March 2, 2026

The Detroit Lions acquired offensive guard Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick on Monday from the Houston Texans in exchange for running back David Montgomery, a source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Scruggs, 26, was originally selected 62nd overall in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Texans out of Penn State. He played in a career-high 17 games in 2025 in Houston, but he started just one game and wasn't very efficient on the offensive line for the Texans. In his new home in Detroit, Scruggs will most likely serve as offensive-line depth as he enters his fourth year in the league. Scruggs has started 20 of the 37 games he's appeared in over his first three seasons in the NFL in Houston.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini

March 2, 2026

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku (hip) is five weeks removed from hip surgery that will "prevent him from being a full participant in the offseason program," a source told Todd Archer of ESPN. Ezeiruaku is expected to be ready for training camp at the end of July. The 22-year-old former second-rounder last year out of Boston College should be ready for the start of the 2026 season this fall, barring a setback this offseason. He played in 17 games (nine starts) for the Cowboys in his first year in the NFL in 2025 and finished with 40 tackles (20 solo), two sacks, nine tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and a forced fumble. Dallas will be hoping that Ezeiruaku will be able to take a step forward in his sophomore season once he's fully recovered from his hip injury.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer

March 2, 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers "have little if no intention of taking a quarterback with their top pick" in this year's NFL draft, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dulac goes on to say that "it's more than likely it wouldn't be until the third round" when they would consider taking a signal-caller. It's unclear if future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers even wants to play again next season, let alone return to the Steelers to reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy. The Steelers took Will Howard in the sixth round in 2025, and Dulac writes that the Steelers will only take a QB in this year's draft if they think he has a higher ceiling than Howard. Pittsburgh met with Penn State's Drew Allar, Miami's Carson Beck, and Alabama's Ty Simpson at last week's NFL scouting combine. The Steelers like Howard a lot, so if Rodgers doesn't return in 2026, it's very possible they're comfortable going into the regular season with Howard as their starter under center.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Gerry Dulac

March 2, 2026

Former bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera suffered a unanimous-decision loss to David Martinez in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. Vera, who is known as a slow starter, didn't do much in the first and second rounds as Martinez used his speed and movement to frustrate Vera. In the third round, Vera was in desperate need of a finish, but Martinez managed to survive and avoid the danger. In 15 minutes of action, Vera landed 42 significant strikes. Vera is now 0-4 in his last four fights, marking the longest losing streak of his career.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer writes that he would "lean toward a Maxx Crosby trade happening maybe this week." It seems optimistic, as the Raiders are hoping to get something similar to the return that the Dallas Cowboys got for All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons last year, which included two first-rounders and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Most reports suggest that the Raiders are unlikely to get that type of return for Crosby, who is three years older than Parsons and is coming off a knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign early. The 28-year-old Crosby hasn't requested a trade and isn't expected to, but there have been plenty of reports floating around that suggest he's not interested in going through another rebuild in Vegas. There should be no shortage of suitors for Crosby if the Raiders are serious about trading him, and Breer mentions the Cowboys, Bears, Ravens, Bills, Patriots, Eagles, and Rams as teams that are "keeping tabs on his availability." Regardless of where Crosby is playing in 2026, he'll be a high-end starting defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer

March 2, 2026

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday that he was told "it's 50/50" that the Indianapolis Colts will be able to get a deal done with impending free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) by Tuesday's deadline. If a long-term deal isn't done, Schefter thinks "the transition tag is in play here." If the Colts have to use the tag on Jones, it means that wide receiver Alec Pierce could make it to the open market when the new league year begins. The 28-year-old Jones was in the midst of a career year in Indy in 2025 before he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts have made it clear that they want Danny Dimes back as their starter in 2026, but it remains to be seen if his injury will affect the length of a potential new contract. The next thing to focus on will be whether Jones will actually be 100% for the start of the regular season this fall after throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his 13 starts last year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

March 2, 2026

David Martinez extended his win streak by defeating former bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. Martinez controlled the initial rounds, showcasing effective strategy and skill, while Vera, who is known as a slow-starter, started pushing the pace in the third round, but Martinez managed to stay out of harm's way. In 15 minutes of action, Martinez landed two takedowns and 71 significant strikes. This is by far the biggest win of Martinez's career. With the win, Martinez is now 3-0 in the UFC.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

