5 Key Stories: 5/24/26 – 5/30/26
More NFL teams have begun OTAs during this past week, and on-field work will continue through to early June. A quiet period prior to training camp looms, but a number of interesting developments have taken place recently. In case you missed of this week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
- James Lands Chargers Extension: The Chargers made clear their intention of working out a new Derwin James deal following the draft, and they succeeded on that front. Team and player agreed to a three-year extension featuring $44MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $25.2MM, James is once again the league’s highest-paid safety thanks to his new contract. The five-time Pro Bowler is under team control through 2029, and he figures to remain a focal point on defense for years to come. Continuing to produce at an elite level would make this latest commitment worthwhile, to say the least.
- Vikings Hire Teasley As GM: Through the early stages of free agency along with the draft, the Vikings were led in the front office by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski. Minnesota’s search for a full-time GM has resulted in an outside hire, though. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley has agreed to take charge of the Vikings. He will operate as the team’s top executive, while Brzezinski will return to his previous role (executive vice president of football operations). Teasley – whose hire will net Seattle two third-round compensatory picks – was unique from fellow finalists Reed Burckhardt, Terrance Gray and John McKay in that he did not have previous ties to Minnesota or head coach Kevin O’Connell. He will look to provide the Vikings with a reset after four years of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in place.
- Texans, Collins Agree To Top-Up: Nico Collins was the subject of trade interest earlier this spring, but as expected the Texans chose to keep their top receiver in place. Doing so allowed for a notable raise to be worked out. Collins is still under contract for the next two years, but he will collect a bump in base compensation for 2026 and ’27. In all, the two-time Pro Bowler is due $60MM over that span, with nearly all of that figure guaranteed in full. Collins, 27, has topped 1,000 yards in each of the past three years and he will be counted on to continue operating as Houston’s offensive focal point while playing at an increased rate.
- Packers’ Jacobs Arrested: Josh Jacobs was recently arrested and booked on five charges. The Packers running back was arrested for battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim; strangulation is a felony, while the others are misdemeanors. Jacobs has denied the allegations he faces, and he has yet to be formally charged. Having been released from jail, his future from a legal perspective – along with the potential for NFL discipline – is currently unclear. Green Bay does not plan on making a running back addition at this time. Jacobs has spent the past two seasons as the Packers’ RB1, and he is under contract through 2027.
- Cardinals Receiving Trade Calls On Sweat: The Cardinals added Josh Sweat in free agency last spring, but he could be on the move again. The veteran edge rusher has been the subject of trade calls. Sweat worked under Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia and reunited with him by signing in Arizona last March. Gannon was among the head coaches fired after the season, however, something which could be a factor as the Cards consider offers. Sweat set a new career high with 12 sacks in 2025, and he is on the books for the next three years. As an intriguing trade target for any number of teams seeking EDGE help, it will be interesting to see if Sweat truly becomes available via a swap this summer.
Lions Not Close To Extension Agreement With RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The Lions have finalized one big-money second contract with a member of their 2023 draft class (linebacker Jack Campbell). Three other notable players from that group are eligible for extensions, including Jahmyr Gibbs.
A payday for Detroit’s lead back has long been on the team’s radar. It would come as little surprise if Gibbs were to find himself securing a new deal relatively soon as he appears to be the next in line for one. There is plenty of work still to be done on that front, however.
During an appearance on NFL Live yesterday (video link), ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported there has not yet been much progress during negotiations between Gibbs and the Lions. Plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached before the start of training camp, of course. Detroit also has the option of remaining patient in this case with Gibbs under team control through 2027.
A key factor as it pertains to Gibbs will no doubt be the movement seen in the running back market as early as this summer. Fowler noted, to no surprise, a pact averaging $20MM or more per year is likely for Gibbs. Saquon Barkley‘s pact currently leads all running backs with an average annual value of $20.6MM, but the bar could move multiple times in short order. Bijan Robinson is a strong candidate to become the league’s highest-paid back; he and Gibbs have become two of the NFL’s most productive at the position across the past three years.
