2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Texans, Browns, Williams
We entered the 2025 NFL Draft in unprecedented waters as all 32 teams were set to have their own first-round picks for the first time since the AFL-NFL merger. In fact, when the Tennessee was put on the clock, all teams still had their own first-round picks. Before that, the closest the draft had ever come to starting without any first-round trades was in 1993, when the Chiefs traded their first-rounder to the 49ers for Joe Montana just five days before the draft.
While Cleveland and Jacksonville were the first teams to ruin that pristine first round with a trade, the Texans and Rams were the only teams to trade completely out of the first round. In fact, all nine of Houston’s draft picks were the results of trades. We already discussed how the team looked to move back up into the first round for Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, but on Fan Duel TV’s Up & Adams show with Kay Adams, Texans general manager Nick Caserio detailed how they were initially attempting to move up into the top half of the first round but were unable to find a partner, so they looked instead into moving down, fielding several offers.
“We tried to move up a little bit,” Caserio told Adams. “It didn’t really work out. At about the 18, 19, 20 range, we started to get some calls about our pick, so we were putting the information up on the board.”
“We had actually three different trade scenarios that were on the board at one time,” Caserio continued. “We had trade scenarios, we were prepared to pick a player…and then we were on the clock, and a pick before — I think when Minnesota picked at 24 — and after they picked, we were able to consummate the trade with the Giants. So, we scooted back there to the second round and then had the second pick there to start Friday.”
Here are a few other draft rumors from the days following the 2025 NFL Draft:
- In a Q&A earlier this week, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated dropped an interesting tidbit about the Browns‘ potential first-round strategy last Thursday night. We’ve covered Breer’s earlier report that Cleveland attempted to get back into the first round for Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr., but he has since reasoned that the team was potentially looking for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart late in the first round. Ultimately, it was the Giants that made the move back into the 25th overall spot for Dart, but there’s a chance the Browns may have done so if New York hadn’t acted when they did.
- Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams found himself getting drafted at the tail end of the first round by the Lions at No. 28 overall. Shortly after the draft, Williams told Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network that he believes the Bills would have taken him two picks later if Detroit hadn’t selected him. Buffalo had considered defensive tackle a serious position of need as DaQuan Jones heads into a contract year, and head coach Sean McDermott and defensive line coach Marcus West told Williams they loved his game and how he played. There’s a chance Williams could’ve been headed to northern New York had Lions general manager Brad Holmes been more receptive to the phone calls he’d received gauging his interest in trading back from the 28th overall pick.
2025 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2025 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 16: Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 47: Will Johnson (CB, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 78: Jordan Burch (OLB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Cody Simon (LB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, 174 (from Cowboys)*: Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Cowboys)*: Hayden Conner (G, Texas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225 (from Jets through Chiefs): Kitan Crawford (S, Nevada) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 1, No. 15: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 26 (from Rams): James Pearce (DE, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 96 (from Eagles): Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 118: Billy Bowman (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Browns through Chargers): Jack Nelson (T, Wisconsin) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green (OLB, Marshall) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones (T, LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan (LB, Cal) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 141* (from Titans): Carson Vinson (T, Alabama A&M) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 178 (from Titans): Bilhal Kone (CB, Western Michigan) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186 (from Jets): Tyler Loop (K, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester (WR, Colorado) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 210*: Aeneas Peebles (DT, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 212*: Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger (G, LSU) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
- Round 1, No. 30: Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 41 (from Bears): T.J. Sanders (DT, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 72 (from Bears): Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 109 (from Bears through Bills and Bears): Deone Walker (DT, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Cowboys)*: Jordan Hancock (CB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Jackson Hawes (TE, Georgia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 177 (from Giants): Dorian Strong (CB, Virginia Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 206: Chase Lundt (T, UConn) (signed)
