Bills To Re-Sign S Sam Franklin
Sam Franklin will not test the open market next month. The pending free agent safety has worked out a new contract to remain in place with the Bills. 
Buffalo has agreed to a three-year deal with Franklin, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This pact contains $5MM which will be paid out over the first two seasons. With a maximum value of $7.5MM, Franklin’s new contract represents not only a lengthy commitment but also a notable raise compared to his previous one (which was worth the league minimum).
The special teams ace has played on one-year deals dating back to 2023. Franklin’s first five seasons were spent with the Panthers, but he joined the Broncos last year. After being among Denver’s final roster cuts, the 30-year-old immediately caught on with the Bills. Franklin signed to the active roster ahead of Week 1 and remained there all year.
After logging only six defensive snaps in 2025, Franklin will of course be expected to continue as a third phase specialist with Buffalo. The former UDFA handled a 76% snap share on special teams last season, a workload similar to that of his Carolina campaigns. Franklin has only managed nine defensive starts in his career, but despite a lack of experience on that front he has secured a significant compensation package from the Bills.
The safety position could see considerable turnover in Buffalo this spring, as Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin and Darnell Savage are all pending free agents. Starters Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp remain under contract for next year, though, so depth will be sought out on the open market. As outside additions are explored by the team, Franklin has received an early assurance that he will remain in the fold for 2026 and beyond.
Jets To Trade Jermaine Johnson To Titans For T’Vondre Sweat
Jermaine Johnson is the latest defender to see his Jets tenure come to an end under the team’s new regime. The fifth-year edge rusher is on the move. 
Johnson is being traded by the Jets to the Titans, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is heading to New York in return. Like all trades, the final agreement is pending a physical for both players. This swap will not be finalized until after the new league year begins, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes.
[RELATED: Johnson Aimed To Be Traded; More Jets Available?]
This swap will allow for Johnson to reunite with Robert Saleh. The two were previously together on the Jets, and after a one-year stint as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator Saleh was hired last month to take charge of the Titans. Adding along the edge has been seen as a critical need in Tennessee’s case, and before free agency has even begun the team has already lined up a move on that front.
Saleh’s arrival brought about a change in scheme, something which Russini notes made Sweat more of a trade chip. In two Tennessee seasons, the former second-rounder has posted 85 stops and eight tackles for loss. Sweat, who will turn 25 in July, has two years remaining on his rookie contract. He will look to provide New York with a starting presence along the interior and by doing so help fill the vacancy created by the Quinnen Williams deal.
Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner were each traded away at the 2025 deadline. The Jets’ new decision-making tandem of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn received considerable interest in Johnson as well, but no deal was worked out in his case. New York rejected an offer including a third-round pick at the time, but that did not ensure Johnson would remain in place for 2026.
A December report indicated it was highly unlikely Johnson would work out an extension with the Jets. The 27-year-old will play out his fifth-year option in 2026, but he will do so on a new team. Johnson is due $13.41MM and will carry the same cap charge on Tennessee, a team which can comfortably afford an increase in costs along the defensive front. The same is also true of the Jets, of course, so it will be interesting to see how they proceed in the pass-rush department this spring.
New York owns the second overall pick in April’s draft. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is universally expected to be selected first overall, which will leave the Jets in line to add at a different position. That could result in a pass rusher such as hybrid linebacker/EDGE Arvell Reese hearing his name called at the No. 2 slot. Free agency will also present the Jets with a number of options to add options on the edge.
Johnson had a quiet rookie season but earned a Pro Bowl nod based on his strong play in 2023. The Florida State product notched 7.5 sacks and 25 QB pressures, leading to high expectations for a strong follow-up campaign. However, an Achilles tear limited Johnson to just two games in 2024. He managed to make 14 appearances this past season, but in that time Johnson only recorded three sacks. A turnaround in Tennessee would go a long way in shaping his financial future.
The Jets ranked 29th against the run last season. Improving on that figure will be a key priority, and Sweat will be tasked with helping out on early downs in particular. The 6-4, 366-pounder was one of many Tennessee players who drew interest on the trade front this past fall, and his stock in the organization was not believed to be particularly high heading into the offseason. A change of scenery could prove to be beneficial to all parties.
After this swap becomes official, the Titans and Jets will still be among the league leaders in cap flexibility. Both teams also have considerable draft capital at the moment, so several more moves could be coming soon.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson Requests Trade; Mutual Vikings Interest?
Signs continue to point to Anthony Richardson playing elsewhere in 2026. The embattled quarterback has requested a trade, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. 
