March 5, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on Seattle Sports on Thursday that Los Angeles Chargers impending free-agent outside linebacker Khalil Mack could be a "great fit" with the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. The nine-time Pro Bowler is an elite run defender and has ranked among the top 10 edge rushers at Pro Football Focus in each of the last three seasons. Mack has a total of 113 sacks and 36 forced fumbles in his 12-year career with the Raiders, Chicago Bears, and Chargers, including a career-high 17 sacks in 2023. The 35-year-old veteran and former fifth overall pick by the Raiders in 2014 out of Buffalo only played in 12 games last year due to an elbow injury and finished with 32 tackles (19 solo), 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, and four forced fumbles. Mack recently announced that he plans on playing in 2026, and he's ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 edge rusher and the No. 20 overall player available in free agency this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 5, 2026
The Houston Texans restructured cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.'s contract on Thursday, converting $20.38 million of his $21.59 million salary cap figure into a signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The move will save the Texans around $16 million in 2026, according to a league source. Stingley signed a three-year, $90 million contract with the Texans in March of last year. The 24-year-old former third overall pick in 2022 out of LSU was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the second straight year in 2025, finishing with 36 tackles (26 solo), four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 15 pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season starts. Stingley isn't really on the map in IDP fantasy leagues, but he was a big reason why the Texans had the top overall defense last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
March 5, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts are talking with teams about a trade for former Pro Bowl linebacker Zaire Franklin as they look to get under the salary cap before the start of the new league year next week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Franklin led the NFL with 173 total tackles in 2024 and was a first-time Pro Bowler. The former seventh-round pick in 2018 out of Syracuse took a step back in 2025 in his eighth year in the league, but he still had 125 tackles (62 solo), two sacks, seven tackles for loss, six QB hits, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 17 starts. In fantasy scoring, he finished as the No. 27 linebacker in IDP leagues. Franklin has two years left on the three-year, $31.3 million contract that he signed in March of 2024. If he's not traded, the Colts have an out with Franklin for only $2.5 million in dead-cap money.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
The New York Giants re-signed wide receiver/special-teamer
Gunner Olszewski to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Olszewski is mostly used as a punt/kick returner on special teams, as his 10 catches (13 targets) on offense for 145 yards and one touchdown in 16 games were a career high in his sixth year in the NFL. On special teams, the 29-year-old returned 26 kickoffs for 682 yards and 24 punts for 216 yards. The former undrafted free agent out of Bemidji State has a grand total of 25 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets as a receiver in 81 regular-season games (five starts). Olszewski is highly unlikely to make an impact on offense for the G-Men in 2026, making him avoidable in all fantasy football leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams and tight end
Tyler Higbee agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal on Thursday, agent Erik Burkhardt told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Higbee has struggled to stay healthy the last two years, playing in a combined 13 regular-season games, but the 33-year-old veteran will return to L.A. In 10 regular-season contests last year, he caught 25 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 36 targets. The 10-year-old veteran has never topped 734 receiving yards or five touchdowns in a single season since being taken in the fourth round by the Rams in 2016 out of Western Kentucky, and that's unlikely to happen in his 11th season in 2026. Higbee has plenty of chemistry with quarterback
Matthew Stafford, but the Rams will likely continue to run a lot of two-tight-end sets that also include
Colby Parkinson and
Terrance Ferguson. Higbee will have a limited ceiling and low floor while sharing targets with Parkinson and Ferguson again next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 5, 2026
The New York Jets re-signed tight end
Jelani Woods to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to Eric Allen of NewYorkJets.com. Woods was initially claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts last August. The 27-year-old played 60 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps over four games with the Jets in 2025, catching just one of three targets for four yards. He missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Indy due to hamstring and turf-toe injuries. Woods was the 73rd overall pick in the third round by the Colts in 2022 out of the University of Virginia. He caught 25 of his 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (two starts) in his rookie year before the injuries hit. At best, Woods will enter the 2026 campaign in New York as the TE3 behind
Mason Taylor and
Jeremy Ruckert. He's off the fantasy radar in all formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NewYorkJets.com - Eric Allen
March 5, 2026
There were reports earlier on Thursday suggesting that the Chicago Bears might be in play to acquire All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, but ESPN's Adam Schefter doesn't see the Bears in the driver's seat for a deal right now, and he also isn't convinced that Crosby will actually be dealt. Schefter added that the Bears have no ties to Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) as they look to improve their pass rush. Instead of trading for Crosby or going after Hendrickson, Chicago could go after centers Tyler Biadasz or Lloyd Cushenberry to help replace Drew Dalman, who surprisingly retired this week. Crosby has been rumored to be a trade candidate since he was unhappy with the Raiders shutting him down for the final two games of the 2025 season due to a knee injury. He hasn't publicly requested a trade, though, and the Raiders may only move him if they receive two first-round picks and a young impact player in return.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
The Denver Broncos are not expected to re-sign defensive lineman
