RB Isaac Guerendo In Uphill Battle To Make 49ers’ Roster; Latest On Team’s LG Situation
The 49ers have an established track record for mid-round running back investments during the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era. Unfortunately for the team, the moves have a high bust rate.
San Francisco drafted Joe Williams in the 2017 fourth round, trading up for the Utah back. Williams did not play an NFL snap. The team tried again by drafting Trey Sermon in the 2021 third round. Sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell outplayed Sermon, who saw minimal San Francisco action before being waived in 2022. The team misfired once again in Round 3, with its Tyrion Davis-Price pick (2022) yielding little before a 2023 separation.
The 2024 draft brought another swing, with Isaac Guerendo joining the team in Round 4. Shortly before Guerendo’s second season, however, the 49ers traded for Brian Robinson to serve as Christian McCaffrey‘s backup. Robinson moved on in free agency (to the Falcons) in March, but the 49ers went back to the draft well again by choosing Indiana’s Kaelon Black in Round 3 despite the Indiana product not being invited to the Combine.
Black joins 2025 fifth-rounder Jordan James as McCaffrey backup options alongside Guerendo, but the third-year player may be on the outside looking in. Guerendo is now a long shot to make San Francisco’s 53-man roster this summer, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur writes. The 49ers are expected to feature an RB2 competition between James and Black, Tafur adds.
Guerendo, who clocked a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 Combine, averaged 5.0 yards per carry as a rookie (84/420) and scored four touchdowns. McCaffrey missed most of that season but returned to his full workload in 2025, with Robinson serving as the clear backup. Guerendo, who played alongside Mitchell in 2024, went from 227 offensive snaps as a rookie to zero last season. He could find himself elsewhere via waivers or perhaps in a low-level trade, though the 49ers could perhaps save a practice squad spot come August.
While McCaffrey’s backup — a rather important position considering the All-Pro’s injury history — has yet to be decided, the team will be looking for a Week 1 left guard starter as well. Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch defected in free agency (to the Raiders and Lions, respectively), leaving a hole opposite Dominick Puni. The team signed Robert Jones and will put him in a competition with second-year blocker Connor Colby and rookie fourth-rounder Carver Willis, Tafur adds.
Jones, who missed all of last season with a broken bone in his neck, comes over from the Cowboys but last made contributions with the Dolphins. The four-year Miami blocker, 27, started 30 games for the Dolphins — including 17 in 2024. Jones only commanded a one-year, $3.75MM Dallas deal and signed for $1.75MM ($1.64MM guaranteed) with the 49ers.
The 49ers initially turned to Colby after Bartch’s Week 2 injury last season but ended up going with Burford as a nine-game starter. Burford joined the Raiders on a one-year, $3.26MM contract. Willis played left tackle with Washington as a senior and was Kansas State’s starting right tackle in 2024. The 49ers, who signed Vederian Lowe as a swing tackle this offseason, are moving Willis to guard.
Although Jones has by far the most experience here, Colby — an Iowa product drafted in last year’s seventh round — will be given “every opportunity” to beat him out, per Tafur. Pro Football Focus ranked Colby 66th among guards as a rookie, but the 49ers look to remain bullish on his chances. Two years remain on Puni’s rookie deal, keeping the team’s RG situation stable for the foreseeable future.
Broncos Explored TE, LB Additions Earlier In Draft
Although glaring needs did not appear to exist on the Broncos’ depth chart entering the draft, the team carried a few positions that could use help. Tight end and inside linebacker were at or near the top of that list, but Denver waited until Day 3 of the draft to address those spots.
The Broncos chose tight ends Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley in Rounds 5 and 7, respectively, and made linebacker Red Murdock this year’s Mr. Irrelevant. But the team looked into these positions earlier in the draft.
Tight end was a consideration “somewhat early” for the Broncos, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Considering the pre-draft work the Broncos did at tight end, it is unsurprising the team looked into the position earlier. Denver held the No. 62 overall pick but traded down to No. 66. Two of the TEs the team used “30” visits on — Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers and Ohio State’s Max Klare — went off the board in Round 2, with the Rams taking Klare one spot before the Broncos’ second-round pick. The Texans also chose Michigan’s Marlin Klein at No. 59.
Joly, however, also made a trip to Denver for a pre-draft meeting. The NC State product was a consistent producer in Raleigh and put up notable stats at UConn from 2022-23. Joly caught a career-high seven touchdown passes last season but was more productive for a yardage standpoint in 2024, when he tallied a career-best 661 to go with four TD grabs (his 15.4 yards per reception ranked fourth among Division I-FBS tight ends). The Broncos preferred Joly’s 2024 tape, according to Fowler, who notes the pass catcher played at a lighter weight that season.
