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Colts DE Samson Ebukam Expects To Be Cleared For Training Camp

May 18th, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Rory Parks

Colts DE Samson Ebukam is entering a contract year, and fortunately for player and team, it appears he will be on the field when training camp begins in July. Per Mike Chappell of Fox 59, Ebukam expects to be medically cleared in time for camp.

Ebukam paced the Colts with 9.5 sacks in 2023, a performance that led to high expectations in 2024. Unfortunately, the former fourth-round pick of the Rams suffered a torn Achilles shortly after last year’s training camp got underway. While Indianapolis placed him on IR with a return designation in the hopes that he could suit up more quickly than expected, that did not materialize, and Ebukam ultimately missed the entire campaign.

His absence is one of the reasons why the Colts, after posting the fifth-most sacks in the league in 2023, finished with the seventh-fewest in 2024. Even with Ebukam in the fold, Indy’s defense was not a particularly stout unit in 2023, but his return, coupled with a shift in organizational philosophy that led to notable deals for Camryn Bynum and Charvarius Ward that are intended to address the club’s secondary woes, should beget an improvement in 2025.

While GM Chris Ballard finally landed a top tight end prospect in the first round of last month’s draft when he turned in the card for Penn State standout Tyler Warren, he continued to fortify the defensive side of the ball on Day 2, when he added Ohio State defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau and Minnesota cornerback Justin Walley. The team did lose Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency but still rosters DeForest Buckner and recent first-round draftees Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu along the defensive front.

Like Ebukam, Paye is going into a platform season. The Michigan product, who has recorded 16.5 sacks over the past two years, is due to earn $13.39MM on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and can take advantage of the booming pass rusher market if he can replicate or improve upon his recent performances.

Ebukam is entering his age-30 season and could therefore face a more limited market next March even if he has a healthy and productive season. Nonetheless, he should still have a number of suitors and a sizable new deal if he can match his 2023 production.

AFC Staff Updates: Jaguars, Patriots, Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, Titans, Colts

May 17th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Ely Allen

With rookie general manager James Gladstone and rookie head coach Liam Coen taking over in Jacksonville, we’ve seen a mass migration of coaches and front office staff from Los Angeles to Duval this offseason. Gladstone and Coen created several connections during their time with the Rams, and Sean McVay has never been known to keep his coaches from pursuing positions with upwards mobility elsewhere.

The latest staff members we see making the move are former national scout Brian Hill and former director of draft management JW Jordan. Per Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com, Hill is set to become the new director of college scouting in Jacksonville. Hill had been with the Rams since 2013, spending two years as a scouting assistant and ten years as an area scout responsible for the Midwest region. He had just been promoted to national scout in March, but he will pass up the opportunity for an even bigger elevation with the Jaguars.

Jordan has been with the Rams for 13 years, spending the last six in his role as director of draft management and serving as a scouting consultant before that. His new role has not yet been announced, but Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that it will be an executive role.

Here are some other staff updates from around the AFC:

  • Stratton also gave us two recent updates for the Patriots scouting staff. Just over a week after Tennessee moved on from scouting director A.J. Highsmith, he has found a role in New England as the new director of pro scouting. The move puts Highsmith on the same team as his father, Alonzo Highsmith, who is entering his second season as a senior personnel executive with the Patriots. Stratton also informed us that southeast area scout Josh Hinch will not be returning to the team in 2025.
  • After four years with the Steelers, it appears Mike Sullivan will not be back next season. It’s unclear if something occurred, but ESPN’s Brooke Pryor pointed out that he no longer appears on the team’s website. The 58-year-old spent three years as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach before moving to a senior offensive assistant role last year. Additionally, the Steelers have hired Luke Smith to serve as a quality control coach for the team in 2025. The nephew of Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith, Luke has spent the past eight years as the wide receivers coach at nearby Duquesne, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. This will be Smith’s first position in the NFL.
  • Stratton gave us another front office update recently, pointing out a change to the LinkedIn profile of Jets assistant director of pro personnel Kevin Murphy. Murphy seems to have indicated on the account that his time with New York has come to an end. The profile currently does not indicate any next steps for the pro personnel specialist who spent time with the Texans, Bills, and Jets over the last 19 years.
  • Jordan Happle has been hired as a new player personnel scout for the Dolphins. According to Stratton, the former collegiate safety who played at both Boise State and Oregon was recently added to Miami’s website in the new position.
  • Stratton also tells us that the Titans are hiring former Pitt director of college scouting Alex Kline to their scouting department this season. Kline began his football career as a wide receiver at John Caroll University before becoming a grad assistant and, eventually, a coach and coordinator at Saint Vincent College. He worked for a year at Pitt as an offensive quality control coach before leaving for a recruiting role at Akron. He returned to Pitt as the wide receivers coach before leaving once again for the director of player personnel job at Memphis. He returned once more to Pitt in 2022 in his most recent role before making the trip back to Tennessee. It stands to be seen whether or not he’ll attempt to continue his back-and-forth career movement between coaching and personnel.
  • Lastly, Seth Walder of ESPN informs us that Ashleigh Prugh is joining the Colts as a football analytics fellow. This will be Prugh’s first position in the NFL following an internship with SumerSports.

