NFL 2026: Season Discussion Thread NFL

[Tom]

Tight end Travis Kelce is expected to return to play for a 14th season this year, league sources say. The twist: It isn't a sure thing that the team he plays for would be the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce's representatives are expected to talk to multiple teams.

Kelce potentially joining a new NFL team in 2026 would be jarring. He spent his previous 13 seasons with the Chiefs, and it was previously assumed heading into the offseason that he'd either retire or re-sign with the team that drafted him in the third round (No. 63) in 2013.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said during last week's NFL combine that the team was taking a "different approach" while remaining more patient this offseason with Kelce's retire-or-return situation. This year also differs from past ones because Kelce is not under contract with the Chiefs in 2026, while set to become an unrestricted free agent.

"We've kind of prepared for either scenario (retire or come back)," Veach said on Feb. 24 in Indianapolis. "Coach (Andy Reid) mentioned on Friday he'd had great dialogue with Travis on our end. Myself, (assistant general manager) Chris Shea, Travis' crew, we've had some good dialogue there, and I'm sure we're going to see him here, along with all the other players' agents. And we'll continue that dialogue.

"Travis is the best. He's an icon. Hopefully, he comes back, and we'll just kind of let that process play out."

Another factor that could be affecting things: The Chiefs have limited salary-cap room this season for free agents like Kelce after signing so many of their players to long-term contracts in recent offseasons. That lack of financial flexibility was part of the reason the Chiefs chose to trade cornerback Trent McDuffie - he's set for a big payday after next season - to the Los Angeles Rams for four draft picks last week.

 

[Tom]

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly set to part ways with quarterback Geno Smith after just one season, a move that follows a disappointing 3-14 record in 2025. Smith, acquired from the Seattle Seahawks and initially signed to a two-year extension, struggled significantly during his time in Las Vegas, culminating in an NFL-worst 17 interceptions in 15 starts.

While his past two Pro Bowl selections in 2022 and 2023 with the Seahawks showcased his potential, the 2025 season proved to be a stark contrast. Smith's performance led to a dismal 2-13 record in his starts, with an unfortunate streak of nine consecutive losses to close out the season. Injuries also plagued him, as he missed crucial games due to a shoulder and an ankle injury.

Looking ahead, the Raiders are poised to use their No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. Smith, now considered a free agent, may find himself in demand despite his rocky season. Many believe he still possesses the skills to be a viable starting quarterback, particularly given that he ranks favourably in passing metrics from 2022 to 2024.

As he enters free agency, potential suitors may include his former team, the New York Jets, along with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, depending on their quarterback situations. Given his veteran status and the league's need for experienced quarterbacks, Smith may find opportunities to revitalise his career.

 

[Steve]

Busy, busy day!

Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans on a three-year, $24.75 million deal, sources confirmed. A team captain in 2025, Blankenship rose from undrafted rookie to four-year starter. He was the stable safety in an Eagles secondary that shape-shifted nearly every year. Now, he leaves Philadelphia to join a Houston defense that ranked No. 1 last season in terms of EPA.

 

[Steve]

Linebacker Nakobe Dean and the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a three-year deal, according to his agent Mike McCartney. The contract is for $36 million and $20 million guaranteed, according to league sources.

Dean, 25, spent the past four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

A third-round pick in 2022 after a decorated college career at Georgia, Dean found his stride in Philadelphia during the past two seasons. He was a key starter on the Eagles' Super Bowl defense in 2024 before a devastating knee injury in the playoffs halted his season short of the team winning the Lombardi Trophy.

 

[Steve]

The Seahawks and Rashid Shaheed have agreed to terms on a three-year, $51 million contract to keep the wide receiver and game-breaking returner in Seattle.

The Seahawks entered the offseason with the sixth-most salary-cap space, according to Over the Cap. Shaheed's 2026 cap hit will depend on the structure of the deal.

 

[Steve]

The Broncos are releasing veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw after one season with the team, league sources confirmed.

Greenlaw played in only eight regular-season games last season as he dealt with quad and hamstring injuries. He missed one game because of a suspension after a verbal altercation with referee Brad Allen following Denver's Week 7 victory against the New York Giants. He finished the season with 43 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.

Greenlaw, 28, signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract during free agency last year that came with $11.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. But there was no guaranteed money left on his deal in 2026 or 2027. With Denver agreeing to re-sign veterans Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, who began 2025 as a backup before being thrust into a starting role because of injuries, it made sense for the Broncos to begin a search for younger, cheaper depth at the position. The team will save a little more than $6 million by cutting the veteran while taking on $4.3 million in dead money.

 

[Steve]

Finding a player to provide pass-rushing help was at the top of the Washington Commanders' priority list coming into the offseason, and they wasted little time in landing a good one.

Odafe Oweh, the former Los Angeles Charger and Baltimore Raven, agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal with Washington on Monday, according to two league sources. His contract is the longest general manager Adam Peters has awarded a player since arriving in Washington, and gives the Commanders an immediate staple on the defensive line.

 

[Steve]

The Indianapolis Colts agreed to trade wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a deal that reportedly includes a late-round pick swap. Pittman and the Steelers also agreed to a new three-year contract worth up to $59 million, according to a league source.

The Colts re-signed wideout Alec Pierce for four years and $116 million, so they needed to pare payroll somewhere. Pittman led the Colts with 80 receptions and seven touchdown catches last season, and he was third on the team with 784 receiving yards.

 

[Steve]

Ascending Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to league sources. Nailor, who attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, returns to Sin City.

The Vikings wanted to keep Nailor, whom they drafted in the sixth round in 2022. He developed and contributed more each season. Working with receivers coach Keenan McCardell, Nailor progressed into a separator and a willing run blocker. His production never took off, though, as Nailor never caught more than 29 passes in a season. But that was mostly because the Vikings viewed superstar receiver Justin Jefferson, fellow first-rounder Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson as the team's primary pass catchers.

Multiple teams expressed interest in Nailor in recent months. One NFC evaluator, whose team eyed Nailor, even suggested that they saw Nailor as a potential 80-catch option. Betting on an uptick in numbers is sensible. He possesses vertical speed. He runs routes well. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands. And he understood all of the positions in Minnesota's complex offensive system.

 

[Steve]

The Atlanta Falcons have found their replacement for Kirk Cousins, reportedly agreeing to terms Monday with soon-to-be former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, league sources confirmed.

The Dolphins announced earlier Monday that they will release Tagovailoa on Wednesday, the first day of the league's new year, incurring a record $99.2 million in dead money on their salary cap. The Dolphins will be paying the vast majority of his salary in 2026, making the quarterback a very low financial risk for the Falcons.

The move, which came after the Dolphins failed to find a trade partner to take on Tagovailoa's contract, ends a tenure marked by occasional offensive fireworks, repeated head injuries and zero playoff wins.

Tagovailoa, 28, is less than two years removed from receiving a monster extension from the Dolphins in the summer of 2024, which made him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. Miami selected Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and saw enough through his first four years to give him the big second contract, despite the injury concerns Tagovailoa carried.