The Washington Commanders and veteran offensive lineman Nick Allegretti agreed to a new two-year deal on Monday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Allegretti, a three-time Super Bowl winner with the Kansas City Chiefs, started the last two games for Washington at center in 2025 in place of the injured Tyler Biadasz (ankle, knee), who is being released. The 29-year-old was originally selected withthe 216th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Chiefs out of Illinois. Allegretti played the first five years of his NFL career in Kansas City before joining Washington in 2024. He started only 13 of the 74 games he appeared in with the Chiefs, but he has started 21 of 33 games for the Commanders over the last two seasons. It looks like Allegretti will at least be competing for starting center duties this summer.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

March 2, 2026

Daniel Zellhuber suffered a second-round TKO loss to King Green on the main card of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. Zellhuber was completely outclassed as Green kept on frustrating him with his striking and takedowns. In the second round, Green landed a thunderous right hand that wobbled Zellhuber, and after a few nasty shots on the ground, the referee decided to stop the fight with five seconds left in the second round. In 9:55 of action, Zellhuber landed only 17 significant strikes, compared to Green, who landed 86. After suffering three consecutive losses, Zellhuber absolutely has to win his next fight to stay on the UFC roster.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

The Cincinnati Bengals and offensive guard Dalton Risner agreed to a new, undisclosed contract extension on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Risner started 11 games for the Bengals last season and fit in perfectly on their offensive line. Getting him back in the fold for 2026 and beyond was a priority for Cincy this offseason, and now it's done. The 30-year-old former second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 out of Kansas State spent the first four years of his NFL career in Denver before playing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 and 2024. Risner has started 92 of the 101 games he's appeared in over his seven NFL seasons. He started 11 of the 14 games he was active for in 2025 with the Bengals. Risner's return is ultimately good news for Cincy's offense as they look to return to the postseason this fall.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz

March 2, 2026

King Green silenced the Mexico City crowd by finishing Daniel Zellhuber via second-round TKO on the main card of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. It was a vintage performance from Green as he kept on mixing up his striking with takedowns. The finishing sequence came in the second round when Green stunned Zellhuber with a nasty right hand and finished him with ground and pound quickly after. In 9:55 of action, Green landed three takedowns and 86 significant strikes. By beating Zellhuber, Green proved that he can still compete with younger fighters in one of the best divisions in the UFC.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

SNY's Connor Hughes writes that New York Giants impending free-agent wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson "could be the most difficult to retain." After the strong season that Robinson had in 2025, his market is expected to be strong, and the Tennessee Titans have "significant interest" as they look to give quarterback Cameron Ward more weapons. Sources that SNY spoke with "believed Robinson is more likely to play elsewhere than return to New York." The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Kentucky had a career year for the G-Men in 2025 in his fourth NFL season, catching 92 of his 140 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games played. Robinson has 90-plus catches in back-to-back seasons and had exactly 140 targets each of the last two years. He's a receiver on the rise, but a move out of New York may not be great for his fantasy value going into 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: SNY - Connor Hughes

March 2, 2026

Felipe Bunes suffered a split decision loss to Edgar Chairez on the main card of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. Bunes shut down Chairez in the first round, taking his back, but he didn't do much in the second round. Chairez then rallied in the third round, and although Bunes survived, he didn't do enough to win the fight. In 15 minutes of action, Bunes landed a takedown and 54 significant strikes. With the loss, Bunes dropped to 1-3 in the UFC.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

Edgar Chairez won his second fight in a row by beating Felipe Bunes via split decision on the main card of UFC Mexico City on Saturday. It was an extremely close fights but Chairez managed to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat in the final round. Not only did Chaierz survive early adversity, but he also adapted and imposed his will in the third round, but Bunes managed to survive. In 15 minutes of action, Chairez landed 66 significant strikes. With the win, Chairez improved to 13-6 with one NC as a pro and is now 3-2 with one NC in the UFC.--Alen Kurbasic
Source: UFC

March 2, 2026

The Kansas City Chiefs have informed offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (elbow) that he will be released this month, barring a trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Taylor was due to enter the fourth and final year of his $80 million contract. His release will create $20 million in cap space while accounting for nearly $7.4 million in dead money. The 29-year-old has started 45 games since joining the Chiefs, but he missed the last five weeks of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury. Kansas City could replace Taylor in free agency or the draft, but if they choose to look internally, the most realistic candidate to take over at right tackle is Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Chiefs last offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Adam Schefter

