Vikings To Use Search Firm For GM Hire; Rob Brzezinski Interested In Full-Time Gig
The Vikings have made it through free agency and the draft with a temporary front office setup in place. The search for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s full-time general manager replacement is now underway.
The team recently announced TurnkeyZRG has been hired to assist in the process. Using search firms is common in the NFL, and Minnesota will take that route as well. Over the course of multiple weeks, candidates will be interviewed before a hire is made. The announcement also states candidates will not be publicly named.
Few developments may emerge over the coming days regarding the outside options the Vikings explore as a result. In any case, the future of interim GM Rob Brzezinski will be worth watching closely. The longtime Minnesota executive has been mentioned as a candidate to land the general manager gig on a full-time basis, although his interest on that front has been a question mark until recently. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes Brzezinski has indeed thrown his hat into the ring with the Vikings search getting started.
Brzezinski took over once Adofo-Mensah’s four-year run came to an abrupt end in January. He oversaw free agency, a period during which a reduction in spending was sought out. Finances were also a key factor in the recent Jonathan Greenard trade, one which sent the Pro Bowl edge rusher to the Eagles. Brzezinski remained in place through the draft, as planned, and the Vikings will hope a new group of cost-controlled players helps bring about a return to the playoffs in 2026.
Front office personnel who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora expressed support for the Vikings handing the full-time GM title to Brzezinski. The veteran NFL staffer has been with the Vikings since 1999, holding multiple positions in the team’s front office since then. Brzezinski became Minnesota’s executive vice president of football operations in 2014, positioning him as a logical choice for interim GM duties over the early portions of the offseason.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes (video link) the Vikings should not be expected to maintain their existing front office structure in the event an outside hire is made. The potential for Brzezinski taking a president of football operations role to oversee a new GM was recently mentioned, and it will be interesting to see owners Zygi and Mark Wilf consider such a setup. Otherwise, a shake-up brought about by a new arrival or the continuation of the status quo though Brzezinski being handed the reins will be in store.
Titans Were Down To Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese At No. 4
The Titans surprised many by taking Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that significantly shook up the top 10.
Tennessee was widely expected to draft a top defender or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with their first pick. When the Cardinals took Love at No. 3, it seemed that new Titans head coach Robert Saleh was free to handpick a new star for his defense. Instead, the team went with Tate.
Their decision was multi-faceted. First was a different assessment of Tate’s athleticism than the public consensus. The Titans timed Tate’s 40-yard dash at the Combine “in the mid-4.4s” as opposed to his official time of 4.53 seconds, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. In their eyes, that rounded out the profile of an otherwise complete wide receiver with a full route tree and excellent skills at the catch point.
Getting help for former No. 1 pick Cam Ward was also a priority, one that encouraged Tennessee to go with an offensive playmaker rather than a defensive one. Tate largely played second fiddle to Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State in 2025, which many evaluators saw as a negative – he could not even be the top target on his own team. The Titans, though, had a different takeaway: Tate would have a place in whatever offense they build over the next several years, whether it be as a WR1 or a versatile part of a deeper group.
Had Tate not been available, Breer adds, the Titans would have gone with his teammate, linebacker Arvell Reese. The team badly needs to strengthen their pass rush, especially at defensive end even after reuniting Saleh with Jets 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson. Reese was projected to convert into an edge rusher in the pros, but he might been a better fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker than a defensive end in Saleh’s 4-3 scheme.
Tennessee also drafted Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the second round and could deploy him in the role they envisioned for Reese. Hill has a slightly smaller frame and lacks the same bend and agility as Reese, but he could still be used creatively by Saleh.
The Titans’ decision highlights a false trend in the NFL: teams who hire a new head coach prioritize their side of the ball with their first draft picks. Despite the symbolism of such a move – letting a new leader select a prospect that fits his scheme, style, and culture – the process rarely plays out that way. General managers are still focused on value and following their draft board while incorporating coaches’ feedback.
This year, only four of the 10 teams with new head coaches used their first pick on the coach’s side of the ball. The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza for Klint Kubiak – though that likely would have been the case no matter who they hired – the Cardinals drafted Love for LaFleur, the Browns got both Spencer Fano and KC Concepcion for Todd Monken, and the Steelers got Max Iheanachor (instead of Makai Lemon) for Mike McCarthy.
