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2025 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Browns Sign Shedeur Sanders To Rookie Contract

May 19th, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns have signed rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders to a four-year rookie deal, per a team announcement.

Sanders, the 144th overall selection in last month’s draft, will earn $4.6MM on his first NFL contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, including a $447,380 signing bonus. Like all fifth-round picks, he did not receive any guaranteed money beyond his signing bonus.

Once projected to be a first-round pick, the former Colorado star lost out on millions of dollars after falling all the way to Day 3. In comparison, the last pick in the first round, Josh Simmons, signed a fully-guaranteed rookie contract with the Chiefs worth $14.7MM. Even if Sanders was drafted on Day 2, he would have received a significantly better deal in terms of total value and guaranteed money.

However, Sanders still has far more earning potential than the average fifth-round pick after signing endorsement deals with several major brands, including Nike and Beats By Dre. Those sponsorships started during Sanders’ time at Colorado and continued throughout the pre-draft process, indicating that they will carry over into his NFL career. However, it’s unclear how long they will last; Sanders may have to win a starting job in Cleveland to earn further extensions.

If Sanders does emerge as the Browns’ starter on his rookie deal, he would immediately be one of the most cost-effective quarterbacks in the NFL. His $1.16MM APY is less than what Easton Stick and Jarrett Stidham are earning as potential third-string quarterbacks for the Falcons and the Broncos this year, per OverTheCap.

Whether it’s Sanders or third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, a cheap long-term option under center would go a long way in helping Cleveland move forward financially after the disastrous Deshaun Watson deal. His contract still has $170MM remaining in fully-guaranteed money, all due across the next three years.

Packers Sign Round 1 WR Matthew Golden

May 19th, 2025 at 7:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers have not complete a rookie deal for a first-round wide receiver in 23 years, but as outgoing president Mark Murphy reminded ahead of the team’s Round 1 move in April, one was coming. That draft choice is now under contract.

Matthew Golden agreed to terms on his rookie pact Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. As a first-round pick, Golden — chosen 23rd overall — will see his $17.58MM rookie-scale contract arrive fully guaranteed. The Packers can extend the deal through 2029 via the fifth-year option, a decision that will be due in May 2028. This deal leaves second-round pick Anthony Belton as the only unsigned Packers draftee.

[RELATED: Packers Exercise Devonte Wyatt’s Fifth-Year Option, Decline Quay Walker’s]

This will be Golden’s third team in three years, as the Houston recruit transferred to Texas — which had lost Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the draft — in 2024. Golden placed himself on the early-round radar during his Longhorns season, accumulating 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to help the team return to the CFP semis. However, the former AAC, Big 12 and SEC contributor cemented his status as a first-round-level prospect by blazing to a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Golden, 21, made a “30” visit to Green Bay while also meeting with the Broncos, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Chargers, Lions and Texans. The Bucs went with Emeka Egbuka at No. 19, and the Broncos (No. 20) tabled their apparent need for a Courtland Sutton sidekick to Round 3 (Pat Bryant). The Bolts chose Omarion Hampton at No. 22, leaving Golden for the Packers, who made the rare decision to invest in this position in Round 1.

Green Bay’s streak of first rounds without a receiver investment dates to its No. 20 overall choice (Javon Walker) in 2002. The Packers did not extend Walker, trading him to the Broncos during the 2006 draft. Since that point, they have been out of the first-round receiver business. Second-round standouts multiplied in the years that followed, as the likes of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Jayden Reed proved themselves to be quality starters. Reed and fellow second-rounder Christian Watson will now take a backseat contractually to Golden, as the Packers have stockpiled rookie-deal wideouts.

Golden’s arrival will introduce questions about Watson and fellow contract-year performer Romeo Doubs‘ futures, as Watson is not expected back until around midseason due to sustaining a Week 18 ACL tear. Two years remain on Reed’s contract, but the Packers have fortified the position, thanks to also adding Savion Williams in Round 3. It will be Golden, however, expected to make an immediate impact due to snapping this organization’s lengthy streak regarding WR investments.

