Jaguars’ Nate Boerkircher Pick Driven By Anticipated Run On TEs
The Jaguars were without a first-round choice in the 2026 draft due to their 2025 draft-day blockbuster that gave them the right to select Travis Hunter. So Jacksonville was not on the clock this year until pick No. 56, which the team used to select Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, that pick was seen as something of a reach, but perhaps not as much as it might appear. Multiple teams graded Boerkircher as the best blocking TE in the class, and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (video link) reports the Jags believed there was going to be a run on tight ends around the time they made their pick.
That turned out to be the case. After the Jets chose Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 16 selection, the next tight end did not come off the board until No. 54, when the Eagles picked Eli Stowers. After Boerkircher went to Jacksonville, four of the next 17 picks were TEs. Per Wolfe, if the Jags did not choose Boerkircher, he would have been taken by the end of the second round (perhaps by the Rams, who share a similar team-building philosophy and who took Ohio State TE Max Klare at No. 61).
Wolfe adds that the Jaguars expect to play more “12” personnel (two-tight end sets) in ‘26. That means Boerkircher will share the field with Brenton Strange, an extension candidate who took over for Evan Engram as Jacksonville’s top receiving TE last year. In just 12 games, the 2023 draftee amassed 540 yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions.
Boerkircher, on the other hand, had limited production as a receiver in college. He did have more opportunities in that regard during his one year at College Station than he had during his extended stay at Nebraska, but over the course of 52 college contests, he caught just 38 balls for 417 yards and four TDs.
It sounds as if the Jaguars are bullish on Boerkircher’s pass-catching upside, as Wolfe says he will represent another downfield option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Head coach Liam Coen was asked about his top rookie after Day 2 of the draft, and he had high praise for all facets of Boerkircher’s game.
“[Boerkircher is] the type of player, type of person that we’re trying to hunt up here,” Coen said (via Paul Bretl of Jaguars Wire). “Attitude, toughness. Mentally and physically tough. I think has a lot more in his body than was probably displayed throughout the season when they were throwing the ball a lot to those wideouts. Every opportunity he had throughout the offseason process to go put it on tape that he could and that there was that in his body and that he did have those capabilities, it showed up in a major way.”
Latest On Texans’ OL Keylan Rutledge; Team Was Prepared To Trade Back Into Round 1 For DT Kayden McDonald
With their first selection (No. 26 overall) in the 2026 draft, the Texans added Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, who was seen as a reach in certain circles. NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah had Rutledge as the 47th-ranked player on his board, and we recently heard some members of the Seahawks’ front office graded Seattle fifth-round pick Beau Stephens more highly than Rutledge.
Still, the division-rival Titans were prepared to make Rutledge a first-round choice as well, and one NFC executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the former Yellow Jacket was the top guard in the class (ahead of even Vega Ioane, who went to the Ravens at No. 14 overall). Fowler – who reported prior to the draft that Houston had done a great deal of work on Rutledge – says Texans brass “identified him as a favorite.”
General manager Nick Caserio’s other offseason moves (which included signing longtime Browns guard Wyatt Teller and re-signing 2025 RG1 Ed Ingram) make it unclear exactly where Rutledge will line up as a rookie or if he will begin his pro career as a reserve. If a guard spot is not an option, he could compete with Jake Andrews for the starting center job.
Just as Caserio traded up several spots in the first round to secure the opportunity to select Rutledge, he did the same in the second round to grab Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald at No. 36. Caserio swung a deal with the Raiders to move up from No. 38, but as Fowler reports, the Texans GM was prepared to go as high as No. 33 and even explored a trade back into the first round after selecting Rutledge.
That underscores the Texans’ belief in McDonald, who should find a notable role in the club’s DT rotation alongside returnees Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai. Houston, which boasted perhaps the best defense in the league in 2025, lost Tim Settle to free agency, thereby opening an immediate vacancy for McDonald.
Consistent with a report made by NFL insider Jordan Schultz when the Texans turned in the card for McDonald, Fowler says there was some belief the Giants – who had traded DT Dexter Lawrence before the draft and who held the No. 37 choice – may be a threat for the Ohio State alum. Perhaps out of fear of losing one of his top targets to another team, Caserio made sure to leapfrog Big Blue, though a New York source told Fowler that CB Colton Hood was the player they wanted all along.
Bears Could Still Add Pass Rusher; Team Was High On CB Colton Hood
The Bears entered the 2026 draft with a major pass rushing need, and our mock draft predicted Chicago would address that need in the first round. However, the team did not use any of their seven picks on a pass rusher, so as Albert Breer of SI.com writes, it would not be surprising to see the Bears fortify their Montez Sweat-fronted EDGE contingent with a veteran at some point in the near future.
