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Another veteran offensive coach departs Washington Commanders for NFC team
Brian Johnson [is] leaving the [Washington Commanders] organization to join the Los Angeles Rams’ staff under head coach Sean McVay.
Johnson is set to become a senior offensive assistant for the Rams after the team announced their finalized staff on Monday, leaving the Commanders after two seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive pass game coordinator. He joined the organization ahead of the 2024 season alongside Kingsbury, who reunites with the former Washington assistant on the West Coast.
The news also comes on the same day that an official title materialized for Kliff Kingsbury, Washington’s former offensive coordinator, with the Rams announcing him as the new assistant head coach.
Heavy.com
Logan Paulsen discusses the value of signing Alec Pierce in free agency
Pierce can expect to get paid this offseason, as a 6-foot-3, 211-pound speedster who just banked his first 1,000-yard season in the pros. Those factors are why Finlay told franchise legend Brian Mitchell on 106.7 The Fan, Pierce’s next deal “is probably $30 mill, aav.” Finlay also believes “you’re guaranteeing money on a third year in that.”
It’s a hefty price tag, but there’s a reason why spending now can save the Commanders a bundle in the future. Specifically, how the Commanders are currently on the hook to hand McLaurin a ton of money sooner rather than later.
The situation was explained to Finlay and Mitchell on 106.7 The Fan by ESPN’s John Keim. He pointed out “Terry, obviously, is costing a lot, and the next year though, in ’27, his cap hit is around $34, 35 million. That’s not sustainable.”
Adding Pierce this offseason would ensure the Commanders have a ready-made replacement for McLaurin, should his contract be dumped a year from now.
Pierce can do the things McLaurin does best. Namely, beat coverage deep from outside the numbers.
This 50-yard grab against the Tennessee Titans back in Week 8 is a prime example of what Pierce brings to an offense.
Riggo’s Rag
Adam Peters has no business missing out on these 10 players in Commanders free agency
Commanders could sign Jaylen Watson
The Washington Commanders have two promising young cornerbacks in Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil. If they want to take the next step, adding some proven experience at the highest level will be advantageous for new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Marshon Lattimore will be cut. Jonathan Jones, Antonio Hamilton Sr., and Noah Igbinoghene are free agents and might not return. The Commanders need to think big, which makes Jaylen Watson’s future with the Kansas City Chiefs a situation worth monitoring.
Watson hasn’t given up a touchdown over the last two seasons. He’s got the size and length that head coach Dan Quinn and Jones might be looking for. At 27 years old, he’s got some productive football left in the tank.
Commanders could sign Joseph Ossai
The Washington Commanders need a complete rethink of the pass-rushing options. Aside from Dorance Armstrong Jr., who was in the middle of a breakout campaign before suffering a significant injury, one could make a strong case for moving on from everyone else without much fanfare.
This needs Adam Peters’ undivided attention this offseason. Finding an explosive young weapon via the draft will be strongly considered at some stage. The Commanders would also be wise to spend money on dynamic veterans coming off their rookie contracts.
Joseph Ossai is an interesting candidate. He’s violent, athletic, and relentless. Things didn’t go quite according to plan with the Cincinnati Bengals last season, but that unit was an abomination almost from the outset.
Ossai will be relishing the chance to get away from the Bengals. If the money works, the Commanders would get a major upgrade by acquiring him.
Commanders could sign Alontae Taylor
The Commanders have some questions to solve at the cornerback position. Their personnel just isn’t up to the required standard right now, especially given the scheme’s new defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones, plans to run in Washington.
Trey Amos showed tremendous promise as a rookie before getting hurt. Mike Sainristil is a risk-taker who creates turnovers, but he needs to improve his discipline in coverage. There is a good chance everyone else will leave, and four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore is expected to be cut in the coming days.
More is needed. The Commanders need another young prospect via the draft and at least two veterans with proven production. Alontae Taylor is coming off his best campaign since being drafted, emerging as a lockdown presence with the New Orleans Saints. He’s also still just 27, so the player’s best years are firmly ahead.
Commanders Roundtable
Washington Commanders re-sign versatile OL Andrew Wylie
Per multiple reports, the Washington Commanders have reached an agreement with offensive lineman Andrew Wylie on a two year, $7.5 million deal to become the second player on an expired contract to return to the team.
A to Z Sports
Washington Commanders’ schedule at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
[T]he Commanders [brass] will be speaking to the media on Tuesday, February 24th. Peters will speak at Noon, followed by Quinn at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Tuesday…marks the first team interviews with draft prospects as well. Then comes the on-field workouts, which kick off on Thursday with the defensive line and linebacker prospects.
