NFL, NFLRA Agree To Seven-Year CBA
5:15pm: As part of the deal, the NFL will have more access to officials during the offseason, Kevin Seifert and Kalyn Kahler of ESPN report. That will enable the NFL to put together “a formal training program during minicamps, training camps and joint practices,” per Seifert and Kahler. The league will also have a bench of officials and “greater latitude” to base postseason assignments on performance instead of seniority. In return, the refs will receive large raises over their 2025 salaries.
12:28pm: The NFL will not turn to replacement officials in 2026. The labor standoff between the league and the NFL Referees Association has come to an end. The sides have reached an agreement on a seven-year CBA that will run through 2032. The league previously proposed a six-year arrangement.
“This agreement is a testament to the joint commitment of the league and union to invest in and improve officiating,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent stated. “It also speaks to the game officials’ relentless pursuit of improvement and officiating excellence. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the game.”
Full details on the agreement are not yet available, but the NFL noted that it “covers a wide range of issues including economics, performance, and accountability.” As the league negotiated with the refs, it sought ways to hold “low-performing officials more accountable,” according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Meanwhile, the refs wanted more money in return.
The officials’ vote to approve the deal was nearly unanimous. Just four of 120 refs voted against it, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Their previous CBA had been set to expire May 31, leaving just three more weeks for the parties to hammer something out. The league had planned to begin hiring replacements in the event it could not find common ground with the NFLRA. It did not come to that, though, and NFLRA president Carl Cheffers is satisfied with the results.
“We’ll see this new CBA as a partnership with the league that benefits our membership but also seeks to make the game better,” Cheffers said. “It is good to get these negotiations behind us so we can focus on preparing for the 2026 season.”
The league most recently employed replacement officials during a referee lockout in 2012. It did not go well, as the game-ending “Fail Mary” play between the Packers and Seahawks remains a punchline 14 years later. They agreed to a new CBA less than a week later.
Jets Have Made Offer To Russell Wilson
MAY 8: Jets head coach Aaron Glenn did not provide an update on Wilson when asked on Friday, but he revealed the team is talking with a “number of veteran quarterbacks” (per Rich Cimini of ESPN). There may not be anything imminent, though, as Glenn added that he is “happy” with the Jets’ current group of QBs.
MAY 6: Interested in joining the fifth team of his career, free agent quarterback Russell Wilson visited the Jets last week. The 14-year veteran is now mulling an offer from Gang Green, he revealed to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
“It was great,” Wilson said of his Jets meeting. “They offered me, and I’m trying to figure out what the next best thing is for me to do. I still know I can play ball at a high level, but also I have an opportunity to do TV (analysis), so we’ll see what happens.”
As the 37-year-old Wilson noted, his next gig may come off the field. CBS is courting Wilson to replace Matt Ryan, who left his job as an analyst on The NFL Today to become the Falcons’ president of football. If Wilson wants to continue his playing career, though, the Jets may be his best bet. The former Seahawk, Bronco, Steeler and Giant has not received any known interest from other teams this offseason.
Wilson was a full-time starter over the first 13 years of what may be a Hall of Fame career, but he fell into a backup role for the first time last season. The 10-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion opened 2025 as the Giants’ starter after they added him on a one-year, $10.5MM guarantee. However, just three games into the season, then-head coach Brian Daboll yanked Wilson in favor of Jaxson Dart. Although Dart went on to miss two games with a concussion, Jameis Winston started over Wilson in those contests. Wilson wound up attempting a meager nine passes over the Giants’ last 14 games.
Should Wilson stay in New York to sign with the Jets, it would likely be for far less money than he earned as a Giant. Wilson would also go in with the full understanding that he would continue as a backup. Geno Smith, Wilson’s friend and former backup in Seattle, is the rebuilding Jets’ unquestioned starter. Fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe comprise the rest of their signal-callers. Klubnik is a lock to make the roster, but Cook and Zappe will likely be in serious jeopardy if Wilson puts off his TV aspirations to join the Jets and reunite with Smith.
QB Cooper Rush Trying Out For Vikings
Quarterback Cooper Rush was connected to the Jets in early April, but he has not landed anywhere since the Ravens released him March 12. Rush will at least get a look from the Vikings, who invited him to try out at their rookie minicamp (via Craig Peters of the team’s website).
The Vikings did not draft a quarterback or add any UDFA signal-callers, leaving them in need of a passer for rookie camp. With that in mind, Rush may not be under serious consideration for a contract, especially considering the Vikings’ crowded QBs room.
