QB Nathan Peterman Retires
Longtime NFL quarterback Nathan Peterman is hanging up his cleats, but the 32-year-old will remain in the game in a different capacity. Peterman is working to become a certified NFL agent with Range Sports, which represented him as a player, according to Irving Mejia-Hilario of Sports Business Journal.
“I got to live through what I’m now getting tested on in the CBA,” Peterman told Mejia-Hilario. “Being up and down on a roster, being put on IR, negotiating contracts. I hope I can help a younger person that’s on a similar journey.”
Peterman, who divided his college career between Tennessee and Pittsburgh, became a pro when the Bills chose him in the fifth round of the 2017 draft. He spent two years in Buffalo, where he struggled over eight appearances and four starts.
Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott briefly benched Tyrod Taylor and turned to Peterman for his first career start in a Week 11 game against the Chargers in 2017. It was a short-lived promotion for Peterman, who threw five first-half interceptions in a 54-24 loss and lost the job at halftime. Taylor held the reins for the rest of the season and helped the Bills to a 9-7 finish, ending their 17-year playoff drought, but suffered a concussion late in their wild-card game in Jacksonville. Peterman came in and tossed an interception with 1:16 left to clinch a 10-3 win for the Jaguars.
During the 2018 offseason, Buffalo shook up its quarterback room when it traded Taylor to Cleveland and drafted Josh Allen seventh overall. With the goal of easing Allen into the league, McDermott named Peterman the Week 1 starter. However, he was once again unable to get through a full game. After Peterman went 5 for 18 for 24 yards and two interceptions, McDermott yanked him late in a 40-3 loss to the Ravens. Allen came on in relief and then took over as the Bills’ starter, a job he has not relinquished. Peterman’s last start as a Bill came when he filled in for an injured Allen in Week 9 against the Bears. He completed 31 of 49 attempts for 188 yards and three picks in a 41-9 loss. The Bills cut him eight days later.
After the Bills moved on from Peterman, he had stints with the Raiders, Bears, Saints and Falcons. His fifth and final start came with Chicago in Week 18 of the 2022 campaign. Peterman threw a touchdown and no interceptions in an 11-of-19, 104-yard performance, but the Bears fell 29-13 to the Vikings. The loss clinched the No. 1 pick for Chicago, which traded it to Carolina in a blockbuster that significantly altered the courses of both franchises. Peterman, meanwhile, never attempted another regular-season pass in the league, leaving him with a 53.1% completion rate, four TDs, 13 INTs and a 39.4 rating.
Peterman, most recently a member of Atlanta’s practice squad in 2024, worked out for the Jets, Lions and 49ers last year. None of those teams gave him a contract. Neither did the Broncos, who had Peterman in for a tryout just a few weeks ago. After they passed on signing him, Peterman will turn his attention to a new career in the game.
Browns Trade Myles Garrett To Rams
JUNE 3: The third-rounder in 2029 is conditional, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. It will turn into a first-rounder if the Rams trade Garrett to a team in the Browns’ division, the AFC North.
JUNE 1, 11:20pm: Both teams have announced the trade. It is indeed Garrett for Verse, a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder.
12:23pm: Myles Garrett‘s time in Cleveland is coming to an end. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is being traded from the Browns to the Rams, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report.
The full trade terms, per Schefter, consist of Garrett being traded for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a second-round selection in 2028 and a 2029 third-rounder. This swap is not official yet, as Browns GM Andrew Berry confirms (video link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). Once it is processed, though, it will no doubt go down as a seminal moment for both franchises.
[RELATED: Fallout From Browns-Rams Blockbuster]
Schefter reports Garrett has chosen to waive his no-trade clause to allow for this deal to take place. He will retain that clause upon arrival in Los Angeles. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes, today’s stunning swap represents the first time in history a reigning Defensive Play of the Year has been dealt.
Garrett has been the subject of trade speculation since he requested to be dealt last spring. That request was rescinded when a then-record extension was worked out. The seven-time Pro Bowler seemed to be in position to remain with Cleveland for years to come, but questions continued to be raised after the 2025 campaign saw him add further to his long list of accolades without any accompanying team success. Indeed, whispers about a trade lingered through the 2026 offseason.
In March, the Browns restructured Garrett’s contract in a way which did not add any new money or years to the pact. Nevertheless, the payment dates for his option bonuses were pushed back to one week before the start of the regular season. That move extended the window of opportunity for a trade – something Cleveland has denied would be taking place on multiple occasions – to be worked out.
