Wes Welker To Remain On Commanders’ Staff In 2026
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn addressed the media on Tuesday. During the press conference, he made a number of announcements regarding the team’s coaching staff for next year.
Among those was the confirmation that Wes Welker will remain with the Commanders for 2026. Welker joined Washington’s staff last April, holding the title of personnel analyst.
While Welker’s exact role for next season has not yet been clarified, he will work on the Commanders’ offensive staff (h/t JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington). Quinn said Welker helped out on special teams last season while Commanders assistant ST coordinator Brian Schneider battled cancer (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic).
As an NFL wide receiver from 2004-15, Welker’s expertise is on the offensive side of the ball. With 903 catches, 50 receiving touchdowns and five Pro Bowl nods, Welker enjoyed an especially impressive playing career. He began as a coach in 2017 with the Texans as an offensive/special teams assistant, a position he held for two seasons.
After his Houston tenure concluded, Welker went on to coach receivers for the next six seasons. He divided his time between San Francisco (2019-21) and Miami (2022-24), working alongside Mike McDaniel in both stops. Welker’s partnership with McDaniel ended when Quinn hired him.
Elsewhere on Washington’s staff, Quinn announced new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will have the authority to implement his own system (via Finlay). Jones, a first-time NFL DC, spent the past four years coaching the Vikings’ defensive backs. He’s replacing the fired Joe Whitt, who lost his job after a season in which Quinn stripped him of play-calling duties. Jones will take over for Quinn as the play-caller in 2026.
Washington’s Jones-led defensive staff will include William Gay as the cornerbacks coach and Darryl Tapp as an assistant D-line coach, per John Keim of ESPN. Gay, a longtime NFL corner, was the Commanders’ assistant DBs coach from 2024-25. Tapp was the Commanders’ line coach for the past two years, but the former defensive end will take a step back next season. He’ll work under new DL coach Eric Henderson.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
NFL Could Allow Teams To Trade Draft Picks Five Years In Advance
As things currently stand, NFL teams are permitted to trade draft picks no further than three years into the future. That could soon change. 
During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link), ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there will be a push from at least one team to extend the range for draft picks being dealt. Efforts will be made for selections as many as five years down the road to be allowed in trades, per Schefter. This will be something to monitor during next month’s league meetings.
Any expansion of trade flexibility would represent a shift in the direction of the NBA. That league’s rules allow for picks up to seven years in the future to be dealt. It should be kept in mind, though, that the Stepien Rule applies limits to how often teams can trade away a first-round pick. As a result of the rule, NBA teams cannot trade future first-round selections in consecutive years.
No such rule currently exists in the NFL. If things were to change this spring, however, a similar provision may receive consideration. Any widening of the range for draft capital to be traded – and its associated conditions – could of course lead to a change in roster-building strategy. Largely speaking, teams around the NFL attempt to remain competitive from one year to the next (due in large part to the requirement they spend close to the salary cap over any three-year period).
That approach could be altered to an extent if collecting large amounts of draft capital over an extended period became a viable option for rebuilding franchises. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see if contending teams became increasingly willing to part with picks in the distant future to facilitate win-now moves on a more frequent basis. Recent years have seen an uptick in trades leading up to the deadline, while blockbuster swaps in the offseason will no doubt remain possible in any given year no matter the circumstances.
The most recent case which saw an NFL team trade picks three years into the future was the Browns-Texans Deshaun Watson deal. Cleveland sent Houston a package highlighted by first-round selections in three consecutive years. The team would have been able to spread those picks out over a longer period (provided the Texans had been amenable to it, of course) had the range for pick trades been longer. When rule changes are considered during the spring, the potential for things to change on this front will be something to watch closely.
Patriots T Will Campbell Played Through Torn Knee Ligament During Playoffs
Poor showings from Patriots left tackle Will Campbell were a common theme of the team’s run to the Super Bowl. New England’s left tackle was operating at far from full health during that stretch. 
During Campbell’s first remarks after New England’s Super Bowl loss, he said (via MassLive’s Mark Daniels) he suffered a torn ligament in his knee during the regular season. Campbell had not fully recovered by the time the playoffs began, and the ailment affected him through all four of the team’s postseason games.
