Texans To Release RB Joe Mixon
Days after agreeing to acquire David Montgomery from the Lions, the Texans are moving on from their previous running back trade pickup. Joe Mixon is out, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Considering Mixon missed all of 2025 with an undisclosed injury, this move was expected. The nine-year veteran’s career may be in jeopardy at this point. Mixon underwent surgery recently; his timetable is unknown. This release will come with a non-football injury designation, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
Mixon requested the release, Schefter adds, and the move will save the Texans $8MM in cap space. With Montgomery arriving as a younger option to pair with Woody Marks, Mixon was almost definitely headed out of town regardless of a release request.
The Bengals were close to releasing Mixon in 2024, but the Texans came in with a late trade offer — a seventh-round pick — for the longtime Cincinnati starter. Houston then extended Mixon on a two-year, $19.75MM deal. That contract included $13MM guaranteed at signing, representing a nice landing for the veteran RB after he had accepted a Cincy pay cut in 2023.
The 2024 season — which featured several relocated veterans making impacts at running back — brought success for Mixon, who totaled 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games. This earned the former second-round pick a Pro Bowl invite, as the Texans returned to the divisional round. But Mixon’s Houston tenure changed last year, when a foot injury sidelined him ahead of training camp. The Texans placed Mixon on the reserve/NFI list to start the season and never activated him.
It is still not known how or when Mixon suffered the injury, but he was never designated for return from the NFI list. GM Nick Caserio said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) Mixon did not sustain the injury away from football activities. Though, landing on the NFI list meant the Oklahoma alum was injured away from official Texans workouts. The injury occurred before the summer, with Mixon in a walking boot last spring. That prompted the Texans to sign Nick Chubb, who played on a one-year, $2.5MM deal.
This saga steadily brought negative updates for Mixon. At first, he was to miss multiple weeks of training camp. He then landed on the reserve/NFI list to mandate a four-game absence. Reports then pegged the former Bengals extension recipient may miss all of 2025. By season’s end, Mixon’s NFL future was viewed as uncertain.
Mixon, who has five 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his resume, pursued nonsurgical options last year, according to Wilson. No disclosure was necessary due to Mixon never appearing on an injury report last year, but Wilson adds the team honored Mixon’s request for privacy regarding the ailment.
Commanders To Re-Sign Treylon Burks
Treylon Burks will have another chance in Washington. Washing out in Tennessee, the former first-round pick has agreed to a second contract with the Commanders.
The fifth-year veteran is signing a one-year deal worth up to $4MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Washington added Burks soon after his Tennessee release and used him as an auxiliary wideout alongside Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel last season.
Catching 10 passes for 130 yards (and one memorable touchdown) in his 2025 stint in Washington, Burks will attempt to continue his bounce-back effort after a disappointing Titans tenure. The Titans waived the Arkansas product from IR via injury settlement in October of last year, and a practice squad opportunity with the Commanders emerged soon after.
Burks made one of last season’s most memorable plays, snagging a one-handed touchdown reception despite tight coverage from Broncos cornerback Riley Moss during a Sunday-night contest in November. That was only Burks’ second NFL touchdown, however. With Samuel a free agent, the Commanders will see how Burks fits in new OC David Blough‘s offense.
Entering the NFL with injury concerns, Burks missed 12 games over his first two seasons and played in just five games in 2024. An ACL tear ended Burks’ 2024 season, and he sustained a broken collarbone during Titans camp last summer. Added with the first-round choice Tennessee acquired from Philadelphia for A.J. Brown, Burks has 63 career receptions for 829 yards. The 225-pound pass catcher is entering his age-26 season.
Eagles Aiming For Pre-Free Agency A.J. Brown Solution; Chargers In Play For WR?
A.J. Brown figures to learn his 2026 destination soon. The Eagles, along with the teams in this trade pursuit, want the matter resolved over the next couple of days, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. A few clubs have been connected to the standout wide receiver.
The Bills checked in on Brown before agreeing to acquire D.J. Moore, and the Patriots and Ravens emerged as the most likely destinations. The Chargers are another team looking into this situation, Russini adds. Although the Patriots are still in this mix, they might require a price reduction from the Eagles to make the trade.
New England is an acceptable destination for Brown, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Pats, though, still view Howie Roseman‘s asking price — believed to be first- and second-round picks — as too steep, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson notes. Philly is not budging on the price, per Russini. Considering how punitive trading Brown before June 1 would be for the Eagles, it makes sense they are sticking to their guns here.
