Patriots Promote Zak Kuhr To Defensive Coordinator
Zak Kuhr is indeed taking over as the Patriots defensive coordinator. After serving as the defensive play-caller and interim defensive coordinator in 2025, the inside linebackers coach is earning a promotion to DC, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
[RELATED: Patriots To Move DC Terrell Williams To New Role]
A former defensive quality control coach and assistant LBs coach under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, Kuhr followed his former boss to New England last offseason. He was initially tasked with coaching the team’s inside linebackers, but his responsibilities quickly shifted after defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with cancer.
Kuhr seamlessly took over as the defensive play-caller and interim DC, and he ended up guiding one of the top units in the NFL. The Patriots defense finished the season ranked fourth in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed. When Milton Williams was healthy, the team’s run defense was especially stout, and the team went several months without allowing a 50-yard rusher. Prior to their blowout loss in the Super Bowl, New England allowed playoff opponents to only score 26 points in three games.
Williams stepped away from his role during spring practices due to a health scare and was later diagnosed with prostate cancer. He continued to work with players as he underwent treatment, but he didn’t travel with the squad to away games. As a result, Kuhr served as the defensive play-caller for the entire 2025 campaign.
Fortunately, Williams was announced to be cancer-free before the Super Bowl and traveled with the Patriots to San Francisco. That set up a potentially tricky situation for the head coach heading into the offseason, but the organization quickly announced that Williams would transition to a high-ranking role on Vrabel’s staff.
The team still had to go through an interview process for their newfound DC vacancy to comply with Rooney Rule requirements. At the same time, Shane Bowen and Jim Schwartz were mentioned as potential candidates for the gig. Still, Kuhr always seemed like a shoo-in to earn the full-time gig, especially since the Patriots would risk losing him to a promotion if they kept him as linebackers coach.
While Vrabel still has a major influence over the team’s defensive game plan, Kuhr will now have an entire offseason to prepare his unit for the 2026 campaign. At the same time, the organization is expected to promote from within to fill the ILBs coach job. Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Vinny DePalma is expected to be elevated to the role. DePalma was one of the few holdovers from Jerod Mayo‘s staff in New England, and he spent the past two years as a defensive assistant.
TE Isaiah Likely Expected To Depart Ravens?
Isaiah Likely has spent the first four seasons of his career serving as a key backup in Baltimore. Instead of seeing the former fourth-round pick eventually emerge as a full-time starter, the Ravens may watch the tight end leave via free agency.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes that the Ravens have made no progress in their efforts to extend Likely over the past eight months. Over that span, the team also recommitted to Mark Andrews. As a result, it’s seeming likelier than not that Likely will depart via free agency.
While Likely has served as Andrews’ backup for much of his Ravens tenure, he’s still seen a significant role in the offense. He had his best two showings between 2023 and 2024, when he hauled in 72 total catches for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns in 33 games. Thanks to Andrews’ leg injury in 2023, Likely actually outsnapped his teammate, and the TE duo was basically splitting reps in 2024.
Following Andrews’ continued drop in production and his playoff mishaps, there was a belief that Likely could take a step forward in 2025. Instead, the tight end was hampered by a training camp foot injury, and he ultimately finished the campaign with career-lows across the board (27 catches, 307 yards, one touchdown). At the same time, Likely lost a career-high two fumbles.
Then, in sudden December move, the Ravens inked Andrews to a three-year, $39.3MM extension. That contract places Andrews sixth at the position in average annual value, and as Zrebiec notes, the Ravens may find that it’s “extremely hard … to have two guys making top-eight tight end money.” Even with Likely’s limited track record, he seems destined to earn at least $10MM a year, which would tie for the 14th-highest AAV among tight ends. That may be untenable for a Baltimore squad that needs to fill multiple holes this offseason.
On the flip side, the Ravens have shown a willingness to extend Likely, and they’ve surely considered a scenario where they continue to roster both of their tight ends. Further, Zrebiec notes that Likely has a strong relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will continue to serve as a strong voice in the organization.