- Round 7, 240 (from Vikings through Browns and Bears): Kaden Prather (WR, Maryland) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
- Round 1, No. 8: Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 51 (from Broncos): Nic Scourton (OLB, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 77 (from Falcons through Patriots): Princely Umanmielen (OLB, Ole Miss) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Cowboys): Trevor Etienne (RB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 122 (from Broncos): Lathan Ransom (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 140 (from Giants): Cam Jackson (DT, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 163 (from Ravens): Mitchell Evans (TE, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Eagles through Broncos): Jimmy Horn (WR, Colorado) (signed)
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 10: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 39 (from Panthers): Luther Burden (WR, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 56 (from Vikings through Texans and Bills): Ozzy Trapilo (T, Boston College) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 62: Shemar Turner (DT, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 132 (from Bills): Ruban Hyppolite (LB, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 169 (from Bills)*: Zah Frazier (CB, Texas-San Antonio) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 195 (from Steelers through Rams): Luke Newman (G, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Bengals): Kyle Monangai (RB, Rutgers) (signed)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 1, No. 17: Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 49: Demetrius Knight (LB, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 81: Dylan Fairchild (G, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 119: Barrett Carter (LB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 153: Jalen Rivers (T, Miami) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 193: Tahj Brooks (RB, Texas Tech) (signed)
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 5 (from Jaguars): Mason Graham (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 33: Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 36 (from Jaguars): Quinshon Judkins (RB, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, Bowling Green) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 94 (from Bills): Dillon Gabriel (QB, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 126 (from Vikings through Jaguars): Dylan Sampson (RB, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Patriots through Seahawks): Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) (signed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 12: Tyler Booker (G, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 44: Donovan Ezeiruaku (DE, Boston College) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 76: Shavon Revel (CB, East Carolina) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149: Jaydon Blue (RB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 152 (from Cardinals): Shemar James (LB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 204 (from Lions through Browns and Bills): Ajani Cornelius (G, Oregon) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 217 (from Titans through Patriots): Jay Toia (DT, UCLA) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Packers through Titans): Phil Mafah (RB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 247 (from Chiefs through Panthers): Tommy Akingbesote (DT, Maryland) (signed)
An Early Look At 2026 NFL Draft QB Options
2025 was a proclaimed down year for quarterback prospects in the draft. New Titans quarterback Cam Ward was certainly deserving of his first-round status, but no other passers really commanded a first-round grade. Jaxson Dart ended up slipping into the back end of the first thanks to a trade up by the Giants, but Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Shedeur Sanders all slipped down to later rounds in Green Bay. 
While the lack of elite talent behind Ward certainly contributed to lessened interest in reaching for passers in the first round, the potential quality of the 2026 NFL Draft class may have played a part, as well. This is especially apparent with teams like the Browns and Rams, who didn’t acquire first-round passers this year but did acquire 2026 first-round picks. Those two picks in 2026 will come in handy as Jeff Howe of The Athletic tells us that “personnel departments have been optimistic for months about the group” of passers that could declare for the next draft.
One of the main factors that could contribute to a strong quarterback class in 2026 is the status of Texas passer Arch Manning. Grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch’s tenure as the Longhorns’ starter has been highly anticipated as new Dolphins passer Quinn Ewers closed out his career.
Manning has shown plenty of promise in limited time. In 12 games (two starts), Manning has completed 66 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions, adding four more scores on the ground. It will be interesting to see if the youth comes out of school after only three years. Though the grandfather, Archie, came out of Ole Miss after only three seasons to go second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft, he highly encouraged Peyton and Eli to stay four years apiece at their respective alma maters. Enough hype off of a strong season may be enough to lure Arch out of Austin next year, but there’s always a chance he returns to campus and diminishes the 2026 class a bit.
Even without Manning, though, there’s still plenty of talent in next year’s class. LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar have consistently been billed as the next big NFL arms in college football, projecting consistently as future first-round picks. Unfortunately, the 2024 season did little to support either’s claim for a top draft spot.