June 1 is always a key checkpoint on the NFL calendar, and it was recently labeled the time after which a Garrett trade could occur. Just like the case of A.J. Brown, a deal formally being worked out any time after 3:00pm this afternoon will greatly impact the salary cap implications of the deal. Proceeding with this trade in a post-June 1 fashion will generate $8.34MM in cap savings for Cleveland with a $41MM dead money charge being spread out (and accounting for $15.53MM in 2026). Garrett’s contract runs through 2030.
Per Rapoport (video link), the Rams engaged in trade talks with the Browns shortly after the contract adjustment was made. Their efforts continued through the draft, with Cleveland remaining steadfast in rejecting offers. Things changed when Los Angeles general manager Les Snead offered to include Verse in the deal, though. Negotiations on an adjusted package of picks have now resulted in an agreement. Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Rams informed Verse of the news earlier today.
Garrett has made clear his intention of playing on a contending team particularly toward the latter stages of his career. This blockbuster trade will help in that regard; the Rams fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance in 2025 and have made other win-now moves on defense since then. Garrett will join cornerback Trent McDuffie as a new face tasked with elevating Los Angeles’ defense while the teams seeks out another high-end campaign from quarterback Matthew Stafford and Co. on offense.
The Rams were a strong Brown suitor, but Breer notes their inability to acquire him helped set up this Garrett push. Another lucrative pact – one which averages $40MM per year – is now on the books, but Los Angeles will have a future Hall of Famer leading the way along a defensive front which was already among the league’s best. This acquisition will further deprive the Rams of draft capital (which was critical in establishing the post-Aaron Donald core on defense); then again, Snead’s stance when it comes to picks is rather well known.
Verse, whom Schefter notes was born in Dayton, Ohio, has enjoyed a strong start to his career. The 2024 first-rounder took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors while thriving in a full-time starting role. Last season, the 25-year-old collected a second Pro Bowl nod in as many years while posting 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. His rookie contract runs through 2028, and Cleveland could keep him in place for a longer period via the fifth-year option.
Since Verse is five years younger than Garrett, he will align better with the roster reset Berry is overseeing. The 2025 class offered promising early results with respect to a new core emerging for Cleveland. The fate of the quarterback position beyond 2026 is unclear, but additional capital should help yield options on that front or at least provide upgrades at other spots.
In a series of remarks which have proved to provide noteworthy foreshadowing, new Browns head coach Todd Monken said earlier on Monday (video link via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan) he was not given any assurances upon being hired about Garrett remaining with the team. Instead of having the single-season sack record holder in the fold for his first year leading an NFL team, Monken will be tasked with integrating Verse and developing the group of younger players brought in via Cleveland’s haul of draft picks.
Lions Add Chris Grier To Front Office
Lions general manager Brad Holmes is adding another experienced voice to his front office. Holmes has hired former Dolphins GM Chris Grier as a personnel executive, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After the Dolphins struggled to a 2-7 start in 2025, they and the 56-year-old Grier parted ways on Halloween. The split ended a long run in Miami for Grier, who began his tenure with the organization as a scout in 2000. Grier worked his way up from there to become the Dolphins’ GM in 2016, though he did not have full autonomy at first. He reported to vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum until his late-2018 demotion.
Grier’s time atop the Dolphins’ front office included a pair of head coaching hires in Brian Flores (2019) and Mike McDaniel (2022). His first-round draft picks consisted of Laremy Tunsil, Charles Harris, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Chop Robinson and Kenneth Grant. Grier spent other first-rounders on veterans Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb in high-profile trades. Out of that group, only Robinson and Grant are still with the organization.
Tagovailoa looked like a franchise quarterback at times in Miami, leading Grier to authorize a four-year, $212.4MM extension with $167.1MM guaranteed in July 2024. That decision proved disastrous for the Dolphins, who released the former fifth overall pick this past March and ate a record-breaking $99.2MM in dead money. They are spreading that money out over the next two years, meaning Tagovailoa will be on their books through 2027. The same goes for Chubb. Tagovailoa, Hill and Chubb will combine to count over $96MM in dead money against the Dolphins’ cap this season. Former Grier acquisitions like Waddle, Fitzpatrick and Jalen Ramsey are also among ex-Dolphins who are eating into their cap to significant degrees.
Miami went to the playoffs three times with Grier as its GM and finished better than .500 in five seasons, but the team never won a playoff game. Rookie GM Jon Eric-Sullivan, Grier’s replacement, is now leading a full-fledged rebuild.
