Browns To Use Spencer Fano At LT
Cleveland managed to land the tackle atop its O-line board while doing so after collecting additional draft assets. The Browns had been steadily connected to a first-round trade-down effort, and the Chiefs accommodated them in moving up from No. 9 to No. 6 for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
It is debatable whether Kansas City needed to climb up for Delane, but the team was leery of New Orleans at No. 8. The Chiefs sent the Browns Nos. 9, 74 and 148 for the right to climb three spots in Round 1. The Browns would have taken Spencer Fano at No. 6, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, but viewed the Commanders and Saints as unlikely to draft a tackle at Nos. 7 and 8.
Browns GM Andrew Berry was correct in his calculations, though he still wanted to know if the Chiefs were climbing up to take Fano. The resilient front office boss asked Chiefs counterpart Brett Veach if he was planning to select an offensive or defensive player at 6; after Veach indicated a defensive path, Berry agreed to trade the pick. Fano became the draft’s first O-lineman chosen, and he will have a big responsibility to start his career.
The Browns will station Fano at left tackle, per Breer, despite the Utah product playing on the right side during his final two Utes seasons. Fano moved from LT to RT in 2024, however, accommodating Caleb Lomu. Utes offensive line coach Jim Harding told the Browns the team viewed Lomu as more of a strict LT type, Breer adds, while believing Fano had enough versatility to make the transition. He earned All-America acclaim at RT. The Browns will now ask the accomplished right tackle to move back to the higher-profile O-line position.
The Commanders had traded for Laremy Tunsil last March and then chose Josh Conerly Jr. in the 2025 first round. New Orleans had taken tackles with its first-round picks in each of the past two years (Taliese Fuaga, Kelvin Banks Jr.). That left the NFC teams as obvious candidates to avoid taking a tackle. While Berry would have needed to be concerned with one of those teams trading down to allow for another club to land Fano, he was proven right and ended up with the team’s preferred blocker from this draft.
Fano is the final piece of the Browns’ puzzle to complete a revamped O-line. The team traded for Tytus Howard, and the ex-Texans tackle/guard will play RT in Cleveland. The team then signed Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins and Teven Jenkins to round out its interior O-line. Elgton Jenkins has experience across the formation, but the recent Packers cap casualty is not certain to play center. Todd Monken did not confirm Elgton Jenkins would be the team’s starting center when asked (via ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi), but given Cleveland’s other moves up front, that seems likely.
Green Bay slid Elgton Jenkins from guard, where he received both his Pro Bowl invites, to center in 2025. A season-ending broken leg — an injury that also brought ligament damage — preceded the Packers re-signing C replacement Sean Rhyan and cutting Jenkins, who signed a two-year deal worth $24MM to join the Browns. Cleveland gave Elgton Jenkins $15MM guaranteed at signing, money that almost certainly has the versatile blocker ticketed to start.
Neither Johnson nor Teven Jenkins has played center as a pro. While the Browns roster former sixth-round pick Luke Wypler as a center option, Jenkins’ contract is above the backup level. As of early April, the door for Joel Bitonio to return remained open. Bitonio could come back and again bump Teven Jenkins to a second-string role, where he was most of last year, and the ex-Bears guard starter is attached to a one-year, $4MM deal.
As for Fano, he will be expected to start over injury-prone left tackle Dawand Jones. The latter is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has missed 27 games as a pro. A season-ending knee injury felled Jones in Week 3 of last season. After moving into Cleveland’s starting lineup, the Ohio State product will likely return to a reserve role to open the 2026 season.
Ravens Sign First-Round G Vega Ioane
The Ravens have acted quickly in getting first-round guard Vega Ioane under contract. The 14th overall pick has signed his rookie deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. Ioane will earn a fully guaranteed $24.23MM over four years. The contract also comes with a fifth-year option.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Ioane was a standout at Penn State, where he became a full-time starter at left guard in 2024. Ioane earned second-team All-Big Ten honors that year, and he improved to first-team honors last season. He was also a first-team All-American after putting together a second straight season without allowing a sack or taking a holding penalty. Ioane yielded just four pressures over 614 snaps in his last year with the Nittany Lions.
