Thunder have reportedly made a decision on Chet Holmgren
Chet Holmgren will not be getting voted off the island just yet.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will not be trading away their NBA All-Star big man Holmgren this offseason, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported Monday. MacMahon notes that the Thunder continue to believe in Holmgren’s talent, character, and work ethic.
Holmgren, still just 24 years old, was OKC’s No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. After missing all of his rookie season due to Lisfranc injury, Holmgren has since bounced back to become a crucial long-term building block for the Thunder.
The seven-footer Holmgren had a starring role on the OKC team that won the 2025 NBA championship. He then followed that up this season by averaging 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game en route to All-Star, All-NBA, and First Team All-Defensive honors.
But the narrative on Holmgren has quickly flipped after his shoddy 2026 postseason. Holmgren’s numbers fell to 14.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, and he looked especially lost in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Holmgren was benched down the stretch of the decisive Game 7 last weekend and seemed particularly petrified by his matchup against rival Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs.
That said, the Thunder already committed to Holmgren with a five-year, $239.3 million rookie max extension that officially begins next season. While there was some chatter in recent days about OKC potentially flipping salaries for another young All-Star big instead, they are clearly still hitching their wagon to Holmgren until further notice.
Oklahoma player brutally fouls a ball off his own nuts
An Oklahoma player managed to turn one foul ball into three this week.
Oklahoma faced off against No. 2 seed Georgia Tech on Monday in the NCAA Atlanta Regional Championship Game. In the sixth inning at Mac Nease Baseball Park in Atlanta, Ga., Sooners first baseman Dayton Tockey was batting with a runner on and two outs.
Facing an 0-2 count, Tockey hacked away at an offering at the knees. Tockey immediately came to regret that decision though as he ended up fouling the ball straight into the ground … and right into his own nuts.
Here is the video of the very painful moment.
Foul ball directly to the nuts is as brutal as it gets pic.twitter.com/3u9mCrhno3
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 2, 2026
Tockey, after remaining doubled over in pain for a minute, eventually finished the at-bat and hit into an inning-ending groundout some five pitches later. But it appears that the unfortunate nut shot somehow helped Tockey gain karma points with the baseball gods … as he ended up winning the game for Oklahoma with a walkoff home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
WE'RE GOING TO KANSAS, Y'ALL pic.twitter.com/C1NIK2jQUe
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 1, 2026
The walkoff dinger by Tockey secured the improbable upset of the heavily-favored Yellow Jackets and punched the Sooners’ ticket to the NCAA Super Regionals next weekend. While it took the unluckiest foul tip on this side of Jazz Chisholm before Tockey could even get there, the lefty-hitting senior will definitely be going to bed happy tonight (though perhaps with an ice pack between his legs as well).
Kentucky scores huge name in transfer portal
The Kentucky Wildcats made a big splash in the transfer portal on Monday amid news that Milan Momcilovic is headed to Lexington.
Several reporters confirmed on Monday that Momcilovic was committing to Kentucky after three seasons at Iowa State. The 21-year-old confirmed the news himself with a post on X, showing a photo of him edited into Wildcats uniform.
“BBN!” Momcilovic captioned his post with a blue heart emoji.
BBN!💙 pic.twitter.com/2MB1iYREk8
— Milan Momcilovic (@MilanMomcilovi5) June 2, 2026
Momcilovic was one of the most sought-after stars in the portal this year after an outstanding final season at Iowa State. After a pair of above-average shooting seasons in his first two years with the Cyclones, Momcilovic took the title of college basketball’s best shooter as a junior.
The Wisconsin native averaged 16.9 points on over 50 percent shooting, which is insanely impressive considering he takes 7.5 three-pointers per game. Momcilovic led the country in three-pointer percentage with an eye-popping 48.7 percent clip from distance.
The 6’8″ power forward isn’t much of an all-around player, posting averages of just 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.2 blocks per contest. But his gravity pull as a dead-eye shooter with size makes the newest Kentucky Wildcat one of the most lethal offensive weapons in the college ranks.
