Ravens S Jaylinn Hawkins Considered Patriots, Three Others In Free Agency
After a relatively unheralded first five years of his career, safety Jaylinn Hawkins broke out in 2025 as a key part of the Patriots’ elite defense. He started 15 games and led the unit with four interceptions to go along with 71 total tackles and six passes defended, also top-five marks team-wide.
That performance helped Hawkins draw significant interest in free agency before ultimately signing a two-year, $10MM with the Ravens. In Baltimore, the 28-year-old will operate as the No. 3 safety in Jesse Minter‘s new defense behind All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and 2025 first-rounder Malaki Starks.
Hawkins did consider staying in New England, he revealed on The Lounge podcast (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss), hinting that the Patriots opted to sign All-Pro and reigning NFL interceptions leader Kevin Byard instead. He also indicated that the Cowboys, Texans, and Panthers all expressed interest before his decision to sign in Baltimore.
All three of those teams made changes to their safety room this offseason, but it is unclear if they could have offered a bigger role for Hawkins. The Ravens had a clear need for a third safety in 2025, resulting in the Odafe Oweh–Alohi Gilman swap with the Chargers, but Gilman and Ar’Darius Washington left in free agency. Gilman played 749 snaps in Baltimore, representing a 98% snap share across his 12 games as a Raven, so Hawkins is in line for a substantial role in his new defense.
The Cowboys re-signed Malik Hooker for his sixth year in Dallas this offseason, and signed longtime Cardinals starter Jalen Thompson to replace Donovan Wilson. They also added P.J. Locke and used a first-round pick on Ohio State All-American Caleb Downs, giving new defensive coordinator Christian Parker multiple options for this season. Dallas might have been a good destination for Hawkins to operate as a versatile No. 3 behind Hooker and Thompson, but Downs would have complicated his path to playing time.
The Texans are returning their 2025 starters, Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock, as well as veteran No. 3 M.J. Stewart and 2025 sixth-rounder Jaylen Reed. Rather than signing Hawkins, they signed former Eagles Reed Blankenship to a three-year, $24.75MM deal and drafted USC’s Kamari Ramsey in the fifth round of April’s draft. DeMeco Ryans‘ defense does not frequently use three-safety packages, but Houston’s $8.25MM per year investment in Blankenship and Pitre’s slot flexibility could lead to some changes in 2026.
The Panthers entered the new league year with just three safeties on their roster: veteran starter Tre’von Moehrig, 2025 fourth-rounder Lathan Ransom, and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Nick Scott was retained for the other starting job, but the unit could have used another veteran like Hawkins in a tertiary role. Carolina later added Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley with a fifth-round pick, but they may remain a team to watch for a safety acquisition in the coming months.
NFC Staff Updates: Falcons, Cardinals, Panthers, 49ers, Cowboys
With the draft in the rearview, new Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham has gotten to work reshaping the front office staff to his liking. To that effect, Atlanta has hired Keith Earle as a mid-Atlantic area scout, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Earle’s first taste of NFL work came as a camp intern in player personnel for the Eagles in 2021. After a similar internship in Chicago the next year, Earle was hired on as a scouting assistant in the first year of Ryan Poles‘ tenure as GM. He spent the past two seasons as the midlands area scout for the Bears but has now followed Cunningham to Atlanta for his new gig.
Thanks to Neil Stratton of SucceedInFootball.com, we also learn that the new title in Atlanta for Justin Hickman will be national scout. After the conclusion of a playing career that took him through the NFL and CFL, Hickman has gained some uniquely vast experience working as an XFL executive, an analyst at Pro Football Focus, a coach, and until recently, an area scout with the Patriots. Earle and Hickman could just be the start as the front office begins to reflect the new GM.
Here are a few other staff updates from around the NFL:
- In Arizona, the Cardinals have promoted one new staffer and said goodbye to another. According to Stratton, Alfonza Knight has been promoted to assistant director, college scouting. After initial NFL jobs as an equipment intern for the Titans and a staffer with the Senior Bowl, Knight first joined the Cardinals as a scouting assistant in 2014, getting promoted to NFS scout in 2017 and spending the last eight years as an area scout. Leaving the front office, per Stratton, is veteran scout Chris Culmer. Starting as a scouting intern for the Seahawks in 2000, Culmer worked his way up to scouting assistant and pro scout over nearly nine years in Seattle. He stayed within the division with his next job, joining the Cardinals as a west area scout. He was promoted to director college scouting for a couple years but has spent the last 12 seasons as a western regional scout.
- On the coaching side of things, the Panthers awarded a promotion this week to a member of their defensive staff, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Linebackers coach Pete Hansen has had the moniker of assistant defensive coordinator added to his title. After going from strength and conditioning coach to defensive assistant at Stanford in 2009, Hansen first dipped his toe in the NFL waters as a defensive assistant/quality control coach with the nearby 49ers. After rejoining the Cardinal as an inside linebackers coach for six years and working as defensive coordinator at UNLV for two, Hansen got his first NFL position coaching gig as a linebackers coach for the Broncos in 2022. The fast-rising assistant has earned his new title after three seasons in Carolina.
