Titans Did Not Try To Trade Will Levis During Draft
The Titans’ plan to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft raised obvious questions about Will Levis‘ future in Tennesee.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi shot down a late-March report that the team was looking to move Levis, but trade rumors persisted up until the draft. Levis remained in Tennessee through the weekend, and Borgonzi insisted after the draft that Levis still has “a lot of value.”
“There is going to be competition in every room, and he elevates the competition in that room,” said Borgonzi (via senior team writer Jim Wyatt). No. 1 pick Cam Ward is expected to take over as the Titans’ starting quarterback, but he will have to earn the gig during the preseason. Levis will likely be Ward’s primary competition, as veteran free agent signings Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle have never earned a starting job out of training camp.
Borgonzi said that all four QBs would get an “equal amount of reps” at the beginning of camp with head coach Brian Callahan and his staff making adjustments as they evaluate the position.
“We’re not going to name any starters right now, here in the offseason,” added Borgonzi.
However, it’s hard to imagine that the Titans took Ward without the intention of starting him right away. Of the six quarterbacks taken with the first overall pick in the last decade, only Jared Goff didn’t open his rookie season as a starter. (He took over for Case Keenum after nine games.) If Levis struggled to keep his job against lesser competition last year, there’s little reason to believe that he can fend off Ward this summer.
Steelers To Sign Veteran WR Robert Woods
The Steelers are signing wide receiver Robert Woods to a one-year, $2MM deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, adding some veteran depth to the team’s pass-catching corps.
Woods recently celebrated his 33rd birthday and is entering his 13th NFL season. He is an experienced receiver with 145 career starts and 48.1 yards per game in his career. However, he has not been the same player since suffering a torn ACL during the 2021 season. He averaged 4.6 receptions and 56.6 yards per game before the injury and just 2.5 receptions and 25.1 yards per game in three seasons since.
However, Woods’ special teams’ prowess, toughness as a run-blocker, and versatility to play on the outside or in the slot helped him maintain a role in Tennessee in 2022 and Houston in the past two seasons. Those traits likely endeared him to the Steelers, a run-heavy team that has long appreciated tough wideouts who will mix it up as blockers when lined up in the slot. The Steelers re-signed Ben Skowronek, who has a similar profile, to a two-year deal earlier this offseason. Woods will join Skowronek, D.K. Metcalf, George Pickens, Calvin Austin, and Scotty Miller in Pittsburgh’s receiver room this season.
Woods expressed interest in re-signing with the Texans after the 2024 season ended, but Houston opted to sign Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios, and Justin Watson before using two Day 2 draft picks on Iowa State wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. That left Woods as one of several veteran wideouts to remain a free agent through the league’s major signing period. Pittsburgh came calling after the draft, albeit for the lowest single-season compensation in Woods’ career.
Cowboys May Reunite With Amari Cooper After Missing Out On Tetairoa McMillan
The Cowboys were widely expected to add to their wide receiver room this offseason, but they didn’t sign any major free agents or draft a single player at the position.
Dallas would have drafted Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 12 pick if he was available, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer, but the Arizona wideout was selected three picks earlier by the Panthers. They also explored a trade for a veteran receiver from the AFC North, per Archer, but couldn’t come to terms to finalize the deal.
Now, Dallas will likely have to add one of the veteran receivers still available in free agency. One name has already jumped out at the team, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Amari Cooper. He had a down year in 2024, both in Cleveland before the trade deadline and in Buffalo after. The 30-year-old posted the lowest per-game numbers of his career and has received little interest in free agency as a result.
The Cowboys have discussed the possibility of a reunion with Cooper internally, but no deal is imminent, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater. The team is still evaluating their options at the position, which also include veteran free agents like Keenan Allen and Nelson Agholor.
After missing out on McMillan, the Cowboys went with offensive guard Tyler Booker and by the time they were back on the clock in the second round, four more receivers were off the board. Dallas took Florida State edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku with pick No. 44, and another four wideouts were taken before their next pick, which they used on Eastern Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel. All three players were ranked among the team’s top 35 prospects, according to Archer.
Though the Cowboys didn’t address their biggest need in the draft, it’s hard to argue with their process. They drew criticism for taking a guard with such a high first-round pick, especially since Booker was not considered a top-20 talent. However, he was thought to be the best guard in the draft, and the team’s acquisition of falling talents at premium positions in Ezeiruaku and Revel allowed them to finish Day 2 with three players who could start as rookies.
Chargers Working On Rashawn Slater Extension
The Chargers are continuing extension talks with left tackle Rashawn Slater, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim, and general manager Joe Hortiz is “hopeful” that the two sides will come to an agreement.
