NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/11/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Detroit Lions
- EDGE Derrick Moore (second round, Michigan)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (fourth round, Michigan)
- CB Keith Abney II (fifth round, Arizona State)
- WR Kendrick Law (fifth round, Kentucky)
- DT Skyler Gill-Howard (sixth round, Texas Tech)
- DT Tyre West (seventh round, Tennessee)
Houston Texans
- S Kamari Ramsey (fifth round, USC)
- WR Lewis Bond (sixth round, Boston College)
- LB Aiden Fisher (seventh round, Indiana)
Los Angeles Chargers
- C Jake Slaughter (second round, Florida)
Los Angeles Rams
- OT Keagen Trost (third round, Missouri)
- WR CJ Daniels (sixth round, Miami)
New York Giants
- CB Colton Hood (second round, Tennessee)
Latest On Texans OL Keylan Rutledge; Team Explored Trade Back Into Round 1 For DT Kayden McDonald
With their first selection (No. 26 overall) in the 2026 draft, the Texans added Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, who was seen as a reach in certain circles. NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah had Rutledge as the 47th-ranked player on his board, and we recently heard some members of the Seahawks’ front office graded Seattle fifth-round pick Beau Stephens more highly than Rutledge.
Still, the division-rival Titans were prepared to make Rutledge a first-round choice as well, and one NFC executive told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the former Yellow Jacket was the top guard in the class (ahead of even Vega Ioane, who went to the Ravens at No. 14 overall). Fowler – who reported prior to the draft that Houston had done a great deal of work on Rutledge – says Texans brass “identified him as a favorite.”
General manager Nick Caserio’s other offseason moves (which included signing longtime Browns guard Wyatt Teller and re-signing 2025 RG1 Ed Ingram) make it unclear exactly where Rutledge will line up as a rookie or if he will begin his pro career as a reserve. If a guard spot is not an option, he could compete with Jake Andrews for the starting center job.
Just as Caserio traded up several spots in the first round to secure the opportunity to select Rutledge, he did the same in the second round to grab Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald at No. 36. Caserio swung a deal with the Raiders to move up from No. 38, but as Fowler reports, the Texans GM was prepared to go as high as No. 33 and even explored a trade back into the first round after selecting Rutledge.
That underscores the Texans’ belief in McDonald, who should find a notable role in the club’s DT rotation alongside returnees Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai. Houston, which boasted perhaps the best defense in the league in 2025, lost Tim Settle to free agency, thereby opening an immediate vacancy for McDonald.
Consistent with a report made by NFL insider Jordan Schultz when the Texans turned in the card for McDonald, Fowler says there was some belief the Giants – who had traded DT Dexter Lawrence before the draft and who held the No. 37 choice – may be a threat for the Ohio State alum. Perhaps out of fear of losing one of his top targets to another team, Caserio made sure to leapfrog Big Blue, though a New York source told Fowler that CB Colton Hood was the player they wanted all along.
Giants Preview Three-Way Kicking Battle
In 2025, the Giants featured four different placekickers throughout the season as regular kicker Graham Gano struggled to say on the field for the third year in a row. Big Blue had enjoyed three good years from the Pro Bowl leg following his seven-year tenure in Carolina, but after appearing in only 23 of a possible 54 games since 2023, Gano was dropped by New York after the season ended.
Now, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, a three-way kicking competition will commence for the offseason. The participants in this three-way contest will be the incumbent Ben Sauls, veteran free agent addition Jason Sanders, and undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada.
Sauls didn’t join the G-Men until halfway through his rookie season. With five years of experience kicking at Acrisure Stadium while at Pitt, Sauls initially signed with the Steelers after going undrafted last year. He was waived near the end of the preseason in the run up to final roster cuts and landed on the Falcons’ practice squad nearly a month after clearing waivers. The Falcons dropped him from their taxi squad in early November, and he landed on New York’s a week later.
At this point in the Giants’ season, the team had seen a three-game stint of Jude McAtamney as an injury replacement for Gano and was preparing for a five-game look at Younghoe Koo replacing Gano after he went down for a second time. Sauls didn’t get an opportunity to kick for New York until making his NFL debut down the stretch in the final three games of the regular season. The Giants signed him to the active roster on a deal that would keep him under contract through the 2026 season after his first game with the team, and in his three-game opportunity, he went 8-for-8 on field goal attempts and converted all seven extra point attempts.
