Post-Draft NFL: A.J. Brown Trade and Aaron Rodgers’ Future Top Lingering Questions

A.J. Brown trade, Aaron Rodgers' future among biggest post-draft questions facing every NFL team

Even with the draft in the rearview mirror, there are still several questions lingering across the NFL

By Tyler Sullivan

May 4, 2026 at 8:06 am ET • 25 min read

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We've entered a new phase of the NFL offseason. In the weeks and months that we just endured, the primary objective for all 32 clubs across the country was to replenish and revamp their rosters through free agency and, most recently, the NFL Draft . Well, that period is over. Now, the focus is to take all of those new pieces, smash them together with the old ones, and mold what each organization hopes will be a winning product for next season.

Despite the redecorating, there may still be teams with lingering questions regarding key areas of the depth chart. Then, there are more existential questions surrounding various clubs, who may be faced with the identity crisis of seeing their championship window come and go.

With teams beginning to ramp up their offseason programs with OTAs and mandatory minicamp over the next few months before the summer break, we're going to take stock of where they stand and identify one major question looming over the organization.

Agent's Take: Previewing the NFL's 2026 rookie contracts Joel Corry

Arizona Cardinals

Question : Will Carson Beck start Week 1?

Arizona selected Beck with the 65th overall pick at the draft, and it stands to wonder how quickly the Miami product will hit the field. After all, the competition in the Cardinals quarterback room isn't exactly robust. Jacoby Brissett is the incumbent starter, but he was 1-11 in 2025 and is currently holding out for a new contract. Then, there's Gardner Minshew and former undrafted free agent Kedon Slovis . Whatever you think about the selection of Beck, the organization invested a third-rounder in him, and they'll want to get an all-encompassing view of him as their starter this season before possibly deploying even more draft capital at the position next offseason. Beck isn't a green prospect either, as he had 43 collegiate starts under his belt and will turn 25 in the middle of his rookie campaign. More than other rookies, he has the experience to start out of the gate. Whether or not first-year head coach Mike LaFleur throws him to the wolves, however, is the question.

Atlanta Falcons

Question : Will Michael Penix Jr. be healthy enough to compete with Tua Tagovailoa ?

There's a quarterback competition rumbling in Atlanta after the Falcons signed veteran Tua Tagovailoa following his release from the Miami Dolphins . While most of us have our popcorn ready to be tossed into the microwave in anticipation of this summer battle, it stands to wonder if it'll even be a fair fight. Penix is working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in November. The 2024 first-round pick has a growing history of injuries, so it's no guarantee he'll be 100% by the time things really heat up at training camp. At the NFL Annual Meeting earlier this offseason, head coach Kevin Stefanski praised the tenacity Penix is bringing to his rehab , but didn't provide much when asked if he'd physically be ready to play Week 1. If Penix isn't in top form, that only creates even more of an inside track for Tagovailoa, and this battle could be a swift knockout.

Baltimore Ravens

Question : Who will be Baltimore's starting center

There are a couple of different avenues we could've gone with the Ravens , including the looming extensions for Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers . However, the most pressing issue on the roster is at center. Namely, who actually is their starting center? Baltimore saw Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum leave in free agency, and with no replacement coming by way of a veteran, most anticipated the team filling that hole at the draft. While GM Eric DeCosta noted that he did try to land a center at the draft, it never came to fruition.

"Obviously, center is a position right now in a state of flux," he told WBAL Radio last week . "We're trying to figure that out. We weren't able to address that in the draft. There were a couple guys that we really liked in the draft at the center position, but the board didn't fall the right way."

Now, the Ravens will need to scour the remnants of the free agent market or look for a trade to fill that need.

Buffalo Bills

Question : Can Keon Coleman save his career?

It's been a tumultuous tenure in Buffalo for Coleman, especially these last few months. In the aftermath of firing Sean McDermott, Coleman caught a stray from owner Terry Pegula, who noted that it was the coaching staff that pushed for the team to draft him instead of GM Brandon Beane. At the time, it felt like that was the nail in Coleman's coffin regarding his tenure with the Bills . However, the receiver remains with the team at this stage, and it appears like he'll be on board for 2026 as they move forward with head coach Joe Brady. Beane even sang Coleman's praises this offseason and noted the team is hitting the reset button with him while adding, "I think his best year is yet to come here in 2026."

DJ Moore , who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Bears , will be Buffalo's top wideout next season, but Coleman could prove to be a major X factor in the Bills finally getting over the hump in the AFC, so long as he's able to bounce back.

Carolina Panthers

Question : Will Bryce Young get an extension before Week 1?

Carolina already picked up the fifth-year option on Bryce Young's rookie contract, and it was a move that was widely expected. What's more interesting is whether or not the Panthers brass will put forward a contract extension for their former No. 1 overall pick that has him linked to the franchise beyond the next two seasons. GM Dan Morgan told Mad Dog Sports Radio last week that an extension for Young is "something that we're talking about here internally, and we'll do it at the right time."

