Panthers Discussing Jadeveon Clowney Trade
Jadeveon Clowney‘s future with the Panthers is in doubt. According to ESPN’s David Newton, the Panthers “had talks about trading” the veteran pass rusher prior to the draft. With the organization adding two edge rushers during yesterday’s portion of the draft, a trade still “remains an option.”
Carolina general manager Dan Morgan didn’t necessarily dismiss these reports when asked by reporters about Clowney’s spot on the team.
“We’re still working through the roster,” Morgan said. “We’re still talking through things. Obviously, we’re focused on the draft right now and what’s in front of us.”
Clowney inked a two-year deal with the Panthers last offseason, but it didn’t take long for the former first-overall pick to emerge in trade rumors. With the Panthers considered sellers at last year’s deadline, Clowney was mentioned as a trade candidate, although the team ended up hanging on to him.
After tying a career-high 9.5 sacks with the Ravens in 2023, Clowney finished his first season in Carolina with 5.5 sacks. He still has a season remaining on the two-year, $20MM deal he inked with the Panthers last offseason. The pass rusher is set to count $13.77MM against the cap in 2025. That doesn’t necessarily break the bank, but there may not be suitors lining up for a trade following Clowney’s underwhelming showing in his age-31 season.
At the very least, it’s hard to envision Clowney as a member of next year’s Panthers. The team added Texas A&M pass rusher Nic Scourton in the second round, and they later drafted Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen in the third. That duo joins a pass-rush corps that also features regular starter D.J. Wonnum, free agent acquisition Patrick Jones, and former third-round pick D.J. Johnson.
Texans Acquire No. 116, Select RB Woody Marks
The Texans are trading a future third-round pick to move into this year’s fourth round. Houston has acquired the No. 116 pick from the Dolphins. They’ve used their new selection on USC running back Woody Marks. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston was first to report the trade.
Full trade details:
Texans receive
- No. 116
- No. 224
Dolphins receive
- No. 179
- 2026 third-round pick
It’s an aggressive move by the Texans, continuing a trend throughout this entire draft. This marks GM Nick Caserio‘s sixth trade of the 2025 draft.
Marks had a breakout season during his first year at USC. After collecting around 3,000 yards from scrimmage in four years at Mississippi State, the RB collected 1,454 yards and nine touchdowns in his one season with the Trojans. He notably hauled in 261 catches during his college career, assuring he’ll at least have a career as a third-down back.
In Houston, he’ll be joining an RBs room that lacks convincing depth behind Joe Mixon. The rookie could easily slide into an RB2 role ahead of former starter Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, J.J. Taylor, and Jawhar Jordan.
Teams Concerned About Shedeur Sanders Attention, Steelers Could Still Be An Option
Shedeur Sanders‘ stunning fall down the draft board was quickly attributed to a questionable skill set and/or a perceived lack of maturity. ESPN’s Stephen Holder points to another concern among teams: the “circus” that would accompany a Sanders selection.
Holder is adamant that Sanders’ first-round snub was about talent, but he believes his Day 2 absence was “about something else.” The reporter references Tim Tebow‘s free agency, noting that teams were wary of the attention that naturally follows a “celebrity” athlete. Sanders obviously isn’t an exact equivalent to Tebow, but the popular Colorado star will now attract even more attention after suddenly dropping out of the first two days of the draft.
There’s been a popular sentiment today that the reward now outweighs any risk, but that would likely only apply to teams that don’t have a future answer at QB. When it comes to teams that would only consider Sanders as a backup, Holder warns that the concerns would only become “more pronounced.”
It’s still assumed that Sanders will hear his name called at some point today, although potential landing spots continue to dry up. The Giants were once a key suitor for Sanders, but the team clearly removed themselves from that sweepstakes when they traded back into the first to select Jaxson Dart. We later heard reports that a meeting between Sanders and Giants head coach Brian Daboll had not gone well, and the organization’s interest in the prospect cooled as the coaching staff became more involved in the evaluation process. Concerns about maturity appear to extend beyond the Giants.
The Browns were also mentioned as a Sanders suitor, but they used a third-round selection on Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. The Saints also seemingly confirmed a report that they wouldn’t be pursuing the Colorado product, as New Orleans used a second-round pick on Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
There is one clear QB-needy squad that could still select Sanders. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers remain an option for the prospect, as the organization is confident Sanders could serve “as a distributing point guard in its offense.” Fowler adds that the Steelers have also done extensive work on Ohio State’s Will Howard.
