Colts QB Anthony Richardson Requests Trade; Mutual Vikings Interest?
MARCH 2: Richardson does not have a strong trade market at this point, SportsBoom’s Jason LaCanfora reports to no surprise. NFL general managers and evaluators predicted Richardson’s value would be a Day 3 pick, with a fifth-rounder mentioned as the potential best-case scenario from the Colts’ perspective.
FEBRUARY 26: Signs continue to point to Anthony Richardson playing elsewhere in 2026. The embattled quarterback has requested a trade, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. 
To little surprise, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds the Colts have given Richardson’s camp permission to seek a trade. The former No. 4 pick’s value will not be particularly high given how his NFL career has played out so far. Nevertheless, the lack of established QBs on the market this offseason could lead to at least some interest.
When speaking at the Combine yesterday, Colts GM Chris Ballard offered praise for Richardson. The 23-year-old has only made 15 starts and 17 appearances during the regular season so far. An orbital bone fracture kept Richardson sidelined through the end of the 2025 campaign, although Ballard said he has now been cleared for football activities. Boyd confirms Richardson has regained full vision in his right eye.
That will be a welcomed development for all involved, but it remains to be seen how many teams will be willing to proceed with a trade acquisition in this case. In December, a trio of NFL staffers pegged Richardson’s value at a fourth-round pick (the cost paid by the Cowboys when they acquired Trey Lance). A deal along those lines would obviously represent a massive disappointment for Indianapolis, but it would pave the way for Riley Leonard to handle backup duties in 2026. Of course, the Colts are in the midst of negotiations on a new Daniel Jones contract to ensure he remains atop the depth chart moving forward.
As for potential Richardson landing spots, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network points to Minnesota as one to watch. He reports there is a mutual interest between the Vikings and Richardson. Kevin O’Connell has established a track record of quarterback development during his time as Minnesota’s head coach, and taking on another reclamation project would make plenty of sense. Given J.J. McCarthy‘s struggles so far, the Vikings are expected to bring in competition under center this spring.
That could entail pursuing a more experienced option on the open market like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr. Alternatively, the Vikings could look at Richardson as a buy-low candidate capable of winning the QB1 gig for 2026 while McCarthy develops. Richardson has one year remaining on his rookie contract and he is set to carry a cap charge of $10.82MM in 2026. A trade would essentially create an even split of that figure between cap savings and dead money for the Colts.
Commanders To Extend G Nick Allegretti
Monday continues to be busy with respect to offensive line news around the NFL. The Commanders are among the teams making a move on that front. 
Guard Nick Allegretti has agreed to a new two-year deal with Washington, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He was set to enter 2026 as a pending free agent, but that will no longer be the case. Allegretti has been in place with the Commanders for the past two seasons, and his tenure will continue.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Chiefs, Allegretti re-signed on a one-year pact. That was followed by a multi-year commitment on Washington’s part. The former seventh-round pick secured $16MM on a three-year Commanders accord. Terms on this new deal have not yet emerged, but Allegretti’s time in the nation’s capital will stretch beyond next season thanks to it.
Chris Paul is among the guards who are set to reach free agency next month. He could price himself out of Washington with a strong market, something which would increase the value in keeping Allegretti in the fold. After operating as a full-time starter in 2024, Allegretti was relegated to backup duties for much of this past season. The Illinois product has seen plenty of time at guard in his career, but he filled in at center for the final two games of the 2025 campaign in place of Tyler Biadasz.
Biadasz was recently released, creating an opening at the center spot. Allegretti – who will turn 30 in April – could be a candidate to fill in at that position. Otherwise, he will look to earn playing time at guard. He and Andrew Wylie have both landed new Commanders deals in advance of the new league year beginning next week. Washington’s attention up front may now increasingly turn to an extension for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Washington entered Monday near the league lead in terms of 2026 cap space. Nevertheless, this Allegretti extension could lower his scheduled cap charge ($7.18MM) for next season.
Bengals Re-Sign G Dalton Risner
Dalton Risner‘s time in Cincinnati will continue in 2026. The veteran guard has been re-signed, the team announced on Monday. 
This is a one-year pact, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it has a maximum value of $5MM. Risner will be in line for a considerable raise depending on the incentives present in this new contract. Signing with Cincinnati shortly before the start of this past season, Risner secured just $1.34MM after playing out a pair of one-year Vikings deals each worth less than $3MM.
Not long after the 2025 campaign ended, it became clear a mutual interest existed between Risner and the Bengals to work out another pact. As such, today’s news comes as little surprise. Critically, this agreement also ensures stability along the offensive line for the Bengals.
As noted by The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., this coming season will be the first in the Zac Taylor era (2019-present) in which Cincinnati returns all five primary offensive line starters from the previous year. Risner made 14 appearances and 11 starts in 2025, and he can now be expected to remain a staple at right guard next season. Continuity up front will be key for the Bengals, a team which has faced questions about its Joe Burrow protection for several years.
