NFL Player News

McEvoy’s stay in New Orleans lasted less than a week. The Saints also released OG Don Barclay, DT Jay Bromley, WR Michael Floyd, DE George Johnson, OG Josh LeRibeus, DB Robert Nelson Jr., T Michael Ola, TE John Phillips, QB Tom Savage, WR Brandon Tate, G Andrew Tiller and DB Marcus Williams (not the one who gave up the Minneapolis Miracle last year). In addition to those moves, TE Michael Hoomanawanui and RB Shane Vereen were placed on injured reserve while RB Mark Ingram has been moved to Reserve/Suspended list.

It’s an interesting list of teams. Just a few hours ago, Rapoport’s colleague, Tom Pelissero, reported that the Dolphins and Browns, among other teams, were calling around about trade-up opportunities. Per Rapoport, the potential candidates to be drafted are Miami QB Carson Beck, Penn State QB Drew Allar and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier.

Schultz celebrated Branch’s “combination of elite speed/quickness, return ability and electric playing style,” noting he heard Branch received “potential upside” comparisons to Ravens WR Zay Flowers. The two are built similarly. Branch stands 5'9/177 while Flowers stands 5'9/183. Succeeding despite such a diminutive stature is not easy in the NFL. Time will tell if NFL teams believe Branch can pull it off. Stay tuned.

Two days ago, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported that Bell is ahead of schedule. Bell tore his ACL on November 22nd, 2025. On December 10th, 2025, ESPN reported that he was set to undergo ACL reconstruction later that week. Returning by late July would be roughly seven months post-op. Players often return from ACL reconstruction 9-12 months post-op. We don’t know what to make of the return projection, but we are happy to hear his rehab program is going well. Schultz adds that Bell is a player to watch on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Rams drafted former Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick last night, and were quick to assure fans that Stafford is their starting quarterback “of the present and the future.” Getting a multi-year deal done as soon as possible should quiet concerns about his status with the team. Stafford is currently under contract for only the 2026 season.

Per Fowler, Jets TE Kenyon Sadiq “was also believed to be part of the Rams’ first-round conversation at some point,” along with Cowboys S Caleb Downs. Both the former USC wide receiver and the former Oregon tight end were available when the Rams were on the clock. The former Ohio State safety was taken two picks earlier. The Rams are slated to pick 29th in Rounds 2 and 3 today. Given their interest in Lemon, a slot/Z-receiver, and Sadiq, a receiving tight end, it would be unsurprising to see them draft a pass catcher today.

Pelissero does not think the Steelers would be targeting a quarterback in a trade-up scenario, saying instead that the move “could make some sense” for a wide receiver. Steelers hearts broke last night when the Eagles traded up to draft former USC WR Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick. The Steelers got so far as to call Lemon to tell him their intentions when the Cowboys were on the clock with pick No. 20. Unfortunately, the Eagles made their move at the exact same moment, swapping picks with the Cowboys so they could leapfrog the Steelers and draft Lemon before Pittsburgh could. It appears as though the Steelers are still in the market for a rookie wide receiver, though. Stay tuned.

Pelissero echoed NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s phrasing from a report issued earlier today, saying it sounds like the 49ers are “very open” to fielding trade offers for the No. 33 overall pick. Pelissero mentions Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald, Washington WR Denzel Boston, Miami QB Carson Beck and Tennessee CBs Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy as possible targets.

It’s hard to ignore how disenchanted McVay looked at the press conference following the team’s decision to draft the heir apparent to Matthew Stafford in the first-round of the draft on Thursday night. McVay, was quick to point out that “this is Matthew’s team” when asked about the pick, and didn’t appear too interested in discussing the selection when pressed. Despite these things, Fowler said sources familiar with the situation believed McVay was “absolutely” on board with GM Les Snead’s decision to make the selection, with another adding that the two were “in lockstep” the entire way. Only time will tell how things unfold from here, but given the overall shock of he pick and McVay’s first reaction after, it’s understandable that people have questions about where things stand between McVay and Snead, who have made a handful of “win now” moves this offseason after falling just short of appearing in the Super Bowl last year. Simpson is unlikely to see the field much in 2026 barring an injury to Stafford and could be stuck for multiple years behind Stafford should he opt to play beyond next season.

The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks entered the draft with just four picks, with Schneider saying in the days leading up to the draft that the team would “be looking to move back.” With no deal in place, the Seahawks went out and addressed a glaring need at running back with the selection of Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price with the No. 32 overall pick. Price figures to see an early workload as a rookie with Zach Charbonnet (Achilles) likely to miss a good portion of the season and Kenneth Walker now with the Chiefs. Standing in his way, at least for now, is Emanuel Wilson, who rushed for 125-496-3 with the Packers last season, but Price feels like a fairly safe bet to at least open the 2026 season in a committee with Wilson, but with only 15 career receptions to his name he could be at risk of sitting on most third downs. With two Day 2 picks at their disposal (No. 64 and No. 96), it’s possible Schneider still finds a way to acquire more picks later in the draft to give the Seahawks more options beyond the fourth-round pick they currently hold on Day 3.

Schultz also reports that the Cardinals and Bills have “received calls about potential trades at the top of Round 2.” The Niners currently hold the first pick of the second round and enter the day with a total of eight picks left to make. They traded out of the first round on Thursday with the Jets, who used the 30th overall pick to select Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. In a draft that seems to lack notable talent after the first round, sliding back to acquire more picks could be a common theme on Day 2.