Vikings Complete Second Interviews With Five GM Candidates
MAY 28: Minnesota has completed its second round of GM interviews, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis tweets. Those wrapped Thursday afternoon. A decision should be expected by early June at the latest, Lewis adds.
MAY 20: The Vikings are making progress in their search for a general manager. The team has requested in-person, second-round interviews with interim GM Rob Brzezinski and four assistant GMs from other teams, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. The list includes Reed Burckhardt (Broncos), Terrance Gray (Bills), John McKay (Rams) and Nolan Teasley (Seahawks).
The Vikings have been without a full-time GM since they fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January, which occurred three weeks after the end of a disappointing 9-8 season. Brzezinski, who has been with the Vikings in various roles dating back to 1999, has since guided them through the heart of the offseason. As the Vikings’ executive vice president of football operations since 2014, Brzezinski is a serious candidate for a full-time promotion. Perhaps Brzezinski’s familiarity with Vikings ownership and head coach Kevin O’Connell will tip the scale in his favor.
With help from search firm TurnKeyZRG, the Vikings began looking for Adofo-Mensah’s replacement after last month’s draft. In addition to the names mentioned above, they requested initial interviews with Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew, Dolphins AGM Kyle Smith, Titans AGM Dave Ziegler, 49ers AGM R.J. Gillen and Chargers AGM Chad Alexander. After Alexander withdrew from the race on his own last week, it appears the Vikings have now crossed off Agnew, Smith, Ziegler and Gillen as possibilities.
As for the contenders still competing with Brzezinski, a couple have notable Vikings connections. Before becoming the Broncos’ director of player personnel in 2022, Burckhardt worked in various scouting and personnel roles with the Vikings for 13 years. Gray, who has been with the Bills since 2017, was a college scout for the Vikings from 2006-16.
While McKay and Teasley do not carry past Vikings experience, both are important members of two of the NFL’s best front offices. McKay, now in his 10th year with the Rams, has worked with the Super Bowl-winning tandem of GM Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay. He is also familiar with O’Connell, who was the Rams’ offensive coordinator from 2020-21. Teasley has served under Seahawks GM John Schneider, a two-time Super Bowl champion, since 2013.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/26
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: TE Max Tomczak
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR: CB DeCarlos Nicholson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Jackson Sirmon
- Waived: CB Jeremiah McClendon
New York Giants
- Waived: G Reid Holskey
New York Jets
- Signed: T Courtland Ford
- Waived: LB Kendrick Blackshire
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Brandon Hayes
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Trayvon Rudolph
It’s a family reunion in New Orleans, where Sirmon will join the position room coached by his father, Saints linebackers coach Peter Sirmon. The two worked together in a similar manner when Peter served as inside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Cal. Jackson spent the first two years of his career on the Jets’ practice squad as an undrafted free agent and will now head to New Orleans for Year 3.
After trading for wide receiver/special teamer Irv Charles earlier today, the Seahawks have waived Rudolph, an undrafted rookie, to make room on the roster.
Bills Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
A part-time starter for the Giants and 49ers over the past two seasons, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles found a new home Wednesday. The Bills signed the veteran linebacker to a one-year deal.
The former San Francisco UDFA joins a Buffalo team that has not re-signed Matt Milano or Shaq Thompson. To make room on their 90-man offseason roster, the Bills waived wide receiver Max Tomczak. The nephew of former NFL QB Mike Tomczak, Max joined the Bills as a UDFA this month.
[RELATED: Bills Sign DE Mike Danna]
Flannigan-Fowles joined the Giants on a one-year, $1.34MM deal. Wednesday’s signing will reunite Flannigan-Fowles with 2025 position coach John Egorugwu, who returned to Buffalo this offseason after four seasons on New York’s staff. The Giants used Flannigan-Fowles as a three-game starter last year, and he played 36% of the team’s defensive snaps. That represented a career-high usage rate on defense for the Arizona alum.
Making 33 tackles (three for loss) and registering a sack last season, Flannigan-Fowles is still probably better remembered for his lengthy Bay Area stay. The 49ers used Flannigan-Fowles as a Week 1 starter in 2024, with Dre Greenlaw on the mend from his Super Bowl LVIII Achilles tear, and he made seven starts for the team from 2020-24.
Flannigan-Fowles, 29, has been a regular on special teams throughout his career. He saw action on at least 63% of the 49ers’ ST plays from 2020-23. That may be his Bills role, as the AFC playoff bastion returns regulars Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams. The team also rosters Buffalo native Joe Andreessen as a backup option while also bringing in fourth-round pick Kaleb Elarms-Orr out of TCU.
Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Addresses Decision To Avoid Offseason Knee Surgery
Injuries have hampered Dalton Kincaid over each of the past two seasons. He opted not to undergo surgery to repair an injured PCL during the 2025 offseason, a decision which was repeated this past winter.
“After the season ended, I talked to a lot of doctors who know a lot more than I do regarding the PCL and everything that has to do with health, and they advised against it,” Kincaid said when reflecting on his choice (via The Athletic’s Tim Graham). “So I believe them, and that kind of went into setting a good foundation for strength around the knee to support it.”
