The Patriots have dominated the “legal tampering” period so far, shelling out major dollars for ex-Ravens edge rusher Matt Judon, former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, and many more stars. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers kept the band together with fresh deals for tight end Rob Gronkowski and outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett. How? Some very clever accounting by the defending champs, plus a little help from core players like Tom Brady.

Here’s the kicker — NFL free agency hasn’t even officially started yet! Most of the league’s high-impact players are still on the board, so what’re you waiting for? Follow Pro Football Rumors on Twitter today — @pfrumors.

So far, the Bengals have laughed off every trade offer for their No. 1 pick, but the Dolphins won’t take no for an answer. The ‘Fins are trying to trade for the Lions’ No. 3 pick, keep their own pick at No. 5, and ship both of ‘em Cincinnati for the top choice. The Bengals have been laser-focused on Joe Burrow for months, but the Dolphins believe they can change their minds with a ludicrous package.

Beyond that, practically every other pick is in play. The Dolphins, Falcons, and Tom Brady’s Buccaneers are all exploring aggressive leaps to move up the board. Meanwhile, the Lions, Panthers, and Jaguars are willing to part with their Top 10 picks, if the price is right. Oh, and tons of big-name veterans are on the block, too – Redskins left tackle Trent Williams, Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, and Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard, just to name a few.

For breaking NFL Draft news – without tipped picks, for your viewing pleasure – stay tuned to Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors on Twitter).

To start your draft prep today and stay tuned for every pick, trade, and rumbling – visit ProFootballRumors.com and follow PFR on Twitter, @pfrumors.

Quarterback Joe Burrow – who threw for 60 touchdowns last year at LSU – is a mortal lock for the Bengals at No. 1. Beyond that, everything is up for grabs. The Redskins are reportedly listening to calls for the No. 2 pick, so they could conceivably be tempted enough to pass on a potential generational talent in Ohio State’s Chase Young. The Lions (No. 3) and Giants (No. 4) are also answering the phone, so this year’s top rookies could all be up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski is headed to Tampa Bay to rekindle his bromance with Tom Brady. Seven-time Redskins Pro Bowler Trent Williams could be the next superstar on the move.

That’s just a snapshot of what’s going on in the NFL right now. For the full scope of things, stay tuned to ProFootballRumors.com and follow PFR on Twitter, @pfrumors.

The “fully virtual” NFL Draft is just around the corner with several potential superstars on the board. At No. 1, the Bengals seem keyed in on quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns (!), and just six interceptions in his final year at LSU. Then, at No. 2, the Redskins could snag Chase Young, an absolute sack machine who could be a generational talent in the making.

Beyond that, the draft is wide open: The Lions are listening to offers for the No. 3 pick and the Giants are “open for business” at No. 4. The Dolphins, at No. 5, are one of several teams that could be tempted to move up for their next QB, which could be Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert.

For the latest on the draft, free agency, and more from this wild NFL offseason, stay tuned to Pro Football Rumors and follow along on Twitter, @pfrumors.

With just hours to go, we still don’t know who the Browns will take with the No. 1 overall pick. For weeks, the Browns were closely linked with USC quarterback Sam Darnold or Wyoming QB Josh Allen, but more and more people in the football world are starting to believe that they’ll take the talented, yet undersized, Baker Mayfield instead. Meanwhile, Allen is in the midst of a controversy that could impact his draft stock.

With multiple possibilities at the top, the Giants (No. 2) and Jets (No. 3) are preparing for every possible scenario. The Giants have been widely connected to Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and are divided on this year’s top QB prospects, but it’s still entirely possible that they’ll use this opportunity to tab Eli Manning’s successor. The Jets had been wrestling with whether to take Mayfield or UCLA QB Josh Rosen, but they could have an opportunity to snag Darnold, which at one point seemed unthinkable. At the same time, Jets coaches are pushing the front office to take Allen, if he’s there.

This year’s draft is one of the most uncertain in recent memory and you’ll want to follow along every step of the way. To stay plugged in with up-to-the-minute updates, follow Pro Football Rumors on Twitter: @pfrumors.

