Giants View Travis Hunter Primarily As CB; Cowboys Showing Interest
A consensus does not exist amongst the teams at the top of the draft order with respect to how Travis Hunter should be used in the NFL. Many see the Heisman winner primarily as a cornerback, though, and the Giants seem to agree on that point. 
Hunter is considered a “defense-first prospect” by the Giants, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. The potential for usage as a receiver exists as well, of course, and opinions could change at Colorado’s upcoming Pro Day. The two-way star wants to replicate his heavy workload at the NFL level, and his ability to do that will depend in large part on where he winds up being drafted.
The Giants entered the offseason with cornerback representing a glaring need. Despite coming off a season-ending injury, Paulson Adebo landed a lucrative deal to head to New York, putting him in position to handle starting duties on the perimeter. The team also has 2024 third-rounder Dru Phillips in place as a first-team option in the slot, and Hunter could find himself as the other boundary starter opposite Adebo. Deonte Banks faced high expectations upon arrival as a first-rounder in 2023, but he has not developed as hoped so far.
A usage rate heavy on defensive duties could still leave Hunter available for at least part-time duties as a receiver. The Giants have Malik Nabers atop the depth chart for the present as well as the long-term future, and they retained veteran Darius Slayton this offseason. Hunter could occupy a complementary role in the passing game ahead of Wan’Dale Robinson and/or Jalin Hyatt in the pecking order, but a larger role would likely await him at corner as things stand.
The Titans are increasingly being viewed as likely to select Cam Ward first overall. That would leave the Giants – set to draft third overall – as one of the teams strongly in contention to add Hunter. A quarterback selection at some point in April’s draft could be in store for New York, although the deals for Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson have given the team short-term veteran options under center.
While it would come as a surprise if Hunter remained on the board past the first few selections in the draft, he has admirers beyond the top of the selection order. One of those is Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, as noted by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini (video link). Dallas currently owns the 12th overall pick, so an aggressive trade would no doubt be required to get within striking distance. Hunter would of course nonetheless represent a splashy addition for a Cowboys team looking to rebound from a poor 2024 season.
Ravens Extend HC John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh‘s lengthy Baltimore stint will continue for the foreseeable future. The Ravens announced on Friday that a three-year extension has been worked out with the Super Bowl-winning head coach. 
2025 had previously represented the final year of Harbaugh’s contract, making this offseason one to target another long-term commitment on the team’s part. The 62-year-old now has a new deal in place through 2028, and he will continue on the sidelines as part of the Ravens’ ongoing bid to secure a third Super Bowl title. Harbaugh has been Baltimore’s head coach since 2008.
Financial terms are not known, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports this pact is worth more than the one Harbaugh’s brother Jim signed with the Chargers last offseason. The latter is earning $16MM per year, so John has certainly landed a lucrative commitment from the Ravens once again.
His arrival coincided with that of quarterback Joe Flacco, who operated as the Ravens’ starter for nearly 11 years. Midway through the 2018 campaign, a knee injury sidelined Flacco and opened the door for then-rookie Lamar Jackson to move to the top of the depth. He has not lost the QB1 role since, and Harbaugh has been a central figure overseeing Baltimore’s transition from one signal-caller to the other.
The early portion of the Flacco era included a number of deep postseason runs and was highlighted by Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII success. At the time Jackson took over, though, the Ravens were in the midst of a three-year playoff drought. Questions about Harbaugh’s job security had picked up as a result, but a quick turnaround to close out the campaign set the stage for what has been a strong run of regular season performances. In five of six seasons since the 2019 campaign, Baltimore has posted double-digit wins.
The lone exception in that stretch (which includes two instances of a league-best regular season record) is the 2021 season in which Jackson and many other key players dealt with major injuries. Overall, Harbaugh’s winning percentage sits at .623. His 172 wins place him 15th in NFL history and rank third amongst active head coaches. One of the two ahead of him in the latter regard – Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin – is the only coach with a longer active tenure on the sidelines of one team.
