Steelers Sign Round 2 WR Germie Bernard
NFL teams are signing second-round draft picks at a much faster pace than last year. The latest is new Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard, who put pen to paper on Monday, per a team announcement.
Pittsburgh traded up six spots to draft Bernard with the 47th overall pick to ensure they would land a desired receiver prospect after narrowly missing out on USC’s Makai Lemon in the first round. They landed a versatile, all-around wideout with good size (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) and a solid athletic profile who should quickly carve out a role in Mike McCarthy‘s new offense.
Bernard started at Alabama for the last two years after a tertiary role at Washington in 2023, all under Kalen DeBoer. His production grew throughout his college career and peaked in his final season with team-highs of 64 receptions and 862 receiving yards, plus nine total touchdowns.
Though he lined up primarily on the outside in 2025, 46.5% of his snaps over the last three years have come out of the slot, which will help him earn playing time in a receiver room that already features boundary stalwarts D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The 22-year-old can also contribute as a blocker, gadget player, or returner – all roles he held at Alabama – giving the Steelers plenty of ways to deploy him on offense and special teams.
The Falcons signed No. 48 pick Avieon Terrell to a fully guaranteed contract, which should result in a similar deal for Bernard. He will receive $10.54MM over the next four years ($2.64MM AAV) with a signing bonus over $4MM, per OverTheCap.
The Steelers also signed seventh-round pick (No. 230 overall) Eli Heidenreich to his four-year rookie deal, worth a total of $4.54MM. His only guarantees will be a signing bonus in the range of $150k.
Heidenreich, classified as a running back/wide receiver in Pittsburgh’s announcement, was a dynamic part of Navy’s triple-option offense for the last three years. In 2025, his 941 receiving yards for 55.6% of the Midshipmen’s total passing offense; he also took 77 carries for 499 rushing yards (6.5 yards per attempt). Heidenreich tested extremely well at the Combine, but his unique college scheme and deployment raised questions about his ability to translate to the NFL. The Steelers took a shot on the 22-year-old, who, like Bernard, could factor in the return game or with manufactured touches on offense.
Steelers’ Troy Fautanu Working At LT
A host of teams to draft a tackle in the 2024 first round made immediate position switches from where that player lined up in college.
Joe Alt moved from left to right tackle, while JC Latham slid from the right side to the blind side in Tennessee. Taliese Fuaga shifted from RT at Oregon State to LT with the Saints (both he and Latham were back at RT by 2025). Jordan Morgan saw rookie-year time at guard in Green Bay (but has since moved back to LT post-Rasheed Walker). Graham Barton moved from tackle to center, while Tyler Guyton shuttled from RT to LT to open his Cowboys career. This slew of changes involving ’24 first-round blockers made Troy Fautanu‘s adjustment blend in rather than stand out.
[RELATED: Steelers Officially Re-Sign Aaron Rodgers, Authorizing Significant Raise]
Fautanu primarily played left tackle at Washington, being a starter as the Huskies rallied to the CFP championship game behind left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Steelers slotted Fautanu to the right side as a rookie, and while he missed most of that season due to injury, the team kept him at RT while Broderick Jones shifted to LT following Dan Moore Jr.‘s 2025 free agency defection. With Jones struggling and then running into a major injury issue, Fautanu may be headed back to the blind side.
The third-year blocker lined up at LT during Steelers OTAs Monday, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo. Fautanu said (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor) the prospect of him moving to left tackle on a full-time basis remains “up in the air.” The Steelers are beginning first-round tackle Max Iheanachor at RT. This and Jones’ injury situation would open the door for a mid-contract Fautanu position shift. Fautanu earned All-American acclaim as a left tackle during his final Washington season.
The Steelers are optimistic Jones will be a training camp participant, but he is coming off neck surgery. A setback is believed to have occurred, clouding the fourth-year tackle’s outlook. The Steelers declined Jones’ $19.07MM fifth-year option, and their decision to draft Iheanachor — albeit after being prepared to take Makai Lemon at No. 21 before the Eagles’ seminal trade-up — could lead to the Georgia alum following Moore as a one-contract tackle in Pittsburgh. Two years remain on Fautanu’s rookie deal, and the Steelers can extend that pact through 2028 by exercising his fifth-year option. The team does not need to make that decision until May 2027.
