Rams High On WR Makai Lemon; Team Exploring Trade-Up Move
Nonfactors in the first round during much of Sean McVay‘s HC tenure, the Rams hold a Round 1 pick for the third straight year. The past two years featured heavy trade-up buzz. This one might veer in that direction as well.
The Rams are among the teams who have made calls about moving up the board, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Being amenable to trade-up or trade-down maneuvers is fairly standard practice, but the Rams’ recent history does make them a team to watch with regards to a climb up the board.
Los Angeles was closely linked to moving up for skill-position talent in 2024, discussing a vault from No. 19 to No. 8 (via the Falcons) — a move aimed at bringing Brock Bowers to Southern California. Atlanta passed and chose Michael Penix Jr., leading the Rams to stay put and select eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse. Last year, the Rams made an offer to move up — again for he No. 8 overall pick — but the Panthers passed. Carolina ended up taking L.A.’s targeted player (eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan) in that spot. This came a year after the Rams swung a second-round trade-up with the Panthers, with D-lineman Braden Fiske ticketed for L.A. via that transaction.
Emeka Egbuka also drew reported interest from the Rams last year, but after the Buccaneers chose the Ohio State wide receiver prospect 19th overall, Los Angeles moved out of Round 1 (via Atlanta’s James Pearce Jr.-based trade-up). That gives the Rams No. 13 overall this year; the team traded its own first-rounder (No. 29) to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie last month.
A year after pursuing a promising Big Ten slot receiver prospect, the Rams look to be eyeing another one. The team “loves” USC’s Makai Lemon, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Lemon-Rams connections have populated mock drafts, and with Jordyn Tyson making a late rise into likely a top-10 pick, Lemon may be this year’s third wide receiver off the board — behind Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. The latter two are not expected to be available at No. 13, but Lemon could be.
Dolphins-Lemon connections have emerged as well, with Fowler colleague Matt Miller indicating Miami has been viewed as high on the former Trojans target, but the ESPN draft expert would be surprised if the Dolphins went receiver at No. 11. The Rams are unlikely to need to move up the board much — if at all — if they want to take Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner after an 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown year. At 5-foot-11, Lemon would complement the Rams’ top-tier Puka Nacua–Davante Adams duo. Both are in contract years, and Adams is entering an age-33 season. Nacua is believed to be an extension priority, however.
Miller views it as less likely the Rams go for Ty Simpson, a rumored target, with their first-round pick. The Alabama quarterback would give the Rams a sought-after Matthew Stafford successor, and while the team’s No. 13 draft slot provides rare weaponry on the QB front, Miller views the Rams as prepared to use the pick to bolster their 2026 roster — which will assuredly be one of the Super Bowl LXI favorites. The Rams have also spent time on Simpson college target Germie Bernard, per Fowler. Slotted 49th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Bernard complemented likely 2027 first-rounder Ryan Williams at Alabama over the past two seasons.
An anonymous GM informed Fowler he believes the Rams could look to the edge rusher position early in the draft due to the rising costs at the position. L.A. OLB starters Verse and Byron Young are either extension-eligible (Young) or will be next year (Verse).
The Rams’ McDuffie trade included No. 29, along with fifth- and sixth-round picks this year and a 2027 third. However, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team is not operating as if it will not carry a ’27 third. That could influence another trade-up. The Rams would collect two third-round picks — over consecutive drafts — if new OC Nate Scheelhaase becomes a head coach next year. The mixed-race assistant was a finalist for the Browns’ HC job this year, and considering the rate McVay staffers are hired for top jobs, it represents a safe bet Scheelhaase will be in contention for HC gigs on the 2027 carousel.
Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. To Enter Pretrial Diversion Program
When the Falcons began their offseason program earlier this month, the future of edge rusher James Pearce Jr. remained unclear. Thursday has brought about a significant legal development.
The three felony charges Pearce currently faces will be dismissed if he completes a pretrial diversion program, as first reported by Andy Slater of Fox Sports South Florida. Per Slater, this arrangement was agreed to by the police officers involved in the alleged incident which led to Pearce’s arrest along with Rickea Jackson, the woman who was recently granted a protective order from Pearce.
A six-month period will now take place in which Pearce will be required to meet a number of conditions. Slater notes therapy sessions will be required, along with the absence of any new legal troubles. As confirmed by attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network), this deal includes no admission of guilt. No jail time will be served provided all conditions of the diversion program are met.
