Need a travel snack for kids? Try these crispy buffalo chickpeas

It's Spring Break season, and many parents are packing snacks to keep kids happy while traveling, but they still have to make it through airport security.

Scripps News food and wellness contributor Jessica DeLuise, PA-C, shares a healthy, kid-approved snack that fits in a small container and is easy to bring through the airport.

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Crispy buffalo chickpeas

Ingredients

• 1 can (15.5 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 2 tbsp avocado oil

• 1-2 tbsp hot sauce (depending on preferred spice level)

• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

• ½ - ¼ tsp chili powder (depending on preferred spice level)

• ¼ tsp salt

• ⅛ tsp onion powder

• ⅛ tsp cumin

• ⅛ tsp garlic powder

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 F.

• Drain and rinse chickpeas
  TIP- reserve aquafaba for another recipe

• Pat dry on a clean, lint free towel

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the oil, hot sauce, nutritional yeast, and spices.

• Add the chickpeas to the bowl.

• Toss the chickpeas until they are coated on all sides.

• Lay them out on a sheet pan / air fryer basket in an even layer with space between them.

• Bake in 10- 12 minute increments until desired crispiness is achieved.

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 09, 2026

Need a travel snack for kids? Try these crispy buffalo chickpeas

It's Spring Break season, and many parents are packing snacks to keep kids happy while traveling, but they still have...

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Iran names Khamenei's son to succeed him, signaling no letup in war as oil prices surge

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran named the hard-line AyatollahMojtaba Khameneito succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel.Oil prices surgedas Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the U.S. and Israel bombed targets across Iran.

APTOPIX Iran US Israel

The secretive 56-year-old cleric — - only the third supreme leader in the history of the Islamic Republic — has close ties to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states sinceAyatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989, was killed during the war's opening salvo.

The appointment marked a new sign of defiance by Iran's embattled leadership after more than a week of heavy U.S. and Israeli bombardment, suggesting Tehran is not close to giving up on what it considers a fight for the Islamic theocracy's survival.

World markets plummetedand Brent crude oil, the international standard,surged to nearly $120 a barrelMonday, about 65% higher than when the war started, before retreating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 600 points, or over 1.3%, shortly after opening — marking a drop of more than 6-1/2% from its all-time high close in mid-February.

In Brussels, the Group of Seven major industrialized powers decided against tapping into strategic oil reserves for now to ease the impact on oil prices.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said after chairing a meeting of G7 counterparts: "We're not there yet," before adding that they were ready to take steps to stabilize markets like strategic stockpiling."

Trump dismisses oil price concerns

Iran's attacks in theStrait of Hormuzhave all but stopped tankers from using the key shipping lane through which a fifth of the world's oil is carried. Fire broke out at an oil facility that Iran attacked in the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain's only oil refinery was apparently also hit and Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted several drones attacking its Shaybah oil field.

"There is not an oil shortage," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social overnight. "Prices will drop again soon," he added, suggesting shipments from Venezuela to the U.S. could help offset the price spike.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is "well on our way" to achieving its objective, which he said was to eliminate Iran's ballistic missile stockpile, and its ability to produce and launch them. The administration has offeredshifting rationalesand timelines since the start of the conflict.

Elsewhere in the region, sirens blared multiple times across Israel on Monday amid unrelenting Iranian drones and missiles. A man was killed in central Israel in a missile strike, the first such death in Israel in a week, and a woman was wounded.

Israel said it was carrying out "a wide-scale wave of strikes" on the Iranian city of Isfahan, as well as the capital, Tehran and in southern Iran.

Turkey meanwhile said NATO defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile that entered the country's airspace for the second time since the war started.

New Iranian leader seen as more hard-line than his father

The younger Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the war started, was long considered a potential successor — even before the killing of his 86-year-old father. His wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was killed in the same strike.

An Iranian state TV report suggested the younger Khamenei may have been wounded in that strike, though a state TV analyst later appeared to amend the report, saying he had been wounded in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war in which he served.

Political figures within Iran have criticized handing over the supreme leader's title based on heredity, comparing it to the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that chooses Iran's top leader, apparently voted for continuity.

Khamenei, who is seen as even more hard-line than his late father, will now be in charge of Iran's armed forces and any decision about Tehran's nuclear program.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate in Iran's Shiite theocracy, welcomed the choice in a post on X.

The supreme leader, chosen by a clerical body, has the final say on all major policies, including war, peace and the country's disputed nuclear program.

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Though Iran's key nuclear sites are in tatters after the U.S. bombed them during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, it still has highly enriched uranium that's a technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Khamenei could choose to do what his father never did — build a nuclear bomb.

Israel has already described him as a potential target, while Trump has called him "unacceptable" and dismissed him as a "lightweight."

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to Iranian state television, praised the Assembly of Experts for "courageously" convening even as airstrikes pounded Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and "can handle this situation."

Regional anger grows as energy infrastructure is hit

Saudi Arabia lashed out at Iran following the drone attack on its massive Shaybah oil field, saying Tehran would be the "biggest loser" if it continues to attack Arab states.

In the United Arab Emirates, home to futuristic city of Dubai, authorities said two people were wounded by shrapnel from the interception of Iranian missiles over the capital, Abu Dhabi. By mid-afternoon, the Emirati Defense Ministry said 15 ballistic missiles and 18 drones were fired on the country on Monday.

A total of 253 missiles and 1,440 drones have been launched at the UAE since the war began. Four foreign nationals have been killed in the UAE and 117 wounded, authorities said.

