NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/19/26
Today’s reserve/futures moves:
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams officially announced the signing of 15 players to reserve/futures contracts today, 14 of which were reported previously. The newest addition to the list is running back Jordan Waters. The former Duke standout spent his final collegiate season at NC State before going undrafted in 2025. He quickly caught on with the Rams, but he didn’t make it to the regular season with his new squad. Now, he’ll have another chance to make the squad in 2026.
Chargers Expected To Retain WR Coach Sanjay Lal, QB Coach Shane Day
While the Chargers offensive coaching staff has seen some significant change this offseason, the organization is planning to stick with two key assistants. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers plan to retain wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal and quarterbacks coach Shane Day.
Lal has spent the majority of his NFL career coaching wide receivers, including stops with the Raiders, Jets, Bills, Colts, Cowboys, Seahawks, Jaguars, and Chargers. During his time in Dallas, he helped guide a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, and he later achieved the same feat with D.K. Metcalfand Tyler Lockett in Seattle.
He joined Jim Harbaugh‘s staff in Los Angeles ahead of the 2024 campaign and has spent the past two seasons coaching Chargers wideouts. He got a standout performance from a rookie Ladd McConkey in 2024, and he saw three of his WRs (McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston) top 700 receiving yards in 2025.
Day’s responsibilities have evolved throughout his coaching career, but he’s most recently been in charge of guiding quarterbacks. He got a career year out of Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019 before dealing with an inconsistent QB grouping in 2020. He took a job with the Chargers in 2021 and helped guide a sophomore Justin Herbert to a still-career-high 38 passing touchdowns. He was fired alongside offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi following the 2022 campaign and spent a year in Houston before returning to the Chargers in 2024. Day has spent the past two years guiding the team’s QBs.
The Chargers were quick to move on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman following the offense’s no-show performance in their playoff loss to the Patriots. Harbaugh eventually recruited Mike McDaniel to Los Angeles, and the former Dolphins head coach is expected to shape his offensive staff. However, the new OC seems content in maintaining some continuity in the QBs room and WRs room.
Bears Promote Jeff King To Assistant GM
The Bears have landed on Ryan Poles‘ new top lieutenant. The team announced that Jeff King has been promoted to assistant general manager. The role was open after former AGM Ian Cunningham left Chicago to become the Falcons new GM.
[RELATED: Falcons To Hire Ian Cunningham As GM]
Following a playing career that saw him haul in 156 catches through eight professional seasons, King quickly took a role in the Bears front office. He’s worked his way up through the past decade-plus in Chicago. After spending several years as a scout, King was named director of pro scouting in 2021. The next year, he earned a promotion to co-director of player personnel, and he was later named senior director of player personnel. He’s spent the past two years in that latter role.
“We congratulate Jeff on his elevation within our football operations department,” Poles said. “Jeff has earned this promotion through his commitment to our team and his excellence within our operation, as well as the positive impact that he has created throughout our organization. We look forward to Jeff’s continued leadership and contributions as we work toward building a sustained winner.”
“I’m super lucky,” said King. “I’ve been here 12 years. That doesn’t happen. When I walked in here 12 years ago as an intern, I didn’t think it would go this far, but I’ve been very lucky and appreciative of this organization because it is special.”
King’s stint with the Bears preceded Poles’ hiring, which came in 2022. The Bears struggled through the first three years under their new GM, including a 2022 campaign where they finished with three wins. A shrewd trade with the Panthers delivered them the first-overall pick in 2024, which the organization used on Caleb Williams.
The 2025 hiring of Ben Johnson represented the culmination of the organization’s rebuild, and the Bears finished the 2025 campaign with 11 wins and their first playoff appearance since 2020. Now, King will be tasked with assisting Poles in a crucial offseason as the organization looks to carry over momentum into the 2026 campaign.
