Category: NFL News

The Saints had a first-year coach and a rookie quarterback in 2025, and they came out of it thinking they have two of the most important pieces in place.

Although the 6-11 record wasn’t great, the Saints went 5-4 once Tyler Shough stepped in as the starting quarterback, a marked turnaround from their 1-7 start with Spencer Rattler at quarterback. Saints head coach Kellen Moore said on PFT Live that Shough’s rookie season set him up for a successful career.

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“It turned into a great journey for him through the entire season,” Moore said.

Moore said that when Shough didn’t beat out Rattler for the starting job at the beginning of the season, he immediately shifted his mindset to doing everything he could on the scout team.

“I’m gonna be the best scout team quarterback in the league. I’m gonna get to test myself, I’m gonna make throws and see if I can make this throw in this situation, do it on the field,” Moore said Shough told him at the time.

Moore said he saw Shough get better over the course of the season, especially with his poise in the pocket and ability to make the right decisions when the play broke down. This year Moore thinks Shough will be better still, thanks to a full offseason, training camp and preseason of working with the No. 1 offense.

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“His reps with the core group, he’s not going to be rotating with the rest of the quarterbacks, he’s going to be with the top group and getting a lot of reps with those guys before the start of the season,” Moore said.

If Shough can get better, and Moore can get the rest of the team playing better around him, the Saints may finally return to the playoffs for the first time since Drew Brees was their quarterback and Sean Payton was their head coach.

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LXIII2029TBDAllegiant Stadium, Paradise, Las Vegas, NevadaTBDLXII2028TBDMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GeorgiaTBDLXI2027Feb 14SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CaliforniaTBDLX2026Feb 8Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CaliforniaSeahawks 29, Patriots 13LIX2025Feb 9Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana Eagles 40, Chiefs 22LVIII2024Feb 11Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Las Vegas, NevadaChiefs 25, 49ers 22 (OT) LVII2023Feb 12State Farm Stadium, Glendale, ArizonaChiefs 38, Eagles 35LVI2022Feb 13SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CaliforniaRams 23, Bengals 20LV2021Feb 7Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FloridaBuccaneers 31, Chiefs 9LIV2020Feb 2Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FloridaChiefs 31, 49ers 20 LIII2019Feb 3Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GeorgiaPatriots 13, Rams 3LII2018Feb 4U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MinnesotaEagles 41, Patriots 33LI2017Feb 5NRG Stadium, Houston, TexasPatriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT)L2016Feb 7Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CaliforniaBroncos 24, Panthers 10XLIX2015Feb 1State Farm Stadium, Phoenix, ArizonaPatriots 28, Seahawks 24XLVIII2014Feb 2MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseySeahawks 43, Broncos 8XLVII2013Feb 3Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LouisianaRavens 34, 49ers 31XLVI2012Feb 5Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IndianaGiants 21, Patriots 17XLV2011Feb 6AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TexasPackers 31, Steelers 25XLIV2010Feb 7Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FloridaSaints 31, Colts 17XLIII2009Feb 1Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FloridaSteelers 27, Cardinals 23XLII2008Feb 3State Farm Stadium, Phoenix, ArizonaGiants 17, Patriots 14XLI2007Feb 4Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FloridaColts 29, Bears 17XL2006Feb 5Ford Field, Detroit, MichiganSteelers 21, Seahawks 10XXXIX2005Feb 6Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, FloridaPatriots 24, Eagles 21XXXVIII2004Feb 1NRG Stadium, Houston, TexasPatriots 32, Panthers 29 XXXVII2003Jan 26Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaBuccaneers 48, Raiders 21XXXVI2002Feb 3Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LouisianaPatriots 20, Rams 17XXXV2001Jan 28Raymond…..

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During the week of the Scouting Combine, word emerged of a potential contract impasse that was described, at the time, as potentially resulting in left tackle Trent Williams being released by the 49ers. It didn’t happen then, it hasn’t happened since, and there’s no sign it will be happening in the future.

Instead, the 49ers seem to be very optimistic that everything will work out.

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“We’ve had good communication throughout,” G.M. John Lynch said Sunday, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. “I would say in the last week it’s kind of intensified and feel like we’re on the precipice of something good happening, but we’ll see. Don’t want to make any statements that, like, ‘Hey, we’re right there,’ because these things have felt like that before, but I do feel like we’re in good communication and hopeful.”

Williams has a 2026 compensation package of $33.06 million. The 49ers didn’t pick up a $10 million option bonus, pushing his cap charge to $46.341 million. A new contract could reduce that number significantly by converting much of his base salary of $32.21 million into an option bonus.

“This one’s never got ugly,” Lynch said. “It’s been very straightforward, direct. And I just think there’s a lot of nuance to that situation. He’s one of the great players, I think, to ever play the game, but there’s a reality with his age. It’s like, how do you thread that needle and how do you find a deal where everyone’s taken care of and happy?”

The 49ers surely prefer not to pay him $33 million this year, none of which is currently guaranteed. The question becomes determining a structure that also gives them the ability to keep him around for 2027, and possibly beyond.

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This one isn’t about Williams wanting more. It’s about the 49ers not wanting to pay $33.06 million.

Consider how it all began, with this tweet from Adam Schefter of ESPN on February 24: “With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the…

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As the 2026 NFL Draft draws near, sportsbooks will continue to release more and more props. There are plenty of different ways to bet the NFL Draft over at DraftKings Sportsbook. You can bet on a player to be selected with a specific pick, gamble on how many players at a certain position will go on opening night, or even bet on which team will select a notable name, such as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Simpson in particular has become one of the most interesting players in this draft class. He’s considered the consensus No. 2 quarterback behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, but previously wasn’t viewed as a lock to go in the first round. That narrative appears to be changing.

