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Bears Could Still Add Pass Rusher; Team Was High On CB Colton Hood

By | at May 10, 2026 11:01 pm

The Bears entered the 2026 draft with a major pass rushing need, and our mock draft predicted Chicago would address that need in the first round. However, the team did not use any of their seven picks on a pass rusher, so as Albert Breer of SI.com writes, it would not be surprising to see the Bears fortify their Montez Sweat-fronted EDGE contingent with a veteran at some point in the near future.

There are still a number of recognizable names on the market, including players like Jadeveon Clowney, Cameron Jordan, Joey Bosa, Von Miller, and Haason Reddick. We recently heard Clowney is drawing interest, though it is presently unclear which teams are considering him. As Breer observes, Clowney fits the mold of the long, rugged pass rusher that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen favors, and Jordan and Allen spent a number of years together with the Saints. Either of those players could be a fit for Chicago, even if (as Breer suggests) such a deal might not come together until we get closer to training camp.

Meanwhile, the team will continue to evaluate Dayo Odeyingbo, whose first season with the Bears was cut short by a torn Achilles. Through eight games in 2025, the former Colt recorded just one sack, and 2024 fifth-rounder Austin Booker – another key piece of Chicago’s pass rushing plans last season – missed time due to injury as well. Booker ultimately posted 4.5 sacks in 10 games, and the Bears tallied the fifth-fewest sacks in the league.

That led to the speculation that GM Ryan Poles would add a true pass rushing talent this offseason, but that has not happened yet (although Poles did at least explore the possibility of acquiring Maxx Crosby from the Raiders). Despite winning the NFC North and narrowly missing a trip to the NFC championship game in 2025, the Bears finished in the bottom-10 in terms of both total defense and scoring defense, so an established EDGE player or two would surely help spur another deep postseason run.

Poles did authorize eight-figure contracts for safety Coby Bryant and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency, and he further fortified those positions in the draft with S Dillon Thieneman (No. 25 overall) and DT Jordan van den Berg  (No. 213). According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears believe they got a steal in both players, as they did not expect Thieneman to fall to them and think van den Berg was one of the most talented DTs in his class (his sixth-round status notwithstanding).

Fowler says Chicago was also interested in cornerback Colton Hood, whom the Giants selected with the No. 37 choice. If Thieneman was unavailable, as the Bears thought he would be, Hood may have been the selection at No. 25.

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5 Key Stories: 5/3/26 – 5/10/26

By | at May 10, 2026 11:00 pm

May marks the beginning of voluntary practices around the NFL, with rookie minicamps kicking things off. Plenty of unanswered questions remain with respect to veterans, but the past few days have seen a number of interesting developments. In case you missed this week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:

  • Hall, Jets Agree To Extension: To help ensure outside teams would not submit an offer sheet this offseason, the Jets placed the franchise tag on Breece Hall. GM Darren Mougey pointed to the post-draft period of the spring as a target for an extension to be worked out, though, and a deal is now in place. Hall agreed to a three-year, $45.75MM contract which will take the place of his tag. The pact contains $29MM in guarantees, all of which will be paid out across 2026 and ’27. The final year of the pact is thus far from assured, but Hall is in line to receive roughly the same as he would have by playing on two straight tags. His effective average annual value of $14.5MM ranks fourth among all running backs and marks a sharp rise from his rookie contract. Hall, 25 later this month, is coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign and he will be counted on as an offensive focal point moving forward.
  • Broncos Extend Paton: 2026 represented the final year of Broncos general manager George Paton‘s deal, and an extension loomed as a distinct possibility during the offseason. As expected, a new agreement has been reached. Paton finalized a five-year contract to remain in Denver, where he has been leading the front office since 2021. The Broncos’ run of losing seasons continued during Paton’s first three years, but the team has steadily improved recently. Denver reached the playoffs in 2024 and topped the AFC’s regular-season standings last year. A strong tandem between Paton and head coach Sean Payton has yielded success, and those two will continue working together well into the future.
  • Colts Follow Through With Moore Release: Earlier this offseason, Kenny Moore requested a trade. No swap took place, setting up the Colts to proceed with a release in his case. The nine-year veteran asked to be cut following the draft, and the team has granted the request. Moore, 30, saw his role diminish during Lou Anarumo‘s first year in place as defensive coordinator. A new scheme fit will be sought out deep into the offseason. Moore earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and has been a regular in the slot throughout his career. Teams eyeing cornerback depth could show interest at least around the time when training camps begin.
  • Jennings Signs With Vikings: One player who did not wind up staying on the market through to July is Jauan Jennings. The veteran wideout has taken a one-year deal with the Vikings. Minnesota authorized $8MM in base pay for Jennings, who can earn up to $13MM in 2026. It became clear this spring a return to the 49ers would not be taking place in this case, and the five-year San Francisco contributor remained unsigned thanks to a tepid market. The Vikings already have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in place at the WR spot, but Jennings will look to serve as a productive complementary option in the passing game. Minnesota’s offense currently faces uncertainty at the quarterback position, of course. Nevertheless, strong play under center could set Jennings up for a robust free agent spell in 2027.
  • New NFLRA CBA Agreement Reached: The threat of replacement officials handling NFL games has been removed. The league and the NFL Referees Association have finalized a new collective bargaining agreement. Recent progress resulted in a deal being struck; an increase in pay to officials will be taking place over the course of the seven-year pact. The league managed to secure several objectives, such as increases in access to officials during the offseason, a bench of new referees and larger sway in giving playoff assignments based on performance over seniority. The two sides traded public barbs earlier this offseason in a sign a deal was not imminent, with plans being laid for replacements to be called upon. That will no longer be necessary, however.
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Latest On Texans OL Keylan Rutledge; Team Explored Trade Back Into Round 1 For DT Kayden McDonald

