NFL Player News

Coach Mike Tomlin indicated Tuesday that second-round rookie Marcus Gilbert will replace Willie Colon at right tackle, but the team still needs veteran depth. Willis didn’t play a down last season after starting 16 games for Seattle in 2009.

Dell continues to rehab from a gruesome knee injury he suffered in Week 16 of the 2024 season. That injury caused him to miss all of 2025, and while there’s hope he will be ready for Week 1 this season, the Texans continue to take it “day to day,” per Caserio. Caserio added that Dell has been in the building more now that he’s able to do more on his knee, which is an optimistic sign, but he also noted that the team will be open to taking a receiver in this year’s draft if there’s a player they like available to them. Dell has a career receiving line of 98-1,376-10 in 25 games and has also served as their punt returner.

Sample was a fourth-round pick of the Bengals back in 2021 and has appeared in 61 games since joining the team. Playing primarily as a pass-rusher, Sample has totaled seven sacks in his career and 66 pressures, per PFF. He’ll likely serve in a similar situational role with the Niners this upcoming season.

Speaking during the Lions’ pre-draft press conference, Holmes said the Lions have not exercised the options for Gibbs or LB Jack Campbell, who also has a fifth-year option the team needs to decide on. Both Gibbs and Campbell are safe bets to have their options picked up, which would keep them under contract through 2027. While Gibbs emerged as one of the top backs in the league and totaled 1,800-plus yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons, Campbell earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2025, finishing the year with 175 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles, and nine TFLs. We would expect both players to have their options picked up in the coming weeks.

Reader visited with the Ravens last week and is now meeting with the Giants. The veteran lineman has spent the last two seasons with the Lions, totaling 51 tackles, three sacks, and four TFLs while starting all 32 games he appeared in.

When asked about the possibility of the Patriots acquiring A.J. Brown, Wolf opted to go with the broad answer while refusing to shut the door on the idea of a trade eventually being worked out with the Eagles. The Patriots remain the team most likely to acquire Brown at some point in the offseason, but talks have stalled as of late. There’s some belief that Brown will ultimately be dealt to the Patriots in June, when the salary-cap situation becomes more tenable for the Eagles to consider such a trade. For now, we will continue to wait and see, but don’t rule out the possibility of the Pats adding a high-impact receiver to help Drake Maye before training camp.

Allen, 33, spent last season with the Titans and has previous stops with the Broncos, Bengals, and 49ers. The former sixth-round pick has seen little action since 2020, when he threw for 925-5-4 in five games with the Bengals and attempted just 30 passes for the Titans last season, throwing for 72 yards and a pick. If he were to make the 53-man roster, Allen would likely serve as the Giants’ QB3, with Jameis Winston the presumed backup to Jaxson Dart this upcoming season.

Reid also reported last week that the Jets were “extremely high” on Cooper, who broke out last season at Indiana for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns on 69 receptions. Cooper has put together a solid last two seasons at Indiana and has made a name for himself as a good slot receiver who can generate plenty of yards after the catch. He saw a career-high 83.3 percent of his snaps come from the slot last season. With Garrett Wilson cemented on the outside and Adonai Mitchell showing flashes in his eight games with Gang Green last season, the addition of Cooper could give the Jets three solid, young receivers for the upcoming season if they were to take him.

With Tyreek Hill a free agent and Jaylen Waddle now in Denver, few teams find themselves in more need at receiver than the Dolphins. If the season were to start today, Miami would be rolling with the trio of Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, and Malik Washington, who combined for 70-712-5, as their top options. Lemon, who has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown, profiles primarily as a slot receiver after playing 75.6 percent of his career snaps from the slot in college. He would provide an immediate upgrade for Malik Willis, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract this offseason and is hoping to prove he can be the long-term answer at QB in the post-Tua Tagovailoa era.

The Read Optional’s Oliver Connolly broke the tragic news. Bain was cited for careless driving following a March 2024 collision. Four passengers were in his vehicle, two of whom were transported to the hospital. One passenger, Destiny Betts, entered a coma and passed away three months later. Bain’s charge was dropped approximately two weeks before Betts’ death. Betts’ family could still file a civil suit, though the family reportedly wishes Bain the best in his life and career. Bain was also reportedly cited for careless driving in 2025, with that incident later being dismissed. Per Connolly, multiple NFL sources “confirmed they are aware of the incident and are continuing to investigate.” One said that “it doesn’t feel like [Bain] has been transparent with us.” Another adds that they “are concerned about multiple incidents” and “are waiting for the other shoe.” Bain, 21, is widely regarded as one of the incoming class’ best EDGE prospects despite substandard size.

Achane, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Tyrel Dodson and C Aaron Brewer are all entering contract years. Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan previously referred to Achane, Brooks and Brewer as the team’s “three pillars,” yet today Kelly quotes him as saying, “nobody is untouchable in this business.” Kelly believes that Achane will be aiming to beat the four-year, $48 million contract extension that Bills RB James Cook signed in August 2025. Kelly also notes that the team will offer contracts sometime in the next two weeks, but that the Dolphins believe that other teams “will likely get serious about trying to acquire Miami’s top veterans.” Achane skipped the team’s April 7 voluntary workout in what head coach Jeff Hafley called “part of the business,” it wouldn’t be surprising if more business decisions happen in the future.