Giants Draft LB Arvell Reese At No. 5
Arvell Reese remained on the board through the first four picks, but he has now come off the board. The hybrid linebacker/edge rusher has been selected fifth overall by the Giants. New head coach John Harbaugh came over from a team known for drafting the best player available, and with his expanded role in New York, Harbaugh has done just that with this selection of Reese.
Reese will become a Giant after one phenomenal year on the Buckeye’s defense. Not appearing on defense as a true freshman, Reese was used sparingly as a rotation off-ball linebacker in Year 2 en route to a College Football Playoff Championship Game victory. Once Cody Simon moved on to the NFL as a fourth-round pick, Reese took over next to teammate and fellow top 10 pick Sonny Styles. While Styles spent a majority of his snaps in the box, Reese split his time as an off-ball linebacker and an edge rusher.
In part-time pass rushing duty, Reese produced 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Most evaluators see him producing more as a pass rusher at the NFL level, but some believe he could maintain some sort of versatility as a hybrid sort of player similar to the early years of Micah Parsons. New York drafted a similarly transitioned defender at No. 3 overall last year in Abdul Carter. In fact, Reese joins an extremely crowded room of highly drafted pass rushers that includes Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
There have been plenty of rumors that Thibodeaux could be on the trading block even before this pick. Despite the Giants bringing on yet another first-round edge rusher, ESPN’s Adam Schefter claims New York has no intentions of shipping out Thibodeaux. The four-year veteran out of Oregon may end up walking in free agency after this next season, but the litany of talented pass rushers ahead of Reese on the depth chart should allow him to be used with more versatility while still learning how to fit into his likely new position.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Titans Select WR Carnell Tate At No. 4
The first receiver has come off the board early. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate has been selected fourth overall by the Titans, a team long seen as a candidate to make a defensive investment at this spot.
Some teams reportedly considered Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson the top receiver in the draft, but Tate has won out and will become a key weapon for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans spent the first overall pick in last year’s draft on Ward, but a poor supporting cast contributed to a difficult rookie season for the Miami product.
Hoping to make life easier for Ward, Tennessee has added Tate and free agent pickup Wan’Dale Robinson to its receiving corps this offseason. They will also bring back veteran Calvin Ridley and second-year wideouts Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. The Titans’ Tate-led receiving corps will work with an established offensive coordinator in Brian Daboll, one of new head coach Robert Saleh‘s most important hires. As the Giants’ head coach in 2024, Daboll helped then-rookie receiver Malik Nabers to a 109-catch, 1,204-yard year after they chose him sixth in the draft. The Titans will hope for a similar impact from Tate.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Tate earned a reputation as an excellent route runner in his three years at Ohio State, where he caught 121 passes and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Stuck behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka as a freshman, Tate only managed 18 receptions and a score. His production took off after those two left for the NFL. Although Tate played second fiddle to future pro Jeremiah Smith from 2024-25, he averaged 52 catches, 804 yards and seven touchdowns per year. The sure-handed Tate did not drop a pass in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.
Tate is now the latest Buckeyes wideout to exit the board in the first round in recent years, joining Egbuka, Harrison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. All of those players have enjoyed successful careers in the pros.
The Titans were expected to use their top pick on either a receiver or an edge defender. Having landed a pass catcher, they could turn their attention to the other side of the ball with their next selection (No. 35).
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Cardinals Add RB Jeremiyah Love At No. 3
After buzz connected the Cardinals to Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the 2026 class is indeed Arizona-bound. Love has been drafted third overall. The Notre Dame product becomes the highest drafted running back in the NFL since the Saquon Barkley went second overall eight years ago.
Love was by far the consensus top running back of the 2026 class. His backup with the Fighting Irish, Jadarian Price, is widely considered RB2 and may have to wait until Day 2 of the draft to hear is name. Ever since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, Love has been perhaps the most electric running back in college football. In two years as RB1, he combined for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in just 28 games.
Love joins a crowded running backs room in Arizona that is likely about to clear out to make room for his star power. James Conner has been the man for the Cardinals since coming over from Pittsburgh in 2021. Over his first four years with the team, Conner averaged 917 yards per season with 37 touchdowns, but in 2025, injuries limited him to only three games. The team also signed former Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency after four strong years as a backup in Atlanta.
