Multiple Teams Had Concerns Over Eagles 2nd-Rounder Eli Stowers’ Knee
The Eagles have counted on tight end Dallas Goedert as one of their top pass-catching options throughout his eight-year career. Goedert is sticking around Philadelphia for a ninth season in 2026, but the team may have drafted his successor in second-rounder Eli Stowers.
The Eagles liked Stowers enough to select him 54th overall, though there were a “few” clubs that had concerns over what is believed to be a “minor” knee issue, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. The Panthers, who passed on Stowers at pick 49 despite an obvious need at tight end, may have been among those teams. They “weren’t totally comfortable” with taking Stowers, per Fowler, though he does not specify the reason.
As a star high school quarterback, Stowers tore his left PCL and meniscus in 2019. The injury required surgery. Stowers has bounced back nicely from it, but there is nonetheless some leeriness regarding how the 6-foot-4, 239-pounder will hold up in the NFL.
After spending his first two college seasons as a backup QB at Texas A&M, Stowers transferred to New Mexico State in 2023. In the wake of multiple shoulder injuries, he transitioned to tight end. Stowers caught 35 passes for 366 yards and a pair of touchdowns in what proved to be his only season at New Mexico State. He moved to Vanderbilt in 2024 and became one of the most prolific tight ends in the nation. Stowers followed up a 49-catch, 638-yard, five-touchdown 2024 with 62 receptions, 769 yards and four TDs last year. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in both of his seasons with the Commodores. More impressively, Stowers was a unanimous All-American and the John Mackey Award winner (given to the best college tight end) in 2025.
A couple of months after wrapping up his superb Vanderbilt tenure, Stowers continued boosting his stock at the Combine in February. If his knee is a problem, he did a good job hiding it. Stowers’ 45.5-inch vertical leap set a record for his position, and he topped tight ends in the broad jump. He also finished tied for second among TEs in the 40-yard dash (4.51 seconds) and the 10-yard split, trailing only Jets first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq in those events.
Aside from Stowers’ knee, there are legitimate questions about his blocking skills (or lack thereof). But if Stowers’ past knee injury does not affect him going forward, his high upside as a receiving tight end suggests he could turn into a weapon for Philadelphia. With A.J. Brown likely on his way out via trade before next season, the Eagles restocked the cupboard in the draft in adding Stowers and first-round receiver Makai Lemon.
Nick Herbig’s Role Could Increase In 2026; Big Payday On Horizon?
Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig came up as a potential trade candidate before the draft, but general manager Omar Khan downplayed the possibility of a deal. Herbig remains on the roster almost a month later, and it does not appear that will change. He is expected to log even more playing time under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in 2026, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
An increase in snaps would be a welcome development for Herbig, who is going into a contract year. Since joining the Steelers as a third-round pick in 2023, the former Wisconsin Badger has made just 11 starts while stuck behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in the pecking order. With 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles in 45 games, Herbig has still made an impact.
After playing just 17% of defensive snaps as a rookie, Herbig was much more involved during the past two years under the former head coach-coordinator tandem of Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin. His defensive snap share jumped to 50% in 2024 and climbed to 60% last season, when Watt missed three games with a punctured lung. Herbig stepped up with a career-high 7.5 sacks in 15 games (six starts). He also forced three fumbles and set personal bests in tackles (30), QB hits (18), pass deflections (three) and interceptions (one).
Beyond the traditional numbers, Pro Football Focus ranked Herbig’s performance an outstanding sixth among 119 qualified edge defenders (Highsmith and Watt were 12th and 31st, respectively). Only Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, Will Anderson, Aidan Hutchinson and Trey Hendrickson earned a better pass-rushing grade than Herbig. Pretty good company.
Teams in need of a pass-rushing boost are likely to take notice if Herbig reaches the open market next year, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who reports there are “plenty” of clubs that would welcome him as a full-time starter. Between the ever-rising $300MM-plus salary cap and the high demand for edge defenders, it would not be a surprise to see Herbig cash in big if he puts up another solid showing in 2026. To name one example, Herbig could land a similar payday to Boye Mafe, who went from the Seahawks to the Bengals in free agency this year. Mafe parlayed 20 sacks and three forced fumbles in 65 games into a $20MM AAV contract (three years, $60MM).