But, just as the Jets went with quarterback Zach Wilson in 2021, Saleh’s first year in New York, the Titans went with a wide receiver who was the top-ranked player on their board. That is not to say Saleh was not on board for those picks, or that head coaches in general prioritize their side of the ball. Another new defensive head coach, Jesse Minter, urged general manager Eric DeCosta to select guard Vega Ioane over edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., and the Jeff Hafley-led Dolphins took offensive lineman Kayden Proctor. In fact, there is an argument that the head coach’s expertise on one side of the ball means there should be more talent investment in the other.
At the end of the day, the Titans nabbed their desired prospect for their first pick in Tate, and Saleh still got a defensive lineman when the team traded back into the first round to select Auburn’s Keldric Faulk.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 5/1/26
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Packers Add 10 UDFAs
The Packers have unveiled their undrafted free agent class. These 10 players will be taking part in Green Bay’s minicamp:
- Dylan Barrett, G (Iowa State)
- Kyron Drones, QB (Virginia Tech)
- Josh Gesky, G (Illinois)
- Nyjalik Kelly, EDGE (Central Florida)
- Murvin Kenion, S (Nevada)
- RJ Maryland, TE (SMU)
- Jaden Nixon, RB (Central Florida)
- T.J. Quinn, LB (Louisville)
- J. Michael Sturdivant, WR (Florida)
- Dillon Wade, G Auburn)
Quinn secured a notable financial commitment from Green Bay. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes the Packers gave him a deal including $150K in base salary and a $20K signing bonus. Quinn will no doubt receive a long look during training camp as he competes for a depth role.
The Packers’ draft class did not include a quarterback despite the organization’s long-running philosophy of targeting at least late-round additions at the position on a regular basis. Still, a rookie passer will be in the fold thanks to the Drones signing. After two years at Baylor, Drones transferred to Virginia Tech and spent three years as the Hokies’ starter.
Kelly played in a depth role during his two-year stint at Miami. An in-state transfer saw him join UCF, and his first season there resulted in a 5.5-sack campaign. Kelly added another three sacks in 2025, and across his two years at Central Florida he racked up 17 tackles for loss. He will look to carve out a spot at the end of the roster as part of Green Bay’s pass rush rotation or at least secure a place on the Packers’ practice squad.
Cowboys Sign S Caleb Downs, Five Other Draft Picks
The Cowboys are among the teams which have moved quickly in signing the bulk of their draft classes. All but one of Dallas’ draft picks are now under contract.
The team announced on Friday that safety Caleb Downs has been signed. The same is also true for each of the Cowboys’ other draftees except for fellow first-rounder Malachi Lawrence. Downs and Co. will take part in Dallas’ rookie minicamp this weekend.
Downs – who will collect $28.9MM guaranteed – spent the entire pre-draft process as one of the most highly-regarded prospects from this year’s class. As was the case for many others, though, the matter of positional value threated a drop down the first-rounder order. Downs slid out of the top 10, something which promoted the Cowboys to move up one spot and select him after executing a trade with the Dolphins.
Known for his production and high football IQ, Downs will be counted to play an immediate role within Dallas’ new-look secondary. The Cowboys still have Malik Hooker in place, but the team added Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency. An All-American in both of his Ohio State seasons, Downs will be expected to serve as an impact member of that group right away and for several years to come.
In addition to Downs, third-round edge rusher Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round receiver Anthony Smith have each inked their rookie contracts. Each of those deals will be four years in length. Downs’ pact will also run through 2029, but the team will eventually have a fifth-year option decision to make in his case.
Lawrence was drafted 23rd overall after Dallas moved down the board from No. 20. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes his contract should be finalized once more players selected in a similar range wind up being signed, adding no issues are anticipated. Lawrence could take part in rookie camp without a contract in place, but in any event his pact can be expected to be signed shortly.
Russell Wilson Considering CBS Gig?
As things stand, Russell Wilson remains a free agent. He is nevertheless still interested in continuing his playing career, as shown by a recent visit with the Jets.
In the event Wilson does not land a new deal as a player, though, it appears he has a transition to broadcasting lined up. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports Wilson is “in deep discussions” to take on a television gig. He adds CBS Sports’ The NFL Today is Wilson’s expected landing spot.
Wilson has previously appeared on CBS broadcasts, including during the Giants’ bye week in 2025. A deal allowing him to join The NFL Today, CBS’ Sunday pregame program, would see Wilson replace Matt Ryan. Ryan recently departed his broadcasting role to take on the top front office position for the Falcons. Another high-profile former quarterback would take his place if the talks involving Wilson result in a deal being struck.