Iran also attacked Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, where it hit a residential area, wounding 32 people, including several children, according to authorities. Another attack appeared to have started a fire at Bahrain's only oil refinery, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Bahrain has also accused Iran of damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.Desalination plantssupply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.

In Iraq, air defenses downed a drone as it attacked a U.S. military compound inside the Baghdad International Airport, a security official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. No injuries or damage were reported. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but Iran-backed militias have previously targeted the base.

Elsewhere, the U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed.

The U.S. State Department early Monday ordered nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia following the escalation in attacks.

Several other U.S. diplomatic missions have ordered all but key staff to leave, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE and the consulates in Karachi, Pakistan, and Adana, Turkey.

Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon

Smoke billowed over Beirut after Israel carried out airstrikes on its southern suburbs Monday.

Ahead of the strikes, the Israeli army said it would operate against targets associated with the Hezbollah-linked financial institution al-Qard Al-Hasan — which Israel said finances the militant group — and repeated its warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to flee.

The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Another person died in Israel of an asthma attack on her way to a shelter. Israel reported its first soldier deaths on Sunday, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.

UNICEF, the children's agency, reported that at least 83 children have been killed and 254 wounded in Lebanon since March 2.

"As military strikes continue across the country, children are being killed and injured at a horrifying rate, families are fleeing their homes in fear, and thousands of children are now sleeping in cold and overcrowded shelters," it said.

Rising reported from Bangkok and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank; Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut; Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Matt Lee in Washington, Qassem Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed reporting.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 09, 2026

Iran names Khamenei's son to succeed him, signaling no letup in war as oil prices surge

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran named the hard-line AyatollahMojtaba Khameneito succeed his late father as suprem...

Read More

Huge fire in Scotland triggers train chaos, partial collapse of historic building

A massive fire near one of Scotland's busiest train stations has engulfed a historic building in Glasgow, causing it to partially collapse.

Dozens of firefighters scrambled at Union Street just before 4 p.m. Sunday after the blaze started on the ground floor of a four-story commercial building, crews said.

Dramatic images captured orange flames curling around a domed roof beneath the night sky, as a silhouetted crane directed a water jet over the raging blaze.

Specialist equipment was used to tackle the inferno. No casualties have been reported so far.

"At its height, 18 appliances and specialist resources, including three high-reach vehicles, were mobilised to the scene," the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said at 2 a.m. local time, with the fire still burning after 10 hours.

In video circulating on social media and verified by CNN, thick smoke is seen billowing from a shop doorway. A person briefly sprays a fire extinguisher into the smoke before being pulled away by onlookers.

"Oh my God, it's like an explosion," a voice says in the clip while calling emergency services.

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Loud bangs and sirens sound in the background before a police van arrives on the scene.

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern over the fire and thanked emergency crews for their ongoing response in a post on X late Sunday, local time.

"Please continue to follow travel guidance, avoid the area and stay safe," Swinney added.

Glasgow Central has regular rail services across the United Kingdom including direct links to Edinburgh and London. It has been closed for now and major disruptions to train services have been reported, according to Britain's National Rail.

The station was built in 1873, according to Network Rail which described it as "a stunning, historic building." It refers to the station as the busiest in Scotland on its website.

Glasgow Central originally opened with eight platforms, it adds. This was part of wider efforts to contend with Glasgow's rapidly increasing population, driven by rapid industrialization including the success of the city's shipbuilding industry on the River Clyde.

CNN has contacted Police Scotland for comment.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 09, 2026

Huge fire in Scotland triggers train chaos, partial collapse of historic building

A massive fire near one of Scotland's busiest train stations has engulfed a historic building in Glasgow, causing it ...

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Mexico riding wave of confidence ahead of showdown vs. USA: 'We can do this'

HOUSTON — They stomped their feet, danced in the aisles, screamed, sang, partied, and proudly waved their green, white and red Mexican flags Sunday night in every single section of Daikin Park.

When the crowd of 36,380 finished singing a rendition of "El Rey'' at the end of the game, they headed to the parking lots, climbed into their cars, and horns could be heard blaring for more than an hour after the game.

And this was for a simple ho-hum game against an outmatched Brazilian team, winding up in a 16-0 rout, called after six innings with the mercy rule being implemented after Julian Ornelas' two-run home run, the third-largest blowout in World Baseball Classic history.

So imagine what the raucous atmosphere will be like Monday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX])when Mexico takes on powerful Team USAin their critical World Baseball Classic matchup at Daikin Park in Houston, with a little trash-talking already being exchanged between the two rivals.

"It's going to be insanely loud,'' Mexico first baseman Rowdy Tellez says. "It's going to be sold out, standing room only, and everyone going crazy. The Mexican fans and the US fans are high energy, and they've both been anticipating this game. It's going to be awesome.

"Really, this is what everyone's been waiting for since the last time we played them.''

See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic

The teams last met back in 2023, when Mexico stomped USA,11-5, en route to reaching the semifinals, and were three outs away from eliminating Japanin the semifinals. They were the team that would have faced the USA in the championship game, withthe Shoehi Ohtani-Mike Trout matchupnever existing.

And, as everyone in Mexico will tell you, they were convinced that if they had gotten past Japan, they would have beaten the USA in the championship game, just as they have the last three times they've played.

Now, they've got their chance again, knowing that a victory will put them in the driver's seat for a spot in the quarterfinals, with the opportunity to become the first sports team from Mexico to win an international championship.

