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.
Tackle, Guard Markets Could See Substantial Increases
Wide receivers and edge rushers (and to a lesser extent, cornerbacks and defensive tackles) have seen significant jumps in their pay over the last two years, and center Tyler Linderbaum blew his positional market out of the water in March.
The next positions up for raises are offensive tackles and guards, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Both have seen steady bumps in recent years; Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil recently cracked the $30MM-per-year mark, and Cowboys left guard Tyler Smith signed a $24MM-AAV extension at the beginning of last season. The league’s top receivers and edge rushers, though, are paid more than $40MM per year, and, along with cornerbacks, saw players reset the market by at least $5MM per year.
The rise in edge rusher pay should lead to a corresponding jump for the offensive tackles who block them, a pattern that has persisted since Lawrence Taylor first made the blind side the most important area in the game. (The increase in wide receiver pay had a similar effect on the cornerback market.) However, all of the league’s top veteran tackles are under contract for at least two years, limiting the ability of players like Tristan Wirfs and Penei Sewell to negotiate substantial raises, though Sewell’s impending switch to left tackle in Detroit could give him some grounds.
As for younger players, Bears right tackle Darnell Wright is the top 2023 draftee who is eligible for an extension off his rookie deal. His second-team All-Pro nod last season significantly strengthens his case for a top-of-the-market extension, but he is unlikely to secure a $5MM-plus raise over Tunsil’s deal.
Such a jump may need to wait until 2024’s strong draft class reach extension eligibility next season. Chargers right tackle Joe Alt is currently the best candidate to push for $35MM per year or more, but Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu and Titans left tackle JC Latham could play themselves into a similar range.
As with offensive tackles and edge rushers, guards should benefit from the increase in defensive tackle pay with four players signing for at least $25MM per year in the last year. However, none have eclipsed Chris Jones‘ 2024 $31.25MM AAV deal, which may limit the jump for guards.
2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski is the top extension-eligible guard from his draft class, but his pedigree does not support a market-setting deal. But Colts left guard Quenton Nelson is entering a contract year, and with Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition in every year of his career, he is well-positioned to demand a big raise.
Guards have long been paid more than centers, so Linderbaum’s jump to $27MM per year should give Nelson plenty of leverage to reach a similar sum. It will be interesting to see, though, if his deal reflects a new trend of teams paying all interior linemen in a similar range.
There are two other patterns that could emerge from Linderbaum’s contract. The first is guarantee structure. His three-year deal includes the first two seasons fully guaranteed at signing with the third season’s guarantees vesting at the beginning of the second. In other words, his deal is effectively fully guaranteed, as the Raiders are not going to release him before the remainder of his guarantees kick in. Other offensive linemen may now pursue deals that are three years in length with similar guarantees rather than the four years that have been more popular, especially for players’ second contracts.
The last potential trend from Linderbaum’s deal with the Raiders is an increased willingness for teams with young quarterbacks to aggressively invest in their offensive lines. Las Vegas wanted to add one of the league’s best centers to both to block for Fernando Mendoza and to serve as a trust partner at the line of scrimmage as he transitions to the pros. The Jets are expected to draft a rookie quarterback next year, and the Titans already have Cam Ward, which could give Fashanu, Latham, and Skoronski more leverage.
Ravens To Consider Free Agent WR?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently named the Chiefs as a team that could be perusing the free agent wide receiver market. In the same SportsCenter segment (h/t Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report), Fowler said the Ravens are another club that may be in the mix for a veteran pass catcher.
[RELATED: Ravens Seeking C Addition]
Zay Flowers, whose fifth-year option was recently exercised, will once again represent quarterback Lamar Jackson’s top target among Baltimore’s wide receiver contingent. But current WR2 Rashod Bateman followed up his 45/756/9 showing in 2024 with a pedestrian 19/224/2 line, and he was mentioned as a possible trade candidate earlier this year.
Bateman’s disappointing 2025 was in many ways a byproduct of Jackson’s injury-marred year, so it would be fair to expect him to bounce back if Jackson remains healthy in ‘26. Nonetheless, immediately behind Bateman on the depth chart are former fourth-rounder Devontez Walker – who has just seven catches over his two-year NFL career – and rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, who were selected in the third and fourth round, respectively, of April’s draft.
As such, an FA addition would come as no surprise, even though there has not been much chatter connecting Baltimore to the players that are still on the market (a list that includes Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen). Baltimore did homework on some of the top receiver prospects in the draft like Omar Cooper Jr. and Denzel Boston, but the club went in a different direction with its first two picks.
The Ravens were linked to a trade for the Eagles’ A.J. Brown back in March, and while the Patriots have long been seen as the frontrunner to acquire Brown, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe suggests Baltimore is one of the teams that could get back into the mix. Volin also names the Ravens as one of the best fits for Diggs, a Maryland native whose market should start to pick up now that he has been acquitted of assault and strangulation charges.
Baltimore’s offense will once again rely heavily on running back Derrick Henry and Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities. But with over $18MM of available cap space, GM Eric DeCosta has the financial flexibility to add to the club’s WR corps if he believes there is not enough experience and upside behind Flowers at the moment.
