Kirk Cousins Weighing All Options In Free Agency
MARCH 20: SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora echoes the sentiment that Cousins is in position to wait until deep into the spring to decide on his next move. A few more QB dominoes may need to fall before his latest NFL contract is in place.
MARCH 17: After attempting to force his way into free agency last offseason, Kirk Cousins finally got his wish last week. However, the veteran remains available after the first wave of signings and is still considering all of his options, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
One of the best landing spots would have been Kansas City. The Chiefs needed a starter until Patrick Mahomes completes his recovery from last December’s ACL tear, so Cousins could have had guaranteed playing time on a contending team to start the year. A successful season under Andy Reid certainly would have boosted his stock into 2027.
The Chiefs, however, traded for Justin Fields to bridge the gap until Mahomes’ return. The Falcons similarly signed Tua Tagovailoa to battle Michael Penix Jr. for a starting job, and the Colts have Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard behind Daniel Jones in the event he cannot recover from his Achilles tear by Week 1. No other team has an injured starter, though Cousins’ history with Sean McVay in Washington could make him a natural fit as Matt Stafford‘s backup in Los Angeles, especially with Gardner Minshew following Mike LaFleur to Arizona.
There are two starting jobs available, Breer notes, in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Both teams, though, are expected to go with different quarterbacks. The Steelers are poised to reunite Aaron Rodgers with new head coach Mike McCarthy, and Fernando Mendoza has been projected for the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick since the regular season ended.
Cousins ending up in Pittsburgh would likely only happen if Rodgers retires, and he would probably have to win the job against Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and potentially a rookie taken in April’s draft.
The Raiders may consider sitting Mendoza in his first year to continue his development, but quarterbacks drafted in the top-five picks typically start right away. The reigning Heisman winner will also turn 23 years old as a rookie and seems ready for the NFL after leading Indiana to a national championship. However, new head coach Klint Kubiak was the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach (2019-2020) and offensive coordinator (2021) for one of the best stretches of Cousins’ career and could see him as a valuable mentor and placeholder for Mendoza as he gets his pro footing.
Cousins could also wait, Breer adds. Other teams could have interest in Cousins if their quarterback situations were to suddenly change with an injury. This would remind of last year, when Cousins preferred to see how every team’s QB depth chart looked post-draft. But no trade commenced then. With the Falcons having cut the cord following an organizational overhaul, Cousins should have a lower-stakes free agency decision to make at some point this offseason.
WR Denzel Boston To Visit Browns
Denzel Boston is set to be among the busier prospects for the 2026 draft leading up to the event. One of his many scheduled pre-draft visits is set to take place today.
Boston will meet with the Browns, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. That comes as little surprise given the wideout’s draft stock and Cleveland’s positional needs as April approaches. Boston is viewed as a strong candidate to come off the board in the opening round of the draft.
Over the course of his final two seasons at Washington, the big-bodied wideout served as a focal point on offense. Boston totaled 125 catches, 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns across the 2024 and ’25 seasons. Expectations will be high upon arrival in the NFL. Regular usage in the red zone in particular could allow for Boston to carve out a role during his rookie season, wherever he winds up.
Rebuilding the offensive line has been a clear point of emphasis for the Browns early in free agency. Even with multiple moves taking place on that front, Cleveland could still stand make an early draft investment at the left tackle spot. The same also applies to the receiver position. The Browns own picks No. 6 and 24, so adding at both spots could be a viable path to take.
In that event, Boston could very well be a feasible target. He is currently ranked 25th overall by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Other wideouts like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr. are also viewed as strong candidates to come off the board during Day 1. Some will likely hear their names called before Boston’s, but the Browns are among the teams which could find themselves in position to select him next month.
Titans To Host TE Jody Fortson
A major knee injury left Jody Fortson sidelined through the entire 2025 season. He has now recovered, though, and the free agent tight end is drawing interest from at least one suitor. 
Fortson is set to visit the Titans today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Each of his 24 combined regular and postseason appearances have come as a member of the Chiefs, so this news comes as little surprise. Prior to his arrival in Tennessee as the team’s general manager, Mike Borgonzi worked in Kansas City’s front office.
Fortson registered four touchdowns on 14 receptions across the 2021 and ’22 seasons with the Chiefs. The following year was spent on injured reserve, however. The former undrafted free agent attempted a comeback by joining the Dolphins, but he did not survive roster cuts. Fortson wound up returning to Kansas City for 2024 and made three appearances in a depth role.
He remained on track to compete for a roster spot this past preseason before an ACL and meniscus tear led to a lengthy recovery. Per Rapoport, Fortson has now fully recovered. As a result, he could soon manage to line up a new deal. A Titans signing would allow him to offer depth to the tight end spot after the team lost Chig Okonkwo in free agency but added Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson.
