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.
Panthers DT Tershawn Wharton ‘Out Indefinitely’ After Neck Surgery
The Panthers operated for several games last year without starting defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton as he dealt with injury. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina will be without him for a bit more time as Wharton is reportedly “out indefinitely following neck surgery this month.”
Wharton came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri S&T, signing with the Chiefs out of college. He spent the first five years of his career in Kansas City, playing a significant role in the defensive rotation from Day 1. Where Derrick Nnadi served as a strong run defender next to star defensive lineman Chris Jones, Wharton stepped up as a more balanced option off the bench. The only changeups Wharton saw during his time with the Chiefs were when he tore his ACL and missed all but five games in 2022 and when he was asked to play a bigger role in 2024.
In that 2024 season, Wharton started 10 games for the Chiefs. With the additional play time, Wharton matched a career high with 29 total tackles and saw career highs in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (7), and batted passes (2). The breakout campaign led Wharton to Carolina, where he signed a three-year, $54MM contract. Handed a full-time starting role for the first time in his career, Wharton’s absences were interspersed throughout the year. He played two games over the first six weeks of the season and missed the team’s final four games before returning for the playoffs.
It was hamstring and toe issues that lingered throughout the 2025 season, so news of Wharton’s neck surgery comes out of left field as a seemingly unrelated new situation. As neck injuries tend to have serious implications, Wharton’s indefinite timeline could be cause for concern. According to Person, though, Wharton is expected to play in 2026.
Set to open the summer on the active/physically unable to perform list, if Wharton is forced to miss any time in the regular season, rookie second-rounder Lee Hunter could see some early usage on the first-team defense. The Texas Tech-product could end up starting next to Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown III, but he’ll likely have to beat out LaBryan Ray and second-year players Cam Jackson and Jared Harrison-Hunte for playing time.
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)
Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract
Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).
Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.
Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner; March 14, 2022: Three years, $21MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard
Atlanta Falcons
- Devonta Freeman; August 9, 2017: Five years, $41.25MM ($22.1MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry; May 19, 2025: Two years, $30MM ($25MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- James Cook; August 13, 2025: Four years, $46MM ($28.82MM guaranteed)
LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total
Carolina Panthers
- Christian McCaffrey; April 13, 2020: Four years, $64.1MM ($38.16MM guaranteed)
Chicago Bears
- Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)
D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact
Cleveland Browns
- Nick Chubb; July 31, 2021: Three years, $36.6MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott; September 4, 2019: Six years, $90MM ($50.1MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Melvin Gordon; March 20, 2020: Two years, $16MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Detroit Lions
- Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)
David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Jones; March 14, 2021: Four years, $48MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees
Houston Texans
- Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)
Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor; October 7, 2023: Three years, $42MM ($26.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maurice Jones-Drew; April 15, 2009: Five years, $31.1MM ($14.25MM guaranteed)
Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kenneth Walker; March 9, 2026: Three years, $43.1MM ($28.7MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs; August 26, 2023: One year, $11.79MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed
Los Angeles Chargers
- LaDainian Tomlinson; August 15, 2004: Six years, $48MM ($21MM guaranteed)
Los Angeles Rams
- Todd Gurley; July 24, 2018: Four years, $57.5MM ($45MM guaranteed)
Miami Dolphins
- De’Von Achane; May 13, 2026: Four years, $64MM ($27.38MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)
New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson; June 20, 2024: Four years, $36MM ($17.12MM guaranteed)
New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara; September 12, 2020: Five years, $75MM ($33.83MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Saquon Barkley; March 7, 2023: One year, $10.1MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal
New York Jets
- Breece Hall; May 8, 2026: Three years, $43.5MM ($29MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Saquon Barkley; March 4, 2025: Two years, $41.2MM ($36MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Le’Veon Bell; February 27, 2017: One year, $12.12MM franchise tag ($12.12MM guaranteed)
Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal
San Francisco 49ers
- Christian McCaffrey; June 4, 2024: Two years, $38MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Marshawn Lynch; March 4, 2012: Four years, $30MM ($17MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Doug Martin; March 9, 2016: Five years, $35.75MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry; July 15, 2020: Four years, $50MM ($25.5MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post
Panthers To Hold Competition At LT, C
The Panthers lost Ikem Ekwonu to a torn patellar tendon in a wild-card round defeat to the Rams in January, adding left tackle to their list of needs entering the offseason. General manager Dan Morgan has made notable additions at the position since then, having picked up Rasheed Walker in free agency and drafted Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick.
Appearing on NFL Network on Tuesday, Morgan revealed Walker and Freeling will compete to open the season as the Panthers’ starting left tackle (via Michael Baca of NFL.com).
“In terms of Monroe (Freeling), he’ll compete with Rasheed (Walker),” Morgan said. “We were lucky to get him in free agency, another guy we think highly about, a veteran who’s played a lot of games in this league. We feel like we have a lot of optionality there and looking forward to seeing those guys compete.”
