George Pickens Could Skip Cowboys’ Offseason Workouts
The Cowboys kept wide receiver George Pickens in the fold for 2026 with the $27.3MM franchise tag. A multiyear agreement may come together in the next few months, but no progress has been made on that front. It is now in question whether Pickens will participate in the Cowboys’ offseason program, Todd Archer of ESPN relays.
The Cowboys are set to begin workouts on April 20, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted those are “voluntary.” Mandatory OTAs are scheduled for mid-June, while training camp will commence in late July. By the time camp opens, the July 15 deadline for Pickens to ink a multiyear deal will have passed. If the 25-year-old is still without a contract at that point, his choices would be to sign the franchise tender or sit out.
As Archer notes, the Cowboys are no strangers to recent contract-related drama. They engaged in a much-publicized standoff with outside linebacker Micah Parsons last summer. Parsons was in attendance for the first two days of the voluntary program, but he did not work out. While Parsons showed up for mandatory OTAs and camp, he was not a participant in practice. A week before the regular season started, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ended the battle when he traded Parsons to the Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Late in the Parsons saga, Jones accused agent David Mulugheta of obstructing negotiations. It’s worth pointing out that Mulugheta also represents Pickens. Jones is once again expected to play a key role in talks regarding a potential Pickens deal, though Schottenheimer seems confident the two sides will find common ground in this case.
“Hey look, GP loves it here. We love GP,” Schottenheimer said. “We have plans for GP to be here for a long time, so we’ll let the business side of this thing play out and see where it goes.”
Acquired from the Steelers last May, Pickens put himself in position for a massive raise with a career-best showing in 2025. After averaging around 59 catches, 947 yards and four touchdowns per season in Pittsburgh, Pickens began his Dallas tenure with a 93-reception, 1,429-yard, nine-touchdown outburst. The four-year veteran ranked top eight in the NFL in all three categories. It bodes well for Pickens that the salary cap has increased substantially since then, though it is anyone’s guess if he and the Cowboys will see eye to eye during negotiations.
Nick Allegretti, Julian Good-Jones To Compete For Commanders’ Center Job
Tyler Biadasz was the Commanders’ starting center over the past two years, but they released him earlier this offseason. While Biadasz had another season left on a three-year, $30MM contract, head coach Dan Quinn said the Commanders did not explore a trade before cutting him (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). He went on to secure another three-year, $30MM pact with the Chargers.
In the wake of Biadasz’s exit, the Commanders pursued former Raven Tyler Linderbaum, easily the best center on the free agent market. However, with a record-setting offer worth $81MM over three years, the Raiders won the bidding war for Linderbaum.
The Commanders boast the second-most cap space in the NFL ($49.64MM), but free agent center choices have continued to dwindle since Linderbaum came off the board. For now, Nick Allegretti and Julian Good-Jones are the Commanders’ in-house options at center. Quinn said Washington is planning a competition between the two, per Jhabvala.
Since the Chiefs took him in the seventh round of the 2019 draft, Allegretti has lined up almost exclusively at guard. After joining the Commanders on a three-year, $16MM deal in 2024, he was a 17-game starter at left guard in his first season in Washington. With Sam Cosmi recovering from knee surgery, Allegretti opened 2025 as the Commanders’ starting right guard. The team demoted Allegretti to backup duties after Week 2, though, and the 29-year-old’s only other starts came in Washington’s last two games. Allegretti filled in for an injured Biadasz in those contests. The Commanders were encouraged enough to hand Allegretti a new two-year contract this month, potentially setting him up to take over for Biadasz in 2026.
Undrafted from Iowa State in 2020, Good-Jones carries more experience in the Canadian Football League, where he played from 2021-22, than the NFL. Good-Jones has been in the Washington organization since 2023, though his only appearance in a game came that year. The Commanders waived the 29-year-old with an injury settlement last August, but they brought him back on a practice squad agreement in October.
While free agent possibilities are limited, Washington could still add a center in next month’s draft. The Commanders certainly won’t address the position with their first-round pick (No. 7 overall), but they have five more selections after that.