The Rams were also involved in this derby, per Rapoport, but Russini adds the team has since moved on. Considering Los Angeles is sending one of its two first-rounders to Kansas City for Trent McDuffie, it would seem unlikely — even given the Rams’ history with picks-for-players trades — they will not want to trade more high picks for Brown.
Brown being interested in a Foxborough landing is notable given the Patriots’ failure to sell Brandon Aiyuk on such a path in 2024. Brown, 28, would be reuniting with ex-Titans HC Mike Vrabel in this case. While a report indicated the Patriots may not be ready to make a big trade, the team has been linked to Brown at multiple points. The Pats are releasing Stefon Diggs, creating a glaring need at wide receiver. With Drake Maye on a rookie contract, the Pats have a window to make such a move.
The Chargers have Ladd McConkey tied to rookie terms for at least one more season. The Bolts have a Quentin Johnston fifth-year option decision to make, but it seems unlikely the 2023 first-rounder will see that option exercised. Tre Harris arrived in last year’s second round and would stand to play a bigger role in 2026, as Keenan Allen is unsigned ahead of a potential age-34 season. Brown would obviously step in as the Chargers’ No. 1 playmaker. The Bolts lead the NFL in cap space and could certainly add a $32MM-AAV receiver deal. While they are not expected to be aggressive in free agency, a trade for a marquee wideout would provide a major upgrade for Justin Herbert.
If Brown is still an Eagle next season, he will count an affordable $23.39MM against their salary cap. On the other hand, trading Brown before June 1 would level the Eagles with a 43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in spending room. Brown has not requested a trade, but after a rocky recent past, the sides appear close to separating.
Packers To Move On From Rashan Gary?
1:17pm: We look to have an Instagram hacking situation here. That is the case, per Demovsky. Gary has not been informed he is being released or traded yet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
12:48pm: Rashan Gary‘s Packers tenure looks set to end after seven seasons. The veteran edge rusher announced (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero) his time with the team will wrap soon.
Tied to a four-year, $96MM extension, Gary had played out the guaranteed portion of his contract — one that ran through the 2027 season. Gary was due an $18MM base salary in 2026. The Packers could designate the OLB as a post-June 1 cut, but they cannot do so until March 11.
It is not known if Gary will be traded or released, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. But it certainly appears the 2019 first-round pick has been informed he’s done in Green Bay. Gary has since deleted this post (h/t ESPN’s Rob Demovsky), injecting confusion into the proceedings.
Gary, 28, had been the subject of trade talks (per Pelissero) recently. The Packers would save $10.78MM with a standard release, which could take place today. They would, however, pick up $19.5MM in 2026 cap space with a post-June 1 designation. Teams are allowed two of those annually.
Gary’s production has not aligned with his $24MM-per-year pact, and the Packers could be searching for a new Micah Parsons bookend soon. Though, the team has 2023 first-rounder Lukas Van Ness — a player who has not lived up to his draft billing — as an option for 2026. Van Ness has started just two career games.
Bills To Release WR Curtis Samuel
As the Bills continue to move toward cap compliance, they are releasing another veteran. Following the Taron Johnson cut, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Buffalo is moving on from Curtis Samuel.
This has been expected, as the veteran wide receiver has not lived up to expectations with the team. Releasing Samuel will save just more than $6MM in cap space.
The Bills gave Samuel a three-year, $24MM contract in free agency; the 2024 deal did not pan out as the team has whiffed on some wide receiver investments over the past two years. One of many ex-Panthers to come through Buffalo during Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott‘s time in western New York, Samuel totaled just 38 receptions for 334 yards over two seasons. He tallied 81 yards in 2025.
Samuel, 29, may have resided on Buffalo’s roster bubble last year were it not for a fully guaranteed 2025 salary. The Bills indeed kept the slot receiver but later placed him on IR due to elbow and knee injuries. Although the Bills used an IR activation on Samuel, he was a nonfactor for a team that struggled to generate wide receiver production. The Bills have since agreed to acquire ex-Samuel Panthers teammate D.J. Moore via trade.
Playing for Joe Brady in Carolina and Buffalo, Samuel initially relocated from Charlotte to Washington in free agency back in 2021. Samuel played out a three-year, $34.5MM Commanders deal, with two solid seasons alongside Terry McLaurin paving a path to Buffalo. Samuel eclipsed 600 receiving yards in 2022 and ’23, despite the Commanders’ QB troubles in those years, and became an attractive free agent. The former second-rounder’s 2026 market will not rival his 2024 interest.
