NFL Teams Remain Split On Travis Hunter’s Position
Colorado draft prospect Travis Hunter wants to play both receiver and cornerback full-time in the NFL, but the consensus in league circles is that he will likely focus on one position with a situational role at the other.
Even that would be a physical and mental challenge, not to mention a logistical one, too. Hunter would need to attend meetings for the full offense and defense, plus both of his positions, and he’d have to continue the juggling act during practices. He did it throughout his college career, but the jump in NFL competition and complexity would require even more discipline and time management.
A “slight majority” of teams polled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler see Hunter as a cornerback. One executive said that he could be among a top-10 receiver, but one of the league’s best corners by the end of his first contract.
If forced to choose, Hunter would prefer to primarily play wide receiver, a sentiment that is shared by some scouts. Among them is ESPN’s Matt Miller, who argued that Hunter’s slender frame would face more wear-and-tear at cornerback and his playmaking ability offers higher upside at receiver.
Miller also noted that Hunter ran routes at Colorado’s pro day but did not participate in any cornerback drills, reinforcing the message that he will be receiver first in the NFL.
A quick comparison of wide receiver and cornerback contracts make it clear why Hunter would want to be classified as a receiver. His ability to play on both sides of the ball will already boost his earning potential, but his official classification is still important. The NFLPA will need to list him at one position, so being a receiver would offer him more money for both his fifth-year option and any potential franchise tags. In the long run, he stands to make significantly more money as a wide receiver who also contributes at corner as opposed to the inverse.
The Giants reportedly view Hunter primarily as a cornerback, but head coach Brian Daboll expressed openness to playing him at wide receiver.
“It’s really remarkable what he has done and the ability to perform at that level, not really getting a rest,” said Daboll (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “We’ll evaluate him at both spots.’’
OT Armand Membou To Visit Cowboys
The Cowboys are hosting projected first-rounder Armand Membou on a top-30 visit, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. 
The Missouri product is widely considered to be one of the draft’s top-two offensive tackles along with LSU’s Will Campbell. Membou has skyrocketed up draft boards since the Combine, where he ranked among the top four offensive linemen in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, vertical jump, and bench press.
That performance may push him into the top 10 on draft night and out of the range of the Cowboys, who hold the 12th overall pick. Membou, currently the 12th-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board, has the size and athleticism to start at offensive tackle in the NFL, though it’s unclear if he would have that opportunity in Dallas anytime soon.
The Cowboys signed right tackle Terence Steele to a long-term extension in 2023 and invested a first-round pick in left tackle Tyler Guyton last year, but they may look at Membou as a high-upside guard after the retirement of Zack Martin. The latter enjoyed a stellar career in Dallas, collecting nine total first- or second-team All-Pro nods. Replacing his level of play will be a challenge, and slotting in Membou along the interior could achieve that goal.
The junior took on first-team duties midway through his debut Tigers campaign and continued in that capacity the rest of the way, earning second-team All-SEC honors last season. With 29 starts to his name, Membou could step into a role right away in the NFL, although the fact he played exclusively at right tackle in college means a guard opportunity at the pro level would require a transition phase. Still, Dallas would have a potential successor for Steele (whose contract does not include guaranteed salaries beyond 2025) in place with a Membou selection.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers Host Derrick Harmon, Omarion Hampton On Top-30 Visits
The Steelers are continuing to assess options for their 2025 draft class by hosting Oregon defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton on top-30 visits, per Ray Fittpaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Both Harmon and Hampton are projected to go in the first round of April’s draft in which the Steelers hold the 21st overall pick. Either player could contribute in Pittsburgh right away with the team needing to add long-term contributors at both positions.
The Steelers released Larry Ogunjobi in March, leaving behind a defensive line that only has one player – 2024 sixth-rounder Logan Lee – signed past the 2026 season. Keeanu Benton could be re-signed as a long-term starter, but Cameron Heyward will be 37 when his contract expires. DeMarvin Leal, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams are all entering contract years, further heightening the need to add in the trenches.
Harmon, the 21st-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board, could fit the bill. He is a three-year starter who posted career-highs of 5.0 sacks and 11 tackles for loss during his senior year at Oregon after spending his first three college seasons at Michigan State. He has the football I.Q. and competitiveness that defensive line coaches will covet, though he does not profile as an elite athlete compared to the rest of the draft class.
