Packers To Make RB Addition
Josh Jacobs has spent the past two seasons as the Packers’ top running back. A heavy workload can once again be expected for 2026, but it remains to be seen how the rest of the team’s backfield will take shape.
Green Bay has MarShawn Lloyd on the books, but injuries have proven to be a major issue in his case. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game during his rookie season, and he was out of the lineup this past year. Lloyd will look to carve out a role during training camp, with the same being true of Pierre Strong – who inked a futures deal in January – as well as special teams regular Chris Brooks.
“I like our group,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said at the recent league meeting (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). “We’re certainly gonna add competition to that room. But I like — whether it’s MarShawn as we get him healthy and get him going, [and] Pierre Strong’s there. There’s guys we really like, but I’m sure there will be more competition to come.”
Jacobs is owed $11.6MM for 2026, the third season of his four-year free agent pact. The former Raider earned his third career Pro Bowl nod in 2024 as he enjoyed a strong debut season in Green Bay. 2025 saw Jacobs’ efficiency and overall production take a step back, although he remained a strong red zone presence with 13 rushing touchdowns. RB1 duties can be expected moving forward, but adding a consistent backup would no doubt help the 28-year-old in particular and Green Bay’s offense in general.
A number of veteran backs such as Najee Harris, Joe Mixon, Austin Ekeler and Antonio Gibson are unsigned at this point. That will likely remain the case until after the upcoming draft, but in any event a low-cost deal would likely be feasible for most or all of those options. The Packers have roughly $22MM in cap space at the moment, so affording a depth addition should not be a challenge.
A rookie draft selection will of course receive consideration as well. Green Bay currently does not have a first-round pick thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, but the team still has seven overall selections. The 2026 RB class is not held in high regard beyond Jeremiyah Love, who will be long gone by the time the Packers are on the clock for the first time. Whether through free agency or the draft, though, it would come as no surprise if Green Bay were to make at least one backfield move.
Browns Unlikely To Re-Sign CB Martin Emerson
A late-July Achilles tear cost cornerback Martin Emerson the entire 2025 season. It appears the injury will also end Emerson’s Browns tenure. The team is not expected to re-sign the free agent, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
A third-round pick in 2022, Emerson came off the bench in 11 of 17 appearances as a rookie. He then took a starting job from Greg Newsome during a four-interception second season and continued in that role in 2024. Emerson did not pick off any passes that year, though, and Pro Football Focus ranked him a bottom-10 corner.
Despite Emerson’s struggles in his most recent healthy season, he started a career-high 15 games and led Browns corners in snap share (76.48%). A similar workload may have been in store had Emerson stayed healthy last year, especially with Newsome on the trade block at the time. The Browns pulled the trigger on a Newsome deal a couple of months later, sending him to Jacksonville in an October swap for fellow corner Tyson Campbell.
General manager Andrew Berry said he would “love to have [Emerson] back” in 2026, per Cabot, but he acknowledged it could be difficult because the Browns have two set starters at corner. Between the Jags and Browns, Campbell logged the second 17-start season of his five-year career. PFF ranked Campbell a solid 30th among 112 corners. He will continue opposite Denzel Ward, Emerson’s former running mate, next season.
Now eight months removed from a severe injury, Emerson is a free agent at an inopportune time. Assuming the 25-year-old lands another contract, it will be a low-cost deal.
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.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Crosby, Commanders, Aiyuk, Eagles
The Cowboys were aggressive in trade talks for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, submitting multiple offers before ultimately falling short. Las Vegas agreed to send Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks, but the deal fell apart after the five-time Pro Bowler failed the Ravens’ physical. Crosby continues to pop up in trade rumors almost a month later, though Cowboys owner Jerry Jones does not expect to circle back (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I don’t anticipate, standing here right now, revisiting that situation,” Jones said. “I don’t anticipate it. Is it possible? Yes.”
