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.
Rams RT Rob Havenstein To Retire
After 11 years as a starting right tackle with the Rams, Rob Havenstein is calling it a career. Havenstein announced his retirement on Instagram on Tuesday (via Sarah Barshop of ESPN).
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and fans who have supported me and helped me over these past 11 years,” Havenstein wrote. “I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015. Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”
Now 33 years old, Havenstein was the last St. Louis Ram remaining on his team’s roster. As a second-round selection in 2015, Havenstein spent his rookie year in St. Louis. The Rams relocated to Los Angeles the next season.
As Havenstein noted, “some” weren’t convinced the Rams were wise in using a high pick on him. He proved his doubters wrong, though, as the Rams nabbed a Day 1 starter and someone who topped the depth chart for his entire career.
The former Wisconsin Badger started in all 148 of his appearances with the Rams, though injuries were a consistent issue. He missed at least one game in 10 of his seasons and sat out three or more on five occasions.
A stalwart when healthy, Havenstein earned two extensions during his career. He inked a four-year, $32.5MM contract in 2018 and then landed a three-year, $34.5MM pact in 2022. His second deal came together several months after he won the lone Super Bowl title of his career.
Had Havenstein continued in 2026, he’d have been on track to reach free agency for the first time in March. The 6-foot-8, 322-pounder would have had to seek a new contract on the heels of an injury-ruined 2025.
In his final season, Havenstein played in just seven games – none past Week 11 – as a result of ankle and knee issues. He went on injured reserve in mid-November, and though the Rams opened his practice window ahead of the NFC title game, he wasn’t healthy enough to play in their season-ending loss to the Seahawks.
Havenstein will walk away tied for eighth on the Rams’ all-time games played list for offensive linemen. He’s third among their tackles in starts, trailing Pro Football Hall of Famers Jackie Slater and Orlando Pace.
With Havenstein moving on, the Rams are expected to hand the keys at right tackle to Warren McClendon. After McClendon impressed filling in for Havenstein in 2025, the Rams could pursue an extension with the three-year veteran this offseason.
Wes Welker To Remain On Commanders’ Staff In 2026
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media on Tuesday. During the press conference, he made a number of announcements regarding the team’s coaching staff for next year.
Among those was the confirmation that Wes Welker will remain with the Commanders for 2026. Welker joined Washington’s staff last April, holding the title of personnel analyst.
While Welker’s exact role for next season has not yet been clarified, he will work on the Commanders’ offensive staff (h/t JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington). Quinn said Welker helped out on special teams last season while Commanders assistant ST coordinator Brian Schneider battled cancer (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic).
As an NFL wide receiver from 2004-15, Welker’s expertise is on the offensive side of the ball. With 903 catches, 50 receiving touchdowns and five Pro Bowl nods, Welker enjoyed an especially impressive playing career. He began as a coach in 2017 with the Texans as an offensive/special teams assistant, a position he held for two seasons.
After his Houston tenure concluded, Welker went on to coach receivers for the next six seasons. He divided his time between San Francisco (2019-21) and Miami (2022-24), working alongside Mike McDaniel in both stops. Welker’s partnership with McDaniel ended when Quinn hired him.
Elsewhere on Washington’s staff, Quinn announced new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will have the authority to implement his own system (via Finlay). Jones, a first-time NFL DC, spent the past four years coaching the Vikings’ defensive backs. He’s replacing the fired Joe Whitt, who lost his job after a season in which Quinn stripped him of play-calling duties. Jones will take over for Quinn as the play-caller in 2026.
Washington’s Jones-led defensive staff will include William Gay as the cornerbacks coach and Darryl Tapp as an assistant D-line coach, per John Keim of ESPN. Gay, a longtime NFL corner, was the Commanders’ assistant DBs coach from 2024-25. Tapp was the Commanders’ line coach for the past two years, but the former defensive end will take a step back next season. He’ll work under new DL coach Eric Henderson.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Patriots T Will Campbell Played Through Torn Knee Ligament During Playoffs
Poor showings from Patriots left tackle Will Campbell were a common theme of the team’s run to the Super Bowl. New England’s left tackle was operating at far from full health during that stretch. 
During Campbell’s first remarks after New England’s Super Bowl loss, he said (via MassLive’s Mark Daniels) he suffered a torn ligament in his knee during the regular season. Campbell had not fully recovered by the time the playoffs began, and the ailment affected him through all four of the team’s postseason games.
