Raiders GM John Spytek Expects To Retain Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby has regularly received public endorsements from the Raiders when his future has been discussed. That is still the case as the latest round of trade speculation continues.
General manager John Spytek has remained consistent in his public messaging on the Crosby front. That continued today when he was speaking to reporters at the Combine. Spytek was asked if he expects to retain the star edge rusher and he delivered an expected response.
“I do,” he said (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden). “Maxx is an elite player, and I’ve been very upfront from the start when I got here that we’re in the business of having really good players on the team, and we need a lot more of them.”
Spytek did add that he is “always listening” when it comes to trade offers, and that applies to Crosby as well. Recent reporting has indicated it will take a monster offer to pry Crosby out of Las Vegas.
We’ve now heard multiple reports of a Micah Parsons-like haul being required for such a move, with the most recent offering indicating a bidding war could bump the asking price to two first-rounders. Parsons fetched two firsts and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, though the former Cowboys dynamo was going into an age-26 season at the time of that trade. Crosby will turn 29 this summer.
One wrinkle here would stand to help the Raiders set such a high asking price. Unlike Parsons or Khalil Mack (in 2018), Crosby is not positioned to need a new contract. The Raiders extended their top player on a $35.5MM-per-year deal that runs through the 2029 season. That makes this a rare situation, as most blockbuster pass rusher trades have come when a player is unable to reach a contract agreement with the trading team.
It would behoove the Raiders to listen on Crosby, as their roster has plenty of needs. Fernando Mendoza is expected to fill one of them at No. 1 overall, but Las Vegas finished 3-14 — with win No. 3 coming over a noncommitted Chiefs team. A trade would bring back at least a first-rounder and a Day 2 pick, perhaps more, to give Vegas an opportunity to add low-cost draftees to what is expected to be a Mendoza-centered roster soon. The team could certainly hang onto Crosby for his age-29 slate; or, like Parsons, the Silver and Black could delay a swap until the summer — with 2027 draft choices being the prize.
This storyline came about because Crosby voiced frustration about his injury-driven shutdown last season. The star edge rusher is believed to have spoken to the Raiders about wanting to be moved, even though no official trade request has emerged. The Raiders could force Crosby’s hand by refusing to trade him, putting pressure on the player to incur fines for missing training camp and/or miss game checks. But the team also may want to do right by its top 2020s performer.
We are in the first of the NFL’s 2026 trade windows, and plenty of teams will be eyeing the decorated EDGE. With the Combine serving as a gateway to trade and free agency prices, the Raiders will have a big decision to make soon.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Nick Sirianni: No Guarantee A.J. Brown Remains With Eagles
Trade talks involving A.J. Brown were expected to take place this offseason, and the Combine represents prime dealing ground. While the Eagles may not be shopping the accomplished wide receiver, this rocky partnership could be tested in Indianapolis.
Brown gripes about his role have been commonplace, and the Eagles’ 2025 season-ender brought a short sideline confrontation with Nick Sirianni. Although Brown has reeled off four straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, his Eagles tenure is uncertain to reach Year 5. Considering the contract component, the Eagles would need a big trade haul to move on.
Sirianni confirmed both he and Brown want this partnership to continue, but the sixth-year Eagles HC stopped short of guaranteeing he would be back.
“As Howie [Roseman] said, it’s hard to get good players in this league. A.J.’s a great player, and A.J. is a good teammate, and A.J. is a good person,” Sirianni said, via ESPN.com’s Tim McManus. “Does he want to be here? Yes. Do I want him to be here? Yes.
“Will A.J. be here next season? I think we’re still in a spot, like, I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season.”
That certainly qualifies as coach-speak, but the Eagles may field some viable offers for a player who has grumbled about his place in an offense that just changed coordinators yet again. Sean Mannion replaced Kevin Patullo and will call plays in 2026. It would be unlikely Mannion would voice a strong objection to rostering Brown, but the former Titans draftee has voiced frustration about his role under Patullo and Kellen Moore.
Missing two games last season (only one due to injury), Brown saw his yards-per-game figure drop to 66.9. That marked a Philly-years-low figure. The Eagles have both he and DeVonta Smith on extensions, the latter a now-team-friendly three-year, $75MM deal. The team paid Brown a second time in 2024, giving him a then-receiver-record $32MM-per-year extension. That contract runs through 2029. As this is the Eagles, option bonuses comprise a sizable chunk of the contract. Moving on would be difficult from a dead money perspective.