After Burrow missed considerable time in 2025, a rare season without any notable injuries will be sought out in his case. Managing to keep the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback upright would go a long way in ensuring the Bengals manage to reach the playoffs in 2026, something the team has failed to do for the past three years. Playing a key role in that effort would help Risner, 30, secure another Cincinnati commitment or a longer one from an outside team.
The Bengals entered Monday with roughly $50MM in cap space. That figure will allow for a number of free agent signings if Cincinnati wishes to make several additions from outside the organization. In any case, an important re-signing has been taken care of before the start of free agency.
Jets, Falcons Showing Interest In Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett
The Cardinals remain one of the teams to watch closely with respect to the quarterback market taking shape. Much of the attention in that regard is focused on Kyler Murray, who could wind up with any number of teams in the near future. 
Arizona also has to weigh the possibility of moving on from Jacoby Brissett as well, though. With a new coaching staff in place led by Mike LaFleur, widespread changes under center would come as no surprise. One year remains on Brissett’s contract, and he is owed a base salary of only $4.88MM for 2026.
[RELATED: Cardinals Interested In Jimmy Garoppolo]
Taking on that figure will be feasible for plenty of teams, and a pair of suitors in particular will be worth monitoring. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports the Jets and Falcons have shown interest in Brissett. That comes as no surprise, of course. New York hired Frank Reich – who previously coached Brissett during their time with the Colts – as offensive coordinator this year. Atlanta, meanwhile, brought in Kevin Stefanski as head coach; he previously worked with Brissett in Cleveland.
For that reason, both the Jets and Falcons have previously been floated as logical landing spots for Brissett. Justin Fields is not expected to be back with New York in 2026, while Tyrod Taylor is a pending free agent. Brissett could serve as a bridge starter as the Jets seek out a long-term answer in April’s draft (or perhaps wait until 2027 to select a high-profile rookie).
As expected, the Falcons will release Kirk Cousins and not attempt to re-sign him at a reduced rate. Starter Michael Penix Jr.‘s ACL recovery is ongoing, and his availability for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign is unclear. That illustrates the need for a short-term addition in Atlanta’s case. Brissett could offer the Falcons with a high floor for at least one season regardless of Penix’s health situation or his level of play once he is back to 100%.
Filling in for an injured Murray – and then remaining atop the depth chart to finish the season – Brissett posted career highs in a number of categories in 2025. The 33-year-old completed just under 65% of his attempts, totaling 3,366 yards and posting a 23:8 touchdown to interception ratio. A similar showing in New York or Atlanta would be welcomed given those teams’ current situations under center. Volin unsurprisingly notes the Cardinals will have a much easier time trading Brissett than Murray, and it will be interesting to see if more suitors emerge shortly.
5 Key Stories: 2/22/26 – 3/1/26
This past week has seen the annual NFL Combine take place in Indianapolis. The event is always an interesting one to follow based on the developments which take place as teams prepare for the new league year. In case you missed any the top stories from the past seven days, here is a quick recap:
- Cowboys Tag Pickens: Well in advance of the deadline for applying the franchise tag, the Cowboys took the expected route of tagging George Pickens. The fifth-year wideout had long been mentioned as a tag candidate, and the non-exclusive tender was applied. That leaves Pickens free to negotiate with other teams, but he is on course to play for Dallas in 2026. Whether or not a long-term pact – something both sides have expressed an openness for – can be worked out by July 15 will now become a storyline to watch closely. A new deal will very likely cost more on an annual basis than the value of the tag ($27.3MM), adding further to the cost of Dallas’ high-octane offense.
- Jets, Titans Agree To Trade: Once the new league year begins in mid-March, the Jets and Titans will finalize a one-for-one player swap. Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson will head to Tennessee, while New York will acquire defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat in return. Scheme changes brought on by the hires of both teams played a role in the deal being agreed to. Johnson is set to play out his fifth-year option, so his level of play upon reuniting with Robert Saleh in Tennessee will go a long way in determining his value for next offseason. Sweat’s rookie contract runs through 2027, and he will look to carve out a run-stopping role with the Jets as they contemplate further trades this spring.
- Pitts Receives Falcons Tag: The other franchise tag decision made so far concerns Kyle Pitts. The Falcons placed the tag on him and by doing so ensured he will play at least a sixth season in Atlanta. The former No. 4 pick will collect $15.05MM next year in the absence of a long-term pact being agreed to. Pitts has seen his production vary quite a bit from one year to the next, but he is coming off a strong campaign. With a completely new group of decision-makers in place for Atlanta, it will be interesting to see if a strong push is made to keep Pitts, 25, in place beyond 2026 or if he again spends the year as a pending free agent.
