It's officially NFL season eve. Tomorrow the long-awaited 2026 season begins. With it, all the drama, surprises, and excitement we've come to expect from the greatest sporting league in the world.
Today, we take a look at a few last-minute news updates, thoughts, and considerations before kickoff officially takes place.
Christian Gonzalez Record-Breaking Deal
Christian Gonzalez is now the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. This after a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the New England Patriots. This deal features $102 million in guaranteed money.
This means that even if he is cut, traded, or injured prior to the end of the contract, he's still going to have jet money for life. Not a bad deal if you can get it.
Last-Minute Roster Movements
The Falcons have made a surprising first-week quarterback decision. Head coach Kevin Stefanski named Tua Tagovailoa as the Week 1 starter. He won the role out from under Michael Penix Jr. as Penix recovered in 2025 from an ACL tear.
The Dallas Cowboys have also announced a serious blow to their roster in the form of Tyler Smith. Smith will be undergoing thumb surgery that will first force him to miss the first half of the season.
Finally, the New York Giants have officially released Darius Slayton from their roster. Slayton was, previous to this, the team's longest-tenured player.
Lopsided Week 1 Matchups
Week 1 matchups typically skew in the direction of parity where possible. That said, there is a notable mismatch in the form of the Arizona Cardinals facing off against the Los Angeles Chargers. Books currently list a 10-point spread in favor of the Chargers.
Why is the game so lopsided? It owes largely to momentum. The Chargers are noted winners, playing once again under head coach Jim Harbaugh. They're now coming off a two-season 11-game winning streak.
The Cardinals, by contrast, finished last year with a 3-14 record that included a final nine-game losing streak.
Obviously, anything can happen, folks, but this is going to be a tough game for the Cardinals.
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