While Jones is not slamming the door on another Crosby pursuit, it is notable that Cowboys physician Dr. Dan Cooper raised concerns over the defender’s surgically repaired meniscus before he failed his physical. The Ravens consulted with the well-respected Cooper during the process. Unless Dallas does a 180 on Crosby, its best hope to upgrade its pass rush could be via the draft. The Cowboys are scheduled to pick 12th and 20th in the first round.
Here’s more on Dallas and a pair of NFC East rivals:
- Washington is considered the most likely destination for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but San Francisco will have to release him first. The Commanders are not going to trade for Aiyuk, according to John Keim of ESPN. The 49ers are in no rush to cut Aiyuk, who is still tied to the four-year, $120MM extension he signed in August 2024. The team has gotten almost nothing from the deal, as Aiyuk has not played since suffering a knee injury that October. The 28-year-old is now coming off a bizarre season in which he distanced himself from the team during his recovery. The 49ers placed Aiyuk on the reserve/left squad list in December. Odds are they will eventually cut him, but the Commanders are not going to bank on a release and “bypass other potential options,” Keim writes.
- Having lost Reed Blankenship to the Texans in free agency, the Eagles are down a starting safety to pair with Andrew Mukuba. Nickel cornerback Michael Carter II and safety Marcus Epps, whom the Eagles re-signed on the cheap, are among in-house options to fill the void. To no surprise, general manager Howie Roseman intends to address safety during the draft (via Brooks Kubena of The Athletic). “In some shape or form we will add at that position,” Roseman declared.
- Shifting back to Dallas, the team is in the market for a nickel cornerback, Jon Machota of The Athletic relays. No. 1 corner DaRon Bland has slot experience, including 200 snaps last year, but the Cowboys prefer to keep him on the outside. While Reddy Steward amassed 384 slot snaps in 2025, Pro Football Focus ranked his play a lackluster 99th among 112 qualifiers. Notably, the Cowboys have visited with Miami’s Keionte Scott, one of the highest-rated nickel CBs in this year’s draft class.
- The Cowboys will stage “an open competition” between backup quarterbacks Joe Milton and Sam Howell for the No. 2 job, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via Machota). The Cowboys sent a fifth-rounder to the Patriots for Milton and a seventh-rounder a year ago. Starter Dak Prescott went on to enjoy a healthy and productive campaign, which left little playing time for Milton. Howell, who joined the Cowboys on a one-year deal last month, was a 17-game starter in Washington in 2023. The 25-year-old has not made a start since then, and he didn’t even play a snap as a third-stringer in Philadelphia last season.
TE, S Among Panthers’ Potential First-Round Targets
The Panthers have set up a “30” visit with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., signaling they could spend their first-round pick on a wide receiver for the third straight year. Head coach Dave Canales acknowledged choosing a wideout at 19th overall is a possibility, though there are also other positions on the Panthers’ radar in their search for an impact rookie (via David Newton of ESPN).
“It could be a wideout. It could be a tight end. Could be a safety,” Canales said. “There’s a couple of dynamic safeties that could free us up. The pass-rush class, we’ve got to still kind of see where they are at the top. Where do we think the top guys are going? Look at the mocks and all that, and see where there might be a little bit of a dropoff there.”
The Panthers have already taken a home run swing on a pass rusher this offseason, having given former Dolphin and Eagle Jaelan Phillips a four-year, $120MM payday in free agency. On the other hand, they have not made any needle-moving additions at tight end or safety, leaving room for upgrades.
Carolina is set to welcome back top three tight ends Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans next season, but there is not a big-time pass-catching threat in the group. If the Panthers invest in the position with their first-rounder, odds are they will end up with Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. Barring something unforeseen, no other tight end will come off the board in Round 1 this year.
Sadiq’s stock was already high after a second-team All-America season in which he won Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors. He further helped his cause with a stellar performance at the Combine. The highlight of the 6-foot-3, 241-pounder’s showing was a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. That is the fastest 40 time for a tight end since at least 2003.
