Chiefs’ Rashee Rice Will Not Face NFL Suspension
Following Rashee Rice‘s six-game 2025 suspension in connection with felony charges from a hit-and-run incident, the Chiefs wide receiver faced ugly allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-girlfriend.
The alleged victim, Dacoda Jones, filed a civil suit accusing Rice of repeatedly assaulting her between December 2023 and July 2025. In January, she displayed photos of injuries that Rice allegedly inflicted on her. Jones, who has two children with Rice, claims most of the alleged abuse occurred when she was pregnant.
On Friday, however, the NFL concluded Rice “has not engaged in conduct that violates the personal conduct policy,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. No suspension is coming at this time, per Schefter. This will be welcome news for Rice and the Chiefs, who have certainly run into a few high-profile off-field issues over the past several years. One season remains on Rice’s rookie contract.
Given the timing of this report, it certainly qualifies as a Friday news dump. Although the 25-year-old receiver was never charged with a crime, the NFL’s personal conduct policy has brought suspensions for players not charged criminally in the past. In this case, though, Rice will not enter a second straight season with a suspension.
Jones’ civil suit indicated “Rice has grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects.” Rice’s attorney, however, released a statement indicating that on October 9, 2025, “Ms. Jones stated under penalty of perjury in a sworn Affidavit for a Non-Prosecution that ‘Mr. Rice and I had a verbal argument, but he did not punch me.'”
Jones had alleged Rice physical abuse taking place for years; it is unclear if any cooperation issues interfered with this NFL investigation. That was the case when the league opted not to suspend then-Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill in 2019, after a second wave of domestic violence allegations surfaced against the All-Pro. Hill’s ugly college domestic violence incident preceding the 2019 accusations allowed the Chiefs to construct a team-friendly extension with the star receiver. Kansas City signed Hill to a three-year, $54MM extension with a favorable (for the club) guarantee structure. Rice is now extension-eligible, and because he was a second-round pick, no fifth-year option exists on his rookie contract.
The Chiefs drafted Rice a year after trading Hill to the Dolphins, and Rice helped make up for Skyy Moore‘s failed development as a second-rounder. Rice made a big impact for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII-winning team in 2023, totaling 938 yards and seven touchdowns. An LCL tear sustained in Week 4 of the 2024 season derailed the SMU product, who was down for over a year thanks to the six-game ban taking place to start the 2025 campaign. While the possession receiver returned and played well last season, he was active for just eight games; the Chiefs placed him on IR after a concussion. Though, the team parked a few key players on IR — including Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson — late in a lost season.
Had Rice been suspended under the personal conduct policy a second time, he would have been looking at an absence that covered more than half his contract year. Kansas City’s top receiver not being banned represents a break for the team, though off-field troubles that extend back to his time at SMU may still influence the Chiefs in this draft. Kansas City holds two first-round picks this year, the second obtained from the Rams in the McDuffie trade, and has seen Rice run into frequent trouble.
In May 2024, weeks after the street-racing accident, Rice was the subject of an investigation for alleged assault on a photographer. The accuser did not press charges, but it continued a trend of off-field problems dating to Rice’s time in college. During the 2023 pre-draft process, NFL teams became aware of an alleged incident in which Rice or a member of his party fired multiple shots into an empty car belonging to a member of SMU’s basketball team.
Rice faces a pivotal 2026 season, as he may be auditioning — based on how the Chiefs proceed early in the draft — for other teams as a prospective 2027 free agent. But the Chiefs have shown a high tolerance for off-field issues under Andy Reid. Rice being cleared today points to him being available to open the season and craft an extension case. The Chiefs hold exclusive negotiating rights with the wideout until March 2027.
Jags, Travon Walker Agree On Extension
Not long after James Gladstone expressed confidence some Jaguars extensions would be doled out, the highest-profile player included in that group has a deal in place. The Jags are extending Travon Walker, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
The sides agreed on a four-year, $110MM extension, Rapoport adds, confirming $77MM will be guaranteed and $50MM locked in at signing. This deal comes two years after the previous Jacksonville front office agreed to terms with Josh Hines-Allen.
