5 Key Stories: 2/15/26 – 2/22/26
With the countdown to free agency ongoing, teams will increasingly need to make a number of critical roster moves over the coming weeks. Several have already taken place, though. Here is a quick recap of the past week around the NFL:
- Dolphins Begin Cost Shedding: The Dolphins were among the teams set to approach the new league year in the worst shape financially. As such, several cost-cutting moves were due to be made by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Monday brought about several, with wideout Tyreek Hill and edge rusher Bradley Chubb among the players being released. Neither move came as much of a surprise, but they confirmed a major roster overhaul is being undertaken under Sullivan and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. Hill’s NFL future has been the subject of speculation for several months, but like Chubb he intends to continue playing in 2026. Meanwhile, attention will now increasingly turn to the matter of how Miami proceeds with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
- Evans To Play 13th Season: Pending free agent Mike Evans is known to be nearing the end of his career. However, the Buccaneers icon will play in 2026. This past season was the first in which Evans was unable to reach 1,000 receiving yards, and the injuries which limited him to just eight games will no doubt hinder his market value. Nevertheless, the six-time Pro Bowler could be one of the top wideouts in the upcoming free agent class. A Tampa Bay departure seemed like a possibility the last time Evans was in this situation, and it will be interesting to see if he seriously explores other opportunities in March. At the age of 32, is next Bucs pact – if one is to be worked out – could very well be his last.
- Seahawks On The Market: As expected, the Seahawks will have new ownership in the relatively near future. The Super Bowl LX champions have begun the process of being sold, falling in line with estate requirements of the late Paul Allen. The sale of Allen’s other franchise – the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers – has already been worked out. That produced a price of roughly $4.2 billion, which is a far lower figure than what the Seahawks will fetch. A sale price easily eclipsing the $6.05 billion the Commanders were sold for in 2023 is expected, although no known suitors have emerged so far. That could change over the coming months.
- Williams Lands New Cowboys Deal: Signing with the Cowboys in 2025 allowed Javonte Williams to enjoy a standout season. Instead of testing the open market this time around, the veteran back agreed to a three-year, $24MM deal to remain in Dallas. Williams secured $16MM guaranteed, a healthy bump in pay compared to his first Cowboys pact. The former second-rounder signed for just one year and $3MM last spring, a deal which proved to be quite team-friendly. Williams, 25, set new career highs across the board with Dallas, thriving as part of the team’s high-end offense. He will be expected to do the same with the most lucrative contract of his career in hand.
- Moore Dies At 25: Saturday brought about the tragic news of Rondale Moore‘s passing. The 25-year-old was found dead in a garage of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana. Moore spent his first three NFL seasons with the Cardinals before being traded to the Falcons. A major knee injury kept him sidelined for the entire 2024 season, leading the Purdue product to free agency for the first time in his career. A one-year Vikings contract was worked out, but during his first preseason action with Minnesota Moore once again suffered a season-ending knee injury. In all, he made 40 combined regular and postseason appearances in the NFL.
Broncos To Re-Hire John Morton
John Morton will once again find himself in Denver for the 2026 campaign. He will occupy a familiar role on Sean Payton‘s staff next season. 
Morton is coming back to the Broncos on a full-time basis, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He will once again hold the title of pass-game coordinator. It was in that capacity that Morton worked in Denver during the 2023 and ’24 seasons.
Lats year, Morton was hired by the Lions to serve as Ben Johnson‘s offensive coordinator replacement. Things did not go according to plan in Detroit, to say the least. By the end of the season, head coach Dan Campbell had taken on play-calling duties. That made it no surprise when Morton was dismissed immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.
Morton was not out of work for long, even with his Lions gig coming to an end. The 56-year-old returned to the Broncos in time for their playoff run. As a result, it is certainly not a shock Payton has simply elected to continue having Morton in place on a full-time basis. The most significant difference between Morton’s first Broncos stint and his upcoming one, of course, is the recent change made at the offensive coordinator spot.
