play0:41Why Orlovsky is on board with Vikings signing Aaron RodgersDan Orlovsky explains why he believes the Vikings should look to add Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
play1:41Dolphins GM: ‘Everything is on the table’ with TuaDolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan explains how the team is evaluating Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami.
play1:21The teams Ben Solak expects to be in on Malik WillisBen Solak joins Rich Eisen to break down the interest he expects for free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
play0:40What’s the timeline for Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona?Josh Weinfuss gives an update on what lies ahead for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
play1:19Jesse Minter: I want to build a system that allows Lamar Jackson to thriveNew Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson.
play1:23Peter Schrager: It’s cost-prohibitive for Eagles to trade A.J. Brown before June 1Peter Schrager breaks down the challenges the Eagles would face in trading A.J. Brown right now.
play2:19Is it time for Maxx Crosby and Raiders to part ways?Dan Graziano, Bart Scott and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the best course of action for Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason.
play1:59How Joe Brady plans to make the Bills’ offense even betterBills coach Joe Brady and GM Brandon Beane tell Pat McAfee their plans for Buffalo’s offense and defense this season.
Jeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.Follow on X and Dan GrazianoCloseDan Grazianosenior NFL national reporterDan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsMar 1, 2026, 06:30 AM ET
Why Orlovsky is on board with Vikings signing Aaron RodgersDan Orlovsky explains why he believes the Vikings should look to add Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
Dolphins GM: ‘Everything is on the table’ with TuaDolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan explains how the team is evaluating Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami.
The teams Ben Solak expects to be in on Malik WillisBen Solak joins Rich Eisen to break down the interest he expects for free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
Ben Solak joins Rich Eisen to break down the interest he expects for free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
What’s the timeline for Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona?Josh Weinfuss gives an update on what lies ahead for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Jesse Minter: I want to build a system that allows Lamar Jackson to thriveNew Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson.
New Ravens coach Jesse Minter joins Rich Eisen and breaks down his vision for the team’s offense with Lamar Jackson.
Peter Schrager: It’s cost-prohibitive for Eagles to trade A.J. Brown before June 1Peter Schrager breaks down the challenges the Eagles would face in trading A.J. Brown right now.
Is it time for Maxx Crosby and Raiders to part ways?Dan Graziano, Bart Scott and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the best course of action for Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason.
Dan Graziano, Bart Scott and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the best course of action for Maxx Crosby and the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason.
How Joe Brady plans to make the Bills’ offense even betterBills coach Joe Brady and GM Brandon Beane tell Pat McAfee their plans for Buffalo’s offense and defense this season.
Bills coach Joe Brady and GM Brandon Beane tell Pat McAfee their plans for Buffalo’s offense and defense this season.
It has been a busy week in Indianapolis at the NFL combine. The top 2026 draft prospects worked out and ran their 40-yard dashes. There was a rare one-for-one trade, and a few more players were granted permission to seek deals. There were also the first few franchise tags ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and buzz started ramping up for free agency, which begins with the legal negotiation window March 9.
What could teams such as Arizona, Miami, Minnesota and Indianapolis do at quarterback? What’s the latest on possible A.J. Brown or Maxx Crosby trades? What might a few teams that surprisingly came up short of the playoffs last season do this offseason to get back on top? And who are the most interesting sleeper free agents to watch for big money? Here’s everything we heard in Indy.
Jump to the latest on: Vikings QB moves | Geno Smith Dolphins QB moves | Malik Willis Cardinals QB moves | Colts free agents Kirk Cousins | Cowboys defense Ravens moves | A.J. Brown | Maxx Crosby RBs | WRs | Sleeper free agents | More
Fowler: I’ve also heard that the Vikings are considering Murray and Smith as they outline their veteran quarterback plan. Tua Tagovailoa and Cousins are also on their radar. Some I’ve talked to are breaking those four into two tiers, with Murray and Smith in the first group.