There’s little question Love will be RB1 once he arrives in Arizona. With draft pick salaries automatically set per slot, Love will easily be the team’s highest-paid rusher on a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.02MM rookie contract. He also become the seventh highest-paid running back in the NFL by annual average value, but his guaranteed money will exceed even that of Barkley.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Jets Draft DE David Bailey At No. 2
The Jets have landed on their pass rushing selection at No. 2. Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey has come off the board, and he is headed to New York.
It was known for months the Raiders would use the No. 1 overall pick on Fernando Mendoza, making the Jets’ top choice the first real source of intrigue in this draft. Reports over the past few weeks went back and forth on Bailey and Ohio State linebacker/edge defender Arvell Reese as the frontrunners to join the Jets. Reese was reportedly the favorite as of Wednesday, but the Jets have taken the more polished prospect instead.
The Jets canceled a “30” visit with Bailey last week, but it turns out they did not need to use it. Led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, the Jets knew “weeks” ago they would draft Bailey, according to insider Jordan Schultz. Bailey will now serve as a centerpiece of Glenn’s defense and give the team another pass rusher to join a group that includes former first-rounder Will McDonald, Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai.
He follows Enagbare, Ossai, Demario Davis, T’Vondre Sweat, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Nahshon Wright as the latest offseason pickup for the Jets’ remade defense. Bailey is undoubtedly the biggest addition to a unit that finished 31st in both scoring and sacks last year.
The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Bailey began his college career at Stanford, where he racked up 14.5 sacks in 32 games from 2022-24. He transferred to Texas Tech last year and experienced a massive uptick in sack production. Bailey amassed a nation-high 14.5 (along with 19.5 tackles for loss) in 14 games to earn unanimous All-America honors and the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Award. He also recorded 81 pressures, the second-highest mark in the nation, per Pro Football Focus. The Jets are banking on Bailey continuing to serve as a disruptive force in the pros.
New York has settled the Bailey-Reese debate, but its first-round work is far from done. The Jets are scheduled to pick again at 16th overall. Unless the Jets trade down, the rebuilding club will address another key need midway through the opening round.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza At No. 1
Since they clinched the No. 1 selection in the 2026 draft, the Raiders have been expected to select their quarterback of the future. The top choice in tonight’s opening round has not produced a surprise.
Fernando Mendoza has become the first prospect to hear his name called on Thursday. He is now officially in place with Vegas, a team looking to find stability under center for years to come. Veteran Kirk Cousins was signed earlier this month in a move which allowed him to reunite with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak will lead a coaching staff which underwent several changes this winter. 2026 marks the second offseason with general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady in the fold for the Raiders, but their one-year Pete Carroll-Geno Smith setup did not go according to plan. Carroll was expectedly fired after the season ended, while Smith was dealt to the Jets. That created the need for a new veteran (Cousins) while further paving the way for Mendoza to take on QB1 duties early in his NFL career. Even if a training camp competition ensues, Mendoza will be counted on to take over the starting gig early in his rookie year.
The Raiders released Derek Carr in 2023 and have struggled to find a permanent successor since then. Last year’s 3-14 showing set the team up to reset under center, however. Mendoza has long been the presumed pick for Vegas, with his pre-draft visit not resulting in any hesitation on the team’s part. Work including an acclimation to the offense which will be used by the Raiders this year has further pointed to today’s outcome. Mendoza will now be able to begin preparing for his Vegas career in an official capacity.
After two seasons at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Hoosiers had enjoyed a run to the College Football Playoff the previous year with Kurtis Rourke at the helm, and Mendoza was expected to serve as a productive replacement. To say he did so would certainly be an understatement. The 22-year-old posted 41 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions while adding seven touchdowns on the ground as Indiana went undefeated en route to winning the national championship.
His success in that historic run resulted in a number of accolades for Mendoza. Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors were received, along with the 2025 Heisman trophy. Passers have gone No. 1 after only a single season of high-end college production (as Cam Ward did last year), and Mendoza will face substantial expectations upon arrival in Vegas. Developing into a full-time starter would address an all-important roster matter for the foreseeable future.
