RC's Daily Notes 2026: For the Week of 2/16-2/22 (The Week That Was...)

: R.C. Fischer; FFM; 22 February 2026

Just an open page for me to drop notes/ideas/things I'm hearing/seeing/working on or just caffeinated or lack of sleep thoughts on football items to start the days with.

2/22 SUN

(7:03am)

Today

-- Initial O-Line grades/work. An O-Line scouting report.

I am using this weekend to crunch a lot of Dynasty rankings to get them done, version 1.0, to be published before month’s end...with rookies integrated.

This Week’s Agenda…

-- Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ published last week. The RB position group will be after that...working on that now. Holy RB Handcuffs after that.

-- Working on the next wave of full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

-- The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

-- Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

-- My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

-- New coaching staff hire’s analysis series...going through the entire staffs...I am working on the framework of how I want to present that. This will be a first ever series (for me) where I go beyond ‘just the new head coaches’. ETA in March.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- HEADLINE: Cowboys signed RB Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract.

I knew this was coming...Dallas was telegraphing this since later in the 2025 season. They’re in love with Javonte.

I was waiting to see this for sure, but I am in-process-working on the HOLY RB report...and now, with this deal, it’s time to fully assess -- is Javonte a ‘HOLY’ RB?

And then guess who his handcuff might be...? You know.

The answers coming out next week, as I hope to be finished with those reports some time next week or so (both HOLY RB and HOLY Handcuffs).

-- NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah told reporters the Lions have “been sniffing around” free agent tackles.

This is due to Taylor Decker considering retirement after 10 seasons with the Lions. The Lions Superpowers are getting stripped away the past two years...the O-Line that ruled is going-going-near gone from their apex in 2023-2024. Ben Johnson leaving was a killer as well.

Every Detroit mock draft HAS to have an OT/OL as the pick.

-- Here is an analysis/summary of the transcript of a recent Jeff Darlington podcast appearance on a Dolphins podcast and there was some interesting behind-the-scenes stuff let out (if you believe them)...

I used GEMINI to analyze the transcripts...

Podcast Summary

The conversation centers on Jeff Darlington’s insights into Mike McDaniel’s departure from Miami to become the Offensive Coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers (under Jim Harbaugh). The hosts and Darlington reflect on why McDaniel chose a coordinator role over a head coaching spot, the breakdown of the relationship between McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa, and the heavy emotional toll the Dolphins' job took on the coaching staff and their families.

Top 5 Key Items (NFL & Fantasy Impact)

1. Mike McDaniel’s "Reset" with the Chargers

Darlington notes that McDaniel was "inclined" to pursue head coaching jobs but ultimately chose the Chargers' OC position.

Fantasy Angle: This is a massive boost for Justin Herbert. Darlington highlights that McDaniel is getting "paid like a head coach" and will have elite tackles back in the lineup. Expect a sophisticated, high-volume passing attack in LA that mirrors the creative play-design McDaniel utilized in San Francisco and Miami.

2. The End of the Tua Era in Miami

The most definitive takeaway is that Tua Tagovailoa will not be playing for the Dolphins in 2026. Darlington states this bluntly, noting that "people in authority" in the building feel the situation is over.

NFL Angle: Miami will be in the market for a veteran QB or a high-profile rookie. Tua’s market value is now a major question mark given the "skittish" play and injury history mentioned in the discussion.

3. The Breakdown of the Coach-QB Relationship

Darlington reveals a significant rift: despite McDaniel being the one who "got Tua paid" and supported him publicly, the relationship felt "disjointed" by the end.

Wildly Interesting: There is a sense that Tua may have pushed back, essentially saying "Mike’s not my guy," despite McDaniel’s efforts to protect him through play-calling. This suggests a total locker room culture shift is coming to Miami.

4. Lessons from the "Adam Gase" Path

The group discusses how Mike McDaniel avoided the mistake Adam Gase made by jumping immediately into a bad head coaching situation (the Jets) after being fired.

NFL Angle: The consensus is that McDaniel is "learning on the job." By taking the Chargers' job, he is positioning himself to be a much stronger head coaching candidate in 1–2 years, rather than flaming out with a struggling franchise like the Browns.

5. The "Miserable" Reality for Dolphins Fans

Darlington warns that Dolphins fans will likely have to watch McDaniel succeed elsewhere. He emphasizes that McDaniel’s leadership is still highly regarded by elite players (mentioning George Kittle and Deebo Samuel would "take a bullet" for him), suggesting that his failure in Miami was more about the "meat grinder" of that specific organization than his actual coaching ability.

The conversation regarding Tua Tagovailoa in this podcast is particularly biting because it moves past "stats" and digs into the psychological and organizational breakdown between him and Mike McDaniel.

Here are the specific, deeper details on the Tua situation from the transcript:

1. The "Betrayal" Narrative

Darlington paints a picture of a coach who essentially martyred his reputation for his quarterback, only for the quarterback to turn on him.

McDaniel’s "Job": Darlington argues that McDaniel’s primary failure (or success, depending on how you look at it) was "falling in love" with Tua. He acted as Tua’s shield against the front office and the public.
The Payday: Darlington is very pointed about the fact that McDaniel is the reason Tua got his massive contract. By the end, however, there was a feeling that Tua essentially signaled "Mike’s not my guy," which Darlington finds "appalling" given how much McDaniel sacrificed to build Tua’s confidence.

2. "Skittish" Play and Play-Calling Protection

The hosts and Darlington discuss the "elephant in the room": the head injuries.

The Protective Bubble: Darlington admits it felt like McDaniel was calling games specifically to protect Tua from himself. This implies the playbook was restricted or "neutered" to prevent Tua from taking hits, which eventually limited the offense's ceiling.
The Confidence Crumbles: Joe Rose notes that Tua looked like he "lost his confidence" entirely by the end of the season. Darlington mentions that while it’s unfair to say Tua was "mailing it in" after getting paid, the perception in the building was that he was playing "skittish."

3. The GM vs. Coach Dynamic

Darlington drops a very interesting nugget about the Dolphins' internal business:

He suggests the General Manager (Chris Grier) should have been the "bad guy" who refused to pick up the fifth-year option or pay Tua until he proved more.
Instead, McDaniel’s public and private advocacy for Tua forced the team’s hand. Now that it has soured, McDaniel is out, and the team is left with the fallout of a massive contract for a player they no longer believe in.

4. Personality Shifts

The podcast highlights the "different iterations" of Tua’s personality during his Miami tenure:

The Flo Era: Quiet and mistrusting.
The Early McDaniel Era: Open, vibrant, and "the guy."
The End: Scorned and mistrusting again.

This "mistrusting" version of Tua seems to be what finally broke the culture, leading to the "disjointed" feeling in the locker room.

5. The Finality of the Exit

The most "wildly interesting" part is the lack of ambiguity. Usually, reporters use "coach-speak" like it's a fluid situation. Darlington doesn't do that here.

He says, "I don't think it matters to Dolphins fans... I don't think he'll be playing in Miami." * He emphasizes that once the people in authority (the owners and front office) feel a player is playing scared or has lost the room, "it’s over."

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

(*same intro every day) A new daily segment that will take us up to near the beginning of free agency. I’ll go team-by-team, alphabetically, and list the key players who have contracts that are begging or almost assuredly are gonna get them cut. I’m going to list more of the FF ones of interest, but I will list any interesting IDPs or OLs.

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

*Some of these guys might work out a new/reasonable deal before getting released, but I want to show the explosion of guys that might hit the market...and there is already a surge of talent in natural free agency, especially at RB...which is gonna turn FF upside down when all these guys have nowhere to go and sign cheap in places that will FF-piss us off.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: Seattle

(other notes)

-- Defending Super Bowl champs...and currently #6 most CAP space for 2026...insane. GM John Schneider, Ladies and Gentlemen...*bowing with praise*

They can/will cut Uchenna Nwosu and pick up $12M more space.

They will let Rashid Shaheed go into free agency. They still have expensive Cooper Kupp, and they need to pay JSN after that killer 2025 season.

They have money for Kenneth Walker, but I don’t think they want to spend it on an RB...but maybe they CAP him?

They need to pay Coby Bryant as a priority...and they will let Tariq Woolen walk.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

Justin Fields (likely cut)

RB:

Kenneth Walker (free agent?)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Brian Robinson (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent or available in trade)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

A.J. Brown (available in trade)

Tyreek Hill (free agent)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Rashid Shaheed (free agent)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Jauan Jennings (free agent)

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Kendrick Bourne (free agent)

Brandon Aiyuk (?)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

Jahan Dotson (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

Jonnu Smith ($10.8M to play or cut for $3.9M)

David Njoku (free agent)

Dallas Goedert (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Other (that there is possible-to-good-to-great likelihood they won’t get an extension or tag):

OT Rasheed Walker (free agent, but I cannot imagine GB lets him get here...but it’s up in the air)

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

CB Adoree Jackson (free agent)

EDGE Jaelan Phillips (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

CB Tariq Woolen (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

LB Nakobe Dean (free agent)

SAF Reed Blankenship (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

At the very end of RC’s NOTES, for the next 50-60 days...I will share my little diary of my time in Jacksonville (for those who don’t know) getting radiation treatment for my battle with prostate cancer that I am winning -- I am figuratively off to a big 1st-quarter lead and looking strong into the 2nd-quarter of this football game analogy/cancer battle...but just like the Packers-Bears playoff game...it’s not over ‘til it’s over/we got a ways to go.

I am keeping these daily notes so that I might look back over time at this odd, unplanned event in my life. 40 straight weekdays of radiation scheduled, weekends off, unknown side effects ahead...some short-term, with a somewhat scary risk of long-term effects. It’s gonna be a wild ride.

I’m trying to treat this like a vacation, of sorts. Some people save up for a special trip to Hawaii or a European excursion...I could care less about those things. I saved for a rainy day for my protection...and, well... https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxLdSXQWUapDe0CcQznO8Kuqzht631AnEz?si=MqnycTkzVD5mzPnF

(end of intro)

2/21/26, Day 29 in JAX

19 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

4 weeks down, 4 more to go.

This will be known as the day that I...

Hung out with my oldest son most of the day...but also known for getting up at 3:30am with hot flashes and assorted other side effects and couldn’t get back to sleep.

I took him to the infamous Italian place here in JAX = Picassos. Now that I had hyped it up pretty good...I was worried it couldn’t live up to my glowing preview to him.

I told him we MUST get there early because I don’t know how crazy it gets on a Saturday, or not. We got there 30 minutes early, my miscalculation. So, we just chilled in the car and talked (randomly) about World War II and the NY Giants, as one does. I told him to park the car so we can see the building, and when people start lining up we need to go get in line.

11:15am...no one.

11:20am...no one.

I was like, I guess on Saturday’s it may not be as busy for lunch?

11:22am, the first person gets in line...11:23am a small fleet of cars start pulling into the parking lot and getting out going towards the restaurant, so we bolted out of the car to get in line.

He got the Meatball Parm/sub. I got Spaghetti & Meatballs again + their gumbo. I wanted to see if they could kill it on gumbo like they did the Italian fare.

We order, I get my $28 spaghetti & meatballs...confirmed it is actually $28 just like last Monday (it still says $15 on a Google site menu). It wasn’t an error. I think they make the pasta noodles fresh by hand, and you pay (happily) the price for that. We go and sit down.

In 3 minutes, here comes his sub. I was thinking -- wow, my meal took like 15+ minutes to come out last time and his food was out in just a few minutes. So, I expected to wait more time for mine...but told him to dig into his. I watched with anticipation to see his reaction. He hoisted it up, bit down into it...and I could see his face change...it got serious, and he was like WOW that is good. It only took one bite! What fresh bread, toasted perfectly and the meatballs are so good!, he said. I was pleased that he was pleased as he crushed his sub as I waited for my stuff to come out.

Spag & Meatballs = still good. Gumbo = thumbs down. Stick to the Italian fare here. The gumbo was nothing wrong or terrible, just too heavy on the okra and not enough seafood or sausage for my liking.

So...full of pasta...I went back to the hotel, short of sleep from waking up at 3:30am...and took a nice 3+ hour power nap (as I do most every day from the radiation) and worked on football most of the rest of the day. A really good day. Both my boys are sensational and such a pleasure to be around, so it was a good day for sure to be able to hang with my oldest.

My daily food diary...

