Seahawks Still Open To Drafting QB; Team Eyeing OL, WR Additions
The Seahawks have their starting quarterback of the present and (potentially) future in Sam Darnold. The team has also reunited with Drew Lock to compete for the backup gig with returnee Sam Howell. Despite those moves, drafting a quarterback is still on the table. 
“I think it’s a great situation,” general manager John Schneider said of the team’s new quarterback setup during his latest appearance on Seattle Sports radio. “It doesn’t preclude us from doing anything in the draft either, in figuring out what’s going on there. It’s really like an, ‘OK, let’s get this in the mix.’ Drew had other opportunities, so we figured we better wrap this up, kind of put a bow on it, get him in the building and then let’s see what happens in the draft, because it’s difficult to find that great fit at quarterback as you move through the process.”
Darnold inked a three-year pact to replace Geno Smith atop the depth chart, but the Seahawks could move on after the 2025 campaign based on the structure of his deal. Neither Lock nor Howell (a pending 2026 free agent) have established themselves as full-time starting options in their careers, so adding a rookie to the mix would be feasible. Seattle owns 10 picks in April’s draft, but the team of course also has roster holes to fill at other positions.
That includes the interior of the offensive line, a spot Schneider has previously mentioned as a position of need. Selecting a guard would come as little surprise, and PFR’s mock draft has the team taking Alabama’s Tyler Booker 18th overall. The Seahawks have other Day 1 options to consider up front, though, and one of them appears to be firmly on the radar.
Grey Zabel is believed to be a Seattle target, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline reports. The North Dakota State product’s stock has risen during the pre-draft process, and he is firmly on the Day 1 radar (although Pauline adds the Seahawks could look to trade down the order before adding Zabel). In any case, a blocker added early in the draft would have the chance to play right away on an offensive line looking to rebound from last year’s showing.
Confirming O-line is a logical target in Seattle’s case, ESPN’s Matt Miller writes a receiver is another position to watch early in the draft. Adding size in particular to a WR room which lost D.K. Metcalf last month could be in play, per Miller. As a result, Tetairoa McMillan could be a target on Day 1. Seattle still has Jaxon Smith-Njigba atop the depth chart along with veteran Cooper Kupp, who was signed in free agency after Tyler Lockett‘s release. There is room for an impact rookie to play a rotational role starting in 2025.
Overall, the Seahawks have five of the first 92 selections in this year’s draft. Schneider will have plenty of opportunities to add at several positions as a result, but upgrading up front and/or in the pass-catching department early would come as no surprise.
Teams Unwilling To Pay Full 2025 Compensation For Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey
Jalen Ramsey is known to be on the trade block as the countdown to the draft continues. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier confirmed the team is open to moving on from the All-Pro corner even though no trade request was submitted. 
It was earlier this week that the mutual desire between team and player to work out a trade went public, but at least some in the league have known about this situation for several weeks. One source informed Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports they were aware of Miami’s desire to move on dating back to the Combine. It will be interesting to see if the coming days spark an increase in Ramsey’s market.
On that note, Jones adds some see the decision to go public with Ramsey’s situation as an indication suitors are not prepared to make a serious push at this point. Any number of teams would see their pass defenses improve with the seven-time Pro Bowler in the fold, but finances are of course a sticking point with respect to a deal being worked out. Four years remain on Ramsey’s contract, one which was extended last offseason. He is owed $21.1MM in guarantees for 2025 in addition to what he has already been paid.
As could be expected, Jones reports interested teams are not prepared to take on that amount in full as a condition of a Ramsey trade agreement. The Dolphins would be dealt a significant cap charge in the event a trade were to be worked out before June 1 (whereas the dead money could be spread out across two years if Ramsey were to be dealt after that date). Grier and Co. are nonetheless willing to move forward with a trade at any time, per Jones, but retaining money will be needed as things currently stand.
At the age of 30, Ramsey will face questions about his ability to remain a high-end cover man moving forward. The former fifth overall pick also missed seven games in 2023 due to a knee injury, although he managed to rebound with a full campaign last season. Still, that could give an acquiring team reason to pursue a restructure which lowers Ramsey’s compensation for 2026 and beyond. Before that becomes possible, terms on a trade will need to be agreed to.
While Grier left the door open to Ramsey remaining in Miami – a team which already cut fellow CB starter Kendall Fuller this offseason – a deal sending him to a fourth career squad remains something to watch for. A willingness on the part of the Dolphins to retain compensation would no doubt boost his market over the coming days, but a post-draft trade should not be counted out.
