NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/1/26
Here are Friday’s rookie signings from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Baltimore Ravens
- DT Rayshaun Benny (seventh round, Michigan)
Green Bay Packers
- DT Chris McClellan (third round, Missouri)
- OLB Dani Dennis-Sutton (fourth round, Penn State)
- C Jager Burton (fifth round, Kentucky)
- CB Domani Jackson (sixth round, Alabama)
- K Trey Smack (sixth round, Florida)
New England Patriots
- CB Karon Prunty (fifth round, Wake Forest)
Philadelphia Eagles
- G Micah Morris (sixth round, Georgia)
- DT Uar Bernard (seventh round, IPPP)
For both the Ravens and Packers, today’s signings leave them with only one unsigned rookie draft pick. Both teams still need to ink their second-round picks to closeout their 2026 draft class signings.
Discovered playing basketball at 16 years old in Nigeria, Bernard earned invitations to the NFL Nigeria camp in 2024 and the NFL Africa camp in Cairo in 2025. As part of the league’s International Player Pathway program, if Bernard is unable to make the initial 53-man roster, he can be placed on the practice squad without counting against the unit’s 16-player limit.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 4/30/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Baltimore Ravens
- WR Ja’Kobi Lane (third round, USC)
- TE Matthew Hibner (fourth round, SMU)
- CB Chandler Rivers (fifth round, Duke)
- TE Josh Cuevas (fifth round, Alabama)
- RB Adam Randall (fifth round, Clemson)
- P Ryan Eckley (sixth round, Michigan State)
- G Evan Beerntsen (seventh round, Northwestern)
Las Vegas Raiders
- S Treydan Stukes (second round, Arizona)
- G Trey Zuhn (third round, Texas A&M)
- RB Mike Washington (fourth round, Arkansas)
- S Dalton Johnson (fifth round, Arizona)
- CB Hezekiah Masses (fifth round, Cal)
- WR Malik Benson (sixth round, Oregon)
Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Cole Payton (fifth round, North Dakota State)
- S Cole Wisniewski (seventh round, Texas Tech)
- EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby (seventh round, New Mexico)
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Julian Neal (third round, Arkansas)
- G Beau Stephens (fifth round, Iowa)
- WR Emmanuel Henderson (sixth round, Kansas)
- CB Andre Fuller (seventh round, Toledo)
- DT Deven Eastern (seventh round, Minnesota)
- CB Michael Dansby (seventh round, Arizona)
Tennessee Titans
- G Fernando Carmona (fifth round, Arkansas)
- RB Nicholas Singleton (fifth round, Penn State)
- DT Jackie Marshall (sixth round, Baylor)
- C Pat Coogan (sixth round, Indiana)
- TE Jaren Kanak (seventh round, Oklahoma)
Vikings Wanted Second-Rounder For Jonathan Greenard; Finances Played Role In Trade To Eagles
After several weeks of rumors, the Vikings and Eagles pulled off a trade involving edge defender Jonathan Greenard on Day 2 of the draft. The Eagles sent two third-rounders to the Vikings for Greenard and a seventh.
Minnesota and Philadelphia “heavily discussed” a Greenard trade in mid-March, but talks stalled over the Vikings’ asking price, Adam Schefter of ESPN said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The Eagles initially offered a third-rounder, but the Vikings held out for a second-rounder. They reached a compromise over a month later.
Greenard spent the first couple months of the offseason hoping for a raise, but the Vikings “weren’t going to pay him,” Schefter says. That had nothing to do with frugality on the part of Vikings ownership, according to interim general manager Rob Brzezinski (via Kevin Seifert of ESPN).
“We want to make it perfectly clear that this has nothing to do with us or [owners Zygi and Mark Wilf] not wanting to spend money or cutting back in any way, pulling back the reins on our spending,” Brzezinski stated. “We have just spent so much money the last several years that it’s not sustainable for us to move forward. Our salary cap situation has been very, very challenging.”