Day 29 food spend = first day of my 2nd ‘28-day month in JAX’ started out really bad...budget-wise.

BREAKFAST = Raisin Bran breakfast in my hotel room.

LUNCH: Picassos (my cost) = $46 with tip.

DINNER: We went to a different Mexican place than yesterday’s that was awesome...and this wasn’t as awesome as yesterday’s awesome Mexican. My cost was $20

Month #2/day-1 = $66 total spend...so a $66 per day average start for month #2. Need to be frugal the next few days to get back on track.

29-day total food spend = $670...$23.10 per day average.

Month #1 closed. I have 56 days here total, so I am breaking it into two 28 day months/halves. Trying to keep it to $20 a day which I got all kinds of gift cards for it from family and friends during the holidays, etc., to cover approx. $20 a day.

*28-day month #1 of 2 here, final tally = Overbudget/goal by $44 total. Not bad.

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2/21 SAT

(4:44amET)...it's an early morning/bad night of sleep.

Today

-- My next scouting report release.

I am using this weekend to crunch a lot of Dynasty rankings to get them done, version 1.0, before month’s end. Also working on/finishing the first batch of early O-Line grades.

This Week’s Agenda…

-- Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ published yesterday. The RB position group will be after that...working on that now. Holy RB Handcuffs after that.

-- Working on the next wave of full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

-- The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

-- Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

-- My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- I did some research on new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham, and boy am I impressed. Not only impressed with Cunningham but also really impressed with new ‘boss’ Matt Ryan.

The easy thing to do, which I did at first blush, was to roll your eyes at the hiring of Matt Ryan to effectively ‘run’ the Falcons. An ex-QB turned kinda dull ‘analyst’ on CBS (I mean, I guess he was dull...I don’t watch any of that stuff on purpose...but he struck me as blending into the background, neither good nor bad)...then turned ‘President’ in charge of everything of the team he was the long-time QB for. That’s usually a receipt for disaster. *See the abject disaster year one of the Tom Brady side hustle/running the Raiders was...among other laughable ‘ex-QB turned ____’ events.

And maybe Ryan will fail too, but out of all the ex-star QBs that I have seen get some power and be in a press conference suddenly running the show, in this era -- I have never seen one, or I can’t recall one, where the ex-QB was so ‘good’...polished...in command...taking this seriously.

Matt Ryan, the QB...not my favorite, but not disliked by me. Matt Ryan, the first impression as CEO of the Falcons -- loved it. It’s like a create-a-president mode in Madden or something. His press conference presentation grade = A.

Effectiveness-in-action grade = we got a way to go to see how this turns out.

But I’ll give Ryan an initial ‘thumbs up’ out of the gates...and thumbs up on the hiring of new GM Ian Cunningham. I’m quite impressed with Cunningham as well.

His intro press conference was my first intro into Cunningham, and my first impression grade = I give him an A+.

Why an A+?

Three reasons...

1) Cunningham carries himself like a serious leader. He commands a presence. He wasn’t rambling or filled with ‘ums’ as he spoke for the first time. He was straight up serious but also likeable enough.

2) When asked questions by the media, he didn’t say $#!&. Cunningham said words, but they were carefully, artfully crafted ‘nothing’. He didn’t totally give away his top secrets or motivations. He’s polished enough to control the messaging. He wasn’t giving cliches (in-between giving details he shouldn’t give) because he is a walking cliché like most GMs, he was giving cliches (smoothly) to not let a wandering, dopey media into the ‘inner circle’ of things/plans/details the world should not be privy to.

Here’s me congratulating Cunningham for his intro presser: https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxl7TqiFkQnNluaCAg6cJbqyTr5jRUBclG?si=eNiCImr25eYkWjs2

3) You wouldn't know it to look at him today, but Cunningham is a former offensive lineman...and he did give a bit of a nod to how offensive line is the most important thing -- which you know made my heart swoon a little more.

-----------------------------------------------

Extended info/research on Cunningham...

-- 2/20/26 HEADLINE: Falcons GM Ian Cunningham said there are “a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster” when asked if Michael Penix (knee) would be the guaranteed starter when he returns from injury.

In an article written by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Cunningham said the team is “excited about (Penix) and what he’s doing with his rehab,” but didn’t comment on whether he would be locked in as the team’s QB1 for next season.

RC NOTE: The first non-committal talk about Penix from the Falcons that I’ve seen in 2026. Maybe there’s hope for Kirk Cousins to stay with Stefanski after all? Maybe Ryan and Cunningham will run the show the way they want, and Art Blank isn’t making the QB decisions? We’ll see.

If Blank has his way, Cousins is gone (and Cousins may want to be gone from him) and Penix has a job for life/the next year.

If Cunningham-Stefanski-Ryan have their way...this will be different at QB, because it has to be -- you cannot build, long-term, around Penix...not after three ACLs.

-----------------

Ian Cunningham: Profile & Career Deep Dive

Ian Cunningham was hired as the General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons on January 29, 2026. His appointment is viewed as a "homecoming," as he lived in Roswell, Georgia, as a child while his father worked for the Atlanta Olympic Committee. He is widely regarded as one of the most disciplined and well-prepared young executives in the NFL.

Personal Bio & Background

Birthdate: May 3, 1985 (Age 40)
Hometown: Carrollton, Texas (born); Roswell, Georgia (childhood)
Education: University of Virginia (B.A. in Psychology, 2007; M.A. in Education, 2008)
Family: Married to Justine; they have three children: Elliot, Rooney, and Nile.
Athletic Background: A standout offensive lineman at Virginia, starting 31 games and earning Freshman All-ACC honors. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008 but transitioned to scouting immediately after being released.
Sports Heritage: His father, Louis Cunningham, was a sports executive and agent at ProServ (which represented Michael Jordan). His second cousin was the legendary tennis player Arthur Ashe.

Work History & Trajectory

Cunningham’s career is defined by steady, earned promotions within three of the NFL’s most respected front offices.

2008–2012 (Baltimore Ravens): Served as a Player Personnel Assistant.
2013–2016 (Baltimore Ravens): Promoted to Area Scout, covering the Southeast and Southwest regions.
2017–2018 (Philadelphia Eagles): Hired as the Director of College Scouting.
2019–2020 (Philadelphia Eagles): Served as the Assistant Director of Player Personnel.
2021 (Philadelphia Eagles): Promoted to Director of Player Personnel.
2022–2025 (Chicago Bears): Served as Assistant General Manager.
2026–Present (Atlanta Falcons): Currently serving as the General Manager.

Major Achievements

2x Super Bowl Champion: Won rings with the Ravens (Super Bowl XLVII) and the Eagles (Super Bowl LII).
NFC North Title (2025): Played a pivotal role alongside Ryan Poles in the Chicago Bears’ turnaround, resulting in a division title shortly before his move to Atlanta.
Pro Bowl Talent Acquisition: During his Chicago tenure, he was credited with the acquisition of key All-Pros and Pro Bowlers including Montez Sweat, Kevin Byard, Drew Dalman, and Joe Thuney.
Front Office Leader: He was the first person in the history of the Chicago Bears franchise to hold the title of Assistant General Manager.

The "Mentorship Tree" & Key Connections

Cunningham has one of the most prestigious "pedigrees" in modern football. His philosophy is a blend of several distinct front-office styles:

The Ozzie Newsome / Eric DeCosta Connection (Baltimore): He learned "The Raven Way"—building through the draft, valuing compensatory picks, and maintaining a strict, unbiased board. Newsome is often cited by Cunningham as his primary mentor.
The Howie Roseman Connection (Philadelphia): He gained experience in aggressive roster construction, salary cap management, and the use of modern analytics.
The Ryan Poles Connection (Chicago): Poles and Cunningham were both former O-linemen who shared a "trench-first" philosophy and executed a successful cultural turnaround.
The Matt Ryan / Kevin Stefanski Connection (Atlanta): Cunningham reports to Matt Ryan (President of Football Ops) and works alongside Kevin Stefanski. He has noted their shared coaching roots in the Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin trees.

Scouting Philosophy

The "Trenches" First: As a former O-lineman, he prioritizes the O-line and D-line to provide stability for the skill positions.
Draft Currency: He is a firm believer in the "Draft, Develop, Retain" model, viewing picks as currency for long-term success.
Diverse Input: He emphasizes a collaborative process that blends traditional "eye-test" scouting with advanced metrics to inform final decisions.

CUNNINGAM’S INTRO PRESS CONFERENCE

This introductory press conference, held on February 3, 2026, officially introduced Ian Cunningham as the General Manager of the Atlanta Falcons. Alongside him was Matt Ryan, who is serving in a newly created executive leadership role (likely President of Football Operations or similar, reporting directly to Arthur Blank).

---------------------------

Intro Press Conference Summary

The overarching theme was a "homecoming" for Cunningham, a Roswell, Georgia native. Key highlights include:

The "Trench" Philosophy: Cunningham, a former offensive lineman, emphasized building through the offensive and defensive lines. He repeatedly used the mantra "Smart, Tough, Physical" to describe the identity he and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski want to instill.
Process-Driven Scouting: Cunningham credited his mentors—Ozzie Newsome (Ravens), Howie Roseman (Eagles), and Ryan Poles (Bears)—for teaching him the discipline of a structured scouting process that blends traditional "eyeball" scouting with modern analytics.
Collaborative Leadership: Matt Ryan highlighted that Cunningham’s "aligned vision" and experience in every facet of scouting made him the standout candidate. Ryan will be heavily involved, even attending draft meetings starting immediately.
Roster Outlook: Cunningham noted the "cupboard isn't bare," suggesting he views the current roster as having a solid foundation that needs "enhancement" rather than a total teardown.

Top 5 Fantasy Takeaways from the intro presser...

Based on the strategic hints dropped by Cunningham and Ryan, here are the primary fantasy football implications for the 2026 Falcons:

1. A "Workhorse" Environment for Bijan Robinson

Cunningham explicitly mentioned wanting an offense that has the "ability to run the football" to set up the explosive pass game. Coming from the Bears and Eagles systems—both of which prioritized high-volume, efficient rushing attacks—this signals a heavy, consolidated workload for Bijan Robinson. Expect Stefanski to utilize him in a "bell-cow" role similar to Nick Chubb’s peak years in Cleveland.

2. Offensive Line Investment is Priority #1

Cunningham stated, "We are going to build through the trenches... Draft, develop, and retain." For fantasy managers, this is a massive green flag. A GM obsessed with line play usually leads to higher "Yards Before Contact" for RBs and more "Time to Throw" for QBs. If the Falcons use high draft capital on the O-Line this April, it's a direct buff to the entire offensive ecosystem.

3. Michael Penix Jr. is the "Plan A" Future

While they avoided naming a Week 1 starter, Matt Ryan’s update on Michael Penix Jr. was telling. He noted Penix has been "attacking" his rehab and is in a "good space." Cunningham’s history in Baltimore and Philadelphia suggests he values QBs who can "layer the ball" and "push it to all areas." Penix remains a high-upside hold in Dynasty formats, as the new regime seems personally invested in his development.

4. "Smart and Physical" = More Red Zone Efficiency

Cunningham and Ryan both stressed "mental and physical toughness." In fantasy terms, this often translates to better goal-line execution and fewer "blown" plays (penalties, turnovers). If Cunningham can translate the "Philly Tough" mentality to Atlanta, look for an uptick in Red Zone TD conversion rates, specifically benefiting big-bodied targets like Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

5. Expect "Calculated" Aggression in Free Agency

Cunningham mentioned he never wants to "mortgage the future for the now" but also said he needs to "add competition to enhance" the roster. This suggests the Falcons won't be "splash" spenders for the sake of headlines, but will target specific, high-efficiency veterans (likely at WR2 or Edge) who fit the Stefanski scheme. This "calculated" approach usually leads to a more stable, predictable fantasy environment.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: San Francisco

(other notes)

-- Middle of the pack in CAP space available as I write this...but no easy way to gain a bunch of space without re-doing deals and pushing money forward, etc. They have a lot of bloated, upside-down contracts right now...with aging players.

They’re kinda caught in the -- stick with this core one more time or blow it all up and start from scratch. In which case, assuming they are giving it one more ride with the core group in 2026, then Kyle Shanahan may be interested in stepping away from this (in 2027) and becoming a free agent HC that can pick his return-to-the-NFL spot to step into whatever great situation there might be.

They really have no choice but to run with this group one more time and then...KABOOM.

