Browns Complete Draft Class Signings With 1st-Round WR KC Concepcion
The Browns have now signed their full 2026 draft class to rookie deal. First-round receiver KC Concepcion has put pen to paper on his first professional contract, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Concepcion, 21, was the No. 24 pick in April’s draft. He is set to earn just over $20MM in fully guaranteed money across the next four years, including a signing bonus worth roughly $11MM, per OverTheCap.
All first-rounders have fully guaranteed contracts with values that are set by the CBA’s rookie pay scale. That leaves less to be negotiated between player and team, though payment schedules have become a common battleground. The Browns came to terms with Spencer Fano, their other first-round pick, and the rest of their draft class far quicker than with Concepcion, indicating there were a few sticking points in his deal.
Now, all 10 of the Browns’ 2026 draft picks are under contract for the next four years, including Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, who went in the second round, 15 picks after Concepcion Boston was viewed as a potential first-round talent by some, as was Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who Cleveland traded up to snag at No. 58 overall.
That core quartet represents a second strong draft in a row for Browns general Andrew Berry. Last year’s No. 5 pick, Mason Graham, did not flash as a rookie but still profiles as a long-term anchor for the defensive line. Second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, and fellow Day 2 picks Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin both carved out clear roles in the offense moving forward. If either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders can evolve into a competent starter – or the team finally lands their long-awaited franchise QB in the 2027 draft – the Browns would seem to have all the pieces to finally move back into playoff contention in the next few years.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/9/26
Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/retired list: S Reuben Lowery
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: S Marlen Sewell
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Tomon Fox
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: WR Quentin Skinner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): P Aidan Laros
- Waived: WR Brandon Johnson
Bengals Sign Cashius Howell, Complete Draft Class Signings
The Bengals have completed their draft pick signings. The team announced that they’ve inked second-round defensive end Cashius Howell to his rookie deal.
Howell put himself on the map with a strong showing at Bowling Green in 2023, and he continued that production after transferring to Texas A&M ahead of the 2024 campaign. In two seasons with the Aggies, the pass-rusher compiled 71 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 22.5 tackles for loss. His performance in 2025 earned him a number of accolades, including an unanimous All-American nod and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award.
After trading their first-round pick in the Dexter Lawrence deal, the Bengals made Howell their first selection when they used the 41st-overall pick on him. With Trey Hendrickson no longer on the team, Cincy will be especially dependent on their rookie in 2026. Howell will join a pass-rush corps that also features Myles Murphy, free agent acquisition Boye Mafe, and 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, who disappointed as a rookie.
As mentioned, this signing means the Bengals have now agreed to deals with all seven of their draft picks. The class includes:
- Round 2, No. 41: Cashius Howell (DE, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 72: Tacario Davis (CB, Washington)
- Round 4, No. 128 (from Texans via Lions and Bengals): Connor Lew (C, Auburn)
- Round 4, No. 140 (from Bengals): Colbie Young (WR, Georgia)
- Round 6, No. 189: Brian Parker II (C, Duke)
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Giants via Cowboys): Jack Endries (TE, Texas)
- Round 7, No. 226: Landon Robinson (DT, Navy)
Bengals Restructure Joe Burrow’s Deal
For the first time since it was signed in 2023, Joe Burrow‘s contract is being adjusted. The Bengals have worked out a restructure with their quarterback, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report.
Today’s move will create roughly $10MM in cap space for 2026. Cincinnati entered Tuesday near the bottom of the NFL in terms of available funds ($7.17MM). Burrow’s cap charge – which was scheduled to check in at $48MM, the second-highest in the NFL, will now be reduced, though.
Throughout what has proven to be a busy offseason on the defensive side of the ball, the Bengals preferred to avoid making any adjustments to the Burrow pact. As Paul Dehner of The Athletic notes, the team felt working through its spring priorities would be feasible without deferring some of Burrow’s cap charges into the future. Nevertheless, the Dexter Lawrence trade (and subsequent one-year extension) in particular limited Cincinnati’s financial flexibility for the short term.
Burrow signed his extension during an offseason which saw the title of league’s highest-paid quarterback change hands multiple times. After seeing Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert each move the bar with their respective second contracts, Burrow landed $55MM per year on average. The former No. 1 pick’s deal runs through 2029, and it is scheduled to carry cap charges as high as $60MM by its final year.
2026 has seen the acquisition of Lawrence but other veterans, including edge rusher Boye Mafe and defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Spending on those newcomers led to limited cap flexibility for summer additions, but this Burrow restructure will create the room for a modest addition or two. The Bengals’ front office is of course also looking into a number of extensions, including the case of cornerback DJ Turner.
