TE David Njoku Arranges Chargers Visit
David Njoku‘s free agent spell has lasted well into the offseason. With the draft now complete, though, he is among the veterans positioned to find a new home shortly.
Njoku has arranged a visit with the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds it will take place on Monday. Njoku is among the most accomplished tight ends still on the market as teams around the league begin their spring practice programs.
A first-round pick of the Browns in 2017, Njoku was held in high regard by the team throughout his Cleveland tenure. Expectations did not always match production in his case, but he surpassed 500 yards on four occasions. Njoku was a focal point on offense for much of his Browns stint, receiving 123 targets in 2023. The play of Harold Fannin Jr. as a rookie this past season set him up to operate as the Browns’ top tight end for years to come, however.
That made it little surprise when Cleveland elected not to retain Njoku in free agency. The 29-year-old is a veteran of 118 games, and he will offer a pass-catching presence to his next team. Njoku lined up a visit with the Ravens in March, but that did not result in a Baltimore deal. Other potential suitors waited until the draft took place to consider circling back to this situation.
The Chargers have already made a number of decisions at the tight end spot this offseason. Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk are unsigned at this point, while Tyler Conklin departed in free agency. Charlie Kolar was added on the open market, and the former Raven could be in store for an uptick in offensive usage on his new team. The Bolts did not add a tight end during the draft, leaving potential room for a late-spring signing.
The Chargers remain near the top of the league in terms of cap space with over $45MM available. A deal in Njoku’s case will no doubt consist of a short-term agreement and one worth less than the $13.69MM AAV of his second Browns contract. Finances will certainly not be an issue if the Chargers eye a deal following his visit.
Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s Gambling Problem Puts Future In Jeopardy
MAY 2: According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel, Sorsby has retained prestigious sports lawyer Jeffrey Kessler in an effort to keep his eligibility to play for Texas Tech this year. Kessler’s work spans the gamut of sports headlines. From the landmark antitrust cases that established the concept of free agency in the NFL to the NCAA v. Alston Supreme Court case that led to the ability for college athletes to be compensated through NIL to the USWNT’s successful efforts for equal pay to successful outcomes in both the “Bountygate” and “Deflategate” controversies, Kessler has been known to blaze trails as a litigator.
Schefter initially offered that, should Kessler not be successful in preserving Sorsby’s eligibility, the former Bearcats quarterback would have a deadline of June 30 to declare for the supplemental draft. He followed this up with a clarification that Sorsby must apply to be approved for the supplemental draft based on his application and the underlying circumstances surrounding his application. He also relayed that the NFL does not have a deadline set for the supplemental draft.
APRIL 29: The NFL Draft has come and gone, and we ended up with two Day 1 quarterbacks when it was all said and done. When we were taking a look at potential first-round passers early on, former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby‘s name was mentioned as a name to watch. Now at Texas Tech via transfer portal, Sorsby’s future could be in jeopardy due to a gambling problem that has landed him in an addiction program, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sorsby’s entry in a treatment program came following news that the two-time transfer had made “thousands of online bets on a variety of sports via a gambling app,” putting his eligibility to play at his new school in danger. The NCAA forbids student athletes from betting on college and professional spots and are reportedly investigating Sorsby’s gambling activity. Per Thamel’s sources, that activity includes bets on a team for which Sorsby played at the time they were placed.
Sorsby began his collegiate career at Indiana, and in 2022, he was a true freshman for the Hoosiers in the process of redshirting. Thamel reports that Sorsby bet on the Hoosiers to win individual games that season, but none of those bets were placed on the singular game in which he made a brief appearance that year. Those with knowledge of the situation note that Sorsby has not been tied to any potential attempts to influence outcomes to profit off bets and that his gambling habits were not ever put on the radar of law enforcement.
