5 Key Stories: 4/12/26 – 4/19/26
The lead-up to the draft often sees a number of high-profile developments (through player movement or contract extensions) around the league. 2026 has proven to be no different. In case you missed any of this week’s top stories, here’s a quick recap:
- Bengals Acquire, Extend Lawrence: Dexter Lawrence‘s desire for a change of scenery has resulted in a trade. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has been dealt from the Giants to the Bengals in a swap sending the 10th overall pick to New York. Upon arrival in Cincinnati, Lawrence has agreed to a one-year, $28MM extension; he is therefore on the books through 2028. The Giants were unable to work out a new deal in this case for the second offseason in a row, leading to a breakdown between team and player. Observers have expressed surprise over the value New York managed to receive, and the team will now enter the draft with two top-10 selections. The Bengals, meanwhile, have continued to substantially reshape their defense in 2026. Lawrence will be counted on occupy a major role for the foreseeable future.
- Anderson Signs Market-Setting Texans Extension: Recent reporting suggested Will Anderson Jr. could reset the pass rush market with his Texans extension and reach the $50MM-per-year mark. He has managed to do just that by agreeing to a three-year, $150MM deal. Anderson expectedly had his fifth-year option picked up earlier this spring, meaning this monster extension will keep him under team control through 2030. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year secured $100MM fully guaranteed on his new contract, and his AAV is comfortably the most in the NFL among edge rushers. Anderson, 24, set a new career high with 12 sacks en route to first-team All-Pro honors in 2025. He will be expected to anchor Houston’s defense for years to come while holding the title of the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks.
- Brissett Seeking New Cardinals Deal: The Cardinals finished 2025 with Jacoby Brissett atop the quarterback depth chart. That is set to remain the case for next season, with Kyler Murray having been traded and Gardner Minshew in place as a backup. Brissett is currently absent from voluntary offseason work while seeking a deal worth that of a QB1. The 33-year-old is owed $5.44MM for 2026 as things stand, nowhere near the market for mid-level starters. On the other hand, Arizona is seen as a prime landing spot for Ty Simpson, who could be viewed as a candidate to develop as a rookie before taking the reins in 2027. That setup would limit the team’s need to make a new investment in Brissett or its urgency to provide short-term incentives.
- Eagles Still Expected To Trade Brown: An A.J. Brown trade has long been a talking point this offseason, even with the Eagles repeatedly trying to downplay speculation in his case. A swap would be far more feasible after June 1 for cap purposes, and a widespread expectation still exists that Philadelphia will move forward with a trade beyond that date. Philadelphia has added Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency in addition to acquiring Dontayvion Wicks via trade. Those moves have been seen as precursors to a deal sending A.J. Brown elsewhere, something which would end his decorated (but not scandal-free) tenure as an Eagle. A notable WR investment early in the upcoming draft would certainly point further in the direction of Philadelphia eventually dealing Brown.
- Chargers Likely To Retain Johnston: Quentin Johnston has previously been the subject of trade rumors, but he remains on course to play for the Chargers next season. GM Joe Hortiz stated no calls with outside teams have taken place regarding the wideout’s availability, reducing the chances of any swap being worked out. Johnston has drawn criticism early in his career, though the former first-rounder has increased his yardage and efficiency in each of his three Los Angeles seasons while totaling 16 touchdowns over the past two years. Notably, Hortiz added no final decision has been made on Johnston’s fifth-year option covering 2027. Picking up the option would cost $18.1MM for that season, a sharp raise but something the Bolts may be willing to commit to if they keep him in the fold for now.
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Texans Host Max Iheanachor, Blake Miller
Once again, the Texans have found themselves seeking improvements along the offensive line during an offseason. Houston has been busy on that front so far, but more additions could be coming via the draft.
