Raiders Place Christian Wilkins On Active/PUP List; DT Making Progress In Recovery
Christian Wilkins will not be available for at least the start of training camp. The high-priced defensive tackle was placed on the active/PUP list by the Raiders on Friday. 
Wilkins can be activated at any time, which would not have been the case had he been given the reserve/PUP designation leading up to training camp. If the 29-year-old is not moved to the active roster by the time final cutdowns take place, he will be forced to miss the first four weeks of the campaign. That should not be expected in this case, however.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes Wilkins has been making “sound progress” while rehabbing the Jones fracture in his foot. The recovery process in this situation has proven to be long and arduous, with head coach Pete Carroll noting this spring it has been “challenging” for Wilkins to return to full health. As recently as late June, the former Dolphin had yet to shed a walking boot.
As a result, it comes as little surprise Wilkins will be unavailable for at least a portion of training camp. The Clemson product’s absence is nevertheless notable given the timing of his injury. Wilkins went down in Week 5 during the 2024 campaign, his first in Vegas. After a five-year run in Miami, he landed a free agent deal including $57.5MM fully guaranteed. Needless to say, expectations have not been met so far.
There is of course still plenty of time for Wilkins – who notched a career-high nine sacks in his final Dolphins campaign and posted double-digit tackles for loss each year from 2021-23 – to serve as a foundational member of the Raiders’ defensive interior. Returning to full health will be key as he prepares for the 2025 season, though, and there is clearly still work to be done on that front over the summer.
Seahawks Sign Second-Round TE Elijah Arroyo, Complete Draft Class Deals
Last night, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori became the third member of the 2025 draft class taken in the second round to secure a fully guaranteed rookie contract. Fellow Round 2 selection Elijah Arroyo has not managed to do the same, but he has signed with Seattle. 
Arroyo signed his four-year, $8.81MM contract on Friday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the pact contains $6.87MM in guarantees, meaning 78% of the deal is locked in. In the past two years, the No. 50 slot (where Arroyo was selected) has seen guarantees of 61.6% and 68.3%, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.
This is, to no surprise, therefore a step in the direction of players taken in the middle of the second round receiving full guarantees down the road. That trend has emerged in recent days with much of the logjam created by 30 unsigned second-rounders being cleared in time (more or less) for training camp. Both Emmanwori and Arroyo will be in the fold by the time Seattle’s first camp practice takes place.
The 2025 draft class had a pair of tight ends seen as locks to be selected on Day 1; that wound up holding true in the case of Colston Loveland (Bears) and Tyler Warren (Colts). The next tier of prospects at the position included Arroyo, though, so it was no surprise when he came off the board with Seattle’s second pick of the round. The Miami product made only 11 catches across his first three years in college, but 2024 saw a major uptick in production. Arroyo posted a 35-590-7 statline during his one and only campaign playing with No. 1 pick Cam Ward.
The Seahawks will be banking on that performance translating to the NFL. Seattle still has Noah Fant in place for 2025, but the coming season is the final one of his contract. Arroyo could carve out a part-time role during his rookie campaign before stepping into a starting spot in the event Fant were to depart in free agency next spring. In any case, it will be interesting to see how that tandem fares this year.
Here is a final look at Seattle’s draft class with each member now on the books:
- Round 1, No. 18: Grey Zabel (OL, North Dakota State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 50: Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from Lions through Jets and Raiders): Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 142 (from Jaguars through Texans and Vikings): Rylie Mills (DT, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 166 (from Bills through Texans): Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 175*: Robbie Ouzts (TE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 192 (from Dolphins through Bears): Bryce Cabeldue (G, Kansas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 223 (from Saints through Eagles and Steelers): Damien Martinez (RB, Miami) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 234: Mason Richman (T, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 238 (from Chargers through Patriots)*: Ricky White (WR, UNLV) (signed)
Jets, Second-Round TE Mason Taylor Agree To Terms
Tight end Mason Taylor is the latest second-round rookie to agree to terms on their rookie deal. He and the Jets have an agreement in place ahead of training camp. 
