The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the most injury-affected teams in the NFL in recent seasons. That trend has led many observers to question why the team consistently deals with so many injuries. Some theories have even pointed to factors such… [3053 chars]

There has been some buzz of late that the Dallas Cowboys could trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That makes sense because the team desperately needs elite talent on defense and is armed with two first-round picks.
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay has talke… [2813 chars]

Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Ochocinco has always wanted to invest in soccer, but one aspect of his NFL career kept him from doing so. NFL fans still remember many of Ochocino’s celebrations, like pretending to perform CPR on the ball and doing a r… [4394 chars]

The New York Giants received a bit of free agency news on Easter weekend, as they perform their final preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat reporter and Tampa Bay Times insider Rick Stroud was the first to report the news tha… [3255 chars]

The Minnesota Vikings currently hold 9 selections throughout the 7 rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they could pull a fast one on the NFL.
Round 1, Pick 18
Round 2, Pick 49
Round 3, Pick 82
Round 3, Pick 97 (compensatory)
Round 5, Pick 163 (via Eagl… [3087 chars]

The Houston Texans remained among the more active teams around the NFL during this offseason’s free agency period when it came to adding veteran talent to their roster.
Between offensive line upgrades with Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, along with de… [3073 chars]

The New York Giants are a team with a lot of intrigue going into the 2026 NFL draft, but they’re also in a position where they only have two picks in the top 100, thanks to having traded away their pick in the third round last year to move up to acqu… [3045 chars]

The Detroit Lions On SI staff examines which Lions players could exceed expectations in 2026.
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Christian Booher: I think Ennis Rakestraw has a real chance to surprise some people in 2026. Rakestraw ha… [5026 chars]

The Cincinnati Bengals made some big-time additions to their roster in free agency, mainly on defense.
They signed Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, and Boye Mafe to bolster their defense. They also brought back Joe Flacco to work as Joe Burrow’s backup ag… [2196 chars]

The San Francisco 49ers have been connected to Cashius Howell in the 2026 NFL draft. Does he fit with the team, and would he be the best pick at 27th overall?
Where Cashius Howell translates to the NFL
Howell is a pass-rushing winner. He has great sn… [1595 chars]

North Dakota State quarterback Nathan Hayes carries an extra weight on his shoulders going into his senior season as the prorgam is set for an inaugural FBS season.
That said, Hayes couldn’t be more prepared as he has been learning from two quarterbacks who have reached the NFL or the pre-draft process thus far. Hayes played behind Miami Dolphins backup quarterback Cam Miller and NFL draft prospect Cole Payton for three years before taking the reins with the former FCS powerhouse. Miller and Payton are two of six former Bison quarterbacks since 2013 who have been in the NFL or part of the pre-draft process.
More News: North Dakota State Coach Talks 1 Major Advantage Amid FBS Move
More News: Minnesota Snags QB Recruit From North Dakota State

Will the New York Jets select a quarterback with the No. 16 pick in the first round of the 2026 National Football League Draft?
Arguably, they should not. The Jets obviously have a long-term question at quarterback. Geno Smith is the solution for the 2026 season. He’s not under contract beyond the 2026 season and he’s 35 years old. This has led to a lot of chatter about the 2026 NFL Draft class of quarterbacks, starting with Alabama’s Ty Simpson. He’s expected to be the No. 2 quarterback in the draft class and there’s a real chance that he comes off the board in the first round. Arguably, the No. 16 pick would be too high to take him with the other roster holes that the Jets have.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic shared a similar point and fortunately said that he’s

The Chicago Bears got the better of the Buffalo Bills in an offseason trade for wide receiver DJ Moore, and the outcome wasn’t particularly close — at least not according to several high-ranking NFL executives.
Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with multiple people around the league about every AFC team’s offseason, and what he came back with on Buffalo was a mostly competent report card, save for the second-round pick the Bills sent to Chicago in return for a fifth-rounder and Moore heading into the first season of a four-year contract extension worth a whopping $110 million.
“DJ Moore was gonna get cut, and they gave up a second-round pick to get him,” one exec said, according to Sando. “They gave up a second-round pick and $40 million [in guarantees]. What is going on?”
Another team official questioned Moore’s skill set/fit with the needs of Buffalo’s offense and quarterback Josh Allen.
“DJ Moore has two years of regression now,” he told Sando. “He is a non-traditional receiver that wins with size and yards after the catch. I still feel they needed someone that could win down the field. Moore can do that — he did it to beat Green Bay. But I feel like his strength is on the underneath catch-and-run stuff, which they already have with [Khalil] Shakir.”
Bills Inquired About Trade for DJ Moore Ahead of 2025 Mid-Season Deadline
All of that said, Bills GM Brandon Beane told the “Pat McAfee Show” on March 30 that his team has had Moore in its sites since before the mid-season trade deadline in 2025.
“[Moore] was one of the guys that we called and checked,” Beane said. “And Chicago shut it down. They were trying to make a run. But I think they at least knew there was interest, and they reached back out when we got to Indy [for the NFL combine] and said, ‘Hey, you know, maybe we’d be open if something made sense.’ And we [were] fortunate to be able to figure that out.”
Chicago needed Moore down the stretch and into the playoffs after Rome Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot and missed five games.
However, Moore would have been the Bears’ highest-paid player in 2026, so moving off him and kicking in a fifth-round pick for the No. 60 overall selection in Round 2 later this month was a huge victory for Chicago GM Ryan Poles.
Bears Equipped With Strong Group of Pass-Catchers Heading into Next Season
As for the Bears’ receiving corps next season, Odunze is at the top of the room heading into Year 3, while the team has announced its intention to feature slot receiver Luther Burden III considerably more in his second NFL campaign.
Tight end Colston Loveland was a breakout performer as a rookie in 2025 and, in many ways, was the true No. 1 option in the Bears’ pass game regardless of position. Cole Kmet is TE2 and remains part of an offense under head coach Ben Johnson that runs a considerable number of two-tight end sets (12 personnel).
Those four players, along with running back D’Andre Swift, make up a solid group of targets for third-year quarterback Caleb Williams. That said, Chicago may look to add a rookie wideout in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN predicted on April 1 that the Bears will select wideout Antonio Williams of Clemson with the No. 89 pick.

Kirk Cousins has made $321 million in 14 NFL seasons. At his most recent team, he got the best per-game rate of his career by far.
The final tally for his time in Atlanta goes like this: $98.7 million for 22 starts.
It works out to $4.49 million per start.
The total haul comes from the $90 million he received over the first two seasons, plus the $8.7 million the Falcons will pay from his guaranteed compensation of $10 million for 2026.
If not for the torn ACL suffered in November by Michael Penix Jr., Cousins would have started only 15 games. Which would have pushed the rate to $6.58 million per game.
Those final seven starts went a long way toward creating his opportunity with the Raiders. He went 5-2, with four straight wins to end the season. The final kick included upset wins over the Buccaneers and Rams in prime time.
His playing time in 2026 remains TBD. The Raiders presumably will be picking Fernando Mendoza, three weeks from tonight. The question becomes whether and to what extent Cousins will serve as a bridge quarterback until Mendoza is ready to go.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane covered the annual NFL owners meeting, and conducts an autopsy of Lurie’s recent remarks – from new stadium speculation to Lurie’s commitment to quarterback Jalen Hurts – with columnist Marcus Hayes.
The annual NFL owners meetings has become the only event of year the Philadelphia Eagles formally make owner Jeffrey Lurie available to meet with reporters. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane covered the event, and puts Lurie’s recent remarks – from new stadium speculation to Lurie’s commitment to quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver AJ Brown – under the microscope with columnist Marcus Hayes.
00:00 Truths (and lies?) from Jeffrey Lurie’s owners meeting press conference
02:00 Quick comments about the possibility of a new stadium
05:07 Is Nick Sirianni as safe as Lurie suggests?
12:22 How committed is Lurie to Jalen Hurts?
18:57 What Lurie’s remarks reveal about A.J. Brown’s future?
26:09 Jeff and Marcus react to ESPN’s report about Hurts
34:38 Relitigating Hurts’ impact in the locker room
44:20 Hurts’ fit in Sean Mannion’s offense
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

