Broncos Were ‘Shocked’ Travis Etienne Signed Elsewhere?
As part of a mass retention effort, the Broncos re-signed J.K. Dobbins by giving their primary 2025 starting running back a deal that nearly quadrupled his ’25 contract in terms of fully guaranteed money ($8MM). But Dobbins does not appear to have been Denver’s first choice at the position.
The Broncos were tied to Breece Hall, with a previous report indicating the Jets slapped the franchise tag on their four-year starter in part to avoid a potential bidding war with Denver. Travis Etienne then brought connections to the Broncos, who indeed pursued the five-year Jaguar. The Saints, however, ended up signing the former first-round pick on a four-year, $48MM deal that included $24MM guaranteed at signing.
Etienne’s full guarantee ranks fifth among RBs, and it would stand to reason the Broncos — as they did with 2025 Saints signee Juwan Johnson — helped drive this market. The Broncos were “shocked” Etienne went elsewhere rather than signing with them, an NFL exec informed The Athletic’s Mike Sando.
Had Etienne accepted the Broncos’ offer, he would have been positioned as the starter in a tandem with RJ Harvey. Although Etienne joined a Saints team still rostering Alvin Kamara, it is far from certain the former Pro Bowler will be part of New Orleans’ roster for a 10th season. The Saints have Kendre Miller and 2025 sixth-rounder Devin Neal rostered as well.
Sean Payton was in charge when the Saints gave Kamara his first extension — a five-year, $75MM pact in 2020 — and he also signed off on the team re-signing Mark Ingram in 2015. The Broncos have a recent history with lower-cost or rookie-deal backs, with Dobbins playing for barely $2MM last season. Denver let Javonte Williams walk prior to signing Dobbins. Before Dobbins’ second deal with the team, Denver’s most notable RB contract came when Melvin Gordon signed a two-year, $16MM deal in 2020. The Gordon contract did not pan out, and while neither Payton nor GM George Paton was in place when that contract was finalized, it certainly appears the current Broncos regime were prepared to make a sizable investment.
It just does not look like the Broncos offered $24MM guaranteed at signing. As it stands, Dobbins and Harvey will reprise a 2025 tandem; Denver also retained both Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. It remains to be seen whether the Broncos will attempt to add a bigger back in the draft to complement Harvey beyond 2026 and/or serve as Dobbins insurance — which was lacking after the injury-prone back’s Lisfranc injury last year. But such a move would make sense for a Denver team with Super Bowl aspirations and few glaring needs.
Commanders Host Caleb Downs; S Unlikely To Fall Out Of Top 10?
The clear-cut top safety in this draft class, Caleb Downs looks likely to become the first safety drafted in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. Adams is the only safety to go off the board in the top 10 over the past 15 drafts, but Downs could even beat the former All-Pro’s No. 6 draft slot.
The Giants have been closely connected to Downs at No. 5 for weeks, and a recent report indicated the Cowboys are a team to watch with a trade-up — potentially for a player the Giants are coveting. Downs, who visited Dallas during the pre-draft process, would fit the profile for a team desperate for defensive upgrades.
[RELATED: Cowboys Host Downs On “30” Visit]
Dallas would probably need to trade up for Downs, as ESPN’s Peter Schrager noted during an interview with DLLS Sports that the Ohio State safety falling to No. 12 overall should be considered highly unlikely. Schrager had previously mocked Downs to Dallas, but feedback within the league led the veteran reporter to back off that prediction. Downs’ floor may be the Bengals at No. 10, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds.
Adding Jalen Thompson and retaining Malik Hooker via pay cut, the Cowboys also signed P.J. Locke. They would be bucking NFL draft norms by trading up that far for a safety. Dallas holds the Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks, and moving into the top four would be quite costly. The Bengals have seen safety issues cause trouble ever since Jessie Bates‘ 2023 departure, but they did add Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25MM deal. Starter Jordan Battle is entering a contract year.
Cincinnati also may be a place to monitor with regards to a first-round cornerback investment, Breer adds, while also mentioning Rueben Bain Jr. as a potential option. The Bengals have both Daxton Hill and DJ Turner on expiring contracts at corner. The team has two first-round DEs — Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart — rostered and gave Boye Mafe a three-year, $60MM pact in free agency.
