NFL’s Next Australia Game Could Be Played In 2027
The NFL’s international calendar will continue to expand in 2026. The opening game of the season will see the 49ers and Rams play each other in Melbourne.
That will mark the league’s debut in Australia. The San Francisco-Los Angeles game will be the lone one in that country for the coming season, but it is not expected to be the only time Australia hosts NFL contests. Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed as much when speaking to reporters in Melbourne.
“There’s no question that we’re going to be playing here again,” Goodell said (via Nick Mulvenney of Reuters). “Our view is that we’re coming here for the long term. We don’t come as a one-offs. This isn’t a circus. This is something that’s an investment in this, in this market and we believe that, this is long term and will be great for the NFL long term.”
The league has made international expansion a major priority in recent years, with regular-season games being played in Germany, Brazil, Spain and Ireland along the way. The coming campaign will see Australia operate as a host country for the first time, with the same also being true of France. Issues related to travel time are of course exacerbated in the case of Melbourne, but Goodell made it clear further trips there are expected. The NFL’s second Australia game could be played as early as 2027 as a result.
The 49ers-Rams contest will take place on a Thursday night (September 10) to accommodate typical primetime starts in the United States, but it will be played during the mid morning local time on a Friday. The success both teams have in terms of resuming normal activities beyond Week 1 will be interesting to monitor, but the NFL is clearly committed to making similar situations a regular occurrence.
Chargers S Derwin James Seeking New Deal?
Chargers safety Derwin James is entering the final year of the four-year extension he signed in August 2022, a deal that set a new benchmark for safeties at the time. As ESPN’s Kris Rhim writes, James will “almost certainly” be seeking a new contract before training camp begins this summer.
Given James’ importance to the organization and continued strong performance, Rhim believes player and team will be able to reach an agreement. The one sticking point, naturally, could be the dollar amount, as Rhim suggests it might take another record-setting contract to secure James’ services for the foreseeable future. As of now, the Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton is the pacesetter for safeties in terms of total value ($100.4MM), average annual value ($25.1MM), and full guarantees ($48.02MM).
Hamilton, however, is about 4.5 years younger than James (who will turn 30 in August), and there is a sizable gap between Hamilton’s AAV and those enjoyed by Kerby Joseph and Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.25MM and $21.03MM, respectively). As such, there could be room for the Chargers and James to find common ground on an accord that keeps the star defender below Hamilton in the most important contractual metrics while placing him above all of his other peers.
At the time James signed his current deal — which came after a training camp “hold-in” — his health concerns were still a relatively fresh memory. An August 2019 stress fracture in James’ right foot shelved him for much of that season, and a meniscus injury during training camp in 2020 ended up sidelining the former first-rounder for the entirety of that campaign. But over the last five seasons, four of which ended with Pro Bowl acclaim, James has played in no fewer than 14 regular season contests and has suited up for 16 games in each of the last three years.
James’ improved injury history could help facilitate a deal, and his play largely speaks for itself. The Florida State alum consistently lands near the top of the pack in terms of Pro Football Focus’ safety evaluations (aside from a 2023 blip), and he finished as PFF’s ninth-best safety in both 2024 and 2025. He limited opposing passers to quarterback ratings of 74.2 and 59.6, respectively, in those two seasons, and he routinely records tackle figures at or near triple digits. He tallied three interceptions in 2025, his highest total since his rookie slate in 2018.
One thing that has generally eluded James is playoff success. The Chargers won their first postseason contest in ‘18 but have failed to record a playoff victory since then. If the Bolts do reverse that trend in the upcoming seasons, James likely will be a big reason why.
TE Darren Waller Unlikely To Return To Dolphins; Team Extended Offer To TE Julian Hill
At present, the Dolphins’ tight end depth chart is topped by Greg Dulcich, and according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the team is just fine with that arrangement. When asked to name the player he is most excited to see take a step forward in 2026, new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan identified Dulcich and said, “he had a really good back end to the season. I want to see if he can build on that. That’s why we brought him back.”
Dulcich, 26, is a former third-round pick of the Broncos who flashed in his rookie season in 2022, catching 33 passes for 411 yards and two scores. He compiled those stats in just 10 games, as he was forced to miss time due to a hamstring injury. Another hamstring ailment limited him to two contests in 2023, and he was a healthy scratch for the first eight games of the 2024 slate before Denver waived him.
Though the Giants claimed Dulcich off waivers, they utilized him on just 27 offensive snaps over five games and then jettisoned him during final roster cutdowns last August. The Dolphins added him to their taxi squad, and he was promoted to the active roster in late October as the corresponding move when fellow tight end Darren Waller was placed on injured reserve.