Taylor’s four-year deal is worth $10.46MM. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that $9.56MM (or 91.4%) of that figure is guaranteed. As a result, Taylor will not join the first three players selected on Day 2 in securing a fully locked in pact. Nevertheless, the No. 42 pick will receive a considerable commitment in terms of guarantees.
Over the past two years, players taken in that slot received guarantees of 77.1% and 78.7%, per Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. This Taylor agreement is a major step in the direction of a fully locked in deal, and like in the case of many other second-round draft slots, it will no doubt serve as precedent moving forward for more guarantees. In any event, Taylor will be in place when the Jets’ rookies report to camp tomorrow.
A three-year contributor at LSU, Taylor was a productive member of the team’s pass-catching group. His junior campaign was his best, with 546 yards on 55 receptions. The two touchdowns scored that year brought his career total to six, and operating as a red zone target would be key in allowing Taylor to contribute right away with the Jets. Even if that is not the case, though, he should be able to handle at least a part-time role on offense.
Finding production from the TE position has proven to be a challenge in recent years for the Jets, a team which has wideout Garrett Wilson in place through 2030. He will serve as the anchor of New York’s passing game during that span, but finding complementary options will be key. Taylor – who will spend camp competing for playing time with the likes of Jeremy Ruckeret and Stone Smartt – should feature in that effort over the coming years.
With the Taylor deal done, here is a complete look at the Jets’ draft class:
- Round 1, No. 7: Armand Membou (T, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 42: Mason Taylor (TE, LSU)
- Round 3, No. 73: Azareye’h Thomas (CB, Florida State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 110: Arian Smith (WR, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 130 (from Lions through Broncos and Eagles): Malachi Moore (S, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Rams through Steelers): Francisco Mauigoa (LB, Miami) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 176 (from Ravens): Tyler Baron (DE, Miami) (signed)
Bills Sign Second-Round DT T.J. Sanders, Complete Draft Class Deals
Like many other teams around the NFL, the Bills have their entire draft class on the books. Second-rounder T.J. Sanders has signed his rookie deal. 
Sanders’ four-year pact is worth $10.65MM, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes $10.07MM of that figure is guaranteed. The No. 41 slot (where Sanders was selected in April) has seen guarantee rates of 77.9% and 79.5% over the past two years, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap. Sanders has not joined the three second-round picks who have received full guarantees on their rookie deals, but this is clearly a step forward in terms of locked in compensation deep into the pact.
Over the course of his career at South Carolina, Sanders emerged as a key figure on defense. Between his redshirt sophomore and junior campaigns, he totaled 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. That disruptiveness against the pass and run made Sanders one of several highly-regarded defensive tackle prospects in the 2025 class.
Buffalo expectedly targeted the secondary in the first round of the draft (taking cornerback Maxwell Hairston), but the team focused heavily on the defensive front through the middle portion of the event. The Sanders selection was followed by the addition of edge rusher Landon Jackson in the third round and fellow D-lineman Deone Walker in the fourth. The Bills’ defensive front could look noticeably different in the near future as a result, and Sanders in particular will be counted on to occupy at least a rotational role early in his career.
Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones served as full-time starters along the defensive interior last season, and they remain in place entering 2025. The Bills also have 2024 third-rounder DeWayne Carter in the fold, and after logging a 42% snap share as a rookie he figures to play a notable role this season. Sanders should nevertheless be able to contribute on a part-time basis in 2025 as he develops into a potential starter down the line.
With every member now under contract, here is a final look at Buffalo’s 2025 draft class:
- Round 1, No. 30: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 41 (from Bears): T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 72 (from Bears): Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 109 (from Bears through Bills and Bears): Deone Walker (DT, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Cowboys)*: Jordan Hancock (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 177 (from Giants): Dorian Strong (CB, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 206: Chase Lundt (T, UConn) (signed)
- Round 7, 240 (from Vikings through Browns and Bears): Kaden Prather (WR, Maryland) (signed)
Steelers, T.J. Watt Agree To Extension
The wait has ended for T.J. Watt and the Steelers to work out an extension. Team and player have agreed to terms on another monster pact. 