While the Ravens have enjoyed considerable regular season success under Harbaugh, a repeat of his earlier playoff runs has proven to be elusive for several years. Jackson’s tenure as the starting quarterback has produced a pair of MVP nods but only one trip to the AFC title game to date. Since the Super Bowl victory to conclude the 2012 campaign, Harbaugh and the Ravens have gone 4-7 in the playoffs. Despite that mark, Baltimore will have continuity on the sidelines moving forward.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken – who has been in place for the past two years – inked an extension of his own last month, taking himself off the head coaching market for the time being. On the defensive side of the ball, Zach Orr is in the fold after taking over in 2024. Those two will be counted on to play a key role in continuing Baltimore’s run of strong showings during the regular season while attempting to break through in the AFC playoff picture; the same is now true of Harbaugh.
NFL Owners Expected To Discuss 18-Game Schedule During March League Meeting
This Sunday will mark the beginning of the next league meeting. As always, several topics will be discussed, and it would not come as a surprise if increased discussion about an 18-game regular season took place. 
Expanding the season once again has long been a target for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. His most recent comments on the matter confirmed a shift to two preseason contests and 18 in the regular season remains the goal, and the matter figures to be a central aspect of negotiations before the current CBA (which runs through the 2030 season) expires. Serious talks have not yet taken place, but that could soon change.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports an expectation exists Goodell and the owners will “make more assertive efforts” to work out an 18-game arrangement this summer. That process is viewed by at least two team executives as being likely to include discussions taking place at the upcoming league meeting. Positive momentum over the coming days would not make an agreement imminent, of course, but it would point further to an expanded schedule being on the horizon.
“Everyone understands consensus-building time is coming for both [the league and NFLPA],” an NFL executive said (via Robinson). “It’s going to take time to get to [negotiations] opening a CBA and rolling up sleeves on whatever gets put onto the table. It might take a year or two, but you really can’t do that without a broader conversation [amongst owners]. I think that starts to get some momentum [this week] in Florida.”
Expanding the regular season from 16 games to 17 was a central element of the 2020 CBA, and even then it was widely assumed a jump to 18 would be in store. Lloyd Howell initially expressed an openness on the part of the Players Association to entertain discussions on the matter – in particular, the concessions which would be required by the NFL to make an agreement feasible. Last month, however, Howell made it clear there is no desire amongst the players to expand the schedule once again.
Robinson adds the issue of revenue distribution between the NFL and NFLPA is likely to be a central one. At present, the players receive 48% of football-related revenue with a maximum of 48.8% possible based on money brought in from the league’s media rights deals. A move to a 50-50 split is believed to be a top union goal, he adds. Other matters such as the inclusion of a second bye week, along with roster and travel concerns are also set to be talking points.
Mark Maske of the Washington Post confirms formal negotiations on this front have not started yet. He adds, however, that talks (beyond the informal ones which have already occurred) are expected to take place soon. Clarity with respect to the owners’ plans on the matter of an 18-game schedule could represent a key first step to an agreement being reached.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/28/25
Friday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: OL Kayode Awosika
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Kristian Welch
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: OL Dieter Eiselen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed RFA tender: S Nazeeh Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Irvin Charles
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: LB Jeremiah Moon
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: DL Eric Banks
Welch has played 72 games in the NFL, with much of his tenure taking place with the Ravens. The 26-year-old saw time with Baltimore and Denver last season, but in 2023 he played for the Packers. This reunion will give Green Bay depth at the second level of the defense along with a familiar face on special teams.
Steelers To Host QB Jaxson Dart
The Steelers’ quarterback situation remains unresolved for 2025. Even if a deal can be struck with Aaron Rodgers, though, a long-term investment at the position could be made as early as this year’s draft. 
Owner Art Rooney II has indicated Pittsburgh will look to make a high draft investment at the position in 2025 or ’26. The team’s first opportunity will come on Day 1 of next month’s event, one in which the Steelers hold the No. 21 pick. That leaves them out of range for Cam Ward and (likely) Shedeur Sanders, but several other options will be available by that point in the order.