- Moving towards analytics, ESPN’s Seth Walder reported this week that the 49ers will no longer employ R&D analyst Meredith Manley after she opted to leave following the conclusion of her contract with the team. Manley worked in the role for the past four years following a three-year stint as a football analytics assistant in Arizona.
- Lastly, the Cowboys have hired a new pair of strategic football fellows, per Walder. Nick Fullerton is taking the fellowship after previously working as a research analyst at NFL Next Gen Stats. Vincent Etherton will be the other new fellow following his time as a data analytics student assistant with the Princeton football team.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/20/26
Today’s midweek minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Heinrich Haarberg
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Montrell Johnson
- Waived: OLB Jamil Muhammad
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Brodric Martin
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Travis Shaw
- Released: LS Niko Lalos
The Panthers are adding some tight end help in the form Haarberg, a converted quarterback during his time at Nebraska. Starting as an in-state, three-star passing prospect, Haarberg first found the field as a redshirt sophomore, after the Cornhuskers began his transition to tight end. In his second game, though, the team’s starter went down with injury, and Haarberg started 8 games under center, going 5-3. He returned to his tight end role the next two seasons but saw more action rushing than receiving, serving as a bit of a Taysom Hill-type of weapon.
The Patriots add another undrafted rookie to their class in Shaw. The North Carolina-transfer played for the Longhorns in his final year of eligibility but didn’t see much improvement in playing time after three years as a rotational piece for the Tar Heels.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/19/26
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: RB Montrell Johnson, TE Bryce Pierre
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Aaron Anderson, LB Reid Carrico, LB Markees Watts
- Waived: TE Caden Prieskorn, WR Isaiah Wooden
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Michael Briscoe, LB Devean Deal
Jim Caldwell No Longer On Panthers’ Staff
The Panthers have parted ways with senior advisor/assistant Jim Caldwell, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. He was first hired in 2023 by then-head coach Frank Reich, reuniting the pair after working together in Indianapolis from 2006 to 2011.
Caldwell served as the Colts’ head coach for the last three years of that period and has since spent time with the Ravens, Lions, and Dolphins with a four-year stint in the top job in Detroit.
Caldwell’s successor, Carl Smith, similarly has connections to the Panthers’ current coaching staff. He overlapped with head coach Dave Canales on the Seahawks’ offensive staff from 2011 to 2018. For the first seven years, Smith served as Seattle’s quarterbacks coach with Canales coaching wide receivers. Smith was promoted to associate head coach in their final year together with Canales moving into his vacated role.
Smith is also the father of Tracy Smith, the Panthers’ special teams coordinator. The father and son duo previously worked together in Cleveland (2009-2010), Seattle (2011, 2021-2023), and Houston (2019-2020).
The Panthers are also adding former Bears and Giants assistant Mike Adams to their coaching staff, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The 45-year-old spent 16 years in the NFL, including two seasons in Carolina, before beginning a coaching career as an assistant defensive backs coach in Chicago. He was not retained in 2022 and made his way to New York the following year as an assistant special teams coach. For the last two years, Adams served as the Giants’ assistant secondary coach. His role in Carolina is not yet known.
Carolina made an addition in their front office as well, promoting football operations intern Joshua Krieger to scouting assistant, per InsideTheLeague’s Neil Stratton. Krieger previously served in recruiting roles at Pitt and Temple.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/26
NFL teams are getting their rosters set for voluntary Organized Team Activities that will take place over the next month. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Miles Davis, DT Tywone Malone
- Waived/injured: TE Bryce Pierre, RB Montrell Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Marlon Jones Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Anderson Castle
- Waived: RB Jordon Vaughn
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/retired: WR Alex Bullock
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Tamon Lynum
Davis tried out at the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp but did not make the team. His workout in Carolina was more successful, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, and he will take Johnson’s place on the Panthers’ roster.
Jones was a first-team All-Big Sky selection for his standout 2023 season at Eastern Washington, which featured three pick-sixes. He transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 but missed the season after being diagnosed with cancer. After recovering, Jones appeared in nine games for the Commodores in 2025, and he will now continue his remarkable story in Green Bay.
Multiple Teams Had Concerns Over Eagles 2nd-Rounder Eli Stowers’ Knee
The Eagles have counted on tight end Dallas Goedert as one of their top pass-catching options throughout his eight-year career. Goedert is sticking around Philadelphia for a ninth season in 2026, but the team may have drafted his successor in second-rounder Eli Stowers.
The Eagles liked Stowers enough to select him 54th overall, though there were a “few” clubs that had concerns over what is believed to be a “minor” knee issue, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. The Panthers, who passed on Stowers at pick 49 despite an obvious need at tight end, may have been among those teams. They “weren’t totally comfortable” with taking Stowers, per Fowler, though he does not specify the reason.
