Roger Goodell Claims ‘Tremendous Interest’ In Seattle Franchise
MAY 25: The expectation exists that the Seahawks’ new owner(s) will not immediately show interest in a stadium project, as detailed by Paul Roberts of the Seattle Times. The finances required for a stadium are of course a major consideration for prospective buyers and they will be a key factor in determining whether or not the franchise stays in Seattle. Six years remain on Lumen Field’s current lease agreement, and it could be extended for as many as 30 more. It will be interesting to see if the absence of any major investments on the stadium front being required will broaden the pool of suitors in this case.
MAY 23: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is pushing back against the recent narrative of a “soft” market for the league’s most recent franchise for sale. After recent reports claimed that there has been less interest in the purchase opportunity for the Seahawks, Goodell has refuted that notion, telling the media that “there has been ‘tremendous interest‘ among prospective buyers,” per NFL insider Mark Maske.
Days before Seattle was set to play in — and ultimately win — Super Bowl LX, rumors emerged that, about four years after the death of former Seahawks owner and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, his sister, Jody Allen, was finally ready to sell the franchise. With the ownership shares kept in the late-Allen’s trust, his sister was tasked as the executor of his estate. After initially refusing to grant any veracity to the rumors as they focused on the big game ahead, the Estate announced the commencement of a formal sale process 10 days after the team won its second championship.
Early speculation on the sale focused on projected valuations that some tried to push even into 11-digit figures. With the Broncos selling for $4.65 billion in 2022 and the Commanders selling for $6.05 billion in 2023, consistent appreciation on par with that increase — ignoring any additional factors — would put the franchise’s potential value around $10.25 billion, well in range of the $9-11 billion initially speculated. The Browns also recently sold a three-percent ownership share in their franchise, and according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the transaction was established on a $9 billion valuation, far higher than projected valuations, which put Cleveland closer to $6-7 billion.
In order to reach the record dollar values the NFL is hoping Seattle can reach, there will likely need to be “tremendous interest” to spark a competitive market. Per Jones, though, only one bidder, former Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, has emerged as a potential buyer., though 49ers investor Vinod Khosia is reportedly on track to prepare a bid, as well. Early into the process, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was also reported to be a name to look out for as a potential buyer. The longtime Microsoft CEO owns property in Seattle and a network of approximately $120 billion, but there were concerns that Ballmer was “really a hoops guy” that ultimately wouldn’t be interested in adding a football team to his portfolio.
At this point, it’s not expected that an individual buyer will emerge. More likely, it’s believed that the sale could function in a similar manner as did the sale in Washington. Commanders majority owner Josh Harris put together several limited partners to subsidize his bid. Jones adds that Harris’ purchase of the Commanders wasn’t even really for $6.05 billion, it was for up to $6.05 billion in a complex agreement that “included deferred payments vis ‘earnouts.'” The “earnouts” could end up holding about $200MM of value, which means that the ultimate sale value could end up truly being $5.85 billion, if the “earnouts” aren’t earned.
Goodell could be providing some new information, breaking an update on the changed nature of the sale, or he could just be trying to create the illusion of a crowded market where there is none. Regardless, as the NFL continues its efforts for record valuations and sales, the deal in Washington shows how creative bids can get in an effort to push the apparent value of a bid as high as the league may want it to go.
Community Tailgate: Baker Mayfield
Upon arrival in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield faced tempered expectations to say the least. The former No. 1 pick faced questions about his ability to handle starting quarterback duties in the NFL, let alone deliver the production he has amassed over the past three seasons.
Mayfield shone while playing on a one-year, $4MM pact in 2023. His strong showing indicated a long-term partnership with Tampa Bay could be feasible, and a lucrative deal was worked out. Team and player finalized a three-year, $100MM contract to avoid another free agent departure in Mayfield’s case.
