Bears TE Colston Loveland In Line For Training Camp Return
Colston Loveland missed out on spring practices with the Bears as a result of his ongoing shoulder rehab. The first-round rookie continues to make progress toward a return to the field, however. 
Loveland was able to conduct limited individual workouts in recent months while continuing to recover. A clean bill of health in time for the start of the regular season remained a target at the time of the draft given his six-month timeline. Hitting that figure would involve a return to during training camp, and that is still the expectation at this point.
Head coach Ben Johnson said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin) the team believes Loveland will be cleared “at some point” in camp. Getting in at least limited reps during padded practices will of course be crucial for the Michigan product as he prepares to handle an offensive role right away. Expectations will be high early in the No. 10 pick’s career.
Loveland was the top tight end to come off the board, and he was firmly on the radar of plenty of teams other than the Bears to be a selection early in the draft. Chicago already has Cole Kmet in place, but adding Loveland to the mix will give them a high-end receiving option at the tight end spot. Given Johnson’s acumen as a play-caller, he will be expected to integrate Loveland into the fold – as part of a skill-position group also featuring wideouts D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze and second-rounder Luther Burden – rather quickly.
Loveland earned first-team All-Big 10 acclaim in 2023 while helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. During his final college campaign, his AC joint injury cost him time and hindered his production as a result. Still, the 6-6, 248 pound pass-catcher received a second-team All-American nod for his impact on offense. Parlaying that into a strong early showing at the NFL level would help the Bears improve on offense and take a needed step forward during quarterback Caleb Williams‘ second year at the helm.
2025 also marks Johnson’s first year as a head coach, and his ability to develop Williams and Co. will be central to his success in the new gig. Loveland will be in position to handle at least a part-time offensive role in that effort, especially if he is able to receive full clearance early in training camp.
Bills CBs Tre’Davious White, Maxwell Hairston To Compete For Starting Spot
The Bills have one perimeter corner spot accounted for in the form of Christian Benford. He received a multi-year extension this offseason, something which was the case one year ago for slot man Taron Johnson. 
Benford and Johnson will be key figures on defense once again in 2025, but it remains to be seen who the other starting corner will be for Buffalo. The team reunited with Tre’Davious White in free agency, bringing back a former All-Pro who battled injuries during the end of his initial Buffalo tenure. He is a candidate to see first-team action during his second stint with the Bills.
Maxwell Hairston is of course in position to compete for an immediate starting role, though. The Kentucky product was selected 30th overall, making him Buffalo’s top draft choice. It came as little surprise a corner was targeted on Day 1 given the team’s need for another long-term (and comparatively inexpensive) investment at the position. According to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, White and Hairston are the leading candidates to earn a starting spot during training camp (subscription required).
Describing the competition as “wide open” at this point, Buscaglia adds veteran Dane Jackson and sixth-round rookie Dorian Strong are in the mix as well. It would come as a surprise, though, if either of those two played their way into a first-team position ahead of Week 1. Nevertheless, training camp and the preseason will be key in determining how the team’s secondary takes shape.
White began last season with the Rams, but after starting each of the team’s first four games he found himself out of the lineup. The 30-year-old was then traded to the Ravens and he handled part-time defensive duties through the end of the regular season and the team’s divisional round loss to the Bills. Following that game, White made it clear he would welcome a return to Buffalo. That was indeed arranged via a one-year deal featuring $2.2MM in guarantees.
Hairston made little impact during his redshirt freshman season, but in 2023 he showcased his playmaking skills with five interceptions and six pass deflections. Limited to only seven games by a shoulder injury last year, he was unable to duplicate that production but remained a strong Day 1 candidate based on his speed (demonstrated by a 4.28 40-yard dash time at the Combine). Even if he is unable to earn an immediate starting gig, Hairston will be expected to emerge as a key figure in the secondary for years to come.
Buffalo traded away former first-rounder Kaiir Elam and elected not to re-sign Rasul Douglas this offseason, leading to changes at the cornerback spot. The Bills ranked 24th against the pass last year, and improvement in that area will be a goal for 2025. The pending competition will thus make for a notable training camp storyline.
Packers Discussing Extensions With RT Zach Tom, LB Quay Walker
Zach Tom has established himself as a key member of the Packers’ offensive line over the past two seasons in particular. One year remains on his rookie deal, meaning a free agent departure could be in store next spring. 
Efforts have begun to ensure that will not happen, however. Tom – Green Bay’s right tackle since the start of the 2023 season – has been the subject of recent extension discussions. General manager Brian Gutekunst is aiming to work out a long-term deal with the 26-year-old.
