CB Mansoor Delane To Visit Commanders, Bengals, Ravens
As expected, Mansoor Delane remains one of the busiest prospects on the pre-draft circuit. The LSU corner has a trio of visits lined up for the near future.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Delane will meet with the Commanders, Bengals and Ravens as his final top-30 visits. Tomorrow marks the deadline for such visits to take place around the league before teams finalize their draft board. Each of Washington, Cincinnati and Baltimore are set to select in the top half of the first round.
The Commanders own pick No. 7, although they are among the teams in the top 10 which are open to moving down the board. The Bengals’ top selection is 10th overall, while the Ravens own No. 14. Given Delane’s status as one of the consensus top two cornerback prospects in the 2026 class, he is unlikely to have a long wait before hearing his name called on Day 1.
Delane has met with several other teams near the top of the draft order in recent weeks. The Giants (who own pick No. 5) are looking into their CB options, and that process has included hosting 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. Jermod McCoy – who missed all of last season to an ACL tear – is viewed as a contender to be the first corner off the board based on his level of play in 2024. Even in that event, Delane will be expected to make an immediate impact at the NFL level for whichever team selects him.
The Commanders and Bengals are seen as being in need of upgrades in the secondary to a greater extent than the Ravens (who may need to trade up to land one of the top CBs). If any of those teams have the opportunity to select Delane, their consideration will be informed in large part by how his upcoming visits play out.
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter Visits Buccaneers, Bengals, Bills
Teams looking to improve their run defense will likely be interested in Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, who is a projected Day 2 pick in this month’s draft. The 330-pounder logged 31 tackles for loss across the last three seasons and profiles as an instant-impact run-stuffer in the NFL.
One of Hunter’s recent Instagram stories showed him visiting the Buccaneers (via FOX Sports’ Greg Auman). Tampa Bay does not have an immediate need along the defensive line after signing A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches to replace Logan Hall and Greg Gaines. However, those additions are both on one-year contracts, and both Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are set to hit free agency in 2027. With long-term extensions on tap for Baker Mayfield and YaYa Diaby, the team will not be able to re-sign all four of their veteran defensive tackles. Hunter would be ready to join the Buccaneers’ defensive line rotation right away as a run-stopper with the goal of developing his pass rushing chops for a bigger role in 2027.
Hunter also completed a visit to the Bengals, per Ryan Fowler of Commanding the Huddle. Cincinnati had the league’s worst run defense in 2025, allowing 5.2 yards per carry and almost 150 yards per game. The team strengthened their defensive line by signing Jonathan Allen, but Hunter would be a long-term anchor for a unit that has lacked a reliable run-stopping nose tackle since D.J. Reader‘s departure in 2024. He may not have much pass-rushing upside, but his size and power will command double-teams and open up opportunities for his teammates.
Hunter’s most recent visit was to the Bills, according to an Instagram story posted on Monday. Buffalo finished with a bottom-five run defense last year and will need to add depth at nose tackle under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Sean McDermott‘s 4-3 scheme prioritized lighter, more athletic defensive tackles, but Leonard’s 3-4 will require another massive space-eater to go along with 2025 fourth-rounder Deone Walker.
Bengals Meet With Sonny Styles, Akheem Mesidor
Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez were not the only defensive prospects who visited the Bengals on Friday. The team also met with the Styles brothers, Sonny and Lorenzo, as well as Akheem Mesidor, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Lorenzo Styles Jr., a former Notre Dame receiver who transitioned to cornerback at Ohio State, is not a touted prospect. The opposite is true in regards to Sonny Styles, who played with his brother at OSU. Sonny Styles’ stock has soared enough that he could become a rare off-ball linebacker to go near the top of the draft. The Jets are reportedly considering the 6-foot-5, 244-pounder at No. 2 overall. The Cardinals (No. 3) and Giants (No. 5) are also among the teams that hold Styles in high regard.
The Ohio-born Styles may be gone by the time the Bengals are on the clock at No. 10, but he is worth a pre-draft look for a team in desperate need of defensive help. While the Bengals spent second- and fourth-round picks on linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter a year ago, neither fared especially well as rookies. An upgrade could come in the form of Styles, who followed up a first-team All-America season with a marvelous Combine performance. Among linebackers, the 21-year-old finished first in the 40-yard dash (4.46), 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. His 43.5-inch vertical leap was the highest for anyone his height in 23 years.
Mesidor, another Miami defensive end, teamed with Bain over the past three seasons. While Bain is expected to come off the board first, there are teams that like Mesidor better. The main knock on Mesidor, who played two seasons at West Virginia and four at Miami, is his age. The 6-3, 280-pounder is already 25 years old.
