Walker spent time with five different NFL teams and took regular season snaps with the Panthers (2020-22) and the Browns (2023). He initially entered the NFL as a 2017 undrafted free agent with the Colts, who kept him on the practice squad through 2019. He was then drafted by the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020 and parlayed a 1,338/14/5 passing line into a backup gig with the Panthers. He signed on with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2024 and remained with them through the 2025 season. He retires from the NFL, having thrown for 2,135 yards, six touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and run for 80 yards on the ground.
Emerson said he has been “cleared to do everything on the football field” after missing the 2025 season following an Achilles tendon rupture suffered last July. Emerson, 25, spent 2022-25 with the Browns, who drafted him with a third-round pick. He notched 20 pass breakups and four interceptions in his three healthy seasons.
Shipley published his expected depth chart today, with the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror. He believes RB LeQuint Allen will once again be the top passing down back. Veteran RB DeeJay Dallas will duke it out with undrafted free agent rookie RB J’Mari Taylor for the last spot. The Jaguars return all nine offensive linemen from last season and add to the unit with third-round OG Emmanuel Pregnon. If Rodriguez and Tuten indeed split carries, both players could warrant RB3/FLEX treatment, though each player’s presence lowers the other’s upside. Shipley reported earlier this month that Tuten’s role and opportunity is going to see a major hike” this season.
Lemon’s $20.8 million deal is fully guaranteed and includes an $11.5 million signing bonus. The former USC wide receiver posted a 79/1,156/11 receiving line last year and brings inside-outside versatility to the Eagles’ offense. With WR A.J. Brown still on the roster, Lemon slots in as the No. 3 wide receiver. If and when Brown gets traded, Lemon should have the inside track for the No. 2 role, though he may have to fend off veterans, WR Dontayvion Wicks and WR Hollywood Brown, in training camp.
An October 2025 foot injury sidelined Van Ness for seven games and limited him to just six snaps in an eighth, yet the 24-year-old pass rusher notched a career-high 23 quarterback pressures last year. He has 11 sacks and 56 tackles through three NFL seasons. Van Ness will make up to $3.1 million this season and is slated to make $13.8 million in 2027. As is often the case when teams pick up a player’s fifth-year option, a long-term extension could also be on the way.
Key, 28, earned first-team All-Pro honors as a special teamer last year. His 20 special teams tackles led the NFL by two last year. The Chiefs signed Key as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2021. He was waived, having played zero snaps, before being signed to the Falcons’ practice squad in 2022. He was signed by the Broncos later that and eventually earned his current role as a special teams and began contributing on the field in 2023. He notched seven special teams tackles in 2024. Credit goes to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for getting the most out of Key last year.
Ioane gets a fully guaranteed $24.2 million deal with a $14.1 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option. Ioane is expected to start in year one. He primarily played left guard at Penn State, but should be able to line up at right guard, if need be. Vega (6'4/320) earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 78.6 PFF run-blocking grade last year.
Sarratt will compete with third-round rookie WR Ja’Kobi Lane, plus incumbent WRs Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester for No. 3 wide receiver duties. Per Spotrac, Sarratt’s deal is worth more than $5.4 million and includes a $1.18 million signing bonus. Sarratt scored 15 touchdowns during Indiana’s college football championship run last year.
Per Spotrac, the deal is worth $4.62 million and includes a $379,480 signing bonus. Randall is the team owner, Steve Bisciotti’s first handpicked player. He converted from wide receiver to running back for Clemson’s 2025 season and posted a 168/814/10 rushing line and a 36/254/3 receiving line.
The Ravens signed fifth-round TE Josh Cuevas as well. Hibner’s deal is worth $5 million, while Cuevas’ is worth $4.6 million. Hibner totaled 55 catches, 804 yards and eight touchdowns over his last two seasons at SMU. The two rookie tight ends will compete with veteran TE Durham Smythe for the No. 2 tight end role.
Davis, 27, appeared in just two games last year, totaling three tackles and one quarterback sack. The Commanders released him in October 2024 after drafting him in 2021 as a first-round pick. Davis simply hasn’t developed during his time in the NFL. He might be able to get a training camp audition elsewhere this summer.
This is encouraging, though Shanahan added that he doesn’t want to say Kittle is “on track” to play, but he knows Kittle is “shooting for” a Week 1 return. One month ago, 49ers general manager John Lynch said he is “hopeful” that Kittle will be able to play in Week 1. It sounds like Kittle should return early in the 2026 season, even if Week 1 is out of reach. If they start him on the physically unable to perform list, he could return in Week 5. For the time being, it feels safe to say that he should be back by Week 5 or sooner. Anything can happen, though.
