Bears QB Tyson Bagent Drawing Interest
FEBRUARY 26: The Bears will need “a significant package of picks and/or players” to move Bagent, per Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline. It is hard to imagine a team getting that aggressive on such an unproven passer, but the renaissance of quarterback reclamation projects could encourage one to acquire Bagent and his cheap contract. He is only owed $8.5MM over the next two years. His $4MM salary in 2026 is set to guarantee in March, per OverTheCap, but a team acquiring him would be planning to pay that money either way.
FEBRUARY 24: Shortly before he began his third NFL season in 2025, backup quarterback Tyson Bagent inked a two-year, $10MM extension with the Bears. The deal keeps Bagent under wraps through 2027, but he may finish it in another uniform. General manager Ryan Poles revealed Tuesday that teams have inquired about Bagent. Poles wouldn’t rule out trading the 25-year-old, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Bagent, who joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent from Division II Shepherd in 2023, backed up Justin Fields as a rookie. But Bagent still made five appearances and four starts, during which he completed 65.7% of throws for 859 yards (6.0 per attempt), three touchdowns, six interceptions and a 71.4 passer rating. Bagent has barely seen any regular-season action since then.
The Bears cut the cord on the failed Fields experiment when they traded him to the Steelers in March 2024. Although the Bears won seven games during the Fields/Bagent season, they had already secured the No. 1 pick in the draft thanks to a March 2023 blockbuster with the Panthers.
A month after the Bears dumped Fields, they used the top selection in 2024 on former USC Heisman Trophy-winning QB Caleb Williams. As expected, Williams was the Bears’ starter from Day 1. He has not missed a game two years later.
While Williams’ career got off to a somewhat rocky start during a 5-12 rookie year, he and the Bears made enormous strides in an NFC North-winning campaign in 2025. The Bears went on to win their wild-card matchup against the hated Packers, but their season ended a week later with an overtime loss to the Rams in the divisional round.
With Williams now looking like the long-awaited answer under center for the Bears, Bagent does not have a real path to playing time in Chicago. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder has attempted just six passes in seven appearances since Williams came to town, but head coach Ben Johnson regards his backup as a starting-caliber QB.
“I do think there is a lot of merit to having a strong No. 2 quarterback, which he certainly fits that bill,” Johnson said Tuesday (via Finley). “I’m of the mind that he’s probably one of the best 32 in the NFL. His preseason tape over the last few years has probably confirmed that, in my opinion. But if I took myself out of the equation, I want what’s best for him. If he would like an opportunity to start, I certainly hope he can get that somewhere.”
That’s a glowing endorsement from Johnson, one of the league’s brightest offensive minds. If at least one other team agrees with Johnson’s assessment, it could put Poles in position to sell high on Bagent this offseason.
Cardinals ‘Frustrated’ With Kyler Murray
The Cardinals will explore trades for Kyler Murray this week, but the quarterback’s camp is hoping the team releases him, Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports. That would be a best-case scenario for the 28-year-old Murray, who would have the ability to pick his next team in free agency.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort reportedly has not engaged with Murray since the end of last season. But Murray’s camp will meet with the Cardinals at this week’s Combine in Indianapolis, according to Vacchiano. It does not appear a decision on Murray’s future will be made in Indianapolis, per Vacchiano, but it’s hard to imagine him lasting much longer in Arizona.
Thanks to the five-year, $230.5MM extension former GM Steve Keim gave Murray in 2022, $19.5MM of his 2027 base salary will vest on March 15. A trade or release should occur by then. That’s especially true with the Cardinals having grown “frustrated” with Murray, Vacchiano writes.
Questions regarding the former No. 1 overall pick’s work ethic and leadership continue to hang over him seven years into his career. To make matters worse, the Cardinals are concerned that Murray will never fully bounce back from the torn ACL he suffered in December 2022. Murray’s dual-threat capabilities have been a major part of his appeal, but a source told Vacchiano that his mobility is “shot.” If true, it could put the kibosh on Murray ever turning back into an effective starter.