Dalton Risner Expects To Sign Soon; Vikings, Broncos, Bengals On Radar
With the start of the draft less than one week away, little movement is expected as it pertains to free agency. Dalton Risner is among the top offensive line options still on the market, and he could see himself signing in the near future, though. 
The veteran guard has 87 appearances and 81 starts to his name, and he could occupy a first-team role upon arrival with a new employer. Risner, 29, has gone through a lengthy free agent process for each of the past two years, both times inking a deal with the Vikings. Minnesota’s offseason has included the addition of Will Fries along the interior of the O-line, however, so another Vikings pact could entail backup duties in Risner’s case. The team is nevertheless one of three in position to agree to a deal.
“Minnesota has shown interest in bringing me back, but only to an extent,” Risner said in a video posted to TikTok. “I will be on a team soon, I could imagine.”
The former second-rounder noted he is currently in talks with multiple teams and specifically named the Broncos and Bengals as other potential landing spots. Risner spent his first four seasons in Denver, operating as a full-time starter at left guard. He topped out as PFF’s 28th-ranked guard during that time, a feat which was surpassed this past campaign in Minnesota (68.1 overall grade, good for 22nd amongst guards). The Broncos already have Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers under contract for multiple years, so Risner would be in line for a backup gig in the event he returned to the Mile High City.
The Bengals’ O-line setup has seen alterations at the guard spot during free agency. Alex Cappa was released, while Lucas Patrick was added on a one-year deal. The latter has started 64 games in his eight-year career, and he will compete for a first-team spot during training camp. Cody Ford was re-signed last month, and as a result he will be able to handle a swing tackle role and/or see playing time at guard if needed. Adding Risner to the mix would give Cincinnati another experienced option along the interior.
All three teams in question have the finances needed to add Risner, ranging from $16.56MM to $23.44MM in cap space as things stand. Minnesota, Denver and Cincinnati will of course need to set aside resources for the incoming draft class as well as other moves, but an agreement on this front could come together at any time.
Aaron Rodgers Still Considering Retirement; QB Remains In Contact With Steelers
Throughout the 2025 offseason, Aaron Rodgers‘ future has loomed as a talking point. The future Hall of Famer remains unsigned one week before the draft, and nothing is imminent with respect to where (if at all) he will play in 2025. 
Rodgers has remained quiet since the end of last season, but on Thursday he made his latest appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The 41-year-old touched on a number of subjects, including repeated references to the fact he has several ongoing commitments in his personal life. In large part as a result of that, no firm decision has been made with respect to signing with an interested team or hanging up his cleats.
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“I am trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision,” Rodgers said (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). “I’m not holding anybody hostage… I’m just going through a lot in my personal life that has to take precedent at this point.”
Rodgers said his face-to-face meeting with new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey did not go as he envisioned. It was then that he learned of the team’s decision to move on, by means of a conversation which ended very quickly and which Rodgers added was lacking in respect. New York ultimately released him with a post-June 1 designation, but before that move officially took place he has been free to speak with potential employers.
On that note, Rodgers confirmed he has had conversations with the Giants, Vikings and Steelers about a potential deal. He noted a willingness to play for $10MM in 2025, adding he is not insistent on receiving a multi-year deal to continue his career. Considering the current market for quarterbacks, a one-year commitment in that price range would certainly be feasible for any number of suitors. Several dominoes have already fallen amongst signal-callers, however, and more vacancies will be filled during the draft. Despite what Rodgers termed positive conversations with the likes of Brian Daboll, Kevin O’Connell and Mike Tomlin, therefore, nothing is certain regarding an agreement being worked out.
The Giants have added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and they could add a long-term option in the form of a rookie next week. The Vikings – reported last month to be Rodgers’ preferred landing spot – could stand to bring in a veteran as J.J. McCarthy insurance, but Minnesota has remained publicly comfortable with handing the reins to last year’s No. 10 pick. That leaves the Steelers as a logical landing spot, especially given owner Art Rooney II‘s comments about signs pointing in the direction of a deal.
Pittsburgh could stand to add under center, and Tomlin remains in contact with Rodgers (as the latter confirmed today). The team has not imposed a deadline for a decision, but with the draft approaching the Steelers’ Day 1 plans in particular could depend on which direction Rodgers leans. After making an offer early in free agency, Pittsburgh’s proposal is not believed to have shifted. To little surprise given his other comments, though, Rodgers said the draft will not alter his approach with respect to his playing future.
