Texans Acquire No. 123, Select Ohio State TE Cade Stover
The Eagles have made yet another trade. Philly is sending No. 123 to the Texans for No. 127 and a 2025 fifth-round pick, per Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano.
Houston has used their new pick on tight end Cade Stover. The Ohio State product is the eighth TE off the board, including the fifth of the fourth round.
The six-foot-four, 255-pound tight end had productive 2022 and 2023 seasons at Ohio State, combining for 77 receptions, 982 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.
The Texans continue to add to their offense. Besides the team’s headline-grabbing Stefon Diggs trade, the team has also signed lineman David Sharpe and drafted lineman Blake Fisher. Now, they’ll be adding Stover to a depth chart that is led by veteran Dalton Schultz.
Dolphins Acquire No. 120, Select RB Jaylen Wright
The Dolphins have given up a future pick to trade into the fourth round. Miami has acquired pick No. 120 from the Eagles, sending Philly a 2025 third-round pick (per ESPN’s Field Yates).
The Dolphins have used their pick on Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright. Miami wasn’t set to pick until No. 158, so the team believed strongly enough in the prospect to sacrifice a surefire earlier pick in the 2025 draft.
After finishing his first season as a starting RB with 883 yards from scrimmage, Wright took it to another level in 2023. The prospect led the Tennessee offense with 1,154 yards from scrimmage, although he only finished the campaign with four touchdowns (down from the 10 touchdowns he scored in 2022).
The Dolphins used a third-round pick in last year’s draft on De’Von Achane, and they’re still rostering veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.. Wright is known for his dynamic speed (he ran a sub-4.4-second 40 time), so Mike McDaniel will surely find a way to use his newest weapon.
Packers Acquire No. 111, Select Oregon S Evan Williams
The Packers and Jets have been frequent trade partners in recent years, and the teams have pulled off another deal. The Packers have jumped to No. 111, with New York acquiring picks No. 126 and No. 190.
The Packers will use their new pick on Oregon safety Evan Williams. There’s been a run on Ducks players today, with Williams representing the fourth Oregon player to be selected in the fourth round.
After leading the Fresno State defense for four seasons, Williams transferred to Oregon for the 2023 campaign. He proceeded to earn second team All-Pac-12 honors after compiling 82 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. While the defensive back didn’t posses the same upside as other prospects at the position, his defensive savvy should keep him on NFL rosters.
The Packers have been one of the more active teams through the first two days of the draft, selecting five rookies. The team added Georgia’s Javon Bullard in the second round, and the two rookies will join a new-look safeties room that also features new addition Xavier McKinney.
Broncos Acquire No. 102, Select Oregon WR Troy Franklin
The Broncos have traded for the second selection of Day 3. Denver has acquired picks No. 102 and No. 235 from the Seahawks, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In return, Seattle will receive picks No. 121, No. 136, and No. 207.
The Broncos have used the pick on Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin.
Following a breakout 2022 campaign, Franklin had an even bigger season in 2023. He finished the year setting a school record with 14 receiving touchdowns, and he compiled 1,383 yards on 81 receptions. Knocked for his size and physicality, Franklin wasn’t able to parlay his performance into a selection in the first three rounds. Fortunately, he’ll land in a perfect spot in Denver.
Franklin, of course, is plenty familiar with new Broncos QB Bo Nix, with the duo playing alongside each other for the past two seasons. The Broncos reportedly had their eye on several Ducks players, as Mike Klis of 9News in Denver notes that the team hosted Nix, Franklin, and running back Bucky Irving for private workouts on the same day.
With Jerry Jeudy out of the picture, the rookie could carve out a role on a Denver depth chart that also includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and offseason acquisition Josh Reynolds.
Chargers Pick Up OT Rashawn Slater’s Fifth-Year Option
After snagging the draft’s top offensive line prospect, the Chargers have committed to another first-round lineman through the 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chargers have picked up Rashawn Slater‘s fifth-year option.
[RELATED: Chargers Select Joe Alt At No. 5]
As our 2025 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker shows, Slater will now be attached to a fully guaranteed $19MM for the 2025 campaign. The lineman will earn a $2.9MM base salary in 2024 via the fourth year of his rookie contract.
The 13th-overall pick in the 2021 draft (and the second offensive lineman off the board), Slater has started all 36 of his appearances since joining the Chargers. The Northwestern product had a standout rookie season, earning a second-team All-Pro nod after starting all 16 of his games. He ruptured his biceps tendon three games into the 2022 campaign, ending his sophomore season prematurely.
Slater managed to return for the start of the 2023 season and proceeded to appear in every offensive snap for the Chargers. Pro Football Focus ranked Slater 17th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles last season, including one of the highest grades at the position for pass blocking.
The Chargers selected Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt with the fifth-overall pick. While Slater has more than proven himself at LT in front of Justin Herbert, the organization is leaving the door open to Alt taking over the blind side.