Fautanu said he does not want to shift inside to guard, seemingly making a preemptive strike against a configuration that places Jones and Iheanachor at tackle, but added he believed he could do so if asked. Fautanu saw action in multiple Washington games at guard, but it does not appear the Steelers are interested in exploring that path. Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson lined up as the team’s first-string guards at OTAs, per Fittipaldo, who adds McCormick switched from right guard to left guard.
McCormick became the Steelers’ James Daniels fill-in in 2024 and the team’s full-time RG starter last season. The former fourth-round pick, however, did see extensive left guard time at South Dakota State. The Steelers lost three-year LG Isaac Seumalo to the Cardinals, who signed him to a three-year, $31.5MM deal. Anderson, a former seventh-round draftee, has made 11 career starts; he mostly worked as Seumalo’s backup over the past two seasons while McCormick handled RG duties. The offseason switch adds some intrigue to Pittsburgh’s front, as Fittipaldo notes the only 2025 Steelers O-line starter who remained in the same spot was center Zach Frazier.
The Steelers added competition at guard by drafting Iowa’s Gennings Dunker in the third round. While Anderson took the first reps at RG Monday, Fittipaldo adds Dunker and FA signee Brock Hoffman will be expected to push him for the role. McCormick, Pro Football Focus’ No. 17 overall guard last season, appears assured of a starting spot in 2026.
Eagles Sign Round 2 TE Eli Stowers
The second tight end to come off the board in this year’s class, Eli Stowers joined an Eagles team that has used similar developmental strategies at the position
Philadelphia re-signed Dallas Goedert in March but looks to have an heir apparent in place. That prospect is now tied to a four-year contract, with the Eagles announcing Monday that Stowers put pen to paper. The No. 54 overall pick will be tied to an $8.89MM deal. Based on agreements for players selected around Stowers, most of this contract will be guaranteed.
With Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren receiving three fully guaranteed years as the No. 58 overall pick — to go with a partial Year 4 guarantee, per OverTheCap — Stowers will see three fully guaranteed years and a chunk of his 2029 salary locked in at signing. This year’s Nos. 55, 56 and 57 overall draftees have not been signed, but the Colts’ deal for No. 53 overall pick C.J. Allen includes a $639K guarantee on a $2.13MM 2029 base salary. Stowers assuredly secured a comparable guarantee in 2029. For now, he will get to work in a position group fronted by a long-running incumbent.
Under Howie Roseman, the Eagles identified Goedert in Round 2 (2018) while Zach Ertz was still rostered. Ertz and Goedert played together for three-plus seasons, before Ertz extension talks did not yield an agreement; Ertz was then traded to the Cardinals during the 2021 season. The Eagles extended Goedert soon after. The team drafted Ertz in the 2013 second round. Brent Celek remained on Philly’s roster until 2017, but Ertz usurped him as the team’s top tight end by 2014. With Goedert on a one-year deal and entering an age-31 season, it will be interesting to see how long Stowers’ developmental period lasts.
Viewed as a player who drew some first-round buzz, Stowers went through the draft with a knee concern that impacted some teams’ interest. As our Connor Byrne noted, Stowers tore his left PCL and meniscus in 2019 while working as a high school quarterback. The Vanderbilt product bounced back nicely from that injury, but it is interesting some teams still viewed it as an issue.
Stowers was a unanimous All-American and the John Mackey Award winner (given to the best college tight end) in 2025. Stowers weighed 239 pounds and clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He profiles as a receiving tight end, whereas Goedert has been one of the league’s best all-around TEs for much of his career, and finished his final Commodores season with 62 catches for 769 yards. That came after a 49/638/5 line in 2024.
