Browns, Giants Have Inquired About Trading For No. 1 Pick; Titans Never Considered Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers?
APRIL 13: Zac Jackson of The Athletic (subscription required) says the Titans appear sold on Ward. League sources have praised Ward’s maturity and the steady improvements he made over the course of his collegiate career, which leads clubs to believe he can thrive at the professional level.
Russini, on a recent episode of her Scoop City podcast, says it would take an historic offer to convince Tennessee to trade out of the No. 1 overall spot and forego its shot at Ward (video link). Russini adds that the reports of the Titans’ faith in Ward are real and are not part of the club’s effort to drive up the price for the top pick in the draft.
APRIL 6: The Browns and Giants, both still in need of a long-term quarterback despite offseason bridge additions, have inquired about trading up with the Titans to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s draft, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required). We had previously heard Tennessee was fielding calls on that front, and it only makes sense that Cleveland (which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick) and New York (No. 3) would at least see what it would take to make a swap and put themselves in position to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the top QB in the 2025 class.
Less than two months ago, many around the league believed the rebuilding Titans would look to trade down, and the Giants were arguably the team most connected to a possible move up the board. The Browns, meanwhile, have been more closely linked to a Kirk Cousins pursuit than a trade for the No. 1 selection, with GM Andrew Berry recently confirming he is unlikely to swing a deal with Tennessee.
Interestingly, Howe says the Titans have not even determined what sort of compensation they would require to move down the board, which further strengthens the prevailing notion that they will select Ward with the top pick. And, contrary to pre-free agency rumors on the matter, Howe says Tennessee never got involved in the Sam Darnold sweepstakes, and he confirms the same is true of Aaron Rodgers. Of course, that represents yet another sign that Ward is Nashville-bound.
Recent reporting has pegged Cleveland as the likely destination for two-way phenom Travis Hunter, and the Giants – who have long been intrigued by Hunter’s collegiate teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders – would thus be in position to nab the polarizing passer. That would align with the belief that Big Blue is “praying” Cleveland takes a non-QB like Hunter so that Sanders will fall to No. 3.
On the other hand, New York is said to be “convinced” Cleveland – its professed comfort in having Kenny Pickett assume QB1 duties notwithstanding – will be the team to take Sanders. The Browns did indeed plan a private workout for Sanders, and according to Howe, the Giants will also meet again with the second-generation star prior to the draft.
With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston having been added to the QB room in free agency, and with Wilson seemingly in the driver’s seat to serve as the starting quarterback regardless of how the draft unfolds, Giants GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, who are both clinging to their jobs, may prefer to use the No. 3 pick on a player who can help the team win now rather than a high-upside project like Sanders. To that end, one team picking in the top-10 has told Howe that New York seems to be cooling on the idea of adding a signal-caller with its top draft choice.
Considering the Browns-Hunter connections that have recently emerged — supported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who says she no longer believes Cleveland will take a QB (video link) — Howe says if the Giants do not select Sanders with the No. 3 pick, they would likely take Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter (assuming Ward and Hunter are off the board by that time). Carter is seen as one of the draft’s best all-around prospects, and New York is one of the four clubs (along with the Titans, Browns, and Patriots) that secured a visit with him. That said, as our Sam Robinson noted when it became clear the Giants would host Carter, they are the team on Carter’s itinerary that would seemingly need him the least, given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Carter is nonetheless a blue chip talent, and if Hunter is gone by the time the Giants are on the clock, and if New York does not believe Sanders represents the best player available at No. 3, there is logic in nabbing the Penn State product. Or, if they feel Carter is not a great fit, the Giants could trade down themselves in an effort to collect more draft capital.
Saints Host Louisville QB Tyler Shough
The Saints had planned to start Derek Carr at quarterback in 2025, but Carr’s shoulder malady – which may impact his regular season availability – could increase the club’s urgency to select a passer in the upcoming draft. Per Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com, the Saints hosted Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough on a “30” visit on the same day news of Carr’s injury surfaced.
Even before the Carr development, New Orleans was at least connected to the possibility of drafting a QB with its first-round pick (No. 9 overall). As even casual NFL observers likely know by now, however, this year’s collegiate class of signal-callers is not considered a strong one, and with the Saints in dire need of cost-controlled talent throughout the roster, a Day 2 swing on a player like Texas’ Quinn Ewers has seemed like a more realistic possibility.
