Latest On Giants, Russell Wilson; Team Still Eyeing Shedeur Sanders?
Although it was fairly clear the Giants preferred Aaron Rodgers, they signed Russell Wilson to be their expected Week 1 starter. Wilson may well have preferred to stay in Pittsburgh, but his 2024 team is still pursuing Rodgers, leading to this marriage of convenience.
Reeling after making the mistake of re-signing Daniel Jones, thus pushing a failed investment to six years, the Giants have Wilson and Jameis Winston as stopgaps while they determine if this is the year to draft a potential long-term option. Although both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are on hot seats, the franchise choosing the wrong year to draft a passer brought significant consequences last time.
[RELATED: Giants, Patriots To Meet With Abdul Carter]
Some around the league are indeed wondering if the Giants’ Wilson addition means they are skeptical on this year’s non-Cam Ward options, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Wilson move does provide flexibility for a reeling team, as the Giants would have been less likely to pass on Shedeur Sanders had they not landed the aging QB. And others are not convinced the Giants are out on a QB at No. 3.
As of now, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller hears quarterback is likely to be Big Blue’s direction with the third overall pick. A scout informed Miller the Giants’ interest in Sanders is the “worst-kept secret in the league right now.” Linked to the two-year Colorado starter in the fall, the Giants have remained connected to a polarizing prospect — one they arranged a visit with in early February. The team had staffers in attendance at every Buffaloes home game last season, Miller adds. Of course, with Travis Hunter also spending two years in Boulder, it is not exactly surprising to learn of consistent Giants attendance.
Ward has separated himself in this QB class, but if the Giants pass on Sanders, they may be locked out of top second-tier options. Barring a trade-up, Jaxson Dart is unlikely to be available when the Giants go back on the clock (No. 34). Dart first-round buzz has persisted, with Miller and ESPN colleague Field Yates viewing the Ole Miss product as a near-certainty to be a first-round pick. Some teams have Dart ranked second among QBs on their respective big boards, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds. That adds intrigue to the Sanders situation.
A recent report indicated a fall out of the top 10 is unlikely for Sanders, even as doubts creep in about a player not possessing his father’s generational athletic gifts. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Sanders as this year’s 18th-best prospect — with Ward 10th. The Titans would be passing on a top-tier prospect by selecting Ward, and with the Browns and Giants’ decision-makers in more desperate situations, positional need makes it somewhat difficult to imagine both teams will pass.
Sanders still led Division I-FBS with a 74% completion rate and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, finishing with a 37:10 TD-INT ratio and posing 4,134 passing yards. Despite Deion Sanders‘ historically elite speed, his son is not a running quarterback; Shedeur finished with negative rushing yards in both his FBS seasons.
Sanders’ perceived lower athletic ceiling has helped separate he and Ward, putting the Browns to a decision. The Browns have been closely linked to Abdul Carter. The draft going Ward-Carter would put the Giants to a seemingly Colorado-based decision, as Hunter would arrive as a splashy addition — at either WR or CB — while his longtime teammate would generate questions and begin behind Wilson.
A Giants depth chart with Wilson, Winston and Sanders would seem unrealistic, potentially leading Winston to the trade block in a situation that would remind of the Jets’ Teddy Bridgewater move in 2018. The Jets traded up for Sam Darnold and traded Bridgewater to the Saints for a third-round pick before that season, keeping Josh McCown as the rookie’s backup. Wilson rightfully expects to be the Giants’ starter, but it does appear likely he will mentor a rookie — even if the Giants pass on Sanders at 3.
After the Broncos cut Wilson and the Steelers did not show much interest in retaining him, the QB canvassed the league about a fit with Daboll, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. The Giants obviously did the same. Wilson’s one-year contract includes $10.5MM guaranteed and contains incentives that could vault the value to $21MM.