DB Notes: 49ers, Gordon, Lions, Colts, Titans

May 17th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers‘ decision to let Charvarius Ward walk in free agency points to Renardo Green receiving an extended opportunity to become a full-time starter opposite Deommodore Lenoir. Extended months before Ward’s departure, Lenoir has worked as both a boundary and slot corner. His $17.96MM-per-year contract, which checks in far north of the slot-only market, reflects this versatility. But the 49ers have been unable to find a pure slot option since K’Waun Williams departed in 2022. The team will give third-round pick Upton Stout a shot to buck that trend, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

Standing 5-foot-8, Stout profiles as a slot performer. He excelled in the role in a college career spent at North Texas and Western Kentucky. Stout also led all DBs in the gauntlet drill and bench press (21 reps) at the Combine, creating an interesting profile. The 49ers’ issues in the slot have prompted them to use Day 2 picks on two corners (Green, Stout) since 2024; Stout proving up to the task would stand to limit Lenoir’s inside work. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers will keep their top cover man on the perimeter.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

  • Kyler Gordon‘s $13.3MM-per-year deal set the market for slot patrolmen recently. That deal checks in more than $11MM south of Jaycee Horn‘s extension and a whopping $16MM-plus lower than where Derek Stingley Jr. has taken the boundary CB market. While a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post highlighted the value teams receive when they identify a quality slot defender, the Bears are not committed to keeping Gordon inside. New Bears DC Dennis Allen said (via ChicagoBears.com’s Larry Mayer) Gordon will train at safety and at outside corner in his scheme, as the team looks to increase its recently extended defender’s usage rate. Gordon played 97% of Chicago’s defensive snaps as a rookie, but upon shifting to more of a slot role in 2023, the former second-round pick has not cleared 80% in a season since.
  • The Lions will have 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw train on the outside in Kelvin Sheppard‘s first DC offseason, per Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers. Playing only 46 defensive snaps as a rookie, the 5-11 CB received what amounted to a redshirt year. The Lions used a premium pick on Rakestraw, though he does not look to have a path to a starting job in a secondary that will feature Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed and Amik Robertson as regulars.
  • Detroit also added some depth in Avonte Maddox, a longtime Eagles slot corner who drifted to a backup role after a slew of injuries. Maddox will be expected to serve as a backup in the slot and at safety, according to Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil (via Rogers). Maddox, who did make a pivotal pass breakup in Super Bowl LIX, saw his snap share drop to 33% last season — after he missed most of 2023. The eighth-year veteran is on a one-year, $1.42MM deal ($1.2MM guaranteed).
  • Titans third-round pick Kevin Winston, per HC Brian Callahan, is expected to be cleared for training camp after sustaining a partial ACL tear last year. Winston, who suffered the injury in early September, underwent knee surgery but had recovered in time to run at the Penn State pro day. The Titans chose Winston with the No. 82 overall pick.
  • The Colts roster one of the NFL’s best slot corners, and Kenny Moore is going into his ninth season with the team. Indianapolis, however, may be grooming an heir apparent. They team is likely to have third-round pick Justin Walley begin his offseason in the slot, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Moore’s three-year, $30MM contract features a fully guaranteed 2025 salary but no guarantees beyond this year. The Pro Bowl defender, who has protected the Colts at one CB spot while they have dealt with enduring issues on the perimeter, is going into his age-30 season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/25

May 15th, 2025 at 7:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Indianapolis Colts

  • Claimed off waivers (from Patriots): DT Eric Johnson II
  • Waived: S Marcel Dabo

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Waived: TE Patrick Murtagh

Kansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans

Today’s move by the Colts is a bit of a reunion, as Eric Johnson II was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2022. He spent his first two seasons in Indy, appearing in 28 games while compiling 18 tackles and one sack. He was waived at the end of the 2024 preseason and landed in New England, where he proceeded to get into 11 games for his new squad.

