Colts, Daniel Jones Still Discussing Deal; Vikings ‘Closely Monitoring’ QB
As the clock ticks toward Tuesday’s 3 p.m. CT tag deadline, the Colts and pending free agent quarterback Daniel Jones are continuing to negotiate a long-term contract, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. If an agreement doesn’t come together by then, Indianapolis is expected to place either the $43.39MM franchise or $37.8MM transition tag on Jones.
As of Sunday, the Colts and Jones were not close to reaching a deal. The team is reportedly leaning toward using the transition tag on Jones. Taking the less expensive route may give the Colts a better chance to retain their other top pending free agent, wide receiver Alec Pierce. However, they would be at far greater risk of losing Jones.
The Colts would have up to five days to match an offer for Jones, but if they passed on doing so, the signing team would not have to give up any draft compensation. Jones would be able to take offers all the way up to the third week in July. With most offseason business long over by then, It would likely be a catastrophic outcome for the Colts to lose him that late.
In all likelihood, nobody will tender an offer to Jones if the Colts go the franchise route. Doing so would force a team to part with two first-round picks for a quarterback who has been inconsistent throughout his seven-year career. If that isn’t prohibitive enough, Jones is recovering from a December Achilles tear. The former Giants first-rounder enjoyed his best season before then, but the injury dinged his stock.
Four days after the Giants waived Jones in November 2024, the Vikings added him to their practice squad. Jones finished the season with the Vikings, but he did not see any game action. Sam Darnold, who revived his career that season, was the Vikings’ starter during a 14-win outburst. Although Jones was down on the depth chart, he and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell developed a “mutual respect” during their short time together, according to Jonathan Jones.
Darnold and Jones became free agents the next offseason. Even though Darnold led the Vikings to a playoff berth, they had 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Re-signing Jones was reportedly a higher priority for the Vikings than keeping Darnold, but they wound up losing both signal-callers.
Jones turned down a better offer from Minnesota to sign with Indianapolis for $14MM. He saw an easier path to playing time in Indianapolis, where only disappointing 2023 first-rounder Anthony Richardson stood in his way. It was a good decision by Jones, who beat out the injury-prone and inaccurate Richardson for the starting job. Richardson requested a trade last month, though he has not encountered a strong market.
Meanwhile, McCarthy dealt with his own injury and performance issues in a 10-game first season as a starter. The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. The team has not given up on McCarthy, but it will consider other options as it attempts to rebound in 2026. There is at least a small chance of a reunion with the Jones.
The Vikings are “closely monitoring” his situation in Indianapolis, per Jonathan Jones. They could pounce if the Colts don’t place a tag on the QB, Jonathan Jones adds. However, it is unlikely Daniel Jones will reach the market unfettered. If he does, the Vikings would have to win a bidding war. It would be an especially difficult task for a team that is a projected $45.51MM over the salary cap as of now.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Asking Price Deemed Too High
MARCH 2: Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated and The Athletic’s Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur each indicate a return of multiple draft picks and a player is unlikely to be found in any trade agreement. Interest persists, though, and Breer predicts a trade will still take place this offseason.
MARCH 1: The Raiders have been slow-playing what is seeming like it will be an eventual trade of star defensive end Maxx Crosby. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming to a close today and the last few rumors of the weekend trickling in, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that, at the moment, the asking price for Crosby is still too high for teams to act on. 
As workouts at the Combine began on Thursday, it came out that, in order to let go of Crosby, Las Vegas was looking for a similar trade package to what the Cowboys got for Micah Parsons (two first-round picks and an impact player). While general manager John Spytek said earlier in the week that he didn’t expect a trade to take place, Fowler’s source with the team called Crosby’s chances of returning “relatively small.” Some team executives are skeptical of the Raiders’ intentions reasoning that any team would want to keep “a premier player at a premier position” and seeing the high asking price as a sort of fence being built up around Crosby.
