NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • Denver Broncos made an underrated free agent signing to bolster special teams unit

    Denver Broncos made an underrated free agent signing to bolster special teams unit

    The Denver Broncos are finally looking at free agency additions outside of re-signing their former players. After their blockbuster trade for Jaylen Waddle earlier in the week, they’ve now added a special teams ace in former Cincinnati Bengals safety Tycen Anderson. That the Bengals made a last ditch effort to re-sign him once he had a deal with Denver suggests they weren’t too keen on losing him and were hoping to get him back at a more reasonable rate. Their loss becomes Denver’s gain.

    Broncos daily recap

    WE HAVE A FREE AGENT SIGNING THAT DIDN’T COME FROM DENVER. People will sleep on this signing, but both P.J. Locke and Justin Strnad played heavily on special teams last season. They needed to dude to fill a bigger role there and got one. Excellent pick up for Denver.

    Broncos are signing safety/special teams ace Tycen Anderson
    Denver’s first external free agent signing of 2026 is officially on the books. The Broncos are bringing in safety Tycen Anderson from Cincinnati on a one-year deal. Anderson was a fifth-round pick by the Bengals in 2022 and appeared in every game for Cincinnati the last two seasons, logging 83% of the team’s special-teams snaps in 2025. He’s played just a handful of defensive snaps in his career, but fills a real need after P.J. Locke departed for Dallas. Anderson will compete with Devon Key and J.L. Skinner for the third safety spot while immediately upgrading the special teams unit.

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    Under the radar

    The Broncos freed up another $1.58M in cap space by restructuring OL Matt Peart’s contract. That will help free up some cap space.

    Join our March Madness conversation!

    Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness open thread during Thursday’s games where we’ll be talking about all the wild upsets, buzzer beaters, and Cinderella runs!

    SB Nation’s cast of characters will be enjoying the game together, so join Chris Dobbertean, Mike Rutherford, Ricky O’Donnell, Mark Schofield, James Dator, and others for 12 hours of…

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  • Bucs Super Bowl champion apart of newest Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

    Bucs Super Bowl champion apart of newest Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

    The Senior Bowl has always been a pivotal part of the draft process for the entire NFL. Each year, we see tons of players go through the rigors that Mobile, Alabama, can present, and each year, we see players come out on the other side prepared to make an impact in the NFL.

    On Wednesday night, the Senior Bowl announced its newest class of Hall of Famers, and within that, there was a former Bucs player in the midst of it all. Former defensive lineman and Super Bowl champion, Booger McFarland, will be a part of the 2026 class.

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    Senior Bowl director Drew Fabianich shared in a press release, “We are thrilled to welcome the 2026 Senior Bowl Hall of Fame class back to the Mobile area. It is a privilege to celebrate the lasting impact of the late Harry Agganis, Jason Campbell, Roman Harper, Booger McFarland, and Norv Turner – five individuals whose careers exemplify the tradition and excellence of the Senior Bowl. . .”

    The former Bucs defensive lineman also released a statement, saying, “I was fortunate enough to play almost a decade in the NFL, and it all got started in Mobile, Alabama. I am truly blessed to be recognized by the Senior Bowl and everything that it represents for guys starting their journey to the NFL.”

    McFarland played for the Bucs for eight season after being drafted 15th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played his college football at LSU and came to a Bucs team that was close to winning a Super Bowl and would help them achieve that three seasons into his career.

    This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Booger McFarland to be inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame

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  • March Madness is upon us! NCAA Tournament first round begins

    March Madness is upon us! NCAA Tournament first round begins

    This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

     🏀 Five things to know Thursday

    The 64-team March Madness field is set. On the second day of the First Four, Prairie View A&M dropped 40 second-half points to beat Lehigh, and Miami (OH) rained 3-pointers to roll past SMU. First-round matchups are now set as the action tips off this afternoon. Be sure to get your Bracket Games selections submitted, and check out the complete first-round schedule to map out your viewing priorities.Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. has been ruled out vs. South Florida. The Cardinals will be starting their NCAA Tournament journey this afternoon against USF, but they will do so without one of their best players. Louisville has ruled out Brown for at least the first round — and possibly the second round — due to a back injury. Before finalizing those brackets or submitting those bets, make sure to double-check our March Madness injury tracker.Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal against Nashville SC. Shifting away from the hardwood for a moment, Messi tallied his 900th career goal in the Concacaf Champions Cup. In doing so, Messi joined Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male players to reach that career milestone. Unfortunately for Messi and Inter Miami, it wasn’t all good news. The 1-1 final score meant Nashville SC advanced due to the away goals tiebreaker.Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made his first start after Tommy John surgery. After missing the entire 2025 season due to injury, Cole is hoping to bounce back and lead the Yankees to a World Series. Wednesday’s spring training start against the Red Sox was an encouraging sign. Cole threw one scoreless inning, and he showed off that flamethrower attached to his right shoulder. Cole hit 98.7 mph in the brief outing.The WNBA and…..

