Dolphins Sign Fifth-Rounder Seydou Traore, Wrap Up Draft Class
The Dolphins signed fifth-round tight end Seydou Traore to his rookie deal on Thursday, the team announced. They now have all 13 of their 2026 draft picks under contract.
Traore was Miami’s 11th pick in a class headlined by two first-rounders, offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (No. 12) and cornerback Chris Johnson (No. 27). They grabbed Proctor after moving down a spot in a trade with Dallas, which gave up the 177th and 180th picks. The Dolphins used the 180th choice on Traore, who was born in France and raised in England. Along with Jordan Mailata (Eagles; seventh round, 2018), Travis Clayton (Bills; seventh round, 2024) and Uar Bernard (Eagles; seventh round, 2026), Traore is one of four NFL draft picks to come from the International Pathway Program.
A former soccer goalie, Traore joined the NFL Academy in London and then moved to Clearwater, Fla., for his senior year of high school, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. As a three-star recruit, Traore began his college career in 2021 at Arkansas State. He broke out in his second season – a 50-catch, 655-yard, four-touchdown campaign – and earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors. Traore sat out the next year after transferring to Mississippi State, but he was a solid producer there from 2024-25. He totaled 69 catches, 730 yards and six TDs over 25 games with the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-4, 223-pounder is now part of a Miami tight end group that also includes Greg Dulcich and third-round rookie Will Kacmarek.
The Dolphins made more picks than any other team in this year’s draft. Here is their full list of newcomers:
- Round 1, No. 12 (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 27 (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 43: Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 75: Caleb Douglas (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87 (from Eagles): Will Kacmarek (TE, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Broncos): Chris Bell (WR, Louisville) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Broncos): Trey Moore (EDGE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 138*: Kyle Louis (LB, Pitt) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings): Michael Taaffe (S, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 177 (from Cowboys)*: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 180 (from Cowboys)*: Seydou Traore (TE, Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 200 (from Panthers): DJ Campbell (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers via Titans and Jets): Max Llewellyn (EDGE, Iowa) (signed)
Chargers, Akheem Mesidor Agree To Deal
The Chargers have agreed to a deal with first-round edge defender Akheem Mesidor, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. As the 22nd overall pick, Mesidor inked a four-year, $20.46MM contract.
Despite his age (25) and past injury issues, Mesidor was widely expected to come off the board in the first round. He was one of the top 30 prospects available, according to both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 26) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 28). The Buccaneers reportedly would have taken Mesidor 15th overall had former Miami teammate and fellow edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. not slid to them.
Mesidor is entering the NFL with plenty of experience, having played in 65 college games over six seasons. The Canada native began at West Virginia, where he tallied 70 tackles, 14.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks from 2020-21.
Mesidor was mostly an interior lineman with the Mountaineers, but he took on an edge role upon transferring to Miami in 2022. After racking up 10.5 TFL and seven sacks in 11 games in his first season with the Hurricanes, foot problems held Mesidor to three appearances in 2023. He stayed healthy in his final two seasons at Miami, though, and his production exploded during a 15-game 2025. The 6-foot-3, 259-pounder amassed 38 tackles, 17.5 TFL and 12.5 sacks en route to first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors.
As someone who is also a capable run defender, Mesidor projects as a three-down player in the pros, according to Brugler. He could begin his career as the third or fourth option in a talented group of edge defenders in Los Angeles.
The Chargers lost Odafe Oweh to the Commanders’ four-year, $100MM offer in free agency, but they still boast Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu as starters. Bud Dupree and Kyle Kennard are in the mix as depth. Kennard is the only member of that quartet signed past the upcoming season, but the 2025 fourth-round pick disappointed during a five-game, two-tackle rookie campaign. The Chargers will expect much better production from Mesidor during his first season. If he pans out and the Chargers extend Tuipulotu, which general manager Joe Hortiz hopes to do, they will have a formidable pass-rushing duo for the next several years.
With Mesidor under wraps, the Chargers have locked up seven rookies from an eight-player class. Fourth-round receiver Brenen Thompson is the last unsigned pick standing.
Texans Sign 1st-Rounder Keylan Rutledge
The Texans have signed first-round guard Keylan Rutledge to his four-year rookie contract. As the 26th overall pick, the former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket will receive a fully guaranteed deal worth $19.28MM.