The Steelers will also need to add to their backfield after letting Najee Harris walk in free agency. Pittsburgh retained restricted free agent Jaylen Warren and signed Kenneth Gainwell, but Hampton offers a higher-long term ceiling with his size, athleticism, and three-down ability. He is Jeremiah’s 13th-ranked prospect after two outstanding seasons for the Tar Heels and an excellent showing at the NFL Combine.
George Fant Considering Titans, Ravens
Veteran offensive tackle George Fant worked out for the Ravens on Monday and will also visit the Titans, per Joe Person and Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Fant was released by the Seahawks in early March after multiple stints on injured reserve limited him to just two appearances in 2024. He earned the Seahawks’ starting right tackle job out of training camp, but played just 13 snaps in Week 1 before exiting the game with a knee injury. Fant returned from IR to start in Week 9, but only lasted 17 snaps before going down once more, this time for the rest of the season.
Despite a strong market for offensive tackles this offseason, the 32-year-old received little interest in the first few waves in free agency. Now that teams have their starting tackles secured, Fant has been contacted by multiple teams as a veteran swing tackle with experience on both sides of the offensive line. The former Texans and Jets starter has honed in on the Ravens and the Titans as his best fits.
“There’s a couple other teams that I’ve been talking to,” said Fant (via Zrebiec). “But those two are really intriguing to me. Obviously, Baltimore being a contender and Nashville being where I live at. So I’m definitely interested.”
Fant was born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which is an hour away from the Titans’ home in Nashville, Tennessee. He stayed in Bowling Green to play basketball at Western Kentucky University before switching to football in his fifth year and launching his NFL career.
The Titans signed Dan Moore to start at left tackle, which will allow 2024 first-rounder JC Latham to return to right tackle where he played throughout his college career at Alabama. The Titans have some young tackle depth, but Fant would bring some much-needed experience to the position who could back up both sides in 2025.
The Ravens are returning Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten as their starting tackles in 2025, but they badly need to add depth. Longtime swing tackle Patrick Mekari started at guard in 2024 before signing with the Jaguars in free agency, and the team converted another tackle, Daniel Faalele, to guard last year as well. Fant doesn’t have any direct connections with the Ravens’ coaching staff, but he did play under ex-defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in Seattle.
Shedeur Sanders To Visit Steelers
The Steelers are hosting Colorado quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders on a top-30 visit, another indication that the team is considering using a first-round pick on a quarterback in April’s draft.
Sanders will visit Pittsburgh on Thursday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Steelers currently hold the 21st overall pick, which is considered the floor for Sanders’ draft spot. They have also been linked with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who was invited to attend the first night of the draft in person, indicating that the league believes he will be a first-round pick.
The Steelers’ quarterback room currently consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, who were both acquired this offseason. Mike Tomlin has said he is comfortable entering the 2025 season with Rudolph as the team’s starter, though he doesn’t profile as a long-term franchise quarterback. Pittsburgh has been looking for such a player since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger in 2022.
Sanders could fit the bill. He is widely thought to be the second-best quarterback in his draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward, who is expected to be drafted by the Titans with the No. 1 pick. However, Sanders could be taken in the first five picks after being frequently linked with the Browns and the Giants, so the Steelers may have to trade up if they want to bring him to Pittsburgh.
Teams also use top-30 visit to scout players they expect to face in the NFL. If the Browns take Sanders, the Steelers will have to play him twice a year for the foreseeable future, so their coaching staff will want as much information about his playing style and tendencies as possible.
Latest On James Cook, Bills
The Bills have placed extension negotiations with James Cook on hold until after the draft with the star running back seeking $15MM per year on his next deal.
Initial contract talks with Cook “didn’t go great,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but the Bills want to sign him to a long-term deal.
“He’ll play for the Bills next year,” said Rapoport, indicating that Cook is not planning to demand a trade or hold out for an extension.
Cook recently caused a stir by putting his Buffalo house on the market and removing the team from his social media, a signal that he is dissatisfied with the lack of progress in contract negotiations.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but players know it gets reported,” explained Rapoport. “That’s a pretty big statement.”
Rapoport also indicated that the two sides would need to improve their relationship before agreeing on an extension, saying that Cook’s public contract demands were not “the most welcome thing in the organization.”
A $15MM APY would make Cook the third-highest paid running back in the NFL. He ranks ninth in rushing yards in the last two years and tied for the league-lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024.
