Latest NFL rumors on Eagles, Patriots, Jets, Panthers, and more

Two massive dates loom on the NFL calendar.

First is the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday, April 23.

Second is June 1, a massive date for salary cap accounting.

With those two days fast approaching, it’s time to take a spin around the latest NFL rumors carousel, starting with that second date.

The latest on A.J. Brown

Heading into the start of NFL free agency, A.J. Brown was perhaps the biggest name linked to a potential trade.

But as that June 1 date approaches — and the finances behind any potential Brown trade become easier — that market is heating up again, with league executives convinced that the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver is heading to the AFC East.

According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, several league executives told him that the Patriots are “likely” to land the receiver in what will be a competitive trade market. “Execs expect the Patriots to acquire receiver A.J. Brown from Philadelphia in June, once the salary-cap implications become more tenable for the Eagles,” wrote Sando.

“It seems just a matter of waiting until June 1 passes for Philly to trade A.J. Brown, who in my opinion is a declining player each of the last three seasons,” added one particular league executive to the writer.

New England did add Romeo Doubs via free agency, and has been linked to several wide receivers in this draft class. But adding Brown, who spent time with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee with the Titans, has been a popular talking point these past few months.

One that may finally come true in a few more weeks.

Chicago Bears planning Caleb Williams extension

The Chicago Bears have a little time before they need to get a Caleb Williams extension done.

But general manager Ryan Poles is waiting on a “green light” from the player — and his performance — before moving full speed ahead.

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times at the league meetings last week, Poles outlined how things are trending in that direction, but he needs to see just a little more before going all-in on the quarterback.

Which he expects to see now in his third year.

‘‘It’s good to almost feel like you’ve got it,’’ Poles said. ‘‘If you go with a traffic light, it went red as a rookie to yellow. You can creep forward a little bit and start having some of these conversations to anticipate it. But we need him to give us a green light.

‘‘I think we’ll find out this year about his progress.’’

As for what he is looking for, the GM noted that “consistency” is what will turn that light from yellow to green.

‘‘Consistency is what I’m looking for,’’ he said.

Still, even while he waits for the light to turn, Poles and the Bears are starting to sketch out what an extension might require.

‘‘It’s really a summer project,’’ Poles said. ‘‘Matt Feinstein [the team’s salary cap expert] is digging into it now. We’ve had some preliminary [internal] conversations because we want to take some of these things into consideration as we build the team.’’

Jets “leaning” toward Arvell Reese

With the Las Vegas Raiders seemingly locked in on Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall selection later this month, the draft in effect begins at No. 2 when the New York Jets are on the clock.

But we might be trending closer and closer to the draft beginning at No. 3 with the Arizona Cardinals.

ESPN Jets insider Rich Cimini reports that the organization is “leaning” toward Ohio State defender Arvell Reese with that selection, as he connects a few dots around the team. First is the fact that New York is planning on running multiple fronts on defense, with head coach Aaron Glenn saying at the recent league meetings that the team is going to run “a little bit of everything” on that side of the ball.

That places a premium on players with schematic flexibility.

That is perhaps Reese’s biggest strength. During his final season at Ohio State, he played 238 snaps as an inside (off-ball) linebacker, and 356 as an outside linebacker.

Jets management not only attended Ohio State’s Pro Day to see Reese in person, but they also had dinner with him during that visit. With expectations inside and outside New York holding that the Jets are leaning toward Reese, the draft may very well begin at No. 3 when Arizona is on the clock.

Washington a likely destination for Brandon Aiyuk

A.J. Brown is not the only veteran wide receiver getting some attention right now, as that list includes Brandon Aiyuk.

The Washington Commanders remain a likely destination for his services, especially given the chemistry they showed during a season together at Arizona State, but the clock is ticking.

ESPN Washington insider John Keim reported last week that the Commanders are a “possibility,” but that the franchise will not trade for him, as they expect the San Francisco 49ers to release the receiver, given the fractured relationship between the player and the team. But the Commanders will not simply wait around for San Francisco to make a move. With Washington sitting at No. 7 — and options such as Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson potentially on the board — the Commanders could find a WR2 to put across from Terry McLaurin in the draft.

