The family of a girl killed at Camp Mystic asks a Texas judge to prevent the camp from reopening

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge is hearing evidence Wednesday on whether the youth camp where 25 girls and two counselors were killed incatastrophic floods last yearshould remain closed while a lawsuit filed by one of the girls' families is pending.

Texas Floods-Camp Mystic-Lawsuit

The family of 8-year-old Cile Steward, who was swept away during the flooding and whose body still has not been recovered, has asked a Travis County judge to prevent Camp Mystic's owners from reopening the camp and to halt any construction while the lawsuit is pending. Their request for a temporary injunction maintains that any changes at the camp could destroy evidence needed for their lawsuit.

"It now falls to this Court to protect the public, plaintiffs' search for answers, and the evidence at the Camp Mystic site," the attorneys wrote.

The camp's decision last year to partially open and to construct a memorial on the groundsdrew outragefrom many of the girls' families who are mourning their loved ones and who said they weren't consulted on the plans.

"We call on Camp Mystic to halt all discussions of reopening and memorials," CiCi and Will Steward wrote to Camp Mystic officials after the camp's decision was announced.

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked Texas regulatorsnot to renew the licensefor Camp Mystic while the deaths are being investigated and cited legislative probes that are expected to begin in the spring.

Families of several of the girls who died havesued the camp's operators, arguing that camp officials failed to take necessary steps to protect the campers as life-threatening floodwaters approached.

Attorneys for Camp Mystic have expressed sympathy toward the girls' families but maintained there was little they could have done during the catastrophic flooding that quickly overcame the camp.

"Nobody had every seen a prior flood anything like we saw in 2025," said Mikal Watts, an attorney for Camp Mystic and its family of owners.

Murphy reported from Oklahoma City

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The family of a girl killed at Camp Mystic asks a Texas judge to prevent the camp from reopening

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Blackout hits most of Cuba amid US oil chokehold

By Annett Rios and Alien Fernandez

Mass blackout cuts power across most of Cuba amid US oil chokehold

HAVANA, March 4 (Reuters) - A power outage struck most of Cuba including Havana, the state electric utility said on Wednesday, as ‌the communist-run government grapples with increased pressure from the Trump administration that has curtailed ‌oil shipments.

State media Cubadebate said the blackout was caused by an unexpected outage at Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant about ​100 km (62 miles) east of Havana, cutting electricity from Pinar del Rio in the far west to the eastern Las Tunas province.

Cuba has experienced a series of major blackouts in recent years, even before U.S. actions to cut off oil shipments, particularly from top supplier Venezuela after Washington's ‌ouster of leader Nicolas Maduro in ⁠early January.

Cuba's government has attributed its economic crisis to decades of economic sanctions from the U.S.

People in Havana, accustomed to rolling power outages associated ⁠with state rationing, mostly took the blackout in stride. Some traffic lights and businesses were operational due to solar panels or power generators.

"The SEN (electrical grid) going dark should not be considered normal," Arian ​Mendoza, ​28, an engineer living in Havana told Reuters. "I don't ​think it's right."

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The outage briefly took ‌Cuban state TV off the air. Its 1 p.m. national news broadcast started more than half an hour after the normal air time, with a presenter explaining the delay was due to the blackout.

"We can't communicate, we don't know what's on the news because we can't turn on the TV," added Angeli Aviles, 18, a student in Havana.

The electricity utility, UNE, said it ‌was working to restore services.

The Felton 1 thermoelectric power ​plant, located in Holguin province in eastern Cuba, remains ​online and recovery protocols have been ​activated, Cuba's energy ministry said.

The fuel scarcity has caused Cuba's government to ‌ration key services, such as trash collection ​and transportation. Some residents have ​installed solar panels on homes and vehicles to keep power running amid soaring fuel prices.

Mexico, an alternate supplier to Venezuela, said it would halt supplies after the U.S. ​threatened tariffs on countries supplying ‌Cuba with oil.

(Reporting by Annett Rios, Alien Fernandez and Daniel Trotta in Havana, ​Sandra Gaillard in Buenos Aires and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Editing by ​Brendan O'Boyle, Daina Beth Solomon and Andrea Ricci )

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Blackout hits most of Cuba amid US oil chokehold

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US sinks Iranian warship as Iran warns of widespread destruction in the Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A U.S. submarinesank an Iranian warshipin the Indian Ocean, as Washington and Israelintensified their bombardmentWednesday of Iran's security forces and other symbols of power. Iran launched more missiles and drones and warned of the destruction of military and economic infrastructure across the Middle East.

