49ers Add Eight UDFAs
The 49ers are among the teams which have quickly unveiled their undrafted free agent classes. The following eight players have agreed to terms with San Francisco:
- Jack Boumeester, P (Texas)
- Khalil Dinkins, TE (Penn State)
- Bryson Eason, DL (Tennessee)
- Wesley Grimes, WR (NC State)
- Mikail Kamara, DL (Indiana)
- Will Pauling, WR (Notre Dame)
- Jalen Stroman, S (Notre Dame)
- James Thompson, DL (Illinois)
The 49ers did not select any tight ends during the draft, something which could help Dinkins’ chances of earning a roster spot this summer. The team’s financial commitment will at least ensure him a long look. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Dinkins signed a deal including $275K guaranteed.
That is not the only big-money deal the 49ers authorized when assembling their UDFA class. Per Pelissero, Thompson landed $280K in guarantees. After five years at Wisconsin, Thompson enjoyed a productive season at Illinois. He will spend the remainder of the offseason competing with Eason and Kamara for a spot at the end of the roster or at least a place on San Francisco’s practice squad.
The 49ers signed Corliss Waitman in free agency, and he is currently in line to operate as their 2026 punter. The team’s decision to bring in Boumeester will at least leave the door open to a competition, though. Waitman’s one-year deal contains $450K guaranteed, limiting the cost of moving on during roster cuts in the event Boumeester performs well during training camp.
Bears Restructure Contracts Of TE Cole Kmet, OL Jonah Jackson
The Bears restructured the contracts of tight end Cole Kmet and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to open up salary cap space before the 2026 NFL Draft, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.
Chicago converted $7.65MM of Kmet’s $8.9MM salary into a bonus that was prorated across the remainder of the contract. His cap number was reduced by $3.8MM in 2026 and raised in 2027 by the same amount, resulting in $7.8MM and $15.4MM hits in each year, respectively.
Jackson’s contract was restructured in a similar manner, just with different numbers. His 2026 salary was reduced by $13.5MM and converted into a bonus, half of which will be moved to the Bears’ 2027 cap table. Jackson’s cap hit is now $12.8MM for this season; it will go up to $23.8MM next year. Both moves were traditional restructures that did not add void years to the contracts to maximize the 2026 cap savings.
The Bears entered draft week with the least cap space in the NFL. If they wanted to trade or acquire a player during the draft, Fitzgerald explains, they would not have been financially permitted to do so. These restructures ensured that Chicago’s options remained open throughout the weekend.
No such trade materialized, but the restructures were not for naught. The team will still need to sign their rookie class, which would have forced them to open up cap room after the draft anyway.
The restructures turn next offseason – and therefore, this upcoming season – into a pivotal one for both players.
Kmet’s future in Chicago became murky as soon as they drafted Colston Loveland in the first round last year. He saw a significant drop in playing time and production and will likely cede more ground in 2026. His $15.4MM cap hit will be too expensive for a No. 2 tight end, and though the Bears could approach Kmet about a pay cut, he may prefer to hit the open market for the first time in his career. He could also become a trade target for teams seeking a proven, reliable tight end who can provide starting-caliber play as a pass catcher and a blocker.
The Bears acquired Jackson from the Rams last offseason and signed him to a three-year, $54.5MM extension. He started all 17 games at right guard, reestablishing his value after missing most of the previous season due to injury. He is slated to take up the same role in 2026, and a repeat performance should set up him up for another extension closer to the top of the still-rising guard market.
Steelers To Re-Sign DT Dean Lowry
The Steelers are re-signing veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Lowry, 31, spent the last two years in Pittsburgh, but did not play in 2025 due to a torn ACL suffered in training camp. That was one of several injuries to the Steelers’ defensive line last year; Derrick Harmon, Isaiahh Loudermilk, and Daniel Ekuale all missed multiple games as well.