Momcilovic entered his name in the 2026 NBA draft, but withdrew last week after not receiving as much interest as he had hoped. He could seriously boost his draft stock next year if he has the kind of year Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is looking for.
Myles Garrett sends heartfelt message to Cleveland after trade to Rams
Myles Garrett has penned his goodbye letter dedicated to the City of Cleveland and Browns fans everywhere.
After years of speculation and turbulence, the Browns finally traded Garrett on Monday to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for incoming third-year linebacker Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
Garrett, whom the Browns drafted No. 1 overall in 2017, spent the first nine seasons of his career in Northeast Ohio. The near-decade together clearly left a mark on Garrett, who posted a heartfelt message to everyone who was a part of his journey in Cleveland.
“To Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and every Browns fan,” Garrett wrote.
“Nine years.
“It’s hard to put into words what that really means when so much of your life has been shaped in one place, around one team, and with one community behind you.
“… Cleveland made me tougher. You challenged me. You taught me about perseverance, about showing up even when things aren’t easy, and what loyalty really looks like. Through the highs, lows, setbacks, injuries, expectations, inclement weather, and difficult seasons, you all kept showing up.
“I never took that for granted.”
— Myles Garrett (@Flash_Garrett) June 2, 2026
“… What I can say with complete honesty is this: I gave this city everything I had. I suited up and wore those colors with pride, and I don’t regret a second of being part of this storied franchise. Every Sunday. Every offseason. Every play. Every down. Every moment. You gave me more in return than I can ever repay.
“The best days for this franchise are ahead. Thank you for letting me grow here. Thank you for believing in
me.
“Loving you is easy, leaving you is the hard part.
“Thank you for nine unforgettable years.”
Garrett also made sure to thank the Haslam family, Browns GM Andrew Berry, and all the teammates, coaches, training staff, and stadium workers he encountered during his time with the team.
Garrett has had some practice crafting such a message. He wrote a similar note last year when he submitted a formal request to be traded from the Browns. Garrett tried to force the Browns’ hand to deal him for the 2025 season and reportedly even threatened to sit out games, but ultimately played in all 17 games.
Rather than sulk in his last season with the Browns, Garrett took out his frustrations on the field. He broke the single-season sack record with 23.0 en route to his second Defensive Player of the Year award.
Notable update emerges on Pat McAfee’s future at ESPN
Pat McAfee and ESPN will keep on keeping on together.
The retired former NFL All-Pro punter McAfee is in early talks for a new long-term contract extension with ESPN, Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported on Monday. Glasspiegel notes that McAfee’s current five-year contract with ESPN runs through 2028 and is worth a reported $85 million.
Additionally, McAfee announced earlier in the day Monday that he has a new partnership with DraftKings. Notably, DraftKings serves as the official sportsbook partner of ESPN.
We are OFFICIALLY partnering with @DraftKings..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 1, 2026
We're gonna Chase The Crown #PMSLive https://t.co/mwCUH63gRs pic.twitter.com/nYB3tr6RDn
McAfee, still only 39 years old, retired from the NFL in 2016 and started “The Pat McAfee Show” in 2019. The daily talk show quickly became one of the most popular sports programs in the nation, and McAfee ended up moving the show to ESPN in 2023.
As part of their partnership, ESPN simulcasts “The Pat McAfee Show” on their flagship TV channel for two hours every weekday while ESPN+ and ESPN’s YouTube channel air the entire three-hour show. McAfee is also taking on other duties for ESPN these days, including providing some classic moments as a panelist on “College GameDay.”
There was a report last year claiming that ESPN producers had gotten fed up with McAfee because of some alleged “diva-like” behavior. But now that McAfee is past the halfway point of his first contract with the network, it appears that there will be no issues whatsoever with getting the former punter to a second contract.
