Bears To Re-Sign Daniel Hardy
The Bears have reached an agreement to re-sign restricted free agent defensive lineman Daniel Hardy, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. It’s a two-year, $4.97MM pact with $2.45MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap.
Hardy, a Montana State product, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Rams in 2022. After suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason, Hardy spent the majority of his rookie campaign on injured reserve. He returned late in the year to appear in six games, record four tackles and total 169 snaps (128 on special teams, 41 on defense).
Hardy did not make the Rams’ roster in his second season, but he quickly caught on with the Bears’ practice squad. While Hardy did not see any action in his first year in Chicago, he has since posted back-to-back 17-game seasons. Hardy has amassed just 85 defensive snaps with the Bears, but the 27-year-old has evolved into a core special teamer.
Last season was the second in a row in which Hardy led the Bears in special teams snap share. He played 77.85% of snaps and made the league’s sixth-most ST tackles (19) in 2025.
Offseason Outlook: New York Jets
As a Jets cornerback for the first eight seasons of his 15-year NFL career, Aaron Glenn intercepted 24 passes and earned two Pro Bowl trips from 1994-2001. Glenn is now considered one of the greatest corners in Jets history. On the other hand, Glenn is light years from being considered one of the greatest head coaches in Jets history.
In the wake of an unsuccessful foray into the Mike Vrabel derby in January 2025, the Jets turned back to Glenn 24 years after he last donned their colors. Glenn was coming off a well-regarded run as the Lions' defensive coordinator from 2021-24, but Year 1 as a head coach could not have gone much worse.
The Jets went 3-14 to extend their league-high playoff drought to 15 years. Their minus-203 point differential ranks as the second-worst mark since the league introduced a 17-game schedule in 2021. Gang Green's noncompetitive showing was still not enough to secure the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft. The Jets finished as runners-up to the Raiders in the race to the bottom, severely jeopardizing their chances of finding a much-needed franchise quarterback this spring.
Owner Woody Johnson hired Glenn three days before he tabbed longtime Broncos executive Darren Mougey as his general manager. Looking for a starting signal-caller in their first offseason together, Glenn and Mougey added former first-rounder Justin Fields on a two-year, $40MM contract with $30MM guaranteed. The mobile Fields, who did not establish himself as the answer in either Pittsburgh or Chicago, flopped in New York. Glenn pulled him for backup Tyrod Taylor in a 13-6 loss to the Panthers in Week 7. A day after the Jets fell to 0-7, Johnson publicly lambasted Fields while calling Glenn "the real deal."
49ers, Bills, Chargers, Commanders, Giants Could Pursue Mike Evans
MARCH 6: A new Buccaneers deal remains something to watch for in this case, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports. He adds the Titans and Raiders could also be in play provided the “right deal” can be worked out, though.
MARCH 4: Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has established himself as a franchise icon over his 12-year career. The six-time Pro Bowler could continue his career in Tampa Bay next season, but he will at least hear other teams out in free agency.
In 2024, the last time Evans was on the cusp of free agency, the Buccaneers stopped him from reaching the open market with a two-year, $52MM offer. Evans was then coming off one of the best seasons of a potential Hall of Fame career. He caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards and a personal-high 13 touchdowns in his lone 17-game campaign.
Soon to turn 33, Evans is now looking for a new deal on the heels of his worst year. Multiple injuries – including a hamstring strain and a broken clavicle – held Evans to eight games, 30 receptions, 368 yards and three scores. His nine absences prevented him from a 12th straight 1,000-yard season, which would have given him the all-time record. He instead will remain tied with the legendary Jerry Rice for that honor.
Although 2025 fell well short of a typical Evans year, he will have no shortage of interest on the open market. Evans may not do as well on his next deal, but a pact in the range of $20MM per year is realistic, sources told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. The 49ers, Bills, Chargers, Commanders and Giants are among potential suitors for the 6-foot-5, 231-pounder, per Jones.
The 49ers, Bills and Chargers were all playoff teams last season, which should appeal to Evans. As part of an 8-9 Bucs squad, the one-time Super Bowl winner missed out on postseason play for the first time since 2019 last year.
