Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Will Not Make Immediate Decision On Future
The 2025 campaign didn’t go as planned for the Chiefs, who will not make a fourth straight Super Bowl trip. The Chiefs’ streak of 10 consecutive playoff berths snapped during a 6-11 season in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL. A healthy Mahomes will aim to rebound in 2026, but it’s unknown whether he has thrown his last pass to his favorite target, tight end Travis Kelce.
While Kelce is set to become a free agent, the career-long Chief seems more likely to retire than to sign with another team. After a season-ending loss to the Raiders on Sunday, the 36-year-old indicated he hasn’t made a decision on whether to continue his career in 2026 (via Jesse Newell of The Athletic).
“I mean, who knows? Who knows? Either it hits me quick, or I’ve got to take some time,” Kelce said. “I think last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to give this one a shot. So we’ll see.”
Kelce considered retirement after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles last February, but it wasn’t a drawn-out process. Just under three weeks later, it became clear he’d play again in 2025. While it went down as a disappointing year for the team, Kelce remained among the NFL’s most productive tight ends. He led Chiefs skill players in offensive snap share (81%) while finishing fourth at his position in yards (851), sixth in catches (76) and 13th in touchdowns (five).
Kelce only totaled 12 yards in Week 18, but it was enough to reach the 13,000-yard mark for his career. The 13-year veteran became the quickest tight end to achieve that milestone, doing so in 192 games. Kelce ranks third all-time at his position in receptions (1,080) and yards (13,002), and he’s fifth in TDs (82). While it’s possible Kelce won’t add to those numbers, longtime teammate Chris Jones expects him to return in 2026
“I’m not buying it,” Jones said of a potential Kelce retirement. “He’ll be back next year.”
If Jones is right, the Chiefs will have to hammer out another agreement with Kelce in the coming months. Kelce is currently scheduled to join names such as Kyle Pitts, David Njoku and Isaiah Likely on the list of free agent tight ends, but it would be shocking to see him don a different uniform in 2026.
Three 49ers Execs Among Dolphins’ Six GM Interview Requests
More than two months after letting Chris Grier go, the Dolphins are at work with GM interview requests. Six have gone out for an AFC East franchise that has not parted with HC Mike McDaniel.
While McDaniel is not a lock to stay, the next Dolphins GM may well begin a tenure working with the long-tenured leader. The Dolphins have sent requests to Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers), John McKay (Rams) and Josh Williams (49ers), according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport along with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They have since submitted a request to meet with 49ers assistant GM R.J. Gillen, per Pelissero.
The three 49ers execs would be interesting here, as both were in San Francisco when McDaniel was working under Kyle Shanahan. Ahmed is in place as the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, being in his first year in that role. Ahmed has been with the team since 2014, coming up through the scouting ranks. The former 49ers college scouting director received a request from a Dolphins team eyeing a GM with a scouting background.
Williams has a similar background, serving as the 49ers’ current director of scouting and football operations. He has come up as a name to watch on this year’s carousel, and the Dolphins were connected to him recently. The 49ers have lost a few execs to GM roles, with John Lynch‘s staff seeing Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters take top front office jobs. Williams, who was a finalist for last year’s Jaguars GM gig, could be next.
Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before Lynch and Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure. Gillen being included in Miami’s list further points to McDaniel staying.
A 49ers exec being hired certainly could give the embattled HC a new lease on life in Miami, as persistent rumblings have emerged pointing to ownership being fond of the offense-based leader and ready to give him a fifth year. That is not a lock, however.
McKay’s time with the 49ers’ California rival has spanned 10 years now. He arrived a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. McKay has worked his way up to assistant general manager. This position certainly has been known to launch GM candidacies, with Halaby serving in this role for the Eagles. Halaby does not come from the scouting side, however, being a Harvard graduate who spent five-plus years as the Eagles’ director of football operations and strategy.
Sullivan, who serves as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel, was on last year’s GM carousel and emerged as a possible Dolphins candidate hours after Grier’s dismissal. Sullivan has only worked in Green Bay, being with the Packers since 2003. The former Ted Thompson lieutenant has climbed the ladder under Brian Gutekunst, climbing to his current post through the scouting ranks. Sullivan has been in the VP role since 2022.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Likely Safe
JANUARY 5: McDaniel has “expressed confidence” about his status recently, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports. Things could of course change with the general manager position yet to be filled, but it appears as though the Dolphins will not join the growing list of teams with a vacancy on the sidelines.