• Exceptional knowledge of all 32 NFL teams, with no discernible bias.
• Knowledge of the salary cap and transaction-related concepts.
• At least some college education.
• Extensive writing experience, with professional experience and a background in journalism both strongly preferred.
• Keen understanding of journalistic principles, ethics and procedures. Completion of basic college-level journalism classes is strongly preferred.
• Attention to detail — absolutely no spelling errors, especially for player and journalist names.
• Ability to follow the site’s style and tone.
• Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing up the news in a few paragraphs. We need someone who can balance quick writing with thoughtful analysis. You must be able to add value to breaking news with your own insight, numbers or links to other relevant articles.
• Ability to use an RSS feed reader. Ability to use Twitter. Both of these are crucial.
• Strong weekend evening availability is crucial. The ideal candidate will be available for most Friday and/or Saturday evenings.
• Weeknight availability (5-11 pm central time Monday-Friday) is also a plus.
• Flexibility. You must be available to work on short notice.

If you’re interested, email pfrapplications@gmail.com by February 9 (11:00pm central time) and take a couple of paragraphs to explain why you qualify and stand out. Many will apply, so unfortunately we cannot respond to every applicant.

• Exceptional knowledge of all 32 NFL teams, with no discernible bias.
• Knowledge of the salary cap and transaction-related concepts.
• At least some college education.
• Extensive writing experience, with professional experience and a background in journalism both strongly preferred.
• Keen understanding of journalistic principles, ethics and procedures. Completion of basic college-level journalism classes is strongly preferred.
• Attention to detail — absolutely no spelling errors, especially for player and journalist names.
• Ability to follow the site’s style and tone.
• Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing up the news in a few paragraphs. We need someone who can balance quick writing with thoughtful analysis. You must be able to add value to breaking news with your own insight, numbers or links to other relevant articles.
• Ability to use an RSS feed reader. Ability to use Twitter. Both of these are crucial.
• Strong weeknight availability is crucial. You must frequently be available to work between 5-11 pm central time Monday-Friday. Weekend availability is also a plus.
• Flexibility. You must be available to work on short notice.

If you’re interested, email pfrapplications@gmail.com by September 24 (11:00pm central time) and take a couple of paragraphs to explain why you qualify and stand out. Many will apply, so unfortunately we cannot respond to every applicant.

In years past, the NFL has mandated that teams trim their rosters from 90 men to 75, then from 75 to 53 days later.  This year, the league eliminated the middle step, meaning that teams must go from 90 to 53 by Saturday afternoon.  This has spurred unprecedented trade activity as GMs look to shore up their rosters before the impending frenzy.  All in all, we’ll see 1,184 players removed from rosters between now and the buzzer.

This weekend will be huge for hardcore and casual fans alike.  To keep up with all of the major cuts and trades – some of which will affect your fantasy team – we encourage you to follow @pfrumors on Twitter and bookmark ProFootballRumors.com.

The draft is hours away and we still don’t know who the No. 1 overall pick will be.  Most of the football world views Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett as the top overall talent in this year’s class, but Browns ownership is reportedly pushing for UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky.  If the Browns bypass the best player available in favor of the best quarterback available, it will trigger a ripple effect that will turn the rest of the first round upside down.

The uncertainty doesn’t stop there. The 49ers could break with tradition and select running back Leonard Fournette at No. 2.  The Bears, at No. 3, are eager to trade down.  The Jaguars, picking at No. 4 overall, are reportedly considering Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, a player previously projected as a late first round or early second round type.  With so many question marks early on, the entire draft is in flux and things could get insane.  We mean that in a good way.

To stay plugged in with up-to-the-minute updates, follow Pro Football Rumors on Twitter: @pfrumors.  You can also bookmark ProFootballRumors.com and follow us on Instagram.

The Patriots shocked everyone by signing cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Browns landed wide receiver Kenny Britt, and the Bears have agreed to pay quarterback Mike Glennon upwards of $45MM on a three-year deal.   Meanwhile, defensive lineman Calais Campbell is apparently waffling on a rumored deal with the Jaguars and could sign with the Broncos.  Some big names have come off the board, but tons more remain including Texans free agent cornerback A.J. Bouye, Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, and Chiefs defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

On top of that, we still don’t know where superstars Tony Romo and Adrian Peterson will wind up, and the Patriots just might complete their second trade of the week by acquiring stud wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints.

