Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love Visited Titans, Giants
Drafting running backs early in the first round has gone in and out of fashion over the last decade. From 2015 to 2018, six running backs were selected within the first 15 picks; since then, only three have been taken that high, all in the last three drafts.
2026 prospect Jeremiyah Love could be the fourth with apparent interest from multiple teams with top-10 selections. He visited the Titans at the beginning of March (via NFL insider Jordan Schultz) and the Giants this past weekend (also via Schultz).
The hype train for Love took off at the Combine in Indianapolis, where his 4.36-second 40-yard dash and smooth hands and footwork in pass-catching drills attracted the attention of several teams.
“The NFL loves Jeremiyah Love,” NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe said in early March. “I spoke with execs for three different teams who said that Jeremiyah Love is the best player in this draft. The Notre Dame running back should go in the top 10, and the word I’m hearing, don’t be surprised if he goes in the top five.”
Selecting a running back with such a high pick will no doubt draw criticism based on positional value. Running backs earn significantly less than other positions like wide receiver and edge rusher that have a more direct impact on the passing game. Ashton Jeanty, taken with the No. 6 pick last year, immediately became the NFL’s 12th-most expensive running back, per OverTheCap, greatly reducing the financial advantage offered by rookie contracts.
Taking Love in the top 10 would result in a similar inefficiency. A top-five selection would result in the most guaranteed money ever for a running back being handed to a rookie before he plays a single down in the pros.
However, as Wolfe notes, the 2026 draft class is viewed as thin on truly elite prospects. Love is one of the few, so rather than pursue a less talented player at a more valuable position, teams could opt to land a potential game-changing running back with the hopes that he can have a similar impact as Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs have in Atlanta and Detroit, respectively.
Falcons Rework A.J. Terrell’s Contract
The Falcons opened up a considerable chunk of cap space today. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team restructured A.J. Terrell‘s contract.
Specifically, the team converted $12MM of the cornerback’s salary into a signing bonus. This helped carve out an extra $9MM in cap space, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com. The veteran will now earn a $3MM base salary in 2026 and is attached to a $13.5MM cap charge.
Terrell is still playing on the four-year, $81MM extension he inked with the Falcons back in 2024. That contract effectively included $65.8MM in guaranteed money; at the time, that represented the second-highest commitment to a cornerback in NFL history. As a result of that lucrative deal, the organization will have to continue navigating the contract in upcoming seasons. In addition to carving out some extra cap space, today’s contract machinations kicked the can down the road in that regard.
The cornerback is attached to a sizable $27.5MM cap hit in 2027, meaning the team could once again go to the negotiating table with the veteran. The Falcons will truly face a decision about Terrell’s roster status in 2028, when he’s attached to a $29.5MM cap hit. By making the CB a post-June 1 cut that year, the organization would save $19MM against the cap vs. $10.5MM in dead cap. In other words, this surely isn’t the last time we’ll hear of the player’s contract.
Of course, neither GM Ian Cunningham nor head coach Kevin Stefanski were around when Terrell inked that extension, and it’s uncertain how the new Falcons regime feels about their high-priced cornerback. A first-round pick in 2020, Terrell showed off his ceiling as a sophomore, when he earned an All-Pro nod after finishing with three interceptions and 16 passes defended. For his efforts that season, Pro Football Focus ranked him 2nd among 116 qualifying cornerbacks.
He’s struggled to live up to that showing. He finished the 2024 campaign having allowed a career-worst 67.2 completion percentage on passes thrown his way. He rebounded slightly in 2025, improving that mark to 58.3 percent. However, PFF marked him down for eight missed tackles, leading to a middling positional grade (75th among 112 qualifiers).
Fortunately for Terrell, he’ll have an opportunity to show the organization’s new leadership what he’s got. The Falcons haven’t done anything to address the position this offseason, meaning they’re easily penciling Terrell in for an important role in 2026.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/26
Today’s minor moves:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Segun Olubi
New England Patriots
- Signed: LS Niko Lalos
Tennessee Titans
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Bryce Oliver
Seahawks RB George Holani Signs ERFA Tender
As expected, George Holani will be back in Seattle next season. The team announced that the running back has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender.
The move locks Holani into a non-guaranteed $1.075MM base salary for the 2026 campaign. The Seahawks placed the ERFA tender on the RB earlier this month.
Holani quickly caught on with the Seahawks after going undrafted out of Boise State in 2024. He spent the majority of his rookie campaign on Seattle’s practice squad. He made appearances in five regular season games for the Seahawks, with 36 of his 41 snaps coming on special teams.
He took on a somewhat larger role in 2025, serving as the team’s third running back behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The majority of the player’s production continued to come on special teams. He finished the year with 16 kick returns for 387 yards, and he also scored a touchdown while recovering Seattle’s own kickoff in Week 2.
Offensively, Holani got 24 touches, which he turned into 88 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. The second-year player also got an extended look in the playoffs after Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL. Holani ultimately got another nine touches in the postseason, compiling 44 yards.
