George Pickens Unlikely To Be With Steelers In 2026
MAY 5: During a Sunday SportsCenter appearance, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported (via Bleacher Report) Pickens’ desire is to remain in Pittsburgh, adding negotiations on the trade front have “really cooled.” Pickens should be expected to at least start the 2025 campaign as a Steeler, but his future beyond that period will no doubt remain a talking point.
MAY 4: Steelers wide receiver George Pickens’ time with the club is limited, according to senior NFL reporter James Palmer in a piece for Bleacher Report (video link). Palmer expects Pickens to be out of Pittsburgh at some point before the 2026 season, either as a result of a pre-deadline trade in 2025 or simply because the Steelers allow the contract-year player to depart in free agency next March.
In light of recent trade reports regarding Pickens – reports in which Pittsburgh was said to be both making and receiving calls on the Georgia product – Palmer’s report does not come as a surprise. Questions about Pickens’ maturity have dogged him before and after he turned pro, and Palmer says “it has not gone well behind the scenes at all” between Pickens and the team.
Aside from any off-field issues the Steelers might have with the 24-year-old deep threat, moving on from him would be consistent with their standard operating procedure. As our Sam Robinson noted as part of the pre-draft trade chatter surrounding Pickens, Pittsburgh tends to authorize one notable contract for its WR corps while filling out the rest of the depth chart with cost-controlled talent. Since the Steelers invested both significant draft capital and a high-end contract into recent trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf, it stands to reason that they would move on from Pickens before he gets his second NFL deal.
Still, the team does plan to compete for a postseason berth in 2025, and whatever headaches Pickens might bring to the locker room, he has performed as well as could be expected with less-than-stellar quarterback play during his first three years in the NFL. He led the league with an 18.1 yards-per-catch rate in 2023 as part of a 63/1,140/5 performance, and he likely would have approached or eclipsed the 1,100-yard mark again in 2024 if he had not missed three games due to injury (the only three contests he has missed in his career).
Plus, although Palmer confirms the Steelers did a great deal of research on the 2025 class of college wideouts, they did not use any of their seven selections on a pass catcher. Last week’s addition of Robert Woods notwithstanding, Pittsburgh’s WR corps would be dealt a notable blow if Pickens were to be traded now.
Palmer does not expect a trade to happen in the immediate future, instead suggesting that the November deadline would be a more likely timeframe for such a deal to take place. If they keep him in the fold through the start of the 2025 campaign, the Steelers would presumably only move Pickens before the deadline if they are out of playoff contention. Otherwise, it would seem as if the team would retain him through the end of the year and perhaps position itself for a compensatory pick if he indeed signs elsewhere in 2026.
Bengals Still Working On Extension For DE Trey Hendrickson
The Bengals selected edge rusher Shemar Stewart with their first-round choice (No. 17 overall) in last month’s draft. The pick created speculation that fellow EDGE Trey Hendrickson – who has been looking for a new contract from Cincinnati for several years and who was given permission to seek a trade in March – may indeed be on his way out.
As The Athletic’s Dianna Russini noted in a recent Scoop City podcast, however, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor shot down that notion (video link). Of course, it is difficult to imagine Taylor saying anything that would reveal the club’s plans or weaken its negotiating position with teams interested in Hendrickson, but according to Russini, Taylor’s remarks were not mere coach-speak. She is still getting “good vibes” from the team with respect to this situation and believes Cincy is still working hard to hammer out an extension.
Per Russini, the Bengals are trying to “get creative” and “move money” to bridge the gap with Hendrickson. As it stands, the Bengals have $25MM of cap space and are projected to have over $72MM of room in 2026 – this despite the massive deals authorized for both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason – so the resources do appear to be available.
