Steelers Faced Small George Pickens Trade Market; Latest On Cowboys’ Acquisition Plan
By the time George Pickens was dealt, it hardly came as a surprise given the chatter surrounding a trade from the Steelers. The Cowboys acquired him last week, but not because they won a wide-ranging bidding war. 
Few teams showed interest in the pending free agent receiver, Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show reports. Acquiring Pickens as a one-year rental would have provided a boost to the passing attack of any number of suitors, but the cost of doing so would be weighed against the off-field concerns which played a key role in Pittsburgh’s decision to move on. Pickens is eligible to sign a long-term pact with Dallas, but he is not focused on that right now.
Kaboly adds the Steelers were not prepared to accept anything less than a third-round pick for Pickens; Dallas originally offered a fourth-rounder but eventually met that asking price while also swapping seventh-round picks in 2027. In spite of that marginal return relative to the 24-year-old’s on-field abilities, his absence is not expected to be an issue moving forward. Per Kaboly, multiple Steelers players became “fed up” with Pickens over the course of his three years in Pittsburgh to the point they saw retaining him as something which could be “counterproductive.”
When addressing the trade, Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the agreement with Dallas came about in short order after the draft. Selecting a rookie receiver was seen by many as a Cowboys priority, and the team did indeed have a number of prospects on its radar at the position. In the end, though, Dallas elected to take the highest-rated players at other spots during the opening rounds, thus waiting until the post-draft period to explore a receiver addition via trade.
“We had a nice list of guys that we were looking at, comparing that to what was available in the draft, and giving up the pick versus picking one,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “And as you know, when you pick a receiver in the draft, you get him for a good number for four years, so obviously that was one of the routes we were looking at hard.”
For now, Pickens represents a one-year investment as a wideout to complement CeeDee Lamb. The latter is attached to a $34MM-per-year pact, so finding cost-effective receivers is key for Dallas. Pickens has amassed over 2,800 yards and scored 12 touchdowns to date in his career, one which has been spent on less-than-stellar Steelers offenses. A strong showing with his new team could put the Georgia product on track for a notable payday next spring, but improvement with respect to the factors driving his trade would no doubt be required as well.
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington Suffers Torn Achilles, Likely Out For 2025
The Ravens will likely be without a key defender for much of the 2025 campaign. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, safety Ar’Darius Washington recently tore his Achilles during conditioning. The injury will cause him to “miss most or all” of the upcoming season.
A former UDFA, Washington appeared in a combined eight games through his first three seasons in the NFL. The 2024 campaign represented a breakout year for the TCU product. The 25-year-old saw backup reps to begin the season, but he eventually replaced Marcus Williams as a starter opposite Kyle Hamilton. Washington finished the year with 64 tackles and a pair of interceptions, with Pro Football Focus ranking him eighth among 98 qualifying safeties.
Washington signed his restricted free agent tender back in April, locking him in for the upcoming season. He would have finally hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025 campaign, so the injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the safety.
Even with added depth, the Ravens would have continued leaning on Washington this upcoming season, with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec pointing out the player’s ability to play both safety and nickelback. The team did add Malaki Starks in the first round of the draft, and the rookie will now likely see the bulk of the snaps next to Hamilton. The team’s other options at the position include second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade.
Considering the suddenly depleted depth, Zrebic wonders if the team could make a move for a veteran safety. Current free agent options include Julian Blackmon, Justin Simmons, Chuck Clark, and Quandre Diggs, but the Ravens may just end up keeping their eye open for options as team’s trim down their rosters in August.
Titans Add CB Amani Oruwariye, DE Carlos Watkins
The Titans made a handful of changes to the bottom of their roster today, adding a trio of defenders in the process. For starters, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the team has signed cornerback Amani Oruwariye. The team later announced that they claimed linebacker Amari Burney off waivers from the Raiders.
The Titans also added defensive end Carlos Watkins, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. To accommodate these moves, the team waived defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson (per Wilson).
Oruwariye will add some veteran depth to Tennessee’s secondary, as the veteran has appeared in 61 games over the past six seasons. Following a brief stint as one of the Lions’ starting cornerbacks, Oruwariye has bounced around a bit. He most recently got into seven games (four starts) for the Cowboys in 2024, compiling 29 tackles and three passes defended.
Oruwariye earned headlines last season after mishandling a blocked punt that led to an eventual game-deciding score. His special teams coach in Dallas, John Fassel, is now serving in the same role in Tennessee, and there’s a good chance the new free agent acquisition will likely be playing a similar special teams-centric role in 2025.
Watkins was also in Dallas last season, as the veteran defensive tackle compiled 12 tackles in 15 games. While he’s likely been added as a ST option for Fassel, Watkins actually saw more time on defense in 2024, getting into 225 snaps. The former fourth-round pick has appeared in 87 career games, collecting 151 tackles and six sacks.