By | at May 10, 2026 10:52 pm

With their first selection (No. 26 overall) in the 2026 draft, the Texans added Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, who was seen as a reach in certain circles. NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah had Rutledge as the 47th-ranked player on his board, and we recently heard some members of the Seahawks’ front office graded Seattle fifth-round pick Beau Stephens more highly than Rutledge.

Still, the division-rival Titans were prepared to make Rutledge a first-round choice as well, and one NFC executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the former Yellow Jacket was the top guard in the class (ahead of even Vega Ioane, who went to the Ravens at No. 14 overall). Fowler – who reported prior to the draft that Houston had done a great deal of work on Rutledge – says Texans brass “identified him as a favorite.” 

General manager Nick Caserio’s other offseason moves (which included signing longtime Browns guard Wyatt Teller and re-signing 2025 RG1 Ed Ingram) make it unclear exactly where Rutledge will line up as a rookie or if he will begin his pro career as a reserve. If a guard spot is not an option, he could compete with Jake Andrews for the starting center job. 

Just as Caserio traded up several spots in the first round to secure the opportunity to select Rutledge, he did the same in the second round to grab Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald at No. 36. Caserio swung a deal with the Raiders to move up from No. 38, but as Fowler reports, the Texans GM was prepared to go as high as No. 33 and even explored a trade back into the first round after selecting Rutledge.

That underscores the Texans’ belief in McDonald, who should find a notable role in the club’s DT rotation alongside returnees Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai. Houston, which boasted perhaps the best defense in the league in 2025, lost Tim Settle to free agency, thereby opening an immediate vacancy for McDonald.

Consistent with a report made by NFL insider Jordan Schultz when the Texans turned in the card for McDonald, Fowler says there was some belief the Giants – who had traded DT Dexter Lawrence before the draft and who held the No. 37 choice – may be a threat for the Ohio State alum. Perhaps out of fear of losing one of his top targets to another team, Caserio made sure to leapfrog Big Blue, though a New York source told Fowler that CB Colton Hood was the player they wanted all along.

3 comments 2026 NFL Draft Houston Texans New York Giants

Texans Sign 12-Man UDFA Class

By | at May 10, 2026 10:07 pm

On Friday, the Texans announced the signing of 12 undrafted free agents. After focusing the majority of their eight draft picks on the offensive line and defensive front seven, Houston used undrafted free agency to add depth at a number of other positions. Here are the 12 UDFAs that complete the team’s 20-man rookie class:

Houston shelled out decent money to land some if its UDFA class. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Hall received $175K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus, on his UDFA deal. Similarly, per Wilson, Bailey’s deal has $150K of guarantees as well as a $10K signing bonus. The five-year Volunteer finished with career highs in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (7.5) in 2025.

The Texans also landed a couple UDFAs who were expected to be gone by the conclusion of the draft. After notching four interceptions and nine passes defensed in his last two years with the Cardinal, Wright was receiving sixth-round grades from some analysts. After a four-year career at Oregon (and a six-year collegiate career overall), Whittington’s 5.7 yards per carry average as a Duck was thought to make him draftable near the end of Day 3, as well.

Lastly, Houston brought in some competition for punter Kai Kroeger, who spent his rookie season punting in New Orleans. Stonehouse set records during his time with the Orange, and as the son and cousin of former NFL players, he has the pedigree to be an NFL punter. Head coach DeMeco Ryans sees a punting competition playing out between the two youngsters over the course of the offseason, per Wilson.

