Patrick Mahomes Expected To Participate In Chiefs’ OTAs
MAY 5: During an appearance on SiriusXM radio (audio link), Chiefs GM Brett Veach confirmed Mahomes is “way ahead of schedule.” Nevertheless, he added the team will proceed with caution once training camp – and thus contact practices – begins.
MAY 2: The Chiefs will begin their organized team activities later this month. Patrick Mahomes has progressed in his injury recovery to the point he is expected to take part.
“He is in a good position to be able to do some things,” head coach Andy Reid said (via ESPN’s Nate Taylor). “Phase 2 [of the offseason program], remember, there’s no contact and there’s no offense versus defense. It’s Phase 3 that you get into that… He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.”
Mahomes suffered ACL and MCL tears late in the 2025 season, setting him up for a lengthy rehab process and leading to questions about his Week 1 availability for next year. Even limited participation in spring practices would obviously be an encouraging sign, though. Kansas City’s OTAs will take place from May 26-28 along with June 1-3.
That will be followed by mandatory minicamp; contact practices will not commence until training camp in July. By that point, the Chiefs will no doubt have a clearer picture of Mahomes’ rehab status. The team will presumably proceed with caution over the coming weeks, with trade acquisition Justin Fields a candidate to handle first-team reps. Kansas City also has Chris Oladokun and seventh-round rookie Garrett Nussmeier on the QB depth chart.
Mahomes’ deal was once again restructured this offseason, and he remains under contract through 2031. The three-time Super Bowl MVP will play a key role in the Chiefs’ efforts to return to the playoffs in 2026 after Kansas City’s underwhelming showing this past campaign. A clean bill of health will of course be critical to the team’s short- and long-term outlook. As Kansas City’s offseason programs unfold, the involvement of Mahomes will remain a story to follow closely.
Cowboys Have Not Discussed Trade With WR George Pickens
George Pickens recently signed his franchise tag, confirming the draft-day revelation that he would be doing so well before mandatory practices commenced. A trade has been floated as a possibility in this case, but the Cowboys have publicly stated their intention of keeping Pickens in the fold for 2026.
When speaking to the media over the weekend, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) Dallas has not engaged in any conversations with Pickens about a trade. That falls in line with EVP Stephen Jones’ remarks at the draft indicating a swap is not being sought out by the Cowboys. Pickens is in line to collect $27.3MM in 2026 while carrying a cap charge of the same amount.
Affording that figure – not to mention the higher cost of a long-term extension – while retaining fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb will be challenging. That factor has led many to believe a trade could receive consideration on Dallas’ part, especially if Pickens displays frustration with his lack of security beyond 2026. Nevertheless, Schottenheimer said (h/t ESPN’s Todd Archer) he was not surprised to see Pickens sign his one-year tender as early as he did. That move obligates Pickens to attend mandatory minicamp in June along with training camp one month later.
July 15 looms as the deadline for franchise tag recipients to sign a long-term deal. In spite of that, the Cowboys have already made it clear they will not negotiate a multiyear contract with Pickens, who was among the league’s top receivers during his debut Dallas season. The 25-year-old will be in line for a major payday (or a second tag) in 2027 if he manages a strong follow-up campaign, although the possibility still remains for a trade to result in an acquiring team authorizing a new deal sooner.
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes Pickens is indeed displeased with his situation, something which is common among franchise tag recipients. He adds a trade sending the former Steelers draftee out of Dallas is not “an impossibility by any stretch” with plenty of time remaining before any potential swap could take place. A general manager La Canfora spoke with suggested a young player coupled with draft capital could be enough to change the Cowboys’ stance on Pickens.
Dallas expectedly devoted much of the draft toward the defensive side of the ball, and improvement in that regard will be critical in rebounding from the 2025 season. Pickens remains on track to again play a key offensive role for the Cowboys, although his participation in mandatory offseason work will be something to monitor as the summer unfolds.
Seahawks, Dante Fowler Agree To Deal
The Seahawks’ interest in Dante Fowler has been clear in recent days and weeks. Tuesday has indeed seen an agreement reached between team and player.