If you haven’t been following NFL free agency to this point, you can get a quick crash course by checking out PFR’s Free Agent Power rankings, which are based on the potential earning power of each player on the open market.  We’ve also broken down the top offensive and defensive free agents by overall ability.

Whether you’re an NFL diehard or just a casual fan, you won’t want to miss out on all of this.  Follow @pfrumors on Twitter and head to ProFootballRumors.com now to get up-to-the-second updates on everything going down.

The Rams, Chargers, 49ers, Jaguars, Bills, and Broncos are in search of their next head coach.  Naturally, Los Angeles is being linked to the celebrities of the coaching world.  The Rams are reportedly interested in yanking Jon Gruden out of the Monday Night Football booth and back on to the sidelines.  They’re also entertaining the idea of trading for Saints head coach Sean Payton.  Meanwhile, the Jaguars are giving serious thought to hiring Tom Coughlin, who turns 71 in August.  You can keep up with every development by following us on Twitter and checking PFR’s 2017 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker.

Beyond that, the frenzy of free agency and the NFL Draft are on the horizon.  This year’s free agent class could include the likes of quarterback Kirk Cousins, defensive end Chandler Jones, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, and running back Le’Veon Bell.

Stay in the loop by following us @pfrumors on Twitter and by bookmarking ProFootballRumors.com.

When Tim Tebow was last in the New York market, he was under center for the New York Jets.  While the former University of Florida standout sold a whole bunch of No. 15 jerseys, he didn’t make a lot of plays for Gang Green and 2012 wound up being the last time Tebow was on an NFL regular season roster.  After trying his luck with the Patriots and Eagles, Tebow turned his attention to broadcasting.  After years of putting his charm, looks, and athletic background to use on television, he is returning to professional sports in New York.  This time, he’s trying to make it with the Mets organization as an outfielder.

[RELATED: Follow Pro Football Rumors On Twitter]

Tebow, 29, has not played baseball full time in more than a decade.  In his recent audition for major league clubs, he reportedly struggled to hit off-speed pitches from former big-leaguers David Aardsma and Chad Smith.  One scout told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Tebow showed a below-average 40 grade arm on the 20-80 scouts scale – a reminder of why Tebow was never able to make it as a quarterback on the professional level.  Even though he showed “undeniable hitting ability” in the view of Crasnick, one has to wonder how far Tebow can get given his age, rust, and athletic limitations.

Count Mets GM Sandy Alderson among those with faith in the polarizing athlete.  Alderson told reporters on a conference call today that Tebow is not being brought in as a ploy to sell merchandise.  While he recognizes that Tebow faces an uphill battle in many respects, the GM says that the Mets could not pass on “a tremendous opportunity for us to associate with excellence.”

“He has demonstrated through his personality a competitiveness that our players can see first hand,” said Alderson, who pointed to pitcher Seth Lugo and minor league standout T.J. Rivera as players who have come from obscurity to find success in the Mets organization. “I think any player evaluation starts with tools and from that standpoint, without grading everything out, suffice it to say that Tim has been a great athlete.  He has demonstrated more than rudimentary baseball skills and we think with his commitment to success that this is an opportunity that we think is worthwhile.  In terms of power, arm, foot speed, all of those things….we think he can be a baseball player.  I think that is underscored by his competitiveness and his determination to succeed and improve.”

Alderson indicated that the Mets will be patient with Tebow as he refused to put a timeline on when the former Heisman Trophy winner could potentially reach the majors.  The Mets will find out how ready Tebow is “over the next weeks, months, and possibly years,” though Alderson explained that he will be absent from his Instructional League commitments for “a few days each week” so that he can fulfill his TV obligations with the SEC Network.

So, why baseball and why now?  Tebow explained that walking away from baseball was the “second hardest decision” he ever had to make and, in fact, he planned on making this switch more than a year ago.

“[Then Eagles coach] Chip Kelly called in the middle of baseball training and, to me, that wasn’t just any opportunity. I figured Coach Kelly’s offense might fit me really well.  But, we all know how that turned out,” said Tebow with a self-deprecating laugh. “After that, I started doing a little [baseball] training.  Then, after the season, I really picked it up and now we’re here.”