-- Free agents of FF interest, all likely not back with the team -- Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, Brian Robinson. I assume Brandon Aiyuk will be cut...but they could just keep him on a reserve list and just never play him and keep him away from the building trying to get him to reduce his deal in order to get cut/move on.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

Justin Fields (likely cut)

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Brian Robinson (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent or available in trade)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

A.J. Brown (available in trade)

Tyreek Hill (free agent)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Jauan Jennings (free agent)

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Kendrick Bourne (free agent)

Brandon Aiyuk (?)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

Jahan Dotson (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

Jonnu Smith ($10.8M to play or cut for $3.9M)

David Njoku (free agent)

Dallas Goedert (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Other (that there is possible-to-good-to-great likelihood they won’t get an extension or tag):

OT Rasheed Walker (free agent, but I cannot imagine GB lets him get here...but it’s up in the air)

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

CB Adoree Jackson (free agent)

EDGE Jaelan Phillips (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

LB Nakobe Dean (free agent)

SAF Reed Blankenship (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/20/26, Day 28 in JAX

19 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

4 weeks down, 4 more to go.

This will be known as the day I...

...ate so much food all day with my son my stomach is about to explode.

Normal day at the hospital.

For lunch, we first-time-tried a Louisiana-themed sports bar that had a unique menu. I had Cajun seafood pasta and gumbo...it was OK, nothing special.

For dinner, we walked to a local Mexican restaurant (that I thought was some kinda retail store for the past 4 weeks here but found out it was an actual restaurant)...and we had some of the best Mexican food I have had in a long time. Nothing radically different than most Mexican restaurants, but they prepared theirs so well...I don’t know how they did it, but they did it so well. Chorizo queso dip was AMAZING. The first time my son had chorizo, and he is now ‘in love’.

I could not eat another bite...until we walked past the DQ on the way home...and my son wanted a sundae, so I got a small vanilla cone just to be sociable.

I could not be filled with any more food in my body if I tried.

Today/Saturday...we are going to the infamous PICASSO’S Italian restaurant, if we can get in for lunch. I hyped it up so much he is dying to go. Hopefully, I didn’t build it up too much!

My daily food diary...

Day 28 food spend = $0, actually.

BREAKFAST = Raisin Bran breakfast in my hotel room.

LUNCH: Cajun food, but my son grabbed the check and scanned it to his phone to pay before I realized what was happening.

DINNER: He did it again at dinner...got the check when I wasn’t paying attention. But I am paying for Picasso’s today.

28-day total food spend = $604...$21.57 per day average.

Overbudget/goal for this 28-day-month by $44. Not bad.

----------------------------------------------------------

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2/20 FRI

(6:15amET)

Today

-- New scouting report.

More prospects added to the positional grades.

This Week’s Agenda…

Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ published yesterday. The RB position group will be after that...working on that now. Holy RB Handcuffs after that.

Working on the next wave of full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

New coaching staff hire’s analysis series...going through the entire staffs...I am working on the framework of how I want to present that. This will be a first ever series (for me) where I go beyond ‘just the new head coaches’. ETA in March.

Senior Bowl Preview Scouting Reports continue with the few I have left to edit/publish...but we now turn to Combine preview reports as well, as we set sail for that mega important event.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- HEADLINE: The Athletic’s Matt Barrows believes the “stars could be aligning” for the 49ers to trade QB Mac Jones.

No.

Duh.

The 49ers are saying they don’t anticipate trading him, but what else are they gonna say? Given the way this draft class is shaping up, in the mainstream, to be Mendoza and no one else...and given the fact that experienced, formerly-loved-then-hated QBs rule now...Mac Jones is going to be a huge desire of several teams -- and they are gonna have to pay A LOT.

Why should the 49ers, who are always dealing with injury issues at all positions and with Purdy, trade Mac Jones for some random draft pick? GM John Lynch is proving to not be able to draft well, no matter what the pick is. So, what’s a 2nd or 3rd-round pick worth to them versus having the ultimate insurance chip on Purdy?

It’s gonna take a 1st-rounder and then some...a 3rd-rounder included too or a player of some note perhaps.

Who even needs a QB to be in the Mac sweepstakes? Here’s my hierarchy of ALL teams needing a QB and where they might stand with pursuing Mac...from least likely to most:

NYJ = Here’s the thing about Kyle Shanahan...he will not screw Mac Jones by sending him to a place with terrible coaching, etc. Even if the Jets offered them two #1 picks, they may not do this to Jones.

And Jones has some leverage in this/where he goes. If he is traded to whatever team, they’ll have to deal with the fact that he’s in the final year of his cheap contract...$4M in pay due for 2026..so, the team that acquires him is also going to want to extend him and get him guaranteed money, etc.

So, if Mac doesn’t want to play long term for the Jets and SF tried to trade him there...he’d tell his agent to tell the Jets GM, he’s only there for 2026, contractually obligated, and won’t sign a new deal...I guess unless it’s like a ridiculous amount offered.

I don’t see SF and this completely unhinged cesspool management team for NYJ making a deal. If they had fired Glenn in January and had a decent offensive mind HC, then Mac might go here.

CLE = Pretty much ditto all that was said in the Jets scenario. No one wants to play for the Browns or Todd Monken.

ARI = I don’t think Kyle Shanahan wants to help out a division rival...nor someone from the recent McVay tree...but Mike LaFleur (new Cards HC) did work for Kyle for a few years in 2017-2020...but I don’t think Kyle wants to see a division rival improve. Arizona would have to make a crazy offer.

MIA = Jones would have some interest in playing (and getting paid) in Florida if he got paid well, but if he has other close options...he’ll choose to go elsewhere to be with offensive minded coaches instead of the defensive mindset of Miami’s new regime...but this is possible. This is sending Mac out of conference by SF. It’s ‘possible’.

MIN = All roads lead to Minnesota. It’s the perfect fit for Jones...and for KOC. This rights the wrongs of the JJM experiment. The Vikings GM that got ousted...KOC may have made a ‘him or me’ gauntlet throw down about replacing JJM...and pursuing Mac J. hard. Now that KOC appears in full control of the Vikings management, I bet he will pay/overpay for the most obvious move of the year.

Justin Jefferson would instantly re-spike in value and the Vikings would be taken seriously again.

I have a coffee bet with Ross Jacobs that JJM will NOT be the Week 1 starter in the 2026 season for the Vikings. When they trade for Mac...he should just send me my coffee then and not wait until September.

I purely guess it will be an exchange like: Mac Jones for MIN’s #18 pick in this draft and some other trinket item, and maybe it is even Jordan Addison in the deal, because Addison will want a big extension and the Vikings don’t want any more to do with this headache player. The Vikes will try Addison for Mac straight up, but the 49ers, if they are smart, will put the screws to the Vikings because SF holds all the cards. It might be #18 + Addison for Mac + a 2nd/3rd rounder.

Minnesota desperately needs/wants Mac Jones.

-- HEADLINE: Seahawks OC Brian Fleury said Seattle’s “offense will have continuity from 2025,” while implementing a dynamic run game and keeping things quarterback-friendly in the red zone.

I am a fan of Fleury, but unsure of how he’ll do with this first big step up. He’s been an interesting story/background rise through the coaching ranks. A very unique skillset leading him to this point. Nice promotion here. I think Fleury could wind up to be a better coordinator and eventual better head coach than Klint Kubiak.

GEMINI notes/history on Fleury:

As of February 2026, Brian Fleury has reached a new peak in his career, recently being named the Offensive Coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. His path is one of the more unique in the NFL, as he spent years coaching defense and working in analytics before becoming a rising star on the offensive side of the ball.

Here is the breakdown of his biography, coaching history, and tree.

Coaching Biography & Philosophy

Brian Fleury is widely regarded as a "hybrid" mind in the NFL. A former college quarterback, he spent the first decade of his coaching career almost exclusively on the defensive side of the ball and in football research/analytics. This defensive background is his "secret weapon" as an offensive play-caller; he approaches offensive design by looking for the specific keys and tells that he used to exploit as a defensive coordinator and analyst.

His philosophy is rooted in the Kyle Shanahan/Gary Kubiak system, emphasizing a "fast, violent, and aggressive" style. He is known for elite-level attention to detail, a trait that helped him develop George Kittle into a perennial All-Pro and earned him the trust of Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.

Coaching History

The Early Years (College & Defensive Roots)

2003–2004: Maryland – Began as an offensive intern and graduate assistant.
2005–2008: Sacred Heart – Moved to the defensive side, starting as a secondary coach before being promoted to Defensive Coordinator for his final three seasons.
2009–2012: Towson – Served as the Special Teams Coordinator and defensive backs coach.

The NFL Leap & Analytics Stint

2013: Buffalo Bills – Entered the NFL as a defensive quality control coach under Doug Marrone.
2014–2015: Cleveland Browns – Served as an assistant and then outside linebackers coach.
2016–2018: Miami Dolphins – Transitioned to the front office/support side as a Football Research Analyst and eventually the Director of Football Research. This period solidified his reputation as a "numbers and trends" expert.

The San Francisco 49ers Ascent

2019: Defensive Quality Control – Joined Kyle Shanahan’s staff, returning to his defensive roots.
2020–2021: Offensive Quality Control – Shanahan moved him to the offensive side to provide a "defensive perspective" to the offensive room.
2022–2024: Tight Ends Coach – Took over the TE room, where George Kittle saw massive production and multiple All-Pro honors.
2025: Run Game Coordinator & Tight Ends Coach – Given more responsibility over the 49ers' vaunted rushing attack during their 2025 campaign.

The Current Role

2026–Present: Seattle Seahawks (Offensive Coordinator) – Hired by Mike Macdonald to replace Klint Kubiak. This marks Fleury's first opportunity as a primary NFL play-caller.

The Coaching Tree

The Mentors (The Roots)

Brian Fleury’s tree is a blend of the most influential "system" coaches in modern football:

Kyle Shanahan: The primary influence on his offensive philosophy and run-game design.
Mike Pettine & Doug Marrone: Influenced his early NFL defensive foundations in Cleveland and Buffalo.
Adam Gase: While in Miami, Fleury worked in the research department during Gase's tenure, honing his analytical approach to game planning.
Ralph Friedgen: His original mentor at Maryland who gave him his start in coaching.

The Proteges (The Branches)

While Fleury is just now entering a coordinator role (which is usually when a coach begins to sprout their own tree), he has already influenced several key figures:

Klint Kubiak: The two worked side-by-side in San Francisco (2023). When Kubiak left Seattle to become the Raiders' Head Coach, he reportedly recommended Fleury as the man to maintain the system.
The 49ers TE Room: While not coaches, his "developmental tree" includes George Kittle, whom he helped maintain elite status, and young players like Elijah Arroyo and AJ Barner, who are expected to be centerpieces of his new Seahawks offense.

The Connection

His move to Seattle creates a fascinating branch of the Shanahan Tree meeting the Mike Macdonald (Ravens/Harbaugh) Tree. This hybrid of Shanahan’s offense and Macdonald’s defensive culture is currently one of the most talked-about schematic marriages in the NFL.

The GEMINI summary of the intro press conference for Fleury:

Fleury isn't here to tear down the system that just won the Super Bowl; he’s here to refine it using the "gold standard" principles of the Kyle Shanahan offense.

Top 5 Fantasy Takeaways

1. The "Shanahan" Influence is Real

Fleury explicitly stated that both he and former OC Klint Kubiak were primarily influenced by Kyle Shanahan. Expect the core tenets of that system to remain: heavy outside zone runs, pre-snap motion to create mismatches, and a high volume of "play-action" to generate explosive passing plays.

Fantasy Impact: This is a "buy" signal for the entire offense. The Shanahan system is historically the most fantasy-friendly scheme for both RBs and efficient QB play.

2. Heavy Focus on the "Dynamic" Run Game

Fleury noted that success in the Red Zone comes from "people who can run it in." He specifically praised Kenneth Walker III (the Super Bowl MVP) and mentioned his desire to maintain a "dynamic run game." He also confirmed that a fullback is "on the menu," suggesting a return to the 21-personnel (2 RB, 1 TE) looks that the 49ers used to dominate the league.

Fantasy Impact: Kenneth Walker III remains a top-tier RB1 candidate. If he re-signs, his volume and high-value touches (red zone) are solidified.

