RB Jeremiyah Love At Top Of Giants’ List?
Drafting running backs early in the first round is back in style. Ashton Jeanty went at No. 6 last year, and in 2023, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went eighth and 12th overall, respectively. This year’s draft is expected to add another name to the list. 
The running back most likely to continue this trend in 2026 is Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love. Tennessee has been a popular projection, as both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are in the final years of their contracts. However, as ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came up in a Chiefs front office that prioritized premium positions with premium draft picks. Taking a running back with the No. 4 pick – especially with needs at more valuable positions – would fly in the face of that philosophy.
If the Titans pass on Love, he will likely wind up in New York, according to Reid’s colleague, Matt Miller. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh may not have such qualms about Love’s position with more of an emphasis on his game-changing talent. He consistently prioritized a strong ground game in Baltimore, though the Ravens never drafted a running back in the first-round during his tenure.
Were New York to choose him, Love would immediately have the best draft pedigree of anyone in the Giants’ running backs room. Veteran Devin Singletary currently holds that honor as a former third-round pick out of FAU. Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy were fifth-round picks in back-to-back years for New York, in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Singletary and Gray are also set to play on the final years of their contracts. Combined with last year’s fourth-round rookie, Cam Skattebo, there are plenty of mouths to feed, but inserting Love into the room immediately would change the outlook for the current players’ roles in the room.
If running back isn’t the answer in New York, the team’s top decision makers could start the trend for another position that isn’t notoriously taken early on Day 1. Harbaugh was part of a large contingent that attended the Ohio State Pro Day on Wednesday. It was notable enough to see Harbaugh there, given he hasn’t frequented many pro days in recent years, but in Columbus, Harbaugh, team owner Chris Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, and player personnel director Tim McDonnell all showed up to evaluate Buckeyes, and Harbaugh was seen getting some face time with standout safety Caleb Downs, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The highest a safety has ever been drafted was second overall in 1991, when Eric Turner‘s name was called by the Browns. Since then, only two other safeties have even been drafted in the top five picks of the draft, Sean Taylor in 2004 and Eric Berry in 2010. Downs could be the next to join that list if the Giants decide to write his name down a month from now. Harbaugh’s defenses in Baltimore almost always featured strong safety play from names like Ed Reed, Eric Weddle, and Kyle Hamilton. Downs may be just the man to upgrade Big Blue’s defensive outfield in 2026.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
NFL Mailbag: Texans, QBs, Steelers, Chiefs
In the week's edition of the PFR Mailbag, questions on the Texans' offensive line and the Steelers' QB situation are touched on. One of the draft's most intriguing prospects as well as a team with multiple Day 1 picks are also addressed.
Reynold asks:
Have the Texans done enough work on their O-line? [C.J.] Stroud should sue them for malpractice.
Well, if legal action is ever taken by Stroud, at least it won’t be for negligence. The Texans have certainly been busy trying to fix the problem up front. Here’s a quick snapshot of Houston’s moves made up front so far this offseason:
Opinions On Alabama QB Ty Simpson Widely Varied
Even without Dan Orlovsky pouring fuel on the controversial fire, opinions on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson vary widely across a spectrum from people who believe he’s QB1 over Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to people who see him going in the third round. 27 days until the opening night of the three-day event, teams only have a short time left to determine where Simpson will fall in the 2026 NFL Draft. 
Early on in his 2025 campaign with the Crimson Tide, Simpson looked to be taking the football world by storm as a first-year starter. As the season wore on, injuries seemed to contribute to some regression in his performance, leading to some concern about both his ability and durability. Early draft projections pegged Mendoza as the only likely Day 1 passer, but the need for a quarterback helped push Simpson’s name up into first-round consideration.
One popular projection saw Simpson going to the Steelers at 21st overall. On its surface, the move made sense, setting up the inexperienced starter to sit and learn for a year behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is widely expected to re-sign with Pittsburgh to play once again under new head coach Mike McCarthy. According to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, though, Simpson’s lack of starting experience “will almost certainly deter Pittsburgh from picking him up in the first round.”
