WR Gabe Davis Visits 49ers
Less than a week after he was released by the Jaguars, veteran wide receiver Gabriel Davis visited the 49ers, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Davis arrived in Jacksonville last offseason on a three-year, $39MM deal, but struggled to make an impact before tearing his meniscus in November. He underwent season-ending surgery, but is expected to complete his recovery in time for the 2025 season, per Schultz.
Wide receiver isn’t a significant roster need for the 49ers, but they did trade Deebo Samuel this offseason and Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from a significant knee injury sustained in October. He’s unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, leaving veteran Jauan Jennings and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall as San Francisco’s top wideouts heading into the summer.
The 49ers have reason to be confident in that duo. Jennings stepped into a bigger role after Aiyuk’s injury and broke out with 975 receiving yards, more than double his production from his first three seasons. Pearsall’s rookie year was stunted by a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery, but he showed promise at the end of the season. Behind them are 2024 fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing and veteran Demarcus Robinson, the latter of whom signed in San Francisco on a two-year deal in free agency. The 49ers also used Day 3 picks Jordan Watkins (fourth round, No. 138) and Junior Bergen (seventh round, No. 252).
Still, Jennings and Robinson are the only healthy and proven receivers currently on the roster. Though Davis disappointed in his debut year in Jacksonville, he established himself as a deep threat in his previous four seasons in Buffalo. He can line up on the outside and free the 49ers’ more dynamic receivers to play out of the slot if he beats out fellow veteran receivers Isaiah Hodgins, Russell Gage, and Trent Taylor for a roster spot.
However, Davis’ significant statistical regression with the Jaguars (compared to his time with the Bills) will likely force him to take a one-year, ‘prove-it’ deal with his next team, whether that be the 49ers or another club.
Raiders Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
The Raiders have signed 15 undrafted free agents, bringing their rookie class to 26 players. Here are Las Vegas’ UDFA signings:
- Tank Booker, DT (SMU)
- Dominic Boyd, OT (Georgia Southern)
- Hudson Clark, S (Arkansas)
- Parker Clements, OT (Virginia Tech)
- Pat Conroy, TE (Old Dominion)
- Mello Dotson, CB (Kansas)
- Zakhari Franklin, WR (Illinois)
- Jarrod Hufford, C (Iowa State)
- John Humphrey, CB (USC)
- Matt Jones, LB (Baylor)
- Jah Joyner, DE (Minnesota)
- Treven Ma’ae, DT (Baylor)
- Carter Runyon, TE (Towson)
- Greedy Vance, CB (USC)
- Jailin Walker, LB (Indiana)
Dotson was a four-year starter at Kansas opposite fellow undrafted Jayhawks corner Cobee Bryant. Dotson isn’t an elite athlete but has a natural feel for shadowing receivers and excellent ball skills. He recorded 27 passes defended and nine interceptions in the last two years, including four pick-sixes that showcased his playmaking instincts on and with the ball.
Joyner recorded 12 sacks and 13 tackles for loss for Minnesota in the last two years, though 2024 was his only season as a starter. He has an enticing frame (6-foot-4, 262 pounds) with 34-inch arms that he uses in a variety of ways, most effectively as a run defender setting the edge. He’s a solid but unspectacular athlete who will need to refine his pass-rushing plan and accelerate his processing to NFL speed to earn a roster spot.
The Raiders signed him to a deal that includes $150K guaranteed, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Similarly, Wilson tells us that the team wanted to make sure they landed Clements’ signature and offered him $75K in guarantees to make it happen.
Walker spent three years at James Madison before transferring to Indiana in 2024. Despite facing better competition, he posted career-highs in tackles (82), tackles for loss (10), sacks (2.0), and passes defended (10). He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at his pro day but weighs just 219 pounds. Walker explodes downhill against the run and as a blitzer and could push for a roster spot in Las Vegas as a special teams contributor.
Texans Sign Six Undrafted Free Agents
The Texans have signed six undrafted free agents, bringing their rookie class to 15 players. Here are Houston’s UDFA signings:
- Austin Brinkman, LS (West Virginia)
- Eli Cox, C (Kentucky)
- Alijah Huzzie, CB (North Carolina)
- Daniel Jackson, WR (Minnesota)
- K.C. Ossai, LB (Louisiana)
- Junior Tafuna, DT (Utah)
The Texans let longtime long snapper Jon Weeks walk in free agency, so Brinkman will compete with reserve/futures signing Tucker Addington for the LS roster spot this summer. His three-year contract includes $110k in guaranteed money, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Cox was a four-year starter along Kentucky’s offensive line with experience at center (35 starts) and right guard (12 starts). He showed off excellent athleticism at the Combine, but lacks ideal length and power for the NFL. His movement skills and football I.Q. could make him a solid fit in the zone-based scheme of new Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Cox will receive $250K in total guarantees on his first NFL contract, according to Wilson.
