Stefon Diggs Hit With Lawsuit
Stefon Diggs is dealing with yet another lawsuit. The free agent wide receiver is being sued by an individual who claims Diggs falsely accused him of stealing a car, according to a report from TMZ.com. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com provides more context, noting that the man, Nigel King, is also claiming he was attacked by the player’s friends. Diggs’ brother and three friends were also sued.
[RELATED: WR Stefon Diggs Drawing Interest]
According to the report, King arranged for Diggs’ car to be transported to Houston in July, 2024. The car was subsequently stolen, although King was “never identified as a suspect,” per Florio. Months later, Diggs began accusing King of stealing the car, with King claiming the accusation hurt his reputation and lost him clients. King claims that one of Diggs’ friends later punched him in the face, causing permanent injuries.
Per the TMZ report, Diggs asked the judge “to put the brakes on the case” until the other defendants were served. That’s since happened, and as Florio notes, that will “set the stage for the litigation to unfold.”
Diggs went through one criminal trial this offseason. He was up against strangulation and assault charges, but a Boston jury acquitted him in May. The league later decided that there was not enough evidence to suspend Diggs. At the same time, the WR is navigating several civil lawsuits, including one from a man who claims Diggs sexually assaulted him in 2023. That lawsuit was a counterclaim to Diggs’ own lawsuit, as the player sued the man for the initial claims.
Through it all, Diggs has remained unsigned, although we heard recently that a handful of teams have checked in on the 32-year-old. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently said that these off-the-field issues aren’t a major concern among suitors (via The John Keim Report). While the situation is “messy,” Fowler doesn’t believe it will ultimately be a major red flag that would prevent Diggs from joining a team.
After a knee injury limited him to only eight games during his lone year in Houston, Diggs joined the Patriots last offseason. He had a bounce-back campaign for the eventual AFC champs, hauling in 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots moved on after the season, opening up more than $16MM in cap space in the process.
Every NFL Team’s All-Time Career Earnings Leader
The Chiefs handed Patrick Mahomes the most lucrative extension in NFL history earlier this offseason, signing their star QB to an eight-year, $504.75MM extension. When Mahomes ends up calling it a career, the Chiefs will likely have paid him more than any franchise has ever paid a single player.
However, as of this moment, Mahomes doesn’t even rank among the top five players in career earnings with a single franchise. With help from OverTheCap.com, we identified the highest earner in the history of each NFL organization:
- Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers, $306.6MM
- Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott, $295.4MM
- Falcons: QB Matt Ryan, $269.5MM
- Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger, $266.7MM
- Saints: QB Drew Brees, $259.2MM
- Giants: QB Eli Manning, $232.4MM
- Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes, $231.9MM
- Patriots: QB Tom Brady, $230.3MM
- Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, $219MM
- Chargers: QB Philip Rivers, $217.1MM
- Bills: QB Josh Allen, $207.4MM
- Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, $206.7MM
- Rams: QB Matthew Stafford, $189MM
- Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, $186.9MM
- Vikings: QB Kirk Cousins, $185MM
- Browns: QB Deshaun Watson, $183.3MM
- Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson, $181.3MM
- Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, $178.3MM
- Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, $177.1MM
- Colts: QB Peyton Manning, $170.7MM
- Eagles: OT Lane Johnson, $166.2MM
- Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans, $154.9MM
- 49ers: OT Trent Williams, $144.3MM
- Broncos: LB Von Miller, $143.7MM
- Raiders: QB Derek Carr, $135.5MM
- Panthers: QB Cam Newton, $127.3MM
- Titans: QB Ryan Tannehill, $122.5MM
- Texans: OT Laremy Tunsil, $110.7MM
- Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, $107.6MM
- Bears: QB Jay Cutler, $103.9MM
- Commanders: OT Trent Williams, $98.5MM
- Jets: CB Darrelle Revis, $96.6MM
As quarterback contracts continue to explode, it’s no surprise that the list is dominated by the position. Aaron Rodgers continues to pace the list despite not having played for the Packers since 2022, mostly by virtue of having inked multiple $100MM-plus extensions with the franchise.
Notably, a pair of players appear twice on this list. It’s not a huge surprise that Matthew Stafford makes more than one appearance. He inked his rookie contract before the NFL implemented their rookie wage scale, and he signed two extensions with Detroit, including one that once made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. He later got an $160MM extension with the Rams, helping him top Aaron Donald among the franchise’s highest career earners.
