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Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Commanders links
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Pro Football Talk
Commanders were surprised to be able to sign both Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson
The Commanders signed Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract, and signed K’Lavon Chaisson to a one-year, $12 million contract. They project as the Commanders’ two starting defensive ends this season, and Peters wasn’t expecting to get them both.
“Just really something we needed to address, and we did,” Peters said. “I was actually pretty surprised we were able to get both of those guys.”
The Commanders also signed defensive end Charles Omenihu to a one-year, $4 million contract, picking up some depth behind the two new starters. Those contracts are a big investment, but Peters thinks the return will make the investment well worth it. [It sounds like PFT is expecting the Commanders to line up in a base 4-3 defense in ‘26, which isn’t what most observers expect from new DC Daronte Jones]
The Athletic (paywall)
NFL execs unfiltered on free agency: Commanders ‘are making a bunch of revolving-door moves this year, which looks like a panic to me’
Washington Commanders
Added: $80.1M (3rd) | Lost: $23.1M (26th) | Differential: $57.0M (3rd)
The Commanders entered free agency with lots of cap space, but that was partly a mirage. They had more roster spots to fill than most after signing so many short-term contracts over the past two offseasons, and they filled them with a league-high seven newcomers earning at least $6.5 million per year.
“You kind of get what you pay for with those $6 million-$8 million guys,” an exec said. “They are fringe starters. It makes some sense. You gotta fill out your roster. They had to get younger.”
Badly in need of pass-rush help, Washington committed $35 million in combined APY to free-agent edge rushers Odafe Oweh ($24 million) and K’Lavon Chaisson ($11 million).
“Those are rotational pieces,” an exec said. “Oweh is more of a DPR (designated pass rusher) than an every-down guy, a little hit and miss. But they needed some speed on defense.”
One under-the-radar signing to watch: defensive lineman Tim Settle, who spent his first four seasons in D.C. after Washington drafted him in 2018.
“Settle was Houston’s best run defender, the interior guy who knocks people back,” one exec said. “I would have loved to have had him. He’s a Virginia Tech kid, from Virginia, so that was what it was.”
Quarterback Jayden Daniels’ return to health under first-time offensive coordinator David Blough stands out as the key variable, more than these signings.
“They are making a bunch of revolving-door moves this year, which looks like a panic to me,” one exec said. “It is going to depend on how the quarterback plays. He can save it all.”
Heavy.com
Commanders Urged to Draft ‘Unguardable’ Division III Wide Receiver, Tyren Montgomery
[I]f the Commanders [don’t] use the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on a wide receiver, there might still be an option in the later rounds who could make an incredible impact.
That player could be NCAA Division III All-American wide receiver Tyren Montgomery, who has exploded onto the draft scene in recent months and has 1 of the more unusual paths to the NFL in recent memory.
“Tyren Montgomery has been UNGUARDABLE through two Senior Bowl practices,” NFL Draft Files wrote on its official X account on January 29. “Standout WR from D3 John Carroll is playing his way into top 100 consideration.”
Montgomery, a native of The Woodlands, Texas, didn’t play high school football — he was a high school basketball star who ended up walking on the men’s basketball team at LSU in 2019.
He dropped out of LSU after 1 semester and, at the urging of his brother, decided to try out a football career, gathering highlights in various flag football leagues until Nicholls State gave him an opportunity in 2022.
Montgomery sat out the 2022 season as he worked out various eligibility issues and finally played his 1st season of football, ever, in 2023 and had 12 receptions for 171 yards. Unfortunately for Montgomery, his NCAA eligibility had run out at that point.
Through one of his flag football connections, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Montgomery landed at Division III John Carroll in University Heights, Ohio, where he put up consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons the last 2 years. That was 57 receptions for 1,071 yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2024 and 119 receptions for 1,528 yards and 16 total touchdowns in 2025.
Denied an invite to the NFL scouting combine, the 25-year-old Montgomery tested out at the University of Toledo’s Pro Day with a 35.5-inch vertical leap, 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump, and a 4.53-second 40-yard dash — the same time as projected 1st round pick and Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.
“A late-blooming Division III standout with intriguing upside, Montgomery has good size and length in the slot,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “He’s still learning his craft and should become a more refined route-runner if he gets more time. He was highly competitive in Senior Bowl one-on-ones and appears very comfortable in 50/50 catch spots. His age, timed speed and lack of short-area explosiveness could hurt his draft slotting, but he should find his way into a camp. He will need to replicate his Senior Bowl week to prove he belongs in the NFL.”
Commanders Wire
Free of pressure, Commanders have high hopes for former 1st-round pick
On draft night in 2022, the Titans traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th overall pick and a third-round selection. Tennessee, at least in its mind, immediately used that first-round pick to take Brown’s replacement: Burks.
It was big shoes to fill for the rookie, something he shouldn’t have been expected to do. Brown was one of the best receivers in the NFL and one of the best players in Tennessee’s franchise history. Burks was expected, as a rookie, to step in and immediately replace his production.
