Commanders Add LB Sonny Styles At No. 7
Another Ohio State prospect has come off the board early. Linebacker Sonny Styles has been selected seventh overall by the Commanders. Just two picks after seeing his teammate Arvell Reese get drafted to New York, Styles comes off the board as the first true off-ball linebacker drafted. Styles becomes the highest drafted off-ball linebacker since Devin White went fifth overall in 2019.
Styles had to wait a bit longer than his fellow member of the Buckeye’s linebacking corps and new division-rival, Reese. Styles played very sparingly as a true freshman and found himself in a rotational role in Year 2. Unlike Reese, Styles played a much bigger part in Ohio State’s run to a national championship as a starter alongside Cody Simon. That year, he recorded collegiate career highs in total tackles (100), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (6.0), and passes defensed (5), benefiting by getting to make plays off Simon’s steady coverage in the middle.
Styles will head to Washington, where he should immediately take on a starting role, picking up the torch laid down by future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. While it would’ve been beneficial for Styles to get to learn under Wagner, the Commanders get the benefit of drafting an immediate plug-and-play replacement for the stellar veteran. Washington had signed former Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal to fill in next to Frankie Luvu in the linebacking corps, but both players have filled similar versatile roles to what Reese did next to Styles in Columbus in recent years, and Styles’ addition to the roster should allow them to continue in those roles.
With draft pick salaries slotted automatically, Styles is locked into a four-year, $37.21MM rookie deal. The contract is fully guaranteed, giving him the third-most guaranteed money at his position in the league, behind only Roquan Smith and Fred Warner.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Chiefs Acquire No. 6 From Browns, Select CB Mansoor Delane
It has not taken long for the first trade of this year’s draft to take place. The Chiefs have moved up the board to acquire the sixth overall pick from the Browns.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the swap includes Kansas City acquiring No. 6 for picks 9, 74 and 148. With the newly-acquired selection, the Chiefs have drafted LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
This is a bit earlier than Delane was projected to go off the board. For a bit, it looked as though the Chiefs — linked to edge rushers for weeks — could somehow see Arvell Reese fall to No. 6, but the Giants did not let their EDGE surplus impede such a pick at No. 5. The Chiefs, then, nabbed the first CB prospect in this draft. Delane will take over a corner corps that lost Trent McDuffie (via trade) and Jaylen Watson (via free agency). Both are now Rams.
It might be wise for Delane to rent in Kansas City considering the extensive trend that has formed at this position. McDuffie and Watson are the latest one-contract Chiefs corners. They follow L’Jarius Sneed, Charvarius Ward, Kendall Fuller, Steven Nelson and Marcus Peters as CB starters the Chiefs did not pay. Even spot starter Joshua Williams defected (to the Titans) this offseason. New blood will arrive in the form of Delane, who will be expected to anchor this high-turnover position group.
As the Browns moved down and drafted Utah tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9, the Chiefs will land a hopeful impact corner. The team has now gone to the first-round CB well thrice during Andy Reid’s tenure, drafting Peters (2015), McDuffie (2022) and now Delane.
The three-year Virginia Tech product flashed considerable potential during his time in the ACC. A transfer to LSU produced the desired results and elevated his draft stock even further, though. Delane notched a pair of interceptions and 11 pass deflections in 2025. That production helped him earn first-team All-American honors and cement his status as one of the top prospects for this year’s draft. He will join a Chiefs CB cadre housing Chamarri Conner, Nohl Williams and (for now, at least) Kristian Fulton.
Giants Draft LB Arvell Reese At No. 5
Arvell Reese remained on the board through the first four picks has now come off at No. 5 overall. The hybrid linebacker/edge rusher has been selected by the Giants. New head coach John Harbaugh came over from a team known for drafting the best player available, and with his expanded role in New York, Harbaugh has done just that with this selection of Reese.
Reese will become a Giant after one phenomenal year on the Buckeye’s defense. Not appearing on defense as a true freshman, Reese was used sparingly as a rotation off-ball linebacker in Year 2 en route to a College Football Playoff Championship Game victory. Once Cody Simon moved on to the NFL as a fourth-round pick, Reese took over next to teammate and fellow top 10 pick Sonny Styles. While Styles spent a majority of his snaps in the box, Reese split his time as an off-ball linebacker and an edge rusher.
