Walter Nolen Expected To Go In Top 15; 49ers Listed As Potential Fit
Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen could be taken earlier in the first round than expected, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Some teams even have Nolen ranked higher than Michigan’s Mason Graham, the consensus DT1 in the class and an expected top-10 pick.
Nolen’s explosiveness and physicality give him the potential to be an impactful interior disruptor in the NFL, but he needs to improve the mental aspects of his game to reach that upside. Nolen has character concerns – specifically a perceived sense of entitlement and lack of maturity – but an organization like the 49ers with a strong culture and leaders in their defensive line room could bet on their ability to develop him as a player and a person.
Nolen’s late rise could even see him break into the first 10 picks with multiple links to the Panthers at No. 8, per ESPN’s Matt Miller. Carolina, however, has also been repeatedly connected to Georgia linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker, which would make Nolen a minor surprise.
Miller also listed the 49ers and the Cowboys as potential landing spots just outside of the top 10, though both teams may have other positional prioritize. Dallas seems poised to add a wide receiver or offensive lineman, and San Francisco is expected to take an edge rusher at 11, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.
Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. could be target for the Cowboys at 12, according to Miller, but the 49ers are expected to add at least one guard in the draft, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Banks played tackle in college, but 33.5-inch arms are on the short side for the position in the NFL. His elite movement skills could make him an excellent guard in San Francisco’s wide zone scheme right away as he trains to replace Trent Williams at left tackle in the long-term. The 11th pick was specifically mentioned as a floor for Banks by Breer, indicating that he’s in play for the 49ers’ first-rounder.
Christian McCaffrey Attending Offseason Workouts, Has No Physical Limitations
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was in attendance at the start of the team’s voluntary offseason workout program without any physical limitations, according to NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco.
That’s an encouraging sign for the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year after he was limited to just four games in 2024.
A nebulous lower-leg injury – later revealed to be Achilles tendinitis – sidelined McCaffrey at the beginning of the regular season and eventually landed him on injured reserve. He made his season debut in Week 10, but returned to IR with a PCL injury less than a month later.
McCaffrey’s injury woes raised questions about his high usage in the 49ers offense. After missing the first nine games of the season, he played 155 of the team’s 176 offensive snaps (88.1%) in his first three games before going down after just 12 snaps in his fourth. McCaffrey will be 29 once the 2025 season begins with more than 2,000 touches in his career, so such a high snap share may not be tenable moving forward.
As a result, head coach Kyle Shanahan may make a more concerted effort to distribute touches in 2025, though the team traded Jordan Mason and Deebo Samuel this offseason. That will give athletic 2024 draft picks Isaac Guerendo and Ricky Pearsall an opportunity to take some of the playmaking burden off McCaffrey’s shoulders. The 49ers could also add to their offense from a 2025 draft class that is especially strong at running back.
Michigan CB Will Johnson’s Knee Issue Hurting Draft Stock
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has been dealing with medical issues for the past several months, starting with a bout of turf toe that sidelined him for the second half of the 2024 college football season. 
A hamstring strain then sidelined him at the Combine and, and he did not run a 40-yard dash at Michigan’s pro day. That has raised questions about Johnson’s long speed and longevity in the NFL.
Those concerns have been further substantiated by “a knee issue that’s been flagged,” per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. It’s not expected to hamper the former Wolverine’s rookie season, but could affect him over the course of his pro career.
Multiple teams have injury concerns regarding Johnson, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, leading to doubt about his eventual draft spot. His college tape largely shows an NFL-ready cornerback with All-Pro upside, making it possible he goes in the first 10 picks. However, the best ability is availability, and teams may not want to roll the dice on a player with medical questions so early in the draft.
Some teams are hoping that Johnson falls into the back half of the first round, where he could be a steal if he stays healthy. At least one executive doubts he will slip that far, per Fowler, arguing that he is too good of a prospect to ignore.
Indeed, Johnson has prototypical height, length, and coverage skills – both physical and mental – to be an early starter on the boundary with long-term potential as a lockdown corner. A healthier pre-draft process and even a respectable 40 time could have solidified his stock in the top 10; instead, he’ll have to hope that his body of work speaks for itself and still makes him a high first-round pick.
Teams Aren’t Concerned About Ohio State OT Josh Simmons’ Knee
Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons is widely considered to be a first-round talent, but a torn patellar tendon suffered last October has raised questions about his availability for the 2025 NFL season.
