NFL Player News

Short signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent Friday.

The Buccaneers are currently listing Short as a wide receiver, but he served in more of a "slot back" role in Army's triple-option offense. Ultimately, Short led the team with 32 receptions for 438 receiving yards and added 98 carries for 571 yards and a touchdown. He subsequently produced an impressive 4.43 40-yard dash at his pro day. Short brings a unique skill set to the Buccaneers, but he'll need a dominant offseason program and training camp to crack the 53-man roster.

Haynes signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Haynes didn't start until his third year at Georgia Tech when he broke out with 174 carries for 1,059 yards (6.1 YPC) and seven touchdowns. His efficiency dropped off over the next two seasons, bottoming out at 4.3 YPC in his fifth year. Still, Haynes has pass-catching chops with 33 receptions for 257 yards in his final season. He'll need to prove himself on special teams to earn a spot in a running back room that already features Chase Brown, Samaje Perine and Tahj Brooks.

Trayanum signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Trayanum made four stops during his six-year college career, ultimately breaking out in 2025 with Toledo by rushing 182 times for 1,015 yards (5.6 YPC) and 12 touchdowns while adding 21 receptions for 212 yards and two scores. He's a bigger running back (5-foot-11, 224 pounds) who ran an impressive 4.50 40-yard dash for his size. He'll have a difficult time securing a roster spot, however, as Breece Hall, Braelon Allen (knee) and Isaiah Davis are all on the roster heading into the offseason program.

The Bills signed Reid as an undrafted free agent Friday, Alec White and Maddy Glab of the team's official site report.

Reid played his first two collegiate seasons at Western Carolina before ending his career with two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. The running back carried the ball 60 times for 278 yards and two touchdowns, adding 23 catches for 317 yards and two more scores over seven games in 2025. Reid's smaller frame makes him more injury-prone, but he is an explosive athlete who can line up anywhere and make plays in space. If the Bills are looking for someone to take over for Khalil Shakir at punt returner, Reid may have a path to a regular-season roster spot.

The Giants signed Bankston as an undrafted free agent Friday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Bankston had a career season during his lone college campaign with New Mexico in 2025. The running back finished with 114 rushes for 635 yards and five touchdowns and added 31 receptions for 397 yards and another three scores over 13 games. Bankston's 4.43-second 40-yard dash at New Mexico's pro day made him an alluring target for a Giants team looking for extra depth at running back. Cam Skattebo (ankle), Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary will likely consume the overwhelming majority of running back touches in 2026, leaving special teams as the likeliest path to playing time for Bankston if he latches on to a roster spot.

The Bears signed Bennett as an undrafted free agent Friday, Larry Mayer of the team's official site reports.

Bennett spent a year at Rice before transferring to Kennesaw State in 2025. The running back produced 764 yards and four touchdowns on 157 carries over 14 games for the Owls. He also added 27 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. Bennett is set to join a Bears team that focused heavily on running the ball in 2025. The undrafted free agent could see some rotational carries at some point during the season if he proves to be a reliable and durable rusher during training camp.

The Texans signed Whittington as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Whittington started his collegiate career at Western Kentucky before transferring to Oregon after his second year. The running back played four seasons for the Ducks, capping his college career with 129 carries for 829 yards and six touchdowns while adding 19 receptions for 98 yards and another score over 13 games in 2025. Despite a smaller frame, Whittington could provide solid value to the Texans as a rotational back with a strong reputation for ball security (one fumble in four seasons with Oregon).

The Jets and Hall (knee) agreed to terms on a three-year, $45.75 million contract Friday, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.

With an average annual value of $15.25 million on the deal, Hall becomes the third-highest paid running back in the NFL behind the Eagles' Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and the 49ers' Christian McCaffrey ($19 million). Despite being in mostly dreadful offenses in four seasons since the Jets selected him in the second round of the 2022 Draft, Hall has averaged 1,453 yards from scrimmage and 7.3 touchdowns per year over the last three campaigns. He even put together the first 1,000-yard season on the ground of his career (1,065, to be exact) in 2025. Moving forward, Hall will remain the engine of New York's offense.

The Browns signed Harden as an undrafted free agent Friday.

Harden spent three years at UCLA before transferring to SMU in 2025. The running back appeared in 13 games for the Mustangs, producing 787 yards and nine touchdowns on 171 carries and recording 19 receptions for 99 yards and one additional score. Similar to fellow undrafted free agent Davon Booth, it will likely be very difficult for Harden to earn a spot in a running back room dominated by accomplished young incumbent talent like Quinshon Judkins (ankle) and Dylan Sampson.

The Colts signed Pare as an undrafted free agent Thursday.

Pare will get a chance to prove himself at the Colts' minicamp beginning Friday. The running back completed his collegiate career at Texas State in 2025, registering 1,128 yards and 12 touchdowns on 210 carries while also catching 37 of 41 targets for 312 yards and two scores over 13 contests. The No. 2 running back role behind starter Jonathan Taylor could be up for grabs, and Pare will look to throw his hat in the ring.