WR Collin Johnson Retires
Collin Johnson announced his retirement on Thursday. The receiver’s NFL career has therefore come to an end at the age of 28.
“Football has shaped my life in more ways than I can put into words,” Johnson’s announcement reads in part. “It taught me faith, discipline, resilience, leadership, and how to compete at the highest level. I’m thankful for every teammate, coach, organization, and person who helped me along the way.”
Johnson entered the league as a Jaguars draftee in 2020. The former fifth-round pick spent his rookie season with the Jaguars, but only ended up playing one year in Jacksonville. Johnson would go on to see time with the Giants and Bears over the course of his career. The Texas product’s last regular-season game came with Chicago in 2024.
Instead of aiming to land on a roster this summer, Johnson will turn his focus to academic and business pursuits. His announcement states he will enroll at MIT Sloan this fall with the intent of graduating with an MBA. Johnson is the founder and CEO of Beyond-Sports, and his company is set to expand by launching Founders Academy to assist current and former athletes with business ventures.
In total, Johnson made 38 appearances in the NFL. He amassed roughly $3.6MM in career earnings along the way. Attention in his case will now turn to a clearly-defined next chapter.
Jaguars Sign TE Nate Boerkircher, Complete Rookie Class Signings
The Jaguars announced today that they have concluded the process of signing their picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. They saved the best of their 10-man draft class for last, finishing with second-round Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
Boerkircher took a longer road to the NFL, turning down a number of Division II offers to walk on at his home-state dream school. After failing to see the field as a true freshman and only playing in three games in Year 2, Boerkircher finally began to find a role as a redshirt sophomore. By the end of his redshirt senior season in Lincoln, he had started 17 of 39 game appearances but only recorded 19 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown.
Buried on the Cornhuskers’ depth chart with one remaining year of eligibility, thanks to the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Boerkircher transferred to Texas A&M, teaming up with Theo Melin Öhrström to form an intriguing tight end duo in College Station. While most of the Aggies’ passing attack ran through three main options at receiver in KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, and Ashton Bethel-Roman, Boerkircher and Öhrström supplemented the offense as a pair of athletic targets.
Still, Boerkircher’s receiving totals didn’t blow away. He finished his sixth year of school with 19 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns, but in that short sample, he demonstrated strong hands capable of reeling contested catches with as much consistency as can be determined in a 19-catch sample. With good size and effort, he showed plus abilities as a blocker, as well. He should have an opportunity to compete for the TE2 role in Jacksonville.
After a six-year preamble to the NFL, Boerkircher will be a 25-year-old rookie. He was projected to be a likely fourth-rounder, but coming off the board as TE3, two picks after Eli Stowers, Boerkircher kicked off what would end up being an unprecedented Day 2 run of eight tight ends taken in the second and third rounds.
With all 10 picks signed, here’s a final look at Jacksonville’s rookie draft class:
- Round 2, No. 56: Nate Boerkircher (TE, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 81 (from Lions): Albert Regis (DT, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 88: Emmanuel Pregnon (G, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 100 (from Lions)*: Jalen Huskey (S, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 119 (from Panthers): Wesley Williams (EDGE, Duke) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 164: Tanner Koziol (TE, Houston) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 191 (from Chiefs via Patriots): Josh Cameron (WR, Baylor) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 203 (from Eagles via Texans and Eagles): CJ Williams (WR, Stanford) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Lions): Zach Durfee (EDGE, Washington) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 240: Parker Hughes (LB, Middle Tennessee State) (signed)
Urban Meyer Loses Grievance Against Jags
An arbiter ruled the Jaguars will not have to pay former coach Urban Meyer‘s salary balance, On3.com’s Brett McMurphy reports. Meyer sued the Jaguars not long after his December 2021 firing but will not be entitled to a $30MM-plus sum that would have come his way had the arbiter ruled he was not fired for cause.
The Jags were permitted to fire Meyer for cause, according to the arbiter, and will be free of obligation regarding the final four years of the short-lived NFL HC’s contract. Jacksonville gave Meyer control of football operations in January 2021 but fired the successful college HC after 13 games, ending an infamous tenure that brought on-field struggles and a slew of off-field headlines.
At the time of the firing, the Jags cited a “culmination of events” in their decision to fire Meyer for cause and withhold his remaining money. Coaching contracts come guaranteed, and HCs are almost never fired for cause; thus, they collect money owed. Though, offset language regularly protects teams in the event a fired coach lands with another team or college program; Meyer, though, has not coached since his Jaguars firing. This case took more than four years to wrap, but the Jags can finally close the book on arguably the worst decision in franchise history.
Shad Khan hired Meyer after pursuing the former national championship-winning HC in the past, but the partnership drifted off course. In addition to reports indicating a bizarre lack of familiarity with NFL players, Meyer had issues with his staff and the team was fined for failure to comply with NFL offseason workout rules. The former Ohio State and Florida championship leader made the highly unusual decision to not travel back from a Thursday game with his team, only to be seen with a young woman at his restaurant in Columbus soon after. Khan fired Meyer after he started 2-11.