If the Giants pass on Downs at No. 5, Washington may lurk. The Commanders included Downs in a bulk “30” visit at a TopGolf complex, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Washington has proceeded this way in the recent past, as its 2024 QB summit reminds. The Commanders added Nick Cross on a two-year, $13MM deal last month and have Will Harris, Quan Martin and special-teamer Jeremy Reaves rostered at the position. Washington (at No. 7) is viewed as Jeremiyah Love‘s likely floor, but Downs would also be a logical choice. It does not appear likely the standout safety — one of four ex-Buckeyes who could be chosen in the top 10 — will need to wait long to hear his name called.
Chiefs, Jets, Raiders, Seahawks, Texans Meet With CB Colton Hood
Today represents the final opportunity for teams to conduct “30” visits with players, and several updates on this front have emerged. A couple involve Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.
Expected to go off the board in Round 1, Hood’s visit itinerary became clear this afternoon. The Chiefs brought in Hood for a meeting this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Hood had met with the Cowboys previously, and Pelissero adds the Jets, Raiders, Seahawks and Texans conducted “30” visits with the Tennessee corner.
Hood transferred to Tennessee last year but did not team with Jermod McCoy in what would have been a standout CB duo, with McCoy missing all of the 2025 season due to an ACL tear. The 6-foot cover man played at three schools in three years, transferring from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee. Hood checks in 25th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board — behind Mansoor Delane (No. 8) and McCoy (No. 15) among corners.
The 2025 SEC second-teamer forwent his final two seasons of eligibility to declare for the draft, and he should hear his name called on Day 1 (Hood certainly expects this, as he is attending the draft). The Chiefs hold the Nos. 9, 29 and 40 overall picks and should be expected to take a corner at one of those spots. Kansas City has developed a tried-and-true method of developing quality corners but not paying them, with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson the latest one-contract cogs at this position. The team needs help after losing its top two options last month.
Trading Sauce Gardner last year, the Jets have a need here too. They signed Nahshon Wright to a low-cost deal following a 2025 breakthrough but have needs here ahead of a draft that sees them holding three picks in the top 33. The Raiders used a third-round pick on Darien Porter last year and re-signed Eric Stokes last month, but the rebuilding team could use more aid here as well. Las Vegas, however, has been tied to the wide receiver and right tackle positions with its No. 36 overall pick. The Texans are set at corner, identifying Kamari Lassiter as a solid No. 2 option alongside Derek Stingley Jr., but the Seahawks lost Riq Woolen in free agency. Seattle, however, rosters All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and re-signed Josh Jobe last month.
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane ‘Not Available For Trade’
Trade speculation has followed De’Von Achane since the 2025 deadline, but Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said on Wednesday (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) that the Pro Bowl running back is “not available for trade.”
Instead, Miami is working on a long-term extension for Achane, something he expressed interest in before the end of last season. Sullivan said that negotiations thus far have been “positive” and “trending in the right direction.”
The Dolphins have remained steadfast in their position regarding Achane, though there were similar reports about Waddle before he was traded to the Broncos. The 24-year-old running back has emerged as one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the league with almost 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2024 and more than 1,800 last season. A team bringing in a relatively inexperienced starter in Malik Willis may find even more valuable in an explosive running back who can generate yards on the ground and through the air on both designed touches and checkdowns.
Running back pay has ticked up in the last two years, though only three players – Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry – have deals with a $15MM per year or more. Breece Hall was hit with a $14.29MM franchise tag, and Kenneth Walker‘s multi-year deal with the Chiefs is worth $14.35MM per year. Achane’s age and production give him an argument to join the former group. He has been a semi-regular presence on the Dolphins’ weekly injury reports, but he has played all but one game in the last two years without any sign of an injury affecting his on-field play.
One wrinkle with an Achane extension is the timing. His $2.3MM cap hit will go up due to the signing bonus of a new contract, but the Dolphins only have $1.9MM in cap space at the moment, per OverTheCap. Miami will see more than $20MM in savings once Bradley Chubb‘s release is processed on June 1, most of which will be used to sign their rookie class. But they should also have enough space after the draft to accommodate the increased cap hit resulting from an agreement with Achane.
Sullivan also previously signaled his intent to sign center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks to long-term deals as pillars of the team’s current rebuild. The team has engaged both players in contract talks, but no deal is imminent.
“They know how important they are to this team,” Sullivan said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “There’s nothing pressing to get something done in the next couple of days.”
Similar to the situation with Achane, Brewer’s cap hit would increase with an extension. Brooks’ could decrease, depending on how Miami structures the deal.
QB Ty Simpson Visiting Cardinals
The Cardinals are sneaking in a late but potentially significant pre-draft visit from Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, per ESPN’s Field Yates.