APTOPIX Iran US Israel

The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced the mourning ceremony forIranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed. Millions attended the funeral of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989.

The U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday, targeting Iran's leadership, missile arsenal and nuclear program while suggesting that toppling the government is a goal. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, signaling an open-ended conflict.

President Donald Trump praised the U.S. military Wednesday for "doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly."

Israel also traded fire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, while Iranfired on Bahrain, Kuwait and Israel. As the conflict spiraled, Turkey said NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey's airspace.

The war has killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. It has disrupted the supply of the world's oil and gas, snarled international shipping and stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.

Both sides are unrelenting

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a torpedo from an American submarine sank an Iranian warship Tuesday night in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lankan authorities said 32 people were rescued from the ship, which they said had 180 people on board and sank outside Sri Lanka's territorial waters. The country's navy said it recovered 87 bodies.

Israel said it hit buildings associated with Iran's Basij, the all-volunteer force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that conducted a bloody crackdown on protesters in January. Thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands detained.

The Israeli military hit buildings associated with Iran's internal security command. Israel and the U.S. have said they want to see Iranians overthrow the country's theocracy, and strikes against Iran's internal security forces may be aimed at hastening that.

However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said over the weekend that its forces have decentralized leadership, with units acting largely on their own according to general orders, which could blunt the effect of attacks on top command and control hubs.

Iranian state television showed the ruins of buildings in Tehran, with interviewees saying the attacks damaged their homes. Strikes have also been reported in the Shiite seminary city of Qom targeting a building associated with a clerical panel set to pickIran's next supreme leader. Iranian media said it was empty at the time.

Shifting timelines for U.S. operations

During his Pentagon briefing, Hegseth did not give a definitive timeline for U.S. operations.

"You can say four weeks, but it could be six. It could be eight. It could be three," he said. "Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo. The enemy is off balance, and we're going to keep them off balance."

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, said American forces have damaged Iran's air defenses and taken out ballistic missiles, launchers and drones. Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said such damage has led to a decline in launches from Iran.

Still, air-raid sirens and explosions could be heard across central and northern Israel on Wednesday. Israel's military said Iran launched missiles toward the country. Hezbollah also fired rockets, asIsrael pounded targetsin the suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

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Iran has also struck around the region, and air sirens sounded Wednesday across Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

At least 1,045 people have been killed in Iran, the country's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said Wednesday. Eleven people have been killed in Israel and more than 70 in Lebanon.Six U.S. troopshave been killed.

Israel says its offensive had been planned for mid-year

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the offensive against Iran was originally planned for mid-2026, but "the need arose to bring everything forward to February."

He listed events inside Iran, Trump's positions "and the whole possibility of creating a combined operation here," as reasons.

The protests in Iran put unprecedented pressure on its leadership. Trump threatened military action in response to the crackdown beforeshifting his attentionto Iran's disputed nuclear program.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the U.S. launched its operation partly out of concern Iran might strike American personnel and assets in the region first. A phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the airstrikes began was also "important with respect to the timeline," she said.

Energy supplies in the crosshairs

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued its most-intense threat yet, saying the strikes against it would result in "the complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure."

A Maltese-flagged container ship was attacked Wednesday while passing through theStrait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of thePersian Gulfthrough which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped. The ship was hit by two missiles, sparking a fire, according to Malta's transport minister, Chris Bonett. Its 24 crew members were rescued.

Tanker traffic through the strait has fallen by around 90% compared to prewar levels, shipping tracker MarineTraffic.com said Wednesday.

Oil prices have soared as Iranian attacks have disruptedtraffic through the strait, andglobal stock marketshave been hammered over worries that the spike in oil prices may grind down the world economy.

Iran's clerics are choosing a new supreme leader

Iran's leaders are scrambling to replaceKhamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It's only the second time sincethe 1979 Islamic Revolutionthat a new supreme leader is being chosen.

Potential candidates range from hard-liners committed to confrontation with the West to reformists who seek diplomatic engagement.Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's son, has long been considered among them — though he has never been elected or appointed to a government position.