Former quarterback Dan Orlovsky set the NFL world ablaze last week when he claimed that Simpson is a better NFL prospect than Mendoza. ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum also claims that multiple NFL teams view Simpson better than the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. It’s hard to believe ESPN’s Matt Miller couldn’t find a single team at the Senior Bowl that would give Simpson a Round 1 grade just last month. 

There are a couple of big differences between Mendoza and Simpson. One solidified himself as a college football legend last season with an undefeated campaign that came with a national championship, while the other is a one-year starter. Mendoza is also four inches taller than Simpson, and at least 25 pounds heavier. Still, there are reasons to be optimistic about the signal-caller from Tuscaloosa. 

Simpson is the son of a coach in UT Martin’s Jason Simpson, and was named Second Team All-SEC in 2025 after throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. Alabama went 11-4, made the SEC Championship game, and registered a win over Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff before being eliminated by Indiana in the Rose Bowl. 

Simpson is accurate…

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

Eagles notes: Cam Jurgens’ back, Jeff Stoutland surfaces, Myles Garrett available? – PhillyVoice
The news-worthy portion of Stoutland’s appearance was when he was asked about coming back to the Eagles “in some capacity,” as Lane Johnson speculated a week ago. “I have no idea,” Stoutland said when asked what that meant. “I haven’t had a conversation with anybody, about anything like that. So I don’t know. “Lane and I came in together in 2013. That was the Chip Kelly first year. I always think we felt like we would end up leaving together as well. I don’t know, there was almost a silent agreement, kinda, but that didn’t happen unfortunately.” So, it doesn’t sound like Stoutland will be back in some capacity after all.

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Eagles-Patriots joint training camp practice coming this summer? – BGN
The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots could meet for at least one joint training camp practice this summer. Nick Sirianni and Mike Vrabel have had “preliminary discussions about the possibility of having the teams practice together in the preseason — likely in Foxborough,” according to a report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Roob’s Observations: How will Jalen Hurts respond to this new bunch of coaches? – NBCSP
TOO MANY VOICES? With Sean Mannion, Josh Grizzard and Jerrod Johnson all joining Nick Sirianni’s staff, Mannion as offensive coordinator, Grizzard as passing game coordinator and Johnson as senior offensive analyst, Jalen Hurts will have three more new voices in his ear, and that is now a total of 17 offensive coaches – coordinators, QBs coaches, passing game coordinators – in seven seasons. Two concerns here: No 1 is the sheer number of offensive minds who have worked with Hurts since he was drafted in 2020. That’s a lot of different voices, a lot of different schemes, a lot of different philosophies. But the more immediate concern is that Hurts now has…

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An often misconception of offensive and defensive linemen is that they are merely big guys and not elite athletes. Dalton Risner, the Cincinnati Bengals veteran offensive guard, just made a new case that linemen are athletes, too. 

Risner’s offseason conditioning consists of a series of one-mile runs, which he consistently finishes below eight minutes. Risner checks in at 6-foot-5 and around 315 pounds, and he recently ran a mile in an impressive time of 7:27. In the following video, the 30-year-old Risner ran a mile at 7:41 while achieving his goal of a sub-7:45-minute mile. 

“Marathon someday,” said Risner, whose athletic background also includes playing high school basketball and placing fifth in Colorado in the shot put back in 2012. 

Risner surely hopes that his cardio fitness leads to more success for himself and the Bengals in 2026. Risner was a second-round NFL Draft selection by the Denver Broncos in 2019. He joined the Bengals in 2025 and has 92 starts over 101 career games played entering this season. He agreed to a one-year extension in Cincinnati earlier in March. Risner was a three-time All-Big 12 offensive lineman at Kansas State.

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Everything the Pittsburgh Steelers have done over the past several seasons has pointed toward one defining objective: identifying and securing their next franchise quarterback.

The timing seemed almost too perfect. With the NFL Draft being hosted in Pittsburgh for the first time, the organization appeared positioned to make a bold, symbolic move at the game’s most important position.

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General manager Omar Khan has methodically built a level of flexibility heading into this year’s draft. The Steelers currently hold 12 selections, including four compensatory picks, ammunition that strongly suggests preparation for a potential move up the board. The expectation, at least at one point, was that this would be the year to strike.

However, the 2026 quarterback class has not unfolded as anticipated.

Several high-profile prospects opted to return to school, including Dante Moore, Arch Manning, and LaNorris Sellers. Others failed to build on prior momentum. Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar both regressed, showing inconsistency in decision-making and mechanics. Meanwhile, Garrett Nussmeier endured a turbulent season marked by injury and a subsequent benching.

Outside of Fernando Mendoza— the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion widely projected to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders—there is little consensus around first-round quarterback talent. One name, however, continues to surface: Ty Simpson.

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If the Steelers view Simpson as a legitimate franchise option, it is difficult to envision them remaining passive at pick No. 21. Quarterback-needy teams such as the New York Jets at pick 16 loom as potential threats to select him earlier, making patience a risky strategy.

The more plausible scenario is an aggressive move up the draft board.

A logical trade partner could be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at pick No. 15. Such a deal would allow Pittsburgh to leapfrog the Jets and secure their target. A package centered around picks 21 and 53 could be…

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