Bills To Pick Up TE Dalton Kincaid’s Fifth-Year Option
As expected, the Bills will pick up tight end Dalton Kincaid‘s fifth-year option, Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News reports. Kincaid is in line to earn $8.16MM in 2027.
After Kincaid hauled in 70 receptions for 890 yards and eight touchdowns in his final college season, the Bills traded up two spots for the former Utah standout in the 2023 draft. The Bills selected Kincaid 25th overall, though injuries have prevented the three-year veteran from maximizing his potential in the NFL.
Kincaid missed just one game during his rookie season, in which the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder racked up 73 catches, 673 yards and a pair of touchdowns. However, various maladies kept Kincaid out of a combined nine games over the past two years. The problems began when Kincaid tore his left PCL in a Week 10 win over the Colts in 2024. Kincaid, who missed a month, finished the year with a disappointing 44 catches, 448 yards and two scores in 13 games.
While continuing to play through a balky knee last season, Kincaid also dealt with oblique and hamstring issues. Although Kincaid totaled just 12 appearances, he offered quality production. The 26-year-old caught 39 of 49 targets – good for an 80% success rate – for 571 yards. He easily set career highs in yards per catch (14.6) and TDs (five). Quarterbacks Josh Allen and Mitch Trubisky combined for a spectacular 149.2 passer rating when targeting Kincaid, per Next Gen Stats. Kincaid, who led the league’s tight ends in that category, was also a factor in the playoffs. Along with a team-high two TD catches, Kincaid ranked second among Bills in receptions (nine) and yards (111) over a pair of postseason games.
It is unknown if the Bills will explore a Kincaid extension, but regardless, they are in position to keep a strong tight end group intact for at least another two seasons. The Bills gave Dawson Knox a new three-year deal earlier this month, while blocking specialist Jackson Hawes still has three seasons left on his rookie contract. Head coach Joe Brady, then Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, relied heavily on his tight ends in 2025. Kincaid only played 302 offensive snaps as a result of his injuries, but Knox (653) and Hawes (487) combined for 1,140.
Texans Contract Details: Smith, Rankins, Teller, Fairbairn, Hall, Schultz, Hummel
Hoping to earn their fourth straight playoff berth in 2026, the Texans have doled out several notable contracts this month. Here are the details on 10 of those deals, courtesy of Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2:
- Braden Smith, RT (two years, $20MM): The ex-Colt joined the AFC rival Texans on an arrangement worth up to $25MM. Smith received a signing bonus of $8.5MM, and he is due to make base salaries of $2.5MM ($5MM-plus cap hit) and $8MM ($10.63MM cap charge). Houston added two void years to the contract.
- Sheldon Rankins, DT (two years, $17MM): Rankins’ $1.5MM base salary for 2026 is fully guaranteed; $3.5MM of his $7.5MM base salary for 2027 is guaranteed. He can make up to $500K per annum in per game active roster bonuses. The Texans baked three void years into Rankins’ contract.
- Wyatt Teller, G (two years, $16MM): The longtime Brown reeled in $8.5MM in total guarantees and a $5.75MM signing bonus. Teller signed on for base salaries of $1.5MM (fully guaranteed) and $7.25MM ($1.25MM guaranteed). He also has up to $500K available each year in per game active roster bonuses. The Texans included void years from 2028-29.
- Ka’imi Fairbairn, K (two years, $13MM): At $6.5MM, Fairbairn signed for the highest average annual value in the history of his position. Fairbairn’s deal, worth up to $17.79MM, includes $11.66MM in guarantees, a $6MM signing bonus, and $10K in per game active roster bonuses. He’ll take home fully guaranteed salaries of $1.3MM ($5.79MM cap charge) and $4.33MM ($6.7MM against the cap).
- Logan Hall, DE (two years, $13.75MM): The Houston product and former Buccaneer will earn a guaranteed $9MM, a $5.75MM signing bonus, and salaries of $1.4MM (fully guaranteed) and $5.9MM ($1.85MM guaranteed). Hall’s pact included $14,706 in per game roster bonuses and a $100K annual workout bonus.