Most teams are already convinced of his talent and have been more focused on his knee during the pre-draft process. Multiple reports in March indicated that Simmons is “ahead of schedule” in his rehab; he even did a brief workout at Ohio State’s pro day.
Recent reports project growing confidence about Simmons’ knee, which has moved him up last-minute mock drafts.
“Teams don’t sound concerned about his long-term availability, as they anticipate he’ll be ready around the start of the regular season,” wrote The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, who mocked Simmons to the Bears with the 10th overall pick. Howe also mentioned some concerns about the 22-year-old’s maturity and passion for the game, but emphasized that he has the long-term upside to be a first-round pick.
Simmons was also projected to the Dolphins at No. 13 by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones after medical rechecks cleared his knee.
However, the initial severity of Simmons’ injury has caused some doubt that he will be ready to play by the start of the regular season, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who believes that November may be a more realistic timeframe for his return to the field.
Simmons’ draft slot will reveal how teams really feel about his knee. A top-15 pick would indicate confidence that he can contribute in 2025, while slipping to the end of the first round (or out of Day 1 entirely) will hint at a potential redshirt rookie year.
Browns, Giants, Patriots Receiving Calls About 2nd, 3rd Picks; Titans Staying Put
APRIL 23: Teams interested in the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 picks, with the Patriots also receiving calls, are interested in Hunter, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes. While the Browns view it as “foolish” not to listen to offers for their No. 3 choice, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds that the expectation remains Cleveland will go with the Colorado superstar.
Hunter-to-Cleveland buzz picked up around the Heisman winner’s pro day earlier this month, with Fowler indicating the two-way phenom opted to run routes at the showcase event in part because it would satisfy the Browns. Cleveland views Hunter primarily as a receiver, and while he still wants to play both ways, other teams — the Giants and Titans among them — have pegged Hunter as a cornerback first. Deciding to run routes with an aim to impress Browns brass, after Carter-to-Cleveland rumors had circulated, certainly represents a sign Hunter will be Ohio-bound Thursday.
APRIL 22: The Browns and Giants are both receiving trade interest for the Nos. 2 and 3 selections in Thursday’s draft, according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.
The months-long pre-draft process has yielded a consensus expectation that Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter will be the first three picks, likely in that order. Ward is a virtual lock to be taken by the Titans with the first pick, and Hunter has gained steam as a potential Brown over the last few weeks. That would clear the way for Carter – considered by many to be the best player in the class – falling to the Giants at 3.
However, a last-minute trade involving a top-three pick would be a major last-minute shake-up to the top 10, and potentially beyond.
Such a trade would not involve the Titans, who have listened to offers over the last few months but never seriously entertained moving the draft’s top pick. General manager Mike Borgonzi confirmed that the team rebuffed trade interest and decided on their preferred target.
“We’ve come to a consensus, the entire organization, to stay at that pick,” said Borgonzi (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer).
That has pushed teams who want to move up to inquire with the Browns and the Giants about the availability of their picks. Targeted players in a trade-up would be Hunter, Carter, and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, per Schrager.
It’s also worth noting that trade chatter picks up the week of the draft almost every year, as noted by The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. 49ers general manager John Lynch is not expecting many trades early in the draft because multiple teams want to trade down and target a deep class, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen said last week that he had received calls about the No. 3 selection, but indicated that the team would stick and pick instead. But, after spending plenty of draft capital to acquire starting edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants could still prefer to trade down instead of taking Carter. That would allow them to get a top quarterback prospect – potentially Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post – at a better value while adding more picks, either in this year’s draft or the future.
Patriots Open To Trading WR Kayshon Boutte
The Patriots are open to trading wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, among other players from the previous coaching staff. A nugget emerged regarding Boutte’s availability earlier this week, and it now seems the Pats are shopping him.
Boutte was the Patriots’ sixth-round pick in 2023 after a somewhat disappointing career at LSU. He only saw seven targets as a rookie but emerged as the team’s WR2 in 2024, snaring 43 receptions for 589 yards. However, he had expressed frustration about his role midway through last season. With the Pats adding Stefon Diggs and likely interested in further bolstering the position in the draft, it makes sense they would shop Boutte.