Cowboys Could See Battle For RB2
After re-signing former second-round running back Javonte Williams following a breakout 2025 campaign, the Cowboys’ 2026 offensive backfield is set to look extremely similar to last year’s group. While the only difference will be the departure of veteran Miles Sanders, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram believes there could be a battle for the RB2 role in Dallas over the offseason.
Based purely on the team’s production last year, Malik Davis should be first in line for opportunities off the bench behind Williams. After Williams’ line of 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, Davis was the next-highest producer with career-best totals in carries (52), rushing yards (250), and rushing touchdowns (two) over 10 games. Jaydon Blue, the fifth-round rookie out of Texas, had the next-best numbers with 38 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown in half the games Davis saw.
Behind them, Sanders toted the rock 20 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, and seventh-round rookie Phil Mafah saw his few touches (five carries, 18 yards, one touchdown) in the team’s regular season finale.
Harris believes there’s a desire for Blue to pick up the mantle of RB2 based on the change of pace and pass-catching element he can provide, something that is lacking in the games of Davis and Mafah. While Mafah had the most collegiate success of the three, combining for 2,080 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in his final two years at Clemson, Blue had actual experience as a No. 2 in Austin.
In his final season with the Longhorns, despite putting up career highs in carries (134), rushing yards (730), and rushing touchdowns (8), Blue was outpaced by RB1 Tre Wisner in carries (226) and rushing yards (1,064). Not only did Blue score more on the ground than Wisner, but he also showed more electric abilities as a receiver out of the backfield, adding 42 catches for 368 yards and six touchdowns through the air. Experience in exactly that kind of a role could set Blue up well to challenge Davis for the primary backup duties next year.
Harris also believes that the RB2 role will be a much more significant one in 2026 than it was last year. Now that Dallas has Williams secured on a three-year contract, they won’t want the North Carolina-product to work in a bell-cow situation that might shorten the lifetime of his effectiveness. Strategically spelling Williams with an effective RB2 is the dream scenario for the Cowboys offense, and Blue and Mafah could be challenging Davis for that honor over the summer.
Seahawks First-Rounder Jadarian Price To Take Kenneth Walker’s Role
The Seahawks surprised many observers by taking Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the No. 32 pick in April’s draft. The move, though, filled a major hole with Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL.
Charbonnet is expected to be sidelined well into the regular season, but Price will not have to take over Seattle’s backfield on his own. Instead, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, he will replace Walker, who was Seattle’s leading rusher over the last four years but saw a near-even snap split with Charbonnet in 2025. The pair also saw similar workloads; Walker averaged 13 carries and 14.8 touches per game, while Charbonnet averaged 11.5 and 12.8, respectively.
Price is seen as an excellent fit for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s outside zone game, which was a staple at Notre Dame. Seahawks general manager John Schneider has praised his new draft pick’s athleticism and vision, two key traits for such a system.
Price is not yet a do-it-all back, though, so the Seahawks plan to spread Charbonnet’s responsibilities across the backfield. They signed former Packer Emanuel Wilson in free agency, likely to install the 226-pounder in Charbonnet’s power back role. 2024 UDFA George Holani saw increased pass protection responsibilities after Charbonnet went down in the playoffs and could earn a third down role for the 2026 season.
A timeshare is nothing new for Price, who played behind Cardinals No. 3 pick Jeremiyah Love for his entire time in South Bend. He still managed an efficient 6.1 yards per carry over the last two years, though he did not consistently contribute in the passing game. That is one way he can expand his skillset – and therefore his role – in Seattle in the long-term. In the immediate future, he could add some explosiveness to the Seahawks’ return game, though the team is already well-covered in that regard with Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton already on the roster.
NFC East Front Office Updates: Giants, Commanders, Cowboys
Yesterday, the Giants added a new name to their front office in former Texans co-director of college scouting John Richter. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Richter is heading to New York for “a similar role and title in their personnel department.”
After taking a go at a playing and coaching career, Richter turned to personnel, debuting in the league with the Dolphins in 2011. He followed that up with a role in Arizona for six years before landing with the Texans. He’s worked eight seasons in Houston, working as a national scout and southeast area scout.
Per Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, although new head coach John Harbaugh has seized a lot of decision-making power in New York, this was a decision led by general manager Joe Schoen. When Richter first started with the Dolphins, Schoen was in Miami as a national scout. It’s unclear if the two overlapping with the Dolphins led to Schoen pushing for Richter to be hired now, but the two will be reunited as the Giants add someone with lots of scouting experience.
Here are a couple other front office updates from around the NFC East:
- Neil Stratton of SucceedInFootball.com reported earlier this month that the Commanders have hired Ryan Kessenich to the position of director of college scouting. This is a return to Washington for Kessenich, who started his scouting career with the franchise in 2005. Mixed in among two separate stints at Northwestern University and a scouting role with the Senior Bowl, Kessenrich’s 20 years of experience have seen him work with the Chiefs, Bears, and 49ers before ultimately landing back in DC.
- Lastly, the Cowboys made an addition to their data/analytics department earlier this month, hiring Sathya Balakumar to the role of football data engineer, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Before making the transition to the NFL, Balakumar was a software engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.