Originally a Packers fourth-round pick in 2016, Lowry emerged as a starter in his second NFL season. After his third, he received a three-year, $20.3MM contract extension that carried him through the rest of his time in Green Bay. He hit free agency in 2023 and signed a two-year, $8.5MM deal with the Vikings. He went down with a pectoral injury after just nine games and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.
Lowry then signed a two-year, $5MM contract with the Steelers, but could not carve out more than a rotational role in their defense. He appeared in 12 games in 2024 with a 21% snap share with just five total tackles (none for loss) and one sack.
The Steelers bolstered their defensive line this offseason by signing Sebastian Joseph-Day to a two-year, $11MM deal while allowing Loudermilk and Ekuale to hit free agency. Retaining Lowry ensures some more veteran continuity – and indicates his recovery process has gone smoothly. Eight months removed his injury, he has a chance to participate in spring practices and should be ready for training camp.
Jaguars Sign 18 Undrafted Rookies
The Jaguars added 11 players in the 2026 NFL Draft, many of them selected well above their consensus rank. Jacksonville then signed 18 undrafted free agents to fill out their roster, per a team announcement, as listed below:
- Joey Aguilar, QB (Tennessee)
- T.J. Bollers, DL (California)
- Brady Boyd, WR (Utah State)
- Alex Bullock, WR (South Dakota State)
- Ethan Conner, TE (Troy)
- Garrett DiGiorgio, OL (UCLA)
- Quindarius Dunnigan, DE (Michigan State)
- Preston Hodge, CB (Colorado)
- Jalen Hunt, DL (Cincinnati)
- Devin Neal, S (Virginia)
- Jimto Obidegwu, OL (North Texas)
- Ben Patterson, WR (Texas-Permian Basin)
- Trebor Peña, WR (Penn State)
- J’Mari Taylor, RB (Virginia)
- Bryan Thomas Jr., DE (South Carolina)
- Jordan White, OL (Vanderbilt)
- Michael Wortham, WR (Montana)
Aguilar, who turns 25 years old in June, threw for over 3,500 yards at Tennessee in 2025 after two years starting for Appalachian State. . At 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, he brings good size and a strong arm to the NFL, but his vision, anticipation, and mental processing will all need improvement. In Jacksonville, Aguilar will have to quickly learn Liam Coen‘s offense and battle for a spot on the roster or (more likely) the practice squad over the next few months.
Neal spent time at Baylor and Louisville before arriving at Virginia as a graduate transfer in 2025. He led the Cavaliers defense with 88 tackles and eight passes defended. However after posting six interceptions in 2022 and 2023, he has not recorded one since. Neal received $231K in guarantees to sign with the Jaguars, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He will join a safety room headlined by veterans Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray that just added Maryland’s Jalen Huskey with a third-round pick over the weekend.
After four quiet seasons at Syracuse, Pena burst onto the college football scene in 2024 with an ACC-high 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. He transferred to Penn State in 2025 in the hopes of boosting his stock further, but disappointed with just 49 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns. He lacks high-end athletic or physical traits but plays bigger than his listed size (5-foot-10, 187 pounds) and brings value as a returner, which may help him make the roster in Jacksonville.
Taylor spent his first five college seasons playing in the FCS at North Carolina State and also transferred to Virginia last year. He served as the Cavalier’ starting running back with 1,062 yards on 222 carries (4.8 yards per attempt). He also flashed as a pass-catcher with 43 catches for 259 yards, and his 15 total touchdowns led the ACC. The Jaguars let Travis Etienne walk in free agency this offseason and will be counting on 2025 draft picks Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen to pick up the slack. Taylor may have an opportunity to carve out a role in Coen’s offense as a rookie.
Thomas, 21, is an underside edge rusher with ascending production over the last three years, including seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2025. He received $248K to sign in Jacksonville, per Wilson, where his name may sow some early confusion among fans and beat writers. But for one letter, he shares a name with a current Jaguars: wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
T Donovan Smith Retires
Donovan Smith‘s playing career has officially come to an end. The veteran left tackle announced on Sunday that he has retired at the age of 32.
