2026 NFL Offseason Buzz, Rumors: Which Standout RB Has Curiosity In Chiefs?

[ad_1] The NFL offseason is in full swing.

As groups proceed to fill out their teaching staffs, some groups are already planning on what to do with their rosters forward of the beginning of the brand new league 12 months in March.

Who'll get lower? Who'll get traded? Who'll get prolonged? Who'll get the franchise tag?

Here is the newest have a look at a number of the most notable rumors across the NFL.

[2026 NFL Free Agency: The Top 100 Players Available and Potential Fits]

The Chiefs are coping with plenty of uncertainty this offseason, however it seems that is not stopping some prime gamers from eager to play with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Jaguars operating again Etienne has curiosity in becoming a member of the Chiefs this offseason, The Kansas Metropolis Star reported. Etienne is about to change into a free agent on March 9, as his rookie contract will expire. After an up-and-down begin to his profession, Etienne closed out his rookie deal on a excessive be aware; He rushed for 1,107 yards on 4.3 yards per carry, including 292 receiving yards as he scored 13 whole touchdowns.

Chiefs operating backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are each set to change into free brokers this offseason as properly. So, the Chiefs definitely have a necessity for a operating again this offseason. Etienne is ranked twentieth in FOX Sports activities' prime 100 NFL free brokers checklist, putting third among the many operating backs on the checklist.

Philadelphia's longtime proper deal with will return for a 14th NFL season, Johnson advised The Philadelphia Inquirer. Johnson, a two-time All-Professional and six-time Professional Bowler, missed the Eagles' previous eight mixed video games in 2025 (seven regular-season video games and one playoff sport) on account of a foot damage. Following its Tremendous Bowl LIX triumph, Philadelphia gained the NFC East at 11-6 final season however misplaced to the San Francisco 49ers within the wild-card spherical.

Kansas Metropolis has restructured Mahomes' contract, bringing his 2026 wage down from $78.2 million to $34.65 million and subsequently creating $43.56 million in cap area, per ESPN. The Chiefs are at present over the cap. Mahomes' 2025 marketing campaign led to Week 15 after he tore each his ACL and LCL, however the three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP is concentrating on a Week 1 return.

The Seahawks appear prepared to threat dropping the Tremendous Bowl MVP in free company, ESPN reported on Feb. 17. What's extra, the workforce reportedly would not plan to make use of the franchise tag on any gamers.

Walker, who ranks No. 6 in FOX Sports activities' prime 100 free brokers rating, ran for 1,027 yards within the common season and 135 yards within the playoffs. Nevertheless, FOX Sports activities' Greg Auman predicted that Seattle will wind up re-signing Walker as a result of latest damage to operating again Zach Charbonnet.

Following Daniel Jones' emergence this previous season, it is "inevitable" that Richardson will request a commerce from the Colts this offseason, ESPN reported on Feb. 17. Richardson, 23, largely struggled in his first two seasons after Indianapolis took him with the fourth general choose in 2023. He has thrown for two,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 17 video games, including 634 dashing yards and 10 dashing touchdowns. Richardson was sidelined for a superb portion of the 2025 season on account of an orbital damage. Richardson has one season left on his rookie contract.

The Dolphins are already making some roster strikes, releasing veteran edge rusher Chubb, NFL Media reported on Feb. 16. Chubb, who'll flip 30 in June, had a productive season in 2025, logging 8.5 sacks. Nevertheless, he was set to have a cap hit of over $31 million within the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Miami was additionally over the wage cap when the offseason started, and reducing him cleared $7.34 million in cap area, per Over The Cap.

NFL wins grievance, bans "workforce report playing cards" An arbitrator decided that the NFL Gamers Affiliation violated the Collective Bargaining Settlement with the NFL by distributing annual "workforce report playing cards" and ordered the union to cease making public any future stories, per ESPN. The NFL knowledgeable groups of the choice on Friday.

"We're happy with the choice from the arbitrator, upholding the events’ collective bargaining settlement and prohibiting the NFLPA from disparaging our golf equipment and people by means of ‘report playing cards’ allegedly primarily based on information and methodologies that it has steadfastly refused to reveal," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy mentioned in a press release. "We stay dedicated to working in partnership with the NFLPA and an unbiased survey firm to develop and administer a scientifically legitimate survey to solicit correct and dependable participant suggestions because the events agreed within the CBA."

