Patriots Select CB Kobee Minor At No. 257
Entering the seventh round, the 257th and final selection of the 2025 draft belonged to the Chiefs. Kansas City traded up in the round, however, in a deal which left New England in position to wrap up the event.
The Patriots have selected cornerback Kobee Minor at No. 257. As a result, the Memphis product has the distinction of being this year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant.’
Like many other prospects in this year’s class, Minor spent time at multiple schools during his time in college. He started out at Texas Tech, making a total of 23 appearances with the Red Raiders. After three seasons in the Big 12, Minor transferred to Indiana and played there for one year. In 2024, he was on the move once more, playing at Memphis.
Minor set new career highs across the board during his lone season with the Tigers. He posted 38 tackles (including seven for a loss), along with a pair of sacks, six pass deflections and two forced fumbles. Given his size – 5-11, 188 pounds – however, it very much remained to be seen entering the draft if his name would be called. Now, Minor will turn his attention to competing for a roster spot in New England.
The Patriots focused on a number of areas during the draft, but this pick is the only one including the cornerback position. The team’s depth chart will be topped by returnee Christian Gonzalez along with free agent acquisition Carlton Davis in 2025. New England also has the likes of Marcus Jones and Alex Austin in the fold. Minor will look to carve out a role amongst that group (presumably on special teams, of course) during training camp. If he is unable to do so, he will be a practice squad candidate to begin the campaign.
Dolphins Draft QB Quinn Ewers At No. 231
The seventh round continues to include quarterbacks coming off the board. Texas product Quinn Ewers has been selected by the Dolphins at No. 231 overall. 
Ewers was among the passers facing the high expectations entering the 2024 campaign. The Longhorns succeeded as a team, reaching the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Individually, though, Ewers struggled to remain healthy and did not produce as hoped. That hindered his draft stock but the fact he remained on the board this late into Saturday still comes as something of a surprise.
Ewers shows a lot of traits that have become popular in NFL quarterbacks of late, boasting a quick release and the ability to throw out of multiple arm slots. He has excellent ball placement on short and intermediate throws and uses his eyes well to throw defenders. He also displayed an interesting intangible by delivering some of his most impressive performances in raucous road environments.
A lack of mobility likely hurt Ewers’ draft stock. He’s not much of a threat to run and, when rushed out of his spot, can struggle to see the field when scrambling. Ewers also struggled to protect the ball at times, throwing 12 interceptions and fumbling the ball 10 times in 2024; in three years as a starter for the Longhorns, he threw 24 picks and had 20 fumbles.
The Dolphins were certainly in need of a QB3. They currently roster only starter Tua Tagovailoa and backup Zach Wilson. Ewers isn’t likely to challenge Wilson for the QB2 role, but with Tagovailoa’s frequent injury history, it makes sense to add a potential impact passer behind Wilson. Wilson has also struggled in a starting role in the past, so Ewers is actually in a decent position to see time as a starter relatively soon in his career.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Texans Draft QB Graham Mertz At No. 197
The Texans have made another move up the draft board. Sending picks 216 and 241 to the Broncos, Houston has acquired No. 197 and used it on Florida quarterback Graham Mertz.
Mertz’s college career began at Wisconsin in 2019. He did not start either of his two appearances that season, but for three years after that he operated as the Badgers’ QB1. That tenure was followed by a pair of seasons with the Gators, including a 2023 slate featuring a 20:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Last season, Mertz suffered an ACL injury. As a result, he was limited to only five games (during which time he remained highly efficient with a 76.6% completion percentage). The 24-year-old’s 8.4 yards per attempt average was the highest of his career, but the injury left him sidelined to close out the campaign. It also no doubt hindered his draft stock and helped influence his long wait to be selected on Day 3 of the draft.
Houston will once again be led by C.J. Stroud on offense next season. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year will play a crucial role in determining if the team is able to progress past the divisional round of the postseason. The Texans also have Davis Mills and 2024 UDFA Kedon Slovis on their quarterback depth chart.
Mertz will compete with those two for the backup or third-string gig during training camp. Depending on how that plays out, he could find himself on the back end of the roster or as a practice squad candidate.
Steelers Select QB Will Howard At 185
The Steelers are the next team to make a Day 3 addition under center. Ohio State’s Will Howard has been selected 185th overall. 
Pittsburgh was among the teams named as a suitor for a first-round QB pick, but the team did not take that route. As Day 2 progressed, it became known an Aaron Rodgers signing remains firmly on the Steelers’ radar. Owner Art Rooney II said on Friday the 41-year-old “wants” to play in Pittsburgh next season.
Rooney also made it clear any rookie brought into the fold would not be expected to see playing time right away. In Howard’s case, that means he will likely find himself competing for the backup spot this offseason on a depth chart which also features Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.
