Tyler Warren was just what the doctor ordered. The Indianapolis Colts had an incredible deficiency at the tight end position and he single-handedly lifted the entire unit. He showed what a unique talent he is and why the Colts were lucky to get him in the draft. His skill set is undeniable, and his future appears incredibly bright. His rookie year wasn’t without ups and downs, however, and when looking at his stats, it begs the question, did Warren run out of gas or was his second half a product of circumstances?

Over the first half of the season, Warren averaged nearly 62 yards per game and had three receiving touchdowns. Torrid might not be the correct word, but it was an excellent start. After the Berlin game and subsequent bye, the numbers plummeted. He had one touchdown to his name and averaged just 28.5 yards per contest. He faded into the background along with the rest of the team.

Did he hit the rookie wall and run out of steam or was he a victim of a seven game losing streak that saw three quarterbacks under center? It is probably a little of both. The transition from college to the pros is intense. It’s more grueling physically and mentally. Many rookies find themselves fading down the stretch. Going from a quarterback with a broken fibula, to a 45-year-old retired Philip Rivers, to a rookie, is simply asking too much. Producing under those circumstances paired with your first taste of the NFL is a Herculean undertaking.

What we saw from Tyler Warren in 2025 was encouraging, yet his fall was to be expected. The good news is that things are looking up from here. A big time jump in his second year with an entire offseason under his belt should be the expectation. Getting consistent quarterback play will go a long way too. Warren appears to be the type that as he develops, he can help out any quarterback under center. He will be that release valve and safety net. Quality quarterback play will help, but Warren should continue to thrive regardless.

Simpson, the first inductee of the Bills' Wall of Fame at their old home, will not be included in any of Highmark Stadium's new displays inside or outside the stadium, team officials told WIVB News 4. That includes the Family Circle, an outdoor plaza that will feature plaques honoring Wall of Fame inductees.

From WIVB:

"We have made an organizational decision that he is not a fit to display inside our new stadium and family circle." said Pete Guelli, chief operating officer for the Bills, in a statement on Saturday.

The Bills' reason for doing this should hopefully be obvious. Simpson, who died in 2024, spent the final three decades of his life as a public pariah following a murder trial in which he was found not guilty for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

While he avoided prison over the matter, Simpson did not avoid repercussions in the court of public opinion or in a civil trial brought the families of Brown and Goldman. The effort to collect on the latter continued after his death. Simpson also did end up going to prison later in life after being found guilty in a separate armed robbery and kidnapping case.

The Bills kept Simpson on their Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium through all of that, but have apparently opted to clean the slate at their new home. It's not a surprise, considering they didn't even acknowledge Simpson's death.

Simpson played nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the Bills, earning MVP honors in 1973 after becoming the league's first player to break 2,000 yards in a single season. He retired second on the NFL's all-time rushing list behind only Jim Brown.

Brandon Aiyuk has delivered his most pointed message so far to the San Francisco 49ers amid a stand-off between the two parties.

On Saturday, June 27, Aiyuk posted a mirror selfie of himself from the waist down to his Instagram story that included a caption calling on the 49ers to release him.

"Take me off yo bum a– team," Aiyuk wrote, with the double exclamation emoji punctuating the sentence. "Tf is the hold up?"

Per usual, Aiyuk didn't directly mention the 49ers by name in his post. Still, it was crystal clear he was referencing the team – with which he had a falling out during the 2025 NFL season.

Taylor, 30, is accused of fatally poisoning Jade Benning, a 24-year-old woman who was five months pregnant with a child authorities say he fathered. Prosecutors allege that Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout, murdered Benning with a fatal dose of cocaine in early 2023. Taylor's defense has maintained his innocence.

29-year-old Mical Johnson, a former colleague of Taylor, provided testimony on June 27 about her experience working with him. Johnson was employed by the Titans from 2020 to 2025, where she began as an intern before becoming a scouting assistant.

Johnson testified that she never heard of Benning and didn't know if Taylor had a steady relationship – though he wasn't someone that often talked about his personal life. She also said that she was unaware that Taylor was expecting a baby, adding some of his comments about his readiness to becoming a father.

My version of an All-Time Historical Chicago Bears team is composed largely of standout players from the Bears’ rich history. With only a few exceptions, each player on my roster is representative of a “special” season for Chicago – be it 2025, 2018, 2010, 2006, 1985, or even 1963. This, along with an emphasis on the 3rd phase of the game, was the inspiration for my team’s name. You may have seen some other teams recently, but allow me to introduce you to an ELITE squad known as the Special Bears Unit, dun dun…

Chicago & Football – Special Bears Unit

OFFENSE

QB – Mitch Trubisky (19^th Round): The lead signal-caller for the Bears in 2018 will never be Patrick Mahomes, but he still had a sneaky productive 4 seasons in Chicago despite resistance from his head coaches to start and end his run. Trubisky reached the Pro Bowl in 2018, holds the 5^th spot in all-time career passing yards for Bears quarterbacks (10,609), and offers flexibility and playmaking with his legs.

RB – Matt Forte (2^nd Round): A 2-time Pro Bowler who represented the 2010 team that reached the NFC Championship, Forte was somehow underrated in his time. I definitely placed high value on his rushing and receiving upside in our draft, taking him with the first pick of the 2^nd round to be the primary engine of the offense. Forte will be a tremendous luxury for Trubisky to lean on.

*RB – David Montgomery (17^th Round): As you’ll see below, the player I selected to fill the Special Teams slot on my roster has the ability to get some WR snaps, and that allowed me to use my Offensive Utility pick on a RB for the best value. Montgomery joined the Bears right after 2018, so while he may never have had a “special” season in Chicago, he complements Forte incredibly well. I envision this backfield as another iteration of the “Sonic & Knuckles” duo Montgomery formed with Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Montgomery will provide the ability to gain the tough yardage that was the real only missing piece to Forte’s game.

WR – Harlon Hill (5^th Round): This Chicago Bears legend earned 3 Pro Bowl/all-star honors and 2 all-pro designations in his time. Amazingly, even though Hill played from 1954 to 1961, he still sits in 2nd place in both career receiving yards (4,616) and TDs (40) for the Bears. I was amazed to see he was still available when I was making my pick in the 5th round. One schematic bonus of this selection is that Hill technically played “end,” which would give him the positional flexibility to play either tight in-formation or spread out wide in the modern game.

WR – Allen Robinson (8^th Round): Robinson is one of my favorite players in recent years and is another standout from the Nagy-era Bears. A-Rob was able to compile over 3,500 receiving yards in his 4 seasons in Chicago and perhaps most impressively, sits in 4^th place all-time in receiving yards/game for the Bears (62.5). His size and demonstrated chemistry will definitely be a benefit to Trubisky too.

TE – Cole Kmet (7^th Round): The first current-Bear selection for my team, Kmet fits really nicely into my offense as a jack-of-all-trades. He has great size and has demonstrated an ability to contribute to the run game as a blocker, but he also has caught passes from a number of Bears quarterbacks in his tenure, landing him at 19^th on the Bears’ career leaders in receiving yards (2,939) and tied for 13^th in TDs (21).

LT – Charles Leno Jr. (14^th Round): I began to notice some offensive linemen flying off the board, and although I value the o-line greatly, I felt like there were some sleepers to be had in the later rounds when other positions may be a bit more dried up. One position I did prioritize however, was LT where I got ol’ reliable himself in Leno. Leno not only held down the blind for Trubisky in 2018 (making the Pro Bowl along the way) but remained sneakily dependable until his departure, playing 99% or more of all offensive snaps from 2016 – 2020.

LG – Teven Jenkins (24^th Round): Jenkins never really lived up to expectations, largely due to injuries, but he was at his most productive when he was allowed to settle into the guard position for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Late in this draft, I was happy to take Teven for an injection of a little nastiness on the offensive line.

C – Cody Whitehair (9^th Round): If it wasn’t obvious yet, this offense is primed to take shape as a supercharged version of what Matt Nagy put in place in Chicago. This extends to the offensive line as Whitehair was a Pro Bowler in 2018 alongside both Leno and Trubisky. One lasting memory of Whitehair for fans may be snap issues, however, I believe much of that can be attributed to him being pulled between the center and guard positions post-2018. With his attention solely at C, I feel he will be much better-suited to anchoring the o-line.

RG – Jim Cadile (23^rd Round): Jim Cadile played 11 seasons in the NFL, all with the Bears from 1962 – 1972. He played 128 games, starting 112 of them, and was a member of the 1963 NFL Championship team. This late in the draft? Yeah, give me a guy who helped block for Gale Sayers, that’ll do.

RT – Bobby Massie (25^th Round): Finally, as the person who ended up last in the draft order, I had the honor of selecting the “Mr. Irrelevant” of this draft. What was interesting is that with the way things shook out, I actually knew who my pick would be at least a few rounds before I would eventually make it. As everyone filled the OT slots on their rosters, I addressed other needs, and then it clicked – I’ll take the definition of a “sleeper” pick! Massie and Leno always seemed like a pairing with the way they held down the OT positions in Chicago from 2016 – 2020 so this is adds additional chemistry on top of Massie’s underrated ability.

DEFENSE

DE – Richard Dent (1^st Round): My first pick in the draft had to be a Hall of Famer, and why not go with a Super Bowl champion at a premium position while I’m at it? Naturally, I went with the Bears’ all-time leader in career sacks in Dent. Dent also ranks 2^nd in forced fumbles (33) behind only Charles Tillman, which is like having the 2^nd highest score on a Pac-Man arcade cabinet behind the 1^st place “Automatic Pac-Man Playing Machine” as far as I’m concerned.

DT – William “The Refrigerator” Perry (13^th Round): You’ll see shortly that after securing Dent, I placed my emphasis on a different level of the defense in the earlier rounds. That said, it was important to go digging for gems and boy did I find a massive gem here! The Fridge is another member of the legendary 1985 defense and helps bring a stout presence to the center of the d-line that will be difficult for the opposition to navigate.

DT – Israel Idonije (15^th Round): A rotation player in 2006, Idonije is a rare example of a player quietly remaining on the roster for some time before blossoming into a quality starter later in their career, as he was a starter for the team by the time they returned to the NFCCG in 2010. With versatility to play inside and out, I opted to take him as a DT that can complement Perry’s size inside and really ratchet up the pass rush of this 4-man group. Idonije has long been an under-the-radar favorite of mine and he’s actually tied for 20^th in Bears career sacks with both Perry and Tommie Harris at 28.5 and he’s tied for 7^th (among available data) in tackles for loss with Julius Peppers and Roquan Smith at 47.

DE – Adewale Ogunleye (9^th Round): Completing this defensive line with Super Bowl experience is Ogunleye, who you’ll find a few notches higher than Idonije on the TFL rankings in 4^th place with 65 as a Chicago Bear. He also had 42 sacks and forced 12 fumbles, which would only have been amplified playing opposite a star like Dent.

LB – Lance Briggs (4^th Round): A key contributor to both the 2006 and 2010 teams, Briggs amassed 7 Pro Bowl nods and 1 All-Pro honor during his career with the Bears. As the 2^nd time around in this snake-draft, I was THRILLED to be able to select him as one of my back-to-back choices along with my 3^rd round pick. You’ll find Briggs’ name amongst the Bears’ defensive career leaders in TDs (2^nd), passes defended (3^rd), forced fumbles (3^rd), tackles (2^nd), and tackles for loss (2^nd).

LB – Roquan Smith (6^th Round): I teased it above, but selecting Smith was a decision based on value that really led to a strong linebacker corps. He notoriously never received accolades until after he left Chicago (although he was named to a Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team in 2022, when he split the season evenly between the Bears and Ravens), but Smith was a star from the jump. Pairing him with Briggs gives my defense the ability to match up with a variety of threats that opposing offenses might send our way.

*LB – T.J. Edwards (22^nd Round): Late in the draft, I considered my options for filling my defensive utility slot, and similarly to offense, my approach became all about value. Even though I am confident in the range and ability of my two star linebackers, Edwards is a great compliment that can play opposite Briggs with Smith at the Mike in a 4-3 base. Injuries might have tarnished the view of Edwards as of late, but when healthy, he’s proven to be more than capable and, alongside Cole Kmet, represents the current era of the Chicago Bears.

CB – Leslie Frazier (10^th Round): Frazier is the final representative of the 1985 defense on my team. With decent height for a boundary corner at 6’0”, Frazier demonstrated solid overall ball skills in coverage and was able to average 6 interceptions per year during his 3 seasons as a full-time starter for the Bears from 1983 – 1985.

FS – Mark Carrier (12^th Round): I like to reveal some themes throughout this breakdown, and one theme for this defense is the ability to create turnovers. Though he undoubtedly peaked during his 1990 Defensive Rookie of the Year season, Carrier is another cog in this turnover machine. The 3-time Pro Bowler amassed a total of 20 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in his 7 seasons in Chicago.

SS – Adrian Amos (16^th Round): Amos wasn’t very flashy during his tenure in Chicago (which is likely why Ryan Pace was happy to let him walk after the 2018 season, leading to the saltiness he’s had ever since as a now former Packer), but he was definitely a dependable piece next to the more “high-risk, high-reward” play of Eddie Jackson. Alongside Carrier, Amos could fill a similar role as a trustworthy piece in the secondary who can play clean-up as needed.

CB – Jerry Azumah (21^st Round): Zoom should give me some kind of bonus points for his ability to serve as a reserve special teamer, but I suppose I don’t make the rules. Instead, he’ll be a serviceable corner to fill out this defense. Azumah was able to account for 10 interceptions and 7 forced fumbles in his career with the Bears, but that was with a very different level of support around him, and I feel that he would be able to benefit from the increased level of play of this defense, particularly the pressure generated by the defensive line.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – Kevin Butler (18^th Round): As mentioned, to begin this breakdown, I ended up prioritizing my special teams group in the draft. Butler, another Super Bowl Champion, is a part of that. The 2^nd kicker taken off the board in this draft, Butler ranks only behind Robbie Gould in Bears career leaders in field goals made (243) and points scored (1,116). Butler actually leads Gould and all others in extra points made (387).

P – Brad Maynard (20^th Round): This selection was really where I decided to boldly declare that I would have the clear best special teams trio in the draft. I chose Maynard as the first punter selected, and despite a lack of notable accolades from the league, Brad has left a lasting legacy from his 10 years in Chicago from 2001 – 2010, including punting for the team in the Super Bowl and twice in the NFCCG, leading all other Bears punters with 284 career punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

KR/PR – Devin Hester (3^rd Round): I addressed both offense and defense with my first two picks of the draft, but I’d argue that my BEST pick might be this one right here. The ridiculous one himself rightfully found his way to the Hall of Fame as part of the 2024. A member of the 2006 NFC Champions, Hester did his part to help secure Chicago a 2^nd Super Bowl (as we all know). He also earned 3 Pro Bowl nods and 3 All-Pro designations with the Bears (including in 2010) en route to becoming the greatest returner of all-time. Hester also was underrated as a speedy WR and can be used another chess piece that must be accounted for at all times when taking the field with the offense.

You can check out our full draft here.

Once all eight teams are announced, we’ll hold a tournament and ask you, the WCG readers, to pick the winner.

The 2023 season wasn’t long ago, but it sure feels like it for Cowboys CB DaRon Bland. Two injury-plagued seasons have dulled the luster of his record-setting breakout year. As Dallas tries to get back to fielding a competitive defense, Bland returning to his former self would be an enormous help.

Background

Years in NFL: 4
Acquired by: 2022 5th-round pick

Bland’s rookie season began at the bottom of the depth chart, but injuries pulled him into duty quickly. When Jourdan Lewis went to IR in October, Bland became the new starting nickel. Even before the breakout, he established his playmaking potential with five interceptions in 2022.

Then the real fun began. In his second season, Bland set a new NFL record for pick-sixes and tied the record for most defensive touchdowns. In addition to the five house calls, Bland had four other picks for nine total. Leading the league in interceptions, Bland was an easy pick as a First-Team All-Pro. The excitement for what he could do with more experience and training was sky high going into 2024.

That’s where the fun ended. A foot fracture in training camp led to a 10-game absence. Bland returned with Dallas already 3-7 in Mike McCarthy’s final season, but helped spark a 4-1 run. But the hole was too deep: Dallas was eliminated from the playoff after Week 16, and Bland’s missed games were ultimately more impactful than his return. Despite this, the Cowboys still made a long-term investment with a four-year, $92 million extension.

Bland returned in 2025 to a defense in disarray. Like so many, he seemed neutered by the issues up front and general breakdowns under Matt Eberflus’ direction. It was eventually revealed that he was also playing through continued foot issues, which eventually put him on IR after 12 games and required surgery in January.

Contract Status

Years Left: 4
2026 Cap Hit: $17 million

The Cowboys are locked in with Bland for at least one more year. But if the foot problems or other issues continue, they have an out as early as next offseason. Bland will again count a little over $17 million, but with just about $13 million in dead money if released. Hopefully, 2026 goes well enough that we can dismiss that possibility.

2026 Projections

Role: Starting CB
Roster Chance: 100%

While Dallas has loaded up on new defensive backs this offseason, the path to a starting role is still perfectly clear for Bland. His rehab has gone well and he’s expected to be ready for the start of camp. With improved and lasting health, Band should still be CB1 regardless of how our younger prospects perform.

Where Bland lines up in certain formations will be the most interesting variable. While he started in the league as a slot corner, and many feels that’s where he is best suited, the Cowboys now have a lot of options for that role. They signed veteran Cobie Durant, who’s best years with the Rams were also in the slot, along with adding several safeties with slot potential: Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and Caleb Downs.

While Christian Parker may lean into Bland’s versatility at times, the goal seems to be keeping him outside as one of the primary corners. The slot will get covered in a variety of ways, with Downs and Durant the leading candidates. Their ability to make plays will be enhanced if Bland can get back to putting fear into opposing QBs. He’s not a shutdown corner by any stretch, but his ball skills give any passer pause. If Bland can just stay on the field and perform at a quality starter level, it will be another big step towards fixing this defense.

Check out our previous player profiles from this series:

RB Israel Abanikanda | S Justin Barron | G T.J. Bass | C Cooper Beebe | G Tyler Booker | S Alijah Clark | RB Malik Davis | DT Tommy Dunn | CB Cobie Durant | OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku | TE Princeton Fant | TE Jake Ferguson | WR Ryan Flournoy | C Matt Hennessy | S Malik Hooker | OLB James Houston | QB Sam Howell | WR Jordan Hudson | LB Shemar James | G Trevor Keegan | CB Derion Kendrick | OLB Isaiah Land | OLB Marist Liufau | S P.J. Locke | FB Hunter Luepke | RB Phil Mafah | QB Joe Milton III | WR Jonathan Mingo | CB Devin Moore | LB DeMarvion Overshown | TE DJ Rogers | TE Luke Schoonmaker | LS Trent Sieg | WR Anthony Smith | OT Terence Steele | CB Reddy Steward | OT Nate Thomas | S Jalen Thompson | DT Jay Toia | WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | OLB Tyrus Wheat | RB Javonte Williams | OLB Sam Williams | DT D.J. Withers | S Julius Wood

Believe it or not, despite nearly two decades of sustained success, former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin never captured the NFL Coach of the Year Award. The last time a Steelers head coach did win Coach of the Year was Bill Cowher in his inaugural season in 1992, making it 34 years since Pittsburgh has had a coach win the award. Mike McCarthy could change that, though, according to one NFL analyst.

In a recent piece for NFL.com, Bucky Brooks identified McCarthy as his “long-shot” candidate to win the league’s Coach of the Year honors in his first season leading the Steelers.

“This under-appreciated, Super Bowl-winning head coach has a chance to cement his legacy with a strong run in Pittsburgh,” Brooks wrote. “McCarthy takes over a longtime winner that had plateaued under Mike Tomlin, but the roster still features enough veteran playmakers to make a jump from good to great under new direction. If the veteran coach can get Aaron Rodgers to play like a top-half quarterback in a system that minimizes his deficiencies as a 42-year-old—while simultaneously prodding defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to help the vaunted defense regain its swagger and suffocating style—the Steelers will make plenty of noise as contenders.”

While Brooks stopped short of calling McCarthy a favorite for the award, the selection is an indication that the Steelers have at least someone in the national media world who thinks they’ll be a factor in the AFC North.

If McCarthy can guide the Steelers back into legitimate Super Bowl contention while maximizing the final chapter of Aaron Rodgers’ career, he’ll likely find himself firmly in the Coach of the Year conversation. More importantly for ownership, it would signal that a new era has gotten off to exactly the start the organization envisioned.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

• C.J. Stroud emerges as Steelers 2027 QB option
• Steelers sign versatile defensive back to one-year deal
• Steelers named landing spot for All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs
• Steelers unable to draft QB Brendan Sorsby, per NFL ruling
• T.J. Watt welcoming change with Mike McCarthy as he chases return to dominance

In arguably his most explosive comments yet, Aiyuk said he fired his agent because he also represented 49ers general manager John Lynch, though he did not mention Lynch’s name in his remarks.