Details of these agreements regularly trickle out slowly, but we have the key particulars upfront. That certainly indicates satisfaction with the terms from the player’s side, with Walker’s agency confirming the details.
At $27.5MM per year, Walker becomes the 12th-highest-paid edge rusher. This market settles far south of where last year’s boom moved the EDGE market, with Aidan Hutchinson — chosen one spot after Walker in 2022 — being one of the key parties in that 2025 sea change. It also comes in below where the Trent Baalke regime settled with Hines-Allen, who is tied to a five-year deal that averages $28.25MM per annum.
Considering Trevor Lawrence is on a $55MM-per-year deal, extending a second edge rusher in this realm represents a substantial commitment from the Jaguars. Walker also is coming off a down season. That certainly stood to help the team in negotiations, and Rapoport indicates talks have taken place for weeks. Walker also checks in 12th in full guarantees but 10th in total guaranteed money. It will be important to know what the early guarantee triggers are on this deal — if any exist.
A report coming out of the league meetings indicated preliminary Jags talks with Walker, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange were unfolding. We certainly made it far past the preliminary stage, as Walker’s camp accepted an offer. It is worth wondering if the former No. 1 overall pick would have been amenable to a deal outside the top 10 at his position had he stayed on the trajectory he was on from 2023-24.
Leading off a brigade of Georgia defenders chosen in the 2022 first round, Walker broke through in 2023 with 10 sacks and 19 QB hits. Although the Jaguars declined in 2024, Walker stayed on track by racking up career-high marks in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (13). While the Jags rocketed to a 13-4 season in 2025 under Liam Coen, Walker regressed. He totaled 3.5 sacks, eight TFLs and 13 QB hits. His 19 QB pressures ranked 66th last season.
When Hines-Allen signed his five-year, $141.25MM extension, the salary cap stood at $255.4MM. It is now at $301.2MM. Had Walker come through with a third straight double-digit sack season, the Jags would have been unlikely to keep his second contract under $30MM per year. Jacksonville will pay Walker more than Denver authorized for two-time Pro Bowler Nik Bonitto in 2025 (four years, $106MM). That is a notable win here for a player without any Pro Bowl accolades.
It is impossible to examine Walker’s career without Hutchinson comparisons. We heard before the draft the Jags were split on choosing Walker’s upside over Hutchinson’s higher floor, one that stemmed from high-end production at Michigan. Baalke went with Walker, and the Lions benefited.
Hutchinson has two Pro Bowls on his resume and came back from a 2024 broken leg with a career-high 14.5 sacks to go with 35 QB hits last season. During the 2025 campaign, Hutchinson signed a monster Detroit extension (four years, $180MM). That deal, which included a defender-record $141MM guaranteed, trails only Micah Parsons among defensive players.
Baalke’s misstep gave the Lions a dominant pass rusher; it also helps the Gladstone regime sign a more affordable extension here. Walker still brings upside at 25, but he and Hutchinson certainly appear to be in different tiers as impact players.
This move is for a Baalke draftee, but it represents the third significant extension for Gladstone, who paid trade acquisition Jakobi Meyers weeks after landing him at the deadline. Meyers was brought in under Gladstone and Coen, while Walker joins offensive lineman Cole Van Lanen as a Baalke investment paid by the current regime.
The 2024 Jags offseason brought extensions for Lawrence, Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell. Jacksonville’s current front office managed to move off the Campbell deal in a deadline trade for Greg Newsome, who has since signed with the Giants. Taking the Campbell contract off the payroll, the Jags also let Devin Lloyd walk in free agency. These decisions helped create room to afford Walker’s second contract. Walker was headed into a fifth-year option season ($15.2MM).
Gladstone and Coen will bet on Walker bouncing back in 2026. Hines-Allen, 28, has not notched a double-digit sack season since his franchise-record 17.5-sack slate in 2023. But he rebounded as a pressure artist under Anthony Campanile, tallying 48 — fifth in the NFL. The Jags will hope Walker (23rd and 22nd in pressures in 2023 and ’24, respectively) has a similar gear to reach in this defensive scheme.