Likely enters a relatively deep free agent class that also features the likes of Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert. Likely’s youth and hypothetical upside should still make him a popular name, and that could ultimately spell the end of his tenure in Baltimore.
Robert Woods Announces Retirement
Veteran wide receiver Robert Woods announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday (via Adam Schefter of ESPN). The 33-year-old signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Rams.
A former USC Trojan, Woods entered the NFL as Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2013. He ended up spending four years as a member of the Bills, with whom he caught 203 passes for 2,451 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The California native parlayed his solid production as a Bill into a five-year, $39MM deal with the Rams in 2017. The move worked out beautifully for both parties.
Joining the Rams in Sean McVay‘s first season as their head coach, Woods racked up 56 catches for 781 yards (then a career high) and five touchdowns. Woods went on to post his three best seasons after that. He finished with between 86 to 90 receptions in each year and surpassed the 1,100-yard mark twice, including a personal-high 1,219 in 2018.
Woods’ career began going downhill when he suffered an ACL tear in practice in November 2021. The injury limited Woods to nine games and held him out for the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run.
In March 2022, several weeks after the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, they traded Woods to the Titans for a sixth-round pick. Woods played his lone 17-game season that year, but after he put up 53 catches, 527 yards and two TDs, the Titans released him.
In the wake of his Titans breakup, Woods landed a two-year deal with the AFC South rival Texans. He saw the pact through and played in 29 games, though Woods only combined for 60 catches, 629 yards and one score.
Woods stayed in the AFC when he inked a one-year, $2MM contract with the Steelers last offseason, but he didn’t crack their roster. The Steelers released Woods in late August, and he didn’t sign elsewhere all season. He’ll now wrap up an impressive 12-year career that included 683 catches, 8,233 yards and 38 TDs over 171 games.
Browns, Joel Bitonio Push Back Void Date; Bitonio Mulling Retirement
A 12-year veteran and a career-long Brown, guard Joel Bitonio is scheduled to become a free agent next month. Before Bitonio signs with the Browns or anyone else, he’ll have to decide whether to play in 2026.
With Bitonio mulling retirement, he and the Browns agreed to push back the void date on his contract until the end of the league year in March, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reports. The original void deadline for Bitonio was Feb. 16. Had Bitonio’s contract voided, it would have stuck the Browns with a $23MM dead cap charge.
This is the third straight offseason in which Bitonio has considered retirement, but he hung around long enough to finish a three-year, $48MM extension. That was money well spent for Cleveland, which stole Bitonio in the second round of the 2014 draft. The 34-year-old Nevada product is now a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro.
Bitonio’s streak of seven straight Pro Bowls ended in 2025, but he remained a constant presence on an injury-ravaged line. He was the only member of the Browns’ front five to start all 17 games, the ninth full campaign of his decorated career. Bitonio was on the field for a team-high 99.72% of offensive snaps. As Pro Football Focus’ 21st-ranked guard among 79 qualfiiers, he remained a rare bright spot on a struggling offense.
While the Browns were able to count on Bitonio yet again, fellow starting linemen Dawand Jones, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin all missed between four and 14 games. The injuries along the line negatively contributed to a 5-12 season and a 30th-place ranking in total offense for the Browns. Now, with Bitonio, Pocic (coming off a December Achilles tear) and Teller nearing free agency, the Browns are continuing to deal with uncertainty up front.
Mike Evans To Return In 2026
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has put any retirement talk to bed. Evans will return for a 13th season in 2026, agents Deryk Gilmore and Darren Jones told Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Although Evans is a career-long Buccaneer, the pending free agent will explore his options on the open market.
While Evans left the door open for retirement in September, he would have exited on a sour note had he gone through with it. The 32-year-old entered 2025 aiming for a 12th straight 1,000-yard campaign, which would have broken a tie with Jerry Rice for the all-time record. However, multiple injuries – including a broken clavicle – prevented Evans from surpassing the legendary Rice.