Hendrickson, 30, signed a one-year extension in July 2023 that took the free agent contract he signed with the Bengals in 2021 through the upcoming 2025 campaign. As part of that contractual update, the four-time Pro Bowler received $21MM in new money, though the $15.8MM base salary he is scheduled to earn this year pales in comparison to the figures at the top of the exploding pass rusher market, which now features seven players enjoying AAVs of at least $28MM.
Having posted 17.5 sacks for the second consecutive year in 2024 en route to his first First Team All-Pro nod, Hendrickson understandably wants a contract commensurate with his market value. Despite the Bengals allowing him to look for a trade partner that would also greenlight a new mega-deal, they have set a lofty asking price in a trade and have rejected multiple offers from interested teams. The lack of movement in trade discussions could accelerate Cincinnati-Hendrickson talks, though traction in those negotiations has also been difficult to come by.
Since the Bengals seem unwilling to let Hendrickson go unless another team comes through with the type of trade package that presently appears unrealistic, Hendrickson may have to accept something of a discount if he wants to land a new multiyear pact in the near future. Russini acknowledges as much, and she believes he wants to stay in Cincinnati while confirming the team wants to retain him, so there may yet be a way for the parties to find common ground.
The Bengals ranked near the bottom of the league in terms of total defense, scoring defense, and sacks in 2024, so despite the Stewart addition, a Hendrickson departure (coupled with Sam Hubbard’s retirement) would certainly undermine the team’s attempts to return to the playoffs in 2025.
Seahawks HC: Jalen Milroe Is A QB “Through And Through”
While one of their West division counterparts, the Raiders, envision a Taysom Hill-like trajectory for college quarterback and 2025 draftee Tommy Mellott, the Seahawks do not have the same plan for Jalen Milroe, whom Seattle selected in the third round of last month’s draft. As Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic writes, the ‘Hawks see Milroe as a true quarterback at the professional level (subscription required).
“The way [the Saints] used [Hill] was more in a tight end-fullback hybrid role, sometimes taking snaps; [Milroe] is a quarterback through and through,” head coach Mike Macdonald said. “He’s going to be trained to play quarterback for us. When he’s in there, he’s going to be playing quarterback. But the athleticism is going to come to life when he’s on the field.”
As opposed to Mellott, an FCS product, Milroe made a name for himself at blue-blood Alabama, so it stands to reason that he would be given every opportunity to succeed as a passer despite his rawness in that regard and his athletic gifts that could make him a dynamic, Swiss Army-type weapon. His arm strength, coupled with his attitude and intelligence, give the Seahawks reason to believe they can develop him into a quality NFL quarterback.
That does not mean the ‘Hawks will eschew Milroe’s athleticism while he is learning the professional game and honing his mechanics. GM John Schneider said his club has “added an explosive weapon while [Milroe] develops as a quarterback,” and Macdonald also implied the team would deploy Milroe in “certain situations” early on.
If Milroe shows notable progress in his rookie campaign, the Seahawks will be put to a fascinating decision in 2026. Free agent signee Sam Darnold joined the club on a three-year, $100.5MM contract on the heels of his belated breakout season with the Vikings, but he is not due any fully-guaranteed money on that deal after the 2025 season. Drew Lock, meanwhile, was brought back to Seattle on a modest two-year pact that is easily escapable next year. So Milroe has a real opportunity to ascend the depth chart in short order should he demonstrate an ability to live up to his vast potential.
In each of his last two seasons with the Crimson Tide, Milroe threw for more than 2,800 yards. During that timeframe, the now 22-year-old passer tallied 39 touchdowns through the air and another 32 scores on the ground.
Raiders’ Sixth-Rounder Tommy Mellott To Play WR
The Raiders added two FCS quarterbacks in the sixth round of April’s draft, bringing Montana State’s Tommy Mellott and North Dakota State’s Cam Miller aboard. As our Ely Allen wrote at the time the picks were made, some scouts and analysts believed Mellott would transition to wide receiver at the professional level, and that is precisely what will happen.