Raiders, QB Kirk Cousins Agree To Deal
The Raiders’ interest in Kirk Cousins has indeed produced an agreement. A deal is in place, agent Mike McCartney announced on Thursday.
Vegas was identified yesterday as a suitor in Cousins’ case. The team remains on course to select Fernando Mendoza first overall in this month’s draft, but adding veteran insurance has been a goal this offseason. Head coach Klint Kubiak recently noted his preference for having Mendoza sit at the beginning of his NFL career, pointing to a signing such as this.
[RELATED: Details On Raiders’ Cousins Agreement]
Cousins has been on the market since his long-expected Falcons release. The four-time Pro Bowler did not wind up being traded during the 2025 offseason, setting up a second campaign in Atlanta. Cousins still wound up making eight starts this past season despite Michael Penix Jr. opening the year atop the depth chart. The Falcons proceeded with a cut in Cousins’ case, ending his tenure with the team halfway through a four-year, $160MM contract. Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will compete for the QB1 gig in Atlanta this summer.
No such training camp battle should be anticipated in Vegas given today’s news. Cousins will be tasked with handling starting duties while Mendoza begins his NFL acclimation period. A stint atop the depth chart at some point during the 2026 campaign can of course be expected for the Heisman winner, considering the timeline along which rookie quarterbacks enter the lineup in the modern NFL. For now, though, Cousins will prepare for a period where he is positioned to lead an offense.
Vegas traded for Geno Smith last offseason, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll. Nothing went according to plan on offense in 2025, though, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly did not last the full season. It came as no surprise when Carroll was fired immediately after the campaign ended, nor when it became clear Smith would not return for 2026. He was traded to the Jets, creating the need for a veteran acquisition. Cousins, who will be 38 by the start of next season, certainly fits the bill.
Prior to today’s Raiders agreement, the Packers, Rams and Steelers had been linked to Cousins. Each of those teams could stand to add an experienced passer to their depth chart, with Pittsburgh’s QB1 role uncertain until Aaron Rodgers‘ decision on his playing future is made. The backup spots in Green Bay and Los Angeles, meanwhile, will need to be filled by another free agent or a draft pick.
Cousins’ six-year Vikings tenure came to an abrupt end when he suffered an Achilles tear midway through the 2023 season. His preference would have been to remain in Minnesota, but the potential for a multiyear starting spot in Atlanta led to his free agent departure. Things changed unexpectedly when Penix was drafted shortly thereafter, and Cousins was replaced atop the Falcons’ depth chart late in his debut season with the team. In all, he made 22 starts with Atlanta and posted several numbers below his career average while totaling 28 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
Expectations will be tempered upon arrival in Vegas for Cousins as a result. He is already owed $10MM from the Falcons for 2026, however, so this deal may not require a major financial commitment on the part of the Raiders.
LB Lavonte David Announces Retirement
The Buccaneers have signed two free agent linebackers, and another Lavonte David contract is not forthcoming. The stalwart Tampa Bay defender will retire after 14 seasons.
David will retire as a career-long Buccaneer and one of the greatest players in franchise history. He joins Mike Evans in leaving the team this offseason, representing a sea change for a Bucs squad that has relied on those longtime anchors amid a franchise turnaround.
“When it’s time, when you know, you know. I always wanted to be a guy who wanted to retire on my own terms. Right now is the perfect opportunity for that,” David said via Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame. “For me, man, 14 years is enough. I’m comfortable with my decision. I’m satisfied with my career.
“When I first got into the league, I never, never, ever in a million years expected to play 14 years at a high level for the same organization. I think it’s time that I hang it up and let the next generation of players come in and take over the game.”
David’s 14-year tenure matches Derrick Brooks‘ for longevity in Tampa. Like Brooks, David was present as a star off-ball linebacker for a Super Bowl win. The Bucs had fallen far from their early-2000s apex by the time David arrived in 2012. The off-ball linebacker joined Evans, Tom Brady and Co. in catalyzing a return, snapping a 12-season playoff drought with a Super Bowl LV triumph in Tampa.
