Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh PA.
Former NFL reporter Dianna Russini never FaceTimed an NFL coach to get out of a traffic ticket, as she once claimed during an appearance on a radio show earlier this year.
Russini, who has been at the center of controversy since Page Six published a series of photos showing the married NFL insider too close for comfort with married Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, told the story in February when she was on the “Stugotz and Company” show.
Russini, who resigned from her insider job with The Athletic in April amid the controversy, claimed during the appearance that she had video-called an unnamed NFL coach of the favorite team of the cop who pulled her over and it helped get her out of a ticket.
The story resurfaced in a lengthy piece published by the New York Times last week exploring the controversy surrounding Russini.
Dianna Russini looks on during the NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on September 16, 2018 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh PA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The body camera video shows the stop playing out over a seven-minute and 10-second span and at no time does Russini FaceTime anyone, let alone an NFL coach.
What she did do, the video showed, was share that she had been texting with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and showed the cop the texts.
The stop happened in Ridgewood, N.J., after Russini was stopped for using her phone while driving.
Russini already appeared to know why she had been stopped when the officer approached her vehicle.
“I’m an NFL reporter, and I just broke that [coach] Sean McDermott got fired from the Bills. And that I what I was just sending to send, a tweet,” she told the officer. “I was gonna pull over, because I have to make calls. I know you don’t care, but I’m just letting you know my reason why. It was a work thing and it was an emergency for what I do.”
The officer notes that she had been on her phone “for a while” before he stopped her and that he did “understand you’ve got a job.”
Russini does move the conversation back to football, telling the cop that she was on the phone with former Giants coach Brian Daboll and that he “wants the job” in Buffalo.
After asking if he was a Jets or Giants fan and the cop revealing he was a Vikings fan, she then showed him the texts with O’Connell.
She also said that the Vikings’ “quarterback sucks.”
Eventually the officer lets her know that she won’t be getting a ticket.
“I’m gonna cut you a break on the cellphone. I understand your job requires you to be on the phone a lot. Just try to wait ‘til you get home, OK?” he said.
Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants is greeted by head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings after the Giants defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
It would seem that while Russini’s job did help her get a little goodwill, the story wasn’t as dramatic as originally told.
Ridgewood Police have also issued a statement from Chief Forest Ross Lyons about the encounter.
“On January 19, 2026, at 9:40 am, a Ridgewood police officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Godwin Avenue involving Ms. Dianna Russini for the use of a handheld cell phone while driving,” he said in the statement to Pro Football Talk.
Dianna Russini attends the 2019 ESPY Awards at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. WireImage
“After following department protocol during the stop, and reviewing Ms. Russini’s driving history, the officer exercised his professional discretion and issued a verbal warning to Ms. Russini.
“The use of officer discretion in determining whether to issue a warning or a citation is consistent with Ridgewood Police Department policy and longstanding practice. Police officers are encouraged to use their judgment and, when appropriate, provide motorists with warnings as part of the Department’s commitment to fair, impartial and community-oriented policing.”
Dallas Goedert had opportunities to go elsewhere this offseason but instead he came back to the Eagles on a one-year contract for Year 9 of his career.
And he figures to be a very important piece of the puzzle on offense.
Goedert, 31, was able to stay healthy last season and put up good numbers. He played in 15 games and had 60 catches for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he could have even more opportunity in 2026.
The Eagles this offseason finally traded away A.J. Brown, which leaves DeVonta Smith and Goedert as the top two remaining targets. On top of that, the Eagles brought in a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, who is expected to run a scheme that has historically featured tight ends.
This offseason, Goedert said he studied guys like George Kittle and Tucker Kraft, who have thrived in a Shanahan scheme.
“You can only do so much on offense but a lot of the key emphases are a little different,” Goedert said this spring. “I feel like through watching what he wants to happen, there’s a lot of easy touches to the tight end, getting the ball in space, scheming ways to get us open. So I’m excited for that. I think the tight end is kind of a backbone of the offense in the run game, play-action, pass game. I think it’ll be a really good system to play in.”
Even though the Eagles drafted tight end Eli Stowers in the second round in April, it’s probably going to take him a while to become a consistent contributor at the NFL level. And even though the Eagles brought in Johnny Mundt in free agency, Mundt figures to be a blocking tight end.
So there’s a good chance that Goedert will still see a ton of targets from Jalen Hurts in 2026 after getting 82 targets last season, up from 52 in 10 games the previous year.
For whatever reason, it seemed like Goedert’s run blocking wasn’t up to his previous standard in 2025 but he was still a really dangerous target, especially in the red zone. He had 11 touchdown catches last season, which is a franchise record.
It’s possible this could be Goedert’s final season in Philadelphia, especially if Stowers becomes the tight end of the future. But this isn’t some ceremonial final year in Philly. The Eagles need him to play at a high level in 2026.
“Being able to play here for 8 years, we’ve put a lot of good runs together, been able to do special things,” Goedert said. “I feel like playing in an organization like the Eagles is special and I think we can do special things this year. I didn’t want to leave and not be part of it. Ultimately, I chose to come back and hopefully put another great year together.”
BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 03: Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Can the Browns win more than 7 games in 2026? The answer depends on QB (Orange and Brown talk podcast) – Nobody said rebuilding was going to be easy. But heading into the 2026 season, the Browns have layered so many unknowns on top of each other that even the most informed insiders are struggling to land on a firm prediction for the team’s record. On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, that uncertainty came to a head in one of the most revealing debates of the episode, a simple true or false: Will the Browns win more than seven games this season?
Nov 2, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
The 5 O’Clock Club
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
Previewing Washington’s 14 opponents of the ‘26 season — one at a time
In 2026, the Commanders will, like every other team in the NFL, play 17 games against 14 opponents. With the amount of roster change that NFL teams undergo annually along with the unusually large number of head coach and coordinator changes in 2026, it seems useful to spend some time to review each of Washington’s regular season opponents.
Dan Quinn and his Commanders will follow up a pair of NFC East road games to open the season with the first Washington home game of the 2026 season in Week 3.
Week 3 Preview: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders
Date: September 28, 2026, 1 p.m. ET Location: Northwest Stadium in Landover Maryland
After road games in Weeks 1 & 2 against a pair of hated division rivals, the Commanders will return home in Week 3 to face the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. No easy games to open the 2026 season! A lot could change by the time these two teams meet, but it’s no surprise that the early betting lines favor the Seahawks on the road against the Commanders.
The All-Time Series Numbers
While these two teams wouldn’t seem to be natural rivals, they have played one another 24 times since Seattle joined the league as an expansion team in the mid-1970s. Washington leads the overall series 13-11-0, and the burgundy & gold has won 8 of 15 games played in this millennium.
The Seahawks have prevailed in the postseason, however. The two teams met in the playoffs three times between the 2005 and 2012 seasons, with Seattle sweeping the Redskins by winning all 3 games — none by less than 10 points.
