| |
Drake Maye: Past his shoulder issue
Thursday, May 7, 2026 11:43 AM
With regard to the right shoulder issue he managed ahead of Super Bowl LX, Maye noted Wednesday that he's doing "great," ESPN.com reports.
Mike Reiss of ESPN previously reported that Maye said he received a pain-killing injection for his throwing shoulder before his team's loss to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, a game in which the QB completed 27 of 43 passing attempts for 295 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Since then, Maye indicates that he's had "no problems at all" on that front, while confirming that he didn't require an offseason procedure. As the coming campaign approaches, the Patriots return a number of the key skill players that Maye worked with in 2025, with free-agent addition Romeo Doubs representing a notable addition to a wide receiver corps that no longer includes Stefon Diggs. Additionally, there's plenty of speculation that A.J. Brown could be headed to New England (via a trade with Philadelphia) on or after June 1, and if that ends up being the case, Maye's 2026 fantasy prospects would be boosted by the addition of a true WR1.
|
De'Zhaun Stribling: Pick motivated by intangibles?
Thursday, May 7, 2026 10:20 AM
The 49ers' selection of Stribling at No. 33 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft was partially motivated by the organization's strong belief in his personality, leadership and work ethic, according to Matt Barrow of The Athletic.
It also doesn't hurt to have 4.36 speed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds. Mock drafters nonetheless projected Stribling as a mid-round pick, for the most part, due to concerns about age (24 in December) and his lack of an elite statistical season in college (career highs of 882 yards and six TDs). Reasonable arguments both, though the latter concern is somewhat mitigated by his combination of early success (44-471-5 in 2021 at Washington State) and strong cumulative production (2,964 career receiving yards across three schools). It sounds like the 49ers are even more impressed by Stribling's intangibles/personality, having given him their "gold helmet" label -- a designation they use each year for a handful of prospects viewed as the best culture fits. The franchise clearly is invested in Stribling's success, but his immediate future may entail a not-so-glamorous competition for the No. 3 WR job in an offense that prefers FB Kyle Juszczyk over a third WR outside of clear passing situations. The 49ers also have Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson and 2025 fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins hoping to compete for depth roles behind Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall, both of whom missed large portions of 2025.
|
Aaron Rodgers: Discussing new deal with Pittsburgh
Thursday, May 7, 2026 9:59 AM
Rodgers is set to meet with Steelers officials in Pittsburgh this weekend as he looks to reach agreement on a deal to return to the team in 2026, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Per 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh, Rodgers is expected to sign with the Steelers over the weekend, but Rapoport relays that no deal has been finalized. In late April, Pittsburgh placed an unrestricted free agent tender on Rodgers, but since signing the tender would put the quarterback under contract for approximately $15 million in 2026, it's likely just a placeholder until he and the Steelers can work out a deal with more favorable financial terms. Applying the tender to Rodgers would also entitle the Steelers to a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere prior to July 22, though at this stage of the offseason, the 42-year-old isn't believed to have any serious suitors other than Pittsburgh. Until Rodgers puts pen to paper on a new deal, veteran Mason Rudolph will be the most experienced member of a Steelers quarterback room that includes 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar (ankle).
|
C.J. Stroud: Shedding weight
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 5:13 PM
Stroud improved his diet this offseason in an effort to lose weight, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com.
Stroud shouldn't lack for motivation, coming off a 2025 campaign in which he and his offensive line were the weak links on an otherwise loaded team. The Texans then picked up his fifth-year option this offseason, though it's not equivalent to a huge vote of confidence when the price tag ($25.9 million) is lower than what it costs to re-sign even a mediocre starting QB. There's still hope in Houston that Stroud can be more than mediocre, with help from a remade offensive line that added first-round pick Keylan Rutledge and veterans Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller and Evan Brown. The combination of better blocking and a locked-in QB could do wonders for Houston's offense, but even a slimmed-down version of Stroud is unlikely to offer much in the way of rushing stats for his fantasy managers.
|
Russell Wilson: Undecided between football and TV
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 4:23 PM
Wilson recently got a contract offer from the Jets, but he said Wednesday that he's undecided between continuing his football career and joining a television broadcast team, NFL.com's Kevin Patra reports.
Wilson, 37, would join the Jets as a backup to Geno Smith, who not so long ago served as Wilson's backup in Seattle. The Jets currently have Brady Cook, Cade Klubnik and Bailey Zappe behind Smith on the depth chart, so they may pursue a different veteran QB if Wilson ultimately follows the QB-to-TV pipeline (or chooses another NFL team).
|
Travis Hunter: Expected to play both WR and CB
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 4:00 PM
Jaguars GM James Gladstone said Wednesday that Hunter (knee) should be a "full go" for training camp and will continue playing on both sides of the ball, per The Rich Eisen Show.
