NFL Football 3d Briefing
×Draft Prospects & Combine News
Francis Mauigoa espn.com, the top offensive line prospect in the NFL draft, said he's open to a position change. He credited daily battles with Miami teammates Reuben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor for making him better. Ty Simpson espn.com, former Alabama quarterback, said Friday at the NFL's scouting combine that he's prepared to show NFL talent evaluators that he is a "franchise quarterback." Diego Pavia espn.com, the polarizing quarterback, wasn't fazed by criticism at Vanderbilt and doesn't appear that's going to change now that he's on the NFL's doorstep. Jeremiyah Love espn.com, No. 2 on ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board, said he will not be one of the combine players who sits out the 40-yard dash or any combine drills Saturday. Jermod Mc Coy espn.com, former Vols CB, says he is fully healed from a right ACL injury and expects to have "no limits" during his upcoming pro day at Tennessee. Caleb Downs espn.com, Ohio State safety, said being the "best defender" should carry more weight than positional value when selecting players in the NFL draft.
Team Moves & Free Agency
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones espn.com acknowledged Friday that he has let the fans down with Dallas' championship drought and has promised change -- starting with the team's approach to free agency. The NFL salary cap espn.com has topped $300 million for the first time in league history, landing at $301.2 million for 2026. The Broncos espn.com enter the 2026 offseason with a clean slate after being saddled with massive dead money cap hits over the past two years. The Titans espn.com released starting center Lloyd Cushenberry III and starting safety Xavier Woods on Wednesday, with Cushenberry's release coming with a failed physical designation. The Colts espn.com have given quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. permission to seek a trade, his agent told ESPN.
League & Union Updates
The NFLPA espn.com has narrowed its search for a permanent executive director, sources told ESPN, with current interim David White and former player president JC Tretter among the finalists. Sean Payton and Mike Vrabel espn.com, both members of the NFL's competition committee, expressed concern this week over replay errors in 1 p.m. games last season. The Falcons espn.com dismissed La Troy Lewis from his role as assistant defensive line coach Friday after sexual allegations surfaced against him, the team announced. The Packers espn.com hired Cam Achord, a Super Bowl-winning special teams coordinator, for the same role with Green Bay.
Player Rankings & Analysis
ESPN's analysis espn.com ranks every quarterback picked in Round 1 from 2021 to 2025 based on predraft evaluations -- and then slots in the expected No. 1 pick for 2026. ESPN's experts espn.com highlighted top prospects such as David Bailey and Ohio State's linebacker duo who starred at the combine. Liz Loza espn.com looks at rookies who could make a splash in Indianapolis and climb up boards throughout the draft process. ESPN's grades espn.com hand out report cards on big offseason moves, starting with the Jermaine Johnson-T'Vondre Sweat trade. ESPN's analysis espn.com found free agent fits for all 32 NFL teams this offseason, suggesting Mike Evans to the Bills and Malik Willis to the Jets.
Miscellaneous NFL News
Shedeur Sanders espn.com gave Todd Monken a 60th birthday present: a porcelain horse head. The Cleveland Browns quarterback also got a horse head of his own, for a very simple reason. ESPN's analysis espn.com questions the NFL's fact-finding mission on Giants owner Tisch, asking why execs won't come out and say why there's nothing to see. ESPN's analysis espn.com explores whether the Seahawks will re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who could become only the fourth player to win Super Bowl MVP and begin the next season on another team.