Tennessee leads the league in cap space right now, so affording a Fortson pact will not be difficult. The 30-year-old’s next contract, regardless of where it comes from, will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum.
Jason Licht: Bucs Made ‘Significantly Higher’ Mike Evans Offer Than 49ers
Mike Evans‘ decorated Buccaneers tenure came to an end last week when he agreed to join the 49ers. His departure was not the result of Tampa Bay losing a bidding war, though. 
During his first public comments since losing Evans, general manager Jason Licht spoke about the negotiating process in this case. He said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times) the Buccaneers made a “significantly higher” offer than the one Evans ultimately took with San Francisco. He noted that was applicable to Tampa Bay’s “first offer,” meaning further negotiations were something Licht and Co. were willing to pursue.
Instead, Evans had his 49ers agreement in place shortly after the legal tampering window opened. The six-time Pro Bowler took a three-year, $42.5MM deal to head to the Bay Area. In practice, though, his contract is for one year and $14.3MM with team options to follow. It is certainly not difficult to imagine the Buccaneers managing to submit a more competitive bid, especially in the case of a short-term offer.
Evans noted finances were not the main factor in his decision to leave. The 33-year-old will be counted on to handle a key role in San Francisco, something which may not have been as much of an assurance with Tampa Bay. The Bucs re-signed Chris Godwin last offseason, a move which was followed by the draft additions of Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson. Those three, along with Jalen McMillan, will form the bulk of the team’s WR room for 2026.
“[Evans] means everything to me,” Licht said (via Stroud). “But he means everything to the entire organization. Obviously, he’s the best offensive player we’ve ever had and an even better person than he is a player. So, it’s always tough… It became pretty clear that him and his family were just ready, like he said publicly, for another chapter.”
As the Bucs move on without Evans for the first time since his arrival in 2014, they will attempt to avoid the late-season struggles which kept them out of the playoffs. Tampa Bay went 2-7 after the bye in 2025, something Licht and Evans spoke about leading up to free agency. Both parties will look to enjoy a stronger showing down the stretch after going their separate ways.
NFL Mailbag: Brown, Pats, Waddle, Crosby
This week's edition of the PFR Mailbag touches on questions related to A.J. Brown fellow potential spring trade candidate Maxx Crosby. The recent Jaylen Waddle swap is also addressed.
David asks:
Why is it a good idea for the Patriots to trade for A.J. Brown? From the outside looking in, it looks like he'll be a terrible fit personality-wise and while he's still playing at a top level, the cost in draft picks will be substantial.
I guess a good follow-up question would be: is there more value in trading for Brown knowing that you're trading picks from the end of each round instead of where we expected to be at the start of the season (i.e. a .500 team expected to draft around 15th)?
Both of those concerns are certainly valid. Anyone watching how things have gone in Philadelphia for the last two or so years would naturally worry about a similar situation emerging.
Vikings Bring Back QB Carson Wentz
As expected, a reunion between Carson Wentz and the Vikings will be taking place. Team and player agreed to terms on Thursday, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The team has since announced the news. 
It was recently reported a mutual interest existed between Minnesota and the veteran quarterback. Wentz saw time in 2025 filling in for J.J. McCarthy before a shoulder injury required season-ending surgery. McCarthy is still in the fold, but so is free agent signing Kyler Murray.
Murray is widely expected to win out a competition for the starting gig this summer as he looks to rebuild his value working with head coach Kevin O’Connell. McCarthy’s rookie contract runs through 2027, but a path to the QB1 spot may not exist with the Vikings if Murray’s debut campaign goes well. In any event, Wentz’s return will give the team another experienced option as it seeks out improved play under center. Wentz, 33, has totaled 99 starts in his career.
The former second overall pick was linked to the Jets earlier this month. Wentz has a history with Frank Reich, who became New York’s offensive coordinator during this year’s hiring cycle. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic confirms the Jets had interest in Wentz. He adds, however, Wentz’s preference was to return to the Vikings. Today’s news limits the number of veteran passers still on the market for the Jets if they aim to add another one.
Wentz made a strong Vikings debut in Week 3, but the injury suffered two games later proved to be a major impediment. With McCarthy still sidelined at the time, Wentz made another two starts and struggled with accuracy. Surgery ended his campaign, one during which Minnesota was unable to find a sustainable answer under center. After falling short of a playoff spot at 9-8, increased efficiency on offense will be critical in 2026 for the Vikings. Murray will likely be tasked with helping the unit take a step forward, but it is certainly not a good sign for McCarthy’s prospects of playing time next season that another veteran has been acquired early in the new league year.
The Vikings entered Thursday near the bottom of the league in cap space. This Wentz deal will no doubt be a low-cost investment, and it will presumably be similar in terms to the one-year, $1.42MM pact he played on in 2025.
