Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Requests Trade
Dexter Lawrence remains under contract with the Giants, but that may not be the case for much longer. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has requested a trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Schefter notes Lawrence will not attend New York’s offseason program. Since the Giants are among the teams which made a head coaching change this winter, their program will begin tomorrow. Lawrence will remain absent as an indication of his displeasure over the status of extension talks.
Schefter notes contract negotiations have not yielded progress, and colleague Jordan Raanan confirms Lawrence “has not been happy for quite some time.” As things stand, two years remain on the 28-year-old’s contract. Lawrence is owed $2MM in 2026 and another $22MM the following season. The guaranteed money on his pact has run out, however, creating the need for a fresh round of extension talks.
GM Joe Schoen said in February negotiations would commence in Lawrence’s case. He also stated no serious consideration would be given to a trade, a reasonable stance given the Clemson product’s importance to New York’s defensive front. Lawrence was the subject of calls leading up to the 2025 trade deadline, but no deal was ever imminent. It will be interesting to see if things play out differently with the draft approaching.
Lawrence stood out with 7.5 sacks in 2022, and he set a new career high two seasons later with nine. In between those two years, a $22.5MM extension was worked out. The 2023 offseason saw several big-ticket defensive tackle contracts handed out, and Lawrence fell in line with several other top producers at the time. Conversations on a new multiyear agreement did not produce an agreement last offseason, so a temporary fix was worked out. Incentives were added to Lawrence’s deal, but a lingering elbow injury resulted in a down year with respect to his production (0.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures).
Given that drop-off in statistical output, the Giants may be hard-pressed to arrive at a new figure which satisfies Lawrence’s asking price. The former first-rounder is tied for 11th in the NFL in terms of average annual value for defensive tackle contracts, and the position’s market has jumped since his last deal was signed. Given today’s update, at least, there is plenty of work to be done if a contract agreement is to be reached at any point this offseason. Failing any traction on that front, interest from outside suitors will no doubt pick up during the lead-in to the draft.
More to come…
Jets Interested In Jordyn Tyson; WR’s Stock Falling?
The Jets are the subject of considerable interest leading up to the draft. The owners of the No. 2 selection will be worth watching closely given the fact they have a mid-round pick on Day 1 as well.
An edge rush addition with the second overall pick has long been seen as a logical course of action for New York. The Jets were reported over the weekend to be favoring Ohio State hybrid linebacker/pass rusher Arvell Reese, which comes as no surprise. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post echoes the sentiment that Reese will likely be the team’s preferred target at No. 2.
With respect to the 16th overall selection, there is of course much less certainty regarding how the Jets will operate. The team could go in a number of directions with several positions of need worthy of consideration, but receiver could be one to watch. According to Dunleavy, the Jets’ top choice at No. 16 could be Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson is among the best WR prospects in the 2026 class, one touted more for its depth than its star power at the top of the board. The Arizona State product declared for the draft in December, beginning the process of projecting where he will wind up in the NFL. That has been more challenging than it has with some of Tyson’s peers due to his injury situation. A hamstring ailment limited him to nine games in 2025; Tyson also missed considerable time in 2023.
When on the field, the former Colorado transfer has been highly productive. Tyson posted 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns on 75 catches during the 2024 campaign, and he remained a key member of the Sun Devils’ offense when healthy this past season. Tyson has long been viewed as a first-round lock, although he may need to wait longer than first anticipated to hear his name called on the opening night of the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller writes Tyson’s stock is “trending in the wrong direction” at this time, with injury concerns being raised by NFL evaluators. After missing Arizona State’s Pro Day, he is set to conduct a private workout for teams on April 17.
The Jets have Garrett Wilson atop their receiver depth chart, and the former first-rounder will be expected to lead the way in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. New York added Adonai Mitchell as part of the Sauce Gardner trade, and he has two years remaining on his rookie contract. The team invested a fourth-round pick during last year’s draft in Arian Smith; the second-year duo of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn could add further at the position later this month. It will be interesting to see if Tyson finds himself on New York’s radar over the coming days.
Bengals Unlikely To Make LB Addition?
The Bengals made a pair of notable draft investments at the linebacker spot during last year’s draft. Both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter played key defensive roles as rookies, and they will be expected to do so again in 2026.
Cincinnati’s defense struggled during the 2025 season under new DC Al Golden, to say the least. The inconsistent play of both linebackers in particular was a talking point as the unit finished 30th in points allowed and 31st in total defense. Knight was a mainstay throughout the campaign, while Barrett took on a starting role in Week 6 and continued in that capacity the rest of the way.
