NFL

1:08 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys will not pick up Leighton Vander Esch‘s fifth-year option for 2022, according to his agent, Ron Slavin, which will make the 2018 first-round pick an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season. Vander Esch’s injury history is the biggest reason. He missed 13 games over the

6:00 AM ET FRISCO, Texas — What was your lasting memory of the Dallas Cowboys‘ defense from the 2020 NFL season? Was it Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. running through the Cowboys’ defense for a 50-yard run after catching a 37-yard touchdown pass from fellow wide receiver Jarvis Landry? Was it Lamar Jackson‘s

6:00 AM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — If Aaron Rodgers is as dug in as it sounds and dead set on never playing for the Green Bay Packers again, then nothing the team could have done in this past weekend’s NFL draft would change that. But if Rodgers were willing to consider it, the draft

9:06 AM ET Turron DavenportESPN Close Covered Eagles for USA Today Covered the Ravens for Baltimore Times Played college football at Cheyney University NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are not picking up the fifth-year option on linebacker Rashaan Evans. Evans’ agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the team declined his client’s option “due

9:18 AM ET The Atlanta Falcons are not picking up the fifth-year option on tight end Hayden Hurst, meaning he’ll be a free agent after this season, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday. Hurst had been the No. 25 pick of the 2018 NFL draft by Baltimore and then was traded last March

7:00 AM ET NFL NationESPN So long, 2021 NFL draft. Hello, offseason. With all seven rounds in the books, front offices for all 32 teams are surely confident that they improved their rosters over the weekend. That’s not always the case, though. Which rookie quarterbacks will actually play in Week 1, and which organizations found

6:00 AM ET FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets: 1. In Nick of time? General manager Joe Douglas did a nice job of surrounding rookie Zach Wilson with players, using his second, third and fourth draft picks to build the offense, but the “Making of a Quarterback”

12:11 AM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Unlike many other NFL prospects, former University of Houston linebacker Grant Stuard wasn’t sent a box of hats for the 2021 NFL draft. The only NFL hat he owned was a vintage Tampa Bay Buccaneers hat his father brought over from Spring, Texas, on Saturday. “He said something just

10:36 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — Three days after the depths of Aaron Rodgers‘ disgruntlement with his team came to light, his coach over the past two seasons still “can’t fathom” the idea that the reigning NFL MVP would consider not returning to the Green Bay Packers. Like Packers team president Mark Murphy and

9:17 PM ET ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The NFL draft opened for the Denver Broncos awash in Aaron Rodgers speculation and ended roughly 72 hours later with the team having passed on every quarterback on the board. General manager George Paton said Saturday night that Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater will formally compete for the starting

8:29 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN SEATTLE – Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed that he’s been in communication with Richard Sherman, but said a reunion with the former All-Pro cornerback isn’t currently in the works. “That’s not one of our thoughts right now that we’re going out and getting another guy at that spot, but

8:46 PM ET Former Kansas running back Pooka Williams has agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent, a source confirmed to ESPN. Williams was not selected in this year’s NFL draft. In three years with the Jayhawks, he appeared in 26 games and rushed for 2,382 yards and scored 12

7:25 PM ET Brianna Williams Regardless of whether they were first off the board or last, players selected in the 2021 NFL draft have this in common: Their dreams came true. Draftees across the league reacted to their wildest aspirations being realized in a variety of ways, some more shocking than others. Offensive lineman Spencer

7:30 PM ET JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The lowest point of Urban Meyer’s first NFL draft came courtesy of the New York Giants. Meyer told ESPN’s College GameDay on Friday that it “broke his heart” when a team selected a player he was targeting with the 25th overall pick. Meyer reluctantly admitted on Saturday that the

6:50 PM ET By most measures, NFL offenses last year produced their best season in the history of pro football. Never had the collective environment been more conducive to scoring, especially via the pass, and new records were set for points, touchdown throws and completion percentage. So after taking three months to analyze their rosters

3:44 PM ET CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule said the NFL draft would be a collaborative effort most assumed he meant with first-year general manager Scott Fitterer. It turns out Julie Rhule also is a part of the process. Rhule got a text from his wife 10 minutes before Carolina made

2:21 PM ET METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints added another potential successor to Drew Brees by drafting Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book with the 133rd overall pick in Round 4 on Saturday. Like Brees himself, Book will have to overcome the stigma of being just 6 feet tall to succeed in the NFL.

2:56 PM ET TEMPE, Ariz. — Former Florida cornerback Marco Wilson, whose decision to throw the cleat of an LSU player late in a December game led to the Tigers kicking the game-winning field goal, was taken in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. The Cardinals, who were