Kenny Pickett Holds Early Lead In Browns’ QB Competition; Dillon Gabriel Next In Line?
Roughly two months remain until training camp, and minicamp is still weeks away. But the Browns’ quarterback competition will begin to take shape at OTAs, which started today.
A player the Eagles did not deem a priority, as Tanner McKee is set to move into their QB2 role, is expected to take the first reps with the starters at OTAs. Kenny Pickett indeed will enter Cleveland’s on-field voluntary work receiving the first crack in the starting role, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes.
Pickett starter buzz, despite his quick Pittsburgh exit and uninspiring Philadelphia stay, has picked up recently. OTAs do not provide any padded reps, but they are certainly part of the conversation. The Browns have one of the more complicated quarterback situations in many years, especially considering the Deshaun Watson component, and Pickett is suddenly a key presence after effectively hovering off the radar at Eagles OTAs last year.
[RELATED: Who Will Lead Browns In 2025 QB Starts?]
Affirming Pickett will see the first work at OTAs, Cabot offered an update that Dillon Gabriel is likely set to be the second QB in this mix. Kevin Stefanski recently said Browns QB reps will not be doled out equally this offseason, and the May and June work will be important here. Training camp does not offer a setup where a four-man QB competition can realistically be conducted, due to time constraints, so it is certainly possible one member of this mix will be eliminated from a realistic starter path by that point. Through this lens, Gabriel’s OTA status becomes more noteworthy.
The Browns prioritized Gabriel in the draft, ranking him ahead of Jalen Milroe and new teammate Shedeur Sanders. GM Andrew Berry deemed the six-year college QB a better fit compared to Sanders; of course, that was before the team then circled back to the freefalling Colorado passer in Round 5. While ownership making its stance known re: Sanders is certainly possible, he is part of the competition along with Pickett, Gabriel and Joe Flacco. Sanders’ status also will overshadow Gabriel, who is in the historically strange position of seeing a QB drafted later by his own team dwarf his popularity.
Viewed as a Day 3 pick, Gabriel — who started at Oregon, Oklahoma and Central Florida — went off the board 50 spots before Sanders. Going at No. 94, the 5-foot-11 prospect appeared a handpicked option — whereas Sanders profiled as a value play. Sanders’ presence complicates Gabriel’s Cleveland future, but for now, the two-year Buffaloes starter resides in the background in Cleveland. He and Flacco, in some order, are set to enter OTAs in the Nos. 3 and 4 spots, Cabot offers. The Browns guaranteed Flacco $3MM, while cutting Pickett (and seeing no team claim him) would bring a $2.6MM cost.
All four will receive plenty of reps during OTAs, as concurrent QB drills will commence, but the team will need to make a plan for training camp. Team work once in training camp will begin to shape the competition ahead of the regular season, with the preseason providing the final evaluations. Teams rarely carry four passers on a 53-man roster, though it is not unprecedented. That said, the Browns either keeping all four or presenting a roster with two rookie draftees on the final 53 would mark a rare occurrence.
Watson’s status will still be worth monitoring, as he has resumed throwing, but the trade bust is not viewed as part of the current competition. His second Achilles tear is expected to lead to a placement on the reserve/PUP list, after residing on the active/PUP list (a camp-only designation) while the other four QBs vie to replace him as Cleveland’s starter. Even though Flacco and Sanders are bigger names than Pickett and Gabriel, the latter contingent appears to have the upper hand early.
Bills’ Joey Bosa Suffers Calf Injury
Injuries were an issue during much of Joey Bosa‘s Chargers tenure. The high-profile edge rusher has already run into trouble on that front with the Bills. 
Bosa pulled a calf while working out with the team, head coach Sean McDermott said on Tuesday (h/t Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News). McDermott added (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) Bosa is not expected to be back until training camp. This obviously marks an unwanted development for team and player as the five-time Pro Bowler looks to begin a successful second chapter of his career.
After nine seasons with the Chargers, Bosa was released in a move which came as little surprise. The 29-year-old was retained on a pay cut agreement in 2024 in the wake of his missed time. Bosa played just 14 games across the 2022 and ’23 campaigns, although he managed to match that figure this past year. Los Angeles’ decision to move on resulted in multiple teams showing interest. A 49ers pact allowing for Bosa to play with his younger brother was explored, and his hometown Dolphins were among the suitors as well.