The former high-end recruit may not fit into the long term vision for New England’s offense under new head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. As McDaniels prepares for his third tour of duty as the Pats’ OC, he will have a slightly less jumbled receiving corps to coach.
New England has been unable to connect on a high-level receiver investment in recent years, famously struggling in the early rounds of the draft. After waiving former second-rounder Tyquan Thornton, the Pats only saw 2024 second-round choice Ja’Lynn Polk contribute 12 receptions for 87 yards as a rookie. In addition to Diggs, the Pats also added ex-McDaniels Raiders pupil Mack Hollins in free agency.
Still rostering McDaniels 2.0-era signee Kendrick Bourne, the Pats saw Demario Douglas finish behind only Hunter Henry in receiving yards. A 2023 sixth-round pick like Boutte, Douglas posted 621 yards and three touchdowns in Drake Maye‘s debut. Two seasons remain on Boutte’s rookie contract; the Pats would save nearly $1MM by trading him. It will be interesting to hear what other pre-Vrabel players the Pats are dangling.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Raiders’ Christian Wilkins Could Miss Time In 2025
Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins missed most of his debut year in Las Vegas after season-ending surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his foot. Now, according to Sportkeeda’s Tony Pauline, he is at risk of missing “a significant portion of the 2025 season” due to a potential second procedure on his foot.
Wilkins signed a four-year, $110MM contract with the Raiders last March which made him the second-highest-paid DT in the NFL. He recorded 2.0 sacks in his first five games in Las Vegas before landing on injured reserve. The Raiders already need depth along the interior of their defensive line, and an extended absence from Wilkins would make the position a dire need. That could impact the team’s plans in the upcoming draft.
Las Vegas, who holds the sixth overall pick in Thursday’s draft, was considered a likely landing spot for Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Now that he’s trending towards the Jaguars at No. 5, the Raiders are expected to pivot to the trenches with their first-rounder. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou are the leading candidates, per Pauline, as well as Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The potential for Wilkins to miss time this year may tilt the Raiders’ interest towards Graham, who is the consensus DT1 in the 2025 class. General manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady were roommates in Ann Arbor in college and could look to add another Wolverine to the mix. Graham also had a long call with defensive line coach Rob Leonard, per Fowler, with a guest appearance from potential teammate Maxx Crosby.
However, some within the Raiders organization are pushing for an offensive lineman, according to Diana Russini of The Athletic. Left tackle Kolton Miller is seeking an extension in the last year of his contract, and the new regime in Las Vegas may prefer to draft his replacement instead. Either Membou or Banks could compete for a starting job at guard or right tackle as a rookie with the long-term goal of taking over on the left side later on.
The Raiders have also explore trading up from the No. 6 pick, per Russini. They could be looking to jump the Jaguars for Jeanty after doing extensive work on him during the pre-draft process.
Jets Could Target Jahdae Barron, Tyler Warren, Armand Membou At No. 7
Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron has steadily moved up draft boards over the last few months and could be selected in the first 10 picks on Thursday night, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Barron has long been expected to be a first-round pick, but he’s never reached consensus top-10 status. However, he is “in position to go higher than some realize,” according to Schefter, who specifically named the Jets at No. 7 as a potential landing spot. New head coach (and former longtime NFL cornerback) Aaron Glenn may target the versatile defensive back to form an exciting cornerback duo with Sauce Gardner.
After leaks and drama plagued the Robert Saleh–Joe Douglas regime, Glenn has cut down on the information coming out of the organization, making their plans for their first-round pick a mystery. They invited a number of prospective top-10 picks for official visits, including Michigan DT Mason Graham and Georgia edge rusher Mykel Willams.
However, the Jets’ primary target has long been thought to be Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who “recently and quietly” visited the team, according to Schefter. Warren is widely considered the best tight end in the 2025 draft class, a sentiment shared by some in New York who want to take him with the seventh overall pick. The Jets let Tyler Conklin walk in free agency and lack a clear long-term starter on their current roster, making Warren an easy selection to fill an obvious need.
Schefter also mentioned Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou as a potential Jets target. He could replace right tackle Morgan Moses, who signed with the Patriots in free agency.
However, contrary to the front office’s desire for Warren, Glenn prefers to take a defensive player with the No. 7 pick, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. That could turn the Jets’ attention to Barron, whose versatility to play outside cornerback, nickel, or safety could open up Glenn’s schematic options in the secondary.