At safety, the Panthers brought back Nick Scott on a modest one-year deal early in free agency. He and Tre’von Moehrig easily led Panthers safeties in snaps last year. Scott, Moehrig and 2025 fourth-rounder Lathan Ransom remain in the fold, but Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren may be the type of “dynamic” options Canales, general manager Dan Morgan and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are seeking at the position. Either Thieneman or McNeil-Warren would give Carolina someone with star potential to pair with Moehrig, who is a lock to start in the second season of a three-year, $51MM contract.
Patriots Could Pursue Maxx Crosby Trade
Since the Raiders-Ravens Maxx Crosby trade fell through, expectations have turned to Crosby remaining in Las Vegas. Interest from other suitors could of course emerge, however.
One team to watch in that regard could be the Patriots. New England is open to making notable trades deep into the 2026 offseason, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe confirms. One such move could be an A.J. Brown trade, something a majority of PFR’s readers believe will indeed take place after June 1.
The Patriots remain the most popular presumed landing spot for Brown in the event he is dealt from the Eagles. Regardless of what happens on that front, Volin points to Crosby as a potential New England trade target. A trade for two first-round picks was agreed to with Baltimore before a failed physical nixed the deal.
Concerns were raised about the long-term health outlook of his surgically repaired knee, something which will no doubt lower the value of any trade worked out in the future. Especially given the discounted price of a future Crosby acquisition, Volin writes a Patriots pursuit would not come as a surprise. The Patriots came up as a Crosby suitor before the Ravens reached their agreement.
New England managed just 35 sacks during the 2025 season, so upgrading the pass rush represented a clear goal entering the new league year. The team has not been busy through free agency so far, though, and as expected K’Lavon Chaisson departed on the open market. That leaves the edge as an area of need entering the draft for the reigning AFC champions. Acquiring Crosby – a Pro Bowler in each of the past five years, including the one full campaign in which Pats OC Josh McDaniels was Vegas’ head coach – would certainly provide a boost in the pass rush department.
The 28-year-old is under contract through 2029. Crosby is owed $30MM in salary for the upcoming season, and his $29MM in base compensation for 2027 has already vested. A major financial commitment would thus be needed for the Patriots or any other team in addition to the draft capital to swing an agreement with Vegas. The Raiders have issued a stance against further trades in Crosby’s case, but it remains to be seen if that will hold throughout the course of the offseason.
New England is still in a strong position with respect to cap space after entering the new league year with plenty of spending power. Part of the team’s financial planning will obviously be dependent on a Brown trade being finalized later on, but it will be interesting to see if the Patriots also check in regarding a Crosby move.
Poll: Will Eagles Trade A.J. Brown?
The future of Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has been in question since he voiced his frustration with their offense on multiple occasions in 2025. The heat has turned up since the Eagles’ season ended with a listless offensive showing in a 23-19 loss to the visiting 49ers in the wild-card round. Trade rumors centering on Brown have persisted over the past two-plus months, and that may be the case for at least several more weeks.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has considered dealing Brown, though it does not appear that he will budge for less than a first-round pick as this month’s draft approaches. One GM confirmed to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that the Eagles have asked for “a one and change” this offseason. It would come as a surprise if a trade occurs before or during the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes, as the finances would work heavily against Philadelphia.
Trading Brown before June 1 would leave the Eagles with a $43.51MM dead cap hit — a record for his position — and cost them $20.12MM in space. A trade on June 2 or later would enable the Eagles to spread the dead money over two years. They would take on $16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27, though parting with Brown would open up $7MM in breathing room next season. While that makes a summer swap more likely, Jones does not “get the impression” a deal will come together immediately on June 2.
As for teams that could acquire Brown, the Patriots, Chargers, Bills and Chiefs are reportedly on the three-time Pro Bowler’s wish list. Los Angeles, Buffalo and Kansas City have not shown much interest, though perhaps they or other teams will enter the sweepstakes depending on how the draft unfolds. L.A.’s more successful franchise, the Rams, engaged in talks with the Eagles, but a trade between the NFC powers is unlikely to occur.