He went on to complain about Lynch coming to his house to talk, while also saying the team’s “head coach got a temperament of a f***ing toddler.”

“We is not cool,” Aiyuk said of the relationship between him and the 49ers. “We won’t be cool and I will never be stepping in that building except on Oct. 19.”

The Commanders visit the 49ers on that date for a Week 6 matchup this season.

For anyone who wasn't clear on the fifth-year receiver's intentions, he recently posted a video to his Instagram story in which he said, "Go Commanders! Raise hail!"

That was far more explicit than previous hints Aiyuk dropped on social media, such as posts located in Washington and recording videos wearing a Commanders hat.

Days later, Aiyuk took to social media again, demanding the 49ers cut him so he could sign with the Commanders.

"If I'm crazy or if I'm cappin'," Aiyuk said, "tell them boys cut me today and I'll sign with the Commanders tomorrow. We'll see who's cappin'."

On Friday, Aiyuk posted a video in which he said he doesn't currently have an agent — and hasn't had one since November when he terminated his Standard Representation Agreement (SRA) through the NFL Players Association last November.

Yet according to the NFLPA player-agent database, Aiyuk is still listed as being represented by Ryan Williams of Athletes First, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports. Had Aiyuk terminated his SRA, as he claims, that would be indicated in the database.

That apparent misunderstanding could in part explain Aiyuk's current situation, in which he has not applied to the NFL for reinstatement. The 49ers placed him on the Reserve/Left Squad list in December for not reporting to the team facility to do rehab work on his injured right knee.

Aiyuk has not filed the necessary paperwork for reinstatement, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Thursday. Until he does that, the 49ers don't have to release him.

Perhaps this would have happened already if Aiyuk was communicating with his agent. Or if Aiyuk would have reported to the 49ers' facility, presumably on advice from his representatives.

In July, the 49ers voided the $27 million of guaranteed money in Aiyuk's contract due to his failing to report for rehab sessions and team meetings. The receiver did not file a grievance, believing that would make it easier for the team to release him.

Aiyuk, 28, last played in 2024, appearing in seven games before tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee in a Week 7 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. In five seasons with San Francisco, he's compiled 294 receptions for 4.305 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.

This early into the new regime, you have to give the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff this: They come up with some noteworthy and downright hilarious descriptions of their players.

First it was head coach and chief offensive play caller Klint Kubiak dubbing elite tight end Brock Bowers a “football robot from heaven”. It was a description that not only the third-year Georgia product enjoyed, but his fellow Raiders found hilarious, too.

Then came defensive coordinator Rob Leonard talking up linebacker Quay Walker.

“I mean, I see Quay, he’s an Avatar out there,” Leonard began, “He’s a guy that looks like an outside linebacker that can play off the ball, play on the ball, he blitzes. Yeah, he’s a leader. Him and Nakobe (Dean) have been great, and you can definitely feel his presence.”

Interestingly enough, the Raiders’ football robot and Avatar are both former Georgia Bulldogs. But aligning to Las Vegas’ mantra this offseason of being on the same page, Bowers and Walker are expected to be prime examples of the position-less and hybrid philosophy being engrained in the Silver & Black this offseason. Kubiak’s penchant to run different plays out of identical alignments and formations — and mixing in motions and shifts — alongside Leonard’s desire to have his defense to attack by playing aggressive and fast from a multiple-front looks and deceptive blitz packages is what’s consistently talked about this offseason.

Walker provided more hints and insights on what that exactly means.

“Honestly, man, it’s a lot for offense going in that week ahead of it, so say for instance, it’s week one, and a team is just trying to get us together, whatever the case may be, and they present our defense. We have a lot of guys that played this, play that, they just move around in a lot of areas, so now it’s kind of hard to scout against us and tell what we are doing,” Walker explained when asked what’s the benefit of having defenders play multiple spots on the field. “Say for instance, I’m on the line, you never know if I’m going to drop or if I’m going to rush whether that’s to the field or the boundary. Same thing with (safety Jeremy) Chinn, (edge rusher Kwity (Paye), no matter what the case may be, Maxx (Crosby). Just a whole lot, it kind of helps and play hand in hand with the whole defense I’ll say.”

Now, if you have trepidation on the “multiple”, I don’t blame you.

My eyebrow raised as that was the same buzzword that Dennis Allen uttered constantly and consistently when he was hired as head coach of the Oakland variant of the Raiders back in 2012. He sought versatility and disguised coverages that showcased fluidity between 4-3 and 3-4 fronts and highlighted aggressiveness and attacking nature.

Sounds familiar, no?

That’s the same intent Leonard has this coming season. What helps the first-year defensive coordinator that Allen didn’t have as a rookie head coach at the time in 2012 is a well-constructed roster that saw significant salary cap space and assets this offseason used to rebuild the Raiders’ defense. Allen saw himself as the chosen lead man by then-general manager Reggie McKenzie during the chief personnel man’s tear down phase of reshaping the Silver & Black. And saying the cupboard was bare is an understatement.

Current GM John Spytek didn’t shop on a discount this offseason and spent coin on free agents Walker (three-year contract worth $40.5 million), fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean (three years, $36.03 million), edge rusher Kwity Paye (three years, $48 million), and re-signing cornerback Eric Stokes (three years, $30 million) and edge rusher Malcolm Koonce (one year, $11 million). Las Vegas also retained edge rusher Maxx Crosby after the failed trade to the Baltimore Ravens, giving Leonard much more talent (and let’s not mess around, name recognition) on his unit that Allen didn’t come close too.

Unlike Allen, Leonard is more willing to delve into specifics highlighting not only enthusiasm but the critical-thinking of someone who does intend to be multiple but teach it properly, too.

“Yeah, up front it’s always important to be deep and be able to rotate. It just is. It’s not a crazy, drastic — for the front guys, they’re like, ‘Hey, I’m an outside shade, an inside shade or head up. I’m a three, a two or a shade.’ I don’t think for how we teach D-line that it’s something drastically different,” Leonard said. “What’s my technique? Who am I striking? And then, in terms of 3-4, 4-3 that’s just in my mind the edge guys, who’s dropping, who’s rushing, which is a little bit different, but I don’t think the change is as drastic as it may sound if that makes sense.”

Walker, who stands at a prototypical 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, brings the physical and mental traits to succeed as a versatile chess piece. The 26-year-old brings with him solid four-year production with the Green Bay Packers (was selected 22nd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft with the pick the Pack acquired from the Raiders in the Davante Adams trade) and the blend of size and athleticism allows him to be deployed as both an inside and outside linebacker who can blitz, stop the run, and drop back in coverage.

And he’s eager to do all of that and anything else Leonard asks for.

“I’m playing more positions that I probably ever played in my career, but this is a challenge that I’m willing to accept. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. I want to always want to be a guy who can move around and play multiple positions, Walker said. “And honestly, man, where we at right now, we’re growing each and every day, that’s all you can ask for. A lot of teams are preaching the same thing around this time. So, how are we going to separate ourselves in order for us to get to where we want to get and get what we can get out of the OTAs and this off season. So, we just got to stay locked in with it and just have the mindset, and as a leader, it’s my job. I feel as if I come in with the right mindset, making sure that guys can match my energy, whatever the case may be.”

Walker taking second-year linebacker Cody Lindenberg, the Raiders’ seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft and became a core special teamer (362 snaps/86 percent of the unit’s total) as a rookie last season, during OTAs and minicamp is tangible proof of the right mindset and making sure teammates match his energy.

While Walker and Dean are the favorites to be the starting inside linebackers in a 3-4 front, getting youngsters like Lindenberg up to speed is vital for depth, especially if the Leonard does intend his Raiders defense to be multiple.

As promised, we’ve got the results of our SB Nation Reacts poll for this week, so let’s take a look at what everyone thought about this week’s question, shall we?

We asked all of you out there whether or not you thought the great Harrison Smith would be returning to the Minnesota Vikings for a fifteenth season. Overall, the overwhelming majority of folks believe that he will be, though there is a bit of dissension on when that return is going to come.

Overall, of those who responded to our poll, only 18% of you think that we’ve seen the last of the Hitman in a Vikings uniform. So, that means 82% of our respondents think that Harrison Smith is coming back.

So, it’s a matter of whether folks think Smith is going to come back before or after training camp. Of those who answered our poll question, 41% believe that he’s going to wait until after camp is over to make his return to the team, while 33% believe that the team will know his choice before camp starts here in about a month. The other 8% of our respondents believe that we’re going to see a mid-season return for #22.

Honestly, at this point, I think Smith has earned the right to miss training camp if that’s what he feels like doing. He knows the defense inside and out, and I’m sure he’s going to be taking care of himself physically to the point he doesn’t need to put himself through the extra strain that training camp would present. The team has already made it clear that he would be welcomed back if he decided to return, so if that’s the way things are going to play out, it wouldn’t be all that surprising.

Those are the results of our SB Nation Reacts poll for this week, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, as always, to everyone who took the time to participate in this week’s poll, and keep your eyes open for the next one!

Check out the FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

While the NFL slowly drips their list of Top 100 players for the upcoming season, CBS Sports released their Top 100 NFL players of 2026 by Pete Prisco, and there were eight Eagles named — it would have been nine, but A.J. Brown, who dropped 33 spots from last year’s list, is now a Patriot.

The No. 1 overall player on the list was newly-traded Myles Garrett, followed by QBs Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen. There’s quite a bit of scrolling to get to the first player from Philadelphia, but that guy is Eagles left tackle, Jordan Mailata.

Prisco addresses why it might be surprising for Mailata to be ranked so high:

“His play dipped a bit last season, but [Jordan Mailata] still remains one of the game’s best left tackles. He is a big power player who keys the run game and also does a good job in pass protection. His pass protection fell off some early, but he regrouped.”

The list’s overall theme for Eagles players was that their 2025 season wasn’t as impressive as previous years, but ultimately, they all have high ceilings and are expected to turn things around this fall.

• No. 30 – OT Jordan Mailata
• No. 36 – CB Quinyon Mitchell
• No. 41 – OT Lane Johnson
• No. 47 – RB Saquon Barkley
• No. 73 – DT Jalen Carter
• No. 74 – CB Cooper DeJean
• No. 84 – QB Jalen Hurts
• No. 85 – LB Zack Baun

It’ll take a couple weeks before we have the full Top 100 list from the NFL, voted on by NFL players, and then we’ll be able to compare where the Eagles landed.

Which players do you think are over-ranked or under-ranked? Was anyone snubbed? Let us know in the comments!

It is Day 78 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.

At Day 78 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff we look back at one of the most dominant road wins in Cowboys history. Dallas entered Week 11 at 6-3, still stinging from an overtime collapse against Green Bay, while Minnesota came in at 8-1 after a dramatic win over Buffalo. The Vikings were one of the NFC’s top stories, riding a seven-game winning streak and looking like a legitimate contender. Then the Cowboys walked into U.S. Bank Stadium and turned the entire afternoon into a national statement.

Sunday, November 20, 2022 — 4:25 p.m. ET

U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Final Score: Dallas Cowboys 40, Minnesota Vikings 3

The pace of the game was set immediately by the Cowboys defense. On Minnesota’s opening drive, Micah Parsons sacked Kirk Cousins and forced a fumble, giving Dallas a short field. The Cowboys cashed that in with a Brett Maher field goal, and after the Vikings tied it 3-3, Dallas took control for good. Ezekiel Elliott scored from one yard out late in the first quarter, and the Cowboys never looked back.

The second quarter was when the game started to feel like a mismatch. Maher hit from 53 yards, Dak Prescott found Tony Pollard for a 30-yard touchdown, and Maher drilled a 60-yard field goal as time expired in the half. Dallas led 23-3 at halftime, but the score almost undersold how complete the performance already was. The Cowboys were winning up front, finishing drives, and making Minnesota’s high-powered offense look completely uncomfortable. 

The knockout came right after halftime. On third-and-14, Prescott hit Pollard in stride, and Pollard turned it into a 68-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, Elliott scored again from one yard out to make it 37-3. The Cowboys added one more Maher field goal in the fourth quarter, and Dallas left Minneapolis with a 40-3 win that felt even more emphatic than the final score. 

Prescott was truly outstanding, completing 22 of 25 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, no sacks, and a 139.3 passer rating. Pollard was the offensive star, producing a career-high 189 yards from scrimmage with two receiving touchdowns, while Elliott added two rushing scores. Dallas finished with 458 total yards and scored on each of its first seven possessions. 

The defense was even more ruthless. Dallas sacked Cousins seven times, held the Vikings to 183 total yards, and ended Cousins’ streak of 39 straight games with a touchdown pass. Parsons and Dorance Armstrong each had two sacks, and the Cowboys made Justin Jefferson a non-factor after his unforgettable performance the week before against Buffalo. 

This game belongs on the countdown because it was not just a blowout, it was a road annihilation of an 8-1 team, in a hostile dome, one week after Dallas had been heavily criticized for letting a game get away. For one afternoon, the Cowboys looked like the most complete team in football with an explosive offense, relentless pass rush, elite special teams, and total control from start to finish.

Interesting Facts About the Game

This was the largest road win in Cowboys franchise history at the time, with Dallas winning by 37 points. It was also Minnesota’s second-largest home loss in franchise history. 

Countdown To Kickoff by day:

100, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80, 79

The Cleveland Browns have a full quarterback room. Here at DBN, we have reported on veteran Deshaun Watson being the starter, the possibility that Shedeur Sanders will evolve into the starting QB, Dillon Gabriel not being out of the equation, and how rookie Taylen Green should develop.

But not a single word that the Browns are attempting to bring Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby into the fold.

RELATED:NFL SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT OFF THE TABLE FOR SORSBY

Plenty of ink has been devoted to who Sorsby is and the journey that might bring him onto Cleveland’s roster. But no quotes from GM Andrew Berry, head coach Todd Monken (quite the opposite, in fact, with Monken), or any other front office personnel stating they are interested, or are going to bring him in.

Lots of conversations about the possibility of Sorsby being selected by the Browns. But no proof. Nobody from the Browns has said publicly that they will become the team that is able to get him and bring him into the training camp scenario.

And you won’t hear anything. GMs and other team personnel don’t discuss these matters with anyone outside of the organization. They will “Hollywood talk” you to death with answers to questions such as, “We will continue to evaluate our options,” or “We are pleased with the quarterbacks we have under contract, but always look to assess our situation at every position.”

That didn’t answer anything. And all media sites are going to ask the hard questions, already knowing they will get the generic answers. Still, it’s what we do, and we media folk have to print something. But no, they aren’t going to divulge anything.

It is a subject that may or may not affect Cleveland. Nobody from the Browns front office or coaching staff ever mentioned that they had an interest in him, but then again, they wouldn’t. Because the draft process for the Supplemental version is by bidding, the franchise has no incentive to discuss their feelings if they are interested in him. No GM will divulge their strategy at any time. Teams have traded up to grab a guy in front of one of their division teams because they believed the division foe was going to snare him on intel they received.

Sorsby’s situation is a mess. He dug his own grave, and whatever is going on with the remainder of his football career is on him. He wanted to go back to college because he had an NIL eval of $5 million. But realistically, what advertisers were going to be interested? Who made that evaluation? His agent? Teams in the same conference were about to bail on Tech. Teams in other sports had already begun the process, as their volleyball had suffered some cancellations.

Looking at his stats, he is a good player with a ton of talent, but is he considered an elite prospect? A franchise QB? Exceptional runner, but Sorsby’s passing stats don’t scream anything other than an above-average passer. He may have been a Texas Tech QB, but he never played a game with them. All of his best stats were with Cincinnati, which never really did anything.

The issue is that nobody wants a quarterback who will throw a game because he has money riding on the other team. A missed throw here, an interception in the fourth quarter, an untimely fumble. More than any other position, the QB has the opportunity on every single offensive down to alter the game’s outcome. 

Sorsby can’t enter the NFL as expected through the Supplemental Draft. He can’t go back to play college football. Perhaps he can play in the Canadian Football League (CFL) this year, although their season is already underway. Then, enter the NFL draft next April under normal draft circumstances after sitting out an entire season.

However, on Friday, another roadblock for Sorsby.

The CFL announced that they are shutting him out from signing with any of their clubs.

Dawgs by Nature has obtained a copy of the statement issued by the CFL league office. It states:

“Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL. The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning. At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list.”

The “negotiation list” is an internal procedure with this league. They have a session that is similar to a draft, where teams select NFL players and place them on their own list. Teams can keep each drafted player’s rights for five years. In case one of their protected players ends his NFL career and becomes available, that team can then “negotiate” with them regarding becoming a roster member.

As an example, QB Johnny Manziel was released from the Browns after just two seasons, his agent terminated their relationship, Nike ended their business deal, he was indicted by a Dallas grand jury on misdemeanor assault charges, and was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 NFL season. Instead, he opted for the CFL. He was on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats negotiation list, and on December 28, 2017, the CFL approved Manziel to play in the league. 

Players enter the CFL through their own draft, an open tryout, or via the negotiation list. As far as pro football contracts, the CFL pays the second most behind the NFL. Since the NFL decided not to hold a Supplemental Draft, of which he would have been the only player entered, it was assumed that his next option would be going to the CFL. Otherwise, he would sit out an entire year since he renounced his final year of college eligibility.

Currently, the CFL is in its third weekend of games. Games are broadcast in the United States by CBS Sports. The regular season concludes on October 24, with their championship game, the Grey Cup, is scheduled for November 15 in Calgary. 

The CFL’s decision to exclude Sorsby eliminates one more avenue for the fledgling quarterback to play this upcoming season. His only options are to enroll in a junior college or play for one of the professional indoor football circuits, such as “Arena Football One,” which is playing in its 10^th week. Their regular season ends July 18.

There are a total of eight indoor football leagues in the U.S, which all play a spring format, and their seasons are coming to a close or will end this summer. The championship game of the “Indoor Football League” in Tucson is on Sunday, August 16.

Sorsby just might have to do what New Orleans Saints backup QB Hunter Dekkers did, who was suspended indefinitely while he was on the roster of Iowa State. Dekkers was accused of placing 366 bets that totaled more than $2,799, including 297 when he was under the age of 21, Iowa’s minimum age for sports gambling.

He then played one season for Iowa Western Community College and was undrafted in the 2025 NFL draft.

Dekkers was signed to the Saints’ practice squad, then played one year in the UFL. Which team, you ask? Why, the Houston Gamblers, of course.    

It’s been 20 years since the Chicago Bears won back-to-back division titles, and the latest odds from our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook don’t favor that happening this season. They have the Detroit Lions as the favorite to win the NFC North at +145, followed by the Green Bay Packers at +260, then the Bears at +320, with the Minnesota Vikings being the long shot at +500.

We asked you guys earlier this week which team posed the biggest threat to the Bears repeating as division champs, and you agreed with FanDuel, as 66% of you chose Detroit.

The Lions may be coming off a fourth-place finish in 2025, but they were the only NFC North foe to sweep the Bears, and they won the division in 2024 and 2023.

The Lions are a very good football team. They are well-coached, and they’ve had some solid drafts over the last few years.

With former Lions coordinator, now current Bears’ head coach, Ben Johnson, manning the ship in the Windy City, and his good friend Dan Campbell still head coach in Motown, this matchup will have some extra spice over the next several seasons.

The NFC North is the toughest top-to-bottom division in football, and while I believe the Bears can repeat, I would not be surprised if any of them come out on top. All four are good, but each has some question marks.

Our guy Aaron Leming did a deep dive into the division with a recent series of articles, and you can check them out at the links below.

NFC North’s Most Improved and Most Concerning Position Groups

NFC North Stockwatch: Which teams are trending up?

2026 NFC North Position Group Rankings: Offense

2026 NFC North Position Group Rankings: Defense

SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across the NFL, and throughout the year, we’ll ask questions of the most plugged-in Bears fans and fans across the country right here at WCG, but also in the weekly emailed surveys that you can sign up for right here to participate in. SB Nation will never share your email information, so sign up and let your voice shape the results!

The New York Giants were closer to competing than their record would suggest a year ago, but close to winning still isn’t a win.

There were a wide variety of reasons why the Giants were able to give playoff caliber teams all they could handle, but not quite close out games when they had the chance.

One of the biggest keys to making the leap from close losses to closing out games will be for the under-the-radar players to step up. This week we asked you which of the Giants’ less heralded players will establish themselves as the hidden gem on the roster. In other words, which player you would tell fans of another team to watch out for as an impact player they might not know about.

Your choice this week? Defensive tackle Darius Alexander.

Chris’ thoughts

All told, I can’t say I’m too surprised by these results.

It just makes sense that Giants fans want to see Alexander step up and become “that guy” who impacts the game, considering the concerns surrounding the defensive line. And the position is ripe to produce a hidden gem as well, considering defensive tackle is a (generally) thankless position. Alexander has the traits to be a player who makes an impact as both a run defender and pass rusher, with good size and near-elite athleticism for his frame.