If Simpson slips far enough, DeFabo thinks the Steelers could reconsider, but how far he needs to fall DeFabo isn’t ready to say. Former contributor at The Athletic Mark Kaboly, now a Steelers correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show, believes Pittsburgh may be targeting a third wide receiver behind D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman in the first three rounds, though he doesn’t feel confident Rodgers would get much contribution from a rookie pass catcher, given his preference to target more-polished veterans.
For Simpson, though, even today, ESPN’s trio of Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates illustrated beautifully the array of opinions on Simpson. Asked what percentage chance Simpson has of going on Day 1, Miller answered 25%, Reid said 75%, and Yates opted for 90%. All three contributors for the network seemed to agree that, with the current draft order, no team makes sense for Simpson at their current draft position, but Reid and Yates answered with the belief that a team that is a good fit would find a way to trade back into the first round to secure his services, namely the Cardinals.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic attended Simpson’s pro day and noted that teams do like what they see. Specifically, Simpson’s intangible qualities seem to be a big selling point with some commenting that Simpson could eventually coach after his career as a player ends. His pro comps to two 26-year-olds even highlight his lack of experience and uncertain draft stock. He’s been comped to Bo Nix, a new starter in the NFL, and Brock Purdy, who was drafted 250 picks later than Nix was in their respective drafts.
Whatever the case, Simpson will almost certainly find his way to the NFL within the next 30 days. It will be fascinating to see what further developments alter opinions on the 23-year-old leading up to the draft.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 3/27/26
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 3pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
NFLPA Executive Director Search Details, 18-Game Stance
Following the messy departure of the NFL Players Association’s former executive director, the players’ union leaders have opted for full transparency. Earlier this week NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin penned a rundown of the events leading from Lloyd Howell‘s exit to the return of J.C. Tretter. 
Reeves-Maybin detailed the association’s diligent search processes, first for a search firm and then for executive director candidates. The Executive Committee and Reeves-Maybin looked at eight search firms, holding calls to determine which offered the most to the process. Four were chosen to move on to virtual interviews, then Reeves-Maybin and the committee chose between a final two, landing on TurnkeyZRG.
TurnkeyZRG then embarked on a search that would not directly involve members of the Executive Committee, instead giving updates to and taking input and direction from a designated Search Committee made up of NFLPA members who were not involved in the executive director search that led to Howell’s election. They designed the search after getting answers to a nine-question interview with player representatives from all 32 teams and cast such a wide net that it included an examination of the post-NFL careers of every player drafted since 1985. The candidate pool was eventually driven down to 300 individuals and whittled down further to 32.
Those 32 candidates’ information was uploaded into a portal through which the Search Committee could view biographies, résumés, speeches, writing samples, podcasts, and interviews. They began to selectively advance and eliminate candidates by majority vote. They chose, first, to focus on external candidates, holding virtual interviews with 12 before six were brought in for in-person meetings. They then brought in two familiar candidates for in-person interviews, advancing one. Reeves-Maybin described the final group as “diverse across race, gender, professional background, and lived experience.”
The final four consisted of two external candidates, interim executive director David White, and TurnkeyZRG’s recommendation, Tretter. Having been cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to Howell or any participation in the NFLPA’s suppression of the arbiter’s collusion finding, Tretter was considered a strong candidate in the eyes of the search firm. After the first day with the final four, no candidate received enough first-place rankings to be elected. After one final day of evaluations that included mock media engagement exercises, Tretter was elected to the position “by a strong majority.”
The NFLPA now intends to move forward, past the drama and mistakes of the past regime. Tretter has wasted no time making his voice heard. In a lengthy interview with Mike Jones of The Athletic, Tretter touched on a number of topics. His journey back after stepping down and his plans for the future were front and center. His first strong stance came against the NFL’s insistence that an 18-game schedule is inevitable.
Vowing to “defend (the league’s) players and their health,” Tretter voiced his opposition, making sure to point out that the NFL can ask the union to come to the table, but the NFLPA is under no obligation to start negotiating until the end of the current collective bargaining agreement is in sight. Until then, he’ll start preparing to ensure he’s ready for that negotiation when it comes.
