Eagles Use No. 181 On QB Kyle McCord

The Eagles traded Kenny Pickett to the Browns, clearing the way for Tanner McKee to become Jalen Hurts‘ backup, but the defending champs are adding another option in the sixth round.

Syracuse’s Kyle McCord is heading to Philly as the seventh quarterback off the board in 2025. The Ohio State transfer posted an ACC-record 4,779 passing yards, leading the NCAA, and set a Syracuse record with 34 TD passes during his one season in central New York. While the Eagles acquired Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the Pickett trade, the struggling UCLA alum now has competition for a roster spot.

Originally from a New Jersey city just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, McCord returns home after stops at Columbus and Syracuse. The main reason McCord failed to warrant the draft stock of the other passers with lesser passing numbers in this year’s class was a lack of athleticism. With a slow release, lack of improvisational ability, and statuesque qualities in the pocket, McCord could struggle with the increased pass rushing pressure from NFL defenses.

Though, he works best when throwing to programmed routes, his pre-snap analyses and diagnoses are top-notch. In terms of throwing talent, McCord doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he anticipates his throws well and puts the ball just where his receivers need them. He’s been lauded for his prep work off the field, which bodes well for a role as a backup quarterback to start his career.

Back home in Philly, McCord will compete with McKee and Thompson-Robinson for a backup role on the roster. Thompson-Robinson’s mobility fits better in the Eagles’ scheme as a potential replacement for Hurts, but McKee has his experience with the team over the last two years as his advantage. McCord will likely have to come in and try to show more worth than one of these two backups if he wants to make the roster as a rookie.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Jets Add No. 176, Draft DE Tyler Baron

The Jets have moved up 10 spots in the order, swinging a deal with the Ravens in the process. New York has added pick No. 176 along with a 2026 sixth-round selection. Baltimore acquires No. 186 along with a fifth-rounder next year (h/t ESPN’s Jamison Hensley).

With pick No. 176, the Jets have selected Miami edge rusher Tyler BaronThe five-year senior spent the first four seasons of his college tenure at Tennessee. That stretch included a starting role in 2023 which resulted in a career-high six sacks.

Last year, Baron transferred to the Hurricanes and started nine of his 13 games with the team. The 23-year-old led Miami with 5.5 sacks and he set a new career-high with 11 tackles for loss. Those figures helped earn him honorable mention All-ACC honors.

As things stand, this selection represents the final pick of the draft for New York. The regime now led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn could of course add new picks for 2025, but for now the team has brought in seven rookies. Baron is the only one who will add depth along the defensive line.

The Jets have former first-rounders Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in place along the edge. As expected the team will pick up Johnson’s 2026 fifth-year option ensuring that tandem remains in place for at least two more years. Baron will spend the offseason aiming to compete for a rotational role as part of New York’s edge rush group.

Lions Trade Up To No. 171 For G Miles Frazier

The Lions have traded up, exchanging places with the Patriots, in order to select LSU guard Miles Frazier. In order to acquire the pick, Detroit sent pick Nos. 182 and 228 to New England.

The Lions gained access to the 182nd pick, an early-sixth-rounder, from the Jaguars. The 228th pick, a seventh-rounder, was acquired from Dallas in a package that allowed Detroit to select cornerback Terrion Arnold last year.

It’s a bit shocking to see Frazier come off the board in the fifth round. The 23-year-old was projected to be a Day 2 pick after three years starting in Baton Rouge (and a year starting at FIU before that). Frazier played all over the offensive line in college, starting 28 games at right guard, 12 games at left tackle, nine games at left guard, and two games at right tackle. That kind of versatility made Frazier the 61st-best prospect in NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah‘s rankings.

Frazier is a mauler in the run game who can drive defenders backwards and refuses to release his blocks. He doesn’t do too much exceptionally in pass protection, which may have hurt his stock here. He struggles to move laterally in order to cover quick gap rushers, and when he does recognize the rush, his feet can get caught in quicksand, leaving him lunging off balance.

Guard was a perceived weakness in Detroit, and they already added a potential starter in the second round with Georgia’s Tate Ratledge. Graham Glasgow is slotted in at left guard, and despite a 2024 step back, he has proven reliable in the past. The other spot, vacated by Kevin Zeitler‘s departure in free agency, is up for competition between Kayode AwosikaNetane 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. Frazier adds some depth, where Ratledge provides starting potential.

