Browns’ OL Rookies Getting First-Team Reps
The Browns are in the process of replacing all five starters on their offensive line, and in the effort of finding a new starting five, Cleveland utilized three of its 10 draft selections to address the position. The team spent a first- and third round pick on collegiate offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Austin Barber (Florida), respectively, and a fifth-round pick on Alabama center Parker Brailsford. Zac Jackson of The Athletic detailed how each of the team’s rookies on the offensive line have been used so far in spring practices.
In rookie minicamp and early Organized Team Activities, Fano has been playing left tackle and Barber right, which is opposite where each player lined up at their respective alma maters. The team is hoping that Fano will eventually take a convincing hold of the starting left tackle job, but currently, Dawand Jones is getting the best look at that spot early on. Fano started at left tackle as a freshman with the Utes but has played right tackle ever since. It will certainly be a challenge to switch sides in his transition to a starting role in the NFL, but practicing against the likes of Myles Garrett everyday could to wonders for his development.
If Fano is able to unseat Jones, then Jones will go on competing with the next rookie, Barnes, for the primary swing tackle role. Jackson speculates that Barnes could also end up getting some looks at guard, which could be really beneficial for Barnes’ roster security if he isn’t able to secure the backup tackle role. Of the three rookies, Barnes has seen the least amount of time with the first-team offense, but it sounds like the team’s focus for him has been developing his versatility.
Unlike Barnes, Brailsford is reportedly seen only as a center, but that hasn’t stopped him from seeing his fair share of first-team reps. With presumed starting center Elgton Jenkins and fellow center Luke Wypler both not practicing, Brailsford has benefitted with a good amount of time on the first-team offense. Jenkins is still working his way back from the broken leg that ended his 2025 campaign, while Wypler is recovering from a knee injury.
Realistically, only Fano is expected to earn a starting job in his first year of NFL play, but Brailsford and Barnes both have big opportunities in front of them, if they can impress in these early looks. With Wypler and Jones on expiring deals in 2026, both rookies will be given the chance to convince the team to allow the veterans to walk in free agency.
Latest On Lions’ Injuries: Branch, LaPorta, Arnold
During Organized Team Activities this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the latest on the recovery efforts of a few players who suffered season-ending injuries last year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The name of the game for Detroit this offseason appears to be “patience” as Campbell was in no hurry to see any of his injured players rushed back for OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Starting safety Brian Branch may require the most patience. After tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg late last year, Branch is reportedly “not expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.” Fellow starting safety Kerby Joseph missed the last 11 games of the year “due to a degenerative condition in his knee.” The two had become a reliable duo in the Lions’ defensive outfield, and their extended absences forced Detroit to invest in some insurance in free agency this offseason.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is working his way back from a herniated disc in his back and “has taken part in ‘some walk-through (and) jog-through’ portions of practice this spring.” Though he is back on the field early, Detroit will continue to practice patience as LaPorta “is not expected to be a full participant in practice until training camp.” The same was true for cornerback Terrion Arnold, who is being slow-played as he works his way back from season-ending shoulder surgery in the hope that he’ll be healthy when the team opens the season.
Though Campbell did not provide an update on Joseph’s recovery timeline, he relayed that none of Branch, Joseph, or LaPorta were expected to participate this past week. “The most important thing is continue to let them improve, rehab, all that,” Campbell told reporters. “That’ll take precedence right now. So, they’re in meetings, they’re getting the mental side of this. Just take it day to day.”
Saints Approaching Decision On RB Alvin Kamara
MAY 31: With June nearly here, it doesn’t seem like any decisions have been made in regard to Kamara. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, “there hasn’t been a lot of traction yet on the Saints’ direction with Kamara, but there is some interest” in Kamara potentially coming back, perhaps on a revised deal. Cutting or trading him before June 1 was always out of the question as it would do little to alleviate his cap impact.
Cutting Kamara post-June 1, though, could have a potential two-year effect. His cap hit in 2026 would only be reduced $376K, but his 2027 void year cap hit would reduce from $16.26MM to $5.13MM. Trading Kamara post-June 1 has the most benefit if New Orleans is looking to unload Kamara’s contract, providing $3.38MM in cap savings this year and $11.13MM next year. If Fowler is correct and a restructure remains on the table, Kamara may have to agree to a pay cut in order to stay and compete with Etienne for touches.