Considered the best pure guard in this year’s draft class, Ioane ended up as one of a whopping nine offensive linemen to come off the board in the first round. The Ravens could have lost out on Ioane if not for the Rams’ affinity for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Teams hoping to jump the Ravens for Ioane called the Rams about acquiring the 13th overall pick, but general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay stayed put to draft a potential QB of the future.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta and head coach Jesse Minter landed a plug-and-play starter in Ioane, though it is unclear whether he will line up on the left side in 2026. John Simpson, whom the Ravens signed to a three-year, $30MM contract in free agency, is more “comfortable” on the left than the right, Zrebiec notes. Regardless, Ioane and Simpson are poised to start next season, giving the Ravens two new No. 1s after they used Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele as 17-game starters last year. Vorhees is now ticketed for a bench role, while Faalele signed with the Giants and reunited with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
In addition to signing Ioane, the Ravens have inked fourth-round wide receiver Elijah Sarratt to a deal, Zrebiec relays. Sarratt enjoyed a productive three-year college career between James Madison and Indiana, where he combined for 200 catches and 31 touchdowns in 40 games. Sarratt was an integral part of the Hoosiers’ undefeated, national title-winning team in 2025. Serving as a key weapon for quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a strong complement to fellow receiver Omar Cooper Jr., Sarratt caught 65 passes for 830 yards and an NCAA-leading 15 scores. The Ravens snagged Sarratt at No. 115, 35 picks after they chose USC wideout Ja’kobi Lane at No. 80.
Chiefs, Seahawks, Vikings Showed Interest In RB Jonah Coleman
The Broncos ended up making Jonah Coleman this year’s fourth running back drafted. Not viewed as an RB class overflowing with talent, this year’s crop featured two first-rounders (both out of Notre Dame) and just one RB chosen on Day 2 (Indiana’s Kaelon Black, who went to the 49ers).
Denver chose the Washington product with the first of two fourth-round picks (No. 108), doing so after spending extensive time with him during the pre-draft process. The Broncos used a “30” visit on Coleman and, according to his college running backs coach (ex-NFL RB Scottie Graham), and frequently contacted the Huskies to discuss the back.
They were not the only team to show a decent amount of interest in the standout Big Ten rusher. Graham said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) the Chiefs, Seahawks and Vikings showed a good amount of interest in Coleman before the draft. No trade-up ended up being necessary for Coleman, however, and the Broncos have acquired some near-future insurance on J.K. Dobbins and likely a longer-term RJ Harvey running mate.
“They called a number of times and asked a lot of questions,’’ Graham said of the Broncos, via Tomasson. “They’d sometimes call a couple of times in the same day and they wanted to know intimate things about his family. You’re not going to ask some of the questions they did unless you want him. They wanted me to tell them something that nobody knows about him. Then they’d call back again. I said, ‘Jonah, you’re probably going to Denver.‘”
Teams obviously do considerable research on numerous prospects, but Graham also worked with current Broncos defensive line coach Jamar Cain at Arizona State. Cain has known Coleman since he was 16, per Tomasson, serving as the Sun Devils’ recruiter in the area where the RB grew up (Stockton, Calif.).
Each of the rumored Coleman suitors left the draft with RB picks. The Seahawks addressed their need by taking Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall, doing so after a first-round trade-down move fell through. The Chiefs traded up for Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson in Round 5; the Vikings chose Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne in Round 6.
The Broncos included Dobbins in their re-signing spree, giving him a two-year deal worth $16MM. Dobbins’ $8MM guarantee nearly quadrupled his 2025 salary, representing an interesting decision considering the productive RB’s injury history. Dobbins added to that medical sheet with a Lisfranc issue last season, costing him seven regular-season games and both Broncos playoff contests. The Broncos still placed a high priority on retaining Dobbins, though it appeared he was the team’s second choice (possibly third). Denver made what was believed to be a strong offer to Travis Etienne and was connected to Breece Hall before the Jets franchise-tagged him. Rather than a pricier back, the Broncos ended up with Dobbins and his likely successor.
Coleman transferred from Arizona to Washington in 2024 but was a regular in both teams’ backfields. After an 871-yard sophomore year with the Wildcats, Coleman totaled 1,053 rushing yards in 2024 and 758 in ’25. Last season brought a Big Ten-leading 17 touchdowns for the 5-foot-8, 220-pound back. He added 354 receiving yards in 2025.
Harvey, a 2025 second-rounder, should remain in the Alvin Kamara-like role in Sean Payton‘s offense. Dobbins will presumably enter 2026 in the Mark Ingram spot, as he was a top-five NFL rusher when he suffered his foot injury last year. While Coleman may well be Dobbins’ successor — no guarantees are on the veteran’s deal for 2027 — The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider notes a short-yardage role might be available to the rookie this season.
