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Pro Football Rumors 2025 NFL Mock Draft

By Ely Allen | at April 16, 2025 10:10 pm

The pool of prospects available for teams later this month delivers an interesting challenge for anyone making a mock draft. This year’s crop of players has been viewed as far more deep than it is top-heavy, with only 15-20 players receiving first-round grades in most scouting departments. Because of this, we’re left with a fun uncertainty in which any of several players with second- to third-round grades could hear their names called throughout the back half of the first round.

Here, we’ll make an attempt to identify the best prospects for each team in their draft slot and with their position needs. Because we’re in a rare and fun scenario at the moment in which every team holds its own first-round pick for the first time in a long, long time, we will not be predicting any in-draft trades, but you can read here about the possibilities for such trades happening at the tail-end of the first round.

1) Tennessee Titans — QB Cam Ward, Miami (FL)

Let’s not overthink this one. The Titans have a need at quarterback, unless they’re fully willing to run through the 2025 NFL season with Will Levis as their leader under center. While top-ranked prospects like Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Penn State’s Abdul Carter are certainly worthy picks here, it makes a bit too much sense to just address the most important position in football.

Ward has run away with the honor of being the best quarterback prospect in this year’s class. Year after year, Ward has progressed from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami and has played better and better football at each step of his journey. The well-traveled passer has his shortcomings as a prospect, but there is no reason to believe he won’t continue to improve and excel at the next level.

Ward here would give the Hurricanes their first first-round pick on offense since David Njoku in 2017 and their first No. 1 overall pick since the Cowboys took defensive lineman Russell Maryland in 1991. He would be bringing the best arm in the draft to Tennessee to spread the ball out behind a slowly improving offensive line.

2) Cleveland Browns — WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

I was extremely tempted to go with Hunter’s quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, at this pick. Star pass rusher Myles Garrett was a big critic of the team’s chances to contend for a title, largely due to the Browns’ quarterback situation. It felt like the only thing that could convince him to make a hard U-turn on this thinking (besides money) would be if team brass had clued him in to a plan to address the position. At this point, though, Sanders has begun to slide down a lot of boards and could be available via trade from the early second round back into the late first. We’ve also seen the Browns express interest in Alabama passer Jalen Milroe, who could be another candidate to add a fifth-year option to his contract with a trade into the first round.

Instead, we’re going with Hunter. It is strange to think we could have two players going Nos. 1 and 2 who began their collegiate careers at the FCS level, but here we are. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry reportedly views Hunter primarily as a wide receiver, making him an exciting weapon to pair with Jerry Jeudy.

Strong ball skills combined with explosiveness and an ability to make tacklers miss make Hunter a scary edition to a group that already includes Jeudy and Njoku. While they need a quarterback to distribute the ball, that problem may be addressed later in the round. There’s a chance the Browns try to utilize Hunter’s unicorn ability to play both sides of the ball in the NFL, but we know his offensive abilities are what Cleveland primarily values.

3) New York Giants — OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State

While ultimately an easy decision, it is likely not one the Giants would prefer. Ward, Hunter, and Carter are, by a wide consensus, considered the surefire top three picks of this draft in some order. Though, it’s always possible another quarterback sneaks his way in due to desperation from Cleveland or New York. The Giants would likely love to add Hunter as a shutdown, true No. 1 cornerback, but with the 2024 Heisman winner in Cleveland, Carter is far and away the best prospect left on the board at this point. Any other pick here would be a reach. The only thing to watch out for here is the fact that general manager Joe Schoen was lucky to retain his job this offseason, and he may feel the need to do something bold in order to keep his job like going after Sanders or Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.

There is not a huge need for Carter in New York. Despite the loss of Azeez Ojulari in free agency, the team still rosters Brian Burns and former top-five pick Kayvon Thibodeaux. The two only combined for 14 sacks in 2024 and only have two double-digit sack seasons between them. That said, the Giants have invested a lot in the pass-rushing duo and likely intend to keep utilizing the pair. Little depth exists behind them and adding Carter to serve as a third edge rusher seems underwhelming for a No. 3 pick. The Giants do have a past of making such moves, as Mathias Kiwanuka (2006) and Jason Pierre-Paul (2010) joined John Mara-run teams that had strong edge-rushing units already. It would be foolhardy for New York to pass up the last elite talent left in this draft.

4) New England Patriots — T Will Campbell, LSU

Here’s where the draft can become really interesting. Now that the top prospects are off the board, we get a little more into speculation on team preference and fit. While New England was dead last in team sacks in 2024, it made strong additions in former Titan Harold Landry and ex-Eagle Milton Williams. Because the Patriots already invested a lot in the defensive line through free agency, they use this draft slot to address another area of weakness: the offensive line.

FA pickup Morgan Moses is set to lock down his side of the line, slotting Michael Onwenu at right guard. Former Vikings center Garrett Bradbury should start, as well, allowing Cole Strange to return to his role as starting left guard with Layden Robinson providing depth on the interior. Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace could both receive opportunities to start at left tackle, as each was part of last season’s merry-go-round at the position. But new head coach Mike Vrabel admitted that the draft could be a useful tool to improve at the position.

Campbell started at left tackle for all three of his seasons in Baton Rouge. While analysts criticized Campbell’s lack of length as a detriment to his first-round status, scouts don’t believe it to be an issue that would prevent him from having a successful NFL career at left tackle. He heads north to New England, where Lowe or Wallace would be in place as a stopgap if the seasoned SEC blocker needs any acclimation time. Considering 2025 will be a crucial developmental year for Drake Maye, it would stand to reason Campbell would step in immediately.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars — DT Mason Graham, Michigan

Jacksonville’s biggest holes are at tight end, linebacker, and maybe safety, but none of the top prospects at those positions feel worthy of going fifth overall. The best player on the board at this point is Graham, and while defensive tackle may not be a gaping hole, it’s a spot at which the Jaguars could use an upgrade.

Graham was the top-ranked interior defender in the NCAA last year, per Pro Football Focus, and this was not a breakout year; he ranked fifth in 2023. Graham can be disruptive as an inside pass rusher, totaling nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss in three seasons, but he is an elite run defender — the NCAA’s best, per PFF — and would be pivotal to a unit that finished 25th in run defense in 2024. With Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker in place on the edge, Graham pairs with Arik Armstead to form the team’s most menacing defensive line since its 2017 “Sacksonville” crew.

6) Las Vegas Raiders — RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

There’s work to be done at a number of positions in Las Vegas, but running back seems to have the biggest need for improvement. The other position I considered here was defensive tackle, but Graham is off the board, and I think Jeanty adds more to the running backs group here than Derrick Harmon or Walter Nolen would add to the defensive line. Plus, with a decent O-line and a lack of elite wide receivers in the class, the new brain trust of general manager John Spytek, head coach Pete Carroll, and minority owner Tom Brady will need to find some way to add a weapon for new quarterback Geno Smith.

A lot will be expected of Jeanty in 2025 after he carried the Broncos to the College Football Playoff last year. Hopes that some combination of Alexander Mattison and Zamir White would make for a passable run game proved misplaced as the Raiders finished dead last in rushing in 2024. Vegas added Raheem Mostert to improve the room in free agency, and though he’s only a season removed from a 1,000-yard rushing campaign in which he led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18, the veteran speedster took a backseat last year in Miami. He would do so again here behind Jeanty, whose run at Barry Sanders‘ hallowed single-season Division I-FBS rushing record (2,628) fell just 27 yards short.

7) New York Jets — T Armand Membou, Missouri

It is extremely tempting to go with Jaxson Dart here. Post-Aaron Rodgers, the Jets are once again trying to figure out their future at quarterback. At the moment, though, they seem decently positioned with Justin Fields set to start and experienced backup Tyrod Taylor behind him. New York even rosters former Florida State star Jordan Travis as a potential underrated pick to develop. Ultimately, Dart would feel like a reach, especially if Fields continues to improve as a starter. Instead, the team decides to add a piece to protect its new starting passer.

