Offseason Outlook: New Orleans Saints
Although the Buccaneers and Panthers vied for the NFC South's mandated playoff spot, the Saints finished with more momentum than anyone in the eternally mediocre division. After spinning their wheels for two years post-Drew Brees and then predicably hitting a bloop single with Derek Carr, the Saints saw Tyler Shough show considerable promise after being inserted into the starting lineup around midseason.
New Orleans' midwinter cap situation is also in better shape than it has been in ages. The franchise is, gasp, nearly under the projected 2026 salary ceiling. This is a team that has been more than $100MM over a projected cap this decade, with the team carrying by far the NFL's worst cap situation at this point last year. More medicine is coming via the Carr dead money penalty, but New Orleans may be on the verge of turning a corner after winning four of its final five games.
Another offseason of transition is on tap, with a few Sean Payton-era holdovers either out of contract or representing dead money. But the Saints' finish to the season injects some life into what has been a lower-middle-class NFL staple for most of this decade.
Coaching/front office:
- QBs coach Scott Tolzien withdrew from Steelers' OC race
NFL Could Allow Teams To Trade Draft Picks Five Years In Advance
As things currently stand, NFL teams are permitted to trade draft picks no further than three years into the future. That could soon change. 
During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there will be a push from at least one team to extend the range for draft picks being dealt. Efforts will be made for selections as many as five years down the road to be allowed in trades, per Schefter. This will be something to monitor during next month’s league meetings.
Any expansion of trade flexibility would represent a shift in the direction of the NBA. That league’s rules allow for picks up to seven years in the future to be dealt. It should be kept in mind, though, that the Stepien Rule applies limits to how often teams can trade away a first-round pick. As a result of the rule, NBA teams cannot trade future first-round selections in consecutive years.
No such rule currently exists in the NFL. If things were to change this spring, however, a similar provision may receive consideration. Any widening of the range for draft capital to be traded – and its associated conditions – could of course lead to a change in roster-building strategy. Largely speaking, teams around the NFL attempt to remain competitive from one year to the next (due in large part to the requirement they spend close to the salary cap over any three-year period).
That approach could be altered to an extent if collecting large amounts of draft capital over an extended period became a viable option for rebuilding franchises. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see if contending teams became increasingly willing to part with picks in the distant future to facilitate win-now moves on a more frequent basis. Recent years have seen an uptick in trades leading up to the deadline, while blockbuster swaps in the offseason will no doubt remain possible in any given year no matter the circumstances.
The most recent case which saw an NFL team trade picks three years into the future was the Browns-Texans Deshaun Watson deal. Cleveland sent Houston a package highlighted by first-round selections in three consecutive years. The team would have been able to spread those picks out over a longer period (provided the Texans had been amenable to it, of course) had the range for pick trades been longer. When rule changes are considered during the spring, the potential for things to change on this front will be something to watch closely.
Andrew Janocko Favorite To Become Raiders’ OC?
Refraining from a Josh McDaniels-like swerve after a Super Bowl, Klint Kubiak indeed signed a contract to become the next Raiders head coach. The Seahawks’ 2025 offensive coordinator generated considerable momentum thanks to his play-calling role on a Super Bowl-winning team.
The Seahawks may well promote from within, but a logical candidate for that role may be spoken for. Seattle quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is the “widely presumed” leader to follow Kubiak as Raiders OC, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. Janocko has worked under Kubiak during each of his three one-year OC stints — in Minnesota, New Orleans and Seattle — which makes a Las Vegas trek logical.
[RELATED: 2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
The Raiders have not conducted any OC or DC interviews yet, but Kubiak naturally has names in mind for key staff positions. Janocko came up as a rumored Raiders option, but the Seahawks could dangle a carrot the Raiders cannot. Being in consideration for the Seattle OC would open the door to a play-calling role, while Kubiak will call plays in Vegas. Janocko is a clear candidate for the Seattle OC post, with Breer adding offensive line coach John Benton and pass-game coordinator Jake Peetz also figure to be options.