The other player who appeared twice on the list is surprisingly not a QB. Offensive lineman Trent Williams also avoided the rookie wage scale and signed a second contract with Washington, putting him atop the franchise’s list (although he’ll likely be passed by Terry McLaurin and Daron Payne this upcoming season). Then, following his move to the 49ers, Williams became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history when he signed a six-year, $138.06MM extension. While Nick Bosa will eventually catch him, the veteran OT will retain his position atop San Francisco’s list for at least the next year.
The list clearly isn’t entirely composed of active players. But which player has gone the longest without playing for the franchise they represent? That would be Peyton Manning, who last played for the Colts in 2011. Darrelle Revis is also a unique inclusion; his tenure with the Jets could have ended in 2012, but he returned for a two-year stint with the organization following stops in Tampa Bay and New England. That second stint saw him add $30MM to his career earnings, and it helped him retain his spot over the likes of Quinnen Williams, C.J. Mosley, and (yes) Aaron Rodgers.
Titans Offensive Line Taking Shape
The Titans moved on from a pair of starting offensive linemen this offseason, leaving two major holes in front of second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Fortunately, it sounds like the unit is quickly taking shape.
As Jim Wyatt of the team’s website writes, Austin Schlottmann has the “upper hand” for the team’s starting center spot. Meanwhile, Cordell Volson appears to be in the lead for the team’s right guard job, although he’ll still have to earn the gig during training camp and preseason.
The Titans released two-year starter Lloyd Cushenberry back in February, leaving the organization without an answer at center. They promptly went out and added Schlottmann via a two-year, $7MM deal. While the veteran only brings 18 games of starting experience to Tennessee, he does have some key familiarity with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Schlottmann played under the coach in New York, where he started four of his 17 appearances in 2025.
While Pro Football Focus was never fond of Schlottmann’s performance as a backup in Denver and Minnesota, they ranked him 11th among 37 qualifying centers this past year. For comparison’s sake, Cushenberry was ranked 34th at the position. Schlottmann’s main competition for the job is rookie sixth-round pick Pat Coogan.
Kevin Zeitler started 16 games for the Titans at right guard in 2025, but the 36-year-old remains unsigned. It seems like the team is prepared to have a competition at the position, with Volson currently leading the way. The former Bengals fourth-round pick started 48 appearances through his first three years in the NFL, but a shoulder injury forced him off the field for the entirety of the 2025 campaign. While he exclusively played on the left side of the OL in Cincinnati, his experience makes him a key candidate for the open RG gig.
Former fifth-round pick Jackson Slater will also be competing for the job, with Wyatt noting that the second-year player “continued to make strides in the offseason work.” Fernando Carmona was drafted in the fifth round of this year’s draft and will surely get a look, while the likes of Drew Moss and Garrett Dellinger round out the positional depth.
The rest of the team’s OL seems relatively set with Peter Skoronski at left guard, Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle, and JC Latham at right tackle. The team also has a handful of candidates for the swing tackle role, including Austin Deculus.
Geno Smith Case Declared Inactive By Police
Following an incident in June when police were called to Jets quarterback Geno Smith‘s home over a battery allegation, the case has been dropped. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the case has been “declared inactive by police.”
Cimini adds that the investigation has concluded and no charges will be brought against Smith. However, “future investigative action” could still take place “contingent on additional information or evidence being brought forward.”
“Due to the inability to review surveillance footage, conflicting stories, and lack of independent witnesses, (the officer) was unable to determine the primary aggressor in the physical altercation,” the police report stated (per Cimini).
In an Instagram post last month, a woman alleged that Smith “beat my [expletive].” She also accused Smith of running outside and attacking her, breaking her computer, and stealing money from her car. The footage includes Smith arguing with her and telling someone on the phone, “She just called the police.” The end of the 85-second clip shows Smith speaking with three police officers, though no one was taken into custody.
Per Cimini, Smith provided the officers with camera footage from his Ring camera. That video showed that the woman “arrived on scene and aggressively knocked on the door while holding his child.” The video did not show any physical altercation between Smith and the woman.
Neither Smith nor the Jets have commented on the matter. The veteran could still be subject to punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. But at the moment, Smith is positioned to enter the 2026 season as the Jets starting quarterback.
Browns DT Maliek Collins Uncertain For Training Camp
As the Browns navigate their first season without franchise legend Myles Garrett, they’ll be counting on some of their other defensive linemen to step up. That will include veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who is coming off a career season. However, the status of Collins is currently unknown.
After suffering a late-season quad injury that ended his campaign early, Collins did not participate in OTAs and minicamp. As ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi writes, it’s unclear if the defensive tackle will be healthy enough for the start of training camp.