The Bengals have been quiet on the linebacker front so far in free agency. Special teams contributors Shaka Heyward and Joe Giles-Harris have been retained, but no outside additions have been made. Cincinnati has eight selections in the upcoming draft, so the team could certainly bring in a rookie once again. Head coach Zac Taylor is open to taking that route, although in any event the Knight-Carter tandem is in position to remain intact for 2026.
“I don’t think that’d be harmful at all,” Taylor said (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic) when asked about adding another rookie at the LB spot. “I think that those guys are wired the right way. That’s why we added them into the room. That’s why we threw him in the fire so early, because we knew it wasn’t going to break them… I could see the long-term value how this is going to play out for us. And so that’s still the vision we have for those guys.”
Taylor expressed optimism that Knight and Carter – both of whom topped 100 tackles as rookies – will be able to take a step forward during the second year in the NFL, citing their play during the second half of last season. He noted linebacker moves were discussed early in free agency, but other defensive priorities were of course present as well. The team sought multiple edge rush signings and moved quickly in adding defensive tackle Jonathan Allen shortly after his Vikings release. Signings in the secondary, including a deal for safety Kyle Dugger, have since followed.
With over $20MM in cap space, the Bengals could certainly afford a free agent deal at the linebacker position. Most veterans still on the market will no doubt wait until after the draft to sign, though, so it may not be for a few more weeks that Cincinnati’s depth chart sees any movement.
Dolphins Expected To Trade Down In Draft; Team Hosts Zion Young
The Dolphins currently own 11 selections in the upcoming draft. The Jaylen Waddle trade yielded extra capital in 2026, but new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan may make more moves aimed at acquiring future picks.
Miami is expected by many around the league to trade down once or twice during the draft, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes. With the Dolphins in the beginning of a full-blown rebuild, it would certainly come as no surprise if they looked to move down the board with an eye on picking up extra selections late in 2026 or during the middle rounds of next year’s draft. It will be interesting to see how Sullivan operates during his first draft at the helm of a team.
The top of the 2026 draft class is not held in particularly high regard, especially compared to the projected prospects in next year’s draft. That could lead to a tepid market with with respect to teams trading up during the late stages of the first round. As such, Miami could end up staying put at No. 11 as well as No. 30, the high pick acquired from Denver in the Waddle swap. The Dolphins also have one selection in the second round as well as four third-rounders, however, so movement on Day 2 will be something to watch for.
Pre-draft visits continue around the league, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes the Dolphins recently hosted Zion Young at their facility. The Missouri product is one of several edge rushers projected to come off the board late in the first round or some time in the second. Young set a new career high with 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2025, his second season with the Tigers. He faces questions about his athletic upside, but Young’s length and strong play against the run will lead to high expectations upon arrival in the NFL.
With the Dolphins having dealt Jaelan Phillips at the 2025 trade deadline and released Bradley Chubb earlier this offseason, adding in the pass rush department is an obvious goal entering the draft. Young and other EDGE prospects will receive a look over the coming days as Sullivan evaluates his options for later this month.
Jets Favor Arvell Reese At No. 2 Overall?
With the Raiders all but guaranteed to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, there is more intrigue surrounding the Jets at No. 2. A pair of Ohio State linebackers, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, as well as Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey are candidates for New York’s top selection. Still two-plus weeks away from having to make a decision on April 23, the Jets are “leaning toward” Reese, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports.
[RELATED: Jets, Cardinals Could Take Similar Approach]
Reese’s versatility may tip the scales in his favor as the Jets transition to a 3-4 base defense that will use multiple fronts. As Cimini notes, Reese played 356 snaps at outside linebacker and 238 as an off-ball LB in 2025. Reese handled all responsibilities with aplomb during a season in which he earned consensus All-America honors and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder totaled 69 tackles, 10 TFL and 6.5 sacks over 14 games.
Although Reese did not post gaudy numbers in 2024 (43 tackles and a half-sack in 16 games), Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is unconcerned. In that regard, Glenn likens Reese to Texans five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter, who recorded just 4.5 sacks in three years at LSU. Hunter has since racked up 114.5 during a prolific decade in the pros.
“His stats weren’t up there, but he had all the traits and he’s had a coach that can coach him to be where he’s at right now,” Glenn said of Hunter (via Cimini). “So I look at [Reese] the same way. Man, it’s a combination of the traits and this combination of the football character again. Is that player coachable enough to be able to do the things that you want him to do to be successful?”
