NFL Player News

McCarron had been fighting for slot reps while Julian Edelman is suspended. His release is a bit surprising since he sat out Thursday’s preseason finale. The Pats should look to stash the 2017 UDFA on the practice squad.

Smart move. The Raiders are widely expected to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick and currently field an extremely thin wide receiver corps. The Raiders’ second draft pick is No. 36 overall, which could be used to draft a No. 1 wide receiver. Given Bonsignore’s “deep” comment, we expect them to take multiple players at the position. The team recently hosted Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, who is currently viewed as a candidate to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second. Tre Tucker, 25, is the Raiders’ most proven wide receiver, though he caught just 57-of-90 targets for 696 yards and five touchdowns last year. Other penciled-in starters include WR Jack Bech, WR Dont’e Thornton and WR Jalen Nailor. All three failed to earn 50 or more targets last year.

Per Klis, Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr., Washington RB Jonah Coleman, Kentucky RB Seth McGowan, Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson, Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton and Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss are among the “possibilities” at running back. Klis is not declaring that a running back will be the pick. Reports on the Broncos’ backfield simply remain somewhat in flux. The team re-signed veteran RB J.K. Dobbins to a two-year, $20 million contract this offseason and it remains to be seen whether last year’s 60th overall pick, RB RJ Harvey, is a real candidate to be the team’s long-term starter. For now, Dobbins appears to be slated for Week 1 starting duties, but Harvey or a rookie could challenge him for the role.

Reader, 31, played for the Lions last year, earning a 68.9 PFF defense grade. He totaled 18 solo tackles, one TFL and 20 quarterback pressures. The latter figure is impressive for a player listed at 6'3"/330. He should be able to meaningfully contribute again in 2026.

Cushenberry is not an elite player, but he respectably earned a 65.5 PFF pass-blocking grade during the 2025 regular season. The Bills also signed OL Austin Corbett, formerly of the Panthers. Corbett earned a 66.7 PFF run-blocking grade last year and has experience at right guard, left guard and center. The Bills signed WR Trent Sherfield, formerly of the Cardinals, as well. He is unlikely to be relevant in fantasy. All three players are on one-year contracts.

Witherspoon, 31, gets a one-year deal. The signing reunites the veteran cornerback with Commanders general manager Adam Peters. Witherspoon entered the NFL as a third-round pick with the 49ers back in 2017, the same year that Peters was hired as the 49ers’ vice president of player personnel. Witherspoon intercepted one pass while playing in eight games last year.

Robinson signed a four-year, $78 million contract in free agency. Washington is a free agent next year. Robinson’s career average receiving totals handily best Washington’s, but Shipley believes Washington has the potential to “blow Robinson’s resumé out of the water with a solid season.” Robinson cleared 130 targets and 90 receptions in consecutive seasons and totaled 1,014 yards and four touchdowns last year. Washington caught 58-of-88 targets for 847 yards and five touchdowns last year. It is his first time clearing 390 yards. That said, Washington broke out in 2025 and operated as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. At least one beat reporter believes he can carry his 2025 momentum into 2026. The Jaguars’ receiving corps pecking order is worth tracking this offseason.

Schefter detailed his conversation with the Browns while speaking to Pat McAfee, adding that the Browns “couldn’t have been stronger” in their remarks. Garrett’s recently reworked deal gives the Browns more salary cap flexibility, so this report makes sense. Could the Browns’ front office still listen to trade offers? Absolutely. For now, it sounds like the Browns plan to keep him, though.

Goodson was slated to be a restricted free agent, but the Colts balked. He’s a decent third-down back, but behind Bijan Robinson he figures to offer little fantasy value in his age-26 season. At least his last name isn’t also “Robinson,” unlike some backups in this backfield.

Mostly a special teamer, Malone played 327 defensive snaps during his four-year rookie contract with the Falcons — 216 of them came in his rookie season. He’ll compete for a roster spot if he lands in Tampa Bay.

The NFLRA opened the session with a counterproposal and the NFL rejected it and unilaterally left the bargaining table despite talks that were supposed to last for two days. Combine this with the NFL Competition Committee sneaking a proposal on that lets New York unilaterally correct officials in the event of a labor stoppage — including throwing flags on to the field from New York — and you can see that the groundwork for a lockout is clearly being established. The league is reportedly hoping to move annual bonus money toward “high-performing officials” and increase the probationary period for new officials from three years to four. The current labor agreement expires in May. There is, of course, still time for both sides to come back to the table. But the current tenor of negotiations is not looking promising.