Chargers To Prioritize Guard, Edge Rusher In Draft
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz worked hard to fill his team’s roster holes this offseason, particularly in the trenches. He strengthened the offensive and defensive line and also added key blockers in tight end Charlie Kolar and fullback Alec Ingold.
However, Los Angeles still lacks a clear starter at right guard or an impact third edge rusher behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. They are expected to prioritized both positions in this month’s draft, per ESPN’s Matt Miller.
The Chargers remade the interior of their offensive line this offseason, bringing in Tyler Biadasz at center and Cole Strange at left guard. They have a few options at right guard in Trey Pipkins and Trevor Penning, but a first-round pick could be an upgrade, similar to how Joe Alt unseated Pipkins at right tackle in 2024. The 2026 draft class has a number of NFL-ready guards spread throughout the first two days of the draft with Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane considered the top player at the position. He may not even get to the Chargers’ first-round pick (No. 22 overall), but if he is available, he could both be the best player available and fill the team’s biggest need.
Off the edge, the Chargers re-signed Mack to pair with Tuipulotu for another year, but the 35-year-old has openly considered retirement in each of the last two offseasons. They will likely want to find a long-term running mate for their 2023 second-round pick who could also be an upgrade over Bud Dupree as a rookie. Edge rusher rankings vary wildly behind Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr., so Los Angeles could see their first-round targets snapped up before they are on the clock. In that case, they may opt to wait until the second round, where Illinois’ Gabe Jacas “has been identified as an option at No. 55,” according to Miller. Jim Harbaugh will appreciate his always-hot motor and relentless pursuit of the football that resulted in 19 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss in the last two years.
Walking out of the draft with Ioane and Jacas – or a similar combination of starting guard and impact edge rusher – would seem to be a home run for a Chargers team that has largely been built through the draft.
Browns DE Myles Garrett More Likely To Get Raise Than Be Traded?
The Browns’ recent adjustment to Myles Garrett‘s contract once again stirred trade speculation about the five-time All-Pro, but the team has consistently refuted those claims. A pay raise to match the top of an ever-rising edge rusher market is thought to be more likely, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Garrett, 30, requested a trade last offseason and instead received a four-year, $160MM extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. He has since been surpassed by six players, including four edge rushers led by Micah Parsons at $46.5MM per year.
Now, Will Anderson is projected to approach a $50MM AAV on his long-term extension with the Texans. But statistically, Garrett is still the best in the league. Last year, he set a single-season record with 23.0 sacks and led the NFL with 33 tackles for loss, which earned him his second Defensive Player of the Year trophy in the last three years. Until and unless another player is able to match or surpass his production, he will always have an argument to see his contract value rise with the market.
Cleveland was willing to hand Garrett a new deal last offseason, perhaps partially out of appreciation for his patience with their never-ending rebuild. But he is now under contract through 2030, so a raise via an extension may not make sense. The two sides could instead agree on an entirely new deal, which may have been the motivation for the recent contract modification. By pushing back the option payment date, they have more time to see where the market goes over the next few months and reward Garrett appropriately before the season begins.
TE Kenyon Sadiq An Option For Buccaneers?
The Mike Evans-less Buccaneers are going to look different offensively in 2026. As part of their subtle offensive makeover, the team could look to add an intriguing spark to the unit.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, the Buccaneers have “keyed in” on the tight end position ahead of the draft. That’s made Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq a “real possibility” for the organization at pick No. 15.
Sadiq is widely considered the top tight end prospect in the draft, and he’ll likely be the only player at his position selected on Day 1. The tight end saw a larger role with the Ducks in 2024, including a Big Ten Football Championship Game when he hauled in a pair of touchdowns. He had a true breakout in 2025, finishing with 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns.
Scouts have touted the Oregon star’s offensive tenacity, and his size and speed will make him an intriguing piece in an NFL offense. While scouts are similarly wary of his pass-blocking ability, teams generally value pass-catching prowess when it comes to first-round investments at the position.
The Buccaneers are among the squads that would consider the star TE. Cade Otton has led the depth chart for several years but has never emerged as a top-tier player at the position. The veteran been relatively steady, especially over the past two years, when he’s averaged 59 catches, 586 yards, and more than two touchdowns per season. Still, it’s hard to blame the Buccaneers for considering an upgrade, especially with Evans no longer around.
The organization somewhat prepared for Evans departure during the 2025 draft, when they added Emeka Egbuka with the 19th-overall pick. The Ohio State product finished his rookie season with 938 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and he’ll lead the pass-catching corps in 2026. With Chris Godwin hitting his twilight, Sadiq could join Egbuka and recent draft picks Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson as young pieces on Tampa Bay’s offense.
