The NFL offseason is still in full swing.
The bulk of free agency has come and gone, with many of the top players available finding homes, and the NFL Draft is in the rearview, as well. There are still some notable free agents out there who have yet to be signed, however, and others might be on the move.
Here’s the latest look at some of the most notable rumors around the NFL.
[2026 NFL Free Agency: Top 100 Players Available and Potential Fits]
July 23
The mystery surrounding Joe Mixon’s “freak injury” continues. Nearly a year later, there are still few answers about what transpired between the running back and the Houston Texans, and team reporter Aaron Wilson reports that Mixon’s NFL career is over.
According to Wilson, a source close to Mixon said there is still some hope for a return, though it appears unlikely. Mixon has also reportedly told former Cincinnati Bengals teammates that “his career is over,” further fueling the belief that his playing days may be finished.
If Mixon’s career is indeed over, he’s put together a solid eight-year NFL career.
Mixon is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who rushed for 7,428 yards and 60 touchdowns during his NFL career. He also made an impact as a receiver, adding 2,448 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns across his time with the Bengals and Texans.
The Arizona Cardinals could have a training camp quarterback battle on the horizon. At least if you ask recently hired head coach Mike LaFleur, per NFL Network.
With contract negotiations between Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals, LaFleur was asked on Thursday whether Brissett remains the team’s starter for the upcoming season. LaFleur brushed off the question, responding simply that it was “practice 1 on July 23rd.”
The Cardinals selected Miami quarterback Carson Beck in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, originally expecting him to serve as Brissett’s backup. However, LaFleur’s refusal to name a starter suggests a genuine competition could be brewing in Arizona.
Brissett is coming off a career year, having stepped in for an injured Kyler Murray last season. While Arizona won just one of his starts, Brissett played well, completing 64.9% of his passes for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and just eight interceptions across 12 starts.
Despite his contract status remaining unresolved, Brissett was on the field and practicing with the team Thursday.
Carolina Panthers second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton was carted off the practice field with a right knee injury during the first day of training camp on Thursday.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he does not know the extent of the injury. He said Scourton will have an MRI exam.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Canales said. “I’m hoping for the best.”
Scourton, a second-round draft pick in 2024 out of Texas A&M, went down on a wet field late in practice during team drills. Players immediately gathered around him on one knee. Scourton held his hand over his face as he was led into an awaiting cart.
As he was leaving the field, the cart stopped and Canales and every player on the roster individually walked over to hug Scourton before he was taken to the training room.
“They care about each other,” Canales said. “Whenever you’re in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I’m proud of that.”
Scourton had an outstanding rookie season for the Panthers, playing in 17 games with eight starts. He finished the season with 47 tackles, five sacks and nine quarterback hits while developing into a key starter for the NFL’s 15th-ranked defense.
Scourton appeared to be engaged in a block with an offensive lineman at the time of the injury.
July 22
Tyreek Hill provided an honest update on his dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, a devastating injury that ended the star wide receiver’s 2025 campaign after four games.
“I ain’t going to tell you what my timeline is, but timeline looking real good right now, man,” Hill said in a video posted to X. “So, it’s about 10 months after doing two surgeries. My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg at all, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it’s one day at a time.”
The now-32-year-old Hill, a five-time Pro Bowler and eight-time Pro Bowler, totaled 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown last season with the Miami Dolphins before the injury. Miami released Hill after four seasons in February.
Hill is 42nd in NFL history with 11,363 career regular season receiving yards and is tied for 27th with 83 regular season receiving touchdowns.
July 21
Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton will miss the start of the regular season after being diagnosed last month with a blood clot in his lung.
The Panthers announced Tuesday that Moton and cornerback Jaycee Horn will be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list, the day before the start of training camp. Horn is sidelined after cutting his foot while running and requiring stitches. The Panthers anticipate Horn returning early in camp.
Moton was placed on blood thinners after his diagnosis and is being monitored by the team’s medical staff. He’s expected to return at some point during the regular season.
The 31-year-old Moton has played in 145 games — 128 starts — since being selected in the second round by the Panthers in 2017.
Carolina added left tackle Rasheed Walker through free agency as a fill-in for left tackle Ickey Ekwonu, who ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee during a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Panthers also drafted Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round.
The Miami Dolphins have moved on from several big-name players this offseason, but Jordyn Brooks isn’t one of them.
Miami has extended the 28-year-old linebacker to a three-year, $51.3 million deal, according to ESPN. The extension includes $35 million guaranteed. Brooks has spent the last two seasons with the Dolphins (2024-25), most notably leading the NFL with 183 combined tackles and 99 solo tackles in 2025, while also compiling 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks (2020-23), who selected Brooks with the No. 27 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech.
