Category: NFL News

Target prices for 10 offensive players with expiring contracts were covered in an article earlier in the week. The focus now turns to defense. 

Things will get started on March 9 when the exclusive negotiating rights NFL teams have had with their impending free agents end. The agents of prospective unrestricted free agents are allowed to negotiate with teams beginning at noon ET on March 9 until 4 p.m. ET on March 11. Prospective UFAs who don’t have an agent can also negotiate with front office executives of teams. Players can’t sign deals with new clubs until the 2026 league year and free agency officially begin at 4 p.m. ET. A player’s ability to re-sign with his current club is allowed during the period. 

As a reminder, it was my responsibility while working on the agent side to create target or asking prices for the firm’s clients headed toward free agency regardless of whether I was the lead agent. Along those lines, I have set target prices with total contract value, overall guarantees, amount fully guaranteed at signing and first three years compensation (when applicable) for 10 intriguing defensive players who will be unrestricted free agents.

Players don’t necessarily sign for their target prices because free agency is a fluid process where adaptations must be made to changing market conditions. Some players are disappointed in free agency’s outcome because their market never develops for a variety of reasons (age, unrealistic contract demands, supply and demand at a playing position, etc.).

REMEMBER THE TARGET OR ASKING PRICES FOR THESE PLAYERS MAY BE ON THE HIGH SIDE AND AREN’T NECESSARILY WHAT THEIR ACTUAL DEALS WILL BE.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson 

Contract package: $65 million/2 years ($32.5 million per year)Overall guarantees: $47.5 millionFully guaranteed at signing: $35 million

Hendrickson’s five-year tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals appears to be coming to an end…

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Bob Harlan, the former Green Bay Packers president and CEO who served the franchise in various capacities since 1971, died Thursday following an illness, according to the Packers. He was 89. 

Harlan, who was elected as president and CEO in 1989, oversaw a revival of the most historic franchise in the NFL. The Packers registered 13 straight seasons of .500 or better from 1992-2004, and captured a Lombardi Trophy in 1997 by defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, 35-21.

“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” Packers president and CEO Ed Policy said in a statement. “Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success.

“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”

Harlan’s hiring of general manager Ron Wolf in 1991 was critical, as he also hired Mike Holmgren as head coach, traded for quarterback Brett Favre, and signed the legendary Reggie White in free agency. Green Bay immediately snapped a streak of two losing seasons, made the playoffs for the first time in a decade in 1993, and appeared in the NFC Championship game the very next year. Following that loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers went 13-3 in 1996 and won the Super Bowl. 

“Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding,” Favre said of Harlan in a statement. “Hiring Ron Wolf and supporting the trade that brought me to Green Bay changed my career. The organization believed in me and gave me the opportunity.

“He was so supportive of me during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family faced,…

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The Jets will not tender restricted free agent John Metchie, according to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report.

That will make Metchie a free agent.

The Texans selected Metchie with the 44th overall pick in 2022, but he missed his rookie season. While working his back back from an ACL tear, Metchie was diagnosed with leukemia.

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Metchie, 25, caught 40 passes for 412 yards and a touchdown in 2023-24 in Houston before the Texans traded him to the Eagles for Harrison Bryant and a swap of third-round picks in training camp last summer.

At the trade deadline in 2025, the Eagles shipped him to the Jets in exchange for Michael Carter II and a late-round 2027 swap. He caught 29 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in nine games for the Jets last season after making four receptions for 18 yards in seven games with the Eagles.

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Another notable name is about to enter the NFL’s open market. The Pittsburgh Steelers will release former Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith, according to ESPN, with about a week to go before the start of free agency. The move saves the Steelers $7 million against the salary cap. 

The 30-year-old Smith was part of the transaction that also brought former All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick. But while Ramsey became a valuable member of Pittsburgh’s defense this past season, Smith failed to make the same impact for the Steelers’ offense. 

A year after setting career-highs in catches (88), yards (884) and tying his single-season high of eight touchdown catches, Smith caught just 38 of 54 targets for 222 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. He ran for a touchdown against his former team, the Dolphins, during Pittsburgh’s Week 15 win over Miami. 

While last season clearly wasn’t his best, Smith should still have a decent market given his previous success with the Dolphins, Falcons and Titans. Here’s a rundown of some of Smith’s possible landing spots. 

Los Angeles Chargers 

Smith brings previous success with new Los Angeles offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. His breakout 2024 season took place with McDaniel calling plays in Miami.