The Bills are not expected to agree on terms with Cook anytime soon, per Rapoport. His asking price may become more palatable heading into 2026 after another jump in the salary cap, though he could certainly increase his demands accordingly. The two sides will need to bridge what appears to be a significant gap in negotiations, which could take on another shape depending on Cook’s performance next season.
Rams Continuing Year-To-Year Approach With Matthew Stafford
The Rams are continuing a year-to-year approach with Matthew Stafford after signing him to a restructured deal that will keep him in Los Angeles for the 2025 season.
The team is expecting to revisit his contract every year as he considers retiring or returning to the field as one of the league’s longest-tenured players, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.
Rams vice president of football and business administration Tony Pastoors said that Stafford’s annual contract review is a “good problem to have.”
“If you’ve got a quarterback, you’ve got a chance,” said Pastoors (via Rodrigue). “And we’ve got a really good one.”
General manager Les Snead said that retaining Stafford will push the Rams towards a “win-now” approach in April’s draft, making it less likely that the team will use a premium pick on a quarterback.
“Always open to drafting a quarterback,” Snead said, but he added that teams with a more immediate need under center tend to take quarterbacks higher than the Rams value them. He also acknowledged the possibility that another team could trade up to Los Angeles’ first-round pick (No. 26 overall) to draft a quarterback.
Head coach Sean McVay said that drafting a quarterback was “unlikely,” per Sports Illustrated’s Brock Vierra.
“I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t done a whole lot of work on the quarterbacks,” continued McVay. “I feel really good about where our quarterback room is.”
The Rams’ quarterback room currently consists of Stafford, veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett. Garoppolo is on a one-year deal, while Bennett has two years remaining on his rookie contract. Since Stafford has stated a desire to play beyond 2025, the team doesn’t seem to be in any rush to find his successor.
Shedeur Sanders To Work Out With Browns; Titans Visit Canceled
APRIL 5: In the wake of Colorado’s pro day, Titans officials met with Sanders and his camp. A decision was made to cancel his Tennessee workout, as noted by team reporter Jim Wyatt. Ward remains the favorite to go No. 1 in the draft, and this development certainly represents another indication that will be the case.
MARCH 27: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will privately work out for the Titans and the Browns, who hold the first and second overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The workouts are scheduled for the days following Colorado’s April 4 pro day, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Sanders has already spent time with both teams; he interviewed with the Titans at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January and went to Cleveland on a top-30 visit at the beginning of March.
At the moment, Sanders is not the expected pick for either team. The Titans are working out Miami quarterback Cam Ward for a second time on Friday, and the Browns are “leaning towards” Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 2.
But with the draft still a month away, nothing is set in stone. Last month, the Titans were expected to trade the first pick and the Browns were trying to fend off Myles Garrett trade suitors. Now, Tennessee appears to view Ward as its quarterback of the future, and Cleveland signed Garrett to a massive extension.
Garrett’s trade request partially stemmed from the Browns’ lack of direction at quarterback. While his $40MM APY seems like enough motivation on its own, he insisted the extension wasn’t only about money. Garrett also said on a podcast (via the Browns’ social media) that he has an idea of who the Browns will start at quarterback in 2025 and likes it enough to stay in Cleveland.
However, the Browns’ only quarterback addition this offseason was Kenny Pickett. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was sent to the Eagles as part of the deal to acquire Pickett, and both Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe signed with other teams in free agency. The Browns also missed out on Russell Wilson, leaving 2024 backups like Joe Flacco and Carson Wentz as Cleveland’s remaining options.
That quarterback room doesn’t inspire much confidence, indicating the Browns still have another plan to address the position. That could involve drafting Sanders (or another rookie QB), or a post-draft trade for Kirk Cousins.
Patriots Trading Joe Milton To Cowboys
The Patriots are trading quarterback Joe Milton to the Cowboys, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Dallas will send one of its fifth-round compensatory picks in April’s draft to New England in exchange for Milton and a seventh-rounder, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. The Patriots received the 171st overall pick and the Cowboys now have the 217th overall pick, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Milton was a sixth-round pick in 2024 who spent his rookie year as the Patriots’ QB3 behind No. 3 pick Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. The 6-foot-5, 246-pound Milton brings a rare set of physical tools, including an especially powerful arm. He impressed in his lone appearance last season, completing 22 of his 29 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and a 111.4 passer rating in Week 18 against the Bills.
