Patriots To Release QB Josh Dobbs
Josh Dobbs‘ time with the Patriots is coming to an end. The veteran quarterback is set to be released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
New England attempted to find a trade partner in this case, Rapoport notes. With no takers being found, the team will move forward with a release. Dobbs had one year remaining on his contract and was owed a base salary of $3.2MM with a cap figure of $4.75MM for 2026.
A cut will generate $3.7MM in savings for the Patriots. They will incur a dead money charge of $1.05MM by releasing Dobbs. New England was still near the top of the NFL in terms of spending power entering Monday, but additional flexibility will be created without Dobbs in the picture.
Earlier this offseason, the Pats re-signed Tommy DeVito. That move appeared to set him up for continued third-string duties next season, but Dobbs’ release will instead elevate him to the QB2 role. DeVito, claimed off waivers from the Giants during 2025 roster cutdowns, will now be tasked with backing up Drake Maye unless the Patriots elect to add another passer through free agency or next month’s draft.
Dobbs has bounced around the NFL throughout his career, seeing time in the regular season with the Steelers, Titans, Cardinals, Vikings and 49ers prior to his one-year New England stint. The 31-year-old has totaled 15 starts and 27 appearances at the pro level. With many of the league’s QB dominoes having already fallen this deep into free agency, he will aim to catch on with a new team to compete for the backup gig.
It will be interesting to see if Dobbs lines up a new deal prior to the draft or if suitors circle back after the event in case they do not wind up adding a rookie passer. Either way, another short-term deal can be expected.
Seahawks Likely To Extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon This Offseason
To no surprise, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon each had their fifth-year options exercised by the Seahawks recently. That ensures both stalwarts will remain in place through 2027. 
Seattle is able to work out an extension in each case this offseason, however. Working out an agreement for Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon at some point before the start of the 2026 campaign would fall in line with previous Seahawks timelines. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, an agreement on both fronts can be expected this spring or summer.
Smith-Njigba will collect $23.85MM in 2027, while Witherspoon is due $21.16MM for that year. Both multi-time Pro Bowlers are no doubt in line to secure more lucrative paydays when their second contracts are finalized. As Dugar notes, extensions at or near the top of the receiver and cornerback markets are likely forthcoming. Smith-Njigba secured Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors for 2025, a season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards and set new career highs in several categories.
The 24-year-old has seen his receiving totals, yards per catch average and touchdown figures increase with each passing year in the NFL. That, coupled with Smith-Njigba’s durability – no missed games to date – makes him a strong candidate to challenge the top of the WR market. Ja’Marr Chase is attached to a deal averaging $40.24MM per year. His 2025 Bengals extension contained $73.9MM in full guarantees, a figure surpassed only by Justin Jefferson ($88.74MM) at the position. With the salary cap surpassing $300MM, Smith-Njigba will aim to match or outpace Chase and Jefferson’s pacts during negotiations.
Witherspoon, 25, already has three Pro Bowl invites on his resume. The Illinois product was a second-team All-Pro in 2025, and he was a key part of Seattle’s elite defense which carried the team to a Super Bowl title. Expectations will remain high in his case for years to come, and after seeing multiple free agent departures in the secondary the Seahawks could ensure stability with a long-term agreement. Witherspoon is likely to join the nine cornerbacks whose contracts average $20.1MM or more per year. Draft classmate Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a Patriots extension, and he could be a comparable figure in Witherspoon’s case.
Dugar writes nothing is imminent at this point with respect to a Smith-Njigba or Witherspoon extension. That could very well remain the case until after the draft at a minimum. As training camp and the 2026 season approach, though, it will be interesting to see if contract talks pick up.
5 Key Stories: 3/15/26 – 3/22/26
With the initial wave of free agency in the books, things have slowed down to a large extent around the NFL. Teams remain busy on the roster-building front with plenty of time remaining before the draft, however. Here is a quick recap of this week’s top stories:
- Dolphins Send Waddle To Broncos: In the initial wake of the Dolphins‘ decision to move on from several veterans as part of their rebuild, it appeared as though Jaylen Waddle would remain in place. Instead, a trade agreement was reached with the Broncos. The veteran wideout was exchanged for Denver’s first- and third-round selections in this year’s draft, with 2026 fourth-rounders also changing hands. Waddle will offer a welcomed boost to the Broncos’ receiving corps as they seek increased efficiency and production in the passing game. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2028, so his arrival will overlap with quarterback Bo Nix‘s rookie deal. Having already released Tyreek Hill, meanwhile, Miami’s WR depth chart could use plenty of work during the remainder of the offseason.
