Lions Not Close To Extension Agreement With RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions have finalized one big-money second contract with a member of their 2023 draft class (linebacker Jack Campbell). Three other notable players from that group are eligible for extensions, including Jahmyr Gibbs.
A payday for Detroit’s lead back has long been on the team’s radar. It would come as little surprise if Gibbs were to find himself securing a new deal relatively soon as he appears to be the next in line for one. There is plenty of work still to be done on that front, however.
During an appearance on NFL Live yesterday (video link), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported there has not yet been much progress during negotiations between Gibbs and the Lions. Plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached before the start of training camp, of course. Detroit also has the option of remaining patient in this case with Gibbs under team control through 2027.
A key factor as it pertains to Gibbs will no doubt be the movement seen in the running back market as early as this summer. Fowler noted, to no surprise, a pact averaging $20MM or more per year is likely for Gibbs. Saquon Barkley‘s pact currently leads all running backs with an average annual value of $20.6MM, but the bar could move multiple times in short order. Bijan Robinson is a strong candidate to become the league’s highest-paid back; he and Gibbs have become two of the NFL’s most productive at the position across the past three years.
A report from last month indicated Robinson is expected to land a more valuable extension than Gibbs. According to Fowler, however, some around the league view Detroit’s RB1 as being better than Atlanta’s. That could result in Gibbs moving to the top of the financial pecking order. In any case, the timing of extensions being worked out will no doubt be critical, and each fourth-year producer could prefer to wait until the other signs a deal.
Gibbs split carries with David Montgomery during his rookie season in particular, but he has taken on a major workload on the ground and through the air since arriving as a first-round pick. The 24-year-old has amassed over 5,000 scrimmage yards to date while scoring 49 total touchdowns. Any commitment made by the team will ensure Gibbs remains in the Motor City while making him one of several offensive players attached to a big-ticket deal.
The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and left tackle Penei Sewell are already on the books at a large cost for Detroit. Tight end Sam LaPorta is a pending 2027 free agent, and the Lions are also interested in a new contract in his case. Fitting Gibbs into that financial setup will carry challenges, but an uptick in negotiations to work out a long-term pact is likely to take place over the coming weeks.
5 Key Stories: 5/24/26 – 5/30/26
More NFL teams have begun OTAs during this past week, and on-field work will continue through to early June. A quiet period prior to training camp looms, but a number of interesting developments have taken place recently. In case you missed of this week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
- James Lands Chargers Extension: The Chargers made clear their intention of working out a new Derwin James deal following the draft, and they succeeded on that front. Team and player agreed to a three-year extension featuring $44MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $25.2MM, James is once again the league’s highest-paid safety thanks to his new contract. The five-time Pro Bowler is under team control through 2029, and he figures to remain a focal point on defense for years to come. Continuing to produce at an elite level would make this latest commitment worthwhile, to say the least.
- Vikings Hire Teasley As GM: Through the early stages of free agency along with the draft, the Vikings were led in the front office by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski. Minnesota’s search for a full-time GM has resulted in an outside hire, though. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley has agreed to take charge of the Vikings. He will operate as the team’s top executive, while Brzezinski will return to his previous role (executive vice president of football operations). Teasley – whose hire will net Seattle two third-round compensatory picks – was unique from fellow finalists Reed Burckhardt, Terrance Gray and John McKay in that he did not have previous ties to Minnesota or head coach Kevin O’Connell. He will look to provide the Vikings with a reset after four years of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in place.
- Texans, Collins Agree To Top-Up: Nico Collins was the subject of trade interest earlier this spring, but as expected the Texans chose to keep their top receiver in place. Doing so allowed for a notable raise to be worked out. Collins is still under contract for the next two years, but he will collect a bump in base compensation for 2026 and ’27. In all, the two-time Pro Bowler is due $60MM over that span, with nearly all of that figure guaranteed in full. Collins, 27, has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past three years and he will be counted on to continue operating as Houston’s offensive focal point while playing at an increased rate.
- Packers’ Jacobs Arrested: Josh Jacobs was recently arrested and booked on five charges. The Packers running back was arrested for battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim; strangulation is a felony, while the others are misdemeanors. Jacobs has denied the allegations he faces, and he has yet to be formally charged. Having been released from jail, his future from a legal perspective – along with the potential for NFL discipline – is currently unclear. Green Bay does not plan on making a running back addition at this time. Jacobs has spent the past two seasons as the Packers’ RB1, and he is under contract through 2027.
