Cowboys Arrange Several Pre-Draft Visits
Like all teams, the Cowboys are busy lining up visits and workouts with prospects in this year’s draft. A list of early targets in Dallas’ case has emerged. 
Omar Cooper Jr. is set to visit the team today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The Indiana wideout is one of many receiving first-round consideration. Investing heavily at the WR position with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in place would come as a surprise, although Pickens’ future beyond 2026 is unclear. The Cowboys own picks 12 and 20 in this year’s draft.
Adding on defense is widely expected to be a priority for Dallas after the team’s struggles on that side of the ball in 2025. Several moves have already taken place early in the new league year, and more are no doubt coming via the draft. Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS notes the Cowboys had dinner with linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in advance of Texas’ Pro Day. Logan Wilson recently retired, while Kenneth Murray is unlikely to be retained. Jack Sanborn departed in free agency, meanwhile, creating the need for starting options and depth at the second level of Dallas’ defense.
Hill, who racked up 31.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in three years with the Longhorns, could certainly help if the Cowboys choose to draft him. The team’s secondary has also been a focus so far in free agency, with multiple cornerback additions being made. That has certainly not stopped interested from being shown in some of the top prospects at the position, however.
The Cowboys will also spend Thursday hosting Miami’s Keionte Scott, ESPN’s Jordan Reid reports. Scott began his college career in the SEC, spending three years at Auburn. His transfer to the Hurricanes proved impactful for team and player. Scott returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns in 2025 while adding a pair of forced fumbles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks. One of this year’s top slot CB options has also lined up a visit with the Commanders.
In addition to their two first-round picks, the Cowboys own six other selections in April’s draft. That will provide the team with ample opportunity to add one or more impact rookies while aiming to avoid a repeat of how last season played out.
Falcons Sign RB Tyler Goodson
Tyler Goodson will be playing on a new team in 2026. The fourth-year running back signed with the Falcons on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
Atlanta lost Tyler Allgeier in free agency when he joined the Cardinals. That left Bijan Robinson atop the depth chart, of course, but it created the need for a new backup. A deal was worked out with Brian Robinson on Tuesday, and he will be counted on to serve as Allgeier’s replacement.
Goodson, meanwhile, will look to compete for the RB3 role with Atlanta. The 25-year-old spent each of his first three NFL seasons as a member of the Colts. During that time, he handled just 54 carries as part of a backfield dominated by Jonathan Taylor. Goodson instead made his mark on special teams. That will likely be the case as well with the Falcons.
Goodson was a regular third phase presence during the 2024 and ’25 seasons. The former undrafted free agent totaled 11 kick returns for the Colts, and he could be an option for new head coach Kevin Stefanski in that regard. If not, Goodson – who logged heavy ST snap shares each of the past two years – will still be expected to chip in without receiving a large offensive opportunity.
The Falcons entered Thursday with roughly $14MM in cap space. That figure will drop once the Brian Robinson deal (worth $2.5MM) is officially processed, but his pact and that of Goodson will not significantly alter Atlanta’s financial setup entering the draft. Goodson’s deal can be expected to check in at or near the league minimum as he prepares to compete for a roster spot this summer in a new home.
QB Garrett Nussmeier To Work Out For Jets, Rams; Colts Visit Scheduled
Plenty of attention has been paid to the likes of Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson at the quarterback spot leading up to next month’s draft. That will no doubt remain the case over the coming weeks, but a number of other passers will be interesting to monitor as well. 
One of those is Garrett Nussmeier. The LSU product was one of several college quarterbacks who fell short of expectations over the course of the 2025 season. An abdominal injury suffered during training camp last summer played a role in Nussmeier’s fifth and final campaign with the Tigers producing underwhelming results.
NFL interest has still been generated, though. During an interview on NFL Network’s The Insiders (video link), Nussmeier revealed he is set to work out privately for the Jets and Rams. He added a top 30 visit with the Colts has been arranged. Like with all prospects, several Zoom meetings are taking place in Nussmeier’s case; he could also add further to his list of interested teams.
New York has, to no surprise, lined up a workout with Simpson. The Jets own pick No. 2, not seen as a viable spot to draft any passer aside from Mendoza (who remains on course to hear his name called first overall by the Raiders). New York also has the 16th selection, along with a pair of second-rounders and five Day 3 picks. Nussmeier could be an option during the middle stages of the draft.