July 20
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt has agreed to terms on a three-year, $57 million contract extension with a $20 million signing bonus, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
Wyatt had six tackles for loss and four sacks in 10 games last season. His season ended after he broke his fibula and tore ankle ligaments during a Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit, causing him to get carted off the field.
Even though he missed much of the season, Wyatt still ranked third on the team in sacks and tied for fourth in tackles for loss.
“I know I’ve got a lot more in the tank,” Wyatt said at the end of last season. “I feel like I got a lot more in the tank than what I put out there this year or the past three years I had. I know I have a lot more and I feel like this injury right here really is going to help me get above this hump, just showing you all what I have.”
Wyatt has spent his entire NFL career with the Packers, who selected him out of Georgia with the 28th pick in the 2022 draft.
He has 16 sacks over his first four seasons. Wyatt has had at least four sacks each of the past three seasons.
July 17
Panthers Re-Sign Christensen
The Carolina Panthers on Friday re-signed versatile offensive lineman Brady Christensen.
The 29-year-old Christensen has spent all five seasons with the Panthers, starting 34 games and competing in 59. He started four games in 2025 at guard before a torn Achilles tendon ended his season.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Christensen, a third-round draft pick out of BYU in 2021, is viewed as a valuable depth piece by the Panthers because of a rare ability to play every position on the offensive line.
Panthers rookies are scheduled to report to training camp on Tuesday with veterans arriving on Wednesday.
July 13
Patrick Mahomes Talks Return Goal
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his left ACL and LCL in Week 15 of the 2025 season, but it’s not stopping him from aspiring to be under center for Week 1 of next season.
“That’s my goal: I’ve said that since the beginning is being ready to go Week 1,” Mahomes said about his recovery in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “I can’t predict the future and I know that it’s a long process. It’s not just my decision, but at the same time, I’m going to give the doctors and the coaches every single opportunity I can to let me be out there Week 1.
“I don’t want to miss that game [against the Denver Broncos] because that’s the team that won the division while we were gone, and you want to be out there and ready to go with your teammates. I’ll give every single thing I can to be out there Week 1, and hopefully the doctors and the coaches give me the green light, and I’m able to go out there with my guys and compete against one of the best teams in the league.”
Across 14 games last season, Mahomes, a two-time NFL MVP, totaled 3,587 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and an 89.6 passer rating, while completing 62.7% of his passes. His passer rating and completion percentage were career worsts since becoming Kansas City’s full-time starting quarterback in 2018, with Mahomes having not earned a Pro Bowl nod since 2023.
If Mahomes isn’t ready for Week 1, the Chiefs’ options at quarterback include Justin Fields, Chris Oladokun — who started two games for Kansas City last season — and Garrett Nussmeier.
Stefon Diggs Attracting Heavy Interest
He may remain on the open market, but Stefon Diggs appears to be wanted.
The wide receiver and four-time Pro Bowler has been in contact with five NFL teams, according to ESPN. The 32-year-old Diggs, who’s arguably the best player available on the free agent market, was released by the New England Patriots in March folowing a season where he led the team in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,013).
Diggs has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in seven of the last eight seasons.
Green Bay Packers Extend LB
The Green Bay Packers have signed linebacker Isaiah McDuffie to a contract extension.
The extension was announced by general manager Brian Gutekunst on Monday.
McDuffie, a sixth-year player from Boston College, was a sixth-round pick by the Packers in 2021.
He has played in 80 regular-season games, including 38 starts. He had 92 tackles, one sack and one interception while playing in all 17 games, including 12 starts, last season.
July 6
Washington Commanders Add DB Depth
Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas has agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a contract for next season, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the contract had not yet been signed.
Douglas, who turns 31 on Aug. 29, returns to the NFC East after beginning his NFL career in the division with the Philadelphia Eagles. A third-round pick in 2017, he helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in his rookie year.
With Washington coming off a season in which it ranked last in the league on defense, general manager Adam Peters has been active in adding talent on that side of the ball. Douglas is the latest addition after signing safety Nick Cross, cornerback Amik Robertson, edge rushers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson and linebacker Leon Chenal and drafting Sonny Styles with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Douglas played 15 games and started in 13 of them for the Miami Dolphins last season, finishing with two interceptions and 62 tackles. He made previous stops with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers after leaving Philadelphia. He has played in 146 career games, counting the playoffs, since turning pro.
June 25
Vikings Name Trent Kirchner, Andrew Healy Co-Assistant General Managers
The Minnesota Vikings have finalized their football operations staff under new general manager Nolan Teasley, hiring Trent Kirchner from Seattle and Andrew Healy from Cleveland as assistant GMs.