Thursday was scheduled to be the date for a docket sounding in Pearce’s case, making today the last point for an arrangement such as this one to be worked out. Presuming the 22-year-old completes the program without incident, his legal situation will be brought to a close. As Rapoport notes, however, the NFL has been “closely monitoring all developments” throughout this process, and that will continue to be the case. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirms Pearce is still subject to a league investigation.
NFL discipline does not require a criminal conviction, so a fine and/or suspension for a violation of the personal conduct policy will still be possible pending the outcome of the league’s probe into the matter. Missing Pearce for a stretch at the beginning of the 2026 campaign would deal a blow to the Falcons’ defense, but the lack of a conviction would obviously pave the way for the team to keep him in the fold. The Tennessee product’s rookie contract runs through 2028, with the potential for a fifth-year option in 2029.
Pearce enjoyed a highly productive debut season in the NFL, posting 10.5 sacks and helping spark a turnaround in terms of Atlanta’s effectiveness in the edge rush department. He finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and will be counted on to remain a productive presence upon returning to the field. The time at which that will be possible remains to be seen, but Pearce is now in position to avoid any legal consequences and turn his attention back to his career.
Lions Could Trade Up From No. 17
Trades will, as always, be something to watch for on the opening night of the draft. The middle and latter portions of the first-round order could see plenty of movement with teams maneuvering around the board in a year lacking in top-tier prospects.
The Lions will be a team to watch closely on that front. Detroit has been making calls about a trade up the order, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He adds other teams are monitoring the Lions as a candidate for a move higher up the board. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones also writes Detroit is among the teams which could swing a trade tonight.
The Lions have a second-round selection (No. 50) but do not own a third-rounder. That limited Day 2 capital could make restrict how far up the board general manager Brad Holmes is able to move. Nevertheless, a trade targeting a prospect Holmes and Co, are higher on than most would certainly not come as a surprise. Jones adds any deal moving Detroit closer to the top of the Day 1 order would likely result in an offensive tackle being drafted.
Adding up front has long been projected as a goal for the Lions. Ely Allen’s PFR mock has Monroe Freeling coming off the board at No. 17. Meanwhile, Fowler’s colleague Matt Miller and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated each have Detroit drafting Kadyn Proctor at that spot. The Alabama product has previously been linked to the Lions, and the final mock draft from Dane Brugler of The Athletic also has him being selected by Detroit.
The Lions will not have Taylor Decker in the fold moving forward. Replacing him at the left tackle spot could very well include Penei Sewell shifting to the blindside, something which would allow Proctor or another rookie to take on right tackle duties right away. Proctor is the subject of maturity questions, per Breer, but a top-20 selection in his case can still be expected. In that event, the Lions will remain a landing spot to watch closely with or without a trade taking place.
Bengals, DT Dexter Lawrence Agree To One-Year Extension
APRIL 23: The new Lawrence deal will pay out $11MM in base salary along with a $10MM roster bonus and $1MM in per-game roster bonuses next season, as detailed by The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. 2027 also contains an option bonus ($8.25MM) along with the same roster bonuses and a workout bonus. Lawrence is due to collect $5MM more across the next two years than he was with the Giants, and the Bengals will easily be able to move on after that span.
APRIL 19: The trade sending DT Dexter Lawrence from the Giants to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in this week’s draft also featured a revised contract. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report that Lawrence has inked a one-year, $28MM extension that will keep him under the Bengals’ control through 2028.
A report that emerged in the immediate aftermath of the trade suggested the Giants did make an effort to retain Lawrence even after the Bengals put the No. 10 pick on the table. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post corroborates that report and confirms Big Blue made offers that would have resulted in a sizable raise for Lawrence, which the 28-year-old obviously declined.
Connor Hughes of SNY.tv adds that the Giants’ proposals included an average annual value “near” $28MM, but in exchange, they wanted to add more years to Lawrence’s existing deal (which had two seasons remaining). Per Hughes, Lawrence’s camp did not even make a counteroffer, which – combined with the relatively modest terms of his Cincinnati extension – make it plain that the player simply wanted a fresh start elsewhere.
Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk passes along a full breakdown of Lawrence’s Cincinnati deal. He was due $42MM over the final two seasons of his Joe Schoen-constructed contract, and the $28MM add-on makes it a three-year, $70MM agreement. The $23.33MM average annual value places Lawrence 10th among defensive tackles, just one spot higher than he was before the trade (though he will get some near-term raises; he was previously scheduled to earn $20MM in 2026 and $22MM in 2027, but he is now due $22MM in ‘26, $25MM in ‘27, and $23MM in ‘28, as Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano summarizes).