Chandler Simpson suffers a bizarre injury on a stolen base
Chandler Simpson was a victim of his own blinding speed during Monday’s game.
The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Simpson suffered an unusual injury in the middle of his team’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers. In the fourth inning at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., Simpson earned a one-out base hit and promptly took off for second during the next at-bat.
Simpson successfully swiped the bag … but paid the price for it. He immediately grabbed at his mouth area and was soon seen bleeding heavily from his lip.
Instant replay later showed exactly what had happened. Simpson’s helmet came flying off his head as he went into his headfirst slide, and the helmet bounced off the second-base bag and smacked Simpson in the mouth. Check out the video.
Chandler Simpson was bleeding heavily and had to leave the game after his helmet cut his lip as he slid into second pic.twitter.com/zHZvXct9ox
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 1, 2026
Simpson was forced to exit the game because of his lip injury. He was replaced as a runner by his Rays teammate Ryan Vilade.
The 25-year-old Simpson is known as one of the fastest players in the majors, stealing 44 bases for Tampa Bay last season and entering play on Monday with 14 steals through 55 games. But during the series opener against the Tigers, Simpson became the latest AL East player to suffer an extremely unusual injury this week.
Report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wants the Thunder to bring back 1 player
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be pulling rank to try to get one particular player back on the team next season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder star Gilgeous-Alexander will remind management about how much he values having Luguentz Dort as a teammate in OKC, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported on Monday. MacMahon notes that Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort are tied for the longest-tenured Thunder players and that both play together on Team Canada during their summers as well.
Like Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort has been in Oklahoma City ever since 2019. He has served as a major cog for the Thunder ever since then, particularly with his physical defense that earned him All-Defensive First Team honors in 2025 and then helped OKC win the NBA title later that year as well.
But Dort’s stock has taken a hit after a 2026 postseason in which his offensive game was extremely lacking (just 5.5 points per game on woeful 37/31/50 shooting splits). That led to Dort consistently losing minutes to his fellow role player Alex Caruso as the Thunder ultimately fell in the Western Conference Finals to the San Antonio Spurs.
Now Dort is facing a $17.7 million club option for the 2026-27 season. With Thunder owning a $28.5 million club option on center Isaiah Hartenstein as well, they will likely have to make some very tough decisions in order to avoid the second apron of the luxury tax.
Between Dort’s inconsistent offense and his reputation for pulling dirty moves on the court, some OKC fans are seemingly ready to move on from him. But the endorsement of the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Gilgeous-Alexander may take precedence above all for the Thunder this offseason.
Aaron Donald’s latest post turns head amid Myles Garrett trade to Rams
The Los Angeles Rams’ trade for Myles Garrett has some fans daydreaming about lining him up next to Aaron Donald.
The Rams rocked the NFL landscape on Monday with a blockbuster move to acquire Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. Los Angeles gave up linebacker Jared Verse and a treasure trove of draft assets to land Garrett.
The trade led fans to check in on what Donald has been up to, given that the two could have formed arguably the most fearsome defensive duo in recent memory had the Rams icon not retired in 2024. The last post Donald uploaded on Thursday had some thinking he could potentially be ready to make a return to the field.
The post showed Donald getting a workout in with the caption “#ready,” while the song “ain’t done” by rapper Blxst played in the background.
it’s worth pointing out that in his latest IG workout post 4 days ago, Aaron Donald in his caption has “#ready” and the song is “ain’t done” by Bixst.
— Chris Brockman🎙️ (@chrisbrockman) June 1, 2026
this can’t be a coincidence, right? #NFL #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/0WnotZXXQP
While Donald has not played in a game since the 2023 season, he has certainly stayed in impeccable enough shape to warrant speculation about a possible return. Donald has had to shut down rumors about a potential comeback seemingly every year.
Rams fans can only hope that the the prospect of lining up alongside Garrett could change the equation for Donald.
Old Victor Wembanyama-Spike Lee video resurfaces ahead of NBA Finals
Victor Wembanyama and Spike Lee both apparently saw the vision from the start.
