NFL Teams Remain Split On Travis Hunter’s Position
Colorado draft prospect Travis Hunter wants to play both receiver and cornerback full-time in the NFL, but the consensus in league circles is that he will likely focus on one position with a situational role at the other.
Even that would be a physical and mental challenge, not to mention a logistical one, too. Hunter would need to attend meetings for the full offense and defense, plus both of his positions, and he’d have to continue the juggling act during practices. He did it throughout his college career, but the jump in NFL competition and complexity would require even more discipline and time management.
A “slight majority” of teams polled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler see Hunter as a cornerback. One executive said that he could be among a top-10 receiver, but one of the league’s best corners by the end of his first contract.
If forced to choose, Hunter would prefer to primarily play wide receiver, a sentiment that is shared by some scouts. Among them is ESPN’s Matt Miller, who argued that Hunter’s slender frame would face more wear-and-tear at cornerback and his playmaking ability offers higher upside at receiver.
Miller also noted that Hunter ran routes at Colorado’s pro day but did not participate in any cornerback drills, reinforcing the message that he will be receiver first in the NFL.
A quick comparison of wide receiver and cornerback contracts make it clear why Hunter would want to be classified as a receiver. His ability to play on both sides of the ball will already boost his earning potential, but his official classification is still important. The NFLPA will need to list him at one position, so being a receiver would offer him more money for both his fifth-year option and any potential franchise tags. In the long run, he stands to make significantly more money as a wide receiver who also contributes at corner as opposed to the inverse.
The Giants reportedly view Hunter primarily as a cornerback, but head coach Brian Daboll expressed openness to playing him at wide receiver.
“It’s really remarkable what he has done and the ability to perform at that level, not really getting a rest,” said Daboll (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “We’ll evaluate him at both spots.’’
Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence To Throw At OTAs; QB Expects To Be Fully Cleared By Week 1
Trevor Lawrence was limited to 10 games last season as a result of the AC joint sprain he suffered in his non-throwing shoulder. He will participate in the Jaguars’ offseason team activities, though, as his rehab continues to take place smoothly. 
When speaking to the media on Wednesday, Jacksonville’s franchise passer said he has already been throwing this spring (video link). He added he will take part in OTAs but will be on a pitch count when doing so. Lawrence also expects to be fully cleared well in time for the start of the 2025 season, something which was the case when he underwent surgery in December.
“I’m very optimistic I’ll be perfectly good for the season,” the former No. 1 pick said. “But as far as just right now, I think just kind of pacing ourselves as OTAs go and working myself up to where I’m in shape as far as throwing. Just the amount of throws might be a little lighter to start and work our way up, just until I get really fully back.”
Through his first three NFL seasons, Lawrence only missed one game. That level of durability changed in 2024, with the shoulder injury resulting in what was at first a brief absence. The 25-year-old returned to the lineup after missing two contests, but it was in that game that he suffered a concussion after taking a hit to the head from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. With the Jags out of contention by that point, it came as no surprise the team shut Lawrence down for the rest of the campaign.
Expectations will once again be high for the Clemson product once the new season starts. Lawrence is attached to a deal averaging $55MM per year, which puts him in a tie for second in the league in terms of annual compensation. Jacksonville has made the postseason once in four years since drafting Lawrence, who has yet to throw more than 25 touchdowns in a season.
The Jaguars expectedly moved on from head coach Doug Pederson following the 2024 campaign after he was unable to duplicate the team’s run to the divisional round from 2022. General manager Trent Baalke was initially retained, but he too was ultimately dismissed. The team now has a regime led by Liam Coen and James Gladstone in place, and maximizing Lawrence’s potential will be critical in determining its success.
Mac Jones departed in free agency, but Jacksonville has a new backup quarterback in the form of Nick Mullens. The latter could see some additional reps during spring practices, but Lawrence remains on track to be at full strength in time for the season.
Cowboys To Sign OL Saahdiq Charles
Saahdiq Charles recently visited the Cowboys, and that meeting has produced a contract. Team and player agreed to terms on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Line Up Armand Membou Visit]
Charles retired in August (months after inking a Titans contract), but his desire to resume his career after missing the 2024 campaign brought about interest from Dallas. Shortly after his recent visit, the veteran offensive lineman now has an opportunity in place to compete for a roster spot this offseason. The Cowboys could still be in the market for O-line help during the draft, but in any event Charles will aim to provide them with depth up front.