To little surprise, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds the Colts have given Richardson’s camp permission to seek a trade. The former No. 4 pick’s value will not be particularly high given how his NFL career has played out so far. Nevertheless, the lack of established QBs on the market this offseason could lead to at least some interest.
When speaking at the Combine yesterday, Colts GM Chris Ballard offered praise for Richardson. The 23-year-old has only made 15 starts and 17 appearances during the regular season so far. An orbital bone fracture kept Richardson sidelined through the end of the 2025 campaign, although Ballard said he has now been cleared for football activities. Boyd confirms Richardson has regained full vision in his right eye.
That will be a welcomed development for all involved, but it remains to be seen how many teams will be willing to proceed with a trade acquisition in this case. In December, a trio of NFL staffers pegged Richardson’s value at a fourth-round pick (the cost paid by the Cowboys when they acquired Trey Lance). A deal along those lines would obviously represent a massive disappointment for Indianapolis, but it would pave the way for Riley Leonard to handle backup duties in 2026. Of course, the Colts are in the midst of negotiations on a new Daniel Jones contract to ensure he remains atop the depth chart moving forward.
As for potential Richardson landing spots, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network points to Minnesota as one to watch. He reports there is a mutual interest between the Vikings and Richardson. Kevin O’Connell has established a track record of quarterback development during his time as Minnesota’s head coach, and taking on another reclamation project would make plenty of sense. Given J.J. McCarthy‘s struggles so far, the Vikings are expected to bring in competition under center this spring.
That could entail pursuing a more experienced option on the open market like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr. Alternatively, the Vikings could look at Richardson as a buy-low candidate capable of winning the QB1 gig for 2026 while McCarthy develops. Richardson has one year remaining on his rookie contract and he is set to carry a cap charge of $10.82MM in 2026. A trade would essentially create an even split of that figure between cap savings and dead money for the Colts.
NFL Mailbag: Willis, Patriots, Linderbaum
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag looks at the top pending free agent storyline in the league. Questions about the Patriots' receiver situation, the Broncos' new offensive coordinator setup and the best offensive lineman set to test the market are also addressed.
Phil asks:
Is this Malik Willis buzz genuine? With Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield getting around $33MM per year after quality seasons, how can teams feel comfortable handing Willis that kind of money as mostly a career backup?
It would (will?) be quite something if Willis were to land anything near that figure on an annual basis, wouldn’t it? In any case, I think his deal is going to take some fans by surprise based on how inexperienced he is.
Jalen Hurts’ Inconsistency Impacted Eagles’ OC Search?
Nick Sirianni‘s second in-house offensive coordinator promotion brought another Eagles regression. As a result, the Eagles HC fired Kevin Patullo two years after canning Brian Johnson. Sirianni’s search to replace Patullo was more difficult than his post-Johnson process.
The Eagles fired Patullo on Jan. 13 but took 18 days to name Sean Mannion his replacement. A host of higher-profile candidates were in the mix for the job, but the Eagles ended up with a former backup quarterback who has been in coaching for two years. This was the OC carousel of the former backup, as both David Blough (Commanders) and Davis Webb (Broncos) will be calling plays as first-year OCs. But the Washington and Denver coordinator searches went far more smoothly than Philadelphia’s.
Philly had Brian Daboll squarely on its radar, but the former Giants HC preferred the Tennessee job and working with Cam Ward. Mike McDaniel also interviewed for the gig, amid a busy offseason for the four-year Dolphins HC, but chose the Chargers and Justin Herbert.
Former Falcons OC Zac Robinson interviewed for the job but accepted a Buccaneers OC offer a week before the Mannion hire. Declan Doyle and LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. withdrew from this search. Bobby Slowik took a Miami promotion, while Webb accepted a Denver OC bump after receiving an interview request late in the running.
This certainly was a difficult job to fill. Several candidates were hesitant about this gig, per Sportsboom.com’s Jason La Canfora. Sirianni firing two coordinators after one season helps explain some of the difficulties, but La Canfora adds Jalen Hurts‘ inconsistency was a “serious” concern for some of the more experienced candidates involved in Philly’s search. Daboll’s decision to work with Ward headlined that issue.
Hurts’ career has been a rollercoaster ride. He went from unpolished passer to 2022 MVP frontrunner (before a late-season injury). After a 2023 extension started the $50MM-per-year QB boom, Hurts struggled and saw reports scrutinize his relationship with Sirianni. Kellen Moore righted the ship but did so after minimizing the QB’s role, building the offense around Saquon Barkley. Hurts still played well in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX romp before regressing once again. QBR placed Hurts 20th last year, and Patullo’s offense regressed significantly from where Moore’s was. Hurts’ approach, especially against zone coverage, drew internal criticism last season.