An old video of the San Antonio Spurs star Wembanyama and the famous film director (and New York Knicks superfan) Lee made the rounds over social media on Monday. The video was taken during 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. earlier this year in February.
In the video, Wembanyama exchanged pleasantries with Lee by the courtside seats. Lee said, “Hey, I want to see you guys in the Finals, baby,” to which Wembanyama replied, “I want to see you guys!”
Here is the clip.
"Hey, I wanna see you guys in the finals, baby!"
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) June 1, 2026
"I wanna see you guys!"
What did Spike Lee and Wemby know?
(via @spurs) pic.twitter.com/XjucO3pJgQ
That ended up being quite the prescient moment as now, less than four months later, both the Spurs and the Knicks are in this year’s NBA Finals. San Antonio is making its first Finals trip since 2014, and New York is making its first trip since way back in 1999 (which was also coincidentally a Finals matchup against the Spurs).
Game 1 of the Finals tips off on Wednesday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Meanwhile, it is a virtual guarantee that Wembanyama will be seeing a lot of Lee whether at home or away (especially after Lee notably trash-talked the Spurs during this season’s NBA Cup final).
Legendary NBA coach Rick Adelman dies at 79
Legendary NBA coach Rick Adelman died at the age of 79 on Monday.
Adelman, who spent 23 years as a head coach in the NBA, was set to turn 80 years old on June 16.
The NBA Coaches Association announced the news on Monday.
The membership of the National Basketball Coaches Association joins the NBA family in mourning the passing of legendary Head Coach and Hall of Famer, Rick Adelman.
— NBA Coaches Assoc. (@NBA_Coaches) June 1, 2026
Rick Adelman coached in the NBA for 29 years, serving as a Head Coach for 23 seasons with the Portland Trail… pic.twitter.com/ksRQzGkF9Z
Adelman was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. He also won the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award by the NBCA in 2023.
Adelman spent time as a head coach with each of the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
Several teams posted messages about Adelman, with the Kings saying that Adelman had “humility, integrity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the power of teamwork.”
The Sacramento Kings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a beloved coach whose leadership, character, and vision helped define an era of Kings basketball that inspired our city and captivated fans around the world.
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) June 1, 2026
During his eight seasons in… pic.twitter.com/nX0848kCW9
Rick Adelman left an indelible mark on the NBA during his nearly four decades in the league, both as a player for seven seasons and as a coach for 29 seasons, including two seasons with the Warriors (1995-97).
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 1, 2026
His creativity and ingenuity led his teams to 1,042 wins during his… pic.twitter.com/AFHYvJIT4z
Adelman finished with an impressive 1,042-749 record as a head coach, and he is just one of 11 coaches in NBA history to have more than 1,000 career victories.
Adelman’s son, David, is the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. As of publication, the cause of death for Rick Adelman has not been determined.
Stephen Curry lands 10-year endorsement deal after Under Armour split
Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has made a decision on his next shoe company.
Curry and Under Armour parted ways in November after 12 years together. Curry is now signing a monster 10-year deal with a Chinese company called Li-Ning. Curry announced the new partnership in a video released on social media on Monday.
The partnership of a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/PtnTakEf4a
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) June 1, 2026
Curry’s partnership with the Chinese brand will allow the Warriors star to “sign athletes under his brand” and includes a golf line, according to details obtained from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Part of Curry’s decision to pick Li-Ning was that he was impressed by the comfort of the shoes worn by Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler, as well as Dwyane Wade and CJ McCollum.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has signed a shoe endorsement contract with Chinese company Li-Ning — a landmark 10-year deal, sources tell ESPN. Li-Ning extends his Curry Brand venture globally and encompasses basketball products, athleisure, the ability for Curry to… pic.twitter.com/RgXull3PjU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 1, 2026
The company was founded by Li Ning, a famous Chinese gymnast who won six gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Curry called it the “partnership of a lifetime.”
