Patriots Place TE Julian Hill On IR

Just as the Patriots added wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Eagles on Monday, they lost tight end Julian Hill for the 2026 season. The Pats have placed Hill on injured reserve, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald relays.

It is unclear why Hill is going on IR, but it will prevent him from playing in the first season of the three-year, $15MM contract the Patriots gave him in free agency. New England guaranteed $7.5MM to Hill, who turned down an offer to stay with AFC East rival Miami before hitting the open market. The Dolphins’ proposal was reportedly worth far less than the Patriots’.

After playing his college football at Campbell, an FCS school, Hill joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He was never much of a receiving threat in Miami, where he caught 33 passes for 288 yards and went without a touchdown in 45 games. But the blocking specialist was a 26-game starter for the Dolphins, who deployed him regularly on both offense and special teams. Hill logged a career-high 55% offensive snap share last year, and he also took the field for 48% of special teams plays. It was the reverse in 2024 (48% offensive snaps, 55% special teams).

A healthy Hill could have helped New England replace Austin Hooper, who joined the Falcons on a one-year, $3.25MM deal in free agency. Now, with the 25-year-old Hill out of commission, the Patriots will have to count on other options behind No. 1 tight end Hunter Henry. Third-round rookie Eli Raridon could log more playing time than expected in Hill’s absence. Jack Westover, CJ Dippre and undrafted rookie Tanner Arkin are the only other tight ends on the roster.

Pats To Acquire A.J. Brown From Eagles

After months of speculation, the A.J. Brown saga will finally reach an expected conclusion. The Eagles are trading the star wide receiver to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The fifth-round selection will be the higher of the two New England owns (it also has Chicago’s), per Albert Breer of SI.com. Both teams have announced the trade, which is pending a physical.

This is the second trade centering on Brown, who entered the NFL as the Titans’ second-rounder in 2019. Brown excelled in his three years in Tennessee, but after a contract impasse, the team dealt him to the Eagles for a first- and third-rounder in 2022. The swap worked out beautifully for Philadelphia, which gave Brown a four-year, $100MM extension and saw him turn into one of the greatest players in franchise history. He earned second-team All-Pro honors three times and picked up three Pro Bowl nods during his four years as an Eagle. Brown was also an integral part of a Super Bowl-winning team in 2024.

The soon-to-be 29-year-old Brown wrapped up his Eagles tenure with 339 receptions, 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns in 62 regular-season games. He played full seasons in Philadelphia from 2022-23, but knee and ankle issues held him out of four games in 2024. He missed another two contests last year with a hamstring injury, but Brown still led the Eagles in targets (121) and catches (78). He finished second on the team in yards (1,003) and touchdowns (seven). However, Brown voiced displeasure over the Eagles’ struggling offense at various points in 2025. Owner Jeffrey Lurie met with Brown in mid-November and asked him to stop airing his grievances on social media.

The Eagles were an excellent 7-2 when Lurie visited with Brown, but they played .500 ball for the rest of the year. While that was enough for an 11-6 finish and a second straight NFC East title, the Eagles flamed out in the wild-card round. The offense looked lifeless in a 23-19 home loss to the 49ers, who held Brown to just three catches and 25 yards on seven targets. He dropped two passes and had a memorable first-half sideline dust-up with head coach Nick Sirianni. Although Sirianni downplayed it afterward and said the two “have a special relationship,” the incident added fuel to a potential trade at the outset of the Eagles’ offseason.

Despite Brown’s dissatisfaction with how last year went, general manager Howie Roseman was not going to give him away for anything less than a major offer. Roseman originally wanted a first- and second-rounder for Brown, who reportedly had the Patriots, Chiefs, Bills and Chargers on his wish list. However, only the Patriots and Rams were aggressive in talks for Brown.

After the draft passed with no deal, Roseman sought a first-rounder in what many expect to be a loaded 2027 class. Nobody bit, though, and the Rams wound up dropping out of the running. That left New England as the obvious destination for Brown, who will now reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel. The two formed a rapport when they were together in Tennessee for three years.

It was far more palatable from a financial standpoint for the Eagles to part with Brown after 4 p.m. ET on June 1, which largely explains the delay. Had Roseman traded Brown before then, the Eagles would have taken on a $43.51MM dead cap hit and lost $20.12MM in spending space. Waiting enables the Eagles to spread that money over the next two seasons ($16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27). They will also pick up $7MM in cap room this season. They entered the day with approximately $24.84MM available.