[RELATED: Steelers Among Teams Interested In Sanders]
Among those is Jaxson Dart, and The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo reports he will conduct a top-30 visit with Pittsburgh in April (subscription required). The USC transfer spent the past three seasons at Ole Miss, improving in a number of passing categories every year along the way. Dart’s 2024 campaign saw him average 329 passing yards per game while posting a 29:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
While Dart racked up 495 yards and three scores on the ground last season, his success in the deep passing game has been key in helping his draft stock. Whereas Ward and Sanders have long been viewed as first-rounder, questions linger about how many (if any) other passers will be selected on Day 1. Dart (who, like other Rebels signal-callers, faces concerns about his ability to translate his production to the NFL game) has gained steam in that regard over the past few weeks, however, and the Browns – set to draft second overall – have hosted him for a private workout.
It would come as a surprise if Dart were to taken by Cleveland at this point, but the interest surrounding him could include a push on the part of the Steelers to acquire him. Pittsburgh has been searching for a long-term Ben Roethlisberger successor since his 2022 retirement, a process which included making Kenny Pickett the top QB selected in 2022 (20th overall). That did not yield the desired results, and he has already been traded twice in his young career. Veteran Mason Rudolph is back in the organization, although he made only 13 starts during his first Pittsburgh stint and is best suited as a veteran QB2.
Rodgers’ Steelers visit has not produced a deal yet, though nothing has been ruled out on that front by either party. As Pittsburgh looks to secure the 41-year-old’s services for at least the 2025 campaign, work on an eventual replacement for him (or a different starter, if one becomes necessary) will continue.
Cowboys Have Not Submitted Micah Parsons Extension Offer
With the first few waves of free agency in the books, teams can turn their attention to working out extensions in a number of cases. That includes Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, although no agreement on that front is expected any time soon. 
Parsons is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a long-term pact will come at a much higher price than his scheduled $24.01MM for next season. An extension may not require making the four-time Pro Bowler the league’s highest-paid edge rusher; nevertheless, the new deals for Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and Myles Garrett (Browns) have raised the top of the position’s market. Garrett’s Cleveland extension carries an annual average value of $40MM, a figure which will no doubt play a role in Cowboys-Parsons negotiations.
Recent reporting on that front indicated serious contract talks have yet to take place, and NFL Network’s Jane Slater adds no offer has been submitted at this point. Parsons and owner Jerry Jones have been in communication “many times” during the offseason, per Slater, which comes as no surprise. The 25-year-old indicated last month a plan was in place regarding an extension, and preliminary talks opened up earlier in March. This latest update makes it clear, however, that considerable work is still to be done for an agreement to be reached.
Parsons missed only one game across his first three seasons in Dallas, recording between 13 and 14 sacks each year. The Penn State product was limited to 13 contests in 2024, but he still managed 12 sacks and 46 quarterback pressures (the second-highest total of his career). Expectations will be high for continued production on a multi-year deal, one which will of course take into account the cap commitments already made to the likes of quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Dallas had DeMarcus Lawrence in place as part of a starting tandem with Parsons for four years, but the team did not make an offer to the former before seeing him depart for Seattle as a free agent. Veteran Dante Fowler returned to the Cowboys, and he joins an edge rush group which also features recent draftees Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland. Retaining cost-effective options at the position will of course be key with Parsons representing a major long-term cap commitment once his deal is in place.
Per Slater, discussions between team and player took place at the Combine but nothing substantive has transpired since then. She adds Parsons’ camp is open to further talks at any time, and it will be interesting to see if negotiations are pursued in the near future as a result.
J.J. McCarthy Fully Healed; Latest On Vikings’ QB Plans
Aaron Rodgers has yet to make his final decision for the 2025 season, but it appears his preferred choice of signing with the Vikings will not come to fruition. Minnesota will still likely be in the market for a veteran passer even with J.J. McCarthy currently atop the depth chart, though. 
The No. 10 pick in last year’s draft missed his entire rookie campaign due to a meniscus tear, but his rehab has gone well. McCarthy went as far as to say during his recent Up And Adams appearance that he is 100% healthy (video link). As a result, he is positioned to handle a heavy workload during the spring in anticipation of training camp and the 2025 campaign.
With Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones each departing in free agency, though, Minnesota needs to add at least one depth passer. Only McCarthy and Brett Rypien are on the roster as things stand, a factor which helps explain the fact Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not fully closed the door to a Rodgers signing. The four-time MVP continues to be linked most closely with the Steelers, and an agreement on that front would leave Minnesota with a short list of veteran signal-callers to choose from.
“At every checkpoint, whether it been the draft process or practice until the injury and really the offseason now, he’s met the bar,” Adofo-Mensah said when speaking about McCarthy’s rehab and development (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “He’s exceeded our expectations at every point. So I don’t have the ability to tell you what the future is, but I can tell you what I expect to be the outcome this offseason from the competition.
“But it’s also our job to set up a quarterback room that’s going to have to… provide insurance in case somebody needs to come in for a couple of games. And that’s our job as a personnel department to look at all the options out there and make sure we’re setting ourselves up for the best case we can.”
Adofo-Mensah added the Vikings could wait until after the draft before making any moves under center. Free agents signed past April 29 do not count against the compensatory pick formula, and as such movement could pick up after that date. Veterans like Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz and Drew Lock are unsigned at this point; if that remains the case after the draft – by which point Rodgers’ future will likely be clear – Minnesota could pursue one of them as McCarthy insurance.
The Vikings sport an offense with an upgraded O-line, a skill-position group led by wideout Justin Jefferson and reigning Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell. Expectations will be high for the unit regardless of who is in place as quarterback for 2025, and McCarthy remains on track to handle those duties without serious offseason competition.
Gardner Minshew Addresses Decision To Sign With Chiefs
Following his Raiders release, Gardner Minshew elected to remain in the AFC West. The veteran quarterback signed with the Chiefs to operate as their backup, a move he recently spoke about. 
“From the end of our season – when it seemed like I was going to get cut – I knew in my head that this is where I wanted to be,” Minshew said of Kansas City during his introductory press conference (via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons). “I took a pre-draft visit with the Chiefs back in the day [before] coming into the league. I feel like everything went really well… I always knew that [Kansas City would] be a really good fit.”
The former sixth-rounder began his career with the Jaguars, but after only two years in Jacksonville he was traded to the Eagles. That set Minshew up for a pair of seasons in Philadelphia, followed by his single campaign with the Colts (which included 13 starts). While Indianapolis was interested in re-signing him, Minshew took a two-year Raiders deal last spring to compete for Vegas’ QB1 gig.
The 28-year-old won a training camp competition against Aidan O’Connell, one in which neither passer delivered a convincing performance. Minshew’s ball security gave him an edge, but his time atop the depth chart fluctuated over the course of the season. He was benched on more than one occasion, although O’Connell’s injury situation still resulted in nine Minshew starts. The latter suffered a broken collarbone in November, leading to a failed physical designation for his Raiders release.
Given his injury situation, it came as something of a surprise Minshew signed quickly in the wake of his Vegas tenure coming to an end. A number of other quarterback dominoes had not fallen at the time of his one-year Chiefs agreement, and waiting out the situation could have yielded a path to at least competing for a starting gig with a different team. Given Minshew’s remarks, though, it is clear his priority was to head to Kansas City on the open market.
The Chiefs had Carson Wentz in place as Patrick Mahomes‘ backup last season, and he made just one start (a Week 18 game which came after the No. 1 seed in the AFC had been clinched). Minshew will likewise not have a path to playing time barring a Mahomes injury, but he clearly landed his preferred opportunity for the 2025 campaign.
Browns Conduct Cam Ward Workout
MARCH 26: This second meeting is a private workout, according to CanesInSight. Jimmy Haslam joined GM Andrew Berry in being on-hand for the Ward workout Wednesday morning in Coral Gables, Fla., cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms. Kevin Stefanski was also at the Ward workout, Cabot adds.
The Titans have the inside track on Ward and have been increasingly connected to the Miami prospect, having scheduled their own private workout with the potential No. 1 overall pick. Tennessee passing would obviously open the door for Cleveland here, but if the Titans do pass on Ward, they likely will be interested in collecting assets to move down. The Browns are doing their due diligence in the event they do have access to this draft’s highest-rated QB.
MARCH 25: Pro Days are in full swing, and Miami’s took place on Monday. That allowed NFL evaluators to see Cam Ward throw after he elected not to do so at the Combine. 
