Broncos To Make WR Addition
Although Courtland Sutton extension talks are underway, the Broncos’ No. 1 wide receiver is heading into a contract year and an age-30 season. The team, which traded Jerry Jeudy for two Day 3 picks last year, has not seen a consistent option emerge beyond its veteran leader — a holdover from John Elway‘s GM tenure. As the draft approaches, many are mocking skill-position players to Denver early.
The Broncos would also could be a player for one of the veterans still on the free agency board. Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett will likely wait until depth charts become clearer after the draft (and the compensatory deadline) passes, but with the Broncos having a few rookie-contract wideouts supplementing Sutton, they profile as a candidate for a rental complementary option. They were in the Cooper Kupp and Stefon Diggs markets, though it never sounded as though serious talks took place.
[RELATED: Broncos GM Confirms Team Will Draft RB]
Entering the draft, Sean Payton said the Broncos “add numbers to the position” — be it through the draft or free agency. Denver will assuredly include some receivers in its UDFA class, but it would surprise if a notable addition did not take place as well. Broncos fans will soon see how the team feels about the trajectories of Marvin Mims and 2024 draftees Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele.
Payton praised Vele and Franklin’s progress, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson; a veteran addition or an early-round pick would stand to threaten the roles of those second-year players, as the team has Mims ticketed for a regular role after the two-time All-Pro returner showed considerable promise as a receiver late last season.
Nevertheless, the Broncos have met with Texas’ Matthew Golden and Missouri’s Luther Burden. They also are committed to adding to their running back group. The team’s confidence in its young WR cadre may well send a running back to Denver earlier. The team has met with Omarion Hampton — PFR’s Broncos selection at No. 20 — along with Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and both Ohio State RB products (Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson).
Payton’s past with the Saints also featured a bevy of RB investments compared to top-heavy WR depth charts. The Saints drafted Reggie Bush and Mark Ingram in the first round and later paid Ingram and extended Alvin Kamara. Notable WR payments did take place (Marques Colston, Michael Thomas) under Payton, and the team did use a first-round pick on Brandin Cooks, but beyond the one-season Thomas-Cooks overlap, Payton’s teams did not overinvest at receiver.
Will the Broncos pass on an early-round Sutton sidekick next week? One move that would be a Payton first: trading down. Payton has never traded down in Round 1 (h/t the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel). Despite the rumblings about a running back or receiver addition early, a rumor about the Broncos devoting more resources on defense — even after the Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga signings — emerged as well, as smokescreen season runs wild.
The Broncos also lessened their tight end need by outmaneuvering the Chargers for Evan Engram. The former first-rounder’s agent said (via Gabriel) the recent Jaguars cap casualty viewed Bo Nix as a key driver for his signing, even as he considered other teams — the Bolts among them — with solid QB situations. Nix’s rookie contract runs through 2027, and his extension window does not open until after Engram’s contract expires.
Engram’s two-year, $23MM deal includes $16.5MM guaranteed at signing, likely tying the Broncos to their new TE1 for his age-31 and age-32 seasons. While the team could add at tight end as well in this draft, Engram’s presence would allow for patience.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/25
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: DT Branson Deen
- Waived/injured: TE Armani Rogers
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed ERFA tender: OL Austen Pleasants, TE Jake Tonges
Rodgers suffered an Achilles tear while training earlier this offseason, leading to this move. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson initially reported the injury, which required surgery. The Bills had given Rogers a reserve/futures deal in January. The son of former Bills linebacker Sam Rogers, Armani is a Buffalo native whose last game action came for the Commanders in 2022.
Draft Rumors: Golden, Lions, Texans, Bolts, Broncos, Commanders, Raiders, Browns, Saints, Seahawks, Loveland, Panthers
Matthew Golden‘s 4.29-second 40-yard dash showing at the Combine helped solidify him as one of this draft class’ top receiver prospects. Not quite a first-round pick in Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft, Golden has landed on the radar as a candidate to go on Day 1. The former Houston and Texas wideout has met with the Broncos, Buccaneers, Packers and Cowboys; he made some more trips before this week’s “30” visit deadline. Golden met with the Lions, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, and stopped through the Chargers and Texans‘ facilities, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Golden as his No. 16 overall prospect, despite the talented pass catcher not posting a 1,000-yard season in college. He will almost definitely become the third Texas receiver drafted in the first or second round in two years, following Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.
