Seahawks Trade Up To 35th Pick To Draft Nick Emmanwori
TODAY, 8:20am: The Seahawks were so high on Nick Emmanwori, the team attempted to trade up to the first round to acquire him. John Schneider acknowledged as much last night, stating the team almost traded back into the first round to select the South Carolina safety. Instead, the Seahawks managed to snag the prospect by moving up towards the beginning of the second round.
“If we would have come out of the draft without him, we would have been disappointed,” Schneider said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson).
YESTERDAY, 6:15pm: The Seahawks traded up with the Titans to acquire the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and select South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori.
Tennessee received the 52nd and 82nd overall picks from Seattle, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Pick No. 82 was the Seahawks’ original third-round pick, while No. 52 was acquired from the Steelers in the D.K. Metcalf trade.
Emmanwori is a rare physical specimen at the safety position with a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame. He blew away evaluators at the Combine, posting elite numbers in the broad jump, vertical jump, and 40-yard dash. Emmanwori was a three-year starter at South Carolina and played at least 500 snaps lined up at deep safety, in the slot, and in the box. However, he will still be just 21 years old when he takes his first snaps in the NFL, giving him a sky-high long-term ceiling.
Emmanwori’s combination of size, athleticism, youth, and versatility will naturally draw comparisons to Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, especially after landing in Seattle under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Macdonald was Baltimore’s defensive coordinator during Hamilton’s first two years in the NFL, the second of which featured Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections for the 2022 first-rounder.
Emmanwori does have the instincts and physicality to impact plays around the line of scrimmage in a manner similar to Hamilton, but he will need to improve his play recognition and pursuit from deeper alignments to unlock the full potential of his versatility. He has the size and athleticism to cover both receivers and tight ends in the slot, but his technique in man coverage needs refinement to avoid separation and flags. Emmanwori also has the potential to be a special teams ace but has little experience on punt or kick coverage since 2022.
The Seahawks moved on from Rayshawn Jenkins in the offseason, giving Emmanwori an opportunity to start right away in Seattle alongside Julian Love.
Seahawks Draft QB Jalen Milroe At No. 92
The Seahawks made sweeping changes to their QB room this offseason, swapping out Geno Smith for Sam Darnold and bringing back Drew Lock. They swooped in for a longer-term project tonight.
Jalen Milroe becomes the fourth QB off the board, going to Seattle at No. 92. The Alabama prospect will be under contract through 2028, while Darnold has no fully-guaranteed money past 2025. That will put early pressure on the veteran to perform this year to earn his keep in Seattle in 2026 and beyond.
Milroe is an exciting physical prospect with elite size and speed for the quarterback position. He has a strong arm but will need to work on his basic mechanics to improve his ball placement and accuracy, which are currently significant weaknesses. His attitude and approach to the game received strong reviews from coaches and scouts, but his on-field processing will need to accelerate in the NFL.
Milroe threw for more than 2,800 yards in each of his last two seasons at Alabama with 39 touchdowns on the air and another 32 on the ground. His physical rushing abilities could help him carve out a short-yardage role on offense early on, especially close to the goal line.
The Seahawks clearly believe in Milroe’s ability to develop under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Milroe could even compete for a backup job right away after reports that Seattle was open to trading Sam Howell. Now that they’ve landed a young, high-upside passer, they may prefer to give Milroe backup reps to aid his development while moving Howell for draft compensation.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Saints Add QB Tyler Shough At No. 40
Shedeur Sanders‘ drop will continue. The Saints are taking a quarterback at No. 40, leaving the Colorado prospect on the board. Instead, New Orleans is going with Louisville’s Tyler Shough. 
A seven-year college arm who impressed during the pre-draft process, Shough will join a Saints team in turmoil at the position thanks to Derek Carr uncertainty. Stemming from a 2023 shoulder injury, Carr has a possible surgery in his plans. Shough now provides an immediate option for the Saints, carrying extensive experience to the Big Easy.
Shough has an NFL-ready arm with enough athleticism to extend plays behind the line of scrimmage, though that does not extend to running the ball for positive yardage. He will primarily need to improve his processing and vision to succeed in the NFL, two traits that are less developed than expected for a seven-year college player who will turn 26 years old during his rookie year.
However, Shough — who began his career as a Justin Herbert backup at Oregon — only has one full year of starting experience (2024 at Louisville) after three major injuries during his time at Texas Tech. The Cardinals’ offense averaged 36.6 points per game under Shough last year, who threw for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns with just six interceptions.
Shough interviewed well with the Saints, according to The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, potentially earning their trust to start under center in the near-future. If Carr is sidelined to begin 2025 season, Shough will likely be pushing for a starting job right away with Spencer Rattler as his primary competition.