Campbell noted the injury was not an excuse for his poor play, but it does at least partially explain his struggles. The fourth overall pick in last April’s draft was unable to consistently hold up in pass protection during the Patriots’ journey to Super Bowl LX. New England’s offensive line – which had Campbell as well as fellow rookie Jared Wilson as a starter at left guard – was a major talking point leading up to the game. Seattle’s defense was highly successful in pressuring quarterback Drake Maye, something which led to the Seahawks’ victory. Campbell in particular endured a rough outing in the title game.
“Will is 22 years old,” head coach Mike Vrabel said (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network) when speaking to the media on Tuesday. ” He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger… there’s plays he’d like to have back. We’re not moving Will to guard, center, right end or anything else.”
Leading up to the draft, Campbell’s arm length was a source of concern with respect to his ability to remain a left tackle at the NFL level. The LSU product operated on the blindside throughout his rookie season, one which was interrupted by an MCL sprain. Campbell returned to left tackle duties upon return, and based on Vrabel’s comments he will again be counted on to serve as an anchor of New England’s offensive line moving forward. A return to full health will be the priority in this case, and Campbell’s ability to improve in Year 2 will be key in determining the Patriots’ success next season.
Browns, Dolphins, Steelers Interested In QB Malik Willis?
The Packers expect to see Malik Willis depart in free agency next month. His destination will remain unclear for the time being, but a list of suitors to watch has emerged. 
At least four teams are regarded as likely to make an offer in Willis’ case, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports. The Steelers are among them. La Canfora adds the Browns and Dolphins are viewed as being “particularly keen” in Willis’ case, making them logical candidates to make a free agent push.
Willis has spent the past two years as a backup to Jordan Love in Green Bay. During limited action filling in as the team’s starter, the former third-round pick has flashed enough potential to generate notable interest. The 2026 quarterback market is not on track to include many options seen as containing much in the way of upside. Willis represents an exception, and a bidding war could land him a starting gig ahead of next season.
The Dolphins have a number of ex-Packers staffers in the fold. That includes new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The latter holds Willis in high regard, per the report. That would make a notable Dolphins pursuit unsurprising, although the team also has the matter of Tua Tagovailoa and his contract to attend to. Trading Tagovailoa will be a goal for Miami this offseason, and retaining money to facilitate a deal may be on the table. A cost-effective replacement – especially one familiar to the Dolphins’ new decision-makers – would of course be attractive.
Pittsburgh inked Aaron Rodgers to a one-year deal last offseason. Connections between the two parties resulted in a long-running period before an agreement was ultimately reached. Moving on to Will Howard or another option could take place in 2026, but the Steelers expressed a willingness to retain Rodgers even before Mike McCarthy was hired as head coach. A QB-HC reunion dating back to the time both shared in Green Bay remains a distinct possibility.
An agent who spoke with La Canfora pointed to Cleveland as the team which could end up in pole position to land Willis. 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are still in the fold after each saw time atop the depth chart as rookies. Deshaun Watson is likely to be healthy by the start of next season, and he could compete for the QB1 gig. More competition could nevertheless be brought in, something which could point the Browns in the direction of a Willis signing.
One GM predicted Willis, 26, will ultimately land a contract similar to the one Justin Fields signed last spring. Upon joining the Jets, Fields secured a two-year, $40MM pact with $30MM guaranteed. Any pact close to that one would represent a major raise relative to Willis’ rookie contract. Especially if multiple teams find themselves competing for his services, a multi-year contract could soon be in store.
Giants To Interview Brian Callahan
Brian Callahan has been unemployed since his tenure as head coach of the Titans ended midway through the 2025 season. The veteran staffer was also shut out of the offensive coordinator hiring cycle. 
Nevertheless, Callahan may soon have his next gig lined up. He will interview with the Giants for the role of quarterbacks coach, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. That is a position familiar to Callahan. The meeting will take place today, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds.
