NFL Mailbag: Jackson, Ravens, Cowboys, Falcons, 49ers, WRs
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag addresses questions about the Ravens' and Falcons' quarterback outlooks. The Cowboys' chances of contending in 2026 are also covered, along with the receiver setup now in place for the 49ers.
George asks:
Do you think the Lamar [Jackson] extension gets done this offseason? If so, where do you see the QB market settling once he passes Dak [Prescott]?
It is really hard to guess about pretty much anything when it comes to Jackson. He kept an extremely small circle during negotiations last time around, and that has remained the case through to the present.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/26
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Stephen Dix Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Waived/failed physical: TE Luke Lachey
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Mante’ Morrow
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Terrill Davis
- Waived: OLB Jordan Botelho
New York Giants
- Signed: OLB Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: CB Thaddeus Dixon
New York Jets
- Waived: K Will Ferrin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Rashad Rochelle, WR Trayvon Rudolph
- Waived: OLB Devean Deal
- Waived/failure to disclose physical condition: WR Michael Briscoe
Dixon suffered an Achilles tear during a Wednesday workout with the Giants, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Dixon was part of New York’s six-man UDFA class, joining the team after a college tenure at North Carolina. Ranked by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler as a top-200 prospect in this year’s class, Dixon will likely miss the season. A return after an injury settlement would be the only way Dixon could play for the Giants this season.
The Jets included Ferrin among their 12-man priority free agent class, but he will not make it far into the offseason with the team. New York still rosters kickers Cade York and Lenny Krieg.
Knee Concerns Led To RB Jonah Coleman Falling To Round 4
This year’s draft only produced three running back selections over the first three rounds. Notre Dame produced two first-round picks (Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price), while an Indiana back not invited to the Combine (Kaelon Black) went to the 49ers in Round 3.
Jonah Coleman may well have joined Black as a Day 2 draftee had he been healthy throughout the 2025 season, but a knee injury limited the compact Washington prospect last year. Teams held concerns about Coleman’s knee entering the draft, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who notes this issue was a “major” factor in the former Arizona recruit falling to the fourth round.
The Broncos chose Coleman 108th overall, preparing to develop him as a presumptive long-term option alongside 2025 second-round pick RJ Harvey. Coleman’s “30” visit allowed the Broncos to examine his knee, and while Breer adds team doctors viewed it as a risk, Denver’s regime deemed it one worth taking.
Denver re-signed J.K. Dobbins in March, giving him a substantial raise ($8MM guaranteed), but the former Ravens second-rounder is a chronic injury risk. Dobbins has missed 57 career games; Coleman could be needed early if/when Dobbins — whose 2025 season ended due to a November Lisfranc injury — misses time in 2026. The Broncos, who also re-signed Jaleel McLaughlin this offseason, will hope Coleman shakes his recent knee setback.
As Coleman attempts to develop behind the Dobbins-Harvey duo, he is coming off a season that included a strained knee ligament sustained Nov. 9. The 5-foot-8 ballcarrier missed the Huskies’ following game but opted to play hurt the rest of the way. Coleman struggled in his first two games back, gaining six yards on four carries against UCLA and 22 on nine totes against Oregon. He closed the season on a higher note, totaling 85 yards on 12 handoffs against Boise State. That came in a bowl game two weeks after Washington’s regular season wrapped. Coleman finished the ’25 season with 758 rushing yards.
Despite the injury-limited section of his season, Coleman led the Big Ten with 17 touchdowns. His two 100-yard rushing performances came against nonconference competition last September, but the 2024 season featured 1,053 Coleman rushing yards in 13 games (Coleman gained 871 rushing yards in 13 Arizona games in 2023.) Weight issues also affected Coleman in college, though Sean Payton said the fourth-round rookie was in “good shape” at the team’s rookie minicamp. Coleman weighed 220 pounds at the Combine but played heavier at points with the Huskies.
The Chiefs, Seahawks and Vikings showed interest in Coleman but each ended up drafting different RBs. Seattle viewed the local product as an option in the event it completed a first-round trade-down move, but the defending Super Bowl champions chose Price at No. 32. Coleman will now get to work as an intriguing option in Denver.