Bills To Release CB Taron Johnson
Entering Friday more than $31MM over the cap, the Bills are releasing a longtime staple. They are cutting cornerback Taron Johnson, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
While boundary cornerbacks have come and gone in Buffalo during the Brandon Beane era, Johnson has patrolled the slot for nearly all of the franchise’s resurgent period. The 2018 fourth-round pick was tied to a three-year, $30.75MM contract. Two years remained on the deal. By moving on now, the Bills avoid a $1.18MM advanced salary guarantee — which would have vested next week.
[RELATED: Examining Bills’ Offseason Blueprint]
This release is not slated to produce much in the way of cap savings — unless Buffalo designates the cornerstone defender as a post-June 1 cut. A post-June 1 designation would save the Bills $8.67MM in 2026 cap space. Otherwise, the club would save less than $2MM this year and incur more than $8MM in dead money. Teams are allowed two post-June 1 designations annually.
The Bills used the same defensive system throughout Johnson’s tenure, but with Sean McDermott being fired and Jim Leonhard coming in as DC, a big change is on tap. Buffalo will be expected to deploy Christian Benford and 2025 first-round pick Maxwell Hairston as its boundary starters, but a hole now exists in the slot.
Johnson, 29, started 87 games with the Bills and had played at least 74% of the team’s defensive snaps since the 2020 season. He signed a three-year, $24MM extension in 2021 and topped Kenny Moore‘s then-slot-record deal in 2024. That pact has since been surpassed — though, not by too much — but Johnson will be an interesting free agent after being tied to an eight-figure AAV for the past two seasons.
A recent report indicated the Bills were considering moving Johnson to safety. Jordan Poyer became needed at the position, and Taylor Rapp is expected to be released. While the Bills will need help at that position — with Damar Hamlin joining Poyer as unsigned — they had been able to count on Johnson inside for nearly a decade. Pro Football Focus, however, had viewed Johnson as slipping recently. The advanced metrics site graded him outside the top 70 in each of the past two seasons.
Texans To Extend DE Danielle Hunter
For a second straight offseason, Danielle Hunter will extend his Houston stay by a year. The Texans are giving the Pro Bowl defensive end a one-year extension, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports.
Hunter agreed to a one-year, $40.1MM deal, per Wilson. This comes a year after the Will Anderson Jr. bookend inked a one-year, $35.6MM pact. This agreement, which includes a $30.7MM signing bonus (per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero), pushes Hunter’s Texans tie through the 2027 season.
This marks Hunter’s third Texans agreement. The team gave the longtime Vikings edge rusher a two-year, $49MM deal that came almost fully guaranteed in 2024. Hunter rewarded the Texans’ investment, as Houston and Minnesota essentially traded edges (with Jonathan Greenard signing with the Vikings), and has since earned two extensions. This deal stands to reduce Hunter’s 2026 cap number — previously at $31.3MM.
The latest Hunter agreement includes a favorable structure. Hunter will see his 2027 base salary ($30.2MM) come fully guaranteed, with Wilson indicating his money is locked in. This represents a win for Hunter, who has opted to go year-to-year past age 30. The youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks, Hunter will turn 33 in October.
Building a Hall of Fame case since coming back from an injury-plagued stretch in the early 2020s, Hunter has been a key part of what has become a formidable Texans defense. The former third-round pick has recorded 27 sacks as a Texan, playing in every Houston game since signing. This included a 15-sack 2025 season, a campaign that earned him second-team All-Pro honors. With Anderson landing on the All-Pro first team, Houston has assembled one of the top edge-rushing duos in recent NFL history.
Coming back from a season-nullifying neck injury (2020) and a pectoral malady that limited him (2021), Hunter has tallied between 22 and 23 QB hits each season from 2022-25. He ripped off a career-high 16.5 as a Viking in 2023, providing considerable momentum into free agency. Hunter had been tied to a below-market contract since 2018, and a Vikes rework meant he could not be franchise-tagged in 2024, leading to a Colts-Texans bidding war. While Indianapolis was believed to have offered more money in total, Houston won out with a $48MM guarantee at signing. The addition has bolstered DeMeco Ryans‘ defense.
When first signed, it looked like the Texans would use Hunter’s contract to complement the rookie deals of Anderson and C.J. Stroud. But Nick Caserio‘s decision to extend him in 2025 turned this into a longer-term partnership. Although Hunter is approaching his mid-30s, he has been a dominant player in Houston.
In the sack era (1982-present), only 26 players have more QB drops than Hunter. The 12th-year veteran has 114.5 despite missing a full season. Hunter is 24 sacks away from the top 10 all time. While keeping up that pace may be a tall order, Hunter has seven double-digit sack seasons on his resume.
