Mutual Extension Interest Between Lions, LB Jack Campbell
The deadline for fifth-year option decisions is approaching, and the Lions are among the teams with an interesting call still to be made. Linebacker Jack Campbell‘s short-term future is unclear leading up to May 1.
Campbell is coming off a first-team All-Pro season, and he will be expected to remain a foundational presence for Detroit well into the future provided a long-term deal can be arranged. All linebackers are grouped together for the purposes of fifth-year options and franchise/transition tags, however, which make them highly expensive for situations such as this one. Picking up Campbell’s option would tie him to a 2027 salary of $21.93MM. Only two middle linebackers are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more.
A lucrative commitment to Campbell would be inevitable in the event of a long-term deal, but his option salary would be fully guaranteed and match his cap charge for 2027. That, in turn, would complicate the Lions’ efforts to keep the rest of their highly-productive 2023 draftees in the fold. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, safety Brian Branch and tight end Sam LaPorta are each in line for big-money deals from Detroit or another team in the near future.
Picking up Campbell’s option is an expected move on the part of the Lions. The alternative, of course, is an extension agreement being finalized prior to Friday’s deadline. On that note, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports (video link) both team and player would be “happy” with a long-term deal being worked out in the coming days. It will be interesting to see how general manager Brad Holmes and Co. proceed in the immediate future with an important decision looming.
The Lions already have a highly-paid core of (primarily) homegrown players, many of whom are on the offensive side of the ball. Campbell has established himself as an integral figure as well, though, playing in every game to date during his career and filling the statsheet along the way. The Iowa product set new career highs in tackles (176), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three) in 2025. Campbell will be 26 by the start of next season, and expectations will remain high in his case for years to come.
Detroit allowed Alex Anzalone to depart in free agency this spring. Derrick Barnes is in place on an $8MM-per-year deal which runs through 2027, while Malcolm Rodriguez and Damone Clark offer inexpensive depth at the linebacker spot. Campbell will be counted on to lead the way at that position for at least one more season, and short-term stability through his option being exercised would come as little surprise. Nonetheless, a long-term pact will be something to watch for over the coming days.
Mike Vrabel Back With Patriots Following Draft, Did Not Communicate With Team On Day 3 Picks
APRIL 28: As confirmed by Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Vrabel will continue to attend counseling moving forward while also attending to his head coaching duties in between. The balance struck on this front will be key for Vrabel and the Patriots as the offseason progresses.
APRIL 27: Last week injected a football element to the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini saga, bringing it to the PFR pages. The second-year Patriots HC said he would miss Day 3 of the draft, spending time with his family as he confirmed he would begin counseling.
Vrabel’s announcement came after the New York Post dropped more incriminating photos of he and Russini, the latest batch showing them together at a New York City bar in March 2020. Vrabel spoke briefly at a news conference before Day 1 of the draft but has not been available to the media since. Coaches speak after draft days, and the Patriots made six picks on Day 3.
Although Vrabel was away from the team Saturday, NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry notes the 2025 Coach of the Year has returned to the Pats’ facility Monday as voluntary workouts continue.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager indicated Saturday that Vrabel was in contact with the Patriots, but the veteran reporter later backtracked, indicating that while an expectation existed the HC would be in contact with the team during the draft the sides ultimately were not in communication. De facto GM Eliot Wolf said Saturday that he and Vrabel did not communicate regarding draft matters.
“Last night we kind of talked through things and made the decision that the time away really needs to be time away,” Wolf said, via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian, “so we were not in contact with Mike today other than some just, ‘Hope everything’s going OK’ kind of texts early this morning.”
The initial photographs from 2026 released by the Post showed Vrabel and Russini hugging and holding hands at a resort in Arizona. The Post’s subsequent photo drop came hours after Vrabel announced he would be away from the Patriots on Day 3 of the draft. The 2020 photos showed Vrabel and Russini kissing at a New York bar. Vrabel, 50, was the Titans’ HC in March 2020; Russini was an ESPN reporter at that time. Vrabel and his wife, Jen, have two sons; the couple has been married since 1999. Russini has been married since September 2020. She had been The Athletic’s top NFL insider in recent years but resigned her post this month as an internal investigation began.
