One hot topic for every team at the 2026 NFL combine: Quarterback contracts, Kelce’s future

While 40-yard dashes and bench press reps are the main attraction at the NFL Scouting Combine, it’s the event’s undercard at the podium that quietly steals the show.

Burning offseason questions for coaches and general managers across the league begin to get answered (or strategically avoided) in Indianapolis this week.

The Athletic’s NFL writers have plenty they’re pondering. They provide the hottest topic to watch at the combine this week for each NFL team. Potential contract stalemates, open QB spots, insight to draft plans, injury updates, first impressions and more — read below what has our writers’ attention.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona’s QB situation is the obvious talking point, but let’s focus on GM Monti Ossenfort. Over the past year, his reputation has taken a significant hit. Hired in 2023, he steadily overhauled Arizona’s roster, avoiding over-spending on flashy free agents and building through the draft — only to watch everything fall apart last season. Arizona’s injuries were unfortunate, but the roster’s lack of depth was jarring. How Ossenfort survived, unlike coach Jonathan Gannon, was head-scratching. Fans don’t have the patience for another rebuild. Ossenfort has to figure out the QB situation, identify an immediate difference-maker with the draft’s No. 3 pick and find a way to keep Arizona competitive in football’s toughest division. What’s the plan? — Doug Haller

Atlanta Falcons

It’s the quarterback question(s) until there are answers. The most immediate is the future of Kirk Cousins, who is expected to be released before March 13 but could re-sign with Atlanta if he doesn’t find a better option elsewhere or if his affinity for Kevin Stefanski tempts him to give the Falcons another chance. Beyond that, it’s the question of whether Michael Penix Jr. is the long-term answer whenever he returns from an ACL tear suffered last year in Week 11. Stefanski and new general manager Ian Cunningham will be asked that question in a wide variety of phrasings this week and almost certainly will respond with a wide variety of phrasings that don’t really answer the question. — Josh Kendall

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson’s contract status is hovering over another Ravens offseason, and it has major ramifications on what general manager Eric DeCosta is able to do to solidify his roster around the star quarterback. Jackson’s salary cap number is $74.5 million. If that’s not lowered significantly, DeCosta will have no flexibility to add or even retain key Ravens. Owner Steve Bisciotti made clear last month that the Ravens will either extend Jackson or add void years to his deal to lower his 2026 cap number. The clock is ticking for the Ravens and Jackson to find a resolution. — Jeff Zrebiec

Buffalo Bills

Who are the Buffalo Bills now? Beyond quarterback Josh Allen, we are left to wonder. The front office opted to reimagine the rest of the team by firing coach Sean McDermott, who holds the club’s win-percentage record. We probably won’t discover anything substantial about their new identity in Indianapolis. That likely won’t begin to materialize until free agency, when we see how football boss Brandon Beane chooses to wield his consolidated power after years of emphasizing cap control and perennial Super Bowl contention over going for broke. Once the Bills make actual roster moves, we’ll also get the most concrete indications of rookie head coach Joe Brady’s and first-time defensive play caller Jim Leonhard’s schematic plans. But at the combine, we’ll still be guessing to a large degree what the Bills’ post-McDermott direction will truly be. — Tim Graham

Carolina Panthers

While the Panthers have glaring needs on defense, a big one emerged on offense during the playoff loss to the Rams when left tackle Ikem Ekwonu ruptured his patellar tendon. No one from the team has provided a recovery timeline, but Ekwonu is expected to miss at least some if not most of the 2026 season. Losing Bryce Young’s blindside protector is a huge development — and tough timing for Ekwonu, who had started extension talks with the team. How Dan Morgan addresses questions about the Panthers’ plan to replace Ekwonu could indicate how the team views his ability to return to his pre-injury form. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears

After being the center of combine buzz the previous three offseasons, the Bears may find their experience in Indianapolis much less hectic — but in a good way. Their first-round draft pick is No. 25. Caleb Williams is coming off a solid sophomore season. And they are no longer thrashing to stay afloat in the NFC. Still, a purposeful offseason is needed to sustain last season’s success. In the short term, with two Pro Bowl defensive backs (Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright) plus four other secondary players coming out of contract in March, formulating a clear plan for the back end of the defense is a priority. — Dan Wiederer