The Commanders will have their eyes on a handful of prospects who could be their selection with the No. 7 overall pick. On the offensive side of the ball, WR Carnell Tate, RB Jeremiyah Love, and WR Jordyn Tyson will be the top headliners to watch.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Commanders will have LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, EDGE Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE David Bailey, Safety Caleb Downs, and LB Sonny Styles all on the schedule to pay close attention to.
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Blogging the Boys
The Cowboys are ‘open’ to trading one of their first round picks
The Dallas Cowboys are letting teams know they are open for business. On Monday at the NFL combine, Stephen Jones said the team is “open” to moving one of their first-round picks for a player.
Being open for business also comes with a caveat for Jones and the Cowboys—it has to be for the right player and the right fit. When the Cowboys traded away Micah Parsons, they desperately wanted defensive tackle Kenny Clark to be a part of that deal. Before acquiring Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline, the Cowboys already had their sights set on him in the offseason as a player they wanted in the building.
The Cowboys won’t just trade for anyone, and they have also shown restraint, avoiding overpaying in recent history. There are a few names floating around that could make sense to move a first-round pick for that would help fill a need for Dallas. Maxx Crosby has made his feelings known about the current state of the Las Vegas Raiders and could want out. Could 12th overall move the needle enough, along with a future draft pick, to acquire the star defensive end?
Blogging the Boys
Stephen Jones: “We need their money” in reference to Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams
As it stands today, the Cowboys are over the salary cap by over $24 million. All of that can change with restructures to their bigger contracts in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith.
More money can also be freed up at defensive tackle by figuring out what to do with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
Stephen Jones said the team “needs their room” when it comes to figuring out the contracts of both players. The front office has spoken highly of Clark and Williams, and how important to the future of what they do. Jones said now that they have an idea of what their defense is going to look like, they are starting to think about “extending guys and who’s gonna be here even past where their contracts state.”
A contract extension for both players makes sense for everyone. Not only will it help provide the financial capital needed to make more moves, but it also gives Parker the talent to build his defense around.
NFL.com
Stephen Jones says Cowboys ‘leaning toward’ franchise tagging George Pickens
Stephen Jones told reporters they have every intent to retain receiver George Pickens and are “leaning toward” using the franchise tag to ensure he remains in Dallas.
“We want Pickens here. We think the world of him,” Jones said. “Want him here. Love him, and I think he wants to be here. So all that’s a plus.”
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys 2026 draft: LB Sonny Styles scouting report
Styles is best used as a modern three-down, space linebacker in a defense that values versatility. He’s someone you can align as an off-ball WILL linebacker, walk out to cover the slot to be a tight end killer, and occasionally send him at the quarterback on creeper pressures because of his blitz ability. The ideal scheme keeps him clean with movement and slants up front, lets him play fast downhill as a run-and-hit defender, and leverages his fluidity as a seam coverage player rather than turning him into a pure box-thumper every snap.
SUMMARY
Styles is built for today’s spread NFL. He’s a former safety with rare size and length who covers like a defensive back, triggers downhill with real closing burst, and can be deployed as a matchup piece versus tight ends and bigger slots while still giving teams credible run stopping ability between the tackles. His best traits come in the form of range, fluidity and processing in space. He plays with good vision in zone, has the wingspan to crowd windows, and his athletic profile lets a coordinator disguise intentions without substituting.
Big Blue View
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Cashius Howell projects as a pass rush specialist in the NFL with starting upside in the right scheme.
More pure 4-3 defenses will likely view Howell as more of a 3rd EDGE and 3rd down pass rusher, a la Osi Umenyiora later in his career. However, hybrid schemes that use stand-up rushers as both defensive ends and outside linebackers could see every-down value in Howell.
He isn’t a dominant run defender at the point of attack, however his disruptiveness is enough that he can blow up running plays behind the line of scrimmage or bring down runners spilled outside by the defensive interior.
Attacking the quarterback is still the most important thing a defense can do, and Howell’s upside there means that he won’t have to wait long to hear his name called, and might not make it out of the first round.
Final Word: A first round prospect
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Over the Cap
Patriots Release RB Antonio Gibson
The New England Patriots have announced that they are releasing running back Antonio Gibson. Gibson had a $4.14 million cap charge for the Patriots this year and his release will save the team $3.14 million on the salary cap. His dead money that will remain with the team will be $1 million.
