Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
From 2022-24, the Buccaneers stood in command of the NFC South while residing as a fringe Super Bowl threat. Last season dislodged Tampa Bay's grip on the NFL's worst division, bringing state-of-the-union questions to the forefront. Todd Bowles survived, but it is safe to say the Bruce Arians successor is on the hot seat.
Injuries harpooned the Bucs last season, but the team could not recapture much momentum even after a host of offensive talent returned late in the year. December home losses to the Falcons and Saints prevented the Bucs' Week 18 win over the Panthers from mattering. As a team that continues to rely on a draft-develop-extend/re-sign blueprint, last year's 8-9 season invited concern about the franchise's direction.
Coaching/front office:
- Fired offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard
- Hired Zac Robinson as OC replacement
- Fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey
- Hired Danny Smith as STC replacement, Luke Smith as assistant ST coach
- Chandler Whitmer added as quarterbacks coach
- Senior offensive consultant Tom Moore retired
- Added T.J. Yates as pass-game coordinator, Ken Zampese as senior offensive assistant
- Assistant O-line coach Brian Picucci became Jaguars run-game coordinator
- Todd Bowles Jr. hired as defensive assistant
- Fired D-line coach Charlie Strong; Marcus West named replacement
- Fired cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross; Rashad Johnson named replacement
- Discussed position with ex-Bills HC Sean McDermott
The Bucs have a different offensive coordinator for a fifth straight year. Rather than follow Dave Canales and Liam Coen in landing head coaching jobs, Grizzard followed Byron Leftwich in receiving a pink slip. The Bucs had aimed for rare continuity with Grizzard, elevating him from pass-game coordinator to OC. The longtime Dolphins assistant, who joined the Bucs' staff in 2024, could not replicate what Canales and Coen provided.
‘Increased Optimism’ OLB Jaelan Phillips Re-Signs With Eagles
There’s been no shortage of interest in Eagles’ pending free agent outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who ranked No. 3 in PFR’s list of the top 50 free agents for the 2026 offseason. Obviously, one of the teams interested in landing his signature was going to be the team that sent a third-round pick to Miami in order to acquire him midseason last year. 
Days after Philadelphia’s season ended, Phillips made it known that he was interested in staying with the team. The team, too, expressed some hope that a deal would get done before the start of free agency, but nothing seemed to be progressing towards an agreement until a couple of reports today. It was NFL insider Jordan Schultz who first dropped an update, reporting that the Eagles “remain very interested” in retaining Phillips and that “talks are expected to continue and intensify.”
A report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport quickly followed in which he relayed that there has been “significant progress made between the Eagles and (Phillips) towards him returning to Philly.” Rapoport went on to say that, while nothing has been made official and no decisions have been made, there is reportedly “increased optimism” that a deal will be reached to keep him in Philadelphia.
The biggest hurdle to this getting done has been the sheer amount of interest in the 26-year-old pass rusher. Elite pass rushers have become an expensive commodity in the NFL, and as the top available free agent at the position, Phillips is sure to command quite a price as teams vie for his signature. Whenever Phillips was a trade target, the 49ers, Patriots, and Commanders joined Philadelphia in pursuit of the young pass rusher. Earlier today, it was reported that Phillips was on a laundry list of pass rushers the Cowboys were interested in as they look to replace the lost production of Micah Parsons. With so many teams interested in the top free agent at the position, there’s certain to be an inflated price tag on Phillips.
The other big hurdle for the Eagles is their existing roster. As Zach Berman of The Athletic puts it, the Eagles roster “at least 10 players on their defense viewed around the league” as being worth more than $10MM per year, not to mention the presence of players likely worth north of $20MM or $30MM per year. Much of the very talented defensive core is young in Philadelphia, and many will graduate from their rookie contracts soon. Because of how things will time out, every time the Eagles begin evaluating a contract offer, they’ll need to keep in mind how it will affect their ability to extend impact defenders in the next few years to come. This is one of the reasons we’ve seen defensive tackle Jalen Carter drawing trade interest.
A key example of the limitations of the salary cap is the situation in Philadelphia with wide receiver A.J. Brown. The idea that the Eagles might try to move Brown via trade has been in place since before the regular season even came to an end. There’s been plenty of interest in the veteran wideout with the Patriots, Bills, and Ravens being named in recent reports. The Bills have since agreed to acquire Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore, and the Ravens may no longer have the draft capital to offer for Brown after sending two Day 1 picks to Las Vegas for Maxx Crosby, but the Patriots remain largely interested in bringing Brown in.
