Kirk Cousins Open To Staying With Falcons; Latest On Kyle Pitts
Kirk Cousins made a persistent effort to leave Atlanta this year. The high-priced quarterback — one the team demoted late in the 2024 season — met with Arthur Blank about a release last spring. No trade or release took place, despite Cousins’ desire for the latter route, and he ended up starting nearly half the season.
Michael Penix Jr.‘s injury trouble resurfaced, giving Cousins a runway to start eight games. Cousins quarterbacked five of Atlanta’s eight wins this season. Two years remain on Cousins’ four-year, $180MM contract; only $10MM guaranteed remains on the deal. Penix remains the presumptive Falcons starter in 2026, but the QB’s injury trouble — a primary plotline during his Indiana years — certainly qualifies as an issue at this point.
Months after his meeting with Blank and voiced preference to be released (amid Penix’s rise to QB1 status), Cousins said he is open to staying with the Falcons. Confirming he is not planning to retire, the 14-year veteran said (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall) he would “love” to stay in Atlanta. The 37-year-old QB is due a $35MM base salary in 2026.
The Falcons would be unlikely to unload all of that in a trade. The Terry Fontenot-led front office had sought to have an acquiring team pick up too much of the tab for clubs’ liking. Cousins’ performance in 2024 had already depressed his trade value, but the Falcons — who let Cousins’ $10MM 2026 guarantee vest this past March — stuck to their guns. Cousins’ presence did not end up mattering in the playoff race, but the Falcons did win four straight games and finished in a three-way tie for first in the again-dismal NFC South. This did not save Fontenot or Raheem Morris‘ jobs, leaving Cousins in limbo.
Cousins finished with 10 touchdown passes and five interceptions, but his completion percentage (61.7) and yards per attempt (6.4) represented career-low figures — in terms of seasons he has been his team’s primary starter. A team could be interested in Cousins, but his contract will become an issue once again if any trade talks are to commence. Minimal trade interest emerged during the season.
The presence of a veteran starter did help Kyle Pitts. Four years after thriving as a rookie with Matt Ryan targeting him, the former first-round tight end came alive at a rather important time. The contract-year pass catcher finished with 88 receptions for 928 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. This included an 11-catch, 166-yard, three-TD night in an upset win over the Buccaneers. Pitts has set himself up well for free agency, even considering his inconsistent past.
A rumor pointing to the Falcons franchise-tagging Pitts came up, but with the team making wholesale changes, ESPN’s Dan Graziano does not see the team extending the 6-foot-6 performer at high-level rate. No known extension talks have taken place.
Drake London will assuredly be a priority, and the standout wide receiver is going into a contract year. Bijan Robinson is also now extension-eligible. This could still keep the tag in play, but an extension may be a stretch for a retooling team. Considering Pitts’ 1,000-yard season came with Ryan targeting him, it will be interesting to learn the retired QB-turned-exec’s views on the matter now that he appears set to take a lead front office role with his former team.
Cowboys Considering Switching Tyler Smith To LT
Cowboys OL Tyler Smith has played more than two-thirds of his career snaps at left guard, earning him three-straight Pro Bowl appearances and an All-Pro recognition. However, the lineman has also logged more than 1,000 career snaps at left tackle, and the organization is considering a permanent position change ahead of the 2026 campaign.
While speaking with reporters, Smith said he’s hoping to receive some definitive answers from coach Brian Schottenheimer regarding his 2026 position.
“Yea, I would like there to be some clarity, for sure,” Smith said (via the team’s website). “And I’ll get that, we’re going to have those conversations when we have a conversation later today. I’ll kind of get that clarify from him and what their vision is and what they say.”
While Smith wouldn’t explicitly endorse one position over the other, he did admit that he’s naturally more comfortable playing at the guard position.
“The way you build comfort is through reps,” Smith said. “And right now, I made a lot of money playing offensive guard. That’s what it is. I have the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard, so obviously I’m more comfortable there. It’s a matter of conversation, I feel like I just need to know.”
