The New York Jets have signed running back Breece Hall to a three-year contract extension worth $45.75m, securing one of their key offensive players.
The lucrative agreement includes $29m in guaranteed money for the standout offensive weapon.
With an average annual salary of $15.25m, the 25-year-old now ranks as the NFL’s third-highest-paid player at his position behind Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.
He had previously received the franchise tag in February, which would have forced him to play the 2026 campaign on a $14.3m one-year deal had a long-term agreement not been reached.
Surviving the trade deadline
The significant financial commitment represents a dramatic shift in direction after the former second-round draft pick was heavily linked with a trade away from Florham Park last autumn.
General manager Darren Mougey opted to retain the prolific rusher to build around him, despite offloading star defenders Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the November deadline.
Negotiations were temporarily paused in March to accommodate draft preparations before concluding successfully this week with his representatives at Klutch Sports.
“Cried for the first time since I tore my ACL. This day really hit different for me man.”
The emotional reaction was shared by the player on the social media platform X shortly after the agreement became public.
A rare bright spark for a struggling franchise
The dynamic ball-carrier amassed a career-best 1,065 rushing yards during the 2025 season despite operating within a struggling team that finished with a dismal 3-14 record.
His production through the air was less impactful, yielding just 36 receptions, though new offensive coordinator Frank Reich will be tasked with better utilising those receiving skills.
Since entering the professional ranks, the explosive runner has accumulated 5,040 total scrimmage yards over four seasons.
He will now serve as a primary building block alongside wide receiver Garrett Wilson and newly drafted rookies Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr as the franchise attempts to rebuild.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after being placed on the reserve list with a long-standing neck issue.
The 26-year-old has not taken to the field since October 2024.
He sustained the severe injury while attempting to tackle Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, which led to a brief hospitalisation.
Recovery timeline remains uncertain
This marks the second consecutive year the Ohio franchise has moved the defender to the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Doubts over his immediate playing future had already been raised earlier this year.
“I wasn’t overly optimistic,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry admitted at the NFL combine in February when discussing the linebacker’s availability for the 2026 campaign.
From Pro Bowl peak to academic pursuits
The former Notre Dame standout had established himself as a premier talent prior to his prolonged absence.
He earned his first Pro Bowl selection during a stellar 2023 campaign, registering a career-high 101 tackles.
That exceptional form prompted Cleveland to reward him with a three-year contract extension worth up to $39m (£30.8m) in August 2024.
Focusing on life off the pitch
With his professional sporting career temporarily on hold, the American is shifting his attention to the classroom.
He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School this autumn.
The Minnesota Vikings have agreed a one-year deal worth up to $13m with free-agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
The 28-year-old’s arrival provides crucial offensive depth behind star pass-catching duo Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
He directly replaces Jalen Nailor, who departed for the Las Vegas Raiders on a lucrative three-year contract in March.
Searching for proven quality
Head coach Kevin O’Connell specifically targeted an established veteran to support his formidable receiving corps.
While the franchise possesses promising second-year talent in Tai Felton, the recent draft pick saw limited action during his rookie campaign.
The Minnesota offence also required reinforcements following the retirement of emergency backup Adam Thielen at the end of last season.
Overcoming injury setbacks
The former San Francisco 49ers pass-catcher endured a challenging final season in California hampered by rib, ankle and shoulder issues.
Despite those physical setbacks, the aggressive blocker still managed to lead his former employers with nine receiving touchdowns last term.
That gritty performance followed a spectacular 2024 campaign where he amassed 77 catches for 975 yards.
An emotional departure
The 2020 draft pick had established himself as a fierce competitor renowned for successfully agitating opposition defenders.
A highly anticipated long-term extension with the Niners ultimately failed to materialise after a frustrating contract stalemate during training camp.
The departing playmaker previously expressed deep emotion when discussing the possibility of leaving the franchise that originally drafted him.
Four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend with the intention of playing for the franchise during the 2026 NFL season.
While no formal agreement is currently in place, sources indicate the veteran caller is highly likely to commit his future to the Pennsylvania organisation.
Steelers president Art Rooney II previously expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved shortly, despite an initial expectation of a definitive answer prior to the NFL draft.
However, general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike McCarthy have both insisted there is no strict deadline for the 42-year-old to make his final decision.
Khan indicated that ongoing negotiations with the unattached free agent have “all been positive and good.”
Exclusive negotiating rights secured
In order to protect their interests while the former Green Bay Packer evaluated his options, Pittsburgh applied a rarely used unrestricted free agent tender late last month.
This strategic move ensures the team will receive a compensatory draft pick should the seasoned signal-caller choose to sign elsewhere.
If he accepts the tender, he will receive a 10% pay increase from his previous salary, guaranteeing him approximately $15m for the upcoming campaign.
Furthermore, the tender grants the Steelers exclusive negotiating rights if he remains unsigned by 22 July, or the start of the team’s training camp.
A successful reunion in Pittsburgh
The future Hall of Famer adapted seamlessly to life in Pittsburgh during the 2025 season after signing a one-year contract ahead of their June minicamp.
Despite fracturing his wrist and missing a Week 12 clash against the Chicago Bears, he still guided the team to a 10-6 record across his 16 starts.
He concluded the year having completed 65.7% of his passes, throwing 24 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions.
Committing to the 2026 season would extend his successful reunion with McCarthy, under whom he famously won a Super Bowl championship following the 2010 season.
Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson is weighing a contract offer to join the New York Jets against a potential move into television broadcasting.