The Patriots came into the day with over $43MM in cap space, giving them plenty of room to take on Brown’s contract. He signed a second Eagles extension – a four-year, $96MM pact with $84MM in guarantees – in April 2024. That deal runs through 2029. While it remains to be seen whether he’ll play all it all the way through, he will give the Patriots and franchise quarterback Drake Maye a much-needed No. 1 receiver in the near term.

Stefon Diggs was New England’s most productive receiver during its shocking 14-3 regular season and run to Super Bowl LX last season. However, a few weeks after the Seahawks knocked off the Patriots in the Super Bowl, they released Diggs. The Pats subsequently brought in former Packer Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68MM agreement in free agency, though he has been more of a No. 2/3 during his four-year career.

Brown and Doubs are in line to start for New England in 2026, while Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams are also among those in the fold. It is worth pointing out that the addition of Brown could bump someone from that group. Specifically, recent reports have named Boutte and Douglas as players who might be in jeopardy.

Joining the third team of his career, Brown will shoot for his seventh 1,000-yard season in 2026. His presence will be difficult for the Eagles to replace, but they did their best to prepare for his exit throughout the offseason. Before drafting former USC standout Makai Lemon 20th overall, the Eagles traded for ex-Packer Dontayvion Wicks and signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency.

Moore is not a lock to make the roster, but Lemon, Wicks and Marquise Brown are sure to give quarterback Jalen Hurts options behind new No. 1 wideout DeVonta Smith. The Eagles also have a pair of talented pass-catching tight ends in Dallas Goedert and second-rounder Eli Stowers, the 54th pick in the draft. It will be up to rookie offensive coordinator Sean Mannion to make it work as the Eagles begin life after Brown.

Browns Trade Myles Garrett To Rams

3:08pm: Both teams have announced the trade. It is indeed Garrett for Verse, a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder.

12:23pm: Myles Garrett‘s time in Cleveland is coming to an end. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is being traded from the Browns to the Rams, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report.

The full trade terms, per Schefter, consist of Garrett being traded for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a second-round selection in 2028 and a 2029 third-rounder. This swap is not official yet, as Browns GM Andrew Berry confirms (video link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). Once it is processed, though, it will no doubt go down as a seminal moment for both franchises.

Schefter reports Garrett has chosen to waive his no-trade clause to allow for this deal to take place. He will retain that clause upon arrival in Los Angeles. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes, today’s stunning swap represents the first time in history a reigning Defensive Play of the Year has been dealt.

Garrett has been the subject of trade speculation since he requested to be dealt last spring. That request was rescinded when a then-record extension was worked out. The seven-time Pro Bowler seemed to be in position to remain with Cleveland for years to come, but questions continued to be raised after the 2025 campaign saw him add further to his long list of accolades without any accompanying team success. Indeed, whispers about a trade lingered through the 2026 offseason.

In March, the Browns restructured Garrett’s contract in a way which did not add any new money or years to the pact. Nevertheless, the payment dates for his option bonuses were pushed back to one week before the start of the regular season. That move extended the window of opportunity for a trade – something Cleveland has denied would be taking place on multiple occasions – to be worked out.

June 1 is always a key checkpoint on the NFL calendar, and it was recently labeled the time after which a Garrett trade could occur. Just like the case of A.J. Brown, a deal formally being worked out any time after 3:00pm this afternoon will greatly impact the salary cap implications of the deal. Proceeding with this trade in a post-June 1 fashion will generate $8.34MM in cap savings for Cleveland with a $41MM dead money charge being spread out (and accounting for $15.53MM in 2026). Garrett’s contract runs through 2030.

Per Rapoport (video link), the Rams engaged in trade talks with the Browns shortly after the contract adjustment was made. Their efforts continued through the draft, with Cleveland remaining steadfast in rejecting offers. Things changed when Los Angeles general manager Les Snead offered to include Verse in the deal, though. Negotiations on an adjusted package of picks have now resulted in an agreement. Per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Rams informed Verse of the news earlier today.

Garrett has made clear his intention of playing on a contending team particularly toward the latter stages of his career. This blockbuster trade will help in that regard; the Rams fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance in 2025 and have made other win-now moves on defense since then. Garrett will join cornerback Trent McDuffie as a new face tasked with elevating Los Angeles’ defense while the teams seeks out another high-end campaign from quarterback Matthew Stafford and Co. on offense.

The Rams were a strong Brown suitor, but Breer notes their inability to acquire him helped set up this Garrett push. Another lucrative pact – one which averages $40MM per year – is now on the books, but Los Angeles will have a future Hall of Famer leading the way along a defensive front which was already among the league’s best. This acquisition will further deprive the Rams of draft capital (which was critical in establishing the post-Aaron Donald core on defense); then again, Snead’s stance when it comes to picks is rather well known.