Although J.J. McCarthy‘s career has not gone according to plan since the Vikings drafted him 10th overall in 2024, he will compete for the starting job against free agent addition Kyler Murray. The Vikings also kept Carson Wentz around on a new deal, and 2025 UDFA Max Brosmer is still on the roster despite his immense struggles over seven games and two starts last year.
Like Brosmer, Rush endured a rough 2025. After Rush won nine of 14 starts in place of an injured Dak Prescott as the Cowboys’ backup from 2017-24, the Ravens brought him in on a two-year pact worth up to $12.2MM. In a best-case scenario, the Ravens would have only needed Rush in mop-up duty, but they ended up giving him a pair of starts while Lamar Jackson battled a hamstring injury. Baltimore lost Rush’s starts (to the Texans and Rams) by a combined score of 61-13.
The Ravens demoted Rush to third-string duties after their Week 6 loss to the Rams, and he did not throw another pass in their uniform. The 32-year-old ended the season 34 of 52 for 303 yards (a paltry 5.8 per attempt), no touchdowns, four interceptions, and a disastrous 48.8 traditional rating/26.3 QBR combo.
Cardinals View QB Jacoby Brissett As Starter; Contract Talks ‘Ongoing’
The Cardinals added veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew in free agency and drafted Carson Beck in the third round, but neither is expected to start Week 1. New head coach Mike LaFleur considers Jacoby Brissett the Cardinals’ No. 1 signal-caller, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reports.
Brissett has been “made aware” that the Cardinals view him as their starter, according to Weinfuss. LaFleur said discussions between the team and Brissett, who is seeking a more lucrative contract, are “ongoing” (via team reporter Dani Sureck).
The Cardinals will have to get Brissett in the building before he can lead their quarterbacks room. The 33-year-old journeyman has stayed away from voluntary workouts in his quest for a raise. As of now, Brissett is entering the second season of the two-year, $12.5MM deal he signed as a free agent in March 2025. He has just $1.5MM in guarantees remaining, whereas Minshew has at least $5.14MM coming his way this year. Minshew is the Cardinals’ QB2 as of now, per Weinfuss, leaving Beck third on the depth chart as the former Georgia Bulldog and Miami Hurricane begins his NFL career.
Brissett, a former Patriot, Colt, Dolphin, Brown and Commander, originally joined the Cardinals to serve as a backup. However, thanks to Kyler Murray‘s season-ending foot injury, Brissett would up making 12 starts. It was the fourth season of double-digit starts for the 10-year veteran, who completed 64.9% of passes, threw for 3,366 yards and tossed 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Brissett posted a respectable traditional passer rating of 94.1, which tied Chargers star Justin Herbert for 15th in the league, but his 41.2 QBR ranked a lackluster 24th among 28 qualifiers.
The Cardinals managed just one win with Brissett at the helm. They went 3-14 overall and secured the third pick, which they used to draft running back Jeremiyah Love. He should make life easier on Brissett, who also has an elite tight end, Trey McBride, and a strong wide receiver tandem of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson in place.
The Cardinals will expect better from an offense that ranked 19th in yards and 23rd in scoring in 2025, but it is up in the air whether Brissett will last the entire year as their starter. If the team falls out of contention, it would not be a surprise to see LaFleur turn to Beck. Arizona spent a valuable pick (No. 65) on Beck, who will already turn 25 during his rookie year.
Browns Sign First-Round T Spencer Fano, Seven Other Draftees
Friday has expectedly been busy with respect to teams working out rookie contracts. The Browns are among those which have finalized a number of deals with draftees.
Cleveland announced today that eight draft picks have been signed. First-rounder Spencer Fano is among them. The Utah offensive lineman was taken ninth overall after the Browns executed a long-anticipated trade down the board. That swap with Kansas City allowed Cleveland to move to the No. 9 slot.
Eyeing an offensive addition in the top 10, the Browns were comfortable with the trade upon finding out the Chiefs would be taking cornerback Mansoor Delane. That left Cleveland with three targets at the time of the swap: Fano, Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson. Tyson was drafted at No. 8, and the Browns went with Fano one pick later to make him the top blocker of the 2026 draft.
After one year at left tackle with Utah, Fano moved to the right side to accommodate Caleb Lomu. Fano thrived in that new role, but his arm length led to questions about the possibility of holding up on the blindside at the NFL level. Nevertheless, he will at least begin his Browns tenure at left tackle. Fano succeeding in that spot or finding another in short order would be critical for a Cleveland O-line which will field five new starters compared to last season.