The 37-year-old visited the franchise last week to discuss becoming the primary backup to current starting quarterback Geno Smith.
However, the veteran passer is also holding discussions with CBS Sports regarding a studio analyst role for their NFL coverage.
Decision looms for experienced playmaker
Speaking at a charity event in New York on Wednesday, the former Seattle Seahawks star confirmed he has multiple options on the table.
“They offered me, and I’m trying to figure out what the next best thing is for me to do,” he told the New York Post.
“I still know I can play ball at a high level, but I also have the opportunity to do TV, so we’ll see what happens.”
The Jets are eager to add valuable experience to a depth chart that currently features inexperienced backups Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and rookie fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik.
Reuniting with a familiar face
Accepting the proposal would reunite the seasoned play-caller with Smith, with whom he shared a quarterback room for three seasons in Seattle.
The Jets consulted Smith on potential additions to the roster, and the established starter reportedly spoke highly of his former colleague.
Wilson spent last season on a $10.5m (£8.3m) one-year deal with the New York Giants, but was benched after starting the campaign with three consecutive defeats.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich has thrown his full support behind Smith as the undisputed leader of the offense.
“We’re getting the best version of who he is,” Reich stated during his first media availability.
“And I think his best football’s ahead of him.”
Las Vegas Raiders’ number one draft pick Fernando Mendoza will skip the Indiana Hoosiers’ celebratory visit to the White House to focus on his rookie preparations.
The 22-year-old was instrumental in leading Indiana to their first ever national championship.
The championship-winning team has been invited to Washington D.C. on 11 May by US President Donald Trump to commemorate their success.
However, the Heisman Trophy winner has opted out of the trip, citing a desire to make a strong impression on his new NFL employers.
Rookie prioritises team practice
The Boston-born star expressed concerns that attending the presidential reception would conflict with the Raiders’ Organised Team Activities (OTAs).
“If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza explained.
“I’ve got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice.”
The quarterback emphasised that his primary goal is to serve his new teammates as he transitions to the professional level.
“I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie I don’t think that’s a good look,” he added.
Scheduling discrepancy and college legacy
Despite the player’s scheduling concerns, the official Las Vegas Raiders website lists their rookie workouts as beginning on 18 May.
This timeline leaves a one-week gap between the White House ceremony and the start of official team activities in Nevada.
The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft leaves behind a historic collegiate legacy before moving to Las Vegas.
The former Hoosiers quarterback threw for 222 yards to secure a 13-10 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game.
He later completed 16 passes for 186 yards and rushed for a touchdown as Indiana defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to claim the national title.
The Indianapolis Colts have declined to exercise quarterback Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year contract option for the 2027 season, ensuring he will become an unrestricted free agent after 2026.
Friday marked the official NFL deadline for franchises to activate the fifth-year extensions on their 2023 first-round draft selections.
Activating the clause for the fourth overall pick would have committed the franchise to a guaranteed salary exceeding $22m.
Trade requests and uncertain future
This contractual decision further clouds the future of a player who was named the starting signal-caller just two weeks into his inaugural training camp.
The former first-round selection formally requested a trade in February and subsequently received permission to negotiate with other organisations regarding a potential move.
His desire for a fresh start follows the Colts’ recent commitment to Daniel Jones, who signed a lucrative two-year, $88m extension to become the established starter.
Amid the ongoing uncertainty, the former University of Florida standout has elected to bypass the team’s voluntary off-season workout programme.
Injuries blight early career
Despite the apparent friction, general manager Chris Ballard recently maintained that a reconciliation remains entirely possible.
“There’s definitely a scenario there,” Ballard said in March.
“He’s a good dude and he’s talented. I still want good for Anthony. I still think he’s got a lot in him.”
The raw prospect has endured a turbulent start to his professional career, severely hampered by recurring physical setbacks.
He missed 17 matches across his opening two campaigns and spent the majority of last season on injured reserve after sustaining an orbital fracture during a freak pre-game warmup accident.
In his 17 total appearances over three seasons, the heavily scrutinised prospect has recorded an underwhelming 50.6% completion rate, throwing 11 touchdowns alongside 13 interceptions.
The Dallas Cowboys’ acquisition of safety Caleb Downs has been ranked as the premier selection of the 2026 NFL Draft following a comprehensive review.
Evaluators analysed all 257 prospects selected over the three-day event to determine the top 100 acquisitions across the league.
The final rankings heavily factored in predraft value, scheme fit, addressed roster needs and the draft capital exchanged in trades.
A significant 40% of the top-rated moves came from Day 3 selections, highlighting the exceptional value found by franchises in the later rounds.
Cowboys secure defensive cornerstone
Downs was taken with the 11th overall pick in the first round but was widely regarded by scouts as a top-three draft talent.
The three-time All-American is expected to become an immediate playmaker within new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s revitalised system.
With his elite football intelligence and culture-setting abilities, the national champion is projected to develop into an All-Pro contributor during his rookie contract.
Raiders and Chiefs make aggressive moves
The Las Vegas Raiders secured what many consider the biggest steal of the weekend by drafting Jermod McCoy in the fourth round.
The highly rated cornerback originally fell to the 101st overall pick due to ongoing medical concerns surrounding a January 2025 anterior cruciate ligament tear.
However, the defensive back proved his fitness and explosive speed with a blistering 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pre-draft workout.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs completed a decisive trade up from the ninth spot to select Mansoor Delane at number six overall.
It marked a rare top-10 selection for the reigning dynasty, who aggressively pursued the only available defensive back possessing a consensus first-round grade.