March 4, 2026
NFL teams have reached out to the Denver Broncos about backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham, whose lone start last year came in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Stidham didn't look bad initially in place of the injured
Bo Nix (ankle), giving the Broncos an early lead in the first quarter, but it all fell apart from there. A blizzard in the second half didn't help his cause at all. The 29-year-old finished the game 17-for-31 passing for 133 yards, one touchdown, and an interception, and he also lost a critical fumble. Head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos hold Stidham in high regard as QB insurance behind Nix, so they will most likely ask for a lot in return in any potential trade this offseason. Stidham is one of the better backup QBs in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
March 3, 2026
The New York Giants are releasing linebacker Bobby Okereke, as expected, a source told Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record. With the move, the Giants will clear $9 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season, with $5.4 million left in dead money. The 29-year-old former third-round pick in 2019 out of Stanford by the Indianapolis Colts had 140-plus combined tackles in two of his three seasons with the G-Men, including 143 tackles (78 solo), one sack, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 17 regular-season games last year. Okereke dropped off considerably in his final two seasons in New York, and a back injury late in 2024 contributed. He might not ever be the linebacker he once was, but Okereke will certainly attract some interest on the open market this offseason for a team looking for help in the middle of their defense.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Bergen Record - Art Stapleton
March 3, 2026
Veteran kicker
Nick Folk plans to return in 2026 for a 19th NFL season, and he is expected to be one of the top options on the kicking market at age 41, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Folk is the league's most accurate kicker (96.3%) since 2023, missing just one field goal per year while going 18-for-20 from 50-plus yards and 75-for-77 on his extra-point tries. In his return to the New York Jets last year, Folk made 28 of his 29 field-goal attempts (7-for-8 from 50-plus yards) while making all 22 of his extra points in 16 games. He was money for the Jets, as he's been in the last three years, but he finished as just the No. 21 kicker in overall fantasy points because the Jets' offense was so bad. The former sixth-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 out of Arizona has aged like fine wine and has made at least five kicks from 50-plus yards in each of the last three years. Folk isn't getting any younger, but he could certainly be a trustworthy fantasy option in 2026 if he lands in a better offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 3, 2026
Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo is on the Miami Dolphins' radar this offseason as they look to rebuild their QB room, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Former first-rounder
Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be released soon.
Quinn Ewers and
Cam Miller are the only other signal-callers on their roster, so Miami is unsurprisingly interested in adding a veteran QB to push Ewers and to possibly serve as the backup. The Dolphins will be in on Green Bay Packers impending free-agent QB
Malik Willis, but they'll be bidding against plenty of other teams for his services as the QB with the most upside in this free-agent class. The 34-year-old Garoppolo has 12 years of NFL experience, but he has appeared in just 11 games (seven starts) since the start of the 2023 season. Jimmy G didn't attempt a single pass in 2025 in three appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Herald - Barry Jackson
March 3, 2026
The Athletic's Nick Kosmider writes that we should expect the Denver Broncos to "closely examine" the veteran running back market this offseason, which includes the Seahawks'
Kenneth Walker III, the Jaguars'
Travis Etienne Jr., and the Panthers'
Rico Dowdle, among others. In terms of the upcoming NFL draft, Kosmider believes it is probably more likely that the Broncos "will search for young depth at RB on Day 3" after they took
RJ Harvey in the second round in 2025. A veteran RB probably won't be necessary if Denver chooses to re-sign
J.K. Dobbins (foot), but he's more likely to walk in free agency after suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 10. Harvey took over as the team's lead back down the stretch and into the playoffs last year after Dobbins' injury, but it sounds as though the Broncos want to complement him in the backfield in 2026 instead of featuring him as the clear RB1.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
March 3, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh's market is expected to be "very robust" as he heads into free agency, which is why The Athletic's Daniel Popper wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers let him walk if another team is willing to pay him $25 million per year. The sense coming out of the NFL scouting combine last week is that edge rusher Khalil Mack "will be back with the Chargers in 2026," which makes it easier for the Bolts to let Oweh walk. If both Oweh and Mack sign elsewhere, L.A. will have to "make multiple additions through free agency and the draft to rebuild the room." Oweh was a major asset for the Chargers last year after they acquired him from the Baltimore Ravens, recording all 7.5 of his sacks with the team in 12 regular-season contests. If Oweh leaves L.A., the Chargers could target a linebacker replacement in the first round of April's NFL draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
March 3, 2026
The Minnesota Vikings are "now open" to trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Vikings would like to keep Greenard around, but they are also working through salary cap issues this year, which has led to trade conversations. The 28-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 in his first year in Minnesota, but he played in just 12 games in 2025 and ended the year on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. The former third-round selection by the Houston Texans in 2020 out of the University of Florida will have a $23.3 million salary cap hit if he stays on the Vikings' roster this season. Greenard had back-to-back seasons of 12 sacks in 2023 and 2024, only to record just three sacks last year. A bounce-back is possible in 2026 with better health, and he'll surely have suitors on the trade market.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 3, 2026
"More than 10 teams are eyeing" Minnesota Vikings impending free-agent wide receiver
Jalen Nailor, league sources told Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The 27-year-old "will be one of the more coveted free-agent wide receivers next week." Nailor has caught just 69 passes and has never reached 450 receiving yards in a single season, but multiple evaluators "think he has the potential to become a priority signing." He picks up offensive concepts well, is a willing run-blocker, has vertical speed, and shows separation ability, which is why the Vikings would prefer not to lose him. An NFC executive thinks Nailor could produce an 80-catch season in the near future. Lewis writes that Nailor could be in line for a three-year deal worth an average annual value of between $12 million and $15 million. While the Vikings would like to retain Nailor, they aren't likely to spend big at the position. Depending on his landing spot, fantasy managers should keep Nailor's name in mind as a potential sleeper in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