3. Red Zone: Horizontal Over Vertical

Fleury gave a glimpse into his scoring-area philosophy: "attack people more horizontally than vertically." This usually means a lot of "mesh" concepts, jet sweeps, and flat routes designed to let playmakers catch the ball in space and run it in.

Fantasy Impact: This is massive for Rasheed Shaheed and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If they are used on horizontal crossers and "man-beater" routes in the red zone, their TD upside increases significantly.

4. Tight End Usage (The "Kittle" Effect)

Given Fleury’s background as George Kittle's position coach, he was asked about 12 and 13 personnel (2 or 3 Tight Ends). He emphasized using personnel to drive matchups. He wants to force defenses into "conflicts" using versatile tight ends.

Fantasy Impact: Keep a very close eye on the Seahawks' TE room in training camp. Fleury’s history suggests he knows how to turn a physical TE into a focal point of the passing game.

5. Tempo as a Weapon

Fleury mentioned putting pressure on defenses through "both schematic and tempo standpoints." While the Shanahan system is often slow-paced to control the clock, Fleury’s mention of tempo suggests he may be willing to "step on the gas" to prevent defensive substitutions.

Fantasy Impact: Higher tempo equals more total plays per game. More plays = more fantasy points. This raises the floor for Sam Darnold (or whoever is under center) and the primary pass-catchers.

Summary of Fleury’s Intro Presser

Philosophy: "Fast, violent, and aggressive." It will look very similar to the 2025 Super Bowl-winning offense but with "supplemental" ideas Fleury brought from San Francisco.
Play Calling: This will be Fleury's first time calling offensive plays. He plans to do it from the sideline (not the booth) to have face-to-face communication with his players.
Defense-First Perspective: Fleury believes his years coaching defense allow him to "diagnose" an opponent's coverage structure faster than most OCs, helping him find "answers" mid-game.
Roster Continuity: He emphasized his desire to keep free agents like Kenneth Walker III and Rasheed Shaheed, calling them key pieces of the "culture" visible on film.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: Pittsburgh

(other notes)

-- Bottom top CAP space right now, but they can cut Cam Heyward for $14M+ savings. A Patrick Queen cut will save $13M+. Jonnu Smith cut will add $7M+. A lot of cuts to come as Mike McCarthy purges the past that long time needed to go. But Aaron Rodgers will get a chunk of all those cut player saving to play for 2026.

And no way Rodgers lets Kenneth Gainwell go away in free agency.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

Justin Fields (likely cut)

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent or available in trade)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

A.J. Brown (available in trade)

Tyreek Hill (free agent)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

Jahan Dotson (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

Jonnu Smith ($10.8M to play or cut for $3.9M)

David Njoku (free agent)

Dallas Goedert (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Other (that there is possible-to-good-to-great likelihood they won’t get an extension or tag):

OT Rasheed Walker (free agent, but I cannot imagine GB lets him get here...but it’s up in the air)

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

CB Adoree Jackson (free agent)

EDGE Jaelan Phillips (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

LB Nakobe Dean (free agent)

SAF Reed Blankenship (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/19/26, Day 27 in JAX

18 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

3+ weeks down, 4+ more to go.

This will be known as the day I:

....I haggled with the finance people over confusing billing

...and had to contact all the med providers to fix a broken link in the chain of events causing me angst -- my most important med gets sent 2-weeks dose at a time (for $1,400 a batch every 2-weeks) and insurance gets prickly if I try to order early to sit on supply and it cause some bad ramifications I had to fix.

...and best of all, my son came in from Orlando and we had some Mod Pizza and talked about life for a while.

My daily food diary...

Day 27 food spend = Bad eggs, bad bacon, hotel sausage + oatmeal hotel breakfast (doc wants me eating more protein, and he was right. Better day not starting it with a giant bowl of fibrous oatmeal.

LUNCH: Leftovers. Grocery trip, but mom sent a Publix gift card just to be nice and it covered my necessities...and, yes, pop tarts is a necessity...hey, they were on sale for $2 a box...got one Cinnamon Brown Sugar for the first time in a long time. So good. No cost trip!

DINNER: MOD Pizza $18.00 (my cost for me, but I did pay for my son of course)...but now I got rewards for a free pizza from MOD.

$18 spend for the day.

27-day total food spend = $604...$22.37 per day average. One more day until I close my ‘first month’ food and drink budget. I have 56 days here total, so I am breaking it into two 28 day months/halves. Trying to keep it to $20 a day which I got all kinds of gift cards for it from family and friends during the holidays, etc., to cover approx. $20 a day.

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2/19 THU

(5:44amET)

Today

-- HOLY QB list discussion report posts today...the first in the series.

More prospects added to the positional grades.

This Week’s Agenda…

Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ will publish today. The RB position group will be after that. Holy Handcuffs after that.

Working on the next wave of full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

Senior Bowl Preview Scouting Reports continue with the few I have left to edit/publish...but we now turn to Combine preview reports as well, as we set sail for that mega important event.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- HEADLINE: TMZ reports Rashee Rice was accused of “violent and abusive behaviors” in a lawsuit filed by the mother of two of his children.

I mean, this guy... He’s showing all the signs of a potential menace to society. He can’t go 3-6 months without some new allegations or issues. He and Tyreek ought to be fast BFFs if Hill reunites with the KC penal colony/Chiefs.

Rice seems like he’s trying to get...

(a) suspended for a full year if there is ANYTHING to these allegations...and I would normally say this is just baby mama drama (possible false allegations for money extortion via the law/monthly support) but with Rashee being involved specifically it makes you stop and think it may fit an M.O.

And (b) KC is gonna walk away from him soon or in free agency...no way they can in good conscience give this guy a major extension, but it is the Chiefs.

KC was theorized to have had a bit of an edge 5-10 years ago taking on guys (like Tyreek) who had bad backgrounds but were good at football, and it paid off for years/titles...but it won’t pay off in this era of abundant talent and high character talent flooding the NFL. It’s not the slick ‘edge’ it once was.

One of the Chiefs ways of doing business is ‘done’. They will be squashed by the Chargers and Broncos for the next few years until they massively overhaul that out-of-date coaching staff and GM. Not that the staff isn’t ‘OK’ or that they’re like ‘incompetent’...I just have a gut feeling that time has passed them by. Eric Bieniemy as O-C again...are you kidding me?

-- HEADLINE: Patriots promoted linebackers coach Zak Kuhr to defensive coordinator.

I didn’t know much about Kuhr’s background until this past year when he was forced to become the kinda interim D-C...until now he’s officially the D-C. Obviously, the Pats had a solid defensive season. But I researched him a bit more, here’s a little summary of his background.

Also, he took over as D-C ‘on the fly’ right before the season when then D-C Terrell Williams got diagnosed with (gulp) prostate cancer. Williams stepped down to battle prostate cancer and seems to have beaten it/has it under control some(?).

Wait, I was supposed to take the NFL season off when I got diagnosed with prostate cancer before the season started? Dang it!

=Notes=

Zak Kuhr is a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks, recently promoted to the Defensive Coordinator of the New England Patriots on February 17, 2026. He gained national attention during the 2025 season by serving as the team's de facto defensive coordinator and primary play-caller, leading them to Super Bowl LX.

Coaching Bio

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Kuhr graduated from the University of Florida in 2013 with a degree in sports management. Unlike many coordinators, he did not play college football; instead, he began coaching at a very young age in the Jacksonville high school circuit. He is currently 37 years old and is noted for his high energy, concise communication, and his unique "crossover" expertise, having spent the first decade of his career almost exclusively on the offensive side of the ball before transitioning to defense in the NFL.

Coaching Tree and Connections

Kuhr’s professional network is heavily anchored by Mike Vrabel. Their connection dates back to 2011 at Ohio State, where Vrabel was an assistant and Kuhr was an intern.

The Vrabel Connection: Kuhr is considered a "longtime lieutenant" of Vrabel. Vrabel hired him for his first NFL job in Tennessee and brought him to New England as one of his first hires.
Defensive Mentors: Despite his offensive roots, Kuhr has been mentored by prominent defensive minds including Jim Schwartz, Shane Bowen (whom he worked under with both the Titans and Giants), and Terrell Williams.
College Ties: He worked under Urban Meyer at Ohio State and Tom Herman at Texas. He also has strong ties to Everett Withers, serving on his staff at both James Madison and Texas State.

Coaching History

Kuhr's career began in the Florida high school and small college ranks before moving through high-profile FBS programs and eventually the NFL.

Early Career & College (Offensive Focus)

Mandarin & Westside (formerly N.B. Forrest) High Schools: Assistant Coach / Offensive Coordinator
Edward Waters College (2009–2010): Special Teams Coordinator
Ohio State (2011–2012): Intern (Worked with Urban Meyer and Mike Vrabel; mentored Carlos Hyde)
Old Dominion (2013): Graduate Assistant
James Madison (2014–2015): Running Backs Coach; promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator in 2015
Rutgers (2016): Running Backs Coach
Texas State (2017–2018): Co-Offensive Coordinator / Running Backs; promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2018
Texas (2019): Assistant Coach under Tom Herman

NFL Career (Defensive Focus)

Tennessee Titans (2020–2023): Defensive Quality Control Coach; later promoted to Inside Linebackers Assistant. Vrabel specifically moved him to defense to help players understand modern "college-style" spread and RPO schemes.
New York Giants (2024): Defensive Assistant under DC Shane Bowen.
New England Patriots (2025): Inside Linebackers Coach. He was elevated to interim play-caller in Week 2 after DC Terrell Williams stepped away for medical treatment.
New England Patriots (2026–Present): Defensive Coordinator. Promoted full-time following the team's Super Bowl LX appearance.

Updates on Terrell Williams (I had to know!):

The diagnosis was a significant story throughout the 2025 season, as Williams had to step away from his role as Defensive Coordinator following the team's Week 1 game to undergo treatment.

Recent Health Updates (February 2026)

There is excellent news regarding his condition:

Cancer-Free: As of late January 2026, reports confirmed that Williams is officially cancer-free and has received a clean bill of health.
Return to Team: He was healthy enough to travel with the team to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX earlier this month.
New Role: On February 12, 2026, the Patriots announced that Williams is moving into a high-ranking role within Mike Vrabel's staff. This move allows him to remain a key part of the organization in a potentially less taxing capacity while he continues his recovery, while Zak Kuhr (who filled in during his absence) is expected to take over the Defensive Coordinator duties full-time.

Williams has spoken publicly about the experience, noting that he actually discovered the cancer after seeking treatment for what he thought was a simple stomach bug, which led to the life-saving tests.

RC NOTE: GUYS!!! Make them check your PSA on your annual physical!

GUYS!!! Don’t be like me and skip your annual physicals for gaps of time because you ‘feel fine’. Catch this early...get a simple blood test. Especially over age 40...don’t wait until age 50+.

-- Speaking of the Patriots, some latest quotes/news on Kyle Williams. FYI...

February 2026 (Reflecting on 2025 Season)

Reports from Heavy Sports and 98.5 The Sports Hub indicate that McDaniels and the staff have given Williams specific "homework" for the 2026 offseason:

"What the Patriots need is for Williams to become more of a factor after the catch. To use his play speed in more varied ways, like running quick crossers to give quarterback Drake Maye an easy read under pressure."

They love his "go" routes and vertical speed, but they have explicitly told him he needs to improve on intermediate routes and YAC (Yards After Catch).

I thought Kyle Williams could hit the ground running in 2025, but either he is ‘behind’ on things...or this staff can’t develop rookie weapons well (see: TreVeyon Henderson). This is a somewhat make or break offseason for Kyle...to prove he can play with the big boys.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: Philadelphia

(other notes)

-- Not a ton of CAP space at the moment but they’ll let Dallas Goedert go to free agency. They’ll cut CB Michael Carter for $9M savings by taking a very small hit to cut. Philly should have some room to maneuver a little in free agency.

And surely they are gonna trade A.J. Brown and make the receiving team pay most/all the money...if that is true then they will really start to gain a bunch more CAP space.