Young's tenure in Carolina has been a rollercoaster, which included an in-season benching in 2024. However, Young began stabilizing his career last season. He had career highs in passing touchdowns (23), completion percentage (63.6%), and passing yards per game (188.2). His six game-winning drives were also tied for second in the NFL last year. Young's numbers don't exactly jump off the page, but they did help Carolina get to the playoffs.

Is that enough for the organization to shell out a massive extension, or will the Panthers take a more cautious approach and let Young play the 2026 out before making any concrete long-term decisions?

Chicago Bears

Question : Does Chicago have enough at edge rusher?

The Bears have kept the status quo at edge rusher this offseason, not bringing in a player via free agency or the draft. This comes after a 2025 season where the defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in sacks and pressure rate, so this does feel like an area of the depth chart that still needs to be addressed. While the top-tier free agents have already signed, there are some notable names still lingering on the open market, including Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney . Either one of those players could be an option to bolster the unit.

Cincinnati Bengals

Question : Will Cincinnati add a middle linebacker?

The Bengals made serious additions to the defense this offseason. They inked Boye Mafe , Jonathan Allen  and Bryan Cook in free agency, acquired Dexter Lawrence  in a trade with the Giants , and brought in Cashius Howell in the second round of the draft. The only area of the defense that hasn't seen new blood come in is at off-ball linebacker. As it stands, Cincinnati appears content going into the season with Demetrius Knight Jr . and Barrett Carter , despite both struggling this season.

If the Bengals were to dip their toes into the free agent market and attempt to add to that room, there are some intriguing names out there. Given that the Bengals are in the thick of a Super Bowl window with Joe Burrow in his prime, this could be an ideal landing spot for veteran middle linebacker Bobby Wagner .

Cleveland Browns

Question : How will the QB room shake out?

The Browns ' quarterback room is packed to the gills, and it's currently unclear how things will sort out. Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders  and Dillon Gabriel will each duke it out for the Week 1 job, while rookie Taylen Green develops. If we assume Green will be on the roster, considering Cleveland just drafted him, and Watson is immovable due to his contract, either Sanders or Gabriel will be the odd man out.

So, on top of trying to figure out who'll be the Browns starting quarterback, there's another shoe that could drop with one of those two 2025 draft selections being shipped out of town.

Dallas Cowboys

Question : Will George Pickens sign a contract extension?

Another offseason, another contract situation surrounding the Dallas Cowboys . This time, it's whether or not George Pickens will ink a long-term extension or play out the 2026 campaign on the franchise tag. The wideout recently signed the tag, which ensures he'll make $27.3 million guaranteed for this season. However, the two sides will look to hammer out an extension, but the clock is ticking. The deadline for players who have been franchised to sign a long-term extension is July 15. If no deal is reached by that date, Pickens will play the year on the tag.

Denver Broncos

Question : How is Bo Nix's rehab going?

Nix suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the midst of a divisional round win over the Bills was a gut punch. If healthy, there was a legitimate chance the Broncos would've been in the Super Bowl. While that injury spoiled a golden opportunity in 2025, the objective now is to ensure it doesn't impact 2026, so his rehab will be the central storyline for Denver the rest of the offseason. NFL Media reported last week that Nix recently underwent a cleanup procedure on that ankle, which was anticipated and successful. The report added that Nix remains on track to be ready for the start of training camp. Post-surgery, a video was posted of Nix running , so he does look well on his way to returning to form.

Detroit Lions

Question : Has Detroit missed its Super Bowl window?

This is more of a big-picture topic than some of the nitty-gritty angles we'll cover with other clubs, but it's maybe the most noteworthy of the bunch. The Lions had been in the thick of the Super Bowl conversation for the last few years, but the furthest they've advanced was the NFC Championship in 2023. Last season, Detroit's ascent hit a roadblock in the form of a 9-8 campaign that saw them finish last in the NFC North.

The division is increasingly more competitive with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rising, and if Kyler Murray hits with the Vikings , they'll make the path tougher for the Lions as well. At DraftKings Sportsbook, Detroit is the betting favorite to win the NFC North in 2026, but it's a pretty slim margin. They're +180, with the Packers right behind them at +190. If they don't bounce back in 2026, it's fair to wonder if their best chances of reaching the Super Bowl with this core have come and gone.

Green Bay Packers

Question : Are more extensions on offense coming?

The Packers recently signed receiver Jayden Reed to a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension, and that may not be the only deal Green Bay executes before we get to Week 1. There are a couple of notable pieces to the offense entering the final year of their deals, so their statuses will be worth monitoring over the next few months. Namely, tight end Tucker Kraft and receiver Christian Watson are two skill-position players currently in the final year of their contracts. Despite Kraft recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 9 last season, he should remain in Green Bay's long-term plans. When healthy, he has been the straw that stirs the dr

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-post-draft-questions-nfl-a-j-brown-aaron-rodgers/)._