Matthew Stafford is set to continue his career for at least one more season. Finding a successor for the MVP has been mentioned as a sensible priority in the Rams’ case for years, yet there is no long-term plan in place under center. An investment in the 2026 class may not be expected to yield a future QB1 given its comparisons to next year’s, but Nussmeier could serve as a developmental option for Los Angeles. The team also has a pair of Day 1 picks, along with a third-rounder and four Day 3 selections.
Daniel Jones signed a two-year deal to remain in place with the Colts as their starter. Anthony Richardson is still in place as a backup for now, but a trade is being looked into for the former No. 4 pick. Dealing Richardson would create a spot on the depth chart for Nussmeier or another mid-round QB. Indianapolis owns one selection in each of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds along with two picks in the seventh round.
As is the case for several mid-round passers in the 2026 class, a firm draft range is difficult to establish at this point. Nonetheless, Nussmeier will be one of the quarterbacks worth watching as teams not in range for Mendoza or Simpson in particular evaluate their options.
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.
Commanders Host Ahkello Witherspoon
The Commanders have undergone a number of changes at the cornerback position so far in free agency. Another addition at that spot could be coming soon. 
Ahkello Witherspoon is set to visit Washington today, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. The 10th-year veteran has never played for the Commanders, but he would be a familiar face to general manager Adam Peters. Peters was in the 49ers’ organization when Witherspoon was drafted by San Francisco in 2017.
After playing out his rookie contract in the Bay Area, the former third-rounder spent a pair of seasons with the Steelers. Witherspoon was limited to just 13 games during his Pittsburgh tenure, leading to his release halfway through a two-year contract in 2023. As a free agent for the second time, Witherspoon joined the Rams on what would prove to be the first of three consecutive one-year deals.
Over the course of his time in Los Angeles, Witherspoon saw his playing time decline. The Colorado product logged a career-high 1,060 defensive snaps in 2023 but saw that figure drop considerably in each of the following two years. In all, Witherspoon has made 64 starts and 96 appearances during the regular season. He is among the most experienced options still on the market at this point of free agency.
Changes in the secondary were seen as a key area for improvement entering the offseason in Washington’s case. The Commanders replaced Joe Whitt with Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator, and he will have a new-look cornerback room to work with in 2026. Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene have departed in free agency, while Marshon Lattimore and Antonio Hamilton remain unsigned. One addition (Amik Robertson) has already been made, and more are no doubt coming through free agency and/or the draft.
Washington has over $49MM in cap space as things stand. The Commanders could easily afford a number of new arrivals despite the money already spent on the open market as a result. If a deal is worked out in Witherspoon’s case, it will no doubt be an inexpensive one.
Cowboys Sent Raiders Multiple Offers For Maxx Crosby; Latest On Ravens’ Process
Maxx Crosby is back with the Raiders, thanks to the Ravens‘ controversial nixing of a blockbuster trade. While trade talks could reignite ahead of the draft or perhaps as far down the road as training camp, the All-Pro edge rusher has reaffirmed his commitment to the Raiders.
A number of teams were in the mix for the star defender, but the Cowboys were viewed as the runners-up to the Ravens. Baltimore’s decision to give up two first-round picks won the March trade derby — before it all unraveled days later — but Dallas made an aggressive pursuit that involved a few offers.
The Cowboys initially proposed a trade of Osa Odighizuwa and the second of their two first-round picks (No. 20) for Crosby, ESPN.com’s Ryan McFadden reports, before sweetening the deal. After Las Vegas rejected the proposals with Odighizuwa, McFadden indicates Dallas submitted a deal including its top first-round choice (No. 12) to go with a third-round pick. After the Raiders rejected that, the Cowboys submitted what is believed to be their final proposal: No. 12 and a second-round pick.
Because of the Quinnen Williams deadline deal, the Cowboys do not own a second-rounder this year. The Raiders seemingly rejected an offer of No. 12 and the Cowboys’ 2027 second-rounder. Understandably, the Ravens’ offer of two firsts made the Raiders’ decision easy.