Last April, Dan Orvlosky and his son, Madden, went viral when Orvlosky broke down crying as Madden sang

Deshaun Watson is locked in as he prepares for what could be the most pivotal season of his NFL career.
Watson is aiming to reclaim the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback job after missing all of last season, but the road back has been anything but smooth. Since arriving in Cleveland in 2022, he’s dealt with a string of significant injuries, including two Achilles surgeries following a rupture suffered during an October 2024 game.
In four seasons with the Browns, Watson has appeared in just 19 games, throwing for 3,365 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Now healthy and at a career crossroads, Watson appears fully committed to turning things around. On Thursday, he shared a video from a throwing session in Florida alongside Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Jamari Thrash — a clear sign he’s putting in the work ahead of a crucial offseason.
“Work mode: always on!” Watson wrote.
Watson is entering the final year of the fully guaranteed $230 million deal he signed upon arriving in Cleveland, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If he can’t get back on the field this season or fails to produce when he does, his future in the NFL could be in serious jeopardy.
Browns Praise Shedeur Sanders for Being Present
The Browns have Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel under contract for next season. Sanders and Watson are expected to battle it out for QB1 duties through the offseason program and training camp.
Sanders has already earned praise from new head coach Todd Monken for staying active around the Browns’ facility this offseason, which only makes Watson’s caption all the more intriguing.
“It’s too early to really evaluate him other than it’s been great that he’s been in the building,” Monken said. “It’s refreshing to see a player that recognizes where he’s at and where he wants to get to.”
Sanders started the final seven games last season. He went 3-4 during his rookie campaign, passing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Brown Offer Deshaun Watson ‘Fresh Start’
No one would blame the Browns for moving on from Watson. He hasn’t delivered when available, and injuries have repeatedly derailed his time in Cleveland. Owner Jimmy Haslam even labeled the trade a “big swing and miss” last offseason.
But Haslam struck a noticeably different tone at this year’s NFL owners meetings, walking back some of that criticism and signaling renewed optimism around Watson’s outlook.
“Now Deshaun has a great chance, a fresh start, an offensive-minded coach who has, in his past, been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” Haslam said. “So Deshaun has a great chance to do that now. We talked to him the other day. He said he weighed less than he had in several years, was in great shape. He’ll be here on April 7 when we start, and let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”

The idea of the NFL eventually moving to an 18-game regular season is no longer a distant thought. It came up again at this week’s annual league meeting, and the tone made one thing clear. It is more about when than how. As a result, a Pittsburgh Steelers legend is urging players to think twice, especially with more money being thrown around.
On his Deebo & Joe podcast, former linebacker James Harrison made it clear that the league will keep pushing for that extra game unless players are ready to push back hard. However, he didn’t just stop there. He explained what that resistance would really take. According to the Steelers great, the NFLPA would need to prepare for a long lockout, which means players must start saving now to survive without pay.
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“Now, if that’s the case and you’re willing to do that, your new NFL executive director should be telling his players from this year forward to say 30% this year,” James Harrison said. “So you can last 18 months of a lockout, that it gave you what, 120% of your yearly salary? So you should be able to do that.”
Still, he admitted he has “doubt that is happening,” which is why he offered a more practical path.
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Instead of shutting the idea down, Harrison believes the NFLPA should use it as leverage.
“I would leave the 18 as a negotiating tactic… You know how much you can get.”
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From his point of view, if the league wants more games, then players should demand more in return. That includes larger rosters, better minimum salaries, and stronger long-term healthcare. He pointed to the reality that many players face after their careers end.
“After you’ve done playing… once those five years are up… it is hard,” James Harrison concluded.
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On the other hand, the monetary advantages are obvious. More games mean more TV contracts and ticket sales, which means increased revenue. Since the players will share in the revenue, the salary cap will rise as well.
However, there are some concerns. The contracts will change in a small way. NFL players receive their paychecks every week during the season. A 17-game schedule means their salary is divided among 18 paychecks. With another game, it could lead to 19 payments unless salaries go up, which would mean each weekly paycheck would be a bit smaller.
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However, there is another perspective that can influence both the team and the players. With an extra game added to the season, it might be easier for players to reach their performance goals. Achievements like getting 1,000 rushing yards or hitting double-digit sacks could become more attainable, which might lead teams to rethink how they set up bonuses or increase targets in future contracts.
However, as Harrison mentioned, the NFLPA will play a big role in the whole situation. But right now, they have “no appetite” for the 18th game season.
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NFLPA is pushing back against the 18th game NFL season
While the NFL’s push toward an 18-game season keeps picking up pace, the NFLPA’s interim executive director, David White, made that stance clear earlier this year.
“The 18th game is not casual for us,” he said in February.
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He pointed to concerns around player health and safety while also raising questions about how longer seasons could impact careers and long-term earnings. White also emphasized that nothing will be rushed into place.
“It’s a very serious issue. It’s something that comes out of negotiation, and nothing will move forward until players have the opportunity to account for all of [the] factors, take that into consideration, and then through negotiation, agree—or not—to the 18th game. But as it stands right now, players have been very clear. They don’t have any appetite for it.”
The current agreement between the players and the league lasts until 2030, but with the buzz around adding an 18th game, it seems discussions might start sooner than planned. For that to happen, players would have to be on board with revisiting the deal earlier than they thought.
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Meanwhile, the idea of an extra game with higher pay can intrigue many players. The salary cap for 2026 is expected to be between $301.2 million and $305.7 million, showing a significant increase compared to recent years. Many think that figure could go even higher if the season gets longer.