The Panthers brought in Walker on a $4MM base deal, a surprisingly low amount for a 26-year-old with significant starting left tackle experience. Walker was Green Bay’s full-time choice on the blind side from 2023-25, during which he made 48 starts. Now entering a second straight contract year, Walker will have a chance to boost his stock, but he will have to beat out Freeling.
Although Carolina was a widely predicted mock draft landing spot for Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman or tight end Kenyon Sadiq, it prioritized tackle over those two positions in the first round. The Panthers had more interest in Thieneman than Sadiq, according to Joe Person of The Athletic, but Freeling won out (Sadiq was already gone by then). Despite only making 17 starts in college, the former Georgia Bulldog saw his stock skyrocket during the pre-draft process. Morgan called Freeling “a franchise left tackle” on Tuesday. Even if he loses the battle to Walker this summer, the Panthers at least regard Freeling as their long-term solution at the position.
As is the case at left tackle, the Panthers are set to stage a competition at center, Person reports. Cade Mays had a career season during a 12-start 2025 for the Panthers, but they did not retain him in free agency. A few hours after Mays joined the Lions on a three-year, $25MM agreement, the Panthers added Luke Fortner on a modest pact worth up to $4.75MM. Fortner has amassed 44 starts in a four-year career divided between Jacksonville and New Orleans, but he will have to fend off rookie Sam Hecht for the No. 1 role in Carolina. The Panthers spent a fifth-rounder on Hecht, who was a two-year starter at Kansas State. Hecht earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season.
While it is up in the air who will start at left tackle and center, the rest of the Panthers’ 2025 front five could begin next season intact. Right tackle Taylor Moton and the guard tandem of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis remain in the fold on pricey contracts.
Dan Morgan: Panthers Discussing Bryce Young Extension Internally
MAY 11: Executives who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora expressed hesitancy about making a big-money commitment to Young at this time. They predicted Carolina will wait at least one more year before authorizing an extension. It will be interesting to see if a push is made by the team this summer to finalize a deal knowing there is time before one needs to be worked out.
MAY 3: The Panthers made the expected move of picking up Bryce Young‘s fifth-year option earlier this week. Attention will now turn to the matter of an extension for the former No. 1 pick.
Young is on track to collect $25.9MM in guaranteed salary for 2027 as a result of Carolina’s decision. The team could elect to wait before making a long-term commitment given the former Heisman winner’s incremental progress at the NFL level. Young himself would welcome an extension, however, and a report from last month indicated the Panthers could oblige.
GM Dan Morgan addressed the Young situation during an interview with Sirius XM’s Adam Schein (audio link). He said a multiyear deal is “something that we’re talking about here internally,” adding “we’ll do it at the right time.” It will thus be interesting to see if negotiations with Young’s camp take place during the coming weeks.
“Obviously he came into a really rough situation in terms of coaching staff, maybe you could say the talent around him wasn’t great as well,” Morgan said of Young. “I think you see him just getting better and better every single year. Understanding the offense, he’s such a good processor, and a guy that’s just a pleasure to have around the building every day. As you see him mature, you see him become a better leader every single year. And the operation’s getting faster every year. So we really feel like the arrow is up with Bryce.”
Young set a new career high in several categories during the 2025 season, although his 188 passing yards per game average and 87.8 passer rating left plenty to be desired. The 24-year-old totaled 23 touchdown passes while helping Carolina win the NFC South, but he added 11 interceptions along the way. Another step forward will be required for Young to be considered among the game’s top quarterbacks and thus justify an extension near the top of the market. 10 passers currently collect between $51MM and $60MM per year on average.
Young could look to join that group when his next deal is signed, especially with the NFL’s salary cap continuing to rise. How his asking price compares to the Panthers’ valuation will be worth monitoring closely, though. Carolina has the ability to wait out the 2026 season before engaging in serious extension talks. Whether or not Morgan and Co. choose to do so will no doubt depend in large part on how internal discussions fare over the near future.
Panthers Restructure Jaycee Horn’s Deal
Jaycee Horn landed a major extension last offseason. The Panthers’ top cornerback will remain a foundational figure for years to come, but his deal was recently reworked.
Carolina restructured Horn’s contract, as detailed by Spotrac. A total of $16.4MM was converted into a signing bonus via the transaction. That makes this an example of a simple conversion aimed at carving out immediate cap space. To aid in that effort, one void year was added to the pact. Carolina now has roughly $12MM in cap space.
Horn battled injuries in two of his first three NFL seasons. When on the field, though, he has met expectations as a former top-10 pick. To little surprise, then, team and player worked out a four-year, $100MM extension last spring. The pact ranks third in the NFL in terms of guarantees for cornerbacks, and Horn will be counted on to remain one of the position’s top producers moving forward. After earning a Pro Bowl nod during his final season before the extension was signed, he was a Pro Bowler once more in 2025.