By now, Glenn and the Jets should have a good idea of whether Reese is “coachable.” Jets brass took extra time to meet with Reese at Ohio State’s pro day in late March. They also dined with Reese in Columbus, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Cimini). If the Jets draft Reese, it would give them another pass rusher to join holdover Will McDonald and free agent pickups Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. He would also supply another off-ball option to a team that reunited with Demario Davis in free agency and has Jamien Sherwood entering the second season of a three-year, $45MM deal.
Turning to other early draft possibilities for the Jets, it would count as “an upset” if they pass on taking a wide receiver sometime in the first two rounds, Cimini writes. No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell will play big roles in 2026, but the Jets have little else at the position. Considering the team owns four of the draft’s top 44 picks, that could change soon.
Prospect Profile: Ty Simpson
Last year, we ended our Prospect Profile series with the 2025 NFL Draft’s most controversial quarterback. This year, we’ll start with one, and no quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft is driving more controversy right now than Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
While recent highly drafted quarterbacks have been benefactors of the transfer portal, this year’s draft class features some passers who have bucked that trend. Simpson, a consensus five-star prospect that 247Sports ranked as the 29th-best overall recruit and the fourth-best quarterback, committed to the only college he would end up attending when he was just a junior at Westview HS (Tenn.). The two top-ranked quarterback recruits of the class of 2022 — Drew Allar and Cade Klubnik — will also finish their collegiate careers having worn only one logo.
The son of a football coach — specifically, Jason Simpson, who has held the head coaching position at Tennessee-Martin since 2006 — Simpson was receiving college scholarship offers before he even arrived on his high school campus. Michigan offered him as an eighth grader, and Kentucky, Mississippi State (his dad’s alma mater), Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Baylor all offered him the summer before his freshman year. Over the years, he received every offer a recruit could ever dream of and took unofficial visits to several of those schools, making sure to cover his bases with some in-person research.
It wasn’t until the summer just before his sophomore year that he attended a Crimson Tide summer football camp and received an offer from Nick Saban. He returned in September to attend a home game against Ole Miss, during which he watched Tide passer Tua Tagovailoa complete 72.2 percent of his passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns (five to Devonta Smith). At the end of his junior year, he chose Alabama over Clemson, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, then he proceeded to sign in December and enroll early.
Simpson made his collegiate debut in the Tide’s season opener, appearing for some garbage time snaps as a true freshman. He would appear in three more games that year but be limited to just those games in order to preserve his redshirt. As a redshirt freshman and sophomore, Simpson continued in his garbage-time duties after Jalen Milroe, a four-star recruit from the class before his, took over starting duties. After three years of waiting, Simpson finally got his opportunity to start as a redshirt junior.
After a disappointing (and, in hindsight, shocking) season opening loss to Florida State, in which Simpson would complete only 53.5 percent of his passes and average only 5.9 yards per attempt, Simpson rebounded in a big way. Leaving his performance against the eventual 5-7 Seminoles in the rearview, Simpson established himself as the clear top quarterback through the first nine games of the season. At that point, he had completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception while averaging 273.4 yards per game. The next six weeks saw a stunning decline as he completed only 60.5 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while averaging only 184.3 yards per game.
Simpson’s deterioration down the stretch of the season could be the result of many factors. The slide started with a loss at home to Oklahoma, a top-seven defense in both points and yards allowed, and many believe the Sooners revealed a blueprint for finding success against the Tide, though that theory would lose credibility once Alabama got revenge in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Others put stock into the players around Simpson, pointing out that a usually potent Alabama rushing unit finished 125th in the FBS in yards per game last season, while freshman phenom wide receiver Ryan Williams developed a bit of a sophomore slump, disappearing for just 13 receptions, 161 yards, and no touchdowns in those last six games.
Simpson’s health may have played into his struggles, as well. It’s believed that he played through a lower back injury and elbow bursitis starting sometime in October, while also suffering from gastritis that caused his weight to dip almost 20 pounds. To top it all off, his season ended with a fractured rib, suffered in a season-ending loss to the eventual champion Hoosiers. Regardless of the exact reason(s), fair or not, the documented struggles will throw up red flags for scouts, either concerning his performance itself, his response to external factors, or his health and durability.
For all his struggles that sit fresh in mind from his most recent performances, Simpson still displayed some draft-worthy traits throughout his lone season as a starter. He’s at his best in the short- to intermediate-game, seeding throws with anticipation, accuracy, and velocity. He can air it out, as well, but the accuracy and timing on deep balls are far less consistent. He’ll need to develop a bit more touch, as well, to really get the most out of his game by implementing different degrees of arc on all levels of throws. Simpson isn’t heavy-footed, and though he doesn’t run much, he uses his feet to extend plays effectively.