The 25-year-old played out his rookie contract in the nation’s capital. Charles logged only two offensive snaps during his rookie season, but over the following two years he operated on a part-time basis. 2023 was by far his busiest campaign; Charles started 10 of his 11 appearances, working exclusively at left guard. The LSU product was charged with four sacks and 37 pressures allowed by PFF, helping result in an overall grade of just 55.5.
Between that level of performance and the fact he was out of the game last season, Charles’ Dallas pact will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum. ESPN’s Todd Archer adds, to no surprise, this is a one-year agreement. The Cowboys entered Wednesday with $37.66MM in cap space, so this agreement will not have an impact on any other veteran additions being planned before or after the upcoming draft.
As expected, Dallas lost 2010s All-Decade Team member Zack Martin to retirement this offseason. As a result, the team’s right guard position is a question mark for the first time since 2014. Charles will likely receive a look at that spot as the Cowboys aim to find a short- and long-term Martin replacement. At a minimum, he will have the opportunity to restart his career with a strong training camp performance.
DeMarcus Walker Visits Giants, Lions
The market for DeMarcus Walker is apparently heating up. ESPN’s Peter Schrager reported yesterday that the veteran pass rusher was meeting with the Giants. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added on to the report this afternoon, noting that Walker met with the Lions last week.
A former second-round pick, Walker has transformed from a rotational contributor to a starter later in his career. He spent his first four seasons in Denver, collecting 10.5 sacks in 36 games. Following a one-season stop in Houston, Walker had his most productive season with the Titans in 2022, compiling a career-high seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
That performance earned him a three-year contract from the Bears, and he proceeded to start 29 of his 34 appearances for Chicago between 2023 and 2024. Over that span, he collected another seven sacks, and he finished the 2024 campaign with a career-high 47 tackles. The Bears moved on from the veteran back in February, saving the organization $5.25MM against the cap vs. just under $700k in dead money.
Even if the 30-year-old reverts into a backup role, he could still be a useful piece for teams seeking pass-rush help. In New York, Walker would reunite with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who was in the same role in Tennessee during the player’s best season. Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux lead the Giants’ pass-rush efforts, and the organization could further fortify their corps by landing Abdul Carter in the draft, but there could still be some playing time available for Walker.
The Lions should have more help on the edge than they did in 2024. Aidan Hutchinson will return from his injury-shortened campaign, and the team will also bring back Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who both got long looks last year. Plus, while the team cut Za’Darius Smith in a cap-saving move, they’ve been in contact with the veteran about a new deal. There could still be a role behind all four of those aforementioned players, albeit limited.
NFL Minor Transactions: 4/9/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Brady Russell
Joe Giles-Harris brings 22 games of experience to Cincinnati, including a 2020 campaign where he collected 20 tackles and one sack in nine games (three starts) with the Jaguars. He split the 2024 campaign between Jacksonville and New England, with 90 of his 107 total snaps coming on special teams.
Brady Russell seemed destined to return to Seattle, partly because of his ERFA tender and partly because of his role. The former UDFA has appeared in 26 games for the Seahawks over the past two years, with the Colorado product collecting 17 tackles in 542 ST snaps. He’s had only brief looks on offense, where he’s garnered a single target.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe To Visit Giants, Rams, Seahawks
Following reports that Alabama’s Jalen Milroe was in Cleveland to meet with the Browns, we’re learning about a handful of additional official visits for the QB prospect. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Milroe also has upcoming visits with the Giants, Rams, and Seahawks.
Milroe’s elite athleticism has seen him up climb up draft boards in recent weeks. He reportedly impressed in workouts with the Browns and Saints, while the Steelers have also had their eye on the signal caller (with one report suggesting that Pittsburgh could even select him at No. 21). Either way, the Alabama product appears to be trending towards at least a second-round selection.
Each of these new suitors makes sense from a roster perspective. The Giants have been mentioned as a landing spot for most quarterbacks, and the organization is in prime position to select a QB with the third-overall pick. Of course, that’s no slam dunk, either because the top-two prospects (Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders) could be off the board and/or the Giants decide to opt for one of the draft’s two blue-chip prospects (Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter). If the organization doesn’t use that early pick at quarterback, then they could be ready to pounce on the position with pick No. 34.
