Patriots To Pick Up Christian Gonzalez’s Fifth-Year Option; Sides Discussing Extension
As expected, the Patriots will commit to Christian Gonzalez for the 2027 campaign. Mike Vrabel told reporters today that the organization intends to pick up the star cornerback’s fifth-year option.
“Yes,” Vrabel said (via Mark Daniel of MassLive.com). “If we haven’t picked it up, we should pick it up.”
Gonzalez has established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive backs, so it’s not a surprise that the Patriots are willing to lock in the former first-round pick’s $18.1MM earnings for the 2027 season. While this move was a certainty, it remains to be seen if the franchise will pony up the necessary money to sign Gonzalez to a long-term extension. For what it’s worth, Vrabel hinted today that the Patriots were interested in a long-term arrangement with their defensive leader.
“We want to make sure that we draft extremely well, and then we identify the guys that we want to keep with us and that have earned long-term extensions with us,” Vrabel said. “And Christian, Gonzo is certainly one of those players, but I can’t comment on the negotiations.”
The Patriots will have to pay up if they hope to sign Gonzalez for the long haul. The 23-year-old will surely point to the two lucrative CB extensions that were handed out last offseason: Derek Stingley Jr.‘s three-year, $90MM deal (including $89MM guaranteed) and Sauce Gardner‘s four-year, $120.4MM contract ($60MM guaranteed). Even if Gonzalez slides in just under his two peers, his next contract will certainly represent one of the highest (if not the highest) cap hit on the Patriots.
Gonzalez is certainly deserving of a spot on the CB earnings leaderboard. The former 17th-overall pick followed up his All-Pro showing in 2024 with another standout campaign in 2025. Pro Football Focus credited him with allowing 46 catches on 106 targets, leading to 498 yards (including playoffs). Gonzalez was also one of New England’s lone standouts during their Super Bowl LX loss, with the cornerback making some timely stops while allowing a single 16-yard catch. PFF ultimately ranked the Pro Bowl defender 13th among corners last season.
While the two sides will have to settle on a number, it sounds like they’re both interested in extending the partnership. In addition to Vrabel’s statement today, Gonzalez previously expressed interest in sticking with the franchise. Owner Robert Kraft also stated his hope that the two sides would agree to a deal, while front office leader Eliot Wolf noted Gonzalez’s important role on the defense.
“There’s no secret we’d like to get something done with him,” Wolf said on the Up & Adams Show (via Daniels). “He’s a great talent. He’s one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He’s developing as a leader… He’s really just scratching the surface. He’s already up there as an elite talent, and we think he can improve even more.”
Lions Sign S Chuck Clark
Chuck Clark has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran safety signed with the Lions on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
Clark had a productive six-year run in Baltimore to begin his career. His Jets debut was set to take place in 2023, but an ACL tear left him sidelined for the entire season. Clark wound up making 12 appearances with New York in 2024, operating as a defensive starter.
Last year, the former sixth-rounder joined the Steelers in free agency. Clark played in 16 combined regular and postseason games, handling a part-time workload along the way. He also chipped in on special teams, something which will presumably be Clark’s clearest path to a roster spot with his latest team. This agreement will allow him to prepare for spring work in Detroit.
The Lions have lost Daniel Thomas during free agency, but they added former Buccaneer Christian Izien. Elsewhere in the secondary, the team has brought in Roger McCreary while seeing Amik Robertson depart on the open market. Clark, 31 next month, will now enter the mix, bringing with him 123 games and 80 starts’ worth of experience. He is also familiar with a heavy third phase workload, dating back to the early portion of his career.
The Lions entered Tuesday with over $23MM in cap space. This Clark signing will not lower that figure by a considerable amount. His 2024 deal was worth $2MM, while the Virginia Tech product collected $1.42MM last year. A similar one-year pact can be expected for Clark upon arrival in the Motor City.
Packers Interested In Kirk Cousins
MARCH 31: Gutekunst noted (via Schneidman) it is “certainly a possibility” Ridder and McCord will simply compete amongst each other for the backup gig. If one or both of those two show encouraging signs over the course of offseason work, Green Bay’s interest in Cousins may begin to wane.
MARCH 30: The Packers continue to search for a new QB2 behind Jordan Love, and they could turn to one of the most intriguing options still on the market. GM Brian Gutekunst admitted to reporters that he’s discussed pursuing Kirk Cousins as a backup.