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  • Throwing cold water on Rams’ offseason so far

    Throwing cold water on Rams’ offseason so far

    No team has made a bigger splash this offseason than the Los Angeles Rams. Consensus tells us LA has done enough to get over the hump and strive for a Super Bowl run in 2026.

    But in some ways there are still a lot of questions on how these investments and puzzle pieces all fit together. Those that win March rarely win in December and January, at least through the lens of traditional free agency. Are we crowning the Rams prematurely?

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    Let’s take off the rose-colored glasses. This is the contrarian’s guide to the offseason so far.

    Add talent, figure the rest out later

    Cornerback and the secondary overall was a major reason why the Rams fell short in the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks. LA pulled nearly every available lever to upgrade and overcorrect for 2026.

    It all started with the extension of Quentin Lake midseason. Lake is a hybrid safety and slot corner. His role may be subject to change short-term, though we truly don’t know.

    The next domino to fall was the blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie. Savvy fans know that McDuffie is best in the slot, though this spot has been manned by Lake in recent years. McDuffie is a top-three slot corner in the NFL. He may be closer to top 15 on the outside. In reality he probably plays a hybrid role in Los Angeles in order to make use of his unique skillset; however, questions still remain whether his contributions can outweigh the lofty draft capital sent to KC plus a record-setting contract.

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    It’s comforting that the Rams followed up the McDuffie trade by signing Jaylen Watson, KC’s physical outside corner. He’s 6-2, 197 lbs. and brings much-needed size to a historically slight Rams corner room. Any concerns about McDuffie holding up against bigger receivers should be mitigated by Watson’s arrival.

    LA also was able to re-sign veteran safety Kamren Curl in free agency. Most thought he would receive a hefty pay day and leave for another team. I’m…

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  • Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham looks to marry blue-collar development, blue-blood talent

    Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham looks to marry blue-collar development, blue-blood talent

    Kyle Whittingham knows what it takes to build a championship team, but he’s never had resources like those at his disposal at Michigan. As the Wolverines open spring practice, Whittingham feels particularly confident about the quarterback position.

    The last major hire of the 2025-26 coaching carousel, Whittingham is charged with pushing Michigan forward amid unexpected turbulence while maintaining elite expectations at a blueblood program loaded with talent.

    “I would expect at Michigan, you challenge for the Big Ten title every single year. That should be a given,” Whittingham told 247Sports Tuesday. “Every single year, you should be in the hunt. And deep in the season, you should be right there with the top teams. Playoffs, obviously, is a lofty goal, but you can’t get there, most likely, unless you do well in the Big Ten, so you’ve got to take things a step at a time. But at Michigan, I would say if you’re not thinking Big Ten championship every year, then something’s wrong.”

    Whittingham confirmed that returning quarterback Bryce Underwood is Michigan’s unquestioned starter, noting positive momentum in his development this offseason. Underwood was Whittingham’s top priority after accepting the job in December. He traveled to Florida to the former five-star, top-rated player prior to Michigan’s bowl game last season.

    Underwood’s only losses as a true freshman came against Oklahoma, USC, Ohio State and Texas. He totaled 2,820 yards of offense and 17 touchdowns, helping Michigan remain in Big Ten title and at-large playoff conversations through rivalry weekend.

    “He has performed very well in the workouts and not only with his athleticism but leadership-wise,” Whittingham said of Underwood. “He was voted one of our team captains, and so…

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  • Tom Brady ‘unlikely’ join 2028 Olympics flag football team

    Tom Brady ‘unlikely’ join 2028 Olympics flag football team

    It is still too early to entirely rule Tom Brady out from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion conceded that it is “unlikely” he will suit up for Team USA when flag football makes its Olympic debut. Brady has been an ambassador for flag football during its rise in popularity, but playing on the world stage is a different beast.