Health will no doubt continue to be a major talking point for Burrow, 29, entering the 2026 season. Expectations are high for Cincinnati given the team’s continuity on offense and and aggressive pursuit of defensive upgrades, but Burrow’s contact will remain a key presence in the short and long term with respect to its financial planning.
Packers, WR Christian Watson Agree To Extension
JUNE 9: Watson’s new deal has a base value of $97.5MM, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes. Keeping in line with standard Packers contracts, the $31MM signing bonus represents the only fully guaranteed money in the pact. As detailed by Over the Cap, per-game roster bonuses total $8.5MM over the course of the extension; incentives are present as well.
If Watson is on the roster by the third day of the 2028 league year, he will collect a $13MM roster bonus. A decision on that front will be key, as his cap charge will jump to $24.54MM that year (compared to $11.54MM in 2027).
JUNE 4: 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.
Chiefs To Sign CB L’Jarius Sneed
Veteran cornerback L’Jarius Sneed will return to Kansas City for a second stint. The Chiefs plan to sign the two-time Super Bowl champion, Jordan Schultz reports. It will be a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Sneed reunion comes just a few days after the Chiefs brought him in for a visit last week. The 29-year-old had been on the market since his disappointing Titans tenure ended with a mid-March release.
The Chiefs spent a 2020 fourth-round pick on Sneed, a Louisiana Tech product who quickly emerged as a steal. During his first run in Kansas City, Sneed started in 54 of 57 games, deflected 40 passes and hauled in 10 interceptions over four years. However, just over a month after the Chiefs knocked off the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, they dealt Sneed to the Titans in March 2024. Before working out a trade, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Sneed to prevent him from hitting free agency. They ended up getting a 2025 third-round selection back in the deal, which also included a swap of 2024 seventh-rounders.
While Kansas City was not interested in making a long-term commitment to Sneed, Tennessee handed the 6-foot-1, 192-pounder a four-year, $76.4MM pact with $51.5MM in guarantees. The trade and the extension went down as regrettable moves for the Titans, who got just 12 appearances and zero picks from Sneed across two seasons. He dealt with quad and knee issues in both seasons, including during a seven-game showing in 2025.
Off the field, a grand jury indicted Sneed last November for failure to report a felony stemming from an alleged incident in December 2024. Those charges were dropped in early May, though, and Sneed is now heading back to Kansas City a month later.
Despite Sneed’s importance to their defense during his first four seasons, the Chiefs moved on fine at cornerback with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson taking over as starters from 2024-25. However, the Chiefs traded McDuffie to the Rams in a March blockbuster and then saw Watson follow him to Los Angeles in free agency. The Chiefs then made a major move to replace those two when they drafted top-rated corner Mansoor Delane sixth overall. If Delane starts as a rookie, Sneed, Nohl Williams and free agent pickup Kaiir Elam could be among the names competing for the job opposite him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/8/26
Four teams made minor moves on Monday. Here’s a look…
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Malick Meiga
- Waived: TE Heinrich Haarberg
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Jalen Walthall
- Waived/injured: Quentin Skinner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Bobby Hart
- Waived: WR Levi Wentz
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: K B.T. Potter
- Waived: P Aidan Laros
Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas are entrenched as the Seahawks’ starting tackles, meaning the well-traveled Hart will vie for a backup role this summer. The former Giant, Bengal, Bill, Titan and Charger has amassed 108 appearances and 75 starts since he entered the league as a seventh-round pick in 2015. Hart was the Bengals’ starting right tackle from 2018-20, but he saw little action over the next four years and did not get into any regular-season games from 2023-24. He returned last year to play 10 games and start in eight at right tackle with the Chargers, who went without the injured Joe Alt for most of the season.
Patriots Sign First-Rounder Caleb Lomu
The Patriots have signed first-round offensive tackle Caleb Lomu to his fully guaranteed rookie contract, the team announced. As the 28th overall pick, the former Utah standout’s four-year deal is worth approximately $18.92MM.
The 2026 draft marked the second straight year that the Patriots addressed offensive tackle in Round 1. They spent the fourth pick in 2025 on Will Campbell, who was a full-time blindside starter as a rookie.
Although Campbell drew major criticism after a rough showing in the Patriots’ 29-13 Super Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks, he played well during the regular season and will remain in the same role this year. The plan is for Lomu to eventually take over on the right side. But with veteran starter Morgan Moses back for another season, Lomu will be the Patriots’ primary swing tackle in 2026.
