Patrick Mahomes II
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold rolls out to pass against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. The Jets will get back on the rookie quarterback roller coaster three years after trading up to take Darnold with the third pick. With New York holding the second selection in a quarterback-heavy draft, general manager Joe Douglas dealt Darnold to Carolina and now has his eyes on another potential franchise QB. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
NFL teams drafting, changing QBs at dizzying pace

By Josh Dubow Apr. 16, 2021 12:38 PM EDT

FILE - Commissioner Roger Goodell gestures during the NFL Honors ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla., in this Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, file photo. The NFL is increasing the regular season to 17 games, as expected, and reducing the preseason to three games. Team owners on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, approved the 17th game, marking the first time in 43 years the regular season has been increased.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Analysis: More games, more money, more flexibility for NFL

By Barry Wilner Mar. 31, 2021 03:07 AM EDT

FILE - Commissioner Roger Goodell gestures during the NFL Honors ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla., in this Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, file photo. The NFL is increasing the regular season to 17 games, as expected, and reducing the preseason to three games. Team owners on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, approved the 17th game, marking the first time in 43 years the regular season has been increased.(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
NFL owners approve 17-game regular season, 3 preseason games

By Barry Wilner Mar. 30, 2021 03:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. The San Francisco 49ers have made a big move to grab their quarterback of the future by trading up with Miami for the No. 3 pick in next month's draft. Drafting a quarterback would likely lead to the end of Jimmy Garoppolo's tenure in San Francisco either in a trade this season or after a year if the Niners opt to keep a veteran to help ease the transition for a rookie QB. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)
49ers trade up to acquire No. 3 pick from Dolphins

By Josh Dubow Mar. 26, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Ndamukong Suh (93) and inside linebacker Lavonte David (54) line up against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Suh has agreed to a one-year contract worth $9 million to remain with the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
AP source: Suh to remain with Bucs on 1-year, $9M deal

By Fred Goodall Mar. 24, 2021 06:28 PM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) plays during an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Glendale, Ariz., in this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, file photo. The 49ers locked up their biggest potential free agent for the long term by agreeing to give star left tackle Trent Williams the richest contract ever for an offensive lineman. Williams' agents at Elite Loyalty Sports say the deal agreed to early Wednesday morning, March 17, 2021, will pay Williams $138.1 million over the next six years, surpassing the $138 million deal David Bakhtiari got from during last season. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Free agency gave 49ers' Williams money, happiness

By Josh Dubow Mar. 24, 2021 02:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski (87), left, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate together after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Fla. NFL Films has been chronicling Tom Brady’s career since he entered the league in 2000, but there are still times when there are still new things to reveal. That is the case with this year’s Super Bowl film, chronicling Brady’s seventh championship and his first with the Tampa Buccaneers. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
Bucs' Super Bowl film showcases Brady and Tampa Bay D

By Joe Reedy Mar. 23, 2021 05:59 PM EDT

FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick catches a packet of papers after he tossed them in the air during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, in this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Watching Tom Brady win another Super Bowl in another city sure changed that. The New England Patriots doled out $175 million in guarantees in the first 48 hours of free agency following a 7-9 stumble in 2020 that officially ended their two-decade dominance of the AFC. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 22, 2021 04:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 file photo, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) carries on a reception against Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Eric Wilson (50) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans. The New Orleans Saints have informed receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Kwon Alexander they'll be released in moves that will save the club nearly $20 million against the NFL's salary cap, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 because the transactions were not yet official. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
Buzz over Bills' offense lured Sanders to sign with Buffalo

By John Wawrow Mar. 19, 2021 07:37 PM EDT

FILE - Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) dives over the line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, file photo. The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14.5 million with free agent running back Kenyan Drake to complement starter Josh Jacobs. A person familiar with the deal says Drake will be guaranteed $11 million under the deal agreed to on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Let's Talk: NFL free agents and traded players speak up

By Barry Wilner Mar. 18, 2021 05:33 PM EDT

Long, Thuney ready to protect Chiefs quarterback Mahomes

By Dave Skretta Mar. 18, 2021 02:37 PM EDT
Kyle Long was just as certain that he wanted to return to the NFL after a year in retirement as the three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman was that he wanted to...

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) leaps above Dallas Cowboys' Donovan Wilson, left, and Jourdan Lewis (26) to catch a Hail Mary pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, in this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $22.5 million contract with free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne. His agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, says the new deal is for three years and could be worth as much as $22.5 million. New contracts can't officially be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Column: Patriots reboot, but enough to win without Brady?

By Tim Dahlberg Mar. 17, 2021 05:15 PM EDT

From left, Kansas City Chiefs' Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson stand on the sidelines during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
AP source: Chiefs agree to deal with Long to help O-line

By Dave Skretta Mar. 17, 2021 11:48 AM EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians holds the Vince Lombardi trophy following the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Free-agent pickups have made a difference for some champions

By Rob Maaddi Mar. 16, 2021 12:56 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle Chris Jones (95) stretching during NFL football practice Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Chiefs, Thuney agree to 5-year deal as O-line rebuild begins

By Dave Skretta Mar. 15, 2021 01:54 PM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Agents see caution in free agency after 8% salary cap drop

By Bernie Wilson Mar. 13, 2021 02:54 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher gets off the plane with his teammates ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Fisher tore his Achilles tendon during the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs cut starting OTs Fisher, Schwartz to save cap space

By Dave Skretta Mar. 11, 2021 11:08 AM EST

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott smiles during a news conference at the team's NFL football practice facility in Frisco, Texas, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The Cowboys and Prescott have finally agreed on the richest contract in club history, two years after negotiations began with the star quarterback. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
'Healthy' Prescott signs richest contract in Cowboys history

By Schuyler Dixon Mar. 10, 2021 05:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2020, file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys and Prescott have finally agreed on a contract two years after negotiations began with the star quarterback. The team the agreement was reached Monday, March 8, 2021, with further details to be announced. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Cowboys, QB Prescott finally agree on $160 million contract

By Schuyler Dixon Mar. 08, 2021 07:14 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) stands during the performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" prior to the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Chiefs expect Mahomes by summer; Fisher, Schwartz by fall

By Dave Skretta Mar. 01, 2021 03:12 PM EST