Collins established himself as a starting-caliber DT during stints with the Cowboys, Raiders, Texans, and 49ers. During the 2025 offseason, he inked a two-year, $20MM contract with the Browns, and he proceeded to have one of the most productive showings of his career. Collins tallied a career-high 6.5 sacks to go along with 25 stops, seven TFLs, and 13 QB hits. Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among 127 qualifying interior defenders, including the third-best grade for his pass-rush ability.
However, Collins suffered a quad injury in Week 13 that ended his 2025 season prematurely. While there’s been hope that he’ll be ready to go for the start of the 2026 campaign, a delayed start to training camp will surely put that prospect in doubt.
When Collins does return to the field, the defensive line will look a lot different. Garrett was shipped off to the Rams, and two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse will be soaking up many of the reps on the edge. The team is also counting on the likes of defensive ends Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire to contribute, and Oyefusi points to DT Mason Graham as a potential X-factor on the unit.
Bills Claim WR Quentin Skinner
The Bills have made some minor moves at the bottom of their depth chart. According to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, the Bills have claimed WR Quentin Skinner off waivers from the Jets. In a corresponding move, the team has waived WR Deven Thompkins.
Skinner had a standout career at Kansas, finishing his collegiate career with 80 receptions for 1,584 yards and 11 touchdowns. He went undrafted in the 2025 draft but quickly caught on with the Jets. He was among the team’s final preseason cuts and subsequently caught on with New York’s practice squad, where he spent the majority of his rookie campaign. He did get into one game with the Jets, when he hauled in a single 10-yard catch.
He was waived/injured by the Jets back in June and reverted to IR after going unclaimed. The Jets later waived him from IR, allowing him to play elsewhere in 2026. Now, he’ll land in Buffalo.
Skinner will face an uphill battle to make the Bills roster. The team added D.J. Moore this offseason to a grouping that includes Joshua Palmer, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Mecole Hardman. Skinner is unlikely to carve out an initial spot on the 53, but he could land on the team’s practice squad.
Thompkins caught on with the Bills back in June. The former UDFA has bounced around the NFL a bit since going undrafted in 2022, spending time with the Buccaneers, Panthers, and Falcons. He’s appeared in 36 career games, hauling in 29 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown.
Latest On Daniel Jones’ Recovery From Torn Achilles
JULY 12: Things continue to trend up in Indianapolis. On Friday, Jones took some time away from his Youth Football Camp to talk to the media. In a clip (via James Boyd of The Athletic), Jones was asked if he had hit any milestones that he was hoping to hit before training camp, and he delivered a positive update to his recovery. “I hit a lot of those miles stones pre-minicamp,” he answered. “I’m doing everything, clear to do everything. I think it’s about, at this point, sharpening that, getting more explosive, getting stronger, kind of improving what you can do, but you know, I can do everything and feel really good doing it.”
The team was cautious with him through spring practices, and it’s unclear if they’ve officially made the call to medically clear Jones to play football, but he seems to be giving off that impression. The Colts are set to open up training in a little over two weeks, so if Jones is actually ready to return, he’s well ahead of schedule, giving him plenty of time to sharpen things up by then.
JULY 9: The offseason Daniel Jones prognosis has generally pointed towards a Week 1 return, and there’s more good news to pass along regarding his comeback from a torn Achilles. SI.com’s Albert Breer notes that the Colts quarterback “met all his marks” this past spring and is trending towards participating in team drills at the start of training camp.
While the organization held Jones back from participating in 11-on-11 drills during spring practices, we heard that the QB was expected to be ready for the start of training camp. However, it was uncertain if he’d be able to do any more than individual, non-contact drills. Instead, it sounds like Jones could effectively be a full participant when training camp practices open in late July.
The injury presented some challenges for the front office this past offseason. The former Giants castoff surprisingly guided Indy to an 8-5 record while tossing 19 touchdowns vs. eight interceptions. Following a hot start to the campaign, the impending free agent’s outlook changed dramatically. The Colts lost each of Jones’ final three starts of the season, with that final appearance culminating in the QB’s season-ending Achilles injury.
After initially securing Jones’ services via the application of the transition tag, the two sides agreed to a two-year, $88MM extension. Indy’s multiyear commitment to the QB was enough evidence that Jones was progressing well, and we later learned that the organization counted on him to hit key rehabilitation milestones before inking the deal. With free agency behind them, the two sides could solely focus on getting the 29-year-old under center for the start of the 2026 campaign.
Besides handing the injured QB a lucrative new contract, the front office’s moves at the position (or lack thereof) pointed towards Jones’ Week 1 return. Despite rumors of a divorce, former first-round pick Anthony Richardson is still kicking around, as is 2025 draft pick Riley Leonard. The team did add former Chargers backup Easton Stick to compete for a roster spot, but there’s little chance the acquisition (nor any of the incumbents) see the field barring a Jones setback.
