2026 NFL owners meeting: Latest buzz from Phoenix

NFL NationMar 31, 2026, 07:35 PM ET
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PHOENIX — The NFL concluded its annual league meeting Tuesday, and the topics of conversation ranged from owners being alarmed by the state of negotiations with referees to Olympic flag football to an 18-game regular season.

The three-day event also included numerous owners, general managers and coaches discussing the makeup of their teams and answering the most pressing questions in this period between free agency and the NFL draft (April 23-25), and 30 ESPN reporters were on the scene to collect the highlights:

League buzz

Are owners worried about contingency plan for replacement refs?

The league’s memo to prohibit club employees from commenting publicly about the collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the game officials did its intended job. I asked multiple head coaches, general managers and owners on and off the record about the league’s proposed accountability measures to improve officiating and the league’s contingency plan in case of a lockout, and hit a bunch of brick walls, with most declining out of respect to the negotiating process.

League sources familiar with the negotiations told ESPN on Monday that they are preparing to hire replacement officials in the event of a work stoppage, and will start that process May 1. On Tuesday, owners voted to approve a rules proposal that allows the officiating department to correct clear and obvious mistakes for one year in the event of a work stoppage. I didn’t get the sense that there was anxiety from coaches or owners about this contingency plan, which surprised me, considering how much of a disaster the 2012 lockout was.

“I trust the league,” San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York told me on Monday, when I asked him if he thought the contingency plan was a valid option.

Another club owner who requested anonymity told me Monday: “We have to be prepared for everything.”

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the topic in more depth than any other owner: “Everybody’s been striving, that’s nothing new, to try to get better,” he said. “But it’s our job to put the incentives in place and demands in place to get better. Fans deserve that.” — Kalyn Kahler

Dan Graziano: NFL to begin hiring replacement referees

Dan Graziano discusses the NFL looking into hiring replacement officials as the end of the current CBA with the NFL Referees Association approaches.

What a closer look at Murray’s, Tagovailoa’s contracts shows

Having looked at copies of Kyler Murray’s Minnesota Vikings contract and Tua Tagovailoa’s Atlanta Falcons contract, I notice a critical difference. They’re both one-year deals for minimum salaries. Tagovailoa gets $1.215 million and Murray gets $1.3 million, but that’s only because minimum salaries vary based on service time and Murray has one more accrued season.

The key difference is that Murray’s contract contains a clause prohibiting the Vikings from designating him a franchise or transition player in 2027, whereas Tagovailoa’s contract contains no such clause. So, if Murray plays great football for the Vikings and they want to re-sign him, they could have competition from other teams, whereas if Tagovailoa becomes the Falcons’ starter and plays great, they could hold him in place next year with a franchise tag.

I’m not sure this necessarily indicates anything about the teams’ respective plans for these players, but it’s worth keeping in mind as the situations play out. My sense of things in Atlanta is that the Falcons still would like to get another look at Michael Penix Jr. once he has recovered from last year’s knee injury, but that Tagovailoa has an opportunity in the meantime to show a new coaching staff and a new front office that he can be the team’s answer at quarterback in 2026 and beyond. If he does that, the Falcons will be in a strong position to hold on to him a year from now. — Dan Graziano

Notes: 18-game slate, Raiders QB and Davante Adams

The possibility of an 18-game NFL schedule was not on the agenda this week in Arizona, and multiple team officials believe the discussion is not a pressing issue at the moment — in part because of changes at the NFLPA. JC Tretter recently was elected the union’s executive director after a long process, and as one league source says, the union probably “wants to find its footing” before engaging in weighty discussions. The CBA runs through 2030 but can be reopened before that. Many owners are in favor of an 18-game slate, and some around the league consider the change inevitable.

… Signs point to the Las Vegas Raiders adding a veteran quarterback to pair with Fernando Mendoza, and Kirk Cousins is considered a prime option. The Raiders tried to sign Joe Flacco, who opted to stay with Cincinnati. Cousins’ name came up a few times when I asked about what the Raiders might do next, though the Rams are a possibility for Cousins, too.

