Pre-free Agency News, Rumors, Impacts + QB MADNESS - 3/2

David Montgomery → Houston Texans (for a 4th+)
(With Denver reportedly offering a 5th of their own.)

Houston:

• Finished with the 32nd-ranked offensive line.
• Traded away another offensive lineman today.
• Does not project as a positive game-script team in 2026.

And yet, they paid draft capital for an aging back. That tells us something about how they view their room.

Dynasty Fallout

Woody Marks ↓↓↓: It might not be the end of the world - Montgomery is aging and was injured last year. But Marks did not impress anyone last year and for whatever reason, the Texans traded away another offensive lineman.

• He didn’t flash.
• Houston just told you they don’t trust him.
• Even if Montgomery is declining, the organization just capped Marks’ ceiling.

Marks moves from “possible ascender” to “injury-only upside.”

David Montgomery ↘↘↘: Moving from a time share & solid offensive line play to be an aging feature back (maybe?) behind the 32nd ranked offensive line could be fine! But let's be honest, how often will the Texans be winning, and therefore, how often will they be running the ball at all?

Jahmyr Gibbs ↑↑↑↑: On the flip side of that coin, FINALLY, we can see Gibbs in a feature role. Imagine how many points Gibbs can score if he's not taken out of the game every time he gets to the 25. Please don't screw this up, Lions!

If you happened to see the two games Malik Willis played in last year, you may have an incredibly positive impression of Malik Willis. He looked great. His Green Bay coaches heaped on the praise. Green Bay fans loved him.

Well, the rest of the league seems (at least in March, amidst the fog of war) to agree. Rumors of $30 million+ on the table are lighting up the internet with a week to go before free agency.

The Cardinals remain the top team named, with the Dolphins and Jets also frequently listed as interested parties.

Kyler Murray is rumored to be on his way out of town. I have encountered a lot of Kyler Murray defenders over the years. I do not understand them. Kyler has not looked good since 2021. Maybe a change of scenery brings that magic back? The Vikings and Jets are rumored to be interested. Personally, he is too short for me.

Just go. No one's going to trade for him with that contract, even restructured.

Just rip the Band-Aid off and cut him! And run back to Minnesota where you belong! Boring!

Despite an army of Jets fans screaming at me that the Jets were in playoff contention last summer, they have yet again gotten rid of their starting QB. I, for one, am shocked it did not work out.

What's next for Justin Fields? Sitting behind a wily veteran? Perhaps a 42 year old playing in black and yellow?

Speaking of the Jets, their last stable quarterback, Geno Smith is rumored to be on the chopping block by the Raiders. Does Geno have any magic left? I like him better than some of the other names on this list.

Joe Flacco, Minshew, Trubisky, Trey Lance, Pickett, etc. etc. etc. There is a darkness in the sky.

That's all! I wonder what the rest of this week will bring.