Retired DT Aaron Donald Mulling Return
11:58pm: Donald is adding more fuel to the fire. In a conversation with Jordan Schultz, the defensive lineman acknowledged that he’s considering a comeback.
“I’m for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva an opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.”
2:35pm: The Rams added an all-time great defender when they acquired pass rusher extraordinaire Myles Garrett from the Browns on Monday. Garrett may not be the last future Hall of Famer to join the Rams’ defense before the upcoming season. On the heels of the Garrett trade, it appears retired Ram Aaron Donald is mulling a comeback.
When ESPN’s Pat McAfee contacted Donald via text about a potential return in the wake of the Garrett blockbuster, the 35-year-old admitted, “It for sure got me thinking.” Donald added that he’s “gotta see if that fire can light back up” after two full years out of the NFL.
With the Rams still based in St. Louis at the time, they spent the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft on Donald. It quickly became one of the wisest decisions in franchise history, as Donald turned into one of the most dominant defensive tackles ever. He earned Pro Bowl honors in all 10 of his seasons, picked up eight first-team All-Pro selections (tied with Reggie White and Bruce Smith for most among D-linemen) and won the Defensive Player of the Year three times. Donald was also a major contributor on the Rams’ most recent Super Bowl-winning team in 2021.
The Rams were already atop the list of Super Bowl favorites for the upcoming campaign before they took a home run swing on Garrett. Although the trade cost them standout edge defender Jared Verse and three picks, including a 2027 first-rounder, they landed a player who set the single-season sack record (23) and won DPOY for the second time in 2025. Their odds of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy next February would only seem to improve with Donald, a well-known workout warrior who has stayed in shape in his post-playing days. With 111 sacks on his resume, he would join the likes of Garrett, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford to form a terrifying group up front.
When Donald walked away from the game in March 2024, there was one season left on the three-year, $95MM extension he signed in 2022. His retirement forced the Rams to spread $33MM in dead money over the previous two seasons ($24MM in 2024 and $9MM in ’25). Donald is off the team’s books now, but that will change if he makes the bombshell decision to return. The Rams have approximately $16.34MM in spending room, according to OverTheCap.
Steelers To Extend OLB Nick Herbig
The Steelers have agreed to an extension with outside linebacker Nick Herbig, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. It’s a four-year, $100MM deal with $42MM in guaranteed money. He is now under contract through 2030.
Herbig, who joined the Steelers as a fourth-round pick in 2023, had been in position to reach free agency next year. While Herbig came up as a potential trade candidate before April’s draft, general manager Omar Khan made it known he wanted to extend the former Wisconsin Badger. Several weeks later, Khan has achieved his goal.
Herbig is now the third expensive edge defender in Pittsburgh, which also has T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on pricey deals. The Steelers are spending $84MM along the edge, which ranks second behind the Texans’ $96MM, Mike Ginnitti of Spotrac notes. Watt, who is signed through 2028, is owed a guaranteed $32MM this year. Meanwhile, Highsmith is due a nonguaranteed $14.5MM this season. He could become a free agent after 2027.
With Watt and Highsmith playing prominent roles throughout Herbig’s career, the 24-year-old has only started in 11 of 45 games in the pros. To Herbig’s credit, though, he has put up impressive production when on the field. Having totaled 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles, Herbig is expected to receive more playing time under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in 2026.
Herbig played just 17% of defensive snaps as a rookie, but his snap share jumped under the former head coach-coordinator duo of Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin from 2024-25. He was on the field for 50% of plays in 2024 and 60% last season, a year in which the Steelers went without Watt for three games as a result of a collapsed lung.
Herbig took advantage of an increase in usage for the AFC North champions, leading all edge defenders in pass rush win rate and piling up a career-high 7.5 sacks in 15 games (six starts). He also tallied three forced fumbles and set career bests in tackles (30), QB hits (18), pass deflections (three) and interceptions (one). Pro Football Focus ranked Herbig’s performance a stellar sixth among 119 qualified edge defenders (Highsmith and Watt were 12th and 31st, respectively). Superstars Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Will Anderson, Aidan Hutchinson and Trey Hendrickson were the only players at the position who earned higher pass-rushing grades than Herbig.
With Herbig becoming the 10th current edge defender on a $100MM-plus contract, the 2027 free agent market has lost a big fish well in advance. Tuli Tuipulotu, Byron Young, Kayvon Thibodeaux, YaYa Diaby, Jermaine Johnson and Myles Murphy are still on track to become free agents in a year, but at least a few of those players will likely join Herbig in signing an extension this summer.
