Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Agree To Deal
Speculation surrounding the second year of the Steelers-Aaron Rodgers partnership can be put to rest. A deal is indeed in place between team and player.
Rodgers has agreed to another one-year Pittsburgh contract, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Rodgers has long been expected to suit up for the 2026 season. He will do so and reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy in the process while delaying retirement once more.
This pact has a base value between $22MM and $23MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It can max out at $25MM via incentives. Pelissero notes $22MM is guaranteed. Last year, Rodgers collected $10MM guaranteed and over $14MM in total, so this new deal certainly marks a considerable raise.
McCarthy – who took over following Mike Tomlin‘s resignation – remained in constant communication with Rodgers in recent months. That helped fuel the belief a reunion between the two would be forthcoming, although no firm commitments were known to be made by the four-time MVP. In the end, the anticipated outcome has emerged. Pelissero adds, to no surprise, Rodgers is set to take part in the start of organized team activities on Monday.
OTAs represented the latest artificial deadline for an agreement in this case. The Steelers hoped to avoid a lengthy waiting period on the Rodgers front after one took place in 2025. As the draft came and went, uncertainty continued to loom with respect to Pittsburgh’s quarterback outlook. Drew Allar was added in the third round of the event, but he will spend the coming campaign as a developmental passer. Veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard are also in the fold.
In the event a Rodgers agreement fell through, Rudolph and Howard were set to engage in a training camp competition with Pittsburgh not seeking an outside addition. The latest update on that front confirmed, however, that both passers were expected to occupy depth roles in 2026. Not long after receiving the rarely-used UFA tender, Rodgers is indeed in the mix. The future Hall of Famer was seen in Pittsburgh today with some members of the Steelers, and he will spend the coming months preparing for his 22nd NFL season.
A visit from earlier this month suggested an agreement was imminent, although it was only Rogers’ agent who spoke with the Steelers at that time. Finances were not seen as an issue regarding a second arrangement between the parties, something which has proven to be true. An otherwise low-cost Pittsburgh quarterback room will no doubt continue to face questions regarding the future as the 2026 season plays out, but there will be stability atop the depth chart.
Rodgers made 16 appearances during the year in 2025 and also played in Pittsburgh’s wild-card loss. His statistical output over that span fell short of his peak years but offered Pittsburgh with a high floor in QB play, especially relative to the team’s other post-Ben Roethlisberger passers. Expectations will need to be tempered as Rodgers approaches his age-42 campaign, but the Steelers have made several notable offseason additions on offense. Improved play with those new faces, and a revamped staff led by McCarthy, could see the Steelers end their drought (2016-present) for playoff victories.
A veteran-laden core remains in place on defense in particular for Pittsburgh. Rodgers will be expected to help the win-now group justify the commitment from owner Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and Co. to contending in 2026 instead of resetting under center this spring. Questions will loom about the Steelers’ plans over medium- and long-term future at the quarterback position, but for at least one more season the status quo will be in place.
Packers Sign Round 2 CB Brandon Cisse, Wrap Draft Class Deals
MAY 16: Cisse secured full guarantees in his first three years, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. That includes a $3.31MM signing bonus. An additional $821K is locked in for the final season of the pact, meaning the agreement falls in line with expectations given other second-round deals in 2026.
MAY 14: 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)
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/26
Here is today’s only minor NFL move as we head into the weekend:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Reverted to IR: DT Brodric Martin
After getting waived on Wednesday to make room for veteran defensive tackle Benito Jones, Martin has cleared waivers and been reverted to the team’s injured reserve.If he stays there until the start of the regular season, he risks being placed on season-ending IR without the ability to be activated later on in the season.
Panthers Sign Round 2 DT Lee Hunter, Wrap Draft Class
5:52pm: Hunter’s deal comes with full guarantees through 2028 and partial guarantees in ’29, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The total percentage of guarantees is 94.39, a much higher number than the 78.94% last year’s 49th pick, Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.
12:39pm: The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract. Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.
As the 49th overall pick, Hunter’s arrangement is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is likely a significant amount of guaranteed money in the pact. Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord. The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.
Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder came off the board early on the heels of a productive four-year college career divided between UCF and Texas Tech.
Hunter broke out in 2023, his second season at UCF, where he piled up 69 tackles, 11 TFL and three sacks in 13 games. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, a 12-game, 45-tackle campaign, and then transferred to Texas Tech. In his lone season as a Red Raider, Hunter notched 41 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 14 contests. In addition to picking up a first-team All-Big 12 nod, he was a first-team All-American.