Membou would enter a really good situation in New York. A combination of center Joe Tippmann, left guard John Simpson, and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker anchored an impressive interior line in 2024. Olu Fashano, the team’s pick at No. 11 overall last year, should step up at left tackle, where he started five games last year. If Membou is ready, he can step in as the starting right tackle right away. If not, Chukwuma Okorafor is available to fill in until Membou develops.

8) Carolina Panthers — LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

We know that Carolina is likely to focus on defense in this year’s draft, and its biggest weaknesses currently reside in the linebacking corps, where the team has plenty of bodies but lacks elite talent. Safety, wide receiver, and tight end seem to be other positions at which the team could add, but unless the Panthers want Tyler Warren out of Penn State, none of those positions feature prospects that fit at this point of the draft.

The team’s weakness in the linebacking corps applies to both the off-ball group and the edge-rushing stable. Josey Jewell, Christian Rozeboom, and Trevin Wallace man the inside linebacker spots, while Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Jones, D.J. Wonnum, and DJ Johnson comprise the outside linebacker corps. Aside from Clowney, none of the Panthers’ OLBs have proven to be entirely effective as starters. Walker is the perfect addition. Playing 311 snaps as an off-ball linebacker and 249 as an edge rusher in 2024, the Bulldogs standout’s versatility across the defense is reminiscent of Micah Parsons. The Panthers will get to determine at which spot Walker offers the greatest potential to help.

9) New Orleans Saints — QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Sanders is trending heavily here, especially following the injury update to veteran starter Derek Carr, but hear me out. Dart makes so much more sense here. To get it out of the way: there are weaknesses on New Orleans’ offensive line (namely at guard), cornerback, and defensive tackle, but Carr’s situation makes quarterback a direr need. While initially the team was linked to Day 2 passers like Texas’ Quinn Ewers, the situation seems to necessitate a Day 1 move.

Now, back to the Dart-Sanders argument. This doesn’t boil entirely down to the fact that the two’s draft stocks have been moving drastically in opposite directions for weeks, but that is noteworthy. New head coach Kellen Moore has worked with three quarterbacks in the past three seasons: Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts. Moore’s experience is with big-bodied passers with deep-ball and rushing abilities, two facets Sanders has seen criticized about his game. Sanders carries only average arm strength and plays conservatively. He also did not inherit his father’s electric speed and finished at Colorado with negative rushing yards (sacks count against rushing yards in college). Dart is a much more willing and accurate deep-ball thrower and has far more ability as a rusher.

If Carr is able to play in 2025, all the better to sit and develop Dart responsibly. If not, Dart stands a much better chance at finding success with a relatively weak offensive line and a bevy of offensive weapons than Sanders.

10) Chicago Bears — TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Adding center Drew Dalman and guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to a line bookended by an impressive pair in Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones solidifies a group that was suspect in 2024. Upgrades could be made along the defensive line, but Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett are serviceable on the interior while Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo both have more potential than they showed in 2024. It is tempting to go with Georgia’s Mykel Williams or Marshall’s Mike Green here to add more pass-rushing bodies, but the best safety blanket you can provide a young, growing quarterback like Caleb Williams is a talented tight end, and Warren is too good a prospect to fall outside of the top 10.

Now, I know Cole Kmet exists and earned a four-year, $50MM extension after a career year in 2023, but last season brought Kmet’s worst work since his rookie year. His contract includes a potential out following the 2025 season that would allow them to cut him with only $3.2MM in dead cap. Drafting Warren here provides Williams with a top-tier weapon, one coming off a 1,233-yard receiving season, and gives the Bears a chance to determine whether or not they’re able to move on from Kmet should his down 2024 turn out not to be an anomaly.

11) San Francisco 49ers — DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

San Francisco could go a couple different directions here. I could make arguments for defensive end, offensive tackle, and cornerback, but the interior D-line seems the most devoid of talent. While Colton McKivitz isn’t a sexy name to bookend with an aging Trent Williams, the 49ers’ right tackle was serviceable as a starter on the right side in 2024. Williams also played elite ball as usual before missing the final seven games of the season with an ankle injury. The 49ers can survive another season without drafting a tackle of the future, though they should absolutely take some stabs in later rounds of the draft. Aside from Nick Bosa, the DE and CB positions are both lacking in top-end talent, but they’re in much better positions than the D-tackles.

The 49ers are no strangers to drafting Ducks to the defensive line — see Armstead and DeForest Buckner in back-to-back first rounds in 2015-16. The team goes back to the well here, and Harmon immediately becomes an impact player for the group. Right now, the room includes Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Evan Anderson, and Kalia Davis. Injecting Harmon here gives San Francisco a chance to field a defensive line that isn’t solely dependent on Bosa in 2025.

12) Dallas Cowboys — WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

There’s an argument to be made here for an offensive tackle. I think the signing of Saahdiq Charles allows Tyler Smith to bump back out to left tackle, and Terence Steele is serviceable, though not ideal, at right tackle. If a Smith return to LT is not in the cards, the Cowboys did use a first-round pick on a tackle (Tyler Guyton) last year. Also, with Campbell and Membou off the board here, other top tackle options, like Ohio State’s Josh Simmons or Oregon’s Josh Conerly, feel like a reach.

Running back would be a thought if Jeanty were still around, but adding Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to a position group housing Deuce Vaughn feels adequate for now. Addressing the secondary is another option, but it feels like a bigger need at receiver exists.

McMillan should slot in here as WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb, providing Dallas with a big-bodied, sure-handed pass catcher that can dominate in red zone and jump-ball scenarios. The team lost Brandin Cooks in free agency and has been searching for a true No. 2 since trading Amari Cooper. McMillan would fit in well in the Cowboys receiving corps, giving the group a well-rounded nature and allowing the team to oscillate between Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin at WR3 depending on what the situation calls for.

13) Miami Dolphins — T Kelvin Banks, Texas

Some questions loom in the Dolphins’ secondary, and the team is really relying on former first-rounder Jaelan Phillips to come back from another significant injury, but Terron Armstead‘s retirement places Miami in a tough position. As much as you’d love to solidify those positions on defense, keeping quarterback Tua Tagovailoa upright and healthy is paramount to a successful season.

Drafting Banks here provides potential improvement at two positions. The Longhorns’ starter at left tackle for the past three seasons, Banks projected as an easy first-round pick for much of the year before experiencing a bit of a pre-draft slide in his stock due to lack of ideal length and the likelihood that he’d have to change positions at the next level. Many teams project him as a guard long term. The immediate hope would be Banks staying at tackle and improving on either Austin Jackson or Patrick Paul, who have both failed to impress as recent high draft picks. (To be fair to Paul, he was a rookie backup in 2024.) If not, the Dolphins don’t need to be worried that Banks may need to shift in at guard because then he may be able to serve as an upgrade over Liam Eichenberg, another disappointing (but recently re-signed) high draft pick.

14) Indianapolis Colts — TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

This pick feels like a layup. Besides an obvious question mark with Anthony Richardson‘s future as the leader of the offense, the Colts have weaknesses at the guard and linebacker spots, but the lack of a clear TE1 is glaring. The Colts have been vocal about adding at the position, as well.

With Warren off the board, Loveland is an obvious choice here. The Colts have decent blocking tight ends on staff in Andrew Ogletree and Mo Alie-Cox, but draft investments in pass-catching tight ends like Jelani Woods and Will Mallory have not exactly panned out. The Colts have not seen a tight end eclipse 400 receiving yards in a season this decade. Loveland is a pure pass catcher that should provide Richardson (or Daniel Jones) with the big-bodied target Indianapolis cannot seem to hit on.