Gap Remains In Contract Talks Between Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons showed up for the Cowboys’ voluntary offseason workout program as extension negotiations with the team continue, but recent comments from executive vice president Stephen Jones indicated that little progress has been made.
“Right now there is a difference in what we feel is the right number and what he feels is the right number,” said Jones (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota).
It’s unclear what the gap between each side’s “right number” is. Dallas has submitted an offer that would make Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, while the superstar edge rusher is reportedly seeking a total value of at least $200MM. Guaranteed money will also play a factor in negotiations, especially if Parsons’ desire for a $200MM deal comes with proportionally higher guarantee demands.
There are a number of contracts that could reach both benchmarks, including a five-year, $202.5MM deal that would likely include well over $100MM in fully guaranteed money. A four-year, $176MM extension would give Parsons $44MM per year and a total value of $200MM including his $24MM fifth-year option.
The Cowboys may balk at the total value and guarantees of the first deal or the APY of the second. Parsons, meanwhile, may be looking for $200MM in new money, requiring a deal of at least five years or a massive $50MM APY across four years that the team is unlikely to offer.
Despite the persisting gap between Parsons and the Cowboys, there appears to be the potential to find a middle ground that satisfies both sides. However, Parsons’ demands have continually increased as other players have reset the market for non-quarterbacks, so Dallas may want to act quickly before another major extension raises his asking price further. Then again, the team has faced steady criticism about delaying extensions recently, as it took until late last summer to finalize CeeDee Lamb‘s deal and up until the Week 1 kickoff to close Dak Prescott‘s. Parsons’ negotiations represent the next test for Cowboys management.
Falcons Unlikely To Take Day 3 Pick For Kirk Cousins
APRIL 21: The Falcons are aiming for an acquiring team to take on $20MM of Cousins’ remaining guarantees, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. To no surprise, he adds that asking price has not been met and is not expected to at any point this offseason. A more realistic figure could be closer to $10MM, he adds, but of course the willingness of a team to absorb compensation will affect the trade price in terms of draft capital. With Day 3 selections insufficient to work out an agreement, it will be interesting to see if movement occurs on this front in the coming days.
APRIL 19: Kirk Cousins has made it clear that he wants out of Atlanta, but the Falcons aren’t letting him go without some compensation after giving him $90MM in fully-guaranteed money last offseason.
Cousins’ situation has been the subject of much scrutiny this offseason, and he and the team are at odds over the best resolution. Cousins, who has a no-trade clause, would prefer to be released; the Falcons would rather trade him to recoup some draft capital and shed as much of his $27.5MM salary as possible.
A post-draft trade has always made the most sense. Cousins doesn’t want a repeat of the 2024 season with a highly-drafted rookie quarterback breathing down his neck, and a post-June 1 trade would allow Atlanta to spread the dead money across two years.
However, recent comments from Falcons owner Arthur Blank indicate that facilitating a trade won’t be as simple as the team accepting an offer and Cousins waiving his no-trade clause.
“Kirk understands his situation. He understands our own situation. He understands we’ve committed a lot of funds to him,” Blank said at league meetings earlier this month (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). That reflects the Falcons’ primary desire to get Cousins’ salary off the books. If they have to absorb most of his 2025 salary, they’ll need more than just a Day 3 pick to facilitate a deal.
“I told (Cousins) that we will be as thoughtful and sensitive to him as we can be,” continued Blank, “but we have a responsibility to the franchise — which we do.”
But Cousins has a responsibility to himself and his family, too. On the football side, he wants to start without the threat of being replaced during the season. On the personal side, he has two elementary school-aged children who moved three times last year, which will be a “huge consideration” for Cousins to permit a trade later in the year, according to Jones.
This sets up a precarious timeline for the Falcons. It’s hard to see them getting their desired cap relief or draft compensation in a trade unless another team suddenly has a need for a quarterback, which is unlikely to arise until closer to the season when more injuries occur. But if Cousins’ children start another year of school in Atlanta, he may be less inclined to waive his no-trade clause unless he lands in the perfect situation.
Whether or not the Falcons are able to move Cousins, they’re still expected to sign a cheap veteran passer in the coming months, according to Jones. That QB would serve as additional depth during training camp and potentially replace Cousins as Michael Penix‘s backup this season.