San Francisco could lose pending free agent Jauan Jennings, who led the team’s wide receivers in catches (55), yards (643) and touchdowns (nine) last season. The 49ers will also finalize a divorce from Brandon Aiyuk sometime soon.
The Josh Allen-led Bills are in dire need of at least one high-end outside complement to reliable slot man Khalil Shakir. The 2024 second-round selection of Keon Coleman has not worked out, and neither have recent free agent signings Josh Palmer and Curtis Samuel. Odds are the Bills will cut Samuel this offseason. They are also facing the possible departure of Brandin Cooks in free agency.
The Chargers have wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and 2025 second-rounder Tre Harris under contract for next season. Perennially productive 33-year-old Keenan Allen is unsigned, which leaves room for a venerable veteran pass catcher. That could still be Allen, but Evans is at least on the Chargers’ radar.
The Commanders and Giants were miles from the playoffs last year, but both teams at least have prized young quarterbacks. Washington’s Jayden Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors during a dazzling NFL introduction in 2024. He helped lead the Commanders to 12 wins and an NFC title game in his first season, but they skidded to 5-12 during an injury-ravaged 2025. Daniels missed 10 games, and No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin sat out seven.
Adding Evans to a healthy Daniels and McLaurin could make for a potent Washington passing attack in 2026. Whether it’s Evans or someone else, the Commanders will add to a receiving corps that could see Deebo Samuel walk away in free agency.
As a rookie last season, Giants signal-caller Jaxson Dart impressed despite losing No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4. Wan’Dale Robinson stepped up as Dart’s go-to target, but he is now nearing free agency. There is reportedly a good chance the Giants will re-sign Robinson, but he primarily works from the slot. There would still be room for Evans on the outside. That would give Dart and the new head coach-offensive coordinator duo of John Harbaugh–Matt Nagy a formidable receiver trio.
Among wideouts scheduled to hit the open market, the Colts’ Alec Pierce should have the most earning power on a long-term contract. No soon-to-be free agent has a better resume than Evans, though, and that will help him secure another strong payday on a short-term agreement.
49ers Want More Than Second-Rounder For Mac Jones; Latest On Trent Williams
The 49ers landed backup quarterback Mac Jones on a two-year, $7MM contract in free agency last March. The team wound up turning to Jones far more than it planned to in the first year of the deal. With a toe injury limiting starter Brock Purdy to nine games, Jones made eight starts and did a nice job keeping the car on the road. The 49ers went 5-3 in Jones’ outings.
Jones may have boosted his stock enough to become an appealing trade candidate, but the market has not been “robust” so far, Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic write. While the 49ers are not shopping Jones, they at least expected someone to offer a third-round pick or better, according to Barrows and Tafur.
General manager John Lynch‘s asking price is even higher than a third, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic hears. Lynch is looking for a second-rounder and more. That is a steep cost for a signal-caller who has put together an inconsistent five-year career.
Jones, whom the Patriots drafted 15th overall in 2021, had a solid rookie year as a starter. Taking over after Cam Newton‘s forgettable season as the Patriots’ starter, Jones helped the Pats to 10 wins and a playoff berth. The Alabama product fizzled over the next two seasons, though, leading the Patriots to trade him to the Jaguars in March 2024. Jones only brought back a sixth-rounder then. He went on to underwhelm in relief of an injured Trevor Lawrence over seven starts.
Jones had a far better year in San Francisco, where he set career highs in completion percentage (69.6%), yards per attempt (7.4), passer rating (97.4) and QBR (62.3). He threw for 2,151 yards and tossed 13 touchdowns against six interceptions across 289 attempts. Those are good numbers, but not enough to convince anyone to give up prime draft capital. Unsurprisingly, there is some skepticism toward the 27-year-old and a belief that his 2025 rebound was the product of head coach/offensive guru Kyle Shanahan.
“The 49ers gonna throw in Kyle Shanahan in the deal, too?” one general manager asked (via Barrows and Tafur).
As of January, Shanahan was not expecting a Jones trade. Shanahan said then that “you always listen to people and trade offers, but we’re also not into getting rid of good players. So, I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year.”
