Raiders To Re-Sign TE Ian Thomas
Ian Thomas signed with the Raiders last March, ending his lengthy run in Carolina. The veteran tight end is positioned for a second straight year in Vegas.
Thomas is re-signing on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This move will give the Raiders continuity at the position aside from Brock Bowers preparing for his third NFL season. Thomas handled a 36% snap share on offense during the 2025 campaign.
A similar depth/blocking workload can be expected moving forward. Thomas also chipped in on special teams during his debut season in Vegas, something he has done at times over the course of his career. Especially if Bowers – who was limited to 12 games in 2025 – can remain healthy next year, Thomas will no doubt be in line for a backup gig including third phase duties. The 29-year-old will nevertheless provide an experienced presence to an offense which will feature a number of new faces in 2026.
Thomas made 36 catches during his rookie season; that remains the high mark for his career. A major uptick in production or usage should of course not be expected for 2026. The former fourth-rounder caught each of his 13 targets this past year, however, so he could be viewed as a reliable depth option in the passing game with new head coach Klint Kubiak in the fold.
When he signed with Vegas last year, Thomas took a deal worth $1.52MM. This latest pact will presumably check in at a similar rate. The Raiders entered Tuesday with over $23MM in cap space, so bringing him back will not alter any other moves being planned in the build-up to the draft.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts Signs Franchise Tag
The Falcons begin their offseason program today. Kyle Pitts will be in attendance since he is now under contract with the team once again.
Pitts has signed his franchise tag, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He still has plenty of time to work out a long-term agreement with Atlanta, but today’s news allows him to take part in offseason work. Pitts’ 2026 tag is worth $15.05MM.
Questions have long been present about where Pitts will wind up in the short- and long-term future. The former fourth overall pick has been expected to play on the tag, and doing so in Atlanta would represent a sixth year with the team. There has not been much (if anything) in the way of progress regarding talks on a multiyear commitment in this case, however. Speculation about a trade has therefore continued since the Falcons took the tag route with Pitts.
Indeed, general manager Ian Cunningham acknowledged one week ago that he would entertain trade offers on this front. Pitts, 25, topped 1,000 yards as a rookie. His next three seasons were seen as a disappointment given his drop in production and a lack of high-end touchdown totals. A turnaround took place in 2025, though, as Pitts totaled 928 yards on a career-high 88 catches. He could remain a focal point on offense in the event he stays in the Falcons’ plans for at least one more year.
Players unhappy with the tag have previously waited as long as possible before signing the one-year tender close to the beginning of the season. That has not been the case for Pitts, an encouraging sign with respect to his willingness to take part in voluntary spring work. The Florida product is one of many young offensive players the Falcons need to keep in mind when budgeting for future financial commitments. Wideout Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson are of course in a similar situation.
To no surprise, Atlanta is planning for extensions on the London and Robinson fronts, and the team will circle back to that after the upcoming draft. The event is often a prime trade window for veterans around the league, and it will be interesting to see if Pitts draws increased attention from potential suitors over the coming days. In any case, he is in position to collect a fully guaranteed figure for the second year in a row from the Falcons or another team.
Patriots To Waive LB Marte Mapu
Marte Mapu‘s time in New England is set to come to an end. The fourth-linebacker has been informed the Patriots will be waiving him, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports.
Mapu had one year remaining on his rookie contract, but the team will move on. He will now be subject to waivers shortly before the draft. It would come as a surprise if a claim were to be made in this case, so Mapu is in line for free agency beginning later this week. Today’s new comes after fellow linebacker Jahlani Tavai was also cut.
This decision will create $1.51MM in cap space for the Patriots while generating $262K in dead money. It will nevertheless leave New England in need of depth at the linebacker spot and on special teams. Mapu, a 2023 third-round pick, logged nine starts during his second season in the NFL. His role returned to that of a third phase regular with the arrival of head coach Mike Vrabel last year, though; Mapu handled a defensive snap share of just 12% in 2025 while logging a career-high 255 special teams snaps.