Buccaneers Contract Updates: Goedeke, McCollum, FA Signings
The Buccaneers restructured the contracts of right tackle Luke Goedeke and cornerback Zyon McCollum to clear up cap space for their new free agent signings.
Goedeke was due a $20.275MM roster bonus at beginning of the league year that was not guaranteed in his original contract. Tampa Bay converted it to a guaranteed roster bonus, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, which allows them to prorate the cap obligations like a signing or option bonus. This saved $16.2MM in cap space with a $4.05MM added to the remaining four years of the contract, which now has one new void year.
The Buccaneers executed a similar move with McCollum, who was due a $12.87MM roster bonus that was guaranteed and prorated across the remainder of the contract. That reduced the veteran cornerback’s 2026 cap hit by $10.3MM with increases of $2.57MM in each of the next four seasons, including two new void years.
The moves created a total of $26.5MM in 2026 cap space, allowing Tampa Bay to process its free agency signings while budgeting for their rookie class.
Here are some contract details on those new signings:
- Initially reported as a fully guaranteed deal, A’Shawn Robinson‘s $10MM contract has $9.15MM in guarantees. The remaining $850K will be paid out in the form of a per game roster bonus (via OverTheCap), giving him $50K for every game for which he is active.
- The base value of edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad‘s deal is $4MM with $2.5MM guaranteed, Wilson reports.
- The Buccaneers retained safety and special teams ace Miles Killebrew on a one-year, $1.79MM deal. According to Wilson, the agreement includes $490K in guaranteed money with a $1.3MM salary.
- Tight end Ko Kieft received $413K in guarantees on his one-year, $1.65MM deal, per Wilson. His salary is set at $1.46MM.
- New backup quarterback Jake Browning signed a one-year, $1.3MM deal with $400K guaranteed, per OverTheCap.
- Former Rams and Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom has a base value of $1.55MM with upside to $2.15MM, according to FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. His playtime incentives offer him $100k for a 40% snap share, $200k for 50%, and 300k for 60%.
- Wide receiver Sterling Shepard was a healthy scratch at the end of the 2025 season, leaving him just short of two incentives worth $125k each. The Buccaneers decided to pay out those bonuses anyway, along with an additional $250K, per Auman.
LB Arvell Reese Meets With Giants, Jets, Saints
Ohio State hybrid linebacker/edge rusher Arvell Reese has long been tabbed for a top-10 pick in April’s draft, and a list of his recent meetings supports that projection.
All 32 NFL teams attended Ohio State’s Pro Day on Wednesday, with the Jets, Saints, and Giants taking extra time to meet with Reese, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. All three hold top-10 picks and could stand to add an impact defender, especially one who can fill multiple roles in the front seven.
The Jets hold the second overall pick and just traded 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson to the Titans, creating a need at edge rusher. Signing Joseph Ossai to a three-year, $34.5MM filled the immediate void, but New York may want to add a long-term option opposite 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald. The defense also has Jamien Sherwood and Demario Davis as their starting linebackers, but Reese could rotate in there, too.
Reese could also head to the other team in New York, though the Giants have much more depth. Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux are one of the league’s best young trios, so Reese would not have as many opportunities off the edge. However, new head coach John Harbaugh has always prioritized the off-ball linebacker position, where Reese played a majority of his college snaps. He could be Tremaine Edmunds‘ running mate in the middle of the defense as a rookie with the potential to expand his pass rushing profile if Thibodeaux leaves in free agency next offseason. The Giants have even expressed interest in trading Thibodeaux, which would open up more edge rushing snaps for Reese.
The Saints are picking at No. 8, and even that may be a long shot for Reese, who is widely considered a top-five prospect. They have two veteran starters penciled in at edge rusher and linebacker, none of which are younger than 27. Reese could see time in both roles as a rookie and serve as a long-term starter for either depending on how the rest of New Orleans’ roster comes together.
Daniel Jones Hit Key Rehab Milestone Before Agreement With Colts
The Colts were already headed for an expensive negotiation with Daniel Jones before his season-ending Achilles injury. That both complicated contract talks and delayed a final decision until some clarity emerged on the veteran quarterback’s recovery.
