Offseason Outlook: Baltimore Ravens
After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the Ravens made arguably the biggest move of the 2026 offseason: firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh. He spent the past 18 years in Baltimore, compiling a 180-113 (.614) record with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory. But Harbaugh could not bring another Lombardi Trophy to Baltimore in seven seasons with Lamar Jackson starting at quarterback, and owner Steve Bisciotti felt he had to make a change.
The Ravens then embarked on an exhaustive search process to find just the fourth head coach in franchise history. Led by general manager Eric DeCosta, the team interviewed 16 candidates with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter emerging as the man for the job. Now, the two will work together to quickly bring Baltimore back into Super Bowl contention. DeCosta has a number of key contract situations to address, while Minter will be tasked with getting the most out of the current roster. The Ravens' top priority should be getting stronger in the trenches, the primary source of their on-field issues in 2025.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired head coach John Harbaugh
- Hired Jesse Minter as HC replacement
- Added Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator
- Reunited with Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator
- Promoted Anthony Levine Sr. to special teams coordinator
- Added Joe Lombardi as senior offensive assistant
- Hired Marcus Brady as pass-game coordinator
- Brought in Israel Woolfork as quarterbacks coach
- Dwayne Ledford hired as offensive line coach
- Rick Minter hired as defensive analyst
- Giants hired Harbaugh as their new HC
- Browns hired OC Todd Monken as their new HC
Firing Harbaugh brought a major paradigm shift in Baltimore, a moment that may well define the franchise for years to come. A 1-5 start from a team with Super Bowl expectations would put most head coaches on the hot seat, but Harbaugh was not most head coaches. After almost two decades with the Ravens, during which time he developed close relationships with Bisciotti and DeCosta, he was thought to be untouchable.
Colts, Daniel Jones Still Discussing Deal; Vikings ‘Closely Monitoring’ QB
As the clock ticks toward Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT tag deadline, the Colts and pending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones are continuing to negotiate a long-term contract, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. If an agreement doesn’t come together by then, Indianapolis is expected to place either the $43.39MM franchise or $37.8MM transition tag on Jones.
As of Sunday, the Colts and Jones were not close to reaching a deal. The team is reportedly leaning toward using the transition tag on Jones. Taking the less expensive route may give the Colts a better chance to retain their other top pending free agent, wide receiver Alec Pierce. However, they would be at far greater risk of losing Jones.
The Colts would have up to five days to match an offer for Jones, but if they passed on doing so, the signing team would not have to give up any draft compensation. Jones would be able to take offers all the way up to the third week in July. With most offseason business long over by then, It would likely be a catastrophic outcome for the Colts to lose him that late.
In all likelihood, nobody will tender an offer to Jones if the Colts go the franchise route. Doing so would force a team to part with two first-round picks for a quarterback who has been inconsistent throughout his seven-year career. If that isn’t prohibitive enough, Jones is recovering from a December Achilles tear. The former Giants first-rounder enjoyed his best season before then, but the injury dinged his stock.
Four days after the Giants waived Jones in November 2024, the Vikings added him to their practice squad. Jones finished the season with the Vikings, but he did not see any game action. Sam Darnold, who revived his career that season, was the Vikings’ starter during a 14-win outburst. Although Jones was down on the depth chart, he and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell developed a “mutual respect” during their short time together, according to Jonathan Jones.
Darnold and Jones became free agents the next offseason. Even though Darnold led the Vikings to a playoff berth, they had 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Re-signing Jones was reportedly a higher priority for the Vikings than keeping Darnold, but they wound up losing both signal-callers.
Jones turned down a better offer from Minnesota to sign with Indianapolis for $14MM. He saw an easier path to playing time in Indianapolis, where only disappointing 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson stood in his way. It was a good decision by Jones, who beat out the injury-prone and inaccurate Richardson for the starting job. Richardson requested a trade last month, though he has not encountered a strong market.
Meanwhile, McCarthy dealt with his own injuries and performance issues in a 10-game first season as a starter. The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. The team has not given up on McCarthy, but it will consider other options as it attempts to rebound in 2026. There is at least a small chance of a reunion with Jones.
The Vikings are “closely monitoring” his situation in Indianapolis, per Jonathan Jones. They could pounce if the Colts don’t place a tag on the QB, Jonathan Jones adds. However, it is unlikely Daniel Jones will reach the market unfettered. If he does, the Vikings would have to win a bidding war. It would be an especially difficult task for a team that is a projected $45.51MM over the salary cap as of now.
