HEADLINES

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/20/25

May 20th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s draft pick signings:

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

The Lions continue to chip away at their draft class, with only their first-round pick (DT Tyleik Williams) and second-round pick (G Tate Ratledge) remaining unsigned. The Lions clearly have high hopes for the latest signing, as the team used the 70th-overall pick on Isaac TeSlaa. The wideout had his most productive collegiate season in 2024, finishing with 545 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The rookie may have a tough time carving out a role on a deep depth chart in 2025, but he could eventually work his way into the starting lineup next to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

Nohl Williams led all of college football with seven interceptions last season, and the Chiefs were quick to scoop him up with the 85th pick in this year’s draft. The Chiefs added Kristian Fulton in free agency this year, so the rookie will likely be eyeing a backup role to begin the 2025 campaign. With the signing, the Chiefs’ only remaining unsigned draft pick is second-round DT Omarr Norman-Lott.

Cam Ward, Will Levis Splitting Reps At Titans Practices

May 20th, 2025 at 6:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans are clearly committed to Cam Ward as their long-term quarterback, but head coach Brian Callahan isn’t rushing into naming his Week 1 starter. As ESPN’s Turron Davenport writes, Ward evenly split reps with Will Levis as the Titans opened Phase 2 of their offseason activities.

Callahan acknowledged that we’ll likely see a change in the snap distribution when the offense begins participating in seven-on-seven drills. At that time, the number-one overall pick will presumably find himself atop the depth chart, but even that major indication may not be enough for Callahan to name a definitive starter.

The coach told reporters that it’s premature to name a Week 1 starter considering all the progress that needs to be made over the next three months. Instead, Callahan made it clear that he wants his quarterbacks to simply focus on what’s ahead of them at practices vs. focusing on the season opener.

As Davenport notes, Callahan may be a bit gun-shy from last year, when the first-year head coach quickly named Levis as his starter. A midseason injury helped the Titans temporarily pivot to Mason Rudolph, but the coach understood he didn’t do anyone any favors by proclaiming Levis his QB1 before practices even started.

So, while Ward is all but guaranteed to be the starter for the 2025 campaign, Callahan won’t make any declarations before he has a full understanding of his depth. While Davenport notes that a QB competition between the number-one pick and the incumbent starter could lead to a “contentious situation,” Callahan praised both of his signal callers for their approach to early practices.

“They’ve both handled it really well,” Callahan said. “I’ve been pleased with their demeanor and approach. Will has done a really nice job getting better at the things he needs to get better at. Cam has done a really nice job of integrating himself. … They’ve both done a really nice job getting up to speed where they needed to.”

Patriots Rejected Two Trade Offers For Second-Round Pick

May 20th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have been linked to showing interest in the player the Dolphins chose in Round 2, guard Jonah Savaiinaea, but after the Arizona product went off the board, multiple teams eyed the Patriots’ No. 38 choice.

An episode of Forged in Foxborough details a Bears offer for No. 38; the NFC North team proposed No. 39 and a seventh-round pick to move up a spot. It is believed (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss) Chicago wanted TreVeyon Henderson, whom New England ended up taking. A previous report indeed indicated Chicago was eyeing Henderson.

This appears a lower-stakes example of last year, when the Pats rejected two quality trade offers (from the Giants and Vikings) aimed at Drake Maye. The Pats ended up staying at No. 3 and taking Maye for themselves.

The Bears were not the only team to propose a deal for No. 38, however, as the Forged in Foxborough episode also revealed a more notable trade offer. The Patriots received a proposal for No. 38 that included Nos. 58, 79 and a 2026 third-round pick. This would have netted the Pats three Day 2 picks in exchange for one, though it is not known if New England would have needed to throw in another pick as part of a swap.