One of the reasons the team hasn’t been able finalize a deal for Brown is due to the salary cap hit his contract holds this year of $23.39MM. This number isn’t completely preventative, but it makes it to where it would be much easier for the Eagles to trade Brown post-June 1. Philadelphia is willing to wait to do that, but there’s a fear that the team will enter free agency trying to work under the assumption that Browns’ numbers will come off the books, but then, by the time they are able to trade him more easily, his market will have dried up as teams got tired of waiting and addressed their receiver issues elsewhere, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Because of this, Garafolo claims that general manager Howie Roseman has attempted to get creative to work around the cap issue. Per Garafolo, Roseman wanted to test if a delayed trade could occur in which half of the deal happens now with the rest designated post-June 1. Essentially, it doesn’t seem likely that a deal to trade Brown is going to happen before the start of free agency.
Broncos To Re-Sign QB Sam Ehlinger
The Broncos now have their three-man quarterback room from last season under contract. Sam Ehlinger agreed to terms late Sunday night to stay in Denver, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets.
Ehlinger, who spent time on Denver’s practice squad and active roster in 2025, is re-signing on a one-year deal worth $2MM. Ehlinger memorably turned down active-roster invites for a Broncos practice squad opportunity. Months later, the team is rewarding him with a raise.
Beginning his career as a Colts third-stringer/backup option, Ehlinger signed with the Broncos late last March. He did not make Denver’s active roster out of training camp but stayed via the practice squad invite. Receiving a few game checks as a P-squad callup, Ehlinger ended the season as Jarrett Stidham‘s backup for the AFC championship game. Bo Nix is expected to be ready for OTAs after his ankle fracture, and the Broncos will have Ehlinger on-hand for those workouts.
Stidham has come up in trade rumors, with teams believed to be asking about a player Sean Payton talked up before his big-stage opportunity. Stidham is tied to a two-year, $12MM deal signed just before free agency in 2025. Barring a trade, Stidham will return to his role as Nix’s backup. It would surprise if the Broncos dealt their fourth-year QB2, but Ehlinger is aboard in case the team considers it.
The Broncos have been busy keeping some role players off the market today, having agreed to terms to retain Adam Trautman and Justin Strnad. While those moves will ensure the tight end and linebacker are on the 2026 roster, Ehlinger may not be assured of such placement. The Broncos, barring a Stidham trade, would need to carry three quarterbacks. Nix’s injury (and the ensuing drama between he and Payton post-injury) could lead Denver to play it safe here, though the conference title game represents the 2024 first-rounder’s only missed NFL start.
The Colts gave Ehlinger three starts during Matt Ryan‘s one-and-done Indianapolis season (2022). Those are the Texas product’s only three starts in a five-year career. Ehlinger, 27, completed 63.4% of his throws that year, throwing three touchdown passes and three interceptions.
Vikings To Re-Sign LB Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson made his way back to Minnesota after nearly five years away, becoming a starter once again. The veteran linebacker will see that second stint continue.
The Vikings are re-signing Wilson just before free agency, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Wilson agreed to a three-year, $22.5MM deal that includes $12.5MM fully guaranteed. The 10th-year NFL veteran had previously returned to the Twin Cities on a one-year, $2.6MM deal. After years on similar contracts, Wilson will see the best contract of his career at 31.
This represents a borderline remarkable resurgence for Wilson, who has never previously played for anything more than $3.26MM in a season. That was via a second-round Vikings RFA tender in 2020. Wilson signed a host of one-year contracts in the time since, being cut by the Eagles and claimed by the Texans before enjoying a Packers stint. The Vikings brought him back in 2025 and turned to the Mike Zimmer-era acquisition as a near-full-time starter.
Wilson’s 965 defensive snaps last season were by far his most since that 2020 RFA slate. Minnesota used the former UDFA alongside Minneapolis-area native Blake Cashman as its primary linebacking duo last season. Wilson replaced an injured Cashman after Week 1 but kept the job when the regular starter returned, reducing Ivan Pace‘s role. Pro Football Focus slotted Wilson 44th among 88 qualified off-ball ‘backers.mike
Asked to start 12 games for the 2024 Packers, Wilson was used as a role player (51% snap rate). As a 90% defender in 2025, Wilson made 115 tackles and offered the Vikings a strong blitzing option in registering a career-best 6.5 sacks. More impressively, Wilson came through with 17 tackles for loss. That not only led all off-ball LBs in 2025, it ranked sixth among all players last season. That performance secured the Cincinnati alum a sizable raise, as he joins Cashman on veteran deals at linebacker for the Vikes.
The Zimmer-Rick Spielman duo added Wilson as a 2017 UDFA, and he logged 10 starts during the Anthony Barr–Eric Kendricks years from 2017-19. In 2020, however, Minnesota gave Wilson the aforementioned RFA tender and used him as a full-timer. In 15 starts that year, Wilson racked up 122 tackles. But it led to modest free agency interest. The Eagles cut Wilson months after giving him a one-year deal worth less ($2.75MM) than his 2020 tender price. Wilson’s three Packers contracts did not eclipse $1.5MM for a season, making this early-30s comeback all the more impressive. With Brian Flores returning — on a top-market coordinator salary — he appears set to count on Wilson once again.