“We don’t know yet. Those things are to be determined,” coach Jim Harbaugh said of the OL configuration (via the team’s website). “Count on us playing our best five offensive linemen. What position each guy plays within the offense and within the offensive line is to be determined.”
Steelers Met With CB Cameron Sutton
Following a one-season stop in Detroit, Cameron Sutton could be eyeing a return to Pittsburgh. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan met with the cornerback last week, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
[RELATED: CB Cameron Sutton Taken Into Custody]
After inking a three-year, $33MM deal with the Lions last offseason, Sutton was released by the team after facing charges of domestic battery by strangulation. Nearly three weeks after an arrest warrant was issued, Sutton turned himself in to police in late March.
The cornerback will surely face punishment from the NFL, and there were questions surrounding his future in the NFL. It sounds like Sutton could have at least one potential suitor in his former team, although there’s a good chance the Steelers let the legal process play out before they make a move.
The former third-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, starting 39 of his 84 appearances. After spending the first chunk of his career as a backup, Sutton emerged as a starter during his final two years with the team, starting 31 of his 32 appearances. That included a 2022 campaign where the defensive back finished with 43 tackles to go along with career highs in interceptions (three) and passes defended (15).
The 29-year-old started all 17 games for the Lions last season, finishing with 65 tackles and one interception. He also started each of Detroit’s three playoff games, adding another eight tackles. Pro Football Focus only ranked Sutton 104th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks last season.
The Steelers added Donte Jackson to start alongside Joey Porter Jr. at cornerback, but the team lacks experience beyond that duo. The team’s current depth options include upcoming sophomores Cory Trice, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and Darius Rush, who was limited to three appearances as a rookie.
Rams Spoke With Matthew Stafford About Contract Resolution
Matthew Stafford is seeking guaranteed money beyond the 2024 campaign, and it sounds like the Rams are open to working with their franchise QB on a resolution. While speaking with reporters yesterday, coach Sean McVay acknowledged that the organization has spoken with Stafford about a reworked contract.
[RELATED: Rams’ Matthew Stafford Seeking Post-2024 Guarantees]
“I’ve had good dialogue with Matthew; we’ll keep those things in-house,” McVay said (via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic). “He’s been working with our guys, but we’ll keep those things in-house.”
In addition to speaking with Stafford, McVay also said the team’s decision makers (including himself, GM Les Snead, and vice president of football Tony Pastoors) “have been discussing the situation.”
Stafford is still playing on an $160MM extension he signed with the Rams back in 2022. The front office briefly considered trading the quarterback before locking themselves in to his near-$60MM commitment for the 2023 campaign. While the veteran has flirted with retirement in the past, he seems set to be under center for the Rams in 2024, when he’ll earn a guaranteed $31MM base salary.
Beyond that, it’s a bit murkier. Two years remain on Stafford’s deal beyond the 2024 season, but Stafford’s salaries in 2025 ($27MM) and ’26 ($26MM) are not locked in. His cap hits for those campaigns – as well as the coming one – range between $49.5MM and $50.5MM. If Stafford intends to continue playing beyond the 2024 season, it could make sense for both sides to guarantee more money while reducing the player’s upcoming cap charges.
Beyond the financials, McVay also thinks it’s important to continue showing gratitude for the quarterback who helped guide them to a Super Bowl championship.
“There’s nothing that’s more important than making sure that he feels appreciated and that he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way,” McVay said, “and I think that commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated. And we want to work toward figuring that out.”
Panthers Acquire No. 32, Select WR Xavier Legette
The Bills are trading down once again. Buffalo is sending picks No. 32 and No. 200 to the Panthers for No. 33 and No. 141. The Panthers have traded up one pick to select South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. Although Carolina famously traded what became the No. 1 overall pick to Chicago in last year’s Bryce Young swap, the rebuilding team ended up making a pick tonight after all.
This comes after some pre-draft connections between Carolina and the regional product. Legette, who had risen up draft boards this offseason, will join a Panthers team retooling on offense yet again.
While new HC Dave Canales attempted to downplay the team’s interest in Legette, the South Carolina alum said he met with the Charlotte-based NFL team four or five times during the draft run-up. Legette will follow trade pickup Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, who still roster Adam Thielen and 2023 second-rounder Jonathan Mingo.
Legette blazed to a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, doing so at 221 pounds, and notched a 40-inch vertical jump. He is coming off a career that included four unremarkable seasons and a fifth-year breakthrough. Legette only delivered one remotely productive season in five years with the Gamecocks — a 1,255-yard 2023 that came after four sub-200-yard campaigns — but late during the pre-draft process, the big-bodied target was being viewed as a first-rounder. Although they moved up just one spot, the Panthers became the team to make that prediction accurate.
Last year, the Panthers entered the season with a shaky skill-position corps. The team did not do enough to surround Young with a quality cast, with the group becoming dependent on a 33-year-old Thielen. Two seasons remain on Thielen’s three-year, $25MM deal; the longtime Viking is due a $6.5MM salary guarantee this year. What could be Thielen’s Panthers finale could include a mentorship experience, with Legette joining Mingo as recent SEC standouts who will attempt to provide Young at least auxiliary options around the team’s two veteran targets.
