The Canberra Raiders have withdrawn their contract extension offer to forward Hudson Young, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. The four-year deal was believed to be worth $1.1 million a season, the largest in club history. Young will now become a free agent on Sunday, November 1, and the PNG Chiefs are heavily tipped to sign him from 2028. The club said it had made its decision after talks with board members and senior management. Young has played 155 matches for Canberra since his 2019 NRL debut and remains contracted to the club for 2027.
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould has confirmed that Matt Burton can approach rival clubs before he officially becomes a free agent. Gould said the early approach would help both parties gauge Burton's true value. He stressed that he loves Burton, wants to keep him, and that neither side has yet discussed money for 2028 onwards. Burton reportedly wanted to play five-eighth rather than centre, and is believed to be of interest to the Chiefs, Bears, Parramatta and Penrith.
Time is running out for NRL clubs to lock down off-contract players for 2028 and beyond, with November 1 just over a week away. Nathan Cleary is ranked the biggest off-contract player, with the PNG Chiefs reportedly preparing a tax-free offer of up to $1.5 million a year. Sam Walker has indicated he wants a deal done before November 1, with the Roosters offering around $1.3 million a season. Hudson Young is wanted by both Canberra and the Chiefs, who have reportedly been working to build their inaugural squad.
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Running back Kenneth Walker III is leading the NFL in rushing yards after signing a three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Through five games, he has 665 rushing yards and a 6.3-yard average per carry. The Chiefs' rushing attack has moved from among the league's worst to second-best. Seattle has struggled on the ground since his departure, leaning heavily on quarterback Sam Darnold. The two teams meet in Week 7 on Sunday night.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has expressed frustration over not yet receiving a long-term contract extension. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, he said he may play for another team if his time with the Lions ends. LaPorta is in the final year of his rookie deal and has no fifth-year option, so he is set to become a free agent in 2027. The Lions could use the franchise tag to keep him, but no deal has been reached. LaPorta has 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns in five games this season.
Luka Doncic has said he hopes to retire as a Los Angeles Laker, though he acknowledged that the NBA business is unpredictable. Speaking ahead of the 2026-27 season opener, the six-time All-Star said he feels comfortable with the team. Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers in a 2025 deal and is under contract through the 2028-29 season. His final year is a player option worth $57.4 million, which would make him a free agent after 2027-28 if he declines it.
LeBron James joining the 76ers on a veteran's minimum deal headlined a busy NBA offseason that also saw Giannis Antetokounmpo head to Miami in a blockbuster from Milwaukee. Jaylen Brown moved from Boston to Philadelphia in a surprising trade between rivals. Victor Wembanyama signed a five-year rookie extension worth $252 million, while Klay Thompson joined the Heat. Ja Morant went to Portland, LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, and Walker Kessler to the Lakers. The Clippers received a historic penalty over a cap circumvention scandal, and Kawhi Leonard was traded to Toronto.
The Los Angeles Rams are short of kickers after Blake Grupe suffered a knee injury in his debut and did not return. The team has signed Grupe from the Jets' practice squad after releasing Harrison Mevis, so it may need a third kicker in a few weeks. Possible targets include free agent Justin Tucker, who was suspended for 10 games after misconduct allegations, and Matt Prater, who is 42 and has not formally retired. Other names mentioned are Chase McLaughlin, Chad Ryland, Daniel Carlson and Graham Gano.
Troy Aikman's long partnership with Joe Buck may end after the 2026 season, as Aikman is in the final year of his ESPN contract. Buck has signed an extension to call Monday Night Football, while Aikman remains a free agent. An analysis ranks possible landing spots for Aikman in 2027, including CBS alongside Jim Nantz, Amazon Prime Video with Ian Eagle, NBC with Cris Collinsworth and Fox NFL Sunday. Aikman, who turns 60 in November, may also choose to step away from work for a time.
The Bulldogs were the busiest club in this year's AFL trade period, bringing in four new players, including free agent Zak Butters. North Melbourne traded heavily to secure Nick Blakey, giving up multiple draft picks. Clubs were cautious about next year's draft, which is weakened by the new Tasmania team receiving high picks. Many clubs instead favoured proven talent over young prospects.
Fox Sports has handed the Adelaide Crows a D+ grade for their offseason dealings. The club missed out on Zac Bailey and made no major signings, losing Jordan Butts and collecting a couple of draft picks. Kangaroos great David King said the club had put coach Matthew Nicks, now in his eighth season, in a tenuous position. King warned that rival teams had improved while the Crows had not.
Tyreek Hill was found liable on two of ten battery counts in his civil case against his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, clearing the way for a possible NFL return. His agent, Christi Bright, said Hill was very pleased with the outcome. Hill's representative, Drew Rosenhaus, described the situation as fluid, saying a deal could come at any time once the right team and contract are found. The NFL still has to finish its own review of the case before any signing and possible suspension can be settled.
Geelong has been active in the AFL offseason, adding Jordan Ridley, Rowan Marshall and Toby Greene. Some commentators are already naming the Cats as premiership favourites. Former Collingwood midfielder Tom Mitchell, speaking on Trade Radio, said Geelong has the deepest list in the competition and can rest players regularly. He predicted the Cats will win the premiership next year. The writer argues it is too early to call favourites, pointing to Brisbane, Fremantle and Hawthorn as contenders. Injuries derailed the Western Bulldogs last season after they started as favourites.
North Melbourne has agreed to acquire Blakey from Sydney in a major AFL trade, the first deal of the day. The Kangaroos gave up the No.6 pick in this year's draft, pick 47, several future second-round picks and a 2028 first-rounder. In return they received pick 52 and Sydney's 2028 second-rounder. Blakey apologised for the events that led to his exit from Sydney, where he had been suspended over the Pullman Hotel scandal. Elsewhere, Carlton added Lachie Whitfield from GWS and sent Flynn Riley to Collingwood.
Zak Butters says he considered going public with his planned move to the Western Bulldogs while still playing for Port Adelaide. The Bulldogs unveiled the midfielder at Whitten Oval after he signed as a free agent on a nine-year deal worth $2 million a season. Butters said the AFL landscape was not quite ready for such an announcement, unlike the NRL, where deals are often announced during the season. He said he could see the change being a good thing in the future.
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Detroit Pistons centre Jalen Duren has reportedly been told by the team that he was its fourth-best player during contract negotiations. ESPN's Vince Goodwill reported the remark, which came as the sides reached a five-year, $200 million extension after months of stalemates. Earlier, the Pistons reportedly included a weight clause in initial offers, raising concerns about Duren's size. Duren was named an All-Star this season, when the Pistons won 60 games, but he struggled in the playoffs. He said his highs and lows last season had taught him to focus on improving his game.
Zak Butters has completed his move to the Western Bulldogs, with Port Adelaide declining to match the free agency offer and receiving pick five in compensation. Nick Blakey has nominated North Melbourne as his preferred destination after a reported $11 million offer from the Kangaroos. Ben King is heading to Hawthorn, as Gold Coast opted for pick seven in compensation rather than matching the deal. A five-club trade involving Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs, Melbourne, Carlton and Hawthorn has been confirmed, and Sam Marshall has moved to St Kilda for a 2027 first-round pick and pick 41.
The NFL's 2026 all-free agency team includes standout players like Kenneth Walker III, who leads the league in rushing yards for the Chiefs. Kirk Cousins, signed by the Raiders, has also excelled, contributing to their 3-1 start. Other notable signings include Mike Evans with the 49ers and Isaiah Likely with the Giants, both making significant impacts early in the season.