MAY 18: Alvin Kamara‘s place with the Saints became cloudy after the team shelled out a big contract to Travis Etienne, who received a hefty guarantee to join Kellen Moore‘s roster in March. Kamara drew trade interest soon after Etienne’s commitment, but he remains on New Orleans’ offseason roster.
Mickey Loomis said Kamara does not currently have a decision to make on his contract, which points to the Saints not yet insisting on a pay cut. But uncertainty still exists here. The longtime Saints GM said the team is moving toward a decision on the decorated dual-threat back.
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“We’re just trying to see how he’s going to fit in our roster, and obviously there’s a resource management element to it, and we’ll get to that over the next week or two,” Loomis said, via NewOrleans.football.
The 25th-year Saints front office boss said OTAs provides “a little bit” of a deadline but cautioned the voluntary workouts — which Kamara has not attended in years — do not serve as the endpoint for the sides’ latest chapter. New Orleans’ OTAs begin May 27. Kamara would see his base salary reduced by $358K if he does not attend every Saints OTA workout, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell notes.
Kamara, 31 in July, is entering the final season of a two-year, $24.5MM extension. He is due a $1.35MM base salary but secured $3MM in guaranteed 2026 compensation in March 2025. Being that this is the Saints, a sizable dead money hit would come if Kamara is traded or released.
Loomis’ timeline seemingly aligns with the pivotal June 1 date. The Saints likely will not act before that point, as making a move after that date would be a more cost-effective solution (with regards to 2026). Parting with Kamara after June 1 would allow the Saints to spread the dead cap charges over the next two years. Cutting him after that date would take away around $900K in cap space, whereas a summer trade would save the Saints approximately $456K.
The Saints would be hit with $24.4MM if they cut Kamara, but making that move after June 1 would allow them to spread that penalty between their 2026 and ’27 payrolls. Four void years being included in this deal represents the primary dead money source if Kamara is jettisoned.
Loomis’ team was in the strange position of not carrying the NFL’s worst cap situation entering the offseason, which deviates from several years of the restructure-crazed franchise’s winter situations. The Saints hold $8.29MM in cap space. Nearly 12 months from the 2027 league year, New Orleans is projected to hold more than $48MM in cap space in 2027. Though, many variables between now and then will change the equation.
Etienne signed a four-year, $48MM deal that includes $24MM guaranteed. The ex-Jaguar’s fully guaranteed figure ranks sixth among running backs, matching Christian McCaffrey‘s 2024 extension. The Saints also have holdovers Kendre Miller and Devin Neal rostered; Neal was drafted to play in Moore’s system while Miller — who is in a contract year — arrived under Dennis Allen. Former Vikings backup Ty Chandler is also on the Saints’ roster.
It would seem the Saints could get by without Kamara, given Etienne’s presence. Kamara’s five-year run of Pro Bowls stopped after the 2021 season — Sean Payton‘s New Orleans finale — and he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry last season. This came after a bounce-back 2024, when the ex-Payton chess piece tallied 1,493 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. Kamara missed the team’s final six games last season with an MCL sprain. He also missed time to close the ’24 season, battling a groin injury. Altogether, Kamara has missed 19 games since 2021.
Teams will undoubtedly be interested in a free agency agreement if the Saints move on via release. Kamara came out against a trade before last year’s deadline, indicating he would potentially retire rather than be dealt away from New Orleans. With Etienne in the fold, it is worth wondering if the Pro Bowl RB’s stance has changed. We should find out soon, with the June 1 date — even as the A.J. Brown situation overshadows other NFL matters pertaining to the pivotal point on the NFL calendar — will provide some clarity.
49ers DE Nick Bosa ‘Pretty Far Along’ In Recovery From Torn ACL
The 49ers overcame a rash of injuries last year to go 12-5 and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Defensive end Nick Bosa was among 49ers cornerstones who couldn’t get through 2025 healthy. The five-time Pro Bowler’s season ended when he tore his right ACL in Week 3, but he is trending in a positive direction roughly eight months later.
Speaking with reporters this week, Bosa said he is “pretty far along” in his recovery (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Bosa also expressed optimism that he will be ready for the start of training camp in late July. That would not come as a surprise, as Wagoner notes the 49ers have been anticipating either a late-July or early August return. There was no damage to other ligaments or his meniscus, leading to a less arduous rehab process.