JANUARY 4: The job security of Mike McDaniel has remained a talking point for much of the 2025 season. The late stages of the campaign have seen improved play in the case of the Dolphins, though, pointing to stability on the sidelines for next year. 
McDaniel is in the group of coaches likely to be safe as ‘Black Monday’ approaches, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (video link). Conflicting reports have emerged over recent months on the matter of McDaniel’s future, with Schefter among those cautioning a final decision has yet to be made. His latest update confirms that is still the case, with front office discussions still to be had after the season finale.
When general manager Chris Grier‘s lengthy Miami tenure came to an end midway through the season, it was immediately learned McDaniel would remain in place for the remainder of 2025. The Dolphins have once again fallen short of the playoffs with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being benched. Keeping him atop the depth chart was seen at one point as a central factor in McDaniel’s job security given the success shared by that pair in the past. Strong play elsewhere on the roster has nevertheless helped the case for stability on the sidelines.
The Dolphins have won five of their last seven games entering Sunday’s action. To perhaps little surprise, then, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also points to McDaniel receiving a fifth season at the helm. The 42-year-old sports an overall record of 35-32 at this point, and he has led the Dolphins to a pair of postseason appearances (both of which ended with losses in the wild-card round). Presuming he remains in place for 2026, how McDaniel fits into a reshaped structure in Miami will be interesting to see.
The search for Grier’s replacement is ongoing, and broadcaster Troy Aikman is among those playing a role. Once a new general manager is in place – either through an outside hire or interim Champ Kelly receiving the gig on a full-time basis – attention will turn to the matter of potential changes in the organizational pecking order. Grier previously outranked McDaniel as well as senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore while reporting to owner Stephen Ross. A new setup is being considered which would see Shore, the new GM and McDaniel each report directly to Ross. Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports nothing has been finalized yet on that front, and that will presumably remain the case until a decision is made to fill the general manager spot.
A strong fit with McDaniel is not viewed as Miami’s top priority during the team’s GM search, one which Jones notes includes sports executive (and Ross’ son-in-law) Daniel Sillman. That factor suggests a McDaniel dismissal could still receive consideration, although at this point such a move would come as a surprise.
Giants To Retain GM Joe Schoen
The Giants are among the teams with a head coaching vacancy. They will not be hiring a new general manager this winter, though.
Joe Schoen has been informed he will remain in place for 2026, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That news comes as little surprise given recent reporting on where this situation stood. Schoen has been in place since 2022, having been hired alongside Brian Daboll that year. Daboll was fired midway through the campaign, but that has not led to a complete housecleaning.
As part of their statement announcing Schoen will remain in his post, the Giants said, “Continuity and stability in the front office is important to our progress.”
The Giants’ desire for front office stability will lead to a fifth season for Schoen, who will be in position to hire his second head coach. Schoen chose Daboll after the two formed a rapport working together in Buffalo. They initially fared well in New York, which finished 9-7-1 and earned a playoff berth in 2022. Daboll won Coach of the Year honors for his effort, but things spiraled from there. The Giants posted a combined 4-13 mark under Daboll and interim head coach Mike Kafka in 2025, their third straight year of missing the postseason. They’ve gone a dismal 13-38 since 2023.
Although the Schoen-led Giants have struggled mightily for most of his tenure, their head coaching vacancy is considered attractive based on some of the talent he has acquired. That includes Schoen draft picks in quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, pass rushersKayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, and running back Cam Skattebo, among others.
Indeed, in their statement, the Giants noted, “We believe in our young core of talent, which we can build around for future success.”
In order for the Giants to get maximum value out of that “young core of talent,” Schoen can’t miss on another head coaching pick. Schoen, who’s leading the search, has already put together the list of candidates he’d like to interview, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. The 46-year-old said weeks ago that he didn’t expect his presence to scare away any potential hires. Fortunately for the Giants, they’ve received “positive feedback” from HC candidates over the decision to keep Schoen, per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
While the Giants haven’t formally requested any interviews yet, several names have come up in the rumor mill since Daboll’s firing in early November. Kafka, who went 2-5 in an interim role, may get a look, but Daboll’s full-time successor seems more likely to come from outside the organization.
Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, ex-Raiders HC and onetime Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are among potential candidates who have emerged in recent days. Those are just a few possibilities, though, and Schoen is sure to discuss the position with several coaches as he attempts to turn around the franchise.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Bengals To Retain Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin
The Bengals will have stability on the sidelines and in the front office for 2026. Head coach Zac Taylor and player personnel director Duke Tobin are officially safe. 
“Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level, with the goal of winning championships,” a statement from owner Mike Brown reads. “After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”
The possibility of major changes was raised in the midst of Cincinnati’s mid-season slump. Toward the end of the campaign, however, it appeared as though both Taylor and Tobin were no longer in danger of being dismissed. Today’s news offers confirmation on that front.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has drawn plenty of attention with his recent comments on his future given his track record of making his opinion known for several high-profile roster decisions. He has shown full support for Taylor, something which has no doubt helped contribute to this decision. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports a group of players offered an endorsement over the past week or so for keeping the 42-year-old in the fold.
2025 marks the third season in a row in which Cincinnati has fallen short of the postseason. Taylor’s first two campaigns resulted in a total of six wins, but the decision to retain him initially proved to be worthwhile. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl during his third season at the helm. That was followed by a trip to the AFC championship game. Since then, however, shortcomings on defense along with Burrow injuries have proven to be highly problematic.
Overall, Taylor’s record across seven years stands at 52-63-1. Improvement will be sought out this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if that includes changes on his staff. Longtime offensive coordinator Brian Callahan departed in 2024, and last winter the Bengals parted with veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. The latter’s replacement, Al Golden, oversaw a unit which endured massive struggles for much of the campaign. Cincinnati’s defense improved to a degree late in the season but still finished 30th in points allowed.
An inability to replace Cincinnati’s Super Bowl core on defense was raised as an argument in favor of moving on from Tobin, who has been in place since 2002. He will continue in his current role, however, as the Bengals opt once again for stability. If 2026 includes a repeat of this season’s struggles, a new round of calls for firings will no doubt emerge. The team’s top decision-makers will receive the opportunity to turn things around and avoid such a scenario.
Falcons Fire HC Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot
The first firing announcement comes out of Atlanta, where, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Raheem Morris has officially been fired. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports quickly followed up the coaching announcement with a report that general manager Terry Fontenot has also been removed from his position. 
In a statement, team owner Arthur Blank gave an explanation of today’s transactions.
“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons,” he began. “But I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward. The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Additionally, the team’s statement mentioned that they would use two different search firms to help fill the two jobs. ZRG Partners will assist Atlanta on their head coach search while Sportsology Group will assist with the search for a new general manager. Sportsology was already being utilized to perform a full assessment of the team’s football operations. It seems their evaluation was valued, as it led to Fontenot’s dismissal and further work to assist with the job to replace him. No timelines were proposed for the searches, but both will begin immediately and run concurrently.
Blank seems to be growing short of patience as time goes on. Before Morris, Mike Smith held the head coaching job for seven seasons. Dan Quinn only lasted six after that, Arthur Smith three, and Morris just two. The team’s quick response to act all comes naturally at this point as the organization will undergo it’s fourth head coaching search in seven years. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports that, behind the scenes, discussions on resetting the team’s structure have been going on for weeks now.
Voices around the league seemed to be pointing toward a departure from Fontenot, but sources also believed that Morris was likely to be retained in his position. A longtime assistant with the Falcons, Morris spent six years as assistant head coach while coaching various position groups before getting promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020. He stepped up into the interim head coaching job when Quinn was fired and went 4-7 in his first time back in the captain’s chair since his time with the Buccaneers back in 2011.
The Falcons did not choose Morris to take over the full-time head coaching gig, instead hiring Arthur Smith to the job. Morris returned to Atlanta after three years as defensive coordinator for the Rams, replacing Smith when he was fired after three straight 7-10 seasons. In his two years back at the helm, Morris improved on Smith’s streak, if only barely, recording two 8-9 campaigns, the first resulting in a second-place division finish and the second resulting in a three-way tie that ended with a third-place finish in the NFC South.