The Texans entered the draft holding the 28th selection, but general manager Nick Caserio traded up two spots with the Bills to reel in Rutledge. While Rutledge did not look like a first-round lock going into the draft, at least one other team eyed him in the top 32. Tennessee, one of Houston’s AFC South rivals, tried to jump ahead of the Texans to take Rutledge. Meanwhile, an executive from an NFC team told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that Rutledge, not Vega Ioane, was the best guard in this year’s class. Ioane went 14th overall to the Ravens.
Rutledge spent his first two college seasons at Middle Tennessee State, where he was the primary starter at right guard. After transferring to Georgia Tech in 2024, he remained at the position and served as a full-time starter. Rutledge became the Yellow Jackets’ first player since legendary wide receiver Calvin Johnson to earn first-team All-ACC honors in two straight seasons (h/t: Dane Brugler of The Athletic). The 6-foot-3, 316-pounder was also a first-team All-American in 2025. Caserio sees Rutledge as a perfect fit for his club.
“The things that stand out about him, toughness, violence, physicality, his playing style, his intelligence,” Caserio said (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2). “Basically, the guy wants to step on your throat on every play, which I would say sort of embodies what our football team is about, the way we play.”
While Houston expects Rutledge to emerge as a long-term starter, it may not be at his typical position. The Texans have a pair of pricey veteran guard starters in the extended Ed Ingram and free agent addition Wyatt Teller. With those two in the fold, Rutledge could battle Jake Andrews for the starting center job, according to Wilson. Rutledge lined up at center at the Senior Bowl and has also gotten first-team work there in practices with the Texans.
The Rutledge signing brings the Texans one step closer to getting all of their draft picks under contract. Fourth-round guard Febechi Nwaiwu is the lone member of their eight-player class who remains unsigned.
Cardinals Release K Joshua Karty, Sign S Isaiah Oliver
The Cardinals have brought an early end to the battle between kickers Joshua Karty and Chad Ryland. They released Karty on Thursday, per a team announcement. Arizona signed safety Isaiah Oliver in a corresponding move.
The Rams spent a 2024 sixth-round pick on Karty, a Stanford product who impressed as a rookie. Karty converted 29 of 34 field goals and 32 of 36 extra points then, but his production declined during a rough 2025 for the Rams’ special teams unit. He missed five of his 15 field goal tries and went 23 of 26 on extra points over eight games, leading the Rams to elevate kicker Harrison Mevis from their practice squad in Week 10.
Mevis thrived after his promotion and never gave the job back to Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. While they brought him back a few days later as a member of their practice squad, the Cardinals signed him away on Dec. 23. Karty did not get into either of the Cardinals’ last two games, but they retained him as an exclusive rights free agent.
Barring another outside addition, the Cardinals will continue with Ryland, who re-signed on a one-year deal in March. The former Patriot has made just 76.7% of field goals during his three-year career, though he has converted 86 of 88 extra points. He nailed all 36 PATs in 2025.
The 6-foot, 202-pound Oliver entered the league in 2018 as a second-round pick of the Falcons. Oliver became a starter in his second season, but he has mostly worked as a backup since a knee injury limited him to four games in 2021. He stuck with the Falcons through 2022, left for the 49ers in 2023, and then spent the past two seasons with the Jets. As part of a New York defense that failed to intercept a pass in 2025, Oliver got into 14 games, made two starts and recorded 55 tackles. The 29-year-old’s season ended in mid-December as a result of a knee injury.
Overall, Oliver has totaled 110 appearances (53 starts), 42 passes defensed and three picks during his eight-year career. The Phoenix native will now try to earn a spot in a Budda Baker-led safety group that also includes Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, free agent pickup Andrew Wingard, Joey Blount, Kitan Crawford and undrafted rookie Wydett Williams Jr.
Jaguars Sign CB Dane Jackson, OL Trystan Colon; CB Keith Taylor Placed On IR
The Jaguars have added a pair of veterans ahead of minicamp. Cornerback Dane Jackson and offensive lineman Trystan Colon have been signed, the team announced on Thursday.
In corresponding moves, cornerback Keith Taylor has been placed on injured reserve while offensive lineman Sal Wormley has been waived (meaning he will hit the wire before becoming a free agent if unclaimed). Players moved to IR at this stage of the offseason are guaranteed to miss the entire campaign, so today’s news is a major blow for Taylor. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports the veteran recently suffered a pectoral tear while weightlifting.