Smith made a name for himself as an offensive tackle at Tulsa, leading to him being selected by the Cowboys with the 24th-overall pick in the 2022 draft. He was quickly switch to left guard considering the presence of Tyron Smith, although the younger lineman did have to fill in at LT when his teammate suffered an injury. Smith once again found himself playing multiple positions in 2025 when Tyler Guyton was sidelined with a high ankle sprain and fill-in Nate Thomas struggled at the position.
Part of the team’s decision will likely depend on how they proceed with the rest of their offensive linemen. Guyton was a first-round pick in 2024 and will surely occupy one of the OT spots, although he could be switch to the right side if the organization decides to move on from Terence Steele. That would open up a spot on the left side for Smith, although the Cowboys might not yet have any definitive answers on how they’re going to proceed at the position.
Fortunately for Smith and the Cowboys, the player is already locked into a lucrative contract. The lineman inked a four-year, $96MM extension with the organization back in April, including $81.2MM in guaranteed money. That pact made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. His $24MM average annual value would rank sixth among left tackles and 10th among all offensive tackles.
When asked about a potential move, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said the Cowboys would choose the path that’s best for both the player and the team (via Clarence Hill Jr.). If the organization wants the process to go as smoothly as possible, it sounds like they’ll have to make a decision sooner than later.
Ravens Considering Coordinator Changes?
The Ravens’ heartbreaking loss to the Steelers on Sunday night have raised whispers of change in Baltimore into a cacophony.
However, such change is more likely to happen at the coordinator level than at the very top with head coach John Harbaugh, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. The Ravens just signed Harbaugh to a three-year extension at the beginning of this year that kept him as one of the NFL’s highest-paid head coaches. He has held that role for 19 years with one Super Bowl and consistent playoff appearances. The team also values stability and continuity in their key leadership positions and would not move on one lightly.
“There is absolutely no reason to believe the Ravens would fire John Harbaugh,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said on Tuesday, though he did not rule out the possibility of a mutual parting of ways. He also acknowledge that “some level of change does feel sort of inevitable.”
His colleague Ian Rapoport added that any changes in Baltimore would be focused on offensive coordinator Todd Monken after significant regression from top-five units in the last two years. The Ravens fell outside of the top 10 in points and yards for just the second time with Lamar Jackson as a starter. The first was in 2022 under then-OC Greg Roman, who was replaced by Monken after the season. Could history repeat itself?
Despite also overseeing significant – and perhaps more severe – defensive coordinator Zach Orr is not thought to be on the hot seat. The young ex-Ravens linebacker has led one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses in both of his seasons as defensive coordinator, and this year, he was not able to inspire a similar end-of-season turnaround to 2024. But Orr is still valued inside the Ravens’ facility and seems to be safe. He should still enter the 2026 season under significant scrutiny to return to Baltimore’s core identity as a stifling defense that can better complement Jackson and the offense.
Titans Expected To Release WR Calvin Ridley
Despite having two years remaining on his contract, Calvin Ridley‘s stint in Tennessee has likely come to an end. According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, the veteran wide receiver is expected to be a cap casualty this offseason.
The Titans won a bidding war for Ridley during the 2024 offseason, signing the former first-round pick to a four-year, $92MM contract. Despite uninspiring QB play from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, Ridley still produced during his first season with the Titans, finishing with 64 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns.
While the Titans added first-overall pick Cam Ward to guide the offense in 2025, Ridley saw his per-game receiving numbers drop from 59.8 in 2024 to 43.3 in 2025. The wideout was limited to only 17 catches in seven games before his season ended early thanks to a broken fibula.
Ridley is owed about $41MM in base salary between 2026 and 2027, with his cap hits exceeding $26MM in each of those campaigns. However, the Titans did include an out in his contract, so the team could release Ridley and only be left with around $13MM in dead cap. About $3MM of his 2026 salary is guaranteed in mid-March, allowing the player to still enter free agency at about the same time as his peers.