The Eagles will now begin their latest TE developmental program, after spending years without a Goedert successor option. Goedert is tied to a one-year, $7MM contract; that checks in lower than the pay-cut agreement the eight-year veteran signed in 2025 (one year, $10MM). Only one Eagles draftee — third-round tackle Markel Bell — remains unsigned.
Saints Extend Offer To Cameron Jordan; No Taysom Hill Proposal On Table
Linked to edge rushers in Round 1, the Saints made it through the draft without addressing this position. Though, the team did send the Raiders a fifth-round selection for Tyree Wilson in a pick-swap trade. Wilson joins a New Orleans edge-rushing group headlined by Chase Young and Carl Granderson.
Another deal with Cameron Jordan, however, remains in play. Twenty-fifth-year GM Mickey Loomis said Monday (via NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett) the Saints have an offer out to the accomplished sack artist. As for Taysom Hill, Loomis responded in the negative when asked if the team has made an offer to the versatile veteran.
Jordan, 37 in July, accepted a pay cut to return to the Saints last year. He finished out a one-year deal worth $6.1MM, outplaying the revised contract. Jordan’s 10.5 sacks were his most since the 2021 season — his most recent Pro Bowl slate — and his 15 tackles for loss matched his most since the 2018 campaign.
The 15-year veteran will assuredly have options beyond New Orleans, but he is interested in staying. Jordan has missed just two career games, offering nearly unmatched durability, but he only combined for six sacks and 10 TFLs from 2023-24.
While Rickey Jackson‘s rookie year came before sacks were deemed official, the Hall of Famer has been retroactively credited with eight in that 1981 season. That places his career total (136) four ahead of Jordan. The latter’s 2025 season gave him the lead in official Saints sacks, but the former first-round pick would have a great chance to become the franchise’s undisputed sack kingpin by returning for a 16th season.
Likely waiting on a better offer from the Saints, Jordan has earned just more than $147MM in his career. The Bears, who employ ex-Saints HC Dennis Allen as DC, may not be a true suitor. That being the case would be a blow to Jordan’s ability to push the Saints for better terms. A number of proven vets are available as well. Jordan joins Von Miller — who would also be set for an age-37 season if/when he lands with a team — along with Leonard Floyd, Joey Bosa, Haason Reddick, Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and A.J. Epenesa among notable unsigned edge defenders.
Hill is set to turn 36 in August. The long-running jack-of-all-trades presence has played 10 Saints seasons. His ACL rehab concluded early last season, and the BYU product/perennial fantasy nuisance totaled 205 scrimmage yards on 63 touches. The Saints let Foster Moreau walk in free agency but used a third-round pick on Georgia tight end Oscar Delp and signed former first-rounder Noah Fant. The duo joins Juwan Johnson, who is coming off a career-best season, in New Orleans’ tight end room.
Although Hill is certainly more than just a tight end, the additions of Fant and Delp to go with Johnson — who is coming off a 77-catch, 889-yard season (both numbers smashed his previous career-high marks) — presents a crowded depth chart.
While it would be odd to see Hill in another uniform, he may need to depart Louisiana to continue his career. Prominent ex-Saints staffers are present in Denver and Buffalo, presenting potential landing spots. Hill indicated uncertainty when discussing his Saints future late last season.
Hill played out a four-year, $40MM contract; he will be unlikely to closely approach that value this year. Hill, however, has 45 career touchdowns to go with 12 career TD passes. The historically unique talent profiles as an interesting free agent as teams assess their rosters during spring workouts.
Jacoby Brissett Absent For Start Of Cardinals’ OTAs
The Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew, after Jimmy Garoppolo talks hit a snag, but are believed to view Jacoby Brissett as their starter. But the team’s primary 2025 starter is seeking a raise.
As a result of the contract issue, Brissett has not joined his Cardinals teammates at their first OTA workout. The quarterback is staying away for the time being, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Brissett is tied to a two-year, $12.5MM deal that brings a $4.88MM 2026 base salary.