Meyer had previously hired a strength coach (Chris Doyle) who was part of a racial discrimination suit for alleged actions while at Iowa; Doyle resigned from the Jaguars not long after his hire. The U.S. District Court for Iowa’s Southern District subpoenaed Meyer in connection to the Doyle discrimination suit in 2021. Additionally, Meyer and Jaguars were later sued by former Jags kicker Josh Lambo. The veteran NFL specialist accused Meyer of kicking him while he was stretching before a preseason game.
Lambo’s case is still pending, according to ESPN.com, and a trial date in Duval County is set for August 3. Lambo, Jaguars punter Logan Cooke, long snapper Ross Matiscik and ex-GM Trent Baalke were witnesses at the hearing, according to McMurphy. Baalke joined the Jaguars prior to Meyer’s tenure but was elevated to GM while the HC was in charge.
Jacksonville has a 77-152 record during Khan’s ownership tenure. The owner has hired six head coaches (Mike Mularkey, Gus Bradley, Doug Marrone, Meyer, Doug Pederson and Liam Coen). Mularkey joined Meyer in lasting only one season. Meyer, 61, holds a role as a FOX Sports analyst following his brief NFL tenure.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/26
NFL teams are getting their rosters set for voluntary Organized Team Activities that will take place over the next month. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Miles Davis, DT Tywone Malone
- Waived/injured: TE Bryce Pierre, RB Montrell Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Marlon Jones Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Anderson Castle
- Waived: RB Jordon Vaughn
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/retired: WR Alex Bullock
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Tamon Lynum
Davis tried out at the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp but did not make the team. His workout in Carolina was more successful, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, and he will take Johnson’s place on the Panthers’ roster.
Jones was a first-team All-Big Sky selection for his standout 2023 season at Eastern Washington, which featured three pick-sixes. He transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 but missed the season after being diagnosed with cancer. After recovering, Jones appeared in nine games for the Commodores in 2025, and he will now continue his remarkable story in Green Bay.
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 ($32MM 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
Jaguars Sign RB Ameer Abdullah
Ameer Abdullah has lined up his next gig. The journeyman running back signed with the Jaguars on Monday, per a team announcement.
Abdullah has seen playing time with five different teams over the years. He will now look to carve out a role on a sixth during offseason work in Jacksonville. A special teams role will no doubt represent his path to a roster spot.
The Jags lost Travis Etienne during free agency, bringing in Chris Rodriguez on the open market. Deejay Dallas – another veteran heavy on special teams experience – was re-signed. Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen are also in place, giving Jacksonville plenty of options in the backfield. 2025 undrafted free agent Ja’Quinden Jackson has been waived as a corresponding move to the Abdullah signing.
Residing in the NFC North during the early stages of his career, Abdullah split most of his time from 2015-21 between the Lions and Vikings. He was in Carolina to close out the 2021 campaign. That was followed by three years as a Raider and then one with the Colts. Abdullah, 33 next month, has not handled a heavy rushing workload in any time recently, but he has contributed in the passing game and on special teams. That will be expected to remain the case in 2026 he if survives roster cuts in Jacksonville.
On Monday, the Jags also announced they have re-signed offensive lineman Sal Wormley. His return resulted in fellow O-lineman Jordan White being placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move. As noted by Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, White was absent from rookie minicamp despite having recently signed as an undrafted free agent. The injury will end his Jaguars tenure before it begins.
Jaguars’ Nate Boerkircher Pick Driven By Anticipated Run On TEs
The Jaguars were without a first-round choice in the 2026 draft due to their 2025 draft-day blockbuster that gave them the right to select Travis Hunter. So Jacksonville was not on the clock this year until pick No. 56, which the team used to select Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher.
As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, that pick was seen as something of a reach, but perhaps not as much as it might appear. Multiple teams graded Boerkircher as the best blocking TE in the class, and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (video link) reports the Jags believed there was going to be a run on tight ends around the time they made their pick.
That turned out to be the case. After the Jets chose Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 16 selection, the next tight end did not come off the board until No. 54, when the Eagles picked Eli Stowers. After Boerkircher went to Jacksonville, four of the next 17 picks were TEs. Per Wolfe, if the Jags did not choose Boerkircher, he would have been taken by the end of the second round (perhaps by the Rams, who share a similar team-building philosophy and who took Ohio State TE Max Klare at No. 61).
Wolfe adds that the Jaguars expect to play more “12” personnel (two-tight end sets) in ‘26. That means Boerkircher will share the field with Brenton Strange, an extension candidate who took over for Evan Engram as Jacksonville’s top receiving TE last year. In just 12 games, the 2023 draftee amassed 540 yards and three touchdowns on 46 receptions.
Boerkircher, on the other hand, had limited production as a receiver in college. He did have more opportunities in that regard during his one year at College Station than he had during his extended stay at Nebraska, but over the course of 52 college contests, he caught just 38 balls for 417 yards and four TDs.
It sounds as if the Jaguars are bullish on Boerkircher’s pass-catching upside, as Wolfe says he will represent another downfield option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Head coach Liam Coen was asked about his top rookie after Day 2 of the draft, and he had high praise for all facets of Boerkircher’s game.