Janocko, 37, worked under both Kubiaks — Klint and Gary — in Minnesota; his tenure as a Vikings assistant also covered the Pat Shurmur and Kevin Stefanski Vikes OC stops. Janocko worked as a Vikings staffer from 2015-21. After Mike Zimmer‘s firing, Janocko ended up as the Bears’ quarterbacks coach. He coached Justin Fields for two seasons under Luke Getsy before rejoining Kubiak in New Orleans as Saints QBs coach.
Janocko’s work with Sam Darnold has generated understandable attention, and it would seem likely the veteran assistant ends up with an OC job in Vegas or Seattle. Janocko has only coached QBs since a 2021 shift to that role in Minnesota, previously residing as the Vikings’ wide receivers coach (2020) and an O-line staffer (2018-19). In Vegas, Janocko would join Kubiak in coaching near-certain No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. But the Raiders certainly need help elsewhere on offense. The Seahawks stand to feature mostly the same starting 11 from their Super Bowl LX win.
Benton, 62, has hovered on the O-line coach level since entering the NFL in 2003. He has been in that role with the Rams, Texans, Dolphins, 49ers, Jets, Saints and Seahawks. Peetz, 40, has been Seattle’s pass-game coordinator for two seasons. He has experience on the OC carousel as well, interviewing for the Lions’ job this year and the Buccaneers’ gig in 2024. Had McDaniels not spurned the Colts in 2018, he was planning to hire him as OC. While no promotion to that level has occurred yet for Peetz, the ex-Sean McVay assistant may end up in the Seahawks’ chair soon.
Lions O-line coach Hank Fraley also looms as a name to monitor for the Seattle OC job, Breer adds. The Seahawks interviewed Fraley for their OC role last year, scheduling a second interview, but the Lions reached an agreement to retain him and remove him from the Seattle search. Fraley also helped the Lions zero in on Drew Petzing as OC this offseason. Fraley, 48, has been with the Lions since 2018.
Commanders Eyeing Laremy Tunsil Extension; Latest On Daron Payne
Laremy Tunsil has brought back two big trade packages in his career. While the haul the Texans parted with to acquire the veteran left tackle dwarfs what the Commanders sent to Houston for his rights, Washington still included four draft picks to upgrade at the premium position.
The Commanders traded second-, third-, fourth- and seventh-round picks to the Texans for Tunsil and a fourth last March. Tunsil delivered another strong year at LT, but he missed three games and did not receive an original-ballot Pro Bowl invite. Still, the Commanders were satisfied with the upgrade he provided.
[RELATED: Commanders Extend P Tress Way]
GM Adam Peters said the team wants to extend Tunsil “sooner rather than later,” via ESPN.com’s John Keim. Peters said “constant communication” has taken place between team and player on a new deal — one that would be Tunsil’s fourth NFL agreement.
Rumblings about an extension push emerged in December. Beyond his Dolphins rookie contract, the Texans paid the former first-rounder in 2020 and 2023. Tunsil is still tied to a three-year, $75MM deal. That pact expires after the 2026 season. The Texans not prioritizing a Tunsil deal in 2024 led them to move on.
If Tunsil enters this season on his current deal, he will (barring a restructure) count $24.91MM on Washington’s cap sheet. The Commanders are in good position to pay their blindside blocker, holding a projected $76MM-plus in cap space. That number should grow ahead of the league year (March 11), giving the team plenty of room to work out a deal with the 11th-year veteran.
Pro Football Focus ranked Tunsil seventh among qualified tackles in 2025, ranking him as the NFL’s second-best pass blocker. Much of Tunsil’s season came protecting Marcus Mariota, with Jayden Daniels playing only seven games. The Commanders sought Tunsil to provide an upgrade on their Cornelius Lucas–Brandon Coleman situation from 2024, but Tunsil and Daniels did not see too much time together. The team has since moved on from OC Kliff Kingsbury, with David Blough promoted to replace him.
Tunsil, 31, has driven a hard bargain in the past. The Texans sending two first-round picks and a second to the Dolphins for Tunsil in 2019 emboldened the Pro Bowl LT to command a market-shifting extension ($22MM per year) in 2020. The market did not move much between Tunsil’s first and second deals, but he scored $50MM guaranteed at signing (compared to $40MM at signing in 2020) on his 2023 Houston extension. The Commanders would owe Tunsil a $20.95MM base salary on that contract, but given what the NFC East team gave up to acquire him, an extension seems likely.