Per Chappell, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on Saturday that he “hadn’t given too much thought” to the fifth-year option that would have paid Richardson $22.483 million in 2027. Apparently, Ballard didn’t need long to pass on an extra year with Richardson. The 23-year-old quarterback received permission from the team to seek a trade, and as of Sunday, the Colts had not received any inquiries. Releasing Richardson at some point currently seems to be the most likely outcome for Indianapolis. The deadline to exercise team options for the 2023 rookie class is tomorrow.
Fehoko has played zero snaps since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2023. The Colts also waived LB Joseph Vaughn and released OG Bill Murray. OT Jack Wilson was waived as well, though he will revert to the Colts’ injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
Singleton has decent odds of making the roster as the Titans’ RB3 and special teams returner. Where he goes from there remains to be seen. He flashed high-end, dual-threat traits in college, but ceded snaps to the reliable rusher, RB Kaytron Allen. Singleton’s boom-bust style has its strengths and weaknesses.
Lane will compete for a starting role in three-wide receiver sets with fourth-round pick WR Elijah Sarratt, and veteran WRs Devontez Walker and LaJohntay Wester. Lane (6’4/200) caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns in his final college season. It could be tough for him to return FLEX value even if he wins the No. 3 wide receiver role.
Washington (6’1/223) turned heads by running a 4.33 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. As a rookie, he is set to compete for the Raiders’ No. 2 role behind starting RB Ashton Jeanty. If he wins it, Washington would be a worthwhile bench stash in re-draft leagues, in case Jeanty misses time. Per Spotrac, Washington’s $5.36 million deal includes $1.1 million in guarantees.
Back in May 2025, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Milroe “will not be used in the same fashion as Taysom Hill,” but in August, Macdonald said regular season game plans would include plays for Milroe. It turns out, the former statement was far more accurate. Milroe logged just three snaps all year, and zero after Week 5. Seahawks TE AJ Barner functioned as the team’s Tush Push specialist. If the Seahawks really do intend to use Milroe as an offensive weapon, it would be very difficult for him to produce fantasy-relevant numbers with QB-only eligibility. He could, however, infringe upon the backfield’s red zone workload. Keeping an eye on his preseason usage will be worthwhile, but at this time, we have not seen enough from him to view him as a legitimate threat to the backfield’s carry share.
Fotu began his career with the Cardinals, spending four seasons in Arizona as a rotational defensive tackle. The 27-year-old then played with the Jets in 2024 and signed with Raiders for 2025, signing with the Texans practice squad after the Raiders released him in December. Fotu has played sparingly over the last couple seasons and is utilized most as an early-down rotational defensive lineman. He will add depth for the Giants’ defensive line.
The Cowboys were initially reported to be placing the franchise tag on Pickens prior to the NFL draft, prompting speculation he would be dealt during the draft. However, Pickens did not sign the $27.3 million tag immediately, leaving him out of any potential trade conversations. Now, the Cowboys announce Pickens has officially signed his franchise tag. He now plays on a one-year, $27.3 million fully guaranteed deal for 2026 while aiming to negotiate a new contract with Dallas or another team that would agree to acquire and sign him to a long-term deal.
Bryant is a former fourth-round pick of the Browns, spending the first four years of his career in Cleveland and the last two years with the Raiders and Texans. As a receiver, Bryant is yet to surpass 300 yards receiving in a single season with the bulk of his production coming in tandem with David Njoku in Cleveland. He can line up inline and in the slot while his blocking is also a serviceable trait. Bryant was depth for the Texans last season, seeing just four targets in the regular season but five targets in the post-season amid injuries to the tight end room. The Seahawks will add him as depth to a room featuring A.J. Barner, Elijah Arroyo, and Eric Saubert.
Al-Shaair was set to play out the final year of his current contract this season. Instead, Houston keeps him locked in with a long-term deal. Al-Shaair has been with the Texans for two years, starting all 27 regular season games he has been active for. In 2025, Al-Shaair totaled two interceptions, one forced fumble, and a team-high 103 combined tackles.
Deroitr also announced the signing of DT Jay Tufele, formerly of the Jets. Bachie was released by the Colts a month into the 2025 season but landed in Tennessee for 10 games. He is primarily a special teamer. Tufele appeared in a dozen games with two starts last year. He logged 12 combined tackles.
The Jets acquired Smith when they traded Quinnen Williams to Dallas. Smith only appeared in three games for Gang Green last year. He did not record any counting stats. Smith now enters a contract year with a lot to prove.
This is purely a formality, as Panthers GM Dan Morgan said all the way back in January that the team would take Young’s option. The move keeps Young under contract through the 2027 season. He will make $26.5 million fully guaranteed that year. Carolina invested heavily in their offense via the draft this offseason. They took Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling in the first round and added a downfield threat for Young in the third round with Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell. Even though he’s under contract for two more years, 2026 is shaping up to be a make-or-break season for Young.