Alexander was a non-factor to start his rookie season after dealing with an undisclosed injury for most of last spring and summer. However, he improved consistently over the second half of the season once he got healthy and played under Charlie Bullen. He could be a player primed to make a real jump in 2026 with a year and a full NFL off-season under his belt.

There has been significantly more optimism for the Giants so far in 2026 than we’ve seen in the past for a team coming off of a 4-win season. There’s always a general trend toward optimism in the offseason, but this year’s optimism has more substance than in previous years. That’s largely being driven by the hope that John Harbaugh can build the kind of culture in New York that made the Baltimore Ravens the model of consistency and competitiveness for the last 18 years.

Right now the Giants are still considered the least-likely team to win the NFC East, but we’re also seeing more optimism from Vegas. The Giants’ over/under is still only at 7.5 per FanDuel, but that’s still 2 wins better than the over/under of 5.5 prior to the 2025 season.

Speaking personally, I’m excited to see each of these players in training camp and the preseason. We’ve already talked about Alexander, but I’m equally intrigued by the other players and how they perform under the new regime.

Defenses typically need three good corners and three good safeties to effectively combat modern offenses. Ar’Darius Washington’s versatility to be a “nickel” who blurs the lines between slot corner and safety could make him a valuable piece for the defense.

Matt Nagy and Brian Callahan have both shown a tendency toward versatile backs, and Tyrone Tracy is very versatile. At the same time, the Giants have been most successful with counter runs over the last couple years, so Tracy might be an unexpectedly good fit with Greg Roman’s love of power runs.

Finally, John Michael Schmitz has improved each season, and the conditions might be right for him to blossom the way similar centers have in the past. Adding Francis Mauigoa and keeping Jermaine Eluemunor could give the rest of the line the size and strength to allow JMS to win with leverage, athleticism, and positioning. Pairing big guards and tackles with smaller centers is a potent combination, as we’ve seen with Tyler Linderabum (300-305), Jason Kelce (280-295), and Weston Richburg (290-295).

Really, if the Giants want to start putting away these close games, they’ll need each of these players (and more) to step up and have a positive impact.

This is my first year participating in the All-Bears Historical Fantasy Draft, and I knew I was up against stiff competition. My fellow competitors had great strategies and approaches that balanced player production and positional value in their drafts.  I saw many a coveted player go just before my opportunity to take them.  But ultimately, I believe I drafted the best historical fantasy team this year, and in this article, I’ll go over my overall strategic approach to the draft, the amazing players I added to my team, and why you should vote for me when the tournament runs.

• By now, you all know the basic rules to our All-Bears Historical Fantasy Draft. We each picked a team consisting of 25 players. We got 11 picks on offense, 11 picks on defense, and three picks on special teams.
• The special teams picks were assigned to one kicker, one punter, and one miscellaneous contributor (returner, coverage defender, long snapper).
• The offensive picks require a full offensive line, a quarterback, a running back, two wide receivers, and a tight end. The 11th pick on offense could go to any skill position of the team’s choosing.
• Given the Bears’ historical preference for a 4-3 base defense over a 3-4, we required two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two linebackers, two cornerbacks, and two safeties. The 11th pick could be used at any position of the team’s choosing, whether it be a nickel defender, a third linebacker, or an extra defensive lineman.
• Each player’s skill level will be transported to the modern age. For example, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman from the 1940s, while smaller than the modern o-lineman, will still be a Hall of Famer.
• We also only get the player’s ability as it was when he played in Chicago. So if someone were to tout the Hall of Fame credentials of Alan Page, keep in mind that his time in Chicago (0 Pro Bowls) wasn’t the same as his time in Minnesota (9 Pro Bowls).

Gooch’s Historical Draft Strategy

So, I knew going in that there was going to be no hiding Chicago Bears greats from the other seven WCG drafters.  The Bears knowledge runs wide and deep with this group, so I had to strike early with players I wanted at the key positions for building my team.  I was slotted in the middle of the draft – which is generally where I like to be in fantasy drafts (easier to avoid positional runs from the middle), so I felt like that gave me a bit of an edge.   There were two draft position factors I took into account: 1) positional value (quarterbacks matter more than kickers) and 2) positional scarcity (the Chicago Bears have fewer greats at certain positions on the field, like quarterback and wide receiver, than they do at others, like linebacker and defensive lineman). So with that in mind, I approached the draft focused on filling key positional positions and favoring positions early in the draft where the Bears have traditionally had fewer great players than at other positions on the field. If, however, those scare resources were expended by other drafters before I could strike, I was determined not to overdraft lesser players at those positions in the draft. Rather, I was content to wait for later rounds when the Bears’ value at those positions would match the round in which they were drafted.

Gooch’s Chicago Monsters Offense:

QB –  Jim McMahon (Round 2): I don’t have to tell you the desert of great players at the quarterback position in Chicago history.  Here the two prongs of my draft strategy converged on one player.  With Caleb, Sid, and Jay Cutler already off the board in the first round, there was one great player at the position left, and I did the proverbial “run the pick in” to make my choice.  Jim McMahon’s legend is cemented as the quarterback who led the Bears in the 1985 Super Bowl run, but I think that fact sometimes overshadows just how good of a quarterback he was.  While McMahon falls short of a Hall of Fame pedigree (and to be clear – the Bears only have one of those at the QB position and he was well off the board), he is, in my opinion, the best leader we have ever had at the QB position.  His grit and determination rubbed off on his teammates. But his production wasn’t bad either – he was NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1982, and he earned a Pro Bowl spot in the 1985 season.  Over his Bears career, from 1982-1988, he threw for 11,203 passing yards and 67 touchdowns as a Bear.  He was also a solid runner with 168 rushing attempts and 612 yards rushing for the Bears.  And McMahon is #1 on the list for playoff passing yards with 967 (although I hope Caleb passes him soon). One can only wonder what could have been except for that dirty hit he took from Green Bay’s Charles Martin.  I was delighted to lock down the QB position with McMahon in the 2^nd round.

RB – Neal Anderson (Round 5):  Neal Anderson’s career with the Bears was shadowed by the legacy of Walter Payton.  Which is why I don’t think he gets his due for just how much of a superstar running back he was for the Bears.  He played his entire seven-year career with the Chicago Bears.  He was 2^nd team All-Pro in 1990 and a 4x Pro Bowler.  He rushed for 6,166 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.  He also had 302 receptions and 2,763 receiving yards.  He scored 71 touchdowns (approximately ten touchdowns per season).  After Walter and Gale, there is Neal Anderson.  To get him in Round 5 was an absolute steal.

WR – Curtis Conway (Round 10): Jacob Infante thinks he has the best wide receiver core in the draft, and admittedly he has assembled a powerhouse, but I think my three wideouts match up, certainly in the speed category, and given I didn’t make a pick at wide receiver until round 10, I like my group comparatively speaking.  I kick off my Bears WR trio with Curtis Conway.  A staple of the 1990s Chicago Bears, Conway was the Bears #1 WR for his career with the Bears, when healthy. The later part of his Bears career was hampered by injuries and sub-par QB play, but in 1995 and 1996 he posted 1037 yards and 1049 yards seasons.  In 1995, he posted 12 touchdown receptions.  He had 31 total touchdowns for his career as a Chicago Bear.

WR – Willie Gault (Round 15): Speaking of speed, Willie Gault was your prototypical track star convert to wide receiver.  Gault qualified for the 1980 US Olympic team and would have participated if the US had not boycotted it.  Gault was part of the world record-setting 4x 100 meter relay team in the 1983 World Championships.  So yeah, Willie was fast.  While he never posted a 1000 yard receiving season (playing in the 1980s on a run-focused Bears team), he posted 800+ twice and 700+ twice as a Chicago Bear.  Considering he topped out at 42 receptions in a season with the Bears – his reception-to-yards average was eye-popping.  In fact, he averaged over 20 yards per reception for his career with the Bears.  Willie was also a prolific kick returner, so he would fill that role on the Chicago Monsters. He had 37 kick off returns for the Bears and amassed 885 kickoff return yards over his career with the Bears, including 577 yards and a 99 yard return touchdown in 1985.

WR – Darnell Mooney (Round 21): I round out my wide receiver core with yet another burner at the position with Darnell Mooney.  Mooney posted a 4.38 40 yard dash and was an absolute steal in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.  While he dealt with injuries and bad QB play as a Bear that limited his production in 2022-2023, it is his 2021 season that stands out.  Mooney posted 81 receptions and 1,055 yards with a 13.0 average yards per reception.  He also notched four touchdowns that season. To get him in the “flyer” rounds of the draft was a coup.   

TE – Mike Ditka (Round 4):  I continue my theme of taking amazingly productive players who we maybe don’t quite remember were quite as productive as they were with Hall of Fame tight end, Mike Ditka.  Sure his stint as the Bears coach in the 80s, including the Super Bowl, the SNL skits, and the iconic stache and cigar are all part of the popular memory of “Ditka” (you know how you heard that in your head), but what some of you youngins might not know is Ditka was a great, and I mean great, tight end.  Ditka was a terror from day one with the Bears.  He caught 58 passes and scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie.  He was a key cog of the 1963 NFL championship team.  He tied Harlon Hill’s franchise record for most receiving touchdowns in a game with four.  Ditka ranks first among tight ends and fourth in Bears history with 4,503 yards, fifth in both receptions (316) and touchdown catches (34). He was a 2x First-team All-Pro, 3x Second-team All-pro, and 5x Pro Bowler.  At the tight end position, for the Bears, there is Ditka, a big gap, and then everyone else.

LT – Herman Lee (Round 17): With the great left tackles mostly off the board in the early rounds before I had a selection, I bided my time.  And boy did I get rewarded with Herman Lee in Round 17.  Lee played for the Bears from 1958 to 1966 and was on the 1963 NFL championship team.  He is on the centennial list of the 100 greatest Bears of all-time. To get a stalwart, champion left tackle in round 17 of the draft was just a great find.

LG – Joe Thuney (Round 6): Sure, it’s just one season with the Bears and I don’t get to credit most of his Hall of Fame career with the Patriots and the Chiefs, but what a single season it was.  PFF gave Thuney a 79.4 overall grade in the 2025 season, 5^th among the 81 qualified offensive guards, and he played 1,149 offensive snaps.  His PFF pass-blocking grade of 88.6 ranked 1^st among 81 qualified offensive guards, and his run-blocking was a not-too-shabby 71, 19^th overall.  He allowed zero sacks and one hit to an opposing pass rusher.  He permitted only 15 TOTAL pressures in 2025.  I’ll take that at guard all day and twice on Sunday.

C – Jerry Fontenot (Round 25):  Here I used a meta-draft strategy to steal a great center in the last round of the draft.  I noticed around Round 14 that all of my fellow competitors already had the center position locked in.  Which meant I could wait on Jerry, who only ever played center, until the last pick of the draft.  His career with the Bears is certainly worthy of a higher round pick.  He was the starting center for the Bears from 1989 to 1996.  And he was a steady presence centering the offensive line of the early 1990s Bears teams.  The fact those teams weren’t very good probably hurt him in the voting for season honors.  He was a day one starter as a rookie and he didn’t miss a single game his entire career with the Bears.  He had only three holding penalties for his ENTIRE career with the Bears.  I’ll take Jay Hilgenberg-lite in the last round of the draft.

RG – Kyle Long (Round 7): I pounced with back-to-back guard selections by taking Kyle Long.  Son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, he was a day one starter at right guard for the Bears (though they dabbled a bit with him at right tackle).  He was Second-team All-Pro in 2014 and he was a 3x Pro Bowler.  Ignoring his RT stint, as a Right Guard, he gave up a total of 7.75 sacks for his entire Bears career. 

RT – James “Big Cat” Williams (Round 11): I was targeting Big Cat for awhile and so happy he was still there for me in Round 11.  Big Cat Williams was a fixture for the Chicago Bears at right tackle.  He was a second-team All-Pro in 2001 and also earned Pro Bowl honors that year.  Given the terrible 1990s teams that he played for, his individual honors were undoubtedly hampered – had he been playing on a winning team I have little doubt he would have earned multiple Pro Bowl nods.  Over a decade (12 years) locking down the right tackle position for the Bears, spending his entire career as a Chicago Bear, Big Cat is one of the greatest offensive linemen, in terms of longevity and durability and competence, to play for the Bears in history.

I have Chicago Bears Top 100 players at quarterback, running back, tight end, right guard, right tackle, left tackle and wide receiver – key positions on every NFL offense and in particular key for any Chicago Bears offense. I got the #6 overall player (Mike Ditka) on that list in round four. Also Curtis Conway made the “top 10 snubs” from the Top 100 list the Bears released on the team’s centennial anniversary.  More importantly, I feel like my offense gels – in some alternate universe where this team could have been on the field, I have no doubt it would have been a top five, if not top overall, offense, even in today’s NFL.    

Gooch’s Chicago Monsters: Defense

I assembled what I believe to be an amazing offensive team for the Chicago Bears.  But like any Bears fan, I believe that defense wins championships.  So, I had a strong preference in the draft for building out a defense with players that worked together and formed a cohesive defense that could perform on the field like the 1985 and 2006 Bears defenses.  This is that defense. It is a 4-3 base given my preference for the Lovie Tampa 2 players, but my alignment is modern, with the normal strongside linebacker replaced by my nickle slot cornerback.

DE – Alex Brown (Round 12): How about getting one of the most consistent and disruptive defensive ends in Bears history in round 12 of our draft?  Alex Brown is one of the most impactful Chicago Bears of the post 2000 Chicago Bears, and we got him in the 4^th round of the 2002 NFL draft. He started in his rookie season totaling 40 tackles (31 unassisted) and posted 2.5 sacks. He was a first-alternate for the Pro-Bowl in 2005 totaling 75 tackles, six sacks, eight pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.  For his Bears career, he totaled 43.5 sacks, 79 tackles for loss, five interceptions, and 314 solo tackles.  An amazing player to get in the middle rounds of the draft.

DT – Tommie Harris (Round 3): I’m going to go out on a limb here.  I’m fully aware of the pedigree of the Dan Hamptons, the Richard Dents, the Doug Atkins.  But from a pure skill and scheme fit, I don’t think there was any Chicago Bear on the defensive line that exceeded Tommie Harris in his prime. Tommie Harris was the quintessential three-technique in Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 defense.  Had he been healthy for the 2006 Super Bowl, I have little doubt that the Bears would have prevailed. Tommie Harris was a Second-team All pro in 2005, a 3x Pro Bowler, and he qualified for the 100 greatest Bears of All-Time. Of all of the defensive lineman in Chicago Bears history, only the Danimal sits above Tommie Harris on my board.  To get him in round 3 of this draft wasn’t just a steal, it formed the very essence of the defense I have built.

DT – Keith “Tractor” Traylor (Round 18): Having committed to establishing a 4-3 Tampa 2 defense in my construction of the Monster’s defense – I was going to need a 1-technique who could both stack up against the run and play behind the line of scrimmage.  Lucky for me, the Tractor was still available in Round 18.  He only played for the Bears from 2001-2003, but he was an impactful interior defensive lineman in his time.  Of course, we all remember the iconic moment when he intercepted Mark Brunell of the Jacksonville Jaguars and returned it almost for a touchdown.  But that moment wasn’t the extent of the Tractor’s contribution to the Bears. He had 45 tackles, two sacks, that interception, and two forced fumbles as a Chicago Bear, not to mention four passes defended in 2001. He would follow that up with 41 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and two passes defended in 2002.   Pairing the Tractor with Tommie almost seems unfair.

DE – Trace Armstrong (Round 16): Continuing my trend of taking Chicago Bears with amazing careers who have tended to be overlooked through the fan historical lense, I chose Trace Armstrong in Round 16. Armstrong was a steady presence on the Bears defense in the early-to-the-mid 1990s, although his production would largely go unrecognized due the fact that the Bears weren’t good enough during his tenure. He would play for the Bears for six seasons from 1989 to 1994. Armstrong finished his rookie season with five sacks, and he was voted to the All-Rookie team. He also won the Brian Piccolo award.  Over his career, Armstrong would record several double-digit sack seasons with the Bears, in 1990 (10) and again in 1993 (11.5).  Over his career as a Chicago Bear, Trace Armstrong tallied 42 sacks in just six seasons.   

LB – Brian Urlacher (Round 1): Look, I’m not going to lie. This is my BEST argument for why you should vote for me – and it is simply this, I have, bar none, the best linebacking core of any of the historical teams assembled.  You may be wondering about the fact that I took Brian Urlacher when the Bears have Dick Butkus and Michael Singletary on their historical roster.  And as much as I love both those players (my number in high school, as a middle linebacker, was #50 for Michael Singletary), I am going to assert with full confidence this fact: Brian Urlacher is the best linebacker, nay, the best defensive player in Chicago Bears history.  No player that we have ever had on our team better encapsulated the role he was tasked to play and played it at an all-pro level for longer than Brian Urlacher. First, he played longer for the Bears than any of the other great Bears linebackers: 13 seasons.  Over his career, he was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2000), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), he was a 4x First-Team All-Pro, he was Second-team All-Pro in 2010, he is an 8x Pro Bowler.  He was the NFL solo tackles leader in 2002.  He was #14 on the Top 100 Chicago Bears Centennial team. And he was a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team.  He dominated the middle linebacker position in Lovie’s Tampa 2 scheme – not only as a massive threat in pass defense in the middle third, but as a pass rusher and a run stuffer.  Brian Urlacher is, bar none, the greatest linebacker in Chicago Bears history.  He is in the top five greatest linebackers of all time in the whole NFL.  To have the opportunity to draft him in the first round was a privilege and an honor.

LB – Wilbur Marshall (Round 8): But wait, there’s more!  Not only did I get the greatest MLB in Chicago Bears history, I got to pair him with the greatest Will linebacker in Bears history.  Don’t get me wrong, I would have liked to pair Urlacher with his contemporaneous companion – Lance Briggs – on my defense.  But I got to do one better in this draft.  I paired Urlacher with the greatest off-ball, non-middle linebacker in Bears history: Wilbur Marshall.  Marshall was a Bear during the Super Bowl Shuffle season – playing with the Bears from 1984-1987.  During that period, he was a First-team All-Pro (1986), and a 2x Pro Bowler (1986-1987).  Marshall shined in the 1985 season, including the iconic runback in the 1985 NFC championship game, where he picked up the fumble by Dieter Brock and alongside the Fridge, returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. In my opinion, if you could take any Chicago Bear linebacker to form a dual tandem, there is no better combination than Brian Urlacher and Wilbur Marshall.  

CB – Donnell Wolford (Round 9): At cornerback here, I chose another Chicago Bears player from the lost era – where a great player was forced to play on losing team after losing team.  Many young fans of the Bears will have no memory of Wolford, but he was a stalwart #1 cornerback for the Chicago Bears in the dark days of the 90s seasons.  Despite the ineptitude of the Bears teams he played for, he would earn Pro Bowl honors in 1994 and be selected for the 100 greatest Bears of all-time during the Centennial celebration.  He was a three-time All-Madden team member during his career. He held the record for the most interceptions for a Chicago Bear, at 32 total interceptions, until he was eclipsed by Charles Tillman. 

FS – Todd Bell (Round 20): I’ll be frank, I am conflicted about this selection. From an ability standpoint – Todd Bell is an obvious selection – particularly as late as I got him in the 20^th round.  But I remain miffed with Todd for sitting out the 1985 season in a contract dispute.  While it allowed the Bears to see the value of Dave Dureson, Bell would have undoubtedly been a key asset for the 85 Bears defense.  That said, Bell’s career as a Bear is one of the most decorated careers of a Chicago Bears free safety. He was a Second-team All Pro in 1984 and was also a Pro Bowler that season.  He would record five interceptions over his career as a Bear, and 8.5 sacks.  His reputation was as a hard hitter but he was also solid in coverage.

SS – Doug Plank (Round 14): Literally the defensive player that defined the 4-6 defense that would go on to give the Bears their one-and-only Super Bowl victory, Doug Plank may be the greatest strong safety in Chicago Bears history (Mark Carrier is certainly a strong candidate). He spent his entire playing career with the Chicago Bears, and he is ranked in the top 100 greatest Bears of all-time. He recorded 15 interceptions over his career and 14 fumble recoveries.  But it was his hard hitting style in the run game that earned him his reputation and would form the ethos of the 4-6 defense that would lead the Bears to the Super Bowl victory in 1985.

CB – Dave “The Weasel” Whitsell (Round 14): This was a historical find in round 14 of the draft, because on the merits, Whitsell should have been drafted at least seven rounds before he went.  Nicknamed “The Weasel,” Dave Whitsell was a key player for the Bears on the 1963 Championship team.  During his six-year career with the Bears, he started 83 of the 84 regular season games at cornerback.  He was given the nickname “Weasel” for his cunning style of play. He had 26 interceptions as a Chicago Bear, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Whitsell was a mainstay for the early 1960s Chicago Bears. The fact he lasted to round 14 is simply a testament to how time dulls the memory of even the most oustanding players in the game.