A couple of months after Bosa’s season ended, fellow defensive end Mykel Williams went down with a torn ACL in Week 9. The 2025 first-round pick is also on the right track in his recovery.
With limited contributions from Bosa and Williams, the 49ers totaled the NFL’s fewest sacks (20) and finished a similarly poor 29th in pass rush win rate. Bryce Huff and Clelin Ferrell tied for the team lead with four sacks apiece, but the former retired and the latter has gone unsigned since free agency opened in March. Nevertheless, the 49ers have not taken any home run swings at the position this offseason. They signed former Bengal Cameron Sample to a cheap deal in April and then spent a third-round pick (70th overall) on Romello Height a couple of weeks later.
If healthy, Bosa and Williams will top a depth chart that also includes Keion White and Sam Okuayinonu. White was shot in the ankle in a scary incident in February, but he quickly underwent successful surgery. However, it is unclear whether he will be good to go for the beginning of camp.
“They’re coming along,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said of his recovering pass rushers (via Wagoner). “They’re all in there rehabbing with a number of other guys. A couple of those guys will have chance of training camp. We’ll see with Mykel as he goes.”
As if losing Bosa in September wasn’t enough of a blow, the 49ers took another severe hit when superstar linebacker Fred Warner dislocated his ankle in a Week 6 loss to the Buccaneers in October. It initially looked as if Warner had no chance to return in 2025. The 49ers advised him to focus on 2026 at first, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, but changed their tune when they saw how well he was coming along. They went on to designate Warner to return from IR on Jan. 13, four days before they faced the Seahawks in the second round. Warner did not end up playing in Seattle, which beat San Francisco in a 41-6 rout, but may have taken the field had the 49ers gotten to the NFC title game.
Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Bosa and Warner should be in the starting lineup when the 49ers’ season kicks off in Australia on Sept. 10. They will take on the NFC West rival Rams in a battle of teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Chiefs Restructure George Karlaftis’ Deal
The Chiefs kept defensive end George Karlaftis around for the long haul on a four-year, $93MM contract extension last July. Less than a year later, the Chiefs have restructured the deal, according to Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti.
Kansas City converted $9.685MM of Karlaftis’ salary into a signing bonus earlier this week. In doing so, the team opened up $7.7MM in cap space. The Chiefs now have around $13MM to work with, which may be enough room to upgrade their roster in a meaningful way this summer.
Wide receiver is one position the Chiefs could address, especially with temporarily jailed No. 1 wideout Rashee Rice recovering from knee surgery. Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and former Chiefs Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins are among the notable veterans still on the open market.
A recent report connected Diggs to the Chiefs, who have avoided sizable investments at wideout this offseason. Their biggest moves have been re-signing Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11MM pact and drafting former Cincinnati Bearcat Cyrus Allen in the fifth round (176th overall). Allen is joining holdovers in Rice, Thornton, Xavier Worthy and 2025 fourth-rounder Jalen Royals.
As for Karlaftis’ position, Kansas City added to its defensive end group when it drafted ex-Oklahoma Sooner R Mason Thomas in the second round (40th overall). The Chiefs grabbed Thomas after saying goodbye to Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna earlier in the offseason. Karlaftis, who remains the Chiefs’ No. 1 DE, easily led the position in defensive snap share (73.37%) last season. Over 16 games and 15 starts, he recorded 43 tackles, 23 QB hits, a personal-best 10 TFL and six sacks. The Purdue product has racked up an even 30 sacks over four years since the Chiefs drafted him 30th overall in 2022. He is under contract through 2030.
Commanders Acknowledge CB Need
The Commanders ranked dead last in terms of total defense in 2025 and were the fifth-worst team with respect to passing defense. While Washington added CBs Amik Robertson and Ahkello Witherspoon in free agency this year, the team’s cornerback room still looks as if it could use a quality addition or two. Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic (subscription required) believes that is the case, and she says assistant GM Lance Newmark has conceded as much.
The Commanders did not add a CB in last month’s draft. Afterwards, Newmark said, “[i]t wasn’t that it was not considered. It was that, when we were picking, a player in those rooms (safety and cornerback) just didn’t make sense as the best decision at that point.”