In the end, though, the Bills won out with a one-year deal. That $12.61MM pact contains $12MM in guarantees, so expectations will be high for Bosa in 2025. Buffalo moved on from Von Miller this offseason, and replacing his production as a veteran sack artist will be key along a defensive front which will feature plenty of new faces. Continuity will be found along the edge in particular, however, with Gregory Rousseau – one of several ascending players who received a long-term extension this spring – and A.J. Epenesa set to return in 2025.
Bosa has posted double-digit sacks four times in his career, but the most recent season in which that was the case was 2021. Since then, the Ohio State product has totaled 14 sacks; improvement in that department will be key if he is to operate as an effective starter with Buffalo. A critical factor in Bosa’s success will of course be his health, but things have not gone according to plan during the early stages of his Bills tenure.
How Will Packers Proceed With Suddenly Crowded Receiving Corps?
In 2022, the Packers attempted to get by with multiple rookie-contract cogs arriving in the wake of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s departures. The result: a season that began Aaron Rodgers‘ decline. However, the team has continued to stockpile rookie contracts at the position — with the most notable move coming last month. Even as Matt LaFleur minimized the need for a true No. 1-level wide receiver, the team snapped a 23-year drought by choosing Matthew Golden at No. 23 overall.
A roster that still includes the two players added to supplement a post-Adams receiver cadre — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs — received another youth infusion via Golden and third-round addition Savion Williams. If these four were all healthy and the only notable parts in Green Bay’s receiving group, no front-burner issue may have appeared. But the team also has two 2023 draftees as WR regulars. As a result, the Golden and Williams arrivals create big-picture questions.
While delayed QB ascents (amid a succession that dates back to 1992) define the Packers’ roster-building philosophy, the franchise’s reluctance to draft a wideout in Round 1 had become a core component as well. As the likes of Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Adams revealed, the Pack regularly got by without selecting a receiver in the first round. After the Packers cut ties with 2002 first-rounder Javon Walker via a draft-weekend trade in 2006 (to the Broncos), they moved out of the first-round receiver business.
It could be argued the Pack did not do enough to supplement Rodgers during his heyday — one filled with playoff shortcomings following Super Bowl XLV — but a team once known for free agency avoidance managed to support four MVP seasons for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Entering Jordan Love‘s third season at the controls, however, the team deemed receiver a high enough priority — after no 900-yard seasons have occurred since Adams’ departure — to use two of its first three picks on the position.
The Jets sent the Packers two second-round picks for Rodgers in 2023. Jayden Reed did not arrive via one of those picks, as the Packers used their original second-rounder to trade down two spots (via the Buccaneers) for him. Dontayvion Wicks arrived in the 2023 fifth round. This already created a glut of Packers rookie-contract receivers, as backup Bo Melton and free agent signing Mecole Hardman are rostered as well. Hardman’s Super Bowl LVIII-winning reception notwithstanding, he provides more return-game value. But the Packers adding the seventh-year veteran and two more rookies creates a situation where notable changes are coming.
Reed is under contract for two more seasons, and he has seen Golden’s rookie terms ($17.58MM fully guaranteed) dwarf his. On a $7.18MM (4MM guaranteed) pact through 2026, Reed cannot discuss an extension until next year. Packers brass is believed to have met with Reed to clarify his situation recently. With Watson battling injuries before his Week 18 ACL tear, the Packers have turned to Reed as their nominal No. 1 receiver. The slot presence has totaled 1,650 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons. He now profiles as the team’s top veteran in a group now headlined by Golden, but what will happen to the other experienced presences?
Watson would carry considerable trade value, even with a past of soft-tissue maladies, but his knee rehab effectively ensures the North Dakota State product will not be going anywhere this year. Watson is expected to be sidelined until around midseason. This would leave Doubs and Wicks as potential options to be moved.
Wicks did not match his rookie-year yardage figure (581) in Year 2 (415), even as his snap share increased to 54% last season. Doubs, a 2022 fourth-rounder, has been more consistent; he enters a contract year riding back-to-back 600-yard seasons, playing 77% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in each of the past two seasons. Doubs, 25, managed to clear the 600-yard barrier despite missing four games last season. A team-imposed suspension, as Doubs expressed frustration about his role, took place. He will profile as a quality 2026 free agent, but that episode represents an important chapter in his Green Bay career.