Interestingly, Washington has been more successful as the road team in recent years, losing 4 out of the last 5 games played in Landover while winning 3 of the last 5 games played in Seattle.
Commanders quarterback play and health has been an issue at times
I’m sure everyone will remember the gruesome-looking play in which Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in the fourth quarter of the Week 9 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium.
A similarly gruesome-looking knee injury ended the rookie season of Robert Griffin III against the Seahawks in the playoff game at Landover in January 2013.
In the three Seattle-Washington games played between those two injuries, Washington’s offense was led by Dwayne Haskins (2020), Taylor Heinicke (2021) and Sam Howell (2023), which may help explain the .250 win percentage under Ron Rivera and Dan Quinn.
Hopefully, Jayden Daniels can put an end to this streak of quarterback infamy and injury with a complete and winning effort in Week 3.
Seahawks quarterback stability
Seattle’s starting quarterback is Sam Darnold. Not so long ago, that would have been a reason for many NFL fans to scoff, but Darnold has just finished back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons with the Vikings and Seahawks, and he has a shiny new championship ring.
Like last year, Darnold is backed up by Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe.
#Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald says the team isn’t talking about defending its Super Bowl or “running it back.”
Instead, the phrase internally is: “We want to run it forward,” with the “it” referring to their process and identity as a team. pic.twitter.com/055rmwwEw5
The Seahawks coaching staff changes could be significant. Sam Darnold will have both a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback coach. Fleury comes from 7 seasons with the 49ers; Prince is a 4th year coach who has moved up quickly in Seattle after one year in the college ranks.
Add in John Benton’s promotion to senior offensive assistant & offensive line coach, and we could see a very different Seahawks offense in 2026. Fleury’s offensive scheme will be a highly structured, modern variant of the Shanahan-style West Coast offense, built on wide-zone running, heavy pre-snap motion, and calculated deep shots — which may sound familiar to fans who have been reading up on Commanders’ new offensive coordinator David Blough. Upon taking the job, Fleury declared that his unit would be “fast, violent, and aggressive in every way we possibly can” to pressure opponents both structurally and through variable tempo.
Their first-round pick in the backfield, Jadarian Price from Notre Dame, will have a new running backs coach in Thomas Hammock.
One of the most underrated moves of the entire NFL offseason is also on this list, though, with the Seahawks adding former Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr as inside linebackers coach. The wealth of defensive knowledge between head coach Mike Macdonald and Orr should pay off handsomely for the Seahawks; a scary thought given that the Seahawks had the #1 defense in points-allowed in 2026.
Key statistical 2026 rankings
Offensive Rankings
Under coordinator Klint Kubiak, the offense was a top-tier scoring unit that prioritized high yards-per-play efficiency:
Scoring Offense: 3rd overall (28.4 points per game)
Total Offense: 7th overall (351.4 total yards per game)
Offensive DVOA: 9th overall (9.2%)
Passing DVOA: 5th overall (32.2%)
Rushing DVOA: 13th overall (-2.2%)
Yards Per Play: 2nd overall (5.6 yards per play)
Defensive Rankings
Head coach Mike Macdonald’s defense was statistically the best in the NFL, finishing as a top-10 historic defense in modern analytics:
Scoring Defense: 1st overall (17.2 points allowed per game)
Total Defense: 1st overall (285.8 yards allowed per game)
Opponent Yards Per Play: 1st overall (4.4 yards allowed per play)
Roster Moves: Free Agency and the Draft
Key Free Agent Signings/Departures
* SIGNED IN FREE AGENCY
LB Dante Fowler Jr.
LB Chazz Surratt (Re-signed)
CB Noah Igbinoghene
RB Emanual Wilson
WR Jake Bobo (Re-signed)
OL Josh Jones (Re-signed)
CB Josh Jobe (Re-signed)
WR Rashid Shaheed (Re-signed)
* DEPARTED IN FREE AGENCY
RB Kenneth Walker III
LB Boye Mafe
S Coby Bryant
CB Riq Woolen
The Seahawks put a heavy emphasis on re-signing their own free agents this offseason, which gives them a short list of departures; nonetheless, they are all significant. Coby Bryant played 100% of the team’s defensive snaps in the Super Bowl, while Riq Woolen and Boye Mafe were contributors as well. Of course, Kenneth Walker was the Super Bowl MVP.
Seattle did add former Commanders pass rusher in Dante Fowler Jr. to pair with DeMarcus Lawrence, and they used the draft to help maintain depth in the secondary that was key to their defensive success last year. Another element of that depth comes in the form of the free agent signing of former Washington CB Noah Igbinoghene, who may struggle to make the 53-man roster in Seattle.
As discussed above, their offensive core of Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp will have a new rookie running back and new play-caller in Brian Fleury, replacing Klint Kubiak who parlayed winning a Super Bowl with this group into the head coaching job with the Raiders.
The 2026 NFL Draft
Round 1, No. 32: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame) Explosive runner and high-end kickoff returner; co-RB1 replacement for departed Kenneth Walker III. Should fit perfectly into Seattle’s outside-zone rushing scheme.
Round 2, No. 64: Bud Clark (S, TCU) Experienced, highly competitive, versatile defensive ball hawk who will compete immediately at safety. Plays with a physical edge reminiscent of Devon Witherspoon.
Round 3, No. 99: Julian Neal (CB, Arkansas) Tall, physical corner (nearly 6’2″) who loves to hit and press receivers. He is a good candidate to step in as Seattle’s 3rd CB.
Round 5, No. 148: Beau Stephens (OG, Iowa) Versatile 1st-team All-American; expected to push incumbent Anthony Bradford for the starting RG spot.
Round 6, No. 199: Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (WR, Kansas) Speedy WR; valuable kickoff coverage and return experience. Depth and special teams.
Round 7, No. 236: Andre Fuller (CB, Toledo) A safety-to-corner convert with good size and 4.49 speed. Depth and battle for one of the remaining CB spots.
Round 7, No. 242: Deven Eastern (DT, Minnesota) Experienced, durable interior lineman; started 39 college games. Will help restock and add youth to the Seahawks aging defensive line pipeline.
Round 7, No. 255: Michael Dansby (CB, Arizona) Smaller, faster man-coverage CB; strong candidate for practice squad.
A 3.5-point spread is a massive one favoring the Seahawks on the road. The point total is set at 46.5, reflecting expectations of solid offensive output from both sides.
New York Giants. Harbaugh’s offseason jump from Baltimore to New York makes the Ravens more intriguing while simultaneously giving the Giants the final flourish on their claim as the league’s most compelling team in 2026. The Super Bowl–winning head coach takes over a Giants squad led by standout sophomore Jaxson Dart, who produced 24 combined passing and rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions as a first-round rookie in 2025 and is already the face of the franchise.