NFL Teams With Most Dead Cap In 2026
The Dolphins set an unfortunate record this offseason following the release of Tua Tagovailoa. The move left the franchise with a $55.4MM dead cap hit, which exceeded the previous record held by the Broncos and Russell Wilson ($53MM).
Of course, as Miami is undergoing a complete teardown, they’re not overly concerned about the wasted cap space in 2026. For competitive squads, a hefty dead cap charge could drastically limit their ability to add to their roster following final roster cuts and into the regular season. A team’s current dead cap commitment could also influence their 53-man roster decisions, as teams always pursue some extra breathing room.
Which teams have the most dead cap on their books? We’ve listed them in order below (h/t to Spotrac):
- Dolphins: $179.2MM
- Browns $116.8MM
- Saints $112.1MM
- Jets $111.4MM
- Eagles $74.4MM
- Cardinals $73.3MM
- Texans $66.5MM
- Raiders $55.8MM
- Jaguars $54.7MM
- Bills $46.2MM
- Packers $45.5MM
- Vikings $45.3MM
- Falcons $44.1MM
- Cowboys $42.4MM
- Patriots $38.4MM
- 49ers $36.2MM
- Lions $33.1MM
- Titans $28.1MM
- Giants $26.5MM
- Panthers $22.1MM
- Commanders $20.7MM
- Bears $20.1MM
- Ravens $18.2MM
- Colts $15.7MM
- Buccaneers $13.3MM
- Steelers $12.2MM
- Rams $10.7MM
- Bengals $10.4MM
- Chiefs $9.7MM
- Chargers $5.5MM
- Broncos $3.5MM
- Seahawks $516K
As mentioned, it’s not a surprise to see the Dolphins atop this list. While Tagovailoa’s release easily leads the team, the Dolphins also took significant hits following the 2025 and 2026 departures of Tyreek Hill ($28.25MM), Jaylen Waddle ($23.23MM), Jalen Ramsey ($20.87MM), and Minkah Fitzpatrick ($12.99MM). The team’s dead cap charges account for close to 60% of their cap.
Elsewhere atop the list, the Browns were impacted by Joel Bitonio‘s retirement and void years ($23.5MM) plus the Myles Garrett trade ($21.3MM). The Saints are still navigating Derek Carr‘s $36.6MM in dead cap, while the Jets have $55MM in dead cap committed to former QBs (Aaron Rodgers ($35MM) and Justin Fields ($20MM)).
The defending Super Bowl champs are at the bottom of the list, as the Seahawks only have to account for $516K from Sataoa Laumea and Damien Martinez. The Broncos, who are finally seeing relief from Wilson’s former cap charge, have the second-smallest dead cap hit in the NFL, mostly taken up by Dre Greenlaw ($2.1MM).
Interestingly, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently explored how Wilson’s departure out of Denver may have created a trend around the NFL. The Broncos proved you can navigate a bulky dead cap charge, although that was clearly offset by the team’s commitment to a QB on a rookie contract, Bo Nix.
“It’s always the quarterback,” an executive told Legwold of the dead-cap approach. “Any team, [the Broncos] included, you’re going to need good enough play at quarterback and a good enough team around the guy if you’re going to go to the playoffs like they did right away, especially if the move you made was [moving on from] the previous quarterback. And a rookie deal at quarterback on a playoff-worthy team, that never hurts.”
Eight 2026 Draft Picks Remain Unsigned
Over the past few years, we’ve seen dozens of rookies remain unsigned in July. Last offseason, there were still 33 unsigned draft picks on July 9. The year before, there were 30 unsigned draft picks.
Fortunately, teams have been a bit more active resolving their draft pick signings this offseason. At the moment, there are only eight 2026 draft picks who remain unsigned. The grouping includes:
Round 1:
- No. 1 (Raiders): Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
- No. 13 (Rams): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
Round 2:
- No. 55 (Patriots): Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
Round 3:
- No. 65 (Cardinals): Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
- No. 69 (Bears): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- No. 76 (Steelers): Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
Round 4:
- No. 101 (Raiders): Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- No. 106 (Texans): Febechi Nwaiwu (G, Oklahoma)
In recent years, there was a trend that saw second-rounders often holding out for unique guarantee structures. This culminated last year, when 30 second-round picks remained unsigned at this point of the offseason. Fortunately, it seems like agents and teams have established some kind of standard, as only one second-round pick is currently without a contract.