It’s safe to assume that Smith would jump at the chance to catch passes from Justin Herbert, who earned his second Pro Bowl nod in 2025 after having one of his best seasons to date. Smith would also help complement Oronde Gadsden II, a 2025 fifth-round pick who caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns during his rookie season. 

Denver Broncos 

Denver is eager to get more out of their tight ends in 2026 after that getting just three touchdowns from that position in 2025. With Adam Trautman set to enter free agency, Smith could fill his vacant spot in Denver’s starting lineup. Smith would give Denver two proven…

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Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was cited for speeding in Wayne County, Ohio on Feb. 21 for driving 94 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 71.

It marks the ninth speeding ticket for the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Court records showed that the star pass-rusher was pulled over at 1:35 a.m. in Congress Township. He was driving a 2024 Green Porsche.

Garrett’s arraignment date is set for March 10 and was fined $157.50.

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade

11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano,…

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A.J. Brown isn’t exactly on the trade block, ready to go to the highest bidder, but the Philadelphia Eagles are listening to offers for the star wide receiver. Brown has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason as his relationship with the team has seemingly started to sour.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, both general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni were noncommittal about Brown remaining with the Eagles in 2026, but it sounds like it would take a herculean effort for a team to actually pry the former All-Pro pass catcher out of Philly.

As the NFL nears the start of free agency, we’re getting a clearer picture of what the Eagles are looking for to even begin entertaining a Brown trade. NFL Media reported Wednesday that Roseman is looking for a Quinnen Williams-esque return. For those unaware, the report references a trade between the Cowboys and Jets at last season’s trade deadline that saw Dallas ship a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith in exchange for Williams.

Judging by this report, the Eagles are looking for at least a first-round pick along with a second-round sweetener if they are to part with Brown. The report adds that if Philadelphia doesn’t get that level of return, it would simply keep the player.

Now that we know the starting ask for Brown, the next question centers on whether a team will be willing to actually pay that much to land him.

Earlier this offseason, I concocted a handful of potential trade packages for Brown using prior deals as precedent, and none reached the level of a team shelling out a first-round pick. However, that doesn’t mean a team won’t decide to push its chips into the middle, so let’s dive a little deeper to see if any teams are desperate enough to meet the asking price.

A.J. Brown mock trades: Five blockbuster…

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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, while the Indianapolis Colts made an ‘aggressive move’ to re-sign Alec Pierce before Tuesday’s late afternoon league tag deadline, all signs were already pointing to the team’s lead wideout testing the free agent waters next mid-week—short of the Horseshoe applying the franchise tag (which the transition tag went to free agent quarterback and Pierce’s passing teammate Daniel Jones instead):

“There’s incentive for the Colts is to do a long-term deal with Daniel Jones, sooner rather than later,” said Rapoport. “Right up against it with the salary cap. They can restructure some guys. They can figure this out. But if they do a long-term deal with Daniel Jones, their cap situation gets a lot easier and that might be pretty important because as you mentioned, Alec Pierce is going to be a free agent.”

“I know the Colts made an aggressive move to try to sign him before the franchise tag deadline. That was never going to happen. Not going to sign, unless he knew for sure who his quarterback was going to be.”

“Now he knows it’s Daniel Jones, but timing is really not on the Colts side here.”

“Today’s Tuesday. Right? So in like five days, or four days, whatever the math may be, the tampering window begins. Players never get this close to free agency and at least don’t entertain offers. It’s hard to imagine he does any deal until at least the end of the week before he’s going to find out what’s out there.”

“Besides George Pickens, who is a franchise tag member of the Dallas Cowboys, this is one of the top free agents regardless of positions. Certainly the top wide receiver. He’s going to get a huge deal, and the Colts, are not [just] competing with themselves, but the entire rest of the NFL.”

Of course, this is shaping up to be what a lot of Colts fans ultimately feared.

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Without a franchise tag applied to him, Pierce after a breakout 2026 campaign, in which he led the league…

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The NFL Scouting Combine is in the books. Let the jockeying for first-round positioning commence.

Unfortunately, with so many players opting out of certain drills — or testing altogether — it’s not nearly the useful tool it once was. With the NFL’s continued trend toward prioritizing athletes, pre-draft testing can serve as a tie-breaker at a lot of positions.

That being said, the players who did compete in Indianapolis get an automatic bump in my book for being willing to put themselves out there. Here’s how I’d grade the performances of the top 25 prospects on my board.

Measurables: 6-feet-4¾, 236 pounds, 9½-inch hands, 31⅞-inch arm length, 76¾-inch wingspanTesting: Did not participate in on-field drills or athletic testing.

Grade: Incomplete

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