NFL executive suggests Philadelphia Eagles could dump Jalen Hurts in 2027

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to trade AJ Brown this summer in an effort to make further changes to the offense. However, if the unit again does not live up to expectations, some believe Jalen Hurts could be the next position.

An AFC executive speaking to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested the Eagles could move on from Hurts after the 2026 NFL season.

“The player is becoming polarized, and as his running ability begins to decline, his value will also decline [Eagles general manager Howie Roseman] Will always be active to find solutions.”

Anonymous AFC executive on Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

READ MORE: NFL defense rankings 2026, see where the Eagles land

  • Jalen Hurts Contract (Spottrack): $31.971 million cap hit in 2026, $42.132 million cap hit in 2027, $47.549 million cap hit in 2028

Hurts, a second-team All-Pro in 2022 and Super Bowl LVIII MVP, has faced increasing scrutiny in Philadelphia. Earlier this offseason, Fowler and ESPN’s Tim McManus released an in-depth story detailing the friction in the Eagles’ locker room and the issues and questions surrounding the star quarterback.

Many around the league saw the leak from the Eagles organization as an indirect way of sending a message to Hurts. The coaching staff and front office want to see both improved play and leadership from him in 2026, as well as a willingness to work within the design of the offense.

It looks like Howie Roseman is giving himself a little flexibility at quarterback for a long time. The Eagles used the 178th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on developmental quarterback prospect Cole Payton. The coaching staff also remains high on former 2023 sixth-round pick Tanner McKee.

If the Eagles want to move on from Hearts in 2027, they will have to pay a heavy financial cost. Even the post-June 1 trade designation, which would be used to land the Browns this summer, would leave a dead cap hit of $30.756 million in 2027 and $54.478 million the following year.

However, the organisation’s growing dissatisfaction with Hearts has become more evident within the past year. Although it’s still unlikely that Philadelphia will move on from the Super Bowl-winning quarterback a year from now, it appears that it is an option that is being considered.

Avatar
Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for SportsKnow. His work including weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

#NFL #executive #suggests #Philadelphia #Eagles #dump #Jalen #Hurts

Executive Details Win-Win LA Lakers and LeBron James Contract Terms Both Should Consider

A rival executive sabotaged the new contract the Los Angeles Lakers were supposed to give LeBron James, and it looks like it’s a win-win deal for both parties.

On Monday, the Lakers saw a disappointing end to their 2025-26 campaign as the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a stunning four-game sweep of the NBA Playoffs semifinals. Following their 115–110 loss at home, speculation immediately began regarding James’ future.

Over the next few weeks, the 22-time All-Star will have to decide if he wants to play another season in the NBA. If he returns for a 24th season, while other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would be interested, a return to the Lakers makes the most sense.

“It’s hard to fit him anywhere,” a West scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps on Friday. But James won’t come cheap, and the prospect of them trading a veteran to capture a title doesn’t make business sense for them. An East team strategist also told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “According to our metrics, he remains a top-25 player in the league, and if it weren’t for his age, we probably would have rated him at the max player level.”

Should the LA Lakers give LeBron James a one-year deal with a no-trade clause?

So what type of deal should the Lakers offer that makes sense for them in the short and long term, but doesn’t offend one of the greatest players of all-time, who is still playing at an All-Star level at age 41? An executive from an Eastern Conference team has an idea.

“As long as it’s a one-year deal, no player options, I’ll pay LeBron whatever he wants. Give him a no-trade clause. Everything [new Lakers owner Mark] Walter has done good business so far. LeBron sells tickets. he keeps [local] TV partner happy. Re-signing LeBron is good business.

-Eastern Conference Executive (via ESPN)

James earned more than $52 million this season. Still, with the team willing to give Austin Reeves a big pay raise in a new long-term deal this summer, it doesn’t make sense to pay him that amount again. Would the four-time MVP be willing to consider a contract in the $35 to $40 million range? Perhaps.

One-year James deal makes long-term sense for LA Lakers

lebon james
Visualize images via Reuters Connect

While he wants to chase championships, James is a smart businessman and won’t waste his value to benefit a billion-dollar NBA club. The Lakers are one of the few competitive teams that can offer him the money he’s worth.

Additionally, LA showed over the final two months of the season that they can be a threat in the West if James, Reaves and Luka Doncic are healthy. If the front office can better complement the roster around him, James has a chance to chase a title in the city he wants to live in, and closer to market value.

For the Lakers, it makes sense to keep James for another season. As mentioned, they will be a very good team again. And if this is his final year, the club could pocket a hefty sum from a pseudo-retirement tour. But at the same time, re-signing him and waiting for the summer of 2027 makes long-term sense.