"If that happens, you're going to see a party in Mexico like you've never seen,'' says Vinny Castilla, Mexico bench coach and former All-Star third baseman, born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. "It would be the greatest sports moment in the history of Mexico. It would be unbelievable. I don't even have the words to even imagine what it would be like.''

'BOYS ARE PUMPED':USA vs Mexico showdown should be WBC's Houston jewel

Well, Mexico manager Benji Gil certainly can, and already is envisioning the country-wide celebration.

"That's going to be awesome to be the first team to win the championship in Mexico,'' Gil tells USA TODAY Sports. "I can see myself at the ballpark hoisting the trophy, and just watching all of our players and coaches and staff celebrating with their families, and red and green confetti coming down.

"Yeah, it's going to be special.''

Teams Mexico knows the road to the title goes through the United States, at least in this Pool B, and with a victory Monday it could virtually write its ticket to the quarterfinals, leaving Mexico three victories away from winning the WBC championship.

"It's going to be unbelievable,'' Castilla said. "I don't know the words to describe how happy we would be to win it all, man. I mean, especially with all of the names the other teams have like USA, Dominican and Venezuela.

"We have a great team, we know we can do this.''

While Team Mexico certainly respects Team USA, there is absolutely no fear. When Gil announced that 37-year-old Manny Barreda, who pitched last season for the Wei Chuan Dragons of Taiwan, would be their starter against Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, Gil was immediately reminded about USA manager Mark DeRosa's comments a day earlier.

"Honestly, I think we have the best 30 players in the world in that clubhouse,'' DeRosa said Saturday night, "and they're coming together as a team. I don't really think it's going to matter who [Mexico] starts.''

Gil's reaction?

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"Do you want me to get into a pickle here?" Gil said. "But, yeah, he's right. It doesn't matter who is the opener for us. And I can say the same thing about them. It doesn't matter. It's an American pitcher against a Mexican pitcher. One is going to play against the other.

"Does he have the 30 best players in the world. I think the Dominican Republic has something to say about that. I think Japan has something to say about that, too. I don't know if they have the best 30 players out there, but the Dominican Republic should have the right. Japan should have the right to say something. Venezuela should have the right to say something as well.

"I don't know if they're the best in the world. We just want to be the best players of that day.''

Gil took a breath, and kept going.

"They are a super team,'' he said. "They have a roster full of stars. They got All-Stars, MVP candidates, Cy Youngs, Golden Gloves, Silver [Sluggers]. But it's not about rewards, it's about a game. And we're going to go out there and give it our best.''

Mexico knows they will have the home-field advantage, even though they technically are the visiting team. Houston has the third-largest Hispanic population in the country, with more than 600,000 residents born in Mexico, and nearly 12 million Hispanics and Latinos residing in Texas.

The place will be jammed, it will be loud, and the Mexico fans will definitely be ready to celebrate long into the night with a victory over their bitter rivals.

"It's a big ticket,'' Gil said. "It's not just a baseball game, it's one of the most anticipated baseball events of the year. ... We have such fans, countrymen who saved money, probably two or three weeks worth of salary, to travel and come here. I appreciate all of them.''

It wouldn't be this way, of course, if Team Mexico was a pushover, but they're for real, and they're a serious threat to USA's title hopes.

"Credit to the ugly duckling, which is Mexico,'' Gil said, "that maybe never should have been their rival, but we've done it by doing our job on the field.''

Indeed, Mexico-USA has blossomed into a rivalry since Mexico has given the Americans fits. Mexico hasn't lost to the United States in the WBC since 2006, losing the first game 2-0, and winning the three games since, outscoring USA, 18-8.

"We love representing Mexico,'' Tellez. "We're Mexican. We're proud of where we're from, so for us to come here and be able to wear Mexico in the front means everything for us. And with every win, we just bring more and more pride to the country. We know that soccer is the No. 1 sport, but we want to be neck-and-neck.

"But if we win this WBC, we'll go down as the greatest Mexican sports team in the history of the country."

While this is easily the most talented team that USA has fielded, it's also Mexico's best team, too, even with only one major league starting pitcher in Taijuan Walker, who pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings Sunday. Their newcomers include Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, catcher Alejandro Kirk, shortstop Joey Ortiz and infielder Nick Gonzales. They also have perhaps the most talented bullpen at the back end with All-Star closer Andres Munoz, Robert Garcia, Javier Assad and Robert Garcia.

"We still think about how close we were last time, and it motivates us, because we proved what we can do,'' Team Mexico GM Rodrigo Lopez, who spent 11 years as a big-league reliever. "Now, it's taking the next step. We have the opportunity to make history in our country.

"We can be the first sports team in Mexico to win a championship.''

And Mexico can take that massive first step with a victory against USA, showing the world they can beat anyone, and everyone.

"We're excited to play another great team,'' Gil said, "and we know they're great. But we're just going to try to be just a tiny bit better.

"Even if we win by half a run, we'll take it.''

Follow Bob Nightengale onBlueskyand X@Bnightengale.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mexico vs USA World Baseball Classic rivalry heats up in Houston

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 09, 2026

Mexico riding wave of confidence ahead of showdown vs. USA: 'We can do this'

HOUSTON — They stomped their feet, danced in the aisles, screamed, sang, partied, and proudly waved their green, white an...

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NFL free agency starts (kinda) Monday − ranking top 100 players available, including Tua

Happy new year. Almost.

