Minor NFL Transactions: 5/20/26
Today’s midweek minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Heinrich Haarberg
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Montrell Johnson
- Waived: OLB Jamil Muhammad
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Brodric Martin
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Travis Shaw
- Released: LS Niko Lalos
The Panthers are adding some tight end help in the form Haarberg, a converted quarterback during his time at Nebraska. Starting as an in-state, three-star passing prospect, Haarberg first found the field as a redshirt sophomore, after the Cornhuskers began his transition to tight end. In his second game, though, the team’s starter went down with injury, and Haarberg started 8 games under center, going 5-3. He returned to his tight end role the next two seasons but saw more action rushing than receiving, serving as a bit of a Taysom Hill-type of weapon.
The Patriots add another undrafted rookie to their class in Shaw. The North Carolina-transfer played for the Longhorns in his final year of eligibility but didn’t see much improvement in playing time after three years as a rotational piece for the Tar Heels.
Lions Sign WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
The Lions addressed their wide receiver position with a Day 3 draft choice while reuniting new OC Drew Petzing with ex-Cardinal Greg Dortch. The team is making another move for potential depth, however.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed with the Lions on Wednesday, per a team announcement. Wilson spent last season with the Dolphins, returning to Miami after playing the 2024 campaign in New Orleans.
Wilson, 30, did not live up to a three-year, $22.1MM Dolphins accord signed back in 2022 and was released in 2024. The second-generation NFL wideout totaled 602 receiving yards and six touchdowns with the 2021 Cowboys but has not eclipsed 300 yards in any other season. Working as a tertiary Miami option alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in 2023, Wilson did tally 296 yards and three TDs. But the Dolphins moved on rather than keep him on that contract in 2024.
The Saints gave Wilson a two-year, $5.75MM to play in Klint Kubiak‘s system in 2024. With the Saints losing Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed to injury that season, Wilson provided modest assistance in 15 games (20 catches, 211 yards) and landed on New Orleans’ practice squad to open 2025. The Dolphins signed Wilson off the Saints’ P-squad last September following Hill’s season-ending knee injury; Wilson saw minimal action in 10 contests, catching just five passes for 44 yards.
Detroit returns Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams to go with second-year cog Isaac TeSlaa at receiver. A former Cardinals slot receiver, Dortch signed a one-year, $1.4MM deal that included a $1.1MM guarantee. Detroit then drafted Kentucky’s Kendrick Law in Round 5 last month. This situation will certainly not guarantee Wilson a roster spot, and it would surprise if his guarantee matched Dortch’s at this offseason juncture.
Wilson has never cleared the 35% snap barrier on special teams, though he does have 36 career punt returns on his resume. The Lions lost longtime returner Kalif Raymond in free agency; Raymond is now with the Bears. The Lions also have longtime backup/P-squad presence Tom Kennedy among their cadre of second-string candidates at receiver. Wilson will join the fray as a potential option for the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/19/26
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: RB Montrell Johnson, TE Bryce Pierre
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Aaron Anderson, LB Reid Carrico, LB Markees Watts
- Waived: TE Caden Prieskorn, WR Isaiah Wooden
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Michael Briscoe, LB Devean Deal
Ravens Sign Zion Young, Complete Draft Class Signings
The Ravens have completed their draft class signings. The team announced that they’ve inked second-round linebacker Zion Young to his rookie contract.
Young put himself on the NFL map with strong showings at Michigan State in 2023 and Missouri in 2024, but he established himself as one of the top prospects at his position with a dominant 2025 campaign. The pass rusher got into 13 games for the Tigers, tallying 42 stops, 6.5 sacks, and 16.5 tackles for loss. That performance earned him a first-team All-SEC nod.
The Ravens selected Young with the 45th-overall pick in this year’s draft. Baltimore ranked 28th in pass-rush win rate in 2025, so some young talent on the edge should certainly help the defense. The Ravens, of course, added Trey Hendrickson to help in that regard, but the team should have some open snaps opposite the All-Pro pass rusher. Young will be competing with Tavius Robinson and 2025 second-round pick Mike Green for reps.