March 2, 2026

Ryan Blaney was one of the top contenders for the win throughout the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Blaney began the race from the fourth position, but progressed to the front as the first stage progressed. The No. 12 Team Penske Ford driver then obtained the lead from Chase Briscoe on lap 9 and led the rest of the first stage until his first pit stop on lap 18. Blaney ended the first stage in 14th and did not earn any stage points, but he shuffled back to the lead at the beginning of the second stage. However, Blaney was quickly passed by Tyler Reddick for the lead, and then spent most of the stage trailing in second behind Reddick. Blaney went to pit again two laps before the end of the second stage, but was far enough ahead of the rest of the field to lose only a few positions. The No. 12 Ford driver ended the second stage in seventh and gained four stage points. In the final stage, Blaney cycled back to second and was chasing Reddick through most of the stage until a restart after a lap 75 caution for Ross Chastain losing a wheel. Blaney was then passed by Shane Van Gisbergen and settled into third until the closing laps, when Blaney lost grip in his tires and kept losing positions. He eventually finished the race in eighth place, earning his best finish at COTA since 2022.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

March 2, 2026

Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing finished in fourth place after having a quiet, but productive points day in the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Gibbs began the race in ninth, but was gaining positions through the first stage. The No. 54 Toyota driver avoided pit road through the first stage and made it to sixth by the end of it, scoring five stage points. In the second stage, Gibbs fell back due to pitting between stages, but regained positions through the stage. Eventually, other drivers decided to head to pit road before the end of the second stage, and Gibbs stayed away from the pits once again. This time, Gibbs won the second stage and gained 10 further stage points. In the final stage, Gibbs pitted again between stages and restarted in the middle of the pack. The JGR driver spent the rest of the stage keeping his car clean and picking off drivers one at a time. Gibbs then made his final pass on Ryan Blaney on lap 87 to capture fourth and finished there a few laps later. This was Gibbs' second career top-5 finish at COTA, and he now sits 19th in the points standings after three races in the 2026 season.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

March 2, 2026

Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing finished third after having an up-and-down day at Circuit of the Americas during the DuraMAX Grand Prix. Bell started the race from eighth place, and early on in the first stage, he made it up to the top five. The No. 20 Toyota driver then dropped to sixth before heading to pit road with four laps before the end of the stage. This left Bell to finish in 28th at the end of the first stage after many other drivers stayed out of pit road. Through the entire second stage, Bell was stuck in traffic and could barely make moves through the pack. He ended the second stage in 15th and failed to score stage points through the entire race. At one point in the final stage, Bell traded paint a few times with Kyle Larson, but was able to continue. The No. 20 team decided to split the stage into two pit stops in order to win the race with a unique pit strategy, first enacting the plan with a lap 62 pit stop. Bell took his second pit stop during a lap 75 caution, which put him a couple of positions back, but he regained them over the course of the final run and made it up to third. The JGR driver did not have the speed to advance past third and finished there, earning his third consecutive top-5 finish at COTA.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

March 2, 2026

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray's name has "surfaced repeatedly" in the New York Jets' offseason discussions, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. The Jets are reportedly keeping all options open when exploring a quarterback upgrade, but the idea of Murray heading to New York has gained plenty of traction. The veteran signal-caller and former No. 1 pick is in the middle of a five-year, $230.5 million contract with Arizona, but he's expected to be released this offseason. He had seven touchdowns and four turnovers through five games in his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, which was preceded by an ugly 15-turnover total in 2024. Despite injury and performance concerns, one source told Hughes that Murray offers athleticism and upside that the Jets won't find anywhere else. Specifically, that source said, "If the goal is basic competence, Murray can get you there." On the other hand, plenty of question marks persist. A different source reportedly told Hughes that signing Murray "would be a disaster" because of concerns about work ethic, leadership, and locker-room connectivity. We might not see any movement on the Murray front until the new league year begins later this month. However, once he's released by the Cardinals, we should at least keep an eye on the Jets as a potential suitor. The Minnesota Vikings, who might be looking to move on from J.J. McCarthy, have also been linked to Murray.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Connor Hughes

March 2, 2026

Shane Van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing finished in second place in the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. The No. 97 Chevrolet driver started the race in 13th place, but quickly made progress through the field in the first stage. SVG hit the top 10 in less than a lap and made it to third in 14 laps. By the end of the first stage, SVG placed second and earned stage points behind his teammate Ross Chastain. In the second stage, Van Gisbergen started back in the middle of the pack in 16th after pitting between stages, but quickly made it back to the top 10 in a lap. SVG made it up to the top five before heading to pit road two laps before the end of the stage. After returning to the track, SVG ended the second stage in 10th and added one more stage point. In the final stage, SVG was back inside the top five and slowly progressed to the front as the stage got closer to the end. SVG passed William Byron and Ryan Blaney before closing the gap to Tyler Reddick to compete for the win. Unfortunately for Van Gisbergen, he could not muster enough speed to get past Reddick, who made no mistakes, and left the Trackhouse driver finishing as the runner-up for the first time at COTA in the Cup Series, and also ending his streak of consecutive road course races at five wins.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