Chargers Acquire No. 165 From Eagles, Select TE Oronde Gadsden II

The Chargers have moved up to acquire pick No. 165 late in the fifth-round order. Los Angeles will send selections 181 and 209 to the Eagles as a result.

The Bolts have selected Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II with their newly-acquired pick. The son of a Super Bowl champion, he will look to follow in his father’s footsteps at the pro level. He will join a Chargers team which has now added three pass-catchers during this weekend’s draft (the first two being wideouts Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith).

A four-year contributor for the Orange, Gadsden showed plenty of potential during his sophomore year when he posted an FBS-leading (for tight ends) 969 yards on 61 receptions. The converted receiver was limited to only two games the following year, however, due to a foot injury. Nevertheless, 2024 allowed Gadsden to rebound in a notable way.

Finishing the year with a 73-934-7 statline, Gadsden earned first-team All-ACC honors last season. That helped his draft stock to a notable extent, although this year’s class has long been known to feature many highly-regarded tight end prospects. Now that his name has been called, the 21-year-old can turn his attention to competing for a roster spot in Los Angeles.

The Chargers saw Stone Smartt depart in free agency this spring, and Hayden Hurst remains unsigned at this point. The team added Tyler Conklin on the open market, however, and the veteran will be counted to play a regular role with his new team. Los Angeles still has Will Dissly and Tucker Fisk on the depth chart as well. Gadsden will have plenty of competition during training camp as a result, but he could serve as a depth pass-catching option at the pro level.

Chiefs Acquire No. 156, Select LB Jeffrey Bassa

The Chiefs are moving up eight spots in the draft. Kansas City has acquired pick No. 156 from the Steelers, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. In return, Pittsburgh will receive picks No. 164 and No. 226.

The Chiefs will use their upgraded pick on Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa. This is the team’s fourth defensive selection through six picks.

Bassa is coming off four productive seasons at Oregon, where he collected 236 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three interceptions in 55 appearances. His standout 2023 campaign culminated in him earning Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP honors, and his slight step back in 2024 may have contributed to his fifth-round selection.

A former safety, Bassa mostly served as a Mike linebacker during his time with the Ducks. His leadership and versatility should help him stick around the NFL, and improved consistency could eventually lead to a starting gig.

He lands in a great spot in Kansas City, although he may have to wait a bit to play a significant role. Nick Bolton is entrenched as the MLB, with Cam Jones serving as the backup. Perhaps Bassa could emerge as the main backup by the end of the 2025 campaign, but he’ll temporarily compete with Cole Christiansen and Shaun Bradley for third-string reps.

Cowboys Trade Up To 152nd Pick, Select Florida LB Shemar James

The Cowboys have traded up with the Cardinals to acquire the 152nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Dallas sent picks 174 and 211 to Arizona for No. 152, which they used to select Florida linebacker Shemar James.

James is a speedy, undersized defender who is entering the NFL at just 20 years old with 25 SEC starts under his belt. His play strength will need to improve in the NFL, but that won’t be his biggest obstacle to finding a starting job.

Like most young linebackers, James will face a significant jump in game speed and processing in the NFL. He wasn’t a particularly instinctive player in college, which will further hamper his mental development in the NFL. He has the athleticism to contribute in coverage and as a blitzer, but that will require better play recognition and finishing skills.

James’ athletic abilities give him special teams upside right away as he works on other aspects of his game to compete for a role on defense towards the end of his rookie contract. He joins a Cowboys linebacker room that has Kenneth Murray, Damone Clark, and Jack Sanborn. Dallas is also hoping that DeMarvion Overshown will be ready for training camp

Rams Acquire No. 148, Select DT Ty Hamilton

The Rams are moving up and making their fourth selection of the 2025 draft. The team has acquired pick No. 148 from the Bears, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. In return, the Bears will receive picks No. 195 and a 2026 fourth-round pick, per Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network.

The Rams have used their new selection on Ohio State defensive tackle Ty Hamilton. This is now the 11th Buckeyes player to be selected in the 2025 draft, and Hamilton is the fourth Ohio State product to be selected on Day 3.