A week out, here is the latest from the draft:
- Golden submitted the second-fastest 40 time at the Combine; Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston was fastest, at 4.28. Jeremiah’s No. 35 overall prospect, Hairston made some late visits as well. He also met with the Lions, while also spending time at the Commanders and Raiders‘ facilities, according to Rapoport. Finally, his tour included a Broncos meeting Tuesday, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Among pure corners (non-Travis Hunter division), Jeremiah ranks Hairston behind only Jahdae Barron (Texas) and Will Johnson (Michigan). Hairston intercepted five passes in 2023, amassing 131 return yards and two TDs. The 6-foot-1 CB added another pick-six last season.
- Primarily linked to using their No. 20 overall pick on a skill-position player, the Broncos also used a “30” visit on Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Klis adds. The Broncos re-signed D.J. Jones (three years, $39MM) but have starters Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers in contract years. Both are believed to be on Denver’s extension radar, but the team has some post-2025 questions here.
- The Texans also spoke with Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka via Zoom, Wilson notes. A quality slot receiver who played as a sidekick to the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith in Columbus, Egbuka profiles as one of the safer picks at the position in this year’s draft. The slot weapon sandwiched an injury-limited 2023 season with 1,000-yard showings, helping the Buckeyes cover for Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s near-full-season absence in 2022. Egbuka also met with the Cowboys and Packers.
- Shifting to the eight end market, Colston Loveland is expected to be a mid-first-round pick next week, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes, mentioning a 10-22 range in connection with the Wolverines standout. While not rivaling the monster stat line Tyler Warren produced last season, Loveland still made key contributions to Michigan’s 2023 national championship and has checked in consistently as this draft’s second-best tight end prospect. Loveland’s 56 catches set a Michigan TE record last year, and Schultz adds the high-level prospect has interviewed well. If Warren is off the board early, Loveland may not drop past the TE-needy Colts (No. 14).
- Mason Taylor has made a case to become this draft’s third tight end selection. The younger brother of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason finished up his pre-draft visit schedule with Browns, Saints and Seahawks meetings, Schultz adds. Jeremiah’s No. 32 overall prospect, Taylor is part of a deep TE class. While the group may not match what 2023 brought, prospect-wise, the Warren-Loveland-Taylor-Elijah Arroyo contingent will generate considerable intrigue from teams who just saw a tight end (Brock Bowers) immediately become a team’s go-to target. Taylor caught 55 passes for 546 yards at LSU last season.
- The Panthers completed a recent visit with UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Rapoport adds. Schwesinger was popular on the “30” circuit this year, already meeting with the Raiders after conducting a private pro day in L.A. earlier this month.
Titans Waive T Nicholas Petit-Frere, Sign Three O-Linemen
The Titans are making multiple changes to their offensive line by waiving Nicholas Petit-Frere and signing Sam Mustipher, Brenden Jaimes and Oli Udoh Titans senior team writer Jim Wyatt passes along.
A 2022 third-round pick out of Ohio State, Petit-Frere started 16 games at right tackle as a rookie. Viewed temporarily as a player who could help the Titans recover from their historic Isaiah Wilson whiff in the 2020 first round, Petit-Frere was unable to sustain momentum and stick as the team’s RT starter. The Titans have since changed GMs twice since drafting him.
A suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy and a shoulder injury limited Petit-Frere to just three appearances in 2023. After being briefly shifted to LT in 2023, Petit-Frere returned to start at RT to open the 2024 season but lost his starting job after Week 6 due to poor performance. After injuries decimated the Titans’ tackle depth, Petit-Frere started from Weeks 11 to 16, giving him a total of 34 appearances and 28 starts in his career in Tennessee.
As a former Day 2 pick with a prototypical frame for an NFL tackle, Petit-Frere could receive some interest on the waiver wire. However, that would require his new team to take on his 2025 salary, which was bumped to $3.4MM due to the league’s Proven Performance Escalators. Teams may prefer to wait until after the draft to sign Petit-Frere for less money in free agency.
None of the Titans’ new offensive line signings are expected to take over Petit-Frere’s spot at right tackle. Instead, the team plans to move 2024 first-round JC Latham back to his college position, with new free agent signing Dan Moore Jr. taking over Latham’s job at left tackle. This left less use for Petit-Frere, whom the current coaching staff inherited in 2024. The Titans will hope Latham stops a revolving post-Jack Conklin door at RT.