Huzzle was an early riser at the East-West Shrine Bowl, but tore his ACL during team practice, sidelining him for the rest of the pre-draft process and likely his rookie year. That tanked his draft stock, but Huzzle still has potential as a playmaker in the secondary and on special teams. He recorded 12 interceptions and 42 passes defended across 30 games at East Tennessee State before transferring to North Carolina, where he posted 18 passes defended and four picks in the last two years. Huzzle’s size (5-foot-10, 30-inch arms) will likely keep him in the slot in the NFL, though he has experience on the outside as well. He also brings upside as a punt returner.
Ossai is the younger brother of Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai. His contract with the Texans includes $175k in guarantees ($15K signing bonus and $160k guaranteed salary), per Wilson.
Tafuna is a 6-foot-4, 308-pound defensive tackle who received some early praise from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans at rookie minicamp (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). He wasn’t especially productive at Utah, recording only 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 45 career games (45 starts), but still earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 and 2023 with an All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024. Tafuna is a strong, agile defensive lineman who can eat blocks in the trenches, even if he doesn’t post eye-popping statistics. He received $200k in total guarantees from the Texans, according to Wilson.
Bears Tried To Trade Up For TreVeyon Henderson
The Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft looking to add to their running back room after the success of new head coach Ben Johnson with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.
Ashton Jeanty was long thought to be Chicago’s desired prospect in the first round. The team even explored trading up from the No. 10 pick to draft him; when that didn’t work out, they went with Colston Loveland. Their selection quieted trade action in the first round, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, as multiple teams were targeting the Michigan tight end in the teens.
The Bears’ search for a running back then moved on to TreVeyon Henderson, who they coveted for his upside on passing downs as a blocker and a receiver, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Henderson was expected to go early in the second round, so Chicago tried to trade up from the 39th overall pick to snag the former Buckeye, potentially with the Titans to No. 35 (via Fowler). Those efforts fell through, and the Patriots took Henderson one pick before the Bears were on the clock.
Chicago then waited until their last selection (Round 7, No. 233) to draft a running back, taking Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. He has some of the pass-protection chops the Bears were looking for and will have a chance to carve out a third-down role as a rookie.
Henderson, meanwhile, will immediately push for touches in the Patriots’ backfield as a contributor in the passing game. His ball security could even help him take over a lead role if Rhamondre Stevenson‘s fumbling woes continue into the 2025 season.
Bengals Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bengals announced 13 undrafted free agent signings to bring their rookie class to 19. Here are Cincinnati’s 2025 UDFAs:
- Dante Barnett, DT (Dickinson College)
- Quali Conley, RB (Arizona)
- Howard Cross III, DT (Notre Dame)
- Caleb Etienne, OT (BYU)
- Eric Gregory, DT (Arkansas)
- Bralyn Lux, CB (Texas Tech)
- Jamoi Mayes, WR (Cincinnati)
- Seth McLaughlin, C (Ohio State)
- Jordan Moore, WR (Duke)
- Rashod Owens, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Kole Taylor, TE (West Virginia)
- Payton Thorne, QB (Auburn)
- William Wagner, LS (Michigan)
The Bengals signed Barnett through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Born in Birmingham, England, he spent three years at the NFL Academy in Leicester before a year of Division III ball at Dickinson College. Barnett will need to figure out a positional fit in Cincinnati; at 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he’s too small for the interior but lacks the get-off of an edge rusher.
Cross was a consistent presence on Notre Dame’s defensive line over the past four years, including second-team All-American nods in the last two under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden. He has an explosive first step but struggles to control encounters due to his 6-foot-1, 285-pound frame and lack of elite strength to compensate. Cross’ size may limit him in the pros, but his intangibles – handed down from his father and former Giants tight end Howard Cross – will endear him to coaches and give him a chance at a roster spot.
Etienne is a 6-foot-6, 329-pound tackle who brings a promising athletic profile to the NFL. He struggled on the right side of BYU’s offensive line in 2023 but thrived on the blindside in 2024 and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He has excellent length with 36-inch arms, but he has to find more ways to maximize his physical gifts with better technique and footwork.
McLaughlin spent four years at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. As a Buckeye, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and won the Rimington Trophy, given out annually to the best center in college football. That was despite missing the end of the season due to a torn Achilles, which required surgery and sidelined him throughout the pre-draft process. He fell out of the draft as a result, he’s an experienced, technically sound center with a reputation as a smart, dedicated worker on and off the field. With a smooth recovery, he could turn into one of the steals of the 2025 class with the potential to succeed Ted Karras as the Bengals’ starting center.
Saints Announce Derek Carr’s Retirement
The Saints have announced the sudden retirement of veteran quarterback Derek Carr due to a shoulder injury.
