Panthers, WR Jalen Coker Agree To Extension
Jalen Coker will remain a key part of the Panthers offense for the foreseeable future. The organization agreed to terms with the wide receiver on an extension today, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Coker’s new contract will be worth $35MM over three seasons, per Rapoport. The contract could reach $41MM via incentives. Coker was set to be an exclusive rights free agent following the 2026 season and a restricted free agent following the 2027 campaign.
Despite a prolific showing in the Patriot League, the Holy Cross product went undrafted in the 2024 draft. He quickly caught on with the Panthers as a UDFA but wasn’t part of the team’s initial 2024 53-man roster. He earned a promotion to the active roster in late September, and he’s played a significant role in Carolina’s offense ever since.
Coker emerged as one of Bryce Young‘s preferred targets as a rookie, when he finished with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. The start of his sophomore season was delayed by a quad injury, but he returned in October and proceeded to haul in another 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. Coker also had a standout showing in the Panthers’ playoff loss, hauling in nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
While his counting stats took a step back in 2025, Coker improved his success rate from 58.7 percent to 67.4 percent. Pro Football Focus was fond of his performance, ranking him 32nd among 128 qualifying wideouts. The website also lauded the receiver for his pass-blocking ability.
This extension means the Panthers will have the top of their WR depth chart locked in through at least through the 2028 campaign. The organization used first-round picks at the position in both 2024 (Xavier Legette) and 2025 (Tetairoa McMillan), and they spent this offseason adding veteran John Metchie and rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell II to their receivers room.
Texans Worked Out CB Sean Fresch
The Texans hosted an All-UFL player yesterday. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team worked out cornerback/returner Sean Fresch.
Fresch spent his entire five-year collegiate career at Rice, where he transformed into one of the team’s top defenders. He was especially productive between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, when he compiled 102 tackles, 16 passes defended, and an interception. He also made a name for himself on special teams, where he returned 24 punts for 200 yards between those two campaigns.
He continued that special teams prowess after joining the St. Louis Battlehawks for the 2026 UFL spring season. In 10 appearances, he returned 32 punts for 333 yards and three kickoffs for 85 yards, earning him All-league honors. He also contributed on defense, where he tallied 29 tackles, four pass breakups, and a pair of sacks.
As Wilson notes, the player brings some notable attributes to the table with a 4.40 40-yard dash time and a 41-inch vertical. Jaylin Noel led Houston’s return game in 2025 and is expected to lead the unit in 2026, but Fresch would provide the organization with another option. At the moment, Tremon Smith represents the team’s other return option.
Bills Make Series Of Roster Moves
As part of a handful of transactions on Thursday, the Bills waived cornerback Dorian Strong with a non-football injury designation. They also waived/injured running back Desmond Reid and waived wide receiver Gabriel Benyard. The Bills signed receivers Deven Thompkins and Max Tomczak in corresponding moves.
Strong is likely to make a quick return to the organization, as he is expected to miss the season with a neck injury, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Assuming Strong clears waivers, Buffalo will place him on IR.
As a sixth-round rookie from Virginia Tech in 2025, Strong appeared in four games and made 10 tackles. He started in his debut, a Week 1 win over the Ravens, as the Bills were without injured corners Maxwell Hairston and Tre’Davious White.
While Strong looked like capable depth in limited action last season, the 24-year-old’s career has been in doubt since the Bills placed him on IR in early October. General manager Brandon Beane revealed in April that Strong underwent “specialized” neck surgery after the season. Beane admitted then that it is “unknown” if Strong will play again (via Ryan Miller of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle).
Thompkins, the only other member of this group with NFL experience, took advantage of a minicamp invitation this week. So far, all 36 of his pro appearances have come with NFC South teams. He played for the Buccaneers from 2022-23, with whom he logged extensive work as a return man, before joining the Panthers in 2024 and the Falcons last year. The 5-foot-8, 155-pounder has totaled 29 catches, including three in seven games in 2025. The Falcons waived Thompkins in early May.