In a sign that Iran's leadership will only seek to consolidate its power as it faces its biggest crisis in decades, the head of the judiciary warned that "those who cooperate with the enemy in any way will be considered an enemy."

The Israeli defense minister threatened whoever Iran picks to be the country's next supreme leader.

"Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people — will be a target for elimination," Katz wrote on X.

Becatoros contributed from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok; Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan; Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Giovanna Dell'Orto in Miami and Kevin Schembri Orland in Valletta, Malta, contributed to this report.

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US sinks Iranian warship as Iran warns of widespread destruction in the Middle East

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A U.S. submarinesank an Iranian warshipin the Indian Ocean, as Washington and Israelin...

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Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

ROME (AP) — An independent researcher claimed on Wednesday that a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelangelo, the latest purported attribution to theRenaissance geniuswho is one of the most imitated artists in the world.

Italy Michelangelo

The unverified claim by Valentina Salerno has unsettled Renaissance scholars, especially since a recent sketch of a foot that was attributed to Michelangelo — but disputed by some as a copy — recently fetched $27.2 million at aChristie's auction.

Given the stakes — and Salerno's suggestion that several other works can now be attributed to Michelangelo based on her documentary research — leading experts have declined to comment.

Salerno has published her theory on the commercial website academia.edu, a non-peer reviewed social networking site academics use, and announced the first "rediscovery" at a press conference Wednesday.

The claims have drawn perhaps more attention than they normally would, given the Vatican seemed at least initially interested. Friday marks the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth and there are a number of exhibits, conferences and commemorations that are reviving attention about his genius and legacy.

The culture ministry was invited to participate in Salerno's press conference and didn't, said the abate of the order that runs the church, the Rev. Franco Bergamin, while the Carabinieri's art squad refused to weigh in on the authenticity of the statue, but said it was being protected and a laminated sign now graces the sculpture: "Alarm armed" it reads.

"We hope that this asset, which belongs to our cultural heritage regardless of whether it can be attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti or not, is part of the national heritage that we are responsible for defending," said Lt. Col. Paolo Salvatori.

'Documentary evidence on this'

Michelangelo Buonarroti, who lived from 1475-1564, created some of the most spectacular works of the Renaissance: the imposing statues ofDavid in Florenceand Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel ceiling and "The Last Judgment" fresco behind the chapel's altar. Salerno now says she has located another — a bust of Christ in the Basilica of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura, listed by Italy's culture ministry as anonymous from the Roman school of the 16th century.

She is not the first to claim it. In 1996, Michelangelo expert William Wallace wrote an article in ArtNews about the well-documented history of wrongly attributing works to Michelangelo. It quoted the 19th century French writer Stendhal as writing that at the Sant'Agnese church, "we noticed a head of the savior which I should swear is by Michelangelo."

"Stendhal's vow notwithstanding, the head has never been taken seriously, and nowadays would not even appear in a catalog raisonné under 'rejected attributions,'" Wallace wrote.

Salerno suggests that several documents in the first few hundred years after Michelangelo's death correctly attribute the work to the artist but that in 1984 a scholar debunked it, erroneously in her view, and it has remained wrongly attributed ever since.

"I have provided and will continue to provide — I hope, because the research continues — a whole series of documentary evidence on this," she said. "There will be experts in the field who will conduct their own investigations. To date, we can say that, according to the documents, the object is attributed to Michelangelo."

She suggested that the bust was modeled on Michelangelo's intimate friend, Tomaso De' Cavalieriis, and was part of the great artistic inheritance Michelangelo left to his friends and students when he died. Salerno said she came to the conclusion tracing wills, inventories and notarized documents held in church and state archives and the archives of Roman confraternities to which Michelangelo and his students belonged.

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Salerno, an actress and fiction author, has no college degree or expertise in art history. She has said she fell into the research "by chance" when she set out to write a novel about Michelangelo 10 years ago.

According to her research published on academia.edu, Salerno uncovered evidence of a secret "pact of indissolubility" among some of Michelangelo's students and their heirs to keep Michelangelo's works after he died. The pact included the previously unknown existence of a chamber, whose locks could only be opened with three keys, held by three different students, she said.

Vatican takes note

Salerno's research caught the eye of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who runs St. Peter's Basilica. He named Salerno and her mentor to a scientific committee formed in 2025 to discuss a possible Vatican exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of Michelangelo's birth.