After entering the NFL coaching ranks in Denver, Callahan worked as a QBs coach with the Lions for two seasons (2016-17). That was followed by a one-year stint with the Raiders in the same capacity. Callahan was then hired by the Bengals to serve as their offensive coordinator in 2019; he remained in Cincinnati for five years before receiving his first head coaching opportunity.
Callahan did not call plays over the course of his Bengals tenure, but he was tasked with guiding the Titans’ offense upon arrival in 2024. Tennessee went 3-14 during the 41-year-old’s first (and only) full season at the helm. Tennessee got off to a 1-5 start in 2025, resulting in Callahan’s dismissal. No interest in any of the league’s 10 HC openings emerged in his case during this winter’s hiring cycle.
Callahan did find himself on the radar of multiple teams during their searches for an offensive coordinator, however. That included a connection to the Giants while they contemplated their options upon finding out Todd Monken would no longer be available. New York wound up hiring Matt Nagy as OC, giving John Harbaugh an experienced member of his staff. Callahan would represent another veteran presence for the Giants.
2025 first-rounder Jaxson Dart took over starting duties after Russell Wilson was benched early this past season. The development of Dart, 22, will be the franchise’s top priority while Harbaugh and Co. aim to lead the Giants back to contention. That effort could soon include Callahan handling an important role in New York.
NFL To Review Falcons OLB James Pearce Jr. Incident
On Saturday, Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was arrested. He now faces five felony charges, and NFL discipline could be coming. 
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy has confirmed (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi) the league will review Pearce’s situation. A fine and/or suspension under the personal conduct policy will be possible as a result. The NFL has long adopted a stance of waiting for all legal matters to play out before arriving at a decision on supplemental discipline, however.
The criminal complaint from the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office details the alleged incident which resulted in Pearce’s arrest. The 22-year-old followed Rickea Jackson in a white Lamborghini SUV after a falling out between the two, per the complaint. Pearce and Jackson (who plays for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks) dated for roughly three years until recently, Jackson later told police.
Upon seeing Jackson’s vehicle stopped at a red light, Pearce is alleged to have exited his Lamborghini and attempted to enter Jackson’s vehicle by opening the driver’s door. It was at that point that Jackson drove away and attempted to reach the Doral Police Department. Per the complaint, Pearce then entered his vehicle and used it to strike Jackson’s multiple times to prevent her from reaching the police station. Officers attempted to intervene, and an affidavit states Pearce fled the scene by driving away.
Once Pearce crashed at an intersection while being chased, he fled on foot. Police eventually caught up to and arrested him, and Pearce was “triaged on scene” for injuries sustained during the incident. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center later that day. On Sunday, a $20,500 bond was posted allowing Pearce to be released from custody. Charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon along with aggravated stalking and fleeing or eluding police with lights or siren are now pending.
“We look forward to working with the State Attorney’s Office in fully investigating this case and uncovering the truth,” a statement from Pearce’s attorneys reads. “Mr. Pearce maintains his innocence and urges the public to understand that while allegations have the power to shape a narrative, that it is hardly the full, complete story. We look forward to vigorously defending our client and remain confident that he will continue contributing positively to both his team and the community he serves so well.”
Selected 26th overall during last year’s draft, Pearce enjoyed a standout rookie campaign with 10.5 sacks and played a central role in the Falcons’ improvement in the pass rush department. His contract runs through 2028.
Teams Being Informed Of Maxx Crosby’s Desire For Trade; Knee Recovery Could Delay Raiders Departure
Recent reporting has indicated Maxx Crosby will seek a trade from the Raiders. The star edge rusher has not publicly stated a desire to leave, but further indications have emerged which point toward a split with Vegas happening relatively soon. 
Crosby’s camp has started informing other teams of his preference for a fresh start, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reports. He adds the five-time Pro Bowler has in fact “explicitly” told the Raiders he will not play for the franchise any longer. Of course, that does not guarantee a trade will take place.
“He told Tom Brady he will never play for the Raiders again,” an NFL general manager told La Canfora. “That’s a fact. He told them he’ll retire before he ever plays for them again. But I’m not sure they’re actually going to trade him.”