    Brady is three seasons removed from his last NFL game and is now firmly entrenched in his roles as a broadcaster and partial team owner. While he came out of a brief retirement to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, the longtime New England Patriots star now appears all but done as a quarterback.

    “I would never say never, but it’s probably unlikely, just so you know,” Brady said on “Good Morning America. “I think for these young guys, it’s good for them to do it. If I ever wanted to come in in an advisory role, as a coach, something like that, that’s probably better suited for me. But I’ll let the young Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen get out there and try to win a gold medal for the U.S.”

    While it would be a stretch to expect Brady to play at the Olympics, he will hit the gridiron this weekend in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic along with a number of current and former NFL stars, including Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, Rob Gronkowski and others. The event pits three teams against each other in a round-robin tournament with the top two advancing to the championship game.

    One of those teams is the United States Men’s National Flag Football Team. What remains to be seen is how many on that roster will compete at the Olympics and how many NFL players will challenge them for spots on the squad.

    “You never know what’s going to happen, and I think the lead-up to this game has got me a little excited, but I love my Fox job,” Brady said. “I love doing my broadcasts. There’s a big commitment to that. I love the…

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  • Texas A&M QB has done an ‘unbelievable job’ in path towards improving

    Texas A&M QB has done an ‘unbelievable job’ in path towards improving

    Texas A&M’s 2026 spring practice season officially begins on Friday afternoon, and for coach Mike Elko, his third season at the helm might be his most important after leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, only to come up short at home against the eventual national runner-up Miami Hurricanes.

    This offseason, after losing 20-plus players to the transfer portal and the 2026 NFL Draft, Elko and his revamped coaching staff added 17 transfer additions and 26 signees from the 2026 recruiting class, including four SEC starting offensive linemen, who will likely replace four O-line starters from the 2025 season.

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    Among the offseason changes, Elko promoted five coaches to new positions, including new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins, who, after two seasons as the program’s wide receiver coach, will now call plays for the first time in his career. While this change was rumored just weeks after the 2025 season ended, Elko’s steadfast trust in his coaching staff has never wavered and has mostly panned out.

    On Tuesday, Elko, along with Holmon Wiggins and first-year defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill, spoke to the media for the first time before the spring season begins, and for those unfamiliar with Wiggins’s background, his impressive resume, including several seasons serving as former Alabama coach Nick Saban’s assistant head coach, should help avoid significant issues as the playcaller.

    “I’ve had the luxury of working hand-in-glove with some really good playcallers… We’re looking to build on what we’ve done really well. I’m a kid from South Central Los Angeles, so I coach with an edge and want us to play with an edge.”

    After serving as Elko’s wide receiver coach the past two seasons, Wiggins will now call plays for starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who, after…

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  • As Broncos trade for Jaylen Waddle, what’s holding up Eagles from trading A.J. Brown? Here are possibilities

    As Broncos trade for Jaylen Waddle, what’s holding up Eagles from trading A.J. Brown? Here are possibilities

    In a conversation last Thursday, a league executive considered the twists and turns of the A.J. Brown trade saga.

    Few around the league doubt whether the (for now) Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver is a strong talent. Few doubt, either, his production. But as four days of legal tampering and then deal-making passed, and Brown remained on the team that seems intent on moving him, an executive considered reasons why.

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    Compensation between trade partners, salary cap implications and Brown’s physical health all are complicating trade scenarios. But the executive added, after breaking down those factors, a comment that would soon prove ironic.

    “If he was 27,” the executive said of Brown, “maybe it’d be different.”

    On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins seemed to agree.

    The Dolphins dealt 27-year-old speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos on Tuesday in a deal with compensation eerily similar to what many in the league believe the Eagles are targeting in a trade for Brown.

    Denver sent its first-round draft pick and a third-round pick to Miami to acquire Waddle. The teams also swapped fourth-round picks.

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    [Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem: Make your picks for $50K in total prizes]

    At first glance, Miami’s value seemed excellent. A first-round pick and more for a receiver who wasn’t top 10 in major metrics last season? And on second glance, the compensation is still strong.

    But the first-round pick that Denver sent Miami was not a top-10, or even top-20, slot in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Broncos dealt the 30th overall pick — which comes with first-round benefits like a fifth-year option but also precedes the second round by just three picks. In a draft considered shallow at high-end talent and at premium positions, the Dolphins’ top pick may land them a talent more akin to historical second-round value.

    And yet: They acquired a first-round pick.

    Could a trade of the Eagles’ A.J. Brown yield about the same returns that the…

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