-year-old Evans can still be an elite player in coach Kyle Shanahan’s system, giving Brock Purdy a top target.
The Niners lost wideout Kendrick Bourne.
WINNERS: New England Patriots
An excellent offseason last year helped the Patriots win 10 more games and reach the Super Bowl. They’ve followed up with another strong spending spree, adding wideout Romeo Doubs ($70 million), guard Alijah Vera-Tucker ($42 million), Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard ($9 million), edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones ($39.5 million), fullback Reggie Gilliam, tight end Julian Hill, safety Mike Brown and linebacker K.J. Britt.
They traded center Garrett Bradbury and lost defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, tight end Austin Hooper and safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
WINNERS: New York Jets
Geno Smith is back in New York and the Jets strengthened their defense by acquiring veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat in other trades and signing two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Demario Davis and edge rusher Joseph Ossai ($34.5 million).
They also signed defensive tackle David Onyemata, edge Kingsley Enagbare, safety Dane Belton and cornerback Nashon Wright, giving Aaron Glenn several new players to bolster the defense. Left guard Dylan Parham fills a vacancy on the offensive line and backup tackle Max Mitchell returns.
The Jets lost linebacker Quincy Williams, guards Vera-Tucker and John Simpson and kicker Nick Folk.
WINNERS: Los Angeles Rams
After trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie, the Rams signed cornerback Jaylen Watson and re-signed safety Kam Curl to further boost the secondary.
Tight end Tyler Higbee returns to provide depth and long snapper Joe Cardona arrives to help on special teams.
LOSERS: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
They lost Evans not over money but because he wanted a new challenge and views the 49ers as closer to winning. The defense lost a pair of starters in cornerback Jamel Dean and defensive lineman Logan Hall.
The Buccaneers signed Robinson to improve the defensive line, linebacker Alex Anzalone, running back Kenneth Gainwell and backup quarterback Jake Browning.
LOSERS: Philadelphia Eagles
The two-time defending NFC East champions make this list because they lost three starters on defense: Phillips, linebacker Nakobe Dean, safety Reed Blankenship.
The Eagles signed cornerback Riq Woolen and tight end Johnny Mundt and re-signed tight end Grant Calcaterra.
They gave defensive tackle Jordan Davis a contract extension and have to extend several young stars on a defense that dominated Kansas City in the Super Bowl two years ago. Philadelphia can’t pay everyone, and general manager Howie Roseman always finds a way to compensate for losing talented players.
LOSERS: Jacksonville Jaguars
The AFC South champions lost Lloyd, running back Travis Etienne and cornerback Greg Newsome.
They’ve signed backup running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and retained cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck.
The Jaguars have more work to do in the offseason.
___

At an age when most defensive ends are hitting their prime, 27-year-old Bryce Huff abruptly walked away from the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL. The defensive end announced a new career move just shortly after retiring from the sport, indicating that he might have been planning his next career well before he announced his retirement.
“Now it’s time for the next chapter of my life,” Huff said in a video posted on Instagram. “I’m building a company called Naberstone. Lithium batteries power the modern world, but they carry a fire risk that current suppression technology was never designed to solve. We’re building safety infrastructure, specifically for that problem. Proprietary suppression systems, advanced detection technology, and containment built for lithium-ion battery events.”
After playing football for six seasons while splitting time among three franchises, Huff has stepped into the business world with his company, Naberstone, which will focus on building safety infrastructure to address the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. Before sharing the news of his new venture, Huff explained why he decided to make the transition.
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“Football has been my entire life,” Huff said. “I played ever since I was four years old. But at 27 years old, I know I’m capable of giving the world more than just football.”
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Huff began his football journey in high school before taking the next step in college, where he played for the Memphis Tigers. In 2020, he joined the NFL with the New York Jets as an undrafted agent.
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After spending four seasons with the Jets, he moved to the Eagles, where he won Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Huff was inactive during the Super Bowl following a season plagued by injuries. He tore a ligament in his groin area and missed five games during the 2024 NFL season.