Although the Broncos re-signed both Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin, they are unlikely to retain both on their 53-man roster. The team also rosters fullback Nate Adkins, leaving one (or perhaps zero) spots for Badie or McLaughlin now that Coleman is on the team. The team needed McLaughlin — a fourth-year UDFA — more after Dobbins’ injury, but his path to playing time has since narrowed.
Bills Traded Down After Running Out Of First-Round Grades; Brandon Beane Viewed Corner As Biggest Need
The Bills entered the 2026 NFL Draft with the 26th overall selection, but they did not end up picking in the first round. General manager Brandon Beane made three separate trades to move down to No. 35. Beane revealed that he began wheeling and dealing after the Bills ran out of players with first-round grades (via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN).
While it is unclear which prospects the Bills were considering at 26, it is worth noting that two edge defenders – Akheem Mesidor (Chargers) and Malachi Lawrence (Cowboys) – as well as receiver KC Concepcion (Browns) and safety Dillon Thieneman (Bears) came off the board in the four preceding picks. Any of them would have filled a need for the Bills, who eyed at least three of them before the draft. The team hosted Concepcion on a “30” visit, and it met with Lawrence and Thieneman at the Combine (via Bills Wire).
After going down nine spots, the Bills used their first pick on former Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker. They later addressed receiver in the fourth round (Skyler Bell, No. 125) and safety in the fifth (Jalon Kilgore, No. 167).
Beane’s second pick on Day 2 was former Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun, whom he moved up for in the second round. He sent a third-rounder (No. 66) and a sixth-rounder (No. 182) to the Broncos for the 62nd choice. Beane did it for two reasons (per Getzenberg): 1.) He saw outside corner as the Bills’ biggest need entering the draft. 2) He noticed a run on corners in the second round. Colton Hood (No. 37, Giants), Avieon Terrell (No. 48, Falcons), D’Angelo Ponds (No. 50, Jets) and Brandon Cisse (No. 52, Packers) were all taken before Igbinosun in Round 2.
Whether corner was the Bills’ most glaring pre-draft need is debatable, but it is clear they were light at the position. They went into the draft with little behind the starting duo of Christian Benford and 2025 first-rounder Maxwell Hairston. Dorian Strong, a 2025 sixth-rounder, may never play again after suffering a neck injury last year. Their only other options on the outside were M.J. Devonshire, Te’Cory Couch and Daryl Porter Jr.. Devonshire and Couch have zero regular-season appearances between them, while Porter has played in just one game (last year with Pittsburgh).
The Bills now have Igbinosun and seventh-round speedster Toriano Pride Jr. as depth behind Benford and Hairston, but they could still add to the position in free agency. Tre’Davious White, a starter for the Bills last year, is among the league’s unsigned veterans. Beane said before the draft that he had not ruled out re-signing White, though he may have changed his tune after the Igbinosun and Pride picks.
Saints Made Multiyear Offer To K’Lavon Chaisson
The Saints have been shopping around for edge rushers this offseason. Connected to Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr. before the draft, New Orleans also made an offer for Kayvon Thibodeaux. The team ultimately pivoted to Tyree Wilson when the Giants rejected their proposal.
Weeks earlier, however, New Orleans was in the K’Lavon Chaisson market. This would have been a homecoming of sorts for the LSU product, and the Saints outflanked the Commanders in terms of contract length. But it sounds like the former first-round pick was willing to bet on himself rather than be tied down to a multiyear deal at a less-than-desirable rate.
Chaisson’s YouTube channel presented a look into his free agency decision. The seventh-year pass rusher’s agent (David Mulugheta) communicated to him a Saints three-year offer, though it does not sound like NFC South team would have placed him much higher — in terms of AAV — than Washington’s proposal (one year, $11MM). Mulugheta indicated he attempted to move the Saints to $13MM per year; the team not getting there created a decision on term length.
As Mulugheta explained to his client the Patriots did not make an offer, preferring Dre’Mont Jones to help in run defense from the EDGE position, the two discussed the Saints and Commanders (Jones signed a three-year, $36.5MM Pats contract). Mike Vrabel said at the Combine he would “love” to retain Chaisson, but nothing ended up materializing on that front.
It is not known how much guaranteed money New Orleans was offering, but the video points to guarantees into Year 2. Chaisson, however, preferred to bet on himself. This led to the late-blooming sack artist declining to return to Louisiana.
“I’m not gonna lie, I think that Commanders (offer), only because … you know, they’re competitive. So, we’re going to be in some time of playoff race,” Chaisson said. “I’m going to have more opportunities to be ahead (in) the game. I don’t know about the Saints; I don’t know what they offense look like. To know, like, we’ll be playing from ahead to even have rush opportunities.”