If Wilson plays 65% of the Giants’ offensive snaps, he will earn an additional $500K, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who adds an additional $1MM would come his way for a 75% snap rate. A $2MM bump would be due if Wilson hits the 85% snap barrier. Performance-wise, Wilson can earn $500K with a passer rating above 96.0 and another $500K if he reaches a 64% completion rate. A 20-plus-TD pass season and carrying a passer rating north of 88 nets him another $500K as well. Wilson posted passer ratings of 98.0 and 95.6 over the past two seasons.
The Giants making the playoffs during a season in which Wilson plays 55% of the snaps would lead to a $750K payout. A 75% participation rate and a playoff berth nets Wilson $1.5MM. Another million in incentives comes with playoff wins. The Giants have also incentivized regular-season victories, as Breer adds Wilson playing 50% of the snaps in any regular-season win would bring a $176K bump.
Steelers To Host QB Jaxson Dart
The Steelers’ quarterback situation remains unresolved for 2025. Even if a deal can be struck with Aaron Rodgers, though, a long-term investment at the position could be made as early as this year’s draft. 
Owner Art Rooney II has indicated Pittsburgh will look to make a high draft investment at the position in 2025 or ’26. The team’s first opportunity will come on Day 1 of next month’s event, one in which the Steelers hold the No. 21 pick. That leaves them out of range for Cam Ward and (likely) Shedeur Sanders, but several other options will be available by that point in the order.
[RELATED: Steelers Among Teams Interested In Sanders]
Among those is Jaxson Dart, and The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo reports he will conduct a top-30 visit with Pittsburgh in April (subscription required). The USC transfer spent the past three seasons at Ole Miss, improving in a number of passing categories every year along the way. Dart’s 2024 campaign saw him average 329 passing yards per game while posting a 29:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
While Dart racked up 495 yards and three scores on the ground last season, his success in the deep passing game has been key in helping his draft stock. Whereas Ward and Sanders have long been viewed as first-rounder, questions linger about how many (if any) other passers will be selected on Day 1. Dart (who, like other Rebels signal-callers, faces concerns about his ability to translate his production to the NFL game) has gained steam in that regard over the past few weeks, however, and the Browns – set to draft second overall – have hosted him for a private workout.
It would come as a surprise if Dart were to taken by Cleveland at this point, but the interest surrounding him could include a push on the part of the Steelers to acquire him. Pittsburgh has been searching for a long-term Ben Roethlisberger successor since his 2022 retirement, a process which included making Kenny Pickett the top QB selected in 2022 (20th overall). That did not yield the desired results, and he has already been traded twice in his young career. Veteran Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, although he made only 13 starts during his first Pittsburgh stint and is best suited as a veteran QB2.
Rodgers’ Steelers visit has not produced a deal yet, though nothing has been ruled out on that front by either party. As Pittsburgh looks to secure the 41-year-old’s services for at least the 2025 campaign, work on an eventual replacement for him (or a different starter, if one becomes necessary) will continue.
2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Saints, Packers, Falcons, Revel
The Saints continue to stay busy having visits with 2025 NFL Draft prospects, according to multiple reports from Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
Last night, the team hosted several Georgia players for dinner, including a top defensive end prospect in Mykel Williams as well as wide receiver Arian Smith. They also reportedly had dinner this week with Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew, a likely Day 3 prospect whose name has not been making the rounds this early in the process. Lastly, the team was in Knoxville today reportedly meeting with some Tennessee players, including running back Dylan Sampson and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott.
Underhill adds that the team has been doing a ton of work during the pre-draft process on running backs. Even though lead back Alvin Kamara had a career-high 950 rushing yards in 2024, combined with 543 receiving yards, the sheer depth of this year’s class of running back prospects nearly ensures that quality backs will be available into the fourth or fifth round. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has eight running backs listed in his top 100 prospects list, so it makes sense that New Orleans is doing its homework on the position.
Here are a few other rumors concerning possibilities in the 2025 NFL Draft:
- The Packers currently have eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but if general manager Brian Gutekunst has anything to say about it, they could be angling for more. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, when asked about not having many picks this year, Gutekunst added the addendum “yet” to the end of the statement, indicating that he would have some interest in acquiring more picks via trade. Green Bay currently sits at No. 23 overall in the first round. It’s been posited that many teams from pick No. 20 on are looking to trade back out of the first round due to a lack of elite, top-end talent in this year’s class, as opposed to the tremendous depth the class seems to provide. Unfortunately, due to that same issue, there are going to be few, if any, takers willing to give up precious draft capital to move up into the first round.