As a star high school quarterback, Stowers tore his left PCL and meniscus in 2019. The injury required surgery. Stowers has bounced back nicely from it, but there is nonetheless some leeriness regarding how the 6-foot-4, 239-pounder will hold up in the NFL.
After spending his first two college seasons as a backup QB at Texas A&M, Stowers transferred to New Mexico State in 2023. In the wake of multiple shoulder injuries, he transitioned to tight end. Stowers caught 35 passes for 366 yards and a pair of touchdowns in what proved to be his only season at New Mexico State. He moved to Vanderbilt in 2024 and became one of the most prolific tight ends in the nation. Stowers followed up a 49-catch, 638-yard, five-touchdown 2024 with 62 receptions, 769 yards and four TDs last year. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in both of his seasons with the Commodores. More impressively, Stowers was a unanimous All-American and the John Mackey Award winner (given to the best college tight end) in 2025.
A couple of months after wrapping up his superb Vanderbilt tenure, Stowers continued boosting his stock at the Combine in February. If his knee is a problem, he did a good job hiding it. Stowers’ 45.5-inch vertical leap set a record for his position, and he topped tight ends in the broad jump. He also finished tied for second among TEs in the 40-yard dash (4.51 seconds) and the 10-yard split, trailing only Jets first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq in those events.
Aside from Stowers’ knee, there are legitimate questions about his blocking skills (or lack thereof). But if Stowers’ past knee injury does not affect him going forward, his high upside as a receiving tight end suggests he could turn into a weapon for Philadelphia. With A.J. Brown likely on his way out via trade before next season, the Eagles restocked the cupboard in the draft in adding Stowers and first-round receiver Makai Lemon.
Panthers DT Tershawn Wharton ‘Out Indefinitely’ After Neck Surgery
The Panthers operated for several games last year without starting defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton as he dealt with injury. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina will be without him for a bit more time as Wharton is reportedly “out indefinitely following neck surgery this month.”
Wharton came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T, signing with the Chiefs out of college. He spent the first five years of his career in Kansas City, playing a significant role in the defensive rotation from Day 1. Where Derrick Nnadi served as a strong run defender next to star defensive lineman Chris Jones, Wharton stepped up as a more balanced option off the bench. The only changeups Wharton saw during his time with the Chiefs were when he tore his ACL and missed all but five games in 2022 and when he was asked to play a bigger role in 2024.
In that 2024 season, Wharton started 10 games for the Chiefs. With the additional play time, Wharton matched a career high with 29 total tackles and saw career highs in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (7), and batted passes (2). The breakout campaign led Wharton to Carolina, where he signed a three-year, $54MM contract. Handed a full-time starting role for the first time in his career, Wharton’s absences were interspersed throughout the year. He played two games over the first six weeks of the season and missed the team’s final four games before returning for the playoffs.
It was hamstring and toe issues that lingered throughout the 2025 season, so news of Wharton’s neck surgery comes out of left field as a seemingly unrelated new situation. As neck injuries tend to have serious implications, Wharton’s indefinite timeline could be cause for concern. According to Person, though, Wharton is expected to play in 2026.
Set to open the summer on the active/physically unable to perform list, if Wharton is forced to miss any time in the regular season, rookie second-rounder Lee Hunter could see some early usage on the first-team defense. The Texas Tech-product could end up starting next to Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown III, but he’ll likely have to beat out LaBryan Ray and second-year players Cam Jackson and Jared Harrison-Hunte for playing time.
Panthers Sign Round 2 DT Lee Hunter, Wrap Draft Class
5:52pm: Hunter’s deal comes with full guarantees through 2028 and partial guarantees in ’29, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The total percentage of guarantees is 94.39, a much higher number than the 78.94% last year’s 49th pick, Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.
12:39pm: The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract. Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.
As the 49th overall pick, Hunter’s arrangement is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is likely a significant amount of guaranteed money in the pact. Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord. The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.
Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder came off the board early on the heels of a productive four-year college career divided between UCF and Texas Tech.
Hunter broke out in 2023, his second season at UCF, where he piled up 69 tackles, 11 TFL and three sacks in 13 games. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, a 12-game, 45-tackle campaign, and then transferred to Texas Tech. In his lone season as a Red Raider, Hunter notched 41 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 14 contests. In addition to picking up a first-team All-Big 12 nod, he was a first-team All-American.
Thanks in part to Hunter, Texas Tech finished first in the nation in run defense last year. That is an area where the Panthers will hope to improve in 2026, as they ranked an underwhelming 20th against opposing ground attacks last season. They now have Hunter as a run-stuffing option on a Derrick Brown-led D-line that also features Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.
Along with Hunter, the Panthers added six other rookies in the draft. Here is a refresher on the group:
- Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
- Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH)
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