In the initial round of reports concerning Carr’s shoulder, Dianna Russini of The Athletic said New Orleans was not surprised by the possibility that the 34-year-old could require surgery. So while Duncan implies the meeting with Shough may be directly related to the Carr news, the team may have been planning to host the fast-rising prospect anyway.
And despite Shough generating a fair amount of pre-draft buzz and securing visits with a number of clubs in need of both short-and long-term QB answers, it would still be surprising to see him selected in the top-10. If the Saints opt for a Day 1 passer, a player like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart would appear to represent better value. Although there is some disagreement about the likelihood of a Saints-Sanders connection, a number of mock drafts (including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent offering) project exactly that.
Perhaps the biggest knock on Shough is his age. Thanks to relaxed transfer and eligibility rules, the Oregon recruit was in college for seven years – also suiting up for Texas Tech and Louisville along the way – and he will turn 26 shortly after the 2025 season kicks off. He nonetheless seems like a safe bet to hear his name called in the second round of the draft, if not sooner.
In his first and only season with Louisville in 2024, Shough completed 62.7% of his passes and threw for 3,195 yards and 23 TDs against six interceptions. After battling injuries during the three prior seasons with the Red Raiders, the fact that he remained healthy in 2024 was a notable development for him. Along with his age, durability will be a concern for interested teams, though his size and arm talent have created plenty of intrigue.
Cardinals’ Kyler Murray Addresses ACL Recovery; QB Aims To Run More In 2025
A 2022 ACL tear ended Kyler Murray‘s campaign that season and delayed his return to the field until the midway point of the following season. 2024 thus marked an important checkpoint in his recovery as the Pro Bowl quarterback managed to play a full slate. 
Mobility was an issue for part of last season, however. Murray revealed during an interview with PHNX Sports that he was “feeling something” with respect to his knee early in the 2024 campaign (video link). As a result, the former No. 1 pick did not run as much as he wanted to. Murray recorded 78 rushing attempts, well short of his career-high in that regard (133 attempts in 2020).
Notably, Murray added there are “conversations” taking place with the coaching staff about his rushing numbers increasing in 2025. The 27-year-old is of course one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks with respect to producing with his legs when fully healthy, having amassed over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns on the ground during his career. Improving on offense moving forward could include a heavier emphasis on Murray using his legs.
“I don’t want to get too scheme based, but I do feel like I have to run more next year,” the former Offensive Rookie of the Year said. “I’m open to running more next year, just because it’s such a weapon… I think for us, part of the emphasis going into next season is, conceptually, on time, I feel I’m one of the best in the league. I think where we get better is making things happen outside the pocket.”
The Cardinals were in contention to win the NFC West for much of last season, but a 2-5 run to close out the campaign left them outside of the playoff picture. The team’s overall record of 8-9 represented a notable step forward from the first year of the Jonathan Gannon-Monti Ossenfort regime, but further development on both sides of the ball will be needed to continue in that direction. Defensive help early in the draft is expected to be targeted, something which would leave Murray in place as a central figure in the passing and rushing attack moving forward.
The Oklahoma product has another four seasons left on his contract, and most of his scheduled 2026 compensation recently became locked in. Murray’s future in the organization is not in doubt, but the extent to which he operates as a rushing quarterback next season will be an interesting storyline for the Cardinals.
Colts RT Braden Smith’s 2024 Departure Was Caused By OCD
Braden Smith managed 12 appearances for the Colts in 2024, remaining a full-time starter up front. The veteran right tackle was away from the team for the end of the campaign, however, and further details regarding his absence have emerged. 
In a detailed piece documenting Smith’s situation, Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star notes the 29-year-old dealt with religious scrupulosity, which is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD). Smith played through the issue during the 2024 campaign, but his worsening condition caused him to pause his career and attempt a number of treatment options.
“I was physically present, but I was nowhere to be found,” Smith said when reflecting on his time with the team. “I did not care about playing football. I didn’t care about hanging out with my family, with my wife, with my newborn son. I [felt like I] was a month away from putting a bullet through my brain.”