Packers ST Coordinator Rich Bisaccia Stepping Down
The Packers coaching staff is dealing with another notable departure. After losing defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to Miami last month, assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is suddenly stepping down, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“While we are disappointed to lose a person and coach as valuable as Rich, we respect his decision to step down from the Packers,” coach Matt LaFleur said in a statement. “Rich was a tremendous resource to me and our entire coaching staff who had a profound impact on our players and our culture throughout the building. We can’t thank him enough for his contributions to our team over the last four years. We wish Rich, his wife, Jeanne, and the rest of their family all the best moving forward.”
Bisaccia has been coaching consistently since the 1980s, and he’s held an NFL job since the 2002 campaign. He’s served as a special teams coordinator in stops with the Buccaneers, Chargers, Cowboys, and Raiders prior to his job in Green Bay.
He got his first and only crack at a head coaching gig with the Raiders in 2021 following Jon Gruden‘s resignation. The interim HC ended up guiding his team to a 7-5 record and a playoff appearance, the team’s second postseason nod since their Super Bowl loss in 2002. Despite the team’s success, the organization ended up opting for Josh McDaniels as their new head coach for 2022, leading to Bisaccia seeking a job elsewhere.
The veteran coach caught on as the special teams coordinator in Green Bay, where he’s spent the past four seasons. He earned the additional title of assistant head coach in 2023, and he inked an extension with the organization last offseason that was intended to keep him in Green Bay through the 2026 campaign.
The Packers special teams unit struggled mightily this past season. While the team got a standout showing from punter Daniel Whelan, the Packers managed a league-low 5.6 yards per punt return. The unit also had a handful of miscues that ultimately led to losses for Green Bay. This included a Week 3 loss to the Browns where Brandon McManus‘s potential game-tying field goal attempt was blocked. A week later, the Packers tied with the Cowboys in a game that saw their opponent return an extra point for a score.
Later, in Week 16 against the Bears, Romeo Doubs failed to secure a crucial onside kick recovery in an eventual overtime loss. These ST woes culminated in the team’s playoff loss to Chicago. The Packers blew an 18-point lead in a game that saw McManus miss a pair of field goals and an extra point.
While Bisaccia is stepping away from his job in Green Bay, it doesn’t sound like the coach is calling it a career. In his statement, Bisaccia seemed to indicate that he’ll take some time away before considering another gig.
“Coaching for the Green Bay Packers was truly an honor, and I will always be grateful for my time here,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to whatever is next for me and my family, and I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the organization.”
Now, LaFleur will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out the team’s special teams weakness. The Packers may have to look outside the organization for a solution, as assistant special teams coach Byron Storer already left Green Bay for a promotion in Cleveland.
Seahawks Looking To Extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba
To the surprise of nobody, the Seahawks are hoping to sign Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the long haul. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team is hoping to extend their star wideout this offseason.
[RELATED: Seahawks Unlikely To Tag Kenneth Walker]
We learned earlier today that the Seahawks weren’t expected to franchise tag running back Kenneth Walker. Part of the reason for that decision was the team’s desire to re-sign a number of their impending free agents, and Schefter also noted the organization’s intention to sign JSN to a long-term pact.
While the former first-round pick topped 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, he emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic offensive players in 2025. Smith-Njigba earned Offensive Player of the Year honors after hauling in 119 receptions for a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He added another 17 catches for 199 yards and two scores in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl championship.
The Seahawks will surely pick up Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option this offseason, meaning the WR will be attached to his rookie contract for two more seasons. Still, the Seahawks may look to extend the star receiver before his demands hit record levels. A number of WRs reset the market last offseason, topped by Ja’Marr Chase‘s $40.25MM average annual value.
JSN could eventually top that number with continued league-leading production, and at the very least, he’ll make a push for a top-four spot at the position. Puka Nacua‘s extension talks with the Rams could also inform JSN’s earnings; Nacua is entering the final season of his contract and should also push for a position-leading deal.
At the very least, Smith-Njigba should command a contract that rivals Justin Jefferson‘s $35MM AAV or CeeDee Lamb‘s $34MM AAV. Considering JSN’s production in 2025, that could end up representing some significant savings for the Seahawks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/17/26
One minor move to pass along:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: QB Emory Jones
Emory Jones initially made a name for himself at Florida in 2021, and he later spent time at Arizona State (2022) and Cincinnati (2023) before trying to make it as a professional. The QB caught on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and after not making the roster, he briefly joined the DC Defenders of the UFL.