Lawrence’s potential impact on a Cincinnati defense that has undermined the club’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs in recent seasons, together with a financial commitment that does not shoot their new acquisition particularly high up the league’s DT hierarchy, help to justify the Bengals’ uncharacteristic aggressiveness here. That said, league sources still believe the Giants did well to land the No. 10 choice.
Hughes spoke with several coaches who were “stunned” by the return. Those coaches agreed that Lawrence is a very good player but pointed to his age and conditioning as cause for concern, as well as the fact that he needs to be kept on something of a snap count to maximize his production. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan says the Giants themselves were surprised by the strength of the Bengals’ offer, and Raanan’s colleague, Jeremy Fowler, hears no one was going to top it.
Lawrence is coming off a down year – albeit one Schoen partially blamed on the elbow injury the three-time Pro Bowler sustained late in 2024 – and even though their gamble is mitigated to some degree by the nature of the extension, the Bengals are clearly banking on a return to elite form. In a statement issued after the trade became official, director of player personnel Duke Tobin made sure to thank much-maligned owner Mike Brown for greenlighting the transaction and added that he expects Lawrence to elevate the players around him (the full statement is available here, courtesy of SI’s Jay Morrison).
Lawrence is the centerpiece of an offseason defensive overhaul in the Queen City that also includes the additions of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Kyle Dugger. The Giants, meanwhile, could consider one of the top DT prospects in the draft as a Lawrence replacement, and they now have two top-10 selections to aid in their quest for a return to contention.
Ravens Exercise WR Zay Flowers’ Fifth-Year Option
Last month, it was reported the Ravens were likely to pick up Zay Flowers‘ fifth-year option. To no surprise, Baltimore is following through on that in advance of the May 1 deadline.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports the Flowers option has indeed been exercised. Baltimore’s top receiver is now under team control through at least 2027. Flowers is due to collect $27.3MM for that year, although a long-term contract being finalized could result in a higher compensation rate.
[RELATED: Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
An extension has long been seen as a team priority in this case, and it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached in the summer. Flowers, 25, is eyeing a long-term pact and a deal not far off the value of Jaxson Smith-Njigba‘s market-resetting extension could be in store. Flowers and Smith-Njigba were selected two picks apart from each other in 2023 and they share an agent.
On the heels of winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, Smith-Njigba secured $42.15MM in average annual value. It would come as a surprise if Flowers were to top or match that figure, but a pact placing him among the nine wideouts earning $30MM or more per year could be a target. As Zrebiec notes, Flowers ranks 10th in the NFL in terms of yards at the WR position over the course of his three-year career.
The Boston College product has been a focal point on offense since arrival, drawing at least 108 targets every year to date. Flowers has seen his overall production increase with each passing season, and his 1,211 yards in 2025 set a new franchise record for a single campaign. The two-time Pro Bowler will be expected to remain a key presence for years to come, particularly if a long-term agreement bringing about a significant raise winds up being worked out.
Flowers and Rashod Bateman are in position to lead the way at the receiver spot in 2026. Baltimore has not re-signed DeAndre Hopkins, however, while Tylan Wallace along with tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar departed in free agency. Bringing in multiple pass-catchers over the next few days will be something to watch for in the Ravens’ case as a result. Nevertheless, Flowers is assured of at least two more years in the fold with the strong possibility of more in the event of an extension being signed.
Cowboys Will Not Negotiate Extension With George Pickens
10:55pm: The Cowboys have until July 15 to work out a multiyear deal with Pickens, but it does not appear that will happen. “We’ve made a decision that we’re going to have George Pickens (play under the franchise tag),” executive vice president Stephen Jones said Wednesday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “There won’t be negotiations on a long-term deal.”
Barring a 180 from the Cowboys, Pickens is in line to become the first NFLer to play under the tag since Bengals receiver Tee Higgins did so in 2024. Pickens has yet to sign his franchise tender, though, and it is unclear if he will take part in their offseason program (per Machota). Pickens will be the fifth Cowboy to play on the tag since 2018, as DeMarcus Lawrence (2018), Dak Prescott (2020), Dalton Schultz (2022) and Tony Pollard preceded the wide receiver here.
11:24am: The Cowboys have made little progress on a long-term deal with wide receiver George Pickens, who is currently tied to a $27.3MM salary cap for the 2026 season.
“They’re nowhere with George Pickens right now,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Get Up ESPN on Wednesday. “They are not really talking about an extension. They’re not close to an extension. They are not getting a deal done at this point in time.”