The 26-year-old could be in line to take another step forward in 2026. Walker left for the Chiefs via free agency, and Charbonnet’s season debut will surely be delayed as he works his way back from the knee injury. The Seahawks did add former Packers backup Emanuel Wilson for depth, and the likes of Cam Akers, Kenny McIntosh, Velus Jones, and Jacardia Wright are on the offseason roster. Considering Holani’s familiarity with the organization, he’ll be given every chance for reps heading into the 2026 campaign.
Panthers Outbid Eagles For Jaelan Phillips
Jaelan Phillips‘ $30MM per year contract with the Panthers was the biggest payday of any player to hit free agency.
Multiple teams were in the hunt for his signature, including the Eagles, but the 26-year-old said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) that Carolina’s offer was “more attractive” than Philadelphia’s.
The Eagles moved a third-round pick for Phillips at the 2025 trade deadline, and he put up a strong second-half performance, though his counting tallies of two sacks and four tackles for loss do not show it. In the last nine games of the season, he led the defense with 44 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He finished the year with 76 total pressures and a 18.4% pass rush win rate, both top-10 marks among edge rushers.
Those results created a massive market for Phillips in free agency, and he cashed in. The Eagles will now be in line to pick up a third-round compensatory pick in the 2027 draft, per OverTheCap, as a consolation prize after being outbid by the Panthers.
Carolina did not need to make such an aggressive offer to Rasheed Walker, who drew surprisingly little interest in free agency after three years as the Packers’ starting left tackle. He was aiming for a multi-year contract with a $20MM AAV, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, comparable to what Dan Moore received from the Titans last year, but had to settle for a one-year, $10MM deal with the Panthers.
Moore’s contract did not age well, so teams may have been hesitant to pay for starting experience rather than true high-end talent. Walker has graded out well as a pass blocker, but his run-blocking grade has never been higher than 56.3 and his pass blocking efficiency has never topped 96.5.
Carolina is an excellent situation for Walker to try to push his valuation into the market he desires. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, and given that the injury happened in the first round of the playoffs in January, he may not play in 2026. Walker will take his spot for the season in the hopes of a bigger payday this time next year.
Cardinals Sign DL Andrew Billings
The Cardinals have been busy adding to their defensive line this offseason, and they’re apparently not done. According to Darren Urban of the team website, the team is signing defensive lineman Andrew Billings.
It will be a one-year deal for the veteran. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reported earlier today that Billings was visiting the Cardinals.
The veteran is coming off a three-year stint with the Bears, where he started 39 of his 42 appearances. A torn pectoral muscle limited him to only eight appearances in 2024, but he rebounded with a 17-game showing (14 starts) in 2025.
He finished this past year with 31 stops and one sack while getting into just about half of Chicago’s defensive snaps. While his health was a positive, his play left some to be desired. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 121st among 127 qualifying interior defenders.
The site rates his last notable season as 2022, when he finished 16th among 127 qualifiers. During that one-year stop with the Raiders, Billings compiled 39 tackles and one sack. The 2016 fourth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Bengals, where he collected 3.5 sacks in 47 games.
The Cardinals have made several notable additions to their defensive line over the past week, including Roy Lopez, L.J. Collier, and Jonah Williams. Lopez is likely penciled in for the nose tackle role in the middle of the defensive line, but Billings will help soak up some extra snaps at the position.
Cardinals To Sign LB Jack Gibbens
TODAY, 5:55pm: The Cardinals are signing Gibbens, the team announced. It will be a two-year pact for the linebacker.
SUNDAY, 8:35am: The Patriots declined to tender restricted free agent linebacker Jack Gibbens a contract earlier this week, sending him to the open market for the second straight offseason. Gibbens’ next stop could be Arizona, which will host the four-year veteran during the upcoming week, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
Although Gibbens primarily worked as a starter with the Titans from 2022-24, they passed on tendering him last March. The former UDFA from Minnesota then reunited in New England with Mike Vrabel, Gibbens’ coach in Tennessee during his first two seasons.
The low-cost Gibbens pickup proved worthwhile for the Patriots, who added a solid contributor in multiple phases. Playing the first 17-game regular season of his career, Gibbens amassed 772 snaps (491 on defense, 281 on special teams) and recorded 81 tackles, eight TFL, four passes defensed, a sack and a forced fumble.
As an eight-game starter for the AFC champions, Gibbens ranked a respectable 41st among Pro Football Focus’ 88 qualified linebackers. PFF has typically given Gibbens favorable marks. The site placed him 30th among 82 qualifiers during a 13-start 2023. Gibbens then received a top-10 grade among inside linebackers in 2024, though an ankle injury limited him to 10 games.
Arizona opened up a spot at linebacker when it released Akeem Davis-Gaither before free agency began. The Cardinals relied heavily on Davis-Gaither during a 17-game, 13-start 2025, but they have not addressed the area since his exit. Gibbens would give the Cardinals another option to join Mack Wilson and 2025 fourth-rounder Cody Simon.