- One trend we seem to be seeing shows the Falcons as likely candidates to go defense in the first round of the draft. Josh Kendall of The Athletic selected safety Nick Emmanwori in the site’s beat writer mock draft, and the other players he says he considered with the pick, safety Malaki Starks, linebackers Jalon Walker and Jihaad Campbell, cornerback Will Johnson, and edges Mike Green and Shemar Stewart, all reside on the defensive side of the ball. Kendall bases this belief that the team will go defense off of new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich wanting to build a new, uniquely hybrid defense.
- Lastly, Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network reported today that the Cowboys will be hosting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel for a top-30 visit next week. We know that Revel is attempting to make a comeback from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games and that he is projected to be back in time for training camp. What makes this an interesting visit is that, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS, Revel’s ACL repair surgery was performed by Cowboys team doctor Dan Cooper, likely giving the franchise a uniquely exclusive insight on his prognosis and recovery.
Draft Rumors: Pro Days, Jackson, Taylor
We’re in the thick of Pro Day Season and, while some of the 2025 NFL Draft’s top quarterbacks are showing out after not throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine, some of the draft’s top pass rushers have chosen to sit out of their pro days. Two of the class’s top pass rushing prospects, Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, have made the decision not to work out at their respective pro day events.
Carter’s announcement, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, was relayed by his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who said that his client was “still finishing up rehab on the shoulder injury” he suffered during the College Football Playoff game against Boise State. He won’t work out at the pro day but will still be measured, which is important because he didn’t get measured at the combine after having to leave early for medicals, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Rosenhaus added that Carter may still work out at private team workouts in mid-April.
Stewart also missed workouts at both the combine and his team’s pro day, per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda. Stewart, a former five-star high school recruit, is a true physical specimen, but after only recording 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons of play with the Aggies, scouts were hoping to get some insight via pre-draft workouts. If he still goes in the first round of the draft, as is currently projected, it will likely be solely based on traits over production.
Here are a couple other draft rumors on potential Day 1 prospects:
- Another pass rushing prospect, Arkansas’ Landon Jackson is hoping to work his way into the first round with Carter and Stewart. After a phenomenal combine performance that included a 4.68-second 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-9 broad jump, Jackson continued to impress on the stopwatch with a three-cone drill timed at under seven seconds, per Pauline. While Jackson surprisingly sat out of defensive line drills in Fayetteville, he’s still being projected as an easy top-42 pick, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he found himself getting selected on Day 1.
- Lastly, LSU tight end Mason Taylor had an impressive pro day in Baton Rouge, timing out from 4.58-4.62, depending on the stopwatch, on his 40-yard dash and repping out 28 on the bench press. While the Giants and Cowboys both ran him through some blocking drills, the only team with an official top-30 visit planned, per Pauline, is the Chargers.
QB Draft Notes: Browns, Dart, Milroe
We know that the Browns have been exploring the quarterback options in the 2025 NFL Draft, conducting a private workout with Miami’s Cam Ward following the Hurricanes’ pro day in Coral Gables. The holders of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft know, though, that Ward may not be available to them.
According to Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com, the Browns’ road trip didn’t end there. Grossi informs us that Cleveland’s general manager, Andrew Berry, and head coach, Kevin Stefanski, conducted private workouts with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and Alabama passer Jalen Milroe this week, as well. He adds that the two will finish their quarterback workouts when the travel to Boulder for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders pro day next Friday.
While Ward and Sanders seem like the only two possible choices for Cleveland with the second overall pick, the team’s interest in Dart and Milroe provide the potential that they could go for another position, taking Penn State’s Abdul Carter or Colorado’s Travis Hunter, at No. 2 and go for a quarterback in a later round. Dart has lately been cast as a potential first-rounder, but it’s perfectly reasonable to think that he might be available to Cleveland at the top of the second. Milroe, on the other hand, has been seen, at times, as a likely Day 3 pick, further expanding the Browns’ options for a rookie passer.
