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.
Buccaneers Add 13-Man UDFA Class
The Buccaneers were lauded for their ability to add value with their seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. When the event came to an end, the team went to work adding more young players to the roster to form a 20-man rookie class. Here are the 13 undrafted free agents who signed on with Tampa Bay:
- Wesley Brown, LS (Fresno State)
- Ja’Qurious Conley, S (Charlotte)
- Jalon Daniels, QB (Kansas) (story)
- Kenny Fletcher Jr., TE (Rutgers)
- Ayden Garnes, CB (Arizona)
- Josiah Green, DT (Duke)
- Aidan Laros, P (Kentucky)
- Henry Lutovsky, G (Nebraska)
- Deshawn McKnight, DT (Arizona)
- Jack Pyburn, DE (LSU)
- Eric Rivers, WR (Georgia Tech)
- Paul Rubelt, T (UCF)
- Noah Short, WR (Army)
The Buccaneers were fortunate to add Pyburn after the LSU one-year rental slipped out of the back of the draft. Extremely effective as a run-stopper, Pyburn was thought to be a potential sixth- or seventh-round option, but perhaps his lack of a pass rush kept teams from using draft capital on him. He was seemingly a popular option as a free agent, though. Aaron Williams of KPRC 2 reports that Tampa Bay’s deal with Pyburn has $115K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus.
Other than Pyburn, only guys like Lutovsky, Garnes, and Rivers stood a chance at landing at the back of the draft, but even they were pretty likely to land as undrafted free agents. Lutovsky looks the part of an OL depth piece after serving as a two-year starter for the Cornhuskers. Garnes had a breakout year in 2023 with 13 passes defensed and two picks at Duquesne before ending at Arizona with nine passes defensed and an interception last year. Once a 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown receiver at FIU before transferring to Atlanta, Rivers has the speed to earn an NFL opportunity as a slot or return man.
Lastly, Tampa Bay will use their UDFA class to take a look at some rookie specialists. With punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Evan Deckers both playing on contract years, Laros and Brown could both stand an outside chance at earning a roster spot or practice squad contract.
Colts Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents
The Colts focused on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft with five of their first six picks coming on that side of the ball. After also taking swings at running back and wide receiver to close the draft, Indianapolis signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to add a few more long-shot options to their 20-man rookie class:
- Cameron Ball, DT (Arkansas)
- Austin Brown, S (Wisconsin)
- Tahj Chambers, LB (Mississippi)
- Sahmir Hagans, WR (Duke)
- E.J. Horton, WR (Purdue)
- Mitchell Melton, DE (Virginia)
- Lincoln Pare, RB (Texas)
- Nolan Rucci, T (Penn State)
- Raylen Sharpe, WR (Arkansas)
- Geno VanDeMark, C (Alabama)
- Jordon Vaughn, RB (Abilene Christian)
- West Weeks, LB (LSU)
Though the Colts were able to add some more young bodies on offense with this UDFA class, most of their notable signings here were on the defensive side of the ball, as well. Brown has all the right tools to be a roaming safety that drops down into the slot and box in the NFL but was unable to produce impact plays with any regularity for the Badgers. He must’ve had a number of suitors, though, as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Indy gave Brown $272K in guaranteed money in order to secure his signature.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 310 pounds, Ball’s imposing frame had evaluators expecting teams to take a chance on him some time on Day 3 of the draft. He’s a formidable run blocker who will need to develop some pass rush ability to stay on the field at the next level.
Finally on offense, Rucci was teammates with Brown for two years before transferring to Happy Valley. He only spent one season as a full-time starter for the Nittany Lions, but at just over 6-foot-8, 314 pounds, Rucci has an ideal frame on which the team can build upon. Some technique work and strong coaching will be needed in his future, but he’s a worthy project for the Colts to take on.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/26
Here are a couple rare Sunday NFL transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Brandon Walton
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Landon Young
- Waived: WR Mac Dalena
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Kadarius Calloway, OLB Yasir Holmes, WR Dean Patterson
After two years each with the Buccaneers and Panthers, Walton will remain in the NFC South following a successful tryout at Atlanta’s rookie minicamp.
The Jets let go of Dalena in order to bring in some offensive line depth. Young spent the past four years in New Orleans as a versatile backup option. Over the course of his rookie contract, Young made 12 starts in 56 game appearances. Those 12 starts included assignments at both tackle and both guard spots along the Saints offensive line.
The Buccaneers are rewarding Calloway, Holmes, and Patterson with undrafted free agent contracts after successful tryouts at their rookie minicamp. Calloway transferred around liberally over the past three years, spending time at Old Dominion, Cal, and New Mexico before finding his way to the NFL. Patterson, a Tampa native, spent four years at FIU before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final year of eligibility. Holmes started his collegiate career at Frostburg State but spent the 2025 season at Tarleton State.
Panthers Restructure Jaycee Horn’s Deal
Jaycee Horn landed a major extension last offseason. The Panthers’ top cornerback will remain a foundational figure for years to come, but his deal was recently reworked.
