Bills Add 12 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bills made 10 picks in last month’s draft, and they announced 12 more rookie additions on Friday. Here is their undrafted free agent class:
- Jackson Acker, FB (Wisconsin)
- Gabriel Benyari, WR (Kennesaw State)
- Cade Denhoff, OLB (Clemson)
- Jordan Dunbar, CB (Missouri State)
- Bruno Fina, G (Duke)
- Theron Gaines, ILB (Tennessee Tech)
- Ja’Mori Maclin, WR (Kentucky)
- Desmond Reid, RB (Pittsburgh)
- Max Tomczak, WR (Youngstown State)
- Kani Walker, CB (Arkansas)
- Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, G (Syracuse)
There are a few interesting NFL connections in this group. Fina is the son of former offensive tackle John Fina, who played 10 of his 11 seasons in Buffalo during a career that spanned from 1992-2002. Maclin’s cousin, former Eagles, Chiefs and Ravens receiver Jeremy Maclin, played from 2009-17 and caught 514 passes and 49 touchdowns. Tomczak is the nephew of Mike Tomczak, who had stints as a quarterback with the Bears, Packers, Browns and Steelers from 1985-99.
Denhoff is rejoining former Clemson teammate and fellow outside linebacker T.J. Parker, whom the Bills drafted 35th overall. Unlike Parker, Denhoff was not especially productive in college. He totaled 51 tackles, five TFL and two sacks in 47 games with the Tigers.
While odds are against rookie UDFAs earning roster spots, Acker stands out as someone who may have a shot. Fullback Reggie Gilliam carved out an offensive and special teams role with the Bills from 2020-25, but they lost him to the Patriots in free agency. The Bills signed ex-Eagle Ben VanSumeren after the draft, though the converted linebacker has minimal experience as an NFL fullback. He is also coming off back-to-back injury-wrecked years. As of now, VanSumeren is the only player standing between Acker and a roster spot.
Giants To Sign DT D.J. Reader
MAY 9: Reader’s contract includes $5.25MM in guaranteed money, comprised of a $3.5MM signing bonus and his $1.75MM salary this season, per OverTheCap. He can also receive up to $1MM in per game roster bonuses in 2026, creating a cap hit of $4.5MM. That will set up what is essentially a team option for 2027, in which Reader will be owed $5.15MM in base salary and $1MM in per game roster bonuses with a $1.75MM dead cap hit if released.
MAY 5: The Giants-D.J. Reader buzz is expected to produce a deal. The sides are finalizing an agreement that will move the veteran to a fourth NFL team, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
Reader visited with the Giants days before they decided to trade Dexter Lawrence, and the parties stayed in contact in the period after the blockbuster swap. With Lawrence sent to Cincinnati for the No. 10 overall pick, Reader will have an opportunity to play a big role in New York.
Although we are past the draft — when the bulk of the signings are one-year pacts — Reader will fetch another multiyear agreement. He is signing a two-year, $12.5MM accord, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Incentives could push the value higher as well. Reader’s incentive package covers $3MM, Rapoport adds.
John Harbaugh spent four seasons coaching against Reader in the AFC North, as the Bengals rostered the run-stuffing D-lineman from 2020-23. Reader, 31, spent the past two years with the Lions. The Giants have now added Reader and fellow ex-AFC North 30-something Shelby Harris to their post-Lawrence D-tackle group since the draft. Harris, 34, signed a one-year deal worth $3MM. His contract brings $2.66MM guaranteed, per OverTheCap.
Reader (128 career starts) will be expected to be the Giants’ first-string nose tackle, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz notes. The contract certainly points to such a role being commandeered, as does the 10-year veteran’s body of work. This year’s D-tackle class was considered weak behind John Franklin-Myers, who benefited from both a shallow DT veteran crop and a draft not flooded with high-level options either. This landscape led to Vikings 30-something cap casualties Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave landing on their feet — with two-year deals worth $25MM and $23MM, respectively — soon after releases. The Giants’ changing DT complexion undoubtedly boosted Reader’s value.
Lawrence requested a trade and, despite a Giants attempt to keep him on a revised contract, received one days before the draft. The Giants then focused on other areas in the draft, adding a linebacker, offensive lineman, cornerback and wide receiver in the first three rounds. New York did not address its suddenly glaring DT need until Round 5, when Bobby Jamison-Travis arrived. The team used a third-round pick on DT Darius Alexander last year. He will now see vets Reader, Harris and Leki Fotu represent a quantity-based approach to replacing an All-Pro.