A report from last month indicated Robinson is expected to land a more valuable extension than Gibbs. According to Fowler, however, some around the league view Detroit’s RB1 as being better than Atlanta’s. That could result in Gibbs moving to the top of the financial pecking order. In any case, the timing of extensions being worked out will no doubt be critical, and each fourth-year producer could prefer to wait until the other signs a deal.
Gibbs split carries with David Montgomery during his rookie season in particular, but he has taken on a major workload on the ground and through the air since arriving as a first-round pick. The 24-year-old has amassed over 5,000 scrimmage yards to date while scoring 49 total touchdowns. Any commitment made by the team will ensure Gibbs remains in the Motor City while making him one of several offensive players attached to a big-ticket deal.
The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and left tackle Penei Sewell are already on the books at a large cost for Detroit. Tight end Sam LaPorta is a pending 2027 free agent, and the Lions are also interested in a new contract in his case. Fitting Gibbs into that financial setup will carry challenges, but an uptick in negotiations to work out a long-term pact is likely to take place over the coming weeks.
Steelers, LB Patrick Queen Discussed Extension
MAY 30: When reflecting on his current status, Queen also said (via Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) there was some truth to speculation regarding a potential trade this offseason. Nothing was ever imminent on that front, however. Uncertainty will continue to loom over Queen’s future beyond 2026, but he is set to spend a third year as a key member of Pittsburgh’s defense.
MAY 28: Patrick Queen has struggled to live up to expectations through his first two seasons in Pittsburgh. That apparently hasn’t stopped the Steelers from engaging in extension talks with the veteran linebacker.
When asked about his contract status, Queen acknowledged that the two sides have had some initial discussions about a new deal.
“It was talks here and there,” Queen told the Steelers beat (including ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Nothing crazy. … Obviously no movement either way. At the end of the day, they got a business to handle. I got a business to handle.”
Following a standout 2023 campaign with the Ravens, Queen joined their AFC North rivals via a three-year, $41MM contract. His grades from PFF have slipped in each of the first two years of that pact, culminating in a 2025 campaign where he ranked 79th among 88 qualifying linebackers. The website also credited Queen with a career-worst 20.4% missed tackle rate. Despite his struggles, the 26-year-old reportedly generated some trade interest from the Cowboys this offseason, although a swap obviously never came to fruition.
The Steelers haven’t done a whole lot to reinforce the position this offseason. The team did re-sign key depth piece Cole Holcomb, and Payton Wilson is entrenched at the other linebacker spot. Still, the team will continue to be reliant on Queen in 2026. After being handed the “green dot” responsibility through his first two years with the organization, perhaps the Steelers value Queen’s veteran leadership, especially as they look to install Patrick Graham‘s new defense.
While Queen’s performance doesn’t necessarily warrant a contract standoff, he was notably absent from the first week of OTAs before recently showing up for this week’s practices. Unless the Steelers are able to extend Queen for a below-market price, there’s a good chance they’ll let the 2026 campaign play out before committing to another contract.
Joey Bosa Not Certain To Play In 2026?
A number of veteran edge rushers remain unsigned at this time. Joey Bosa is among them, and there have been no indications a deal is imminent in his case.
Questions have again been raised this offseason about the possibility of Bosa playing with his brother Nick in San Francisco. As of late March, though, a 49ers signing was not considered likely. That may very well still be the case, but the elder Bosa appears to not be guaranteed to continue his career with any team in 2026.
“Yeah, I think he’s working on his golf game right now,” Nick said about Joey’s plans for the upcoming season (h/t NFL.com). “I don’t think he’s thinking too much about football.”
Several players who are still free agents this deep into the offseason will no doubt remain on the open market until the onset of training camp in July. Bosa could elect to wait until the summer to sign with a team in advance of what would be an 11th season in the NFL. If his brother’s comments about his current mindset are accurate, however, retirement may be receiving at least some consideration on Joey’s part.
