NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/30/25
We saw another late-round draft pick signing today:
Los Angeles Rams
- RB Jarquez Hunter (fourth round, Auburn)
The Rams traded up 10 spots, giving up a sixth-round pick in the process, to take Hunter in the middle of the fourth round. Hunter joins a room that returns its three leading rushers from last year in Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers.
That being said, Los Angeles essentially functioned with Williams as a bell-cow in 2024, seeing as how he accounted for nearly 75 percent of the team’s rushing yards and had nearly 1,100 yards more than the next rusher on the team. Hunter will likely compete with Corum in an attempt to give the team more of an impact in the RB2 role in 2025.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/30/25
Friday’s only minor NFL moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: DL Jeremiah Martin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DE Blake Mangelson
WR Jakobi Meyers Wants To Re-Sign With Raiders
Jakobi Meyers is entering the final year of his contract with the Raiders, but he would prefer to stay in Las Vegas past 2025.
“I want to be here for sure, but that’s all I can really say on it right now,” said Meyers (via The Athletic’s Tashan Reed). “That’s business between us and the top floor, so I’ma just hold that one down for now.”
Meyers eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career last season despite inconsistent quarterback play from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. His 68.5 yards per game ranked 19th among all players in 2024, though he only reeled in four touchdowns with a 55.8% catch rate right around his career average.
The 28-year-old signed with the Raiders on a three-year, $33MM contract ($16MM fully guaranteed) in 2023, an impressive haul for a former undrafted free agent. The receiver market has increased since then, though an explosion in top WR salaries may not be as much of a boost to a mid-tier player like Meyers. However, he could play himself into a bigger payday with the addition of Geno Smith, his best quarterback since his 2019 rookie season with now-Raiders minority owner Tom Brady in New England.
The Raiders only have only one non-rookie wideout under contract through 2026: Tre Tucker, who had an encouraging second season in 2024 but may not be ready for a WR1 role. Even if they invest in premium receiving talent via free agency and/or the draft next offseason, Meyers would still be a productive, versatile WR2 who’s already familiar with the offense. His $11MM APY adjusted for cap inflation would be $13.66MM in 2025, just outside of the top 25 at the position. Another strong effort this year could push Meyers north of $15MM, so the Raiders may try to sign him before the season to get a bargain in the long term.
Meyers’ current contract is set to void five days after Super Bowl, per OverTheCap, though the two sides could push that date back to give them more time for negotiations. He would count for $4.318MM in dead money against the Raiders’ 2026 salary cap if he isn’t extended before his contract voids.
Marcedes Lewis Wants To Play 20th Season
Already blazing a trail into the record book by playing an age-40 season at tight end, Marcedes Lewis is currently a free agent, but he wants to sign with a new team for his 20th and final NFL season.
“I think mentally, I’m going into saying this is my last year,” Lewis told Kay Adams, adding that he’s still a durable, hard-working player despite his age.
His recent playing history supports his argument. Lewis, 41, appeared in all 34 regular-season games for the Bears over the past two years with eight starts and 621 snaps across offense and special teams. Before that, he started 37 straight games for the Packers with more than 1,000 snaps across the 2020 and 2021 season.
Overall, Lewis hasn’t missed a game since 2020 and has appeared in at least 15 games in 15 of his 19 seasons. He’s the NFL’s active leader in games played with 285, which also ranks 19th all-time. His 229 starts trail only Aaron Rodgers and Calais Campbell among active players and ranks 34th all-time.
If Lewis takes the field in 2025, he would become the first non-quarterback or specialist to play for 20 years in the 21st century. He’s the second-longest-tenured player in the league behind Rodgers and the only player left from the 2006 draft, in which he was a first-round pick. That kicked off a 12-year stretch with the Jaguars, who only made the playoffs twice during Lewis’ tenure with several years at the bottom of the league. The veteran tight end credited the adversity he faced in Jacksonville as a reason he’s been able to play for so long.
Lewis joined the Packers in 2018 and called his five seasons there “some of the best years of my life.” He also said that his decision to move to Chicago in 2023 was partially to reunite with then-Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who worked with Lewis as an offensive assistant in Green Bay. Getsy is back with the Packers as a senior assistant, though Lewis didn’t offer any hints about another potential reunion.
Ravens WR Zay Flowers Changes Agents
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Ravens star wide receiver Zay Flowers is signing with WIN Sports Group, a new agency recently launched by Patrick Whitesell, the former co-founder and executive chairman of Endeavor (formerly William Morris Endeavor).
Ironically, Flowers is leaving Loyalty Above All (LAA) and its founder and CEO, Zac Hiller. The former Boston College standout was the first player represented by LAA to be selected in the first round.
Whitesell’s WIN client list includes Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and 49ers defense end Nick Bosa. All three set records for their positions with their second contracts.