Slater, the 13th overall pick in 2021, is entering the final year of his rookie deal on a fifth-year option worth $19MM. He has been one of the league’s premier blindside protectors since he entered the league, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors as a rookie. A torn biceps tendon ended his second season after just three games, and he’s starting 48 of the Chargers’ 51 regular-season games in his other three years in Los Angeles.
The former Northwestern Wildcat has been ultra-consistent in pass protection, with only two games in his career with more than four pressures allowed, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Slater is also an excellent run-blocker, though the Chargers have not posted strong team-wide rushing numbers in his tenure.
Slater’s extension could make him the league’s highest-paid left tackle. Christian Darrisaw reset the market at $26MM per year last July, and Trent Williams surpassed him in September with a $27.55MM APY. However, this offseason saw Ja’Marr Chase and Myles Garrett reset their positional markets by significant figures, and Slater could push to do the same by becoming the first offensive lineman to earn at least $30MM per year.
The Chargers would likely balk at such a figure this year, as the 2026 franchise tag for offensive linemen is projected to be $27.6MM, per OverTheCap. Los Angeles could tag Slater next offseason and continue negotiations after another increase in the salary cap. A second franchise tag in 2027 would cost another $33.1MM, resulting in a two-year average of $30.4MM that could help the two sides find a middle ground on a long-term deal.
49ers Announce 6 UDFA Signings
After tying for a league-high 11 draft picks over the weekend, the 49ers have added another six players to their 2025 rookie class. Here are the team’s undrafted free agent signings:
- Isaiah Neyor, WR (Nebraska)
- Jakob Robinson, CB (BYU)
- Stone Blanton, LB (Mississippi State)
- Drew Moss, OL (Colorado State)
- Sebastian Valdez, DL (Washington)
- Corey Kiner, RB (Cincinnati)
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound Neyor ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, where he also posted elite numbers in the broad and long jumps. Despite his enticing athletic profile, he went undrafted due to injuries and a lack of production in college. After redshirting as a freshman in 2019, the former Wyoming Cowboy emerged as a deep threat in 2020 and 2021. He transferred to Texas in 2022 but suffered a torn ACL in the preseason that he re-injured in 2023, limiting him to just one game as a Longhorn. Neyor transferred once more, this time to Nebraska, but struggled to produce in 2024 with just 34 catches for 455 yards in 10 games. His intriguing size/speed combination makes him a strong blocker and could translate into special teams duties in the NFL as he develops as a receiver.
Moss started at right tackle for two years at Lamar before transferring to Colorado State in 2023. He started at right tackle during his first season in Fort Collins before playing his best ball at right guard in 2024. His arm length will likely restrict him to the interior in the NFL, but his versatility, experience, and grit will help him battle for a roster spot.
Kiner is a smaller, compact back at 5-foot-9 and 203 pounds who enters the NFL after back-to-back years with over 1,000 rushing yards at Cincinnati. He originally committed to LSU but transferred to his hometown Bearcats after just one year in Baton Rouge. Kiner runs with balance and strength to break tackles, but his speed and acceleration are below typical NFL standards at the position. He lacks the physical profile and experience of a special teams contributor but showed some promise as a pass-catcher in 2024 by catching all 16 of his targets.
Blanton could be a name to watch in San Francisco, as well. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the former Bulldog’s undrafted rookie deal includes $92K of guaranteed money.
49ers’ Malik Mustapha Could Miss Start Of 2025 Season
The 49ers dealt with a multitude of injuries throughout the 2024 season, and one more has just come to light.
Safety Malik Mustapha injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Week 18, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, which required surgery and a lengthy recovery that could stretch into the 2025 season. The 2024 fourth-rounder previously tore the same ACL in college; this injury was a tear to the graft from the reparative procedure in 2022. It is not believed to have impacted other parts of his knee.
Mustapha is progressing well through his rehab process at the 49ers’ team facility, but he is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. He returned from his January 2022 injury to play 10 games in the 2023 college football season, indicating that he should have a chance at a midseason return to the field this fall.
The 49ers’ will need to replace the 756 snaps Mustapha played as a rookie, primarily at free safety. They drafted two defensive backs this weekend – Western Kentucky’s Upton Stout and Kansas State’s Marques Sigle – but both spent most of their time in the slot in college. Instead, veterans Richie Grant, Jason Pinnock, George Odum could start the season at safety alongside 2023 third-rounder Ji’Ayir Brown.