Despite finishing with a 25:6 TD-INT ratio, Hurts piloted the NFL’s 19th-ranked scoring offense (down from seventh in 2024). Lane Johnson‘s season-ending injury in Week 11 affected Philly’s attack, but one GM told La Canfora the Eagles realized quickly Patullo might be overmatched at coordinator.
The longtime assistant, who has since joined the Dolphins as pass-game coordinator, saw Sirianni become more involved with the offense compared to his role during Moore’s play-calling year. Calls for Patullo’s job rang out, and an egging incident occurred at the coordinator’s home. A.J. Brown gripes ensued, but those were not exclusive to Patullo’s year in charge.
Sirianni, who faced firing rumors after the 2023 season despite the Eagles reaching Super Bowl LVII, is planning to remain involved in the offense to help the 33-year-old Mannion as he takes a big responsibility leap. Mannion, however, will be the play-caller — just as each Eagles OC has been since midway through the 2021 season. Another GM indicated (via La Canfora) Sirianni’s job will be at risk, despite his 2025 extension, if the Eagles’ offense does not improve. The Eagles firing Doug Pederson three years after a Super Bowl win, with two playoff berths following that showing, occurred on GM Howie Roseman‘s watch.
This is nothing the five-time playoff-qualifying HC has not faced before, but there will be plenty of pressure on him once again. Sirianni made two more staff changes recently. The Eagles are hiring Montgomery VanGorder as assistant QBs coach and Beyah Rasool as a defensive assistant, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz notes. VanGorder was an Eagles quality control assistant last year and previously served as QBs coach at Georgia. Previously a quality control staffer at Florida coaching cornerbacks, Rasool was on the Raiders’ staff last year.
Bears’ D.J. Moore, Gervon Dexter Drawing Trade Interest
A number of potential trades could be worked out shortly in the Bears’ case. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has been given permission to seek a change of scenery, while backup quarterback Tyson Bagent has been the subject of attention from suitors. 
Other Chicago players could soon find themselves on the move as well. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that wideout D.J. Moore as well as defensive tackle Gervon Dexter have mentioned during trade calls. Moore in particular is seen as being “available for the right price,” per Schultz.
Over the course of his three years in Chicago, Moore has remained a full-time starter. However, 2025 saw a notable drop-off in his production (682 yards) and usage (85 targets) compared to previous years. The former Panther still managed six touchdowns and was on the field for 85% of the team’s offensive snaps, showcasing his value in the event he is retained. As general manager Ryan Poles recently noted, though, the door is open to a trade.
“We want him here,” Poles said of Moore when speaking at the NFL Combine (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “We thinking highly of him… But this is the time now where we have to look at all the scenarios that will allow us to put the best team out there… He’s a guy we want here but we have to look at all the scenarios.”
One of those scenarios is a trade which would yield $16.5MM in cap savings (and generate a dead money charge of $12MM). As things stand, Moore is due to carry a cap hit of $28.5MM in 2026 absent a restructure or extension aimed at lowering that figure. On March 15, $15.5MM of the former first-rounder’s base salary for next season will become guaranteed. Clarity on this front will no doubt emerge before that date.
Dexter was a member of the Bears’ 2023 draft class, meaning he is now eligible for an extension. The Florida product was a rotational presence during his rookie season, but since then he has served as a full-time starter. Dexter has totaled 11 sacks over the past two years, and at the age of 24 he will be expected to remain productive for the foreseeable future. That will help his bargaining power on the extension front, but it will also make him an attractive trade target.
Dexter has one year remaining on his rookie pact. The benefits of a trade in his case would be negligible compared to a swap involving Edmunds or Moore, though. The chance of Chicago moving on from at least one veteran contract will be something to watch for as the new league year approaches.
Commanders To Cut C Tyler Biadasz
Tyler Biadasz had one year left on a three-year, $30MM contract. The Commanders are instead moving on early. They are releasing the veteran center, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
This move comes shortly after the team re-signed Andrew Wylie. Despite Wylie working as a backup last season and Biadasz being a starter throughout his two-year Washington stay, the latter is out. The former Cowboys draftee should generate immediate interest as a street free agent. Because of this release, Biadasz can sign anywhere immediately — whereas UFAs must wait until March 9 when the legal tampering period begins.
A former fourth-round pick, Biadasz became a full-time starter for the Cowboys in his second season and parlayed that run into an eight-figure-per-year Commanders contract in 2024. Biadasz joined Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in following Dan Quinn from Dallas that year. He missed only three games from 2024-25, giving the Commanders stability at center.
