Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
NFL's 91st Annual Draft Opens Thursday Night in Pittsburgh with 257 Picks and a Weak QB Class
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium, with the first round beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and NFL+. A total of 257 players will be selected over three days, with fan zones stretching along the Ohio River waterfront. Six teams enter Round 1 holding two first-round picks each — including the New York Giants, Jets, Browns, Chiefs, Dolphins, and Cowboys — many acquired by trading established veterans. Draft analysts have called this year's quarterback class one of the weakest in recent memory, with Raiders prospect Fernando Mendoza widely projected as the top overall pick.
Sources: NFL.com · Sky Sports
New York Giants Enter Draft Holding Picks No. 5 and No. 10, Planning to Build Offense Around Jaxson Dart
The New York Giants enter Thursday's NFL Draft holding two selections in the top ten — picks No. 5 and No. 10 — the latter acquired via the Dexter Lawrence trade with the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Under first-year head coach John Harbaugh, New York intends to build offensive support around second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, who threw for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions as a rookie while also rushing for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. Multiple pre-draft mock drafts project the Giants targeting a running back with one pick and a wide receiver with the other. New York holds eight total selections heading into the draft.
Sources: New York Giants · Yahoo Sports
Bengals Finalize Blockbuster Lawrence Acquisition, Sign Three-Time Pro Bowler to $28M Extension
The Cincinnati Bengals finalized their blockbuster acquisition of three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence this week, with the 27-year-old passing his physical and signing a one-year, $28 million contract extension. The Bengals sent the No. 10 overall pick in Thursday's draft to the New York Giants to secure Lawrence, marking the first time Cincinnati has traded a top-ten selection for a player in the common draft era since 1966. Lawrence reunites with receiver Tee Higgins, a former Clemson teammate. Bengals offensive linemen have publicly acknowledged that facing Lawrence in practice will be an extraordinary challenge, describing him as a generational talent at the position.
Sources: Cincinnati Bengals · ESPN
Dallas Cowboys Make Brandon Aubrey the NFL's Highest-Paid Kicker with Record Four-Year, $28M Extension
The Dallas Cowboys made kicker Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history Monday, signing him to a four-year, $28 million extension with $20 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old becomes the first kicker in league history to average $7 million annually. Over three seasons in Dallas, Aubrey has earned Pro Bowl honours in each year, connecting on 112 of 127 field goal attempts — an 88.2 percent success rate — and booting an NFL-record six career field goals of at least 60 yards. The deal runs through 2030 and adds stability ahead of the Cowboys' two first-round picks in Thursday's draft.
Sources: NFL.com · Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers End Trent Williams Contract Standoff with Two-Year, $50M Extension
The San Francisco 49ers agreed Tuesday to a two-year, $50 million contract extension with star left tackle Trent Williams, ending a months-long standoff over his compensation. The deal includes $37 million fully guaranteed and a $22 million signing bonus, keeping the 11-time Pro Bowler in San Francisco through the 2027 season. The contract makes Williams the first non-quarterback in NFL history to surpass $400 million in career earnings and $225 million in career guarantees. With the extension in place, the 49ers gain additional flexibility at No. 11 overall in Thursday's draft to address other positional needs rather than prioritizing a replacement at left tackle.
Pittsburgh Steelers Open Minicamp Without Aaron Rodgers as Quarterback Decision Extends Into Draft Week
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened a three-day voluntary minicamp Monday under new head coach Mike McCarthy without any commitment from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he will return for a 22nd NFL season. League insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported a Rodgers decision is not expected before Thursday's draft. In Rodgers' absence, 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard is taking first-team reps at quarterback. Pittsburgh did not pursue a free agent signal-caller this off-season, a signal the organization anticipates Rodgers' eventual return. The 42-year-old took a similar approach last off-season, not signing with Pittsburgh until early June 2025.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · FOX Sports
Myles Garrett Skips Cleveland Minicamp and Has Barely Communicated with New Head Coach Todd Monken
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett skipped the team's voluntary minicamp Tuesday and has communicated with new head coach Todd Monken only briefly by text since Monken was hired in January. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 30, also stands to forfeit a $1 million workout bonus that requires participation in offseason sessions. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, safety Grant Delpit, and cornerback Denzel Ward were also absent. Monken told reporters the minicamp is voluntary and that he expects all players to be ready when needed. Garrett's absence has sparked trade speculation, with analysts suggesting friction could force a move before mandatory minicamp in June.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Clutch Points
2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Class Deemed One of the Weakest in Recent Memory as First Round Approaches
The 2026 NFL Draft class is widely regarded among scouts and analysts as one of the weakest at quarterback in recent memory, with no consensus franchise signal-caller expected in the top five picks. Las Vegas Raiders prospect Fernando Mendoza — projected at No. 1 — is one of the few QBs drawing first-round consideration. Tennessee's Ty Simpson is projected to land somewhere between the late first round and mid-second round, with the Jets at No. 16, Steelers at No. 21, and Browns at No. 24 identified as potential landing spots. The scarcity of elite QB talent means teams with long-standing quarterback needs will need to get creative Thursday night.
Sources: EssentiallySports · NFL.com
2025 Season — AFC Final Standings
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3
2. Buffalo Bills — 13–4
3. Miami Dolphins — 6–11
4. New York Jets — 3–14
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers — 10–7
2. Baltimore Ravens — 8–9
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 6–11
4. Cleveland Browns — 5–12
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4
2. Houston Texans — 12–5
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos — 14–3
2. Los Angeles Chargers — 11–6
3. Kansas City Chiefs — 6–11
4. Las Vegas Raiders — 3–14
2025 Season — NFC Final Standings
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 11–6
2. Dallas Cowboys — 7–9–1
3. Washington Commanders — 5–12
4. New York Giants — 4–13
NFC North
1. Chicago Bears — 11–6
2. Green Bay Packers — 9–7–1
3. Minnesota Vikings — 9–8
4. Detroit Lions — 9–8
NFC South
1. Carolina Panthers — 8–9
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 8–9
3. Atlanta Falcons — 8–9
4. New Orleans Saints — 8–9
NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks — 14–3 — Super Bowl LX Champions
2. San Francisco 49ers — 12–4
3. Los Angeles Rams — 11–5
4. Arizona Cardinals — 4–13
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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