Joly weighed 241 pounds at the Combine but was listed at 263 on the Wolfpack’s 2025 roster. With the team trading up 18 spots to land Joly at No. 152, it will be interesting to see where he checks in during his first Bronco campaign. The team decided to retain Evan Engram, despite an unremarkable 2025 season, and $5MM of his $10.99MM 2026 salary is already guaranteed. Engram, 31, could serve as a bridge while Joly develops in Sean Payton‘s offense. Denver also re-signed Adam Trautman in free agency.
The Broncos also re-signed linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, recommitting to each and releasing Dre Greenlaw. Singleton is 32, while Strnad will turn 30 before Week 1. The team not identifying a linebacker prospect earlier than No. 257 (Murdock) may inject some risk into the proceedings and make the Broncos a candidate for a pre-Week 1 signing. The team does still roster Drew Sanders, who has battled injuries as a pro, and is planning to try edge rusher Jonah Elliss at ILB this offseason.
Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt said (via the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel) the team wanted to add a linebacker in the draft but did not see it as a critical area of need. The draft also saw some ILB options go off the board shortly before No. 62. The Vikings, Colts and Titans respectively chose Jake Golday (No. 51), C.J. Allen (No. 53) and Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 60). The Broncos opted to trade down, and they made Texas A&M interior D-lineman Tyler Onyedim their first draftee.
Cowboys To Host CB Adoree’ Jackson
Adoree’ Jackson has spent the past five years in the NFC East, and he may remain in the division for 2026. The veteran corner has lined up his first known visit of the offseason.
Jackson is set to visit the Cowboys today, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Dallas has already taken the free agent route to make a pair of veteran CB additions this spring, bringing in ex-Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick. The team then added fourth-rounder Devin Moore during the draft, but with over $8MM in cap space another low-cost move could be in store.
New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker coached Jackson last season with the Eagles. As Philadelphia’s secondary coach, Parker oversaw Jackson’s age-30 season. That included 10 starts and a 63% snap share on defense. Jackson has made 76 career starts during his nine-year career.
The Eagles’ boundary cornerback position opposite Quinyon Mitchell was an issue last season, as both Mitchell and slot ace Cooper DeJean earned first-team All-Pro acclaim. Pro Football Focus graded Jackson 92nd among CB regulars in 2025. Although the Eagles traded for Michael Carter and Jaire Alexander last season, the latter did not end up playing a down for Philly. Jackson continued to work as a regular following the trades, and he started the Eagles’ wild-card game after retaining a heavy role down the stretch.
A former Titans first-round pick, Jackson has played in the NFC East since 2021. Tennessee not exercising the 5-foot-11 cover man’s fifth-year option led to a three-year, $39MM Giants contract. He worked alongside future Eagle James Bradberry in 2021 and became the Giants’ No. 1 corner a year later, as GM Joe Schoen made Bradberry a cap casualty. Jackson helped the Giants make a surprise divisional-round run, though he missed time due to injury, and helped the Giants contain Justin Jefferson in their wild-card upset.
After Jackson played out his contract in 2023, the Giants attempted to go in a younger direction at corner. But they were not ultimately satisfied with the results and re-signed the veteran just before the 2024 season. Jackson only started five games that year but ended up being the preferred Eagles option opposite Mitchell over Kelee Ringo last year. Jackson played for just $1.75MM in 2024 and $1.76MM in ’25.
The Cowboys return the recently extended DaRon Bland at corner and used a third-round pick on Shavon Revel in 2025. The team missed both for extensive portions of last season, with Bland suffering another injury and Revel making a late debut due to his 2024 ACL tear. Parker will see what he has in Durant and Kendrick soon, and Jackson could fit into the puzzle — likely at a low rate, if a deal is to happen — after this mid-offseason meeting.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Charges Dropped Against L’Jarius Sneed
In November, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was indicted by a grand jury. The charge Sneed faced as a result of that development has now been dropped, however.
Attorney Michael J. Todd revealed on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) Sneed’s case was recently dismissed by the state of Texas. Sneed originally faced an aggravated assault charge stemming from an alleged December 2024 incident. The grand jury wound up indicting him on a charge of failure to report a felony, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
This latest development, Sneed’s attorney confirms, means the legal matter is now settled. The veteran no longer has any pending charges and his case included no admission of guilt. Sneed appears to still be one of the defendants in a civil suit, but this news should help his chances of landing a deal in free agency before the start of the 2026 season.
