NFC Front Office Moves: Bucs, Bears, Cards, Saints, Commanders
The Buccaneers made a number of promotions in their front office this week, per a team announcement, including a title bump for former linebacker and longtime executive Shelton Quarles.
Quarles, 54, played in Tampa Bay from 1997 to 2006 with a Pro Bowl campaign as part of the Bucs’ 2002 Super Bowl run. He was released after a failed physical in 2007 and moved to the front office. He rose through the pro scouting department and was named director in 2012 with a promotion to director of football operations in 2014. He remained in that role for a decade and added ‘senior’ to his title last year. This latest promotion makes Quarles the vice president of the team’s football operations department.
Andy Speyer is entering his 14th season as a national scout with the Buccaneers, and he will now do so with ‘senior’ affixed to the start of his title. He came up in the Eagles’ organization, starting as a pro personnel intern in 2002 and spending the following 11 years in various scouting roles. In Tampa Bay, he has focused on prospects west of the Mississippi River; among his hits in recent draft classes are offensive linemen Cody Mauch, tight end Cade Otton, running back Bucky Irving, and cornerback Zyon McCollum This year, the Bucs drafted Arizona State wide receiver Ted Hurst, Missouri linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, and LSU tight end Bauer Sharp out of Speyer’s region.
The Buccaneers have also promoted Adam Pinkoski from assistant director of performance science to director of data science and innovation. He arrived in Tampa Bay in 2023 to help build the sports science department and will now expand his analytics work beyond player health and performance into football operations. The team is also promoting Peighton Roth, who started as a team operations intern in 2021 and earned a full-time scouting coordinator job the following year. She will now serve as the manager of football administration and scouting operations.
- The Bears promoted Nick Papagno from NFS scout to Midlands area scout, per his LinkedIn. Prior to his arrival in Chicago, he spent three years in the Raiders’ front office.
- The Cardinals promoted Tyler Haskins from scouting assistant to pro scout, per InsideTheLeague’s Neil Stratton. Haskins’ previous role will be filled by former Alabama recruiting specialist Colton Hill, Stratton adds.
- The Saints scouting department has grown by two. Kai Saunders and Will Whisenhunt, another ex-Alabama recruiter, have come aboard as assistants (via Stratton)
- The Commanders are retaining 2025 Nunn-Wooten fellow and former Saints linebacker Andrew Dowell as a full-time scouting assistant, per ESPN’s John Keim. Joining the team in similar roles are John Waters, who was most recently the director of scouting at the University of New Mexico, and Keenan Guthrie, a former University of Northern Colorado linebacker.
Vikings Make Front Office Changes
With Nolan Teasley in place as the new Vikings general manager, the front office is undergoing some significant changes. Most notably, the organization has parted ways with assistant general manager Demitrius Washington, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert clarifies that Washington requested and received permission to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
[RELATED: Vikings Hire Nolan Teasley As GM]
Washington made a name for himself as a member of the 49ers front office, where he worked his way up to the role of Manager of Football Research and Development. Coincidently, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah previously held that same role in San Francisco, and the executive brought his successor to Minnesota after being named GM in 2022. Washington spent the past four years with the Vikings, and there’s a chance he lands back with the 49ers, especially after Adofo-Mensah returned to San Francisco following his Minnesota ouster.
The Vikings moved on from a handful of other front office executives, per Lewis: senior personnel executive Jamaal Stephenson, assistant director of college scouting Pat Roberts, and pro scout Salli Clavelle. Stephenson had been in Minnesota since 2002, serving as the director of college scouting before earning a promotion to co-director of player personnel. Roberts also had a lengthy tenure with the organization, where he climbed the ladder to become the assistant director of college scouting in 2022.
Clavelle followed a similar path as Washington, as she was brought over from San Francisco following Adofo-Mensah’s hire. She was previously a college scout with the 49ers before taking on a similar role in Minnesota.
As Lewis points out, Teasley’s approach is significantly different than when Adofo-Mensah took over as GM in 2022. The previous GM wanted to “maintain the structure of the previous staff,” leading to few departures and only a handful of thoughtful additions. The new GM did laud the Vikings’ “strong football evaluation” team during his introductory press conference, so perhaps this is the extent of notable subtractions from the staff.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Kenny Yeboah
- Waived: LB Stephen Dix Jr.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Joaquin Davis, DB Daryl Porter
- Released: LS Cal Adomitis, OT Aiden Williams
Kenny Yeboah has landed with a new squad, as the veteran tight end got a one-year deal from the Cardinals. The former UDFA out of Ole Miss spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jets, where he got into 33 games (two starts). He was utilized as mostly a blocker and special teamer, but he had occasional flashes on offense. He finished his Jets tenure with nine catches for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Yeboah caught on with the Lions last offseason. However, an undisclosed injury landed him on injured reserve in August, meaning he wouldn’t see the field with Detroit in 2025. He was release with an injury settlement in November but didn’t end up finding a new team for the stretch run.