Philly would absorb a receiver-record $43.45MM in dead money by moving Brown, who would generate no cap savings in a trade before June 1. If the Eagles held onto Brown and moved him after that date, a la the Falcons’ 2021 Julio Jones trade or last year’s Dolphins-Steelers Jalen Ramsey swap, they would save more than $7MM. That may be the only way out for Brown this offseason.
“I think you go into the league year listening to offers for everything and anything,” Roseman said. “If someone is going to give you something you didn’t anticipate and you won’t even have the conversation, I don’t think you’re necessarily doing your job or really servicing the team you’re with. Certainly, we’ve been in situations where there were guys we didn’t anticipate trading that we got an offer that was too good, and then you balance it with what you can get there.
“Without getting into specifics on any player, we’re always listening and we’re always kind of open. There’s very few things that I would shoot down without even hearing what that means, because how does it hurt to listen?”
Brown, 29 in June, prompted trade offers before last year’s deadline. The Eagles listened, though they informed teams the high-maintenance wideout was unlikely to be moved. A subsequent Brown-Jeffery Lurie meeting led to the receiver promising he would not air grievances through social media.
The Eagles discussed Dallas Goedert in trades last year but eventually reached a solution (via pay cut). No pay-cut move is coming here, but the team is far from certain to trade such an important piece of its offense in a Super Bowl window. Given the Brown contract’s structure, it is possible this saga will linger into the summer. But the Combine will give the Eagles an early window to hear what could be out there for their star pass catcher. A Brown trade later this year would certainly give Philly a major need, as a trade to acquire a replacement may be needed down the line.
Vikings Discussing Javon Hargrave Trade
The Combine serves a function for veteran players as well, with trade talks regularly commencing at the annual scouting event. One of the pieces available this year comes out of Minnesota.
The Vikings are shopping Javon Hargrave, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets, indicating the NFC North team has engaged in trade talks with the experienced defensive tackle. Minnesota signed Hargrave to a three-year, $30MM deal following his 2025 49ers release. That contract includes a partial guarantee for 2026.
Hargrave, who turned 33 earlier this month, is due $4MM guaranteed on his $14.2MM base salary. If the Vikings are unable to trade the 11th-year defender, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis notes lists him as an obvious cut candidate. If the Vikings release Hargrave, they will save nearly $11MM but will take on $10.5MM in dead money. A trade would create nearly $15MM in cap space, though the Vikes may need to pay down some of the D-tackle’s salary to facilitate a trade.
After stops with the Steelers, Eagles and 49ers, Hargrave started 15 games for the Vikings last season. Minnesota added proven vets on its D-line, also signing Jonathan Allen after his Commanders release. Hargrave, who missed 14 games in 2024, registered 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble last season. Pro Football Focus graded Hargrave fairly well, slotting him 36th overall among interior D-linemen.
It appears the Vikings are hoping that healthy Hargrave season will boost his trade value and allow for cap savings to emerge without a release. No guarantee trigger dates are in place for Hargrave this offseason; the rest of his 2026 salary will not lock until just before Week 1, giving the Vikings some time.
They would obviously need to move on soon if they want to use any savings toward free agency. A post-June 1 designation would divide Hargrave’s dead cap hit over two years, but the Vikes could not use those savings until June. Minnesota is projected to land $43MM-plus over the 2026 salary cap, giving the team considerable work to reach cap compliance by the start of the league year (March 11).
Minnesota has been active on its D-line over the past year, adding Allen and Hargrave and trading Harrison Phillips. The team received promising work from UDFA Jalen Redmond, who can be retained via ERFA tender next month. Allen’s three-year, $51MM deal includes an $8MM guarantee for 2026, offering the former first-rounder better protection (though, PFF ranked Allen 84th among interior D-linemen last season) Minnesota has recent Day 3 draftees Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (2025 fifth round) and Levi Drake Rodriguez (2024 seventh) rostered at the position as well.
Jets Prepared To Tag RB Breece Hall
Breece Hall does not have a new Jets deal in hand at this point. Nevertheless, a departure should not be expected in his case. 
When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Darren Mougey reiterated his desire for a Hall agreement to be reached in time for free agency. Failing that, Mougey said (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) a tag will be used to ensure no departure will take place.
The franchise tag for running backs is projected to cost $14.54MM in 2026, while the transition tag is set to carry a value of $11.73MM. The latter option has been mentioned as a strong possibility in Hall’s case, so Mougey’s comments come as little surprise. Coming off a career-high 1,065 rushing yards, Hall would have been one of the top RB options on the open market had the Jets opted to go in a different direction.
Instead, the 24-year-old will remain in the fold for at least one season. Hall was not the subject of extension talks when Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn arrived last year, and uncertainty has loomed over his future ever since. During his latest public comments on the matter, Hall indicated an ambivalence toward remaining in New York or landing a notable pact elsewhere.