It isn’t a surprise that half of the grouping consists of quarterbacks. There’s been particular focus on the pair of first-round picks, Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, with many pundits speculating that the rookies are pushing for contract language around payout language and/or voiding specifics. Presumably, the Raiders will eventually give into Mendoza’s demands, and it’s likely Simpson’s camp is seeing how that process plays out before they commit to the Rams. Carson Beck and Drew Allar won’t be able to make the same push as their first-round counterparts, but there’s a chance those rookies are also waiting to see how the other QBs succeed with their contract requests.
Patriots second-round EDGE Gabe Jacas and Raiders fourth-round CB Jermod McCoy both have injury concerns, and we can assume their agents are trying to provide their clients with as much protection as possible. The same can’t be said of Bears third-round TE Sam Roush or Texans fourth-round OL Febechi Nwaiwu, who curiously remain unsigned.
While it’s notable that the above grouping remains without a contract, it isn’t overly concerning. However, if these contract stare downs continue late into July, they’ll certainly be stories to monitor ahead of training camp.
Release Candidates: Patriots WRs
The Patriots finally completed their long-awaited acquisition of A.J. Brown last month, and the veteran WR will immediately slide into the top of the depth chart in New England. While the organization is naturally excited about what the acquisition will bring to the offense, the team will now have to navigate a logjam at the position.
At the moment, the Patriots currently have seven wide receivers who are deserving of roster spots: Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Generally, teams only carry six WRs during the regular season. New England is no exception. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes, the last time New England carries seven wideouts was 2007, when the team rostered Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Donte’ Stallworth, Troy Brown, Kelley Washington, and Chad Jackson.
If the Patriots have their way, they’ll find a trade partner for one of their extra WRs before the start of the 2026 campaign. That may be easier said than done, which could ultimately lead to the team cutting one of their notable wideouts. Either path would lead to another question: who should go?
Brown is obviously safe, as is Doubs, who just inked a four-year, $68MM contract with the Patriots as a free agent. Hollins, who brings elite blocking ability and emerged as a key target during last season’s playoffs, also seems safe. The same goes for Williams, who was drafted in the third round of the 2025 draft and has been lauded for his game-breaking speed. That leaves three trade/release candidates: Boutte, Douglas, and Chism.
Boutte’s trade candidacy isn’t anything new, as the Patriots have been shopping him throughout the offseason. Following the Brown trade, we learned that the player himself was also open to new opportunities. The former sixth-round pick was actually the most productive of the aforementioned trio in 2025, as he finished with 33 catches for 551 yards and a position-leading six receiving touchdowns. He also paced the Patriots with 16.7 yards per reception (among players with at least 25 targets).
From the outside, it would seem that Boutte would be a layup to make the team. However, there are two factors working against him. For starters, he’s entering the final season of his rookie contract, and considering the recent investments the Patriots have made at the position, it seems unlikely he’ll be in New England beyond the 2026 campaign. Secondly, Boutte is mostly utilized as an outside wideout, a position that’s already covered with Brown, Doubs, Hollins, and Williams. Both Douglas and Chism serve as the team’s depth in the slot.
The Patriots were reportedly shopping Boutte for a fifth- or sixth-round pick but apparently couldn’t find any takers. That means the fourth-year player could eventually turn into a release candidate if the staff determines they don’t want to carry seven WRs into the regular season. Boutte’s release would provide the Patriots with about $3.6MM in cap savings.
Considering their spots in the offensive pecking order, Douglas and Chism could also be trade or release candidates. Like Boutte, Douglas was also a 2023 sixth-round pick and will be hitting free agency after the season, but he has the benefit of being the team’s most experienced slot WR. That didn’t translate to an abundance of targets in 2025; after averaging 83 targets per year through his first two NFL seasons, Douglas was only targeted 46 times in 2025. Perhaps the Patriots continue to deemphasize the role, and considering Chism’s contract flexibility (he’s signed through 2027 before hitting RFA), the team could choose to ditch Douglas, which would provide similar cap savings as Boutte.
While Chism has the contractual advantage over Boutte and Douglas, he obviously doesn’t have the same track record. The 2025 UDFA was a surprise addition to the Patriots active roster last year, but he failed to emerge as a bona fide part of the offense. He ended up getting into eight games as a rookie, hauling in three catches for 75 yards and one score.
Perhaps the Patriots suffer an injury between now and the start of the regular season, allowing them to delay the decision. Or perhaps the team does indeed look to carry all seven WRs, especially if they can justify one of the spots with a significant special teams role (as they did in ’07 with Washington and for many years with Matthew Slater). Most likely, the team will continue to survey the trade market for Boutte, Douglas, and Chism, and they may eventually find a taker as rival teams navigate their own depth charts over the next month-plus.