While teams might not be able to justify a $20MM annual commitment to the receiver, Ridley still shouldn’t lack for suitors if he does hit the open market. The wideout proved to be a formidable scorer during his time with the Falcons, hauling in 26 touchdowns through his first three seasons in the league. He also has three 1,000-plus-yard seasons on his resume, including a 1,374-yard showing with the Falcons in 2020 that led to his lone All-Pro nod.
While 2026 will represent Ridley’s age-32 season, he should be a worthy target for WR-needy teams. Assuming he is cut, he’ll be joining a positional free agent class that includes the likes of George Pickens, Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, Jauan Jennings, and Wan’Dale Robinson.
NFC East Notes: Eberflus, Giants, Biadasz
Matt Eberflus appears set to become a one-and-done DC in Dallas. Jerry Jones‘ comments point to a firing. The Cowboys finished last in points allowed and 30th in total defense. Jones identified the secondary as a particular concern area. The group has already undergone changes, beginning with the Trevon Diggs cut.
“Probably the one that I think was the most impactful is that we had a high expectation in our secondary, and I thought we would be good at all phases of it,” Jones said, via DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “… The secondary really had issues regarding personnel, time on the field, time at practice. We weren’t ambitious, we knew some of those guys would be getting back [from injury]… I would say that’s the area.”
The Cowboys played a chunk of the season without Diggs, who has battled knee trouble since his September 2023 ACL tear, and placed the recently extended DaRon Bland on IR last month. The team did not see third-round rookie cornerback Shavon Revel debut until November due to a college ACL tear, and Kaiir Elam disappointed following an offseason trade. Pro Football Focus ranks safeties Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson and Markquese Bell outside the top 65 at the position. Changes figure to come there as well.
While Jones said blame for the defensive issues is widespread, Eberflus is widely expected to be out. By 2026, the Cowboys should have a fourth DC this decade. Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- No official decision on Eberflus will come for more than a week, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Nick Harris. The Cowboys will wait on this, planning to conduct a review before determining their staff direction. It could be up to 12 days before a decision emerges. The Cowboys regularly operate methodically here, as their past two HC changes have shown. Eberflus will now wait for his likely pink slip.
- On the Diggs topic, Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the since-waived CB was not the only one to request to stay in Washington after the team’s Christmas game. Schottenheimer denied the other players’ requests as well, via the Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt, indicating such requests would only be granted for family emergencies. The Packers have since claimed Diggs, who made his debut with the team in Week 18.
- Giants ownership will be present for the upcoming coaching interviews, Joe Schoen confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy). John Mara is battling cancer, so it will be interesting to learn how involved he will be. Co-owner Steve Tisch is based in California and does not work in the building like Mara does.
- Brian Burns earned a nice pay bump based on a performance incentive. Burns collected a $1.8MM incentive for surpassing 12.5 sacks and earning a Pro Bowl nod, with Duggan adding the Giants edge rusher’s 2026 salary will increase by $1.8MM as a result. Burns, who finished with 16.5 sacks, is signed through the 2028 season.
- Von Miller also triggered an incentive, with the future Hall of Fame pass rusher’s ninth sack earning him an additional $1MM. Miller played on a contract that brought $6.1MM in base value plus incentives this season. He is interested in staying with the Commanders; the nine sacks were the 36-year-old’s most in a season since 2021.
- Tyler Biadasz is tied to a three-year, $30MM Commanders contract. The veteran center is entering a platform year in 2026, and The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala notes he is due a $1MM bonus on April 1. The former Cowboys starter, whom Jhabvala tabs an extension candidate, is tied to an $11MM cap hit for 2026.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, S PJ Jules, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Waived: OT Geron Christian, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Extended: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, CB Nick Whiteside
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: LB Austin Ajiake
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB John Bullock
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: DE Larrell Murchison
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Tre Flowers
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: WR Jacob Cowing
Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.
The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.
Matt Prater Dealing With Quad Injury; Bills To Work Out Kickers
The Bills are gearing up for this weekend’s wild-card round, but it’s unclear who will kick for them in Jacksonville on Sunday. Matt Prater aggravated a quadriceps injury in the Bills’ Week 18 win over the Jets. Prater is considered day-to-day, head coach Sean McDermott said (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk).