In part-time pass rushing duty, Reese produced 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Most evaluators see him producing more as a pass rusher at the NFL level, but some believe he could maintain some sort of versatility in a hybrid role similar to the early years of Micah Parsons. New York drafted a similarly transitioned defender at No. 3 overall last year in Abdul Carter. In fact, Reese joins an extremely crowded room of highly drafted pass rushers that includes Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
There were plenty of rumors that Thibodeaux could be on the trading block even before this pick. Despite the Giants bringing on yet another first-round edge rusher, ESPN’s Adam Schefter claims New York has no intentions of shipping out Thibodeaux. The four-year veteran out of Oregon may end up walking in free agency after this next season, but the litany of talented pass rushers ahead of Reese on the depth chart should allow him to be used with more versatility while still learning how to fit into his eventual new position.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Titans Select WR Carnell Tate At No. 4
The first receiver has come off the board early. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate has been selected fourth overall by the Titans, a team long seen as a candidate to make a defensive investment at this spot.
Some teams reportedly considered Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson the top receiver in the draft, but Tate has won out and will become a key weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans spent the first overall pick in last year’s draft on Ward, but a poor supporting cast contributed to a difficult rookie season for the Miami product.
Hoping to make life easier for Ward, Tennessee has added Tate and free agent pickup Wan’Dale Robinson to its receiving corps this offseason. They will also bring back veteran Calvin Ridley and second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans’ Tate-led receiving corps will work with an established offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, one of new head coach Robert Saleh‘s most important hires. As the Giants’ head coach in 2024, Daboll helped then-rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a 109-catch, 1,204-yard year after they chose him sixth in the draft. The Titans will hope for a similar impact from Tate.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Stuck behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as a freshman, Tate only managed 18 receptions and a score. His production took off after those two left for the NFL. Although Tate played second fiddle to future pro Jeremiah Smith from 2024-25, he averaged 52 catches, 804 yards and seven touchdowns per year. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
Tate is now the latest Buckeyes wideout to exit the board in the first round in recent years, joining Egbuka, Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. All of those players have enjoyed successful careers in the pros.
The Titans were expected to use their top pick on either a receiver or an edge defender. Having landed a pass catcher, they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball with their next selection (No. 35).
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Jets Draft DE David Bailey At No. 2
The Jets have landed on their pass rushing selection at No. 2. Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey has come off the board, and he is headed to New York.
It was known for months the Raiders would use the No. 1 overall pick on Fernando Mendoza, making the Jets’ top choice the first real source of intrigue in this draft. Reports over the past few weeks went back and forth on Bailey and Ohio State linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese as the frontrunners to join the Jets. Reese was reportedly the favorite as of Wednesday, but the Jets have taken the more polished prospect instead.
The Jets canceled a “30” visit with Bailey last week, but it turns out they did not need to use it. Led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets knew “weeks” ago they would draft Bailey, according to insider Jordan Schultz. Bailey will now serve as a centerpiece of Glenn’s defense and give the team another pass rusher to join a group that includes former first-rounder Will McDonald, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai.
He follows Enagbare, Ossai, Demario Davis, T’Vondre Sweat, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Nahshon Wright as the latest offseason pickup for the Jets’ remade defense. Bailey is undoubtedly the biggest addition to a unit that finished 31st in both scoring and sacks last year.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Bailey began his college career at Stanford, where he racked up 14.5 sacks in 32 games from 2022-24. He transferred to Texas Tech last year and experienced a massive uptick in sack production. Bailey amassed a nation-high 14.5 (along with 19.5 tackles for loss) in 14 games to earn unanimous All-America honors and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award. He also recorded 81 pressures, the second-highest mark in the nation, per Pro Football Focus. The Jets are banking on Bailey continuing to serve as a disruptive force in the pros.
New York has settled the Bailey-Reese debate, but its first-round work is far from done. The Jets are scheduled to pick again at 16th overall. Unless the Jets trade down, the rebuilding club will address another key need midway through the opening round.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza At No. 1
Since they clinched the No. 1 selection in the 2026 draft, the Raiders have been expected to select their quarterback of the future. The top choice in tonight’s opening round has not produced a surprise.
Fernando Mendoza has become the first prospect to hear his name called on Thursday. He is now officially in place with Vegas, a team looking to find stability under center for years to come. Veteran Kirk Cousins was signed earlier this month in a move which allowed him to reunite with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak will lead a coaching staff which underwent several changes this winter. 2026 marks the second offseason with general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady in the fold for the Raiders, but their one-year Pete Carroll-Geno Smith setup did not go according to plan. Carroll was expectedly fired after the season ended, while Smith was dealt to the Jets. That created the need for a new veteran (Cousins) while further paving the way for Mendoza to take on QB1 duties early in his NFL career. Even if a training camp competition ensues, Mendoza will be counted on to take over the starting gig early in his rookie year.