- Browns Planning QB Competition: New head coach Todd Monken will oversee a quarterback competition during his first year leading the Browns. Cleveland still has Deshaun Watson under contract, and 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel remain in the fold as well. Outside options (via free agency and/or the draft) will receive consideration as well, though, while Gabriel has been mentioned as a trade candidate. The Watson trade has proven to be a disaster for Cleveland, while Sanders’ NFL ceiling remains to be seen. Major improvement will be needed on offense in 2026, but that could include a signal-caller not currently on the roster.
- NFLPA Exec. Director Finalists Emerge: Since Lloyd Howell‘s resignation, the NFL Players Association has operated with David White as its interim executive director. White is one of three finalists for the full-time position. The list also contains J.C. Tretter – who previously worked as the union’s president and chief strategy officer before himself resigning under controversial circumstances – and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti. March will see the NFLPA’s annual meeting for its 32 player reps take place. At that point, further clarity will emerge regarding who has the best odds of leading the embattled organization and when a final vote will take place.
Bucs To Pursue Pass Rush Additions
The Buccaneers ranked mid-pack in the league with respect to pass rush production in 2025. Improving in that regard will be a logical goal this spring. 
Tampa Bay brought in Haason Reddick via free agency last year in a move which ended his bizarre Jets tenure. The two-time Pro Bowler made 13 appearances with the Bucs, but in that time he managed only 2.5 sacks. ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes Reddick is unlikely to be retained for 2026.
Finding a replacement starter along the edge will be key as a result. After Tampa Bay finished in a tie for 18th in sacks last season, there will be plenty of room for improvement during free agency and the draft. The open market in particular will offer numerous options, and Graziano notes the Buccaneers can be expected to actively pursue one or more additions this spring.
YaYa Diaby operated as a full-time starter in 2025, doing so for the second campaign in a row. The 26-year-old can be expected to remain a staple on defense through the final season of his rookie contract. David Walker‘s debut season was wiped out due to an ACL tear suffered in training camp, but upon returning to full health he could take on a depth role for 2026. Veteran Anthony Nelson and former second-round pick Chris Braswell are also in the fold.
The list of pending free agent edge rushers contains older options like Khalil Mack, Trey Hendrickson and Bradley Chubb. Others, such as Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Kwity Paye are on course to test the market for the first time in their careers. With nearly $21MM in cap space as things stand, Tampa Bay should be able to afford at least a modest free agent EDGE investment. The Bucs also have seven picks in April’s draft, so adding a rookie will be feasible as well.
Mutual interest exists for another Mike Evans pact to be worked out. Tampa Bay’s receiver outlook will depend on how contract talks go on that front, but the pursuit of pass rush help will be something to monitor as well.
Ravens Have Submitted Market-Topping Offer To C Tyler Linderbaum
MARCH 1: As ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes, many observers believe Linderbaum will manage to surpass $20MM per year on his next contract. Whether or not the Ravens’ top offer is that valuable remains to be seen, and in any case it could be surpassed by outside bids soon provided Linderbaum reaches free agency.
FEBRUARY 24: Aside from lowering Lamar Jackson‘s cap charge for 2026, the Ravens’ No. 1 priority is retaining Tyler Linderbaum. The top pending free agent at the center position (and many others) is in line for a massive raise regardless of where it comes from. 
Baltimore made the expected move of declining Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last spring, setting up the need for a long-term pact to be worked out ahead of free agency. When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Eric DeCosta made another unsurprising announcement by stating (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the transition and franchise tags will not be in play in this case. Tags group all O-linemen together for valuation purposes, making them feasible for tackles but rare in the case of interior blockers.
That leaves a long-term commitment as the path forward with respect to Linderbaum, who is open to re-signing. DeCosta has been clear about a mutual desire existing for a new pact, and on Tuesday he made a notable but not unexpected revelation. The Ravens have submitted a “market-setting” offer to Linderbaum’s camp, DeCosta said (h/t Zrebiec). The top of the center market reached $18MM per year when Creed Humphrey signed his Chiefs extension in 2024.
The NFL’s salary cap saw another jump after that pact was signed, and a surge past $300MM is expected when the 2026 figure is finalized. That leaves Linderbaum as an obvious candidate to surpass Humphrey in terms of AAV. The Chiefs Pro Bowler secured over $50MM in new guarantees on his extension, with $35MM of that figure fully guaranteed at signing. It would stand to reason Baltimore’s latest offer surpasses each of those figures, but further details on the Linderbaum negotiations will be worth watching for in any event.
Daniel Faalele has operated as the Ravens’ starting right guard for each of the past two years, but he is a pending free agent. The team could also look to upgrade from left guard Andrew Vorhees as a starter, so losing Linderbaum on the open market would leave open the possibility of three replacements being sought out this spring. Baltimore will look to avoid such a scenario, but it remains to be seen if the ongoing efforts to work out a deal will be sufficient to reach an agreement.