Few NFL general managers have mastered moving back to acquire more draft capital like Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider. The two-time Super Bowl-winning executive might have no choice but to orchestrate trades back in the 2026 NFL Draft. With only four selections as of April 3, the Seahawks could use more selections.
This week, Fox Sports’s Rob Rang proposed a scenario that fits that mold.
In a new 2026 NFL mock draft, Rang pitched a trade where the Seahawks moved back from No. 32 overall to 36 in the second round. At No. 36, Rang projected Seattle to grab Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price.
The draft analyst didn’t explain the full terms of the trade. But Rang did mention that former No. 7 overall pick and edge rusher Tyree Wilson would go to Seattle in the deal.
“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,” Rang wrote. “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.”
Essentially, the trade would help fill two potential holes for the Seahawks — edge rusher and running back.
What Tyree Wilson Could Bring to Seahawks
Wilson arrived as a raw but very talent edge rusher for the Raiders at No. 7 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. But he has yet to realize his full potential in Las Vegas.
He has just 12 sacks with 16 tackles for loss and 24 quarterback hits over 50 games in three seasons. Last season, he had four sacks with eight tackles for loss in 17 contests.
Wilson played in all 17 games for Las Vegas.
According to the Pro Football Focus player grades, Wilson regressed in 2025, particularly in run defense, where he showed improvement during 2024. In all three of his seasons, he’s struggled mightily as a tackler, and Wilson hasn’t been the elite pass rusher as expected.
But he turns just 26 years old in May. In the right system with the proper support, Wilson could still have the potential to be a starter.
“Long-limbed defender who figures to turn into a full-blown nightmare for opponents if he continues to grow into both his frame and his game,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein during Wilson’s 2023 draft class. “Wilson’s combination of traits and athleticism should yield flashes of dominant play in both phases as he continues to get bigger and stronger.
“He might not set the world on fire in Year 1, but the talent and vaulted ceiling will be easy to see soon enough.”
He will be a reclamation project at his next stop. But he’s the type of risk the Seahawks can afford to make after winning the Super Bowl and with that the defense has coming back.
Why the Seahawks May Target Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price
The best part about Rang’s hypothetical deal is the Seahawks filled two holes with one draft pick.
After moving back four spots in the NFL Draft, the Seahawks grabbed Price at No. 36 in the Fox Sports mock draft.
Zierlein argued Price doesn’t have the same upside as his college teammate Jeremiyah Love. But Price could carve out a specific role at the NFL level quickly.
“Price is a more natural runner than his heralded teammate, Jeremiyah Love, but Price lacks Love’s pure explosiveness and pass-catching talent,” wrote Zierlein. “Price is highly instinctive, stacking moves to contour to run-lane spacing and avoid tacklers for as long as possible.
“Limited third-down value could cap his draft slotting, but his talent as a runner should make him an excellent complementary back.”
The Seahawks already have seven running backs on their offseason roster. None of them have been a workhorse NFL back, but Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald have spoken highly of the group this offseason.
For that reason, it might make most sense for the Seahawks to simply add a rookie running back with specific traits to fill one role.
Price appears to have the tools to be a complementary back to Zach Charbonnett and/or Emanuel Wilson in Seattle.

The 2026 NFL is getting closer, and it’s going to be an important one for the Kansas City Chiefs. For the first time in years, the team has a top 10 pick in the draft, so all eyes will be on this franchise when they made their decision on which player to select when that early draft pick roles around.
One of the most buzzed-about position in this draft class is edge. It seems pass rushers are among the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL today, with guys such as Aidan Hutchinson and Trey Hendrickson getting plenty of bag.
The Kansas City Chiefs could sure use some pass rusher depth, and some NFL analysts and experts believe the team will score big on that position in the NFL draft.
Kansas City Chiefs Get Star Edge in NFL Draft Projection, Snagging an Up-and-Coming Talent
The NFL draft, which is celebrating its 91st year, is going to take place April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, who will the Chiefs picks for their No. 9 selection in the draft?
In a Wednesday, April 1 feature for Yahoo Sports, NFL analysts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald name their picks for the 2026 NFL draft, and as the date approaches, these choices tend to get more accurate, because teams rosters’ start to fill up.
“With the NFL spring meetings this week in Phoenix, team owners, coaches and general managers are meeting with media to offer updates on offseason news,” they say in the feature, which looks at the entire first round. “That includes answering questions about the 2026 NFL Draft.”
These two experts believe the Chiefs will go with Rueben Bain Jr., an edge, out of Miami for their No. 9 pick.
“Kansas City takes five seconds to turn this pick in. By the luck of the draw, one of the most disruptive defensive ends in college football falls into the Chiefs’ lap as they try to re-infuse premier talent into their defense,” they state. “Bain would be a perfect fit in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and form a productive trio alongside Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.”
Kansas City Chiefs Hopeful Is a ‘Note Taker, Grudge Holder and Block Destructor’
Bain’s NFL draft profile says that he’s a “note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength. Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes.” So, usually holding a grudge isn’t good, but it’s great here.
“He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams,” the profile adds. On the downside, “his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike.” But, don’t let that deter you, because this player “can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush.”
The profile wraps up by saying, “His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.”

LOS ANGELES — One of the first women to officiate an NFL game is suing the league for gender discrimination, harassment and retaliation more than a year after she was fired.
Robin DeLorenzo filed a lawsuit last week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that claims she was “subjected to gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, disparate training, unequal gear, and open hostility” while employed as an NFL official from April 2022 to February 2025.
“She was denied the support and development routinely afforded to male officials, graded through a system built and controlled by men who had fixated on her gender from day one, and punished when she reported harassment or insisted on being treated with basic respect,” the lawsuit states.
“The NFL had every chance to intervene, to support her, and to apply its policies fairly. Instead, it silenced complaints, rewarded the men who mistreated her, and ultimately terminated her using the very metrics corrupted by that discrimination.”
In a statement emailed to The Los Angeles Times, the NFL denied the allegations.
“The NFL is committed to providing a fair and supportive environment for all of its game officials,” the league said. “Ms. DeLorenzo was terminated following three seasons of documented underperformance. The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court.”
Walt Anderson, who was the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating during DeLorenzo’s first two seasons, and former NFL official Byron Boston, whom the lawsuit states had a supervisory role over DeLorenzo during her employment, are named as co-defendants. An NFL spokesperson said Anderson is not commenting on the matter. Attempts by The Times to reach Boston for comment were unsuccessful.
The lawsuit alleges that DeLorenzo was directed to wear her hair in a ponytail that showed through the hole in the back of her hat, “the implication being that this would make her look feminine and/or make her stand out as being a token female on the field.” She ended up wearing her hair in a visible bun as a compromise, the complaint states.
Also, according to the lawsuit, DeLorenzo often had to purchase her own gear and iron the NFL logo onto it because the gear she was issued came only in men’s sizes that were too large for her to wear.
The complaint also states that during the 2024 offseason, DeLorenzo was “forced” to take part in “a low-level college clinic, involving different rules, different mechanics, and different philosophies as compared to the NFL.”
“The Clinic had nothing to do with helping Plaintiff in her NFL career; it was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating Plaintiff, shattering her confidence, and significantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit states.
The NFL Referees Association filed a grievance over the clinic issue, according to the complaint, resulting in the league reimbursing DeLorenzo for her expenses related to the clinic and paying her for her time spent there. The NFLRA did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment from The Times.
DeLorenzo also has “identified instances of her male counterparts being treated more favorably” in the grading system used to evaluate officials during her third season, the lawsuit states, adding that she believes “her season three grades were going to be used as a pretext for her eventual termination.”
DeLorenzo spent nearly two decades as an official, working her way up through high school and various levels of college football, before becoming only the third woman to officiate NFL games. In addition to unspecified damages, DeLorenzo is seeking to be brought back as an NFL official and compensated for lost earnings.

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Former NFL defensive tackle Trysten Hill was booked into a Texas jail last week on multiple charges relating to an alleged assault of a pregnant woman.
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office jail records list

The 2026 NFL draft is just weeks away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have some business to do, as do the other teams in the league, when it comes to perfecting their 2026-27 lineup. The draft, which is entering its 91st year, is scheduled for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
So, what’s the most important thing for the Steelers going into this draft? They have to make potential quarterback Aaron Rodgers happy. In a Wednesday, April 1 feature for Yahoo Sports, NFL analysts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald give their picks for the 2026 NFL draft, and as the date approaches, these predictions tend to be more accurate.

