Daniel Jones Hit Key Rehab Milestone Before Agreement With Colts
The Colts were already headed for an expensive negotiation with Daniel Jones before his season-ending Achilles injury. That both complicated contract talks and delayed a final decision until some clarity emerged on the veteran quarterback’s recovery.
Indianapolis placed the transition tag on Jones at the beginning of March – almost three months after his December injury. That milestone is considered a crucial one in the rehab process, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, as the incision is healed and the success of the surgery can be better evaluated.
Dr. Martin O’Malley, who performed Jones’ surgery, examined him at the three-month mark, as did the Colts’ doctors. With their approval, the team finalized the two-year, $88MM deal that had been in the works for weeks as both sides awaited medical updates.
The Colts keeping Jones seemed like a foregone conclusion and the best outcome for both sides. Indianapolis was able to constantly monitor Jones’ condition from the time he was injured, but other teams would have less information and potentially less confidence in his recovery.
By staying put, the 28-year-old can continue working with the same medical and coaching staff as he rehabs and prepares for next season. He will not have to deal with the mental and physical rigors of finding a new home in free agency, moving to another state, and getting settled in a different offense.
That last part is especially crucial. The Colts are hopeful hat Jones will be back early in the regular season, if not for Week 1, but he will not be a full participant in their offseason program or training camp. His familiarity with his scheme and teammates in Indianapolis will allow him to slide back into the starting lineup as soon as he is healthy, but that would be much more difficult in a new offense.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 3/27/26
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 3pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
CB Mansoor Delane To Visit Cowboys
The Cowboys have made several moves in their secondary so far in 2026. Further changes brought on by the draft would come as no surprise. 
Dallas is looking into the top cornerback prospect in this year’s class. Mansoor Delane is set to take part in a top 30 visit today, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The LSU product figures to be busy meeting with a long list of interested teams in the lead-up to the draft.
Delane is among the players widely seen as a lock to be selected in the first round of April’s draft. After three years at Virginia Tech, his lone campaign with the Tigers was a strong one. Delane collected a career-high 11 pass deflections along with two interceptions and 45 tackles. He earned first-team All-American honors and solidified his status as one of the most coveted prospects in this year’s class.
The Cowboys’ secondary has seen plenty of turnover in the last few months. It started during the season with the release of Trevon Diggs, and the team let safeties Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas hit free agency. Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke have come in to replace them on the back end, while former Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick add depth at corner.
In addition to Delane, the Cowboys hosted Miami cornerback Keionte Scott for a visit, suggesting that they will be targeting a cornerback with a premium pick next month.
The Cowboys also met with defensive tackle Lee Hunter at Texas Tech’s pro day, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The massive run stuffer amassed 32.0 sacks over the last three years and flashed some upgraded pass rushing chops in 2025, boosting his stock firmly into Day 2.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this story.
Panthers T Rasheed Walker Enters Pretrial Diversion Program
MARCH 27: Walker said (via ESPN’s David Newton) the gun charge will be dismissed. His attention will be fully aimed at acclimating to his new team and potentially operating as a starter for a portion of the 2026 campaign.
MARCH 21: In January, Rasheed Walker was arrested at LaGuardia Airport after he attempted to check an unloaded handgun without the necessary paperwork. That resulted in charges on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon along with criminal possession of a firearm. 
After Walker was released on his own recognizance, a court date was set for March 19. A pretrial diversion program in this case has been offered and accepted, Joe Person of The Athletic writes. As a result, Walker’s charges will be cleared provided he avoids any further arrests in the next six months.
At the time of his arrest, the 26-year-old was unaware of the fact he could not travel with his firearm – which is registered in Wisconsin – to New York without the required credentials for inspection at the airport. Walker’s agent declined to comment on the latest development in the case, one which will eliminate the possibility of any potential league discipline stemming from the original arrest. League spokesman Brian McCarthy also declined to comment on the matter.
Despite his age and experience on the blindside (48 starts), Walker’s free agent market did not develop as planned. The former Packer took a one-year Panthers contract with a base value of $4MM. Incentives can push the deal’s maximum value to $10MM, and playing time early in the season is likely with incumbent left tackle Ikem Ekwonu continuing a lengthy recovery from knee surgery.
When speaking to the media earlier this week, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan noted the team did its homework on Walker’s arrest before signing him. That suggested no league discipline would be forthcoming, and this latest update thus comes as no surprise. Barring any further legal issues, Walker will be able to fully focus his attention on training camp in advance of his debut Carolina season.
Bills Re-Sign S Damar Hamlin
Damar Hamlin will be remaining in Buffalo for at least the 2026 season. The veteran safety re-signed with the Bills on Friday, per a team announcement. 
This is a one-year contract, which comes as little surprise. Hamlin agreed to a deal of the same length last offseason after playing out his rookie pact. Outside interest was shown, but Hamlin remaining in place allowed him to continue a Bills tenure which has seen him alternate between starter and backup duties.
That trend continued in 2025, a year in which Hamlin primarily saw his playing time on special teams. A pectoral injury limited him to just five games during the regular season. The 28-year-old returned to practice leading up to the start of the playoffs, but he did not wind up being activated in time for a return to action.