As mentioned, the Ravens have now signed all of their 11 draft picks to contracts. The draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
- Round 2, No. 45: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
- Round 3, No. 80: Ja’Kobi Lane (WR, USC)
- Round 4, No. 115: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from 49ers)*: Matthew Hibner (TE, SMU)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers): Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Josh Cuevas (TE, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 174*: Adam Randall (RB, Clemson)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles): Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State)
- Round 7, No. 250: Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan)
- Round 7, No. 253: Evan Beerntsen (G, Northwestern)
Vikings Sign Second-Round LB Jake Golday, Wrap Draft Class
The Vikings announced that they have signed second-round linebacker Jake Golday. They now have their entire nine-player draft class under contract.
As the 51st overall pick, Golday’s four-year deal is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is no word on how much is guaranteed, but his draft slot suggests it is a significant amount. To name one nearby example, 52nd overall selection Brandon Cisse received full guarantees over the first three years of his agreement with the Packers.
After spending three years at Central Arkansas, where he played defensive end for two seasons before switching to linebacker, Golday transferred to Cincinnati ahead of the 2024 campaign. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder made 58 tackles (seven TFL), forced two fumbles and totaled 1.5 sacks in 12 games in his first year with the Bearcats. He jumped to 105 tackles in 13 games last season. Golday also notched six TFL, 3.5 sacks, three pass deflections and a forced fumble. The production was good enough for Golday to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Now that he is officially a pro, Golday will join a Brian Flores-coordinated defense that finished third in yards and seventh in scoring in 2025. The Vikings relied heavily on linebackers Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman last season. They remain in the fold, meaning Golday will begin his career in a depth role.
Here is a refresher on the Vikings’ rookie class:
- Round 1, No. 18: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 51 (from Panthers): Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 82: Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 97*: Caleb Tiernan (T, Northwestern) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 98 (from Vikings)*: Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 159 (from Panthers): Max Bredeson (FB, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 163 (from Eagles): Charles Demmings (CB, Stephen F. Austin) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 198 (from Vikings via Texans, Vikings and 49ers): Demond Claiborne (RB, Wake Forest) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 235 (from Panthers): Gavin Gerhardt (C, Cincinnati) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/26
NFL teams are getting their rosters set for voluntary Organized Team Activities that will take place over the next month. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Miles Davis, DT Tywone Malone
- Waived/injured: TE Bryce Pierre, RB Montrell Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Marlon Jones Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Anderson Castle
- Waived: RB Jordon Vaughn
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/retired: WR Alex Bullock
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Tamon Lynum
Davis tried out at the Seahawks’ rookie minicamp but did not make the team. His workout in Carolina was more successful, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, and he will take Johnson’s place on the Panthers’ roster.
Jones was a first-team All-Big Sky selection for his standout 2023 season at Eastern Washington, which featured three pick-sixes. He transferred to Vanderbilt in 2024 but missed the season after being diagnosed with cancer. After recovering, Jones appeared in nine games for the Commodores in 2025, and he will now continue his remarkable story in Green Bay.
Steelers Sign Round 2 WR Germie Bernard
NFL teams are signing second-round draft picks at a much faster pace than last year. The latest is new Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard, who put pen to paper on Monday, per a team announcement.
Pittsburgh traded up six spots to draft Bernard with the 47th overall pick to ensure they would land a desired receiver prospect after narrowly missing out on USC’s Makai Lemon in the first round. They landed a versatile, all-around wideout with good size (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) and a solid athletic profile who should quickly carve out a role in Mike McCarthy‘s new offense.
Bernard started at Alabama for the last two years after a tertiary role at Washington in 2023, all under Kalen DeBoer. His production grew throughout his college career and peaked in his final season with team-highs of 64 receptions and 862 receiving yards, plus nine total touchdowns.
Though he lined up primarily on the outside in 2025, 46.5% of his snaps over the last three years have come out of the slot, which will help him earn playing time in a receiver room that already features boundary stalwarts D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The 22-year-old can also contribute as a blocker, gadget player, or returner – all roles he held at Alabama – giving the Steelers plenty of ways to deploy him on offense and special teams.
The Falcons signed No. 48 pick Avieon Terrell to a fully guaranteed contract, which should result in a similar deal for Bernard. He will receive $10.54MM over the next four years ($2.64MM AAV) with a signing bonus over $4MM, per OverTheCap.
The Steelers also signed seventh-round pick (No. 230 overall) Eli Heidenreich to his four-year rookie deal, worth a total of $4.54MM. His only guarantees will be a signing bonus in the range of $150k.