‘Widespread Belief’ Wan’Dale Robinson Will Join Titans
There have been multiple recent connections between Giants pending free agent wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and the Titans in the rumor mill. There is now “widespread belief” in league circles that Robinson will agree to join the Titans when the negotiating window opens Monday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
[RELATED: Previewing The Titans’ Offseason]
This looks like a slam dunk for the Titans, who need offensive weapons, possess the second-most cap space in the NFL ($92.69MM), and have Robinson’s former coach on their staff. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was the Giants’ head coach during the first three-plus years of Robinson’s career.
Daboll was part of the regime that spent a second-round pick on Robinson in 2022. The two worked together until the Giants fired Daboll last November.
Although Robinson is just 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, the slot target has been among the NFL’s most prolific pass catchers over the past couple of years. He combined for 185 receptions in 33 games from 2024-25. While Robinson amassed just 699 yards on a meager 7.5 per catch in 2024, he crossed 1,000 for the first time last season (1,014) and posted a career-high 11.0 YPC. He also notched a personal-best four touchdowns.
In ranking Robinson as the No. 15 free agent in this year’s class, PFR’s Sam Robinson pointed to Bills slot receiver Khalil Shakir‘s contract as a potential comp. Shakir signed a four-year, $53MM extension last March. Not only has the cap risen significantly since then, but Robinson has hauled in 71 more passes than Shakir in eight fewer games. Robinson has achieved that despite playing with far worse quarterbacks than Shakir, who has spent his career with Josh Allen.
Fitting in a pricey deal for the 25-year-old Robinson would not be a problem for the Titans. There is also a high level of motivation to surround second-year quarterback Cam Ward with more help in 2026. Tight end Chig Okonkwo, who is now a pending free agent, led Titans pass catchers with a modest 56 receptions and 560 yards last season. As a fourth-round rookie, Elic Ayomanor paced their receivers with 41 grabs and 515 yards. Calvin Ridley, the most established wideout on the roster, is a release candidate on the heels of a seven-game, 17-reception campaign.
Whether it’s Robinson or another free agent(s), adding proven receiving talent is a must for the Titans. Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs, Jauan Jennings and Rashid Shaheed are a few other unsigned receivers who could pique their interest.
Tyler Linderbaum, Kenneth Walker Too Expensive For Giants?
Recent reports have linked pending free agents Tyler Linderbaum and Kenneth Walker III to the Giants, but an aggressive pursuit may be unlikely in both cases. Linderbaum and Walker are now out of the Giants’ price range, sources told Connor Hughes of SNY. For a team with $14.28MM in cap space, winning a bidding war for Linderbaum or Walker would be a challenge.
As the Ravens’ center since entering the NFL in 2022, Linderbaum has only played for head coach John Harbaugh during his four-year career. However, it does not appear their partnership will continue with the Giants in 2026.
Linderbaum, a three-time Pro Bowler and PFR’s top-ranked pending free agent, is poised to surpass the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey as the game’s highest-paid center. Humphrey inked a four-year, $72MM contract with over $50MM in guarantees in 2024.
If the Giants want to upgrade over starting center John Michael Schmitz, established free agent choices are dwindling. Connor McGovern (Bills) and Tyler Biadasz (Chargers) have come off the market over the past couple of days. Cade Mays, Ethan Pocic and Lloyd Cushenberry are a few of the experienced names left.
Riding the momentum of a Super Bowl LX MVP win with the Seahawks, Walker will be the prize among free agent running backs this offseason. Five-year Jaguar Travis Etienne will not be cheap, but he will be more affordable for the Giants and other teams that lose out on Walker. The Giants are reportedly interested in Etienne. Rico Dowdle, Tyler Allgeier, Rachaad White and Kenneth Gainwell are in the next tier of unsigned veterans. It’s unclear whether the Giants will go after any of them. The team kept veteran Devin Singletary around for a pay cut on Sunday. New York also has Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy under contract for 2026.
Along with their interior offensive line, cornerback and linebacker are among positions the Giants will prioritize, according to Hughes, who points to Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean as a name to watch. The Bucs are expected to move on from Dean after a seven-year run in which he mostly worked as a full-time starter. Dean, 29, is heading for the market after intercepting a career-high three passes in 14 games last season. He could replace pending free agent corner Cordale Flott in New York.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/26
We have some rare Sunday minor moves as the NFL closes in on the start of the new league year and the free agency frenzy that is sure to follow:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: TE Nate Adkins
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DT Naquan Jones
The Broncos continue to be proactive with pending RFA and ERFAs. Adkins was set to become a restricted free agent, but Denver has avoided that conclusion by re-signing him before the start of free agency.
