Charvarius Ward Considering Retirement
In reeling in Charvarius Ward on a three-year deal worth up to $60MM last March, the Colts added one of the top cornerbacks on the free agent market. Ward looked like a worthwhile investment when he took the field in 2025, but three concussions limited him to just seven games.
With Ward still dealing with complications from his head injuries, he’s “seriously considering retirement,” Stephen Holder of ESPN reports. Ward’s father has already advised him to retire, according to Holder.
“With the brain injuries, you don’t really see it … until you get older sometimes,” said the 29-year-old Ward, who added that “the more I beat my brain up, the more it’ll affect me as I get older. So, I’ve got a lot of life to live out of football. I’ve got to think about my family and kids, too. So, we’ll see.”
Despite going undrafted out of Middle Tennessee State in 2018, a healthy version of Ward has been a consistently productive corner in the NFL. Ward divided his first seven seasons between Kansas City and San Francisco, where he combined for 89 starts and 10 interceptions. In 2023, his penultimate season with the 49ers, Ward notched a career-high five INTs and led the league with 23 passes defensed. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors for his efforts.
Ward didn’t pull in any interceptions during a 12-game 2024, nor did he in his truncated first season with the Colts. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus ranked Ward the NFL’s eighth-best corner out of 114 qualifiers in 2025. Ward held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.3% completion rate and an 87.6 passer rating on 48 targets, per Pro-Football-Reference. He finished the year with 25 tackles and seven PDs in seven games (all starts).
Ward was healthy for Indianapolis’ season-opening win over Miami, but he suffered his first concussion of the year in that game and sat out Week 2. After returning to play in three straight, Ward’s second concussion occurred during pregame warmups in Week 6. The Colts placed Ward on injured reserve on Oct. 18. He came back after a four-game absence on Nov. 23, but the Colts made a Nov. 4 trade deadline splash at corner in the meantime.
Then 7-2 and in the mix for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Colts swung a massive deal with the Jets for Sauce Gardner, sending two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to New York. The hope was Ward and Gardner would form a shutdown duo for the Colts. That didn’t come to fruition, though, as both corners were rarely healthy at the same time in 2025. They only played together in two games.
Ward went down with his third concussion in a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars, forcing him to IR again, while a calf strain kept Gardner out of three contests. Those injuries played a part in the Colts’ stunning second-half collapse. Once 8-2, their year ended with seven straight losses and a sub-.500 finish.
Although the Colts have not qualified for the playoffs in any of head coach Shane Steichen‘s three seasons, he and general manager Chris Ballard will return in 2026. It’s up in the air whether they’ll have Ward, but with a $7.98MM roster bonus due in March, he acknowledged he’ll have to make a quick decision on his future.
Raheem Morris HC, DC Meetings Expected
Raheem Morris guided the Falcons to back-to-back eight-win seasons. While that may not sound particularly impressive, the Falcons had won seven or fewer contests each year from 2018-23. But Morris received a pink slip Sunday night, joining GM Terry Fontenot in being removed from his position.
As could be expected, Morris should not be out of work for long. Teams in search of a head coach are expected to show interest, with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reporting Morris is likely to be part of this year’s HC carousel. If Morris is unable to complete an immediate bounce-back bid, Russini adds DC interest is expected to emerge.
The Falcons gave Morris less time than Arthur Smith despite the latter going 7-10 in each of his first two seasons; Smith went 7-10 in Year 3 before being fired. Morris, however, did have much of the 2020 season to prove himself in Atlanta. His first stint with the team concluded with an appointment as Falcons interim HC following Dan Quinn‘s ouster. Overall, the former Buccaneers and Falcons HC is 37-56 as a head coach. That record can mostly be traced to three- and four-win seasons in Tampa (2009, ’11).
Morris, 49, had been expected to survive. The Falcons finished the season on a four-game win streak. His postgame hug with Arthur Blank became quite awkward soon after; the owner fired he and Fontenot, who had been on as GM for five years. The Falcons had hired a consulting firm, and Matt Ryan is now in play for a central role in the franchise’s front office. These developments left Morris out of the picture.