After an impressive performance (395 passing yards, three touchdowns) in the Tigers’ bowl game victory over Wisconsin in 2023 (his first start), Nussmeier returned to Baton Rouge to start all 13 games in his redshirt junior season with plenty of hype. In some respects, he absolutely delivered. His 4,052 passing yards were second in the SEC this year behind only Dart (4,279), second in school history behind only Joe Burrow (5,671), and 10th in SEC history. Dart accomplished his number with 127 fewer pass attempts, though, while Burrow threw for 1,619 more yards on just two more attempts. Nussmeier also tied with Ewers and Carson Beck for the most interceptions (12) in the SEC last year. If Nussmeier can develop a more efficient passing game with more looks downfield while limiting turnovers, he may be able to retain his first-round stock next year. It would also benefit him to develop a bit more mobility; he currently has -96 career rushing yards (sacks count as negative rushing attempts in college).
At one point a five-star recruit and the top quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, Allar has, so far, failed to live up to the hype in Happy Valley. After appearing in 10 games as a true freshman, Allar became the Nittany Lions’ full-time starter as a sophomore in 2023. He only completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards that season, but he became the second quarterback in FBS history to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions after Hendon Hooker did so with 27 and two, respectively, in 2022. Allar improved his completion percentage (66.5) and passing yardage (3,327) in 16 games in 2024 (only a slight rise in yards per game), but his 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions indicated a step back. He does boast some rushing ability, though, with 560 yards and 11 touchdowns in three years. Penn State hasn’t been known for big passing numbers as they’ve transitioned from Trace McSorley to Sean Clifford to Allar, but one would expect Allar’s five-star talent to elevate the passing attack a bit more than it has. If he continues to put up lackluster numbers, he’ll still likely hear his name called in the draft, it just may not be in the first round.
One passer who may have passed both Nussmeier and Allar with his 2024 performance was Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Another five-star recruit, and the second-ranked quarterback under Allar in the 2022 recruiting class, Klubnik was incredibly underwhelming in his first two years with the Tigers. Last year, though, Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and only six interceptions while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores. His performance led Clemson to an ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Klubnik as the eighth-best passer last season in the NCAA, over both Nussmeier (23rd) and Allar (32nd). 
Another name drawing plenty of first-round interest is South Carolina dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Like Manning, and unlike Nussmeier, Allar, and Klubnik, Sellers will only be a redshirt sophomore next season, but he showed flashes of serious star potential in 2024 that has scouts licking their chops. Barely registering any time as a true freshman, Sellers entered this past fall as the Gamecocks’ starter. Missing a game and a half with injury, Sellers put up a 65.6 percent completion rate, 2,534 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing for 674 yards and seven more scores. He got off to a slow start, but starting with the team’s seventh matchup of the year, Sellers blew up, averaging 249 passing yards per game and 65 rushing yards per game while scoring 18 touchdowns (14 passing, four rushing) and throwing only three picks. The team ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak before losing its bowl game.
Two other names that scouts are dog-earring early are Nico Iamaleava and Fernando Mendoza, who have both transferred to new schools for 2025. Iamaleava is heading to UCLA after two seasons in Tennessee. Becoming a full-time starter for the Volunteers as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava helped Tennessee win 10 games. His passing numbers (2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions) and rushing numbers (358 yards, three touchdowns) were only small contributions, though, for a team that was carried by a strong run game and defense. Still, Iamaleava’s ball security should be valued on a Bruins team that saw Ethan Garbers throw 11 interceptions in a disappointing senior campaign last year.
Mendoza is heading to Indiana after nearly two full years as the starter at Cal. Mendoza took over as the Golden Bears’ starter in the sixth game of the team’s 2023 campaign and started every game for the rest of the year. He started 11 games for Cal in 2024, averaging 273.1 yards per game for 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also displays some decent mobility out of the pocket. Mendoza and former Indiana passer Kurtis Rourke will essentially switch cities with Rourke landing with the 49ers in the draft. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Mendoza could have a breakout year with the Hoosiers.