Playing 215 career games, David trails only Brooks (224) and Ronde Barber (241) for most in franchise history. Both Brooks and Barber — linchpins on a four-Hall of Famer defense that steamrolled opponents en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title — spent their entire careers as Buccaneers. While Evans elected to join the 49ers in free agency this month, David had previously said it was Bucs or retirement. He will choose the latter route, completing a career that will warrant Canton consideration down the road.
David, who turned 36 in January, will walk away a three-time All-Pro. While the Nebraska alum only earned one Pro Bowl nod, his early-career years coming in a 4-3 defense had plenty to do with the lack of Pro Bowl accolades. The Pro Bowl grouping all linebackers — 3-4 edge rushers and off-ball defenders — together regularly limits 4-3 OLBs. David, however, spent the second half of his career as a 3-4 ILB in Todd Bowles‘ scheme. The Bucs benefited from that partnership tremendously, with David starting every game for the Super Bowl LV-winning Tampa Bay edition in 2020.
Mark Dominik drafted David 58th overall, tabbing him to play under new HC Greg Schiano. David ended up playing for five head coaches — Schiano, Lovie Smith, Dirk Koetter, Bruce Arians, Bowles — and signed five Buccaneers contracts. The latter four deals — including a five-year, $50.25MM extension during the 2015 offseason — came under longtime GM Jason Licht. David signed a two-year deal and two subsequent one-year accords to continue with the Bucs, who benefited from the linebacker’s consistency and versatility.
Finishing with 12 100-tackle seasons, David added 42.5 sacks. Among players who saw action last season, that total trails only Demario Davis (45) for sacks by a non-rush player and is among the most by an off-ball ‘backer in the sack era (1982-present). David’s presence helped a Bucs team light on post-Shaquil Barrett pass-rushing talent in recent years.
Although the Bucs chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, David ended up outlasting him in Tampa. The team let White walk in free agency in 2024, re-signing David on a one-year deal worth $8.5MM. David, who drew outside interest as a 2025 UFA, played for $9MM last season; he produced 114 tackles and 3.5 sacks. David finished 10 seasons with double-digit tackles for loss, recording at least 17 in five seasons to finish his career with 177.
Pro Football Focus ranked David as a top-five off-ball LB in five seasons and slotted him in the top 20 three more times. Last season, the advanced metrics website ranked David 66th — a career-worst placement — but he played through a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery this past winter. The Bucs have since agreed to terms with Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom. With David retiring, Rozeboom’s deal — which surfaced Monday — looks set to place him as a starter alongside Anzalone.
For his career, David earned just more than $103MM. The 2012 draft will go down as one of the best linebacker classes in modern NFL history, having produced David, Davis, Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. Wagner will join Kuechly in Canton, while David and Davis will present interesting cases. For 2026, a Bucs team big on retention will need to get by without its offensive and defensive cornerstones.
Seahawks, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Agree To Extension
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has not needed to wait long to secure his Seahawks extension. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year agreed to terms with Seattle on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Team and player are finalizing a four-year, $168.6MM pact, Schefter reports. With Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option having recently been picked up, today’s news means he will be on the books through 2031. This agreement contains record-breaking receiver figures for average annual value ($42.15MM) and guarantees ($120MM), per Schefter.
[RELATED: Details On Seahawks WR’s Record-Breaking Deal]
An extension resetting the receiver market had been something to watch for in this case, although nothing appeared to be imminent with respect to negotiations leading up to today’s news. Seattle was seen as a candidate to finalize this deal sometime around the draft or perhaps closer to training camp, but both sides have acted early. The fact that Smith-Njigba has secured such lucrative terms on his second NFL contract is certainly no surprise.
As a rookie, the former first-rounder averaged fewer than 37 receiving yards per game. Over time, though, Seattle’s setup at the receiver spot has made Smith-Njigba more of a focal point. His production saw a notable jump in 2024 (100 receptions, 1,130 yards, six touchdowns) before spiking once more this past season. With the Seahawks having traded away D.K. Metcalf, Smith-Njigba saw his yards per reception figure increase to a career-best 15.1. He also set a new personal mark with 10 touchdowns while leading the NFL in receiving yards.