Campbell noted the injury was not an excuse for his poor play, but it does at least partially explain his struggles. The fourth overall pick in last April’s draft was unable to consistently hold up in pass protection during the Patriots’ journey to Super Bowl LX. New England’s offensive line – which had Campbell as well as fellow rookie Jared Wilson as a starter at left guard – was a major talking point leading up to the game. Seattle’s defense was highly successful in pressuring quarterback Drake Maye, something which led to the Seahawks’ victory. Campbell in particular endured a rough outing in the title game.
“Will is 22 years old,” head coach Mike Vrabel said (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network) when speaking to the media on Tuesday. ” He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger… there’s plays he’d like to have back. We’re not moving Will to guard, center, right end or anything else.”
Leading up to the draft, Campbell’s arm length was a source of concern with respect to his ability to remain a left tackle at the NFL level. The LSU product operated on the blindside throughout his rookie season, one which was interrupted by an MCL sprain. Campbell returned to left tackle duties upon return, and based on Vrabel’s comments he will again be counted on to serve as an anchor of New England’s offensive line moving forward. A return to full health will be the priority in this case, and Campbell’s ability to improve in Year 2 will be key in determining the Patriots’ success next season.
Teams Being Informed Of Maxx Crosby’s Desire For Trade; Knee Recovery Could Delay Raiders Departure
Recent reporting has indicated Maxx Crosby will seek a trade from the Raiders. The star edge rusher has not publicly stated a desire to leave, but further indications have emerged which point toward a split with Vegas happening relatively soon. 
Crosby’s camp has started informing other teams of his preference for a fresh start, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reports. He adds the five-time Pro Bowler has in fact “explicitly” told the Raiders he will not play for the franchise any longer. Of course, that does not guarantee a trade will take place.
“He told Tom Brady he will never play for the Raiders again,” an NFL general manager told La Canfora. “That’s a fact. He told them he’ll retire before he ever plays for them again. But I’m not sure they’re actually going to trade him.”
Myles Garrett made clear his desire to depart the Browns last offseason. In the end, though, an extension was worked out and doubts about his Cleveland future were quelled. Crosby was among the many high-profile edge rushers who wound up inking new deals with their respective teams in 2025. As such, he is on the books through the 2029 season on a pact which contains relatively consistent base salaries and cap charges.
Crosby played through a knee injury for much of the 2025 campaign. In advance of Vegas’ game against the Giants – one which essentially decided the owner of the No. 1 pick in the draft – the team elected to shut him down. That decision (one which was not unanimous, as then-head coach Pete Carroll objected) resulted in Crosby undergoing surgery. The Raiders wound up securing the top selection, paving the way for quarterback Fernando Mendoza to be added in the hopes of becoming their new franchise passer. In any event, a rebuild is in order as Vegas aims to build a new core around the team’s next QB and its other offensive pieces.
The Raiders’ defense has been anchored by Crosby since his arrival in 2019. The 28-year-old has recorded double-digit sacks four times in his career. He has received a second-team All-Pro nod twice while operating as Vegas’ best player through a turbulent stretch on the sidelines and in the front office. Brady – who holds the title of minority owner but is well known to have a substantial impact on the Raiders’ operation alongside Mark Davis and GM John Spytek – has been in place since last offseason. A Crosby extension worked out at that point delayed talks of a potential trade but speculation continues to swirl regarding this spring.
“Now I’ve got random people making big statements for me,” the former fourth-rounder said during an interview with Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd (video link). “They’re like, ‘Maxx must have told them this.’ For me, I just sit back and laugh because I know my truth and when I go to bed at night, I have a smile on my face because I don’t have to explain nothing to nobody. I’ve said it over and over again. I’m getting healthy… That’s all that I care about, so all the noise, it’s news to me sometimes.”
Crosby is unlikely to offer a public declaration one way or the other when it comes to his future. The status of his recovery will of course be key, but a longer recovery time than first expected will be in store. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Crosby’s procedure was actually a meniscus repair, rather than a trim. His timetable for a return to full health will thus be measured in months instead of weeks.
Nevertheless, several teams will no doubt show considerable interest in a Crosby trade. The market for a potential swap in this case is “incredibly robust,” per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He adds no direct communication has taken place between player and team since the end of the season, so further dialogue will be something to watch for closely. In the meantime, suitors will continue to prepare offers for Crosby in the event Vegas becomes willing to entertain them.
Dolphins Hope To Trade QB Tua Tagovailoa
With the 2025 NFL season officially over and most top coaching positions filled, the spotlight will now turn to the league’s annual quarterback carousel.
