LB Anthony Walker Announces Retirement
After playing a career-low two games in 2025, linebacker Anthony Walker is hanging up his cleats at the age of 30. The nine-year veteran took to Instagram on Thursday to announce his retirement.
A former Northwestern standout, Walker entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Colts and then-rookie general manager Chris Ballard in 2017. Walker mostly worked as a backup in an injury-limited rookie year, but he put together a productive run in Indianapolis from 2018-20. Playing alongside star linebacker Shaquille Leonard during that 47-game, 46-start stretch, Walker averaged 107 tackles per season while totaling 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.
Walker did not stick with the Colts after his rookie contract expired in 2021, and he never inked another multiyear pact. He signed his first one-year deal in Cleveland, where he piled up 113 tackles despite missing four games with a hamstring injury. It proved to be the last season with triple-digit tackles for Walker, who continued battling injuries for the rest of his career. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder appeared in just 31 of a possible 68 games from 2022-25.
Walker was a starter in all 12 of his contests in 2023, his last year in Cleveland, and notched another eight over 14 appearances with the Dolphins in ’24. While Walker reunited with the Colts last September, he did not see any action before the Buccaneers plucked him off Indy’s practice squad in mid-December. Walker went on to play just 15 snaps (14 on special teams) in a pair of appearances with Tampa Bay.
Over a combined 101 games and 83 starts with four teams, Walker recorded 581 tackles, 5.5 sacks and four interceptions.
Cardinals, Dolphins To Host Miami QB Carson Beck
The 2026 draft class is not considered strong at the quarterback position. Projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza leads the pack with Ty Simpson seen as the clear QB2 who could also break into the first round. Beyond that, this year’s slate of prospects lacks another starting-caliber talent.
But quarterback-needy teams will always be willing to take swings on the most important position in the sport, especially on the second and third days of the draft. That is where former Georgia and Miami quarterback Carson Beck is projected to be selected.
As for his destination? The Steelers and Jets have already demonstrated interest, and the Cardinals and Dolphins can now be added to that list. Beck is scheduled to visit Arizona and Miami before April’s draft, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, both teams that could stand to add a young quarterback.
The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray earlier this month as expected. Gardner Minshew then joined Jacoby Brissett in the team’s quarterback room, giving them two veteran options to start this fall. But new head coach Mike LaFleur is surely looking for a long-term option under center. Next year’s draft offers a far richer well to draw from, but it would not hurt to take a shot on a less-heralded prospect in April.
The Dolphins are in a slightly different situation. They have a clear starter after signing Malik Willis to a three-year deal in free agency. But 2026 will be his first time in charge of an offense, and his small sample size of excellent play may not continue at a larger volume. Miami would be wise to bring in a younger passer behind Willis – who himself developed as a backup in Green Bay – to form into a backup or even the team’s next starter if Willis does not work out.
Beck would be an option for both teams. He brings plenty of experience at the highest level of college football, but that competition also exposed his lack of elite tools and potential. Landing in Arizona or Miami would not force him to step into a bigger role than he is ready for, but the two teams – especially the Cardinals – could offer more opportunities in the next three years of his rookie deal.
Cowboys To Make LB Addition, Interested In Dolphins’ Jordyn Brooks
The Cowboys’ poor linebacker play was a core part of their defensive struggles last season, but the team is hoping a full season from DeMarvion Overshown will lead to marked improvements in 2026.
However, Overshown needs a running mate in the middle of Dallas’ defense. The other linebackers on the roster are Shemar James and Justin Barron, neither of whom profile as starters in what will be their second NFL season.
The Cowboys “made a run” at a few linebackers in free agency, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said this week (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). We heard about pursuits of Devin Lloyd, Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean along with an attempted trade for Patrick Queen. They were not able to land any, leaving them with a sizable void with many of the league’s top free agents already signed.
“We recognize that we need to fill some holes there,” Schottenheimer added. Executive vice president Stephen Jones concurred.
“The plan is to add skill at that position,” Jones said, “whether it’s the draft, whether it’s free agency, whether it’s a trade, or a combination of all of the above, we’ll look at all avenues.”