Wednesday is the last day for teams to host prospects for this year’s draft, and Arizona is thought to be in the market for a young quarterback after parting ways with Kyler Murray. Their current room is comprised of Jacoby Brissett, who started most of last season, free agency signing Gardner Minshew, and former UDFA Kedon Slovis. None profile as long-term options.
Enter Simpson, who is generally considered a borderline first-round pick after just one year as Alabama’s starter. The Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick, which is likely too high for the 23-year-old, but he might be an option for their second-rounder (No. 34 overall). Arizona could also consider trading back into the first round as the Giants did for Jaxson Dart last year, which preserves the possibility of an all-important fifth-year option for a young quarterback.
Simpson’s lack of starting experience means he will likely need some time to develop in the NFL. That could fit the Cardinals’ current situation with Brissett or Gardner starting this year and Simpson taking over in the future. He would have time to learn the scheme of new head coach Mike LaFleur, which prioritizes processing and accuracy, two of Simpson’s budding strengths. The former will need to get better against NFL defensive schemes, and he may need to get more precise with his ball placement to overcome his lack of arm strength.
But with a weak roster and a much stronger crop of prospects in 2027, the Cardinals may be best-served by waiting a year to draft the right quarterback of the future rather than the best one available this year. LaFleur had a front-row seat to Robert Saleh‘s challenges in New York after he was saddled with 2021 No. 2 pick Zach Wilson, and that is not the only case of a head coach struggling with a quarterback they did not handpick. As an offensive coach, LaFleur may be even more inclined to target the right prospect for his scheme and long-term future. But perhaps if Simpson experiences a Will Levis-esque fall into Day 2, where the Cardinals also hold the No. 65 pick, they may feel that Simpson is worth acquiring anyway to see what he can do as a rookie before making a decision on next year’s draft class.
Buccaneers Ownership Willing To Extend QB Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract, and Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has already projected confidence in reaching an agreement on an extension.
Now, co-owner Joel Glazer has indicated (via Pewter Report’s Matt Matera) that the team is willing to write a big check to keep Mayfield in Tampa Bay.
“Obviously the quarterback is the highest paid position on the team, rightfully so,” Glazer said. “That means that it’s going good, so if the quarterback’s making top money, then your team is probably doing well and the quarterbacks performing well.”That doesn’t hurt at all to write that check, it’s something that all the teams do when you have good quarterbacks.”
He signed a three-year, $100MM extension during the 2024 offseason and immediately played like an elite quarterback with top-five marks in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, and passer rating (though he also led the league with 16 interceptions). He regressed significantly in 2025, with solid volume numbers but below-average efficiency metrics.
But similar to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens last year, Mayfield’s statistical downturn was not isolated. Tampa Bay’s offense was ravaged by injuries with tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and running back Bucky Irving all missing significant time. Mayfield played through multiple injuries himself. Tampa Bay also lost offensive Liam Coen in the previous offseason, and his replacement, Josh Grizzard, was not able to fill his shoes.
The 2018 No. 1 pick has demonstrated an ability to bounce back already in his career, so the Buccaneers should still have plenty of reason to extend him. As always, an exact price tag will be the sticking point. Mayfield’s $33.3MM AAV in 2024 represented 13.1% of the cap. Now, that number would be just under $40MM, which is what Matthew Stafford signed for last offseason. Mayfield could shoot for the $44-46MM range, where Daniel Jones now sits in an unusual trio alongside Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Pushing above that and closer to $50MM feels unlikely for a 31-year-old coming off a down year, but Mayfield has an argument to be paid like a top-10 quarterback.
The Buccaneers are certainly satisfied with what they have gotten so far.
“He’s gone above and beyond anything we could’ve asked or hoped for Baker,” Glazer added. “Everybody loves him, performs, gives 250 percent when he’s on that field and that’s all you can ask for.
Steelers Expected Aaron Rodgers Decision In Mid-February, Continue To Wait On QB
In an eerily similar offseason to 2025, the Steelers continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers. This time, however, the team did not seem to expect the process to drag on like it has.
While Rodgers went into the 2025 season expecting it to be his last, the aging great changed his tune and has been talking to Mike McCarthy and Omar Khan this offseason. But no deal is in place. The Steelers have also not heard for certain whether Rodgers will indeed return for a 21st season, and the delay is approaching the two-month mark.
The Steelers expected to hear from Rodgers on his future around mid-February, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After nothing emerged, a new loose deadline placed free agency as the next window. When Rodgers did not let his 2025 employer know about his interest in a second season at that point, Art Rooney II pointed to the draft as the next point in which the team expected to find out the future Hall of Famer’s plans.