Nothing has yet come of the committee's work. But its members have downplayed the significance of Salerno's work or refused to discuss it.

Some expressed surprise at her inclusion in a committee made up of some of the leading Renaissance and Michelangelo scholars in the world, including Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, Hugo Chapman, curator of Italian and French drawings, from 1400-1800, at the British Museum, and Wallace, professor of art history at Washington University in St. Louis.

Jatta has distanced herself from the Vatican committee when contacted by The Associated Press.

The British Museum declined to make Chapman available for comment. Gambetti's office did not respond to a request. Other committee members declined to comment.

Wallace told the AP that Salerno's methodology was sound and noted that there is a strong tradition in Europe of noncredentialed researchers doing solid work. He said he agreed with her thesis that Michelangelo didn't destroy his works in a fire, a commonly held belief at the time that has been debunked for years by scholars. Rather, he concurred with Salerno that Michelangelo entrusted what remained of his works in his final years to his students to finish his projects.

But he disputes Salerno's conclusion that a huge treasure of Michelangelo's was secreted away — and is therefore ripe for new discovery — saying Michelangelo simply wasn't producing that much in the final years of his life. Michelangelo was overseeing six architectural projects in Rome at the time. What drawings he made were sketches to resolve technical problems on the worksite, and likely don't survive because they were merely "working drawings," he said.

Wallace concurred that existence of a secret chamber that can only be opened with three keys is new. But he said proper academic scholarship would call for Salerno to transcribe the documents and allow for a peer-review process to take place.

Italy is no stranger to claims of new discoveries about old artists, with fakes, frauds and new "discoveries" of Modiglianis and other artists a regular occurrence in art history circles.

"I think I counted up 45 attributions to Michelangelo since 2000, and not one of which you can remember or mention, but every single one arrived with the headline, 'The greatest discovery of the time,' (or) 'It will change everything we think about Michelangelo,'" Wallace said. "And then five years later, we can't even remember what it was."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

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NFL Power Rankings, free agency edition: Ranking the most interesting teams from 1-32 heading into free agency

Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building.

The Seattle Seahawks made one big move in the offseason, and without it they probably would not have won a championship. When quarterback Sam Darnold was available, perhaps at a slight discount after struggling for the final two games of the previous season, the Seahawks signed him to a three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold wasa big reason the Seahawks won a Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots had their quarterback but needed to build around him. So they spent $364.4 million on 19 free agents, with $174.9 million guaranteed at signing,according to Spotrac. The Patriots won an AFC championship, with many of those free-agent additions playing key roles.

Each team goes into free agency with different goals, whether it's one big addition, starting a roster rebuild or adding a few players that can help them get over the top. The madness starts on March 9, when the negotiating window opens between teams and free agents.

Here is the ranking of the least to most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with projected cap space available for each team (according to Spotrac):

32:Green Bay Packers

Cap space: $-6.4 million

The Packers will want to see what a full season with Micah Parsons looks like. That was their all-in move, and it affects the team's ability to make more moves in free agency or the draft. There are some holes to fill, like on the offensive line and at cornerback, but it seems like a major move is out of the budget. Green Bay will mostly try again next season with its above-average roster, hoping Parsons' torn ACL has recovered and he raises the ceiling in the playoffs.

31:Miami Dolphins

Cap space: $-6 million

This offseason might not be pretty. There might be pipe dreams ofchasing Malik Willis, but cap constraints are a big reason the team has been talking up Quinn Ewers. It seems like the Dolphins will take their cap medicine this offseason, including a massive dead cap hit for presumably cutting Tua Tagovailoa that will likely affect their 2027 cap as well, and plan on a miserable season with eyes on it getting better in the future. It's necessary to move forward after years of mismanagement.

30:Jacksonville Jaguars

Cap space: $-16.3 million

The Jaguars made huge strides in Liam Coen's first season as head coach. They probably won't be spending much this offseason because of cap constraints, and that could cost them linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency too. They'll have to figure out bargain ways to fix the interior of the defensive line and the rest of the defense as a whole, while seeing if there's enough left over for some additions to the offensive line and perhaps running back depth if Travis Etienne leaves. The Jaguars should feel good but it might not be an interesting offseason.

29:Carolina Panthers

Cap space: $7.6 million

The Panthers have some reasons for hope after a backdoor NFC South title and a competitive playoff loss against the Rams. But they're another team looking to add to both lines, and don't have a ton of cap space to get all of that done. Perhaps the Panthers get creative with the cap and add an edge rusher or linebacker for the defense.