Here are a few other rumors concerning quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft:
- We’ve seen the Saints spend lots of time at dinner in the past week as they continue to meet with draft prospects. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, their latest dinner date was Dart, who met with the team tonight. The team previously held interest in Texas’ Quinn Ewers, hosting him and several of his teammates earlier this week. Dart getting picked at No. 9 overall by the Saints seems like an unlikely projection at the current moment, but Dart or Ewers on Day 2 could both be potential scenarios.
- Dart isn’t the only quarterback New Orleans saw today. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the team held a private workout today for Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord. While McCord hasn’t received a ton a press so far in the pre-draft process, he deserves some respect after leading the NCAA in passing yards and passing yards per game last year, being the only one in the country to out-pass Ward and even beating him in a head-to-head matchup. McCord could join Dart and Ewers as potential Day 2 or 3 options for the Saints.
- Lastly, Milroe has been getting more and more interest lately as rumors begin to swarm grouping him with Ward, Sanders, and Dart as a potential first-rounder. Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports said on The Herd today that “the Steelers really like Jalen Milroe” and may even consider drafting him at No. 21 overall. Cowherd believes that most teams sitting in the draft picks from Nos. 20-32 want to trade back out of the first round due to a lack of elite talent. Unfortunately, for that same reason, there likely won’t be many takers, and those teams will be forced to make a pick, even if overvalued. That pick for the Steelers could be Milroe as they only roster Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson at the moment and they continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers. Even if Rodgers signs, they would view Rodgers as a stopgap option, with Milroe as the future. As they examine the landscape of quarterbacks available, they believe Milroe is far more athletic than any other options and want to do something special at the quarterback position.
Titans Arrange Second Cam Ward Meeting
MARCH 27: The Titans’ Ward workout will take place tomorrow, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Provided all goes well, the chances of Tennessee retaining the top pick and selecting him will no doubt increase.
MARCH 25: As the Titans appear to be moving closer to starting over at quarterback instead of trading out of No. 1 overall, they will do more research on the player pegged as the top passing prospect in this draft. Another Cam Ward meeting is on tap.
Like the Browns, the Titans will circle back to the Miami QB. Tennessee is arranging a workout with Ward, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team already used a “30” visit on Ward. The Titans have not slammed the door on trading down, of course, but Schefter reaffirms it will take an “even stronger” package for the team to now move out of the top draft slot.
Tennessee sent plenty of representatives to Ward’s pro day Monday, and this upcoming private workout will give a rearranged front office another chance to evaluate a player who played for three schools during this transfer-happy period. A former recruit at Division I-FCS Incarnate Word, Ward transferred to Washington State and then concluded his career at Miami. Following Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Michael Penix in raising his draft stock following a transfer, Ward has been the frontrunner to be the first quarterback selected for months. Creating distance between himself and Shedeur Sanders, Ward has long had support in the Titans’ building, and the team has been deep in QB research for months.
The Titans met with Ward earlier this month and, per veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, had a contingent dine with the QB Sunday night. Since that point, rumors have circulated pointing the AFC South team to staying at No. 1 and picking Ward. It appears nothing at the 6-foot-2 prospect’s pro day has changed that course, but Titans brass will take another look. Selecting Ward would mean passing on players viewed as safer prospects (Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter), but punting on a QB in this draft would leave the Titans without a long-term plan after a rough Will Levis sophomore outing.
Entering the Combine, the Titans had received calls about No. 1 and were viewed by some as more likely to trade out of the pick than stay. After free agency did not send a starter-level veteran to Tennessee, which swapped out Mason Rudolph for Brandon Allen. The Titans effectively paved a path to Ward at No. 1 in free agency, unless they pivot to Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers. The team has not been linked to Rodgers, and a report suggested it is not interested in Wilson.