Carolina restructured Horn’s contract, as detailed by Spotrac. A total of $16.4MM was converted into a signing bonus via the transaction. That makes this an example of a simple conversion aimed at carving out immediate cap space. To aid in that effort, one void year was added to the pact. Carolina now has roughly $12MM in cap space.
Horn battled injuries in two of his first three NFL seasons. When on the field, though, he has met expectations as a former top-10 pick. To little surprise, then, team and player worked out a four-year, $100MM extension last spring. The pact ranks third in the NFL in terms of guarantees for cornerbacks, and Horn will be counted on to remain one of the position’s top producers moving forward. After earning a Pro Bowl nod during his final season before the extension was signed, he was a Pro Bowler once more in 2025.
The 2027 base salary in Horn’s deal has already shifted to a full guarantee. That year is now set to include a notable spike in his cap charge, though. The 26-year-old will count for $10.9MM against Carolina’s cap in 2026 as a result of the restructure. That will jump to $25.9MM the following year, with further increases (to $31.8MM and $33.9MM) scheduled. Horn is under team control through the 2029 season.
Carolina posted 15 interceptions in 2025, and Horn accounted for five of them. He will look to build off that career mark in 2026 and beyond while remaining a key figure in a Panthers secondary which ranked mid-pack last year. Another strong showing on Horn’s part would help the team’s chances of improving on defense and reaching the postseason once again.
Bears Sign 13 UDFAs
The Bears added seven rookies via the draft. They have been joined by the following 13 undrafted free agents as first-year players on Chicago’s roster:
- Caden Barnett (OL, Wyoming)
- Coleman Bennett (RB, Kennesaw State)
- KC Eziomume (DB, Tulane)
- Beau Gardner (LS, Georgia)
- Omari Kelly (WR, Michigan State)
- Jaren Kump (OL, Utah)
- Hayden Large (TE, Iowa)
- Jayden Loving (DL, Wake Forest)
- Miller Moss (QB, Louisville)
- Mason Murphy (OL, Auburn)
- Gabriel Plascencia (K, San Diego State)
- Skyler Thomas (DB, Oregon State)
- Squirrel White (WR, Florida State)
Barnett is among this year’s group of UDFAs who secured a notable guarantee package. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports he landed a $30K signing bonus by joining the Bears. Barnett also received $248K in locked-in base salary, so a long-running opportunity to compete for a backup gig along the offensive line should be expected.
The Bears also made a Loving a target shortly after the draft. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes Chicago authorized a $245K guarantee in that case, including a $20K signing bonus. It was not until the sixth round that the team made an addition along the defensive line, so Loving will aim to carve out a depth spot or at least a place on Chicago’s practice squad.
Moss spent his first four college seasons at USC. That span included two years as Caleb Williams‘ backup. Moss took on starting duties for the Trojans in 2024 before spending a single season at Louisville. He will join Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent as depth passers for the Bears during offseason practices.
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.”
Browns’ Starting OL Appears Set; Zak Zinter’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
The Browns will deploy their first pick in this year’s draft, Spencer Fano, at left tackle, which officially locks offseason trade acquisition Tytus Howard into the right tackle job, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic confirms. Likewise, free agent signee Zion Johnson is entrenched in the left guard role, and Jackson says neither Johnson nor Howard will be moved from their respective spots unless there is an injury or unexpected development.
Given Howard’s experience at multiple positions on the offensive line and the fact that Fano worked on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons, it was theoretically possible Howard – the first major addition to the Browns’ O-line this year – would at least open his Cleveland tenure on the blind side (or even at one of the guard slots, depending on how the team’s offseason and draft unfolded). But the Johnson and Elgton Jenkins signings, Teven Jenkins re-up, and Fano decision have clarified the Browns’ wishes for their starting front.
While head coach Todd Monken recently stopped short of confirming Elgton Jenkins would man the center position, the nature of the former Packer’s contract (two years, $24MM) suggests he will start, and neither Teven Jenkins nor Johnson have experience at the pivot. Jackson confirms Elgton Jenkins is the presumptive starting center once he recovers from the lower leg fracture that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
Therefore, Fano at LT, Johnson at LG, Elgton Jenkins at C, Teven Jenkins at RG, and Howard at RT appears to be the preferred alignment. Jackson does say Jenkins (who started just four games in ‘25, his first year with the club) is the right guard “for now,” thus leaving open the possibility he could be usurped by an incumbent player or yet another outside addition.
For instance, third-round rookie Austin Barber may push Teven Jenkins for RG duties, as Jackson notes. Cleveland made a significant move up the board on Day 2 of the draft to land Barber, who played both left and right tackle as a collegian. In addition to a possible guard battle with Teven Jenkins, Barber will vie for the swing tackle role along with Dawand Jones and KT Leveston.
