49ers Expected To Receive Trade Calls On QB Mac Jones
Last offseason, the 49ers added Mac Jones on a two-year contract. That proved to be a worthwhile investment given the former first-rounder’s level of play when filling in for an injured Brock Purdy. 
Jones looms as a potential trade target given the dearth of other veteran passers in position to reach the market. However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently made clear the team’s intention of keeping Jones in place for 2026. Cost-controlled passers are nevertheless a highly valuable commodity, and trade calls can be expected.
“Multiple” teams plan to at least reach out to the 49ers about a Jones trade, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link). That would come as no surprise. The former Patriots first-rounder won five of his eight starts in 2025, setting new career highs in completion percentage (69.6%) and yards per attempt (7.4) along the way. Much of that has been attributed to Shanahan’s scheme, but a trade aimed at giving Jones another opportunity to operate as a full-time starter would naturally be compelling for any number of teams.
A high asking price would be required for San Francisco’s stance to budge. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, it remains the team’s plan to keep both Purdy and Jones for 2026. The 49ers made a massive investment in Purdy last offseason, inking him to a pact averaging $53MM per season. An affordable QB2 will of course be key throughout the life of that extension. Jones, 27, is due $3.25MM for 2026 as things stands; that includes a base salary ($1.4MM) which would be highly attractive to quarterback-needy teams.
Per Pelissero, Jones and his camp could push for a “contractual adjustment” in the event a strong trade market develops but the 49ers elect to keep him. At least a moderate raise could be in store based on the Alabama product’s level of play in 2025. San Francisco has a history of agreeing to top-ups for several players with Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in place. It will be interesting to see if the list on that front grows relatively soon.
Especially if Daniel Jones remains in Indianapolis, the free agent market will not offer much in the way of starting-caliber passers. The 2026 draft, meanwhile, only includes one quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) seen as a first-round lock. That could drive up the asking price for trade chips like Jones, but it remains to be seen if the 49ers will be convinced to seriously entertain any offers.
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Could Continue Playing In 2026
The 2026 offseason will once again include questions about the future of Mike Evans. The Buccaneers icon is a pending free agent, and it remains to be seen if his career will continue. 
Nothing has officially be decided on that front yet. Nevertheless, Sunday has brought about an update of sorts on Evans’ future. Agent Deryk Gilmore indicated to Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that a 13th NFL season may be in store in this case.
“Mike started the season in great shape,” a statement from Gilmore reads in part. “Most people in the organization said he probably had the best camp of everyone. He finished feeling better than he has in several seasons. I think his competitive nature leads to more football. That is my hope.”
Evans came close to reaching the open market in 2024, but he wound up inking a two-year, $41MM pact. That deal is now set to void on the final day of the 2025 league year. With no extension having been worked out over the course of the past season, it is once again unclear how this situation will play out. Evans, 32, said in September he would contemplate retirement after the 2025 season.
Things certainly did not go as he or the Bucs would have hoped. Various injuries – including a broken clavicle – limited Evans to just eight games. As a result, the six-time Pro Bowler was held under 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his career. That will no doubt deal a blow to Evans’ market value, but a new Tampa Bay deal would of course offer a boost to the team’s receiving core.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers already have Chris Godwin on the books through 2027. He, along with Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist Emeka Egbuka and 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan could operate as an effective WR trio moving forward. Evans has a Super Bowl title and nearly $155MM in career earnings to his name. Adding to his decorated career will be possible if he elects to continue playing, although a firm commitment on his part will remain something to watch for as free agency approaches.
Colts To Begin Daniel Jones Negotiations Soon; Franchise Tag Possible
It has long been known a mutual desire exists between the Colts and quarterback Daniel Jones to finalize a contract for 2026 and beyond. Work on attaining that goal should begin shortly. 
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link) talks on a long-term deal are expected to open in the near future. Jones’ debut Indianapolis campaign started off extremely well, and his Achilles tear proved to be highly costly. Since then, a full recovery has been projected in time for the 2026 campaign.
The Colts’ QB plan this spring will of course hinge largely on their ability to retain Jones. The former Giants first-rounder hopes to remain in Indianapolis. A high-profile trip to the open market looms at this point, but it would come as a major surprise if that were to become possible. As Pelissero notes, the franchise tag is an option to guarantee at least a second Colts season for Jones. The 2026 tag for quarterbacks is projected to cost roughly $47MM.