And these are just the preseason names marked with first-round potential. At this time last year, Ward was considered a likely Day 3 option. Howe notes options like Ward’s successor at Miami, Beck, Dart’s successor at Ole Miss, Austin Simmons, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Baylor’s Sawyer Robinson, and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson all as names that could skyrocket up the board with strong 2025 campaigns. Another one of Ward’s successors, John Mateer, who followed Ward as the starter at Washington State last year, is primed to be a contender, as well, in 2025 after transferring to Oklahoma.
For now, this is a ton of speculation. With the nature of the draft and transfer portal, so many of these quarterbacks’ teams will look extremely different in 2025, and it could really affect their performances as a result, potentially making 2026’s quarterback crop as thin as 2025’s. Small school or FCS passers could force their way into the conversation, as well. Or any number of these players could defer to the 2027 NFL Draft and make that year’s class even stronger. Regardless, teams like the Browns and Rams, with extra first-round picks next year, are feeling much more optimistic about the quarterback depth of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Browns Undecided On Nick Chubb’s Future
Nick Chubb remains unsigned at this point of the offseason, and his Browns future is still uncertain. That is especially true considering Cleveland added a pair of running backs during the draft. 
Cleveland selected Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins in the second round before bringing in Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson in the fourth round. Those two join a backfield which also includes Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong. Chubb could be re-signed at any time, but it remains to be seen if the team will be willing to pursue a new deal.
“The complexion of our RB room has changed this weekend,” general manager Andrew Berry said after the draft (via The Land on Demand’s Tony Grossi). “We’ll be assessing where the roster is in the coming week.”
Cleveland currently has $16.59MM in cap space. A portion of that figure will be required to sign the team’s draft picks and make other moves during the summer, but the funds for another Chubb contract should be available if needed. The four-time Pro Bowler agreed to a pay cut last offseason in a deal which put him on track for free agency in 2025. Based on his level of play, it comes as little surprise Chubb still finds himself on the market.
After returning from the major knee injury he suffered early in the 2023 campaign, Chubb made a total of eight appearances last year. The 29-year-old logged a notable workload during that time, receiving double-digit carries six times. Chubb averaged only 3.3 yards per attempt – after seeing that figure range from 5.0 to 6.1 during each of his previous seasons – and he never managed more than 59 rushing yards in a contest in 2024, though. While a bounce-back season could be in store one more year removed from the injury, the Georgia product faces the possibility of never returning to his previous form.
Based on Berry’s remarks, a decision could be made soon with respect to Chubb’s situation. If no new Browns deal is to come, it will be interesting to see how his free agency unfolds.
RB Jerome Ford Agrees To Browns Pay Cut
Jerome Ford saw the Browns make a pair of running back additions during the draft, something which may have opened the door to a trade taking place. Instead, the three-year veteran will remain in Cleveland for 2025. 
Ford has agreed to a pay cut, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. The 25-year-old was on track to collect $3.49MM next season, but that figure has now dropped to $1.75MM (which has been guaranteed). Ford remains on track for free agency in 2026.
The former fifth-rounder saw just eight carries during his rookie campaign, but his workload increased dramatically the following year. Nick Chubb‘s knee injury opened the door for Ford to take on a starting role, and he used it to total 1,132 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns. The passing game in particular saw Ford thrive with an average of 7.3 yards per reception.
The Browns did not bring back Kareem Hunt for the 2024 campaign, but Chubb returned midway through the season. That led to a drop in Ford’s workload (104 carries), although he saw his efficiency spike to 5.4 yards per carry. He will spend the offseason competing for snaps as part of a backfield which also includes Pierre Strong as well as the two rookies (Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson) added via the draft.
Of course, one of the main takeaways from today’s move is the fact it represents another sign Chubb will be playing elsewhere in 2025. Not long after the draft took place, general manager Andrew Berry noted the team was evaluating its options in the backfield, something which hinted toward Chubb not being retained. A Ford trade could have allowed for a deal to be worked out on that front, but that will not be the case. Chubb’s free agent market will remain worth monitoring, while Ford will look to help his free agent stock with a strong showing in 2025.
