NFL

Less than a month ago, McNair went on record at the annual league meetings saying the Texans are “totally behind” Stroud. Now, McNair has doubled down on those comments, hoping to cast aside any speculation that the team has doubts about Stroud being the quarterback best suited to lead the Texans for the foreseeable future. The Texans have exercised the fifth-year option on Stroud, keeping him under contract through 2027, and are expected to offer him an extension sometime next year. Stroud has struggled to regain his rookie form after throwing for 4,108-23-5 in 2023, but has led them to a 28-18 record and a postseason berth in each of his three seasons. Hopefully, with more offensive weapons around him next season and an improved running game, the Texans can relieve some pressure from Stroud as he enters his fourth season.

The Falcons continue to talk like a team expecting to be without Penix at the start of training camp, while holding out some hope that anything could change those expectations. Ryan is the latest dance around the topic, while back in March, head coach Kevin Stefanski said the team was “not gonna rush him” back to the field, and before that, it was reported that the team expects to be healthy “at some point in training camp.” For what it’s worth, Ryan did say he thinks Penix is “in a good spot right now,” but that can mean one of many things. Until he returns, Tua Tagovailoa is expected to operate as the QB1 and will likely have the inside edge to start in Week 1, the longer Penix remains out of commission.

Bell was a seventh-round pick by the Patriots in 2024 and has caught two career passes for 20 yards in 15 games. The athletic tight end who was treated as a TE/HB hybrid in college has struggled to catch on as a full-time tight end in the pros. He could have a chance to earn a spot on the Steelers’ 53-man roster in training camp, but it’s hard to imagine him making much of an impact on offense even if he sticks on the roster.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to report the signing. Taylor, 36, has spent the last two seasons with the Jets and made four starts for them in 2025, throwing for 779-5-5 while completing 59.7 percent of his passes. The veteran signal-caller will serve as the new backup to Jordan Love after Malik Willis left for Miami earlier this offseason. Taylor hasn’t had many opportunities for success over the last four seasons while splitting time between the Giants and Jets, but with 15 years of NFL experience and 100 career games under his belt he should be a serviceable backup for the Packers if called upon for a spot start or two.

It’s unclear whether this is a report from inside the building or Dulac speculating, but regardless, it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the Steelers are growing tired of waiting for the 42-year-old quarterback to make his decision. The Steelers recently applied the rarely used unrestricted free-agent tender to Rodgers, giving them the right of first refusal and a chance to match any offer Rodgers may receive from another team. The Steelers have quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on the roster and also used the No. 76 overall pick in this year’s draft to select Penn State’s Drew Allar. Head coach Mike McCarthy will have multiple options at his disposal if Rodgers doesn’t return, but he remains their best option if he opts to continue playing.

Richardson stayed away during the previous two weeks, but showed up on Monday to join the team. The former No. 4 overall pick, who recently had his fifth-year option declined, is hoping to be traded or released before the start of next season, but he doesn’t appear to be on the move at this time. With second-year QB Riley Leonard expected to see most of the first-team reps while Daniel Jones continues to recover from his Achilles injury, Richardson will likely handle backup duties during drills if he continues to report. Richardson is in the final year of his rookie deal and appeared in only two games last season, completing 1-of-2 passes for nine yards.

Haener signed a deal with the Chiefs back in February and is now in search of a new home. The 27-year-old signal caller became expendable with the addition of Garrett Nussmeier, and was one of three players waived to make room for recent signings on the 90-man roster. Haener was a fourth-round pick by the Saints back in 2023 and has appeared in eight games in his career, throwing for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while completing 46.2 percent of his passes. In addition to Haener, DE Ethan Hurkett and DT Zacch Pickens were also let go by the Chiefs.

Hopkins, 33, spent last season playing for Burrow’s AFC North rival Ravens. He posted a 22/330/2 receiving line. Hopkins is no longer an elite wide receiver, but he could be helpful for Burrow in fantasy, potentially operating as the team’s WR4. Unfortunately, Over The Cap lists the Bengals with the fourth-lowest salary cap space. Perhaps Hopkins will be willing to take a low-cost deal to play with Burrow.

Lane stands 6'4/200 with 10.5" hands and an 80.75" wingspan. It’s a unique build in the Ravens’ wide receiver corps. Lane is reportedly slated for a perimeter-bound role and will have a chance to establish himself as the team’s second receiver in two-wide receiver sets alongside No. 1 WR Zay Flowers. For Lane to become FLEX-viable in year one, he will have to contend with Ravens TE Mark Andrews and the unit’s newly reinforced depth. That is a tall order for a third-round pick. With fourth-round rookie WR Elijah Sarratt expected to man the slot, Lane may run few fast-developing routes in the open field, making him a potentially volatile producer even in the best-case scenario.

This role comes with positives and negatives. Lining up in the slot gives the receiver a chance to run routes against linebackers and safeties. It can also mean he is forced to leave the field when the offense switches to two-wide receiver sets — a role that fellow rookie, boundary WR Ja’Kobi Lane, will likely get the first crack at. Sarratt logged 2,435 snaps lined up on the perimeter and 396 lined up in the slot in college, but he was very efficient on a per-route basis in the latter role. Sarratt’s training camp progress is worth following closely. The slot role will give him the chance to earn PPR-friendly lay-up targets, but he may need to command at least a mild-to-moderate perimeter snap share to become a matchup-based FLEX starter.