One of Simpson’s best assets is his mental game. His ability to read defenses and process coverages pre- and post-snap is a testament to the time he spent sitting and learning before ever starting. He can also be a bit over-aggressive with his first instinct reactions after things go off script, and there’s also been loads of debate and concern over his decision to declare for the draft after only starting one season at the college level. There have been several examples of others doing the same, and the results have often been overwhelmingly more negative than positive.
Regardless, Simpson is widely seen as the QB2 of the 2026 NFL Draft class, behind only presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana. That won’t likely land Simpson as the No. 2 overall pick, though. Over the past several weeks, Simpson’s draft stock as varied wildly, with some projecting him as a top-10 pick and others grading him as a third-round talent or later. The truth likely falls somewhere in the middle and will depend on external factors like the level of need that certain teams will have for his position and the actions of those teams before and during the draft.
The most recent projections have him either getting taken in the mid- to late-first round by a team that likely trades up for him or getting drafted on Day 2. I would be remiss not to remind that Shedeur Sanders held similar projections as the perceived QB2 behind Cam Ward for much of the pre-draft process last year. It will certainly be interesting to see if any other similarities play out from here.
Latest On Vikings’ GM Search
It’s been just over two months since the Vikings parted ways with former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, yet Minnesota still hasn’t begun the process of replacing him, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. At the NFL’s annual league meeting, though, Vikings president/co-owner Mark Wilf gave the media an overview of the planned general structure of the process.
According to Wilf, the Vikings do not intend to utilize the services of “a search firm or formal consultant” but will, instead, “contract with a service that will help whittle down a list of candidates.” It’s an interesting distinction with not much clarity on what services a formal consultant would provide that the team isn’t interested in.
It appears that, without the help of a search firm or consultant, it will be Wilf “and the rest of the Wilf family” — which includes older brother and chairman/co-owner Zygi Wilf and cousin and vice chairman/co-owner Leonard Wilf — that will be making the decision. He expects that they will be advised by a “small, tight group” and that “input” will be sought from head coach Kevin O’Connell and chief operating officer Andrew Miller. There was mention of “participation from what Wilf called a ‘third party,'” as well, but it’s unclear if that was in reference to the above-mentioned service to be contracted.
Wilf relayed to the media that interviews are not expected to take place until after the 2026 NFL Draft at the end of the month. Since Adofo-Mensah’s exit, executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski has taken up the mantle of interim general manager, and he will continue to do so through the draft. Wilf told the media Brzezinski had “done an outstanding job in terms of, in the building, building consensus, strategy.”
So far, with Brzezinski in GM duties, the Vikings have allowed defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, wide receiver Jalen Nailor, and punter Ryan Wright to depart for multi-year deals in free agency. Of their potential departing free agents, the only ones the team re-signed were backup quarterback Carson Wentz, special teams ace Tavierre Thomas, and long snapper Andrew DePaola. Minnesota has brought in three external free agents, as well, in former Steelers CB3 James Pierre, punter Johnny Hekker, and quarterback Kyler Murray.
The timing of Adofo-Mensah’s dismissal caught many by surprise, leaving the Vikings without any viable candidates to replace him so late in the process. It’s forced the team to rely on Brzezinski and newly hired football administration consultant Matt Thomas during a crucial period of team-building, and now, it appears Minnesota will continue to rely on them until after another crucial team-building event takes place at the end of the month.
QB Will Levis Out In Tennessee?
After the Titans utilized the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward last year, it was clear that Will Levis‘ time as a starter in Tennessee had likely come to an end. So far, in 2026, the Titans have added two more quarterbacks in free agency, and this time, there’s a chance it could spell the end of his time in Tennessee altogether.
Levis arrived in Nashville as a second-round pick out of Kentucky. He was selected in much the same manner as Malik Willis, who came out of the third round the prior year. Both young passers were being given a chance to stake out a role as the future at quarterback for the Titans in the dying days of Ryan Tannehill‘s NFL career. Willis had disappointed in a short sample size starting as a rookie, and Tennessee felt the need to bring in some added competition from the top few rounds of the draft.
After Tannehill got injured, a rookie Levis stepped up and, thanks to a four-touchdown game in his first start, looked like a promising option for the position moving forward. In nine games, Levis averaged about 200.9 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns to only four interceptions. When both Tannehill and Willis departed the next year, Levis was named the starter for 2024. An AC joint injury limited him to only 12 games, but Levis’ 13 touchdowns to 12 interceptions while averaging just 174.3 yards per game were a disappointing followup in his sophomore campaign, handing the Titans Ward at the top of the draft.