While Brown flourished, helping lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, Burks spent most of his time sidelined.
The 26-year-old suffered a turf toe injury early in his rookie season, forcing him to miss six games. In 2023, Burks caught a deep pass in a training camp practice and landed awkwardly on his knee. He’d miss some time with an LCL spring. In 2024, Burks tore his ACL in Week 7, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. In training camp last summer, as Burks had recovered from his knee injury, he suffered a fractured collarbone after making a diving catch.
Tennessee placed Burks on waivers in October, and one week later, the Commanders signed him to their practice squad, with the intention of quickly promoting him to the 53-man roster. In his second game with Washington, Burks suffered a broken finger, but would miss only one week of action.
Burks appeared in eight games for the Commanders, catching 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown catch on Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos was arguably the NFL Catch of the Year in 2025. Burks re-signed with Washington last month.
NFL.com
2026 NFL Draft: Ideal top two picks for every team
Washington Commanders
Round 1: No. 7 overall: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Round 2: No. 71 overall: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
Had one of the top two pass rushers still been on the board, I’d have had a tough call here. As it was, Tate made the most sense as a complement to Terry McLaurin at No. 7. Jayden Daniels could use more reliable targets, and the smooth-moving Tate would give the Commanders a very solid No. 2 option in time. Abney intrigues me; getting him this late would be a strong value. He’s a highly competitive customer who belies his average size with strong tackling and feistiness at the catch point. Washington needs more quality corners by the handful.
Podcasts & videos
Post-Signing 1-on-1: OL Chris Paul | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders
Managing Partner Josh Harris Speaks to the Media at 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting
GM Adam Peters Speaks to the Media at 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting | Washington Commanders
HC Dan Quinn Speaks to the Media at 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting | Washington Commanders
NFC East links
Philadelphia Inquirer
Jeffrey Lurie has a special relationship with Jalen Hurts. He also knows it’s a critical year for his ‘exceptional’ quarterback
Lurie’s praise of Hurts was a reminder that, despite frustration expressed anonymously by various Eagles players, coaches and staffers — past and present — about the quarterback in this column and elsewhere, the voice that matters the most comes from the man signing all the checks. Hurts likely knows that as well as anyone. But actions — or the lack thereof — can speak louder than words.
The Eagles have no plans to extend Hurts this offseason, NFL sources said, even though teams with franchise quarterbacks often restructure contracts to create salary cap in return for more guaranteed years. “We never would discuss [negotiations],” Lurie said when asked about Hurts’ deal. “He’s in the middle of the new contract now.”
While no other quarterback who signed a long-term contract during the 2023 offseason has received an extension, Hurts has only the upcoming season fully guaranteed, at $51.5 million. The remaining $22 million comes in 2027, and there would be significant dead money hits if the Eagles were to do anything that would trigger the charges.
Next offseason is eons away in NFL years. But it isn’t an overstatement to suggest that Hurts has reached another inflection point in his career. He seems to perform best when there is additional pressure, whether it’s in the Super Bowl, or when his status is threatened (see: the 2022 offseason when the Eagles explored obtaining Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson).
Pro Football Talk
Curiously-timed ESPN report peels back the curtain on Eagles’ dysfunction
why did the story drop at 6:00 a.m. ET on the morning after most of the league left the league meetings in Arizona?
It feels brokered. It feels engineered. The Eagles were willing to give up the goods on the frustrations created by Hurts’s handling of the offense, as long as the story didn’t drop at a time when it would have sparked a feeding frenzy at the NFL’s annual gathering.
The gist of the report is hardly new. Chris Simms has been saying it for years, to the consternation of Eagles fans everywhere. And Derrick Gunn, who has covered the team for decades, pulled back the curtain during the 2025 season regarding Hurts’s reputation for ignoring the plays that are called — and his awareness of his ability to do so, thanks to a contract that makes it very difficult from a cap standpoint to trade him or cut him.
The mere fact that the ESPN report exists becomes proof that the Eagles may be on the brink of playing hardball with Hurts. He’s signed through 2028, and after this season the dead-money charge slips to an eye-popping but manageable $67 million, which could be spread over two years with a post-June 1 transaction.
In recent years, several teams have done it. The Broncos with Russell Wilson, the Dolphins with Tua Tagovailoa, and the Cardinals with Kyler Murray.
Wednesday’s article may be a pre-OTA shot across the bow to Hurts that his contract doesn’t translate to lifetime employment, and that if he doesn’t start doing what the Eagles want him to do he may be doing it somewhere else in 2027.
ALLPHLY
Bowen: Jeffrey Lurie still loves Jalen Hurts, but the Eagles need the QB to show them he can silence critics, again
One thing I wonder about is why people in the building – presumably, coaches and football staffers – want to air their frustrations with Hurts in public. It reminds me of the Carson Wentz situation. I remember thinking back then that good things rarely come from anonymous criticisms leveled by people you would think would have your back. I still feel that way. And I’m eager to hear what Hurts makes of all this.