Jackson was one of several members of Buffalo’s secondary who was released in March. Being cut brought an end to his second Bills stint; the six-year veteran has played five totals seasons with the team. A one-year run with the Panthers which did not go according to plan preceded Jackson’s Buffalo return for 2025. The 29-year-old will look to provide an injury replacement for Taylor and offer Jacksonville with depth in the secondary.
Colon saw sparse usage across a three-year Ravens stint to begin his career. The former undrafted free agent then spent a pair of seasons in Arizona, totaling 11 starts. Colon was with the Lions for 2025 and made 12 appearances (including four starts) as Detroit worked through a number of injuries up front. He has seen over 300 snaps at center along with both guard positions over the course of his career. A depth role on the interior will be sought out this summer.
Jacksonville entered Thursday with roughly $9.5MM in cap space. The additions of Jackson and Colon can be expected to check in at or near the veteran minimum. Further roster shuffling in advance of training camp – along with mandatory minicamp, which will run from June 15-17 – should be possible as a result.
Lions WR Kendrick Law Suffers ACL Tear
Kendrick Law will not be available to the Lions in 2026. Head coach Dan Campbell said on Thursday (via team reporter Tim Twentyman) the rookie receiver tore his ACL in practice earlier this week.
Law was the second of two players selected in the fifth round of April’s draft by the Lions. The Alabama and Kentucky product experienced a significant uptick in production during the 2025 season, his first and only as a member of the Wildcats. Law posted 540 yards on 53 catches during his final college campaign.
A depth role awaited him upon entry into the NFL, but Law’s attention will now turn to a lengthy recovery period instead. The soon-to-be 23-year-old will attempt to rehab in time for spring workouts and training camp next year and in doing so allow himself to carve out a roster spot in 2027. Law’s rookie contract runs through 2029.
Detroit’s passing attack will once again lean heavily on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams this season. Both veterans remain attached to big-ticket deals, and their performances will be key in allowing the Lions to return to the playoffs in 2026. Isaac TeSlaa – taken in the third round of last year’s draft – along with free agent signings Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson round out the top spots on the WR depth chart.
Law will be headed to injured reserve as confirmation his rookie campaign ended well before it began. Meanwhile, the Lions signed another wideout in the form of Kyre Duplessis on Thursday, per a team announcement. He will look to fill in for Law in terms of competing for a backup/special teams role over the course of the summer.
Steelers, TE Robert Tonyan Agree To Deal
Robert Tonyan‘s recent Steelers workout has resulted in an agreement. The veteran tight end is signing with Pittsburgh on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports.
Tonyan is a familiar face to head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers based on their time together in Green Bay. A reunion between those three has now been arranged in short order. Tonyan will be in the fold as he aims to compete for a roster spot during training camp.
Carving out a role will be challenging given Pittsburgh’s existing depth at the tight end position. Pat Freiermuth – whose contract was recently reworked – is set to lead the way once again in 2026. Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward are no longer in the fold, but Darnell Washington agreed to a $42MM extension yesterday. He will be joined by fifth-round rookie Riley Nowakowski as a key blocking presence in particular on the Steelers’ offense.
Tonyan, 32, spent his first five seasons in Green Bay. He remained in the NFC North for another two years following that run, spending the 2023 campaign in Chicago before playing in Minnesota the following year. That Vikings stint was limited to only five games, but Tonyan managed to enjoy a full season in 2025 while serving in a depth role for the Chiefs.
The Indiana State product topped 50 catches twice in a season, with both of those occasions coming during his time in Green Bay. Expectations will no doubt be tempered for Tonyan upon arrival in Pittsburgh, though. He caught 11 touchdown passes in 2020 but has managed a total of four since then. It will be interesting to see how many reps he receives during training camp while trying to establish himself as a depth pass-catching option.
The Steelers entered Thursday at the bottom of the NFL in terms of cap space with $4.29MM available. This Tonyan pact will no doubt be worth the veteran minimum, so it will not greatly affect any further moves Pittsburgh plans to make during what has proven to be a busy period on the contract front.
Steelers Extend TE Darnell Washington
The youngest member of Pittsburgh’s three-headed monster at tight end last year, Darnell Washington has signed a long-term extension to remain with the team, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Steelers will retain the massive weapon on a four-year, $42MM deal.
Measuring in as a 6-foot-7, 260-pound five-star recruit out of Las Vegas, Washington committed to Georgia and arrived in Athens with lofty expectations. After two years, though, Washington had only notched 17 receptions for 320 yards and a touchdowns in 21 games played; he missed some time after undergoing surgery for a minor foot fracture. Staying healthy enough to appear in 15 games as a junior, Washington finished 2022 with 28 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns before declaring for the draft and landing in Pittsburgh as a third-round pick.