Huff retired as a member of the 49ers, which became his final stop after he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2025 for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth based on performance.
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He announced his retirement on Instagram in an almost three-minute-long video, thanking all the coaches and teammates who made it possible for him to carve out a career in football.
“I’m retiring from football. I started playing football when I was four years old. Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest or the strongest, and I didn’t have any friends. All I really had was the game; football kept me grounded.”
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If Huff wanted to, he could have continued his NFL career for several more years and potentially earned millions more. Instead, he is choosing to walk away with his health and a new chapter ahead.
The 49ers react to Bryce Huff’s sudden retirement at 27
The Instagram video came as a surprise and was filled with love and gratitude. Still, retiring at 27 is quite unusual in the NFL. Despite that, his team has taken the decision positively and wished him well.
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“San Francisco 49ers DL Bryce Huff informed the team he plans to retire from the National Football League,” the X post by the official 49ers account reads. “We would like to thank Bryce for his contributions throughout the 2025 season, and we wish him the best.”
Last season with the 49ers, Huff recorded 30 tackles and four sacks. Over his six-season career, his best year came with the New York Jets. In the 2023 season, he finished with 10 sacks and 29 tackles.
However, he was not able to replicate that level of production in the following seasons. Huff ultimately finished his career with 108 tackles and 24 sacks.
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With Huff retiring with one year left on his contract, the 49ers now have more cap space to play with. Huff was on a three-year contract that would have seen him earn $17 million this year.
The San Francisco Standard reports that, with new coordinator Raheem Morris, the 49ers might have had to replace Huff anyway. Even before Huff’s announcement, the 49ers were already in the market to add more edge-rushing talent. The 49ers have some big names on their watchlist, like Joey Bosa and Arnold Ebiketie.
The 49ers have 23 roster spots to fill on their 90-man roster. They currently have only six picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. That means more signings are likely on the way as the team continues to shape its roster.
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For now, it remains to be seen how the 49ers will build out the rest of their squad in the coming months.

NFL free agency is underway. The new league year began at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, but players had the chance to agree to terms with teams during the two-day negotiation window, which started on noon ET Monday. Now they can officially sign new deals.
After the Maxx Crosby trade fell through, the Ravens pivoted to agree to terms with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. Quarterback Malik Willis is signing with the Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa is signing with the Falcons, and Kyler Murray is signing with the Vikings. Mike Evans is now in San Francisco, and Kenneth Walker III will lead the backfield in Kansas City. But where will the top remaining free agents land? And which big-name players are available as trade candidates?
We’re tracking all the action of 2026 NFL free agency. Follow along live here with the latest signings, trades, cuts and contract restructures.
2026 NFL free agency coverage:
Top 100 rankings | Grading big moves
Best remaining | Winners, losers
Signings for 32 teams | Awards
Mini mock draft
Free agency and trade market updates

Former Peoria High School defensive lineman LaCale London has re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
London’s professional football career includes time with the Chicago Bears and the St. Louis BattleHawks.
He played in 13 regular-season games for Atlanta in 2025, starting in five of them.
PEORIA — Former Peoria High School defensive lineman LaCale London has won another contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL team re-signed him in free agency on Thursday.
The 6-foot-3, 297-pound defensive lineman who played at Western Illinois was USA Today’s Defensive Player of the Year in Illinois, and twice a first-team All-Area pick by the Journal Star during his prep career in Peoria.
He signed as an undrafted free agent in the NFL after the final of his two years at WIU.
That pro football journey began with the Chicago Bears (2020-22), stepped down to the St. Louis BattleHawks (2023) and then rose back to the NFL with Atlanta in 2023, where he has remained.
London spent two seasons shifting from the practice squad to the active roster with Atlanta, then in 2025 broke out for 13 regular-season games, five of which were starts.

The Tennessee Titans have a new coach in Robert Saleh for the upcoming season and are opening a new enclosed stadium in 2027.
So, no reason to wait to update their uniforms and logos.
The Titans unveiled their new look Thursday night at a party featuring current and past players. The new uniforms lean heavily on the history of the franchise, which started in 1960 as the AFL’s Houston Oilers. The team celebrates its 30th season in Tennessee this year.