[RELATED: Packers Unlikely To Extend Gutekunst, HC Matt LaFleur]
“We’ve had really healthy conversations with Zach about locking him up,” Gutekunst said during an interview with Cheesehead TV (video link). “Certainly that’s something we’d like to do. These things take time.”
Tom entered the league with tempered expectations given his status as a fourth-round pick. He made five starts as a rookie, though, logging nearly 300 snaps at left tackle. He has operated at the opposite tackle spot on a full-time basis since then, finding success in that role. Tom ranked 15th in terms of PFF evaluation amongst qualifying tackles in 2023 and improved his overall mark to 85.8 last season. That figure was good enough for sixth overall.
As a result, a long-term investment in this case would make plenty of sense. Tom has not missed a game during his two years serving as the Packers’ right tackle, something which will help his bargaining power. The Wake Forest product is in line to collect $3.53MM this season, whereas 14 offensive tackles are currently attached to a deal averaging at least $11.5MM annually. Tom should not be expected to reach the top of the right tackle market (Penei Sewell at $28MM per year) on a second contract, but a notable raise will be in store if an agreement can be reached this summer.
To little surprise, Gutekunst added the Packers have also spoken about an extension with linebacker Quay Walker. Green Bay declined his fifth-year option this spring, since exercising it would have locked him into $14.75MM in earnings for 2026. The figure for linebackers is affected by pass rushers, so it has become increasingly commonplace around the NFL for off-ball players to see their options turned down.
Gutekunst has consistently maintained, however, that the Packers want to keep Walker in place beyond the coming campaign. The Georgia product has recorded at least 102 tackles in each of his three seasons to date, adding 6.5 sacks and 12 pass deflections along the way. Walker, 25, is due $4.4MM this year as he prepares for what will likely be an increase in time spent alongside 2024 second-rounder Edgerrin Cooper. A notable bump in pay will be needed if Walker is to remain in place for 2026 and beyond.
Green Bay is currently projected to be mid-pack in terms of cap space for 2026. Extending one or both of Tom and Walker would eat into their funds for next year, but deals on these fronts would keep more members of their young core in place for the long-term future. It will be interesting to see if an agreement is reached with either player before training camp opens next month.
Steelers Were Wary Of Aaron Rodgers/George Pickens Pairing
When George Pickens was dealt to the Cowboys last month, reporters cited a number of reasons for the move. Primarily, the trade was attributed to finances, as the Steelers neither had the budget nor the willingness to extend the receiver (especially following the acquisition of high-priced WR D.K. Metcalf). We also heard stories of Pickens’ lack of maturity, a common theme throughout the wideout’s career.
While the Steelers were still a month away from settling their QB situation, the team’s expected acquisition of Aaron Rodgers may have had an influence on the front office’s thinking. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes, the Steelers were wary that Pickens and the veteran QB “probably would not hit it off.”
While Rodgers has traditionally iced out younger receivers, he still clearly values high-impact targets. It’s also not completely unfounded that the future Hall of Famer may not mesh with a top WR. Even before Rodgers’ ouster in New York, there were rumblings of tension with Garrett Wilson, and the relationship didn’t get any better when Davante Adams started stealing targets.
While Pickens’ surely could have embraced some QB consistency, the Steelers clearly didn’t want to take any chances, especially since the WR clashed with past QBs. In fact, Pickens had made it known that he strongly preferred Russell Wilson remain in place as a starter, an option that clearly wasn’t prioritized by Pittsburgh’s decision makers. With Metcalf on the books and Robert Woods also joining the depth chart, the Steelers felt comfortable enough moving on from the former second-round pick.
Pickens’ anticipated/hypothetical issues with Rodgers is yet another public anecdote that puts a spotlight on the player’s maturity (or lack thereof). Even if the Steelers weren’t going after the veteran QB, it seemed like Pickens’ stint in Pittsburgh was likely coming to an end. We heard that multiple Steelers players became “fed up” with the WR over his three years in Pittsburgh, with several of these players believing it’d be “counterproductive” to keep him around.
Of course, there was also the financial aspect, as Pickens is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Metcalf is on a lucrative deal that could last through the 2029 season, and that Steelers/Seahawks trade all but ended Pickens’ chances of earning a Steelers extension. While Pittsburgh could have kept the WR around during a prove-it season, the team ultimately decided to bail early.
