February 4, 2026
New Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur announced on Tuesday that he will call the offensive plays in his first year as head coach in 2026, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. LaFleur is replacing Jonathan Gannon, who was fired on Jan. 5 after going 3-14 in 2025. The Cardinals have yet to hire a new offensive coordinator, who will be working under LaFleur. The last time that LaFleur called plays was in 2021 and 2022, when he was the New York Jets' offensive coordinator. He did not call plays the last three seasons under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. The Jets went 11-23 during LaFleur's two seasons with the team while starting five different quarterbacks. The biggest order of business for LaFleur and the Cardinals' front office this offseason will be to decide if QB
Kyler Murray (foot) is viewed as the long-term option under center.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
February 4, 2026
SNY's Connor Hughes mentions Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback
Jacoby Brissett as a potential trade target for the New York Jets this offseason. The 33-year-old went 7-8 as the starter for new Jets offensive coordinator in 2019, throwing for 2,942 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has one year left on his current deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Since 2016, Reich started 10 different QBs:
Bryce Young,
Andy Dalton,
Matt Ryan,
Sam Ehlinger,
Nick Foles,
Carson Wentz,
Philip Rivers, Brissett,
Brian Hoyer, and Andrew Luck. Brissett went 1-11 as the QB for Arizona in 2025, but he improved the offense over
Kyler Murray (foot) and threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight picks in 14 games (12 starts). The Jets currently have only
Justin Fields and
Brady Cook under contract at QB, with few options expected to be available in the draft or free agency this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
February 4, 2026
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that there's "little reason to believe" that star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) "will willingly return to Cincinnati." It also doesn't make much financial sense for the Bengals to spend the majority of their free-agent budget to force Hendrickson to come back. The 31-year-old, who had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, is coming off an injury that required surgery and turns 32 in December. Other factors working against him are the fact that there is a solid draft class and free-agent market at edge rusher. Still, Hendrickson's compensation on the open market this offseason would likely start at or near the $29 million he made in 2026. The Bengals are unlikely to entertain a multi-year deal, so the only way to retain him would be via the franchise tag, which would cost $30.2 million for one year. There is also a tag-and-trade scenario, but the most likely outcome is the Bengals letting Hendrickson walk in free agency.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.
February 4, 2026
The Athletic's Dan Duggan writes that New York Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's scheme should feature comfortable concepts for quarterback
Jaxson Dart, especially considering the crossover between Nagy and former OC Mike Kafka. Kafka spent five years on head coach Andy Reid's staff in Kansas City, including the 2017 season alongside Nagy. The offense will heavily feature the run-pass options that Dart has run since college, as well as the QB runs that were an asset in 2025 -- Dart was third among QBs with 487 rushing yards. Nagy's reputation as a pass-happy play-caller came back to bite him during his four-year tenure as the Bears' head coach. During that same stretch, head coach John Harbaugh's Ravens ran the ball an NFL-high 50.6% of the time. Harbaugh "figures to encourage a more ground-based attack," which should be great news for rising young RB
Cam Skattebo (ankle) and Dart.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Duggan
February 4, 2026
In the opinion of The Athletic's Zach Berman, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown will seek a trade this offseason, and the Eagles will find "strong compensation." Berman also thinks that it would be in the team's best interest to try to remedy this situation and convince Brown that Philly is the best place for him to continue his career. They will need to show Brown that they have an offense and a quarterback who can make him the best receiver in the NFL, similar to what we saw in 2022 and 2023, when he accumulated over 1,400 receiving yards in both seasons, along with 18 total touchdowns. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was visibly frustrated with his role in 2025, even though he reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season and for the sixth time in his seven NFL seasons. Brown wasn't always on the same page as QB
Jalen Hurts, although his 121 targets ranked 14th among all wideouts. As of right now, Brown's future in Philly looks bleak, creating even more uncertainty around his 2026 fantasy value.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zach Berman
February 4, 2026
The New York Jets are hiring former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich as their new offensive coordinator on Wednesday under head coach Aaron Glenn, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Reich is making his return to the NFL after a year at Stanford. As things currently stand in New York, the Jets' two options at quarterback are
Justin Fields, who was benched last year in favor of
Tyrod Taylor, and
Brady Cook. Running back
Breece Hall, who was the team's most consistent offensive threat in 2025, will be a free agent in March. The 2026 NFL Draft and free agency still await, but Reich is most likely going to face plenty of challenges in the OC role in his new home. The 64-year-old becomes the Jets' 12th different play-caller in a 16-year span. New York's offense finished 29th in scoring and 29th in yards in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 3, 2026
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb missed three games due to injury in 2025 and was overshadowed by fellow wideout
George Pickens. Lamb still managed to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth straight season, but his 1,077 yards and 75 receptions marked his lowest output since his rookie campaign in 2020. The 25-year-old was targeted 117 times and had a career-low three touchdowns in his 14 games played. Pickens' presence was definitely an issue, as quarterback
Dak Prescott targeted his new toy 137 times, which ranked eighth among WRs. Lamb should bounce back with better health in 2026, but with Pickens expected to be back at least on the franchise tag, his hopes of rebounding to high-end WR1 status might be unattainable. The four-time Pro Bowler finished last season as the WR19 in half-PPR scoring, averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 3, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving had high expectations going into his sophomore season in 2025 after rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries in his rookie campaign in 2024. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit him, and he ended up playing in only 10 games, carrying the ball 173 times for 588 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and just one rushing touchdown. Irving added 30 receptions on 35 targets for 277 yards and three more touchdowns. Fantasy managers who drafted him were extremely disappointed in his overall production. The good news is that Irving should be fully healthy this offseason as he heads into Year 3, and a bigger role could await in Tampa's backfield with
Rachaad White expected to depart in free agency.