But Jordan Davis will want an early extension among a few others that may be looking at the same. We’ll see how they maneuver things and if any free agents are interested to go here...as no coaches seem to wanna go here based on this offseason’s activity. Philly seems like a slow sinking ship right now. The seat is HOT for Nick Sirianni.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

Justin Fields (likely cut)

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent or available in trade)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

A.J. Brown (available in trade)

Tyreek Hill (free agent)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

Jahan Dotson (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

David Njoku (free agent)

Dallas Goedert (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Others (that there is a possible-to-good-to-great likelihood they won’t get an extension or tag):

OT Rasheed Walker (free agent, but I cannot imagine GB lets him get here...but it’s up in the air)

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

EDGE Jaelan Phillips (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

CB Adoree Jackson (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

LB Nakobe Dean (free agent)

SAF Reed Blankenship (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/18/26, Day 26 in JAX

17 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

3+ weeks down, 4+ more to go.

This was a quiet day...to be known as the day my nurse and doctor meets with me (every Wed.) to review my prior week of treatments. Usually, it’s all good and light and ‘keep up the good work’, etc. But this time my doctor got a little serious and said (paraphrasing), “Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it...the slight side effects you’ve been dealing with...buckle up for the next 2 weeks because they will likely get worse, it’s the peak of the side effects and then the radiation shifts to a different mode/targeting and isn’t so harsh on things inside you...and you’ll slowly start to get back to some normal day by day with a full recovery from all this radiation in late April or May.”

So, I got that to look forward to!

Keep the prayers going, those of you on my prayer team/army. Two weeks of boot camp are coming, and then we start to come out the other side after that and go on the road to slow reducing of the side affects.

My daily food diary...

Day 26 food spend = Giant oatmeal hotel breakfast, as usual, but the doctor said to stop and eat some more proteins and smaller oatmeal consumption!

LUNCH: Chipotle FREE rewards burrito, so I went all ritzy and got a barbacoa with my free pass...as I do with all my free ones. Chicken when I pay...barbacoa when it’s on the house!

Dinner in my room, finishing off my leftovers.

$0 spend for the day. 2nd day in a row for that!

26-day total food spend = $586...$22.53 per day average. Two more days until I close my ‘first month’ food and drink budget. I have 56 days here total, so I am breaking it into two 28 day months/halves. My mom just sent me a $200 Publix gift card out of the blue to help my budget. Thanks, Mom! BTC Chris with the sweet Starbucks gift the day prior. Let’s GOOO!! Who else wants to feed a poor, starving cancer patient in Florida?

The good news is...I just hit my Maximum Out of Pocket (or AKA the new acronym I just learned today = MOOP...I hit my MOOP) spend of $6,000 for the year...everything else, medically, is free from here!! The bad news is...now I gotta pay that forst6 $6K for real!!

I saw an invoice hit my account today that put it over the top: $60,000+ for pre-scan/mapping...$57,000+ paid by insurance. Thank God for insurance!!! All the years I never really used any insurance for anything in my younger days...now I am getting ALL my money back, and some of your money too! Thanks for pitching in via your collective work insurance premiums. Hopefully you’ll always be a contributor in your life and never a user, like me now. So, seriously...thank you on behalf of all the people up here I see. We all needed it. God Bless my insurance company, God Bless the American workers, and God Bless American medical treatments and advancements -- the best in the world no matter what nitpicks people make at it. U-S-A!!!

----------------------------------------------------------

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2/18 WED

(7:35amET)

Today

-- Planned to post a first look/early computer model scouting grades on the top WR-b (big) prospects. Yesterday we posted the first wave of WR-b.

Possible next scouting report to post, if completed.

This Week’s Agenda…

Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ will publish week of 2/16. RB position group will be after that. Holy Handcuffs after that.

Working on the next wave of full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

Senior Bowl Preview Scouting Reports continue with the few I have left to edit/publish...but we now turn to Combine preview reports as well, as we set sail for that mega important event.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- NOTE ON OUR POSITIONAL GRADES HITTING...

Just a note on these early grades we’re putting out...it’s all estimated measurables (sizes, speed) unless we have Senior Bowl weigh in numbers + we’re just raw dumping their statistical outputs but haven’t refined all of them + any of my scouting notes that I’ve done on them or full reports.

It’s just getting to first base with this process on some...we got to second base (and taking a lead towards third) on the ones we have full scouting reports on. This is the early info...it’s all gonna move like the stock market as we discover things that need adjusting and as we get Combine data and Pro Day data.

Soon...there will not be just a ‘talent grade’...we will also add an ‘NFL Draft value’ and a ‘Dynasty Rookie Draft value’ with it and have one big board always moving daily/weekly up to the draft, after the draft, during the preseason. When I have a few more waves of players in, I will start to bring everything all together for one big, fluid, multi-use, usable (searchable, filterable) master sheet along with the individual positional sheets.

-- HEADLINE: Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reports the Cardinals are “intrigued” by Bears QB Tyson Bagent.

Well, well, well.

If the new Cardinals regime shoots their shot at Bagent, and scores, then I am willing to back up on my concerns with that group.

They can be ‘intrigued’ all they want, they are likely not alone...but will they DO something about it...will they make the trade/pay the price?

I doubt Ben Johnson is letting Bagent go easily with two years remaining on Bagent’s contract. A backup QB like Bagent, which is having a legit top 20 or so (today) starter on your bench) is worth his weight in gold in case Caleb goes down.

-- HEADLINE: The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt believes the Jets will “probably” use the franchise tag on RB Breece Hall.

It was always headed this way. The Jets have a TON of CAP space, and no one who wants to play for them. They can afford to TAG Breece.

I think one of 3 things happens here...

1) They tag him and he’s stuck for at least this year (and then there will be a new regime next year).

2) They tag him to trade him...or seeing what he’s worth in trade (which won’t be much given the deal he’ll want).

3) They offer him a huge deal/contract extension that he has to take because RBs gotta take the money now before they are made obsolete.

Breece owners, pray it is not #3...

-- HEADLINE/NEWS: Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said the Seahawks front office might “believe that (Kenneth) Walker won’t get what he’s looking for on the open market” and make a run at bringing him back to Seattle on a short-term deal.

If that is a real inside info, it just adds to the GM John Schneider legend...that he is so far ahead of the other GMs it’s crazy, and more reason why doubting him (by me) was lethal as he just rebuilt his team anew and won another Super Bowl (that belonged to the Rams or Chargers).

How many ways can the Seahawks show that they are not married or strongly in love with Kenneth Walker? Had Zach Charbonnet not gotten hurt, this Walker stuff isn’t even that much of a story.

Some sucker team will make a big move/big spend for Walker, I’m sure. Seattle is not showing signs of clutching hold of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Schneider rope-a-doped that he was gonna CAP him/retain him, just to drive up a trade value...that he becomes the first NFL GM to boldly ‘sell high’ that I can recall.

-- HEADLINE: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Packers assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is stepping down.

A big loss for GB...and a very odd timing.

If you think established head coaches losing mass chunks of their coaching staff in an offseason bodes poorly for the next season...Green Bay and Minnesota, in the NFC North, are in big trouble.

-- HEADLINE: ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes TE Isaiah Likely would be a good fit for the Commanders offense.

I wasn’t thinking about Washington for Likely...I’ve been focusing on the Eagles rumors people are telling me. But I like either spot. If Likely signs with WSH or PHI or some other team where he can be ‘the guy’ at TE...he will race from current Dynasty TE2 to TE1, around #8-12 overall, eventually. My guess.

-- You wanna know how fast AI and robotics is changing?

https://x.com/balajis/status/2023431767827583434

Imagine another year from now.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: New York Jets

(other notes)

-- The Jets have a ton of CAP space, but they are going to have run into the Cleveland Browns perpetual free agency problem -- no free agent wants to play there. So, they will have to radically overpay mediocre free agents just to fill the roster.

They will probably cut Justin Fields and break the big $$ loss up over two years. Harrison Philips is going to get cut too for $7M savings. This will add more space to the big space they’re gonna have.

Free agents of notes who will RUN from this Jets situation...they are more likely to go to Cleveland now, over the Jets...no one in their right mind wants to play for Aaron Glenn: Andre Cisco, Quincy Williams, and possibly they lose OLs John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Breece Hall will want to go, but they will probably TAG him to hold him there for another year...but maybe they trade him after that. He doesn’t want to be there...not sure the deranged Aaron Glenn loves him either.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

Justin Fields (likely cut)

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent, but I can’t imagine Dallas lets him go to FA)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

Tyreek Hill (free agent)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

David Njoku (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Other (that there is possible-to-good-to-great likelihood they won’t get an extension or tag):

OT Rasheed Walker (free agent, but I cannot imagine GB lets him get here...but it’s up in the air)

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/17/26, Day 25 in JAX

16 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

3 weeks down, 5 more to go.

A pretty quiet day.

I am hitting the peak of side effects for the next two weeks...

1) I’m in a ‘bathroom urgency’ phase of treatments (FUN!!!)...the radiation beams hit several internal spots during this ‘carpet bombing’ stage of the radiation. There are some friendly fire hits internally causing irritation and issues...it’s temporary, unless they are really bad at their job...then it could be permanent, but I’m in a top-notch place and I have no worries.

Everything is manageable but annoying...two days in a row I had to urgently pull over to a convenient store partway back to the hotel, on a 20-minute drive back. After treatment in the morning, I can’t go 20 minutes without having to deal with things. It calms down from noon on, but it’s the hour or so ‘right after’ part of doing my treatment that’s the issue.

2) Fatigue is hitting its peak. I get so tired after noonET. 3-hour naps are now the norm, when I wake up from that I am full of energy from like 5-11p.

My daily food diary...

Day 25 food spend = Breakfast at Starbucks at 5:30am thanks to Bet The Close Chris who sent me a very generous Starbucks gift, so I put it to use! But then I had my free hotel oatmeal. I ate homemade Mac & Cheese my wife brought this past weekend, and homemade sweet cornbread my Sister-in-Law sent with her as well...I ate them for both lunch and dinner, no cost to me.

$0 spend for the day.

25-day total food spend = $586...$23.44 per day average. Three more days until I close my ‘first month’ food and drink budget. I have 56 days here total, so I am breaking it into two 28 day months/halves.

----------------------------------------------------------

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2/17 TUE

(7:33amET)

Today

-- A new 1st-round mock draft planned for release.

Planned to post a first look/early computer model scouting grades on the top WR prospects.

Possible next scouting report to post, if completed.

This Week’s Agenda…

Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ will publish week of 2/16. RB position group will be after that. Holy Handcuffs after that.

Working on the next full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

Senior Bowl Preview Scouting Reports continue with the few I have left to edit/publish...but we now turn to Combine preview reports as well, as we set sail for that mega important event.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- HEADLINE: Tyreek Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Hill wants to continue playing once he is fully recovered from his knee injury.

So, Miami cut a bunch of payroll yesterday, but that only moved them up to #21 in cap space available...and now #1 in dead cap hits for 2026. This is absolutely a poorly run team, from the top (owner) on down. And my current prediction is that the new regime is even worse than the prior regime. I don't think this is getting better anytime soon. The Miami Dolphins have become the Cleveland Browns South.

As for Tyreek Hill's future...

Let me share some GEMINI medical research, the latest, for Tyreek...and one of the lines/rehab techniques he’s doing might blow your mind (you’ll know what I am referring to when you see it):

Medical Context: The "Multi-Ligament" Factor

Top sports surgeons, including Dr. Jesse Morse, have categorized this as a "catastrophic" knee injury. This wasn't just an ACL tear; it was a full knee dislocation (tibiofemoral dislocation).

The Complexity: When the knee dislocates, you typically tear at least two, and often three, major ligaments (ACL, PCL, and/or LCL/MCL).
The "Cheetah" Problem: Dr. David Chao has frequently noted that for "twitch" athletes like Hill, the concern isn't just walking or running—it's the explosive lateral cutting and the "fifth gear" of speed. At age 32, the biological ability to "snap" back from a multi-ligament reconstruction is significantly lower than a standard ACL recovery.

Expected Recovery Timeline & Milestones

Hill is currently 4.5 months post-op (surgery was early October 2025).

Current Phase (February 2026): Linear Loading He is currently working on regaining full range of motion and has recently moved to walking without a brace. Doctors look for "quad symmetry" here—making sure his surgical leg isn't wasting away (atrophy).
Next Phase (March – May 2026): The Agility Wall This is where Dr. Jesse Morse suggests we will see the truth. Hill must transition from straight-line jogging to lateral "cutting" drills. If there is persistent swelling or "looseness" in the joint, the timeline pushes back.
The Physical Threshold (July 2026): Any team interested in signing him will put him through a "rigorous" physical. Failing the Dolphins' physical today suggests the knee is nowhere near "football stable" yet.