The Bills exited Day 1 of the draft having made two moves down the board, sliding out of No. 28 and then No. 32. The four-time reigning AFC East champions will enter Day 2 with a gaping hole at wide receiver. It should be expected the AFC power will take steps to address that area Friday night.
49ers Select WR Ricky Pearsall At No. 31
With Brandon Aiyuk trade speculation swirling, the 49ers have certainly raised some eyebrows with their selection at No. 31. With the second-to-last pick of the first round, the 49ers haves selected wide receiver Florida WR Ricky Pearsall.
[RELATED: 49ers Discussing First-Round Trade Involving Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel]
Following a breakout campaign at Arizona State in 2021, Pearsall transferred to Florida in 2022. After putting up similar numbers during his first season with the Gators, the wideout took a major step forward in 2023. Pearsall finished this past season with 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns, putting him firmly on the NFL map.
Pearsall was one of the more rapid risers in recent weeks. The Florida product saw his stock rise from probable Day 2 pick to surefire Day 2 pick to late first-round selection. With five WRs already being selected this evening, the 49ers didn’t want to press their luck and ended up opting for the wide receiver a bit higher than projections suggested.
With Aiyuk seeking a lucrative extension, the 49ers have continually stated that they wanted to retain the former first-round pick. However, reports from yesterday suggested that the front office was discussing the wide receiver (along with teammate Deebo Samuel) in trades.
While Aiyuk remains on San Francisco’s roster at the moment, the Pearsall pick will only add fuel to the fire. With the first round having passed, a window for the 49ers to unload Aiyuk or Samuel closed. It will be interesting to see if the team would accept Day 2 compensation for one of its standout wide receivers. With the Bengals not expected to trade Tee Higgins — his request notwithstanding — attention could be focused on Aiyuk. Then again, the 49ers have relied on their WR duo to help Brock Purdy. This Pearsall move could potentially be a bridge to the Samuel-Aiyuk duo separating in 2025.
The 49ers could extend Aiyuk and push their cap predicament to 2025, so Pearsall might not immediately step into a major role. Still, the rookie should be the clear-cut WR3 if both Deebo and Aiyuk stick around, with Jauan Jennings and Ronnie Bell representing the team’s other options at the position.
Ravens Select Clemson CB Nate Wiggins At No. 30
The Ravens have added to their secondary. The team has selected Clemson defensive back Nate Wiggins with the No. 30 pick. Baltimore has thrown numerous mid- to late-round picks at the cornerback position over the years, hitting on the likes of Anthony Averett (fourth round) and Brandon Stephens (third round), but they finally pull out the big guns, making Wiggins their highest-drafted cornerback since Marlon Humphrey went 16th overall in 2017. 
Wiggins became a full-time starter for the Tigers as a sophomore last season. In eleven starts, Wiggins led the team with 14 passes defended and added on a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) didn’t tout his 2022 season as elite, Wiggins was still credited as a first-team All-ACC selection by some publications, though not by the Conference itself.
That honor would have to wait until 2023, when Wiggins was named by the Conference as a first-team All-ACC cornerback. That status was reflected in Wiggins’ PFF ranking which saw him elevate all the way up to the 25th highest ranked cornerback in the nation. Wiggins once again leads his defense with 11 passes defensed and two interceptions, one of which he returned 46 yards for another touchdown. He also showed off other playmaking abilities in 2023 with a sack and two forced fumbles, both of which occurred on chases that ended on the one-yard line.
Wiggins has prototypical length at the cornerback position with a long, 6-foot-2 frame and arm length and body control that grant him an easy advantage on contested balls. He’s not too thin at 185 pounds, though he played closer to 170 at Clemson, and while he may not have strong initial quickness, he was considered the school’s fastest player and possesses great recovery speed to stay with receivers downfield. He’ll need to get stronger at the next level in order to compete against physical NFL wideouts.
In Baltimore, Wiggins figures to work into the defense sooner rather than later, though it will be interesting to see exactly how. Humphrey and Stephens expect to open the 2024 season as the starters outside. The team liked Ar’Darius Washington in the slot last year before he landed on injured reserve for much of the season.
Without Washington, the team leaned on safety Kyle Hamilton frequently in the slot, though with their former third safety, Geno Stone, now in Cincinnati, they’ll likely feel less free to let Hamilton roam. Though, if Wiggins comes on strong early, the Ravens could move Stephens back to safety, a position he’s played for them before, giving them a new third player at the position. The team also returns Arthur Maulet, who played a significant role in injury replacement last year.
Wiggins should be a priority on the outside. He didn’t display outstanding initial quickness to stay with slot receivers, but his recovery top speed should make him feel at home on the exterior and downfield. Stephens is entering a contract year, so perhaps Wiggins may just need to wait a year to become a full-time starter. Otherwise, he should factor in heavily in three-cornerback formations should the team keep Stephens at safety.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.