Fowler is signing with Seattle, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. This will be a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, he adds. Fowler visited with the Super Bowl champions last month, and an agreement was still feasible after the draft.
Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, leaving the team in need of at least a rotational presence to replace him. The Seahawks wound up making eight selections in the draft, but none were used on edge rushers. As a result, it comes as little surprise the team has turned to the free agent market deep into the offseason. Fowler will offer plenty in the way of experience along the edge in 2026.
The 31-year-old has racked up 159 appearances and 58 starts over the course of his career. Fowler has seen time with the Jaguars, Rams, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders across his 10 NFL seasons. In Atlanta and then again in Dallas, he overlapped with Aden Durde, who is currently the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator. Durde’s unit was critical in Seattle’s run to the championship in 2025, and expectations will remain high next year. Fowler, who recorded double-digit sacks as recently as 2024, will look to contribute in the pass rush department.
Seattle still has Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence and Derick Hall in place as returning edge rushers from last year. The members of that trio will be counted on to remain productive in 2026, but Fowler should have a notable role to play as well. The former No. 3 pick has logged a snap share of 52% or more three times in the 2020s. A workload closer to that of his Cowboys stints will be expected if the Seahawks remain healthy, though the value of this pact certainly points to Fowler being counted on to help replace Mafe’s production.
Seattle entered Tuesday with over $32MM in cap space, making a one-year addition such as this one an affordable option. Fowler has been playing on short-term deals dating back to 2020, so this arrangement will be nothing new to him. He collected $6MM with Dallas last season, and a similar payday should now be in store with the Seahawks.
Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers Return Not Held Up By Money
For a second offseason in a row, Aaron Rodgers is playing a game of cat-and-mouse with the Steelers. Despite every indication that the 42-year-old will be Pittsburgh’s starter in 2026 – including a lack of other options – he has yet to finalize that decision.
The delay is unrelated to financial compensation, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Steelers placed a UFA tender on Rodgers, which will pay him 110% of last year’s salary, or just over $15MM. He can still sign with another team, but that deal would factor into the compensatory pick formula.
This sets up a situation in which Rodgers is virtually guaranteed to play in Pittsburgh this year or sit out the season entirely, which would likely mean the end of his 21-year career. Even if another club wanted Rodgers, that team may not want to risk losing a high-value compensatory pick by signing him.
As such, any offer would likely be well below what he stands to make with the Steelers. Though the current holdup may not be based on money, that does not necessarily mean that Rodgers would be willing to accept a lesser deal from another team.
Other than a return to Pittsburgh, Rodgers does not have a clear path forward. Retirement rumors have followed the four-time MVP for years, and his play in the last two seasons represented a precipitous drop from his time in Green Bay. The Steelers still went 10-7 and made the playoffs last year, so Rodgers may feel that he has some winning football left in him. His relationships with head coach Mike McCarthy and several members of his new staff would appear to be another reason for him to don the black and yellow for another year.
But with multiple Steelers-set deadlines in the rearview, there is no way of knowing when Rodgers will make a decision and what that decision will be. Pittsburgh did not pursue any veteran quarterbacks this offseason and only added Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round of the draft. He joins Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard in the Steelers’ quarterback room, essentially making them reliant on a Rodgers return to put forth a competitive team in 2026.
Bucs GM: Team Seeking Long-Term Future With Baker Mayfield
The Buccaneers do not have a history with long-term quarterback partnerships. No one has started more than six years with the franchise at the game’s premier position.
The team’s longest-tenured starting QB is Vinny Testaverde, a former No. 1 overall pick who left in free agency in 1993. Trent Dilfer was also a six-year Buc, leaving in 2000 as a free agent after an injury-shortened 1999 season. Doug Williams lasted five years, but a messy dispute with ownership led to the future Super Bowl MVP’s 1983 exit — after five years in Tampa. Super Bowl XXXVII starter Brad Johnson played four seasons with the team.
Although Ryan Griffin never started a game in Tampa, he is technically the longest-tenured QB in franchise history — at seven years (2015-21). Baker Mayfield is contracted for one more season — which will be his fourth in Tampa — but the club has designs on moving the former No. 1 pick into position to become its longest-tenured quarterback.