Joe Lombardi was fired not long after Denver’s loss in the AFC title game. That paved the way for the highly in-demand Davis Webb to be promoted to OC. It remains to be seen if Payton will hand down play-calling duties to Webb for 2026, but in any case the dynamic between the two will be different than it previously was. Morton, meanwhile, will look to make a seamless transition back to his previous role in Denver. Doing so could help rebuild his stock and lead to future coordinator opportunities.
Vikings WR Rondale Moore Dies At 25
10:05pm: As noted by Jay Skeeba of WHAS11, the Coroner’s Office in Floyd County, Indiana has autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow. New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey said Moore was found dead in a garage of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.
8:07pm: Rondale Moore passed away on Saturday, a Vikings source confirmed to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The receiver was 25 years old. At this time, the team is in the process of gathering details surrounding Moore’s death. 
A second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2021, Moore entered the league coming off a college career which showcased plenty of potential. As a freshman at Purdue, he earned All-American honors while delivering strong production as a receiver and a returner. Moore only played another seven games in college, but his draft stock remained high.
Across three seasons in Arizona, Moore saw his playing time fluctuate. His production remained relatively consistent as he operated as a secondary option in the passing game while also seeing time as a runner. In March of 2024, Moore was traded to the Falcons in a straight swap for quarterback Desmond Ridder.
That set him up for a new chapter in his NFL career, but it did not prove to be possible. Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury mere months after being dealt to the Falcons. His rookie contract expired before having the opportunity to play for the team. Moore’s first trip to free agency generated interest and resulted in a one-year Vikings agreement.
While making his preseason debut for Minnesota, however, Moore suffered another major knee injury. That one also resulted in a season-long absence. After rehabbing the latest ailment, Moore was on track to test the market once again in March. In total, Moore played 40 combined regular and postseason games.
Chargers Unlikely To Be Active In Free Agency
The Chargers are currently projected to have nearly $83MM in cap space for the 2026 offseason. That could lead to a spending spree, but such an approach should not be expected. 
Joe Hortiz is entering his third offseason as the Bolts’ general manager. The veteran executive’s time in Los Angeles was preceded by a lengthy stint with the Ravens, a team known for emphasizing the draft in its roster-building philosophy. Hortiz has maintained a similar approach to that of the Ravens so far in his GM tenure, and that can be expected to continue this year.
“I don’t want to spend recklessly,” Hortiz recently said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim). “If you chase perceived needs in free agency, in the draft and more often than not overpaying or making a mistake. So, we do have to be calculated. We have to be smarter.”
The Chargers find themselves in need of additions along the interior of the offensive and defensive lines this spring. The team’s pass rush setup could also be much different relatively soon, as both Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack are pending free agents. Hortiz will have a number of key decisions to make over the coming months. Los Angeles currently has six draft picks, including one in each of the first four rounds.
Some of the team’s positional needs will no doubt remain largely unfilled until April, as is common practice around the league. Nevertheless, the Chargers could manage to win at least one notable bidding war on the open market given their financial flexibility. A continued emphasis will no doubt continue to be placed on retaining in-house players, of course. The new pact for Teair Tart is a recent example of strong Los Angeles performers landing notable commitments from Hortiz and the front office.
There are other candidates to be re-signed in short order, and the Bolts also obviously have a list of extension candidates to work on leading up to Week 1. There could still be room for a splashy outside addition or two, but much of the team’s resources will likely be aimed elsewhere.
Jets Undecided On RB Breece Hall; Transition Tag Could Be In Play?
Breece Hall looms as one of the top franchise tag candidates for 2026. That option has not been taken off the table by the Jets so far, but others are being weighed as well. 
New York remains undecided on the Hall front at this time, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. As expected, an extension was not worked out during the regular season, although the team is still interested in retaining its lead running back. A new Hall deal keeping Hall in the fold is one possibility in this case, Fowler confirms.
He adds, however, that the transition tag is seen by some around the league as an expected move on the Jets’ part. Applying the franchise tag to running backs this offseason is projected to cost roughly $14.5MM. The transition tag will check in at a rate of approximately $11.73MM, by contrast. Players who receive the transition tag are free to speak with outside teams and sign an offer sheet; unmatched offer sheets do not result in draft compensation.
