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.
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.
Packers To Release QB Desmond Ridder
On Monday, the Packers identified their new backup quarterback in the form of Tyrod Taylor. With a deal being worked out on that front, a corresponding move will see an incumbent Green Bay signal-caller let go.
The Packers are releasing Desmond Ridder, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. As a result, the team is set to move forward with a trio of passers on the books. Jordan Love is still positioned to operate as Green Bay’s starter, while Taylor will serve as the backup. Kyle McCord remains in place as a low-cost QB3.
Ridder has bounced around the league since being drafted by the Falcons in 2022. A four-game run to close out his rookie season set up an extended look atop the depth chart for the following year. Ridder was unable to develop as hoped, though, and he was traded to the Cardinals in 2024. His time in Arizona was short-lived, with his only regular-season game time that year coming as a member of the Raiders.
In 2025, Ridder saw time with the Bengals and Vikings before joining Green Bay late in the year as injury insurance. The 26-year-old was due $1.22MM in salary for the coming campaign, but none of it was guaranteed. As a result, the Packers will save that amount with this release without taking on any dead money charges. The funds saved from cutting Ridder will of course help offset the cost of Taylor’s deal.
With much of free agency and now the draft in the books, many teams around the NFL have sorted out their QB depth charts. That will make it challenging for Ridder to line up his next gig, and he may remain on the open market for an extended period. In any case, he will look to find a new home no later than the start of training camp during the summer.
QB Anthony Richardson Reports To Colts Workouts
Anthony Richardson was absent from the beginning of the Colts’ offseason program. After two weeks away from the team, though, things have changed.
Richardson has reported to the Colts for today’s work, ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports. Today’s development comes shortly after Indianapolis made the expected decision of declining the former No. 4 pick’s fifth-year option. As a result of that move, Richardson is a pending 2027 free agent.
It came as little surprise when team and player were apart from each other at the beginning of voluntary workouts. Richardson requested a trade earlier this offseason, and with Daniel Jones atop the depth chart Indianapolis could stand to move on in his case. As general manager Chris Ballard recently confirmed, however, no trade calls were made during last month’s draft. An extended Richardson waiting period could thus be in store.
All work between now and June’s minicamp is voluntary. Richardson will now be in store to participate in team drills as he awaits clarity on his future. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has totaled only 15 starts through three seasons in the NFL, with injuries and inconsistent play when on the field defining his Colts tenure. That will hinder Richardson’s stock in any potential trade, and many teams added to their QB depth charts by selecting a signal-caller on Day 3 of the draft (or earlier, in a few cases).
Ballard has suggested the Colts could keep Richardson in the fold through 2026, and the nature of the Florida product’s trade market will be worth watching as the offseason unfolds. Riley Leonard looms as Indianapolis’ QB2 in the event Richardson winds up being dealt. It remains to be seen when or if that will take place, but suitors could of course emerge if injuries strike during practices around the league.
Richardson is owed $1.15MM in salary for the coming season. He could be viewed as a low-cost option for teams seeking a developmental passer or a one-year rental as a result. Otherwise, on-field preparation for a fourth season in Indianapolis will begin today.
Chiefs Waive QB Jake Haener, Two Others
With rookie minicamps and tryouts taking place, many teams around the league will see roster turnover across the coming days. The Chiefs have made a number of moves.
Kansas City added three players to the roster on Monday, per a team announcement. Three more were waived in corresponding moves. Quarterback Jake Haener, along with defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and undrafted rookie Ethan Hurkett have been let go.
Haener entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2024. He made eight appearances and one start as a rookie but did not see any regular-season action in 2025. In January, Haener was offered a futures deal from New Orleans but joined the Chiefs instead. Kansas City has since traded for Justin Fields, though, adding to the team’s QB depth while Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from ACL and MCL tears.
Pickens was taken in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Bears. He spent two seasons in Chicago but failed to survive roster cuts this past summer. That resulted in a practice squad deal with Kansas City, and Pickens made three appearances for the Chiefs in 2025. Hurkett went undrafted last month, and he was among the 20 players Kansas City signed shortly after the draft concluded.
With the roster spots created by those three departures, the Chiefs have signed receiver Xavier Loyd, defensive back Marlen Sewell and offensive tackle Kahlil Benson. Those rookies will join the others still in place for Kansas City in competing for a role during spring practices.
Eagles Likely To Make S Addition
The safety position has seen plenty of movement so far this offseason in the case of the Eagles. At least one more move could be coming.
Philadelphia lost Reed Blakenship to the Texans in free agency. The team also moved on from Sydney Brown by trading him to the Falcons. While the Eagles have since brought back veteran Marcus Epps and added special teams veteran J.T. Gray, another addition could be coming during the post-draft period of free agency.
