NFL Player News

The Chargers exercised Johnston's fifth-year option for the 2027 season Tuesday.

The No. 21 overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Johnston has gotten his career on track after what was a subpar rookie season. Across 29 regular-season games over the past two seasons, Johnston has secured 106 of 175 targets for 1,446 yards and 16 touchdowns as Justin Herbert's top downfield perimeter wideout. Johnston has improved his yards-per-catch average every season and finished 21st in the NFL at 14.4 yards per reception during the 2025 campaign. With Keenan Allen still unsigned, there's room for Johnston's role to grow this upcoming season.

Wilson visited with the Jets on Tuesday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Wilson is being considered as an option to back up Geno Smith after the two quarterbacks previously spent time together in Seattle. Now 37 years old, Wilson doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank and has looked overmatched when forced into game action in recent seasons, but he'd be a solid veteran sounding board wherever he ends up for the 2026 season.

The Ravens signed Pavia as an undrafted free agent Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Pavia was initially slated to try out during rookie minicamp with Baltimore this upcoming weekend first, but the Ravens jumped the gun to sign him. It's a standard three-year, entry-level deal that doesn't guarantee the Vanderbilt product a spot on the 53-man roster. Despite being a Heisman finalist, Pavia went undrafted in large part due to his 5-foot-10 height, advanced age (24 years old) and off-field character questions. However, while on the field last season, Pavia was first in the the SEC in completion percentage (70.6), yards per attempt (9.4) and touchdown passes (29), and he threw for 3,539 yards while rushing 167 times for 862 yards and 10 additional touchdowns.

Brooks (knee) said Tuesday that he's been fully cleared to participate in the Panthers' offseason program, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Brooks said he feels "close to 100 percent" after tearing his right ACL for the second time in Week 14 of the 2024 campaign. Brooks missed the entirety of 2025 but appears ready to contribute this season. The offseason has set up nicely for Brooks to have a significant role after Rico Dowdle left in free agency, leaving only Chuba Hubbard ahead of him on the depth chart. AJ Dillon was added as well, but he's barely played over the last two seasons, and Trevor Etienne mainly played special teams as a rookie in 2025.

Harris could have competition for his spot on the depth chart after the Chargers selected Brenen Thompson with the 105th overall pick during the 2026 NFL Draft.

New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel reportedly had significant interest in Thompson because of his blazing 4.26 40-yard dash, reminiscent of the wide receiver archetype he valued as a head coach in Miami. It's hard to tell if the Chargers will have designated plays for Thompson, or if they will continue to feature Harris, the 2025 second-round pick who made his bones at the collegiate level as a RPO specialist. Harris' rookie year was relatively mundane (30-324-1) despite playing all 17 regular-season games, but with Keenan Allen potentially on his way out, there overall could be more opportunities available in Los Angeles in what figures to be a more pass-happy scheme.

Emerson is visiting the Saints on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Mississippi State product was sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign due to a torn Achilles, but he's now visited with the Texans and Saints in April, suggesting he's moved past the issue. Emerson was a crucial part of the Browns' defense from 2022 to 2023, appearing in 33 regular-season games and logging 122 total tackles and 29 passes defensed, including four interceptions.

Burton signed with the Browns on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The 34-year-old fullback spent the last two seasons with the Broncos. Burton appeared in all 34 of Denver's regular-season games during that span, rushing for 17 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries while catching all 13 of his targets for 73 yards and another touchdown. Additionally, he was a major special-teams contributor, tallying 10 total tackles and one forced fumble across 577 snaps, and a formidable lead blocker and pass protector in the backfield. Expect Burton to assume a similar role for Cleveland during the 2026 season.

Jennings is visiting with the Vikings on Tuesday and Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Now that the NFL Draft has passed, signings no longer count toward the compensatory formula for 2027. That should lead to a flurry of activity around the league for its remaining big-name free agents, as Jennings hadn't drawn much interest on the open market until now. The 28-year-old had a productive five seasons in San Francisco, amassing 210 catches for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns as a trusted third-down and red-zone weapon. He'd be a potential upgrade on Jalen Nailor, who's now with the Raiders, as the Vikings' No. 3 wideout behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

Lowry has now decided to take additional time to work his way back into shape after it was reported Sunday that he had re-signed with the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Despite not taking a physical, Rapoport added that Lowry has been fully cleared to return from a knee injury that sidelined him for all of last season. The 2016 fourth-round pick spent 2024 with the Steelers, appearing in 12 regular-season games and recording five total tackles and one pass defensed across 177 total snaps (148 on defense, 29 on special teams).

The Patriots released Mitchell on Tuesday, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

The 27-year-old running back from Louisiana inked a reserve/future contract with New England in early February, but it now appears the team has decided to move in another direction. Mitchell's last in-game action came with the Chiefs in 2025, when he appeared in one contest and failed to catch his lone target across seven offensive snaps.