Big Blue View
NFL execs critical of Tennessee Titans for big spending on former Giants
The Titans gave Robinson, a 5-foot-8 receiver coming off a career year a four-year, $70 million contract with $38 million fully guaranteed at signing.
The Giants signed tight end Isaiah Likely, and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin to contracts totaling $45 million. Only Likely got a multi-year deal.
Flott, a starter for the first time in 2025, got a three-year, $45 million contract with $32 million guaranteed at signing. Will he play up to that contract? We’ll see.
The Titans also signed tight end Daniel Bellinger, a player Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll under-utilized as head coach in New York, and Austin Schlottmann, a veteran who has never been a regular starter.
NFL league links
Articles
The Athletic (paywall)
Annual NFL coaches photo, 2026 edition
In a story that could only happen to the Browns, first-year coach Todd Monken missed the photo because he was getting a haircut for … the photo. Sean McVay was the other absentee. It was the second time he’s missed the class picture, relaxing by the pool in 2019 when he’d thought it’d been canceled.
The photo made waves online, as it does.
- Rich Eisen spent 16 minutes covering the seating arrangements. (Ben Johnson is surprisingly close to Matt LaFleur. Remember this?)
- Kyle Brandt did something similar. (Yes, Liam Coen is about as far from Robert Saleh as possible. Beef?)
- Big Cat pointed out that one of Mike McCarthy’s buttons was undone, and made me laugh with his award for Dan Campbell: “The Badass Biker Dad Who Had To Dress Nice For His Daughter’s Graduation.” Spot on.
Of the four who are current head coaches, nobody’s with the same team.
Sports Broadcasting
Front Office Sports
How Ian Rapoport, Daniel Jeremiah Fit in ESPN’s Long-Term Plans
the youthful-looking Schefter, ESPN’s senior NFL insider, turns 60 years old this year. Adrian Wojnarowski, his former counterpart on the NBA beat, tapped out from the grueling insider game at age 55 in 2024.
Kiper, the pioneering king of the draft gurus, turns 66 this year. He’s been a mainstay of ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage since 1984. But Todd McShay, his presumed successor, was swept out of ESPN during the layoffs of 2023 that claimed other big names such as Max Kellerman, Jeff Van Gundy, and Jalen Rose.
On the other hand, Rapoport and Jeremiah are 46 and 48 years old respectively. Both are highly thought of by ESPN brass as they decide who they want to retain at NFL Network in the coming months and years. Rapoport’s current contract expires in May. Getting a new deal done with him is a high priority in Bristol, say sources.
The network’s leadership is also a big believer in Jeremiah. In previous years, he’s done crossover appearances with ESPN. The former NFL scout actually started his TV career as a production assistant on ESPN’s Sunday Night Football coverage, where he was mentored by the late, great ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen.
Looking forward, ESPN will continue to operate itself and NFL Network as separate networks. The early thinking is both Rapoport and Jeremiah will remain at their NFL Network positions, along with Scott Hanson, the popular host of NFL RedZone.
But ESPN has frequently raided its rival 24/7 cable network for talent, hiring Peter Schrager away from Good Morning Football in 2025 and Schefter himself in 2009. Whenever Schefter and Kiper move on, or retire, it’s easy to see Rapoport and Jeremiah sliding into their respective roles. Neither would require any training or promotion. They’d be the equivalent of plug and play. They could create the kind of seamless transition that ESPN pulled off when Mortensen passed the title of ESPN’s top NFL insider to Schefter.
If Rapoport lands a big new deal in the coming months, that will strengthen the impression that NFL Network will be here to stay under the aegis of ESPN.
The Athletic (paywall)
ESPN expected to change No. 2 broadcasting team after NFL Network deal: Sources
ESPN is expected to change its No. 2 NFL game-calling team of Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick Jr. due to its new NFL deal, according to sources briefed on ESPN’s plans.
As part of a potential new booth, Jason Kelce has emerged as a dark horse candidate on the analyst side, according to sources briefed on discussions, while NFL Network’s Kurt Warner is also in the mix. Kelce is a studio analyst on ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown.”
ESPN’s Dave Pasch and Mike Monaco are contenders to be a part of the new booth as play-by-play announcers. ESPN executives are still sorting out their plans, and other candidates, like Bob Wischusen, could emerge.
As part of its agreements with the NFL, ESPN will no longer have “Monday Night Football” doubleheaders among its seven extra games included in the deal. There is a high likelihood that these seven matchups will be international, which would not allow Fowler, ESPN’s No. 1 college play-by-play announcer, to be regularly available, while also taking Orlovsky and Riddick out of the country for their studio work for a few days. Riddick also calls college football games, while Orlovsky does some college football studio work.
Depending on the schedule, which is at the NFL’s discretion, there is a chance that Fowler, Orlovsky and Riddick could still end up in the mix for a game here and there, but nothing is officially decided as of yet.
ESPN’s No. 1 NFL broadcasting team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman remains as they enter the final seasons of their five-year deals for a total combined value of $165 million. The duo will call ESPN’s first Super Bowl next February.