That production resulted in a first-team All-Pro nod along with a Pro Bowl invitation in addition to OPOY honors. Smith-Njigba remained an important contributor on offense through Seattle’s playoff run and helped the team win Super Bowl LX. Along with left tackle Charles Cross – who inked a four-year extension of his own in January – he will serve as a foundational presence for years to come.
Prior to today’s news, Ja’Marr Chase led the way in terms of AAV at the receiver spot. His 2025 Bengals extension averages $40.25MM per season, while Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings deal contained $88.74MM guaranteed at signing. Exact details on this Smith-Njigba contract are not yet known, but it certainly seems as though he has managed to comfortably surpass Jefferson in terms of locked-compensation. 2027 was already due to include $23.85MM for the Ohio State product; it will now pay out much more than that.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider once again faces the task of maintaining a Super Bowl core in the wake of his team’s championship. Smith-Njigba and Cross are among the offensive stalwarts who will be counted on to remain in the fold for the foreseeable future. The same will presumably be true of cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Seattle’s other 2023 first-rounder is under team control for the next two seasons thanks to his option being exercised, but he is eligible to sign a monster extension of his own at any time.
Attention will now turn to Witherspoon in the Seahawks’ case with respect to remaining financial priorities. Around the league, meanwhile, this Smith-Njigba accord will no doubt be used as a measuring stick for other high-end receiver deals. Puka Nacua is among the top players at the position in line for an extension, and he could look to challenge these contract terms during negotiations with the Rams. The likes of George Pickens (Cowboys) and Zay Flowers (Ravens) could stand to benefit from the continued upward movement of the WR market as well.
The Seahawks lost offensive Klint Kubiak when he took the Raiders’ head coaching job immediately after the Super Bowl. As such, Smith-Njigba will be working with his fourth OC (Brian Fleury) in as many years during the 2026 campaign. Given his durability and continued increases in production, however, he will be expected to thrive under a new play-caller for next season and well beyond.
Broncos Acquire WR Jaylen Waddle From Dolphins
MARCH 18: Following the Maxx Crosby drama, fans of both teams were anxious for Waddle to complete his physical to formally complete the trade. The deal was formally announced on Wednesday by both teams, indicating that Waddle passed his physical in Denver and is now officially a member of the Broncos.
MARCH 17: The Broncos’ first outside addition of the new league year is certainly a notable one. Jaylen Waddle is heading to Denver. 
The Dolphins have worked out a trade to send Waddle to the Broncos, as first reported by Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Multiple picks in the 2026 draft will be exchanged as part of the deal, as detailed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Meanwhile, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes Denver will take on the remainder of Waddle’s contract in full, including his 2026 base salary ($1.22MM).
Here is the full breakdown of the trade terms:
Broncos acquire:
- Waddle
- Miami’s fourth-round pick (No. 111)
Dolphins acquire:
- Denver’s first-round pick (No. 30)
- Broncos’ own third- and fourth-rounders (Nos. 94 and 130)
Until today, the Broncos had focused on retaining as many of their own players as possible. The AFC’s top seed in 2025 still had a vacancy with respect to pass-catching options, however. Denver was linked yesterday to interest in the tight end market, with Evan Engram disappointing during his debut Broncos campaign. Regardless of what happens on that front, a high-profile receiving option is set to be in place for next season with GM George Paton taking a major swing early in the new league year. A physical is scheduled for tomorrow, per Schefter’s colleague Jeff Darlington.
The Dolphins dismissed general manager Chris Grier shortly before the 2025 trade deadline. That led to an increased expectation with respect to the team’s willingness to move on from players. Waddle, 27, generated considerable interest, and the Broncos were one of many teams which made calls. In the end, no suitors were willing to meet the Dolphins’ asking price of a first-rounder and more.
With new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley arriving, the Dolphins have begun a full-blown rebuild. Several veterans have been released recently in cost-shedding moves and to clear roster spots for younger replacements. That includes not only quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and edge rusher Bradley Chubb – both of whom quickly found new homes in free agency – but also receiver Tyreek Hill. It came as no surprise when Hill was cut, a move which seemed to put Waddle in position to operate as the Dolphins’ top wideout in 2026 and beyond.