NFL Owners To Vote On Raiders Succession Plan
Raiders owner Mark Davis still has no intention of selling his majority stake in the franchise, but that won’t stop the NFL and the organization from preparing a succession plan.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, league owners will soon vote on a plan that would give Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban the first opportunity to buy the team. The vote is expected to take place at the annual league meeting on March 29.
Durban is currently a limited partner within the organization. Back in late 2024, NFL owners approved the sale of a 15 percent stake in the Raiders to Durban and fellow limited partner Michael Meldman, the founder of Discovery Land Co.. Durban and Meldman currently each own 7.5 percent of the franchise.
If the vote goes through, it would allow Durban to buy the Raiders if and when Davis or his heirs decided to sell. League owners would still have to approve that transaction, but the upcoming vote will signal whether the other 31 teams are open to letting Durban join their exclusive club. Per Schefter, the NFL’s Finance Committee has already approved the “option agreement.”
At the same time, owners will also vote on Davis immediately selling a roughly seven percent share of the franchise to Durban and Meldman. That would put the valuation for the franchise at around $10 billion. Last August, Forbes valued three organizations at more than $10 billion: the Cowboys ($13 billion), Rams ($10.5 billion), and Giants ($10.1 billion).
Davis still owns close to 75 percent of the franchise. Besides the sales to Durban and Meldman, Davis famously sold a five percent stake in the franchise to Tom Brady back in 2024. That transaction also saw Knighthead Capital Management co-founder Tom Wagner purchase a five percent stake, while Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Seymour purchased a 0.5 percent stake. As SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, Durban is “Brady’s guy,” so there’s clear support for the sale from within the organization.
The organization has been in the Davis family since Al Davis purchased the franchise back in 1972. The Raiders quickly emerged as one of the premier teams, winning three Super Bowls between 1972 and 1983. The team has only had 10 playoff appearances (including one Super Bowl loss) since. Mark Davis took over ownership when his father passed away in 2011. Under Mark’s leadership, the Raiders have had a pair of winning seasons and zero playoff wins, with the Raiders shuffling through eight head coaches (not including interim HCs) over that span.
Patriots Notes: Williams, Barmore, Hollins
Terrell Williams was hired by the Patriots last offseason to be the team’s defensive coordinator. He was away from the organization during minicamp while dealing with a medical issue, and it was later revealed that the 51-year-old had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Linebackers coach Zak Kuhr took over the defensive play-calling duties and retained that responsibility for the entire regular season and playoffs.
Williams returned late in the year but did not travel for away games, and he later announced that he was cancer-free. To avoid any confusion about roles heading into the 2026 offseason, Mike Vrabel quickly transitioned Williams to a “high-ranking” job on his staff, with Kuhr eventually being named the full-time DC.
We’ve now got clarity on Williams’ new role for next season, as the team announced that he’s been named assistant head coach. Williams actually held that same role with the Titans during Vrabel’s final season in Tennessee, and his familiarity with his boss clearly played a role in him sticking in New England. When recently describing his assistant’s new gig, Vrabel noted that Williams will continue to have a major influence on the defensive line.
“It’s going to be a strong role on the defense,” Vrabel said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “He’s going to act as a coordinator in presenting information and ideas and making sure we’re really solid across the front from our edges to the interior. We have some guys inside that I think can continue to develop and grow, whether that’s Milt [Williams], Christian [Barmore] or anybody else. I think those guys can continue to get better; Terrell will have a large hand in that, but he’s also going to be able to help me and be an extension of me throughout our program.”
The Patriots announced the rest of their 2026 coaching staff the other day, with the team returning many of their coaches from last year. One name who wasn’t included on this year’s list was Ben McAdoo, who served as a senior assistant in 2025. Reiss recently wrote that the veteran coach didn’t have his contract option exercised, leading to some uncertainty about his status with the organization. McAdoo’s absence from the team’s announcement indicates that he won’t be back with the Patriots in 2026.
More notes out of New England…
- Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore was arrested on a domestic assault charge late last year, but prosecutors dropped the case last week, per a report from WCVB in Boston. The 26-year-old was in court for a potential arraignment, but the prosecutor eventually determined that the case was “not viable” since it featured a “delayed complaint” coupled with the victim’s “mixed emotions about whether she wanted to go forward.” The victim claimed she had an argument with Barmore in 2025 that ultimately led to a physical incident that caused bruising. Barmore could still be subject to discipline by the NFL based on the personal conduct policy.
- Last month, the Patriots handed Mack Hollins‘ $400K for a missed incentive, per OverTheCap.com. The wideout didn’t hit the bonus after his late-season stint on injured reserve, but the Patriots still decided to pay out the extra cash. The veteran’s first season in New England saw him haul in 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns before adding another 129 yards and a score in two postseason games.
