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.
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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.
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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.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/2/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Miami Dolphins
- LB Jacob Rodriguez (second round, Texas Tech)
- WR Caleb Douglas (third round, Texas Tech)
- TE Will Kacmarek (third round, Ohio State)
- WR Chris Bell (third round, Louisville)
- EDGE Trey Moore (fourth round, Texas)
- LB Kyle Louis (fourth round, Pitt)
- S Michael Taaffe (fifth round, Texas)
- WR Kevin Coleman Jr. (fifth round, Missouri)
- G DJ Campbell (sixth round, Texas)
- EDGE Max Llewellyn (seventh round, Iowa)
The Dolphins have finally gotten around to inking most of their draft class to rookie contracts. The team isn’t done, however. The team’s two first-round picks, OT Kadyn Proctor and CB Chris Johnson (plus fifth-round TE Seydou Traore) remain unsigned.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/retired list: LB Markees Watts
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Derrick Graham
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DL Jalen Logan-Redding
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: LB Kobe King
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: S Makari Paige
49ers Sign S Ashtyn Davis
The 49ers have added some veteran depth to their secondary. The team announced that they’ve signed safety Ashtyn Davis to a one-year deal. To make room on the roster, the team has waived running back Jermar Jefferson.
The 2020 third-round pick out of California spent the first five seasons of his career with the Jets, where he alternated between full-time starter and part-time backup. Davis started 16 games between his first two professional campaigns, including a 2021 season where he tallied 62 tackles, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions.
Between 2022 and 2024, Davis was limited to only six starts, and he spent that 2022 campaign completely out of the defensive rotation (13 defensive snaps in 14 games). He still managed to contribute on special teams, and his 957 ST snaps over that span outpaced his 491 defensive reps.
Davis joined the Dolphins via a one-year, $3MM deal last offseason, and he had one of the most productive seasons of his career. He started 12 of his 15 appearances, finishing with a career-high 65 tackles to go along with four passes defended and an interception. Despite the uptick in snaps, Pro Football Focus wasn’t fond of his performance, ranking him 82nd among 91 qualifying safeties.
The 49ers return much of their safety depth from last season, including Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, and Marques Sigle. Jason Pinnock left via free agency, so Davis could soak up some of those leftover snaps. He’ll be competing with the likes of Derrick Canteen, Patrick McMorris, and Jalen Stroman.
Jefferson caught on with the 49ers just last week. The 26-year-old has seen time in 11 career games, collecting 129 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 26 touches.
Dolphins Sign WR Jalen Reagor
Wide receiver Jalen Reagor‘s career has not gone according to plan, but another team will give the former first-round pick a chance. The Dolphins announced they have signed Reagor to an undisclosed deal and waived safety/linebacker Jordan Colbert with a failed physical designation.
Owners of the 21st selection in the 2020 draft, the Eagles chose Reagor and left fellow receiver Justin Jefferson on the board. It quickly became apparent general manager Howie Roseman made a mistake. Jefferson, who went 22nd overall to the Vikings, has been one of the premier wideouts in the league throughout his career. Reagor, on the other hand, has never put it together in stints with the Eagles (2020-21), Vikings (2022, when he was teammates with Jefferson), Patriots (2023) and Chargers (2024). He has totaled just 86 catches and four touchdowns in 64 regular-season games.
After an eight-game, seven-catch 2024, the Chargers brought Reagor back for a second year last season. However, the 5-foot-11, 197-pounder ended up among the Chargers’ final cuts in late August. While they re-signed Reagor to their practice squad, they released him for good in October. He didn’t get into any games in 2025.
Last season’s Chargers had a more talented receiving corps than the Dolphins’ current group, which could give the 27-year-old Reagor a better chance to earn a roster spot. The rebuilding Dolphins traded No. 1 option Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos for three draft picks, including a 2026 first-rounder (which became cornerback Chris Johnson), leaving them with no proven starters. Along with Reagor, they have given short-term free agent contracts to Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Terrace Marshall. Holdover Malik Washington, third-rounders Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, and fifth-rounder Kevin Coleman Jr. are also among the pass catchers in the mix.
Reagor’s pact with the Dolphins will reunite him with pass game coordinator Kevin Patullo, who held the same position in Philadelphia in the receiver’s last year with the team (2021). While Reagor set career highs in catches (33) and touchdowns (two) then, he has not approached those modest numbers in any season since.
Colts Sign Fourth-Rounders Jalen Farmer, Bryce Boettcher; Draft Class Under Wraps
The Colts signed their two fourth-round picks, guard Jalen Farmer and linebacker Bryce Boettcher, to their four-year rookie deals on Tuesday. General manager Chris Ballard now has all eight members of the team’s 2026 draft class under contract.
Farmer, the 113th overall selection, began his college career at Florida in 2022 but transferred to Kentucky two years later. After seeing little playing time with the Gators, the 6-foot-5, 318-pounder became a two-year starter at right guard as a member of the Wildcats. Farmer possesses bulldozing skills as a run blocker and could eventually turn into an NFL starter, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
If he is going to emerge as an immediate starter in the pros, Farmer will have to beat out Matt Goncalves. As a third-round rookie in 2024, all of Goncalves’ snaps came at the tackle spots during a 17-game, eight-start season. It was a different story last year, as he lined up at right guard in 15 of his 16 starts. Pro Football Focus ranked Goncalves’ performance a solid 31st among 79 qualified guards. He could conceivably shift back to right tackle, where the Colts lost longtime starter Braden Smith to the Texans in free agency. Jalen Travis, a fourth-rounder in 2025, is the current favorite to take over for Smith.
The Colts were without a first-rounder thanks to last November’s Sauce Gardner blockbuster, leaving No. 54 overall as their top choice. They used that pick on former Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen, but that didn’t stop them from adding another LB, Boettcher, at No. 135.
The athletic Boettcher could have played professional baseball as an outfielder with the Houston Astros, who drafted him in the 13th round in 2024, but decided to stick with football. The former defensive back will enter the NFL off a pair of second-team All-Big Ten years at Oregon, where he was particularly effective last season. Over 15 games, Boettcher tallied a conference-high 136 tackles (5.5 for loss), two forced fumbles, a sack and an interception en route to first-team All-America honors.
Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, the Colts’ starting linebackers last season, are no longer on the roster. While Allen and free agent addition Akeem Davis-Gaither are the front-runners to replace them, Boettcher could at least contribute in a depth/special teams role in 2026.
Now that they have all of their picks under wraps, here is a look at the Colts’ group of rookies:
- Round 2, No. 53 (from Steelers): C.J. Allen (LB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 78: A.J. Haulcy (S, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 113: Jalen Farmer (G, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 135 (from Steelers)*: Bryce Boettcher (LB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 156: George Gumbs (EDGE, Florida) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 214 (from Steelers)*: Caden Curry (EDGE, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 237 (from Steelers): Seth McGowan (RB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 254*: Deion Burks (WR, Oklahoma) (signed)