Prior to returning to Atlanta, Morris had won a Super Bowl as Rams DC. At the controls when the Rams downed the Bengals to claim their first title in 22 years, Morris burnished his candidacy by helping the team transition amid a 2023 retooling effort. Morris’ defensive rankings in Los Angeles do not match those of Chris Shula or Brandon Staley, with the unit topping out at 15th in scoring during his tenure, but he did help steer a Falcons turnaround this year. Having major pass-rushing issues for most of the past decade-plus, the Falcons revitalized that area — after first-round picks of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. — and finished with 57. Only the Broncos (68) produced more this season.
While Morris receiving a third chance after only producing one winning season in five full-time HC years may be a stretch, it would surprise if he did not at least land a DC opportunity this year. The Rams could potentially come calling, should Shula follow Morris and Staley as a Sean McVay DC to become a head coach.
Giants To Give Mike Kafka HC Interview
Interim head coaches have not enjoyed much success moving to full-time jobs. The only one to do so over the past nine offseasons — Antonio Pierce — was fired after his first full-time season. But teams regularly give their interims chances to interview.
That will be the case for the Giants, who are going to meet with Mike Kafka about their full-time HC post. Kakfa confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) he will meet about the job. This had been expected, as Kafka was mentioned — along with Pierce — as being among Big Blue’s early candidates.
[RELATED: Giants To Retain GM Joe Schoen]
A collapse in Denver keyed a nine-game losing streak for New York. Brian Daboll received his walking papers midway through that skid, but Kafka lost his first five games as Giants interim HC. While he won the final two, both victories came over unmotivated teams. The Raiders deactivated Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby and others, showing a clear interest in landing the No. 1 overall pick. The Giants snapped their skid in Las Vegas and then toppled the Cowboys, who benched Dak Prescott midway through the game.
This gave the Giants a 4-13 record, dropping them from the first pick to No. 5 overall over the past two weeks. Kafka yoyoed as the Giants’ play-caller during his four seasons as OC. Daboll gave Kafka the call sheet in 2022, allowing the former Chiefs assistant to call the signals in 2023 as well. After Daboll took the reins himself in 2024, Kafka was back at the controls to start this season. The Giants finished a respectable — all things considered — 17th in scoring offense and 13th in yardage despite starting three QBs (Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston).
Kafka is no stranger to the HC interview process. He met with the Bears and Saints last year, taking two New Orleans meetings. He met with the Seahawks and Titans in 2024 and spoke with the Cardinals, Colts, Panthers and Texans in 2023.
It remains highly unlikely Kafka will receive the call to replace Daboll. The Giants went down this road before by appointing Ben McAdoo to succeed Tom Coughlin, and while Kafka staying would ensure Dart does not have to learn a second offense in two years, the Giants will probably follow the trend of passing over interim leaders to hire a more coveted candidate.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Will Not Make Immediate Decision On Future
The 2025 campaign didn’t go as planned for the Chiefs, who will not make a fourth straight Super Bowl trip. The Chiefs’ streak of 10 consecutive playoff berths snapped during a 6-11 season in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL. A healthy Mahomes will aim to rebound in 2026, but it’s unknown whether he has thrown his last pass to his favorite target, tight end Travis Kelce.
While Kelce is set to become a free agent, the career-long Chief seems more likely to retire than to sign with another team. After a season-ending loss to the Raiders on Sunday, the 36-year-old indicated he hasn’t made a decision on whether to continue his career in 2026 (via Jesse Newell of The Athletic).
“I mean, who knows? Who knows? Either it hits me quick, or I’ve got to take some time,” Kelce said. “I think last year was a little bit easier. I think I knew right away I wanted to give this one a shot. So we’ll see.”
Kelce considered retirement after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles last February, but it wasn’t a drawn-out process. Just under three weeks later, it became clear he’d play again in 2025. While it went down as a disappointing year for the team, Kelce remained among the NFL’s most productive tight ends. He led Chiefs skill players in offensive snap share (81%) while finishing fourth at his position in yards (851), sixth in catches (76) and 13th in touchdowns (five).
Kelce only totaled 12 yards in Week 18, but it was enough to reach the 13,000-yard mark for his career. The 13-year veteran became the quickest tight end to achieve that milestone, doing so in 192 games. Kelce ranks third all-time at his position in receptions (1,080) and yards (13,002), and he’s fifth in TDs (82). While it’s possible Kelce won’t add to those numbers, longtime teammate Chris Jones expects him to return in 2026
“I’m not buying it,” Jones said of a potential Kelce retirement. “He’ll be back next year.”
