Titans, Cap Hits, Flowers, Patriots, Jaguars, HCs, Cap Space, Cowboys, Dead Money, Legette

Here is a rundown of PFR’s latest originals:

• Sam Robinson kicked off the 2026 Offseason in Review series by breaking down the Titans‘ moves. Tennessee has a new head coach (Robert Saleh) in place, along with several free agent additions. Improved play on both sides of the ball will be critical if Tennessee is to improve from a 3-14 campaign. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll‘s ability to help quarterback Cam Ward make a Year 2 jump will represent a major storyline for the team.
• The summer always represents a good time to evaluate where teams and players stand from a financial standpoint. Connor Byrne broke down each team’s largest cap hit for 2026 in both the AFC and NFC. A wide range exists in both conferences, highlighting the different roster-building approaches used around the league. There is also a clear gap between the win-now teams in the NFL and those using 2026 as a rebuilding year to prepare for a spending spree next spring.
• The Ravens picked up Zay Flowers‘ fifth-year option this spring, but an extension could be worked out ahead of the season. Ely Allen explored what a long-term deal could look like in this situation. Flowers has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, elevating his value on an extension. But the Ravens do not have a long or successful track record when it comes to receiver investments. Those competing factors will make Flowers’ case one to watch entering training camp.
• The summer will see several new deals worked out, of course, but a number of notable roster cuts will take place as well. Ben Levine examined the case of several Patriots receivers who could be traded or released in the near future. Specifically, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism find themselves on the roster bubble as things stand. New England’s WR depth chart will look much different in 2026 than it did last season, and changes could still be coming if the team elects to move on from at least one member of that trio.
• Spending power is critical during the opening stages of free agency, but that is obviously also the case when it comes to additions late in the offseason. With training camp signings not far away, I listed where each team stands regarding cap space. Several teams could easily afford a splashy addition this summer, although most high-profile transactions have already taken place. The 49ers are also an example of teams prioritizing cap rollover from one year to the next in lieu of short-term signings.
• The second installment of this year’s OIR series saw Connor recap what the Jaguars have done this spring. Stability has been present in Duval County compared to the front office and coaching overhaul of the previous year. After Jacksonville went 13-4 to win the AFC South in 2025, a core featuring plenty of returning players (like the recently extended Travon Walker and Brenton Strange) will be counted on to deliver another strong showing. The health and usage of Travis Hunter, meanwhile, will once again make for an intriguing storyline.
• Not long after Sam went through the NFL’s longest-tenured general managers, he did the same with head coaches. The 2026 cycle was relatively quiet in terms of front office movement, but that was hardly the case on the sidelines. A record-tying 10 teams changed head coaches, and the tenures of veterans like Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott all came to an end. Several veteran staffers will receive a second HC gig in 2026, while a number of high-profile coordinators will receive their first chance at handling head coaching responsibilities.
• Improving on defense was rightly seen as a top priority for the Cowboys this spring. Dallas has managed to find a number of upgrades while maintaining plenty of continuity on offense. Connor polled readers on the question of whether or not the Cowboys will be a playoff team in 2026 coming off a 7-10 showing last year. 57% of respondents feel Dallas will fall short once more, with a wild-card berth being seen as the next likeliest outcome. Only 15% of readers predict the Cowboys to win the NFC East.
• Dead money has increasingly become a standard operating expense around the league, but new records are regularly set. Ben detailed how the Dolphins, for example, lead the way this year with an unprecedented $179.2MM in dead money on their books for this season. In terms of individual players, there are 42 who will account for an eight-figure charge on their former team’s books. Sam listed each of them, noting how the number of notable dead figures around the league has sharply increased in recent years.
• Things have not gone according to plan so far for former Panthers first-rounder Xavier Legette. Connor illustrated how 2026 can be viewed as a make-or-break year in his case. Carolina’s WR depth chart is set to be led by Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker for years to come, and it remains to be seen if Legette will remain in the team’s plans beyond the coming season. A fifth-year option decision will need to be made on Legette after the 2026 campaign.