Mesidor also has a past foot injury that limited him to three games in 2023, but he bounced back well in the two seasons since then. He is heading to the pros after piling up personal bests in tackles for loss (17.5), sacks (12.5) and forced fumbles (four) during a 15-game, second-team All-America campaign.
After picking 10th, the Bengals are scheduled to make their second choice at 41st overall. Neither selection looks like the ideal slot for Mesidor, whom Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 23) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 28) rank in the 20s. Nevertheless, it is no surprise the Bengals are interested in bolstering a set of edge defenders that lost star Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens and Joseph Ossai to the Jets in free agency. The Bengals signed ex-Seahawk Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60MM deal last month, but they could still add to a group that also features Myles Murphy and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart.
Bengals Host Rueben Bain, Jacob Rodriguez
Thanks in part to a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring and 31st in yards, the Bengals sputtered to a 6-11 record in 2025. A healthy season from quarterback Joe Burrow would go a long way toward an improved record in 2026, but the Bengals are still in dire need of defensive help. They figure to focus on that side of the ball in the upcoming draft.
Holding the 10th overall pick and looking to boost a lackluster pass rush, the Bengals hosted Miami defensive end Rueben Bain on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. There are serious concerns over Bain’s short arms, and some regard Miami teammate and potential first-rounder Akheem Mesidor as the better edge prospect. Although Mesidor is already 25, more teams than expected prefer him to the soon-to-be 22-year-old Bain, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
While there may be leeriness toward Bain in some circles, the 6-foot-2, 263-pounder is widely considered a top-10 prospect. To finish off a terrific three-season run with the Hurricanes, Bain won ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-American in 2025. In addition to an FBS-high 83 pressures, he tallied 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 16 games.
The Bengals ended last year just 25th in sacks, which explains their interest in Bain. They also lost their best pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, to the AFC North rival Ravens in free agency. While Hendrickson barely factored in during a seven-game, injury-wrecked 2025, he posted a league-leading 35 sacks over the previous two seasons. Expecting that type of production from Bain or anyone else would be unrealistic, but the Bengals would benefit from adding a new blue-chip talent on the edge.
Cincinnati signed former Seahawk Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60MM contract in free agency, though the team also lost Joseph Ossai to the Jets. That leaves the Bengals with Mafe, Myles Murphy and former first-round pick Shemar Stewart as their top edge rushers. The jury is still out on Stewart, a raw prospect they chose 17th overall last year, after he mustered just 11 tackles and a sack in an eight-game rookie season. Pro Football Focus ranked Stewart’s performance last among 119 qualifiers at his position.
Meanwhile, although there are questions over whether the Bengals will add a linebacker, they hosted decorated Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez on Friday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. If Rodriguez falls to the Bengals’ second-round pick, they could consider snagging the 6-1, 231-pounder. The Bengals’ second selection slots in at No. 41, which is exactly where Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Rodriguez among this year’s prospects.
Rodriguez, who began his college career at Virginia, broke out at Texas Tech in 2024. Over 13 games, he racked up 127 tackles, 10.5 TFL, five sacks and three forced fumbles en route to first-team All-Big 12 honors. Last season was another first-team All-Big 12 showing for the 23-year-old Rodriguez, who notched 128 tackles (11 TFL), forced a whopping seven fumbles, intercepted four passes and recorded a sack. He earned unanimous All-America honors, took home major hardware (including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the best defender in college football) and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy race.
In moving on from Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson, the Bengals have turned over their linebacker group in the past year-plus. The team spent a second-rounder on Demetrius Knight and a fourth-rounder on Barrett Carter last spring. They took over as rookie starters, but neither thrived on a bottom-tier defense. Although the Bengals have not made any needle-moving additions at linebacker this offseason, that could change if they draft Rodriguez or another high-end prospect.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/26
Several teams made minor moves Tuesday. Here’s a look:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed ERFA tender: K Joshua Karty, DL PJ Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed ERFA tender: DL Elijah Garcia
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: C Matt Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed ERFA tender: DE Charles Snowden
- Signed RFA tender: C/G Jordan Meredith
New York Giants
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Ryan Miller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR David Sills
A four-year veteran, Meredith logged a career-high 11 starts in 13 appearances in 2025. Meredith played center and right guard (mostly the former) before landing on IR with an ankle injury in late December. The Raiders have since added blockbuster free agent pickup Tyler Linderbaum, meaning Meredith will not factor in at center in 2026. He could, however, compete for one of the Raiders’ guard jobs.
After a year in Atlanta, Sills is staying in the NFC South on a deal with the Buccaneers. With 36 targets, 18 catches, 191 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season, Sills set across-the-board career highs. The 29-year-old finished third among Falcons receivers in offensive snap share (51.55%). He will now attempt to carve out a role on a Bucs team that lost franchise icon Mike Evans to the 49ers in free agency and has not re-signed Sterling Shepard. Tampa Bay still has Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson as its top four receivers.
