NFL Player News

Brissett, the journeyman who last started for the Browns in 2022, “took all of the first-team reps, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt made clear that wasn’t a fluke, referring to Brissett as the starter,” according to Graff. First-rounder Drake Maybe, Graff said, will have to be the “clear winner” in a training camp competition with Brissett if he’s going to take over as New England’s opening day starter. “If the competition between them is even close, Brissett is probably under center in the opener,” Graff said. Brissett was solid as Cleveland’s starter in 2022, ranking third among all QBs in completion rate over expected and throwing 12 touchdowns along with six interceptions through ten starts. Maye will likely get the starting job once the Patriots’ season goes sideways and they are no longer in playoff contention.

Schottenheimer began this section of the press conference by saying that he was very pleased with Pickens’ playbook preparedness when he showed up for mandatory minicamp this week. He did not attend organized team activities, so this is great to hear. Regarding Pickens’ pre-snap alignment, he will not just play X-receiver this season — Schottenheimer notes that Pickens does not like doing that anyway. Schottenheimer plans to line Pickens up in the slot, and isolated on the front side, on the same side as the tight end. Pickens logged just 77 slot snaps last season and 891 out wide. Giving him more opportunities to run routes against safeties and linebackers from the slot will increase his fantasy-scoring floor and ceiling. Schottenheimer also plans to expand Pickens’ route tree and build elements of the offense around his strengths, noting Pickens’ slant route successes last season in particular. He’s a WR1.

The consensus among Cleveland beat writers was that neither Watson nor Shedeur Sanders shined during the team’s OTA practices. “Watson seems healthy and occasionally threw downfield with confidence,” Jackson said, “but he lacked consistency and too often threw into traffic.” Sanders, meanwhile, “seemed to be a more confident and accurate passer later in the spring than he was early on.” Browns head coach Todd Monken said he would have liked to name a starter headed into training camp next month but neither quarterback stepped up in June. “Whether Sanders can win the job this summer remains to be seen,” Jackson said. Neither Browns QB would likely be a viable option in one-QB leagues this season.

Reporters noticed Williams was not participating in organized team activities last week. The Cowboys hosted their three-day mandatory minicamp this week, and it sounds like Williams was either limited or held out again today. Schottenheimer was asked whether this was due to Williams’ shoulder injury from last season or simply veteran maintenance. Fortunately, Schottenheimer said Williams is “in a great spot” and “looks great.” His absence was “more about getting the young guys some reps in this last full-speed practice.” It seems like the Cowboys are hoping that one of Blue or Mafah can step up and be a reliable backup. If one separates from the other, he will be a worthwhile late-round pick.

Reporters asked Quinn to name players who stood out and stepped up throughout the offseason. White, WR Van Jefferson and rookie WR Jaden Bradley were the three offensive players. The latter two could have a tough time achieving fantasy relevance, but White has a wide range of outcomes. The Commanders are hoping RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt can return from his soft tissue injury and prove his three-down viability. They also drafted RB Kaytron Allen. White, 27, has struggled to perform well as a rusher, but is a proven passing game contributor. Depending on how things shake out in training camp, White could have a reliable role this season.

Holskey is a former Giants practice squad player who received a reserve/futures contract from them in January. The Broncos also signed undrafted free agent rookie CB Blake Cotton, who spent his 2025 college season playing at Utah. They waived OL Nash Jones.

Hennessy’s season is over. The Cowboys also released CB Corey Ballentine and waived WR Romello Brinson. The Cowboys correspondingly agreed to terms with two UFL players, former Houston Gamblers CB Ameer Speed and former Columbus Aviators OL Chris Glaser. Glaser unsuccessfully competed for a Cowboys roster spot last summer before entering the UFL.

The Jaguars are the last NFL team to roster Mims, though he did not take any snaps with them. That was back in 2024. The Cowboys hosted him for a workout two months later, but did not sign him. He spent 2025 with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks and 2026 with the Dallas Renegades, where he caught six passes for 55 yards. Mims, 28, will have to compete for a roster spot with the Cowboys.

Atkins added, “The ideal outcome for him is to lead their tight ends in catches and yards.” He noted that the coaching staff was focused on bringing Ferguson along incrementally in 2025. Now they will have the chance to move him into a more prominent role for his second season. Ferguson only caught 11 passes as a rookie, but he parlayed a seam-stretching role into 231 yards and three scores despite the low reception total. Atkins sees Ferguson as a de facto No. 3 receiver for the team, with Colby Parkinson and Tyler Higbee both fulfilling the role of a traditional inline tight end. Rookie Max Klare will also be in the mix for snaps, but will likely be brought along slowly as well. With an ADP that barely even registers in early best ball drafts, Ferguson is worth a look as a high-upside TE3.

Matiscik joined the Jaguars as a UDFA back in 2020. The snapper of some of the longest snaps in the league has since made a name for himself as one of the finest at his position, earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2023 and 2025, and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2024. Teams simply can’t let guys like that get away, which is why the Jaguars locked him up through the 2028 season, and made him the highest-paid long snapper in the league.

Berry was promoted to vice president/player acquisition in 2025 and has spent nearly two decades in the organization in total. The Titans interived him for their GM vacancy last offseason. Another good season or two in Seattle and he should land a GM gig in the near future. Willie Schneider, nephew of GM John Schneider, held the title of director of pro personnel before his latest promotion. He has been with the organization for 13 years.