While Johnson has been buried on the depth chart and occasionally stuck on special teams throughout his career, he has gotten some run on defense. He got into a career-high 265 defensive snaps in 2023, although that dropped to 178 defensive snaps during his time with the Patriots.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/12/25

May 12th, 2025 at 9:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: CB Jeremiah Walker
  • Placed on Exempt/International Player list: P Tory Taylor

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: LB Jordan Turner, WR Kyrese White, LS Zach Triner, TE Cole Fotheringham
  • Waived: CB Kendall Bohler, LB K.J. Cloyd, NT Christian Dowell, TE Thomas Yassmin
  • Placed on Exempt/International Player list: P Jeremy Crawshaw

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: QB Taylor Elgersma
  • Released: OL Marquis Hayes

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: C Mose Vavao
  • Waived: DT Joe Evans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: WR Dalevon Campbell, LB Kana’i Mauga
  • Waived: OL Bucky Williams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DT Isaiah Iton, G Mehki Butler, DT Wilfried Pene
  • Waived: OT Cole Birdow

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB T.J. Moore
  • Waived: DB R.J. Delancey, DB Tommy McCormick

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: TE Drake Dabney,WR TJ Sheffield
  • Waived: CB Virgil Lemons, S Jerrin Thompson

Hoyland converted 79.3% of his field goal attempts for the Wyoming Cowboys across the last five years. He was ultra-consistent on extra points with 147 makes on 148 tries. Hoyland will compete with sixth-round pick Tyler Loop for the Ravens’ kicking job after the team released Justin Tucker.

Sheffield brings some much-needed experience to the Dolphins’ cornerback room, though he hasn’t started since 2020. He could provide crucial veteran depth in Miami, especially if Jalen Ramsey is traded.

Elgersma was the starting quarterback at Wilfried Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, for the last three years. In 2024, he won the Hec Crighton Trophy – the Canadian equivalent to the Heisman – and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, the first-ever for a Canadian QB. Elgersma was drafted in the second round of the 2025 CFL Draft by the Winnepeg Blue Bombers, but a successful tryout with the Packers will give him a chance at making an NFL roster.

Colts’ Zaire Franklin Underwent Ankle Surgery; LB Could Return For Training Camp

May 12th, 2025 at 12:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Zaire Franklin will again be counted on as a key member of the Colts’ defense in 2025. The veteran linebacker’s availability for training camp is now uncertain, however.

Franklin recently underwent a clean-up procedure on his ankle, head coach Shane Steichen announced. Steichen told reporters he is hopeful Franklin will be fully recovered in time for training camp. At a minimum, the latter will be sidelined through OTAs and minicamp.

A full-time starter over the past three years, Franklin played every defensive snap for the Colts in 2022 and repeated that feat last year. The former seventh-rounder led the NFL in tackles in 2024 (173) and set a new career high in sacks (3.5), interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (five). He therefore provided a strong return on investment for Indianapolis after he inked an extension last March.

That pact carries an annual average value of $10.42MM and runs through 2027. Needless to say, Franklin’s health will be critical once again next season, the first with Lou Anarumo in place as defensive coordinator. Indianapolis ranked near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories last year, and Franklin remaining one of the most productive off-ball linebackers in the NFL will be key in the team’s efforts to rebound in 2025.

Fellow linebacker Jaylon Carlies is on the mend after he underwent offseason shoulder surgery. Carlies is expected to recover in time for training camp, and Franklin’s ability to do the same will be something to watch for over the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Colts will prepare for spring workouts with a shorthanded LB unit.

Colts Reveal 14-Man UDFA Class

May 11th, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Ely Allen

After selecting an eight-man draft class equally balanced on offense and defense, the Colts continued their balanced ways with 14 undrafted free agent signings. Here are the newest additions to the team’s 22-man rookie class:

Between Washington and Tennison, the Colts brought in a strong one-two punch at safety. Washington had a knack for making a play on the ball in the air for the Rebels. During his final two years in University, Washington had four picks and 10 passes defensed. Tennison was much more of a strong safety, only recording one interception and four passes defensed in his career. Though he comes out of UCF, he played for two years alongside Washington at Ole Miss after transferring from Auburn. In those two years with the Rebels, Tennison logged 94 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks.

Trujillo is the other name to note in the class. Matt Gay was mostly reliable in Indianapolis last year, but he struggled from deep, with all six of his misses coming from beyond 50 yards. The Colts released the veteran kicker a month ago, so Trujillo will now take part in kicking competition with Spencer Shrader for the placekicking job.