Now that the Ravens backed out of the deal due to long-term concerns about Crosby’s knee, the Cowboys and other teams are free to make another run at a trade. But the Raiders are unlikely to fetch two first-rounders for a player the Ravens — external skepticism about the team’s motivations notwithstanding — failed on a physical.
Dallas considered moving back into the Crosby running after the failed trade, per McFadden, but the team has not made another run here. Though, Jerry Jones said that door is not closed. The Cowboys have been quite active with high-profile D-line transactions over the past year. They have gone from re-signing Odighizuwa (four years, $80MM) to trading him to the 49ers for a third-round pick. That trade came about because Dallas acquired Kenny Clark in the Micah Parsons deal and Williams months later. The Cowboys later reunited Clark with former Packers D-line mate Rashan Gary, who accepted a pay cut to facilitate the trade.
Gary and Crosby are in different leagues as pass rushers, with the former coming up as a Green Bay cap-casualty candidate before the Pack found a trade taker. The Cowboys also re-signed Sam Williams and used a 2025 second-round pick on Donovan Ezeiruaku.
The team would obviously upgrade with Crosby opposite Gary in Christian Parker‘s new 3-4 defense, but as our Ely Allen pointed out recently, Dallas bringing in a player Baltimore failed on a physical (as Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper consulted with the Ravens, though he did not make the final call) stands to be a longer-odds proposition compared now that this information is out. A previous report also indicated the Cowboys are standing down.
Some in the Raiders’ building doubt the Ravens nixed the trade purely based on concerns about the eighth-year veteran’s knee, per McFadden, who adds Baltimore had a “full understanding” of Crosby’s meniscus injury and rehab timeline before making the trade. Casting further doubt on the Ravens’ much-debated plan to acquire Crosby and sign Trey Hendrickson, one GM (to put it mildly) does not believe Baltimore intended to pair both edge rushers, Jason La Canfora notes on Casino.org.
Other execs are skeptical regarding the Ravens’ decision, per McFadden, who indicates it is believed the Raiders were transparent about Crosby’s rehab timeline — one long expected to last months, not weeks. But long-term concerns about a “degenerative” knee issue, rather than Crosby’s 2026 status, have been mentioned as the reason for the trade being called off. The Ravens were hesitant to meet Hendrickson’s $40MM-per-year asking price, McFadden notes, joining others in that regard (teams viewed the ex-Bengal as more likely to land $25-$27MM-per-year range, which is roughly where this wrapped). Hendrickson’s price coming down allowed the Ravens to pivot from Crosby quickly, inviting considerable scrutiny from around the league.
An irked Crosby was back at the Raiders’ facility early the next morning, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds the longtime Las Vegas pillar appreciated both John Spytek and Klint Kubiak reaching out shortly after the failed trade. Joining our Adam La Rose in this assessment, Breer does not anticipate the Raiders trading Crosby before Week 1. The veteran reporter views the trade deadline as the more logical reevaluation point. By that point, Crosby (29 in August) will have had a chance to display full health after an expected recovery from a Jan. 7 meniscus surgery.
Additionally, some in the agent community viewed the Ravens’ conservative reputation — having never traded a first-round pick for a veteran — as a reason the Raiders should have been leery here. The opportunity for the Ravens to add Hendrickson without giving up two firsts has called many to cite this as an example of an organization getting cold feet, and the physical not taking place until Tuesday put both teams in a bind due to free agency’s peak hours unfolding before that point.
The most notable Raven or Raider transaction to occur in that time brought Tyler Linderbaum to Las Vegas on a three-year, $81MM deal (a pact essentially coming fully guaranteed) that set a record for all interior O-line accords. The Raiders may not have signed both Malcolm Koonce (one year, $11MM) and Kwity Paye (three years, $48MM) had they known Crosby would end up staying, McFadden adds. Though, the team has run into endless trouble finding complementary Crosby rushers. Perhaps this snafu could prove beneficial on that front.
While Crosby going from requesting a trade to being recommitted to the Raiders represents a fascinating development — especially with Vegas not initially seeking to trade him — more departure rumors will undoubtedly return at some point. But the Raiders may now need to see their best player rebuild his trade value. That could certainly lead to a Crosby-Paye-Koonce-Tyree Wilson EDGE setup in place to open the season.