The Buccaneers made clear their commitment to the ex-Brown, Panther and Ram last summer by locking in much of his 2026 compensation. Mayfield is owed $40MM for the coming season, one in which he is scheduled to carry a cap charge of roughly the same amount. This spring/summer has long been viewed as the time for an agreement to be reached, and multiple expressions of confidence that will take place have been made by the Bucs recently.
Co-owner Joel Glazer spoke in April about Mayfield’s importance and his willingness to authorize another big-money extension. Since then, general manager Jason Licht has confirmed a new Mayfield deal remains high on Tampa Bay’s priority list. It would come as no surprise if a new pact were to be in place by the start of training camp in July as a result. Keeping one starter in place over a lengthy period is not commonplace when it comes to the Buccaneers, though, and questions about the ideal value of a new Mayfield deal will be raised.
After setting a new career high in passing yards during his debut Bucs campaign, Mayfield topped that figure in 2024 while adding a new personal mark in touchdowns (41) and passer rating (106.8). Pro Bowl nods arrived in both cases, elevating expectations for 2025. Mayfield was in the early MVP conversation, but his production waned over time as Tampa Bay struggled through a number of injuries up front at at the skill positions. Defensive letdowns also contributed heavily to the Buccaneers falling outside of the postseason despite playing in an NFC South which produced four teams with a losing record.
A change at the offensive coordinator spot was made during this year’s hiring cycle. Zac Robinson replaced Josh Grizzard in a move which included input from Mayfield himself. After briefly crossing paths with the Rams, Robinson and Mayfield will look to establish a lengthy partnership, something which could provide the OC stability that has eluded Mayfield throughout his career. Either way, attention will turn over the course of the near future to the matter of extension talks.
The top of the quarterback market remains $60MM per year thanks to the deal Dak Prescott inked in 2024. He did so at the age of 31, the same spot Mayfield currently finds himself in. Nine other passers are attached to an average annual value of $51MM or more, a figure which would represent a considerable raise in this case. Earlier this offseason, the Colts gave Daniel Jones nearly $50MM in full guarantees and $88MM total on a two-year pact to keep him in the fold. A short-term Mayfield accord would no doubt carry similar financial terms, whereas a longer commitment would bring with it substantial payments in terms of locked-in money.
Mayfield has managed to play every game since arrival in Tampa Bay, and that durability has added to his value after playing through injuries throughout his career. On the other hand, the Bucs have only managed a record of 27-24 over the past three years; the team has recorded just one postseason victory during that span. Electing to have Mayfield play out his final deal before departing would result in a $30.15MM dead money charge, but it would also pave the way for a replacement being brought in via another low-cost veteran addition or a rookie being selected in the draft.
No long-term successor is in place right now for Tampa Bay. That is of course another indication a big-ticket contract should be expected for Mayfield. Do you agree with that approach from the Buccaneers, or would the team be better suited to begin planning for a transition to a new signal-caller for 2027? Have your say in the comments section below.
Texans TE Cade Stover Fully Recovered From Hernia Surgery
Cade Stover was largely healthy during his rookie campaign but he was limited to nine games during the regular season last year. He has returned to full health in time for spring practices with the Texans, though.
Stover suffered a knee injury during Houston’s divisional round loss. As Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports, the injury did not require surgery. A procedure did wind up being necessary for a hernia, however. Wilson adds Stover managed to recover from that surgery in time to participate in full during the Texans’ conditioning program.
[RELATED: E.J. Speed Suffers Quadriceps Tear]
As a rookie, Stover logged a 40% snap share on offense. That figure grew slightly in 2025 despite the fact he broke his foot in Week 1. A notable workload may not be in store with respect to the passing game, seeing as the 25-year-old has only been targeted 38 times to date in his career. Nevertheless, Stover will be expected to be a regular run-blocking figure on offense provided he can remain healthy for the start of the 2026 season.