- Dalton Schultz, TE (one year, $12.6MM): Schultz’s extension, which runs through 2027, comes with a $10MM signing bonus. Schultz will collect base salaries of $2.6MM ($9.46MM cap hit) and $10.5MM ($14.95MM cap charge). The Texans tacked three void years on the deal.
- Jake Hummel, LB (two years, $4.75MM): Hummel’s pact is worth a maximum of $5.25MM, including $2.15MM in full guarantees. His $1.25MM salary for next season is guaranteed. Hummel will make another $1.9MM if he sticks around in 2027. Bonuses: $900K at signing, up to $250K per annum for games played, $250K for making a Pro Bowl, and $100K for workouts.
- Dominique Robinson, DE (one year, up to $4MM): Robinson’s accord has $1.5MM in guarantees, a $1.5MM base salary ($500K guaranteed) and a $1MM signing bonus. There is a max of $500K available in per game active roster bonuses.
- Evan Brown, G (one year, $3MM): Brown’s deal is worth up to $3.5MM. It features a $1.5MM salary ($300K guaranteed; $2.41MM cap hit), $1MM in guarantees, and a $700K signing bonus. There are roster bonuses of $250K and a $50K workout bonus.
- Naquan Jones, DT (one year, $2MM): Jones’ contract carries a max value of $2.5MM. It features a $1.32MM salary and a $300K signing bonus.
S Justin Simmons Wants To Play In 2026
Free agent safety Justin Simmons was on multiple teams’ radars last summer, but the two-time Pro Bowler wound up sitting out the entire season. Despite that, the 32-year-old has not closed the door on his career.
“I’m still a free agent, looking to play for a contender, and we’ll see where that ends up,” Simmons said on his new podcast, The Weekly Cut.
Simmons also wanted to join a contender last season, at which point he was coming off a one-year stint in Atlanta. No deal came together for the longtime Bronco, who spent his first eight years in Denver. The ball-hawking Simmons earned second-team All-Pro honors four times as a member of the Broncos, with whom he racked up an eye-opening 71 passes defensed and 30 interceptions over 118 games. He led the NFL in picks (six) in 2022.
Simmons’ fruitful run in Denver ended when the team released him in a cost-cutting move in March 2024. While Simmons sat on the open market for five months, the Falcons gave him a fully guaranteed $7.5MM a few weeks before the season began. Pairing with fellow standout safety Jessie Bates, the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Simmons registered a 91.37% defensive snap share over 16 starts. Simmons notched seven PDs and two picks, but Pro Football Focus ranked his performance just 68th among regulars at his position.
Even though he missed a year, Simmons is among the most accomplished unsigned safeties remaining as free agency nears the three-week mark. Simmons will not approach his previous payday if he lands anywhere, though, and a deal may not materialize until next month’s draft is in the books.
Cowboys To Sign DL Jonathan Bullard
The Cowboys are adding veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Bullard has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $2.5MM.
A third-round pick of the Bears in 2016, the 32-year-old Bullard is joining his seventh team ahead of his 11th NFL season. Bullard, also a former Cardinal, Seahawk, Falcon, Viking and Saint, has appeared in 131 games and logged 59 starts.
In signing with Dallas, Bullard will reunite with defensive line coach Marcus Dixon. The two were together in Minnesota in 2024, the lone 17-start season of Bullard’s career. Bullard posted 41 tackles and a sack that year, the last of his three seasons with the Vikings.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder inked a one-year deal with New Orleans last July and went on to appear in 15 games (six starts) in 2025. While Bullard played just 29.73% defensive snaps and made 26 tackles. Pro Football Focus rated his play a useful 62nd among 127 qualified interior defenders.
Bullard missed just two games in his first three seasons, but he combined to sit out 30 from 2019-22. He was far healthier over the previous three years, however, as he put together back-to-back 17-game campaigns before his 15-game stint with the Saints. The Cowboys will hope that continues in 2026. If so, Bullard could play a sizable role on a Quinnen Williams– and Kenny Clark-led defensive line that lost Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas in trades earlier this month. Along with Bullard, the Cowboys have picked up former Chargers D-lineman Otito Ogbonnia on a one-year, $3MM pact.