“You know, I don’t know,” the former second-rounder said during an interview with the New York Post. “I’ve addressed this for the last six, seven months now. But now I’m just kind of like whatever happens, happens.”
Hall added a level confidence that he will ultimately “get everything that’s coming” to him from a compensation standpoint. That could take the form of a long-term deal, but there have been no indications an agreement is imminent on this front. The running back market includes nine deals averaging at least $10MM per year, but that figure outpaces what Javonte Williams landed on his new Cowboys contract.
Connor Hughes of SNY notes Hall would likely not be willing to accept a three-year, $24MM offer like the one Williams took. The Jets could nonetheless remain close to those terms during negotiations knowing the one-year tag is still a fallback option. With nearly $80MM in cap space, the team will easily be able to afford either tag figure if applying one becomes necessary.
Texans Will Not Trade C.J. Stroud; Joe Mixon Undergoes Surgery
C.J. Stroud has not built on his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year performance, and a miserable playoff showing restricted a dominant Texans defense. The quarterback is now extension-eligible, but a recent report pressed pause on that topic.
The Texans do not look to be planning a Stroud extension for 2026, but the team will exercise the former No. 2 overall pick’s fifth-year option. That will extend Stroud’s contract through 2027, buying the organization some time. While Year 5 QB extensions are not commonplace, that may be where this settles.
GM Nick Caserio said Tuesday no trade is coming, confirming (via ESPN.com’s DJ Bien-Aime) the fourth-year passer is “not going anywhere.” Stroud, 24, is on track to make $1.15MM in base salary on his fully guaranteed $36.28MM rookie contract.
Considering the Ohio State product’s rookie-year performance and the flashes shown over the ensuing two seasons, it would be surprising if the Texans truly considered moving on this year. The fifth-year option will create an opportunity for Stroud to boost his stock this season, which would allow him to set a price point closer to the top of the market in 2027.
Most successful QBs who go off the board in Round 1 are extended after their third seasons, but Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa have been outliers in recent years. Jackson played out his option season and was extended after being franchise-tagged in 2023. The Dolphins let Tagovailoa play out his fourth season and paid him before Year 5. That turned out to be the wrong move, and Miami is on track to eat record-smashing dead money. That example would point to Houston caution with Stroud, but given the mess the organization was in after the Deshaun Watson scandal, giving a promising but unspectacular passer another shot certainly makes sense.
The Texans paired Stroud and Joe Mixon in 2024 but needed to adjust at running back last season, when Mixon missed 17 games because of an unspecified injury. Mixon, 29, landed on the reserve/NFI list because of a “complicated” foot and ankle injury. The 2024 trade acquisition has undergone surgery, Caserio said (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson).
The former Bengals regular may not play again. If/when the Texans release Mixon from his two-year, $19.75MM extension, it would free up $8MM in cap space. Nick Chubb played out his one-year Houston contract, but Woody Marks (703 rookie-year rushing yards) has three years left on his rookie deal. The Texans will likely add another RB to complement Marks or push him for the starting job soon.
Tua Tagovailoa Has Not Requested Trade
As it stands, the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa chapter is nearing an end. Most likely, that conclusion will come via release. No trade market is believed to exist for the slumping passer, and the Dolphins have been closely linked to Malik Willis.
A Tagovailoa release would tag the Dolphins with a record-setting $99.2MM. While that could be spread over two years via a post-June 1 designation, it would make reuniting Willis and new HC Jeff Hafley difficult. Tagovailoa has spoken highly of a fresh start, but new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) the six-year veteran has not requested a trade.
“We’re evaluating the entire roster,” Sullivan said at the Combine. “As it pertains to Tua, we’ve had conversations with Tua and his representation. Everything is on the table, including the potential of a trade. We don’t know which way that’s going to go. There’s a lot of different factors at play, a lot of conversations being had.”
These comments remind of Sullivan’s most recent remarks from a Dolphins fan event, where the former Packers exec mentioned he had spoken to Tagovailoa about his future. It would surprise if Miami found a trade taker. In the event one does form, the Dolphins would need to eat plenty of the southpaw QB’s $54MM 2026 guarantee.
With Zach Wilson a free agent, the Dolphins have Quinn Ewers — their end-of-season starter following Tua’s benching — as a possible starter. Sullivan reiterated he plans to infuse his new QB room with competition. That would point to a free agency addition and a draft choice coming in. This is not viewed as a deep quarterback class on either front, potentially pointing to Ewers — a 2025 seventh-round pick — having a legitimate shot to start in the event Miami cannot lure Willis.
