Patriots’ Christian Barmore Cleared For Football Activities
After missing most of last season with recurring symptoms from blood clots, Christian Barmore continues to hit some major milestones in his rehab. The Patriots defensive lineman revealed today that he’s been fully cleared for football activity.
Barmore was a limited participant during the team’s first iteration of offseason workouts last month, and the defensive tackle told reporters that he’ll be a full participant when voluntary organized team activities begin next week. These are all major steps in Barmore’s goal of playing in Week 1, and the lineman still believes he’s on track to play in the season opener.
“Yeah. That’s the goal,” Barmore said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “I just have to keep following the medical team, but everything is looking really well.”
A former second-round pick, Barmore’s last full season saw him compile 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 16 QB hits. That performance earned him a four-year, $92MM extension ($41.8MM guaranteed) last offseason, but he proceeded to miss the first 10 games of 2024 campaign after being diagnosed with blood clots.
Barmore managed to return to the field for a handful of games, but he was eventually shut down after experiencing recurring blood clot symptoms. Fortunately, all offseason reports out of New England have been positive, and it sounds like the 25-year-old should be ready to go by the time the regular season comes around.
The Patriots are hoping Barmore can form a fearsome interior DL tandem with Milton Williams, who inked a four-year, $104MM deal with New England this offseason. Williams is just one of the several additions to Mike Vrabel‘s new-look defense, and Barmore will represent one of the only holdovers from the previous regime(s).
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington Suffers Torn Achilles, Likely Out For 2025
The Ravens will likely be without a key defender for much of the 2025 campaign. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, safety Ar’Darius Washington recently tore his Achilles during conditioning. The injury will cause him to “miss most or all” of the upcoming season.
A former UDFA, Washington appeared in a combined eight games through his first three seasons in the NFL. The 2024 campaign represented a breakout year for the TCU product. The 25-year-old saw backup reps to begin the season, but he eventually replaced Marcus Williams as a starter opposite Kyle Hamilton. Washington finished the year with 64 tackles and a pair of interceptions, with Pro Football Focus ranking him eighth among 98 qualifying safeties.
Washington signed his restricted free agent tender back in April, locking him in for the upcoming season. He would have finally hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025 campaign, so the injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the safety.
Even with added depth, the Ravens would have continued leaning on Washington this upcoming season, with The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec pointing out the player’s ability to play both safety and nickelback. The team did add Malaki Starks in the first round of the draft, and the rookie will now likely see the bulk of the snaps next to Hamilton. The team’s other options at the position include second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade.
Considering the suddenly depleted depth, Zrebic wonders if the team could make a move for a veteran safety. Current free agent options include Julian Blackmon, Justin Simmons, Chuck Clark, and Quandre Diggs, but the Ravens may just end up keeping their eye open for options as team’s trim down their rosters in August.
Titans Add CB Amani Oruwariye, DE Carlos Watkins
The Titans made a handful of changes to the bottom of their roster today, adding a trio of defenders in the process. For starters, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the team has signed cornerback Amani Oruwariye. The team later announced that they claimed linebacker Amari Burney off waivers from the Raiders.
The Titans also added defensive end Carlos Watkins, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. To accommodate these moves, the team waived defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson (per Wilson).
Oruwariye will add some veteran depth to Tennessee’s secondary, as the veteran has appeared in 61 games over the past six seasons. Following a brief stint as one of the Lions’ starting cornerbacks, Oruwariye has bounced around a bit. He most recently got into seven games (four starts) for the Cowboys in 2024, compiling 29 tackles and three passes defended.
Oruwariye earned headlines last season after mishandling a blocked punt that led to an eventual game-deciding score. His special teams coach in Dallas, John Fassel, is now serving in the same role in Tennessee, and there’s a good chance the new free agent acquisition will likely be playing a similar special teams-centric role in 2025.
Watkins was also in Dallas last season, as the veteran defensive tackle compiled 12 tackles in 15 games. While he’s likely been added as a ST option for Fassel, Watkins actually saw more time on defense in 2024, getting into 225 snaps. The former fourth-round pick has appeared in 87 career games, collecting 151 tackles and six sacks.
Burney also brings some experience, as the former sixth-round pick got into 24 games for the Raiders over the past two seasons. This included a 2024 season where he appeared in a career-high 17 games while compiling 17 tackles and one sack. The defensive lineman was waived by the Raiders yesterday.