Burney also brings some experience, as the former sixth-round pick got into 24 games for the Raiders over the past two seasons. This included a 2024 season where he appeared in a career-high 17 games while compiling 17 tackles and one sack. The defensive lineman was waived by the Raiders yesterday.
Anderson has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Bucknell in 2018. He spent most of last year on Tennessee’s practice squad, and he didn’t record a tackle in his four appearances with the big-league club.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kaimon Rucker
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DL Keith Cooper
- Waived: OL Leif Fautanu
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB Gregory Junior
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga
- Waived: LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Da’Jon Terry
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): DT Matthew Butler
- Waived: DT Tre’vonn Rybka
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Anfernee Orji
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Derrick Canteen
- Waived: S Quindell Johnson
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/25
The following 2025 draft picks signed their rookie contracts today:
Carolina Panthers
- RB Trevor Etienne (fourth round, Georgia)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DE Ashton Gillotte (third round, Louisville)
- WR Jalen Royals (fourth round, Utah State)
Las Vegas Raiders
- CB Darien Porter (third round, Iowa State)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Josaiah Stewart (third round, Michigan)
- DT Ty Hamilton (fifth round, Ohio State)
- LB Chris Paul Jr. (fifth round, Ole Miss)
- WR Konata Mumpfield (seventh round, Pitt)
New Orleans Saints
- DT Vernon Broughton (third round, Texas)
Seattle Seahawks
- QB Jalen Milroe (third round, Alabama)
- DT Rylie Mills (fifth round, Notre Dame)
- WR Tory Horton (fifth round, Colorado State)
- TE Robbie Ouzts (fifth round, Alabama)
- G Bryce Cabeldue (sixth round, Kansas)
- RB Damien Martinez (seventh round, Miami)
- T Mason Richman (seventh round, Iowa)
- WR Ricky White III (seventh round, UNLV)
WR Gabe Davis To Meet With Giants
The Gabriel Davis free agency tour continues. After meeting with the 49ers yesterday, the recently released wide receiver is set to meet with the Giants, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
[RELATED: WR Gabe Davis Visits 49ers]
It was only a year ago that Davis inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Jaguars. However, a disappointing 2024 campaign led to him earning his walking papers last week. The veteran hauled in a career-low 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns before undergoing season-ending surgery on a torn meniscus.
Despite the disappointing showing in Jacksonville, it’s not surprising that teams are still eyeing the wideout. Davis had four productive seasons in Buffalo to begin his career. This included 2023 and 2024 campaigns where the former fourth-round pick hauled in 93 receptions for 1,582 yards and 14 touchdowns across 32 games. Davis also had a standout 2021 playoff run where he found the end zone on half of his 10 receptions.
The Giants would be a natural landing spot for the receiver. For starters, Davis already has a connection to the staff. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator during the player’s first two years in the NFL, while Giants GM Joe Schoen was Buffalo’s assistant GM when they selected the player in the draft. Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes that Daboll and Schoen are already familiar with what Davis brings to the table, so the upcoming visit will likely be focused on the status of the player’s knee.
The Giants have perpetually had a need for more wide receivers, and that sentiment hasn’t ended this offseason. Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton will continue to lead the depth chart, with Jalin Hyatt and free agent addition Zach Pascal rounding out the veteran options. The team notably didn’t add a player at the position via the draft, although they did sign five UDFA players at the position.
Broncos Sign 13 UDFAs
The Broncos are heading to OTAs with 13 UDFAs as part of their rookie class. Here is that contingent:
- JB Brown, LB (Kansas)
- Marques Cox, T (Kentucky)
- Joaquin Davis, WR (North Carolina Central)
- Courtney Jackson, WR (Arkansas State)
- Joe Michalski, G (Oklahoma State)
- Jerjuan Newton, WR (Toledo)
- Joshua Pickett, CB (Duke)
- Karene Reid, LB (Utah)
- Jaden Robinson, CB (Oregon State)
- Xavier Truss, G (Georgia)
- Johnny Walker Jr., EDGE (Missouri)
- Clay Webb, G (Jacksonville State)
- Kristian Williams, DT (Missouri)
Denver gave Truss a $150K guarantee, per 9News’ Mike Klis. Generally, multiyear starters during this Georgia period have required draft investments to add. The Broncos, however, brought in Truss — a 2023 second-team All-SEC guard who started three seasons for the Bulldogs, before earning a Combine invite — as a UDFA.