Shrader has a bit of a head start on Trujillo. He spent the offseason in Indianapolis last year as part of the team’s 2024 undrafted free agent class. After an injury to Gay, Shrader kicked in the team’s season opener, making three extra point attempts. He was released in mid-October and signed to the Jets’ practice squad, getting elevated for one game and converting his only attempt from 45 yards. The Chiefs then signed Shrader off New York’s taxi squad when Harrison Butker got hurt, and in two games, Shrader converted all six extra point attempts and all three field goal attempts, including a walk-off field goal to beat the Panthers in late November. He was placed on injured reserve in December and signed to return to Indianapolis in March.

Now, Shrader will have to hold off Trujillo, a former soccer player with a huge leg. While Trujillo only converted 70 of 97 field goal attempts over his time split at Austin Peay and Temple, Trujillo caught the eyes of plenty of scouts last year as he set a school record with a 64-yard kick against Utah State and then became just the third player in NCAA history with at least two 60-yard conversions two weeks later at UConn. After Gay’s struggles from deep cost him his role in Indianapolis, the Colts will surely be hoping to see Trujillo’s strong leg translate to the NFL level.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/25

May 9th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor NFL transactions to close out the week:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): OL Valentin Senn

Atlanta Falcons

  • Received roster exemption (international player): K Lenny Krieg
  • Waived: DT Junior Aho

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): S Dante Barnett

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived (with failed physical designation): WR Jeff Foreman

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Received roster exemption (international player): P Oscar Chapman

New York Jets

  • Received roster exemption (international player): G Leander Wiegand

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Dyson was cut from the team after news that running back Jonathon Brooks‘ placement on the physically unable to perform list would, in fact, still count him against the 90-man roster limit. They initially were told by the league that he would not count, but the updated guidance today necessitated that they lose a man.

Jackson joins Seattle’s undrafted free agent rookie class after they announced their 17 signees almost a week ago. A successful rookie minicamp tryout led to him securing a contract.

Similarly, Bentley, for whatever reason was also announced separately from the Colts’ UDFA class, even though the class was announced only a few hours before his signing. The 24-year-old hasn’t been a lead back since his 2020 season at SMU, but in three years apiece at SMU and Ole Miss, Bentley never averaged below five yards per carry in a season.

Colts Sign TE Tyler Warren, Six Other Draft Picks

May 9th, 2025 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Seven of the Colts’ nine draft picks are on the books. First-round tight end Tyler Warren is among the draftees who are officially under contract, the team announced on Friday.

Warren’s four-year pact is worth $20.96MM, as noted by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That figure is guaranteed in full and it includes an $11.88MM signing bonus. Like all Day 1 selections, Warren will be eligible to have his 2029 fifth-year option picked up.

The Penn State product entered the 2024 campaign ranked by many behind Colston Loveland as the top tight end in this year’s draft class. Warren made a strong push to change that perspective over the course of the campaign, though, finding success in a number of capacities on offense. During the pre-draft process, a number of evaluators saw him as TE1 as a result.

Just like Loveland, Warren was regularly connected to the Colts. Indianapolis has long struggled to find a productive contributor at the tight end position, and the No. 14 pick represented a prime opportunity to make an addition at that spot. Loveland came off the board 10th overall, but Warren was available when the Colts were on the clock. The team had the opportunity to trade down but chose to stay in place and add the Mackey Award winner. Warren will be counted on to contribute in the run and pass games right away, and if he develops as hoped he will serve a key role for years to come.

Indianapolis has also agreed to terms with cornerback Justin Walley (third round, Minnesota), offensive tackle Jalen Travis (fourth round, Iowa State), running back DJ Giddens (fifth round, Kansas State), quarterback Riley Leonard (sixth round, Notre Dame), defensive tackle Tim Smith (sixth round, Alabama) and safety Hunter Wohler (seventh round, Wisconsin). As a result, only second-round edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau and sixth-round quarterback Graham Mertz remain unsigned.

NFL Minor Transactions: 5/7/25

May 7th, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor moves in the NFL:

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: QB Taylor Elgersma

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Tennessee Titans

Though the Ravens and Packers have both already announced their undrafted free agent rookie class signings, both teams added an additional name to their groups today via rookie minicamp tryouts.

Martin, a smaller defensive back with impressive speed, transferred to Louisiana after two years at Youngstown State. He became a full-time starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2023, tallying 109 total tackles, three interceptions, and 13 passes defensed during his two seasons in the starting lineup.

Coming out of Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, CAN, Elgersma went undrafted in the NFL draft but was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft for the Canadian Football League. He was also invited for a rookie minicamp tryout in Buffalo but will no longer attend after turning his Green Bay invite into a roster spot.

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