Myles Garrett made clear his desire to depart the Browns last offseason. In the end, though, an extension was worked out and doubts about his Cleveland future were quelled. Crosby was among the many high-profile edge rushers who wound up inking new deals with their respective teams in 2025. As such, he is on the books through the 2029 season on a pact which contains relatively consistent base salaries and cap charges.
Crosby played through a knee injury for much of the 2025 campaign. In advance of Vegas’ game against the Giants – one which essentially decided the owner of the No. 1 pick in the draft – the team elected to shut him down. That decision (one which was not unanimous, as then-head coach Pete Carroll objected) resulted in Crosby undergoing surgery. The Raiders wound up securing the top selection, paving the way for quarterback Fernando Mendoza to be added in the hopes of becoming their new franchise passer. In any event, a rebuild is in order as Vegas aims to build a new core around the team’s next QB and its other offensive pieces.
The Raiders’ defense has been anchored by Crosby since his arrival in 2019. The 28-year-old has recorded double-digit sacks four times in his career. He has received a second-team All-Pro nod twice while operating as Vegas’ best player through a turbulent stretch on the sidelines and in the front office. Brady – who holds the title of minority owner but is well known to have a substantial impact on the Raiders’ operation alongside Mark Davis and GM John Spytek – has been in place since last offseason. A Crosby extension worked out at that point delayed talks of a potential trade but speculation continues to swirl regarding this spring.
“Now I’ve got random people making big statements for me,” the former fourth-rounder said during an interview with Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd (video link). “They’re like, ‘Maxx must have told them this.’ For me, I just sit back and laugh because I know my truth and when I go to bed at night, I have a smile on my face because I don’t have to explain nothing to nobody. I’ve said it over and over again. I’m getting healthy… That’s all that I care about, so all the noise, it’s news to me sometimes.”
Crosby is unlikely to offer a public declaration one way or the other when it comes to his future. The status of his recovery will of course be key, but a longer recovery time than first expected will be in store. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Crosby’s procedure was actually a meniscus repair, rather than a trim. His timetable for a return to full health will thus be measured in months instead of weeks.
Nevertheless, several teams will no doubt show considerable interest in a Crosby trade. The market for a potential swap in this case is “incredibly robust,” per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He adds no direct communication has taken place between player and team since the end of the season, so further dialogue will be something to watch for closely. In the meantime, suitors will continue to prepare offers for Crosby in the event Vegas becomes willing to entertain them.
Dolphins Hope To Trade QB Tua Tagovailoa
With the 2025 NFL season officially over and most top coaching positions filled, the spotlight will now turn to the league’s annual quarterback carousel.
Among the passers likely to be available is Tua Tagovailoa, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Dolphins have long been expected to move on from the 2020 first-round pick as part of a full organizational overhaul, which also featured changes at head coach and general manager.
A trade would be preferable to an outright release for a number of reasons. Cutting Tagovailoa would incur a $99MM dead cap hit, the largest in NFL history. The Dolphins can restructure his deal to push the majority of that dead money into 2027 with a post-June 1 cut, but the extra cap savings would not be available until that date.
Finalizing a trade would allow Miami to part ways with Tagovailoa earlier in the offseason while also reducing the resulting financial impact. It would also get back some kind of return, though the draft compensation in such a deal may be minimal
Miami appears to be willing to eat some of Tagovailoa’s remaining contract to facilitate a trade, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 27-year-old is owed $54MM in guaranteed money in 2026, comprised of a $39MM salary and a $15MM option bonus (via OverTheCap). Understandably, an acquiring team would not want to pick up that entire tab. But they might be willing to take on part of Tagovailoa’s deal if the Dolphins absorb the rest. In that event, a trade that yields draft picks and a dead cap charge under $99MM would be considered a major success for Miami’s new front office.
The Dolphins seem to be mulling their options as their new leaders step into their jobs. New offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that Tagovailoa can “absolutely bounce back,” but the quarterback has not been informed of a decision one way or the other.
Raiders Officially Name Klint Kubiak Head Coach
The Raiders have made it official. The team announced this evening that they’ve named Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.
Kubiak is now the 25th head coach in franchise history, and he’s the sixth since the team moved to Las Vegas. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kubiak will receive a five-year contract from the Raiders.
