Samwise NFL Newsletter
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Mahomes Becomes NFL's First Half-Billion-Dollar Player With Historic $504.75M Deal
The Kansas City Chiefs raised Patrick Mahomes' contract to an NFL-record $504.75 million this week, adding two years to his existing deal and making him the first player in league history to sign a contract valued at over half a billion dollars. The restructured agreement runs through 2033 and ties Mahomes to Kansas City into his age-38 year. His new average annual value, reported at $64 million per year beginning in 2027, sets a new NFL record. Mahomes is currently rehabbing an injury sustained during the 2025 campaign.
Seahawks Receive Super Bowl LX Championship Rings in Ceremony Thursday Night
The Seattle Seahawks received their Super Bowl LX championship rings Thursday in a private ceremony for players, coaches, and football staff. Created by Jason of Beverly Hills, the rings honor the team's 50th season with 50 round white diamonds behind the Seahawks logo, along with two Lombardi Trophy replicas on the centerpiece. Players' names appear above the team mantra “M.O.B.” — Mission Over Bulls——. A hidden button releases Lumen Field arches to reveal “WORLD CHAMPIONS,” and the top converts into a wearable pendant. Sam Darnold, Leonard Williams, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were among those in attendance, hours after a minicamp practice.
Browns QB Battle Still Undecided: Sanders and Watson Split First-Team Reps at Minicamp
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback competition remained unresolved through the final day of mandatory minicamp, with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson splitting first-team reps in front of coaches and staff. Neither separated himself clearly during the week of practice, and the battle is expected to carry into training camp, which begins in late July. Dillon Gabriel also remains in the mix at Cleveland, keeping the three-way contest wide open. The Browns have no stated timetable for a decision and plan to let competition play out through the summer before naming a Week 1 starter.
Sources: CBS Sports
No. 1 Draft Pick Fernando Mendoza Still Unsigned as Payment Dispute With Raiders Drags On
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft, remains without a contract as a payment-structure dispute lingers into June. Mendoza's camp is pushing for a lump-sum signing bonus payment — now customary for first overall picks — while the Raiders have proposed their standard installment schedule. The situation calls back to Kyler Murray's 2019 contract process with the Arizona Cardinals, the last time a No. 1 pick did not receive a lump-sum payment. Ty Simpson is the only other first-round pick still unsigned, leaving two players from the 2026 class without deals entering training camp.
Sources: CBS Sports
A.J. Brown Dazzles in Patriots Minicamp Finale With Spectacular Toe-Tap Grab
Wide receiver A.J. Brown delivered the play of the week at New England Patriots mandatory minicamp, crediting his baseball background for a highlight-reel grab during the final practice. With Drake Maye working the red zone, Brown ran into the back-left corner of the end zone with no apparent separation, then turned at the last moment to rise and snatch the pass while getting both feet inbounds. Brown arrived in New England via a June 1 trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 fifth-round pick. The catch illustrated early chemistry between Brown and his new quarterback.
Sources: ESPN
Murray Flashes and Falters at Vikings Minicamp as QB Race With McCarthy Heats Up
Kyler Murray looked sharp for much of Tuesday's mandatory minicamp session with the Minnesota Vikings before throwing back-to-back interceptions in 7-on-7 drills — a reminder of the transition still ahead after his move from Arizona. Murray, who signed a one-year deal with Minnesota in the offseason, said the biggest challenge has been splitting reps with J.J. McCarthy rather than receiving all the repetitions as he did in Arizona. Murray and McCarthy took about equal snaps with the first-team offense Tuesday. Murray is the heavy favorite to start Week 1, but no decision is expected before training camp opens in late July.
Sources: ESPN, CBS Sports
NFL Minicamp Week Wraps: Stroud Improving in Houston, Seahawks and 49ers Opt for Light Loads
Seventeen NFL teams wrapped up mandatory minicamps this week, with 11 more scheduled to practice next week before the league takes a monthlong break ahead of training camps in late July. Among the notable storylines: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is showing improvement in 2026, displaying smoother huddle pace and better motion management. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams both canceled their minicamps entirely, while the defending champion Seattle Seahawks converted one session to a walk-through to limit workloads after their 20-game 2025 championship season. All 32 training camps open in late July.
NFL Foundation Awards Grants to 350-Plus Players and Coaches for Free Youth Football Camps
The NFL Foundation on Sunday announced grants for more than 350 NFL players, legends, and coaches to host free youth football camps across the country this summer. The funding will help support community camp programs during the offseason break. The grants come as mandatory minicamps wind down across the league — 17 teams held camps this week, with 11 more scheduled for next week. All 32 teams will then take a monthlong break before training camps open in late July ahead of a 2026 regular season that kicks off September 9. The season will conclude with Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on February 14, 2027.
Sources: NFL.com
AFC Divisions
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 13–4–0
2. Buffalo Bills — 13–4–0
3. Miami Dolphins — 6–11–0
4. New York Jets — 3–14–0
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7–0
2. Baltimore Ravens — 9–8–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 5–12–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 4–13–0
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 12–5–0
2. Houston Texans — 11–6–0
3. Indianapolis Colts — 10–7–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14–0
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 15–2–0
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6–0
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 7–10–0
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 2–15–0
NFC Divisions
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 10–7–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 6–11–0
4. New York Giants — 3–14–0
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 12–5–0
2. Green Bay Packers — 10–6–1
3. Detroit Lions — 10–7–0
4. Minnesota Vikings — 8–9–0
NFC South
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 10–7–0
2. Carolina Panthers — 8–9–0
3. Atlanta Falcons — 6–11–0
4. New Orleans Saints — 6–11–0
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3–0 🏆
2. Los Angeles Rams — 13–4–0
3. San Francisco 49ers — 11–6–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 5–12–0
2025 Final Regular Season Standings — Source: NFL.com
Curated by JD · samwise.agency