Slot CB – Bryce Callahan (Round 19).  I chose as my utility defensive player, given the modern NFL game as it is, one of the best slot corners to play for the Chicago Bears, Bryce Callahan. Bryce didn’t win any all-pro or pro-bowl honors during his career, but that didn’t stop him being one of the most impactful, shutdown slot corners in the game during his career as a Chicago Bear. While he would only  record 4 interceptions over his four season career with the Bears, that in no way encapsulates his defensive value.  Bryce shut down slot receivers and tight ends. In an NFL game that increasingly focused on slot and tight end routes, Bryce was a black hole for opposing offenses. During his four seasons with the Bears he would record 123 tackles from the position of defensive back.  He was a key player in the 2018 season and as my utility defender, drafted in the 19^th round, I couldn’t be happier.

So, let’s look at my defense as a whole.  I have two edge players who illustrated substantial pass rush abilities and durability as Chicago Bears. At the 3-tech I have perhaps the greatest Chicago Bears defensive lineman of all time.  At 1-tech I have the undisputed run-stopper / pass rusher of the last three decades of Chicago Bears defense.  And then we look to the linebacking core:  I have the absolute, bar-none, greatest linebacker for the Chicago Bears of all time, Brian Urlacher, and I have paired him with the greatest Will linebacker in Bears history – Wilbur Marshall.  And I have completed my defense with an umbrella of Chicago greats at the cornerback and safety positions.  The 1985 4-6 defense is the greatest defense ever assembled in a single season, but I believe my defense is superior to that defense in almost every metric. Is there any doubt this defense, combined with the offense I have assembled, would be a perennial Super Bowl champion? I certainly do not doubt it.

Gooch’s Chicago Monsters: Special Teams

K – Bob Thomas (Round 22): I’m kind of tickled that I was able to secure a kicker and a punter with elite pedigree in the late rounds of the draft. Thomas was a successful place kicker for the Bears from 1975 to 1982.  He is, to this day, one of the Chicago Bears franchise’s leading scorers. Over his career, he made 87 field goals, and, combined with the extra points he scored, accounted for 261 points from field goals and 169 points from extra points for a total of 430 points scored for the Chicago Bears across his career.

P – Bob Parsons (Round 23): Again, I got to pick a classic, historic Chicago Bear whose career stats and performance match up against any of the greatest kickers for the Chicago Bears across the years. Parsons played for the Bears from 1972 to 1983.  His punting average was 38.7 and he had 34,180 punt yards across his NFL career, posting 884 punts.  He was the 2x NFL punting yards leader in both 1981 and 1982. He ranks 45 all-time of all punters in NFL history.

ST – Josh Blackwell (Round 24): For my special teams ace I went with a current Chicago Bear who we have come to know and love as a special teams monster (see what I did there). When the Chicago Bears need a great play on special teams, be it a big tackle, a blocked field goal, or a fumble recovery, it always seems to be Josh Blackwell that gets it done. He went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft, but that has only seemed to inspire Blackwell’s play, as he has featured on the Bears special teams unit since then. Despite not having a regular role on the defense, he has made 53 total tackles in his career. And we can add to that two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and one defensive touchdown. His block of the Las Vegas Raiders field goal attempt in the waning seconds of their 2025 matchup is one of the most atheletic plays I’ve seen in decades (most field goal blocks come up the middle – not from the edge). I’m happy to have Blackwell as my special teams ace!

So there it is, Chicago Bears fans. Gooch’s Chicago Monsters. If you doubt whether this team is the greatest Chicago Bears roster assembled of all time, well, you are entitled to your opinion, friend. But I believe this is the greatest Chicago Bears team ever assembled from the greats who have played for the Bears down the years (at least in the context of a fantasy draft), and I believe it is superior to any of the teams assembled by my fellow WCG drafters. But what do you think? Tell us in the comments below, and be sure to vote when the tournament is posted!

You can check out our full draft here.

Once all eight teams are announced, we’ll hold a tournament and ask you, the WCG readers, to pick the winner.

Hey, remember when the Seattle Seahawks signed offensive lineman Bobby Hart before mandatory minicamp? He’s an experienced tackle who was a three-year starter for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he’s the “competition” for Josh Jones heading into training camp.

If you’re curious as to how much Hart costs, as I’m sure you are on this late June day, we have our very simple answer (courtesy of OverTheCap.com).

Bobby Hart’s Seattle Seahawks contract

• Length of contract: 1 year
• Base salary: $1.3 million
• Cap number: $1.075 million
• Cap savings if released: $1.075 million

There is no signing or per-game roster bonus for Hart, so this is the most straightforward contract you can get. Hart is the Seahawks’ latest use of the Veteran Salary Benefit (VSB), which allows them to sign players with four minimum credited seasons but only have a cap charge equivalent to two credited seasons.

For the 2026 season, the minimum for two credited seasons is $1.075 million, while the minimum for a player with nine credited seasons (in this instance, Hart) is $1.3 million. Additional compensation (e.g. signing bonus) has to max out at $167,500 to still qualify for VSB status.

Hart’s contract is so inexpensive that it doesn’t even qualify for top 51 status, which is the number of players whose money counts toward the salary cap in a 90-man roster.

For context, Josh Jones’ contract is one-year and $4 million, with a cap charge of $3.955 million, $1.5 million guaranteed, and a $1.5 million signing bonus. With Jones recently saying he believes he’ll be ready for training camp, it’d be a surprise if Hart managed to land a spot on the 53-man roster ahead of Seattle’s top reserve from last season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will all but certainly be in the market for a quarterback in 2027, being that Aaron Rodgers has made it clear that 2026 is his final season. Rookie Drew Allar and former 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard remain potential options, as Mike McCarthy and his staff look to develop the two young quarterbacks. However, if the Steelers wanted to go with a more proven name in 2027, there are a few names they could target.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to be a free agent next March, and he himself set a hard deadline for a deal to get done before training camp. And now, a current AFC quarterback becomes one to monitor.

Per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN, the Houston Texans and C.J. Stroud aren’t close to contract extension before the 2026 season.

“Stroud and the Texans aren’t close to a deal as of late June,” Bien-Aime writes. “Houston and its quarterback are in a tricky spot because last season did not end the way either would’ve preferred. “Stroud threw four interceptions against the Patriots the AFC divisional round. A performance like that can cause hesitation when the extension for Stroud could be in the $55 million to $60 million range per year. With how negotiations are currently going, it’s gearing up to be a prove-it season for Stroud.”

Stroud had a terrific rookie year in 2023 throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. The Texans won the AFC South in Stroud’s first year, which was also head coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season as head coach. Houston has been a playoff team in each of the last three seasons, and they have won a playoff game each season, as well, making him just the third quarterback in the Super Bowl era to accomplish such a feat.

The Texans picked up the fifth-year option for Stroud, meaning even if they don’t get a long-term deal done between now and next offseason, he is still under contract with Houston. So if the Steelers did want to acquire him, it would have to be via trade.

Stroud is 2-0 against the Steelers in his career, with one win coming in 2023 and another coming this past January in the wild card round. The Texans won both games 30-6. Pittsburgh will host Stroud and the Texans in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

• Steelers sign versatile defensive back to one-year deal
• Steelers named landing spot for All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs
• Steelers unable to draft QB Brendan Sorsby, per NFL ruling
• T.J. Watt welcoming change with Mike McCarthy as he chases return to dominance
• Steelers under the radar defender named big winner of offseason

We’re at the beginning of the Las Vegas Raiders’ summer break before training camp, so we don’t have as many questions to dive into for this week’s mailbag. But we do have a handful of people who are curious about the Raiders’ roster, so let’s get to it!

Q: Are the Raiders going to get a true No. 1 receiver before training camp or stick with what they have?

A: It wouldn’t surprise me if John Spytek signed (or at least explored) adding a wide receiver over the next few weeks, but I lean toward Spytek and Co. sticking with the guys they have. I get the sense that the goal for this year is to give guys like Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr., Malik Benson, etc., a chance to prove themselves rather than bringing in a veteran on a short-term contract.

With Tucker, he’s entering a contract year, so the front office might want to see what he does in a “No. 1 wide receiver” type of role (or something close to it) to help determine how big a priority it should be to re-sign him in the offseason. And the other guys named are just young and haven’t done anything in the league, yet.

Of course, Jalen Nailor factors into the equation, too. But Nailor is under contract for three years, and I’d be pretty surprised if the Raiders think he’s a legitimate No. 1 option. In other words, I think the organization knows what it has in the free-agent signing, so Nailor isn’t under the “let’s see what this guy’s got” umbrella.

Also, I’d find it hard to believe that any wide receiver who is good enough to be a No. 1 would be willing to play in Las Vegas this season. Most of the wideouts who are still available and fit into that category are older and likely ring chasing. As we know, the Raiders aren’t exactly Super Bowl favorites heading into the 2026 campaign.

Adding to that, there aren’t a ton of options left. Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel and Keenan Allen are probably the top choices.

Hill has an injury concern after tearing up his knee last season, and his off-the-field issues would probably prompt Mark Davis to step in and nix any attempt at signing him. Samuel has a history with Klint Kubiak–Kubiak was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023–to make sense from a schematic standpoint. However, I wouldn’t consider Deebo a “No. 1 receiver” as much as a versatile weapon. Then there’s Allen, who has primarily been a slot guy and not nearly the athlete he used to be after turning 34 in April.

To me, Diggs would make the most sense from a fit standpoint. I’d just be surprised if he was willing to play for a team that’s rebuilding. But, if the 11-year veteran wants to catch passes from Fernando Mendoza and is willing to sign a multi-year contract, then go for it!

Q: Why have there been so many disparate reports on Jack Bech on different Raider sites? One guy says he’s gonna be great. The next one says he looked terrible with no separation in OTAs. The next guy said he’ll be our slot guy. The next one says he’s a bust. What gives?

A: I can’t speak to what other people are feeling/thinking, nor can I refute any reporting from practice since I’m not there. But if I had to guess, I’d assume the people who are down on Bech don’t think he’s a good enough athlete to create separation in the NFL, and his lack of production last season certainly doesn’t help matters.

For me, Bech’s long speed is definitely a concern because he isn’t someone who is going to be a vertical threat. But I think people hold that against him too much, and he’s a better athlete than people give him credit for. The TCU product is a classic “quicker than fast” type of guy, as he has pretty good lateral movement skills, earning a 9.51 Relative Athletic Score during the pre-draft process last year.

What’s telling is Bech did every timed drill except for the 40-yard dash (wonder why?, LOL), and earned good RAS for a 4.21-second shuttle time and 6.84-second 3-cone. That’s part of the reason why a few other people and I think he can be a good slot receiver; he has good change-of-direction skills to operate in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field.

Of course, the second-round pick has to prove it, and there’s a lot of pressure on him to produce this season after a quiet rookie campaign. That’s where the ambiguity lies with Bech; he was drafted relatively high and didn’t produce in year one.

Q: How can the Raiders protect Laki Tasi if he goes back to the practice squad? If they can’t be sure they can, considering they’re working toward the future and not worrying about winning now, wouldn’t it be smarter to keep him on the 53, let him rotate at NT and learn, rather than have some other team like Philly or Denver grab him?

A: If Tasi gets cut at the end of training camp, he’s subject to waivers just like every other player who doesn’t make the 53-man roster. But if he clears waivers, meaning another team didn’t claim and add him to their 53-man roster, then the Raiders can protect Tasi with an IPP designation on the practice squad. That prevents him from getting poached, but the catch is that the Raiders also can’t elevate him to the 53-man roster if they protect him with the IPP designation.

Here’s the rule from the NFL’s website:

At the end of training camp, IPP players can either be signed to their assigned club’s 53-man roster or waived. Players who clear waivers may be signed to their assigned team’s practice squad using an IPP exemption that allows for an extra practice squad spot. IPP players signed to a practice squad using the exemption may not be signed to any team’s active roster that season; however, players signed to a practice squad without the exemption are treated in the same way as other practice squad players for roster purposes.

So, the only way for the Raiders to ensure, with 100 percent certainty, that Tasi will remain with the club is to keep him on the 53-man roster. But he has to earn that spot, and it wouldn’t make sense to just give it to him to keep him in the building.

If JJ Pegues, Brandon Cleveland, Gary Smith III or any other young player on the bubble is playing better than Tasi during training camp and the preseason, it doesn’t make sense to get rid of the guy who is showing more promise just to keep Tasi. The overall concern here is the Raiders retaining young talent, so the move is to keep the better player. If that means losing someone else to another team, then so be it.

At the end of the day, Spytek and Kubiak have to go with the players whom they think can help the team the most in the long run. If Tasi fits into that, put him on the roster. If someone else fits into the plan better, the coaching staff can’t prioritize another player just because he has a cooler story.

A: Everyone who reads this column regularly knows how I feel about Kayden McDonald, and that I would have taken him over Treydan Stukes. But only time will tell if that was the right decision or not, and I do like what Stukes brings to Las Vegas.

I’m not concerned about his knee at all. He was a baller last season at Arizona, the year after the injury. Also, I talked to Arizona’s strength coach about it, and he told me that Stukes was setting PRs in the weight room while rehabbing and came back stronger and faster than ever. Normally, I’d take that with a grain of salt, but the 2025 tape backs that up.

The 24-year-old’s age is a concern for me, though, especially because he turns 25 in September. In scouting, the older a prospect is, the lower their perceived ceiling is. Also, I expect a guy who is 24 to look really good against 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds. Having that much more experience and time in a college program is a significant advantage at that level. Sure, late bloomers exist, but sometimes the “bloom” can be more indicative of that experience advantage. Also, age is a big factor when it comes to a second contract, as the former Wildcat will be pretty close to 30 when his rookie contract expires.

That’s not to say that Stukes will be a bust by any means. However, I would consider his age to be a negative on his scouting report or a potential concern.

A: I 100 percent agree with you, it’s Rick Dennison, and there isn’t a close second. On top of what you said, the offensive line needs so much work after last season, and outside of Kolton Miller and Tyler Linderbaum, it’s filled with young players who have talent but need to be developed. I think the well-tenured coach will do wonders for the Raiders’ trenches.

After Dennison, I’ll go with offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko. Obviously, he’s going to have a big hand in developing Mendoza, and Janocko has extensive experience working with quarterbacks, serving as a QB coach in the league for the last five seasons. Granted, the only young passer he’s had to develop was Justin Fields with the Chicago Bears, and that didn’t work out. So, it’s not like Janocko has an extensive track record of bringing a first-round pick along, but Fields also isn’t exactly tearing it up after getting out from under the coach’s wing.

Regardless, I think Janocko is the clear pick as the second-most impactful assistant coach behind Dennison.

That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you’d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell released his annual ranking of NFL offensive playmaker groups…but it is important to understand what he is actually ranking before anyone starts throwing things at their screen.

This is not a ranking of the best offenses in football.

Barnwell is looking strictly at each team’s running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. His question is basically this: If every team had the same quarterback, same offensive line, same play caller, same injury luck (or bad luck), and same setup around them, which group of playmakers would be the best?

That matters a lot when talking about the Buffalo Bills.

Because Barnwell has the Bills ranked at No. 29 out of 32 teams. Only the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins finished behind Buffalo. That is a pretty rough spot for a team that still has Super Bowl expectations, but it also says a lot about how much Josh Allen changes the way we view the roster. This ranking removes Allen from the equation. It removes Joe Brady. It removes the offensive line. Once all of that is stripped away, Barnwell clearly does not love what Buffalo has around him.

He does give James Cook III credit, and rightfully so. Cook has become one of the best running backs in football. The concern with Cook is the ball security. Barnwell noted that Cook had six fumbles last season, plus another in the playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. That is not a small issue, especially for a back who touches the ball as often as Cook does.

After Cook, the questions start piling up. The Bills added DJ Moore this offseason, but Barnwell is not sold that Moore is still a true difference-maker as he gets closer to 30. Khalil Shakir has settled in as a reliable slot receiver. Dalton Kincaid made the Pro Bowl and was more efficient last season, but he still has not fully become a high-volume answer many hoped he would be, and recently health and durability concerns have become more loud. Keon Coleman remains a huge question mark, and even though it might not be fair to say with such a small dataset but Joshua Palmer may have gotten worse after joining the Bills. And Skyler Bell will remain an unknown until we see him in action.

Interestingly, Barnwell had the Bills at No. 28 before the 2025 campaign and No. 24 in 2024.

That leads to the same question Bills fans have been asking for a while now. When Allen needs someone to get open on the biggest play of the game, who is the obvious answer? That is where this ranking stings.

For comparison, the Kansas City Chiefs came in at No. 20, even after a disappointing season from their wide receivers. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy both come with questions, and Travis Kelce is no longer the automatic TE1 option he once was, but the addition of Kenneth Walker III gives Kansas City more explosiveness in the backfield.

The Baltimore Ravens landed at number 16 with Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews still leading the way. Barnwell pointed out some concerns there too, especially with Henry’s age, fumbling issues, and Andrews’ decline in production, but Baltimore still sits well ahead of Buffalo.

Then there are the Cincinnati Bengals at number 3. That one is not hard to figure out. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins give Cincinnati two receivers who can win as WR1 options. Add Chase Brown to the mix, and the Bengals have the kind of high-end skill talent Barnwell obviously appreciates.

The top five were the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco might be the most interesting or controversial team near the top. Barnwell has them at No. 5 despite Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Mike Evans all on the wrong side of 30, and there are real injury concerns with that group. Still, the talent is obvious.

That is really the difference.

The Bills have good players. They have useful players. They have players who fit what Buffalo wants to do. But when you compare their group to teams with true game-changing wide receivers and tight ends, the gap is still there. Bills fans will not agree with No. 29, and that is fair. It feels extremely low for a team that has remained one of the league’s most consistent offenses. But the point of Barnwell’s exercise is not to rank what Buffalo’s offense will be with Allen at quarterback. It is asking what the playmakers look like without him on the field. Have the Bills done enough to give Allen a true go-to weapon when everything tightens up? Barnwell does not seem to think so.

The Bills’ offensive playmakers get yet another season to prove that No. 29 is way too low.

For literal decades, the New England Patriots had one of the best kicker situations in pro football. However, with the days of Adam Vinatieri, Stephen Gostkowski and, yes, Nick Folk all in the rear-view mirror, the team needed a reset.

It found it in the form of a 2025 sixth-round draft pick.

Hard facts

Name: Andrés Borregales

Position: Placekicker

Jersey number: 36 (w)

Opening day age: 23 (1/2/2003)

Measurements: 5’11 1/8”, 202 lbs, 28 7/8” arm length, 8 1/4” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score

Experience

NFL: New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Miami (2021-24)

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Borregales and his family moved to the United States shortly before his second birthday. Playing soccer and football growing up, he attended several high schools in the Miami area in hopes of maximizing his potential on the gridiron. Eventually, he finished at Champagnat Catholic and as a three-star recruit — one who received a handful of scholarship offers before committing to his hometown school.

In four seasons at the University of Miami, Borregales proved himself more than just an able kicker: he became one of the best players at his position in the entire country. A four-time All-ACC selection (first team 2023 and 2024; second team 2021 and 2022), he appeared in 50 total games for the Hurricanes and went 74 for 86 as a field goal kicker (86%) as well as 183 for 184 on extra points (99.5%).

Borregales set his sights on the NFL in 2025. The consensus top kicker prospect, he heard his name called 182nd overall by the Patriots in the sixth round of the draft. He went on to appear in all 21 of his new team’s games and finished with a success rate of 81.6% on field goals and 96.8% on extra points.

Scouting report

Strengths: Borregales is a technically advanced kicker whose smooth and repeatable motion allows him to combine accuracy and maximize his range. His leg strength was already on display in college, and translated to the NFL as well: he went 4-of-5 from beyond 50 yards in his rookie season. It also allowed him to adapt to the challenging weather conditions he faced playing in New England.

In addition, he also has vast experience on kickoffs and despite the pro game using different rules he showed some quick adaptability — something that is also true when it comes to his work with a new coaching staff, holder and long snapper in 2025. He also showed mental toughness on multiple occasions as a rookie, a highly important skill for a position such as placekicker.

Weaknesses: Borregales has all the tools to succeed in the NFL, but he did have some issues with consistency on both field goals and kickoffs in 2025. That was especially true down the stretch, which might suggest that the increased workload — he went from 180 total kicks in 13 games in 2024 to 212 in 21 games in 2025 — could have had a negative impact on his performance. In addition, he is on the smaller side and not the most fluid overall athlete, which could negatively impact his work on kick coverage.