Flowers’ production in his first two years doesn’t merit that kind of raise, and he isn’t extension-eligible until next offseason, when the Ravens will also have to make a decision on his fifth-year option for the 2027 season. His 2024 Pro Bowl nod means that his fifth-year option will be equivalent to the 2026 transition tag, projected to be $24.7MM by OverTheCap. Another original-ballot Pro Bowl would raise his 2027 salary to the equivalent of the 2026 franchise tag, which is expected to eclipse $28MM.
The Ravens want to sign Lamar Jackson to another extension, which would lower his $74.5MM cap hits in 2026 and 2027. That would allow them to afford a fifth-year option and a potential long-term extension for Flowers while also retaining 2022 first-rounders Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum.
Giants Sign First-Round QB Jaxson Dart
The Giants’ offseason quest to find a long-term franchise quarterback is finally and formally complete.
First-round pick Jaxson Dart put pen to paper on his rookie contract, per a team announcement, locking in a fully guaranteed four-year deal with a fifth-year option for the 2029 season.
Dart, the 25th overall selection in last month’s draft, will earn $16.954MM on his first NFL contract with an $8.97MM signing bonus, according to Art Stapleton of NJ.com. He may not start as a rookie with veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston also in the quarterback room, but the Giants are likely expecting Dart to take over as the team’s signal-caller in 2026.
A redshirt rookie year might be ideal for his long-term development. Dart played in a quarterback-friendly offense at Ole Miss with heavy use of play-action and RPOs to streamline his reads, but the NFL will required faster, more complicated processing. He also has a tendency to hold onto the ball, which might be especially dangerous behind a Giants offensive line that lacks elite talent outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas.
However, Dart’s arm talent, mobility, and competitive toughness form a solid foundation for a future starter. The Giants’ offensive braintrust of Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka struggled to get the best out of Daniel Jones, but they may have better luck with a quarterback they wanted to bring in. New York still needs better protection and another playmaker or two on offense, but Dart will have two reliable targets through at least 2027 in Malik Nabers and the recently re-signed Darius Slayton. Nabers exploded for 1,204 yards on 109 receptions as a rookie in 2024, while the underrated Slayton has been a solid if unspectacular pass-catcher throughout his career.
49ers Hire Ethan Waugh
MAY 30: Waugh’s return is official, and the team announced he will operate with the title of personnel executive. That will entail a notable role in his second San Francisco stint.
MAY 22: Part of the Jaguars’ housecleaning in the front office was Ethan Waugh‘s departure immediately following the draft. Shortly after his Jacksonville exit, though, the veteran executive seems to have his next gig lined up.
The 49ers are expected to hire Waugh, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Provided the move officially takes place, it will represent a reunion between the parties. Prior to joining the Jaguars’ front office, Waugh worked with the 49ers.
Waugh and Trent Baalke worked alongside each other in San Francisco, so it came as no surprise when the two eventually continued their partnership in Jacksonville. After the latter’s 49ers tenure ended following the 2016 season, though, Waugh remained in place. He worked his way up to VP of player personnel before departing the team. Waugh is unlikely to hold that title again upon returning to San Francisco, but he will represent a familiar face to general manager John Lynch and Co.
Baalke appeared to be safe after the 2024 season ended, but as the Jags negotiated with Liam Coen to become their new head coach he wound up being fired. That move left Waugh to handle interim general manager duties until James Gladstone landed the full-time gig. To no surprise, Gladstone has brought in a number of ex-Rams executives in preparation for his first year at the helm.
Brian Xanders is among the veteran staffers in place with Jacksonville as the team moves forward at a number of executive and coaching positions. While that takes place, Waugh will prepare for his second San Francisco stint. The 49ers have been unusually busy in terms of working out extensions this spring, but Waugh will be able to assist with the team’s remaining priorities over the summer.
Bills Promote Terrance Gray To Assistant GM
Terrance Gray has landed a promotion in the Bills’ front office. He now holds the title of assistant general manager, the team announced on Friday.
Gray spent the past three years as Buffalo’s vice president of player personnel. He has been with the organization since 2017, the beginning of the Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane era. Over that span, Gray has established himself as a key front office contributor with the franchise; as a result, today’s news comes as little surprise.
In recent years, Gray has generated general manager interest around the league. He turned down the opportunity to interview with the Patriots shortly before they tapped Eliot Wolf for the gig, but he did meet with both the Raiders and Chargers for their respective openings. Gray remained on the GM radar during this year’s hiring cycle.
The Jaguars met with Gray once during their general manager search. The Titans, meanwhile, made him a finalist for their opening before ultimately hiring Mike Borgonzi. It can certainly be expected that future general manager vacancies will include Gray in the interview process, and another strong season on the part of the Bills would do nothing to hurt his stock. As Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News notes, Brian Gaine will remain in place, meaning Buffalo will have two AGMs in 2025.