None of those quarterbacks are free agents, but Cousins will be soon, and the others are available via either a trade or a release. The expectation leaguewide is that a combination of Murray, Smith and Tagovailoa — and possibly all three — will be free agents soon enough, barring intensified trade talks. And many quarterbacks view Minnesota as an attractive destination.
Smith possibly joining the Vikings has been underplayed as a pairing in league circles, but it makes a lot of sense. He’s due $18.5 million in 2026 guarantees but has another $8 million that guarantees on the third day of the new league year. He also offers “bridge QB” cover if the team doesn’t want to bail on McCarthy and show a true QB competition, even if veiled.
Why Orlovsky is on board with Vikings signing Aaron Rodgers
Dan Orlovsky explains why he believes the Vikings should look to add Aaron Rodgers this offseason.
Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan explains how the team is evaluating Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami.
Miami could make a contract offer to free agent QB Malik Willis, but that Tagovailoa dead money could also necessitate the team spending little on the position for 2026. Holdover Quinn Ewers is a possibility mainly because he’s already on the roster, but his chances of winning the job depend in large part on who else the Dolphins bring in.
Expect at least two and possibly several teams to be involved on Willis. “Miami is definitely in,” a source said. Arizona is combing the market, too, but it doesn’t seem likely that Willis will end up in Cleveland.
Multiple offensive coaches said Willis has the chance to be the league’s best rushing quarterback and that he has the power in his legs and arm to drive the ball to all parts of the field. “The issue will be that you simply can’t run your whole offense with him,” one prominent offensive coach said. “He’s not ready to handle that. So, whether he can sustain a full season will be a question. But he’s got a lot of ability and terrific character.”
The teams Ben Solak expects to be in on Malik Willis
Graziano: Kyler Murray has $36.8 million in fully guaranteed salary this year, and if he’s on the Arizona roster on the third day of the league year, another $19.5 million in 2027 salary becomes fully guaranteed. So, the Cardinals will want to move on before that happens, whether that means a trade or a release. Odds favor a release because it’s unlikely a team will offer Arizona anything significant in a trade if it has to pay Murray that much guaranteed money over the next two years.
So it’s unclear what the Cardinals will do at QB. Given that Willis spent the past two years in Green Bay with Matt LaFleur, and Matt’s brother Mike LaFleur is the new Cardinals head coach, it’s fair to expect them to at least discuss Willis. They also have Jacoby Brissett under contract for one more year and could roll with him while they scout potential QB prospects in this year’s draft or next year’s class.
Fowler: Free agent Jimmy Garoppolo heading to Arizona is a strong option, too. The Cardinals have interest, and Mike LaFleur is considered very close with Garoppolo. “That’s his guy,” a league source said. LaFleur can create a clean path to restart his quarterback room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB. That makes Murray and Brissett expendable, and the feeling in Indy is that Murray wants out of Arizona.
Something to keep in mind with Garoppolo: He has one of the league’s best QB2 jobs with the Rams, who would welcome him back. Joining Green Bay as a No. 2 is also an option.
What’s the timeline for Kyler Murray’s future in Arizona?
Josh Weinfuss gives an update on what lies ahead for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.
Pierce has a good relationship with Jones. If the team tags Pierce but doesn’t reach a deal with Jones, for example, that could be an issue for Pierce. Conversely, tagging Jones ensures he will be there in 2026, a move that would appeal to Pierce.
A franchise tag for Pierce would come in around $27 million, while Jones would get $43.9 million on the franchise tag and $37.8 million on the transition. Those numbers are steep but reasonable. The Colts haven’t tipped their hand in a possible direction. Pierce would command a massive contract if he hit free agency. In November, we reported his market could hit $20 million. Think higher now.
Graziano: If the Colts can’t get a deal done with Jones by Tuesday’s tag deadline, it sounds like they’ll put the transition tag on him. That means Pierce could hit free agency and another team could sign Jones to an offer sheet (and the Colts wouldn’t get draft pick compensation if he were to sign elsewhere). I think the Colts push to get a long-term deal done with Jones to avoid those possibilities, but as of Saturday morning, it doesn’t sound close.