Stephen Curry left Nike in 2013 to sign with Under Armour, and now he will begin a new venture that should have a significant impact on a global scale.
Eli Manning had six words after Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr. reunion
The New York Giants and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. are going full circle.
On Monday, the Giants worked out four veteran wide receivers, and they signed all of Braxton Berrios, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Beckham to add depth to the injury-depleted WR room.
After the signing of Beckham was announced, former Giants quarterback Eli Manning had a few words of excitement regarding the acquisition.
“I like the look of this.”
I like the look of this. https://t.co/0sxj0kDXHR
— Eli Manning (@EliManning) June 1, 2026
Manning is a two-time Super Bowl/Super Bowl MVP winner with the Giants, and he spent his entire NFL career with the franchise since going first overall in 2004.
Beckham and Manning were also together with the Giants from 2014 (when Beckham was selected at No. 12 overall) until 2019, when the Cleveland Browns acquired the talented WR in a trade.
Beckham also reunites with John Harbaugh, the Giants’ new head coach, who also coached Beckham in 2023 when he was a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
The young Giants offense features QB Jaxson Dart, RB Cam Skattebo and WR Malik Nabers, although his Week 1 status is murky after he underwent a second knee surgery recently.
Now, all three of Berrios, Smith-Schuster and Beckham have signed with the franchise. Beckham last played in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, but he is back in New York in hopes of becoming a reliable target for Dart.
AJ Brown’s jersey number for the Patriots has been revealed
At long last, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded superstar wide receiver AJ Brown to the New England Patriots.
The Patriots sent a first-round pick in 2028 and a fifth-round choice in 2027 to the Eagles to land Brown after months of rumors between the two teams.
Now, Brown is heading for a new team and has reportedly picked a new jersey number: No. 1.
WR A.J. Brown will wear No. 1 with the Patriots.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 1, 2026
It’s a big change for Brown, who wore No. 11 in high school, at college while playing for Ole Miss, and with both the Tennessee Titans and Eagles during his NFL career.
The Patriots also posted a photo edit with Brown wearing the No. 1 jersey.
WR1 pic.twitter.com/prgizq270j
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 1, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase is the most notable WR to currently wear the No. 1 jersey, and New York Giants star Malik Nabers and New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave are also among those wearing No. 1.
June 1 was also a loose timeline for a Brown trade to be done, as the wait now allows the Eagles to split the dead cap money between 2026 and 2027.
An Eagles trade became more evident when they traded up to No. 20 to select USC Trojans star WR Makai Lemon. The Eagles also acquired Green Bay Packers WR Dontavyion Wicks and signed Elijah Moore and Hollywood Brown.
AJ Brown now gives the reigning AFC champions a true WR1 option for Drake Maye, and it reunites Brown with his former head coach, Mike Vrabel.
NBA insider reveals 2 teams are already ‘in pursuit’ of Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be the most commonly discussed player in trade rumors for all of June.
While the Miami Heat have long been linked as a frontrunner, another team has emerged in pursuit of Antetokounmpo: the Portland Trail Blazers, as NBA insider Marc Stein wrote in his latest Substack.
“More and more, with sources saying Miami and Portland are already in pursuit, Antetokounmpo’s future is increasingly expected to be resolved over the next few weeks in conjunction with NBA Draft proceedings,” Stein wrote.
The Heat still figure to be the frontrunners, but the Trail Blazers’ pursuit seems a bit surprising. On one hand, new owner Tom Dundon has left many scratching their heads after he laid off approximately 70 employees and underwent a series of cost-cutting moves.
Now, the Trail Blazers acquiring Antetokounmpo would be a big risk, especially since their chances of keeping him long-term figure to be very low.
Before the trade deadline, the Trail Blazers were also linked as a suitor. Any such trade would likely involve Jerami Grant and former No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson.
An Antetokounmpo trade to Portland would also reunite him with Damian Lillard, as the two were teammates for a time in Milwaukee.