In 10 games (three starts) in 2025, Dulcich posted 26 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown. He continued to have a role in the offense even after Waller returned from IR, and as Sullivan indicated, the team’s new regime was intrigued enough to re-sign him (we did not provide contract details previously, but per OverTheCap.com, Dulcich’s deal is a one-year, $3.25MM pact, most of which is guaranteed).
Waller, meanwhile, is not expected back, as Jackson writes. Now 33, Waller came out of retirement last season, and the Dolphins acquired him via trade with the Giants, who still held his rights. As part of the trade, Waller signed a one-year, $5MM contract with the ‘Fins, but a hip injury pushed his Miami debut to Week 4, and then the above-referenced IR placement – which was triggered by a pectoral strain – cost him more time.
The 2020 Pro Bowler showed he still has something left in the tank, as he hauled in 24 passes for 284 yards and six touchdowns. On the other hand, health issues limited him to just nine games, and he expressed uncertainty about his playing future in December. If he does get another NFL deal, it appears it will not come from the Dolphins.
In more Dolphins TE news, Jackson says the team made an offer to Julian Hill in free agency. Prior to last year’s Waller acquisition, Hill seemed poised to operate as Miami’s top tight end, but he ended up taking a backseat to both Waller and Dulcich. The former UDFA caught 15 passes for 140 scoreless yards last season but was able to secure a three-year, $15MM deal ($7.5MM guaranteed) from the Patriots last month. According to Jackson, that offer was “much more lucrative” than the one the Dolphins extended.
Miami did add Ben Sims as a potential Hill replacement and also hosted NC State prospect Justin Joly on a predraft visit. Joly profiles as a late Day 2/early Day 3 talent.
Which Team Will Eschew 2027 QB Pick By Drafting Ty Simpson?
From the Giants choosing the 2019 draft to tab Eli Manning's successor -- as opposed to the stronger 2018 or 2020 quarterback classes -- to the Broncos drifting down a bad path with their 2016 Paxton Lynch investment, timing a quarterback bet is rather important. Picking the wrong year to dive in can set a franchise back significantly.
Acquiring a quarterback with a first-round pick requires an organizational commitment that effectively barricades a franchise from reinvesting in the position early in the following draft. Even a second-round investment serves as such a commitment, as there are not many examples of teams making a Round 2 QB choice in one draft and then going back to the table with a first- or second-round move at the position the following year. For the most part, if you pick a year to analyze a QB class and make a selection, you are pot-committed.
This makes advanced scouting vital. However, the reports going into the 2025 draft suggested 2026 would be a much better year for quarterback prospects. While the Raiders are set to benefit, the thin 2026 class shows the risks in anticipating a QB crop a year out.
That brings us to Ty Simpson. The consensus QB2 in this year's draft, as our Ely Allen outlined to launch our 2026 Prospect Profile series, has drawn varying opinions. His mock destinations have ranged from the middle of the first round to following Drew Lock, Malik Willis and Will Levis as a player with recent first-round connections falling to Day 2. Unlike the extreme Shedeur Sanders example, Round 2 appears Simpson's floor. That will bring organizations to a decision. Is he worth sacrificing an early investment in the 2027 QB class?
Giants Willing To Entertain Dexter Lawrence Trade Offers
Since Dexter Lawrence‘s trade request went public, there has been a general expectation a deal sending him away from the Giants will not be worked out. Replacing the three-time Pro Bowler would be challenging for New York, while the list of teams willing to authorize an extension upon acquiring him may be short at this point of the offseason.
Interest will be shown by suitors leading up to the draft in the wake of Giants extension talks once again not yielding progress. Two years remain on Lawrence’s deal, and the team is prepared to move forward without a short-term fix like the one worked out last summer or a raise brought on by a new contract. The willingness of the Giants to seriously entertain offers over the coming days will make for an intriguing storyline.
New head coach John Harbaugh spoke publicly about Lawrence’s value to the team during the onset of the Giants’ offseason program. He also raised eyebrows when stating that “everybody is tradable,” however, and it will be interesting to see if New York winds up being prepared to work out a swap in this case. On that note, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports the Giants “will at least listen to” calls made regarding Lawrence’s availability. He confirms the team’s preference would be to keep Lawrence in the fold for 2026, but the financial impasse could prove to be a key factor on the trade front.