During a four-year run at Kansas State, Howard made 28 starts. He transferred to Ohio State last year, taking the place of Kyle McCord (who was just drafted by the Eagles). Howard enjoyed by far his most productive campaign, racking up over 4,000 yards, a 35:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and completing 73% of his passes. A third-team All-Big Ten performer, Howard was named the Offensive MVP of the national title game while helping lead the Buckeyes to the championship.
As things stand, Rudolph is still on track to operate as the Steelers’ starter for at least one season. He totaled 13 starts across his first Pittsburgh stint, but the expectation has remained during the offseason another move would be made in the wake of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields departing in free agency. It will be interesting to see if that turns out to be a one-year Rodgers arrangement after the draft is completed. In any case, Howard will look to secure at least the QB2 gig at the NFL level beginning in 2025.
Jets Add No. 176, Draft DE Tyler Baron
The Jets have moved up 10 spots in the order, swinging a deal with the Ravens in the process. New York has added pick No. 176 along with a 2026 sixth-round selection. Baltimore acquires No. 186 along with a fifth-rounder next year (h/t ESPN’s Jamison Hensley).
With pick No. 176, the Jets have selected Miami edge rusher Tyler Baron. The five-year senior spent the first four seasons of his college tenure at Tennessee. That stretch included a starting role in 2023 which resulted in a career-high six sacks.
Last year, Baron transferred to the Hurricanes and started nine of his 13 games with the team. The 23-year-old led Miami with 5.5 sacks and he set a new career-high with 11 tackles for loss. Those figures helped earn him honorable mention All-ACC honors.
As things stand, this selection represents the final pick of the draft for New York. The regime now led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn could of course add new picks for 2025, but for now the team has brought in seven rookies. Baron is the only one who will add depth along the defensive line.
The Jets have former first-rounders Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in place along the edge. As expected the team will pick up Johnson’s 2026 fifth-year option ensuring that tandem remains in place for at least two more years. Baron will spend the offseason aiming to compete for a rotational role as part of New York’s edge rush group.
Chargers Acquire No. 165 From Eagles, Select TE Oronde Gadsden II
The Chargers have moved up to acquire pick No. 165 late in the fifth-round order. Los Angeles will send selections 181 and 209 to the Eagles as a result. 
The Bolts have selected Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II with their newly-acquired pick. The son of a Super Bowl champion, he will look to follow in his father’s footsteps at the pro level. He will join a Chargers team which has now added three pass-catchers during this weekend’s draft (the first two being wideouts Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith).
A four-year contributor for the Orange, Gadsden showed plenty of potential during his sophomore year when he posted an FBS-leading (for tight ends) 969 yards on 61 receptions. The converted receiver was limited to only two games the following year, however, due to a foot injury. Nevertheless, 2024 allowed Gadsden to rebound in a notable way.
Finishing the year with a 73-934-7 statline, Gadsden earned first-team All-ACC honors last season. That helped his draft stock to a notable extent, although this year’s class has long been known to feature many highly-regarded tight end prospects. Now that his name has been called, the 21-year-old can turn his attention to competing for a roster spot in Los Angeles.
The Chargers saw Stone Smartt depart in free agency this spring, and Hayden Hurst remains unsigned at this point. The team added Tyler Conklin on the open market, however, and the veteran will be counted to play a regular role with his new team. Los Angeles still has Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk on the depth chart as well. Gadsden will have plenty of competition during training camp as a result, but he could serve as a depth pass-catching option at the pro level.
Art Rooney II: Aaron Rodgers Wants To Play For Steelers
With the third round of the NFL draft ongoing, Aaron Rodgers looms over the developing quarterback landscape. Connections to the Steelers continue as the team weighs a potential rookie addition. 
Owner Art Rooney II said during a Friday appearance on Steelers Now that Rodgers does “want” to come to Pittsburgh (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). He added news on this long-running front may be coming soon as a result.
Team and player have remained in communication this week, with the Steelers obviously preferring to have clarity on whether or not Rodgers will sign prior to the start of the draft. It remains to be seen if the 41-year-old will play at all next year, but if he does a short Pittsburgh stint would come as no surprise given the interest shown in him. No timeline is in place, but a number of QB prospects are still on the board with the Steelers due to pick 83rd overall.
During his recent public comments on his situation, Rodgers said personal matters are currently receiving the bulk of his attention during his lengthy free agent stint. The four-time MVP has communicated to teams he is prepared to take a one-year deal in the $10MM range, an arrangement which would certainly leave the door open to the addition of a rookie. Rodgers is (at least publicly) on board with suitors moving forward with a QB draft pick, and it will be interesting to see if the Steelers do indeed go that route soon.
Pittsburgh was among the teams which had a first-round grade on Jaxson Dart, but the team turned down the opportunity to select him and instead took Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, remains on the board with the opening two rounds in the books. Head coach Mike Tomlin is believed to be a fan of Sanders, making him a potential target with the team’s third-rounder.
