NFL Mailbag: Willis, Patriots, Linderbaum
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag looks at the top pending free agent storyline in the league. Questions about the Patriots' receiver situation, the Broncos' new offensive coordinator setup and the best offensive lineman set to test the market are also addressed.
Phil asks:
Is this Malik Willis buzz genuine? With Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield getting around $33MM per year after quality seasons, how can teams feel comfortable handing Willis that kind of money as mostly a career backup?
It would (will?) be quite something if Willis were to land anything near that figure on an annual basis, wouldn’t it? In any case, I think his deal is going to take some fans by surprise based on how inexperienced he is.
Bears’ D.J. Moore, Gervon Dexter Drawing Trade Interest
A number of potential trades could be worked out shortly in the Bears’ case. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has been given permission to seek a change of scenery, while backup quarterback Tyson Bagent has been the subject of attention from suitors. 
Other Chicago players could soon find themselves on the move as well. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that wideout D.J. Moore as well as defensive tackle Gervon Dexter have mentioned during trade calls. Moore in particular is seen as being “available for the right price,” per Schultz.
Over the course of his three years in Chicago, Moore has remained a full-time starter. However, 2025 saw a notable drop-off in his production (682 yards) and usage (85 targets) compared to previous years. The former Panther still managed six touchdowns and was on the field for 85% of the team’s offensive snaps, showcasing his value in the event he is retained. As general manager Ryan Poles recently noted, though, the door is open to a trade.
“We want him here,” Poles said of Moore when speaking at the NFL Combine (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “We thinking highly of him… But this is the time now where we have to look at all the scenarios that will allow us to put the best team out there… He’s a guy we want here but we have to look at all the scenarios.”
One of those scenarios is a trade which would yield $16.5MM in cap savings (and generate a dead money charge of $12MM). As things stand, Moore is due to carry a cap hit of $28.5MM in 2026 absent a restructure or extension aimed at lowering that figure. On March 15, $15.5MM of the former first-rounder’s base salary for next season will become guaranteed. Clarity on this front will no doubt emerge before that date.
Dexter was a member of the Bears’ 2023 draft class, meaning he is now eligible for an extension. The Florida product was a rotational presence during his rookie season, but since then he has served as a full-time starter. Dexter has totaled 11 sacks over the past two years, and at the age of 24 he will be expected to remain productive for the foreseeable future. That will help his bargaining power on the extension front, but it will also make him an attractive trade target.
Dexter has one year remaining on his rookie pact. The benefits of a trade in his case would be negligible compared to a swap involving Edmunds or Moore, though. The chance of Chicago moving on from at least one veteran contract will be something to watch for as the new league year approaches.
NFL Could Allow Teams To Trade Draft Picks Five Years In Advance
FEBRUARY 26: The Browns have made this proposal, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Cleveland, which previously proposed a measure to push the trade deadline back (which eventually passed), would need 24 votes in the ownership ranks for this to pass. Depending how owners proceed, more trade opportunities could emerge beginning this offseason.
FEBRUARY 10: As things currently stand, NFL teams are permitted to trade draft picks no further than three years into the future. That could soon change. 
During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there will be a push from at least one team to extend the range for draft picks being dealt. Efforts will be made for selections as many as five years down the road to be allowed in trades, per Schefter. This will be something to monitor during next month’s league meetings.
Any expansion of trade flexibility would represent a shift in the direction of the NBA. That league’s rules allow for picks up to seven years in the future to be dealt. It should be kept in mind, though, that the Stepien Rule applies limits to how often teams can trade away a first-round pick. As a result of the rule, NBA teams cannot trade future first-round selections in consecutive years.
No such rule currently exists in the NFL. If things were to change this spring, however, a similar provision may receive consideration. Any widening of the range for draft capital to be traded – and its associated conditions – could of course lead to a change in roster-building strategy. Largely speaking, teams around the NFL attempt to remain competitive from one year to the next (due in large part to the requirement they spend close to the salary cap over any three-year period).
That approach could be altered to an extent if collecting large amounts of draft capital over an extended period became a viable option for rebuilding franchises. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see if contending teams became increasingly willing to part with picks in the distant future to facilitate win-now moves on a more frequent basis. Recent years have seen an uptick in trades leading up to the deadline, while blockbuster swaps in the offseason will no doubt remain possible in any given year no matter the circumstances.
The most recent case which saw an NFL team trade picks three years into the future was the Browns-Texans Deshaun Watson deal. Cleveland sent Houston a package highlighted by first-round selections in three consecutive years. The team would have been able to spread those picks out over a longer period (provided the Texans had been amenable to it, of course) had the range for pick trades been longer. When rule changes are considered during the spring, the potential for things to change on this front will be something to watch closely.