The Raiders released Derek Carr in 2023 and have struggled to find a permanent successor since then. Last year’s 3-14 showing set the team up to reset under center, however. Mendoza has long been the presumed pick for Vegas, with his pre-draft visit not resulting in any hesitation on the team’s part. Work including an acclimation to the offense which will be used by the Raiders this year has further pointed to today’s outcome. Mendoza will now be able to begin preparing for his Vegas career in an official capacity.
After two seasons at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Hoosiers had enjoyed a run to the College Football Playoff the previous year with Kurtis Rourke at the helm, and Mendoza was expected to serve as a productive replacement. To say he did so would certainly be an understatement. The 22-year-old posted 41 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions while adding seven touchdowns on the ground as Indiana went undefeated en route to winning the national championship.
His success in that historic run resulted in a number of accolades for Mendoza. Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors were received, along with the 2025 Heisman trophy. Passers have gone No. 1 after only a single season of high-end college production (as Cam Ward did last year), and Mendoza will face substantial expectations upon arrival in Vegas. Developing into a full-time starter would address an all-important roster matter for the foreseeable future.
Mendoza will join other core roster pieces like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty on offense. The play of those first-rounders will be key in determining the success of Kubiak’s first year at the helm and the Raiders’ overall outlook well beyond 2026.
Bengals, DT Dexter Lawrence Agree To One-Year Extension
APRIL 23: The new Lawrence deal will pay out $11MM in base salary along with a $10MM roster bonus and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses next season, as detailed by The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. 2027 also contains an option bonus ($8.25MM) along with the same roster bonuses and a workout bonus. Lawrence is due to collect $5MM more across the next two years than he was with the Giants, and the Bengals will easily be able to move on after that span.
APRIL 19: The trade sending DT Dexter Lawrence from the Giants to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in this week’s draft also featured a revised contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report that Lawrence has inked a one-year, $28MM extension that will keep him under the Bengals’ control through 2028.
A report that emerged in the immediate aftermath of the trade suggested the Giants did make an effort to retain Lawrence even after the Bengals put the No. 10 pick on the table. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post corroborates that report and confirms Big Blue made offers that would have resulted in a sizable raise for Lawrence, which the 28-year-old obviously declined.
Connor Hughes of SNY.tv adds that the Giants’ proposals included an average annual value “near” $28MM, but in exchange, they wanted to add more years to Lawrence’s existing deal (which had two seasons remaining). Per Hughes, Lawrence’s camp did not even make a counteroffer, which – combined with the relatively modest terms of his Cincinnati extension – make it plain that the player simply wanted a fresh start elsewhere.
Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk passes along a full breakdown of Lawrence’s Cincinnati deal. He was due $42MM over the final two seasons of his Joe Schoen-constructed contract, and the $28MM add-on makes it a three-year, $70MM agreement. The $23.33MM average annual value places Lawrence 10th among defensive tackles, just one spot higher than he was before the trade (though he will get some near-term raises; he was previously scheduled to earn $20MM in 2026 and $22MM in 2027, but he is now due $22MM in ‘26, $25MM in ‘27, and $23MM in ‘28, as Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano summarizes).
Lawrence’s potential impact on a Cincinnati defense that has undermined the club’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs in recent seasons, together with a financial commitment that does not shoot their new acquisition particularly high up the league’s DT hierarchy, help to justify the Bengals’ uncharacteristic aggressiveness here. That said, league sources still believe the Giants did well to land the No. 10 choice.
Hughes spoke with several coaches who were “stunned” by the return. Those coaches agreed that Lawrence is a very good player but pointed to his age and conditioning as cause for concern, as well as the fact that he needs to be kept on something of a snap count to maximize his production. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan says the Giants themselves were surprised by the strength of the Bengals’ offer, and Raanan’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, hears no one was going to top it.
Lawrence is coming off a down year – albeit one Schoen partially blamed on the elbow injury the three-time Pro Bowler sustained late in 2024 – and even though their gamble is mitigated to some degree by the nature of the extension, the Bengals are clearly banking on a return to elite form. In a statement issued after the trade became official, director of player personnel Duke Tobin made sure to thank much-maligned owner Mike Brown for greenlighting the transaction and added that he expects Lawrence to elevate the players around him (the full statement is available here, courtesy of SI’s Jay Morrison).