That performance helped to generate some trade buzz surrounding Milton, which picked up after the Patriots signed Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs arrived in New England to take over Brissett’s role, keeping Milton third on the depth chart with little potential for playing time. Milton was not seen as “an ideal backup” for Maye, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. The team even told Dobbs that they were looking to trade Milton in order to build their quarterback room around Maye and prioritize his development, per Breer.
Milton also wanted out of New England, seeing himself as a future starter and knowing he would have a better chance at seeing the field elsewhere, both in the short- and long-term. The Patriots granted permission for Milton to seek a trade, per Schultz, and the Cowboys “showed the most interest from the start.” The two teams had been negotiating for a few weeks before talks accelerated at league meetings in Florida, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
A number of other teams expressed interest in trading for Milton, according to Schultz, including the Raiders, Eagles, Giants, and Steelers. The Patriots had at least one better offer on the table, but worked with Milton to send him to his preferred landing spot in Dallas.
“My family grew up a Cowboys fan,” said Milton (via Schultz). “My mom always had a Cowboys shirt on. She always talked about them. Living in Texas has been a longtime dream of mine. And now I’m with them. I’m ready to work.”
Milton will arrive in Dallas as the presumptive backup to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys explored an extension with 2024 backup Trey Lance after Prescott went down last season, per Archer, but the former No. 3 pick remains a free agent. Dallas also had interest in Brissett and Drew Lock in free agency, according to Archer.
Milton has three years and $3.2MM remaining on his contract, per OverTheCap, while Brissett’s shorter, two-year deal with the Cardinals is worth three times as much. With Prescott still commanding the highest salary in the NFL, the Cowboys opted to trade for a young, cost-controlled with developmental upside over the next three years.
Lions Want To Extend Aidan Hutchinson, Kerby Joseph
The Lions hit on two defensive playmakers in the 2022 draft, selecting edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick and safety Kerby Joseph in the third round.
Both players are extension-eligible as they enter the fourth year of their rookie contracts, and Detroit is determined to lock them down for the long-term. Neither will be cheap.
Hutchinson racked up 7.5 sacks in his first five games last season before suffering a brutal leg injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He was on pace to break the NFL’s single-season sack record and an early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year before he went down. Hutchinson was trying to return to the field if the Lions made the Super Bowl, but their divisional round loss to the Commanders ended any chance of a comeback last season. He is expected to participate in offseason workouts in the next few months, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Barring any setbacks, Hutchinson should ready for Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Despite the injury, Hutchinson’s value has only gone up in recent months with Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett signing lucrative extensions. Garrett reached $40MM per year on his deal, which could be surpassed by Micah Parsons‘ extension with the Cowboys.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged the exploding market for premier edge rushers during league meetings in Florida.
“We had it in that range, kind of already, when we do our future planning and budgeting,” he said (via Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network). “But then obviously, when it goes up, it just goes up, and that’s just what you gotta prepare for. I don’t know what it’ll end up being. That’s the difficult part about our job, but we work really hard in terms of the prediction forecasting of that market. He’s just one of many that we’ve had to budget.”
Hutchinson is already one of the league’s premier pass rushers at just 24 years old. He could push for the highest APY of any non-quarterback, in which case the Lions would be wise to get the deal done quickly. Hutchinson has a $11.4MM cap hit in 2025 with a $20.9MM fifth-year option that the team is expected to pick up, per OverTheCap. Even if Hutchinson eclipses $40MM per year on his extension, his contract will grow more affordable with time due to increases in the salary cap and the edge rusher market.
Joseph will similarly be looking to take advantage of a strong 2024 and a rising safety market. He led the NFL with nine interceptions last season and 17 since 2022. Antoine Winfield reset the safety market last offseason with a $21.025MM APY, but Joseph may also consider a massive increase in cornerback pay as he negotiates his extension.
“He’s a player that we want to keep and, you know, we’ve let that be known,” said Holmes of Joseph, per Rogers. “He’s a fit for us, for our team. He’s a really good player, but in terms of the timing, you know, we’ll just kind of see where it goes.”
Joseph owed a $3.6MM salary in 2025 after reaching the second level of the NFL’s Proven Performance Escalator, per OverTheCap. An extension could reduce his 2025 cap hit by $2.04MM.