Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards against Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) during the fourth quarter of the NFL AFC Wild Card Playoffs Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bills beat the Jaguars 27-24. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union) Just when you thought we were used to leaping forward, the NFL countdown clock shifted into full gear this week, speeding past key offseason milestones.
Monday kicked off a frenzied start to the legal tampering period of free agency, and it won’t be long before contracts are finalized as the new league year begins. To be exact, it’s Wednesday at 4 PM ET.
Then comes the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Certainly, a lot of things that happened on Monday would have changed what happened after the Las Vegas Raiders officially selected the first pick of the first round on April 23.
Of course, that choice is unlikely to change. The Raiders have been linked to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza for some time, as confirmed Monday’s three-year, $81 million deal with former Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum.
Next pick: The New York Jets, who made numerous defensive moves Monday to bolster a sloppy unit. Several defensive backs who worked with second-year coach Aaron Glenn at previous stops – defensive tackle David Onyemata, linebacker and former Jet Demario Davis – have joined Gang Green.
New York also signed safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a three-year, $40 million contract extension after acquiring him in a trade with the Miami Dolphins.
“I’m glad we spent the money… we should!” Jets running back Breece Hall wrote on the X. It hasn’t been long since Hall sent a more cheeky spending message after the Jets placed the franchise tag on him in 2026.
In any case, even the poor Jets could use a quarterback after the Justin Fields Experiment ended in failure last season. But beyond Mendoza, this draft lacks talent high up the board.
With guards John Simpson (Baltimore) and Aaliyah Vera-Tucker (New England Patriots) signing elsewhere on Monday, could New York land an offensive lineman? Or will that be the goal when the team gets picked by the Indianapolis Colts and picks again at No. 16?
According to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., six offensive linemen are ranked in the top 25 draft talent. Tackle Francis Mauigoa leads the way.
Perhaps the most interesting top five pick is the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. To build around 2025 No. 1 overall pick QB Cam Ward, the Titans will need to strengthen their receiving corps. Last season’s top wideout, Elic Ayomanor, had just 515 yards.
But Monday’s signing of slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson from the New York Giants may have set Tennessee’s early draft focus toward a different offensive skill position. Additionally, the Titans, who are short on running backs, should appreciate what happened when other teams searching at the position drew heavy interest to start the week.
Notre Dame standout Jeremiah Love appeared to be ticketed for a top-10 landing spot before the New Orleans Saints (Travis Etienne, four years, $52 million) and the Kansas City Chiefs (Kenneth Walker III, three years, $45) signed the running back to a big deal.
Now, with veteran Tony Pollard entering the final year of his contract, Love could essentially be passed over to the Titans. But will Indianapolis be more likely to retain vet Calvin Ridley by re-signing Alec Pierce, a target for Tennessee and many others?
This will depend on whether the Titans release Ridley to avoid roster bonuses and partial salary guarantees.
A decision must be made by March 16.
Until then, there is no countdown to guess. This time of year it’s on the move 24 hours a day.