Mendoza will join other core roster pieces like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty on offense. The play of those first-rounders will be key in determining the success of Kubiak’s first year at the helm and the Raiders’ overall outlook well beyond 2026.
2026 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 3: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
- Round 2, No. 34:
- Round 3, No. 65:
- Round 4, No. 104:
- Round 5, No. 143:
- Round 6, No. 183:
- Round 7, No. 217:
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 2, No. 48:
- Round 3, No. 79:
- Round 4, No. 122 (from Eagles):
- Round 6, No. 215) (from Eagles)*
- Round 7, No. 231:
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 14:
- Round 2, No. 45:
- Round 3, No. 80:
- Round 4, No. 115:
- Round 5, No. 154:
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers):
- Round 5, No. 173*:
- Round 5, No. 174*:
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles):
- Round 7, No. 250:
- Round 7, No. 253:
Buffalo Bills
- Round 1, No. 26:
- Round 3, No. 91:
- Round 4, No. 126:
- Round 5, No. 165 (from Bears):
- Round 5, No. 168:
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars and Raiders):
- Round 7, No. 220 (from Jets):
Carolina Panthers
- Round 1, No. 19:
- Round 2, No. 51:
- Round 3, No. 83:
- Round 4, No. 119:
- Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings):
- Round 5, No. 159:
- Round 6, No. 200:
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 25:
- Round 2, No. 57:
- Round 2, No. 60 (from Bills):
- Round 3, No. 89:
- Round 4, No. 129:
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Eagles via Jaguars and Browns):
- Round 7, No. 241:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 2, No. 41:
- Round 3, No. 72:
- Round 4, No. 110:
- Round 6, No. 189:
- Round 6, No. 199 (from Lions via Browns):
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Giants via Cowboys):
- Round 7, No. 226:
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars):
- Round 2, No. 39:
- Round 3, No. 70:
- Round 3, No. 74 (from Chiefs):
- Round 4, No. 107:
- Round 5, No. 146:
- Round 5, No. 148 (from Chiefs):
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals):
- Round 6, No. 206 (from Bears):
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks):
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)
- Round 1, No. 20 (from Packers):
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers):
- Round 4, No. 112:
- Round 5, No. 152:
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans):
Denver Broncos
- Round 1, No. 62:
- Round 4, No. 108 (from Saints):
- Round 4, No. 111 (from Dolphins):
- Round 5, No. 170:
- Round 7, No. 246:
- Round 7, No. 256*:
- Round 7, No. 257*:
Detroit Lions
- Round 1, No. 17:
- Round 2, No. 50:
- Round 4, No. 118:
- Round 4, No. 128 (from Texans):
- Round 5, No. 157:
- Round 5, No. 181*:
- Round 6, No. 205 (from Jaguars):
- Round 6, No. 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars):
- Round 7, No. 222 (from Browns):
Green Bay Packers
- Round 2, No. 52:
- Round 3, No. 84:
- Round 4, No. 120:
- Round 5, No. 153 (from Falcons via Eagles):
- Round 5, No. 160:
- Round 6, No. 201:
- Round 7, No. 236:
- Round 7, No. 255*:
Houston Texans
- Round 1, No. 28:
- Round 2, No. 38 (from Commanders):
- Round 2, No. 59:
- Round 3, No. 69 (from Giants):
- Round 4, No. 106 (from Commanders):
- Round 5, No. 141 (from Raiders via Browns):
- Round 5, No. 167:
- Round 7, No. 243 (from 49ers):
Indianapolis Colts
- Round 2, No. 47:
- Round 3, No. 78:
- Round 4, No. 113:
- Round 5, No. 156:
- Round 6, No. 214 (from Steelers)*:
- Round 7, No. 249*:
- Round 7, No. 254*:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Round 2, No. 56:
- Round 3, No. 81 (from Lions):
- Round 3, No. 88:
- Round 3, No. 100 (from Lions)*:
- Round 4, No. 124:
- Round 5, No. 164:
- Round 5, No. 166 (from 49ers via Eagles):
- Round 6, No. 203 (from Eagles via Texans and Eagles):