Cincinnati Bengals

Will the Bengals be looking to tag-and-trade Trey Hendrickson? He’s one of the top free agents available, but the Bengals could put the tag on him for $30 million or let him walk to free agency. The team is open to all options, but how likely executing a trade would be based on his market and cooperation from Hendrickson’s agent can be determined in Indianapolis. Tag-and-trades are rare (three in five years), and there haven’t been any involving a player over 30 years old in recent NFL history. Time to figure out if this is an option worth pursuing or just let everyone move on. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are again involved in a perpetual quarterback search. This one is different from last year’s, which involved almost a fully clean slate. This year, Shedeur Sanders is back in the mix after starting the final seven games of 2025, and Deshaun Watson is still under contract after he missed all of last year while rehabbing from a twice-torn Achilles tendon. The Browns will talk with quarterback prospects in Indianapolis and talk with other teams, too, about potential trades. We know the Browns will use the next two months to add to their offense in multiple ways. Soon, they’ll have to decide if they want to pursue Malik Willis in free agency, maybe pursue a trade or wait until the draft to complete their quarterback room. — Zac Jackson

Dallas Cowboys

George Pickens’ future is the biggest Cowboys topic entering combine week. Dallas is already planning to use the franchise tag on the All-Pro wide receiver to make sure he can’t leave as an unrestricted free agent. But where do things stand on a potential contract extension? Have there been any recent discussions? What are the chances he plays the 2026 season under the tag? How does the team think Pickens will respond if he doesn’t get a long-term deal? Is there any real possibility that they would trade him? The most likely scenario is that Pickens plays the 2026 season under the franchise tag, which would be around $28 million, but combine week should be a good time to get an update on where things currently stand. — Jon Machota

Denver Broncos

The promotion of coveted young assistant Davis Webb into the role of offensive coordinator earlier this month was accompanied by an almost existential question for the Broncos: Will Sean Payton, for the first time in his lengthy career as a head coach, let someone else call plays? Webb took himself out of the running for the Las Vegas Raiders head coach job, for which he had interviewed twice, and passed on offensive coordinator opportunities elsewhere that would have come with play-calling responsibilities. Would he have done those things if he wasn’t getting the same opportunity in Denver? On the other hand, it’s hard to envision Payton not calling plays. It is a core part of his identity as a coach, and though Denver has plenty of room for improvement offensively, the Broncos still won 14 games last season and could have played in the Super Bowl had starting quarterback Bo Nix not suffered a season-ending ankle injury at the end of their divisional round win against the Bills. It creates a fascinating subplot for the Broncos as the offseason begins. The combine represents Payton’s first chance to address the curiosity around Denver’s play-calling apparatus. — Nick Kosmider

Detroit Lions

The Lions have a new offensive coordinator for the second consecutive season — this time, hiring former Cardinals OC Drew Petzing. The combine is our first chance to hear from Dan Campbell about his new play caller and learn the reasons he was chosen to lead this unit after a wide net was cast. Of course, the Lions will need to bring in reinforcements along the offensive line to maximize the offense under Petzing. Offensive line play was an issue under previous OC John Morton, even if Morton himself wasn’t cut out for the job. With that in mind, it’ll be interesting to learn if the Lions have asked left tackle Taylor Decker — who’s currently mulling retirement — to give them a timeline for a decision. It feels like that’s the next logical step. If Decker retires, the Lions will free up close to $11 million in cap space and can begin the search for his replacement. The Lions could also be in the market for a new center. A lot of moving parts on offense. Maybe some clarity will be gained in Indy. — Colton Pouncy

Green Bay Packers

We haven’t spoken with head coach Matt LaFleur or new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon since the latter’s hiring, so the combine might be the first chance to hear from LaFleur on why he picked Gannon over the likes of Al Harris and Christian Parker and before even interviewing Jim Leonhard. How much did LaFleur value Gannon’s prior play-calling and head-coaching experience? Does he want Gannon to implement a similar system as Jeff Hafley did in Green Bay? Big questions loom for LaFleur and Gannon as they aim to fix Green Bay’s late-season defensive collapses. — Matt Schneidman

Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud’s future. The Texans have viewed Stroud as their franchise quarterback, but a rocky 2024 campaign and the disappointing fashion in which his 2025 season (particularly the playoff collapse) ended have raised questions about how the team should approach his long-term future. Stroud certainly needs additional upgrades to the line in front of him. But he also must respond to pressure more effectively and regain the poise that helped carry him to an impressive rookie season. Coach DeMeco Ryans has professed loyalty to the 2023 first-round pick, however, the Texans have decisions to make this offseason regarding the quarterback. Should they settle for exercising the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which keeps him in the fold through 2027 and guarantees him a salary of $26.53 million for that season, or, should they look to negotiate a long-term deal to retain his rights for at least another five years. Such a deal would translate into a $60 million average annual salary, so the Texans must decide whether they believe Stroud can rebound from the playoff struggles and get them over the hump, or if they need more time to determine his potential. — Mike Jones

Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson Sr. is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, and it’s unlikely the Colts pick up his fifth-year option due to his injury history, inaccuracy and past immaturity that led to a two-game benching in 2024. The 2023 No. 4 pick lost his starting job to Daniel Jones last year, and with the Colts all in on retaining Jones as their QB1 in free agency, the combine seems like the perfect opportunity for GM Chris Ballard to begin shopping his once prized pick. Richardson would probably welcome a change of scenery as well since there is no clear path to him starting again in Indy, but a team’s willingness to trade for him likely depends on his vision — literally. The 23-year-old ended this past season on injured reserve due to an orbital fracture that left him with impaired vision in his right eye, though Richardson is optimistic his full sight will return. — James Boyd

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars’ new regime of GM James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen made the loudest play of the 2025 draft by moving up for Travis Hunter, and they don’t have a first-round pick in 2026 as a result. Will the former Rams duo follow the same “(bleep) them picks” mantra as their old colleagues or downshift to build out the roster with a more methodical approach? — Jeff Howe

Kansas City Chiefs

Will future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce return? Last year’s NFL combine was when Chiefs general manager Brett Veach all but announced that Kelce was coming back for a 13th NFL season. The 36-year-old Kelce’s contract has expired now, though, and he hasn’t officially said whether he’ll play in 2026 or retire (though our Dianna Russini reported from the Super Bowl that “many close to him believe he could return for at least one more season.”) In any case, Veach and coach Andy Reid should expect a second straight year of questions regarding Kelce’s status. — Jesse Newell

Las Vegas Raiders

Will the Raiders trade Maxx Crosby? As trade rumors swirl around the Raiders best player, the combine is when the Raiders and interested parties should get a better idea of whether it’s actually feasible and how willing the Raiders are to come down from their high asking price. Reportedly, the Raiders want the Micah Parsons deal, which included two first-round picks and an impact player. Crosby is already on a relatively friendly contract (sixth-highest average salary per year among edge rushers) and won’t need to reset the market like Parsons did after getting traded to the Packers. But Parsons is the better, younger player.  — Ted Nguyen

Los Angeles Chargers

What is the Chargers’ plan along the interior of the offensive line? A lot of my digging in Indianapolis will be geared toward answering this question. They need an upgrade at center over Bradley Bozeman. Left guard Zion Johnson is a pending unrestricted free agent. Right guard Mekhi Becton is a candidate to be cut for cap savings. Are the Chargers in on Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum? If not, who else are they targeting at center in free agency? Are they hoping to re-sign Johnson? What is his market? Are they moving on from Becton? Is finding three new starters on the interior realistic? No quarterback was hit more than Justin Herbert last season. Securing the interior must be a priority for coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz. — Daniel Popper 

Los Angeles Rams

This Rams offseason will be all about finding aggressive avenues to unlock solutions at outside cornerback. It’s the one clear hole on the roster. The time is overdue for Los Angeles to invest either draft picks, cap space or both to this premium position, especially with starter Cobie Durant headed to free agency. He could come back, but the Rams need more than one investment here as well as a clear upgrade to the top cornerback spot. General manager Les Snead indicated he would be more aggressive in trying to win a Super Bowl if Matthew Stafford returned for an 18th season, so now that he has, the time in Indianapolis will be about cornerback prospects who could fit the Rams at Nos. 13 or 29 overall as well as exploring potential trades and preparing for free agency so as not to put that entire burden on rookies. — Nate Atkins