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Falcons To Acquire T Wanya Morris From Chiefs
3:45pm: The Falcons have placed Norton on the reserve/PUP list. While they did not disclose a reason for the move, it may have something to do with the ankle injury that kept Norton out for all of 2025. The Falcons designated Norton to return from IR in late October, but they did not activate him during his 21-day window.
1:00pm: The Chiefs are trading offensive tackle Wanya Morris to the Falcons, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Along with Morris, the Chiefs will send a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Falcons for a ’27 sixth-rounder, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz.
This deal comes just two days after Fowler reported the Chiefs and Morris agreed to pursue trade options. The Chiefs spent a third-round pick on Morris in 2023, but the 6-foot-6, 307-pounder did not develop as hoped in his three years with the team. He made just 16 starts in 43 games, including only one in 12 appearances in 2025. The Chiefs will move on with Josh Simmons at left tackle and a right tackle competition that includes Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Matt Waletzko and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson.
While Morris has professional experience at both tackle spots, the majority of his work has come on the left side. He started a career-high 11 times on the blindside in 2024, his lone 17-game season, though Pro Football Focus ranked his performance a lowly 70th among 81 qualifiers.
Barring an injury to stalwart left tackle Jake Matthews, who has missed just one game in his 12-year career, Morris will not see much action there in Atlanta. His best path to playing time is on the right, where the Falcons unexpectedly lost Kaleb McGary to retirement in April. They immediately brought in former Chief Jawaan Taylor, whom Morris has been teammates with for his entire career, on a one-year, $5MM pact to replace McGary.
As a full-time starter since he entered the NFL in 2019, the 28-year-old Taylor is the obvious favorite to serve as the Falcons’ No. 1 right tackle this season. Morris will join Storm Norton, Michael Jerrell and Jack Nelson to give the Falcons more experienced depth behind Matthews and Taylor.
Henry Ruggs Denied Parole
Three years after pleading guilty to felony counts of DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in 2023, former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs sought parole this spring. The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners denied Ruggs’ request on Thursday, the Associated Press reports.
Ruggs, whom the Raiders drafted 12th overall in 2020, killed another driver and her dog in a November 2021 car crash. While traveling at speeds up to 156 mph in his Corvette, Ruggs slammed into 23-year-old victim Tina Tintor’s car. Ruggs refused a field sobriety test, but a blood alcohol test taken within two hours registered a BAC of .161 – twice the legal limit.
“Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered by Ms. Tintor’s family,” attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a statement on Thursday. They believe there is “overwhelming evidence” that Ruggs has accepted responsibility for his actions. It is unknown if they will appeal the results of the hearing.
Ruggs, who is serving a three- to 10-year prison sentence, was moved from a low-security facility to a a medium-security facility in December. When Vanessa Murphy of KLAS 8 News Now reached out to the Nevada Department of Corrections for the reason, a spokesperson wrote in an email: “We can’t disclose specific information on offender. However, in general, an offender who commits infractions while at a lower-level custody, depending on the nature and severity, they could be reverted back to a higher level of custody.”
Ruggs’ next parole board hearing will occur three months before his Aug. 27, 2027, mandatory parole release date, executive director of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners Kathi Baker told the AP.
Ruggs played 20 games with the Raiders, who cut him shortly after his arrest. The 27-year-old has shown interest in returning to the NFL, but that looks even less likely in the wake of the parole board’s decision on Thursday.
Lions S Brian Branch Could Start Season On PUP
Lions safety Brian Branch‘s 2025 season came to an end when he tore his Achilles in a Week 14 win over the Cowboys. The injury occurred late enough in the year that it may shelve Branch for a portion of the upcoming season.
Although Branch has not dealt with any setbacks, there is no clear timetable for his return as training camp approaches. With that in mind, head coach Dan Campbell admitted Branch “could be” a candidate to open 2026 on the reserve/PUP list, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Doing so would require Branch to miss at least four games, which would keep him out of meetings with the Saints, Bills, Jets and Panthers.