A similar workload will likely be in store for the 26-year-old on his next team. Mapu has made 44 regular-season appearances in his career to date, and he suited up for each of the Patriots’ playoff games en route to their Super Bowl appearance. It will be interesting to see if that experience helps him land a new deal in the coming days or if suitors circle back to Mapu following this month’s draft.
New England’s linebacker depth chart has seen a number of changes so far this offseason. Jack Gibbens departed in free agency, while K.J. Britt has been added. Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Chad Muma, Amari Gainer and Otis Reese are also in the fold at this time. With over $36MM in cap space (taking into account the savings from Muma’s cut) and 11 draft picks at their disposal, the Patriots will have ample opportunity to make further LB moves as the offseason progresses.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Brenden Bates, WR Malachi Corley, LB Winston Reid, LS Rex Sunahara, K Andre Szmyt, WR Jamari Thrash
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: C Will Putnam
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Da’Quan Felton, S Patrick McMorris, CB TJ Moore, CB Myles Purchase
A handful of exclusive rights free agents re-upped with their respective teams today, as the Browns and Raiders transactions exclusively featured these types of contracts.
Meanwhile, the Giants cleared some room off their offseason roster today. Patrick McMorris is the only player with any NFL experience, as the safety got into six games with the Dolphins in 2024, with 97 of his 105 snaps coming on special teams.
Raiders Sign QB Kirk Cousins
APRIL 6: The move is official, as the Raiders have announced the signing.
APRIL 2: The Raiders’ interest in Kirk Cousins has indeed produced an agreement. A deal is in place, agent Mike McCartney announced on Thursday.
Vegas was identified yesterday as a suitor in Cousins’ case. The team remains on course to select Fernando Mendoza first overall in this month’s draft, but adding veteran insurance has been a goal this offseason. Head coach Klint Kubiak recently noted his preference for having Mendoza sit at the beginning of his NFL career, pointing to a signing such as this.
[RELATED: Details On Raiders’ Cousins Agreement]
Cousins has been on the market since his long-expected Falcons release. The four-time Pro Bowler did not wind up being traded during the 2025 offseason, setting up a second campaign in Atlanta. Cousins still wound up making eight starts this past season despite Michael Penix Jr. opening the year atop the depth chart. The Falcons proceeded with a cut in Cousins’ case, ending his tenure with the team halfway through a four-year, $160MM contract. Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will compete for the QB1 gig in Atlanta this summer.
No such training camp battle should be anticipated in Vegas given today’s news. Cousins will be tasked with handling starting duties while Mendoza begins his NFL acclimation period. A stint atop the depth chart at some point during the 2026 campaign can of course be expected for the Heisman winner, considering the timeline along which rookie quarterbacks enter the lineup in the modern NFL. For now, though, Cousins will prepare for a period where he is positioned to lead an offense.
Vegas traded for Geno Smith last offseason, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll. Nothing went according to plan on offense in 2025, though, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly did not last the full season. It came as no surprise when Carroll was fired immediately after the campaign ended, nor when it became clear Smith would not return for 2026. He was traded to the Jets, creating the need for a veteran acquisition. Cousins, who will be 38 by the start of next season, certainly fits the bill.
Prior to today’s Raiders agreement, the Packers, Rams and Steelers had been linked to Cousins. Each of those teams could stand to add an experienced passer to their depth chart, with Pittsburgh’s QB1 role uncertain until Aaron Rodgers‘ decision on his playing future is made. The backup spots in Green Bay and Los Angeles, meanwhile, will need to be filled by another free agent or a draft pick.
Cousins’ six-year Vikings tenure came to an abrupt end when he suffered an Achilles tear midway through the 2023 season. His preference would have been to remain in Minnesota, but the potential for a multiyear starting spot in Atlanta led to his free agent departure. Things changed unexpectedly when Penix was drafted shortly thereafter, and Cousins was replaced atop the Falcons’ depth chart late in his debut season with the team. In all, he made 22 starts with Atlanta and posted several numbers below his career average while totaling 28 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
Expectations will be tempered upon arrival in Vegas for Cousins as a result. He is already owed $10MM from the Falcons for 2026, however, so this deal may not require a major financial commitment on the part of the Raiders.