Raiders Planning To Release Geno Smith If No Trade Comes Together?
The Raiders are all but guaranteed to use the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion’s forthcoming arrival leaves veteran quarterback Geno Smith‘s future with the Raiders up in the air.
First-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said last week that Smith is “definitely one of those options we’re considering” as a starter. While Kubiak is not publicly closing the door on Smith, trading or releasing him look like more realistic possibilities.
The Vikings, who at least want credible competition for J.J. McCarthy, are reportedly interested in Smith. The 35-year-old could intrigue other teams seeking a stopgap starter or a decent backup, though he’s one of many flawed options for clubs to consider. If nobody is willing to trade for Smith, the Raiders will indeed release him, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post.
With the Raiders expecting to take sizable steps forward last year, they sent a third-round pick to the Seahawks for Smith in March. The swap reunited Smith and head coach Pete Carroll, who meshed in Seattle from 2020-24. The Raiders wasted little time in handing Smith a two-year, $75MM extension after acquiring him.
It quickly became clear that the Smith pickup, Carroll’s hiring and the extension were all misfires for owner Mark Davis, part-owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek. Over 15 starts last season, Smith threw an NFL-worst 17 interceptions (with just 19 touchdowns) and finished with the league’s second-lowest QBR. The Raiders went 2-13 in Smith’s starts and 3-14 overall, securing the No. 1 pick and leading to a one-and-done stint for Carroll.
As part of Smith’s contract, the Raiders are scheduled to pay him another $8MM in guaranteed money if he is still on their roster on Day 3 of the league year. Moving on from Smith by then would add $8MM to the Raiders’ war chest for free agency. At approximately $89.08MM, Las Vegas already has the second-most cap space in the league. Trading or releasing Smith would give them even more room to build a better roster around Mendoza.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/2/26
Three clubs made decisions on exclusive rights free agents on Monday. Here’s a look:
Tendered:
- Dolphins: CB Ethan Bonner
- Rams: OL Justin Dedich, K Harrison Mevis, WR Xavier Smith
- Seahawks: RB George Holani, S Ty Okada
As an 11-game starter for last season’s Super Bowl champions, Okada is the headliner on this list. After going undrafted out of Montana State in 2023, Okada combined for just nine appearances in his first two seasons. He barely factored in on defense then, but that changed in 2025. Not only did the 26-year-old play in all of the Seahawks’ games, but he recorded a 66.13% defensive snap share. Okada posted 65 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks and an interception along the way.
Mevis, undrafted from Missouri in 2024, couldn’t crack an NFL roster until the Rams added him to their practice squad last fall. He later replaced the struggling Joshua Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. Mevis converted 12 of 13 field goals and all 39 extra points in nine regular-season games. The 23-year-old was perfect during a three-game playoff run in which he knocked in six field goals and nine PATs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/2/26
Monday’s lone minor move from around the NFL…
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Ta’Quon Graham
Graham, a 2021 fifth-round pick from Texas, spent his first four-plus seasons in Atlanta. He amassed 51 appearances and 16 starts with the Falcons before they released him last November. During a career year in 2023, Graham started in nine of 11 games, registered a 41.98% defensive snap share, and totaled 34 tackles and eight QB hits. Graham closed out his Falcons tenure with four tackles in two games last year. A couple days after Atlanta parted with Graham, he joined Philadelphia’s practice squad. The 27-year-old did not see any game action with the Eagles, but perhaps that will change in 2026.
Texans To Release S Jimmie Ward
Safety Jimmie Ward has played his last down with the Texans. The team plans to release Ward, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. The 34-year-old will contemplate retirement, Wilson adds.
After spending the first nine seasons of his career in San Francisco, Ward joined Houston on a two-year, $13MM pact in March 2023. The move reunited Ward with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2021-22.
Ward was a full-time starter in each of his first two years with the Texans, but his long-running injury troubles transferred to Houston. He logged just one full season in San Francisco and missed between one and nine games in the other eight years.
Ward went on to post back-to-back 10-game seasons with the Texans. Hip and hamstring problems limited Ward in 2023, and groin and foot issues shelved him the next season.
As Ward was recovering from two foot surgeries last offseason, he was arrested twice – first in June on an assault family violence impeding breath/circulation charge and again in August for violating his bail by consuming alcohol. The league moved Ward from the reserve/PUP list to the commissioner’s exempt list in late August. Ward’s case went before a grand jury in September, but the prosecution did not proceed with felony domestic violence charges. He then came off the commissioner’s exempt list. There was optimism at the time that Ward would play in 2025, but he stayed on the reserve/PUP list all season.