Most likely, it was a combination of all these factors that resulted in Pickens’ departure. Still, it’s interesting that the Steelers front office was considering the WR’s fit with Rodgers…even before the QB inked his deal.
Micah Parsons Still Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Training Camp
The Cowboys’ offseason program came and went without a Micah Parsons extension agreement being reached. The threat of missed time (or at least non-participation) during training camp now exists, but the All-Pro is still targeting a deal being worked out before mid-July. 
“I’m pretty hopeful,” Parsons said about the timeline of an extension (via Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports). “I’m still hanging tight. I understand it’s up to [owner Jerry Jones] and he gives the green light on everything. So hopefully something’s done by next month.”
Parsons once targeted March as the time for a deal to be in place. Having his financial outlook sorted out ahead of free agency would have helped inform Dallas’ other moves this spring, but since the framework of an agreement was reached in person between Parsons and Jones there has been little progress in extension talks. In addition to finances, the length of a monster deal appears to be a sticking point between the parties.
The top of the pass rush market stands at $40MM annually, but T.J. Watt in particular represents a candidate to move the bar even higher. As Parsons (who is four years younger than Watt) waits to see how the Steelers fare with their top edge rusher, he could elect to delay signing a Dallas extension in a bid to become the league’s top earner at the position. As things stand, the Penn State product is due to earn $24.01MM on his fifth-year option.
A long-term deal will be worth far more, but it will be interesting to see if Parsons and the Cowboys – known to prefer longer term on their extension agreements – can find common ground on that front before finalizing the financial details of a contract. It took deep into the offseason last year for CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to sign their respective pacts, and Parsons not having his in hand by the start of camp (July 21) would add further uncertainty to the Cowboys’ top storyline.
The two-time All-Pro previously stated he would attend training camp (and thus avoid mandatory fines) without taking part in on-field work. Parsons confirmed he will be in Oxnard, California during his latest remarks on his future, but when asked this time whether or not he would participate he replied, “we’ll see. Time will tell.”
Colts’ Anthony Richardson Expects To Return By Training Camp
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is expecting to recover from a shoulder injury suffered during OTAs in time for training camp in July, per CBS Sports’ Zach Goodall.
Richardson said that he is “all good” and downplayed his recent injury as “not really even a bump in the road. However, it is a worrying sign for a former top-five pick who only played 15 games in his first two seasons. Richardson was already considered a raw prospect coming out of college, and his struggles to stay on the field have stunted his development in the pros.
Even when Richardson has been healthy, he has not been a starting-caliber quarterback. In 2024, he completed less than 50% of his passes and threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (eight). That caused the Colts to bring in Daniel Jones for $14MM this offseason as legitimate competition for the starting quarterback job.
Missing minicamp may not have put Richardson behind Jones, who had to learn a new offense, but an extended absence could put him at a disadvantage against the former Giant. Jones may have lost his starting job in New York, but he has still performed better than his new teammate in the last two years.
Richardson is determined, however, to not let his latest setback sideline him for training camp.
“I feel like I tripped, I fell,” continued Richardson (via Goodall). “Just got back up and hit the ground running again.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/23/25
One minor move to pass along:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- To sign: LS Tucker Addington
The Steelers are adding a veteran long snapper to their roster in Tucker Addington, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. This will represent the 27-year-old’s seventh NFL stop (not including multiple stints with one team), and he’s managed to get into 10 regular-season contests since 2022. This includes a 2024 campaign when he got into four total games with the Patriots and Dolphins.
Addington inked a reserve/futures deal with the Texans this offseason, but now he’ll have a chance to compete for a roster spot in Pittsburgh. The team still has Christian Kuntz atop the depth chart, but the team’s recent auditions at the position indicate they may be pursuing a preseason battle.
Raiders’ WR Dont’e Thornton Jr., OL Thayer Munford Pushing For Starting Gigs
A pair of recent late-round draft picks could work their way into the Raiders starting lineup. Tashan Reed of The Athletic predicts that fourth-round rookie wideout Dont’e Thornton Jr. will be a starter, and the writer recently noted that former seventh-round offensive lineman Thayer Munford could be an option at left guard for Las Vegas.
Thornton had a breakout campaign during his second and final season at Tennessee, finishing with 26 receptions for 661 yards and six scores. That performance helped make him the 108th-overall pick in this year’s draft, and there’s a good chance he’ll have an opportunity to immediately earn starting reps for his new squad.