The Steelers are still awaiting a resolution on Aaron Rodgers, although owner Art Rooney II said last night that the veteran free agent wants to play in Pittsburgh. Even if a signing comes to fruition, the Steelers would still be a natural landing spot for rookie QBs. The team’s current QB depth consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, so the front office could be seeking an upgrade for both now and the future.
Ravens GM Expects Mark Andrews “To Be On This Team”
With Mark Andrews being the subject of trade rumors this offseason, the draft appeared to be a key moment in determining the tight end’s future in Baltimore. Through the first two days of the draft, Andrews remains with the Ravens, and GM Eric DeCosta acknowledged that it’s probably going to remain that way.
[RELATED: TE Mark Andrews Expects To Remain With Ravens]
“At this point, I would really expect Mark to be on this team,” DeCosta told reporters last night (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “Great player, love him, competitive, tough playmaker. I would expect him to be on the team.”
Andrews has established himself as a franchise legend in Baltimore, as the tight end holds the franchise record for touchdowns (rushing or receiving) and ranks second in franchise history in receiving yards. However, a divorce wouldn’t be completely unfounded.
Beyond Andrews’ continued playoff failures (which culminated in a recent playoff loss to the Bills that saw the tight end fumble the ball on a crucial drive and drop a game-tying two-point conversion), there are also financial incentives for moving on from the tight end. Andrews is entering the final season of a four-year, $56MM extension, and he’s due to carry a lofty cap charge of $16.91MM in 2025. A trade would provide the organization with $11MM in cap savings.
While Andrews wouldn’t command nearly as large of a contract next offseason, there was a belief that the Ravens could look to squeeze value out of the asset, especially if they already intended to move on in 2026. Plus, with Isaiah Likely entering the final season of his rookie contract, the Ravens may be in a position to pick between the two. If a suitor was willing to pony up for Andrews, the team could simply move forward with Likely.
Andrews hasn’t come close to matching his 1,300-yard campaign from 2021, and he finished last season with only 39.6 yards per game, his lowest average since his rookie year. On the flip side, he found the end zone 11 times (a career high), and a recent report indicated that the team is cognizant that losing Andrews would still hurt their 2025 roster.
For what it’s worth, Andrews recently expressed optimism that he’d remain in Baltimore for at least the 2025 season. Head coach John Harbaugh has also expressed an expectation that his long-time player will remain with the squad. DeCosta was the last to weigh in, and the GM’s comments seem to confirm that Andrews will spend at least one more year with the Ravens.
Giants Acquire No. 25, Select QB Jaxson Dart
There was some speculation about the Giants jumping back into the first round as they pursued a QB, and the front office has made that a reality. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that the team has acquired pick No. 25 from the Texans. The Giants will use their new pick to select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.
Full trade details:
Giants acquire:
- 2025 first-round pick (No. 25)
Texans acquire:
- 2025 second-round pick (No. 34)
- 2025 third-round pick (No. 99)
- 2026 third-round pick
With the Titans committed to Cam Ward at No. 1, holding there despite multiple Giants offers (one of which including the team’s 2026 first-round pick), Big Blue pivoted to the draft’s second wave of QBs. The team did extensive homework on some of the draft’s other top passing prospects. That included Dart, but it also included Shedeur Sanders, who was generally considered the second-best player at his position.
There was some speculation that a team could make a move up the draft board to select the Colorado product early in the first round, and there was some belief that the Giants could even ignore the draft’s blue chip prospects and simply use No. 3 on Sanders. Instead, Sanders — after a report the Giants were split on the two-year Colorado starter — ended up falling all the way to No. 25, and the Giants made the move…to select Dart.
It’s a pretty stunning development, but it may not be as much of an indictment on Sanders as it is a vote of confidence for Dart. The Ole Miss product recently came up as a player Brian Daboll liked, and the prospect quickly evolved from a potential Day 2 pick into a potential Day 1 pick throughout the pre-draft process. Daboll-Dart connections had developed for a bit leading up to the draft, and the fourth-year HC may well be staking his job on the SEC prospect — after Dave Gettleman-era draftee Daniel Jones defined the first three years of Daboll and GM Joe Schoen‘s tenure.
Dart had three strong seasons at Ole Miss, but he took it to another level in 2024. The prospect finished the campaign having completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Dart also continued to show some ability on the ground, compiling 495 rushing yards on 124 carries. Thanks to an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl, Dart separated himself from the likes of Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe…and he apparently did enough to jump Sanders on the draft board.