Ward would have been due a $2.75MM base salary had the Texans gone forward with him next season. In releasing Ward, the Texans will save $750K while taking on $2MM in dead money. Houston is roughly $8.6MM over the cap as of now.
Tremaine Edmunds Generating Trade Interest; Titans, Raiders, Giants Potential Suitors?
The Bears granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade last week. It appears a deal has a realistic chance to come to fruition. Edmunds has “strong trade value,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. The Titans, Raiders and Giants all “like” the eight-year veteran, according to Fowler.
[RELATED: Bears Offseason Outlook]
Edmunds entered the NFL as the 16th overall pick of the Bills in 2018. As a 20-year-old rookie, Edmunds piled up 121 tackles, 12 passes defensed, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions over 15 games as a full-time starter. That was the first in a long line of productive seasons for Edmunds, who has started for his entire career.
Now a two-time Pro Bowler, the 27-year-old Edmunds has exceeded 100 tackles in every one of his seasons. He has also notched 59 PDs, 14 picks and 8.5 sacks.
Edmunds may be coming off his final season in Chicago, which took him from Buffalo on a four-year, $72MM offer with $50MM guaranteed in March 2023. At the time, it was the largest four-year deal ever given to an off-ball linebacker. Edmunds stepped in for Roquan Smith, whom the Bears traded to the Ravens during the previous season.
Aside from full campaigns in 2019 and ’24, Edmunds has missed at least some time in every season. While Edmunds sat out a career-worst four games as a result of a groin injury in 2025, he still managed 112 tackles, nine PDs and four INTs. Pro Football Focus rated Edmunds 35th among 88 qualifying players at his position.
Edmunds’ loss would create a hole in the Bears’ defense next to T.J. Edwards. Noah Sewell is a potential in-house replacement, but D’Marco Jackson is a pending free agent. Whether via trade or release, escaping the last season of Edmunds’ contract would be favorable to Chicago’s cap situation. As things stand, the Bears are approximately $6.48MM in the red. Getting rid of Edmunds before June 1 would free up $15MM at the cost of just $2.44MM in dead money. If Edmunds is off the Bears’ roster by Day 5 of the league year, they’ll avoid paying him a $1MM roster bonus.
As for potential suitors, the Titans and Raiders rank top two in the league in spending space. Taking on Edmunds’ money would not be a problem for either. The Giants are only around $2.78MM under the cap, on the other hand.
Edmunds would already be the second significant offseason trade acquisition for the Titans, who sent defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to the Jets for defensive end Jermaine Johnson last week. Edmunds and Johnson would give recently hired head coach Robert Saleh two new defensive starters right off the bat.
The Raiders are facing the departure of starting middle linebacker Elandon Roberts to free agency. Fellow LBs Devin White and Jamal Adams are also on track to reach the open market. Meanwhile, the Giants may lose pending free agent Micah McFadden, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 1 last season. Bobby Okereke has been a full-time starter for the Giants for three years, but he may end up a cap casualty this offseason. If that happens, perhaps Edmunds will slide in as his replacement.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Asking Price Deemed Too High
MARCH 2: Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated and The Athletic’s Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur each indicate a return of multiple draft picks and a player is unlikely to be found in any trade agreement. Interest persists, though, and Breer predicts a trade will still take place this offseason.
MARCH 1: The Raiders have been slow-playing what is seeming like it will be an eventual trade of star defensive end Maxx Crosby. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming to a close today and the last few rumors of the weekend trickling in, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that, at the moment, the asking price for Crosby is still too high for teams to act on. 
As workouts at the Combine began on Thursday, it came out that, in order to let go of Crosby, Las Vegas was looking for a similar trade package to what the Cowboys got for Micah Parsons (two first-round picks and an impact player). While general manager John Spytek said earlier in the week that he didn’t expect a trade to take place, Fowler’s source with the team called Crosby’s chances of returning “relatively small.” Some team executives are skeptical of the Raiders’ intentions reasoning that any team would want to keep “a premier player at a premier position” and seeing the high asking price as a sort of fence being built up around Crosby.
That’s not to say that teams aren’t interested, though. Per Fowler, “at least a dozen teams have expressed cursory to strong interest” in the 28-year-old. If enough suitors are truly interested, it may behoove the Raiders to keep the asking price high. That way, as the demand builds up, a team may get antsy waiting for the price to come down and choose to come up to meet the asking price in order to avoid another team jumping in first. Plus, there’s still plenty of time for negotiations to take place as free agency, the draft, and the rest of the offseason sit on the horizon.