Now that Khan settled Herbig’s long-term future, his focus could turn to pending free agent cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Locking up the three-year starter is a priority for the Steelers, whose defense is currently the most expensive in the league.
Rams Pursued Myles Garrett In 2022; Multiple Teams Submitted Offers For Browns DE In 2026
The Rams traded for Myles Garrett in a blockbuster deal with the Browns on Monday, but this was not the first time they attempted to acquire the All-Pro pass rusher.
Los Angeles’ pursuit of Garrett dates back to 2022, per Jourdan Rodrigue and Zac Jackson of The Athletic, when they were looking to reload and chase back-to-back Super Bowls. The Browns were not interested in moving Garrett then, nor had he made any effort to leave Cleveland.
[RELATED: Rams Give Browns Chance To Capitalize On Sell-High Opportunity]
The Rams, who also sent the Panthers an offer of two first-rounders and a third for Brian Burns, considered trading for Garrett again the next year but instead opted for a soft reset year as they developed their young talent. The Rams re-engaged after the Browns adjusted Garrett’s contract earlier this offseason. General manager Andrew Berry insisted the alterations were unrelated to a potential trade, but he protested too much.
Multiple teams submitted offers for Garrett, with the Rams emerging as the most persistent suitor, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Their package – first-, second-, and third-round picks plus 2024 first-round edge rusher Jared Verse – was too good to pass up. (The third-rounder, slated for the 2029 draft, is conditional, according to Howard Balzer of Cardswire.)
“No regrets,” Berry said (via Jackson). “Why now? The opportunity was too great.” Unlike last year, he added, Garrett did not request a move out of Cleveland.
The opportunity Berry speaks of is twofold. First is getting a young, cost-controlled edge rusher whose advanced metrics outpace his traditional production, something that was likely especially appealing to the Browns’ analytically-minded front office. Verse cannot replace Garrett – no player can – but he will still ensure high-quality play off the edge that no one else on Cleveland’s roster could replicate.
Second, and more importantly for the Browns, is adding draft capital that will help them land their desired quarterback prospect in 2027. Cleveland has been stuck in a black hole at the position for years; its annual search for a starter is practically a running joke around the NFL. Garrett should still have years of high-level play left in him, but at 30 years old, he is an imperfect fit for the Browns’ timeline, which is centered around strong draft classes in the last two years and finding a franchise QB next year.
Negotiations between the Rams and the Browns took off this spring with both teams growing confident in a deal by April’s draft. That was part of the calculus in Los Angeles’ surprising first-round selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Solidifying the future of the position allowed the Rams to sacrifice future draft picks that could have otherwise been spent on a different Matthew Stafford successor. Locking down a cost-controlled QB on a rookie deal will also ease the financial strain of absorbing Garrett’s contract along with Trent McDuffie‘s extension and potential long-term deals with players like Puka Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske.
Dolphins C Aaron Brewer Seeking New Contract
The Dolphins entered the 2026 offseason embracing change. They hired a new head coach and general manager, signed quarterback Malik Willis, and traded star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos.
But Miami has also been focused on keeping the best parts of their team intact. They already signed De’Von Achane to a four-year, $64MM extension with rumored interest in new contracts for All-Pros Jordyn Brooks and Aaron Brewer.
There has been little news on the Brooks front, but Brewer has expressed his desire for a raise via an extension, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. The 28-year-old was not present at OTAs last week due to a family obligation, but he was present at mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. He participated in practice, indicating he is not staging a ‘hold-in’ to force movement on his contract.
Still, Brewer made it clear that he believes he should be paid significantly more than his current three-year, $21MM deal. The former Titan is in the final year of that contract, which will pay him just under $7MM after a restructure earlier this offseason. That amount is understandably unacceptable for Brewer, who is coming off an second-team All-Pro season and just saw Tyler Linderbaum take the center market to $27MM per year in March.
Brewer is still the 10th-highest-paid center in the NFL, but the gap between him and a top-five deal at $12MM per year or more was already substantial. Linderbaum’s contract has created a chasm in the market, and Brewer intends to capitalize on the rising center tide to lift his boat. Similarly-aged and -accomplished veterans like Connor McGovern, Luke Wattenberg, and Tyler Biadasz all received $10MM AAVs or higher within the last year, giving Brewer a solid floor for an extension.
The Dolphins scheduled their minicamp between their second and third sets of OTAs, so Brewer’s attendance next week could be indicative of progress on a deal (or lack thereof).
