Texans Sign 12-Man UDFA Class
On Friday, the Texans announced the signing of 12 undrafted free agents. After focusing the majority of their eight draft picks on the offensive line and defensive front seven, Houston used undrafted free agency to add depth at a number of other positions. Here are the 12 UDFAs that complete the team’s 20-man rookie class:
- Dominic Bailey, DT (Tennessee)
- Sam Hagan, OL (South Dakota State)
- Stephen Hall, CB (Missouri)
- Sabastian Harsh, DE (NC State)
- James Neal III, OL (Iowa State)
- Joshua Pitsenberger, RB (Yale)
- Treyvhon Saunders, WR (Colgate)
- Daniel Sobkowicz, WR (Illinois State)
- Jack Stonehouse, P (Syracuse)
- Jalen Walthall, WR (Incarnate Word)
- Noah Whittington, RB (Oregon)
- Collin Wright, CB (Stanford)
Houston shelled out decent money to land some if its UDFA class. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Hall received $175K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus, on his UDFA deal. Similarly, per Wilson, Bailey’s deal has $150K of guarantees as well as a $10K signing bonus. The five-year Volunteer finished with career highs in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (7.5) in 2025.
The Texans also landed a couple UDFAs who were expected to be gone by the conclusion of the draft. After notching four interceptions and nine passes defensed in his last two years with the Cardinal, Wright was receiving sixth-round grades from some analysts. After a four-year career at Oregon (and a six-year collegiate career overall), Whittington’s 5.7 yards per carry average as a Duck was thought to make him draftable near the end of Day 3, as well.
Lastly, Houston brought in some competition for punter Kai Kroeger, who spent his rookie season punting in New Orleans. Stonehouse set records during his time with the Orange, and as the son and cousin of former NFL players, he has the pedigree to be an NFL punter. Head coach DeMeco Ryans sees a punting competition playing out between the two youngsters over the course of the offseason, per Wilson.
Buccaneers Add 13-Man UDFA Class
The Buccaneers were lauded for their ability to add value with their seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. When the event came to an end, the team went to work adding more young players to the roster to form a 20-man rookie class. Here are the 13 undrafted free agents who signed on with Tampa Bay:
- Wesley Brown, LS (Fresno State)
- Ja’Qurious Conley, S (Charlotte)
- Jalon Daniels, QB (Kansas) (story)
- Kenny Fletcher Jr., TE (Rutgers)
- Ayden Garnes, CB (Arizona)
- Josiah Green, DT (Duke)
- Aidan Laros, P (Kentucky)
- Henry Lutovsky, G (Nebraska)
- Deshawn McKnight, DT (Arizona)
- Jack Pyburn, DE (LSU)
- Eric Rivers, WR (Georgia Tech)
- Paul Rubelt, T (UCF)
- Noah Short, WR (Army)
The Buccaneers were fortunate to add Pyburn after the LSU one-year rental slipped out of the back of the draft. Extremely effective as a run-stopper, Pyburn was thought to be a potential sixth- or seventh-round option, but perhaps his lack of a pass rush kept teams from using draft capital on him. He was seemingly a popular option as a free agent, though. Aaron Williams of KPRC 2 reports that Tampa Bay’s deal with Pyburn has $115K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus.
Other than Pyburn, only guys like Lutovsky, Garnes, and Rivers stood a chance at landing at the back of the draft, but even they were pretty likely to land as undrafted free agents. Lutovsky looks the part of an OL depth piece after serving as a two-year starter for the Cornhuskers. Garnes had a breakout year in 2023 with 13 passes defensed and two picks at Duquesne before ending at Arizona with nine passes defensed and an interception last year. Once a 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown receiver at FIU before transferring to Atlanta, Rivers has the speed to earn an NFL opportunity as a slot or return man.
Lastly, Tampa Bay will use their UDFA class to take a look at some rookie specialists. With punter Riley Dixon and long snapper Evan Deckers both playing on contract years, Laros and Brown could both stand an outside chance at earning a roster spot or practice squad contract.