“Dear Football,” Smith wrote in his announcement. “When I first started out this journey in 7th grade, I didn’t know what the other side would hold… Football has made me feel and experience every emotion imaginable.
“Thank you to all that has helped me through the years along my football career. It has allowed me to grow and experience life in ways I can’t put into words.”
Smith entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Buccaneers. He immediately handled starting duties on the blindside, a role he went on the hold for eight years. Smith totaled 124 appearances during the regular season with Tampa Bay, starting all of them. He also handled the left tackle gig for each of the Bucs’ seven playoff games from 2020-22. That span included the team’s Super Bowl LV victory.
Durability was a constant for most of Smith’s Tampa Bay tenure, although he missed four games in 2022. One of the team’s cost-shedding moves during the 2023 offseason was the decision to proceed with a release, something which made him a free agent for the first time. Shortly after the draft, Smith signed with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. That made him Kansas City’s stopgap left tackle for the year, and was a starting presence who helped the team win Super Bowl LVIII.
Smith was not retained following the Chiefs’ championship, although the offensive tackle spot remained an issue afterwards. When the team was considering in-seasons signings to fill in on the blindside in 2024, Smith was weighed as an option. In the end, though, he was not brought back. After spending the rest of the year unsigned, the Penn State product was once again a free agent through all of 2025. The initial waves of this year’s free agency – along with the draft – are now in the books, and Smith will officially turn his attention to his post-playing days.
In all, Smith made 147 combined regular and postseason appearances in the NFL. In addition to his two Super Bowl titles, he amassed over $66MM in career earnings.
Saints To Sign LB Anfernee Jennings
Anfernee Jennings saw his Patriots tenure come to an end last month. The veteran linebacker has managed to line up his next gig immediately after the draft, though.
Jennings has agreed to a deal with the Saints, as first reported by Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football. Numerous free agent signings can be expected after Monday, since that is the point where the 2027 compensatory pick formula is no longer affected. Since Jennings was cut earlier this offseason, however, he was free to sign at any time without impacting the Saints’ outlook in that regard.
A third-round pick in 2020, Jennings spent each of his first six years (and five seasons) in New England. He joined the team as a middle linebacker but also saw time on the edge over time. Jennings served as a full-time starter in 2023 and ’24, but the arrival new head coach Mike Vrabel resulted in a drop in defensive playing time. The Alabama product handled a snap share of just 33% in 2025, although he managed a pair of sacks during the season (and another two during New England’s run to the Super Bowl).
Jennings was cut in March in a move which came as little surprise since he was a trade candidate leading up to the deadline. The 28-year-old will look to earn at least a rotational role upon arrival in New Orleans, a team which made an addition to its front seven yesterday. During Day 3 of the draft, the Saints swung a trade with the Raiders for edge rusher Tyree Wilson. He and Jennings will be in place for OTAs as they attempt to earn a spot with New Orleans.
The Saints entered Sunday with nearly $14MM in cap space. That figure will be reduced once the team’s draft class is signed, while the acquisitions of Wilson and now Jennings point further to New Orleans choosing to move on from Cameron Jordan. The franchise icon remains unsigned at this time, and general manager Mickey Loomis noted the draft would play a role in determining how the team proceeded with respect to a re-signing.
New Orleans did not select any edge rushers or linebackers this weekend. With Wilson and Jennings in place, though, the team has added depth at that spot entering spring practices. It will be interesting to see how things play out with Jordan moving forward.
