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2025 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Giants Sign First-Round QB Jaxson Dart

May 30th, 2025 at 2:58pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants’ offseason quest to find a long-term franchise quarterback is finally and formally complete.

First-round pick Jaxson Dart put pen to paper on his rookie contract, per a team announcement, locking in a fully guaranteed four-year deal with a fifth-year option for the 2029 season.

Dart, the 25th overall selection in last month’s draft, will earn $16.954MM on his first NFL contract with an $8.97MM signing bonus, according to Art Stapleton of NJ.com. He may not start as a rookie with veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston also in the quarterback room, but the Giants are likely expecting Dart to take over as the team’s signal-caller in 2026.

A redshirt rookie year might be ideal for his long-term development. Dart played in a quarterback-friendly offense at Ole Miss with heavy use of play-action and RPOs to streamline his reads, but the NFL will required faster, more complicated processing. He also has a tendency to hold onto the ball, which might be especially dangerous behind a Giants offensive line that lacks elite talent outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas.

However, Dart’s arm talent, mobility, and competitive toughness form a solid foundation for a future starter. The Giants’ offensive braintrust of Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka struggled to get the best out of Daniel Jones, but they may have better luck with a quarterback they wanted to bring in. New York still needs better protection and another playmaker or two on offense, but Dart will have two reliable targets through at least 2027 in Malik Nabers and the recently re-signed Darius Slayton. Nabers exploded for 1,204 yards on 109 receptions as a rookie in 2024, while the underrated Slayton has been a solid if unspectacular pass-catcher throughout his career.

Ravens Sign Round 1 S Malaki Starks

May 29th, 2025 at 4:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Ravens first-round safety Malaki Starks has signed his four-year, fully guaranteed rookie deal, per a team announcement.

Starks, the No. 27 overall pick in April’s draft, will receive $16.58MM on his first NFL contract including a $8.7MM signing bonus, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. The Ravens also have a fifth-year option they can exercise in 2028 that will keep Starks under contract through 2029.

The former Georgia Bulldog was already expected to have an impactful rookie year as a versatile third safety in defensive coordinator Zach Orr‘s scheme. An Achilles injury to 2024 starter Ar’Darius Washington will likely press Starks into a full-time role, something head coach John Harbaugh mentioned after Wednesday’s practice.

“It’s a lot on his plate right now,” said Harbaugh. “He’s going to have to step up, but that’s why we drafted him in the first round.” The longtime head coach added that he had yet to see Starks make a mistake on the field.

Having Starks on a cost-controlled rookie contract for the next four years should allow the Ravens to make Hamilton the highest-paid safety in the NFL sometime in the next year. The team picked up the 2022 first-rounder’s fifth-year option, ensuring he will stay in Baltimore for at least two more seasons, but general manager Eric DeCosta‘s history of rewarding his best players suggests that Hamilton will be a Raven for a long time. That will allow him to mentor Starks as the two develop chemistry with the intention of becoming the best safety duo in the NFL.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/27/25

May 27th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Ben Levine

One late-round signing to pass along:

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are now one step closer to completing the signing of their rookie class after inking Cameron Williams to his first NFL pact. The lineman got into 37 games during his time with the Longhorns, with the majority of his snaps coming at right tackle. He’ll likely settle into a depth role for the 2025 campaign.

With the signing, the Eagles only have a pair of unsigned draft picks: first-round LB Jihaad Campbell and second-round S Andrew Mukuba.

Browns Sign First-Round DT Mason Graham

May 27th, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns’ top pick from last month’s draft is now on the books. Defensive tackle Mason Graham agreed to terms on his rookie deal this morning.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the pact is worth a total of $40.87MM over four years. That figure is guaranteed in full. Graham will be under team control through at least 2028, but the Browns will be able to extend that via the fifth-year option.

One of the defining characteristics of the 2025 draft was the strength of its defensive tackle class. In a year which saw five interior defenders selected on Day 1, though, it came as no surprise Graham was the first to hear his name called. The Michigan product was long seen as one of the top prospects – based on his floor in terms of production but also upside – at any position during the pre-draft process.