Pro Football Focus viewed Biadasz as a middling center during his Washington tenure, ranking him 19th at the position in 2024 and 12th in 2025. The Commanders have used free agency to plug holes since Chase Roullier‘s career ended early in the 2022 season. Roullier had been Washington’s center from 2017-22. After giving Nick Gates an opportunity in 2023, the Commanders pursued Biadasz in free agency.
Because two void years are present in this contract, the Commanders are not in position to save much money. They are poised to add just $2.89MM in cap space and see $8.1MM in dead money. A post-June 1 release would spread the latter figure over two years; it would also keep Biadasz from becoming a free agent until the new league year begins March 11.
This move comes after Biadasz suffered a knee injury on Christmas Day against the Cowboys. He finished the season on IR. The Wisconsin alum came up as a possible Commanders extension candidate weeks ago, but the team instead will change course at snapper.
The Commanders came into the day holding more than $73MM in cap space; this release will add a bit to that total. The Biadasz release follows the Titans’ Lloyd Cushenberry cut. Cushenberry disappointed on a big-ticket 2024 contract. Those two join Cade Mays, Connor McGovern and Ethan Pocic among the Tyler Linderbaum consolation prizes on this free agent market.
Linderbaum is expected to break a center record with his second contract. The rest of the crop will not be positioned to rival where the three-time Pro Bowler goes contractually. With 84 career starts and not being set to turn 29 until November, Biadasz will likely land another starting opportunity elsewhere soon.
Giants Not Planning Dexter Lawrence Trade; Contract Talks On Tap
Dexter Lawrence did not play up to his standard last season, and the Giants both changed their coaching staff and their front office reporting structure in the offseason. The team appears interested in gauging Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s trade market, but John Harbaugh slammed the door on Lawrence being available.
“He’s super, super important,” Harbaugh said, via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “He’s a cornerstone football player. He’s not really a cornerstone — he’s more like the middle stone. He’s right in the middle and he’s a very big stone and he’s a very active, athletic stone … We want him. We need him.”
[RELATED: Assessing Giants’ Offseason Blueprint]
Lawrence was by far the top asset exchanged in the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade, being the first-round pick the Giants obtained for Beckham that year. The Giants extended the All-Pro defensive tackle in 2023, handing out a four-year, $90MM deal that included $46.5MM guaranteed at signing.
Lawrence, 28, earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 and ’23 before tallying a career-high nine sacks in 2024. Last season, the Clemson product only registered a half-sack and tallied a career-low eight QB hits (after recording at least 16 from 2022-24).
While Dave Gettleman drafted Lawrence, Joe Schoen completed the extension. That was a recurring trend early in Schoen’s GM run, with Andrew Thomas and Daniel Jones being paid in 2023 as well. Lawrence’s deal, however, paid out its guarantees last year. As a result, Schoen said (via Duggan) he will meet with Lawrence’s camp this week.
With a trade seemingly off the table — though, Schoen confirmed (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) he will answer calls — extension would allow the Giants to reduce a $26.96MM Lawrence cap number.
“I’m not sure the elbow was great all (of 2025); I think that bothered him a little bit,” Schoen said. “The defense, as a whole, I felt like could have played better. So it’s definitely not Dexter. Nine sacks might have been an outlier before so the expectation rises. That’s rare for a nose tackle. That’s insane for a nose tackle to get nine. It’s in there. He still has a lot of good years left.”
A dislocated elbow sidelined Lawrence late in the 2024 season, with the standout NT reaching nine sacks in just 12 games. The Giants added incentives to Lawrence’s deal last summer. With some updates on the D-tackle market taking place over the past two offseasons, Lawrence’s $22.5MM AAV now ranks 11th among interior D-linemen. Praise from Harbaugh and Schoen this week will do well to arm Lawrence’s camp, even though his down 2025 season does not create considerable momentum for a new deal.
Lawrence’s cap number could do some of the work for him, however. The Giants could also complete a restructure on this contract, but they have historically been against joining the void years trend. That could be good news for Lawrence. Since Aaron Donald‘s retirement and the Raiders’ quick Christian Wilkins cut, the DT market features a gulf between Chris Jones ($31.75MM AAV) and the field; Milton Williams‘ $26MM-per-year contract is second at the position. A Lawrence extension would presumably land in that valley.
Browns, Titans Interested In WR Wan’Dale Robinson?
If the Colts are to reach an agreement with Alec Pierce to keep him off the market, other free agent wide receivers can adjust their asking prices. Wan’Dale Robinson would be among those who would benefit, even if the undersized Giants contributor’s skillset differs from Pierce’s.
