Colts Sign S Nasir Adderley
Nasir Adderley‘s comeback attempt will produce an opportunity. The former Chargers starter agreed to terms with the Colts, according to the AFC South franchise.
Adderley has not played since the 2022 season, but the former Bolts second-round pick (29 in May) will give it a go in Indianapolis. The Chargers used Adderley as a three-year starter, but rather than pursue a free agency deal following the expiration of his rookie contract, Adderley retired. He backtracked on that after three missed seasons, revealing in February an intention to come back.
Even in an era featuring earlier retirements, it was surprising to see Adderley walk away before his 26th birthday. He had played out a four-year, $4.73MM rookie contract and stood to top that as a free agent in 2023. But the Delaware product cited health reasons when he retired. This is far from the most notable unretirement the Colts have greenlit over the past year, with Philip Rivers — an ex-Adderley Charger teammate — famously reemerging after nearly five seasons away to start three games as an emergency option late last season.
Although Rivers worked directly with Shane Steichen during the latter’s time as Bolts OC and QBs coach, the current Colts HC was on the Los Angeles staff during part of Adderley’s tenure. Steichen was in place as QBs coach to start the 2019 season and served as Anthony Lynn‘s OC in 2020.
The Chargers used Adderley as a starter in 44 games from 2020-22, lining him up alongside Derwin James for much of that period. Adderley retired after his contract expired, and after the Bolts had turned to Alohi Gilman to be James’ next sidekick. Gilman’s re-signing came three days before Adderley’s retirement announcement. It would have made sense for Adderley to pursue a free agency deal elsewhere rather than retire, but the former No. 60 overall pick displayed his conviction by remaining out of football for three seasons.
As James roamed the formation, Adderley spent most of his time as a free safety under both Brandon Staley and Gus Bradley. The latter — who served as Colts DC from 2022-24 — oversaw Adderley’s development from 2019-20. Despite frequent FS alignment, Adderley made 99 tackles (three for loss) in 2021. He intercepted two passes in 2022, when Pro Football Focus graded him 36th out of 89 qualified safeties.
The Colts lost Nick Cross in free agency; the Commanders added the two-year Indianapolis starter on a two-year, $13MM deal. Cross played more as a box defender last season, with free agent signing Camryn Bynum in place at free safety under Lou Anarumo. Adderley joins Jonathan Owens and Juanyeh Thomas as Colts safety additions this offseason.
Owens, Thomas and 2025 seventh-round pick Hunter Wohler had been set for a competition; Adderley may soon join that fray. If nothing else, this agreement allows the fifth-year veteran to vie for a roster spot. It would be interesting to see if his unretirement will stick for a practice squad opportunity, should it come to that after a busy Colts offseason at safety.
Tight End, Tackle On Broncos’ Draft Radar
The Jaylen Waddle trade required the Broncos’ first-round pick (and more) to complete, marking the fourth first-rounder Denver has traded since the 2022 offseason. The Broncos moved two firsts for Russell Wilson and then packaged the pick from the Bradley Chubb trade to obtain Sean Payton‘s rights. Denver including the No. 30 overall pick in the Waddle trade will mean another long wait for the AFC West franchise.
Sitting at No. 62, the defending AFC West champions do not look to have glaring needs. Two pathways have surfaced, however. Payton’s team has done plenty of work on tight ends, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold. This has included “30” visits with Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, Ohio State’s Max Klare and NC State’s Justin Joly. Stowers’ previously reported Denver visit is today, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds.
A two-year, $23MM Evan Engram contract was thought to stabilize a roster spot that had not provided much since the Noah Fant years, but Denver did not see Engram and Bo Nix click. The former Pro Bowler caught 50 passes for 461 yards and just one touchdown in 2025. The Broncos have been connected to bolstering their TE room previously, but one of their targets — Dallas Goedert — continued to see his void date in Philadelphia pushed back and ultimately re-signed with the Eagles. David Njoku remains unattached, but Denver interest has not been reported.
Engram will turn 32 in September, and $5MM of his $10.99MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed. The rest of that money does not lock in until September, however. The Broncos would be hit with $10.33MM in dead money were they to release Engram, who has one void year on his deal.
The prospect of the Broncos — with Nix still on a rookie contract — hanging onto Engram and adding a younger option may be in play, though the team re-signed ex-Payton Saints draftee Adam Trautman and retained tight end/fullback Nate Adkins in free agency. Although RFA Lucas Krull was nontendered, he re-signed at a lower rate.