Reed notes that the receiver handled the majority of the first-team reps on the outside during OTAs, while Levi Edwards of the team’s website notes that the rookie has already become a top target of Geno Smith. Following the departure of Davante Adams last season, the Raiders struggled to find a third receiving option next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. The new front office notably invested plenty of draft assets into the position, but interestingly, it’s not their highest WR selection who’s been stealing headlines.
The Raiders selected TCU’s Jack Bech in the second round (58th overall), and they later used a sixth-round selection on Montana State’s Tommy Mellott. The team was clearly counting on one of their draft picks to step up in 2025, and for the time being, that appears to be Thornton.
“I think Dont’e is unique in terms of he’s just a hair under 6-5 and he ran 4.3. There’s not a lot of humans on this planet that do that,” said new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly (via Edwards). “And I think if you had a draw up an outside receiver, you would pick that type of body type, someone that’s got length, someone that’s got a huge catch radius, but also has speed. Sometimes you can get a big guy like that, but he can’t really run, so they can stay with him. So, you add that speed element to him, his ability to sink his hips, his ability to get in and out of cuts.”
Elsewhere on offense, Munford has been getting some run with the first-team offense. With Alex Cappa inking a free agent deal to play right guard, there will likely be an open competition for LG snaps. While ESPN’s Ryan McFadden believes this competition will ultimately come down to Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith, it sounds like Munford is firmly in the mix.
The 2022 seventh-round pick has seen an inconsistent role in three seasons in Las Vegas, starting 18 of his 46 games while primarily playing offensive tackle. When Parham didn’t practice during some of the team’s OTA sessions, it was Munford who spent time as the starting left guard (per Reed). This may have simply been to get a longer look at an OL combination, but it’s still notable that Munford was operating ahead of Meredith, who got eight starts for the Raiders in 2025.
With a new regime running the show, Munford should have a fresh opportunity to show what he’s got. Considering his versatility, the fourth-year player can at least rest easy knowing he’s currently in the driver’s seat for a roster spot.
OL Jesse Davis Announces Retirement
Former Dolphins offensive lineman Jesse Davis announced his retirement from the NFL in an Instagram post (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams).
Davis put together an impressive career for an undrafted player, appearing in 95 games with 72 starts across his seven NFL seasons. He logged multiple starts at every offensive line position except center in his career, though he primarily lined up at right guard and right tackle in Miami. That versatility allowed the Dolphins to move him around their offensive line as needed to weather injuries.
Davis played college football at the University of Idaho and was not selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. He did not make a regular-season roster until he signed with the Dolphins and emerged as a starter in 2017. He played a rotational role at the beginning of the season before taking over a starting job – first at left guard, then at right tackle – before settling in at right guard for the last six games of the season, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Davis retained his starting gig into 2018 and started the entire season at left guard, earning a three-year, $15MM extension in September 2019. He started at both left and right tackle over the next two years before returning to right guard to finish the 2020 season. Davis moved around once again in 2021, starting 14 games at right tackle and two at left guard.
The Dolphins released Davis after the 2021 season, and he didn’t play another regular-season snap on offense for the rest of his career. He appeared in 14 games for the Steelers in 2022 and one for the 49ers in 2023 but only saw the field for special teams work. Davis retires with career earnings of $16.4MM, per OverTheCap.
Vikings Didn’t Pursue Jaire Alexander, Jalen Ramsey
The Vikings did not move to acquire Jaire Alexander or Jalen Ramsey when they became available this spring despite the perception of a thin cornerback room.
Minnesota parted ways with veteran Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin this offseason and only retained Byron Murphy from last year’s starting cornerback contingent. The team then signed 2020 first-rounder Jeff Okudah and former Eagle Isaiah Rodgers to inexpensive short-term deals in free agency.
The trio of Murphy, Okudah, and Rodgers operated as the Vikings’ starting cornerbacks in spring practices, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Also taking first-team reps were 2023 third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon, who missed all of last year with a torn ACL, and 2024 UDFA Dwight McGlothern, who made the 53-man roster as a rookie.
The Vikings are confident in that group, and as a result, acquiring Alexander or Ramsey was “always a longshot,” per Lewis. However, as Lewis notes, that does not mean that the team didn’t inquire about either player.
Alexander is now a Raven, and while Ramsey is still available, Minnesota does not appear to be a likely landing spot. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has typically avoided splashy trade acquisitions during his tenure, the lone exception being T.J. Hockenson at the 2022 deadline. The Dolphins’ desire to move Ramsey and his sizable contract have likely dropped his value to a mid-round draft pick, but the Vikings seem content in the depth and chemistry of their current cornerback corps.