Sneed was a starter for the Chiefs while playing out his rookie contract. Kansas City used the franchise tag in 2024 before working out a trade to the Titans. Part of that agreement was a four-year, $76.4MM extension with Tennessee upon arrival. Expectations were high as a result, but the former fourth-rounder made only five appearances during his debut season with his new team. Sneed was limited to seven contests in 2025, and his performance in coverage when on the field fell short of his peak Kansas City showings.
In a move which thus came as no surprise, Sneed was released in March. The Titans will move forward with free agent signings Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott as key figures at the cornerback spot while attempting to improve in the secondary this season. Sneed, 29, remains unsigned at this time. With several veterans lining up deals at this time of year, however, he could be among those landing an opportunity relatively soon.
On the other hand, it will be interesting to see if a league investigation takes place. The NFL often waits until legal proceedings run their course before looking into a situation, and convictions are not required for fines and/or suspensions to be handed down under the personal conduct policy. Nonetheless, Sneed’s path to a third NFL contract (one which will no doubt be worth far less than his second) should be clearer moving forward.
Patrick Mahomes Expected To Participate In Chiefs’ OTAs
MAY 5: During an appearance on SiriusXM radio (audio link), Chiefs GM Brett Veach confirmed Mahomes is “way ahead of schedule.” Nevertheless, he added the team will proceed with caution once training camp – and thus contact practices – begins.
MAY 2: The Chiefs will begin their organized team activities later this month. Patrick Mahomes has progressed in his injury recovery to the point he is expected to take part.
“He is in a good position to be able to do some things,” head coach Andy Reid said (via ESPN’s Nate Taylor). “Phase 2 [of the offseason program], remember, there’s no contact and there’s no offense versus defense. It’s Phase 3 that you get into that… He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.”
Mahomes suffered ACL and MCL tears late in the 2025 season, setting him up for a lengthy rehab process and leading to questions about his Week 1 availability for next year. Even limited participation in spring practices would obviously be an encouraging sign, though. Kansas City’s OTAs will take place from May 26-28 along with June 1-3.
That will be followed by mandatory minicamp; contact practices will not commence until training camp in July. By that point, the Chiefs will no doubt have a clearer picture of Mahomes’ rehab status. The team will presumably proceed with caution over the coming weeks, with trade acquisition Justin Fields a candidate to handle first-team reps. Kansas City also has Chris Oladokun and seventh-round rookie Garrett Nussmeier on the QB depth chart.
Mahomes’ deal was once again restructured this offseason, and he remains under contract through 2031. The three-time Super Bowl MVP will play a key role in the Chiefs’ efforts to return to the playoffs in 2026 after Kansas City’s underwhelming showing this past campaign. A clean bill of health will of course be critical to the team’s short- and long-term outlook. As Kansas City’s offseason programs unfold, the involvement of Mahomes will remain a story to follow closely.
Cowboys Have Not Discussed Trade With WR George Pickens
George Pickens recently signed his franchise tag, confirming the draft-day revelation that he would be doing so well before mandatory practices commenced. A trade has been floated as a possibility in this case, but the Cowboys have publicly stated their intention of keeping Pickens in the fold for 2026.
When speaking to the media over the weekend, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) Dallas has not engaged in any conversations with Pickens about a trade. That falls in line with EVP Stephen Jones’ remarks at the draft indicating a swap is not being sought out by the Cowboys. Pickens is in line to collect $27.3MM in 2026 while carrying a cap charge of the same amount.
Affording that figure – not to mention the higher cost of a long-term extension – while retaining fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb will be challenging. That factor has led many to believe a trade could receive consideration on Dallas’ part, especially if Pickens displays frustration with his lack of security beyond 2026. Nevertheless, Schottenheimer said (h/t ESPN’s Todd Archer) he was not surprised to see Pickens sign his one-year tender as early as he did. That move obligates Pickens to attend mandatory minicamp in June along with training camp one month later.
July 15 looms as the deadline for franchise tag recipients to sign a long-term deal. In spite of that, the Cowboys have already made it clear they will not negotiate a multiyear contract with Pickens, who was among the league’s top receivers during his debut Dallas season. The 25-year-old will be in line for a major payday (or a second tag) in 2027 if he manages a strong follow-up campaign, although the possibility still remains for a trade to result in an acquiring team authorizing a new deal sooner.
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes Pickens is indeed displeased with his situation, something which is common among franchise tag recipients. He adds a trade sending the former Steelers draftee out of Dallas is not “an impossibility by any stretch” with plenty of time remaining before any potential swap could take place. A general manager La Canfora spoke with suggested a young player coupled with draft capital could be enough to change the Cowboys’ stance on Pickens.