- Cardinals Receiving Trade Calls On Sweat: The Cardinals added Josh Sweat in free agency last spring, but he could be on the move again. The veteran edge rusher has been the subject of trade calls. Sweat worked under Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia and reunited with him by signing in Arizona last March. Gannon was among the head coaches fired after the season, however, something which could be a factor as the Cards consider offers. Sweat set a new career high with 12 sacks in 2025, and he is on the books for the next three years. As an intriguing trade target for any number of teams seeking EDGE help, it will be interesting to see if Sweat truly becomes available via a swap this summer.
Joey Bosa Not Certain To Play In 2026?
A number of veteran edge rushers remain unsigned at this time. Joey Bosa is among them, and there have been no indications a deal is imminent in his case.
Questions have again been raised this offseason about the possibility of Bosa playing with his brother Nick in San Francisco. As of late March, though, a 49ers signing was not considered likely. That may very well still be the case, but the elder Bosa appears to not be guaranteed to continue his career with any team in 2026.
“Yeah, I think he’s working on his golf game right now,” Nick said about Joey’s plans for the upcoming season (h/t NFL.com). “I don’t think he’s thinking too much about football.”
Several players who are still free agents this deep into the offseason will no doubt remain on the open market until the onset of training camp in July. Bosa could elect to wait until the summer to sign with a team in advance of what would be an 11th season in the NFL. If his brother’s comments about his current mindset are accurate, however, retirement may be receiving at least some consideration on Joey’s part.
The longtime Chargers sack artist will be 31 by the start of next season. Bosa has battled numerous injuries toward the latter stages of his career, although he made 14 appearances with Los Angeles in 2024 and 15 with Buffalo during this past regular season. He also played in both of the Bills’ playoff contests. Having posted at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons, Bosa could be viewed a worthwhile depth addition for any number of teams seeking a veteran pass rush presence.
Alternatively, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year could weigh the possibility of hanging up his cleats. Bosa has played on two separate contracts averaging at least $20MM per season. In all, he has amassed roughly $156MM in career earnings. It will be interesting to see if Bosa turns his attention toward preparation for the season with a particular team during the summer or if he stays on the open market through to the start of the campaign.
Giants Restructure Andrew Thomas’ Deal
MAY 30: The Giants in fact completed a maximum restructure of Thomas’ contract, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. His base salary has been reduced to the veteran minimum of $1.215MM with a new total of $11MM of additional cap space. $3.67MM has been added to Thomas’ cap hits from 2027 through 2029, which all sit between $29.5MM and $30MM – still a reasonable price for an elite left tackle, though Thomas will have to stay healthy to be worth it.
MAY 28: The Giants and Andrew Thomas have once again agreed to a restructure. New York’s six-year left tackle starter has agreed to a reworking of his pact to create immediate cap space.
Team and player agreed to the latest restructure yesterday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. A portion of Thomas’ base salary for 2026 was converted into a roster bonus. The move created $6.46MM in space. As a result, Thomas is now on course to carry a cap charge of $17.59MM this season.
The former No. 4 pick was largely durable while playing out his rookie contract, something which helped New York make a big-money commitment in his case. Thomas inked a five-year extension worth $23.5MM per season in 2023. He has missed time every year since then, including the 2024 campaign in which Thomas was limited to just six appearances. His deal was restructured last September to create financial breathing room.
The Giants have taken the same route this time around. New York is currently near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, so this Thomas restructure will help carve out some financial flexibility once it is processed. The team inked Francis Mauigoa to his rookie pact yesterday, but fellow top-10 selection Arvell Reese has not yet signed. The space created by this move will help make Reese’s deal easier to absorb and allow for other roster adjustments through the summer.
Thomas, 27, remains under contract through 2029 as things stand. None of his scheduled compensation beyond the coming campaign is guaranteed, although he is due a $2.5MM roster bonus next March. A healthy campaign would help ensure that payment winds up being made while also offering strong showings on the blindside for a Giants offensive line seeking improved play in 2026.
QB C.J. Stroud Addresses Potential Texans Extension
Throughout the offseason, signs have pointed to the Texans waiting until after the 2026 season takes place before authorizing a C.J. Stroud extension. Houston’s QB1 appears to be content with that approach, although he feels he has done enough to warrant a second contract.
Having played three years in the NFL, this offseason marks the first time during which Stroud could sign an extension. His rookie deal runs through 2026, while the Texans made the obvious decision of exercising his fifth-year option. That leaves the former Offensive Rookie of the Year under team control through at least the next two seasons.
When speaking to reporters, Stroud acknowledged the matter of an extension has been discussed within his camp. A big-money commitment has also been weighed by the Texans, and the team made one to fellow 2023 draftee Will Anderson Jr. earlier this spring. No serious negotiations with Stroud are known to have taken place so far, however.