Big stars like Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving could be available next summer.

Avatar
After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

#Executive #Details #WinWin #Lakers #LeBron #James #Contract #Terms

NFL executive says the Baltimore Ravens should expect more Lamar Jackson contract drama

A new report of the opinions of executives around the NFL suggests that the Baltimore Ravens should prepare for more Lamar Jackson contract drama if he continues to perform at his current level over the next two seasons.

After being the last pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson has been better than the Ravens imagined. After showing his potential in six starts during his rookie season, he would emerge as one of the best players at the game’s most important position in the years to come.

Since 2019, Jackson has earned Pro Bowl honors four times, is a three-time All-Pro, and is a two-time NFL MVP. The dual-threat QB is already the best signal caller in Ravens history, and that’s why he got a massive five-year, $260 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. Still, to get that deal done, it was a complete struggle.

Jackson represented himself in negotiations and demanded to receive a fully guaranteed deal and be unable to place his franchise tag on the Ravens in the future. When discussions reached an impasse, he demanded a trade in March 2023. However, after continued difficult negotiations, an agreement was eventually reached.

NFL executive expects another dramatic Ravens and Lamar Jackson contract battle in 2028

crows
charles leclair-imagen images

This period when the Ravens are happy is in the rear view. However, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, some around the NFL believe the team and superstar QB can do it all again in 2028.

An NFC executive told Fowler, “Last time it looked like negotiations were going nowhere and then suddenly a deal appeared.” “It has a chance to be really interesting again, especially if he has a big year and his leverage goes up.”

While he has eight seasons under his belt, Jackson will only be 31 in 2028. So he should still have two or three more prime years left in him. Elite QBs are the biggest assets in the NFL, and all teams will pay big bucks to get them. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jackson decided to bet on himself and hit the market in two years.

However, that’s a problem down the stretch, and the Ravens should be in title contention again this year thanks to the two-time MVP.

Avatar
After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

#NFL #executive #Baltimore #Ravens #expect #Lamar #Jackson #contract #drama

New England Patriots executive shoots down AJ Brown trade rumors

The New England Patriots are not tipping their hand here. But the discussion surrounding AJ Brown’s possible move to the Philadelphia Eagles? Yep, that noise isn’t going away any time soon.

So far, nothing has been closed. And until something really hits the wire, it’s business as usual in Foxboro. That said, if Philly does open the door to a trade the Patriots are one of the most logical landing spots.

League conversations suggest it could be a later game after June 1, primarily to optimize the cap hit. But don’t rule out a pre-draft shocker either. With the NFL Draft coming up in late April, a move like this would immediately shake up the board and reset the WR market in a big way.

Patriots left the door open for AJ Brown

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown
Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagen Images

It wasn’t exactly shocking when AJ Brown came out during Monday’s press conference with Eliot Wolf — but if you were expecting a straight answer, you were reading the wrong playbook.

Wolf kept it in classic front-office mode: non-committal, doors open, nothing on the record. As Doug Kydd shared on X, Wolf said, “Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf when asked about AJ Brown: “As far as players on other teams, we’ll keep the door open to anything that we think can improve our roster, whether it’s with the player you mentioned or with other players.”

It’s no surprise that Wolf has avoided commenting directly on Brown and any potential negotiations. There is actual connective tissue between Patts and Brown. Mike Vrabel and the Browns go back to their Tennessee Titans days (2019-2021), which only fuels the “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” narrative.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles have not stopped trade talks at all. If anything, their recent moves, adding Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and flipping for Dontavian Wicks, feel like roster insulation. Not a replacement for Brown, but enough depth to soften the blow if he gets shaken up.

From the Caps’ perspective, it has “after June 1” written all over it. Only then can Philly make the dead money hit even cleaner. But if they want maximum draft capital in return, it might make sense to pull the trigger before draft night — even if it hurts the books a little more.

Overall, nothing is imminent, and nothing is guaranteed.

But patriot? They are hidden. And if that door mentioned by Wolf remains open, don’t be surprised if AJ Brown eventually walks through it.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

#England #Patriots #executive #shoots #Brown #trade #rumors

NFL executive criticizes Buffalo Bills’ offseason strategy

It appears the Buffalo Bills listened to the outside criticism aimed at their receiving corps. At the beginning of the offseason, the Bills’ newly promoted president of team operations, Brandon Beane, made a trade with the Chicago Bears for a new starting receiver, sending a second-round selection in exchange for DJ Moore.