15) Atlanta Falcons — DE Mykel Williams, Georgia

While some issues at linebacker and interior defensive line could be improved upon here, the Falcons’ biggest issue in 2024 was glaringly obvious: they could not get to the quarterback — a modern-era Atlanta refrain. The Falcons ranked 31st in the NFL is sacks last season, ahead of only the Patriots, and Matt Judon has left the building for the time being as a free agent. During the Bulldogs’ recent run as a college football powerhouse, the Falcons have mainly ignored them in the draft, reserving a few sixth-rounders for the in-state institution in the last three years. Williams could be the Falcons’ first-ever Round 1 pick out of the school in franchise history.

That being said, Williams would join Georgia alum Leonard Floyd in the position room in Atlanta with this pick. It’s good that the Falcons already have Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie in place because, while they definitely need help, those two can hold things down as starters while Williams gets up to speed. Williams was expected to produce much more in 2024 than he did, as an ankle injury limited his efforts. Williams has all the tools, though, to be successful and would boost a Falcons pass rush in dire need.

16) Arizona Cardinals — CB Will Johnson, Michigan

The Cardinals made big moves in free agency to address weaknesses in the trenches on both sides of the ball, opening them up to look at what the board is giving them and take the best player available — or at least the best value available. Good players are available here, but I found myself stuck on two defenders who add the most value to this roster: Johnson and Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. I do believe Campbell could prove an effective Arizona pick, but free agent addition Akeem Davis-Gaither should join Mack Wilson to make a serviceable linebacking corps for the team in 2025.

Johnson, though, adds considerably more value to a cornerback contingent that really only boasts Garrett Williams at nickelback. Sean Murphy-Bunting, Starling Thomas, and Max Melton all return to the fold in 2025, but none of the three had strong performances in 2024. Johnson’s play last year was a rollercoaster that ended up breaking down on the tracks due to injury, but he was so impressive during the Wolverines’ 2023 championship campaign that it would not be a surprise to see him come in and lock down one side of the defense while Thomas and Melton serve as rotation pieces off the bench.

17) Cincinnati Bengals — DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Man, this is a tough pick. The Bengals saw several position groups perform poorly last year, most noticeably on defense, but almost all of those positions feature players who had performed well in the recent past. For instance, the team’s tackles ranked 66th and 67th last year out of 81 graded players, per PFF, but we’ve seen Orlando Brown Jr. play at a Pro Bowl level and Amarius Mims was just a rookie (last year’s first-rounder). Similarly, at safety, Geno Stone is just a year removed from nearly leading the NFL in interceptions while coming off the bench, the same year in which Jordan Battle showed extreme promise as a rookie. There are needs all over the defense (and perhaps the interior offensive line), but one thing is for sure: this defense faces a tall task if enduring trade candidate Trey Hendrickson is out of the picture.

Enter Stewart. If Hendrickson stays, the Bengals will need another effective pass rusher across from him. If Hendrickson leaves, they’re going to need an effective pass rusher period. Stewart never turned in productive numbers during his three years in College Station, totaling only 1.5 sacks in each season, but scouts still seem to be enamored with his build, balance, and bend. If he can learn to finish and develop some effective pass rush moves at the next level, Stewart has a chance to make a major impact and help out a secondary that was run ragged last year. He would help a team that just lost Sam Hubbard to retirement and one that has not seen 2023 first-rounder Myles Murphy show much yet.

18) Seattle Seahawks — G Tyler Booker, Alabama

I was torn between two positions for Seattle: interior offensive line and linebacker. An argument exists for tight end augmentation, as well, but Noah Fant is capable, and it is far too early to be looking into LSU’s Mason Taylor or Miami’s Elijah Arroyo. I also considered sending Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell to Seattle, but the Seahawks are going to want to put new quarterback Sam Darnold in the best position to succeed. Thus, Campbell’s Crimson Tide teammate makes his way northwest.

Booker is a bulldozer and an almost guaranteed starter in Seattle off the bat. Laken Tomlinson is in Houston now, so the Seahawks currently only roster Anthony Bradford (ranked 72nd out of 77 guards in 2024, per PFF), Sataoa Laumea (77th out of 77), and Christian Haynes, a 2024 third-rounder who did not crack the starting lineup as a rookie. The team is going to have to hope that one of those three can man one guard spot effectively while they rely on Booker to secure the other.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

Back-to-back Alabama picks, as we do land on Campbell here. There is some need for a guard, and you can copy and paste what I said about the Seahawks’ tight end situation here with Cade Otton. The team also saw a shaky year from its starting safeties in 2024, but we know Antoine Winfield Jr. is capable of so much more.

At linebacker, Tampa Bay is returning grizzled veteran Lavonte David and pairing him with free agent addition Anthony Walker. David, 35, is still putting up 100-plus-tackle seasons like it’s nothing, but 12 years removed from a five-interception 2013 campaign, he has become a bit more of a liability in coverage. Walker made memorable contributions (when healthy) in Cleveland for three years, but last year with the Dolphins saw PFF rank him 81st out of 84 off-ball LB regulars.

Campbell may need a bit of time to grow into a starting role, but he was very good in both run defense and coverage at Alabama and could be the future of the position for the Buccaneers, who have always loved to anchor their defense around premier linebackers.

20) Denver Broncos — RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

Finally, we get back to a pretty simple pick here. The team could use some help in the receiving corps, but the glaring hole at running back is too much to ignore. Quarterback and offensive line are set, and the Broncos signed Evan Engram to improve their tight end situation. Add in the fact that last year’s top-10 defense did not really lose too many pieces (while adding Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga in free agency) and this pick lines up perfectly.

Hampton would step into Denver as an immediate RB1 over Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson. Thanks to some reliable receiving ability, Hampton can prove to be an everyday back for the Broncos, if needed. Sean Payton has regularly spoken of a need for a pass-catching back; after all, he achieved great success with the likes of Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. The fit here almost makes too much sense.

21) Pittsburgh Steelers — QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

The first-round slide finally halts for Sanders with Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ defense is predictably pretty set, though it could use some investment in the future via an injection of youth. The offense: messier. The acquisition of D.K. Metcalf should bolster what was a thin receiving corps. The tight ends are fine, but the offensive line is suspect, and the quarterback and running back rooms seem to be full of backups.

The team could really reach here for a running back like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson or a wide receiver, but the Steelers hang their hats on drafting under-the-radar wide receivers in middle and later rounds, and what does it matter if they don’t have someone throwing to them? Even if Aaron Rodgers eventually signs with Pittsburgh, which is presumed to be the plan, I still think the Steelers take Sanders here and allow him to sit for a year behind a legend like Rodgers.

That is a luxury they did not afford Kenny Pickett, who proved unready fairly quickly to lead the team back to the QB well in the draft. Sanders and/or Rodgers will need to hope the team does a lot of work on the rest of the offense before the season starts, though.

22) Los Angeles Chargers — CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina

An addition at wide receiver or tight end here would be reasonable, but the Chargers’ current weapons may be sufficient without a first-round pick being necessary. In Greg Roman‘s offense, that’s all they need to be. Also, aside from the center spot, Los Angeles’ offensive line is pretty good, so we’ll turn our attention to defense. There’s an argument to be made for adding across the defensive front, but with Teair Tart and Da’Shawn Hand on the interior and Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree, and Tuli Tuipulotu on the edge, they have some solid pieces in place. Where they really seem to lack talent is at cornerback.

Fifth-round rookie Tarheeb Still was a revelation for the team after Asante Samuel Jr. went down with injury, but losing Samuel (who is still unsigned) and Kristian Fulton to free agency hurts. Fellow fifth-round rookie Cam Hart did not fare nearly as well as Still, and free agent addition Donte Jackson is not coming off a strong Pittsburgh season. Still, this group can be a starting cadre, if necessary, which is good because Revel is coming off a torn ACL. His electric 2023 performance holds enough weight to solidify him as a first-round pick here for the Chargers, and he can really improve the group when he’s full-go.