As a Hoosier, Sorsby showed promise but left room for improvement with his overall accuracy. After transferring to Cincinnati, he saw big improvement in a full-time starting role and had his biggest year for the Bearcats last year as a redshirt junior, throwing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. When he entered the transfer portal a second time, he immediately became one of the hottest names on the market. Following visits to LSU and Texas Tech, he committed to the Red Raiders on a reported NIL deal worth more than $5MM.
Texas Tech could be out of luck, though, as the NCAA’s strict policy against gambling could mean his time as QB1 in Lubbock is over before it ever began. With the onset of NIL and online sports betting in recent years, the NCAA amended its guidelines in 2023. The new guidelines dictate that wagers over $800 could lead to the loss of up to 30 percent of a season of eligibility. Cumulative bets greatly exceeding $800 could lead to permanent ineligibility. A college athlete betting on another school in their own sport could lead to 50 percent of a season suspension, while wagering “on their own games or on other sports at their own schools” could result in “permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports.”
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, every college football staffer he asked seemed to believe that the NCAA would revoke Sorsby’s eligibility. In order to continue his career in Lubbock, Sorsby would then have to “file a lawsuit and seek an injunction” to play. If ruled ineligible, Breer offered up that Sorsby could then head for the NFL by way of the supplemental NFL Draft. The supplemental draft is usually reserved for players who bypass the April draft in favor of extra years of eligibility they believe will be granted before the NCAA ultimately denies them. The early-summer event hasn’t taken place in either of the past two years due to no players declaring for it.
Breer and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports laid out opposing viewpoints on the situation for Sorsby, who would have to be approved by the NFL for the supplemental draft. Breer mentioned the cases of former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who was banned from the university’s athletic program after withdrawing following allegations of making thousands of dollars for autographs, and former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon who had been suspended by the team for his marijuana use. Both players were accepted into the supplemental draft and selected.
Breer believes that, based on these past cases and based on the league’s recent partnerships with gambling companies potentially altering their disposition, Sorsby may be able to move past the NCAA situation by opting for the NFL. Jones, though, is under the impression that, if the NCAA rules Sorsby ineligible by June and he’s able to apply for the supplemental draft, the NFL would not realistically approve him to enter, citing the league’s history of hard judgment of gambling players. He pointed out that, currently, players who bet on their own teams, as Sorsby has previously done, face a two-year ban as punishment.
Even if the league does allow Sorsby to enter the supplemental draft, he would need to be selected by an NFL team. Breer offered up that any of the several teams that punted on the quarterback position in the draft this year with the intention of investing in next year’s class might be willing to throw a second- or third-round pick in for Sorsby, but a source Jones has in the league reportedly called the 22-year-old “untouchable” at this point in time.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the school both expressed support for Sorsby and his decision to seek professional help through the addiction program in statements released to the media. At the time, their focus is on Sorsby “as a person” while he prioritizes his health, and any other concerns will have to wait for the future, after he receives the help he needs.
Steelers Rumors: Metcalf, Jones, Draft
As the Steelers fought down the final stretch of the season last year in a race for the AFC North, an altercation from the team’s trip to Detroit forced them to finish the regular season without leading wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. In the first half a game against the Lions, Metcalf was caught on video grabbing then releasing the shirt of a fan in the stands in an aggressive manner. According to Christian Romo of the Detroit Free Press, Metcalf will avoid any charges as a result of the incident.
No flags were thrown when the incident occurred, and the Steelers never took action to discipline Metcalf, but the veteran receiver lost an appeal of his two-game suspension. He reportedly had a history with the fan, having reported them to security the year before, when he had visited as a Seahawk. Per Romo, the Detroit prosecutor’s office relayed that “police submitted a warrant request…but didn’t confirm who the warrant was for,” adding that “no charges were filed at the onset of the investigation,” and none will be levied against Metcalf following the conclusion of the investigation.
Here are a couple other rumors coming out of the Steel City:
- The Steelers declined the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Broderick Jones at the turn of the month, and while it seemed like a likely outcome based on his struggles over the first three years of his career, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor suggested that the outcome may have been different had Jones not gotten injured at the end of the 2025 season. Jones had to undergo neck surgery after missing the final six games of the regular season, and Pryor claims Pittsburgh “would’ve been much more likely” to pick up Jones’ option had the neck injury not complicated the team’s decision.