As PFR’s Dolphins Offseason Outlook notes, Miami will need to act by March 13. Another $18MM guarantee — via a $15MM option bonus and $3MM 2027 salary guarantee — will vest for the embattled QB on that date. It would be stunning if Tua remained a Dolphin after that date. It is widely expected this process will remind of the Broncos’ 2024 Russell Wilson ending, when the AFC West team cut the disappointing arm to bring a record-shattering $84.6MM in dead money. The Dolphins are on the verge of eclipsing that number by a wide margin, barring something unforeseen.
Giants Not Currently Receiving Trade Calls On Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux was the subject of trade talks leading up to the deadline. No deal was reached, leaving him on course to remain with the Giants in 2026. 
New York picked up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option last spring. As a result, he is due $14.75MM next season. A full-time starting gig does not await in this case, but the former No. 5 selection appears to still be in the Giants’ plans at this point.
“Right now, Kayvon’s gonna be with us,” general manager Joe Schoen said at the Combine on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “He played well. He is going into his fifth year, and he’s motivated, and you can’t have enough pass rushers.”
Thibodeaux appeared to hit his stride during his second Giants season, posting 11.5 sacks and 35 quarterback pressures. The Oregon product has missed notable time through injury during both of his subsequent campaigns, however. Thibodeaux played 12 games in 2024 before managing 10 this past year. With only eight sacks across that span, he is not in position to operate as an edge rushing anchor for New York.
Brian Burns has proven to be an effective trade acquisition for the Giants. The former Panther has been a strong producer in two New York seasons, and he posted a career-high 16.5 sacks in 2025. Meanwhile, Abdul Carter saw his usage rate increase late in the year and he managed most of the output from his four-sack season down the stretch. Carter, selected third overall last spring, figures to pair with Burns as the Giants’ top edge rushers for years to come.
That leaves Thibodeaux in an interesting position. The 25-year-old has logged a snap share of at least 72% every year to date, but a path to a larger workload would only exist in the event of an injury to Burns and/or Carter. Extending Thibodeaux given his spotty track record would carry risk, while finding a trade partner willing to part with notable draft capital would no doubt be a challenge. Schoen noted (via Dan Duggan of The Athletic) no trade talks have occurred so far this offseason.
Free agency is set to include a number of veteran pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson and Bradley Chubb. Several younger options are on track to reach the market for the first time, and suitors could prefer to invest in them rather than acquiring Thibodeaux. In that case, efforts to work out a new Giants pact would be something to watch for.
Patriots Unlikely To Retain Harold Landry?
FEBRUARY 24: When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, executive vice president Eliot Wolf said (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald) he expects Landry to remain in place for next season. Things could change between now and the start of free agency, but it appears as though a second New England campaign is in store.
FEBRUARY 19: Harold Landry paced the Patriots with 8.5 sacks this past season, but the linebacker’s stay in New England may only last one year. When asked about the status of the veteran defender, Christopher Price of the Boston Globe opined that the player wouldn’t be back with the Patriots in 2026 (via Patriots on CLNS).
Price points to the player’s age and injuries as a reason for why the Patriots may look to move on. The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury back in Week 6, didn’t miss a game, and then reinjured the same knee in Week 12. The Patriots didn’t push the veteran in practices, and they later held him out of the team’s final two regular season games.
Landry returned for New England’s playoff opener but saw a drop in reps, as his 43.3 percent snap share represented a season low. That number dropped to 14.7 percent (11 snaps) in the second round before Landry was ruled out for the AFC Championship. He returned for the Super Bowl but was once again limited, appearing in only 14 defensive snaps.
As Price notes, the Patriots will likely be seeking some youth and consistency on the edge, putting Landry’s roster status in doubt. Working in the player’s favor is his relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel. Landry was one of the coach’s most dependable defenders when the two were in Tennessee, and Vrabel was quick to recruit the linebacker to New England via a three-year, $43.5MM deal.
Landry has still shown an ability to get after the QB in recent years. After missing the 2022 campaign due to a torn ACL, he averaged more than nine sacks per season between 2023 and 2025. The player’s contract makes it seem like he’s all but locked into a spot on the 2026 roster; the Patriots would clear just over $1MM in savings while being left with $15MM in dead cap (via a post-June 1 designation). The more likely path sees the Patriots rework the contract to keep Landry around on a more affordable pact, although if the organization believes he may not be able to recover from his knee issues, perhaps Price’s prediction may come to fruition.