The Lions entered 2025 with the elite safety tandem of Branch and Kerby Joseph, but injuries undermined the pair during a disappointing 9-8 season for the club. Branch missed five games (including one for a suspension), while Joseph sat out 11 as he battled knee problems. With Joseph managing a degenerative condition, it is unclear if he will be ready for Week 1. The Lions are preparing free agent pickup Christian Izien to fill in for Joseph if he misses time. Some combination of free agent addition Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper and Avonte Maddox could help pick up Branch’s slack if he is unavailable.
Joseph missed just two games in his first three seasons. Thanks to his combination of durability and stellar production, the Lions inked him to a four-year, $86MM extension in April 2025. Branch, who is entering a contract year, won’t be as fortunate. On the heels of Branch’s injury last December, Birkett reported the three-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowler was unlikely to receive a new deal in the offseason. Campbell all but confirmed an extension with Branch has no chance of coming together during his rehab.
“I think you always want to know that your guys are, that they are healthy and that this is truly healed,” Campbell said. “You’re always going to kind of want to lean that way knowing the investment that would go into that.”
Extending a healthy Branch could have been a priority for general manager Brad Holmes, but the injured version is down in a pecking order that includes two other 2023 draftees: running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta. Holmes already hammered out a four-year, $81MM extension with linebacker Jack Campbell, another member of the Lions’ loaded 2023 draft haul, in late May.
Broncos Extend HC Sean Payton
The Broncos have locked up their brain trust for the long haul. After signing general manager George Paton to a five-year extension last month, the team has agreed to a new contract with head coach Sean Payton. He will join Paton in landing a five-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Paton and Payton are under wraps through 2030.
“Sean Payton has led an impressive turnaround over the past three seasons, instilling a winning culture with high expectations,” Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner said in a statement announcing the agreement. “I appreciate the close partnership he shares with George Paton along with the alignment and stability across our football operations.”
The offensive-minded Payton has been one of the NFL’s most successful head coaches since he got his first opportunity with the Saints in 2006. Payton held the post in New Orleans for 15 years, during which the Saints went 152-89 in the regular season and earned nine playoff berths. In the greatest achievement of his career, Payton led the Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Colts to cap off the 2009 season.
Three years after he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, Payton served a season-long suspension in 2012 for the Saints’ Bounty scandal. That marred his tenure in New Orleans, but he stuck around for nine more years and guided the team to four seasons of double-digit wins along the way.
Payton stepped away after the Saints went 9-8 and missed the playoffs in 2021, though it was a short-lived exit from the sidelines. The Dolphins pursued a Payton-quarterback Tom Brady package in the subsequent offseason, but Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit (which is still ongoing) foiled their plans. A year later, Payton interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Broncos, Cardinals, Panthers and Texans. With the Saints still holding his rights, hiring Payton would have meant giving up compensation for his services. Denver ultimately ponied up for Payton, whom it acquired from New Orleans for a first- and second-round pick.
The Broncos were stuck in a seven-year playoff drought when they brought in Payton, who was unable to lead them to an immediate turnaround. Payton did not form a connection with former star quarterback Russell Wilson during an 8-9 showing in 2023. The Broncos were so down on Wilson that they released him in March 2024 at the cost of a whopping $85MM in dead money, which they spread over two seasons.
With Wilson out of the picture, the Broncos experienced a revival under rookie quarterback Bo Nix in 2024. Taken 12th overall in the draft, Nix teamed with a ferocious defense to help the Broncos go 10-7 and reach the playoffs for the first time 2015. The Bills knocked the Broncos out of the wild-card round, but Payton, Nix and the defense went on to make even more progress last season.