Smith told his wife in September he intended to retire at the end of the season if the issue persisted. The seven-year veteran spent 48 days at a treatment facility after stepping away from the Colts, receiving an official diagnosis for the first time. A number of treatment options and medications proved ineffective in terms of improving his condition on a permanent basis, however.
The decision was therefore made to attempt treatment using ibogaine in Mexico (since it is illegal in the United States). The psychoactive alkaloid compound has been used in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder as well traumatic brain injury, and it – along with a regimen of OCD-specific therapy sessions back home – yielded progress. As a result, Smith is now prepared to resume his career.
The former second-rounder agreed to a restructure this offseason, lowering his cap hit to $10.4MM. Smith is a pending 2026 free agent, so his performance next season will be critical in determining his future. He will be counted on to reprise his role as a key O-lineman after Indianapolis lost center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries on the open market. OCD will remain a part of Smith’s life moving forward, but, fortunately, he appears to be in position to return to the Colts on a full-time basis.
“I wasn’t here last year,” he added. “I was physically here, but I wasn’t. I want to be me again here, and I want the people around me to experience that, because I do feel like I do have something to offer the people around me.”
Courtland Sutton: Progress Being Made On Broncos Extension Talks
Courtland Sutton‘s contract status was a talking point for the Broncos last offseason until a 2024 top-up was agreed to. As a result, this year represents the window for an extension to be worked out as Denver looks to negotiate several new deals. 
No Sutton agreement is in place yet, meaning he remains on track for free agency in 2026. The former Pro Bowl wideout skipped voluntary OTAs last spring, but he will be in attendance this time around. That is an encouaraging sign regarding the chances of an extension coming to bear, and Sutton added to the positive sentiment when speaking on the subject Saturday.
“My team has had a really good conversation with the guys up there in the front office, and I think it’s working in the right direction,” the 29-year-old told Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post. “Ultimately, you just want to know you’re working in the right direction. I think they see and have seen what I’ve brought to the team. I’m open and optimistic about the fact that I’ll be able to be here for the rest of my career.”
Sutton finishing his NFL tenure in the Mile High City has looked like far from a certainty for some time now. Regularly included in trade talk, the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver delivered the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2024 and now profiles as a priority for the team to continue building on offense around quarterback Bo Nix. Sutton is currently owed $14MM for 2025 with a scheduled cap hit of $20.2MM.
A multi-year deal will no doubt require a raise based on the surges in the receiver market, although without the same resume as many of his younger counterparts Sutton should not approach the most lucrative contracts at the position. Still, a new Broncos commitment would ensure his place as a major contributor on offense for years to come, particularly as a red zone target with 18 touchdowns over the past two years. With Nix on his rookie deal, Denver could afford to keep Sutton in the fold at a higher rate while bolstering a skill-position group which saw the arrival of tight end Evan Engram in free agency.
The upcoming draft looms as another opportunity for the Broncos to bring in new weapons on offense. No extension will be in place with Sutton or any other player in line for a new deal until after it takes place, but signs continue to point to an agreement being worked out on that front before the 2025 season kicks off.
Prospect Profile: Nic Scourton
While much of the pre-draft focus coming out of College Station this year has been on likely first-round pass rusher Shemar Stewart, teammate of one year and fellow pass rusher Nic Scourton may quietly sneak into the first round with him. According to sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, Scourton has been getting some buzz as a potential late first-round pick recently with late-round teams like the Eagles and Ravens showing particular interest. 
While registering as a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Bryan HS (TX), Scourton only ranked as the 22nd best defensive line prospect in his class, per 247Sports. As a result, Scourton wasn’t recruited by many Power 5 schools coming out of high school. His only in-state offers came from SMU, North Texas, and UTSA, and his biggest offers came from Purdue, Colorado State, Memphis, and Marshall. As his only Power 5 offer, the Boilermakers landed his commitment.
Coming off the bench as a true freshman, Scourton still found a way to make an impact. His 22 tackles were the most for a freshman defensive lineman at Purdue since George Karlaftis three years earlier, and he notched two sacks in the team’s last two games of the year. In 2023, Scourton took on a starting role and graded out as the team’s second-best defender that season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In only 11 games, he led the Big Ten in sacks (10.0) and was fourth in the conference in tackles for loss (15.0), earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Coming off his successful sophomore campaign, Scourton opted to jump into the transfer portal for what would seemingly be his final year of collegiate play. Despite their campus being a mere three miles from his high school, Texas A&M didn’t recruit Scourton out of high school, but he overlooked that fact in favor of a homecoming for his junior year, committing to transfer to the Aggies.