Gibson signed a three year, $11.25 million contract with the Patriots as a free agent in 2024. Gibson had a solid year in 2024 with nearly 750 combined rushing and receiving yards and contributing on returns as well. His role in the offense looked to be reduced in 2025 before an ACL injury ended his season. If Gibson’s injury does not allow him to play in 2026 he is still eligible to collect $2.1 million in salary from New England.
ESPN
Source: Falcons plan to place franchise tag on TE Kyle Pitts
The Atlanta Falcons plan to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., likely keeping one of the top tight ends in the league under contract for at least one more season, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday.
Franchise tag contract numbers are based on the top five annual salaries at each position. Pitts stands to make about $16,319,000 in 2026, the franchise tag salary this year for tight ends, according to OverTheCap.com. Pitts and the Falcons will have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract or else he will have to play the 2026 season under the franchise tender.
The deadline for teams to use the franchise or transition tag is next Tuesday with free agency beginning the week after.
Discussion topics
ESPN
NFL mulls allowing replay officials to throw flags
Although the appetite might be limited for what would be a major change to the league’s officiating approach, some members are coalescing this week around a possible entry point: non-football acts that have gone unpenalized by on-field officials.
Vincent noted two examples from the 2025 season. One occurred in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LX, when New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe grabbed each other’s face masks on the sideline. Jobe then delivered a left-handed punch to Diggs’ helmet. There was no penalty flag thrown on the play, but if the NFL enacts what the competition committee is discussing, the on-site replay official would have been able to penalize and possibly eject Jobe for the punch.
The other example occurred in the Week 16 game between the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall stepped on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson while Dotson was on the ground at the end of a play in the first quarter. Hall was not penalized, but the NFL later suspended him for a game for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct.
NFL owners have previously been reluctant to allow replay officials to throw flags, believing they would be substituting the judgment of on-field officials for those perched elsewhere. Vincent himself expressed hesitation Monday but said the league could start slowly to see how it goes.
In other NFL news:
• A group of special teams coaches — including Darren Rizzi (Broncos) and John Fassel (Titans) — joined meetings to discuss kickoff returns and how to lower the percentage of injuries specific to the returner and tackler on the play.
“For 20 of the 22 guys on the field, this play is vastly safer than the previous version of the kickoff,” said NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller, who oversees health and safety. “And overall, it’s safer than the previous version of the kickoff … but we knew we would have to tinker with it. … I don’t think we’ll see big-time structural changes into it because I think everyone agrees — competition committee and health/safety side — that we’re on the right track.”
• Miller said ACL tears leaguewide were at their lowest percentage in the past seven years. Miller pointed to changes with the kickoff, and 10 teams participating in an ACL injury prevention program, as possible reasons for the decline.
• Vincent said there has been no discussion on a possible fourth-and-15 alternative to an onside kick, which was a team-based rule proposal last year. In 2025, NFL teams recovered five of 52 onside kicks.
Pro Football Talk
Rams’ proposal based on crazy two-point play has two components
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Rams have made two separate proposals. Under the first, a backward pass that is tipped by a defensive player and goes past the line of scrimmage would be treated like a fumble. This means that, during the final two minutes of a half, on fourth down, or on a conversion attempt, only the player who fumbled can recover the ball and advance it. If another offensive player recovers the ball, the offense gets the ball at the spot of the fumble.
As applied to the two-point attempt in Rams-Seahawks, the recovery of the loose ball in the end zone by running back Zach Charbonnet would not have resulted in a successful conversion. Seattle would have gotten two points only if quarterback Sam Darnold had recovered the ball.
Although that same situation will rarely happen, the reasoning makes sense. The defense disrupted the attempted backward pass. A fluke bounce sent the live ball beyond the line of scrimmage. In the situations where a fumble can’t be recovered and advanced by any player except the one who fumbled it, a backward pass that is batted beyond the line of scrimmage would be treated the same way.
The Rams’ second proposal would limit the time for the initiation of a replay review, capping it at either 40 seconds or a minute. Basically, if the replay process is going to activate, it needs to happen more quickly in order to keep the game moving.
For the Seahawks-Rams play, 100 seconds elapsed between the time Charbonnet recovered the ball and the moment referee Brad Allen announced that the play was under further review. The kickoff and kick-return teams were on the field and ready to proceed. The absence of a specific deadline for starting the review process allows potentially protracted delays — and opens the door for (as happened in this case) someone from outside the apparatus alerting the league to the potential need for a review.
While the league eventually got the Rams-Seahawks play right, the Rams’ thinking is that no review should take that long to get started.
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