The ball doesn't drop on the 2026NFLleague year – officially – until 4 p.m. ET on March 11. But pending free agents will begin charging their glasses at noon on March 9, when they can begin negotiating contracts with outside teams. (Those same players can re-sign with their current employers at any time, and those who have already been released from their present deals can sign wherever they please immediately.) Clubs can also continue putting the framework in place for trades, likeFriday night's blockbuster involving Maxx Crosby's movefrom theLas Vegas Raidersto theBaltimore Ravens, though no transactions on that front can become official until the league year starts.

With that in mind, here is the latest iteration of USA TODAY Sports' list of top 100 NFL free agents in 2026 – it will be updated accordingly as players begin striking it rich − in what is, honestly, something of an uninspiring group overall (^denotes a franchise tag; *denotes a player whose contract was terminated, making him eligible to sign immediately; **denotes a player who's been informed of his pending release):

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

1. WR George Pickens^

TheDallas Cowboys have already franchised him, Pickens now due a guaranteed $27.3 millionfor the 2026 season – assuming he signs the tag at some point. Yet he could also still be traded or even potentially sign an offer sheet from another team – which the Cowboys would have the right to match or receive two first-round picks as compensation if they chose not to. But don't bet on such a bold scenario materializing.

"Very clearly, the Cowboys want George Pickens to be a part of our future,"Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told a select group of reporters, including USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell, at the scouting combine.

Regardless, Jones has a big decision ahead on Pickens,just as he did last year with former Dallas DE Micah Parsons. Pickens is coming off a career year (93 catches for 1,429 yards and 9 TDs, all personal bests) just turned 25 … and may be absent from the team's offseason program as along as he's without a long-term extension. Obviously a good fit in Dallas' offense last season, Pickens isn't for everyone. But his 2025 effort strongly suggested his production and potential are quickly coming into alignment.

2. C Tyler Linderbaum

Full transparency, he was ranked third in this list's original version – but his age and ability may render him the richest man to emerge from this year's free agency cycle. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta revealed at the combine that the team had made Linderbaum "a market-setting offer." (Creed Humphrey's four-year, $72 million pact with the Kansas City Chiefs is currently the financial benchmark among centers.) However, DeCosta wasn't willing to franchise his 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler because the lofty tag is based on all O-line deals, which would mean paying a center left tackle money. DeCosta is also trying to address QB Lamar Jackson's contract − he currently carries a cap charge of $74.5 million in 2026and'27 – while taking on Crosby's deal, limiting the team's financial flexibility to some degree. Now, an immediate (and likely frenzied) bidding war will doubtless commence around Linderbaum.

Best fits:Ravens, Giants, Titans, Commanders

3. OLB/DE Jaelan Phillips

It's hard to come by untethered edge defenders theoretically entering their prime. But Phillips, 26, could be one of the belles of the FA ball afterbeing acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles at last year's trade deadline. He finished the season with five sacks and 63 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats. More importantly, he appeared in 17 regular-season games for the first time since 2022 after injuries ruined his following two seasons. Strong against the pass and run, the 6-foot-5, 266-pounder should find a very robust market.

Best fits:Patriots, Eagles, Ravens

4. DE/OLB Trey Hendrickson

After registering 35 sacks between the 2023 and '24 seasons, including a league-leading 17½ in the latter campaign, the 31-year-old was limited to seven games by injuries last year − that in the wake of acontentious offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals. Regardless, his services should be in high demand now that he's going free.

Best fits:Patriots, Colts, Cowboys

5. QB Daniel Jones^

Jones was tagged March 3 − but with a transition tag, not the franchise variety, meaning he is exposed if another team swoops in with an offer the Indianapolis Colts aren't willing to match (or get compensated for). A torn Achilles last December cut short what had been his best season statistically (238.5 passing yards per game, 100.2 QB rating) to that point. The QB trend du jour that may be forming in the NFL could be finding a reclamation project who won't necessarily eat up a massive chunk of the salary cap − and Jones, 28,can thank Sam DarnoldandBaker Mayfield for their ongoingheroics. Hard to believe Indy will allow Jones to gauge his worth with the rest of the league, though ... especially when his previous team, the Minnesota Vikings, could suddenly become very interested if he's not secured soon.

Best fits:Colts, Vikings

6. OLB/DE Odafe Oweh

He has 17½ sacks and 98 pressures as a part-time starter over the past two seasons, which were split between the Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers. Heady numbers for a 27-year-old who should be ready for a bigger role ... and certainly a larger paycheck.

Best fits:Titans, Chargers, Patriots

7. QB Malik Willis

He could be this year's version of Justin Fields − a quarterback with intriguing skills but limited experience who can nevertheless capitalize financially given the high demand but low supply at his incomparably critical position. Willis, 26, has far fewer NFL reps than Fields but really impressed while filling in as a spot starter for the Green Bay Packers the past two seasons, completing nearly 80% of his passes while throwing six TDs and zero INTs. In addition to a gaudy 134.6 passer rating, Willis can also move like a tank. Keep an eye on theMiami Dolphins, who just plucked their new GM (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and coach (Jeff Hafley) from the Pack, as a potential buyer. The Cardinals, too, given new coach Mike LaFleur is the brother of Green Bay HC Matt LaFleur. Willis is another passer who didn't pan out after he was drafted yet could be a relative bargain now if his limited sample size proves reflective of his long-term prospects.

Best fits:Dolphins, Cardinals

8. WR Alec Pierce

Similar to Rashid Shaheed, he could be an elite No. 2 receiver in the right system. Unlike Shaheed, he doesn't bring any special teams value. However Pierce, 25, has led the league in yards per reception each of the past two seasons (21.8 ypc over the duration) and is coming off a breakout year with 47 grabs for 1,003 yards. Pierce should get paid nicely, especially if a prospective employer views him as more of a deep threat.