Las Vegas has said Mellott will play WR, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. While Miller will attempt to earn a place on the QB depth chart behind Geno Smith and Aidan O’Connell, Mellott will focus his efforts elsewhere on offense and on special teams.
Mellott became Montana State’s full-time signal-caller in 2021, though his best numbers as a passer didn’t come until his final collegiate season in 2024, when he won the Walter Payton Award (the FCS award for most outstanding offensive player). Last year, Mellott threw for 31 touchdowns (his previous season-high was 10) with only two interceptions. For his career, he threw 55 TDs to only eight picks in 49 games.
Of course, it is difficult to project how FCS success will translate to the NFL, and Mellott’s rushing statistics offer a clue as to how he might thrive in the pros. In his 49 collegiate contests, he compiled 3,517 rushing yards and 43 rushing scores while sustaining a 7.2 yards-per-carry average. As ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler notes in a rather comprehensive piece detailing Mellott’s draft-day experience and his future with the Raiders, Las Vegas special teams coordinator Tom McMahon believes Mellott can become a new version of Taysom Hill, Julian Edelman, or Josh Cribbs, college QBs who found success as offensive weapons and/or special teams aces in the NFL.
As far as Day 3 choices go, Mellott was reportedly a hot commodity. McMahon knew his colleagues around the league were well-aware of Mellott, and he attempted to obscure his feelings about the former Bobcat during conversations with those colleagues. GM John Spytek also opted against using a “30” visit on Mellott to avoid alerting other clubs of the Raiders’ interest, and McMahon says as soon as the Mellott pick was announced, he received texts from other ST coaches indicating their team was about to select the talented prospect.
Mellott is a self-described fan of Edelman and noted that the Patriots icon first earned attention as a pro by excelling as a punt returner. Mellott likewise will attempt to gain recognition in whatever role Las Vegas envisions for him.
“I was a different kind of prospect going into the NFL,” Mellott said. “I wasn’t a clear-cut quarterback. … To get drafted is an honor and a privilege. The work is not even close to being done. I’m excited to go there and prove that I can contribute.”
In addition to Mellott, the Raiders tried to shore up their significant WR need by adding Jack Bech (second round) and Dont’e Thornton (fourth round) in the draft. But unless Las Vegas also signs one of the veteran wideouts still on the market, there would seemingly still be an opportunity for Mellott to carve out an ancillary role among the club’s pass-catching contingent in addition to whatever work he sees as a return specialist.
Ameer Abdullah led Vegas with 10 punt returns and nine kickoff returns last year, but he is still a free agent.
Dolphins To Explore Free Agency For CB Help
The Dolphins released cornerback Kendall Fuller in February and are trying to trade fellow CB Jalen Ramsey. The team is therefore in need of at least one, and possibly two, starting boundary corners, and GM Chris Grier has indicated he is looking to veteran free agents to fill the void (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques).
As Louis-Jacques observes, Miami entered last month’s draft with needs along the offensive and defensive lines and at corner. While the team added several defensive tackles – including No. 13 overall selection Kenneth Grant – as well as a second-round guard, it did not nab a CB until the fifth round, when it turned in the card for Florida defender Jason Marshall Jr.
Before the draft, Grier expressed his belief that the 2025 class of college corners was a deep one, thereby implying that quality players could be had in later rounds. Marshall brings good size and a four-year SEC pedigree to the table, but Louis-Jacques identifies him as a developmental player at this point (which is of course the norm for most Day 3 choices).
The lack of an immediate starter in the Dolphins’ rookie class and the seemingly imminent departure of one of the game’s best CBs in Ramsey increases the urgency to add established talent to the secondary. In terms of advanced metrics, Fuller was not up to his usual standard in 2024 – his first season in Miami – though he still earned a solid 66.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He struggled with concussions and played in just 11 games, but assuming there are no lingering health concerns, one wonders if the ‘Fins will circle back to Fuller on a less expensive deal than the two-year, $16.5MM accord he signed in March 2024.