The Cowboys could certainly find a starting-caliber linebacker in a strong draft class, especially with an extra first-round pick from the Micah Parsons trade. Veterans like Bobby Okereke, Bobby Wagner, and Devin White are still available in free agency.
Dallas is also among the teams with interest in Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. No other suitors are known for the 28-year-old, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Miami is interested in signing Brooks to an extension, which would position him as the long-term leader of their defense. However, the rebuilding team — which recently unloaded Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster trade — could try to sell high after his first-team All-Pro selection last year, to a team that has a clear need at the position.
QB Ty Simpson Arranges Visits With Cardinals, Dolphins, Browns
Pre-draft visits continue to be arranged around the NFL. The quarterback position is, as always, one garnering plenty of attention with one of the top prospects on the radar of a number of teams.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report Ty Simpson has arranged a top-30 visit with each of the Cardinals, Dolphins and Browns. Today’s update comes not long after Simpson took part in a Jets workout. Further interest will no doubt continue to be shown as the countdown to the draft continues.
Arizona has been mentioned as a logical landing spot for Simpson. As such, it comes as no surprise the Cards are set to host him. The team’s post-Kyler Murray period will begin in 2026. Jacoby Brissett – who finished last year atop the depth chart – remains in the fold, and fellow veteran Gardner Minshew was added in free agency. Both can viewed as short-term options for new head coach Mike LaFleur and Co., though, and adding Simpson for the future could provide the Cardinals with a more permanent solution.
The Dolphins also elected to move on from their longtime QB1 this offseason, cutting Tua Tagovailoa. Malik Willis made the expected decision of following head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from Green Bay to Miami once free agency began. The 26-year-old is in position to operate as the Dolphins’ starter for at least the next two years, although Sullivan has left the door open to a longer spell atop the depth chart. Miami does not have an immediate quarterback need through the draft, but Sullivan has mentioned his Packers background which values consistently adding rookie passers will likely carry over to the Dolphins.
The Browns have Deshaun Watson preparing to take part in training camp upon healing from two Achilles tears. The much-maligned veteran is in position to compete for the starting gig alongside 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. GM Andrew Berry said yesterday another young passer could be brought in as well, pointing to potential a draft investment.
Fernando Mendoza remains on course to be selected first overall. Beyond that, the QB draft market has proven difficult to project. Simpson has drawn praise on a number of fronts, but the fact he only started one year in college has cast doubt on his NFL readiness. That will not stop teams from showing interest in this case, and the list of suitors which line up a visit will no doubt continue to grow.
Dolphins Plan To Extend De’Von Achane, Aaron Brewer
The Dolphins have identified running back De’Von Achane and center Aaron Brewer as priorities for contract extensions, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said at league meetings this week (via Omar Kelly of The Miami Herald).
Achane, 24, has established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic running backs. Last year, the 2023 third-round pick ranked sixth in the NFL with 1,838 all-purpose yards and 12th with 12 total touchdowns. Other teams sniffed around at the 2025 trade deadline, but the Dolphins set a high price with no real interest in trading Achane. Sullivan reiterated that position this week.
“There is zero effort on my end to move Achane,” he said, though he acknowledged that “nobody is untouchable” and his job “is to always listen.”
Still, the Dolphins see Achane as a long-term star for their offense, one that can get things going on the ground or through the air. Accordingly, he will likely be looking for a deal on the high end of the positional market at $14MM per year or more. With the 2027 running back franchise tag projected for $15.2MM (per OverTheCap) and as the centerpiece of a rebuilding unit, Achane argue for even more than that.
Achane has already indicated a desire to lock in an extension this offseason, and now, the Dolphins have, too. At a minimum, the two sides are primed for negotiations, and both seem incentivized to come to an agreement.
Miami also wants to retain Brewer, their 28-year-old starting center who earned a second-team All-Pro nod for his standout 2025 season. He led all centers with a 91.5 run blocking grade and trailed only Chiefs All-Pro Creed Humphrey in overall grade, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Brewer’s 98.7 pass block efficiency also ranked fifth among starting centers.