The longtime Chargers sack artist will be 31 by the start of next season. Bosa has battled numerous injuries toward the latter stages of his career, although he made 14 appearances with Los Angeles in 2024 and 15 with Buffalo during this past regular season. He also played in both of the Bills’ playoff contests. Having posted at least five sacks in each of the past three seasons, Bosa could be viewed a worthwhile depth addition for any number of teams seeking a veteran pass rush presence.
Alternatively, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year could weigh the possibility of hanging up his cleats. Bosa has played on two separate contracts averaging at least $20MM per season. In all, he has amassed roughly $156MM in career earnings. It will be interesting to see if Bosa turns his attention toward preparation for the season with a particular team during the summer or if he stays on the open market through to the start of the campaign.
Eagles Rookie Markel Bell Could Challenge For Swing Tackle Role
The Eagles boast one of the more-talented, highly regarded pair of bookend tackles in the league with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Philadelphia still opted to utilize a Day 2 pick on the position, and doing so has the potential to address two things moving forward for the Eagles.
With Johnson having just turned 36 years old with two years remaining on his contract, third-round rookie Markel Bell could be the plan as the heir apparent to Johnson if the Eagles opt to move on from the All-Pro right tackle. In a more immediate purpose, though, Bell could wrestle the role of swing tackle away from veteran incumbent Fred Johnson. According to Zach Berman of The Athletic, with Lane Johnson not currently present at Organized Team Activities, it’s been Bell, not Fred Johnson, benefitting from first-team reps in his place.
Bell found his way to third-round draft status after landing at Miami (FL) through the JuCo route. After two years at Holmes Community College (MS), Bell committed to the Hurricanes and earned a swing tackle role in his first year. He arrived in Coral Gables a bit raw, boasting elite size in his 6-foot-9, 350-pound frame. After a year in the Hurricanes’ system, he earned a starting role as the blindside blocker opposite first-round teammate Francis Mauigoa. He hasn’t quite found his ideal body composition and his lower body movement could use work at the next level, but Bell boasts the size, strength, and length of an NFL tackle with surprising mobility and athleticism.
Fred Johnson, a former undrafted free agent out of Florida, has done good work to stay in the NFL over the past seven years. Initially signing with the Steelers after falling out of the 2019 draft, Johnson was claimed by the Bengals when Pittsburgh waived him midway through October of his rookie year. In two and a half seasons in Cincinnati, Johnson appeared in 23 games, earning seven starts. After a year in Tampa Bay, Johnson signed with the Eagles, with whom he’s enjoyed a three-year stint as the team’s swing tackle, appearing in 51 games and starting 14 of them. Over the past two seasons, though, in those 14 starts, Johnson has not graded out favorably, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
So, with Bell getting tapped to fill in as the starting right tackle in place of Lane Johnson in OTAs, he’s gaining experience at right tackle that will benefit his ability to fill in on either side of the line, and he’s getting valuable experience on the first team offense that could give coaches an idea of his potential to start in future seasons. If he continues to get looks over Fred Johnson moving forward, he could establish a role as the Eagles swing tackle in his rookie campaign.
Raiders Intend To Use RB Ashton Jeanty As Workhorse
Two weeks after ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said he “would like to have a two-running back system” to “take some of the workload off” Ashton Jeanty, a new report seems to offer a change in stance. McFadden’s report this week suggested that Kubiak wants to give Jeanty a Christian McCaffrey-like snap share in his sophomore campaign.
Two weeks ago, we wrote about the potential Arkansas rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. held in his ability to relieve Jeanty of some of his massive workload. Running backs in Las Vegas last year carried the ball 307 times; Jeanty’s 266 carries accounted for 86.6% of them. Out of 994 offensive snaps for the Raiders, Jeanty was on the field for 770 (77.5%) of them. For context, McCaffrey’s 311 carries accounted for 77.2% of the team’s 403 carries by running backs, and he was on the field for 1,014 (81.7%) of the team’s 1,241 snaps.