The Bucks have reportedly been hoping to have an Antetokounmpo trade done before the NBA Draft, if they decide to move on from him.
Cavaliers would be reluctant to trade 1 player for Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked to a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo trade since they were swept in the Eastern Conference Finals, but that might not be a realistic proposal after all.
Multiple Cavaliers executives would be “vehemently against” a trade proposal that would send Evan Mobley to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo, according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. The Cavaliers are huge fans of Mobley and see him not just as a foundational piece, but as something of a safety net for the organization.
The Cavaliers also are not certain if Antetokounmpo would commit to them long-term, and would have at least some concerns about acquiring a 31-year-old with a history of knee issues.
Mobley was quickly named as a potential piece that would have to go to Milwaukee if the Cavs did try to trade for Antetokounmpo. The 24-year-old is coming off a season that saw him average 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and he also won Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024-25. He has not been quite as productive during any of his playoff runs, though he did put up 21 points and 12 rebounds when Cleveland eliminated the Detroit Pistons on the road in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
As for Antetokounmpo, there are other teams that the Bucks star might have more interest in, and those teams might also have more interest than the Cavs would in acquiring him. Cleveland probably isn’t a serious player for Antetokounmpo if they are really hesitating over including Mobley in such a trade.
AJ Brown has finally been traded
For the second time in his career, A.J. Brown has been traded.
Brown on Monday was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots for two draft picks. The Eagles are receiving a 5th-round pick in 2027 and first-round pick in 2028 in return for Brown.
Brown has a 4-year, $113 million contract that includes $29 million guaranteed for the upcoming season. He will only count as $7 million against New England’s salary cap for the upcoming season, and he will count for nearly $11 million against the Patriots’ cap in 2027.
The Eagles waited until June 1 to make the trade so that they could split the dead cap money between 2026 (nearly $22 million) and 2027 (around $21.6 million).
There had been speculation all offseason that Philly would be trading Brown. Their offseason moves pointed to a split from Brown, as they drafted Makai Lemon, traded for Dontayvion Wicks, and signed Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore — all of whom are wide receivers.
New England, which lost in the Super Bowl last season, wanted to improve its receiving options for young quarterback Drake Maye. They added Romeo Doubs this offseason and have now acquired Brown.
Brown, 28, is entering his eighth NFL season. He has caught exactly 7 touchdowns in three straight seasons, while posting just over 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two years.
Though Brown remains a productive receiver, the question is whether he will remain on good behavior. He helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, but he also caused some distractions both on and off the field. Brown previously played under Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee, which has given the Patriots the confidence to deal for him.
Browns’ stance on trading Denzel Ward has been revealed
The Cleveland Browns shocked the NFL world Monday by trading star edge rusher Myles Garrett, but that deal does not necessarily mean they are open for business.
The Browns are not pursuing any sort of fire sale after trading Garrett, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The decision to trade Garrett was made because of the value being offered in return by the Los Angeles Rams, not because the team was looking to get rid of him.
In addition, teams that have asked about trading for cornerback Denzel Ward have been given a “hard no” by the Browns.
Few Browns notes on Myles Garrett trade from @SportsCenter
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 1, 2026
*Browns' desire for a young, ascending pass rusher (and Jared Verse, specifically), shrunk candidate pool. Per team source, this was a Rams-specific deal because Rams 'hounded' CLE for a while.
*Myles Garrett did not…
The Garrett trade appears to have been a rare case of one team making another team an offer that was simply too good to refuse. In this case, the Browns had the opportunity to get a quality young player in Jared Verse along with a parcel of draft picks, and decided it was worth doing.
Ward has two years remaining on his current contract and is still one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. He was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl last season and made it for the third straight year. Perhaps a team could overwhelm the Browns as the Rams did with Garrett, but it appears unlikely.