Second-year back Cam Skattebo has already become a cult hero, while pass-catchers Isaiah Likely (who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore) and Malik Nabers (returning from a torn ACL) should help solidify one of the best young offensive cores in the game. Add in a defense built around top-five picks from each of the last two drafts in support of reigning NFC sack leader Brian Burns, and the Giants have the pieces to shock the league if everything coalesces in 2026.
There’s an awful lot of hype around Dart right now. Although at least part of that comes from a starved Giants fan base, a big part of me wants to buy in on all of it. Dart is a unique player who presents unique challenges — not just for opposing defenses, but for his own team. Dart’s playing style and skill set can make him a danger to himself if he’s not reeled in.
The best news, though, is that John Harbaugh is now Dart’s head coach. Kafka did a great job creating an offense around Dart last year, but Harbaugh’s staff will be better equipped to help him as a dual-threat player. Health permitting, I expect a sizable jump from Dart, who has the ability to finally give the Giants the franchise QB for whom they’ve been searching.
Giants sign Odell Beckham Jr., other receivers amid Malik Nabers injury questions. When head coach John Harbaugh said that Nabers’ recovery from multiple knee surgeries was “not simple,” it raised some questions about the receiver’s timetable and future forecast. In a league where it feels like 90 percent of rehabbing players seem to be “ahead of schedule,” this injury update felt like a bad omen.
And I get that. I also get the feeling that the Giants’ signings of Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios were insurance moves guarding against potentially not having Nabers to start the season. That came after the Giants had already added veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III and drafted Malachi Fields. Look, I can’t assure you Nabers is going to be fine. New York’s certainly a better team with a healthy Nabers, no doubt. But I think the G-Men can at least survive if he’s not 100 percent to start the season, even if general manager Joe Schoen still believes Nabers will be available for Week 1.
LB Darius Muasau; Biggest Threat: LB Jack Kelly. Through two seasons, Muasau, against the run, has a 15.3% tackle rate, which, when compared to Okereke’s 18% figure, ranked second among the team’s linebackers based on PFF data. With the arrivals of Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese, any realistic chance of Muasau landing a starting job has probably evaporated. That leaves him to compete for a depth role where his primary competition will be rookie Jack Kelly, a sixth-round pick out of BYU, who, like Muasau, is an inside linebacker that can provide help on special teams.
Kelly appears to bring a little more to the table. For one, he offers a bit more as a situational pass rusher. Per PFF, Kelly posted the fifth-most quarterback pressures (36) in the 2026 draft-eligible linebacker class. The former BYU standout ended his final year of college play with the best pass-rush win rate (19.8) among 26 qualifying linebackers with a minimum of 90 pass-rushing attempts. Muasau has value to a team, but again, his lower ceiling as a pass rusher could swing the pendulum in Kelly’s favor.
One year after auctioning off his Super Bowl XLII ring for $280,000, former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is now putting the ball he caught for the winning touchdown in that game up for sale.
CINCINNATI - 1963: Thomas Hawkins #19 of the Cincinnati Royals poses for a portrait circa 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1963 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA hasn’t always been what it is today. In the earliest days, it was kind of cobbled together, and some guys turned down contracts because they had better offers from other employers.
No one made $100,000 a year before Wilt Chamberlain did so in 1965 (Bill Russell immediately asked Boston to pay him $100,001).
Transportation was not what it is today, either. No one flew charter, and the planes in the 1950s and 1960s were not all up to date, and even if they were, they were not what they are today. Nothing was computerized, for instance, and weather reporting was not what we expect today.
Winston-Salem native Tommy Hawkins, who started his career with the Minneapolis Lakers, underscores that with this story of a flight gone wrong. He tells the story calmly, but it’s hard not to think of Buddy Holly’s last trip.
In this case, they were fortunate enough to land in a cornfield rather than crash in one, but modern-day NBA players have no idea what their predecessors went through to build the league into a global powerhouse.
Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Landon Jackson (94) after the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Bills had a few hits in the 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston showed why the team took him in the first round, and even though he was injured for much of his rookie season, he clearly has top-level NFL talent. Defensive tackle Deone Walker was another hit, and defensive back Jordan Hancock had flashes throughout the season, as did defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Tight end Jackson Hawes was elite, and cornerback Dorian Strong looked like a sixth-round steal before a neck injury ended his season.
Sure, it looks on the surface like Buffalo’s 2025 draft class was strong, but there appeared to be one glaring miss in there. When a team is tight to the salary cap and has championship aspirations, a third-round pick can’t be a total whiff. And yet, last year’s third-round draft choice was just that as a rookie.
Will that player survive a new defensive coordinator in 2026? If the early returns are to be believed, the answer is a resounding yes. In today’s installment of our “91 players in 91 days” series, we discuss a defensive lineman looking for success in his second NFL season. _____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Landon Jackson
Number: 94
Position: DE
Height/Weight: 6’6″ 264 lbs.
Age: 23 (24 on 1/2/2027)
Experience/Draft: 2; selected by Buffalo in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft
College: Arkansas
Acquired: Third-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Jackson enters the second year of his four-year rookie deal, a pact worth $6,618,982 overall. For the 2026 season, Jackson’s cap hit is $1,504,314 if he makes the 53-man roster. If he’s released, he’ll count $1,090,393 against the Cap in the form of a dead cap charge.
2025 Recap: Jackson struggled mightily in his first go-round in the NFL. He was a non-factor in the team’s three preseason games, totaling just one tackle in those contests. After making the team, he was a healthy scratch in Buffalo’s first four games. He made his debut in Week Five against the New England Patriots, playing 16 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps. He played 12 snaps on defense and eight snaps on special teams against the Atlanta Falcons the following week, and just two snaps the week after against the Miami Dolphins. In that game against Miami, he suffered a knee injury, which led the team to place him on injured reserve. His season ended without a tackle in 30 defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps.
Positional outlook: Jackson and undrafted rookie Kody Huisman are the only players listed at defensive end on the roster. They’ll really serve as down linemen in Buffalo’s new 3-4 base defense, which means they’re grouped with players like Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders, Phiadarian Mathis, Zion Logue, DeWayne Carter, Deone Walker, Zane Durant, and Tommy Akingbesote, who are all listed at defensive tackle.
2026 Offseason: Jackson has bulked up significantly, and while the team still lists him at 264 lbs., he says he’s closer to 280 lbs. and looking to play between 285 and 290 lbs. this season.
2026 Season outlook: A snap analysis of Buffalo’s 2025 NFL Draft class would easily classify Jackson as a bust, as he was a total non-factor on the 2025 roster. First, he couldn’t even earn a jersey on game day, and when he did, he was invisible as a rotational piece during two losses. Whether Jackson was a poor fit for head coach Sean McDermott’s defense or a two-year project, there were plenty of voices who were angry that the team used a premium draft choice on a player who had zero impact on a team squarely in the midst of a championship window.