Because Stewart struggled to produce throughout his time in College Station, it’s no surprise that Scourton came in and led the Aggies in sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (14.0) in 2024. Starting 12 games for Texas A&M, he graded out as the third-best player on the Aggies defense and the 48th-best edge defender in the country, per PFF.
Neither ESPN’s Matt Miller nor Dane Brugler of The Athletic have Scourton ranked as one of their top 10 edge defenders. Brugler slots him in at 12th for the position, citing some bad weight and a lack of ideal length on his frame as some issues limiting his ranking. Still, Scourton’s thick build can be beneficial at the next level, granted he puts on the right kind of weight. The size does help him as an above-average run defender, though he still profiles as a pass rusher who could stand to add some more elegant moves to his arsenal.
As Pauline mentioned above, Scourton received a top-30 visit with the Eagles this past Thursday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted his presence with the Browns on Tuesday, and Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 also logged meetings with the Cardinals, Texans, and Patriots.
What most all of these teams have in common is that they reside around the late-first round and early-second round, giving us a good idea of where he could fall in two weeks. While he maybe didn’t capitalize on his lone year back in the College Station area, it seems teams and their scouts are willing to look over this past season to see the potential production he displayed at Purdue in 2023. As a result, he may just find himself being selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Raiders Could Both Sign And Draft A WR
While having a record-setter at tight end does kind of mask other shortcomings in the passing game for the Raiders, there still seems to be a noticeable need for help at wide receiver. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, help could come through both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft this offseason. Per Reed, Las Vegas is likely to sign a veteran receiver, but it won’t prevent them from drafting one, as well. 
The Raiders do currently roster starting-caliber wide receivers in Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but after the departure of Davante Adams last year, they struggled to find contributions from a supporting cast of DJ Turner, Terrace Marshall, Alex Bachman, and company. Besides Meyers and Tucker, the returning roster in 2025 combined for only 56 total yards with contributions from Bachman (31 yards), Kristian Wilkerson (18), and Ramel Keyton (7). The only addition to the group so far has been former Titans wide receiver Kyle Phillips, who totaled 259 yards over two years in Tennessee and didn’t play last season.
There are a number of impact options the team could sign before or after the draft, depending on the approach they’d like to take. Spending more money on more established veterans by signing Keenan Allen or reuniting with Amari Cooper could allow them to take a later flyer in the draft on a wide receiver who may need time to develop. Otherwise, Las Vegas could fetch a bargain on veterans like Diontae Johnson, Tyler Lockett, Robert Woods, Nelson Agholor, DJ Chark, or Tyler Boyd, which would put more pressure on them to find a more impactful rookie receiver in the draft.
The team isn’t expected to go after a pass catcher in the first round. At No. 6 overall, the team has been linked more to options like Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, or Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. More likely, Vegas could attempt to address wide receiver at the top of the second round, should they fail to land Allen or Cooper in free agency. At No. 37 overall, options like Texas’ Matthew Golden, Missouri’s Luther Burden, and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka could all be around, as they’re all considered to be fringe first-rounders.
Las Vegas has nine draft picks this year, so they should have plenty of other options throughout the three-day event. Meyers, 6-foot-2, is effective as a reliable possession receiver who excels at getting open in the slot, and Tucker, at 5-foot-9, is a more dynamic speedster with some deep ball potential.
With that in mind, the team could opt to add a big-bodied red-zone target. Players like TCU’s Savion Williams (just under 6-foot-4), Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton (6-foot-4.5), or Arkansas’ Isaac TeSlaa (6-foot-3.5) could all be sizeable options as Day 3 picks. More versatile, mid-size options could be another area to look at for the Raiders. Prospects like TCU’s Jack Bech and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor could be solid Day 2 options, while SEC pass catchers like Keandre Lambert-Smith (Auburn), Chimere Dike (Florida), and Arian Smith (Georgia) could be names to watch on Day 3.