As Jhabvala observes, LSU’s Mansoor Delane represented Washington’s best chance to acquire a starting-caliber corner in the draft, but the Chiefs took him off the board with the No. 6 pick, one spot ahead of the Commanders. Though Washington was viewed as a team willing to consider a trade down, there were no other CB prospects who merited a pick even in the middle of the first round, and the opportunity to select linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7 was too good to pass up in favor of safety Caleb Downs, regardless of whether the Commanders could have traded back and still landed the talented DB.
After selecting Styles, Washington did not pick again until the third round, at which point Jhabvala says there were no CBs viewed as immediate upgrades over Robertson or incumbent Mike Sainristil. However, a depth chart topped by Sainristil (who was Pro Football Focus’s 95th-ranked corner out of 112 qualifiers last year), Robertson (106th), and 2025 second-rounder Trey Amos (80th) leaves much to be desired. Witherspoon, 30, did not see enough snaps to qualify for PFF’s 2025 season rankings, but his overall grade of 54.0 positioned him between Sainristil and Amos.
The problem, of course, is that premium corners are simply not available on the FA market at this time of year. Rasul Douglas quietly turned in a nice season for the Dolphins in 2025 and could be had for a modest price, and bounce-back candidates like L’Jarius Sneed and Trevon Diggs perhaps offer some level of intrigue (although there has been no publicly-reported interest in any of those three players this offseason aside from Packers GM Brian Gutekunst leaving the door open to a Diggs re-up). Tre’Davious White is another possible option after a decent showing with the Bills last year.
In theory, the Commanders could pursue a trade, but the failure of the Marshon Lattimore swap could make them gun-shy. Still, it would not be surprising to see the club add to the depth chart at some point in the near future.
Framework ‘In Place’ For A.J. Brown Trade?
MAY 31: While the term “framework” is a bit nebulous, and while Breer did concede the Eagles and Patriots still have to hammer out all of the trade details, a fundamental issue in these protracted talks appears to remain unresolved. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link), the Patriots are still not “overly crazy” about giving up a first-round pick (presumably, this refers to a 2028 pick as well as a ‘27 choice).
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald spoke with various sources about fair compensation in a Brown swap and received differing opinions. One source called Brown a “declining asset” and argued a Day 1 choice was too rich, while another pointed out that the Broncos had to give up a first-rounder to acquire Jaylen Waddle, who is less than two years younger than Brown and who does not have the same history of production.
Fowler suggests attaching a condition to a draft pick or even an arrangement in which Philadelphia sends a pick back to New England could help push the negotiations over the finish line.
MAY 30: There has been no shortage of coverage for the situation concerning Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and a potential offseason trade. At this point, it’s become widely accepted that the team will ship Brown off to New England, but they will wait until after June 1 to do so. Well, in the latest development from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), there’s belief that “the framework is in place” for the trade to occur this week.
To run through a brief timeline, following several incidents that seemed to paint a picture of an unhappy Brown in Philadelphia, reports emerged near the end of the 2025 NFL season that the Eagles would consider trading the three-time second-team All-Pro they had acquired four years ago after sending a first-round pick to Tennessee. By the time the season had ended and a new champion had been crowned, even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni hinted at the future in telling the media that he couldn’t guarantee Brown would return for 2026.
One of the two teams that made it to Super Bowl LX — the one that fell just short of the season’s ultimate goal — expressed early interest in Brown, linking the former Titans wideout to his former head coach in New England. The Patriots were not alone in their pursuit, though, as the Bills, Ravens, and Rams emerged as teams to watch for the veteran pass catcher. The Bills seemed to remove themselves from the conversation, though, after successfully acquiring former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder.
The Rams reached out to Philadelphia, and trade talks progressed to the point that Los Angeles began exploring the idea of trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. It was rumored that talks with the Rams had progressed even further than the Eagles’ discussions with New England, but ultimately, Los Angeles was ruled out as a potential trade destination for Brown.
With the Rams out, a few other teams were rumored with little substance, but interest out of New England remained a constant, even after the team made a strong move to improve its receiving corps by signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs also expressed interest in re-signing to stay with the Patriots as a free agent, but adding another big contract to that position room was something the Patriots were only willing to do if they missed out on Brown.
At first, the Eagles had intentions of completing some solution for the situation with Brown before the start of free agency, but as time went on, it became clear that the team intended to wait until after June 1 to make a trade happen in order to avoid incurring massive dead cap figures. Any trade before that date would shoulder the team with $43.45MM in dead money, and Brown would still account for $20.06MM of their cap space for the season. A post-June 1 trade would still leave Philadelphia with $16.35MM in dead money, but it would also clear $7.04MM in cap space.
