February 23, 2026
The Denver Broncos hired former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton as their offensive passing-game coordinator on Sunday, a source with knowledge of the hire confirmed to Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Morton served as Denver's passing-game coordinator in 2023 and 2024 under head coach Sean Payton before taking the Lions' OC job last year. Detroit stripped Morton of play-calling duties around midseason before firing him. Payton quickly brought him back as a consultant during the postseason, and now he's officially back for the 2026 season. Following the 2025 season, the Broncos fired OC Joe Lombardi and replaced him with
Davis Webb, a rising young coach who received looks as a head coach during this hiring cycle. Morton has plenty of experience with Payton, also serving as his receivers coach in Payton's first year with the Saints in 2006.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Luca Evans
February 23, 2026
ESPN's Kris Rhim wouldn't be surprised to see the Los Angeles Chargers make a push to sign Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum, who is one of the top projected free agents this offseason. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz had a hand in selecting Linderbaum with the Ravens in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. The 25-year-old was the NFL's second-best pass-blocking center in pass-block win rate (97.2%) last year. The 2026 franchise tag for linemen is $27.9 million, which would be almost $10 million more than Creed Humphrey's league-high deal at the position. The New York Giants, who are now coached by former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, are another team that could make a play to sign Linderbaum and move John Michael Schmitz Jr. into a utility role. The Cleveland Browns, now coached by former Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken, need serious O-line help and are another potential landing spot for Linderbaum.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
February 23, 2026
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) is considered doubtful to ever play football again after suffering a serious neck injury in a collision with Baltimore Ravens running back
Derrick Henry on Oct. 27, 2024, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The former second-rounder in 2021 sat out all of last season while recovering from the injury, which involved a compression of his neck. It's a tough blow for the 26-year-old linebacker, who was a Pro Bowler in 2023, when he recorded 101 tackles (72 solo), 3.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, five QB hits, two interceptions, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 16 games played. He was limited to eight games in 2024 and looks primed to finish his four-year NFL career with 308 tackles (205) solo, eight sacks, three picks, 17 pass breakups, and six forced fumbles in 49 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
February 23, 2026
The New York Post's Vincent Bonsignore suggests that the Los Angeles Rams could target a developmental quarterback prospect in this year's NFL draft, with the 38-year-old
Matthew Stafford potentially in the final year of his career in 2026. The Rams hold two first-round picks, which will give them flexibility to be aggressive at the most important position in football. Their first pick in the first round will come at No. 13, which could be right in the wheelhouse for Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who could use some development time in the NFL. Other signal-callers in this year's draft that the Rams could take a look at are Penn State's Drew Allar, Miami's
Carson Beck, Arkansas' Taylen Green, Georgia Tech's Haynes King, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Vincent Bonsignore
February 23, 2026
Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson will throw at this week's NFL scouting combine, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. It will give Simpson, the consensus No. 2 QB in this year's draft behind presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, a chance to solidify his status as a first-round pick in 2026. In his first three years at Alabama, Simpson attempted 50 passes. That number jumped to a league-high 475 passing attempts last year, and he finished the season with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 15 games played. Depending on Simpson's pre-draft workouts/interviews, he could vault himself to the first half of the first round of the draft in April after establishing himself as the best QB in the SEC last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 23, 2026
Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end
Isaiah Likely isn't ruling out a return to the Ravens in free agency, but he also said "business is business" when it comes to a team that recently signed TE
Mark Andrews and receiver
Rashod Bateman to new deals, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. Likely suffered a foot injury in the preseason that caused him to miss the first three games of the 2025 season, and he was never able to recover, finishing with just 27 catches for a career-low 307 yards and one touchdown in 14 games played. The 25-year-old told his agent that "I just want to be able to blossom," and that's unlikely to happen with the Ravens as long as Andrews is still around. All signs are pointing to Likely moving to another team this offseason, which should make him more attractive as a potential TE1 in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Talk - Josh Alper
February 23, 2026
Denver Broncos impending free-agent running back
J.K. Dobbins (foot) made it clear that he'd prefer to re-sign with the team this offseason, but The Athletic's Nick Kosmider expects the team "to explore multiple other options first." Before a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury, Dobbins was in the midst of a career year in 2025, rushing for 772 yards through the first 10 weeks, the fifth-highest output in the NFL. He has averaged 5.2 yards per carry since entering the NFL as a second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, but staying on the field has been an issue. Last year was the fourth time since Dobbins entered the league in which he played in 10 games or fewer due to injury. Dobbins has been productive when healthy, but the Broncos need a "player with some longer-term upside to pair with
RJ Harvey." Because of his lengthy injury history, Dobbins will be hard to trust in fantasy, and he's unlikely to find work as a true RB1 workhorse back in free agency.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
February 23, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts and impending free-agent quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) have been in talks on a multi-year contract extension and are expected to meet face-to-face in Indy during this week's NFL scouting combine, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The two sides have mutual interest in a reunion, and the Colts could resort to using the franchise tag on the veteran signal-caller if they cannot reach an extension by March 3. Jones was playing the best football of his career in 2025 in his first year with the Colts before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 14. The 28-year-old former sixth overall pick by the New York Giants in 2019 out of Duke threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 starts. All signs are pointing to Jones returning to Indy in 2026, although it's unclear if he'll be ready to start in the Week 1 regular-season opener.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 23, 2026
After a Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. was a big disappointment in his sophomore season, catching 48 of 91 targets for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. Thomas had an impressive 87-1,282-10 line on 133 targets in 17 games as a rookie. ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that Thomas' stats "may not reach what they were in 2024," but he should still be a key piece of head coach Liam Coen's offense in 2026. Beginning in Week 13 after he missed three games with an ankle injury, the Jags used Thomas more on the outside, and he was more productive the rest of the way.