In other words, the Steelers could add a developmental option as early as the first round next week while still remaining open to a Rodgers signing. The four-time MVP added he is OK with teams moving forward with alternate plans under center, particularly as it pertains to bringing in a rookie. Presumably, a shrinking market for his services would have an impact on his willingness to suit up in 2025, though. To that end, CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reported on a recent 93.7 The Fan appearance that Rodgers would rather retire than join a team which is not a Super Bowl contender.
Evaluating the candidacy of teams for a dee postseason run in 2025 will of course be easier after the draft takes place, but it does not appear as though any movement on the Rodgers front will be seen by that point. With retirement still on the table, the wait for further developments will continue.
Aidan Hutchinson Completes Rehab; Lions Not Discussing Deal With Za’Darius Smith
As Aidan Hutchinson has progressed through rehab on his broken leg, it has long been expected he would be available for the Lions’ offseason work. His latest comments on the subject confirm that should be the case. 
“I’m there. I’d say I’m good,” Hutchinson said of his recovery process when speaking to ESPN’s Marty Smith at The Masters (h/t Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated). “I’ve got my last evaluation when I get back… I’m gonna finish those evals and once I knock them out of the park, I’ll be on my way and done with rehab.”
Hutchinson went down in Week 6, and his absence was acutely felt on a Lions defense which dealt with several injuries over the course of the year. A return by the Super Bowl or even NFC title game was floated as a possibility, but in the end that became a moot point. The former No. 2 pick being available for offseason workouts well in advance of training camp would of course be welcomed by Detroit.
Having accrued three seasons in the NFL, Hutchinson is eligible for an extension for the first time in his career this offseason. The Lions have seen the top of the edge rush market reach $40MM per season this spring, although general manager Brad Holmes has already budgeted for a Hutchinson deal to check in at a similar rate. Health could represent a reason for an extension to fall short of Myles Garrett‘s new Browns pact, but with 28.5 sacks in 39 career games Hutchinson – 25 next year – has a case to command a monster deal in the near future.
Finding an effective complementary presence on the edge has proven to be challenging during the Michigan product’s time in the NFL. No outside additions were made during free agency, while Marcus Davenport was re-signed on a one-year deal after he was limited to a pair of games last season. His missed time, coupled with Hutchinson going down, led the Lions to trade for Za’Darius Smith as a stopgap option.
The three-time Pro Bowler was released last month, and he remains unsigned at this point. A new Lions agreement – at a lesser cost than the remaining year of his previous pact – could be on the table. Smith notched four sacks in eight Detroit games, giving him a total of nine for the 2024 campaign. In spite of that, Holmes’ pre-draft press conference noted no traction has been gained toward a deal for the 32-year-old.
“No, we haven’t had any discussions since [the decision to release him],” Holmes said of Smith (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper). “I think we kinda left it as his agent would let us know if something was going on or if anything’s changed.”
Many veterans will no doubt need to wait until after the draft to sign their next deals. Smith would not count against the compensatory pick formula with a deal before that time since he was released, but it does not appear an agreement sending him back to the Motor City or anywhere else is imminent.
Andrew Berry: Browns Undecided On No. 2 Pick, Team Still Views Travis Hunter As WR
It remains universally assumed Cam Ward will hear his name called first in next week’s draft. Once the Titans have opened the event with the addition of a new quarterback, the Browns will face an interesting decision. 
Cleveland will have the option of adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. Other options have not been ruled out, but at this point it would come as a surprise if another prospect was taken in the absence of a move down the board. When speaking to the media on Thursday, general manager Andrew Berry said (via TheLandOnDemand’s Tony Grossi) a final decision has not yet been made regarding the Browns’ top choice.
During the pre-draft process, the team has been linked to both Carter and Hunter. At this point, it remains to be seen which way the Browns are leaning, and their decision will of course be key for the Giants at No. 3. In the event Hunter winds up heading to Cleveland, it will be interesting to see how he is used. Questions have lingered about his role at the NFL level, with opinions being split amongst teams at the top of the order. Berry confirmed the Browns’ view on that front during his pre-draft presser.
“We wouldn’t put a cap or a governor in terms of what he could do,” Berry said when asked about Hunter (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). “We would see his first home at receiver and his second home on the defensive side of the ball.”