Verse, whom Schefter notes was born in Dayton, Ohio, has enjoyed a strong start to his career. The 2024 first-rounder took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors while thriving in a full-time starting role. Last season, the 25-year-old collected a second Pro Bowl nod in as many years while posting 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. His rookie contract runs through 2028, and Cleveland could keep him in place for a longer period via the fifth-year option.

Since Verse is five years younger than Garrett, he will align better with the roster reset Berry is overseeing. The 2025 class offered promising early results with respect to a new core emerging for Cleveland. The fate of the quarterback position beyond 2026 is unclear, but additional capital should help yield options on that front or at least provide upgrades at other spots.

In a series of remarks which have proved to provide noteworthy foreshadowing, new Browns head coach Todd Monken said earlier on Monday (video link via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan) he was not given any assurances upon being hired about Garrett remaining with the team. Instead of having the single-season sack record holder in the fold for his first year leading an NFL team, Monken will be tasked with integrating Verse and developing the group of younger players brought in via Cleveland’s haul of draft picks.

Jets Sign First-Round WR Omar Cooper Jr.

The Jets added three players during the opening round of April’s draft. Every member of that trio is now on the books.

New York agreed to terms with receiver Omar Cooper Jron Monday, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports. This is a four-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $17.5MM. The Jets will be able to keep Cooper under team control through 2030 via the fifth-year option.

As expected, New York addressed the pass rush with pick No. 2 by drafting edge defender David Bailey. That was followed by the selection of tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16. The Jets entered Day 1 of the draft with a pair of picks, but they swung a trade with the 49ers to move up to No. 30. That deal allowed them to select Cooper, who capped off a four-year run at Indiana with a national championship last season.

Cooper redshirted as a freshman and then totaled a modest 18 catches in nine games as a sophomore. He added another 28 catches for 594 yards – good for a whopping 21.2 average – and seven touchdowns in 2024. After that impressive showing, his production skyrocketed with the Hoosiers’ addition of quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who transferred from California. While mostly working from the slot in 2025, Cooper amassed 69 grabs for 937 yards and 13 TDs to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. He also forced 27 missed tackles, most among any receiver in this year’s draft class.

The belief is Cooper has the versatility to line up in the slot and on the outside in the pros. Either way, he will add some much-needed talent to a Jets receiving corps that was sorely lacking in that area in 2025. No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson will return after missing 10 games with a shoulder injury. The Jets will also get a full season from Adonai Mitchell, who showed flashes after they acquired him from the Colts in November’s Sauce Gardner blockbuster. Cooper, Sadiq, Wilson, Mitchell, running back Breece Hall and tight end Mason Taylor should be new quarterback Geno Smith‘s top options in the passing game in 2026, and they could form a strong core of weapons for the foreseeable future.

With Cooper now under contract, fourth-round defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. is the Jets’ last unsigned pick. Here is their full eight-player class:

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

Giants To Sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

The Giants’ efforts to add at the receiver position have still not ended. A third deal has been arranged after today’s workouts.

JuJu Smith-Schuster has agreed to sign with New York, as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport. He too was among the veterans who took part in a workout Monday morning. Like with Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios, it has proven to be successful in this case.

Smith-Schuster, 29, had not previously been linked to interest from other teams. The 10th-year veteran has seen his production vary considerably from one season to the next over the course of his career, and the past two campaigns with the Chiefs were not among his best. A depth spot with the Giants will nevertheless be sought out with a familiar face present at the offensive coordinator spot.

Matt Nagy worked alongside Smith-Schuster in Kansas City. He is now the Giants’ offensive coordinator. Nagy will have several new faces to work with during training camp, although Berrios will of course be expected to operate primarily on special teams. Beckham and now Smith-Schuster will look to establish themselves as veteran contributors to a New York WR room which has undergone a number of changes in recent months.

Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt are still in the fold as returnees from 2025, but the Giants added Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin during free agency. Those signings were followed by the decision to select Malachi Fields in the third round of the draft. That group will aim to complement Malik Nabers when he is fully recovered from a follow-up surgery on his knee. Whether or not Nabers will be available for Week 1 remains to be seen, though.

After topping 830 yards twice during his five-year run in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster had a productive first campaign in Kansas City in 2022 (78-933-3 statline). That was followed by a single season in New England and a pair of one-year Chiefs deals. During that span, the former second-rounder saw his production tail off as a member of offenses which largely struggled with efficiency. He will look to bounce back in New York as part of a crowded receiver room.

