DT Jaleel Johnson Retires
Jaleel Johnson will not return to the NFL in 2026. The veteran defensive tackle has retired at the age of 31, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes.
Johnson entered the league in 2017. He played out his rookie contract as a member of the Vikings, taking on a larger defensive workload with each passing season. Johnson operated as a full-time starter during his final Minnesota campaign, and his 654 snaps that season wound up being the most of his career during a single year.
During his first foray into free agency, Johnson joined the Texans on a one-year deal. He did not survive roster cuts but still wound up making 12 appearances with Houston in 2021. During the ensuing years, Johnson found himself bouncing on and off practice squads while serving in a depth capacity. The former fourth-rounder split his time between the Texans and Falcons in 2022.
That was followed by a brief stint with the Titans. Johnson spent the 2023 campaign in Tennessee, alternating between time on the active roster and the team’s practice squad. The Iowa product managed 12 games played that season, but he did not receive any contracts (or take any known visits with interested teams) after that point. Johnson remained unsigned deep into the spring, and with the draft now in the books he will not be seeking out an opportunity to land with a team during training camp, as was the case in 2024.
Despite never delivering standout production against the run or pass, Johnson amassed 90 combined regular and postseason appearances across a career which spanned seven years. He has officially retired with just over $5.5MM in total earnings.
Jets Decline Mazi Smith’s Fifth-Year Option
The Jets announced on Wednesday that they picked up the fifth-year option for their 2023 first-round pick, Will McDonald. However, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, they will not do the same with Mazi Smith, the Cowboys’ 2023 first-rounder who was acquired as part of the Quinnen Williams deal at the 2025 trade deadline.
New York’s second fifth-year option decision certainly comes as no surprise. Smith did not develop as hoped during his tenure with the Cowboys, something which made him expendable in the Williams swap. He will now enter next season as a pending free agent.
Smith played sparingly as a rookie but took on a full-time starting role during his second season in Dallas. The Michigan product did not emerge as a notable presence in the pass rush department. Run defense remained a concern, and while the Cowboys initially displayed a desire to keep Smith in the fold, his name was mentioned in trade speculation. Upgrading along the defensive interior was a goal for the team last offseason, and Kenny Clark was part of the package Dallas received in the Micah Parsons blockbuster.
Even with Clark in the fold, Dallas sought out further changes at the D-tackle spot. That led to the Williams trade, and Smith — a throw-in piece in that November 2025 swap — played a role in replacing him upon arrival in New York.
Smith made just three appearances with the Jets down the stretch, though, logging only 54 defensive snaps along the way. A depth role should again be in store for his first full campaign with the team. The Jets acquired T’Vondre Sweat in the trade which sent Jermaine Johnson to the Titans and signed David Onyemata in free agency.
Defensive tackle was still seen as a position where New York could make further investments entering the draft. The Jets selected Darrell Jackson Jr. in the fourth round, and he will look to carve out a rotational role as a rookie. How Smith fits into the team’s setup on the defensive line will be interesting to see. It will also determine his earning potential upon testing the open market next spring.
Seventeen defensive tackles are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more. Smith would not have joined that group had his option ($13.93MM) been exercised, but a raise to that figure would have still been unexpected. The 2026 season will represent Smith’s age-25 campaign, and it will be key in deciding how his second NFL contract takes shape.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Steelers Place UFA Tender On Aaron Rodgers
It is still not expected Aaron Rodgers will join a team other than the Steelers this offseason. If he does, however, Pittsburgh will be in line for draft compensation.
Rodgers has received the UFA tender from the Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Such a move is rare in the NFL, although there were two examples from the 2025 offseason. The Browns applied the UFA tender to Elijah Moore while the Chargers did the same with J.K. Dobbins.
Both players wound up signing with other teams, but they were factored into Cleveland and Los Angeles’ compensatory pick formulas along the way. The same will be true of Rodgers and the Steelers. With an outside deal not likely in his case, however, today’s news essentially serves as a guarantee Rodgers will either play for Pittsburgh in 2026 or retire. The team will have exclusive negotiating rights with the future Hall of Famer if he remains unsigned beyond July 22 while also being able to match any offer sheets which are signed prior to that date.