Indeed, a report from last month named the former first-rounder along with lead running back De’Von Achane as core pieces the new regime was not looking to part with. Things have certainly changed in short order with a suitor willing to pay a premium for Waddle. Three years remain on his contract, a lucrative extension signed in 2024. Given the guarantees present in the pact, this swap will carry even more unwanted financial implications for Miami during an offseason full of major cap-related moves.
Waddle is owed an option bonus worth $6.06MM on Friday as part of his $17.24MM in overall compensation. That helps explain the timing of this trade, one which will see the Alabama product paired with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin. Sutton’s pact runs through 2029, while Mims and Franklin – just like quarterback Bo Nix – are attached to their rookie contracts. Coming off the back of a second straight playoff appearance, Denver is aggressively pursuing an upgrade in the passing game.
Miami, meanwhile, will add yet another premium pick for 2026. Once the Waddle move is official, the Dolphins will own a pair of Day 1 selections and a total of seven picks across the first three rounds. Several roster holes will need to be filled next month, and receiver will no doubt be high on the priority list. With Hill and now Waddle out of the picture, Miami’s WR depth chart is currently topped by the likes of Malik Washington and recent additions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert.
Putting together a cost-effective supporting cast around new quarterback Malik Willis will increasingly be the goal for Miami this offseason. This trade highlights to an even larger extent the long-term nature of the team’s rebuild. As the Broncos look to maximize their window with Nix on an affordable contract, bringing in a three-time 1,000-yard producer will generate increased expectations on offense.
Jets To Trade QB Justin Fields To Chiefs
As expected, Justin Fields‘ time in New York is coming to an end. A trade has been worked out which will send him from the Jets to the Chiefs, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
This trade will include a late-round pick swap. The Jets are dealing Fields and a seventh-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes. The sixth-rounder is in the 2027 draft, per colleague Tom Pelissero.
New York is retaining salary to facilitate this deal, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. Per Pelissero, the Jets are taking on $7MM of the $10MM Fields was already guaranteed for the 2026 season. That will make him a cost-effective backup for the Chiefs, a team in need of insurance under center. Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from an ACL tear, leaving his Week 1 availability in question.
Gardner Minshew was in place as Kansas City’s backup, but he departed last week by agreeing to a free agent deal with the Cardinals. Fields will now be able to handle first-team reps through the offseason while Mahomes recovers. Other teams were interested in the former Bear and Steeler, per Schefter. He adds, however, that Fields’ preference was to join the Chiefs. With an immediate path to practice time in place with respect to Kansas City, that comes as no surprise.
For the Jets, a Fields departure was made even more likely once a reunion with Geno Smith was worked out. New York traded for Smith last week, and his contract was also reworked as part of the deal. The Jets will only be responsible for $3.3MM of Smith’s compensation for 2026. Paying out a larger figure has allowed for a parting of ways in Fields’ case, something which seemed inevitable once his brief tenure atop the depth chart came to an end.
The former first-rounder secured $30MM guaranteed on a two-year free agent deal last spring. Fields served as New York’s starter for nine contests, averaging less than 140 passing yards per game with a career-low 6.2 yards per attempt average. He managed 383 rushing yards and four scores on the ground, but Fields and the Jets’ passing game was the subject of public criticism from owner Woody Johnson before head coach Aaron Glenn decided to bench him. Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook saw time afterwards; Taylor is unsigned but Cook and Bailey Zappe are still in place for the Jets.
The cap savings ($11MM) and dead money charges ($12MM) generated by this trade are essentially a wash for New York. Kansas City, meanwhile, entered Monday with roughly $10MM in cap space – nowhere near as much as the Jets. Taking on Fields at a highly reduced rate will be key for the Chiefs as they sort out their QB depth chart. Fields will join Mahomes, Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener as signal-callers in Kansas City. The Ohio State product has expressed confidence he can still operate as a starter, and the opportunity to do so on a short-term basis may present itself in 2026.
Falcons Sign QB Tua Tagovailoa
MARCH 13: Like Russell Wilson in 2024 and Kyler Murray on Thursday, Tagovailoa agreed to a veteran-minimum contract following a high-profile release. The former Dolphins starter, who will compete with Penix for the Falcons’ QB1 gig, will do so for barely $1MM, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms. This will cut into Miami’s historic dead money bill, but not by much.