As a result, this latest Buffalo contract will surely not be a lucrative one. Hamlin took a $2MM deal last time around, with that figure guaranteed in full. Given his missed time in 2025 and projected status as a backup, a similar contract – if not one worth slightly less – can be expected this time around. In any case, Hamlin will represent a familiar face to a safety group which has seen a number of changes this offseason.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone have been added in free agency, while Darnell Savage departed by joining the Steelers. Taylor Rapp was released shortly before the start of the new league year, while Jordan Poyer is unsigned. A retirement decision in his case is expected. Especially if Poyer does not continue his career, Hamlin could be counted on as an experienced presence.
The former sixth-rounder has made a total of 27 starts over the course of his career. Gardner-Johnson and Stone are both veteran first-team defensive presences, however, while Cole Bishop is on course to remain a key figure in the secondary. That could leave Hamlin to focus on special teams work once more in 2026, although he could fill in defensively if needed provided he can avoid another major injury.
Commanders Pursued Trey Hendrickson
The Commanders were among the teams to make a notable splash early in free agency with respect to the pass rush market. A big-ticket deal was quickly worked out with Odafe Oweh. 
The former Raven and Charger landed a four-year, $96MM pact with Washington. Oweh secured just over $50MM guaranteed at signing, and he will be counted to help bring about an uptick in production off the edge in 2026 and beyond. Oweh was not Washington’s only notable pass rush target on the open market, however.
The Commanders were in the mix for Trey Hendrickson, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic writes. She notes the team was “very aggressive” in pursuing Hendrickson even after the Oweh deal had been worked out. That adds Washington to the list of known suitors in Hendrickson’s case, with Indianapolis having submitted an offer. Instead of reuniting with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the four-time Pro Bowler joined the Ravens on a four-year, $112MM pact.
Hendrickson secured $28MM in terms of average annual value, surpassing Oweh’s $24MM. His Baltimore deal also contained $60MM in full guarantees, edging Oweh in that regard. Hendrickson, who reached 17.5 sacks in the 2023 and ’24 seasons, has a much more robust track record with respect to production. He is four years older, on the other hand, and the former Bengal is coming off core muscle surgery. Those factors led to Hendrickson’s market not reaching the level he thought it would.
Joe Whitt‘s second (and final) season as the Commanders’ defensive coordinator to not go as planned, to say the least. His unit ranked last in the NFL in total defense in 2025, and pass rush production was an issue. It comes as no surprise Washington – armed with significant cap space – was prepared to make not one but two high-profile EDGE additions on the open market while attempting to bring about a rebound moving forward. Oweh thrived upon arrival via trade with the Chargers midway through the 2025 campaign, but it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his strong level of play on his third career team. Charles Omenihu and K’Lavon Chaisson are also in the fold thanks to less lucrative free agent deals.
The Commanders still have nearly $50MM in cap space. That could leave room for another signing, albeit one not nearly as expensive as Hendrickson would have been. Washington could also wait until the draft – in which the team currently has six selections, including No. 7 overall – to bring in another edge rush presence.
Patriots Eyeing OL Depth
MARCH 27: GMs who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora predict the Patriots will look to trade up in the first-round order with the aim of bolstering their offensive line. Even if the team remains in place at No. 31, bringing in help up front would come as no surprise.
MARCH 24: The Patriots offensive line drew plenty of criticism for their performance in the postseason. New England has made some changes to the unit ahead of 2026, but the team still lacks notable depth.
That could soon change if the front office has its way. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf recently identified OL depth as a position the team is eyeing, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
The Patriots have made some changes to their starting lineup. They dealt center Garrett Bradbury to the Bears, allowing Jared Wilson to move to his natural position. That opened a hole at left guard, which the Patriots filled by signing Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Of course, the free agent acquisition has dealt with his fair share of injuries during his career, and 2025 fourth-overall pick Will Campbell struggled mightily in the postseason after returning from a significant knee injury. After ranking sixth last season in snaps played among OL starters, the Patriots should probably expect less luck on that front in 2026.
At the moment, the Patriots don’t have much experienced depth behind their starting grouping (which also includes Morgan Moses and Michael Onwenu). Vederian Lowe filled in admirably for Campbell in 2025 but left for the 49ers in free agency. That leaves Ben Brown as the team’s top backup OL at the moment. The Mississippi product started all 10 of his appearances for New England in 2024 and started four of his 17 appearances in 2025, and the Patriots are clearly content with his ability as a backup. However, Brown is primarily a guard/center, meaning the Patriots still don’t have a contingency plan at OT.
2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant is currently penciled in as the team’s top swing tackle, while Caedan Wallace is still kicking around as a back-of-the-depth-chart option. Considering the age of Moses and Campbell’s occasional struggles in 2025, the Patriots could turn to the draft for some OT depth. However, that option would likely be more relevant for 2027 than 2026.
A backup OTs corps consisting of Bryant and a rookie would be less than desirable. As the Patriots look to build off their surprising run in 2025, it wouldn’t be shocking if they add a veteran to the mix between now and training camp.