Colts Host North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
Daniel Jones revitalized his career in 2025, although his torn Achilles has put his immediate future in doubt. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson seems destined to be playing elsewhere in 2026. In other words, the Colts’ QBs room remains a major question mark, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the team is eyeing the position ahead of the draft.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Colts hosted North Dakota State QB Cole Payton on a visit today. This represents the second reported visit for the prospect, as the Steelers hosted Payton last month.
The quarterback was mostly used in rushing packages through his first four collegiate seasons. This was especially apparent during the 2023 campaign, when he had 84 rushing attempts (for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns) vs. only 27 pass attempts. However, he finally got a chance to start under center as a redshirt senior.
Anthony had a breakout campaign in 2025. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. While his rushing efficiency dropped a bit, he still managed to compile 777 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. That performance earned him a second-team All-MVFC nod.
Cole’s dual-threat ability and sturdy frame has put him on the NFL radar, and there were some rumblings in February that the QB was rising up draft boards. At the same time, scouts continue to question his passing mechanics and ability to read a defense. The North Dakota State product will surely hear his name called during the draft, but there’s a chance he falls all the way to Day 3.
If he does land with the Colts, that would likely make him a developmental piece, although that would still be an intriguing landing spot for the prospect. The Colts showed some faith in Jones by handing him a two-year, $88MM extension this offseason. However, the player’s iffy track record and current injury warrants some doubt about his long-term role atop the depth chart. There was once hope that Richardson would be the team’s long-term solution at the position, but the former fourth-overall pick has disappointed during his time in Indy, leading many to believe that he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2026.
That’s all to say that the Colts are a logical landing spot for a developmental QB. The team won’t immediately displace Jones with an early-round signal caller, but Payton would be a notable selection as someone who can quietly work on their game before eventually taking over the job.
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter Visits Buccaneers, Bengals, Bills
Teams looking to improve their run defense will likely be interested in Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, who is a projected Day 2 pick in this month’s draft. The 330-pounder logged 31 tackles for loss across the last three seasons and profiles as an instant-impact run-stuffer in the NFL.
One of Hunter’s recent Instagram stories showed him visiting the Buccaneers (via FOX Sports’ Greg Auman). Tampa Bay does not have an immediate need along the defensive line after signing A’Shawn Robinson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches to replace Logan Hall and Greg Gaines. However, those additions are both on one-year contracts, and both Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey are set to hit free agency in 2027. With long-term extensions on tap for Baker Mayfield and YaYa Diaby, the team will not be able to re-sign all four of their veteran defensive tackles. Hunter would be ready to join the Buccaneers’ defensive line rotation right away as a run-stopper with the goal of developing his pass rushing chops for a bigger role in 2027.
Hunter also completed a visit to the Bengals, per Ryan Fowler of Commanding the Huddle. Cincinnati had the league’s worst run defense in 2025, allowing 5.2 yards per carry and almost 150 yards per game. The team strengthened their defensive line by signing Jonathan Allen, but Hunter would be a long-term anchor for a unit that has lacked a reliable run-stopping nose tackle since D.J. Reader‘s departure in 2024. He may not have much pass-rushing upside, but his size and power will command double-teams and open up opportunities for his teammates.
Hunter’s most recent visit was to the Bills, according to an Instagram story posted on Monday. Buffalo finished with a bottom-five run defense last year and will need to add depth at nose tackle under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Sean McDermott‘s 4-3 scheme prioritized lighter, more athletic defensive tackles, but Leonard’s 3-4 will require another massive space-eater to go along with 2025 fourth-rounder Deone Walker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/13/26
One minor moves to pass along:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OL Joshua Miles
Miles joined the Raiders practice squad back in December and was retained via a reserve/futures contract after the season. However, he’s now apparently calling it a career, as the organization placed the lineman on the reserve/retired list today.
The 2019 seventh-round pick out of Morgan State has bounced around the NFL over the past few years. Besides his recent stint with the Raiders, Miles also spent time with the Cardinals, Falcons, Giants, Bears, and Browns. He got into 17 games with the Cardinals between 2019 and 2021, although the majority of his snaps came on special teams.
Teams Expect OT Francis Mauigoa To Need Back Surgery
Miami’s Francis Mauigoa has emerged as the draft’s top offensive tackle prospect, although suitors expect that the lineman will eventually have to go under the knife. As Albert Breer of SI.com writes, teams believe Mauigoa will require a cleanup procedure on his back.
This report follows the prospect’s evaluation at the Indianapolis medical recheck. Breer notes that the player is currently symptom-free, so perhaps Mauigoa can delay his impending surgery until next offseason. Either way, it sounds like something the player and his NFL team will have to navigate.