“We want to put a lot of pressure on Ashton,” Kubiak told reporters. “…I don’t know the play snap percentage, but you look at Christian McCaffrey, his play snap percentage is high. So, the great backs, they don’t want to come off the field.”
Jeanty answered his new coach’s call, telling reporters that he didn’t want to come off the field if he didn’t have to. In his heavy usage as a rookie, Jeanty averaged an underwhelming 3.7 yards per carry, but that lack of efficiency wasn’t all on his shoulders. As part of the league’s worst rushing attack in Las Vegas last year, Jeanty was stopped for zero or fewer runs on 26.7% of his carries, per McFadden, and his 639 yards after contact are the most in the past 20 seasons for rushers who didn’t reach 1,000 yards.
The Raiders worked hard to ensure they were putting an improved offense around Jeanty, and they’ll hope that doing so will allow him to reap more production for his efforts. To increase his durability and endurance, Jeanty has incorporated boxing into his cardio routine, and he’s started film study on the likes of McCaffrey and new division-rival Kenneth Walker III (the last leading rusher in a Kubiak-led offense). Reaching that level of usage will require Jeanty to play a bigger part in the passing game, as well.
Kubiak knows the lofty expectations the Raiders had when drafting Jeanty the year before he arrived, and he knows the expectations Jeanty has for himself. He, therefore, sees it as his responsibility to get those expectations out of Jeanty and wants to continue to “challenge” and “pressure” him to get him there. Kubiak did relent a bit, reasserting that “it’s important to have a quality second back,” but in his eyes, “the best player has got to play,” and he wants to get that best player “on the field as much as (they) can.”
Chargers TE Charlie Kolar Could Be TE1
Following the strong rookie campaign of Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II and the addition of veteran Pro Bowler David Njoku in free agency, it seems odd to assert that Charlie Kolar — TE3 for the Ravens last year — will be the new TE1 for the Chargers. However, that’s just what Daniel Popper of The Athletic is seeing out of Organized Team Activities in Los Angeles this past week. Popper’s assertion is based mostly on the observation that Kolar is the best run blocker of a group that includes Gadsden, Njoku, and three undrafted rookies.
Over the course of four years in Baltimore, Kolar only amassed 30 catches for 409 yards and four touchdowns. He essentially redshirted his rookie year behind veterans Mark Andrews and Josh Oliver and fellow rookie Isaiah Likely. With Andrews limited to only 11 games in 2023, Likely took over a lot of the position’s receiving opportunities, while Kolar mainly saw the field as a run blocker. He continued to specialize as a run blocker in his third season, and in the final year of his rookie contract, Kolar led the room in run blocking snaps.
Popper doesn’t see Kolar as a one-trick pony, though; he believes that Kolar has “upside as a pass catcher” and that the complete skillset will give him more consistent opportunities than Gadsden or Njoku. Kolar demonstrated his receiving abilities during his time at Iowa State. In his final three years as a starter for the Cyclones, Kolar totaled 157 receptions for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns in 36 games. Though he was only targeted 41 times in Baltimore, Kolar routinely graded high as a receiver, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), with his only two drops coming in his sophomore campaign.
Njoku has the most starting experience of the three by far. Formerly a first-round pick for the Browns out of Miami (FL), Njoku showed a ton of promise with a strong Year 2 but saw injuries derail the rest of his rookie contract. He didn’t find his stride again until returning to a full-time starting role in 2022 then earning Pro Bowl honors with career highs in receptions (81), receiving yards (882), and receiving touchdowns (6) in 2023. Originally thought to be a pure receiving tight end out of college, Cleveland utilized Njoku in a balanced role from his fourth year with the team up until the last two seasons. While he’s got plenty of experience, he’s never graded very high as a run blocker, per PFF.
Gadsden quickly earned a major role in Los Angeles, starting seven games as a rookie and catching 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Simply by being on the field more than his tight end teammates last year, Gadsden racked up a good number of run blocking snaps, but his usage trended heavily towards receiving plays and his run blocking, when he was on the field, left a lot to be desired.
