Cowboys, First-Rounder Malachi Lawrence Agree To Deal
The Cowboys have agreed to a deal with first-round edge defender Malachi Lawrence, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Lawrence’s four-year rookie contract will be worth $20.22MM, all of which is guaranteed.
The Cowboys took Lawrence 23rd overall, completing a two-pick opening round for a defense-needy team that added former Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11. Unlike the highly touted Downs, Lawrence was not seen as a clear-cut first-rounder for the entire pre-draft process. However, the UCF product’s stock began to soar in the weeks leading up to the draft. Lawrence met with at least 17 of the NFL’s 32 teams. Four other clubs targeted him in Round 1 before Dallas took him off the board, according to Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence spent four years at UCF, where he broke out as a sophomore in 2023. Lawrence racked up 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that season. His numbers dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he closed his college career with a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence tallied 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence upped his stock considerably with a tremendous showing at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He checked in second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump. The Cowboys (and other teams, judging by the vast interest in Lawrence) expect his athleticism to pay off in the NFL.
After trading all-world edge defender Micah Parsons to the Packers last August, the Cowboys tied for 26th in sacks (35) during a disastrous year for their defense. Journeyman Jadeveon Clowney led the team with 8.5 sacks, but the Cowboys did not re-sign him or fellow veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler in free agency. While Clowney is still on the open market, he may not be a fit in new coordinator Christian Parker‘s defense. Barring a Clowney re-signing or another outside pickup, the Cowboys will enter the year with Lawrence, trade acquisition Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston and Sam Williams as their top options along the edge.
While Lawrence hasn’t officially signed yet, the Cowboys will have their entire rookie class under contract when he puts pen to paper. Here is a refresher on the seven-player group:
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton (T, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 137 (from Eagles)*: LT Overton (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith (WR, East Carolina) (signed)
Bears To Sign First-Rounder Dillon Thieneman, Second-Rounder Logan Jones
The Bears have agreed to a deal with first-round safety Dillon Thieneman, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. As the 25th overall pick, Thieneman will sign a fully guaranteed contract worth $19.51MM over four years.
Chicago has also come to terms with second-round center Logan Jones, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Jones was the 57th overall selection, which carries an approximate value of $8.47MM. It is likely he will receive a good chunk of guaranteed money.
Thieneman, who divided his three-year college career between Purdue and Oregon, entered the draft trailing Ohio State’s Caleb Downs as the second-rated safety on the board. Downs went 11th overall to the Cowboys. It was somewhat surprising Thieneman was still available 14 picks later for the Bears, who are expecting his excellence in college to transfer to the pros. The 6-foot, 201-pounder made 106 tackles and intercepted six passes as a freshman with the Boilermakers in 2023 en route to third-team All-America honors. Last year, his lone season at Oregon, he was named a first-team All-American after making 96 tackles and pulling in two picks.
The NFC North champion Bears deployed starting safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard on over 99% of defensive snaps in 2025, but both players exited in free agency. They partially replaced those two with former Seahawk Coby Bryant, who moved to Chicago on a three-year, $40MM contract. Thieneman and Bryant are now positioned to serve as the Bears’ safety duo for at least the next few seasons.
Jones played his college ball at Iowa, which is known for churning out quality offensive linemen. That includes the game’s best center, the Raiders’ Tyler Linderbaum, whom Jones succeeded in 2022. While Jones had a tough act to follow, the former defensive tackle ended up a four-year starter in the middle of the Hawkeyes’ O-line. He earned three All-Big Ten selections during that span, and he was at his best in 2025. The 6-3, 299-pounder was a unanimous All-American who won the Rimington Trophy, which is given to the nation’s best center. Linderbaum also took home the Rimington Trophy in his last year at Iowa.
After the abrupt retirement of starting center Drew Dalman, the Bears acquired Garrett Bradbury from the Patriots in early March. Bradbury may start in 2026, but he is on track to become a free agent next offseason. So, even if Bradbury wins the job this summer, Jones could take over as the Bears’ No. 1 center by 2027.
With Thieneman and Jones set to put pen to paper, the Bears will soon have just one unsigned pick: third-round tight end Sam Roush. Here is their full class…
- Round 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 57: Logan Jones (C, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 69 (from Giants via Texans, Bills and Titans): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- Round 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 124 (from Jaguars via Panthers): Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 166 (from 49ers via Eagles and Panthers): Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars, Lions and Bills): Jordan Van Den Berg (DT, Georgia Tech) (signed)
Packers, WR Christian Watson Agree To Extension
Last offseason, Christian Watson and the Packers agreed to a one-year extension. Another new deal has been worked out, and this time around a long-term commitment has been made.