Wicks will need better production to become a higher-end FA target in 2027. But Golden and Williams’ arrivals complicate Wicks’ 2025 place in the offense and Doubs’ post-2025 Wisconsin future. As Reed makes sense as an extension candidate, Doubs trade rumors may be coming. Though, a Packers team that has hoarded these pieces may be reluctant to move a key performer before the November deadline — especially with Watson not healthy. But calls will undoubtedly come in for the Nevada alum.
Steelers connections, as Rodgers played with Doubs in 2022, have already emerged in the wake of the team’s George Pickens trade. As of now, however, waiting to see how its younger players look alongside D.K. Metcalf looks to be Pittsburgh’s party line.
Even if Watson lands on the reserve/PUP list as expected, the Packers have plenty of options — fast-emerging tight end Tucker Kraft should also factor into the extension pie — for Love entering training camp. Williams, who did not eclipse 650 yards in any of his five TCU seasons, would have the luxury of an extended developmental arc thanks to the Packers’ bevy of young veterans. But how the team rearranges its pass-catching group in 2026 — or before then — makes this one of the NFL’s most interesting position groups presently.
Commanders Re-Sign DT Carl Davis
The Commanders are hanging on to some extra depth on the defensive line. The team announced that they’ve signed defensive tackle Carl Davis.
A former third-round pick by the Ravens, Davis has settled into true journeyman status at this point of his career. The Commanders represent the defensive tackle’s eighth NFL team; in addition to his time in Baltimore and Washington, the veteran has had stints with the Browns, Colts, Jaguars, Patriots, Seahawks, and Cowboys.
His most productive stretch came in New England between 2021 and 2022. He got into 33 games over that span, collecting 30 tackles and a pair of sacks. After getting cut by the Cowboys at the end of the 2024 preseason, he caught on with Washington’s practice squad. He ended up getting into three games with the big-league club last season, collecting three stops.
The Commanders aren’t in desperate need of defensive tackle help, even after the team moved on from Jonathan Allen this offseason. Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton return after leading the position grouping in snaps last year, and the organization also brought in Javon Kinlaw via free agency. Davis will likely be competing for a spot with fellow free agent acquisition Eddie Goldman, who also inked a deal for the vet minimum.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/27/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Patrick Jenkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Ryan Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB Jason Maitre
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Montana Lemonious-Craig
We learned last week that the Cardinals were moving on from DL Ben Stille, and we’ve now got some clarity on his direct replacement on the roster. The team has signed Patrick Jenkins, an undrafted rookie out of Tulane. The defensive lineman got a look at Saints rookie minicamp but left without an offer. His showing at Tulane included 13 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/27/25
One late-round signing to pass along:
Philadelphia Eagles
- OT Cameron Williams (sixth round, Texas)
The Eagles are now one step closer to completing the signing of their rookie class after inking Cameron Williams to his first NFL pact. The lineman got into 37 games during his time with the Longhorns, with the majority of his snaps coming at right tackle. He’ll likely settle into a depth role for the 2025 campaign.
With the signing, the Eagles only have a pair of unsigned draft picks: first-round LB Jihaad Campbell and second-round S Andrew Mukuba.
Details Revealed Regarding Shemar Stewart-Bengals Contract Dispute
TODAY, 7:25pm: As expected, Shemar Stewart didn’t participate in the first day of Bengals OTAs, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. However, the rookie defensive lineman was in the building, and he appeared to be taking in the first practice from the sideline.
SATURDAY, 1:15pm: More details have emerged regarding the contract dispute between the Bengals and their first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, who has yet to sign his rookie deal.
Stewart has not participated in any on-field practices since being drafted, though he has attended team meetings. He sat out rookie minicamp and is poised to remain on the sidelines when OTAs kick off next week unless his demands are met.
Initial reports indicated that the timing of bonus payments were the source of the dispute. Cincinnati proposed a payment schedule that did not match that of Myles Murphy and Amarius Mims, the team’s first-round picks in 2023 and 2024. That issue seems to have been resolved, but the two sides still disagree on default language.