Although a full-time starting gig for Herbig has not been in the cards so far, Kahn has expressed interest in keeping him around for the foreseeable future. It makes sense. Set to turn 25 in November, Herbig is far younger than the soon-to-be 32-year-old Watt and Highsmith, who will play his age-29 season in 2026.
Watt and Highsmith are under contract for at least two more years apiece, but Fowler notes the Steelers could try to trade the former if Herbig sticks around on a new deal. While that would mean parting with a franchise legend, it would also allow the Steelers to get out of an exorbitant contract for an aging player. Watt, who is signed through 2028, is due a fully guaranteed $32MM salary in each of the next seasons. He will also count $42MM against the Steelers’ cap in both of those years.
Stefon Diggs Interested In Rejoining Pats; Reunion Could Hinge On A.J. Brown Trade
The Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs in early March, but he may not have played his last down in their uniform. Still a free agent two months later, Diggs “would love” to re-sign with the Patriots, per Albert Breer of SI.com
While Breer is also of the belief the Patriots “love” Diggs, he notes a reunion could depend on whether they acquire wideout A.J. Brown from the Eagles. It is widely expected the two teams will swing a trade centering on Brown sometime after June 1, though they have not yet seen eye to eye on compensation.
The Eagles would spread $43.51MM in dead money over two years by moving Brown next month or later, whereas a pre-June 1 trade would force them to eat the entire amount this season. They would also lose over $20MM in cap space for 2026. That explains the delay in this months-long saga.
Brown is one of the greatest receivers in Eagles history, but their offseason moves have seemingly prepared them for life without the three-time Pro Bowler. General manager Howie Roseman moved up three spots in the first round of the draft to select former USC star receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Roseman also acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Packers for two late-round picks and then immediately gave him a one-year, $12.5MM extension. The Lemon and Wicks pickups came after the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. Moore is not a lock to make the roster, but Lemon, Wicks, Brown and standout DeVonta Smith are in line for notable roles. The Eagles also have a strong pair of pass-catching tight ends in Dallas Goedert and second-round rookie Eli Stowers.
Smith would take over as the Eagles’ clear-cut No. 1 receiver in the event of a Brown trade. Meanwhile, unless they reel in Brown, the Patriots may go into the season without a bona fide top dog at the position. They brought in one of Wicks’ former teammates, Romeo Doubs, on a four-year, $68MM pact in free agency, though he was more of a No. 2/3 receiver in Green Bay than a primary target. The Patriots also have Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams under contract at the position.
The Pats’ current group of receivers looks adequate, but Diggs handily outproduced all of them last season. Returning from the torn ACL he suffered while with the Texans in October 2024, the four-time Pro Bowler played a 17-game season and was far and away the team leader in catches (85), targets (102) and yards (1,013). He also hauled in four touchdowns from MVP-contending quarterback Drake Maye. Diggs’ post-injury resurgence was key for a club that stunningly jumped from 4-13 to 14-3 in a one-year span. The Patriots won the AFC East, ending the Bills’ five-year run atop the division, and wound up falling to the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
A month after their season ended, the Patriots parted with Diggs to save $18.5MM in spending room, though he still counts $9.7MM against their cap. Thanks in part to off-field legal troubles, there has been little to no reported interest in the 32-year-old since he became available.
Diggs entered free agency facing strangulation and assault charges stemming from an alleged incident with his former personal chef. Although a Boston jury acquitted Diggs on May 5, the NFL is continuing to review the matter. Diggs is arguably the best remaining receiver in a class that also includes the likes of Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel and Keenan Allen, but his market may not pick up until teams have an answer on whether the league will discipline him. It would also help Diggs’ cause to have clarity on Brown’s future.
Panthers Sign Round 2 DT Lee Hunter, Wrap Draft Class
5:52pm: Hunter’s deal comes with full guarantees through 2028 and partial guarantees in ’29, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The total percentage of guarantees is 94.39, a much higher number than the 78.94% last year’s 49th pick, Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.
12:39pm: The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract. Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.
As the 49th overall pick, Hunter’s arrangement is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is likely a significant amount of guaranteed money in the pact. Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord. The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.
Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder came off the board early on the heels of a productive four-year college career divided between UCF and Texas Tech.
Hunter broke out in 2023, his second season at UCF, where he piled up 69 tackles, 11 TFL and three sacks in 13 games. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, a 12-game, 45-tackle campaign, and then transferred to Texas Tech. In his lone season as a Red Raider, Hunter notched 41 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 14 contests. In addition to picking up a first-team All-Big 12 nod, he was a first-team All-American.
Thanks in part to Hunter, Texas Tech finished first in the nation in run defense last year. That is an area where the Panthers will hope to improve in 2026, as they ranked an underwhelming 20th against opposing ground attacks last season. They now have Hunter as a run-stuffing option on a Derrick Brown-led D-line that also features Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.
Along with Hunter, the Panthers added six other rookies in the draft. Here is a refresher on the group:
- Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
- Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH)
AFC Notes: Jets, Bengals, Hopkins, Pats
More details have come in on Jets running back Breece Hall‘s three-year, $43.5MM contract, courtesy of Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Hall received a $5MM signing bonus, a fully guaranteed $5.16MM salary and a fully guaranteed $5MM roster bonus for 2026. Hall’s $13.16MM base salary for 2027 is also fully guaranteed. Additionally, he can earn up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses in each of the next three seasons. Hall’s 2028 salary checks in at $14.16MM, but it is non-guaranteed. The annual base value of the pact is $14.5MM, not the previously reported $15.25MM, per Florio. It will only climb to $15.25MM per season if Hall maxes out the incentives. Hall’s $14.5MM AAV ranks fifth at his position.
Here is more on New York and a couple of other AFC teams:
- Beginning with the mid-December firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, head coach Aaron Glenn axed 12 members of his first Jets staff last winter. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out owner Woody Johnson “had a heavy hand” in the shakeup, which ended with a late-January mutual parting of ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. It appeared the Jets would retain Engstrand, who endured a rough first year as a coordinator atop a talent-deprived offense, before replacing him with the more seasoned Frank Reich. It also looked as if the Jets were going to hire Don Martindale as their next defensive coordinator, but Breer suggests Johnson was unwilling to pony up for him. With Johnson stuck paying Wilks $3MM this year, the Jets hired a cheaper candidate in first-timer Brian Duker. Glenn, not Duker, will call the defensive plays.
- Speaking with Sports Illustrated earlier this month, free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins expressed interest in signing with the Bengals (via Jordan Schultz). Asked which quarterback he would like to play with for the first time, the soon-to-be 34-year-old said: “I’ve gotta go with Joe Burrow. I think Joe is one of the best. I love his game, his toughness. I mean, he took his team to a Super Bowl earlier in his career, and I feel like he can get back there with a little bit of help.” It is unknown whether there is mutual interest in this case. The Bengals have Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins entrenched as their top two receivers. Third option Andrei Iosivas had a more productive 2025 than Hopkins, who posted career lows in catches (22), targets (39) and yards (330) in 17 games with the AFC North rival Ravens. Despite his down year in Baltimore, the five-time Pro Bowler ranks 17th all-time in catches (1,006), 18th in yards (13,295) and tied for 19th in TDs (85). Hopkins will have a chance to continue climbing up the leaderboard if he plays a 14th season in 2026.
- A full-time starter for almost all of his six-year career, Patriots right guard Michael Onwenu will remain atop the depth chart entering his seventh season. However, with Onwenu unsigned past 2026, this will likely be his last season in New England, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald contends. The 28-year-old does not possess the speed-agility combo that Patriots executive vice president Eliot Wolf values, Kyed notes. That could lead Onwenu out of town for a raise in free agency next March. The Patriots already have one expensive guard contract on their books, having added Alijah Vera-Tucker on a three-year, $42MM deal earlier this offseason.