While the Patriots front office will evaluate players who remain under contract, they’ll also have to consider their grouping of impending free agents. Two of the team’s key free agents come on the defensive side of the ball, as both pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins are set to hit the open market.
A former first-round pick, Chaisson was brought to New England last offseason via a one-year deal. He ended up having one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with 7.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, and 10 tackles for loss. He’s destined to cash in on his performance this offseason, but considering New England’s lack of depth on the edge, there’s a chance his next contract comes from the Patriots.
Hawkins spent the past two seasons in New England, but the team’s new leadership was willing to give him a larger role than the former regime. Hawkins ended up leaping both Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers on the depth chart en route to a career season. The 28-year-old started all 15 of his appearances, finishing with 71 tackles, six passes defended, and 1.5 sacks.
While both players are eyeing raises, they may have interest in working out some kind of arrangement with the franchise. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes, both players have expressed interest in re-signing with the Patriots. Hawkins told reporters that he wants to “remain here for sure,” while Chaisson acknowledged the organization’s role in reviving his career.
Ravens Have Submitted Market-Topping Offer To C Tyler Linderbaum
Aside from lowering Lamar Jackson‘s cap charge for 2026, the Ravens’ No. 1 priority is retaining Tyler Linderbaum. The top pending free agent at the center position (and many others) is in line for a massive raise regardless of where it comes from. 
Baltimore made the expected move of declining Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last spring, setting up the need for a long-term pact to be worked out ahead of free agency. When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Eric DeCosta made another unsurprising announcement by stating (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the transition and franchise tags will not be in play in this case. Tags group all O-linemen together for valuation purposes, making them feasible for tackles but rare in the case of interior blockers.
That leaves a long-term commitment as the path forward with respect to Linderbaum, who is open to re-signing. DeCosta has been clear about a mutual desire existing for a new pact, and on Tuesday he made a notable but not unexpected revelation. The Ravens have submitted a “market-setting” offer to Linderbaum’s camp, DeCosta said (h/t Zrebiec). The top of the center market reached $18MM per year when Creed Humphrey signed his Chiefs extension in 2024.
The NFL’s salary cap saw another jump after that pact was signed, and a surge past $300MM is expected when the 2026 figure is finalized. That leaves Linderbaum as an obvious candidate to surpass Humphrey in terms of AAV. The Chiefs Pro Bowler secured over $50MM in new guarantees on his extension, with $35MM of that figure fully guaranteed at signing. It would stand to reason Baltimore’s latest offer surpasses each of those figures, but further details on the Linderbaum negotiations will be worth watching for in any event.
Daniel Faalele has operated as the Ravens’ starting right guard for each of the past two years, but he is a pending free agent. The team could also look to upgrade from left guard Andrew Vorhees as a starter, so losing Linderbaum on the open market would leave open the possibility of three replacements being sought out this spring. Baltimore will look to avoid such a scenario, but it remains to be seen if the ongoing efforts to work out a deal will be sufficient to reach an agreement.
Zach Ertz Plans To Play In 2026; TE Could Be Cleared By Week 1
Zach Ertz is on the list of the Commanders’ pending free agents. He may remain unsigned for a notable period, but the veteran tight end intends to continue playing in 2026. 
Ertz does not plan on retiring this year, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. That confirms a recent update on the matter, ensuring a 14th NFL season is in store. The 35-year-old has been in Washington since 2024.
Over the course of his two Commanders seasons, Ertz has operated as a full-time starter. The three-time Pro Bowler was a key factor in Washington’s offense during Jayden Daniels‘ rookie campaign, notching seven touchdowns on 66 catches. Last year, an ACL tear suffered in early December brought things to an immediate and unwanted halt. Ertz’s market will of course be greatly impacted by the status of his recovery.
On that note, Pelissero adds Ertz is expected to receive full medical clearance around Week 1 of next season. If that timeline holds, interested teams may be willing to move quicker with respect to a free agent deal than if a lengthy spell on the sidelines was expected during the 2026 campaign. Given his age, Ertz should not be expected to land a long-term pact from the Commanders or any other team. Still, he could be viewed as a low-cost veteran addition for any number of suitors.
Washington selected Ben Sinnott in the second round of the 2024 draft. He has managed only 16 catches to date in the regular season, but an uptick in usage could be coming if Ertz departs. Washington could also be in the market for another experienced tight end to pair with Sinnott while looking to rebound from last year’s underwhelming showing.
Ertz ranks fifth all time in receptions among NFL tight ends. His 8,592 yards are No. 8, but a move up the order could be in store provided he manages to play a full season upon returning to full health. It appears as though that will be possible given where his recovery stands, so it will be interesting to see how his market looks in the spring.