Colts Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents
The Colts focused on defense in the 2026 NFL Draft with five of their first six picks coming on that side of the ball. After also taking swings at running back and wide receiver to close the draft, Indianapolis signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to add a few more long-shot options to their 20-man rookie class:
- Cameron Ball, DT (Arkansas)
- Austin Brown, S (Wisconsin)
- Tahj Chambers, LB (Mississippi)
- Sahmir Hagans, WR (Duke)
- E.J. Horton, WR (Purdue)
- Mitchell Melton, DE (Virginia)
- Lincoln Pare, RB (Texas)
- Nolan Rucci, T (Penn State)
- Raylen Sharpe, WR (Arkansas)
- Geno VanDeMark, C (Alabama)
- Jordon Vaughn, RB (Abilene Christian)
- West Weeks, LB (LSU)
Though the Colts were able to add some more young bodies on offense with this UDFA class, most of their notable signings here were on the defensive side of the ball, as well. Brown has all the right tools to be a roaming safety that drops down into the slot and box in the NFL but was unable to produce impact plays with any regularity for the Badgers. He must’ve had a number of suitors, though, as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that Indy gave Brown $272K in guaranteed money in order to secure his signature.
At 6-foot-3.5 and 310 pounds, Ball’s imposing frame had evaluators expecting teams to take a chance on him some time on Day 3 of the draft. He’s a formidable run blocker who will need to develop some pass rush ability to stay on the field at the next level.
Finally on offense, Rucci was teammates with Brown for two years before transferring to Happy Valley. He only spent one season as a full-time starter for the Nittany Lions, but at just over 6-foot-8, 314 pounds, Rucci has an ideal frame on which the team can build upon. Some technique work and strong coaching will be needed in his future, but he’s a worthy project for the Colts to take on.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/26
Here are a couple rare Sunday NFL transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Brandon Walton
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Landon Young
- Waived: WR Mac Dalena
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Kadarius Calloway, OLB Yasir Holmes, WR Dean Patterson
After two years each with the Buccaneers and Panthers, Walton will remain in the NFC South following a successful tryout at Atlanta’s rookie minicamp.
The Jets let go of Dalena in order to bring in some offensive line depth. Young spent the past four years in New Orleans as a versatile backup option. Over the course of his rookie contract, Young made 12 starts in 56 game appearances. Those 12 starts included assignments at both tackle and both guard spots along the Saints offensive line.
The Buccaneers are rewarding Calloway, Holmes, and Patterson with undrafted free agent contracts after successful tryouts at their rookie minicamp. Calloway transferred around liberally over the past three years, spending time at Old Dominion, Cal, and New Mexico before finding his way to the NFL. Patterson, a Tampa native, spent four years at FIU before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final year of eligibility. Holmes started his collegiate career at Frostburg State but spent the 2025 season at Tarleton State.
Panthers Restructure Jaycee Horn’s Deal
Jaycee Horn landed a major extension last offseason. The Panthers’ top cornerback will remain a foundational figure for years to come, but his deal was recently reworked.
Carolina restructured Horn’s contract, as detailed by Spotrac. A total of $16.4MM was converted into a signing bonus via the transaction. That makes this an example of a simple conversion aimed at carving out immediate cap space. To aid in that effort, one void year was added to the pact. Carolina now has roughly $12MM in cap space.
Horn battled injuries in two of his first three NFL seasons. When on the field, though, he has met expectations as a former top-10 pick. To little surprise, then, team and player worked out a four-year, $100MM extension last spring. The pact ranks third in the NFL in terms of guarantees for cornerbacks, and Horn will be counted on to remain one of the position’s top producers moving forward. After earning a Pro Bowl nod during his final season before the extension was signed, he was a Pro Bowler once more in 2025.
The 2027 base salary in Horn’s deal has already shifted to a full guarantee. That year is now set to include a notable spike in his cap charge, though. The 26-year-old will count for $10.9MM against Carolina’s cap in 2026 as a result of the restructure. That will jump to $25.9MM the following year, with further increases (to $31.8MM and $33.9MM) scheduled. Horn is under team control through the 2029 season.