Among the passers likely to be available is Tua Tagovailoa, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Dolphins have long been expected to move on from the 2020 first-round pick as part of a full organizational overhaul, which also featured changes at head coach and general manager.
A trade would be preferable to an outright release for a number of reasons. Cutting Tagovailoa would incur a $99MM dead cap hit, the largest in NFL history. The Dolphins can restructure his deal to push the majority of that dead money into 2027 with a post-June 1 cut, but the extra cap savings would not be available until that date.
Finalizing a trade would allow Miami to part ways with Tagovailoa earlier in the offseason while also reducing the resulting financial impact. It would also get back some kind of return, though the draft compensation in such a deal may be minimal
Miami appears to be willing to eat some of Tagovailoa’s remaining contract to facilitate a trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 27-year-old is owed $54MM in guaranteed money in 2026, comprised of a $39MM salary and a $15MM option bonus (via OverTheCap). Understandably, an acquiring team would not want to pick up that entire tab. But they might be willing to take on part of Tagovailoa’s deal if the Dolphins absorb the rest. In that event, a trade that yields draft picks and a dead cap charge under $99MM would be considered a major success for Miami’s new front office.
The Dolphins seem to be mulling their options as their new leaders step into their jobs. New offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that Tagovailoa can “absolutely bounce back,” but the quarterback has not been informed of a decision one way or the other.
Raiders Officially Name Klint Kubiak Head Coach
The Raiders have made it official. The team announced this evening that they’ve named Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.
Kubiak is now the 25th head coach in franchise history, and he’s the sixth since the team moved to Las Vegas. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kubiak will receive a five-year contract from the Raiders.
Of course, this move doesn’t come as any surprise. The franchise seemed to be leaning towards Kubiak last week, and the 38-year-old was reportedly set to negotiate a deal with the organization. Then, Kubiak all but confirmed the news last night following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win when he revealed that he’d indeed be taking his talents from Seattle to Las Vegas.
The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, including stops with the Vikings, Saints, and Seahawks as the offensive coordinator. It was that latter stop that made him seem destined to take the next step of his career, as Kubiak was the most popular name during this year’s hiring cycle. The 38-year-old ultimately interviewed for seven of the 10 HC vacancies, and he landed one of those opportunities in Las Vegas.
After helping guide Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense to a surprising top-10 showing this past season, Kubiak will now be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made the postseason twice in the past 23 years. Besides landing on their new head coach, the Raiders are also anticipated to add a new franchise QB this offseason, as the team is expected to select reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick.
Before Kubiak can focus on the on-field product, he’ll have to quickly build out his staff. Considering his inexperience as a head coach, Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom.com writes that the Raiders are expected to prioritize experience as they look to fill out the coaching staff. One name in particular that could stand out is Jim Schwartz, who hastily left the Browns after losing out on their head coaching job.
Per La Canfora, the veteran defensive coach has several fans in the building. This includes Kubiak, and the offensive-minded head coach presumably wouldn’t meddle in Schwartz’s defensive approach. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is also a “strong supporter” of the coach. Since the Raiders have traditionally shown a willingness to “spend heavily” on assistants, there’s an expectation among league sources that Schwartz will ultimately land in Las Vegas.
There would remain one hurdle in the Raiders’ pursuit, however: the Browns have Schwartz under contract through 2026, meaning Las Vegas would have to negotiate with the AFC foe to lure the coach. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, this has led some to believe that Schwartz could simply sit out the upcoming campaign, and there’s some belief that the coach may be simply waiting for the Eagles DC job to open up.
On the offensive side of the ball, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is a “natural candidate,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Prior to his success with Darnold, Janocko was credited with getting some of the best career showings from the likes of Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, and Derek Carr. It’s no coincidence that the coach has also joined Kubiak in multiple stops, making him an obvious candidate for the gig. Of course, there’s also a chance the Seahawks simply look to promote him to their newfound OC vacancy.
Speaking of the Seahawks, Fowler notes that in-house options like offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz and running backs coach Justin Outten could also be options to replace Kubiak, as could Lions senior assistant Mike Kafka.
Bengals Want To Re-Sign QB Joe Flacco
The Bengals will of course hope Joe Burrow manages to remain healthy in 2026. If the team is once again forced to rely on a backup next season, though, a familiar face could be in play. 