2026 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
We covered how last year’s Pro Bowl invites affected the 2022 first-round class. With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the 2026 option decisions from around the league:
- DE/OLB Travon Walker, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
- DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson, Lions ($19.87MM): Exercised
- CB Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($17.6MM): Extended through 2029
- CB Sauce Gardner, Jets ($20.19MM): Exercised
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, Giants ($14.75MM): Exercised
- T Ikem Ekwonu, Panthers ($17.56MM): Exercised
- T Evan Neal, Giants ($16.69MM): Declined
- WR Drake London, Falcons ($16.82MM): Exercised
- T Charles Cross, Seahawks ($17.56MM): Exercised
- WR Garrett Wilson, Jets ($16.82MM): Exercised
- WR Chris Olave, Saints ($15.49MM): Exercised
- WR Jameson Williams, Lions ($15.49MM): Exercised
- DT Jordan Davis, Eagles ($12.94MM): Exercised
- S Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($18.6MM): Exercised
- G Kenyon Green, Eagles* ($16.69MM): Declined
- WR Jahan Dotson, Eagles** ($16.82MM): Declined
- G Zion Johnson, Chargers ($17.56MM): Declined
- WR Treylon Burks, Titans ($15.49MM): Declined
- T Trevor Penning, Saints ($16.69MM): Declined
- QB Kenny Pickett, Browns*** ($22.12MM): Declined
- CB Trent McDuffie, Chiefs ($13.63MM): Exercised
- LB Quay Walker, Packers ($14.75MM): Declined
- CB Kaiir Elam, Cowboys**** ($12.68MM): Declined
- G Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($20.99MM): Exercised
- C Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens ($20.99MM): Declined
- DE Jermaine Johnson, Jets ($13.92MM): Exercised
- LB Devin Lloyd, Jaguars ($14.75MM): Exercised
- DT Devonte Wyatt, Packers ($12.94MM): Exercised
- G Cole Strange, Patriots ($16.69MM): Declined
- DE George Karlaftis, Chiefs ($15.12MM): Exercised
- DB Dax Hill, Bengals ($12.68MM): Exercised
- S Lewis Cine, Vikings: N/A
* = traded from Texans on March 11, 2025
** = traded from Commanders on August 22, 2024
*** = traded from Eagles on March 15, 2024; traded from Steelers on March 10, 2025
**** = traded from Bills to Cowboys on March 12, 2025
Titans To Add Dan Saganey To Front Office
11:37am: Saganey’s title will be vice president of player personnel, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. This represents a lateral move as a result. As for Gardner, meanwhile, Stratton notes he and the Titans have parted ways. Tennessee will remain a team to watch for further front office moves this offseason.
9:40am: Once the draft concludes, movement often takes place amongst NFL front office and scouting personnel. In the case of the Titans, an addition is set to be made in the scouting department.
With Dan Saganey‘s Browns tenure coming to a close, he is headed to Tennessee. Cleveland’s former player personnel director is expected to be hired by the Titans, per veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. Saganey will take on a “high-level scouting role” upon arrival, Kuharsky adds.
In recent years, the Titans have seen plenty of executive turnover. This offseason has included the firing of general manager Ran Carthon, who was replaced by Mike Borgonzi. The latter led the way during the draft, but president of football operations Chad Brinker will serve as the organization’s top decision-maker in many other areas. Saganey – who had been in his post since 2016 – will join the fold as Tennessee continues to make moves in the front office.
Per Neil Stratton of Inside the Lines (via Kurhasky), the Titans recently moved on from A.J. Highsmith as their scouting director. He had been in that spot for only one year, but with changes coming at the top of the organization that department will also have a new face for 2025. Saganey is obviously a candidate to take over Highsmith’s role (although college scouting director Jon Salge as well as pro scouting director Brian Gardner remain in the organization and are candidates to be promoted).