Not only did the Broncos end the Chiefs’ nine-year run atop the AFC West in 2025, but they earned the top seed in the conference on the strength of a 14-3 record. After a first-round bye, the Broncos got revenge on the Bills in a 33-30 overtime win in the divisional round. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory for the Broncos, who lost Nix to a season-ending ankle injury on the second-last play of the game. They hosted the AFC championship game a week later, but with backup QB Jarrett Stidham at the helm, their offense struggled on a snowy afternoon in a 10-7 loss to the Patriots.
Although last season did not end on a high note, the Broncos will enter 2026 on the shortlist of Super Bowl contenders. For the first time, though, Payton will not serve as his team’s primary offensive play caller. The 62-year-old handed off those duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb, who is considered one of the league’s top up-and-coming assistants. With Webb’s help, Payton will continue to climb the all-time wins list this season. He will head into 2026 with 184, which ranks 13th. Payton will eventually become the ninth head coach to reach 200.
Raiders CB Jermod McCoy On Track For Training Camp
Jermod McCoy was arguably the No. 1 cornerback available a few weeks before the draft, but serious concerns over his knee led to a precipitous drop down the board. McCoy lasted until the first pick in the fourth round, where the Raiders took a flier at No. 101 overall.
The Raiders have taken it easy with McCoy during their offseason program, but it appears he will ramp up activities when training camp opens in July. McCoy is on schedule to be a full participant, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. There are not any “new issues” with his knee, per Bonsignore.
McCoy hasn’t played a down of football since 2024, when he was a second-team All-American at Tennessee. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder deflected nine passes and came down with four interceptions in 13 games that year, but he was unable to build on it in 2025 after tearing his ACL. McCoy bounced back nicely in February at the Combine, where he showed off his athleticism with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump.
While his Combine showing was encouraging, there was nonetheless plenty of leeriness toward McCoy going into the draft. The ACL injury had little to do with his stock plummeting in the first place. Rather, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said before the draft, “the concern is about a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee.” If McCoy eventually requires surgery to replace the bone plug, it would likely shelve him for at least a year. Worse, there is a good chance an unsuccessful procedure would end his career.
There was too much risk for any team to spend a high pick on McCoy, but he could emerge as a mid-round steal for the Raiders if his knee holds up. Also a former Oregon State corner, McCoy picked off six passes in two college seasons. Las Vegas, whose defense tied for 27th in INTs last year, would welcome that type of playmaking ability. If McCoy is indeed a full go when camp rolls around, he will presumably compete with Darien Porter for the Raiders’ No. 2 corner job opposite Eric Stokes. McCoy’s performance in camp and during the preseason will count among the Raiders’ most interesting storylines this summer.
Browns S Ronnie Hickman Signs Second-Round RFA Tender
In March, the Browns elected to keep restricted free agent safety Ronnie Hickman in the fold by applying a second-round RFA tender. That one-year deal has now been signed.
Hickman is officially on the books, the Browns announced on Thursday. The 24-year-old is due to collect $5.77MM in 2026 as a result. That represents a sharp raise in pay compared to Hickman’s first three years in the NFL, and it illustrates his importance to Cleveland’s defense in at least the near term.
During his first NFL season, the former undrafted free agent made an impact on defense while operating in a part-time role and also chipping in on special teams. Hickman saw an uptick in usage during the 2024 campaign, and he continued to impress. That helped pave the way for full-time starting gig in 2025.
Hickman appeared in every game for Cleveland last year, easily setting new career highs in many categories. The Ohio State product notched 103 tackles, a pair of interceptions and seven pass deflections. Expectations will be high for a strong follow-up season in 2026, and another productive campaign would of course help Hickman’s case for a long-term Browns commitment.
The deadline for players attached to an RFA tender to sign an offer sheet from an outside team has long passed. The Browns would have received a second-round pick as compensation for Hickman inking an unmatched offer sheet earlier this offseason, but they will prepare for at least one more season of him playing a key role in the secondary. Cleveland still has Grant Delpit in the fold and the team added Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round of the draft, but Hickman figures to spend at least one more season as an important contributor at the safety spot.