Watt has landed a three-year, $123MM extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact includes $108MM in full guarantees. With an average annual value of $41MM, Watt has once again claimed the title of the league’s top earner for defensive players and all non-quarterbacks.
Myles Garrett reset the edge rush market when he signed a Browns pact averaging $40MM per year. Ja’Marr Chase did the same at the receiver position when his Bengals extension (carrying an AAV of $40.25MM) became official. To little surprise, Watt has surpassed both of those figures while helping to ensure he will finish his career in Pittsburgh. Progress has been made rather rapidly, as Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes no agreement was imminent as recently as six days ago.
Both parties in this case expressed a desire to work out a deal months ago, but Watt hinted at dissatisfaction with the early state of contract talks. Over time, this became one of many tense situations involving edge rushers around the league. A major domino has now fallen, though, and Watt is on the books through 2028. This agreement falls short of the length he was seeking, but the former Defensive Player of the Year has succeeded in moving the bar for pass rushers and securing multiple years of locked in money.
Watt has led the NFL in sacks on three occasions (2021-22 and 2024) and he has played in every game the past two seasons after a pec tear cost him notable time in 2023. However, a downturn in play late in the campaign and into the postseason last year was viewed as cause for concern on the Steelers’ part regarding a new deal. Watt already reset the market in 2021, but doing so as he enters his age-31 season obviously carries risk for the team. General manager Omar Khan and Co. are certainly banking on a major drop-off not taking place for several more years.
Watt has operated as the anchor of Pittsburgh’s EDGE group over the course of his All-Pro career, and he will remain in that role well beyond the coming season. Rumors about a potential trade circulated amidst his decision to skip minicamp, but a deal never seemed likely or imminent. A holdout (or at least hold-in) effort during training camp will now not be necessary to get this deal over the finish line, something which was the case last time for Watt.
Alex Highsmith has recorded at least six sacks in each of the past four years, and he remains on the books through 2027. He will remain a starter along the edge, with Nick Herbig and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer operating as rotational contributors. Watt (who has amassed 33 forced fumbles and 126 tackles for loss in his career) will be counted on to lead the way in terms of production once again this year and well beyond that point.
The seven-time Pro Bowler has yet to win a playoff game in his career, something Khan and the Steelers have aimed to change this offseason. Pittsburgh has aggressively pursued several new players through trade and free agency, breaking with standard practice in some regards. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, receiver D.K. Metcalf, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay as well as tight end Jonnu Smith are among the new faces which will be relied on to end the Steelers’ drought for playoff wins in 2025.
Watt will of course also be a central figure in that effort. Regardless of if things go according to plan this year, though, he will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Sentenced To 30 Days In Jail, Five Years Probation
The legal situation surrounding Rashee Rice has reached a conclusion. The Chiefs receiver was sentenced on Thursday to five years probation and 30 days in jail, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
The prison sentence can be served at any time within that five-year period. Schefter adds Rice also received deferred adjudication, meaning that if he completes the probation process his case will be dismissed. This development paves the way for the NFL to move forward with its own investigation and potential discipline against Rice.
“We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports). The Chiefs declined to comment (h/t Jones).
Rice was one of two people driving when a Lamborghini SUV and a Corvette lost control the night of March 30, 2024. He and all five other total occupants of the two vehicles fled the scene after the accident, which came about while Rice and former college teammate Theodore Knox were believed to be street racing. Rice became the subject of an arrest warrant days later and turned himself in to police. The 25-year-old faced a total of eight felony charges stemming from the incident.
As noted by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero), Rice entered into a plea agreement on two third-degree felonies (collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury). Prior to the agreement, Rice had already paid for the victims’ medical costs, totaling roughly $115K.
“Last March, I was involved in a high-speed accident in Dallas,” a statement from Rice (delivered through his attorney) reads. “There have been a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole. I urge everyone to mind the speed limit, drive safe and drive smart.
“Last and certainly not least, I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property. I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.”
Without a legal resolution in place by the start of the 2024 regular season, the NFL declined to place Rice on the commissioner’s exempt list. That allowed him to play and led to the expectation a suspension would not be handed down until 2025. In Week 4, the SMU product suffered a knee injury which was initially feared to be an ACL tear; further testing revealed that was not the case.