Tennessee followed up the Borgonzi hire by adding a pair of former general managers to the fold. Reggie McKenzie and Dave Ziegler will each play a notable role with the team moving forward. The same is set to be true of Saganey.
Browns Did Not Anticipate Selecting Two QBs; Latest On Shedeur Sanders’ Pre-Draft Process
Entering the draft, the Browns were among the teams seen as a logical landing spot for a rookie quarterback. The team did wind up adding at the position, although not in the way they (or many others) anticipated. 
Cleveland declined to draft a signal-caller until late in the third round when Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel was added. That move seemed to close the door to Shedeur Sanders being selected, but on Saturday the Browns moved up into the fifth round to acquire the Colorado product. More details have emerged regarding the latter’s slide down the order.
[RELATED: Giants Considered Sanders Trade-Up; Teams Took QB Off Draft Boards?]
Sanders met with one team at the Combine which discussed an interception dating back to his college career (with breakdowns of such plays being standard practice), as detailed by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. He writes Sanders declined to take the blame when speaking about the play, and added his feelings that he and the team may not be the best match for one another. Per Breer, a different visit resulted in a disagreement between Sanders and an NFL coach when he failed to recognize intentional mistakes in a hypothetical offensive install.
Off-the-field factors have been cited as presumed reasons why Sanders – once viewed as being in the running to be drafted as high as second overall by the Browns and the subject of considerable scouting attention this season – fell all the way to pick No. 144. Being the son of Deion Sanders has long been regarded as an element of drafting Shedeur which would give many NFL teams pause. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi report, though, multiple evaluators assigned a late first-round grade on Sanders while many others listed him as a Day 2 pick. A slide out of the top of the order thus came as little surprise, but remaining on the board as late as he did comprised one of the draft’s top talking points.
“I feel like in life, there’s always a way I can improve,” Sanders said (via Oyefusi). ” I’m able to improve. And some things that I [did] that seemed right at the time, I could’ve went about it a different way. I think what happened was I had a great interview and had a great process with the Browns, and that’s why they were able to pick me. So anything outside the organization is really a [non-factor] for me now.”
Sanders is now a member of a quarterback room which includes veteran Joe Flacco and trade acquisition Kenny Pickett along with Gabriel. General manager Andrew Berry noted (via the ESPN report) the Browns did not expect to draft two passers this weekend. Since they have, though, the team’s QB situation will be an interesting storyline to follow as the offseason unfolds.
Browns Place UFA Tender On Elijah Moore
The Bills hosted Elijah Moore on a visit Monday. Soon after, the Browns became the first team to unholster the UFA tender since the Chiefs and Ravens did so in 2022.
Cleveland brought the seldom-used tender out for Moore, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports. This will include a potential Moore signing into the Browns’ 2026 compensatory formula. The tender is worth $3.43MM, per Yates. This covers 110% of Moore’s 2024 salary.
Baltimore and Kansas City placed UFA tenders on Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram, respectively. Neither player returned to the team, but the tenders gave the Ravens and Chiefs exclusive negotiating rights had those edge rushers not signed by July 22. That will apply to the Browns with Moore, who could either return to Cleveland at that rate or aim for another team’s offer before July 22.
If Moore signs elsewhere before that date, he will factor into the Browns’ comp-pick haul for 2026. Moore’s path back to Cleveland became somewhat foggy later Monday, when the Browns took a flier on mercurial wideout Diontae Johnson. The Browns had originally acquired Moore in a trade with the Jets, in March 2023, as New York was reshaping its WR room ahead of Aaron Rodgers‘ arrival. Moore worked as a reasonably productive auxiliary target for two largely QB-deficient Browns teams, posting 640- and 538-yard seasons as a slot presence.
The Browns have Jerry Jeudy entrenched as their No. 1 wideout, after his belated 2024 breakout that produced a Pro Bowl nod, and Johnson joins 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman Jr. as supporting-cast options. The Browns did not draft a receiver over the weekend, potentially keeping a Moore return in play.