“You go into this understanding that you’re going to come out of it with not everything perfect, but [Eagles officials] probably have a different vision of our safety room than maybe it is publicly,” general manager Howie Roseman said (via The Athletic’s Zach Berman) when reflecting on the draft. “But that’ll all sort itself out. We don’t play our first game until September.”
The Eagles have Andrew Mukuba, Michael Carter II and seventh-round rookie Cole Wisniewski in the fold along with Gray and Epps as things stand. PhillyVoice’s Geoff Mosher predicts the team will bring in a starting-caliber player between now and Week 1. With free agent deals no longer counting against the compensatory pick formula, movement over the coming days could pick up as veterans line up deals with new teams.
The list of safeties on the market was recently thinned out by Justin Simmons‘ retirement. Still, a number of experienced producers are available this deep into the offseason. The likes of Donovan Wilson, Ashtyn Davis, Xavier Woods and Taylor Rapp are unsigned at this time. Any of them could be acquired on a low-cost deal covering the 2026 season. The trade market running through roster cutdowns in the summer will provide Roseman and Co. with another opportunity to add in the secondary.
The Eagles currently have nearly $28MM in cap space. Their financial situation will of course change in the expected event A.J. Brown is traded after June 1, but there will still be plenty of available funds during the summer if a safety acquisition is sought out.
Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks Seeking Raise
Jordyn Brooks has been a highly productive starter during his two years with the Dolphins. The veteran linebacker remains under contract for one more year, and he is among the players Miami is interested in extending.
If Brooks is to work out a new Dolphins agreement, a bump in pay could be in store. Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald writes the 28-year-old is seeking a raise in the event an extension is signed. Brooks is currently set to collect $8.38MM in 2026, the final year of his 2024 free agent pact.
While playing out his rookie contract with the Seahawks, Brooks was a regular presence on defense and filled the statsheet. The former first-rounder was among many in his position to have his fifth-year option declined, however, leading to a departure on the open market. Brooks joined the Dolphins and has served as an every-down player since. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2025 after leading the NFL in tackles (183) while adding 3.5 sacks.
Brooks drew trade interest from the Dolphins this offseason, but no swap was worked out. Miami has not been shy with respect to moving on from veterans under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. A short list of players remain in the team’s plans, though, and Brooks is on it. Sullivan indicated last month extension talks have taken place with Brooks, but nothing is imminent at this time.
22 inside linebackers are currently attached to an average annual value higher than Brooks. That includes 19 earning an average of $10MM or more per year, a figure the Texas Tech product could aim to surpass on his third career contract. Finances are of course tight right now for the Dolphins with the team carrying a dead money figure of $179MM, but any extension would lower his immediate cap charge and accommodating a Brooks raise in 2027 could be feasible.
Miami’s 14-man draft class includes linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis. Those two are in position to compete for a defensive role, although veteran Tyrel Dodson joins Brooks as a holdover from 2025. It will be interesting to see if the latter has a new deal in place by Week 1 or if he enters 2026 as a pending free agent.
5 Key Stories: 4/26/26 – 5/3/26
With the draft in the books, teams around the NFL have turned their attention to spring practices. Plenty of roster and front office movement has already taken place, with more still to come. In case you missed any of the top stories from this past weekend, here is a quick recap:
- Texans, Al-Shaair Reach Extension Agreement: Not long after the Texans worked out a market-setting extension with edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., they secured a long-term deal with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The latter agreed to a three-year deal with a base value of $54MM. Al-Shaair landed $34.2MM in new guarantees, so in terms of average annual value and locked-in compensation, he now ranks third among inside linebackers. The 2025 Pro Bowler has been a starter during his two Houston seasons to date, filling the statsheet during that time. Al-Shaair will be expected to remain a key figure on the Texans’ elite defense for the foreseeable future.
- Campbell Reunites With Ravens: Calais Campbell has elected to play a 19th NFL season, and he will do so on a familiar team. A deal with the Ravens has been worked out, meaning Campbell will return to Baltimore after playing there from 2020-22. A coaching change has taken place since then, but a notable workload would come as little surprise upon return from the 2010s All-Decade Team member. Campbell has remained a starter deep into his storied career, and he could play a key role on the Ravens’ defensive interior. Even if Nnamdi Madubuike returns to full health in 2026, improved play along the D-line will be key for Baltimore. Campbell should figure heavily in the team’s efforts to rebound in that regard.
- Steelers’ Rodgers Uncertainty Remains: Once again, the Steelers find themselves uncertain of their starting quarterback situation with Aaron Rodgers yet to sign. A deal allowing the future Hall of Famer to play a second Pittsburgh campaign remains the expectation, but the team has taken the rare route of applying the UFA tender in this case. The Steelers will be eligible for draft compensation in the unlikely event Rodgers signs with another team shortly, while they will have exclusive negotiating rights beyond July 22 if he is still a free agent by that time. This procedural move could set Rodgers up further for a decision on retirement or playing his age-42 season under new Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy, and no changes in stance from team or player are believed to have taken place since it was made.