Packers Sign Round 2 CB Brandon Cisse, Wrap Draft Class Deals
The Packers were among the teams that did not make a first-round pick in this year’s draft. In Round 2, they made South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse their top investment this year.
Green Bay has now signed Cisse to his four-year rookie contract, per a team announcement. This wraps the Packers’ rookie business for 2026, with the team signing the rest of its picks and UDFA class this month.
Cisse arrived as the No. 52 overall pick in this year’s class. His deal should be expected to come in nearly fully guaranteed. The Falcons set a draft precedent today by fully guaranteeing No. 48 overall pick Avieon Terrell‘s rookie contract, moving the bar for fully guaranteed second-round deals by eight draft slots from 2025. As recently as 2024, no second-rounder had secured four guaranteed years. It would surprise if Cisse’s contract matches Terrell’s, but the new Wisconsin resident will likely see at least three fully guaranteed years with some 2029 money partially guaranteed.
The Colts gave linebacker C.J. Allen, chosen 53rd overall, three fully guaranteed years. He also received a $639K guarantee on his $2.13MM 2029 base salary. This package comes out to 83.7% of Allen’s rookie contract being guaranteed. Cisse will be expected to do a bit better due to his draft slot. By 2027, players chosen beyond 50th overall figure to see fully guaranteed deals. And Allen’s negotiating victory will help players chosen after Terrell in this year’s draft.
Playing primarily on the boundary with the Gamecocks, Cisse allowed catches on only 34.6% of his targets in 2025. He transferred from NC State to South Carolina in 2025. While only finishing his career with two interceptions (in three seasons), Cisse drew extensive pre-draft interest. He visited the Cowboys and Seahawks before being drafted by the Packers, who released Nate Hobbs one season into a four-year, $48MM deal. Hobbs’ quick exit came a year after the team cut Jaire Alexander and let Eric Stokes leave in free agency.
Cisse profiles as a player who will become a Green Bay starter, possibly as early as 2026, though the team does return Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. The Packers also signed Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year, $10MM accord. Counting slot defender Javon Bullard, Cisse is the sixth first- or second-round CB the Packers have drafted over the past decade.
Via PFR’s team by team tracker, here is how the 2026 Packers draft class breaks down:
- Round 2, No. 52: Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 77 (from Buccaneers): Chris McClellan (DT, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 120: Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 153 (from Falcons via Eagles): Jager Burton (C, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 201: Domani Jackson (CB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 216 (from Steelers)*: Trey Smack (K, Florida) (signed)
Falcons Sign Round 2 CB Avieon Terrell To Fully Guaranteed Deal
Second-round draft signings annually drag on longest during the offseason. Even as the 2011 CBA implemented a slot system for rookie deals, guaranteed money represents a variable — and the second round has brought a battleground of sorts on this front for several years.
Last year saw a slew of second-rounders receive fully guaranteed contracts, as the Saints’ decision to give No. 40 overall pick Tyler Shough four guaranteed years forced the hands of a few teams. The line of demarcation for fully guaranteed rookie contracts is moving well beyond No. 40 this year, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting the Falcons’ agreement with second-round cornerback Avieon Terrell will be fully guaranteed.
Atlanta announced Terrell’s signing earlier this afternoon, but the guarantee component is certainly the most notable takeaway here. The Falcons chose Terrell 48th overall. By striking a fully guaranteed agreement with the Clemson product in mid-May, the Falcons will box in a handful of teams who made picks between Nos. 41 and 47. The agents for those players will have clear paths to ensure their clients land fully guaranteed rookie contracts.
The Falcons have also signed fourth-round defensive linemen Anterio Thompson to his rookie contract, per a team announcement. This completes Atlanta’s rookie-class signings. The team did not hold a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but it will set an interesting precedent for a player with a close connection to a former Falcons first-rounder. Avieon enters the NFL six years after brother AJ did. The Terrells will headline Atlanta’s CB room moving forward.
