Browns HC Todd Monken Addresses Team’s QB1 Battle
The Browns’ next franchise passer does not appear to be on the roster yet, but for now, Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are competing for the starting quarterback job. While Sanders appeared to have the leg up on his veteran teammate earlier this spring, more recent reporting has suggested Watson will be under center in Week 1.
Watson and Sanders were still splitting first-team reps when OTAs opened last week, as ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi observes. Head coach Todd Monken previously expressed his preference to have a QB1 in place by the start of training camp, though he acknowledged that the depth chart could change throughout the course of the preseason slate.
Echoing those sentiments during OTAs, Monken said (via Oyefusi), “[y]ou’d love to have [an established depth chart] at every position at the end of spring, but you can’t guarantee that. We’ll have it set for Jacksonville [in Week 1].”
The first-year HC was predictably complimentary of both participants in the starting QB battle. With respect to Sanders, Monken said, “I think Shedeur’s come miles, in terms of his progressions, getting the ball out, his understanding of concepts. I think he’s really, really come a long way.”
Sanders, 24, dealt with plenty of growing pains as a rookie in 2025. He connected on 56.5% of passes, averaged 6.6 yards per attempt, and threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven). He posted a poor 68.1 traditional passer rating and an even worse 18.9 QBR in the process. On the other hand, it would not have been surprising to see him selected in the first round of last year’s draft, so if there is more than standard coach-speak to Monken’s comments, perhaps the former Colorado standout is on track for a breakthrough season.
Watson, who will turn 31 in September, has largely disappointed when on the field during his much-maligned Cleveland tenure, and a ruptured (and later re-reruptured) Achilles has kept him out of game action since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. He did return to practice in the latter stages of the ‘25 slate, and he has since received full medical clearance. In addition to praising Sanders’ growth, Monken offered an encouraging update with respect to Watson’s health.
“Deshaun’s athleticism shows up,” Monken said. “Obviously he’s had that, but he’s had injuries that have set him back. I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, but it’s exciting to see — it’s a weapon for him. It’s one of his superpowers, his athleticism.”
The Browns did select Taylen Green in the sixth round of this year’s draft, but they otherwise have focused on building up the rest of their roster in the hopes that – unless Watson or Sanders surprises in the upcoming season – they can drop a top 2027 draftee or quality veteran acquisition into a competitive lineup next year. Neither Green nor 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel are candidates for the QB1 gig at the moment.
Lions Could Extend RB Jahmyr Gibbs Soon; Team Still Interested In New Deal For TE Sam LaPorta
One year ago (almost to the day), we noted the Lions were already looking ahead to an extension for running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who was entering his third professional season. After a standout 2025 campaign, the time for Gibbs’ second contract could be approaching.
Detroit recently extended linebacker Jack Campbell, who was selected six picks after Gibbs in the first round of the 2023 draft. Given that the NFL continues to group off-ball LBs and pass-rushing LBs together for valuation purposes, the Lions had no choice but to decline Campbell’s fifth-year option, which would have made 2026 a platform year if not for the new deal.
In terms of club control, there is not as much urgency for the Lions to extend Gibbs. Because they did exercise the RB’s fifth-year option, he is locked in through the 2027 slate, and Detroit theoretically could utilize some sort of tag after that. However, with Campbell’s future now addressed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks Gibbs is next in line. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (video link), Schefter expressed his belief that an agreement will be coming this summer.
Even though Falcons RB Bijan Robinson is expected to land a more lucrative contract than Gibbs, the Lions may want to beat Atlanta to the punch and finalize a Gibbs extension before Robinson adds another data point to the top of the RB market. Irrespective of Robinson’s status, Detroit’s three–time Pro Bowler is in line to score a deal paying him in excess of $15MM per year, which would place him no lower than third in the NFL’s running back hierarchy. At present, Saquon Barkley ($20.6MM/year), Christian McCaffrey ($19MM), and Derrick Henry ($15MM) lead the way in terms of average annual value.
And Gibbs has certainly earned a big payday. The dual-threat has found the end zone a whopping 49 times (39 rushing, 10 receiving) in as many games. A two-time 1,200-yard rusher, Gibbs has averaged a robust 5.3 YPC on 675 career attempts. The 24-year-old is also fresh off a 77-catch season, easily surpassing the respectable 52 he totaled in each of his first two years.