Buccaneers Sign OT Justin Skule
Following a one-year stop in Minnesota, Justin Skule is heading back to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers announced today that they’ve signed the veteran offensive tackle. Greg Auman of FOX Sports passes along that it’s a one-year deal for Skule.
The 2019 sixth-round pick out of Vanderbilt spent the first chunk of his career in San Francisco. He got occasional looks in the starting lineup, starting 12 of his 31 appearances through his first two NFL seasons. His 2021 campaign was wiped out due to a torn ACL, and he was cut by the 49ers at the end of the 2022 preseason.
He caught on with the Buccaneers and proceeded to spend the next three seasons with the organization. He only got into one game during his first year in Tampa Bay, and he mostly played special teams in 2023. However, he saw a more significant role in 2024, starting five of his 17 appearances while getting into about one third of his team’s offensive snaps.
The Vikings brought him on last offseason, and the veteran proceeded to start a career-high nine games in Minnesota. Pro Football Focus graded him 45th among 84 qualifying offensive tackles, with the site preferring his pass-blocking ability to his run-blocking prowess.
Skule would have come in handy last year in Tampa Bay, as starting OTs Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke both missed time with injuries, forcing Charlie Heck to start six games. Skule will once again serve as a key backup to those two starters, although he’ll face some competition from 2025 UDFA Ben Chukwuma, who started two games as a rookie.
Browns Sign DB Myles Bryant
The Browns have added a veteran piece to their secondary. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that Cleveland has agreed to a deal with defensive back Myles Bryant.
The 2020 undrafted free agent out of Washington spent the first four seasons of his career in New England. His role progressively got bigger during his time with the Patriots, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he started nine of his 17 appearances. He finished that season with 77 tackles, seven passes defended, an interception, and a pair of forced fumbles. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus ranked him 54th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks.
He left for the Texans in 2024 but mostly played special teams during his first season in Houston. He saw a more significant role this past season, starting three of his 11 appearances. He finished the year with 40 stops while getting into 343 defensive snaps.
Bryant has shown an ability to play multiple roles in the secondary. Just this past season, he spent time as a free safety, slot cornerback, wide cornerback, and in the box. That should afford him a role on any team, although he may still have to fight for reps in Cleveland.
The Browns will return their same secondary as 2024, including their cornerbacks (Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, Myles Harden) and safeties (Ronnie Hickman, Grant Delpit). The team has also already acquired some depth in safety Daniel Thomas, who was added via free agency. At CB, Bryant will be competing with the likes of Dom Jones, D’Angelo Ross, and Tre Avery for reps, while Thomas and Donovan McMillon represent the acquisition’s main competition at safety.
Lions Re-Sign DB Avonte Maddox
Avonte Maddox is signing up for another season in Detroit. The Lions announced Monday they agreed to terms to bring back the veteran defensive back.
The longtime Eagles slot defender played 14 games, starting three, with the Lions last season. This will be Year 9 for Maddox in the NFL. Maddox played out a one-year, $1.42MM deal in 2025; the Lions received a nice return on that low investment.
Used mostly as a slot cornerback in Philly, Maddox played corner and safety during his first Detroit season. The Lions deployed Maddox more often as a safety, and Pro Football Focus viewed his work positively, grading the nine-year vet eighth at the position.
Detroit is loaded at safety, with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph entrenched as starters, but both battled injuries in 2025. Branch suffered an Achilles tear late in the season; it is not a lock he is ready to return by Week 1. A nagging knee injury sidelined Joseph in October, and although the Lions waited until December to place the recently extended defender on IR, he only played six games last season — as a setback wrapped his slate early. In Maddox, Detroit reacquires some insurance.
Maddox, 30, saw a 37% snap share on defense last season. That came in well south of his top marks as an Eagle, with the NFC East team using the former fourth-round pick as its regular slot CB for many years. But Maddox intercepted a pass, broke up four more and added a forced fumble in his Lions debut. Maddox joins Christian Izien — signed to a one-year, $2MM deal ($1MM guaranteed) — as Lions safety insurance options with considerable cornerback experience.
