Browns To Host Tyler Shough On Top-30 Visit; QB Met With Seahawks
Armed with the second-overall pick in the draft, the Browns are in prime position to land either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. However, there’s another QB who’s rapidly climbing up draft boards, and the Browns will take an extended look at the prospect.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are hosting Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough for a top-30 visit. The organization may simply be doing their due diligence at the position in case they opt for someone like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. However, Cabot hints that Shough’s chances of going second aren’t “as far-fetched as [they] might seem.”
Shough is one of the more intriguing names on the draft board. The QB has seven years of college experience in stops at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville. He had a true breakout season in 2023, completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough has already drawn the attention of draft pundits; as Cabot notes, Greg Cosell has lauded the player’s size and NFL readiness, while Louis Riddick has discounted the player’s injury history in favor of his upside. This won’t be Shough’s first visit; the QB visited with the Seahawks earlier this week, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
With Ward expected to go first-overall, the Browns have often been connected to Sanders with the second-overall pick. As Cabot notes, the front office hasn’t been quiet about their affection for the Colorado QB, and Deion Sanders has also endorsed a move to Cleveland. However, Cabot cautions that if the organization determines they prefer Shough over Sanders, they may not have the flexibility to select a non-QB with the No. 2 pick and then swing a trade to acquire a QB prospect later in the draft. There’s also a chance the team looks at other quarterback options like Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe.
At 25-years-old, Shough would surely make some Browns fans queasy considering their track record with older prospects (apologies to Brandon Weeden). The front office may have a tough time convincing fans to pivot the second-overall pick to someone like Shough, and the organization could be better off taking someone like Carter or Hunter at No. 2 with the hope of landing a QB later on.
It will be interesting to see if the team’s free agency approach will impact their draft plans. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this morning that the Browns remain interested in Russell Wilson, and adding both a veteran and a rookie would make for a crowded QBs room. While Deshaun Watson‘s future with the organization is uncertain, the Browns already made one move for a veteran this offseason in Kenny Pickett.
Giants To Sign WR Zach Pascal
Zach Pascal is continuing his career in New York. The veteran wide receiver is signing with the Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It’s a one-year deal for Pascal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The move is pending a physical.
[RELATED: Giants Sign WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey]
A former UDFA, Pascal made a name for himself in Indy, where he ended up spending four seasons. He was especially productive between the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, hauling in 85 catches for 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns in 32 appearances with the Colts.
Following a one-year stop with the Eagles, Pascal spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals. He’s mostly transitioned to a special teams role, with the veteran garnering 480 ST snaps vs. 27o offensive snaps during his stint with the team. He hauled in four catches for the Cardinals in 2023.
Pascal will likely be competing for a special teams role with the Giants. The team already added Lil’Jordan Humphrey to a receivers room of Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt. Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes Pascal could be competing with Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who beat out Miles Boykin for a similar spot last year.
S Nick Scott Considering Offer From Panthers, Mystery Team
The Panthers have already made one notable move to shore up their secondary, as the team inked Tre’von Moehrig to a lucrative contract. Despite the addition, the team is still considering a reunion with a key 2024 contributor.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, safety Nick Scott is considering an offer to return to the Panthers. Joe Person of The Athletic backs this report, noting that the Panthers “are interested” in bringing the veteran back to Carolina.
Wilson notes that Scott is also considering an unnamed team in a move that would reunite the player with a “former coach.” While Wilson is playing coy with this report, there are two obvious candidates. The Falcons would offer Scott a chance to reunite with current head coach Raheem Morris, who was the defensive coordinator when the safety was on the Rams. The Colts could also be an option after the team added former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo for the same role.
A former seventh-round pick, Scott saw more defensive responsibility during his four years in Los Angeles. This culminated in a 2022 season where he started all 16 of his appearances while compiling 86 tackles and two interceptions. He inked a three-year deal with the Bengals in 2023 and started 10 of his 17 appearances that season before getting cut.
He quickly caught on with the Panthers, where he was intended to play a backup role to Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller. Scott saw an increased role when Fuller went down with an injury, including a four-week stretch where he didn’t miss a defensive snap. A hamstring injury resulted in a nearly two-month stay on IR, and Scott exclusively saw special teams work following his late-season return.
Woods and Fuller are now out the door, although Moehrig’s three-year, $51MM deal suggests he’ll soak up a lot of those lost snaps. Demani Richardson got an extended look at the position in 2025, and the former UDFA could end up competing with Scott for a significant role in the secondary.
Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves
The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.
[RELATED: Giants To Sign QB Jameis Winston]
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.
This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.
Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.
As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.
With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.