Arizona’s 2022 season had already gone off the rails before Murray’s knee injury, but he wasn’t far removed from earning original-ballot Pro Bowls nods from 2020-21. The Cardinals clinched their most recent playoff berth in Murray’s second Pro Bowl season. The Rams crushed them in the wild-card round, though, and neither he nor the Cardinals have come back from it.
Arizona lost 13 of Murray’s 19 starts from 2022-23, both 4-13 seasons for the team. There were at least signs of life in 2024. That year, Murray’s lone 17-game season, the 5-foot-10 signal-caller completed 68.8% of passes for 3,851 yards (7.1 per attempt), 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 93.5 passer rating and a career-best 63.4 QBR. As a runner, he racked up 572 yards on a hearty 7.3 per carry and added five more TDs. The Cardinals went 8-9 with a plus-21 point differential.
Whatever progress the Cardinals thought they had made two seasons ago was erased during a three-win 2025. Murray, who missed 12 games with a Lisfranc injury, didn’t play past Week 5. The Cardinals went on to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon after the season. His replacement, Mike LaFleur, is unlikely to coach Murray in Arizona.
If Murray gets his wish and the Cardinals release him before March 15, they would take on a $54.72MM dead money charge and lose over $2MM in cap space in 2026. That would not be a good outcome for the team, but ripping the Band-Aid off then would be better than designating Murray a post-June 1 cut. In that scenario, the Cardinals would spread $77.25MM in dead money over two years (including $70.05MM in 2026) while losing $17.39MM in space next season.
Dolphins, Tyreek Hill Did Not Discuss Pay Cut; Hill’s Market ‘Tepid’
The Dolphins ended the four-year Tyreek Hill era when they released the decorated wide receiver on Feb. 16. The move opened up significant savings for the Dolphins. Hill was due to count an untenable $51.1MM against the cap before the Dolphins gave him his walking papers.
Miami could have attempted to retain Hill at a lower price tag, but that was never an option for the team. Agent Drew Rosenhaus revealed that he and the Dolphins did not discuss a pay cut for Hill, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Rosenhaus added that Miami’s goal is to assemble a younger roster. Keeping Hill, who will turn 32 on March 1, would have worked against that plan.
While Hill plans to return for an 11th season in 2026, he is on the mend from a severe knee injury that could continue to hinder him in the future. Hill’s season ended in Week 4 when he tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL, and dislocated his knee.
In yet another factor that should lower the value of Hill’s next contract, the NFL is investigating domestic violence accusations against him. There have been three known domestic violence allegations against Hill dating to his time in college. Oklahoma State kicked Hill off its football and track teams in 2014 after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence. Hill resurfaced on West Alabama’s football team the next year. The Chiefs took the speedster in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, and he has since put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career.
Although Hill is an eight-time Pro Bowler and a five-time first-team All-Pro, he has encountered a “tepid” market since the Dolphins cut him, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reports. Multiple league executives who are seeking receiver upgrades told La Canfora they want no part of Hill. There are concerns over Hill’s fading physical skills and his questionable locker room presence, sources informed La Canfora.
“No chance. We think he’s done,” one general manager said. “He isn’t a difference-maker anymore. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze. Not even as a vet-minimum guy for us.”
Combining his age, injury and off-field troubles, Hill looks like a prime candidate for a prove-it deal in 2026. The 5-foot-10, 191-pounder was productive during his most recently healthy campaign in 2024, though he began showing signs of decline that year. Hill’s numbers (81 catches, 959 yards and six touchdowns) fell well short of his typical output, and his stock has continued to drop since then.
Titans To Release Lloyd Cushenberry, Xavier Woods
The Titans signed center Lloyd Cushenberry to a four-year, $50MM contract in 2024, but he will not finish the deal. The team is releasing Cushenberry, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The Titans are cutting Cushenberry with a failed physical designation, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Along with Cushenberry, the Titans are waving goodbye to safety Xavier Woods, Schefter relays. Woods joined the Titans on a two-year, $10MM pact last March. He will now return to free agency a year later.
