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Patriots’ Christian Barmore Cleared For Football Activities

May 15th, 2025 at 5:21pm CST by Ben Levine

After missing most of last season with recurring symptoms from blood clots, Christian Barmore continues to hit some major milestones in his rehab. The Patriots defensive lineman revealed today that he’s been fully cleared for football activity.

Barmore was a limited participant during the team’s first iteration of offseason workouts last month, and the defensive tackle told reporters that he’ll be a full participant when voluntary organized team activities begin next week. These are all major steps in Barmore’s goal of playing in Week 1, and the lineman still believes he’s on track to play in the season opener.

“Yeah. That’s the goal,” Barmore said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “I just have to keep following the medical team, but everything is looking really well.”

A former second-round pick, Barmore’s last full season saw him compile 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 16 QB hits. That performance earned him a four-year, $92MM extension ($41.8MM guaranteed) last offseason, but he proceeded to miss the first 10 games of 2024 campaign after being diagnosed with blood clots.

Barmore managed to return to the field for a handful of games, but he was eventually shut down after experiencing recurring blood clot symptoms. Fortunately, all offseason reports out of New England have been positive, and it sounds like the 25-year-old should be ready to go by the time the regular season comes around.

The Patriots are hoping Barmore can form a fearsome interior DL tandem with Milton Williams, who inked a four-year, $104MM deal with New England this offseason. Williams is just one of the several additions to Mike Vrabel‘s new-look defense, and Barmore will represent one of the only holdovers from the previous regime(s).

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/14/25

May 14th, 2025 at 6:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Jadon Janke

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

Tennessee Titans

Williams, who recently worked out for Houston without getting a contract, turned a workout with the Patriots into a roster spot for the summer. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, New England also worked out former Saints running back Jordan Mims, but Williams walked away with the deal.

Broncos Add Camren Williams To Front Office; Kareem Jackson In Play For Staff Role

May 14th, 2025 at 8:38am CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason has produced a few notable exits from the Broncos’ staff. In addition to the team losing two coaches (John Morton, Declan Doyle) to NFC North OC positions, it has seen some departures — most notably assistant GM Darren Mougey‘s — key changes in the front office.

In addition to Mougey — the new Jets GM — the Raiders poached Brian Stark and Mark Thewes from the Broncos’ executive ranks (Stark is Las Vegas’ new assistant GM). David Shaw, who had worked in a front office role in 2024, is back on the sideline as a Lions assistant as well. As the Broncos make a post-draft attempt to restock their staff, they added a Patriots exec as one of their replacements.

Camren Williams is joining the Broncos, according to MassLive.com’s Mark Daniels. He will serve as the team’s co-director of player personnel, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This represents a high-ranking move for Denver, as Williams had previously served as New England’s college scouting director. Williams had been with the Patriots since 2016.

The Pats had installed Williams — an Easton, Mass., native — as their college scouting director in 2022, after Dave Ziegler had joined Nick Caserio among the GM ranks. Working alongside the likes of Caserio, Ziegler, Eliot Wolf and Monti Ossenfort under Bill Belichick, Williams helped the Pats move into their post-Belichick era last year.

Playing a key role in the Patriots’ Drake Maye selection, Williams also had ties to Mike Vrabel. The latter recruited Williams — a former Ohio State linebacker — when he was on the Buckeyes’ staff. Camren Williams’ father, Brent, also played seven seasons for the Pats in the 1980s and ’90s. After going through a draft with Vrabel, Williams took part in a recent Broncos interview (per Schefter) — one that will lead to a separation early in Vrabel’s return to Foxborough. Williams will join Reed Burkhardt as staffers with player personnel director titles in Denver.

Beyond Williams, the Broncos’ rookie minicamp featured an interesting presence working alongside GM George Paton. Kareem Jackson was operating with Paton’s personnel staff at the weekend event, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. Jackson, 37, but saw action in just two games — for the Bills — last season. Although a suspension-marred season defined Jackson’s final year in Denver, the veteran safety was a regular starter for five seasons with the team.