Reports of Carr’s injury emerged in early April, though its exact nature and impact on the 2025 season were initially unclear. Scans later revealed that Carr suffered a torn labrum with “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff,” according to the team’s statement. The 34-year-old quarterback tried an injection and rehab, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but opted against surgery that would likely sideline him for the 2025 season with no guarantee of a full recovery.
All eyes will now turn to the Saints’ quarterback situation under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. The team was already preparing for the possibility of Carr missing most or all of this season by using a second-round pick on Louisville QB Tyler Shough in last month’s draft. Shough was considered to be one of the most pro-ready passers in this year’s class and will have a chance to start as a rookie in New Orleans. His primary competition will be 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener and 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler, both of whom stepped in for Carr during his absence last season.
[RELATED: Saints Planning Open QB Competition]
Carr’s retirement also comes with a complicated financial compromise. The 2025 compensation in his original contract included a $10MM roster bonus and a base salary of $30MM guaranteed for injury, per OverTheCap. The roster bonus became fully guaranteed for the offseason and triggered this past March, when his salary was also set to upgrade into a full guarantee. The Saints restructured his contract in March instead, converting the roster bonus and salary into a signing bonus to reduce his 2025 cap hit.
Now, that restructure seems to be reversed. Carr will keep the roster bonus, but the Saints will not be responsible for his salary in cash or cap space, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The team will also process his retirement after June 1 to spread the remaining dead money across two years. Essentially, Carr is forgoing $30MM that he would otherwise be owed whether he retired or underwent surgery and spent the season on the sidelines.
Carr was just two seasons into a four-year, $150MM contract signed in 2023. He went 9-8 in his debut season in New Orleans, but missed seven games in 2024 and finished with a 5-5 record as a starter. His financial agreement with the Saints will result in $70MM paid out for two years and 27 starts.
The Saints’ announcement also included a statement from Carr:
“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with [his wife] Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League. For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
Carr is retiring after 11 years in the NFL. The first nine years of that stretch were spent with the Raiders, and the former second-rounder will be best remembered for his tenure with them. Carr earned four Pro Bowl nods as a Raider, including three straight from 2015-17. With only one playoff start to his name, though, a lack of postseason appearances and success will be a key aspect of his legacy.
The Fresno State product was reunited with former college teammate Davante Adams in 2022, but that tandem remained in place for only one year. Things did not go according to plan during brief period of the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime, and Carr’s release brought about an end to his tenure in Vegas. His previous comments about retiring rather than playing for another franchise were replaced by his Saints pact, one which did not provide the desired results.
In all, Carr made 170 starts during his career, and his passing totals rank just outside the top 20 for quarterbacks in most categories. He amassed over $195MM in earnings over the course of his NFL tenure, one which has come to a rather abrupt end.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Panthers Sign 19 Undrafted Free Agents
The Panthers have added the following 19 undrafted free agents to their rookie class:
- JaTravis Broughton, CB (TCU)
- Ryan Fitzgerald, K (Florida State)
- Ethan Garbers, QB (UCLA)
- Jacolby George, WR (Miami)
- Isaac Gifford, S (Nebraska)
- Jared Harrison-Hunte, DE (SMU)
- Jack Henderson, S (Minnesota)
- Kobe Hudson, WR (Central Florida)
- Luke Kandra, OL (Cincinnati)
- Steven Losoya, OL (Vanderbilt)
- Kayron Lynch-Adams, RB (Michigan State)
- Bam Martin-Scott, LB (South Carolina)
- Moose Muhammad III, WR (Texas A&M)
- Tuasivi Nomura, LB (Fresno State)
- Bryce Pierre, TE (UCLA)
- Michael Reid, CB (South Dakota)
- Michael Tarquin, OL (Oklahoma)
- Trevian Thomas, S (Arkansas State)
- Corey Thornton, CB (Louisville)
Fitzgerald was thought to be a potential Day 3 pick after a stellar senior year at Florida State. He converted all 13 of his field goal tries with a 100% conversion rate that led all FBS kickers with at least 12 attempts. Fitzgerald was also perfect on his 14 extra points. He will compete with Matthew Wright for the Panthers’ kicking job in training camp.
Harrison-Hunte went undrafted despite a strong showing at the Combine. He’s an older prospect who will turn 25 by the start of his rookie year, but he had just one season of sustained production at SMU after five years at Miami. Still, he earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2024 with 8.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks and will push for a roster spot in Carolina as an athletic interior disruptor.
Hudson was a rotational target at Auburn in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to UCF, where he emerged as a starter over the last three years. He scored 19 touchdowns across 34 starts at UCF, but his lack of elite athleticism and ball skills will necessitate further improvements in route-running in the NFL. Hudson will compete with several young Panthers receivers for a roster spot this summer.