Some of the top offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 class have been on the Texans’ radar leading up to the draft. Kadyn Proctor visited the team, although he may well be off the board by the time Houston selects at No. 28. Other T options have received a look more recently.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Arizona State product Max Iheanachor is among the prospects who have visited the Texans. Iheanachor has drawn widespread interest during the pre-draft process, which comes as little surprise given his status as a potential first-rounder. The 35th-ranked player on the board for NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah was a latecomer to football, only beginning to play the game in junior college. After two seasons in that situation, Iheanachor had a three-year career with the Sun Devils, earning All-Big 12 honors in 2025.
The Texans have also hosted Clemson tackle Blake Miller, per Wilson. Miller racked up 54 starts with the Tigers, operating as a mainstay at the right tackle spot over that span. After earning first-team All-ACC honors in each of the past two years, he will be counted on to be a key contributor up front in the NFL. Solidifying either tackle spot would be imperative for a Houston team looking to break through in the playoffs while building around quarterback C.J. Stroud and Co.
The Texans have re-signed three offensive linemen this spring, including veteran Trent Brown. Houston also added Braden Smith in free agency, giving the team a pair of experienced right tackle options. Adding younger depth at that spot (not to mention someone capable of potentially handling work on the blindside) would still be a viable approach, though. It will be interesting to see if Iheanachor or Miller wind up being selected by the Texans if they are available when the team is first on the clock.
Jets Likely To Receive Trade Calls On WR Garrett Wilson; No Deal Expected
The Jets are viewed as a candidate to add a receiver relatively early in the draft. Any wideout brought about over the coming days will be tasked with complementing Garrett Wilson.
The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has been a focal point on offense when healthy, and he can be expected to remain a foundational roster piece for the foreseeable future. Wilson is attached to the $130MM extension he signed last summer, a deal which runs through 2030. Trade interest could be shown in the near future, however.
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson reports the Jets are likely to receive “check-in” calls pertaining to Wilson’s availability during and around the time of the draft. Any suitor which fails to draft a wideout early in the event could look to the three-time 1,000-yard producer as a means to upgrading on offense, and general manager Darren Mougey has certainly not been shy about swinging trades since his arrival. Nevertheless, a deal should not be expected in this case.
Robinson notes the Jets are not shopping Wilson, who was limited to seven games in 2025. That could limit his value in any trade to an extent, and Mougey moving on from someone he extended less than one year ago would certainly come as a surprise (even though there is obviously precedent on that front in the form of Sauce Gardner). Wilson is in position to once again find himself atop the receiver depth chart in 2026, which will be Adonai Mitchell‘s first full season in New York. Those two could be joined by a first-round rookie, depending on how things shake out with the Jets’ No. 16 pick.
Wilson was linked to trade speculation in 2024, but the departure of Davante Adams and the extension agreement cemented his status as a foundational figure during the Jets’ efforts to take needed steps forward on offense. At the trade deadline, it became clear Wilson was not available to interested teams. Mougey taking a similar stance this spring would be reasonable given the impact a healthy season from the 25-year-old would have.
Geno Smith will handle starting quarterback duties next season with New York likely to be among the teams which wait until 2027 to find a long-term passer via the draft. Regardless of how that effort plays out, Wilson figures to be a mainstay on offense moving forward despite any trade offers Mougey could receive in the near future.
Cardinals Considered Strong Candidate To Trade Down
APRIL 19: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms there is a belief around the league that Arizona is indeed open to moving down from No. 3. Adding capital for a potential move up the board to land Ty Simpson late in the first round could prove to be a particularly attractive approach for the Cardinals.
APRIL 16: The Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in next week’s draft, the same slot as their original position in the 2023 draft. That year, they traded down to the 12th pick — before coming back to No. 6 overall for Paris Johnson Jr.
The Cardinals may make a similar move this year. They are considered a strong candidate to move down from the No. 3 pick, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It could be an especially valuable selection in a draft class that is viewed as thin on elite talent that drops sharply by the middle of the first round and plateaus into the second round.
The Raiders are expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first with the Jets deciding between Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey for No. 2. Whomever does not end up in New York could be a target for teams trading up to Arizona’s pick.
