I loved the concept of algebra back in grade school.

The idea of using letters, symbols, pieces of information or phrases to represent numbers clicked at first sight. Word problems, schmord problems. If I remembered to slow down and read through all the details, I could plow through those with ease. Go figure that football would be another way to exercise that skill.

We’ve got one game left in the 2025-26 season, and some fans outside of the Seattle and New England area are already looking ahead. But there are no quantitative projections for us to review. No, stats to argue over. All we’ve got are rumors and reports until free agency opens up and the NFL Draft starts. But again, if you like algebra, you can see how some of these things add up to affect player value down the road.

NFL Coaching Carousel: Another LaFleur HC in the NFC

As this year’s version of “Musical Chairs—The Coaching Version” continues, there are still a number of vacancies for each club to fill. However, for one club that decided to clean house, signs are indicating they’re honing in on someone for their head coach position.

Rams’ OC Mike LaFleur, as one of the leading candidates, will have his second interview with Arizona’s leadership now that Los Angeles is out of the playoff race. And despite the Cardinals’ lengthy offseason needs, LaFleur would be the ideal voice to turn the roster around.

While his W-L record as the Jets’ OC doesn’t reflect it, LaFleur’s offense put up the second and fifth-best marks in EPA per play for New York over the last 10 years. From Zach Wilson to Mike White to Matthew Stafford (and Sean McVay), LaFleur has built offensive schemes to prop up below-average players and boost a (likely) future MVP. His OC and DC selections will be fascinating to follow, should he get the offer, but having him as the foundation would stabilize our trust in players who performed well in 2025 (e.g., Trey McBride, Michael Wilson).

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Who Wants to Coach Jalen Hurts?

To be fair, the question is more complicated than the Jalen Hurts of it all. But this about sums it up.

Philadelphia has interviewed eight different people, with two (Brian Daboll and Mike McDaniel) already getting their seats at another table in the league lunchroom. The most-promising selection is Packers’ QB coach Sean Mannion, who already had a virtual interview and will head to the Eagles’ facility for an in-person discussion in the coming days.

Since taking over as the starter in 2023, Jordan Love leads Hurts in passing success rate and EPA per play. More importantly, Love has attempted 46.3% of his passes to the middle of the field compared to Hurts’ 38.6%. Let’s hope Hurts will still have A.J. Brown to throw to in six months, but even a better approach to reading the field would be a welcome improvement.

More Offensive Weapons for Bo Nix

From ESPN’s Offseason Guide:

“Big prediction for the offseason: After exploring a trade for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in November, the Broncos will finally get their WR2 by signing the Colts' Alec Pierce. A big, physical receiver who can block and win on contested catches downfield, he's a perfect fit for Nix's play style and Payton's offense. – [Aaron] Schatz”

I’m not here to disagree with one of the godfathers of football analytics. My only adjustment would be instead of singling out a specific WR, let’s focus on the archetype that suits Bo Nix.

• Throws Outside of the Numbers: 329, Most (out of 36 QBs- min. 250 dropbacks)
• EPA per Dropback: 0.19, 17th
• Drops: 20, Most

The first stat wasn’t a surprise. Half of his throws in the divisional round fell into the same bucket. The second two did shock me for a second, but then I thought back to two weeks ago. Relying on Marvin Mims, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Pat Bryant doesn’t bode well in a win-or-go-home scenario. Denver has the 14th-most effective cap space, making a WR add a viable move. Pierce would be the ideal signing for a young offensive core, but older options like Mike Evans (less likely) and DeAndre Hopkins could fit the bill for how Nix likes to play.

Healthy Pass Catchers in San Francisco?

After how the 49ers’ season started and ended, we can all see a move to bolster the pass catchers coming:

San Francisco’s offense featured 250 snaps where a WR earned a target. The league average is 300.7. Only two SF receivers ran more than 300 routes.

You want a 1,000-yard WR from the 49ers? How many of them do I get to add together?

Brandon Aiyuk’s falling out with the front office and injuries across the board didn’t help matters. And sure, we all like watching HC Kyle Shanahan find ways to scheme up targets for Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson. But for Brock Purdy’s long-term value, having another reliable WR (especially with George Kittle out for most, if not all, of 2026) would go a long way.