28:Detroit Lions

Cap space: $-3.8 million

The Lions still have a fantastic roster and will be a contender again in 2026. But paying all those stars means that the offseason could be on the quiet side. Trading away David Montgomery means they'll need to find a backup running back to Jahmyr Gibbs. They'll continue to retool the offensive line and more defensive line help would be great. But there won't be the type of cap space needed to find huge upgrades.

27:Baltimore Ravens

Cap space: $20.4 million

The Ravens want to get an extension done with Lamar Jackson. If that doesn't happen, will everything else get messy? Let's assume something gets settled with Baltimore's franchise quarterback. New coach Jesse Minter might want some different personnel for his defensive scheme (like a prime edge rusher), and the Ravens could also use another receiver and a running back to give Derrick Henry a break. Baltimore should still be in a championship window and accentuating the talent on hand could help them rebound from a bad season.

26:Philadelphia Eagles

Cap space: $362,000

Everyone was projecting an A.J. Brown trade for the Eagles, but that hasn't happened and might not. If it does, finding a new No. 1 receiver becomes a tough assignment for general manager Howie Roseman. There aren't many big needs on the roster after years of strong drafting. They just need that talent to come together a lot better than it did during last season's disappointment. The Eagles will probably have a pretty dull offseason, unless Brown is on the move.

25:San Francisco 49ers

Cap space: $22.9 million

The 49ers have some cap challenges as their star-filled roster continues to age. Adding at all levels of the defense remains a need, though getting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back from injuries will help solve some of those problems. Receiver and tight end are issues with Brandon Aiyuk on the outs, Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and George Kittle coming off an Achilles injury. And a running back to give Christian McCaffrey a break might be nice too. San Francisco's hope is that avoiding the terrible injury luck it has had the past two seasons puts the team back in line to contend for a championship. There isn't much flexibility to do much else.

24:Houston Texans

Cap space: $-13.8 million

The Texans need a lot of offensive line help. Again. Trading two offensive linemen (Tytus Howard to Cleveland and Juice Scruggs to Detroit) just means there are two more positions to fill. New running back David Montgomeryis an upgrade, but does it matter if the offensive line is inept? Houston's defense is one of the best in the NFL, so the team doesn't need to worry much there. There's one priority this offseason, and it's fixing the offensive line. Which was the same priority as last offseason.

23:New Orleans Saints

Cap space: $-44 million

The Saints are among the teams in the worst cap situation heading into the offseason. That's not surprising because the Saints live in cap purgatory. They'll get out the credit card again, sign some players and push those cap hits to the future. The Saints were better than expected last season, in large part because rookie quarterback Tyler Shough played well, but the roster still desperately needs more young talent. Overpaying for old veteran talent in free agency won't fix that.

22:Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cap space: $11.3 million

It seems fairly obvious the Buccaneers will be pouring all available resources into improving the defense, though they also have the question of what to do with franchise icon and free agent Mike Evans. Last season's collapse, which resulted in the Bucs giving up a huge lead in the NFC South and missing the playoffs, could add some urgency to their approach. There are plenty of blue-chip players in Tampa Bay. If the defense can improve, the Buccaneers can get back to winning a bad division.

21:Indianapolis Colts

Cap space: $-4 million

The Colts made a big move before last season's trade deadline when it traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner. That will affect their ability to improve the roster in this year's draft, but Gardner is a good player. The Colts have cap space, but a lot of it could be tied up in retaining Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. The Jones situation is paramount. The Colts put the transition tag on Jones, but that means other teams can sign him to an offer sheet. If the Colts can't bring Jones back then their entire offseason focus will have to change, especially with Anthony Richardson on the trade block.

20:Chicago Bears

Cap space: $1.4 million

Most teams with a quarterback still on his rookie deal that just won a division should be in line to spend big in free agency. The Bears don't have a ton of cap space though, and they'll have to get creative to add to the defense. An edge rusher could help a below-average pass rush. And center became a need when Drew Dalman suddenly retired. So there are some issues to address. Overall, the Bears should feel great coming off an NFC North title, and while their offseason might not be very splashy, the arrow is pointing up regardless of how much money they spend.