Best fits:Colts, Broncos, Titans

9. OT Rasheed Walker

He's been a solid, if unspectacular, starter for the Packers since 2023. But serviceable, 26-year-old left tackles don't grow on trees and tend to get paid outrageously well − maybe especially so in a year when there aren't any blue-chip incomers in the draft.

Best fits:Browns, Bears

10. WR/KR Rashid Shaheed

The big-play ability he flashed for years with the New Orleans Saints translated beautifully − and crucially − when theSeattle Seahawks obtained him last November. Shaheed, 27, seemed like the final piece for the 'Hawks' championship puzzle and delivered huge catches and returns in pivotal games down the stretch and in the postseason. However it should be captivating to see what Shaheed can fetch given he's never been a No. 1 receiver nor averaged 600 receiving yards during his four-year career. Still, his return ability − at a time when the kickoff is becoming an increasingly important component of the game − could really drive up his price tag.

Best fits:Seahawks,Raiders, Broncos

11. TE Kyle Pitts^

The No. 4 overall pick in 2021 − the highest-drafted tight end ever − Pitts, 25, never seemed to fully reach his potential with the Atlanta Falcons, which isn't completely an indictment of him. But he was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 and did just put together his best season since he was a rookie, catching a career-high 88 passes and five TDs. Pitts could really take off in an offense that truly leverages his estimable abilities ... and maybe even has the foresight to feature him in the red zone. He stands to make $15 million under the tag in 2026, though it remains to be seen if new coach Kevin Stefanski's offense will sustain Pitts' production.

12. RB Breece Hall^

Though the New York Jets seemingly purged much of their talent atlast year's trade deadline, they hung on to their 24-year-old back. And why not? Hall has averaged 1,260 yards from scrimmage and nearly seven TDs during his four seasons − and for a pop-gun offense. Explosive and an excellent receiver, Hall is the best runner on the market and may yet be a cornerstone for the NYJ as they lay the groundwork to welcome their next franchise QB … eventually. Hall's 2026 tag is worth $14.3 million.

13. QB Kyler Murray**

Heoffered a digital goodbye on Xamid reports on March 3 that the Arizona Cardinals will be officially releasing the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft. An Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler, Murray's talent has never been in question. But his durability and work ethic have been at issue during his career, and his play plateaued even though former coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense was supposed to optimize Murray's abilities. Murray will be 29 when Week 1 rolls around and maybe he becomes the league's latest successful franchise QB turnaround project if he lands in the right spot. If he doesn't? His days as a starter could be numbered.

Best fits:Vikings, Jets, Falcons

14. S Coby Bryant

After struggling as a corner earlier in his Seattle career, he's flourished as a safety the past two seasons − and the 26-year-old should get a nice bump given the league's other teams always look to raid the most recent Super Bowl champions.

Best fits:Seahawks, Chargers, Ravens

15. LB Devin Lloyd

A first-rounder of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, he blossomed into a Pro Bowler last season as the team blossomed around him. If the Jags don't pony up to keep their 27-year-old defensive quarterback, someone will.

Best fits:Panthers, Commanders, Jets

16. CB Jaylen Watson

He's big (6-2, 197), young (27), still experienced (29 starts) and playoff tested. Watson is coming off his best season but is probably a luxury for the capped-out Chiefs.

Best fits:Chiefs, Jets, Seahawks

17. S Bryan Cook

He's emerged as a key component of Steve Spagnuolo's K.C. D in recent years. A steady, reliable player, Cook, 26, should be a stabilizing presence if not one who's going to make a ton of splash plays.

Best fits:Chiefs, Raiders, Titans

18. RB Kenneth Walker III

The 25-year-old Super Bowl MVP will get a hefty raise in Seattle or elsewhere. But Walker is not the second coming of Saquon Barkley, isn't as good an every-down player as Hall and has spent most of his career in a platoon. The guess here is that Walker won't come close to resetting the compensation scale at a position that generally doesn't command top dollar.

Best fits:Seahawks, Steelers, Chiefs

19. WR Jauan Jennings

A 6-3, 212-pounder, the 28-year-old caught 132 balls (15 for TDs) over the past two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Jennings' roots as a quarterback also make him quite a threat on trick plays. He's also the proverbial dog that some locker rooms covet ... and others won't.

Best fits:Commanders, Raiders, 49ers

20. WR Mike Evans

He'll be 33 by Week 1 and is coming off the worst of his 12 NFL seasons. But 6-5 and 231 pounds don't fade like speed does, and a healthy Evans (he wasn't in 2025) should be a dangerous offensive weapon, red-zone monster and top-tier leader again in 2026 − whether it's for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or someone else.

Best fits:Buccaneers, Patriots, Seahawks, Bills

21. CB Nahshon Wright

Though he's already 27, he's hardly a finished product. He's also a 6-4, 199-pound corner who led the NFL with eight takeaways (5 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries) after becoming a surprise starter (and surprise first-time Pro Bowler) for the Chicago Bears. The upside and production spike are going to make Wright rich.

Best fits:Bears, Seahawks, Cowboys

22. WR Romeo Doubs

He's 25 with good size (6-2, 204) and has averaged roughly 50 receptions and 600 yards during four years with the Pack, who have widely dispersed their target share in the post-Davante Adams era. Doubs could be far more impactful as a 1A or second option elsewhere.