While James Bradberry also remains on the market, the 2020 Pro Bowler missed all of last season due to injury. Even before that, the Eagles had shifted Bradberry to safety following a dismal 2023 effort at his natural cornerback position. As such, the soon-to-be 32-year-old does not profile as a surefire boundary starter at this stage of his career, despite his desire to return to CB in 2025.
Rasul Douglas, meanwhile, had strung together several strong seasons in a row before struggling for the Bills in 2024, surrendering a career-worst 122.0 quarterback rating on passes thrown in his direction and earning a career-worst 53.9 PFF grade as a result. And Stephon Gilmore played reasonably well as part of the Vikings’ fifth-ranked scoring defense in 2024, but the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and late-career journeyman is reportedly giving thought to retirement. There has been no publicly-reported interest in him, Douglas, or Fuller since their contracts expired or were terminated this year.
The same is true of Mike Hilton and C.J. Henderson, two other players with significant starting experience who could pique Grier’s interest. Other recognizable names like Asante Samuel Jr. and Shaquill Griffin are also unattached as of the time of this writing.
Browns Could See Significant Cap Relief Due To Insurance Policy On Deshaun Watson’s Contract; Latest On QB’s NFL Future
The Browns have added Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett to their quarterback room this offseason, and the club may still select a rookie passer in this month’s draft. Deshaun Watson has performed poorly during his Cleveland tenure, and with his 2025 availability in doubt, it is eminently possible that he will not play another down for the club.
Recent comments made by Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam – the first time anyone within the organization publicly admitted the historic and controversial Watson acquisition is a failure – further reinforce that possibility, as ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi writes. Of course, because of Watson’s contract – which was recently restructured for immediate salary cap relief – even a 2026 release with a post-June 1 designation would create a dead money charge of nearly $81MM without any cap savings.
As such, Oyefusi says Watson could stay on the Browns’ roster for the remainder of his thru-2026 deal, though any decisions in that regard will not be made for at least another year. Haslam said the team needs to determine Watson’s health status before making a call, and in the meantime, the 29-year-old passer is rehabbing his Achilles tear.
While the current financial picture related to Watson’s contract looks bleak, there is a real possibility that the situation will improve. We had previously touched on the insurance the club had taken out on Watson’s contract, and as Oyefusi reiterates, the insurance policy allowed Cleveland to obtain cap relief for 2024 after Watson missed 11 games due to injury in 2023. Likewise, the team has realized a small credit for the time Watson missed in 2024.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds further context. According to Florio, Watson’s deal contains an addendum that allows the team to recover over $58MM for an injury occurring between the start of the 2024 offseason program and the start of the 2025 offseason program (Watson sustained his season-ending Achilles tear in October 2024 and suffered a second tear in January 2025, and both occurrences fall within the addendum’s timeline). Most of the potential recovery (over $44MM) stems from Watson’s fully-guaranteed salary of $46MM for 2025.
In other words, if Watson is unable to play in 2025, and if the Browns’ prospective claim against the insurance policy is successful, Cleveland could get back over $44MM in cash with a corresponding credit to its cap sheet. Given the stakes involved, though, the insurance carrier may well attempt to find an exclusion or exception that would justify denial of the claim.
Assuming Watson does not engineer a dramatic turnaround to become a quality starting quarterback for the Browns, he will become a free agent at some point in the relatively near future. When that happens, he may not find another NFL opportunity.
Per Oysefusi, executives and agents from around the league have said it is possible that no team will bring Watson on board, even if he is completely healthy.
“If released, I don’t see anyone picking him up,” one NFC executive said. “And then, down the road, the question will be, will he take low-QB money? Would he even be motivated to play at that point?”
A prominent agent offered a different take, saying, “[t]he league is forgiving with quarterbacks that have exhibited high-level talent. There is a shortage of good QB play. That’s why I think a team could take a chance on him if he proves healthy. Some owners could have a problem with that because of the past, but not all.”
