NFL Player News

The depths of the McCarthy struggles last year were obvious, but the fact that the Vikings didn’t even trust him to do some fairly remedial work adds another layer to just how fractured this offense was. It’s almost impossible to imagine McCarthy winning a starting job against whoever the Vikings bring in this offseason. In fact, with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fired, it’s probably not far-fetched to suggest that McCarthy could be available in a trade if another team still believes in him. If he stays in Minnesota, McCarthy is an easy fantasy football fade in 2026.

Settle was enjoying a great season for the Texans in 2025 before suffering a Lisfranc injury in December. This is a strong commitment in light of that fact, and Settle may be rehabbing for most of the offseason. Settle had a career-high 78.0 PFF pass rush grade for the Texans in 2025 and returns to the team that drafted him in 2018.

Uncle Rico lands on his feet in Arizona with a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job with incumbent Jacoby Brissett during camp and preseason. The $8.25 million contract is far from “starter money,” but is still more than the average annual value of Brissett, making it likely the franchise is headed for a positional battle this offseason in the wake of Kyler Murray’s departure. At bare minimum, Minshew has proven to be a capable backup at the NFL level, having notched 47 starts across 63 appearances during his seven-year NFL career.

The deal includes $32 million in guaranteed money and helps the franchise fill the gaping void left in the wake of the Maxx Crosby trade to Baltimore. The five-year veteran played the entirety of his career to this point in Indianapolis, starting 74 games while registering 209 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 50 quarterback hits. The Raiders remain busy in free agency through the first five hours.

On the same day he learned he would be released by the Dolphins, Tagovailoa now lands in Atlanta on a one-year deal for a minimum salary. The former No. 5 overall pick will be in a prove-it year with the Falcons and head coach Kevin Stefanski, who inherited a tough situation at quarterback with Michael Penix (knee) unlikely to be ready for the start of the season and Kirk Cousins expected to be release. Assuming he’s the Falcons’ starter for Week 1, Tagovailoa will likely get every chance he can to prove he’s the guy for the job in the long haul, but we wouldn’t expect him to start all 17 games even if healthy. Pressure will mount as Penix nears a return and unless Tua is playing well above expectations, Stefanski will likely pivot back to Penix for a look at some point.

Garcia was signed from the Giants’ practice squad in November last season and now appears to be in line to play for a new contract with the Falcons after the team exercised their tender on the six-year veteran. Having started only three games across 17 appearances at the professional level, Garcia likely requires multiple injuries ahead of him to make a significant impact in 2026.

The Lions got a third-round pick for Aaron Glenn’s hiring, but traded it to the Jaguars. The other three compensatory third-round picks were awarded for losing Milton Williams (PHI), Sam Darnold (MIN), and Dan Moore (PIT) in free agency last offseason. The 49ers added three additional fourth-round picks, the Eagles were also awarded a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth-rounder. Baltimore added two fifth-rounders and Las Vegas added fourth- and fifth-rounders. The entire list can be viewed in the Tweet sourced below.

The deal is worth as much as $36 million, though the full details have yet to be announced. Thompson has been with the Cardinals since they drafted him in 2019. He has appeared in and started 62 games over the past four seasons. Thompson broke up six passes, notched one sack, and forced a fumble in 2025. He will be penciled in for a starting role on a Dallas offense that desperately needs to improve in 20206.

The four-year veteran made 25 starts across 46 appearances for the Vikings and Patriots and now heads to San Francisco on a two-year deal. It is unclear whether the signing is preemptive in nature considering the ongoing contract negotiations between the team and Trent Williams, but Lowe should be viewed as a backup-level talent on the exterior offensive line. Lowe gets $5.75 million in guaranteed money.

Mafe finds a new home following the Super Bowl win in 2025, landing with the Bengals on a three-year contract. Mafe ranked just fourth on the Seahawks in snaps at the linebacker position in 2025, marking the second straight season of declining playing time, but brings a veteran presence to a team in clear need of such services. It remains unclear whether Mafe will return to a full-time player entering his age-28 season, but the monetary value of the contract seems to indicate those chances are likely. Cincinnati gain a veteran pass rusher that ranked eighth in pass rush win rate in 2025, per ESPN.

$68 million of this is guaranteed per Adam Schefter. Oweh did indeed hit the $25 million mark that Daniel Popper believed could lead to the Chargers letting him walk. The 27-year-old EDGE had 7.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers last year and will now try to revitalize Washington’s lagging pass rush. He’s been more of a complementary rusher so far — this is a contract that says the Commanders want him to be the main man.