Nevertheless, Rice’s knee surgery ended his season and left the Chiefs shorthanded at the receiver spot. Two years remain on the former second-rounder’s rookie contract, and he is slated to be healthy in time for training camp. Of course, it now remains to be seen if he will be with the team at the onset of camp or if he will use the period between now and the start of the campaign to serve his jail time. In any case, today’s update should open to door to a decision regarding a suspension being made in the near future.
Chargers WR Mike Williams To Retire
Mike Williams will not, in fact, see the field during his second stint with the Chargers. The veteran wideout is instead ending his career. 
Williams’ agent informed the Chargers last night that his client is retiring, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. As a result, Williams will depart the NFL at the age of 30. He spent eight years in the league, the first seven of which came as a member of the Bolts.
Five players opened training camp on the active/PUP list for Los Angeles. Williams was among them, but players can be activated from that list at any time before final roster cuts are made and those situations often include relatively minor ailments. Even in the event Williams would have been forced to remain on the PUP list through the first month of the campaign, returning to action at some point would have represented much less of a surprise than today’s news.
Selected seventh overall by the Chargers in 2017, Williams made a minimal impact as a rookie. From Year 2 onward, though, he established himself as one of the league’s top deep threats. Williams averaged an NFL-best 20.4 yards per reception in 2019 while reaching 1,000 yards. He managed a career-best 1,146 yards two years later while thriving as a complementary wideout to Keenan Allen.
Just like Allen, Williams found himself playing elsewhere in 2024. One of general manager Joe Hortiz‘s decisions during his first offseason in charge was to move on from the pair and thus reset financially at the WR position. Williams was released in a cost-shedding move, one which was quickly followed by a one-year Jets agreement. Things did not go according to plan in New York, with the Clemson product only logging a 53% snap share and making 12 scoreless catches.
A trade took place ahead of the deadline to send Williams to the Steelers. Pittsburgh was known to be in the market for a receiver addition, and he made 10 combined regular and postseason appearances with his new team. Aside from catching a touchdown during his Steelers debut, however Williams was largely a non-factor with the team. As a result, a lucrative free agent market did not exist this spring.
A Chargers reunion was worked out in March; Williams returned on a one-year pact worth a guaranteed $3MM (including a $1.5MM signing bonus). As the team contemplates attempting to get that money back, it will proceed without an experienced pass-catching option. Second-round rookie Tre Harris is among those holding out for full guarantees in his rookie deal, so for the time being the Chargers are notably shorthanded at the receiver spot. With over $27MM in cap space, Hortiz can target an addition from within the free agent pool (which still includes Allen) in time for the start of the year.
In all, Williams made 109 combined regular and postseason appearances during his career. He amassed over $86MM in earnings during his time in the NFL, something which has now come to a close.
Ravens Sign Second-Round OLB Mike Green, Complete Rookie Deals
The Ravens are among the teams to complete the signings of the rookie classes in time for training camp. Second-round edge rusher Mike Green is now on the books.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier today an agreement was expected. The Ravens have since announced that a deal has indeed been signed. Green was selected 59th overall, a slot which saw 53.7% and then 54% of the four-year pact guaranteed over the past two years (h/t Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap).
Details on Green’s deal have yet to emerge, but recent contracts worked out by rookies drafted around his slot strongly suggest it will not include guaranteed compensation through the final year. Nevertheless, the Marshall product is in position to occupy an important rotational role early on in Baltimore.
A depth spot at a minimum should await Baltimore’s latest draft investment along the edge. Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy are still expected to garner the majority of the snaps at the position. However, both of those veterans are impending free agents, meaning Green’s backup role may only be temporary.
The pass rusher had a breakout campaign in 2024. Green finished the season with 84 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks, leading to him earning a first-team All-American nod. That performance also helped make him a second-round pick, as the Ravens scooped him up with the 59th-overall selection in this year’s draft.
Green may have been selected higher if not for his off-the-field issues. The player has twice been accused of sexual assault, including an incident during his time at the University of Virginia. That latter accusation was followed by Green’s transfer to Marshall, although the player has continually stated that the allegations didn’t play into his decision.