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Lions):
- Round 7, No. 240:
- Round 7, No. 245 (from Rams via Texans):
Kansas City Chiefs
- Round 1, No. 6 (from Browns): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
- Round 1, No. 29 (from Rams):
- Round 2, No. 40:
- Round 4, No. 109:
- Round 5, No. 169 (from Rams):
- Round 5, No. 176*:
- Round 210 (from Rams):
Las Vegas Raiders
- Round 1, No. 1: Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
- Round 2, No. 36:
- Round 3, No. 67:
- Round 4, No. 102:
- Round 4, No. 117 (from Vikings via Jaguars):
- Round 4, No. 134*:
- Round 5, No. 175*:
- Round 6, No. 185:
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Bills via Jets):
- Round 7, No. 219):
Los Angeles Chargers
- Round 1, No. 22:
- Round 2, No. 55:
- Round 3, No. 86:
- Round 4, No. 123:
- Round 6, No. 204:
Los Angeles Rams
- Round 1, No. 13 (from Falcons): Ty Simpson, QB (Alabama)
- Round 2, No. 61:
- Round 3, No. 93:
- Round 6, No. 207 (from Texans via Rams and Titans):
- Round 7, No. 232 (from Ravens):
- Round 7, No. 251*:
- Round 7, No. 252*:
Miami Dolphins
- Round 1, No. 12 (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama)
- Round 1, No. 30 (from Broncos):
- Round 2, No. 43:
- Round 3, No. 75:
- Round 3, No. 87 (from Eagles):
- Round 3, No. 90 (from Texans):
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Broncos):
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Broncos):
- Round 5, No. 151:
- Round 5, No. 177 (from Cowboys)*:
- Round 5, No. 180 (from Cowboys)*:
- Round 7, No. 227:
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers via Titans and Jets):
Minnesota Vikings
- Round 1, No. 18:
- Round 2, No. 49:
- Round 3, No. 82:
- Round 3, No. 97*:
- Round 5, No. 163 (from Eagles):
- Round 6, No. 196 (from Colts):
- Round 7, No. 234:
- Round 7, No. 235 (from Panthers):
- Round 7, No. 244 (from Texans):
New England Patriots
- Round 1, No. 31:
- Round 2, No. 63:
- Round 3, No. 95:
- Round 4, No. 125 (from Bears via Chiefs):
- Round 5, No. 171:
- Round 6, No. 191 (from Chiefs):
- Round 6, No. 198 (from Vikings via Texans, Vikings and 49ers):
- Round 6, No. 202 (from Steelers):
- Round 6, No. 212:
- Round 7, No. 247:
New Orleans Saints
- Round 1, No. 8: Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
- Round 2, No. 42:
- Round 3, No. 73:
- Round 4, No. 132 (from Seahawks):
- Round 4, No. 136*:
- Round 5, No. 150:
- Round 5, No. 172 (from Seahawks):
- Round 6, No. 190:
New York Giants
- Round 1, No. 5: Arvell Reese (LB, Ohio State)
- Round 1, No. 10 (from Bengals): Francis Mauigoa (T, Miami)
- Round 2, No. 37:
- Round 4, No. 105:
- Round 5, No. 145:
- Round 6, No. 186:
- Round 6, No. 192 (from Dolphins):
- Round 6, No. 193 (from Cowboys):
New York Jets
- Round 1, No. 2: David Bailey (DE, Texas Tech)
- Round 1, No. 16 (from Colts):
- Round 2, No. 33:
- Round 2, No. 44 (from Cowboys):
- Round 4, No. 103:
- Round 4, No. 140*:
- Round 5, No. 179*:
- Round 7, No. 228 (from Cowboys via Bills and Raiders):
- Round 7, No. 242 (from Bills via Browns):
Philadelphia Eagles
- Round 1, No. 23:
- Round 2, No. 54:
- Round 3, No. 68 (from Jets):
- Round 3, No. 98*:
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons):
- Round 5, No. 137*:
- Round 5, No. 178*:
- Round 6, No. 197 (from Falcons):
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Round 1, No. 21:
- Round 2, No. 53:
- Round 3, No. 76 (from Cowboys):
- Round 3, No. 85:
- Round 3, No. 99*:
- Round 4, No. 121:
- Round 4, No. 135*:
- Round 5, No. 161:
- Round 6, No. 216*:
- Round 7, No. 224 (from Saints via Patriots):
- Round 7, No. 230 (from Colts):
- Round 7, No. 237:
San Francisco 49ers
- Round 1, No. 27:
- Round 2, No. 58:
- Round 4, No. 127:
- Round 4, No. 133*:
- Round 4, No. 138*:
- Round 4, No. 139*:
Seattle Seahawks
- Round 1, No. 32:
- Round 2, No. 64:
- Round 3, No. 96:
- Round 6, No. 188 (from Browns):
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Round 1, No. 15:
- Round 2, No. 46:
- Round 3, No. 77:
- Round 4, No. 116:
- Round 5, No. 155:
- Round 6, No. 195:
- Round 7, No. 229:
Tennessee Titans
- Round 1, No. 4: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
- Round 2, No. 35:
- Round 3, No. 66:
- Round 4, No. 101:
- Round 5, No. 142 (from Jets via Ravens):
- Round 5, No. 144:
- Round 6, No. 184:
- Round 6, No. 194 (from Ravens via Jets):
- Round 7, No. 225 (from Chiefs via Cowboys):
Washington Commanders
- Round 1, No. 7: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
- Round 2, No. 71:
- Round 5, No. 147:
- Round 6, No. 187:
- Round 6, No. 209 (from 49ers):
- Round 7, No. 223:
* = Compensatory selection
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier Receives Medical Clearance
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier struggled with an abdominal injury for much of the 2025 season, raising some questions about his long-term health.
But those have seemingly been answered, as Combine medical testing uncovered a cyst on his spine that caused his abdominal injury, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He has been healthy through the pre-draft process, but could require minor, minimally invasive surgery if it flares up again.
“Either way, doctors say, there is no short- or long-term risk for Nussmeier, who is projected a mid-round pick in this week’s NFL Draft,” Pellisero adds.
Nussmeier threw for over 4,000 yards in 2024 but his injury limited time and production on the field. He has an NFL-caliber arm, but needs to refine his vision and awareness in the pros. At 24-years-old, he is older than preferred for a developmental player, but positive reports about his intangibles (via Dane Brugler of The Athletic) suggest he can take to coaching.
Nussmeier is one of three Power 5 passers with claims to the QB3 spot in the draft class behind Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson. His positive medical update may make teams more comfortable drafting him on Day 2. Penn State’s Drew Allar and Miami’s Carson Beck are also on that list, with Beck receiving some late hype as a potentially Day 1 (but more likely Day 2) pick. Allar was much-hyped entering the 2025 season, but a broken ankle that sidelined in him October deprived him of the chance to boost his stock.
All three of those players could fall to Day 3, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Mendoza will be drafted by the Raiders with the No. 1 pick, and Simpson’s stock has been inflated by the dearth of talent at the position. The gap between him and Nussmeier, Allar, and Beck is seen as a chasm, and teams may prefer to spend their Day 2 picks on players they see as more likely long-term starters.
Chiefs Assistant Coach Arrested, Suspected Of Domestic Battery
The Chiefs have seen their fair share of legal issues with coaches and players in recent years. They won’t escape such issues this offseason as Chloe Godding of KMBC News reports that the team’s cornerbacks coach, David Merritt, has been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery.
Merritt was arrested Wednesday evening by an officer of the Overland Park Police Department on the Kansas side of the border. He has reportedly been charged of misdemeanor domestic battery, though no details explaining the nature of the charge were provided to the media. Merritt had the opportunity to plead not guilty in court today and has been scheduled to return to court for a hearing June 24. Per Godding, the Chiefs are aware of the arrest but have not made comment.
Merritt’s NFL career started as a player after getting drafted as a seventh-round linebacker out of North Carolina State in 1993. He only appeared in four games as a rookie with the Dolphins, who drafted him, spending the rest of the year with the Phoenix Cardinals. His playing career in the NFL came to a quick end after three years in the league. He attempted a short move to play for a team with NFL Europe, but ultimately returned stateside to begin his coaching career.
