NFL Trade Rumors Heat Up
Atlanta plans to cut Kirk Cousins by March 11th, while Chicago is receiving trade inquiries for QB Tyson Bagent. Baltimore made a "market-setting" offer to center Tyler Linderbaum and continues working on Lamar Jackson's extension. Las Vegas is listening on Maxx Crosby but not actively shopping the pass rusher.
- Designating Kirk Cousins as a post-June 1 release will leave the Falcons with a $22.5 million dead cap hit in 2026 and a $12.5 million hit in 2027. Cousins originally signed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million in guarantees in March 2024. - A contract restructure in January 2026 created a trigger date for Cousins' release; a $67.9 million guarantee for the 2027 season would have vested had he remained on the roster past March 13, 2026. - Potential trade suitors for the Bears' Tyson Bagent include the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, with speculation that he could command a Day 2 draft pick in return. - Baltimore's offer to Tyler Linderbaum is aimed at surpassing the current top of the center market, a four-year, $72 million deal ($18M AAV) signed by Kansas City's Creed Humphrey in 2024. - An extension for Lamar Jackson is a major priority for the Ravens as he carries a $74.5 million salary cap hit in both 2026 and 2027; a new deal would significantly lower that number to provide the team with financial flexibility. - Despite the Raiders listening to offers, Maxx Crosby is not on the trading block after signing a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, which briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. - Questions about Crosby's future in Las Vegas arose late in the 2025 season when the team shut him down over a knee injury against his wishes, leading to a public display of frustration from the pass rusher.