Only one TE — Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq — sits in Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com top 50, and he will go well before No. 62. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. does rank Stowers 36th overall. The Payton-era Broncos have also displayed a penchant for trading up after Round 1, climbing to acquire Marvin Mims, Riley Moss and Troy Franklin between Rounds 2 and 4 from 2023-24. Klare and Joly respectively rank 64th and 92nd, per Scouts Inc.
Another path the Broncos could take involves their tackles’ ages. Garett Bolles will turn 34 in May, while Mike McGlinchey will play an age-32 season. Both are signed beyond 2026, but the team may need an heir apparent for at least one of its edge blockers soon. That is an area ESPN.com’s Matt Miller lists as being in play at No. 62.
The Broncos gave swingman Matt Peart a pay cut and re-signed fellow swing Alex Palczewski (two years, $9.5MM) last month. Options are there for 2026, but a starter-level tackle may need to be acquired either this year or next. Bolles has been Denver’s LT since 2017, while McGlinchey stopped a decade-long carousel at RT by signing in 2023.
Elsewhere on the Broncos’ roster, their decision to give Jonah Elliss inside linebacker reps stems in large part on giving 2025 fourth-round pick Que Robinson a chance at more playing time, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel notes. Denver had Robinson behind Elliss in its outside linebacker rotation. Robinson played in just six games last season, being healthy-scratched for several contests, and recorded just a half-sack on 150 defensive snaps.
The Alabama product did sack Drake Maye in the AFC championship game, and the Broncos appear set to see what he has in the tank. Should Elliss indeed join brothers Kaden and Christian as a true ILB, the Broncos are looking at a second-string OLB duo of Robinson and Dondrea Tillman.
Cowboys Could Trade Up In Round 1
APRIL 14: A belief around the NFL points to Dallas being a team to monitor regarding a trade-up, per veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who notes the team packaging Nos. 12 and 20 is being viewed as a possible scenario. Trade-up and trade-down rumors are obviously commonplace around this time, but Schultz adds several teams believe the Cowboys are eyeing a player the Giants also covet. Moving ahead of New York’s No. 5 pick would be pricey, though it appears that is on the table.
The Giants have been tied to a few prospects at 5. Downs, Sonny Styles, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate have been connected to Big Blue during the pre-draft process. This situation could soon remind of 2021, when the Eagles eyed Giants target DeVonta Smith and used the Cowboys (at No. 10) to trade in front of New York. While the Giants are in position to land another impact player near the top of a draft, the prospect of them moving down — perhaps for a cornerback, where the team has done extensive work — has also been mentioned.
APRIL 13: The Cowboys are entering the 2026 draft with a clear need to upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. They currently hold the 12th and 20th overall picks, but trading up for an elite defender is not out of the question.
In particular, Dallas could target Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who they see as “instant-impact game changers on defense,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Downs is the consensus No. 1 safety in this year’s draft class and has a case to be the top defender in terms of pure talent. However, teams will likely prioritize edge rushers and cornerbacks over a safety in the first five picks, which could put the two-time All-American within the Cowboys’ range.
Dallas already reshaped their safety room this offseason by signing Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency to join Malik Hooker. However, none of the three are younger than 28 years old and only Thompson is signed past the 2026 season. Downs could carve out a role right away, especially in the slot where the team lacks proven contributors, while serving as the centerpiece of the safety room in the long-term.
The Cowboys may look back to 2022, when Kyle Hamilton fell to the Ravens at No. 14, and hope that the same happens with Downs. However, teams clearly overthought Hamilton as a prospect after his sub-par athletic testing, and Downs, perhaps looking to avoid a similar fall, declined to participate this year. That may prevent the former Buckeye from making it to the 12th pick and force Dallas to trade up.
Bain, the Cowboys’ other priority target, was already seen as a potential faller after measuring in with sub-31-inch arms at the Combine. It does not seem that recent news of two careless driving citations will tank his stock, but length concerns may be enough to drop him out of the top five.
Dallas re-signed Sam Williams and traded for Rashan Gary to strengthen their edge rusher room this offseason, but they could stand to add a young, high-upside talent in this draft. 2025 second-round Donovan Ezeiruaku disappointed as a rookie, and while he still has potential, he may not have the same All-Pro ceiling as Bain.
49ers Likely To Make WR Draft Addition
San Francisco’s receiver depth chart has undergone a number of changes so far this offseason. More could be coming in the form of a Brandon Aiyuk trade or release, though nothing has been finalized on that front.