The Lions gave Maddox a career-high 248 snaps at free safety last season. Although Maddox was given a shot there as a rookie in Philly, he had not eclipsed 21 FS snaps in a season since. Conversely, Detroit only stationed Maddox in the slot on 18 plays. That obviously pales in comparison to his Eagles usage. Maddox was the Eagles’ slot performer when they ventured to Super Bowl LVII, and although his usage decreased by the time the team returned to the top stage two years later, Maddox still came through with a crucial pass breakup on a fourth-down Patrick Mahomes toss.
Maddox and Izien seeing extensive time may not be a great development for the 2026 Lions, as it would mean trouble returning to full strength from Branch and Joseph. But the Lions are covering their bases. Even with Amik Robertson defecting to the Commanders in free agency, the Lions have a few options for the slot as well; ex-Titans slot Roger McCreary also signed with the team.
Giants Sign OL Lucas Patrick
Lucas Patrick has lined up his next NFL gig shortly before the draft. The veteran offensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Giants, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
This will be a one-year pact, Wilson adds to no surprise. Adding along the offensive line was named as a goal by Giants general manager Joe Schoen during last week’s league meeting. Patrick will now be in place in time for the start of New York’s offseason program, which will begin tomorrow.
The nine-year veteran has made 113 appearances during the regular season over the course of his career; that includes 65 starts. Patrick spent his first five NFL seasons with Green Bay. He followed that with a two-year run in Chicago and then single campaigns with New Orleans and Cincinnati. The 32-year-old’s lone start in 2025 came at center, a familiar position. Patrick also has extensive experience at both guard spots, however.
The Giants are in position to return four of their five O-line starters from last season. Right guard Greg Van Roten remains unsigned at this point, and Patrick could serve as a replacement. The team has been open to a new deal with Van Roten, who operated as New York’s RG for each of the past two years, but it will be interesting to see if that remains the case with another veteran now in the fold. Finances are tight with respect to any moves the Giants make at this time.
New York entered Monday near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, and affording the team’s incoming draft class will require further financial commitments. This Patrick contract will not alter the Giants’ situation to a large degree, though, as his past two deals were respectively worth $1.38MM and $2.1MM. A similar low-cost move can be expected this time around.
Ravens Add Punter To Roster
The Ravens filled a literal hole in their roster today, adding a punter to their special teams room. After Jordan Stout departed for New York in free agency alongside three teammates and their former head coach, Baltimore didn’t have a punter under contract. There will likely be further additions to serve as competition, but per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Luke Elzinga will be signed as the first new specialist to come in for a chance at succeeding Stout.
Elzinga went undrafted out of Oklahoma last year. He did receive some scouting interest, participating in the Shrine Bowl and receiving an invitation to Titans rookie minicamp, but it looks like things have been quiet for him since then. Elzinga began his collegiate career at Central Michigan, redshirting a year before earning All-MAC honors in each of his next three seasons with the Chippewas. Elzinga entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining and opted to walk on for the Sooners.
Over the first half of his first season in Norman, Elzinga was used in tandem with another punter, taking short-field duties requiring accuracy to pin returners deep without touchbacks. By the second half of the season, he had assumed all punting and holding duties, and he ended the year with only two touchbacks. After a fifth season of collegiate play, he declared for the draft.
Elzinga seems like a promising candidate to compete for the Ravens’ (currently unopposed) job. He has a big leg, ending every season but one with a longest punt measuring over 62 yards, including a 76-yarder in his first game as a Chippewa, and impressive distance control, logging only 14 touchbacks in five years. As an added bonus, Elzinga has some experience throwing the football at both collegiate stops, completing all four of his only pass attempts for 86 yards. Former Ravens long-time punter Sam Koch famously maintained a perfect completion percentage, going seven-for-seven, up until the final year of career.
Again, the Ravens will likely add competition for Elzinga at some point in the offseason, so nothing is guaranteed for the new signee. Elzinga will have a head start on anyone who comes in to compete, though, as the default first name atop the depth chart.