2025 review

Stats: 21 games (0 starts) | 212 special teams snaps (38.7%) | 31-of-38 field goal tries (81.6%) | 60-of-62 extra point tries (96.8%) | 112 kickoffs, 6,713 yards (59.9 gross/kickoff; 42.3 net/kickoff), 29 touchbacks, 1 out of bounds, 79 returns, 1,979 return yards (25.1/return), 2 onside kicks (0 recoveries) | 1 special teams tackle | 3 penalties (incl. 0 declined/offsetting)

Season recap: The Patriots entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear need at kicker, and they made sure to address it. And so, with the 182nd overall selection in the sixth round, they brought in Borregales as the first player off the board at his position. At the time, he was one of two kickers on New England’s roster, joining 2024 holdover John Parker Romo.

While technically in a competition for the kicker job, it became clear in the spring that it was Borregales’ to lose. And indeed, the rookie ended up on the 53-man team, while Romo was sent packing and not even retained via the practice squad.

The Patriots sent a clear message: Borregales was their man, and he showed why on multiple occasions during the season.

Early on, however, he had some issues. His first career field goal attempt sailed wide to the right in the season opener against the Raiders, while he shanked a couple of extra points the following week versus Miami. Nonetheless, Mike Vrabel made what turned out to be a big decision late in that game against the Dolphins: despite the prior two misses, he sent Borregales out for what would turn out to be a game-winning 53-yard field goal. Afterwards, the youngster was rewarded with a game ball.

At that point, something started to click. Borregales was perfect on his next 37 combined field goals and extra points. Among those was a 52-yarder against the Bills, that gave the Patriots a season-defining victory over the then-five-time defending division champions.

Borregales’ streak came to an end in mid-November, and he did look more shaky down the stretch from that point on. However, he still remained a valuable contributor despite overall finishing the year 54-of-60 — including 18-of-24 on field goals — over his final 11 games.

In Week 12 versus the Bengals, for example, he made four field goals and a pair of extra points to help secure a 26-20 win and earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In the season finale against Miami, he set a new career high by splitting the uprights from 59 yards out. He also made the difference in the AFC Championship Game, kicking a 23-yarder in the third quarter to finalize the score at 10-7 in New England’s favor.

Overall, Borregales had a solid first year in the NFL. Sure, there is room for improvement, but both the Patriots and he himself can feel good about his pro level foundation.

2026 preview

Position: Placekicker/Kickoff specialist | Ability: Quality special teamer | Contract: Signed through 2028 (2029 UFA)

What will be his role? Borregales was drafted by the Patriots to do three things: kick field goals, kick extra points, kick off. That is precisely what he did during his 2025 rookie campaign and that is once again what he is going to do this upcoming season.

What is his growth potential? Borregales entered the NFL as an already fairly advanced kicker, and did show plenty of promise despite having to adapt to more diverse weather than he faced in college as well as increased pressure, a heavier workload and a new snapper/holder/coaching setup. While he needs to become more consistent overall, he has the makings of a multi-year kicker in the NFL.

Does he have positional versatility? Even though he did some punting back in high school, Borregales was exclusively used as a placekicker going back to his college days. He will continue on that path in New England, and show all the versatility he needs to show by successfully converting field goal and extra point tries as well as kicking the ball off.

What is his salary cap situation? Entering the second season of his rookie contract, Borregales comes with a salary cap number of $1.07 million — a figure that currently places him outside the 51 most expensive contracts on New England’s pay roll. This means that only his fully-guaranteed signing bonus proration ($64k) momentarily counts against the cap. His base salary ($1.01M) will only be added to the mix once the Top 51 rule gets lifted ahead of the regular season, if he is on the roster at that point in time.

How safe is his roster spot? Borregales is currently the only kicker on the Patriots’ roster, meaning that he is a lock to make the team at this point in time. And even if another player should be added to the mix, there is near-zero likelihood of him replacing the incumbent: the 23-year-old showed enough as a rookie to be kept around for the foreseeable future.

Summary: While his rookie numbers overall were not particularly outstanding, Borregales had a solid first year in the NFL and very much is on an upward trajectory. If he can take the famous second-year jump and cut down on some of his misses especially on field goals, the Patriots will see concrete results on the scoreboard. And there is little reason to believe he won’t be able to do so.

What do you think about Andy Borregales heading into the 2026 season? Will he be able to take the next step as a kicker? And what would that do to his numbers? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked Hogs Haven readers which defensive player would have the most sacks in 2026.

For the first time in my life, I’ll use some sports parlance that I picked up over the past few years watching TV, YouTube and podcasts: the results in this survey were ‘chalk’.

If you haven’t picked up the term by osmosis, then let me offer this Google explanation of its meaning:

When a sports analyst or bettor describes something as “chalk,” they are referring to the betting favorite—usually an overwhelming or heavy favorite to win.

Why It’s Called “Chalk”

The term is a throwback to the early days of horse racing and bookmaking. Before digital odds boards existed, bookmakers wrote the odds for each race on a chalkboard. Because bettors naturally place most of their money on the favorite, oddsmakers had to erase and update those specific odds constantly. The horses’ names getting the most action were written and rewritten so many times that the board became covered in chalk dust, officially making favorites known as “the chalk”.

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Respondents in our survey overwhelmingly voted for veteran edge rushers, with nearly 60% of them identifying Odafe Oweh as the Commanders’ prospective 2026 sack leader.

This follows the money — Oweh was signed to a 4-year, $96m contract in March — and it follows the statistical evidence; Oweh has averaged 6.6 sacks per 17 games during his 5-year career to-date. No other Commanders player has averaged more than 5 sacks per 17 games.

Respondents also voted for Dorance Armstrong and K’Lavon Chaisson, who each racked up impressive sack numbers in recent seasons. Armstrong has had good sack production for the past 5 seasons in Dallas and Washington, playing 4 of those seasons under Dan Quinn. Armstrong is second on the team, averaging 5 sacks per 17 games, and Chaisson produced 12.5 sacks in 2024 & 2025 playing for the Raiders and Patriots, and average of 6.25 per season over the past two years. I was a little surprised that there wasn’t more love for Deatrich Wise, who has more career sacks than any other Commander on the 91-man roster.

In an effort to create more pressure and turnovers, the Commanders have overhauled the defense for the 2026 season, bringing in 11 new players to make up roughly 44% of the defensive side of the ball. General Manager Adam Peters completely revamped the front seven by signing free-agent edge rushers like Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Omenihu while re-tooling the LB group by signing Leo Chenal from the Chiefs and using the No. 7 overall draft pick on All-American LB Sonny Styles.

This talent influx aligns with the primary schematic changes being implemented by new DC Daronte Jones, who is transitioning the team to a “D-line friendly” system influenced by Brian Flores and others. This scheme should rely heavily on zone coverage, creating opportunities for the interior pass rushers (like Charles Omenihu) and edge rushers through creative pressure packages, picks, and stunts that keep linemen in advantageous one-on-one blocks. Don’t be surprised to see safeties, linebackers and even defensive tackles & cornerbacks participate in the pressure party this season. Odafeh Oweh and his teammates should have ample opportunities to put opposing passers in the dirt for at least 17 weeks in 2026.

Commanders fans have good reason to expect success from this unit because of the offseason focus on acquiring younger, faster, and highly versatile athletes with significant upside in both free agency and the draft. This injection of speed and depth is exactly what Washington needs to bounce back from last year’s league-worst yardage totals and effectively support franchise QB Jayden Daniels.

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This is the slowest time in the NFL calendar, when teams are for more concerned about their players staying out of the news than they are about actually making any.

Even so, the content game never sleeps, neither does the 24-hour news cycle, and our football-crazed society demands some sort of NFL content even during the summer doldrums.

Still, it’s hard to grasp some of the chatter around the league about Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson being a potential cap casualty this year.

In a vacuum, it makes sense why his name would pop up. The Rams have a slew of tight ends on the roster/ready to make their case during training camp, and Parkinson is both the most expensive and one of the oldest of the bunch. With only one year left on his deal, you can understand why folks elsewhere around the league would consider him a movable asset.

As mentioned above, the Rams have a ton of tight ends ready to report to training camp, and they’ve been the posted child for the heavy personnel movement (and 13 personnel, specifically) around the NFL. They need to have plenty around if they plan to run more of those formations, and you can only commit so many resources to that position group.

That’s why there have been a slew of blogs, columns and listicles published in recent weeks about why Parkinson could be cut or traded and added elsewhere. There was a post on Bleacher Report this week dubbing Parkinson one of the “Cut Candidates Who Should be on Every NFL Team’s Radar.” That subsequently led to team blogs and sites clamoring for him to be scooped up by the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and others.

This isn’t just a this-week thing, either; this Green Bay Packers post about finding a way to add Parkinson dates back to the start of the month.

Here’s the thing, though: Parkinson is the best tight end the Rams have, and is the engine for this new personnel trend.

Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports was a guest on The Mina Kimes Show recently (who isn’t a popular commentator herself around here, but Tice was plenty insightful during their conversation) and discussed why Parkinson is important to the Rams’ offense.

“Colby Parkinson is the guy that makes it go,” Tice said. “Because he can block, he’s a good receiver, just such a good player. It is going to be cool to see how they move everybody around. [Jake] Ferguson’s going to be the big play threat, [Max] Klare can become that as well.”

The reason L.A.’s 13-personnel stuff works is because it has the pieces to make it work (and a genius play designer calling the shots, of course). As ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote early this offseason, most of the copy-cat attempts around the league in the second half of last season came up flat. Personnel is a major reason for that.

Parkinson’s multifaceted skill set unlocks so many potential looks and plays for this offense. Having true “Y” tight ends who can block is great. Having receiving threats at the position is great, too. But having a guy who can do it all and allows you more flexibility? That’s golden. It’s harder to run the wide array of Sean McVay’s desired looks when you’re locked in to putting certain guys in certain spots.

There are obviously financial considerations here, it would be naïve to think otherwise. And with limited draft capital lined up for next year, you can understand why some people, fans, analysts, etc. would think a trade for the veteran tight end makes sense. There’s also the fact that Tyler Higbee just signed a new extension. But the Rams aren’t in dire financial straits. They’re more worried about winning a championship now than hypothetical roster spots in future campaigns.

Of course other teams around the league would love to have Colby Parkinson. He’s a really good football player at a position of increasing value. But if you’re the Rams, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to let a player like that walk away, even with seven other players in that room on the roster for now. Ejecting him from this team would be a shocker at this point, much to the dismay of most of the NFL.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson has an explanation for why he was suddenly cut by the Texans in September. 

In an interview with The Athletic published Friday, the 28-year-old safety said it all started in training camp when he supposedly clashed with “the GM’s friend.”

“If y’all going to cut me, cut me,” Gardner-Johnson said. “But I’ll give nobody reasons to cut me. I haven’t. I don’t. I’m not a cancer. There’s nobody in this locker room that says, ‘Chauncey’s a problem.’ The media loves me. The only thing that’ll do it is something that triggers somebody that has a say in the building that can alter somebody else’s mind. That happens every time.

“That’s how I got [cut] in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier. I get out my body; he says something to the GM, and the next thing I’m cut.”

The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Eagles, who were coming off a Super Bowl victory, in March 2025, but let him go after just three games in Houston.

At the time, Texans beat writer Aaron Wilson for KPRC 2 reported that he was released “after friction behind the scenes,” including “complaining about his role, wanting to blitz more … and even communicating that he wanted to be traded.”

“In the end, took a shot on goal. Didn’t work out, move on, and let’s focus on the rest of the team and the players that are here,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said of the decision.

“There’s really nothing more to it. I’m not trying to oversimplify it, but that’s the reality of the situation. Certainly wish him well. Good to work with. In the end, that’s the decision that we made, and moved ahead.”

Gardner-Johnson would join the Ravens’ practice squad, where he would last one week, before catching on with the Bears through the rest of the season. 

In March, he signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Bills.

The NFL playoff odds have arrived well ahead of the 2026-27 season opener.

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are one of the bigger favorites to get back to the postseason at -235, but they're looking up at the Los Angeles Rams at -440.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Arizona Cardinals are a +1800 underdog to reach the playoffs.

Let's take a look at the latest NFL playoff odds.

Latest NFL playoff odds

Team	Yes	No
Arizona Cardinals	+1800	-15000
Atlanta Falcons	+270	-370
Baltimore Ravens	-370	+270
Buffalo Bills	-330	+240
Carolina Panthers	+220	-290
Chicago Bears	+100	-130
Cincinnati Bengals	-180	+140
Cleveland Browns	+600	-1000
Dallas Cowboys	+100	-130
Denver Broncos	-145	+115
Detroit Lions	-190	+150
Green Bay Packers	-140	+110
Houston Texans	-170	+135
Indianapolis Colts	+160	-210
Jacksonville Jaguars	-105	-115
Kansas City Chiefs	-200	+155
Las Vegas Raiders	+575	-950
Los Angeles Chargers	-165	+130
Los Angeles Rams	-440	+310
Miami Dolphins	+1200	-4000
Minnesota Vikings	+160	-210
New England Patriots	-220	+170
New Orleans Saints	-185	+145
New York Giants	+270	-370
New York Jets	+725	-1400
Philadelphia Eagles	-180	+140
Pittsburgh Steelers	+160	-210
San Francisco 49ers	-150	+120
Seattle Seahawks	-235	+180
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	+125	-160
Tennessee Titans	+375	-550
Washington Commanders	+210	-280

Odds courtesy of bet365 as of 6-27.

Opening odds to make NFL playoffs 2026

• Arizona Cardinals: Yes (+1800), No (-15000)
• Atlanta Falcons: Yes (+270), No (-370)
• Baltimore Ravens: Yes (-370), No (+270)
• Buffalo Bills: Yes (-330), No (+240)
• Carolina Panthers: Yes (+220), No (-290)
• Chicago Bears: Yes (+100), No (-130)
• Cincinnati Bengals: Yes (-180), No (+140)
• Cleveland Browns: Yes (+600), No (-1000)
• Dallas Cowboys: Yes (+100), No (-130)
• Denver Broncos: Yes (-145), No (+115)
• Detroit Lions: Yes (-190), No (+150)
• Green Bay Packers: Yes (-140), No (+110)
• Houston Texans: Yes (-170), No (+135)
• Indianapolis Colts: Yes (+160), No (-210)
• Jacksonville Jaguars: Yes (-105), No (-115)
• Kansas City Chiefs: Yes (-200), No (+155)
• Los Angeles Chargers: Yes (-165), No (+130)
• Los Angeles Rams: Yes (-440), No (+310)
• Las Vegas Raiders: Yes (+575), No (-950)
• Miami Dolphins: Yes (+1200), No (-4000)
• Minnesota Vikings: Yes (+160), No (-210)
• New England Patriots: Yes (-220), No (+170)
• New Orleans Saints: Yes (-185), No (+145)
• New York Giants: Yes (+270), No (-370)
• New York Jets: Yes (+725), No (-1400)
• Philadelphia Eagles: Yes (-180), No (+140)
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Yes (+160), No (-210)
• Seattle Seahawks: Yes (+235), No (-180)
• San Francisco 49ers: Yes (-150), No (+120)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Yes (+125), No (-160)
• Tennessee Titans: Yes (+375), No (-450)
• Washington Commanders: Yes (+210), No (-280)

Odds courtesy of bet365.

NFL playoffs key dates

Here is a look at the NFL playoff schedule for January and February 2027.

• Wild Card Weekend: January 16-18
• Divisional Round: January 23-24
• Conference Championship Round: January 31
• Super Bowl 61: February 14

NFL playoffs format

The NFL playoffs expanded prior to the 2020 season and will run the same format in 2026-27, with 14 teams in the postseason — seven from each conference.

In each conference, the division winners will comprise the Nos. 1-4 spots, while the Nos. 5-7 spots will come via wild cards. The top seed in both the AFC and the NFC will get a first-round bye, with the other matchups proceeding as follows:

• No. 2 seed vs. No. 7 seed (lowest-ranked wild card)
• No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed
• No. 4 seed (lowest-ranked division winner) vs. No. 5 seed (highest-ranked wild card)

After the first round, the No. 1 seed will face the lowest remaining seed in their conference, while the other two teams will square off. Those winners will meet in the conference championship, and then the winners of those games — the AFC and NFC champions — will meet at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on Feb. 8, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …

10 reasons the Eagles will be a dumpster fire this season – PhillyVoice
1) Firing Kevin Patullo won’t fix everything. Patullo was in over his head as a coordinator, but on some levels, he also unfairly bore the full brunt of the blame for some aspects of the offense that were very likely outside of his control. For example: In several games — notably in losses to the Broncos and Cowboys, as well as a near-loss to the Bills — the Eagles got a lead, and then went into hyper-conservative mode in the second half, blowing double-digit point leads. Oftentimes on third and long the Eagles would call ultra-conservative plays (draws to Will Shipley that had no chance, for example), opting not to risk a turnover and instead choosing to punt. • In several scenarios at the end of the first half, the Eagles would effectively opt not to try to score more points, and let the time run out. Make no mistake. Those frustrating big picture types of strategic decisions came from Sirianni, not Patullo. […] There may not be a coaching quote I hate more than the “End every drive with a kick” horseshit. Punting is bad! Aside from some late-game situations, punting should not be an acceptable outcome. But with this Eagles team specifically, which had the highest percentage of drives ending in three-and-outs in the NFL in 2025, any kind of messaging that punts are OK is just mind-blowing.

Eagles scouting report: Moro Ojomo – BGN
Starting interior defender as a 3-5 Tech and in a one-gap attacking front due to his snap anticipation, acceleration, arm length, lateral agility, and hand violence. Effective as an interior penetrator, looper on Twists and Outside Zone disruptor due to his ability to cross-face blockers and work laterally. Generates pressure through quickness and athleticism rather than power. Not a serious Bull Rush threat and needs space to operate as a pass rusher, as jump sets and blockers who absorb his initial burst limit his effectiveness. Best protected from Combo blocks and extended double-team responsibility due to adequate play strength and anchor.

Riq Woolen makes strong first impression with Eagles – ESPN
No Eagles player generated more buzz this spring than new cornerback Riq Woolen. Quarterback Jalen Hurts tested him on the first practice open to reporters in May, launching a deep ball down the left sideline for his primary option, DeVonta Smith. Woolen used his 4.26-second 40-yard dash speed to catch up to Smith downfield and his 6-foot-4 frame to force an incompletion on a slightly underthrown ball by Hurts. He closed minicamp with a splash, undercutting a pass intended for tight end Dallas Goedert before racing the other way with the interception. It put an exclamation point on a promising start for the former Seattle Seahawk.

LB Jonathan Greenard joins ‘The Insiders’ during first offseason with Eagles to share experiences with team so far – NFL.com
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jonathan Greenard fills in “The Insiders” on how it is going on his new team and what he hopes to achieve with them.

“I Don’t Think It’s a Conflict of Interest”: Eagles’ Cooper DeJean Pushes Back Against Narrative Around Dating Cowboys Cheerleader – Yahoo!
“We met well, we had known about each other for some time, and then we happened to be both in Florida at the same time during the national championship game,” Cooper DeJean said on Exciting Mics. “She was down there, I was down there, and then I met her down there, and then I believe the next weekend was a Super Bowl, and she was out at the Super Bowl also. “So we had hung out there a couple times and then yeah, it was kind of just after that we just kept seeing each other, hanging out,” he added. “I don’t really think it’s a conflict of interest. I mean, it’s not like we both play football. Yeah, exactly. We don’t play football. She’s a cheerleader.”

Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: QB Sam Howell – Blogging The Boys
Still just 25, and having bounced around the NFL for the last few years, Howell may still have room to improve. It’s interesting that his last stop was Philadelphia, where he spent practices throwing against Christian Parker’s secondary. We don’t know if Dallas’ new defensive coordinator had a hand in signing Howell, but you’d assume they at least asked his opinion. The Cowboys, including Brian Schottenheimer, certainly knew him from his time in Washington as well. Again, Sam Howell’s guaranteed money isn’t enough to fully guarantee a roster spot. But it certainly works in his favor, as do Joe Milton’s mixed results in limited playing time. Both backup candidates will be heavily discussed this summer, making for one of the best roster battles of 2026.

Commanders roster rankings: edge rusher Odafe Oweh lands at No. 4 – Hogs Haven
The Commanders spent tons of money in NFL free agency. The lion’s share went to Odafe Oweh. The edge rusher signed a four-year contract worth up to $100 million, with $68 million in guarantees. That’s a ton for someone who has generally been more of a situational or rotational player. The dividends have been strong the past two seasons – more on that in a bit – and were enough to make Washington comfortable betting big on a young, talented player presumptively on the ascent. Oweh will be 27 most of the regular season – he turns 28 in December — and just barely 32 at the end of his deal. Those are prime years where the Commanders hope Oweh can be a frontline pass rusher off the edge.