Chaisson, who is heading into an age-27 season, broke through with the Patriots after failing to justify his draft slot with the Jaguars. He joined the Raiders on a one-year, $1.13MM after the Panthers released him in 2024; his 2025 Pats contract came in at one year and $3MM. Chaisson recorded 7.5 regular-season sacks and three more in the playoffs. Mulugheta advised his client to avoid a multiyear deal for less than $11MM per when the Commanders were offering that in a “prove it” scenario.
After the EDGE market transformed throughout 2025, Chaisson opted to take the Commanders’ offer in hopes teams present better proposals — he mentioned a future deal beyond $20MM per year — in 2027. This is an interesting behind-the-curtain look at Chaisson’s process. In the video, he also inquires about the Buccaneers and Ravens, but without much traction from either, the decision came down to the Commanders or Saints.
PFR ranked Chaisson 32nd in this year’s free agent class, predicting some teams would deem his Patriots breakthrough as insufficient for a big multiyear offer. The Saints gave Chase Young a three-year, $51MM deal in 2025, but they had seen him excel with the team in 2024. Chaisson, who will team with Odafe Oweh in Washington, will hope to make a similar jump (Young played on a one-year, $13MM deal in 2024). Meanwhile, Oweh signed a four-year, $100MM deal with the Commanders.
Although the Saints finished with a better record than the Commanders last season, Chaisson looks to view the latter in higher regard because of Jayden Daniels‘ presence. The team, after all, voyaged to the NFC championship game during Daniels’ healthy rookie season before regressing as its quarterback battled multiple injuries. The Saints finished 6-11 last season and saw promise from Tyler Shough, but Chaisson will bet on Daniels presenting him with more pass-rushing snaps in Washington.
Eagles’ Makai Lemon Signs Rookie Deal
A week after the Eagles selected him 20th overall, first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has signed his rookie contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Lemon is the first member of the 2026 class to put pen to paper. His fully guaranteed four-year deal is worth $20.81MM. It includes an $11.5MM signing bonus and a fifth-year option.
After starring at USC over the past couple of seasons, Lemon nearly began his NFL career in the area. The Rams considered Lemon at No. 13 overall, but they instead chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Steelers then looked poised to draft Lemon 21st, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman swooped in by trading up three spots for the wideout. Lemon got a call from the Eagles when he was on the phone with the Steelers, forcing them to pivot to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with their top selection.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon cemented himself as a first-rounder with a stellar performance in 2025. After Lemon hauled in 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games, the 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award (given to the best receiver in the nation).
The Lemon pick became the latest notable transaction at receiver this offseason for the Eagles, though it probably won’t be the last. Before landing Lemon, Roseman added to the team’s receiving corps in free agency (Marquise Brown, Elijah Moore) and the trade market (Dontayvion Wicks). Those four are now part of a group led by the high-end DeVonta Smith–A.J. Brown one-two punch, but the latter might not be in place much longer. A Brown trade has looked likely throughout the offseason, and expectations are that it will occur sometime after June 2.
If Brown ends up out the door before next season, it will increase the already strong odds of Lemon taking on a significant role as a rookie. He and the rest of the Eagles’ rookies will start minicamp on Friday.
Von Miller Interested In Rejoining Bills
For the second straight offseason, future Hall of Famer Von Miller is taking his time in free agency. After the Bills released Miller in a cost-cutting move in March 2025, the edge defender took until July to join the Commanders on a one-year agreement worth up to $6.1MM.
Miller expressed interest in re-signing with the Commanders last November, but almost six months later, nothing has come together with them or anyone else. The 37-year-old is now turning his attention back to Buffalo.
“Man, I would love to go back to the Buffalo Bills,” Miller said on a recent live stream (video via Built in Buffalo).
Miller went on to make a bold prediction: The Bills will win the Super Bowl next season. Rewinding to March 2022, the Bills expected to finally get over the hump when they won the Miller derby in free agency.
Buffalo added the Super Bowl 50 MVP and two-time Lombardi Trophy winner (one apiece with the Broncos and Rams) on a six-year, $120MM contract, though the gamble did not pay off as hoped. Miller looked like his typical self over his first 12 games with the Bills, but he tore his ACL in a Thanksgiving Day win over Detroit and missed the rest of the season, including a second-round playoff loss to the Bengals.