With that line of thinking, I assumed that a new head coach, new defensive coordinator, and new system would lead to a new team for Jackson in 2026. However, given the switch to a 3-4 base with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard combined with the fact that Jackson appears to have lived in the weight room over the last calendar year, I think there’s a real chance that Jackson not only makes the team, but plays a significant number of snaps this season.
Buffalo’s defensive line is in a state of flux, and if Jackson can combine his natural length (his 83 5/8″ wingspan is simply condor-esque) with his newfound strength, he has a real chance at success this season. When I mapped out the series, I thought I’d be writing about Jackson fighting for his NFL life this off-season; however, based on the early returns, I think he’s more likely to become a legitimate contributor this season than he is to be released.
Perhaps this is why so many experts hesitate to evaluate draft classes until years have passed. If Jackson lives up to the off-season hype, the second-year man could be in for a strong 2026 season.
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: Assistant General Manager Adam Peters and General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers before the game against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers defeated the Commanders 37-20. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jeremy Fowler: 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk hasn’t filed paperwork to exit ‘left squad’ list “He’s lighting money on fire, is what he’s doing, every time he puts an Instagram video out,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on NFL Live. “He is on the left squad list for the 49ers still. To get off that list, he has to apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell, he has to file paperwork. I’m told that hasn’t happened.”
“I’m told the 49ers haven’t given any sort of firm indication to him whether he’s going to be cut, traded, whatever,” Fowler said. “Teams I’ve talked to say that he’s essentially untradeable right now.
“And I’ve talked to some people around the league who think that when he does get cut, if he gets cut, that he might have to sign a vet minimum deal somewhere because of how all this has gone.”
Why Osa Odighizuwa will lead the 49ers in sacks in 2026 “2025 saw Odighizuwa lead the Cowboys in total pressures with 52 and 20 QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Raheem Morris’ defense and the incoming reinforcements will improve the pass rush immediately, but the opportunity to take advantage of one-on-one looks as a pass rusher is where Osa will shine in 2026. It could take Bosa and Williams time to hit their stride after the injuries, but the threat of both is still enough to create advantageous matchups.
A deeper look at the numbers reveals the nature of the season Odighizuwa had in 2025. According to SIS Data Hub, Odighizuwa ranked fourth in the NFL with 20 knockdowns, but first among all defensive tackles in the NFL. With only 388 pass-rushing snaps, the increased volume will only push the productivity up. Odighizuwa didn’t notch as many sacks as defensive tackle Chris Jones (7.0-3.5) from Kansas City, but had a higher hit % (9.8-7.9) and knockdown % (5.2-3.9).
For what it’s worth, Odighizuwa outpaced Myles Garret in hit % and knockdown %. Think about this: when Micah Parsons was disrupting on the EDGE, Odighizuwa set career highs in snaps, sacks, hurries, and defensive snaps in 2025.”
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands for the national anthem prior to Game Six against the Toronto Raptors in the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 01, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
James Harden is an easy punching bag for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The flaws in his game are pretty obvious, and his teams have yet to come through on the biggest stages throughout his 17-year career. Throw in that he was traded to Cleveland in exchange for a home-grown All-Star that’s 10 years younger, and it’s easy to see why the sentiment is what it is.
That said, the Cavs don’t make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season without Harden. In fact, they don’t advance out of the first round without trading for him. Despite the flaws in Harden’s game, he consistently elevated the play of the group. That shouldn’t be lost in any of the discussions about his performance.
Regular Season Stats
23.6 points
8 assists
4.8 rebounds
43.4% FG
37.5% 3PT FG
88.4% FT
Koby Altman mentioned in February that they traded for Harden to help in the postseason. He certainly did that.
The Cavs were 12.7 points per 100 possessions better with Harden on the court in the playoffs than they were when he was off. That was the highest mark on the team. This was because he blended well with the starters while still carrying hybrid bench lineups when both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley were off the floor.
Figuring out how to survive the minutes without Mitchell was a problem all regular season and has hurt the Cavs in previous postseason runs. Being able to stabilize those minutes was incredibly useful and allowed the team to get as far as they did in the postseason.
The Cavs don’t make it past either the Toronto Raptors or Detroit Pistons if it weren’t for Harden. His ability to get to the line and continually get the bigs involved kept a Cleveland offense on schedule that often became too reliant on the three-ball. This led to the Cavs winning the minutes he played in 10 of the 14 games he played in the first two rounds.
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Things didn’t work out nearly as well against the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson hunted mismatches against him down the stretch of Game 1 when the Cavs squandered a 22-point lead in the final frame. Most of that was good shot-making, but it also highlighted the weaknesses in Harden’s game.
The Cavs aren’t the undersized backcourt they were with Darius Garland alongside Mitchell. Harden’s size (6’5″) and strength mean that you can’t just shoot over him. But if you force him to defend in space without help around him, he’s going to be exposed. The same could be said for Mitchell.
This team needs Harden’s playmaking and ability to get the bigs involved because these are things Mitchell struggles with. At the same time, having both members of the starting backcourt as defensive targets puts a cap on how good you can defend against elite competition, even if you have three good defenders behind them.
Harden and Mitchell aren’t going to magically become better defenders at this point in their careers. Maybe there are things the Cavs can do from a scheme perspective to keep either from being targeted as much, but the cleanest path forward is just figuring out how to make the offense work better.
The pairing between Harden and Mitchell got off to a good start in the regular season — particularly late in games — but the chemistry didn’t carry over as much as you’d hope it would in the playoffs. It often turned into “your turn, my turn” with isolation attacks.
Harden and Mitchell were both in the top 10 for isolation possessions per game in the playoffs. They were both pretty good at this, with Mitchell scoring one point per isolation possession and Harden averaging 0.99. However, if your overall offense is that isolation-heavy, things can become stagnant quickly.
Turnovers were an issue for Harden. He deserves the blame for those giveaways, but it’s fair to point out that these were also the byproduct of a stagnant offense that didn’t have a cohesive plan of attack.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson drastically remade Cleveland’s offense over the final few months of the season. He did away with his preferred motion-based offense for a more stationary, spaced-out isolation attack to fit his best two players. However, they never quite found a way to maximize that approach.
More often than not, Cleveland’s role players would find themselves cutting into traffic when they should’ve stayed stationary, and staying stationary when they needed to cut. The floor balance wasn’t what it needed to be in order to make this work.
That’s excusable given the fact that Atkinson was trying to build the plane while flying it. Those same excuses won’t be there next season. The Cavs need to figure out how they want to play offensively and surround Harden and Mitchell with guys who can fit that mold.
Adjusting to a new team that late in the season is difficult. Harden handled the change well and helped elevate this core to heights they’ve never reached before. That’s exactly what he was brought in to do. From that perspective, it was a successful season for Harden.