Jets Prepared To Tag RB Breece Hall
MARCH 1: The Jets are continuing to negotiate with Hall’s camp, per Hughes. The team prefers a new contract to a tag.
FEBRUARY 24: Breece Hall does not have a new Jets deal in hand at this point. Nevertheless, a departure should not be expected in his case. 
When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Darren Mougey reiterated his desire for a Hall agreement to be reached in time for free agency. Failing that, Mougey said (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) a tag will be used to ensure no departure will take place.
The franchise tag for running backs is projected to cost $14.54MM in 2026, while the transition tag is set to carry a value of $11.73MM. The latter option has been mentioned as a strong possibility in Hall’s case, so Mougey’s comments come as little surprise. Coming off a career-high 1,065 rushing yards, Hall would have been one of the top RB options on the open market had the Jets opted to go in a different direction.
Instead, the 24-year-old will remain in the fold for at least one season. Hall was not the subject of extension talks when Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn arrived last year, and uncertainty has loomed over his future ever since. During his latest public comments on the matter, Hall indicated an ambivalence toward remaining in New York or landing a notable pact elsewhere.
“You know, I don’t know,” the former second-rounder said during an interview with the New York Post. “I’ve addressed this for the last six, seven months now. But now I’m just kind of like whatever happens, happens.”
Hall added a level confidence that he will ultimately “get everything that’s coming” to him from a compensation standpoint. That could take the form of a long-term deal, but there have been no indications an agreement is imminent on this front. The running back market includes nine deals averaging at least $10MM per year, but that figure outpaces what Javonte Williams landed on his new Cowboys contract.
Connor Hughes of SNY notes Hall would likely not be willing to accept a three-year, $24MM offer like the one Williams took. The Jets could nonetheless remain close to those terms during negotiations knowing the one-year tag is still a fallback option. With nearly $80MM in cap space, the team will easily be able to afford either tag figure if applying one becomes necessary.
Offseason Outlook: Chicago Bears
Last offseason, the Bears underwent a major overhaul on the sidelines and in various parts of the roster. Expectations increased considerably for Year 2 of the Caleb Williams era, and it is certainly fair to say they were met.
The 2025 Bears made a habit of winding up on the right side of games decided in the closing moments through a run to the divisional round of the playoffs. The connection between Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson developed over time, and a much-improved offensive line yielded needed upgrades. There is nevertheless work to be done this spring if Chicago is to become a consistent postseason contender.
Coaching/front office:
- Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle accepted Ravens' OC position
- Press Taylor promoted as OC replacement
- Assistant general manger Ian Cunningham hired as Falcons' GM
- Jeff King promoted as assistant GM replacement
- Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy hired as Chiefs' offensive coordinator
- Eric Studesville hired as RBs coach
- DBs coach Al Harris interviewed for Commanders, Packers, Titans' DC vacancies
Doyle was an important member of Johnson’s initial staff, taking on the OC gig as part of his ongoing career ascension. The former Saints and Broncos staffer did not call plays during his one-and-done stint in Chicago, though. That proved to be a critical factor as the 2026 hiring cycle played out.
Lions To Explore LT Addition
Taylor Decker will continue his career in 2026. In spite of that, the Lions will still be in the market for reinforcements at the left tackle spot this offseason. 
“We’re still going to find a guy,” head coach Dan Campbell said about a situation in which Decker returned, shortly before that was confirmed to be taking place (h/t Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). “Because as much as I love Deck, he’s got some things that are going to need some management. That’s kind of where we’re at. One way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there and that can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter.”
Decker was able to play in 14 games this past season, the same figure as 2024. A first-team gig will await him once more during his 11th Lions campaign, but it would come as no surprise if Detroit sought out contingency plans in the short term. As things stand, former fourth-rounder pick Giovanni Manu would be among the top options to fill in on the blindside if needed.
A small number of left tackles in their prime – such as Rasheed Walker – are on track for free agency in March. The three-year Packers starter will land a deal worth far more than what the Lions will be budgeting for at the left tackle spot, though, so veteran stopgaps will need to be pursued instead. The likes of Cam Robinson, D.J. Humphries and Joseph Noteboom will hit the market shortly, and they would represent experienced depth for Detroit.
Campbell also noted, to no surprise, that shoring up the interior of the offensive line will be a priority as well this spring. Avoiding the struggles endured up front last season would go a long way in helping Detroit return to the playoffs in 2026. Two years remain on Decker’s contract, but the possibility of retirement will loom once again throughout next season.
The Lions are among the teams with notable work to be done to achieve cap compliance. Detroit is currently $12.16MM over the cap, so a high-priced left tackle addition will be hard to make. Bringing in a rookie will also be feasible, as the team owns eight selections in April’s draft.