However they choose to go about it, Las Vegas has plenty of options on the table for addressing their receiving corps. Whether they choose to bring in a big-name veteran and take a later flyer in the draft or sign a solid role-player and go after one of the draft’s better receiving prospects, there’s no shortage of possible combinations that we could see in silver and black next year.
Panthers To Focus On Defense In Draft
We are only five years removed from the 2020 NFL Draft, when then-head coach Matt Rhule and the Panthers went defense with all seven of their draft picks. New head coach Dave Canales seems more willing to let general manager Dan Morgan run the show, but the 2025 NFL Draft may look go similarly. With nine picks, it’s unreasonable to expect all defensive selections, but per ESPN’s David Newton, Carolina has needs all over the defense that could be addressed in two weeks. 
While his play has been up-and-down over his first two years, Bryce Young seemingly did enough down the stretch in 2024 to secure another year as the starting quarterback. At running back, the Panthers have two backs who delivered 1,000-yard rushing seasons last year in Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, and Dowdle provides a bit more receiving potential.
They fully return their offensive line from last year in (from left to right) tackle Ikem Ekwonu, guard Damien Lewis, center Austin Corbett, guard Robert Hunt, and tackle Taylor Moton. They even displayed impressive depth with Cade Mays stepping in at center admirably last season when Corbett went down with injury. Other strong depth pieces on the line include Yosh Nijman, Chandler Zavala, and Brady Christensen, but aside from Corbett, the Panthers only saw seven missed starts along the offensive line in 2024, and Hunt even earned a Pro Bowl bid.
The holes on offense come at wide receiver and tight end. Despite being 34 years old, Adam Thielen hardly showed his age in his starts last season. Unfortunately, injury held him out of seven straight games in the middle of the year. After Diontae Johnson departed on bad terms, Carolina was left to depend on first-round rookie Xavier Legette and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker to lead the receiving corps. At tight end, Tommy Tremble has never really impressed in his receiving or blocking responsibilities since getting drafted in the third round in 2021, but fourth-round rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders struggled to really take the job from Tremble last year, only producing more because Tremble missed five games.
On defense, the Panthers don’t necessarily have holes, but each position either lacks top-end talent or depth. The position in best standing right now is the interior line, where Derrick Brown is set to return as one of the league’s best defensive tackles. He’s been reinforced by two newcomers in Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton who graded out respectably (47th and 49th, respectively, out of 118 players graded by Pro Football Focus) last year with the Rams and Chiefs. While they didn’t grade out very well, A’Shawn Robinson, Shy Tuttle, and LaBryan Ray all add depth to the line.
Cornerback is probably the team’s second-best position right now. Michael Jackson has proven to be a reliable, if unexciting, starter over the past two years, while Jaycee Horn earned a Pro Bowl berth in his first healthy season, though he did miss 29 games in his first three years. Chau Smith-Wade established himself as a serviceable nickelback as a rookie, but besides those three, the Panthers only have unproven corners in Akayleb Evans and Shemar Bartholomew on the roster. Quality depth is desperately needed.
At safety, Carolina sees new starters with Tre’von Moehrig and Nick Scott potentially stepping in in place of Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller. On paper, these are improvements, and second-year safety Demani Richardson returns after getting some starting experience last year. Once again, though, there is zero depth behind those three, and bodies could be added in the later rounds of the draft for both secondary positions.
Both linebacker positions have plenty of depth but lack top-end talent. Shaq Thompson is still a free agent, so Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace are the top returners at a position that also added Christian Rozeboom in free agency. There’s plenty of depth pieces behind them, as well. Unfortunately, according to PFF, none of those starters graded better than 67th out of 84 players at the position last year. Jewell (67) and Wallace (69) faired only slightly better than newcomer Rozeboom (72). 
At outside linebacker, Jadeveon Clowney is the obvious star of the show, but his resurgent excellence in Baltimore in 2023 didn’t quite continue with the Panthers last year, though he was still the team’s best defender when on the field, slightly edging out Jackson in the secondary. Behind him, D.J. Wonnum, DJ Johnson, and newcomer Patrick Jones follow in the off-ball linebackers’ footsteps, with no one grading better than 94th of 119 players at the position last year, per PFF. Jones last year with the Vikings saw him grade out at 94th, while Wonnum (95) and Johnson (98) weren’t far behind.