Bills Could Trade Up For Edge Defender
Although the Bills have been perennial AFC contenders since 2019, a mediocre pass rush has been among the reasons they have not reached the Super Bowl. While sacks aren’t the end-all, be-all, it is notable that only one Bill (Leonard Floyd in 2023) hit double digits in a season during former head coach Sean McDermott‘s nine-year reign.
The Bills moved on from the defensive-minded McDermott after last season and promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach. In his most important hire, Brady tabbed longtime NFL safety and ex-Broncos assistant Jim Leonhard as his defensive coordinator. The Bills have since added a noteworthy pass rusher in Bradley Chubb, whom they picked up on a three-year, $43.5MM agreement in free agency.
Chubb, who is replacing free agent Joey Bosa in Buffalo, may not be the only significant pass-rushing investment the team makes this offseason. With the draft a few weeks away, there is a belief general manager Brandon Beane would be willing to move up from 26th overall for an “impact edge presence,” Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom writes.
“They still don’t have enough bite up front,” one longtime executive told La Canfora.
Transitioning to a 3-4 base defense in 2026, the Bills are indeed light on edge rushers. Chubb and Greg Rousseau are the best in-house options for a defense that ranked 20th in sacks and 27th in pass rush win rate last year. Michael Hoecht is next in the outside linebacker pecking order, but it is unknown how much he will contribute next season after tearing his Achilles last November. Andre Jones and Javon Solomon round out the group, though neither has done much over a combined five NFL seasons.
The good news for the Bills is that this year’s class is heavy on edge rushers. It is the deepest position group going into the draft, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, who contends “edge defenders will rule the first round.” Beane may be able to upgrade even if he stays at 26, which would be ideal for a team that’s light on draft capital.
Having already traded their second-round pick to the Bears for wide receiver D.J. Moore, the Bills own seven selections and a mere two in the top 91. They also have other needs to address (interior defensive line, middle linebacker, receiver and secondary depth among them), which Beane will have to consider before potentially trading up.
Raiders’ Tom Brady Explored Comeback As Player/Owner
Seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady agreed to buy a piece of the Raiders in May 2023, but it took until October 2024 for the NFL to approve his purchase. At some point, the longtime Patriot and short-term Buccaneer asked the league about playing quarterback for the Raiders while owning part of the franchise. The league shot it down.
“I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady revealed to CNBC Sport this week. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me just say that, too.”
An NFL spokesperson confirmed to CNBC it does not allow such an arrangement, saying that Brady would have had to divest his 5% ownership stake before coming out of retirement.
“In addition, there would be salary cap issues involving a player/owner,” the spokesperson added.
The NFL put this policy in place in 2023, a year after it levied punishment against the Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross for tampering with Brady. The league found that the Dolphins engaged in “impermissible communications” with Brady late in his 20-year Patriots run and during his three-season stint in Tampa Bay. Ross wanted to bring Brady aboard as a player/part-owner, but former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores blew the whistle in a 2022 racial discrimination lawsuit that is still ongoing.
Six months after Flores filed his suit against the NFL, the Dolphins, the Giants and the Broncos, the league suspended and fined Ross and Dolphins vice chairman/TB12 board member Bruce Beal. It also docked the Dolphins a first-round pick in 2023 and a third-rounder in ’24.
Brady, who came out of retirement once during his illustrious career, last played in the NFL in 2022. The soon-to-be 49-year-old participated in last weekend’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic, but he told CNBC that doing so “reconfirmed to me that I’m very happy in my retirement.” Although he is done as a player, Brady will continue to serve a key role with the Raiders and work as Fox’s lead color commentator.
G Chase Bisontis Drawing Vast Interest
As one of the premier guard prospects in the 2026 draft class, Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis has the potential to come off the board in the first two rounds. There is widespread interest in Bisontis, who has scheduled over a dozen visits, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Chargers, Panthers and Falcons are among the clubs that will host Bisontis.
As a freshman in 2023, Bisontis began his three-year run in College Station as the Aggies’ starting right tackle. He worked at left guard during his last two seasons, in which he allowed a total of two sacks. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder earned third-team All-SEC honors in 2025.