Heidenreich, classified as a running back/wide receiver in Pittsburgh’s announcement, was a dynamic part of Navy’s triple-option offense for the last three years. In 2025, his 941 receiving yards for 55.6% of the Midshipmen’s total passing offense; he also took 77 carries for 499 rushing yards (6.5 yards per attempt). Heidenreich tested extremely well at the Combine, but his unique college scheme and deployment raised questions about his ability to translate to the NFL. The Steelers took a shot on the 22-year-old, who, like Bernard, could factor in the return game or with manufactured touches on offense.
Eagles Sign Round 2 TE Eli Stowers
The second tight end to come off the board in this year’s class, Eli Stowers joined an Eagles team that has used similar developmental strategies at the position
Philadelphia re-signed Dallas Goedert in March but looks to have an heir apparent in place. That prospect is now tied to a four-year contract, with the Eagles announcing Monday that Stowers put pen to paper. The No. 54 overall pick will be tied to an $8.89MM deal. Based on agreements for players selected around Stowers, most of this contract will be guaranteed.
With Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren receiving three fully guaranteed years as the No. 58 overall pick — to go with a partial Year 4 guarantee, per OverTheCap — Stowers will see three fully guaranteed years and a chunk of his 2029 salary locked in at signing. This year’s Nos. 55, 56 and 57 overall draftees have not been signed, but the Colts’ deal for No. 53 overall pick C.J. Allen includes a $639K guarantee on a $2.13MM 2029 base salary. Stowers assuredly secured a comparable guarantee in 2029. For now, he will get to work in a position group fronted by a long-running incumbent.
Under Howie Roseman, the Eagles identified Goedert in Round 2 (2018) while Zach Ertz was still rostered. Ertz and Goedert played together for three-plus seasons, before Ertz extension talks did not yield an agreement; Ertz was then traded to the Cardinals during the 2021 season. The Eagles extended Goedert soon after. The team drafted Ertz in the 2013 second round. Brent Celek remained on Philly’s roster until 2017, but Ertz usurped him as the team’s top tight end by 2014. With Goedert on a one-year deal and entering an age-31 season, it will be interesting to see how long Stowers’ developmental period lasts.
Viewed as a player who drew some first-round buzz, Stowers went through the draft with a knee concern that impacted some teams’ interest. As our Connor Byrne noted, Stowers tore his left PCL and meniscus in 2019 while working as a high school quarterback. The Vanderbilt product bounced back nicely from that injury, but it is interesting some teams still viewed it as an issue.
Stowers was a unanimous All-American and the John Mackey Award winner (given to the best college tight end) in 2025. Stowers weighed 239 pounds and clocked a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He profiles as a receiving tight end, whereas Goedert has been one of the league’s best all-around TEs for much of his career, and finished his final Commodores season with 62 catches for 769 yards. That came after a 49/638/5 line in 2024.
The Eagles will now begin their latest TE developmental program, after spending years without a Goedert successor option. Goedert is tied to a one-year, $7MM contract; that checks in lower than the pay-cut agreement the eight-year veteran signed in 2025 (one year, $10MM). Only one Eagles draftee — third-round tackle Markel Bell — remains unsigned.
Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Agree To Deal
MAY 18: The Rodgers pact is now official, per a team announcement. Rodgers will indeed collect up to $25MM in 2026. He took part in the first day of OTAs, and a first-team workload will be in store through the remainder of the offseason.
MAY 16: Speculation surrounding the second year of the Steelers-Aaron Rodgers partnership can be put to rest. A deal is indeed in place between team and player.
Rodgers has agreed to another one-year Pittsburgh contract, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Rodgers has long been expected to suit up for the 2026 season. He will do so and reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy in the process while delaying retirement once more.
This pact has a base value between $22MM and $23MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It can max out at $25MM via incentives. Pelissero notes $22MM is guaranteed. Last year, Rodgers collected $10MM guaranteed and over $14MM in total, so this new deal certainly marks a considerable raise.
McCarthy – who took over following Mike Tomlin‘s resignation – remained in constant communication with Rodgers in recent months. That helped fuel the belief a reunion between the two would be forthcoming, although no firm commitments were known to be made by the four-time MVP. In the end, the anticipated outcome has emerged. Pelissero adds, to no surprise, Rodgers is set to take part in the start of organized team activities on Monday.
OTAs represented the latest artificial deadline for an agreement in this case. The Steelers hoped to avoid a lengthy waiting period on the Rodgers front after one took place in 2025. As the draft came and went, uncertainty continued to loom with respect to Pittsburgh’s quarterback outlook. Drew Allar was added in the third round of the event, but he will spend the coming campaign as a developmental passer. Veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard are also in the fold.
