Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud describes Irving as “the chair” of what looks to be a running back by committee with Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker. We’ll see what the price range settles in as for Irving, but it’s hard to imagine him as a top-40 pick based on the past week of updates. The story quotes OC Zac Robinson as saying “Shoot, one guy might get this amount the next week. They might end up balanced, feeling the hot hand, and we’ll see where it goes.”
Perhaps more notable is Fowler’s report that Monken’s offensive concepts are things Watson “has run in the past and been his best at.” The drumbeat is steadily growing louder for Watson, who has gained steam in recent weeks as the preferred option to open 2026 as the Browns starter. Watson is in the final year of the record-setting contract he signed in 2022 and is also returning from a torn Achilles that he initially suffered in 2024 and later re-ruptured, which sidelined him for all of 2025. Watson has struggled as a starter with the Browns, throwing for 3,365-19-12 in 19 games while leading them to a 9-10 record. Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders figure to be the team’s top two options at the position whenever the team decides on a starter. But early reports continually point to Watson getting the first crack at the job.
Boutte has been the subject of offseason trade talks and could soon be on the verge of getting replaced if the Patriots acquire A.J. Brown from the Eagles in the coming weeks. Boutte, 24, is in the final year of his rookie contract and caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns last season. He has served primarily as a field stretcher for the Patriots over the last two seasons, and had the highest ADOT (17.5) of any pass catcher on the team last season who had 30 or more targets. We’ll see if Boutte reports when mandatory activities begin.
Odegard corroborates a report by Arizona sports radio host John Gambadoro that Sweat’s absence from Cardinals OTAs is not injury-related. The 29-year-old pass rusher signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract with Arizona last offseason and will enter the second year of this deal in 2026. Sweat tallied a career-high 12.0 sacks in 17 games for the Cardinals last season, adding four forced fumbles. With edge rushers seemingly re-setting the market with every new contract, Sweat is now outside the top-20 EDGE contracts in average annual salary. It is unclear if Sweat’s absence is fully due to a contract dispute or if there are other factors involved, but the veteran edge rusher is absent from Cardinals organized team activities for now.
Rice’s off-the-field issues once again will coincide with a knee issue. Schefter reports Rice underwent a clean-up procedure to remove “loose debris” in his right knee one week prior to being ordered to serve 30 days in jail due to violating probation. The 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined two months due to the procedure. He will miss much of the Chiefs offseason program but would be ready to return for training camp, as long as legal issues do not keep him off the field. The Chiefs have a sparse receiving room behind Rice and would have Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton as their top two wide receivers without Rice. Pending Rice’s recovery, the Chiefs may look to add a pass-catcher or two for depth heading into training camp.
Johnson recently met with the Giants and Eagles after being a steady special teams contributor for the Chiefs in 2022, 2024, and 2025. He played the 2025 season on a one-year contract.
Jackson has not always attended voluntary portions of the Ravens’ offseason program in years past, but did attend voluntary minicamp in April. The Ravens have been hoping to reach a new contract extension with the 29-year-old before the start of the season, though a deal is yet to emerge. New head coach Jesse Minter said, “we’ve had some great conversations; know when he’s going to be back.” Jackson seems to still be in good standing with the team and looks to be more involved with voluntary workouts under a new head coach. He has yet to arrive at OTAs, but Minter’s words demonstrate little concern just yet.
Rice reportedly tested positive for marijuana, released in court documents dated Tuesday, 19 May. The court order states that the defendant (Rice) was placed in custody Tuesday and has been ordered to serve 30 days in jail, to end 16 June. That places Rice in line to miss organized team activities and mandatory mini-camp. The presence of a controlled substance in his system was a violation of the probation stemming from third degree felony charges levied last July in connection with highway racing that led to bodily harm. This comes a month after the league ruled that there would be no further adjudication resultant from the incident. That could change given recent happenings. Stay tuned, sports fans. Xavier Worthy would be the player to benefit most in a fantasy setting should Rice face additional league discipline.