Breer adds that Mauigoa partly earned his reputation due to his durability, as he didn’t miss a single snap for the Hurricanes after joining the school as a true freshman. He finished his Miami career with his most decorated season in 2025, as the lineman earned a number of honors, including first-team All-ACC, a consensus All-American nod, and the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best blocker.
The six-foot-five, 329-pound prospect has been lauded by scouts for his (obvious) size and power. He’s expected to immediately be a dominant run blocker, although there are some questions about his pass-block ability. As a result, many draft pundits have assumed that Mauigoa is destined to play right tackle in the NFL. However, if a team used a top-10 selection on the Miami product, there’s a chance they’ll eventually see what he can do protecting the blind side.
Mauigoa is currently listed as the 10th-best prospect in the draft in NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah’s updated rankings. He’s gone as high as No. 3 to the Cardinals in several mock drafts, although the Giants (No. 5) and Browns (No. 6) have consistently been listed as the most common landing spots for the offensive tackle. While this recent revelation about a future surgery isn’t ideal, it probably won’t have any impact on the player’s draft stock.
Patriots Showing Interest In Guards
After spending the fourth overall pick on left tackle Will Campbell and a third-rounder on center Jared Wilson in the 2025 draft, the Patriots are expected to further address the offensive line this year. With the start of the draft 10 days away, the Patriots are eyeing guards. They will host Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon on a “30” visit, according to Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports. The Patriots also wanted to fly in Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis for a visit, but “time constraints” prevented it from happening, per Pauline.
With the signing of former Jet Alijah Vera-Tucker to a three-year, $42MM contract, the Patriots made a significant investment at guard in free agency. Vera-Tucker will play left guard if healthy. The problem is that injuries have been a frequent issue for Vera-Tucker, who has missed 42 of 85 games since going in the first round of the 2021 draft. He sat out all of 2025 as a result of a torn triceps.
Even if Vera-Tucker has better luck with health in New England, the team has a long-term question at right guard. Michael Onwenu, who also carries significant experience at tackle, has been a full-time RG starter for the past year and a half. During a second straight 17-game season in 2025, Onwenu led Patriots offensive linemen in snap share (98.9%) and finished as Pro Football Focus’ eighth-ranked guard. The six-year veteran remains locked in at his position going into 2026, but it is the last season of his contract.
Considering the high cost of quality guards in free agency, Onwenu could price himself out of New England in a year. It would make sense to have a promising replacement like Pregnon or Bisontis waiting in the wings. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Bisontis 34th and Pregnon 57th among this year’s prospects. Bisontis is a potential first-rounder who has drawn plenty of interest leading up to the draft.
Including No. 31 in Round 1 and the 63rd overall selection in the second round, the Patriots will enter the draft with 11 picks. The reigning AFC champions may not use all of those choices, though. Rather, the team could attempt to use its haul of Day 3 picks to move up, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. The Patriots have two fourth-rounders and four sixth-rounders, which should give them the ammo to move up if they covet a certain player.
NFC North Notes: Ragnow, Bears, Packers
The Lions continued their practice of recouping money from retired players’ signing bonuses by asking for some of Frank Ragnow‘s. The former Pro Bowl center is believed to have paid back part of $3MM, the maximum number the team could collect in this case, according to the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. The Lions famously proceeded this way with Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, alienating both following their earlier-than-expected retirements. Detroit having done this with all-time greats made the team refuse to make an exception for Ragnow, who retired last summer — before a failed comeback attempt.
“Our precedent goes all the way back to Barry Sanders,” team president Rod Wood said, via Birkett. “And if Barry Sanders paid back money. … And I think the reality is, they’re not paying back their money, they’re returning our money. Cause they were paid in advance for services that they hadn’t completed.”
Teams are within their rights to ask for signing bonus money back after a retirement, but not all do so. Ragnow signed a four-year, $54MM extension in 2021. That deal included only a $6MM signing bonus; $3MM of that remained on Detroit’s cap sheet, as two years were left on the center’s deal. Although signing bonuses are prorated over the life of a contract, players receive them much earlier — typically in a lump-sum payment or multiple such payments. The Lions asked for $1.6MM of a possible $3.2MM from Johnson following his 2016 retirement, and they went to arbitration with Sanders after his stunning summer 1999 exit.
“I think every contract’s slightly different and I won’t get into the negotiations because what we did with any one player wasn’t exactly the same and it did have something to do with how long ago it was and what percentage of the contract was a signing bonus vs. P5 [base salary],” Wood said. “But once you don’t do it with somebody, even a small amount, it makes it difficult to get the bigger amount. And it’s really, it’s the Lions’ money, it’s not the player’s money.”