The Browns began the opening round of the draft with the No. 2 pick, leading to a widespread expectation they would select Travis Hunter. The Heisman winner did in fact come off the board at that spot, but only after Cleveland traded the pick to Jacksonville. That swap (which had been agreed to well before the start of the draft) moved the Browns down to No. 5 in the order. With Hunter, along with Cam Ward (Titans), Abdul Carter (Giants) and Will Campbell (Patriots) no longer available, the Browns made an expected move in selecting Graham.

The Michigan product played a central role in the team’s national championship in 2023, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the season. That feat was repeated during his junior campaign, one in which Graham also received a consensus All-American nod. The 6-4, 306-pounder totaled 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss during his two full seasons as a starter, and he will look to develop into an disruptive presence against the run and pass at the NFL level.

The Browns have veterans Maliek Collins, Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst in the fold for 2025 after releasing Dalvin Tomlinson in March. Cleveland has cycled through a number of young options along the defensive interior, but Graham will be expected to make an impact during his rookie year and for several seasons beyond that as a key member of the D-line.

Giants Sign No. 3 Pick Abdul Carter

May 23rd, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 23: Shortly following details of the No. 1 overall pick’s contract, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 divulged some details for the No. 3 overall pick. The signing bonus for Carter’s contract, signed yesterday, has been updated to a more exact $29.55MM. Following his rookie campaign, Carter will receive guaranteed roster bonuses for each of the three remaining guaranteed years of his contract. The roster bonuses will be worth $1.89MM in 2026, $3.83MM in 2027, and $5.78MM in 2028.

MAY 22: Abdul Carter is the latest member of the 2025 draft class to sign his rookie deal. The No. 3 pick inked his initial NFL pact on Thursday, per an announcement from the Giants.

This four-year deal is worth a total of $45.26MM and (like those of all other first-rounders) is guaranteed in full. Carter will receive a $29MM signing bonus as part of the deal. Taking into account the fifth-year option, he could remain under team control through the 2029 campaign.

Throughout the pre-draft process, Carter established himself as one of the two bluechip prospects in this year’s class (with Heisman winner Travis Hunter being the other). The Titans were linked early to potentially moving out of the No. 1 slot, but once they committed to selecting quarterback Cam Ward that came off the table. Hunter wound up going second overall, albeit to the Jaguars after they pulled of a trade with the Browns to move up to that spot.

The Giants did extensive work on the quarterback position this year, but by late April a signal-caller (Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart or otherwise) was not expected to be the pick at No. 3. To no surprise, Carter heard his name called at that slot and thus joined a New York pass rush group already featuring Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Expectations will be high for those two, along with Carter, to deliver strong production in 2025.

The Penn State product transitioned to edge rusher on a full-time basis in 2024, something which proved to be a productive decision. Carter earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors upon leading the conference in sacks (12). His 23.5 tackles for loss were the most in the country, something which helped lead to a consensus All-American nod. If Carter – who is clear to take part in spring practices after dealing with a foot injury – develops as hoped, he will become a mainstay along the edge for years to come in New York.

Of course, the Carter selection wound up being followed by a move back into the Day 1 order to draft Dart as the Giants’ long-term option under center. He remains unsigned at this point, with the same being true of second-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander and fourth-round running back Cameron Skattebo. Given today’s news, though, four members of the Giants’ draft class have been signed, with the most lucrative rookie pact having been taken care of.

Titans Sign No. 1 Overall Pick Cam Ward

May 23rd, 2025 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 23: Ward’s rookie deal with the Titans includes a $32.159MM signing bonus, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Training camp roster bonuses have also become a common way to accelerate the payment schedule of rookie contracts, and Ward’s is no different. He will receive $2.054MM in 2026, $4.159MM in 2027, and $6.264MM in 2028 via training camp roster bonuses, all fully-guaranteed.

MAY 21: The rookie-scale system’s latest top contract, Cam Ward has put pen to paper with the Titans. The No. 1 overall pick is now signed through 2028, as the team announced the signing.