Tied to a two-year, $22MM Lions deal previously, Reader started all 32 games he played with the NFC North club. Pro Football Focus graded Reader 36th and 32nd, respectively, among interior D-linemen in those seasons. He logged a 53% defensive snap rate in each Detroit campaign. Although Reader displayed durability in New York, he suffered two quadricep tears while with Cincinnati. The second one came during his contract year, though it speaks to how Reader is viewed around the league he scored an $11MM-AAV deal coming off that injury.
Reader, whose first quad tear sidelined him five games into the 2020 slate, also missed seven games during the 2022 season. An MCL issue sidelined Reader that year, coming after his key contributions during Cincy’s Super Bowl LVI season. The former Texans draftee played out a four-year, $53MM Bengals contract before heading to Detroit.
The Ravens met with Reader in free agency, before they added Calais Campbell, but the veteran nose will meet up with a host of ex-Ravens under Harbaugh soon. The Giants will hope the 330-pound defender has enough gas in the tank to make an impact on a defense that ranked 31st against the run with Lawrence playing 17 games. This situation may not inspire confidence, given Lawrence’s talent level, but the Giants are bringing in some proven vets after using the Lawrence-generated pick to bolster their O-line (via Francis Mauigoa).
Jets, RB Breece Hall Agree To Extension
Breece Hall‘s Jets tenure will continue beyond 2026. The franchise-tagged running back has worked out an extension agreement with New York.
Team and player have struck a three-year deal, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He adds this extension is worth up to $45.75MM. Instead of only being in place for one more season due to the tag, Hall will now be on the books through 2028.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes $45.75MM represents the base value of this deal. As such, Hall’s average annual value checks in at $15.25MM. That figure ranks third in the NFL among running backs, behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. The position’s landscape could change soon with Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson each eligible for extensions of their own this offseason. In any case, Hall’s outlook has now become much clearer.
The transition tag loomed as an option for New York to keep Hall in the fold for 2026. However, interest in offer sheets would have emerged had the Jets used the less-expensive one-year tender. Indeed, the Broncos were among the teams which would have pursed Hall in that scenario. As such, New York wound up applying the non-exclusive franchise tag. That set Hall up for $14.29MM in guaranteed 2026 earnings, but a long-term arrangement has now taken the place of the tag. The upfront payments in this new deal will be interesting to see.
On that note, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports Hall will receive $29MM guaranteed. That figure essentially matches what he would have collected by playing on two straight franchise tags. Connor Hughes of SNY adds that locked-in money will be paid out over the next two years, with no guarantees present for 2028. This agreement is therefore a $14.5MM-per-year pact for now with incentives present in Year 3 which could increase Hall’s overall earnings.
Hall, who will turn 25 later this month, expressed a desire to remain in place with the Jets and a general confidence that he would eventually land a deal near the top of the running back market. Both goals have now been achieved. After the tag was applied, a period following the draft emerged as a target for a multiyear extension to be finalized. GM Darren Mougey expressed optimism a deal would be reached, and that has proven to be the case in time for spring practices.
As a rookie, Hall flashed plenty of potential before suffering an ACL tear. Since returning to action, the former second-rounder has handled a heavy workload and been a regular presence in the passing game along the way. Hall topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in 2025, but he recorded more than 1,300 scrimmage yards for the third year in a row while doing so. The Iowa State product will once again be joined by Braelon Allen in the backfield next season, although another large offensive role for Hall can be expected.
The Jets will have Garrett Wilson in place once again for 2026, and he too is under contract for the future. Mougey has been busy adding at the skill positions, selecting tight end Mason Taylor in last year’s draft and trading for receiver Adonai Mitchell as part of the Sauce Gardner blockbuster. Last month, New York used two of three first-round selections on another tight end (Kenyon Sadiq) and an additional wideout (Omar Cooper Jr.). Those players, led in large part by Hall, will serve as an offensive nucleus moving forward.
Packers To Release K Brandon McManus
In the wake of Green Bay’s decision to select Trey Smack late in the draft, a kicker competition between he and veteran Brandon McManus seemed to be in store. That will not be the case, however.
The Packers are releasing McManus, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This move certainly increases the chances of Smack winning the kicker job during training camp. Green Bay does still have Lucas Havrisik in the fold at this time as well, though.