Chargers, First-Round RB Omarion Hampton Agree To Deal

May 19th, 2025 at 2:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Omarion Hampton is the latest first-round pick from last month’s draft to agree to terms on their rookie deal. The Chargers’ top pick is on the books, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

As Schultz notes, Hampton’s four-year pact is worth $17.77MM. It includes a $9.56MM signing bonus. Like with all Day 1 picks, the Chargers will have the opportunity to pick up Hampton’s fifth-year option and in doing so keep him under team control through 2029.

The North Carolina product was long seen as one of the top prospects in a deep 2025 RB class. Hampton led the ACC in rushing during his sophomore campaign en route to first-team All-Conference and All-American honors. He did the same last year and along the way upped his touchdown total to 40 in three seasons. Across each of the past two campaigns, Hampton averaged 5.9 yards per carry despite logging a heavy workload both times.

As a result, it came as no surprise when he joined Ashton Jeanty in hearing his name called on the opening night of the draft. Hampton – who was long connected to the Broncos at No. 20 given their well-known desire to add in the backfield – remained on the board past Denver’s first selection. In the end, he was selected 22nd overall.

The Bolts inked Najee Harris to a one-year, $5.25MM deal in free agency, bringing in the former Steelers first-rounder as a candidate to handle lead back duties. Harris remained durable and consistent during his four years in Pittsburgh, but it did not come as a surprise to see him depart on the open market. A lack of efficiency and explosive runs have been a source of criticism throughout Harris’ career, and a Day 1 rookie addition certainly leaves the door open to his workload being lower on his second team than it was on his first.

The Chargers were one of two teams to apply the rarely-used UFA tender this offseason, and as a result they will be eligible to receive a compensatory pick if another team signs J.K. Dobbins before July 22. The team will retain exclusive negotiating rights with the former Ravens second-rounder if he remains unsigned after that date. Dobbins handled starting duties upon reuniting with offensive coordinator Greg Roman in 2024, but with Hampton in place it will be interesting to see if he takes part in a follow-up Los Angeles campaign.

Today’s news leaves second-round receiver Tre Harris as the only member of the Chargers’ draft class without their rookie deal in hand. Taking care of that will still leave the team with plenty of cap space for late-offseason moves.

Giants’ Draft Plan Turned Off Some Veteran QB Targets

May 17th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants now have their quarterback room assembled, adding Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart to join Tommy DeVito. This is the first room assembled by the current regime, which inherited Daniel Jones and stuck with the Dave Gettleman draftee for three years.

A Winston-Wilson pairing to join Dart did not check in as the Giants’ preference, as the team aggressively pursued Matthew Stafford and extended an offer to Aaron Rodgers. Stafford regrouped with the Rams, spurning Giants and Raiders proposals, while Rodgers’ Vikings preference became clear. The Giants may well have sat third in Rodgers’ rankings, as he met with the Steelers on a visit four days before the Giants agreed to terms with Wilson.

Rodgers held a private discussions with Brian Daboll, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, who adds some of the available quarterbacks were not onboard with joining a Giants team viewed as one that could then use a high draft choice on the position. Based on how the Steelers proceeded in the draft, Rodgers could certainly be assumed as a player who fits that description. While the increasingly outspoken QB said during a Pat McAfee Show offseason interview he would not object to a team doing what it needed to do in the draft, Pittsburgh not choosing a passer until Round 6 (Will Howard) proves telling.

The Giants made their move much earlier, trading up for Jaxson Dart without using a future first- or second-round pick to do so. New York, which could not convince New England to accept its 2024 trade-up proposal (aimed at acquiring Drake Maye) or Tennessee to sign off on a Cam Ward-geared pursuit this year, used No. 34 overall and 2025 and ’26 third-rounders to move up for Dart.