Lawrence is the centerpiece of an offseason defensive overhaul in the Queen City that also includes the additions of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Kyle Dugger. The Giants, meanwhile, could consider one of the top DT prospects in the draft as a Lawrence replacement, and they now have two top-10 selections to aid in their quest for a return to contention.
Ravens Exercise WR Zay Flowers’ Fifth-Year Option
Last month, it was reported the Ravens were likely to pick up Zay Flowers‘ fifth-year option. To no surprise, Baltimore is following through on that in advance of the May 1 deadline.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports the Flowers option has indeed been exercised. Baltimore’s top receiver is now under team control through at least 2027. Flowers is due to collect $27.3MM for that year, although a long-term contract being finalized could result in a higher compensation rate.
[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
An extension has long been seen as a team priority in this case, and it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached in the summer. Flowers, 25, is eyeing a long-term pact and a deal not far off the value of Jaxson Smith-Njigba‘s market-resetting extension could be in store. Flowers and Smith-Njigba were selected two picks apart from each other in 2023 and they share an agent.
On the heels of winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, Smith-Njigba secured $42.15MM in average annual value. It would come as a surprise if Flowers were to top or match that figure, but a pact placing him among the nine wideouts earning $30MM or more per year could be a target. As Zrebiec notes, Flowers ranks 10th in the NFL in terms of yards at the WR position over the course of his three-year career.
The Boston College product has been a focal point on offense since arrival, drawing at least 108 targets every year to date. Flowers has seen his overall production increase with each passing season, and his 1,211 yards in 2025 set a new franchise record for a single campaign. The two-time Pro Bowler will be expected to remain a key presence for years to come, particularly if a long-term agreement bringing about a significant raise winds up being worked out.
Flowers and Rashod Bateman are in position to lead the way at the receiver spot in 2026. Baltimore has not re-signed DeAndre Hopkins, however, while Tylan Wallace along with tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar departed in free agency. Bringing in multiple pass-catchers over the next few days will be something to watch for in the Ravens’ case as a result. Nevertheless, Flowers is assured of at least two more years in the fold with the strong possibility of more in the event of an extension being signed.
OL Shane Lemieux Announces Retirement
Injuries regularly limited Shane Lemieux, who was unable to build on his rookie-year starter season as a Giant in 2020. After not seeing any game action last season, Lemieux announced (via LinkedIn) his retirement Wednesday.
Lemieux, 28, spent last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad after failing to make the Saints’ 53-man roster. New Orleans released Lemieux upon trimming its roster to 53 players last August, but he landed on the P-squad of an eventual Super Bowl-winning team a few weeks later. The 2024 Saints blocker played for Klint Kubiak and reunited with the OC in Seattle.
The Seahawks, however, placed Lemieux on their P-squad IR in October and did not remove him from that list. Lemieux technically remained a Seahawk for the rest of the season, but he was unable to contribute much. The team did not elevate him to its 53-man roster last season.
Chosen in Round 5 during Joe Judge‘s first offseason with the Giants, the Oregon alum made nine starts as a rookie. He replaced Will Hernandez after the latter landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list midseason and did not relinquish the job. Unfortunately for Lemieux, injuries slowed him henceforth.
Lemieux suffered a patellar tendon tear in Week 1 of the 2021 season; that injury sidelined him until mid-November 2022. The Giants activated Lemieux from IR in 2022 but only used him in one game (though, he did start that contest). Lemieux finished that season on IR. In 2023, Lemieux sustained groin and biceps injuries; the latter led him to IR after four games. The Saints signed Lemieux in April 2024 and used him as a four-game starter at center, with Erik McCoy hurt, after an IR activation. Lemieux started New Orleans’ final two games of the 2024 season, seeing action only at center that year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/21/26
A couple of teams made minor moves on Tuesday…
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DL Jaylon Hutchings
New England Patriots
- Signed ERFA tender: FB Jack Westover
Westover entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Seahawks in 2024, but they waived the Washington alumnus before his rookie campaign. He caught on with the Patriots that year and has since played all 20 of his games with the organization. Last year was the first 17-game season for Westover, who picked up two starts and played 402 snaps (237 on offense, 165 on special teams). Westover caught one pass for no gain.