With this realization, it was considered to be “inevitable” that Brown would be traded once June arrived. As if to emphasize that point, Philadelphia approached the 2026 NFL Draft with the mindset that it would not have Brown for 2026 and walked away from the first round having drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a clear replacement for the departing veteran. With the Eagles set, the only question that remained concerned Brown’s future home and compensation.
Expectations continued to point to the Patriots as the likeliest other participant in the inevitable exchange, but New England seemed to balk at the idea of utilizing a first-round selection to acquire Brown. The Eagles’ initial ask was for a first- and second-round package (specifically, with a first-rounder in 2027), though Brown’s value was perceived to be more like a packaged headlined by a second-round pick. Two days ago, it was reported that the Eagles and Patriots were still negotiating but that Philadelphia had opened its mind to accepting a 2028 first-round pick.
In our latest update from Breer, he clarifies that the exact terms and conditions of the deal may still need to be hammered out, but with the framework in place, he asserts that it “would take somebody backing out” for the trade not to occur. At this point, it would be a surprise if a team backed out, so all signs are pointing to Brown becoming a Patriot early in the coming week.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford Addresses Ty Simpson Pick
The Rams’ decision to select quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall in this year’s draft rather than pursue immediate help for a team with the reigning MVP under center and an open competitive window was one of the biggest surprises of the event. Post-draft reporting indicated head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead were in agreement on the pick, and Matthew Stafford has done his part to avoid fanning the flames of controversy.
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (video link via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler), Stafford said he is “trying to share as much knowledge as I can” with his new protege.
“Listen, I was a big fan of Ty when he was playing at Alabama. … I sent him a text after he got drafted and said, ‘I really enjoyed watching you play, just you were in the wrong jersey,'” Stafford remarked, referring to the rivalry between his and Simpson’s alma maters. “He’s a talented kid, I’m going to do everything I can to get this team ready to play, to win, but at the same time share some of the knowledge that I’ve gained throughout my career because I wouldn’t be in the seat that I am right now … if I didn’t have people helping me out along the way too. So I’m happy to do that, but he has been a sponge, he’s looking to get better.”
When addressing the media after he inked a new deal that will tie him to the Rams through at least the 2027 season, Stafford echoed those sentiments.
“I think my job, first and foremost, is to get myself and our team ready to play as best I possibly can,” the 38-year-old said (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com). “[Simpson is] a part of that team, there’s no question about it. We’re in a unique position in the fact that we play the same position. I have a ton of experience, and he’s just now starting his journey as an NFL player. So, listen, I know he’s gonna watch, not only me, but other guys, you know?”
McVay did call Stafford before the draft to tell him the team may select Simpson, a courtesy the Falcons did not extend to Kirk Cousins before they chose Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. Stafford did not disclose the details of his conversation with his HC, but he did express gratitude for the heads up.
“I’m not gonna get into much of what our conversation was,” he said. “I appreciate him talking with me about those kind of things. We have constant dialogue and a great relationship, so I appreciate that. I understand where the team’s coming from. Listen, I’m not 25 years old, and I get that. So, we’re doing everything we can to be as good a football team as we can for now, for the future, for all of it.”
Speaking specifically about his contract extension, Stafford said he is pleased to have wrapped up the negotiations.
“Happy to have next year taken care of if I decide to play and they still want me back,” he said (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “But just excited to get that behind me because I just want to come out here and play and not think about that kind of stuff.”
Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez Absent From OTAs; Extension Before Week 1 Likely?
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has not been present for the team’s recent voluntary work, including the Wednesday OTA session that was open to the media, as ESPN’s Mike Reiss relays. Gonzalez is now eligible for an extension and is likely eyeing a top-of-the-market deal, so it is fair to consider this a contract-related absence, particularly since the 2023 first-rounder had participated in the voluntary portion of the Pats’ offseason program in each of his first three NFL seasons.
The fact that Gonzalez is under club control through the 2027 campaign by virtue of his fifth-year option means the Patriots still have some leverage here, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Gonzalez may well set a new high-water mark for corners in terms of average annual value on the new money portion of his second contract, but the remaining seasons on his rookie accord will limit his overall AAV (for instance, as Volin observes, Derek Stingley Jr.’s three-year, $90MM extension with the Texans was tacked on to the final year of his rookie deal and his fifth-year option season, giving him a five-year, $112MM commitment in practice).