Sanders signed with the Giants early in the offseason and just before the team released Gano. A one-time first-team All-Pro, Sanders is joining only his second NFL team after an eight-year stay with the Dolphins, who drafted him. Sanders alternated strong and poor performances over his first four years in the league but showed consistent improvement over each of the next three. He was coming off a campaign in which he posted career highs in field goals made (37) and 50+-yard field goals made (12), showing incredible accuracy in both areas, when he missed the entire 2025 season with a hip injury that did not require surgery.
Zvada makes his way to the NFL after four years as a primary kicker at the collegiate level. He started his career at Arkansas State where he missed only one field goal attempt and extra point attempt as a true freshman. Following his second year with the Red Wolves, Zvada transferred to Michigan and put on another one-miss performance in each kicking category for the Wolverines. After each of those two seasons, in which he went 38 of 40 on field goal attempts, he had letdown years, combining to go 34 of 47 in 2023 and 2025. He showed off his strong leg in college, as well, with double-digit makes over 50 yards in his collegiate career.
According to new head coach and former special team coach John Harbaugh, “it’s going to be a competition…right out of the gates.” During rookie minicamp, Zvada got his opportunity to make a first impression and went 5-for-5 with a make from 55 yards out. Sauls has familiarity with his surroundings, but with a new long snapper, holder, and special teams staff in the building, his incumbency doesn’t amount to much, while Sanders will have to prove that he is back to his old self after a lengthy injury recovery. This battle could run to the end of the preseason, and it looks like every participant holds a decent shot at winning the job.
Odell Beckham Jr. Seeking Offensive Role; No Giants Offer Imminent
A reunion between Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants remains something to watch for. A deal should not be expected until at least the summer, however.
Beckham took part in a visit last month, and his interest in a New York deal has been matched by head coach John Harbaugh. The two overlapped in Baltimore for the 2023 season. Beckham has hardly played since then, but he is aiming for a 2026 deal. It remains to be seen if the Giants will make an offer.
“Talked to Odell a lot, probably three of four times in the last week, [see] where he’s at, where we’re at,” Harbaugh said on Saturday (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “The goal for right now is for him to train and get as ready as he can be. And then we’ll see where we’re at at that time.”
Harbaugh added he is optimistic Beckham, 33, can “make a team in the National Football League right now.” The former Pro Bowler is eyeing the opportunity to contribute as a regular on offense, Harbaugh noted. Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano confirms Beckham’s goal for 2026 is landing with a team which will ensure him a role as opposed to simply operating as a training camp participant. He adds New York’s hesitancy regarding a contract is an indication the team is still unsure if Beckham can serve in that capacity.
The Giants are set to have Malik Nabers back atop the receiver depth chart next season when he returns from an ACL tear. The team also has Darius Slayton in place as a returnee, along with free agent signings Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. New York used a third-round pick on Malachi Fields during last month’s draft.
Each of those wideouts can be assured of a roster spot, leaving little room for a Beckham deal if he is seen as a rotational contributor at this point of his career. Harbaugh noted team and player will “play it out” through spring practices and into training camp before a final decision is made. The Giants currently find themselves mid-pack in terms of cap space with roughly $12MM available. The possibility of a low-cost Beckham investment will linger unless he manages to line up a deal with another team over the coming weeks.
Giants To Sign DT D.J. Reader
MAY 9: Reader’s contract includes $5.25MM in guaranteed money, comprised of a $3.5MM signing bonus and his $1.75MM salary this season, per OverTheCap. He can also receive up to $1MM in per game roster bonuses in 2026, creating a cap hit of $4.5MM. That will set up what is essentially a team option for 2027, in which Reader will be owed $5.15MM in base salary and $1MM in per game roster bonuses with a $1.75MM dead cap hit if released.
MAY 5: The Giants-D.J. Reader buzz is expected to produce a deal. The sides are finalizing an agreement that will move the veteran to a fourth NFL team, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
Reader visited with the Giants days before they decided to trade Dexter Lawrence, and the parties stayed in contact in the period after the blockbuster swap. With Lawrence sent to Cincinnati for the No. 10 overall pick, Reader will have an opportunity to play a big role in New York.