23) Green Bay Packers — DE Mike Green, Marshall

We’re starting to run out of teams with obvious holes to fill. Across the offense, the Packers are in good shape, though some tackle depth could be a valuable add later on in the draft. Safety is set, as well, and the interior line should be fine. At cornerback, Keisean Nixon did not deliver his best work, but we know he can play at an All-Pro level. And the Packers, as they prepare for a likely future without Jaire Alexander, invested big to secure Nate Hobbs to complement Nixon. The team could stand to give Edgerrin Cooper some help at linebacker, and UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger would fit nicely here. Ultimately, adding a pass rusher felt more valuable.

Rashan Gary led the team with 7.5 sacks en route to a Pro Bowl berth last season, but across from him Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness did not really inspire much confidence. A first-rounder two years ago, Van Ness has yet to earn a starting role on the Packers’ defense, and it may be time to start thinking of new options for the position. So, what do you give a team that hasn’t seen a player with a double-digit sack season since 2020? The FBS sack leader.

Green made a huge jump in his second year for the Thundering Herd, leading the nation with 17 sacks. He fell just short of Carter (23.5) for the nation lead in tackles for loss but still came through with 22.5. The Packers did not struggle to bring the quarterback down last year, but adding Green should make it that much easier.

24) Minnesota Vikings — S Malaki Starks, Georgia

This is a tough one, because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings do look at position need, but they tend to value scheme fit over production and potential when drafting. With J.J. McCarthy the hopeful quarterback of the future, the Vikings are seemingly good there. They also appear well positioned at running back, wide receiver, tight end, center, and tackle. On defense, the Vikings have a solid front seven, and they spent a lot in free agency on cornerbacks. Minnesota has two significant holes: guard and safety. Their options at guard here — Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea, Georgia’s Tate Ratledge, and maybe Purdue’s Marcus Mbow — are more suited to be Day 2 picks, so they go safety here for better value.

I have South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori as the top safety option in this class, but again, we are looking at scheme fit. While the Vikings do tend to play one safety as a roamer who plays in the box quite a bit, veteran Harrison Smith has that role in the bag. That’s why we’re going with Starks here.

Unlike Emmanwori, who played more in the box last year for the Gamecocks than in the defensive backfield, Starks spent a lot more time in a true safety role. He would step in here as an immediate starter, replacing Camryn Bynum alongside Smith, allowing Theo Jackson and Jay Ward to remain in backup roles. Keep in mind, the Vikings only have four draft picks this year, so they will likely be trying harder than most to trade back for more picks.

25) Houston Texans — C Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

The Texans have been working diligently to reduce costs and separate from older cogs on the offensive line, trading away Laremy Tunsil and signing multiple free agents. Still, it’s been made pretty clear the team is likely to continue addressing the offensive line in the draft. I did think that some interior D-line options available here — Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen or Michigan’s Kenneth Grant — could be valuable, and some suggest that a starting wide receiver to pair with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk — after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency and potentially Tank Dell to injury — could be the move. Both positions, however, should feature some solid options on Day 2.

I really like Zabel here for the Texans because they don’t seem to be picky about which position they want to address on the line. A left tackle for the Bison in 2024, Zabel started college games at all four guard and tackle spots. Yet, because of his intelligence and versatility, he’s being billed as the class’s top center prospect. That being said, Houston can align Zabel pretty much anywhere. If the Texans want him at center to free up Jarrett Patterson to compete at guard with Juice Scruggs, Laken Tomlinson, and Ed Ingram, he can do it. If they want him at guard so Scruggs can compete with Patterson for the center job, he can do it. While the FCS standout projects best on the interior, if the Texans want him to compete with Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Tytus Howard at tackle or be the future of the position, his experience tells them he can probably do it.

26) Los Angeles Rams — CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

This is another team I wanted to link to Schwesinger, a local product for them who could potentially add to a linebacking corps that feels just above average at the moment. The Rams feel good all down the line of scrimmage on offense, though it is certainly time to get serious about the future of the quarterback position post-Matthew Stafford. A very good defensive line is backed up by the above-mentioned linebacking corps and the Kamrens at safety. Cornerback feels like the position that could use help the most.

Enter Barron. The Rams do not really have any glaring holes that need addressing, but Barron has potential to improve the cornerback group in multiple ways. Los Angeles is set to enter the season with Ahkello Witherspoon, Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, and Emmanuel Forbes at corner. Out of 116 players PFF graded at the position, Witherspoon (53) checked in highest, closely followed by Durant (56). Williams ranked at 82nd, while Kendrick missed the season because of an ACL tear, and Forbes, the former first-round pick, did not register enough snaps to qualify. It is hard to say if Barron is ready to start right away for this group, but his versatile usage all over the secondary in Austin ensures that he can try to add value wherever the Rams need him.

27) Baltimore Ravens — S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

This is where we really throw out the notion of positions of need. Eric DeCosta and the Ravens famously follow a “best player available” approach to the draft. With the departure of versatile starter Patrick Mekari, Baltimore may want to bring in another competitor at the guard spot, but grabbing anyone at that position would mean passing up much higher value. Similarly, the retirement of Michael Pierce and pending free agency of Travis Jones make defensive tackle prospects like Nolen or Grant super attractive here, but they still are not as valuable as the best player available on the board at this point.

That player would be Emmanwori. The prospect of lining up Emmanwori next to Kyle Hamilton in the defensive backfield feels redundant in a terrifying way. Now, the team is expected to retain free safety Ar’Darius Washington (a tendered restricted free agent) after he excelled in the role next to Hamilton last year, but all three of these players harness incredible versatility that would grant Baltimore excessive freedom.

Washington has bounced back and forth in Baltimore from nickelback to safety, while the team deployed Hamilton all over the defense early last year before he was needed to save the day at safety following the disappointing campaigns of Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson. The Gamecocks used Emmanwori in a Hamilton-like capacity throughout his collegiate career. After the struggles in pass defense we saw from Baltimore early in 2024, the Ravens shore up their secondary here with a menacing trio.

28) Detroit Lions — G Tate Ratledge, Georgia

Overall, Detroit’s roster stacks up well at most positions. Three could be addressed here: EDGE, cornerback, and guard. The Lions’ outside pass rush was really only an issue last year because of Aidan Hutchinson‘s season-ending injury. Hutchinson is perhaps the best pass rusher in the game when healthy, and focus on him should help free up his teammates to make plays. Some decent pieces — in D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Avonte Maddox, and Terrion Arnold — are on the Lions’ roster at corner, and the team started last year’s draft with back-to-back CB investments.

So, we turn to guard, where the departure of Kevin Zeitler in free agency causes some issues. Graham Glasgow is slotted in at left guard, and despite a 2024 step back, he has proven reliable in the past. The other spot is up for competition between Kayode Awosika, Netane Muti, and Christian Mahogany, at the moment. Awosika started two games for the team last year, and Muti has logged only four starts in a five-year career; Mahogany flashed promising form in his one start and across limited backup time as a rookie last season. Still, the team could use a competitor with a higher ceiling here. I was torn between Ratledge and Savaiinaea for this pick, but the Lions really prioritize character when drafting, and Ratledge is a bully and a mauler who describes himself as a “dirtbag.” That feels like just the right fit for Dan Campbell, like a guy who’s going to bite a kneecap off.

29) Washington Commanders — DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Despite Washington’s trip to the NFC championship game last year, the team could stand to improve in several areas. The offensive skill positions are all pretty good, and the addition of Laremy Tunsil certainly helps, but the offensive line as a whole is just OK. Similarly, the secondary is alright but not great and could use improvements at cornerback, like Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston or Ole Miss’ Trey Amos. On paper, the defensive line (from left to right, Clelin Ferrell–Daron Payne–Javon Kinlaw–Dorance Armstrong) feels like a strength, but these veterans have lacked consistency over the past few years.