Lawrence inked an extension in line with other top defensive tackle extensions in 2024. His deal carries an average annual value of $22.5MM, but that figure has been surpassed multiple times with the position’s market continuing to surge. The 28-year-old managed just 0.5 sacks and 12 pressures in 2025, something which has no doubt complicated his efforts to secure a raise. As things stand, Lawrence is owed $20MM next season and $22MM in 2027.
Teams may very well be hesitant to add to those figures in addition to paying a notable price in a trade. Nevertheless, any contender could stand to benefit from adding Lawrence. The Packers made one blockbuster move by acquiring Micah Parsons last offseason, and executives who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora pointed to Green Bay as a logical suitor with respect to Lawrence. Making another win-now move via the trade route would be out of character for the Packers’ front office, but the seven-year veteran would offer a boost to a defensive interior which has plenty of room for improvement compared to last season.
To date, the Packers have not been connected to any firm interest on the Lawrence front. Whether or not that changes will of course depend in large part on the Giants’ asking price. Raanan notes an offer including two Day 2 picks and another on Day 3 could be in store in the case of the Clemson product. La Canfora also writes a first-round selection – at least, in 2026 – is unlikely to be attainable regardless of how strong Lawrence’s market becomes. Improving at the DT spot is already a Giants priority entering the draft, but that could become true to a much larger extent if trade calls were to produce an agreement.
NFL Wins Appeal Of Collusion Grievance
Last summer, the NFL world was aflame with discussions of collusion.
The NFLPA had filed a grievance years earlier alleging that teams worked together to stop a push for fully guaranteed contracts after the Deshaun Watson deal. The grievance went through the league’s arbitration process, which eventually resulted in a ruling against the union that was initially kept under wraps. It became public in June 2025, contributing to the storm of scandal surrounding the NFLPA at the time.
The union filed an appeal, but a three-person panel upheld the arbitrator’s original ruling in favor of the NFL, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. This includes the finding that the league encouraged clubs to collude to suppress fully guaranteed contracts, which supports the NFLPA’s case. However, the appeals panel also agreed with the arbitrator that there was not sufficient evidence to show that teams actually participated in the alleged collusion.
In short, while the NFL attempted to collude as alleged, the union could not demonstrate a strong enough impact to trigger damages and a ruling in their favor. The appeals panel concurred with that result.
One key difference, Florio notes, is that the appeals panel believes that teams were aware of the league’s collusive intentions.
“We cannot fathom these sophisticated businesspeople did not comprehend they were being encouraged to limit or reduce guaranteed contracts,” the ruling states.
Former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell did not immediately communicate the initial arbitration ruling to the union’s membership. His successor, former Browns center and NFLPA president J.C. Tretter, approached the appeal differently, promptly informing the NFLPA player representatives of the result. He included the above quote in his message (via Florio) to show that the union had, in part, proven their case.
Now, the grievance is technically done with, but the outcome still offers the union some leverage heading into CBA talks. They now have an arbitrator’s ruling, confirmed by an appeals panel, affirming that the league intended to engage in collusion to limit player contracts. That can help inspire firmer support among players as they negotiate several key issues, including a proposed 18-game regular season. It may also draw the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice for potential antitrust violations, Florio adds, which could also force the league to include certain labor protections in the next CBA.
Browns Could Prioritize T Over WR In First Round
The draft needs in Cleveland are fairly obvious, and though they can’t address all of them in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they can address two. Early reports seem to indicate that wide receiver and offensive tackle are the biggest priorities for the Browns heading into the draft, but which position will they address with their sixth overall pick, and which will have to wait for pick No. 24?
Now, Cleveland didn’t lose anybody from its 2025 receiving corps, but the group from last year underperformed to a point that it can be considered a position of need. Additionally, there are only two players in the room not playing on contract years in 2026, and those players are only under contract for one more year than their corpsman. If the Browns are going to begin rebuilding the room around a new, young pair of hands, now would be an ideal time.
The situation on the offensive line is almost the opposite. With all five starters hitting the free agent market this offseason, Cleveland has been working to rebuild its line after the teardown. The team utilized free agency to bring in guard Zion Johnson and center Elgton Jenkins and traded for former Texans tackle Tytus Howard. It seems the door is open for guard Joel Bitonio to return, if he decides not to retire, but if he does, the Browns re-signed Teven Jenkins, who has plenty of starting experience at guard. The other tackle spot is currently being manned by Dawand Jones, the former fourth-round pick who’s started 20 games in his first three seasons.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there’s belief that a vast need for quality linemen and a large number of talented prospects could lead to a run on offensive tackles in the first round. At the same time, it’s believed that only two wide receivers could end up going in the top half of the draft, with the eventual WR3 projected to go anywhere from pick Nos. 16-19. Because of this, it would make much more sense for the Browns to address their offensive tackle need than their receiver need.