Thanks in part to Hunter, Texas Tech finished first in the nation in run defense last year. That is an area where the Panthers will hope to improve in 2026, as they ranked an underwhelming 20th against opposing ground attacks last season. They now have Hunter as a run-stuffing option on a Derrick Brown-led D-line that also features Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton.
Along with Hunter, the Panthers added six other rookies in the draft. Here is a refresher on the group:
- Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
- Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH)
Steelers, Max Iheanachor Agree To Deal
The Steelers and first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor have agreed to a deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Iheanachor, the 21st overall pick, will earn a fully guaranteed $20.69MM on his four-year pact.
The Steelers intended to use their top pick on former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, whom they called beforehand. However, while the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon, he got a call from the Eagles. They moved up from 23rd to 20th in a trade with the Cowboys and drafted Lemon, leaving the Steelers to turn to their Plan B. They pivoted to Iheanachor, whom they expect to emerge as a long-term building block up front.
Iheanachor spent the past two-plus years as the starting right tackle at Arizona State, where he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. There is a chance Iheanachor will end up as the Steelers’ left tackle down the road, especially if Broderick Jones leaves in free agency next year. For now, though, they plan to keep Iheanachor on the right side.
It is up in the air whether the 6-foot-6, 321-pound Iheanachor will step in as an immediate starter as a rookie. The Steelers are returning last year’s full-time RT starter, 2024 first-rounder Troy Fautanu, but he could be needed on the left side if Jones’ recovery from neck surgery keeps him out for the start of the season. Dylan Cook is also an in-house possibility to fill in for Jones. Cook is the only member of the quartet who was not a first-round pick (he was undrafted), which illustrates how much draft capital the Steelers have spent on the position in recent years. The Jones selection has not gone as planned, though, as the team declined his fifth-year option for 2027 last month.
Along with Iheanachor, the Steelers drafted nine other rookies this year. They now have seven of those players under contract. Here is the defending AFC North champions’ full list of picks:
- Round 1, No. 21: Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 47 (from Colts): Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
- Round 3, No. 76 (from Cowboys): Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
- Round 3, No. 85: Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 96 (from Seahawks): Gennings Dunker (G, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 121: Kaden Wetjen (WR, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 169 (from Rams via Chiefs): Riley Nowakowski (TE, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 210 (from Rams via Chiefs): Gabe Rubio (DL, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 224 (from Saints via Patriots): Robert Spears-Jennings (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 230 (from Colts): Eli Heidenreich (RB, Navy)
Titans Sign Round 2 LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The Titans are one step closer to getting their entire 2026 draft class under contract. They announced the signing of former Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. on Friday.
Hill, a second-round pick whom the Titans chose 60th overall, inked a four-year contract worth around $8.11MM. A total of 75.46% of the deal is fully guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Last year’s 60th pick, Broncos running back RJ Harvey, received 63.23% in full guarantees.
Tennessee entered the draft as a potential first-round landing spot for former Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, but it instead used the No. 4 overall pick on wide receiver Carnell Tate. After addressing receiver and EDGE (Keldric Faulk, No. 31) with their first two choices, the Titans moved up nine spots in a second-round trade with the Bears to nab a potential long-term starting linebacker in Hill. He ended up as the last off-ball LB taken before the fourth round.
Hill is entering the NFL on the heels of a decorated three-year run at Texas, where he was a two-time second-team All-American and a two-time first-team All-SEC performer. The 6-foot-2, 238-pounder totaled 249 tackles, 31.5 TFL, 17 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions over 40 games. A hand injury limited Hill to 10 games last year, but he otherwise enjoyed a healthy college career.
With first-year head coach Robert Saleh at the controls, Hill is seemingly walking into a solid situation in Tennessee. The defensive-minded Saleh has an effective track record with linebackers, having coached up the likes of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Quincy Williams in recent years. As a rookie, Hill will vie for playing time as part of a group that includes returning starters Cody Barton and Cedric Gray. Barton was the Titans’ lone player to log a 100% defensive snap share last year, while Gray ranked second in that category (86.9%).
With Hill under contract, Faulk is the last unsigned member of the Titans’ eight-rookie class.
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.
[RELATED: Browns Sign Spencer Fano, Seven Other Draftees]
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.
[RELATED: Texans Give Second-Round DT Kayden McDonald Fully Guaranteed Deal]
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.
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.