Raanan adds that the feeling around the league is that Lawrence is “underpaid” on his current deal. He averages $22.5 million per year, tying for 11th at the position and is reportedly asking for more than $30 million per year. Chiefs DT Chris Jones tops the market at $31.75 million. Lawrence, 28, logged zero sacks last year, but in 2024, he tied for fourth at the position with 10. Per Raanan, the Giants do not want to give Lawrence a new deal following a down year, so Lawrence wants to be traded. The Giants are unlikely to be better off without him, but perhaps they can acquire a decent haul in return, allowing them to quickly retool the defensive line in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Chargers began last year’s training camp possessing one of the league’s best offensive tackle duos in LT Rashawn Slater and RT Joe Alt. Things changed quickly. Slater suffered a season-ending patellar tendon rupture on August 7th, and Alt underwent season-ending surgery on his right ankle in early November, following a pair of high-ankle sprains. Deepening the offensive line rotation is a smart move for a playoff contender like the Chargers.
Epenesa nearly signed with the Browns in late-March, but the team chose not to sign him after examining the results of his physical. Epenesa spent the first six seasons of his career with the Bills in chilly Buffalo. Signing with the Dolphins would keep him in the AFC East, but with a much more enjoyable climate. Epenesa totaled 28 quarterback pressures and three sacks last year.
Fowler has played for five different teams since entering the NFL in 2015 and spent three of the last four seasons with the Cowboys. He logged 30 quarterback pressures and three sacks in Dallas last year, showing he can still chip in as a rotational rusher. Fowler, 31, could just be looking for a one-year deal and a chance to win a championship.
Jeremiah also thinks Ohio State S Caleb Downs’ odds of being drafted in the top 10 are greater than 50.0 percent. He adds that Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald will be drafted between picks 25 and 35. Jeremiah’s colleague, Ian Rapoport, said last week that he believes Tate will be drafted in the top 15. Sounds like his stock is ticking upward.
Ravens team reporter Ryan Mink adds that although TE Mark Andrews posted a career-low 422 receiving yards last season, “the Ravens see a rebound in 2026.” DeCosta’s comments could indicate otherwise, though the team lost TEs Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. Mink also notes that the Ravens have picked two tight ends in the same draft four times in franchise history: 2022, 2018, 2015 and 2010. DeCosta has been with the Ravens for his whole career, dating back to 1996, and the strategy has worked well for the organization. Mink believes replacing Likely with a receiving tight end could be viewed as a need in the short term. He lists 10 potential draftees, including Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, Ohio State TE Max Klare, Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers, Baylor TE Michael Trigg and NC State TE Justin Joly.
Schultz adds that if the Cardinals were to keep the pick, their preferred player remains “the biggest mystery” among teams slated to pick in the top five. They have been linked to Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and recently hosted Alabama QB Ty Simpson for a top-30 visit. Pass rushers like Ohio State LB Arvell Reese and Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey are also in play. If Simpson is the target, trading back a bit while ideally adding a future first-round pick could be their plan.
Ward continues to rehab an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, suffered in the 2025 season finale. He spent the early portion of the 2026 offseason improving his “base and consistency in footwork” and was cleared to resume throwing in mid-March. The Titans will host a voluntary minicamp from April 21-23. Organized team activity workouts dot the calendar through May and early June. The mandatory minicamp that Ward has a chance to participate in is scheduled for June 16-17. Stay tuned.
Achane and the Dolphins’ front office are attempting to work out a long-term contract extension. The team hosted the first day of its voluntary offseason workout program last week. Achane did not attend. Per Schefter, today’s return to the team training facility is believed to be a “sign of good faith” from the 24-year-old running back. A prior ESPN report indicates Achane is hoping to beat the four-year, $48 million contract extension signed by Bills RB James Cook last offseason. Overall, Achane’s appearance seems like a step in the right direction for all involved.