It is fairly safe to assume the Texans made this offer, as they held No. 58 at the time the Pats made their Henderson choice. Houston had already moved out of Round 1, and Nick Caserio — a Bill Belichick lieutenant during Mike Vrabel‘s New England linebacker years — was active in trades throughout draft weekend. This later included a move up in Round 2, as the Texans climbed to No. 48 (via the Raiders) and chose Minnesota tackle Aireontae Ersery. The Texans gave up Nos. 58 and 99 for the Raiders’ No. 48 slot.

Houston may have been targeting Ersery that high, as the team has launched a near-full-scale O-line overhaul this offseason. The Texans were connected to also moving up in Round 1 for ex-C.J. Stroud Ohio State weapon Emeka Egbuka, but the Buccaneers made a surprise play for the all-time Buckeyes receiving leader at No. 19. The Texans then slid out of Round 1, collecting three Day 2 choices from the Giants to do so. Houston had already chosen Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins at No. 34, pointing to its New England offer being a non-WR play.

The Texans could have been in play for Henderson as well, as only one running back on a current roster (Derrick Henry) has Joe Mixon beat for career carries (1,816). The Texans circled back to their RB need in Round 4, trading up for USC’s Woody Marks; the future third they offered to the Patriots ended up going to the Dolphins in that exchange.

Henderson was fairly popular during the draft, as the Broncos are also believed to have targeted the Ohio State standout in a trade-down move. Denver discussed terms with the Giants, which would have allowed New York to move ahead of Pittsburgh and draft Jaxson Dart. But Big Blue believing the Steelers would pass on Dart at 21 prompted the team to stand down, eventually dealing with the Texans (for No. 25). The Broncos then bolstered their secondary with cornerback Jahdae Barron.

Another interesting nugget from the Patriots’ Henderson selection process came when Vrabel mentioned a potential wide receiver move with the team’s No. 69 overall pick. Moving out of the No. 38 slot for either offer would have cost the Patriots Henderson; a wideout would have likely been considered in Round 2, in that case. The Pats deciding to stay at 38 and choose Henderson preceded the team using No. 69 on Washington State wideout Kyle Williams. Both skill-position cogs will be expected to boost Maye’s development this season.

Dolphins Interested In CB Asante Samuel Jr.; Rasul Douglas, James Bradberry On Radar

May 20th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Ramsey is still a member of the Dolphins, but a trade remains the expectation in that case. Moving on from the All-Pro will create a notable cornerback vacancy, and to no surprise a few free agent options are on the team’s radar.

The Dolphins have made contact with Asante Samuel Jr., Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. He adds no formal visit is on the books at this point with no offer being made yet. Samuel is recovering from neck surgery, but the Dolphins are among the teams which will watch his situation closely over the coming weeks.

As Jackson confirms, Samuel is scheduled for a checkup in early July. Provided that goes well, the 25-year-old will likely not need to wait long to land a deal. He visited the Saints last week, and a Cardinals meeting also took place prior to the surgery. If a bidding war is to ensue, Miami will likely be involved (especially if Ramsey is on another team by that point).

Samuel is one of two corners to land among PFR’s top 50 free agents who remain unsigned. Rasul Douglas joins him, and the Dolphins had placed themselves in that market as well. Miami met with Douglas as well, extending an offer. No deal emerged, and Douglas then visited the Seahawks. The Dolphins, however, remain in touch with Douglas, Jackson adds.

James Bradberry also came up as a potential solution earlier this offseason, with Jackson indicating the Dolphins engaged in dialogue with the free agent. Bradberry will be unlikely to convince a team to spend much, as he is north of 30 (32 in August) and coming off a missed season. Prior to Bradberry’s summer Achilles tear, he had attempted to convert to safety. Eyeing a return to corner, Bradberry will attempt to recapture the form he displayed with the 2022 Eagles, as it catapulted him to a three-year, $38MM Philly deal in March 2023. The Bills also spoke with Bradberry, whom the Eagles designated a post-June 1 cut, this offseason.