Normal supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan supplied considerably of an replace on the way forward for the workforce's present starter.

"I do not know what the longer term holds proper now, and I advised Tua that," he revealed on Feb. 12. "We're working by means of some issues. What I can let you know is that we will infuse competitors into that room — whether or not Tua is a part of the room [or not]. … Tua is aware of the place we're. We have been very sincere and upfront, and Tua additionally is aware of that he would be the first to know once we decide. … We're getting near a choice, and once we do, we'll let Tua know whether or not he'll be a part of this or not, and we'll transfer ahead."

Tagovailoa is getting into the second season of a four-year, $212.4 million take care of the Dolphins, who've a brand new normal supervisor in Sullivan and a brand new head coach in Jeff Hafley. Final season, Tagovailoa, a 2023 Professional Bowler, threw a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 begins, whereas posting an 88.5 passer score, his lowest mark since 2020. If the Dolphins launch Tagovailoa, they might incur an NFL-record $99.2 million lifeless cap hit.

Njoku, who spent the primary 9 seasons of his NFL profession with the Browns (2017-25) and is about to change into a free agent, posted on Instagram that "the time for [him] to discover a new dwelling has come." Final season, Njoku totaled 33 receptions for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns throughout 12 video games; he missed 5 video games on account of a knee damage. Njoku, who Cleveland chosen with the No. 29 general choose in 2017 out of Miami (Fla.), was a Professional Bowler in 2023 in a season that noticed him whole a career-high in receptions (81), receiving yards (882) and receiving touchdowns (six). He is third in Browns historical past with 384 receptions, sixth with 34 touchdowns and twelfth with 4,062 receiving yards.

Whereas no determination is closing, buzz is rising round Kansas Metropolis's star tight finish returning for a 14th season, based on a report from The Athletic on Feb. 7. Final season, the 36-year-old totaled 76 receptions for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 6-11 season for Okay.C. that noticed it miss the playoffs for the primary time since 2014. Kelce, a four-time All-Professional and 11-time Professional Bowler, has gained three Tremendous Bowls with the Chiefs (2019, 2022 and 2023).

Rams lengthen HC Sean McVay, GM Les Snead McVay and Snead have agreed to multiyear extensions to stick with the Rams, the workforce introduced on Feb. 2.

The pair have led the Rams by means of one of many longest stretches of success in franchise historical past. The Rams are 92–57 within the common season and 10-6 within the playoffs since Snead and proprietor Stan Kroenke employed a then-30-year-old McVay in 2017, one 12 months after the franchise returned dwelling from St. Louis. The Rams instantly ended a 12-year playoff absence and reached the Tremendous Bowl one 12 months later earlier than profitable the franchise's second Tremendous Bowl title in February 2022. Los Angeles has had eight profitable seasons, seven playoff berths and 4 NFC West titles in 9 years underneath McVay, the youngest coach to succeed in the Tremendous Bowl and to win it. The Rams went 12-5 this season earlier than profitable two highway playoff video games to succeed in the NFC championship sport, the place they misplaced to the Seahawks.

McVay mentioned the Rams are optimistic that quarterback Matthew Stafford will return for an 18th NFL season, however the workforce will look forward to the quarterback to make his personal announcement. McVay mentioned the Rams would love to stay with Stafford if he needs to return again after his MVP-caliber season in 2025.

McVay additionally confirmed he has employed Bubba Ventrone as his new particular groups coordinator. He hasn't determined who will change into his offensive coordinator after Mike LaFleur left to change into the Cardinals' head coach.

Packers add former HC as DC Ex-Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is becoming a member of the Packers' employees as defensive coordinator, the workforce introduced on Feb. 2. Gannon will take over for Jeff Hafley, who left after two seasons when the Dolphins employed him to be their subsequent head coach.

"He possesses great expertise as an NFL coordinator and head coach," Matt LaFleur mentioned in a press release. "I'm assured that he will likely be an excellent addition to our group, in addition to a robust chief of our protection."

