Minor NFL Transactions: 4/15/25
Today’s only minor move:
New York Giants
- Released: DT Ross Blacklock
Blacklock’s time with the Giants ends after a few short months. The former second-round pick out of TCU was the Texans first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as Houston used a pick acquired in the DeAndre Hopkins-David Johnson trade. After two disappointing seasons, Houston traded him to the Vikings with a seventh-rounder in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Since then, he has bounced around, with stops at each of the other three teams in the AFC South. He signed to the Giants’ practice squad in early-December last year, but failed to see any game action. He signed a reserve/futures deal in January, but that deal has been terminated.
Steelers Re-Sign OL Max Scharping
While Max Scharping has not lived up to his second-round draft slot, the veteran offensive lineman has remained a viable swing player for a number of teams. The Steelers will continue to evaluate the well-traveled blocker in-house.
Signing Scharping off the Commanders’ practice squad last season, the Steelers agreed to terms to keep him around. The team announced the re-signing (on a one-year deal) Tuesday. Pittsburgh is the seventh-year guard’s fifth NFL destination.
A former Texans second-round pick, Scharping has now been claimed on waivers — by the Bengals — and signed off a practice squad during his NFL run. He also enjoyed a short non-playing stint with the Eagles. Last season, Scharping played in two Steelers games as a backup. He played in 31 contests as a Bengals reserve from 2022-23.
Chosen 55th overall in 2019, Scharping started 33 games for the Texans over his first three seasons. The GM who selected Scharping (Brian Gaine) was fired shortly after that draft, but Scharping joined Tytus Howard as early fixtures on Houston’s O-line. The Northern Illinois product played both guard spots regularly for the Texans, but the team waived him early during Nick Caserio‘s GM run. Scharping has played fewer than 100 offensive snaps over the past three seasons.
The Steelers let three-year guard starter James Daniels walk in free agency but will be eager to have rookie-contract cog Mason McCormick build on a season spent as a Daniels injury fill-in. The team also has left guard starter Isaac Seumalo back for a third season. Fifth-year vet Ryan McCollum and 2023 seventh-rounder Spencer Anderson in place as backup options. Scharping, 28, will attempt to stay in this mix for a second season.
Jaire Alexander Drawing Trade Interest; Teams Waiting For Packers To Release CB?
More than a month after the Packers let it be known they were shopping Jaire Alexander, the former Pro Bowler remains on their roster. Alexander has not lived up to his pricey extension, and Green Bay still appears ready to move on.
Brian Gutekunst said earlier this offseason the Packers wanted a reasonable return on their investment, and offers do not appear to have provided that yet. But teams are showing interest, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein. Two years remain on Alexander’s $21MM-per-year extension, and it appears interested clubs are attempting to wait out the Packers.
The Packers appeared close to moving Alexander at the start of free agency, but multiple factors interfered. Alexander’s unwillingness to rework his contract to facilitate a trade has factored into this process, Silverstein adds, but the Packers also did not view trade compensation as efficient. The staring contest continues heading into the draft, where another trade window will open up.
All three days of the draft figure to keep the window open, as Alexander drawing Day 3 capital is not difficult to envision based on his contract and pattern of unreliability in recent years. Alexander, 28, has missed 20 regular-season games over the past two seasons. The Packers also suspended him for a game after a strange incident involving a coin toss against the Panthers in 2023. Trade rumors emerged shortly after, but Gutekunst shot them down. A year later, a divorce still appears imminent.
Green Bay would take on $17MM in dead money were a trade to commence during the draft or at any point before June 1. A deal after that point would defray some of that dead cap to 2026. A post-June 1 cut would create $17.2MM in cap savings for the Packers. Alexander is due a $16.15MM base salary in 2025; based on his recent attendance record, that would likely be untenable for interested teams. But it does not look like the seven-year veteran is interested in doing the Packers any favors by redoing his contract on the way out.
Although a previous report indicated the team wants this resolved by the draft, the Packers waiting until after the draft, thus gauging which teams did not sufficiently fill their CB needs, could be a play here. This will be a situation to monitor for a Packers team remodeling at corner. The Packers did not re-sign 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, who joined a Raiders team that lost Nate Hobbs to the Pack. Keisean Nixon remains under contract, as does third-year player Carrington Valentine.
Alexander’s likely departure, however, still appears to leave the Packers with a CB need. Green Bay also does not employ the top CB trade chip presently, as Jalen Ramsey has now been granted permission to find a trade partner — for what would be his third career trade exit — to leave Miami.
Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey Didn’t Request Trade; Team Not Eyeing Tyreek Hill Trade
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier confirmed reports that the team was looking to trade Jalen Ramsey, but clarified that the All-Pro cornerback did not request a trade.
Grier said that the decision to part ways was in the “best interest of all parties,” according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, adding that the potentially upcoming split was not a result of new contract demands by Ramsey. The Dolphins just signed him to a three-year, $72.3MM extension last September that made him the highest-paid cornerback in league history, raising questions about when and why the team’s relationship with its star defender deteriorated.
Grier said that the Dolphins have been in touch with other teams regarding Ramsey, but he does not know if a trade will happen before the draft, if at all. Ramsey’s new contract runs through 2028.
“If he’s here, we’ll deal with it,” said Grier (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).
A post-draft trade would likely make the most sense for Miami. The team only has $16.5MM in salary cap space, per OverTheCap, and a chunk of that will be needed to sign its rookie class. As a result, the $25.2MM of dead money resulting from a pre-June 1 trade would be financially untenable without additional roster maneuvering.
A post-June 1 trade would save $9.92MM in 2025 with a $6.75MM dead cap charge, with the remaining $18.47MM in dead money pushed to 2026. An acquiring team would pick up Ramsey’s $1.255MM salary, $865k in workout and per-game roster bonuses, and a fully-guaranteed $19MM option bonus due on August 31. Ramsey will then be owed $66.73MM from 2026 to 2028, though none of that money is guaranteed.
Grier also said that Dolphins are not interested in trading Tyreek Hill, despite persistent rumors of such a move this offseason. Mike McDaniel also recently indicated the Dolphins expected to have the All-Pro wide receiver on their roster this season, but trade rumors have continued to follow the likely Hall of Fame-bound talent. The draft would loom as the next window for a trade.
“That is not anything that we’re pursuing,” he said (via Pelissero). “Who knows? If someone wants to come and give me two first-round picks, we’ll consider it.”
Travis Hunter: Teams Open To Two-Way Role
One of the top storylines in the 2025 draft remains Travis Hunter‘s landing spot and the way in which he will be used at the NFL level. The Heisman winner has remained insistent, to no surprise, that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro. 
During the pre-draft process, a key talking point for teams near the top of the first-round order has been the matter of where Hunter should play (at least, primarily) in the NFL. Opinions have been split along the way, and that remains the case to this day. In his most recent comments on the matter, Hunter doubled down on his goal of playing both ways.
In an interview with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, the Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff winner (awarded respectively to the top defender and receiver in the country) said the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with. That will need to remain the case once Hunter is drafted, given his added comments that he would consider not suiting up if a team attempted to only use him at one position.
“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said of his reaction in that hypothetical situation. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
During Colorado’s Pro Day, Hunter – who did not participate in drills at the Combine, like many other top prospects – worked exclusively as a receiver. He is nevertheless seen in some circles as a cornerback, and how teams plan to use him will remain a key factor in determining his destination. The Browns (set to select second overall) and Giants (third) loom as his likeliest landing spots.
To no surprise, Hunter is among the prospects who will be in attendance for the first round of the draft. He will not need to wait long to hear his name called, but intrigue over his workload will persist throughout the build-up to his rookie campaign.
Panthers Open To Trading Back From No. 8
APRIL 15: When speaking to the media on Tuesday, Morgan confirmed he is open to receiving offers for the No. 8 pick (video link via ESPN’s David Newton). To no surprise, he added Carolina is not locked into adding a defensive player in the first round (h/t Newton), although that side of the ball is expected to receive plenty of attention. As the countdown to the draft continues, it will be interesting to see if a strong market for the Panthers’ top choice emerges.
APRIL 14: With multiple holes on the roster and the organization still in the midst of a rebuild, the Panthers will clearly be operating with a ‘best-player-available’ approach at No. 8 in the draft. However, depending on how things proceed with the top-seven picks, the front office could look to make a move.
According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the Panthers “are open to the idea” of moving back from No. 8 “depending on what happens in front of them.” In fact, some recent developments from the Panthers’ own division may only help general manager Dan Morgan‘s chances of pulling off a trade.
As Person writes, with Derek Carr potentially out for the 2025 campaign, the Saints may feel added pressure to land a top quarterback prospect in the draft. As one of the only QB-needy teams in the top-10, the Saints would seem to be in prime position to select, say, Shedeur Sanders with the No. 9 pick.
