Rapoport reports the Jets are between the two pass rushers for the second pick of this year’s draft. The Jets recently cancelled a top-30 visit with Bailey, presumably due to having enough information on the Texas Tech EDGE and needing the visit for another prospect. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is also in heavy consideration. Much of the draft after pick No. 2 will be determined by which pass rusher the Jets select; pick No. 3 is currently with the Cardinals but could be moved depending on the selection at No. 2.
Howard and Rudolph have split reps so far in Pittsburgh’s offseason program. With Aaron Rodger still on radio silence, the Steelers are making do with their current quarterback room. Howard is a sixth-round pick from last year while Rudolph is a veteran backup who has started for the Steelers before. They are splitting reps, indicating Howard is getting developmental opportunities while the Steelers are keeping Rudolph ready with the offense in case the veteran needs to step in. Of course, all this could be moot if Rodgers returns, but for now Howard and Rudolph are getting equal starting opportunities early in the offseason program.
We’ve seen some muted buzz on Pitts this offseason — to the point where Falcons GM Ian Cunningham gave a non-answer “it’s my job to listen” when asked about him at the NFL Owner’s meetings — but it does feel like real news that the Falcons are in a world where they’d consider moving him after Pitts signed the franchise tender earlier in April. Pitts, who doesn’t turn 26 until October, would represent an interesting upside swing. It remains to be seen if the Falcons could get enough for him, given the fact that he’d likely require an extension, to actually make moving him interesting for their long-term future.
Dexter Lawrence is gone, the Giants are searching for bodies. Jones has not cracked a higher PFF grade than 53.3 in any of his five years in the NFL, but has hung around in a rotational role with the Dolphins and Lions.
“The noise across the league is getting impossible to ignore,” Jones writes in putting Simpson on the Cardinals in a trade-up at the end of the first round. Arizona’s current quarterback situation of a holding-out Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and Kedon Slovis could desperately use a new, younger direction. We’re not sure that Simpson really is that direction, but one thing we can say about him is that he’s definitely available to draft right now, unlike all those better quarterbacks that are certainly coming in 2027.
It was the right-of-first-refusal tender. Apparently the free agent market was not kind to Tucker. He’ll enter the year third on Tampa’s depth chart at running back behind Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, but could remain a thorn in Irving’s fantasy upside if he retains a sizeable red zone role under new OC Zac Robinson.
There is no timeline on that decision, per McVay. Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that Garoppolo was considering retirement, something that makes his slow-developing market make more sense. McVay wanting Garoppolo back makes perfect sense when you consider the alternative is currently Stetson Bennett as Los Angeles’ QB2.
He links them to Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers in a mock draft filed a few days before the actual event, and notes that they need someone to complement the “all-around play of Hunter Henry and the blocking prowess of Julian Hill.” The Patriots never replaced Austin Hooper, who fled to the Falcons in free agency. A Day 2 pick on a receiving tight end — Stowers or otherwise — could cut into Henry’s TE1 odds in 2026.
Buckner underwent season-ending neck surgery late last year. It’s a good sign that he’s meeting with reporters and that GM Chris Ballard also had the same timeline for his return yesterday. The star defensive tackle is entering his age-32 season and the final year of his contract in 2026.
McCoy’s ACL is fine and the scans look good. But some team doctors, per Pelissero, think McCoy might need another surgery to replace the bone plug used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee — that would be a long recovery. Thus, McCoy — a first-round pick in most mocks — feels like he could tumble down draft boards on Thursday. Or maybe even Friday.
Gutekunst said Tom would be “ready to roll as we get going,” so he’s probably likely for the start of training camp based on the six-month recovery from this procedure. His injury was one of many that sapped the Packers towards the end of last season.
“I think Aaron is probably more in tune than we would realize,” the coach said, mythologizing Rodgers further. The question doesn’t feel like if Rodgers will return — the Steelers would feel a lot more desperate if they didn’t think he would return — but how many more blurbs we can make about him before he’s out there at training camp. Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are splitting reps with the ones early in the offseason program.
It’s a positive sign for Jones four months removed from his Achilles tear, and it’s in line with general manager Chris Ballard’s April 20 assessment that Jones is “progressing really well” in his offseason recovery. Signing a massive contract extension with the Colts, Jones will be the team’s starter in 2026. Whether he misses a couple early season games depends on the speed of his recovery from the Achilles injury. With Anthony Richardson unlikely to be back with the team, Riley Leonard could function as Indy’s No. 2 quarterback behind Jones. Jones ranked sixth in drop back EPA before tearing his Achilles.
McMillan, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, dropped between 10 and 15 pounds during the 2025 season and is working to regain some or all of it before the 2026 regular season. Even if the Panthers use an early round draft pick on a wideout, McMillan will certainly enter the 2026 as Carolina’s No. 1 receiver. Last year he ranked 26th among wideouts in yards per route run, just ahead of Khalil Shakir and Demario Douglas and just behind Romeo Doubs. McMillan ranked 65th out of 110 qualifying receivers in ESPN’s open score, which measures a pass catcher’s separation from defenders.