In order to force the three-way tie, the Falcons had to win their last four games, an impressive close to the season. These marked the Falcons’ only two eight-win seasons during their eight-year playoff drought, but this one enough to save Morris’ job.
Multiple players, including wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, were vocal in support of Morris before his dismissal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Robinson specifically said he was “going to support Raheem no matter what” but that it’s “Arthur Blank’s decision” (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). There’s plenty of room for criticism of the move as a bit early. Several coaches with worse results have been given longer leashes in NFL history, and Morris’ short leash came with handicaps from questionable draft and free agency decisions by Fontenot that left him with awkward quarterback situations.
Many are pointing to Fontenot’s failure to solve the team’s quarterback issues as the cause for his departure. With Fontenot as GM in Atlanta for five seasons, the Falcons went 36-48 during his tenure. Despite the clear signs that former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan was in the twilight years of his career, Fontenot failed to address the position in his first draft. The only player from that first draft class to really impact the team was first-round tight end Kyle Pitts, who still delivered a few disappointing seasons over his rookie deal. The Falcons then traded Ryan to Indianapolis and drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round of 2022’s draft, which also yielded them London and running back Tyler Allgeier. 
After Ridder failed to establish himself as a starter, as the Falcons had stood down rather than add an outside option in 2023, Fontenot and the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a huge four-year, $180MM deal with the understanding that they would not draft a first-round quarterback to stash behind him. About six weeks later, Fontenot and the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round to stash behind Cousins without notifying Cousins or his representation that they would be doing so.
Morris and the coaching staff were believed to have played a role in the QB double-up, becoming impressed with the left-handed QB. The Falcons spent two years shuffling a sometimes-injured, struggling Cousins with a sometimes-injured, struggling Penix, putting them in the situation they now find themselves.
The Morris hire came as Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay were believed to have played roles in swaying Blank away from hiring Bill Belichick. Neither were believed to have wanted to work with the former Super Bowl-winning HC. Politics partially played a part in the Falcons moving to Morris, who worked under McKay in Tampa. Morris was well-liked in the building stemming from his first go-round in Atlanta, but his HC stint ended up not even lasting as long as his Bucs stay. Following the Morris hire, Fontenot secured more organizational power as McKay stepped back from day-to-day operations.
Fontenot’s drafting seemed to show some improvements, especially with some successful defensive picks this past year, but it was mostly first- and second-rounders making an impact from each class. Regardless, through Fontenot’s five seasons, the Falcons failed to see a single winning campaign, let alone a trip to the playoffs. The two won their final game with the team, were seen celebrating in the locker room with the players, then were called to meet with Blank a couple hours later to be delivered the bad news, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
There’s obviously no news to report so soon after the dismissals of the two team leaders, but The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman sees Morris having potential looks at defensive coordinator jobs in the offseason. Anderson reports that Ryan, the team’s former franchise quarterback, has been an “active” voice in the building already, with some starting to link his name to the now open general manager position.
Raiders Clinch No. 1 Pick In 2026 Draft
Before the start of their Week 18 game, the Raiders have learned their fate with respect to this year’s NFL draft. Vegas will own the top selection for the 2026 edition of the event. 
The Giants were among the teams playing in the early window for the final day of the regular season. Only New York could have overtaken Vegas for the top spot in the order, but that would have required a win against Dallas. However, the Giants beat the Cowboys 34-17. That result clinched the No. 1 pick for the Raiders.
Today’s development represents the expected outcome in this case. The Raiders lost to the Giants in Week 17, the contest which was widely known to have massive implications for the draft order. Both teams drew criticism for their roster handling in the build-up to that contest, particularly the Raiders. Tight end Brock Bowers was moved to injured reserve while edge rusher Maxx Crosby was shut down for the remainder of the season against his wishes.
Head coach Pete Carrol also objected to the idea of sidelining Crosby, who is slated to undergo meniscus surgery. The five-time Pro Bowler has already spoken out about the decision to shut him down, something which has fueled a new round of trade speculation. Managing the Crosby situation will be critical for the Raiders, a team which could undergo a number of notable changes soon.
The 2025 offseason saw numerous arrivals at all levels of the organization. That included a new coaching staff led by Carroll, although his tenure has not gone as planned. A widespread expectation exists Carroll will prove to be a one-and-done staffer. New offensive and special teams coordinators will also be required during the hiring cycle. In the meantime, attention in the front office will turn to the possibility of selecting a new quarterback.