For the second year in a row, the Steelers have gone deep into the spring without certainty atop their QB depth chart. Rodgers’ one-year deal in 2025 seemed at first to set him up for retirement. Instead, the four-time MVP has left the door open to a 22nd NFL season, with Pittsburgh once again willing to accommodate him. Owner Art Rooney II aimed to have a firm commitment from Rodgers by mid-February, but that soft deadline passed. Shortly before the draft, it was learned clarity on this front would not emerge.
Pittsburgh went through this weekend’s event without Rodgers officially being in the fold. With veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard already in the mix, the team selected Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round. None of those passers will be seen as a threat to Rodgers if/when he arrives, but today’s procedural move further underscores the uncertainty surrounding this unique situation. Rodgers’ next campaign will begin at the age of 42, and a new Steelers accord would see him reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy.
The UFA tender is valued at 110% of a player’s 2025 salary. In Rodgers’ case, that means he will collect just over $15MM next season in the event he suits up for the Steelers. The team’s OTAs are set to begin on May 18, with mandatory minicamp taking place June 2-4. The matter of whether or not Rodgers will be under contract by that point remains a storyline to follow.
Mutual Extension Interest Between Lions, LB Jack Campbell
The deadline for fifth-year option decisions is approaching, and the Lions are among the teams with an interesting call still to be made. Linebacker Jack Campbell‘s short-term future is unclear leading up to May 1.
Campbell is coming off a first-team All-Pro season, and he will be expected to remain a foundational presence for Detroit well into the future provided a long-term deal can be arranged. All linebackers are grouped together for the purposes of fifth-year options and franchise/transition tags, however, which make them highly expensive for situations such as this one. Picking up Campbell’s option would tie him to a 2027 salary of $21.93MM. Only two middle linebackers are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more.
A lucrative commitment to Campbell would be inevitable in the event of a long-term deal, but his option salary would be fully guaranteed and match his cap charge for 2027. That, in turn, would complicate the Lions’ efforts to keep the rest of their highly-productive 2023 draftees in the fold. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, safety Brian Branch and tight end Sam LaPorta are each in line for big-money deals from Detroit or another team in the near future.
Picking up Campbell’s option is an expected move on the part of the Lions. The alternative, of course, is an extension agreement being finalized prior to Friday’s deadline. On that note, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports (video link) both team and player would be “happy” with a long-term deal being worked out in the coming days. It will be interesting to see how general manager Brad Holmes and Co. proceed in the immediate future with an important decision looming.
The Lions already have a highly-paid core of (primarily) homegrown players, many of whom are on the offensive side of the ball. Campbell has established himself as an integral figure as well, though, playing in every game to date during his career and filling the statsheet along the way. The Iowa product set new career highs in tackles (176), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (three) in 2025. Campbell will be 26 by the start of next season, and expectations will remain high in his case for years to come.
Detroit allowed Alex Anzalone to depart in free agency this spring. Derrick Barnes is in place on an $8MM-per-year deal which runs through 2027, while Malcolm Rodriguez and Damone Clark offer inexpensive depth at the linebacker spot. Campbell will be counted on to lead the way at that position for at least one more season, and short-term stability through his option being exercised would come as little surprise. Nonetheless, a long-term pact will be something to watch for over the coming days.
Rob Brzezinski Could Land Full-Time Vikings GM Position
Since Kwesi-Adofo Mensah‘s firing, the Vikings have opted to delay the search for his replacement. Rob Brzezinski handled interim general manager duties through free agency and the draft.
Minnesota’s attention will now turn to the matter of the front office. The hiring cycle for most GM candidates has of course long ended, but the team’s actions in the near future will be key. Brzezinski may find himself handling general manager duties on a full-time basis, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reporting he is a “strong candidate for the permanent job.”