With Aiyuk not expected to be back in the fold and Jauan Jennings destined to sign elsewhere in free agency, the 49ers will be led at the WR spot by Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in 2026. Evans’ pact essentially consists of a one-year commitment in terms of guaranteed money, while Kirk’s only covers next season. Taking a wideout in next week’s draft would thus be a feasible approach on the part of general manager John Lynch and Co.
“I don’t know about early, but we’re certainly in the business of adding good players,” Lynch said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) when asked about adding a rookie receiver. “I think at that position, the way these guys [are getting paid], it’s probably healthy business to try to add them as much as you can in these drafts.”
The 49ers have veteran Demarcus Robinson in place in addition to Evans and Kirk, but otherwise their WR depth chart is lacking in experience. Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are among the younger players in the fold for San Francisco. Making another draft investment would add further depth to the mix while allowing for one or both of Evans and Kirk to be replaced in 2027.
The 49ers’ top selection is No. 27. They are one of several teams which has hosted Denzel Boston on a pre-draft visit, although the Washington product may not be on the board by that point given the pre-draft buzz surrounding him. San Francisco’s other options at this point consist of a second-round pick and four in the fourth round. Using one of those selections on a wideout could allow the team to take advantage of the perceived depth at the position while leaving round one for more immediate roster needs.
Falcons, Texans Host DE Zion Young
The Falcons‘ tandem of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. enjoyed strong rookie seasons. Walker will be a key figure for 2026 and beyond, but Pearce’s future is uncertain given the felony charges he faces.
Given the fact Pearce’s Atlanta tenure may end soon, making another early draft investment along the edge could be a key priority for the team. The trade which allowed for Pearce to be selected cost the Falcons their 2026 first-round pick, though, so the top prospects at the position will not be available when they are first on the clock.
Atlanta recently hosted Zion Young on a pre-draft visit, as noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Missouri product is one of several pass rushers likely to be taken sometime between the latter stages of the first round and the middle of the second round. The Falcons’ top pick is No. 48, although general manager Ian Cunningham is among those looking to add picks by trading down. If that does not prove to be the case for the second round, Young could be an option.
After two years at Michigan State, Young transferred to Missouri. During his two years with the Tigers, he continued to develop as a disruptive presence against the run and pass. Young totaled nine sacks and 22 tackles for loss during his time in the SEC, and his combination of length and high-energy play style figures to make him an attractive option for any number of teams. While concerns about his athleticism have been raised, Young has already drawn interest from the Dolphins and Bears.
The Texans also recently met with Young, Rapoport adds. Houston owns pick No. 28 but also a pair of second-round selections. The team may view No. 38 as a realistic spot to make a pass rush addition. That may not be the most pressing positional need given the presence of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, but bringing in affordable depth could prove to be key from a financial standpoint. Anderson is a candidate to reset the EDGE market with his second contract, so pairing him with a cost-controlled player as a Hunter successor would be a logical approach.
Like any number of prospects on the fringe of the Day 1 order, Young’s range will be interesting to monitor over the coming days. In any event, teams like the Falcons and Texans could represent a landing spot in this case.
CB Mansoor Delane To Visit Commanders, Bengals, Ravens
As expected, Mansoor Delane remains one of the busiest prospects on the pre-draft circuit. The LSU corner has a trio of visits lined up for the near future.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Delane will meet with the Commanders, Bengals and Ravens as his final top-30 visits. Tomorrow marks the deadline for such visits to take place around the league before teams finalize their draft board. Each of Washington, Cincinnati and Baltimore are set to select in the top half of the first round.
The Commanders own pick No. 7, although they are among the teams in the top 10 which are open to moving down the board. The Bengals’ top selection is 10th overall, while the Ravens own No. 14. Given Delane’s status as one of the consensus top two cornerback prospects in the 2026 class, he is unlikely to have a long wait before hearing his name called on Day 1.
Delane has met with several other teams near the top of the draft order in recent weeks. The Giants (who own pick No. 5) are looking into their CB options, and that process has included hosting Delane. The three-year Virginia Tech product flashed considerable potential during his time in the ACC. A transfer to LSU produced the desired results and elevated his draft stock even further, though.
Delane notched a pair of interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2025. That production helped him earn first-team All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top prospects for this year’s draft. Jermod McCoy – who missed all of last season to an ACL tear – is viewed as a contender to be the first corner off the board based on his level of play in 2024. Even in that event, Delane will be expected to make an immediate impact at the NFL level for whichever team selects him.