That’s not to say that teams aren’t interested, though. Per Fowler, “at least a dozen teams have expressed cursory to strong interest” in the 28-year-old. If enough suitors are truly interested, it may behoove the Raiders to keep the asking price high. That way, as the demand builds up, a team may get antsy waiting for the price to come down and choose to come up to meet the asking price in order to avoid another team jumping in first. Plus, there’s still plenty of time for negotiations to take place as free agency, the draft, and the rest of the offseason sit on the horizon.
We’ve discussed comparisons of Crosby to Parsons and Khalil Mack, but in those discussions, Crosby fell a bit short of his competition. While his production has been extremely similar over the years, he hasn’t garnered the same award interest as Parsons and Mack. Crosby is also two years older than Parsons and Mack were when they got traded. That may be why the current comparable asking price seems too high; those extra two years of age may be enough for teams to balk at including that impact player or keeping both top picks in the package on Day 1.
The situation still has all the room in the world to continue evolving as the offseason progresses, so we’ll continue to monitor the level interest coming in on Crosby and how the Raiders react to that interest. It seems like we’re closer than ever to reaching a conclusion on Crosby’s trade possibility. Crosby wants to win, and as the Raiders come out of their fourth losing season in a row, a change of scenes looks to be his best bet at winning while still in his prime.
Lions Release OL Graham Glasgow
Graham Glasgow will not remain in place with the Lions for 2026. The veteran offensive lineman was released on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Glasgow had been mentioned as a likely cut candidate dating back to January, so today’s news comes as little surprise. He was due to collect a $500K roster bonus next week and then a base salary of $6.5MM next season. Instead of keeping Glasgow in the fold at a cap hit of $8.44MM, the Lions will free up $5.56MM with a release.
“I’m grateful for the seven years I’ve spent as a Detroit Lion,” Glasgow said in part during a statement posted on X in the wake of today’s news. “I’m thankful for the great teammates, coaches, and friends I had along the way. I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.”
Attention will now turn to the 32-year-old intentions regarding his playing career. In January, Glasgow was named as a candidate to retire in the event his Lions tenure ended. With that having taken place, it will be interesting to see if he aims to land a new opportunity in free agency or elects to hang up his cleats.
A Lions draftee in 2016, Glasgow handled starting roles at guard and center while playing out his rookie contract. The former third-rounder landed a big-ticket free agent deal with Denver, and he remained there for three seasons. Upon being cut by the Broncos, Glasgow returned to Detroit in 2023. Since then, he has continued to serve as a key presence up front.
Glasgow’s most familiar position has been guard during his career, but he was given center duties in 2025 due to the retirement of Frank Ragnow. Things did not go according to plan, and a regression in terms of the Lions’ level of play along the interior of the offensive line was a key factor in their inability to reach the playoffs. Bringing in upgrades this spring will be a major priority.
Efforts on that front have already begun, with the Lions acquiring Juice Scruggs from the Texans in the David Montgomery trade worked out this morning. Scruggs has experience at both center and guard, and it will be interesting to see how the pending 2026 free agent fits into Detroit’s plans for next year. Tate Ratledge, meanwhile, could take over center duties during his second NFL season after operating at guard as a rookie.
Dolphins Release OL Liam Eichenberg
Liam Eichenberg missed all of the 2025 season. If he is to continue his NFL career, it will take place with a new team. 
The Dolphins announced on Monday that Eichenberg has been released. A knee injury landed the veteran offensive lineman on the PUP list during roster cutdowns in August. He remained there throughout the campaign, leaving open the possibility of a move such as this one. Eichenberg intends to play in 2026, but he is now a free agent.
