Falcons To Sign RT Jawaan Taylor
The Falcons may have already found their replacement for retired right tackle Kaleb McGary. Atlanta has agreed to a one-year deal with Jawaan Taylor, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. The contract carries a $5MM base value and up to $1MM in incentives.
McGary missed all of last season with a knee injury, but expectations were the longtime Falcon would step back into the starting lineup in 2026. Instead, though, McGary walked away from the game on Wednesday. Having already lost 2025 starter Elijah Wilkinson to the Cardinals in free agency, McGary’s retirement left the Falcons dangerously thin at right tackle. It did not take long for the Falcons to find an experienced option in the 28-year-old Taylor, who will presumably start opposite left tackle Jake Matthews next season.
Taylor entered the NFL in 2019 as part of the same draft class as McGary. The Jaguars took Taylor 35th overall, four picks after the Falcons selected McGary. Taylor has since started in all 111 regular-season games, including 66 as a Jaguar over his first four seasons.
Upon reaching free agency in 2023, Taylor left Jacksonville for Kansas City’s four-year, $80MM offer. Then the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs brought Taylor in to replace Orlando Brown Jr., who signed with the Bengals. Taylor was a 17-game starter in his first year in Kansas City, the most recent title-winning campaign for the franchise. The team went back to the Super Bowl the next season, a 16-start year for Taylor, but the Eagles blew them out.
Taylor had never missed more than one game in a season going into 2025, but a triceps injury held him to 12 appearances. His season officially ended when the out-of-contention Chiefs placed him on IR in late December. Pro Football Focus rated Taylor’s play a subpar 76th among 84 tackles. PFF has never been enamored of Taylor, who topped out at 49th in its rankings back in his rookie season.
With the chance to free up $20MM in cap space, the Chiefs took the expected route and released Taylor in March. Over his three years in Kansas City, Taylor took a whopping 40 penalties. With limited options in free agency, no first-round pick and just five selections in total, the Falcons will gamble on the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Taylor to protect the blind side of a left-handed quarterback. Either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will open the season as their starting signal-caller.
Falcons RT Kaleb McGary Retires
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary is retiring at the age of 31. Agent Collin Roberts announced the news on Wednesday.
A career-long Falcon, McGary joined the organization as the 31st overall pick in the 2019 draft. The former Washington standout became an immediate starter in Atlanta, which kept him atop its depth chart for his entire career. McGary started in 92 of 93 appearances in the NFL. Before a lost 2025, McGary played between 14 and 17 games in each season.
McGary and left tackle Jake Matthews started opposite each other during their entire six-year run together. The Falcons almost split up the duo a few years into McGary’s career. They were not impressed enough with McGary’s work to pick up his fifth-year option in 2022. However, with McGary on the verge of leaving in free agency the next spring, the Falcons kept him around on a three-year, $34.5MM pact. That was the first of two significant paydays for McGary, who put pen to paper on a two-year, $30MM deal last August.
Unfortunately for McGary and the Falcons, he never played a snap on his final contract. McGary went down in practice in late August. He wound up spending the season on injured reserve. Backup Storm Norton also missed 2025 with a knee injury. That left Elijah Wilkinson to play every down at right tackle for the Falcons, though they did not re-sign him in free agency. Wilkinson joined the Cardinals on a two-year, $6.5MM agreement.
The 2026 Falcons are guaranteed to start a left-handed quarterback (either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr.), but it is unclear who will protect the passer’s blind side. Atlanta has not made any notable additions in free agency, perhaps leaving Norton as the in-house favorite to start. The Falcons may add a potential McGary replacement in the draft, though they do not have a first-round pick and own just five selections in total. General manager Ian Cunningham wants to acquire more picks, which could be an even higher priority in the wake of McGary’s retirement.
Giants To Sign G Daniel Faalele
John Harbaugh is bringing another former Raven to New York. The Giants are signing guard Daniel Faalele to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Faalele will continue to play under Harbaugh, who coached the 2022 fourth-round pick during his first four seasons in the NFL. The 6-foot-8, 370-pound Australian operated as a backup tackle during his first two seasons in Baltimore, but he took on a full-time right guard role in 2024. Faalele registered his second straight 17-start season last year. He finished as Pro Football Focus’ 52nd-ranked guard among 79 qualifiers.
Weeks after Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore ended, the team replaced Faalele with John Simpson at the outset of free agency. Faalele took almost a month to land elsewhere, but he figures to at least compete for the Giants’ starting right guard spot. Greg Van Roten held the position last season, during which he was the team’s only lineman to play 100% of snaps. PFF gave Van Roten a solid review (he ranked 33rd among guards), but he remains a free agent.