- Chiefs Acquire Fields From Jets: Since his midseason benching, Justin Fields was expected to see his Jets tenure come to an end. That proved to be the case when a trade was worked out with the Chiefs. Fields and a seventh-round pick in April’s draft were dealt from New York to Kansas City for a 2027 sixth-rounder. Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from the ACL tear which ended his season late in the 2025 campaign, and his Week 1 availability is in question. This move will give the Chiefs an experienced fill-in starter early in the year, and it will provide Fields with a period leading up to the fall where he handles first-team reps. The former first-rounder has largely struggled through his time in Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York. A brief stint atop the depth chart on his latest team will likely now await.
- Tretter Lands Top NFLPA Job: Months after resigning from the NFL Players Association, J.C. Tretter has returned to lead the organization. The NFLPA’s vote for a new executive director resulted in Tretter winning the full-time position over interim leader David White and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti. Tretter and White were considered the contenders leading up to the vote, one which marks a key development for the union as it pertains to pending CBA negotiations. Tretter will aim to rebuild his stock and that of the NFLPA in general upon taking over. Meanwhile, free agent linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin will continue as the union’s president.
- Seahawks Exercise Smith-Njigba, Witherspoon’s Options: First-round picks from the 2023 draft class are subject to fifth-year option decisions this spring. To no surprise, the Seahawks have picked up the option for both of wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The move ensures the Pro Bowlers will remain in place through at least 2027. Smith-Njigba earned Offensive Player of the Year honors this past season while leading the league in receiving yards. Witherspoon received a second-team All-Pro nod thanks to another high-end campaign as part of Seattle’s elite secondary. The Super Bowl champions can extend both players at any time this offseason. New deals in each case being finalized sometime between the draft and training camp in particular would come as little surprise.
- Wentz Reunites With Vikings: The Vikings made one quarterback splash early in free agency by lining up a one-year deal with Kyler Murray. They were not done adding veteran passers, however, with Carson Wentz returning to Minnesota. In 2025, Wentz made five starts in place of an injured J.J. McCarthy before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. McCarthy is still in the fold, but the former first-round pick’s Vikings outlook is the subject of considerable speculation. Murray is expected to operate as the team’s starter for 2026, and Wentz will give head coach Kevin O’Connell another veteran option to turn to. It will be interesting to see how McCarthy’s development will be handled this summer coming of a rookie season missed through injury and a 2025 campaign marred by struggles when on the field.
Jets Host QB Drew Allar
The Jets have their 2026 starting quarterback in the form of Geno Smith. His return to New York came about via trade, the same route taken to move on from Justin Fields. 
Another veteran could be added this offseason. Tyrod Taylor remains unsigned at this time, and most free agents have lined up a new arrangement by this point in the new league year. That could leave the Jets to focus on the upcoming draft with respect to a depth QB addition.
Like all teams, New York is in the early stages of hosting prospects on top 30 visits. Several Penn State players visited the Jets recently, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. Among them was quarterback Drew Allar. That will no doubt prove to be one of many private workouts Allar participates in during the build-up to the draft.
An October ankle injury brought an abrupt end to Allar’s senior season. His performances up to that point had left plenty to be desired, something which wound up being true in 2025 of many signal-callers. Allar totaled 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across the 2023 and ’24 seasons, leading to high expectations for this past campaign. Before the injury, he posted a completion percentage of 64.8% along with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 8:3.
The Jets own two first-round picks in this year’s draft. New York will not be able to select Fernando Mendoza provided the Raiders take the expected route of drafting the Heisman winner first overall. Whether or not another quarterback is taken on Day 1 remains a question at this point, although Ty Simpson and Cole Payton are considered the top QB2 candidates. Allar, like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Miami’s Carson Beck, will enter the NFL with plenty of experience but a tempered outlook with respect to his ceiling at the pro level.
New York also has a pair of second-round selections in 2026 along with five Day 3 picks. Using one of those on a developmental option would come as no surprise. Based on how the team’s evaluation process plays out over the coming weeks, Allar could be among the quarterback prospects receiving consideration.
Bengals Eyed Multiple Free Agent Pass Rush Additions
The Bengals were among the teams to make a pass rush addition early in free agency. Boye Mafe was added on a three-year, $60MM deal after playing out his rookie contract in Seattle. 
Expectations will be high for Mafe as he looks to replace Trey Hendrickson‘s production. The four-time Pro Bowler’s Bengals tenure came to an expected end earlier this month after efforts to work out a long-term agreement did not produce a deal. Mafe was not the only target up front for the team on the open market, however.
[RELATED: Bengals Eyeing Extensions With DJ Turner, Dax Hill]
Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes the Bengals planned to sign two free agent pass rushers once the new league year opened. Mafe secured $19MM guaranteed at signing, and further EDGE additions early in free agency would have no doubt been less lucrative. Still, any moves aimed at bolstering the front seven could prove to be highly impactful with Cincinnati eyeing much-needed improvements on defense.