In ranking Bisontis as the 49th-best prospect available, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com notes “short arms” could negatively affect the 21-year-old’s stock. But Bisontis assuaged some concerns when his arms measured 32 inches at Texas A&M’s pro day on Wednesday, per Garafolo. The average guard checks in around 33 inches.
Whether it’s Bisontis or another high-end prospect (Penn State’s Vega Ioane, for example), it would not be a surprise to see the Chargers grab a guard at either No. 22 or 55. While free agent addition Cole Strange is expected to start on the right side, the Chargers do not have a clear replacement for departed left guard Zion Johnson. Trevor Penning and newcomer Kayode Awosika are in-house options to succeed Johnson, but neither comes with a strong history as a starter.
The Chargers have an obvious need at guard, but that is not the case for either the Panthers or Falcons. Carolina has two expensive starters in Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt. A 16-game starter for the fourth straight season in 2025, the 29-year-old Lewis finished as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-ranked guard. Playing the second season of a five-year, $100MM pact, Hunt missed 15 games with a torn biceps, but he returned for a wild-card round loss to the Rams. With Lewis and Hunt sticking around next year, the Panthers may be more inclined to upgrade elsewhere with picks 19 and 51.
As a result of ex-general manager Terry Fontenot‘s James Pearce Jr. gamble last April, the Falcons do not have a first-rounder this year. Atlanta’s first selection is scheduled for No. 48, where president of football Matt Ryan and GM Ian Cunningham could consider Bisontis if he is still available. The Falcons already have two quality starting guards in Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron, however, leaving the long-struggling franchise with more pressing areas to address.
Lindstrom, who inked a five-year, $105MM extension in 2023, is coming off his second 17-start season in a row. PFF ranked Lindstrom a superb second among guards, while Bergergon finished 20th. Bergeron missed two games, but they were the first absences of the three-year veteran’s career. Although Bergeron is eligible for an extension, spending a second-rounder on a guard may indicate Atlanta does not plan to dole out another big payday at the position.
Jets Contract Details: Davis, Onyemata, Enagbare, Wright, Belton
The Jets have signed 12 players since free agency opened on March 11. Here are the details on several of those contracts…
- Demario Davis, LB (two years, $22MM): Returning to the Jets for a third stint, the 37-year-old standout secured $15MM in guaranteed money and a $7.5MM signing bonus, Katherine Terrell of ESPN reports. Davis’ $3.5MM base salary for 2026 is fully guaranteed; $4MM of his $11MM base in ’27 is fully guaranteed.
- David Onyemata, DT (one year, $10.5MM): The former Saint and Falcon received a $7.5MM signing bonus and will earn a $2.15MM salary, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Onyemata will make another $50K for each game he’s active (up to $850K). The Jets tacked four void years on his deal.
- Kingsley Enagbare, OLB (one year, $10MM): The ex-Packer will rake in $8.49MM in guaranteed money and a $5MM signing bonus, according to Spotrac. Enagbare’s 2026 base salary will check in at $3.49MM.
- Nahshon Wright, CB (one year, $5.5MM): Despite leading the NFL last year with 10 turnovers (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles), the former Bear settled for a relatively inexpensive deal. The Jets will pay Wright a fully guaranteed $3.5MM, per Wilson. His accord features a $2MM signing bonus and a salary of $1.5MM.
- Dane Belton, S (one year, $4MM): In leaving the Giants for the Jets, Belton landed $3.5MM in guarantees and a $2.5MM signing bonus, Wilson relays. His contract features up to $2MM in incentives based on playing time, interceptions, a playoff appearance and a Pro Bowl nod. Belton will also collect $30k in per game roster bonuses (up to $510K).
- Andre Cisco, S (one year, $2.5MM): Cisco re-upped with the Jets for a $1.49MM salary, $1.25MM in guarantees and a $500K signing bonus (via Wilson).
- Max Mitchell, OT (one year, $2MM): Set for his fifth year with the Jets in 2026, Mitchell will play on a $1.81MM salary with $1MM in fully guaranteed money, according to Wilson.