Best fits:Cardinals, Jets, Titans

23. QB Aaron Rodgers

Last season was his best since 2021, his most recent MVP effort. Hard to imagine the 42-year-old legend playing anywhere besides the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just hired Mike McCarthy,formerly Rodgers' coach in Green Bay. Again, monitor the Vikings as a possible dark horse.

Best fits:Steelers, Vikings

24. QB Kirk Cousins**

Given the structure of his reworked deal, the Falcons will let him go on March 11. More than a year removed from Achilles surgery, Cousins, 37, looked more like himself last season – after replacing injured Michael Penix Jr. – than he did in 2024. He could be a valued for stopgap for several teams.

Best fits:Browns, Vikings, Jets, Falcons

25. OLB/DE Boye Mafe

Despite being a rotational player in Seattle, he was still credited with 41 pressures even while playing fewer than half the defensive snaps. Only 27, he's another who could get a Lombardi raise from an outside suitor.

Best fits:Titans, Cowboys, Raiders

26. DE/OLB Joey Bosa

He'll be 31 this season and has a checkered injury history. But Bosa's 2025 campaign with the Buffalo Bills was his best since 2021. He had five sacks and 43 pressures in 15 games and led the league with five forced fumbles. He'd be wise to find a home where his snaps can be maximized but limited.

Best fits:49ers, Bills, Titans

27. WR Wan'dale Robinson

He may be 5-8 and 185 pounds, but the 25-year-old was targeted 140 times each of the past two years with theNew York Giants− and posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2025. Robinson isn't a No. 1 receiver, either − doesn't mean he won't heavily impact his next offense.

Best fits:Jets, Giants, Titans

28. CB Jamel Dean

He was All-Pro-caliber in his seventh season, allowing just 22 completions in 14 games. And Dean is only 29.

29. G David Edwards

Want a highly capable 28-year-old interior offensive lineman whom the Bills probably can't afford to keep? Then Edwards might be your guy.

30. CB Riq Woolen

He's a 6-4, 210-pound athletic freak who will be 27 in May. He also lost the starting job he'd held for 3½ years midway through the 2025 season – though that's at least partially due to Seattle's embarrassing riches of talent, and Woolen remained a significant contributor. He'll be a starter elsewhere soon … and a well-compensated one.

31. RB Travis Etienne

He rebounded from a miserable 2024 to rack up 1,399 yards from scrimmage and a career-best 13 TDs for the AFC South champion Jags. Etienne, 27, may not be an every-down back, but he's a highly capable receiver who should always be on the field during high-leverage situations.

32. DL Dre'Mont Jones

Physically imposing at 6-3 and 281 pounds, he can be a valuable end for teams that favor 3-4 fronts. Traded to the Ravens midway through last season, the 29-year-old had his best year – actually appearing in 18 games (no bye due to the trade) and finished with seven sacks and 55 pressures, both the best of his seven-year career.

33. CB Cor'Dale Flott

He'll be 25 at the beginning of next season and has shown steady improvement over the past two years with the Giants – allowing just two TD passes while starting 24 of 28 games over that span.

34. QB Tua Tagovailoa**

At his best, an accurate, affable, Pro Bowl-caliber passer ... but also one with a troubling concussion history along with limited arm strength and mobility, all while coming off a poor season when he started 14 games. Quite a conundrum,albeit one who won't cost his next teammore than the veteran minimum.

35. LB Bobby Wagner

He doesn't play a premium position, and he's 35 – not that you'd know it. A great leader and great guy who should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he's done, championship-aspiring teams should be lining up to sign him.

36. TE Travis Kelce

He doesn't play a premium position, and he's 36 – not that you'd know it, especially after playing better in 2025 than he did the previous year. Hard to imagine Kelce plays anywhere but Kansas City, assuming he plays at all and can find a financial middle ground with the team after making more than $17 million last season.

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37. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker

An immensely talented player who was the 14th overall pick by the Jets in 2021, he can excel pretty much anywhere on the line … provided he can play. Vera-Tucker has played more than seven games twice in his career and missed all of last season with a triceps injury.

38. OLB/DE Bradley Chubb**

After missing the entire 2024 season while recovering from a torn ACL, the 29-year-old had 8½ sacks and 54 pressures for Miami in 2025. The two-time Pro Bowler should be even better in 2026.

39. S Jaylinn Hawkins

He really hit his groove with the New England Patriots in 2025, his sixth year but third team, picking off four passes – doubling his career total entering the season. Other teams tend to love 28-year-olds who just played in the Super Bowl.

40. DL John Franklin-Myers

A 29-year-old who's done a lot of the dirty work during his career, he collected a career-best 7½ sacks for the Denver Broncos in 2025. Franklin-Myers, who's mostly played in three-man fronts, has averaged 43.2 pressures since 2020.

41. TE Isaiah Likely

He's 25 and extraordinarily talented. But 2025 was also his least productive season, partially derailed by a foot injury early in the year. But it was notable the Ravens chose to extend TE Mark Andrews, who's five years older than Likely, in December.

42. G Zion Johnson

A first-rounder in 2022, he was decidedly average for the Chargers. But a lot of teams would take decidedly average if it's available for 1,000-plus snaps per season, as Johnson has been. Still only 26, we've moved him up this list given the premium on blocking – and while other players like Cincinnati G Dalton Risner and Buffalo C Connor McGovern re-signed early.

