Biggest NFL Rumors Hanging Over Each Division Ahead of 2026 Training Camp

Believe it or not, we're now closer to the start of the 2026 NFL regular season than we are to the start of the offseason back on March 11.

We're in the thick of minicamp season, and training camps loom on the not-too-distant horizon.

The coming weeks will bring the only real dead period of the offseason, as it pertains to on-field activities. However, the NFL machine never stops churning, and we're sure to see some notable developments before camps open in late July.

After all, teams still have needs to fill, competitions to settle, free agents to consider, and contracts to address.

Here, we'll take a look at the latest rumors and the biggest buzz hanging over each division.

AFC East: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte Looms as Prime Trade Candidate

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Kayshon Boutte

Though the move didn't come as a surprise, the New England Patriots' acquisition of wide receiver A.J. Brown on June 1 may have changed the landscape in the NFC East.

The trade with the Philadelphia Eagles netted New England a legitimate No. 1 target for third-year quarterback Drake Maye.

And if Maye takes another positive step after leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 2025, the rest of the division may be playing catch-up.

With Brown now in the fold, though, the future of receiver Kayshon Boutte comes into question. He ranked second among Patriots wideouts with 551 receiving yards last season but is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, New England has "received calls on Boutte and likely will continue to do so."

Boutte is still only 24 years old and may not be close to his NFL ceiling. Therefore, he should continue to interest teams seeking a receiver with long-term upside. After skipping the early portions of New England's offseason program, though, Boutte has said that he's content to stick with the Patriots.

"I want to be in New England for the rest of my career," Boutte said, per Dan Roche of WBZ-TV (h/t Heavy's Owen Crisafulli). "I've enjoyed it out here."

AFC South: Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas Jr. Rekindling Chemistry for Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

Brian Thomas Jr.

One receiver who isn't likely to be dealt this season is Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While he was the subject of trade speculation amid and following a sophomore regression, the Jags were quick to dismiss the talk at the beginning of the offseason.

"When it's fraudulent claims, you just keep your mind on what you can focus on and you can actually control and try to do what's best for the Jacksonville Jaguars," general manager James Gladstone said in March, per NFL.com's Nick Shook.

Thomas took a big step backward in 2025 after being a Pro Bowler and a 1,200-yard receiver the previous season. However, a scheme change under first-year head coach Liam Coen and a lack of chemistry with Trevor Lawrence may have been his biggest issues.

Reports from Jacksonville's organized team activities (OTAs) suggest Thomas and Lawrence are getting back on track. According to ESPN's Michael DiRocco, the two showed a great connection during practices.

"It also could be a very early indication that Thomas, the subject of numerous offseason trade rumors, could be headed for a bounce-back season," he wrote.

Having Thomas return to Pro Bowl form would be a terrific development for the NFC South champions. It would also be a welcome situation for fantasy football fans who felt burned by Thomas in 2025.

AFC North: Conflicting Reports on Ravens' Lamar Jackson Extension Talks

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to return to AFC North contention following the firing of head coach John Harbaugh and the hiring of Jesse Minter.

While Baltimore was willing to part with its longtime head coach, though, it's barreling ahead with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

However, the 29-year-old has just two years left on his current contract and is unlikely to play in 2027 under his current deal—if he does, he'll carry a whopping $84.3 million cap hit for the Ravens.

Baltimore and Jackson have discussed an extension this offseason, though there have been conflicting reports about how things are unfolding.

According to Jason La Canfora of SportBoom, things have gone poorly enough that the two-time NFL MVP may soon request a trade.

"Numerous NFL executives and agents have told SportsBoom they expect Jackson to eventually request a trade, as he did in the past, with his timeline for getting a new deal consistently behind his peers," La Canfora wrote.

However, The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec is more optimistic that a deal is in the works.

"I don't sense the frustration that I've sensed with this in the past," Zrebiec told Glenn Clark Radio (h/t Kevin Eck of the Ravens' official website).

While writing for The Athletic, though, Zrebiec noted it's impossible to actually know where the Ravens and Jackson stand at this point in the offseason.

"The Ravens' contract talks with Jackson are always shrouded in secrecy, so it's unclear if any substantive talks are happening," he wrote.

AFC West: Trade Interest in Raiders' Maxx Crosby Could 'Heat Up' This Summer

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Maxx Crosby

The Las Vegas Raiders are rebuilding with new head coach Klint Kubiak and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. While the Raiders appear to be trending up, though, they may not be ready to compete in the AFC West this season.

And the fact that Las Vegas may still be a few years away is precisely why the Raiders may reconsider trading Maxx Crosby, who will turn 29 in August.

When the early offseason deal with Baltimore fell through due to a failed physical, the Raiders welcomed Crosby back with open arms. However, the failed trade has reportedly not put an end to interest in Crosby from other teams.

According to Hondo Carpenter of SI.com, there is "still enormous interest" in Crosby from around the league.

"That doesn't mean a deal is imminent, or that the team is shopping him, or that he is asking to be moved," Carpenter wrote. "It is simply the reality that, with the interest there to the extent it is, it makes it a viable potential subject."

ESPN's Dan Graziano believes that interest in Crosby could ramp up if and when he proves that he's healthy.