“Today is about honoring over 65 years of our organization while confidently stepping into the next chapter, and I couldn’t be more excited for our players, our city, and our fans to wear this identity with pride,” owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
Cam Ward walked out in the team’s new white jersey for the road while All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons wore the “Titans blue” home jersey. Eddie George, the franchise’s career rushing leader, made the final introduction before the team’s current stars walked out.
“We built this legacy play by play, heartbreak by heartbreak, victory by victory,” said George, who was part of the team’s first seven seasons in Tennessee and is now the coach at Bowling Green. “And now, the baton has been passed to a new generation.”
NFL
This is the franchise’s third set of uniforms since unveiling the Titans name for the 1999 season.
Tennessee will wear what the team calls “Titans blue” jerseys while playing in Nashville that feature “TITANS” across the chest with numbers reflecting a college design. The white road jerseys feature “TENNESSEE” across the chest for the state that’s been home since 1997. Red outlines the numbers.
Three stars reminiscent of the Tennessee flag representing the Volunteer State’s three divisions will be in navy blue in a tab on the back of the uniform and on the side panel under the arm. The 6-String Stripe includes red on the pants, sleeves and helmets reflecting Nashville’s reputation as Music City.
The Titans also showed off a new primary logo called The Shield, featuring the light Titans blue, white and red along with those three stars. A secondary mark is called The Football, featuring the letters “T” and “N” for the state’s postal abbreviation and the city of Nashville.
Burke Nihill, the Titans’ president and CEO, said the redesign had been in the works long enough that it wasn’t tied to the team hiring Saleh in January. Nihill said Ward and Simmons loved the new uniforms at a photo shoot last week, and the color combination tapping into the Oilers’ roots was intentional.
“We had players that were literally in the locker room after games not wanting to take off the jerseys,” Nihill said. “These are NFL players who played through high school and college and in the pros, and there was something special about the pride that they felt wearing that color scheme.”
The unveiling was part of a busy week for the Titans.
A team coming off four straight losing seasons opened the NFL’s negotiating period with a big splash, committing more than $270 million to a handful of free agents. The Titans keep adding players to a roster with only 18 drafted players led by Ward and Simmons.

Almost 10 years after he entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie, Jonathan Jones has a team for his 11th season. After becoming an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, the former Auburn defensive back has reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2026 NFL campaign.
In 2025, Jones played in 12 games, with seven starts, for the Washington Commanders. He had an injured-reserve stint because of a hamstring injury.
Jones had 41 tackles, five passes defended and one sack. Opposing passers completed 26-of-43 passes for 359 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions for an 87.3 passing-efficiency rating when targeting receivers covered by Jones in 2025.
Jones joins a team with a strong first line on its cornerback depth chart. Outside corner Quinyon Mitchell and slot corner Cooper DeJean were Pro Bowl selections in 2025, and Philadelphia added former Pro Bowler Riq Woolen in free agency this week.
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With 144 NFL regular-season games, Jones has played in more than any other defensive back from Auburn. He surpassed the 133 games of Carlos Rogers last season.
Jones also has played in eight playoff games, including two Super Bowl victories.
Jones signed with the New England Patriots in 2016. He had gone undrafted even though he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at that year’s NFL Scouting Combine.
As a rookie, Jones got on the field for 64 defensive snaps and 307 special-teams plays. In each of the next four seasons – until a shoulder injury limited him to six games in 2021 – Jones’ defensive snaps increased and his special-teams appearances decreased.
As he transitioned from a special-teamer, Jones developed into the Patriots’ regular slot corner, then showed versatility beyond that role. After the departure of Pro Bowler J.C. Jackson in free agency, Jones stepped into the vacated outside-corner spot in the 2022 season. He played a career-high 894 defensive snaps while posting career bests with four interceptions, 11 passes defended and three forced fumbles and making 69 tackles.
During the 2018 postseason, Jones shadowed Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the AFC Championship Game, then switched to safety for a special defensive scheme that led to a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Jones had played on special teams two years earlier when the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime in Super Bowl LI.