After playing out his rookie contract with Miami, the Notre Dame product re-upped on a one-year deal. Since he was never activated from the PUP list, that contract would have tolled to 2026 had the Dolphins retained him. Instead, the team will move on while Eichenberg will begin the process of finding his next gig. His market will no doubt be tepid given the length of his absence. This move is coming with a failed physical designation, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Eichenberg made 60 appearances and 52 starts during his tenure with the Dolphins. The former second-rounder has seen time at every O-line position, and his versatility could be valued by interested teams. After playing as a tackle during his rookie campaign, Eichenberg has exclusively been used on the interior. He saw time at center in 2023, but otherwise his most common position has been guard.
The 28-year-old will thus likely be targeted as an option for starting guard duties during his time on the open market. That position has already seen changes in Miami’s case, with James Daniels one of the many incumbent players cut by the new decision-making tandem of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. With this Eichenberg release now taking place, additions along the interior of the offensive line will clearly be a priority for Miami.
The Dolphins are narrowly under the 2026 cap ceiling as things stand. Further cost-shedding moves will be required as a result, although managing to add financial flexibility through a Tua Tagovailoa trade remains highly unlikely.
Khalil Mack To Play In 2026; Chargers Re-Signing Likely?
Khalil Mack is set to put off retirement for at least one more year. The All-Pro edge rusher will play in 2026, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms. 
[RELATED: Previewing Chargers’ Offseason]
Mack looms as one of the top edge rushers set to test free agency despite his age. The 35-year-old is joined by Odafe Oweh as a Chargers pass rusher in danger of departing next week. General manager Joe Hortiz has expressed a desire to retain both, and efforts to work out a deal in each case are no doubt ongoing.
With respect to Mack in particular, Daniel Popper of The Athletic writes (subscription required) a re-signing appears to be likely. Among his many accolades, Mack has yet to win a playoff game and it would certainly come as no surprise if he targeted a contender as his next (quite possibly final) NFL team. Having reached the postseason in both of Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s seasons at the helm, the Bolts could fit the bill in that respect, and Popper notes Mack is fond of his current situation in Los Angeles.
As Rapoport notes, however, Mack is set to weigh his options with free agency looming. The 2010s All-Decade Team member was limited to 12 games in 2025, but prior to that he enjoyed a three-year run with only one missed contest. Mack reached double-digit sacks as recently as 2023 when he set a new career high with 17. Since then, he has totaled 11.5 across the past two seasons while adding six forced fumbles.
Free agency is set to include other veterans such as Trey Hendrickson and Bradley Chubb. Oweh, like Jaelan Phillips and Kwity Paye, is on course to test the market for the first time in his career. Popper adds Oweh – who thrived following the midseason trade which sent him from the Ravens to the Chargers – is among the pass rushers in line to have a strong market. Retaining Mack would allow Los Angeles to pair him once more with Tuli Tuipulotu, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season and is now eligible for an extension.
Over the course of his career, Mack has accumulated over $187MM in earnings. That total includes the one-year Chargers contracts he played on in 2024 and ’25. Another one could soon be in store.
49ers Unlikely To Tender RFA Kalia Davis
Kalia Davis has seen notable year-over-year jumps in playing time during his 49ers tenure. A change of scenery may soon be taking place, though. 
The 49ers are not expected to place an RFA tender on Davis, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. A second-round tender would cost $6.26MM, a price San Francisco is not prepared to pay. Alternatively, the team could use the original-round tender at a cost of $3.82MM.
Taking that route would have left the 49ers in line to receive a sixth-round pick (since that is when Davis was drafted in 2022) in the event of an unmatched offer sheet. Instead, if the team declines to apply a tender, Davis will test free agency. Losing him would deal a blow to San Francisco’s defensive line.
Davis started all 17 games in 2025, logging a defensive snap share of 45% along the way. The 27-year-old was not an impactful presence against the pass, but he managed a new career high with 28 stops and four tackles for loss. Continued strong play in the run game will be expected moving forward, whether Davis winds up re-signing in San Francisco or joining a new team.
Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens are already pending free agents, so non-tendering Davis would leave the door open to considerable changes at the defensive tackle spot this offseason. San Francisco has a number of young options at the position already, such as Alfred Collins, C.J. West and Sebastian Valdez. They will be in the fold for 2026, but it remains to be seen if Davis will join them for a fourth 49ers season.