Both the guards in this group checked in as the highest-rated prospects (per ESPN’s Scouts Inc.), with Truss 224th and Webb 220th. Webb earned first-team All-Conference USA acclaim in 2024 and a second-team all-league honor in ’23. The Broncos have locked-in starters at guard (Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz) but feature some questions behind them. Truss will compete with Webb, Calvin Throckmorton, 2024 draftee Nick Gargiulo and others for backup jobs.
Brown received $160K guaranteed to sign on, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The honorable mention All-Big 12 performer will join a Broncos team that has some questions at linebacker. Denver has backstopped two starters coming off significant injuries — Dre Greenlaw, Alex Singleton — with only Justin Strnad and Drew Sanders, the latter having toggled between OLB and ILB roles. Sanders has settled at ILB heading into Denver’s on-field offseason work. Brown and Reid will attempt to make the roster or at least the 16-man practice squad.
One of two Mizzou products coming to Denver (where ex-Tigers Tyler Badie and Kris Abrams-Draine reside) in this rookie crop, Walker received a guarantee in the $160K range as well, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson notes. Walker was quite productive for the SEC team last season, finishing as a second-team all-conference performer after racking up 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The Broncos drafted Alabama’s Que Robinson to join Jonah Elliss and starters Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. Walker will compete with Robinson, Ellis and UFL import Dondrea Tillman (five 2024 sacks) for a backup job.
Newton is Toledo’s all-time leader in TD receptions, with 32. Having played in parts of six seasons with the Rockets certainly helps there, but Newton is coming off a 1,048-yard, 11-TD season. Newton cleared 800 receiving yards in each of his final three college slates, earning All-MAC acclaim for each.
Patriots Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
The Patriots signed 15 undrafted free agents to bring their rookie class to 26 players. Here are New England’s UDFAs:
- Demeer Blankumsee, WR (Memphis)
- Efton Chism III, WR (Eastern Washington)
- Jack Conley, OL (Boston College)
- Brandon Crossley, CB (SMU)
- C.J. Dippre, TE (Alabama)
- Brock Lampe, FB (Northern Illinois)
- Lan Larison, RB (UC Davis)
- Josh Minkins, S (Cincinnati)
- Jordan Polk, CB (Texas State)
- Elijah Ponder, LB (Cal Poly)
- Cam Riley, LB (Florida State)
- Jahvaree Ritzie, DT (North Carolina)
- Gee Scott Jr., TE (Ohio State)
- Jeremiah Webb, WR (South Alabama)
- Ben Wooldridge, QB (Louisana)
Chism’s production improved across each of his five years at Eastern Washington, culminating in a stellar 2024 campaign. He recorded an FCS-high 120 receptions for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-American and All-Big Sky honors. The 5-foot-10 Chism projects as a slot receiver at the next level, where his toughness and agile route-running can shine. Still, he’ll face a sizable jump in overall talent, physicality, and athleticism in the NFL; his 4.71-second 40-yard dash at his pro day would’ve been the slowest among WRs at the Combine. Multiple teams were involved in a bidding war for Chism after the draft, including the Broncos, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, but the Patriots won his signature with $259k in guaranteed money.
Dippre spent two years at Maryland before transferring to Alabama in 2023. He was never a productive pass-catcher in college, but established himself as a consistent blocker and special teams presence, which will likely endear him to new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. He has the size, strength, and athleticism to be a blocking TE2 in the NFL, but he will need to make significant strides as a receiver to grow into more.
Larison ran for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns across the last two years at UC Davis, but his exploits as a pass-catcher in 2024 (62 catches, 847 yards, six touchdowns) proved he had even more to offer in the NFL. His contract with the Patriots includes a $25k signing bonus and $150k in guaranteed salary, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Ponder spent five years at Cal Poly, first garnering national attention with 8.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss in 2021. He took a step back in 2022 but posted 25.5 TFLs and 18.0 sacks over his final two seasons, earning first-team All-Big Sky nods in each year. Ponder then put together an elite pro day performance that placed him among the most athletic edge rushers in the 2025 draft class. His 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump would have led the position at the Combine and his agility scores trailed only eventual second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Ritzie is an athletic defensive lineman with sparse production across his first three years at UNC. He broke out as a senior with 6.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in 2024, plus an impressive Combine performance that showed off his speed and explosiveness. His length and athleticism could be developed into a more consistent pass-rushing impact in the NFL, but he’s too susceptible to being moved off the point of attack in the run game.
Jets Release P Thomas Morstead
The Jets added a low-profile punter recently, and they are removing their incumbent from the competition. The team is releasing veteran Thomas Morstead, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy.
Morstead spent the past two seasons as the Jets’ punter. The team has since announced the release, along with the signing of Kai Kroeger.