While the trade boosted Josh Allen’s receiving corps, was the trade really worth it? Not according to an unnamed NFL executive.

recently, athletic I had a chance to talk to several NFL executives, and in doing so one was extremely critical of what the Bills have done this offseason.

One executive said, “DJ Moore was going to be cut, and they gave up a second-round pick to get him.” “They gave up a second-round pick and $40 million (in guarantees). What’s going on?”

Still, as Mike Sandow explained, the Bills often have trouble recruiting top free agents to Buffalo, even with Allen’s presence. In short, the Bills would have paid more to make sure they got their man in Moore.

But is that really the difference maker the Bills need? Moore, 28, has seen his numbers decline in recent seasons. He posted a career-high 1,364 receiving yards in 2023, but his total yardage dropped to 966 in 2024 and 682 in 2025.

Obviously, the hope is that Moore can return to Buffalo as a 1,000-yard receiver where he will be the focal point in Joe Brady’s passing attack. Still, even if he doesn’t record the fifth 1,000-yard season of his career, he could still help draw attention away from Buffalo’s other playmakers. As long as Allen can rely on him, Moore could be a positive addition to the Bills’ receiver room, but whether he’s worth a second-round pick remains to be seen.

RELATED: Buffalo Bills have talked to 6x 1,000-yard receiver

Avatar
Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

#NFL #executive #criticizes #Buffalo #Bills #offseason #strategy

Why is the Suns GM more deserving of Executive of the Year than Sam Presti?

The NBA Executive of the Year is typically awarded to the league’s best team, as evidenced by Sam Presti, general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024–25 season. But don’t tell that to Phoenix Suns GM Brian Gregory.

The latter has completely transformed Phoenix after a 2024-25 offseason where there were a lot of questions. What will happen with Kevin Durant? What about Bradley Beal’s impending contract? Will Devin Booker commit to Phoenix?

He answered all those questions, but appeared to rebuild the culture through alignment in just a few months. While alignment was the focus of every joke about Gregory, his eyes were set on a complete 180-degree change.

Thunder’s Sam Presti being compared to Suns’ Brian Gregory’s offseason

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott (left) poses for a photo with general manager Brian Gregory during an introductory press conference at the Verizon 5G Performance Center. Mark J. rebilas-imagen images
© Mark J. rebilas-imagen images

Presti made two of the most impactful moves that season with Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein. Those two alone showed how impressive and deep Oklahoma City was heading into the 2024-25 season, thanks to Presti’s knack for finding talent and fits. The 64-win season ended with an NBA Finals victory.

It highlighted that building through the draft, finding and developing the right players and coaches, and establishing culture in addition to finding fit, was the ultimate mix for sustained success.

As soon as they were in the Finals, Phoenix began preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft. He didn’t have the best draft capital after the Suns traded their only guaranteed draft pick in 2031 to the Utah Jazz for a three-first pick.

However, these three selections were the least favorable among the three teams (essentially, the team with the best record is the selection that Phoenix would get). Leading up to the draft, Gregory’s collegiate expertise stood out.

They had a few draft picks, but when the Suns traded for Kevin Durant, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and several second-round picks for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, they acquired a big pick.

That first-round pick was used to draft Duke center Khaman Maluach. Then the first-year general manager put on his scouting cap and found two pieces of the future in Rasheer Fleming and Coby Brea.

Gregory called the latter “the best college shooter of the last three years.” And for Fleming, his defense, shooting and unreal athleticism were in line with his vision.

All the while, they traded for former Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams on draft day. The 23-year-old big man was made the team’s starting center, and it seemed like a low-risk, high-reward move.

But about two weeks ago, the Suns hired Jordan Ott, causing a lot of doubt because of the potential Michigan State tie between him, Gregory and owner Matt Ishbia.

Nonetheless, the GM mentioned that the organization conducted dozens of interviews to find the right person. He even called in outside sources to hear a different perspective.

Hiring the future coach, selecting future key players and establishing a long-term culture were all accomplished within a month.

How has the Suns regular season been vs. the Thunders regular season?

Phoenix Suns players (from left) Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, Devin Booker and head coach Jordan Ott against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA preseason game at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
© Mark J. rebilas-imagen images

As for the Thunder, they have not surprised anyone with their dominance. At the beginning of the year, they were potentially trying to break the Golden State Warriors’ record for most wins in a season (73).

They came back down to earth, but Oklahoma City’s dominance shocked everyone. A dynasty seems to be emerging, but before we analyze it, let’s go back to January 4th.