That figure would represent a massive raise compared to the one-year pact Jones signed to join the Colts last March. The 28-year-old secured $14MM in base pay, with nearly all of that figure guaranteed. A franchise tag would also carry fully locked-in compensation, and using it would buy the Colts extended time to continue negotiating an extension.
Both sides will look to avoid such a situation; players always prefer a multiyear commitment to the tag, while teams aim to avoid the cap charges brought on by the one-year tender. The progress of negotiations over the coming days will thus be something to watch closely. Indianapolis is currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space for next season, but the team has a number of pending free agent decisions to make. The top priority, to no surprise, appears to be sorting out the quarterback position.
Since Andrew Luck‘s retirement, the Colts have struggled to find a long-term solution under center. Former No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson has not lived up to expectations since arriving in the NFL, and his future in with Indianapolis is unclear. Without a successor in place, the team would be forced to explore a weak free agent market and/or a draft class which is not held in high regard to replace Jones. If all goes well in the near future, finding a new starting quarterback will not prove necessary.
Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. Arrested
FEBRUARY 8: Pearce is currently being held on a $20,500 bond, as noted by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. He has been assigned to the felony domestic crimes intake unit. A pre-trial conditional stay-away order has also been issued to prevent Pearce from having any contact with Jackson.
FEBRUARY 7: Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested on Saturday in Doral, Florida and booked in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. 
Booking records indicate Pearce faces two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He has also been charged with one count each of aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren. According to Pablo Hernandez of WPLG Local 10 News, Pearce was arrested after crashing his car while fleeing police.
Doral Police was dispatched to a dispute involving one man and one woman. Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez stated the woman in question was WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Jackson, 24, was selected in the first round of the league’s 2024 draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Pearce is alleged to have fled the scene prior to ultimately crashing and being detained.
Andy Slater of Fox Sports South Florida reports Pearce is accused of intentionally crashing his Lamborghini into Jackson’s car to prevent her from reaching a police station. It was that incident, he adds, which led to the Pearce police chase.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami,” a team statement reads (h/t Josh Kendall of The Athletic). “We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time.”
The Falcons made a concerted effort to boost their pass rush during the opening round of the 2025 draft. After selecting Jalon Walker 15th overall, Atlanta traded back into the Day 1 order and added Pearce with pick No. 26. The arrival of both players proved highly impactful in upgrading the Falcons’ production along the edge. Pearce, 22, collected 10.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2025. Those totals helped him finish third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Pearce’s bond has yet to be set, according to the WPLG piece. His arrest report has not yet been made available, it adds, limiting details on the nature of the alleged incident.
Cowboys Expected To Tag WR George Pickens; Sides Have Mutual Extension Interest, But Tag-And-Trade Possible
FEBRUARY 8: Recent reporting has suggested that, whether he plays on the franchise tag or on a new, multiyear contract, Pickens will remain in Dallas for at least 2026. But it is still possible that 2025 may have been Pickens’ only season with the Cowboys.
While confirming that the club will slap Pickens with the franchise tag, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) says the team could explore a tag-and-trade scenario. Such a move would obviously weaken the Cowboys’ WR corps but would represent a good value proposition considering they would likely recoup a better draft pick than the third-rounder they dealt to the Steelers to acquire Pickens last year. Plus, it would keep a second high-end receiver contract off the books and allow Dallas to reinvest elsewhere.
Like Parsons, Pickens is represented by agent David Mulugheta, whose exclusion from the Jones-Parsons negotiations was a contributing factor in the trade that sent the star pass rusher to the Packers. Rapoport and others have speculated that Mulugheta’s presence is a wrinkle that could complicate extension talks between Pickens and the Cowboys.
FEBRUARY 7: George Pickens‘ stellar showing in 2025 has no doubt provided a major boost to his free agent stock. A trip to the open market continues to look unlikely, however. 
The Cowboys have a history of using the franchise tag, and applying it to Pickens has long loomed as a possibility for the 2026 offseason. Signs continue to point in the direction of the one-year tender being used in this case. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Dallas is indeed expected to tag Pickens.
Franchise tag values have not been finalized for 2026 at this point, but a relatively narrow range regarding next year’s salary cap recently emerged. The tag price for receivers is currently set to check in at nearly $29MM. That figure will be guaranteed if/when Pickens receives the tag. That would of course leave the door open to negotiations on a long-term deal.