The Vikings announced the additions Thursday.
Kirchner worked with Teasley for the Seahawks, spending 16 seasons there including the last six years as vice president of player personnel. He worked eight seasons before that as a scout for the Carolina Panthers.
The native of Fulda, Minnesota, who played NCAA Division III football in the state at St. John’s University will lead the scouting operations and assist Teasley with football operations.
Healy will lead the analytics and research departments after spending 10 seasons with the Browns, including the last seven years as vice president of research and strategy. Kirchner and Healy will support Teasley and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski in the upper echelon of the personnel department.
Ryan Grigson, the previous assistant GM under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, left the organization. Adofo-Mensah was fired in January after four seasons on the job. Among the five new hires Teasley made was Ryan Pace as a football advisor. He was general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2015-21 and spent the last four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
June 24
DeAndre Hopkins Talks Future
Wide receiver and three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins is one of the top remaining free agents in the sport. Does the 34-year-old still have gas in the tank?
“I still got a lot of ball left,” Hopkins said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio about his NFL future. “But it’s not a situation [where] I’m sitting here trying to force or go out and be a regular-season superstar, because that’s for the young guys, man. That’s for the people that they want to develop and give those contracts for the future.
“I know in my position, I’m a utility guy. I’m a special situation kind of guy. I can go out there and beat anybody one on one at any time, but as of lately, I’ve been a third-down guy. I wasn’t used in the red zone last year. But [on] third down, they’re gonna put D-Hop in, they’re gonna come to me. I don’t think that’ll change anytime soon.”
The five-time Pro Bowler totaled 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns with the Baltimore Ravens last season. Hopkins split the 2024 season between the Tennessee Titans, whom he joined in 2023, and Kansas City Chiefs. The receiver spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Houston Texans (2013-19) before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, with whom he played for three seasons (2020-22).
“Going into Year 14, I would love to play for a competitor if that time came, but I’m not in no rush to go out and be a regular-season superstar because, for me, I’m not getting a contract extension,” Hopkins added.
Hopkins is 18th in NFL history with 13,295 career receiving yards and tied for 19th with 85 career receiving touchdowns.
Jaguars Extend TE Brenton Strange
A day after the Atlanta Falcons extended Kyle Pitts, another notable tight end got a new deal. Brenton Strange has agreed to a three-year, $48 million extension with $25 million guaranteed, NFL Network reported.
Strange, 25, became an important pass-catcher for Trevor Lawrence in his third year. The 2023 second-round pick had 46 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games in 2025, with the majority of his impact coming in the second half of last season.
At $16 million per year, Strange will be the NFL’s third-highest-paid tight end on an average annual basis, per Over The Cap.
June 23
Former Bills QB Jim Kelly Opens Up About Recent Health Scare
Former Buffalo Bills star quarterback Jim Kelly told reporters Tuesday that he was hospitalized after experiencing a stroke in the spring.
“I had a little setback about a month and a half ago,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Bills stadium. “But right now, I feel good. Eyesight’s not great. My hearing still sucks, but that’s part of life.”
The 66-year-old Kelly said recent tests were clean.
He underwent a combination of surgeries and chemotherapy in 2013, 2014 and 2018 because of various forms of cancer.
Kelly expressed excitement about attending the Bills’ first game in their new stadium when the Detroit Lions visit on Sept. 17.
“It’s going to be special, not only for the players, but imagine the fans in there, how crazy and wild and loud they’re going to get,” Kelly said. “And that’s what I’m looking forward to. I want to see how loud this stadium can get. And from what I’ve been told, it’s going to be unbelievable, but I don’t expect anything less.”
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year, $54 million contract with tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., securing another foundation player on the team’s offense through the 2028 season.
The deal was announced on Tuesday by Pitts’ agency, Athletes First, in a social media post. The agency said it is the largest three-year deal for a tight end in NFL history.
The agreement with Pitts comes three weeks after the team signed wide receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million deal.
Pitts, 25, was the No. 8 overall pick by the Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft. He set a career high with 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns last season. He ranked second among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards.
Pitts’ contract, which includes $36 million in guaranteed salary, was first reported by ESPN. The Falcons have not announced the deal, but still celebrated by posting a video of Pitts on social media.
Pitts’ big season included a three-touchdown game in Atlanta’s 29-28 win at Tampa Bay on Dec. 11. That win came with Kirk Cousins at quarterback. The Falcons will enter training camp with Tua Tagovailoa expected to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job at quarterback.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski says Penix, recovering from knee surgery, is on schedule in his recovery. Penix had not been cleared for team drills in the recent minicamp but was impressive in seven-on-seven drills.