As long as the Commanders, who have just five picks in this draft, don’t trade down to collect more draft capital, Ezeiruaku feels like the player who can add the most value at this point in the draft. A consensus All-American, Ezeiruaku finished a half-sack behind Green for the nation lead last year with 16.5. His 20.5 tackles for loss in 2024 were good for fourth in the country behind Carter (23.5), Green (22.5), and Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau (21.5). With Dante Fowler and his 10.5 sacks headed back to Dallas, the team’s top returning sack artists at defensive end are Armstrong (five in 2024) and Ferrell (3.5). Ezeiruaku may not start immediately, but he should be able to provide some much-needed production, even if he’s coming in off the bench.

30) Buffalo Bills — CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

The knee-jerk reaction here is to go after Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden to supplement Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer, but going pass catcher with your first-round pick three years in a row is not a good look. And there are much bigger issues to deal with on defense. The other knee-jerk reaction is to look at all of the contract years on the defensive line and add an EDGE or tackle, but the talent is in place for 2025, at least. Issues on the interior offensive line and linebacking corps also feel like priorities, but the league’s 24th-ranked pass defense in 2024 could probably use more help in the secondary.

No safeties seem worth the value at this juncture of the first round, so Hairston makes his way to upstate New York here. Christian Benford excelled for Buffalo last year, but players like Rasul Douglas and Kaiir Elam dragged the group down. Both are gone, and the team brought back Dane Jackson after an abysmal year with the Panthers, so Buffalo would love to see some new faces making an impact across from Benford. Hairston put himself on the NFL radar with five interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) in 2023 and solidified himself near the top of the class with a position-best 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has boom-or-bust potential on nearly every play, and the same can probably be said of the potential for his career.

31) Kansas City Chiefs — DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Like a lot of teams in the late first round, the Chiefs are likely going to attempt to trade out of this pick, if they can. After losing the Super Bowl in large part due to losing the trench battle, Kansas City is likely to be locked in on offensive or defensive line. Though, running back and safety could use some attention in the later rounds. Losing Joe Thuney leaves a hole at guard, but there is hope 2024 second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia can help out there. For better or worse, Jawaan Taylor should be back at right tackle, and the team signed 49ers swing tackle Jaylon Moore out of San Francisco to man the left side.

George Karlaftis needs help on the edge, but Chris Jones is entering an age-31 season. He could use a high-end complement, and hitting on this player could provide an eventual replacement. The team also downgraded a bit in free agency next to Jones, swapping out Tershawn Wharton for Jerry Tillery.

Personally, I like Grant over Nolen, but Nolen, with the right mentorship, has the potential to be a perfect long-term replacement for Jones. Nolen is far more disruptive than Grant, outmatching him on career sacks 11.5 to 6.5 and on career tackles for loss 25.0 to 11.5. Nolen may not be as pro-ready as Grant, but if he can mature, his potential upside could match Jones’. In the meantime, he could provide some serious disruption and pressure off the bench behind Jones and Tillery.

32) Philadelphia Eagles — OLB James Pearce, Tennessee

The reigning Super Bowl champs lost plenty of talent in free agency, which has been known to happen, but they were lucky in that the bleeding was mostly contained to the defensive side of the roster. Nearly the entire offense returns from 2024, and the only loss, right guard Mekhi Becton, was potentially filled in the trade that brought Kenyon Green over from Houston or the free agent signing that brought back Matt Pryor from Chicago. Philly’s linebackers and cornerbacks are set, and if Starks or Emmanwori were still available, it would be an easy choice for the Eagles as they try to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The team lost Milton Williams to free agency, as well, but still rosters Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo on the interior.

On the edge, the Eagles replaced Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat with lower-profile options in Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche in free agency. If neither addition pans out, though, Pearce could provide an important boost. Pearce’s production did not increase with more playing time in Knoxville last year as expected, but he had 17.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in his two years of serious time with the Volunteers. If he shows up and takes care of business, Pearce could eventually take a starting role across from Nolan Smith. He’d enter camp competing with Ojulari, Uche, Bryce Huff, and Jalyx Hunt for the job. While that seems like a lot of pass rushers on the roster, Philadelphia has been doing its research and reportedly has a lot of interest in Pearce. GM Howie Roseman is also obsessed with bolstering his lines.

Best remaining available: QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama), QB Tyler Shough (Louisville), RB Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), WR Matthew Golden (Texas), WR Luther Burden (Missouri), WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), TE Mason Taylor (LSU), TE Elijah Arroyo (Miami), C Jared Wilson (Georgia), G Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona), T Josh Simmons (Ohio State), T Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon), T Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota), T Donovan Jackson (Ohio State), DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan), DT Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Edge JT Tuimoloau (Ohio State), EDGE Landon Jackson (Arkansas), EDGE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M), LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA), CB Trey Amos (Ole Miss), CB Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State), S Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)

55 comments 2025 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

AFC Draft Rumors: Membou, Raiders, Titans, Jackson, Texans, Bengals, Jaguars

By Sam Robinson | at April 16, 2025 1:41 pm

The top four teams in this draft seem pointed in certain directions, while value may tie the Jaguars to Mason Graham. At No. 6, the Raiders could go in a few directions. One of them could be an offensive line investment. Kolton Miller is entrenched at left tackle, though he is entering an age-30 season, but a question looms on the right side. The team could answer it at No. 6, and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes the Raiders are giving strong consideration to leaving Ashton Jeanty on the board to take Missouri tackle Armand Membou. Although the superstar running back sits third on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board (compared to Membou’s 12th-place ranking), the latter carries greater positional value. John Spytek saw the Buccaneers hit on Tristan Wirfs at RT in the 2020 first round; that move helped QB-turned-Raiders part-owner Tom Brady. Membou would give Las Vegas a clear-cut RT answer to help Geno Smith, though Jeanty would boost the QB’s thin weaponry cadre. .

Here is the latest from the AFC draft landscape:

If the Raiders trade down, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller pairs them with Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Residing as one of the top corners in this draft, Barron matches up against Michigan’s Will Johnson for the honor of best pure CB — behind two-way star Travis Hunter — in this class, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Jeremiah ranks Barron 11th overall, tabbing the ex-Longhorn as a player who can offer NFL teams the option of playing outside, in the slot or in the box. Johnson profiles as more of a straight-up boundary defender, though the recent slot CB payments underscore how high the league values perimeter defenders by comparison. The Raiders have a clear need at corner, having cut Antonio Pierce reclamation project Jack Jones.
The Jaguars could impede the Raiders on Membou, whom some teams view as a guard, or pluck Will Campbell at No. 5 — if the Patriots pass. Jacksonville added some midlevel options up front in free agency, signing ex-Ravens spork Patrick Mekari and ex-Buccaneers center Robert Hainsey. The team still extended Walker Little (under since-fired GM Trent Baalke) and has 2023 first-round tackle Anton Harrison under contract through 2026. Ezra Cleveland is also back, but the Jags could aim higher by adding Membou or Campbell. This scenario is not one to overlook, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora.
Seeing some issues form along their front, the Bengals join the Jags as a team expected to invest in O-line help, La Canfora adds. The team has tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and 2024 first-rounder Amarius Mims, but center Ted Karras and guard Cordell Volson are in contract years. The team could use interior help, potentially via multiple reinforcements next week.
The Texans and Titans are also looking into O-line help in this draft, each scheduling “30” visits with Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson before Wednesday’s deadline, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Titans brought in Jackson last week, while the Texans are meeting with him today. The left tackle for Ohio State’s national championship-winning team, Jackson profiles as a guard at the next level. He logged 31 consecutive starts at guard for the Buckeyes from 2022 until the midseason shift last year, giving teams plenty of data from a blue-blood program to evaluate.
The Titans also met with Missouri wide receiver prospect Luther Burden, per veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. Burden met with the team Tuesday and could certainly fill a need in Nashville, as the Titans have not made a starter-level receiver addition — their Van Jefferson signing notwithstanding — after losing DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd.
Houston also met with Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. One of the best run defenders in this draft class, Grant could be a player to watch for the Chargers and the coach who signed him in college. The Texans ending Jim Harbaugh‘s first season slides them three draft slots lower than the Bolts (Nos. 22 and 25) in Round 1.