Chargers Add 18 Undrafted Free Agents
The Chargers put the finishing touches on an eight-player draft class on Saturday. After quickly getting to work in the undrafted market, the Chargers announced 18 new rookie additions Sunday. Here is the list:
- Noah Avinger, S (Utah)
- Lander Barton, LB (Utah)
- Jerand Bradley, TE (Kansas State)
- Sincere Brown, WR (Colorado)
- Jahmeer Carter, DL (Virginia)
- Gregory Desrosiers, RB (Memphis)
- Devin Grant, S (Syracuse)
- Jacobian Guillory, DL (Louisiana State)
- Niles King, OLB (San Diego State)
- Devonte Ross, WR (Penn State)
- Rodney Shelley, CB (Georgia Tech)
- Avery Smith, CB (Toledo)
- Jacob Spomer, C (Fresno State)
- Evan Svoboda, TE (Wyoming)
- Nadame Tucker, OLB (Western Michigan)
- Terry Webb, DL (Southern Methodist)
- Jeremiah Wilson, CB (Florida State)
- Isaiah World, T (Oregon)
Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked four of these players among his 300 best prospects entering the draft. At No. 181, Smith was highest on the pre-draft list. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Smith played four years at Toledo, where he was in the same secondary as Eagles 2024 first-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and Browns 2026 second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren for various periods. Smith made second-team All-MAC in each of his final two seasons with the Rockets. He combined for 100 tackles, 25 passes defensed and three interceptions in that 26-game span. While Smith mostly lined up on the outside in college, Brugler expects him to work as a nickel corner if he makes it to the NFL.
The Chargers can take their time with World (No. 199), a four-year college starter who is recovering from a serious injury. After spending four years at Nevada, World transferred to Oregon ahead of the 2025 campaign. He went on to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors as the Ducks’ left tackle, but the 6-8, 318-pounder’s season ended in brutal fashion. World tore his left ACL in a loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff in January. The injury took a sledgehammer to World’s draft stock, but he now in position to develop behind the Chargers’ elite tackle duo of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
Tucker (No. 236) is reuniting with new Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary, who held the same position at Western Michigan in 2025. Their one-year partnership at the college level could not have gone any better. Tucker posted jaw-dropping numbers (21 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks) en route to MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. While Tucker was excellent at WMU, he mustered just 1.5 tackles for loss and went without a sack at Houston in 13 games from 2022-24. Also a former junior college player, Tucker will already be 26 when the season starts. Nevertheless, “his high-effort pass rush can earn him a subpackage role” in the pros, Brugler writes. Tucker will earn a guaranteed $287,500 on his undrafted deal, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.
Barton, 286th in Brugler’s rankings, joined the Chargers on a $264,500 guarantee (via Wilson). The former Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2022) recorded 208 tackles, 17 TFL, eight sacks and five INTs over 46 games and 34 starts at Utah. Some teams regard the 6-4, 233-pound as a potential tight end convert, per Brugler, but the Chargers announced him as a linebacker. He is the brother of Titans linebacker Cody Barton and free agent offensive tackle Jackson Barton.
Saints To Acquire OLB Tyree Wilson From Raiders
A former top-10 pick chosen two Raider regimes ago, Tyree Wilson will not play for Klint Kubiak. The Raiders are trading the fourth-year edge rusher to the Saints, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
The Raiders will receive No. 150 from the Saints in exchange for Wilson and a seventh-round pick (No. 219 overall), Rapoport adds. New Orleans will now decide on Wilson’s fifth-year option, which was not expected to be exercised by Las Vegas.
With the 150th pick, the Raiders are selecting safety Dalton Johnson, reuniting him with Arizona teammate and second-round pick (No. 38 overall) Treydan Stukes. Las Vegas has now rebuilt a room that entered the draft with just two players: Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao. Both started for the Raiders in 2025, but they only have one year remaining on their contracts. Stukes will have a role right away, and in a rebuilding year, the team may also give Johnson some playing time to see what he can do and how he can develop.
New Orleans was in the Kayvon Thibodeaux market, with Rapoport indicating the team spoke with the Giants on the former No. 5 overall pick. But with New York not budging on compensation, the Saints moved on and will add Wilson. The latter has not shown comparable form to Thibodeaux, but the draft pedigree is similar. The Raiders chose Wilson seventh overall out of Texas Tech in 2023.
Wilson has never gotten close to living up to that billing. He has just seven career sacks with never more than two in a single season. He has been more productive against the run with 22 tackles for loss, including 10 in the last two years.