“I let my agent handle that. If it’s time to do it, then it is,” the 24-year-old said (via ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime) when speaking about the possibility of an extension. “My job is football. That’s what I’m focused on, just getting better. I think I’ve held my bargain up. Whatever happens, happens.”
The penultimate sentence from those remarks certainly suggests Stroud feels an extension would be warranted. During his tenure – which has overlapped with that of head coach DeMeco Ryans – Houston has managed double-digit wins every season and reached the divisional round of the playoffs each time. Postseason shortcomings have increasingly become a talking point for the Texans, though, and Stroud’s play in 2025 in particular led to criticism.
The Ohio State product committed seven total turnovers across two playoff games this past season. Stroud also missed three contests in 2025 due to a concussion, but otherwise he has been largely durable in the NFL. Any long-term deal would check in at or near the top of the quarterback market (currently $60MM per year) given his age and production to date. Houston waiting one season could, on the other hand, not end up costing much more with the QB market not expected to see another surge in the immediate future.
Anderson and many of the Texans’ other key defensive players remain attached to lucrative deals. Earlier this week, the team authorized a short-term bump in pay for top receiver Nico Collins. Those financial commitments need to be kept in mind, of course, when general manager Nick Caserio and Co. contemplate the terms of a second Stroud contract. It will be interesting to see if traction is gained ahead of training camp with respect to negotiations or if Houston continues to opt for patience.
Rams’ Puka Nacua Resumes On-Field Work
The Rams were among the teams whose OTAs began this week. Puka Nacua has been present for offseason work since April, so to no surprise he has also been a participant in early on-field practices.
Nacua spoke to reporters on Thursday, marking his first public comments since being sued by a woman over allegations of making an “unprovoked antisemitic statement” and later biting her on the shoulder during a Dec. 31, 2025 incident. Nacua checked himself into a rehab center in March. He addressed the lawsuit simply by referring to it as an “ongoing legal battle” but also spoke about his recent time away from the team.
“I’ve been really grateful for the support from the organization, especially my teammates,” the 25-year-old said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). “Some of the things I feel like I’ve learned is it’s OK to ask for support and then to recognize the platform that I have and being a professional football player and trying to use that for the betterment of myself and for those around me. There’s been a lot of good things in the midst of some of these things that have been challenging for me, but it’s been a great improvement in my life.”
Nacua is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. The former fifth-round pick has emerged as one of the game’s top receivers during his time with the Rams, racking up nearly 4,200 yards and 19 touchdowns to date. Nacua’s 129 receptions and 107.2 yards per game from 2025 led the NFL, and he will be expected to remain a focal point on offense for Los Angeles during the coming campaign. Off-field concerns have played a role in preventing a big-ticket extension from being agreed to so far, however.
On that note, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirms (video link) this situation is being viewed as a reset of sorts for Nacua. A strong showing on the field, along with the absence of any further legal matters or other off-field issues, would create the circumstances for a blockbuster second contract. Davante Adams is a pending 2027 free agent, and electing not to retain him – or trade for another veteran wideout – would point further to a lucrative commitment in Nacua’s case. The top of the receiver market now stands at $42.15MM per year thanks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s extension.
A deal carrying a similar value is not forthcoming for Nacua as things stand. He said an extension is not a concern at this time, but it will be interesting to see if talks on a new deal pick up at some point in the future.
G Michael Onwenu Agrees To Revised Patriots Deal
2026 remains the final year of Michael Onwenu‘s Patriots contract. A revision was recently agreed to by the veteran guard, however.
Onwenu has signed a new pact covering the coming season, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The 28-year-old was not previously owed any guaranteed money for 2026, but that has now changed. Onwenu’s cap charge has been reduced by $7.5MM as a result of this new deal, but he is now set to collect $10MM in salary and bonuses.
As detailed by Over the Cap, Onwenu’s 2026 compensation includes $8.95MM guaranteed. Of that figure, $6MM has already been paid out. This arrangement will thus create cap relief for the Patriots while providing short-term security to Onwenu. The seventh-year veteran has spent his entire career in New England so far, but that could very well change next spring.
Recent indications have suggested the Patriots are likely to allow Onwenu to depart on the open market in 2027. An extension obviously would have ensured a longer run for the Michigan product’s New England tenure. Instead, a compromise covering his walk year has been worked out. The Pats made a big-money guard investment in the form of Alijah Vera-Tucker in March, and a lower cost at the right guard spot beginning in 2027 can be expected.
Onwenu has seen time at right tackle over the course of his NFL career (including as recently as 2024). Last season, though, the former sixth-rounder operated exclusively at right guard, his most common spot for New England. That should remain the case for 2026, and another top-10 PFF evaluation among guards would come as little surprise after he posted one on four previous occasions. That could set Onwenu up for a payday on the open market, but it is increasingly clear his next contract will come from a new team.