There are still a number of recognizable names on the market, including players like Jadeveon Clowney, Cameron Jordan, Joey Bosa, Von Miller, and Haason Reddick. We recently heard Clowney is drawing interest, though it is presently unclear which teams are considering him. As Breer observes, Clowney fits the mold of the long, rugged pass rusher that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen favors, and Jordan and Allen spent a number of years together with the Saints. Either of those players could be a fit for Chicago, even if (as Breer suggests) such a deal might not come together until we get closer to training camp.
Meanwhile, the team will continue to evaluate Dayo Odeyingbo, whose first season with the Bears was cut short by a torn Achilles. Through eight games in 2025, the former Colt recorded just one sack, and 2024 fifth-rounder Austin Booker – another key piece of Chicago’s pass rushing plans last season – missed time due to injury as well. Booker ultimately posted 4.5 sacks in 10 games, and the Bears tallied the fifth-fewest sacks in the league.
That led to the speculation that GM Ryan Poles would add a true pass rushing talent this offseason, but that has not happened yet (although Poles did at least explore the possibility of acquiring Maxx Crosby from the Raiders). Despite winning the NFC North and narrowly missing a trip to the NFC championship game in 2025, the Bears finished in the bottom-10 in terms of both total defense and scoring defense, so an established EDGE player or two would surely help spur another deep postseason run.
Poles did authorize eight-figure contracts for safety Coby Bryant and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in free agency, and he further fortified those positions in the draft with S Dillon Thieneman (No. 25 overall) and DT Jordan van den Berg (No. 213). According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears believe they got a steal in both players, as they did not expect Thienemen to fall to them and think van den Berg was one of the most talented DTs in his class (his sixth-round status notwithstanding).
Fowler says Chicago was also interested in cornerback Colton Hood, whom the Giants selected with the No. 37 choice. If Thienemen was unavailable, as the Bears thought he would be, Hood may have been the selection at No. 25.
Browns’ Starting OL Appears Set; Zak Zinter’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
The Browns will deploy their first pick in this year’s draft, Spencer Fano, at left tackle, which officially locks offseason trade acquisition Tytus Howard into the right tackle job, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic confirms. Likewise, free agent signee Zion Johnson is entrenched in the left guard role, and neither he nor Howard will be moved from their respective spots unless there is an injury or unexpected development.
Given Howard’s experience at multiple positions on the offensive line and the fact that Fano worked on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons, it was theoretically possible Howard – the first major addition to the Browns’ O-line this year – would at least open his Cleveland tenure on the blind side (or even at one of the guard slots, depending on how the team’s offseason and draft unfolded). But the Johnson and Elgton Jenkins signings, Teven Jenkins re-up, and Fano decision have clarified the Browns’ wishes for their starting front.
While head coach Todd Monken recently stopped short of confirming Elgton Jenkins would man the center position, the nature of the former Packer’s contract (two years, $24MM) suggests he will start, and neither Teven Jenkins nor Johnson have experience at the pivot. Jackson confirms Elgton Jenkins will become the starting center once he recovers from the lower leg fracture that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
Therefore, Fano at LT, Johnson at LG, Elgton Jenkins at C, Teven Jenkins at RG, and Tytus Howard at RT appears to be the preferred alignment. Jackson does say Jenkins (who started just four games in ‘25, his first year with the club) is the right guard “for now,” thus leaving open the possibility he could be usurped by an incumbent player or yet another outside addition.
For instance, third-round rookie Austin Barber may push Teven Jenkins for RG duties, as Jackson notes. Cleveland made a significant move up the board on Day 2 of the draft to land Barber, who played both left and right tackle as a collegian. In addition to a possible guard battle with Teven Jenkins, Barber will vie for the swing tackle role along with Dawand Jones and KT Leveston.
Meanwhile, Luke Wypler and fifth-round rookie Parker Brailsford will battle each other for the backup center gig — Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says Brailsford actually has a real chance to win the starting job over Elgton Jenkins — and Kendrick Green is also in the mix for a job as an interior reserve. Zak Zinter, a third-round choice in 2024, saw barely any action last season, and Jackson suggests in a separate piece the Michigan product may no longer have a place on the roster. Zinter worked behind Johnson as the second-team LG in voluntary minicamp.
Broncos Extend GM George Paton
MAY 10: Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans of the Denver Post report the Paton extension was “hammered out” over the past couple of weeks. The deal was obviously expected at some point, but Paton and the team wanted to remain focused on the draft before turning their attention to the GM’s own contract status.
Payton, who spent his entire Saints career working with one GM in Mickey Loomis, is happy to have Paton in place for the long haul.