In addition to Gibbs and Campbell, the 2023 draft also produced tight end Sam LaPorta and defensive back Brian Branch. In January, GM Brad Holmes identified all four members of that high-impact quartet as priorities. Holmes has checked Campbell’s extension off his to-do list, and it sounds as if Gibbs’ deal could be done in fairly short order. Similarly, Schefter says Detroit still wants to work out a long-term pact with LaPorta.
Because LaPorta and Branch were not first-round picks, they were not eligible for a fifth-year option. As such, they will be out of contract at the end of the ‘26 season unless a new pact is worked out before then.
While it may not mean anything, Schefter does not reference Branch in his report. Holmes’ January remarks notwithstanding, we heard the versatile defender probably would not receive an extension this offseason, so he could be on track to hit free agency in 2027.
Brian Flores Amends Complaint Against NFL, Subpoenas 31 Teams
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores* recently amended his lawsuit against the NFL and six of its teams to include a Title VII claim, and now he has amended it again. Per Daniel Kaplan of Front Office Sports, Flores has added a new retaliation count.
The nature of the allegation is presently unclear, but based on the NFL’s response, it appears Flores is arguing the league’s effort to enforce the arbitration provisions in its contracts is itself retaliatory. If that’s the case, sports attorney Chris Deubert tells Kaplan it “makes no sense,” and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk concedes it will be difficult to prove.
Nonetheless, Flores has scored a series of key wins in this long-running saga, and he is striking while the iron is hot. The trial court has allowed his claims against all six teams (the Giants, Broncos, Texans, Dolphins, Titans, and Cardinals) to proceed to trial rather than remain in the NFL’s arbitration system, and the trial court has also allowed the case to move forward as normal even as the NFL seeks United States Supreme Court review of that issue.
Allowing the case to move forward includes lifting the stay on discovery, so in addition to the amended complaint, Flores has subpoenaed 31 of the NFL’s 32 teams, as Kaplan details (presumably, only the Vikings have not been subpoenaed). ESPN’s Kris Rhim adds Flores has served more than 1,000 discovery requests, which the league has argued are punishingly overbroad.
“They’re obviously going scorched-earth,” Deubert said. “Presuming he’s asking about their employment hiring practices and policies, and even that can be difficult to just to respond to. … But those teams are probably going to object to the subpoenas, probably collectively through the league-friendly counsel, and say it’s not relevant, and there’ll be an interesting sort of fight there.”
The defendants will file a motion to dismiss in response to the latest amended complaint. As Rhim notes, the deadline for that is June 5. Pretrial briefs are due in late July/early August. A trial date likely will not be set until after the court rules on the motions to dismiss.
*Steve Wilks and Ray Horton are Flores’ co-plaintiffs, but for ease of reading, we will simply use Flores’ name when referring to the plaintiffs’ side of this matter.
NFL Mailbag: Chiefs, Sorsby, Vikings, Bengals
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag answers questions related to the Chiefs' receiver situation, the potential for 2026 including a high-profile supplemental draft prospect, the Vikings' busy offseason and the Bengals' outlook for the coming season.
Joey asks:
Who do you think the Chiefs sign to help out at WR after this Rashee Rice news? Do you think he still has a chance to stay long term or are there just too many red flags?
The list of veteran receivers still available is fairly long. Kansas City can’t afford much at the position (or any other, for that matter) but there will be options to choose from.
Seahawks Not Close To Devon Witherspoon Extension
The Seahawks are not close to signing star cornerback Devon Witherspoon to an extension, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Seattle had no issue signing fellow 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a long-term contract this offseason. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year is now the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL with a $42.25MM AAV in a deal that came together quickly this offseason.
Agreeing to terms with Witherspoon will take more time. The cornerback market increased by $5MM from 2024 to 2025, but Trent McDuffie only secured a $900K bump to $31MM on his deal with the Rams. That is somewhat discouraging considering McDuffie’s additional leverage since Los Angeles traded a first-round pick to acquire him.
Witherspoon, who is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro selection despite playing in just 12 games, could be angling for a bigger raise. He was a crucial part of Seattle’s league-leading defense in 2025 and all cornerbacks with 90.1 overall grade, a 90.1 run defense grade, and 13 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Another element is Witherspoon’s shared representation with Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez. New England is working on an extension with its 2023 first-round pick, but WIN Sports Group could be playing their offer against Seattle’s to secure the best deals possible for both players.
The Seahawks typically finalize their extensions by the start of training camp, Henderson notes, giving them some time window to finalize an agreement with Witherspoon. The former No. 5 pick was among the veterans present at OTAs this week, suggesting that he is not frustrated by contract talks thus far and offering optimism on reaching a deal within the next two months.