Playing in just eight of the Buccaneers’ 17 games, Evans wound up with 30 catches, 368 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 231-pounder’s injuries contributed to a disappointing finish for Tampa Bay, which went 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
On Feb. 8, Gilmore expressed optimism Evans would continue playing, stating: “[Evans] finished feeling better than he has in several seasons. I think his competitive nature leads to more football. That is my hope.”
Evans proved Gilmore right nine days later, but now their focus will turn to which uniform he will wear in 2026. As veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes, “Evans’ heart has always been in Tampa.” Nevertheless, if Evans sees a better opportunity after the Buccaneers fell flat in 2025, he may take it.
The last time Evans was on track to reach the open market, 2024, the Buccaneers prevented it from happening with a two-year, $52MM offer. A host of teams were prepared to line up for Evans before he re-signed. He later pointed to the Texans and Chiefs as clubs he would have considered joining had he rejected the Bucs’ proposal. As a Galveston native and a former Texas A&M standout, signing with the Texans would have given him a chance to play in his home state.
Since going to Tampa Bay as the seventh pick in the 2014 draft, Evans has amassed 866 receptions, 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns. Now a six-time Pro Bowler and a one-time Super Bowl champion, the potential Hall of Famer is on his way to free agency as the most accomplished receiver available. Combining his injury-ruined 2025 and his age, Evans won’t test the market at an ideal time. Nevertheless, it’s likely he will garner plenty of interest from around the league.
Falcons ‘Likely’ To Tag TE Kyle Pitts?
Although he’s a pending free agent, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts said in late January it would be “dope” to play for new head coach Kevin Stefanski. A potential trip to the open market is looming for Pitts, but it appears he will indeed work with Stefanski in 2026. Atlanta placing the franchise tag on Pitts is the “most likely outcome,” Josh Kendall of The Athletic writes.
[RELATED: Falcons Offseason Outlook]
The window to tag players opens at 3 CT Tuesday and will close March 3, giving the Falcons about two weeks to make a decision on Pitts. Stefanski, president of football Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham were not in place when the Falcons brought in Pitts as a first-round pick in 2021.They could nonetheless sign off on tagging Pitts for a projected $16.32MM.
A former Florida star, Pitts came off the board fourth overall, making him the highest-drafted tight end ever. Pitts has lived up to the billing at times, but probably not as often as former general manager Terry Fontenot was hoping for when he chose the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder.
The Falcons fired Fontenot after the season, ending his five-year run atop their front office. That set up a reunion with Ryan, who quarterbacked the Falcons for 14 years. With Pitts’ future up in the air, It’s worth noting Ryan and Pitts developed an on-field rapport in the latter’s rookie campaign. Pitts caught 68 passes and went over 1,000 yards (1,026) for the only time in his career that year, Ryan’s last season as a Falcon. Although Pitts scored just one touchdown, he earned his lone Pro Bowl invite.
Hamstring and knee injuries limited the normally durable Pitts to 10 games and 28 receptions in his second year. He hasn’t missed a game since then (nor did he in his first year), but Pitts’ numbers were closer to decent than great from 2023-24. He averaged 50 grabs, 635 yards and four TDs per season during that stretch.
Playing 2025 on his fifth-year option and a $10.88MM salary, Pitts enjoyed arguably the best season of his career at an opportune time. He set personal highs in catches (88), targets (118) and TDs (five). Pitts also finished with 928 yards en route to second-team All-Pro honors. However, there is skepticism in some corners that Pitts’ output would remain that strong on a multiyear contract.
“He didn’t really look like he really wanted it until it was time to get paid,” one personnel executive told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. “That’s a big red flag for me.”
If the Falcons are similarly hesitant to hand Pitts a sizable multiyear deal, it would still make sense to keep him around for a season with Stefanski. Known as a tight end-friendly coach, Stefanski had plenty of success in Cleveland with David Njoku from 2020-25. He and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees also helped third-round rookie Harold Fannin to a 72-catch, 731-yard, six-TD showing last season. Stefanski and Rees (now the Falcons’ OC) would likely expect even better results from Pitts.