The agent makes a fair point, but it has been a few years since Watson has exhibited high-level talent. So while the Browns’ search for their next long-term quarterback and a way out of their now-infamous contractual misstep are the more pressing storylines, it is fair to wonder if Watson has already taken his last snap.
LSU WR Kyren Lacy Passes Away At 24
10:07pm: Harris’ apparent suicide took place in a vehicle as he was being pursued by authorities, according to a Harris County (Texas) Sherriff’s report (via ESPN.com). A female family member called police and indicated Lacy discharged a firearm into the ground during a verbal argument Saturday night. Lacy then fled the scene in a vehicle, according to the police report.
Authorities’ pursuit of Lacy ended after a car accident, according to the report, which indicates officers approached the vehicle to retrieve him. Lacy was then found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
10:28am: Former Louisiana and LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy passed away last night, as Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Lacy was just 24, and according to WBRZ 2, he died by suicide.
Lacy’s size (6-3, 212) and route-running acumen made him an intriguing professional prospect. After playing the 2023 slate in the shadow of Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers, Lacy made the most of his chance to take on WR1 duties for LSU in 2024. In his final collegiate season, he hauled in 58 catches for 866 yards and nine TDs, and he was on track to hear his name called at some point during this month’s NFL draft.
His draft stock took a major hit as a result of his alleged involvement in an accident that left a 78-year-old man dead and injured several others. Although the vehicle Lacy was said to be operating did not make contact with the other vehicles involved, prosecutors say Lacy was passing several vehicles in an area where passing was not permitted. A car in the oncoming lane abruptly braked in order to avoid a collision, and the car behind them swerved left into oncoming traffic to avoid rear-ending the first vehicle. That car then collided head-on with the car that Lacy was allegedly attempting to pass. Lacy then allegedly drove around the crash and fled the scene, failing to stop and render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash. He declared for the draft two days later (via Fox8Live.com).
Lacy turned himself in about a month after an arrest warrant was issued, and he was released on a $151K bond. Per WBRZ 2, a grand jury was scheduled to start hearing evidence in Lacy’s case Monday. He was facing charges of negligent homicide, hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle. His attorney had argued that another driver, not Lacy, caused the fatal accident.
We at PFR offer our condolences to Lacy’s friends and family, as well as the friends and family of Herman Hall, the man who was killed in the collision. We also offer our best wishes to those injured in the accident.
Early-Season Brandon Aiyuk Return In Play; Latest On 49ers’ Jordan Mason Trade
Thanks in large part to the $22.85MM roster bonus that vested on April 1, along with the fact that his contract and recent ACL tear have cratered his trade value, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be back with the 49ers in 2025 as both player and team attempt to rebound from a forgettable 2024 season. We recently heard Aiyuk was targeting a return midway through the 2025 slate, but there is some hope he could be back even earlier, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area writes.
“I don’t know,” Kyle Shanahan said at this year’s league meetings. “It’s too early to tell. The goal is always early. You hope to have him right away. We were told by his doctor there’s a chance. But it’s too early in the process and we’ll see when we get closer to training camp and see what it looks like.”
Confirming Aiyuk’s recovery is coming along as planned, GM John Lynch added, “[w]e’re pleased with Brandon’s progress. He’s been working hard and got good reviews from [surgeon] Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache. That was a key marker, as I mentioned it would be. He did well.”
San Francisco lost a great deal of notable talent this offseason thanks to cap constraints, and it also traded away longtime WR Deebo Samuel. After authorizing a four-year, $120MM extension for Aiyuk in August 2024 – on the heels of the receiver’s 75/1,342/7 showing in 2023 – the Niners were reportedly open to dealing the Arizona State product this year as well. While it would not have taken much to convince Lynch to agree to a trade, it seems that even a buy-low offer did not come in.