19:Arizona Cardinals

Cap space: $38.8 million

The Cardinals will be interesting because they have a decent amount of cap space and also a need at quarterback. Could this be the Malik Willis landing spot? Perhaps. The Cardinals weren't one of the top options for good candidates in the head-coaching cycle, partially because the roster is not good. There's a lot of work to be done, starting with a solution at quarterback.

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18:Pittsburgh Steelers

Cap space: $43.9 million

The Steelers don't expect Aaron Rodgers to take long to make a decision on whether he'll play again this season, which is good news. It's not like a 42-year-old Rodgers is a great option, but he would be an option (if he decides to play and also returns to Pittsburgh). If the Steelers go into the quarterback carousel, it might not be pretty. The Steelers also need to address an expensive and aging defense, and maybe should add a playmaker at receiver too. But it's hard to chart a course without knowing who is playing quarterback.

17:Cleveland Browns

Cap space: $-24.6 million

The Browns had a very good season from their rookie class. That is a positive going forward. But there are still questions about quarterback, and the Browns had all five starting offensive linemen from last season become free agents. They already filled one hole on the line by trading for Texans right tackle Tytus Howard, but more work needs to be done. The Browns also have a surprising lack of cap space, because the Deshaun Watson mistake will loom over the franchise for a long, long time.

16:Minnesota Vikings

Cap space: $-44.4 million

The J.J. McCarthy conundrum hangs over everything. Minnesota went 9-8 with terrible quarterback play, which is reminiscent of the 2024 Colts, who took off in 2025 with Daniel Jones before his injury. The Vikings have talked about wanting to add quarterback depth, but the market for quarterbacks will be rough this offseason. Will they pay up for another quarterback to push or even replace McCarthy, like the Colts did with Jones? There isn't much cap space to do that, or much else. But there is a clear question to be answered.

15:New York Giants

Cap space: $13.7 million

The Giants keep making moves that provide hope for the future. Hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach was a much-needed step. It's a team with a strong defensive line and a lot of young talent, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, and bolstering the offensive line seems smart this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the team-building philosophy changes in the first year of the Harbaugh era.

14:Washington Commanders

Cap space: $86.1 million

The Commanders got old in a hurry. Now the warts of the roster, including edge rusher, secondary, interior offensive line and tight end, are more glaring. The Commanders do have a lot of cap space to fix some of the issues. Helping Jayden Daniels after an injury-filled encore to his amazing rookie season is a big key. But the Commanders won't be back in the playoffs without some big defensive improvements.

13:Cincinnati Bengals

Cap space: $47.5 million

Same story: The Bengals need defense and offensive line help. There is enough cap space to fix some of those issues, but will ownership commit to spending money? After watching Joe Burrow miss plenty of last season due to injury, offensive line has to be addressed. But that might just mean that the defense is among the worst in the NFL again. A more aggressive franchise might be able to make wholesale changes, but Cincinnati hasn't always been into making big outside splashes. We'll see what their level of urgency is as Burrow's prime continues to slip away.

12:New England Patriots

Cap space: $35.3 million

Another spending spree? Life with an MVP candidate at quarterback on his rookie deal is good. The Patriots spent big in free agency last offseason and still are one of the top 12 teams in terms of projected cap space entering this offseason. It seems clear that the offensive line will get some reinforcements, and receiver upgrades would be a big help too. And somehow, the Patriots still have enough cap flexibility to address both areas.

11:Seattle Seahawks

Cap space: $60.7 million

The Seahawks were a dominant champion last season, losing just three games by a combined nine points. And they come into this offseason with the sixth-most projected cap space in the NFL. Seattle will try to retain Kenneth Walker, but have the cap to find a competent replacement if he leaves. They could also add some help at receiver to go with All-Pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anything the Seahawks add will be a bonus, considering how good they were last season. And they have enough flexibility to add a couple of luxury impact players.

10:Atlanta Falcons

Cap space: $8.9 million

The Falcons are in an interesting position. They did some good things last season but fired their coach because ultimately they underachieved. They have a roster that has plenty of talent but also a quarterback situation that is unsettled due to Michael Penix's health and inconsistent play. With Kirk Cousins gone, it seems that another quarterback to back up Penix or replace him as he works back from a torn ACL will have to be added. That won't come cheaply. There's also a big question surrounding defensive endJames Pearce Jr. and his legal situation. There's a lot to sort out here as the Falcons try to transition into being a contender.