Since the Panthers are armed with the No. 8 pick, they could be an enticing trade partner for Sanders suitors who aren’t armed with such a high selection. The Saints’ need for a QB could further benefit the Panthers. As Person notes, a “quarterback-inspired team” (like New Orleans) that leapfrogs Carolina’s eighth-overall selection would just result in a better non-QB-prospect falling into the Panthers’ lap.
Of course, this isn’t an uncommon sentiment in this year’s draft. QB Cam Ward is expected to go first-overall, while Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter represent the draft’s only true blue-chip prospects. There’s a belief that there isn’t a huge difference between the next tier of players, with Buccaneers GM Jason Licht even admitting recently that the draft “is pretty leveled-out at a certain point” (per Person).
In other words, if a team is truly enamored with Sanders, they’d likely be negotiating for picks No. 4 through No. 7 before they place a call with Morgan and the Panthers for the No. 8 pick. Still, the Saints’ sudden QB issues could vicariously help their rival’s options heading into the draft.
Browns Viewed Joe Flacco Similarly To Kirk Cousins
The Browns appeared to be on track to enter the draft with Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback until a Joe Flacco reunion was worked out. Adding the latter to the fold has greatly lessened the chances of a Kirk Cousins trade taking place with respect to Cleveland. 
[RELATED: Deshaun Watson Faces Uncertain Playing Future]
With the Falcons open to dealing Cousins under the right circumstances, the Browns have long been considered a logical landing spot. Head coach Kevin Stefanski worked with him in Minnesota, and that familiarity could help provide the team with a short-term upgrade under center. In the event of a release, Cousins would have been available at a highly reduced rate (like Russell Wilson with the Steelers last year), but it is clear a post-draft trade is a likelier outcome.
On that point, the Falcons have set a high asking price in terms of how much of Cousins’ money they want an acquiring team to take on. The four-time Pro Bowler is owed a $27.5MM base salary for next season, and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 has already become fully guaranteed. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer confirms Atlanta is not willing to spend much in the way of absorbing compensation on Cousins’ deal to facilitate a trade.
That reality helps explain Cleveland’s Flacco re-acquisition. Breer adds the Browns viewed the 40-year-old in a similar fashion to Cousins, who is four years younger. The latter enjoyed a relatively strong start to his Falcons career last season, but a turnover-filled run (which included battling ailments other than his 2023 Achilles tear) led to Michael Penix Jr. taking over QB1 duties. The eighth pick in last year’s draft is now set to handle the starting gig moving forward, but the Falcons have repeatedly expressed a willingness to keep Cousins in place as an expensive backup.
The Browns gave Flacco $4MM in base compensation, with incentives maxing out at $13MM. More realistically, the former Super Bowl MVP’s earning potential sits between $6MM and $8MM based on his playing time and Cleveland’s regular season success. As Breer notes, those figures illustrate the lengths to which Cleveland would have been willing to go for Cousins. Especially if the Browns add a rookie passer next week, a deal for Cousins (who aims to waive his no-trade clause after the draft) will surely be off the table.
In that case, the number of Cousins suitors would dwindle even further. Breer names the Steelers as a potential landing spot given their need for a starting-caliber veteran. The Aaron Rodgers wait continues, but if he were to retire or sign elsewhere Cousins would loom as a feasible trade candidate. It remains to be seen, though, how willing the Falcons will be to entertain offers on that front.
Bengals Have Rejected Multiple Trey Hendrickson Trade Offers
The upcoming draft represents a logical deadline for the Trey Hendrickson situation to reach a resolution. If the reigning sack leader is to remain with the Bengals, it will not be for a lack of effort on the part of interested suitors to swing a trade. 
Once again, Hendrickson is seeking a new deal after his efforts to secure an extension last spring did not produce an agreement (or a willingness on the Bengals’ part to entertain his trade request). This time around, Cincinnati granted the 30-year-old permission to seek a trade, a sign that team and player were far apart on contract terms. Since then, wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have each landed massive extensions, taking care of the two in-house players known to be higher organizational priorities.
However, extension talks have picked up on the Hendrickson front, and a report from late March indicated a trade was no longer receiving consideration. That represented an indication a long-term agreement could be worked out, but progress has proven to be difficult to come by. Hendrickson has gone public with his frustration over his situation, and as could be expected there remains a trade market as the countdown to the draft continues.
Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post reports “numerous teams” have unsuccessfully offered mid-round picks for Hendrickson, who will require an extension upon arrival with his next employer should a trade come to pass. He adds the Bengals have maintained an asking price of first-round value, which is roughly in line with where that previously stood. If no extension agreement is worked out over the coming days, the prospect of a trade will remain a major league storyline.
To little surprise, one executive predicted to La Canfora Hendrickson will be dealt at the draft in the event a new Bengals pact is not in place by that point. Cincinnati could stand to add multiple impact rookies on defense, and dealing the the four-time Pro Bowler would yield extra capital to meet that goal. On the other hand, losing Hendrickson would obviously create a massive roster hole along the edge as Cincinnati looks to improve in that spot with or without him in the fold.
The Bengals are currently projected to have over $85MM in 2026 cap space. Plenty of moves will be made to alter that figure before free agency next spring, of course, but the funds can be found to keep Hendrickson in place on a deal close to the top of the EDGE market. Unless traction in that regard is found soon, though, a trade will loom as a possibility.
Giants Schedule Shedeur Sanders Workout
The Giants’ third-overall pick continues to represent one of the most fascinating story lines in this year’s draft. While recent reports have suggested that the organization may skip the QB position and opt for Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, that won’t stop the organization from taking a longer look at one of the draft’s top signal callers.
[RELATED: Giants Could Aim To Land Both Colorado Stars]
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Giants plan to work out Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders privately on Thursday. The workout will take place in Boulder, Colorado.
This isn’t the first time the Giants have signaled some interest in Sanders. Coach Brian Daboll and a large contingent of other Giants decision makers attended the QB’s pro day earlier this month. While that obviously coincided with Hunter’s pro day, the event was truly an extended showcase for the signal caller. Further, as Pelissero notes, the Giants scouted Sanders “extensively” in games and practices over the past year.
There was even a report last week that the Giants could get creative and pursue both Colorado stars. However, subsequent rumblings indicated that the Giants weren’t necessarily as high on Sanders, and there was a bit of skepticism surrounding the team’s QB pursuit following the addition of Russell Wilson.
Cam Ward is all but guaranteed to go first-overall to the Titans, and despite the Browns’ (No. 2) and Giants’ (No. 3) potential need for a quarterback, there’s been talk of Sanders potentially falling down the draft board. While this year’s draft lacks top-end talent, there isn’t a long list of teams that are desperate for first-round QB prospects. That’s opened the door to a potential draft-day disappointment for Sanders.
Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post has expressed some doubt surrounding Sanders’ declining draft stock, noting that it’s “premature.” Dunleavy also says the Colorado product has “always” been in the conversation for the No. 3 pick, and while he may not necessarily be the favorite, the team hasn’t made any definitive decisions.
Of course, the Giants’ workout with Sanders later this week could simply be due diligence, as the team doesn’t have anything to lose by getting one last look at the quarterback. Dianna Russini of The Athletic seems to echo this sentiment, noting that the Giants plan to take a long look at all of the draft’s QB prospects. On the flip side, the Giants surely wouldn’t be putting in this type of effort if they weren’t at least considering Sanders with the third-overall pick.
Micah Parsons In Attendance For Cowboys’ Offseason Program
Monday marks the beginning of the Cowboys’ offseason program. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer expected Micah Parsons to be in attendance, and that has proven to be the case. 
Parsons is present for the voluntary program, as first reported by DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. This news comes as no surprise, considering team and player discussed attendance earlier this offseason. Parsons mainly worked out on his own during this time of the spring over the past two years, but being present for the installation of a new playbook under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus will be welcomed.
The 2025 offseason has long been known as the most realistic point for a Parsons extension to be worked out, and progress has been made toward a deal. The four-time Pro Bowler has been linked to an asking price of $200MM on a second contract, one which could very well move him to the top of the pecking order amongst edge rushers. The Cowboys have worked out at least the framework of an agreement which would make Parsons the top earner for all non-quarterbacks, although his agent was not present for those negotiations.
As a result, nothing is in place yet regarding a long-term accord. Today’s news is nevertheless a positive sign with respect to a deal being hammered out sometime this offseason. Parsons initially set a target for the start of free agency for his extension to be in hand, although he has since shifted that goal to this summer’s training camp. Plenty of time therefore remains for a potential holdout to be avoided.
The Cowboys’ OTAs will take place in May, and they will be followed by a three-day minicamp in early June. The latter event is the only one before training camp where attendance is mandatory, but Parsons could have a deal in place by that point if talks continue on the extension front.