In the event a Rodgers agreement fell through, Rudolph and Howard were set to engage in a training camp competition with Pittsburgh not seeking an outside addition. The latest update on that front confirmed, however, that both passers were expected to occupy depth roles in 2026. Not long after receiving the rarely-used UFA tender, Rodgers is indeed in the mix. The future Hall of Famer was seen in Pittsburgh today with some members of the Steelers, and he will spend the coming months preparing for his 22nd NFL season.
A visit from earlier this month suggested an agreement was imminent, although it was only Rogers’ agent who spoke with the Steelers at that time. Finances were not seen as an issue regarding a second arrangement between the parties, something which has proven to be true. An otherwise low-cost Pittsburgh quarterback room will no doubt continue to face questions regarding the future as the 2026 season plays out, but there will be stability atop the depth chart.
Rodgers made 16 appearances during the year in 2025 and also played in Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss. His statistical output over that span fell short of his peak years but offered Pittsburgh with a high floor in QB play, especially relative to the team’s other post-Ben Roethlisberger passers. Expectations will need to be tempered as Rodgers approaches his age-42 campaign, but the Steelers have made several notable offseason additions on offense. Improved play with those new faces, and a revamped staff led by McCarthy, could see the Steelers end their drought (2016-present) for playoff victories.
A veteran-laden core remains in place on defense in particular for Pittsburgh. Rodgers will be expected to help the win-now group justify the commitment from owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and Co. to contending in 2026 instead of resetting under center this spring. Questions will loom about the Steelers’ plans over medium- and long-term future at the quarterback position, but for at least one more season the status quo will be in place.
Texans Sign Round 2 TE Marlin Klein
MAY 17: Klein’s deal contains full guarantees for the first three years, per Wilson. Roughly $60K is guaranteed for the final season of the pact. In all, Klein secured 76.96% in guarantees; that represents a significant increase compared to the 67.17% from the No. 59 slot in 2025.
MAY 14: A run on tight ends occurred in the second round. Despite extending Dalton Schultz earlier this offseason, Texans participated by drafting Michigan’s Marlin Klein.
The Texans, who made two second-round choices in this draft, chose Klein 59th. They now have him signed to a four-year rookie deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The deal is worth $8.18MM and will undoubtedly carry more guarantees at signing than the No. 59 pick in the 2025 draft received.
[RELATED: Texans Give Second-Round DT Kayden McDonald Fully Guaranteed Deal]
Four tight ends went off the board between Nos. 54 and 61. The Eagles began that stretch with Eli Stowers, while the Jaguars viewed this draft range as likely to produce a few TE picks; that led them to draft Nate Boerkircher much earlier than most expected him to go. The Texans chose Klein soon after, and the Rams added Max Klare at No. 61. Like each of the second-round TEs in this draft, Klein will go to a team with an established starter.
Stowers joins an Eagles team that re-signed Dallas Goedert, while the Jaguars have Brenton Strange lined up as an extension candidate. The Rams re-signed Tyler Higbee and used a second-round pick last year on Terrance Ferguson, and the Texans have Schultz signed through 2027 via a one-year, $12.6MM extension.
The Texans, whom Wilson notes used “30” visits on Klare and Georgia TE Oscar Delp (a third-round Saints pick), had discussions about trading down from No. 59. While sixth-year GM Nick Caserio confirmed discussions took place about moving down, the Texans added Klein after considering a move back into Round 1 for Kayden McDonald. The team ultimately did not need to make that move, though it did climb two spots (via the Raiders) to grab the Ohio State defensive lineman at No. 36.
A Germany native who played high school football in Georgia, Klein clocked a 4.61-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher was certainly not a prolific receiving option with the Wolverines, totaling 38 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown in four Ann Arbor seasons. He played behind 2025 first-rounder Colston Loveland while also waiting his turn behind future NFLers AJ Barner and Luke Schoonmaker at Michigan.
ESPN’s Scouts Inc. viewed Houston’s decision as a slightly bigger reach than Jacksonville’s, ranking Klein 176th among this year’s prospects. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board was more bullish, slotting Klein 84th. Klein’s blocking ability drew plus reviews heading into the draft, however, and the Texans should have room for him to develop while Schultz continues to operate as the team’s top receiving TE. Free agency addition Foster Moreau also stands to help Houston have Klein in place as a developmental option in 2026.