Bengals To Meet With RB Jeremiyah Love
The Bengals have seen 2023 fifth-round pick Chase Brown become a three-down player, and the sides have begun extension talks. Cincinnati also sits at No. 10 overall this year. That is not seen as optimal placement for grabbing this draft’s top running back.
But Cincinnati is playing host to Jeremiyah Love on a “30” visit, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating that meeting is taking place today.
It would take a few teams passing on the impact talent for Love to reach Cincinnati, but the Notre Dame product does play a position that many teams devalue. That said, the Giants (No. 5) and Commanders (No. 7) have been closely connected to the dual-threat back. Love also visited the Titans recently. If the Bengals want to pair Love with Joe Burrow, they would likely need to trade up. The Jets met with Love recently as well, though they are being tied more closely to Ohio State hybrid linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 2.
Scoring 40 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Love amassed 1,652 scrimmage yards in 2025 and 1,362 in 2024. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry in both seasons. Love sits second on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, trailing only Fernando Mendoza there.
Love is viewed as the only first-round-caliber RB in this year’s class, giving the teams that do not snag him in the top 10 needs that will need to be addressed on Days 2 and/or 3. Love’s Notre Dame backup last season, Jadarian Price, is viewed as this draft’s second-best back. Beyond the two former Fighting Irish teammates, no RBs reside in Jeremiah’s top 50. ESPN’s most recent mock sends Love to the Giants, while Price goes to the Vikings at No. 49. Illustrating the top-heavy construction of this RB crop, ESPN has no other backs going off the board until No. 96 (Arkansas’ Mike Washington).
One season remains on Brown’s rookie contract. He has outplayed his fifth-round slot, totaling 1,356 and 1,450 scrimmage yards over the past two seasons while scoring 11 TDs in each campaign. The Bengals reacquired Samaje Perine to back him up last year; one season remains on the veteran’s contract. The team also rosters 2025 sixth-rounder Tahj Brooks.
Bengals Unlikely To Make LB Addition?
The Bengals made a pair of notable draft investments at the linebacker spot during last year’s draft. Both Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter played key defensive roles as rookies, and they will be expected to do so again in 2026.
Cincinnati’s defense struggled during the 2025 season under new DC Al Golden, to say the least. The inconsistent play of both linebackers in particular was a talking point as the unit finished 30th in points allowed and 31st in total defense. Knight was a mainstay throughout the campaign, while Barrett took on a starting role in Week 6 and continued in that capacity the rest of the way.
The Bengals have been quiet on the linebacker front so far in free agency. Special teams contributors Shaka Heyward and Joe Giles-Harris have been retained, but no outside additions have been made. Cincinnati has eight selections in the upcoming draft, so the team could certainly bring in a rookie once again. Head coach Zac Taylor is open to taking that route, although in any event the Knight-Carter tandem is in position to remain intact for 2026.
“I don’t think that’d be harmful at all,” Taylor said (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic) when asked about adding another rookie at the LB spot. “I think that those guys are wired the right way. That’s why we added them into the room. That’s why we threw him in the fire so early, because we knew it wasn’t going to break them… I could see the long-term value how this is going to play out for us. And so that’s still the vision we have for those guys.”
Taylor expressed optimism that Knight and Carter – both of whom topped 100 tackles as rookies – will be able to take a step forward during the second year in the NFL, citing their play during the second half of last season. He noted linebacker moves were discussed early in free agency, but other defensive priorities were of course present as well. The team sought multiple edge rush signings and moved quickly in adding defensive tackle Jonathan Allen shortly after his Vikings release. Signings in the secondary, including a deal for safety Kyle Dugger, have since followed.
With over $20MM in cap space, the Bengals could certainly afford a free agent deal at the linebacker position. Most veterans still on the market will no doubt wait until after the draft to sign, though, so it may not be for a few more weeks that Cincinnati’s depth chart sees any movement.
Jets, Cardinals Could Have Similar Approach To Top Of Draft
Crowded together at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets and Cardinals find themselves in a bittersweet situation. With the second and third overall picks in the first round, each franchise has a great opportunity to add an elite talent, but while both squads have a need at the sport’s most important position, this year’s draft is not lining up to reward them with one to select with their top draft picks.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is widely considered the consensus QB2 of the draft class behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to go No.1 overall to the Raiders. Unfortunately for Simpson and both teams, taking the Crimson Tide passer at Nos. 2 or 3 overall would be seen as a huge reach, so if either team were interested in landing the second-best quarterback prospect, it might require some maneuvering for another slot in the first round.