Closely linked to Ty Simpson in the draft, the Cardinals saw the Rams outflank them for the Alabama product. The Rams viewed their division rivals as a threat for the one-year college starter, and after Los Angeles made the move to draft him at No. 13 overall, the Cardinals waited on a quarterback move. It is obviously not certain Arizona would have traded back into Round 1 for Simpson, but after the team saw the Rams intervene, Carson Beck became the rookie QB investment at No. 65 overall.
Beck accompanies the veteran arms here, as the Cardinals will almost definitely be linked to the 2027 QB draft class — a crop expected to bring better depth compared to this year’s — but they have Brissett and Minshew in place as stopgaps. Beck may be given the keys this season, as it would stand to reason the Cards will want to know how the recent CFP championship game starter looks in game action, but Mike LaFleur appears prepared to open the season with Brissett at the controls.
We heard before the draft Brissett was seeking a starter-level extension. It would make sense for the Cardinals to have one of their veteran arms under contract for 2027, as another bridge setup may need to be in place if the franchise drafts a first-rounder next year. Minshew is on a one-year, $5.75MM pact. That contract came nearly fully guaranteed. Brissett, 33, has just $1.5MM in guaranteed 2026 salary; that figure vested in March.
Brissett (65 career starts) is tied to backup money, but he has been largely viewed as such throughout his career. Brissett’s most notable work came in two separate stints replacing Andrew Luck. Acquired from the Patriots just before the 2017 season, Brissett started 15 Colts games as Luck missed the season with a shoulder injury. After the franchise QB’s sudden 2019 retirement, Brissett stepped back in as Indianapolis’ starter. His other notable starter stint came in 2022, when he was the Browns’ Deshaun Watson stopgap. Brissett reunited with ex-Browns QBs coach Drew Petzing last year, signing with a Cardinals team featuring Petzing as the play-caller. Arizona’s coaching change leaves his status murkier, and trade noise has emerged in the wake of the contract demand.
Minshew’s presence — and the general lack of expectations surrounding this Cardinals team — would stand to keep Brissett’s price point reasonable. Although the 2025 Giants showed two stopgap veterans (Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston) can stay on a team with a rookie QB investment, the Cardinals could certainly get by with just Minshew accompanying Beck.
This Cards regime has traded a bridge starter in the past, unloading Josh Dobbs (to the Vikings) at the 2023 deadline — as Kyler Murray finished off his ACL rehab. With Minshew signing to play in LaFleur’s offense, Brissett’s name will be one to watch in the coming weeks and months. GM Monti Ossenfort trading Dobbs weeks after acquiring him in a deal does keep the door open to Minshew being a trade candidate as well, but Brissett’s contract situation represents a key variable here. For the time being, it is keeping him off the field as the Cardinals learn LaFleur’s offense.
Patriots Still Open To Trading WR Kayshon Boutte?
The Patriots continue to loom as A.J. Brown‘s presumed destination via trade. An agreement with the Eagles does not appear to be in place, but a swap happening after June 1 would increase the possibility of an in-house New England wideout being dealt.
On that note, Kayshon Boutte‘s name has been mentioned on more than one occasion. The Patriots were open to a trade leading up to last month’s draft. Nothing materialized at the time, but it appears as though New England would still be willing to authorize a swap in this case.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported in April the Patriots were prepared to move Boutte for a Day 3 pick. Even though no deal was made then, and despite the fact the Brown swap has not yet occurred, Breer writes New England would still likely accept a fifth- or sixth-round selection in a Boutte trade. The LSU product is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Boutte played in just five games as a rookie, but he has operated as a regular presence on offense over the past two seasons. The 24-year-old has totaled 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns during that span, and he chipped in with one score during the Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl in 2025. Boutte is owed $1.15MM in cash for the coming campaign.
New England’s receiver depth chart no longer includes Stefon Diggs, but it is currently topped by free agent addition Romeo Doubs. He is set serve as a starter, while the same will of course be true for Brown if/when he winds up with the Patriots. Boutte is joined by Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas as a pending 2027 free agent, so movement among wideouts in that group could take place prior to roster cutdowns at the end of August. By that point at the latest, more clarity on the Boutte front should emerge.
Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Agree To Deal
MAY 18: The Rodgers pact is now official, per a team announcement. Rodgers will indeed collect up to $25MM in 2026. He took part in the first day of OTAs, and a first-team workload will be in store through the remainder of the offseason.
MAY 16: Speculation surrounding the second year of the Steelers-Aaron Rodgers partnership can be put to rest. A deal is indeed in place between team and player.
Rodgers has agreed to another one-year Pittsburgh contract, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Rodgers has long been expected to suit up for the 2026 season. He will do so and reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy in the process while delaying retirement once more.
This pact has a base value between $22MM and $23MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It can max out at $25MM via incentives. Pelissero notes $22MM is guaranteed. Last year, Rodgers collected $10MM guaranteed and over $14MM in total, so this new deal certainly marks a considerable raise.
McCarthy – who took over following Mike Tomlin‘s resignation – remained in constant communication with Rodgers in recent months. That helped fuel the belief a reunion between the two would be forthcoming, although no firm commitments were known to be made by the four-time MVP. In the end, the anticipated outcome has emerged. Pelissero adds, to no surprise, Rodgers is set to take part in the start of organized team activities on Monday.
OTAs represented the latest artificial deadline for an agreement in this case. The Steelers hoped to avoid a lengthy waiting period on the Rodgers front after one took place in 2025. As the draft came and went, uncertainty continued to loom with respect to Pittsburgh’s quarterback outlook. Drew Allar was added in the third round of the event, but he will spend the coming campaign as a developmental passer. Veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard are also in the fold.
In the event a Rodgers agreement fell through, Rudolph and Howard were set to engage in a training camp competition with Pittsburgh not seeking an outside addition. The latest update on that front confirmed, however, that both passers were expected to occupy depth roles in 2026. Not long after receiving the rarely-used UFA tender, Rodgers is indeed in the mix. The future Hall of Famer was seen in Pittsburgh today with some members of the Steelers, and he will spend the coming months preparing for his 22nd NFL season.
A visit from earlier this month suggested an agreement was imminent, although it was only Rogers’ agent who spoke with the Steelers at that time. Finances were not seen as an issue regarding a second arrangement between the parties, something which has proven to be true. An otherwise low-cost Pittsburgh quarterback room will no doubt continue to face questions regarding the future as the 2026 season plays out, but there will be stability atop the depth chart.
Rodgers made 16 appearances during the year in 2025 and also played in Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss. His statistical output over that span fell short of his peak years but offered Pittsburgh with a high floor in QB play, especially relative to the team’s other post-Ben Roethlisberger passers. Expectations will need to be tempered as Rodgers approaches his age-42 campaign, but the Steelers have made several notable offseason additions on offense. Improved play with those new faces, and a revamped staff led by McCarthy, could see the Steelers end their drought (2016-present) for playoff victories.
A veteran-laden core remains in place on defense in particular for Pittsburgh. Rodgers will be expected to help the win-now group justify the commitment from owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and Co. to contending in 2026 instead of resetting under center this spring. Questions will loom about the Steelers’ plans over medium- and long-term future at the quarterback position, but for at least one more season the status quo will be in place.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis Addresses Chris Olave Extension Talks
Earlier this spring, it was learned extension negotiations were underway between Chris Olave and the Saints. No deal has been struck yet, but team and player are looking to finalize an agreement.
When speaking about the status of contract talks, general manager Mickey Loomis said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell), “obviously we’d love to have something done sooner than later and I’m sure Chris would as well, but we’re not there yet.” It will be interesting to see if progress can be made in the near future.
Loomis added (via Terrell) Olave has frequently been around the team with talks going well so far. That certainly suggests an agreement will be in place prior to training camp this summer. As things stand, Olave is a pending 2027 free agent since he is set to play on his fifth-year option. The Ohio State product is due $15.49MM in 2026.