- We’ve got a handful of updates on New England’s recent free agent signings. Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, tight end Julian Hill got a three-year, $15MM deal from the Patriots that could hit up to $18MM via incentives. The contract contains $7.5MM in guaranteed money, including a $4.2MM signing bonus. Meanwhile, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports that fullback Reggie Gilliam got a three-year deal worth a max value of $12MM, with $6MM in guaranteed money owed through the first two years. Finally, Reiss reports that safety Kevin Byard‘s one-year deal with the Patriots is worth $7MM, with the potential for up to $9MM in earnings. Byard got a $3.5MM signing bonus and will earn $6.17MM in guaranteed money.
TE Tucker Kraft, WR Christian Watson, DL Devonte Wyatt Among Packers Extension Candidates
With the early phase of free agency basically done, the Packers will soon be shifting their attention to the draft. However, with a chunk of money remaining, the front office will also pursue extensions with some of their current players. When asked to identify the team’s top extension candidates, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic pointed to three players: tight end Tucker Kraft, wide receiver Christian Watson, and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.
We heard back in February that the Packers and Kraft were likely to engage in extension talks, and Schneidman believes the tight end will be prioritized. That’s because the player is currently working his way back from a torn ACL, and there’s an opportunity for the front office to secure a relative bargain. Of course, it takes two to tango, and Kraft may understand that his best opportunity to approach the top of the TE market is by proving he’s fully recovered.
The former third-round pick is set to enter the final season of his rookie contract. He had a breakout campaign in 2024, finishing with 50 catches for 707 yards and seven touchdowns. He took his production to another level in 2025, upping his yards-per-game mark from 41.6 in 2024 to 61.1 yards in 2025. He was also on pace for double-digit touchdowns, as he hauled in six scores through eight games. Unfortunately, that ACL tear ended his season early, but the Packers are still counting on Kraft to be a foundational part of their offense moving forward.
Last September, Watson inked a one-year extension that would keep him in Green Bay through the 2026 campaign. At the time, the wideout was recovering from his own ACL tear, and that deal bought the organization some time as they evaluated his comeback. Watson more than picked up where he left off, as he compiled some of the best numbers of his career, finishing with 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games.
The Packers did lose Romeo Doubs to the Patriots this offseason, but they are also still rostering a pair of rookie-contract contributors in Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. While the front office would naturally like to surround Jordan Love with as much talent as possible, they may not feel the same urgency to break the bank to keep Watson long-term.
Wyatt, a former first-round pick, is set to play the 2026 season on his fifth-year option. After appearing in less than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through his first three NFL seasons, the defensive lineman took on a larger role in 2025. He started each of his 10 games last season, collecting 27 tackles and four sacks while appearing in more than 60 percent of Green Bay’s defensive snaps.
He suffered a fibula fracture and ankle ligament tear that ended his season prematurely, although he’s optimistic that he’ll be ready to go for training camp. The Packers may also want to get a longer look at Wyatt’s recovery before paying big, but they could find themselves priced out of the equation if the defender continues his upward trajectory.
Giants Pursuing Guard Depth
Despite a clear need, the Giants haven’t done a whole lot to address the guard position during the early portion of the offseason. While the front office did pursue some of the top free agent options, they’ll now turn their focus to “bargain” free agents and the draft, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
The Giants featured one of the worst guard tandems in the NFL last season, with both Greg Van Roten and Jon Runyan struggling. After re-signing with the franchise last offseason, Van Roten is now a free agent, and that presented the Giants with an opportunity to find an upgrade at the position.
According to Schwartz, the front office was involved in the Alijah Vera-Tucker sweepstakes, but they were unwilling to reach the three-year, $42MM deal he ultimately inked with the Patriots. David Edwards ($61MM), Zion Johnson ($49.5MM), Isaac Seumalo ($31.5MM), and John Simpson ($30MM) also garnered lucrative deals, but the Giants believed these values did not match “the quality of the player at the position.”
While the team did bring back former first-round pick Evan Neal on a league-minimum deal, there’s still clear work to be done at the position. As Schwartz notes, the organization doesn’t only need to find a replacement for Van Roten at right guard. Coach John Harbaugh also wants to find a player who can compete with Runyan on the left side of the line, meaning the Giants are in the market for multiple guards at the moment.
The aforementioned free agent “bargains” could be options for that LG competition, as there are few (if any) definitive starters left in free agency. That means the front office may have to turn to the draft to find their solution at RG. Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane is widely regarded as the best prospect at his position, although he’d be a clear reach for the Giants at No. 5.
That means the organization may have to wait until the second round to fill the hole. That could lead the front office to the likes of Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon, Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, or Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge.