Extension Candidate: Zay Flowers
The idea of an extension for Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has been in the air for over a year now. The team’s leading receiver for each of the past three seasons changed his representation in May last year, and both sides have expressed interest in continuing to work together. When it comes to how much a Flowers extension will cost, there’s been some media dissonance on where the final figures will/should end up.
The Ravens haven’t the best luck in their history of drafting wide receivers in the first round. From Travis Taylor to Mark Clayton to Breshad Perriman, Baltimore has seen its fair share of disappointment. Eric DeCosta has done better since taking over as general manager in 2019, taking Marquise Brown in his first draft and Rashod Bateman two years later. But Flowers has seen more success than every previous top pick in Baltimore.
Since being drafted in 2023, Flowers has led the Ravens in receptions and receiving yards each season. His most recent season totals of 86 receptions and 1,211 receiving yards rank fourth and second for the franchise all-time — tight end Mark Andrews leads both categories with his 2021 contributions of 107 receptions and 1,361 receiving yards. Where Flowers has fallen short as a weapon for the offense is in the red zone, and falling “short” may offer a clue as to why there is some debate over how much he may be worth.
In his three seasons of play, Flowers has totaled five receiving touchdowns (2023), four receiving touchdowns (2024), and five receiving touchdowns (2025). His 2025 total tied for the team lead in a down year for Baltimore’s passing attack, but Flowers hasn’t sniffed double digits. Flowers is able to consistently get open; he can make defenders miss when he has the ball in his hands, and he’s a decent deep target for quarterback Lamar Jackson on occasion. But when the Ravens find the red zone, bigger targets like Andrews, Bateman, and Isaiah Likely tend to reap the rewards.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley recently speculated about the odds of Flowers getting an extension before the start of the season. The team picked up his fifth-year option, which means he’ll be due a fully guaranteed $27.3MM in 2027 if a deal doesn’t get done. Working from there, Hensley speculates that an extension for Flowers could reach an average of $35MM per year. Currently, only four players make more on an annual basis than that: Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15MM), Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25), Drake London ($35.26), and Justin Jefferson ($35MM).
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora saw “anything more than $30MM” per year as an overpay for Flowers, and he quoted a number of anonymous NFL executives that appeared to feel the same with one executive claiming that “his lack of size is a big deal…a separator.” To this point, at 5-foot-9, Flowers would be an anomaly among the top-paid players at his position. When going down the list of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL, one under six feet tall doesn’t appear until Jaylen Waddle at 5-foot-10, whose annual average ranks 14th in the league at $28.25MM per year. The next one shorter than six feet is Wan’Dale Robinson at 5-foot-8, who ranks 28th at $17.5MM per year.
Now Robinson’s stats don’t nearly reach what Flowers is doing, but Flowers’ numbers are fairly comparable to Waddle’s, granted Flowers has outperformed Waddle in the past two seasons. That seems to lend some credibility to $30MM as a cutoff, but Baltimore isn’t likely going to point to Flowers’ size in contract negotiations. Besides, height has been disregarded as a limiting factor before; both Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill signed contracts that made them the highest-paid receivers in the NFL at some point in their careers.
It’s just going to come down to how much the Ravens value Flowers. DeCosta has praised the 25-year-old as an established leader of the team, and his performances in each of the past two seasons have resulted in Pro Bowl nods. Baltimore may overlook some the limitations that outside franchises might impose in negotiations. He’ll almost certainly get paid more than what Waddle is making on his current deal, but does he deserve to be in the upper echelon of wide receiver salaries among the top players in the league? That will be for the Ravens to decide as negotiations continue.
Bills Vetted C.J. Gardner-Johnson Before Signing; CJGJ Addresses Texans Release
The Bills entered the offseason seeking a starting safety to partner with Cole Bishop. Shortly after free agency opened in March, general manager Brandon Beane chose the well-traveled C.J. Gardner-Johnson as his answer. The Bills took a one-year, $3.5MM flier on Gardner-Johnson, but Beane “heavily vetted” him before the deal came together, Tim Graham of The Athletic reports.
Gardner-Johnson is a proven ball hawk, having intercepted 20 passes in seven seasons, but his loud, fiery personality isn’t for everyone. The 28-year-old is already on his seventh organization. He hasn’t stayed with the same team for multiple years in a row since his career-opening run with the Saints from 2019-21. While he was an Eagle for a couple of seasons (2022 and ’24), there was a 2023 Lions stint wedged between those two one-year tenures.
Gardner-Johnson’s second run in Philadelphia concluded with a win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. He started for that team and played the third-most snaps on an excellent defense, but the Eagles parted with him in a trade for Texans offensive lineman Kenyon Green. The swap quickly went south for both sides. Philadelphia cut the disappointing Green before the season, while Gardner-Johnson didn’t last much longer than that in Houston.
Gardner-Johnson started in the Texans’ first three games, but he requested a trade amid an 0-3 start. They elected to release Gardner-Johnson without shopping him. He was reportedly a problem child in Houston, where he feuded with teammates (including criticizing someone’s contract) and complained about his role.
Gardner-Johnson told his side of the story to Graham, insisting: “That’s a lie. I never said s— about nobody’s contract. I’m on a $33 million deal. Why the f— would I talk about somebody’s contract?”
Gardner-Johnson informed Graham his Texans issues began at training camp in Greenbrier, W. Va., where he clashed with an unidentified “friend” of general manager Nick Caserio.
“That’s how I got (cut) in Houston. One person that’s not technically a part of the organization called me a B-word at Greenbrier,” he revealed. “I get out my body; he says something to the GM, and the next thing I’m cut.”
Caserio’s Texans said goodbye to Gardner-Johnson on Sept. 24, long after training camp wrapped up. He signed with the Ravens’ practice squad on Oct. 7, but they picked up fellow safety Alohi Gilman in a trade with the Chargers later that day. The Ravens paid a high price for Gilman, whom they acquired for edge defender Odafe Oweh. After the Gilman addition left no clear path to playing time for Gardner-Johnson, the Ravens parted with him on Oct. 14.
In regards to his week in Baltimore, Gardner-Johnson told Graham: “How does that sound? They sign you in the middle of the night with the plan for you to play that week, then literally 14 hours later they trade for a safety and tell you, ‘Oh, we’re going to start him and keep you on the practice squad.’ I’m a Super Bowl champion!”
Fortunately for Gardner-Johnson, he found stability for the rest of the season when he signed with the Bears on Oct. 29. He reunited with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who held the same role in New Orleans during Gardner-Johnson’s tenure there. With injured slot cornerback Kyler Gordon on the shelf, Gardner-Johnson primarily took on that role. In 10 games with the Bears, Gardner-Johnson peppered the stat sheet with 51 tackles, five TFL, four passes defensed, three sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
While Gardner-Johnson was a contributor on a defense that forced an NFL-best 33 turnovers, the NFC North champions did not bring him back after a divisional-round loss to the Rams. However, a connection from Chicago helped Gardner-Johnson land in Buffalo. Wide receiver D.J. Moore, whom the Bills acquired from the Bears in early March, gave a positive review of Gardner-Johnson to Beane, Graham reports. So did Bills defensive quality control coach Craig Robertson, who played with Gardner-Johnson in New Orleans. Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, the Bills’ most expensive free agent addition, and secondary coach Joe Danna also “badly” wanted the team to sign Gardner-Johnson, per Graham.
Although Gardner-Johnson is only under contract for 2026, it appears the nomadic defender is aiming for a multiyear stay with his newest team. He told Graham that Buffalo is the only place he has ever felt appreciated during his career.
Each AFC Team’s Largest 2026 Cap Hit
Let’s begin with a look at the AFC…
Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers ($46.35MM)
Herbert’s interception total climbed from three in 2024 to 13 last year, but one of the league’s worst offensive lines contributed to the increase in turnovers. The Chargers went the entire season without stud left tackle Rashawn Slater and most of it without excellent right tackle Joe Alt. Herbert took 54 sacks, the second-highest total in the game, behind a porous group of blockers. The 28-year-old still helped the Chargers to 11 wins and a playoff berth, but he and the offense flamed out in a 16-3 wild-card round loss to the Patriots.
The Chargers have since helped Herbert’s cause by replacing offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel, snagging two quality tight ends (Charlie Kolar and David Njoku) to join Oronde Gadsden, and making interior O-line upgrades. Most importantly, Slater and Alt will be back. The arrow is pointing up for Herbert as he goes into the third season of a five-year, $262.5MM extension.
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs ($44.85MM)
Patrick Mahomes‘ mega extension doesn’t kick in until 2027, leaving Jones atop the Chiefs’ cap hierarchy for another season. Jones, who is celebrating his 32nd birthday on Friday, continued to notch strong production during a shocking down year for the Chiefs. He racked up 25 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
While Pro Football Focus “only” ranked Jones’ overall performance 29th among 127 qualifying interior defensive linemen, he earned the site’s second-best pass-rushing grade at his position. Jones saw his three-year streak of first-team All-Pro selections end, but he made his seventh straight Pro Bowl in 2025.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills ($44.29MM)
Although he is about to enter his age-30 season with zero Super Bowl appearances, Allen remains on the shortlist of elite QBs. Frustrated with the franchise’s inability to capitalize on Allen’s presence, owner Terry Pegula fired longtime head coach Sean McDermott after an overtime loss to the Broncos in the divisional round. Allen played the first nine years of his career under McDermott. He is now playing for a familiar replacement in Joe Brady, who was Buffalo’s QBs coach from 2022-23 and the team’s offensive coordinator from 2024-25. Brady will continue to call the plays as a head coach.
The Bills’ Allen-led offense has never had issues scoring points with Brady at the controls. However, they will not get over the AFC hump and reach a Super Bowl unless their defense does a better job keeping points off the board in the postseason (if they get there). Allen has gone 8-7 in the playoffs despite a 101.5 passer rating, the fifth-best mark ever. The defense allowed a staggering 33.2 points per game in the Bills’ last six playoff defeats.
T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers ($42MM)
The Steelers gave a nine-figure extension to backup outside linebacker Nick Herbig a month ago. In the immediate aftermath, there was speculation about the Steelers trading Watt ahead of his age-32 season. However, Watt (and fellow OLB Alex Highsmith) will stick around for at least another year.
At the height of his powers, Watt amassed 22.5 sacks en route to Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021. He isn’t on that otherworldly level anymore, but Watt remains a defensive cornerstone. The eight-time Pro Bowler chipped in 19 QB hits, 10 TFL, eight pass deflections, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in 14 games in 2025. He was PFF’s 31st-ranked edge defender among 119 qualifiers.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns ($40.96MM)
This is the only real albatross cap hit on the list. The Browns have been stuck with Watson since they astonishingly traded three first-round picks to the Texans in 2022 and then gave him a fully guaranteed $230MM extension. While Watson was a three-time Pro Bowler at the time, he also sat out the previous season amid a contract dispute and dozens of sexual assault allegations. Watson’s off-field conduct led to an 11-game suspension, which he served at the beginning of what has been a disastrous Browns tenure.
He made 19 forgettable starts before rupturing his Achilles in October 2024. He ruptured it again while rehabbing in January 2025. Watson missed all of last season, but to the chagrin of Browns fans, he is returning as the front-runner to win the starting job over Shedeur Sanders. Although this is the last season of Watson’s ill-fated contract, he will remain on the Browns’ books until 2029.
Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals ($37.6MM)
Burrow has ranked among the sport’s top passers throughout his six-year career, but injuries have held him out of sizable portions of three seasons. Most recently, a toe injury sidelined him for nine games last year. The Bengals went 1-8 without Burrow, 6-11 overall, and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. The team is a popular pick to rebound in 2026 as long as the 29-year-old Burrow stays healthy. It’s easy to see why. To complement the superb offensive core of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown, the club has made multiple splashes to upgrade what was one of the league’s worst defenses in 2025. Defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, edge rushers Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell, and safety Bryan Cook are now in the fold.
Burrow is excited to get some much-needed help on the other side of the ball. “I think this is the most talented roster that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Burrow declared in May.
Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders ($35.79MM)
Crosby remains the Raiders’ largest cap charge, though they came very close to cutting ties with him in March. They agreed to trade the five-time Pro Bowler to the Ravens for two first-round picks, but it collapsed when Crosby failed the Ravens’ physical. At that point, Crosby was just two months into his recovery from surgery on a torn left meniscus. With Crosby further distancing himself from that procedure, teams have continued to show interest in acquiring him. As of now, though, he remains on track to open his age-29 season donning the Silver and Black.
Despite playing through knee problems last year, Crosby remained a force. He piled up 73 tackles, 28 TFL, 20 QB hits, 10 sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a pick in 15 games. If Crosby continues looking like his usual self in September and October, he will likely be popular in trade rumors leading up to the Nov. 3 deadline.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens ($34.9MM)
Jackson didn’t quite look like his two-time MVP-winning self during a truncated 2025. The all-world dual threat entered the season with an eye-popping 70-24 record as a starter, but he went just 6-7 last year while battling knee, ankle, toe and back injuries. After going 8-9 and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Ravens fired long-tenured head coach John Harbaugh. Jackson played the first eight years of his career under Harbaugh, whom the Ravens replaced with defensive guru Jesse Minter.
If healthy, there is little doubt Jackson will rebound and lead a talented Baltimore roster back to contention. The main question is whether the Ravens and Jackson will eventually work out an extension. Both sides seem optimistic it will eventually happen, but with no agreement in place when the new league year opened in March, the Ravens restructured his current pact. While the move lowered Jackson’s cap hit by $15MM and created $40MM in spending space, it left the two parties without long-term security. As things stand, Jackson is only under wraps through 2027.
Milton Williams, DT, Patriots ($28.5MM)
In March 2025, a few weeks after winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles, Williams moved to New England on a four-year, $104MM payday with $63MM guaranteed. Williams and Christian Barmore comprised a formidable duo up front, though an ankle injury limited the former to 12 games in his first season with the Patriots. While tallying eight TFL, eight QB hits and 3.5 sacks, Williams helped the Pats to a stunning 14-3 regular-season record. The 290-pounder then added seven tackles and three sacks over four playoff games, including Williams’ second straight Super Bowl. He was denied another championship, though, as the Patriots were no match for the Seahawks in a 29-13 defeat.
DeForest Buckner, DT, Colts ($26.6MM)
A cavalcade of major injuries, including Buckner’s, led to the Colts’ downfall in 2025. After starting a white-hot 7-1, the injury-plagued club finished 8-9 and extended its playoff drought to a half-decade. Buckner missed seven games with a neck issue, depriving the Colts of one of their defensive linchpins. With the 32-year-old still in recovery as camp approaches, he is not a sure thing to take the field when the Colts kick off their season against the Ravens on Sept. 13. This much is clear: Indianapolis will have a much better chance of rebounding from last year’s Murphy’s Law second half if Buckner returns to full strength.
Dan Moore Jr., LT, Titans ($26.35MM)
While Moore has been a career-long starter since he entered the league as the Steelers’ fourth-round pick in 2021, the Titans turned heads when they handed him a four-year, $82MM deal with $50MM in guarantees in March 2025. Jones went on to start in all 16 of his appearances in his first Titans season, but he wasn’t particularly effective. PFF charged him with allowing eight sacks and taking seven penalties, and he ended the year as the site’s 57th-ranked tackle out of 78 qualifiers. Thanks in part to Moore’s struggles, QB Cam Ward took a league-high 55 sacks as a rookie. The Titans are counting on Ward, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, to make a Year 2 leap. Better blindside protection would increase Ward’s chances of breaking out.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars ($24MM)
After going No. 1 overall in the 2021 draft, Lawrence put together an uneven first four seasons in the NFL. It would have been fair to regard the former Clemson star’s career as somewhat underwhelming at this time a year ago, but then Lawrence found a new gear under offensive-minded head coach Liam Coen.
With Coen in his first year on the job, the Jaguars stormed to a 13-4 record and won the AFC South. Lawrence bounced back from an injury-limited 2024 to start all 17 games. In the process, he eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark as a passer for the third time and set career highs in touchdowns (38; 29 passing, nine rushing) and rushing yards (359). The 26-year-old earned a fifth-place finish in the MVP race for his efforts.
Mike McGlinchey, RT, Broncos ($23.78)
The Broncos lured McGlinchey from the 49ers with a five-year, $87.5MM offer in March 2023. The investment has worked out well for Denver. McGlinchey missed four games in 2024, but he returned to start all 17 games last year and help the Broncos to 14 wins and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Aside from quarterback Bo Nix, no Broncos offensive player logged more snaps than McGlinchey. The 6-foot-8, 315-pounder played the second-most snaps (1,127) among all offensive tackles, per PFF, which ranked his performance 18th among 84 qualifying bookends.
Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Texans ($16.41MM)
This is a steal of a cap hit for one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers, but it is due to climb when Hunter’s $40.1MM extension kicks in next year. In the meantime, Hunter and fellow pass rusher extraordinaire Will Anderson Jr. should continue menacing opposing offenses in 2026. Hunter will turn 32 in October, but there are absolutely no signs of decline.
He amassed 15 sacks in 2025, his fourth straight season in the double digits and seventh in his 10-year career. The 6-5, 263-pounder also registered 22 QB hits, 15 TFL and three forced fumbles en route to second-team All-Pro honors. Hunter was PFF’s fifth-rated edge defender, while Anderson came in first. The Hunter-Anderson duo is the envy of the AFC.
Brandon Stephens, CB, Jets ($13.97MM)
The Jets brought in the former Raven on a three-year, $36MM agreement in March 2025. Unfortunately for the Jets and Stephens, their defense sputtered through a horrid season. The unit inexplicably failed to intercept a single pass, which was the second straight year Stephens went without a pick. Stephens tallied 73 tackles and nine passes defensed in 16 starts, but on 85 targets against him, opposing QBs completed 71.8% of attempts and put up a lofty 134.3 passer rating. As alarming as that looks, PFF still ranked Stephens a respectable 35th among 106 corners.
The Jets have since hired Brian Duker as their D-coordinator, though head coach/former defensive back Aaron Glenn will call the plays. Perhaps Stephens will benefit from Glenn’s expertise. Regardless, the 28-year-old remains a surefire starter going into his second season in New York. It is TBD whether free agent pickup Nahshon Wright or Azareye’h Thomas will start on the other side.
Zach Sieler, DT, Dolphins ($11.42MM)
The Dolphins no longer employ Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Ramsey or Minkah Fitzpatrick, leaving Sieler’s modest cap hit as the highest among their current players. Sieler is locked in on the three-year, $67.75MM extension he inked last August. Miami is now in the early stages of a full-blown rebuild under a new regime, but the 30-year-old has made it clear he wants to be a Dolphin for the rest of his career.
As for his recent work, Sieler entered last season aiming for a third straight 10-sack campaign. He ended up with 5.5 over a full 17-start season in which he led Dolphins D-linemen in snaps (780). Sieler also pitched in 47 tackles, 10 TFL and nine QB hits. PFF graded Sieler as a top-20 interior lineman in both 2022 and ’24, but he dropped to 58th (among 127 qualifiers) last season. Sieler will aim for a return to top form under defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley, who will call the plays, and DC Sean Duggan.
Information from Over the Cap was used in the creation of this post.
Danny Pinter Remains Ravens’ Top Internal Option At Center
Tyler Linderbaum left a $27MM per year hole on the Ravens’ offensive depth chart when he departed for Las Vegas in free agency. The team signed a few underwhelming replacement options soon after Linderbaum’s departure, and when the draft came and went without the selection of a rookie center, many presumed an additional outside option was on its way to Baltimore.
As the Ravens progressed through spring activities, former Colts backup Danny Pinter was the center receiving first-year snaps with the most consistency in Baltimore. Over five healthy years in Indianapolis, Pinter appeared in 77 games, serving mostly on special teams but earning 10 starts as an injury replacement — seven at center and three at right guard. That experience exceeds that of both of the team’s other two center options, Jovaughn Gwyn and Corey Bullock.
Gwyn is a former seventh-round guard out of South Carolina that was drafted by the Falcons in 2023. He only appeared in two games over his first two years in the league and didn’t appear on offense until this past season, seeing at least one snap at guard in five games. He didn’t play center in college, but he’s been identified as a candidate for the job in Baltimore. Bullock made the Ravens’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of Maryland last year. He appeared in 16 games for the team last year, almost exclusively on special teams. There was an expectation that he might step into a bigger role in Year 2, but he hasn’t been able to establish a bigger role yet.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic recently reported that, while he still holds his belief that an external addition will occur at some point in the offseason, if it doesn’t, Pinter will likely be given the starting job. If the Ravens do go the trade route to replace Linderbaum, Zrebiec projects that Bears center Garrett Bradbury could be an ideal target. A starter for six years in Minnesota and last year in New England, Bradbury played under new Ravens offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford when the two were at NC State together. Chicago drafted Iowa center Logan Jones in the second round of the draft this year, perhaps making Bradbury expendable.
The NFL’s Longest-Tenured GMs
Only three general manager vacancies emerged this offseason. One of them came from the removal of longtime Dolphins GM Chris Grier, whom the team dismissed last October. Grier had been in Miami’s GM chair since 2016 and held final personnel say beginning in 2019. The Dolphins now have Jon-Eric Sullivan, a long-running Packers exec, at the controls.
The Falcons tabbed Ian Cunningham for their GM gig weeks later, but like Grier when the Dolphins promoted him to GM 10 years ago, he does not have final personnel say. Matt Ryan, hired as the team’s president of football (a new position for which Cunningham also interviewed), will hold that power. As a result, the NFL did not award the Bears two third-round picks for Cunningham — Chicago’s assistant GM from 2022-26 — becoming a minority exec to land a GM post.
The Vikings waited until late January to fire Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who had been the team’s GM since 2022. Despite extending Adofo-Mensah last year, Minnesota moved on but waited until after the draft to hire a replacement. The NFL had not seen a post-draft GM search commence since 2022, but the Vikings canvassed the league’s assistant GM ranks and landed on the Seahawks’ Nolan Teasley. He will work with longtime staffer Rob Brzezinski, who had been the team’s interim GM, moving forward.
Upheaval in Buffalo also led to a power shift, with 10th-year GM Brandon Beane elevated to president of football operations following Sean McDermott‘s firing. The Bills originally hired Beane months after McDermott in 2017. The Giants avoided wholesale change by extending fifth-year GM Joe Schoen, though the team’s John Harbaugh hire effectively brought a demotion for the struggling GM. The Titans also gave second-year GM Mike Borgonzi roster control after since-departed president Chad Brinker held it last year.
With Beane, Colts GM Chris Ballard, 49ers GM John Lynch and Chiefs GM Brett Veach being hired in 2017, the NFL now has 11 GMs or owner/GM figures who have been on the job for at least a decade. The Packers’ Brian Gutekunst is closing in on that status, having been extended to start his ninth year as GM.
Teasley’s former boss, John Schneider, received an extension last July. That proved to be a timely move for the Seahawks, who stormed to a Super Bowl LX championship. Schneider, who trails only the Saints’ Mickey Loomis in tenure among pure GMs presently, became the only GM in NFL history to win Super Bowls with two entirely different nuclei (as no Seattle cogs from Super Bowl XLVIII remained by 2025).
The Vikings will hope Teasley, whom the Seahawks hired shortly before their 2013 Super Bowl season and eventually promoted to the AGM level, can replicate some of Schneider’s success. Here is how the NFL’s GM ranks look going into the 2026 season:
- Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys): April 18, 1989[1]
- Mike Brown (Cincinnati Bengals): August 5, 1991[2]
- Mickey Loomis (New Orleans Saints): May 14, 2002
- John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks): January 19, 2010; signed extension in 2025
- Howie Roseman (Philadelphia Eagles): January 29, 2010[3]; signed extension in 2022
- Les Snead (Los Angeles Rams): February 10, 2012; signed extension in 2026
- Jason Licht (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): January 21, 2014; signed extension in 2025
- John Lynch (San Francisco 49ers): January 29, 2017; signed extension in 2023
- Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts): January 30, 2017; signed extension in 2021
- Brandon Beane (Buffalo Bills): May 9, 2017; signed extension in 2023
- Brett Veach (Kansas City Chiefs): July 11, 2017; signed extension in 2024
- Brian Gutekunst (Green Bay Packers): January 7, 2018; signed extension in 2026
- Eric DeCosta (Baltimore Ravens): January 7, 2019
- Andrew Berry (Cleveland Browns): January 27, 2020; signed extension in 2024
- Nick Caserio (Houston Texans): January 5, 2021
- George Paton (Denver Broncos): January 13, 2021: signed extension in 2026
- Brad Holmes (Detroit Lions): January 14, 2021; signed extension in 2024
- Joe Schoen (New York Giants): January 21, 2022: signed extension in 2026
- Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears): January 25, 2022: signed extension in 2025
- Omar Khan (Pittsburgh Steelers): May 24, 2022; signed extension in 2025
- Monti Ossenfort (Arizona Cardinals): January 16, 2023
- Adam Peters (Washington Commanders): January 12, 2024
- Dan Morgan (Carolina Panthers): January 22, 2024
- Joe Hortiz (Los Angeles Chargers): January 29, 2024
- Eliot Wolf (New England Patriots): May 11, 2024
- Mike Borgonzi (Tennessee Titans): January 17, 2025
- John Spytek (Las Vegas Raiders): January 22, 2025
- Darren Mougey (New York Jets): January 24, 2025
- James Gladstone (Jacksonville Jaguars): February 21, 2025
- Jon-Eric Sullivan (Miami Dolphins): January 9, 2026
- Ian Cunningham (Atlanta Falcons): January 29, 2026
- Nolan Teasley (Minnesota Vikings): May 30, 2026
Footnotes:
- Jones has been the Cowboys’ de facto general manager since former GM Tex Schramm resigned in April 1989.
- Brown has been the Bengals’ de facto GM since taking over as the team’s owner in August 1991.
- The Eagles bumped Roseman from their top decision-making post in 2015, giving Chip Kelly personnel power. Roseman was reinstated upon Kelly’s December 2015 firing.
Ravens Were Not Close To Re-Signing C Tyler Linderbaum
Tyler Linderbaum represented not only the top 2026 free agent for the Ravens but the No. 1 option on the open market from PFR’s Top 50 list. Interest was expressed in a new Baltimore deal, but one was never close to materializing.
The Ravens were not in position to keep Linderbaum at any point this offseason, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes. Once the three-time Pro Bowler became eligible to speak to other teams immediately prior to the onset of free agency, a Baltimore agreement was not feasible. GM Eric DeCosta said shortly before the start of free agency that a market-topping offer had been submitted in this case.
Linderbaum wound up inking a three-year, $81MM deal with the Raiders. That pact is worth an average of $27MM per year, smashing the previous record for AAV at the center position (which was $18MM). Linderbaum secured full guarantees for the first two years, and his 2028 compensation will fully lock in one year early. Instead of making that level of commitment, the Ravens quickly pivoted to another priority in free agency.
Baltimore worked out an agreement with Trey Hendrickson shortly after the team’s trade agreement with the Raiders for Maxx Crosby fell through. The former Bengals sack artist took a pact averaging $28MM per season, and DeCosta and Co. will certainly hope for an investment nearly identical to the one made by Vegas in Linderbaum will pay dividends. Pass rush was a major area of need for the Ravens entering the offseason, and Hendrickson will be counted on to provide a major boost in that regard.
Of course, Linderbaum’s departure has left Baltimore with a notable vacancy along the offensive line which continues to linger. That unit was a priority early in free agency and the draft, with John Simpson being brought back during free agency and Vega Ioane being selected 14th overall in the draft. Both guards are on track to serve as starters in 2026, although the center position is still a question mark in Baltimore’s case.
Free agency included the departure of other Ravens, with many electing to reunite with head coach John Harbaugh by signing with the Giants. Linderbaum was viewed as being out of New York’s price range, though, as he was for a number of other suitors. Teams like the Chargers and Bears were naturally interested, but the Raiders won out thanks to an unprecedented financial commitment. Remaining in Baltimore on that lucrative contract was never under consideration given the traction (or lack thereof) during negotiations leading up to free agency.
The NFL’s Assistant General Managers
When the Vikings hired Nolan Teasley late last month, the general manager carousel came to a stop once again. Minnesota has since filled out its assistant GM tier, joining Seattle — which lost Teasley from its AGM post — in doing so this month. The Vikings’ GM search — which consisted of interim GM Rob Brzezinski and assistant GMs from other teams — reminded that the AGM post serves as the top launching pad to the GM ranks.
While front office bosses are fairly well-known presences — particularly to the PFR audience — the assistant GM level consists of less recognizable figures. But these staffers sit as top front office lieutenants, many of whom have interviewed for GM jobs already. Others will do so in the future. Here are the teams that have assigned the assistant general manager title to one or more staffers:
Arizona Cardinals
- Dave Sears (hired in 2023)
Atlanta Falcons
- Jeff Scott (hired in 2026)
Buffalo Bills
- Terrance Gray (hired in 2017, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Chicago Bears
- Jeff King (hired in 2016, promoted to AGM in 2026)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Trey Brown (hired in 2018, promoted to AGM in 2025)
- Mike Potts (hired in 2016, promoted to AGM in 2025)
- Steven Radicevic (hired in 2012, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Cleveland Browns
- Glenn Cook (hired in 2016, promoted to AGM in 2022)
- Catherine Hickman (hired in 2022)
Denver Broncos
- Reed Burckhardt (hired in 2022, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Detroit Lions
- Ray Agnew (hired in 2021)
Houston Texans
- Chris Blanco (rehired in 2023, promoted to AGM in 2025)
- James Liipfert (hired in 2018, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Indianapolis Colts
- Ed Dodds (hired in 2017, promoted to AGM in 2018)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Bradway (hired in 2018, promoted to AGM in 2025)
- Chris Shea (hired in 2017, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Brian Stark (hired in 2025)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Chad Alexander (hired in 2024)
Los Angeles Rams
- John McKay (hired in 2016, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Miami Dolphins
- Kyle Smith (hired in 2026)
Minnesota Vikings
- Andrew Healy (hired in 2026)
- Trent Kirchner (hired in 2026)
New Orleans Saints
- Khai Harley (hired in 2008, promoted to AGM in 2023)
- Jeff Ireland (hired in 2015)
New York Giants
- Brandon Brown (hired in 2022)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Adam Berry (hired in 2023, promoted to AGM in 2026)
- Jon Ferrari (hired in 2016, promoted to AGM in 2022)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Andy Weidl (hired in 2022)
San Francisco 49ers
- R.J. Gillen (hired in 2015, promoted to AGM in 2025)
- Brian Hampton (hired in 2003, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Seattle Seahawks
- Matt Berry (hired in 2008, promoted to AGM in 2026)
- Willie Schneider (hired in 2017, promoted to AGM in 2026)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Mike Greenberg (hired in 2010, promoted to AGM in 2023)
- Rob McCartney (hired in 2011, promoted to AGM in 2025)
Tennessee Titans
- Dave Ziegler (hired in 2025)
Washington Commanders
- Lance Newmark (hired in 2024)
The Cowboys, Jaguars, Jets, Packers, Panthers, Patriots and Ravens do not have a staffer in this position. Some front offices opt against handing out the title. The Patriots and Cowboys have refrained from doing so for many years. Jerry Jones has served as the team’s GM since his 1989 purchase; he does not plan to step down from his front office perch anytime soon. Son Stephen Jones operates as the team’s COO. VP of player personnel Will McClay has drawn outside GM interest in the past, but the longtime Dallas staffer has preferred to stay put.
Carolina promoted Dan Morgan from assistant GM to the top front office post in 2024. Former Chiefs exec Brandt Tilis serves as the Panthers’ de facto AGM, residing as the team’s executive VP of football operations. Tilis interviewed for the Falcons’ top front office post — which went to Matt Ryan — this offseason. Now that the Dolphins hired former Packers VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM, cap specialist Russ Ball is probably Green Bay’s most prominent exec working under longtime GM Brian Gutekunst.
The Patriots hired former Titans interim GM Ryan Cowden to work with Mike Vrabel; the longtime Tennessee staffer is New England’s VP of player personnel. Eliot Wolf does not officially hold a GM title (residing as executive VP of player personnel instead) — is in Year 3 running the Pats’ front office.
Second-year GMs James Gladstone and Darren Mougey have not handed out the AGM title, either. Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli sits in a key Jacksonville role, as executive VP of football ops, while former Broncos GM Brian Xanders is a senior advisor to the GM. Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman helped the Jets land on Mougey as GM, and the veteran NFL staffer remains on New York’s staff (as a senior football advisor).
While a host of staffers on the assistant GM level have been part of recent GM carousels, only two current AGMs — Ireland and Ziegler — previously led a front office. Illustrating the fluidity of AGM roles, only Dodds and Ireland have been in their current positions prior to the 2020s.
Ravens CB Nate Wiggins Underwent Offseason Surgery
Despite arriving at Clemson as a top-100 recruit and getting drafted in the first round by the Ravens two years ago, cornerback Nate Wiggins claims that he’s been playing “at about 60-70 percent” since high school. Per Ravens staff writer Kevin Eck, “an undisclosed offseason surgery has restored (Wiggins) to 100 percent.”
As a top recruit for the Tigers, Wiggins broke out in his sophomore campaign, logging 13 passes defensed and a 98-yard pick six. Before joining the Ravens, Wiggins earned first-team All-ACC honors with six more passes defensed and a two more interceptions, one of which was another pick six. Wiggins impressed as a rookie logging 13 passes defensed and yet another pick six, this one 26 yards. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as the 25th best corner in the league out of 116 players graded at the position in his rookie season.
In 2025, despite Wiggins notching three interceptions and 14 more passes defensed, PFF didn’t look as kindly on his sophomore campaign, grading him 52nd out of 112 graded cornerbacks. He’s shown decent production over the past four years, but he’s been billed lately as a breakout candidate for Year 3. Wiggins appears inclined to buy in to that hype as, thanks to this offseason surgery, he will be “fully healthy for the first time since his high school” days.
About a month after Wiggins posted to social media from a hospital bed that he had undergone “successful surgery,” new head coach Jesse Minter was asked about the nature of the procedure. Informing the media that that information would remain internal, Minter expressed his excitement to work with Wiggins, saying that he thinks “there’s still a lot of room in his game” and that Wiggins knows that, too.
The Ravens uncharacteristically finished 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed in Wiggins’ rookie season. They finished 30th in the same stat category last year and plan to run things back with the same trio of starting cornerbacks, featuring Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie on the outside and Marlon Humphrey in the slot. Awuzie delivered in 2025 (11th of 112, per PFF), but Baltimore will hope a healthy Wiggins puts the 22-year-old back on track and that Humphrey (103rd of 112) will return to All-Pro form in 2026.
Ravens Announce Front Office Changes
The Ravens announced a litany of front office updates this week, with promotions in player personnel, operations, and analytics. Atop the player personnel department, Bobby Vega and Andrew Raphael were named assistant directors of player personnel. Joey Cleary moved into Raphael’s former position as the new director of college scouting, and Corey Frazier was promoted to director of pro personnel.
Vega started his NFL career with the Ravens as an intern in 2004. The next year, he began a 13-year stint with the Browns before returning to Baltimore as an east area scout in 2018. He was promoted to national scout in 2023 and named senior personnel executive last year. Raphael joined the team as a player personnel intern in 2013, after serving a season as the assistant recruiting coordinator at Boston College. After two years, he became a player personnel assistant before being elevated to southeast area scout the next year. Starting in 2021, he spent three years as a national scout and was promoted to director of college scouting two years ago.
Cleary now steps into his former boss’s role as he enters his 12th season with the team. Starting in Baltimore as a player personnel assistant in 2015, Cleary was promoted to area scout, working the northeast area (2019), west area (2020), and southeast area (2021-23). When Raphael was promoted to director of college scouting, Cleary was promoted just under him. Cleary now drops the “assistant” from his title as the new director of college scouting. Frazier also joined the team as a player personnel assistant, starting in 2017 after a scouting internship two years prior with the Broncos and work as an advanced scout at Vanderbilt in 2016. He became a pro scout for the Ravens in 2019 and returned to the pro side of things as assistant director of pro personnel in 2024 after three seasons as a west coast area scout.
Also, in the scouting department, player personnel assistants Joe Moreno and TJ Ajibola have been promoted to northeast area scout and pro scout, respectively. Moreno started at the collegiate level as a recruiting intern at Harvard and Stanford before arriving as a player personnel graduate assistant at Auburn in 2019. He left to serve three years as director of player personnel at Southern Miss before joining the Ravens in 2024. Ajibola’s path to a promotion was a bit slower. He’s finally earned a new title after joining the team as a player personnel assistant in 2019. Lastly, after it was announced that former Raiders senior director of player personnel JoJo Wooden would join the Ravens as a front office consultant, the team’s latest disclosure appears to officially name him as a west coast area scout.
In operations, Nick Matteo has been promoted from vice president of football administration to vice president of football operations and Sophie Cortese has been elevated from football administration/salary cap analyst to assistant director of football administration. Before arriving in Baltimore, Matteo worked nine years with the NFL Management Council, eventually getting promoted to senior director of labor operations for the league. He joined the Ravens in his former role in 2019 and oversaw day-to-day salary cap management and all roster transactions for the past seven years. After working as an offensive analyst at Colby University, Cortese joined the Ravens as an analytics players personnel training camp intern in 2021and was promoted to her prior position in 2023.
Lastly, in analytics, David McDonald has been promoted from vice president of research and development to vice president of football science and David Kang from quantitative analyst to senior data scientist. McDonald arrived in Baltimore after a five-year stint as a football systems developer for the Falcons in 2010. He spent five years as the Ravens director of research and development before earning the VP title. Kang only joined the team last year in his previous role before earning this offseason promotion.
6 Potential Fits For WR Stefon Diggs
At this time a year ago, four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs was on the comeback trail from the October 2024 ACL tear he suffered as a member of the Texans. Despite the injury, the Patriots were confident enough in Diggs’ recovery to give him a three-year deal with $26MM in guaranteed money in free agency. The gamble paid off for New England. Not only did Diggs play in all of the Patriots’ games during a shocking AFC title-winning season, but he was among the NFL’s most productive receivers. He finished top 16 in the league in first downs (51; tied for 10th), catches (85; 12th) and yards (1,013; 16th). It was the seventh 1,000-yard season for the 11-year veteran, who scored four touchdowns and registered a meager 2.9% drop rate.
Although the Diggs signing was a plus for the Patriots in 2025, they moved on from him a few weeks after a Super Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks. Diggs’ release in March saved the Pats $16.8MM in cap space and paved the way for two expensive new starter acquisitions in A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.
As he gears up for his age-32 season, Diggs remains without a team three months after the Patriots cut ties. When New England said goodbye to Diggs, he was facing a potential suspension as a result of an alleged incident with his former personal chef last December. However, after a Boston jury found Diggs not guilty on assault and strangulation charges, the league decided it will not issue him any discipline.
Now that Diggs is in the clear, it should be a matter of time before he lands his next contract. There is a strong argument that he is the best receiver remaining in a free agent class that also includes Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and a 32-year-old version of Tyreek Hill coming off a severe knee injury. Going in alphabetical order, here are some potential fits for Diggs…
Bears
Chicago is probably content with the young duo of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden as its starters, making a Diggs pickup a long shot. But the team’s receiving corps inspires little confidence after Odunze, who trudged through a disappointing, injury-limited 2025, and the ascending Burden. The Bears’ biggest offseason moves at the position have been adding journeyman Kalif Raymond on a one-year, $5.1MM deal in free agency and drafting Zavion Thomas in the third round. Maybe that will prove to be enough. Raymond had his most productive seasons in Detroit from 2021-23 under Ben Johnson, then a passing game/offensive coordinator and now Chicago’s head coach. He averaged 43 receptions and 560 yards per year during that span, but the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder is now fresh off a two-year stretch in which he totaled 41 catches and 504 yards. Moving down the depth chart, there is nothing resembling a proven threat in a group of receivers that includes Scotty Miller, Kaden Davis, Jahdae Walker, JP Richardson, Omari Kelly, Kyren Hudson and Maurice Alexander.
Chiefs
Unlike Chicago, Kansas City has come up as a rumored suitor for Diggs this offseason. The fit makes sense on paper. Chiefs No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice, who just finished a 30-day jail sentence for violating probation, is about a month removed from undergoing cleanup surgery on his right knee. Injuries and a suspension limited Rice to 12 of a possible 34 games from 2024-25. It isn’t out of the question that he will face another suspension for his latest offense. Even if he doesn’t, there is arguably room for Diggs in a receiving corps that also includes third-year speedster Xavier Worthy, Tyquan Thornton, 2025 fourth-rounder Jalen Royals and rookie fifth-rounder Cyrus Allen. One potential problem? The Chiefs only have about $4.12MM in cap space, the second-lowest total in the league. Diggs isn’t going to break the bank at this stage of his career, but he should do better than that on his next deal.
Colts
Three months after trading the reliable Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis is considering adding a receiver. The Colts retained the field-stretching Alec Pierce on a four-year, $114MM contract. Pierce will be the Colts’ No. 1 option if healthy, but his status for training camp is in question in the wake of offseason ankle surgery. Josh Downs is also in line for a significant role as a slot target. The versatile Diggs played 47% of snaps in the slot with the Patriots, but he remains a viable perimeter receiver. A top three of Pierce, Diggs and Downs would look far more formidable than Pierce, Downs and some combination of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell and seventh-round rookie Deion Burks. The Colts have just under $32MM in cap space, leaving plenty of money for Diggs.
Commanders
The Commanders have over $43MM in cap space and not enough in the cupboard beyond No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin, which has led to speculation about an outside addition. Mercurial 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been connected to Washington more than other wideouts, but it is anyone’s guess if he will take the field again. Aiyuk has not played since he tore his ACL and MCL in October 2024, the same month Diggs suffered his knee injury, and has exhibited bizarre behavior since then. He went AWOL from the 49ers last season and has taken shots at the organization on social media this spring. The 49ers have held out for a trade, but that is highly unlikely to happen.
Assuming San Francisco eventually releases Aiyuk, perhaps the Commanders will take a cheap flier and reunite him with quarterback and former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels. They may be better off with Diggs, though. The Maryland native and ex-Terrapin has already suggested he is open to signing with the Commanders, who are short on established starters past McLaurin. Dyami Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Van Jefferson, rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams and 2025 fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane are among their current choices.
Rams
What do you get the team that has just about everything? The loaded Rams are already Super Bowl favorites without Diggs, though there is an argument to find a better complement to the superb Puka Nacua and Davante Adams tandem. While the Rams had their chance in the first round of the draft, they surprisingly passed on former USC star Makai Lemon for developmental quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall. They waited until the sixth round to grab a receiver, CJ Daniels, who is in a relatively anonymous group with Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Tru Edwards, Konata Mumphfield, Brennan Presley, Tyler Scott and Mario Williams.
Ravens
As is the case with Washington, geography may work in Baltimore’s favor when it comes to a potential Diggs pursuit. There is also a case the Ravens could upgrade at receiver behind bona fide No. 1 Zay Flowers. Rashod Bateman was a no-show in 2025 (19 catches in 13 games) and has since come up in trade rumors. Maybe the Ravens will bank on a rebound year for Bateman, but if that doesn’t happen, they will need a cast of unproven receivers to step up. Devontez Walker caught just seven passes over 21 games in his first two seasons, and LaJohntay Webster was an offensive non-factor as a sixth-round rookie last year. The Ravens have since added two draft picks, third-rounder Ja’Kobi Lane and fourth-rounder Elijah Sarratt, but whether the team has done enough to rule out Diggs is debatable.