Barring something unforeseen, it appears Jones will indeed remain in a 49ers uniform next season. On the other hand, there is still plenty of uncertainty around future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams. With the 49ers and Williams struggling to agree on an adjusted deal to lower his $38.84MM cap hit, a Feb. 23 report surfaced indicating the team could release him. Speaking to the media that afternoon, Lynch said the 49ers and Williams’ camp are “all on the same page.”
Nothing has been done about Williams’ contract over a week later, leaving a release as a possible outcome. The two sides have not made any progress, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who says the 49ers and Williams still have work to do to prevent a divorce.
If the 12-time Pro Bowler reaches free agency, there should be plenty of interest despite his age. The 37-year-old continues to play at a high level, and retirement is not imminent. Williams still believes he has two or three seasons of football left in him, Garafolo reports.
Colts Shopping LB Zaire Franklin
Linebacker Zaire Franklin‘s eighth year in a Colts uniform may have been his last. In an effort to get under the salary cap, the Colts are discussing a Franklin trade with other teams, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Factoring in the $37.83MM transition tag for quarterback Daniel Jones, the Colts are approximately $4.72MM over the cap. They are also trying to re-sign wide receiver Alec Pierce, though he plans to test the free agent market. As PFR’s second-ranked free agent-to-be, Pierce may price himself out of Indianapolis on a mega-deal.
The possibility of the Colts moving on from Franklin first came up last week. General manager Chris Ballard was complimentary toward Franklin, but he was also noncommittal on the soon-to-be 30-year-old’s future. Ballard gave Franklin a three-year, $31.26MM extension back in March 2024. He still has two years’ control left as a result. Trading or releasing Franklin before June 1 would save the Colts $5.76MM in cap space at the cost of $2.5MM in dead money.
Franklin’s career began when the Colts chose him in the seventh round out of Syracuse in 2018. After mostly serving as a special teamer in his first three seasons, he took over as a regular starter in 2021. Franklin has missed just one game since then. He amassed over 170 tackles in each season from 2022-24. During a career year in 2024, Franklin posted 173 tackles, 11 TFL, and personal bests in sacks (3.5) and interceptions (two).
Franklin earned Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro selection for his efforts two years ago, but he was not as effective last season. He put up 125 tackles, seven TFL and two sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked Franklin 87th among 88 qualifying linebackers. Primary running mate Germaine Pratt, now a pending free agent, checked in at No. 41. Both players could soon be on their way out of Indianapolis, which would set up an overhaul at linebacker.
At least one of the Giants or Jets will be involved in trade talks for Franklin, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post contends. The Giants may pursue Franklin to replace the released Bobby Okereke. The Jets, who are transitioning to a 3-4 base defense, need another inside linebacker to pair with Jamien Sherwood. Franklin could fit the bill.
Chargers Host C Tyler Biadasz
Now in the market for a starting center to replace the retired Bradley Bozeman, the Chargers hosted free agent Tyler Biadasz on Thursday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
This is the second visit Biadasz has booked since the Commanders released him last week. The six-year veteran met with the Bears after No. 1 center Drew Dalman‘s stunning retirement on Tuesday.
A month after stalwart center Travis Frederick retired, the Cowboys chose Biadasz in the fourth round in 2020. The former Wisconsin Badger came off the bench in eight of 12 games as a rookie, but he became a full-time starter in his second season. Biadasz played in 49 games from 2021-23 and earned his lone Pro Bowl nod as an alternate in 2022.
Biadasz parlayed a solid run in Dallas into a three-year, $30MM contract with the NFC East rival Commanders in 2024. He continued as a full-time starter in Washington, where he played in 31 games, but the team cut him with a year left on his deal. The 28-year-old’s only absence last season came in the Commanders’ finale. He was on IR by then as a result of knee and ankle injuries he suffered in Week 17. Biadasz ended the year as Pro Football Focus’ 12th-ranked center among 37 qualifiers.