Stafford was briefly available, and Rodgers continues to hold off on a Steelers signing. It is not known if the Giants engaged with the Seahawks on Geno Smith, but they did look closely at a Sam Darnold pursuit. PFR’s No. 1 2025 free agent, Darnold was believed to be high on the Giants’ QB list in March. Coming off a bounce-back season with the Vikings, Darnold carried tremendous value due to his 2024 form and age. The 2018 Jets draftee will not turn 28 until June, and after he had signed on to be a bridge QB in Minnesota last year, a 35-touchdown pass season gave him more leverage on the market this year. It would thus be unsurprising if Darnold did not strongly consider a Giants team that had also been closely tied to a QB draft move for months.

Darnold returning to New York, considering how his Jets run went, also loomed as a hurdle in the Giants’ path. The eighth-year veteran is now a Seahawk, having joined the team on a deal (three years, $100.5MM) that reminds of Derek Carr‘s 2022 Raiders extension. Seattle can escape the contract with fairly low dead money by releasing Darnold before a roster bonus is due in mid-February. The Seahawks did discuss their Jalen Milroe plans with Darnold, who enters the season as the team’s clear-cut starter.

Daboll has confirmed Wilson is the Giants’ starter, but with the team investing plenty in Dart in a year that features Daboll and GM Joe Schoen on hot seats, the No. 25 overall pick usurping the ex-Seahawks superstar early in the season should not be ruled out.

The Giants do open their season with a gauntlet, as six games against 2024 playoff teams reside on their schedule’s first eight weeks. A friendlier second half does present a Dart runway, but Daboll and Schoen already moved to their respective hot seats based largely on the Jones situation. It stands to reason they will want to at least see Dart in action early, as pressure mounts, though the team will also need to balance this desire out with a debut range that would make the Ole Miss prospect look promising.

Eagles Rookie Jihaad Campbell Could End Up At Edge

May 17th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Ely Allen

When the Eagles made their pick that they traded up a spot for in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they announced him as “linebacker” Jihaad Campbell, marking the first time the franchise used a first-round pick on the position in 46 years. Per Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, though, Campbell may find himself playing more on the edge than off-ball in the NFL.

Four years ago, the Eagles watched Dallas take Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, whom they would eventually shift into a pass rusher. Philadelphia had needed to add to their pass rush but hadn’t evaluated Parsons as a pass rusher. If they had, they could have selected him two spots before the Cowboys ended up landing him, and according to McLane, they might have.

Parsons had started his career off-ball for the Nittany Lions, shifting to the edge for a season before moving back to linebacker and getting drafted. New Giants pass rusher Abdul Carter also played almost entirely off-ball for the Nittany Lions two years ago before moving exclusively to the edge in 2024.

Perhaps, seeing two such players in their division, the Eagles wanted to stay ahead of the curve and saw similar abilities in Campbell. When Campbell committed to Alabama out of IMG Academy (FL), he was a five-star edge prospect. Injuries to the Crimson Tide defense necessitated that Campbell fill in at linebacker, and he excelled at the position. After a season playing almost exclusively at linebacker in 2023, Campbell was utilized around the defense last year with a bit more versatility.

Philadelphia wasn’t going to make the same mistake they had with Parsons and made sure to evaluate his potential at both positions. In fact, they may have focused even more on his pass rushing potential, considering Campbell mentioned to the media that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and outside linebackers/defensive end coach Jeremiah Washburn were the coaches most involved in his pre-draft process.

Looking at the roster, there’s room for Campbell at both positions. The Eagles already took an underutilized defender in free agency in Zack Baun and made him a productive off-ball linebacker last year. Baun, a former pass rusher at Wisconsin, also holds the versatility to play at both spots, so Campbell may fit in right alongside him as a second versatile weapon that can move across the front seven. Nakobe Dean is still working his way back from last year’s season-ending injury and may not be ready to open the season, and second-year backer Jeremiah Trotter and rookie Smael Mondon Jr. may not be ready to step up as starters just yet.