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have the No. 11 pick, so they’ll be among the teams worth monitoring on Alabama QB Ty Simpson’s trail. New head coach Jeff Hafley, the former Packers defensive coordinator, might prefer to tap into the blue-chip talent atop the board, though. Pass rushers such as Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. would be the prizes, but there’s a host of secondary help at the ready as well. — Jeff Howe

Minnesota Vikings

What are the Vikings going to do at quarterback? The team remains competitive and talented. Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson is not going to want to go through another taxing year, and the Vikings haven’t won a playoff game since 2019. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has said that Minnesota wants competition for young quarterback J.J. McCarthy. How will the team build the most optimal quarterback room without guaranteeing the starting opportunity to a more veteran option? And if they do, what will that mean for McCarthy’s future? He is entering his third season. The Vikings have to decide on his fifth-year option next summer. Not much time exists to make a fuller evaluation. This is a fine needle to thread, and it should dominate a lot of the conversation, even league wide. — Alec Lewis

New England Patriots

What do the Patriots do to fix their offensive line? There were lots of reasons the Pats lost the Super Bowl, but the issues started up front. Drake Maye had no time. He was sacked 21 times in the playoffs, the most in postseason history. At the combine, perhaps their plan comes into focus. Do they move Will Campbell to guard? Is Morgan Moses coming back? Will Jared Wilson slide to center? There are a lot more questions than answers right now about the offensive line. — Chad Graff

New Orleans Saints

How will the Saints handle the contracts of some of their veteran stalwarts? Aging players such as Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill carry salary cap figures ranging between $14 million and $19 million, via Over the Cap. Jordan, Davis and Hill have voided contracts upcoming and cutting Kamara would be essentially no cap savings. So, will the Saints extend contracts on these players to lower cap figures? There already have been rumblings of Davis possibly playing elsewhere in 2026. Decisions on all of these players will mold how the Saints move forward in free agency and the draft. — Larry Holder 

New York Giants

It may sound too simple, but we’re just curious how John Harbaugh approaches his first combine as the New York Giants coach. After more than a month on the job, there’s been no respite for the new coach while assembling a new staff. Now attention turns to free agency and the draft, and we’ll get a better sense of the kinds of players Harbaugh will be looking to add. Plus, this will be the first opportunity to see the new staff in action. There’s a lot of roster questions, especially pertaining to key free agents such as RT Jermaine Eluemunor and WR Wan’Dale Robinson, which we’re curious about. But my biggest focus will be to see how Harbaugh’s approach to the combine has evolved in his first year with a new team in nearly two decades. — Charlotte Carroll

New York Jets

The Jets did not pick a great offseason to need a quarterback — though, in their defense, they do need quarterbacks most offseasons. It’s a weak free agency class (even if Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray join the fray), and they hold the No. 2 pick in a draft class that only has one quarterback with a universal first-round grade. Last offseason, the Jets took a $40 million swing on Justin Fields, and it failed spectacularly. Will they want to take another swing on a young quarterback with potential but question marks, such as Willis or Mac Jones? There’s a cost factor for those two options, both in terms of finances (for Willis) and draft picks (for Jones). Does Aaron Glenn prefer a veteran stopgap — such as a Cousins, Jacoby Brissett, Geno Smith-type — to get the Jets to 2027, when the draft class will be much richer with quarterback talent? Will they take a swing on rookie Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier in this class? Another thing to consider: If Glenn is on the hot seat, is he more likely to make an expensive gamble on someone such as Willis, Jones or Murray? Some of the answers to those questions will start to take shape in Indianapolis. — Zack Rosenblatt