Broncos, Steelers Schedule TreVeyon Henderson Visits; Latest On Omarion Hampton

By Sam Robinson | at April 16, 2025 10:32 am

As “30” visit season wraps Wednesday, the topic of where the draft’s top running backs will go resurfaces. Ashton Jeanty is viewed as this class’ top option, and a top-10 landing spot remains squarely in play for the 2024 Heisman runner-up. But the 2025 RB crop includes a host of options who could become early-season starters.

Ohio State rostered two of them, in 1,000-1,000 duo Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, while Iowa (Kaleb Johnson) and North Carolina (Omarion Hampton) are sending two more to the draft. Hampton is viewed by most as the draft’s second-best RB option, but Henderson is a player that has gained steam since a 1,000-yard bounce-back effort after he decided to stay in school for his senior season. His combination of pass-game ability and pass protection has attracted teams, creating some late-first-round buzz.

A few teams already brought in the four-year Buckeyes contributor, but the Broncos and Steelers will beat the buzzer with meetings as well. Henderson met with the Steelers on Tuesday and is in Denver today, 9News’ Mike Klis tweets. The Steelers lost Najee Harris in free agency, while the Broncos did not bring back four-year regular Javonte Williams.

Denver is all but certain to draft a running back, while Pittsburgh has a recent history (Harris) of using a first-rounder on the position. While the Broncos have not taken a back in Round 1 since Knowshon Moreno in 2009, Sean Payton did so twice (Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram) with the Saints. Denver’s Jaleel McLaughlin–Audric Estime combo points to at worst a mid-round draft choice being en route; many mocks have the Broncos diving in earlier. The Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell to pair with Jaylen Warren, the recipient of a second-round RFA tender. A quarterback at No. 21 may be the Steelers’ play, but they also would make sense as a team in the early-round RB mix.

Two others have emerged in connection to Hampton, who is expected to go off the board before Henderson. The Broncos are coming up around the league as a team that could draft Hampton, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline, who adds the Chargers and Texans are viewed as candidates to add the latest Tar Heels RB standout. Hampton is considered a first-round lock, per Pauline. The two-time college 1,000-yard rusher’s 4.46-second 40-yard time at the Combine may have solidified this status.

The Steelers also met with Hampton, joining the Cowboys, Giants and Bears. The latter trio holds picks in front of the Steelers, who sit at No. 21. So do the Broncos (No. 20), who also outflank the Chargers (22) and Texans (25). Hampton ripped off 1,504- and 1,660-yard rushing seasons in 2023 and ’24. He added 373 receiving yards (9.8 per catch) last season, upping his draft stock.

The Broncos turned to Chapel Hill to fill an RB need in the 2021 second round, taking Williams in GM George Paton‘s first draft. Payton is now the lead decision-maker in Denver, but the fifth-year GM still holds considerable say after staving off firing rumors during a bleak period headlined by the Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett misses. The team also used “30” visits on Johnson and Judkins.

Connected to Saquon Barkley last year, Los Angeles and Houston have RB starters — in Harris and Joe Mixon — but could use younger talent to supplement the vets at the very least. Mixon has 1,816 carries on his odometer, while Harris accumulating 1,097 as a between-the-tackles grinder in Pittsburgh undoubtedly impacted his free agent stock.

3 comments 2025 NFL Draft Denver Broncos Houston Texans Los Angeles Chargers Pittsburgh Steelers Omarion Hampton TreVeyon Henderson

Prospect Profile: Nic Scourton

By Ely Allen | at April 12, 2025 6:03 pm

While much of the pre-draft focus coming out of College Station this year has been on likely first-round pass rusher Shemar Stewart, teammate of one year and fellow pass rusher Nic Scourton may quietly sneak into the first round with him. According to sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, Scourton has been getting some buzz as a potential late first-round pick recently with late-round teams like the Eagles and Ravens showing particular interest.

While registering as a consensus four-star prospect coming out of Bryan HS (TX), Scourton only ranked as the 22nd best defensive line prospect in his class, per 247Sports. As a result, Scourton wasn’t recruited by many Power 5 schools coming out of high school. His only in-state offers came from SMU, North Texas, and UTSA, and his biggest offers came from Purdue, Colorado State, Memphis, and Marshall. As his only Power 5 offer, the Boilermakers landed his commitment.

Coming off the bench as a true freshman, Scourton still found a way to make an impact. His 22 tackles were the most for a freshman defensive lineman at Purdue since George Karlaftis three years earlier, and he notched two sacks in the team’s last two games of the year. In 2023, Scourton took on a starting role and graded out as the team’s second-best defender that season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In only 11 games, he led the Big Ten in sacks (10.0) and was fourth in the conference in tackles for loss (15.0), earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.

Coming off his successful sophomore campaign, Scourton opted to jump into the transfer portal for what would seemingly be his final year of collegiate play. Despite their campus being a mere three miles from his high school, Texas A&M didn’t recruit Scourton out of high school, but he overlooked that fact in favor of a homecoming for his junior year, committing to transfer to the Aggies.

Because Stewart struggled to produce throughout his time in College Station, it’s no surprise that Scourton came in and led the Aggies in sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (14.0) in 2024. Starting 12 games for Texas A&M, he graded out as the third-best player on the Aggies defense and the 48th-best edge defender in the country, per PFF.

Neither ESPN’s Matt Miller nor Dane Brugler of The Athletic have Scourton ranked as one of their top 10 edge defenders. Brugler slots him in at 12th for the position, citing some bad weight and a lack of ideal length on his frame as some issues limiting his ranking. Still, Scourton’s thick build can be beneficial at the next level, granted he puts on the right kind of weight. The size does help him as an above-average run defender, though he still profiles as a pass rusher who could stand to add some more elegant moves to his arsenal.

As Pauline mentioned above, Scourton received a top-30 visit with the Eagles this past Thursday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted his presence with the Browns on Tuesday, and Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 also logged meetings with the Cardinals, Texans, and Patriots.

What most all of these teams have in common is that they reside around the late-first round and early-second round, giving us a good idea of where he could fall in two weeks. While he maybe didn’t capitalize on his lone year back in the College Station area, it seems teams and their scouts are willing to look over this past season to see the potential production he displayed at Purdue in 2023. As a result, he may just find himself being selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

1 comment 2025 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns Houston Texans New England Patriots PFR Originals Philadelphia Eagles Prospect Profile Nic Scourton

OL Rumors: Neal, Banks, Teller, 49ers

By Sam Robinson | at April 12, 2025 11:36 am

Evan Neal came into the NFL with some guard experience, playing there at points at Alabama. Some evaluators viewed that as the former high-end prospect’s better NFL spot. After faceplanting at tackle, Neal may have no choice. This could be where the situation is headed, as ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan labels Neal as “destined” to slide to guard. GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll said Neal is open to playing guard or tackle. The Giants have Jermaine Eluemunor at RT presently, assuming Andrew Thomas stays healthy, and a soon-to-be 35-year-old (Greg Van Roten) at RG. Schoen resisted moving Neal to guard in the past, but with the Alabama alum being a major disappointment as a pro, a starter-to-bullpen-like switch may be necessary as a last-ditch measure.