If the team does feel comfortable with the makeup of their off-ball group for 2025, then there’s no reason Campbell can’t work in immediately in the pass rush. With the offseason departures of Josh Sweat (free agency) and Brandon Graham (retirement), there are plenty of passing rushing snaps and a starting spot across from Nolan Smith up for grabs. Bryce Huff, Jalyx Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, and Josh Uche should all contribute and compete for the open starting job, but none of them have anything secured at the moment.

The Eagles claim that they have not decided where Campbell will work as a rookie, and though the team has cross-trained players before, they seem to be under the impression that Campbell will need to stick with a single position group to start his career. Campbell is currently recovering from an in-season shoulder injury from last year after getting surgery in March. Additional medical red flags about his other shoulder and potentially his knee kept the Buccaneers and several other teams from taking a chance from him in the first round, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Without any prognosis on his full recovery, the Eagles should have some time before they need to make this call.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/25

May 16th, 2025 at 8:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s only mid- to late-round draft pick signing from the 2025 NFL Draft:

Cleveland Browns

Fannin holds outstanding potential as a third-round pick for Cleveland. After a quiet freshman year for the Falcons, Fannin earned first-team All-MAC honors despite missing two games in his sophomore campaign with 44 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns. In 2024, Fannin took his impressive play even further as he outpaced all of the NCAA’s best receivers with a nation-leading 119.6 yards per game, a nation-leading 117 receptions, a nation-leading 1,555 yards, and 10 touchdowns. For comparison, first-round tight ends Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren averaged 58.2 and 77.1 yards per game, respectively.

Regardless, Fannin was the sixth tight end taken off the board. A reason for that is likely because he lacks the size to be an effective in-line blocker in the NFL. Fannin’s best use would likely be as a type of H-back, thanks to his explosiveness as a pass catcher.

The Browns already have David Njoku, who made a Pro Bowl just two years ago, but they also got some disturbing déjà vu when he missed six games last year. Njoku hasn’t played in every game of a season since his first two years in the league. Since then, Njoku has missed 26 out of 100 possible games. He’d been better from 2021-23, missing only four games over that three-year span, but last year was a reminder of what’s ailed the Browns offense in the past, and Fannin may be an attempt to prevent too much lost production should Njoku struggle with his health again.

Fannin is the first of Cleveland’s seven drafted rookies to sign their initial four-year contracts.

Lions Tried To Trade Up For Edge Rusher

May 16th, 2025 at 8:48am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Despite needing some depth on the edge, the Lions waited until the sixth round to address the position in last month’s draft.

That wasn’t for a lack of trying. Detroit traded up twice on Day 2, but general manager Brad Holmes said that he made several more attempts to move up throughout the draft. One of those potential trades was targeting an edge rusher in the first round, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, though the deal fell through and the Lions stayed at No. 28 to take Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.

It’s unclear who Holmes’ exact target would have been. The draft’s top edge rusher, Abdul Carter, was taken with the third overall pick by the Giants, far out of the Lions’ range. Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, and Shemar Stewart were all selected between the 11th and 17th picks, and the Falcons leaped the Lions – and a dozen other teams – to snag James Pearce Jr. at No. 26.

More discernible is why Holmes didn’t pull the trigger on a deal. Trading into the teens would’ve likely cost at least a second-rounder; a pick in the early 20s would have a more reasonable price. It’s also possible that Detroit couldn’t outbid Atlanta for the 26th pick. The Falcons have picked in the top 10 in four of the last five drafts and gave up a future first-rounder in their deal with the Rams.

The Lions’ newfound success means they’re unlikely to be drafting so high next year, making it hard to match the Falcons’ offer even if they wanted to. Concerns about Pierce’s drive and attitude also made him a questionable fit under Dan Campbell. Detroit then drafted Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein in the seventh round (No. 196) and signed undrafted free agent Keith Cooper Jr. out of Houston to bolster their edge room, though they could still use another reliable veteran.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/15/25

May 15th, 2025 at 7:22pm CST by Ben Levine

Just one draft pick signing to pass along:

Philadelphia Eagles

Robinson got into 47 games across his first five seasons at Nebraska, collecting five total sacks over that span. He put himself firmly on the NFL map with a breakout 2024 campaign, as the defensive lineman compiled 37 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. This performance ultimately led to him being selected by the Eagles in the fourth round of the draft.