Ward’s rookie deal is worth $48.75MM. The pact is fully guaranteed and will include a fifth-year option for the 2029 season. Ward is currently splitting reps with the QB he is almost certain to supplant as Tennessee’s starter (Will Levis), but the Titans’ Week 1 Denver trip will presumably see the prized rookie at the controls.

Owners made it a point to curb excessive first-round salaries in the 2011 CBA. To illustrate how far ahead the quarterbacks chosen first overall under the pre-rookie-scale system were, Sam Bradford‘s rookie contract checked in at five years and $78MM in 2010. That contract was not fully guaranteed, but it still locked in Bradford to $50MM at signing. With the rookie scale in place in 2011, however, Cam Newton‘s draft slot commanded a four-year, $22MM accord. While Newton landed a lucrative Panthers extension later on, he trailed Bradford, Matthew Stafford and even JaMarcus Russell by a considerable margin out of the blocks.

Ward’s contract checks in much higher than Caleb Williams‘ Bears terms ($39.49MM), and this one will likely be the No. 1 draft slot’s last south of $50MM. Arch Manning (or the passer chosen first in the event the Texas prodigy stays in Austin) will be in line to clear that bar for the first time since Bradford. As for Ward, he will attempt to justify the significant leap he made during his final college season.

Famously going from zero-star recruit who began his college career at Division I-FCS Incarnate Word to a player who had distanced himself from the rest of the QBs in the 2025 class, Ward played two seasons at Washington State and finished his collegiate run at Miami. Completing 67.2% of his passes, Ward amassed over 4,300 passing yards and a 39:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Those figures earned him ACC Player of the Year honors (among others), and his arm strength and playmaking ability created distance from the likes of Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders in this year’s class. The Titans met with Ward by mid-March and had settled on him early, arranging a second meeting and then rebuffing Browns and Giants attempts to trade up to No. 1.

Ward, 23 on Sunday, will continue a recent trend of QBs garnering considerable experience in college before being chosen No. 1. Williams turned 23 last season, while Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. played age-24 seasons as rookies. The extensive seasoning benefited the Commanders and Broncos, who saw their respective draft choices finish first and third in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Ward started four college seasons during his three-school journey, and the Titans will attempt to recover after some early-round QB misfires.

Levis’ rough sophomore season led the Titans to the No. 1 overall draft slot, and the team needed its Ryan Tannehill reclamation project after 2015 No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota did not become a long-term franchise QB. Tennessee’s 2011 first-rounder, Jake Locker, was the team’s primary starter for just two seasons — before retiring after Year 4 — and 2006 No. 3 overall choice Vince Young‘s early-career promise fizzled. (2022 third-rounder Malik Willis is playing out his rookie deal in Green Bay, after being traded last summer.)

The Titans have not featured a true long-term QB option since Steve McNair‘s 11-season run. They will hope Ward can play well enough to secure a second contract. While the Titans did pay Tannehill after his 2019 turnaround, they have not extended a passer they have drafted since McNair.

Steelers Sign Round 1 DL Derrick Harmon, Wrap Draft Class Deals

May 21st, 2025 at 5:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Add the Steelers to the list of teams to have their first-round pick under contract. Pittsburgh agreed to terms with defensive lineman Derrick Harmon on Wednesday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes.

Harmon’s rookie pact, as the No. 21 overall pick, will run through 2028. The Steelers will have a fifth-year option on the contract, one the team must exercise by May 2028. The Oregon alum will be tied to a fully guaranteed $17.97MM deal. Harmon is the first D-lineman the Steelers have drafted in Round 1 since Cameron Heyward in 2011.

While the Steelers will pair Heyward and Harmon this season, the Oregon prospect profiles as one the team will hope anchors the D-line after Heyward retires. Two seasons remain on Heyward’s deal, though no guarantees are in place beyond 2025. Heyward is heading into his age-36 season; Harmon will not turn 22 until August.

Viewed as a clear landing spot for either Jaxson Dart or Shedeur Sanders, the Steelers instead fortified a D-line by adding a first-rounder alongside Heyward and 2023 second-rounder Keeanu Benton. The Giants were leery of the Steelers’ QB need at No. 21, but New York’s front office expected Pittsburgh to pass. This led to Big Blue trading up (via the Texans) at No. 25 for Dart, a player the Steelers are believed to have graded as a first-round talent.

Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers wait has surpassed two months now, but the organization remains optimistic. The team entered the draft aiming to take its swing for a long-term QB — after missing on Kenny Pickett — in either the 2025 or ’26 drafts. The Harmon pick points such a move to 2026, as the Steelers added an extra third-round pick via the post-draft George Pickens trade with the Cowboys.

Harmon put up career-best numbers during his one season at Oregon. The Michigan State transfer posted five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles, helping the Ducks to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The 311-pounder’s quickness and power make him a menace inside the tackles, but he also showed the ability to line up outside. Although Heyward played sparingly as a rookie 14 years ago, the Steelers will likely turn to Harmon as an immediate regular along their D-line.

This signing wraps the Steelers’ draft class contracts. Here is how Pittsburgh’s class looks heading into OTAs:

Perception Exists Giants’ Front Office Preferred Shedeur Sanders Over Jaxson Dart

May 20th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

After three seasons attempting to make an inherited quarterback work, the Joe Schoen–Brian Daboll regime will attempt to move their way off hot seats via the passer they drafted. Jaxson Dart is now in place after Daniel Jones did not come close to living up to his $40MM-per-year contract.

Dart-Giants connections began to emerge shortly before the draft, as Shedeur Sanders‘ freefall commenced. Coaches become involved in the process as the winter progresses, and Daboll was believed to be convicted in his belief Dart would be Big Blue’s best available option (after the Titans repeatedly rebuffed the Giants’ efforts to trade up to No. 1). Schoen has attempted to push back on the notion he gave in to his coaches’ preference.

“It was an organizational decision,” Schoen said during an appearance on Up & Adams (h/t the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy). “Any player that we take, it’s a collaborative process and it’s very detailed, and we believe in it. … Three coaches on staff (Daboll, OC Mike Kafka and QBs coach Shea Tierney) that have been part of the development of two pretty good quarterbacks in the league right now (Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen), and when they are convicted on a player and the scouting staff is convicted on a player, typically you have the best chance for success in those situations.”

Schoen told Kay Adams that Dart was on the Giants’ radar “throughout the fall,” though a post-draft report indicated the Giants did more in-person work on Sanders compared to the Ole Miss starter. Schoen is believed to have scouted just one Dart game in-person, while a previous report indicated the GM had “lived in Boulder” as Sanders hype increased. A pre-draft report also indicated the Giants were split on Sanders, potentially placing the divide between the front office and coaching staff. Enough information has come out pointing to Daboll playing the lead role in ensuring the Giants did not draft the Colorado QB.

A perception exists within personnel departments the Giants’ front office preferred Sanders, Dunleavy notes, before Daboll and his staff came to hold Dart in higher regard. The Giants spent more time with Sanders than any team spent with any prospect, Dunleavy adds. That would paint the picture of a mid-process pivot, as Dart certainly appeared to gain steam late. A pre-draft report tabbed Sanders as being the No. 2 QB on the Giants’ big board (behind Cam Ward), but that could certainly have been a smokescreen effort considering the Dart trade-up, which helped key Sanders’ freefall.

Some Daboll-Sanders friction is believed to have taken place during an install session. While Dart impressed Giants decision-makers during his install, Sanders not being as prepared became a point of contention. The Giants are, of course, not the only team to come away unimpressed with Sanders’ approach during the pre-draft process, as multiple teams took the QB off their boards.

Sanders having taken the strange step — for a player with his prospect profile, at least — of approaching team meetings like a recruit, rather than as a job interview, certainly rubbed teams the wrong way. His slide from potential top-10 pick to No. 144 represents perhaps the most notable tumble in draft history. Sanders’ actions may well have determined the Giants’ QB future; that said, pre-draft offerings also had some teams ranking Dart ahead of the two-year Colorado standout.

