NFL 2026: Season Discussion Thread NFL

[Steve]

The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a three-year deal worth $40 million for former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook on Monday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

This marks a return home for the 26-year-old Cook, who played at the University of Cincinnati and is from the Cincinnati area, playing football at Mt. Healthy High School.

 

[Steve]

The Broncos' quest to create a more consistent and explosive running game in 2026 has started with a big bet on one of their own. Veteran running back J.K. Dobbins has agreed to a two-year deal to remain in Denver, according to a league source.

Dobbins posted a picture of himself in a Broncos uniform on X on Monday afternoon, captioned with an orange heart and the word "Home." The terms of the deal were not immediately available.

 

[Steve]

John Franklin-Myers, arguably the most talented interior defensive lineman on the free-agent market, has agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans on a 3-year contract worth $63 million and $42 million guaranteed, league sources confirmed.

Franklin-Myers spent the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos and was a key catalyst for a pass rush that produced by far the most sacks in the NFL during that span. He had a career-high 7.5 sacks for the Broncos in 2025, topping his previous high mark of seven takedowns set during his first season in Denver in 2024. Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen, a first-team All-Pro last season, formed one of the NFL's best interior pass-rush duos during the former's two seasons in Denver.

 

[Steve]

Wide receiver Mike Evans and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a free-agent contract, league sources confirmed on Monday, ending his 12-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal is worth $60.4 million over three seasons, per the sources.

"Mike Evans' decision to leave Tampa was never about money," Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, said in a statement. "The Buccaneers were extremely aggressive in their pursuit and presented a very strong offer, demonstrating how much they value him and everything he has meant to the franchise.

"In the end, this decision simply came down to Mike wanting a new challenge and a fresh opportunity while he still feels he has a great deal left to give the game."

The 32-year-old has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers, earning six Pro Bowl nods, two second-team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl LV ring. He was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2014 draft out of Texas A&M.

Evans surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons, setting an NFL record to start a career and tying Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons (Rice's streak began in his second NFL season). Evans' streak ended in 2025 when he was limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury and a broken clavicle. He finished the 2025 season with 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns.

Evans most recently signed a two-year extension with the Bucs in 2024, fresh off a 2023 season in which he tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns with 13. He had previously signed a five-year deal with Tampa Bay after the completion of his rookie deal.

 

[Steve]

Three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum on Monday agreed to a three-year free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders worth $81 million that includes $60 million in guarantees, league sources said on Monday.

Linderbaum's journey to entering the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent after four years in the NFL is multi-layered. The Baltimore Ravens selected Linderbaum with their second of two first-round picks in 2022, at No. 25. Linderbaum was a highly touted prospect coming out of Iowa and was the first center to be taken in his draft class. Since entering the league, Linderbaum has been as advertised, if not better.

Linderbaum has been the anchor in the middle of Baltimore's offensive line. In three of his four seasons, he's started all 17 games in the regular season. He was a Day 1 starter as a rookie and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In the following three seasons - 2023, 2024 and 2025 - Linderbaum was selected to the Pro Bowl. The Ravens' offense continued to flourish after adding Linderbaum in 2022, with quarterback Lamar Jackson taking home MVP honours in 2023.

 

[Steve]

Free-agent quarterback Malik Willis agreed to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million that includes $45 million guaranteed, a league source confirmed on Monday.

Willis, a third-round pick in 2022 by the Tennessee Titans who spent the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, became highly sought after following his impressive Week 17 showing against the Baltimore Ravens. Starting in place of an injured Jordan Love, he completed 18-of-21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, Willis also performed well in relief the week before, completing 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a score in an overtime loss to the Chicago Bears.

 

[Steve]

Former Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely has agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal with the New York Giants, league sources said. The deal can be worth up to $47.5 million.

The 25-year-old has been a serviceable No. 2 tight end behind Baltimore's franchise receiving leader, Mark Andrews. Likely has played in 63 games over four seasons, making 26 starts. Over the course of his career, he has recorded 135 receptions for 1,568 yards and 15 touchdowns.

 

[Steve]

Jaelan Phillips, one of the top edge rushers available in free agency, agreed to a four-year deal worth $120 million with the Carolina Panthers, sources told revealed on Monday.

This is a major investment in Phillips, who turns 27 in May. He was a 2021 first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, who traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in November for a third-round pick. He demonstrated with the Eagles what had been apparent at times during the first four years of his career: Phillips is a do-it-all edge rusher with a rare combination of size (6-foot-5, 263 pounds) and athleticism, and he offers the type of versatile skill set that keeps him on the field no matter the situation. He can rush the quarterback, set the edge in the run game, and even drop into coverage.

 

[Steve]

Former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams with $34 million guaranteed, according to a league source.

The 6-foot-2 corner was a success story for the Chiefs after they selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. Watson started 21 regular-season games the last two years, missing the others because of injuries.

Also notable: After suffering a fractured ankle that cost him most of 2024, Watson rushed back ahead of his projected injury timeline, returning for the team's playoff run that culminated with a Super Bowl 59 appearance.

 

[Steve]

Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a three-year free-agent contract worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million guaranteed, league sources told confirmed.

With free agency looming, Walker couldn't have picked a better time to hit his stride than during the Seattle Seahawks playoff run. In three postseason games, he recorded 417 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns, capping it with a 161-yard performance in the Seahawks' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots that earned him the MVP trophy. He also played in all 17 regular-season games for the first time in 2025, after various injuries caused him to miss time in his first three seasons.