The Rams, meanwhile, are continuing to take a year-to-year approach with Matthew Stafford, and that means they’ll surely be eyeing a succession plan via this year’s draft. Armed with the No. 26 pick, the Rams are clearly not in a position to land a player of Ward or Sanders’ caliber, and that’s why the team has often been connected to the second-tier of prospects at the position. For instance, we heard today that the Rams have spent “considerable time” with Ole Miss’ QB Jaxson Dart.
Among the three newest teams connected to Milroe, the Seahawks have the most clarity at QB moving forward. The team handed Sam Darnold a three-year, $100MM deal this offseason, but considering the veteran’s lack of track record, the Seahawks will surely be eyeing some contingency options in the draft. Milroe isn’t the first QB that’s been connected to Seattle; we heard that Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough met with the team back in March.
While there’s still uncertainty about how that second-tier of QBs will shake out, Milroe certainly deserves a spot. The prospect had a breakout season in 2023, finishing with 23 touchdowns vs. only six interceptions. Those passing stats took a step back in 2024 (16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions), but Milroe continue to impress with his production on the ground. After finishing 2023 with 531 yards and 12 touchdowns, he collected 726 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024. Milroe fits the profile of a high-upside project, so there could surely be a surprise team that selects the Alabama product with the intent of hiding him on the depth chart for a few years.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Rashee Rice‘s season ended in Week 4 following a freak collision with Patrick Mahomes. He ended up undergoing surgery to repair his LCL and hamstring, and there’s optimism that the wideout will be a full participant when training camp opens this summer.
While speaking with Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star during last week’s NFL Annual Meetings, coach Andy Reid said he expects Rice to be available when training camp opens in July.
“He’s on track to be ready,” Reid said. “We’ll see. He’s working his tail off right now, I know.”
The Chiefs clearly missed Rice in the lineup once he went down with a season-ending injury. The former second-round pick was leading the NFL in receptions prior to his injury, and he seemed prime to build off a rookie season where he compiled 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
The team will continue to be reliant on the third-year WR in 2025. Midseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins is already gone, leaving the Chiefs with a very similar depth chart. The organization is surely expecting more from a healthy Marquise Brown, and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy took his game to another level in the playoffs. Still, Rice will provide Patrick Mahomes with another high-end target.
Of course, Rice’s start to the 2025 season could be delayed by his frequent off-the-field issues. The receiver continues to face a suspension for his involvement in last summer’s high-speed crash, although the NFL will only act once the legal process plays out. So, while Rice may be healthy enough to start the season, he may not take the field right away.
Giants Could Aim To Land Both Colorado Stars
APRIL 9: Echoing the notion that Carter or Hunter are the team’s likely targets at No. 3, Fowler’s colleague Jordan Raanan reports some see the Giants as not being high on Sanders. If that were to be the case, a quarterback move later in the draft would certainly still be in play, but a package deal of Hunter and Sanders would not be feasible. How New York evaluates the Colorado passer over the coming days will be critical in informing the team’s draft approach.
APRIL 8: For a while, it seemed like there was an obvious path for Colorado quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders to land with the Giants. Some later acquisitions made it seem likely that New York would go elsewhere in the 2025 NFL Draft, but a recent mock draft by Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York suggested that there’s still a less obvious path that could see Sanders end up with Big Blue. 
Initially, it was thought that the Giants would be considering drafting Sanders with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. A few things have changed that thinking. First, while quarterback was certainly seen as an area in need of improvement initially, the Giants have since added two veterans with starting potential in Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. Adding two veteran passers doesn’t solve the team’s long-term future at quarterback, but it did make it to where there’s no obligation to address the position in this year’s draft, perhaps delaying to a class with more than one first-round worthy player at the position.
Second, Sanders’ draft stock has not exactly been on the rise in recent weeks. Whether a result of one-on-one interviews or his workouts, some teams seem to have fallen out of love with him. As a result, Sanders has seemed to be in danger of sliding down the draft board and, at times, out of the first round altogether.