Before the 2025 season, Levis underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in July aimed at resolving an issue to prioritize his long-term health. With Levis out of the picture, the Titans signed veteran reserve options Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle, with Allen winning QB2 honors and backing up Ward during his rookie season. Allen boasted starting experience from his time filling in for an injured Joe Flacco on the 2019 Broncos then again the next year, when he started five games in place of an injured rookie Joe Burrow.
This offseason, the Titans signed two more new arms in free agency, inking veteran Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker to new deals. According to Jim Wyatt, a senior writer/editor for the Titans, Trubisky is not just coming in to serve as the veteran voice of experience in a young quarterbacks room, he’s coming to fill the QB2 role behind Ward.
That means two things for Levis. Either, he will compete with Hooker for the QB3 job and a likely spot on the practice squad, or he will be traded to another team that may want to give him more of a chance to play. In order to put him on the taxi squad, Levis will need to be subjected to the waiver wire, where any team would have the chance to claim him with the Titans getting nothing in return. Considering that, it makes far more sense for Tennessee to attempt to get something for Levis now before they need determine whether to risk him on the waiver wire or keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
One team that may be willing to trade for Levis is the Jets. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, New York could be looking to add a veteran backup before the draft, and a healthy Levis could be the perfect puzzle piece to their current roster. If the Titans determine that Levis is the odd man out in their quarterbacks room, offloading him to the Jets could be a best case scenario for all involved.
Packers Finalize 2026 Coaching Staff
The Packers reshuffled their coaching staff this offseason, potentially more than they wanted to.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was hired as the Dolphins’ new head coach, while special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia abruptly resigned and took up the same position at Clemson. Green Bay filled both vacancies relatively quickly, but finalizing their various assistant roles took longer.
Their full staff has since come into focus (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman). On the defensive side of the ball, DeMarcus Covington has moved from defensive line to outside linebackers coach, though he retains his title of run game coordinator. Vince Oghobaase has been promoted from assistant defensive line coach and will now lead the unit.
Former 49ers assistant Daniel Bullocks arrived in Green Bay in February without an official title. He has since been announced as the cornerbacks coach, a continuation of his work with defensive backs in San Francisco.
Will Smart (quality control) and Scott Fuchs (analyst) are the final two additions to new DC Jonathan Gannon’s staff. Smart comes to the Packers from Vanderbilt, where he served as a pass rush specialist in 2025. He previously worked with Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner at Wake Forest. Fuchs has primarily been an offensive line coach in his career. After 30 years in the college ranks, he moved to the NFL in 2024 as the Titans’ assistant OL coach. He will now apply his expertise on the defensive side of the ball.
On special teams, the Packers promoted Cory Harkey to assistant special teams coach after he served in quality control role last year. Jeff Koonz, who served as a defensive assistant in 2025, will have the same title under new special teams coordinator Cameron Achord.
Green Bay made fewer changes to their offensive staff,. The latest addition is quality control coach T.C. McCartney. He has a decade of NFL experience with four different teams in various offensive roles. McCartney did not coach in 2025, but he oversaw Drake Maye‘s rookie season as the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach the year before.
Browns’ New-Look OL Taking Shape
The Browns fielded one of the league’s oldest offensive lines last season, but the unit will look very different in 2026. How different remains to be seen – the starting five has started to take shape but is far from finalized.
General manager Andrew Berry said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) that the left tackle spot is currently occupied by 2023 fourth-rounder Dawand Jones. The 24-year-old has lined up at both tackle positions during his time in Cleveland with 20 total starts. He opened the 2025 season as the starting left tackle but was benched in Week 3.
The Browns’ draft plans could push Jones out of the picture. They are expected to pursue an offensive tackle with one of their two first-round picks, but several top prospects lined up on the right side in college. Cleveland may prefer keeping a rookie at their natural position and flipping Tytus Howard from right to left tackle.
The Browns have multiple options on the interior after signing Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson in free agency. Both have spent the most time at left guard, but Jenkins can play center, too. Teven Jenkins would then play right guard.
Again, Cleveland’s draft haul could factor in here. Adding a pure center could bump Elgton Jenkins to either guard spot with Johnson taking up the other. Berry also said that the door is still open for Joel Bitonio, who is contemplating retirement after 12 years as Cleveland’s starting left guard. If he returned, he would retain that job, keeping Jenkins at center and moving Johnson to right guard, where he lined up as a rookie.
The Browns have prioritized versatility in their offensive line room. They have multiple starting options at every position except center, and they will likely add at least one more player to the mix in the draft. Then, it will be up to new head coach Todd Monken to identify the best five-man combination by Week 1.