The Cardinals also have holes to fill all over their roster, so they may prefer trading back and targeting the strong Day 2 depth of this class. Their wide variety of needs is one of the reasons they are seen as a wild card in this year’s draft, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
“Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is known to be willing to make a draft-day deal,” Jones writes. “You’ll hear plenty about teams being willing to trade down in this year’s draft, and I think the Cardinals are serious contenders to do just that. Looking around the league, folks believe the draft begins at No. 3 and no one seems to have a very good sense of what Arizona will do.”
Ossenfort could conceivable target any position except for cornerback and tight end with his premium picks, and the Cardinals still need some depth at the latter position. That will allow him to take a true ‘best player available’ approach as he attempts to rebuild the roster for new head coach Mike LaFleur.
Eagles Still Preparing For A.J. Brown Trade
A report from mid-March suggested a trade sending wide receiver A.J. Brown out of Philadelphia is seen as “inevitable,” and no subsequent reporting has offered any real pushback on that notion. Consistent with the prevailing thought on the matter ESPN’s Jeff Darlington (video link) says the Eagles will be navigating this week’s draft as if Brown will be dealt (a post-June 1 transaction has always felt like the most logical move given the dead money charges Philly would incur if it were to consummate a trade prior to that date).
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports echoes those sentiments and uses GM Howie Roseman’s offseason additions of Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and Dontayvion Wicks to a WR room that already includes DeVonta Smith (and, for the time being, A.J. Brown) as further evidence that the three-time Pro Bowler will soon be on the move. Robinson hears the Eagles have especially high hopes for Wicks, whom they believe can unlock another level in Philly after showing flashes over his three seasons in Green Bay. Roseman acquired Wicks from the Packers in exchange for two Day 3 selections and then authorized a one-year, $12.5MM extension that keeps him under club control through 2027.
Darlington cautions that his report does not necessarily mean the Eagles will add a receiver in the draft, although they certainly have the ammunition to do so. The club currently holds the No. 23 overall pick as well as three Day 2 choices (Nos. 54, 68, and 98), and prior rumblings have suggested Roseman will be targeting WR help early in the draft. In terms of physicality and skillset, Washington’s Denzel Boston is something of an A.J. Brown comp, and Roseman could consider him with the No. 23 selection, as former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum posits in the above video report.
Obviously, using a premium pick on a wideout like Boston would be yet another indication that a Brown trade is in the offing, but even if Roseman does not make such a move, Darlington would not take that as a sign that Brown will remain in Philly. It still appears the soon-to-be 29-year-old has already played his last snap with the Eagles – as a majority of PFR readership believes – and the Patriots remain the frontrunner for his services.
New England added Romeo Doubs in free agency this offseason, but the reigning AFC champs are squarely within the window of opportunity afforded by quarterback Drake Maye’s rookie contract and have the cap space to absorb Brown’s contract. Even in a down season defined by struggles throughout the Eagles’ offense, Brown managed to catch 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven TDs.
Bengals, DT Dexter Lawrence Agree To One-Year Extension
The trade sending DT Dexter Lawrence from the Giants to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in this week’s draft also included an extension with Cincinnati. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report that Lawrence has inked a one-year, $28MM extension that will keep Lawrence under the Bengals’ control through 2028.
A report that emerged in the immediate aftermath of the trade suggested the Giants did make an effort to retain Lawrence even after the Bengals put the No. 10 pick on the table. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post corroborates that report and confirms Big Blue made offers that would have resulted in a sizable raise for Lawrence, which the 28-year-old obviously declined.
Connor Hughes of SNY.tv adds that the Giants’ proposals included an average annual value “near” $28MM, but in exchange, they wanted to add more years to Lawrence’s existing deal (which had two seasons remaining). Per Hughes, Lawrence’s camp did not even make a counteroffer, which – combined with the relatively modest terms of his Cincinnati extension – make it plain that the player simply wanted a fresh start elsewhere.
Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk passes along a full breakdown of Lawrence’s Cincinnati deal. He was due $42MM over the final two seasons of his Joe Schoen-constructed contract, and the $28MM add-on makes it a three-year, $70MM agreement. The $23.33MM average annual value places Lawrence 10th among defensive tackles, just one spot higher than he was before the trade (though he will get some near-term raises; he was previously scheduled to earn $20MM in 2026 and $22MM in 2027, but he is now due $22MM in ‘26, $25MM in ‘27, and $23MM in ‘28, as Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano summarizes).
Lawrence’s potential impact on a Cincinnati defense that has undermined the club’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs in recent seasons, together with a financial commitment that does not shoot their new acquisition particularly high up the league’s DT hierarchy, help to justify the Bengals’ uncharacteristic aggressiveness here. That said, league sources still believe the Giants did well to land the No. 10 choice.
Hughes spoke with several coaches who were “stunned” by the return. Those coaches agreed that Lawrence is a very good player but pointed to his age and conditioning as cause for concern, as well as the fact that he needs to be kept on something of a snap count to maximize his production. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan says the Giants themselves were surprised by the strength of the Bengals’ offer, and Raanan’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, hears no one was going to top it.
Lawrence is coming off a down year – albeit one Schoen partially blamed on the elbow injury the three-time Pro Bowler sustained late in 2024 – and even though their gamble is mitigated to some degree by the nature of the extension, the Bengals are clearly banking on a return to elite form. In a statement issued after the trade became official, director of player personnel Duke Tobin made sure to thank much-maligned owner Mike Brown for greenlighting the transaction and added that he expects Lawrence to elevate the players around him (the full statement is available here, courtesy of SI’s Jay Morrison).
Lawrence is the centerpiece of an offseason defensive overhaul in the Queen City that also includes the additions of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Kyle Dugger. The Giants, meanwhile, could consider one of the top DT prospects in the draft as a Lawrence replacement, and they now have two top-10 selections to help their quest for a return to contention.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers Wants To Stay In Baltimore
The Ravens will exercise wide receiver Zay Flowers’ fifth-year option at some point before the May 1 deadline, a decision that will lock the 2023 first-rounder into a fully-guaranteed $27.3MM salary for the 2027 season. That buys the parties more time to hammer out a long-term deal, and Baltimore already has expressed interest in an extension.
The interest is mutual. When speaking to reporters earlier this month (video link via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley), Flowers said he does not want to play anywhere other than Baltimore. He was asked specifically about the four-year, $168.6MM pact that draftmate Jaxon Smith-Njigba recently signed with the Seahawks, and he replied by offering congratulations to JSN while noting he is not focused on his own contract. As players often do, Flowers said he will allow his agents to handle extension conversations while he focuses on training and preparing for the season.
Smith-Njigba, who was selected two picks before Flowers in the 2023 draft, raised the bar even higher for a receiver market that continues to explode. Presumably, Flowers will not be able to match the Seattle standout’s $42.15MM average annual value, and Rams WR Puka Nacua – a 2023 fifth-rounder who is now entering a platform year since he does not have a fifth-year option – likely has more earning power as well. Still, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (subscription required) recently predicted Flowers would not be too far behind his elite peers in terms of contract value.
The Ravens, who lost center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders this offseason, do not want to let the best homegrown wideout in franchise history sniff the open market. Flowers’ close relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson, along with his work ethic and durability, also help his cause.
Then, of course, there is the on-field production to consider. The Boston College product has averaged 80 catches for 1,135 yards over the last two seasons, both of which ended with Pro Bowl nods. In 2025, Flowers ranked seventh in receiving yards, 11th in catches, and 14th in yards per target. His 2.53 yards per route run trailed only Nacua and Smith-Njigba among wide receivers. Those numbers become more impressive when considered in the context of the Ravens’ run-heavy operation.
It is unclear if contract talks have commenced as of the time of this writing. Even if he cannot reasonably expect to set a WR record when he ultimately secures his second NFL contract, the market for his position will still give the WIN Sports Group client a chance to break the bank.
OSU’s Kayden McDonald Expected To Be First DT Selected In 2026 Draft; Giants A Potential Fit?