The Jets currently hold pick Nos. 2, 16, 33, and according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there’s belief New York will exit the second round of the draft with a pass rusher and a quarterback, but that could happen in several different ways. Per Rapoport, the Jets are widely expected to select a pass rusher with the second overall pick. Versatile Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese has been a popular projection for New York there, but Texas Tech’s David Bailey also recently met with the team.
Rapoport also expects them to do their homework on all the possible options available at No. 2. They recently hosted Reese’s running mate in the Buckeyes’ linebacking corps, Sonny Styles, for a top 30 visit. Per Rapoport, Styles, also an expected top 10 pick, has plans to visit the Bengals, as well, though his trip to Cincinnati will be a considered a local visit, not a top 30.
To address the quarterback position, a lot rides on where exactly the Jets value Simpson. If they value him enough, they could chance him being around for their 16th overall pick in the first round. If things are trending in a direction that feels as if Simpson won’t make it that far, they could utilize their first overall pick of the second round to potentially try to trade up and land the quarterback. Alternatively, if using the 16th pick still feels like a stretch for Simpson, New York may explore increasing their collection of draft picks with a move further back in the first round.
As for the Cardinals, Rapoport claims it would surprise him if they drafted Simpson third overall, but at the same time, he acknowledges that we’ve seen the precedent for it in the past. He asserts that Arizona could simply fall in love with Simpson enough to select him that early. More likely, though, the Cardinals may look back just a year to an example set by the Giants. Following the approach New York used to add an elite pass rusher before trading back into the first round for a quarterback, the Cardinals may opt to do the same.
Where Simpson could fall in the first round (or later) has been a huge topic of debate. Early conjecture speculated that it might be prudent to move up past the Steelers at 21 to land Simpson, while further evaluation suggested trading into the back end of the first round, just ahead of the Dolphins at 30, would be the likely move. In recent weeks, Simpson’s chances of landing with either team in the first round have gone way down. In a mid-March episode of The McShay Show podcast, Todd McShay of The Ringer guaranteed that Simpson would “for a fact” not be the Steelers’ pick at No. 21, suggesting the team has more of a third-round value on the Crimson Tide quarterback.
Though Simpson recently visited Miami, ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) did “not believe (the) Dolphins are in the mix for him.” Additionally, all four teams have done homework on other passers in the draft. Notably, since March 21, Miami quarterback Carson Beck has met with each team. Beck and the other projected mid-round quarterbacks offer secondary options for the teams that don’t land Simpson and may end up being preferred options if their draft slot more appropriately fits their value.
These represent just a few of several possibilities that could play out at the end of the month. There is no shortage of quarterback needs in the NFL, but seeing the Giants land their potential franchise passer later on in the first round a year ago has opened the door for a number of mind games to play out. We’ll see how well these draft day decision makers can play poker down the stretch as we await the final weekend in April.
Bengals, S Kyle Dugger Agree To Deal
The Bengals continue to make moves in the secondary. Not long after signing cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, a safety addition has been lined up.
Cincinnati has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Kyle Dugger, per agent Drew Rosenhaus (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter). This will set up a third stint with an AFC team for Dugger. The veteran has previously spent his career with the Patriots and Steelers.
Dugger’s first five years in the NFL saw him operate as a defensive mainstay in New England. His role was a talking point leading up to the 2025 season – the first with head coach Mike Vrabel in place – however. No trade agreement was found during the summer, but it did not take long for the Patriots to line up a swap during the year. In advance of the 2025 trade deadline, Dugger was traded to the Steelers.
Term remained on the 30-year-old’s contract at the time, but Pittsburgh agreed to make him a 2026 free agent upon arrival. Dugger took on a starting role for Pittsburgh while serving as a replacement for the injured DeShon Elliott, notching a pair of interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown). For his career, the Lenoir-Rhyne product has totaled 11 picks and 29 pass deflections.
Struggles in coverage have been present through much of Dugger’s career. The former second-round pick will nevertheless look to carve out a regular role on his latest team, one which is in dire need of improved defensive play. Breakdowns in the secondary and issues with missed tackles have plagued the Bengals, a team which has made a number of changes on that side of the ball so far in the offseason. Dugger’s arrival will be the latest move on that front.
Cincinnati sat mid-pack in terms of cap space entering Thursday. The deals for Taylor and Dugger will limit the team’s financial flexibility to a degree moving forward, but they should give defensive coordinator Al Golden more options to work with in the secondary.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth, and weeks remain until this year’s deadline. In the meantime, we will use the space below to track all the 2027 option decisions from around the league:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): To be exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM)
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders ($14.48MM)
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM)
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): To be exercised
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM)
- DE Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM)
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): To be declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): To be exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM)
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM)
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM)
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM)
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): To be exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM)
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM)
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM)
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- DE Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM)
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($13.75MM)