We’ve discussed comparisons of Crosby to Parsons and Khalil Mack, but in those discussions, Crosby fell a bit short of his competition. While his production has been extremely similar over the years, he hasn’t garnered the same award interest as Parsons and Mack. Crosby is also two years older than Parsons and Mack were when they got traded. That may be why the current comparable asking price seems too high; those extra two years of age may be enough for teams to balk at including that impact player or keeping both top picks in the package on Day 1.
The situation still has all the room in the world to continue evolving as the offseason progresses, so we’ll continue to monitor the level interest coming in on Crosby and how the Raiders react to that interest. It seems like we’re closer than ever to reaching a conclusion on Crosby’s trade possibility. Crosby wants to win, and as the Raiders come out of their fourth losing season in a row, a change of scenes looks to be his best bet at winning while still in his prime.
Lions Release OL Graham Glasgow
Graham Glasgow will not remain in place with the Lions for 2026. The veteran offensive lineman was released on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Glasgow had been mentioned as a likely cut candidate dating back to January, so today’s news comes as little surprise. He was due to collect a $500K roster bonus next week and then a base salary of $6.5MM next season. Instead of keeping Glasgow in the fold at a cap hit of $8.44MM, the Lions will free up $5.56MM with a release.
“I’m grateful for the seven years I’ve spent as a Detroit Lion,” Glasgow said in part during a statement posted on X in the wake of today’s news. “I’m thankful for the great teammates, coaches, and friends I had along the way. I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.”
Attention will now turn to the 32-year-old intentions regarding his playing career. In January, Glasgow was named as a candidate to retire in the event his Lions tenure ended. With that having taken place, it will be interesting to see if he aims to land a new opportunity in free agency or elects to hang up his cleats.
A Lions draftee in 2016, Glasgow handled starting roles at guard and center while playing out his rookie contract. The former third-rounder landed a big-ticket free agent deal with Denver, and he remained there for three seasons. Upon being cut by the Broncos, Glasgow returned to Detroit in 2023. Since then, he has continued to serve as a key presence up front.
Glasgow’s most familiar position has been guard during his career, but he was given center duties in 2025 due to the retirement of Frank Ragnow. Things did not go according to plan, and a regression in terms of the Lions’ level of play along the interior of the offensive line was a key factor in their inability to reach the playoffs. Bringing in upgrades this spring will be a major priority.
Efforts on that front have already begun, with the Lions acquiring Juice Scruggs from the Texans in the David Montgomery trade worked out this morning. Scruggs has experience at both center and guard, and it will be interesting to see how the pending 2026 free agent fits into Detroit’s plans for next year. Tate Ratledge, meanwhile, could take over center duties during his second NFL season after operating at guard as a rookie.
Dolphins Release OL Liam Eichenberg
Liam Eichenberg missed all of the 2025 season. If he is to continue his NFL career, it will take place with a new team. 
The Dolphins announced on Monday that Eichenberg has been released. A knee injury landed the veteran offensive lineman on the PUP list during roster cutdowns in August. He remained there throughout the campaign, leaving open the possibility of a move such as this one. Eichenberg intends to play in 2026, but he is now a free agent.
After playing out his rookie contract with Miami, the Notre Dame product re-upped on a one-year deal. Since he was never activated from the PUP list, that contract would have tolled to 2026 had the Dolphins retained him. Instead, the team will move on while Eichenberg will begin the process of finding his next gig. His market will no doubt be tepid given the length of his absence. This move is coming with a failed physical designation, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Eichenberg made 60 appearances and 52 starts during his tenure with the Dolphins. The former second-rounder has seen time at every O-line position, and his versatility could be valued by interested teams. After playing as a tackle during his rookie campaign, Eichenberg has exclusively been used on the interior. He saw time at center in 2023, but otherwise his most common position has been guard.
The 28-year-old will thus likely be targeted as an option for starting guard duties during his time on the open market. That position has already seen changes in Miami’s case, with James Daniels one of the many incumbent players cut by the new decision-making tandem of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. With this Eichenberg release now taking place, additions along the interior of the offensive line will clearly be a priority for Miami.
The Dolphins are narrowly under the 2026 cap ceiling as things stand. Further cost-shedding moves will be required as a result, although managing to add financial flexibility through a Tua Tagovailoa trade remains highly unlikely.