NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/26
Today’s mid- to late-round rookie signings from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Denver Broncos
- LB Red Murdock (seventh round, Buffalo)
Kansas City Chiefs
- RB Emmett Johnson (fifth round, Nebraska)
The Broncos have secured the signature of Mr. Irrelevant who received a $122K signing bonus, per Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. Johnson joins a crowded backfield in Kansas City, where he’ll work for reps behind free agent addition — and Super Bowl LX MVP — Kenneth Walker, all the time competing against another free agent signing in Emari Demercado and last year’s draft pick, Brashard Smith.
Chiefs Trade Up To No. 161 For Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson
The Chiefs have acquired the No. 161 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Steelers, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, and used it to select Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson. They also received the 249th pick. The Steelers landed the 169th and 210th choices, per Nick Sloan of KMBC-TV.
After redshirting as a freshman in 2022, Johnson was stuck in a timeshare over the next two seasons. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder rushed for a solid 1,009 yards on 207 carries over that 25-game span. Johnson took over as Nebraska’s bell cow last season, and his production went through the roof. He amassed 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 251 attempts (5.8 YPC) in a dozen games. As a pass catcher, he picked up 46 receptions for 370 yards and three more scores.
An All-American and the Big Ten Running Back of the Year, Johnson was the lone FBS player to average at least 150 yards from scrimmage per game in 2025 (via Dane Brugler of The Athletic). Brugler ranked Johnson as the 105th-best prospect in this class. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com placed him 123rd.
While Johnson was great as a lead back last year, he does not possess high-end speed. He ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the Combine and a 4.49 at his pro day. That may explain why he tumbled down the board in a weak class for running backs.
Regardless, Johnson will open his career as a reserve in Kansas City’s backfield. The Chiefs made a big free agent investment in former Seahawk Kenneth Walker, whom they added on a three-year, $43.05MM deal. Walker is the unquestioned starter, which will leave Johnson to compete for touches with 2025 seventh-rounder Brashard Smith and ex-Cardinal Emari Demercado.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Jaguars To Trade Up For Jadarian Price?
Having lost four-year starter Travis Etienne to the Saints in free agency, the Jaguars could target a running back early in the draft. The Jags will try to move up in Round 2 for Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price if he “starts to slip,” Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports.
Thanks to last year’s Travis Hunter trade, the Jaguars will enter this week’s draft without a first-round pick. They are set to make their first selection at No. 56, five spots below where Dane Brugler of The Athletic places the 51st-ranked Price among this year’s prospects. Jacksonville boasts a total of 11 picks, including three in the third round, which could create the opportunity to go up for Price if the team covets the 5-foot-10, 203-pounder.
Price is widely considered the No. 2 back in this class, trailing Fighting Irish teammate and slam-dunk early first-rounder Jeremiyah Love. While playing second fiddle to Love from 2024-25, Price averaged over 6.0 yards per carry on 233 attempts and racked up 18 rushing touchdowns. With Love also serving as a major receiving threat, Price caught just 15 passes in college, but he made a significant impact in the third phase of the game. As a kick returner last year, Price averaged a tremendous 37.5 yards on 12 runbacks and found the end zone twice.
In the event the Jaguars do not land Price, they will address the position in the third round, according to Pauline, who points to Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson as a potential option. The Jaguars “like” Johnson, who dazzled last year en route to first-team All-America honors. Johnson rushed for the fourth-most yards in the nation (1,451) on 251 attempts, scored 15 touchdowns (12 on the ground, three in the air) and caught 46 passes. He is Brugler’s fourth-ranked RB heading into the draft.
Adding a running back in the draft would be the latest investment in the position for the general manager-head coach tandem of James Gladstone and Liam Coen. With Gladstone and Coen in charge for their first draft last year, they spent a fourth-rounder on Bhayshul Tuten and a seventh-rounder on LeQuint Allen. Those two remain in the mix, and the Jaguars picked up ex-Commander Chris Rodriguez on a two-year deal with a fully guaranteed $6.2M in free agency. Tuten, Allen and Rodriguez could soon have company in the form of Price, Johnson or at least one other rookie.
Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson Declares For 2026 NFL Draft
With the college regular season now in the books, some of the country’s best prospects are in line to begin declaring for the upcoming NFL draft. Friday has seen one of the top running backs from this season elect to turn pro. 
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson announced today that he will enter the 2026 draft. As a redshirt junior, he had one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Instead of staying with the Cornhuskers for one more season, he will turn his attention to preparing for the NFL.
“To Coach Matt Rhule, thank you for taking me into this incredible program and helping me grow off and on the field,” Johnson’s announcement reads in part. “You gave me everything I needed to stay ready. Coach EJ Barthel, the bond that we have built over your short time here has made me a lifelong player, coach…
“Lastly, to the Nebraska fans, the best in college football, your unwavering support has meant the world to me. After much prayer and reflection, I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. Thank you, Nebraska. GBR forever!”
Johnson redshirted in 2022, but he has taken on an increasing role in Nebraska’s offense since then. This season saw him set new career highs across the board, including an average of 5.8 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Johnson added 370 yards and another three scores in the passing game.
With 1,451 rushing yards, Johnson led the Big Ten in that regard in 2025 and ranked third among all FBS players. It thus came as little surprise when he won the conference’s Running Back of the Year award. Johnson did not specify if he would play in Nebraska’s bowl game, but prospects who declare early often avoid doing so. His attention will now turn to preparing for the Combine in February before being selected (likely in the middle rounds) of the draft.