McManus missed only one kick during 11 games with Green Bay in 2024. That strong showing landed him a three-year, $15.3MM deal last offseason. McManus enjoyed another strong showing during the regular season last year, but his outing in the wild-card round left plenty to be desired. Two missed field goals and one wayward extra point attempt loomed large in a four-point Packers loss to the Bears.
That performance led to questions about Green Bay potentially making a change at the position. With Smack now in the fold, the team will indeed move on. Today’s release comes well after McManus had already been paid a $1MM roster bonus. The other guaranteed money remaining on his deal means this cut will produce a dead money charge of $4.33MM and just $945K in cap savings.
McManus served as the Broncos’ kicker from 2014-22. His Denver release resulted in a free agent deal with the Jaguars, but he only wound up spending one year with Jacksonville. An agreement with the Commanders was reached in 2025, but allegations of sexual assault dating back to his Jags tenure resulted in Washington moving on. McManus was not suspended, and he managed to find a new home in Green Bay. Now, though, the 34-year-old will find himself on the move once again.
Most teams have an established kicker in place or at least multiple options this late in the offseason. That could result in a lengthy spell on the open market for McManus. In any case, he will aim to parlay his experience into a new opportunity no later than the start of training camp this summer.
NFL, NFLRA Agree To Seven-Year CBA
10:55pm: As part of the deal, the NFL will have more access to officials during the offseason, Kevin Seifert and Kalyn Kahler of ESPN report. That will enable the NFL to put together “a formal training program during minicamps, training camps and joint practices,” per Seifert and Kahler. The league will also have a bench of officials and “greater latitude” to base postseason assignments on performance instead of seniority. In return, the refs will receive large raises over their 2025 salaries.
12:28pm: The NFL will not turn to replacement officials in 2026. The labor standoff between the league and the NFL Referees Association has come to an end. The sides have reached an agreement on a seven-year CBA that will run through 2032. The league previously proposed a six-year arrangement.
“This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent stated. “It also speaks to the game officials’ relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game.”
Full details on the agreement are not yet available, but the NFL noted that it “covers a wide range of issues including economics, performance, and accountability.” As the league negotiated with the refs, it sought ways to hold “low-performing officials more accountable,” according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Meanwhile, the refs wanted more money in return.
The officials’ vote to approve the deal was nearly unanimous. Just four of 120 refs voted against it, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Their previous CBA had been set to expire May 31, leaving just three more weeks for the parties to hammer something out. The league had planned to begin hiring replacements in the event it could not find common ground with the NFLRA. It did not come to that, though, and NFLRA president Carl Cheffers is satisfied with the results.
“We’ll see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make the game better,” Cheffers said. “It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season.”
The league most recently employed replacement officials during a referee lockout in 2012. It did not go well, as the game-ending “Fail Mary” play between the Packers and Seahawks remains a punchline 14 years later. They agreed to a new CBA less than a week later.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 5/8/26
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Titans’ First-Round WR Carnell Tate Signs Rookie Deal
Having wrapped up the signings of their late-round picks, the Titans turned their attention to their top overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tennessee has reached an agreement with Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate on his rookie four-year deal worth $51.13MM. The No. 4 overall pick reportedly received a $33.65MM signing bonus on his fully guaranteed agreement.
Tate started his career with the Buckeyes coming off the bench as a true freshman, earning his first start in the team’s bowl game. As a full-time starter in Year 2, Tate finished third in all three major receiving stats, behind then-freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith and future first-rounder Emeka Egbuka, en route to a national championship title. In his final year of collegiate play, Tate finished second behind Smith with career highs in receiving yards (875) and touchdowns (9).
It was thought that the Titans would grab a pass rusher, if one of the top two slipped past Arizona, but when the Cardinals took the running back many predicted would end up in Tennessee, the team surprised by taking Tate. Opting to secure another new weapon for their No. 1 overall pick from last year’s draft, the Titans landed an athlete proficient in multiple areas.
With deceptive speed, Tate showed deep ball potential with nine catches of 40+ yards. Despite the fact that he routinely found the end zone from far out — his nine touchdown catches averaged 32.5 yards per reception — Tate’s size and length also make him a formidable redzone target. In 14 contested targets, Tate came down with 12 catches. He’s a savvy route runner, too. The only questions following him to the NFL have to do with his ability to play across the middle of the defense — something he was not asked to do much in Columbus — and whether he can produce as a main target as he finally steps out from Smith’s shadow.