Washington has two veteran contracts on its O-line, with Samuel Cosmi at $18.5MM per year and Tyler Biadasz at $10MM AAV. The latter also looms as an extension candidate, but Tunsil will be the higher priority. The Commanders can save $18.5MM by releasing Marshon Lattimore and nearly $4MM by cutting Nick Allegretti. The team can also create cap space with a Daron Payne extension, but Keim adds that is not a given just yet.
Extended after being franchise-tagged in 2023, Payne is in a contract year. The veteran defensive tackle is due to count a team-high $27.95MM on this year’s cap sheet. The Ron Rivera regime paid Payne, who was a Bruce Allen draft choice. The Commanders were pleased with Payne’s play in 2025, per Keim, who adds a “definite chance” exists he plays out his contract. Payne is going into an age-29 season; he would be positioned to land another lucrative contract if he hits free agency in 2027.
More Rams-Matthew Stafford Contract Talks On Tap; Raise Likely For MVP
The past two offseasons have brought Matthew Stafford contract talks. The 2023 offseason included the Rams dangling the likely Hall of Famer in trades (after an injury-marred 2022). But the star quarterback has now moved into strong position to score a true raise on a contract he signed back in 2022.
Los Angeles rewarded its longtime starter with a guarantee influx just before the 2025 league year. This ended the strange trade subplot involving the Giants and Raiders. Stafford received a $40MM 2025 guarantee, and the Rams included a $24MM 2026 option bonus (which is split into four $6MM payments, per Spotrac). Stafford’s contract still expires after the 2027 season, but it would appear extension talks are coming.
[RELATED: Stafford Commits To Playing In 2026]
It should not be expected Stafford will play for the $40MM number in 2026, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes, indicating more contract talks will be on tap. A raise will be likely here. The Rams can lower Stafford’s $48.27MM 2026 cap number with an extension, but they will absorb some void years-driven punishment down the road. For now, though, the team will have the 2025 MVP back for a sixth season.
Stafford pushed for 2025 guarantees during renegotiation talks in 2024, but no too much came the QB’s way at that time. The team moved $5MM from future years into 2024 and inserted a $4MM guaranteed roster bonus for 2025. Stafford needed to come back to the table last year to lock in the $40MM 2025 guarantee, which was agreed to after the Rams let him speak with other teams.
The Giants and Raiders had near-$100MM guarantee packages lined up, but such a move would have meant relocating to a rebuilding team. Stafford opted to stay with Sean McVay, and the decision paid off. The Rams gave their QB Davante Adams to target alongside Puka Nacua and watched passer throw a career-high 46 touchdown passes (to go with an NFL-leading 4,707 passing yards at 7.7 per attempt) en route to MVP honors.
Adams is slated to come back, and a Nacua extension is a high priority. Though, the Stafford matter will probably come first. Stafford accepted a team-friendly extension (four years, $160MM) in March 2022 but seemed to regret that, as the 2024 and ’25 negotiations illustrated. The cannon-armed passer roared back after an injury-plagued 2022. The 2024 and ’25 Pro Bowl nods were Stafford’s only original-ballot invites of his career, and the MVP award coming after a Super Bowl title probably pushed his Hall of Fame candidacy past the goal line.
Stafford’s $40MM AAV now ranks 16th among quarterbacks. Considering his importance to the Rams and the team having continued to delay acquiring an heir apparent, Stafford’s camp will bring plenty of leverage into the next round of talks. After Stafford left some money on the table in 2022, will he operate more aggressively ahead of his age-38 season?
The Rams have a few starters now eligible for extensions, with Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Warren McClendon joining Nacua from a talented 2023 draft class. With Rob Havenstein retiring, McClendon is poised to step into the starting right tackle role on a full-time basis.
It will be interesting to see how the Rams proceed here. They were not prepared to meet Stafford’s $50MM-per-year ask during the sides’ 2025 negotiations. It would stand to reason Stafford will come back with an AAV number beyond $50MM, considering his accomplishments compared to some of the players in that salary bracket. Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy and Stafford Rams predecessor Jared Goff secured deals averaging more than $53MM per year. That said, older QBs have settled for non-top-market prices in the not-so-distant past. Drew Brees finished his career on a two-year, $50MM contract, ditto Tom Brady.