Gladstone made similar comments about positional expectations in January, saying Hunter will play on both sides of the ball (without elaborating on the extent). Jacksonville brass may not even have an answer there internally, after Hunter's rookie season was cut short by an LCL tear at the end of October. Fellow WRs Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington then emerged down the stretch, teaming up with Brian Thomas to form a solid trio at the position. All three are still under contract, whereas Jacksonville lost CB Greg Newsome to the Giants in free agency, leaving a clear opening for a starting job. Conventional wisdom right now suggests Hunter will fill that job while working in a part-time role on offense. It's a reasonable expectation, yet best viewed as an evolving situation rather than a locked-in plan. For now, Hunter is a limited participant in the offseason program, with early workouts unlikely to provide any meaningful hint about his NFL future.
|
Eli Heidenreich: Listed as both RB and WR
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 3:38 PM
The Steelers list Heidenreich as both a running back and wide receiver on their official website, Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com reports.
The team roster and Heidenreich's player page both show 'RB/WR' as his position, reflecting uncertainty about his NFL future after a three-year run at Navy yielded 169 carries and 109 catches (for 3,151 yards and 23 TDs). A 4.44 40 at the combine confirmed that Heidenreich has NFL-caliber athleticism, but he's thin for a running back (6-feet, 198 pounds) and doesn't have much experience running routes from the perimeter. While there's always some chance the Steelers create a unique role in their offense for Heidenreich, the more likely reality for a seventh-round pick (230th overall) is that he'll need to show value on special teams and/or as the backup for a more conventional role (e.g., third-down back, slot receiver).
|
Tucker Kraft: Ahead of schedule in recovery
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 3:26 PM
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday that Kraft (ACL) is "a little bit ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a right ACL tear and that both he and Micah Parsons (ACL) are expected to be "back early in the [regular] season," Andrew Bandstra of Channel 3000 News reports.
Gutekunst previously labeled Kraft ahead of schedule in mid-January, and it appears the tight end's progress has continued on an encouraging track. He noted that Kraft is further along in his rehab than Parsons, which makes sense considering the timing of their respective ACL tears (early Nov. vs. mid-Dec.). Kraft, meanwhile, has stated that he's targeting a Week 1 return. He's entering his age-26 season and the final year of his deal with the Packers, though Gutekunst has confirmed talks regarding an extension are underway. After Green Bay allowed Romeo Doubs to sign elsewhere as a free agent (Patriots) and dealt Dontayvion Wicks in a trade (Eagles), Kraft is facing a clearer path to targets alongside returning wideouts Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden. In eight regular-season games prior to tearing his ACL in 2025, Kraft had emerged as Green Bay's leading receiver with 32 grabs for 489 yards and six scores on 44 targets.
|
Kenneth Walker: Could catch more passes with Chiefs
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 9:34 PM
Walker suggested Tuesday that he might have an opportunity to catch more passes with the Chiefs than he did with the Seahawks, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports.
On the heels of being named the most valuable player of Super Bowl LX, Walker inked a lucrative three-year deal to lead Kansas City's backfield this coming season. Edholm notes that Walker earned a reputation as a run-first back during his four-year stint with Seattle, but the 2022 second-rounder -- who logged 31 catches in 17 regular-season games in 2025 -- has reportedly been spending time with QB Patrick Mahomes (who is bouncing back from a December ACL/LCL injury) this offseason in anticipation of a potentially expanded role as a pass catcher. "We've been working on getting connected in the passing game and everything, so that's good," Walker said. "I feel like I'll be used more in the pass game." Either way, as the clear-cut RB1 for his new team, Walker figures to be busy out of the gate this coming season while Mahomes works his way back to form. Competing for complementary work behind Walker will be a pair of newcomers in rookie Emmett Johnson and free agent addition Emari Demercado, as well as 2025 seventh-rounder Brashard Smith.
|
Alvin Kamara: Open to working with Etienne
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 8:09 PM
Kamara (knee) indicated Monday that he's excited to team up with free agent addition Travis Etienne, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Since the Saints inked Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract in March, there's been speculation about Kamara's future with the team that drafted him back in 2017. For his part, the veteran running back -- who is bouncing back from a knee injury that cost him the last six games of the 2025 regular season -- is amenable to pairing with Etienne in New Orleans' backfield in 2026. "I watched (Etienne) in Jacksonville the last couple years and (he's) explosive," Kamara notes. "He hit home runs. He did it in college. Strong dude, seems smart...I'm excited to see what we can do together." For now, Kamara, who is under contract with the Saints for the coming campaign, remains in the mix to work with Etienne, but it's still possible the team will elect to move on from the 30-year-old at some point in the coming weeks/months. Also in the RB mix behind the current top duo are Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, Ty Chandler and Audric Estime.
|