Trading their 2026 first-rounder to the Rams to move up 20 spots (for James Pearce Jr.) in the 2025 first round, the Falcons made Avieon Terrell the centerpiece of their ’26 draft. The younger Terrell has a path to starting alongside his brother, who has been Atlanta’s No. 1 corner for many years. Viewed as a player who may fit best in the slot, Avieon Terrell earned second-team All-American acclaim at Clemson last season. The first Tigers All-American CB in nine years, Terrell earned this accolade without notching an interception. He did, however, force five fumbles to bring his career total to eight.
Avieon, 21, is nearly seven years younger than AJ. The younger Terrell CB sibling is also an Atlanta native. Expectations will be relatively high for the younger Terrell, though with the Falcons rostering AJ and other vets at the position, an onramp exists here. Atlanta has Mike Hughes as a starter option opposite AJ Terrell, while 2025 draftee Billy Bowman saw extensive slot time during an injury-plagued rookie season.
When the 2011 CBA reshaped rookie-scale deals, that year’s first-round group did not all receive fully guaranteed pacts. As recently as 2024, no second-rounder secured one. The Saints’ Shough decision has become transformative, as after eight second-rounders received fully guaranteed accords in 2025, the Terrell contract positions this year’s second round on track to have at least 16 such players.
The prospects chosen between Nos. 41 and 47 (Bengals EDGE Cashius Howell, Saints DT Christen Miller, Dolphins LB Jacob Rodriguez, Lions EDGE Derrick Moore, Ravens EDGE Zion Young, Buccaneers LB Josiah Trotter and Steelers WR Germie Bernard) will have Terrell’s camp to thank for favorable terms soon.
Packers’ Micah Parsons Candidate To Start Season On PUP List
The Packers saw their Micah Parsons acquisition pay immediate dividends, but the star pass rusher’s path veered off track due to a Week 15 ACL tear. Parsons’ relocation to an organization cautious on the injury front is likely to ensure he does not start his second Green Bay season on time.
Four months ago, Parsons voiced the expectation he would not be available for the Packers’ opener. At the time, the All-Pro noted he was likely to avoid IR, which would lead to a four-game absence to open the campaign. But that timeline should be considered in play — just via a different NFL injured list.
Internally, the Packers expect Parsons to miss time early in the season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during a Get Up appearance. The former Cowboys first-rounder is a candidate to start the 2026 slate on the PUP list, Schefter adds. That designation would sideline Parsons for four games. Green Bay’s schedule will be fully revealed tonight, so a clear picture of how a four-game Parsons absence would affect the team will emerge within hours.
A player can be placed on the reserve/PUP list to open a season only after spending training camp and the preseason on the active/PUP list, which is a summer-only designation. This would save a roster spot for the Packers while obviously keeping their best player out of action for September. IR would not seemingly come into play here, as Parsons would need to be activated from the active/PUP list before the late-August roster-setting deadline in order to be eligible for IR.
NFL teams also have eight IR activations at their disposals in-season; Parsons’ activation would count toward that total. Activations from the reserve/PUP list, however, do not factor into that count. If Parsons is placed on an injured list to open the season, it will almost certainly be the reserve/PUP list.
The Packers placed Christian Watson on the reserve/PUP list to open last season, after the wide receiver suffered an ACL tear in Week 18 of the 2024 campaign. Watson did not debut until Week 8, and the Packers gave the deep threat a multiweek window to practice before being redeployed in game action. Parsons may not need to wait until Week 8, but the Packers are clearly bracing for the high-priced defender to be unavailable to start the season.
Green Bay could simply keep Parsons on its 53-man roster in hopes he would be ready to go before Week 5, which would be the earliest a return to practice could take place were the reserve/PUP list used. Going with a week-to-week strategy would be logical for a player like Parsons. If/when the ex-Cowboy dynamo is absent to start the season, more pressure will be on former first-rounder Lukas Van Ness to finally deliver on his draft slot. The Pack picked up Van Ness’ fifth-year option despite modest returns from their 2023 first-round pick.