Hunter remains confident in his ability to handle full-time receiver and cornerback duties as a pro, and he has publicly stated a willingness to not play for his next team if he does not receive the opportunity to do so. Notably, the Heisman winner has also said the teams he has met with have not been averse to playing him on both sides of the ball. That includes the Browns, whose plan has clearly remained consistent throughout the pre-draft process.
Cleveland has Jerry Jeudy atop the receiver depth chart for 2025 and beyond, but Hunter could step into a regular role on offense right away. The Browns’ cornerback setup includes the well-established trio of Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome, although the latter’s future remains a talking point as he prepares to play out his fifth-year option in 2025. A part-time workload on defense could be more challenging to carve out without an injury in the secondary, but the Browns would be open to exploring it based on Berry’s comments. The possibility of Hunter landing in Cleveland will remain a major storyline as the countdown to the draft continues.
Cowboys Unlikely To Trade Up From No. 12
With one week remaining until the first round of this year’s draft, all 32 teams still own their Day 1 selection. A number of trades changing the order could take place, but 2025 is expected to be relatively quiet in that respect. 
In the case of the Cowboys, a move up the board would come as a surprise. Dallas is currently slated to pick 12th overall, something which will leave the team with a number of options to choose from at that point in the first-round order. EVP Stephen Jones recently commented on the Cowboys’ plans, which do not include the pursuit of a trade-up maneuver.
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“I don’t necessarily see us moving up, based on the way the board is coming together,” Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). “But could see a situation where we move down.”
A number of teams are, to no surprise, at least publicly open to trading down at this point. That includes the Panthers, who own the No. 8 selection. Pursuit of a quarterback from teams further down the order could generate a market for a trade within that range, but the lack of blue-chip prospects (especially under center) in 2025 should limit the number of interested teams on that front. Presuming the Cowboys elect to stay put – or agree to a move down the board – they will continue of streak of not trading up on Day 1 which dates back to 2012.
Coming off a 7-10 season, the Cowboys have a number of needs on both sides of the ball. Receiver is seen by many as a logical first-round target, and the team has hosted the likes of Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Matthew Golden (Texas) and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) on pre-draft visits. Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams is among the defensive prospects who have received a look, and he could be on the board when Dallas is on the clock next Thursday.
The Cowboys currently own 10 draft picks, meaning a trade aimed at acquiring additional capital is not needed to the same extent as many other teams. Dallas could feasibly pull off a move into the top 10, but that should not be expected at this point.
Dolphins, CB Jalen Ramsey To Explore Trade
Jalen Ramsey has been with the Dolphins for the past two seasons, but his time in Miami may soon be coming to an end. Team and player have mutually agreed to “explore trade options,” Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. 
No deadline is in place for a potential deal to be worked out, per the report, but the draft looms as a logical deadline on that front. Cornerback already represents a position of need for the Dolphins with Ramsey in the fold. Moving on from the seven-time Pro Bowler would create an even larger vacancy at that spot, but Rapoport and Pelissero note it would not come as a surprise if a trade were to take place.
[RELATED: Ramsey Did Not Request To Be Traded]
The No. 5 pick in the 2016 draft, Ramsey quickly established himself as one of the league’s top cover men during his tenure with the Jaguars. Midway through his fourth season in Jacksonville, he was traded to the Rams and subsequently extended on a five-year, $100MM deal. Ramsey remained in Los Angeles through the end of the 2022 campaign, earning a pair of his three first-team All-Pro nods along the way. He was then traded again, however, this time to the Dolphins.
Upon arrival in Miami, Ramsey agreed to a restructure but he later worked out another lucrative accord. This past September, the Florida State product signed a three-year extension averaging $24.1MM. That figure moved him back to the top of the pecking order in terms of annual compensation for corners at the time, although the market has since continued to move upward. Ramsey is on the books for four more years, although he is only due a guaranteed base salary for 2025.
The 30-year-old already collected a $4MM roster bonus last month, but the remainder of his compensation – including $21.1MM fully locked in – would become the responsibility of his new team in the event of a trade. Miami would be hit with a $25.21MM dead money charge if a deal were to be worked out before June 1, making a pre-draft deal financially challenging. If a swap were to occur after June 1, by contrast, the Dolphins would see $9.92MM in cap savings while generating only a $6.75MM dead money hit.
Ramsey is set to carry a cap charge of $16.66MM in 2025, but that figure is scheduled to spike in the coming years. Another restructure of his pact on the part of an acquiring team would thus come as no surprise, although the number of suitors will be limited based on finances. As teams prepare to add their draft classes to their offseason rosters and make late-stage free agent moves, few have enough idle cap space to comfortably absorb Ramsey’s deal; it will be interesting to see how much of a market exists on the trade front.