New York Giants mailbag: Tremaine Edmunds, turf vs. grass, Jaxson Dart – Big Blue View
When the Giants started searching for a new head coach, though, I started to consider their history. What types of coaches have won with the Giants? What type of football have the Giants played when they have been championship-caliber? In the Super Bowl era, Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin were hard-nosed, no-nonsense, CEO style head coaches. They could motivate, they could lead, they demanded a lot from their players, they built teams that were tough, defense-first squads that fit the personality of the New York/New Jersey area. Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Brian Daboll did not fit that mold. John Harbaugh obviously does. There are some common denominators that run through the four Giants’ Super Bowl-winning teams. Defenses led by ferocious pass rushes. Offenses led by quarterbacks who weren’t the best of their generations, but who were tough, talented, and unafraid of the big moments. Those offenses weren’t high-flying. They were physical, opportunistic offenses with strong running games. Special teams with quality kickers that always seemed to make winning plays at crucial times. I think that because of the hiring of Harbaugh, whose philosophy aligns with the one that has always seemed to work best for the Giants, the team is moving back in that direction. I do think the Steelers and 49ers are examples of franchises where you always think of certain styles of play. The Ravens, too.

Brendan Sorsby gets more bad news, this time from the CFL – SB Nation
Brendan Sorsby’s path to professional football has hit another roadblock. Days after the NFL informed the quarterback that the league would not hold a Supplemental Draft, closing a potential pathway for the Texas Tech passer to the professional ranks, the CFL has informed teams that they will not be “permitted” to add Sorsby to their rosters via the league’s negotiation list. In a statement first provided to USA Today, the CFL indicated that teams will not be able to add Sorsby to their rosters via the negotiation list. “Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL. The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning,” said the league. “At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list.”

…

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Brandon Aiyuk continues to express his displeasure with the 49ers, and in a YouTube video posted Saturday, he shared new details about how things went downhill.

Aiyuk revealed that he fired his former agent, Ryan Williams, who is friends with general manager John Lynch, adding that Williams “really started this whole s–t.”

He also called Williams and Lynch “weirdos” and “creepy predators,” claiming that Williams still is trying to contact Aiyuk’s wife, Rochelle, and that Lynch recently came to his house uninvited.

“The same general manager that tried to run me down and come apologize for his head coach,” Aiyuk said, “because his head coach got a temperament of a f–king toddler and was speaking out the side of his f–king mouth to me.”

The 49ers signed Aiyuk to a four-year, $120 million contract extension in August 2024. But things have taken a sour, dramatic turn over the past year, particularly after the 49ers voided the remaining guaranteed money in his contract because he did not participate in scheduled rehab sessions.

Aiyuk has been MIA from the 49ers facility since, but not online.

“We is not cool,” Aiyuk continued. “We won’t be cool, and I will never be stepping in that building except for on Oct. 19 when I come through with that belt.”

Oct. 19 is when the 49ers host the Washington Commanders, Aiyuk’s preferred destination if the 49ers release him.

“I don’t care how long I have to wait to get to you, my baby,” Aiyuk said, holding a Commanders football.

It likely won’t be long until Aiyuk shares another update on his social media.

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The Los Angeles Rams intended to draft Ty Simpson even before Jimmy Garoppolo decided to retire. LA was able to solve the quarterback position long-term and prepare for life after Matthew Stafford. They may still need a fix in the near term should Stafford miss time.

A viral report from organized team activities (OTA’s) suggests that neither Simpson nor Stetson Bennett are seizing their opportunity to win the backup job. I would go as far to say that Simpson shouldn’t even be in the running–at least early in the year–in order to avoid risking putting the rookie on the field too early.

The backup role is truly Bennett’s to lose.

And if he can’t adequately handle those duties, the Rams will need to bring in a veteran sooner rather than later. It’s necessary because having the right person in the right seat insulates the team from dropping a game or two in what should be a competitive NFC West race and protects Simpson from stepping on the field before he’s fully capable of doing so. The Rams cannot jeopardize the future to keep their head above water in 2026.

While the availability of quality players is often overstated at roster cutdown day, quarterback is one position where there is often enough talent to go around. We often see some musical chairs and salary cap management in the reserve signal callers ahead of the regular season.

Last year’s cutdown day examples included the following players, of which nearly all had more game experience than Bennett:

• Tyler Huntley
• Kyle Trask
• Mike White
• Desmond Ridder
• Jake Haener

The truth is Stetson Bennett is completely expendable.

If the Rams are not satisfied with Bennett as the primary backup to Stafford, they will likely have options. Do you want to enter the season with a new quarterback that hasn’t learned your offense? Probably not, but in this case it is still better than risking injury or stunted development to Simpson.

There is no sunk cost keeping Bennett around. He’s a former fourth-round pick on the last year of his rookie deal. It’s unlikely he’d return in 2027 because Simpson should almost certainly be able to serve in a backup capacity. The Rams are really only trying to fill up to eight games to start the season.

Of course, we should be skeptical of the report from OTA’s. Practices in June carry minimal weight in terms of predicting future performance, and the report was derived from only three sessions that were open to media. We can wait until padded training camp practices in order to draw real conclusions about the development of both Simpson and Bennett.

Until then, just remember there is nothing forcing the Rams to keep Stetson Bennett as the backup. If he’s unreliable, there will be better options on the table ahead of the regular season.

As we are in the final doldrums of the offseason, there are certain topics that make the rounds for fans of various football teams. We have those types of conversations around here all of the time and will until training camp kicks off. Again, the doldrums.

Recently the folks at Hogs Haven were discussing the Dallas Cowboys and in doing so posed a question to their audience: Which player would you steal from the Cowboys?

We all hate the Cowboys’ rivals, but we can acknowledge that they have legitimate players on their teams. If we could we certainly would steal some.

If you browse through the comments you will find that the majority of Commanders fans who participated in the poll landed on one of two answers: CeeDee Lamb and/or Brandon Aubrey.

There was some mention for Caleb Downs, George Pickens, and even Cooper Beebe had a vote thrown his way. But the mass majority feel like Lamb and/or Aubrey are the best selection for their team.

With all due respect to Brandon Aubrey, is that not sort of wild? That a Commanders fan could have their pick of the Cowboys litter and would start with him?

Lamb clearly makes a ton of sense, and Pickens does to the same degree. Interestingly nobody said Quinnen Williams, he really has been the forgotten man in a lot of ways for this team.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Brandon Aubrey makes the most sense. What do you think, though? Are Commanders fans being fair or should they reconsider their positioning?

The New York Giants are gearing up for training camp in July. Each team in the NFC East has restructured its roster in hopes of success in the upcoming 2026 season. This is the fourth post in our position-by-position look at the NFC East; we have reviewed the cornerbacks, safeties, and linebackers so far.

The team with the best positional group is assigned four points, and the “worst” receives one point. It is a complex formula, up there with E=MC², but we’ll attempt to deliver the information in a palatable manner, and I’m sure it will be well received by all fan bases, of course. With that, let’s talk about the EDGE position!

Washington Commanders

Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Dorance Armstrong, Joshua Josephs, Drake Jackson, DJ Johnson, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, T.J. Maguranyanga, Andre Carter II

The Commanders added Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson to their edge room, and that was much needed. Yes, Washington uses Frankie Luvu, and they will – presumably – use Leo Chenal in an EDGE role; but, for this discussion, both players were included as linebackers. Oweh and Chaisson, along with Dan Quinn’s favorite Dorance Armstrong, are a solid trio of EDGE rushers, but Washington still earns one point.

Points: 1

Dallas Cowboys

Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence,James Houston, Sam Williams, Marist Liufau, Isiah Land, Tyrus Wheat, Charles Snowden

Dallas and Washington are close, but I gave the Cowboys the extra points based on the acquisition of Rashan Gary, who is coming off a 60-pressure season with the Green Bay Packers. Gary is just 28 years old and is just shy of 400 career pressures. If he stays healthy, Dallas has a number one edge defender to lead the pair of young players in Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence, the former of which recorded 36 pressures in his rookie season last year.

I also love how Lawrence doesn’t have to be forced into a role that may be too much for him in his rookie season. Gary, Ezeiruaku, and the presence of veterans like James Houston and Sam Williams will allow Lawrence to play a situational role – one that he can be an impact player operating within. Also, Marist Liufau is included as an edge defender for this exercise, but he plays multiple positions for Dallas and is a unique piece for Christian Parker. Still, Dallas only gets two points despite a respectable group.

Points: 2

Philadelphia Eagles

Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa, Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez, Joshua Weru

The Eagles traded for Jonathan Greenard, which made this decision very difficult, for I respect the depth assembled by Howie Roseman behind Greenard and Nolan Smith Jr. Jalyx Hunt is a very good edge defender who recorded 60 pressures in his second season last year. Ebiketie had over 25 pressures in each of his four seasons with the Falcons, and A.J. Epenesa was a solid player for the Bills, giving Philadelphia a very respectable edge room, and one that could easily earn four points. However, they get three in this exercise due to the big three the Giants have, and the presence of Chancey Golston.

Points: 3

New York Giants

Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chancey Golston, Trace Frod, Khalid Kareem, Caleb Murphy

The Eagles pushed the Giants for this spot, but I’m going with New York and the combination of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the likely second-year jump from Abdul Carter, who recorded 66 pressures in his rookie season. Carter has the highest potential of the three, and Burns is coming off a career year where he recorded 53 pressures and 16.5 sacks, which was second in the NFL last season.

Both Golston and Thiboeaux dealt with injuries throughout the 2025 season, and the latter has dealt with them over the last two years. Despite the nagging issues, Kayvon Thibdoeaux has 70 pressures over the last two years. He is playing on his fifth-year option and is catching the eye of new head coach John Harbaugh in a contract year. The trio is exceptional, and Golston is a solid rotational piece who can be effectively kicked inside. It’s close, but the Giants get the four points over the Eagles.

Points: 4

Final thoughts

The NFC East edge group is two-tiered; Washington and Dallas are in the bottom tier, with New York and Philadelphia in the second tier. No edge group is devoid of talent. Washington added key contributors who can bring the group to a different level than they’ve witnessed in quite a while. Dallas, however, is relying on two young players in Lawrence and Ezeiruaku, with Rashan Gary attempting to maintain his dominant play.

The Giants have the best trio in the division with Burns, Carter, and Thibodeaux. Philadelphia’s trade for Jonathan Greenard made the decision a consideration, but New York still took the four points. Still, Greenard, Nolan Smith, and the underrated Jalyx Hunt, with Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa, give Philadelphia depth and different body types and skill sets that will allow Fangio to make magic up front beside Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Call me biased, but as talented as the Eagles are at edge, the Giants still take the full four.

Here at Cat Scratch Reader we have counted down the final 100 days leading up to the Carolina Panthers season opener by for at least the past ten years. We’ve always done this by highlighting the current player on the roster whose jersey number matches the day on the countdown. This year, we decided to change that up a bit by counting down our own list of the Top 100 Panthers of all time. This does not correspond to jersey number, does not need to be somebody who wore a jersey, and will in no way be controversial.

#78. Ted Ginn Jr.

It’s back to back wide receivers on the top 100 list. Day number 79 belonged to Mark Carrier. Number 78 goes to a more modern wide receiver, Ted Ginn Jr.

Ginn originally came into the NFL as a top 10 pick of the Miami Dolphins. Despite a standout college career as a receiver and returner, the pick wasn’t well received, and that proved to be justified. Ginn only spent three years in Miami and totaled just 1,664 yards and five touchdowns in those three years, though he did chip in an additional three return touchdowns.

His inconsistency as a wide receiver led to the Dolphins trading him away to the 49ers, who used him primarily as a returner. After a couple years of that, the Panthers decided that was a guy they could bring in to be a top three receiver for Cam Newton.

Ginn originally only spent one year in Carolina as the team’s third wide receiver behind 34 year old Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell. He chipped in a respectable 556 yards and five touchdowns before departing for Arizona.

He did nothing in Arizona, and the Panthers saw that and thought “that’s a guy we need to bring back into an expanded role at wide receiver.” He was originally slotted in as the team’s number two wide receiver, but a torn ACL suffered by Kelvin Benjamin in training camp elevated Ginn to the team’s WR1 position. He started the next two seasons for Carolina, and they would be among the best two years of his career. He topped over 700 yards in both seasons and caught a career high 10 touchdowns in 2015. He retained some return duties and maintained his effectiveness there.

Ginn was one of those players who only spent three seasons in Carolina, but it felt like he was here for a lot longer. He probably never should have been one of the team’s top options at wide receiver, but he was thrust into that role and had some memorable moments. Now to be fair, some of those moments were painful ones when he’d drop an open touchdown, but he was also on the receiving end of a number of long touchdowns off the arm of Cam Newton. In a way, he’s forever linked to Newton; only Greg Olsen had more receiving yards from the franchise’s all time best quarterback. That link elevates Ginn and slots him in at number 78 on the top 100 Panthers of all time.

We’re almost into July, so we can probably predict far too early which players will win which NFL awards when the 2026 season ends. Or rather, who probably has a slim chance to.

Over at NFL.com, Bucky Brooks put together his long shots for major NFL awards of the year. These are things like now-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray winning the Most Valuable Player Award, and New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown winning the Offensive Player of the Year Award.

Long shots. One of those long shots is San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, Brooks’ long shot for Comeback Player of the Year:

Fully recovered from last October’s season-ending ankle injury, the heart and soul of San Francisco’s defense should be squarely in the mix for the league’s bounce-back award, even in a loaded field of candidates that is highlighted by numerous high-profile quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels, to name a couple). Warner’s energy, effort and disruptive impact jump off the screen when watching this unit play. With Warner coming off the first major injury of his NFL career, I think we’ll see a fanatical effort from the 29-year-old as he seeks to reclaim his standing as the league’s top linebacker. With new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris installing a scheme that will showcase Warner’s skills as a “see ball, get ball” playmaker, the four-time first-team All-Pro will make more than enough plays to grab everyone’s attention.

Is Warner that much of a long shot, though? If he returns Week 1 and plays a full season as Fred Warner, why couldn’t he at least enter the conversation? As Brooks points out, it’s because he’s on a list that has two quarterbacks.

We can always go to gambling for assistance. Over at FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is listed as the best odds for the award (+200), followed by Jayden Daniels (+430) and Kyler Murray (+550). Keep in mind, Kyler Murray’s “long shot” was for MVP, not Comeback Player of the Year.

Fred Warner is listed at eighth-best odds (+2500). Given where he is, I’d say he has a good chance to get that award—if it wasn’t for the fact that Patrick Mahomes is in that category. I could joke and say if Mahomes were in Defensive Player of the Year odds, there’d be a strong case for him to win that award, too. Truth is, a quarterback with Mahomes’ resume and an ACL tear is probably going to get more nods than a linebacker with a broken ankle. At least this year.

For that reason alone, any player is a long shot for the award not named Patrick Mahomes or Jayden Daniels. It’s just how this is set up.

Do you think Fred Warner has a chance to win that award? Or do you agree it’s going to take a lot to get him in the conversation?

A winning or losing season is decided by dozens, if not hundreds, of inflection points. If one play call, penalty, fumble, drop, missed tackle goes the other way, it potentially changes the entire outcome of a game. Similarly, a franchise’s direction also has plenty of moments, decisions, and signings that drastically alter the course of the reality we’re living in.

As a Detroit Lions fan, there are probably hundreds of moments you wish you could change. With so much failure in this team’s history, the past seven decades have been filled with bad decisions, poor plays, unlucky moments, and mismanagement.

Today, let’s pretend you have the power to change ONE thing from Lions history. Today’s Question of the Day is:

What is one moment in Detroit Lions history you would change?

My answer: So many things immediately jump to mind.

I wish Jim Caldwell would’ve gone for it after the picked up pass interference flag in Dallas. I wish the Lions would have never hired Matt Patricia. I wish Kindle Vildor would’ve caught that interception. I wish Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis, Derrick Barnes, Alex Anzalone, and Malcolm Rodriguez hadn’t gotten injured in 2024. I wish the Lions would’ve drafted Aaron Donald instead of Eric Ebron.

But maybe more than anything else, I wish we could’ve gotten more years out of Barry Sanders.

I don’t know if the Lions would’ve seen any more team success if Barry had played two or three or four more seasons, but what I do know is he would’ve provided us with another three minutes worth of highlights, broken a few other records, and just provided teenage me with another dozen precious memories.

Either that or keeping Matt Millen as far away from this franchise as possible.

In this week’s CSC poll question we asked our readers which non-divisional game do they think is the New Orleans Saints most important this year?

47.4% of voters said it was the opening game against the Detroit Lions.

The mantra of the most important game on your schedule being the next one proved true in this week’s poll, as most of you believed winning in the Motor City and getting off to a 1-0 start is the most important game the Saints can win outside of the NFC South this season. Despite missing the playoffs in 2025 the Detroit Lions have been one of the better teams in the NFL over the last few years, and winning in their house would be a great way to start the season, especially for a young team in search of confidence.

The Lions will be looking to get off to a fast start to dispel any notion that their championship window is closed after last year’s disappointing result. This game will be one of the more difficult ones on the schedule for the Saints, as despite missing the playoffs in 2025 the Lions still finished with a winning record and are arguably the best NFC team on the Saints schedule. Beating them will be a challenge but all the more rewarding if the Saints are able to pull it off.

Lets see what the rest of the CSC staff had to say about this week”s poll:

Tina Howell

“Lions, need to open season strong. Got to build confidence and make a statement early. They beat the Lions at home and that says a lot.”

Anthony Parker

“Lions, 1-0 means everything to young team and it’s a road game.”

Matt Miguez

“That first game is a huge moment.”

Jason Watson Jr.

“I voted Steelers, personally. Whatever happens versus Detroit will not matter much come the end of the season regardless of how the next 16 games go for either side. I think having a big “primetime” game in the national spotlight against a good AFC team will be a good indicator of where the team is at just before the midway point.”

Caleb Yaccarino

“Giants without a doubt for me. Shough vs. Dart plus both teams are in similar spots.”

Do you agree with the poll results or do you think another non-divisional game is more important than the Week 1 matchup against the Lions and why?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans. You can see all of the recent survey results here.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

Chiefs fans’ belief in Patrick Mahomes’ accelerated rehabilitation

Among the polled Chiefs fans, just under one-fourth do not believe that starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be available to take the field against the Denver Broncos on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” to kick off the 2026 regular season.

As much irrational confidence as Mahomes has earned in his career, there are still a chunk of realists in Chiefs Kingdom that see backup quarterback Justin Fields — or rookie Garrett Nussmeier — leading the offense against a vaunted Broncos defense in the season opener.

Currently, Denver’s starting quarterback, Bo Nix, is not guaranteed to start in Week 1 either. He did not fully participate in minicamp practices this summer, but was on the field, similar to Mahomes.

Click here to see other recent survey results.

The New England Patriots made some changes to their cornerback group this offseason. Among the moves to hopefully upgrade the depth behind a starting trio of Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones was adding a trio of rookies.

We already looked at fifth-round draft pick Karon Prunty and undrafted free agent Channing Canada in earlier installments of our Patriots scouting reports. Now, it’s time to meet another UDFA, Kenneth Harris.

Hard facts

Name: Kenneth Harris

Position: Cornerback

Jersey number: 36 (b)

Opening day age: 24 (5/2/2002)

Measurements: 5’11 3/4”, 192 lbs, 9 1/4” hand size, 30 1/2” arm length, 72 1/2” wingspan, 4.45s 40-yard dash, 6.85s 3-cone drill, 4.23s short shuttle, 39 1/2” vertical jump, 10’9” broad jump, 22 bench press reps, 9.41 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Arkansas State (2020-22), Oklahoma State (2023-25)

A three-star recruit out of Caldwell Parish High School in Columbia, LA, Harris began his college career at Arkansas State. In three seasons with the Red Wolves, he appeared in 31 games with 18 starts and registered 71 tackles as well as a trio of interceptions. Following his junior year in Jonesboro, however, he opted to enter the transfer portal and took his talents to Oklahoma State.

Harris spent three years as a Cowboy, adding 28 games and 11 starts to his college résumé. He registered 42 tackles and a sack, with most of his production coming during his final season. After its conclusion and despite performing well during pre-draft testing, he saw the 2026 NFL Draft come and go without being called. Instead, he joined the Patriots as an undrafted rookie shortly thereafter.

Scouting report

Strengths: Harris is an impressive athlete, whose 9.41 Relative Athletic Score ranks in the 95th percentile among all cornerbacks tested over the last 40 years. His play looks the part, too. He has tremendous closing speed and quickness, and good long speed to stick with receivers down the seams. His strength gives him the potential to work as a press-man cornerback. He also has some good versatility, having played both on the perimeter and in the slot throughout his college career. He also has shown a good feel for timing his blitzes.

Weaknesses: Harris was superior athletically than most of the opposition he faced, but the results did not always look like it. He had just three interceptions, and none in his 28 games after transferring to OSU. Despite six years of experience in two different programs, he still is a raw player from a processing and technique perspective. He shows hesitation in his decisions, does not engage aggressively and allows receivers to control reps. His tackling form needs a complete overhaul after he missed on 19.4% of his attempts in college.