D’Andre Swift Wants To Stay With Bears
For the last two seasons, D’Andre Swift has operated as the Bears’ top running back. If the veteran has his way, that will continue in 2026. 
One year remains on Swift’s contract. However, none of his scheduled 2026 base salary is guaranteed, and the former Pro Bowler is due to carry a cap charge of $8.8MM next season. As such, many expect a release to take place in this case. Shedding Swift would generate $7.47MM in cap space against a dead money charge of just $1.33MM. The player’s preference, to no surprise, would be to avoid that scenario.
“I have no idea, but hopefully I did enough for them to want me back because I know I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Swift said (via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times) when asked about his future. “That’s out of my control, but if I had it my way, I’d be back. I don’t want to play nowhere else.”
Swift played under Ben Johnson during his third and final Lions season. After finishing his rookie contract with the Eagles, the former second-rounder reached the open market for the first time in his career. A $24MM pact was worked out, but its structure always left the door open to a release in 2026. Swift is due a $500K roster bonus on March 15, and a decision on his future will presumably have been made by that point.
Chicago’s backfield benefitted from the standout showing by seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai in 2025. The 23-year-old proved to be effective in the red zone and in short-yardage situations while averaging 4.6 yards per carry (a comparable figure to Swift’s efficiency). Monangai could be in line for an increased workload in 2026 after he handled 169 carries this past season.
Swift, 27, surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards for the third straight year in 2025 (and fourth in his career). He expressed a desire to be more involved in the passing game moving forward, although the Bears’ other options in that regard represent another reason why moving on could be seen as viable. An unwanted trip to free agency could be coming in this case as the Bears – one of the teams currently projected to be over the cap – plan out their financial approach to the spring.
Panthers Re-Sign LS J.J. Jansen
Once again, J.J. Jansen has agreed to continue his career. The longtime Panthers long snapper signed another new deal on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
To no surprise, this is the latest in a long line of one-year pacts. Jansen has been operating on a year-to-year basis since 2021, and that will no doubt continue until his career ends. Now 40, Jansen will extend his lead in terms of the franchise’s games player leader list by playing his 18th NFL season.
Acquired via trade in 2009, the Notre Dame product has yet to miss a contest in his career. Jansen played out a five-year deal during the middle stages of his Carolina career, but he has been a special teams mainstay far beyond the expiration of that pact. The one-time Pro Bowler has played 277 games in the regular season, good for 27th in NFL history. Only Marcedes Lewis and Calais Campbell have played more among active players.
Jansen already leads the way in terms of games played by long snappers, and he will now extend his advantage in that regard. A move into the top 20 in league history (at all positions) will take place provided he manages to play a full campaign in 2026. As Carolina’s wild-card game approached, Jansen expressed a willingness to continue his career. Today’s news thus comes as no surprise.
Carolina relied on another veteran in the form of Sam Martin to handle punting duties in 2025. He is a pending free agent, so change could be seen at that position this offseason. Rookie Ryan Fitzgerald served as the team’s kicker this past season, and that can be expected to continue into 2026. Jansen will provide stability to the Panthers’ special teams battery yet again as he adds further to his career totals.
Seahawks Unlikely To Tag Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker is one of the top pending free agents at the running back position. A mutual interest exists in this case for a new Seahawks deal to be worked out, while the franchise tag looms as a stopgap option. 
The window for teams to apply franchise or transition tags opens today. The Seahawks could be a team to watch with respect to Walker on that front, but it appears as though nothing is imminent. Seattle is “unlikely” to use either tag on the Super Bowl MVP, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
[RELATED: Seahawks Among Potential Maxx Crosby Suitors?]
The franchise tag is projected to cost $14.53MM for running backs in 2026. That figure for transition tags is $11.73MM. Both one-year totals would be guaranteed in full in the event the tag were to be used and Walker were to play on the tender in 2026. Tagged players have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal, but the window for applying the tag will close one week before the start of the legal tampering period in March.
