Tag: NFL

Watson has seemingly become a stronger option in recent days, with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam appearing to boost the embattled QB’s chances of winning the job, indicating that Watson has slimmed down, is in great shape and will report on April 7 ready to compete for the job.

“Deshaun has a great chance, fresh start, offensive-minded coach, who has in his past been able to work with all kinds of different quarterbacks and make them successful,” Haslam said this week, per ESPN. “Let’s see what Deshaun can do. We’re all excited.”

Monken admitted he hasn’t watched a lot of film on Watson but said that he’s played on an elite level previously.

“I know he’s going to be on the roster,” Monken said, via NFL Senior National Columnist Judy Battista. “I know we’re going to evaluate him.”

The mystery man is Gabriel. The Browns’ 2025 third-rounder, selected two rounds ahead of Sanders, started six games and went 1-5 before giving way to Sanders after suffering a concussion. Interestingly, Monken said Sanders has been at the Browns’ facility often this offseason but that Gabriel, to his knowledge, has not.

There’s also a chance competition is added to the mix. The Browns could opt to draft a quarterback in April with one of their nine selections, including two first-rounders and three total in the top 39 overall. According to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo, the Browns are one of three teams to schedule a top-30 visit with Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who could be the second quarterback drafted this year after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

Kamara is coming off a career-worst season in 2025, a campaign shortened by injury and hindered by a Saints offense that didn’t find a rhythm until the final six weeks of the year, a stretch Kamara largely missed. Rumors began to circulate that Kamara might be headed toward retirement in 2026, and when Moore was asked about the five-time Pro Bowler’s future in mid-March, he tap-danced around the question.

Monday’s response represents a shift in tone toward a more optimistic outlook.

New Orleans could certainly use a stronger situation in the backfield. The Saints finished 28th in rushing yards per game in 2025 and leaned heavily on the passing game. It would behoove them to find a better balance, bringing more sense to the addition of Etienne, and it helps that the two share a similar style of play.

Add in the return of youngsters Devin Neal and Audric Estimé — with the latter serving as the Saints’ rugged power back — and Moore has plenty of options lining up behind or next to quarterback Tyler Shough.

“They’re probably similar players,” Moore said of Kamara and Etienne. “I think both of them have the explosive, elusive ability to play in all three phases, which is beneficial. I feel like our running back room is a really healthy room right now — with just the depth and the experience and all the guys that are in there.

“With the way last season went, a lot of those guys got experience. A lot of those guys played football. So it’s going to be a benefit for us that we got a few guys — three or four guys — that played meaningful snaps last year that are all coming back. And then, you throw Travis into the mix and it’s a great situation for us.”

For now, the Saints appear set to establish a tandem backfield between the 30-year-old Kamara (who turns 31 in July) and the younger Etienne, with room for reps for Estimé and Neal. We’ll see if that’s still the case by the time training camp arrives.

One of the advantages LaFleur sold to reporters was Brissett’s experience, a positive quality Minshew can also claim thanks to his seven years spent between Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and Kansas City. Minshew also knows LaFleur from their time spent together at the Senior Bowl back in 2019, when Minshew was entering the NFL from Washington State.

As LaFleur sees it, these advantages should help the coach and his quarterbacks hit the ground running in 2026.

“You’re not teaching a guy how to play football,” LaFleur said of Brissett. “Jacoby knows how to play football. Now we are just teaching him our system.”

Many have likely wondered why Arizona would move on from a former franchise quarterback in Murray just as the club was transitioning to a new coaching staff. In short, the Cardinals wanted a fresh start, so much that they willingly accepted a $46.5 million dead cap hit in 2026 just to part with Murray.

“We had discussions (about keeping Murray) and we’ll keep it at that,” LaFleur said. “You name it, we were talking about it. The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sports. We know that. There were lengthy conversations in so many different aspects of it and there will continue to be until we know we have the most perfect room possible.”

Brissett and Minshew exist as ideal bridge quarterbacks, although it seems as if LaFleur is content with entering 2026 with Brissett as his top choice. But that shouldn’t preclude the Cardinals from exploring another addition or two in the next month, even if 2026 quarterback draft class doesn’t include much upper-tier talent.

“Every room, if we can improve it, we’re going to try and improve it,” LaFleur said. “The quarterback room all the way down to the kicking room.”

As a newly installed coach, LaFleur has the benefit of time on his side. Arizona isn’t likely to pull the plug on his regime after one year unless it’s a complete disaster, meaning he and general manager Monti Ossenfort don’t need to rush to find a solution under center.

They’ll hope their plan for 2026 produces well enough to keep fans content until a better option surfaces.