As expected, multiple teams sent a contingent to watch and speak with the consensus top quarterback in the 2025 draft class. That included the Titans, the team which owns the No. 1 pick and is increasingly seen as being likely to retain the selection and use it on Ward. In the event a trade-down move were to take place, though, the Browns and Giants could find themselves in the mix to draft the first-team All-American.
Cleveland sent assistant general manager Glenn Cook to the Hurricanes’ Pro Day, but several other members of the organization are set to speak with Ward shortly. An in-person meeting has been scheduled between the ACC Player of the Year and multiple members of the Browns’ organization later this week in Miami, Zac Jackson and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report (subscription required). The parties have already met once, with Cleveland speaking to the top two quarterback prospects along with Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter prior to free agency.
[RELATED: Browns Line Up Top-30 Visit With Tyler Shough]
Set to select second overall, the Browns are among the teams in the market for a long-term quarterback investment this spring. Deshaun Watson is under contract for two more years, although his second Achilles tear leaves his 2025 availability in doubt and his level of play when on the field for Cleveland has required the addition of competition under center anyway. The team has swung a trade for ex-Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett, but further moves could be coming in free agency and/or the draft.
Cleveland has been linked to Kirk Cousins based on his history with head coach Kevin Stefanski, but his preference would be for a trade from the Falcons to his next team to take place after April’s draft. Cousins aims to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation where Atlanta drafted his successor shortly after signing him in free agency, so he will look to join a team which does not wind up selecting a passer on Day 1 of the draft. In terms of free agents, the likes of Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson are options still on the market for Cleveland.
The Browns have been previously connected to entertaining offers allowing them to move down the board, but it remains to be seen how willing teams will be to trade up in 2025. This year’s class is not seen as having many bluechip prospects, especially at the QB position. That could entice the Titans to stay in place (although they could be open to trading down in a way which still ensured their ability to draft Ward) and likewise keep Cleveland in the No. 2 slot. Much of the Browns’ planning will depend on their evaluation of Ward, a process which will continue in a notable way shortly.
Patriots To Match Raiders’ Christian Elliss Offer Sheet
MARCH 25: The Raiders designed a two-year, $13.5MM offer sheet, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. With the Patriots matching it, the proposal now doubles as a significant New England raise for the young linebacker.
MARCH 24: Christian Elliss signed an offer sheet with the Raiders last week, leaving the Patriots in position to either match it or allow him to depart without any compensation coming back. New England has taken the former route. 
The Patriots will match the Elliss offer sheet, as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The move locks in the two-year deal which would have otherwise sent him to Vegas. Elliss will carry a cap charge of $4.84MM this season, one in which he was originally slated to earn $3.26MM on his RFA tender.
Elliss began his career with the Eagles, operating as a key special teams presence during his time with them. He was waived late in the 2023 campaign, though, and the Patriots’ decision to claim him set him up for a New England stint. The 26-year-old made five starts across his 16 appearances last season, and while he remained a core special teams contributor he took on a defensive workload as well. Elliss logged 513 defensive snaps in 2024, by far the most of his career.
The Idaho product received the original-round tender to prevent him from reaching unrestricted free agency. That move set Elliss up for a cost-effective 2025 deal, but it opened the door to an offer sheet since no compensation would have been included for the former undrafted free agent (which would have been the case had New England applied the more expensive second-round tender). The Raiders lost Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo in free agency, and Elliss would have been able to handle a notable defensive role aimed at helping to replace them at the second level of the team’s defense.
Instead, Vegas will look elsewhere on the free agent market and the draft to address the linebacker position. Elliss, meanwhile, will remain in place on a Patriots team which added Spillane on a three-year deal and reunited head coach Mike Vrabel with former Titan Jack Gibbens. Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai are in place as holdovers from last season, and Elliss will look to carve out a role among the mix of new additions and returnees.
He will do so with financial security for the next two years, though, and it will be interesting to see how he is used moving forward. The Patriots entered Monday with more than $80MM in remaining cap space, so they will easily be able to afford the added cost of keeping Elliss in place.