QB Ty Simpson To Work Out For Jets
Alabama’s Ty Simpson, considered the second-best quarterback prospect in this year’s class, is firmly on the Jets’ radar. Simpson will hold a private workout for the Jets on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
New York added a potential new starter when it reunited with Geno Smith earlier this month, but the 35-year-old is considered a stopgap option for the rebuilding club. The need for a long-term answer remains obvious for the Jets, who have seen recent first-round QB selections Sam Darnold (third, 2018) and Zach Wilson (second, 2021) flame out in their uniform.
Owners of the second overall pick this year, the Jets once looked like frontrunners to draft either Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore this April. Any chance of that went up in smoke when Moore decided to stay in school in mid-January, leaving Mendoza as the clear choice for the Raiders at No. 1 overall.
Simpson took over as the second passer in this class when Moore returned to Oregon, but it would be a surprise to see the Jets grab him with their first pick and pass on one of the impact defenders available. The Jets also hold the 16th pick, however, and could consider Simpson with that selection.
Simpson was not thought of as a shoo-in first-rounder until recently. But thanks to a strong showing at the Combine, he could go in the top half of Round 1. A team that uses a first-rounder on Simpson would be taking a major gamble, though, considering the recent history of similarly inexperienced college QBs. Anthony Richardson, Mitchell Trubisky and Dwayne Haskins all went in the first round in the past decade despite making 15 or fewer starts in college. None of them lived up to the billing, though it may be too soon to completely write off the 23-year-old Richardson.
Simpson, also 23, was an understudy to Bryce Young and then Jalen Milroe in his first three seasons at Alabama. Finally taking the reins last year, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound Simpson completed 64.5% of passes, threw for 3,567 yards, and tossed 28 touchdowns against five interceptions in 15 games. Simpson earned a second-team All-SEC nod and helped guide his team to a College Football Playoff berth. Alabama’s season ended when Mendoza’s Hoosiers crushed the Crimson Tide, 38-3, in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. The two QBs could face off again soon in the NFL, perhaps in a Raiders-Jets matchup.
Fernando Mendoza To Visit Raiders
With the quarterback-needy Raiders owning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, there is an overwhelming expectation they will select Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner will visit the Raiders in two weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Mendoza, who will take part in Indiana’s pro day on April 1, was a resounding success in his lone season with the Hoosiers. After transferring from California, where he threw 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 19 starts from 2023-24, Mendoza found a new gear in helping transform Indiana into a national championship-winning powerhouse. While guiding the Hoosiers to a stunning 16-0 record, Mendoza completed 72% of passes, threw for 3,535 yards on 9.3 per attempt and tossed 41 touchdowns against six picks.
Comparing the 6-foot-5, 236-pounder to former Falcons MVP-winning quarterback Matt Ryan, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Mendoza as the top prospect in this year’s class at any position. With Oregon’s Dante Moore and Texas’ Arch Manning opting to stay in school for at least another year, Mendoza is widely considered the only QB in the running to go first overall. The Raiders have not taken a first-round QB since they chose all-time bust JaMarcus Russell at No. 1 in 2007, but they are poised to end that 18-year streak next month.
Assuming Mendoza heads to Las Vegas in a few weeks, he will become the central figure in a significant rebuild. The Raiders flamed out en route to a league-worst 3-14 record under the head coach-quarterback duo of Pete Carroll and Geno Smith in 2025. Team brass (owner Mark Davis, part-owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek) brought in Carroll and Smith in an effort to compete last season, but those two are already out of the organization.
Rookie head coach Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks last season, will play a major role in developing Mendoza. After hiring Kubiak, the Raiders beefed up their roster in advance of Mendoza’s arrival. As part of a free agent spending spree, they added center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, defensive end Kwity Paye and receiver Jalen Nailor, among others.
While the Raiders nearly traded their best player, defensive end Maxx Crosby, the Ravens backed out of a deal that would have sent two first-rounders to Las Vegas. Although trade rumors centering on Crosby persist, retaining him would boost the team’s odds of improving in Year 1 of the Mendoza era.