Exercising Tagovailoa’s 2026 option bonus before his release (per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson), the Dolphins will be tied to a $55.4MM dead money hit this year. That breaks Wilson’s single-season record ($53MM). Tagovailoa will count $43.8MM against Miami’s 2027 cap.
MARCH 9: The Dolphins are planning to release Tua Tagovailoa, and just a few hours later, he has found a new team. The 28-year-old quarterback will be moving one state north to join the Falcons, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
As expected, Tagovailoa will receive a one-year, veteran-minimum deal in Atlanta, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, as Miami is still paying him $54MM this season. He will join fellow lefty Michael Penix Jr. in a Falcons quarterback room that will likely soon lose Kirk Cousins.
In fact, Tagovailoa projects as the team’s bridge starter as Penix works his way back from knee surgery, filling a role that could have kept Cousins in Atlanta. Instead, the veteran should now get the opportunity to pick a new team that he did not receive last offseason.
Considering Tagovailoa’s drastic fall since his 2023 Pro Bowl nod, Atlanta is a fine landing spot for the former first-round pick. The Falcons have been non-committal on Penix’s status as their franchise QB, and his injury will give Tagovailoa an opportunity to rebuild his stock surrounded by a strong supporting cast.
The Falcons have a solid offensive line and exciting young skill position players like Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts. But Tagovailoa’s struggles over the past two seasons will still give him an uphill battle in convincing Atlanta’s new leadership that he, not Penix, is the quarterback to steward the team’s offense into the future.
Finding no trade takers, the Dolphins will designate Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 cut Wednesday. That comes as little surprise, as it will allow Miami to spread out the record-breaking $99.2MM dead money charge in this case over two years. Thanks to Tagovailoa’s guarantees on his contract, he could account for $67MM a dead cap charges in 2026 as the Dolphins move forward with their full-scale roster reset.
Benched before Week 16 last season, Tagovailoa would welcome a fresh start. His four-year, $212.4MM extension — which included a $54MM 2026 option bonus that shifted from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2025 — backfired quickly. Still, Tagovailoa played well for much of the 2022 and ’23 campaigns.
Tua, 28 in May, led the league in yards per attempt and passer rating in 2022, passing yards in 2023 and completion percentage in 2024. Concussion concerns resurfaced in 2024, and Tagovailoa missed six games that year. His 2025 season continued a downward trajectory. But at the veteran minimum, the Falcons will take a flier.
If Tagovailoa were to make that a serious consideration later this year, it would create a fascinating dynamic in Atlanta. The Falcons surprised many by selecting Penix with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year, $160MM deal with $90MM guaranteed. Cousins started the regular season strong, but struggled with turnovers down the stretch and was replaced by Penix. He went into 2025 as the unquestioned starter with Cousins trying to force his way out of Atlanta. But Penix did not inspire much confidence himself before partially tearing his ACL, leaving the Falcons in a tricky spot this offseason.
Normally, a quarterback’s third season (second as a starter) is a good litmus test for their long-term capabilities. But Penix will not get that type of opportunity, as he is expected to miss offseason practices as the team transitions to Kevin Stefanski‘s coaching staff. Instead, Tagovailoa will have the first opportunity to impress the new regime on the field.
Titans To Release CB L’Jarius Sneed
The Titans are releasing L’Jarius Sneed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making him a late addition to the cornerback market in free agency.
Sneed, 29, arrived in Tennessee in a tag-and-trade deal with the Chiefs during the 2024 offseason. The Titans sent a third-round pick to Kansas City and handed the veteran corner a four-year, $76.4MM contract with $44MM guaranteed.
He only played 12 games on that deal due to quad injuries in both 2024 and 2025. When healthy, Sneed’s performance dipped notably with career-worst marks in several categories, including his ball production, tackling, and yards per target allowed. His grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) plummeted relative to his time in Kansas City, too.