On the other hand, it would not surprise anyone if the Patriots reel in the soon-to-be 29-year-old Brown. Even after adding ex-Packer Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68MM contract in free agency, the Pats are considered the favorites to acquire Brown (there is a “broad assumption” they will, Volin writes). He would offer a more-than-capable replacement for the reigning AFC champions’ 2025 leading receiver, the released Stefon Diggs. Brown also has a strong relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel dating to their time together in Tennessee from 2019-21. Now a seven-year veteran, Brown registered two of his six 1,000-yard seasons as a Titan.
The Patriots or any other acquiring team would expect Brown to notch a fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign in 2026, but losing his consistently solid production would weaken a contending Eagles team. With Philadelphia expected to push for a third consecutive NFC East title next season, Roseman may be content to keep the Brown-DeVonta Smith receiver tandem intact. How do you expect this saga to play out?
What will happen with A.J. Brown?
-
The Eagles will trade him between June 2 and the start of the season 55% (751)
-
The Eagles will keep him 36% (488)
-
The Eagles will trade him before June 1 9% (123)
Total votes: 1,362
Jets, Cardinals Could Have Similar Approach To Top Of Draft
Crowded together at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets and Cardinals find themselves in a bittersweet situation. With the second and third overall picks in the first round, each franchise has a great opportunity to add an elite talent, but while both squads have a need at the sport’s most important position, this year’s draft is not lining up to reward them with one to select with their top draft picks.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is widely considered the consensus QB2 of the draft class behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to go No.1 overall to the Raiders. Unfortunately for Simpson and both teams, taking the Crimson Tide passer at Nos. 2 or 3 overall would be seen as a huge reach, so if either team were interested in landing the second-best quarterback prospect, it might require some maneuvering for another slot in the first round.
The Jets currently hold pick Nos. 2, 16, 33, and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there’s belief New York will exit the second round of the draft with a pass rusher and a quarterback, but that could happen in several different ways. Per Rapoport, the Jets are widely expected to select a pass rusher with the second overall pick. Versatile Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been a popular projection for New York there, but Texas Tech’s David Bailey also recently met with the team.
Rapoport also expects them to do their homework on all the possible options available at No. 2. They recently hosted Reese’s running mate in the Buckeyes’ linebacking corps, Sonny Styles, for a top 30 visit. Per Rapoport, Styles, also an expected top 10 pick, has plans to visit the Bengals, as well, though his trip to Cincinnati will be a considered a local visit, not a top 30.
To address the quarterback position, a lot rides on where exactly the Jets value Simpson. If they value him enough, they could chance him being around for their 16th overall pick in the first round. If things are trending in a direction that feels as if Simpson won’t make it that far, they could utilize their first overall pick of the second round to potentially try to trade up and land the quarterback. Alternatively, if using the 16th pick still feels like a stretch for Simpson, New York may explore increasing their collection of draft picks with a move further back in the first round.
As for the Cardinals, Rapoport claims it would surprise him if they drafted Simpson third overall, but at the same time, he acknowledges that we’ve seen the precedent for it in the past. He asserts that Arizona could simply fall in love with Simpson enough to select him that early. More likely, though, the Cardinals may look back just a year to an example set by the Giants. Following the approach New York used to add an elite pass rusher before trading back into the first round for a quarterback, the Cardinals may opt to do the same.
Where Simpson could fall in the first round (or later) has been a huge topic of debate. Early conjecture speculated that it might be prudent to move up past the Steelers at 21 to land Simpson, while further evaluation suggested trading into the back end of the first round, just ahead of the Dolphins at 30, would be the likely move. In recent weeks, Simpson’s chances of landing with either team in the first round have gone way down. In a mid-March episode of The McShay Show podcast, Todd McShay of The Ringer guaranteed that Simpson would “for a fact” not be the Steelers’ pick at No. 21, suggesting the team has more of a third-round value on the Crimson Tide quarterback.