43. RB Tyler Allgeier

He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 … the year before Bijan Robinson arrived in Atlanta. Yet Allgeier, 25, still averaged nearly 750 yards from scrimmage and five TDs over the next three seasons in a valuable secondary role to Robinson.

44. LB Devin Bush Jr.

A first-round pick of the Steelers in 2019, the 27-year-old has come into his own the past two years in Cleveland, his third NFL team.

45. WR Stefon Diggs**

He was a big reason the Patriots reached the Super Bowl, finishing with 85 catches and more than 1,000 yards the season after he suffered a torn ACL. However Diggs will turn 33 next season, and his pending legal issues will give any team some level of pause.

46. S Jalen Thompson

Only 27, he's quietly been Budda Baker's backline partner in crime for seven years in Arizona.

47. OT Braxton Jones

A series of injuries starting late in the 2024 season waylaid him, but he was a reliable left tackle for the Bears for the three years up to that point. Jones turns 27 next month and should have a lot of good football left in him.

48. DL Calais Campbell

Even at 39, he continues to be a phenomenal player and leader – one who remarkably hasn't missed a game since 2022.

49. G Teven Jenkins

A second-round pick in 2021, he's more than solid inside but can also shift out to tackle in a pinch.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

50. CB Cobie Durant

The 28-year-old has allowed a 54% completion rate on passes thrown in his direction the past two years as a full-time starter for the Rams.

51. C Cade Mays

After taking over the pivot in Carolina last year, the 26-year-old could find himself enriched as the Linderbaum consolation prize somewhere.

52. LB Nakobe Dean

He's little more than a year removed from suffering a torn patellar tendon in the 2024 playoffs and it impacted his '25 campaign. The Eagles could get a bargain if they can get the 25-year-old, who played 10 games last season, back for at least one more year.

53. RB Rico Dowdle

He has 2,701 yards from scrimmage while splitting the last two years between Dallas and Carolina. A tough runner who's only 27, his production really tailed off in the second half of last season after an explosive October.

54. S Kevin Byard

A three-time All-Pro, he led the league with seven INTs in 2025, and his 36 picks are the second most among active players. Byard will be 33 in August but still clearly has gas left in the tank.

55. LB Leo Chenal

He's started 44 games during his four-year career with the Chiefs, but 2025 was the first time he was on the field for more than half the snaps – and barely then (53.2%). Only 25, Chenal is an exceptional athlete who could shine given the opportunity to play more for another team – though he probably needs to factor more as a pass rusher.

56. CB Alontae Taylor

He's not a shutdown guy. He is 27, largely lives in the slot and is extremely durable − all traits that will make him valuable.

57. DE Kwity Paye

Reliable if unspectacular, the 27-year-old has started 74 games since being a first-round pick of the Colts in 2021. Paye has 30½ career sacks, at least 40 pressures in each of the past three seasons and defends the run well enough.

58. OT Jermaine Eluemunor

A fifth-rounder in 2017, he's been better than average during his career and has become an especially good pass blocker in recent years – starting 62 games since 2022.

59. S Jaquan Brisker

Not a lot of flash, but a 26-year-old who started in Chicago for four years can stabilize the back end of a defense.

60. DE-OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad

He's nearly 31 but picked the right time to have a career season – registering 11 sacks and 59 pressures for the Detroit Lions in 2025, by far personal bests. TBD how much his outlier season and age will allow Muhammad to cash in.

61. G Isaac Seumalo

A decade into his career, Rodgers sung his praises last season. Seumalo, 32, won't get Linderbaum-level money … but he likely won't be waiting long for a new deal, either.

62. WR Deebo Samuel

He's a big name. He's also 30, isn't a polished receiver and has averaged fewer than 900 yards from scrimmage over the past four years in what's largely a play-making role. He has handled kickoffs the past two years, a factor that boosts his value.

63. RB Rachaad White

He had more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage for the Bucs in 2023 but was overtaken on the depth chart by Bucky Irving in 2024. But White, 27, who's also averaged more than 50 receptions during his four-year career, should find a significant role elsewhere.

64. TE Dallas Goedert

He's 31 but also coming off one of his best seasons, his 11 TDs and 60 catches in 2025 both career highs. Blocking isn't the longtime Eagle's forte …the "Tush Push" notwithstanding.

65. NT Khyiris Tonga

Tough to find 6-2, 335-pounders who eat space and stress pockets. Tonga, 29, did it well for New England in 2025, playing a career-high 322 snaps.

66. S Alohi Gilman

Traded for Oweh last October, Gilman did a nice job in Baltimore – his ability to line up just about anywhere making him a nice complement to Kyle Hamilton.

67. DL Logan Hall

A 6-6, 283-pounder who was a second-round pick of the Bucs in 2022, he can eat up a lot of snaps and should be able to do so in even or odd fronts.

68. WR Jalen Nailor

His numbers would probably be much more impressive had he not been stuck behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota. Still, Nailor, 26, had 47 first downs and 10 TDs over the past two seasons and has averaged 15.4 yards per catch during his four-year career.

69. TE Chig Okonkwo

An oversized receiver at 6-3 and 238 pounds, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise he doesn't block much. But Okonkwo, 26, had his best season in 2025 with 56 receptions for 560 yards.

70. DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney

Something of a mercenary at age 33, the No. 1 pick of the 2014 draft had 8½ sacks and 38 pressures for the Cowboys last season despite playing about half of his typical snap count. He can also still set a nice edge.