Patriots Host WR Stefon Diggs
MARCH 20: Diggs’ visit will include a physical Thursday, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds. The accomplished wideout dined with Patriots staffers Wednesday night and will hear an official pitch during meetings at the team’s facility today. Diggs joins Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen and Tyler Lockett as notable 30-something wideouts still on the market.
MARCH 19: While the Patriots reportedly had grand plans to add at WR this offseason, the team has been relatively quiet when it comes to the position. That could soon change, as the organization is hosting one of the biggest names remaining on the market. According to Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots are hosting free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs on a visit.
After losing out on the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes last offseason, the Patriots seemed motivated to provide Drake Maye with a notable pass catcher for the 2025 campaign. The team was a known suitor for Tee Higgins before the WR ended up sticking with the Bengals, and despite the Patriots offering Chris Godwin a lucrative contract, the veteran took less money to stick with the Buccaneers.
So, while New England has made headlines with a number of moves on the defensive side of the ball, the team has been relatively quiet on offense, at least when it comes to the skills positions. The team’s most notable signing was Mack Hollins, who was added to a receivers depth chart that still includes the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker. None of those options have proven themselves as a definitive WR1 (or maybe even a WR2), so it’s not a huge surprise that the Patriots remain in the market for receiver help.
The team’s search has brought them to a familiar face in Diggs. Thanks particularly to his time in Buffalo, Diggs has compiled 779 career receiving yards against the Patriots, his second-highest total against any one team (the Packers lead the list). While the receiver’s numbers tailed off a bit during his final season with the Bills, he still finished the with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his four seasons.
Diggs was traded to the Texans last season and only saw a slight drop off despite a deeper depth chart. Through eight games, the 31-year-old hauled in 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, his season ended in late October thanks to a torn ACL.
That injury likely clouded his current free agency, as it’s been relatively quiet on the Diggs front. We heard the Texans were interested in retaining their former acquisition, but the team has since added the likes of Christian Kirk and Justin Watson. Otherwise, the Patriots represent the first known suitor for Diggs.
With the wideout looking to rehabilitate his value and the Patriots desperate for receiver help, this could be a natural pairing. While New England would likely have to wait a bit for Diggs to return from his injury, the veteran’s addition would still be a boon for Maye and the Patriots offense.
Texans, Danielle Hunter Agree To Extension
Danielle Hunter‘s wish has come true. Following reports that the veteran pass rusher was interested in extending his stay in Houston, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Hunter has inked a one-year extension. The 30-year-old is now under contract through the 2026 season.
The one-year extension is worth $35.6MM and will place Hunter second among the league’s highest-paid defensive ends. Myles Garrett‘s recent record-breaking extension tops that list, with Hunter edging out Maxx Crosby by $100K in the AAV column.
As part of the extension, Hunter will also get a $12.5MM raise for 2025. The edge rusher is now scheduled to make $32MM in 2025, and he’ll be owed $55.1MM over the next two years (with a whopping $54.1MM guaranteed). Hunter inked a two-year, $49MM deal with the team last offseason.
Following his long and productive stint in Minnesota, Hunter picked up where he left off in Houston. He earned a Defensive Player of the Year vote after finishing the season with 12 sacks and a career-high 23 QB hits. This is the third straight year that Hunter has topped 10 sacks; after overcoming injury issues in 2020 and 2021, the long-time Vikings standout collected 26.5 sacks between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
Following his strong first season in Houston, Hunter expressed interest in signing an extension with the Texans. The pass rusher was reportedly eyeing a new deal that would push his AAV above $30MM. That would naturally put the veteran towards the top of his position, although he was already ranked in the top-10 with his previous $24.5MM AAV.
The Texans continue to lock in their defensive core. It was just the other day that the team inked Derek Stingley Jr. to a record-breaking extension, and with Will Anderson on the books for years to come, the front office can rest easy knowing they have their defensive nucleus intact for the next few years.
Hunter had already secured a near-fully guaranteed contract last year, turning down more overall money from the Colts to head to Houston. The Texans adding a year to this illustrates the confidence they have in the decorated pass rusher, as Anderson’s extension eligibility now overlaps with part of Hunter’s contract. The Texans could move to extend Anderson in 2026, following their Stingley blueprint; that would now overlap with Hunter’s contract. Ditto C.J. Stroud, who joins Anderson in becoming extension-eligible in 2026.
Browns To Sign DeAndre Carter
The Browns have added a veteran return specialist to their roster. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that the team has signed DeAndre Carter.
It’s a one-year deal for the seven-year veteran. Carter will get nearly $800K in guaranteed money to join Cleveland’s special teams unit.
