Rams Called Eagles About A.J. Brown, Engaged In Davante Adams Trade Talks
Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are set to remain the Rams’ top two receivers in 2026. Based on the team’s conversations on the trade front, though, that was not always guaranteed to be the case. 
During an appearance on PFT Live at the annual league meeting, general manager Les Snead confirmed the team engaged in trade calls with the Eagles about A.J. Brown. Los Angeles has long been a known Brown suitor, with the same also being true of the Patriots. As Snead noted, the Rams were never close to acquiring the three-time Pro Bowler.
“We chatted with Philly, nothing worked out,” Snead said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “There were talks, we had discussions, didn’t work out. That happens.”
[RELATED: Nacua Extension Not Imminent]
In the event discussions with Philadelphia had resulted in a Brown trade, a corresponding move would have involved Adams. It was reported earlier this month Los Angeles contemplated trading Adams, something head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Monday. McVay also noted (via Dianna Russini of The Athletic) the team remained in contact with Adams while trade discussions were taking place.
“We really talked about some different avenues of onboarding other players and how it might affect Davante,” McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). “If we felt like it was best for our team, we would have done that. But we didn’t think it was best for our team.
“There’s a lot of stuff that’s out there that’s not accurate, but when there is at least some accuracy or some thought to it, you want to deal with that direct, honest and open. And there’s been instances where I wasn’t as good about that in previous years, and so I don’t want to make those same mistakes.”
Adams joined the Rams on a two-year deal last offseason, a move which was beneficial for all involved. Taking on a large role in the team’s post-Cooper Kupp offense, Adams led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches. He received a $6MM roster bonus roughly two weeks ago as part of his $24MM in compensation for the 2026 campaign. Trading away the 33-year-old would have yielded considerable cap savings (thus making a Brown acquisition much more feasible from a financial perspective), but instead Adams will prepare for a second Rams campaign.
Brown is still in place with the Eagles, although speculation about a trade in his case continues. A move ending his Philadelphia tenure could take place after June 1 given the financial benefits of waiting beyond that date in the team’s case. Based on Snead’s comments, the Rams should not be expected to circle back on the Brown front. Similarly, Adams can be expected to remain in the fold after his future was uncertain.
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.
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.
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.
Rams Interested In Kirk Cousins; Team Open To Re-Signing Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo appeared to be in position to join the Cardinals early in free agency. Talks between team and player did not result in an agreement, however, and the veteran quarterback remains unsigned at this point.
Garoppolo has spent the past two years with the Rams, serving as Matthew Stafford‘s backup. That tenure continuing into 2026 is something the team would welcome. Head coach Sean McVay has identified Los Angeles’ preferred option in the event Garoppolo does not return.
[RELATED: Packers Interested In Kirk Cousins]
During an appearance on PFT Live (video link), McVay named Kirk Cousins as a free agent also on the team’s radar. Cousins overlapped with McVay during their time together in Washington, and a reunion would give the Rams a high-profile QB2 option for next season. As things stand, only Stetson Bennett is on the roster aside from Stafford. At least one addition will be made.
“People make some of the connections with Kirk,” McVay said. “If it doesn’t work out with Jimmy, that’s definitely something that — Kirk is as influential as anybody in helping me get to L.A. in the first place. I know he’s got some other options and some other suitors, but Jimmy and Kirk are guys that I’d love to have back with us.”
Kirk’s Falcons tenure came to an expected end when he was released at the start of the new league year. The 37-year-old is one of the top passers still on the market, but he is expected to remain patient while weighing his options. Cousins may very well wait until after the draft before making a decision. Especially if the Rams do not add a rookie, they will no doubt be linked to him as a potential landing spot.
Cousins made 22 starts across his two Atlanta campaigns, while Garoppolo has attempted just 41 passes in the regular season since arriving in Los Angeles. The latter is younger and would presumably be less expensive to sign, a factor which will no doubt weigh heavily in considerations on Los Angeles’ part. Garoppolo has played on a pair of one-year contracts worth just over $3MM as a member of the Rams.
That could continue for a third year, depending on how his market takes shape during the secondary waves of free agency. If not, Cousins will be a Rams target to watch closely as the offseason QB market unfolds.
Buccaneers To Make CB Addition
So far this offseason, the Buccaneers have seen cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Kindle Vildor depart in free agency. To no surprise, finding replacements remains a priority for Tampa Bay. 
“We definitely need another cornerback,” head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine) when speaking to the media at the league meeting. “Whether it’s a veteran or whether it’s a draftable pick remains to be seen and we’ll kind of go from there. But we like to add one or two to the mix.”
Vildor was a depth presence on defense and special teams, but losing Dean deprived the Buccaneers of someone who served as a starter for much of his seven-year tenure with the team. Tampa Bay has Zyon McCollum in position to remain a core presence at the CB spot moving forward. He inked a $16MM-per-year deal last offseason.
The Bucs also invested second- and third-round picks during last year’s draft in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Those two combined to make eight starts as rookies, and it would come as no surprise if their workloads increased in 2026 and beyond. Adding depth through the secondary waves of free agency and/or the draft represents a logical goal, though.
Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith are set to remain starters at the safety position. After the Buccaneers ranked just 27th against the pass in 2025, though, there is certainly room for improvement in the secondary. It will be interesting to see how the team approaches the matter of bringing in one or more corners as the rest of the offseason progresses.
Tampa Bay currently has roughly $14MM in cap space, so a modest move on the free agent market or via trade could be feasible. The team also has one pick in every round of next month’s draft, including No. 15 overall. Bowles and Co. will have plenty of opportunities to make an addition or two over the coming weeks.