NFL Staff Updates: Bills, Cowboys, Chiefs
The Bills announced four promotions in their scouting department last week. Alonzo Dotson was elevated from college scout to assistant director of college scouting, Tyler Pratt was promoted from southeast area scout to national scout, former scouting assistant Kellyn Gerenstein was named the team’s new BLESTO scout, and Gardner Temkin filled Gerenstein’s vacated scouting assistant role.
Dotson joined the team in 2022 as a college scout and worked his way up after four years. Pratt arrived in Buffalo in 2016, working internships with broadcasting and player personnel/football operations before being named player personnel coordinator in 2018. He was promoted to west coast scout after three years and worked the southeast area for the past four years. After recruiting roles at Ohio State and Boston College and a scouting internship with the 49ers, Gerenstein landed in Buffalo as a scouting assistant in 2024. Temkin has been working a scouting internship over the past year.
Here are a few other staff updates from around the NFL:
- The Cowboys have announced a few promotions in their analytics department over the last couple weeks. ESPN’s Seth Walder pointed out today that, in an flyer advertising the Black Sports Business Symposium, Cowboys director of strategic football operations John Park revealed that his new title with the team is Vice President, Football Strategy & Operations. Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com reports that Piper Hampsch has been elevated from senior strategic football fellow to strategic football analyst, and Walder followed that report up a few days later to report that fellow strategic football fellow Shane Hauck had been promoted to data scientist.
- In coaching, a little over a month after it was announced that Chiefs cornerbacks coach David Merritt‘s domestic battery case had been dismissed, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that Merritt will face no punishment from the league. The NFL concluded its investigation, per Garafolo, and “found insufficient evidence of a violation of the personal conduct policy.”
Cowboys OL Matt Hennessy To Undergo Neck Surgery
Matt Hennessy is set to miss an extended period through the remainder of the offseason. The veteran offensive lineman is set to undergo neck surgery, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
A disc issue has resulted in this procedure taking place, Schottenheimer noted. Hennessy will begin training camp on the active/PUP list as a result of the surgery. As noted by Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, there is no timetable for a return to action in this case.
Hennessy has seen limited time at left guard during his NFL tenure, but he has primarily worked as a center. He signed with Dallas early in free agency, giving the team experienced depth along the interior of the offensive line. Hennessy, 28, has totaled 24 starts and 64 appearances across stints in Atlanta and San Francisco. His one-year Cowboys deal contains $1.08MM in guarantees.
Cooper Beebe has operated as Dallas’ starting center for the past two years. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to 11 games last season, but he will be counted on to remain atop the depth chart moving forward. Hennessy’s absence stretching into the start of the campaign would leave the Cowboys thin on center options, so his progress as it pertains to recovering after the surgery will be worth watching closely.
Dallas’ offensive line is already a unit facing some uncertainty with Tyler Guyton and Nate Thomas competing for the left tackle spot. Regardless of how things play out on that front, missing Hennessy for an extended period could alter the team’s plans with respect to depth up front.
Cowboys, First-Rounder Malachi Lawrence Agree To Deal
The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with first-round edge defender Malachi Lawrence, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Lawrence’s four-year rookie contract will be worth $20.22MM, all of which is guaranteed.
The Cowboys took Lawrence 23rd overall, completing a two-pick opening round for a defense-needy team that added former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11. Unlike the highly touted Downs, Lawrence was not seen as a clear-cut first-rounder for the entire pre-draft process. However, the UCF product’s stock began to soar in the weeks leading up to the draft. Lawrence met with at least 17 of the NFL’s 32 teams. Four other clubs targeted him in Round 1 before Dallas took him off the board, according to Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence spent four years at UCF, where he broke out as a sophomore in 2023. Lawrence racked up 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that season. His numbers dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he closed his college career with a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence tallied 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence upped his stock considerably with a tremendous showing at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He checked in second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. The Cowboys (and other teams, judging by the vast interest in Lawrence) expect his athleticism to pay off in the NFL.