“I said to [Paton], I said, ‘Man, I consider myself very fortunate to have been with one General Manager in New Orleans who I would call a very close friend and a great working partner,’ and then to find another person like George,” Payton said at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “I know that we both feel the same way. We love the grind together. He’s a tremendous asset and all, and he’s very good at what he does. I think we complement each other. I am super excited for him. I said that to you guys at the [scouting combine], it was just a matter of time. We think alike in a lot of cases.”
MAY 8: As expected, George Paton has landed a new agreement in Denver. The Broncos’ general manager signed a five-year deal on Friday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Before the 2025 season had ended, a Paton extension emerged as a likely goal for the Broncos. The veteran had one year remaining on his contract prior to today’s news. Now, though, Paton is on the books through 2030 on a deal which has since been confirmed via a team announcement.
Head coach Sean Payton has of course wielded considerable power since arriving in 2023. The ex-Saints Super Bowl winner has formed a strong tandem with Paton, and in February he expressed confidence an agreement would be worked out. The Paton-Payton pairing will continue for years to come as the Broncos look to build off their recent success. That includes earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed this past year.
“As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton,” a statement from owner Greg Penner reads. “I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
After time with the Bears and Dolphins, Paton joined the Vikings in 2007. He worked his way up to assistant general manager, serving in that capacity from 2007-20. Paton also held the title of VP of player personnel during his Minnesota stint. A return to the Vikings was floated as a possibility after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing, but the Broncos’ desire for a long-term agreement remained. Minnesota’s GM spot is still vacant at this point and Paton, 56, will be staying put.
Denver’s post-Peyton Manning cold spell continued upon Paton’s arrival. The team posted a losing record in each of his first three years at the helm, and moves such as the Nathaniel Hackett hire and the Russell Wilson trade certainly did not pay off. Despite carrying a massive dead money charge in the wake of Wilson’s release, though, the Broncos have managed to rebound thanks to Paton’s roster-building moves. Denver reached the playoffs as a No. 7 seed in 2024, and this past campaign saw the team host the AFC title game.
Quarterback Bo Nix‘s ankle injury kept him out of that contest, but expectations will be high in his case individually and that of the Broncos in general for years to come. Paton has managed to retain a strong core on defense and along the offensive line, and he recently swung a deal for receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move should help shore up the receiver position as the Broncos look for more consistent play in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. Attaining that goal should set the team up for another playoff run.
The Broncos’ original long-term investment in Paton provided a strong return. Penner and Co. will hope this second one continues a run of productive moves in the front office. With Payton’s job security certainly not an issue at this point, organizational stability for the foreseeable future can be expected in Denver’s case.
Vikings’ Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Will Have ‘True Competition’ For Starting Job
The Vikings entered the 2025 season hoping to smoothly transition to J.J. McCarthy as their long-term starting quarterback.
That never came to pass. The former No. 10 pick completed just 57.6% of his passes with more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). He also missed time due to three different injuries and, overall, did not show signs of being a franchise QB.
Minnesota then brought in Kyler Murray after he was released by the Cardinals, adding another, more proven passer to their quarterback room. Since Arizona is still paying him $36.8MM this year, the former No. 1 pick was available for a veteran minimum salary, making him a hot commodity on the free agent market. He quickly agreed to a deal with the Vikings, indicating that he would have a chance at their starting quarterback job. But the question remained: would Murray have to take the job from McCarthy, or would the two begin offseason practices on equal footing?
An initial answer has come via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who said on the Rich Eisen Show that the Vikings “envision it being a true competition: Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy.”
On paper, Murray should have a substantial advantage. He has 87 career starts to McCarthy’s 10 with a significantly better completion percentage and passer rating in 2025. But Murray will be learning a new offense in Minnesota, while McCarthy will be entering his third year in Kevin O’Connell‘s system.
It is worth noting that Pelissero specifically mentioned those two quarterbacks as part of the competition and not Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer, who are also in the team’s quarterback room. Brosmer was abysmal in his two starts last year, but Wentz statistically outperformed McCarthy nearly across the board. In theory, that would make him a worthy competitor for the starting job, but Minnesota moved in Murray’s direction and seems more inclined to keep Wentz as a third-stringer.
‘Soft’ Market For Seahawks Sale
The Seahawks appear to be one of the best-positioned teams in the NFL.
They have a young, proven head coach in Mike Macdonald, an apparent franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold, one of the league’s best wide receivers in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and a deep, diverse well of talent on defense.
Despite that, the pending sale of the club has a weaker-than-expected market, per ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, with one NFL owner describing it as “soft.” Wickersham adds that there is less interest in the Seahawks than there was in the Broncos and the Commanders, the last two franchises to change hands.