A report from last week indicated the Seahawks were likely to keep Walker in the fold for at least next season, either through the tag or a new contract. The running back market is currently topped by Saquon Barkley, and he is one of three backs with an average annual value of $15MM or more (a list which could grow if Bijan Robinson and/or Jahmyr Gibbs sign extensions this spring). Walker, 25, has shown an ability to operate as a lead back and thrived during the postseason; nevertheless, he does not have the resume of the league’s highest-paid players at the position.
That could land the former second-rounder in the group of backs attached to a deal averaging between $10MM and $14MM per year. Seattle also has Zach Charbonnet in place for 2026, but his status for the start of next year is uncertain as he recovers from an ACL tear. Walker will continue to be leaned on heavily in the event he finds himself in the Emerald City next season.
As Schefter notes, the Seahawks have a number of other priorities on the roster leading up to free agency. Retaining as many key members of their Super Bowl core, along with attempting to work out extensions with several ascending players, is a central goal at this point of the offseason. How that affects Walker will be interesting to monitor.
Dolphins Release WR Tyreek Hill
As expected, Tyreek Hill‘s tenure with the Dolphins is ending. The All-Pro wideout is among the veterans being let go on Monday. 
Hill is being released, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This marks an end to his four-year run in Miami. As Hill continues to recover from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 4, he will now become a free agent. The Dolphins have since confirmed the news.
[RELATED: Hill Plans To Play 11th NFL Season]
2026 was set to include $36MM in compensation in this case. Hill was due to collect a $5MM roster bonus as part of that figure in March, but many expected a release to take place well before that point. Miami has been busy on Monday, with the team’s list of veteran cuts including edge rusher Bradley Chubb and others. His release, along with that of Hill, will substantially alter the Dolphins’ cap situation.
Cutting Hill immediately would generate a slightly higher dead money charge ($28.25MM) than the cap savings it would create ($22.89MM). Like in Chubb’s case, a post-June 1 designation would be much more beneficial for the Dolphins. Taking that route would yield over $35MM in savings against while spreading out the dead cap charges across the next two years. In either case, Miami is well into cost-shedding season given the team’s actions today.
Hill is free to join another team, but since his injury there have been questions raised about his future. It will be interesting to see how much of a market forms in this case given the eight-time Pro Bowler’s health status. Hill is also the subject of an NFL investigation into domestic violence allegations. His history regarding other off-the-field issues represents another factor which could hinder Hill’s value.
The Dolphins received notable trade interest in Jaylen Waddle leading up to the 2025 deadline. To little surprise, Miami retained him. Waddle – who is under contract through the 2028 campaign – is now in line to handle WR1 duties moving forward. The rest of the team’s depth chart at the receiver position could see several changes this offseason.
Hill established himself as one of the league’s most productive players over the course of his Chiefs tenure. The former fifth-rounder was named a member of the 2010s All-Decade team based on his showings in Kansas City, and expectations were high upon arrival in Miami. The 2022 blockbuster deal which saw the Dolphins acquire Hill brought about five picks for the Chiefs and helped them reset their core. With the Dolphins, Hill proved to be a highly productive contributor.
In 2022, he broke the 1,700-yard threshold. Hill matched that feat the following season, leading the league in yards and touchdowns. A drop-off was suffered in 2024, a year in which the Dolphins dealt with quarterback injuries. Hill could be seen as a viable target in certain cases if suitors consider him a bounce-back candidate. Otherwise, his health status and intentions with respect to his future will be a major storyline.
The Dolphins are in position to usher in a new, young core during the opening year of the Jon-Eric Sullivan-Jeff Hafley era. Further changes can be expected, but several veteran contracts are already coming off the books in a sign of the wide berth granted by owner Stephen Ross. Inexpensive receivers will be targeted during the spring for Miami, while Hill will weigh his options.