Carter ranks second among active players in career kick/punt return yards (4,577, behind Cordarrelle Patterson‘s 8,238 yards). The veteran has returned at least 15 punts and 10 kickoffs in each of the past four seasons. This includes a 2024 campaign that he spent in Chicago, where he returned 17 punts for 158 yards and 15 kickoffs for 479 yards.
Carter has also received some looks on offense throughout his career, hauling in 117 receptions. His best season came with the Chargers in 2022, when he finished with 46 catches for 538 yards and three touchdowns. He hauled in nine catches for the Bears in 2024.
The Browns averaged 24.8 yards on their kickoffs in 2024, the third-worst mark in the NFL. The Browns mostly leaned on their RBs (including Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong, and D’Onta Foreman) for the role last season, and there’s a good chance Carter will slide atop the depth chart in 2025.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/19/25
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Esezi Otomewo
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: RB Julius Chestnut
Al-Quadin Muhammad is inking a one-year deal to return to Detroit, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The defensive lineman got into nine games (two starts) for the Lions last season, collecting 11 tackles and three sacks while appearing in about 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Muhammad didn’t get into a game during the 2023 campaign. He spent the first part of the season on the Colts practice squad, and he was later suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. Prior to his lost 2023 season, the lineman got into games with the Saints, Colts, and Bears, collecting 12 sacks across six NFL seasons.
Steelers Believe They’re Still In The Running For Aaron Rodgers
The Aaron Rodgers saga continues, as we heard this morning that the Vikings were likely exiting the sweepstakes. This news followed a report from last weekend that the free agent quarterback may only be considering two options: the Vikings or retirement. Still, both the Steelers and Giants loomed as suitors, and it sounds like at least one of those teams is still under consideration.
[RELATED: Vikings Standing Down On Aaron Rodgers]
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers have not been told that they’re out of the running for Rodgers. Dulac notes that the organization will “continue to wait” on the QB, although there’s “no specific time set for a decision.”
While Rodgers’ prolonged stay in free agency is slightly holding up the QB market, that’s apparently not a concern for the Stelers front office. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports writes that the organization is “fine waiting” for a decision, and the team is confident that money won’t be an issue if Rodgers ultimately opts for Pittsburgh.
While there might not be any urgency for the Steelers’ decision makers, the team would surely like a resolution sooner than later. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only QBs on the depth chart, and even if the team does find a way to turn their No. 21 pick into a rookie signal caller, the organization will presumably prefer a more reliable temporary solution at the position.
In New York, the Giants may not be as patient. Schultz says the Giants also still have interest in Rodgers, although the team will likely be pulling the trigger on a backup sooner than later. Russell Wilson is a fallback option for both squads, and the veteran QB seems to be the most impacted by Rodgers’ indecisiveness.
Considering Minnesota’s commitment to J.J. McCarthy and their sudden exit from the Rodgers pursuit, there were some questions regarding the team’s interest in the veteran in the first place. While much of the connection between the two appeared to be one-sided, Alec Lewis of The Athletic says there were “many” inside the Vikings building who supported the possibility. Another source told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert that Rodgers’ chances of joining Minnesota were “non-zero.” That’s not necessarily a ringing endorsement, but it also confirms interest nonetheless.
Eagles Extend T Lane Johnson Through 2027
Lane Johnson is now on the Eagles’ books through the 2027 season. The team announced that they’ve signed their long-time lineman to a one-year extension.
The one-year extension is worth $25MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Johnson still had two years remaining on his previous pact. Schefter notes that the Eagles will be paying the lineman an extra $8MM over that span, increasing his 2025 and 2026 totals to $48MM ($40MM guaranteed). When today’s reworked deal was completed, Johnson ultimately saw an additional $30MM in guaranteed money. Today’s move should also provide the Eagles with some extra breathing room under the 2025 cap.
This isn’t the first time that Johnson’s added a year (and some guaranteed money) to his contract. After inking his then-record-breaking extension in 2019, he added a year to the deal in 2023. On the other side, the Eagles have traditionally been aggressive in extending stars early. Just over a week ago, the team added two years (and more guaranteed money) to Saquon Barkley‘s existing contract.
The fourth-overall pick in the 2013 draft, Johnson has established himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. The veteran has earned five-straight All-Pro nods, and he won his second Super Bowl ring this past season. Despite the 2024 campaign representing his age-34 season, Johnson still finished fifth on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
When Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Johnson hinted that he wanted to try playing into his 40s. At the same time, the lineman estimated that he may only “realistically” have two or three more seasons left in him. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer previously predicted today’s extension, and the reporter noted that Johnson may not finish his existing deal.
While Johnson’s future plans may be a bit murky, the Eagles can at least count on having their lineman signed for the next three seasons.