John Franklin-Myers, a source told Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. Franklin-Myers is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday. There have not been any contract discussions with the 29-year-old pass-rusher since the end of the 2025 season. The former fourth-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 out of Stephen F. Austin had a productive two years in Denver, totaling 14.5 sacks, 65 tackles (30 solo), 14 tackles for loss, and 33 QB hits in 33 regular-season games (31 starts). Franklin-Myers ranked third on the Broncos in sacks and was a big reason why they led the league in that department in 2025. He should have a healthy market in free agency among NFL teams looking to improve their pass rush in 2026 and beyond.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson
March 5, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys thought they were close to a deal to acquire All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders on Wednesday night, but since then, other teams have raised the ante and potentially are offering the Raiders two first-round picks, according to Trey Wingo. As a result, the Cowboys are expected to shift their focus to Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis). The Bengals didn't use another franchise tag on Hendrickson, so he will most likely walk in free agency after spending the last five years in Cincy. The 31-year-old veteran only played in seven games in 2025 due to hip/pelvis injuries that eventually led to core-muscle surgery. However, he will still be one of the top pass-rushers available in free agency after reaching 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024. Hendrickson would help replace pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Packers last fall in exchange for two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
--Keith HernandezSource: Trey Wingo
March 5, 2026
Trey Wingo reports that things are moving fast regarding Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby's trade market. The Dallas Cowboys thought they were close to a deal on Wednesday night, but since then, other teams have raised the ante and potentially are offering two first-round picks. Dallas traded pass-rusher Micah Parsons, who is three years younger than Crosby, to the Green Bay Packers last fall for two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, and the Raiders reportedly have been looking for a similar package for Crosby. The 28-year-old Crosby hasn't officially demanded a trade, but all signs point to him being dealt this offseason, potentially before the start of the new league year next week. The former fourth-rounder in 2019 out of Eastern Michigan is second in the league in tackles for loss in the last three years and also has 32 sacks in 44 games in that span. Whoever lands Crosby is going to get one of the premier pass-rushers in football.
--Keith HernandezSource: Trey Wingo
March 5, 2026
The New York Giants are high on Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent cornerback Jamel Dean, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The Giants also made calls on cornerback Trent McDuffie before the Los Angeles Rams acquired him from the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday. Dean, 29, was a former third-round pick by the Bucs in 2019 out of Auburn. In his seven years in the NFL, he has accumulated 359 tackles (285 solo), one sack, seven tackles for loss, 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 61 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 96 games (77 starts). Dean had 46 tackles (38 solo), his first career sack, a career-high three interceptions (one for a TD), nine pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 14 starts in 2025. He should garner plenty of attention on the open market besides the Giants.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
March 5, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers hired former Chicago Bears head coach and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as their assistant head coach of defense on Thursday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Eberflus will help fill a key role that was vacated when Gus Bradley left to join the Tennessee Titans' coaching staff. The 55-year-old was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys last year and was the head coach in Chicago from 2022 to 2024. Eberflus will work closely with 49ers new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who was hired to replace Robert Saleh. San Fran's defense was decimated by injuries last year and finished 13th in points allowed per game (21.8) while allowing 340.2 points per game. With better health, the Niners' D should be able to rebound under Morris and Eberflus.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 5, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals will not tender a contract to restricted free-agent running back
Emari Demercado before next week, making him a free agent, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Demercado had over 1,100 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in his three years with the Cardinals, including a career-high 312 rushing yards on 44 carries in 2025 in 13 games with both
James Conner (foot) and
Trey Benson (knee) injured. He added 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets in 2025. Especially with Conner and Benson coming off serious injuries last year, it wouldn't be surprising to see Arizona try to bring Demercado back on a cheap deal for 2026. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU probably won't be anything more than a complementary back wherever he lands in free agency this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 5, 2026
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane reports that the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens are the most likely potential partners to trade for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown this offseason, especially since the Eagles are only inclined to deal with AFC teams. McLane adds that the Buffalo Bills checked in with the Eagles about Brown, but their pending acquisition of
DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears theoretically takes them out of the market for Brown. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler had his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2025, a mark he's reached in six of his seven NFL seasons, but Brown may have worn out his welcome in Philly while voicing his displeasure about his role in the offense last year. A move to either New England or Baltimore would be enticing for fantasy purposes, but it remains to be seen if either team will meet Philly's demand of a first-round pick and more.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
March 5, 2026
Former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (knee), who didn't play at all in 2025 due to a knee injury, has been on a tour of visits with NFL teams, including the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Wills is expected to visit with more teams next week. The 26-year-old was taken 10th overall by Cleveland in 2020 out of Alabama. He fully expects to be with a team in 2026. Wills suffered an MCL injury in November of 2023 and dealt with complications with the knee ever since, which is why he only played in a combined 13 games since the start of the 2023 season. If fully past his knee issues, Wills could provide some help to an NFL team looking to improve at the tackle positions.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
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