Commanders To Release CB Marshon Lattimore
To no surprise, Marshon Lattimore will not return to the Commanders in 2026. The veteran cornerback is set to reach free agency early. 
Lattimore will be released, the expectation of which was first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Multiple reports have since confirmed that Washington has informed Lattimore of the decision to cut him. His tenure in the nation’s capital is coming to an end after only 14 combined regular and postseason games played.
An ACL tear brought Lattimore’s 2025 season to an abrupt end. Since then, many have expected a parting of ways to take place, with the former Saint having failed to meet expectations when healthy. This move will no doubt be finalized before March 15, the point at which Lattimore was due to collect a $2MM roster bonus. In the absence of guaranteed money to account for, this decision will clear $18.5MM in cap space without generating any dead money.
Ahead of the 2024 deadline, Lattimore was traded by the Saints to the Commanders. New Orleans added multiple draft picks as a result of the swap, aiding in the team’s ongoing effort to develop a new core. Washington, meanwhile, used Lattimore as a starter during the run to the NFC title game. Things did not go according to plan, though, and the four-time Pro Bowler surrendered a 93 passer rating and two touchdowns as the nearest defender this past season prior to his injury.
That regression in coverage, coupled with the fact he is recovering from the ACL tear, will no doubt hinder Lattimore’s market. He will get a head start on free agency and begin to gauge his options, but a far less lucrative pact than his 2021 extension (five years, $97MM) will be in store. Lattimore has 108 appearances – all of them starts – to his name in the NFL, so he will offer plenty of experience to his next team. Josina Anderson of The Exhibit notes the former Defensive Rookie of the Year intends to continue his career in 2026.
Washington worked out an extension agreement with guard Nick Allegretti earlier today. The team already had more 2026 cap space to work with than most others entering Monday, but moving on from Lattimore will add even further to the Commanders’ spending power. After ranking 28th against the pass last season, Washington will no doubt look to contribute free agent and draft resources to additions at the cornerback spot.
Cowboys’ Donovan Ezeiruaku To Miss Offseason Time Following Hip Surgery
Donovan Ezeiruaku managed to play all 17 games during his rookie season. He will not be available at the start of the Cowboys’ 2026 offseason program, however. 
Ezeiruaku is recovering from hip labrum surgery, the team announced on Monday. As a result, he is expected to miss at least most of Dallas’ spring workouts, meaning an absence through OTAs and minicamp can be expected. The procedure took place five weeks ago, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports.
Both the team announcement and Archer’s report indicate Ezeiruaku is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp. That would of course be critical given his importance to Dallas’ defense and the arrival of new DC Christian Parker. Missed time during the installation of Parker’s scheme – and a switch to a 3-4 base defense – will nevertheless be a detriment to Ezeiruaku as he prepares for Year 2 in the NFL.
The second-round pick handled a 55% snap share in 2025, recording a pair of sacks and 26 QB pressures along the way. Ezeiruaku is in line to once again operate as one of the Cowboys’ top outside linebackers moving forward as the team evaluates its options at that position. Considerable turnover in the pass rush department could be taking place soon with Jadeveon Clowney, Dante Fowler and Sam Williams all on track for free agency.
Dallas is one of the teams still well over the cap as things stand, but several restructures are expected to take place to free up funds. Based on comments made by owner Jerry Jones during the Combine, an unusually active period on the open market could be coming. If the Cowboys are to pursue big-money additions in free agency, it would certainly stand to reason defensive upgrades would be the target. Bringing in at least one edge rusher could especially prove to beneficial.
Ezeiruaku’s rookie contract runs through 2028. The Boston College product will spend the coming months continuing his rehab, and his progress leading up to the summer will be worth monitoring.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson Requests Trade; Mutual Vikings Interest?
