Browns Sign Second-Round S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Mentioned as a possible first-round pick, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren needed to wait much longer to hear his name called in this year’s draft. The Browns swooped in to keep the Toledo prospect in Ohio, taking him off the board at No. 58.
The Browns moved up 12 spots for McNeil-Warren, who has signed his rookie contract Thursday. Like all draft deals beyond Round 1, this is a four-year deal. McNeil-Warren took a “30” visit to Cleveland, one of many for the high-end safety prospect, in March. The Browns now have nine of their 10 2026 draftees — all but first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion — signed to their rookie deals.
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McNeil-Warren is now set to make his home in northeast Ohio, where he will join a Browns team rostering Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. The Browns have Delpit signed to an extension, while they applied a second-round RFA tender to Hickman in March.
Teaming with 2024 Eagles first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell in Toledo’s secondary for two seasons, McNeil-Warren intercepted five passes and forced nine fumbles with the MAC program. Our Ely Allen submitted a thorough prospect profile on the mid-major prospect before the draft, and Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board — which slotted McNeil-Warren 15th overall — viewed the Browns as landing a steal late in Round 2.
A rangy ballhawk who was sticky in coverage with the Rockets, McNeil-Warren will need to make a substantial competition jump. Mitchell had no trouble with that vault, however, and Browns GM Andrew Berry‘s twin brother (Eagles exec Adam Berry) observed that rise closely. A third-team All-American last season, McNeil-Warren clocked a 4.52-second 40 time at the Combine. The 6-foot-3 DB prospect was viewed as a player who would join Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman in Round 1, but he ended up needing to wait 33 picks after Thieneman to be selected. McNeil-Warren was this draft’s fourth safety chosen, also going after Arizona’s Treydan Stukes (38th, Raiders).
Cleveland traded up 12 spots (via the 49ers) for McNeil-Warren, who certainly has a path to a regular role on an experienced defense in the near future. Delpit and Hickman are in contract years, pointing to a runway for McNeil-Warren to grow into a starter by the 2027 season at the latest.
The Seahawks signed their second-round safety (TCU’s Bud Clark) to a deal that includes two fully guaranteed years, with $1.15MM of his 2028 base salary locked in as well. This year’s No. 53 overall pick, Colts LB C.J. Allen, received three years fully guaranteed plus another $638K in Year 4. McNeil-Warren could reasonably land three fully guaranteed years on this pact, as second-rounders continue to make widespread gains on the guarantee front.
Texans Sign Round 2 TE Marlin Klein
A run on tight ends occurred in the second round. Despite extending Dalton Schultz earlier this offseason, Texans participated by drafting Michigan’s Marlin Klein.
The Texans, who made two second-round choices in this draft, chose Klein 59th. They now have him signed to a four-year rookie deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The deal is worth $8.18MM and will undoubtedly carry more guarantees at signing than the No. 59 pick in the 2025 draft received.
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Four tight ends went off the board between Nos. 54 and 61. The Eagles began that stretch with Eli Stowers, while the Jaguars viewed this draft range as likely to produce a few TE picks; that led them to draft Nate Boerkircher much earlier than most expected him to go. The Texans chose Klein soon after, and the Rams added Max Klare at No. 61. Like each of the second-round TEs in this draft, Klein will go to a team with an established starter.
Stowers joins an Eagles team that re-signed Dallas Goedert, while the Jaguars have Brenton Strange lined up as an extension candidate. The Rams re-signed Tyler Higbee and used a second-round pick last year on Terrance Ferguson, and the Texans have Schultz signed through 2027 via a one-year, $12.6MM extension.
The Texans, whom Wilson notes used “30” visits on Klare and Georgia TE Oscar Delp (a third-round Saints pick), had discussions about trading down from No. 59. While sixth-year GM Nick Caserio confirmed discussions took place about moving down, the Texans added Klein after considering a move back into Round 1 for Kayden McDonald. The team ultimately did not need to make that move, though it did climb two spots (via the Raiders) to grab the Ohio State defensive lineman at No. 36.
A Germany native who played high school football in Georgia, Klein clocked a 4.61-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher was certainly not a prolific receiving option with the Wolverines, totaling 38 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown in four Ann Arbor seasons. He played behind 2025 first-rounder Colston Loveland while also waiting his turn behind future NFLers AJ Barner and Luke Schoonmaker at Michigan.
ESPN’s Scouts Inc. viewed Houston’s decision as a slightly bigger reach than Jacksonville’s, ranking Klein 176th among this year’s prospects. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board was more bullish, slotting Klein 84th. Klein’s blocking ability drew plus reviews heading into the draft, however, and the Texans should have room for him to develop while Schultz continues to operate as the team’s top receiving TE. Free agency addition Foster Moreau also stands to help Houston have Klein in place as a developmental option in 2026.
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.
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.
Dolphins Extend RB De’Von Achane
After months of discussions and trade rumors, the Dolphins have closed the deal to extend running back De’Von Achane. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Miami rusher has agreed to a four-year, extension worth up to $68MM with $32MM in guaranteed money.
Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN clarified that Achane’s new deal has a base value of $64MM with bonuses worth up to $4MM. His annual average value ($16MM per year) and guarantee total are both all-time highs for running backs coming off their rookie deal. Achane is now set to enter the 2026 season with the position’s third-highest AAV, behind only Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey, and fourth-most guarantees, behind Barkley and recent top draft picks Ashton Jeanty and Jeremiyah Love.
Achane came to the NFL after three years at Texas A&M. Despite sitting second on the depth chart behind Isaiah Spiller for two years in College Station, Achane broke out in his sophomore season as RB2. After averaging 8.5 yards per carry as a true freshman in limited time, Achane continued that outrageous efficiency with more touches, averaging seven yards per carry en route to a 910-yard, nine-touchdown season. Unfortunately, Achane’s lone season leading the backfield for the Aggies was the 12th Man’s only losing season since 2009, but he continued to produce with 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns rushing.
In a loaded draft class for running backs, Achane received high grades, but his short, stout frame caused him to slip far behind the first-round ranks of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. After getting selected in the third round by Miami, Achane joined a backfield that had struggled through the 2022 season led by Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Chase Edmonds, Salvon Ahmed, and Myles Gaskin. With Achane spelling him, Mostert excelled in a starting role, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career and leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 18.
Used to coming off the bench with efficiency, Achane was not slowed down by the transition to the NFL. After receiving one carry in the team’s first two contests, he exploded onto to the scene with rushing lines of 18 carries-203 yards-2 touchdowns, 8-101-2, and 11-151-1 in his next three games before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury. Despite the time missed due to injury, Achane finished the year with 800 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
Achane took lead back duties from Mostert the following year, but a far less effective all-around unit resulted in Achane finishing with just 907 yards and six touchdowns rushing, though he added a new element to his game with 78 catches for 592 yards and six more scores. Last year, Achane bounced back much closer to the expectations that followed his explosive start in 2023. Starting all 16 games for Miami, he totaled 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, adding 488 yards and four touchdowns receiving.
Unfortunately for Achane, as he’s gotten healthier and returned to form, the Dolphins have backslid into what looks now to be a rebuild. Former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was released, shouldering Miami with record-setting dead money, star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was released, and WR2 Jaylen Waddle has been traded away. While the Dolphins were okay parting ways with those key assets, it seemed Achane was where they drew the line.
As the team’s 2025 campaign finally began to come to a close, Achane made it known that he intended to stay in Miami, telling reporters he was seeking an extension. As a lack of team success spurred several teams to inquire about potential assets the Dolphins might be willing to move, the team made it clear that Achane was not available. The 24-year-old was absent from voluntary team activities once April came, but extension talks were well underway by then and really starting to gain traction. He’s landed his new deal now and become a key building block for the franchise.
To ease the financial pains of the transactions that removed Tagovailoa, Hill, and Waddle, Achane and center Aaron Brewer agreed to restructured deals. Well, according to Louis-Jacques, Brewer is believed to be one of two other players expected to follow Achane’s lead to a new extension. The other player Louis-Jacques beileves could land a new deal soon is veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks.
Jets To Sign WR Tim Patrick
Tim Patrick has rebounded from back-to-back injury-marred seasons that closed his Broncos tenure, and he is now reuniting with a former Denver front office staffer in New York.
Darren Mougey will add the veteran wide receiver to the Jets’ roster, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports. Patrick’s Lions season (2024) also is rather relevant to this signing, as Jets HC Aaron Glenn was in place as Detroit’s DC at that point.
This transaction will give Patrick a chance to play a 10th NFL season. Patrick, 32, caught on with the Broncos as a 2018 waiver claim. Mougey was in place under then-GM John Elway at the time. Mougey moved up the ladder to director of player personnel during George Paton‘s first GM year (2021). That year brought a Patrick extension (three years, $30MM). While the 6-foot-4 wide receiver did not live up to that deal due to the above-referenced injuries, he has provided contributions to other teams over the past two seasons.
The Broncos released Patrick shortly before the 2024 season, leading him to the Lions’ practice squad. That quickly preceded a move up to Detroit’s 53-man roster, and the possession receiver caught 33 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns to help a dominant Lions offense secure a No. 1 seed. The Lions re-signed Patrick in 2025 but traded him to the Jaguars last summer, acquiring a 2026 sixth-round pick in the deal. Patrick caught 15 passes for 187 yards and three TDs last season.
Perhaps more importantly for Patrick’s NFL viability as his mid-30s near, he played in 16 games in each of the past two seasons. The Broncos saw Patrick become an important target during their time in quarterback purgatory, but their blockbuster Russell Wilson trade did not include any game time with Patrick. The former $10MM-per-year player suffered a torn ACL during training camp in 2022 and went down with an Achilles tear in July 2023.