If Jones is right, the Chiefs will have to hammer out another agreement with Kelce in the coming months. Kelce is currently scheduled to join names such as Kyle Pitts, David Njoku and Isaiah Likely on the list of free agent tight ends, but it would be shocking to see him don a different uniform in 2026.
Three 49ers Execs Among Dolphins’ Six GM Interview Requests
More than two months after letting Chris Grier go, the Dolphins are at work with GM interview requests. Six have gone out for an AFC East franchise that has not parted with HC Mike McDaniel.
While McDaniel is not a lock to stay, the next Dolphins GM may well begin a tenure working with the long-tenured leader. The Dolphins have sent requests to Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers), John McKay (Rams) and Josh Williams (49ers), according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport along with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They have since submitted a request to meet with 49ers assistant GM R.J. Gillen, per Pelissero.
The three 49ers execs would be interesting here, as both were in San Francisco when McDaniel was working under Kyle Shanahan. Ahmed is in place as the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, being in his first year in that role. Ahmed has been with the team since 2014, coming up through the scouting ranks. The former 49ers college scouting director received a request from a Dolphins team eyeing a GM with a scouting background.
Williams has a similar background, serving as the 49ers’ current director of scouting and football operations. He has come up as a name to watch on this year’s carousel, and the Dolphins were connected to him recently. The 49ers have lost a few execs to GM roles, with John Lynch‘s staff seeing Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters take top front office jobs. Williams, who was a finalist for last year’s Jaguars GM gig, could be next.
Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before Lynch and Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure. Gillen being included in Miami’s list further points to McDaniel staying.
A 49ers exec being hired certainly could give the embattled HC a new lease on life in Miami, as persistent rumblings have emerged pointing to ownership being fond of the offense-based leader and ready to give him a fifth year. That is not a lock, however.
McKay’s time with the 49ers’ California rival has spanned 10 years now. He arrived a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. McKay has worked his way up to assistant general manager. This position certainly has been known to launch GM candidacies, with Halaby serving in this role for the Eagles. Halaby does not come from the scouting side, however, being a Harvard graduate who spent five-plus years as the Eagles’ director of football operations and strategy.
Sullivan, who serves as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel, was on last year’s GM carousel and emerged as a possible Dolphins candidate hours after Grier’s dismissal. Sullivan has only worked in Green Bay, being with the Packers since 2003. The former Ted Thompson lieutenant has climbed the ladder under Brian Gutekunst, climbing to his current post through the scouting ranks. Sullivan has been in the VP role since 2022.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Likely Safe
JANUARY 5: McDaniel has “expressed confidence” about his status recently, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports. Things could of course change with the general manager position yet to be filled, but it appears as though the Dolphins will not join the growing list of teams with a vacancy on the sidelines.
JANUARY 4: The job security of Mike McDaniel has remained a talking point for much of the 2025 season. The late stages of the campaign have seen improved play in the case of the Dolphins, though, pointing to stability on the sidelines for next year. 
McDaniel is in the group of coaches likely to be safe as ‘Black Monday’ approaches, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (video link). Conflicting reports have emerged over recent months on the matter of McDaniel’s future, with Schefter among those cautioning a final decision has yet to be made. His latest update confirms that is still the case, with front office discussions still to be had after the season finale.
When general manager Chris Grier‘s lengthy Miami tenure came to an end midway through the season, it was immediately learned McDaniel would remain in place for the remainder of 2025. The Dolphins have once again fallen short of the playoffs with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being benched. Keeping him atop the depth chart was seen at one point as a central factor in McDaniel’s job security given the success shared by that pair in the past. Strong play elsewhere on the roster has nevertheless helped the case for stability on the sidelines.
The Dolphins have won five of their last seven games entering Sunday’s action. To perhaps little surprise, then, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also points to McDaniel receiving a fifth season at the helm. The 42-year-old sports an overall record of 35-32 at this point, and he has led the Dolphins to a pair of postseason appearances (both of which ended with losses in the wild-card round). Presuming he remains in place for 2026, how McDaniel fits into a reshaped structure in Miami will be interesting to see.
