The Insiders Podcast: NFL Declines Brendan Sorsby’s Supplemental Draft Application and Packers WR Christian Watson Joins the Insiders

Nix fractured his right ankle in the divisional round playoff game against the Bills on the game-winning drive; he participated in mandatory minicamp doing individual drills (not team drills); he joked that his ankle is as good as new and he's even more mobile than before; he had a second surgery in April to deal with bone spurs; Sean Payton said his quarterback will clearly be ready; Nix has never missed a regular season snap in his NFL career.

Brandon Aiyuk continues to pursue a trade away from the San Francisco 49ers, a legitimate playoff contender, to join the Washington Commanders. Adam Rank criticized Aiyuk's approach, noting that while Jaden Daniels is a good quarterback and both played at Arizona State, Aiyuk's desire to leave a perennial playoff contender for a team with inconsistent success is questionable.

Brian Thomas Jr. had a disappointing second season but has made a huge step in spring workouts, focusing on the mental element and chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. Cam Wolfe reports that Thomas is expected to be used heavily on vertical routes down the field, where the Jaguars believe he can take the next step. He is projected to be one of the two leading receivers in Jacksonville alongside Parker Washington.

Brock Purdy is one of two quarterbacks George Kittle is sharing time with at Tight End University 2026, held at Vanderbilt's new stadium.

Watson bounced back to have an explosive return from injury just nine months after ACL surgery, and now has a normal offseason without rehabbing; his body feels significantly better than when he was playing at the end of last season with heavy legs, and he's focused on football-specific work throughout the offseason.

Watson expects the Packers' wide receiver room to be explosive and dynamic with him and Jaylen Reed having played significant snaps; Matthew Golden entering his second year is expected to show much more than he did last year with more opportunities; the room also includes Bo Mellon and Savion as deep contributors who can make plays.

Jones tore his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jags and signed a two-year, $88 million deal in March in part because of the Colts' 7-1 start; he participated in mandatory minicamp individual drills and said he'll be working on running faster, cutting harder, and progressing; when asked if he'll be ready to be the Week 1 starter, he answered without hesitation with a one-word answer: absolutely; the question with quarterbacks coming off Achilles is how effective they'll be out of the gate, but Jones is younger and has been unbelievable in attacking his rehab, making it a surprise if he's not ready Week 1.

DJ Turner stood out as Cincinnati's number one corner in his first opportunity in a big role last season and is having a strong spring. In the final year of his contract, Turner chose to participate in workouts rather than sit out, signaling commitment to elevating his game. Cam Wolfe reports that position coach Charlie Burke wants Turner to evolve into one of the elite top-five corners in football, with Turner's ability to shadow receivers in one-on-one coverage being key to the Bengals' Super Bowl contention.

The Davie, Florida Police Department said battery accusations levied against Jets quarterback Geno Smith were not an active case, but they have announced the situation is under investigation; Smith has neither been arrested nor charged.

George Kittle is hosting Tight End University at Vanderbilt's new stadium with 90 current and former tight ends and 2,500 fans in attendance. Kittle is sharing his time with quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Matt Jones, and the event features instruction from Tony Gonzalez, Kyle Juszczyk, and former tight ends coach John Embry, who coached both Gonzalez and Kittle.

George Pickens is the only remaining player on a franchise tag as of mid-July, with contract negotiations still pending. His tag status represents one of the final major free agent/contract situations heading into the season.

Jalen Carter is part of the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line alongside Jonathan Grunard and Jordan Davis. Grunard described Carter as someone who brings energy every single day with humbleness, and the two feed off each other to create a disruptive force on the defensive line.

Daniels had a rough 2024 season with multiple injuries that led him to miss 10 games, including a dislocated elbow that caused the Commanders to shut him down for the final three games; he doesn't even want to talk about the season; however, Dan Quinn said Daniels is doing well and is healthy, and he's become a much more vocal quarterback in expressing what he wants out of the offense; the Commanders have revamped the offense hoping Daniels can return to the brilliance of his rookie season.

Joe Burrow is healthy and ready to go for the 2026 season. Adam Rank highlighted Burrow's recent comments comparing the Bengals to his 2019 LSU championship team, noting the key difference is that his LSU team had a stronger defense. Rank emphasized that the Bengals are Super Bowl contenders if their defense can be at least average, with Burrow's health being critical to the team's success.

Jonathan Grunard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and is healthy after ending last season with a shoulder injury. He is excited to play alongside Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, describing the defensive line trio as a disruptive force. Grunard praised both Carter and Davis's physical traits and work ethic, indicating he will be a key part of the Eagles' defensive line rotation alongside other contributors like Moe Jomo.

Jordan Davis is a key member of the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive line alongside Jalen Carter and Jonathan Grunard. Grunard described Davis as a quiet type who can turn it on at any point, and the two feed off each other to create a disruptive defensive presence.

Watson describes Jordan Love as finding ways to get better at things he's already been great at; Love's consistency is improving even further, and his biggest strength is bringing the guys around him along—his energy and vibe elevate the entire offense, with the team getting better in the offseason because of his leadership.

Kyle Juszczyk is teaching at Tight End University, focusing on the fullback position, which many tight ends are now playing in modern offenses.

Pitts signed a three-year contract worth up to $54 million with the first two years containing $36 million fully guaranteed, equating to $18 million average per year if all three years are completed.

Kyle Pitts signed an extension with the Atlanta Falcons. Adam Rank expressed enthusiasm about Pitts' fantasy outlook, drawing a comparison to Kevin Stefanski's success developing tight ends like David Njoku and Harold Finnin Jr., suggesting Pitts could benefit from similar scheme optimization under Stefanski's offense.

Kyle Pitts is part of Atlanta's young skill player core alongside other offensive weapons, with the team having secured quarterback play. Pitts' contract extension signals the Falcons' commitment to building around him as a centerpiece of their offense.

Kyle Pitts signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Falcons, re-signed by executive Matt Ryan. This represents significant financial commitment and security for the tight end position, validating his role in Atlanta's offense going forward.

Golden is entering his second year with the Packers and Watson believes the world hasn't seen a fraction of what he's capable of; with more opportunities, Golden is expected to show significantly more production than he displayed in his rookie year.

Penix is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 11, which is his third ACL tear in seven years; he was in a great mood during mandatory minicamp and said he'd be ready to go right now if they allowed him; however, there's more pressure on him to get back because the Falcons brought in Tua Tunga-Vailoa, meaning Penix could be fighting for his starting job; he was drafted by a prior regime and everyone involved in that pick is now out of the building with Kevin Stefanski coming in.

Parker Washington was a revelation late in the 2025 season as a playmaking option in space and is expected to continue receiving usage in that role. Cam Wolfe reports Washington had a great spring and will be difficult to take off the field for the Jacksonville offense, projecting him as one of the two leading receivers in Jacksonville alongside Brian Thomas Jr.

Mahomes tore his LCL and ACL in Week 15 and had surgery on December 15th; he was out at mandatory minicamp doing individual drills but not fully participating; he said he's trying to use the fact that he can't be mobile right now to his advantage by forcing himself to sit in the pocket and make his reads; Andy Reid said Mahomes has absolutely attacked his rehab but will only be able to do some things during training camp, indicating cautious approach with the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Travis Kelce is mentioned as part of Tight End University, with George Kittle noting that Kelce talks about the top of his route, sharing technique instruction with younger tight ends.