At the same time, it’s fair to wonder how much higher the ceiling is for a Harden-led Cavs. Can Harden and Mitchell complement each other better offensively than they did in the playoffs? Will the defense be able to thrive with two below-average defenders on the perimeter? The answer to both questions will determine whether this core can take the next step forward.
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JUNE 02: Peter Manuma #34 of the New England Patriots walks on to the field during New England Patriots OTA on June 2, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Summer Lamont/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New England Patriots added some experience to their safety room this offseason, signing both free agents Kevin Byard and Mike Brown to one-year contracts. However, they also added a rookie to the mix: Peter Manuma, who earned a spot on the team after a successful mid-May tryout.
Manuma naturally does not have the same cachet as Brown or especially Byard, but that does not mean the undrafted rookie cannot be a useful player for the team.
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Hawaii (2022-25)
Manuma played four years of varsity football at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, HI, lining up at running back, slotback, linebacker, cornerback and safety. Despite his positional flexibility, the three-star recruit received only two Division I scholarship offers. He eventually opted to stay in his home state, enrolling at the University of Hawaii rather than moving to Central Michigan.
Manuma went on to spend his entire college career with the Rainbow Warriors. He saw extensive action during that span, playing 3,138 combined snaps between defense and special teams. A valuable member of the team from his true freshman campaign on, he appeared in 49 games with 43 starts and finished his career with 280 tackles, five interceptions and three forced fumbles. He also earned honorable mention All-Mountain West recognition in each of his four seasons.
Even though his college career was fairly successful, Manuma did not hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots signed him to their roster following a rookie minicamp tryout.
Scouting report
Strengths: The 6-foot-0, 205-pound Manuma is decently built and combines his size with good straight-line speed and acceleration. He combines his natural speed with a quick processor and downhill trigger; he comes flying down from the second level with authority in run support. He also can play elsewhere in the lineup, though, and has the positional versatility to play both as a box safety and — in large part due to his range — a deep-lying free safety. Manuma additionally brings considerable experience, durability and leadership to the table.
Weaknesses: Manuma has an NFL-caliber frame overall, but he lacks the length and reach to consistently challenge bigger receivers at the catch point. In general, he is not the most agile player and better moving in a linear fashion, which leads to some uneven results in man-to-man coverage. His ball skills and ball production have been unremarkable over the last two seasons (1 forced fumble) and his tackling uneven throughout his career (15.6% missed tackle rate). He oftentimes takes overly aggressive angles and seemingly goes for a big hit rather than a sound form tackle.
Season recap: Manuma’s junior year at Hawaii was of a high quality but also saw him miss three games due to injury. As a consequence, he opted to return to school for a fourth season. The decision was a good one considering that it helped him find an NFL home, albeit as an undrafted free agent.
Named a captain for a second straight year, Manuma started all 13 of the Rainbow Warriors’ games and finished as their most-used defender (his 792 defensive snaps were 72 more than the next player on the list) as well as their leader in tackles. He played a critical part in the team going 9-4 and winning the Hawaii Bowl.
That game, which was his final one in college, was a microcosm of his season: he was actively involved as a tackler, registering eight takedowns, and also broke up a pass. He did not register any turnovers in the 35-31 victory, but was a steady and reliable presence in the secondary. That pretty much sums up his 2025 campaign.
It might not have been the flashiest season and Manuma still had his issues such as four of 13 opposing quarterbacks posting a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting him. All in all, however, he managed to put an adequate and somewhat representative bow on his college career.
2026 preview
Position: Strong safety | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate | Contract: Signed through 2028 (2029 RFA)
What will be his role? Manuma played multiple roles in college, but the Patriots could opt for a more specialized usage early on in his career. What might that look like? They might start building him up as a strong safety who aligns closer to the box, and only add further responsibilities down the line. He also is fairly certain to be used in a special teams role, with coordinator Jeremy Springer mentioning him as a candidate for the personal punt protector role.
What is his growth potential? While he is a solid overall athlete, Manuma has limitations that he will need to work around. Those limitations, however, might put a cap on his ceiling, at least as a defender. Special-teams wise, after all, he has the makings of a five-unit player if he can improve his tackling and get more disciplined with his attack angles.
Does he have positional versatility? Very much so. Manuma played all over the Rainbow Warriors’ secondary in his four seasons, and has extensive experience as a strong safety, free safety, off-ball linebacker and slot defender. He also has seen some semi-regular action in the kicking game, and despite only being used on two units in 2025 — punt return, field goal/extra point block — has the attributes to become a more versatile option on special teams.
What is his salary cap situation? Manuma joined the Patriots on a standard three-year UDFA deal following his tryout, and it comes with a $885,000 base salary that simultaneously functions as his cap number for the 2026 season. With no guarantees embedded into the contract and the salary not high enough to qualify for Top 51 status, he currently does not count against New England’s cap.
How safe is his roster spot? Just like most other undrafted free agents, Manuma also is facing an uphill battle to make the Patriots’ roster as a rookie. In order to do so, he will not just have to prove his value relative to fellow depth safeties Dell Pettus, Mike Brown and John Saunders Jr. but also in the kicking game. Only if he can do that can he be a serious part of the roster conversation.
Summary: Upon joining the Patriots, Manuma entered a safety room that very much has an established pecking order at the top. Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson are effectively locked into the starting roles, and the other backup competitors have an edge over the 23-year-old in terms of NFL experience. Manuma making up that deficit and others can happen, and his special teams outlook is certainly intriguing, but at the moment he looks more like a practice squad than a roster candidate.
What do you think about Peter Manuma heading into the 2026 season? Will he earn a spot on the roster? What will his role look like if he does? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins is crediting first-year head coach Klint Kubiak with running an offseason program that laid the foundation for rebuilding a moribund franchise.
Cousins, who wrapped up the 15th offseason program of his NFL career, said in an interview with Andrew Siciliano that Kubiak showed the players throughout the offseason how to handle their business.
"He's a very hard worker, very humble, he's got a great way about him. He's serious, there's not a lot of time for tomfoolery," Cousins said of Kubiak. "I told him after OTAs, 'Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I've ever been a part of.' That starts with him as a head coach. He created a sense of urgency from Day One, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We've got a long ways to go, but we laid a good foundation."
Asked about Kubiak being one of the NFL's quieter coaches, Cousins said that's true, but that in only a few words he makes his expectations for the players clear.
"He doesn't need to be a man of many words — quieter is a fair assessment," Cousins said. "But that's different than lacking conviction or lacking that intensity. I think his intensity, his conviction, his belief in what he's doing, having an identity — there's no confusion from us in the locker room of what he expects from us, what he wants our football team to look like. I would never confuse that with just being quiet. I think there's a certainty there that's comforting to a player."