Interestingly, Jones add Brzezinski might also wind up securing a promotion as a result of the Vikings’ GM search. Minnesota could add a general manager from outside the organization but set up a reporting structure which includes Brzezinski outranking the new arrival with a title along the lines of president of football operations. Alternatively, the team could simply maintain the status quo which has been in place since Adofo-Mensah’s firing, a move which ended his four-year run in charge.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert writes the Vikings’ search is expected to be “open-ended,” adding Brzezinski should not be considered a “preferred candidate” at this point. Nevertheless, he adds Brzezinski has support from within the front office to secure the full-time GM gig. It will be interesting to see how many outside candidates receive a look before owners Zygi and Mark Wilf make a final call. Jones adds head coach Kevin O’Connell is likely to have input in the GM search, an unsurprising development given the weight his voice carries in the organization.
Brzezinski began his NFL front office career with the Dolphins before joining the Vikings in 1999. He has been with Minnesota since then, handling key roles in the football administration department through 2013. The following year, he took on the title of executive vice president of football operations. Brzezinski has remained in that role since then, with the exception of his current stint leading the front office. Whether or not he will continue doing so remains to be seen.
Brandon Beane: Bills ‘Shut Down’ Keon Coleman Trade Calls
Keon Coleman has been floated as a Bills trade candidate, especially since ex-head coach Sean McDermott‘s role in drafting him was learned. Joe Brady is in place to continue working with the third-year wideout, though, and general manager Brandon Beane has offered further support for Coleman.
During a Monday appearance on WGR 550 radio, Beane said teams called him to gauge Coleman’s availability in a trade. Discussions took place between the Combine and the league meeting, he added. Beane made it clear, however, that Buffalo “shut down” talks during that period.
“Our intention is for Keon to be here, so the word was out, so no calls this weekend,” Beane said (via Sal Capaccio) when reflecting on the draft. “We’ve hit the reset button with him and hopefully the fanbase and everyone is behind him. I think his best year is yet to come here in 2026.”
Selected 33rd overall in 2024, Coleman arrived in Buffalo facing high expectations. He scored four touchdowns while averaging over 19 yards per catch as a rookie, but things did not go according to plan in Year 2. Instead of developing into a full-time contributor in the passing game, the Florida State product saw his playing time decrease. Coleman was also a healthy scratch on four occasions, with his professionalism being raised as a concern along the way.
Two years remain on Coleman’s rookie contract. His age-23 campaign will represent Brady’s first as an NFL head coach, along with the Buffalo debut of trade acquisition D.J. Moore. Veteran slot target Khalil Shakir is still in the fold, as is 2025 free agent signing Josh Palmer. Buffalo added 10 rookies via the draft this weekend, including Skylar Bell in the fourth round. He and Mecole Hardman will look to offer depth on offense in 2026.
How Coleman will fit into the Bills’ WR room will be interesting to monitor moving forward. The 6-4, 215-pounder can certainly offer the team a useful pass-catching presence on offense if things pan out, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case. Depending on how things develop, the possibility of renewed trade interest leading up to the 2026 deadline could become a storyline to follow.
49ers Add Eight UDFAs
The 49ers are among the teams which have quickly unveiled their undrafted free agent classes. The following eight players have agreed to terms with San Francisco:
- Jack Boumeester, P (Texas)
- Khalil Dinkins, TE (Penn State)
- Bryson Eason, DL (Tennessee)
- Wesley Grimes, WR (NC State)
- Mikail Kamara, DL (Indiana)
- Will Pauling, WR (Notre Dame)
- Jalen Stroman, S (Notre Dame)
- James Thompson, DL (Illinois)
The 49ers did not select any tight ends during the draft, something which could help Dinkins’ chances of earning a roster spot this summer. The team’s financial commitment will at least ensure him a long look. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Dinkins signed a deal including $275K guaranteed.