Cincinnati is interested in re-signing Joe Flacco, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The Bengals acquired him via trade midway through the 2025 campaign with Burrow sidelined for an extended period. That gave Flacco another short-term starting opportunity, although he only posted a 1-5 record with Cincinnati. The 41-year-old intends to continue playing next season, but he is a pending free agent.
[RELATED: Bengals Could Use Franchise Tag On Trey Hendrickson]
Late in his brief QB1 stint, Flacco expressed a desire to operate as a full-time starter in 2026. Burrow is of course in place to remain in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future – provided his hinted discontent with the franchise does not produce a trade, that is. That would consign Flacco to backup duties in the event he were to re-sign with his third career AFC North team. The former Super Bowl MVP can at least be considered higher on the Bengals’ depth chart than Jake Browning, who struggled when thrust into the starting role in 2025.
Browning is a pending restricted free agent, and the matter of whether or not he is tendered by Cincinnati will no doubt depend on the Flacco situation. Opportunities from outside suitors will be something to watch for in Flacco’s case, Fowler adds. The QB market is not likely to include many free agents or trade chips viewed as having more upside, while the draft may only see one passer selected in the first round.
Those factors could help Flacco’s market value. It will be interesting to see if he elects to at least explore free agency before making a decision or winds up matching the Bengals’ desire to work out a new deal. Cincinnati is currently near the top of the league in terms of projected cap space with over $54MM available.
Raiders, Titans Expected To Pursue WR Addition In Free Agency
The Raiders and the Titans are entering 2026 in similar situations.
Both franchises are hoping that new head coaches can reverse their fortunes. Both will have No. 1 picks at quarterback, assuming Las Vegas drafts Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as expected. And both are expected to be in the wide receiver market in free agency, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Each team has one receiver with any meaningful experience under contract in 2026 and two 2025 draftees who had quiet rookie seasons. In Las Vegas, that trio is Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont’e Thornton, while Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike fill those roles in Tennessee.
That will likely bring the Raiders and the Titans in direct competition for the top wideouts who hit the market in March. George Pickens would the belle of the ball, but he will likely be tagged by the Cowboys. That would leave Alec Pierce as the most coveted young wideout in free agency. He put up a career-high 1,003 receiving yards in 2025 with excellent efficiency metrics for a second year in a row. In both seasons, he recorded 11.9 yards per target – which ranked first in 2024 and third in 2025 – while also leading the league in yards per reception (22.3, 21.3).
Other receivers expected to be available include Romeo Doubs, Rashid Shaheed, Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel, and Wan’Dale Robinson. Doubs has an appealing profile and could benefit from a bigger role in a new offense, while the other four have connections to the Raiders’ and Titans’ new coaching staffs. Klint Kubiak could try to bring Shaheed to Las Vegas after the two worked together in New Orleans in 2024 and Seattle in 2025. Jennings and Samuel both know new Titans head coach Robert Saleh from their shared time in San Francisco, though Saleh has not drawn from the 49ers for his new offensive staff. And Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll drafted and developed Robinson during his time as the Giants’ head coach.
Like any young quarterback, Mendoza and Cam Ward would benefit from veteran pass-catchers, especially ones who are already familiar with their new coaching staffs. As the two teams with the most salary cap space in the NFL (via OverTheCap), the Raiders and the Titans are both well-positioned to add impact receivers in free agency.
49ers DL Keion White Shot In San Francisco
10:30pm: The 49ers announced that White’s surgery was successful, per Barrows, though the team put no timetable on his return.
7:13pm: 49ers defensive lineman Keion White was shot in the ankle during an event in San Francisco early this morning, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.
The player is currently undergoing surgery. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the injuries are not considered to be life-threatening nor career-threatening.
According to Maiocco, the shooting occurred at approximately 4am in an establishment on Mission Street in San Francisco. Police said the shooting followed an altercation between two groups, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. White was not believed to have been involved in the altercation. It’s uncertain if the event was related to the Super Bowl, although the player’s social media showed that he was in the stands for the game.
The 49ers released a statement acknowledging the shooting and the player’s surgery. The team stated that they would “provide further updates when appropriate.” San Francisco police spokesman Evan Sernoffsky said that “officers are working diligently on this investigation” and were “following multiple leads” (via Barrows).
A 2023 second-round pick, White spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Patriots, including a 2024 campaign where he compiled five sacks. He was dealt to the 49ers ahead of this year’s deadline, and he proceeded to get into nine games (two starts) with his new squad, tallying 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
In August of 2024, then-49ers rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in San Francisco. Pearsall eventually made a full recovery.