While it would be quite interesting to see Wilson and Patrick finally link up — should the potential TV analyst accept a Jets offer — the veteran pass catcher did his best work with Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock. The Utah product caught 51 passes for 742 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. He then worked with Bridgewater and Lock in 2021, hauling in 53 passes for 734 yards and five scores that season.
The Broncos had placed a second-round RFA tender on Patrick in 2021 before signing him to an extension. Denver extended Patrick and Sutton in November 2021 but saw the former drift off the radar as the latter moved back into the WR1 role with the franchise. The Broncos slashed Patrick’s 2024 salary down toward the veteran minimum and attempted to trade him later that year. He played for $2.5MM in 2025.
The Jets have done extensive WR work since assembling a flawed crew around Garrett Wilson last year. Last year’s squad, with Wilson going down seven games in, became the first Jets edition since 1976 to fail to produce a 400-yard pass catcher. However, Gang Green acquired Adonai Mitchell from the Colts at the trade deadline and traded up to No. 30 (via the 49ers) for Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. last month. Patrick will be positioned to represent a veteran presence to complement those rookie-deal cogs around Wilson.
Seahawks Agree To Terms With Round 2 S Bud Clark
Last year saw dramatic increases in guarantees for Day 2 draft picks, with eight second-rounders receiving fully guaranteed contracts for the first time. The trend is continuing in 2026.
Seahawks second-round pick (No. 64 overall) Bud Clark has agreed to his rookie contract, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, which will pay him $7.88MM over the next four years.
The rookie pay scale is set by the league, but draftees are empowered to negotiate payment schedules and guarantees. Clark will receive $5.47MM in guarantees, comprised of a $2.2MM signing bonus, his 2026 and 2027 salaries, and $1.15MM of his 2028 salary.
Clark’s guarantees represent 69.4% of his total deal, a substantial increase from last year’s No. 64 pick, Andrew Mukuba. $4.2MM of his $7.16MM deal (58.6%) with the Eagles came guaranteed (via OverTheCap), which included $343K in his third year, a first for his draft slot. For additional context, the No. 64 pick in 2024, Renardo Green, signed a rookie contract with 52.4% guaranteed with none in Year 3.
This signing continues a trend of eight-pick jumps in guarantee increases. Tyler Shough, the No. 40 pick in 2025, received a fully guaranteed contract, putting him on par with the No. 32 pick in 2024. The second-rounders behind him then sought similar bumps commensurate to the players selected eight picks earlier the year prior, as reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Accordingly, Clark’s percentage of guaranteed money lands between that of the 56th and 57th overall picks in 2025.
First-rounder Jadarian Price is now the only Seahawks draft pick who has yet to sign his rookie deal. He will receive a fully guaranteed contract, so he will be looking for improvements elsewhere in the deal. He will become the first player at his draft slot to receive over 50% of his rookie deal as a signing bonus, and he may also seek a more advantageous pay schedule via roster bonuses. The exact amount of Price’s increases will depend on the 11 unsigned picks ahead of him.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/26
Wednesday’s draft pick signings from the 2026 NFL Draft class:
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Tacario Davis (third round, Washington)
Houston Texans
- LB Wade Woodaz (fourth round, Clemson)
After inking Davis, the Bengals now have only to sign second-round defensive end Cashius Howell to complete the signing of their 2026 rookie class. Before considering this as pretty much done, though, it may be worth remembering how long it took Cincinnati to sign its top draft pick last year.
Raiders Sign DT Benito Jones
The Raiders officially signed veteran defensive tackle Benito Jones, per a team announcement, reuniting the 28-year-old with defensive coordinator Rob Leonard.
Leonard was the Dolphins’ assistant defensive line coach when Jones arrived in Miami as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Jones appeared in six games as a rookie while being coached directly by Leonard. In 2021, though, Leonard was moved to outside linebackers and Jones did not see the field.
The Dolphins waived Jones during roster cuts in 2022. He was claimed by the Lions and immediately stepped into a rotational role along their defensive line, appearing in all 17 games with a 27% snap share. He emerged as Detroit’s primary nose tackle in 2023 and started 15 games while playing 52% of the team’s defensive snaps.
Jones returned to Miami in 2024 and made another 15 starts. He saw less playing time last year with just a 30% snap share before he landed on injured reserve in December. Like many massive nose tackles, he has not stuffed the stat sheet in his career with just 83 tackle, 3.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss across 71 games. In Las Vegas, Jones will replace Brodric Martin, who was waived with an injury designation in a corresponding move.
The Lions traded up to select Martin in the third round of the 2023 draft. He only appeared in five games across his first two seasons, which included an IR stint in 2024 due to a knee injury. He was waived during roster cuts last year and made his way to the Chiefs’ practice squad. The Steelers plucked him out of Kansas City and used him for one game before waiving him in December.
The Raiders claimed Martin (and his contract), keeping him on the roster heading into 2026. However, his waived/injured designation indicates that he could not pass a physical during the team’s offseason program. With just five games and 65 total snaps to his name, the 26-year-old seems unlikely to attract interest on waivers and may need to wait until he’s healthy for an offer from another team.