Anderson has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Bucknell in 2018. He spent most of last year on Tennessee’s practice squad, and he didn’t record a tackle in his four appearances with the big-league club.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kaimon Rucker
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DL Keith Cooper
- Waived: OL Leif Fautanu
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB Gregory Junior
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga
- Waived: LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Da’Jon Terry
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): DT Matthew Butler
- Waived: DT Tre’vonn Rybka
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: LB Anfernee Orji
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Derrick Canteen
- Waived: S Quindell Johnson
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/25
The following 2025 draft picks signed their rookie contracts today:
Carolina Panthers
- RB Trevor Etienne (fourth round, Georgia)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DE Ashton Gillotte (third round, Louisville)
- WR Jalen Royals (fourth round, Utah State)
Las Vegas Raiders
- CB Darien Porter (third round, Iowa State)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Josaiah Stewart (third round, Michigan)
- DT Ty Hamilton (fifth round, Ohio State)
- LB Chris Paul Jr. (fifth round, Ole Miss)
- WR Konata Mumpfield (seventh round, Pitt)
New Orleans Saints
- DT Vernon Broughton (third round, Texas)
Seattle Seahawks
- QB Jalen Milroe (third round, Alabama)
- DT Rylie Mills (fifth round, Notre Dame)
- WR Tory Horton (fifth round, Colorado State)
- TE Robbie Ouzts (fifth round, Alabama)
- G Bryce Cabeldue (sixth round, Kansas)
- RB Damien Martinez (seventh round, Miami)
- T Mason Richman (seventh round, Iowa)
- WR Ricky White III (seventh round, UNLV)
WR Gabe Davis To Meet With Giants
The Gabriel Davis free agency tour continues. After meeting with the 49ers yesterday, the recently released wide receiver is set to meet with the Giants, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
[RELATED: WR Gabe Davis Visits 49ers]
It was only a year ago that Davis inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Jaguars. However, a disappointing 2024 campaign led to him earning his walking papers last week. The veteran hauled in a career-low 20 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns before undergoing season-ending surgery on a torn meniscus.
Despite the disappointing showing in Jacksonville, it’s not surprising that teams are still eyeing the wideout. Davis had four productive seasons in Buffalo to begin his career. This included 2023 and 2024 campaigns where the former fourth-round pick hauled in 93 receptions for 1,582 yards and 14 touchdowns across 32 games. Davis also had a standout 2021 playoff run where he found the end zone on half of his 10 receptions.
The Giants would be a natural landing spot for the receiver. For starters, Davis already has a connection to the staff. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator during the player’s first two years in the NFL, while Giants GM Joe Schoen was Buffalo’s assistant GM when they selected the player in the draft. Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes that Daboll and Schoen are already familiar with what Davis brings to the table, so the upcoming visit will likely be focused on the status of the player’s knee.
The Giants have perpetually had a need for more wide receivers, and that sentiment hasn’t ended this offseason. Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton will continue to lead the depth chart, with Jalin Hyatt and free agent addition Zach Pascal rounding out the veteran options. The team notably didn’t add a player at the position via the draft, although they did sign five UDFA players at the position.
QB Desmond Ridder Will Not Try Out For Broncos
MAY 8: Ridder’s tryout will not take place after all. Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post reports the veteran will not actually be in Denver during the team’s rookie minicamp. Ridder will no doubt still have plenty of other opportunities to compete for a roster spot this offseason, though.
MAY 6: Desmond Ridder continues to look for his next gig, and he may find that opportunity in Denver. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the veteran quarterback will participate at Broncos rookie minicamp as a veteran tryout player.
Ridder got into six games for the Raiders in 2024, but the team didn’t place a tender on him after the season, making him an unrestricted free agent. A number of backup-quality QBs have since signed new contracts, leaving Ridder as one of the few experienced options left on the market. Outside of Aaron Rodgers, the rest of the current free agent options include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater, and Tyler Huntley.
Ridder got one start for the Raiders last season, completing 23 of his 39 pass attempts for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss to the Falcons. He had a handful of additional relief appearances, and he ultimately finished the season with 85 pass attempts.
The former third-round pick got an extended look as a starter in 2023, when he went 6-7 with the Falcons. He tossed 12 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions that year, and he added another five touchdowns on the ground. He was traded to the Cardinals after the season and spent the first month of the 2024 campaign on Arizona’s practice squad.
The top of Denver’s depth chart is settled with Bo Nix as the starter and Jarrett Stidham as the QB2. If Ridder does catch on with the Broncos, he would likely compete with Sam Ehlinger for the QB3 role or the first shot at a practice squad gig.