With Kevin Zeitler added to join a line housing former first-round guard Peter Skoronski and high-priced center Lloyd Cushenberry, Mustipher, Udoh and Jaimes are coming in to vie for backup jobs. Udoh and Mustipher held full-season starting roles — both in the NFC North — but each has settled onto the backup level since. The trio joins free agency addition Blake Hance, the recently re-signed Corey Levin and holdover Jaelyn Duncan as potential Tennessee second-string blockers.
Udoh started 16 games as the Vikings’ top right guard in 2021, working almost exclusively as a backup since. He played two more seasons in Minnesota and served as a New Orleans second-stringer last season. The Bears used Mustipher as their primary center from 2021-22 but did not retain him in 2023, leading to one-year Ravens and Chargers stopovers. Mustipher overlapped with Jaimes in L.A. Jaimes played in 46 games with the Bolts, starting three at center in 2023.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Cowboys To Sign OL Hakeem Adeniji
The Cowboys are signing offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji, according to Clarence Hill of DLLS Sports.
Adeniji is a five-year veteran who has experience at both tackle spots and right guard, though he hasn’t played regular-season snaps on offense since 2022. He spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve with the Browns after injuring his knee during the preseason.
The 27-year-old began his career as a sixth-round pick by the Bengals in 2020 and appeared in 15 games with five starts as a rookie. Adeniji didn’t earn a starting job entering the 2021 regular season, but he took over at right guard in Week 9 and started every remaining game in Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl.
Adeniji was waived during final roster cuts in 2023 and joined the Vikings’ practice squad. He earned a promotion to Minnesota’s active roster in Minnesota and finished the year with four appearances and 15 snaps, all on special teams.
In Dallas, Adeniji will likely be competing for a swing tackle job behind starters Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele, though he could factor into the team’s plans at right guard after the retirement of Zack Martin.
QB Drew Lock Returning To Seahawks
APRIL 17: Lock’s return to the Emerald City comes on a two-year pact, as detailed by Over the Cap. The $5MM deal contains $2.25MM locked in at signing (which covers the 2025 season) and includes a $1MM signing bonus. Lock will thus be able to once again operate as a low-cost Seahawks backup, this time with Darnold in place.
APRIL 11: QB dominoes are falling Friday, and a third reunion will take place. After Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson made return trips Friday morning, Drew Lock will follow suit.
The Seahawks are re-signing Lock, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Lock will slide in as a Sam Darnold backup, doing so after playing mostly a backup role as a Giant in 2024. Lock had served as Geno Smith‘s backup from 2022-23.
Initially obtained as part of the eight-asset package the Broncos sent over for Russell Wilson, Lock did not beat out Smith to win the Seahawks’ starting job in 2022. But he became a player the team viewed as valuable. The Seahawks initially re-signed Lock in 2023, keeping him around (at one year and $4MM) despite choosing Smith as their surefire starter. No QB controversy spawned after Smith seized the role as Wilson’s successor, but Lock stayed on after the expiration of his rookie contract. After a rather forgettable Giants one-off, the six-year veteran is coming back to the Pacific Northwest.
Although Pete Carroll is out, the GM who traded for Lock — John Schneider — is calling the shots as Seattle’s top personnel exec. Lock will play behind Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5MM deal to replace Smith days after Seattle traded its three-year starter to Las Vegas.
Lock had been on the Seahawks’ radar to retain in 2024, but Schneider stirred up some controversy by indicating he signed with the Giants (one year, $5MM) due partially to being told he could compete for a starting job. Big Blue pushed back on that, not seriously considering a Daniel Jones demotion during the ’24 offseason. But Lock did make his way into the lineup, as the team ultimately did jettison Jones after a six-year partnership fizzled.
Lock’s decision to rejoin the Seahawks hours after Flacco recommitted to the Browns may not be a coincidence. It is certainly possible Cleveland looked at Lock as a potential bridge starter, as he has a bit more experience at the controls than Kenny Pickett. Though, Lock has not been looked at as a preferred starter since the Broncos replaced him with Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. Given a quick hook in Denver, the former second-round pick still has made 28 career starts. A rather notable outing took place last December, helping Lock finalize his case for another QB2 gig.