Meanwhile, Lynch did execute a trade with the Vikings, sending running back Jordan Mason to Minnesota in exchange for a 2026 sixth-rounder and a Day 3 pick swap in the 2025 draft. While the deal may have been motivated in part by finances – the 49ers had applied the second-round RFA tender to Mason, which would have paid him a fully guaranteed $5.3MM in 2025 – the presence of fellow RB Isaac Guerendo also played a role.
“I was impressed with how tough he competed, how hard he ran,” Shanahan said of Guerendo (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I think he ran harder as the year went (on), which is a really good sign for guys. Because if you run less hard as the year goes on you’re probably not going to be running it too much in the future. I was impressed with the mentality he had.”
That said, injuries have frequently forced Shanahan to plumb the depths of his RB depth chart during his tenure as the Niners’ HC. With the injury-prone Christian McCaffrey due back as the club’s RB1, the 49ers still should be considered likely to use this deep draft class to further bolster this position, Barrows adds. Though, Guerendo flashed at points during an intriguing rookie year.
Labeling Guerendo as a player with a “bright future,” Shanahan observed the fourth-round pick average five yards per carry and 10.1 per reception. The Wisconsin product totaled 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns during a start against the Bears while adding 99- and 85-yard showings prior to that outing. Guerendo suffered an MCL sprain and a sprained ankle late in the season. By trading Mason, the 49ers dealt away a key backup option. While they are set to turn to a player who clocked a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time at the 2024 Combine, more help will likely be en route soon.
McCaffrey had held up for the 49ers between the October 2022 trade and Super Bowl LVIII, but last season reminded of the injury issues the dynamic starter experienced as a Panther. Guerendo should be expected to see steady work off the bench in 2025, and it will be interesting if the 49ers make a notable addition to further insure this position group. Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda round out the 49ers’ RB contingent.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan To Visit Patriots, Saints, Cowboys
First-round wide receiver prospect Tetairoa McMillan has secured visits with the Patriots, Saints, and Cowboys, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Wilson also confirms the previously-reported McMillan-Panthers summit.
McMillan’s size (6-4, 219), catch radius, and ability to make contested catches are among his chief selling points, while his lack of deep speed and inability to create consistent separation – which is why he needed to make so many contested grabs – have caused some concern. The highest recruit in the history of the Arizona football program, McMillan averaged 87 catches for 1,360.5 yards and nine TDs for the Wildcats over the past two seasons. He finished his college career with a 16.1 yards-per-catch average, thus illustrating his ability to make big plays downfield despite the fact that he is not a blazing runner.
After a long search that saw the team make aggressive pursuits for Brandon Aiyuk and Chris Godwin over the last year, New England finally landed a quality, veteran wideout when it signed Stefon Diggs last month. Nonetheless, Diggs is coming off a platform campaign cut short by an ACL tear, and between the injury and the fact that he is entering his age-32 season, there is reason to believe he will not return to his peak level of performance.
As such, it would not be surprising to see the Pats add more top-tier talent at the skill positions to aid in second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s development. On the other hand, new head coach Mike Vrabel has said addressing the club’s offensive and defensive lines would be a top offseason priority, and blockers like LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou have been consistently linked to New England as possible solutions for the team’s glaring left tackle need.
Either of those OTs are realistic targets for the Pats and their No. 4 pick, though McMillan is unlikely to be selected that high. But, if the Pats find a trade-down opportunity to their liking, McMillan could become an option.
The Saints bolstered their WR corps by reuniting with Brandin Cooks this offseason, and they also return Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. However, all three players missed significant time due to injury in 2024, so another receiver addition would not come as a shock. Still, New Orleans has more pressing needs, including a long-term quarterback. While the club could still target a passer with its second-round pick – by which time McMillan is likely to be long gone – a QB like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart are legitimate possibilities for the Saints’ No. 9 overall pick.