Although the Giants re-signed Van Roten to a one-year, $3.25MM deal, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan points to a potential early-round guard pick to learn from the veteran. This would cloud Neal’s status further, though the Giants already missed on a Schoen-era Day 2 guard pick (Joshua Ezeudu). Here is the latest from the O-line landscape:

Despite extensive work already, the Texans also look to be ready to add an early-round O-lineman. Holding four top-90 picks, Houston should be considered likely to use one on a blocker, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller notes. One target appears to be Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr., as Miller indicates “numerous scouts” point to the Texans being high on the ex-Longhorns tackle. Ranked 31st on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Banks was a former five-star recruit who claimed the Outland Trophy last season. Some teams view Banks as a better guard, per Jeremiah, but others may hold him in higher regard. Although the Texans could be eyeing him as a long-term answer at guard or left tackle, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill notes some view a landing with the Jets at No. 7 as realistic. After drafting Olu Fashanu in last year’s first round, New York needs a right tackle to replace Morgan Moses.
The Browns now have three experienced guards, having added Teven Jenkins on just a one-year deal worth $3.1MM. This could point Wyatt Teller to a crossroads after he missed time in 2024, but GM Andrew Berry expects (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) the veteran starter to be back in 2025. A two-time second-team All-Pro who has received three Pro Bowl invites, Teller played a key role for the Browns during the decade’s first half. Teller, 30, also only missed four games last season. He is entering a contract year, but the Browns’ penchant for void years would create considerable dead money in the event of a trade or release. That said, Cleveland can save more than $7MM by trading Teller after June 1. Doing so would clear a spot for Jenkins, as Joel Bitonio is set to play at least one more season.
Joining Jenkins as a three-year guard starter from the 2021 second round, Aaron Banks signed a big-ticket Packers deal. This leaves the 49ers with a key player to replace. Despite Spencer Burford‘s past as a starting guard, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows views Ben Bartch and Nick Zakelj as the players set to compete to start opposite Dominick Puni. Re-signed to a one-year, $1.34MM deal, Bartch is a 20-game starter; Zakelj — a 2022 sixth-rounder — has two career starts. Matt Hennessy, a former Falcons starting center, may factor into this competition as well, Kyle Shanahan said (via Barrows).
As for Burford, he may be ticketed to be San Francisco’s swing tackle after practicing more there than guard down the stretch last year, Barrows adds. Burford played tackle in college. He would be set to replace Jaylon Moore, whom the 49ers wanted to keep. They did not appear close to matching the Chiefs’ two-year, $30MM offer. “I knew we had a really good roster, but I didn’t know our swing tackle would make $15MM on the free agent market,” John Lynch said. Burford has made 29 career starts, while the Chiefs will bet on Moore (five starts) to stop a left tackle revolving door.

0 comments 2025 NFL Draft Cleveland Browns Houston Texans New York Giants New York Jets San Francisco 49ers Ben Bartch Evan Neal Jaylon Moore (OL)Matt Hennessy Nick Zakelj Spencer Burford Teven Jenkins Wyatt Teller

Draft Rumors: Dolphins, Johnson, Harmon

By Ely Allen | at April 11, 2025 10:02 pm

The Dolphins are reportedly doing some homework on high-ranked tight end prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Though, at No. 13 overall, Miami may be out of range of top tight end prospect Tyler Warren of Penn State, the team took a look at two options that could be around for their second-round pick.

According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, LSU’s Mason Taylor was onsite yesterday. Taylor is the son of Dolphins legend Jason Taylor. The younger Taylor is projected to be a fringe first-round prospect, but with tight ends, the ranges can certainly be wider. Taylor did a top-30 visit with the Browns on Monday and has also visited the Seahawks and Chargers.

Earlier this week, the Dolphins also hosted local tight prospect Elijah Arroyo out of Miami (FL), per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Arroyo had a breakout season for the Hurricanes this year and caught lots of attention at the Senior Bowl. After visiting Miami on Monday, Arroyo met with the Browns on Tuesday and Giants on Wednesday. Mike Cugno of CBS Sports adds that teammates Xavier Restrepo and Arroyo have both spent plenty of time around the Dolphins facility in the last couple of days.

Miami saw veteran Jonnu Smith rival Tyreek Hill in the receiving game for the Dolphins last year, but Smith’s contract expires after this season, so Taylor or Arroyo may be viewed as strong TE2 options or potential tight ends of the future.

Here are a few other draft visits we’ve seen reported in recent days:

All-American running back Kaleb Johnson has been making the rounds lately. After visiting the Steelers last weekend, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that Johnson has visited the Titans, Broncos, Texans, and Bengals. Johnson is widely considered the third-best running back prospect in the class behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. Based on interest from the Titans, Johnson could go anywhere from the early-second to early-third round.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon visited the Jets yesterday. He hasn’t often been mocked in range of the Jets‘ No. 7 overall pick so far, but he could certainly be a candidate to find New York early in the second round or perhaps in the late-first, should the Jets opt to trade back up. Garafolo notes that Harmon has also visited the Browns and Steelers this week.

1 comment 2025 NFL Draft Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Houston Texans Los Angeles Chargers Miami Dolphins New York Giants New York Jets Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Derrick Harmon Elijah Arroyo Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)Mason Taylor Xavier Restrepo

Texans, Jalen Pitre Agree To Extension

By Adam La Rose | at April 11, 2025 8:09 am

The Texans made a major commitment in the secondary when they worked out a record-breaking extension for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The team now has another multi-year deal in place with a different member of the secondary from the 2022 draft class.

Jalen Pitre has agreed to a three-year extension worth $39MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The former second-rounder was set to play on the final season of his rookie deal, meaning he is now on the books through 2028. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds the contract includes $29.16MM in guarantees. This accord contains a $10MM signing bonus, $18MM in new compensation for 2025 and can top out at $42.6MM, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

Pitre was drafted as a safety, and for the most part he occupied that role during his first two seasons in Houston. The 25-year-old handled full-time starting duties during that span, which included a five-interception rookie campaign. Pitre’s ball production took a step back in 2023, but he remained a mainstay in the secondary. Last offseason, the Texans committed to playing him at slot corner, a role he primarily handled in 2024.

While he was limited to 12 games last year, Pitre found success at his new position. The Baylor product earned a PFF grade of 73.9, easily the highest of his career. He handled a defensive snap share of 87%, and a heavy workload can obviously be expected moving forward. Houston has Stingley on the books long term, and 2024 second-rounder Kamari Lassiter represents another young player set to be a key member of the team’s secondary for years to come.

Since $39MM represents the base value of the contract, Pitre’s AAV of $13MM represents a new high mark for slot corners. That position has not seen much in the way of upward movement relative to boundary CBs, but the Texans have once again made a notable commitment to an in-house defender. Veteran edge rusher Danielle Hunter is also among the players who have received a lucrative extension this offseason as Houston looks to capitalize on the window of opportunity brought about by C.J. Stroud‘s rookie contract.

The Texans ranked sixth against the pass last season, and expectations will be high for their secondary again in 2025. With Stingley and now Pitre attached to long-term pacts, it will be interesting to see which position group is targeted next with respect to internal commitments.

1 comment Houston Texans Transactions Jalen Pitre

2025 NFL Draft Visits: Williams, Simmons, Texans

By Ely Allen | at April 10, 2025 10:12 pm

The 2025 NFL Draft class is fairly deep at the defensive tackle position. One player contributing to that depth is Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. Williams has gotten a ton of attention lately. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Williams visited the Texans today after recent visits with the Eagles, Bills, and Packers.

Part of this year’s championship-winning Buckeyes crew, Williams has been a full-time starter in Columbus for the last two seasons. He broke out with his performances in those two years, totaling 18 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks over that time.

Because Williams is not expected to be a top 10 pick, his interest is coming from all over the NFL, both from teams who could select him in the late-first or early-second round. Per Wilson, he has upcoming visits with the 49ers, Ravens, and Lions on his schedule.