The 27-year-old will now be joining a relatively deep depth chart in Arizona. Trey McBride will continue to lead the way, but Yeboah could emerge as a backup ahead of the likes of Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Teagan Quitoriano, Jameson Geers, and Rivaldo Fairweather.
Panthers, WR Jalen Coker Agree To Extension
Jalen Coker will remain a key part of the Panthers offense for the foreseeable future. The organization agreed to terms with the wide receiver on an extension today, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Coker’s new contract will be worth $35MM over three seasons, per Rapoport. The contract could reach $41MM via incentives. Coker was set to be an exclusive rights free agent following the 2026 season and a restricted free agent following the 2027 campaign.
Despite a prolific showing in the Patriot League, the Holy Cross product went undrafted in the 2024 draft. He quickly caught on with the Panthers as a UDFA but wasn’t part of the team’s initial 2024 53-man roster. He earned a promotion to the active roster in late September, and he’s played a significant role in Carolina’s offense ever since.
Coker emerged as one of Bryce Young‘s preferred targets as a rookie, when he finished with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. The start of his sophomore season was delayed by a quad injury, but he returned in October and proceeded to haul in another 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. Coker also had a standout showing in the Panthers’ playoff loss, hauling in nine catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
While his counting stats took a step back in 2025, Coker improved his success rate from 58.7 percent to 67.4 percent. Pro Football Focus was fond of his performance, ranking him 32nd among 128 qualifying wideouts. The website also lauded the receiver for his pass-blocking ability.
This extension means the Panthers will have the top of their WR depth chart locked in through at least through the 2028 campaign. The organization used first-round picks at the position in both 2024 (Xavier Legette) and 2025 (Tetairoa McMillan), and they spent this offseason adding veteran John Metchie and rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell II to their receivers room.
Texans Worked Out CB Sean Fresch
The Texans hosted an All-UFL player yesterday. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team worked out cornerback/returner Sean Fresch.
Fresch spent his entire five-year collegiate career at Rice, where he transformed into one of the team’s top defenders. He was especially productive between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, when he compiled 102 tackles, 16 passes defended, and an interception. He also made a name for himself on special teams, where he returned 24 punts for 200 yards between those two campaigns.
He continued that special teams prowess after joining the St. Louis Battlehawks for the 2026 UFL spring season. In 10 appearances, he returned 32 punts for 333 yards and three kickoffs for 85 yards, earning him All-league honors. He also contributed on defense, where he tallied 29 tackles, four pass breakups, and a pair of sacks.
As Wilson notes, the player brings some notable attributes to the table with a 4.40 40-yard dash time and a 41-inch vertical. Jaylin Noel led Houston’s return game in 2025 and is expected to lead the unit in 2026, but Fresch would provide the organization with another option. At the moment, Tremon Smith represents the team’s other return option.
Bills Make Series Of Roster Moves
As part of a handful of transactions on Thursday, the Bills waived cornerback Dorian Strong with a non-football injury designation. They also waived/injured running back Desmond Reid and waived wide receiver Gabriel Benyard. The Bills signed receivers Deven Thompkins and Max Tomczak in corresponding moves.
Strong is likely to make a quick return to the organization, as he is expected to miss the season with a neck injury, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. Assuming Strong clears waivers, Buffalo will place him on IR.
As a sixth-round rookie from Virginia Tech in 2025, Strong appeared in four games and made 10 tackles. He started in his debut, a Week 1 win over the Ravens, as the Bills were without injured corners Maxwell Hairston and Tre’Davious White.
While Strong looked like capable depth in limited action last season, the 24-year-old’s career has been in doubt since the Bills placed him on IR in early October. General manager Brandon Beane revealed in April that Strong underwent “specialized” neck surgery after the season. Beane admitted then that it is “unknown” if Strong will play again (via Ryan Miller of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle).
Thompkins, the only other member of this group with NFL experience, took advantage of a minicamp invitation this week. So far, all 36 of his pro appearances have come with NFC South teams. He played for the Buccaneers from 2022-23, with whom he logged extensive work as a return man, before joining the Panthers in 2024 and the Falcons last year. The 5-foot-8, 155-pounder has totaled 29 catches, including three in seven games in 2025. The Falcons waived Thompkins in early May.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 6/11/26
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Falcons To Acquire T Wanya Morris From Chiefs
3:45pm: The Falcons have placed Norton on the reserve/PUP list. While they did not disclose a reason for the move, it may have something to do with the ankle injury that kept Norton out for all of 2025. The Falcons designated Norton to return from IR in late October, but they did not activate him during his 21-day window.
1:00pm: The Chiefs are trading offensive tackle Wanya Morris to the Falcons, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Along with Morris, the Chiefs will send a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Falcons for a ’27 sixth-rounder, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz.