“[Boerkircher is] the type of player, type of person that we’re trying to hunt up here,” Coen said (via Paul Bretl of Jaguars Wire). “Attitude, toughness. Mentally and physically tough. I think has a lot more in his body than was probably displayed throughout the season when they were throwing the ball a lot to those wideouts. Every opportunity he had throughout the offseason process to go put it on tape that he could and that there was that in his body and that he did have those capabilities, it showed up in a major way.”
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/7/26
A slew of rookies signed their first NFL contracts on Thursday. Here’s a look…
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Reggie Virgil (fifth round, Texas Tech)
- LB Karson Sharar (sixth round, Iowa)
- T Jayden Williams (seventh round, Ole Miss)
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Zachariah Branch (third round, Georgia)
- LB Kendal Daniels (fourth round, Oklahoma)
- LB Harold Perkins Jr. (sixth round, LSU)
- T Ethan Onianwa (seventh round, Ohio State)
Buffalo Bills
- OLB TJ Parker (second round, Clemson)
- S Jalon Kilgore (fifth round, South Carolina)
- DT Zane Durant (fifth round, Penn State)
- CB Toriano Pride Jr. (seventh round, Missouri)
- P Tommy Doman Jr. (seventh round, Florida)
- G Ar’maj Reed-Adams (seventh round, Texas A&M)
Denver Broncos
- TE Justin Joly (fifth round, NC State)
- S Miles Scott (seventh round, Illinois)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB CJ Allen (second round, Georgia)
- S A.J. Haulcy (third round, LSU)
- EDGE George Gumbs Jr. (fifth round, Florida)
- EDGE Caden Curry (sixth round, Ohio State)
- RB Seth McGowan (seventh round, Kentucky)
- WR Deion Burks (seventh round, Oklahoma)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Albert Regis (third round, Texas A&M)
- OL Emmanuel Pregnon (third round, Miami)
- S Jalen Huskey (third round, Maryland)
- DE Wesley Williams (fourth round, Duke)
- TE Tanner Koziol (fifth round, Houston)
- WR Josh Cameron (sixth round, Baylor)
- WR CJ Williams (sixth round, Stanford)
- DE Zach Durfee (seventh round, Washington)
- LB Parker Hughes (seventh round, Middle Tennessee State)
New York Giants
- WR Malachi Fields (third round, Notre Dame)
- DT Bobby Jamison-Travis (sixth round, Auburn)
- T J.C. Davis (sixth round, Illinois)
- LB Jack Kelly (sixth round, BYU)
New York Jets
- QB Cade Klubnik (fourth round, Clemson)
- S VJ Payne (seventh round, Kansas State)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Ted Hurst (third round, Georgia State)
- CB Keionte Scott (fourth round, Miami)
- DT DeMonte Capehart (fifth round, Clemson)
- G Billy Schrauth (fifth round, Notre Dame)
- TE Bauer Sharp (sixth round, LSU)
With the Jaguars’ three-day rookie minicamp scheduled to start Friday, they now have nine of their 10 picks under contract. The lone exception is their top choice, second-round tight end Nate Boerkircher.
The Buccaneers are in a similar situation to the Jaguars. Their second-rounder, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, is also unsigned. Meanwhile, Hurst has not officially put pen to paper, but that will change when he arrives for rookie camp on Friday. He has already agreed to terms, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
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.
Travis Hunter To See More Time At CB, Will Be ‘Full-Go’ By Training Camp
The Jaguars traded up during last year’s draft to select Travis Hunter, believing that his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball was worth giving up a future first-round pick. But a torn LCL cut his rookie year short and raised questions about his future as a two-way player.
Jacksonville, though, is undeterred. Hunter is “set to play both sides of the ball” in 2026, general manager James Gladstone said on the Rich Eisen Show, adding that he expects “an uptick in corner usage.”
“That’s not to say anything impacts his availability and usage on offense,” Gladstone continued. “It just means that cornerback usage will increase.”
Across his seven appearances in 2025, Hunter played 324 snaps on offense, good for 46.3 per game and a 67% snap share. He lined up for 162 snaps on offense, or 23.1 per game and a 36% snap share. Among Jacksonville’s currently-rostered players, he ranked third in outside cornerback snaps last year despite his abbreviated season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Jaguars let Greg Newsome depart in free agency and did not make any major additions at cornerback in the offseason, so there should be more snaps available for Hunter in 2026. The current positional room has one clear boundary starter in Montaric Brown with Jourdan Lewis expected to remain the team’s primary slot corner. Jarrian Jones spent time in both spots last year amid injuries to Hunter and Lewis, but may stay in a versatile backup/dime role this season with Hunter eating into his time on the outside.
“He wants to play both ways,” Gladstone said when asked about Hunter’s desires. “That’s his dream, and we’ll look to support that in the best way we can.” He added that the team is focused on “winning football games” and believes that Hunter’s two-way abilities are the best way to accomplish that.
Hunter’s return timeline from last year’s injury remains unchanged. He will be a limited participant in the Jaguars’ offseason program with the expectation of being “full-go” by training camp, Gladstone said.