[RELATED: Rams Interested In Kirk Cousins]
“Yeah, we’ve discussed a lot of those options,” Gutekunst said (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “Obviously that’s a guy who’s got a lot of pelts on the wall in this league, so we’ve certainly discussed all those kind of things.”
With Malik Willis taking a big-money deal in Miami, the Packers are seeking a new backup for Love, who’s missed two games in each of the past two seasons. At the moment, former third-round pick Desmond Ridder is penciled in as the backup, with Kyle McCord also sticking on the offseason roster.
Predictably, that’s led to plenty of speculation that the Packers will eventually find a new option to fill out the depth chart. The organization has already been connected to Anthony Richardson, who requested a trade out of Indy. The former fourth-overall pick would be more of a reclamation project, similar to Willis when he initially joined the Packers. However, the organization is also apparently pursuing former starters for their QB2 role.
We heard earlier this month that Cousins was going to be patient as he pursued his next gig. There’s been some assumption that the veteran would prefer a starting job, and he’d be willing to wait to sign until after the draft so he’d have full clarity on depth charts. Still, that hasn’t stopped teams with a definitive QB1 from considering a run at the four-time Pro Bowler. We heard earlier today that the Rams were among the team’s interested in the 37-year-old.
Cousins stint in Atlanta came to a predictable end earlier this month. His first season with the Falcons was a disappointment, as he guided the team to a 7-7 record while leading the NFL with 16 interceptions. He started the 2025 campaign behind Michael Penix on the depth chart, but Cousins worked his way back into the starting lineup when his teammate suffered a season-ending knee injury. The veteran’s 2025 season saw him go 5-3 as a starter, with the QB completing 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Considering how his Falcons stint unfolded, it’s not surprising that QB-needy teams weren’t immediately jumping at Cousins to lead their depth chart. Potential suitors may reconsider that approach, especially if any injuries emerge during the spring or summer. If Cousins wants to secure a gig before that, he may have to settle for a backup opportunity with a contender.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers are still considering a reunion with a late-season acquisition. Gutekunst acknowledged that the team could re-sign cornerback Trevon Diggs.
“I wouldn’t shut the door on anything,” the GM said (h/t Jason B. Hirschhorn). “As we work through this draft and get to the other side of the draft, we’re going to continue to look at ways to improve the football team.”
After getting dumped by the Cowboys late in the season, Diggs caught on with the Packers via waivers. He got into a single game with his new squad, collecting a pair of tackles while getting into about half his team’s defensive snaps. Green Bay predictably moved on from the cornerback in January to avoid the remaining money on his five-year, $97MM Cowboys-designed extension.
Bucs Confident Extensions With Baker Mayfield, YaYa Diaby Will Be Finalized
The 2026 offseason has long loomed as the likeliest point at which a Baker Mayfield Buccaneers extension would be worked out. General manager Jason Licht expects an agreement to indeed be reached this spring. 
“Baker is a true pro. He’s a leader for this team. We love Baker,” Licht said at the league meeting (via Rob Maadi of the Associated Press). “Baker is still our quarterback. He’s one of the toughest guys on the team. He’s a great leader. Everything kind of revolves around the quarterback spot. At some point, I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
Licht confirmed there is no timeline in place for a Mayfield deal to be finalized. The surprisingly effective 2023 free agent signing played his way into a long-term commitment during his debut season in Tampa Bay. The sides agreed to a three-year, $100MM pact which allowed Mayfield to remain the team’s starter. He is owed $40MM for 2026 as things stand, a figure which is almost the same as his cap charge. The Bucs acted early when locking in $30MM of that compensation.
A long-term pact would of course be the next logical step. Mayfield, 31 next month, was unable to match his production from 2023 and ’24 during this past campaign, but particularly early in the year he thrived in the QB1 role. Much of Tampa Bay’s offense will remain in place from last season, with the rather notable exception of wideout Mike Evans. Mayfield’s latest offensive coordinator will be Zac Robinson, whose hire he pushed for during the winter.
Licht also said a new deal for pass rusher YaYa Diaby should be in place ahead of next season. Diaby immediately carved out a large role for himself upon entering the NFL three years ago. The Louisville product has been a full-time starter since then, posting 32 pressures in each of the past two seasons. Diaby has never topped 7.5 sacks in a single campaign, but he has been a mainstay on a Tampa Bay defense lacking in established edge rush producers.