Ward’s 39 touchdown passes led Division I-FBS last season, and he paired that total with 4,313 passing yards and seven interceptions. While only 204 rushing yards came along with these numbers, Ward is viewed as having more athletic upside than Sanders. The Titans saw Levis rank last in QBR — by a wide margin — in 2024, and they fired the GM (Ran Carthon) who traded up for the Kentucky prospect in 2023. Chiefs import Mike Borgonzi will run this year’s Titans draft, with heavy input from football ops president Chad Brinker.
Ward did not work out at the Combine but is on track to do so for Titans reps. As it stands, non-Tennessee teams connected to Ward will need to hope the Titans change course and stand down. Regardless, the Browns and Giants will need to do extensive homework on Sanders, whose draft landing spot remains a bit of a mystery.
Browns “Leaning Towards” Abdul Carter At 2
While plenty could change over the next month, it sounds like we’re starting to get some clarity atop the draft board. During an appearance on NFL Live today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Browns are “leaning towards” selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the second-overall pick (h/t ESPN Cleveland).
Schefter cautions that things could change, but he believes Carter is “tracking to being a Brown.” Schefter also notes that the draft’s real intrigue starts with the Giants at No. 3, an indication that the Titans are destined to select Cam Ward with the first-overall pick.
There’s been plenty of speculation about how the Browns would approach this year’s draft. Deshaun Watson is under contract for two more years, but the QB’s second Achilles tear has put his future with Cleveland in doubt. As a result, some pundits have assumed that the organization would jump at one of the draft’s top-two QB prospects, and with Ward trending towards the number-one pick, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders would seemingly be a natural selection.
On the flip side, neither Sanders nor Ward are considered blue-chip prospects, and the Browns would surely be fading more decorated prospects if they chose a QB at No. 2. Carter has always loomed as an option, as the pass rusher is considered one of the best non-QB prospects in the draft. The other contender for that unofficial title would be Colorado’s Travis Hunter. For what it’s worth, the Browns have met with all four of the aforementioned prospects.
Carter climbed to the top of draft boards following a standout 2024 campaign where he collected 12 sacks and a Division I-leading 24 tackles for loss. After entering the pre-draft process with a shoulder injury, Carter was reportedly dealing with a foot issue. Ultimately, it was determined the player didn’t have to go under the knife, and the injuries clearly haven’t done anything to hurt his draft stock.
If Cleveland does ultimately opt for Carter, they’d be forming one of the best pass-rush tandems in the NFL. The Browns committed big money to keep Myles Garrett in Cleveland, but that extension apparently hasn’t dissuaded the front office from pursuing the same position in the draft.
With Ward penciled in at No. 1 and Carter at No. 2, all eyes will turn to the Giants at No. 3. The team has also been mentioned as a landing spot for a QB prospect, even after they added Russell Wilson as their presumed 2025 starter. If the team decides against selecting Sanders, then Hunter would presumably be the team’s target at No. 3.
OL Draft Notes: Campbell, Simmons, 49ers
Projected first-round pick Will Campbell measured in with 33-inch arms at LSU’s Pro Day, per ESPN’s Field Yates, an increase over his measurement at the NFL Combine.
His arm length was measured at 32.675 inches in Indianapolis, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, three-eighths of an inch below the league’s general standard of 33-inch arms for offensive tackles. Curiously, Campbell’s measured wingspan at the Combine (72.375 inches) was longer than his wingspan at his Pro Day (72.25 inches). Both figures are below-average figures for pro tackles.
Typically, college tackles with shorter arms are encouraged to move inside to guard or center to avoid constant matchups with long, powerful NFL edge rushers. The same concerns have been raised about Campbell in the pre-draft process, though he put together multiple years of elite tape at LSU while playing left tackle.
Campbell responded to concerns about his arm length at his pro day, refuting the idea that below-average arm length would limit him in the pros.
“For two years, nobody had any measurements on me and nobody said anything about my play,” said Campbell (via Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football). “So now all of a sudden, an arm length decides if I’m a good player or not?”