Philadelphia Eagles

The ambiguity surrounding A.J. Brown’s future in Philadelphia is bound to be a major topic this offseason, and it will pick up steam in Indianapolis. You might have heard that Brown, 28, was frustrated with the Eagles’ offense last season. He has been clear that he wants to put a stamp on being the top receiver in the NFL, and he’ll need to believe that will happen in Philadelphia’s offense (with first-year coordinator Sean Mannion) and with the returning personnel (including Jalen Hurts at quarterback). The Eagles have said the right things about wanting Brown back, but this might be more of a question of whether Brown forces the issue. Even if Brown wanted a change, the Eagles wouldn’t be eager to give him away without significant compensation, which is why discussions in Indianapolis could be pivotal. — Zach Berman

The Pittsburgh Steelers have “left the door open” for quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ (8) return next season. (Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers team president and owner Art Rooney II said Pittsburgh has “left the door open” for Aaron Rodgers to return in 2026. New head coach Mike McCarthy took it a step further by saying he “definitely” would like his former Packers’ QB back in 2026. The ball now appears to be in the 42-year-old quarterback’s court. Last year, Mike Tomlin was willing to wait until mandatory minicamp in June for Rodgers to officially sign. When GM Omar Khan speaks to the media at the combine, will he lay out a timeline or is this going to be another offseason of indecision in Pittsburgh? While McCarthy has spoken with Rodgers and signs continue to point toward a possible reunion, an official answer by free agency could be important to help the Steelers decide where they go next at the most-important position. But what will Rodgers decide — and when? — Mike DeFabo

San Francisco 49ers

While the need for a pass rusher and all the speculation regarding Maxx Crosby’s future home will be hot topics, it always comes down to quarterbacks at the combine. Faced with a weak class of QBs in this draft, teams such as the Vikings are expected to make big offers for Mac Jones. He won five games for the 49ers last season filling in for the injured Brock Purdy and is only 27. The bidding starts with a third-round pick … do we hear a second-round pick? Going once, going twice … There is also the matter of who Kyle Shanahan’s next project will be, as young first-round busts and veteran castoffs will all want to be the next Sam Darnold or Jones. There’s Anthony Richardson, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields … yeah, it’s not a great list. — Vic Tafur

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle’s free-agent class features Super Bowl MVP Ken Walker III, Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, Boye Mafe and Dareke Young from the 2022 draft. Starting cornerback Josh Jobe and receiver Rashid Shaheed are on expiring deals, too. Plus, All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba are eligible for contract extensions (as is outside linebacker Derick Hall). The 2026 salary cap impact will be different for players signing new deals versus the players signing extensions, but either way Seattle is looking at potentially shelling out quite a bit of cash if it wants to take care of as many players as possible from the Super Bowl team. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Now that the world knows Mike Evans intends to play in 2026, it needs to be determined where. His agent, Deryk Gilmore, has said the free-agent-to-be is open to considering all options. Bucs management has made it clear in the past that its hope is for Evans to play for only one team, and the Bucs undoubtedly are a better team with Evans. But if Evans gets an attractive offer from a team he believes is on the verge of a Super Bowl, he may decide to leave Tampa — unless the Bucs use a franchise tag or otherwise convince him to stay before he becomes a free agent. — Dan Pompei

Tennessee Titans

With Robert Saleh in as coach and GM Mike Borgonzi approaching his second draft with the team, positional priority is an interesting question for a roster with holes all over the place. The Titans’ most glaring needs are at edge and receiver, and there will be options at both at No. 4. However, the Titans also should be prioritizing protecting quarterback Cam Ward after allowing a whopping 56 sacks in 2025 and seeing him sustain a shoulder injury late in the season. Is Dan Moore at left tackle good enough next season? Are the Titans examining a large crop of tackles as closely as any other position? Poor choices there have been a big part of the story of this franchise’s decline, but it also means they have to keep trying until they get it right. — Joe Rexrode

Washington Commanders

The Commanders are essentially starting over with two first-time play callers in offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Yet, they have little time to try to get this right; coach Dan Quinn is in Year 3 of his deal, and his future could depend on a winning season. The coordinators recently shared some aspects of what they’ll try to do this season — Blough wants quarterback Jayden Daniels under center, Jones wants versatile defenders — but how much will they, and can they, change in a single offseason? And with free agency on the horizon, how aggressive will general manager Adam Peters be in trying to find new talent? Washington needs to get younger and faster across the board, but with so much work in such little time, Peters may have to prioritize certain spots over others. — Nicki Jhabvala