Austin McNamara, a 2024 UDFA, signed with the Jets in March. With McNamara not playing in a regular-season game last year, that move did not generate much attention. But the Jets did make sweeping changes since re-signing Morstead in 2024, replacing the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh regime with the Darren Mougey–Aaron Glenn partnership. The new power brokers appear to be planning a competition between two far less experienced punters.
Not part of the Jets’ initial 15-man UDFA class, Kroeger joined the team Tuesday after a five-year career as South Carolina’s punter. Kroeger punted in 61 games for the Gamecocks from 2020-24; his best gross average came last season (47.8). McNamara served as Texas Tech’s punter from 2019-23, joining Kroeger in taking advantage of the COVID-19 year. McNamara averaged a career-best 48.2 yards per boot in 2021.
This is the third time the Jets have released Morstead. They cut him midway through the 2021 season and then did make a procedural release upon setting its roster in 2023. Morstead re-signed with the Jets shortly after they sorted out other roster issues and punted in every game for the team over the past two seasons. The former Saints Super Bowl-winning specialist averaged 48.8 yards per punt in 2023 — his most since a Pro Bowl 2012 season (mostly spent indoors) — and posted a 47.2-yard number last year.
The Jets, who had re-signed Morstead on a two-year deal worth $5.1MM in 2024, will save $2.55MM in cap space by cutting him this time. He was due to make a $2.13MM base salary. McNamara and Kroeger will be on league-minimum numbers. With neither having played in an NFL game, the Jets going with another free agent could also transpire. Either way, Morstead is a free agent again at 39. It will be interesting to see if he can secure an opportunity to play a 17th NFL season.
Dolphins Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
After making eight picks during the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dolphins have added another 15 undrafted rookies to their roster. Here are Miami’s UDFA signings:
- Andrew Armstrong, WR (Arkansas)
- John Saunders Jr., S (Mississippi)
- Nate Noel, RB (Missouri)
- BJ Adams, CB (UCF)
- Ethan Robinson, CB (Minnesota)
- Jalin Conyers, TE (Texas Tech)
- Monaray Baldwin, WR (Baylor)
- Eugene Asante, LB (Auburn)
- Tedi Kushi, OL (Western Michigan)
- Addison West, OL (Western Michigan)
- Josh Priebe, OL (Michigan)
- Theo Wease Jr., WR (Missouri)
- AJ Henning, WR (Northwestern)
- Tre’vonn Rybka, DT (Kentucky)
- Alex Huntley, DT (South Carolina)
Armstrong broke out as a sophomore at East Texas A&M in 2022 with 62 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns, albeit against FCS competition. He transferred to Arkansas, but took a step back in 2023 as he adjusted to SEC play before bouncing back in 2024 with a conference-high 1,140 receiving yards. He has NFL potential as a possession receiver with a 6-foot-4 frame, strong hands, and the know-how to use those traits to win at the catch point. The 24-year-old had solid speed and agility testing at the Combine and his pro day, but lack burst and quickness as a route-runner. Armstrong brings some size that the Dolphins’ receiver room currently lacks outside of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but he’ll have to improve his play in the red zone (just one touchdown in 2024) and on special teams to make the roster.
Wease also offers appealing size with a 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame, but he didn’t reach 1,000 receiving yards in any of his six seasons (four at Oklahoma, two at Missouri). He’s a middling athlete who doesn’t play with the physicality his size would suggest, but he’s a solid route runner whose length shows up at the catch point. Wease’s deal with the Dolphins includes $249k in guaranteed money, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
The Dolphins are undermanned at cornerback, especially if they follow through on their plan to trade Jalen Ramsey. They waited until the fifth round to draft one, so Adams and Robinson should have a chance to make the roster. Adams has good height and length that he deploys in press coverage at the line of scrimmage, but that didn’t translate into much ball production at UCF (13 passes defended, two interceptions in 29 career starts). He’ll need to develop his unrefined coverage technique to make up for his lack of elite movement skills, but his frame and special teams experience make him a developmental 53-man roster candidate. Robinson spent his first three years at Bucknell before transferring to Minnesota. He made a smooth transition from FCS with an honorable mention All-Big 10 selection in 2024. He has a natural feel as a playmaker in coverage (24 passes defended and six interceptions in last two years), but his below-average athletic profile will be more challenging to overcome in the NFL.
Conyers is a former multi-sport athlete who thrived as a basketball player in high school. He brings that background to the TE position with short-area quickness, lateral agility, and an ability to make tough, contested catches. He wasn’t especially productive at Arizona State or Texas Tech, but his size and toughness showed up as a blocker, which will be appreciated in the NFL. Conyers’ Combine performance also showed that he has plenty of athleticism to develop as a pass-catcher. The 23-year-old received a $15k signing bonus and $100k in guaranteed salary, per Wilson.