MARCH 2: Richardson does not have a strong trade market at this point, SportsBoom’s Jason LaCanfora reports to no surprise. NFL general managers and evaluators predicted Richardson’s value would be a Day 3 pick, with a fifth-rounder mentioned as the potential best-case scenario from the Colts’ perspective.
FEBRUARY 26: Signs continue to point to Anthony Richardson playing elsewhere in 2026. The embattled quarterback has requested a trade, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. 
To little surprise, ESPN’s Stephen Holder adds the Colts have given Richardson’s camp permission to seek a trade. The former No. 4 pick’s value will not be particularly high given how his NFL career has played out so far. Nevertheless, the lack of established QBs on the market this offseason could lead to at least some interest.
When speaking at the Combine yesterday, Colts GM Chris Ballard offered praise for Richardson. The 23-year-old has only made 15 starts and 17 appearances during the regular season so far. An orbital bone fracture kept Richardson sidelined through the end of the 2025 campaign, although Ballard said he has now been cleared for football activities. Boyd confirms Richardson has regained full vision in his right eye.
That will be a welcomed development for all involved, but it remains to be seen how many teams will be willing to proceed with a trade acquisition in this case. In December, a trio of NFL staffers pegged Richardson’s value at a fourth-round pick (the cost paid by the Cowboys when they acquired Trey Lance). A deal along those lines would obviously represent a massive disappointment for Indianapolis, but it would pave the way for Riley Leonard to handle backup duties in 2026. Of course, the Colts are in the midst of negotiations on a new Daniel Jones contract to ensure he remains atop the depth chart moving forward.
As for potential Richardson landing spots, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network points to Minnesota as one to watch. He reports there is a mutual interest between the Vikings and Richardson. Kevin O’Connell has established a track record of quarterback development during his time as Minnesota’s head coach, and taking on another reclamation project would make plenty of sense. Given J.J. McCarthy‘s struggles so far, the Vikings are expected to bring in competition under center this spring.
That could entail pursuing a more experienced option on the open market like Kirk Cousins or Derek Carr. Alternatively, the Vikings could look at Richardson as a buy-low candidate capable of winning the QB1 gig for 2026 while McCarthy develops. Richardson has one year remaining on his rookie contract and he is set to carry a cap charge of $10.82MM in 2026. A trade would essentially create an even split of that figure between cap savings and dead money for the Colts.
Commanders To Extend G Nick Allegretti
Monday continues to be busy with respect to offensive line news around the NFL. The Commanders are among the teams making a move on that front. 
Guard Nick Allegretti has agreed to a new two-year deal with Washington, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He was set to enter 2026 as a pending free agent, but that will no longer be the case. Allegretti has been in place with the Commanders for the past two seasons, and his tenure will continue.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Chiefs, Allegretti re-signed on a one-year pact. That was followed by a multi-year commitment on Washington’s part. The former seventh-round pick secured $16MM on a three-year Commanders accord. Terms on this new deal have not yet emerged, but Allegretti’s time in the nation’s capital will stretch beyond next season thanks to it.
Chris Paul is among the guards who are set to reach free agency next month. He could price himself out of Washington with a strong market, something which would increase the value in keeping Allegretti in the fold. After operating as a full-time starter in 2024, Allegretti was relegated to backup duties for much of this past season. The Illinois product has seen plenty of time at guard in his career, but he filled in at center for the final two games of the 2025 campaign in place of Tyler Biadasz.
Biadasz was recently released, creating an opening at the center spot. Allegretti – who will turn 30 in April – could be a candidate to fill in at that position. Otherwise, he will look to earn playing time at guard. He and Andrew Wylie have both landed new Commanders deals in advance of the new league year beginning next week. Washington’s attention up front may now increasingly turn to an extension for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Washington entered Monday near the league lead in terms of 2026 cap space. Nevertheless, this Allegretti extension could lower his scheduled cap charge ($7.18MM) for next season.