Indianapolis placed the transition tag on Jones at the beginning of March – almost three months after his December injury. That milestone is considered a crucial one in the rehab process, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, as the incision is healed and the success of the surgery can be better evaluated.
Dr. Martin O’Malley, who performed Jones’ surgery, examined him at the three-month mark, as did the Colts’ doctors. With their approval, the team finalized the two-year, $88MM deal that had been in the works for weeks as both sides awaited medical updates.
The Colts keeping Jones seemed like a foregone conclusion and the best outcome for both sides. Indianapolis was able to constantly monitor Jones’ condition from the time he was injured, but other teams would have less information and potentially less confidence in his recovery.
By staying put, the 28-year-old can continue working with the same medical and coaching staff as he rehabs and prepares for next season. He will not have to deal with the mental and physical rigors of finding a new home in free agency, moving to another state, and getting settled in a different offense.
That last part is especially crucial. The Colts are hopeful hat Jones will be back early in the regular season, if not for Week 1, but he will not be a full participant in their offseason program or training camp. His familiarity with his scheme and teammates in Indianapolis will allow him to slide back into the starting lineup as soon as he is healthy, but that would be much more difficult in a new offense.
CB Mansoor Delane To Visit Cowboys
The Cowboys have made several moves in their secondary so far in 2026. Further changes brought on by the draft would come as no surprise. 
Dallas is looking into the top cornerback prospect in this year’s class. Mansoor Delane is set to take part in a top 30 visit today, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The LSU product figures to be busy meeting with a long list of interested teams in the lead-up to the draft.
Delane is among the players widely seen as a lock to be selected in the first round of April’s draft. After three years at Virginia Tech, his lone campaign with the Tigers was a strong one. Delane collected a career-high 11 pass deflections along with two interceptions and 45 tackles. He earned first-team All-American honors and solidified his status as one of the most coveted prospects in this year’s class.
The Cowboys’ secondary has seen plenty of turnover in the last few months. It started during the season with the release of Trevon Diggs, and the team let safeties Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas hit free agency. Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke have come in to replace them on the back end, while former Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick add depth at corner.
In addition to Delane, the Cowboys hosted Miami cornerback Keionte Scott for a visit, suggesting that they will be targeting a cornerback with a premium pick next month.
The Cowboys also met with defensive tackle Lee Hunter at Texas Tech’s pro day, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The massive run stuffer amassed 32.0 sacks over the last three years and flashed some upgraded pass rushing chops in 2025, boosting his stock firmly into Day 2.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this story.
Panthers T Rasheed Walker Enters Pretrial Diversion Program
MARCH 27: Walker said (via ESPN’s David Newton) the gun charge will be dismissed. His attention will be fully aimed at acclimating to his new team and potentially operating as a starter for a portion of the 2026 campaign.
MARCH 21: In January, Rasheed Walker was arrested at LaGuardia Airport after he attempted to check an unloaded handgun without the necessary paperwork. That resulted in charges on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon along with criminal possession of a firearm. 
After Walker was released on his own recognizance, a court date was set for March 19. A pretrial diversion program in this case has been offered and accepted, Joe Person of The Athletic writes. As a result, Walker’s charges will be cleared provided he avoids any further arrests in the next six months.
At the time of his arrest, the 26-year-old was unaware of the fact he could not travel with his firearm – which is registered in Wisconsin – to New York without the required credentials for inspection at the airport. Walker’s agent declined to comment on the latest development in the case, one which will eliminate the possibility of any potential league discipline stemming from the original arrest. League spokesman Brian McCarthy also declined to comment on the matter.
Despite his age and experience on the blindside (48 starts), Walker’s free agent market did not develop as planned. The former Packer took a one-year Panthers contract with a base value of $4MM. Incentives can push the deal’s maximum value to $10MM, and playing time early in the season is likely with incumbent left tackle Ikem Ekwonu continuing a lengthy recovery from knee surgery.
When speaking to the media earlier this week, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan noted the team did its homework on Walker’s arrest before signing him. That suggested no league discipline would be forthcoming, and this latest update thus comes as no surprise. Barring any further legal issues, Walker will be able to fully focus his attention on training camp in advance of his debut Carolina season.