Pittsburgh Steelers Will Invest in a WR

Unfortunately for the 49ers, they’re not the only ones in the market for another pass catcher. Nate Tice and Charles McDonald had the Steelers also diving into the WR pool once late April comes around:

“The Steelers might not traditionally take wide receivers in the first round, but after their 2025 passing attack faltered time and again outside of deep forays to Metcalf and a bevy of tight end targets, I think it’ll be OK for them to break tradition and add some juice to their pass-catching group. Makai Lemon’s play style (he was primarily a slot player at USC) pairs nicely with Metcalf as well as Mike McCarthy’s quick-hitting scheme, and gives this offense an underneath weapon who can actually create something.”

Without question, the value of any Pittsburgh WR will hinge on whether Aaron Rodgers wants to reunite with HC Mike McCarthy. But even if the two want to turn the Steelers into the Packers of the AFC North, they’ll need more options for Rodgers to throw to:

• DK Metcalf: 1.84 (Yards per Route Run), 22nd (rank out of 73 qualified WRs – min 50% route rate)
• Calvin Austin III: 1.22, 53rd
• Adam Thielen: 0.94, T-63rd

Metcalf missed two games (suspension), Austin was a part-time player (51.4% route rate), and Thielen has retired. Pittsburgh ranks eighth in effective cap space, so if they don’t make at least one splash in free agency, a first-round WR for their offensive-minded coach tracks.

More Help for Cam Ward

Let’s go back to 2021, aka Robert Saleh’s first season as the Jets’ head coach. In that draft, the team not only went after their hypothetical franchise QB in Zach Wilson, but paired him with Elijah Moore from the same class. Tennessee has already done half the job. Cam Ward already has a full season under his belt. But the need for someone to accelerate Ward’s development is great enough that we’ve got a few competing rumors.

• Tennessee goes after DeAndre Hopkins in free agency
• The Titans draft a WR in the first round
• Saleh lures veteran pass-catchers from San Francisco to Tennessee

The third item carries the most intrigue. Remember, Jauan Jennings staged his own hold in  only to get a restructured one-year deal last September. The Titans have deeper pockets, which may be all Jennings needs to hop on a flight out east.

Travis Etienne to Test the Market

Without an in-season extension or reports of the Jaguars wanting to keep Travis Etienne, I’m not surprised that we’re already hearing about potential suitors. Who’s interested does leave me confused, though.

It’s not to say Etienne wouldn’t fit well with HC Ben Johnson. Jacksonville’s RB1 has been the better rusher relative to D'Andre Swift in every rushing metric since drafted. But the upgrade compared to the cost points to a “juice isn’t worth the squeeze” situation. Let’s get Etienne to Kansas City or as Christian McCaffrey’s backup (for now) and have some real fun.

Breece Hall? Who Dat?

HC Kellen Moore may have found a solution at QB with Tyler Shough, who finished 14th in EPA per dropback after becoming the starter in Week 9. But the Saints’ run game was a disaster:

“A myriad of injuries in the backfield left the Saints' running game underwhelming this season, finishing 31st in PFF rushing grade (68.8) as a team. Ineffective production on a down-to-down basis amounted to just 3.4 yards per attempt on designed runs (31st), while limited big-play ability resulted in just 6.5% of runs going for 10 or more yards, the lowest in the NFL.”

Relative to the crop of free agent rushers, Breece Hall is the closest Alvin Kamara clone New Orleans will be able to find. And not just to maintain continuity of stylistic preference in the backfield. But to add more options for Shough. He was throwing to Dante Pettis to close out the season. Hall, alongside Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and a soon-to-be-named rookie WR, would have the Saints as everyone’s favorite sleeper offense for 2026.

Things to Keep in Mind for 2026: Keeping It Simple for Herbert

New OC Mike McDaniel has given us some gems on the mic over the years, but his thoughts on how he’ll approach working with Justin Herbert stuck out to me.

There’s no question about Herbert’s arm strength or talent. But as McDaniel is alluding to, those traits don’t have to be on display every snap.

• 2023: 7.7 (air yards per attempt), 15th (rank among all starters—min. 320 dropbacks)
• 2024: 8.6, 6th
• 2025: 7.8, 16th

Herbert has been at or above the league average in air yards per attempt over the last few seasons. Of course, we love watching him throw downfield. But some layups to keep the offense on the field would be nice, for Chargers’ fans and fantasy managers alike. So while I’d still expect to see explosive plays to Quentin Johnston and (maybe) Tre Harris in ’26, YAC-enabling concepts to Ladd McConkey and Oronde Gadsden would lift the entire offense.

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