… The Rams publicly acknowledged that they explored trading Davante Adams, ultimately deciding against it. My sense is that multiple teams inquired about Adams, and a source from the player side believes the Rams and Eagles likely discussed Adams around the same time they explored the possibility of trading A.J. Brown to the Rams. The exact nature of those talks is unknown, but Philadelphia was on the player’s radar through all of this, though Adams wants to continue playing on the West Coast. — Jeremy Fowler

Stephen A. stunned by Orlovsky’s take on gap between Mendoza and Simpson

Stephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky compare Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza as prospects ahead of the NFL draft.

Excitement expressed over Scheelhaase’s new role

After only one coach of color was picked in a record-tying hiring cycle with 10 head coaching openings, high-ranking league officials in Phoenix were understandably excited about Nate Scheelhaase’s promotion to Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator.

For years, Scheelhaase, who is biracial, has been considered a rising star on coach Sean McVay’s staff. While at Iowa State, Scheelhaase helped develop San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

Before McVay promoted him to OC in February, Scheelhaase had multiple head coaching interviews. The Rams’ pass-game coordinator last season, Scheelhaase now takes on a higher-profile role under the successful McVay, who has helped many of his former top assistants become head coaches throughout the league.

With the NFL insisting it’s still committed to inclusive hiring, many decision-makers in the commissioner’s office are privately rooting for Scheelhaase to be an even more prominent candidate for top openings during the next hiring cycle. — Jason Reid

Raiders still going through process with Mendoza

The Raiders own the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, and though it seems something close to a foregone conclusion that they will select Mendoza, general manager John Spytek is insistent there is still a lot of homework to do.

“We are going to go through the process,” Spytek said Tuesday. “We are going to his pro day on Wednesday. He’s going to come in for a top-30 visit. We’re going to have a couple more Zooms that we still have to do with him, and a lot of other prospects, too.”

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak called Mendoza a “winner” but said in his perfect world that a first-year quarterback would not immediately start and would spend time learning behind a more seasoned veteran. — Lindsey Thiry

Wide receiver need? What wide receiver need? Jets officials went out of their way in Phoenix to downplay an obvious deficiency, with both coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey stating they “like where our receiver room is.” The receivers on the roster not named Garrett Wilson have combined for only 92 career catches and two touchdowns. Wilson led the team with 395 receiving yards last season … and he played only seven games due to a knee injury.

They’re basing their optimism on a healthy Wilson and a big jump from Adonai Mitchell, a 6-foot-2 vertical threat who caught 24 passes in eight games after arriving from the Colts in the Sauce Gardner trade. Glenn said he’s eager to see how Mitchell progresses after a full offseason in the program. Their third and fourth receivers are Isaiah Williams (slot) and the ultrafast but raw Arian Smith.

The Jets likely will use at least one of their four draft picks in the top 44 on a receiver, but don’t be surprised if they add another veteran to the mix at some point. There have been rumblings about a potential trade, with Dontayvion Wicks and Brian Thomas Jr. among the names bandied about.

A breakout year by second-year TE Mason Taylor could help mitigate the concern. Glenn said he expects Taylor to “have a hell of a year.” Taylor had a quiet 44 catches last season as a rookie, missing the last four games due to a neck injury. — Rich Cimini

Glenn on Geno: ‘He’s the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land’

Jets coach Aaron Glenn expresses confidence that Geno Smith is the quarterback who will lead New York to “the promised land.”

Quarterback Drake Maye’s growth and maturity was a leading factor in the Patriots’ decision to release ninth-year veteran backup Joshua Dobbs. Maye enters his third NFL season, and now the team is planning to add a rookie No. 3 option behind him and Tommy DeVito, who signed a two-year, $7.4 million contract earlier this month.

“I’m really appreciative of what Josh did for us coming in last year with Drake going into his second year,” Vrabel said. “I’ve communicated that with Josh and I think it’s just a different situation now.” — Mike Reiss

A.J. Brown remains the primary topic of interest around the Eagles. The league meetings were the latest opportunity for the team brass to squash the notion Brown might be traded, and that didn’t happen. The public response has actually become more passive, with general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni using a blanket “Brown is a member of the Eagles,” in response to questions about the receiver compared to earlier in the offseason when they would highlight his value to the team more emphatically. The drum beats on.