Just as contract talks between Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are ongoing, the NFL may have given its star quarterback a slight boost. With the NFL continuing to expand globally, the Ravens are now scheduled to play in one of Lamar Jackson’s long-awaited destinations. It is not a direct move tied to negotiations, but it does line up nicely with what the former MVP has wanted for a while.
“Man, that’s dope,” Jackson said, per video posted by a fan account, JacksonMuse. “It’s a blessing for people in Brazil to know who I am, that’s just dope, that’s crazy. I got to go to Brazil one time. I got to travel to Brazil once.”
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Jackson has talked about wanting to travel to Brazil, and it looks like that wish might finally come true. The Baltimore Ravens are set to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 of the 2026 season in Rio de Janeiro, according to a report from The Baltimore Banner.
The NFL has clearly been growing its presence in Brazil. It hosted Week 1 games there in both 2024 and 2025, and the league said in February that there are more than 36 million NFL fans in the country.
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Now, this upcoming matchup will be the third game played there and the first one held at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Cowboys will be the designated home team, and it will also be their first international game since 2014.
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The previous two games were played in São Paulo, Brazil, and were close ones. The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Green Bay Packers (34-29) in Week 1 of the 2024 season, and the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Kansas City Chiefs (27-21) in September 2025.
The Ravens have some experience playing internationally, though both of their previous games were in London. They lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 44-7 in 2017 and later beat the Tennessee Titans 24-16 in 2023.
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According to the Banner, the Ravens were unlikely to host an international game this year because of a nearly $500 million renovation project at M&T Bank Stadium. The report also noted that the NFL allows teams to keep all their home games while their stadium is being renovated.
The exact date and time for the Brazil game have not been announced yet, but it could leave the Cowboys dealing with a short week, depending on how the schedule lines up. The full 2026 schedule is expected to be released in May.
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While this update lines up with Jackson’s wish to play in Brazil, questions about his contract extension are still there, especially with the new head coach not giving a clear answer on the situation.
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Jesse Minter shuts down Lamar Jackson’s deal talk
Lamar Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore in 2023 that runs through the 2027 season, but there is already some quiet talk about another deal, even though nothing serious has come out yet. When asked about it, head coach Jesse Minter did not say much.
“Yeah, Lamar knows how the organization feels about him; we know how he feels about us,” Minter said on NFL Live. “We think in due time that that’ll all work itself out.”
It sounds like both sides are calm and not rushing anything. Jackson was the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and has already proven himself with two MVP awards and four Pro Bowl selections.
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His 2024 season was outstanding. He played all 17 games and recorded 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and a 119.6 passer rating. In 2025, his numbers dropped.
He played 13 games and finished with 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a 103.8 rating, including a career-low 349 rushing yards. Injuries and illness explain the drop, but the team wants its starting quarterback to be more explosive.
Jackson struggled in November and December when he was not practicing as much. He missed six straight weeks because of knee, ankle, and toe injuries. He even left a prime-time Patriots game with a back contusion and was ruled out for Week 17 against the Packers due to a deep tissue bruise. He also missed his practice time due to illness.
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Right now, it feels like the team is staying patient before finalizing a new deal, viewing 2025 as a temporary setback rather than anything long-term.

From now until the 2026 NFL Draft is concluded, the ongoing question will be whether Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a first-round pick or not.
Over the last week or so, thanks mostly to ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky’s hot take that Simpson is the QB1 in this year’s draft over Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza — the presumed No. 1 overall pick — that debate has only heated up.
Orlovsky was raked through the coals for his take, quickly becoming public enemy No. 1 among analysts. But his opinion isn’t all that different from others that have surfaced throughout the process. Ultimately, it’s all a guessing game this time of year.
That said, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently broke things down by comparing Simpson to past quarterbacks who carried a similar flaw into the NFL.
Ty Simpson’s Lack of Starts Raises Red Flags
The biggest sticking point in Simpson’s evaluation is his lack of starts at Alabama.
“If he is selected in the first round on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Simpson will be the 10th quarterback with 20 or fewer college starts to be picked on the first day of the draft since 2006, according to ESPN Research,” Legwold wrote. “And he’d be the fifth with as few as 15. The track record of the other passers on that list has been largely underwhelming.”
And that track record is rough.
The previous quarterbacks drafted in the first round with fewer than 20 starts include Ryan Tannehill (19), Mac Jones (17), Kyler Murray (17), Trey Lance (17), Mark Sanchez (16), Dwayne Haskins Jr. (14), Cam Newton (14), Mitchell Trubisky (13) and Anthony Richardson (13).
Among that group, there are just seven Pro Bowl selections — split between Jones (1), Murray (2), Newton (3) and Trubisky (1). More concerning, only Tannehill, Murray and Newton earned second contracts.
Newton clearly stands out as the most successful, leading the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl during his MVP season.
Simpson, though, pushed back on the idea that his limited starts tell the full story.
“Everybody talks about my starts, but I played in other games besides that,” Simpson said. “I played really good NFL players. Think about my freshman year, learning from the No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner [Bryce Young] … going on scout team I got Will Anderson [Jr.], Dallas Turner, Henry To’oTo’o, got Kool-Aid [McKinstry] on one side, Terrion [Arnold] on the other side. … The Alabama locker room was as close to a locker room in the NFL as you can get.”
Skepticism Continues Around Ty Simpson’s Draft Stock
Not everyone is buying into the first-round hype.
3 & Out’s John Middlekauff made it clear he doesn’t see Simpson as a Day 1 pick.
“Ty Simpson is not a first round pick for me,” Middlekauff said. “I didn’t see it when I watched him. I used his comp of like I see some similarities to [Brock] Purdy, who was a seventh-round pick. Those type of players for me are guys that are drafted after pick 100.”
Middlekauff also pointed to Mendoza as the better overall prospect.
Mendoza holds a clear edge in experience, with 36 career starts between his time at Cal and Indiana. Simpson, meanwhile, spent four years at Alabama but didn’t become the full-time starter until last season.
At this point, it would be shocking to see Simpson leap Mendoza in the draft order.
The real question now isn’t whether he’s QB1 — it’s whether he hears his name called on Day 1 at all, or if he slips into Day 2, with Day 3 not entirely out of the question.

It’s been a solid offseason so far for the New Orleans Saints. So much so that if the 2026 National Football League season were to begin tomorrow, New Orleans arguably would be the favorite in the NFC South. Or, at least, they should be.
New Orleans has added a major boost at guard in David Edwards, firepower in the running back room in Travis Etienne Jr., a Demario Davis replacement in Kaden Elliss, and also have added a high-end punter in Ryan Wright, among other moves.
For New Orleans, there is a lot more work to do this offseason.
2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is coming up starting on April 23. New Orleans will be on the clock with the No. 8 pick in the first round. New Orleans has eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft in total. New Orleans has the No. 8 pick in the first round, the 42nd pick in the second round, the 73rd pick in the third round, the 132nd pick in the fourth round, the 136th pick in the fourth round, the 150th pick in the fifth round, the 172nd pick in the fifth round, and the 190th pick in the sixth round. At the No. 8 pick, arguably the best fit would be Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, if he’s still on the board.
Biggest Roster Holes
The Saints have three roster holes right now at cornerback, the No. 2 wide receiver spot and the pass rush. New Orleans will have options to plug all three roster holes in the 2026 NFL Draft. If New Orleans still has a need afterward, there will be options still in free agency.
Right now, a few receiver options out there for the taking are Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and Stefon Diggs. At cornerback, a few options are Marshon Lattimore and Trevon Diggs. For the pass rush, Cameron Jordan is still out there and should be a priority. On top of him, Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney are three other options for New Orleans to consider.
The big thing to be on the lookout for right now is the 2026 NFL Draft, but free agency should still be in consideration for the franchise as well. All in all, New Orleans is in a better place than it was in at the end of the 2025 NFL season, but it isn’t done yet.