Had the Crosby blockbuster with Baltimore gone through, the Raiders would have acquired the 14th pick in this year’s draft. They are instead set to make their second choice at No. 36. Alabama receiver Germie Bernard could be a second-round target for the Raiders. They hosted Bernard last week, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. The Las Vegas native would “love” to play for his hometown team, per Bonsignore.
Jeremiah’s 50th-ranked prospect, the 6-1, 206-pound Bernard hauled in 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season. Bernard spent last season working with Ty Simpson, the second-rated QB prospect in this year’s class. He could soon team with Mendoza in Las Vegas, which is still light on pass-catching complements to tight end Brock Bowers.
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Throwing, Season Opener Still In Question
The NFL news cycle began to stir a bit this afternoon after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted a short clip of himself dropping back to throw a pass just 100 days removed from serious knee surgery. The All-Pro passer showed encouraging signs of progress in his movement, but he still has a long way to go before he can return to the field healthy. 
Mahomes’ season-ending injury came in the 15th week of the NFL season, when the 30-year-old rolled out right for a pass then tripped over an opposing defensive lineman after releasing his throw. It was quickly announced that he had torn his ACL. As reports the next day delivered news of his surgery, further reports showed that he had also torn his LCL in the prior day’s game.
The late-season timing of the injury, combined with the additional damage to the LCL, painted a grim timeline of recovery that would make a 2026 season opening debut tough to swing. The serious injury was unfamiliar territory for the usual ironman quarterback. Never missing more than a pair of games due to injury in the NFL, Mahomes now stared down long recovery that would require months of rehabilitation.
According to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Mahomes has taken to recovery like a fish to water. Per his head coach, Andy Reid, “He’s around here all the time. He spends a ton of time here, seven hours a day. He’s in there cranking away and making progress every day. It’s great to see.
“(Athletic Trainer) Julie (Frymyer) grinds on him and makes sure he stays on task and challenges him. He keeps showing up. That’s about half the battle on these things when you have these injuries. It’s not going to be a pleasant thing. Every day, you’ve got to fight through it, and you’ve got to attack the challenge of the workout and rehab. He’s doing a great job with that.”
Being the 100th day since coming out of surgery, today stood as a checkpoint for Mahomes. Based on his current capabilities, Kansas City is “optimistic that Mahomes is on track to participate — even in a limited capacity — in the team’s voluntary offseason practices” expected to start in May. That is certainly a benchmark to watch, but Mahomes has his eyes on a date further in the future.
When asked if he’d be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, Mahomes told reporters, “The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.”
With the diligence he’s shown so far in rehabbing, Mahomes stands every chance of making it back to the field in time. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, though, if he isn’t ready to take the field in September, Mahomes will simply have to sit and keep working his way back. Rapoport characterizes Kansas City’s medical staff as very good and conservative. We’re a long way from that point, though, so Mahomes has time to make things happen.
Bears To Add Another C?
The Bears made a concerted effort to address their center position this offseason, and according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, they’re not done yet. 
After seeing their starting center, Drew Dalman, retire at the age of 27, the Bears started their offseason aggressive, getting in the race to sign the top free agent center, Tyler Linderbaum, out of Baltimore. When the price of that transaction grew beyond their sights, Chicago quickly moved on to Plan B: trading for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury.
Bradbury will fill the role well, but he only has one year remaining on his current contract. Because of this, Biggs believes the Bears could be looking to add once more to the center spot, this time through the 2026 NFL Draft. Two weeks ago, Biggs reported that the Bears had sent a large contingent to the pro day at Kansas State. Per Biggs, the team’s focus was on the Wildcats’ center, Sam Hecht.
Hecht is widely viewed as one of the top center prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with the rate that centers usually go in the draft, there’s a chance Chicago could end up getting Hecht with any of their four draft picks in the first two days, anywhere from No. 25 overall to No. 89. With Bradbury already locked in for the year, this would allow Hecht to sit and develop for a year or get some practice at the other interior positions to develop some versatility until taking over the center job in 2027.
The Bears saw their young quarterback, Caleb Williams, take a big step forward in Year 2 and are now looking to build around him, starting with the man snapping him the ball. Bradbury works for the day, but Chicago may have tomorrow in sight as it continues to evaluate the draft prospects at his position.