Daboll and Schoen have worked together since 2018, when the former arrived as the Bills’ OC. A report of tension between the two emerged earlier this offseason, and it appears Daboll’s QB pick will hold the current regime’s future in his hands.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/20/25

May 20th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s draft pick signings:

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

The Lions continue to chip away at their draft class, with only their first-round pick (DT Tyleik Williams) and second-round pick (G Tate Ratledge) remaining unsigned. The Lions clearly have high hopes for the latest signing, as the team used the 70th-overall pick on Isaac TeSlaa. The wideout had his most productive collegiate season in 2024, finishing with 545 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The rookie may have a tough time carving out a role on a deep depth chart in 2025, but he could eventually work his way into the starting lineup next to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

Nohl Williams led all of college football with seven interceptions last season, and the Chiefs were quick to scoop him up with the 85th pick in this year’s draft. The Chiefs added Kristian Fulton in free agency this year, so the rookie will likely be eyeing a backup role to begin the 2025 campaign. With the signing, the Chiefs’ only remaining unsigned draft pick is second-round DT Omarr Norman-Lott.

Patriots Rejected Two Trade Offers For Second-Round Pick

May 20th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have been linked to showing interest in the player the Dolphins chose in Round 2, guard Jonah Savaiinaea, but after the Arizona product went off the board, multiple teams eyed the Patriots’ No. 38 choice.

An episode of Forged in Foxborough details a Bears offer for No. 38; the NFC North team proposed No. 39 and a seventh-round pick to move up a spot. It is believed (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss) Chicago wanted TreVeyon Henderson, whom New England ended up taking. A previous report indeed indicated Chicago was eyeing Henderson.

This appears a lower-stakes example of last year, when the Pats rejected two quality trade offers (from the Giants and Vikings) aimed at Drake Maye. The Pats ended up staying at No. 3 and taking Maye for themselves.

The Bears were not the only team to propose a deal for No. 38, however, as the Forged in Foxborough episode also revealed a more notable trade offer. The Patriots received a proposal for No. 38 that included Nos. 58, 79 and a 2026 third-round pick. This would have netted the Pats three Day 2 picks in exchange for one, though it is not known if New England would have needed to throw in another pick as part of a swap.

It is fairly safe to assume the Texans made this offer, as they held No. 58 at the time the Pats made their Henderson choice. Houston had already moved out of Round 1, and Nick Caserio — a Bill Belichick lieutenant during Mike Vrabel‘s New England linebacker years — was active in trades throughout draft weekend. This later included a move up in Round 2, as the Texans climbed to No. 48 (via the Raiders) and chose Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery. The Texans gave up Nos. 58 and 99 for the Raiders’ No. 48 slot.

Houston may have been targeting Ersery that high, as the team has launched a near-full-scale O-line overhaul this offseason. The Texans were connected to also moving up in Round 1 for ex-C.J. Stroud Ohio State weapon Emeka Egbuka, but the Buccaneers made a surprise play for the all-time Buckeyes receiving leader at No. 19. The Texans then slid out of Round 1, collecting three Day 2 choices from the Giants to do so. Houston had already chosen Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins at No. 34, pointing to its New England offer being a non-WR play.

The Texans could have been in play for Henderson as well, as only one running back on a current roster (Derrick Henry) has Joe Mixon beat for career carries (1,816). The Texans circled back to their RB need in Round 4, trading up for USC’s Woody Marks; the future third they offered to the Patriots ended up going to the Dolphins in that exchange.

Henderson was fairly popular during the draft, as the Broncos are also believed to have targeted the Ohio State standout in a trade-down move. Denver discussed terms with the Giants, which would have allowed New York to move ahead of Pittsburgh and draft Jaxson Dart. But Big Blue believing the Steelers would pass on Dart at 21 prompted the team to stand down, eventually dealing with the Texans (for No. 25). The Broncos then bolstered their secondary with cornerback Jahdae Barron.

Another interesting nugget from the Patriots’ Henderson selection process came when Vrabel mentioned a potential wide receiver move with the team’s No. 69 overall pick. Moving out of the No. 38 slot for either offer would have cost the Patriots Henderson; a wideout would have likely been considered in Round 2, in that case. The Pats deciding to stay at 38 and choose Henderson preceded the team using No. 69 on Washington State wideout Kyle Williams. Both skill-position cogs will be expected to boost Maye’s development this season.

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