After changing his LinkedIn status to “open to work” in January, Fernando Mendoza backed it up with a strong Pro Day performance. He already got all the hype he deserved with his Heisman win, a championship with Indiana, and now the major spotlight for his performance in front of 10 Raiders scouts at the Pro Day.
Fernando Mendoza completed 53 out of 56 passes, with only a couple of drops, showing great accuracy. He threw all these passes in just 20 minutes with only two short breaks, which also showed his stamina and focus. Mendoza even impressed scouts with his arm strength, easily throwing the ball 50–60 yards.
He is making sure he develops into his best form before turning pro, as he explains his mindset.
“I’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,” Mendoza said after the stunning display. “But I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center, and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash marks are more condensed, and the speed of the game is faster. So all those things, I look forward to learning.”
Before starting, he warmed up with his college roommate and then performed in front of all 32 NFL teams, over 100 media members, and many families, friends, and teammates who came to watch him. He was not perfect, though. On one deep throw, he slightly overthrew Elijah Sarratt by a small margin, and a few passes fell incomplete.
But even with those inconsistencies, many analysts already predict him going to the Raiders. They have shown a very strong interest in Fernando Mendoza, and their actions clearly prove it. They have already met him at the NFL Combine, held a long Zoom meeting, and planned more meetings, including a Top-30 visit. They arranged dinner and whiteboard sessions with him, too.
At his Pro Day, the Raiders didn’t just send a scout; they sent top leaders like general manager John Spytek, head coach Klint Kubiak, and several staff members. This shows they are closely studying him and treating him like a top priority. Their coaching setup also fits Mendoza well. Klint Kubiak’s system focuses on play-action passes, taking snaps under center, and a structured passing game.
Another big reason for their interest is their weak quarterback situation. Geno Smith, who struggled and threw 17 interceptions, has been traded to the New York Jets. Backup Kenny Pickett has also left for the Carolina Panthers. Right now, Aidan O’Connell is the only quarterback left on the roster. This clearly shows the Raiders urgently need a new leader at the position.
Fernando Mendoza’s skills make him a perfect fit for the Raiders, too. Last season, he threw for 3,535 yards, scored 41 touchdowns, and made only 6 interceptions. He is also a “clean, crisp passer” who makes quick decisions and reads the defense well. On top of that, Mendoza also has great timing and ball placement.
Another big strength is his mindset. He stays calm in big moments and does not panic under pressure. So, it’s not just his Pro Day performance but also his overall skills and strength that make him an NFL-ready QB.
But at Pro Day, he wasn’t just focusing on his game; he also made sure his teammates got the exposure, too.
Fernando Mendoza makes his mindset clear
From the moment Fernando Mendoza joined Indiana, he has been nothing but supportive of his team, focusing on building relationships and pushing all of them forward into the spotlight. He did it again during Indiana’s Pro Day by throwing for 56 passes. For the 22-year-old, giving all his players equal opportunity mattered the most.
“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza said. “You know, quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that apply to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”
Now, this wasn’t the first time any quarterbacks did less; Cam Newton just threw 30 passes in his Pro Day workout. So QBs often opt for fewer passes. But for Mendoza, it mattered more because he had a vision for his team.
His teammates also performed well during the Pro Day. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds showed his speed by running the 40-yard dash in just 4.31 seconds, which is very fast. RB Roman Hemby also spoke about Mendoza and praised him as a leader.
“That’s a guy that’s a great leader, a great person,” Hemby said. “He doesn’t have to do some of the things he does. He wanted to go out there and showcase the guys. That shows the type of person he is. That’s why we love him.”
Now, with this mindset, let’s wait and see how things turn around for him in the future.

Fernando Mendoza showed why he is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in this month’s NFL draft during his pro day on Wednesday, which drew representatives from all 32 NFL teams to Bloomington, Indiana.
The former Hoosiers quarterback completed 53 of his 56 throws on Wednesday, which included completing his first 23 passes, according to NFL Network.
The outlet reported that his only true off-target pass of the day came when he slightly overthrew on a “go” route.
It would seem that Mendoza made a good impression on the Raiders brass that was in attendance on Wednesday, with the organization that holds the first overall pick sending 10 representatives — including general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak.
“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza told reporters. “You know quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that are applicable to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”
Mendoza is coming off a stellar season, one in which he took the country by storm through his humble and wholesome personality off the field and his fierce ability to step up in big moments on it.
He became the first Indiana player to ever win a Heisman Trophy and helped lead the program to its first-ever national championship in football.
Mendoza had completed 72 percent of his passes in his final collegiate season and threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns.
All of which has put him in position to be the top pick in this year’s draft, though he knows he’s still got plenty to learn once he reaches the NFL.
“I’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,” Mendoza said. “But I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash [marks] are more condensed and the speed of the game is faster. So all those things, I look forward to learning.”
Mendoza has met with the Raiders twice already.
Las Vegas has the No. 1 pick after going 3-14 during an abysmal season in 2025.
The NFL draft is slated to take place in Pittsburgh beginning on Thursday, April 23, at Acrisure Stadium.

It’s almost time to find out what the Dallas Cowboys will do in the 2026 NFL draft.
On Wednesday, the team officially announced its lineup of festivities for the event that will be held from April 23-25. The Cowboys are following their recent tradition of hosting their draft festivities at The Star in Frisco.
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This year’s lineup of activities includes appearances from current and former players, performances from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, live music and more.
The Cowboys will be presenting live coverage of the draft at their headquarters. Night one of the event will be present inside the Ford Center at The Star starting at 6 p.m. April 23. The second and third rounds will be presented at 6 p.m. on April 24 outside of the Ford Center on the Tostitos Championship Plaza.
Day three of the event begins at 8 a.m. on April 25 with the team’s annual Draft Day 5K. According to the Cowboys, the draft party’s Saturday itinerary also includes a

The Las Vegas Raiders face a clear need at quarterback, with Aidan O’Connell currently the only player on the roster. Many expect the team to select former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
When it comes to a potential third quarterback, the Raiders seem to be leaning toward a veteran presence. They showed interest in Joe Flacco, but he opted to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals.
That leaves another experienced option in Kirk Cousins, who could appeal to Las Vegas, particularly if the team prefers Mendoza to develop before stepping into a starting role. However, former NFL player Booger McFarland doesn’t see Cousins as a fit, given that the veteran wants to play.
“Kirk is a tremendous guy, and I think there’s no doubt in my mind that someday he’s going to be in that role,” McFarland said on the April 1 edition of “NFL Live.” “But right now, Kirk Cousins wants to play. So maybe, to your point, somebody has no intention of, when you get tapped on the shoulder, it’s time for you to come out. They’ll gladly step aside, put the ball cap on and say, ‘Let’s go, Fernando.’“
Last season with the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins posted a 76.0 overall PFF grade, ranking 14th among 43 qualified quarterbacks. His passing grade was 75.0, also 14th at the position. On 289 dropbacks, he threw for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, while recording nine big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays.
NFL Insider Gives Update on Kirk Cousins’ Future
Amid the speculation, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared an update on Cousins’ future.
“I think Kirk Cousins is just sitting back and waiting,“ Schefter said on the March 31 edition of the “Pat McAfee Show.” “Whatever opportunity comes his way, he can be selective and choose. He’s made as much money as an NFL player, so he doesn’t have to rush into anything.”
Moreover, Schefter did touch on whether the Raiders make sense for Cousins, considering the player has options outside of the football field.
“Is he rushing out to Vegas now? “ Schefter added. “He’s got his family. I don’t know. He can go when he wants, he can go where he wants, he could play, he could not play, he could broadcast. I don’t think he’s rushing to anything until he feels like it’s the right thing, whatever that is.”
Raiders Projected to Be Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
After missing out on Flacco, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present, “ Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.