The Falcons signed Tagovailoa, the former Miami Dolphins starter, to a one-year deal in March after releasing Cousins with a post-June 1 designation.
The Falcons used a franchise tag of $15.045 million on Pitts, but now the tight end will play under the new deal in the 2026 season. The $18 million average of Pitts’ contract places him third on the list of the NFL’s highest paid tight ends, behind San Francisco’s George Kittle ($19.1 million) and Arizona’s Trey McBride ($19 million).
June 19
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons cashed in on his first All-Pro selection with a record-setting deal. Tennessee announced Friday the 28-year-old signed a multiyear contract extension. The Titans did not share terms of the deal, but ESPN.com and NFL Network both reported the three-year extension is for $35.3 million per year with $100 million guaranteed — making Simmons the highest-paid defensive tackle in league history.
“From Day 1, this organization believed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to pour into this franchise and community,” Simmons said in a statement. “My job isn’t finished. I believe in this locker room and this staff, and I’m focused on helping this team get back to competing for championships.”
The Titans wanted to keep Simmons as one of the foundational pieces of their rebuild. The new deal locks him up through 2030 and is the second extension Simmons has signed. He also agreed to a four-year deal worth $94 million in 2023.
“You always want to keep your best players and we accomplished that today,” general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “We’re excited for Jeffery to be here in Nashville for the long haul.”
Simmons led NFL defensive tackles with a career-high 11 sacks in 2025 along with his 39 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 60 quarterback pressures. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Simmons had a 13.9% pressure rate and 18 pressures after being double-teamed. Those were the best in the league among tackles.
The four-time Pro Bowler has been one of the league’s defensive stalwarts for years. Since the Titans selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft at No. 19 overall, Simmons has started 97 of 99 games. He has 42 1/2 sacks, 383 tackles, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 27 passes defensed.
June 18
New Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wanted to change Justin Herbert’s footwork, so he has taken the football out of his star quarterback’s hands for parts of the offseason program.
While it might seem counterintuitive, McDaniel believes Herbert can better focus on learning those adjustments when not throwing.
“To change it, and in one offseason, make it something that’s in the unconscious that you’re not thinking about where you have to think about a lot of other things, you really have to take an intentional attack on it. So I think he understood the extreme measures,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel is teaching Herbert to lead with his non-dominant left foot, with the right-handed passer having put his right foot forward when first handling the football in each of his previous six seasons in the NFL.
McDaniel initially took notice of the off-foot technique as an assistant to Kyle Shanahan with Houston in 2007. Brett Favre had been using it throughout his Hall of Fame career, and Tom Brady adopted it for the 2007 season when he threw 50 touchdowns passes, setting a then single-season league record that has since been broken.
Shanahan, who was the Texans quarterbacks coach at the time, and McDaniel extensively studied the possible benefits in the approach before adopting it, including when they continued worked together in Washington and San Francisco. McDaniel also took it to Miami when he was the Dolphins head coach for four seasons until being fired in January, leading the left-handed Tua Tagovailoa to start with his right foot forward.
“You have your pros and cons for anything that you do from a technique perspective, but having the non-throwing-hand foot forward, there was some advantages that I kind of lean toward. By the time we got to Washington (in 2010), we started training quarterbacks that way,” McDaniel said.
June 17
Jacksonville’s Ross Matiscik is now the NFL’s highest-paid long snapper.
Matiscik signed a two-year, $3.8 million contract extension with the Jaguars on Wednesday, his agency, Sportstars NYC, confirmed.
Matiscik, 29, has spent six seasons with Jacksonville and played 101 games after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Baylor in 2020. Matiscik has earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors in each of the past three seasons. He had been entering the final year of his contract, which was set to pay him $1.2 million in 2026.
“Ross’ consistency and ability to get down the field and make plays on special teams gives us an edge in that phase of the game,” Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. “He has played at an elite level for several seasons and is at the top of the league at what he does.”
Since entering the league, Matiscik’s 22 special teams tackles are tied for the most in the NFL at his position.
New Orleans Saints all-time sack leader Cameron Jordan agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract to remain with the club for what the 16th-year veteran says will be his final NFL season. Jordan, a free agent since the end of last season, said ending his career with New Orleans — and spending the entirety of it with one franchise — was important to him.
“I definitely am going to take to this like every game is my last,” Jordan said. “I’m going to treat it like it’s the final season.”
“There’s no amount of money in the league that can make me say, ‘Just turn your back on everything that you built,’” said Jordan, who posted a team-high 10 1/2 sacks last season. “This is where I wanted to be and got back here.”
Financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed, but Jordan, who turns 37 on July 10, suggested the deal he accepted from the Saints was not as lucrative as offers he received from other teams.