Dart, 22 in May, will now join a Giants squad that was clearly hunting for a future signal caller. The Giants obviously believe in Dart’s ability considering the investment, but with Daboll and Schoen on the hot seat, leadership may not be inclined to immediately toss the rookie into the starting lineup.
The Jones era came to an end last season, and Tommy DeVito is the only holdover from the former QB grouping. Since free agency started, the team added a pair of notable veterans in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and both of those players will surely sit above their new rookie teammate on the depth chart. Wilson notably only inked a one-year contract with New York, and while Winston’s deal is for two seasons, Dart could have a pathway to a starting gig in 2026. Whether the current regime is around to see it remains to be seen.
Jaguars Acquire No. 2 Pick, Select WR/CB Travis Hunter
The Jaguars are making major moves up the draft board. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Jacksonville has acquired the No. 2 pick from the Browns. The Jaguars are using that second overall selection on Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Full details of the trade:
Jaguars acquire:
- 2025 first-round pick (No. 2)
- 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104)
- 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 200)
Browns acquire:
- 2025 first-round pick (No. 5)
- 2025 second-round pick (No. 36)
- 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126)
- Jaguars’ 2026 first-round pick
It’s a stunning development, although not completely unfounded. We heard earlier today that the Jaguars were sniffing around at a trade up the draft board, with their sights set on Hunter. There were occasional rumblings that the Browns would consider moving back, but it was assumed they’d stay put and select one of the draft’s few blue chip prospects.
Cleveland was a popular potential landing spot for Hunter, but instead the two-way threat will suddenly land in Jacksonville. The Heisman winner has remained insistent that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro. Hunter also indicated that teams were receptive to that idea, stating that the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with.
The Jaguars are coming off a disappointing season that led to sweeping changes in leadership. Liam Coen has been brought in as head coach, with ex-Rams exec James Gladstone guiding the front office. That duo is making an immediate swing that they’re hoping will turn around the fortunes of the organization.
On offense, Hunter would provide Trevor Lawrence with another dynamic option. 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas was a hit, as the wideout finished his rookie campaign with 1,330 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Hunter and Thomas will form perhaps the best young receiver duo in the NFL, and there’s a belief the 2025 second-overall pick will ultimately settle into an offensive role.
The team may not feel as much urgency to use the rookie on the defensive side of the ball, although Hunter is also considered an elite prospect at cornerback. He split snaps nearly evenly during his Heisman-winning 2024 season. The team returns their top three CBs from 2024 (Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown) and they added Jourdan Lewis in free agency. That could allow Hunter to serve in a rotational role as he juggles playing both sides of the ball as a professional.
Hunter was considered one of the draft’s elite prospects following his headline-grabbing 2024 campaign. The Colorado star finished the season with 1,263 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns, and he added another 36 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He beat out Ashton Jeanty narrowly for the Heisman and had been earmarked for the No. 2 draft slot for weeks.
After making a pre-draft trade with Houston involving Day 3 picks — including a fifth-rounder this year — Cleveland will now land the fifth overall pick, plus an early second and a future first. The Browns were often connected to Hunter or Abdul Carter, and it was expected that they’d resist trade inquiries and opt for the blue chip prospect. Instead, the Browns will turn to the second tier of draft options.
Issues Between Jalen Ramsey, Mike McDaniel Led To Trade Talks
Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins continue to seek trade options that would send the star cornerback out of Miami. With the draft representing an opportunity for the two sides to finalize a divorce, we’re getting more details on how we even got here in the first place.
According to Armando Salguero of Outkick, issues between the two sides aren’t connected to finances. Instead, a potential Ramsey exit is because the player doesn’t “see eye to eye” with head coach Mike McDaniel. In fact, Salguero goes as far as describing the relationship between the two as “irreparably broken,” and he says it’s hard to envision the cornerback playing again for head coach.
This actually isn’t the first time we’ve heard of potential issues in the locker room, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com reported earlier today that McDaniel has “rubbed a lot of the veterans the wrong way” following the coach’s strong start to his career. Many of those defensive players would prefer to play elsewhere vs. sticking in Miami, and Pauline hints that’s a big reason why the organization has struggled to re-sign players on that side of the ball (and recruit replacements).
The Dolphins have told Ramsey that they’ll work with him to find a favorable landing spot, and this is probably a big reason why Salguero notes that the player has “respect” for GM Chris Grier. The Rams have already been mentioned as a landing spot for their former All-Pro cornerback, and there’s a chance more teams emerge if a trade isn’t consummated during the draft.