It was a rough first season coaching college football Michael Vick, and for his wife Kijafa rooting him on. She’s at least enjoying the football offseason while rocking a bikini in Belize.
The Norfolk State Spartans finished dead last in the season at 1-11 overall in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Vick even lost to his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate DeSean Jackson who coaches at Delaware State.
While the former quarterback legend’s team struggled, Kijafa was a bright spot. The 45-year-old coach’s wife and a star of W.A.G.S. to Riches Kijafa turned heads with looks like her Spartans cheerleader fit, and her can’t-miss press conference stunner.
Kijafa has been on fire this offseason like her ab-flexing look at an event, and this crazy over-the-top “leather and feathers” creation.
Kijafa stuns in another bikini
She’s also been living it up on tropical vacations with not only one trip, but a second where she flexed another bikini stunner while on a swing by the ocean in what she called her “happy place.”
That looks like the perfect spot to relax.
The Vicks’ love story
Michael and Kijafa met in 2002 and dated for several years before he proposed in 2009 during his 29th birthday. They married in 2012 in a lavish Miami, Florida, ceremony. They have three children together Jada Vick, 20, London Vick, 17, and Michael Vick Junior, 7.

In less than a month, the New York Giants will be on the clock with the No. 5 pick in the NFL draft. As the front office continues its due diligence, one name on their board garnered some high praise.
During an appearance on the ‘Schein Time’ show, NFL analyst Greg Cosell gave his thoughts on running back prospect Jeremiyah Love. He is very high on the Notre Dame standout, comparing his style of play to the likes of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
“I got the same bromance with Love that you have,” Cosell told Adam Schein. “The more I watched him, the more I thought of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Almost like a combo platter.”
Love is someone the Giants zeroed in on early, as they’ve already had a sit-down meeting with the dynamic running back. There seems to be a mutual respect, as he had good things to say about the Giants organization during Notre Dame’s Pro Day earlier this month.
Currently projected to come off the board in the back half of the top ten, New York might have an opportunity to add the promising backfield threat to their strong core of young talent.
Giants Coach Makes His Feelings Clear on Jeremiyah Love
Coming off an impressive season at Notre Dame last season, Love has many excited as he prepares to make the leap to the pros. Among those who is a strong believer in what he brings to the table is Giants head coach John Harbaugh.
While speaking with the media of the NFL’s annual meetings, Harbaugh was asked about drafting a running back that high in the first round. He is all for putting together the most talented team possible and praised Love’s skill set.
“You build the best team you can with the best players you can get,” Harbaugh said. “I’d probably put very very good player. Put a couple verys in front of that, maybe even a couple more. He’s really good.”
Giants Expected to Select Jeremiyah Love if he’s Available at No. 5
Before suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year, it looked as though the Giants had found their running back of the future in Cam Skattebo. While they are likely still confident in him moving forward, they are expected to create an exciting young backfield duo in 2026 and beyond.
In a recent column for ESPN, a handful of insiders weighed in on the rumors they are hearing leading up to the draft. As it pertains to Love, there remains an expectation that the Tennessee Titans could take him with the fourth overall pick. However, if they decide to pass on Love, Matt Miller noted there’s a strong chance the Giants snatch him up with the following selection.
“Love is the type of transcendent prospect who the Titans can build their offense around, giving quarterback Cam Ward a viable threat in the run and pass game,” Miller wrote. “And from what I’ve heard, if Love falls past Tennessee, the Giants will likely take him at No. 5.”
Only time will tell if the Giants will have a shot at the exciting RB prospect or if they’ll be forced to pivot and go in a different direction.

PHOENIX — With the expiration of Lincoln Financial Field’s lease looming in 2032, team owner Jeffrey Lurie made it clear that all options are on the table for the Eagles’ future home.
One of those variables is the prospective location of their home.
At his annual news conference at the league meetings on Tuesday, Lurie explained that the team is conducting “exploratory research” on the prospect of a new or renovated stadium. That research dates back to at least last year, when the organization sent out surveys to season ticket holders to solicit their opinions on a potential stadium renovation or a new building.
Before the Eagles’ move from Veterans Stadium to Lincoln Financial Field in 2003, Lurie said the organization conducted two to three years of exploratory research. Similarly, in the next year or two, he said he aims to have a more “definitive approach” to their stadium plans.
For now, the Eagles are taking it slow with the exploratory process, using the latest NFL stadiums belonging to the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, as well as renovated international stadiums such as Bernabéu in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona, as case studies.
“Is there anything we can learn from Nashville and Buffalo?” Lurie said. “Is there anything we can learn from the renovations in Madrid and Barcelona? It’s really important. I think we want to maximize fan amenities and attract the best possible environment for Philadelphia. And to do that, you’ve really got to do the exploratory research. Don’t rush into it. This is a big decision.”
Part of the big decision includes the future site of the stadium, if the Eagles decide to build anew. Since 1971, the Eagles have called the South Philadelphia Sports Complex their home. The World War II-era Steagles aside, each of the team’s six permanent home stadiums throughout its 92-year history have been located within city limits.
But in recent years, some NFL teams with new stadium plans have explored moves outside of city centers, or even to different states entirely. Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren told Pro Football Talk on Tuesday that the team’s next stadium will likely reside in either northwest Indiana or Arlington Heights, Ill., after their lease expires at Soldier Field in 2033.
Public funding often plays a role in prospective stadium destinations. Indiana governor Mike Braun signed a bill in February that permitted funding for a potential new Bears stadium in Hammond, Ind., which is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Chicago.
Lurie wouldn’t rule out any potential locations if the team builds a new stadium, even if that means leaving South Philadelphia.
“Whatever’s best for the fans,” Lurie said. “I mean, we don’t really go on a geographical basis. It’s whatever’s best for the fans. And I can’t tell you where [the planned stadium in] Cleveland is, Barcelona is, I don’t know. Honestly, the bottom line is whatever is best for the fans.”
Lurie repeatedly emphasized that the fan experience is his top priority in the stadium plans. He said he doesn’t have any “non-negotiables,” even as it pertains to the decision to include a dome on their home. New stadiums and renovations to existing facilities around the league have often included roofs, increasing the eligibility of those cities to host events such as the Super Bowl.
“We’re so focused on fan amenities,” Lurie said. “To me, that’s the number one thing. Just as a boy growing up, you want to have as best a fan experience. The rest is architecture, design, and where it ends up.”
Lincoln Financial Field will turn 23 years old in August. The Jefferson Health Training Complex, the team’s practice facility formerly called the NovaCare Complex, is 24 years old. By the time the Washington Commanders’ new stadium is scheduled to open at the historic RFK Stadium site in 2030, Lurie acknowledged that the Eagles’ facilities will be the oldest in the division.
But Lurie said he loves Lincoln Financial Field and called it “wonderful.” The practice facility went from “worst to best” when NovaCare was built in 2001, he said. The team continues to make upgrades and renovations to its current facilities, plus investments beyond the physical buildings into player health and safety endeavors.
Just because the Eagles’ facilities are aging doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t be improved or that a new stadium is a foregone conclusion, according to Lurie.
“There’s Fenway [Park], there’s Lambeau [Field], whatever, but there’s no question our practice facility and particularly our stadium will be the oldest in the division,” Lurie said. “We have put so much money into the stadium, so it doesn’t appear that way, and it’s still great, and people still love it, but it’s a fact of that exploration I was talking to you about.
“Do we want to be in 2045, 15 years older than every other stadium in our division or whatever? We’d have to see. Maybe. But it’s all part of it. I know part of our culture is to … maximize the athletic ability that we have of our players, our coaches and everybody. That will always be the top priority. So whatever we’re doing with [the] stadium, with [the] practice facility, if it’s not near top-notch, it’s not our goal.”
The Eagles are still at least a year away from cementing their stadium plans. The only certainty is that Lurie is considering every alternative.
“I think if you’re just humble about it and open that you don’t have all the answers, and do the exploratory work, you’ll end up with a better long-term situation,” Lurie said.