*I asked GEMINI if Tyreek was doing anything cutting edge for surgery and/or rehab...

Tyreek Hill is indeed utilizing "new age" and radical recovery methods to combat the traditional 15-month timeline for a knee dislocation. Given his release from the Dolphins today (February 16, 2026), these interventions are his only path to proving he can still be "The Cheetah."

Here is the breakdown of the radical surgery and rehab techniques he is currently employing, with insights from top football doctors.

1. Radical Surgery: "Internal Bracing" & Multi-Ligament Augmentation

Rather than just a standard ACL reconstruction, Hill underwent what Dr. Jesse Morse and NFL insiders described as a "major reconstruction" in one single procedure.

The "Internal Brace": It is highly likely Hill’s surgeons used Internal Brace Technology (FiberTape). This involves a thick, high-strength suture that acts as a "seatbelt" for the new ligaments.
The Benefit: According to Dr. David Chao, this allows for "accelerated early range of motion." Unlike traditional surgery where you remain immobilized for weeks, Hill was able to start "passive motion" almost immediately, which helps prevent the massive scar tissue common in knee dislocations.

2. Regenerative Medicine: Antigua Stem Cell Therapy

Hill has been open about his use of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) therapy in Antigua.

The Procedure: These are typically expanded cord-tissue stem cells that are not yet FDA-approved for orthopedic use in the U.S. at these specific concentrations.
The Goal: He is using these to "regenerate cells" and improve "correct blood flow." For a knee dislocation—where the popliteal artery is often stretched or damaged—this is a radical attempt to ensure the reconstructed ligaments receive maximum nutrition and heal faster than a "normal" person.

3. BFR Training (Blood Flow Restriction)

As noted by medical experts tracking his recent videos, Hill is heavily utilizing BFR Training.

How it works: He wears a specialized tourniquet on his upper thigh that limits blood flow while he does low-intensity exercises.
Why it’s radical for him: It "tricks" the brain into thinking the muscle is doing heavy lifting. This allows Hill to build quad strength and prevent atrophy without putting "game-level" stress on his newly repaired ACL/PCL/MCL.

Expert Opinions on the "Radical" Approach

Dr. Jesse Morse (@DrJesseMorse)

Dr. Morse has been the most vocal "realist" on this. He recently noted that while Hill is " brace-free" as of last week, the biological timeline for a 32-year-old’s ligaments to "ligamentize" (turn from a graft into a real ligament) cannot be shortened by stem cells alone. He maintains that a 15-month timeline is standard, and Hill's attempt to return in 10-11 months is a "high-wire act."

Dr. David Chao (@ProFootballDoc)

Dr. Chao has emphasized that the "failed physical" today isn't necessarily a sign that rehab is going poorly; it’s a sign that the radical methods haven't yet reached the "stability" phase. He warns that even if Hill gets his speed back, his "lateral snap"—the ability to stop and start on a dime—is the last thing to return and the most likely thing to be permanently diminished.

------------------------------------

2026 Return Scenarios & Likelihoods

1. The "PUP List" Mid-Season Return (Likelihood: 65%)

This is the most realistic path supported by medical consensus.

The Plan: Hill signs a 1-year incentive-heavy deal in the summer but starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Timeline: Returns to game action in October or November 2026 (roughly 13 months post-surgery).
The Outcome: He likely returns as a "situational deep threat" rather than a 100-snap-per-game player. Doctors like Dr. Chao often point out that "Year 1" back from a dislocation is rarely the "productive year"—it's usually the "re-acclimation year."

2. The "Late Season/Playoff" Specialist (Likelihood: 25%)

The Plan: Hill chooses not to sign with a team in the summer, instead focusing on private rehab until he can clock a specific GPS speed (e.g., 21+ MPH).
Timeline: Signs with a Super Bowl contender in December 2026 for a playoff run.
The Outcome: This minimizes the wear and tear on the reconstructed knee and allows him to be a "human joystick" for 15–20 plays a game.

3. The "Week 1" Miracle (Likelihood: 5%)

The Plan: Hill defies the 12–15 month timeline typically cited by Dr. Jesse Morse for 32-year-old speedsters and is ready for training camp in July.
The Outcome: Historically, this is nearly impossible for a multi-ligament dislocation. If he rushes this, the risk of a secondary injury (hamstring or compensatory tear) is extremely high.

4. Forced Retirement (Likelihood: 5%)

The Plan: The speed simply doesn't return. If Hill’s GPS data shows he has dropped from 23 MPH to 19 MPH, his "Cheetah" brand is effectively gone.
The Outcome: He chooses to retire rather than play as a "possession receiver," a role he has never specialized in.

Summary Verdict

The experts (Chao, Morse, Bell) generally agree: Expecting Tyreek Hill to be "Tyreek Hill" in September 2026 is medically aggressive. A November 2026 return at roughly 80-85% of his former self is the grounded expectation.

RC NOTES: Tyreek Hill is likely to be back sometime in the 2026 NFL season...we just don’t know if that’s 4 weeks in or 8 weeks...or not until near/at playoff time.

Will he be back to his normal self, or close? No one knows.

I have deeper Dynasty/Fantasy thoughts about this, and how one might play it. I will share them on a separate report for subscribers.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: New York Giants

(other notes)

-- The G-Men are in pretty good CAP shape. Middle of the pack in CAP space available right now. And they have a couple contracts they can cut and save -- Bobby Okereke possibly goes to save $. Devin Singletary for sure gets axed ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut). Graham Gano is likely done here too.

Free Agents to be: Russ Wilson, Evan Neal (maybe, if they don’t do a deal to bring him back), Wan’Dale Robinson, Cordale Flott, Daniel Bellinger, Dane Belton...some of whom are taking direct flights to Nashville in a few weeks...and that will sting this NYG renaissance right now.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Russell Wilson (free agent)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Devin Singletary ($6.5M to pay to play, $1.3M to cut)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent, but I can’t imagine Dallas lets him go to FA)

Wan’Dale Robinson (free agent...he will go to highest bidder/the Titans)

Tyreek Hill (likely cut or traded)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

David Njoku (free agent)

Daniel Bellinger (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Other:

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/16/26, Day 24 in JAX

15 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

3 weeks down, 5 more to go.

This day will be known for the $44 lunch I had...just me, solo.

This day will also be known as one of the most fun and ‘beautiful’ little vignettes of life I’ve had in my Jacksonville era.

So, there's a good amount of back story here...

Last week, I got into a conversation with the main radiologist technician that's on my daily 3-person team. He asked me if I had big Valentine's week and plans coming up, just making small talk and being friendly, and I told him my wife was coming in for the long weekend and then I was gonna take her out to dinner and that I definitely had to take her to Raising Canes. I then asked him, as the other technicians that were around also got in on the conversation, do you have any restaurant recommendations for me?

The main technician lit up with excitement and said, “ohh man do you like Italian food!?” He was definitely pumped about some Italian food recommendations...and it just so happens, being the native New Yorker, that I am that he was speaking my love language. BUT...I interrupted him to say that I did love Italian food, but I was likely going to a seafood place because being down near the ocean the seafood is so much better here and my wife absolutely loves seafood and she's only ‘OK/fine’ with Italian food... So, for Valentine's Day I was definitely going the seafood route.

Part of my pivot away from the Italian food discussion was also likely rooted in being so disappointed with all Italian food places South of New York-Pennsylvania-New Jersey area. I have lived in like 7 different states in my adult/career life...all Eastern half of the U.S., and mostly South or Midwest...and living in all of those locations but also traveling a lot for work, I got to spend a good amount of time in all the states east of the Mississippi. And in all of those states I've been looking for a great New York style throwback Italian food joint...but to not much avail. There have been 1-2 ‘winners’, but mostly duds. If Olive Garden is the best Italian restaurant in your city, well, then you're like most every city I've lived in since leaving New York-New Jersey.

I’m no great connoisseur by any means...I have the palette and dietary consumption of a rowdy 5-6-7-year-old that you just placate with chicken nuggets, pizza, and hot dogs just to shut them up. I did grow up mostly in New York and I do love basic Italian food like spaghetti and meatballs or a great meatball sub or pasta alfredo, etc., so I know I'm a bit of a food snob on Italian food but overall probably not someone you should follow their recommendations on or their critiques on...but I am who I am...always in search of a great Italian meal...and it doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy it just needs to have heart and soul and pure, usually the kind you can usually only get authentic in the northeast...a place where one can find real slices of pizza the way God intended.

So, when I pivoted away from the Italian food discussion with the radiation tech and was trying to get seafood recommendations -- part of me was just knowing there was likely no way I would find good Italian food in Jacksonville FL of all places. So, we talked about some seafood places and just as I was about to leave the radiation area, I asked my technician hey, you mentioned Italian food pretty excitedly, so you got some hot leads for me? Once again he lit up with delight at the Italian food discussion, and he rattled off the couple very Italian restaurant sounding/name places and I noted them in my phone for future reference. After I logged in his recommendations, I asked him... so, where did you get your love of Italian food from? Did you grow up in New York or something? No, he grew up in Venezuela. Which made me think... ohh boy these recommendations aren't gonna be worth much most likely.

It just so happened that I had an Amazon item to return, and I chose to do that at a local Whole Foods. And when I was scoping out my plan/path to go to Whole Foods, I noticed one of the Italian restaurants he recommended popped up on the map screen...Picassos. So, over this past weekend, I started thinking of a plan where I would leave the hospital at my normal time (10:30-45), then go straight to the Whole Foods which was a little out of the way going back home but I was gonna have to go out of my way anyway, so why not do it on the way home from the hospital? And after that it'll probably be right around 11:00 AM so I can then shoot over to the Italian place and give it a try and see if it's any good. On Monday morning, the plan started sounding better and better and better. I was getting pretty excited for some Italian food.

While I was sitting in the waiting room at the hospital Monday morning, I looked at the Picasso's menu and was even more intrigued...but I also noticed the little mild problem -- they didn't open until 11:30 AM, which was gonna blow my whole brilliant, efficient travel plan of getting to the Whole Foods before 11 AM and then getting out of there by right around 11:00 AM and then going over to eat right around 11:00 AM. I didn't wanna wait 30+ extra minutes out of my to eat at a probably mediocre Italian food place...because I have to watch myself after radiation, because I get very hungry and then I get very tired.

So, I decided to leave it up to God... If my Whole Foods/Amazon return went quickly then I'd just go to the local Chick-fil-A and then go home. But if the Whole Foods event took a while then I'd just shoot over to Picassos that was only 3 minutes away and mess around on my phone until 11:30 AM and then go eat. So, I go into an extremely busy Whole Foods...and when I finally found the Amazon return area -- there was a line 15 people deep with one worker...and I was like, ohh I guess I'm having Italian food for lunch today!

And then there was one lady in line at the Amazon return pulled out like five different bedding sets with sheets and pillowcases that she wanted to return but none of them in any type of packaging or sorted by their color...so when she just dumped a box of assorted bedding on the table to return, forcing the one worker to have to sort it all put it in its proper separate packaging and apply the labels and all that...what would normally send me into orbit and anger, only reaffirmed that God wanted me to go eat at that Italian restaurant...so, I was oddly peaceful with the whole situation.

So, I leave Whole Foods at 11:15 AM and go 3 minutes away to a place that was literally right behind the modern, clean Whole Foods extravaganza/entire massive shopping area...and so I went around that area to this other shopping area behind there...and I think I drove 3-4 minutes or 30-40 years into the past. It was like going into the upside-down version of Hawkins. This strip mall shopping area behind all of the new build massive Whole Foods complex of businesses and eateries...it looked like it all should be condemned by the city. I saw the Picassos among this odd assortment of odd business and empty locations for rent, and I had to make a decision whether to see this through or leave because it looked so bad in that area, but my brain kicked in and said -- you know most great eateries in your lifetime are in places you would never think much of by the looks on the outside, right? So, I decided to side with my brain and with God and I would sit in the parking lot for 10+ minutes and then go in and try this Italian food.

So, as I'm sitting there, looking straight at the building from about 25 yards away, I see a couple older ladies go up to the building and sit on the little bench or chairs that they had outside the facility...which I didn't think much about. Then a minute later a dad with his two preteen kids went to the door and didn't pull on it; they just got up there and moved to the side like they had been there before and they know there's still 7 or 8 minutes left until they open. And then a moment later, what I can only describe it as 5 gentlemen who look like they just walked off the movie set for being extras in Goodfellas got into line, I’m almost positive Sammy The Bull Gravano was there among them...and then another trio of people got behind them and then a family of four got in behind them...and I look around and I see cars are starting to fill the parking area around me, and all of the sudden I was like I better go jump in this line before I miss my opportunity to eat there because I don't wanna wait for 30 more minutes for a table after waiting all this other time.