Pickens, 25, arrived in Dallas last offseason via a trade with the Steelers. He put up career-highs of 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, leading the Cowboys and ranking among the league’s top-10 receivers in each category.
With the wide receiver market eclipsing $40MM, Pickens’ production set up an inevitable franchise tag. The Cowboys have repeatedly indicated they would like to work out a long-term deal, but the four-year veteran may have an aggressive ask. Dallas could also be comfortable with the price of his franchise tag and plan to see if Pickens can recreate his production. That would set up an even more expensive franchise tag and/or multiyear extension in 2027, though any regression could perhaps lead to a cheaper deal. That still feels unlikely given Pickens’ ascendance and the ever-rising price of premium receiver talent, but it is certainly possible.
The Cowboys may also consider selecting a top wideout in this weekend’s draft to give themselves multiple options for their receiver room in the short- and long-term.
“That situation is just sitting out there,” Schefter adds. “And the Cowboys are said to really like [Arizona State wide receiver] Jordyn Tyson.”
Tyson’s stock has risen significantly since his workout in front of several teams, who are now more confident about his medical history. The Cowboys would probably have to use their first first-round pick (No. 12 overall) to get him, if he even falls that far. They have been linked to a trade into the top 10, but those reports have generally indicated that Dallas would make such a move for an elite defender, not an offensive skill player.
NFL Mailbag: Love, Cardinals, Styles, Bengals, Lawrence, Jets, QBs
To no surprise, this week's edition of the PFR Mailbag contains numerous questions related to the upcoming draft. The recent Giants-Bengals Dexter Lawrence trade is also addressed.
Kevin asks:
Where do you stand on Jeremiyah Love's value (and I suppose RB value in general)? Would the Cardinals be making a mistake by taking him at 3?
I’m usually of the mindset which prioritizes talent above all else in the draft, but it can get tricky in a situation like this. The value of adding Love – seen by many as the top prospect in the class – has to be weighed against the upside of improving in another area of the roster.
Jets Have ‘Settled On’ Arvell Reese At No. 2? Latest On 16th Pick
With the Raiders a lock to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall on Thursday, the real draft drama will begin when the Jets are on the clock at No. 2. The Jets are expected to select Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey or Ohio State linebacker/edge Arvell Reese. On the eve of the draft, there is a belief the team has “settled on Reese,” Dan Graziano of ESPN hears.
Jets reports centering on Bailey and Reese have gone back and forth in recent weeks. Reese was the favorite to go to the Jets as of April 5, but Bailey took the lead last week. It has since swung back to Reese after the Jets canceled a scheduled “30” visit with Bailey.
Asked about the Jets on Wednesday, Bailey told reporters (via Jets Videos): “It’s been good, man. They canceled my “30” visit, so I wasn’t able to get around the facility, but I had a great interaction with them at the combine and FaceTime calls.”
Bailey notched 14.5 sacks over three years at Stanford, but he matched that total during his lone season at Texas Tech in 2025. While he is considered a safer bet than Reese from a pass-rushing standpoint, the latter’s upside and versatility may be too much for the Jets to ignore. As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted, the Jaguars were in a similar situation heading into the 2022 draft. Looking for an impact pass rusher, the Jaguars went with the upside play (Travon Walker) over someone who was more productive in college (Aidan Hutchinson). Walker has turned into a good pro, but Hutchinson has been the better of the two.
In assessing Reese, a defensive coordinator told James Palmer of Bleacher Report: “It’s tough. I think his best spot is edge rusher. But he is fully athletically capable of playing inside LB. I think his disposition is more edge rusher when you talk to him. You just get that feel from him. If he had a gun to his head he’d probably say that as well. With his athletic tools and how his brain works he could be directly impactful there at edge.”
The Jets’ first-round work will continue even after they decide on Reese or Bailey. They also own the 16th overall pick, but there is “a real chance” they will trade out of that slot, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reports. A team in need of an offensive lineman could jump the Lions at 17 to acquire the Jets’ selection, per Pauline, who points to Pittsburgh as a possibility. For now, the Steelers are in line to pick 21st.
Depending on how aggressive the Jets are in targeting a receiver with their second pick, trading up from 16 may also be under consideration. The Jets reportedly have first-round grades on three wideouts: Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Denzel Boston (Washington). However, they “don’t seem as high” on Tate as they are on Tyson, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. While Tyson has a concerning injury history, he might have the most upside of any receiver in this class. Unless the Jets move up, Tyson may be out of reach.
