Jets To Sign OLB Joseph Ossai
Joseph Ossai will not return to the Bengals in 2026. The pass rusher’s first trip to free agency will instead send him to New York.
Ossai and the Jets have agreed to terms, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. This will be a three-year pact worth $36MM, Schultz adds. Ossai will receive $22.5MM fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Expectations will be high for notable production off the edge in this case for 2026 and beyond as a result.
A third-round pick in 2021, Ossai spent his entire four-year career in Cincinnati. He had a part-time role through his first two years in the NFL but took on more responsibility in 2024. He finished that campaign with 46 tackles and five sacks while getting into about 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
He started a career-high nine games this past year, finishing with 43 stops and five sacks. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked him 70th among 119 qualifying edge defenders, with the site being most bullish on his run-stopping ability.
He’ll have a chance at a three-down role in New York. The Jets needed to add some pass-rush help following the Jermaine Johnson trade. At the very least, Ossai will contribute on third-down, but the Jets lack of defensive depth (and the team’s financial commitment) means he should see a full-time role for his new squad.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Bears, DT Neville Gallimore Agree To Deal
Neville Gallimore‘s next NFL gig has been lined up. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to terms with the Bears on a two-year, $12MM deal, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
The former third-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Dallas, where he served as a depth piece on the defensive line. He had four sacks across his four years with the Cowboys, and he wasn’t retained following the conclusion of his rookie pact.
He spent most the 2024 season with the Rams, where he tallied 19 tackles in 14 games (four starts). He had a standout showing in the playoffs that year, collecting 2.5 sacks in two games.
He caught on with the Colts last offseason and had one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with career-highs in tackles (38) and sacks (3.5). Despite the numbers, Pro Football Focus only ranked him 75th among 127 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did appreciate his pass-rush ability.
Gallimore will look to carry over his production to Chicago. He’ll be joining a depth chart that currently features Grady Jarrett and former second-round pick Gervon Dexter. This signing could signal that the team’s set to move on from free agent DT Andrew Billings.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Giants To Sign TE Isaiah Likely
One of the Giants’ first moves of free agency will be the addition of a familiar face. To little surprise, tight end Isaiah Likely will be heading to New York once his new contract is officially in place.
Likely has agreed to a three-year Giants deal, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. The pact has a base value of $40MM and can max out at $47.5MM. Likely will reunite with head coach John Harbaugh after the two worked together in Baltimore for four seasons.
The 25-year-old was considered one of the top tight ends in this year’s class, although his career numbers didn’t necessarily reflect that ranking. Likely mostly played behind Mark Andrews during his time in Baltimore, but he still showed plenty of offensive flashes. He started 17 of his 33 appearances between 2023 and 2024, averaging 36 catches for 444 yards and 5.5 touchdowns per season.
However, thanks in part to Lamar Jackson‘s injury and subsequent late-season struggles, Likely failed to take the step forward that many expected in 2025. The fourth-year player ultimately finished the campaign with career-lows in receptions (27), receiving yards (307), and touchdowns (one).
Now, he’ll be joining his former coach in New York for a potential full-time starting role. Theo Johnson led Giants TEs in snaps last season and will surely be back in 2026 after finishing this past year with 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns. Chris Manhertz is also still around after not missing a game for the Giants over the past two years.
Likely seemed intent to find a starting gig as a free agent, and he was presumably given some assurances about playing time in New York. The Giants also paid him like a starter, with Likely’s new AAV ranking sixth at the position. Still, there’s a scenario where Likely finds himself once again splitting reps at the position.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Ravens, G John Simpson Agree To Deal
In need of improvements at the guard spot, the Ravens are turning to a familiar face. John Simpson is on his way back to Baltimore.
An agreement has been reached on a three-year, $30MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Simpson served as a starter with the Ravens in 2023 before doing the same as a member of the Jets for the past two years. He will be counted on to again operate as a first-team staple during his second Baltimore stint.
Following a Raiders tenure that saw him alternating between the starting lineup and the bench, Simpson emerged as a true starter during his one-year stop in Baltimore in 2023. He started all 17 games that season, grading out 49th among 79 qualifiers on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
While that grade would signal he’s more of a situational player, it was still enough to earn him a two-year contract from the Jets in 2024. He outperformed his deal during his first season in New York, finishing the year ranked 11th among 77 qualifiers. However, his production took a step back in 2025, with PFF dropping him to 51st among 79 qualifiers. He was especially punished for penalties, where he tallied 11 flags for 106 yards.
Still, he should represent some veteran dependability for the Ravens. Considering the investment, Simpson will likely slide into his familiar spot at left guard, meaning Andrew Vorhees and Emery Jones Jr. could be left to battle for the RG job.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Bucs To Re-Sign TE Cade Otton
Instead of testing the market during his first trip to free agency, Cade Otton will choose to remain in place. A new Buccaneers pact is being finalized with the fifth-year tight end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Otton has landed a three-year deal, Ari Meriov of the 33rd Team reports. The pact has a base value of $30MM, and it contains $20MM in guarantees. That $10MM AAV now ranks 15th among tight ends, with his guarantees ranking 14th at the position.