- Brinker Departs Titans: After a three-year run with the Titans, Chad Brinker has elected to step down from his role as president of football operations. Brinker served as a key figure amidst ongoing front office changes during his time in Tennessee, but he was among the staffers around the league whose tenures came to an end following the draft. The Titans have 2025 hire Mike Borgonzi in place as their general manager at this time. He and Brinker played leading roles in the recent search which resulted in the hiring of head coach Robert Saleh. Borgonzi’s influence in the organization figures to grow moving forward, while Brinker intends to seek out a new personnel role elsewhere in the NFL.
- Commanders Not Eyeing Aiyuk Trade With 49ers: The fate of 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk remains uncertain aside from a parting of ways still being anticipated. San Francisco’s preference would be to work out a trade, while suitors continue to wait for an Aiyuk release. Critically, the Commanders are among the teams which are not prepared to part with draft capital and take on the remainder of his through-2028 contract. Washington is instead positioned to sign Aiyuk following his release to a short-term, incentive-laden deal. An arrangement allowing Aiyuk to reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels and general manager Adam Peters is still something to watch for, but a long wait could be in store if neither team wavers over the coming weeks.
Cowboys Open To Further LB Additions
Linebacker was well known to be an area of need for the Cowboys entering the draft. Dallas addressed other positions on defense during the first round, but a veteran was still brought in last weekend.
The Cowboys swung a trade with the 49ers for Dee Winters on Day 3 of the draft. The former sixth-round pick began as a backup for San Francisco before seeing his workload increase over time. Injuries elsewhere in the lineup saw Winters take on a full-time starting role in 2025. He is positioned to operate as a first-team presence with Dallas while playing out the final year of his rookie contract.
DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James and Justin Barron are in place as returnees from last year at the linebacker spot. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham will begin his career in the middle as well. That will give head coach Brian Schottenheimer and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker plenty of options to work with during OTAs and minicamp. Adding further to that group is something under consideration, though.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones indicated (via Archer) the team will continue to seek out a veteran via free agency or another trade. When speaking to the media this weekend, Schottenheimer said (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic) Dallas is “comfortable” at this point with respect to the linebacker position. He nevertheless added the Cowboys are “never closed for business.”
Schottenheimer also said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News) he has a favorite in terms of who would start alongside Winters if the season started today. The second-year head coach did not get into specifics on that front, however. The linebacker spot will no doubt be one to watch closely with or without any other acquisitions being made over the coming weeks.
Dallas currently has roughly $8.2MM in cap space with all but one of the team’s draft picks already on the books. Another low-cost linebacker move could be feasible as a result. After the Cowboys ranked 23rd against the run and 32nd in scoring defense in 2025, it would come as no surprise if further work aimed at upgrading at the second level remained a goal through the summer.
Browns To Hire Trent Baalke
Trent Baalke was out of the NFL during the 2025 season, but he has lined up his next gig. The veteran executive is being hired by the Browns, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports.
Zenitz notes Baalke will be joining Cleveland in a “consultant-like capacity.” This is not the first time the Browns have enlisted a former general manager to join their front office in 2026. Tom Telesco assisted the team during last week’s draft, as noted by Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
It remains to be seen if Telesco will stay in place now that the draft is finished. In any case, Baalke will be among the executives joining new teams late in the offseason. The former 49ers and Jaguars GM saw his Jacksonville tenure end under bizarre circumstances during last year’s hiring cycle. Baalke appeared at first to be safe even with head coach Doug Pederson being dismissed, but things changed in short order.
Liam Coen was originally in position to remain the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, with his second Jaguars HC interview being canceled. Baalke’s presence was a major factor in his hesitancy to join Jacksonville, with Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn sharing the same sentiment. In the end, though, Coen did wind up being hired by the Jags on a lucrative deal which also essentially provided him with the opportunity to pick the team’s new general manager.
After Baalke was officially fired, there was an understandable lack of interest on the part of other teams. The longtime staffer did not end his 49ers tenure on the best of terms, and Jacksonville went 25-43 on his watch. Baalke, 62, had been in place with the Jags since 2020 when his time there came to an end. Coen and new GM James Gladstone helped lead Jacksonville to a division title in 2025.
Second opportunities to serve as a general manager are rare in the NFL, and a third should not be expected in Baalke’s case. Still, he will offer the Browns with a highly experienced voice in their front office. Andrew Berry has been in place since 2020, and he survived the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland has gone 45-56 under Berry, who will hope to deliver a high-impact rookie class for the second year in a row in 2026. His efforts on that front will include input from Baalke.