The interior offensive line marketed has skyrocketed in recent years, capped by Tyler Linderbaum‘s stunning $27MM AAV deal from the Raiders that is effectively fully guaranteed. Brewer will not get anywhere near that sum, but a rising tide theoretically lifts all boats. However, the Dolphins may argue that Linderbaum’s contract is an extreme outlier for a market that is otherwise capped by Humphrey at $18MM per year.
That would keep Brewer’s valuation in line with centers like Connor McGovern and Luke Wattenberg, two similarly-aged players who signed for $13.1MM and $12MM annually, respectively. Brewer will still push to reach Cam Jurgens‘ per-year figure of $17MM and will have leverage to do so coming off a career year. Ending up somewhere in the middle would feel appropriate for both sides.
Dolphins GM: Malik Willis Not Necessarily A Bridge QB
The Dolphins gave Malik Willis some significant money on his three-year pact, and there’s no doubt he’ll be under center for the team in 2026. However, his non-guaranteed third year and his lack of a starting track record has led many to leave that he’ll ultimately be a bridge QB.
While that could still end up being the case, the Dolphins have higher hopes for their free agent acquisition. While speaking to reporters today, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said that the organization views Willis as a long-term piece, assuming the QB actually performs.
“Malik is our guy,” Sullivan said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “Malik is an ascending player. It was important for us to get him on 3 year deal. We want to build around him. It’s not a bandaid. He’s got to go play and he knows this… He’s got an elite arm. He’s a very, very good athlete. Big strong powerful body… can make plays with his legs.”
The 2022 third-round pick didn’t click in Tennessee, but he found a home in Green Bay as Jordan Love‘s backup. He garnered some intrigue for his cameos over the past two years with the Packers, where he went 2-1 as a starter. In total, Willis finished his Green Bay tenure having completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also add 261 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries.
That performance earned him a three-year deal from the Dolphins, who were seeking a new QB to guide their post-Tua Tagovailoa era. The Willis contract was worth $67.5MM, including $45MM in guaranteed money. Notably, the QB’s base salaries were fully guaranteed in 2026 and 2027, although his 2028 salary wasn’t guaranteed.
That’s led many to assume that the team will ultimately eye a rookie QB, with Willis temporarily keeping the seat warm. That may still end up being the case, but it seems likelier than not that the organization will wait a year until investing a high draft pick at the position. That will provide the Dolphins with a full year to evaluate Willis as their starting QB. In the event that he isn’t any good, the front office will likely be armed with a 2027 first-round pick that’s higher than the 11th-overall pick they’re currently holding (in a deeper QB draft class, no less).
Dolphins To Sign LB Ronnie Harrison
The Dolphins are signing Ronnie Harrison to a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, bringing the veteran linebacker to his fourth NFL team in the last five seasons and fifth in his eight-year career.
Harrison, 28, played for the Falcons in 2025, appearing in 10 games with four starts and 277 defensive snaps, 40% of the team’s total. He also played 181 snaps on special teams, the second-most involvement of his career behind 197 snaps in 2024. The 6-foot-3 linebacker held up in coverage but had the worst tackling season of his career with a 17.1% missed tackle rate.
Harrison should have an opportunity to carve out a rotational role in the Dolphins defense, especially with his previous experience as a safety. The team has Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson as their starting linebackers, but their No. 3 is unclear after K.J. Britt signed with the Patriots in free agency. Former Chiefs and Saints starter Willie Gay was active for every game last year, but he was only trusted with 131 snaps on defense with an almost-equal amount of time on special teams.
Miami has questions at safety, too, with their top three contributors from 2025 no longer on the roster. Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded to the Jets, and Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu both hit free agency. Harrison has 908 career snaps at safety, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), more than any Dolphins safety outside of recent signing Lonnie Johnson.
Originally a Jaguars third-round pick in 2018, Harrison started 22 games across his first two years in Jacksonville before he was traded to the Browns. After three years and 23 starts in Cleveland, he spent most of the 2024 season on the Colts’ practice squad before arriving in Atlanta the following year.