The search for Grier’s replacement is ongoing, and broadcaster Troy Aikman is among those playing a role. Once a new general manager is in place – either through an outside hire or interim Champ Kelly receiving the gig on a full-time basis – attention will turn to the matter of potential changes in the organizational pecking order. Grier previously outranked McDaniel as well as senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore while reporting to owner Stephen Ross. A new setup is being considered which would see Shore, the new GM and McDaniel each report directly to Ross. Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports nothing has been finalized yet on that front, and that will presumably remain the case until a decision is made to fill the general manager spot.
A strong fit with McDaniel is not viewed as Miami’s top priority during the team’s GM search, one which Jones notes includes sports executive (and Ross’ son-in-law) Daniel Sillman. That factor suggests a McDaniel dismissal could still receive consideration, although at this point such a move would come as a surprise.
Giants To Retain GM Joe Schoen
The Giants are among the teams with a head coaching vacancy. They will not be hiring a new general manager this winter, though.
Joe Schoen has been informed he will remain in place for 2026, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That news comes as little surprise given recent reporting on where this situation stood. Schoen has been in place since 2022, having been hired alongside Brian Daboll that year. Daboll was fired midway through the campaign, but that has not led to a complete housecleaning.
As part of their statement announcing Schoen will remain in his post, the Giants said, “Continuity and stability in the front office is important to our progress.”
The Giants’ desire for front office stability will lead to a fifth season for Schoen, who will be in position to hire his second head coach. Schoen chose Daboll after the two formed a rapport working together in Buffalo. They initially fared well in New York, which finished 9-7-1 and earned a playoff berth in 2022. Daboll won Coach of the Year honors for his effort, but things spiraled from there. The Giants posted a combined 4-13 mark under Daboll and interim head coach Mike Kafka in 2025, their third straight year of missing the postseason. They’ve gone a dismal 13-38 since 2023.
Although the Schoen-led Giants have struggled mightily for most of his tenure, their head coaching vacancy is considered attractive based on some of the talent he has acquired. That includes Schoen draft picks in quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, pass rushersKayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, and running back Cam Skattebo, among others.
Indeed, in their statement, the Giants noted, “We believe in our young core of talent, which we can build around for future success.”
In order for the Giants to get maximum value out of that “young core of talent,” Schoen can’t miss on another head coaching pick. Schoen, who’s leading the search, has already put together the list of candidates he’d like to interview, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. The 46-year-old said weeks ago that he didn’t expect his presence to scare away any potential hires. Fortunately for the Giants, they’ve received “positive feedback” from HC candidates over the decision to keep Schoen, per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
While the Giants haven’t formally requested any interviews yet, several names have come up in the rumor mill since Daboll’s firing in early November. Kafka, who went 2-5 in an interim role, may get a look, but Daboll’s full-time successor seems more likely to come from outside the organization.
Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, ex-Raiders HC and onetime Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are among potential candidates who have emerged in recent days. Those are just a few possibilities, though, and Schoen is sure to discuss the position with several coaches as he attempts to turn around the franchise.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Bengals To Retain Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin
The Bengals will have stability on the sidelines and in the front office for 2026. Head coach Zac Taylor and player personnel director Duke Tobin are officially safe. 
“Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level, with the goal of winning championships,” a statement from owner Mike Brown reads. “After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”
The possibility of major changes was raised in the midst of Cincinnati’s mid-season slump. Toward the end of the campaign, however, it appeared as though both Taylor and Tobin were no longer in danger of being dismissed. Today’s news offers confirmation on that front.
Quarterback Joe Burrow has drawn plenty of attention with his recent comments on his future given his track record of making his opinion known for several high-profile roster decisions. He has shown full support for Taylor, something which has no doubt helped contribute to this decision. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports a group of players offered an endorsement over the past week or so for keeping the 42-year-old in the fold.
2025 marks the third season in a row in which Cincinnati has fallen short of the postseason. Taylor’s first two campaigns resulted in a total of six wins, but the decision to retain him initially proved to be worthwhile. The Bengals reached the Super Bowl during his third season at the helm. That was followed by a trip to the AFC championship game. Since then, however, shortcomings on defense along with Burrow injuries have proven to be highly problematic.