The Texans’ tight end position also includes returnee Dalton Schultz, free agent signing Foster Moreau and second-round rookie Marlin Klein. Brevin Jordan is in the fold as well, something which could create a logjam at the TE spot. Wilson adds Stover has been taking reps at fullback this spring. A part-time role in that capacity could of course increase his playing time for Year 3 in the NFL.
Jordan missed all of last season due to a torn patellar tendon but agreed to an extension in December. Per Wilson, the five-year veteran is “making a sound recovery” from that injury, his latest notable one. A clean bill of health in Jordan’s case would be key as the Texans weigh their tight end options leading up to roster cuts at the end of the summer. That process will include Stover aiming to carve out a role while looking to join Jordan as a full training camp participant.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Addresses Decision To Avoid Offseason Knee Surgery
Injuries have hampered Dalton Kincaid over each of the past two seasons. He opted not to undergo surgery to repair an injured PCL during the 2025 offseason, a decision which was repeated this past winter.
“After the season ended, I talked to a lot of doctors who know a lot more than I do regarding the PCL and everything that has to do with health, and they advised against it,” Kincaid said when reflecting on his choice (via The Athletic’s Tim Graham). “So I believe them, and that kind of went into setting a good foundation for strength around the knee to support it.”
Kincaid entered the league with high expectations, and he enjoyed a productive rookie season with the Bills (73-673-2 statline). Issues with his knee have led to missed time and a reduced workload since then, however. In 2025, he only logged a snap share of 38% and was targeted a career-low 49 times. That did not prevent the Bills from exercising Kincaid’s fifth-year option. He is due $8.16MM in 2027 as a result.
Upgrading at the receiver position was seen as a priority entering the 2026 offseason. Buffalo swung a trade for D.J. Moore before selecting Skylar Bell in the fourth round of last month’s draft. Curtis Samuel was cut in March, while Brandin Cooks remains unsigned at this time despite having spoken with Buffalo about a new deal. While the team will be counting on a step forward from Keon Coleman, the WR spot will face a number of questions entering 2026. A strong showing from Kincaid would of course alleviate concerns in the passing game.
“I’d say it’s probably the best I’ve felt in my career at this point in the year,” the 26-year-old said of his overall health situation at this time. “Just not having those thoughts of the knee, especially last year. At this point, I feel really good. I’m not even thinking about it out there.”
Dawson Knox is still in the fold thanks to the new deal he agreed to earlier this offseason. That will offer stability at the tight end spot, but a productive campaign from Kincaid would offer a welcomed boost to the Bills’ offense. It would also, of course, help his chances of landing an extension next offseason. 2026 will again represent a test case of whether or not he made the right decision to have his knee recover without undergoing a procedure, but he is positioned to at least begin the campaign with a clean bill of health.
Chargers GM Joe Hortiz: Derwin James Extension Remains High Priority
As things stand, Derwin James is a pending 2027 free agent. Discussions on another extension have taken place, however, and there is plenty of time to finalize an agreement.
James has spent his entire eight-year career as a member of the Chargers, playing seven seasons with the team. He has shown an ability to remain one of the league’s best safeties while playing out his current $19MM-per-year pact. Another commitment from the Bolts could soon be in store as a result. During a recent appearance on Up & Adams, general manager Joe Hortiz was asked where a James extension sits on the priority list.
“It’s high. It’s high,” Hortiz confirmed (video link). “I’ve told the story, in Baltimore we had Derwin up there as the number one player on our board in that draft, you know, the number one player available when we were picking. And we took a trade back and he got picked. I said to him when I first met him, I’m like, ‘Gosh, you should’ve been a Raven. We traded away from you, but I’m glad you’re not because I’m here now.'”
2026 marks Hortiz’s third year leading the Chargers’ front office. He and head coach Jim Harbaugh oversaw a playoff appearance in 2024 and again last year. Los Angeles lost in the wild-card round both times, though, and plenty of changes on the roster and along the sidelines have taken place in recent months. James, who will be 30 by the start of the 2026 campaign, will be counted on to remain a cornerstone figure on defense for at least one more season.