Born in Jamaica, Hunter grew up in the Houston area. He replaced Greenard as Anderson’s older sidekick, and the Texans’ defense benefited. Houston ended last season ranked second in scoring defense and first in EPA per play. The unit smothered the Steelers in the wild-card round, rampaging to a 30-6 win, before seeing Stroud struggles in the divisional round bring a defense-powered season to a close.
With Caserio and Co. expected to discuss an extension with Anderson this offseason, Stroud is on track to remain tied to his rookie deal in 2026. Hunter’s accord is the NFL’s fifth $40MM-per-year defender deal, following Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson. This is a unique pact, however, as the rest of those contracts covered at least three years in length.
Offseason Outlook: Pittsburgh Steelers
After an adjusted plan yielded the same result, the Steelers will see a major change in 2026. Mike Tomlin resigned his post, falling a few years short of Chuck Noll for longest-tenured head coach in Steelers history. Tomlin did not seek another job, and it remains to be seen if he will follow Bill Cowher in walking away for good after a Pittsburgh exit.
Rather than go with a young coordinator like they did in 1992 and 2006, the Steelers hired a Pittsburgh native with nearly 20 years' worth of HC experience. Mike McCarthy is not positioned to be a long-term answer with his hometown team, and the former Packers and Cowboys leader is one of the oldest HCs hired in NFL history. Will McCarthy start his Pittsburgh tenure with an Aaron Rodgers reunion?
Coaching/front office:
- Head coach Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons
- Mike McCarthy hired as HC replacement
- Hired Brian Angelichio as offensive coordinator
- Hired Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator
- Tabbed James Campen as offensive line coach, Jahri Evans as assistant OL coach
- Retained Tom Arth as quarterbacks coach
- Hired Jason Simmons as defensive pass-game coordinator
- Added Joe Whitt as secondary coach, Domata Peko as D-line coach
- Assistant GM Andy Weidl interviewed for Falcons' GM job
Tomlin became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl at the time of the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII conquest; he was 36 when the team held off the Cardinals. Sean McVay eclipsed that (by winning at 35), but Tomlin's ascent remains among the fastest in NFL history. The quotable leader then led the Steelers back to the biggest stage, with the team narrowly losing to Rodgers' Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Pittsburgh remained an AFC power in the years to follow, reaching the 2016 conference title game. But the ensuing postseason skid had come to define the back half of Tomlin's tenure.
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Raiders Warming To Prospect Of Maxx Crosby Trade?
John Spytek said at the Combine he envisioned Maxx Crosby being a Raider in 2026, but the second-year GM planned to listen to offers. With a Crosby trade being a clear gateway to accelerating a Raiders rebuild before this year’s draft, the team may be warming to the prospect of moving on.
Teams in the trade market are now under the impression the Raiders are more open to trading the All-Pro edge rusher, insider Jordan Schultz notes. The Bears, Cowboys, Patriots and Seahawks have been mentioned as prospective suitors. Crosby has naturally drawn widespread interest, with a sizable chunk of the NFL checking in after his late-season IR placement began a spiral that has led to this point.
The Raiders are believed to have set a high asking price — perhaps as much as two first-rounders and a player — for the 28-year-old star rusher. Teams around the league have viewed the AFC West team’s ask as exorbitant, but with a bidding war perhaps unfolding, Spytek may be able to keep his price point around the Micah Parsons/Khalil Mack level.
As covered in our Raiders Offseason Outlook piece, Crosby’s 2025 Raiders extension represents a wrinkle in this process. The tackle-for-loss maven is signed through 2029 on a $35.5MM-per-year contract. Generally, blockbuster pass rusher trades come to pass because of contract squabbles. That was the case with Parsons and Mack, with many others in recent NFL history falling into that category as well.
Crosby being prepared to play on his current contract gives an acquiring team an advantage, as that deal — tops among edge rushers when signed last March — is now sixth in terms of AAV at the position. While Mark Davis has slammed the door on Crosby trade interest in the past, we may see a swap soon.
If the Raiders hang onto Crosby past the draft, a deal would not necessarily be dead. The Parsons and Mack swaps were executed just before the season, but the Raiders would be acquiring 2027 draft capital instead of being able to surround likely No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza with more help this year.
With the team missing the past four playoff brackets since Crosby’s first extension, cashing out now is a logical move. Although a few talented edge rushers are set to hit free agency, none would stand to make the kind of impact Crosby would. The next few days will be interesting on this market, as the Raiders will surely have a handful of offers by free agency.