Specifically, the Bengals want to include a clause in Stewart’s contract “that causes a default in the current year to trigger a default in all remaining years,” per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Essentially, if Stewart were to default in one year of his contract, the rest of his contract would automatically default, voiding the remaining money on his fully guaranteed rookie deal.
Mims does not have the same language in his contract, though he was taken with the 18th pick in 2024 and Stewart was drafted one spot earlier at No. 17 this year. The recently signed contracts of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins don’t contain a similar default clause, either.
Defaults are rare in the NFL. They happen when a player breaches the terms of his contract, typically by sustaining an injury while participating in a prohibited activity or committing conduct detrimental to the team. Stewart certainly has no intention of triggering a default, but it remains a possibility against which he wants to protect himself.
But why refuse to participate at all over a relatively minor contract detail? Stewart could still sign his rookie waiver and get on the field, but he appears to be standing on principle and holding the Bengals to their contract precedent. Cincinnati has typically lagged behind the rest of the NFL when negotiating with players, particularly in terms of guaranteed money. Stewart is witnessing firsthand the struggle of fellow edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to reach a favorable agreement with the team and is sending a clear message that he will not accept a contract with unfavorable terms, now or in the future.
Stewart also has leverage in this situation. If Hendrickson refuses to budge, the Bengals could be without their best defensive player heading into the regular season. At that point, Stewart would be called upon to step up as a pass rusher and may struggle to produce if he misses valuable developmental time this summer. His profile as a raw athlete with unrefined technique suggests that Cincinnati has extra motivation to get him practicing as soon as possible.
Kirk Cousins Absent From Day 1 Of Falcons OTAs
Kirk Cousins remains on the Falcons roster, but both sides seem motivated to find the QB a new team sooner than later. As the organization figures out a solution, the veteran QB is predictably staying away from OTAs.
[RELATED: Steelers Still Interested In Kirk Cousins]
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that he hadn’t seen Cousins in the building as his team opened voluntary team activities today (per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). It doesn’t seem like this absence is necessarily leading to any holdout, as he unexpectedly attended the start of the team’s voluntary offseason last month.
Still, Cousins’ absence from Day 1 of OTAs is still glaring. There doesn’t appear to be any resolution in sight regarding Cousins’ future in Atlanta. The Falcons pivoted to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. before Cousins completed a full season of his four-year, $180MM contract, and both sides have been willing to consider a peaceful divorce as the veteran looks to start elsewhere.
While Cousins has been seeking an outright release, the Falcons haven’t budged on their trade-route stance. The team understands that they’d need to eat $37.5MM in guaranteed money even if Cousins was cut, and they’ve stated a willingness to keep Cousins on board as a high-priced QB2 in 2025. NFL Network Ian Rapoport said today that he believes the most likely path in this drama sees Cousins positioned as the backup in Atlanta.
With a release not on the table, focus has pivoted to a trade, and the Falcons have been signaling that they want suitors to take on at least $20MM of Cousins’ 2025 salary. Understandably, a deal hasn’t been made, and it’s uncertain if the Falcons will change their stance as the summer goes on. We heard yesterday that a trade likely would have already been completed if the Falcons were willing to absorb a larger portion (such as $7MM or $8MM) of Cousins’ upcoming $27.5MM base salary.
If the Falcons do change their stance, it’s uncertain what teams would be lining up for Cousins’ services. The Browns and Vikings were once mentioned as suitors, but both teams added to their QB depth charts during the draft (Cleveland drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders while Minnesota acquired Sam Howell via trade).
We heard yesterday that the Steelers remain an option as they await a decision on the Aaron Rodgers front. Of course, a Rodgers decision would quickly change that calculus, leaving maybe only the Saints as a logical suitor. New Orleans was once mentioned as a landing spot, and the team’s need only increased following Derek Carr‘s retirement. The Saints claim they’re not aiming to make an outside addition, but perhaps they would change their tune if the Cousins’ financial commitment comes down.
Panthers TE Tommy Tremble Underwent Back Surgery
The Panthers will be without one of their top tight ends for at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp. Head coach Dave Canales revealed today that tight end Tommy Tremble recently underwent back surgery that could keep him sidelined at least until the start of training camp.
“Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery,” Canales said today (via the team’s website). “We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the (time). He’s 25 years old. You know, let’s get this thing while he’s young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track.”
Tremble missed a handful of games last season thanks to lingering back issues, and it sounds like the tight end is trying to avoid a similar situation in 2025. Canales said Tremble will miss at least the rest of OTAs and minicamp, and he’ll likely be rehabbing for the start of training camp (per Joe Person of The Athletic). The 24-year-old will be destined for the PUP list until that time.
Person notes that the surgery is “not expected to be season-ending,” although that hints that Tremble’s rehab could extend into the regular season. If the tight end remains on PUP following the first iteration of the Panthers’ 53-man roster, he’d be forced to miss the first four games of the upcoming campaign.
A former third-round pick, Tremble saw a relatively modest role playing alongside the likes of Ian Thomas and Hayden Hurst. He had his best showing in 2024, finishing with 23 receptions for a career-high 234 yards. Following that performance, he inked a new two-year, $16MM deal ($8MM guaranteed) with the organization this offseason.
While the Panthers would surely prefer Tremble in the lineup, the team should be fine without their most experienced tight end. Ja’Tavion Sanders actually led the position grouping in offensive production in 2024, finishing with 33 catches for 342 yards. The Panthers also recently used a fifth-round pick on Mitchell Evans, and they’re rostering the likes of Dominique Dafney, James Mitchell, and Bryce Pierre at the bottom of the depth chart.
Bears Extend G Joe Thuney
MAY 27: Thuney’s fourth contract (when the 2020 franchise tag is counted) pays out its guarantees by 2026. The accomplished blocker will be due a $1MM roster bonus in March 2027, according to Spotrac. That will help the Bears determine if they want to keep Thuney around for an age-35 season, but he effectively ensured status on the 2026 Bears’ roster via this re-up. Though, Thuney’s cap hit will climb from $8MM this year to $21.5MM in 2026 and ’27.
MAY 20: Before making his Bears debut, Joe Thuney has a new deal in hand. The All-Pro guard agreed to terms on a two-year extension, his agent announced on Tuesday. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports this pact is worth $35MM and brings Thuney’s scheduled earnings up to $51MM over the next three seasons. $33.5MM is fully guaranteed at signing. Rather than entering the coming season as a pending free agent, Thuney is now on the books through 2027. To no surprise, this agreement will lower his 2025 cap hit, with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noting it will be cut in half to $8MM.
The 32-year-old represented a key element of the Bears’ multi-faceted efforts to improve along the interior of the offensive line. He, like fellow guard Jonah Jackson, was acquired via trade in March prior to the outset of free agency. Those two are set to join free agent signing Drew Dalman, who departed the Falcons on the open market to take on center duties in Chicago.
After a strong five-year run in New England to begin his career, Thuney enjoyed plenty of individual and team success during his time with Kansas City. He added another two Super Bowl titles to his resume with the Chiefs while earning a Pro Bowl nod during each of the past three seasons. That stretch includes the 2024 campaign, during which Thuney took on left tackle duties out of necessity with the team’s other blindside options falling short of expectations.
That setup proved to be effective enough for the Chiefs until their Super Bowl loss, one which did not damper Thuney’s value. Kansas City’s need to budget for a Trey Smith commitment at the other guard spot – which to date consists of using the franchise tag with an extension likely coming in the near future – resulted in the Thuney trade, though. The NC State product was dealt to the Bears in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. He will handle his familiar left guard spot, with Jackson moving over to the RG position upon arrival in Chicago.
At first, Thuney was non-committal about signing an extension prior to the start of the 2025 season. In April, however, general manager Ryan Poles made it clear a new deal on this front was a team priority. Jackson inked a one-year extension shortly after he was acquired, and today’s move means both of Chicago’s guards are under contract until the 2028 offseason. The same is also true of Dalman.
Pass protection was a major issue for the Bears in 2024; improved play from quarterback Caleb Williams in Year 2 will depend in large part on the team’s ability to deliver stronger play up front. New head coach Ben Johnson named changes along the interior of the O-line as something to watch for upon arrival. That took place on multiple fronts, and now all three of the unit’s new faces are attached to overlapping multi-year pacts.