With Prater’s status uncertain, the Bills will work out kickers this week, McDermott announced. This is the third time the Bills have had to go this route in the past few weeks.
After Prater injured his quad in a Week 15 win over the Patriots, the Bills auditioned Michael Badgley and Matthew Wright on Dec. 16. They signed Badgley, who had been out of a job for two weeks after the Colts cut him.
Although Badgley hit 10 of 11 field goals with the Colts, they moved on after he converted just 18 of 21 extra points. His final PAT miss with Indianapolis proved costly in a Week 13 loss to Houston.
Badgley went on to struggle filling in for Prater in two games with the Bills. He made his lone field goal, but he missed two of four extra points. A blocked PAT against the Eagles in Week 17 helped sink the Bills in a 13-12 loss.
It’s unclear whether the Bills will consider a reunion with Badgley, but it’s worth noting that they worked out other kickers while he was still a member of the organization. Younghoe Koo, Gavin Stewart and Maddux Trujillo tried out on Dec. 23 (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic). The Bills didn’t see any as an upgrade over Badgley at the time. Those three remain on the market alongside the likes of Justin Tucker, Matt Gay and Cade York, among others.
Tucker is easily the most proven kicker available, but the longtime Raven’s performance fell off dramatically in 2024. The 36-year-old has since served a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The league handed down the punishment after allegations of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions went public against Tucker last February. Tucker worked out for the Saints in late November and the Colts in early December, but neither team signed him.
If Prater’s unavailable on Sunday and the Bills don’t turn back to Badgley, they’ll use their third kicker of the season in the opening round of the playoffs. Tyler Bass handled the job from 2020-24, but he began 2025 on IR with a hip/groin injury and underwent season-ending surgery on Dec. 1. With Bass on the shelf, the Bills signed the 41-year-old Prater days before the start of the season.
When healthy, Prater has been a reliable option for Buffalo. The two-time Pro Bowler went 18 of 20 on field goals and 46 of 49 on extra points during the regular season, but it’s anyone’s guess whether he’ll participate in the playoffs.
Rams’ Davante Adams Expected To Return In Wild-Card Round
Davante Adams missed the Rams’ final three regular-season games due to a hamstring injury; the free agent pickup still led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. It appears likely the former All-Pro will be back for the playoffs.
The Rams expect Adams to be on the field when they begin this year’s playoff slate against the Panthers, Sean McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop) Monday. Adams returned to practice Thursday and finished last week with two limited sessions.
A proponent of resting players when possible in the final week of the regular season, McVay held Adams out of the Rams’ Week 18 matchup against the Cardinals. The Rams won without him, though they only went 1-2 without their high-end No. 2 receiver. Losses to the Seahawks and Falcons dropped the Rams off the No. 1 seed line and into the No. 5 position. As a result, L.A.’s playoff docket will likely come entirely on the road.
No IR move commenced, giving the Rams flexibility with Adams. He has rewarded the team for its two-year, $46MM investment, catching 14 touchdown passes. Adams, 33, has done plenty to bolster Matthew Stafford‘s MVP campaign. After Cooper Kupp struggled to reprise his earlier form last season (before being released), Adams has brought a step up. The former Packers, Raiders and Jets standout is in the playoffs for the first time since he left Green Bay. He enters the game with 60 catches for 789 yards.
Puka Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions, doing so despite missing a game. Adams’ return will help the star third-year pass catcher, who finished second in receiving yards (to Jaxon Smith-Njigba) with 1,715 this season while giving the Rams’ offense a significant boost. Adams playing well in the playoffs will increase his chances of seeing the Rams pay out his $6MM roster bonus, which is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
McVay added Quentin Lake — who signed a three-year extension last week — and tight end Terrance Ferguson are expected to play Saturday in Charlotte. Lake will need to be activated off IR to return. The Rams joined the other 13 playoff teams in receiving two additional IR activations for the playoffs. L.A. is in good shape there, having seven remaining. Lake underwent elbow surgery in November.