This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders have bolstered their defense with the arrivals of Taron Johnson, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker, and even with the failed Maxx Crosby trade, they can keep their top defensive player.
Nonetheless, while Las Vegas has made moves to ensure it has a competitive defensive unit, there are still areas it needs to improve, especially on the defensive line.
While many assume the Raiders will take former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, the question is what the team does in Round 2. Could they pursue a wideout with No. 1 potential to help Mendoza?
However, ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes the player who best fits the team is a defensive lineman: Former Ohio State Buckeyes star Kayden McDonald.
“Edge rusher Maxx Crosby is staying with the Raiders, and the team also signed edge rusher Kwity Paye in free agency,” Bowen wrote in his article published on March 31. “So, Las Vegas should look to upgrade the interior of its D-line with McDonald, who can play the nose tackle spot under new coordinator Rob Leonard.
“With more range than a transitional nose tackle, McDonald is a true run game disruptor. He uses his foot quickness and power to make splash plays, leading to 17 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2025. McDonald also had three sacks and two forced fumbles.”
Raiders Need to Improve QB Depth Before 2026 Season
Along with improving their interior defensive line, the Raiders need to improve their QB situation. The Raiders were looking to add a veteran in Joe Flacco, but he decided to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a result, it appears that the Silver and Black want a veteran signal caller to go with O’Connell and likely Mendoza. On March 30, Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke with reporters and shared an update on the team’s plan to improve the QB position as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
“Aidan’s played a lot of good football in this league,” Spytek said. “He’s started, he’s thrown for 300 yards in games. He’s a great teammate, works his tail off, and he’s smart.
“Obviously, he’s the only quarterback on the roster right now, and at a premium position, I think it’s a fair question to ask. We’re considering a bunch of different things right now, and I think we’ll have some answers here in the coming weeks.”
Las Vegas Predicted to Be Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
After missing out on Flacco, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting the Raiders add veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present,” Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins continues hunting a new home in the NFL, but the options are slim and getting slimmer with regards to a chance to start somewhere among the 32 teams.
Cousins caught some bad news in that regard via an update from ESPN’s Adam Schefter regarding four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his thoughts on returning to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.
“The situation is that he and [Steelers head coach] Mike McCarthy have been talking on a regular basis,” Schefter said. “Why are they even talking if Aaron Rodgers is not serious about coming back? That would tell you that, obviously, he is strongly entertaining the idea of coming back to the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“And I think everyone, right now, within the Steelers organization is cautiously optimistic that he’ll be back,” Schefter continued. “We never fully know with Aaron Rodgers. But that much activity and conversations and talking about what the future could look like clearly is an indication that he’s serious about playing. My understanding also is it has nothing to do with a contract, that should not be difficult to work out.”
Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy Excited About Potential Reunion in Pittsburgh
Rodgers and McCarthy spent 13 years together with the Green Bay Packers, where they captured a Super Bowl ring following the 2010 season.
Pittsburgh brought McCarthy in to replace Mike Tomlin, who stepped down following one year with Rodgers as his starting quarterback. The Steelers won the AFC North Division and earned the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs in 2025, but lost to the Houston Texans in blowout fashion in Round 1.
Rodgers will turn 43 years old in December, though he and McCarthy have both publicly complimented one another and mused on what it would be like to reunite at the end of their respective careers.
“It’d be a great story,” McCarthy said.
Raiders May Be Kirk Cousins’ Last Chance at QB1 Role if Aaron Rodgers Returns to Steelers in 2026
Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney II said recently that he expects to know before the upcoming draft, which begins on Thursday, April 23, whether Rodgers will return in 2026. The quarterback spoke to his decision timeline several weeks prior.
“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me. There’s no contract offer or anything,” Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show March 5. “I’m a free agent.”
If Rodgers comes back to Pittsburgh, Cousins’ last best bet to earn a starting job will probably be with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders are likely to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, though they are unlikely to compete for the playoffs in 2026 and may decide to bring him along more slowly rather than throw him directly into the fire in Week 1.
There is no guarantee that Cousins would get a full year as QB1 in Las Vegas, and it is probably more likely that he would not than that he would, as the Raiders will have incentive to get Mendoza some experience during his rookie campaign.
However, if Cousins plays well, he could be a trade candidate ahead of the mid-season deadline for some team struggling with QB injuries, or perhaps he could up his value for a chance to start elsewhere in the NFL in 2027.

Roger Goodell offered NFL Network employees some departing words as they transitioned to ESPN.
Starting on Wednesday, April 1, the sports broadcaster will take over the NFL Network and RedZone Channel as part of the deal they announced back in August 2025.
As of now, no major changes have been announced, but changes might be expected as the NFL season ramps up.
“With a new league year upon us, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the members of our NFL family who will be transitioning to ESPN as part of the sale completed earlier this year,” read the note Goodell sent to NFL Media employees. “In 2003, we had an idea. Many skeptics doubted there was demand for a network featuring round the clock, yearlong NFL news, information and analysis. But we knew our fans. We knew if we built it, they would come.”
The note continued, “The team at NFL Network has accomplished something remarkable over the past two decades. A home for the best content in all of sports — from Total Access, Good Morning Football, and NFL RedZone, to breaking news and live games, including Thursday Night Football. And let’s not forget, along the way you made the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Schedule Release must-see TV. It is no surprise that the fruits of your labor would be attractive to an industry leader like ESPN as they look to serve the insatiable appetites of NFL fans.”
Goodell said that a new chapter began for NFL Media, NFL Network, and many of its employees, adding, “To those remaining with NFL Media to evolve our key fan-facing platforms — from our website, apps and content productions across YouTube, FAST and podcasts, to NFL RedZone — please know how much we appreciate you. You will lead NFL Media into this next chapter. To those heading to ESPN, we offer a heartfelt thank you. We have no doubt that you will continue to drive unparalleled coverage of the NFL. And whether you are transitioning or staying, each of you will keep contributing to our greater football story, building on the relationships, sacrifice and teamwork that made this moment possible.”