Meanwhile, Philly has added a pair of receivers in Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, who can help fill out the wideout picture whether Brown is on the roster or not.

“When you have good competition, it raises the level of everybody,” Sirianni said. “I love their speed, their ability to get in and out of breaks and create separation, how they are with the ball in their hands.” — Tim McManus

The Raiders seem content with their offensive tackle depth in Kolton Miller, DJ Glaze and Charles Grant. General manager John Spytek said they explored different options at offensive tackle but ultimately decided to trust in the new coaching staff, which includes offensive line coach Rick Dennison, to get the best of the talent at hand. However, Spytek didn’t rule out the possibility of taking an offensive tackle with one of the 10 picks the team has in the draft.

“You’re not typically signing a guy that you’re just gonna plug in and play [offensive] tackle,” Spytek said. “It’s really challenging to do, and that’s why you [have] to draft those guys and develop them and then resign them.”

Las Vegas has three spots pretty much solidified on the starting offensive line with Miller, center Tyler Linderbaum and guard Jackson Powers-Johnson. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak is optimistic that Glaze can reach another level despite struggling in 2025. He gave up a team-high 70 pressures and 16 sacks. — Ryan McFadden

After the Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle, rumors about trading De’Von Achane began to swirl. Jon-Eric Sullivan addressed those rumors Monday, when he said there’s “zero effort” on his end to trade Achane, and that the team’s priority this offseason is extending the running back. Miami will also look to extend center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, possibly in that order.

“Those are going to be the three kind of pillars that we build around. Achane, Brew, Brooks,” he said. “They understand where they are, what we’re trying to get done. There’s an order that we’re going to handle the business in, but they know where they are and how important they are to us.”

Miami has reset most of its roster from a season ago, but believes it has several foundational players — and plans to supplement them with 11 draft picks this year. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Ravens coach Jesse Minter said there is no hard timeline on when the team will know whether Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike will play again.

Madubuike’s future is uncertain after he suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2. With not having Madubuike in the middle to draw double teams, the Ravens recorded 30 sacks, which are tied for the second fewest in team history.

“I know that he’s in a great place mentally,” Minter said. “He’s doing a lot of stuff. That’s still a kind of a ‘To be determined’ thing, I would say. And so, as an organization, you certainly have plan A, plan B, plan C, plan D all the way down the line. We’ll be excited, whichever way that goes.”

Asked if there is any optimism toward Madubuike returning, Minter replied, “I’ll leave that up to him. Love him as a player, love him as a person. I’ve seen some of the videos of him doing things. I know he just feels good being back, like working out, doing things like that, but I’ll leave all that up to him.” — Jamison Hensley

Ben Johnson had no problem pointing out the issues he has with Chicago’s offense that demand attention.

“I’m actually not very happy with us as an offensive staff, our ability to get the primary receiver open,” Johnson said. “I don’t think it happened at a high enough clip, and so we have to do a better job in our game-planning process. And I put a lot of that on myself of making sure that we are doing that.”

Johnson said the passing game “still leaves something to be desired,” pointing to receivers’ route detail, ball location and “simply catching the football.” The Bears had the fourth most drops last season with 29. The emphasis this spring will be making those a less frequent issue as quarterback Caleb Williams hones his chemistry with Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland.

One area that will show up most during OTAs is the scramble drill, which Johnson called “not very good” from a season ago. Johnson wants to see Williams improve his accuracy while receivers catch the ball and separate down field better.

