2026 NFL Combine notebook: Latest developments on the future of A.J. Brown, J.J. McCarthy, Malik Willis and more
The latest updates on some of the biggest names in the NFL after the 2026 Combine.
The 2026 NFL Combine is officially over, and while the product is centered around the prospects on the field and at the podium, it’s everything that happens when the cameras are off that makes it such an important event on the NFL calendar.
With league personnel, player representation, and coaches all gathered in one city for a week, discussions about free agency are flowing freely. With the legal tampering beginning on Monday March, 9, the groundwork for what happens over the next few weeks was laid in Indianapolis. A to Z Sports spoke with multiple sources, including player representation, scouts, and former players in Indy, to share the latest on what we have heard regarding some of the biggest storylines in the NFL.
Vikings weighing their options at quarterback
Former Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been gone a little over a month, and suddenly, the quarterback situation in Minnesota is in flux. While the team would love to see J.J. McCarthy come along, Kevin O’Connell and the coaching staff will be exploring veteran options on the open market, and potentially via trade. Names to watch include Malik Willis, Anthony Richardson, and Mac Jones, among others.
We saw the Indianapolis Colts live out this exact scenario last offseason, when the team signed Daniel Jones despite having Richardson at the helm, only to name Jones the starter and begin the year 8-2 before he broke his leg and the team collapsed. The Vikings were 14-3 in 2024 with Sam Darnold as their starter, and the bones of that team are still the same, meaning the staff could be feeling the pressure after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Eagles asking a lot for A.J. Brown
The drama between the Philadelphia Eagles and their star wide receiver goes back to the regular season, where it was clear that Brown wasn’t happy with his target share and the direction of the offense. Then came the playoff game spat between Brown and HC Nick Sirianni, and at the Combine, Sirianni said he can’t guarantee where Brown will be in 2026.
That has led teams to inquire about Brown’s availability, but the Eagles are striking a hard bargain. Teams have been more inclined to part with 2027 draft capital, but Howie Roseman and the Eagles haven’t been willing to bite as of yet. A good businessman like Roseman knows that the present value of a dollar is higher than that of a dollar in the future, so the Eagles have been asking for 2026 picks and high ones. It seems like it will take a great deal for Philly to part with Brown.
A sneaky landing spot for Malik Willis?
Despite starting a total of six games over his four-year career, Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis is collectively viewed as the best quarterback on the market. The team most often mentioned when it comes to Willis is the Miami Dolphins. Given the hiring of former Packers VP of player personnel Jon Eric-Sullivan and DC Jeff Hafley as GM and HC on South Beach, the connection is obvious as the Dolphins near closer to cutting the Tua Tagovailoa cord.
You know who else has a connection to Willis? The Arizona Cardinals. As the noise surrounding the departure of Kyler Murray grows louder, keep an eye on Arizona as a potential suitor for Willis. Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort was with the Tennessee Titans when Willis was drafted, and new HC Mike Lafleur is the brother of Packers HC Matt LaFleur. If the Cardinals rip the Murray band-aid off, Willis could have another destination.
Browns not sold on their quarterback room
Despite spending two draft picks on a quarterback in 2025 and having Deshaun Watson with an $80 million cap hit for 2026, Cleveland will be considering adding another veteran or going back to the well in the NFL Draft.
Both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders started games and showed some flashes in 2025, but with Kevin Stefanski out and Todd Monken in, the offense could be in for a makeover, starting with the man under center.
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