9:Las Vegas Raiders

Cap space: $85.7 million

There will be two major moments of the Raiders' offseason, and one we can predict now. The Raiderswill draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, barring a big surprise. But what happens with defensive end Maxx Crosby is tougher to figure out. The Raiders say they want Crosby back, but could a huge offer change their mind? There are pros and cons to trading Crosby, and whichever path the Raiders choose will go a long way in shaping a roster that needs some big improvements, specifically on the offensive line. Once the Crosby situation is settled, we'll get a clear picture of what the Raiders will do in free agency.

8:New York Jets

Cap space: $74.1 million

The Jets' big push will probably happen in 2027. But this is also a hugely important offseason for their rebuild. The Jets have the second-most projected cap space in the NFL. That doesn't mean they should spend it all; just like having extra 2026 draft picks doesn't mean they should panic and use a valuable one on a quarterback they don't love. That's what next offseason will be for. But smart decisions this offseason could start to lay a foundation.

7:Kansas City Chiefs

Cap space: $-8.6 million

Kansas City has an interesting offseason coming. The Chiefs are coming off a shocking 11-loss season and also have to wonder when Patrick Mahomes will be healthy from a torn ACL. They'll be intent on rebounding right away, but there are challenges. The Chiefs have been shedding cap to get compliant, and it will be hard for them to become a big player in free agency given the cap constraints. That could hinder them from adding a key player at running back or perhaps at tight end if Travis Kelce retires. How the Chiefs approach this pivotal offseason will be fascinating to watch.

6:Tennessee Titans

Cap space: $90.4 million

No team has more projected cap space than the Titans. Not many teams have more holes to fill either. The top priority will be to surround Cam Ward with better talent, though the defense needs a ton of work as well. Presumably, new coach Robert Saleh will want reinforcements for the defense he wants to run. How the Titans allocate all that cap space will be interesting, but getting Ward help to assist in his development has to be a big part of the plan.

5:Buffalo Bills

Cap space: $-8.8 million

The Bills let it be known that they are not putting up with the status quo when they fired coach Sean McDermott following an overtime loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. Will that carry over to roster building? GM Brandon Beane has gotten a pass from ownership, but the offense around Josh Allen needs work. Will the Bills figure out a way to land a top receiver in free agency? That would be a huge help. But it won't be easy to pull off.

4:Los Angeles Chargers

Cap space: $84.9 million

The Chargers went 11-6, get two of the NFL's best offensive tackles back to the lineup from injury and also have the most projected cap space of any team that made the playoffs last season. The interior of the offensive line will need some work, and adding defensive talent following coordinator Jesse Minter's departure to Baltimore will be addressed. But the Chargers have the type of cap space to be one of this offseason's big players, and they were already in pretty good shape coming off last season.

3:Dallas Cowboys

Cap space: $-58.4 million

Jerry Jones continues to say what fans want to hear when it comes to spending in free agency. He said he is willing to"bust the budget"this offseason, but it's not like his team was "all in" two years ago like he famously claimed. So, we'll see. The one big move, albeit expected, wasputting the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens. If the Cowboys do make some moves, after some procedural moves to clear a lot of cap space, it's going to be on defense. Dak Prescott played very well last season and the Cowboys weren't even .500. That's only going to change if there are serious additions to the defense.

2:Denver Broncos

Cap space: $21 million

The top paid player on the Broncos roster each of the past two seasons, in terms of cap number, was Russell Wilson. He wasn't on the team. Having that cap anchor removed gives the Broncos some options in free agency. Sean Payton teams are always aggressive in free agency whether they have cap space or not, so expect the Broncos to get to spending now that they have their Wilson rebate. The Broncos with a star running back and maybe an impact receiver, to go with a stellar defense, could be very interesting in 2026.

1:Los Angeles Rams

Cap space: $42 million

The Rams with two first-round picks is quite intriguing. They haven't been the "(expletive) them picks" team in a couple years, but it's in their DNA. They have to know Matthew Stafford's time as an MVP level quarterback won't last forever as he's 38 years old, so could they make some big moves to get back to another Super Bowl? They might after barely missing out last season. Even if the Rams don't trade the picks, they could make important moves. Cornerback stands out as a glaring need. The Rams also have a decent amount of cap space. This is a team to watch.

byGreen Magazine

in

8:22:00 AM

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