DT Kayden McDonald Books Several Pre-Draft Visits
We are now in “30” visit season, and this year’s draft runup will feature a host of Ohio State products making such travel plans. Next month’s event could see four Buckeyes — Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate — go in the top 10. Another of the Big Ten power’s recent standouts is on the first-round radar as well.
Several teams are set to determine Kayden McDonald‘s draft stock, with the defensive tackle indicating (via SI.com’s Justin Melo) the Bears, Bengals, Commanders, Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders, Ravens and Texans have scheduled visits.
Like in free agency, this draft is not viewed as particularly strong at the position. The dearth of FA options led to a John Franklin-Myers Titans windfall. This draft’s hierarchy at the position is still taking shape, but as it stands, Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board does not include a DT among its top 32 prospects. A few sit just outside that range, however, with McDonald (39th) joining Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter (34), Clemson’s Peter Woods (35) and Florida’s Caleb Banks (36) among those vying to be the first player at the position to come off the board.
A first-team All-American in 2025, McDonald broke through in his junior Buckeyes season by making nine tackles for loss and registering three sacks. Profiling as a power rusher and run-stuffing presence, the disruptive D-lineman weighed 326 pounds at the Combine. He will be of interest to many teams who did not see a deep pool emerge at the position in free agency.
McDonald only has one season featuring notable production, with his 2024 slate — as the Buckeyes stormed to a national championship — only including 1.5 TFLs and no sacks. The bulk of the teams who have scheduled meetings with McDonald use a 4-3 scheme; Ohio State primarily used a 4-2-5 setup during McDonald’s three-year run. Field Yates’ latest NFL mock draft sends McDonald to the Raiders, who will continue using a 3-4 alignment in base sets, at No. 36.
Although the past four drafts have seen a DT go off the board in the top 16, the 2021 class did not bring a first-round investment at the position. It will be interesting to see how teams view this crop, one that may not see a top-20 pick this year.
Dolphins To Host DL Rueben Bain
Rueben Bain was one of the main attractions at Miami’s Pro Day on Monday. His attention will now turn to pre-draft visits, including one in a familiar setting. 
Bain is set to meet with the Dolphins today, as detailed by Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. The rebuilding team approaches next month’s draft with a long list of positional needs for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley to sort through. It comes as no surprise Bain is among the prospects who will receive a look during the evaluation process.
Over the course of his three seasons with the Hurricanes, Bain was an impactful presence along the edge. He set career highs in sacks (9.5), tackles for loss (15.5) and overall stops (54) this past season. That production helped lead Miami to the national championship game, with the team’s pass rush in particular driving its College Football Playoff success. Bain earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors in 2025.
Production is not an issue in his case, but concerns have been raised about his arm length. Bain measured 30 7/8 inches at the Combine, a mark well below average for NFL pass rushers. At least some evaluators may be less worried on that front than others, though, something which helps Bain’s chances of remaining one of the top prospects in the 2026 class. A top-10 selection will be something to watch for, particularly if doubts about his ability to remain productive in the NFL are quelled over the coming weeks.
The Dolphins own pick No. 11, which may be too late for Bain to be within reach depending on how the top of the board shakes out during the opening round of the draft. Miami has plenty of other notable draft capital as things stand, however, including Denver’s top selection (No. 30) thanks to the Jaylen Waddle trade. A move up the order would not be difficult to pull off given Miami’s collection of five Day 2 picks.
Of course, the Dolphins have plenty of other options to consider with their top selections as they seek out needed improvements across the board. Their pass rush depth chart is currently topped by Chop Robinson and includes free agent signings Josh Uche and David Ojabo. A notable addition via the draft would make plenty of sense, and Bain figures to be one of the options receiving consideration from Miami.
Dolphins Did Not Aggressively Shop Jaylen Waddle; Broncos Inquired After Combine
Sean Payton‘s Saints did acquire Jeremy Shockey via trade (in 2008), but they were known more for jettisoning playmakers than acquiring them in trades. The Saints traded Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills in 2015 and unloaded Brandin Cooks in 2017. First-round picks came back in the Graham and Cooks swaps, with the pick in the latter deal becoming All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk in an impact Saints draft class.