Campbell has consistently been ranked as a top-10 overall prospect and is expected to be the first offensive lineman drafted in April, though his exact landing spot may depend on which teams see him as an offensive tackle.
- Some NFL teams see Campbell as a guard, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. All of his elite traits – particularly his athleticism and technique – will translate to guard, but teams are less likely to use a top-10 pick on a less-valued position. (The last guard taken in the first 10 picks was Quenton Nelson in 2018.) Teams that project Campbell to stay at tackle will value him higher. In short, if Campbell is drafted in the top 10 as expected, it will likely come with the expectation that he will play tackle in the pros.
- Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn patellar tendon suffered in October, according to Ian Rapoport and Stacey Dales of NFL Network. The injury was originally expected to threaten Simmons’ availability for the 2025 season, but he is now expected to be at 100% before the draft. Simmons’ reparative surgery included a “double graft” to make his patellar tendon “extra strong,” per Dales, and he has impressed doctors with his progress in rehab. He did a brief workout at Ohio State’s pro day, including 33 reps on the bench press, which would have tied him for the most of any player at this year’s Combine. Simmons’ injury could have knocked him out of first-round consideration, but his speedy recovery should shore up his stock and give him a strong chance to be selected on Day 1 of April’s draft as a solid blocker with experience at both tackle spots.
- The 49ers are among the teams who are expected to target offensive linemen early in the draft, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Trent Williams missed the team’s last seven games of the season due to a lower leg injury, and future absences remain a risk for the 37-year-old left tackle. 49ers general manager John Lynch indicated at the Combine that the team was looking closely at the 2025 OL draft class, but he hasn’t spent a first-round pick on an offensive lineman since Mike McGlinchey, the ninth overall pick in 2018. This year, several of the draft’s top offensive linemen should be available to the 49ers at the 11th overall pick.
Browns Conduct Cam Ward Workout
MARCH 26: This second meeting is a private workout, according to CanesInSight. Jimmy Haslam joined GM Andrew Berry in being on-hand for the Ward workout Wednesday morning in Coral Gables, Fla., cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms. Kevin Stefanski was also at the Ward workout, Cabot adds.
The Titans have the inside track on Ward and have been increasingly connected to the Miami prospect, having scheduled their own private workout with the potential No. 1 overall pick. Tennessee passing would obviously open the door for Cleveland here, but if the Titans do pass on Ward, they likely will be interested in collecting assets to move down. The Browns are doing their due diligence in the event they do have access to this draft’s highest-rated QB.
MARCH 25: Pro Days are in full swing, and Miami’s took place on Monday. That allowed NFL evaluators to see Cam Ward throw after he elected not to do so at the Combine. 
As expected, multiple teams sent a contingent to watch and speak with the consensus top quarterback in the 2025 draft class. That included the Titans, the team which owns the No. 1 pick and is increasingly seen as being likely to retain the selection and use it on Ward. In the event a trade-down move were to take place, though, the Browns and Giants could find themselves in the mix to draft the first-team All-American.
Cleveland sent assistant general manager Glenn Cook to the Hurricanes’ Pro Day, but several other members of the organization are set to speak with Ward shortly. An in-person meeting has been scheduled between the ACC Player of the Year and multiple members of the Browns’ organization later this week in Miami, Zac Jackson and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report (subscription required). The parties have already met once, with Cleveland speaking to the top two quarterback prospects along with Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter prior to free agency.
[RELATED: Browns Line Up Top-30 Visit With Tyler Shough]
Set to select second overall, the Browns are among the teams in the market for a long-term quarterback investment this spring. Deshaun Watson is under contract for two more years, although his second Achilles tear leaves his 2025 availability in doubt and his level of play when on the field for Cleveland has required the addition of competition under center anyway. The team has swung a trade for ex-Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett, but further moves could be coming in free agency and/or the draft.