Here are a few other reported visits from around the NFL:

A teammate of Williams’ on the other side of the ball, offensive tackle Josh Simmons is also a fringe first-round prospect. After starting all 13 games for the Aztecs of San Diego State as a true freshman, Simmons transferred to Ohio State where he immediately became a full-time starter at right tackle. In 2023, he switched over to the blindside, where he started every game until missing half his senior season with a torn patellar tendon. The injury hasn’t stopped teams from being interested, though. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Simmons visited with the Packers on Monday and the Ravens on Tuesday. Schefter adds that he met with the Colts today and will see the Chiefs tomorrow.
One team that could see Simmons in the future is the Texans, who have been doing plenty of research on offensive linemen after seeing some changes to their starting lineup for 2025. The team hosted North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel today, per Wilson. Zabel had experience playing for the Bison at all four tackle and guard spots but is widely seen as one of the top center prospects in the class, a position at which Houston would welcome an upgrade with open arms. The team also hosted fringe first-round prospect Aireontae Ersery out of Minnesota. Playing left tackle for the Golden Gophers, Ersery could be a potential tackle of the future to step in after Cam Robinson or Trent Brown.

0 comments 2025 NFL Draft Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Aireontae Ersery Grey Zabel Josh Simmons (Ohio State)Tyleik Williams

2025 NFL Draft Visits: Schwesinger, Cowboys, Nolen, Ezeiruaku, Burden, Turner, Bond, Steelers, Emmanwori

By Ely Allen | at April 6, 2025 10:14 pm

This isn’t exactly a visit in the sense of top-30 visits, like most of the rest of bullets that follow this will be, but UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger held a private pro day earlier this week in Los Angeles and had 30 teams in attendance, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

While, obviously, not a comprehensive list, Schefter specifically mentions the Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Chargers, and Broncos, and notes that the linebackers coaches from Dallas, New York, and New Orleans all met privately with Schwesinger.

Schwesinger is not currently the top-ranked linebacker prospect in most analysts’ eyes, but he often slides in as the second-best off-ball linebacker in the class behind Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell — third if you count Georgia defender Jalon Walker, who has the ability to play every linebacker spot at the next level. Some thought Schwesinger may sneak into the back end of the first round at the end of the month, but more likely is that he hears his name on Day 2. Per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, it would be surprising to see him fall past the first half of the second round.

Here are some more prospect-NFL team connections we’ve seen recent reports on:

The Cowboys have certainly been very busy in the runup to the 2025 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team held their invite-only “Dallas Day,” hosting draft prospects without the visits counting towards their top-30 visits. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton met with the team at “Dallas Day.” The well-balanced rusher continues to skyrocket up draft boards, is likely to join Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and has several other visits lined up.
Jeanty was also in attendance on Friday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. We had relayed that Jeanty would be taking a top-30 visit with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear whether this is what was meant in that original report. Also in attendance for “Dallas Day” were Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, TCU wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Texas quarterback and offensive lineman Quinn Ewers and Cameron Williams, and Miami tight end and running back Elijah Arroyo and Damien Martinez.
Also in attendance at “Dallas Day” was Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Nolen will follow up his Dallas visit with a visit with the Panthers on Monday and a visit with the Bengals some other time this week.
Joining Nolen in Carolina on Monday will be Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, per Joe Person of The Athletic. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been a hot topic with multiple scouts of late, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He’s currently viewed as an early-Day 2 prospect, and his stock continues to rise.
Speaking of another “Dallas Day” athlete, Wilson of KPRC 2 provided an updated list of teams that Turner, from Texas A&M, is set to visit with. We already noted his recent visit in New Orleans, but Wilson tells us that Turner has also visited the Texans and plans to visit the Ravens, Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Colts, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden for a top-30 visit last week. The talented wideout fell off in 2024 after an incredible sophomore campaign with the Tigers, but his high ceiling makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Denver would love to bring in another talented weapon for young quarterback Bo Nix.
We already reported recent visits for Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond in Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Los Angeles, but we now have a couple sources adding some new locations for the Longhorn. Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Bond had dinner with the Bills before a private workout Friday and a top-30 visit as well as visits with the Browns and Packers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Bond has visits scheduled with the Chiefs and Titans, as well.
Brooke Pryor of ESPN tells us that the Steelers hosted a full house on Thursday. Prospects on hand last week included Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
Lastly, Pryor adds that Pittsburgh was one of the recent teams to host South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The pre-draft standout had reportedly lined up visits with Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami already. The Steelers’ interest in the Gamecock is no surprise as he’s trending towards being a Day 1 selection at this point.

0 comments 2025 NFL Draft Arizona Cardinals Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins New Orleans Saints New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Ashton Jeanty Azareye'h Thomas Cameron Williams Carson Schwesinger Damien Martinez Donovan Ezeiruaku Elijah Arroyo Gavin Bartholomew Isaiah Bond Jack Bech Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)Luther Burden Matthew Golden Nick Emmanwori Ollie Gordon Omarion Hampton Quinn Ewers Savion Williams Shemar Turner Walter Nolen

Cowboys Meet With Quinshon Judkins; Bengals, Browns, Giants, Texans Visits On RB’s Schedule

By Sam Robinson | at April 4, 2025 2:44 pm

Not viewed as one of the better draft classes in recent NFL history, the 2025 crop does bring considerable running back depth. After a 2024 draft saw only one back chosen in Rounds 1 and 2 (Jonathon Brooks), this year should feature several going before Day 2’s second half starts.

Ashton Jeanty is a mortal lock to be a first-rounder, perhaps a top-10 pick, while North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton is on the first-round radar as well. Should those two be off the board after the first round, the second opens the door to three Big Ten options — Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and Ohio State’s 1,000-1,000 pair (Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson). Judkins’ pre-draft itinerary is forming fast.

The Cowboys have met with the three-year college RB, who posed for a photo with Jerry Jones (via SB Nation’s Brandon Loree) after his meeting this week. News of Judkins’ Broncos visit already surfaced, but the former Ole Miss recruit is also set to meet with the Bengals, Browns, Giants and Texans, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.

A three-time 1,000-yard rusher in college, Judkins scored an eye-popping 50 touchdowns despite declaring for the draft after his junior season. The 2024 transfer helped Ohio State to a national title, leading the team in rushing despite Henderson having played in Columbus for three seasons already. Although Henderson is viewed as a superior pass catcher, the one-year Buckeyes teammates may not be separated by too many picks. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board lists Henderson 34th and Judkins 38th.

The Bengals turned to Chase Brown as their primary back last season, as Zack Moss went down midway through his Cincinnati debut. Moss remains on Cincy’s roster, despite being mentioned as a potential cut. As Nick Chubb has seen injuries sidetrack his career, the Browns did not re-sign the decorated RB, who remains in free agency. Holdovers Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong remain, as Cleveland appears to be eyeing an addition in the draft. Though, the Browns obviously have higher priorities entering the late-April event.

Saquon Barkley‘s transcendent Eagles debut came after the Giants did not make an offer in 2024, but the team did see some early promise from fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy. Devin Singletary also remains on Big Blue’s roster, though the rookie usurped him on the team’s depth chart. The Texans made Barkley a lucrative offer, then pivoting to Joe Mixon. Although Mixon boosted Houston’s ground attack after Singletary’s exit, he is 174 carries away from 2,000 for his career. A younger option makes sense, as Dameon Pierce did not follow his promising rookie season with much of note.

The Cowboys lost Rico Dowdle but added Javonte Williams. Scheduling a Jeanty visit, Dallas should be expected — after passing on last year’s RB class — to make an addition during this year’s event. Williams has not looked quite the same since his 2022 ACL and LCL tears, and Dowdle had delivered a 1,000-yard season after Tony Pollard‘s exit.

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