The third thing to change the potential outcome is the increasingly certain outlook of the Titans’ No. 1 overall pick. While not Sharpied in, there’s growing certainty around the league that Miami quarterback Cam Ward is headed to Tennessee. That leaves the draft’s top two prospects — Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter — available for Cleveland to decide between, assuming they’re also out on Sanders.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler asserted recently that with the acquisitions of Winston and Wilson lessening the need for a passer, it’s the belief of most teams in the top 10 picks of the draft that the Giants will choose whoever remains out of Carter and Hunter after the Titans and Browns make their picks. He doesn’t abandon quarterback as an option but claims they may defer that position to Days 2 or 3.
Hughes’ mock draft agrees on one hand, showing New York selecting Hunter after Ward and Carter go 1 & 2. Where it disagrees with Fowler’s sentiment comes six picks later, where Hughes doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Giants trading back into the first round to draft Sanders alongside his teammate at No. 9 overall. As Hughes explains, New York has plenty of picks to give up in order to move up; they have two thirds this year and their full cache of picks in 2026.
It would be a bold move for general manager Joe Schoen and company, likely spending a lot of draft capital in order to take the Buffaloes teammates in the top 10, but perhaps a bold move is exactly what is needed in New York. It was news when Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll kept their jobs after Black Monday, so making bold moves to setup up the future of the team may be the all-in action necessary for Schoen to stick around past 2025.
OT Armand Membou To Visit Cowboys
The Cowboys are hosting projected first-rounder Armand Membou on a top-30 visit, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. 
The Missouri product is widely considered to be one of the draft’s top-two offensive tackles along with LSU’s Will Campbell. Membou has skyrocketed up draft boards since the Combine, where he ranked among the top four offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, and bench press.
That performance may push him into the top 10 on draft night and out of the range of the Cowboys, who hold the 12th overall pick. Membou, currently the 12th-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board, has the size and athleticism to start at offensive tackle in the NFL, though it’s unclear if he would have that opportunity in Dallas anytime soon.
The Cowboys signed right tackle Terence Steele to a long-term extension in 2023 and invested a first-round pick in left tackle Tyler Guyton last year, but they may look at Membou as a high-upside guard after the retirement of Zack Martin. The latter enjoyed a stellar career in Dallas, collecting nine total first- or second-team All-Pro nods. Replacing his level of play will be a challenge, and slotting in Membou along the interior could achieve that goal.
The junior took on first-team duties midway through his debut Tigers campaign and continued in that capacity the rest of the way, earning second-team All-SEC honors last season. With 29 starts to his name, Membou could step into a role right away in the NFL, although the fact he played exclusively at right tackle in college means a guard opportunity at the pro level would require a transition phase. Still, Dallas would have a potential successor for Steele (whose contract does not include guaranteed salaries beyond 2025) in place with a Membou selection.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers Host Derrick Harmon, Omarion Hampton On Top-30 Visits
The Steelers are continuing to assess options for their 2025 draft class by hosting Oregon defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton on top-30 visits, per Ray Fittpaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Both Harmon and Hampton are projected to go in the first round of April’s draft in which the Steelers hold the 21st overall pick. Either player could contribute in Pittsburgh right away with the team needing to add long-term contributors at both positions.
The Steelers released Larry Ogunjobi in March, leaving behind a defensive line that only has one player – 2024 sixth-rounder Logan Lee – signed past the 2026 season. Keeanu Benton could be re-signed as a long-term starter, but Cameron Heyward will be 37 when his contract expires. DeMarvin Leal, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams are all entering contract years, further heightening the need to add in the trenches.
Harmon, the 21st-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board, could fit the bill. He is a three-year starter who posted career-highs of 5.0 sacks and 11 tackles for loss during his senior year at Oregon after spending his first three college seasons at Michigan State. He has the football I.Q. and competitiveness that defensive line coaches will covet, though he does not profile as an elite athlete compared to the rest of the draft class.
The Steelers will also need to add to their backfield after letting Najee Harris walk in free agency. Pittsburgh retained restricted free agent Jaylen Warren and signed Kenneth Gainwell, but Hampton offers a higher-long term ceiling with his size, athleticism, and three-down ability. He is Jeremiah’s 13th-ranked prospect after two outstanding seasons for the Tar Heels and an excellent showing at the NFL Combine.