Dallas, Cooks’ most recent employer, has confirmed that it is in the market for a WR to complement CeeDee Lamb, and McMillan could be a fit for the club’s No. 12 selection. The team recently met with several other high-end WR prospects, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Texas’ Matthew Golden, though the Cowboys could see running back as a bigger need.
Browns, Giants Have Inquired About Trading For No. 1 Pick; Titans Never Considered Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers?
APRIL 13: Zac Jackson of The Athletic (subscription required) says the Titans appear sold on Ward. League sources have praised Ward’s maturity and the steady improvements he made over the course of his collegiate career, which leads clubs to believe he can thrive at the professional level.
Russini, on a recent episode of her Scoop City podcast, says it would take an historic offer to convince Tennessee to trade out of the No. 1 overall spot and forego its shot at Ward (video link). Russini adds that the reports of the Titans’ faith in Ward are real and are not part of the club’s effort to drive up the price for the top pick in the draft.
APRIL 6: The Browns and Giants, both still in need of a long-term quarterback despite offseason bridge additions, have inquired about trading up with the Titans to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in this month’s draft, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required). We had previously heard Tennessee was fielding calls on that front, and it only makes sense that Cleveland (which presently holds the No. 2 overall pick) and New York (No. 3) would at least see what it would take to make a swap and put themselves in position to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the top QB in the 2025 class.
Less than two months ago, many around the league believed the rebuilding Titans would look to trade down, and the Giants were arguably the team most connected to a possible move up the board. The Browns, meanwhile, have been more closely linked to a Kirk Cousins pursuit than a trade for the No. 1 selection, with GM Andrew Berry recently confirming he is unlikely to swing a deal with Tennessee.
Interestingly, Howe says the Titans have not even determined what sort of compensation they would require to move down the board, which further strengthens the prevailing notion that they will select Ward with the top pick. And, contrary to pre-free agency rumors on the matter, Howe says Tennessee never got involved in the Sam Darnold sweepstakes, and he confirms the same is true of Aaron Rodgers. Of course, that represents yet another sign that Ward is Nashville-bound.
Recent reporting has pegged Cleveland as the likely destination for two-way phenom Travis Hunter, and the Giants – who have long been intrigued by Hunter’s collegiate teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders – would thus be in position to nab the polarizing passer. That would align with the belief that Big Blue is “praying” Cleveland takes a non-QB like Hunter so that Sanders will fall to No. 3.
On the other hand, New York is said to be “convinced” Cleveland – its professed comfort in having Kenny Pickett assume QB1 duties notwithstanding – will be the team to take Sanders. The Browns did indeed plan a private workout for Sanders, and according to Howe, the Giants will also meet again with the second-generation star prior to the draft.
With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston having been added to the QB room in free agency, and with Wilson seemingly in the driver’s seat to serve as the starting quarterback regardless of how the draft unfolds, Giants GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll, who are both clinging to their jobs, may prefer to use the No. 3 pick on a player who can help the team win now rather than a high-upside project like Sanders. To that end, one team picking in the top-10 has told Howe that New York seems to be cooling on the idea of adding a signal-caller with its top draft choice.
Considering the Browns-Hunter connections that have recently emerged — supported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who says she no longer believes Cleveland will take a QB (video link) — Howe says if the Giants do not select Sanders with the No. 3 pick, they would likely take Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter (assuming Ward and Hunter are off the board by that time). Carter is seen as one of the draft’s best all-around prospects, and New York is one of the four clubs (along with the Titans, Browns, and Patriots) that secured a visit with him. That said, as our Sam Robinson noted when it became clear the Giants would host Carter, they are the team on Carter’s itinerary that would seemingly need him the least, given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Carter is nonetheless a blue chip talent, and if Hunter is gone by the time the Giants are on the clock, and if New York does not believe Sanders represents the best player available at No. 3, there is logic in nabbing the Penn State product. Or, if they feel Carter is not a great fit, the Giants could trade down themselves in an effort to collect more draft capital.