👋 Good morning! This week’s edition has news on the 2026 NFL season opener, a 2026 NFL mock draft, and more.
🗓️ Mark your calendars a day early
The 2026 NFL Kickoff Game will take place on Wednesday, September 9.
The Kickoff Game is on Wednesday because the 49ers-Rams Week 1 game in Australia will be played on Thursday night in the United States (Friday in Melbourne).
This last happened in 2012, when the league moved the Cowboys-Giants opener to Wednesday because President Obama was giving his DNC speech on Thursday.
Also, this could be seeding the idea of leaning into more Wednesday games; it’s already happened for Christmas, and Thanksgiving Eve could be next for the NFL.
As odd as a Wednesday opener seems, it means one fewer day of waiting for football to be back. 🤷♂️
We just dropped our latest 2026 NFL mock draft, with all 32 picks in the first round. You can read the full mock here, but as an example for each pick:
29. KC (via LAR): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson could go much higher than this based on his talent, but he’s still yet to workout for teams due to a hamstring injury that has plagued him dating back to his final season. Remember, the Chiefs were able to get Josh Simmons late in the first round last year, so history could somewhat be repeating.
🏴☠️ Lavonte David retires
Longtime Buccaneers LB Lavonte David officially retired after 14 NFL seasons.
David spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Bucs, and he was a 12-time team captain.
The former All-Pro racked up 1,714 career tackles (tied with Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for most all-time among Tampa players) and set franchise records with 33 career forced fumbles and 21 career fumble recoveries.
David was a key member of the Super Bowl LV championship squad, working with LB Devin White and company in Todd Bowles’ defense.
The Bucs have now lost WR Mike Evans (to the 49ers in free agency) and David this offseason.
✍️ Recent player transactions
The Saints signed former No. 2 overall pick QB Zach Wilson.
The Bengals re-signed veteran QB Joe Flacco, who bluntly said he thinks other teams are “dumb” for not signing him to be a starter.
Fifth-year options were exercised for Bills TE Dalton Kincaid and Vikings WR Jordan Addison.
Fantasy owners, take note: The Falcons signed RB Brian Robinson Jr. to complement superstar RB Bijan Robinson.
The Bills signed WR Trent Sherfield, C Lloyd Cushenberry III, and OL Austin Corbett in addition to re-signing S Damar Hamlin.
NFC East signings: The Eagles signed WR Elijah Moore (who is great friends with former Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown) and EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, while re-signing OT Fred Johnson; the Commanders are adding CB Akhello Witherspoon.
Plus, the Browns won’t be signing EDGE A.J. Epenesa after they weren’t comfortable with his physical.
🏈 NFL Annual League Meeting
Super Bowl LXIII in 2029 will take place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.
The annual coaches photo includes the Harbaugh brothers and the LeFleur brothers front and center.
The Browns withdrew their proposed rule change to allow draft pick trading up to five seasons compared to the current three seasons.
“It was a big nothing burger.” 49ers GM John Lynch says they hired “an independent scientist” to look into the practice facility being near an electrical substation as a potential cause of all their injuries over the years, and it’s supposedly not an issue.
Giants HC John Harbaugh called WR Odell Beckham one of his “very favorite people in the world” and that they look at every option among potential signings.
Rams HC Sean McVay admitted that the team had trade discussions about star WR Davante Adams this offseason but was upfront with him during the talks.
Italy has been added to the NFL’s global markets program, with the Saints and Browns holding rights there.
📰 More NFL news and notes
Legendary QB Tom Brady revealed to CNBC’s Alex Sherman that he asked the NFL about the logistics of returning to the field as a part-owner of the Raiders, and “they don’t like that idea very much.”
Hard Knocks: The Seahawks will be featured on the HBO training camp series this summer, with the Patriots on the show in 2027.
The Commanders are unveiling new uniforms on Wednesday, April 15.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shared a video of him dropping back and throwing just over 100 days since his ACL tear.
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders is switching to No. 2 after wearing No. 12 as a rookie.
The Raiders hired Mike Sullivan as their QB coach.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is giving the NFL until May 1 to eliminate the Rooney Rule, saying it violates the law by not using a merit-based system.
Other Sports Updates
⚾️ The 2026 MLB season is underway, and the NL East was the first division ever to have all five teams start 1-0.
🏀 The Final Four is set with Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Illinois—capped by the Huskies being the last team in with a remarkable comeback from 19 points down including a last-second three by Braylon Mullins.
🫡 All-Star OF Jayson Heyward has retired after 16 MLB seasons including five Gold Gloves and the epic 2016 World Series title for the Cubs.
🐏 Hubert Davis will not return as North Carolina’s basketball coach.
🏒 The Golden Knights fired Stanley Cup champion HC Bruce Cassidy and immediately hired HC John Tortorella, who was not in the organization.
⛳️ Tiger Woods was charged with a DUI after a rollover crash in Florida.