So far, Washington has shown an improved ability to remain on the field, appearing in 50 of a possible 51 games in Years 1-3 and starting 29 of those contests. Over his first two years in the NFL, he was used primarily as a blocking tight end. Over that time, he saw 804 blocking snaps to 330 passing assignments, recording 26 catches for 261 yards and a touchdown over 34 games. In 2025, Washington saw a much more balanced workload, splitting his time fairly evenly between both responsibilities and reeling in 31 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown.
Having spent the first two years of his career behind Pat Freiermuth — who signed his own four-year, $48.4MM extension two years ago — and veteran Connor Heyward, Washington delivered his biggest season in Year 3 despite the offseason acquisition of Jonnu Smith. Joining his fifth team in six years, Smith had just come off a career-best Pro Bowl campaign with the Dolphins in which he recorded 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished this year with seven more catches and one more touchdown than Washington but amassed 142 fewer yards and was released at the end of the year.
With Freiermuth and Washington secured atop the depth chart and Smith out, the rest of the room is populated by 2024 seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell, 2025 undrafted signee JJ Galbreath, and undrafted rookies Chamon Metayer and Lake McRee.
Washington’s deal comes a day after the team extended pass rusher Nick Herbig. According to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show, Washington’s deal “came together really quickly” after “(picking) up significantly over the past couple hours,” and the team has “no plans to stop spending money this offseason.” Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers had eyes on five extension for the offseason, including those of Washington, Herbig, and kicker Chris Boswell. With three done, the final two remaining deals to get done would be for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton.
Dolphins Sign First-Round CB Chris Johnson
The Dolphins continue to shuffle paperwork for their picks from the 2026 NFL Draft. A day after landing the signatures of 10 drafted rookies, Miami has followed up with the completion of negotiations with both its first-round picks. While the team made an announcement for the signing of No. 12 overall pick Kadyn Proctor this afternoon, it was NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that announced No. 27 overall pick Chris Johnson‘s signing.
As a three-star recruit out of Roosevelt HS (CA), Johnson didn’t have a ton of options, but he chose to stay fairly close to home when committing to San Diego State over offers from Northwestern, Boston College, Boise State, and Army. After playing minimally as a true freshman, Johnson began to rotate in more on defense in Year 2, recording his first interception, a forced fumble, and two passes defensed. Earning a starting role as a junior, Johnson began to break out, consistently finding the ball with another interception, five passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.
After a senior season in which he completed his breakout with four interceptions (for 146 yards and two touchdowns), eight passes defensed, and another forced fumble, Johnson secured his status as the presumed CB3 in the draft class but ended up being the second corner taken after Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy slid due to injury. Johnson boasts quick, fluid hips and strong instincts. He tends to toy with passers, baiting them into making throws that allow him to take advantage of good hands for a defender. He shows good-not-great speed but has solid recovery quickness. He’ll likely need to bulk up at the pro level, but the effort is there physically.
Miami saw cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Jack Jones depart in free agency, and veteran Rasul Douglas‘ contract expired this offseason, as well. Making his way across the country, Johnson should immediately have a pathway to a starting role across from Darrell Baker in a young, inexperienced secondary. He may encounter some challenge for the role, but with the Dolphins trading up to land him, it may just be his job to lose.
With all the work Miami’s put in over the past two days, only Mississippi State fifth-round tight end Seydou Traore remains un-signed. Here’s a look at the team’s 13-man draft class:
- Round 1, No. 12 (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 27 (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 43: Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 75: Caleb Douglas (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87 (from Eagles): Will Kacmarek (TE, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Broncos): Chris Bell (WR, Louisville) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Broncos): Trey Moore (EDGE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 138*: Kyle Louis (LB, Pitt) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings): Michael Taaffe (S, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 177 (from Cowboys)*: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 180 (from Cowboys)*: Seydou Traore (TE, Mississippi State)
- Round 6, No. 200 (from Panthers): DJ Campbell (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers via Titans and Jets): Max Llewellyn (EDGE, Iowa) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/26
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Jaden Smith
New York Jets
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Da’Quan Felton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Chandler Martin
After only two days, Felton and Martin see their fortunes reversed. Martin is rejoining the team that waived him on Monday. The Jets will return Felton to the waiver wire two days after signing him with the apparent intent of reverting him to their injured reserve once he clears waivers.