The 2026 draft class is not viewed as a particularly strong one for defensive tackle talent, but there will of course be DT-needy teams looking for prospects they can mold into NFL-caliber starters. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is one such player, and ESPN’s Matt Miller reports McDonald is expected to be the first interior defender to hear his name called when the draft opens this week. Miller’s colleagues, Field Yates and Jordan Reid, are in agreement.
Although McDonald is one of 16 players who will be attending the first night of the draft, there is no guarantee he will be selected in the first round. Miller’s final prospect rankings did not include a DT in the top-40, and it is possible that, for the first time since 2021, there will be no Day 1 defensive tackles.
Still, McDonald is just 21 and possesses the size, strength, and talent to be an elite run stopper at the professional level. As Yates observes, the Dolphins used the No. 13 selection in last year’s draft on Kenneth Grant, a player with a similar profile to McDonald. While draftniks like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah note McDonald needs to refine his skills as a pass rusher, Reid points out that the 6-2, 326-pound lineman has flashed the ability to not only withstand his gaps, but to make plays in the backfield as well.
Indeed, McDonald recorded three sacks and nine tackles for loss among his 65 total stops in his final season on campus, which resulted in first-team All-American acclaim and which Miller classifies as “remarkable on-ball production.” Given his floor as a high-end defender against the run and upside as a more disruptive playmaker, it would not be surprising to see McDonald sneak into the back end of the first round.
It is also worth wondering if he can fill the Dexter Lawrence-shaped void that now exists in the middle of the Giants’ defense. On Saturday, New York flipped Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the upcoming draft, giving John Harbaugh & Co. more premium draft capital but stripping the club of a front seven stalwart.
While the Giants surely will not use their existing No. 5 selection or their new No. 10 choice on McDonald, their No. 37 pick could be the sweet spot, or it could be used as ammo in a small trade-up maneuver if necessary. Multiple sources have told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan that McDonald is an ideal fit for the Baltimore-style defense that Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will install.
Steelers’ Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig Seen As Trade Candidates; Highsmith Likelier To Be Dealt
The Steelers presently boast an enviable trio of pass rushers in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. Although GM Omar Khan recently said “you can’t ever have enough” pass rushers, rival clubs apparently believe Pittsburgh is willing to deal from that perceived surplus, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports details.
Per Robinson, Highsmith and Herbig are “floating around front offices” as possible trade targets in the run-up to the draft, with one high-ranking personnel executive expressing his belief that the Steelers will move one of them. Robinson reports Highsmith is the likelier trade candidate.
Highsmith’s contract situation is one of the reasons for that. The 28-year-old (29 in August) still has two years remaining on the four-year, $68MM extension he signed in August 2023 and is owed $14.5MM in base pay in 2026 and $17.5MM in 2027, with cap hits in excess of $20MM in both of those seasons. The year before he signed the contract, he posted 14.5 sacks, but he has failed to hit double-digits in any of the last three campaigns and missed time due to injury in both of the past two.
On the other hand, Highsmith’s upcoming salaries are palatable for a talented edge defender, and he will likely not require a contract adjustment in 2026, as Robinson suggests. Herbig, meanwhile, is four years younger than Highsmith, is entering the last year of his rookie deal, and is viewed as an ascending player. He has performed well despite mostly operating in a platoon capacity, notching 5.5 sacks in 2024 (when he had a 50% snap share) and 7.5 in 2025 (60%).
Khan has expressed a desire to extend Herbig, and as noted above, he believes the importance of quality edge defenders justifies an allocation of resources that would keep all three of Watt (who enjoys a $41MM average annual value on his current deal), Highsmith, and Herbig in the fold. However, that may be impractical unless either Highsmith is traded or Herbig agrees to a team-friendly extension, and Robinson indicates another strong showing in ‘26 could lead to a $20MM/year deal for Herbig if he hits the open market.
So while it is far from a guarantee that Khan will pull the trigger on a trade jettisoning one of his top pass rushers, it is easy to see why other clubs believe he will be amenable to such a move. Quarterback uncertainty continues to loom over the Steelers, but as we get closer to the draft, Khan has plenty of non-QB matters to keep him busy.