- During the 2026 NFL Draft, the broadcast showed a moment of levity as the Steelers reportedly called USC wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon before they were on the clock just for the Eagles to trade up one spot past them and draft the receiver right in front of them. According to Jake Rosenberg, a former Eagles front office executive, Pittsburgh’s actions may have violated a rule that restricts teams from talking to prospects or their representatives while not “on the clock” if it interferes “with the discussions between a player and the club that is ‘on the clock.'” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reached out to the league about the rule and received a response that the NFL “reviews all aspects of the Draft the week after its conclusion.” It seemed, though, as if the incident were an innocent mistake, that is until Mike Sando of The Athletic reported yesterday that some team executives have “suggested this is not the first time Pittsburgh has called a prospect early.” There appears to be suspicion the practice could be a strategy for learning who a team is drafting when the Steelers are told they must hang up in order for the team “on the clock” to be able to reach the prospect. It will be interesting to see if the league’s review of events concludes that the Steelers operated outside the rules.
Seahawks Announce Seven UDFA Signings
After coming away from Super Bowl LX with a victory, the Seahawks were set to go into the 2026 NFL Draft with a league-low four draft picks. Ultimately, with some crafty movement back in key places, the team left the draft with eight new rookie draft picks. Seattle announced yesterday that their full rookie class had reached 15 players with the signing of these seven undrafted free agents:
- Michael Briscoe, WR (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo)
- Devean Deal, OLB (TCU)
- Aidan Hubbard, OLB (Northwestern)
- Marvin Jones Jr., OLB (Oklahoma)
- Lance Mason, TE (Wisconsin)
- Uso Seumalo, NT (Kansas State)
- Levi Wentz, WR (Kansas)
The Seahawks were certainly very focused with what they were looking to add in the hours after the draft. One area of focus was the edge group, from which the Seahawks saw Boye Mafe depart in free agency and to which the team failed to address in the draft or free agency. Hubbard was expected to hear his name sometime late on Day 3 after accumulating 19.5 sacks over his last three years in Evanston. Short arms and a left knee injury that hampered him throughout the pre-draft process may have kept him from coming off the board in April.
Jones is a former five-star recruit out of South Florida and will complete the rest of his cross-country trip after stops at Georgia, Florida State, and OU. His father was a top five pick for the Seminoles in 1993, and the linebacker enjoyed an 11-year career for the Jets. Though, Jones has the pedigree of an NFL veteran, along with the untapped potential that his body type and natural ability displayed to earn him a five-star rating in high school, he has yet to put it all together with consistency and production.
The other group the Seahawks focused on was the pass catchers, the most promising of which might be Mason, who transferred to Madison hoping play in the FBS would provide him a runway to the NFL after three years at Missouri State. He isn’t the most imposing athlete on the field, but Mason tends to overdeliver on expectations and can impact the game as a pass catcher, blocker, and special teamer.
Cowboys Sign 11-Man UDFA Class
Though many of the Cowboys’ draft picks in recent years have been shipped off to other franchises in a series of ground-shaking trades, the team still ended up with seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. To their benefit, six of them came in the first four rounds, and all but one of them addressed the defensive side of the ball. By signing these 11 undrafted free agents, Dallas evened things out a bit while continuing to explore big bodies for the defensive line:
- Camden Brown, WR (Georgia Southern)
- Tommy Dunn, DT (Kansas)
- Sidney Fugar, T (Baylor)
- Kelvin Gilliam, DT (Virginia Tech)
- Jordan Hudson, WR (SMU)
- Langston Patterson, LB (Vanderbilt)
- Shiyazh Pete, T (Kentucky)
- Dominic Richardson, RB (Tulsa)
- D.J. Rogers, TE (TCU)
- Michael Trigg, TE (Baylor)
- D.J. Withers, DT (Kansas)
Tight end was a position the Cowboys had intended to address during the draft, but when the early run started on Day 2, they had bigger priorities to take care of. Still, they walk away here with two high-ceiling prospects without having to commit full drafted rookie contracts to either. Trigg was the top prospect on many “Best Available” lists at the conclusion of Day 3. One of only six FBS tight ends to eclipse 50 receptions in 2025, he was very productive and ranked highly within his position group, but major questions on his maturity and accountability were apparently enough to keep him off draft boards.