Cleveland has been linked to Kirk Cousins based on his history with head coach Kevin Stefanski, but his preference would be for a trade from the Falcons to his next team to take place after April’s draft. Cousins aims to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation where Atlanta drafted his successor shortly after signing him in free agency, so he will look to join a team which does not wind up selecting a passer on Day 1 of the draft. In terms of free agents, the likes of Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson are options still on the market for Cleveland.
The Browns have been previously connected to entertaining offers allowing them to move down the board, but it remains to be seen how willing teams will be to trade up in 2025. This year’s class is not seen as having many bluechip prospects, especially at the QB position. That could entice the Titans to stay in place (although they could be open to trading down in a way which still ensured their ability to draft Ward) and likewise keep Cleveland in the No. 2 slot. Much of the Browns’ planning will depend on their evaluation of Ward, a process which will continue in a notable way shortly.
Draft Rumors: Visits, Green, Nolen, RBs
As the 2025 NFL Draft continues to draw nigh, teams are beginning to do their due diligence on each prospect, including hosting several for visits.
A perfect example of this saw the Saints host a bevy of Longhorns for a dinner last night, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The list of Texas prospects included possible first-rounders cornerback Jahdae Barron and wide receiver Matthew Golden as well as defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and quarterback Quinn Ewers.
The Saints weren’t the only team to spend time with Ewers yesterday, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Both the Jets and Raiders sent staffers to meet with the 22-year-old in Austin prior to the team’s pro day. Ewers has several visits planned following today’s pro day, as well, including meetings with the Cowboys, Colts, and Raiders, again, in early April.
Another potential Longhorn first-rounder, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, has also reportedly set up a number of visits following today’s pro day, per CJ Vogel of On Texas Football. Bond apparently has top-30 visits scheduled in the next month with the Falcons, Bears, Packers, and Rams.
Here are some more rumors concerning the 2025 NFL Draft:
- East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is making the rounds, as well. After previously meeting with New Orleans, Revel reportedly visited the Texans on Friday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Revel is attempting to make a speedy recovery from a torn ACL that ended his final collegiate season after only three games. He’s reportedly on track to be ready to return in time for training camp.
- One of Revel’s top competitors at the position in this year’s class, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, is set to meet with the Raiders, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Johnson has already met with the Falcons and reportedly met with the Cardinals already, as well.
- Already having met with the Saints and Falcons, Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. is set to meet with several other franchises, per Wilson. One of the top tackle options in the class, Conerly has visits planned with the Texans, Eagles, Commanders, Bengals, and Bears. Wilson adds that, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Conerly already formerly met with the Texans, Jets, Titans, Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, and 49ers.
- Marshall’s pro day garnered a few more visitors than usual today, thanks to the presence of potential first-round pass rusher Mike Green. According to Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, while several teams sent personnel to check Green out, the Falcons sent most of their front office as well as head coach Raheem Morris. Pauline adds that the Commanders also held a significant presence at the pass rusher’s pro day.
- Due to the draft being more deep than top-heavy, there are several prospects who receive a wide range of opinions on when and where they’ll go in the draft. According to Matt Miller of ESPN, though, no player has a wider range than Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Transferring within the conference from Texas A&M for the final year of his collegiate career, Nolen had a strong, consensus All-American season with the Rebels, totaling 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for loss. Despite the impressive performance, Miller claims that “teams are torn on (Nolen’s) lack of refined pass-rush moves,” resulting in projections from the top 10 all the way back to the second round.
- Last year was the second time in the three years that we saw no running backs taken in the first round of the draft. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, we could see two running backs hear their names called on Day 1 of the event this year. A running backs coach told Schultz that “there’s no way (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty) falls outside the top 15-20 picks.” Jeanty has been projected in multiple mock drafts to both the Raiders at No. 6 overall and the Cowboys at No. 12. While the position is deep, with players like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Ohio State’s duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, Miami’s Damien Martinez, and several others, it’s North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton who may have played himself into the first round with Jeanty. Schultz claims that a personnel director told him the only thing Hampton needed to do in order to go in Round 1 was run in the 4.4’s at the combine, and Hampton ran a 4.46. He may not get taken as high as Jeanty, but he should still be considered a first-round candidate come the end of April.