Geno Smith was acquired via trade in a Carroll reunion, and he is under contract through 2027. The veteran has fallen well short of expectations this season, however, and the team could seek out a replacement via the draft. Smith could be retained as a bridge starter, but the acquisition of a future franchise signal-caller would be seen as a pivotal move for a Raiders team desperately in need of stability on several fronts.
Fernando Mendoza is seen by many as the top quarterback in the 2026 class, one which in general is not held in high regard. The Heisman winner is set to lead Indiana in the CFP semifinal against Oregon. That means a matchup against Dante Moore – whose intentions regarding the NFL draft are still not known – is upcoming. Vegas’ evaluation of both passers will be a major storyline over the coming months, presuming both wind up turning pro.
The rest of the draft order will be finalized as the remaining games around the league play out. Shuffling in the top five could prove to be impactful given the dearth of high-end QB prospects relative to the demand amongst many teams. In any event, the Raiders – who of course will look to avoid a repeat of the JaMarcus Russell situation from the last time they selected first overall – find themselves in position to kick off this year’s draft.
Pete Carroll Did Not Want Maxx Crosby Shut Down; Raiders Trading Star Edge Rusher In Play?
The Raiders have resisted trading Maxx Crosby amid a set of down years, giving him a monster extension to stay as the Tom Brady-John Spytek-Pete Carroll regime took over. Las Vegas’ late-season decision to shelve Crosby may represent a breaking point in this relationship.
Crosby has spoken out against the Raiders’ apparent tanking for the No. 1 overall pick, doing so after showing a video in which he played basketball and jumped on a trampoline following a report he needs meniscus surgery. Without a draft lottery in place, the team had plenty of incentive to move in this direction.
Crosby was not the only marquee Raider shut down before Week 17, as the team placed Brock Bowers on IR ahead of a pivotal loss to the Giants. While Bowers will not be going anywhere ahead of the 2026 season, Crosby no longer appears a lock to stay.
Not long after a report indicating Crosby would evaluate his Raiders future surfaced, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates many around the league are wondering about this situation. Many believe a trade could take place if this dispute persists. The Raiders could cash in the Jon Gruden 2.0-era draftee for valuable draft capital as the Brady-Spytek duo follows through with a rebuild. Carroll does not appear to be part of that vision any longer, with the Raiders expected to make him a one-and-done HC following this dismal season.
Carroll is believed to be pushing for a second season, and Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero notes that the veteran HC was overruled on Crosby. Carroll wanted Crosby for the stretch run, per Salguero, while the decision to sit him “came down from on high.” It is not exactly surprising a coach on the hot seat wanted his top player available, but a coach-front office disagreement of this sort is certainly notable given the dysfunction that has plagued the Raiders in recent years.
The four-time NFL HC pitched a quicker turnaround in his interview last year, and the Raiders went in that direction. Though, they only hired Carroll after a Brady-led push for Ben Johnson failed. That represented a striking shift, as Carroll became the oldest HC in NFL history — at 74 — this season. The Raiders are 2-14 and will likely be looking (again) for a new quarterback soon; the Carroll-Geno Smith reunion has not panned out. The No. 1 overall pick will give the Raiders a great chance to finally solve their post-Derek Carr dilemma, with Fernando Mendoza links already emerging.
Carroll understandably disagrees on the topic of a rebuild, but it appears that is where the Raiders are headed. Crosby is signed through 2029, with three years (and $106.5MM) tacked onto his previous deal. With $30MM of Crosby’s 2025 compensation tied up in base salary, the Raiders would not eat much dead money by moving him in 2026. The team would incur barely $5MM by dealing this contract. With Crosby exiting his age-28 season, plenty of suitors would emerge.
Mark Davis has shut down Crosby trade inquiries in the past (including at this year’s deadline), but time is running out to sell high here. Crosby will be entering his eighth NFL season in 2026. He has made five straight Pro Bowls and finished with the most tackles for loss in the NFL in 2022 and ’23, doing so despite the Raiders struggling and not giving him much help in terms of a sidekick bookend in those years. Crosby actually improved on his TFL number this season, delivering 28 before his season ended against his wishes after 15 games. That is a career-best number by five, though Myles Garrett‘s 32 — a number that sits behind only J.J. Watt‘s transcendent 2012 for most this century — leads the league.