Felton last played in the league in 2022 and announced he has accepted a player development role for the Browns. The 27-year-old last played for the Browns but was added to the Bengals’ practice squad in 2023, failing to appear for them during the regular season.
“It’s all very intentional,” Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters when asked about the team’s quarterback rotation in offseason practices. Penix, coming off knee surgery this offseason, is participating in individual drills and seven on seven drills for now. When he’s ready, Penix is expected to split first-team snaps with Tagovailoa, by far the more accurate of the two Atlanta QBs. Falcons president of football operations Matt Ryan said in early May that he was unsure if Penix would be fully healthy to start training camp in late July. Stefanski has said the team will not “rush” Penix back under center. Tagovailoa, who ranks sixth in EPA per drop back over the past three NFL seasons, would seem to be the odds-on favorite to start the regular season as Atlanta’s starter.
After signing a four-year contract extension worth $68 million last week, Achane is practicing alongside his teammates under new Miami head coach Jeff Hafley. Hafley said “the feeling around the team was excitement, happiness for De’Von Achane after settling the business side of things this offseason with his contract extension,” according to the Sun Sentinel’s David Furones. One of the league’s most efficient running backs, Achane is set to be the centerpiece of the Dolphins offense in 2026.
Under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who will reportedly have “total authority” over the team’s offense, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will have to learn an entirely new playbook predicated on the concepts that have made Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers and Sean McVay’s Rams two of the league’s most efficient offenses. This is very much in line with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie pledging in April that the team would implement “significant offensive changes” after a 2025 campaign in which they ranked 17th in EPA per play, in line with the Texans and Falcons. Depending on which version of the Shanny/McVay offense Mannion installs, Saquon Barkley could see more pass-game involvement while short-area pass catchers like Dallas Goedert and rookie Makai Lemon see plenty of looks from Hurts, who last year ranked 14th out of 45 qualifying quarterbacks in accuracy on short throws. In 2024, Hurts led all QBs in accuracy on attempts between 1-10 yards.
Skattebo during a Monday town hall event said he is still learning to trust his surgically repaired ankle and conceded he’s “a little ways out” from a full recovery from a horrific lower leg injury last October.
Shough also praised the young receiver for his separation, his hands, and his big-play ability. Shough and Tyson have had less than a month to get familiar with one another since the NFL Draft ended last month, but it sounds like the two are already building early chemistry that they hope will quickly translate to the field. Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns last season while at Arizona State, with injuries limiting him to just nine games. If he can stay healthy, Tyson has a chance to turn into a meaningful player early on, both for the Saints and fantasy managers. His presence should also help free up more room for Chris Olave, who turned in the best season of his career in 2025.
Bernard’s signing comes on the Steelers’ first day of voluntary OTAs. The former Alabama prospect who was drafted 47th overall last month is hoping to make an early impact as a rookie despite joining a crowded receiver room that includes D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. as its top targets. Bernard totaled 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season with the Crimson Tide while playing 62.2 percent of his snaps on the outside, per PFF. That said, Bernard also has ample experience playing from the slot, which should give him an inside edge for early playing time in three-receiver sets.
It’s worth reminding folks that these are voluntary activities, meaning Brissett can avoid them without any repercussions. That said, it was reported last week that the team informed Brissett that he would be the starting quarterback this season, so his presence is somewhat vital. Brissett staying away from the team’s facilities is nothing new. The 33-year-old signal-caller is reportedly seeking a pay raise for this upcoming season, as he’s due to make $4.88 million in base salary in 2026, which puts him near the bottom of the league among current starters. Brissett threw for 3,366-23-8 in 14 games for the Cardinals last season while completing 64.9 percent of his passes. Playing on a team that’s in the middle of a rebuild, it seems unlikely that Brissett will remain the starter through the duration of the season, but it’s clear the career backup is hoping to make the most of his situation. Assuming he doesn’t report to OTAs, the next date to watch will be June 8th, when the Cardinals are scheduled to hold their first day of mandatory minicamp.