The most pressing need for Carolina is probably to add a strong pass rusher across from Clowney. The team may also value a strong addition at inside linebacker or safety. Tight end and wide receiver would likely follow in the order of needs. With the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, the Panthers are in a unique position. They have to keep in mind, though, that their early-second-round pick belongs to the Bears as a result of the D.J. Moore trade from 2023, but they do own the Rams’ second-rounder this year after Los Angeles traded up in the second round last year to select Braden Fiske.
In a perfect world, the Panthers somehow see Georgia’s Jalon Walker fall to them at the eighth spot. The Patriots have been linked to Walker at times, but No. 4 overall may be too high to consider the versatile defender, and New England, like that three teams with picks between it and Carolina, has potentially more pressing needs on offense, so it’s not out of the question that Walker will be available. Walker barely favored an off-ball linebacker role to an edge rusher role about 60:40 in Athens last year. This unique ability to contribute at both spots is reminiscent of Micah Parsons and would give the Panthers an opportunity to play around and figure out where exactly Walker could contribute most to the defense. 
If Walker is unavailable, they could try for Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, Marshall’s Mike Green, or Walker’s teammate Mykel Williams, but each seems like a bit of a reach at No. 8 overall. Any other linebackers, like Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell or UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger, are fringe first-rounders, and Carolina may be wiser to trade up for them in the second or hope they fall to No. 57 overall. They could also stand pat and select a number of Day 2 receiving options (Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, Utah State’s Jalen Royals, Ole Miss’ Tre Harris, TCU’s Jack Bech, Texas’ Isaiah Bond, Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor) in the second or third round.
An interesting scenario could see the Panthers make a move for one of the draft’s two top tight ends: Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland at No. 8 overall. This would be a bit of a shock with so many bigger needs to focus on, but either player paired with Sanders would provide an immediate upgrade over a twosome of Sanders and Tremble. More likely, though, the Panthers stick to defense and choose from one of many impressive tight end options on Day 2 or 3 like LSU’s Mason Taylor, Miami’s Elijah Arroyo, or Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin.
The team could also try to trade down later into the first round if their favorite options aren’t on the table, but they would be one of several teams trying to do so. Without any elite options to trade up for, though, there are few teams interested in trading up into this range of the draft.
Draft Notes: Carter, Colts, Cowboys, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Bills, Burden, Broncos, Bears, Campbell
Although Abdul Carter‘s foot injury created some early-offseason concern, the Penn State prospect has not run into any real hurdles toward becoming a surefire top-four pick. The edge defender did not see any emerge during a Combine medical recheck, either, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Carter’s foot is improving and no surgery will be needed. The stress reaction Carter suffered kept him out of drills at the Nittany Lions’ pro day, but the potential Browns target has still built up enough capital pre-draft to turn down visit requests for teams holding picks outside the top four. He has met with the Browns and Titans and will stop his visits after the Giants (No. 3) and Patriots (No. 4).
Here is the latest from the draft:
- One of the top non-Carter edge players in this prospect crop, James Pearce Jr. is continuing his visit schedule. The Tennessee product conducted recent visits with the Bengals, Colts, Cowboys and Falcons, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Pearce has already met with the Cardinals, and a report of Saints interest emerged. The Colts came up as a team interested in D-line augmentation, while the Falcons are prioritizing defense in this draft after their Michael Penix Jr. pick last year. The Bengals are still in an uncertain place with Trey Hendrickson, and Sam Hubbard retired.
- Skill players have come up regarding the Broncos‘ first-round draft slot (No. 20), as the team added Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw on defense — after re-signing D.J. Jones. But strengthening a strength should not be ruled out here, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid. Viewing this running back class as deep enough the RB-seeking team can wait until after Round 1 to make that play, Reid mentions safety Nick Emmanwori as a wild-card option to watch. The No. 15 prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Emmanwori is a South Carolina product who could shift into the box in sub packages. The Broncos have Hufanga, Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke at safety; they are thinner at linebacker, with both Greenlaw and 31-year-old Alex Singleton coming off injuries.