Jaguars To Sign DE Emmanuel Ogbah
The Jaguars are signing former Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah to a one-year deal with a maximum value of $5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Ogbah is a nine-year veteran with 87 starts and 47.5 sacks in his career. He spent the last five seasons in Miami with 16 starts and 5.0 sacks in 2024, as well as nine tackles for loss that tied a career-high.
The Jaguars were in need of an experienced third edge defender, and Ogbah will provide depth behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Jacksonville only spent a sixth-round pick on the position over the weekend, adding Auburn’s Jalen McLeod. Like new teammate Yasir Abdullah, McLeod is an undersized outside linebacker whose football smarts and versatility will be his best path to playing time.
Jacksonville will be Ogbah’s fourth home in the NFL after beginning his up-and-down career in Cleveland as a second-round pick in 2016. He flashed with 5.5 sacks as a rookie, but a fractured foot sidelined him after 10 games in 2017 and his production decreased the year after.
With Ogbah entering the last year of his rookie contract, the Browns traded him to the Chiefs for safety Eric Murray during the 2019 offseason. Ogbah once again suffered a season-ending injury after 10 games – this time a torn pectoral – but he recorded 5.5 sacks before his injury and earned a Super Bowl ring at the end of the season.
Ogbah signed a two-year, $15MM contract with the Dolphins in free agency and exploded for 9.0 sacks in back-to-back years in Miami. That earned him a four-year, $65MM extension, though he has only started 20 games with 11.5 sacks on that contract, due in part to a torn triceps in 2022.
The Jaguars will be hoping they’re getting the healthy, productive version of Ogbah that emerged in his first two years in Miami. Though his contract is worth up to $5MM, the base value is likely lower with incentives to make up the difference.
Cowboys Trade Up To 152nd Pick, Select Florida LB Shemar James
The Cowboys have traded up with the Cardinals to acquire the 152nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Dallas sent picks 174 and 211 to Arizona for No. 152, which they used to select Florida linebacker Shemar James.
James is a speedy, undersized defender who is entering the NFL at just 20 years old with 25 SEC starts under his belt. His play strength will need to improve in the NFL, but that won’t be his biggest obstacle to finding a starting job.
Like most young linebackers, James will face a significant jump in game speed and processing in the NFL. He wasn’t a particularly instinctive player in college, which will further hamper his mental development in the NFL. He has the athleticism to contribute in coverage and as a blitzer, but that will require better play recognition and finishing skills.
James’ athletic abilities give him special teams upside right away as he works on other aspects of his game to compete for a role on defense towards the end of his rookie contract. He joins a Cowboys linebacker room that has Kenneth Murray, Damone Clark, and Jack Sanborn. Dallas is also hoping that DeMarvion Overshown will be ready for training camp
Titans Trade Up To 136th Pick, Select Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor
The Titans traded with the Ravens to acquire the 136th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and selected Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor.
Tennessee sent picks Nos. 141 and 178 to Baltimore and received Nos. 136 and 183. It’s a somewhat curious move by the Ravens’ front office, who moved back five picks in the fourth round and only moved up five picks in the sixth round.
Ayomanor is a big, explosive receiver who could compete for snaps early with his physicality and strength as a run blocker. After a redshirt freshman year at Stanford, he put up 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns across 2023 and 2024.
The 21-year-old wideout’s game needs a lot of refinement, particularly in his route-running and consistency at the catch point. His attitude will endear him to NFL coaches, but offensive coordinators won’t send the ball his way until he gets better at the basics of the position.
With the 141st pick acquired in the trade, the Ravens selected Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson. He has prototypical size for the position with solid athleticism and profiles as a developmental left tackle in Baltimore. The Ravens re-signed Ronnie Stanley through the 2027 season, but Vinsons could be a candidate to replace him if he develops into a more consistent, reliable blocker.
Rams Trade Up To 117, Select Jarquez Hunter
The Rams have traded with the Colts to acquire the 117th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which they are using on Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter.
The Colts moved back 10 spots in the fourth round and picked up a sixth-rounder (No. 190 overall) in the deal. Indianapolis then used the 127th pick on Iowa State’s Jalen Travis, a massive but raw offensive tackle who will need to improve his technique and balance to see the field in the NFL.
Hunter is a speedy, powerful back who racked up 2,110 rushing yards and 15 across 24 starts at Auburn in 2023 and 2024. As a ballcarrier, he explodes through the line of scrimmage and does not go down easily with balance and effort through contact. He is a reliable pass-catcher, but will need to improve his pass protection to stay on the field on third down.
In Los Angeles, Hunter will compete for snaps behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. He also has special teams experience on kickoff coverage and as a returning, which will help him see playing time right away in the NFL.