After beginning his second Bills season on the PUP list, Miller returned to log another 12-game slate. However, for the only time in what is now a 14-year career, Miller failed to register a sack. He also went without a sack in a two-game playoff run that ended with a loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
Miller went through a third straight limited season in 2024, but injuries were not the issue. Rather, he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The ban came as a result of a November 2023 arrest on a domestic violence charge. Miller denied the allegations, and charges were never filed.
On the field, Miller bounced back to a degree during a six-sack regular season. He also chipped in a crucial 39-yard fumble return in a 27-25 divisional-round win over the Ravens. The Bills advanced to the AFC title game, but they once again could not get past the Chiefs. That proved to be Miller’s last game with Buffalo, which moved on after the season and replaced him with another accomplished veteran pass rusher in Joey Bosa.
While the Bills’ big-money bet on Miller did not yield the desired results, his modest deal with the Commanders was a clear success. For one, Miller enjoyed his first full season since 2018. Although he was only on the field for 36.87% of defensive plays, Miller easily led the Commanders with nine sacks. He ranked 19th in the league in that category and 20th in pressure rate (per Pro Football Focus).
Despite his quality pass-rushing production in Washington, there is no indication the team plans to re-sign Miller. The Commanders may have closed the door on Miller when they reeled in Odafe Oweh (four years, $100MM) and K’Lavon Chaisson (one year, $12MM) at the outset of free agency.
Like the Commanders, the Bills have been active in addressing their pass rush this offseason. They signed Bradley Chubb, who teamed with Miller in Denver from 2018-21, to a three-year, $43.5MM pact and used their first draft pick (No. 35 overall) on former Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker.
Jim Leonhard, another of Miller’s former Denver teammates, is now Buffalo’s defensive coordinator. With the Bills transitioning from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 under Leonhard, they will turn to Chubb and Greg Rousseau as their starting outside linebackers. Parker and Michael Hoecht are next on the depth chart. Hoecht tore his Achilles last November, leaving his status for the start of next season uncertain. Javon Solomon and Andre Jones are the Bills’ only other options at the position, though they may be content with the group after picking up Chubb and Parker.
A reunion with the Bills may not be in the cards for Miller, but the eight-time Pro Bowler should land a contract before next season. Assuming Miller plays in 2026, the Broncos icon will look to build on his career sack total of 138.5. Miller is 13th on the all-time list, but he is just three sacks away from tying Michael Strahan for 10th.
Texans, LB Azeez Al-Shaair Agree To Extension
APRIL 30: The deal includes $34.2MM in new guarantees and $45.75M in total guarantees, per Wilson. Al-Shaair now ranks third at his position in guarantees, trailing the Ravens’ Roquan Smith ($60MM) and the 49ers’ Fred Warner ($56.7MM).
APRIL 29, 11:15pm: This Al-Shaair extension is worth $54MM, Rapoport and Garafolo report. That $18MM average annual value ranks third in the NFL among inside linebackers. Al-Shaair will be counted on to remain one of Houston’s most impactful defenders for the foreseeable future with this new deal in hand.
12:20pm: The Texans are signing linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year extension, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, keeping the leader of Houston’s defense under contract through the 2029 season.
Al-Shaair, 28, first arrived in Houston in 2024 on a three-year, $34MM deal and immediately took over a starting role in DeMeco Ryans‘ defense. He only appeared in 11 games in his first year – due in part to a three-game suspension – but made 16 starts in 2025 with a team-high 103 tackles. The ex-49er did not stuff the stat sheet otherwise, but his consistency in the middle of the Texans’ league-leading defense earned him his first career Pro Bowl selection. That gave Al-Shaair significant leverage when negotiating his new deal, which should be a solid raise over his first contract with the team.
The Texans are certainly happy to keep their star linebacker and defensive green-dot wearer around for a few more years. Today’s agreement represents their continued commitment to their elite defense after signing edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to new deals this offseason.
It was reported in March that Al-Shaair and the Texans had mutual interest in reaching an extension as he entered a contract year. The Cowboys still made an attempt to trade for the seven-year veteran during their pursuit of linebackers this offseason, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Houston, though, had no desire to move Al-Shaair, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson, and Dallas pivoted to former 49ers Dee Winters and Curtis Robinson.
Al-Shaair will continue to partner with 2023 fifth-round pick Henry To’oTo’o as the Texans’ starting linebackers. To’oTo’o is entering the final year of his rookie deal and could be another extension candidate, as Houston has demonstrated a clear desire to retain their top defenders. The 25-year-old has racked up 200 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, seven passes defended, and four sacks over the last two years, making him a solid all-around complement to his veteran teammate.