Kincaid entered the league with high expectations, and he enjoyed a productive rookie season with the Bills (73-673-2 statline). Issues with his knee have led to missed time and a reduced workload since then, however. In 2025, he only logged a snap share of 38% and was targeted a career-low 49 times. That did not prevent the Bills from exercising Kincaid’s fifth-year option. He is due $8.16MM in 2027 as a result.
Upgrading at the receiver position was seen as a priority entering the 2026 offseason. Buffalo swung a trade for D.J. Moore before selecting Skylar Bell in the fourth round of last month’s draft. Curtis Samuel was cut in March, while Brandin Cooks remains unsigned at this time despite having spoken with Buffalo about a new deal. While the team will be counting on a step forward from Keon Coleman, the WR spot will face a number of questions entering 2026. A strong showing from Kincaid would of course alleviate concerns in the passing game.
“I’d say it’s probably the best I’ve felt in my career at this point in the year,” the 26-year-old said of his overall health situation at this time. “Just not having those thoughts of the knee, especially last year. At this point, I feel really good. I’m not even thinking about it out there.”
Dawson Knox is still in the fold thanks to the new deal he agreed to earlier this offseason. That will offer stability at the tight end spot, but a productive campaign from Kincaid would offer a welcomed boost to the Bills’ offense. It would also, of course, help his chances of landing an extension next offseason. 2026 will again represent a test case of whether or not he made the right decision to have his knee recover without undergoing a procedure, but he is positioned to at least begin the campaign with a clean bill of health.
Bills WR Keon Coleman Entering ‘Make-Or-Break’ Season
The Bills spent the 33rd pick of the 2024 draft on wide receiver Keon Coleman, but the investment has not gone according to plan. Coleman’s professionalism was an issue last year, in which head coach Sean McDermott scratched him four times.
McDermott benched Coleman despite a lack of strong options at receiver beyond slot target Khalil Shakir. The Bills added former Charger Josh Palmer on a three-year contract in March 2025, but he caught just 22 passes and went without a touchdown in a 12-game, injury-limited campaign. Despite Coleman’s own handful of absences, he finished second among Bills wideouts in catches (38), targets (59) and yards (404). The Florida State product also tied Shakir for first in touchdowns (four).
In acquiring D.J. Moore from the Bears for a second-round pick and drafting Skyler Bell in the fourth round, Bills general manager Brandon Beane has beefed up the team’s receiving corps this offseason. Those additions could have made Coleman a trade candidate, but Beane insisted in late April that he is not giving up on the soon-to-be 24-year-old. Beane said the Bills have “hit the reset button with [Coleman],” who will have an opportunity under the second head coach of his career after the Bills fired McDermott. Replacement Joe Brady, who was Buffalo’s offensive coordinator in Coleman’s first two years, gave the receiver a public vote of confidence back in January.
“I told Keon when I got hired, the best thing that happened to Keon Coleman was me being his head coach,” Brady declared. “I was one of the ones that stood on the table for Keon Coleman, and I believe in Keon Coleman.”
Brady’s remarks came just days after owner Terry Pegula attributed the Coleman pick to McDermott and his coaching staff. Pegula claimed Beane was “being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player.” Beane refuted that, stating he would not have chosen Coleman unless he had full belief in the player. Regardless, four months since Pegula’s comments, Coleman realizes he is entering a crucial season.
“For me, it’s make or break,” Coleman said Tuesday (via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN), acknowledging he “might not be here” if he fails to take a step forward.
Halfway into his rookie contract, Coleman has hauled in 67 catches for 960 yards and eight touchdowns in 26 games. He will look to improve his output in 2026, but it could be a challenge in a more crowded receiving corps. Moore and Shakir are clearly the Bills’ top options at receiver, which will leave Coleman, Palmer and Bell to vie for targets behind them.
Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract
Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).
Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.
Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner; March 14, 2022: Three years, $21MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard
Atlanta Falcons
- Devonta Freeman; August 9, 2017: Five years, $41.25MM ($22.1MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry; May 19, 2025: Two years, $30MM ($25MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- James Cook; August 13, 2025: Four years, $46MM ($28.82MM guaranteed)
LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total
Carolina Panthers
- Christian McCaffrey; April 13, 2020: Four years, $64.1MM ($38.16MM guaranteed)
Chicago Bears
- Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)
D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact
Cleveland Browns
- Nick Chubb; July 31, 2021: Three years, $36.6MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott; September 4, 2019: Six years, $90MM ($50.1MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Melvin Gordon; March 20, 2020: Two years, $16MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Detroit Lions
- Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)
David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Jones; March 14, 2021: Four years, $48MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees
Houston Texans
- Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)
Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor; October 7, 2023: Three years, $42MM ($26.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maurice Jones-Drew; April 15, 2009: Five years, $31.1MM ($14.25MM guaranteed)
Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kenneth Walker; March 9, 2026: Three years, $43.1MM ($28.7MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs; August 26, 2023: One year, $11.79MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed
Los Angeles Chargers
- LaDainian Tomlinson; August 15, 2004: Six years, $48MM ($21MM guaranteed)
Los Angeles Rams
- Todd Gurley; July 24, 2018: Four years, $57.5MM ($45MM guaranteed)
Miami Dolphins
- De’Von Achane; May 13, 2026: Four years, $64MM ($27.38MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)
New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson; June 20, 2024: Four years, $36MM ($17.12MM guaranteed)
New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara; September 12, 2020: Five years, $75MM ($33.83MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Saquon Barkley; March 7, 2023: One year, $10.1MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal
New York Jets
- Breece Hall; May 8, 2026: Three years, $43.5MM ($29MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Saquon Barkley; March 4, 2025: Two years, $41.2MM ($36MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Le’Veon Bell; February 27, 2017: One year, $12.12MM franchise tag ($12.12MM guaranteed)
Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal
San Francisco 49ers
- Christian McCaffrey; June 4, 2024: Two years, $38MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Marshawn Lynch; March 4, 2012: Four years, $30MM ($17MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Doug Martin; March 9, 2016: Five years, $35.75MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry; July 15, 2020: Four years, $50MM ($25.5MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/12/26
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Shane Zylstra
- Waived: K Maddux Trujillo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
- Waived: RB Deuce Vaughn, CB Will Wright
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DB M.J. Devonshire (from Bills), TE Luke Lachey (from Texans)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Johnny Pascuzzi, S Myles Purchase, OT Laekin Vakalahi
- Waived: OLB Niles King, TE Tanner McLachlan, TE Thomas Yassmin
- Waived/injured: CB Jeremiah Wilson
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserved/retired list: RB Le’Veon Moss
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived/failed physical: CB Cory Trice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Caden Fordham
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Buffalo Bills
- WR Skylar Bell (fourth round, UConn)
- LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr (fourth round, TCU)
Bell spent three seasons at Wisconsin to begin his collegiate career before transferring to UConn ahead of the 2024 campaign. He had a breakout season during his first year with the Huskies, but he took it to another level in 2025. The receiver finished this past year with 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning him a consensus All-American nod.
It might be tough for Bell to carve out an offensive role as a rookie. The Bills return much of the same depth chart as last season, including Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Tyrell Shavers, and Joshua Palmer. Most notably, the team added D.J. Moore to serve as their definitive WR1.
The Bills used their third fourth-round selection on Elarms-Orr, who was coming off a standout season at Texas Christian. The linebacker finished with 130 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks, a performance that earned him first-team All-Big 12 recognition. The rookie could carve out a role as a top backup behind Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard.
With the signings, the Bills’ only unsigned draft pick is Boston College offensive tackle Jude Bowry.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Ross Blacklock, LB Daveren Rayner
- Waived: TE Brandon Frazier, DT Ben Stille, WR Deven Thompkins, RB Carlos Washington
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III, LB Jon Rhattigan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Michael Coats Jr.
- Waived: TE Sal Cannella
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Waived: TE Luke Lachey
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: WR Brenden Rice
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: FB DJ Herman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Bangally Kamara, DL Smith Vilbert
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Xavier Holmes, S Peter Manuma
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Brock Rechsteiner
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jaden Keller
- Waived: LB Ochaun Mathis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C Greg Crippen
- Waived: OT Sataoa Laumea
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Larry Worth III
- Waived: LB Milo Eifler
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
- Waived: LS Wesley Brown, WR Noah Short, LB Benton Whitley, RB Owen Wright
Bills Sign OLB Mike Danna
Mike Danna‘s Bills visit has resulted in a deal. The veteran edge rusher signed a one-year contract with Buffalo on Monday, per a team announcement.
Available in free agency since his Chiefs release, Danna did not generate a strong market early in the spring. His recent Bills visit was his only known summit with an interested team. It comes as little surprise an agreement has now been reached, though, with Buffalo seeking further depth along the defensive front.
Buffalo will change to a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. That will lead to returnees Greg Rousseau and Michael Hoecht, free agent signing Bradley Chubb and second-round rookie T.J. Parker handling pass rush duties. Danna, 28, will look to chip in on that front with his new team.
The six-year Kansas City contributor might also be used inside, though. The Bills have Ed Oliver and T.J. Sanders on the defensive tackle depth chart, with 2025 third-rounder Landon Jackson a candidate to be used as a defensive end. Danna may also be used in that regard. Either way, he will look to bounce back from an underwhelming two-year span. Danna posted 6.5 sacks in 2023, but that figure fell to 3.5 the following season and just 1.5 in 2025.
That decline in output played a part in the Chiefs’ decision to move on from Danna in a cost-shedding move. Instead of playing out 2026 as the final year of his Kansas City pact, the former fifth-rounder will begin the next phase of his career. Buffalo finished 28th against the run last season, and improving in that regard will be key during Parker’s first year as DC. An uptick in sack production would also be welcomed after the Bills ranked 20th in that regard, though.
Buffalo entered Monday with just over $10MM in cap space. This Danna contract will no doubt represent a low-cost addition, leaving the team with room for further roster tweaks as the offseason continues.