Travis Hunter will spend more time on defense next season, but the addition of
Jakobi Meyers and the emergence of
Parker Washington will ultimately cap Thomas' fantasy ceiling going into Year 3. The former first-rounder could improve on his 2025 numbers, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect a repeat of his rookie season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
February 23, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals, who are now coached by former New York Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, could be a "potential suitor" for Jets impending free-agent running back
Breece Hall, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. If Hall makes it to the open market in March, he'll be one of the best available offensive players in free agency, and the Jets would like to prevent that from happening. It means there's a good chance the Jets will slap the franchise tag on the 24-year-old. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, "there's a current belief in league circles that the Jets eventually will apply the transition tag." The transition tag is projected at $11.5 million and would give the Jets the right of first refusal if another team offers Hall a deal. The franchise tag would cost roughly $14.5 million for 2026. A tag-and-trade scenario could also be in play. Hall's explosive-run percentage dropped in 2025, as did his average speed, but he was still one of the Jets' top offensive playmakers as he ran for a career-high 1,065 yards.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
February 23, 2026
San Francisco 49ers tight end
George Kittle's (Achilles) optimism for a speedy return in 2026 following a torn Achilles that he suffered in the Wild-Card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles is realistic, according to Dr. Daniel Kaplan, an orthopedic surgeon. Kittle suffered a clean tear that happened high up by his soleus. "They didn't have to drill into my heel," Kittle said. "And where the repair was is where there's more blood flow. And so, it takes some time off the recovery time." Barring a setback during his rehab, it's possible that Kittle could return to the field sometime around September. "It's reasonable to think Week 5 or so would be on the long end of a return," according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Kittle and the Niners are hopeful that when he's back, he'll be able to "return to somewhere close to his usual level of production." The 32-year-old will obviously be pretty risky in fantasy in 2026, but he'll be worth stashing everywhere. If Jake Tongues returns as a restricted free agent, he'll be a low-end TE1 sleeper in the first part of the year until Kittle returns.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
February 23, 2026
Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza will not throw at the NFL scouting combine this week, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Indiana quarterback will instead throw at the Hoosiers' pro day on April 1, when the school has multiple receivers that Mendoza wants to help showcase. The 22-year-old doesn't really need to do anything more at this point for the Las Vegas Raiders to be comfortable taking him with the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft. On his way to leading Indiana to a perfect season and the national title in 2025, the Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,535 yards and a league-high 41 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions in 16 games played. Mendoza also ran for 276 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground on 90 rushing attempts. He could have some ups and downs in his first year in the NFL with the rebuilding Raiders, but he will be the unquestioned top pick in all rookie-only dynasty drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 23, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons are planning to use the franchise tag on standout tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr., sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Pitts will receive a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth more than $15 million in 2026 if the two sides don't come to a long-term contract extension before the deadline in July. The 25-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida finally came through for fantasy managers in 2025 in his fifth year in the league, finishing as the TE2 in half-PPR scoring with career-highs in catches (88), targets (118), and touchdowns (five) while recording 928 receiving yards in 17 games played. He will certainly be a TE1 in fantasy this fall, but there is still some volatility with Pitts, especially with quarterback
Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) health in question. Pitts came on strong in the final six games in 2025, going for 39 receptions for 469 yards and four TDs during that stretch.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 23, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys will finalize the franchise tag for wide receiver
George Pickens in the next week, according to executive vice president Stephen Jones. The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins writes that if Pickens gets franchise-tagged, "there's a strong possibility he will not report to the offseason programs as the team engages in contract talks with his agents." Edge rusher Micah Parsons didn't show up for the offseason program last year while in contract talks with the club before eventually being traded to the Green Bay Packers. Pickens, 24, will be back with Dallas in 2026 after earning his first Pro Bowl berth with career-highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine). The franchise tag for receivers is projected at $28 million. A tag-and-trade scenario is possible, but both sides have an interest in a reunion in 2026 and beyond. With Pickens expected to be in Dallas again this year, he'll be firmly in the WR1 range in fantasy football drafts this fall after his big 2025 campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Calvin Watkins
February 23, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that no NFL team has offered a proposal to ban the tush push, and there have been no recent talks about changing the rule, competition committee co-chairman Rick McKay said. The Green Bay Packers pushed hard last year to have the play banned, but NFL rules require approval from 24 owners to enact a rule change, and only 16 supported the ban as it was written at the time. The short-yardage play has mostly been utilized by the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, but more tush pushes occurred in 2025, with other teams experimenting with using tight ends rather than quarterbacks to take the snap. The NFL saw slightly more tush pushes last year (112) than in 2024 (101). The Eagles (27) and Bills (17) led the league by far in tush-push attempts. The conversion rate was slightly lower in 2025, with teams succeeding 76.8% of the time, which was down from 82% from 2022 through 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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