March 2, 2026

23XI Racing's Tyler Reddick made NASCAR history by winning the DuraMAX Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, his third consecutive win to open the 2026 season. The No. 45 Toyota driver started the race in first after scoring the pole position in qualifying. In the first stage, Reddick focused on saving his tires and keeping the car in one piece, but this caused him to drop to the back half of the top 10. Although Reddick started to regain ground, he ended up pitting before the end of the first stage and dropped back to 18th, his final position at the end of the stage. In the second stage, Reddick shuffled back to the front after other drivers went to pit road for tires and fuel, taking the lead from Ryan Blaney. Reddick went on to dominate most of the stage until he pitted before the end of the second stage. Despite giving up the lead, Reddick maintained a large enough gap to the rest of the field outside of Ryan Blaney, who followed closely behind in the entire stage, to only fall to fifth, where he finished the stage. In the final stage, Reddick controlled the race once again from the lead after others went to pit road and never looked back. Despite Blaney and eventually Shane Van Gisbergen challenging Reddick for the win, the No. 45 driver could not be passed. No driver in modern NASCAR history has ever won the opening three races of the season until Reddick accomplished the feat this year, and also became the first driver to score two wins at COTA.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

March 2, 2026

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks saw his outlook worsen on Monday after the team acquired David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions. While it's too early to tell how Marks and Montgomery will split snaps and touches, it's fair to say that the veteran might be the early favorite for the lead-back role. Montgomery had 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns last year, ranking as the overall RB27 in PPR leagues. He posted an impressive 4.53 yards per carry, a mark that is significantly higher than Marks' 3.59 YPC as a rookie in 2025. Even with Joe Mixon sidelined and Nick Chubb taking a major step back, Marks was limited to just 911 scrimmage yards, two rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns. The USC product will continue to offer a change of pace and figures to play passing downs, but he will likely lose an enormous amount of early-down and goal-line work to Montgomery. Entering the 2026 NFL season, Montgomery ranks a bit higher in redraft leagues than dynasty formats due to his age, but he's still a strong RB2 or RB3 in both. Meanwhile, Marks drops to the low-end RB3/flex tier in redraft leagues. If there's any consolation here, Marks could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues if the trade prompts managers to panic sell.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 2, 2026

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs already entered this offseason atop the depth chart. Now, he essentially has the backfield all to himself after the Lions traded veteran running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Gibbs played exactly 67% of the Lions' snaps last season, while Montgomery played 37.1%. A significant portion of the veteran's vacated snaps and touches will go to Gibbs, who has consistently impressed as a ball-carrier and receiver. He was the overall RB1 in full-PPR leagues in 2024, and he finished 2025 as the overall RB3. Through 17 games last season, he tallied 1,223 rushing yards, 77 catches, 616 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. We would expect the Lions to sign or draft another running back who can offer a decent change of pace behind or alongside Gibbs, but there's a strong chance it won't be anyone of Montgomery's caliber. Therefore, this trade is great news for Gibbs, who is once again trending up. The young running back has a chance to be the overall RB1 in fantasy football leagues during 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 2, 2026

Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez is making his Grapefruit League debut on Monday against the Washington Nationals, serving as the DH and batting second, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Alvarez isn't dealing with an injury, but the Astros chose to slow-play him this spring after he was limited to 48 games in 2025 due to ankle and hand injuries. To keep the 28-year-old left-handed slugger healthy all year, the Astros plan on using him primarily as a DH this year, while occasionally giving him some action in left field. The Cuban slugger made the All-Star team for three straight years from 2022 to 2024 and was annually one of the best all-around hitters in the game before struggling with injuries last year. Alvarez reached the 30-homer mark for four straight seasons from 2021-24, and he could easily bounce back in the power department in 2026 if he stays on the field.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart

March 2, 2026

The Las Vegas Raiders are not expected to hire a quarterbacks coach for the 2026 season, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. Bonsignore said that the team reportedly "had candidates in mind, [but] it just didn't work out." On one hand, it's a bit of a perplexing development, given that the Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and are the heavy favorite to draft quarterback sensation Fernando Mendoza. It would make sense to have a full-time coach on the staff committed to developing Mendoza and making his transition to the NFL as seamless as possible. On the other hand, Vegas does have plenty of offensive gurus on its staff. Head coach Klint Kubiak was most recently the offensive coordinator in Seattle, and the Raiders also have assistant head coach Mike McCoy, who helped develop No. 1 pick Cameron Ward in Tennessee last season.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Vincent Bonsignore

March 2, 2026

X-rays on Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews' left thumb were negative, and he is considered day-to-day, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Crews suffered a left-thumb contusion after getting hit by a pitch during live batting practice in camp on Saturday and was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup. The 24-year-old isn't back in the lineup on Monday, either, but we should see him return to the field at some point this week. So far, Crews has gone 1-for-9 at the plate in spring training with a walk and three strikeouts. The former second overall pick in 2023 out of LSU hasn't lived up to lofty expectations in his first 116 major-league games, slashing .211/.282/.352 with a .634 OPS, 13 home runs, 35 RBI, 55 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases in 454 plate appearances. Crews missed considerable time last year with an oblique injury, though, and he's too young and too talented to write off completely.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand

March 2, 2026

The Houston Texans have acquired running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Montgomery remains productive at 28 years old, as he's coming off a solid 2025 season in which he totaled 716 rushing yards, 192 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He was the overall RB27 in full-PPR leagues, which was actually the lowest finish of his career. Still, it's impressive that he has been RB27 or higher every year, even when sharing a backfield with superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Montgomery will continue to share touches in Houston, where Woody Marks is coming off his rookie season. The veteran presumably has a strong chance to earn the lead-back role after Marks was relatively inefficient with just 3.6 yards per carry and only scored two rushing touchdowns. As Pelissero notes, general manager Nick Caserio could be hoping that Montgomery enjoys a resurgence similar to that of Joe Mixon, who had 1,325 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns after being traded to the Texans in 2024. Montgomery ranks a bit higher in redraft leagues than dynasty formats due to his age, but he's still a strong RB2 or RB3 in both. Meanwhile, Marks drops to the low-end RB3/flex tier in redraft leagues, but he could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues if the Montgomery trade prompts managers to panic sell.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Tom Pelissero

March 2, 2026

The New York Giants are "heavily involved" in the running back market this offseason, both in free agency and the NFL draft, and SNY's Connor Hughes says to expect a strong push for established free-agent options, including Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent RB Kenneth Walker III. The Giants are also very interested in Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and are expected to discuss him deeper into the draft process. New York already has Cam Skattebo (ankle) and Tyrone Tracy Jr. in their backfield, but perhaps they're wondering how long Skattebo will be able to hold up, given his physical style of play. The 25-year-old Walker finally stayed healthy for a full season and had 1,027 rushing yards and a career-low five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He was even better in the playoffs, running for 313 yards and four touchdowns in three games, culminating in a Super Bowl MVP award. Walker will be one of the top available free-agent RBs this offseason, although a move to New York could put him in a three-headed monster backfield committee.--Keith Hernandez
Source: SNY - Connor Hughes

March 2, 2026

The Cleveland Browns acquired right tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round pick, sources told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The 29-year-old started 16 games in each of the last two seasons for Houston and was set to enter the final year of his deal in 2026. The Browns and Howard have agreed on a new three-year, $63 million contract extension. Cleveland entered the offseason needing some serious upgrades on their offensive line. Howard will give them stability at the right tackle position with Jack Conklin likely to be cut this offseason. Howard, a former first-rounder, has been inconsistent as a run-blocker, but he should be an improvement for the Browns as far as pass protection goes. The Alabama State alumni can also shift inside to guard, if needed.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

March 2, 2026

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Bubba Chandler stumbled in his second outing of spring training on Sunday afternoon. The top pitching prospect entered the game in relief behind Braxton Ashcraft and struggled, tossing 1 1/3 innings of two-run ball. In this brief appearance, Chandler allowed a high three walks with only two strikeouts. Chandler has now logged three innings in the spring with six earned runs and a modest 4:7 K:BB. Last summer, Chandler struggled with his command at Triple-A, which kept him in the minor leagues for most of the season. However, in the majors, Chandler looked far more comfortable, allowing only four total free passes over 31 2/3 innings. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression in camp. While he remains locked into a starring role, Chandler could see his upside significantly capped due to his inconsistent command.--Andy Smith
Source: MLB.com