News About NFC Teams
Arizona Cardinals News
Dan Graziano of ESPN.com believes the Cardinals will release QB Kyler Murray before $19.5 million of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on March 14, even though they would "love" to trade him. Graziano puts the chances of Arizona trading Murray at 5%.
Why It Matters: We can basically count Murray out of the Cardinals quarterback situation, and it's anyone's guess who will be interested in acquiring Murray's services on the open market. Murray is owed about the same or perhaps even less than Malik Willis will get on the open market. The fact that his trade market is resoundingly quiet is not a good sign for how Murray is viewed around the league. It's possible that he could be the starter for the Jets or another quarterback-needy team, but he could also be banished to backup status unless he can change the mind of the NFL about his commitment and ability to run a complex passing offense. Murray's dynasty value is on the way down, and it might be a prolonged decline.
Atlanta Falcons News
The Falcons used their franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts Sr.
Why It Matters: Pitts will get a little over $16 million for 2026 on a one-year deal if he and the Falcons don't agree to a long-term contract. It's a clear sign that self-proclaimed "tight end aficionado" Kevin Stefanski is going to put Pitts in a central role in the passing game. He is going among the top five tight ends in early best-ball drafts, and that might not be overly ambitious in light of this development.
Chicago Bears News
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Bears have "received calls" on WR DJ Moore and that Moore is "viewed as available for the right price by teams in the WR market".
Why It Matters: It is shaping up to be a very intriguing trade market for wide receivers, with Moore, A.J. Brown, Brian Thomas Jr., and Jaylen Waddle offering four very different options to teams looking to make an impact addition. With the emergence of Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland in the second half of the season, Moore is the odd man out in the passing game. His error late in the playoff loss to the Rams, which sealed the Bears' fate, might have been an omen for Moore's future with the team.
Dallas Cowboys News
The Cowboys signed RB Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract.
Why It Matters: Most saw this coming, and it's good for Williams to see it done so early in the offseason cycle. He'll be the clear lead back again, with 2025 fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue perhaps finally earning enough trust to be a speedy change-of-pace #2. Williams is only 25, so he could definitely play out the term of this contract as the starter in a good running game. He could be a "buy high" in dynasty.
Detroit Lions News
GM Brad Holmes said he has had conversations with RB David Montgomery and his agent, and that the situation is "fluid".
Why It Matters: Holmes said last month that Montgomery "deserved to be in a situation where his skill set could be utilized", which could have been a tell. The Commanders have Montgomery's former teammate, David Blough, as their new offensive coordinator and could use an established banger between the tackles. Expect the Lions to sign Jahmyr Gibbs to a contract extension this offseason as they prepare to give him an even larger role if Montgomery is playing somewhere else next season.
Minnesota Vikings News
Head coach Kevin O'Connell said that "a lot of the feelings" about JJ McCarthy as the team's franchise quarterback are "the same", but that the "timeline is in a different place than it was [in 2024]". Vikings EVP of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski said the team is not "ruling anything out" among quarterback options.
Why It Matters: It's hard to know what O'Connell really thinks about McCarthy. If the timeline is longer than 2026 to see him turn into a franchise quarterback, then we are talking about McCarthy being an unknown (or known negative) when the team has to make their decision on a fifth-year option next offseason. The Vikings will surely aim to add a quarterback who can start over McCarthy, rather than compete with, the 2024 first-round pick, but unless they trade for Mac Jones or sign Daniel Jones, that is unlikely.
Philadelphia Eagles News
Eagles GM Howie Roseman said that "parting with A.J. Brown is not part of our vision" at the NFL combine. ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that Brown's frustrations with the team are well known, and put the chances of an offseason trade at 60%.
Why It Matters: Roseman knows it is a competitive trade market at wide receiver with Brown not the only established starter available, so he is not going to hurt his negotiating position by making it seem like the team has to trade him. As Graziano indicates, it is still more likely than not that Brown is traded, and a reunion with Mike Vrabel in New England makes too much sense.
San Francisco 49ers News
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the 49ers and LT Trent Williams are "struggling to find a contractual solution" to Williams' $39 million cap charge for 2026. Schefter wrote that if an agreement can't be met, Williams would likely become a free agent - meaning the 49ers would release, not trade him. GM John Lynch said the team is "on the right track" in negotiations with Williams at the combine.
Why It Matters: Williams has been the most important player in the 49ers offense when he is at his best, but that is probably not the case now as he heads into his age 36 season. Williams is due $10 million in an option bonus on March 20, so it's possible that he could be released nine days into free agency, when teams' wallets are much thinner. Alternatively, teams talk, and Williams is a left tackle of rare quality when it comes to players that make it to the free agent market. So teams that want Williams the most could hold some money back in anticipation of his release because, other than Packer free agent tackle Rasheed Walker, who is going to get a huge contract, there aren't any plug-and-play options at left tackle in free agency. The 49ers are likely to look for Williams ' long-term replacement in the draft, whether they release him or he plays out the last year of his deal. 49ers fans should take solace in the fact that many contract situations have grown more tense before the team resolved them and retained the player.
Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports that the timeline set out by an orthopedic surgeon (not the one who did George Kittle's surgery) for recovery from TE George Kittle's Achilles surgery would put him on the field in September with "Week 5" at the long end of a return. Wagoner also reports that Kittle and the team believe he will be "somewhere close to his normal level of production" when he returns.
Why It Matters: All of that is more optimistic than expected after we saw Kittle go down with an Achilles tear in the postseason. He could be a value in redraft leagues if he falls too far, but generally waiting around for players who aren't able to play in Week 1 because of previous season injuries is a losing proposition. Kittle has been an exception for his entire career, so he could be one again by having a big fantasy impact next season.