Watson has agreed to a four-year extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This is a $110.5MM deal, he adds. The Packers have included a $31MM signing bonus in this contract, which will keep Watson on the books through 2030.
Injuries have been a concern throughout Watson’s NFL career. The former second-rounder was limited to 10 games during the regular season in 2025, although he also played in Green Bay’s wild-card loss. Watson was productive when on the field, totaling six touchdowns and maintaining a strong yards per catch average. The Packers clearly saw enough this past season to authorize a lucrative investment.
In March, Watson was named as one of several young members of Green Bay’s core who could be in line for an extension. One month later, general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed a long-term deal was indeed a priority for the team. With plenty of time to spare before training camp, an agreement has now been reached. This represents the second big-money deal worked out with a receiver this spring in the case of Green Bay.
Jayden Reed agreed to an extension of his own shortly before the second day of the draft. That pact ensures he will remain in place through 2029 and carries an average annual value of $16.75MM. Watson’s new deal confirms he will be a focal point on offense for the foreseeable future as well. Tight end Tucker Kraft has yet to line up a second contract, but he may represent Green Bay’s next priority.
Watson has secured an AAV of $27.63MM on this latest extension. The 27-year-old will thus slot in just outside the top 15 in the NFL with respect to receiver compensation on an annual basis. Continued absences due to injuries could of course limit the success of this commitment, and Watson has yet to top 620 yards in a season. Nevertheless, he has averaged 17 yards per reception over the course of his career, and remaining one of the league’s top vertical threats would be critical for the Packers’ offense moving forward.
The 2026 offseason has seen Romeo Doubs depart in free agency, while Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles in April. Those absences will thin out a receiver room on a Green Bay team which added Matthew Golden in the first round in 2025 but did not make any draft investments this year. Watson, Reed and Golden will be counted on to operate as key figures for years to come as part of the Packers’ efforts to make a deep playoff run.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/4/26
Several NFL teams made minor transactions on Thursday. Here’s a look…
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Benton Whitley
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Louie Hansen
- Waived: WR Jalen Walthall
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Chad Lindberg, OLB Eddie Walls
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Michael Briscoe, WR Trayvon Rudolph
- Waived: WR Joaquin Davis
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Gee Scott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis
- Waived: TE Chamon Metayer
Out of the 11 players listed above, Davis is the only one with a first-round pedigree. Washington took the former Kentucky Wildcat 19th overall in 2021, but his stock has plummeted during his five-year career. As a member of the Commanders for three-plus seasons, he totaled 282 tackles and seven sacks over 50 games (36 starts).
The Commanders experimented with Davis at defensive end in 2024, but it didn’t work out to their liking. They waived Davis in late October that year, and he has since gone to short stints with the Packers, Vikings, Jets and Raiders. The 27-year-old got into two games with the Raiders last season and made three tackles. Davis is now reuniting with Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who held the same position in Las Vegas in 2025.
Dolphins Sign Fifth-Rounder Seydou Traore, Wrap Up Draft Class
The Dolphins signed fifth-round tight end Seydou Traore to his rookie deal on Thursday, the team announced. They now have all 13 of their 2026 draft picks under contract.
Traore was Miami’s 11th pick in a class headlined by two first-rounders, offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (No. 12) and cornerback Chris Johnson (No. 27). They grabbed Proctor after moving down a spot in a trade with Dallas, which gave up the 177th and 180th picks. The Dolphins used the 180th choice on Traore, who was born in France and raised in England. Along with Jordan Mailata (Eagles; seventh round, 2018), Travis Clayton (Bills; seventh round, 2024) and Uar Bernard (Eagles; seventh round, 2026), Traore is one of four NFL draft picks to come from the International Pathway Program.
A former soccer goalie, Traore joined the NFL Academy in London and then moved to Clearwater, Fla., for his senior year of high school, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. As a three-star recruit, Traore began his college career in 2021 at Arkansas State. He broke out in his second season – a 50-catch, 655-yard, four-touchdown campaign – and earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Traore sat out the next year after transferring to Mississippi State, but he was a solid producer there from 2024-25. He totaled 69 catches, 730 yards and six TDs over 25 games with the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-4, 223-pounder is now part of a Miami tight end group that also includes Greg Dulcich and third-round rookie Will Kacmarek.