“There was no match,” Jordan said, adding, “The loyalty streak has always run deep with me.
“It was mutual benefit for us to come back. The way that I want to affect this city. I don’t think that’s ever going to stop,” Jordan said, mentioning the longstanding charitable work of his foundation in the area.
Jordan also noted that his four children have been born and raised in New Orleans and wanted to stay. “It’s become home for us,” he said, adding that it would “feel wrong to be in another city, not giving back to this city.”
A Saints first-round draft choice in 2011 and a defensive captain for the past decade, Jordan has 132 career sacks, which ranks 17th in NFL history. Jordan also has 17 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, three interceptions, 67 pass breakups, 175 tackles for loss, 248 quarterback hits and blocked one kick in his career. In 2017, Jordan was an AP All-Pro. His eight Pro Bowl selections is a franchise high for a defensive player.
June 16
George Pickens is not only back with the Dallas Cowboys for mandatory minicamp, but he’s also prepared to play for America’s Team this season. Pickens confirmed to reporters that he’ll play on the franchise tag for the 2026 season.
“What’s important to me is winning,” Pickens said. “Like I said from the beginning, I always wanna bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that never had that feeling. That’s really the most important part to me.”
The Pro Bowl wide receiver skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason after receiving the franchise tag. But Pickens’ presence was expected once he signed the $27.3 million franchise tag and became subject to fines for missing the three-day minicamp that started Tuesday or training camp that opens next month in California.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Pickens would be limited in on-field work at the team’s practice facility. He said that wouldn’t necessarily mean Pickens would need time to ramp up when camp starts in late July.
“Fired up to have him back. He’s fired up to be here,” Schottenheimer said. “He’ll do all the mock. He’ll do all the individual. We’ll just keep him out of team. Just let him watch. He’ll be Coach Pickens today.”
Pickens waited two months before signing the one-year contract that’s worth three times what the 25-year-old earned on his four-year rookie contract.
Pickens told the Cowboys before the draft in April that he intended to sign the franchise tag, prompting speculation that Dallas might try to trade him. The Cowboys made it clear they had no such plans. He signed the tag about a week later.
Acquired last year in a trade with Pittsburgh, Pickens thrived alongside CeeDee Lamb, finishing with career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Lamb is going into the second year of a $136 million, four-year contract that ranks him fourth among NFL receivers with an average annual value of $34 million. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has said the club has long-term plans for Pickens, who has spent time in the offseason with quarterback Dak Prescott.
June 14
Joe Tippmann Extended
The New York Jets and guard Joe Tippmann have agreed to a four-year, $66.4 million extension, NFL Media reported on Monday. The deal includes $34.9 million guaranteed.
The move keeps the versatile and durable Tippmann, a second-round draft pick in 2023, with the Jets through the 2030 season. It also continues a recent trend by general manager Darren Mougey of signing the team’s young, promising players to long-term deals.
The 25-year-old Tippmann, who was entering the final year of his rookie deal, was a starter at center in his first season after being drafted out of Wisconsin. He moved from center to right guard because of injuries on the offensive line during the 2024 season and was the full-time starter at right guard last year.
Tippmann, an Indiana native, has missed just one game in his first three NFL seasons while starting 48 of 50 games during that span. He has developed into a key piece of the Jets’ long-term plans on the offensive line, along with left tackle Olu Fashanu, a first-rounder in 2024, and right tackle Armand Membou, a first-rounder last year.
Center Josh Myers was signed late last season to a two-year, $11 million extension, and the Jets brought in free agent left guard Dylan Parham on a two-year deal worth $16 million in March.
June 11
Jalen Coker Extended
The Carolina Panthers’ wide receiver room, long a source of uncertainty, now looks far more stable than it has in years. The team has agreed to a three-year, $35 million extension with Jalen Coker, per NFL Network.
Panthers coach Dave Canales declared late last season that Coker, signed as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in 2024, would be the team’s starting wide receiver moving forward. Canales and the Panthers reaffirmed their commitment to him with the deal.
It’s rare when teams extend exclusive rights free agents, but the Panthers were convinced Coker is a valuable part of their future. He had 43 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns last season after missing the first month of the season with an injury. He came on strong toward the end of the year and eventually replaced Xavier Legette, Carolina’s first-round pick in 2024, in the starting lineup alongside Tetairoa McMillan, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Coker had a breakout performance in Carolina’s NFC wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams with nine catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Coker didn’t receive much attention from top level Division I college programs coming out of high school and settled on attending Holy Cross. He promised his mother he would not transfer and would stick it out there and get his degree. He played four years at Holy Cross and caught 163 passes for 2,684 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns.
Sean Payton Extended
Sean Payton isn’t going anywhere.