“That’s where Caleb comes in handy … he can bail us out when we are wrong, which we’re going to be wrong each and every game,” Johnson said “I’m going to miss-time some calls, or they’re going to throw something at us that we weren’t prepared for. And that’s on him and his athletic ability to bail us out. And so that’s what I’m looking forward to, is we’re going to be able to have those conversations in the quarterback room of when can we hang in there and get this ball out to the primary or the No. 2 receiver, and when do we need to extend, and naturally, I think we got to get better when we extend plays, capitalizing on those as well.” — Courtney Cronin

Unlike previous seasons, the 49ers don’t have many pressing contract issues looming over their roster. But the status of left tackle Trent Williams remains the one domino that has yet to fall. With no obvious replacement on the roster and Williams still playing at a Pro Bowl level, the Niners need Williams in the fold.

And while it’s taken longer than either side would like, there seems to be momentum toward a reworked contract getting done sometime relatively soon.

“[I] feel like we’re on the precipice of something good happening,” general manager John Lynch said. “But we’ll see. Don’t want to make any statement 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.”

Owner Jed York echoed that sentiment, noting that Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have told him that conversations are going well.

“I have trust and faith in John and Kyle that they’ll figure it out,” York said. “They’ll get it done.”

Even if the Niners and Williams are able to close the deal, however, there’s a sense that the team will finally look to add to the offensive line in the earlier parts of April’s NFL draft to add to the competition at guard and begin preparing for life after Williams. — Nick Wagoner

The expectation for John Harbaugh with the Giants is to win. And win now. Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen were especially happy with how free agency unfolded. Harbaugh said they did a “really good job” while establishing what kind of team they will be.

The reasons Harbaugh believes there can be an immediate turnaround begin with having really good players, building a strong coaching staff and the league having tight margins. What he means by tight margins is that the Giants are not as far off as their record (7-27 over the past two years) might suggest. They lost seven games last season by one possession.

Schoen noted there has been an “upgrade” to the roster. He specifically pointed at the new offensive weapons (tight end Isaiah Likely, wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III), middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and focus on special teams.

In their eyes, the Giants are a team on the immediate rise. — Jordan Raanan

The Jaguars have had preliminary discussions about contract extensions with defensive end Travon Walker, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, tight end Brenton Strange and receiver Parker Washington.

Walker, who recorded 3.5 sacks last season while battling through wrist and knee injuries, is scheduled to earn $15.2 million this season on the fifth-year option.

Strange and Washington are entering the final year of their rookie contracts. Strange set career highs in catches (46), receiving yards (540), and receiving TDs (three) in 2025. Washington also set career highs in catches (58), receiving yards (847) and receiving TDs (five). Walker has 27.5 sacks and 200 tackles in four seasons.

General manager James Gladstone is optimistic about the chances of extending them this offseason, saying the Jaguars are “probably within striking distance to see things come to light.”

Gladstone also said the Jaguars are picking up the fifth-year option on right tackle Anton Harrison, who was the 27th overall pick in 2023. — Michael DiRocco

The Vikings have not yet begun their process for hiring a permanent general manager following the January 30 firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but owner Mark Wilf outlined a general structure during a meeting with reporters.

Wilf said he expects a “small, tight group” to advise him and the rest of the Wilf family on the decision. There will be “input” from coach Kevin O’Connell and chief operating officer Andrew Miller, Wilf said, as well as participation from what Wilf called a “third party.”

The Vikings won’t use a search firm nor a formal consultant, Wilf said, but will contract with a service that will help whittle down a list of candidates.

Interviews aren’t expected to begin until after the April 23-25 draft. Rob Brzezinski, the Vikings’ longtime executive vice president, is serving as interim general manager.

“He’s done an outstanding job in terms of in the building, building consensus, strategy.” — Kevin Seifert

The Seahawks still need to bolster their backfield, which lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency and won’t have Zach Charbonnet for much of 2026 following knee surgery. But the team’s comments continue to give the impression that they won’t force one of four draft picks on a running back.

General manager John Schneider has noted that it’s not a position that tends to have a scarcity of options. He and coach Mike Macdonald are also higher on their current backs than observers may realize.

“I think people kind of are sleeping on the guys we have a little bit,” Macdonald said Monday.