Should Popper be correct in predicting Kolar as the future TE1 in Los Angeles, Gadsden and Njoku will almost certainly still get their receiving opportunities rotating in off the bench. Kolar’s run blocking abilities could potentially put him on the field as a starter, though, and if his receiving abilities can shine in the increased exposure, Kolar will have a great opportunity to carve out a consistent starting role on the Chargers offense.
Framework ‘In Place’ For A.J. Brown Trade
There has been no shortage of coverage for the situation concerning Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and a potential offseason trade. At this point, it’s become widely accepted that the team will ship Brown off to New England, but they will wait until after June 1 to do so. Well, in the latest development from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), there’s belief that “the framework is in place” for the trade to occur this week.
To run through a brief timeline, following several incidents that seemed to paint a picture of an unhappy Brown in Philadelphia, reports emerged near the end of the 2025 NFL season that the Eagles would consider trading the three-time second-team All-Pro they had acquired four years ago after sending a first-round pick to Tennessee. By the time the season had ended and a new champion had been crowned, even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni hinted at the future in telling the media that he couldn’t guarantee Brown would return for 2026.
One of the two teams that made it to Super Bowl LX — the one that fell just short of the season’s ultimate goal — expressed early interest in Brown, linking the former Titans wideout to his former head coach in New England. The Patriots were not alone in their pursuit, though, as the Bills, Ravens, and Rams emerged as teams to watch for the veteran pass catcher. The Bills seemed to remove themselves from the conversation, though, after successfully acquiring former Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore in exchange for a second- and fifth-round pick.
The Rams reached out to Philadelphia, and trade talks progressed to the point that Los Angeles began exploring the idea of trading away veteran wide receiver Davante Adams. It was rumored that talks with the Rams had progressed even further than the Eagles’ discussions with New England, but ultimately, Los Angeles was ruled out as a potential trade destination for Brown.
With the Rams out, a few other teams were rumored with little substance, but interest out of New England remained a constant, even after the team made a strong move to improve its receiving corps by signing former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs also expressed interest in re-signing to stay with the Patriots as a free agent, but adding another big contract to that position room was something the Patriots were only willing to do if they missed out on Brown.
At first, the Eagles had intentions of completing some solution for the situation with Brown before the start of free agency, but as time went on, it became clear that the team intended to wait until after June 1 to make a trade happen in order to avoid incurring massive dead cap figures. Any trade before that date would shoulder the team with $43.45MM in dead money, and Brown would still account for $20.06MM of their cap space for the season. A post-June 1 trade would still leave Philadelphia with $16.35MM in dead money, but it would also clear $7.04MM in cap space.
With this realization, it was considered to be “inevitable” that Brown would be traded once June arrived. As if to emphasize that point, Philadelphia approached the 2026 NFL Draft with the mindset that it would not have Brown for 2026 and walked away from the first round having drafted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a clear replacement for the departing veteran. With the Eagles set, the only question that remained concerned Brown’s future home and compensation.
Expectations continued to point to the Patriots as the likeliest other participant in the inevitable exchange, but New England seemed to balk at the idea of utilizing a first-round selection to acquire Brown. The Eagles’ initial ask was for a first- and second-round package (specifically, with a first-rounder in 2027), though Brown’s value was perceived to be more like a packaged headlined by a second-round pick. Two days ago, it was reported that the Eagles and Patriots were still negotiating but that Philadelphia had opened its mind to accepting a 2028 first-round pick.
In our latest update from Breer, he clarifies that the exact terms and conditions of the deal may still need to be hammered out, but with the framework in place, he asserts that it “would take somebody backing out” for the trade not to occur. At this point, it would be a surprise if a team backed out, so all signs are pointing to Brown becoming a Patriot early in the coming week.
Jack Campbell Did Not Push To Reset LB Market
Jack Campbell earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2025, cementing his status as one of the best linebackers in football. His new four-year, $81MM contract rewarded him accordingly, though his $20.25MM AAV still trails Fred Warner, who makes $21MM per year.