The 2027 base salary in Horn’s deal has already shifted to a full guarantee. That year is now set to include a notable spike in his cap charge, though. The 26-year-old will count for $10.9MM against Carolina’s cap in 2026 as a result of the restructure. That will jump to $25.9MM the following year, with further increases (to $31.8MM and $33.9MM) scheduled. Horn is under team control through the 2029 season.
Carolina posted 15 interceptions in 2025, and Horn accounted for five of them. He will look to build off that career mark in 2026 and beyond while remaining a key figure in a Panthers secondary which ranked mid-pack last year. Another strong showing on Horn’s part would help the team’s chances of improving on defense and reaching the postseason once again.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/26
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Andre Baccellia (failed physical)
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
- Waived: S Tysheem Johnson
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: LB Jacoby Windmon
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DB Zah Frazier
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: OL Sal Wormley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: DL Josh Fuga, CB Jordan Oladokun
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Zxavian Harris
New York Giants
- Released: DL Marlon Tuipulotu
- Waived: LB Swayze Bozeman, DL Elijah Chatman, WR Courtney Jackson
New York Jets
- Waived: C Gus Hartwig (failed physical)
- Waived/injured: S Chris Smith
The Bears surprised many today when they moved on from 2025 fifth-round pick Zah Frazier. The six-foot-three cornerback sat out his entire rookie campaign for what the team described as a “personal reason,” leading to his placement on the non-football injury list. As Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times notes, GM Ryan Poles recently acknowledged that the player had a “mountain to climb” if he hoped to contribute in 2026, with the executive adding that Frazier “needed to play” last year. Now, the defensive back will have to make his NFL debut elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals received a roster exemption today for international player Valentin Senn. The former Austrian prospect will be auditioning for a spot on Arizona’s offensive line. The Jets also got a roster exemption for Paschal Ekeji. The former rugby player will be competing for a spot on the Jets defensive line.
Panthers Sign 10 UDFAs
In addition to signing the majority of their draft picks today, the Panthers also added a handful of undrafted players to their rookie class. The team announced the signing of 10 UDFAs:
- Haynes King, QB (Georgia Tech)
- Jaylon Guilbeau, CB (Texas)
- Aaron Hall, DT (Duke)
- Isaia Glass, OT (Vanderbilt)
- Cam Miller, CB (Rutgers)
- Parker Peterson, DT (Wisconsin)
- Kobe Prentice, WR (Baylor)
- Albert Reese, OT (Mississippi State)
- Devonta Smith, CB (Notre Dame)
- Isaiah Smith, LB (SMU)
The team also noted that Coastal Carolina wide receiver Malick Meiga is expected to sign a contract and join the Panthers next week. The signing of Haynes King was reported shortly after the draft concluded.
Aaron Hall got a chunk of money to catch on with the franchise. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that the Duke defensive lineman got a $25K signing bonus plus $247.5K of his base salary guaranteed. Hall transformed into one of Duke’s most dependable defenders over the past three years. Between 2023 and 2025, the defensive tackle tallied 7.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 111 tackles.
Besides Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers still lack convincing depth at wide receiver, making Kobe Prentice an intriguing addition by the Panthers. The Baylor wideout never truly broke out during his time at Alabama, leading to him transferring to Baylor for the 2025 campaign. His performance with his new squad also left some to be desired, as he finished the year with only 26 catches for 380 yards. Notably, he did haul in six touchdowns.
Panthers Sign First-Round OT Monroe Freeling
With the Panthers set to begin rookie minicamp tomorrow, the team has signed a handful of their draft picks. The team announced the signing of six rookies today, including first-round offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.
The Panthers reportedly entered the first round with a “tackle or bust” mentality, and they landed one of the draft’s top positional prospects in Freeling. The Georgia product exclusively played left tackle during his collegiate career, including a 2025 campaign where he earned second-team All-SEC honors. Freeling possesses the length and athleticism that teams seek from their LTs, although scouts did note that he needs to add some weight to compete in the NFL.
The Freeling selection could also lead to some interesting roster decisions for the franchise. The team is returning longtime RT Taylor Moton and is still rostering LT Ikem Ekwonu on a fifth-year option. Ekwonu is set to miss the beginning of the 2026 season, but the team seemingly filled that temporary hole by signing Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal worth just $4MM. Depth is never a bad thing, but it will be interesting to see how the OL ultimately shakes out, and the team’s surplus of OTs could potentially lead to some moves.
The team’s other signings today included:
- 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))
This leaves the Panthers with only one unsigned draft pick: second-round DT Lee Hunter. While it’s notable that the Texas Tech product wasn’t included among the team’s other signings, there’s a chance he quickly inks his deal to be in attendance for tomorrow’s minicamp.