As a result, the transition tag is rarely used in the NFL. Whether or not the Jets give serious thought to applying it in Hall’s case will be interesting to monitor. The 24-year-old has managed to remain durable and consistent since suffering an ACL tear during his rookie season. Hall topped 1,300 scrimmage yards for the third consecutive season in 2025, and he surpassed 1,000 on the ground for the first time despite playing on one of the league’s worst offenses.
A payday (relatively speaking, considering the nature of the running back market) should be coming shortly. Hall could wind up being the top back in free agency if the decision-making tandem of general manager Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn – which was not in place when he was drafted – opts to move in a different direction. A long-term agreement could result in pact averaging $12MM or so per year, but it would give the Jets flexibility with respect to Hall’s cap charges while keeping him at a rate similar to that of the transition tag.
New York is currently fourth in the NFL in projected cap space, so absorbing the one-year cost of a franchise or transition tag would be more feasible for that team than most others. Finding a replacement in the backfield could become a priority for the Jets through either free agency or the draft, but that may not prove necessary depending on how they operate leading up to the tag deadline.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/21/26
Saturday brought about one minor move in the NFL:
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Jarrett Kingston
Kingston was on track to be one of Houston’s exclusive rights restricted free agents this spring. Instead, a new Texans deal has been worked out. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports this is a one-year, $1.1MM pact with a $15K signing bonus representing the only guaranteed money. A $10K workout bonus is also present in the deal, and Kingston can earn it during the offseason program. The 26-year-old made a pair of appearances with Houston in 2025.
NFL Mailbag: Kyler, Hendrickson, Carr, OL
In this week's edition of the PFR mailbag, questions regarding Kyler Murray, Trey Hendrickson, Derek Carr, the Browns' offensive line outlook and more are addressed.
Shea asks:
Where do you think Kyler Murray will end up? Do you think the ship has sailed with the Cardinals or is there a path for him to play under the new staff?
It is understandable that new head coach Mike LaFleur has declined to make any kind of declaration at this point of the offseason. That leaves the door open to keeping Murray for 2026, which probably wouldn’t be the worst option.
Rams To Promote Nate Scheelhaase To OC
The Rams will take the expected route of promoting from within to fill the offensive coordinator spot. Nate Scheelhaase is in position to take on an elevated role in 2026. 
Scheelhaase is being promoted to the role of offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. He will serve as Mike LaFleur‘s replacement as a result. Schefter adds that quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone will maintain his current role while also having co-offensive coordinator added to his title.
During a head coaching hiring cycle dominated by staffers with a defensive background, Scheelhaase stood out. The 35-year-old has seen his stock rise considerably during a brief period. Only in place with the Rams since 2024 – his first foray into coaching at the NFL level – Scheelhaase was one of the most popular targets for HC interviews around the league last month.
After starting out at Illinois in 2015, Scheelhaase worked his way up the ladder at the NCAA level. He spent six years at Iowa State, working as the team’s offensive coordinator and QBs coach in 2023. That was followed by an arrival on Sean McVay‘s staff, something which has quickly resulted in an OC gig in the NFL. McVay will no doubt retain play-calling duties moving forward, but Scheelhaase will take on added responsibilities for 2026. He will look to become the latest member of the McVay coaching tree to elevate his standing around the league and land the opportunity to lead a staff elsewhere.
Ragone had been the only coach connected to the Rams’ OC vacancy since LaFleur departed to take charge of the Cardinals. After three years as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator under Arthur Smith, Ragone joined the Rams as their quarterbacks coach. He has played a key role in Matthew Stafford‘s ability to remain highly productive deep into his career, including an MVP campaign in 2025. The two will continue working together for at least one more year, but Ragone, 46, will also take on OC responsibilities for the first time since 2023.
The Rams averaged 30.5 points per game this season, good for first in the NFL. With Stafford set to return – likely on another reworked contract – expectations will remain very high for the unit. Continued efficiency would go a long way in setting Los Angeles up for another deep playoff run, and it would help Scheelhaase’s stock rise even further. A strong year with the title of offensive coordinator would no doubt lead to another wave of HC interest during the 2027 hiring cycle.