2025 review

Stats: 12 games (11 starts) | 669 defensive snaps, 68 special teams snaps | 33 tackles, 15 missed tackles (31.3%), 2 TFLs | 4 QB pressures (1 sack, 1 hit, 2 hurries) | 57 targets, 38 catches surrendered (66.7%), 551 yards, 4 TDs, 5 PBUs | 1 penalty (incl. 0 declined/offsetting)

Season recap: Harris’ career in Stillwater was off to a slow start, but he finally made his way into the Cowboys’ starting lineup in 2025. After beginning the season on the bench, he moved up the ranks in Week 2 against Oregon and never looked back. He finished the year ranked first on the team in defensive snaps (669), even though he had never been a full-time slot cornerback before: between 2020 and 2024, only 4.8% of his snaps had come at that particular position.

Unsurprisingly, there were some growing pains.

Harris allowed two thirds of passes thrown his way to be completed while also giving up four touchdowns and not registering any interceptions or other takeaways. He also had the fourth-worst missed tackle rate among all qualifying Power 5 cornerbacks.

That said, Harris also broke up more passes than any of his teammates and also showed some previously unknown pass-rush prowess: he finished the season with more pressures (4) than in his previous five college campaigns combined (3). And while his final year in college was a mixed bag, it also was a step in the right direction in several areas — one that ultimately allowed him to find a home in the NFL even after going undrafted.

2026 preview

Position: Slot cornerback | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate | Contract: Signed through 2028 (2029 RFA)

What will be his role? With the Patriots’ starting cornerback trio set in stone, Harris will spend the summer competing for a backup role as a rotational nickel and dime option. In addition, he will likely have to carve out a role on special teams in order to maximize his chances of making the roster or practice squad.

What is his growth potential? Based on his athletic profile, Harris appears to have a fairly high ceiling; he has the tools to earn a roster spot and maybe even develop into a valuable reserve and spot starter both in the slot and on the outside. Of course, athletic skill alone does not a great cornerback make. If, for example, his tackling doesn’t improve, he won’t make it very far in the NFL.

Does he have positional versatility? Harris lined up primarily in the slot during his final year at OSU, but he has extensive experience on the outside as well. The Patriots will try not to overload him during his first training camp, however, meaning that he will likely start out at one position — most likely the slot — and then add to his repertoire. Where his versatility could come into play is special teams: he entered the NFL with 10-plus college snaps on the kickoff coverage, punt return and field goal/extra point blocking units.

What is his salary cap situation? The 2026 portion of Harris’ three-year UDFA contract comes with an $887,500 cap figure consisting of a $885,000 base salary and $2,500 signing bonus proration. Only that proration, given its fully-guaranteed nature, is currently counted against New England’s books under the NFL’s Top 51 offseason rule.

How safe is his roster spot? Just like most other undrafted free agents, Harris is facing an uphill battle to make the Patriots’ roster. Between him and what is currently seven other backup cornerbacks — Charles Woods, Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, Marcellas Dial Jr, Brandon Crossley, Karon Prunty, Channing Canada — no more than three spots on the team will be available.

Summary: Harris’ athletic skillset is enticing, but unless he puts it to good use — something he failed to consistently do in college — it won’t be enough to crack the 53-man team. If he can show some growth and developmental upside, however, the practice squad might be a realistic landing spot.

What do you think about Kenneth Harris heading into the 2026 season? Will he become the next UDFA cornerback to earn a roster spot? Or will he be headed for the practice squad? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have a “No. 1 wide receiver” on their roster right now, and likely won’t find one until next offseason. One potential option could be trading with the Minnesota Vikings for Justin Jefferson, who CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell thinks will ask for a trade by the 2028 offseason due to the Vikings’ unstable quarterback situation.

Likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders

It’s hard to project how the NFL landscape will look years down the road, but the Raiders make plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will need a true WR1 to complement All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, and Las Vegas has shown a willingness to trade for a superstar wide receiver at the back of the end their 20s: The Raiders traded a first-round draft choice and a second-round draft choice to the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in exchange for a 29-year-old Davante Adams. They’ll make a similar effort to go all in on their offensive core of Mendoza, Bowers and 2025 sixth overall pick running back Ashton Jeanty. 

Podell also lists a first- and a third-round pick as the compensation to get the deal done, as that’s similar to what the Philadelphia Eagles received from the New England Patriots–a 2028 first and 2027 fifth–for A.J. Brown earlier this month.

To be clear, this is completely hypothetical, and Jefferson hasn’t asked for trade or even indicated that he wants out of Minnesota. But he did have the least-productive season of his career in 2025, and J.J. McCarthy being arguably the worst starting quarterback in the league last year was a big reason for that. However, the Vikings did add Kyler Murray in the offseason.

But if neither McCarthy nor Murray proves to be the team’s answer at the most important position on the field this season, it wouldn’t be out of the question for the superstar wide receiver to ask for a trade. If that’s the case, his connection to Klint Kubiak could boost the Raiders’ odds.

Kubiak was the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach when Jefferson was drafted in 2020 before getting promoted to offensive coordinator the following season. Jefferson had 108 catches for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns with Kubiak calling the plays in 2021.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Maxx Crosby cryptic post: the defensive end has people wondering what he means after tweeting/posting on X: “STOP PEOPLE PLEASING. HANDLE BUSINESS ACCORDINGLY,” with an eagle and diamond emoji.
• Raheem Mostert on Ashton Jeanty: “He is one of them ones now, but he is definitely one of them. He different. I’ve witnessed this stuff with my own eyes,” Mostert said of Jeanty on Terron Armstead’s The Set podcast. “The type of stuff he did in practice and then in the game, and it translated. I’ve never seen a dude run over another dude and just keep running. The way he lowered his shoulder, it was crazy. He did that multiple times, not just once.”
• 2021 re-draft: S&BP’s Tristen Kuhn revisits the Raiders’ 2021 draft haul and provides alternate picks at the same position for each selection.
• Celebrating Snake: fans reminisce about the Hall of Fame quarterback’s career and their favorite memories of him.

The Cleveland Browns will enter the 2026 NFL with some major changes on a defense that was statistically one of the league’s best for the past three seasons.

Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and arguably the best defensive player in franchise history, is gone to the Los Angeles Rams, with Jared Verse looking to fill the void.

Quincy Williams joins the linebacker room to replace the departed Devin Bush and work alongside Carson Schwesinger, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and No. 93 player on the current NFL Top 100 list.

In the secondary, second-round draft pick Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is expected to be an active participant in some three safety alignments with incumbents Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman.

The biggest change, at least after trading Garrett, will be on the sidelines as Mike Rutenberg takes over for Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator.

This will be Rutenberg’s first crack at running a defense, but he has been coaching that side of the ball since joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2003. That was when he first started working with Robert Saleh, whom Rutenberg followed to the San Francisco 49ers and then the New York Jets, where he was exposed to the idea of relying on a four-man pass rush, which is something that Schwartz also favors in his defenses.

Having a fresh voice in the room, while adapting to Garrett no longer being on the team, is a reason that Rutenberg could be successful with the Browns, as ESPN’s Ben Solak highlighted in an article looking at 10 new coordinators who have a lot riding on them:

While defenses are often built from the front back, it’s Rutenberg’s coverage background that might make him the ideal successor to Schwartz. Rutenberg spent last season with the Falcons as defensive passing game coordinator under Jeff Ulbrich (another Saleh connection). With a great post safety in Jessie Bates III on the roster, the Falcons played a ton of single high: 61% of their snaps, to be exact. Third in the league to only the Saints …and the Browns.

The Browns’ secondary is built to play single high, as Schwartz (often to his detriment) committed to playing with an extra body in the box while the rest of the league permitted light boxes, as is the modern style. The Browns’ secondary of cornerback Denzel Ward and safeties Ronnie Hickman and Grant Delpit was talented enough that Cleveland could just line up and play with great success.

But disguise does not need to be the opposite of aggression. Schwartz’s coverage approach has long been predictable, and predictable is exploitable even when Garrett is breathing down your neck. Last season, nobody ran less quarters or fewer zone blitzes in the league. The Falcons were top five in both under Rutenberg in 2025 by Next Gen Stats’ coverage model.

Rutenberg will breathe schematic freshness into Cleveland without sacrificing the identity of what has been a phenomenal unit in the past few years. And with the Garrett trade, that schematic freshness might suddenly become more necessary. The Browns cannot rely on a four-down rush nearly as much as they used to because they don’t have the generation’s best pass rusher on the roster any longer. Schwartz would have had to change even his near-permanent stripes — with Rutenberg, the Browns have a better chance to make that change quickly and effectively.

Things were also going to be different and difficult without Garrett as a force multiplier on defense, no matter how much people try to paint his time in Cleveland as less than favorable.

But if Rutenberg can lean into the team’s strengths with some fresh ideas, the Browns may still have a defense capable of putting fear into opposing offenses.

Abdul Carter did not have the rookie season the New York Giants dreamed about when they made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Carter wasn’t horrible in his rookie season. He just wasn’t Micah Parsons or Will Campbell, which is the kind of player the Giants believed they were drafting.

Carter’s season was most notable for the two late-season benchings he received from interim head coach Mike Kafka. One benching was for missing a walk-through practice. The second benching was for missing a special teams meeting.

Various reports indicated that these types of issues had cropped up throughout the season for Carter, who was just 21 years old at the start of his rookie year. They had apparently gone unchecked by then-coach Brian Daboll.

Carter played better after the benchings, getting 3.5 of his 4.0 sacks and 11 of his 23 quarterback hits over the final five games.

Carter checks in at No. 5 on our list of the ’10 most important Giants players of 2026′.

Why?

Because the possibility that he can become the game-wrecking, top-tier edge defender the Giants drafted him to be still exists. If Carter reaches that level, that changes the ceiling for the Giants’ defense.

Carter’s advanced metrics were far more encouraging than his middling sack total:

• Quick Pressures (under 3 secs): 1st
• Avg Time to Pressure (min 375 pass rush snaps): 1st (2.39 secs!!)
• Pressure % (min 375 pass rush snaps): 10th
• Pass Rush Win Rate in True Pass Sets: 11th
• QB Hits per PFF: T-6th

More maturity and understanding of the work involved in being a professional should help Carter turn pressure into real production. Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen is encouraged by what he has seen from Carter.

“He’s off to a great start,” Bullen said at the end of the offseason program. “The mode of operation is the biggest thing that you can look at at this point in the prep for the season.

“Just how he’s been in meetings and how he’s been working, and then how it all translates to the field. It’s been improved. There’s a lot of growth there. I’m excited about where he can go.”

The top 10

• NY Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 10 — TE Isaiah Likely
• NY Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 9 — G Francis ‘Sisi’ Mauigoa
• NY Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 8 — LB Arvell Reese
• NY Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 7 — DT DJ Reader
• Giants’ top 10 most important players: No. 6 — CB Paulson Adebo

Earlier this week, the NFL finalized its dates for the 2027 NFL draft in Washington, D.C. With the league rotating cities to host its premier event outside the Super Bowl, when will the Los Angeles Rams and L.A. get their opportunity to host again?

The City of Los Angeles has hosted the NFL draft once, which came in 1956. And it didn’t even host the full event either, as it split time with Philadelphia. Philly hosted the first three rounds in November 1955, while L.A. held the final 27 rounds at the iconic Ambassador Hotel. Yep, things were certainly different back then.

So, why the split? According to a Nov. 26, 1955, article from The Pittsburgh Press, the draft was moved up to “prevent any conflicts in the future signing of players, particularly as regards Canada.” Oh Canada, how dare you try to steal our football players? No poutine for you!

Anyway, those final 27 rounds produced two Hall of Famers, sadly, neither one belonging to the Rams. Quarterback Bart Starr and defensive end Willie Davis were taken by the Packers and Browns, respectively. Both players eventually became teammates in Green Bay and were essential to the Packers’ 1960s dynasty under Vince Lombardi.

In case you were wondering, the Rams had a mostly forgettable draft haul that year. Besides selecting Pro Bowler Leon Clarke and eventual NFL champions Jesse Whittenton (twice with the Packers) and John Morrow (Browns), no one stood out in L.A.

The City of Angels nearly hosted the 2015 NFL draft before the Rams’ move to the city was official. Around that time, the league decided that it needed a change because it had outgrown its space in New York City. Plus, NYC had hosted the event every year from 1965 to 2014.

The decision was narrowed between Los Angeles and Chicago, and the Windy City ultimately got the nod. However, L.A. will inevitably host the event again, as the league has expressed a willingness to rotate host cities as of late.

The nation’s capital will be the 10th different city to hold the event since Chicago hosted it back-to-back years in 2015-16. Since then, the draft was held in Philadelphia, Arlington, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Minneapolis will host the 2028 draft, but beyond that, it’s uncertain, which opens the door for Hollywood.

Again, it is only a matter of time before the City of Los Angeles hosts the NFL draft for a second time. Hosting two Super Bowls since the Rams returned to town helps L.A.’s case, as it’s proven to be more than capable of holding large-scale events. Until then, the city is in wait-and-see mode.

The Buffalo Bills have a solid mix of old friends and new faces in the defensive backfield this summer. While some stalwarts of the last decade, like Taron Johnson and Jordan Poyer, are no longer with the club, there is enough continuity where the Bills likely have a very good idea of the players they want on their roster when the team kicks off its season against the Houston Texans in September.

That doesn’t mean that some of the newer players have no chance of making the club, but it doesn’t bode well for some of the undrafted players fighting for their NFL lives. In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss one of those undrafted free agents looking to make an impression this summer.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Name:  Jordan Dunbar

Number:  36

Position:  DB

Height/Weight:  6′ 195 lbs.

Age:  24 (25 on 11/30/2026)

Experience/Draft:  R; signed with Buffalo following the 2026 NFL Draft

College:  Missouri State

Acquired:  UDFA signing

Financial situation (per Spotrac):  Dunbar’s three-year contract is worth $3.115 million with $15,000 guaranteed. If he makes the 53-man roster, his cap hit for the 2026 season is $890,000. If he’s released, Buffalo will carry a dead cap charge equal to the total guaranteed money on the contract.

2025 Recap:  In his sixth year of eligibility, Dunbar had his finest season, notching his first two career interceptions and breaking up a career-high 11 passes in 13 games. He totaled 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble, as well. He did not secure an invite to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. Missouri State did not publicly release the results of their players’ Pro Day drills, and his drill numbers are not available on NFL Draft Scout. Dunbar went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed with the Bills.

Positional outlook:  Dunbar is one of five players listed as a defensive back, with the others being Te’Cory Couch, Sam Franklin, Jordan Hancock, and Kani Walker. Dunbar played cornerback in college, so that’s his most likely spot with the Bills. The other corners on the roster are Maxwell Hairston, Christian Benford, Dee Alford, Toriano Pride Jr., and Davison Igbinosun.

2026 Offseason:  Dunbar is healthy and he has participated in off-season work to date.

2026 Season outlook: Dunbar’s chances of making the final roster are slim given his advanced age and lack of experience against top-end NCAA competition. However, a strong camp could turn itself into some big opportunities in preseason games, which could then snowball into a chance at making the team as one of the last defensive backs kept. Especially if he’s able to show prowess on special teams, you never know when a sleeper will come out of the woodwork.

Dunbar is a deep, deep sleeper, however, as the Bills are likely to keep four players for sure from that CB group listed above in Alford, Benford, Igbinosun, and Hairston. Hancock and Franklin are basically locks, as well, from that DB group, and we haven’t even started talking about safeties yet. It’s going to take a weird set of circumstances–think injuries–combined with lights-out play for Dunbar to have any shot at the 53. He’s likely fighting for a practice-squad spot.

Before Brandon Aiyuk can get released from the San Francisco 49ers, he must apply for reinstatement due to being on the reserve/left squad list.

And he still has to do that.

On NFL Live, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Aiyuk has not yet applied for reinstatement.

“He is on the left squad list for the 49ers still,” Fowler said on NFL Live. “To get off that list, he has to apply to [NFL] Commissioner Roger Goodell; he has to file paperwork. I’m told that hasn’t happened.”

In order for Aiyuk to go to the Washington Commanders (like he’s been saying he wants on social media), Aiyuk would need his probable release from the 49ers. That doesn’t happen until he fills out that paperwork.

“Teams I talk to say that he’s essentially untradable right now,” Fowler continued. “And I’ve talked to some people around the league who think that when he gets cut, if he gets cut, he might have to sign a vet minimum deal somewhere because of how all of this has gone.”

As we’ve said before, if Aiyuk could have been traded, he would have been. Long, long ago. That hasn’t happened. At this point, the path to the Commanders requires his release. To get released, he needs to do some homework. Whenever that happens.

We can say the 49ers are holding him hostage all he wants, but Aiyuk doesn’t seem to be doing what’s required of a player in the National Football League to make his case that the 49ers are doing him wrong. It would be another story if he applied for reinstatement and the 49ers were forced to cut him.

Multiple people with connections to the league have been siding against Aiyuk both for his recent antics and how he’s handled the entire situation.

Meanwhile, we end this with Aiyuk’s latest Instagram shenanigans. Something best described by Fowler as “lighting money on fire.”

The Daily Slop

Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!

Commanders links

Articles

Commanders.com

Who are Logan Paulsen’s top 5 campers?

Here are some of his top players who got him excited for training camp in July.

Nick Cross

He is built like an action figure, but it’s not the look that gets me excited. It’s the physical, downhill play that he brings to this thing. He can play in the box. He can play in the post. He can blitz. He can affect the quarterback. He runs a 4.3. You see him work as a pass rusher there. I think the flexibility he brings to this defense is gonna unlock everybody. So, I wanna see that, live and in living color. Can he be the leader of this defense in the back end? That’s why he’s No. 3 for me.

The Athletic (paywall)

2027 NFL Draft in Washington DC should be loaded with talent

Although plenty could change over the next 10 months, the 2027 draft has a chance to be the most anticipated in recent memory because of the star power of the class.

Like most drafts, the 2027 group will be largely judged by the quarterbacks. Texas’ Arch Manning is at the top of the list, and if he picks up where he left off last season, he has a great chance to follow in the footsteps of his uncles, Peyton and Eli, and be drafted No. 1. Dante Moore would punch his ticket for the first round with another productive year at Oregon, and scouts are optimistic for the developmental paths of South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Miami’s Darian Mensah and several others.

The class will also likely include former Cincinnati and Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, barring any successful legal action after the NFL declined his application and chose not to hold a supplemental draft in 2026.

Commanders Roundtable

Does Van Jefferson have what it takes to make the 53-man roster?

His 2025 numbers with Tennessee were modest — 29 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown on a 57% catch rate, with a 59.1 overall PFF grade that ranked 71st among 81 qualified receivers. The 12.1 yards per reception and zero drops across 16 games tell you the efficiency was there when the ball came his way. His 12.6-yard average depth of target reflects a receiver who was being asked to work downfield, not just catch check-downs. His peak — 802 receiving yards in 2021 with the Rams — shows the ceiling when he’s in the right system with the right quarterback.

Can He Make the Roster?

Honestly, it’s going to be a fight. Washington’s receiver room is the deepest it’s been in years, and the competition heading into training camp is pretty tight across the board. McLaurin, Williams, and Brown are locks. Burks, McCaffrey, and Lane are strong bets. That leaves Jefferson competing for the sixth or 7th spot on the depth chart against younger, cheaper options. Special teams value is going to matter. Jefferson has never been a core special teamer in his career, which makes his path harder in a roster crunch.

What works in his favor is the Quinn factor. Dan Quinn specifically called out Jefferson as a standout this offseason — noting his professionalism and the way he’s handled the competition in the receiver room during OTAs and minicamp. Quinn’s background values veteran presence and leadership in a receiver room, and Jefferson brings both. The forearm injury that ended his 2025 season early appears fully healed, and by all accounts, he showed up to Ashburn in the best shape of his career.

A to Z Sports

The Commanders need more firepower on offense

I don’t think Brandon Aiyuk is the answer (Stefon Diggs could very well be, though).

This is something the team will have to prioritize in 2027, sans any kind of unexpected breakout from names like Treylon Burks, Ben Sinnott, Luke McCaffrey, etc. McLaurin is only getting older each year and he can’t be expected to remain a top-tier playmaker for too much longer.

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders’ improvements might be as simple as Terry McLaurin’s engagement

Things are noticeably different this time around. Not just for McLaurin, but for everyone on the squad.

The intensity was high. Head coach Dan Quinn raised the urgency in practices, and the established leaders led from the front. Everyone followed, and the atmosphere across the franchise has completely changed. Complacency has been replaced by supreme resolve and obvious intent. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.

NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo is among those who saw something different in McLaurin. After speaking with the wideout, he got the sense that not being out front to help the team build on their remarkable NFC Championship run was frustrating. That’s what he prides himself on above all else, which was hard to do when he was taking care of his own business.