Robinson could end up in a familiar offense. The Titans are believed to be interested in the former second-round pick, Essentiallysports.com’s Tony Pauline notes. Robinson spent four seasons in Brian Daboll‘s offense; despite extensive Eagles interest, Daboll became the Titans’ OC last month. Additionally, Pauline indicates the Browns are an interested party for Robinson.
Tennessee came up recently as a team set to pursue wideouts in free agency. The Titans held the NFL cap-space lead before cutting Lloyd Cushenberry and Xavier Woods. They are projected to hold more than $97MM, per OverTheCap. Tennessee is expected to add more than $13MM to that total, as a Calvin Ridley cut is expected. It is worth wondering if the Titans will try to trade the Ran Carthon signee, but he has underwhelmed on a $23MM-per-year deal and is now 31 and coming off a seven-game 2025.
The Browns saw Jerry Jeudy‘s production nosedive last season. After a 1,229-yard 2024 slate, the former Broncos first-rounder tallied 602 yards and committed some costly drops. While Jeudy has never enjoyed a plus quarterback situation, he did not perform like an upper-crust receiver last season. The Browns have Jeudy signed through 2028, with option bonuses making a separation rather difficult this year.
Cleveland, which is expected to let David Njoku walk, is thin beyond Jeudy at receiver. No other Cleveland wideout cleared 350 yards last season, with rookie UDFA Isaiah Bond second among Browns receivers in yardage (338). The Browns hold a projected $3MM-plus in cap space, but they will (again) restructure Deshaun Watson‘s contract to create another chunk.
Robinson is coming off a 1,014-yard season, though his height (5-foot-8) will likely be an issue for some teams. Still, he will command a hefty salary as a first-time free agent. He joins Pierce, Jauan Jennings, Romeo Doubs, Deebo Samuel and Rashid Shaheed as the top receivers on a market that will not include George Pickens — set for a Cowboys franchise tag.
The 2022 second-round pick is also a Kentucky alum from the state, potentially making a Tennessee trek appealing. The Giants are not expected to merely let Robinson walk, with a recent report going as far to indicate they are “likely” to retain him. But New York changed coaching staffs and has Darius Slayton tied to a three-year, $36MM deal (with guarantees for 2026) alongside Malik Nabers‘ rookie deal. The Giants are running out of time here, though. They exclusive negotiating rights with the talented slot receiver expire March 9, when the legal tampering period begins.
NFL Could Allow Teams To Trade Draft Picks Five Years In Advance
FEBRUARY 26: The Browns have made this proposal, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Cleveland, which previously proposed a measure to push the trade deadline back (which eventually passed), would need 24 votes in the ownership ranks for this to pass. Depending how owners proceed, more trade opportunities could emerge beginning this offseason.
FEBRUARY 10: As things currently stand, NFL teams are permitted to trade draft picks no further than three years into the future. That could soon change. 
During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there will be a push from at least one team to extend the range for draft picks being dealt. Efforts will be made for selections as many as five years down the road to be allowed in trades, per Schefter. This will be something to monitor during next month’s league meetings.
Any expansion of trade flexibility would represent a shift in the direction of the NBA. That league’s rules allow for picks up to seven years in the future to be dealt. It should be kept in mind, though, that the Stepien Rule applies limits to how often teams can trade away a first-round pick. As a result of the rule, NBA teams cannot trade future first-round selections in consecutive years.
No such rule currently exists in the NFL. If things were to change this spring, however, a similar provision may receive consideration. Any widening of the range for draft capital to be traded – and its associated conditions – could of course lead to a change in roster-building strategy. Largely speaking, teams around the NFL attempt to remain competitive from one year to the next (due in large part to the requirement they spend close to the salary cap over any three-year period).
That approach could be altered to an extent if collecting large amounts of draft capital over an extended period became a viable option for rebuilding franchises. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see if contending teams became increasingly willing to part with picks in the distant future to facilitate win-now moves on a more frequent basis. Recent years have seen an uptick in trades leading up to the deadline, while blockbuster swaps in the offseason will no doubt remain possible in any given year no matter the circumstances.
The most recent case which saw an NFL team trade picks three years into the future was the Browns-Texans Deshaun Watson deal. Cleveland sent Houston a package highlighted by first-round selections in three consecutive years. The team would have been able to spread those picks out over a longer period (provided the Texans had been amenable to it, of course) had the range for pick trades been longer. When rule changes are considered during the spring, the potential for things to change on this front will be something to watch closely.