The five-time Pro Bowler is owed $17.5MM for 2026 with a scheduled cap hit of $24.61MM. A third contract for James could move him closer to the top of the safety market (which is now $25.1MM per year) or at least provide him with a new round of guarantees. It would also no doubt lower the Florida State product’s immediate cap charge, although creating financial flexibility is not a pressing need given Los Angeles’ available spending power.
2026 will also the final year of edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu‘s rookie contract. He is another player Hortiz mentioned as a candidate for an extension once talks ramped up following the draft. By the time training camp starts, Tuipulotu and James could very well be attached to lucrative new deals.
No Holdout Expected For Cowboys WR George Pickens
George Pickens is attached to the franchise tag. Plenty of time remains for a long-term deal to be negotiated and take its place, but it has long been clear no talks on that front will be ocurring.
Pickens was among the players absent from the opening of spring workouts earlier this month, as noted by Nick Harris of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. All team activities during this time is of course voluntary, though, so the Cowboys wideout will not be subject to fines for his absence. That would change in the event Pickens were to skip the mandatory portions of the offseason, something which is not anticipated.
During a recent appearance on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Pickens is not expected to engage in a holdout during mandatory minicamp next month or training camp this summer. Doing so would lead to the Pro Bowler receiving fines for his absence. Fowler confirmed Pickens’ preference would be to have a long-term deal in place (or at least for the door to be open to negotiating one), which is obviously true of all tagged players. Nevertheless, attendance for the mandatory portion of the offseason would be an encouraging sign.
In recent years, players dissatisfied with their financial situations have opted to engage in a hold-in by being present for mandatory work but not taking part in on-field practices. It will be interesting to see if Pickens considers taking that route. The 25-year-old is on track to collect $27.3MM in 2026 by playing on the franchise tag. That figure represents a substantial raise compared to his rookie contract but falls short of what a number of the league’s highest-paid wideouts average on an annual basis. Nine receivers are currently attached to a deal carrying an AAV of $30MM or more.
Upon arrival in Dallas via trade last year, Pickens and his camp opted to avoid pursuing a long-term pact. That decision made his 2025 production critical, and the former second-rounder enjoyed career-best figures across the board. Expectations remain high for the coming season, one in which the Cowboys could again produce on offense while aiming to make needed defensive improvements. Another healthy campaign from Pickens featuring similar totals to his first Dallas season would result in a second franchise tag or a stronger position to negotiate a massive multiyear agreement.
June 1 marks the beginning of the Cowboys’ OTAs. They will be followed by mandatory minicamp, which will run from June 16-18. Pickens skipping out on those practices would leave him open to financial penalties, but that appears to be a scenario the team does not think will unfold.
Raiders Optimistic CB Jermod McCoy Can Play In 2026, Avoid Immediate Surgery
MAY 25: McCoy worked off to the side during rookie minicamp, but The Athletic’s Sam Warren notes he participated in all aspects of the Raiders’ early OTA work. That is of course an encouraging sign regarding his health leading up to training camp and his debut season in the NFL.
MAY 3: As the 2026 draft rolled along, cornerback Jermod McCoy‘s continued slide down the board became one of the event’s biggest storylines. That was not a surprising development; an obvious first-round talent, predraft reports indicated McCoy’s stock could be undermined by the long-term prognosis for his medically-repaired knee.
Eventually, the Raiders put an end to McCoy’s free fall by selecting the Oregon State and Tennessee product with the first pick of Round 4 (No. 101 overall). Naturally, Las Vegas did plenty of research on the knee, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. Fowler says the club is optimistic about McCoy’s chances to suit up in 2026 and to avoid immediate surgery, even if he will need some sort of operation in the future.