In addition to the Gray news, Friday’s announcement confirmed the recent report that Andrea Gosper was also promoted; she now officially holds the title of assistant to the general manager. In the wake of that move, MK Collins has been named the Bills’ new player personnel coordinator. That department will have a new leader as Gray departs it in advance of at least one more season in Buffalo’s front office.
Dolphins, Steelers Exploring Jonnu Smith Trade; TE Seeking New Contract
10:27pm: Smith isn’t the only offensive playmaker about whom the Steelers have inquired. The team has has “preliminary conversations” with multiple teams as they search for another weapon alongside Metcalf, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Schultz’s report indicates that Pittsburgh will complete a trade in the coming months. After adding a third-rounder in the Pickens trade, the team now has eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft with the potential to add four more via the compensatory pick system.
2:06pm: The Dolphins and the Steelers are exploring a trade that would send tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The trade talks stem from Smith’s desire for a new contract. He arrived in Miami on a two-year, $8.4MM last offseason and quickly outplayed his value with the best receiving numbers of his career and his first Pro Bowl selection. Smith led the Dolphins with 88 catches and eight receiving touchdowns, and his 884 receiving yards trailed only Tyreek Hill. Those numbers were also the best of any tight end in franchise history.
Smith is set to earn $4.1MM this year with additional money available via incentives, per OverTheCap, a bargain relative to his recent production. However, 2024 was his first year with more than 35 yards per game, so the Dolphins may not want to overpay for what could be an outlier season.
Enter the Steelers, who remade their pass-catching corps this season by trading for D.K. Metcalf and sending George Pickens – their leading receiver since 2022 – to the Cowboys. Pittsburgh did sign 2021 second-round tight end Pat Freiermuth to a four-year extension last September, but Smith was the more productive player in 2024. He ranked fifth among all tight ends with 1.95 yards per route run, while Freiermuth’s 1.42 YPRR ranked 20th, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Steelers’ lack of WR depth may encourage them to invest in another tight end, especially one who is so familiar with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Arthur Smith was the Titans’ tight ends coach when they drafted Jonnu Smith in the third-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The former FIU standout started 25 games across his first two years, largely as a blocker, but became a bigger part of the passing game once Arthur Smith took over as offensive coordinator in 2019. Jonnu Smith started 28 games over the next two years, catching 76 of his 109 targets for 887 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. That earned him a four-year, $50MM contract with the Patriots, while Arthur Smith was hired as the Falcons’ head coach.
An underwhelming two years in New England led to Jonnu Smith’s release during the 2023 offseason. He reunited with Arthur Smith on a two-year, $15MM deal in Atlanta, where he posted career-highs with 50 receptions and 582 receiving yards in 2023. Despite his performance, Jonnu Smith was released after the season, likely because of Arthur Smith’s firing. Now, the two could be on the verge of another reunion that would allow the veteran coach to use his trademark two tight end formations.
However, Jonnu Smith would prefer to remain in Miami with a revised contract, per Schefter. If the Dolphins are unwilling to commit to him past this season, the two sides could find a middle ground via an increased salary, some new guarantees, and/or additional incentives to raise Smith’s earning potential.
Mike Vrabel Addresses Stefon Diggs Video
A video of Stefon Diggs went viral earlier this week, as the Patriots wide receiver was recorded flashing an “unidentified pink substance” (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss) while surrounded by women on a yacht. That pink substance has led to plenty of online speculation, and new head coach Mike Vrabel was forced to address the situation today.
“It’s something we’re aware of and obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field,” Vrabel said (via Reiss). “… Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club.”
Vrabel is sticking with his Belichickian upbringing and not revealing too much, but it is still notable that the head coach is already facing off-the-field questions about the headline-stealing receiver. The Patriots inked Diggs to a three-year, $69MM deal this offseason as the wideout continues to recover from his torn ACL.
While the veteran was spotted at a voluntary practice last week, he notably wasn’t in attendance for the start of New England’s OTAs. While an absence from voluntary practices isn’t problematic, this surely some increasing optic issues when taking into account the recent viral video. Vrabel acknowledged that he’s been in contact with Diggs this week, although the coach also admitted that he’s spoken with every player on his roster.
Patriots receivers finished the 2024 campaign last in the NFL with only 1,723 receiving yards. If Diggs is able to even return to his 2023 form (when he finished with 1,188 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns), that’d be a huge boon for the Patriots offense. Prior to suffering his season-ending injury in 2024, Diggs’ lone season in Houston saw him haul in 47 catches for 496 yards and three scores.
“The timelines, and the prognosis, we’re working hard to get him back and be ready to go. When he’s here, we’ll coach him and have him ready to go,” Vrabel said of his WR’s recovery.
While the Patriots lack top-end receiver talent, they do have some solid depth, and there should be plenty of competition for the spots this summer. Diggs is a shoo-in to make the squad, and Reiss believes free agent acquisition Mack Hollins, third-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas, and third-round rookie Kyle Williams are also safe. That means the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and 2024 draft picks Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round) are competing for the remaining spots on the roster.