Carolina posted 15 interceptions in 2025, and Horn accounted for five of them. He will look to build off that career mark in 2026 and beyond while remaining a key figure in a Panthers secondary which ranked mid-pack last year. Another strong showing on Horn’s part would help the team’s chances of improving on defense and reaching the postseason once again.
Bears Sign 13 UDFAs
The Bears added seven rookies via the draft. They have been joined by the following 13 undrafted free agents as first-year players on Chicago’s roster:
- Caden Barnett (OL, Wyoming)
- Coleman Bennett (RB, Kennesaw State)
- KC Eziomume (DB, Tulane)
- Beau Gardner (LS, Georgia)
- Omari Kelly (WR, Michigan State)
- Jaren Kump (OL, Utah)
- Hayden Large (TE, Iowa)
- Jayden Loving (DL, Wake Forest)
- Miller Moss (QB, Louisville)
- Mason Murphy (OL, Auburn)
- Gabriel Plascencia (K, San Diego State)
- Skyler Thomas (DB, Oregon State)
- Squirrel White (WR, Florida State)
Barnett is among this year’s group of UDFAs who secured a notable guarantee package. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports he landed a $30K signing bonus by joining the Bears. Barnett also received $248K in locked-in base salary, so a long-running opportunity to compete for a backup gig along the offensive line should be expected.
The Bears also made a Loving a target shortly after the draft. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes Chicago authorized a $245K guarantee in that case, including a $20K signing bonus. It was not until the sixth round that the team made an addition along the defensive line, so Loving will aim to carve out a depth spot or at least a place on Chicago’s practice squad.
Moss spent his first four college seasons at USC. That span included two years as Caleb Williams‘ backup. Moss took on starting duties for the Trojans in 2024 before spending a single season at Louisville. He will join Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent as depth passers for the Bears during offseason practices.
Broncos Extend GM George Paton
MAY 10: Parker Gabriel and Luca Evans of the Denver Post report the Paton extension was “hammered out” over the past couple of weeks. The deal was obviously expected at some point, but Paton and the team wanted to remain focused on the draft before turning their attention to the GM’s own contract status.
Payton, who spent his entire Saints career working with one GM in Mickey Loomis, is happy to have Paton in place for the long haul.
“I said to [Paton], I said, ‘Man, I consider myself very fortunate to have been with one General Manager in New Orleans who I would call a very close friend and a great working partner,’ and then to find another person like George,” Payton said at the Broncos’ rookie minicamp (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “I know that we both feel the same way. We love the grind together. He’s a tremendous asset and all, and he’s very good at what he does. I think we complement each other. I am super excited for him. I said that to you guys at the [scouting combine], it was just a matter of time. We think alike in a lot of cases.”
MAY 8: As expected, George Paton has landed a new agreement in Denver. The Broncos’ general manager signed a five-year deal on Friday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Before the 2025 season had ended, a Paton extension emerged as a likely goal for the Broncos. The veteran had one year remaining on his contract prior to today’s news. Now, though, Paton is on the books through 2030 on a deal which has since been confirmed via a team announcement.
Head coach Sean Payton has of course wielded considerable power since arriving in 2023. The ex-Saints Super Bowl winner has formed a strong tandem with Paton, and in February he expressed confidence an agreement would be worked out. The Paton-Payton pairing will continue for years to come as the Broncos look to build off their recent success. That includes earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed this past year.
“As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton,” a statement from owner Greg Penner reads. “I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
After time with the Bears and Dolphins, Paton joined the Vikings in 2007. He worked his way up to assistant general manager, serving in that capacity from 2007-20. Paton also held the title of VP of player personnel during his Minnesota stint. A return to the Vikings was floated as a possibility after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s firing, but the Broncos’ desire for a long-term agreement remained. Minnesota’s GM spot is still vacant at this point and Paton, 56, will be staying put.