After trading all-world edge defender Micah Parsons to the Packers last August, the Cowboys tied for 26th in sacks (35) during a disastrous year for their defense. Journeyman Jadeveon Clowney led the team with 8.5 sacks, but the Cowboys did not re-sign him or fellow veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler in free agency. While Clowney is still on the open market, he may not be a fit in new coordinator Christian Parker‘s defense. Barring a Clowney re-signing or another outside pickup, the Cowboys will enter the year with Lawrence, trade acquisition Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston and Sam Williams as their top options along the edge.
While Lawrence hasn’t officially signed yet, the Cowboys will have their entire rookie class under contract when he puts pen to paper. Here is a refresher on the seven-player group:
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton (T, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 137 (from Eagles)*: LT Overton (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith (WR, East Carolina) (signed)
Tyler Guyton, Nate Thomas Competing For Cowboys’ LT Position
Tyler Guyton has totaled 21 starts at left tackle early in his career. It is not certain he will remain atop the depth chart heading into his third Cowboys season, however.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) Guyton and Nate Thomas will compete for the starting gig at left tackle this offseason. Spring workouts are underway already, but the evaluation for offensive and defensive linemen in particular will of course truly begin during padded practices in training camp. That period will be critical for Guyton.
Schottenheimer offered praise for the 2024 first-rounder based on how things have gone so far in offseason work. Guyton will nevertheless need to earn his first-team position this summer. Penalties and sacks allowed were issues during his rookie campaign. While the Oklahoma product managed to improve in both areas in 2025, his PFF evaluation for last year left plenty to be desired.
Guyton will enter training camp as the favorite to retain starting duties at left tackle, Jon Machota of The Athletic writes. 2026 will mark his age-25 season, and improved play would be critical in stabilizing the blindside for Dallas now and in the future. It would also make the Cowboys’ fifth-round option decision easier in Guyton’s case, of course; a call on that front will need to be made next spring.
Thomas was also taken in the 2024 draft, joining Dallas as a seventh-rounder. After not playing during his rookie campaign, Thomas appeared in all 17 games last season (totaling four starts). The Louisiana alum drew poor PFF grades for his pass protection in particular, so expectations would be tempered in the event he were to begin 2026 on the blindside. Machota writes fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton could also see looks at left tackle if needed.
A contingency could be for the Cowboys to move Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith to left tackle. As Smith recently told Schottenheimer (via the team’s website), though, his preference would be to remain on the inside on a permanent basis. Machota confirms Smith playing at tackle is a scenario neither team nor player would prefer. As a result, the performances of Guyton and Thomas will be worth monitoring closely over the course of the summer.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/26
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Jaden Smith
New York Jets
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Da’Quan Felton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Chandler Martin
After only two days, Felton and Martin see their fortunes reversed. Martin is rejoining the team that waived him on Monday. The Jets will return Felton to the waiver wire two days after signing him with the apparent intent of reverting him to their injured reserve once he clears waivers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/1/26
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Mac Dalena
- Waived: CB Daryl Porter Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Romello Brinson
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Derrick Graham
- Waived: G Sidy Sow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DT Quinton Bohanna
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Jarrod Gray
- Placed on IR: WR Gunner Olszewski
- Released: LS Zach Triner
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Da’Quan Felton, LB Chase Wilson
- Waived: K Lenny Krieg
- Waived/injured: LB Kobe King
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: LB Chandler Martin
Cowboys Could Still Make ILB Addition
Coming off a nightmarish defensive campaign, the Cowboys identified inside linebacker as one of their main needs entering the offseason. Top option DeMarvion Overshown missed 11 games in 2025, leaving Kenneth Murray and Shemar James to receive the most snaps at the position. They struggled, as did Logan Wilson after he came over in a November trade with the Bengals.
Murray, who is still a free agent, and the retired Wilson are now out of the organization. Injuries limited Overshown to just 19 of a possible 51 games in his first three seasons, but he is expected to start under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Looking for a partner for Overshown earlier in the offseason, the Cowboys pursued high-end free agents Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. They came up empty on all three, while trade talks centering on the Dolphins’ Jordyn Brooks and the Steelers’ Patrick Queen did not lead anywhere.