In a game that dropped the Giants out of the No. 1 draft slot, Lock sliced up the Colts in a shootout win. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdown passes. Lock did not throw an interception against Indianapolis, and while the win looks to have blocked the Giants from solving their QB problem with Cam Ward, it helped Lock secure another opportunity. He will join 2024 trade acquisition Sam Howell on Seattle’s roster. Considering Howell started 17 games for the 2023 Commanders, this represents a gradual fall for the North Carolina product.
Lock, 28, was 1-4 as a starter last season; the Giants initially went with Tommy DeVito over the veteran upon benching Jones. As a Seahawk, Lock went 1-1 as a starter. The win came during a Monday-night game against a cratering Eagles defense, but Lock has been a streaky passer — one prone to INTs — throughout his career. Like fellow Mizzou alums Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert, he continues to secure regular QB2 employment.
Aidan Hutchinson Completes Rehab; Lions Not Discussing Deal With Za’Darius Smith
As Aidan Hutchinson has progressed through rehab on his broken leg, it has long been expected he would be available for the Lions’ offseason work. His latest comments on the subject confirm that should be the case. 
“I’m there. I’d say I’m good,” Hutchinson said of his recovery process when speaking to ESPN’s Marty Smith at The Masters (h/t Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated). “I’ve got my last evaluation when I get back… I’m gonna finish those evals and once I knock them out of the park, I’ll be on my way and done with rehab.”
Hutchinson went down in Week 6, and his absence was acutely felt on a Lions defense which dealt with several injuries over the course of the year. A return by the Super Bowl or even NFC title game was floated as a possibility, but in the end that became a moot point. The former No. 2 pick being available for offseason workouts well in advance of training camp would of course be welcomed by Detroit.
Having accrued three seasons in the NFL, Hutchinson is eligible for an extension for the first time in his career this offseason. The Lions have seen the top of the edge rush market reach $40MM per season this spring, although general manager Brad Holmes has already budgeted for a Hutchinson deal to check in at a similar rate. Health could represent a reason for an extension to fall short of Myles Garrett‘s new Browns pact, but with 28.5 sacks in 39 career games Hutchinson – 25 next year – has a case to command a monster deal in the near future.
Finding an effective complementary presence on the edge has proven to be challenging during the Michigan product’s time in the NFL. No outside additions were made during free agency, while Marcus Davenport was re-signed on a one-year deal after he was limited to a pair of games last season. His missed time, coupled with Hutchinson going down, led the Lions to trade for Za’Darius Smith as a stopgap option.
The three-time Pro Bowler was released last month, and he remains unsigned at this point. A new Lions agreement – at a lesser cost than the remaining year of his previous pact – could be on the table. Smith notched four sacks in eight Detroit games, giving him a total of nine for the 2024 campaign. In spite of that, Holmes’ pre-draft press conference noted no traction has been gained toward a deal for the 32-year-old.
“No, we haven’t had any discussions since [the decision to release him],” Holmes said of Smith (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper). “I think we kinda left it as his agent would let us know if something was going on or if anything’s changed.”
Many veterans will no doubt need to wait until after the draft to sign their next deals. Smith would not count against the compensatory pick formula with a deal before that time since he was released, but it does not appear an agreement sending him back to the Motor City or anywhere else is imminent.
Andrew Berry: Browns Undecided On No. 2 Pick, Team Still Views Travis Hunter As WR
It remains universally assumed Cam Ward will hear his name called first in next week’s draft. Once the Titans have opened the event with the addition of a new quarterback, the Browns will face an interesting decision. 
Cleveland will have the option of adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. Other options have not been ruled out, but at this point it would come as a surprise if another prospect was taken in the absence of a move down the board. When speaking to the media on Thursday, general manager Andrew Berry said (via TheLandOnDemand’s Tony Grossi) a final decision has not yet been made regarding the Browns’ top choice.
During the pre-draft process, the team has been linked to both Carter and Hunter. At this point, it remains to be seen which way the Browns are leaning, and their decision will of course be key for the Giants at No. 3. In the event Hunter winds up heading to Cleveland, it will be interesting to see how he is used. Questions have lingered about his role at the NFL level, with opinions being split amongst teams at the top of the order. Berry confirmed the Browns’ view on that front during his pre-draft presser.
“We wouldn’t put a cap or a governor in terms of what he could do,” Berry said when asked about Hunter (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). “We would see his first home at receiver and his second home on the defensive side of the ball.”
