Samwise NFL Newsletter
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Bijan Robinson Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back With $75M Falcons Extension
Bijan Robinson has signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the Atlanta Falcons, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The deal, agreed to Monday, includes $51 million guaranteed — the most guaranteed money ever given to a running back on a non-rookie contract. The $22.25 million average annual value surpasses Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as the league's highest-paid player at the position. Robinson's agreement ends a week-long hold-in at training camp as the two sides negotiated. The two-time Pro Bowler remains under contract through 2028, cementing his place as the centerpiece of Atlanta's offensive backfield.
Falcons Edge Rusher Jalon Walker Feared to Have Torn ACL at Training Camp
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker is feared to have suffered a season-ending torn ACL during Tuesday's training camp practice, dealing a devastating blow to the team's defensive plans. Walker went down during an 11-on-11 period late in practice, prompting his Falcons teammates to take a knee on the field. NFL Network reporters Ian Rapoport and Steve Wyche reported the feared tear, with The Athletic's Josh Kendall subsequently confirming the ACL diagnosis. Walker, the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded 5.5 sacks as a rookie last season and was widely regarded as Atlanta's most promising defensive breakout candidate for 2026.
Ravens Lock Up Zay Flowers on Four-Year, $140M Extension Through 2031
The Baltimore Ravens have locked up wide receiver Zay Flowers on a four-year, $140 million contract extension, keeping Lamar Jackson's primary target in Baltimore through 2031. The deal, finalized Tuesday, includes $108 million guaranteed and ties Flowers with Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson for the fourth-highest average annual salary ($35 million) among wide receivers. The two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a season in which he caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. Flowers was entering the final year of his rookie deal before Baltimore moved to secure him long-term ahead of the 2026 regular-season opener.
Bears Sign Darnell Wright to $116M Extension With Record Guaranteed Money for Offensive Lineman
The Chicago Bears have signed right tackle Darnell Wright to a four-year, $116 million contract extension that includes $93 million in guaranteed money — the most ever guaranteed to an offensive lineman in NFL history. The extension, finalized Monday, makes Wright the highest-paid right tackle in the league at $29 million per year. Wright, a 2023 first-round pick from Tennessee, earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025 in his first season under head coach Ben Johnson. The deal prioritizes pass protection for quarterback Caleb Williams and comes as the Bears position themselves as serious contenders heading into the 2026 season.
Brees, Fitzgerald, Kuechly, Vinatieri and Craig to Be Enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday
Five NFL legends will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 8, in Canton, Ohio, in a ceremony expected to draw a record 117 Hall of Famers back to campus. Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald are inducted in their first year of eligibility, while Luke Kuechly and kicker Adam Vinatieri were selected in their second year. Running back Roger Craig rounds out the class. Both Fitzgerald and Kuechly are icons of the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers respectively — the two franchises facing each other Thursday in the Hall of Fame Game, adding a historic backdrop to the week's festivities.
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame
Panthers vs. Cardinals Hall of Fame Game Opens 2026 NFL Preseason Thursday in Canton
The 2026 NFL preseason opens Thursday when the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals meet at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Both franchises send legends into the Hall of Fame on Saturday — Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald — adding historical weight to the contest. Rookies and depth players will carry the load on the field. Both clubs play four total preseason games, one more than the rest of the league, due to their Hall of Fame participation. The regular season then begins for all 32 teams on September 9.
Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame
Vita Vea Reports to Buccaneers Camp in Hold-In as Trade Request Remains Unresolved
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea has reported to training camp but is refusing to practice, executing a hold-in while his trade request goes unresolved. Teams have been calling the Buccaneers to inquire about acquiring the veteran lineman, who requested a trade following failed contract extension negotiations. Vea has stated he has zero intention of playing under his current contract and prefers a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, or Los Angeles Chargers. Tampa Bay has so far declined to move him. The standoff leaves the Buccaneers heading into preseason with one of their top interior defenders unavailable for practice reps.
Sources: CBS Sports
Falcons’ Quarterback Competition Between Tagovailoa and Penix Remains Unsettled at Training Camp
The Atlanta Falcons enter training camp with an unresolved quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa, signed following his release from the Miami Dolphins, and incumbent Michael Penix Jr., who tore his left ACL last November. Tagovailoa has received the bulk of first-team reps in 11-on-11 sessions but has also dealt with a tight back that limited his availability during camp. Penix has been restricted to individual drills and 7-on-7 sessions and has not yet been cleared for contact. Atlanta's coaching staff has stated no genuine competition can begin until Penix is healthy, leaving the starting job unsettled with the regular season starting September 9.
American Conference Divisions
Regular season begins Sept. 9, 2026 — all teams 0–0–0
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills — 0–0–0
2. Miami Dolphins — 0–0–0
3. New England Patriots — 0–0–0
4. New York Jets — 0–0–0
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens — 0–0–0
2. Pittsburgh Steelers — 0–0–0
3. Cincinnati Bengals — 0–0–0
4. Cleveland Browns — 0–0–0
AFC South
1. Houston Texans — 0–0–0
2. Indianapolis Colts — 0–0–0
3. Jacksonville Jaguars — 0–0–0
4. Tennessee Titans — 0–0–0
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs — 0–0–0
2. Denver Broncos — 0–0–0
3. Las Vegas Raiders — 0–0–0
4. Los Angeles Chargers — 0–0–0
National Conference Divisions
Preseason Hall of Fame Game: Thu. Aug. 6
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles — 0–0–0
2. Dallas Cowboys — 0–0–0
3. New York Giants — 0–0–0
4. Washington Commanders — 0–0–0
NFC North
1. Detroit Lions — 0–0–0
2. Chicago Bears — 0–0–0
3. Green Bay Packers — 0–0–0
4. Minnesota Vikings — 0–0–0
NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons — 0–0–0
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 0–0–0
3. New Orleans Saints — 0–0–0
4. Carolina Panthers — 0–0–0
NFC West
1. Los Angeles Rams — 0–0–0
2. San Francisco 49ers — 0–0–0
3. Seattle Seahawks — 0–0–0
4. Arizona Cardinals — 0–0–0
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