Steelers, Max Iheanachor Agree To Deal
The Steelers and first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor have agreed to a deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Iheanachor, the 21st overall pick, will earn a fully guaranteed $20.69MM on his four-year pact.
The Steelers intended to use their top pick on former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, whom they called beforehand. However, while the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon, he got a call from the Eagles. They moved up from 23rd to 20th in a trade with the Cowboys and drafted Lemon, leaving the Steelers to turn to their Plan B. They pivoted to Iheanachor, whom they expect to emerge as a long-term building block up front.
Iheanachor spent the past two-plus years as the starting right tackle at Arizona State, where he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. There is a chance Iheanachor will end up as the Steelers’ left tackle down the road, especially if Broderick Jones leaves in free agency next year. For now, though, they plan to keep Iheanachor on the right side.
It is up in the air whether the 6-foot-6, 321-pound Iheanachor will step in as an immediate starter as a rookie. The Steelers are returning last year’s full-time RT starter, 2024 first-rounder Troy Fautanu, but he could be needed on the left side if Jones’ recovery from neck surgery keeps him out for the start of the season. Dylan Cook is also an in-house possibility to fill in for Jones. Cook is the only member of the quartet who was not a first-round pick (he was undrafted), which illustrates how much draft capital the Steelers have spent on the position in recent years. The Jones selection has not gone as planned, though, as the team declined his fifth-year option for 2027 last month.
Along with Iheanachor, the Steelers drafted nine other rookies this year. They now have seven of those players under contract. Here is the defending AFC North champions’ full list of picks:
- Round 1, No. 21: Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 47 (from Colts): Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
- Round 3, No. 76 (from Cowboys): Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
- Round 3, No. 85: Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 96 (from Seahawks): Gennings Dunker (G, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 121: Kaden Wetjen (WR, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 169 (from Rams via Chiefs): Riley Nowakowski (TE, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 210 (from Rams via Chiefs): Gabe Rubio (DL, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 224 (from Saints via Patriots): Robert Spears-Jennings (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 230 (from Colts): Eli Heidenreich (RB, Navy)
Titans Sign Round 2 LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The Titans are one step closer to getting their entire 2026 draft class under contract. They announced the signing of former Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. on Friday.
Hill, a second-round pick whom the Titans chose 60th overall, inked a four-year contract worth around $8.11MM. A total of 75.46% of the deal is fully guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Last year’s 60th pick, Broncos running back RJ Harvey, received 63.23% in full guarantees.
Tennessee entered the draft as a potential first-round landing spot for former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, but it instead used the No. 4 overall pick on wide receiver Carnell Tate. After addressing receiver and EDGE (Keldric Faulk, No. 31) with their first two choices, the Titans moved up nine spots in a second-round trade with the Bears to nab a potential long-term starting linebacker in Hill. He ended up as the last off-ball LB taken before the fourth round.
Hill is entering the NFL on the heels of a decorated three-year run at Texas, where he was a two-time second-team All-American and a two-time first-team All-SEC performer. The 6-foot-2, 238-pounder totaled 249 tackles, 31.5 TFL, 17 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions over 40 games. A hand injury limited Hill to 10 games last year, but he otherwise enjoyed a healthy college career.
With first-year head coach Robert Saleh at the controls, Hill is seemingly walking into a solid situation in Tennessee. The defensive-minded Saleh has an effective track record with linebackers, having coached up the likes of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Quincy Williams in recent years. As a rookie, Hill will vie for playing time as part of a group that includes returning starters Cody Barton and Cedric Gray. Barton was the Titans’ lone player to log a 100% defensive snap share last year, while Gray ranked second in that category (86.9%).
With Hill under contract, Faulk is the last unsigned member of the Titans’ eight-rookie class.
Poll: How Good Are The Bengals?