The Giants have added Faalele and Lucas Patrick, whom they signed Monday, as veteran right guard options. They also have Evan Neal, Aaron Stinnie, Joshua Ezeudu and Bryan Hudson in the fold. Set to pick seven times in the draft, the Giants could add to the group in a couple of weeks.
As expected, Harbaugh has brought several familiar faces with him to his new organization. Before the Giants agreed to sign Faalele, they picked up former Ravens Isaiah Likely, Patrick Ricard, Jordan Stout and Ar’Darius Washington in free agency.
Saints Pick Up Bryan Bresee’s Fifth-Year Option
Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee will stay in New Orleans through at least 2027. The Saints have picked up the 2023 first-round pick’s fifth-year option, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Bresee will earn $13.93MM if he plays under the option.
The Saints drafted Bresee with the 29th pick, which they received from the Broncos in the teams’ Sean Payton trade. While Bresee arrived as Clemson’s top recruit in 2020, he did not have a dominant college career. A 2021 ACL tear had something to do with that, though Bresee has been durable since then. He earned second-team All-ACC acclaim in his final season with the Tigers, and he has since appeared in 49 of a possible 51 games with the Saints.
Bresee did not log any starts during a 17-game rookie season, though he notched nine QB hits, seven TFL and 4.5 sacks in a rotational role. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder has primarily worked as a starter since then. He recorded career-best numbers in his second year, a 17-game, 11-start campaign in which he posted 14 QB hits, 7.5 sacks and another seven TFL.
Bresee missed the Saints’ last two games in 2025 as a result of a knee injury, but he started in all 15 of his appearances. However, his production declined. The 24-year-old put up eight QB hits, five TFL and 2.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus, which has never been especially fond of Bresee’s work, rated him a below-average 87th among 127 interior defensive linemen.
Bresee has typically earned good reviews as a pass rusher, but his run defense has lacked during his three-year career. The Saints have seen enough positives to keep him around for the entirety of his rookie contract, but it remains to be seen if they will extend him this offseason.
Texans Exercise Will Anderson Jr., C.J. Stroud’s Fifth-Year Options
The Texans will be committing nearly $50MM in guaranteed money to their two first-round draft choices from 2023. Both Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud are extension candidates, and each is now signed through the 2027 season.
Houston is exercising both players’ fifth-year options, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates. Stroud’s option checks in at $25.9MM, while Anderson’s comes in at $21.51MM. Anderson is on the Texans’ extension docket this offseason, and while a Stroud payday may now be pushed to 2027, the Texans are making the expected one-year commitment to the former Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Anderson’s fifth-year number comes in on the third tier of the option ladder, with the former Alabama standout being named to one original-ballot Pro Bowl. Stroud has not been invited to a Pro Bowl on the original ballot, so he qualifies for the second rung on the QB ladder. That is still a hefty chunk of change for the quarterback. If Stroud indeed plays the 2027 season in Houston, he will be the franchise’s first five-year starting quarterback since Matt Schaub.
Soaring to the first-team All-Pro level last season as a dominant pass rusher on a menacing Texans defense, Anderson has generated extension buzz for months. The Texans paid Derek Stingley Jr. early, giving him a record-setting extension in his first offseason of eligibility. Anderson may well follow suit, as rumors have trended in that direction. The Texans paid J.J. Watt in his first year of extension eligibility back in 2014. Anderson does not have a Defensive Player of the Year honor under his belt like Watt did when Houston paid him, but the 2023 No. 3 pick has become one of the NFL’s best edge rushers.
Discussions have begun with Anderson, who will be a candidate to at least approach where Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson took the market to close a transformative year on the EDGE market. Anderson will not turn 25 until September, and he has totaled 23 sacks over the past two seasons. The 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year racked up 12 sacks last season opposite perennial sack ace Danielle Hunter, forming one of the NFL’s best rush tandems in recent memory. This duo joined Stingley in powering Houston to a third straight playoff berth, with the Texans’ defense smothering the Steelers in Round 1 after a strong regular-season surge to reach 12 wins.
Parsons’ market reached $46.5MM per year, with his Packers extension stalling Hutchinson’s Lions talks. Hutchinson scored a defender-record $141MM guaranteed, while Parsons came in at $136MM. Anderson’s camp will be eyeing those figures, though the Texans have shown a willingness — as Stingley’s deal showed — to complete three-year extensions. That would reduce the total cash figure while allowing Anderson a chance at a third contract sooner. This easy option decision, however, reflects how well the Texans did choosing Anderson — whom they traded up nine spots for after selecting Stroud at No. 2.
Stroud came off the board one pick after former Alabama QB Bryce Young, whom the Panthers chose first overall. While Stroud has been the better of the two, it is not sure a thing either team will commit to a long-term deal this offseason. Rather, both clubs may want to wait another year to evaluate their signal-callers. Stroud and Young have put together uneven careers thus far.