Tebow explained that as he traveled the country doing speaking engagements over the last few years, the itch to play baseball would move him to call up a local team and take batting practice with them.  For UFC fans, this may be reminiscent of pro wrestler-turned-real fighter C.M. Punk telling the world that he has trained for MMA with the occasional jiu-jitsu class and a “background” in Kenpo karate.  But, in both cases, one can’t help but be impressed by the athlete’s positive attitude, competitive drive, and willingness to take a monumental risk in a brand new endeavor.   Punk does not speak of winning the welterweight title from Tyron Woodley and Tebow isn’t telling the world that he is an All-Star in the making.  For Tebow, this is about pursuing a dream – perhaps a little late in his athletic life – and making sure that he does not wake up one day as a 50-year-old baseball fan with enormous regret.

“For me, I would consider success giving everything I have,” Tebow said.  “That would be looking back on this journey and saying I did everything I could do to be the best I could be.  I don’t necessarily view success as how many rings, championships, or promotions you get.  I view it as whether I did everything I possibly could do to succeed.”

Zach Links is the editor and lead writer of Pro Football Rumors, MLBTR’s sister site for the NFL.  You can follow Pro Football Rumors on Twitter – @pfrumors.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

The day is already off to a huge start with the Vikings’ acquisition of Sam Bradford from the Eagles. On Friday, the Titans’ new regime cleaned house, getting rid of notables like wide receiver Justin Hunter, versatile athlete Dexter McCluster, and running backs David Cobb and Bishop Sankey.  In San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick is making headlines for unexpected reasons, but it sounds like the Niners are leaning towards keeping him on the roster.  In non-deadline news, Patriots defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich was slapped with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on banned substances.

There will be a dizzying amount of news today concerning your favorite team.  In fact, we often see big names get cut on deadline day, and some moves can even impact your fantasy team.  Don’t miss on a single piece of news – follow @pfrumors on Twitter today!

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

More from the NL Central…

• MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch provides an update on a number of injured Cardinals, noting that left-hander Tyler Lyons’ season could be in jeopardy. The 28-year-old has been diagnosed with a fracture in his right knee and recently received a platelet-rich plasma injection as part of the treatment. It’ll be another three weeks before he’s evaluated, though, and GM John Mozeliak candidly stated: “I definitely feel like his season may be in question.” Shortstop Aledmys Diaz is back with the team and currently sporting a splint on his fractured left thumb. He’ll meet with a hand specialist next Monday to further establish a timeline for his own return. Meanwhile, right-hander Jordan Walden, who has pitched just 10 1/3 innings as a Cardinal since coming over in the Jason Heyward/Shelby Miller trade, hopes to return in September, though the Cardinals are being more cautious about his potential availability.
• Injured closer Trevor Rosenthal told Jim Hayes of FOX Sports Midwest (video link) that he’s dealing with a “pretty significant” flexor mass strain in his right forearm that has previously not been reported or acknowledged by the Cardinals. (Langosch notes in the above-linked piece that the team has still not confirmed that diagnosis.) Rosenthal is on the disabled list with inflammation in his right rotator cuff and recently received an PRP injection of his own, but the forearm issue, which Rosenthal says may have led to the inflammation in his shoulder, would be a new and possibly greater concern than the previously reported shoulder injury.
• Raisel Iglesias recorded the first save of his big league career on Wednesday, and there could be quite a few more in his future, writes C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s stepped it up and I think we’re looking at a role that could be very comfortable for him and something we’ll have to weigh moving forward between starter and reliever,” said manager Bryan Price. Iglesias himself expressed an enormous amount of pride in being asked to take the ball in the ninth inning, explaining through a translator that he was as proud to pitch in that role as he was to be named Opening Day starter for the Reds. Said Iglesias: “I feel really proud because I’ve waited for this moment, this is what I’ve wanted to be on the team, this is what I want to do. I want to be the closer.” Iglesias looked like a highly intriguing rotation candidate entering the season, but a shoulder injury sidelined him for two months, and he’s pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since returning. Since being activated from the DL, Iglesias has a sensational 0.65 ERA with a 31-to-12 K/BB ratio in 27 2/3 innings.