But it was not McCoy’s short-term availability that gave teams pause. Despite missing the entirety of the 2025 slate due to an ACL tear, McCoy performed well at Tennessee’s pro day in March. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, logged a 38-inch vertical jump, and registered a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump. His ACL is reportedly a non-issue; the bigger concern is a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee, a plug that may need to be replaced down the road. Such a procedure could sideline McCoy for an entire season, and an unsuccessful surgery could end his career.
Fowler polled eight teams after Day 2 of the draft, and five of them said they had removed McCoy from their draft boards entirely. The Raiders clearly believed McCoy’s upside was worth a Day 3 gamble, and if his knee holds up, Las Vegas may have gotten a steal.
McCoy solidified his status as one of the most talented CBs in the country with a tremendous 2024 campaign in which he had more interceptions (four) than touchdowns allowed (two). He also limited opposing passers to a miniscule 53.6 passer rating, and his performance led to second-team All-American and second-team All-SEC honors.
The rebuilding Raiders also acquired Taron Johnson to bolster their secondary this offseason, although Johnson is ticketed for the slot. If healthy, McCoy will join Eric Stokes and Darien Porter as Vegas’ top boundary options.
In his report on McCoy, Fowler quoted a rival executive who said, “this felt like [general manager] John Spytek’s draft.” Given that Spytek’s first draft in the GM chair was heavily influenced by one-and-done head coach Pete Carroll, that is considered positive news.
Eagles Eyeing 2027 First-Rounder For WR A.J. Brown; Rams No Longer Suitors
A.J. Brown will remain a member of the Eagles through at least June 1. A trade after that upcoming date is still expected, although an agreement between Philadelphia and Brown’s long-presumed next team does not appear to be in place.
[RELATED: Chiefs Have Not Pursued Brown]
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms (video link) the Patriots are still considered the likeliest team to swing a trade in this case. Negotiations have taken place throughout the offseason on a swap which would see Brown reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel. To no surprise, though, the matter of the price in a trade is still unresolved.
The Patriots have not previously been willing to part with a first-round pick to acquire Brown. Rapoport notes Philadelphia continues to seek a Day 1 selection in the 2027 draft, one projected to be much stronger than the class from last month’s event. New England’s preference, meanwhile, remains a lower price to finalize the trade. It will be interesting to see the Patriots’ efforts to avoid outbidding themselves ultimately result in an agreement relatively soon.
The Rams have loomed as a strong Brown suitor at times this spring. Rapoport adds Los Angeles was the three-time Pro Bowler’s preferred destination, but he will not be heading there. Despite the fact previous talks between the Eagles and Rams went further than they did with the Patriots, Rapoport confirms Los Angeles is no longer in the running for Brown. Once the Rams elected to retain Davante Adams, the expectation emerged that he would spend a second season with the team as a complement to Puka Nacua.
Both Nacua and Adams are pending 2027 free agents as things stand. That led many to connect Los Angeles to wideout Makai Lemon ahead of the first round of the draft, but the Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall instead. The Rams’ decision on that front helped allow the Eagles to trade up to No. 20 and draft Lemon, their latest move to bring in a new receiver and help soften the impact of the long-anticipated Brown departure.
The Patriots currently have roughly $35.5MM in cap space. Absorbing the remainder of Brown’s contract – which runs through 2029 – should be feasible as a result. The possibility of trade talks picking up between Philadelphia and New England will make for an intriguing storyline with the window of opportunity for a swap opening soon.
Browns HC Todd Monken Addresses Team’s QB1 Battle
The Browns’ next franchise passer does not appear to be on the roster yet, but for now, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are competing for the starting quarterback job. While Sanders appeared to have the leg up on his veteran teammate earlier this spring, more recent reporting has suggested Watson will be under center in Week 1.
Watson and Sanders were still splitting first-team reps when OTAs opened last week, as ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi observes. Head coach Todd Monken previously expressed his preference to have a QB1 in place by the start of training camp, though he acknowledged that the depth chart could change throughout the course of the preseason slate.