Macdonald said George Holani “played great for us down the stretch” after Charbonnet was hurt in their first playoff game, echoing a point Schneider has made several times. The Seahawks added a power runner in former Packer Emanuel Wilson (one year, $1.595 million) and they expect Charbonnet to return at some point in 2026. But they still need to replace Walker’s explosiveness, and as of now, their best option is Kenny McIntosh, a talented but unproven player who’s also coming off knee surgery.

“I’m excited about how that room goes from here,” Macdonald said. “Just like the rest of the team, any opportunity to take our team to the next level, we’re going to look at it. That’s how John rolls.” — Brady Henderson

Why Colts co-owner/CEO would like even number of regular season games

Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon joins Pat McAfee to discuss changing the number of NFL regular-season games.

The trade of receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers will change the complexion of the Colts’ passing game, perhaps most notably for wideout Josh Downs.

Downs saw a dip in his usage and production last season after the selection of tight end Tyler Warren in the first round. Warren led the Colts in targets with 112. Meanwhile, with Pittman getting his usual high volume of targets, Downs dropped from 7.6 targets per game in 2024 to 5.5 per game in 2025. His receiving yards dropped from 803 yards in 2024 to 566 yards in 2025. That might change this season.

“I think getting lost in this a little bit is … Josh Downs,” general manager Chris Ballard said. “I think Josh Downs is freaking good. I do. I’ve always thought he’s good. I think allowing him some more opportunities, we’re going to see some of the special stuff you’ve seen in the past, but more.”

With the four-year, $116 million contract extension given to receiver Alec Pierce this spring, there will be a balancing act when it comes to distributing the football. But, whatever happens, look for Downs to have a bigger role. — Stephen Holder

A lingering question for Washington: Who will be the receiver opposite Terry McLaurin?

The Commanders have improved their depth at the position after re-signing Trey Burks and bringing back Dyami Brown to pair with Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane. While the Commanders have improved receiver depth, they can still use another high-end talent.

“Terry’s a number one receiver. I think [Burks has] another level to go to,” GM Adam Peters said. “He showed us a lot at practice and in the games. … I like the room right now, but I think just like everywhere, we have a lot of time to add before we play in September.”

Or, as coach Dan Quinn said, “it can also be combinations and the sum is greater than an individual part.”

Washington could draft a receiver at No. 7 — possibly Carnell Tate. Adding picks will be difficult as Peters said enticing another team to trade up will be tough without another quarterback expected to go in the top 10.

But Brandon Aiyuk remains a possibility. The Commanders won’t trade for him, knowing the 49ers likely cut him at some point. But multiple Commanders sources made it clear they’re not going to just wait on him and bypass other potential options. — John Keim

One of the biggest questions remaining for this Rams roster is who will back up quarterback Matthew Stafford. Coach Sean McVay said Jimmy Garoppolo has “earned the right to take his time” to decide his future. And while McVay didn’t rule out the possibility of Garoppolo’s return, he said “it feels less likely than likely.”

McVay said the Rams had discussions with other quarterbacks to fill the role, saying the team has communicated with quarterback Kirk Cousins and his agent, Mike McCartney. McVay called the discussions “premature” but said “I’d love to be able to see what that looks like.”

McVay mentioned Garoppolo and Cousins in the context of preparing for life after Stafford.

The coach also said Stafford has earned the right to decide on a year to year basis whether he wants to keep playing.

“If he told me that he wanted to play a couple more years, I’d believe him,” McVay said. “… We’re grateful that he’s our quarterback. You do have to be able to consider what does that look like in the short and the long term? And you’re always balancing that dynamic of what does that look like to take advantage of surrounding him with the right kinds of players while also making sure that, alright, what does that contingency plan look like moving forward?” — Sarah Barshop

The Chiefs are hoping to be showcased on Christmas Day for the fourth-straight year. Team owner Clark Hunt and president Mark Donovan anticipate that the Chiefs will be a part of several marquee matchups, whether on a holiday or in prime-time. They know the Chiefs’ reputation, with the hope quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns to form, grows from creating a new tradition on the NFL’s schedule, similar to the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

“We’d love to play on Christmas,” Donovan said Monday. “It’s a unique position. From a marketing and brand standpoint, when you think about the movie that we did, our Foolish Club studio business and the opportunity to really continue to cement our ownership of Christmas as a holiday, our brand with that is really powerful.