Sanders and Johnson have since reconciled with the Lions. Ragnow, 29, is not planning another comeback bid. Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- The Bears are viewed as likely to add a defensive lineman in Round 1, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller notes. The team has Dayo Odeyingbo stationed opposite Montez Sweat, but the ex-Colt is coming off an Achilles tear. Chicago also pursued Maxx Crosby via trade. The team is believed to be high on Missouri’s Zion Young, Miller adds. Young may be considered a reach in Round 1, as Daniel Jeremiah ranks the D-end 45th on his big board. The Bears have three picks in the first two rounds, following the D.J. Moore trade, and may feature a bigger DT need. Grady Jarrett is going into an age-33 season, though the team did sign depth options in Kentavius Street and Neville Gallimore.
- Shemar Turner is also coming off a season-ending injury, but prior to his October ACL tear, the Bears had moved the defensive tackle to DE. It will be expected Turner stays at the EDGE spot upon recovery, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs notes. The Bears chose Turner in the 2025 second round; his minimal defensive snaps were split almost evenly between DE and DT.
- The Packers reunited Javon Hargrave with new DC Jonathan Gannon, but some around the league look to have expected the team to sign Dalvin Tomlinson. Also an NFC cap casualty in March, Tomlinson ended up with the Chargers on a one-year, $6.2MM deal. Weight issues may have steered the Packers away from Tomlinson, a personnel exec informed SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A nine-year veteran, Tomlinson spent last season as a full-time Cardinals starter. The Pack added Hargrave on a two-year, $23MM deal.
- Staying on the subject of NFC North D-lines, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes the Lions met with five-year veteran Jay Tufele. Seeing time with the Jaguars, Bengals and Jets, the former fourth-round pick has started seven career games. The 26-year-old DT spent last season with the Jets, logging 230 defensive snaps.
Latest On Raiders’ Second-Round Plans; Team To Meet With CB Chris Johnson
There is little doubt the Raiders will use the first overall pick in the draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. On the other hand, there is far less certainty surrounding their second-round choice (No. 36 overall). Wide receiver and right tackle are among the areas the Raiders could address with that selection, Matt Miller of ESPN hears.
While veteran free agent pickup Kirk Cousins may be new head coach Klint Kubiak‘s starting QB to open 2026, the Raiders will expect Mendoza to be their long-term answer. Drafting either a receiver or an offensive lineman in Round 2 would be an attempt to provide more help for the prized signal-caller.
As a rookie general manager in 2025, John Spytek spent second- and fourth-round picks on receivers Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton. Those two remain unproven after combining for a meager 30 catches and no touchdowns as rookies. Tre Tucker led Raiders wideouts in receptions (57), yards (696) and touchdowns (five) last season, but he is scheduled to reach free agency next March. While the Raiders inked ex-Viking Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35MM contract in free agency, he has never reached the 30-catch mark in a season.
If the Raiders pick up another newcomer for their receiving corps in the second round, Alabama’s Germie Bernard may be a realistic option. The Raiders visited with the Las Vegas native last month. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Bernard as the seventh-best receiver in this year’s class. It is less likely anyone from Brugler’s top six – Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr. (Mendoza’s college teammate) and Denzel Boston – will be available to the Raiders at 36.
Turning to right tackle, DJ Glaze has been the Raiders’ primary option since former GM Tom Telesco took him in the third round of the 2024 draft. Glaze is coming off his first 17-start season, though Pro Football Focus ranked his play a bottom-tier 60th among 78 tackles. Meanwhile, soon-to-be 31-year-old left tackle Kolton Miller missed all but four games as a result of a high ankle sprain and hairline fracture. Thanks in part to their issues at tackle, the Raiders allowed a league-worst 64 sacks. Geno Smith took a beating in his lone season as the Raiders’ quarterback. They obviously want better protection for Cousins and Mendoza.
The Raiders have vastly improved their offensive line this offseason with the signing of premier center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-setting pact in free agency. Someone like Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor could be on their radar if they want to continue strengthening their line in the second round.
Although offense may be the more likely path with the Raiders’ second selection, they are still putting in work on high-level defensive prospects. The team has scheduled a visit with San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, per Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports. Brugler ranks Johnson as the 24th-best prospect in this class. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com is less bullish, but he still places Johnson 40th.
Johnson, who picked off four passes in 2025 and earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors, could be the Raiders’ choice if they go defense in the second round. He would join Eric Stokes and 2025 third-rounder Darien Porter as the Raiders’ top boundary corners. Johnson also has experience in the slot. The Raiders added veteran slot corner Taron Johnson in a trade with the Bills last month, but he is nearing 30 and coming off back-to-back injury-limited seasons.