Joe Milton’s Starting Ambition, Questionable Fit With Mike Vrabel Led To Trade
While the Patriots have Drake Maye entrenched as their franchise QB moving forward, it was still a bit surprising when the organization decided to quickly move on from fellow 2024 draft pick Joe Milton. The sixth-round pick had a standout performance during New England’s season finale, and he was still locked into his rookie pact for another three years.
[RELATED: Patriots Trading Joe Milton To Cowboys]
Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal provided some insight on the move (via Bill Jones of CBS Sports Texas), noting that the Patriots were wary of another Mac Jones/Bailey Zappe situation. Milton believes he’s a future starter in the NFL, and the organization didn’t want the QB to be a locker room distraction. While the player’s ambition is obviously admirable, there was apparent concern that he could cause some disruption with no clear path to future playing time.
Perhaps more importantly, Milton wasn’t a Mike Vrabel pick, and Giardi opines that the new head coach never would have saddled himself with two rookie signal callers. The executive who made that pick, Eliot Wolf, it still leading the front office, but Giardi said there should be no confusion about who’s truly running the show. Maye also wasn’t a “Vrabel pick,” but the Milton trade signaled to the former third-overall pick that he’s the clear-cut guy in New England.
Milton’s lone NFL appearance led to one of the Patriots’ only wins in 2024 (while also hurting the team’s draft standing in the process). Milton played the majority of the snaps at QB during the season finale, completing 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown. The rookie also added another touchdown on the ground.
The Patriots quickly settled on their 2025 QB hierarchy, as the team added Josh Dobbs as a clear QB2 behind Maye. The Patriots later traded Milton to Dallas, with New England only receiving the ability to move up 46 draft spots late in the draft. With the Cowboys, Milton still won’t have a clear path to playing time behind Dak Prescott and the star’s lucrative contract. However, Dak’s injury history and age do provide somewhat more hope for Milton’s playing chances.
Joe Flacco Odd Man Out In Browns QBs Room?
While the ink still isn’t dry on Joe Flacco‘s contract with the Browns, there’s already speculation that the veteran may not make it to the regular season with his new squad. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Joe Flacco is likely the odd man out in the Browns quarterbacks room.
The team’s positional depth has obviously changed a bit since Flacco inked a deal with Cleveland in early April. The Browns added a pair of big-name rookies via the draft, and it sounds like the team is committed to giving roster spots to both third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and surprising fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders.
As the Browns navigated Deshaun Watson‘s injury and tenuous standing on their squad, the team went out and made a trade for Kenny Pickett earlier this offseason. Cabot believes the former first-round pick is in prime position to retain his roster spot, and that would leave Flacco on the outside looking in.
The team would surely only commit three roster spots to the quarterback position, but Cabot says the team could hang on to four QBs for the first iteration of their 53-man roster. The team did something similar last year, when they kept Tyler Huntley with the hopes of a trade popping up. A deal never came to fruition, and the organization moved on from Huntley before Week 1.
It’s hard to envision a long line of suitors for Flacco. That has nothing to do with his quality of play—even during his age-39 season, Flacco won a pair of games while tossing 12 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions. Rather, teams will likely be cognizant of Flacco’s spot on Cleveland’s roster, and they may just wait out an inevitable release if they truly have interest in the veteran.
On the flip side, Flacco could simply play himself into a role, potentially leading to a tricky situation for the Browns. The most likely path would see them move on from Pickett, but if both vets are truly deserving of a spot, then it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for them to ditch a draft pick or try to sneak a rookie onto their practice squad.
Meanwhile, we’ve finally gotten some details on Flacco’s contract (via OverTheCap.com). His one-year, $4MM pact includes $3MM in guaranteed money, although a chunk of that total is tied to roster bonuses that could be avoided. Flacco is also attached to a $2.85MM cap hit, and the Browns would be left with half of that on the books if they outright released the quarterback.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/6/25
Today’s draft pick signings:
Denver Broncos
- TE Caleb Lohner (seventh round, Utah)
The Broncos kicked off their draft pick signings by inking their final draft pick to a rookie contract. Tight end Caleb Lohner was pick No. 241 in the draft, but the team’s relatively deep depth chart at TE means the rookie could ultimately land on the practice squad. After exclusively playing basketball to begin his collegiate career, the six-foot-eight prospect spent the 2024 campaign on Utah’s football team, where he hauled in four catches for four touchdowns.