As Conway notes, making a free agent addition along the interior of the defensive line was also a priority. To little surprise, then, the Bengals wound up signing Jonathan Allen not long after he was cut by the Vikings. The nine-year veteran will be particularly counted on as an interior pass rush presence with B.J. Hill and T.J. Slaton handling run-stopping duties. Allen, 31, essentially landed a one-year commitment from the Bengals as he looks to rebound from underwhelming sack totals in 2024 and ’25.
Per Conway, Cincinnati showed initial interest in John Franklin-Myers in free agency. His list of suitors quickly narrowed, though, and a lucrative Titans agreement was ultimately reached. The Bengals were not in the running for Osa Odighizuwa, who was dealt from the Cowboys to the 49ers. That helped lead to a pursuit of Allen on Cincinnati’s part.
As Conway adds, Mafe was the Bengals’ top priority with respect to edge rushers. The former second-rounder posted nine sacks in 2023 but managed only eight in the following two years as his playing time was reduced. A full-time starting workload should await him in Cincinnati, though. The team currently has nearly $22MM in cap space and eight selections in April’s draft, so it will be interesting to see if further pass rush moves are sought out during the remainder of the offseason.
Titans To Sign LB Mohamoud Diabate
Mohamoud Diabate was not given a restricted free agent tender by the Browns. That led him to the open market, and a departure is set to take place. 
Diabate has agreed to terms with the Titans, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. The fourth-year linebacker is the latest in a long line of Tennessee additions on the defensive side of the ball in particular this month. He has totaled 48 appearances and 18 starts in his NFL career.
After entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Diabate hardly saw the field on defense as a rookie while handling a regular special teams role. Things changed in 2024 when he became a starter, logging a 70% defensive snap share. Diabate posted 70 tackles and three pass deflections that season.
In 2025, the 24-year-old logged a full slate of games for the first time. Diabate’s playing time fell, although he still made six starts. The Browns have undergone numerous changes since the arrival of new head coach Todd Monken‘s staff; that included the decision to not tender Diabate at a cost of $3.52MM. This Titans agreement will likely check in at a lower rate.
This marks the first linebacker addition of free agency for Tennessee, a team which has made a number of investments on the open market. Incumbents Joe Bachie and Anfernee Orji remain unsigned at this point, and today’s Diabate agreement obviously lessens the chances of them returning for 2026. The Titans will again have Cedric Gray and Cody Barton as mainstays at the second level of their defense, but Diabate will offer depth along with special teams experience.
Tennessee entered Saturday with more than $63MM in cap space, easily the most in the NFL. That figure is unlikely to change much with this agreement, leaving plenty of flexibility for further moves to be made as the secondary waves of free agency play out.
Bengals Eyeing Extensions For CBs DJ Turner, Dax Hill
The Bengals recently took care of one notable extension priority by finalizing a new deal with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Attention is expected to now turn to the secondary. 
Cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill are approaching the final year of their respective contracts. Hill is due to collect $12.68MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. Turner, meanwhile, will see his rookie deal expire next spring. Keeping both in the fold beyond the coming campaign is viewed as a priority, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes.
Nothing is imminent on either front, and that could remain the case well into the spring. Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer also notes an extension in both cases may need to wait until after the draft and closer to the start of training camp. She adds, however, that the organization “has made it clear” already that Turner and Hill are high on the priority list with respect to new deals being worked out. The former Michigan teammates share the same agent.
That could prove to be a complicating factor once negotiations begin. On the other hand, joint new pacts could be worked out, as was the case last spring with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In any event, raises for bother Turner and Hill will be in store. The latter was used in a number of ways early in his NFL career before taking on perimeter corner duties. Hill, 25, rebounded well from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign and played all 17 games this past season. He recorded 11 pass deflections and enjoyed his best year to date in terms of completion percentage (63.6%) and passer rating (86.9) allowed in coverage.
Turner was a regular defensive presence during his first two years, but he handled a career-high snap share of 89% in 2025. The former second-rounder secured a pair of interceptions and comfortably set a new personal mark with 18 pass deflections. Turner also made strides in terms of his performance in coverage. His stock will be high entering contract talks this spring.
Nine cornerback deals are currently valued at $20.1MM or more per year. That figure will grow once the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez ink their own extensions, something which could happen as early as this offseason. Neither Turner nor Hill will likely find themselves in position to approach the top of the position’s market ($31MM annually, thanks to Trent McDuffie‘s recent Rams contract), but they will receive a notable payday if/when they have new Bengals deals in hand.