After being limited to 10 games by a knee injury in 2023, Ramsey logged a full campaign last season. He notched a pair of interceptions (continuing his streak of recording at least one every year in the league), and added 11 pass deflections. Pro Football Reference listed Ramsey with underwhelming numbers in coverage, but PFF evaluation in that department helped him land a top-10 grade for corners. While age and finances will give plenty of teams pause, Ramsey (when healthy) will still be counted on to operate as a versatile No. 1 corner if he lands on a fourth career team.
The Dolphins will once again have Kader Kohou in place to handle slot cornerback duties next season, but their decision to cut Kendall Fuller left them in need of drafting a starting-caliber option on the perimeter. That situation will be duplicated if Ramsey winds up being dealt, a scenario worth watching for over the coming days.
Travis Hunter: Teams Open To Two-Way Role
One of the top storylines in the 2025 draft remains Travis Hunter‘s landing spot and the way in which he will be used at the NFL level. The Heisman winner has remained insistent, to no surprise, that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro. 
During the pre-draft process, a key talking point for teams near the top of the first-round order has been the matter of where Hunter should play (at least, primarily) in the NFL. Opinions have been split along the way, and that remains the case to this day. In his most recent comments on the matter, Hunter doubled down on his goal of playing both ways.
In an interview with CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, the Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff winner (awarded respectively to the top defender and receiver in the country) said the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with. That will need to remain the case once Hunter is drafted, given his added comments that he would consider not suiting up if a team attempted to only use him at one position.
“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter said of his reaction in that hypothetical situation. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”
During Colorado’s Pro Day, Hunter – who did not participate in drills at the Combine, like many other top prospects – worked exclusively as a receiver. He is nevertheless seen in some circles as a cornerback, and how teams plan to use him will remain a key factor in determining his destination. The Browns (set to select second overall) and Giants (third) loom as his likeliest landing spots.
To no surprise, Hunter is among the prospects who will be in attendance for the first round of the draft. He will not need to wait long to hear his name called, but intrigue over his workload will persist throughout the build-up to his rookie campaign.
Browns Viewed Joe Flacco Similarly To Kirk Cousins
The Browns appeared to be on track to enter the draft with Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback until a Joe Flacco reunion was worked out. Adding the latter to the fold has greatly lessened the chances of a Kirk Cousins trade taking place with respect to Cleveland. 
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With the Falcons open to dealing Cousins under the right circumstances, the Browns have long been considered a logical landing spot. Head coach Kevin Stefanski worked with him in Minnesota, and that familiarity could help provide the team with a short-term upgrade under center. In the event of a release, Cousins would have been available at a highly reduced rate (like Russell Wilson with the Steelers last year), but it is clear a post-draft trade is a likelier outcome.
On that point, the Falcons have set a high asking price in terms of how much of Cousins’ money they want an acquiring team to take on. The four-time Pro Bowler is owed a $27.5MM base salary for next season, and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 has already become fully guaranteed. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer confirms Atlanta is not willing to spend much in the way of absorbing compensation on Cousins’ deal to facilitate a trade.
That reality helps explain Cleveland’s Flacco re-acquisition. Breer adds the Browns viewed the 40-year-old in a similar fashion to Cousins, who is four years younger. The latter enjoyed a relatively strong start to his Falcons career last season, but a turnover-filled run (which included battling ailments other than his 2023 Achilles tear) led to Michael Penix Jr. taking over QB1 duties. The eighth pick in last year’s draft is now set to handle the starting gig moving forward, but the Falcons have repeatedly expressed a willingness to keep Cousins in place as an expensive backup.
The Browns gave Flacco $4MM in base compensation, with incentives maxing out at $13MM. More realistically, the former Super Bowl MVP’s earning potential sits between $6MM and $8MM based on his playing time and Cleveland’s regular season success. As Breer notes, those figures illustrate the lengths to which Cleveland would have been willing to go for Cousins. Especially if the Browns add a rookie passer next week, a deal for Cousins (who aims to waive his no-trade clause after the draft) will surely be off the table.
In that case, the number of Cousins suitors would dwindle even further. Breer names the Steelers as a potential landing spot given their need for a starting-caliber veteran. The Aaron Rodgers wait continues, but if he were to retire or sign elsewhere Cousins would loom as a feasible trade candidate. It remains to be seen, though, how willing the Falcons will be to entertain offers on that front.