NFL Player News

Barton (6’5/313) was considered the 14th-best high school guard in the nation when he enrolled at Duke in August 2020. A former lacrosse player, Barton was awarded Duke’s Falcone Award for his commitment to strength and conditioning as a freshman when he played 430 snaps at C when their starter went down. He slid over to his permanent LT role in 2021, but struggled in pass protection allowing six sacks, 20 pressures and a 3.5% blown block rate in 747 snaps. 2022 is when it all came together for Barton, improving to 98.7% block efficiency with just two sacks and eight hurries to go with a sensational 88.2 PFF overall grade that ranked fourth among all FBS tackles that year. In fact, he was one of only two tackles nationally that earned 85th percentile grades in both run blocking and pass protection that season, which codified his excellence in both phases of the game. Last year a nagging lower body injury cost Barton four games and compromised him in multiple others, especially against UNC when he allowed four of his 11 total pressures on the year. The first-team All-ACC LT still managed to blow just 1.2% of his blocks and graded out at a 79th percentile level despite being hobbled. He didn’t test at the Combine, but Barton’s 32.875” length arms are amongst the shortest in the class and will likely relegate him to a guard/center role in the NFL, but since he played tackle for the last three years in college he’s grouped with the OTs in the ranks. Tampa in 2023 had the league’s 10th-best pass blocking unit, per PFF grades, and the third worst run blocking unit.

It was recently reported that Wilson was finalizing a contract to become a sports analyst with CBS, so the announcement of his retirement appears nothing more than a formality. The 14-year veteran amassed a remarkable 46,966 yards and 353 touchdowns in 205 appearances for the Seahawks, Broncos, Steelers, and Giants, winning Super Bowl XLVII with the Seahawks. He led the league in passing scores in 2017 and passer rating in 2015, also earning 10 Pro Bowl nods, most recently in 2024 with the Steelers, alongside Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Walter Payton Man of the Year awards. The Jets reportedly offered Wilson a contract earlier this spring but the Super Bowl champ ultimately decided to pursue broadcasting as a member of the CBS pregame crew.

Fresh off a two-year contract extension signed in April, Williams enters his 17th season in the league and said 2027 will “probably be his last.” The 12-time Pro Bowl tackle has been a mainstay for the 49ers up front since being acquired prior to the 2020 season, receiving All pro honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023. “I’m toying between the idea of going until I can’t no more and just leaving while I still got some good product left and I get ran out of the league, " Williams said Wednesday. “It’s hard not to compete when you can, so we’ll see.”

The warrant stems from a video recorded by Aiyuk in December in which the beleaguered receiver filmed himself speeding past Levi’s Stadium. Aiyuk remains a member of the 49ers but the team has publicly stated that he has played his last snap with the franchise. Expectations were that the 49ers were looking to trade Aiyuk following June 1, but the most recent fallout from his display of character could throw a wrench in any ongoing negotiations. He appears headed for a release, subjecting himself to the mercy of the free agent market that also includes other notable veteran wide receivers.

Koo has bounced around the league since leaving the Falcons and was ultimately unable to stick in New York long enough to compete with Cade York for the starting gig for the upcoming season. Expect Sanders to now compete with York in camp and preseason.

“The goal for me is to complete the season,” Parsons said Wednesday. “The goal has always been playoffs.” Parsons added that the team has a strict nine-month policy for ACL rehab for players with more than one tear and that he had an associated meniscus procedure in December. The updated timeline places Parsons back to full football activities some time in September, likely looking at October before he returns to the field for the Packers.

Kamara showed up for practice while his 2026 contract situation is very much in flux. Several reports over the past couple weeks have suggested Kamara, entering his age-31 season, won’t return to the Saints for the 2026 season after the team signed Travis Etienne during free agency. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in mid-May that he’s “trying to see” how Kamara might fit on the team’s roster. Kamara carries a $10.4 million cap hit coming into the 2026 season if the Saints keep him on the team in the coming weeks. Kamara, who had 471 rushing yards over 11 games last season, ranked 32nd out of 75 qualifying running backs in missed tackles forced per carry. He ranked 70th in yards after contact per carry.

This contradicts reports from last week that the Cardinals had received calls from potential suitors for Sweat as the veteran remains unsatisfied with his current contract situation. Sweat, who last season signed a four-year, $76.4 million deal with Arizona, racked up a dozen sacks and 17 quarterback hits last season for the bottom-dwelling Cards defense. It looks like, for now, Sweat will remain with the Cardinals. Arizona ranked 28th in QB pressure rate last season.

Vidal, Moton said, could drop to RB3 on the Chargers’ depth chart this offseason if free agent signing Keaton Mitchell is healthy following a 2024 knee injury that kept him sidelined for much of the 2025 season in Baltimore. The Chargers in march re-signed Vidal to a one-year deal as an exclusive rights free agent after he ran for 643 yards and three touchdowns during the 2025 season. He also caught 16 passes on 20 targets, mostly when Omarion Hampton was sidelined with injury. Look for Mitchell to gain steam in fantasy circles if Vidal leaves LA in the coming weeks or months.

Herbert told Popper that his arm feels “pretty good,” but he “can definitely tell that [he is] heading into Year 7.” Veterans often get rest days, so this is nothing to be alarmed about. New Chargers OC Mike McDaniel recently outlined his plan to bring out the best in Herbert. He expanded on that plan with Popper, saying he believes the Chargers “can create more explosive plays in the short area of the field,” while also mitigating the opposing pass rush. Aligning Herbert’s footwork and release with his receivers’ route timing is key. In the past, Herbert has relied on his arm strength to make tight window throws after watching his pass catchers get open. Now, the 28-year-old quarterback is working on “trusting [his receivers], and just throwing it to a spot and letting them go get it.” If it all comes together, Herbert’s per-play efficiency could increase while his pressure-to-sack rate decreases this season.

Berry fielded questions after trading EDGE Myles Garrett to the Rams in exchange for EDGE Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. Understandably, reporters wanted to know if Ward, whom the team drafted via the No. 4 overall pick in 2018, one year after the team drafted Garrett No. 1 overall, was also available for trade. Berry restructured both players’ contracts this offseason and told the media that Garrett was not on the trade block. He could be telling the truth here, but the fact remains that trading away a talented, yet aging, cornerback could net decent draft capital for a team that is seemingly attempting a speedy reset.