Schultz has never seemed like a perfect solution for the Texans since joining the team in 2023, but they keep coming up with little in the way of alternatives. He’ll likely remain in the low-end TE1/high-end TE2 pool as he enters his age-30 season. It’s hard to say confidently based on early reporting what the long-term cap impact of this is, but the 2027 extension will clash with a void year so perhaps the Texans already felt committed to him for that season in some way.

He was released with a non-football injury designation. All the Texans did in the last calendar year when asked about whether Mixon would play in 2025 or 2026 is answer questions with the preface of “we’re not trying to be evasive, but...” So, we’re not trying to be evasive, but we genuinely are not sure if Mixon will play again. He turns 30 in July and is now a year removed from what was a pretty stellar 2024 campaign with the Texans. He surely has the talent to resurface somewhere, but is he healthy? And if not, will he ever be?

To be clear, the Raiders have not confirmed that they will be taking Mendoza No. 1 overall in next month’s draft. That said, Russini notes that “if the Raiders continue to lean toward” selecting him, their preference is to not start Mendoza immediately. It’s an interesting point to consider, especially with the recent release of Geno Smith, that now puts the Raiders firmly in the market for a veteran QB when free agency officially kicks off next month. Mendoza has 35 college starts under his belt and is fresh off leading Indiana to a national championship and a 16-0 season. It’s not uncommon to hear teams say they don’t want to hand a job a rookie QB, even one that is expected to go No. 1 overall, so we wouldn’t read too much into this until teams start reporting to mini-camp and later training camp.

It was reported on Thursday that the Cowboys “thought they were close” to landing Crosby before other teams came out of the woodwork. That said, the Cowboys, who are curiously interested in a star pass rusher, have not been completely deterred from their efforts to land Crosby. Rumors of multiple first-round picks being offered for Crosby suggest the Raiders could get close to what they hoped for when it was reported they wanted a “Parsons-like trade package” in exchange for his services. Russini also reports the Ravens are “a team to watch” as trade negotiations continue to unfold, while adding the belief is that the Raiders “are willing to work on a deal” to trade the five-time Pro Bowler.

The two sides did the same thing last March via a $35.6 million deal. Hunter’s new one-year extension includes a $30.7 million signing bonus. Per PFF, Hunter totaled 83 quarterback pressures and 16 sacks last season. Both figures rank in the top five in the NFL.

Schefter also said the Bears currently have “no ties” to Trey Hendrickson, and he believes they could pursue C Tyler Biadasz or C Lloyd Cushenberry to handle other needs. The Bears have been linked to Crosby in other reports, so this is interesting. Earlier today, Trey Wingo reported that the Cowboys are expected to pursue Hendrickson after other teams entered trade talks with the Raiders last night by reportedly putting two first-round picks on the table.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed the picks involved. Given that many believed Chicago would cut Moore this offseason, landing a second-round pick is a massive win for the Bears. With the additions of Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and Luther Burden, Moore had been slowly phased out of the Chicago passing game over the past two years. He caught just 50 passes for 682 yards during the regular season. Both marks were career-lows for the eight-year veteran. Moore’s effort and attitude were also pain points for the Bears, which new head coach Ben Johnson hinted at last offseason. Despite his declining numbers, Moore likely still has something left in the tank. The hope for Buffalo is that a change of scenery will revive Moore after a pair of down years. He is now the favorite to lead Buffalo in targets this year, with Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid both working as secondary options.

Ian Rapoport was first on the news, which will be made official before the new league year next week. Atlanta saves $7.4 million in cap space with his release. Mooney looked like a steal one year into his three-year, $39 million contract. He went for 992 yards and five scores in 2024. The wheels then fell off in 2025 and he managed just 443 yards and one score on 32 grabs. Mooney dealt with several injuries, but his drops and overall inconsistent play were too much for Atlanta to keep him around this year. He should still have several suitors in free agency.

Rumors have been swirling around the Eagles trading A.J. Brown, but the team has blockbuster criteria for a potential deal. NFL Network and Rapoport are reporting the Eagles would like a first-round pick and more in the deal and there are only a few teams that can offer that return which Brown would like to be traded to. Brown and the Eagles have had their fair share of tension of the 28-year-old’s target numbers, landing him in these trade rumors. A team like the Patriots would certainly have the cap space and the need for a WR1, but whether they can pay the draft capital required to get him will be the question. Brown is the top receiver seemingly available to be acquired this offseason, though the Eagles retaining him is also a likely scenario.

Murray remains, at least theoretically, a two-sport question mark. Forst reiterated Wednesday that while Murray is firmly established as an elite NFL quarterback, the organization would be open to a return to baseball should he ever choose to revisit that path. The 28-year-old former ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft is poised to hit free agency when the NFL league year opens next week following seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, and the Athletics still hold his baseball rights. The expectation is that Murray continues his football career — logical trajectory and financial considerations both point that direction. He wouldn’t be the first elite athlete to pivot mid-career — and history suggests the idea feels impossible right up until it happens. It wouldn’t be unprecedented — just completely unexpected.