“We respect that the league wants to spread it around. We get it. Right now, we expect to be in a lot of prime-time games. We’ve made it pretty clear that our preference is to play at home on Christmas.” — Nate Taylor

The Steelers haven’t made a decision on the fifth-year option for left tackle Broderick Jones.

Pittsburgh traded up to select Jones 14th overall at the 2023 draft, and he has been a starter since midway through his rookie season. But the tackle suffered a season-ending neck injury in the Week 11 loss to the Bears last season. He had spinal fusion surgery soon after and is progressing well through his recovery. However, his timeline to return to the field — and his level of ability when he does — is murky and makes the Steelers’ decision more difficult.

“He’s starting to do more and more,” general manager Omar Khan said Monday. “And I talked to him a couple times over the last couple of weeks, and he’s in a good place and ready to work hard and do whatever he can to be ready to go.”

A decision on Jones’ fifth-year option is due May 1, and he’ll make roughly $19 million if the Steelers choose to pick it up. — Brooke Pryor

The Lions will be switching things up leading into the 2026 season. Coach Dan Campbell says they won’t be participating in any joint practices this year because he felt like the recent experiences “felt counterproductive.”

The Lions haven’t had a training camp without joint practices since Campbell’s first season in 2021. They practiced with the Colts in 2022 then worked with the Giants and Jaguars in 2023. In 2024, Detroit traveled to face the Giants then hosted the Dolphins and Texans at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park in 2025.

Without joint practices, Lions fans could potentially see more starters during preseason action, Campbell said, but the focus is to benefit from the extra practice time against themselves entering this year.

“I want to kind of keep this about us. Let’s go to work, set the schedule up and we can hit everything,” Campbell said at the NFL annual league meeting. “We don’t have to get ready for the next opponent in a joint practice, we go right through it. We’ve got first down, we’ve got third down, we’ve got red zone, we’ve got back up, we’ve got four minute, we’ve got two minute, we’ve got situation work, we’ve got special teams involved, mock games, and let’s just go.” — Eric Woodyard

The question Stephen A. is facing with George Pickens’ contract situation

Stephen A. Smith weighs in on the contract saga between George Pickens and the Cowboys.

Brian Schottenheimer said the Cowboys made “competitive,” offers to try to secure free-agent linebackers Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Devin Lloyd but ultimately lost out to the Raiders and Carolina Panthers.

“It didn’t work out. It’s like when you lose a football game on a last second field goal,” Schottenheimer said. “You can feel bad for yourself or you can say we did our best, let’s move on.”

The Cowboys did not pursue other options and now find themselves looking for a must in the draft. With picks Nos. 12 and 20 in the first round, linebacker is at the top of the list along with pass rusher and cornerback.

Schottenheimer said he would trust a potential rookie as their signal caller because he will be surrounded by veteran types. But there’s also this to consider: the Cowboys had their eyes on Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of last year’s draft but he was selected before they picked. A few weeks later, they traded for George Pickens.

“The plan is to add skill at that position,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “Whether it’s the draft, whether it’s free agency, whether it’s a trade or combination of all of the above, we’ll look at all avenues.” — Todd Archer

Packers president Ed Policy wanted to make it clear that he’s not considering selling naming rights to Lambeau Field in the near future even though it may soon be the only NFL stadium without a title sponsor. However, he did say this week that the organization must be proactive when it comes to creating alternate revenue streams, and that could include selling naming rights to other properties within the Packers control such as practice and training facilities.

“It does not mean selling the naming rights to Lambeau Field, certainly no time soon,” Policy said.

As the NFL’s only publicly owned team, the Packers don’t have the advantage of a deep-pockets owner and can’t sell ownership equity percentages like other teams have done recently.

“The expenses of an NFL team are accelerating at such a high pace, if you start to fall behind even by a few years, it’s gonna be really hard to catch up,” Policy said. — Rob Demovsky

Bengals coach Zac Taylor reiterated his belief in starting linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr.