If Biadasz signs with the Chargers, he would replace another full-time starter in Bozeman. Although Bozeman topped the depth chart in all 33 of his games as a Charger, PFF was down on his work in both seasons. He was the outlet’s 31st-rated center out of 43 in 2024 and its last-ranked pivot in ’25. The Chargers’ search for a successor could point them to Biadasz, though the team has the cap room (a league-leading $99.05MM) to make a far bigger investment at the position.
The Ravens Tyler Linderbaum, PFR’s top-ranked pending free agent, is poised to sign a record-setting contract for a center. Connor McGovern, who expects to leave Buffalo, and Carolina’s Cade Mays are in the next tier of soon-to-be free agents at the position. Neither will come cheap, though, and Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz indicated last month that he does not expect to be aggressive in free agency. That could make a Biadasz signing more likely than a splashier center addition.
Cardinals Release Akeem Davis-Gaither, Bilal Nichols
The Cardinals have released linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, per Field Yates of ESPN. They cut Nichols with a failed physical designation.
Davis-Gaither worked as a backup during his first five seasons in Cincinnati, which chose him in Round 4 of the 2020 draft. He became a starter for the Cardinals after they handed him a two-year, $11MM deal last March.
During his second 17-game season in a row, Davis-Gaither notched career highs in tackles (117), starts (13) and passes defensed (five). He led all Cardinals linebackers in snap share (68.15%) and pulled in the third interception of his career along the way. Pro Football Focus was unimpressed, though, as the outlet ranked the 28-year-old’s performance 71st among 88 qualifying LBs.
A former Bear and Raider, Nichols signed a three-year, $21MM contract with the Cardinals in March 2024. Nichols was coming off three straight 17-game seasons at that point, but health eluded him in Arizona. The 300-pounder totaled 10 tackles in six games (five starts) before a stinger forced him to season-ending injured reserve in October 2024.
When assembling their roster at the end of August last year, the Cardinals placed Nichols on the reserve/PUP list with a neck injury. They activated Nichols before Week 5, but the 29-year-old wound up totaling just four appearances and three tackles in 2025. Arizona sent Nichols to IR with knee injury in mid-December, ending his second and last season in its uniform. He made 13 tackles in 10 games as a Cardinal.
In moving on from Davis-Gaither and Nichols, the Cardinals will save around $11MM in cap space. They now have approximately $39.7MM available as the new league year approaches.
Seahawks, LB Drake Thomas Agree To Deal
The Seahawks and restricted free agent linebacker Drake Thomas have agreed to a two-year contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal comes with a base of $8MM and could be worth up to $9MM.
As an undrafted free agent from NC State in 2023, Thomas originally signed with the Raiders. He was unable to crack Las Vegas’ roster, leading Seattle to claim Thomas shortly before the season.
Thomas appeared in seven games and played 118 of 122 snaps on special teams as a rookie. While he suited up for all 17 of the Seahawks’ games in his second year, his role was primarily on special teams again. Just 37 of his 355 snaps came on defense.
Last year was a different story for Thomas, who emerged as a 14-game starter for a team that won the Super Bowl. The 26-year-old totaled 768 snaps, the seventh-most among Seahawks defenders. With 905 snaps, Ernest Jones was the Seahawks’ only linebacker to log more playing time. Thomas took advantage of his opportunity in racking up 96 tackles, 10 TFL, six QB hits, 3.5 sacks and an interception over 17 regular-season games. Pro Football Focus rated his performance an impressive 23rd among 88 qualifying linebackers.
Thomas’ 77.0 grade as a run defender ranked third on the Seahawks, who allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL. He chipped in another 18 tackles over three playoff wins, including six in a stifling defensive performance against the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Broncos Planned To Pursue Breece Hall
The Jets kept running back Breece Hall under wraps with the franchise tag before the Tuesday afternoon deadline. The transition tag was also a possibility, but the Broncos posed enough of a threat that the Jets went for the franchise option, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
Franchising Hall all but guaranteed he will remain in a Jets uniform for a fifth season in 2026. No team is going to sign Hall to an offer sheet and give up two first-round picks for him. The transition tag would have given the Jets the right to match any offer, but they would not have received compensation had they let him go.