Rodgers, 42, did not sign with the Steelers until just before mandatory minicamp last year. The quarterback cited personal reasons at the time for the wait. Although Rodgers would seemingly be able to reassimilate into McCarthy’s offense fairly easily — even if the veteran HC has made tweaks since his Green Bay years — Pittsburgh will be hosting the draft and may be in the QB market.
Ty Simpson has come up as a potential Pittsburgh option. It would make sense for the Steelers to strongly consider Simpson at No. 21, seeing as they have not finished below .500 since 2003 and annually lack access to drafts’ top QB prospects, but multiple reports have pointed to the team being more likely to avoid that path. The Steelers passed on Jaxson Dart last year, something the Giants expected when they did not trade in front of them. It was viewed as likely by that point Rodgers would join the then-Mike Tomlin-led team. Tomlin’s presence drove Rodgers to Pittsburgh, and while Rooney expected the HC’s exit to impact the QB’s future with the team, McCarthy being tabbed as the successor pried the door back open.
Kirk Cousins loomed as a possible backup option last year, though the Falcons ended up keeping him out of trades (as they wanted an acquiring team to pick up a large chunk of his 2025 compensation), and Schefter adds the veteran also loomed as the Steelers’ likely fallback option behind Rodgers this offseason. As the Steelers have waited out Rodgers once again, Cousins signed with the Raiders.
Jimmy Garoppolo remains unsigned, as does 2024 Steeler starter Russell Wilson (who hoped to re-sign in 2025 but did not draw much Steelers interest). Beyond that duo, the free agent market consists of backup or third-string options following Cousins’ Las Vegas commitment.
The Steelers will continue to develop 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, and Mason Rudolph has one year remaining on his contract. Based on reporting to date, it would surprise if Rodgers did not reprise his role as Pittsburgh’s starter. Still, the former Packers and Jets starter has gone from being “90% retired” as of winter 2023 to potentially playing four more seasons. That might be a stretch, injecting more risk into the Steelers’ strategy.
The Steelers have their eggs in this basket once again. While that provides a decent indication Rodgers will return, the team passing on Simpson and then seeing a Rodgers retirement commence will create a potentially embarrassing situation.
Poll: Who Will Draft Jeremiyah Love?
NFL teams do not consider running back a premium position, which is why it takes a supreme talent for someone to spend prime draft capital on it. Over the past decade of drafts, Ashton Jeanty, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott are the only running backs who have exited the board in the top 10. There are some years (most recently 2022 and ’24) in which the first round passes without anyone adding a back, but that will not be the case in the upcoming draft.
As arguably the preeminent prospect available at any position in the 2026 class, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is poised to become the latest back to hear his name called in the first 10 picks. Seven teams in that range – the Jets (No. 2), Cardinals (third), Titans (fourth), Giants (fifth), Commanders (seventh), Saints (eighth) and Bengals (10th) – have been connected to Love in the lead-up to the draft. Some of those clubs look like more realistic landing spots for Love than others, especially considering he is not expected to last past Washington’s pick.
Possessing blazing 4.36 speed, the 6-foot, 212-pound Love is heading to the pros on the heels of a brilliant couple of years with the Fighting Irish. Love averaged an eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry on 433 attempts, scored 35 rushing touchdowns and did not lose a fumble in 41 games at Notre Dame. Also a gifted receiver, Love combined for 55 catches and five more scores over the past two years. He earned the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the nation’s best back, last season.
With nine days left until Love finds out his NFL destination, let’s run down the teams in line to pick in the top 10. We can start by ruling out the Raiders, who selected Jeanty at No. 6 in 2025 and will take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall this year.
While the Jets recently had breakfast with Love, one of their key moves earlier in the offseason was to keep Breece Hall around via the franchise tag. General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn have made their affinity for Hall known, pointing to a potential contract extension by the July 15 deadline. Not only that, but with defenders like David Bailey and Arvell Reese in contention for No. 2 overall, it would be a shock to see the Jets ignore that side of the ball.
The Cardinals had the second-worst running game in the league during an injury-plagued 2025 for James Conner and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson. Those two are due back next season, and the Cardinals reeled in former Falcon Tyler Allgeier on a two-year, $12.25MM agreement in free agency. None of those players are game-changers, which leaves room for Love. But that would be a luxury pick for an Arizona team that has obvious weaknesses at right tackle and edge defender.