Eagles C Cam Jurgens Addresses Recovery From Back Surgery
Cam Jurgens played a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX victory, but he did so while playing through a major back injury. Surgery soon followed, but the ailment still proved to be a nagging issue for Philadelphia’s starting center in 2025. 
During an appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Jurgens detailed the nature of his injury and the progress of his recovery process. He noted a disc in his back “broke off,” leading it to “wrap around” his sciatic nerve. Surgery was delayed until after the Super Bowl, making Philadelphia’s playoff run a painful process for Jurgens.
“It takes a good year to come back from that,” the 26-year-old said when reflecting on the 2025 season, one in which he played 15 total games but was never operating at full health. “I’m starting to feel really good.”
That will of course be a welcomed development for the Eagles. Jurgens inked a four-year, $68MM extension last April, and he will be counted on as an anchor up front for years to come. Philadelphia will be without offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland in 2026 after his lengthy stint with the team, and changes up front are anticipated in the near future. Right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson each contemplated retirement this offseason, but they will both suit up for at least one more year.
Jurgens admitted he thought about his own career from a health perspective “a little bit” while rehabbing his back. The two-time Pro Bowler added, however, that he is not considering retirement at this time. A long run after being fully healed from this back ailment would obviously help in that regard.
“I love football, and I want to play as long as I can and hopefully just keep playing in Philly,” Jurgens added. “There aren’t too many better places to play football than with the Eagles… Right now, I’m playing, and I’m going to play as long as I can.”
Raiders’ Tom Brady Explored Comeback As Player/Owner
Seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady agreed to buy a piece of the Raiders in May 2023, but it took until October 2024 for the NFL to approve his purchase. At some point, the longtime Patriot and short-term Buccaneer asked the league about playing quarterback for the Raiders while owning part of the franchise. The league shot it down.
“I actually have inquired, and they don’t like that idea very much,” Brady revealed to CNBC Sport this week. “We explored a lot of different things, and I’m very happily retired. Let me just say that, too.”
An NFL spokesperson confirmed to CNBC it does not allow such an arrangement, saying that Brady would have had to divest his 5% ownership stake before coming out of retirement.
“In addition, there would be salary cap issues involving a player/owner,” the spokesperson added.
The NFL put this policy in place in 2023, a year after it levied punishment against the Dolphins and owner Stephen Ross for tampering with Brady. The league found that the Dolphins engaged in “impermissible communications” with Brady late in his 20-year Patriots run and during his three-season stint in Tampa Bay. Ross wanted to bring Brady aboard as a player/part-owner, but former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores blew the whistle in a 2022 racial discrimination lawsuit that is still ongoing.
Six months after Flores filed his suit against the NFL, the Dolphins, the Giants and the Broncos, the league suspended and fined Ross and Dolphins vice chairman/TB12 board member Bruce Beal. It also docked the Dolphins a first-round pick in 2023 and a third-rounder in ’24.
Brady, who came out of retirement once during his illustrious career, last played in the NFL in 2022. The soon-to-be 49-year-old participated in last weekend’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic, but he told CNBC that doing so “reconfirmed to me that I’m very happy in my retirement.” Although he is done as a player, Brady will continue to serve a key role with the Raiders and work as Fox’s lead color commentator.
Browns Modify Myles Garrett’s Contract
A slight change has been made to Myles Garrett‘s Browns contract. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has agreed to push back the payment dates on his option bonuses, ESPN’s Field Yates reports. 
Garrett was originally owed those payments on the 15th day of the league year each season from 2026-28. In the case of this year, that fell on Wednesday, with Yates noting this revision was finalized one day earlier. Now, Garrett is in line to collect the money one week before the start of the regular season in each year (bringing his contract in line with other Cleveland pacts in that respect).
[RELATED: Browns Propose Trading Picks Five Years Into Future]
As detailed by Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, this move will not yield any cap savings for the Browns unless the value of the option bonuses ($10MM in 2026, $13MM in 2027 and $7MM in 2028) have been changed. It would certainly come as a surprise if that were to be the case. Per Yates, the changes have nevertheless taken place in a way “that has benefit” to Garrett, who inked a four-year, $160MM extension last offseason. Yates adds that $8MM in base salary has been converted to roster bonuses for 2029 and ’30; they are scheduled to be paid out early in those league years.
Some observers have noted this tweak to Garrett’s deal would make a hypothetical trade more viable. Delaying option payments until just before the start of the season would indeed widen Cleveland’s window of opportunity to work out a trade with interested teams. The 30-year-old’s 2025 extension contains a no-trade clause, however, so he would need to approve of any potential swap. Garrett’s current focus will remain on helping lead the Browns to a rebound in 2026. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com confirms no thought is currently being given to a trade.
The five-time All-Pro broke the single-season sack record (23) in 2025, leading to his second career Defensive Player of the Year nod. Strong defensive showings will be expected once again for the Browns moving forward, and Garrett will of course be counted on the lead the way for years to come. In the event of continued struggles on the team’s part, though, trade speculation will no doubt pick up once more.