Denver’s post-Peyton Manning cold spell continued upon Paton’s arrival. The team posted a losing record in each of his first three years at the helm, and moves such as the Nathaniel Hackett hire and the Russell Wilson trade certainly did not pay off. Despite carrying a massive dead money charge in the wake of Wilson’s release, though, the Broncos have managed to rebound thanks to Paton’s roster-building moves. Denver reached the playoffs as a No. 7 seed in 2024, and this past campaign saw the team host the AFC title game.
Quarterback Bo Nix‘s ankle injury kept him out of that contest, but expectations will be high in his case individually and that of the Broncos in general for years to come. Paton has managed to retain a strong core on defense and along the offensive line, and he recently swung a deal for receiver Jaylen Waddle. That move should help shore up the receiver position as the Broncos look for more consistent play in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. Attaining that goal should set the team up for another playoff run.
The Broncos’ original long-term investment in Paton provided a strong return. Penner and Co. will hope this second one continues a run of productive moves in the front office. With Payton’s job security certainly not an issue at this point, organizational stability for the foreseeable future can be expected in Denver’s case.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/26
Here are Saturday’s minor NFL moves:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Javin Wright
- Waived (with non-football injury designation): RB Michael Wiley
Wright agreed to terms with Tampa Bay shortly after the draft but was not included among the team’s initial undrafted free agent class. The Nebraska product’s arrival required a corresponding roster move, and Wiley has been let go. A former UDFA himself, Wiley finished 2025 on the Buccaneers’ practice squad before signing a futures deal in January.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/26
Here are the rookies who inked their four-year deals on Saturday:
New England Patriots
- TE Eli Raridon (third round, Notre Dame)
- EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins (seventh round, Boston College)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Daylen Everett (third round, Georgia)
- G Gennings Dunker (third round, Iowa)
- TE/FB Riley Nowakowski (fifth round, Indiana)
Texans’ Second-Round DT Kayden McDonald Signs Rookie Deal
After the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft came to a close, rumors claimed that multiple teams were attempting to work their way up closer to the top of the second round. Houston was the first team to successfully do so, and today, they landed the signature of the player they drafted after trading up. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald has signed his fully guaranteed four-year, $12.9MM rookie deal.
After essentially redshirting in his first year with the Buckeyes, McDonald held a rotational role off the bench in the team’s 2024 championship run. 2025 was McDonald’s first and only season as a full-time starter, but the All-American defender showed enough in 14 games to prove he was NFL ready. The disruptive, explosive defensive tackle made plays all over the field for Ohio State, notching 65 total tackles, three sacks, and nine tackles for loss. He showed good production in the pass rush, but he really excelled as a run stopper.
McDonald was widely expected to be the class’s only first-round interior defender. He even attended the draft in person just to slip into Day 2 while watching Florida’s Caleb Banks and Clemson’s Peter Woods hear their names called in the first round. Sitting atop the board of best remaining players for hours, he clearly was seen as a priority for a few clubs. Houston’s efforts to move up came with an intention to get ahead of the Giants, who they thought might take McDonald as a replacement for Dexter Lawrence.
Stepping into one of the NFL’s top defenses last year, McDonald should have a chance to earn a big role on a defensive line that returns Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai but lost Tim Settle to free agency. McDonald should be able to slot right in as the first interior defensive lineman off the bench and could find himself in a starting role if free agency takes another body away next year.
By landing McDonald’s signature, Houston has just cracked the seal on signing its rookie draft class. Here’s a look at the work that remains to be done:
- Round 1, No. 26 (from Bills): Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
- Round 2, No. 36 (from Raiders): Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 59: Marlin Klein (TE, Michigan)
- Round 4, No. 106 (from Commanders): Febechi Nwaiwu (G, Oklahoma)
- Round 4, No. 123 (from Chargers): Wade Woodaz (LB, Clemson)
- Round 5, No. 141 (from Raiders via Browns): Kamari Ramsey (S, USC)
- Round 6, No. 204 (from Chargers): Lewis Bond (WR, Boston College)
- Round 7, No. 243 (from 49ers): Aiden Fisher (LB, Indiana)