Both sides in this case have been mentioned as willing to explore a deal lasting beyond 2026 based on the success of Pickens’ first Cowboys season. According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, there is a “mutual interest” for an extension to be worked out. Harris notes Pickens’ issues with tardiness for team meetings – something which became a talking point during his three-year Steelers tenure – carried over to Dallas at times during the 2025 season. Owner Jerry Jones downplayed the matter during an interview with Harris, though, and attention will increasingly turn to the matter of contract talks.
It was confirmed earlier this week the Cowboys have yet to begin extension negotiations with Pickens’ camp. Dallas has a well-documented history under Jones when it comes to high-profile talks taking longer than many feel they should. The Micah Parsons episode of 2025 was an extreme example of how things can spiral over time when neither side budges during an extended period. In the case of Pickens, a decision on the franchise tag will need to made by March 3.
“I’m talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him,” Jones said of the 24-year-old (via the Cowboys’ website). “He’s better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I’m looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time.”
The receiver market topped $40MM per season last year when Ja’Marr Chase signed his Bengals extension. He and Justin Jefferson comfortably lead the way in terms of guaranteed money at the position. Pickens is a candidate for a massive raise beginning in 2026 no matter what, but a long-term deal would ensure far greater earnings than the $8.78MM the former second-round pick collected on his rookie pact. A new contract averaging at least $30MM annually was the aim for Pickens and his camp when he arrived in Dallas and elected not to pursue an extension right away.
That decision is set to pay off. Pickens enjoyed a career year in 2025, securing a top-eight finish leaguewide in receptions (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). Based on his age and instant chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott, Pickens profiles as a logical candidate for a major investment. On the other hand, Dallas already has one monster WR pact on the books in the form of CeeDee Lamb. He and Prescott are set to represent substantial cap charges on offense for years to come.
The Cowboys have a number of other key decisions to make with their other pending free agents (such as running back Javonte Williams, with whom the team has been in contact). Among the easiest ones Dallas faces, however, is using the tag to keep Pickens from departing. Players who receive the tender have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract and avoid playing out the season on the tag.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Matt Ryan Non-Committal On Michael Penix Jr.’s Status As Falcons’ QB1; Latest On Kirk Cousins’ Future
The Falcons have a new collection of decision-makers in place in the form of president of football Matt Ryan, general manager Ian Cunningham, and head coach Kevin Stefanski. One of the top priorities for that trio will be devising a short- and long-term quarterback plan.
During last week’s introductory press conference for Cunningham, Ryan was asked if Michael Penix Jr. would step back into his QB1 role when he is recovered from the partially-torn ACL he sustained in November. As ESPN’s Marc Raimondi relays, Ryan was notably non-committal on that front.
“Neither of us are the head coach of the football team, so we can’t answer your question on that,” Ryan said of himself and Cunningham (even though final personnel authority belongs to Ryan, with both Cunningham and Stefanski reporting to him). “I think as we start to get into this process and dive deeper into the roster – how it currently stands, where it’s going in the future – I think those are conversations that’ll be a part of it.”
The club hoped it would be set at the quarterback position for the foreseeable future after making two splashes in the 2024 offseason. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins in free agency in March 2024 and then surprised everyone (including Cousins) by selecting Penix with the No. 8 overall pick of that year’s draft. Cousins’ first season in Atlanta was derailed by injury, and he was ultimately benched in favor of Penix, who entered the 2025 offseason as the unquestioned starter. Despite Cousins’ status as an obvious trade/release candidate, the Falcons elected to retain the four-time Pro Bowler as the most expensive backup passer in NFL history.
Penix did not make the progress the Falcons hoped for in his sophomore campaign, and his season-ending ACL injury allowed Cousins to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup. In his 10 appearances (eight starts) in 2025, Cousins completed 61% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games. He posted a 5-3 record as a starter.
The terms of Cousins’ recent contract restructure mean he will soon be released. However, there is at least a theoretical possibility that Atlanta could re-sign Cousins after releasing him, as we recently suggested. In that scenario, the 37-year-old would represent a viable stopgap solution until Penix is medically cleared. Cousins’ familiarity with Stefanski’s system – Stefanski was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator in Minnesota from 2018-19 – could make a new contract more likely. While retirement and a foray into broadcasting are also on the table, Cousins said he feels “rejuvenated” after finishing out the 2025 season as a starter and would like to continue playing in 2026 (via NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman).