It’s been assumed the two sides were seeking a separation after Ramsey refused a pay cut, although Salguero says that’s not the reason for the inevitable trade. Further, the front office seemingly placated the player when they handed him more guaranteed money — via a September 2024 extension (three years, $72.3MM) — soon after Patrick Surtain reset the cornerback market.
The current issue with a Ramsey trade is timing, as a pre-June 1 trade would cost the Dolphins $25.2MM in dead money. The draft could be the best opportunity for the organization to get an offer built on draft picks, but they may just prefer to wait for financial flexibility.
Either way, it appears there’s no chance of Ramsey reversing course and returning to Miami next season.
Eagles Acquire No. 31, Draft Jihaad Campbell
The Eagles have pulled off a one-pick swap at the back of the first round. Philadelphia has acquired No. 31 from the Chiefs, sending Kansas City Nos. 32 and 164 (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
With the pick, the Eagles have selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Lingering as one of the best available prospects for an extended stretch tonight, Campbell will join the defending Super Bowl champions — after their trade with the team they walloped in February. As the Chiefs moved to draft tackle Josh Simmons at No. 32, the Eagles bolstered their linebacking corps with a rookie-scale asset.
Campbell established himself as a late-Day 1 or early-Day 2 pick following a strong showing in 2024. The Alabama linebacker finished the season with 117 tackles, five sacks, and 12 tackles for loss, a performance that earned him All-SEC honors.
Campbell drew praise for his coverage ability thanks to his athleticism and acceleration. Scouts weren’t as high on his run-stopping ability, although he lands in a good spot for his development in Philly. The prospect ultimately profiles as more of a middle linebacker, although he possesses the versatility and pass-rush prowess to also play on the edge.
The Eagles are apparently enamored with Campbell’s ability, as the team reportedly tried to trade up earlier in the first round to select the Alabama product. The player’s recovery from a shoulder injury may have slightly hurt his draft stock, a development that ended up working in Philly’s favor.
As Nakobe Dean recovers from a torn patellar tendon, Campbell could be called on to start at middle linebacker to begin the 2025 campaign. When the whole grouping is entirely healthy, Campbell may find himself in a rotational role playing behind Dean and Zack Baun. Campbell’s contract becomes critical now that the Eagles have paid Baun, who has gone from a one-year, $3.5MM deal to a three-year, $51MM pact after his first-team All-Pro season. With injuries marring Dean’s rookie contract, the Eagles paid up to make a more significant investment in a position they had recently devoted minimal resources to stocking.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Panthers Draft Tetairoa McMillan At No. 8
The Panthers were a candidate to trade down, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Carolina fielded calls about doing so. Instead, Carolina has retained the selection.
Many felt Jalon Walker would be the team’s top choice, and he was on the board at No. 8. Surprisingly, neither Walker nor another defender is headed to Carolina. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been selected.
Tet is certainly worthy of an early-first-round selection following his standout career at Arizona. His numbers took a slight step back in 2024, but he still finished the campaign with 84 catches for 1,319 yards, a performance that definitively established him as one of the draft’s top wide receivers.
The Panthers have clearly been motivated to provide former first-overall pick Bryce Young with as many young targets as possible. The team used the No. 32 pick in last year’s draft on Xavier Legette, and the rookie finished the year with 521 yards from scrimmage.
While Young was mostly responsible for his benching last year, the team’s lack of dynamic receiver depth certainly didn’t help. Now, the signal-caller will be armed with a pair of highly-touted WRs, making this a crucial year for both Young and the Panthers offense.
McMillan will likely be penciled in atop the depth chart next to Legette heading into next season. Adam Thielen is still kicking around, and the Panthers are hanging on to the likes of David Moore and Jalen Coker. Those veterans shouldn’t provide the rookie with many threats for playing time, and there’s a chance Tet ends up emerging as the team’s top offensive weapon.
While WR was certainly a need for the organization, there was a belief that they’d ultimately settle for Walker. Although Carolina did not send a large contingent to Walker’s Athens pro day earlier this month, sources believed Dan Morgan and Dave Canales remained high on the intriguing front-seven piece, especially after the team failed to replace Brian Burns in 2024.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/24/25
While the Raiders front office is surely focusing much of their efforts on tonight’s draft, that didn’t stop the organization from making a move today:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: TE Qadir Ismail
The son of former WR Qadry Ismail, Qadir had an interesting college career, transitioning from quarterback to wide receiver. He went undrafted out of Samford in 2024 and caught on with the Ravens, where he was listed as a tight end. He spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on Baltimore’s taxi squad. He’ll be joining a Raiders TEs group that includes Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas, and Justin Shorter.