Bengals Considered Trading No. 10 Pick For Maxx Crosby
The Bengals made a massive pre-draft move by trading the No. 10 pick in this week’s draft to the Giants for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. The deal significantly improves their defensive line, perhaps the biggest area of weakness on the roster.
Cincinnati tried to upgrade their pass rush earlier this offseason after losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency. They offered the No. 10 pick to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, according to EssentiallySports’ Tony Pauline. However, the Bengals were unwilling to match the Ravens’ offer of two first-round picks in a deal that was eventually scuttled by a failed physical. (Ironically, Baltimore then pivoted to Hendrickson, signing him to a four-year, $112MM deal.)
Adding Crosby would have offered an instant replacement for Hendrickson, who was one of the most productive sack-getters in the league in 2023 and 2024. He posted 17.5 sacks in each year, leading the league in 2024 individually and across the two seasons in aggregate. Last year, injuries limited him to just four sacks in seven games.
Crosby has not been quite as productive in the pass rush with 32 sacks in the last three years. He is, however, a significantly better run defender, which was also a major weakness in Cincinnati last year. In fact, Crosby is arguably the league’s best edge defender against the run who has averaged 19 tackles for loss per season in his seven-year career. Last year, he posted a whopping 28 TFLs, which trailed only Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
It is unclear why the Bengals declined to beat the Ravens’ offer for Crosby. They may have had the same medical concerns and were thus unwilling to move forward with such an expensive trade. Clearly, they did not have a specific prospect they loved with the No. 10 pick; otherwise, they would not have sent it to New York for Lawrence.
Cincinnati will now have to look for edge rushers on Days 2 and 3 of the draft, unless they trade back into Round 1. With the 41st overall pick and seven selections overall, they could move into the back of the first round to secure one of their top targets.
Pats’ Kayshon Boutte Available In Trade
APRIL 22: It does appear Boutte is available. New England is seeking a third-day pick for the fourth-year wideout, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes. He and Brown’s positional overlap — as “X” receivers, primarily — may be a factor here, but if/when the Pats pull off that trade, the AFC champs’ wideout room will be crowded. Though, the Pats and Eagles are not in lockstep on Brown’s value entering draft weekend. That could delay proceedings for a while.
APRIL 21: The fourth-year wide receiver is not at the Patriots’ facility for the start of offseason workouts, Mike Vrabel confirmed Tuesday (via Schultz). While the sides have been in communication, a potential parting will be something to monitor as the draft nears.
APRIL 20: Kayshon Boutte has been a productive Patriots pass catcher for two seasons, eclipsing 500 receiving yards in each. He played a key role for New England’s 2025 AFC champion edition.
The Pats made a major adjustment at receiver last month, cutting Stefon Diggs and effectively replacing him with Romeo Doubs. Close connections to A.J. Brown have also been steady this offseason. Philadelphia trading the mercurial wideout to New England after June 1 has been a regularly rumored scenario.
Brown joining Doubs as offseason WR arrivals could lead to more changes, and the Patriots’ upcoming draft may impact holdovers as well. One season remains on both Boutte and DeMario Douglas‘ rookie contracts. Both Bill Belichick-era pickups are due for free agency in March 2027. It appears the Pats are open to moving Boutte, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes. Boutte voiced frustration about his role in 2024 but did not generate a similar headline during a far more successful Pats season in 2025.
Around this time last year, Schultz floated Boutte’s name in trade rumors. Nothing came of it, and the former sixth-round pick tallied 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns to help Drake Maye to MVP runner-up status. Missing three games, Boutte outproduced Douglas’ 17-game output: 31 catches, 447 yards, three TDs.
Mack Hollins‘ two-year contract runs through the 2026 season, and the former Josh McDaniels Raiders charge played well (46/550/2 in 15 games) in his Patriots debut. Hollins, Douglas and Boutte would be vying for auxiliary roles if Brown is indeed Foxborough-bound. The Patriots also used a 2025 third-round pick in Kyle Williams, creating a logjam in the event Brown is indeed acquired. It would stand to reason the team would explore moving one of its young pieces before the draft, allowing for an immediate asset to come back.
Boutte, 24 in May, would stand to carry slightly more trade value compared to Douglas, who turned 25 in December. A scenario where both players remain on the roster alongside Williams and Hollins behind regulars Brown and Doubs may be difficult to envision. A Boutte trade also would further fuel speculation a Pats-Eagles summer WR swap is imminent.