Steelers Work Out TE Robert Tonyan
The Steelers have already filled their coaching staff with Mike McCarthy‘s former assistants from his time in Green Bay, not to mention his longtime quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
Now, they may be considering another reunion, albeit a much lower-profile one. Pittsburgh hosted former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan for a tryout at their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Tonyan, 32, did not make a 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2017 and made his way to the Packers’ practice squad that December. He carved out a role on special teams in 2018 – McCarthy’s last season in Green Bay – before stepping into a blocking role on offense the following year. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder broke out in 2020, reeling in 52 of his 59 targets for 586 yards. His 88.1% catch rate and 11 touchdowns were both top-five marks league-wide.
A torn ACL sidelined Tonyan for much of the 2021 season, and though his numbers rebounded somewhat in 2022, he was not nearly as efficient or effective in the red zone. He signed with the Bears in 2023, but made just 11 catches for 112 yards across 17 games with a much bigger focus on blocking. He saw zero targets during his five games wtih the Vikings in 2024 and just one with the Chiefs last year, though he appeared in every game as a No. 3 blocking tight end and special teams contributor.
The Steelers are returning Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington from last year’s tight end room, but Jonnu Smith was released in March. Fifth-round pick Riley Nowakowski and undrafted free agent Lake McRee are currently positioned to compete for tertiary roles, but McCarthy may prefer a familiar veteran, especially one who can be trusted with blocking and special teams duties. Tonyan was also a major part of Rodgers’ 2020 MVP campaign, so their chemistry could also motivate a signing.
Commanders Sign TE Anthony Firkser
The Commanders have added some reinforcement at tight end. The team announced that they’ve signed veteran TE Anthony Firkser. To make room on the roster, the Commanders cut WR Ja’Corey Brooks.
Washington will represent the seventh team of Firkser’s career. The 2017 UDFA spent his first season bouncing around the NFL before he landed a gig with the Titans ahead of the 2018 campaign. He ended up spending four seasons in Tennessee, hauling in 106 catches in 58 games (three starts). His best showing came in 2020 when he hauled in 39 receptions for 387 yards and one touchdown.
Since his Titans stint ended after the 2021 season, Firkser has been on a tour of the league. He’s since had stints with the Falcons, Patriots, Lions (twice), Jets, and Chiefs. He’s coming off a 2025 campaign that he mostly spent in Detroit, where he caught eight passes for 53 yards.
The 31-year-old will face an uphill battle to make Washington’s 53-man roster. The Commanders seem set with their grouping of Chig Okonkwo, John Bates, and Ben Sinnott, but Firkser could potentially push for a spot as a fourth TE and special teamer.
Brooks joined the Commanders as a UDFA ahead of the 2025 season. He spent the majority of his rookie year on Washington’s practice squad, including a stint on the injured list. He was retained via a reserve/futures contract back in January.
Eagles Release DE Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham‘s latest stint with the Eagles has come to an end, but it might not take long for the defensive end to work his way back on the roster. Zach Berman of The Athletic reports that the Eagles have released the 38-year-old.
[RELATED: Eagles DE Brandon Graham To Play In 2026?]
However, Berman describes this as a “procedural” move. Graham inked a one-year deal last October that ended his temporary retirement. That pact was set to expire on June 3 unless the two sides worked out a new deal. A contract apparently didn’t come to fruition before the deadline, resulting in today’s release. Berman notes that Graham is still interested in returning to Philly for another season.
Graham has logged 215 appearances (106 starts) during his career, all of which has been spent with the Eagles. Since being selected in the first round of the 2010 draft, the defensive lineman has tallied 79.5 sacks and 128 tackles for loss. He’s also won a pair of championships with the organization.
The veteran saw a reduced role in recent years, culminating in a 2024 campaign where he earned a 19% snap share, the lowest of his career. Graham decided to hang up his cleats following that season, but he was coaxed out of retirement last October as the Eagles navigated injuries to their pass-rush corps. Despite 2025 representing Graham’s age-37 season, he still managed to compile three sacks and two tackles for loss in nine games.
The Eagles don’t currently have the need for excess edge depth. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt will once again lead the unit, and the front office reinforced the position with their trade for Jonathan Greenard and signing of Arnold Ebiketie. Graham was used a bit at defensive tackle in 2025, so that multi-positional versatility would work in his favor when it comes to a potential return. When you also consider his veteran leadership, it’s easy to imagine the Eagles eventually re-signing Graham, even if he’s only guaranteed a very limited defensive role.