At 25 years old, Campbell certainly had a case to surpass the 49ers veteran. Though the Lions declined his $21.9MM fifth-year option (for the 2027 season), the former first-round pick could have driven a hard bargain and at least eclipsed Warner’s annual pay. But that was not his priority.
“I feel like for me I don’t need to be the highest paid,” Campbell said before apologizing to other players at his position who would have benefitted from a market reset. The linebacker market has barely moved in the last few years – in fact, in terms of percentage of salary cap, teams are paying linebackers less. That often requires a young, elite player to push for a record-breaking sum on his second contract. Campbell fit the bill, and beyond him, there may not be another chance until 2025 second-rounder and Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger is extension-eligible…in 2028.
“But I just feel like for me I knew what I wanted in this,” Campbell added (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I want to help the team in any ways possible just to continue to keep the core together. So I mean, at the end of the day I feel like it was fair for the team and I’m more than happy with everything that they’ve blessed me with.”
Among Campbell’s blessings are an $8.6MM signing bonus and fully guaranteed salaries in 2026 and 2027, worth $2.4MM. His $11.89MM option bonus due next year is also guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Campbell also is eligible for $100k workout bonuses in each of the next four offseasons.
Overall, though, Campbell’s contract is exceedingly team-friendly. He will only receive $22.9MM over the first two years of the deal with no guaranteed money past 2027. His option bonuses – worth $18.85MM in 2028, $5MM in 2029, and $15.4MM in 2030 – are essentially team options. Theoretically, Detroit could get out of the deal and pay Campbell $43.05MM through three years or $63.5MM through four. Both resulting AAVs are far below the annual $20.25MM sticker price of his deal.
With that structure in mind, it certainly seems that Campbell could have pushed for a better deal, whether that meant a market-setting AAV for linebackers or a more advantageous payment structure. It remains to be seen if fellow 2023 first-rounder Jahmyr Gibbs will be willing to take a similarly team-friendly deal, or if he will aim higher for a reset of the running back market.
Vikings To Hire Nolan Teasley As GM; Rob Brzezinski Staying On As EVP
The Vikings have landed on their next general manager. Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasley will be taking over the front office in Minnesota, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Teasley is coming off Seattle’s Super Bowl victory, their second during his tenure. He first joined the Seahawks in 2013 as a scouting intern shortly before they won their first Lombardi Trophy. Now, 13 years later, he is headed for the GM job in Minnesota, where the Vikings are hoping he can bring two-time Super Bowl-winning GM John Schneider‘s roster-building expertise and put them on a championship path of their own. Because Teasley is a minority candidate, the Seahawks will receive two third-round picks as compensation for his exit, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
A few weeks after the end of a disappointing 9-8 season, the Vikings fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January. The team opted against launching an immediate search and decided to wait until after the draft. Executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, who has worked for the Vikings since 1999, took over for Adofo-Mensah on an interim basis.
Brzezinski guided the Vikings through the most important parts of the offseason and emerged as a candidate for the full-time GM job. He joined Teasley and three outside assistant GMs – Reed Burckhardt (Broncos), Terrance Gray (Bills), John McKay (Rams) – as finalists for the position. They all received second interviews. As Kevin Seifert of ESPN notes, Brzezinski was the only contender without a scouting background – something ownership (Zygi and Mark Wilf) valued in this search.
Like Brzezinski, each of Burckhardt, Gray and McKay entered the process with notable Vikings ties. Before joining the Broncos’ front office in 2022, Burckhardt was a 13-year Vikings employee who worked in various scouting and personnel roles. Gray was a Vikings scout from 2006-16. While McKay has no past experience in Minnesota, he has worked with head coach Kevin O’Connell. He was part of the Rams’ front office when O’Connell was their offensive coordinator from 2020-21.
Teasley will now be the one teaming with O’Connell, though Brzezinski is not leaving the organization (keeping in line with what Seifert predicted shortly before today’s news). Brzezinski will remain the Vikings’ EVP of football operations, Jones reports. He has served as a contract negotiator and salary cap analyst in that role.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.