Broncos Eyeing Tight End Depth?
At the moment, the Broncos are set to return much of their same offensive skill players from 2025. However, if the front office has its way, that grouping will ultimately feature some new faces.
[RELATED: Broncos, TE Adam Trautman Agree To Deal]
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the Broncos may not “done yet” at the tight end position. The reporter adds that the team did have interest in Dallas Goedert before he re-upped with the Eagles. Breer also notes that David Njoku remains unsigned, although the reporter doesn’t go as far as to report any definitive interest.
To the Broncos credit, they attempted to address the position last offseason when they gave Evan Engram a three-year, $23MM deal. While the veteran was coming off a nine-game showing in 2024, he topped 100 receptions as recently as 2023. While the free agent acquisition did get into 16 games for his new squad, he disappointed when he was on the field.
His 28.8-yards-per-game mark was the second-lowest of his career, and his 3.1 receptions per game represented a new career-low. He ultimately finished the campaign with 50 catches for 461 yards and one touchdown. He was limited to only 42 percent of his team’s offensive snaps, the first time in his career he finished below the 50-percent mark.
The Broncos ended up leaning heavily on Adam Trautman at TE, and the veteran continued to perform as one of the league’s elite blockers at the position. The team showed their commitment to the 29-year-old by handing him a three-year deal last week. However, Trautman would never be confused with an offensive threat, as his best pass-catching season saw him haul in 27 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns with the Saints in 2021.
If the Broncos are looking for a legitimate pass-catcher at the position, then Njoku would likely be the best bet. Otherwise, the team is eyeing the likes of Jonnu Smith, Darren Waller, and an injured Zach Ertz. The team could also look to the draft, where Kenyon Sadiq would be a logical target. However, considering the Oregon product is the only tight end with a definitive first-round grade, the Broncos would likely have to move up from No. 30 to acquire the prospect.
Latest On Potential Maxx Crosby Trade
The Raiders thought they ended the Maxx Crosby era when they agreed to trade the star defensive end to the Ravens on March 5. The blockbuster would have netted the Raiders a pair of first-round picks, but the Ravens backed out last Tuesday after Crosby failed a physical.
Although Crosby is recovering from a full meniscus repair, trade speculation centering on the 28-year-old has persisted. For Crosby’s part, the five-time Pro Bowler seems content to play an eighth season with the Raiders. “Im [sic] A Raider. I’m Back,” he posted on X last week.
It helps that Crosby is a fan of general manager John Spytek, rookie head coach Klint Kubiak and new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, Albert Breer of SI.com relays. Crosby has a great relationship with Leonard, the Raiders’ defensive line coach over the previous three seasons. He combined for 68 tackles for loss and 32 sacks under Leonard from 2023-25.
While there is nothing stopping teams from pursuing a Crosby trade, the Raiders have made it clear they are not giving him away for a discount, per Breer. If there are any more “serious” trade talks regarding Crosby, they are unlikely to occur until around April’s draft, according to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. By then, Crosby could be in position to pass a physical. Regardless, odds are a Crosby trade will not come together before next season, according to Breer, who notes an acquiring GM would be taking a major risk in giving up significant value for Crosby. If his knee troubles continue over the next couple of years, it would be difficult for the GM to justify the gamble to a team owner.
“My gut, I think he’s a Raider,” one GM told La Canfora.
Signs are pointing to Crosby opening 2026 as a Raider, but Breer points to the possibility of a trade before the deadline if he is playing well and the team is out of contention. That may not be an outcome the Raiders are envisioning, though, after they went on a free agent spending spree. They are also expected to land their next starting quarterback, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
With a new coaching staff and much more talent on their roster, the Raiders will expect to make legitimate progress after a three-win 2025 showing. If the Raiders retain him, a healthy Crosby should boost their chances of turning things around next season.
Panthers To Re-Sign P Sam Martin
Veteran punter Sam Martin joined the Panthers on a one-year deal last March, but he will receive more security this offseason. The Panthers will retain Martin on a two-year contract worth up to $5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Carolina is the fourth NFL stop for the 36-year-old Martin, who divided his first 12 seasons among Detroit, Denver and Buffalo. Aside from a 10-game 2017 with the Lions, Martin has played at least 16 contests in every season. Martin has averaged 46.3 gross yards per punt and 41.0 net over 811 attempts.
During his first year with Carolina, Martin punted 56 times in 17 games. At 47.2 yards per attempt, he checked in just shy of the league-average mark (47.4). His 40.5 net was also a bit below the mean (41.3), though he posted the sixth-highest percentage of punts inside the 20 (48.2). Martin also punted for a touchback on just 5.4% of attempts, easily better than league-average figure of 7.7.
For the reigning NFC South champion Panthers, re-signing Martin means they will keep their 2025 special teams battery in place. Martin will again team with kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and long snapper J.J. Jansen.