The Cowboys finally made a couple of notable off-ball linebacker additions at the draft. The first came in a Day 2 trade with the 49ers, who sent Dee Winters to Dallas for a fifth-round pick. The three-year veteran was a 17-game starter for the first time last season, but he is not under contract beyond 2026. After trading for Winters, the Cowboys picked up a potential long-term solution in third-rounder Jaishawn Barham, a former Michigan Wolverine who went 92nd overall.
As things stand, Overshown and Winters look like the Cowboys’ starting tandem. James, Barham, Justin Barron and Curtis Robinson are also in the mix. However, bringing in another vet could still be on the table, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. As Machota notes, the Cowboys have not yet decided who will wear the green dot on his helmet and relay the defensive calls to his teammates. Rookie safety Caleb Downs, the 11th overall pick, may be a candidate to take on that role, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer said at the draft that the responsibility will likely go to a linebacker (via Tommy Yarrish of the team’s website).
Free agency has thinned out in general since it opened in March, but it may prove beneficial for Dallas that there are still a handful of battle-tested off-ball LBs available. Ten-time Pro Bowler Bobby Wagner heads the class. Age is working against Wagner (he’ll turn 36 in June), but it didn’t stop him from posting excellent production with the NFC East rival Commanders last year. Bobby Okereke, Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson and Germaine Pratt are a few other 30-somethings who could be of interest to the Cowboys if they are looking for a potential stopgap starter.
Cowboys Move WR Parris Campbell To Reserve/Retired List
Parris Campbell agreed to terms on a reserve/futures deal to stay in Dallas in January. Four-plus months later, the former second-round pick looks to be leaving the sport.
The Cowboys moved Campbell to the reserve/retired list Wednesday, The Athletic’s Jon Machota tweets. The former Colts draftee spent the past three seasons in the NFC East — 2023 with the Giants, 2024 with the Eagles and 2025 with the Cowboys — but had been unable to make an impact. The Ohio State product will walk away after seven NFL seasons.
Signing a rookie deal worth just more than $4.7MM, Campbell nearly matched that with a one-year Giants contract in 2023. But a steady role eluded him in New York. The former Indianapolis slot receiver was on Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX-winning roster, playing in three Eagles playoff games (including the Super Bowl rout of the Chiefs), but was attached to veteran-minimum deals (or close to it) over his last two seasons.
Although Campbell did not catch a pass in Super Bowl LIX, he saw action on 16 offensive plays. The Eagles did not re-sign him following that conquest, and he made his way to Dallas soon after. The Cowboys signed Campbell to a one-year, $1.34MM deal in March 2025 but released him from IR with an injury settlement in August. Campbell, however, returned to the team in September and played one final game.
Campbell’s career will be best remember for a four-year Indianapolis stay. The Colts added him with the No. 59 overall pick in 2019, but injuries interrupted attempts to become a complementary piece around T.Y. Hilton (and then Michael Pittman Jr.). A knee injury preceded Campbell breaking his hand and foot as a rookie. A PCL injury then occurred in September 2020, ending Campbell’s second season. Campbell underwent foot surgery in October 2021; over his first three seasons, the slot player missed 34 games.
The 2022 season proved pivotal for Campbell. He returned to action and did not miss a game. While the Colts flatlined during their Matt Ryan–Jeff Saturday season, Campbell finished with 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns. Those contributions prompted a one-year, $4.7MM Giants offer. The 6-foot pass catcher did not pan out in New York, ending his lone Giants season as a healthy scratch, that season provided a notable bump in career earnings.
The Akron, Ohio, native totaled 1,063 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior with the Buckeyes, outpacing teammate Terry McLaurin that season. Campbell, 28, will retire with 123 NFL receptions for 1,117 yards and six scores. He earned just more than $10MM in seven seasons.
No Holdout Expected For Cowboys WR George Pickens
George Pickens is attached to the franchise tag. Plenty of time remains for a long-term deal to be negotiated and take its place, but it has long been clear no talks on that front will be ocurring.
Pickens was among the players absent from the opening of spring workouts earlier this month, as noted by Nick Harris of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. All team activities during this time is of course voluntary, though, so the Cowboys wideout will not be subject to fines for his absence. That would change in the event Pickens were to skip the mandatory portions of the offseason, something which is not anticipated.