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Giants Preview Three-Way Kicking Battle

By | at May 10, 2026 8:41 pm

In 2025, the Giants featured four different placekickers throughout the season as regular kicker Graham Gano struggled to say on the field for the third year in a row. Big Blue had enjoyed three good years from the Pro Bowl leg following his seven-year tenure in Carolina, but after appearing in only 23 of a possible 54 games since 2023, Gano was dropped by New York after the season ended.

Now, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, a three-way kicking competition will commence for the offseason. The participants in this three-way contest will be the incumbent Ben Sauls, veteran free agent addition Jason Sanders, and undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada.

Sauls didn’t join the G-Men until halfway through his rookie season. With five years of experience kicking at Acrisure Stadium while at Pitt, Sauls initially signed with the Steelers after going undrafted last year. He was waived near the end of the preseason in the run up to final roster cuts and landed on the Falcons’ practice squad nearly a month after clearing waivers. The Falcons dropped him from their taxi squad in early November, and he landed on New York’s a week later.

At this point in the Giants’ season, the team had seen a three-game stint of Jude McAtamney as an injury replacement for Gano and was preparing for a five-game look at Younghoe Koo replacing Gano after he went down for a second time. Sauls didn’t get an opportunity to kick for New York until making his NFL debut down the stretch in the final three games of the regular season. The Giants signed him to the active roster on a deal that would keep him under contract through the 2026 season after his first game with the team, and in his three-game opportunity, he went 8-for-8 on field goal attempts and converted all seven extra point attempts.

Sanders signed with the Giants early in the offseason and just before the team released Gano. A one-time first-team All-Pro, Sanders is joining only his second NFL team after an eight-year stay with the Dolphins, who drafted him. Sanders alternated strong and poor performances over his first four years in the league but showed consistent improvement over each of the next three. He was coming off a campaign in which he posted career highs in field goals made (37) and 50+-yard field goals made (12), showing incredible accuracy in both areas, when he missed the entire 2025 season with a hip injury that did not require surgery.

Zvada makes his way to the NFL after four years as a primary kicker at the collegiate level. He started his career at Arkansas State where he missed only one field goal attempt and extra point attempt as a true freshman. Following his second year with the Red Wolves, Zvada transferred to Michigan and put on another one-miss performance in each kicking category for the Wolverines. After each of those two seasons, in which he went 38 of 40 on field goal attempts, he had letdown years, combining to go 34 of 47 in 2023 and 2025. He showed off his strong leg in college, as well, with double-digit makes over 50 yards in his collegiate career.

According to new head coach and former special team coach John Harbaugh, “it’s going to be a competition…right out of the gates.” During rookie minicamp, Zvada got his opportunity to make a first impression and went 5-for-5 with a make from 55 yards out. Sauls has familiarity with his surroundings, but with a new long snapper, holder, and special teams staff in the building, his incumbency doesn’t amount to much, while Sanders will have to prove that he is back to his old self after a lengthy injury recovery. This battle could run to the end of the preseason, and it looks like every participant holds a decent shot at winning the job.

2 comments New York Giants

Buccaneers Add 13-Man UDFA Class

By | at May 10, 2026 7:02 pm

The Buccaneers were lauded for their ability to add value with their seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. When the event came to an end, the team went to work adding more young players to the roster to form a 20-man rookie class. Here are the 13 undrafted free agents who signed on with Tampa Bay:

The Buccaneers were fortunate to add Pyburn after the LSU one-year rental slipped out of the back of the draft. Extremely effective as a run-stopper, Pyburn was thought to be a potential sixth- or seventh-round option, but perhaps his lack of a pass rush kept teams from using draft capital on him. He was seemingly a popular option as a free agent, though. Aaron Williams of KPRC 2 reports that Tampa Bay’s deal with Pyburn has $115K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus.

Other than Pyburn, only guys like Lutovsky, Garnes, and Rivers stood a chance at landing at the back of the draft, but even they were pretty likely to land as undrafted free agents. Lutovsky looks the part of an OL depth piece after serving as a two-year starter for the Cornhuskers. Garnes had a breakout year in 2023 with 13 passes defensed and two picks at Duquesne before ending at Arizona with nine passes defensed and an interception last year. Once a 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown receiver at FIU before transferring to Atlanta, Rivers has the speed to earn an NFL opportunity as a slot or return man.

Lastly, Tampa Bay will use their UDFA class to take a look at some rookie specialists. With punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Evan Deckers both playing on contract years, Laros and Brown could both stand an outside chance at earning a roster spot or practice squad contract.