Although the Texans have gone a terrific 28-18 in Stroud’s starts, the 24-year-old’s effectiveness has arguably dipped since a stellar 2023 introduction. A concussion sidelined Stroud for three games last season. The team kept its once-floundering season afloat by winning all three of backup Davis Mills‘ starts. Meanwhile, the Texans won nine of Stroud’s 14 outings. He completed 64.5% of passes, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt and tossed 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions. While his traditional passer rating (92.9) checked in at 17th, he finished a much more impressive 11th in QBR (61.7).
Stroud has helped the Texans to the playoffs in each of his seasons, but they have not gotten past the divisional round. The Stroud-led team suffered particularly ugly second-round defeats to the Ravens in 2023 (34-10) and the Patriots last January (28-16). Stroud had one of the worst games of his career in New England, where he completed 20 of 47 passes and threw four picks in miserable weather.
Discussing Stroud’s playoff struggles, head coach DeMeco Ryans said (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2): “Being young in his career, he’s gained a ton of valuable experience and a ton of playoff experience and seeing that it hasn’t gone as we would like it to go there in the playoffs. Of course, you always want to win it all. But when you go through those difficult moments, those tough times, you learn from them. I know C.J. has learned from those moments.”
Heading into a pivotal fourth year, Ryans believes Stroud is “dialed in,” adding, “I’m excited to see how this continues to transition to him having a really great year for us.”
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
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 Trade Marte Mapu To Texans
Rather than waive Marte Mapu, the Patriots have found a trade partner. The Texans are acquiring the young defender, the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander reports.
The AFC teams will swap late-round 2027 picks in this trade, Alexander adds. One year remains on Mapu’s rookie contract. The Pats were set to waive the linebacker/special-teamer as of Tuesday morning, but the Texans will add a piece to their top-flight defense.
Seeing as he was on the verge of being waived, Mapu will not fetch much in this trade. The Texans will acquire Mapu and a 2027 seventh-round pick for a 2027 sixth-rounder, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. A former third-round pick, Mapu brings experience as a linebacker and a safety. The Patriots will save $1.51MM by making this trade, with that figure doubling as Mapu’s 2026 base salary.
New England took advantage of Mapu’s versatility by using him at safety and linebacker. Mapu made nine starts in 2024, doing so despite beginning that season on IR. He played 161 free safety snaps and 219 box snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. With a stronger Pats roster fielded in 2025, Mapu did not see as much time. The Bill Belichick-era draftee played 73 snaps as a box defender and just six at free safety. Ex-Belichick right-hand man Nick Caserio will take a low-cost flier here to see what the Sacramento State alum can contribute in Houston.
While PFF graded Mapu 56th among qualified safeties in 2024, the advanced metrics site viewed his 2025 work in a better light. Although Mapu (career-low 120 snaps last season) was classified as a part-time linebacker, PFF would have slotted him inside the top 10 at the position. The 230-pound defender intercepted a pass in each of his three NFL seasons and has forced five fumbles, including three in 2024. Mapu, 26, played in all four Patriots playoff games as a reserve.
Mapu’s past flashes make this a reasonable bet to make for the Texans, who are fairly well situated at linebacker and safety. Houston re-signed E.J. Speed to work with regulars Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o at linebacker; at safety, the Texans added Reed Blankenship to join Calen Bullock as starters. The Patriots have jettisoned many Belichick draftees over the past year and change, with Mike Vrabel overhauling much of the roster. The Pats still roster starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, and they added K.J. Britt as a backup linebacker in free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/26
Several teams made minor moves Tuesday. Here’s a look:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed ERFA tender: K Joshua Karty, DL PJ Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed ERFA tender: DL Elijah Garcia
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: C Matt Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed ERFA tender: DE Charles Snowden
- Signed RFA tender: C/G Jordan Meredith
New York Giants
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Ryan Miller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR David Sills
A four-year veteran, Meredith logged a career-high 11 starts in 13 appearances in 2025. Meredith played center and right guard (mostly the former) before landing on IR with an ankle injury in late December. The Raiders have since added blockbuster free agent pickup Tyler Linderbaum, meaning Meredith will not factor in at center in 2026. He could, however, compete for one of the Raiders’ guard jobs.
After a year in Atlanta, Sills is staying in the NFC South on a deal with the Buccaneers. With 36 targets, 18 catches, 191 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games last season, Sills set across-the-board career highs. The 29-year-old finished third among Falcons receivers in offensive snap share (51.55%). He will now attempt to carve out a role on a Bucs team that lost franchise icon Mike Evans to the 49ers in free agency and has not re-signed Sterling Shepard. Tampa Bay still has Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson as its top four receivers.
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.
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.