From 2012-21, Wilson served as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. That span included two straight Super Bowl appearances (with one win) and underscored the height of his career. Since the blockbuster trade which sent the 10-time Pro Bowler to the Broncos, however, things have not gone according to plan. Wilson was in place for just two years in Denver, and his time atop the depth chart was over before Sean Payton‘s first year as head coach had ended.
Upon being released, Wilson took a one-year pact with the Steelers. The 37-yearold missed time early in the season before taking over from Justin Fields and remaining atop the depth chart through Pittsburgh’s wild-card round loss. The Giants inked Wilson to a one-year deal last spring, setting him up for a brief spell as New York’s QB1. The Giants have Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston in the fold as carryovers from 2025, and it has long been clear another change of scenery would be needed for Wilson to meet his goal of continuing to play.
In January, Wilson changed agents; he is now represented by David Mulugheta as a result. That move has not yielded a contract before or immediately after the draft, leaving him to no doubt give further consideration to a TV gig. Wilson’s plans for 2026 will be worth watching as the offseason continues to unfold.
Panthers RT Taylor Moton Not Weighing Retirement
Last summer, Taylor Moton agreed to a two-year Panthers extension. The team’s right tackle stalwart is under contract through 2027 as a result, and no thought is currently being given to hanging up his cleats.
“Retirement’s not on my mind right now,” Moton said (via Joe Person of The Athletic). “I feel great running around with all the young guys. I’m feeling young. I feel like I’m moving well and I’m feeling like, shoot, I’m still in my prime, right? I don’t feel like I’m slowing down.”
Moton was a backup during his rookie season, but he took on starting right tackle duties in 2018. Since then, he has been a mainstay up front, racking up 128 starts and missing just four games along the way. Moton’s future has been a talking point while he has played through knee issues, and his only absences have come in the past two seasons. That, coupled with the Panthers’ current offensive tackle setup, could result in further speculation regarding his outlook beyond 2026.
Carolina added Rasheed Walker in free agency on a one-year deal. The team then spent its first-round pick in the draft on Monroe Freeling. The Georgia product could operate as the Panthers’ swing tackle as a rookie before becoming a starter somewhere on the offensive line. Ikem Ekwonu is also in the fold, but he is recovering from a torn patellar tendon which threatens to see him miss considerable time this season.
2026 marks Ekwonu’s fifth-year option campaign, so the Panthers will need to decide on a long-term commitment in his case relatively soon. The former No. 6 pick has been a full-time starter when healthy, and he hopes to remain in Carolina beyond the current campaign. A new deal for Ekwonu would of course increase the chances of Walker departing after one season, but Moton’s status will also be key in determining when (and where) Freeling will find himself playing once he takes on first-team duties.
Moton, 32 in August, is due roughly $14.2MM in 2026 and $21.5MM the following year. With none of his base salary for 2027 guaranteed at this point, though, the possibility of his Panthers tenure ending will no doubt be raised next offseason. If that were to take place, Moton may look to continue his career elsewhere based on his current stance regarding retirement.
Browns’ Deshaun Watson Leading QB Competition; Ownership Pushing For Watson To Start?
MAY 1: During a Friday appearance on 92.3 The Fan, Monken confirmed his preference would be to have a QB1 in place to start training camp. He added, though, that the split of first-team reps during the team’s remaining spring practices may not be a final indication regarding Cleveland’s approach under center with preseason contests still providing an opportunity for the depth chart to change.
APRIL 30: The 2026 regular season is still four-plus months from kicking off, but first-year Browns head coach Todd Monken wants to identify his starting quarterback by the end of the team’s June 9-11 minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Monken still has several weeks to make his choice, but Deshaun Watson currently has the “edge” over Shedeur Sanders, according to Cabot.
This comes as a surprise after Sanders appeared to be the frontrunner three weeks ago. As a fifth-round pick last year, Sanders finished his rookie season as the Browns’ starter. Despite posting poor numbers, Sanders earned a Pro Bowl invite as an alternate. Meanwhile, Watson has not taken the field since he ruptured his Achilles on Oct. 20, 2024. The three-time Pro Bowler ruptured it again in January 2025, forcing him to miss all of last season.
The Browns made perhaps the worst trade in league history when they sent four picks (three first-rounders and a third-rounder) to the Texans for Watson in March 2022. They immediately handed Watson a fully guaranteed $230MM over five years, which has gone down as another disastrous decision.