Fautanu said he was unsure if the move to left tackle would be permanent, but given the current situation with Broderick Jones and his neck injury, it wouldn’t be surprising if Fautanu played on the left side for most of the season. The team’s decision not to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option has also likely led to the decision to explore a new option at left tackle, and the selection of rookie Max Iheanachor in the first round of this year’s draft allows that flexibility. Fautanu has allowed two sacks on 663 career pass-blocking snaps, but will face a tougher challenge lining up on the left side.
Jones was in uniform and participated in warm-ups, but according to The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, he did not take part in any team drills. Jones is still working his way back from a neck injury that required a fusion surgery in March. Jones recently suffered a setback in his recovery, which likely factored into the team’s decision to decline his fifth-year option, but his presence at OTAs, even in a limited capacity, is an encouraging sign.
Speaking with Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Loomis declined to commit to keeping Kamara on the roster for this upcoming season. Kamara, who will turn 31 in July, is expected to lose significant work to free agent signee Travis Etienne, and the Saints are reportedly interested in adjusting his $10.4 million cap number if they do opt to keep him. Kamara is in the final year of his deal and has missed 13 games over the last three years. He had one of his worst seasons as a pro in 2025, totaling 657 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown while averaging a career-low 4.0 yards per touch. It sounds like there’s still a lot to be figured out here, but it’s worth noting that Kamara is on record saying he “couldn’t be happier” about having Etienne on the roster. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him and the Saints come to an agreement that satisfies both sides for this upcoming season, but those discussions don’t appear to have taken place.
After signing a one-year deal with the team over the weekend, Rodgers is officially back in Pittsburgh for the start of next season. The 42-year-old signal-caller was “one of the first guys in the building,” according to Pryor, and will be on the practice field for the first day of practice. Rodgers helped lead the Steelers to a 10-6 finish last season, providing adequate play at the position to keep the offense on schedule despite being more of a dink-and-dunk passer. We wouldn’t expect Rodgers to air it out any more than he did last year, but the addition of Michael Pittman gives him two solid receivers to work with along with Pat Freiermuth at tight end.
According to Breer, Alexander is comfortable in his current position and “wanted to see the building of the 2026 team through.” Alexander has been with the Chargers since 2024 and previously served as the Jets’ director of player personnel (2019-2023). He’s risen through the ranks since first joining the Ravens in 1999 as a pro personal assistant, and could field more offers for future GM openings if the Chargers have a strong season in 2026.
Fantasy managers will want to tuck this away in the memory bank for later. Harris said that “just based on last year’s late-season production,” he would give the edge to Davis, but said the team has confidence in second-year backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah as well. Davis is a fifth-year veteran of the league who has spent his entire career with the Cowboys, surviving multiple training camp cuts and stints on the practice squad to remain with the team. Last season, Davis rushed 52 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and has a career rushing line of 90-411-3. His limited ability in the passing game could work against him while Blue and Mafah attempt to secure the RB2 role for themselves, but Davis could prove to be the early-season handcuff for Williams in fantasy.
The deal is fully guaranteed for the first three seasons before a semi-team option occurs in year four, bringing $821,574 in guarantees in 2029. Cisse has every opportunity to carve out a significant role in his rookie year after the team retooled its secondary the previous two offseasons.
The completely guaranteed deal also includes a fifth-year team option due to his draft capital and a $11.598 million signing bonus. Iheanachor should immediately enter the starting lineup on the blind side of whichever quarterbacks starts under center for the Steelers, with the odds-on favorite still veteran Aaron Rodgers.
Wharton missed eight games in 2025 fresh off a $45 million contract extension and reportedly underwent surgery in early May on his neck. While it sounds like the PUP list is a near certainty, sources confirmed that the expectation is for Wharton to play at some point in the 2026 season.