Vrabel was with Wolf, Ryan Cowden and Co. in the Pats’ draft room on Thursday and Friday; still, his Day 3 absence became the story coming out of the defending AFC champions’ draft. Vrabel said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) he could not confirm whether he would miss more football-related activities because of this scandal.
“I can’t answer that. I can only say that whatever my family needs, that’s what I’m going to provide,” Vrabel said. “But I also understand what’s needed for me here.”
Wolf held final say on Day 3 of the draft, he confirmed (via Guregian). Vrabel and Wolf work collaboratively, but when the Patriots won the Vrabel derby last year, it was understood he would hold significant sway regarding personnel. Both Vrabel and Wolf report to ownership. It is worth wondering if Wolf will take on more responsibility as Vrabel navigates continued fallout from these reports.
The Patriots will begin OTAs May 27; their mandatory minicamp will run from June 15-17. It will be interesting to see how available to the media Vrabel will be during those periods, as a lengthy break falls annually between mid-June and training camp in late July. This scandal has not shown signs of slowing down yet, and Vrabel beginning counseling during the draft made this one of the stranger draft-weekend storylines in recent NFL history. The Patriots backed their successful HC when he revealed he would be absent for Day 3. While Vrabel’s high-profile off-field issue has the potential to overshadow more Pats matters, he will certainly be expected to attend OTAs and minicamp before the midsummer hiatus.
Steelers Place UFA Tender On Aaron Rodgers
It is still not expected Aaron Rodgers will join a team other than the Steelers this offseason. If he does, however, Pittsburgh will be in line for draft compensation.
Rodgers has received the UFA tender from the Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Such a move is rare in the NFL, although there were two examples from the 2025 offseason. The Browns applied the UFA tender to Elijah Moore while the Chargers did the same with J.K. Dobbins.
Both players wound up signing with other teams, but they were factored into Cleveland and Los Angeles’ compensatory pick formulas along the way. The same will be true of Rodgers and the Steelers. With an outside deal not likely in his case, however, today’s news essentially serves as a guarantee Rodgers will either play for Pittsburgh in 2026 or retire. The team will have exclusive negotiating rights with the future Hall of Famer if he remains unsigned beyond July 22 while also being able to match any offer sheets which are signed prior to that date.
For the second year in a row, the Steelers have gone deep into the spring without certainty atop their QB depth chart. Rodgers’ one-year deal in 2025 seemed at first to set him up for retirement. Instead, the four-time MVP has left the door open to a 22nd NFL season, with Pittsburgh once again willing to accommodate him. Owner Art Rooney II aimed to have a firm commitment from Rodgers by mid-February, but that soft deadline passed. Shortly before the draft, it was learned clarity on this front would not emerge.
Pittsburgh went through this weekend’s event without Rodgers officially being in the fold. With veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard already in the mix, the team selected Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round. None of those passers will be seen as a threat to Rodgers if/when he arrives, but today’s procedural move further underscores the uncertainty surrounding this unique situation. Rodgers’ next campaign will begin at the age of 42, and a new Steelers accord would see him reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy.
The UFA tender is valued at 110% of a player’s 2025 salary. In Rodgers’ case, that means he will collect just over $15MM next season in the event he suits up for the Steelers. The team’s OTAs are set to begin on May 18, with mandatory minicamp taking place June 2-4. The matter of whether or not Rodgers will be under contract by that point remains a storyline to follow.
Rob Brzezinski Could Land Full-Time Vikings GM Position
Since Kwesi-Adofo Mensah‘s firing, the Vikings have opted to delay the search for his replacement. Rob Brzezinski handled interim general manager duties through free agency and the draft.
Minnesota’s attention will now turn to the matter of the front office. The hiring cycle for most GM candidates has of course long ended, but the team’s actions in the near future will be key. Brzezinski may find himself handling general manager duties on a full-time basis, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reporting he is a “strong candidate for the permanent job.”