Cushenberry, a 2018 third-round pick from LSU, became Denver’s No. 1 center from the get-go. He started in all 57 of his appearances with the Broncos over his first four seasons. Cushenberry logged full seasons on three occasions, but a groin injury limited him to eight games in 2022.
While Cushenberry remained a full-time starter over 23 games in Tennessee, he had a harder time staying healthy there than he did in Denver. The 6-foot-4, 315-pounder played every snap for the Titans before his first year with them ended with a torn Achilles in Week 9.
Cushenberry returned to play 15 games in 2025, but he finished as Pro Football Focus’ 34th-ranked center out of 37 qualifiers. The 28-year-old recently underwent shoulder surgery, but he should make a full recovery by next season, according to Rapoport. Cushenberry will have to look for another team in the meantime.
Despite coming off the board late in the 2017 draft (Round 6), Woods has started for most of his career. The former Cowboy, Viking and Panther continued in that role in his only season with the Titans.
Woods started in 10 of 11 games in 2025 before landing on IR with a hamstring injury in mid-December. The 30-year-old’s season wrapped up with 39 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions and a sack. PFF rated Woods’ performance a passable 43rd among 91 safeties.
Tennessee entered Wednesday with an NFL-leading $103.50MM in cap space, per OverTheCap. General manager Mike Borgonzi will now have even more money available to upgrade a team that stumbled through its second straight 3-14 season in 2025.
Moving on from Cushenberry will add $3.42MM to the Titans’ books, though it will also stick them with $9.05MM in dead money. Woods’ exit will clear $3.82MM at the cost of a more palatable $1MM cap hit.
Colts GM Chris Ballard On Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman Jr.
Injuries and disappointing play have defined Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson‘s career since he entered the NFL as the fourth overall pick in 2023. The former Florida Gator has played just 17 NFL games, including two brief appearances in 2025, and there is widespread skepticism that he will turn into a viable starter. However, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is not writing off the 23-year-old yet.
“I see a future (for Richardson in the NFL). Yeah, kinda like with any player, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Things change,” Ballard said Tuesday (via Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star). “But we like Anthony.”
Andrew Luck‘s shocking preseason retirement in 2019 left the Colts without a long-term plan under center. The Luck-less Colts deployed Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz as their starter for a year apiece from 2019-22. Tired of cycling through short-term stopgaps, Ballard bet big on the athletically gifted Richardson going from raw prospect to franchise quarterback.
The Richardson gamble has not worked out at all. Various injuries and demotions limited him to 15 starts in his first two seasons. During an 11-start 2024, the 6-foot-4, 244-pounder completed an astoundingly low 47.7% of 264 pass attempts. The Colts left the door open for Richardson to remain their QB1 last year, but he would have had to beat out free agent acquisition Daniel Jones. Not only did Jones win the summer competition, but the former Giants first-rounder went on to enjoy the best season of his career.
Jones’ resurgent season concluded with a ruptured Achilles in Week 14, which could have opened the door for a healthy Richardson down the stretch. Unfortunately for Richardson, he was on the shelf then after suffering an orbital fracture in a freak accident with an exercise band in October. Richardson finished 2025 on IR while continuing to deal with vision problems. He is now “cleared to play football,” Ballard announced.
With both Jones and Richardson unavailable last December, the Colts stunned in calling the 44-year-old Rivers out of retirement. Rivers, then a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist, agreed to reset his Canton clock five years and come back in an effort to save the free-falling Colts. All three of Rivers’ starts were must-see TV, but the Colts didn’t win any of them. After going 8-5 in Jones’ starts, the Colts went 0-4 with Rivers and Riley Leonard to complete a second-half collapse.
The Colts will not run it back again with Rivers, who went back into retirement at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Jones is coming off a serious injury and without a contract for next 2026. However, the pending free agent is expected to re-sign with the Colts and continue as their starter. That would leave Richardson as a backup again, which may be the most likely outcome. Richardson would not bring back much in a trade, and releasing him wouldn’t save the Colts any money.