NFL Mailbag: Schoen, Brown, Cards, Bolts
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag covers questions related to the Giants' recent GM commitment, the A.J. Brown trade market, potential Cardinals trade candidates, and the Chargers' outlook for 2026.
Jesse asks:
What exactly has Joe Schoen done to earn an extension? Do you see this [John] Harbaugh partnership lasting beyond 2026 or is this still a wait-and-see situation?
It’s easy for Giants fans to be frustrated with Schoen getting a new commitment. The timing of his new deal is also awkward with Harbaugh and a new coaching staff in place.
QB Lamar Jackson Intends To Sign New Ravens Extension
The Ravens made no secret about their desire to work out a new Lamar Jackson extension this offseason. No agreement has been reached yet, but a mutual interest still exists for a deal to be struck.
An extension would have helped lower Jackson’s 2026 cap charge, one which was on track to spike ever since his second Ravens contract was worked out in 2023. With no new agreement being reached in time for the start of free agency in March, Baltimore proceeded with a restructure to free up immediate cap space. That has left Jackson with a scheduled 2027 cap hit of $84.34MM.
As such, an extension will need to be in place by next spring to avoid a repeat of this year’s situation. Jackson made his first appearance at OTAs yesterday, and the status of contract talks was to no surprise a key talking point. During his remarks to reporters, the two-time MVP declined to get into specifics regarding the nature of where things stand on the extension front. He did, however, reiterate his intention of remaining with the Ravens well beyond 2026.
“Absolutely. I love the Ravens. I love this organization. I love this city,” Jackson said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “This is the team that drafted me. I love Baltimore. Everyone should know that by now.”
During the long-running negotiation process last time around, Jackson sought a fully guaranteed extension. He ultimately agreed to a five-year deal including $185MM guaranteed and provisions such as no-trade and no-tag clauses. The 29-year-old operated without an agent during his first round of contract talks, and that remains the case now. Jackson was asked about the possibility of again attempting to land fully locked-in money on his next extension but replied he and the Ravens will “leave that conversation in 2022.”
Little progress was made during contract talks this winter, and Baltimore’s decision to execute a max restructure has left Jackson with considerable leverage. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes (video link) the three-time All-Pro could elect to play out the coming season — the first with a new coaching staff led by Jesse Minter leading the way — before re-engaging in negotiations. Multiple general managers and agents who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora predict Jackson will turn down any offers which are not fully guaranteed, an indication of how strong his bargaining position currently is.
Injuries were a common thread for Jackson in 2025. He said (via Hensley) the hamstring injury which led to three missed games occurred in Week 3 and lingered through much of the season. A healthier campaign would go a long way in avoiding another year spent outside the playoffs for the Ravens. It would also place him further in position to command a third contract at or near the top of the quarterback market.
Bengals Interested In Retaining DE Myles Murphy Beyond 2026
The Bengals recently declined to exercise Myles Murphy‘s fifth-year option. As a result, the pass rusher is a pending 2027 free agent.
The chance of a departure on the open market will become a talking point, especially if Murphy delivers a strong showing in his fourth Cincinnati season. The Bengals have been communication with him during an offseason marked by several defensive additions. No extension is in place now, but a second Cincinnati pact could still be in store in the future.
De facto general manager Duke Tobin expressed the team’s desire to keep Murphy in place for the long term, as the Clemson product noted when speaking to the media (h/t Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News). Several big-money investments have been made on defense recently by the Bengals, a team which traded for Dexter Lawrence and added one year to his deal upon arrival. Cincinnati also brought in Boye Mafe in a bid to replace the production lost through Trey Hendrickson‘s departure.
“I knew it was a possibility,” Murphy said when reflecting on finding out his option would be declined. “Duke and everyone upstairs, they’ve been pretty transparent on ‘we spent a lot of money this offseason.’ So, it does make sense. We talk. No hard feelings. We talk about everything, so really, just doing my job right now, getting ready for the upcoming season, trying to be in the best shape I can be, the best teammate I can be.”
Murphy occupied a rotational role during his first two seasons in the league, managing only three sacks across that span. The 24-year-old saw another uptick in playing time in 2025, though. Murphy made 10 starts and posted 5.5 sacks, 17 pressures and six tackles for loss. Joseph Ossai and Cameron Sample also left in free agency, so a heavy workload should be expected for Murphy ahead of his pivotal fourth season.
Picking up Murphy’s option for 2027 would have cost $14.48MM. It came as little surprise when the Bengals opted not to make that commitment based on his production to date. Nevertheless, another step forward in 2025 would set Murphy up for a payday with Cincinnati or another team next spring.