WR Alec Pierce Open To New Colts Deal
Alec Pierce looms as one of the top free agent options at the receiver position this spring. Remaining with the Colts appears to still be on the table, although an exploration of the market also seems to be approaching. 
“I’ve got great relationships here with this organization and the people in this building, this city,” Pierce said on Monday (via Nathan Brown of the Indy Star). “They’ve done so much for me so far, and I definitely would love to continue to be part of this organization, and we’ll see where things go.
“But I don’t know. I don’t know how this will all work out… I think I’ve got to see it all laid out in front of me. There’s so many different variables that go into that decision. I think it’s really hard to say what the priorities are, because you’re looking at 50 different variables at each place.”
While playing out his rookie contract, Pierce has emerged as one of the league’s premier deep threats. In each of the past two seasons, the former second-rounder has topped the NFL in yards per reception average. Pierce enjoyed a career year in 2025, setting a new personal best in catches (47) and yards (1,003).
Even after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered his Achilles tear, Pierce managed to have strong games at times down the stretch (including a two-touchdown performance yesterday). The Cincinnati product could be highly sought after during his first trip to free agency, especially if George Pickens winds up receiving the franchise tag from the Cowboys to prevent a departure. Whether it comes from the Colts or a new team, a major raise is forthcoming in Pierce’s case.
With Indianapolis having elected to retain head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, attention will turn to the matter of re-signing Jones. The 2024 free agent signing enjoyed a stellar campaign prior to being injured, and he wants to stay in place. Keeping Jones in the fold will require more than the $14MM he signed for last spring, although the injury could complicate his value.
Pierce, 25, said continuing to play with Jones represents an attractive selling point in the case of re-signing with the Colts. Based on his comments, however, it would come as little surprise if he were to at least test the waters in March.
Titans Arrange Raheem Morris HC Meeting
His Falcons tenure cut short after two seasons, Raheem Morris represents a prime defensive coordinator candidate. But a report earlier today indicated the two-time NFL HC would be expected to draw interest for another top job.
The Titans will make good on that, as ESPN’s Peter Schrager reports Morris will meet with the AFC South team about its HC vacancy. The interview is scheduled for this week. Morris is among a host of candidates linked with the Tennessee job thus far; a round of interview slips went out today.
Tennessee is hoping to interview Kevin Stefanski, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo, Vance Joseph and Lou Anarumo. Morris joins Stefanski as a dismissed HC on the market. Because Morris and Stefanski are unattached, they can meet in-person with any interested team. Coaches who are tied to a team presently cannot, giving the unemployed options a leg up to start the process.
Anarumo, Joseph, Nagy and Spagnuolo can meet with the Titans starting Wednesday. Joseph can meet with the team remotely. Had the Broncos not won in Week 18, Joseph would have been unable to meet about the job until after three days after the wild-card round. Since Denver secured a first-round bye, its DC can discuss the position this week. The Titans must interview two external minority candidates to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Joseph is seen as one of this market’s top candidates; after Morris went two-and-done in Atlanta, it is difficult to gauge his standing.
Morris, 49, went 16-18 in his second Falcons stint. Overall, he is 37-56. It is fair to point out Morris has been tied to inconsistent quarterbacks throughout his coaching career. The Buccaneers’ failed Josh Freeman experiment occurred during Morris’ time leading the Tampa Bay staff, and Michael Penix Jr. struggled before going down with a season-ending injury this year. The Falcons made the atypical decision to hand out a big free agency deal (to Kirk Cousins) only to turn around and use a top-10 pick on a passer six weeks later. This made for a convoluted setup, though Morris’ staff was believed to be a key part of the Penix investment.
A defensive coach who won a Super Bowl ring as the DC for the Rams, Morris also is the rare leader with extensive experience on both sides of the ball. He coached Falcons wide receivers from 2015-19 and served as Dan Quinn‘s offensive pass-game coordinator during part of that time. This past season, the Falcons rejuvenated their pass rush; Atlanta’s 57 sacks trailed only Denver this season. That represented a remarkable turnaround, but while that occurred during a season in which the Falcons won their final four games, the team still opted to reboot and fire both its HC and GM (Terry Fontenot).