If Richardson is still on the Colts’ roster on May 1, it would be fair to expect them to decline his projected $23.50MM fifth-year option by then. That would set Richardson up for a trip to free agency in March 2027. He may have to wait until then to potentially salvage his career with another team.
Like Richardson, Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is facing an uncertain future this offseason. The six-year veteran logged 80 catches, 784 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they may not be worth a bloated $29MM cap hit next season. While releasing Pittman before March 15 would save the Colts $24MM, parting with him is not a foregone conclusion.
“I think the world of Pitt and who he is as a player,” Ballard said (via Brown). “Any suggestion that he’s not going to be here (next season) is a pure hypothetical, in my mind.”
Despite Ballard’s affinity for Pittman, he will remain a player to monitor over the next couple of weeks. Getting Pittman’s money off the books may aid the Colts in their quest to keep Jones and pending free agent wideout Alec Pierce.
Bills Could Move Taron Johnson To Safety
Taron Johnson, one of the Bills’ longest-tenured players, has worked as a nickel cornerback throughout his eight-year career. With Johnson set to play his age-30 season in 2026, a position switch could be in store. The Bills will consider moving Johnson to safety next season, general manager Brandon Beane told reporters (via Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News).
Transitioning Johnson to safety could be among many changes defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard implements in his first year on the job. Both in terms of style and personnel, Leonhard’s unit will look far different than the defense the Bills ran under former head coach Sean McDermott from 2017-25.
The Bills deployed a four-man base, leaned on zone coverage and rarely blitzed during the McDermott era. With McDermott and previous Bills D-coordinator Bobby Babich out, the team will primarily go to a 3-4 in 2026. At the same time, expectations are that Leonhard will rely more on man coverage and blitzes.
Johnson didn’t come off the board until Round 4 of the 2018 draft, but the Weber State product held his own under McDermott for most of the coach’s tenure. After Johnson thrived in his first six seasons, Beane authorized a three-year, $31MM extension in March 2024. The deal temporarily made Johnson the highest-paid slot corner in the league, though injuries have contributed to a decline in performance over the past couple of years.
Johnson has sat out nine games since 2024, including four last season. Over 13 games and eight starts in 2025, Johnson totaled 57 tackles and four passes defensed. He went without an interception, but picks were never a big part of the package even when Johnson was at his best (he has just six in his career). Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson’s play 74th among 112 qualifying corners last year.
Despite Johnson’s struggles, Leonhard is eager to work with him. As a former NFL safety, including in Buffalo, Leonhard has a deep knowledge of the position. He may have full confidence in Johnson emerging as the solution alongside the entrenched Cole Bishop next season.
Earlier this month, during Leonhard’s first press conference with the Bills, the former Broncos defensive pass-game coordinator spoke glowingly of Johnson (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).
“Finding out the perfect role for a player like that is very high on our priority list,” he said. “What it exactly is gonna look like is yet to be determined a little bit, but I love the player, I love the personality, I had a great conversation with him. He’s excited for the change. Not knowing what it is, right? And he knows that we’re gonna communicate with him and find out what’s right because he’s been an extremely productive player in the NFL.”
Pairing Johnson with Bishop would take care of an important offseason issue for the Bills, who are facing serious questions at safety. Former star Jordan Poyer played far better than expected over 10 games and nine starts in 2025, but he’s going to turn 35 in April. Poyer is also a pending free agent who may retire. Taylor Rapp entered the year as a starter, but he endured a rough six-game stretch before undergoing season-ending knee surgery in October. Rapp is now a surefire release candidate. Cutting him by March 15 would clear $3.08MM in cap space at the cost of just $667K in dead money.
Conversely, there is little financial incentive in moving on from Johnson in the next few months. That will change beginning June 1, at which point releasing Johnson would open up $8.67MM in breathing room. The Bills would then spread $9.5MM in dead money over two seasons. That may be a possibility down the road, but the Bills have plenty of time before then to evaluate where Johnson fits while exploring safety options in free agency and the draft.