After Carter was inserted into the lineup midway through last season, the Bengals went through the highs and lows of having a rookie tandem in the middle of the defense. Taylor knew that any struggles the pair had could benefit the team in the future. “I could see the long-term value [of] how this is going to play out for us,” Taylor said. “And so that’s still the vision we have for those guys.”

The Bengals have yet to add another linebacker and that remains a possibility as the team continues through the offseason and approaches the draft. But Cincinnati still has a lot of confidence in Carter and Knight.

“With a critical eye from us over the last half of the season, I was really encouraged with their development,” Taylor said. “I think we’ll see another big jump this year.” — Ben Baby

Who should be the Browns starting QB? Stephen A., RC debate

Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Clark break down whether Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders should be the starting quarterback for the Browns.

Though all signs seem to point to a quarterback competition centered around Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, the Browns aren’t tipping their hand on who might have the edge when offseason workout programs begin on April 7.

General manager Andrew Berry also didn’t dismiss the possibility of adding another QB to compete. If so, Berry said he would lean toward a young passer and added that it’s “wholly realistic” he competes to be QB1. That’s notable with Cleveland hosting Alabama QB Ty Simpson as one of its 30 predraft visits.

“In terms of them competing for the starting job, anyone we bring in, we want to compete,” Berry said. “But a large part of that will be, for any young player, will depend on their acclamation to the NFL and their readiness to play, and that’s really done on a case-by-case basis.” — Daniel Oyefusi

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was the first prospect the Titans hosted as one of their 30 predraft visits after the combine last month. New coach Robert Saleh has stressed how important it is to help second-year quarterback Cam Ward by having a strong running game. But that doesn’t automatically mean Love will be the name the Titans turn in when they select at No. 4 overall.

“Actually, I love our back field, our running back room,” Saleh said. “[Tony] Pollard dropped over a hundred on us last year in San Francisco, so I think it’s pretty good. And then [Tyjae] Spears has got tremendous versatility as a three-down back, and they both play with a physical mindset. So I look at our running back room.”

In Saleh’s mind, adding impact players doesn’t limit the Titans to the offensive side of the ball.

Added Saleh, “I think when you look at all the different game changers that are at the top of the draft, whether it’s the three big pass rushers that everyone talks about or Jeremiyah [Love], they can all change the game with one play, so they’re impactful players.” — Turron Davenport

With Kyler Murray off to Minnesota, the Cardinals’ quarterback room is set — for now.

New coach Mike LaFleur said at the NFL annual league meetings that he likes where the Cardinals’ quarterback situation is currently at, which consists of Jacoby Brissett, who started 12 games last season; Gardner Minshew, who Arizona signed in free agency; and Kedon Slovis, who was Arizona’s third-string quarterback last season.

However, LaFleur left the door open for adding another signal-caller to the mix, which would have to come either through a free agent signing or in the draft.

“I think every room, if we can improve it, we’re going to try to improve it,” LaFleur said. “That’s the quarterback room all the way down to the kicker room. And that’s what we owe to those guys and the organization and the fan base and everyone is to always improve that room. So if we feel like there’s a guy to improve it, we’re going to keep doing it.”

When talking more specifically about the quarterback room, LaFleur summed it up: “We like where we’re at right now, but like we said, if there’s a guy to add, we’re going to add.”— Josh Weinfuss

Star wide receiver Drake London is heading into the final year of his rookie contract. Star running back Bijan Robinson has one season left after next on his own rookie contract.

Extensions for both have been “on top of mind” for the new Falcons regime, Atlanta general manager Ian Cunningham said Monday. But right now, the Falcons are zeroing in on a second wave of free agency and then the NFL draft. It won’t be until those events pass that the team will then turn toward those potential extensions.

“Don’t think for one second that that hasn’t been thought of,” Cunningham said of extensions.

“Don’t think for one second that we aren’t already thinking about all these different things moving forward. But I feel like what we do a really good job of is preparing for that, but also understanding like we have things that we need to really attack right now and then we’ll attack those moving forward.” — Marc Raimondi

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