Giants Sign WR Odell Beckham Jr.

2026 will indeed see a reunion take place between Odell Beckham Jrand the Giants. Team and player have reached agreement on a deal, as first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

This signing – which is now official – comes shortly after Beckham’s Monday workout. That represented the second time the former Pro Bowl wideout took part in a visit with New York. A special teams addition was arranged earlier today (Braxton Berrios), but the Giants were still seen as a candidate to make another WR move.

That has proven to be the case. Beckham returning to where his career began has remained a talking point for some time now, with communication taking place over an extended period. A mutual interest in a signing has resulted in plenty of speculation and anticipation, and today’s news will result in a high-profile training camp period during which Beckham will aim to carve out an offensive role.

The 33-year-old worked with John Harbaugh for one year when the two were together in Baltimore for 2023. Their relationship has remained strong since then, a factor in the signing which has now taken place. Expectations will of course be tempered relative to the first five seasons of Beckham’s career, during which he racked up 5,476 yards and 44 touchdown receptions as an impact Giants player on the field and a target for attention and controversy off it.

A trade to the Browns in 2019 resulted in one 1,000-yard Cleveland campaign but largely did not yield the desired results. Beckham would up being dealt ahead of the trade deadline in 2021, and he served as a valuable receiving presence on the Rams as part of their Super Bowl-winning team. An ACL tear suffered during the title game led to a full season out of action, however. Beckham then spent 2023 in Baltimore and part of the following season in Miami.

The Dolphins moved on following the 2024 trade deadline, and Beckham was hit with a six-game PED suspension ahead of last season. No team opted to add him as a free agent at that time, making it little surprise when a sparse market was present this past spring. Nevertheless, a Giants deal is now in place and the LSU product will have the opportunity to find stability (at least in the short term) late in his career.

Malik Nabers figures to reprise his role as No. 1 receiver when he is fully healthy, but it is unclear if that point will come in time for the start of the 2026 season. Missed time early in the year could help Beckham chip in offensively among the likes of returnees Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt, free agent signings Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin and third-round rookie Malachi Fields.

Giants, WR Braxton Berrios Agree To Deal

Not long after his Giants workout, Braxton Berrios has landed a deal. The veteran receiver/returner has agreed to a one-year New York pact, per his agents (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

Berrios was joined by JuJu Smith-Schuster and Anthony Miller in taking part in a workout earlier today. Odell Beckham Jr. also went through a second Giants visit this morning. Those three remain unsigned at this time, although Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports a second receiver addition can be expected.

Last week, Gunner Olszewski suffered what the Giants fear was an Achilles tear. Targeting a replacement with considerable special teams experience was a logical goal, and it comes as little surprise Berrios has secured a deal. The 30-year-old has returned 100 punts and 93 kickoffs over the course of his career, and will look to contribute in that regard on his latest team.

Berrios spent his first four seasons as a member of the Jets. During that time, he was a contributor on offense (totaling 46 catches in 2021) but made his most notable impact on special teams. The former sixth-round pick earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021 for his work as a returner, amassing 1,524 all-purpose yards that season. Berrios remained productive in that capacity for another two years, including his first campaign in Miami.

An ACL tear limited Berrios to just six games in 2024 and brought his Dolphins tenure to an abrupt end. The Miami alum managed to recover in time to sign with the Texans early in free agency last March, although his Houston spell proved to be sparse in terms of playing time. The Texans moved Berrios to injured reserve in September, and he totaled just four appearances with the team.

The Giants entered Monday with $10.49MM in cap space. This Berrios contract will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum, so it will not have a large impact on any other signings New York is contemplating.

Eagles To Sign WR Samori Toure

With A.J. Brown‘s departure nearing, the Eagles are making yet another receiver addition. Samori Toure has agreed to a deal with Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Toure began his career with the Packers, seeing game action with them in 2022 and again in 2023. Having remained in the organization during the summer of 2024 he is familiar to Sean Mannion, whose coaching tenure began with Green Bay that year. Mannion is now the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.

After failing to survive roster cutdowns in 2024, Toure made an intra-divisional move by signing with the Bears on their practice roster. The former seventh-rounder landed a futures contract following that season, but he never wound up making any regular-season appearances with Chicago. Toure joined the Saints this past fall by signing to New Orleans’ taxi squad. He played in one game during the 2025 campaign.