Panthers’ Andy Dalton Garnering Interest
Bryce Young is locked in as the Panthers’ starting quarterback for 2026, but the team may have a new second-stringer next season. Backup Andy Dalton is generating trade interest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A three-time Pro Bowler during his run as the Bengals’ starter from 2011-19, Dalton has since achieved journeyman status. Before moving to Carolina in 2023, Dalton divided three seasons among Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans.
Since the end of his Bengals tenure, the 38-year-old has combined for 36 starts, including seven with the Panthers. He briefly took over as the Panthers’ starter when they benched a struggling Young in September 2024. Dalton made five starts then, but after he sprained his thumb in an October car crash, Young reclaimed the position for the rest of the year. The former No. 1 overall pick has held the role ever since.
With Young performing well enough to keep his job in 2025, Dalton saw less action than ever. He attempted a career-low 37 passes over four appearances. His lone start, a 40-9 loss to the Bills in Week 8, came while Young was on the shelf with a high ankle sprain. That may go down as Dalton’s last start as a Panther if general manager Dan Morgan receives a good enough offer. Otherwise, given Dalton’s close relationship with Young, the Panthers may be content to continue with him in the No. 2 role.
Twelve months ago, with Dalton nearing another trip to free agency, Morgan kept him in place on a two-year, $8MM extension. He’s due a 2026 base salary of $3.9MM, which is reasonable for an established backup and even more appealing for a stopgap starter.
It’s unknown which teams have shown interest in Dalton, but Rich Cimini of ESPN points out that he played for Jets offensive coordinator/former Panthers head coach Frank Reich in Carolina in 2023. The Jets are expected to release Justin Fields, while Tyrod Taylor is heading for free agency. That leaves New York as an obvious landing spot for a veteran signal-caller, whether it’s Dalton or someone else.
Bobby Wagner Plans To Play In 2026
Playing his age-35 season in 2025, Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner continued to excel. The 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year does not have a contract for next season, but he “fully intends” to play, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports.
A 10-time Pro Bowl whose resume also includes six first-team All-Pro nods, Wagner has mixed durability with outstanding production over a combined 14 years with the Seahawks, Rams and Commanders. The future Hall of Famer is now coming off his fourth straight 17-game season and his second in Washington, which has signed him to two straight one-year deals. The Commanders inked Wagner to an $6MM guarantee in 2024 and then bumped the number to $8MM a year ago.
While the Commanders sputtered to a 5-12 record after going 12-5 in Wagner’s first season, he remained a bright spot in 2025. Although Wagner went without either a Pro Bowl invite or an All-Pro selection for the first time since 2013, he finished fifth in the NFL in tackles (162) and eighth in pressures (20). Wagner was one of just two players to pile up 150-plus tackles and miss fewer than 10, according to Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus. He also notched nine QB hits, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed and two interceptions.
Along with his gaudy counting stats, Wagner finished as PFF’s seventh-ranked linebacker among 88 qualifiers. The 6-foot, 242-pounder was especially effective as a pass rusher (third) and a run defender (fifth).
With his Commanders future up in the air, Wagner is on track to join a crowded market of free agents at his position. The likes of Devin Lloyd, Demario Davis, Lavonte David, Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean are just a few of many established names seeking contracts. Wagner is one of the oldest of the bunch, but as someone who continues to log sky-high production, he’ll have no trouble securing another nice payday on a short-term pact.
John Lynch: 49ers, Trent Williams ‘On The Same Page’
11:08pm: Speaking with the media on Tuesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch sounded optimistic about Williams’ future (via Clayton Holloway of NFL Network). “Good and productive meetings,” Lynch said. “Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner. We’re all on the same page… I feel very positive where that’s going.”