During a recent appearance on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Pickens is not expected to engage in a holdout during mandatory minicamp next month or training camp this summer. Doing so would lead to the Pro Bowler receiving fines for his absence. Fowler confirmed Pickens’ preference would be to have a long-term deal in place (or at least for the door to be open to negotiating one), which is obviously true of all tagged players. Nevertheless, attendance for the mandatory portion of the offseason would be an encouraging sign.
In recent years, players dissatisfied with their financial situations have opted to engage in a hold-in by being present for mandatory work but not taking part in on-field practices. It will be interesting to see if Pickens considers taking that route. The 25-year-old is on track to collect $27.3MM in 2026 by playing on the franchise tag. That figure represents a substantial raise compared to his rookie contract but falls short of what a number of the league’s highest-paid wideouts average on an annual basis. Nine receivers are currently attached to a deal carrying an AAV of $30MM or more.
Upon arrival in Dallas via trade last year, Pickens and his camp opted to avoid pursuing a long-term pact. That decision made his 2025 production critical, and the former second-rounder enjoyed career-best figures across the board. Expectations remain high for the coming season, one in which the Cowboys could again produce on offense while aiming to make needed defensive improvements. Another healthy campaign from Pickens featuring similar totals to his first Dallas season would result in a second franchise tag or a stronger position to negotiate a massive multiyear agreement.
June 1 marks the beginning of the Cowboys’ OTAs. They will be followed by mandatory minicamp, which will run from June 16-18. Pickens skipping out on those practices would leave him open to financial penalties, but that appears to be a scenario the team does not think will unfold.
Ravens S Jaylinn Hawkins Considered Patriots, Three Others In Free Agency
After a relatively unheralded first five years of his career, safety Jaylinn Hawkins broke out in 2025 as a key part of the Patriots’ elite defense. He started 15 games and led the unit with four interceptions to go along with 71 total tackles and six passes defended, also top-five marks team-wide.
That performance helped Hawkins draw significant interest in free agency before ultimately signing a two-year, $10MM with the Ravens. In Baltimore, the 28-year-old will operate as the No. 3 safety in Jesse Minter‘s new defense behind All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and 2025 first-rounder Malaki Starks.
Hawkins did consider staying in New England, he revealed on The Lounge podcast (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss), hinting that the Patriots opted to sign All-Pro and reigning NFL interceptions leader Kevin Byard instead. He also indicated that the Cowboys, Texans, and Panthers all expressed interest before his decision to sign in Baltimore.
All three of those teams made changes to their safety room this offseason, but it is unclear if they could have offered a bigger role for Hawkins. The Ravens had a clear need for a third safety in 2025, resulting in the Odafe Oweh–Alohi Gilman swap with the Chargers, but Gilman and Ar’Darius Washington left in free agency. Gilman played 749 snaps in Baltimore, representing a 98% snap share across his 12 games as a Raven, so Hawkins is in line for a substantial role in his new defense.
The Cowboys re-signed Malik Hooker for his sixth year in Dallas this offseason, and signed longtime Cardinals starter Jalen Thompson to replace Donovan Wilson. They also added P.J. Locke and used a first-round pick on Ohio State All-American Caleb Downs, giving new defensive coordinator Christian Parker multiple options for this season. Dallas might have been a good destination for Hawkins to operate as a versatile No. 3 behind Hooker and Thompson, but Downs would have complicated his path to playing time.
The Texans are returning their 2025 starters, Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock, as well as veteran No. 3 M.J. Stewart and 2025 sixth-rounder Jaylen Reed. Rather than signing Hawkins, they signed former Eagles Reed Blankenship to a three-year, $24.75MM deal and drafted USC’s Kamari Ramsey in the fifth round of April’s draft. DeMeco Ryans‘ defense does not frequently use three-safety packages, but Houston’s $8.25MM per year investment in Blankenship and Pitre’s slot flexibility could lead to some changes in 2026.
The Panthers entered the new league year with just three safeties on their roster: veteran starter Tre’von Moehrig, 2025 fourth-rounder Lathan Ransom, and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Nick Scott was retained for the other starting job, but the unit could have used another veteran like Hawkins in a tertiary role. Carolina later added Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley with a fifth-round pick, but they may remain a team to watch for a safety acquisition in the coming months.