He added that there is “a lot of smoke there.” The Cardinals pick third, just ahead of the Titans and Giants, who are both in the mix for Love as well. Arizona added Tyler Allgeier to a backfield that already had James Conner and Trey Benson this offseason. Though adding Love doesn’t make much sense given what they already have at running back, the 2026 class is considered weak at multiple premier positions. The Cardinals could simply opt for the best player on their board, which would likely be Love. If they go in that direction, we fully expect Love to eventually emerge as the clear lead back, though it could take some time for him to pull away from the competition.
The Chargers don’t have an outsized need at receiver, but it can never hurt to do some due diligence on a potential first-round pick at a premium position. The 49ers, on the other hand, still need more firepower at wideout. Brandon Aiyuk’s release is just a matter of paperwork and Jauan Jennings remains a free agent. Even after signing Mike Evans, San Francisco is in the mix to add a receiver in the back half of the first round. Concepcion is electric with the ball in his hands, making him a great complement to Mike Evans’ jump-ball skill set.
Bailey was scheduled for a last-minute visit with the Jets, but they surprisingly called off the meeting at the last second. It still wasn’t clear what that meant for their pick at the time. Nothing has changed, though Schefter’s comments read positively for Bailey. Our lean is that the pick is Bailey, in line with the rumblings from the national insiders, but we’re not calling the race yet. Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese is still firmly in the mix.
Bernard, a projected day two pick in the 2026 draft, also visited the Browns and Raiders earlier in the draft process. The 22-year-old tallied 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns for Alabama last season, earning a Senior Bowl invite, though he did not partake in the event. He led Alabama in receptions for two straight seasons and has the production to be an impactful receiver at the next level. The Steelers and Falcons are both looking for WR2s while the Browns and Raiders need any pass-catching help they can get with young offenses. All four teams should be in play to draft Bernard once the second round begins.
Bailey was slated to visit the Jets but as Hughes reports, the team cancelled the visit. The Texas Tech pass rusher is a candidate for the Jets to select No. 2 overall, likely as the first non-quarterback selected. Teams use Top 30 visits for a variety of reasons, so cancelling Bailey’s visit does not necessarily mean the Jets are definitively out on him. They may just be using the visit for a different prospect and are confident in the information they already have on Bailey. Still, it is a notable action and could very well indicate Bailey will not end up in New York. The Jets have a slew of options with Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, among others, also in consideration at No. 2. We don’t have enough information to say Bailey won’t be going to the Jets, but this certainly could be an early indicator that they will be going a different direction.
These replacements will undergo training next month to be ready to officiate offseason practices in June. According to the memo obtained by Pellisero, the league reiterated that it “remains committed to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement with the NFL Referees Association but will be fully prepared should the current agreement expire” on May 31. While Goodell and the rest of the league certainly don’t want actual games to be reffed by replacement officials, the league and the NFLRA are seemingly at an impasse in their negotiations. It’s unclear if they will get a deal done before Week 1.
The Packers let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and just traded away Dontayvion Wicks, so this isn’t exactly groundbreaking news. Still, fantasy managers are keeping close tabs on the Golden drumbeat after his dreadful rookie season, and this qualifies. Golden was limited to 361 yards in 2025 and struggled to find a consistent role in Green Bay’s crowded receiver room. Now there are no excuses for the former No. 23 overall pick. Golden will likely be stuck in a downfield role in his second season, but he has the speed to make the most of those opportunities. Fantasy managers should treat him as a boom/bust WR4 for now, though that could change in either direction very quickly.
Sullivan and the entire Dolphins organization have made it clear this offseason that Achane is not on the trade block, even as the team actively tears things down at other positions. Achane did not report to voluntary OTAs while working toward a new contract, but all signs point toward this standoff ending in a timely fashion. Sans Jaylen Waddle, Achane is now the centerpiece of the Dolphins’ offense. Even if the team struggles in 2026, his pass-catching role alone should keep him afloat as an RB1.
As ESPN’s Field Yates notes, this is the final day for prospects to visit with teams. The Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick, which is likely already spoken for. They then pick again at No. 34 at the top of the second round. That is where they would be targeting Simpson if they want him, though the Cardinals could also move back into the first round if they are worried about someone else nabbing the Bama passer. Arizona currently has Jacoby Brissett as their starter and Gardner Minshew to back him. They need to address quarterback in some capacity, but that could ultimately be delayed until the 2027 NFL Draft, which should have a much stronger quarterback class.