I discussed the prospect of Crosby being a clearer 2026 trade candidate than Garrett in this week’s PFR Chat, even as the Browns icon is in a similar position. Crosby is also more than a year younger, giving the Raiders an interesting opportunity. While it would be difficult to replace Crosby, it appears Brady and Spytek are much more open to the idea compared to Carroll. That could win out for Davis. Speaking out against such an approach previously, Crosby will likely find himself in trade rumors soon.
Vikings Expected To Pursue Veteran QB Addition
Entering the 2025 season, a central question concerning the Vikings was J.J. McCarthy‘s ability to develop into an established starter. Things have not gone according to plan on that front, and the position will be one to watch over the course of the spring. 
Minnesota saw Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones depart in free agency last offseason. Darnold has enjoyed an impressive debut season with the Seahawks, helping them secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Jones, meanwhile, was on course for a career year prior to suffering an Achilles tear. He is in line for a new Colts contract or a pact sending him to a different QB1 gig.
McCarthy has dealt with a number of injuries in 2025, a worrying trend given the fact his entire rookie year was lost to meniscus surgery. The former No. 10 pick is making his 10th career start on Sunday as the Vikings aim to finish the season on a five-game winning streak. The team has long been out of playoff contention, though, and rebounding on that front in 2026 will require more consistent play from under center.
Entering Week 18, McCarthy has completed only 57.3% of his attempts while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). The Michigan product entered the league with a college track record including a national championship but also concerns about his true upside as a passer. Establishing a strong connection with All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson in particular has proven to be a challenge this season, and it has led to calls for McCarthy to face veteran competition for the starting spot this offseason.
It appears as though that will be the case. Both Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (video link) report Minnesota is expected to pursue the addition of an established passer this spring. The trade and free agent markets will each be explored, Russini adds. Selecting a passer early in April’s draft would of course come as a surprise, but adding an experienced presence would help ensure a higher floor at the quarterback spot for 2026.
Carson Wentz‘s debut Vikings season ended early due to shoulder surgery, but bringing him back into the fold could be an option. Looking into others is something which was foreshadowed in November, making these latest updates unsurprising. Expensive veterans such as Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa could find themselves on the move this offseason, although their respective stocks are not particularly high given how the current season has unfolded.
Jones is on track for free agency, but it remains to be seen if the Colts will meet their goal of retaining him for at least one more year. Provided that takes place, the market will consist of Malik Willis along with several options viewed as having less upside. The Vikings are currently one of several teams projected to be over the cap for 2026, so the extent of their cost-shedding moves will be key in determining their ability to add a notable QB presence.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
With the AFC North now settled (in rather dramatic fashion), the 2025 regular season is in the books. Following their decisions to shelve Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick. After entering Week 17 in that slot, the Giants — as they did in 2024 — slipped out of the top two thanks to a late-season win.
Big Blue’s victories over the Raiders and Cowboys dropped them to No. 5, with today’s win allowing the Jets, Cardinals and Titans to leapfrog them. The Giants, who fell out of the No. 1 spot last year thanks to a Drew Lock-led win over the Colts in Week 17, will still hold a top-five pick — just not the one most expected two weeks ago. The Jets saw the Colts’ collapse, which dropped them from 8-2 to 8-9, give them two picks in the top 16.
The Cardinals started 2-0 but managed to close the season with 14 losses over their final 15 games. This will give Arizona a top-four pick for the third time in the Monti Ossenfort era. The GM traded out of that slot in 2023 before drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024; Ossenfort is expected to be retained for a fourth season, providing another opportunity. This will be the third straight year the Titans will hold a top-seven pick.
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday, but thanks to a three-way NFC South tie, Tampa Bay’s draft slot will land out of the playoff positions for the first time since 2020. Because Atlanta defeated New Orleans today, Carolina’s first-round pick will slide into the bottom 14 despite its 8-9 finish — one that secured playoff entry for the first time since 2017.
Although the draft order is not fully set due to the upcoming playoffs, the first 18 picks are. Here is how the order looks after Week 18:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-6)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- New England Patriots (14-3)
- Denver Broncos (14-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)