While Houston, Ingram and LeGarrette Blount (2017) represent instances of players hit with UFA tenders before leaving as free agents, players have returned to their previous team on a UFA tender before. Markus Golden did so in 2020, rejoining the Giants after that year’s July deadline came and went. Golden signed the tender a week after the deadline, reporting to camp. The Giants eventually traded Golden back to the Cardinals before that year’s trade deadline.
Giants Considered Trading Up For Shedeur Sanders; Teams Took QB Off Draft Boards?
The NFL may never see a fifth-round pick overshadow its draft again, but it certainly happened this past weekend. Shedeur Sanders‘ fall to No. 144 perplexed most, but it came after rumblings of the QB’s stock having tumbled ahead of the selection event.
Countless instances of players with criminal backgrounds becoming early-round picks have been part of the draft’s history, but it appeared as though teams determined Sanders’ skillset was not worth any potential off-field distractions he and his family might provide. As we move away from the draft, more evidence toward that case is emerging.
[RELATED: Which QB Will Make Most Starts For 2025 Browns?]
Before Round 4 began, a report that indicated Sanders not being a first-round pick pertained to a lack of high-level traits while then pointing to the Day 2 snub coming from teams not wanting their backup to bring a “circus” atmosphere. A Monday offering indicated Sanders indeed run into issues during the pre-draft process, particularly with coaches. Quarterback-turned-veteran media presence Boomer Esiason has offered more to this end.
Esiason said during his Boomer and Gio WFAN Sports Radio show (video link) that multiple teams took Sanders off their draft board due to his attitude during interviews. Owners drove these decisions, Esiason added, with perceived Sanders entitlement a central issue here. Deion Sanders having also mentioned potential intervention with regards to steering his son away from certain teams also “didn’t help.”
Shedeur Sanders fell from a player in contention for the No. 1 overall pick, before Cam Ward evaluations separated the Miami product, to someone not expected to drop out of the top 10 to a player not a lock to go in Round 1. Coaches becoming more involved in the process are believed to have affected this, at least it is believed to have impacted the Giants’ approach, and Esiason adds that Sanders’ brash attitude proved off-putting to “many, many” GMs and coaches. Clubs were certainly hesitant on Sanders becoming the face of a franchise, as the three-day fall illustrated.
We heard before Round 2 the Saints were unlikely to choose Sanders, despite carrying QB uncertainty going into the draft. They indeed went another way, taking Tyler Shough at No. 40. The Seahawks (Jalen Milroe) and Browns (Dillon Gabriel) followed suit. It was fairly clear the Browns were not planning to draft Sanders, having made Gabriel their choice in Round 3. But as he fell into the fifth round, a Cleveland team attempting to move past the Deshaun Watson mistake traded up for him. Sanders and Gabriel will vie for the starting job along with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett.
While the Browns were not one of the teams whose owner put a reported kibosh on a Sanders selection, the Giants moved three Day 2 picks to the Texans for Jaxson Dart. They did this after extensive Sanders homework. Big Blue is believed to have done more work on Sanders compared to Dart, but Brian Daboll — who was believed to have been among the coaches who did not see eye-to-eye with the Colorado QB — is believed to have driven a push for the Ole Miss passer. That said, the Giants still considered moving up for Sanders — had Dart been off the board — per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
The Giants were believed to be leery of the Browns for a Dart move, and their trade offers appeared to emerge after the Steelers passed on Dart at No. 21. This brought New York’s long-debated Dart-or-Sanders decision to the forefront, and as Daboll and GM Joe Schoen attempt to make cases to last beyond Year 4 in their respective roles, Dart will be in line to eventually replace Russell Wilson.
As reports of teams being miffed at Shedeur Sanders’ tactics ahead of the draft multiply, the historic slide begins to make a bit more sense. The former Colorado and Jackson State signal-caller potentially overplaying his hand regarding his approach to the interview process will likely come up for many years during draft time. For 2025, he will attempt to prove the league — which includes his own team, which drafted Gabriel 50 spots before him — wrong for its determination on his prospect value.