Of course, this move doesn’t come as any surprise. The franchise seemed to be leaning towards Kubiak last week, and the 38-year-old was reportedly set to negotiate a deal with the organization. Then, Kubiak all but confirmed the news last night following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win when he revealed that he’d indeed be taking his talents from Seattle to Las Vegas.
The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career, including stops with the Vikings, Saints, and Seahawks as the offensive coordinator. It was that latter stop that made him seem destined to take the next step of his career, as Kubiak was the most popular name during this year’s hiring cycle. The 38-year-old ultimately interviewed for seven of the 10 HC vacancies, and he landed one of those opportunities in Las Vegas.
After helping guide Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense to a surprising top-10 showing this past season, Kubiak will now be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made the postseason twice in the past 23 years. Besides landing on their new head coach, the Raiders are also anticipated to add a new franchise QB this offseason, as the team is expected to select reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick.
Before Kubiak can focus on the on-field product, he’ll have to quickly build out his staff. Considering his inexperience as a head coach, Jason La Canfora of Sportsboom.com writes that the Raiders are expected to prioritize experience as they look to fill out the coaching staff. One name in particular that could stand out is Jim Schwartz, who hastily left the Browns after losing out on their head coaching job.
Per La Canfora, the veteran defensive coach has several fans in the building. This includes Kubiak, and the offensive-minded head coach presumably wouldn’t meddle in Schwartz’s defensive approach. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady is also a “strong supporter” of the coach. Since the Raiders have traditionally shown a willingness to “spend heavily” on assistants, there’s an expectation among league sources that Schwartz will ultimately land in Las Vegas.
There would remain one hurdle in the Raiders’ pursuit, however: the Browns have Schwartz under contract through 2026, meaning Las Vegas would have to negotiate with the AFC foe to lure the coach. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, this has led some to believe that Schwartz could simply sit out the upcoming campaign, and there’s some belief that the coach may be simply waiting for the Eagles DC job to open up.
On the offensive side of the ball, Seahawks quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is a “natural candidate,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Prior to his success with Darnold, Janocko was credited with getting some of the best career showings from the likes of Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields, and Derek Carr. It’s no coincidence that the coach has also joined Kubiak in multiple stops, making him an obvious candidate for the gig. Of course, there’s also a chance the Seahawks simply look to promote him to their newfound OC vacancy.
Speaking of the Seahawks, Fowler notes that in-house options like offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz and running backs coach Justin Outten could also be options to replace Kubiak, as could Lions senior assistant Mike Kafka.
Bengals Want To Re-Sign QB Joe Flacco
The Bengals will of course hope Joe Burrow manages to remain healthy in 2026. If the team is once again forced to rely on a backup next season, though, a familiar face could be in play. 
Cincinnati is interested in re-signing Joe Flacco, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The Bengals acquired him via trade midway through the 2025 campaign with Burrow sidelined for an extended period. That gave Flacco another short-term starting opportunity, although he only posted a 1-5 record with Cincinnati. The 41-year-old intends to continue playing next season, but he is a pending free agent.
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Late in his brief QB1 stint, Flacco expressed a desire to operate as a full-time starter in 2026. Burrow is of course in place to remain in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future – provided his hinted discontent with the franchise does not produce a trade, that is. That would consign Flacco to backup duties in the event he were to re-sign with his third career AFC North team. The former Super Bowl MVP can at least be considered higher on the Bengals’ depth chart than Jake Browning, who struggled when thrust into the starting role in 2025.
Browning is a pending restricted free agent, and the matter of whether or not he is tendered by Cincinnati will no doubt depend on the Flacco situation. Opportunities from outside suitors will be something to watch for in Flacco’s case, Fowler adds. The QB market is not likely to include many free agents or trade chips viewed as having more upside, while the draft may only see one passer selected in the first round.
Those factors could help Flacco’s market value. It will be interesting to see if he elects to at least explore free agency before making a decision or winds up matching the Bengals’ desire to work out a new deal. Cincinnati is currently near the top of the league in terms of projected cap space with over $54MM available.