The team also traded longtime starter Rashan Gary to Dallas in March. Green Bay also waited until Round 4 (Dani Dennis-Sutton) to draft an edge rusher. If it becomes clear Parsons will miss a few weeks to start the season, the Packers will likely be a candidate to add a veteran — via free agency or trade — to serve as a stopgap before settling into a rotational role once Parsons returns.
Florida AG Subpoenas NFL Over Rooney Rule
In March, Florida attorney general James Uthmeier threatened legal action against the NFL unless it suspended the Rooney Rule, the league’s longtime initiative to promote diversity on coaching and front office staffs.
The NFL has since responded, telling Uthmeier in a May 1 letter (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic), “Simply put, the NFL does not permit the consideration of race, sex, or any other legally protected characteristic in any hiring decisions or employment actions.”
The letter goes on to detail that the Rooney Rule seeks to expand opportunities for minorities to interview for top coaching and front office jobs, but teams remain free to hire (and fire) whomever they wish. Focusing on the interview process keeps the Rooney Rule in compliance of Florida and federal civil rights law, which prohibit discrimination in actual decision-making, not merely the consideration of certain candidates.
“In short, the Rooney Rule does not impose any hiring quota or mandates, nor does it even limit who may be interview,” the letter continues. “Most importantly, it does not license clubs to consider race or sex in making hiring decisions, consistent with NFL policy and applicable law.”
The letter addresses some of Uthmeier’s other concerns regarding developmental programs for coaches, executives, and referees, which are open to all applicants regardless of their demographics. It further clarifies that compensatory picks are awarded to teams who develop and lose minority talent to other clubs, making them a retroactive reward for investing in minority coaches and executives rather than incentivizing a team to hire them. In a footnote, the league mentions that no Florida team has ever received a compensatory pick via this system.
The NFL also acknowledged that a program promoting the hiring of minority offensive assistants had already been “sunset.” The initiative was originally launched in 2022, shortly after Brian Flores filed his employment discrimination lawsuit against the league, according to Rhim and his ESPN colleagues, Kalyn Kahler and Jason Reid. It mandated each team to have a minority offensive assistant on their coaching staff and provided funding for half of those coaches’ salaries.
The NFL’s response did not satisfy Uthmeier, and their alterations may have instead emboldened him. He issued an investigative subpoena to the league on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim, and in a letter to the league, took credit for the end of the minority offensive assistant program. Crucially, though, the mandate and funding for that initiative was phased out this past winter, long before Uthemeier’s first letter in March, making it impossible to ascribe its termination to him.
Uthmeier also referenced new language on the league’s webpage about the Rooney Rule, changes that “appear to soften or remove explicit references to increasing minority hiring, a central criticism raised by Uthmeier in his challenge to the policy,” Rhim adds. Uthmeier then asserted that the NFL’s recent adjustments raised more questions that will have to be answered via his subpoena.
Next steps remain unclear. Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the Rooney Rule in April, and league messaging has continued to promote their commitment to diversity and inclusion, indicating that the NFL intends to stand firm against Uthmeier’s efforts to interfere with their hiring practices.
Lions DBs Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph Recovering Well
The Lions are hoping their secondary can come back strong in 2026 after being decimated by injuries last year.
Detroit’s starting four – D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph – all missed several games with the latter three ending the season on injured reserve. Daniel Thomas and Ennis Rakestraw also landed on IR, and Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper missed multiple games as well.
Arnold underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder after injuring it multiple times during the season. He was also sidelined by a concussion for two games. At present, he is unsure about his availability for OTAs or mandatory minicamp.
“That’s kind of up to [the team] and just where I’m at with my recovery and my treatment and stuff,” Arnold said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “But as far as training camp and stuff, I know I’m expected to be there.”
The Lions signed Roger McCreary and drafted Keith Abney this offseasonto give themselves some depth in their cornerback room, but it appears that Arnold, Reed, and last year’s No. 3 boundary starter, Rock-Ya Sin, will be ready for the start of the regular season.