The Broncos were ready to strike in the event the Jets chose the transition tag. They remain “poised to make a splash” at the position in free agency, Jones writes.
Broncos general manager George Paton could have stolen Hall from former assistant GM Darren Mougey, who is now the Jets’ GM. Denver also has a key connection to Hall in running backs coach Louis Ayeni, Jones notes. As Iowa State’s RBs coach from 2014-17, Ayeni recruited Hall to play for the Cyclones.
With Hall out of the picture, the Broncos could turn their attention to Seahawks Super Bowl LX MVP winner Kenneth Walker III or the Jaguars’ Travis Etienne. Those two rank as the league’s best pending free agent running backs. The Panthers’ Rico Dowdle, the Falcons’ Tyler Allgeier, the Buccaneers’ Rachaad White and the Broncos’ own J.K. Dobbins are among other notable RBs seeking contracts.
Dobbins, a former Raven and Charger, joined the Broncos on a one-year, $5.25MM contract last offseason. He performed well as the Broncos’ primary ball carrier when healthy. Once again, though, staying healthy was a challenge for the oft-injured Dobbins. The 27-year-old rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 153 attempts (5.0 YPC) in 10 games before a Lisfranc injury ended his season in November. Since entering the league in 2020, injuries have held Dobbins out of 57 games. That makes Dobbins hard to rely on as a go-to back, even though he has averaged 5.2 yards per rush on 582 carries.
Despite losing Dobbins just days after the Nov. 4 trade deadline, the Broncos won six of their last seven regular-season games to roll to an AFC West title and clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference. But their running game was less effective without Dobbins. Rookie second-rounder RJ Harvey combined for 12 touchdowns (seven rushing, five receiving) and caught 47 passes, but he only averaged 3.7 yards on 146 carries. He accounted for a subpar 57 rushing yards on 19 tries over the Broncos’ two playoff games. Harvey mustered just 37 yards on 13 attempts in a 10-7 loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game. That proved costly for a Denver team stuck with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who could not get anything going through the air while filling in for an injured Bo Nix.
Harvey will return as an integral part of the offense in 2026, but it sounds as if he will pair with another established veteran in his second year. That may have been Hall if the Broncos had their way. They will have to look elsewhere instead.
49ers Hire Matt Eberflus As Assistant HC
The 49ers are hiring Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Eberflus will replace Gus Bradley, who left to become the Titans’ defensive coordinator.
Bradley followed previous 49ers defensive coordinator and new Titans head coach Robert Saleh to Tennessee. Kyle Shanahan then tabbed former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as Saleh’s successor in San Francisco. This will be Eberflus’ first time working with Shanahan and Morris.
The 55-year-old Eberflus is best known for his two-plus seasons as the Bears’ head coach from 2022-24. After Chicago stumbled to a 14-32 record under Eberflus, general manager Ryan Poles fired him in November 2024.
The Bears hired Eberflus on the heels of an effective showing as the Colts’ defensive coordinator from 2018-21. The Colts boasted top-10 scoring defenses in three of Eberflus’ four years on former head coach Frank Reich‘s staff.
Before going to Indianapolis, Eberflus worked as the Cowboys’ linebackers coach from 2011-17. The Cowboys likely expected Eberflus to channel the success he had in Indy when they reunited with him as their D-coordinator last year. Instead, the hiring proved to be a disaster.
Eberflus’ defense, among the worst in franchise history, did little to nothing well. The unit ranked 23rd in run defense, 26th in sacks, 30th in yards and takeaways, and last in pass defense and scoring. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, COO Stephen Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer gave Eberflus public votes of confidence in the first couple months of the season. However, patience officially ran out when they fired Eberflus in the wake of a 7-9-1 campaign.
Now taking on an important role in San Francisco, Eberflus will assist with a defense that held up decently last season despite a rash of injuries. The 49ers went most of the season without their two best defenders, end Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner, but still ranked a respectable 13th in scoring. Bosa suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 3, while Warner did not play again after fracturing and dislocating his ankle in Week 6. Those two should return to full strength to play for a new-look defensive staff in 2026.