Overall, Taylor’s record across seven years stands at 52-63-1. Improvement will be sought out this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if that includes changes on his staff. Longtime offensive coordinator Brian Callahan departed in 2024, and last winter the Bengals parted with veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. The latter’s replacement, Al Golden, oversaw a unit which endured massive struggles for much of the campaign. Cincinnati’s defense improved to a degree late in the season but still finished 30th in points allowed.
An inability to replace Cincinnati’s Super Bowl core on defense was raised as an argument in favor of moving on from Tobin, who has been in place since 2002. He will continue in his current role, however, as the Bengals opt once again for stability. If 2026 includes a repeat of this season’s struggles, a new round of calls for firings will no doubt emerge. The team’s top decision-makers will receive the opportunity to turn things around and avoid such a scenario.
Falcons Fire HC Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot
The first firing announcement comes out of Atlanta, where, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Raheem Morris has officially been fired. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports quickly followed up the coaching announcement with a report that general manager Terry Fontenot has also been removed from his position. 
In a statement, team owner Arthur Blank gave an explanation of today’s transactions.
“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons,” he began. “But I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward. The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Additionally, the team’s statement mentioned that they would use two different search firms to help fill the two jobs. ZRG Partners will assist Atlanta on their head coach search while Sportsology Group will assist with the search for a new general manager. Sportsology was already being utilized to perform a full assessment of the team’s football operations. It seems their evaluation was valued, as it led to Fontenot’s dismissal and further work to assist with the job to replace him. No timelines were proposed for the searches, but both will begin immediately and run concurrently.
Blank seems to be growing short of patience as time goes on. Before Morris, Mike Smith held the head coaching job for seven seasons. Dan Quinn only lasted six after that, Arthur Smith three, and Morris just two. The team’s quick response to act all comes naturally at this point as the organization will undergo it’s fourth head coaching search in seven years. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports that, behind the scenes, discussions on resetting the team’s structure have been going on for weeks now.
Voices around the league seemed to be pointing toward a departure from Fontenot, but sources also believed that Morris was likely to be retained in his position. A longtime assistant with the Falcons, Morris spent six years as assistant head coach while coaching various position groups before getting promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020. He stepped up into the interim head coaching job when Quinn was fired and went 4-7 in his first time back in the captain’s chair since his time with the Buccaneers back in 2011.
The Falcons did not choose Morris to take over the full-time head coaching gig, instead hiring Arthur Smith to the job. Morris returned to Atlanta after three years as defensive coordinator for the Rams, replacing Smith when he was fired after three straight 7-10 seasons. In his two years back at the helm, Morris improved on Smith’s streak, if only barely, recording two 8-9 campaigns, the first resulting in a second-place division finish and the second resulting in a three-way tie that ended with a third-place finish in the NFC South.
In order to force the three-way tie, the Falcons had to win their last four games, an impressive close to the season. These marked the Falcons’ only two eight-win seasons during their eight-year playoff drought, but this one enough to save Morris’ job.
Multiple players, including wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, were vocal in support of Morris before his dismissal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Robinson specifically said he was “going to support Raheem no matter what” but that it’s “Arthur Blank’s decision” (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). There’s plenty of room for criticism of the move as a bit early. Several coaches with worse results have been given longer leashes in NFL history, and Morris’ short leash came with handicaps from questionable draft and free agency decisions by Fontenot that left him with awkward quarterback situations.
Many are pointing to Fontenot’s failure to solve the team’s quarterback issues as the cause for his departure. With Fontenot as GM in Atlanta for five seasons, the Falcons went 36-48 during his tenure. Despite the clear signs that former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan was in the twilight years of his career, Fontenot failed to address the position in his first draft. The only player from that first draft class to really impact the team was first-round tight end Kyle Pitts, who still delivered a few disappointing seasons over his rookie deal. The Falcons then traded Ryan to Indianapolis and drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round of 2022’s draft, which also yielded them London and running back Tyler Allgeier. 