So, I got into line at just the right time because when the doors opened about 20 of us were able to fit into the inside still in a lineup waiting to go order lunch that would then be delivered to your table when it was ready. And it definitely looked like a throwback local Italian place that I was used to from New York. This place did a kind of quick service/bring it out to your table thing for lunch but it was explained to me at dinner they do a whole seated by a hostess and waitress event for a traditional dinner service. I found this out from two guys that were in line ahead of me, we were packed in like sardines...so we had no choice but to make some small talk, so we did. And when they found out it was my first time eating there it was like a scene out of Goodfellas...all the Italian guys were so excited that it was my first time come on I felt like young Henry Hill after he got arrested and had his court case that got conveniently discharged and then when he walked out of the courthouse the whole mafia family was there waiting for him to celebrate his first time getting pinched...I was the center of attention for all the regulars that were in line.

I captured some video of my time there, so I would never forget: https://youtu.be/8ZXyK0Xg1pk?si=95iEDkBoQ058BFMj&t=32

And all the regulars were telling me that this was the greatest Italian place in that area and that I was gonna love it, so on and so forth. So now I was really excited to try this. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs and a slice of pizza and a regular drink, which I thought was going to be about $25 give or take...and then I saw the amount come up on the credit card terminal thingy as ‘$44’, and I was like what the heck? But if you think I was going to try to debate pricing with the old school Italian lady running the register like a kinder version of the soup Nazi and that I would be caught dead complaining about the prices around all my new Italian friends, you got another thing coming. I paid my mafia tax/the ticket and got a cup to fill my own drink and was given a little placard with my number so they could bring my food out to my table, and I was on my way to go try to find just the right spot to solo eat at.

As I was looking around kind of lost trying to see where I wanted to eat my solo meal at with a restaurant that was filling up fast, the two guys I was talking to most in line shouted over to me: Did I wanna go eat with them/sit at their table? I honestly felt like that lost freshman in a new high school where I didn't know anyone but then some kind soul invited me to sit with them because they saw I was kind of lost and new. The relief from not having to sit alone in a new place (which I also enjoy, so it would’ve been fine)...it's a great feeling when somebody extends that kindness to you. You feel ‘special’ for a moment. If I ever get the chance where I am in such a position, I will pay it forward and invite a friendly person (male) eating solo in line to sit and eat with me/us. So, I told the friendly guys that I didn't want to impose and they assured me I wasn't, but I was just trying to be friendly at the offer because I did want to go sit with them because we had fun talking in line and you never know who you’re gonna meet at places. So I pulled up a seat at their booth and we all talked for like the next 1 1/2 hours about the best food in the area, the best places to live in JAX, how they wound up in Jacksonville, how I wound up in Jacksonville, and we talked politics and the future of AI and we solved all the world's problems in a 1 1/2 hour lunch.

About 20 minutes into our discussions, they brought me my $44 lunch. It didn't look like $44.00 worth of food, but it looked good/fine. And then I tasted it...and all the while I was thinking, if this sucks, how am I going to control my face in front of these guys who think this place is the greatest? So I cut off a piece of meatball and swirled/tangled my spaghetti with my fork and took my first bite...and oh my God, thank you to God for forcing me to go to this place because that was some of the best Italian food I have had in a very long time.

Great food. Got to talk with friendly strangers and make acquaintances. The whole restaurant was filled with people talking/a sweet buzz going on in the space and everybody loving their food and a line still out the door waiting for any of us to leave so that they could come in and eat and sit. It was just such a wonderful experience between the food and the hospitality of the strangers I met. Things like that rarely happen to anyone, it can be a once in a lifetime event. It's been a long time since I've had something like this happen and I am just so thankful to God that he put the circumstances in place that pushed me to go ahead and eat there instead of bailing on the whole concept. Everyone reading this, thank you: Your prayers are working! Not only in me defeating cancer but also getting me to find great Italian food in Jacksonville.

If you're ever in Jacksonville, I'm gonna suggest you check out Picassos...but you need to make a reservation a day or two ahead if you're going for dinner. And if you're going for lunch you better get in line before 11:30 AM to have a chance to get food and be seated.

I'm gonna take my son when he comes to visit me at the tail end of this week just to reconfirm that it really was as good as I thought. I'll report back on my findings just to make sure this is a great recommendation after all.

I'm so thankful for the Picasso's event...but my hopeful food budget allowance is taking some major hits now! But given the choice of staying on budget and having a moment like I had in the middle of this regular day, was just a sweet little moment/slice of life that was so fun and refreshing -- it's well worth going over budget to have the memory of this food and these people. They'll never know that they created a nice little memory for a lifetime.

https://youtu.be/rQV6CijIzrc?si=o2aDn1SlyRq3thfJ

My daily food diary...

Day 24 food spend = Typical weekday hotel giant oatmeal breakfast to stay ‘regular’ for my radiation. $44 lunch and then made myself eat leftovers and stuff at my hotel room for dinner to pay the price for my swanky lunch.

$44 spend for the day.

24-day total food spend = $586...$24.41 per day average...we’re trying to get back in the $20 per day game...but the Valentine’s weekend WAS trouble and then the mafia lunch really blew things up. I also need to replenish some grocery items soon. Not gonna pull off my budget goal for month number one. Not even close. Now I am hoping the $25 per day budget stretch goal can be kept in play.

----------------------------------------------------------

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2/16 MON

(7:32amET)

Today

-- Back to the grind Monday, I have a couple items in progress/almost done. Whichever one gets completed first is the next report out and so on. A new scouting report is one for sure.

This Week’s Agenda…

Holy series ‘QBs 1.0’ will publish week of 2/16. RB or WR position group look next.

Working on the next full scouting reports...as I start to knock more of the full reports down now.

Senior Bowl Preview Scouting Reports continue with the few I have left to edit/publish...but we now turn to Combine preview reports as well, as we set sail for that mega important event.

Any FFM News & Notes or Special Reports during the day as I get them.

My Jacksonville daily diary at the very end for me recording this journey for future reading/memory and sharing how things are going with everyone.

The next early/pre-Combine positional grades and rankings board is underway and 1-2-3 of them will be out this week. The TE group 1.0 posted last week.

== NEWS & NOTES & Xs ==

-- We have three tidal wave changing events taking place this offseason...and it’s a tidal wave that has been building in recent years and now it’s hitting a peak and about to crash down on shore and create a ton of wreckage. It’s not anything new added to the offseason schedule...it’s just what they have become that’s changed...no longer little ripples to the NFL or FF, it’s huge waves now...and those waves will be getting bigger every season ahead, but this 2026 swell may be the ‘square one’ or ‘patient zero’ of this massive sea change for the NFL, and thus for FF.

The three key events are all known events every offseason...

1) The coaching changes

2) Free Agency

3) The NFL Draft

The coaching changes taking place in the past month are insane, in terms of predictable outputs and continuity ahead for Fantasy/Dynasty.

The coaching change tally in 2026: 10 head coaching changes. 19 offensive coordinator changes. 13 defensive coordinator changes. 30% to 50%+ of key coaches changed over in one year. Most of those fired coaches hadn’t been in their jobs but for 1-3 years. What other industry sees a-third of all key management for all the top 30 businesses replaced every 1-3 years?

Consistency and predictability are out the door. There’s a reason why we had 7 new division winners in 2025 from 2024. Trying to predict, for FF especially, what offenses will do one year to the next is becoming futile with many teams...because if the head coach isn’t replaced, and then a whole regime overturned, then likely the still intact head coach sees his offensive coordinator is getting promoted to open jobs. Look at the change of events for Detroit and Chicago when Ben Johnson left one for the other.

And there’s a new phenomenon happening in the NFL... Head coaches being hired are mostly from the offensive side, and those former offensive coordinators now head coaches -- they are calling their own plays. ‘True’ offensive coordinators are becoming extinct.

10 head coaches changed this cycle...that’s a lot, historically. Of the 10 new coaches hired...six are former offensive coordinators, and they are all definitely calling their own plays.

21 of 32 current head coaches are from the offensive side...17 of those 21 are for sure calling the plays on offense, the other 4 of 21 are split between those who let the O-C do their thing and the HCs who say they aren’t calling the plays, but they kinda are (like in KC).

NFL offenses are undergoing massive changes with staffs year-to-year as the patience level of owners is gone. And those teams/coaches who do well, their assistants are raided for head coaching jobs and change hits the strong and the failed/weak.

10 head coaching changes. 19 offensive coordinator changes. 13 defensive coordinator changes = 22 of 32 teams had a change at either head coach or offensive coordinator. Over half the league is having some kind of massive or minor offensive change -- that’s not going to be easy to predict FF output expectations for 2026. You can’t just look back at 2025 and mostly assume it ahead for 2026 when 50%+ of teams are having their offenses disrupted.

10 teams have the same exact coaches in place at head coach and offensive coordinator. Eight of the 10 are head coaches who are from offensive backgrounds.

With all that management change, it only makes sense there’s gonna be a ton of change through Free Agency. There are two powerful forces about to run into each other and cause a powder keg explosion of more change here.

All these new coaches hired or promoted from within have connections to certain players, and some of those players are free agents in 2026. They also covet certain free agents for their ‘system’ and the new coaches rising to power want that ____ player to come in to their new team because for new head coaches, the established stars already there are not ‘his guys’...new coaches want ‘their guys’, they want to buy and draft new ‘their guys’...and those new players brought in could/will be major disruptors to what we think is the current predicted flow of things.

Example: What if John Harbaugh pays Isaiah Likely a ton of money to go the NYG? Kiss Theo Johnson’s value good-bye, but also Likely is now working in some tandem with Theo...and Theo is strongly connected to Dart. I’m hopeful about Likely and Theo for 2026...on different teams and working as solo starters, but they could join forces in 2026 on NYG and it blows up both of them for FF. Whereas if I. Likely signs with Philly, with Dallas Goedert going, then Likely goes on a rocket ship ride of value. We aren’t debating Likely’s talent...it’s all about his new team landing spot.

In February-March, making FF deals, we have to be sure we are not stepping into a potential trap on acquiring a player on hope but then they land bad...Likely or Breece Hall or Tyler Allgeier, etc. A lot of free agents are gonna land bad for them/for their FF impact or they could just land to disrupt a current situation none of us saw coming. And there used to be 2-3 free agents that we all really watched...there’s like 10-15+ potential disruptors on the move and then I bet we see a record number of NFL traded players in March-April as well.

Not only are the mass coaching changes an unstable variable...we’re also gonna get one of the deepest pools of talent in a free agent class we’ve ever seen and it has to go somewhere, where it will disrupt something in most cases. The deeper Free Agent group is a natural function of the outright flood of talent flowing into the NFL. The RBs available this cycle is gonna be wild...several starter-level RBs available, but only a few teams really wanting/needing a lead RB. A ton of decent QBs are out there...a Malik Willis signing, a Mac Jones trade, etc., changes the landscape for an entire team’s RBs and WRs/TEs even more.

Look at what the Chicago and New England elite free agency periods did for them from 2024 to 2025. Look what Washington’s elite free agent period from 2023 to 2024 did for them...from last place, to the NFC title game.

None of us knows what team is gonna be the elite free agent team in 2026. Whoever it is, it totally changes the projections for the FF assets on the team...as well as the win total betting this summer.

Once Free Agency settles in/is over...then the NFL Draft comes along and dumps another box of marbles into the game, flooding rosters with more talent.

The difference of A.I.’s/ChatGPTs capabilities in 2023 to 2024, and then the leap in 2024 to 2025, and then where it is at now...it’s an insane change for the whole country/world taking place...almost right under the majority of people’s noses. Imagine what it will be next year at this time with A.I. advancements, and then the next year...and so on.

In NFL terms the A.I. big change/rapid advancement parallel is -- we are rapidly going from...

Teams lucky to have one decent QB in the past, and like 5 QBs that ruled...to 25+ teams now have a decent QB...there’s 15-20 QBs that might be top 5 FF QBs in 2026. This time next year, there may not be any team, save maybe 1-2, that doesn’t have a legit QB. If you think the NFL isn’t changing radically -- our current Super Bowl champions were led by Sam Darnold! If I told you that two January’s ago...