“Love is an explosive play waiting to happen and would unlock multiple layers of the playbook that Washington couldn’t access last season,” Reid said, projecting the Commanders to take the former Notre Dame running back with the seventh pick of the 2026 draft. Washington in 2025 ranked 11th in rush EPA, just below the 49ers, and tenth in rushing success rate, in line with the run-heavy Packers. Love in 2025 had 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns and had 39 runs of 10 or more yards, trailing only three collegiate backs. Washington was one of the run heaviest teams in the NFL last season, ranking 28th in early down neutral pass rate.
Madubuike recently had surgery to fix a career-threatening neck injury he suffered in Week 2 last season. The neck surgery “left his doctors believing he will be able to resume playing this season,” Schefter said. Madubuike, 28, had 22 sacks over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His 2025 neck injury was a huge loss for the Ravens front seven. Baltimore’s defense struggled to pressure the passer for much of the year. Madubuike’s return to full health would likely be a marked upgrade for the Ravens under new head coach Jesse Minter.
ESPN’s Draft Day Predictor model gives Simpson a 43 percent chance of going in the first round of the draft, which kicks off on Thursday night. “If the Alabama quarterback were to be selected Thursday, the most likely spots are at Nos. 16 (currently the Jets), 21 (Steelers) and 24 (Browns), though he could go at any pick as the result of a trade,” Walder said. The steam behind Simpson has faded a bit since he rocketed up draft boards in March as the only NFL-viable QB in the 2026 draft class outside Fernando Mendoza, who will be drafted first overall by the Raiders. If Simpson slips into the second round, Walder expects the Cardinals and Jets to strongly consider him. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has already named Geno Smith the team’s Week 1 starter.
Grier returns to the Panthers after starting two games for Carolina in 2019. He completed 52 percent of his passes, with zero touchdowns and four interceptions. Grier has not played in a regular season game since 2019, and will likely function as the Panthers’ No. 3 quarterback behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett if he indeed makes the 2026 roster.
McMillan, last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, dropped weight over the past few months and is down to around 205 pounds. Perhaps McMillan is trying to gain speed and quickness, though trimming down could make things more difficult for the boundary receiver. Even if the Panthers use an early round draft pick on a wideout, McMillan will certainly enter the 2026 as Carolina’s No. 1 receiver. Last year he ranked 26th among wideouts in yards per route run, just ahead of Khalil Shakir and Demario Douglas and just behind Romeo Doubs.
“I’m feeling extremely blessed, grateful to be back, feeling great and no restrictions, " Warner told reporters Monday at the team facility for the beginning of the offseason program. His return will be a massive boost to the defensive interior after the Pro Bowl linebacker required surgery to correct a gruesome ankle injury sustained in October of the 2025 season. Warner has made four Pro Bowls during his stellar eight-year NFL career.
The injury occurred during position drills and is reported to be a Jones fracture. The wide receiver prospect is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the NFL regular season. McAlister is not expected to hear his name called during the coming draft weekend but could catch on as an undrafted free agent.
Ballard noted that Jones is throwing and moving while adding that Jones and the team are “shooting for Week 1" for him to be back on the field. Jones suffered his injury in Week 14 and is looking at a long road to recovery after undergoing surgery in December, but he remains optimistic that he can return in time for the start of the season based on how his rehab has gone thus far. His status will be one to watch as we get closer to camp, but if Jones can avoid landing on the PUP list when camp opens, then it would be safe to assume he’s trending toward a return for Week 1.
Harrison was drafted with the No. 27 overall pick back in 2023 and has started all 48 games he’s appeared in since joining the team. He has spent his entire career at right tackle, allowing 10 sacks and 93 pressures in 48 regular-season games, and earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 75.6 last season — his highest mark to date. Harrison will now be under contract with the Jaguars through the 2027 season.
As Schneider pointed out, the Seahawks currently have four picks in this year’s draft, including just one on Day 3. Seattle has each of its first three-round picks, but picking out of the No. 32 slot, there could be plenty of incentive to trade back and acquire more Day 2 and Day 3 picks should a team be interested in moving up at the end of the first round to make a pick. Whether it happens before or during the draft, the Seahawks will be a team to watch as draft day draws closer and other teams begin considering who they may want to move up for.
Lynch said he doesn’t think it’s a “high probability” that Aiyuk is traded at some time during this weekend’s draft, but didn’t rule out the possibility. Whether they admit it or not, the Niners are positioned to keep Aiyuk on the roster until September 1st, when they would first be required to pay him if he is still on the roster. The split between Aiyuk and the 49ers sounds like there are people on both sides who are annoyed with the situation, but the Niners hold all of the cards after voiding the remaining guaranteed money on his deal while keeping him under contract after he reportedly stopped coming into the facility for his rehab treatments last season. If the Niners can find a team interested in dealing even a late Day 3 pick for Aiyuk, then it’s possible he will be on the move sooner than later, but it seems like they’re willing to wait as long as they can to extract whatever value he may have left before letting him go to join another team.
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