The Denver Broncos have signed their head coach to a five-year extension, the team announced.
“Sean Payton has led an impressive turnaround over the past three seasons, instilling a winning culture with high expectations,” Broncos Owner and CEO Greg Penner said in a statement. “I appreciate the close partnership he shares with George Paton along with the alignment and stability across our football operations.
“We’re thrilled for Sean to continue leading our team as head coach, building on our progress during such an exciting time for the Broncos.”
Payton and Broncos general manager George Paton are now each under contract through the 2030 NFL season. Denver is coming off a 14-3 campaign that saw it earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC and reach the AFC Championship before losing to the New England Patriots in said round.
Over Payton’s three seasons as Denver’s head coach (2023-25), the Broncos are 32-19 in the regular season and 1-2 in the postseason; they’ve won double-digit games and reached the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
The Broncos acquired Payton from the New Orleans Saints in 2023 after the head coach took a year off from coaching, which came after 15 seasons as the Saints’ head coach (2006-11 and 2013-21).
June 10
Dolphins Extend C Aaron Brewer
The Miami Dolphins and veteran center Aaron Brewer have agreed to a three-year contract extension, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins had not announced the extension or financial details.
Brewer’s deal is worth $52.5 million with $37 million guaranteed, per Spotrac.com. According to the website, Brewer’s average salary of $17.5 million through 2029 makes him the third-highest-paid center in the NFL behind Las Vegas’ Tyler Linderbaum ($27 million) and Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey ($18 million).
Brewer, an undrafted free agent out of Texas State in 2020, has started 33 games for Miami over the past two seasons and earned second-team All-Pro honors last season. He was also a finalist for the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award given to the league’s best offensive lineman.
He was in the final year of his deal and was set to make $1.22 million in 2026.
ESPN first reported the extension.
Brewer, 28, played his first four NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing with Miami in 2024.
Surgery Sidelines Colts WR Through Training Camp
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce faces a new return timeline following his recent ankle surgery, per ESPN. Pierce recently signed a massive four-year, $114 million extension with the Colts on March 9.
Pierce’s ankle injury lingered throughout the 2024 season and the majority of last season, which forced him to get surgery in March. Following the procedure, Pierce still faces weeks of recovery, which keeps him out of training camp and possibly preseason games scheduled for the beginning of August.
Last season, Pierce recorded career-high numbers, notching 1,003 receiving yards on 47 receptions and six touchdowns.
Tucker Kraft Injury Update
The Green Bay Packers are close to getting one of their top offensive weapons back on the field in tight end Tucker Kraft. He expects to be ready for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings and does not anticipate being on a pitch count, per The Athletic.
Kraft is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, leaving questions about his availability for the start of the season. If he returns without restrictions, it would provide a much-needed boost to Green Bay’s offense.
Before the injury, Kraft was on track for a career year. He hauled in 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 15.3 yards per catch in eight games for the Packers last season.
Malik Nabers Update
There has been consistent chatter regarding whether New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers — who tore his right ACL in Week 4 of last season — will be ready for the 2026 season. Giants general manager Joe Schoen provided an update on the matter.
“I still think he’ll be fine Week 1,” Schoen said about Nabers in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “So, we’ll see. He’s trending in the right direction. Again, these things take time, so it’s not instant. Every patient is different.”
Nabers set the Giants’ single-season record with 109 receptions in his 2024 rookie campaign, a season that also saw the former LSU star tally 1,204 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, while earning a Pro Bowl nod. New York recently signed veteran wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. — who reunites with the franchise he starred for from 2014-18 — JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios.
These moves came in the wake of wide receiver Gunner Olszewski tearing his right Achilles tendon, which will keep him off the field next season, and fellow receiver Darius Slayton undergoing core-muscle surgery, which should sideline him until training camp.
June 9
Jacoby Brissett Reports to Cardinals’ Mandatory Camp
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett was at the Arizona Cardinals’ practice on Tuesday, walking around wearing a black hooded sweatshirt in the hot desert sun.
Edge rusher Josh Sweat was on the field as well, chatting with some of the other defensive players as he watched while they went through their workout.
The good news for the Cardinals is that two of their most important players decided to report for the team’s mandatory minicamp after missing voluntary workouts earlier in the summer. The problem is it’s unclear if the questions surrounding their status for the upcoming NFL season have been resolved.
“It was good to see both those guys,” Cardinals first-year coach Mike LaFleur said. “We’ll just take it one day at a time. You guys saw what it was today and we’ll re-evaluate.”
Brissett is seeking a re-worked contract after starting the final 12 games of last season while Sweat is reportedly unhappy with the direction of the franchise after the Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record and fired coach Jonathan Gannon, who was close with the edge rusher.
