Samwise NFL Newsletter
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Ravens Sign Hendrickson to $112M Deal After Maxx Crosby Trade Collapses
The Baltimore Ravens closed one of the offseason’s most dramatic sagas by signing defensive end Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract — up to $120 million with incentives — after withdrawing from a previously agreed trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Medical concerns over Crosby’s surgically repaired meniscus prompted Baltimore to back out, costing them two first-round picks that were immediately returned to Las Vegas. Hendrickson, who recorded 39.0 sacks since 2023 — third-most in the NFL — arrives at $28 million annually and fills a glaring need. The Ravens now add legitimate edge-rush firepower without the injury risk that derailed the Crosby deal.
Eagles Acquire Wicks from Packers, Extend Him $12.5M — WR Room Now Historic
The Philadelphia Eagles continued assembling a receiver corps of historic depth by trading for Green Bay Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks. Philadelphia sent a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round selection to Green Bay, then immediately extended Wicks on a one-year, $12.5 million deal through 2027. Wicks, drafted in the fifth round in 2023 out of Virginia, compiled 1,328 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over three Green Bay seasons. Eagles offensive staff connections in Green Bay smoothed the transition. Philadelphia’s receiver room now also includes A.J. Brown, DJ Moore (acquired from Chicago), and Jaylen Waddle (acquired from Miami), forming arguably the deepest group in league history.
Falcons Lock Up Bijan Robinson with Fifth-Year Option Worth $11.32M
The Atlanta Falcons exercised the fifth-year option for star running back Bijan Robinson, securing him at $11.32 million for the 2027 season. Robinson earned the commitment with a record-breaking 2025 campaign: 2,298 scrimmage yards, the highest single-season total in Falcons history and the 12th-highest in NFL history, earning first-team All-Pro recognition for the first time. New front-office leaders — president of football Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham — wasted no time locking him in ahead of the May 1 deadline. The next priority will be a long-term extension, with receiver Drake London also in line for a new deal after the draft.
2026 NFL Draft: 11 Days to Pittsburgh, Mendoza Locks No. 1, 16 Prospects Invited
Eleven days separate the football world from the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where the Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Sources throughout the league say passing on Mendoza would be a stunner. The NFL confirmed 16 invited prospects attending Round 1 on April 23, with Rounds 2–3 on April 24 and the final four rounds on April 25. Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese is generating top-three buzz following an impressive pre-draft workout circuit. Notably, no defensive tackle is projected to crack Round 1 — the first time that has happened since 2021.
Steelers Add Pittman via Trade, Sign Dowdle — Pittsburgh Loads Up with 12 Draft Picks
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a clear championship statement this offseason. The club acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts via trade and immediately locked him in on a three-year, $59 million extension. Running back Rico Dowdle followed, signing a two-year, $12.25 million contract to shore up the backfield. Offensive lineman Brock Hoffman is also set to depart Dallas for Pittsburgh. With 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft — the most of any franchise — the Steelers are building from both free agency and the draft board simultaneously, setting up what could be a franchise-defining roster construction cycle heading into the 2026 season.
2026 QB Carousel: Tua to Atlanta, Kyler to Minnesota, Cousins to Las Vegas
The quarterback market delivered maximum chaos in 2026. Kyler Murray, released by the Arizona Cardinals after seven seasons, found a new home with the Minnesota Vikings. Tua Tagovailoa, departing Miami as part of the Dolphins’ 11-pick organizational reset, signed a modest one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons as a bridge option while the team evaluates its long-term future at the position. Veteran Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on a deal designed to mentor first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Three veteran quarterbacks, three new destinations — a testament to how swiftly fortunes shift at the game’s most consequential position.
NFL Network Merges with ESPN, Secondary MNF Booth Immediately Dismantled
One of the most consequential shifts in NFL broadcasting history became official April 1 when NFL Network employees formally transitioned to ESPN’s payroll, completing the operational merger between the two entities. Within hours, word emerged that ESPN had dismantled its secondary Monday Night Football booth — considered by analysts to be the only MNF pairing that genuinely worked. Potential replacements reportedly include Dave Pasch, Bob Wischusen, and former player Jason Kelce. The consolidation puts all major NFL television coverage under a single corporate umbrella, raising questions about commentary diversity and competitive balance in league media coverage that analysts say will take multiple seasons to fully evaluate.
2026 NFL Schedule Release Coming Mid-May: Record Nine International Games Planned
The 2026 NFL regular season schedule is expected to be released around May 12–14, and early reports signal a record-breaking nine international games — including the league’s first-ever regular-season contests on Australian and French soil. The expansion continues the NFL’s aggressive global push, which has already included successful runs in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Teams have been briefed on international assignments, giving franchises a head start on logistics and marketing. With the draft just 11 days away and the free-agency frenzy winding down, the schedule release will give fans the next major focal point to sustain offseason momentum through spring.
2025 NFL Final Regular-Season Standings
AFC East
| New England | 14-3 |
| Buffalo | 12-5 |
| Miami | 7-10 |
| NY Jets | 3-14 |
AFC North
| Pittsburgh | 10-7 |
| Baltimore | 8-9 |
| Cincinnati | 6-11 |
| Cleveland | 5-12 |
AFC South
| Jacksonville | 13-4 |
| Houston | 12-5 |
| Indianapolis | 8-9 |
| Tennessee | 3-14 |
AFC West
| Denver | 14-3 |
| LA Chargers | 11-6 |
| Kansas City | 6-11 |
| Las Vegas | 3-14 |
NFC East
| Philadelphia | 11-6 |
| Dallas | 7-9-1 |
| Washington | 5-12 |
| NY Giants | 4-13 |
NFC North
| Chicago | 11-5 |
| Green Bay | 9-6-1 |
| Minnesota | 8-8 |
| Detroit | 8-8 |
NFC South
| Carolina | 8-9 |
| Tampa Bay | 8-9 |
| Atlanta | 8-9 |
| New Orleans | 6-11 |
NFC West
| Seattle ★ | 14-3 |
| LA Rams | 12-5 |
| San Francisco | 12-5 |
| Arizona | 3-14 |
★ Seattle Seahawks — Super Bowl LX Champions (defeated New England 29-13, Feb. 8, 2026)
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