Claimed last year in Houston, Jones is reportedly getting a one-year, $2MM deal to stay with the Texans, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Jones can earn another $500k on the new deal through incentives.
Chargers Sign FB Alec Ingold
Veteran fullback Alec Ingold was released just two days ago after spending four years with the Dolphins. It didn’t take long for him to rebound as Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Ingold has agreed to a two-year, $7.5MM deal to join the Chargers, reuniting him with former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Ingold’s new annual average value of $3.75MM per year ties him with San Francisco’s Kyle Juszczyk as the highest-paid fullback in the NFL. 
One of about 10 fullbacks around the league used with any frequency, Ingold has remained an impact player in the league by being a useful asset both in the run and pass game. Signing with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin, Ingold’s impact with his first team centered much more around the run blocking game. Lead blocking for then-Raiders running back Josh Jacobs represented the majority of his on-field opportunities in Oakland and Vegas.
After tearing his ACL in the final year of his undrafted rookie deal, Ingold found his next opportunity with the Dolphins in free agency. Playing in McDaniel’s offense, Ingold saw far more opportunities to contribute as a frequent participant on pass plays, as well. The more he proved he could be on the field on any down the more he ended up getting used in multiple facets of the offense. He earned Pro Bowl honors in his second year in Miami and started 47 of 66 game appearances.
He’ll now bring his talents to Los Angeles, where he reunites with McDaniel, the Chargers new offensive coordinator. The Chargers drafted fullback Scott Matlock in the sixth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He started his career as a defensive tackle, switching to offense after his rookie season. Based on this contract, Matlock isn’t likely to remain in his role of the past two years as a fullback. Either the signing of Ingold is the writing on the wall that Matlock may not be long for a roster spot, or Matlock may find himself back on defense in the offseason.
Ingold becomes the second free agent signed by the Chargers before the start of free agency. Los Angeles has added many former Ravens staffers to its front office in recent years, and as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler points out, a core tenant in Baltimore has long been to focus on the compensatory pick formula when pursuing free agents. Players who are released from existing contracts before the start of free agency do not count against a team in regard to compensatory picks. With the signings of Ingold and former Commanders center Tyler Biadasz in the past few days, it’s clear the Chargers are making that a focus, as well.
Broncos, TE Adam Trautman Agree To Deal
Hours after re-signing linebacker Justin Strnad, Denver has kept another pending free agent off the market. The Broncos and tight end Adam Trautman have agreed to a three-year, $17MM contract, Mike Klis of 9News reports. The deal comes with a max value of $18.5MM, according to Klis.
This positions Trautman to continue his long-running partnership with head coach Sean Payton. The two began working together when the Saints used a third-round pick on Trautman in 2020. Payton was their head coach through 2021. When Payton returned to the league as the Broncos’ head coach in 2023, he acquired Trautman in a deal that also included a late-round pick swap.
Trautman has never caught more than 27 passes or reached the 300-yard mark in a season, but he has earned Payton’s trust as a blocker. The 29-year-old has also been durable in Denver, where he has logged three consecutive 17-game seasons. Trautman caught 20 of 23 targets for 195 yards and a touchdown last year, during which he led Broncos tight ends in snap share (57.11%) and starts (12).
While Trautman will remain with the Broncos in 2026, the rest of their tight end group is up in the air. Depth options Nate Adkins, Marcedes Lewis and the non-tendered Lucas Krull are all unsigned. Meanwhile, Evan Engram did not produce as hoped in 2025, which could lead to his release. Even if Engram sticks around, Payton wants to add another receiving tight end this offseason.
Bears To Re-Sign Daniel Hardy
The Bears have reached an agreement to re-sign restricted free agent defensive lineman Daniel Hardy, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. It’s a two-year, $4.97MM pact with $2.45MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap.
Hardy, a Montana State product, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Rams in 2022. After suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason, Hardy spent the majority of his rookie campaign on injured reserve. He returned late in the year to appear in six games, record four tackles and total 169 snaps (128 on special teams, 41 on defense).
Hardy did not make the Rams’ roster in his second season, but he quickly caught on with the Bears’ practice squad. While Hardy did not see any action in his first year in Chicago, he has since posted back-to-back 17-game seasons. Hardy has amassed just 85 defensive snaps with the Bears, but the 27-year-old has evolved into a core special teamer.
Last season was the second in a row in which Hardy led the Bears in special teams snap share. He played 77.85% of snaps and made the league’s sixth-most ST tackles (19) in 2025.