NFL

“Deshaun looks great by the way, he’s done a great job, he looks healthy, he’s in a great head space,” Johnson said during a Wednesday radio interview, acknowledging an “ongoing competition” between Watson and other Cleveland QBs, including, presumably, Shedeur Sanders. “If [Watson] is our starting quarterback, I know there are people who won’t be supportive. But they should be supportive as much as they can.” Watson, 30, is coming off who torn Achilles tendons and is slated to make $34.9 million in 2026. He’s played in 19 regular season games since 2021, due in part to legal troubles related to alleged sexual misconduct during this time with the Texans. The Watson vs. Sanders competition will be closely watched in the coming months.

Simmons, 31, played eight seasons for the Broncos as one of the league’s best safeties before ending his career with one season in Atlanta in 2024. He did not play in 2025. Simmons, who had 32 interceptions over his nine years in the NFL, was a four-time second-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.

Nix had a schedule re-check of his ankle with Dr. Norman Waldrop last week, during which Rapoport reports he had a clean-up procedure. The 26-year-old initially broke is ankle in the Broncos’ divisional round victory and has been progressing as schedule in his recovery. The Broncos are expected to be conservative with Nix’s participation in the team’s offseason program but Rapoport adds he is “firmly on track to be ready for the start of training camp.”

The Titans are in for more shakeup in their front office as Brinker steps down. The 46-year-old spent 13 years in the Packers’ organization before joining the Titans as assistant general manager in 2023, followed by two seasons as the team’s president of football operations. Tennessee had already re-structured the front office, with general manager Mike Borgonzi reporting directly to ownership while new head coach Robert Saleh would report to Borgonzi. Brinker said he has a “renewed conviction” to return to personnel management and he will “pursue other opportunities” as the Titans undergo another change in leadership.

Gill was signed by the Falcons to a reserve/future deal in January. He is a former seventh-round pick of the Bears and spent two years in Chicago, followed by a half-season punting for the Buccaneers. Gill did not punt at all in 2025 and now hits free agency again as the Falcons move forward with Jake Bailey as the punter on their roster.

The fifth-year option and franchise tag grouping of positions strikes again. Campbell would have received $21.9 million if Detroit picked up the option due to the amount of pure EDGE players that are factored into the equation — it’s essentially the same reason why the Packers declined Quay Walker’s fifth-year option last year and lost him in free agency. The Lions reportedly were trying to strike a long-term extension with Campbell — this doesn’t seem like a true signal on that so much as the natural outcome of not wanting to head into negotiations with that figure over Brad Holmes’ head.

Gibbs will be under contract for $14.23 million in 2027 per OverTheCap’s projections. Gibbs and the Lions will undoubtedly continue to discuss a long-term extension over the summer and perhaps in to training camp, with Gibbs and Bijan Robinson expected to reset the market at the running back position. Gibbs and Robinson, coincidentally, are the two most obvious 1.1 candidates in most fantasy football leagues.

“Neither side is committed to it, but both I believe are expected to make it happen ... It’s not going to be hard to get done. The Eagles are open to moving him, the Patriots want him, and I believe in the end it will involve a future first-round draft pick. My guess is 2028,” Schefter told the man who only wears tank tops. It makes sense that the 2027 first-round pick would be off limits as it’s expected to be a much better and deeper draft class. The Athletic’s Chad Graff filed a post-draft 53-man roster projection in which Kayshon Boutte is a “substitution for ... Brown” and believes Boutte is the “most likely receiver to head to Philadelphia in a trade.” We still have another month before this can finally just happen.

Gonzalez will get a one-year, $18.1 million deal for 2027. The Patriots have reportedly been in extension talks with him at various points this offseason, so while nothing has gotten done yet, it’s certainly likely to be a point of discussion ahead of the season. New England’s No. 1 corner has developed into one of the best in the NFL in his first three seasons with the club.

Johnston will make a fully-guaranteed $18 million in 2027. It’s probably a bit rich given his production so far, but not a drastic overpay. GM Joe Hortiz shot down trade rumors about Johnston ahead of the draft and this transaction clearly signals some confidence in him developing further under new OC Mike McDaniel. With very little new in the wideout room, Johnston could be on the WR3/WR4 radar in fantasy in 2026.