Dallas expectedly devoted much of the draft toward the defensive side of the ball, and improvement in that regard will be critical in rebounding from the 2025 season. Pickens remains on track to again play a key offensive role for the Cowboys, although his participation in mandatory offseason work will be something to monitor as the summer unfolds.
Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers Return Not Held Up By Money
For a second offseason in a row, Aaron Rodgers is playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the Steelers. Despite every indication that the 42-year-old will be Pittsburgh’s starter in 2026 – including a lack of other options – he has yet to finalize that decision.
The delay is unrelated to financial compensation, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Steelers placed a UFA tender on Rodgers, which will pay him 110% of last year’s salary, or just over $15MM. He can still sign with another team, but that deal would factor into the compensatory pick formula.
This sets up a situation in which Rodgers is virtually guaranteed to play in Pittsburgh this year or sit out the season entirely, which would likely mean the end of his 21-year career. Even if another club wanted Rodgers, that team may not want to risk losing a high-value compensatory pick by signing him.
As such, any offer would likely be well below what he stands to make with the Steelers. Though the current holdup may not be based on money, that does not necessarily mean that Rodgers would be willing to accept a lesser deal from another team.
Other than a return to Pittsburgh, Rodgers does not have a clear path forward. Retirement rumors have followed the four-time MVP for years, and his play in the last two seasons represented a precipitous drop from his time in Green Bay. The Steelers still went 10-7 and made the playoffs last year, so Rodgers may feel that he has some winning football left in him. His relationships with head coach Mike McCarthy and several members of his new staff would appear to be another reason for him to don the black and yellow for another year.
But with multiple Steelers-set deadlines in the rearview, there is no way of knowing when Rodgers will make a decision and what that decision will be. Pittsburgh did not pursue any veteran quarterbacks this offseason and only added Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round of the draft. He joins Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard in the Steelers’ quarterback room, essentially making them reliant on a Rodgers return to put forth a competitive team in 2026.
Bucs GM: Team Seeking Long-Term Future With Baker Mayfield
The Buccaneers do not have a history with long-term quarterback partnerships. No one has started more than six years with the franchise at the game’s premier position.
The team’s longest-tenured starting QB is Vinny Testaverde, a former No. 1 overall pick who left in free agency in 1993. Trent Dilfer was also a six-year Buc, leaving in 2000 as a free agent after an injury-shortened 1999 season. Doug Williams lasted five years, but a messy dispute with ownership led to the future Super Bowl MVP’s 1983 exit. Super Bowl XXXVII starter Brad Johnson played four seasons with the team.
Although Ryan Griffin never started a game in Tampa, he is technically the longest-tenured QB in franchise history — at seven years (2015-21). Baker Mayfield is contracted for one more season — which will be his fourth in Tampa — but the club has designs on moving the former No. 1 pick into position to become its longest-tenured quarterback.
Rumblings about a Mayfield extension emerged at multiple points this offseason, and while negotiations do not look to have begun, GM Jason Licht said during a WDAE appearance (h/t Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) the quarterback’s situation is “at the forefront of our minds.” Licht added “nobody here wants Baker playing for any other team.”
Mayfield’s three-year, $100MM deal includes a $39.98MM cap number for 2026. The Bucs made the decision to guarantee $30MM of Mayfield’s 2026 compensation last summer, providing security for a player who has rejuvenated his career during his time in Florida. Two void years are on the contract; if the Bucs do not extend Mayfield by the start of the 2027 league year, they would owe $30.15MM in dead money in 2027.
That number approaches the penalty the Bucs received on their 2023 cap after Tom Brady‘s second retirement. Mayfield arrived in the wake of the three-year Bucs QB1’s decision, with the team staying away from a big-ticket investment due largely to the Brady dead money. Mayfield joined the Bucs on an incentive-laden contract that provided only $4MM in base value. After a bounce-back 2023 season, Mayfield signed his three-year deal on the eve of the ’24 free agency period.
Mayfield then posted better numbers under Liam Coen in 2024, throwing 41 touchdown passes and completing 71% of his throws. The QB regressed last season, seeing his yards per attempt fall from 7.9 in 2024 to 6.8 in ’25; Mayfield also completed just 63% of his passes. The Bucs, though, trudged through an injury-plagued season that featured extensive missed time from skill-position players — including Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving — and O-linemen. The Bucs, who replaced OC Josh Grizzard with Zac Robinson this offseason (with input from their quarterback on the hire), are ready to give Mayfield another chance.
While the Licht-era Bucs have regularly had key starters play out contract years and re-signing them either before or during the following free agency period, it would be a bit surprising to see Mayfield not extended before Week 1. The 31-year-old passer would be an attractive UFA in 2027 were the Bucs to pass on an extension.