Rumblings about a Mayfield extension emerged at multiple points this offseason, and while negotiations do not look to have begun, GM Jason Licht said during a WDAE appearance (h/t Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) the quarterback’s situation is “at the forefront of our minds.” Licht added “nobody here wants Baker playing for any other team.”
Mayfield’s three-year, $100MM deal includes a $39.98MM cap number for 2026. The Bucs made the decision to guarantee $30MM of Mayfield’s 2026 compensation last summer, providing security for a player who has rejuvenated his career during his time in Florida. Two void years are on the contract; if the Bucs do not extend Mayfield by the start of the 2027 league year, they would owe $30.15MM in dead money in 2027.
That number approaches the penalty the Bucs received on their 2023 cap after Tom Brady‘s second retirement. Mayfield arrived in the wake of the three-year Bucs QB1’s decision, with the team staying away from a big-ticket investment due largely to the Brady dead money. Mayfield joined the Bucs on an incentive-laden contract that provided only $4MM in base value. After a bounce-back 2023 season, Mayfield signed his three-year deal on the eve of the ’24 free agency period.
Mayfield then posted better numbers under Liam Coen in 2024, throwing 41 touchdown passes and completing 71% of his throws. The QB regressed last season, seeing his yards per attempt fall from 7.9 in 2024 to 6.8 in ’25; Mayfield also completed just 63% of his passes. The Bucs, though, trudged through an injury-plagued season that featured extensive missed time from skill-position players — including Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving — and O-linemen. The Bucs, who replaced OC Josh Grizzard with Zac Robinson this offseason (with input from their quarterback on the hire), are ready to give Mayfield another chance.
While the Licht-era Bucs have regularly had key starters play out contract years and re-signing them either before or during the following free agency period, it would be a bit surprising to see Mayfield not extended before Week 1. The 31-year-old passer would be an attractive UFA in 2027 were the Bucs to pass on an extension.
Tampa Bay currently has Mayfield on a wildly team-friendly accord, with his AAV checking in 16th among QBs. The Colts giving Daniel Jones a two-year, $88MM deal probably will factor into Mayfield’s Bucs negotiations. While only two teams — the Packers (Aaron Rodgers) and Cowboys (Dak Prescott) — have authorized $50MM-per-year extensions for QBs past their 30th birthdays, Mayfield will be a candidate to at least come in above Jones on his next contract.
Sam Darnold‘s camp will be taking notice of how the Bucs and Mayfield proceed. Although the Bucs would have a franchise tag at their disposal if they are unable to extend Mayfield, that pricey number along with the $30MM-plus dead cap figure — in the event the former Heisman winner does ultimately relocate next year — arms the fourth-year Tampa Bay starter with some leverage ahead of his talks. It will be interesting to see what numbers emerge once serious discussions begin.
Steelers Did Not Call Cowboys About No. 20 Pick
The Steelers got caught flat-footed during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team was expecting to land Makai Lemon with the 21st overall pick and even had the USC wideout on the phone to inform him of its decision.
There was just one problem: they were not on the clock. The Cowboys were, and they completed a trade with the division rival Eagles, who moved up to the No. 20 pick to steal Lemon out from under Pittsburgh. The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, but it was abundantly clear they were outmaneuvered by Philadelphia’s general manager, Howie Roseman.
Instead of prematurely calling Lemon – rumored to be a common Steelers draft tactic – perhaps general manager Omar Khan should have dialed the Cowboys’ number. He made no attempt to move up one spot to snag their desired prospect, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and could only watch – or more accurately, listen – as Lemon hung up to take the call from Philadelphia and become an Eagle.
However, the Steelers may not have been able to beat the Eagles’ offer. Philly sent a pair of fourth-rounders to Dallas to move up from the No. 23 pick, where the Cowboys were confident they could still land UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. In that case, Pittsburgh may have needed to match or exceed Philly’s package of picks, a sizable overpay to move up one spot.
Still, offering an alternative to trading with a division rival would have at least gotten the Cowboys’ attention. Lawrence was known to have other first-round interest, too, so Dallas may have preferred to move back one spot rather than three to ensure they got their man. Combined, those factors could have helped a weaker offer from Pittsburgh still beat their in-state rivals.