While facing widespread sexual misconduct allegations, Watson opened his Browns tenure serving an 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Injuries have held him to just 19 starts since then. The Browns have gone 9-10 with Watson at the helm. To worsen matters, they have been forced to repeatedly restructure his bloated contract. They did so for the fourth time last month.
Although Watson’s deal will finally expire after this season, the Browns will still spread an $86.2MM dead money charge from 2027-28. Owner Jimmy Haslam, who has paid a cripplingly expensive price for almost no production from Watson, admitted last April that acquiring him was a “big swing and miss.” Over a year later, though, the Haslams (Jimmy and wife Dee) are making a behind-the-scenes push for Watson to start, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom relays.
“Jimmy Haslam has paid this guy $180MM and he’s got nothing to show for it,” one general manager told La Canfora. “He’s trying to get blood from a stone but it’s not going to work. Watson is done.”
If Watson proves to be “done,” it could eventually lead to opportunities for Sanders and/or the rest of the Browns’ signal-callers. Dillon Gabriel and 2026 sixth-rounder Taylen Green are also in the team’s QBs room, but it does not appear they are under serious consideration for the starting gig. Rather, they are vying for a “developmental spot,” Cabot writes. It is more likely Gabriel and Green will receive third- and fourth-team work, leaving Watson and Sanders to divide the starting reps.
Monken has left the door open for Green, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound dual threat, to take the field in specialty packages (via Cabot). If the former Boise State and Arkansas starter impresses enough to earn a roster spot, Gabriel could be on his way out just a year after the Browns spent a third-rounder on him. The Browns may have trouble getting Gabriel on their practice squad, notes Cabot, who points to a trade as a possibility.
Gabriel made six underwhelming starts for the Browns after they traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals last October. He lost the job to Sanders after suffering a concussion in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens. Depending on how the next few months unfold, that may prove to be Gabriel’s last meaningful appearance with the Browns.
Commanders Not Interested In Trading For 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
The draft came and went without a Brandon Aiyuk resolution emerging. A parting of ways with the 49ers is still expected in his case, with the Commanders looming as his likeliest destination.
Aiyuk has three years remaining on his contract, one which no longer includes any guaranteed salary. San Francisco’s preference would be to execute a trade and by doing so recoup draft capital for player who received a $30MM-per-year investment from the team in 2024. Suitors, on the other hand, are positioned to wait for a release and approach Aiyuk as a free agent.
Washington is among them in that regard. Matt Barrows and Nicku Jhabvala of The Athletic report the Commanders are viewed around the league as being “steadfast in their unwillingness” to work out a trade for Aiyuk. The team’s plan remains a free agent signing of the 28-year-old. Barrows and Jhabvala unsurpisingly add Washington is eyeing a short-term deal laden with incentives if/when Aiyuk hits the open market.
The former first-rounder will obviously not be able to match the four-year, $120MM pact he landed in 2024 when his next contract is worked out. Nevertheless, Aiyuk could offer a boost to a Washington offense which still has Terry McLaurin in the fold but remains on track to lose Deebo Samuel. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in the 49ers’ front office when Aiyuk was drafted. A signing would allow for a reunion on that front along with one between Aiyuk and quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Aiyuk seemed at various points to be on track for a return to the fold in 2025 after his previous season had been cut short by ACL and MCL tears. He never returned to the team, however, a factor which contributed to the rift which has become clearer over time. The 49ers have engaged in trade talks regarding Aiyuk, but Barrows and Jhabvala confirm the team is no rush to proceed with a release at this time. It could be until well into the summer before Aiyuk becomes available depending on the how willing the Commanders are to avoid a trade agreement.
During a recent Pat McAfee Show appearance, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted the 49ers have still had difficulties getting in touch with Aiyuk. Notably, he added the same is also true of other teams which could be interested in acquiring him. Communication with the Commanders in particular could go a long way in bringing this saga toward its conclusion, and it will be interesting to see if things pick up soon in that regard.
NFL Mailbag: Rams, Simpson, Steelers, Panthers, Draft
This week's edition of the PFR Mailbag touches on a few draft-related topics. Questions regarding the Panthers' offensive line situation, among others, are also answered.
Luke asks:
Will the Rams benefit from taking [Ty] Simpson or could they have gotten a veteran QB down the line and replaced [Matthew] Stafford without sacrificing the No. 13 pick?
I feel safe in predicting there will be some benefit for the Rams with Simpson. The question is obviously when that will be the case and whether or not his presence (for 2026 and beyond) will outweigh the impact of another player Los Angeles could have taken.