We’re still over a month away from the start of Eagles training camp, which gives us plenty of time to ponder the biggest questions about the 2026 team.
The Eagles are hoping to be a Super Bowl contender this season after a disappointing wild-card round exit in 2025.
Defensive tackle: Will Jalen Carter return to dominance?
We have seen glimpses from Jalen Carter that make you think he can be one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. Heck, he has already been named a Pro Bowler in two of his first three seasons. He’s really good either way. But it’s time to see if Carter can go from really good to the type of Defensive Player of the Year candidate many think he’s capable of becoming.
Last season, Carter dealt with shoulder injuries that required injections during the season. Those injuries clearly sapped his strength and rendered him much less effective. But Carter still had a good season. In 11 games, he had 3 sacks, 7 batted passes, 5 TFLs and 12 QB hits.
Carter is eligible for an extension this offseason and it isn’t going to be cheap. The highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL was Chris Jones, who is making around $31 million per season. But then Jeffrey Simmons just got paid on a new deal that’s worth over $35 million per season. Carter’s next contract is going to be huge, which is tricky considering he hasn’t put together a full and truly dominant season just yet.
Edge rusher: Can Jonathan Greenard produce at a high level?
It’s true that Jonathan Greenard was not the Eagles’ top choice this offseason at edge rusher, but it doesn’t mean he won’t end up being the best option. They first tried to keep Jaelan Phillips in free agency until the Panthers went over their walk-away number. Then they looked into other free agents. It wasn’t until Day 2 of the draft, when the Eagles pulled off a trade with the Vikings to acquire Greenard. They then gave him a four-year, $98 million contract. Greenard immediately becomes the Eagles’ top-of-the-rotation edge rusher ahead of Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.
Greenard is 29 now and is coming off a down season in 2025. He had just 3 sacks in 12 games before his season ended with a shoulder injury that needed surgery in December. But Greenard is a proven player who had 12 sacks with the Vikings in 2024 and 12 1/2 sacks with the Texans in 2023. And his pressure numbers were still good last season. In fact, his pressure rate of 15.4% in 2025 was actually higher than his pressure rate of 13.4% in 2024. So there are reasons to think Greenard will have a productive season for the Eagles, and they’re counting on it.
Linebacker: Is Jihaad Campbell ready to take a big step?
The Eagles drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round last year for a reason. And now he’ll get a chance to be a full-time starter in 2026 after Nakobe Dean left in free agency. The Eagles loved Dean but they know their future is Campbell. Dean this offseason agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with the Raiders.
Campbell actually began last season as a full-time starter next to Zack Baun but eventually lost that spot when Dean came back and played at a high level. Dean was better than Campbell last year but it doesn’t mean that Campbell played poorly. In fact, Campbell showed a lot of promise. He played in all 17 games (starting 10) and had 80 tackles, an interception, 3 pass breakups, a forced fumble and 2 TFLs. He also has a ton of upside in coverage.
Campbell missed all spring with a shoulder injury but is expected to be ready for training camp next month. Hopefully, that will be the case.
Cornerback: Will this be the best trio in the NFL?
Most of last year, the Eagles tried to find an upgrade over Adoree’ Jackson. They never did. Eventually, Jackson settled in and Vic Fangio did things with his coverages to help Jackson. But the Eagles clearly didn’t want CB2 to be a weak spot in 2026. Because in March, they signed Riq Woolen to a one-year, $12 million deal. That gives the Eagles a starting trio of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Woolen. That might be the very best in the NFL.
There are reasons Woolen was available on a one-year deal. But Vic Fangio seemed surprised Woolen didn’t get a long-term contract elsewhere. Not only did Fangio like what he saw on tape, but Woolen was the star of the show during spring practices. You should always take spring performances with a grain of salt but Woolen seemed to wow everyone in OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Safety: Is Marcus Epps going to be the other starter?
If there’s one weakness among the 22 starting players on the Eagles’ roster, it’s probably at safety. Drew Mukuba returns for his second NFL season and will take back his starting job but Reed Blankenship left in free agency in March to join the Texans. That means one of the starting jobs is open. When the Eagles are in their base package, Cooper DeJean is going to slid back and play next to Mukuba but that still leaves about 75-80% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps at safety left over. Marcus Epps is the frontrunner to take them.
The Eagles are going to have some sort of competition for that job in training camp but Epps is very clearly going to get the first crack. He filled in admirably last season after Mukuba’s injury and offers some stability at the position as a veteran. Epps was a full-time starter in 2022 on that Super Bowl team before leaving in free agency the following offseason. The biggest competition for Epps is Michael Carter II, who is making the transition from nickel corner to safety as he tries to win this job. If the Eagles get to training camp and think Epps nor Carter are the answer, there’s a chance they would add another player.
Special teams: Can Jake Elliott get things back on track?
Based on his contract situation, it was unlikely the Eagles were ever going to move on from Jake Elliott this season and then they reworked his deal to pretty much signal he’s going to be the kicker in 2026. The Eagles have to hope the 31-year-old improves this season. Because while Elliott is probably already the greatest kicker in Eagles history and has been a huge clutch kicker for them, the last two years just haven’t been great. Over the last two seasons, Elliott has made just 48 of 58 kicks (76.2%) and is just 5 for 15 (33.3%) from 50+ yards. Elliott did have a bad year before in 2020 (when he was 73.7%) but he followed it up with three strong seasons in a row. He did not bounce back from his struggles in 2024 the way you’d like to see.
Of course, Elliott has always been a big-time performer in the playoffs. He missed one kick in the 2024 playoffs but overall is 28 for 29 (96.6%) in the playoffs. There have been 36 kickers in NFL history to attempt at least 20 field goals in the playoffs and Elliott’s FG percentage ranks second behind just Robbie Gould, who was perfect on 29 career attempts in the postseason.
The logjam of unsigned picks at the top of the third round of the 2026 NFL draft is starting to break.
The Broncos signed defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim, the second player drafted in the third round, to his rookie contract on Sunday night. That signing came just hours after the Raiders signed Keyron Crawford, the third player drafted in the third round.
Onyedim gets a four-year, $7.38 million contract with a $1.8 million signing bonus. According to Luca Evans of the Denver Post, Onyedim got no guaranteed base salary on the deal. The delay in signing high third-round picks was caused in part by agents trying to get guaranteed base salary for them, but teams have been holding firm that the only money they would guarantee for third-round picks was the signing bonus.
The top third-round pick, Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck, remains unsigned. Also unsigned are the fourth, fifth and sixth picks of the third round: Eagles offensive tackle Markel Bell, Bears tight end Sam Roush and 49ers edge rusher Romello Height.
How does the Jeffrey Simmons contract affect Jalen Carter? What Eagle played the most games in franchise history without reaching the postseason? And what’s the most important day of the Eagles’ 2026 season?