Lemon was not linked to the Cowboys during the pre-draft process, so the Steelers understandably were not worried about him going to Dallas. But opting to reach out to him rather than Jerry Jones may turn out to be a decision Khan regrets. It will be very interesting to watch how the careers of Lemon and Iheanachor play out.
Packers To Sign QB Tyrod Taylor
Since Malik Willis departed in free agency, the backup quarterback spot has been a question mark for the Packers. A veteran QB2 has been identified by the team, though.
Tyrod Taylor has agreed to a deal with Green Bay, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. He is now in position to handle backup duties behind Jordan Love for 2026. Taylor spent the past four years in New York, splitting that time between the Giants and the Jets.
Willis impressed during his limited starting action in Green Bay, which led to a notable free agent pact with the Dolphins. His departure left the Packers with Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord in place to compete for the backup gig over the course of the offseason. Those two are still on the roster for now, but Taylor’s arrival will bring considerable experience to the fold for 2026.
A Ravens draftee in 2011, Taylor handled backup duties over the course of his rookie contract. Since then, the former sixth-rounder has put together a journeyman career featuring stints with the Bills, Browns, Chargers and Texans prior to his four-year spell in New York. Taylor was open to remaining with the Jets on a new deal this offseason, but noting materialized on that front. Indeed, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes it became “increasingly clear” recently there would not be a re-signing in this case.
Taylor totaled five starts in 2023 and another four this past season. In all, the 36-year-old has amassed 62 starts and 100 appearances during the regular season. A full-time starting opportunity has not been available for quite some time now, and that will of course remain true barring a Love injury in 2026. Nevertheless, Taylor should provide the Packers with a higher floor than what Ridder or McCoy would have.
Ridder joined Green Bay’s practice squad late last season with Love and Willis managing injuries. The former Falcon and Raider is owed $1.22MM in 2026, but none of that figure is guaranteed. Similarly, none of McCord’s $885K in scheduled compensation is locked in. The Packers moving on from at least one of the two at some point this offseason will be something to watch for now that Taylor is place.
Green Bay entered Monday with over $20MM in cap space. This Taylor contract will no doubt be a low-cost deal covering the 2026 campaign, so it should not alter the team’s other plans as the spring continues.
Sean McDermott To Take Year Away From Coaching, Could Take Media Gig
When the Bills fired Sean McDermott in January, there was immediate speculation that he, like ex-Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, could quickly land with another team.
However, most teams with head coaching vacancies were deep into their hiring process. Pausing to consider McDermott may have cost them other top candidates in a crowded, fast-moving market. The former Eagles and Panthers defensive coordinator could have taken an assistant role on another team’s staff, but instead, he will take a year away from football with the hopes of returning to the NFL in 2027, per The Athletic’s Mike Jones.
McDermott, 52, will be able to prioritize his family in a way that was not possible when he led the Bills. He will also have the time to become a better, more complete coach. His diverse plan includes self-scouting, studying new NFL trends, and other self-assigned research projects intended to further his football knowledge and refresh the repertoire of a coach who worked continuously for almost three decades.
McDermott is also focusing on developing his leadership skills, drawing from his contemporaries in the NFL, coaches in other sports, and leaders from the business world, in the hopes of getting another head coaching job in the near future.
“Absolutely. I love coaching,” McDermott said on the Rich Eisen Show when asked if he still wanted to coach. He added that he missed “being a part of something bigger.”
Steve Spagnuolo and Mike McCarthy both took gap years after losing coaching jobs so they could better prepare themselves for their next gig. Spagnuolo left the Giants in 2017, stepped away for a year, and returned as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2019. Kansas City won the Super Bowl in three of the next five seasons. McCarthy did not coach in 2019 after being fired by the Packers and landed the Cowboys’ head coaching job in 2020. Dallas went 49-35 over the next five years, which including three straight 12-5 finishes and playoff berths. When he lost that job in 2024, he again spent a year away from football before returning as the Steelers’ head coach this offseason.