The 2022 fourth-round pick out of Washington earned the trust of Tom Brady as a rookie, when he finished with 42 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns. He continued that production when Baker Mayfield took over under center, with Otton emerging as a key target on a talented offense.
He had his best showing in 2024, when he hauled in 59 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games. His follow-up showing wasn’t as impressive, especially as the Buccaneers navigated a number of injuries on offense. Still, Otton finished the year with another 59 catches for 572 yards and one touchdown. The 26-year-old has also graded out as an above-average pass blocker in recent years.
Otton will continue to lead the depth chart in 2026. He could theoretically see an increased target share following the departure of Mike Evans. However, with the likes of Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson still around, it’s more likely Otton will see a similar offensive role in 2026.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Patriots To Sign OLB Dre’Mont Jones
Adding along the edge was known to be a priority for the Patriots early in free agency. It has not taken long for a deal to be worked out on that front.
Dre’Mont Jones is heading to New England, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. This will be a three-year, $39MM pact, he adds. A strong showing split between two teams in 2025 has resulted in a notable payday for Jones. The max value of this New England pact is $39.5MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network; he adds $14.5MM will be paid out in the first year.
Jones has never garnered more than 800 defensive snaps in any of his seven NFL seasons, but he’s still proven to be a reliable pass-rusher when he’s on the field. He’s compiled at least 3.5 sacks each year of his career, including 18 total sacks with the Broncos between 2020 and 2022. That run earned him a three-year contract with the Seahawks in 2023. After tallying only 8.5 sacks between 2023 and 2024, the Seahawks moved on before the final year of Jones’ contract.
He inked a one-year, $10MM prove-it deal with the Titans last offseason and was productive in nine starts, collecting 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was traded to the Ravens in November for a conditional fifth-round pick, and he proceeded to add another 2.5 sacks down the stretch for his new squad. He ultimately finished the year ranked 64th among 119 qualifying edge defenders on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
The Patriots were a clear suitor for a pass rusher after finishing this past year without a 10-sack player. Harold Landry joined the Patriots via a similar deal last offseason and paced New England with 8.5 sacks. Landry’s knee injury may be a concern heading into 2026, so Jones could help soak up any necessary snaps. Jones may also be a potential replacement for K’Lavon Chaisson, who is hitting free agency following his 7.5-sack showing in 2025.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Texans To Re-Sign DT Sheldon Rankins
As the Texans hoped, Sheldon Rankins will be in the fold next season. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to a new Houston deal.
Rankins is signing a two-year contract with the Texans, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The pact includes $12MM in guarantees. Rankins will be counted on to remain a key presence on the team’s elite defense moving forward as a result of today’s news. An average annual value of “well over” $6MM is present in this new pact, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Rankins caught on for his second stint with the Texans last offseason, when he inked a one-year, $5.25MM deal. It was a bounceback season following his seven-game showing with the Bengals in 2024. Rankins finished the 2025 campaign with 35 tackles and three sacks while starting every game for the Texans. He also was a standout during Houston’s playoff win over the Steelers, when he returned a fumble for a touchdown. He ultimately finished the year ranked 27th among 127 qualifiers on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
The former Saints first-round pick has had an up-and-down career, leading to him bouncing around the NFL a bit following his departure from New Orleans. Following a pair of forgettable seasons with the Jets, Rankins had been one of the best showings of his career with the Texans in 2023. He finished that year with 37 tackles and six sacks. That performance earned him a two-year deal with the Bengals, but he missed 10 games while nursing a hamstring and recovering from an illness in 2024. He was cut by Cincy last offseason.
Now, he’s seemingly found a home in Houston. Rankins will retain his starting gig next to Tommy Togiai in 2026. Tim Settle‘s departure could open up a depth role on the defensive line, so Rankins should have a relatively long leash.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Patriots Unlikely To Retain Harold Landry?
FEBRUARY 24: When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, executive vice president Eliot Wolf said (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald) he expects Landry to remain in place for next season. Things could change between now and the start of free agency, but it appears as though a second New England campaign is in store.
FEBRUARY 19: Harold Landry paced the Patriots with 8.5 sacks this past season, but the linebacker’s stay in New England may only last one year. When asked about the status of the veteran defender, Christopher Price of the Boston Globe opined that the player wouldn’t be back with the Patriots in 2026 (via Patriots on CLNS).
Price points to the player’s age and injuries as a reason for why the Patriots may look to move on. The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury back in Week 6, didn’t miss a game, and then reinjured the same knee in Week 12. The Patriots didn’t push the veteran in practices, and they later held him out of the team’s final two regular season games.
Landry returned for New England’s playoff opener but saw a drop in reps, as his 43.3 percent snap share represented a season low. That number dropped to 14.7 percent (11 snaps) in the second round before Landry was ruled out for the AFC Championship. He returned for the Super Bowl but was once again limited, appearing in only 14 defensive snaps.