Brzezinski isn’t wrong. As Seifert notes, the Vikings spent $100MM-plus over the cap from 2024-25 under former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whom they fired in January. They were around $50MM in the red entering this offseason, but the Vikes now have approximately $10.74MM in effective cap space after the Greenard trade and the rest of their moves. While they have gotten themselves into better financial shape, Brzezinski admitted trading Greenard is “something that we understand is not making the Minnesota Vikings a better team today.”
The Vikings were not in position to hand Greenard a raise, but the Eagles quickly gave the 28-year-old pass rusher his coveted extension. It is technically a four-year, $100MM deal with $50MM in guaranteed money, but it may end up as a two-year pact. The Eagles will be able to escape the contract after the 2027 season, per OverTheCap. In releasing Greenard before June 1, 2028, the Eagles would save around $1.69MM while taking on $14.11MM in dead money. Designating Greenard a post-June 1 release would be more beneficial, as it would yield $11.09MM in savings and $4.70MM in dead cap.
Eagles’ Makai Lemon Signs Rookie Deal
A week after the Eagles selected him 20th overall, first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has signed his rookie contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Lemon is the first member of the 2026 class to put pen to paper. His fully guaranteed four-year deal is worth $20.81MM. It includes an $11.5MM signing bonus and a fifth-year option.
After starring at USC over the past couple of seasons, Lemon nearly began his NFL career in the area. The Rams considered Lemon at No. 13 overall, but they instead chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Steelers then looked poised to draft Lemon 21st, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman swooped in by trading up three spots for the wideout. Lemon got a call from the Eagles when he was on the phone with the Steelers, forcing them to pivot to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with their top selection.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon cemented himself as a first-rounder with a stellar performance in 2025. After Lemon hauled in 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games, the 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award (given to the best receiver in the nation).
The Lemon pick became the latest notable transaction at receiver this offseason for the Eagles, though it probably won’t be the last. Before landing Lemon, Roseman added to the team’s receiving corps in free agency (Marquise Brown, Elijah Moore) and the trade market (Dontayvion Wicks). Those four are now part of a group led by the high-end DeVonta Smith–A.J. Brown one-two punch, but the latter might not be in place much longer. A Brown trade has looked likely throughout the offseason, and expectations are that it will occur sometime after June 2.
If Brown ends up out the door before next season, it will increase the already strong odds of Lemon taking on a significant role as a rookie. He and the rest of the Eagles’ rookies will start minicamp on Friday.
Eagles Assistant GM Alec Halabay Leaves Position
After 17 years in an NFL front office, all of them with the Eagles, assistant general manager Alec Halaby has made the decision to step away from his position with the team. According to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Halaby is leaving to “start a new professional chapter of his career.”
In a statement released to the media (via Zach Berman of The Athletic), Habalay said, “I am deeply grateful to the Eagles organization, especially (chairman/CEO Jeffrey Lurie) and (general manager/executive vice president Howie Roseman), for giving me a chance to work in the game I love. Jeffrey’s stewardship has created a first-class organization. Howie has been a mentor to me from Day One, for which I am greatly appreciative.
“It has been a rare privilege to contribute to building championship teams for the city of Philadelphia. The experience has been enriched by a set of special relationships with front office colleagues, coaches, and players. Football has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember; that won’t change. Nevertheless, after 17 years in Philadelphia, I’ve decided to step away to start a new professional chapter. It has been a wonderful journey. Go Birds.”
A Harvard graduate, Halaby began his tenure with the Eagles with two separate internships in 2007 and 2009. In 2010, he was hired into his first official role with the team as a player personnel analyst. Two years later, Halaby was named special assistant to the general manager in Roseman’s third season in the GM role. In 2016, Halaby was promoted to vice president of football operations and strategy, a position he held for six years before finally completing the ascension from assistant to the general manager to assistant general manager.
Halaby walks away from that role now after four years, doing so with two Super Bowl rings. It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for the longtime Eagles staffer. He has seemingly been considered a general manager candidate in recent years, interviewing for open jobs in Carolina and Washington in 2024 and with the Jets in 2025. There is currently an open GM job in Minnesota, after the team made a late move to fire Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, but there’s also a chance Halaby could follow an old colleague.