Brissett stepped in for the injured Kyler Murray last season and put up big numbers, completing more than 64% of his passes for a career-high 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns over 12 starts. But a decent chunk of that production was essentially meaningless, coming when the Cardinals were trailing by large margins.
Bengals Restructure QB Joe Burrow’s Contract
The Cincinnati Bengals have restructured the contract of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move was not announced.
The restructured deal was first reported by ESPN and NFL Network.
Cincinnati gains around $10 million in cap space by spreading out some of his base salary over the final three years of the deal (2027 through ’29). Burrow signed a five-year, $275-million extension in 2023.
The Bengals found themselves low on cap space after acquiring defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants before the NFL draft and signing him to a one-year extension worth $28 million.
Cincinnati is also trying to get some of its key players from its 2023 draft class still under rookie deal signed to extensions before the start of training camp. That group includes DE Myles Murphy, RB Chase Brown, and defensive backs Jordan Battle, DJ Turner and Dax Hill.
Burrow, the top overall pick in the 2023 draft, is going into his seventh season. He led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2021 season and the AFC championship game the following year, but Cincinnati has missed the playoffs the last three seasons.
Burrow played in only eight games last season. He suffered a turf toe injury in a Week 2 win over Jacksonville and was out until late November. He threw for 1,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions that included three pick-6s.
Joel Bitonio Retires
Joel Bitonio announced his retirement on Tuesday after 12 seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
The offensive guard played his entire career in Cleveland after he was selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2014 draft.
Bitonio said in a statement released through the team that he was fairly confident he was going to retire at the end of last season. However, he was still coming into the team facility during the offseason to rehab from injuries.
“I was contemplating my decision, thinking about how I have been playing football for 23 years of my life — including 12 in the NFL. But there was never a need to rush the decision,” he said. “The Browns and AB [general manager Andrew Berry] were very understanding. They acknowledged what I had done for the team and understood it was a tough decision, and they assured me that they would be there when I was ready to discuss. And that’s why we extended our void date on our contract. We were giving it time, and I wanted to make sure I was making the right decision. By the time free agency started, me and AB had already had the discussion, and I told him I am most likely retiring here.”
Bitonio started all 17 games last season and played 1,027 offensive snaps. His 178 games — all starts — are ninth in franchise history. He has made the most starts in orange and brown since the franchise’s return to Cleveland in 1999.
Bitonio was a two-time All-Pro pick and selected seven times for the Pro Bowl.
June 8
Chiefs Reuniting With CB L’Jarius Snead
After trading one standout cornerback who helped them win multiple Super Bowls earlier this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs are bringing back another notable cornerback who played a key role on multiple title-winning teams. The Chiefs are signing cornerback L’Jarius Snead to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $5 million.
Snead, 29, was a part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning squads in 2022 and 2023, logging 10 interceptions in four seasons (2020-23) with the team. After the 2023 season, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on Snead and traded him to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick. Snead signed a four-year, $76.4 million deal with the Titans shortly after the trade. However, he struggled in Tennessee, failing to record an interception as he played just 12 games over two seasons due to injury. Tennessee released him in March.
The Chiefs have remade their secondary in a big way this offseason. They traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for four draft picks, including a first-round selection. But they signed safety Alohi Gilman before using the sixth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
June 6
Lions Rookie Out For Season With Torn ACL
Detroit Lions’ fifth-round pick Kendrick Law suffered a torn ACL in OTA’s this week and will be out for the season, per ESPN.
A wide receiver out of Kentucky, Law was selected 168th overall after Detroit traded up 13 spots for the rookie. After transferring from Alabama to Kentucky in 2025, Law led the offense in receiving yards with 540. Law was the Lions’ second offensive pick in the Draft after offensive tackle Blake Miller from Clemson.
June 5
Cowboys Sign 1st-Round Pick
The Dallas Cowboys signed first-round pick Malachi Lawrence on Friday, putting all seven of their draft choices under contract.
Lawrence, the 23rd overall pick out of UCF in April, agreed to a $20.2 million, four-year contract at the end of the first week of voluntary offseason practices. Workouts resume Monday.
Safety Caleb Downs out of Ohio State was the 11th pick of the first round and signed his $28.95 million, four-year deal on May 1, the day rookie minicamp started.
The Cowboys have fifth-year options on both contracts, and must make those decisions during the 2029 offseason.
The other Dallas draft picks signed at the same time as Downs. They included third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham and three fourth-round choices in offensive lineman Drew Shelton, cornerback Devin Moore and defensive end LT Overton. Receiver Anthony Smith was the last Dallas pick in the seventh round.