The Titans certainly hoped to get more out of Sneed, especially since the third-round pick they sent to Kansas City turned out to be the second in the round. Instead, they will release him with two years remaining on his contract to save $11.4MM against the 2026 salary cap, per OverTheCap. The remaining prorations of Sneed’s signing bonus will leave an $8.1MM dead cap hit.
Tennessee used several different cornerbacks in the last two years and seem to be rebuilding the unit entirely under new head coach Robert Saleh. He declined to retain Darrell Baker, who led the corner room in snaps in 2025, and instead signed Cordale Flott, Alontae Taylor, and Joshua Williams, all young potential starters that will give the Titans plenty of options in their secondary.
Vikings To Sign QB Kyler Murray
As expected, Kyler Murray is heading to Minnesota. The quarterback is inking a one-year deal with the Vikings, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The 28-year-old Murray was always destined to make $36.8MM in 2026 by virtue of his release from the Cardinals, and the Vikings are indeed only paying their acquisition a minimum salary. Notably, the team did include a no-tag clause in Murray’s deal, meaning he’ll hit unrestricted free agency once again next year.
While one report stated Murray could exercise patience in finding a new home, he will head elsewhere just one day after the Cardinals made his long-awaited release official. The Vikings immediately became the frontrunners to sign Murray, the former No. 1 pick who fell out of favor in Arizona after seven seasons.
The Cardinals’ attempts to trade Murray proved futile, leading the team to cut him and take on $54.3MM in dead money. They will reportedly incur a $47.1MM dead cap charge in 2026 and a much more manageable $7.2MM hit in ’27.
A former Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, the 5-foot-10, 207-pound Murray’s NFL career got off to an auspicious start. Murray took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 before earning back-to-back original-ballot Pro Bowl nods from 2020-21. The Cardinals won 11 games to break a five-year playoff drought in Murray’s third season, but the Rams crushed them in the wild-card round. Thanks in part to injuries, Murray’s career has trended downward since the Cardinals awarded him a five-year, $230MM extension in July 2022.
A torn ACL in late 2022 cost Murray six games that year, and the recovery process held him out of the Cardinals’ first nine contests the next season. After Murray shook off the rust during his late-2023 return, he showed some encouraging signs in 2024. In the only 17-game season of his career, Murray completed 68.8% of passes for 3,851 yards (7.1 per attempt), 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a 93.5 passer rating and a career-best 63.4 QBR. As a runner, Murray amassed 572 yards on 7.3 per carry and chipped in another five TDs.
Murray was unable to build on the momentum in 2025, yet another injury-shortened season. A mid-foot sprain limited Murray to just five games. He did not take the field beyond Oct. 5.
Like Murray, injuries have been a problem for Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The 2024 first-round pick from Michigan missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus, leading veteran Sam Darnold to fill in for the entire year. Darnold revived his career during a 14-3 season, but the Vikings let him walk in free agency.
Darnold, now a reigning Super Bowl champion, signed a three-year, $100.5MM pact with the Seahawks. Daniel Jones, a former Giants starter, finished 2024 as Darnold’s backup in Minnesota. While the Vikings tried to re-sign Jones, he took the Colts’ offer instead because he saw a clearer path to playing time. Jones went on to enjoy a career resurgence in 2025, leading the Colts to re-sign him to a two-year, $88MM contract this week. The Vikings were interested in reuniting with Jones before the Colts placed the transition tag on the 28-year-old and then extended him.
Minnesota’s pursuit of veteran signal-callers came in response to a rough first year as a starter for McCarthy. Three different injuries – a high ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his right hand – held McCarthy to 10 games. The 9-8 Vikings managed six wins in McCarthy’s 10 starts, but he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). McCarthy also completed just 57.6% of passes while ranking near the bottom in the league in traditional passer rating (72.6) and QBR (35.7).
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager who drafted McCarthy, lost his job in January. Before his ouster, he and head coach Kevin O’Connell made it known they would at least seek veteran competition for McCarthy this offseason. The offensive-minded O’Connell now has it in Murray, who will aim to follow in Darnold’s footsteps in Minnesota. If Murray beats out McCarthy and reestablishes himself as a legitimate starter in 2026, he could position himself for another lucrative deal a year from now.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.