NFL

Branch played 77.9 percent of his college snaps from the slot, per PFF, and at 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, it’s widely believed he will see most of his work in the slot as a pro. Despite this belief, Stefanski praised his rookie receiver for his versatility and ability to line up anywhere on the field, suggesting the Falcons could look to utilize him in multiple ways this season. After Drake London, the Falcons’ receiving depth gets very thin. Veterans Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus currently project as the team’s other two starting receivers, but Branch, a third-round pick in this year’s draft, could look to unseat either vet in camp to earn some early playing time. Branch caught 81 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns last season at Georgia, setting career-highs in every receiving metric.

Browns GM Andrew Berry said in February that he wasn’t “overly optimistic” about the possibility of Owusu-Koramoah playing in 2026 after the linebacker suffered a neck injury in 2024 that also sidelined him for all of 2025. It seems increasingly likely that Owusu-Koramoah’s career may be over, which was speculated earlier this offseason as well. He totaled 61 tackles and three sacks in eight games when he last played in 2024.

According to The Athletic’s Mike Kaye, the Panthers converted Horn’s 2026 salary earlier in the week, which freed up enough cap space for the Panthers to sign six draft picks and 10 UDFAs on Thursday. Horn signed a four-year extension with the Panthers in 2025 and remains under contract through the 2029 season. Last year he totaled 37 tackles, eight pass breakups, and five interceptions in 16 games and has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the last two seasons.

Styles will get a fully guaranteed $37.2 million on his rookie deal. The rookie linebacker is expected to immediately fill the hole left by Bobby Wagner, who remains a free agent after spending the last two seasons with the Commanders. Styles, 21, totaled 182 tackles in his final two seasons at Ohio State after making the switch from safety to linebacker, and is one of the most physically gifted rookies of the 2026 draft class. He’ll look to help the Commanders turn around a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed and last in total yards allowed last season.

The deal includes an $8 million base salary. Jennings can make an extra $5 million via incentives. This will be Jennings’ first time playing for a team other than the 49ers, who drafted him in the 2020 NFL Draft’s seventh round. Jennings, 28, caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns last year. He should start in three-wide receiver sets alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jefferson will rarely leave the field, but one wonders if Jennings (6'3/212) might be able to steal snaps from Addison (5'11/175) in two-wide receiver sets, in part due to Jennings’ run-blocking ability. Addison, 24, is the more talented receiver, so we expect him to remain the No. 2 target earner, but this dynamic is worth keeping an eye on in training camp. For now, Jennings can be viewed as a WR4/FLEX, while Jefferson sits in the WR1 tier and Addison in the WR2/3 range.

Per Over The Cap, the contract is worth $7.09 million. Forecasting Branch’s year one fantasy relevance is difficult. He stands just 5'9/177 and generated much of his receiving production in the screen game last year. That said, he is a very talented player with the ball in his hands and the Falcons’ wide receiver corps thins out quickly behind No. 1 WR Drake London. Veterans WRs Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus are penciled in as the Nos. 2 and 3 players in his position group. Unseating one, or both, is possible.

Sadiq, 21, posted a 52/568/8 receiving line in his third and final season at Oregon before clocking a record-setting 4.39-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He should operate as the Jets’ primary receiving tight end in year one, while second-year TE Mason Taylor handles blocking duties. It could be tough for Sadiq to produce as a fantasy TE1 as a rookie if he is limited to playing in 12 personnel, but training camp reports should clarify his expected usage. Sadiq’s $22.3 million contract is fully guaranteed.

Baccellia’s release comes with a failed physical designation. He suffered a neck injury in Week 15 last year and was taken off the field on a stretcher. Hopefully, he can successfully rehab the injury and return to the NFL at some point.

Joly earned first-team All-ACC honors while leading NC State with 49 receptions and seven receiving touchdowns last year. It will be tough for him to earn snaps in year one, with veteran TE Evan Engram in-house, but Joly could compete for a starting role in the long run.

Giants GM Joe Schoen recently said Fields will be the “power forward” in the team’s wide receiver corps, jumping for contested catches and blocking on the perimeter. Fields has a chance to play in year one, with speedster WR Darius Slayton coming off another sub-600-yard season. Fields warrants final-round consideration in best ball formats. Expectations must be tempered.