Hamilton came into his own over the past two years. He set career-highs across the board in 2024, finishing with 51 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. The six-foot-three, 299-pound defensive tackle is expected to immediately be a useful run stopper, although scouts wanted to see more out of his pass-rush ability.

The rookie will join a defensive line that added Poona Ford this offseason. With Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske also penciled in as starters, Hamilton will temporarily find himself competing with Desjuan Johnson and Tyler Davis for backup reps.

Titans Trade Up To 136th Pick, Select Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor

The Titans traded with the Ravens to acquire the 136th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and selected Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor.

Tennessee sent picks Nos. 141 and 178 to Baltimore and received Nos. 136 and 183. It’s a somewhat curious move by the Ravens’ front office, who moved back five picks in the fourth round and only moved up five picks in the sixth round.

Ayomanor is a big, explosive receiver who could compete for snaps early with his physicality and strength as a run blocker. After a redshirt freshman year at Stanford, he put up 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns across 2023 and 2024.

The 21-year-old wideout’s game needs a lot of refinement, particularly in his route-running and consistency at the catch point. His attitude will endear him to NFL coaches, but offensive coordinators won’t send the ball his way until he gets better at the basics of the position.

With the 141st pick acquired in the trade, the Ravens selected Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson. He has prototypical size for the position with solid athleticism and profiles as a developmental left tackle in Baltimore. The Ravens re-signed Ronnie Stanley through the 2027 season, but Vinsons could be a candidate to replace him if he develops into a more consistent, reliable blocker.

Patriots Acquire No. 137, Select DT Joshua Farmer

The Patriots are set to make their second selection of the day. The team has acquired No. 137 from the Seahawks, per Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal. In return, the Seahawks received No. 144 and No. 238.

After picking offensive players with their first four selections, the Patriots have started Day 3 with a pair of defensive players. New England used their new pick to select Florida State defensive tackle Joshua Farmer.

The defensive lineman put himself on the NFL map with a strong 2023 campaign, compiling five sacks en route to a second-team All-ACC nod. Farmer continued that production into 2024, finishing with 32 tackles, four sacks, and eight tackles for loss. The prospect has been lauded for his raw power, although there are questions about his ability to recognize impending blocks.

The Patriots put in work to improve their defensive line this offseason. Milton Williams was one of the team’s most high-profile additions, and the organization also added nose tackle Khyiris Tonga to pair with traditional defensive tackle Christian Barmore. Farmer will slide in behind that trio, with the rookie competing with Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Eric Johnson for reps.

Panthers Discussing Jadeveon Clowney Trade

Jadeveon Clowney‘s future with the Panthers is in doubt. According to ESPN’s David Newton, the Panthers “had talks about trading” the veteran pass rusher prior to the draft. With the organization adding two edge rushers during yesterday’s portion of the draft, a trade still “remains an option.”

Carolina general manager Dan Morgan didn’t necessarily dismiss these reports when asked by reporters about Clowney’s spot on the team.

“We’re still working through the roster,” Morgan said. “We’re still talking through things. Obviously, we’re focused on the draft right now and what’s in front of us.”

Clowney inked a two-year deal with the Panthers last offseason, but it didn’t take long for the former first-overall pick to emerge in trade rumors. With the Panthers considered sellers at last year’s deadline, Clowney was mentioned as a trade candidate, although the team ended up hanging on to him.

After tying a career-high 9.5 sacks with the Ravens in 2023, Clowney finished his first season in Carolina with 5.5 sacks. He still has a season remaining on the two-year, $20MM deal he inked with the Panthers last offseason. The pass rusher is set to count $13.77MM against the cap in 2025. That doesn’t necessarily break the bank, but there may not be suitors lining up for a trade following Clowney’s underwhelming showing in his age-31 season.

At the very least, it’s hard to envision Clowney as a member of next year’s Panthers. The team added Texas A&M pass rusher Nic Scourton in the second round, and they later drafted Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen in the third. That duo joins a pass-rush corps that also features regular starter D.J. Wonnum, free agent acquisition Patrick Jones, and former third-round pick D.J. Johnson.