A couple days ago, it was announced that former Eagles senior vice president/tertiary football executive Bryce Johnston would replace former Falcons senior director of football administration Chris Olsen. Johnston worked alongside the Eagles personnel department during his time in Philadelphia and may be open to welcoming a familiar face in Halaby to a quickly evolving front office, though that decision seems to be to up to new president of football Matt Ryan. Regardless, Halaby’s next chapter will be his first not with the Eagles.
Falcons Part Ways With Exec Chris Olsen, Hire Eagles’ Bryce Johnston
APRIL 29: Johnston will hold the title of senior vice president of football administration/senior personnel executive in Atlanta, per a team announcement. He will thus play a leading role as part of the Falcons’ significantly revamped front office.
APRIL 27: The Falcons are continuing to reshape their front office under new vice president of football operations Matt Ryan and general manager Ian Cunningham. The latest change is the departure of senior director of football administration Chris Olsen, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Olsen is a longtime NFL executive who began his career working for the NFL Management Council. In 2007, he was hired as the Texans’ senior vice president of football administration, a post he held until his firing in 2020. He then joined the Falcons the following year and played a key role negotiating contracts and managing Atlanta’s tight cap situation over the last several years.
Replacing Olson will be Eagles senior vice president/tertiary football executive Bryce Johnston, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He spent the last decade working under one of the league’s preeminent contract/cap experts in Howie Roseman, which included the execution of major deals with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and several others.
Johnston overlapped with new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham in Philly. Johnston will now take that expertise to Atlanta where he will manage the salary cap, lead contract negotiations, and handle similar roster-related duties under the Falcons’ new regime.
The Falcons are also overhauling their scouting department. The team has parted ways with scouts Alex Brown, Ben Martinez, and Shepley Heard, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Brown joined the team just last year, while Martinez arrived in 2023. Heard was previously Atlanta’s director of pro personnel under former general manager Thomas Dimitroff, but was demoted to an area scout role when Terry Fontenot took over in 2021.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/28/26
Today’s minor moves:
New England Patriots
- Released: RB Elijah Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: TE Jaheim Bell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: QB/WR John Rhys Plumlee
Eagles Exercise DT Jalen Carter’s Fifth-Year Option
Both the Eagles’ 2023 first-round picks will see their fifth-year options exercised. With Nolan Smith‘s 2027 salary now fully guaranteed, The Athletic’s Zach Berman reports Jalen Carter‘s will be as well.
Carter’s 2027 compensation will be more than double Smith’s expected option number, being a two-time Pro Bowler. Players chosen for two more more Pro Bowls on the original ballot match the franchise tag value at their positions. The defensive tackle tag came in at $27.13MM this year. Teams have until 3pm CT on Friday to exercise options on 2023 first-rounders.
Carter, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers are eligible for the top option tier at their respective positions among the 2023 draftees. Carter and Flowers’ prices lead the pack among ’23 first-rounders, surpassing even the numbers going to C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. Flowers’ $27.3MM number leads the way, as the wide receiver franchise tag checked in just north of the D-tackle number this year.
Although Carter came into the NFL with considerable baggage — which allowed the Eagles to land the impact defender at No. 9 overall — he has delivered, becoming one of the league’s top D-tackles. Carter earned Pro Bowl invites in 2024 and ’25, boosting his option price. He earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in 2024, as he helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX rout despite Fletcher Cox retiring the previous offseason. The Eagles have moved on from Josh Sweat, Haason Reddick and Jaelan Phillips; Carter, however, figures to be prioritized in the way Jordan Davis was when he signed a March extension.
The Eagles gave Davis a three-year, $78MM extension. Because Carter is a three technique responsible for backfield disruption, he may become the candidate to unseat Chris Jones atop the NFL’s D-tackle salary hierarchy. Jones has held that distinction since signing a five-year, $158.75MM Chiefs deal in March 2024. The Bengals gave Dexter Lawrence a one-year, $28MM extension to bridge the gap between Jones and the field. But Davis sits as the next-closest DT on a multiyear accord.