While it would be doubtful any more trade talks occur, the arduous nature of the 2024 and ’25 redo discussions do not exactly make it sound like the 2026 negotiations will be a smooth process. The Rams have seen a QB work as their primary starter in seven straight seasons just twice since the merger — Jim Everett (1986-93) and Marc Bulger (2003-09). Will Stafford end up being signed beyond his sixth L.A. season? It will be interesting to see what numbers come up as the Rams negotiate with their QB for a fourth time in five offseasons.
NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Cross
The 49ers acquired what turned out to be a quality trade chip when they gave Mac Jones a two-year, $7MM contract. That turned out to bring strong value, after the team saw Brock Purdy miss eight games. San Francisco managed a 5-3 record with Jones at the helm, and with Purdy in the $50MM-AAV club, the 49ers are expected to receive trade calls on their backup. While San Francisco wants to retain Jones, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows predicts the team will receive an offer strong enough to move on.
With Jones tied to a $1.4MM base salary and teams undoubtedly interested in turning to him as a starter, the 49ers could certainly ask for a Day 2 pick and a Day 3 choice. A second-round pick may not be out of the question for a player who could be in demand. Jones, 27, completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense last season. He surpassed 2,000 passing yards in limited duty and finished with a 13-6 TD-INT ratio. The 49ers seeing Purdy miss extensive time years after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury-plagued tenure will naturally influence them to stay the course with Jones, but a big offer could certainly change the team’s thinking.
Here is the latest from the NFC West:
- While Fred Warner was practicing again when the 49ers’ season ended, defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were out of the picture. Bosa suffered an ACL tear in Week 3, while Williams went down with an ACL tear in Week 9. John Lynch said (via Barrows) training camp returns will be expected for both players. Bosa made it back from his September 2020 ACL tear by Week 1 of the 2021 season. While Williams landing on the reserve/PUP list would not surprise, an early expectation points to the 2025 first-rounder being ready to start the 2026 campaign.
- The Rams are adding a coach to their defensive backs contingent. Michael Hunter will be added to Sean McVay‘s staff, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. Hunter is coming over from Tennessee. He did not spend much time with the SEC program, being hired after the 2025 season. Hunter previously coached cornerbacks at Ohio State for two seasons. Hunter, 32, played six NFL games with the Giants from 2016-17. The Rams have seen pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant receive extensive DC interest, but he has not landed a job yet.
- Staying with Rams DB matters, safety Quentin Lake‘s recent extension covers three years and is worth $38.25MM. Of the previously reported $25.7MM guaranteed figure, just $8.5MM of that total will be guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. If on the roster by Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Lake will see an additional $3.25MM guarantee for 2026 and see his full $12.75MM 2027 compensation shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee. If on the Rams’ roster by Day 5 of the 2028 league year, Lake will be due a $2.55MM roster bonus.
- Charles Cross‘ four-year, $104.4MM Seahawks extension includes $43.1MM fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The Super Bowl champions have structured this deal similarly to Sam Darnold‘s. Cross will see his $13.63MM 2027 salary become fully guaranteed five days after Super Bowl LXI. Cross will carry a $10.88MM cap hit in 2026; the number spikes to $23MM in 2027.
Ravens Promote Anthony Levine To Special Teams Coordinator
Jesse Minter‘s Baltimore arrival will lead to one of his former DB charges being promoted to a coordinator role. Anthony Levine, who played under Minter during the new HC’s first Ravens stint, will take over as Baltimore’s special teams coordinator.
Levine served as Baltimore’s assistant ST coach last season and served in that capacity with the Titans from 2023-24. This will be the former 12-year NFL DB’s first shot to lead a special teams department.
This move comes after the Ravens saw their previous ST coordinator, Chris Horton, follow John Harbaugh to the Giants. The Ravens initially blocked Horton from making that lateral move, but after Minter’s hire, they allowed it. Minter looks to have had Levine in mind when permitting Horton to leave.