A nearly healthy Suns team defeats the Thunder as game winners. The last two meetings did not go Phoenix’s way, but they were filled with stars returning from injury (Devin Booker) or being out due to injury.

A game is not equal why should Gregory win over Presti? If it were so, it would be inconsistent. That Sunday night was a microcosm of what the Suns GM has built: a gritty, physical, defensive-minded and connected team.

Someone in particular who has changed the culture is Brooks. He changed the culture wherever he went, even during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies.

After almost being traded to Phoenix in 2018, it was a full-circle moment when he was traded. Playing with Booker has enhanced both of their games, but Brooks has taken his game to another level.

There is more offensive responsibility and liability in this, which he has performed well. Averaging over 20 points per game and shooting nearly 70% at the rim is impressive.

His unorthodox attacking play has thrown defenders out of their rhythm. Even with Booker and Green out, Brooks has agreed to be the preferred option, which he cited following the 2024-25 first-round series with the Golden State Warriors.

Through the All-Star break, Oklahoma City had 42 wins compared to Phoenix’s 32. The Thunder’s dominance was expected, but the Suns’ surprise was something that took many by surprise.

What has Brian Gregory done for the Suns since the All-Star break?

The moves haven’t stopped since the backend of the season began. The team gave Green a long-term return, even as he worked extra hard for his hamstring recovery.

Additionally, the Suns signed running back Haywood Highsmith to a two-year waiver deal and gave two-way player Jamari Bouia a contract extension.

With Green out, Bouia, in particular, has been a nice contribution. Another guard above the rim who can create his own shot. Meanwhile, Highsmith brings the defensive intensity and versatility that Gregory has preached since taking over the job.

Injuries have kept the team from showing what they can look like when the trio of Booker, Brooks and Green remain healthy. However, Phoenix has maintained its hold on the court even without these three.

If the success continues, Gregory should hoist the Executive of the Year award based on the team’s turnaround, navigating the free agent market and making the most of the Durant trade and landing a player who aligns with the culture.


#Suns #deserving #Executive #Year #Sam #Presti

LA adds Dodgers executive for front office role

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired longtime Los Angeles Dodgers executive Lon Rosen as president of business operations, the organization announced Thursday, continuing a comprehensive restructuring under new majority owner Mark Walter.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported the move to Rosen began his career as a Lakers intern during college.

Rosen’s appointment follows Tim Harris’ decision to step down after the 2025-26 season. Harris spent more than 35 years with the franchise and The Forum and played a central role in securing the team’s lucrative local television rights agreement with Spectrum SportsNet. His departure marks the end of one of the longest executive tenures in franchise history.

The leadership change comes amid broader organizational changes. Earlier this season, Joey and Jesse Buss were dismissed from their executive positions, along with most of the Lakers’ scouting department, as part of a revised front office structure.

The overhaul follows the historic $10 billion sale approved in late October, when the Busch family sold a majority stake in the team to Walter. Walter, who also leads the Dodgers’ ownership group, has overseen a period of sustained success in Major League Baseball. Under his leadership, the Dodgers have captured three World Series titles, including back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025.

The Lakers return to action against the Los Angeles Clippers (26-28) on Friday night at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. Los Angeles enters the matchup 33-21, seeded fifth in the Western Conference as it begins the final stretch of the regular season.


#adds #Dodgers #executive #front #office #role

NBPA selects HBCU alumnus as executive director

The National Basketball Players Association has appointed an HBCU alumnus to lead the organization. Morehouse College alumnus David Kelly was recently selected as the organization’s executive director, replacing Andre Iguodala.

In a statement released by the NBPA, Kelly talked about his excitement to step into the role.

“The energy and excitement in the NBPA is palpable and the opportunities for our players are virtually endless. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and advocate on behalf of the players who drive the culture on the world stage and embrace everything that is great about the game.”

Iguodala spoke highly of Kelly in an NBPA statement.

“We are thrilled to have David Kelly join our leadership team in this important position. His unique background will allow us to transform our enterprise as well as enhance services for our members in new and creative ways. The immense value of our players – both on and off the court – continues to expand as basketball grows globally. It is important that we continue to diversify our expertise to meet their growing needs.”

Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in English from Morehouse College in 1996 and, a few years later, graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law with his Juris Doctor. He made his jump to the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, first serving as general counsel and vice president of basketball management and strategy from 2012 to 2018. He then took on roles as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Business Officer at Golden State Entertainment.

H has worked with the NBPA since March 2025 and is now set to assume the role of Executive Director. In this position, Kelly will use his legal expertise and business experience to help guide the organization.


#NBPA #selects #HBCU #alumnus #executive #director