Carter’s asking price figures to be lofty, pointing to a future in which the Eagles have two players among the top-five DT earners. Jones signed his latest Chiefs contract when the cap stood at $255.4MM; it now resides at $301.2MM, providing Carter’s camp with more ammo. Even though Carter came into the league with baggage and was effectively suspended for a game — being ejected before the Cowboys’ first offensive play on opening night last year — for spitting on Dak Prescott, he has become a cornerstone player for the Eagles.
A January report suggested Davis and Carter were atop Howie Roseman‘s extension priority list. The Eagles have been known to act early on deals, as their O-line dealings and the 2024 DeVonta Smith extension (the first Round 1 wide receiver extended with two rookie-deal years left on a contract in the option era) illustrated. Acting this offseason with Carter would make sense, as the cap — based on recent growth — will likely be north of $320MM in 2027. Carter could also boost his case for a deal well beyond $30MM per year with an All-Pro-caliber season.
The Eagles traded up one spot for Carter in 2023, with the Bears sliding down to No. 10 and drafting All-Pro right tackle Darnell Wright. Viewed as perhaps the 2023 class’ top talent, Carter fell due to character concerns. A handful of teams passed on Carter after he was hit with misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. These charges came in connection with the accident that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy on Jan. 15, 2023 (LeCroy and Willock were in a separate vehicle). Carter reached a plea deal in this case, avoiding jail time, but some teams removed him from their draft boards as a result of the accident.
Beyond the spitting incident, Carter has avoided controversy in the NFL. He finished with six sacks as a rookie and totaled 4.5 (to go with a career-high 12 tackles for loss) in 2024. ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric ranked Carter fourth in 2024 and 18th in 2025. He missed more time in 2025 because of procedures on both shoulders. The Eagles did not place Carter on IR, though, and he returned in Week 17. The 2025 absences are unlikely to impact a Carter extension push.
Eagles To Exercise OLB Nolan Smith’s Fifth-Year Option
Although Nolan Smith is coming off a down season, he remains a key part of the Eagles’ defense. The team acquired Jonathan Greenard from the Vikings during the draft, extending the Pro Bowl edge rusher, but Smith is slated to remain on the team’s payroll for two more seasons.
The Eagles are exercising Smith’s fifth-year option, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This will fully guarantee his 2027 salary. Smith is expected to be classified as a linebacker, per Fowler and OverTheCap. He is eligible for the bottom-tier option figure; for linebackers, that comes out to $13.75MM.
[RELATED: 2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
Situations like this have led to disagreements on edge rushers’ positions. This year, the defensive end position’s fourth-tier option number checks in at $14.48MM. Teams have regularly used the linebacker tag on 3-4 OLBs, even though the players spend more time rushing as a defensive end in sub-packages. Smith saw minimal playing time as a rookie in 2023 but moved to a regular role in 2024. A five-game injury absence limited his development last season.
The 2023 season marked the second and final campaign featuring Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick co-anchoring Philly’s pass rush. The Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets and gave Sweat a pay cut in 2024, eyeing a bigger role for Smith. After sitting behind the two veterans in 2023, Smith joined Sweat as a regular. He moved into Philly’s starting lineup around midseason and finished with 6.5 sacks. As Sweat upped his free agency stock with a solid season to anchor the Eagles’ edge rush during a Super Bowl-winning season, Smith was a key playoff contributor after registering four postseason sacks.
Smith, 25, has not necessarily justified his first-round draft slot just yet. He finished last season with just three sacks and one tackle for loss. Asked to be the Eagles’ top edge rusher entering the season — after Brandon Graham‘s retirement and Sweat’s Cardinals defection — Smith did not impress in that role and suffered a triceps strain in September. The undersized pass rusher returned from IR in Week 9 and did finish the season with 11 QB hits, but Greenard now serves as the Eagles’ EDGE linchpin.