The Commanders and Bengals are seen as being in need of upgrades in the secondary to a greater extent than the Ravens (who may need to trade up to land one of the top CBs). If any of those teams have the opportunity to select Delane, their consideration will be informed in large part by how his upcoming visits play out.
Commanders Open To Trading Down
The Commanders currently own six picks in the upcoming draft. Only two of those are within the first 146 selections, however, and Washington is a team in need of rookie additions at several spots.
As such, a move down the board on Day 1 could be something to watch for. As ESPN’s John Keim and Jordan Reid write, the Commanders’ preference would be a small trade down the first-round order to add a Day 2 pick. Washington is positioned to select seventh overall in a draft lacking in star power and high-end quarterback prospects. GM Adam Peters has conceded that will likely make it challenging to generate a market with respect to teams moving up into the top 10.
Nevertheless, the Cowboys could be prepared to execute a trade from No. 12 up the order. The possibility of an intra-divisional swap could make for an interesting storyline as the countdown to the draft continues. In any case, Peters and Co. face the challenge of adding impact rookies to one of the league’s oldest rosters with limited draft capital.
To no surprise, Reid adds receiver and cornerback are positions Washington is likely to target early in the draft. Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson have been added in free agency, but Deebo Samuel remains unsigned and little movement has taken place recently on the Brandon Aiyuk front. That could leave the Commanders with the possibility of selecting Carnell Tate if he is still available at No. 7 and no strong trade-up offers emerge.
Washington has added Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon on the open market at the cornerback spot. Marshon Lattimore is still a free agent, though, while Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene departed in March. Each of the 2026 class’ top CB prospects are likely to be on the board when the Commanders make their first selection. As a result, drafting Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy could receive strong consideration.
The Laremy Tunsil trade deprived Washington of its own selection in the second and fourth rounds in the 2026 draft. The Commanders should still be able to add a few notable rookies to the mix, but efforts on Peters’ part to acquire additional picks are likely to pick up over the coming days.
Will Anderson Jr. To Command $50MM AAV?
The Texans will focus on extending Will Anderson Jr. before the start of the 2026 season, but it will likely require a record-breaking AAV to do so. Albert Breer of SI.com observes the rapidly climbing contracts for edge rushers, and the writer believes Anderson’s next deal will likely come in at around $50MM annually.
This is a staggering figure, but it’s not completely unfounded. As Breer notes, the market was first revamped when Nick Bosa inked a deal worth a $34MM average annual value in 2023, topping the $28MM mark held by T.J. Watt. Maxx Crosby‘s deal boosted that AAV record to $35.5MM, but that was quickly jumped by Myles Garrett‘s $40MM annual earnings. Watt once again topped the list with his $41MM average annual value, and Micah Parsons eventually set the current record with his $46MM AAV.
Considering the $5MM jump from Watt’s deal to Parsons’ deal, Breer surmises that “it would be a stunner” if Anderson settles for anything less than $50MM per year. While the Texans could push against that record-breaking mark, Breer notes that the front office has shown a willingness to speed up negotiations and complete extensions quickly, as they did with Derek Stingley Jr.. Plus, Anderson embodies “the standard as a worker and a player” that coach DeMeco Ryans seeks. If the Texans were going to back up the Brink’s truck for any individual, it would be Anderson.
The third-overall pick in the 2023 draft, Anderson has quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier edge rushers. He earned his first All-Pro nod and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025 after tallying 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, 20 tackles for loss, and 23 QB hits. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best edge defender in the sport last year, although he “only” ranked third at the position for his pass-rush ability.
While the Texans may be eager to hand Anderson a new deal, the optics may not sit well with their franchise QB. Anderson was the second of two-straight picks by the Texans in the 2023 draft, with the team using the second-overall pick on C.J. Stroud. It seems unlikely that the Texans will be as quick to extend the signal-caller, and assuming Anderson inks his deal, the situation would be “glaring,” per Breer. While Anderson’s next deal won’t necessarily price the Texans out of Stroud’s next contract, the team may think twice about paying the QB the $65MM or $70MM AAV he’ll surely command.
49ers Made Recent Offer To LT Trent Williams
Contract talks between the 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams were reportedly picking up steam in late March, but an agreement still has not come together. It hasn’t been for lack of effort on the 49ers’ part. Their most recent offer contains approximately $36MM in guarantees, including $24MM next season, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reports.
As things stand, Williams is entering the final season of a three-year, $82.6MM pact. The 49ers declined a $10MM option bonus in March, leading to a major increase in Williams’ cap hit. He was already on track to count an untenable $38.84MM before then. The number now sits at a bloated $46.34MM. Williams is also owed around $33MM, though none of that is guaranteed.