Entering his age-27 season, Diaby is currently a pending free agent for next spring. It comes as little surprise an extension is being targeted in his case. Mayfield’s new pact will no doubt be the higher priority, but Diaby is a strong candidate to open the 2026 season with a new deal of his own based on Licht’s optimism.
Texans Discussing Extension With DE Will Anderson Jr.
Well before the 2025 campaign was over, it became clear the Texans would target a Will Anderson Jr. extension during the 2026 offseason. To no surprise, then, efforts to reach a deal are underway. 
Houston has engaged in negotiations on a “potential blockbuster” new deal with Anderson, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Any second contract in this case will bring with it a massive raise. Picking up Anderson’s fifth-year option for 2027 would cost $21.51MM, and exercising it would buy time for extended negotiations on a long-term pact.
The Texans can of course be expected to pick up Anderson’s option, as they will also do in the case of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Both players are in line for substantial pay increases if/when agreements can be reached. Anderson took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 and he has established himself as one of the league’s top edge rushers since. The former No. 3 selection posted 11 sacks during his second season and set a new career high once more with 12 in 2025.
Anderson is approaching his age-25 season, so any long-term commitment can be expected to approach the top of the pass rush market. Micah Parsons moved the bar to $46.5MM per year with his Packers extension, and Aidan Hutchinson‘s Lions deal carries an AAV of $45MM. With the NFL’s salary cap having jumped since both of those pacts were signed, Anderson could attempt to at least match them during negotiations. It will be interesting to see how willing the Texans will be with respect to a financial commitment in this case, given the looming cost of a second Stroud contract.
Houston’s defense also has a major short-term EDGE commitment in the form of Danielle Hunter‘s new deal along with a significant cornerback contract on the books (Derek Stingley Jr.). Adding Anderson to that group would of course present financial challenges, but it would ensure a core member of the team’s elite defense would remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The Texans have progressed to the divisional round of the playoffs during each of Anderson’s three years in the league. He will be counted on to remain an impactful presence in 2026 and beyond, but he may have a new contract in hand by the time next season begins.
QB Ty Simpson Arranges Visits With Cardinals, Dolphins, Browns
Pre-draft visits continue to be arranged around the NFL. The quarterback position is, as always, one garnering plenty of attention with one of the top prospects on the radar of a number of teams. 
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report Ty Simpson has arranged a top 30 visit with each of the Cardinals, Dolphins and Browns. Today’s update comes not long after Simpson took part in a Jets workout. Further interest will no doubt continue to be shown as the countdown to the draft continues.
Arizona has been mentioned as a logical landing spot for Simpson. As such, it comes as no surprise the Cards are set to host him. The team’s post-Kyler Murray period will begin in 2026. Jacoby Brissett – who finished last year atop the depth chart – remains in the fold, and fellow veteran Gardner Minshew was added in free agency. Both can viewed as short-term options for new head coach Mike LaFleur and Co., though, and adding Simpson for the future could provide the Cardinals with a more permanent solution.
The Dolphins also elected to move on from their longtime QB1 this offseason, cutting Tua Tagovailoa. Malik Willis made the expected decision of following head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from Green Bay to Miami once free agency began. The 26-year-old is in position to operate as the Dolphins’ starter for at least the next two years, although Sullivan has left the door open to a longer spell atop the depth chart. Miami does not have an immediate quarterback need through the draft, but Sullivan has mentioned his Packers background which values consistently adding rookie passers will likely carry over to the Dolphins.
The Browns have Deshaun Watson preparing to take part in training camp upon healing from two Achilles tears. The much-maligned veteran is in position to compete for the starting gig alongside 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. GM Andrew Berry said yesterday another young passer could be brought in as well, pointing to potential a draft investment.
Fernando Mendoza remains on course to be selected first overall. Beyond that, the QB draft market has proven difficult to project. Simpson has drawn praise on a number of fronts, but the fact he only started one year in college has cast doubt on his NFL readiness. That will not stop teams from showing interest in this case, and the list of suitors which line up a visit will no doubt continue to grow.
RB Alvin Kamara’s Saints Future Unclear
The Saints were among the teams making a notable free agent splash at the running back position. Travis Etienne was added on a four-year deal. 
Since then, questions have been raised about the future of Alvin Kamara. The nine-year veteran has spent his entire career with New Orleans, but in the immediate aftermath of Etienne’s arrival Kamara became the subject of trade interest from outside teams.