Bears Expect T Ozzy Trapilo To Make Full Recovery; Lengthy 2026 Absence Likely
Ozzy Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon during the wild-card round of the 2025 playoffs. His availability to the Bears early next season is in serious doubt as a result. 
Missing Trapilo for any considerable period would deal a notable blow to Chicago’s offensive line given his performances as a rookie. The 2025 second-round projects as a potential long-term solution on the blindside, the only O-line spot which is currently unaccounted for in the case of the Bears. While he will likely miss time in 2026, Trapilo is at least expected to make a full recovery.
“We expect him to come back and heal from it,” general manager Ryan Poles said when speaking at the Combine (via Kole Noble). “There’s a plan in place. I can’t get into the timelines or anything like that, I just don’t know. But, yeah, we expect him to be back and be himself. Pretty significant injury that he’s got to get through, but in terms of affecting his overall career or next year, I don’t see that being an issue.”
The starting left tackle gig was a talking point throughout the 2025 offseason. Incumbent Braxton Jones found himself benched early in the season before a knee injury of his own led to a lengthy spell out of the picture. Along with Trapilo, Theo Benedet saw considerable time in the lineup as Chicago cycled through its LT options. Jones is a pending free agent, and a departure would come as little surprise in his case.
That could leave Benedet and 2024 third-rounder Kiran Amegadjie as left tackle options early next season. Afterwards, Trapilo could work his way back into the fold upon returning to full strength. The 24-year-old’s attention will be focused on recovery for several more months, but becoming available at some point next season will of course be a welcomed sign for the Bears.
Giants Willing To Hear Trade Offers For Kayvon Thibodeaux
FEBRUARY 26: After just two days of the Combine, Thibodeaux has become a “name to keep an eye on,” for a potential trade, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. With Burns and Carter as their starting edge rushers, Thibodeaux may not be in the long-term plans of the Giants’ new regime. They will listen to trade offers, with some around the league expected Thibodeaux to eventually be dealt to another team.
FEBRUARY 24: Kayvon Thibodeaux was the subject of trade talks leading up to the deadline. No deal was reached, leaving him on course to remain with the Giants in 2026. 
New York picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option last spring. As a result, he is due $14.75MM next season. A full-time starting gig does not await in this case, but the former No. 5 selection appears to still be in the Giants’ plans at this point.
“Right now, Kayvon’s gonna be with us,” general manager Joe Schoen said at the Combine on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “He played well. He is going into his fifth year, and he’s motivated, and you can’t have enough pass rushers.”
Thibodeaux appeared to hit his stride during his second Giants season, posting 11.5 sacks and 35 quarterback pressures. The Oregon product has missed notable time through injury during both of his subsequent campaigns, however. Thibodeaux played 12 games in 2024 before managing 10 this past year. With only eight sacks across that span, he is not in position to operate as an edge rushing anchor for New York.
Brian Burns has proven to be an effective trade acquisition for the Giants. The former Panther has been a strong producer in two New York seasons, and he posted a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2025. Meanwhile, Abdul Carter saw his usage rate increase late in the year and he managed most of the output from his four-sack season down the stretch. Carter, selected third overall last spring, figures to pair with Burns as the Giants’ top edge rushers for years to come.
That leaves Thibodeaux in an interesting position. The 25-year-old has logged a snap share of at least 72% every year to date, but a path to a larger workload would only exist in the event of an injury to Burns and/or Carter. Extending Thibodeaux given his spotty track record would carry risk, while finding a trade partner willing to part with notable draft capital would no doubt be a challenge. Schoen noted (via Dan Duggan of The Athletic) no trade talks have occurred so far this offseason.
Free agency is set to include a number of veteran pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Bradley Chubb. Several younger options are on track to reach the market for the first time, and suitors could prefer to invest in them rather than acquiring Thibodeaux. In that case, efforts to work out a new Giants pact would be something to watch for.
Texans, QBs Coach Jerrod Johnson To Part Ways
C.J. Stroud will remain in place with the Texans for 2026. He will have a new position coach for the first time in his career next season, though.
[RELATED: Texans Confirm No Stroud Trade Forthcoming]
A parting of ways between Houston and quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson is set to take place, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Johnson had been on hand with the Texans since 2023, Stroud’s rookie campaign and the first with head coach DeMeco Ryans on the sidelines. Senior offensive assistant Jerry Schlupinski will take on a more direct role working with Stroud and the quarterbacks, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Schlupinski and offensive coordinator Nick Caley will work together to serve as an internal Johnson replacement, Wilson notes. He adds this decision was mutual, noting Johnson had already departed the Texans’ staff one week before the start of the ongoing NFL Combine. According to Wilson, Johnson – who worked with the Colts and Vikings prior to his Houston arrival – has a number of opportunities to consider as he explores his next coaching gig.