"I wouldn't expect Crosby trade talk to heat up again until he gets on a field and shows he's healthy," Graziano wrote. "And from everything I've been told, that could be in August or later."

Crosby is a Raider for now, but fans should probably expect renewed trade chatter between training camp and the 2026 trade deadline.

NFC East: Stefon Diggs Could Be Realistic Option for the Commanders

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Stefon Diggs

Wideout Stefon Diggs is arguably the biggest name left on the free-agent market.

The 32-year-old should draw considerable interest now that the NFL has ended a Personal Conduct Policy investigation involving previously reported assault allegations. He was found not guilty of assaulting his personal chef in court in May.

Diggs would be a sensible target for the Washington Commanders, who have yet to re-sign Deebo Samuel and who are reportedly looking for a No. 2 option opposite Terry McLaurin.

"The Washington Commanders are actively evaluating additions to their roster to support quarterback, Jayden Daniels," David Harrison of WUSA 9 wrote.

Diggs, who played his high school and college ball in Maryland, appears interested in the idea of joining the Commanders.

"We're kind of figuring it out, working through some things," Diggs told Fox 5 DC (h/t ProFootballTalk's Charean Williams). "I did have a small piece of me, like, 'Damn, it would be great to come home and play in front of the fans I used to play in front of as a young adolescent in college and just kind of doing something for the city.' Hopefully, things do work out."

Adding a proven vet like Diggs would make a ton of sense. If the Commanders don't make another addition to their receiver room, though, they'll likely turn to Treylon Burks or rookie Antonio Williams for the No. 2 role.

NFC South: Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Not Progressing in Extension Talks

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Baker Mayfield

It may seem strange, but Baker Mayfield, who only joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, is now the most proven starting quarterback in the NFC South.

He's made two Pro Bowls and delivered two division titles since landing in Tampa Bay, but he's entering the final year of his contract.

Mayfield recently admitted contract talks with the Buccaneers haven't progressed much this offseason, though he doesn't view them as a distraction.

"Pretty much the same, but for me, like I told you guys, it's not going to affect how I approach this," Mayfield said, per ESPN's Jenna Laine.

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Mayfield plans to cut off extension talks if a deal isn't reached by training camp. Per Stroud, his health could be one of the sticking points for Tampa Bay.

"The Bucs are concerned about one element of his game he continues to neglect: his health," Stroud wrote. "While Mayfield hasn't missed any games since joining the Bucs, he's been slowed by injuries."

Mayfield, unsurprisingly, pushed back on the idea that his health should be a concern.

"I started every game last year …the last three years," he said, per Laine. "I don't know if that should ever be a question."

Money may ultimately be the sticking point for both parties here. Top-of-the-market contracts now top $50 million annually, well above Mayfield's current $33.3 million per year deal. If the two sides don't come to an agreement this season, the franchise tag will be a viable option for Tampa in 2027.

NFC North: Kyler Murray Well Ahead in QB Competition

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Kyler Murray

The Minnesota Vikings are the one team in the NFC North with an unsettled quarterback situation.

However, we saw two seasons ago just how dangerous Minnesota can be when it has an above-average signal-caller behind center.

The Vikings are in the middle of a quarterback competition involving 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy and offseason addition Kyler Murray. All signs point to the competition lasting well into training camp.

"After repeatedly declaring it an open competition, the Vikings carefully meted out practice snaps to Murray and McCarthy in equal measure—and then said the competition will continue in training camp this summer," Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune wrote recently.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season following knee surgery and played inconsistently during his 10 starts this past season. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear that Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler with 87 career starts, is well ahead in the early competition.

"With the caveat that this was one day in May, with no pads and some drills performed at half speed, it is only fair to point out that the gap between the two quarterbacks was not close," ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote last month.

The gap may get closer in camp, but Murray should be considered the favorite to win the QB1 gig going into it. If he does and can return to Pro Bowl form, Minnesota will be right back in the thick of the NFC North race.

NFC West: 49ers May Soon Release Brandon Aiyuk

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Brandon Aiyuk

Now that A.J. Brown and Myles Garrett have both been traded, San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk looms as the top anticipated trade candidate who hasn't been moved yet.

He and the 49ers are in the midst of an increasingly strained relationship that has been intensifying since last season.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver reported last November that San Francisco was unhappy with Aiyuk's approach to his recovery from a torn ACL and planned to void his 2026 guarantees.

Most expected Aiyuk to be released at the start of the offseason, but the 49ers have instead held onto his rights and attempted to draw trade interest.

"We're available. Give us a call," general manager John Lynch told reporters in April.

Aiyuk, possibly displeased about his inability to hit the open market, has since attacked the 49ers publicly.

"They mad 'cause they stupid. They dumb," Aiyuk said in an Instagram video earlier this month. (h/t NFL.com's Grant Gordon).

A few days later, Aiyuk posted a video that seemed to hint that he may soon be released. The 28-year-old isn't the only one who believes a foray into free agency is looming.

"[The 49ers] are finally prepared to move on from him, according to multiple league sources," SportsBoom's Jason La Canfora wrote on Monday.

According to La Canfora, Aiyuk is expected to be released before the start of training camp.