Nonetheless, Volin does anticipate New England and Gonzalez will come to terms on an extension before Week 1. In addition to the usual benefits of wrapping up a deal of this nature well before an elite player starts to sniff free agency – even if the CB market has not skyrocketed like other premium positions – the Patriots likely will have their hands full with Drake Maye negotiations in 2027.
Gonzalez, who will turn 24 next month and who recently expressed a desire to remain in Foxborough for the long haul, has submitted back-to-back standout seasons after being limited to four games as a rookie due to a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, and despite missing the first three contests of the ‘25 season due to a hamstring ailment, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
As a key member of the Patriots’ AFC-winning outfit, Gonzalez was awarded a strong 75.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which made him the site’s 14th-best corner out of 112 qualified players. He was also one of New England’s lone standouts during their Super Bowl LX loss, making some timely stops while allowing just one catch.
Fellow 2023 first-rounder Devon Witherspoon is also seeking an extension, and as we have noted on several occasions, the Seahawks’ star and Gonzalez share the same representation. They know the second member of the duo to put pen to paper will likely get the better deal, and as Volin suggests, neither of them wants to be the first to blink.
Witherspoon and Seattle reportedly are not close to finalizing an agreement.
Vikings Hire Nolan Teasley As GM; Rob Brzezinski Staying On As EVP
The Vikings have landed on their next general manager. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley will be taking over the front office in Minnesota, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The news is now official.
Teasley is coming off Seattle’s Super Bowl victory, its second during his tenure. He first joined the Seahawks in 2013 as a scouting intern shortly before they won their first Lombardi Trophy. Now, 13 years later, he is headed for the GM job in Minnesota, where the Vikings are hoping he can bring two-time Super Bowl-winning GM John Schneider‘s roster-building expertise and put them on a championship path of their own.
Because Teasley is a minority candidate, the Seahawks will receive two third-round picks as compensation for his exit, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
A few weeks after the end of a disappointing 9-8 season, the Vikings fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January. The team opted against launching an immediate search and decided to wait until after the draft. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, who has worked for the Vikings since 1999, took over for Adofo-Mensah on an interim basis.
Brzezinski guided the Vikings through the most important parts of the offseason and emerged as a candidate for the full-time GM job. He joined Teasley and three outside assistant GMs — Reed Burckhardt (Broncos), Terrance Gray (Bills), John McKay (Rams) — as finalists for the position. They all received second interviews. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN notes, Brzezinski was the only contender without a scouting background — something ownership (Zygi and Mark Wilf) valued in this search.
Like Brzezinski, each of Burckhardt, Gray and McKay entered the process with notable Vikings ties. Before joining the Broncos’ front office in 2022, Burckhardt was a 13-year Vikings employee who worked in various scouting and personnel roles. Gray was a Vikings scout from 2006-16. While McKay has no past experience in Minnesota, he has worked with head coach Kevin O’Connell. He was part of the Rams’ front office when O’Connell was their offensive coordinator from 2020-21.
Teasley will now be the one teaming with O’Connell, though Brzezinski is not leaving the organization (keeping in line with what Seifert predicted shortly before today’s news). Brzezinski will remain the Vikings’ EVP of football operations, Jones reports. He has served as a contract negotiator and salary cap analyst in that role.
Rumblings about the Vikings going with a two-pronged front office setup surfaced before this hire, and the team allowing Brzezinski to lead its draft effort proved telling. The interim GM working alongside an outside hire will certainly be an interesting setup, but the Vikings considering Buckhardt and Gray pointed to interest in having some familiarity atop their front office.
The Panthers and Lions have similar setups, with Brandt Tilis and Mike Disner working closely with GMs Dan Morgan and Brad Holmes. Though, Brzezinski’s stint as interim GM and having run a draft for the team does separate this instance from the other NFC teams’ plans. The Seahawks have now lost their offensive coordinator (Klint Kubiak) and AGM from the Super Bowl LX-winning team.
While Kubiak’s exit will generate more attention, it is unsurprising to see a Schneider right-hand man be hired. The Schneider-era Seahawks winning Super Bowls with two entirely different nuclei brought a historic NFL achievement, and the 17th-year GM will need a new second-in-command as a result.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.