Stroud earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and helped lead the Texans to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2023. The team has reached that point of the playoffs each of the past two years, but Stroud’s level of play has drawn criticism over that span. Improved play at the receiver position and along the offensive line will be a goal for 2026. Upgrades on those fronts would be welcomed, but Stroud’s level of play in 2026 will be worth watching closely.
The former No. 2 pick is set to have his fifth-year option exercised this spring, although a long-term extension does not appear to be imminent. How Stroud manages to perform next season will thus be critical in informing how the team proceeds in his case. A pivotal 2026 campaign will take place with a new QBs coach in the fold.
Falcons Place Franchise Tag On TE Kyle Pitts
FEBRUARY 24: The Falcons have officially applied the tag to Pitts, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
FEBRUARY 23: Kyle Pitts is set to spend a sixth season in Atlanta. The veteran tight end is in position to receive the franchise tag, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 
Pitts will not reach the market based on today’s news. Instead of testing free agency for the first time in his career, Pitts will remain with the Falcons for 2026. The tight end tag is projected to cost $16.32MM, and the team will carry that cost on its cap sheet unless a long-term deal is worked out.
[RELATED: NFL Franchise Tag Recipients Since 2010]
The possibility of the franchise tag has steadily increased in this case, with Pitts enjoying a strong 2025 season and boosting his market value along the way. The former No. 4 pick set a new career high in receptions (88) and touchdowns (five) this past year, bouncing back from a highly underwhelming 2022-24 stretch. Pitts has expressed interest in playing in new head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s offense, and he will be able to do so for at least one year. Many around the NFL expected a tag in this instance, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms.
As a rookie, Pitts earned a Pro Bowl nod and topped 1,000 yards. The Florida alum was unable to match expectations beyond that point until his 2025 bounce-back campaign. Questions about inconsistency have been raised, and it will be interesting to see if a long-term commitment winds up being made by Atlanta. New president of football operations Matt Ryan was once Pitts’ teammate, putting him and the Falcons’ revamped group of decision-makers in an interesting position.
Atlanta is currently slated to have roughly $26.5MM in cap space, with a number of other priorities on offense to be sorted out this spring. A Kirk Cousins release is among them, while wideout Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson are each eligible for extensions. Keeping those two in the fold well beyond 2026 will be costly, especially if a multi-year commitment winds up being made to Pitts. At the age of 25, the second-team All-Pro could command a lucrative pact from Atlanta this year or outside suitors in 2027 in the event he reaches free agency.
Stefanski’s ability to improve an offense which ranked just 19th in scoring in 2025 will be key. Pitts figures to play a large role in that effort regardless of whether or not he agrees to a new Falcons pact over the coming months. July 15 represents the deadline for franchise-tagged players to work out a long-term pact with their respective teams.
Raiders GM John Spytek Expects To Retain Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby has regularly received public endorsements from the Raiders when his future has been discussed. That is still the case as the latest round of trade speculation continues.
General manager John Spytek has remained consistent in his public messaging on the Crosby front. That continued today when he was speaking to reporters at the Combine. Spytek was asked if he expects to retain the star edge rusher and he delivered an expected response.
“I do,” he said (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden). “Maxx is an elite player, and I’ve been very upfront from the start when I got here that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team, and we need a lot more of them.”
Spytek did add that he is “always listening” when it comes to trade offers, and that applies to Crosby as well. Recent reporting has indicated it will take a monster offer to pry Crosby out of Las Vegas.
We’ve now heard multiple reports of a Micah Parsons-like haul being required for such a move, with the most recent offering indicating a bidding war could bump the asking price to two first-rounders. Parsons fetched two firsts and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, though the former Cowboys dynamo was going into an age-26 season at the time of that trade. Crosby will turn 29 this summer.
One wrinkle here would stand to help the Raiders set such a high asking price. Unlike Parsons or Khalil Mack (in 2018), Crosby is not positioned to need a new contract. The Raiders extended their top player on a $35.5MM-per-year deal that runs through the 2029 season. That makes this a rare situation, as most blockbuster pass rusher trades have come when a player is unable to reach a contract agreement with the trading team.
It would behoove the Raiders to listen on Crosby, as their roster has plenty of needs. Fernando Mendoza is expected to fill one of them at No. 1 overall, but Las Vegas finished 3-14 — with win No. 3 coming over a noncommitted Chiefs team. A trade would bring back at least a first-rounder and a Day 2 pick, perhaps more, to give Vegas an opportunity to add low-cost draftees to what is expected to be a Mendoza-centered roster soon. The team could certainly hang onto Crosby for his age-29 slate; or, like Parsons, the Silver and Black could delay a swap until the summer — with 2027 draft choices being the prize.