The Walton-Penner family paid $4.65 billion for the Broncos in 2022, and a Josh Harris-led group purchased the Commanders for $6.05 billion in 2023. A commensurate increase three years later would price the Seahawks at $10.25 billion.
The team’s price tag was initially expected to match or exceed that number, but projections have since dropped closer to $9 billion. That would still be the highest sale price of an NFL team, though it falls substantially below the Dolphins’ recent $12.5 billion valuation.
There are a limited number of potential buyers with known interest in the team with tech billionaires Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook already ruled out. Wyc Grousbeck and Vinod Khosla are leading ownership groups preparing for bids, and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has also been mentioned, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Apostolopoulos was interested in purchasing the Commanders in 2023, though he told Wickersham that he is “not pursuing the Seahawks.” If there are only two ownership groups vying for the Seahawks, that will limit the potential for a bidding war that could push the sale price into eight digits.
The lack of interest is multifaceted. The number of individuals with enough wealth to lead an ownership group is already small, and league rules mandate a 30% down payment – ranging from $2.7 to upwards of $3 billion – from the new majority owner.
The circumstances of the sale give potential buyers “significant leverage,” Wickersham adds. Longtime Seahawks owner Paul Allen passed away in 2018, leaving behind instructions for the team to be sold with the proceeds donated to charity. His sister, Jody Allen, has initiated that process after eight years. Selling to fulfill a mandate rather than by choice will push down the price. Allen’s estate had the same directive for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, who were sold for $4.2 billion in 2025, significantly lower than the sales of the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers in the same year. (The Celtics and the Lakers are substantially more successful franchises with storied histories, but that is still a depreciated price for an asset that is always increasing in value.)
Other local concerns include the potential for an NBA franchise to return to Seattle almost 20 years after the Supersonics departed for Oklahoma City. The city’s MLS team, the Sounders, who share Lumen Field with the Seahawks, are also exploring a new, soccer-specific stadium, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. Potential Seahawks buyers could be more interested in bringing basketball back to Seattle, and hammering out stadium situations for all three teams could get complicated both politically and financially.
Odell Beckham Jr. Seeking Offensive Role; No Giants Offer Imminent
A reunion between Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants remains something to watch for. A deal should not be expected until at least the summer, however.
Beckham took part in a visit last month, and his interest in a New York deal has been matched by head coach John Harbaugh. The two overlapped in Baltimore for the 2023 season. Beckham has hardly played since then, but he is aiming for a 2026 deal. It remains to be seen if the Giants will make an offer.
“Talked to Odell a lot, probably three of four times in the last week, [see] where he’s at, where we’re at,” Harbaugh said on Saturday (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “The goal for right now is for him to train and get as ready as he can be. And then we’ll see where we’re at at that time.”
Harbaugh added he is optimistic Beckham, 33, can “make a team in the National Football League right now.” The former Pro Bowler is eyeing the opportunity to contribute as a regular on offense, Harbaugh noted. Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano confirms Beckham’s goal for 2026 is landing with a team which will ensure him a role as opposed to simply operating as a training camp participant. He adds New York’s hesitancy regarding a contract is an indication the team is still unsure if Beckham can serve in that capacity.
The Giants are set to have Malik Nabers back atop the receiver depth chart next season when he returns from an ACL tear. The team also has Darius Slayton in place as a returnee, along with free agent signings Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. New York used a third-round pick on Malachi Fields during last month’s draft.
Each of those wideouts can be assured of a roster spot, leaving little room for a Beckham deal if he is seen as a rotational contributor at this point of his career. Harbaugh noted team and player will “play it out” through spring practices and into training camp before a final decision is made. The Giants currently find themselves mid-pack in terms of cap space with roughly $12MM available. The possibility of a low-cost Beckham investment will linger unless he manages to line up a deal with another team over the coming weeks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/26
Here are Saturday’s minor NFL moves:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Javin Wright
- Waived (with non-football injury designation): RB Michael Wiley
Wright agreed to terms with Tampa Bay shortly after the draft but was not included among the team’s initial undrafted free agent class. The Nebraska product’s arrival required a corresponding roster move, and Wiley has been let go. A former UDFA himself, Wiley finished 2025 on the Buccaneers’ practice squad before signing a futures deal in January.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/26
Here are the rookies who inked their four-year deals on Saturday:
New England Patriots
- TE Eli Raridon (third round, Notre Dame)
- EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins (seventh round, Boston College)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Daylen Everett (third round, Georgia)
- G Gennings Dunker (third round, Iowa)
- TE/FB Riley Nowakowski (fifth round, Indiana)