Denzel Boston is the next highest-drafted rookie to sign with the Browns today. The Browns gave him a fully guaranteed contract worth $12.385MM over four years, including a $5.467MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The Washington receiver was on the radar of plenty of teams leading up to the draft, and Cleveland considered trading back into the Day 1 order to acquire him. Instead, Boston remained on the board through to pick No. 39. He will look to contribute right away for a Browns team desperate for improved production and efficiency in the passing game.
Given today’s news, only first-round receiver KC Concepcion and second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren have yet to sign their rookie deals. That comes as little surprise, with many other players selected in the same range as them still unsigned at this point. In any event, the Browns will begin their rookie minicamp with most of necessary work already done on the contract front.
Here is an updated look at where things stand with the Browns’ draft class:
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU) (signed)
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Cardinals Sign No. 3 Pick Jeremiyah Love
Cardinals first-round running back Jeremiyah Love has signed his four-year rookie contract, the team announced. The third overall pick will earn a fully guaranteed $53.9MM, a record for his position.
Although he has yet to play an NFL game, the 20-year-old Love also ranks first among running backs in total contract value. The former Notre Dame star’s $13.25MM average annual salary checks in at seventh overall.
While Love does not play a premium position, many considered him the most talented prospect available in this year’s draft class. The Cardinals had more glaring needs at other spots (right tackle and edge defender, to name a couple), but they could not pass on the home run-hitting dual threat. They made Love the highest-drafted RB since the Giants took Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018.
Love is moving to the desert after winning the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best back in 2025. He ended his three-year college career with a jaw-dropping 6.7 yards per carry on 433 attempts and 42 touchdowns (36 rushing, six receiving) in 41 games.
The Cardinals were not expected to draft Love in early March, when they made multiple moves to address their backfield. They kept James Conner around on a revised contract and picked up former Falcon Tyler Allgeier on a two-year, $12.25MM deal in free agency. Love is now the unquestioned top dog at the position, though, which will leave Allgeier to once again sit behind one of the most talented backs in the sport.
Allgeier surpassed the 1,000-yard mark as a fifth-round rookie in 2022, but it did not stop the Falcons from spending the eighth overall pick on Bijan Robinson in the ensuing draft. Robinson has been the Falcons’ starter since then. While Allgeier likely signed with the Cardinals expecting to take over as their lead back, he will instead play second fiddle to Love.
Jets, RB Breece Hall Agree To Extension
Breece Hall‘s Jets tenure will continue beyond 2026. The franchise-tagged running back has worked out an extension agreement with New York.
Team and player have struck a three-year deal, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He adds this extension is worth up to $45.75MM. Instead of only being in place for one more season due to the tag, Hall will now be on the books through 2028.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes $45.75MM represents the base value of this deal. As such, Hall’s average annual value checks in at $15.25MM. That figure ranks third in the NFL among running backs, behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. The position’s landscape could change soon with Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson each eligible for extensions of their own this offseason. In any case, Hall’s outlook has now become much clearer.
The transition tag loomed as an option for New York to keep Hall in the fold for 2026. However, interest in offer sheets would have emerged had the Jets used the less-expensive one-year tender. Indeed, the Broncos were among the teams which would have pursed Hall in that scenario. As such, New York wound up applying the non-exclusive franchise tag. That set Hall up for $14.29MM in guaranteed 2026 earnings, but a long-term arrangement has now taken the place of the tag. The upfront payments in this new deal will be interesting to see.
On that note, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports Hall will receive $29MM guaranteed. That figure essentially matches what he would have collected by playing on two straight franchise tags. Connor Hughes of SNY adds that locked-in money will be paid out over the next two years, with no guarantees present for 2028. This agreement is therefore a $14.5MM-per-year pact for now with incentives present in Year 3 which could increase Hall’s overall earnings.
Hall, who will turn 25 later this month, expressed a desire to remain in place with the Jets and a general confidence that he would eventually land a deal near the top of the running back market. Both goals have now been achieved. After the tag was applied, a period following the draft emerged as a target for a multiyear extension to be finalized. GM Darren Mougey expressed optimism a deal would be reached, and that has proven to be the case in time for spring practices.