There is more uncertainty in Detroit’s safety room. General manager Brad Holmes said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith) that both Branch and Joseph are “heading in the right direction.” Detroit did sign veteran safeties Chuck Clark and Christian Izien in free agency as insurance, but they declined to target the position in the draft.
However, Holmes added that the Lions’ decision not to draft a safety was not a reflection of their confidence in their current stars’ recoveries.
“We didn’t ignore [the safety position],” Holmes continued. “There were some good ones that were out there that just got picked before we were able to, but it just didn’t quite line up. I didn’t really think that class was as deep either, so it had to line up and you had to strike right.”
Texans Expected To Wait On C.J. Stroud Extension?
A report from earlier this month indicated “serious” extension talks have yet to begin in the case of C.J. Stroud. Predictions from outside the Texans’ building also point to no deal being worked out this summer.
There is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding this situation, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He adds, though, that some observers around the NFL “loosely expect” Stroud to play out the 2026 season before any potential Houston deal is finalized. The Texans recently exercised Stroud’s $25.9MM fifth-year option.
That decision came as no surprise, and it ensured the former No. 2 pick would remain under team control through 2027. A commitment beyond that point would make Stroud one of the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks, but it remains to be seen if Houston will be comfortable proceeding on that front. After a sensational rookie season, Stroud’s production has taken a step back despite the Texans continuing to reach the divisional round of the playoffs.
The team’s elite defense has played a central role in that success, and a pair of big-money extensions on that side of the ball were recently worked out. Stroud’s 2023 draft classmate Will Anderson Jr. now leads the way in terms of edge rush compensation with an average annual value of $50MM on his new deal. Any second Stroud contract would surpass that figure given the nature of the QB market (which is currently topped by Dak Prescott at $60MM annually). The salary cap has continued to rise since Prescott’s 2024 deal was signed, while Stroud is eight years younger than the Cowboys’ QB1.
Those factors will no doubt weigh heavily once negotiations begin to ramp up. However, it is yet to be seen when that will be the case. The Texans have previously been linked to waiting out the 2026 campaign before hammering out a monster extension. If that stance holds, Stroud’s performance next season will be worth watching closely as his value will be determined in no small part by his output. A return to his previous form could allow the Texans to break through in the AFC playoffs.
On the other hand, poor showings by team and/or player in this case could justify a patient approach on Houston’s part. A commitment of some kind to Stroud should still be expected, but the matter of timing continues to loom as an interesting storyline.
CB Nazeeh Johnson Met With Eagles, Arranges Giants Visit
Nazeeh Johnson remains unsigned deep into free agency. The veteran cornerback may have a new deal lined up relatively soon, though.
Johnson met with the Eagles earlier this month, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds a Giants visit has been scheduled. Johnson will meet with New York today. This interest from multiple NFC East teams comes after a Chiefs tenure which spanned 2022-25.
While playing out his rookie contract in Kansas City, Johnson totaled 35 regular and postseason appearances. He took on a notable defensive role in 2024, handling a 48% snap share that season. Otherwise, however, the former seventh-rounder has been used exclusively on special teams. A third phase workload will be expected in Johnson’s case regardless of where he winds up.
The Eagles will have a number of returnees at the cornerback spot in 2026. The likes of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Michael Carter II and Kelee Ringo are set to continue their respective Philadelphia tenures next season. Free agent addition Riq Woolen is also in the fold. The Eagles have over $25MM in cap space, so a low-cost Johnson signing would be feasible.
The cornerback spot has seen plenty of change this offseason in the case of the Giants. New York signed Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome on the open market before selecting Colton Hood in the second round of the draft. Those new arrivals will be joined by Andru Phillips and Deonte Banks in training camp this summer. Bringing in Johnson, 27, would add further depth in the secondary at a low cost. The Giants currently have roughly $11MM in cap space.
Johnson missed the entire 2023 season, and he was limited to just two games last year. That factor has kept the Marshall product available deep into free agency, but recent interest could yield an offer in the near future.