Sean Tucker will be involved, but Irving has already proven he has a three-down skill set. At a reduced cost, Irving will be a popular value pick in fantasy football drafts this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 3, 2026
Indianapolis Colts tight end
Tyler Warren didn't disappoint after the Colts took him 14th overall in last year's NFL Draft out of Penn State. The 23-year-old immediately became Indy's No. 1 pass-catching tight end, and he finished his first year in the NFL as the Colts' No. 2 receiver, behind only
Alec Pierce. Warren was the TE6 in half-PPR scoring with 76 receptions on 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. His 112 targets were third among all TEs, behind only
Trey McBride and
Kyle Pitts Sr. Warren wasn't quite as productive down the stretch for fantasy managers after starting quarterback
Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Still, his overall numbers were impressive, and with Jones expected to return to the Colts, Warren will have true breakout potential as a top-five fantasy TE going into Year 2 in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 3, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars impending free-agent linebacker Devin Lloyd said that he would prefer to stay in Jacksonville, but he's had "no talks" about a potential long-term contract extension, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. The former first-rounder made his first Pro Bowl appearance and was named a second-team All-Pro in a contract year in 2025 after the Jags declined his fifth-year option. The 27-year-old produced five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), seven pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, a fumble recovery, and 81 total tackles (six for loss) in 15 starts in his fourth year in the NFL. Lloyd felt at home in defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's attack-style defense. The Jags are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Lloyd to keep him around, with the tag for linebackers projected to be $28.2 million. If Lloyd makes it to free agency in March, he'll be one of the top off-ball LBs available.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Kevin Patra
February 3, 2026
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
George Pickens, who will be an unrestricted free agent in March, said he "would love to" stay with the team after a career year in his first season in Dallas in 2025, according to Tommy Yarrish of NFL.com. Co-owner Stephen Jones reiterated last week that the Cowboys want to keep Pickens in Dallas for 2026 and beyond. However, the team has yet to reach out to Pickens personally to discuss a long-term contract extension. If Dallas cannot reach a long-term extension with the 24-year-old pass-catcher, they could use the franchise tag on him. One way or another, it seems likely that Pickens will be back in Dallas in 2026 after leading the team with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns on 137 targets in 17 games. Pickens quickly showed great chemistry with quarterback
Dak Prescott, and he'll be a WR1 target in fantasy leagues this fall if he remains with the Cowboys.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Tommy Yarrish
February 3, 2026
Atlanta Falcons president of football
Matt Ryan was non-committal on Tuesday to
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) being the team's starting quarterback in 2026, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Penix suffered a torn left ACL last November and is currently recovering after having surgery. He is expected to be out anywhere from nine to 12 months. The 25-year-old completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine games in 2025 in his first full year as the starter, with the Falcons going 3-6 in his starts. Penix was the eighth overall pick out of Washington in 2024. New head coach Kevin Stefanski has been complimentary of Penix since taking the job, but his health and status as the starter will be a big question mark going into training camp and the start of the 2026 regular season this fall. Penix's fantasy stock is down, and his lengthy injury history -- he's torn his ACL three times -- is a big reason why.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
February 3, 2026
New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Tuesday that he will call the offensive plays in 2026 in his first year as an NFL head coach, according to Camryn Justice of WEWS. Monken also said that it's to be determined if quarterback
Shedeur Sanders will be the team's starter under center. Former Baltimore Ravens run-game coordinator Travis Switzer will serve as the Browns' offensive coordinator, but he won't be in charge of calling plays. Monken coordinated some strong offenses in Baltimore over the last three seasons, but he won't have two-time MVP QB
Lamar Jackson in his move to Cleveland. Sanders,
Dillon Gabriel, and
Deshaun Watson (Achilles) should compete for the starting QB job this summer, but the Browns are also expected to bring in another signal-caller. Monken will definitely have his work cut out for him.
--Keith HernandezSource: WEWS - Camryn Justice
February 3, 2026
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier did not live up to preseason expectations in 2025, throwing for just 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine games. However, the redshirt senior was dealing with abdominal and torso injuries that reportedly limited his core strength and mechanics. His 2024 season was far more productive, as the veteran tossed for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions after replacing
Jayden Daniels in Baton Rouge. Once viewed as a potential top-20 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Nussmeier now has a third-round projection. That said, the 2026 rookie quarterback class is lacking depth, as Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Alabama's Ty Simpson appear to be the only first-round locks. Fresh off a Senior Bowl MVP appearance, Nussmeier could be pushed into the second round if he performs well during the pre-draft process. If that happens, he should be expected to see starting playing time at some point in his first few seasons in the NFL. Four of the last five quarterbacks selected in Round 2 (
Tyler Shough,
Will Levis,
Jalen Hurts, and
Drew Lock) have had their shots at the starting role. If Nussmeier falls to Round 3 or 4, his chances to see the field early in his career diminish greatly.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: MockDraftDataBase.com
February 3, 2026
New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien plans to remain with the team after interviewing for the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive-coordinator job, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Tolzien was a top candidate for the Steelers' job, but he will instead remain with head coach Kellen Moore in New Orleans to continue developing quarterback
Tyler Shough. If Shough takes a step forward in Year 2 in 2026 under Tolzien, he'll almost certainly leave for an OC job next cycle. Tolzien sticking around in the Big Easy is great news for Shough, who was taken in the second round in 2025 out of Louisville. The 26-year-old ended up taking over as the starting QB early in the season from
Spencer Rattler, and he went on to appear in 11 games (nine starts), completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough also ran for 186 yards and three scores on the ground.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
RADIO