June 4
Christian Watson Gets Massive Extension
The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Christian Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million extension, per ESPN. The deal includes a $31 million signing bonus. Watson signed a one-year, $13.25 million extension last offseason, a deal which expires after the 2026 season.
Watson, whom Green Bay selected with the No. 34 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, totaled 35 receptions for 611 yards and six touchdowns across 10 regular-season games in 2025; he missed seven games due to knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. Injuries have been an unfortunate trend for Watson, who missed eight games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury and has never played more than 15 games in a single season over his four-year career.
When healthy, though, Watson is an explosive game-changer, with the soon-to-be fifth-year receiver averaging 17.0 yards per reception for his career.
June 3
Steelers, TE Darnell Washington agree to four-year extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing their busy offseason by locking down tight end Darnell Washington, per ESPN. Washington is signing a four-year, $42 million contract extension that includes $21 million in guaranteed money.
Washington’s extension reflects a growing NFL trend of franchises investing heavily in premium blocking tight ends, driven by the league-wide increase in 13 personnel.
His traditional stats from last season were modest, totaling 31 receptions for 364 yards and one touchdown. However, his primary value remains his dominant presence in the run-blocking game.
June 2
Drake London signs four-year extension
The Atlanta Falcons and wide receiver Drake London have agreed to a four-year extension, worth up to $150 million ($100 million guaranteed), per Ian Rapoport. London was entering the final year of his rookie contract, and will now be linked to Atlanta through the 2030 season.
The Falcons selected London with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s improved with each season, despite navigating tumult at the quarterback position. In 2024, he had 100 catches, for 1,251 yards and nine touchdowns. He was on track to increase those yards and touchown numbers, until a PCL injury cost him five weeks.
Steelers, Nick Herbig agree to four-year extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers are securing their defensive front, agreeing to a four-year, $100 million contract extension with edge rusher Nick Herbig, per ESPN. The deal includes $42 million in guaranteed money.
After being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft out of Wisconsin, Herbig enjoyed a breakout season with Pittsburgh. He stuffed the stat sheet with 30 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception.
Seahawks, Derick Hall agree to three-year extension
The Seattle Seahawks are keeping part of their defensive core intact, as pass rusher Derick Hall has agreed to a three-year, $42 million extension, per ESPN. The deal could be worth up to $46.5 million and includes $21 million guaranteed.
With Boye Mafe gone in free agency and questions surrounding DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu, the Seahawks are investing in Derick Hall early. Hall played a rotational role on the defensive line but is expected to see more snaps this season.
Since being selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hall has appeared in 48 games for the Seahawks. He’s recorded 105 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections over his first three seasons.
June 1
Russell WIlson Chooses Television Over QB Job
Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson is putting his NFL career on hold, as he is finalizing a deal to be a sports analyst for CBS Sports, per ESPN. The 10-year veteran and Super Bowl winner had options within the NFL as a veteran free agent QB, but has chosen to move onto television instead.
According to Wilson himself back in May, by way of the New York Post, he was deciding between joining the New York Jets to serve as Geno Smith’s backup, or moving into an analyst role. CBS Sports reached out to Wilson about becoming a studio analyst, according to The Athletic, and that is the direction Wilson inevitably chose.
While the Jets don’t lack quarterbacks on the roster, NFL experience is another matter. Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook have a combined 13 starts in the league, while the fourth QB on the roster is 2026 draft selection, Cade Klubnik, whom the Jets picked in the fourth round.
Wilson began the 2025 season as the New York Giants’ quarterback but was benched in favor of 2025 first-round pick, Jaxson Dart, after an 0-3 start. Smith was already Wilson’s teammate before on the Seattle Seahawks, and per ESPN recommended bringing Wilson on board.
The 37-year-old Wilson – who will be 38 in November – appeared in six games (three starts) in 2025, throwing for 831 yards with three touchdowns and interceptions each. As FOX Sports’ Eric D. Williams wrote last season after the veteran QB was benched in favor of Dart, “Wilson’s arguably one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history, ranking 15th all-time in passing yards, 12th in passing touchdowns and fifth in passer rating. However, since the 10-time Pro Bowler left Seattle in a blockbuster trade to the Denver Broncos during the 2022 offseason, Wilson’s career has been on a downward trajectory.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source
Astros Sweep, Send Marlins To 9th-Straight L
Dodgers Take The Series From Phillies
Red Sox Tie A Record, But Fail To Break It
Reds Keep Mariners Out Of 1st
Yankees, Pirates Split A Doubleheader
Perez Ties Royals HR Record
Keep This Man Off The Field
Braves-Padres Got Wild Late
D-Backs Go Big
Just Made It, Twice
–>
–>