Ravens Hope To Re-Sign Tyler Linderbaum
As free agency approaches, Tyler Linderbaum remains one of the top players on track to reach the open market. The Pro Bowl center is still in Baltimore’s plans at this point, though. 
Last spring, the Ravens declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option. That move came as little surprise since option values are determined by grouping together all offensive linemen. The same is also true of the franchise tag, leaving it as an unfeasible means of Baltimore keeping Linderbaum in the fold. Whether or not a long-term deal can be worked out over the coming weeks remains to be seen.
“We’ve got some work to do on Tyler Linderbaum’s contract,” general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged during an appearance on the Inner Circle podcast (video link). “He’s a free agent. We strongly hope to have him back. He’s a great player for us and a great leader.”
Linderbaum expressed a desire to remain in Baltimore shortly after the team’s 2025 season ended. Based on DeCosta’s comments, the feeling is mutual. Baltimore has other matters to attend to from a financial standpoint in time for free agency, however. The most pressing one is a restructuring of quarterback Lamar Jackson‘s contract; until and unless that takes place, the Ravens’ cap flexibility will be unclear. The team’s ability to authorize a major Linderbaum extension will hinge in large part on its success in carving out space for 2026.
Seven centers are currently attached to an average annual value of at least $10MM. That list will soon grow, as Linderbaum is a strong candidate to reset the market. The Iowa product could easily top $18MM per year, which is the value of Creed Humphrey‘s Chiefs pact. Entering his age-26 season and having missed only two games so far in his career, Linderbaum will have no shortage of suitors if he tests the open market.
The Ravens may have a veteran contingency in place in the form of Connor McGovern should Linderbaum head elsewhere in March. Their preference would no doubt be to maintain the status quo at the center spot, and it will be interesting to see if progress at the negotiating table can be made shortly.
Bears Approaching Indiana Relocation?
FEBRUARY 20: Even if the Bears move to Indiana, they will continue to practice at Halas Hall, their facility in Lake Forest, Illinois, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Lake Forest is about 40 miles north of Soldier Field in Chicago and about 60 miles north of Hammond, Indiana. That distance is “largely irrelevant,” Finley adds, “given that the Bears, like every other NFL team, spends the night before each game — both home and away — at a hotel.”
The Bears invested over $100MM in Halas Hall in 2019 and both players and staff live in the area, so moving away would cause a number of unnecessary headaches for the team.
FEBRUARY 19: The Bears have looked into a potential relocation to northwest Indiana as they weigh their new stadium options. A move across the border appears to remain a distinct possibility. 
On Thursday, an amendment to Senate Bill 27 received unanimous approval in the state during a Ways and Means committee hearing in Indiana. As noted by All CHGO’s Adam Hoge, only a direct agreement between governor Mike Braun and the Bears themselves seems to be in the way of a final step regarding relocation. It was confirmed today the Bears are still willing to commit $2 billion to the construction of a new stadium in Indiana, as they have been for a potential move to Arlington Heights in Illinois.
“We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal,” a statement from Braun reads in part. “If approved, the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 27 puts forward the essential framework to complete this agreement, contingent upon site due diligence proceeding smoothly.”
An Illinois House Finance and Revenue committee hearing was scheduled to take place today, but it was canceled. Hoge reports the megaprojects bill which could have granted the Bears “tax certainty” regarding the Arlington Heights project was on the agenda but was not set to be voted on. The Bears still own a plot in Arlington Heights at this time.
“The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date,” a Bears statement reads in part. “We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana… We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”
Hammond falls within a 75-mile radius of downtown Chicago. As such, the Bears already own marketing rights there in line with NFL rules for all of its teams. As noted by the Indy Star’s Joel A. Erickson, the Colts’ stance on this matter has not changed since a Bears relocation to Indiana became possible. The Colts simply “wish the Bears all the best on their stadium initiative.”
Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated reports a move across the Illinois-Indiana border “feels like an inevitability” at this point. Nothing has been finalized, but this is certainly a situation to watch closely. Interestingly, a move to Hammond would see the Bears play in the same location where George Halas spent time as a player in 1919 (h/t Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times). The manner in which Illinois responds to today’s developments will likely play a key role in determining the Bears’ post-Soldier Field future.