The Dolphins made more picks than any other team in this year’s draft. Here is their full list of newcomers:
- Round 1, No. 12 (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 27 (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 43: Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 75: Caleb Douglas (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87 (from Eagles): Will Kacmarek (TE, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Broncos): Chris Bell (WR, Louisville) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Broncos): Trey Moore (EDGE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 138*: Kyle Louis (LB, Pitt) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings): Michael Taaffe (S, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 177 (from Cowboys)*: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 180 (from Cowboys)*: Seydou Traore (TE, Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 200 (from Panthers): DJ Campbell (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers via Titans and Jets): Max Llewellyn (EDGE, Iowa) (signed)
Chargers, Akheem Mesidor Agree To Deal
The Chargers have agreed to a deal with first-round edge defender Akheem Mesidor, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. As the 22nd overall pick, Mesidor inked a four-year, $20.46MM contract.
Despite his age (25) and past injury issues, Mesidor was widely expected to come off the board in the first round. He was one of the top 30 prospects available, according to both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 26) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 28). The Buccaneers reportedly would have taken Mesidor 15th overall had former Miami teammate and fellow edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. not slid to them.
Mesidor is entering the NFL with plenty of experience, having played in 65 college games over six seasons. The Canada native began at West Virginia, where he tallied 70 tackles, 14.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks from 2020-21.
Mesidor was mostly an interior lineman with the Mountaineers, but he took on an edge role upon transferring to Miami in 2022. After racking up 10.5 TFL and seven sacks in 11 games in his first season with the Hurricanes, foot problems held Mesidor to three appearances in 2023. He stayed healthy in his final two seasons at Miami, though, and his production exploded during a 15-game 2025. The 6-foot-3, 259-pounder amassed 38 tackles, 17.5 TFL and 12.5 sacks en route to first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors.
As someone who is also a capable run defender, Mesidor projects as a three-down player in the pros, according to Brugler. He could begin his career as the third or fourth option in a talented group of edge defenders in Los Angeles.
The Chargers lost Odafe Oweh to the Commanders’ four-year, $100MM offer in free agency, but they still boast Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu as starters. Bud Dupree and Kyle Kennard are in the mix as depth. Kennard is the only member of that quartet signed past the upcoming season, but the 2025 fourth-round pick disappointed during a five-game, two-tackle rookie campaign. The Chargers will expect much better production from Mesidor during his first season. If he pans out and the Chargers extend Tuipulotu, which general manager Joe Hortiz hopes to do, they will have a formidable pass-rushing duo for the next several years.
With Mesidor under wraps, the Chargers have locked up seven rookies from an eight-player class. Fourth-round receiver Brenen Thompson is the last unsigned pick standing.
Texans Sign 1st-Rounder Keylan Rutledge
The Texans have signed first-round guard Keylan Rutledge to his four-year rookie contract. As the 26th overall pick, the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket will receive a fully guaranteed deal worth $19.28MM.
The Texans entered the draft holding the 28th selection, but general manager Nick Caserio traded up two spots with the Bills to reel in Rutledge. While Rutledge did not look like a first-round lock going into the draft, at least one other team eyed him in the top 32. Tennessee, one of Houston’s AFC South rivals, tried to jump ahead of the Texans to take Rutledge. Meanwhile, an executive from an NFC team told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that Rutledge, not Vega Ioane, was the best guard in this year’s class. Ioane went 14th overall to the Ravens.
Rutledge spent his first two college seasons at Middle Tennessee State, where he was the primary starter at right guard. After transferring to Georgia Tech in 2024, he remained at the position and served as a full-time starter. Rutledge became the Yellow Jackets’ first player since legendary wide receiver Calvin Johnson to earn first-team All-ACC honors in two straight seasons (h/t: Dane Brugler of The Athletic). The 6-foot-3, 316-pounder was also a first-team All-American in 2025. Caserio sees Rutledge as a perfect fit for his club.
“The things that stand out about him, toughness, violence, physicality, his playing style, his intelligence,” Caserio said (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2). “Basically, the guy wants to step on your throat on every play, which I would say sort of embodies what our football team is about, the way we play.”
While Houston expects Rutledge to emerge as a long-term starter, it may not be at his typical position. The Texans have a pair of pricey veteran guard starters in the extended Ed Ingram and free agent addition Wyatt Teller. With those two in the fold, Rutledge could battle Jake Andrews for the starting center job, according to Wilson. Rutledge lined up at center at the Senior Bowl and has also gotten first-team work there in practices with the Texans.
The Rutledge signing brings the Texans one step closer to getting all of their draft picks under contract. Fourth-round guard Febechi Nwaiwu is the lone member of their eight-player class who remains unsigned.
Cardinals Release K Joshua Karty, Sign S Isaiah Oliver
The Cardinals have brought an early end to the battle between kickers Joshua Karty and Chad Ryland. They released Karty on Thursday, per a team announcement. Arizona signed safety Isaiah Oliver in a corresponding move.