Though Simpson recently visited Miami, ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) did “not believe (the) Dolphins are in the mix for him.” Additionally, all four teams have done homework on other passers in the draft. Notably, since March 21, Miami quarterback Carson Beck has met with each team. Beck and the other projected mid-round quarterbacks offer secondary options for the teams that don’t land Simpson and may end up being preferred options if their draft slot more appropriately fits their value.
These represent just a few of several possibilities that could play out at the end of the month. There is no shortage of quarterback needs in the NFL, but seeing the Giants land their potential franchise passer later on in the first round a year ago has opened the door for a number of mind games to play out. We’ll see how well these draft day decision makers can play poker down the stretch as we await the final weekend in April.
Goodell: NFL Players Expected To Participate In 2028 Olympics
Last May, owners voted to allow NFL players to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That has been followed by interest shown on the part of several notable players, leading to the expectation they will indeed be taking part in the Games.
Particulars have yet to worked out regarding NFL participation, but the remaining issues on that front are not likely to prove to be too much of a hurdle. Meanwhile, the success of Team USA in the recent Fanatics Flag Football Classic has led to renewed skepticism about pro football players being the best suited for flag football’s Olympic debut. Nevertheless, commissioner Roger Goodell remains confident NFLers will be taking part.
[RELATED: Robert Griffin III Joins American Flag Football Roster]
“I think we’ll see NFL players in the Olympics,” Goodell said (via Fox Sports’ Eric Williams) during a press conference following the recent league meeting. “They want to play. We just had a player here who wants to compete in the Olympics… I think it will be great for football. I think it will be great for the fans.”
Goodell’s comments come in the wake of an important update regarding the creation of new professional men’s and women’s flag football leagues. TMRW Sports has been selected as the NFL’s partner for launching the leagues, and a notable list of investors has already been generated. Growing flag football has long been a major priority for the NFL, including its push to have that version of the game granted Olympic status. The new pro leagues are set to begin before the Los Angeles Games.
Logistics will no doubt be a talking point regarding NFL participation. The Olympics – and the preparation which will precede it – will take place around the time of training camps around the league. Accommodations will need to be made on that front, and concerns related to injuries and other factors will of course remain in place. Confidence clearly remains high that the goal of NFL participation will be realized, however.
Giants Eyeing OL, DL Free Agent Additions
The Giants have managed to retain a number of offensive linemen so far in free agency. Most notably, Jermaine Eluemunor and Evan Neal have inked new deals with the team.
New York has lost Austin Schlottmann and James Hudson on the open market, while two-year right guard starter Greg Van Roten remains unsigned at this point. A new agreement with Van Roten is something to watch for, but one or more outside additions are being considered as well.
When speaking at this week’s league meeting, Giants general manager Joe Schoen said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan) the team is still in contact with agents at a number of positions. Offensive linemen are among those on New York’s radar. Given the team’s financial situation, however, a notable investment is not feasible.
The Giants sit near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space at the moment. The team already has 79 players on its roster, and money will need to be set aside for its incoming rookie class. Schoen admitted a lack of spending power is a factor in New York’s approach to the secondary waves of free agency. On the other hand, many of the veterans available at this point of the offseason will likely not require a big-ticket contract regardless of when they sign their next deal.
Schoen also said defensive line additions are something of interest to the Giants. Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson have left during free agency, while New York has brought in Sam Roberts. The team’s defensive interior will once again be anchored by Dexter Lawrence for 2026 and likely beyond, but improving against the run will be critical for Year 1 of the John Harbaugh era. The Giants finished 31st in that respect last season.
New York currently owns seven picks in this month’s draft. It would come as no surprise if some of those were used to make additions along the offensive and defensive lines based on Schoen’s comments. Free agency could also yield low-cost options, though, and it will be interesting to see if any moves are made in the coming weeks.