The longtime Justin Simmons sidekick signed four Broncos contracts and started 69 games with the team, completing a conversion from cornerback to safety in that time. Jackson making inroads on the scouting side, and not as a coach, would be interesting as well. Paton was not yet in Denver when the Broncos initially signed Jackson in 2019, but he authorized three one-year contracts to keep the veteran DB on the roster. This included an immediate return, via pay cut, after a release in Paton’s first offseason as Broncos GM.

Patriots Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents

May 13th, 2025 at 2:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots signed 15 undrafted free agents to bring their rookie class to 26 players. Here are New England’s UDFAs:

  • Demeer Blankumsee, WR (Memphis)
  • Efton Chism III, WR (Eastern Washington)
  • Jack Conley, OL (Boston College)
  • Brandon Crossley, CB (SMU)
  • C.J. Dippre, TE (Alabama)
  • Brock Lampe, FB (Northern Illinois)
  • Lan Larison, RB (UC Davis)
  • Josh Minkins, S (Cincinnati)
  • Jordan Polk, CB (Texas State)
  • Elijah Ponder, LB (Cal Poly)
  • Cam Riley, LB (Florida State)
  • Jahvaree Ritzie, DT (North Carolina)
  • Gee Scott Jr., TE (Ohio State)
  • Jeremiah Webb, WR (South Alabama)
  • Ben Wooldridge, QB (Louisana)

Chism’s production improved across each of his five years at Eastern Washington, culminating in a stellar 2024 campaign. He recorded an FCS-high 120 receptions for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-American and All-Big Sky honors. The 5-foot-10 Chism projects as a slot receiver at the next level, where his toughness and agile route-running can shine. Still, he’ll face a sizable jump in overall talent, physicality, and athleticism in the NFL; his 4.71-second 40-yard dash at his pro day would’ve been the slowest among WRs at the Combine. Multiple teams were involved in a bidding war for Chism after the draft, including the Broncos, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, but the Patriots won his signature with $259k in guaranteed money.

Dippre spent two years at Maryland before transferring to Alabama in 2023. He was never a productive pass-catcher in college, but established himself as a consistent blocker and special teams presence, which will likely endear him to new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. He has the size, strength, and athleticism to be a blocking TE2 in the NFL, but he will need to make significant strides as a receiver to grow into more.

Larison ran for more than 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns across the last two years at UC Davis, but his exploits as a pass-catcher in 2024 (62 catches, 847 yards, six touchdowns) proved he had even more to offer in the NFL. His contract with the Patriots includes a $25k signing bonus and $150k in guaranteed salary, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Ponder spent five years at Cal Poly, first garnering national attention with 8.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss in 2021. He took a step back in 2022 but posted 25.5 TFLs and 18.0 sacks over his final two seasons, earning first-team All-Big Sky nods in each year. Ponder then put together an elite pro day performance that placed him among the most athletic edge rushers in the 2025 draft class. His 10-yard split, vertical jump, and broad jump would have led the position at the Combine and his agility scores trailed only eventual second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku.

Ritzie is an athletic defensive lineman with sparse production across his first three years at UNC. He broke out as a senior with 6.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in 2024, plus an impressive Combine performance that showed off his speed and explosiveness. His length and athleticism could be developed into a more consistent pass-rushing impact in the NFL, but he’s too susceptible to being moved off the point of attack in the run game.

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.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/25

May 11th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor NFL moves to close out the weekend:

New England Patriots

  • Signed: G Mehki Butler

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Jackson earns his first NFL contract after falling out of the draft and failing to secure an undrafted free agent contract in the past few weeks. Instead, he was given a rookie minicamp tryout and did enough to land a contract.

Jackson is one of an unfortunately select few players who played six years of college football without utilizing a redshirt. Entering school in 2019, he was granted the additional year that all players who were in college during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season got. Jackson and his teammates were granted a second additional year by the NCAA on the basis that their 2022 season was shortened because of a mass shooting that killed three of their Cavalier teammates. With that time, Jackson recorded four seasons with 100+ total tackles (five with 90+), 33 total tackles for loss, and 17.0 sacks.

Rucker’s time in DC was a short one. He was part of the Commanders’ 10-man undrafted free agent class, signing his contract just three days ago. Dankwah was an UDFA for the Eagles last year but spent most of his rookie season with Washington’s practice squad.