Entering Year 4 in Denver, however, the Broncos held the No. 30 overall pick and carried a roster without many glaring needs — especially since the team completed a host of 2025 extensions before re-signing a handful of free agents. Although the Broncos traded three first-round picks from 2022-23 — for Russell Wilson and then Payton’s rights — they felt comfortable to deal first-, third- and fourth-round picks to the Dolphins for Waddle and a fourth. Waddle joins Courtland Sutton to form one of the NFL’s top receiving duos.
The Broncos inquired about Waddle before last year’s deadline, when the Bills were believed to have come closest to acquiring the speedy wide receiver, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes assistant GM Reed Burckhardt reached out to new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan after the Combine to initiate talks with Miami’s new regime. This came after, per Breer, interest from other teams emerged in Indianapolis. Though, that interest did not progress too far.
Then-interim GM Champ Kelly held onto Waddle despite a Bills offer believed to include a 2027 first-rounder and a 2026 third, the Broncos also started their second Waddle process with an offer of a 2027 pick. Denver put its 2026 first on the table immediately during talks this offseason, Breer adds, but its initial proposal included a 2027 third-rounder. The Dolphins pushed the Broncos to include their 2026 third-rounder rather than their 2027 third.
No other aggressive suitors appeared to be in play here, per Breer, who notes Broncos GM George Paton trusted Sullivan not to shop Denver’s offer around the league. Paton worked with Jon-Eric Sullivan’s father, Jerry, who was a former Dolphins receivers coach during the current Broncos GM’s time in Miami’s front office. The Bills had also already made their receiver move, sending a second-round pick to the Bears for D.J. Moore and a fifth. Other teams obviously had Waddle on the radar, but it does not sound like anyone rivaled the Broncos’ aggression this month.
The Broncos used a few of their own players — from Patrick Surtain to ex-Auburn QB Bo Nix to former Dolphin safety Brandon Jones — as resources regarding Waddle, with the team contacting Nick Saban on his former charge as well. Surtain, Waddle’s roommate at Alabama, had spoken to others (via the Denver Post’s Luca Evans) about a potential trade reuniting the Crimson Tide teammates. Overall, around 15 sources led the Broncos to make this Waddle investment.
Naturally, the Broncos compared Waddle’s value to what could be obtained in free agency and at No. 30 overall. The team ranked 14th in scoring offense last season but 19th in explosive pass rate, according to Sharp Football Stats. Marvin Mims has made impactful plays as a Broncos deep threat, but the team has not regularly trusted the former second-round pick as a receiver. Mims’ increased playoff usage came after both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant suffered injuries. Franklin and Bryant will see their paths to prominent roles blocked by this Waddle acquisition, while Mims’ future is foggier. The All-Pro return man is in a contract year.
Three years remain on Waddle’s $28.75MM-per-year contract — a deal that looks slightly better after Jaxon Smith-Njigba moved the WR market to $42.15MM AAV today — and the 2021 first-rounder is on Denver’s 2026 cap sheet at just $4.91MM. As our Adam La Rose noted in his most recent mailbag, Waddle’s deal will both line up with Nix’s 2026 rookie-deal salary and the early years of an extension. Nix will likely be extended in 2027, but the Broncos will assuredly backload the deal to keep the QB’s cap numbers manageable in the near future — especially after authorizing many extensions from 2024-25.
The Dolphins now hold Nos. 11, 30, 43, 75, 87, 90 and 94 in the first three rounds of this draft. That is an impressive war chest for Sullivan in his first draft as a GM, though the team did not do well to maximize its draft capital when it tore down the roster early in Chris Grier‘s decision-making run.
Miami, which is not planning to trade De’Von Achane, extracted plenty of value for Waddle. It should not be expected the Broncos extend the high-end trade pickup this year, as that would negate the advantage trading for a through-2028 deal (the Broncos may also be skittish about such a move considering how poorly their summer 2022 Wilson extension aged).
But if Waddle impresses this season, it should be expected his camp will want an update with his new team. For now, though, the Broncos have Waddle and Sutton sitting as the NFL’s 13th- and 19th-highest-paid wideouts.