Interestingly, Jones add Brzezinski might also wind up securing a promotion as a result of the Vikings’ GM search. Minnesota could add a general manager from outside the organization but set up a reporting structure which includes Brzezinski outranking the new arrival with a title along the lines of president of football operations. Alternatively, the team could simply maintain the status quo which has been in place since Adofo-Mensah’s firing, a move which ended his four-year run in charge.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert writes the Vikings’ search is expected to be “open-ended,” adding Brzezinski should not be considered a “preferred candidate” at this point. Nevertheless, he adds Brzezinski has support from within the front office to secure the full-time GM gig. It will be interesting to see how many outside candidates receive a look before owners Zygi and Mark Wilf make a final call. Jones adds head coach Kevin O’Connell is likely to have input in the GM search, an unsurprising development given the weight his voice carries in the organization.
Brzezinski began his NFL front office career with the Dolphins before joining the Vikings in 1999. He has been with Minnesota since then, handling key roles in the football administration department through 2013. The following year, he took on the title of executive vice president of football operations. Brzezinski has remained in that role since then, with the exception of his current stint leading the front office. Whether or not he will continue doing so remains to be seen.
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.
Brandon Beane: Bills ‘Shut Down’ Keon Coleman Trade Calls
Keon Coleman has been floated as a Bills trade candidate, especially since ex-head coach Sean McDermott‘s role in drafting him was learned. Joe Brady is in place to continue working with the third-year wideout, though, and general manager Brandon Beane has offered further support for Coleman.
During a Monday appearance on WGR 550 radio, Beane said teams called him to gauge Coleman’s availability in a trade. Discussions took place between the Combine and the league meeting, he added. Beane made it clear, however, that Buffalo “shut down” talks during that period.
“Our intention is for Keon to be here, so the word was out, so no calls this weekend,” Beane said (via Sal Capaccio) when reflecting on the draft. “We’ve hit the reset button with him and hopefully the fanbase and everyone is behind him. I think his best year is yet to come here in 2026.”
Selected 33rd overall in 2024, Coleman arrived in Buffalo facing high expectations. He scored four touchdowns while averaging over 19 yards per catch as a rookie, but things did not go according to plan in Year 2. Instead of developing into a full-time contributor in the passing game, the Florida State product saw his playing time decrease. Coleman was also a healthy scratch on four occasions, with his professionalism being raised as a concern along the way.
Two years remain on Coleman’s rookie contract. His age-23 campaign will represent Brady’s first as an NFL head coach, along with the Buffalo debut of trade acquisition D.J. Moore. Veteran slot target Khalil Shakir is still in the fold, as is 2025 free agent signing Josh Palmer. Buffalo added 10 rookies via the draft this weekend, including Skylar Bell in the fourth round. He and Mecole Hardman will look to offer depth on offense in 2026.
How Coleman will fit into the Bills’ WR room will be interesting to monitor moving forward. The 6-4, 215-pounder can certainly offer the team a useful pass-catching presence on offense if things pan out, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case. Depending on how things develop, the possibility of renewed trade interest leading up to the 2026 deadline could become a storyline to follow.
Packers ‘Absolutely’ Interested In Christian Watson Extension
The Packer signed Jayden Reed to an extension last week, raising some questions about Christian Watson‘s future on a team that seemingly prefers to draft and develop young receiers rather than paying veterans.
However, three days of the 2026 NFL Draft came and went, and the Packers did not add another receiver. That is not necessarily indicative of Watson’s status – the team also has second-year wideouts Matthew Golden and Savion Williams as well as Bo Melton on the roster. But general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft that an extension for Watson was “absolutely” on the table, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
The 2022 second-round pick out of North Dakota State impressed as a rookie with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 appearances. He maintained similar per-game production in 2023, but only appeared in nine games due to recurrent hamstring injuries. Watson returned for 15 games in 2024, averaging an impressive 11.7 yards per target and 21.4 yards per catch before tearing his ACL in the Packers’ regular season finale.
Green Bay signed Watson to a one-year, $11MM extension, giving him some financial security as he rehabbed and ensuring he would remain under contract through the 2026 season. Now, the two sides could soon be returning to the negotiating table to hammer out a multi-year deal.