That is not the only big-money deal the 49ers authorized when assembling their UDFA class. Per Pelissero, Thompson landed $280K in guarantees. After five years at Wisconsin, Thompson enjoyed a productive season at Illinois. He will spend the remainder of the offseason competing with Eason and Kamara for a spot at the end of the roster or at least a place on San Francisco’s practice squad.
The 49ers signed Corliss Waitman in free agency, and he is currently in line to operate as their 2026 punter. The team’s decision to bring in Boumeester will at least leave the door open to a competition, though. Waitman’s one-year deal contains $450K guaranteed, limiting the cost of moving on during roster cuts in the event Boumeester performs well during training camp.
Mike Tomlin Addresses Steelers Resignation Decision
Mike Tomlin‘s Steelers tenure came to an end this winter when he resigned. The Super Bowl winner will spend the 2026 season trying his hand at broadcasting.
Tomlin informed the team of his decision shortly after Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss. He declined to offer public remarks on the matter until Sunday night, when it was officially announced Tomlin will work as an analyst for NBC next season. The new gig will see him travel to the location of each week’s Sunday Night Football broadcast instead of remaining in studio.
“It’s probably not an overnight decision,” Tomlin said during an interview with new colleague Maria Taylor (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “But it’s probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There’s a loneliness with leadership. I just thought it was a good time for me, personally. And by that, I mean just where I am in life. And I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years.”
The Steelers’ most recent postseason victory came in 2016. Finding a viable Ben Roethlisberger successor has proven to be challenging over the years, while a veteran-laden defense has fallen short of expectations on more than one occasion in the playoffs. Tomlin added some of Pittsburgh’s most experienced players are “worthy of the excitement and the optimism associated with new leadership.”
Mike McCarthy is now in place as the Steelers’ head coach. The former Packers Super Bowl winner spent five years with the Cowboys before he was out of coaching in 2025. A deal with his hometown team will see the 62-year-old return to the sidelines as Pittsburgh hopes to make a playoff run. The team’s quarterback situation is once again unclear deep into the offseason, with Aaron Rodgers yet to re-sign. Playing for Tomlin was part of the appeal for the four-time MVP, who spent much of his career previously working with McCarthy in Green Bay.
“I just think, Aaron, I just think being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he’s got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates,” Tomlin added when asked about Rodgers. “And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. And so I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football.”
Tomlin, just 54 despite having a 19-year run as a head coach to his name, had long been mentioned as a candidate to take up broadcasting. It soon became clear in the wake of his resignation decision that 2026 would not be spent on the sidelines in his case. A potential return to coaching on Tomlin’s part will of course be a key talking point leading up to next year’s hiring cycle.
Cameron Jordan Unsure Of Saints Future
Heading into the draft, the outlook for Saints mainstays Cameron Jordan and Alvin Kamara were unclear. Kamara is still under contract, but Jordan’s chances of signing another New Orleans deal do not appear to be strong.
The Saints’ draft class does not include any edge rushers. The team has, however, been active in adding veterans in the front seven. A trade with the Raiders for defensive end Tyree Wilson was worked out on Saturday, while hybrid linebacker Anfernee Jennings agreed to terms on a contract yesterday.
Wilson and Jennings will look to offer depth to a Saints pass rush which still includes Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Jordan, 37 in July, would be counted on to remain a key presence in that regard if he were to re-up with New Orleans once again. The eight-time Pro Bowler continues to leave the door open to a free agent departure, though.
“I don’t know,” Jordan said (via Matthew Paras of NOLA.com) when asked about his future. “There’s nobody who produced the way I did last year, so. My talent speaks for itself. And if things work out, phenomenal. I’ve always said I understand the business side to it, so I’ve never worried about it.”
Jordan has made 254 combined regular and postseason appearances during his career; all of them have come with the Saints. A member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, he has remained highly durable through the late stages of his NFL tenure. Jordan amassed 10.5 sacks last season, almost as many as Wilson has totaled in his three-year career to date. Team and player have agreed to five contracts over the years, and as the post-draft wave of free agency plays out it will be interesting to see if a sixth pact is in store.
