NFL Football 24 Hours

Last updated: April 2, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

League Business & Personnel Moves

The NFL offseason activity continued with several veteran departures and a significant quarterback signing, while league business also focused on administrative shifts. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement after a decorated career that included two All-Pro selections and a 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award, shortly before linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. also confirmed his exit with an emotional "Thank you football" message. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders secured Kirk Cousins via a contract agreement, according to his agent, positioning the veteran to potentially mentor the team's next signal-caller. Furthermore, safety Kyle Dugger will join the Bengals on a one-year deal, keeping him within the AFC North division for the 2026 campaign.

Draft Projections & Scouting Insights

As teams assess the upcoming talent pool, multiple analysts offered their latest projections for the first three rounds of the draft, while also identifying potential concerns for the top prospects. A consensus group of four experts—Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates—rotated through the top 100 selections to map out where top prospects might land. Despite the high draft capital involved, evaluators noted that the top quarterback prospects all possess discernible flaws that could impede their immediate transition to the professional game. These evaluations come as the league conducted its annual meetings in Phoenix, where discussions also touched upon the futures of the Vikings' next General Manager search and the potential draft positioning of prospects like Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.

League Commercial & Grassroots Initiatives

Beyond team transactions, the league finalized a major commercial partnership and saw grassroots efforts gain traction in a key region. Fanatics has officially assumed exclusive rights to the NFL's trading card license through a comprehensive 20-year agreement consolidating control over both league and players' union assets. Separately, the Kansas City Chiefs organization launched a petition to advocate for sanctioning girls' high school flag football across the state, ahead of a critical vote scheduled for April 23 by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. In branding news, the Atlanta Falcons unveiled their new uniforms for the 2026 season, which prominently reintroduce the franchise's primary red color as the base design element.