After bringing in a new head coach this offseason in Kellen Moore, the Saints are hoping they’ve acquired their quarterback of the future in Shough, as well. The team’s streak of drafts without using a first-round pick on a quarterback is now at 54, but Shough did not miss by much. His age will tighten his developmental window and create more pressure to take over at QB in his first two NFL seasons. He will already be 30 by the end of his rookie deal, so he’ll need to come along quickly to have a major long-term impact in New Orleans.
Falcons Obtain No. 96 From Eagles, Draft S Xavier Watts
The Eagles used this sector of last year’s draft to hop around the board, acquiring a host of 2025 picks. They are moving one of theirs to the Falcons, who will add No. 96.
Atlanta will send Philly No. 101, and Howie Roseman will make another play for a future asset. A 2026 fifth is also in the trade. The Falcons took Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts with the pick, adding one of the draft’s top free safety prospects after declining to re-sign Justin Simmons this offseason. The Eagles then moved back from No. 101 in a trade with the Broncos.
Watts could end up being one of the steals of the draft after entering Friday as a projected early second-round pick and the third-ranked safety behind Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori. Instead, Watts fell to the end of the third round and joins first-round edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in Atlanta’s defense. His NFL-ready intelligence and ball skills make him a candidate to start as a rookie.
Watts’ below-average athleticism and tackling limit his versatility and upside, but his 13 interceptions and 31 passes defended over his last two seasons at Notre Dame speak volumes about his ballhawking instincts. With the Falcons planning to give Clark Phillips a shot at nickel in 2025 (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Watts could thrive in a split-safety role next to Jessie Bates.
Panthers Acquire 77th Pick From Patriots, Select Princely Umanmielen
The Panthers traded up with the Patriots to acquire the 77th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft and selected Ole Miss edge rusher Princely Umanmielen.
Carolina will send their third-rounder (No. 85 overall) and fifth-rounder (No. 146 overall) to New England, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Umanmielen has a solid, NFL-ready frame but relies too much on speed and finesse to beat blocks with lackluster power and physicality. He started for two seasons at Florida before transferring to Ole Miss and recording 10.5 sacks in 2024, the second-most of any SEC defender. The 23-year-old will have to improve his ability to set the edge in the NFL, but his speed and bend off the edge will make him an effective pass-rusher. He also showed the ability to drop into coverage in college; while that’s not his strength, it does add some versatility to his game.
The Panthers were expected to take an EDGE with the No. 8 pick, but opted to add Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan instead. They then used their next two picks on edge rushers, selecting Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton at No. 51 and double-dipping with Umanmielen at 77.
Carolina has veteran players who will likely top the depth chart in 2025 in Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum, and Patrick Jones, but Scourton and Umanmielen should play a role in the pass rush as rookies.
Ravens Select Mike Green With 59th Pick
The Ravens have selected Marshall edge rusher Mike Green with the 59th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, ending the 21-year-old’s slide after an initial first-round projection.
Accusations of sexual assault have raised significant character concerns about Green, who racked up 17.0 sacks in 2024 and posted elite agility numbers at his pro day. He was linked to multiple teams in the first round, including the Falcons, but concerns about his past knocked him off of multiple teams’ boards, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Green’s selection by the Ravens will shine a spotlight on the allegations against him with the team already waiting for the results of a league investigation into Justin Tucker. Baltimore’s front office has historically prioritized high-character prospects in the draft, such as Malaki Starks, last night’s first-round selection. The team has largely avoided questions about Tucker this offseason, but drafting Green will put more attention on their approach to players with allegations of sexual misconduct off the field.
As a player, though, Green profiles as a complete edge rusher with the athleticism, bend, and violence to be a consistent sack-getter in the NFL. Against the run, he compensates for his lack of size with power and effort to set a hard edge. He played against lesser competition in the Sun Belt in college and will face a significant jump in the NFL, but his tape clearly shows the potential to be an elite pass-rusher in the pros.
Texans Acquire No. 48 From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery
The Raiders are trading down for the second time in the second round. After their Dolphins agreement, the Raiders will drop out of their No. 48 spot, sending the pick to the Texans.
Moving back up the board after its significant drop on Day 1, Houston will send Las Vegas Nos. 58 and 99 for 48, which they used on Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery.
The Texans badly need help along the offensive line after moving on from Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, and Shaq Mason this offseason. They were widely expected to use a first-round pick on an O-lineman and even explored trading up in Round 1 to land their preferred blocker. Such a deal never came to fruition, and the Texans instead traded their first-rounder (No. 24 overall) to the Giants in exchange for the 34th and 99th picks, as well as a 2026 third-rounder.