The Bengals entered last season with playoff aspirations, but they were never truly in contention. The team sputtered to a 6-11 record for a couple of obvious reasons: 1.) Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow missed eight games after suffering a toe injury in September. 2.) The defense was an unmitigated disaster.
While the 2026 campaign is still four months from kicking off, Cincinnati looks like a prime rebound candidate. Burrow, who returned in November to fire 15 touchdowns against five interceptions in six starts, is healthy. He will again lead an eminently talented offense that boasts an elite receiver duo (Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) and a legitimate dual-threat running back in Chase Brown.
Even with the combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco filling in for Burrow for a large chunk of 2025, the Bengals’ offense still had enough horses to finish 12th in the NFL in scoring (24.4). The Bengals put up 30-plus points eight times, and the club went 5-3 in those games. When the Bengals scored fewer than 30, they went 1-8.
It is fair to say that if the Bengals are going to snap their three-year playoff drought in 2026, their defense will have to go from abysmal to competent. Since finishing 30th in points, 31st in yards and dead last in pass rush win rate last season, the unit has undergone a significant makeover.
The Bengals’ defense took a couple of notable hits in free agency when edge rushers Trey Hendrickson (Ravens) and Joseph Ossai (Jets) walked out the door. Hendrickson’s exit may be especially unfortunate when you consider he joined the AFC North rival Ravens, though the Bengals already began adjusting to life without him in 2025. A hip/groin injury limited Hendrickson to seven games, four sacks and kept him out from late October onward.
Aside from Ossai and Myles Murphy, nobody did much to fill Hendrickson’s void last season. The Bengals are likely confident that will change in 2026, as they brought in ex-Seahawk Boye Mafe on a three-year, $60MM deal and used a second-round pick on former Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell. They have now Murphy, Mafe, Howell and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart, who did not do much as a rookie, as their top options along the edge.
The Bengals’ collection of pass rushers should get a boost from a vastly improved interior defensive line. In a bold strike atypical of the Bengals, they landed perhaps the premier nose tackle in football when they traded the 10th overall pick to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence. The three-time Pro Bowler only managed a half-sack during a 17-game 2025, but just looking at sack totals doesn’t do Lawrence justice.
As a magnet for double teams, Lawrence makes life far easier on his defensive teammates. Despite drawing extra attention from opposing offensive lines, Lawrence has not had trouble affecting QBs. Dating to 2022, he has piled up 108 pressures as a nose tackle, an incredible 76 more than second place (32), per Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com.
The Bengals expect the best version of Lawrence to show up, which they believe would make a bigger difference than any rookie they could have drafted 10th overall. He is now the face of a strong DT group that also includes B.J. Hill and free agent signing Jonathan Allen. A former Commander and Viking, Allen has started in 125 of 126 games and accrued 45.5 sacks over his nine-year career.
Along with what looks like a quality group of players up front, the Bengals have a steady collection of starters in the defensive backfield. Dax Hill and DJ Turner should be their top outside corners, while former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook came in on a three-year, $40.5MM pact in free agency to pair with Jordan Battle. Cook figures to offer a clear upgrade over the departed Geno Stone, who started 17 games in 2025 but missed a career-worst 20% of tackles (Cook checked in at 4.5%).
As for potential weaknesses, linebacker sticks out. Barring an outside acquisition (Bobby Wagner, anyone?), the Bengals are poised to rely on Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight for the second season in a row. Counting on them as rookies last year did not go well, but the club has done nothing to upgrade over them this offseason. The Bengals also look shaky at nickel corner. Jalen Davis is the frontrunner for the job, but despite being an eight-year veteran, he lacks defensive experience. Davis never approached 100 defensive snaps in a season until he amassed 270 over seven games in 2025.
Turning back to the offensive side, keeping the oft-injured Burrow healthy will be the most important order of business. That will largely be in the hands of a starting line that has not changed since the end of last season. The Bengals are running it back with tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims, guards Dylan Fairchild and Dalton Risner, and center Ted Karras. Pro Football Focus rated the unit the league’s fifth-worst in 2025.