A former female NFL referee has alleged that the league’s celebrated DEI commitments failed to support her when she needed help during her pathbreaking career. One of the league’s first three women to officiate an NFL game has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the league for alleged sexism that she experienced over three years.
“Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league official,” ESPN reported. “The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, filed Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages.”
According to the lawsuit, DeLorenzo faced countless discriminatory actions, such as being sent oversized men’s uniforms, being asked to show her ponytail, and being demanded to perform a humiliating singing performance in front of players and coaches. The former referee mentioned that her crew chief often humiliated her, harassed her, and used abusive language.
Furthermore, DeLorenzo also confirmed that she was forced to participate in a ‘training opportunity’ for lower-level college officials. However, no male official had ever been required to do so, which she alleged to be ‘male power play’ for humiliating and undermining her.
“[DeLorenzo] worked her way through two decades of officiating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit read.
However, this wasn’t always the case for Robin DeLorenzo, who often described her amazement with her role as an NFL official as she followed her father’s advice throughout her journey. This happiness surged to the next level when the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.
“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other, crying for about five minutes,” DeLorenzo told NFL.com. “It was the most magical night.”
However, on February 18, 2025, DeLorenzo was terminated after a three-year tenure, which started in 2023. Her termination letter, as per DeLorenzo, delved into her performance across all three seasons. This was the same period when she faced discrimination, harassment, and was punished for speaking up.
The lawsuit raises twelve causes of action under federal, New York state, and city, and New Jersey anti-discrimination laws, as the former NFL referee seeks reinstatement, compensatory and punitive damages, and back pay.
Given the lawsuit’s potential to harm the NFL’s reputation for inclusivity, the league issued a statement.
NFL issues statement on Robin DeLorenzo’s lawsuit
Following the lawsuit, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed through an email to ESPN that DeLorenzo was dismissed after three seasons marked by documented underperformance. However, unlike the league, the NFL Referees Association hasn’t yet issued a comment on the situation.
“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” McCarthy said.
With Robin DeLorenzo, one of the first women to officiate an NFL game, suing the NFL over alleged sexism and harassment, questions will be raised about how serious the NFL is about its DEI commitments. Despite the league’s stance of denying her claims, the outcome of this lawsuit will force a few systemic changes for the NFL moving forward.

Texas Tech star edge rusher David Bailey enters the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the top prospects.
With less than a month left in the draft, it is more than likely that Bailery will hear his name called within the first five picks of the draft. He’s established himself as one of the more elite edge rushers. Because of that, many teams high in the draft will look at Bailey as a potential pick.
While many mock Bailey inside the top 10, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes his skill set should land him with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.
Baldinger made his case for Bailey at No. 2 overall in his more recent appearance on NFL Network.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for a long-term replacement for two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. But if it were up to Roethlisberger, he wouldn’t try to find Pittsburgh’s next great quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Not in the first round, second round or third. Roethlisberger explained on the latest episode of “Footbahlin Podcast” that he wouldn’t pick a quarterback on either of the first two days of the 2026 draft.
“I’ve seen some people say quarterback. They should get a quarterback in the second round. I think that’s a huge mistake,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday, via Steelers Depot’s Jake Brockhoff. “Second round, you can get so many really good players, and you don’t waste it on a quarterback right now.
“Even if Aaron [Rodgers] says I’m not coming back, I wouldn’t do it in the second round …
“I would not draft one in my first three picks, to be honest.”
The former two-time NFL passing leader then argued the fact the draft is in Pittsburgh this year should play a role in the organization’s decision-making.
“You better hope that first pick they announce up there is one the fans want,” Roethlisberger added. “They were talking about Ty Simpson. I’m like, alright, they better not.
“Like, that would be the craziest [thing], but if they did that, I think Pittsburgh would boo.”
Ben Roethlisberger Calls Drafting Second-Round QB ‘Waste’
There’s a couple things of note from what Roethlisberger said Tuesday.
First, the former quarterback seems to be reacting to national pundits suggesting the Steelers could take Ty Simpson or another quarterback on Day 2.
That’s not out of the realm of possibility. But Steelers insiders such as Gerry Dulac and Mark Kaboly have reported and/or argued the team isn’t interested in taking a quarterback early.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested that could be a smokescreen. Maybe it is. It’s hard to tell this time of year.
But it’s far from a foregone conclusion quarterback will be one of the positions the Steelers address in the first three rounds. More than likely, if Aaron Rodgers comes back, it won’t be.
If it is, though, it’s hard to see why it would be a wasted pick as Roethlisberger claims.
The 2026 NFL Draft class isn’t billed as a strong quarterback group. That’s likely why Roethlisberger sees staying away from the group entirely as the more prudent approach.
But clearly, the Steelers have a quarterback need. Rodgers might fill it for one more season. Other than that, Will Howard is far from a guarantee as a former sixth-rounder pick. Mason Rudolph has likely peaked as a decent backup.
Therefore, the Steelers drafting a quarterback at any point hardly seems wasteful.
And to say Pittsburgh might boo Simpson, who the team would believe is its next franchise quarterback if it drafted him in the first round, is a bit of a stretch.
Should Pittsburgh Hosting Play a Role in Steelers Draft Selections?
In the Steelers home matchup against the Buffalo Bills on November 30, the Acrisure Stadium crowd broke out a “Fire Tomlin” chant.
There’s a lot of frustration in the Pittsburgh fan base. While Tomlin is gone, that frustration remains. The team hasn’t won a playoff game in almost a decade. Furthermore, a lot of fans and pundits weren’t happy with the choice of Mike McCarthy as their next head coach.
With that in mind, Roethlisberger is right — the Steelers could use some positive PR with its first-round choice.
But that doesn’t mean the team should aim to make a crowd-pleasing selection in the first round.
If the Steelers firmly believe one of the 2026 quarterbacks is the guy to be the next Roethlisberger, they have to take a chance on him. The organization should do that regardless of what the draft crowd’s reaction may be.

The Washington Commanders hold a top 10 selection in the NFL Draft for the third time this decade. But that’s not enough for one draft analyst — Fox Sports’s Rob Rang. In his newest mock draft this week, Rang proposed the Commanders make a splash with a move up to No. 3 overall to draft running back Jeremiyah Love.
Rang characterized the trade as a necessary risk for a team desperate to get quarterback Jayden Daniels another weapon.
“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,” Rang wrote. “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.”
Love is the clear-cut top running back in the 2026 draft class. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah each have Love rated as their No. 2 prospect behind Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
“Love reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush. The 20-year-old has vision and burst between the tackles and to the outside, and he can break tackles with ease (60 forced missed tackles on the 2025 season),” Kiper wrote. “Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his 4.36 breakaway speed too. But Love isn’t only an outstanding runner. He also is a high-impact pass catcher.
“An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension of the offense.”
Why the Commanders Should Target RB Jeremiyah Love
It’s not very hard to see why Washington could try to land the Notre Dame running back.
Love rushed for 1,372 yards for the Fighting Irish last season. He averaged 6.9 yards per attempt each of the past two years. Love also scored 40 touchdowns in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last season. Third-year running back Chris Rodriguez also had 500 rushing yards, but he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL free agency.
To replace Rodriguez, the Commanders added Rachaad White and Jerome Ford in free agency. But Love would give Washington another dynamic in the backfield. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared the Notre Dame product to Jahmyr Gibbs, who posted 5,029 yards from scrimmage in his first three NFL campaigns.
“Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers.
“Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability.”
Would the Commanders Trade Up to No. 3 for Love?
It’s important to note that Rang’s mock draft featured trades as a theme. Every single projection in the mock draft was via a trade.
So Rang exploring the possibility of the Commanders moving up to No. 3 for Love seemed to be more of a fun experiment than an actual prediction.
The Commanders have significant needs on defense, especially at edge rusher. Offensively, they could use another receiver.
With that in mind, a trade up to No. 3 for Love seems far-fetched, particularly when considering the Commanders don’t have a second- or fourth-round pick.
On the other hand, Washington could see Love as an indirect defensive improvement for the organization. If the Commanders can successfully run the ball more often next season, their defense will be on the field less.
Love would also be a pass-catcher for Daniels.
The Commanders could roll the dice and see if Love falls to them at No. 7. A trade up to No. 3, though, would be an aggressive move to ensure Washington lands arguably the top non-quarterback prospect of 2026.