Samwise NFL Newsletter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Aaron Rodgers Signs One-Year Deal, Reports to Steelers as Starting QB at OTA
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year contract worth up to $25 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday and took first-team reps at the team’s first organized team activity on Monday, May 18. The 42-year-old arrived early, completing his physical with team medical staff before the morning session began. Rodgers was the first to throw in team drills, connecting with newly acquired receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on the opening pass of the period. He will lead a depth chart that includes Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Drew Allar. The deal marks Rodgers’ second consecutive season with Pittsburgh and his 22nd in the NFL.
Sources: ESPN
Watson Holds Early Edge Over Sanders as Browns QB Competition Opens at OTAs
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback competition officially began Monday as Deshaun Watson and second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders started organized team activities, with Watson reportedly holding the early advantage in the race for the Week 1 starting job. Watson, 30, is fully healthy after missing the entire 2025 season following two Achilles ruptures and has built a strong connection with the team’s new offensive coaching staff. Sanders went 3–4 as a starter last season, posting a QBR of just 18.9 with seven touchdowns against ten interceptions over his seven starts. Cleveland has publicly declined to name a starter, with the competition expected to run into training camp.
Sources: Bleacher Report
Raiders No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza Joins Veterans at First Full-Team OTA
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, participated in his first full-team organized team activity with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, joining veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and the rest of the roster together for the first time. Mendoza, who guided Indiana to a 16–0 season and the national championship in 2025, had previously worked only with rookies and veterans separately in earlier offseason program phases. The Raiders are counting on Mendoza as their long-term franchise quarterback alongside Cousins, who signed a one-year fully guaranteed $20 million deal with Las Vegas this spring.
Sources: Las Vegas Raiders
Brissett Skips Cardinals’ First OTA Seeking Richer Contract Ahead of 2026 Season
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett was absent from the team’s first organized team activity on Monday as his contract dispute with the organization continues unresolved. Brissett took over as the starter last season following Kyler Murray’s release and signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million with Arizona but is seeking additional guaranteed money before the 2026 campaign. The quarterback views himself as the team’s starter and wants compensation closer to other low-end starters around the league. While OTAs are voluntary, missing mandatory minicamp in June would result in fines. No new contract talks have been reported by either side as of Monday morning.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
A.J. Brown Trade to New England Patriots Described as ‘Likely’ After June 1
Reports on Monday indicated that a trade sending Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots is “likely” to occur after June 1, when the Eagles can split Brown’s dead cap hit across two seasons for salary-cap relief. Brown, 28, remains under contract with Philadelphia but has expressed frustration with his diminished role following the Eagles’ additions at receiver through the draft. The Patriots, led by coach Mike Vrabel who previously coached Brown during his Titans tenure, have emerged as strong favorites in the trade sweepstakes. A 2028 first-round pick from New England is the expected return.
Sources: NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk
NFL Owners to Vote on Expanding International Games to 10 for the 2027 Season
NFL owners convened in Orlando on Monday for the league’s spring meetings and are expected to vote on a proposal to add two more international games to the 2027 schedule, bringing the overseas total from eight to ten contests. The current collective bargaining agreement caps the league at ten international games per year, with a provision allowing extra games for clubs unable to use their home stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars, whose EverBank Stadium will be undergoing renovation in 2027, could account for that extra allotment. The league has a record nine international games scheduled across seven countries and four continents for the 2026 season.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
Bears Present Unresolved Stadium Situation to NFL Owners at Orlando Spring Meetings
The Chicago Bears arrived at the NFL’s spring ownership meetings in Orlando this week without a resolved stadium plan, briefing the 31 other clubs Monday on two competing site options: a privately financed domed stadium in Arlington Heights and a publicly supported open-air facility in Hammond, Indiana. Team ownership described ongoing discussions with state and local officials, with no agreement reached on either site. Chicago has been searching for a permanent home since Soldier Field was removed from consideration as a long-term option, and the impasse now extends into the third year of the search. A resolution remains critical to the franchise’s long-term future in the Chicago market.
Sources: Bleacher Nation
Saints GM Says Kamara Decision Expected Within ‘A Week or Two’ as OTAs Approach
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Monday the organization is approaching a decision on veteran running back Alvin Kamara, whose place on the roster became uncertain after the team signed Travis Etienne in March. Loomis acknowledged a “resource management element” to the situation and said resolution was expected within a week or two, ahead of the Saints’ OTAs beginning May 27. Kamara, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, drew trade interest this spring but has publicly stated he wants to remain in New Orleans. No formal extension offer has been made and no substantive contract talks have been reported.
Sources: Pro Football Rumors
American Conference Divisions
2025 Final Standings
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5–0
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10–0
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12–0
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4–0
2. Houston Texans — 12–5–0
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3–0
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6–0
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11–0
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14–0
National Conference Divisions
2025 Final Standings
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12–0
4. New York Giants — 4–13–0
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–1
3. Detroit Lions — 9–8–0
4. Minnesota Vikings — 9–8–0
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11–0
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3–0
2. Los Angeles Rams — 12–5–0
3. San Francisco 49ers — 12–5–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–14–0
Curated by JD · samwise.agency