These connections point both to a Ramsey separation coming to fruition — presumably after June 1 due to the extension the nine-year veteran signed last September — and the Dolphins being ready to supplement his unproven supporting cast. Miami has not seen much to indicate its second-round Cam Smith selection will pan out (153 career snaps), and the team did not draft a corner until Round 5 (Jason Marshall) this year. Former UDFAs Kader Kohou and Storm Duck remain in the mix. The Dolphins also signed former first-rounder Artie Burns as a depth piece, but if Ramsey is out of the picture, this looks like one of the more vulnerable position groups in the NFL.

Bradberry has made 124 starts during a nine-year career. Samuel has made 47, and while his injury-plagued 2024 has impacted his market, the second-generation NFL corner joins Douglas among the top free agents left. Douglas, 29, has made 80 career starts. Twenty-three of those came with the Bills since a 2023 deadline trade sent him to Buffalo, where the ex-Philadelphia draftee complemented Christian Benford for a Bills team that has continued to see its top corner unavailable in its biggest games. The Bills extended Benford, however, and used a first-round pick on Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston to signal Douglas will need to find a new home.

The Dolphins released Kendall Fuller, but the CB market also houses Shaquill Griffin, Jack Jones, Cameron Sutton and Michael Davis as potential boundary options. Stephon Gilmore remains available as well, but the former Defensive Player of the Year is entering what would be his age-35 season. It is fairly clear Miami will make a move here, and it appears likely to happen before training camp.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Contract Dispute Ongoing Between Bengals, Shemar Stewart

May 20th, 2025 at 10:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Shemar Stewart sat out the Bengals’ rookie minicamp as a result of the fact he has yet to sign his initial NFL contract. The structure of the pact was at the heart of the issue, and that is still the case.

Stewart has attended meetings during voluntary offseason work, but Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports he has yet to participate in any on-field practices. Stewart’s aim is for his pact to match the language of the Bengals’ two most recent Day 1 selections. That affects matters like the timing of bonus payments, whereas the value of his base salary and signing bonus are determined by draft slot.

The Bengals selected Stewart 17th overall, adding an option to complement Trey Hendrickson in 2025 and potentially replace him as the team’s top edge rusher after that point. The Texas A&M product’s rookie deal will match that of right tackle Amarius Mims (the No. 18 pick in 2024) and fellow defensive end Myles Murphy (No. 28 in 2023) if his request is granted. Disputes similar to this one have not been entirely eliminated in the rookie wage scale era, but it is still notable this situation has resulted in an ongoing holdout.

Hendrickson, of course, is seeking a new arrangement of his own with one year remaining on his pact. The reigning NFL sack leader is angling for guarantees beyond 2025, a bridge the Bengals have not historically been willing to cross (with a small number of recent exceptions). Even if Hendrickson remains in the fold for the coming year and beyond, increased production in the pass rush department will be required on a defense needing to improve in several areas moving forward.

Stewart may not be in position to help in that regard right away after he totaled just 4.5 sacks in college. Still, the 6-5, 267-pounder’s draft stock was helped by his Combine performance and athletic profile, and over the long term he could grow into a key figure on defense for years to come. Stewart’s (on-field) development will not begin until his contract situation sees a resolution, however.

RB Kyren Williams Expects To Remain With Rams Beyond 2025

May 20th, 2025 at 10:06am CST by Adam La Rose

One year remains on Kyren Williams‘ rookie contract, but an extension could be worked out to ensure he does not reach the market next spring. Talks have already taken place between the Rams and their lead running back’s camp, and he appears to be confident a long-term pact will be in hand even if the season starts without one being worked out.

Williams played sparingly as a rookie, but over the past two seasons he has been a focal point on offense for the Rams. The 24-year-old received 228 carries in 2023, and that number rose to 316 last year. A heavy workload can be expected again in 2025 regardless of if a second contract is worked out over the coming months. Williams would prefer an extension, of course, but in any case he is confident he will remain in Los Angeles beyond the coming campaign.

