NFL minicamp news: Mayfield unfazed by contract, Waddle and Styles shine

As of yesterday, NFL mandatory minicamps are done for another year, and the six-week wait for training camp begins now.

On Tuesday, we covered the five biggest stories dominating camp headlines, including George Pickens showing up, Nix almost at "full go", and Tua taking advantage of Penix's absence in Atlanta.

Here's everything else that caught our eye in the days since.

Buccaneers' Vea and Mayfield want new deals

Tampa Bay held minicamp without Vita Vea, with the veteran defensive tackle sitting out as he pushes for a new contract.

Zero guaranteed money left on his deal is the sticking point, and the $17.75 million per year he's currently due has slipped well down the market for top-level interior defenders.

Baker Mayfield is also entering a contract year, but he remains focused on preparing for the season ahead, telling reporters "It's not going to affect how I approach this."

Chiefs Xavier Worthy motivated, Mansoor Delane missing

Year two didn't go the way anyone expected for Xavier Worthy, who hurt his shoulder in the season opener and never really got going when he returned.

532 receiving yards and one touchdown were far from what the Chiefs expected from the 2024 first-rounder, and he enters a crucial season looking to turn things around.

Unshaken by the slow start to his career, Worthy is keen to put the 2025 season behind him.

In other Chiefs' news, rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane missed minicamp with a shoulder injury, but is expected to be fit for training camp.

Caleb Williams at ease in Bears' offense

ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported Williams has been noticeably more settled throughout OTAs and minicamp.

Geoff Stellfox / Stringer

Williams spoke to "the advantage" he has entering year two under Ben Johnson.

"It's a hell of a lot more fun for me than it was last year just because it was -- I was saying it to [running backs coach Eric Studesville], 'Dude, I feel like I was drowning trying to breathe or stay alive and wait for a boat to come around last year.

"Now this year, it's being able to start where we finished last year, playcalls and words and verbiage and speak the same language," he added.

"It's being able to grow more from an earlier stage... speaking on things that really help throughout the year. That's the advantage."

Sonny Styles shines in Washington

Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles has been one of the standout performers from the Commanders' offseason programme, generating praise from his position coach Ken Norton Jr.

"He's been everything we could ever think of, and it is still so early," Norton said.

"If you look at Sonny, and you look up the definition of bad, tough, mean, perfect-looking football player, his picture comes up. We're very happy, but it's still early."

Styles talked about the difference between the college and pro level, explaining that "physicality" is a big point of emphasis as he transitions to the NFL.

Seahawks ease back in after Super Bowl win

Seattle came into this offseason with an eye on managing players after a 20-game run in 2025, and their approach to training camp reflected that.

ESPN's Brady Henderson reported the Seahawks held just eight of a possible 13 practices, with Macdonald encouraging veterans to stay home for the first two weeks of Phase 1 to recover.

Most showed up anyway, which says something about the culture Macdonald has built.

The team did lose Kenneth Walker III, Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen to free agency, a fair chunk of contributors from a championship squad, but defensive tackle Leonard Williams doesn't sound too concerned about losing a sense of what made them 2025 champions.

Steph Chambers / Staff

"To me, I really just see our culture elevate to another level," Williams told Henderson.

"I feel like last year we started putting the mix together... This year, you really see it boiling and becoming more just of a foundation."

Broncos' Jaylen Waddle off to fast start

Jaylen Waddle has been the story of the Broncos' offseason, and his arrival is already changing the feel of the Bo Nix-led Denver offense.

Throughout OTAs and into minicamp, Waddle's ability to win at the line of scrimmage has given defenders problems at all three levels of the field, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold.

Teammate and star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, a huge fan of Waddle's signing back in March, can't wait to get going.

"Speed, speed, speed ... it adds a whole different dynamic for sure. It'll be fun to watch," he said this week.

The AFC West is about to get a whole lot more fun.