Kansas City holds the ninth pick in the first round of the draft. Kiper rightly points out that the Chiefs very much need to bolster their wideout room after Xavier Worthy’s 2025 struggles, Travis Kelce’s age-based decline, and Rashee Rice’s various and disturbing off-the-field issues. Tyson struggled with injuries in college, missing nearly a third of his collegiate games. He remains a solid prospect with tantalizing upside, however. I’m already picturing Mahomes buying time in the pocket and firing 50-50 balls to Tyson in the end zone. In 2024, when he went for 1,101 yards and ten touchdowns, Tyson had the seventh highest yards per route run in the nation, playing from both the boundary and the slot. He could be a difference maker in a KC offense in need of a downfield playmaker. “I’m already picturing Mahomes buying time in the pocket and firing 50-50 balls to Tyson in the end zone,” Kiper said.
NFL reporters and commentators who have suggested the Jaguars will shift Hunter to play mostly cornerback in 2026 and beyond are “completely misrepresenting” comments made by general manager James Gladstone and other front office officials, Shipley said. A lack of “media literacy,” Shipley said, has led league observers to incorrectly believe Hunter’s time as a full-time wideout are over. “At zero point have the Jaguars ever once indicated he will not play both ways, just as he did last year,” Shipley said, adding that head coach Liam Coen has “embraced the disrespect” of reporters who intentionally misinterpret what Jacksonville’s front office says. “He will just play more cornerback.” Hunter in 2025 averaged four receptions and 42 yards per game before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7. Hunter’s offseason and preseason usage could provide some clues as to how he will be deployed in 2026. Those discounting his role as an every-down receiver may be proven wrong if Shipley is right.
Stowers, who won the Mackey Award in 2025 after catching 62 balls for 769 yards and four touchdowns at Vanderbilt, has gained a little bit of steam ahead of the 2026 draft. He’s widely expected to be the second tight end off the draft board after Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq. Evan Engram’s role in the Denver offense would become an uncertain one if the Broncos invest significant draft capital in Stowers, whose statistical and efficiency profiles are far superior to the hyper-athletic Sadiq. Stowers has also made pre-draft visits with the Cowboys, Rams, and Titans.
Delp last week made pre-draft visits with the Vikings, Patriots, and Ravens. Delp at Georgia was a little-used tight end who totaled 65 receptions for 793 yards and seven touchdowns over his final three collegiate seasons. He was targeted on a meager 13 percent of his pass routes over those three years. Delp, 23, profiles as a rotational tight end to start his NFL career, though he has some upside if he lands in the right spot. In LA he would compete with Oronde Gadsden II for tight end snaps and routes, and in Tampa he would compete with Cade Otton, who recently re-signed with the Bucs.
“What do you think the odds are that I’m answering this question any different than I answered it anywhere else? Like really, do you think that’s 50 percent? Do you think it’s 75 percent?” Roseman essentially lampooned the Philadelphia press corps. We’d be surprised at this point if Brown were an Eagle on August 1, especially after they traded for Dontayvion Wicks last week. It remains the biggest unresolved story of the offseason.
Adding to that idea is a quote from Stephen Jones today where he says they will struggle to get to 15-22 first-round grades in this class. The Cowboys, who pick at 12 and 20, could certainly try to move up to ensure they get one of the real defensive difference-makers in the class as they try to generate more momentum for a turnaround on that side of the ball.
Weird to publicly kill your leverage like that, but alright. It’s not exactly surprising that Pickens — a player who has a noted tendency to be late to meetings and has had documented clashes with coaches — hasn’t drawn much trade interest given the ballpark the Cowboys would likely be asking for in compensation. Dallas would probably have to recoup at least a second-round pick to move the talented wideout. We’re resigned to several blurbs about Pickens not showing up to various offseason activities and being a camp hold-in at this point. The resolution likely won’t happen until near the start of the season.