Tate joins an impressively re-tooled passing attack in Tennessee. The Titans signed wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and tight end Daniel Bellinger in free agency to team up with last year’s impressive rookie pass catchers Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and tight end Gunnar Helm. Quarterback Cam Ward has a much-improved group that expects to see Tate starting alongside Robinson and a healthy Calvin Ridley.
After inking Tate, the Titans have two more high draft picks to sign before they wrap a bow on this year’s rookie class:
- Round 1, No. 4: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 31 (from Patriots via Bills): Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
- Round 2, No. 60 (from Bills via Titans): Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
- Round 5, No. 142 (from Jets via Ravens): Fernando Carmona (G, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 165 (from Bears via Bills): Nicholas Singleton (RB, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 184: Jackie Marshall (DT, Baylor) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 194 (from Ravens via Jets): Pat Coogan, C (Indiana) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225 (from Chiefs via Cowboys): Jaren Kanak (TE, Oklahoma) (signed)
Bills Sign Second-Round CB Davison Igbinosun
The Bills took a big step towards completing the signing of their entire rookie class today, inking second-round Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun to his four-year rookie deal.
After starting 10 of 13 game appearances at Ole Miss and earning Freshman All-American honors, Igbinosun entered the transfer portal when the Rebels chose not to bring back defensive coordinator Chris Partridge. After weighing his options, Igbinosun chose the Buckeyes over Michigan, Tennessee, and Rutgers. He would go on to become a three-year starter in Columbus, notching four interceptions and 19 passes defensed over his last two seasons.
At 6-foot-2 with length and a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, Igbinosun looks the part of an NFL cornerback, though he’s a bit on the lighter side. Even with a slight frame, he’s a physical defender who isn’t afraid to tackle. He has a tendency to make a little too much contact at times and will need to continue to develop some discipline at the next level of the game.
After rookie sixth-rounder Dorian Strong missed most of last season with a neck injury, the Bills relied on just three cornerbacks for most of their defensive snaps all last year. Only Christian Benford, Tre’Davious White, and rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston saw more than 20 snaps at outside cornerback for the rest of the season. Buffalo signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Dee Alford in free agency, but neither player adds much depth at the outside position after White’s contract expired. Igbinosun will team up with Benford, Hairston, and Strong to bolster that outside cornerback spot, and he could have an outside shot at starting in Year 1.
Here’s how the Bills’ rookie class signings are looking after securing the signatures of their top two picks:
- Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 62: Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 102 (from Raiders): Jude Bowry (T, Boston College)
- Round 4, No. 125 (from Bears via Chiefs and Patriots): Skylar Bell (WR, UConn)
- Round 4, No. 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB, TCU)
- Round 5, No. 167 (from Texans): Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 181 (from Lions)*: Zane Durant (DT, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 220 (from Jets): Toriano Pride Jr. (CB, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Eagles via Jaguars, Browns and Bears): Tommy Doman (P, Florida) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 241 (from Bears): Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G, Texas A&M) (signed)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/8/26
Today’s rookie signings from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- WR Zavion Thomas (third round, LSU)
- CB Malik Muhammad (fourth round, Texas)
- LB Keyshaun Elliott (fifth round, Arizona State)
- DT Jordan van den Berg (sixth round, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- C Connor Lew (fourth round, Auburn)
- WR Colbie Young (fourth round, Georgia)
- T Brian Parker II (sixth round, Duke)
- TE Jack Endries (seventh round, Texas)
- DT Landon Robinson (seventh round, Navy)
Los Angeles Chargers
- T Travis Burke (fourth round, Memphis)
- S Genesis Smith (fourth round, Arizona)
- DT Nick Barrett (fifth round, South Carolina)
- G Logan Taylor (sixth round, Boston College)
- G Alex Harkey (sixth round, Oregon)
New England Patriots
- T Dametrious Crownover (sixth round, Texas A&M)
- LB Namdi Obiazor (sixth round, TCU)
- QB Behren Morton (seventh round, Texas Tech)
- RB Jam Miller (seventh round, Alabama)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Kaden Wetjen (fourth round, Iowa)
- DE Gabriel Rubio (sixth round, Notre Dame)
- S Robert Spears-Jennings (seventh round, Oklahoma)
The Bears, Bengals, Chargers, and Steelers all broke the seals on signing their rookie classes today. Chicago only has to sign its three first-, second-, and third-round picks to complete the class, Los Angeles still has its three first-, second-, and fourth-rounders remaining, and Cincinnati has only two unsigned rookies from the second and third round.
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.