While the 49ers want to lower Williams’ 2026 salary by about $9MM, La Canfora notes he would still rank among the 10 highest-paid tackles. The 12-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer has a case to earn more, but his age (38 in July) and injury history are working against him. Williams has not put together a full season since he was in Washington in 2013. Although he missed just one game during another highly effective year in 2025, Williams racked up multiple absences in each season from 2015-24.
League sources told La Canfora that the 49ers and Williams may find common ground “early this week.” If the stalemate continues, though, a trade or a release could eventually occur. The 49ers were reportedly open to trading Williams as of early March. There is still “legitimate” interest from other teams, per La Canfora. If he and the 49ers don’t hammer out a new pact in the next couple of weeks, perhaps a team that did not adequately upgrade at left tackle in the draft will kick the tires on a Williams trade.
For their part, considering the uncertainty surrounding Williams, the 49ers could target the position early in the draft. They made a modest free agent investment in Vederian Lowe, who spent most of last season as a reserve in New England. Austen Pleasants is also in the mix as a backup left tackle, but he and Lowe are big steps down from Williams.
If the 49ers cut or trade Williams between now and June 1, it would leave them with a $34.15MM dead cap hit and $12.19MM in savings. A post-June 1 divorce would save upward of $33MM in spending space in 2026. The 49ers would spread the dead cap over two years, taking a $13.33MM charge next season and a $20.83MM hit in 2027.
Titans, Giants In Play For Carnell Tate; Saints Viewed As WR’s Floor?
A host of wide receivers could go off the board in Round 1, but the order in which this will unfold appears foggy. However, the question as to who is this draft’s top option at the position looks to have been answered.
As our Ely Allen noted over the weekend, Carnell Tate has created some distance between himself and the field at receiver. Despite not being Ohio State’s go-to option — that is likely 2027 top-five pick Jeremiah Smith — Tate is viewed as the clear frontrunner to be the first wideout off the board. A top-five landing spot is in play for one of this draft’s high-profile Buckeyes, and falling out of the top 10 is highly unlikely.
The Titans and Giants are in play for Tate at Nos. 4 and 5, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who views the player as a top-10 lock. No. 9 may not be relevant to Tate’s draft destination, either, with ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid adding the Saints “would quickly add” him if he remains available at No. 8.
New Orleans has been linked to pursuing pass-catching help in this draft. The team would align Tate with former Ohio State wideout Chris Olave in this scenario, one that would require Jeremiyah Love and some of the Ohio State defenders — perhaps all three — going off the board before Tate to become reality. If a team is going to double down on a program at receiver, Ohio State is probably the one to pick. The Buckeyes have sent five receivers to the first round since 2022 (Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka) and developed 2019 third-rounder-turned-Washington WR1 Terry McLaurin.
Tennessee, New York and New Orleans each brought Tate in for a “30” visit, gathering intel on a player who caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns last season (the Browns, Chiefs and Commanders also met with him). Tate does not have a 1,000-yard college season on his resume, but his two years as a Buckeyes regular overlapped with Smith’s first two Columbus slates. Smith will be consistently linked to the top five of what looks like a more talent-rich 2027 draft. For now, Tate is the Ohio State prize on the offensive side. He joins Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs as Buckeyes products who could be top-10 choices next week.
The Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks at last year’s deadline, with the deep threat unlikely to re-sign with New Orleans. Shaheed re-signed with Seattle. The Saints did not make a notable move at receiver in free agency, effectively clearing the runway here. It would stand to reason that Makai Lemon would be in play for New Orleans at No. 8 if Tate goes earlier, but Breer adds there does not appear to be a consensus on this class’ second-best receiver prospect.
Different teams see USC’s Lemon, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. as the second-best WR in this draft, per Breer (Ely covered Concepcion’s Prospect Profile on Sunday). We heard last week some teams even have Washington’s Denzel Boston as a top-two or top-three wideout in the class. This receiver crop, like a few in recent years, is also viewed as deep, potentially influencing teams to wait on the position and address other needs earlier.
The Titans did not end up cutting Calvin Ridley, but it is quite possible the 31-year-old target will not be on their 2027 roster. Tennessee also added Wan’Dale Robinson to reunite with Brian Daboll. Losing Robinson, the Giants gave Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin low-cost deals to play alongside Malik Nabers. But the team may lack a No. 2 target going into the draft.