As Price notes, the Patriots will likely be seeking some youth and consistency on the edge, putting Landry’s roster status in doubt. Working in the player’s favor is his relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel. Landry was one of the coach’s most dependable defenders when the two were in Tennessee, and Vrabel was quick to recruit the linebacker to New England via a three-year, $43.5MM deal.
Landry has still shown an ability to get after the QB in recent years. After missing the 2022 campaign due to a torn ACL, he averaged more than nine sacks per season between 2023 and 2025. The player’s contract makes it seem like he’s all but locked into a spot on the 2026 roster; the Patriots would clear just over $1MM in savings while being left with $15MM in dead cap (via a post-June 1 designation). The more likely path sees the Patriots rework the contract to keep Landry around on a more affordable pact, although if the organization believes he may not be able to recover from his knee issues, perhaps Price’s prediction may come to fruition.
While the Patriots front office will evaluate players who remain under contract, they’ll also have to consider their grouping of impending free agents. Two of the team’s key free agents come on the defensive side of the ball, as both pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins are set to hit the open market.
A former first-round pick, Chaisson was brought to New England last offseason via a one-year deal. He ended up having one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with 7.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, and 10 tackles for loss. He’s destined to cash in on his performance this offseason, but considering New England’s lack of depth on the edge, there’s a chance his next contract comes from the Patriots.
Hawkins spent the past two seasons in New England, but the team’s new leadership was willing to give him a larger role than the former regime. Hawkins ended up leaping both Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers on the depth chart en route to a career season. The 28-year-old started all 15 of his appearances, finishing with 71 tackles, six passes defended, and 1.5 sacks.
While both players are eyeing raises, they may have interest in working out some kind of arrangement with the franchise. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes, both players have expressed interest in re-signing with the Patriots. Hawkins told reporters that he wants to “remain here for sure,” while Chaisson acknowledged the organization’s role in reviving his career.
Offseason Outlook: New England Patriots
The Patriots are back...depending on who you ask. Most teams could only dream of New England's turnaround in 2025. Following two straight four-win showings, the team ripped off their Jerod Mayo band-aid and opted for old friend and eventual Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel. The results were undeniable. The Patriots won 14 games before a run to the Super Bowl. At the same time, Drake Maye truly broke out, finishing second in MVP voting.
On the flip side, critics point to New England's historically easy schedule, and its run through the AFC playoffs saw them beat a depleted Chargers O-line, a turnover-happy C.J. Stroud and Broncos QB2 Jarrett Stidham. When reviewing their entire 2025 performance, there are rightful reasons for skepticism.
Regardless of your opinion on the quality of the 2025 Patriots, two things can be true. The organization took significant steps forward both in record and future outlook. Plus, besides Maye, the team identified some clear foundational pieces on both sides of the football. At the same time, the Patriots clearly benefitted from some layup opponents, and a step back in 2026 wouldn't surprise many.
Following a spending spree last offseason, there are certainly reasons to believe the Patriots will not spend nearly as much in 2026. However, if the organization wants to prove that 2025 wasn't a fluke, they can't afford to be complacent, as there are still plenty of opportunities for upgrades throughout the roster.
Coaching/front office:
- Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams moved to high-ranking coaching role
- ILBs coach Zak Kuhr promoted as DC replacement
- TEs coach Thomas Brown interviewed for Cardinals' HC job
Bills Likely To Release WR Curtis Samuel?
Following a 2025 campaign where he was limited to only six regular season appearances, Curtis Samuel may soon be out of a job. As Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes, the Bills wide receiver is a clear release candidate heading into the offseason.
Following a solid final two seasons in Washington, Samuel caught on with the Bills in 2024 via a three-year, $24MM deal. He didn’t put up especially big numbers during his first season in Buffalo (31 catches, 253 yards, one touchdown), although he did have some key moments in the postseason. He caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in the Bills’ opening-round win over the Broncos, and he added another score in Buffalo’s AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs.
With the departures of Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins and few reinforcements at the position, there was hope that Samuel could take another step in 2025. Instead, the veteran got into about 40 percent of Buffalo’s offensive snaps in his six appearances, finishing with only seven receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also had a special teams role, where he returned nine kickoffs for 223 yards. He suffered an elbow injury in November that landed him on injured reserve, although he did manage to return for the Bills’ playoff matchup against the Broncos. He finished that eventual loss with a two-yard reception on three targets.
If the Bills made Samuel a post-June 1 cut, he’d save the team around $6MM against the cap. While this would only be modest savings, it’s still significant for a cap sheet that’s currently operating in the red. Even with the understanding that the Bills would find some cap machinations to open up breathing room, Samuel’s savings could go a long way, especially if the front office reinvests that money into a WR upgrade.
As for Samuel, the wideout will be entering his age-30 season in 2026. He was good for at least 500 yards when healthy between 2018 and 2023, but the last two years have surely hurt his free agent stock. He’d presumably get a chance from some WR-needy team, but it would have to come via a prove-it deal.