After nine seasons with New England, Jones joined the Commanders as a free agent last offseason for a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
Jones’ move to Philadelphia has not been reported by the team, but was reported on Thursday night by NFL Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia and NJ.com.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to fine tune their roster following a flurry of big moves at the start of free agency.
After re-signing Travis Kelce to a one-year, $12 million deal and inking former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million contract, they added former Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman to a three-year, $24.7 million deal.
On March 12, the Chiefs added depth behind Walker, signing former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to a one-year deal. Kansas City has also had to make some tough goodbyes.
They traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, where he signed a record-breaking four-year, $124 million contract. Fellow former Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is joining McDuffie in Los Angeles.
Kansas City cleared $20 million in cap space by releasing veteran right tackle Jawaan Taylor, and releasing defensive Mike Danna saved another $9 million. Crunching the numbers and looking ahead to the 2026 NFL draft, where the Chiefs have nine picks, linebacker Drue Tranquill looked to be the next cap casualty.
Tranquill signed a three-year, $19 million deal that includes $13 million fully guaranteed ahead of the 2024 NFL season. While his exit seemed imminent, Tranquill made it clear he’d do anything to stay in Kansas City.
Drue Tranquill Accepted a Pay Cut to Remain With the Chiefs in 2026
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo broke the news on Thursday night, “Tranquill recently renegotiated the final year of his deal, taking his base pay from $6 million down to $3.5 million ($3M fully guaranteed) and trimming his cap number by $2.5 million.”
Chiefs Kingdom praised the linebacker for the move. KC Sports Network’s Ken Swanson posted, “Love this.” One fan commented, “Tranquill is the ultimate team player for this. Taking a pay cut to stay in KC and help the cap shows he’s all in on the dynasty. Massive win for the Chiefs’ defense keeping a high-IQ linebacker locked in for 2026.”
Another fan wrote, “Class act all the way around! 👏.” One X account added, “WOW 👀 Much respect to Drue Tranquill for putting the team first here ❤️.”
Last season, Tranquill recorded 103 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 quarterback hits, and 1.0 forced fumble.
Drue Tranquill Helped Recruit Alohi Gilman to the Chiefs
Not only did Tranquill give up millions to remain Kansas City, he’s also helping the franchise recruit top talent. Tranquill helped bring in Gilman, his former Notre Dame and Los Angeles Chargers teammate.
“Drue’s my guy,” Gilman told reporters on Thursday. “He’s been recruiting me hard here. That’s my third agent. Drue’s been doing his thing. I’ve had good conversations with him over the years. I played with him at Notre Dame [and with] the Chargers as well.
“So much respect for him as a warrior, as a player, as a teammate, and just as a friend. I got a lot of respect for him, that’s my guy. I’ll go to war with him any day. Excited to strap it up with him, and really excited about the opportunity.”

After several days of waiting, the Philadelphia Eagles have added an edge rusher — Arnold Ebiketie.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported the Eagles signed Ebiketie late Thursday night. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the deal as a 1-year, $7.3 million contract including incentives.
Ebiketie will receive $4.3 million fully guaranteed.
Ebiketie came into the league as a hyped second-round pick. The Atlanta Falcons drafted the edge rusher at No. 38 overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
But burdened with the responsibility early in his career of being Atlanta’s top pass rusher, he failed to develop into a No. 1 edge rusher. He then didn’t play as much after the Falcons added two edge rushers in the first round last year.
Ebiketie peaked with six sacks in both 2023 and 2024.
Last season, Ebiketie posted 36 combined tackles, including five for loss, six quarterback hits, two sacks and one pass defense.
Eagles Sign Edge Rusher Arnold Ebiketie: Report
NFL insiders reported the Eagles wanted to bring back Jaelan Phillips early in free agency. Phillips ended the 2025 campaign in Philadelphia after the team acquired him for a third-round pick from the Miami Dolphins.
But the Carolina Panthers offered Phillips a mammoth deal. After missing on Phillips, the Eagles pursued the other top edge rushers still available, including Trey Hendrickson.