Merritt started coaching at the collegiate level but elevated at a fast pace to an NFL job after stops at Tennessee-Chattanooga and Virginia Military Institute. He began in the league as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach with the Jets. Merritt then spent 14 years with the Giants, starting as a defensive assistant & quality control coach and working up to a role as secondary coach & safeties coach, a role he held for 12 years. After his time in New York came to an end, he spent a year with the Cardinals as defensive backs coach before landing at his next long-term stop in Kansas City as defensive backs coach.
In the past seven years with the Chiefs, Merritt has coached multiple secondaries that routinely finished in the top half of the league in pass defense. It’s unclear if this new legal situation will do anything to prevent him from participating with Kansas City this season. We should hear more later on in the summer.
Patriots Hoping To Trade Down
The Patriots hold the 31st selection in the opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but their first pick may not come Thursday night. The reigning AFC champions will “actively” look to move down, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. They join their Super Bowl opponent, Seattle, in hoping to exit the first round without making a pick.
[RELATED: Mike Vrabel To Miss Day 3 Of Draft]
New England already has 11 picks, which is tied for the second-highest total in the league, and would add to its haul with a trade. The Patriots are hoping to find a trade partner motivated by the fifth-year option, according to Breer. First-round picks are controllable for up to five years. All other rookies sign four-year contracts.
Now in his third year as the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel, Eliot Wolf‘s most noteworthy draft trade came in a move-down in 2024. He sent the 34th and 137th picks to the Chargers for Nos. 37 and 110. The Chargers came away with standout receiver Ladd McConkey and starting cornerback Tarheeb Still. The Patriots, who used their choices on wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, came out on the wrong end. Both Polk and Baker are already out of the organization.
Receiver is still a need for the Patriots two years later, but they may pass on it in the draft in favor of an A.J. Brown trade with the Eagles. That leaves edge defender and offensive tackle as areas the Pats could bolster with their top pick, but they will wait a little longer to do it if a trade comes together Thursday night.
George Pickens To Sign Franchise Tag
6:30pm: The news that Pickens will sign his tag comes after Stephen and Jerry Jones “extended an olive branch” to agent David Mulugheta (per Rapoport). Pickens’ situation was discussed, although it remains to be seen what his future awaits. NFL Network’s Jane Slater adds no trade talks have taken place yet, pointing to no major developments for at least tonight.
5:03pm: The Cowboys will not negotiate a long-term extension with wide receiver George Pickens, but he is now in position to play next season under the franchise tag. Pickens is signing his $27.3MM franchise tender, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
This move could keep Pickens in Dallas in 2026, but it also makes him eligible for a trade. As of April 14, the Cowboys had not received any trade calls for Pickens. Perhaps that will change during or after the draft. If Pickens is still a Cowboy when mandatory minicamp and training camp kick off over the summer, he will be subject to fines if he does not report.
As things stand, Pickens is the first NFLer in line to play under the tag since Bengals receiver Tee Higgins did so in 2024. Higgins went on to score a four-year, $115MM extension with the Bengals in March 2025. Pickens may have angled for a similar payday with the Cowboys this offseason, but executive vice president Stephen Jones shot down the possibility of an extension on Wednesday. If Pickens stays in Dallas, he will become the fifth Cowboy to play under the tag in an eight-year span, joining DeMarcus Lawrence (2018), Dak Prescott (2020), Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard (2023).
Pickens was a post-draft addition last year for the Cowboys, who acquired him and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-rounder. The move worked out beautifully for Dallas, which saw Pickens’ production go from solid to great. After the former second-rounder averaged approximately 16 games, 59 grabs, 947 yards and four touchdowns per year during his three seasons as a Steeler, he hauled in 93 receptions, 1,429 yards and nine TDs over 17 contests in 2025. Pickens ranked top 10 in the league in all three categories.
Barring another post-draft trade, the 25-year-old Pickens should continue forming an elite receiver tandem with CeeDee Lamb in 2026. The Cowboys authorized a four-year, $136MM extension for Lamb in August 2024, but they have not been willing to sign off on a second huge contract at the position. With another excellent season, Pickens could join Lamb among the league’s highest-paid receivers next spring.