[RELATED: Extension Talks Ongoing Between Saints, Chris Olave]
No movement on that front has taken place, and head coach Kellen Moore said at the league meeting (via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football) he “plans” on having Etienne and Kamara in the backfield for 2026. Nevertheless, Underhill deems this situation one worth watching closely, as he reports no firm decisions have been made yet with respect to Kamara’s future.
The 30-year-old’s Saints tenure has been a question mark in the past. Kamara made it known his preference was to remain in place last year, but the possibility of a trade during the 2026 offseason has been raised. April’s draft may loom as an opportunity for New Orleans to select Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love if he remains on the board at No. 8, though the Etienne signing obviously lessens the chances of that taking place.
Kamara is due $11.5MM in 2026, the final year of his contract. The five-time Pro Bowler is set to carry a $10.45MM cap hit before seeing his pact void on the last day of the 2026 league year. Those could prove to be reasonable figures if Kamara manages to return to full health and his previous form. After consistently topping 1,100 scrimmage yards during each of his first eight seasons, the former third-rounder was limited to 11 games in 2025 due to an MCL sprain. He delivered by far the least productive year of his career as a result.
Improving in the ground game was understandably identified as a goal for the Saints, leading to the Etienne investment. The ex-Jaguar will be counted on to carry a heavy workload upon arrival, and at the age of 27 he will be viewed as an RB1 option for years to come. Kamara may well find himself splitting backfield reps in Year 10, but it remains to be seen if he will be doing so in New Orleans.
NFL Lines Up Investors For Professional Flag Football League
MARCH 31: The new flag leagues will launch in 2028 during the build-up to the Olympics, Mike Jones of The Athletic notes. A firm timeline is not yet in place, but an annual summer schedule roughly in line with that of existing flag leagues can be expected.
MARCH 30: Continuing the growth of flag football has long been a priority for the NFL. In October, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed a professional league would be established in the relatively near future. 
Not long afterwards, funding was approved for creating a league, with the NFL’s 32 Equity investment arm being cleared to join with a to-be-determined partner. Nothing had been revealed since then until an announcement which was made on Monday. TMRW Sports has been selected as the NFL’s partner with respect to launching a flag league for men and women.
A long list of individual investors and equity groups are contributing to the new league, in addition to the $32MM maximum which will be provided by the NFL’s clubs themselves. Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Larry Fitzgerald are investing, with the same also being true of the likes of Tom Brady and Eli Manning. Active players Arik Armstead, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson are on the list of investors as well; so too are Billie Jean King, Serena Williams and others.
“As the flag football movement continues its explosive global growth, a professional flag league completes the pathway for elite athletes to compete at every level of the game, from youth to high school and college, to the Olympic stage, and now professionally,” a statement from NFL EVP Troy Vincent reads in part. “Selecting TMRW Sports represents an important step in our long-term commitment to growing flag football and supporting the world-class athletes driving its momentum.”
TMRW Sports played a leading role in the establishment of TGL, the primetime team golf league recently launched in partnership with the PGA. The group will now turn its attention to helping create a pro flag football league, a logical final step in the NFL’s long-running efforts to grow that version of the game. This news comes, of course, with the Los Angeles Olympics approaching.
The 2028 L.A. Games will mark the debut of flag football as an Olympic sport. Work is ongoing to ensure NFL players will be able to compete in the event, and the league will be heavily involved in creating a professional flag football environment along a similar timeline as well.
AFC Contract Details: Titans, Hawkins, Ravens, Flacco, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Colts, Patriots
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the AFC, with many coming out of Nashville:
- Daniel Bellinger, TE (Titans). Three years, $24MM. Bellinger secured $14MM guaranteed at signing, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. This covers $4.91MM of Bellinger’s $5.94MM 2027 base salary, per OverTheCap.
- Jaylinn Hawkins, S (Ravens). Two years, $10MM. Hawkins landed $5MM guaranteed at signing, per Wilson. None of Hawkins’ 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Jacob Martin, DE (Titans). Two years, $9MM. Tennessee authorized $4.5MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. None of Martin’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Jordan Elliott, DT (Titans). Two years, $8MM. The Titans authorized a $3.24MM guarantee at signing for the former Browns and 49ers D-tackle, Wilson tweets. None of Elliott’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Austin Schlottmann, OL (Titans). Two years, $7MM. The veteran interior offensive lineman received $2.99MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets. None of Schlottmann’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed.