Rogers needs quite a bit of seasoning to develop into a weapon at the next level, but strong physical traits were enough to make him a coveted UDFA. Both tight ends UDFA contracts came with $200K of guaranteed money, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Hudson was another prospect that many expected to come off the board on Day 3. In three years at SMU (after transferring from TCU), he never quite jumped off the page, but he showed consistent production averaging just around six touchdowns in each year with the Mustangs. A lot of his potential in the NFL will be dependent on the coaches and system around him, so being in a room that currently rosters weapons like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens is a good sign.
Eagles Announce 8 UDFA Signings
During last week’s draft, the Eagles made eight selections and three trades, starting with a trade up to the 20th pick to steal USC wide recever Makai Lemon out from under the in-state rival Steelers. They also acquired Jonathan Greenard from the Vikings as well as a few extra late-round picks, one of which they used on one of the most intriguing developmental prospects in recent years: Nigerian-born Uar Bernard.
Philly has since added eight undrafted free agents, per a team announcement, including another player out of the International Player Pathway program and a new long snapper. Here’s the full list:
- Kapena Gushiken, DB (Mississippi)
- Tucker Large, DB (Washington State)
- Deontae Lawson, LB (Alabama)
- Maximus Pulley, DB (Wofford)
- Jaeden Roberts, G (Alabama)
- Rocco Underwood, LS (Florida)
- Joshua Weru, DE (Kenya)
- Dae’Quan Wright, TE (Mississippi)
Gushiken is an elite athlete who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at his pro day with a 1.49-second 10-yard split. He began his college career at Saddleback Community College in California before transferring to Washington State in 2023 and Ole Miss in 2025. He has some playmaking skills – 4 interceptions and 20 passes defended over the last three years – but his 5-foot-9, 189-pound frame could be limiting in the NFL.
Lawson started for most of the last four years at Alabama, including multiple years wearing the green dot. Injuries hindered him throughout his college carer, but when healthy, he was a consistent presence in the middle of the Crimson Tides defense. If he can stay on the field, his advanced football I.Q. will give him a chance at carving out a role in Philly sooner rather than later.
Underwood won the Patrick Mannelly Award in 2024 as the best long snapper in college football. After 49 games at Florida, he will likely take up the same role in Philadelphia after the team parted ways with Charley Hughlett.
Weru played rugby for Kenya’s national team and is the latest international player from the sport to convert to football. While not as explosive as Bernard, Weru is still an elite athlete. Like his fellow IPP product, he has much to learn in Philadelphia and will likely spend at least a few years to develop into a game-ready player.
Wright was a somewhat surprising player to go undrafted after ascending production in his college career. After two solid years at Virginia Tech (47 catches for 574 yards), he transferred to Ole Miss and leveled up. After 27 catches, 394 yards, and his first four college touchdowns in 2024, he made 39 catches for 635 yards and another five scores last year. The Eagles have a crowded tight end room, even more so after adding Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers in the second round, so Wright still has an uphill battle to the 53-man roster.
Vikings To Use Search Firm For GM Hire; Rob Brzezinski Interested In Full-Time Gig
The Vikings have made it through free agency and the draft with a temporary front office setup in place. The search for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s full-time general manager replacement is now underway.
The team recently announced TurnkeyZRG has been hired to assist in the process. Using search firms is common in the NFL, and Minnesota will take that route as well. Over the course of multiple weeks, candidates will be interviewed before a hire is made. The announcement also states candidates will not be publicly named.