“For myself, it’s a year off,” McDermott continued. “But it’s also a year of opportunity in a lot of ways to grow and lean on my family.” He did not rule out the possibility of taking a media job and mentioned “some suitors” without offering any specifics.
McDermott was extremely successful during his nine seasons in Buffalo, compiling a 98-50 record (.662 winning percentage), but he still has areas of improvement. He is known as a premier defensive coach, but the Bills’ defense often collapsed in the playoffs even after strong regular-season showings. His next team may not have an MVP quarterback like Josh Allen who is able to carry an entire offense when needed. Such a player can make up for all sorts of roster and schematic deficiencies, and yet, it could be argued that McDermott did not reign Allen in enough, either. The maverick QB’s questionable decision-making led to costly turnovers, including in the divisional-round loss to the Broncos that was the final nail in McDermott’s coffin.
Giants Still “In The Mix” For DT D.J. Reader
The Giants continue to be connected to D.J. Reader. Jordan Schultz reported last week that the Giants are “very much in the mix” for the free agent defensive tackle, but the reporter does caution that the organization has some “real competition.” Jason La Canfora echoes that sentiment, noting that John Harbaugh is still expected to “lure” Reader to New York.
The veteran met with the Giants about a month ago. We heard that Reader was expected to wait until after the draft to sign with a team, allowing him to survey the defensive line landscape while also allowing his suitor to avoid the 2027 compensatory-pick formula. Notably, the Giants have added Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu to the mix, and they drafted Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round. Still, Schultz believes these additions won’t have any influence on Reader’s decision.
As for the unnamed competition, the only other team that’s been definitively connected to the free agent is the Ravens. Baltimore has since made a significant addition at the position in Calais Campbell. While New York’s DL additions may not have any bearing on the Reader sweepstakes, Campbell’s addition could take the Ravens out of the running. For what it’s worth, Dan Duggan of The Athletic says the Giants were never in the mix for Campbell’s services.
Reader spent the past two seasons with the Lions, starting all 32 of his appearances. He finished his first year in Detroit with three sacks, four TFLs, and eight QB hits, but those numbers dropped to zero sacks, zero TFLs, and four QB hits in 2025. The 31-year-old still earned similar PFF grades between the two years, including a 2025 showing when he ranked 32nd among 127 qualifying interior defenders. Any suitor would be hoping Reader can return to his performance from Cincinnati, where he ranked between sixth and 11th during his final three-year stretch with the organization.
The Giants needed some reinforcement at the position entering the offseason, and that need only intensified after they acquired the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence. In addition to the players mentioned above, the team also has former third-round pick Darius Alexander and offseason acquisitions Sam Roberts and Marlon Tuipulotu at the position. Reader would represent an upgrade over any of the existing options, and it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before he joins the organization.
Ravens Hire JoJo Wooden As Front Office Consultant
JoJo Wooden has found his next gig. The long-time NFL executive has joined the Ravens front office in a “consultant-like capacity,” per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Wooden started his executive career with the Jets in 1997, and he’s been in NFL front offices for the past three decades. In New York, he worked his way up to director of pro scouting and assistant director of player personnel before taking a promotion as director of player personnel with the Chargers in 2013.
That stint with the franchise lasted more than a decade, with Wooden notably being involved in the transition from Philip Rivers to Justin Herbert. When GM Tom Telesco was fired towards the end of the 2023 campaign, Wooden took on the role of interim general manager, but he naturally didn’t stick around as the organization pivoted to a new front office in 2024.
That led Wooden to Las Vegas, where he was named as the Raiders senior director of player personnel. The team finished that season with only four wins, and Wooden was ousted after only one year with the franchise. He was out of football for the 2025 campaign.
Now, he’ll be joining Baltimore’s front office. Eric DeCosta has been with the Ravens for decades, so Wooden’s stop in Baltimore may be temporary as he pursues another high-ranking gig next offseason. Still, he should provide the front office with some veteran leadership as they navigate their first season without John Harbaugh.
The Ravens made another few moves. ESPN’s Seth Walder reports that the team has hired Kenan Clarke and Eliana DeTata as Coaching Analytics Fellows. Clarke recently worked for the Raiders, while DeTata served as a student football analyst at Michigan.