Meanwhile, Luke Wypler and fifth-round rookie Parker Brailsford will battle each other for the backup center gig — Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says Brailsford actually has a real chance to win the starting job over Elgton Jenkins — and Kendrick Green is also in the mix for a job as an interior reserve. Zak Zinter, a third-round choice in 2024, saw minimal action last season, and Jackson suggests in a separate piece the Michigan product may no longer have a place on the roster. Zinter worked behind Johnson as the second-team LG in voluntary minicamp.
Broncos Extend GM George Paton
MAY 10: Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans of the Denver Post report the Paton extension was “hammered out” over the past couple of weeks. The deal was obviously expected at some point, but Paton and the team wanted to remain focused on the draft before turning their attention to the GM’s own contract status.
Payton, who spent his entire Saints career working with one GM in Mickey Loomis, is happy to have Paton in place for the long haul.
“I said to [Paton], I said, ‘Man, I consider myself very fortunate to have been with one General Manager in New Orleans who I would call a very close friend and a great working partner,’ and then to find another person like George,” Payton said at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “I know that we both feel the same way. We love the grind together. He’s a tremendous asset and all, and he’s very good at what he does. I think we complement each other. I am super excited for him. I said that to you guys at the [scouting combine], it was just a matter of time. We think alike in a lot of cases.”
MAY 8: As expected, George Paton has landed a new agreement in Denver. The Broncos’ general manager signed a five-year deal on Friday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Before the 2025 season had ended, a Paton extension emerged as a likely goal for the Broncos. The veteran had one year remaining on his contract prior to today’s news. Now, though, Paton is on the books through 2030 on a deal which has since been confirmed via a team announcement.
Head coach Sean Payton has of course wielded considerable power since arriving in 2023. The ex-Saints Super Bowl winner has formed a strong tandem with Paton, and in February he expressed confidence an agreement would be worked out. The Paton-Payton pairing will continue for years to come as the Broncos look to build off their recent success. That includes earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed this past year.
“As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton,” a statement from owner Greg Penner reads. “I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
After time with the Bears and Dolphins, Paton joined the Vikings in 2007. He worked his way up to assistant general manager, serving in that capacity from 2007-20. Paton also held the title of VP of player personnel during his Minnesota stint. A return to the Vikings was floated as a possibility after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing, but the Broncos’ desire for a long-term agreement remained. Minnesota’s GM spot is still vacant at this point and Paton, 56, will be staying put.
Denver’s post-Peyton Manning cold spell continued upon Paton’s arrival. The team posted a losing record in each of his first three years at the helm, and moves such as the Nathaniel Hackett hire and the Russell Wilson trade certainly did not pay off. Despite carrying a massive dead money charge in the wake of Wilson’s release, though, the Broncos have managed to rebound thanks to Paton’s roster-building moves. Denver reached the playoffs as a No. 7 seed in 2024, and this past campaign saw the team host the AFC title game.
Quarterback Bo Nix‘s ankle injury kept him out of that contest, but expectations will be high in his case individually and that of the Broncos in general for years to come. Paton has managed to retain a strong core on defense and along the offensive line, and he recently swung a deal for receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move should help shore up the receiver position as the Broncos look for more consistent play in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. Attaining that goal should set the team up for another playoff run.
The Broncos’ original long-term investment in Paton provided a strong return. Penner and Co. will hope this second one continues a run of productive moves in the front office. With Payton’s job security certainly not an issue at this point, organizational stability for the foreseeable future can be expected in Denver’s case.
Vikings’ Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Will Have ‘True Competition’ For Starting Job
The Vikings entered the 2025 season hoping to smoothly transition to J.J. McCarthy as their long-term starting quarterback.
That never came to pass. The former No. 10 pick completed just 57.6% of his passes with more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). He also missed time due to three different injuries and, overall, did not show signs of being a franchise QB.
Minnesota then brought in Kyler Murray after he was released by the Cardinals, adding another, more proven passer to their quarterback room. Since Arizona is still paying him $36.8MM this year, the former No. 1 pick was available for a veteran minimum salary, making him a hot commodity on the free agent market. He quickly agreed to a deal with the Vikings, indicating that he would have a chance at their starting quarterback job. But the question remained: would Murray have to take the job from McCarthy, or would the two begin offseason practices on equal footing?
An initial answer has come via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who said on the Rich Eisen Show that the Vikings “envision it being a true competition: Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy.”
On paper, Murray should have a substantial advantage. He has 87 career starts to McCarthy’s 10 with a significantly better completion percentage and passer rating in 2025. But Murray will be learning a new offense in Minnesota, while McCarthy will be entering his third year in Kevin O’Connell‘s system.
It is worth noting that Pelissero specifically mentioned those two quarterbacks as part of the competition and not Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer, who are also in the team’s quarterback room. Brosmer was abysmal in his two starts last year, but Wentz statistically outperformed McCarthy nearly across the board. In theory, that would make him a worthy competitor for the starting job, but Minnesota moved in Murray’s direction and seems more inclined to keep Wentz as a third-stringer.