Few developments may emerge over the coming days regarding the outside options the Vikings explore as a result. In any case, the future of interim GM Rob Brzezinski will be worth watching closely. The longtime Minnesota executive has been mentioned as a candidate to land the general manager gig on a full-time basis, although his interest on that front has been a question mark until recently. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes Brzezinski has indeed thrown his hat into the ring with the Vikings search getting started.
Brzezinski took over once Adofo-Mensah’s four-year run came to an abrupt end in January. He oversaw free agency, a period during which a reduction in spending was sought out. Finances were also a key factor in the recent Jonathan Greenard trade, one which sent the Pro Bowl edge rusher to the Eagles. Brzezinski remained in place through the draft, as planned, and the Vikings will hope a new group of cost-controlled players helps bring about a return to the playoffs in 2026.
Front office personnel who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora expressed support for the Vikings handing the full-time GM title to Brzezinski. The veteran NFL staffer has been with the Vikings since 1999, holding multiple positions in the team’s front office since then. Brzezinski became Minnesota’s executive vice president of football operations in 2014, positioning him as a logical choice for interim GM duties over the early portions of the offseason.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes (video link) the Vikings should not be expected to maintain their existing front office structure in the event an outside hire is made. The potential for Brzezinski taking a president of football operations role to oversee a new GM was recently mentioned, and it will be interesting to see owners Zygi and Mark Wilf consider such a setup. Otherwise, a shake-up brought about by a new arrival or the continuation of the status quo though Brzezinski being handed the reins will be in store.
Russell Wilson Considering CBS Gig?
As things stand, Russell Wilson remains a free agent. He is nevertheless still interested in continuing his playing career, as shown by a recent visit with the Jets.
In the event Wilson does not land a new deal as a player, though, it appears he has a transition to broadcasting lined up. Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports Wilson is “in deep discussions” to take on a television gig. He adds CBS Sports’ The NFL Today is Wilson’s expected landing spot.
Wilson has previously appeared on CBS broadcasts, including during the Giants’ bye week in 2025. A deal allowing him to join The NFL Today, CBS’ Sunday pregame program, would see Wilson replace Matt Ryan. Ryan recently departed his broadcasting role to take on the top front office position for the Falcons. Another high-profile former quarterback would take his place if the talks involving Wilson result in a deal being struck.
From 2012-21, Wilson served as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. That span included two straight Super Bowl appearances (with one win) and underscored the height of his career. Since the blockbuster trade which sent the 10-time Pro Bowler to the Broncos, however, things have not gone according to plan. Wilson was in place for just two years in Denver, and his time atop the depth chart was over before Sean Payton‘s first year as head coach had ended.
Upon being released, Wilson took a one-year pact with the Steelers. The 37-yearold missed time early in the season before taking over from Justin Fields and remaining atop the depth chart through Pittsburgh’s wild-card round loss. The Giants inked Wilson to a one-year deal last spring, setting him up for a brief spell as New York’s QB1. The Giants have Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston in the fold as carryovers from 2025, and it has long been clear another change of scenery would be needed for Wilson to meet his goal of continuing to play.
In January, Wilson changed agents; he is now represented by David Mulugheta as a result. That move has not yielded a contract before or immediately after the draft, leaving him to no doubt give further consideration to a TV gig. Wilson’s plans for 2026 will be worth watching as the offseason continues to unfold.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
May 1 marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth. Twenty-two options were exercised this year. Here is how each team with an option decision proceeded with 2023 first-round contracts:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): Exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM): Declined
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders ($14.48MM): Declined
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM): Exercised
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): To be exercised
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM): Exercised
- LB Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM): Exercised
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): Declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): Exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM): Declined
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM): Declined
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM): Exercised
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM): Exercised
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): Exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM): Declined
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM): Declined
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM): Declined
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- LB Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM): Exercised
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($14.48MM): Declined
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 5/1/26
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 2pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