Hunter remains confident in his ability to handle full-time receiver and cornerback duties as a pro, and he has publicly stated a willingness to not play for his next team if he does not receive the opportunity to do so. Notably, the Heisman winner has also said the teams he has met with have not been averse to playing him on both sides of the ball. That includes the Browns, whose plan has clearly remained consistent throughout the pre-draft process.
Cleveland has Jerry Jeudy atop the receiver depth chart for 2025 and beyond, but Hunter could step into a regular role on offense right away. The Browns’ cornerback setup includes the well-established trio of Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome, although the latter’s future remains a talking point as he prepares to play out his fifth-year option in 2025. A part-time workload on defense could be more challenging to carve out without an injury in the secondary, but the Browns would be open to exploring it based on Berry’s comments. The possibility of Hunter landing in Cleveland will remain a major storyline as the countdown to the draft continues.
Bears Extend CB Kyler Gordon
APRIL 17: Gordon’s pact contains $28MM in new guarantees, as detailed by Over the Cap. That figure includes a $10MM signing bonus; his base salaries for 2025 ($1.26MM) and ’26 ($10MM) are locked in as well. The deal also contains $510K in per-game roster bonuses from 2026-28, and Gordon will receive a $1MM roster bonus if he is on the team by the third day of the league year in 2028.
APRIL 13: The Bears agreed to terms with cornerback Kyler Gordon on a three-year, $40MM contract extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gordon, the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was entering the final year of his rookie contract and Bears general manager Ryan Poles identified an extension as a “priority” at league meetings at the beginning of April. Less than two weeks later, the 25-year-old is under contract through the 2028 season as a vital piece of Chicago’s secondary.
Gordon’s $13.33MM APY and $31.25MM in guaranteed money are the highest of any nickel defender in the NFL, surpassing the deal signed by Jalen Pitre last week. Gordon’s salary still places him outside of the league’s top-20 highest-paid cornerbacks, reflecting the smaller market for players who line up almost exclusively in the slot.
Gordon hasn’t spent a significant amount of time on the boundary since his rookie year, when he started 14 games and notched three interceptions. He then moved into the slot full-time in 2023, which featured two more interceptions in 13 appearances as well as a stint on injured reserve. Gordon appeared in 15 games in 2024 and finished the year as the Bears’ second-highest-graded defender by Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
This is the second straight offseason in which Chicago extended one of its young starting cornerbacks. The team signed 2020 second-rounder Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76MM extension in March 2024, and another second-round corner, Tyrique Stevenson, will be extension-eligible after the 2025 season. After extending Gordon, the Bears now have all three signed through 2026.
The Bears’ remaining candidates for offseason extensions are left tackle Braxton Jones and linebacker T.J. Edwards, both of whom are entering the last year of their rookie deals.
Cowboys Unlikely To Trade Up From No. 12
With one week remaining until the first round of this year’s draft, all 32 teams still own their Day 1 selection. A number of trades changing the order could take place, but 2025 is expected to be relatively quiet in that respect. 
In the case of the Cowboys, a move up the board would come as a surprise. Dallas is currently slated to pick 12th overall, something which will leave the team with a number of options to choose from at that point in the first-round order. EVP Stephen Jones recently commented on the Cowboys’ plans, which do not include the pursuit of a trade-up maneuver.
[RELATED: Cowboys Go WR In PFR’s Mock Draft]
“I don’t necessarily see us moving up, based on the way the board is coming together,” Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). “But could see a situation where we move down.”
A number of teams are, to no surprise, at least publicly open to trading down at this point. That includes the Panthers, who own the No. 8 selection. Pursuit of a quarterback from teams further down the order could generate a market for a trade within that range, but the lack of blue-chip prospects (especially under center) in 2025 should limit the number of interested teams on that front. Presuming the Cowboys elect to stay put – or agree to a move down the board – they will continue of streak of not trading up on Day 1 which dates back to 2012.
Coming off a 7-10 season, the Cowboys have a number of needs on both sides of the ball. Receiver is seen by many as a logical first-round target, and the team has hosted the likes of Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Matthew Golden (Texas) and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) on pre-draft visits. Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams is among the defensive prospects who have received a look, and he could be on the board when Dallas is on the clock next Thursday.
The Cowboys currently own 10 draft picks, meaning a trade aimed at acquiring additional capital is not needed to the same extent as many other teams. Dallas could feasibly pull off a move into the top 10, but that should not be expected at this point.