Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Mendoza Takes More Under-Center Snaps at Raiders Minicamp Than He Did in All of College
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, took more snaps from under center during this weekend’s rookie minicamp than he had in his entire three-year college career at California and Indiana. Mendoza ran a predominantly shotgun-based offense in college, logging just five under-center snaps across three seasons. Adjusting to the technique has been his top priority since arriving at the Intermountain Health Performance Center. After Day 1, Mendoza pulled rookie offensive linemen into a hotel room for additional evening reps. Coach Klint Kubiak’s offensive system has been described by the young quarterback as coming at him like a “firehose.”
Sources: NFL.com
Trent Williams Ends Standoff With 49ers, Agreeing to Two-Year, $50 Million Extension
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams ended a prolonged contract standoff Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $50 million extension that includes $48.5 million in guarantees. The deal drops Williams’s 2026 salary cap hit from $46.34 million to $20.1 million, providing general manager John Lynch meaningful flexibility this offseason. Williams, a perennial All-Pro selection and widely regarded as the best offensive lineman in football, had seen his cap figure rise twice this spring before the two sides reached an agreement. The new contract runs through the 2028 season and includes a no-holdout clause, ensuring the 38-year-old tackle will report for training camp.
Sources: NFL.com
Giants Sign D.J. Reader on Two-Year Deal to Fill Defensive Tackle Void Left by Dexter Lawrence
The New York Giants addressed their defensive tackle vacancy Tuesday, agreeing to terms with D.J. Reader on a two-year contract worth $12.5 million, with up to $3 million in added incentives. Reader, 31, spent the last two seasons in Detroit, playing 1,091 snaps and missing just two games across that span. New York’s interior defensive line has been unsettled since the Giants traded Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the offseason. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Reader projects as an immediate starter and run-stuffing anchor for the Giants, who are rebuilding their defensive front heading into the 2026 season.
Sources: NFL.com
Super Bowl Champion Seahawks Sign Edge Rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to One-Year Deal
The Seattle Seahawks agreed Tuesday to sign veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, giving the Super Bowl champions their first significant outside free agent addition this offseason. Fowler, 31 and entering his 12th NFL season, posted three sacks with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 after recording 10.5 with Washington in 2024. General manager John Schneider had flagged the possibility of a Fowler signing after the Seahawks used all eight of their 2026 NFL Draft picks without selecting an edge rusher. Fowler joins a pass-rush rotation that already includes Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall.
Sources: NFL.com
NFL’s 2026 Schedule Release Could Be Pushed Back as YouTube, Netflix and Fox Battle for Premium Package
The NFL’s 2026 regular season schedule could be delayed by up to a week as the league finalizes a new five-game premium broadcast package. YouTube, Netflix, and Fox are competing for rights to the slate, which is expected to include the league’s first game in Australia on September 11 and marquee dates around Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas Eve. The schedule typically drops in the second week of May, but NFL vice president of broadcast planning Mike North acknowledged this week that a release during the week of May 18 is now on the table. Fans should expect the full schedule no later than mid-to-late May.
Sources: CBS Sports
Tucker Kraft, Micah Parsons and Patrick Mahomes All Tracking Ahead of Schedule in Recoveries
Three prominent players who missed games during the 2025 season are tracking ahead of schedule in their respective recoveries, offering encouraging signs for the fall. Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, who tore his ACL last season, is described by general manager Brian Gutekunst as “a little bit ahead of schedule” and expected back early in the regular season. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, also working back from a torn ACL, is on a similar trajectory. Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told reporters Tuesday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes is progressing well from a knee injury sustained in Week 15 of the 2025 campaign.
Sources: NFL.com
Bills, Steelers and Patriots Headline Second Wave of Rookie Minicamps Beginning May 8
The second wave of 2026 NFL rookie minicamps begins this week, with the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots among the clubs opening their facilities to first-year players and tryout candidates between May 8 and 10. The Bills’ camp at Orchard Park will include more than 20 players competing on a tryout basis alongside the team’s 10 drafted rookies, providing undrafted prospects their first opportunity to impress Buffalo’s coaching staff. The Steelers run a three-day camp May 8 through 10, while the Patriots hold a media-open practice Saturday. All three sessions mark the NFL offseason calendar’s transition toward full team activities.
Sources: Sports Illustrated
NFL’s 2026 Season to Feature First-Ever Game in Australia and a Valentine’s Day Super Bowl
The 2026 NFL season will feature two historic milestones the league has been building toward for years. The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will play the first-ever regular season NFL game on Australian soil on September 11 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, one of nine international games the league has scheduled this year. At the other end of the calendar, Super Bowl LXI will be held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California—the first championship game ever played on the holiday. The combination sets the 2026 season up as the most globally expansive in NFL history.
Sources: NFL.com
American League Divisions
AFC East
1. New England Patriots — 14–3
2. Buffalo Bills — 12–5
3. Miami Dolphins — 7–10
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 — 4–12
AFC South
1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4
2. Houston Texans — 12–5
3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–8
4. Tennessee Titans — 3–13
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
National League Divisions
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
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 — 13–3
2. San Francisco 49ers — 12–4
3. Los Angeles Rams — 11–5
4. Arizona Cardinals — 3–13
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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