The Cardinals fired Gannon the day after their season ended with a ninth consecutive loss. Gannon went 15-36 in three years, together with a 3-14 document this previous season. Gannon had been the Eagles’ defensive coordinator for 2 seasons earlier than Arizona employed him. In his second season in Philadelphia, the Eagles ranked second within the NFL in whole protection and gained the NFC championship earlier than dropping 38-35 to the Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LVII. The Eagles had a franchise-record 70.0 sacks — 15 greater than some other NFL workforce — in 2022. Additionally they had 27 takeaways that season to rank fourth within the league.

Gannon takes over a protection that ranked twelfth in yards allowed per sport (311.8), ninth in yards allowed per play (5.0) and eleventh in factors allowed per sport (21.2) this previous season. Inexperienced Bay’s protection ranked larger earlier within the season however struggled after season-ending accidents to All-Professional cross rusher Micah Parsons and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.

Eagles DC Vic Fangio thought-about retirement The Eagles almost needed to make two coordinator modifications this offseason. Fangio knowledgeable the workforce shortly after their season ended that he deliberate to retire earlier than the Eagles satisfied him to return, PhillyVoice reported on Feb. 1. If Fangio had held agency in his determination to retire, the Eagles had been planning to contact former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, based on PhillyVoice. Gannon was the Eagles' defensive coordinator for 2 seasons (2021-22) earlier than leaving for Arizona in 2023.

Fangio has been extensively thought to be one of many prime defensive minds within the NFL for a number of years. The Eagles' protection has additionally been one of many sport's prime defensive models since Fangio joined the workforce in 2024, rating within the prime 5 in scoring in every of the final two years. The Eagles employed Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion to be their subsequent offensive coordinator after parting methods with Kevin Patullo.

Packers lengthen coach, a number of executives Packers normal supervisor Brian Gutekunst and government vice chairman/director of soccer operations Russ Ball have joined coach Matt LaFleur in signing multi-year contract extensions. Packers president/CEO Ed Coverage introduced the extensions for all three on Friday.

The extensions come after the Packers went 9-8-1 and made their third straight playoff look, and sixth within the final seven years. A 31-27 loss at Chicago within the NFC wild-card playoff spherical capped a five-game skid that ended Inexperienced Bay's season, although a type of defeats got here when the Packers rested their starters of their regular-season finale.

"We're excited to increase our dedication to Brian, Matt and Russ because the leaders of our soccer operations," Coverage mentioned in a press release. "Their steadfast dedication, ardour and collaboration have remained fixed in our drive to compete on the highest degree. Whereas we're all disenchanted with the way in which this season ended, we stay aligned in goal and have spent appreciable time over the previous weeks collaborating on a path ahead.

"I'm exceedingly assured now we have the best folks to attain our aim. All the Packers group appears ahead to supporting each effort to convey our group and followers one other championship that they very a lot deserve."

LaFleur owns a 76-40-1 regular-season document and has led Inexperienced Bay to the playoffs in all however considered one of his seven years on the job. That features NFC championship sport appearances within the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Inexperienced Bay has been the NFC’s seventh and closing playoff seed every of the final three seasons.

Falcons plan to launch QB Kirk Cousins, however may convey him again Cousins' time in Atlanta appears to be nearing its finish, because the Falcons are planning to chop the veteran signal-caller, The Athletic reported on Jan. 29. Alternatively, they'd be considering re-signing Cousins on a less expensive contract.

Cousins, 37, signed a four-year, $180 million deal to affix the Falcons within the 2024 offseason, simply months after he tore his Achilles. His tenure in Atlanta started with some promise earlier than getting benched late within the 2024 season in favor of Michael Penix Jr., who the Falcons chosen with the eighth general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.

Penix was the Falcons' beginning quarterback to open the 2025 season. Nevertheless, Cousins wound up beginning eight video games as Penix suffered a season-ending ACL tear in November.

Cousins put up a decent statline in 2025, finishing 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with an 84.8 passer score. The Falcons went 5-3 in Cousins' eight begins as properly. That wasn't adequate for Cousins to ensure his spot within the Falcons' new regime, nonetheless, with Matt Ryan operating soccer operations and Kevin Stefanski getting into his first season as Atlanta's head coach.