He subsequently signed with the Falcons and stuck on their offseason roster in 2025. He was waived/injured after suffering a concussion during the 2025 preseason and eventually reverted to injured reserve. He ended up spending the entire season there.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/17/26
A handful of reserve/futures deals:
New England Patriots
- CB Brandon Crossley
Tennessee Titans
- DE Earnest Brown IV, OT Ryan Hayes
Earnest Brown IV brings the most experience of the bunch, as the defensive end has appeared in 15 games (three starts) through five seasons in the NFL. The former fifth-round pick out of Northwestern spent the first chunk of his career with the Rams, where he compiled 14 tackles. He also earned a Super Bowl ring during his tenure in Los Angeles. Since his Rams stint came to an end, he’s spent time with the 49ers, Buccaneers, and Cowboys. Now, he’ll look to revive his career in Tennessee.
Patriots Promote Zak Kuhr To Defensive Coordinator
Zak Kuhr is indeed taking over as the Patriots defensive coordinator. After serving as the defensive play-caller and interim defensive coordinator in 2025, the inside linebackers coach is earning a promotion to DC, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
[RELATED: Patriots To Move DC Terrell Williams To New Role]
A former defensive quality control coach and assistant LBs coach under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, Kuhr followed his former boss to New England last offseason. He was initially tasked with coaching the team’s inside linebackers, but his responsibilities quickly shifted after defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with cancer.
Kuhr seamlessly took over as the defensive play-caller and interim DC, and he ended up guiding one of the top units in the NFL. The Patriots defense finished the season ranked fourth in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed. When Milton Williams was healthy, the team’s run defense was especially stout, and the team went several months without allowing a 50-yard rusher. Prior to their blowout loss in the Super Bowl, New England allowed playoff opponents to only score 26 points in three games.
Williams stepped away from his role during spring practices due to a health scare and was later diagnosed with prostate cancer. He continued to work with players as he underwent treatment, but he didn’t travel with the squad to away games. As a result, Kuhr served as the defensive play-caller for the entire 2025 campaign.
Fortunately, Williams was announced to be cancer-free before the Super Bowl and traveled with the Patriots to San Francisco. That set up a potentially tricky situation for the head coach heading into the offseason, but the organization quickly announced that Williams would transition to a high-ranking role on Vrabel’s staff.
The team still had to go through an interview process for their newfound DC vacancy to comply with Rooney Rule requirements. At the same time, Shane Bowen and Jim Schwartz were mentioned as potential candidates for the gig. Still, Kuhr always seemed like a shoo-in to earn the full-time gig, especially since the Patriots would risk losing him to a promotion if they kept him as linebackers coach.
While Vrabel still has a major influence over the team’s defensive game plan, Kuhr will now have an entire offseason to prepare his unit for the 2026 campaign. At the same time, the organization is expected to promote from within to fill the ILBs coach job. Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Vinny DePalma is expected to be elevated to the role. DePalma was one of the few holdovers from Jerod Mayo‘s staff in New England, and he spent the past two years as a defensive assistant.
TE Isaiah Likely Expected To Depart Ravens?
Isaiah Likely has spent the first four seasons of his career serving as a key backup in Baltimore. Instead of seeing the former fourth-round pick eventually emerge as a full-time starter, the Ravens may watch the tight end leave via free agency.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes that the Ravens have made no progress in their efforts to extend Likely over the past eight months. Over that span, the team also recommitted to Mark Andrews. As a result, it’s seeming likelier than not that Likely will depart via free agency.
While Likely has served as Andrews’ backup for much of his Ravens tenure, he’s still seen a significant role in the offense. He had his best two showings between 2023 and 2024, when he hauled in 72 total catches for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns in 33 games. Thanks to Andrews’ leg injury in 2023, Likely actually outsnapped his teammate, and the TE duo was basically splitting reps in 2024.