TE, S options for Panthers at 19

The Carolina Panthers made a surprising run to the NFC South title, catching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Baker Mayfield and company faded down the stretch.

And despite losing on Wild Card Weekend, the franchise is trending in the right direction, yet face a pivotal draft as they look to keep the momentum going.

Sitting at No. 19, there are several options available. Do they help young quarterback Bryce Young take another step forward, or address a defense that could use an injection of talent at a few different spots?

Both look to be on the table right now, according to head coach Dave Canales.

“It’s like, who can impact our team at that level?” Canales said last week. “It could be a wideout. It could be a tight end. Could be a safety. There’s a couple of dynamic safeties that could free us up. The pass-rush class, we’ve got to still kind of see where they are at the top. Where do we think the top guys are going? Look at the mocks and all that, and see where there might be a little bit of a dropoff there.

“But I think it’s an opportunity for us to really add a value player at 19.”

Even while he mentions WR or EDGE, tight end and safety look to be the biggest needs for the team, and options could very well be available at that spot. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman has been rising up draft boards since an standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, although the Minnesota Vikings are a popular landing spot for his services, right ahead of the Panthers at No. 18.

Then there is Thieneman’s Oregon teammate, tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Tight ends are always a tough evaluation, and opinions on Sadiq are varied. But in our latest SB Nation mock draft, Sadiq landed with the Panthers at that spot.

New England in the Maxx Crosby mix?

In the wake of the Maxx Crosby trade to the Baltimore Ravens falling apart, the pass rusher has made it clear that he is a “Raider for life.”

But could the Patriots put that to the test.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe noted at the league meetings that the Patriots could indeed revisit a potential trade, given their cap space and a need on the edge. New England saw K’Lavon Chaisson leave in free agency, and recorded just 35 sacks during their run to Super Bowl LX. “But don’t discount the Patriots also making a run at Maxx Crosby now that his trade with the Ravens fell through,” wrote Volin.

“With the price on Crosby likely dropping because of the condition of his surgically-repaired knee, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Patriots pounced at the discount.”

The latest on Jeremiyah Love

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love might be the most fascinating player in this draft class, thanks to a combination of skill, need, and value. While running backs have been pushed down boards in recent years, Love’s game-breaking skills and ability to contribute as a receiver — coupled with the trend toward the running game we have seen in the past two years — could see him rise rather than fall in the first round.

Ahead of free agency the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9 seemed like a potential landing spot, but the organization went in a different direction, adding Kenneth Walker III as the league year began. One stated reason? A belief inside the building that Love would not be on the board when it came time for their selection.

Recently, Love has been linked with the TEnnessee Titans at No. 4, given how that organization addressed their defensive front as the league year began. So where could Love land?

What about Arizona, just not at No. 3?

Todd McShay talked landing spots for the running back on the Friday episode of his podcast, leading with the Cardinals while dismissing the Titans.

“No. 3, Arizona Cardinals. One source is saying—I know [ESPN’s Adam Schefter] said the clock starts on Jeremiyah Love at No. 5. He’s not going to Tennessee [at No. 4],” McShay said Friday on his podcast .

“I know, there’s someone in [Arizona’s] building who’s pushing really, really hard for Love that has a say, OK? Then I get another person, and I’ve seen this in like mock drafts and people have been talking about, this wasn’t surprising, but another person [said] trading out of No. 3 remains one of the priorities or one of the things that could absolutely happen with Arizona.

“There’s a lot of buzz about Dallas, and what comes to the noise of Dallas trading up from No. 12 to No. 3 to get [David] Bailey, right? Keep it in state, Texas Tech, pass-rusher. Most importantly, they’ve put all their efforts in to rebuilding that defense over the last year. But then there’s the back-and-forth of the other one, like maybe it is a trade out, but it could be maybe one or two spots where they can still get Love. So when I say to you, Arizona could be trading out of that spot, a team could be trying to trade up for an edge, specifically Bailey.”