In Philly, he’ll be joining a relatively deep defensive lineman grouping, although he could carve out some playing time as a traditional defensive end. At the moment, his only competition at the position is former seventh-round pick Moro Ojomo, although the team could always get creative with former first-round picks Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

With the signing, the Eagles have now signed seven of their 10 draft picks. Among the unsigned rookies include first-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell and second-round safety Andrew Mukuba.

Back Injury Affected Commanders CB Trey Amos’ Draft Stock

May 15th, 2025 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cornerback represented a key need for the Commanders entering the draft. The team addressed it in the second round with the selection of Trey Amos, something which was possible since he remained on the board late into the order.

A partial reason that was the case was injury-related. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a back ailment was uncovered during Amos’ pre-draft process. While the issue did not prove to be severe enough to precipitate a major fall down the board, one AFC executive informed Fowler it likely contributed to a slight slide. Amos heard his name called at pick No. 61.

After spending his first three seasons at Louisiana, Amos transferred to Alabama. In 2023, he played sparingly and was held without an interception. That campaign was followed by another transfer, this time within the SEC to Ole Miss. Amos enjoyed a strong final college season with new personal marks in tackles (50) and pass breakups (13) while notching the first three interceptions of his career.

The Commanders struggled to stop the run in 2024, the first season with Joe Whitt Jr. in place as defensive coordinator upon following Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington. The team fared much better in comparison against the pass, but its cornerback setup has seen multiple changes. Benjamin St-Juste departed in free agency, while Michael Davis remains unsigned at this point. Jonathan Jones was added in March, and he is in position to handle a starting role during his debut campaign in the nation’s capital.

Amos is in the fold along with Jones, Noah Igbinoghene – who re-signed this offseason – midseason trade acquisition Marshon Lattimore and 2024 second-rounder Mike Sainristil. A healthy offseason will be key in Amos’ case as he looks to carve out a role for his rookie season and move past the ailment which he dealt with prior to the draft.

49ers Sign First-Round DE Mykel Williams

May 14th, 2025 at 9:26pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers were one of five teams in the 2025 NFL Draft who had the highest number of drafted rookies (11). According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, San Francisco pushed its ninth rookie contract across the finish line tonight, inking first-round defensive end Mykel Williams. Per Wilson, Williams’ four-year rookie deal (with a fifth-year option) is worth $29.94MM fully guaranteed, including a $14.78MM signing bonus.

Williams spent three years at Georgia, earning second-team All-SEC honors in each of his final two seasons. A former five-star recruit, Williams didn’t quite live up to expectations in Athens. He failed to eclipse five sacks or nine tackles for loss in any season with the Bulldogs. He only started 17 of 40 games, though he was still a regular on three Georgia defenses — including a national championship-winning 2022 group.

An ankle injury hindered Williams’ play in 2024, as well. Still, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge rusher’s size and athleticism had him squarely on the first-round radar. He’s a common type of prospect that we see with more tools and potential than production in college.

The 49ers are hoping that WIlliams will be able to fill in the spot vacated by another former Bulldog, Leonard Floyd, who spent the most time across from Nick Bosa on the defensive line last year. The team also sees Sam Okuayinonu, Yetur Gross-Matos, and yet another former Georgia player, Robert Beal Jr., returning from last season. The three players combined for only seven sacks in 2024.

Unless Okuayinonu, Gross-Matos, or Beal are ready to take the next steps in their careers, Williams may be expected to step into a starting role early. San Francisco will need to tap into that athleticism and potential and hope that Williams can produce more against NFL competition.

Here’s a look at the 49ers’ draft class including the final two players that need to sign their rookie deals:

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