In any event, Rooney’s comments made it clear a rookie would not be expected to handle starting duties right away in 2025. The team has Mason Rudolph back in the fold for next season, and Rodgers would of course occupy the QB1 role in the event he were to take Pittsburgh’s long-standing offer. A long-term solution under center remains a logical goal, though.
“It’s going to be somebody that will be developing and may play down the road,” Rooney said (via Alan Saunders of Steelers Now). “It’s not like somebody that’s going to have a big impact on this season.”
The Steelers have made it clear they will enter training camp with four quarterbacks, two more than they currently have. Rodgers is obviously still in play to join the team at some point as the wait continues with respect to seeing Pittsburgh’s draft plans.
Browns Draft QB Dillon Gabriel At No. 94
As the Shedeur Sanders wait has shifted into a historically strange place, the Browns made a quarterback pick. They are taking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel at No. 94. 
Minutes before this development, Ian Rapoport noted during an appearance on NFL Network Gabriel’s name had come up as a candidate to be selected before Sanders. That is also true of Alabama’s Jalen Milroe as Sanders remains on the board.
The Browns were constantly linked to a rookie addition during the pre-draft process. A Day 1 move, as expected, did not take place, but Friday provided the opportunity to bring in a backup option. Cleveland was reported to be high on Milroe, but with him going to the Seahawks two picks ago that was not an option in the third round. Instead, Gabriel will look to compete for playing time as a Brown.
Cleveland has Deshaun Watson on the books for 2025, but his second Achilles tear leaves him in danger of missing the entire season. The team traded for former first-rounder Kenny Pickett in March, but that move was not deemed the only one the team was eyeing. Even after a Joe Flacco reunion took place, the possibility of adding a rookie at some point remained.
Gabriel has emerged as that rookie. The 24-year-old began his career at UCF, spending three seasons there. That stretch was followed by a pair of campaigns at Oklahoma before 2024’s single year with the Ducks. Gabriel delivered strong numbers (72.9% completion percentage, career-high 3,857 yards, 30:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio) while leading Oregon to the College Football Playoff. Gabriel finished third in Heisman voting.
In spite of those accolades, his age and size (5-11, 205 pounds) led to the expectation a Day 3 selection would be likely. Gabriel has not needed to wait that long, though, and the Browns now have further depth on their QB depth chart.
Texans Collect No. 97 From Vikings
A flurry of trades is closing out Day 2 of the draft. The Texans are adding No. 97 from the Vikings, who are sliding down five spots.
Minnesota will move into tonight’s final slot (No. 102) and add No. 142 as well. In addition to 97, Houston will add No. 187. The Texans chose USC cornerback Jaylin Smith at 97.
Smith spent his entire four-year career with the Trojans, starting 32 of 43 games. His most productive campaign came in 2024, when he posted four pass deflections and a pair of interceptions. Those figures helped him earn third-team All-Big Ten honors.
Given Smith’s size (5-11, 187 pounds), it would come as no surprise if he were to operate in the slot at the NFL level. Especially given Houston’s CB setup, competing for defensive time on the inside should be expected. Smith could, at a minimum, look to earn snaps on special teams right away.
The Texans used a second-round pick on Kamari Lassiter last year, and he enjoyed a strong rookie campaign. Derek Stingley Jr., meanwhile, is on the books for years to come thanks to his monster extension signed this offseason. Those two will remain atop the depth chart for perimeter corners in 2025 and beyond. Smith could look to serve as a backup if he sees time on the outside at the NFL level.
Houston ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, and DeMeco Ryans‘ team will be expected to duplicate that success next season. Smith could manage to play a role in that effort depending on his performance in training camp, or he could at least give the team a low-cost option in the secondary for years to come.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Lions Acquire No. 57 From Broncos
Shortly after moving down the No. 57, the Broncos have traded down once again. Denver has sent that pick and No. 230 to the the Lions for Nos. 60 and 130 (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). 
With the newly-acquired selection, Detroit has added Tate Ratledge. The Georgia guard was the Lions’ pick in PFR’s first-round mock, and he is indeed headed to the Motor City. Ratledge will likely compete for a starting spot as a rookie.
Ratledge redshirted in 2020 and a foot injury limited him to only one game the following season. From that point on, he operated as a starter for the Bulldogs. Over the past two seasons, Ratledge earned first-team All-SEC acclaim; he added a first-team All-American nod in 2024.
The Lions have had one of the NFL’s top offensive lines for years. That is expected to remain the case moving forward, but the past two offseasons have seen guards Jonah Jackson and Kevin Zeitler depart in free agency. As a result, that position represented a logical target for an early draft addition on the part of Detroit.
The Lions addressed the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball last night, adding defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at No. 28. That move did not involve a trade-up maneuver, but the fact this one did illustrates how highly-regarded Ratledge is in the organization. If he delivers on investment at the NFL level, Detroit’s offense will remain strong up front for years to come.