Giants WR Malik Nabers Uncertain For Week 1?
Malik Nabers‘ recent cleanup surgery raised some doubt about his availability for Week 1. Giants head coach John Harbaugh has since indicated that his Pro Bowl wide receiver’s status is indeed up in the air for New York’s season opener against the Cowboys.
“Just impossible to predict,” Harbaugh said at OTAs this week (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “The goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp. That’d be the goal, and we’ll see what happens.”
Nabers, 22, tore his ACL and meniscus at the end of September and underwent his first surgery in October. The Giants initially expected him to be ready for training camp, but Harbaugh walked that back in April. Now, it seems that the team is bracing for his potential absence to start the season.
“We’ll be ready to go either way,” Harbaugh said, adding that Nabers’ injury was not “simple.”
This could be a worrying update for Giants fans (and Nabers’ fantasy GMs), but Harbaugh was notoriously coy about injuries in Baltimore, especially complicated situations like Ronnie Stanley and Nnamdi Madubuike. During the season, he typically defers to the injury report, but that is less of an option in the offseason, where players’ presences at practice are closely watched and noticed.
Nabers seems unlikely to take the field until the end of training camp, at best, and his ramp-up period could extend into the season. He could even open the year on the physically unable to perform list, though that would prevent him from practicing until Week 5 and delay his return even longer.
The Giants are also taking a cautious path with star left tackle Andrew Thomas. He missed the start of the 2025 season as he recovered from a 2024 foot injury and finished the year on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. Thomas said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) that he is currently going through a “ramp up” process due to a lingering shoulder injury as well as long-term management of his 2024 Lisfranc injury.
While Thomas is sidelined, 2025 fifth-rounder Marcus Mbow is taking first-team left tackle reps, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The Purdue product was the Giants’ swing tackle as a rookie two starts and 261 snaps at left tackle and one start and 58 snaps at right tackle, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Cardinals Sign G Chase Bisontis To Fully Guaranteed Rookie Contract
Chase Bisontis is officially on the books. The second-round guard recently signed his rookie contract, per a Cardinals announcement.
[RELATED: Cardinals, Jacoby Brissett Not Close To Contract Resolution]
Selected 34th overall, Bisontis saw a number of other round two players (including those taken later than him) land fully guaranteed deals prior to his own being finalized. To no surprise, then, he too has secured full guarantees across all four years of his pact. As detailed by CardsWire’s Howard Balzer, the contract is worth of total of $13.26MM. That figure includes a $6.1MM signing bonus.
Many viewed the offensive line as an area the Cardinals would address with their top selection. Indications increasingly pointed toward running back Jeremiyah Love leading up to the draft, though, and that wound up being the route Arizona took. Trade interest was shown in the No. 34 pick, but the Cards elected to stay in place. That allowed for Bisontis to hear his name called.
The Texas A&M product established himself as a high-end guard prospect across his three years with the Aggies. Bisontis will be a candidate to take on a starting role immediately upon entering the NFL. The right guard spot in particular could be the subject of a training camp competition. Isaiah Adams logged 11 starts in that capacity last season, and two years remain on his rookie contract. A change to backup duties could be in store depending on how Bisontis fares this summer, however.
As a result of this signing, five of the Cards’ seven draftees are on the books. Only third-round quarterback Carson Beck and fourth-round defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor are still unsigned at this point. With neither of them in position to secure a fully guaranteed pact, a dispute over terms should not be expected.
Bears Expect Training Camp Return For DE Dayo Odeyingbo
Dayo Odeyingbo‘s debut season with the Bears did not go according to plan. An Achilles tear limited him to just eight games, but a return for practices this summer is expected.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin) Odeyingbo will “definitely be in the mix” during training camp. He specified the sixth-year veteran will be used at defensive end, but the fact a clean bill of health in time for July is anticipated represents positive news.
Last spring, the Bears added Odeyingbo on a three-year, $48MM deal. The former Colt flashed potential in terms of sack production while playing out his rookie contract. In 2025, however, Odeyingbo managed only one sack, six pressures and four quarterback hits prior to his injury. A lengthy rehab process has ensued, but the opportunity to compete for a starting role will again present itself this summer provided a full recovery is made by that point.
Improving in the pass rush department is a major Bears priority heading into 2026. No major additions from outside the organization have been made to date, so the performances of Chicago’s incumbent options this summer will be worth watching closely. Odeyingbo, 26, is joined by Austin Booker and Shemar Turner as a candidate to operate as the team’s edge rushing complement to Montez Sweat. Another strong season from Sweat, coupled with an improved showing from the supporting cast, would be key in helping the Bears’ front seven take a step forward.