We continue plowing through the NFL dead period with another fun batch of Roob’s 10 Random Eagles Offseason Observations.
And I promise: No soccer content.
HOW JEFFREY SIMMONS IMPACTS JALEN CARTER: It will be interesting to see whether the Jeffrey Simmons contract kick starts negotiations between the Eagles and Jalen Carter. Simmons re-set the interior lineman market with his three-year, $105.8 million contract, which includes $100 million in guaranteed money. Simmons is a five-time Pro Bowler and was a 1st-team all-pro last year, and his average annual salary – $35.27 million per year – is the most ever for a defensive tackle, supplanting Chris Jones of the Chiefs, who is averaging $31.75 million per year. Carter’s 2024 season was as good as any of Simmons’ seasons, but Simmons has done it year after year on a consistent basis and Carter hasn’t. But Simmons is also 3 ½ years older than Carter, who just turned 25. Carter shouldn’t get as much as Simmons, but he should be fairly close, so maybe the Simmons deal helps define Carter’s value in the $32 to $33 million per year range. Just above Jones but just below Simmons. It’s a little scary putting that kind of money in Carter’s pocket because of questions about his maturity (Dak on opening day), questions about his fitness (which Vic Fangio questioned early last year) and questions about his health (procedures last year on both shoulders). But his talent is insane. When he’s right, he’s an unstoppable force. If the Eagles don’t get a Carter deal done before the season starts, negotiations will stop until after next season. So the two sides have about 2 ½ months to get this figured out. The Eagles would love to get Carter locked up, and Carter would love to put close to $100 million in his pocket. You’d think that along with the Simmons deal would be enough to get this thing done.
MOST GAMES WITHOUT A PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: If you’re like me, you just randomly wonder stuff. And the other day I just randomly started wondering what player played the most games in Eagles history without ever playing in the postseason. The answer is Nate Ramsey, who was with the Eagles during a really lean stretch – the early 1960s through the early 1970s. Ramsey played 134 games as an Eagle from 1963 through 1973, the 28th-most games in franchise history. The Eagles were 50-96-8 during that span with just one winning season – 9-5 in 1966. They actually didn’t reach the postseason for 17 consecutive years, from 1961 through 1977 with just the one winning season. Next on the list of most games in Eagles history without a playoff appearance: Linebacker Don Hultz (119 games from 1964 through 1973), Tom Woodeshick (111 games from 1963 through 1971), Bill Bradley (110 from 1969 through 1976), Gary Pettigrew (106 from 1966 through 1974), Dave Lloyd (105 from 1963 through 1970), Al Nelson (105 from 1965 through 1973), Ben Hawkins (104 from 1966 through 1973) and Jim Skaggs (100 from 1963 through 1972). Every one of those players was on the 1970 and 1971 teams.
IS HE A TACKLE OR A GUARD? I like seeing the Eagles work Myles Hinton into the mix at guard. Hinton, the Eagles’ 6th-round pick last year, stands 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, and he played tackle in college at Stanford and Michigan. But the Eagles have veteran Fred Johnson and rookie 3rd-round pick Markel Bell as backup tackles, and they need guard depth more than tackle depth right now. They have Drew Kendall, last year’s 5th-round pick, but he’s really a center, and there’s this year’s rookie 6th-round pick, Micah Morris, who was a solid college player. But especially with Landon Dickerson’s injury concerns, upgrading guard depth makes a lot of sense, and although it was surprising at first seeing Hinton at guard, the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. He’s a huge dude, and the Eagles certainly aren’t averse to moving massive tackles with no guard experience inside. We saw it with Mekhi Becton two years ago. So another guy to keep an eye on in training camp. Hinton doesn’t have a roster spot secured, but the more you can do the better your chances, and Hinton has a chance.
YEAR AFTER YEAR: The Eagles, Bills and Steelers are the only teams that have had a winning record in each of the last five years. The Eagles are the only one of those teams that won’t have a new head coach in 2026.
A STEAL IN THE SECOND ROUND: It’s easy to forget what a tremendous draft pick DeSean Jackson was in the middle of the second round in 2008. Jackson’s 11,263 career receiving yards are 7th-most in NFL history by a 2nd-round pick and only two of the six ahead of him were drafted as late as 49th overall (Anquan Boldin and Davante Adams). Jackson’s 66 career touchdowns are 11th-most by a 2nd-round pick, and his 17.6 career yards per catch is 2nd-highest by a 2nd-round pick (minimum 500 catches) behind only Hall of Famer Lance Alworth. Jackson and Hall of Famer and former Eagle James Lofton are the only players in NFL history with at least 11,000 receiving yards and a 17.0 average. And get this: Jackson was the seventh WR taken in the 2008 draft, but he made more Pro Bowls in his career (three) than the six ahead of him combined (one).
STREAKING INTO 2026: DeVonta Smith has caught at least one pass in 62 straight games, the 8th-longest current streak in the NFL and 9th-longest in Eagles history. Smith can move up pretty far on the Eagles streak list this year if he continues catching passes. Within reach this year are Brian Westbrook (64 straight over 2003 through 2008), Mike Quick (65 from 1984 through 1990), Fred Barnett (71 from 1990 through 1995) and DeSean Jackson (75 from 2008 through 2019). The longest streaks in Eagles history belong to Harold Carmichael (127 from 1972 through 1980), Zach Ertz (95 straight from 2014 through 2021), Keith Byars (87 from 1987 through 1992) and Tommy McDonald (80 from 1957 through 1963). The last time Smith played and didn’t catch a pass was opening day 2022, when he was held without a reception in the 38-35 win over the Lions at Ford Field.
HOW DID THEY LOSE THAT GAME? What were the Eagles’ odds of losing to the 49ers when they took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter of their wild-card game at the Linc as six-point favorites? Going into that game, teams that were favored by at least six points and led by at least six points going into the fourth quarter were 139-1 in the postseason in NFL history, with the only loss coming in 2018, when the Chiefs – as 8 ½-point favorites – led the Titans 21-10 through three quarters in their wild-card game at Arrowhead Stadium before losing to 22-21, Marcus Mariota over Alex Smith. You have to like those odds. Especially considering how banged-up the 49ers were. So 99.3 percent of the time the team with the touchdown lead wins that game. That was such a terrible loss, one of the Eagles’ worst playoff losses ever. Because that game was so right there for them to win.
JALEN HURTS STAT OF THE WEEK: Jalen Hurts is one of only 11 quarterbacks to reach two Super Bowls in his 20s. The others are Hall of Famers John Elway, Troy Aikman, Bob Griese, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Brett Favre, future Hall of Famers Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady and possible Hall of Famers Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson.