This summer, Toure will aim to carve out a depth role on the Eagles’ WR depth chart. He will be joined by a familiar face in the form of Dontayvion Wicks, who was acquired via trade and given a one-year extension upon arrival by Philadelphia. Wicks also began his career with the Packers. This spring has been busy with respect to receiver acquisitions on the part of the Eagles. Marquise Brown was added in free agency before the team traded up in the first round of April’s draft to select Makai Lemon.

Those new arrivals will be joined by Toure and returnee DeVonta Smith during training camp. Brown remains on the roster for the time being, although Monday afternoon marks the beginning of the period where moving on from his contract will be viable from a cap perspective. Compensation with the Patriots is still a talking point, but a Brown-to-New England move remains the widespread expectation around the league.

Toure, 28, has totaled 23 appearances to date in his career. He has never operated as a regular on offense in the NFL, but he could serve in a backup role upon reuniting with Mannion and joining a significantly revamped Eagles WR room.

Seahawks, Dante Fowler Agree To Deal

MAY 31: Fowler’s deal with the Seahawks has a base value of $2.5MM with just $500k guaranteed via a signing bonus, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson, the lowest of his career. He is also set to earn a $1.32MM salary and $680k in roster bonuses, as well as any of his $2.5MM in incentives he hits.

MAY 5: The Seahawks’ interest in Dante Fowler has been clear in recent days and weeks. Tuesday has indeed seen an agreement reached between team and player.

Fowler is signing with Seattle, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. This will be a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, he adds. Fowler visited with the Super Bowl champions last month, and an agreement was still feasible after the draft.

Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, leaving the team in need of at least a rotational presence to replace him. The Seahawks wound up making eight selections in the draft, but none were used on edge rushers. As a result, it comes as little surprise the team has turned to the free agent market deep into the offseason. Fowler will offer plenty in the way of experience along the edge in 2026.

The 31-year-old has racked up 159 appearances and 58 starts over the course of his career. Fowler has seen time with the Jaguars, Rams, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders across his 10 NFL seasons. In Atlanta and then again in Dallas, he overlapped with Aden Durde, who is currently the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator. Durde’s unit was critical in Seattle’s run to the championship in 2025, and expectations will remain high next year. Fowler, who recorded double-digit sacks as recently as 2024, will look to contribute in the pass rush department.

Seattle still has Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence and Derick Hall in place as returning edge rushers from last year. The members of that trio will be counted on to remain productive in 2026, but Fowler should have a notable role to play as well. The former No. 3 pick has logged a snap share of 52% or more three times in the 2020s. A workload closer to that of his Cowboys stints will be expected if the Seahawks remain healthy, though the value of this pact certainly points to Fowler being counted on to help replace Mafe’s production.

Seattle entered Tuesday with over $32MM in cap space, making a one-year addition such as this one an affordable option. Fowler has been playing on short-term deals dating back to 2020, so this arrangement will be nothing new to him. He collected $6MM with Dallas last season, and a similar payday should now be in store with the Seahawks.

Chiefs Restructure George Karlaftis’ Deal

The Chiefs kept defensive end George Karlaftis around for the long haul on a four-year, $93MM contract extension last July. Less than a year later, the Chiefs have restructured the deal, according to Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti.

Kansas City converted $9.685MM of Karlaftis’ salary into a signing bonus earlier this week. In doing so, the team opened up $7.7MM in cap space. The Chiefs now have around $13MM to work with, which may be enough room to upgrade their roster in a meaningful way this summer.

Wide receiver is one position the Chiefs could address, especially with temporarily jailed No. 1 wideout Rashee Rice recovering from knee surgery. Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and former Chiefs Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins are among the notable veterans still on the open market.

A recent report connected Diggs to the Chiefs, who have avoided sizable investments at wideout this offseason. Their biggest moves have been re-signing Tyquan Thornton to a two-year, $11MM pact and drafting former Cincinnati Bearcat Cyrus Allen in the fifth round (176th overall). Allen is joining holdovers in Rice, Thornton, Xavier Worthy and 2025 fourth-rounder Jalen Royals.

As for Karlaftis’ position, Kansas City added to its defensive end group when it drafted ex-Oklahoma Sooner R Mason Thomas in the second round (40th overall). The Chiefs grabbed Thomas after saying goodbye to Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna earlier in the offseason. Karlaftis, who remains the Chiefs’ No. 1 DE, easily led the position in defensive snap share (73.37%) last season. Over 16 games and 15 starts, he recorded 43 tackles, 23 QB hits, a personal-best 10 TFL and six sacks. The Purdue product has racked up an even 30 sacks over four years since the Chiefs drafted him 30th overall in 2022. He is under contract through 2030.

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