- Joshua Williams, CB (Titans). Two years, $6.75MM. Like Elliott, Wilson adds Williams secured $3.24MM guaranteed at signing. One of several Chiefs DBs relocating this month, Williams will not see any 2027 guarantees on this deal.
- Joe Flacco, QB (Bengals). One year, $6MM. Flacco’s contract contains $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Jay Morrison notes. Generally against void years, the Bengals included two in this contract. Flacco’s cap hit will check in at $3.3MM as a result. Due to the void years, Flacco not being re-signed before the 2027 league year begins will result in a $2.7MM dead money charge. There are $3.5MM in incentives here, Morrison adds. Among the bottom-tier bumps in play, Flacco would see $1MM if he plays 60% of Cincinnati’s offensive snaps in a playoff season. If the Bengals do not make the playoffs and the 19th-year QB plays 60% of the snaps, he would see $250K. More notably, any Bengals win in which Flacco plays at least 60% of the snaps will bring $125K; this incentive has an eight-game cap.
- Durham Smythe, TE (Ravens). One year, $3MM. The former Dolphins and Bears tight end secured $2MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.
- Daniel Thomas, S (Browns). Two years, $3MM. Thomas landed just more than $1MM fully guaranteed, according to Wilson. No guarantees are in place for 2027.
- Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB (Colts). One year, $2.73MM. This contract includes $1.5MM fully guaranteed, Wilson adds.
- Mo Alie-Cox, TE (Colts). One year, $2.59MM. Like the Lions’ Malcolm Rodriguez deal, this contract is a four-year qualifying offer. It will come with $2.19MM fully guaranteed, Wilson adds. Because this is a four-year qualifying contract, Alie-Cox will count just $1.4MM toward the Colts’ cap.
- Tony Adams, S (Titans). One year, $2.14MM. Among the many former Robert Saleh-era Jets joining the Titans this offseason, Adams will see $1MM fully guaranteed on this deal (via Wilson).
- Kalia Davis, DT (Browns). One year, $2MM. The veteran interior D-lineman secured $1.75MM guaranteed at signing, according to Wilson.
- Corey Bojorquez, P (Browns). One year, $2MM. Bojorquez will see $938K guaranteed at signing on his third Browns contract, according to Wilson.
- Tycen Anderson, S (Broncos). One year, $1.5MM. The only outside Broncos free agent signing thus far, the veteran special-teamer received $650K guaranteed, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.
- James Hudson, T (Patriots). One year, $1.4MM. The Giants jettisoned Hudson’s two-year, $12MM deal months after benching him in Week 2. The New England swing tackle secured $538K guaranteed at signing, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets.
Lions Plan On Moving Penei Sewell To LT In 2026
For the first time in a decade, the Lions’ left tackle position is set to be manned by someone other than Taylor Decker. The team is planning an internal replacement on the blind side. 
When speaking to reporters on Monday at the league meeting, head coach Dan Campbell said his plan is to move Penei Sewell from right to left tackle. The former seventh overall pick was of course drafted as a left tackle, but his five-year career has so far consisted almost entirely of working opposite Decker. That is set to change in 2026.
“I’ve talked to him,” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press) about Sewell making the switch. “We’re ready to do that if need be. I don’t want to say that right now I’m going to commit to that, but that’s – we’re ready to do that. And all he wants is a couple days to work his left-handed stance a little bit… He’ll be fine. He’ll bank some reps and be able to do it, but he gives us that flexibility.”
Decker intends to play next season, but his Lions release means he will only be able to do so with another team. Detroit’s offensive line in general has been seen as a unit in need of stronger play compared to 2025 if the team is to return to the postseason. There is plenty of time for more moves to be made up front, especially with the draft still to come. Nevertheless, moving Sewell to the blindside would fill the vacancy left by Decker’s release for years to come.
Sewell is among the core players who have inked big-ticket extensions with Detroit recently. The three-time All-Pro landed a four-year deal averaging $28MM per season in 2024. That figure stood out amongst right tackles, but it is in line with other pacts at the top of the LT market. Sewell, 25, is under contract through 2029.
Adding an offensive tackle would of course remain a high priority in the event Sewell were to change positions. The Lions are set to select 17th in next month’s draft, meaning many of the top blindside prospects will likely be unavailable by the time they are on the clock. Finding a replacement right tackle to fill in for Sewell may well be a preferable approach to leaving him in place and searching for a plug-and-play left tackle.