Any long-term pact will no doubt cost more. The top of the receiver market moved to $42.15MM when Jaxon Smith-Njigba inked his Seahawks extension. Olave will not be expected to reach that figure on a second Saints contract, but 15 wideouts currently average between $20MM and $30MM annually. A pact toward the more lucrative end of that range could be feasible for Olave, who is approaching his age-26 season.
New Orleans has relied heavily on the former No. 11 pick since his arrival. Olave has been targeted at least 119 times in three of his four NFL seasons. The lone exception was 2024, a campaign in which injuries limited him to eight games. Olave previously gave thought to retirement in the wake of his concussion history, but he managed to return to full health and reprise his role as a focal point on offense this past season. Even with first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson in the fold, Olave will be counted on to remain a 1,000-yard producer well into the future provided an extension gets worked out.
The Saints find themselves in much better financial shape than previous years with respect to contract flexibility. New Orleans is currently projected to have roughly $49MM in cap space in 2027, a figure which should make an Olave raise viable. If positive indications continue to emerge in this case, news of an agreement could be coming shortly.
NFL Owners To Vote On Expanded International Schedule
The NFL’s owners will meet this week in Orlando. Among the items on the agenda is a potential expansion of the league’s international schedule.
Owners will have the option of increasing the number of overseas games to 10 for 2027, as noted by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. That figure would not include the Jaguars’ ability to schedule a London contest separate from the NFL’s slate. The team’s home games are set to be played in Orlando in 2027 while stadium renovations in Jacksonville take place.
As a result, a maximum of 11 international games could be played that season. 2026 will see a new record set in that regard, and continued expansion of the overseas slate has long been a priority for the NFL’s owners. That is not expected to end (or even see a reduction) any time soon with new markets consistently being sought out.
In 2026, three games will be played in London; the Jags will play there in consecutive weeks. One game in each of Paris, Madrid and Munich will also be taking place. Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro will serve as host cities for NFL contests as well, with a return to Mexico City also forthcoming. Nine of the league’s first 11 weeks during the regular season will include an overseas game.
The NFL is aiming to eventually have every team play once internationally on an annual basis, something which has become increasingly clear over time. A 16-game slate would of course become more feasible with an overall expansion of the schedule from 17 games to 18. Nothing seems to be imminent on that front, but the widespread expectation remains that an 18-game setup will be in place relatively soon. Especially if/when that is the case, further expansion of markets outside the United States can be anticipated.
Brendan Sorsby Requests Expedited Resolution To Eligibility Issue From NCAA
The legal battle around the future of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby has begun to take shape.
First up is an attempt to reinstate his NCAA eligibility. His lawyers requested an expedited resolution to that process, per Ross Dellinger of Yahoo Sports, seemingly with an expectation of being denied as they have also informed the NCAA of an “imminent” legal challenge.
Then there is Texas Tech, who gave Sorsby a $6MM NIL deal to transfer in from Cincinnati. The school has formed their own legal team to represent their interests (via Dellinger’s colleague, Charles Robinson), which include protecting their investment in Sorsby and getting it back if he is deemed ineligible.
Given the gambling allegations against Sorsby, escaping punishment of some sort seems impossible. But he and Texas Tech could push for a settlement with the NCAA that forces him to take a suspension but leaves him eligible for part of the 2026 season.
If the NCAA will not play ball, then Sorsby and Texas Tech may face off for his NIL money. The 22-year-old will then turn his attention to the NFL, who would have to approve his entrance into the supplemental draft. The league has done so in the past for players dealing with college eligibility issues, but increased scrutiny around their partnership with the gambling industry may require them to take a harder line. Sorsby could then pursue legal action against the NFL from an antitrust angle, a specialty of his lead attorney, Jeffrey Kessler.
Analysis of the situation has frequently referenced former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who lost his college eligibility for accepting money for autographs. The NFL accepted him into the supplemental draft but suspended him for the first five games of his career. The league could treat Sorsby similarly to deliver him some kind of punishment while also permitting him to continue his football career.