Locking down the draft’s top receiver — likely Ohio State’s Carnell Tate — would certainly be a great addition to the offense, but it would mean missing out on most of the class’s top tackle prospects if a run takes place. Locking down a top available tackle would mean missing out on Tate, and perhaps Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, but there are several impact options that make perfect sense in the late-first or early-second round. It could be the difference of having Tate and choosing between Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, or Memphis’ Travis Burke or having one of Utah’s Spencer Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, or Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor then getting your pick of Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., Washington’s Denzel Boston, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, and Louisville’s Chris Bell.
An interesting additional factor to this situation is the reporting that the Browns have been shopping out their current draft slots in the hope of bringing in more Day 2 draft capital; they seemingly are willing to move down from either the sixth or 24th picks, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. That could explain the depth at which Cleveland has been researching top offensive tackle prospects, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. The team hosted Utah’s other tackle, Caleb Lomu, two days ago, per Jackson McCurry of The Dawg Land podcast, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid was “shocked’ to hear that the Browns reportedly like Proctor at No. 6.
In theory, both could be trade down targets. Proctor has routinely found himself ranked behind the likes of Mauigoa and Fano throughout the draft process, and even more recently, Freeling and, in some cases, Clemson’s Blake Miller have snuck by him in the eyes of draft pundits, as well.
Perhaps, the Browns are not interested in selecting Proctor at No. 6 overall but, instead, interested in trading back to a place in the first round in which they may still be able to walk away with Proctor — or, if there’s a serious run at the position, Lomu — while adding some picks in the process. With the depth of wide receivers listed above, they could easily attempt to do the same at that position, if they feel their preferred option may be a reach at No. 24.
The Browns’ toss up in priorities between tackle and wide receiver alone make it impossible to predict who their top overall pick will be. Adding in the potential for a run or drought at either position or a Browns’ trade down from either spot makes even speculation a wild goose chase. It seems the Browns are making plans for a number of contingencies, but it looks like offensive tackle and wide receiver — whatever the order — remain the top priorities 12 days out.
Commanders Eyeing Defense In Round 1?
On the strength of a surprisingly strong rookie Jayden Daniels campaign, the Commanders found themselves a game away from a Super Bowl appearance in 2024. Significant missed time for Daniels and a number of other key contributors led in part to a disappointing 2025 campaign, but another huge factor was a defense that gave up the most yards and the sixth-most points in the NFL. Because of that, ESPN’s Peter Schrager believes Washington will be looking to add to their defense when their pick in the first round arrives.
The Commanders have already done a bit of work to improve things on that side of the ball in free agency, signing outside linebackers Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu, linebacker Leo Chenal, defensive tackle Tim Settle, cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon, and safety Nick Cross. Settle should join Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw on the defensive line.
Chenal should slot in next to Frankie Luvu to replace veteran Bobby Wagner in the starting lineup. Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu should bolster a pass rush that lost Jacob Martin and veteran Von Miller. Alongside a pair of recent high draft picks, Robertson and Witherspoon will attempt to make up for snaps lost with the departures of Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene, while Cross should be an improvement at safety.
Despite the recent struggles of Payne and Kinlaw, the team already has enough salary sunk into the position, and there isn’t really an interior defender worth taking No. 7 overall. It’s probably safe to eliminate cornerback knowing the team added second-rounders in each of the past two drafts. The Commanders are also probably okay with the back end of their secondary being manned by Cross and Quan Martin, while Jeremy Reaves and Will Harris add depth. That leaves the inside and outside linebacker groups as the best areas to attack.
Schrager believes off-ball linebacker will be the play, projecting Ohio State’s Sonny Styles as the pick. Styles certainly could be a strong addition to the linebacking corps; he’s widely projected as the draft’s top option at the position. Wagner and Luvu dominated the snap share available at the linebacker position on Washington’s defense last year. Each player totaled over 1,100 snaps on defense, and the linebacker with the next-highest snap count topped out at 364. Even as a starter in Kansas City, Chenal was more of a rotation piece on the Chiefs defense. He didn’t even see half the snaps his fellow starters did.