3:09pm: Future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams still has one year left on his contract with the 49ers, but he could end up on the free agent market early. Williams and the 49ers are struggling to reach an agreement on an amended deal that would lower his $38.84MM cap hit, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. If they don’t find common ground, a release would be expected, per Schefter.
Williams would be a shocking addition to this year’s class of free agents. Although the 12-time Pro Bowler is set to play his age-38 season in 2026, he would immediately become the best offensive tackle available. For now, the Packers’ Rasheed Walker is in line to lead the market. The 26-year-old Walker has age on his side, but he is not on Williams’ level as a blocker. Case in point: Pro Football Focus ranked Williams third among 84 qualifying tackles in 2025. Walker checked in at No. 53.
Williams has been consistently elite since he entered the NFL as Washington’s first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in 2010. The former Oklahoma Sooner came off the bench once in 14 games as a rookie, but he has started in every other one of his 204 career appearances. Williams made the Pro Bowl in seven straight seasons with the Commanders from 2012-18. He remained under contract in 2019, but a standoff with the team led Williams to sit out for the entire season.
Washington traded the disgruntled Williams to San Francisco for third- and fifth-round picks in April 2020. The 49ers did not hand Williams a new contract immediately, but he played out another Pro Bowl season and inked a six-year, $138MM extension in March 2021. The pact made Williams the game’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
After Williams posted three straight first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons to begin his contract, the 49ers reworked it in September 2024. The three-year, $82.66MM agreement came with a guaranteed $48MM, a record for a non-quarterback over the age of 35. That deal is still in place, but it doesn’t appear that will be the case for much longer.
If there’s any knock on Williams (other than age), it’s durability issues. Excluding the year he held out, Williams has missed between one and seven games in every season since 2014. He played his third 16-game season in 2025, yet another Pro Bowl campaign, but it could go down as his last in San Francisco.
Not only would the 49ers subtract an O-line cornerstone in releasing Williams, but it would hurt from a cap standpoint. If done by April 1, it would yield $34.15MM in dead money and just $4.69MM in savings. Designating Williams a post-June 1 cut would save the 49ers $15.52MM in 2026, though they would have to spread approximately $44MM in dead money over the next two seasons.
Colts CB Charvarius Ward Expected To Play In 2026
Cornberback Charvarius Ward entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Middle Tennesee State in 2018, but it only took him until the next season to become a full-time starter. The former Chief and 49er was successful enough over his first seven seasons to earn a three-year, $54MM deal with the Colts last March.
Ward’s first year in Indianapolis did not go well, but it had nothing to do with his performance. Three concussions besieged Ward, who missed 10 of the Colts’ 17 games. Nearing his 30th birthday in May, Ward went into the offseason considering retirement. Ward’s father even advised him to walk away from the game, but it appears he will continue his career in 2026 (via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star).
“All indications are he’s wanting to move forward and play,” general manager Chris Ballard stated on Tuesday. Meanwhile, head coach Shane Steichen said he and Ward talked “a couple days ago,” adding that the defender is “feeling good.”
With Ward likely returning next season, the Colts will hope he and fellow starting corner Sauce Gardner team up far more often than they did in 2025. Gardner began the season as a Jet, but he ended it as a Colt after a massive trade deadline deal on Nov. 4. With his team then 7-2 and vying for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, Ballard dealt the Colts’ next two first-round picks away for the two-time first-team All-Pro.
On paper, with Gardner joining Ward and slot corner Kenny Moore, the Colts had a superb trio. Unfortunately for Ballard, they seldom played together down the stretch. While Ward was regularly out of the lineup because of his concussions, a calf strain sidelined Gardner for four games. Serious late-season injuries to Ward, Gardner, quarterback Daniel Jones and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner significantly contributed to a post-deadline collapse for Indianapolis. Having to go long stretches without those players against a brutal second-half schedule torpedoed the Colts’ season.
Once 8-2, the Colts lost seven in a row to finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Healthier seasons from Ward, Gardner, Jones (a pending free agent who is in negotiations to re-sign) and Buckner would go a long way toward helping the Colts rebound in 2026.