As mentioned, the Ravens have now officially signed their entire draft class:
- Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green (OLB, Marshall)
- Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones (T, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan (LB, Cal) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 141* (from Titans): Carson Vinson (T, Alabama A&M) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 178 (from Titans): Bilhal Kone (CB, Western Michigan) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186 (from Jets): Tyler Loop (K, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester (WR, Colorado) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 210*: Aeneas Peebles (DT, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 212*: Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger (G, LSU) (signed)
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Titans Sign RB Jordan Mims, Waive RB Tyrion Davis-Price
3:20pm: The Mims signing is now official. In a corresponding move, Davis-Price was waived, meaning he will not take part in the looming training camp competition. Provided Davis-Price clears waivers, he will be free to sign with a new team.
10:34am: Jordan Mims has landed a deal in time for training camp. The third-year running back has agreed to a pact with the Titans, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. 
This will be a two-year contract, Schultz adds. Mims entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bills, but he was among the team’s 2023 roster cuts. Immediately after being released, Mims landed on the Saints’ practice squad and he remained in the organization through the end of the past campaign.
As a rookie, the 26-year-old made a pair of appearances but played only on special teams. Mims’ first offensive touches came about in 2024, and he logged 105 snaps across 11 contests. 20 carries and 12 receptions did not produce any touchdowns, but Mims notched 141 scrimmage yards along the way.
That production helped land Mims a workout with the Browns in June, but no deal materialized. The Fresno State product will instead spend the summer in Tennessee looking to carve out a spot in the backfield. The Titans entered Thursday with more than $30MM in cap space, so this contract will not alter any other free agent plans which are in place.
Tony Pollard recorded his third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign in 2024, and he remains in position to lead the way at the running back spot for Tennessee this season. Tyjae Spears will again operate as a pass-catching backup, while three others backs (Kalel Mullings, Julius Chestnut and Tyrion Davis-Price) are set to compete for a roster spot during training camp. Mims will join that group when players report on July 22.
Broncos Sign Second-Round RB RJ Harvey, Complete Draft Class Deals
Thursday continues to see second-round rookies agree to deals around the league. Running back RJ Harvey is among them. 
Harvey and the Broncos have agreed to terms, Mike Klis of 9News reports. As the No. 60 pick in April’s draft, his four-year pact is worth a total of $7.36MM and includes a $1.99MM signing bonus. After missing the first day of training camp (for rookies), Harvey is now in the fold in time for the start of padded practices.
Guarantees were, like in all other cases in 2025, the sticking point between team and player. That draft slot saw a 53% guarantee in the past two years, as noted by Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald. In addition to the signing bonus and salary in the first two years of the pact being guaranteed, per standard practice, Klis reports Denver locked in 47.7% of Harvey’s Year 3 earnings to finalize the agreement.
Now that Harvey is in the fold, he can turn his attention to training camp. Denver’s backfield will be a unit to watch closely as the pecking order gets determined. The UCF product topped 1,600 scrimmage yards in each of his final two college campaigns. Harvey totaled 42 touchdowns over that span, production which helped make him one of many high-profile RB prospects in this year’s class.
The Broncos were clear about their intent to draft a running back fairly early, and doing so puts Harvey in place to handle a notable role as a rookie. Free agent addition J.K. Dobbins is also in the mix after a long-running communication period with the team. Those two, along with returnees Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime, will spend training camp carving out their respective roles as the Broncos aim to improve their ground game.
With Harvey on the books, the Broncos’ entire 2025 draft class is now signed. Here is how that group looks:
- Round 1, No. 20: Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 60 (from Lions): RJ Harvey (RB, Central Florida) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 74 (from Panthers): Pat Bryant (WR, Illinois) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 101 (from Rams through Falcons and Eagles)*: Sai’vion Jones (DE, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 134 (from Eagles through Lions and Eagles): Que Robinson (OLB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 216 (from Browns through Texans)*: Jeremy Crawshaw (P, Florida) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 241 (from Texans): Caleb Lohner (TE, Utah) (signed)