Hendrickson, though, landed with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. Fellow veteran Bradley Chubb, who NJ.com’s Cayden Steele suggested as a potential Plan B to Hendrickson (or Plan C to Phillips), signed with the Buffalo Bills.
After those misses, Ebiketie is the first edge rusher the Eagles have added this offseason.
Most would probably consider him a consolation prize at best. At worst, he’s a significantly disappointing alternative to Phillips or Hendrickson.
The Athletic’s Daniel Popper didn’t include Ebiketie on his list of top 150 NFL free agents this offseason. Meanwhile, 20 other edge rushers did make the list.
However, Ebiketie did come into the league four years ago with great raw talent. And the Eagles have been tremendous at developing young defensive linemen.
Maybe on a unit with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, Ebiketie can take advantage of more one-on-one opportunities.
While he could earn up to $7.3 million, there’s little risk for the Eagles taking a chance on Ebiketie. He’s coming on only a 1-year deal, and it sounds as though he could cost as little as $4.3 million if he doesn’t fulfill his contract incentives.
In four NFL seasons, Ebiketie has started 12 of 67 contests. He’s posted 16.5 sacks with 17 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback hits, six pass defenses and four forced fumbles.
Eagles Edge Rushing Depth Entering 2026
Eagles fans may have been getting a little anxious with the team’s inability to land an edge rusher through nearly the first four days of free agency. Therefore, signing Ebiketie is simply good for the fact that Philadelphia has added someone to the edge room.
In addition to Phillips, the Eagles lost Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche along the edge in free agency. The defense also saw linebacker Nakobe Dean and safety Reed Blankenship sign elsewhere.
With that in mind, Ebiketie is probably just the beginning of what the Eagles could add at edge rusher. Philadelphia has three edge players to replace, and Ebiketie hasn’t been reliable enough in his career to be counted on as a certain starter on a playoff team.
But in the right rotation, Ebiketie could still thrive. That’s why he’s worth the risk at a maximum of $7.3 million in 2026.

Rueben Bain Jr. was one of the nation’s top collegiate pass rushers throughout the 2025 season. In recent months, scouts and pundits have wondered if his skill set would transfer to the NFL level.
While Bain doesn’t have the prototypical size that most NFL edge rushers bring to the table, he’s still one of the 2026 NFL draft’s most intriguing prospects. In three years at Miami, Bain posted 121 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks.
If Bain is still available at No. 12 overall, would the Dallas Cowboys take him?
Cowboys insider Joseph Hoyt recently took some time to break down what makes Bain stand out in this draft class and how he would fit in Christian Parker’s defensive scheme. (Hint: He could line at various spots, depending on the setup.)
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Insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Pittsburgh Steelers wanted full back Connor Heyward to return for 2026. But it’s not going to happen.
Rapoport reported Thursday night the Las Vegas Raiders signed Heyward to a 2-year, $5.5 million contract. The deal will include $2 million guaranteed.
“The Steelers wanted Heyward back, but Klint Kubiak wants him as his FB for what he’s building in Vegas,” wrote Rapoport on X.
Heyward played full back but also fulfilled a lot of other roles during his four seasons with the Steelers. Previous head coach Mike Tomlin raved about Heyward’s versatility during the 2022 NFL Draft.
“He’s a Swiss Army knife. He’s very talented. He has a nice skill set,” Tomlin told reporters in April 2022 when the team drafted Heyward. “He’s a capable runner. He’s a capable blitz pickup guy. He’s very good in terms of the screen game, timing and feel.”
During his first three seasons, Heyward lined up as a full back, tight end, and slot receiver on Pittsburgh’s offense. He also played an intricate role on special teams.
Then in 2025, Heyward became the team’s quarterback on its own version of the “tush push.” The Steelers ran that formation 16 times with Heyward behind center during the regular season.
Heyward never missed a game during his four-year Steelers tenure. He posted 44 catches for 379 yards with three touchdowns. Heyward also had 70 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
During 2025, 11 of his 15 rushing attempts resulted in first downs.