The details of Al-Shaair’s contract have yet to be reported, but a raise over his current $11.33MM AAV would almost certainly propel him into top-10 linebacker pay. That is an excellent result for the former 49ers undrafted free agent, who developed under Ryans in San Francisco with a one-year stint in Tennessee before the two reunited in Houston.
Bengals To Decline Myles Murphy’s Fifth-Year Option
The Bengals are not picking up defensive end Myles Murphy‘s fifth-year option, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Murphy is now on track to reach free agency next year, though the Bengals hope to extend him before then, per Conway.
As the 28th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Murphy’s option would have cost the Bengals $14.48MM in 2027. They did not see enough over Murphy’s first three years to lock in that salary. Murphy has totaled just 10 starts (all last season) and 8.5 sacks in 47 games.
Murphy, a former Clemson standout, logged his first of two 17-game seasons as a rookie. Stuck behind Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard and Cameron Sample on the depth chart, Murphy played just 27.8% of defensive snaps. He ended the year with 20 tackles and three sacks.
A knee injury limited Murphy to 13 games in his second season, though his defensive snap share increased to 31.02%. However, Murphy failed to record a sack during a second straight 20-tackle campaign.
While Murphy’s 2024 was a disappointment, he took obvious steps forward last year. The Bengals lost Hubbard to retirement last offseason, and injuries held Hendrickson to just seven games. Murphy stayed healthy and led Bengals defensive ends in snap share (62.62%). Along the way, the 24-year-old notched career highs in tackles (52), QB hits (10), TFL (six) and sacks (5.5). Pro Football Focus ranked Murphy’s performance a middle-of-the-pack 63rd among 119 edge defenders and credited him with the league’s 27th-most hurries (31).
Regardless of whether Murphy lands a new contract before next season, he will once again take on a significant role in their defense. Hendrickson exited for the Ravens’ mammoth free agent offer (four years, $112MM), while Joseph Ossai joined the Jets on a three-year, $36MM agreement. The Bengals replaced them to some extent with former Seahawk Boye Mafe, whom they inked to a three-year, $60MM pact, and second-round pick Cashius Howell. Murphy, Mafe, Howell, 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart and the rest of the team’s defensive linemen should benefit from the arrival of ex-Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, whom the Bengals acquired for the 10th overall pick.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks Cleared For Offseason Program
The Panthers spent a 2024 second-round pick on running back Jonathon Brooks, but multiple knee injuries have prevented him from contributing in the NFL. There is optimism that will change in Year 3 for Brooks, who has been cleared for the Panthers’ offseason program, Joe Person of The Athletic relays.
Despite suffering a torn right ACL in November 2023, Brooks became the first running back off the board in his draft class. The Panthers took the former Texas Longhorn 46th overall, but the recovery process dragged well into his rookie year. The team finally activated Brooks from the NFI list in November, though he totaled just nine carries over three games before tearing his right ACL again. Now almost 17 months removed from the injury, Brooks says he is “close to 100 percent.”
With Brooks unavailable for the bulk of his first season, Chuba Hubbard easily led Panthers running backs in carries (250), yards (1,195) and touchdowns (10) during a career year. The Panthers gave Hubbard a four-year, $33.2MM extension on Nov. 7, 2004, the day after they activated Brooks.
Hubbard remained atop the depth chart entering last season, but it ended up a disappointing campaign for the 26-year-old. Over 15 games, he accrued just 511 yards and a touchdown on 143 carries (3.8 per attempt, down from 4.8 the previous season). Free agent pickup Rico Dowdle took the starting job from Hubbard and amassed 1,076 yards, but he is no longer on the roster. Dowdle hit the open market again this spring and parlayed his Carolina production into a two-year, $12.25MM pact with the Steelers.
Dowdle’s exit should create an opportunity for a healthy Brooks, especially considering the Panthers did not draft a running back this year. Brooks’ primary competition for the No. 2 RB position could be 2025 fourth-rounder Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon, who will turn 28 on Saturday. Etienne posted just 20 carries over a 17-game rookie season, while Dillon’s impact has fallen off since his 2021-23 heyday with Green Bay. After averaging 183 carries and 729 yards per year over that three-season span, Dillon missed all of 2024 with a neck injury and returned to tally just 12 rushes in seven games with the Eagles in 2025. The Panthers brought in Dillon on a cheap free agent deal, which suggests he is not a lock to make their roster.