As the reigning AFC champions, the Patriots went into the draft with the 31st pick. They moved up three spots in a trade with the AFC East rival Bills to land Lomu, a two-year starter in college. Utes teammate Spencer Fano, who went ninth overall to the Browns in this year’s draft, moved from left to right tackle to accommodate Lomu in 2024. Lomu went on to earn freshman All-America honors that year. The 6-foot-6, 313-pounder was even better in 2025, during which he played 823 snaps and did not allow a sack. Lomu picked up a first-team All-Big 12 nod for his efforts.
With Lomu now under contract, the Pats are almost done with their rookie signings. Second-round edge defender Gabe Jacas is the only member of their nine-player draft class who hasn’t put pen to paper. Here is the full group:
- Round 1, No. 28 (from Texans via Bills): Caleb Lomu (T, Utah) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 55 (from Chargers): Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
- Round 3, No. 95: Eli Raridon (TE, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 171: Karon Prunty (CB, Wake Forest) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 196 (from Colts via Vikings, Panthers and Jaguars): Dametrious Crownover (T, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 212: Namdi Obiazor (LB, TCU) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 234 (from Vikings): Behren Morton (QB, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 245 (from Rams via Texans and Jaguars): Jamarion Miller (RB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 247: Quintayvious Hutchins (EDGE, Boston College) (signed)
Chiefs To Sign First-Rounders Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods
Armed with two first-round selections, the Chiefs added a pair of defenders on the opening night of this year’s draft. Both of those players are now under contract. The team agreed to four-year rookie deals with cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods on Monday, per reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Shefter of ESPN.
As the sixth overall pick, Delane’s fully guaranteed pact is worth $41.9MM. Woods, the 29th overall choice, will earn $18MM over the same span. He will rake in the highest upfront signing bonus percentage in the history of Chiefs first-rounders, according to Schefter.
This has been an offseason of significant change for the Chiefs’ cornerback group, which lost previous starters Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to the Rams. With those two gone, it did not come as a surprise when the Chiefs addressed the position with their first pick. They moved up three spots in a trade with the Browns to secure Delane, who might not have been available had the Chiefs stayed at No. 9 overall. The Saints loomed as serious threats to scoop up the LSU product at No. 8.
Three weeks before the draft, the race to decide the draft’s No. 1 corner looked like a toss-up between Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy. However, once concerns over McCoy’s knee came to light, Delane won the battle with ease. The 5-foot-11, 187-pounder is entering the NFL off a productive four-year college career divided between two schools. Delane spent his first three seasons at Virginia Tech, where he intercepted a personal-best four passes in 2024 on his way to a third-team All-ACC selection. Last year, his lone season with the Tigers, he added two more INTs and a career-high 11 passes defensed en route to unanimous All-America and first-team All-SEC honors.
While Delane could step into an immediate starting role with the Chiefs, Woods will break in behind veterans Chris Jones and Khyiris Tonga in the middle of their defensive line. The Chiefs drafted Woods with the first-rounder they received from the Rams in the McDuffie trade. Although the 6-2, 298-pounder did not post huge numbers at Clemson, where he tallied 84 tackles, 14.5 TFL and five sacks in 35 games, he elected to forgo his senior year after picking up a first-team All-ACC nod last season.
With Delane and Woods officially joining the Chiefs, they have just two unsigned picks: fifth-round receiver Cyrus Allen and seventh-round quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Here is their full seven-player class:
- Round 1, No. 6 (from Browns): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
- Round 1, No. 29 (from Rams): Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
- Round 2, No. 40: R Mason Thomas (DE, Oklahoma)
- Round 4, No. 109: Jadon Canady (S, Oregon)
- Round 5, No. 161 (from Steelers): Emmett Johnson (RB, Nebraska)
- Round 5, No. 176*: Cyrus Allen (WR, Cincinnati)
- Round 7, No. 249 (from Colts)*: Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/5/26
Friday’s only minor moves:
New York Jets
- Waived from reserve/PUP list: C Gus Hartwig
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Zion Wilson
- Waived: WR Brandon Hayes
The Eagles are bringing in another undrafted rookie, though Wilson didn’t go undrafted in the same way as the rest of the team’s UDFA class. Per Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Wilson had sought a sixth year of eligibility to transfer to Virginia after he didn’t appear in any games during his true and redshirt freshman seasons at East Carolina. Ultimately, his sixth-year waiver was denied by the NCAA, so he will, instead, turn to the NFL.