As a rookie, Hall flashed plenty of potential before suffering an ACL tear. Since returning to action, the former second-rounder has handled a heavy workload and been a regular presence in the passing game along the way. Hall topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in 2025, but he recorded more than 1,300 scrimmage yards for the third year in a row while doing so. The Iowa State product will once again be joined by Braelon Allen in the backfield next season, although another large offensive role for Hall can be expected.
The Jets will have Garrett Wilson in place once again for 2026, and he too is under contract for the future. Mougey has been busy adding at the skill positions, selecting tight end Mason Taylor in last year’s draft and trading for receiver Adonai Mitchell as part of the Sauce Gardner blockbuster. Last month, New York used two of three first-round selections on another tight end (Kenyon Sadiq) and an additional wideout (Omar Cooper Jr.). Those players, led in large part by Hall, will serve as an offensive nucleus moving forward.
Vikings Sign First-Rounder Caleb Banks
The Vikings announced deals with eight of their draft picks, including first-round defensive tackle Caleb Banks. As the 18th overall selection, Banks signed a fully guaranteed contract worth around $21.28MM over four years.
Former Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a popular pick for the Vikings in mock drafts, but they instead elected to address their defensive line in Round 1. The Vikings released 2025 starters Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in early March, leaving them in need of help up front. Cognizant of that, they drafted both Banks and third-round defensive tackle Domonique Orange, formerly with Iowa State. The Vikings also signed Orange, aka “Big Citrus,” on Friday.
Banks opened his college career in 2021 at Louisville, but he got into a mere seven games and made one tackle in two years with the Cardinals. The 6-foot-6, 327-pounder then transferred to Florida, where he logged 19 tackles and a sack over 12 games in 2023. Banks’ numbers jumped during another dozen-game season the next year. He tallied 21 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, but left foot problems prevented Banks from building on that production in 2025. He played in just three games and made six tackles in his last year in school.
Adding to Banks’ health issues, he fractured the fourth metatarsal in the same foot the night before on-field Combine testing in February. Although Banks underwent surgery in mid-March, he gutted out the injury at the Combine and finished second among D-tackles in the broad jump and tied for sixth in the vertical jump. There was still some pre-draft concern over his foot, especially considering Banks is not expected to return to the field until June, but it did not scare off the Vikings.
Along with Banks and Orange, the Vikings inked six other selections on Friday. Here is the list:
- Round 3, No. 97: Caleb Tiernan (T, Northwestern)
- Round 3, No. 98: Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami)
- Round 5, No. 159: Max Bredeson (FB, Michigan)
- Round 5, No. 163: Charles Demmings (CB, Stephen F. Austin)
- Round 6, No. 198: Demond Claiborne (RB, Wake Forest)
- Round 7, No. 235: Gavin Gerhardt (C, Cincinnati)
Former Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, the Vikings’ second-rounder, is now the only unsigned member of their nine-player class.
Commanders Complete Draft Signings
Friday saw the Commanders sign first-round linebacker Sonny Styles to his rookie contract. Washington has since worked out an agreement with the rest of its 2026 class.
All six Commanders draftees are now on the books, as noted by ESPN’s John Keim. Friday marks the beginning of Washington’s rookie minicamp, so it comes as no surprise each of these deals have been sorted out in time. Styles is one of only two players Washington added prior to Day 3 of last month’s draft.
The other is wideout Antonio Williams, who came off the board at pick No. 71. The Clemson product will look to carve out a depth role on offense right away with the Commanders looking to replace Deebo Samuel‘s 2025 production. Samuel is unsigned at this point, and a return to the nation’s capital is not expected.
Washington remains heavily linked to a Brandon Aiyuk acquisition. The team is not looking to swing a trade with the 49ers to bring him into the fold, though, so a lengthy wait for a potential release could be in store. In the meantime, Williams will aim to establish himself during spring work leading into training camp. A strong showing in that regard could result in a depth role even if Aiyuk winds up in Washington to pair with Terry McLaurin.
Joshua Josephs will join a pass rush room which has undergone plenty of changes this spring. He, too could occupy a rotational role right away before taking on a larger workload. Washington’s other Day 3 picks will aim to provide young depth to a team which has fielded one of the league’s oldest rosters in recent years. Contributions from new arrivals would be key in helping the Commanders return to the playoffs in 2026.
Here is a final look at Washington’s draft class:
- Round 1, No. 7: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 71: Antonio Williams (WR, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 147: Joshua Josephs (EDGE, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 187: Kaytron Allen (RB, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 209 (from 49ers): Matt Gulbin (C, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 223: Athan Kaliakmanis (QB, Rutgers) (signed)