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Colts Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents

By | at May 10, 2026 5:29 pm

The Colts focused on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft with five of their first six picks coming on that side of the ball. After also taking swings at running back and wide receiver to close the draft, Indianapolis signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to add a few more long-shot options to their 20-man rookie class:

Though the Colts were able to add some more young bodies on offense with this UDFA class, most of their notable signings here were on the defensive side of the ball, as well. Brown has all the right tools to be a roaming safety that drops down into the slot and box in the NFL but was unable to produce impact plays with any regularity for the Badgers. He must’ve had a number of suitors, though, as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Indy gave Brown $272K in guaranteed money in order to secure his signature.

At 6-foot-3.5 and 310 pounds, Ball’s imposing frame had evaluators expecting teams to take a chance on him some time on Day 3 of the draft. He’s a formidable run blocker who will need to develop some pass rush ability to stay on the field at the next level.

Finally on offense, Rucci was teammates with Brown for two years before transferring to Happy Valley. He only spent one season as a full-time starter for the Nittany Lions, but at just over 6-foot-8, 314 pounds, Rucci has an ideal frame on which the team can build upon. Some technique work and strong coaching will be needed in his future, but he’s a worthy project for the Colts to take on.

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Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/26

By | at May 10, 2026 4:43 pm

Here are a couple rare Sunday NFL transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After two years each with the Buccaneers and Panthers, Walton will remain in the NFC South following a successful tryout at Atlanta’s rookie minicamp.

The Jets let go of Dalena in order to bring in some offensive line depth. Young spent the past four years in New Orleans as a versatile backup option. Over the course of his rookie contract, Young made 12 starts in 56 game appearances. Those 12 starts included assignments at both tackle and both guard spots along the Saints offensive line.

The Buccaneers are rewarding Calloway, Holmes, and Patterson with undrafted free agent contracts after successful tryouts at their rookie minicamp. Calloway transferred around liberally over the past three years, spending time at Old Dominion, Cal, and New Mexico before finding his way to the NFL. Patterson, a Tampa native, spent four years at FIU before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final year of eligibility. Holmes started his collegiate career at Frostburg State but spent the 2025 season at Tarleton State.

0 comments Atlanta Falcons New York Jets Tampa Bay Buccaneers Transactions

Panthers Restructure Jaycee Horn’s Deal

By | at May 10, 2026 2:40 pm

Jaycee Horn landed a major extension last offseason. The Panthers’ top cornerback will remain a foundational figure for years to come, but his deal was recently reworked.

Carolina restructured Horn’s contract, as detailed by Spotrac. A total of $16.4MM was converted into a signing bonus via the transaction. That makes this an example of a simple conversion aimed at carving out immediate cap space. To aid in that effort, one void year was added to the pact. Carolina now has roughly $12MM in cap space.

Horn battled injuries in two of his first three NFL seasons. When on the field, though, he has met expectations as a former top-10 pick. To little surprise, then, team and player worked out a four-year, $100MM extension last spring. The pact ranks third in the NFL in terms of guarantees for cornerbacks, and Horn will be counted on to remain one of the position’s top producers moving forward. After earning a Pro Bowl nod during his final season before the extension was signed, he was a Pro Bowler once more in 2025.

The 2027 base salary in Horn’s deal has already shifted to a full guarantee. That year is now set to include a notable spike in his cap charge, though. The 26-year-old will count for $10.9MM against Carolina’s cap in 2026 as a result of the restructure. That will jump to $25.9MM the following year, with further increases (to $31.8MM and $33.9MM) scheduled. Horn is under team control through the 2029 season.

Carolina posted 15 interceptions in 2025, and Horn accounted for five of them. He will look to build off that career mark in 2026 and beyond while remaining a key figure in a Panthers secondary which ranked mid-pack last year. Another strong showing on Horn’s part would help the team’s chances of improving on defense and reaching the postseason once again.

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Bears Sign 13 UDFAs

By | at May 10, 2026 1:48 pm

The Bears added seven rookies via the draft. They have been joined by the following 13 undrafted free agents as first-year players on Chicago’s roster:

Barnett is among this year’s group of UDFAs who secured a notable guarantee package. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports he landed a $30K signing bonus by joining the Bears. Barnett also received $248K in locked-in base salary, so a long-running opportunity to compete for a backup gig along the offensive line should be expected.

The Bears also made a Loving a target shortly after the draft. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes Chicago authorized a $245K guarantee in that case, including a $20K signing bonus. It was not until the sixth round that the team made an addition along the defensive line, so Loving will aim to carve out a depth spot or at least a place on Chicago’s practice squad.

Moss spent his first four college seasons at USC. That span included two years as Caleb Williams‘ backup. Moss took on starting duties for the Trojans in 2024 before spending a single season at Louisville. He will join Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent as depth passers for the Bears during offseason practices.

1 comment Chicago Bears Transactions
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