The 25-year-old will add depth to the Saints’ stable of edge rushers, which currently lacks proven talent outside of Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Despite having the size to flip to the interior as a pass rusher, Wilson has rarely been used in that role. His new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley could attempt to unlock some versatility to get more production out of the 6-foot-6, 275-pound defender.
Eagles Add NDSU QB Cole Payton In Fifth Round
The Eagles have taken a swing on an athletic quarterback option, drafting North Dakota State dual-threat passer Cole Payton with the 178th pick in the fifth round of the draft. Payton becomes the sixth quarterback off the board and the fourth Bison quarterback drafted since Carson Wentz went second overall in 2016, following in the footsteps of Trey Lance, Easton Stick and Cam Miller.
Jalen Hurts‘ job is clearly secure in Philadelphia at this moment. It appears to be Tanner McKee‘s hold on the backup job that may not be secure.
The Stanford product has made to NFL starts since the Eagles drafted him in the sixth round in three years ago. Both games were meaningless Week 18 contests in each of the past two seasons. In the first, McKee looked fairly effective, completing 27 of 41 pass attempts for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a win. This past season’s start didn’t go as well as he barely completed half his attempts for 241 yards a touchdown and an interception in a loss.
The first sign that changes in the room may be on the way came when the Eagles traded for veteran backup passer Andy Dalton near the start of free agency. Despite not holding a role as a true starting quarterback since his days in Cincinnati, Dalton has made at least one start in all 15 years of his NFL career. Over the course of his most recent three-year stint with the Panthers, Dalton earned seven starts, going 1-6 in those games.
Payton really stuck it out during his time in Fargo, sitting as a backup quarterback for four years until Miller got drafted last year. He made the most of his lone season leading the Bison offense. Though North Dakota State didn’t rely heavily on Payton’s arm, it was reliable when utilized. Payton completed 71.9 percent of his pass attempts for 2,719, averaging 16.9 yards per completion for 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. On the ground, Payton averaged 5.7 yards per carry en route to 777 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing. While backing up Miller as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Payton still found his way onto the field, carrying the ball 84 times for 615 yards (7.3 per carry) and 13 scores.
Payton certainly needs polishing before he holds any significant responsibility in the NFL. His throwing motion and dropback mechanics need refinement, and he will have to develop some pocket awareness at the next level. Still, there are a lot of good attributes to build on here. With an athletic frame, strong arm, surprising speed, and unquestionable work ethic, Payton will be an interesting prospect to watch in Philadelphia. Dalton may have been brought in to serve as QB2 in 2026, but with both his and McKee’s contracts expiring at the end of the season, Payton may just be the plan for the future of the role.
Jets Trade Up To No. 110 For Clemson QB Cade Klubnik
The Jets are trading up to the 10th pick in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The 110th selection originally belonged to the Bengals, who packaged it with a sixth-rounder (No. 199 overall) in exchange for a pair of fourth-rounders from the Jets (Nos. 128 and 140 overall).
Klubnik, 22, was a three-year starter at Clemson who had a promising 2024 season with an All-ACC honorable mention. He took a step back in 2025, lowering his draft stock and eliminating any perceptions of an NFL-ready passer.
The Jets, though, will not need Klubnik to start right away after trading for Geno Smith earlier in the offseason. Instead, the rookie will compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the second- and third-string quarterback jobs in New York.
Klubnik does bring an NFL-caliber arm and good athleticism, giving the Jets a good base of physical tools to work with. He will not turn 23 years old until October, but still has three years as a starter under his belt, again indicating an appealing developmental trajectory.
However, Klubnik’s field vision and processing leave much to be desired. That will become even more of a disadvantage against increasingly complicated NFL defense that do their best to cloud the picture for opposing passers. He has time to develop in New York, but he may have to show the Jets something in 2026 to have a chance at a future starting job. Otherwise, the team is expected to target one of the 2027 class’ top passers.