As both Dehner and Conway add, however, Cincinnati could stand to make further CB moves this offseason. Cam Taylor-Britt and Marco Wilson have departed in free agency with no outside additions taking place so far. Adding depth to replace those two, as well as a starting-caliber slot corner, will be needed before the 2026 season begins. As such, at least one notable draft investment can be expected on the part of the Bengals. Regardless of how things play out on that front, though, it will be interesting to see how extension talks with Turner and Hill play out during the time leading up to the start of the campaign.
WR Denzel Boston To Visit Browns
Denzel Boston is set to be among the busier prospects for the 2026 draft leading up to the event. One of his many scheduled pre-draft visits is set to take place today.
Boston will meet with the Browns, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. That comes as little surprise given the wideout’s draft stock and Cleveland’s positional needs as April approaches. Boston is viewed as a strong candidate to come off the board in the opening round of the draft.
Over the course of his final two seasons at Washington, the big-bodied wideout served as a focal point on offense. Boston totaled 125 catches, 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns across the 2024 and ’25 seasons. Expectations will be high upon arrival in the NFL. Regular usage in the red zone in particular could allow for Boston to carve out a role during his rookie season, wherever he winds up.
Rebuilding the offensive line has been a clear point of emphasis for the Browns early in free agency. Even with multiple moves taking place on that front, Cleveland could still stand make an early draft investment at the left tackle spot. The same also applies to the receiver position. The Browns own picks No. 6 and 24, so adding at both spots could be a viable path to take.
In that event, Boston could very well be a feasible target. He is currently ranked 25th overall by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Other wideouts like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr. are also viewed as strong candidates to come off the board during Day 1. Some will likely hear their names called before Boston’s, but the Browns are among the teams which could find themselves in position to select him next month.
Titans To Host TE Jody Fortson
A major knee injury left Jody Fortson sidelined through the entire 2025 season. He has now recovered, though, and the free agent tight end is drawing interest from at least one suitor. 
Fortson is set to visit the Titans today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Each of his 24 combined regular and postseason appearances have come as a member of the Chiefs, so this news comes as little surprise. Prior to his arrival in Tennessee as the team’s general manager, Mike Borgonzi worked in Kansas City’s front office.
Fortson registered four touchdowns on 14 receptions across the 2021 and ’22 seasons with the Chiefs. The following year was spent on injured reserve, however. The former undrafted free agent attempted a comeback by joining the Dolphins, but he did not survive roster cuts. Fortson wound up returning to Kansas City for 2024 and made three appearances in a depth role.
He remained on track to compete for a roster spot this past preseason before an ACL and meniscus tear led to a lengthy recovery. Per Rapoport, Fortson has now fully recovered. As a result, he could soon manage to line up a new deal. A Titans signing would allow him to offer depth to the tight end spot after the team lost Chig Okonkwo in free agency but added Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson.
Tennessee leads the league in cap space right now, so affording a Fortson pact will not be difficult. The 30-year-old’s next contract, regardless of where it comes from, will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum.
Jason Licht: Bucs Made ‘Significantly Higher’ Mike Evans Offer Than 49ers
Mike Evans‘ decorated Buccaneers tenure came to an end last week when he agreed to join the 49ers. His departure was not the result of Tampa Bay losing a bidding war, though. 
During his first public comments since losing Evans, general manager Jason Licht spoke about the negotiating process in this case. He said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times) the Buccaneers made a “significantly higher” offer than the one Evans ultimately took with San Francisco. He noted that was applicable to Tampa Bay’s “first offer,” meaning further negotiations were something Licht and Co. were willing to pursue.
Instead, Evans had his 49ers agreement in place shortly after the legal tampering window opened. The six-time Pro Bowler took a three-year, $42.5MM deal to head to the Bay Area. In practice, though, his contract is for one year and $14.3MM with team options to follow. It is certainly not difficult to imagine the Buccaneers managing to submit a more competitive bid, especially in the case of a short-term offer.
Evans noted finances were not the main factor in his decision to leave. The 33-year-old will be counted on to handle a key role in San Francisco, something which may not have been as much of an assurance with Tampa Bay. The Bucs re-signed Chris Godwin last offseason, a move which was followed by the draft additions of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson. Those three, along with Jalen McMillan, will form the bulk of the team’s WR room for 2026.
“[Evans] means everything to me,” Licht said (via Stroud). “But he means everything to the entire organization. Obviously, he’s the best offensive player we’ve ever had and an even better person than he is a player. So, it’s always tough… It became pretty clear that him and his family were just ready, like he said publicly, for another chapter.”
As the Bucs move on without Evans for the first time since his arrival in 2014, they will attempt to avoid the late-season struggles which kept them out of the playoffs. Tampa Bay went 2-7 after the bye in 2025, something Licht and Evans spoke about leading up to free agency. Both parties will look to enjoy a stronger showing down the stretch after going their separate ways.