Patriots DC Terrell Williams Dealing With ‘Health Scare’

May 10th, 2025 at 12:27pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is not with the team at rookie minicamp due to a “health scare,” according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Williams, previously the Lions’ defensive line coach, was visiting home in Detroit when the medical issue arose. Doctors advised him to stay there instead of returning to New England for the start of rookie minicamp. He declined to give any details about the specifics of his health, though he said he would in the future.

“I want to make it clear, I’m away from the building, but I’m not away from the team,” said Williams (via Reiss). “I’m working remotely right now. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back soon and just be in the building and be around everyone.” 

Williams said that the health scare was “traumatic” and a “wake-up call,” but indicated that his medical situation had stabilized.

“Where I am now, my mind is clear,” he said (via Reiss). “I’m moving around. I’m happy. Everything is good. I’m just looking forward to getting back to Foxborough and seeing everybody in person.”

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/25

May 9th, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Ely Allen

We saw a busy day of 2025 NFL Draft pick signings today. Here are the mid- to late-round picks who inked their four-year rookie deals:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Joe Milton’s Starting Ambition, Questionable Fit With Mike Vrabel Led To Trade

May 6th, 2025 at 9:46pm CST by Ben Levine

While the Patriots have Drake Maye entrenched as their franchise QB moving forward, it was still a bit surprising when the organization decided to quickly move on from fellow 2024 draft pick Joe Milton. The sixth-round pick had a standout performance during New England’s season finale, and he was still locked into his rookie pact for another three years.

[RELATED: Patriots Trading Joe Milton To Cowboys]

Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal provided some insight on the move (via Bill Jones of CBS Sports Texas), noting that the Patriots were wary of another Mac Jones/Bailey Zappe situation. Milton believes he’s a future starter in the NFL, and the organization didn’t want the QB to be a locker room distraction. While the player’s ambition is obviously admirable, there was apparent concern that he could cause some disruption with no clear path to future playing time.

Perhaps more importantly, Milton wasn’t a Mike Vrabel pick, and Giardi opines that the new head coach never would have saddled himself with two rookie signal callers. The executive who made that pick, Eliot Wolf, it still leading the front office, but Giardi said there should be no confusion about who’s truly running the show. Maye also wasn’t a “Vrabel pick,” but the Milton trade signaled to the former third-overall pick that he’s the clear-cut guy in New England.

Milton’s lone NFL appearance led to one of the Patriots’ only wins in 2024 (while also hurting the team’s draft standing in the process). Milton played the majority of the snaps at QB during the season finale, completing 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 241 yards and a touchdown. The rookie also added another touchdown on the ground.

The Patriots quickly settled on their 2025 QB hierarchy, as the team added Josh Dobbs as a clear QB2 behind Maye. The Patriots later traded Milton to Dallas, with New England only receiving the ability to move up 46 draft spots late in the draft. With the Cowboys, Milton still won’t have a clear path to playing time behind Dak Prescott and the star’s lucrative contract. However, Dak’s injury history and age do provide somewhat more hope for Milton’s playing chances.

OL Notes: Conerly, Commanders, Dolphins, Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Giants, Rams

May 6th, 2025 at 2:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

As OTAs near, teams will begin evaluations regarding roles for rookie offensive linemen — and potential veteran relocations stemming from draft decisions. A couple of changes figure to come out of the Commanders‘ Josh Conerly Jr. draft choice. The Browns and Texans attempted to trade up for Conerly, but the Commanders ended up with the two-year Oregon left tackle starter at No. 29. Washington GM Adam Peters said (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) Conerly could play tackle or guard as a rookie.

Washington, which let Cornelius Lucas walk in free agency (to Cleveland), had already planned to move primary 2024 LT Brandon Coleman to RT before the draft. Two-year RT starter Andrew Wylie accepted a pay cut this offseason, and his past as a guard could become relevant again. Wylie has only played RT over the past four seasons, but the ex-Chief worked almost exclusively at guard from 2018-20. Wylie and potentially Coleman could be in the guard mix if Conerly stays at tackle opposite new LT Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders have ex-Chief Nick Allegretti at LG and a rehabbing Sam Cosmi at RG; the latter’s spot obviously will not be in jeopardy once he recovers from his January ACL tear, but he will not be a lock to avoid the PUP list to open the season.

Here is the latest from O-lines around the league:

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