71. RB J.K. Dobbins

Durability has always been the issue, and a foot injury limited him to 10 games in Denver last season. Yet Dobbins, 27, was averaging a career-best 77.2 rushing yards per game before going down.

72. DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson

He's 28, versatile and knows how to get underneath an opponent's skin … though that's also sometimes true of his own teams, too.

73. LT Taylor Decker**

He'll be 33 at the start of the 2026 season but good luckfinding a better stopgap guyto man the blind side.

74. G Kevin Zeitler

He'll be 36 next month. Otherwise? Still plug and play – at a very high level.

75. CB Josh Jobe

He doesn't have Woolen's physical gifts, but Jobe emerged as a consistent starter on Seattle's defense – yet probably won't command nearly as much as dough as his (in all likelihood) soon-to-be former teammate.

76. OLB/DE K'Lavon Chaisson

He finally showed why he was a first-round pick six years ago, providing 7½ sacks and 52 pressures – both career highs – during his first season with the Patriots. The 6-3, 255-pounder has to be in the right system but should have plenty of time to flourish in an ideal environment given he's only 26.

77. OLB Arden Key

A slightly older, slightly slighter version of Chaisson, Key does own 27½ sacks and more than 200 pressures since 2021.

78. CB Rasul Douglas

He bounced back nicely after a rough 2024 campaign in Buffalo. A big (6-2, 209) corner with 21 career picks shouldn't be unemployed for long, even at 30.

79. RB Kenneth Gainwell

He was the Steelers' MVP last season, when he had a career-high 187 touches and career-best 1,023 yards from scrimmage – along with a personal best eight TDs. Soon to be 27, Gainwell could be a perfect addition for an offense that favors a running back by committee approach.

80. TE David Njoku

He's still a physical marvel at 29, good for around 50 grabs, 600 yards and a handful of TDs annually. And unlike a lot of tight ends nowadays, he's also effective in-line as a blocker.

81. TE Cade Otton

He averaged 59 catches and nearly 600 yards over the past two seasons in Tampa. Decent blocker.

82. DT DJ Reader

Even at 31, the 6-3, 330-pounder can still crush a pocket – especially if his snaps are used judiciously.

83. TE Jonnu Smith*

He had a career year for Miami in 2024, but his numbers plummeted in Pittsburgh's tight end-heavy offense in 2025. But Smith is only 30 and should find a soft landing somewhere.

84. WR Brandon Aiyuk**

He was a 1,300-yard receiver in 2023. He tore up his knee in 2024. He didn't play in 2025 and basically ghosted the 49ers, leading the team to void $27 million of Aiyuk's guaranteed money. His talent and behavior will make for quite the cost-benefit analysis for potentially interested teams.

85. OLB/DE Arnold Ebiketie

He's 27 and has shown the ability to get to the quarterback (130 total pressures) during his four-year career. But he hasn't proven he can be any more than rotational defender with only 12 starts to his credit.

86. WR Keenan Allen

He'll be 34 in April but still moves the sticks, 49 of his 81 catches for the Chargers going for first downs last season.

87. OT Braden Smith

He's started 105 games in eight seasons for the Colts but has missed 16 over the past three seasons and has battled asevere obsessive-compulsive disorder.

88. CB Eric Stokes

A first-rounder of the Packers in 2021, he played for the Raiders last year and had his best season since he was a rookie.

89. LB Kaden Elliss

A tackling machine in Atlanta, where the 30-year-old averaged more than 125 stops over the past three seasons, Elliss is also a very effective blitzer.

90. LB Tremaine Edmunds*

He's 27 and the two-time Pro Bowler has never had fewer than 100 tackles during his eight-year career.

91. LB Alex Singleton

He's 32 but has averaged more than 100 tackles over the past six years and can quarterback a defense.

92. LB Alex Anzalone

He's 31 but has averaged more than 100 tackles over the past four years and can quarterback a defense.

93. TE Charlie Kolar

He's only got 41 catches in four seasons but is a hellacious blocker − and thus a potential asset at a time when more teams seem to be going to more tight end-heavy looks.

94. DE/OLB Cameron Jordan

His 10½ sacks in 2025 were his most in four years. Hard to imagine the 36-year-old playing a 16th season anywhere but New Orleans, but he seems to have more to give.

95. WR Marquise Brown

He's only caught more than 70 passes once during his seven-year career, but his speed remains a force multiplier.

96. OLB Von Miller

He's about to turn 37, yet he's transitioned into a highly effective situational pass rush specialist – the former Super Bowl MVP racking up 15 sacks and 67 pressures over the last two years, that despite starting just three games.

97. LB Demario Davis

Now 37, hard to imagine this longtime mainstay in the middle of any other defense but New Orleans'.

98. LB Lavonte David

Now 36, hard to imagine this longtime mainstay in the middle of any other defense but Tampa Bay's.

99. QB Geno Smith**

After a late-career surge in Seattle, last season, he resembled the player who struggled so mightily early in his career, serving up a league-most 17 interceptions for the Raiders in 2025. Now 35, Smith might be a better bridge option than another fading passer like Russell Wilson, but his most recent film isn't likely to earn him another lengthy QB1 shot.

100. WR Tyreek Hill*

He's a Hall of Fame-caliber player, but last season's dislocated knee might preclude him from playing in 2026 – if ever again for a diminutive player whose game has been so reliant on his signature speed. Doesn't mean someone won't take a flier on him at some point … even though he just turned 32.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL free agency starts Monday: Ranking top 100 players, Tua Tagovailoa

byDaniel Coleman

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March 09, 2026

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