Commanders Wire

Commanders’ Sonny Styles embracing Dan Quinn’s BMF attitude

Under Dan Quinn, Styles is embracing his BMF attitude.

“We talk a lot about this identity of BMF: Bad M-F’er,” Styles told CBS Sports. “And I kind of like it. It’s like this mindset of, ‘I’m unstoppable,’ basically. I’ve never really had that approach of like, ‘This is our identity of the team.’ You always hear, like, ‘Hard work,’ all these different things. … So, I kind of like that approach. I mean, it’s the way you got to play the game, especially for my position.

“It’s a violent game, so if you don’t have that mindset, it’s probably not gonna be a good day for you. That’s something I’m starting to learn from Coach Quinn.” 

Heavy.com

Who is T.J. Maguranyanga?

[T.J. Maguranyanga is a] 6-foot-4, 222-pound edge rusher and former French rugby union star whom Riggo’s Rag’s Dean Jones singled out as the “underdog nobody saw coming” after a standout performance in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

“Head coach Dan Quinn singled out one surprising figure who stood out over Washington’s offseason program,” Jones wrote on June 24. “And even though versatile defensive weapon T.J. Maguranyanga’s chances of making the roster remain slim, getting noticed is an achievement in itself … improvements have been made from the former French rugby union star turned NFL pro. He’s young enough to keep growing, and considering he had no experience before a 10-week International Player Pathway training camp early last year, the trajectory is pointing up.”

He’s still only 23 years old, which is younger than many players selected in the 2026 NFL draft.

Maguranyanga, born and raised in Zimbabwe, was a rugby superstar coming up in his home country, representing his nation in junior international competitions for the 1st time at just 13 years old.

“He’s got the versatility to play as a stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker or a 3-4 defensive end,” Jones wrote. “Maguranyanga can operate as a 4-3 defensive end or even a 3-technique on the interior. Couple this with the dynamism he could bring as a special-teams force, don’t count him out just yet.”

Pro Football Talk

Brandon Aiyuk says he hasn’t had an agent since November 2025

Aiyuk not thinking he has an agent would explain his failure to follow his agent’s advice. Surely, Williams has not advised him to handle the situation the way he has.

As explained earlier, Aiyuk (who is on the reserve/left squad list) must petition the league for reinstatement. Once reinstated, he needs to show up for training camp. At that point, the 49ers would likely cut him.

Until he is reinstated and shows up, the 49ers have no reason to do anything.

And if Aiyuk isn’t getting advice from an agent in that regard, someone in his orbit needs to tell him that his pathway to free agency is that simple. One, petition for reinstatement. Two, show up.

Photos

Commanders.com

PHOTOS | Commanders Minicamp 1

Podcasts & videos

CHEMISTRY: Terry McLaurin, Chig Okonkwo Fit David Blough’s Commanders Offense

NFLPA’s JC Tretter Talks 18-Game Season, Sorsby & More | Full Interview | The Rich Eisen Show

NFC East links

Blogging the Boys

Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: QB Sam Howell

Who is QB2 right now in your mind?

Contract Status

Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $2.5 million

The most important detail in Howell’s contract is that it’s fully guaranteed. While $2.5 million isn’t too much for the Cowboys to eat, shoud they choose to, it does speak to their confidence in Howell making the roster this season.

2026 Projections

Role: Backup QB
Roster Chance: 80%

Howell’s 18 career starts, and none of them since 2023, aren’t exactly a wealth of experience. But considering they’re 18 more than Joe Milton’s had, that experience feels like the entire reason Howell is here and got the guaranteed money. Even if Milton has a sensational camp and wins the backup job, Howell brings something that will help Dak Prescott prepare for games and elevate practices.

It’s interesting that his last stop was Philadelphia, where he spent practices throwing against Christian Parker’s secondary. We don’t know if Dallas’ new defensive coordinator had a hand in signing Howell, but you’d assume they at least asked his opinion. The Cowboys, including Brian Schottenheimer, certainly knew him from [Howell’s] time in Washington as well.

Big Blue View

NFC East Grades: Where do the NY Giants stack up at linebacker?

New York Giants

Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese, Micah McFadden, Darius Muasau, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes, Cam Jones

I went back and forth between the Giants and Commanders – it could have gone either way. However, three points for New York are still a beam of light in the dark abyss that has been the New York Giants’ linebacker room. The veteran addition of Tremaine Edmunds, along with the selection of Arvell Reese – and the decision to play him at linebacker – makes this a strong room with a lot of versatility, length, and upside.

I also love that the Giants brought back McFadden on a one-year prove-it deal. McFadden has developed throughout his career, but a Week 1 injury cut his contract year short. He is a reliable option to play if something happens to Edmunds or Reese, leaving Mausau as a special teamer. I won’t rule sixth-round pick Jack Kelly out to possibly see defensive snaps as the season progresses. The Giants have a solid linebacking corps, and they could have easily earned four points here.

Points: 3

Washington Commanders

Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Nick Bellore, Kain Medrano, Ale Kaho

Washington gets four points, and I expect Dan Quinn to use these linebackers well. The Commanders moved on from veterans like Bobby Wagner and brought in youth, selecting Styles in the top 10 and signing the 25-year-old Chenal. Chenal is a versatile linebacker who does well coming forward toward the line of scrimmage; he will be impactful as a blitzer, similar to Frankie Luvu, who is still on the roster as a third linebacker, with some edge ability.

Styles, Chenal, and Luvu are a solid trio of linebackers, with Jordan Magee as a young fourth option; Magee is a quick, undersized linebacker who recorded 21 STOPs last season with solid tape. Overall, the Commanders barely get the nod over the Giants and Eagles here, but they receive the four points.

Points: 4

Big Blue View

Greg Olsen picks the NY Giants to surprise with 10 wins

Fox analyst Greg Olsen said recently on Colin Cowherd’s podcast that the Giants are his sleeper team this year. Olsen believes that the Giants are primed to take the NFL — or at least the NFL media — by surprise and come away with a 10-win season.

I think you look back on last year’s team the way they lost some of those games, the endings to the games, the management, the bad breaks we talked earlier on.

How do you have a magical run?

There is an element of luck. There is an element of certain games just bouncing your way.

And some years, it seems like you get all the breaks and you win all the close games. And then other years, no matter what you do, no matter how much you study game management and time out usage, you just can’t find a way to finish a game.

It felt like that was the case with the Giants last year.

And of course, they had a ton of their young offensive talent get injured. They got to keep Jaxson Dart healthy, figure out how to run him and not [get hurt] so that’s going to be something they’ll monitor. I love their draft, I love the pieces that they added.

I think their defense is better than they performed last year. I think the talent there is better than the outcome.

And some years, it seems like you get all the breaks and you win all the close games. And then other years, no matter what you do, no matter how much you study game management and time out usage, you just can’t find a way to finish a game.

It felt like that was the case with the Giants last year.

NFL league links

Articles

Pro Football Focus

Analyzing the effectiveness of RPOs over the last five NFL seasons

The concept allows offenses to attack defenses based on both pre-snap and post-snap leverage, making it a foundational element of every NFL scheme. By placing a defender in conflict, RPOs allow quarterbacks to distribute the ball to the most favorable option quickly.

However, keen observers may have noticed that RPO usage is gradually declining. After increasing every season from 2016 through 2022, RPO usage has decreased in each of the past three seasons. They accounted for 7.95% of offensive plays last season, their lowest league-wide usage since 2019.

There are several factors behind this decline. For starters, defenses have become slightly better at defending these plays. Early in their evolution, RPOs generated as many as 5.0 yards per play. That figure has since settled closer to 4.5 yards per play.

Despite their popularity, RPOs have generated nearly a full yard fewer per play than all other offensive plays over the past five seasons. Part of the reason is that they rarely produce explosive gains. Only 20 RPOs gained more than 30 yards last season.

The vast majority of RPOs are routine inside handoffs to running backs with a slight numbers advantage in the box or quick-hitting throws to a wide receiver who is likely to be tackled after a modest gain.

Instead, they are best used to keep the offense on schedule, and metrics such as PFF’s successful play percentage reflect that philosophy.

While the name “run-pass option” may imply offenses are equally likely to run or throw the ball, nearly three-quarters of all RPOs are designed runs.

NFL.com

Free agent CB Kenny Moore looking for ‘culture fit,’ weighs in on departure from Colts

Free agent All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkinsdid it during a Wednesday appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Cornerback Kenny Moore followed suit Thursday.

Moore’s role in Indianapolis changed following the dismissal of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, and after one season spent under new DC Lou Anarumo, it became clear the two were no longer a fit.

That prompted Moore and the Colts to mutually seek a trade. When one failed to materialize, Indianapolis released Moore in May.

He’s been looking for work ever since.

There’s no hard feelings between Moore and the Colts, who both acknowledged it was time to split. But that doesn’t mean Moore has lost his competitive fire, and as he approaches his 31st birthday in August, he’d prefer to spend his final years chasing team success.

As of late June, he’s yet to find a proper pairing. But with training camp opening a month from now, it’s fair to expect interest to pick up, especially if a team develops a need at the position before the start of the regular season in September.

Moore will be waiting by the phone, ready to answer the call, pack his bags and resume his career.

Discussion topics

Pro Football Focus

Washington Commanders All-PFF Team: The best players of the past 20 years

Offense

• QB: Kirk Cousins (2012-2017)
• HB: Alfred Morris (2012-2015)
• WR: Terry McLaurin (2019-2025)
• WR: Pierre Garcon (2012-2016)
• Slot WR: Santana Moss (2006-2014)
• TE: Jordan Reed (2013-2018)
• TE: Chris Cooley (2006-2012)
• LT: Trent Williams (2010-2018)
• LG: Kory Lichtensteiger (2010-2016)
• C: Chase Roullier (2017-2022)
• RG: Brandon Scherff (2015-2021)
• RT: Morgan Moses (2014-2020)

The Commanders’ offense is led by its wide receivers. Over the past 20 years, Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon and Terry McLaurin have each served as Washington’s top receiving option at different points.

While most of the league’s 32 teams had a clear top quarterback over the past two decades, Washington had several contenders. Kirk Cousins and Jason Campbell are the only quarterbacks with three or more seasons of at least 600 offensive snaps, but Jayden Daniels and Robert Griffin III produced the two best individual seasons by a Washington quarterback. Cousins’ three-year stretch was stronger than Campbell’s, giving him the top spot.

Eight of the 12 players were on the roster in 2015, one of the five seasons in which Washington reached the playoffs.

Defense

• DI: Jonathan Allen (2017-2024)
• DI: Chris Baker (2012-2016)
• NT: Daron Payne (2019-2015)
• ED: Ryan Kerrigan (2011-2020)
• ED: Montez Sweat (2019-2023)
• LB: London Fletcher (2007-2013)
• LB: Bobby Wagner (2024-2025)
• CB: DeAngelo Hall (2008-2017)
• CB: Quinton Dunbar (2015-2019)
• Slot CB: Kendall Fuller (2020-2023)
• S: LaRon Landry (2007-2011)
• S: Kam Curl (2020-2023)

Washington has spent most of the past decade with a below-average defense, though there have been a few notable exceptions. The team has had several strong defensive players over the past 20 years, but most either didn’t play together or didn’t peak at the same time.

Ryan Kerrigan and DeAngelo Hall lead the defense after spending more than a decade with the franchise. The two biggest names on this unit are linebackers London Fletcher and Bobby Wagner. Both joined Washington in their 30s and still found success despite being among the league’s oldest linebackers during their tenures.

The most competitive spot was edge defender opposite Ryan Kerrigan. Andre Carter, Brian Orakpo, Preston Smith and Montez Sweat all played more than 3,000 snaps for Washington and posted respectable pass-rush grades. Sweat played the fewest snaps of the group but stood out against the run, earning an 89.5 run-defense grade. Each of the other edge defenders recorded run-defense grades below 65.0.

aBit o’Twitter

You know it and I know it, it’s so old it’s new. Attention grabbing. Sensational headlines. I don’t make the rules, but I do follow them. Do you care about the Seattle Seahawks? I do too. They are the best team the NFL. Defending Super Bowl Champions. The Los Angeles Rams are not defending Super Bowl Champions.

It’s June. It will be July. Let the NFL come to you.

Comment on whatever you want.

Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times!

Latest QB-HC rankings give Seahawks an uncomfortable truth about the Rams (12thmanrising)

“The Seattle Seahawks did a great job of dissecting the film, learning from their mistakes, and making adjustments last season. After a disastrous, turnover-riddled performance and a narrow loss to the Los Angeles Rams, they bounced back to beat them in the next two meetings.

Of course, that included an instant classic in the NFC Championship Game, a matchup that was arguably much tougher and more competitive than the actual Super Bowl. Now, the Rams have gone to great lengths to get the last laugh in 2026.”

Secret Starter Gives Seahawks Edge Over Rams (sports.yahoo)

“Maintaining strength on the back end of the NFL’s toughest defense is why “Macdonald is touting how much Nehemiah Pritchett will get a chance in his third NFL preseason with Seattle to be a rotating, first-team cornerback,” according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune.

Betting on Prtichett doing more is something of a risk when he’s made just one start during two seasons in the NFL. Yet, the potential reward of getting Pritchett on the field more often can make a Seahawks’ team strength even better.”

Rams QB Ty Simpson Doesn’t Need to Beat Out Stetson Bennett Right Now (si.com)

“At the end of the day, it’s OTAs and neither quarterback is being asked to do much. Players still aren’t wearing pads and the goal is to keep things simple while the offense is in the early stages of being installed. 

Still, that didn’t stop aggregators and those trying to push the agenda that Simpson isn’t standing out from Bennett. An argument can be made that it says more about Bennett, who has been in the offense for three years, that he isn’t significantly ahead of a rookie.

Either way you want to look at it, it’s mostly just a nothingburger, but that won’t stop the overreactions or spun narratives.”

Rams’ offensive playmakers ranked as NFL’s 2nd-best by ESPN analyst (ramswire)

“The Los Angeles Rams have done remarkably well to surround Matthew Stafford with a strong supporting cast. It helps when you hit on players like Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams on Day 3 of the draft, but they’ve also signed Davante Adams and Colby Parkinson in free agency to bolster the skill positions.

Heading into the 2026 season, the Rams’ group of playmakers is undeniably among the most impressive in the NFL. With Nacua, Adams, Williams, Parkinson and others, Stafford has no lack of help at wide receiver, running back or tight end.”

Puka Nacua and Ty Simpson watched U.S. World Cup game with Ashton Kutcher (ramswire)

“Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua and rookie quarterback Ty Simpson probably won’t play any games together this season, but they’re already building some chemistry off the field. The two of them were spotted at the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup game against Turkey on Thursday night, which was played at SoFi Stadium.

Star actor Ashton Kutcher was alongside the two Rams players, chopping it up with Nacua, as well.”

It’s Too Early To Discuss A Standout Between Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett (athlonsports)

“When the Los Angeles Rams drafted Ty Simpson 13th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, they did not ask him to replace Matthew Stafford immediately. They told him to learn, grow, and compete. And yet here we are less than two months removed from draft night already debating why no one has been named Stafford’s backup. So when news from The Athletic’s Nate Atkins comes out, saying neither quarterback has been able to stand out ahead of the other. It raises the question: what is either one supposed to do to stand out from the other?”

In Today’s Links: more Seattle Seahawks player rankings via Seaside Joe, where Nick Emmanwori can get even more Emmanwori, an NFC Mixtape from Seahawks Forever, and more. Oh, it’s Saturday and we here at Field Gulls wish you a wonderful weekend. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!

#np ooweeooweeoo by Chanpan

Seattle Seahawks News

Seahawks Player Rankings: Nos. 51-60 – Seaside Joe
Can this “Band of Brothers” help the Seahawks win another Super Bowl?

The next evolution? How Seahawks star can baffle opponents even more – Seattle Sports
Matt Hasselbeck details how Nick Emmanwori could leave offenses even more flummoxed in Year 2.

Seahawks Wide Receiver Position Will Be Hot-Button Issue By July – si.com
We are all aware of the issues the Seahawks have on the interior line, but their depth at wide receiver could be a concern in 2026.

Ranking EVERY NFC West QB Room: Starters AND Backups | NFC Mixtape w/ Dan & Rob – Seahawks Forever w/ Dan Viens
The NFC West Mixtape is back, and today Dan Viens and Rob “Stats” Guerrera are diving into the most important position in football from every angle.

NFC West News

The Cardinals receiver that nobody is talking about – Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals will begin training camp this year one week earlier than other clubs this year due to the fact that they are playing in the annual Hall of Fame Game.

Who is the 49ers best player in 2026? – Niners Nation
The 49ers have several players that made a preseason Top 100 list.

Kevin Dotson should be Rams’ extension priority – Turf Show Times
Why Dotson should take precedent over Puka Nacua, other L.A. players in contract year

There are plenty of interesting story lines for the New Orleans Saints going into the 2026 NFL season. Tyler Shough’s development, how will Kellen Moore keep his team on track, and what does Alvin Kamara’s role look like as RB2?

Despite all of these, the Saints’ matchups have been overlooked quite a bit. So what would be the most can’t-miss games for New Orleans in 2026?

3. Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 7)

No one deserved to be part of the first-ever NFL game in Paris more than the Saints. From the French roots that built New Orleans to the team’s continuous effort to establish a presence there, it was never a shocker they would be chosen to be there.

But part of what makes this game so intriguing is the team’s ability to grow internationally. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has shown one thing to Americans: how beautiful a game soccer really is, despite the stereotypical American reaction. Part of this growth has been due to the fact that it is taking place on home soil, something the Saints will be able to replicate in Paris.

The matchup itself isn’t too intriguing. The Saints and the Steelers don’t have much beef, but Tyler Shough versus Aaron Rodgers is a pretty solid headline. Despite the lack of excitement for the matchup, a win for the Saints in Paris could do wonders for their international growth.

2. Saints vs. Chicago Bears (Week 11)

The Saints weren’t great early in the 2025 NFL season, and despite a valiant loss to the New England Patriots heading into their matchup with the Chicago Bears, it was Chicago’s dominant defense that truly derailed the Saints’ season.

The Dennis Allen-led defense dominated Spencer Rattler and the New Orleans offense, with a final score of 26-14. After the loss, the Saints would bench Rattler at halftime in their next matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The obvious, intriguing part of this matchup is the rematch with Allen. The Bears’ defense was the x-factor in the 2025 matchup, with Chicago forcing four turnovers and four sacks. But this matchup will be a lot more interesting the second time around.

Tyler Shough will be the starter this time around. Shough was clearly the better quarterback for the Saints’ offense, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to a dangerous Bears defense.

1. Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons (Week 4)

The best storyline for the Saints in 2026 will be the NFL commemorating the Saints vs. the Atlanta Falcons homecoming game 20 years later. New Orleans will host Atlanta on Monday Night Football in Week 4, a little over 20 years since the iconic game. The Falcons will want nothing more than to spoil the Saints’ big game, and quite honestly, New Orleans can’t allow them to do that.

This game could also be a big moment for Shough. Commemorating 20 years of the greatest game in Saints history and the rebirth of, not just the Saints, but also the city of New Orleans. Shough is already seen as part of the turnaround for the Saints. They’ve struggled since Drew Brees retired and appeared to be in quarterback purgatory.

A win for the Saints against their biggest rivals would be big, but to do it in a game that means as much as it does to New Orleans makes this game the most interesting going into the 2026 NFL season.

Each day in the month of June, we’ll roll out a fresh topic to get Chicago Bears fans thinking. Be sure to chime in with your answer in the comments so we can all get to know our WCG members a bit better.

What is your most PAINFUL Bears memory?

This one was a bit easier for me simply because it’s more objective than the subjective moment I would change. Meaning, I can pinpoint the moment where the gut punch felt worse than ever before.

Expectations were high after one of the most successful seasons this century thanks in large part to one of the most dominating defenses in franchise history.

And then it happened.

Chicago (12-4) had won nine of their last ten games and was the 3 seed hosting the 6 seed Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Foles gave the hobbled Bears secondary all they could handle without Eddie Jackson but Chicago’s defense still forced a couple interceptions and sacked Foles one time.

On offense, Chicago struggled to run the ball that day, but Mitch Trubisky had a very solid day throwing for over 300 yards (143 of which to Allen Robinson) including a would-be game winning drive – setting Chicago up for a 43 yard FG with just 10 seconds remaining.

All Cody Parkey had to do was make the kick.

But he double-doinked it.

And just like that, the Bears season was over. The Eagles would go on to lose against the 1-seed Saints, who would then lose to the 2-seed Rams (a team Chicago dominated just one month earlier) and the Patriots would end up winning the Super Bowl 13-3 in one of the most boring Super Bowl’s of all time.

Oh, what could have been.

Easily the hardest single memory as a Bears fan for me.

What about you? Do you have a different painful memory? Share it below in the comments and let’s suffer together!