The Browns are in dire need of blue-chip offensive talent. However, having used a second-rounder on Quinshon Judkins last year, they seem more likely to address their receiving corps than their backfield if they go offense with their top choice.
If the Saints release or trade the soon-to-be 31-year-old Alvin Kamara, it would create a vacancy on their depth chart. However, grabbing Love just weeks after inking ex-Jaguar Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52MM pact in free agency would be a surprise. The Chiefs (No. 9) also made a sizable investment at the position during the first wave of free agency. Having signed former Seahawks Super Bowl LX MVP winner Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal, they figure to use their initial pick on another position.
In the improbable event Love falls to the Bengals, maybe they will eschew glaring defensive needs to add another potential offensive superstar to a long-term core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Although the Bengals already have a quality dual-threat back in Chase Brown, he is not under contract past next season. There have been extension talks, but any chance of a multiyear deal will fly out the window if the Bengals choose Love.
Of the clubs in the top 10, the Titans, Giants and Commanders may be the best fits for Love. If it is the Titans or Giants, he would become the first RB to go in the top five since the latter took Barkley second overall in 2018. Eight years later, with no star-caliber back on the Giants’ roster, perhaps the new John Harbaugh regime will go with Love. The team “might just run that card up” if he is available, Connor Hughes of SNY says.
Titans running back Tony Pollard posted his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2025, but he will turn 29 at the end of April. Pollard also has just one year left on his contract. Unlike Love, Pollard has no chance to serve as a long-term sidekick for quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.
As a seventh-round rookie last season, the Commanders’ Jacory Croskey-Merritt vastly exceeded expectations in rushing for 875 yards on 175 carries (4.6 YPC). The man known as “Bill” also found the end zone eight times. Croskey-Merritt’s success is an argument that a team does not have to pour major resources into the position to find a viable solution. Washington has also been active in the backfield in free agency, having signed Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders don’t need another RB, yet they are lacking elite-caliber weapons for third-year QB Jayden Daniels. If Love is sitting there at No. 7 and general manager Adam Peters likes him better than whichever receivers or defenders are on the board, perhaps he will take the plunge.
How do you expect the draft to play out for Love? Will one of the above teams or a dark horse end up with Love on April 23? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who will draft Jeremiyah Love?
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Titans 37% (586)
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Commanders 18% (282)
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Giants 17% (262)
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Other 12% (182)
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Cardinals 6% (97)
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Saints 5% (79)
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Bengals 3% (53)
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Jets 3% (41)
Total votes: 1,582
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Giants, Dexter Lawrence At ‘Impasse’
The Giants have been in contract talks with disgruntled defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, but those discussions have not been productive. The sides are at an “impasse,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. With the Giants continuing to discuss Lawrence in trades, a resolution is expected before the draft, per Rapoport.
Speaking with the media on Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen indicated the Giants had not set a draft deadline to settle Lawrence’s future. It appears an answer will come by then, though. The Giants, who already own the fifth pick in the draft, are expected to get a first-rounder back if a Lawrence trade occurs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. This is not considered a strong draft class for defensive tackles, which should boost Lawrence’s value across the league, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN notes.
As the 17th overall pick in 2019, Lawrence joined the Giants a few years before Schoen took over as their GM. Schoen, then in his second offseason on the job, authorized a four-year, $90MM extension for Lawrence in May 2023. The pact included $60MM in guarantees and made the two-time second-team All-Pro one of the richest defensive tackles in the NFL. Three years later, Lawrence ranks seventh among DTs in guarantees, 11th in total value and 13th in average salary.
Now unhappy with where he stands in the financial pecking order at his position, the 28-year-old Lawrence requested a trade last week. He is still signed through 2027 and due to count just under $27MM against the cap in each of the next two years.. Lawrence is owed a non-guaranteed $18.5MM base salary next season, but an acquiring team would have to give him a raise.
The Chargers are considered one “logical” fit, a source told Tyler Dragon of USA Today. That would mean a major trade between new Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh. The Harbaugh brothers most recently came together on a trade when the Ravens, then coached by John, sent edge defender Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman last October. The Chargers now have the third-most cap space in the league ($48.68MM), giving them ample room to pay Lawrence if they are interested in swinging a deal.
Even though John Harbaugh called Lawrence “super, super important” to the Giants’ defense in late February, the team has not been willing to meet the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder’s demands. Harbaugh and first-year senior VP of football ops and strategy Dawn Aponte have wrested power away from Schoen this offseason. All three have engaged in talks with Lawrence, but unless there is a 180 in negotiations over the next week-plus, it appears the four-time Pro Bowler will be on his way out soon.