Following Andrews’ continued drop in production and his playoff mishaps, there was a belief that Likely could take a step forward in 2025. Instead, the tight end was hampered by a training camp foot injury, and he ultimately finished the campaign with career-lows across the board (27 catches, 307 yards, one touchdown). At the same time, Likely lost a career-high two fumbles.
Then, in sudden December move, the Ravens inked Andrews to a three-year, $39.3MM extension. That contract places Andrews sixth at the position in average annual value, and as Zrebiec notes, the Ravens may find that it’s “extremely hard … to have two guys making top-eight tight end money.” Even with Likely’s limited track record, he seems destined to earn at least $10MM a year, which would tie for the 14th-highest AAV among tight ends. That may be untenable for a Baltimore squad that needs to fill multiple holes this offseason.
On the flip side, the Ravens have shown a willingness to extend Likely, and they’ve surely considered a scenario where they continue to roster both of their tight ends. Further, Zrebiec notes that Likely has a strong relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will continue to serve as a strong voice in the organization.
Likely enters a relatively deep free agent class that also features the likes of Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert. Likely’s youth and hypothetical upside should still make him a popular name, and that could ultimately spell the end of his tenure in Baltimore.
Jason Tarver, Joe Woods Among Names To Watch For Raiders DC Job
It sounds like Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak could be zeroing in on an offensive coordinator, but the status on the defensive side of the ball isn’t as clear. While Jim Schwartz was initially mentioned as a preferred option for the DC job, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the veteran coach will sit out the 2026 campaign.
[RELATED: Andrew Janocko Favorite To Become Raiders’ OC?]
If the Raiders aren’t able to recruit Schwartz to Las Vegas, Kubiak will have to look elsewhere for a defensive leader. Albert Breer of SI.com provides several names that could emerge as candidates for the gig, including Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, Seahawks pass-game coordinator Karl Scott, Browns linebackers coach Jason Tarver, and Raiders defensive backs coach Joe Woods.
Cullen would bring plenty of experience to Las Vegas, as the 58-year-old has been coaching since the early 1990s. He got his first NFL gig with the Lions in 2006 and has spent most of his professional coaching career as a defensive line coach. Following a five-year stint in that role with the Ravens, he got a chance as a defensive coordinator with the Jaguars in 2021. However, with Urban Meyer failing to make it through one full season and the organization seeking a fresh start in 2022, Cullen wasn’t retained. He quickly caught on with the Chiefs, where he’s earned a pair of Super Bowl rings in four seasons.
While Kubiak is eyeing some offensive coaches from his old staff, Scott is the only current member of Seattle’s defensive staff that’s been connected to a Raiders gig. The 40-year-old spent years coaching defensive backs in college before getting hired by the Vikings for that same role in 2021. He was recruited to Seattle in 2022, and he stuck on the staff after the team switched from Pete Carroll to Mike Macdonald. During his time with the Seahawks, Scott has been credited with the development of Devon Witherspoon, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen.
A Tarver hire would represent a bit of a homecoming for the coach, as he actually served as the Raiders defensive coordinator under Dennis Allen between 2012 and 2014. He stuck through multiple head coaches in San Francisco, where he served as the 49ers linebackers coach, and he later had a two-year stint as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator. Most recently, the 51-year-old has served as the Browns linebackers coach, a job he’s held since the 2020 season.
Woods joined the Raiders ahead of the 2025 season as their pass-game coordinator, and Breer notes that the coach is expected to stick with the organization despite the change in leadership. The veteran coach has had multiple stints as defensive coordinator in stops with the Broncos, Browns, and Saints. While Woods guided several of his units to top-10 showings, the majority of his defenses were middle-of-the-road. A new coaching staff spelled the end of his tenure in New Orleans, although he was already on thin ice following a 2024 season where the Saints ranked 30th in yards allowed.
While the Raiders showed interest in Texans secondary coach Dino Vasso, the 38-year-old won’t be heading to Las Vegas. Vasso inked a new deal to stick on Houston’s coaching staff, taking him out of contention for the promotion.