Greenard essentially replaces Jaelan Phillips, whom the Eagles tried to re-sign. A four-year, $120MM Panthers contract lured the 2025 trade pickup away from Pennsylvania, but Greenard is now on a 4/100 deal that runs through the 2029 season. Smith may be more qualified for an OLB2-type role, and Greenard is positioned to be the team’s top outside ‘backer next season. The Eagles also signed Arnold Ebiketie from the Falcons last month, and two years remain on Jalyx Hunt‘s third-round contract (the unretired Graham is also interested in playing a 17th season). Hunt outplayed Smith in 2025, recording 6.5 sacks and a team-high 24 QB hits. It will be interesting to see how the Eagles divide playing time between their Greenard sidekicks in 2026.
The Eagles also picked up Jalen Carter‘s fifth-year option today, and Smith’s ex-Georgia teammate is viewed as an extension candidate. Carter should be expected to take precedence, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes. Considering Carter’s two Pro Bowl nods and place as an upper-crust defensive tackle, that is unsurprising.
It would surprise a bit if Smith were viewed as a clear-cut extension candidate, considering he did not build on his impressive 2024. The Eagles, though, now have more time to observe Smith in Vic Fangio‘s defense. This option decision locks him down for two more years. Philly will have a clearer picture of what a second Smith contract would look like after the 2026 campaign.
2026 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 3: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
- Round 2, No. 34: Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 65: Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
- Round 4, No. 104: Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana)
- Round 5, No. 143: Reggie Virgil (WR, Texas Tech)
- Round 6, No. 183: Karson Sharar (LB, Iowa)
- Round 7, No. 217: Jayden Williams (T, Ole Miss)
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 2, No. 48: Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Round 3, No. 79: Zachariah Branch (WR, Georgia)
- Round 4, No. 134 (from Raiders)*: Kendal Daniels (LB, Oklahoma)
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Bills via Jets and Raiders): Anterio Thompson (DT, Washington)
- Round 6, No. 215) (from Eagles)*: Harold Perkins (LB, LSU)
- Round 7, No. 231: Ethan Onianwa (T, Ohio State)
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 45: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
- Round 3, No. 80: Ja’Kobi Lane (WR, USC) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from 49ers)*: Matthew Hibner (TE, SMU) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers): Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Josh Cuevas (TE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 174*: Adam Randall (RB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles): Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 250: Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253: Evan Beerntsen (G, Northwestern) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
- Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
- Round 2, No. 62: Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)
- Round 4, No. 102 (from Raiders): Jude Bowry (T, Boston College)
- Round 4, No. 125 (from Bears via Chiefs and Patriots): Skylar Bell (WR, UConn)
- Round 4, No. 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB, TCU)
- Round 5, No. 167 (from Texans): Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina)
- Round 5, No. 181 (from Lions)*: Zane Durant (DT, Penn State)
- Round 7, No. 220 (from Jets): Toriano Pride Jr. (CB, Missouri)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Eagles via Jaguars, Browns and Bears): Tommy Doman (P, Florida)
- Round 7, No. 241 (from Bears): Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G, Texas A&M)
Carolina Panthers
- 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)
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
- Round 2, No. 57: Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
- Round 3, No. 69 (from Giants via Texans, Bills and Titans): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- Round 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU)
- Round 4, No. 124 (from Jaguars via Panthers): Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)
- Round 5, No. 166 (from 49ers via Eagles and Panthers): Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State)
- Round 6, No. 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars, Lions and Bills): Jordan Van Den Berg (DT, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 2, No. 41: Cashius Howell (DE, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 72: Tacario Davis (CB, Washington)
- Round 4, No. 128 (from Texans via Lions and Bengals): Connor Lew (C, Auburn)
- Round 4, No. 140 (from Bengals): Colbie Young (WR, Georgia)
- Round 6, No. 189: Brian Parker II (C, Duke)
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Giants via Cowboys): Jack Endries (TE, Texas)
- Round 7, No. 226: Landon Robinson (DT, Navy)
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU)
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton (T, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 137 (from Eagles)*: LT Overton (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith (WR, East Carolina) (signed)