The NFL’s QB group is changing faster than A.I.

We’re gonna go from an NFL with a few great RBs, a few good RBs, a lot of mediocre RBs, and a rare few Avant garde teams that did an RBBC situation...to now most every team having 2-3 deep on legit starting RB talents on their depth chart. We went from 1-2 legit RBs per roster in like 2023-2024, to now shifting towards 2-3 legit RBs on every roster that started in 2025 and will gain more steam in 2026 and will be completely overload in 2027-2028. There is too much talent headed to the NFL with rare places to go to be THE KNOWN top option for a team. The days of CMC and Derrick Henry are almost over. ‘Injury to the other guy’ will be the primary launch of the great FF RBs of the future...not strictly their talent levels.

WR groups used to be lucky to have one star receiver. Now most teams have 1-2 guys who could be ‘1s’...on our way to seeing teams with 2-3-4 WRs who have ‘#1’ potential. Soon it will be every team has 3-4 WRs with #1 capabilities. How can you give great target opportunity to all of them?

And then these teams will not only have 3-4 WRs with #1 capabilities...they’ll have a TE who is as good an option in the pass game as the WRs. QBs are gonna have 3-4-5 overall legit options to throw to downfield. Ten years ago, teams were lucky to have two neat options to throw to for their pass game. And if you add the rise of unique pass game RBs...now the target projections get even more spread out and more muddy.

When you think that maybe building your FF team around that one ace TE, like Trey McBride, is the best way to go...the TE talent is flooding in to give more and more teams two legit TE options to work with. At various points in games this season...the Rams were running 3-4 TE sets...not 3-4 WR sets, 3-4 TE sets. What happens when the TE talent flood leads to teams having at least one good starting TE but also another working with or behind the starter, pressuring the starter or just taking too many snaps away because teams can rotate guys to keep them fresh?

The new head coach of the Cardinals just came from watching the Rams run 3-4 TE sets regularly, as a tactic. Is Trey McBride really a lock for similar 2026 production as he did in 2025 when there is now a whole new staff and maybe/probably a new QB?

I’m just pointing all this out because I know everyone wants to make Dynasty trades and fix their teams all in a week, and when I get asked questions about a deal offer I’m usually shooting it down and citing all the potential change issues/the risk with some of the players involved...when I do that, people probably get irritated with me and want to know when the Dynasty rankings are gonna be out and why aren’t they out already (I’m working on it, won’t be too long now). I get it, but you gotta be constantly aware of this total sea change happening in the NFL. There are not just a few obvious players to hone in on to acquire -- it is not obvious who the totally clear lead RB (or true handcuff) or #1 WR target is on most teams anymore, given all the coaching changes, free agency and draft roster upheavals to come.

We have to be patient and savvy right now...just a little bit longer wait for major deals to offer in most situations. There are some players to go after now...and I’ve started to name some of them and my HOLY series coming up will go through all this on another level...but mostly, right now, we are all in a fact-finding ‘holding pattern’ in February and into early March (free agency, and trades) before making major deals.

All these Dynasty rankings and trade analyzers in Dynasty that are out there right now, they aren’t worth a nickel. What’s true today/assumed current from what players did last year is getting uprooted by this offseason and will continue to be as the assistant coaching openings close/get filled and as we get to/through free agency. It’s fun to look at the free view Dynasty rankings out there, but you can’t be swayed by any of them yet...they cannot anticipate all the changes about to happen nor the ripple effects from the changes. The NFL turkey is only just half cooked...it needs more time to cook to completion.

I do see two general opportunities to act on, right now, for trades/moves and I will explain those in more detail later today on a subscriber only piece...a Part II that goes with this ‘intro’.

-- HEADLINE: Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough said the Washington offense will be “built around” getting Terry McLaurin 10 targets a game.

I put this on here as a prime example of things changing.

Washington cleaned house on assistants. Dan Quinn doesn’t really micromanage things, he lets the assistants do their things.

For whatever idiotic reason David Blough thought it wise to go out and shoot his mouth off about who he is building the offense around...he still said it, to the world. I’m sure Blough absolutely believes he means it. How in the world can Blough confidently state that when he has no idea what the GM is going to do in free agency or with trades or the draft at WR...or TE?

Terry McLaurin was drifting away the past year+. He’s not a WR you build an offense around in this era...he’s just great to have with your ensemble, but he’s definitely not JSN-Puka-Mike Wilson...but new O-C, new to coaching in general David Blough is indicating to the world that he is, so Blough is gonna try and make it happen no matter what...in theory. That’s a new/fresh change coming to the Commanders target flow from the coaching change.

Here’s some other Shough intro press conference quotes...

On Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt

Blough referred to him by his nickname and praised the impact he made as a seventh-round rookie:

"I think, as everybody saw, all the flashes that Bill had in his rookie season. I think it’s really exciting to think about what he can look like in a second year behind this offensive line. And I think we’ve got one running back signed, so there will definitely be acquisitions that take place there. And it depends exactly on kind of how the room looks, but man, incredibly confident in what Bill can be in this league as a starting running back."

RC NOTE: Doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement as HIG GUY at RB as the lead dog...but maybe the last line was. He didn’t commit to him as the starter, he just gave him useless praise that he is confident he could be a starting RB...maybe he meant for some other team, or starter when his newly signed or drafted ‘his guy’ Blough RB gets hurt? We know Blough will directly state secret things...he didn’t hold back on McLaurin...he did with JCM.

While Blough didn't give long, dedicated quotes to others in the same way, here is how he addressed them:

Ben Sinnott (TE): Blough was more "tough love" regarding Sinnott, noting that while he has potential, he has high expectations for the position. He stated, "The tight end has a long way to go... [he is] entering a defining stretch."

Luke McCaffrey & Jaylin Lane (WRs): Blough grouped them into his vision for a more "pro-style" and "explosive" perimeter attack. He mentioned the need to find "reliable perimeter targets who can win against man coverage" and highlighted that the staff is pulling from experiences with various legendary QBs to help develop these younger pass catchers.

Laremy Tunsil (LT): Interestingly, he also named Tunsil (alongside Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin) as one of the "studs" he is building the new scheme around. *NOTE: JCM is not a ‘stud’ mentioned.

My Biggest FF takeaway from Blough quotes on ‘the others’...

Don’t hold your breath on Luke McCaffrey.

Ben Sinnott...whatever hope I thought there might be, ’I’m out’.

-- A loaded and bloated free agency class leads to my new daily segment...

We’re looking at players who...

*Still have some life/name appeal but are late/last year into their contracts and they will either make an excessive amount of money in 2026 or would only cost a minor hit to just outright cut them.

*I will also include guys who are not logical, contractually to cut, but they are hated and expensive and getting cut.

We’ll list by position, and I’ll put in order of most likely in-demand after getting cut. We’ll build the list daily. You and I might be shocked by the time we complete this exercise...

(intro end)

---------------------------------

Today’s look: New Orleans

(other notes)

-- The Saints are currently slightly underwater on CAP availability for 2026 -- that’s assuming they let Demario Davis, Taysom Hill, and Cam Jordan (and his hot dog water smelling self) all go to their natural free agency.

After those natural losses, they really need to chop out some overpaid players like Alvin Kamara (and spread the total losses over 2 years) and trade Chris Olave (vs. extending for big $$), but I don’t think they have the heart or will to do so. So, it’s gonna be a quite a free agent period for NO likely...little space to work with.

QB:

Joe Flacco (free agent)

Geno Smith ($26.5M to pay, $18M hit to release)

Kyler Murray ($47M post-June 1st hit, and $7M hit in 2027)

Malik Willis (free agent)

Kirk Cousins? ($24.6M pay or cut for $25M hit post-June 1st)...wouldn’t be surprised if he retires either.

RB:

Javonte Williams (free agent, but I highly assume Dallas will sign him long-term)

Rico Dowdle (free agent)

David Montgomery? ($8.4M pay to play 2026 or cut for $4.9M hit, split in half on a past-June 1st cut)

Travis Etienne (free agent)

Najee Harris (free agent)

James Conner ($10.3M keep, $2.3M cut post-June 1st)

Kareem Hunt (free agent)

Jerome Ford (free agent)

Aaron Jones (likely cut, then a free agent)

Nick Chubb (free agent)

Justice Hill (3.9M keep for 1-yr or cut for $667k)...enjoy New York.

Joe Mixon ($10M pay to play 2026, or $2M hit to cut)...can he ever play again anyway?

WR:

George Pickens (free agent, but I can’t imagine Dallas lets him go to FA)

Tyreek Hill (likely cut or traded)

Michael Pittman or Alec Pierce

Christian Watson (free agent...but doubtful GB lets him go)

Jordan Addison (available in trade?) or Jalen Nailor (goes if Addison stays).

Stefon Diggs ($26.5M to play this year or $8M to cut)

Romeo Doubs (free agent)

Curtis Samuel ($8M pay for 2026, cut for $3.5M)

Christian Kirk (free agent)

Keenan Allen (free agent)

Tutu Atwell (free agent)

Marquise Brown (free agent)

TE:

Kyle Pitts (free agent)

Isaiah Likely (free agent)

Evan Engram? ($14M pay for 2026 or cut for $10M hit, which they can maneuver easier on it with a post-June 1st cut)

David Njoku (free agent)

Taysom Hill (free agent)

Hunter Henry ? ($11.8M to play in 2026, $2.5M to cut)

Tyler Higbee (free agent)

Mike Gesicki ($7.7M pay or cut for $4.3M)

Tommy Tremble ($8M pay for 2026 or cut for $2.2M hit post-June 1st)

Darren Waller (free agent)

Other:

OL Braden Smith (free agent)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson (free agent)

CB Greg Newsome (free agent)

CB Rasul Douglas (free agent)

EDGE Odafe Oweh (free agent)

DL Cam Jordan (free agent)

========================

-- RC Daily JAX Diary...

(same intro every day)

(end of intro)

2/15/26, Day 23 in JAX

14 of 39 radiation treatments done so far. No radiation on weekends.

3 weeks down, 5 more to go.

Nothing radical to update my diary today on the medical side. Just ‘tired’ much of this day. It comes and goes.

It was the last full day for my wife to be here this weekend, as she departs for home this morning.

What this Sunday will be known for, in my diary of things...

1) The first rainstorm hit the area since I’ve been here. It got up to near 80 degrees...then it got really windy...then it cut loose rain. The first mostly cloudy day in weeks.

I think the people are always so nice in this area (my experience) because the sun is always out. And I know there is science to that, and an obviousness to that...but just me being here day-to-day living (not vacation) for weeks...I can feel it firsthand. There is something about living in the sunshine state versus when I lived in Ohio. It’s a psyche changer.

When it’s 102 degrees in July here, then I want to be in Ohio for the summer...

2) We went to a top-rated seafood place in the area for our Valentine’s Dinner on Sunday. This place was packed at 3pm, legit. The waitress said they set a one-day record for sales on Valentine’s Day. I had two people recommend it to me. We were excited.

Our opinion = good, not great. Fresh food, high quality...but the ‘what we got’, it was fine but not ‘special’,

I got a Seafood Boil...I was so excited, I love a boil. They brought it out and...and...no ‘boil’? No seasoned ‘juice’ for the stuff to bathe in/soak up the spices, etc. They brought me all the food components of a boil in a bowl...dry...just the shrimp, sausage, potato, corn cooked fine...but dry, in a bowl. What? The food was good...would’ve been 100x better IN THE BOIL JUICES, which is part of a traditional boil. I’ve gotten the seafood boils in so many places and this was the first time it was served dry. Very weird.

My daily food diary...

Day 23 food spend = Tsunami Day to my food budget. $20 local breakfast (my cost, not my wife’s) and then skipped lunch and then $30 for the seafood place dinner (my cost).

$50 spend for the day.

23-day total food spend = $542...$23.56 per day average...we’re trying to get back in the $20 per day game...but the Valentine’s weekend WAS trouble. I need to replentish some grocery items soon. Not gonna pull it off for month number one.

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2026 NFL Draft/Dynasty Scouting Report: WR-s Zavion Thomas, LSU

2026 Post-NFL Draft Dynasty Rookie TWO-QB/SUPERFLEX Mock Draft 2.0 (from the #5 spot)

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