After Ridder failed to establish himself as a starter, as the Falcons had stood down rather than add an outside option in 2023, Fontenot and the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a huge four-year, $180MM deal with the understanding that they would not draft a first-round quarterback to stash behind him. About six weeks later, Fontenot and the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round to stash behind Cousins without notifying Cousins or his representation that they would be doing so.
Morris and the coaching staff were believed to have played a role in the QB double-up, becoming impressed with the left-handed QB. The Falcons spent two years shuffling a sometimes-injured, struggling Cousins with a sometimes-injured, struggling Penix, putting them in the situation they now find themselves.
The Morris hire came as Fontenot and CEO Rich McKay were believed to have played roles in swaying Blank away from hiring Bill Belichick. Neither were believed to have wanted to work with the former Super Bowl-winning HC. Politics partially played a part in the Falcons moving to Morris, who worked under McKay in Tampa. Morris was well-liked in the building stemming from his first go-round in Atlanta, but his HC stint ended up not even lasting as long as his Bucs stay. Following the Morris hire, Fontenot secured more organizational power as McKay stepped back from day-to-day operations.
Fontenot’s drafting seemed to show some improvements, especially with some successful defensive picks this past year, but it was mostly first- and second-rounders making an impact from each class. Regardless, through Fontenot’s five seasons, the Falcons failed to see a single winning campaign, let alone a trip to the playoffs. The two won their final game with the team, were seen celebrating in the locker room with the players, then were called to meet with Blank a couple hours later to be delivered the bad news, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
There’s obviously no news to report so soon after the dismissals of the two team leaders, but The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman sees Morris having potential looks at defensive coordinator jobs in the offseason. Anderson reports that Ryan, the team’s former franchise quarterback, has been an “active” voice in the building already, with some starting to link his name to the now open general manager position.
Raiders Clinch No. 1 Pick In 2026 Draft
Before the start of their Week 18 game, the Raiders have learned their fate with respect to this year’s NFL draft. Vegas will own the top selection for the 2026 edition of the event. 
The Giants were among the teams playing in the early window for the final day of the regular season. Only New York could have overtaken Vegas for the top spot in the order, but that would have required a win against Dallas. However, the Giants beat the Cowboys 34-17. That result clinched the No. 1 pick for the Raiders.
Today’s development represents the expected outcome in this case. The Raiders lost to the Giants in Week 17, the contest which was widely known to have massive implications for the draft order. Both teams drew criticism for their roster handling in the build-up to that contest, particularly the Raiders. Tight end Brock Bowers was moved to injured reserve while edge rusher Maxx Crosby was shut down for the remainder of the season against his wishes.
Head coach Pete Carrol also objected to the idea of sidelining Crosby, who is slated to undergo meniscus surgery. The five-time Pro Bowler has already spoken out about the decision to shut him down, something which has fueled a new round of trade speculation. Managing the Crosby situation will be critical for the Raiders, a team which could undergo a number of notable changes soon.
The 2025 offseason saw numerous arrivals at all levels of the organization. That included a new coaching staff led by Carroll, although his tenure has not gone as planned. A widespread expectation exists Carroll will prove to be a one-and-done staffer. New offensive and special teams coordinators will also be required during the hiring cycle. In the meantime, attention in the front office will turn to the possibility of selecting a new quarterback.
Geno Smith was acquired via trade in a Carroll reunion, and he is under contract through 2027. The veteran has fallen well short of expectations this season, however, and the team could seek out a replacement via the draft. Smith could be retained as a bridge starter, but the acquisition of a future franchise signal-caller would be seen as a pivotal move for a Raiders team desperately in need of stability on several fronts.
Fernando Mendoza is seen by many as the top quarterback in the 2026 class, one which in general is not held in high regard. The Heisman winner is set to lead Indiana in the CFP semifinal against Oregon. That means a matchup against Dante Moore – whose intentions regarding the NFL draft are still not known – is upcoming. Vegas’ evaluation of both passers will be a major storyline over the coming months, presuming both wind up turning pro.
The rest of the draft order will be finalized as the remaining games around the league play out. Shuffling in the top five could prove to be impactful given the dearth of high-end QB prospects relative to the demand amongst many teams. In any event, the Raiders – who of course will look to avoid a repeat of the JaMarcus Russell situation from the last time they selected first overall – find themselves in position to kick off this year’s draft.