The Rams spent a 2024 sixth-round pick on Karty, a Stanford product who impressed as a rookie. Karty converted 29 of 34 field goals and 32 of 36 extra points then, but his production declined during a rough 2025 for the Rams’ special teams unit. He missed five of his 15 field goal tries and went 23 of 26 on extra points over eight games, leading the Rams to elevate kicker Harrison Mevis from their practice squad in Week 10.
Mevis thrived after his promotion and never gave the job back to Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. While they brought him back a few days later as a member of their practice squad, the Cardinals signed him away on Dec. 23. Karty did not get into either of the Cardinals’ last two games, but they retained him as an exclusive rights free agent.
Barring another outside addition, the Cardinals will continue with Ryland, who re-signed on a one-year deal in March. The former Patriot has made just 76.7% of field goals during his three-year career, though he has converted 86 of 88 extra points. He nailed all 36 PATs in 2025.
The 6-foot, 202-pound Oliver entered the league in 2018 as a second-round pick of the Falcons. Oliver became a starter in his second season, but he has mostly worked as a backup since a knee injury limited him to four games in 2021. He stuck with the Falcons through 2022, left for the 49ers in 2023, and then spent the past two seasons with the Jets. As part of a New York defense that failed to intercept a pass in 2025, Oliver got into 14 games, made two starts and recorded 55 tackles. The 29-year-old’s season ended in mid-December as a result of a knee injury.
Overall, Oliver has totaled 110 appearances (53 starts), 42 passes defensed and three picks during his eight-year career. The Phoenix native will now try to earn a spot in a Budda Baker-led safety group that also includes Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, free agent pickup Andrew Wingard, Joey Blount, Kitan Crawford and undrafted rookie Wydett Williams Jr.
Jaguars Sign CB Dane Jackson, OL Trystan Colon; CB Keith Taylor Placed On IR
The Jaguars have added a pair of veterans ahead of minicamp. Cornerback Dane Jackson and offensive lineman Trystan Colon have been signed, the team announced on Thursday.
In corresponding moves, cornerback Keith Taylor has been placed on injured reserve while offensive lineman Sal Wormley has been waived (meaning he will hit the wire before becoming a free agent if unclaimed). Players moved to IR at this stage of the offseason are guaranteed to miss the entire campaign, so today’s news is a major blow for Taylor. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports the veteran recently suffered a pectoral tear while weightlifting.
Jackson was one of several members of Buffalo’s secondary who was released in March. Being cut brought an end to his second Bills stint; the six-year veteran has played five totals seasons with the team. A one-year run with the Panthers which did not go according to plan preceded Jackson’s Buffalo return for 2025. The 29-year-old will look to provide an injury replacement for Taylor and offer Jacksonville with depth in the secondary.
Colon saw sparse usage across a three-year Ravens stint to begin his career. The former undrafted free agent then spent a pair of seasons in Arizona, totaling 11 starts. Colon was with the Lions for 2025 and made 12 appearances (including four starts) as Detroit worked through a number of injuries up front. He has seen over 300 snaps at center along with both guard positions over the course of his career. A depth role on the interior will be sought out this summer.
Jacksonville entered Thursday with roughly $9.5MM in cap space. The additions of Jackson and Colon can be expected to check in at or near the veteran minimum. Further roster shuffling in advance of training camp – along with mandatory minicamp, which will run from June 15-17 – should be possible as a result.
Lions WR Kendrick Law Suffers ACL Tear
Kendrick Law will not be available to the Lions in 2026. Head coach Dan Campbell said on Thursday (via team reporter Tim Twentyman) the rookie receiver tore his ACL in practice earlier this week.
Law was the second of two players selected in the fifth round of April’s draft by the Lions. The Alabama and Kentucky product experienced a significant uptick in production during the 2025 season, his first and only as a member of the Wildcats. Law posted 540 yards on 53 catches during his final college campaign.
A depth role awaited him upon entry into the NFL, but Law’s attention will now turn to a lengthy recovery period instead. The soon-to-be 23-year-old will attempt to rehab in time for spring workouts and training camp next year and in doing so allow himself to carve out a roster spot in 2027. Law’s rookie contract runs through 2029.
Detroit’s passing attack will once again lean heavily on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams this season. Both veterans remain attached to big-ticket deals, and their performances will be key in allowing the Lions to return to the playoffs in 2026. Isaac TeSlaa – taken in the third round of last year’s draft – along with free agent signings Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson round out the top spots on the WR depth chart.
Law will be headed to injured reserve as confirmation his rookie campaign ended well before it began. Meanwhile, the Lions signed another wideout in the form of Kyre Duplessis on Thursday, per a team announcement. He will look to fill in for Law in terms of competing for a backup/special teams role over the course of the summer.