Allen has a lengthy history with free agent Cameron Jordan based on their history in New Orleans. A reunion between the two is unlikely, though. Several other veteran pass rushers remain unsigned at this time, but the Bears’ approach will include an evaluation period for those already in place. Odeyingbo in particular will be worth watching closely as he returns from a long-term injury. He is owed $16MM in 2026, much of which is already guaranteed.
NFL Eyeing Japan As Next International Market
Earlier this week, NFL owners voted to expand the slate of international contests in 2027. As many as 11 games will be played outside of the United States next season as a result.
The league has made continued expansion into new markets a long-running priority, and that remains the case presently. Exploration of other countries which could serve as the host for regular-season games could soon lead to the list of markets growing once again. Hints on that front emerged during the recent owners’ meeting.
When asked by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer about where the league could turn next, NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly specifically mentioned Japan. It will be interesting to see if efforts pick up in the near future to set up a game there over the coming years. One team (the Rams) currently holds marketing rights in Japan.
In 1936, Japan’s football federation was created. The organization is therefore one of the oldest outside of the United States and Canada. Japan also won each of the first two editions of the IFAF World Championship for tackle football before hosting the event in 2007.
It would thus comes as little surprise if Japan were to become a regular host country for NFL action relatively soon. The matter of travel distance is among the logistical issues which will be raised, although 2026 will see the Rams and 49ers play each other in Melbourne, Australia. The league already intends to return there before seeing how this fall’s debut contest plays out, so games staged well beyond Mexico, Brazil and Europe could increase in regularity down the road.
Breer writes Italy should also be considered a strong candidate to host NFL games soon. Further expansion throughout Europe can certainly be anticipated, but attempting to break through in Asian markets could begin with a presence in Japan.
Early Lead For Danny Pinter In Ravens’ C Battle?
As Baltimore prepared to take on the contracts of both Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson before ultimately reneging on Crosby’s trade agreement, the Ravens were forced to let several starters walk in free agency.
The biggest surprise came when Tyler Linderbaum — the team’s starting center who made the Pro Bowl three times over his four-year rookie deal — signed a record contract sending him to Las Vegas. Linderbaum’s successor has not officially been named, but free agent addition Danny Pinter appears to getting the first-team reps early on, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic..
There’s a decent chance that the Ravens wouldn’t have been able to retain Linderbaum even if the Crosby situation hadn’t been a distraction. Linderbaum’s new deal raised the ceiling for center contracts by 50 percent, topping Creed Humphrey‘s $18MM annual average by $9MM. Absent their starting center of the past four seasons, Baltimore has been tasked with finding a replacement. In the days after Linderbaum’s departure, the team brought in Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn on free agent deals.
Pinter has been a backup interior offensive lineman in Indianapolis since 2020, when the Colts drafted him in the fifth round out of Ball State. Over five seasons with the team — he missed the entire 2023 season on injured reserve — he appeared in 77 games, serving mostly on special teams. He did get some action as an injury replacement, making 10 starts over that period — seven at center and three at right guard. In the opportunities provided to him, Pinter has generally shown strong run blocking abilities but struggles in pass pro.
Gwyn is a former seventh-round guard out of South Carolina that was drafted by the Falcons in 2023. He only appeared in two games over his first two years in the league and didn’t appear on offense until this past season, seeing at least one snap at guard in five games. He didn’t play center in college, but he’s been identified as a candidate for the job in Baltimore.
There was an expectation the Ravens would address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft as a number of prospects at the position were expected to go on Day 2. Ultimately, even when several of those top prospects at the position fell to Day 3, Baltimore never seemed to find enough value to draft one when its picks came around. There’s been speculation that the team could still pursue a veteran free agent at the position with options like Ethan Pocic, Sam Mustipher, and Andre James available, but nothing has moved on that front lately. The Ravens also roster Corey Bullock, who made their roster as an undrafted rookie last year and appears to be in consideration, as well.
Per Zrebiec, new head coach Jesse Minter claims that “Pinter has done a great job” but that they still “might rotate first-team center reps in Organized Team Activities. Unless the team does, in fact, make an outside addition soon, it appears Pinter has an inside track to his first full-time starting job in Year 7 of his career, though he’ll be challenged by the seventh-rounder, Gwyn, and the undrafted Bullock.