Russell Wilson is not retiring despite his big career decision
Russell Wilson has made a major career decision that, on the surface, should be the end of his NFL playing days. That might not necessarily be the case, however.
Multiple reports Monday indicated that Wilson has accepted an offer to join CBS’ “The NFL Today” as an analyst for the 2026 season. On the surface, that would suggest that Wilson’s illustrious playing career is over.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, however, characterized this as a “pause” on Wilson’s playing career, and emphasized that the quarterback is not formally retiring.
Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson, who has an offer to be a backup QB, has elected to accept an offer to join the CBS Sports team for their Sunday pregame show and more, sources say (as @sportsrapport reported).
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 1, 2026
Wilson may not be retiring, but at least a pause on his playing career. pic.twitter.com/6484EEMXnh
It is entirely possible that Wilson’s decision leads to retirement, whether intended or not. He would hardly be the first player to leave the door open to playing again, only to receive no phone calls from interested teams.
We do know, however, that Wilson garnered interest as a backup this offseason. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a team that suffers a midseason quarterback injury or poor play might give him a call, at which point he would have a decision to make.
Wilson had been linked to a job with CBS last month. He will presumably get a hefty salary without having to take a bunch of hits every Sunday, but it sounds like he is not completely committing to that just yet.
Myles Garrett trade could cost Rams several key players
The Los Angeles Rams’ shocking trade for Myles Garrett on Monday may have long-term repercussions for the rest of their roster.
The Rams agreed to a deal to acquire Garrett from the Cleveland Browns on Monday, giving up Jared Verse and a package of draft picks in return. As part of the deal, the Rams are taking on significant salary, as Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension a year ago.
That could make it very difficult for them to retain their young core beyond 2026. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Rams are “sending signals” that they are not pursuing contract extensions this summer for wide receiver Puka Nacua, edge rushers Byron Young and Kobie Turner, and offensive lineman Steve Avila. All four players are eligible for free agency after the 2026 season.
Rams’ approach is fascinating – taking big swings instead of paying young stars.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 1, 2026
Sources say L.A. is giving early impressions it won’t extend 2027 FAs Puka Nacua, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Steve Avila this summer. Perhaps that changes but deals are not on the radar right now.
Essentially, the Rams may be sacrificing their ability to pay the likes of Nacua and Young long-term by getting Garrett now and going all-in. That could still change, of course, but keeping any combination of those players would likely require some sacrifices in light of how much money it will take to retain them.
The Rams have presumably taken this into account. The team is famous for gambling with its future to go all-in now, and has even made it something of an organizational philosophy. If they win a championship, it will be worth it.
Myles Garrett has been traded by Browns
The Cleveland Browns are trading Myles Garrett in the most shocking move of the NFL offseason.
The Browns are trading Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for a package headlined by edge rusher Jared Verse, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The Browns will also receive a 2027 first-round pick and other draft compensation that is still being finalized.
🚨🚨🚨
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026
Bombshell: The Browns are finalizing a trade that will send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, per @rapsheet, @TomPelissero and me.
In exchange for Garrett, the Rams are expected to send Pro-Bowl edge Jared Verse, a 2027… pic.twitter.com/vHVquJBcYl
This should put to rest any notion that the Rams are not all-in after they surprised many by taking quarterback Ty Simpson in the first round of the NFL Draft. Garrett immediately transforms the team’s pass rush, as he is coming off a season which saw him post 23 sacks, a single-season NFL record. They will be able to pair him with Byron Young, who had 12 sacks in his own right last season.
It is not clear why the Browns felt now was the time to trade Garrett, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with Cleveland last year. There were indications he was not happy with the team’s decision to pass over former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in their head coach hiring. Despite that, the Browns were adamant that he would not be traded, but the Rams appear to have made an offer that was too good to refuse.
Verse is no slouch in his own right, as he collected 7.5 sacks last year and was named to his second Pro Bowl. Still, it certainly appears the Browns are trying to build for the future, even at the risk of making an unpopular move with fans.