Although we are past the draft — when the bulk of the signings are one-year pacts — Reader will fetch another multiyear agreement. He is signing a two-year, $12.5MM accord, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Incentives could push the value higher as well. Reader’s incentive package covers $3MM, Rapoport adds.
John Harbaugh spent four seasons coaching against Reader in the AFC North, as the Bengals rostered the run-stuffing D-lineman from 2020-23. Reader, 31, spent the past two years with the Lions. The Giants have now added Reader and fellow ex-AFC North 30-something Shelby Harris to their post-Lawrence D-tackle group since the draft. Harris, 34, signed a one-year deal worth $3MM. His contract brings $2.66MM guaranteed, per OverTheCap.
Reader (128 career starts) will be expected to be the Giants’ first-string nose tackle, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz notes. The contract certainly points to such a role being commandeered, as does the 10-year veteran’s body of work. This year’s D-tackle class was considered weak behind John Franklin-Myers, who benefited from both a shallow DT veteran crop and a draft not flooded with high-level options either. This landscape led to Vikings 30-something cap casualties Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave landing on their feet — with two-year deals worth $25MM and $23MM, respectively — soon after releases. The Giants’ changing DT complexion undoubtedly boosted Reader’s value.
Lawrence requested a trade and, despite a Giants attempt to keep him on a revised contract, received one days before the draft. The Giants then focused on other areas in the draft, adding a linebacker, offensive lineman, cornerback and wide receiver in the first three rounds. New York did not address its suddenly glaring DT need until Round 5, when Bobby Jamison-Travis arrived. The team used a third-round pick on DT Darius Alexander last year. He will now see vets Reader, Harris and Leki Fotu represent a quantity-based approach to replacing an All-Pro.
Tied to a two-year, $22MM Lions deal previously, Reader started all 32 games he played with the NFC North club. Pro Football Focus graded Reader 36th and 32nd, respectively, among interior D-linemen in those seasons. He logged a 53% defensive snap rate in each Detroit campaign. Although Reader displayed durability in New York, he suffered two quadricep tears while with Cincinnati. The second one came during his contract year, though it speaks to how Reader is viewed around the league he scored an $11MM-AAV deal coming off that injury.
Reader, whose first quad tear sidelined him five games into the 2020 slate, also missed seven games during the 2022 season. An MCL issue sidelined Reader that year, coming after his key contributions during Cincy’s Super Bowl LVI season. The former Texans draftee played out a four-year, $53MM Bengals contract before heading to Detroit.
The Ravens met with Reader in free agency, before they added Calais Campbell, but the veteran nose will meet up with a host of ex-Ravens under Harbaugh soon. The Giants will hope the 330-pound defender has enough gas in the tank to make an impact on a defense that ranked 31st against the run with Lawrence playing 17 games. This situation may not inspire confidence, given Lawrence’s talent level, but the Giants are bringing in some proven vets after using the Lawrence-generated pick to bolster their O-line (via Francis Mauigoa).
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
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.
Giants Add Six Undrafted Free Agents
After picking seven rookies in this year’s draft, the Giants announced six more new additions on Thursday. Here is their undrafted class:
- Anquin Barnes Jr., DT (Colorado)
- Ben Barten, DT (Wisconsin)
- Thaddeus Dixon, CB (North Carolina)
- Ben Mann, LS (Boston College)
- Ryan Schernecke, OL (Kutztown)
- Dominic Zvada, K (Michigan)
As part of his final pre-draft rankings, Dane Brugler of The Athletic placed Dixon and Zvada among the top 300 prospects available. Dixon, who checked in at No. 196, divided the previous three years between Washington and North Carolina. Primarily an outside corner, Dixon had two interceptions and 16 passes defensed in 27 games with the Huskies. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder transferred to UNC to play under legendary head coach and defensive guru Bill Belichick in 2025.
“He could probably play any position in the secondary,” Belichick said of Dixon (via Brugler).
Unfortunately for Dixon and Belichick, an upper-body injury limited the defender to seven games last year. Dixon went without an interception, but he racked up six PDs as a Tar Heel.