Echoing those sentiments during OTAs, Monken said (via Oyefusi), “[y]ou’d love to have [an established depth chart] at every position at the end of spring, but you can’t guarantee that. We’ll have it set for Jacksonville [in Week 1].”
The first-year HC was predictably complimentary of both participants in the starting QB battle. With respect to Sanders, Monken said, “I think Shedeur’s come miles, in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts. I think he’s really, really come a long way.”
Sanders, 24, dealt with plenty of growing pains as a rookie in 2025. He connected on 56.5% of passes, averaged 6.6 yards per attempt, and threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven). He posted a poor 68.1 traditional passer rating and an even worse 18.9 QBR in the process. On the other hand, it would not have been surprising to see him selected in the first round of last year’s draft, so if there is more than standard coach-speak to Monken’s comments, perhaps the former Colorado standout is on track for a breakthrough season.
Watson, who will turn 31 in September, has largely disappointed when on the field during his much-maligned Cleveland tenure, and a ruptured (and later re-ruptured) Achilles has kept him out of game action since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. He did return to practice in the latter stages of the ‘25 slate, and he has since received full medical clearance. In addition to praising Sanders’ growth, Monken offered an encouraging update with respect to Watson’s health.
“Deshaun’s athleticism shows up,” Monken said. “Obviously he’s had that, but he’s had injuries that have set him back. I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, but it’s exciting to see — it’s a weapon for him. It’s one of his superpowers, his athleticism.”
The Browns did select Taylen Green in the sixth round of this year’s draft, but they otherwise have focused on building up the rest of their roster in the hopes that – unless Watson or Sanders surprises in the upcoming season – they can drop a top 2027 draftee or quality veteran acquisition into a competitive lineup next year. Neither Green nor 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel are candidates for the QB1 gig at the moment.
Brian Flores Amends Complaint Against NFL, Subpoenas 31 Teams
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores* recently amended his lawsuit against the NFL and six of its teams to include a Title VII claim, and now he has amended it again. Per Daniel Kaplan of Front Office Sports, Flores has added a new retaliation count.
The nature of the allegation is presently unclear, but based on the NFL’s response, it appears Flores is arguing the league’s effort to enforce the arbitration provisions in its contracts is itself retaliatory. If that’s the case, sports attorney Chris Deubert tells Kaplan it “makes no sense,” and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk concedes it will be difficult to prove.
Nonetheless, Flores has scored a series of key wins in this long-running saga, and he is striking while the iron is hot. The trial court has allowed his claims against all six teams (the Giants, Broncos, Texans, Dolphins, Titans, and Cardinals) to proceed to trial rather than remain in the NFL’s arbitration system, and the trial court has also allowed the case to move forward as normal even as the NFL seeks United States Supreme Court review of that issue.
Allowing the case to move forward includes lifting the stay on discovery, so in addition to the amended complaint, Flores has subpoenaed 31 of the NFL’s 32 teams, as Kaplan details (presumably, only the Vikings have not been subpoenaed). ESPN’s Kris Rhim adds Flores has served more than 1,000 discovery requests, which the league has argued are punishingly overbroad.
“They’re obviously going scorched-earth,” Deubert said. “Presuming he’s asking about their employment hiring practices and policies, and even that can be difficult to just to respond to. … But those teams are probably going to object to the subpoenas, probably collectively through the league-friendly counsel, and say it’s not relevant, and there’ll be an interesting sort of fight there.”
The defendants will file a motion to dismiss in response to the latest amended complaint. As Rhim notes, the deadline for that is June 5. Pretrial briefs are due in late July/early August. A trial date likely will not be set until after the court rules on the motions to dismiss.
*Steve Wilks and Ray Horton are Flores’ co-plaintiffs, but for ease of reading, we will simply use Flores’ name when referring to the plaintiffs’ side of this matter.