Levine, 38, played 10 seasons in Baltimore, arriving after time on Green Bay’s practice squad from 2010-12. He served as a perennial special teams ace for the Ravens, beginning his career on the team’s Super Bowl XLVII-winning team (this came two years after logging practice squad time for the 2010 Super Bowl-winning Packers). Starting only five games over the course of his career, Levine played at least 70% of the Ravens’ ST snaps in seven of his 10 seasons. The former UDFA signed four Baltimore contracts from 2012-20 and finished his career at 34 in 2021.
The Buccaneers interviewed Levine for their STC post last month. Mike Vrabel had hired him in Tennessee in 2023, after Levine had spent his initial post-retirement year as a Ravens staffer. Brian Callahan changed up his ST staff last year, hiring John Fassel as STC and moving on from Levine. The Ravens rehired him soon after his Nashville exit, and that move will lead to a promotion a year later.
Horton had served as Baltimore’s ST coordinator from 2019-25, serving as Levine’s coach from 2019-21. Levine intercepted two career passes and tallied three sacks during the 2017 season, serving as one of the Ravens’ ST cornerstones along with Justin Tucker and Sam Koch during his career. Minter added his OC from outside the organization, hiring Declan Doyle from the Bears, but has turned to familiarity at DC (Anthony Weaver) and STC. Weaver returns to Baltimore after two years as Miami’s defensive play-caller.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/10/26
A pair of AFC East rivals added players on reserve/futures contracts on Tuesday. Here’s the list:
Buffalo Bills
- QB Shane Buechele, WR Jalen Virgil
New England Patriots
- G Mehki Butler, LB Amari Gainer, WR John Jiles, TE Marshall Lang, OT Lorenz Metz, DT Jeremiah Pharms, LB Otis Reese, G Andrew Rupcich, S John Saunders Jr., DL Leonard Taylor, WR Jeremiah Webb
Browns Hire Byron Storer As Special Teams Coordinator
New Browns head coach Todd Monken has found a special teams coordinator for his first staff. The Browns will hire Packers assistant ST coordinator Byron Storer, Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team first reported. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com has since confirmed the news.
This will be Storer’s first time in charge of a special teams unit, though he has garnered extensive experience as an assistant. Before arriving in Green Bay in 2022, the former Buccaneers fullback helped coach ST groups with the Bucs (2010-11), Chargers (2012; he was also their assistant linebackers coach in ’13) and Raiders (2018-21).
Storer played for and worked for longtime ST coordinator Rich Bisaccia in Tampa Bay. After spending the past eight seasons assisting Bisaccia with the Raiders and Packers, Storer will take over in Cleveland for Bubba Ventrone. The Browns lost Ventrone to the Rams in late January.
In other staff news, the Browns are retaining running backs coach Duce Staley, per Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN. Assistant offensive line coach Sanders Davis will also return (via Cabot).
Staley’s known for his solid career as an Eagles and Steelers running back from 1997-2006, but the three-time 1,000-yard rusher has spent more time as a coach since he started as an assistant in Philadelphia in 2011. Next season will be Staley’s third with the Browns, while Davis will enter his second year with the team. Davis will work for new O-line coach George Warhop in 2026.
Commanders Extend P Tress Way
Commanders punter Tress Way entered Tuesday a month away from reaching free agency, but he’ll instead return to Washington for a 13th season. The Commanders announced an extension agreement with Way. It’s a one-year deal, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports.
Way, a former Oklahoma Sooner, started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Bears in 2013. His only regular-season experience has come with the Commanders, who plucked him off waivers from the Bears in August 2014. Twelve years later, Way is the Commanders’ longest-tenured player.
Way was an immediate success in Washington, where he led the league in average yards per punt in 2014 (47.5). He repeated that feat with an average of 49.6 in 2019, his first Pro Bowl campaign. Way has since earned two more Pro Bowl invitations, including in 2025.
At 47.3, the 35-year-old finished just 18th in gross average last season. However, Way led the league in percentage of punts inside the 20 (52.8%) and finished in a fourth-place tie in net average (43.9).
Over his 12-year run in Washington, Way has played in 196 games and recorded a 46.9 gross average and a 41.7 net on 832 punts. Way ranks fifth on Washington’s all-time games played list, and climbing all the way to second is a realistic possibility. Dave Butz (203), Art Monk (205) and Monte Coleman (215) are all within striking distance, though all-time leader Darrell Green (295) is out of reach.