Zvada, No. 257 on Brugler’s list, began his college career at Arkansas State. During his run there from 2022-23, Zvada connected on 34 of 40 field goal tries (85%) and all but one of his 72 extra-point attempts. After transferring to Michigan in 2024, he enjoyed his best college season. Zvada hit 21 of 22 field goals (95.5%) and 26 of 27 PATs. He was a first-team All-American who also took home Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors.
Last season did not go as smoothly for Zvada, who converted a personal-worst 68% of field goals (17 of 25). However, he was successful on all 43 PATs. He will now face an uphill battle to earn a roster spot in New York, which signed former Dolphin Jason Sanders in free agency and also has Ben Sauls as a holdover from last year.
Schernecke will attempt to become the eighth Kutztown alumnus to play in the NFL. The Pennsylvania-based school produced former Bills receiver Andre Reed, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jon Runyan Jr. On Track To Keep Giants’ Left Guard Job?
Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cap-casualty candidate, and while the Giants made other such moves to free up cap space this offseason, their two-year left guard starter remains on the roster.
It should not be considered a lock Runyan stays for a third season, but The Athletic Dan Duggan views the veteran as the frontrunner for the LG job. With the Giants set to plug No. 10 overall pick Francis Mauigoa in at RG, a competition is on tap for Runyan’s post. But Runyan has more experience than his competitors.
[RELATED: Examining Giants’ Positional Experiments With Top-10 Draftees]
New York made a mid-offseason move to add another ex-John Harbaugh Baltimore charge, signing Daniel Faalele to a one-year deal. Faalele will be tied to just $1.4MM, per Duggan, who adds the deal includes $688K guaranteed. The Giants, though, also added veteran interior lineman Lucas Patrick. The recent Bengal signed for one year and $1.49MM, Duggan adds; only $262K is guaranteed.
These moves came after the Giants bowed out of the Alijah Vera-Tucker sweepstakes, allowing the Patriots to sign the ex-Jets starter (for three years and $42MM). The team did not view the Zion Johnson, David Edwards, Isaac Seumalo and John Simpson prices as aligning with their talent levels. Although Mauigoa was a college right tackle — and sits as the likely Giants Jermaine Eluemunor RT successor — the Miami product became New York’s big 2026 guard investment.
While Runyan’s contract (three years, $30MM) signifies a much bigger commitment, no guarantees remain on the deal — one authorized during Brian Daboll‘s HC tenure. Harbaugh is running the show now, with GM Joe Schoen — who authorized the Runyan contract — seeing his power greatly reduced. Although Runyan (79 career starts, including 29 as a Giant) is the most proven option the Giants have at guard, the team could save $9MM in cap space by cutting or trading him.
A team taking on Runyan’s full $9MM base salary may be difficult to envision, but prime guard starters are valuable. An injury elsewhere could certainly make Runyan an attractive trade chip, as Faalele — due to his two-year Ravens starter run — would profile as the top challenger. Patrick, 32, has made 65 career starts but may be a more logical swing backup — as he has seen extensive time at both guard and center — at this stage of his career. The Giants could also carry Runyan’s contract even if he loses the position battle or ask him to take an ill-timed pay cut, thus creating depth at a position the team has struggled to staff for many years.
The team also re-signed Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu. Neal received no guarantees after an unremarkable rookie-contract showing, while Ezeudu is guaranteed $410K. Ezeudu will also have a chance at guard, per Schoen (via SNY’s Connor Hughes). Mauigoa’s status as the near-certain RG starter will leave a crowded competition for the other starting spot. Runyan may need to fend off four challengers. This full group may not all make Harbaugh’s first 53-man Giants roster, though practice squad spots will be available. That said, Neal and Ezeudu’s tackle experience could make them swing options there as well.
Pro Football Focus ranked Runyan 65th among guards last season and 58th in 2024, though the advanced-metrics site has never viewed the former Packers sixth-rounder as a top-35 option at the position. That did not stop Runyan, even in a crowded 2024 guard market, from fetching a $10MM-per-year deal. Like fellow potential cut Devin Singletary, Runyan has survived (Singletary accepted a pay cut to stay). Unlike Singletary, though, Runyan saw the Giants make a major addition at his position in the draft. New York’s LG competition will be one to monitor once OTAs begin.