March 3, 2026
Because Alabama quarterback
Ty Simpson is considered more of a developmental QB prospect in this year's NFL draft, he is viewed as a "potential fit" for the Los Angeles Rams and head coach Sean McVay, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Simpson is largely viewed as a "second-round prospect who will likely be taken somewhere in the first round" this year. The 23-year-old is a "high-level processor who wins before the snap" with lots of intangibles, but durability and "shortage of starting experience are concerns." Simpson would be an ideal fit for a team like the Rams, who could coach him up and develop him for a year or two while he learns behind 2025 MVP
Matthew Stafford. Although Simpson probably isn't going to be starting in Week 1 of his rookie season, he'd definitely be in the conversation as a first-rounder in rookie-only fantasy drafts this fall if he fell to a team like the Rams. Simpson threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games for Alabama in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jeff Howe
March 3, 2026
The Cleveland Browns could "seriously consider" a trade for Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye), which would pit Richardson and
Shedeur Sanders against each other in a QB competition for the starting job this summer, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. The Browns are "open to multiple options at QB," which includes the "open competition" between Sanders and
Deshaun Watson (Achilles). Watson hasn't played since October of 2024, though, and the team still thinks Sanders has a lot to learn. Bringing in another signal-caller from outside the organization seems like a foregone conclusion, with Green Bay Packers impending free-agent QB
Malik Willis being another option they'll likely explore. Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in 2023, has requested a trade after the Colts have made it clear that
Daniel Jones (Achilles) is who they want starting moving forward. Richardson has started just 15 games in his first three years in the NFL and has plenty to prove to another organization to earn a starting role again.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
March 3, 2026
Chicago Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 27 on Tuesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dalman was taken in the fourth round (114th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft out of Stanford. He played the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons before becoming a first-time Pro Bowler with the Bears in 2025 in 17 regular-season games. Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears a year ago. His decision to hang up his cleats in his prime is a big surprise and is a big loss for Chicago's offensive line. The Bears will most likely make finding a new center an offseason priority, whether it be through free agency or the NFL draft in April. Dalman started 57 of the 74 games he appeared in over the course of his five-year career.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 3, 2026
The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer say that there "seems to be a sense" that Chicago Bears wide receiver
DJ Moore will be back in 2026. However, no one could rule out the "possibility of him playing elsewhere if a good deal materializes." General manager Ryan Poles didn't make any promises and even expressed uncertainty that Moore would be with the team this spring, leading to speculation that the 28-year-old receiver could be traded this offseason. The Bears' coaching staff and front office value Moore's "intelligence, versatility, and underrated durability." For whatever reason, Moore and quarterback
Caleb Williams haven't developed great chemistry, and Moore's $28.5 million salary cap hit for next season is a factor. It's discouraging for Moore's 2026 fantasy value if he stays in the Windy City because he had career-low production in 2025, with Williams taking a step forward in Year 2. A third- or fourth-rounder could be enough to get the Bears to bite.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer
March 3, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts placed the transition tag on quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) on Tuesday, which means that wide receiver
Alec Pierce will become an unrestricted free agent. The Colts' goal has been to keep both Jones and Pierce around, and the Colts continue to negotiate a long-term deal with Pierce, but The Athletic's James Boyd and Dianni Russini wouldn't be surprised if Pierce "waits until all interested suitors can make their pitches." It means that the 25-year-old wideout probably won't re-sign with the Colts until after the league-wide negotiating window opens next Monday. He'll be in high demand on the open market after emerging as Indy's No. 1 receiver in 2025 while posting his first career 1,000-yard season. Pierce also led the NFL in yards per catch (21.3) for the second straight season. The rising wideout would have been much more likely to sign a long-term deal with the Colts had they already locked Jones into a long-term extension.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd and Dianna Russini
March 3, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals informed quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) that they will release him, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Murray is due $36.8 million guaranteed for 2026 with offsets, meaning he will play the 2026 season for another team at the league minimum. The 28-year-old didn't play in 2025 beyond Week 5 due to a foot sprain, and the expectation was always that the Cardinals would move on from the former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma. The Cardinals would have had to give Murray another $19.5 million in guarantees if Murray were on the roster on March 15. The two-time Pro Bowler is one of the quickest QBs in the league when he takes off with the ball in his hands, but injuries and consistency have been issues. He's on the right side of 30, though, and in the right situation, we wouldn't be surprised if Murray bounces back as a QB1 in fantasy if he stays healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 3, 2026
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead appears to be ready to be aggressive to maximize quarterback
Matthew Stafford's window, as he said the team is open to "trading a first-rounder for a proven player," according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Snead also revealed that the secondary is a big focus this offseason, with the Rams potentially looking to add an All-Pro defensive back. Trade talks are ongoing for the Rams as they look to get back to the Super Bowl before Stafford, last year's MVP, decides to retire. The Rams had one of the best all-around teams in the NFL last year, but fell short in the NFC Championship to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. L.A. holds two first-round picks in this year's NFL draft, so look for them to potentially trade it to acquire an impact player that could help them get over the hump.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nate Atkins
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