TYLER STEEN IS ACTUALLY GOOD: I think it’s natural for people to think of Tyler Steen as the weak link on the Eagles’ offensive line because he’s the only starter who hasn’t been a Pro Bowler or all-pro. But Steen was very good last year, and his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 73.4 was 14th-highest of 67 guards who played at least 500 snaps last year. His 73.4 run blocking grade was 11th-highest, and his 75.4 pass blocking grade was 10th-highest. He was one of only four guards who graded out at 73 or higher both run and pass blocking, along with eight-time Pro Bowler Quenton Nelson of the Colts, Damien Lewis of the Panthers and the Titans’ Peter Skoronski. Steen is solid.
KEEP AN EYE ON NOV. 26: You can make a case that the Eagles’ most important game every year is the Cowboys on the road. They don’t win very often in North Texas, but when they do their odds of winning the NFC East are pretty good. In fact the last two times the Eagles won at AT&T Stadium were 2017 and 2024, and they went on to win the Super Bowl both years. Eight of the last 12 times they won in Dallas they won the NFC East. But Nick Sirianni is 1-4 in Dallas, the same record Doug Pederson had. This year’s Eagles road game in Dallas is Nov. 26, a Thursday night in Week 12.
Foxborough, MA - June 9: New England Patriots cornerbacks Marcus Jones and Carlton Davis III walk onto the field for practice on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
While Gillette Stadium has remained busy the past few weeks, the New England Patriots are officially off on their summer break.
Before we do the same — there are only so many Patriots talking points available between now and training camp — let’s clean out the notebook from the last weeks of the spring. Welcome to the latest edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Showstoppers
The Patriots defense played its best football of the season down the stretch last year.
For cornerback Carlton Davis, that group of “showstoppers” now has a chance to build on that momentum entering 2026.
“I feel like we’re coming right in where we left off, playing at a high level [with] good chemistry,” he said. “It’s just so good to have all the guys back. When you have everybody here, you just can feel the momentum that we had for last year. And even the new additions are coming in with the same mentality. So yeah, it’s been fun.”
That late-season success was especially evident in the secondary. New England leaned into the unit during the playoffs, increasing its man-coverage rate, and the group rewarded that trust.
On the way to the Super Bowl, the Patriots defense allowed just 2.7 yards per play while in man coverage — more than a full yard better than the league-leading Chargers defense during the regular season (4.0). Davis, Christian Gonzalez, and Marcus Jones led that charge, as the trio allowed a passer rating of just 48.2 and a 39.3 percent completion rate in man coverage.
An increase in ball production followed as well, leaving Davis confident the Patriots can field one of the NFL’s premier secondaries this season.
“Coach always says stay away from predictions and stuff,” Davis said. “But I just want to say our confidence is high. It’s really high. I want us to be the strength of the defense.”
While New England will again rely heavily on its top cornerback trio, the team added veteran safety Kevin Byard behind them in free agency.
Byard joins second-year pro Craig Woodson on the backend, giving the Patriots a safety tandem that has only increased the confidence level throughout the secondary.
“He brings what every great safety would bring to a defense: communication, knowledge, experience, ball skills. You can name it, he’s done it,” Davis said. “He’s just given us all a little more confidence, knowing he’s back there, and he’s orchestrating the show.”
Rookie work
While the veterans are off on break, the Patriots rookie class stayed behind in Foxboro this past week. As usual, work continued in meetings while the group got a chance to continue to connect off the field as they took a trip to Fenway Park on Thursday before taking part in the Juneteenth Community Football Clinic at Newton North on Friday.
“This rookie class is awesome. All the people are super close,” first round pick Caleb Lomu said. “This week of just rookies, all the vets are already out and all that. It’s been awesome being able to work out, do what we need to do, and then be able to do things like this.”
Caleb Lomu, at Newton North for the Juneteenth Community Football Clinic, speaks about spending the last week with the awesome rookie class … including taking a trip to Fenway on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/nnb2tDsT9k
During the event on Friday, second-round pick Gabe Jacas was the lone rookie not in attendance.
Will and Jared
The Patriots coaching staff has seen growth in their second-year wide receivers this offseason. That also rings true for their second-year offensive lineman, Will Campbell and Jared Wilson.
“I think just maturity. I think he’s studying the game. He’s trying different things. Spring is the time to try things,” Mike Vrabel said of Campbell. “He’s working on different sets, working on different techniques. I think at the line of scrimmage, it’s so much not the first technique, but it’s the secondary response. Both guys aren’t going to have their hands inside. The D-lineman isn’t going to have their hands inside and the offensive lineman. So, somebody’s going to have to do something to change that, to get back in the correct position.
“I think he’s worked hard, conditioning, pushing himself and pushing that group. I think it’s been really good to see him and Jared [Wilson] push that group. So, I’m excited about that.”
TE interest
Julian Hill’s season-ending injury appears to have put the Patriots back in the tight end market, as Mike Vrabel acknowledged the position is “probably somewhere where we would have to address.”
Among the free-agent options is former Patriot Pharaoh Brown, whose skill set makes sense as an in-line tight end with blocking ability. Brown appears to be on board with the idea as well, responding this past week to a comment about the Patriots potentially signing the 32-year-old.
“I’d prefer that signing as well,” Brown replied with the eyeballs emoji. “I didn’t know I was that young. I’m still a spring chicken lol.”
Potential X-factor
With plenty of question marks along the edge this offseason, the Patriots signed Xavier Holmes after he participated in rookie minicamp as a tryout player. Positional coach Mike Smith was originally surprised by the rookie.
“He’s one that shocked me,” Smith said. “You know, those guys that just get that tryout, it’s not a priority free agent. I mean, that’s a tough deal to do and to make it. But what I saw from him, a bigger guy that can move. He’s got some athletic ability, more than people think. Running his tail off to the ball. He’s in there asking questions, asking good questions.
“I get a feeling in my stomach sometimes. Not always right. Nobody’s [always] right. But there’s something about him that I like, and there’s something about him that he seems tough.”
Holmes, who Smith acknowledged has plenty of work to do when the pads come on, began his collegiate career in Maine where he earned Second Team All-CAA honors. He eventually transferred to James Madison and posted six sacks.
“X was a productive college player,” Vrabel said. “There’s a lot of reasons guys fall through the draft or maybe don’t sign as a free agent. He came here. You’re just looking for little things. Are they coachable? They make a mistake, and can they correct it? You look at effort, you look at skill set. Sometimes when they’re doing the drills, X was able to do that. Most of the guys, you have to do something to kind of stand out, and he did that.”
Setting up the week ahead
The Patriots’ offseason workout program was originally scheduled to end this week, but Mike Vrabel decided to cut it short by scrapping three OTA practices and moving mandatory minicamp up a week. That means summer break has already begun.
At Pats Pulpit, meanwhile, we will tone things down a bit, too. That said, we will still provide you with daily coverage, including additional offseason wrap-up coverage, training camp previews, and our roster scouting report series. So, make sure to stay tuned.