The Bengals are in a division with two other playoff hopefuls (Baltimore and Pittsburgh), but they should push for a postseason berth if Burrow stays healthy and the defensive acquisitions pan out as hoped. Vegas agrees, having set the over/under on the Bengals’ win total at 9.5. That ties them with last season’s AFC title game representatives, the Patriots and Broncos, as well as other conference contenders in Jacksonville and Houston. If the Bengals fall short of expectations again, long-tenured head coach Zac Taylor may not get a ninth year in 2027.
How do you expect the Bengals’ season to go? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
How many games will the Bengals win in 2026?
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Under 9.5 51% (688)
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Over 9.5 49% (660)
Total votes: 1,348
Patriots’ Quintayvious Hutchins Charged With Domestic Assault
Patriots rookie edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins has been charged with misdemeanor domestic assault and battery on a family/household member. The alleged incident took place at a Boston College dorm on Tuesday, according to Mike Toole of CBS Boston.
Hutchins pleaded not guilty in court in Newton, Mass., on Wednesday and was released. He will return to court for a hearing on a date yet to be determined.
The Patriots issued a statement on the matter, saying: “We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins. We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will not have further comment at this time.”
New England used the last of its nine draft picks on Hutchins, whom the team chose at No. 247 overall in the seventh round. The selection enabled Hutchins to stay in the area after a four-year playing career at Boston College.
Hutchins did not record huge production at BC, where he logged nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 43 games, but was an integral cog on special teams. A similar role may be in store for Hutchins if he makes the Patriots’ roster, though the NFL could discipline the 23-year-old at the outset of his career.
Hutchins signed his four-year rookie contract last week.
NFC Notes: Giants, OBJ, Bates, Seahawks
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton recently underwent core-muscle surgery, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The procedure should not affect Slayton’s availability for training camp, per Garafolo. It will also have no impact on a potential reunion with free agent wideout Odell Beckham, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post relays. The Giants hosted Beckham in late April, and while they have left the door open on a deal, they have not made an offer to the 33-year-old. Beckham did not play anywhere in 2025. Meanwhile, Slayton caught 37 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. He will be part of a more crowded receiving corps in 2026. The Giants will get No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers back from a torn ACL, and Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and third-rounder Malachi Fields are among their new additions.
More from the NFC…
- Now entering the last season of a four-year, $64.02MM contract, Falcons safety Jessie Bates is due to earn a $16MM salary – the eighth-highest total at the position. The three-time second-team All-Pro is a good bet to stick around Atlanta in 2027, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, though he notes it is likely the team will begin extension negotiations at a lower salary figure. While Bates managed his third straight full season last year and once again posted solid production (98 tackles, three interceptions), age is working against him as he seeks his next deal. By the time the 2027 season kicks off, Bates will be 30 years old. In the meantime, he will pair with Falcons safety Xavier Watts for the second year in a row. Those two accounted for defensive snap shares around 99% in 2025, an impressive rookie season for Watts.
- No cornerback taller than 6-foot-4 has ever played a regular-season NFL game. That will change if Seahawks cornerback Tyrone Broden earns a roster spot. The 6-5 Broden joined the Seahawks as an undrafted receiver last year, but he is now transitioning to the defensive side of the ball, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Broden spent some of last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad and did not get into any games. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks boast a loaded defensive backfield, which works against Broden, but they lost 6-4 corner Riq Woolen to the Eagles in free agency.
- In another position switch, the Buccaneers’ Nash Hutmacher is shifting from defensive tackle to guard, Greg Auman of FOX Sports reports. Undrafted a year ago, the former Nebraska D-tackle spent the season on the Bucs’ practice squad.
- In using a a seventh-round pick on former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the Chiefs took a potential option away from the Packers. Green Bay would have had interest in Nussmeier had he gone undrafted, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN relays. The Packers pivoted to former Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones on the UDFA market. Drones, Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord are their backup options behind starter Jordan Love. Like Drones, Taylor is a Virginia Tech product. The 36-year-old has carved out a long career as an occasional starter/dependable backup since the Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.