Penix recently suggested he would be cleared by April, but Raimondi stands by prior reporting on the southpaw’s timeline. The ESPN scribe referenced a timeline of nine to 12 months.
“Quarterback’s obviously very important, and we’re excited about Mike and what he’s doing with his rehab,” Ryan said of Penix. “I’ve been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael’s been in there attacking that and he’s in a good space right now, so we’re excited about where he is at. But certainly, a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster.”
Texans’ Dino Vasso Withdraws From Consideration For DC Jobs; Browns Interview Two Internal Staffers
Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso garnered considerable attention for a defensive coordinator job in this year’s coaching carousel. The 38-year-old staffer has decided to remain in Houston, however.
Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Vasso has withdrawn from consideration for DC jobs. It sounds as if the Texans may have given him a raise to stay, as Rapoport adds Vasso has secured a contract extension.
Vasso initially joined the Texans as a cornerbacks coach in 2021 and held that role for three years. His duties were expanded slightly in 2024, when his title was upgraded to defensive backs coach. The Texans’ defense has certainly benefited from strong secondary play in recent seasons, and we previously heard that former Browns DC Jim Schwartz and current Texans DC Matt Burke have offered endorsements for Vasso.
Vasso’s work earned him recent DC interviews with the Titans and Cardinals, and he was also named as a legitimate contender for the Browns’ DC job (which recently became available upon Schwartz’s resignation). Even though Vasso did not take a Cleveland interview, he was a top candidate for that role, as Rapport notes. Shortly after the Vasso news broke, Rapoport’s colleague, Tom Pelissero, reported that the Browns have interviewed internal candidates Ephraim Banda (safeties coach) and Jason Tarver (linebackers coach) for the opening.
New Browns head coach Todd Monken has previously stated the team will keep Schwartz’s system in place, as Pelissero relays. As such, promoting an internal staffer would be a logical move, particularly since Cleveland’s defense was one of the league’s best in 2025. Banda interviewed for the Cowboys’ and Jets’ DC gigs this year, and Tarver worked as the Raiders’ DC from 2012-14.
According to Rapoport, Vasso would have been on the short list for the Raiders’ current defensive coordinator vacancy as well. Patrick Graham, who served as Las Vegas’ DC for the past four seasons, recently joined the Steelers in the same capacity. He will become an experienced voice for Mike McCarthy’s first staff in Pittsburgh, and the Raiders – who are planning to hire Klint Kubiak as their next head coach – will now have one fewer option to fill his spot.
The Titans ultimately hired Gus Bradley as their DC under new head coach Robert Saleh. The Cardinals’ and Browns’ searches will continue, and Vasso will remain a trusted advisor on the Texans’ defense for Burke and head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Houston led the league in both total defense and points per game in 2025. Although it will be difficult to replicate that performance in 2026, another strong showing will presumably keep Vasso’s DC stock high next year.
Sean Payton Has Not Decided On Broncos’ 2026 Play-Caller
FEBRUARY 8: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms nothing has been decided with respect to offensive play-calling duties for the Broncos in 2026. Several league sources believe Payton will eventually relinquish that responsibility to Webb, though it could happen gradually rather than all at once.
FEBRUARY 5: Davis Webb‘s promotion to Broncos offensive coordinator stirred speculation that he may take over play-calling duties from Sean Payton.
Webb received interest from several teams this cycle for both head coaching and offensive coordinator jobs that would have come with the opportunity to call plays. Since experience as a play-caller has become an increasingly important factor in getting a head coaching job, his decision to stay in Denver suggested he would get a shot at calling the Broncos offense.
However, there is no language in Webb’s contract guaranteeing him that responsibility, according to Luca Evans of the Denver Post, and Payton has yet to make a decision on the matter.
Giving up play-calling duties would be a major departure for Payton, who has been calling plays for his offenses for the last 20 years. But he may have already hinted at such a change, per 9News’ Mike Klis (via DNVR Sports). Payton talked about needing to move quicker as a coach in January, and delegating play-calling duties to Webb may allow him to do that.
“I don’t think Sean [Payton] is ready to announce that, but I’m not going to be surprised if Davis Webb does [call plays],” Klis said.