This storyline came about because Crosby voiced frustration about his injury-driven shutdown last season. The star edge rusher is believed to have spoken to the Raiders about wanting to be moved, even though no official trade request has emerged. The Raiders could force Crosby’s hand by refusing to trade him, putting pressure on the player to incur fines for missing training camp and/or miss game checks. But the team also may want to do right by its top 2020s performer.
We are in the first of the NFL’s 2026 trade windows, and plenty of teams will be eyeing the decorated EDGE. With the Combine serving as a gateway to trade and free agency prices, the Raiders will have a big decision to make soon.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Zach Ertz Plans To Play In 2026; TE Could Be Cleared By Week 1
Zach Ertz is on the list of the Commanders’ pending free agents. He may remain unsigned for a notable period, but the veteran tight end intends to continue playing in 2026. 
Ertz does not plan on retiring this year, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. That confirms a recent update on the matter, ensuring a 14th NFL season is in store. The 35-year-old has been in Washington since 2024.
Over the course of his two Commanders seasons, Ertz has operated as a full-time starter. The three-time Pro Bowler was a key factor in Washington’s offense during Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign, notching seven touchdowns on 66 catches. Last year, an ACL tear suffered in early December brought things to an immediate and unwanted halt. Ertz’s market will of course be greatly impacted by the status of his recovery.
On that note, Pelissero adds Ertz is expected to receive full medical clearance around Week 1 of next season. If that timeline holds, interested teams may be willing to move quicker with respect to a free agent deal than if a lengthy spell on the sidelines was expected during the 2026 campaign. Given his age, Ertz should not be expected to land a long-term pact from the Commanders or any other team. Still, he could be viewed as a low-cost veteran addition for any number of suitors.
Washington selected Ben Sinnott in the second round of the 2024 draft. He has managed only 16 catches to date in the regular season, but an uptick in usage could be coming if Ertz departs. Washington could also be in the market for another experienced tight end to pair with Sinnott while looking to rebound from last year’s underwhelming showing.
Ertz ranks fifth all time in receptions among NFL tight ends. His 8,592 yards are No. 8, but a move up the order could be in store provided he manages to play a full season upon returning to full health. It appears as though that will be possible given where his recovery stands, so it will be interesting to see how his market looks in the spring.
Ian Cunningham: Falcons Will Release QB Kirk Cousins
The Falcons’ recent restructure of Kirk Cousins‘ contract added further to the widespread expectation a release would be coming. New general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed as much on Tuesday. 
While appearing on 92.9 The Game, Cunningham said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic) Cousins will be released on the first day of the new league year. That means the Pro Bowl quarterback’s Atlanta tenure will come to an end on March 11. Cousins was set to see his 2027 salary (inflated to $67.9MM) vest in full on March 13, but to no surprise that will not be the case. This pending post-June 1 release will generate only $2.1MM in cap savings while creating $22.5MM in dead money charges (which can be spread across two years).
Cousins is therefore on track to reach free agency just before agreements with suitors can be finalized. The 37-year-old wishes to continue his career, and it will be interesting to see how his market takes shape in the near future. Especially if Daniel Jones remains in place with the Colts, free agency will not offer much in the way of starting-caliber veterans at the QB position. Cunningham later said (h/t Kendall) the Falcons will not be re-signing Cousins at a reduced rate, something which would have given them insurance while Michael Penix Jr. recovers.
Penix has yet to receive a full endorsement from Atlanta’s new regime – including Cunningham, president of football operations Matt Ryan and head coach Kevin Stefanski – and his Week 1 availability is uncertain at this time. Penix has endured up-and-down showings while atop the depth chart early in his NFL career, and the former first-rounder has a long injury history dating back to his days in college. Once Cousins is off the books, a new deal in his case will be needed or Atlanta will be in the market for an experienced addition through free agency or trade.
For Cousins, meanwhile, a return to Minnesota will increasingly be something to watch for over the coming weeks. The possibility of a Vikings reunion has picked up steam in league circles recently, and it would of course fit on a number of levels. J.J. McCarthy has missed considerable time during his first two years in the NFL, and his level of play when on the field has left plenty to be desired. That has left Minnesota in the market for QB1 competition, and Cousins would be a familiar face for head coach Kevin O’Connell and Co. after playing with the Vikings from 2018-23.
The lack of a long-term commitment on the part of Minnesota helped lead Cousins to head elsewhere in free agency. His four-year, $160MM Falcons pact seemed to put him on track for multiple years atop the depth chart, but it was quickly followed by the Penix selection. Since then, speculation has lingered about when a parting of ways would take place and leave Penix in place as the clear-cut QB1 (or a passer set to compete with a new arrival for the starting gig). That time will soon arrive.