This deal comes just two days after Fowler reported the Chiefs and Morris agreed to pursue trade options. The Chiefs spent a third-round pick on Morris in 2023, but the 6-foot-6, 307-pounder did not develop as hoped in his three years with the team. He made just 16 starts in 43 games, including only one in 12 appearances in 2025. The Chiefs will move on with Josh Simmons at left tackle and a right tackle competition that includes Jaylon Moore, Esa Pole, Matt Waletzko and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson.
While Morris has professional experience at both tackle spots, the majority of his work has come on the left side. He started a career-high 11 times on the blindside in 2024, his lone 17-game season, though Pro Football Focus ranked his performance a lowly 70th among 81 qualifiers.
Barring an injury to stalwart left tackle Jake Matthews, who has missed just one game in his 12-year career, Morris will not see much action there in Atlanta. His best path to playing time is on the right, where the Falcons unexpectedly lost Kaleb McGary to retirement in April. They immediately brought in former Chief Jawaan Taylor, whom Morris has been teammates with for his entire career, on a one-year, $5MM pact to replace McGary.
As a full-time starter since he entered the NFL in 2019, the 28-year-old Taylor is the obvious favorite to serve as the Falcons’ No. 1 right tackle this season. Morris will join Storm Norton, Michael Jerrell and Jack Nelson to give the Falcons more experienced depth behind Matthews and Taylor.
Henry Ruggs Denied Parole
Three years after pleading guilty to felony counts of DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in 2023, former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs sought parole this spring. The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners denied Ruggs’ request on Thursday, the Associated Press reports.
Ruggs, whom the Raiders drafted 12th overall in 2020, killed another driver and her dog in a November 2021 car crash. While traveling at speeds up to 156 mph in his Corvette, Ruggs slammed into 23-year-old victim Tina Tintor’s car. Ruggs refused a field sobriety test, but a blood alcohol test taken within two hours registered a BAC of .161 – twice the legal limit.
“Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered by Ms. Tintor’s family,” attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a statement on Thursday. They believe there is “overwhelming evidence” that Ruggs has accepted responsibility for his actions. It is unknown if they will appeal the results of the hearing.
Ruggs, who is serving a three- to 10-year prison sentence, was moved from a low-security facility to a a medium-security facility in December. When Vanessa Murphy of KLAS 8 News Now reached out to the Nevada Department of Corrections for the reason, a spokesperson wrote in an email: “We can’t disclose specific information on offender. However, in general, an offender who commits infractions while at a lower-level custody, depending on the nature and severity, they could be reverted back to a higher level of custody.”
Ruggs’ next parole board hearing will occur three months before his Aug. 27, 2027, mandatory parole release date, executive director of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners Kathi Baker told the AP.
Ruggs played 20 games with the Raiders, who cut him shortly after his arrest. The 27-year-old has shown interest in returning to the NFL, but that looks even less likely in the wake of the parole board’s decision on Thursday.
Lions S Brian Branch Could Start Season On PUP
Lions safety Brian Branch‘s 2025 season came to an end when he tore his Achilles in a Week 14 win over the Cowboys. The injury occurred late enough in the year that it may shelve Branch for a portion of the upcoming season.
Although Branch has not dealt with any setbacks, there is no clear timetable for his return as training camp approaches. With that in mind, head coach Dan Campbell admitted Branch “could be” a candidate to open 2026 on the reserve/PUP list, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Doing so would require Branch to miss at least four games, which would keep him out of meetings with the Saints, Bills, Jets and Panthers.
The Lions entered 2025 with the elite safety tandem of Branch and Kerby Joseph, but injuries undermined the pair during a disappointing 9-8 season for the club. Branch missed five games (including one for a suspension), while Joseph sat out 11 as he battled knee problems. With Joseph managing a degenerative condition, it is unclear if he will be ready for Week 1. The Lions are preparing free agent pickup Christian Izien to fill in for Joseph if he misses time. Some combination of free agent addition Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper and Avonte Maddox could help pick up Branch’s slack if he is unavailable.
Joseph missed just two games in his first three seasons. Thanks to his combination of durability and stellar production, the Lions inked him to a four-year, $86MM extension in April 2025. Branch, who is entering a contract year, won’t be as fortunate. On the heels of Branch’s injury last December, Birkett reported the three-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowler was unlikely to receive a new deal in the offseason. Campbell all but confirmed an extension with Branch has no chance of coming together during his rehab.
“I think you always want to know that your guys are, that they are healthy and that this is truly healed,” Campbell said. “You’re always going to kind of want to lean that way knowing the investment that would go into that.”
Extending a healthy Branch could have been a priority for general manager Brad Holmes, but the injured version is down in a pecking order that includes two other 2023 draftees: running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta. Holmes already hammered out a four-year, $81MM extension with linebacker Jack Campbell, another member of the Lions’ loaded 2023 draft haul, in late May.