Payton has voiced his approval of Webb’s play-calling abilities in the past. Webb called the Broncos offense for a preseason game in 2025 and the unit scored 27 points, racked up 562 yards, and averaged 7.8 yards per play.
“I had thrown a couple of call sheets or stat sheets from my first time and highlighted a few things and said, ‘see if you can beat this,’” Payton said (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post). “And he did.”
Of course, the regular season is a different story, but who better to mentor Webb in his first year as a play-caller than Payton himself? And if Webb were to falter for any reason, Payton could always step in to right the ship.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Leaning Towards Continuing Playing Career?
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s contract expired at the end of the 2025 season, which put retirement squarely on the table for the 36-year-old. Although he was not prepared to make a decision on his playing future in the immediate aftermath of the campaign, he did say he would make up his mind before the start of the new league year in March. As of now, signs are pointing to a return to the field in 2026.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required), a 14th season for Kelce “is looking more real than ever,” and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says Kelce and the team have been in touch about a continuation of his on-field career. Rapoport adds, to no surprise, that KC wants the future Hall of Famer back.
To that end, the two sides plan to reconvene after Super Bowl LX to finalize a mutually-workable plan. It is unclear exactly when Kelce will formally announce his decision, but it would be fair to expect a new contract to be hammered out between a player and a team that have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship.
The return of longtime offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to the Chiefs’ staff in his familiar OC role may have made Kelce more inclined to come back. His comments on the matter suggested as much.
“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy.”
The Chiefs posted a 6-11 record in 2025, but Kelce himself enjoyed another strong season, recording 76 catches for 851 yards and five scores. After posting a career-low 8.5-yards-per-reception rate in 2024, Kelce was back to double-digits last year with an 11.2 mark.
Speculatively, it could be that Kelce does not want to end his playing days following a season in which the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Even so, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests money could be a complicating factor.
As of the time of this writing, Kansas City is projected to be roughly $55MM over the salary cap, which puts the team in the worst financial situation in the league. It is unclear how much the Chiefs are willing to pay Kelce, but it would be surprising for him to earn over $17MM per year on his next contract, as he was on his most recent deal.
Of course, there are plenty of machinations that will allow KC to become cap-compliant and to keep the players it prioritizes. While Rapoport acknowledges the team’s current cap status, he does not believe it will create a real hurdle to a Kelce re-up.
Derek Carr Could Consider 2026 Return; QB Has No Shoulder Limitations
Last May, Saints quarterback Derek Carr announced his retirement, and it was subsequently reported that he was “extremely unlikely” to reverse that decision. In addressing the matter several months later, however, he did not close the door to an NFL return, and both the Bengals and Colts considered him during their search for injury replacements for their starting quarterbacks in 2025.
According to Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Carr is content in retirement at the moment but could be open to a 2026 comeback if the right opportunity presents itself. It is unclear exactly what the “right opportunity” would include, though the NFL.com triumvirate says Carr’s prospective coaching staff would be a key factor.
Carr, who stepped away from the game (at least temporarily) at age 34, chose that route rather than undergoing a shoulder surgery that would have jeopardized his availability for the 2025 slate. In their own announcement on his retirement, the Saints said the four-time Pro Bowler had “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.”
Fortunately, Carr’s shoulder responded well to rest and recovery. He began rehabbing as the 2025 season went along, and he presently has no shoulder limitations. He is throwing fully as part of his regular exercise regimen.
While Carr is not actively pursuing a comeback, the usual dearth of quality options on the free agent and trade markets, as well as the perceived weakness of the 2026 draft class of collegiate QBs outside of presumptive No. 1 selection Fernando Mendoza, could make him attractive to clubs in need of a bridge option. The fact that he is back to full strength heightens his appeal.
The Saints still control Carr’s rights, meaning they would have to work out a trade with an interested club. But Rapoport et al. do not see that as a real hurdle. Tyler Shough’s strong showing as a rookie and the amicable end to Carr’s New Orleans tenure suggest such a deal would be easy to consummate, and trade compensation would likely be minimal given that Carr has no future with the Saints.
Across 27 games with New Orleans, Carr posted a 14-13 record and completed over 68% of his passes, throwing for 40 touchdowns against just 13 picks. That amounted to a 98.8 quarterback rating.