Houston even used the 34th pick on wide receiver Jayden Higgins, but they moved back up to bolster their offensive line with Ersery, a 6-foot-6, 331-pound offensive tackle who profiles as a long-term blindside blocker for C.J. Stroud. The Texans signed Cam Robinson to a one-year deal in March, so he’ll likely start at left tackle in 2025, giving Ersery time to develop his technique and consistency.
Falcons’ Jalon Walker May Need Surgery
Jalon Walker was expected to be a first-round pick on Thursday night, but he fell to the Falcons at No. 15 due to concerns about a shoulder injury, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.
Atlanta will be happy to keep the versatile young linebacker in Georgia, but Walker may require surgery that could stunt his rookie year and hinder his transition to the NFL. At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, he was already considered an undersized edge defender by NFL standards, raising concerns about his physical upside and durability.
The Falcons may be less worried about Walker’s shoulder. They also could have taken his injury into account when they moved up 20 spots to take James Pearce with the 26th overall pick. If Walker missed part of the 2025 season due to injury, the Falcons can still count on Pearce to contribute to their pass rush right away.
Walker was long linked to the Panthers at No. 8, but they went with another top-10 talent in wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Jets at 7 and the Saints at 9 were also thought to be in the mix for the 21-year-old linebacker, but they both added offensive linemen.
Atlanta was widely expected to select an edge rusher with Pearce and Mike Green frequently named as likely targets. It seems the Falcons leapt at the chance to take Walker after he fell to 15, but still had such a high grade on Pearce that they jumped back into the first round for him as well.
Browns, Texans, Titans All Receiving Trade Interest At Top Of 2nd Round
The Browns, Texans, and Titans, who hold the first three picks in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, have been receiving trade interest for their selections, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Teams trading up are expected to target wide receivers and edge rushers, per Schultz, with both position groups believed to have “tangible drop-offs” on Day 2. However, front offices in Cleveland, Houston, and Tennessee will have to weigh the value of trading back with the risk of missing their primary target.
The Browns are fielding calls for the 33rd pick, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. They also have the 36th pick as a result of their trade with the Jaguars, so they could trade back and still get one or both of their priority second-round targets. Those targets are Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson and LSU TE Mason Taylor, according to Wolfe and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. If the Browns trade back, they may want to stay in front of the Jets, who would likely take Taylor at 42, according to Pauline.
The Browns have also done extensive work on Day 2 quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough, per Wolfe, though they may wait until their third-round selections at 67 or 94 to draft one.
The Texans and the Titans may be more concerned about trading back and losing out on their preferred player. Both teams are interested in taking a wide receiver with their second-round pick, per Pauline, with Tennessee potentially eyeing Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Missouri’s Luther Burden. Houston was also widely expected to use their first-round pick on an offensive lineman; after trading back with the Giants, they may still use their top 2025 selection to bolster their O-line.
Falcons Expected To Take Edge Rusher In 1st Round
TODAY, 5:33pm: While the Falcons have interest in adding some pass-rush help, they may end up pivoting if the right trade comes around. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, the Falcons are willing to move down from No. 15 if they receive the “right offer.” The Falcons haven’t made a first-round trade since 2019, when they acquired No. 31 from the Rams in a move that landed them Kaleb McGary.
TODAY, 1:15pm: The Falcons are widely expected to target an edge rusher in the first round of tonight’s draft, with Tennessee’s James Pearce and Marshall’s Mike Green frequently listed as potential fits.
Atlanta swapped out veteran edge defenders this offseason, signing Leonard Floyd after letting Matt Judon hit free agency. Floyd is entering his age-33 season, so the team is likely looking for a long-term option to pair with 2022 second-rounder Arnold Ebiketie.
Pearce and Green – two of the class’ most athletic, productive edge rushers – have both been linked to the Falcons, per Diana Russini of The Athletic. Pearce had 17.5 sacks across his last two seasons at Tennessee and led all edge rushers with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Green had 22.5 sacks in 2024 alone and posted elite agility numbers at his pro day.
However, both players have character flags that the team will need to evaluate, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Green’s flags stem from multiple accusations of sexual assault in his past, which might take him off some teams’ boards altogether. More nebulous concerns about Pearce are connected to his maturity, so a team with confidence in their coaching staff and locker room culture may believe they can get the most out of him.
Both Pearce and Green were listed as primary options for the Falcons by ESPN’s Matt Miller, as well as Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart. Stewart has an even more appealing athletic profile than Pearce and Green, but lacked the same production in college. He has an NFL-ready frame with excellent explosiveness, but recorded only 1.5 sacks in each of his last three seasons at College Station.
The Falcons’ consistent links to Pearce and Green suggest they will prioritize the college production of Pearce and Green over Stewart’s upside. If none of the three are available, Atlanta may pivot to Georgia’s Mykel Williams, who is widely thought to be the next-best edge rusher in the class.