The Saints still have their rookie class to sign, but doing so and finalizing the Jennings deal will leave them with a small amount of cap space. Whether or not any of it is used to keep Jordan in place for a 16th New Orleans season will make for a noteworthy mid-offseason storyline.
5 Key Stories: 4/19/26 – 4/26/26
As always, the NFL draft produced a number of interesting developments with rookie selections as well as veteran player movement. In case you missed some of the top stories from around the league this past week, here is a quick recap:
- Draft Produces Rams’ Simpson Pick, Other Surprises: It did not take long for the second quarterback to come off the board on Thursday night, with the Rams taking Ty Simpson 13th overall. Many were surprised by Los Angeles’ decision, one which will provide the team with a Matthew Stafford successor if things pan out. Connections with the Alabama passer persisted through the lead-in to the draft, but the Rams were expected to target more immediate help for an attempted Super Bowl run in 2026. Instead, general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay agreed to proceed with the Simpson selection. Other notable draft developments included highly-rated cornerback Jermod McCoy dropping to the Raiders in the fourth round due to medical concerns along with several teams making depth QB investments (such as the Steelers with Drew Allar and the Chiefs with Garrett Nussmeier).
- Eagles, Vikings Finalize Greenard Trade: The Eagles were known to be seeking a pass rush addition well before the draft started. During the event’s second day, to little surprise, a trade agreement was reached with the Vikings to acquire the former Pro Bowler. Greenard and a 2026 seventh-round pick went to Philadelphia for a pair of third-rounders (this year and next). Upon arrival with the Eagles, Greenard – who had been seeking a raise in Minnesota – agreed to a four-year, $100MM extension. The 28-year-old is in line to collect $50MM guaranteed as a result of the new deal. Greenard (who totaled 24.5 sacks between the 2023 and ’24 seasons) will be tasked with helping replace the edge rush production lost when Jaelan Phillips departed in free agency.
- No Cowboys Extension, Trade Expected For Pickens: Shortly before the first round began, it was learned the Cowboys will not negotiate with wideout George Pickens on a long-term deal. The franchise tag recipient has until mid-July to sign an extension, but none will be forthcoming unless talks resume. Pickens, 25, is set to sign his tender and thus become eligible for a trade. However, Dallas does not intend to move on in this case. The Cowboys are scheduled to pay Pickens $27.3MM in 2026, making him an expensive partner for CeeDee Lamb next season. Keeping that tandem in place for the long term would cost even more, and it remains to be seen if the team is prepared to do so. Meanwhile, Pickens signing the tag will obligate him to attend events like mandatory minicamp in June and training camp the following month.
- Williams Agrees To New 49ers Deal: The 49ers managed to accomplish their goal of settling the Trent Williams situation in time for the draft. Team and player agreed to a two-year, $50MM extension. The new deal contains $37MM in guarantees and will set up Williams to continue serving as San Francisco’s left tackle through at least 2027. The 12-time Pro Bowler was in line to carry an untenable cap charge for this season without a new agreement, and he managed to secure a notable figure in terms of locked-in compensation once more. Williams is entering his age-38 campaign, but he will be expected to remain one of the league’s top blockers deep into his career. Doing so would go a long way in helping the 49ers return to the playoffs in 2026.
- Reed Lands Packers Extension: Jayden Reed was set to enter 2026 as the final year of his rookie contract. A potential free agent departure will not be taking place, though, with the fourth-year wideout agreeing to a Packers extension. Green Bay authorized $50.25MM in new money on a three-year contract, including $20MM guaranteed. Reed, 26, later this month, is thus under team control through 2029. He was limited to just seven games last season, but a return to full health could see Reed reprise his role as a focal point in Green Bay’s passing game. The Packers traded away Dontayvion Wicks, whereas Reed is joined by Christian Watson as a member of the team’s young receiving corps who has landed a deal beyond his rookie pact.