NFL Player News

It became a fait accompli that this would happen after no team wanted to pick up Kyler Murray’s guarantees in 2027. The Cardinals will eat $54 million in dead cap space assuming Murray is not designated a post-June 1 release. The veteran quickly becomes the most competent quarterback on the market, and the fact that he can play with salary offsets ala Russell Wilson after his Broncos release means he may be available for the minimum. The Vikings and Falcons are the most plausible fits if Murray wants to rehabilitate his value on a deal like that. The former No. 1 overall pick ends his career in the desert with a 38-48-1 record, 20,460 passing yards, and 121 touchdowns against 60 interceptions.

This timeline should allow Skattebo to participate in organized team activities, which typically occur in late May. The burly second-year back resumed running on Wednesday, and Skattebo put his speed at about “75.0 percent.” He has not yet resumed “exploding” forward, and is instead focused on “the jog and the striding.” Good for him. Skattebo currently sits atop the Giants’ depth chart and could warrant RB2 treatment if the Giants abstain from adding meaningful backfield competition for him in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reports initially indicated the team could add a veteran in free agency, but nothing came to fruition.

The 49ers drafted Burford as a fourth-round pick back in 2022. This is his first time hitting the free agent market. Burford injured his knee in Week 2 against the Saints and was placed on injured reserve. He returned in Week 9 and manned the left guard spot from there on out. Burford performance can be somewhat volatile. He generally grades out as a replacement-level player and most recently earned a 62.6 PFF run-blocking grade in the 2025 regular season. The Chargers’ offensive line was hit hard by injuries last season. Adding Burford could improve its depth.

This is just a housekeeping item. We aren’t breaking any news here. It’s been apparent since the new league year began that the 49ers are going to try to get something for their former star, rather than simply releasing him. There is no guaranteed money left in the contract, so the team can hold him for now and try to trade him away for draft picks, perhaps during the 2026 NFL Draft, or any other desired compensation. If a draft-day trade fails to materialize, things might get tricky for the 49ers’ front office once June rolls around, at which point the team might need to make a decision about releasing him as a post-June 1 cut. Schefter adds that the Commanders “make a lot of sense” as a destination. Aiyuk remains “very close” with QB Jayden Daniels. The two played together in college at Arizona State.

Shipley refers to Jaguars starting TE Brenton Strange as “maybe the most underrated tight end in the entire NFL” and says the team knows “just how important he is to everything they do.” Sounds like Strange’s role is safe. Shipley believes TE Quintin Morris could have true TE2 potential, but Morris caught just 6-of-7 targets for 55 yards and one touchdown after signing with the Jaguars in free agency last year. His position on the depth chart sounds less secure. Strange can be viewed as a low-end TE1 candidate at this time.

The two sides have been working hard to make this happen, having agreed to postpone the void date on Goedert’s expiring contract twice in the last week. Re-signing Goedert keeps him on board through the 2026 season and allows the Eagles to spread out the $20.5 million cap hit they were set to absorb. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo previously suggested that the Eagles can’t pay Goedert if they keep A.J. Brown, and they can’t take both salary cap hits. One domino has fallen. Only time will tell if Garafolo was correct. Stay tuned.

The front office could invest heavily in the defensive line, which currently includes three projected starters who have just one year remaining on their contracts. Former No. 1 overall pick, EDGE Travon Walker, is among them and is coming off a four-sack season, matching his 2022 rookie season total. He recorded 10 in 2024 and 11 in 2023. The team could draft an EDGE to compete with Walker this summer, while general manager James Gladstone mulls an extension offer. The Jaguars’ projected starting DTs are Arik Armstead, 32, and DaVon Hamilton, 29. Both players are scheduled to enter free agency next offseason. Given their age, it is reasonable to assume the Jaguars draft at least one interior defender in April. The team is returning every member of their offensive line this year. Shipley believes the Jaguars will use “at least one pick on a developmental offensive lineman.”

Financial investments at the wide receiver position could have been the Rams’ primary motivating factor, though having three high-end wide receivers can hardly be viewed as a negative, albeit a pricey one. Nacua is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will presumably sign “a significant second contract” soon. Adams is due $24 million this season and Brown is set to make $29 million. Florio believes today might have been the Rams’ self-imposed deadline for trading Adams away because his $6 million roster bonus just became fully guaranteed. It appears as though Adams will remain a Ram for 2026, but anything is possible. Stay tuned.

Per KPRC'2 Aaron Wilson, Montgomery’s upgraded contract also includes a $6.5 million signing bonus along with a fully guaranteed $1.5 million base salary for 2026, while his 2027 numbers will include a base salary of $7.5 million with $2 million of that guaranteed. Montgomery was previously owed non-guaranteed money for each of the next two seasons. The soon-to-be 29-year-old running back was acquired from the Lions in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick and figures to be the RB1 of the Texans’ backfield in 2026.

Ford had a successful run with the Browns from 2022 to 2025, with his best years coming in 2023 and 2024 when he rushed for a combined 308-1,378-7 while adding another 81-544-5 through the air. He was phased out of the offense in 2025 after the Browns added rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, but Ford could have a chance at seeing a more significant role in Washington. We’ll have more clarity on what Ford’s role could look like after the draft, where the Commanders could still opt to take an RB on Day 1 or Day 2, but he’ll make for an interesting late-round dart throw if he’s only competing for reps with Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz was the first to report the deal. Duvernay is set to join his fourth team in four seasons. The former third-round has been used almost exclusively as a return specialist after seeing some work on offense during his tenure with the Ravens. Duvernay was a two-time Pro Bowler and was also named a First-team All-Pro in 2021 for his skills as a return man, and totaled 1,069 kick return yards while averaging 26.7 yards per return last season in Chicago. It’s unlikely he sees an expanded role next season in Arizona.