Additionally, neither Luvu nor Chenal worked primarily off-ball last year. Both players served in fairly versatile roles by often lining up on the edge. Chenal split his time about 60-40 favoring off-ball work, while Luvu was much closer to 50-50. Because the Commanders lost their veteran, off-ball stalwart, Styles makes a ton of sense here. Installing the Buckeyes’ top inside linebacker prospect in the middle would allow for Luvu and Chenal to continue in their roaming, supportive roles.
The team could also look at edge rusher. Unfortunately, Styles’ fellow linebacker — and projected NFL edge rusher — Arvell Reese is expected to be long gone at this point in the draft. After Reese, there’s an expectation that one of either Texas Tech’s David Bailey or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. will also be selected. There’s a strong possibility that the prospect that isn’t selected after Reese could make its way to Washington at the ninth pick.
Oweh, Chaisson, and Omenihu certainly improve the team’s pass rush over what was left following departures in free agency, but they have only one double-digit sack season between the three of them. If they get an opportunity to add Bailey or Bain in this spot, it may be hard to pass up that kind of value.
This also disregards the offensive side of the ball, where the departures of Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown make wide receiver a potential position of need, as well. Ultimately, several factors will affect the decision the Commanders make 12 days from now, and even those factors could change in the time between then and now. But if Schrager is correct, and the Commanders have defense in mind on Day 1, a linebacker could be an impact move for the franchise and defensive-minded head coach Dan Quinn.
Cowboys DE Donovan Ezeiruaku Expected To Recover In Time For Training Camp
Donovan Ezeiruaku appeared in every game during his rookie campaign, but he underwent hip labrum surgery last month. His recovery process in ongoing, and no setbacks have been encountered.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer recently said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) Ezeiruaku remains on schedule with respect to his rehab following surgery. The 2025 second-rounder is on track to receive full medical clearance in time for training camp as a result. Ezeiruaku will be present for Dallas’ upcoming offseason program, although he will not participate in any team drills.
Logging nine starts in 2025, Ezeiruaku handled a defensive snap share of 55%. The Boston College product managed 40 total stops, nine tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Ezeiruaku added 26 pressures and one forced fumble while playing in then-defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus‘ 4-3 scheme. The arrival of Christian Parker has resulted in a shift to a 3-4 setup on defense, something which could benefit Ezeiruaku moving forward.
A strong second season from the 22-year-old would help a Cowboys team in need of improvements along the edge. Dallas traded for Rashan Gary and re-signed Sam Williams, but Jadeveon Clowney – who led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2025 – remains on the open market at this time. Archer confirms the Cowboys are expected to focus heavily on defense during the draft, and it would come as no surprise if that were to include an early EDGE investment.
In any event, Ezeiruaku will be counted on to remain a key part of Dallas’ pass rush group for 2026 and beyond. A clean bill of health will certainly be welcomed when padded practices begin during training camp. Acclimating to Parker’s scheme and preparing for Year 2 will be key goals for Ezeiruaku, and he will be able to resume on-field work at the most important part of the offseason provided his recovery remains on track.
CB Joey Porter Jr. Could Be Steelers’ Top Extension Priority
The Steelers had a policy of not negotiating contracts during the season well before general manager Omar Khan took on his current role. Khan has continued that organizational practice while at the helm.
As a result, Pittsburgh has until Week 1 of the 2026 campaign to take care of several financial matters. That includes extensions for pending 2027 free agents such as cornerback Joey Porter Jr. To little surprise, Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show names Porter as the player likely to be Pittsburgh’s top priority with respect to extensions after the draft takes place.
As the 32nd pick in the 2023 draft – one in which the Dolphins’ were stripped of their Day 1 selection – Porter entered the league as a second-rounder. That means he is not subject to a fifth-year option decision like each of the players drafted ahead of him. Porter’s rookie deal will therefore expire after the 2026 campaign. Urgency on the part of Khan and the front office to work out an extension this summer will be something to watch for.
Porter handled a heavy workload during his rookie season and has been a full-time starter since then. The second-generation Steeler has been the subject of criticism based on the rate at which he is penalized, but he has been durable and productive so far in his career. Porter thrived in coverage during the 2025 campaign, allowing just five yards per target and a passer rating of 57.2 as the nearest defender. He also notched double-digit pass deflections for the second time, totaling a career-best 14 this past year.
Entering his age-26 season, Porter is a candidate for a major raise on his second NFL contract. Kaboly predicts a three-year extension allowing the Penn State product to collect $100MM in total – including the nearly $4MM he is owed for 2026 – could be in the range of what winds up being necessary for a deal to be struck. The CB market recently reached $31MM per season, and Porter figures to be among the early beneficiaries of its continued upward movement.