Tampa Bay currently has Mayfield on a wildly team-friendly accord, with his AAV checking in 16th among QBs. The Colts giving Daniel Jones a two-year, $88MM deal probably will factor into Mayfield’s Bucs negotiations. While only two teams — the Packers (Aaron Rodgers) and Cowboys (Dak Prescott) — have authorized $50MM-per-year extensions for QBs past their 30th birthdays, Mayfield will be a candidate to at least come in above Jones on his next contract.
Sam Darnold‘s camp will be taking notice of how the Bucs and Mayfield proceed. Although the Bucs would have a franchise tag at their disposal if they are unable to extend Mayfield, that pricey number along with the $30MM-plus dead cap figure — in the event the former Heisman winner does ultimately relocate next year — arms the fourth-year Tampa Bay starter with some leverage ahead of his talks. It will be interesting to see what numbers emerge once serious discussions begin.
Steelers Did Not Call Cowboys About No. 20 Pick
The Steelers got caught flat-footed during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team was expecting to land Makai Lemon with the 21st overall pick and even had the USC wideout on the phone to inform him of its decision.
There was just one problem: they were not on the clock. The Cowboys were, and they completed a trade with the division rival Eagles, who moved up to the No. 20 pick to steal Lemon out from under Pittsburgh. The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, but it was abundantly clear they were outmaneuvered by Philadelphia’s general manager, Howie Roseman.
Instead of prematurely calling Lemon – rumored to be a common Steelers draft tactic – perhaps general manager Omar Khan should have dialed the Cowboys’ number. He made no attempt to move up one spot to snag their desired prospect, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and could only watch – or more accurately, listen – as Lemon hung up to take the call from Philadelphia and become an Eagle.
However, the Steelers may not have been able to beat the Eagles’ offer. Philly sent a pair of fourth-rounders to Dallas to move up from the No. 23 pick, where the Cowboys were confident they could still land UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. In that case, Pittsburgh may have needed to match or exceed Philly’s package of picks, a sizable overpay to move up one spot.
Still, offering an alternative to trading with a division rival would have at least gotten the Cowboys’ attention. Lawrence was known to have other first-round interest, too, so Dallas may have preferred to move back one spot rather than three to ensure they got their man. Combined, those factors could have helped a weaker offer from Pittsburgh still beat their in-state rivals.
Lemon was not linked to the Cowboys during the pre-draft process, so the Steelers understandably were not worried about him going to Dallas. But opting to reach out to him rather than Jerry Jones may turn out to be a decision Khan regrets. It will be very interesting to watch how the careers of Lemon and Iheanachor play out.
Packers To Sign QB Tyrod Taylor
Since Malik Willis departed in free agency, the backup quarterback spot has been a question mark for the Packers. A veteran QB2 has been identified by the team, though.
Tyrod Taylor has agreed to a deal with Green Bay, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. He is now in position to handle backup duties behind Jordan Love for 2026. Taylor spent the past four years in New York, splitting that time between the Giants and the Jets.
Willis impressed during his limited starting action in Green Bay, which led to a notable free agent pact with the Dolphins. His departure left the Packers with Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord in place to compete for the backup gig over the course of the offseason. Those two are still on the roster for now, but Taylor’s arrival will bring considerable experience to the fold for 2026.
A Ravens draftee in 2011, Taylor handled backup duties over the course of his rookie contract. Since then, the former sixth-rounder has put together a journeyman career featuring stints with the Bills, Browns, Chargers and Texans prior to his four-year spell in New York. Taylor was open to remaining with the Jets on a new deal this offseason, but noting materialized on that front. Indeed, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes it became “increasingly clear” recently there would not be a re-signing in this case.
Taylor totaled five starts in 2023 and another four this past season. In all, the 36-year-old has amassed 62 starts and 100 appearances during the regular season. A full-time starting opportunity has not been available for quite some time now, and that will of course remain true barring a Love injury in 2026. Nevertheless, Taylor should provide the Packers with a higher floor than what Ridder or McCoy would have.
Ridder joined Green Bay’s practice squad late last season with Love and Willis managing injuries. The former Falcon and Raider is owed $1.22MM in 2026, but none of that figure is guaranteed. Similarly, none of McCord’s $885K in scheduled compensation is locked in. The Packers moving on from at least one of the two at some point this offseason will be something to watch for now that Taylor is place.
Green Bay entered Monday with over $20MM in cap space. This Taylor contract will no doubt be a low-cost deal covering the 2026 campaign, so it should not alter the team’s other plans as the spring continues.