Watson’s injury history may limit the amount of guarantees that the risk-averse Packers are willing to offer. However, his past injuries showed no signs of lingering effects last year, as the 26-year-old wideout posted a 11.1 yards per target and a career-high 61.1 receiving yards per game. Those numbers are comparable to the performances of Jameson Williams and Alec Pierce, who are making between $26.7MM and $28.5MM per year, respectively. However, that is far too expensive for a receiver who has never reached 16 appearances, 45 catches, or 650 receiving yards in one year.
The Packers will certainly be looking for a cheaper price tag on a Watson extension in the coming months, potentially closer to Reed’s three-year, $50MM deal. But after receiving one smaller short-term payday, the 6-foot-4 wideout could instead choose to bet on himself in 2026 in the hopes of cashing in next year.
Falcons Part Ways With Exec Chris Olsen, Hire Eagles’ Bryce Johnston
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: 4/27/26
NFL teams have begun making roster adjustments following the conclusion of the 2026 draft. Here are the latest moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: P Trenton Gill
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Received international exemption: OL Kilian Zierer
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR John Jiles, TE Marshall Lang
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: WR Samori Toure, WR, Elijah Cooks, RB Evan Hull
New York Giants
- Waived: DL DeMarvin Leal
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: WR Brandon Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: RB Cam Akers
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Patrick McMorris, RB Sincere McCormick
Gill was a Bears seventh-round pick in 2022 who ranked among the league’s bottom 10 punters during his first two seasons in Chicago. He then served as one of the Buccaneers’ three punters in 2024 and did not sign with another team until joining Atlanta’s practice squad this past January. He then signed a reserve/futures contract with the Falcons. Former Patriots All-Pro Jake Bailey then arrived in March on a three-year, $9MM deal, solidifying the team’s punter situation in 2026 and resulting in Gill’s release.
Leal never lived up to his third-round draft billing in Pittsburgh, appearing in just 32 games with one sack and three tackles for loss across the last four seasons. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Giants in January, but he was deemed surplus to requirements after defensive line additions in free agency and the draft.
Akers, 26, finished the 2025 season as a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks. The departure of Kenneth Walker in free agency preserved the possibility of a 2026 role in Seattle, but the team quickly restocked their backfield by signing former Packer Emanuel Wilson and drafting Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price. Akers has played for four different teams across his six-year career and will now be looking for a new home.
Cowboys To Sign WR Tyler Johnson, LB Curtis Robinson
The Cowboys made the NFL’s first high-profile post-draft move by signing veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
They have now added another player at the position – 2020 fifth-round pick Tyler Johnson – as well as former 49ers linebacker Curtis Robinson, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Both players were in Dallas for visits on Monday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Johnson, 27, played for four different teams in his six year career. He appeared in 12 games with the Jets in 2025, catching 12 of his 18 targets for 197 yards. He was originally drafted by the Buccaneers, where he played for two years, before spending time with the Texans, Raiders, and Rams. He saw significant usage in 2021 in Tampa Bay (612 snaps, 55 targets) and 2024 in Los Angeles (361 snaps, 41 targets), but has been unable to sustain that volume in subsequent seasons.
In Dallas, he will join Valdes-Scantling, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, and Jonathan Mingo in the Cowboys’ wide receiver room. Lamb and Pickens are the clear-cut top two options, but a pecking order behind them has not been established. Turpin should stay in his slot/gadget role, leaving Johnson to compete for a backup role on the outside.
Robinson, 27, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted rooke in 2021. He appeared in three games as a practice squad elevation in Denver and did the same in San Francisco later in the year. He then spent the next four years on the 49ers’ practice squad, using up his maximum of three elevations each season and playing almost exclusively on special teams. In 2025, he again began the season on the practice squad, but he was promoted to the active roster in September after injuries in the team’s linebacker room. Those continued throughout the season, resulting in career-high participation on defense (248 snaps) and special teams (194 snaps).
Robinson is the second 49ers linebacker to move to Dallas this offseason – 2023 fifth-rounder Dee Winters was traded to the Cowboys just before the draft. The two will now join a linebacker room that currently features DeMarvion Overshown as a clear No. 1 starter and little clarity behind him. Marist Liufau and Shemar James are both returning from last year’s squad, though both struggled to thold down the middle of the team’s defense. After getting his first major taste of regular season action in 2025, Robinson will be looking to establish a role for himself in Dallas this year.