- Denver hosted Mizzou receiver Luther Burden, and it is possible the SEC pass catcher will be available on Day 2. Burden is likely to fall out of the first round, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, but the longtime draft expert views him as a first-round talent. A former top recruit, Burden fared much better as a sophomore in 2023 (1,212 yards, nine touchdown receptions) than 2024 (676/6), contributing to his potential second-round status. While Jeremiah labels Burden a slot player, Miller classifies the 5-foot-11 talent as someone who could make an impact outside.
- Another player who may end up sliding a bit, Jihaad Campbell has seen a post-Combine shoulder surgery change his draft trajectory. Teams are gathering intel on the Alabama linebacker, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who indicates it would not surprise to see a top-20 talent in this draft fall toward the end of Round 1 or into the second round.
- Mentioned as a team high on Ashton Jeanty, the Bears have more pressing needs than running back. Specifically, the team views defensive tackle as a bigger need than defensive end, Miller adds. This does not surprise, considering the team’s Dayo Odeyingbo deal. Despite the ex-Colt’s ability to rush from inside and the ensuing Grady Jarrett pickup, the Bears appear to have a clear interest in upgrading here. Miller ESPN colleague Courtney Cronin ponders a potential long-term play at left tackle, as Braxton Jones is in a contract year, in the first round as well.
- Still in place as a top cornerback prospect despite missing last season with an ACL tear, Shavon Revel continues to meet with teams interested in his rebound effort. The Bills, Colts and Vikings met with the East Carolina CB this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Buffalo is in need of a corner to replace Rasul Douglas, who remains in free agency, while Indianapolis may still be interested in adding despite giving Charvarius Ward $18MM per year. Minnesota added Isaiah Rodgers to go with Byron Murphy but could certainly benefit from a higher-level investment.
Lions To Hold QB2 Competition
Becoming the team that took a chance on Hendon Hooker in the 2023 draft, the Lions are still not sold on the former college standout as their entrenched backup quarterback. This view became clear when they brought Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement last year, and a subsequent free agency decision affects Hooker’s standing as well.
The Lions signed Kyle Allen after his Steelers season. While Allen is not a clear-cut backup option for Jared Goff, the Lions will give the 2024 third-stringer a chance to usurp Hooker this offseason.
“Hooker, no different than Allen, are competing,” Dan Campbell said, via DetroitLions.com. “The best way to help guys really reach their full potential is competition. You can say things the best you can to prop them up, but at some point, you just have to go compete and it’s him or you. I anticipate Hooker’s going to compete. That’s what he does.”
Hooker had spent much of last season as Goff’s backup, seeing his first game action during blowouts. The ex-Tennessee and Virginia Tech starter has attempted nine career passes. Late in training camp last year, Campbell said Nate Sudfeld held a lead on Hooker for the backup job. But the Lions still kept Hooker on their active roster and cut Sudfeld before setting their 53-man roster. Allen brings another threat to Hooker’s QB2 status.
Entering the NFL after a November 2022 ACL tear dinged his draft stock, Hooker was the fifth quarterback chosen that year. Rumblings about first- and second-round landing spots circulated before that draft, but the once-surging Volunteers QB tumbled into Round 3. Two years remain on Hooker’s rookie contract, and despite going into only his third season, the former intriguing prospect is 27. This represents an important offseason for a player who had been viewed as something of a project coming into the league.
Allen joined the Lions on a one-year, $1.27MM deal; only $100K is guaranteed, giving the Lions freedom to cut the nomadic reserve while incurring barely any dead money. A former UDFA going into his age-29 season, Allen has made 19 career starts. Many came with the Panthers in 2019, though he also made four starts for a playoff-bound 2020 Washington outfit. Allen is a career 62.7% passer who has averaged a pedestrian 6.7 yards per attempt. He has stopped through Carolina, Washington, Houston, Buffalo and Pittsburgh during his career.
While Lions GM Brad Holmes expressed confidence in Hooker, the Lions’ moves since he came off the NFI list have not reflected it. Barring another Bridgewater unretirement, however, Hooker has another clear shot to win the backup job behind one of the NFL’s most durable players. Jake Fromm is also on the Lions’ roster, but he appears to be the least likely of the team’s non-Goff QB trio to make the team. That said, Fromm spent all of last season on Detroit’s practice squad; he would give the team some insurance if the Hooker-Allen competition produces a player not worthy of a spot on the active roster or the P-squad.