Kandra started 24 games at right guard for Cincinnati over the past two years with second-team All-American honors in both seasons and a team captaincy and a first-team All Big-12 nod in 2024. He is a strong, fast blocker with a brawler’s mentality in the trenches, but his lack of flexibility and agility will limit him in the NFL. His physical traits and experience will have him pushing for a roster spot, but he may have to develop center versatility to see playing time early in his career.
The Panthers were aggressive in bringing in some of these rookies who just slipped out of the draft. Two of the cornerbacks, Thornton and Reid, received increased guarantees on their deals to ensure they sign. Thornton’s contract included $150K in guaranteed money, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, while Reid’s deal contained $100K. George, the former Hurricanes receiver, was perhaps the most sought-after of Carolina’s signees. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tells us that he received $215K in guaranteed money to sign with the Panthers, which is more in guarantees than he would’ve received had he got drafted in the sixth round.
Patriots DC Terrell Williams Dealing With ‘Health Scare’
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is not with the team at rookie minicamp due to a “health scare,” according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Williams, previously the Lions’ defensive line coach, was visiting home in Detroit when the medical issue arose. Doctors advised him to stay there instead of returning to New England for the start of rookie minicamp. He declined to give any details about the specifics of his health, though he said he would in the future.
“I want to make it clear, I’m away from the building, but I’m not away from the team,” said Williams (via Reiss). “I’m working remotely right now. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back soon and just be in the building and be around everyone.”
Williams said that the health scare was “traumatic” and a “wake-up call,” but indicated that his medical situation had stabilized.
“Where I am now, my mind is clear,” he said (via Reiss). “I’m moving around. I’m happy. Everything is good. I’m just looking forward to getting back to Foxborough and seeing everybody in person.”
Bills Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bills have signed the following 12 undrafted free agents to bring their rookie class to 21 players:
- Hal Presley, WR (Baylor)
- Stephen Gosnell, WR (Virginia Tech)
- Kelly Akharaiyi, WR (Mississippi State)
- Keleki Latu, TE (Washington)
- Rush Reimer, G (Cal)
- Jacob Bayer, C (Arkansas State)
- Hayden Harris, DE (Montana)
- Paris Shand, DE (LSU)
- Devin Brandt-Epps, DT (New Mexico)
- Keonta Jenkins, LB (Virginia Tech)
- Daryl Porter Jr., CB (Miami)
- Wande Owens, S (New Hampshire)
Bayer is an experienced center with 46 collegiate starts under his belt – 22 at Lamar and 24 at Arkansas State. He earned first-team All-SBC honors in 2023, but suffered a torn ACL in the spring of 2024. He made an extremely quick recovery, only missing the first game of the season and finishing the year with a second-team All-SBC nod. Bayer will push for a roster spot as a depth center behind Connor McGovern and Sedrick Van Pran-Granger.
Shand is a multi-sport athlete who played for Canada’s U16 National Team in 2017. He then began his football career at Arizona before transferring to LSU in 2023. He wasn’t especially productive in college, but he has the requisite size to play defensive end in Buffalo’s 4-3 scheme.
Jenkins played a hybrid safety role at Virginia Tech but will convert to linebacker in the NFL. He fits the Bills’ mold as a speedy, undersized linebacker who excels in coverage, the likes of whom have found success in Buffalo in recent years.
Porter is the son of former NFL defensive back Daryl Porter, who played for the Bills from 1998 to 2000. His son started 35 games across his collegiate career at West Virginia and Miami.
Bears Sign Colston Loveland, Four Other Draft Picks
The Bears have signed five of their 2025 draft picks, including first-round tight end Colston Loveland, according to a team announcement.
Loveland, the No. 10 pick, will receive $26.64MM over four years with a $16.01MM signing bonus, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Like all contracts for first-round selections, his deal is fully guaranteed with a fifth-year option for the 2029 season.
The Bears have veteran tight end Cole Kmet under contract through 2027, but they thought highly enough of Loveland to draft him with a top-10 pick. That suggests that new head coach Ben Johnson plans to use plenty of two tight-end sets in 2025, which could lean into Loveland’s primary skillset. Kmet could play as an inline tight end with Loveland flexing out to the slot, which will highlight his receiving strengths and help compensate for his weaknesses as a blocker.
In the long term, though, Loveland profiles as a starting three-down tight end, especially since Kmet has no guaranteed money on his deal past 2025. He could become a trade or cut candidate after this season if Loveland lives up to his draft billing with a strong rookie year.
The Bears also signed all four of their Day 3 picks: fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite II (No. 132), fifth-rounder Zah Frazier (No. 148), sixth-rounder Luke Newman (No. 195), and seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai (No. 233).