“I know with time it’s going to happen,” Williams said of a new contract (via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times). “I would love for it to get done so I can take care of my family and the loved ones that helped me get here… Whether it happens now or I play out the season, I know it’s going to happen eventually.”

Williams led the NFL in rushing yards per game in 2023 with 95.3. That figure dropped considerably last year, though, as his efficiency fell from 5.0 yards per carry to 4.1. The former fifth-round pick nevertheless set a new career high in a number of categories, including scrimmage yards (1,481) and touchdowns (16). He will be in store for a raise compared to his rookie deal – which calls for a $5.35MM salary in 2025 – once his next contract is in place. As of April, a gap existed between the 2023 Pro Bowler’s asking price and the Rams’ valuation of him, so progress will need to be made at the negotiating table.

General manager Les Snead aims to “engineer a long-term partnership” in the Notre Dame product’s case, but it remains to be seen if the Rams will be willing to make a commitment near the top of the running back market. Seven players at the position are attached to an AAV of at least $10MM, and Williams’ age will no doubt help his case to join that group. On the other hand, Los Angeles invested a third-round pick in 2024 in Blake Corum and added another running back (Jarquez Hunter) during the fourth round of this year’s draft.

Those two will remain under team control well beyond the 2025 season. It remains to be seen if that will hold true for Williams, but his latest remarks point to a free agent departure still being unlikely.

Eagles Extend HC Nick Sirianni

May 19th, 2025 at 11:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Super Bowl champions will have continuity on the sidelines for years to come. The Eagles announced on Monday that head coach Nick Sirianni has agreed to an extension.

“Nick has embodied everything we were looking for in a head coach since we hired him four years ago,” a statement from owner Jeffrey Lurie reads in part. “His authentic style of leadership, football intelligence, passion for the game, and growth mindset have helped to bring out the best in our team. I am excited for what the future holds for the Philadelphia Eagles.”

Sirianni led the Eagles to a playoff berth during each of his first three seasons at the helm. Philadelphia won nine, 14 and 11 games during that span, an indication of the team’s potential with the former Colts offensive coordinator in place. Despite that success – including a trip to the Super Bowl during his second year in charge – Sirianni’s future was a talking point entering the 2024 campaign.

A late-season collapse in 2023 resulted in a wild-card exit and another round of coordinator changes in Philadelphia. General manager Howie Roseman played a key role in the hiring of Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, something which added to doubts about Sirianni’s tenure in the organization. Tension with quarterback Jalen Hurts arose as a talking point in August, but with a new OC in place (one with more autonomy than Moore’s predecessor, Brian Johnson), that was seen as less of an issue for much of the 2024 season.

Of course, the Eagles’ win in Super Bowl LIX – over the Chiefs, the team which beat them two years prior – dramatically helped Sirianni’s case for a new deal. Earlier last month, Lurie made it clear his intention was to extend the 43-year-old, so today’s news comes as no surprise. Expectations will remain high in 2025 and beyond despite Moore taking over as the Saints’ new head coach.

Between the regular and postseason, the Eagles have won 54 games under Sirianni; that is the second highest total for a head coach in their first four seasons. In the Super Bowl era, only John Madden and George Allen own higher winning percentages than Sirianni’s .706 mark amongst coaches with at least 50 games of experience. That track record has put to rest questions about a change on the sidelines in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future.

Hurts and many other members of the Eagles’ Super Bowl core are still in place entering 2025. Another strong performance on both sides of the ball would give them a chance at competing for a third Lombardi Trophy or at least remaining a contender in the NFC as they have been for much of Sirianni’s tenure. With Roseman’s future assured, Philadelphia should not experience major alterations at the head coach or general manager spots any time soon.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Resumes Throwing

May 19th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jimmy Haslam‘s admission on the 2022 Deshaun Watson trade could certainly be interpreted as the Browns closing the book on an expensive failure, and the team is now holding what appears to be a four-man derby for the starting job.

This effort, which consists entirely of low-cost contracts, came about because of both Watson’s failure to impress when available and his run of injury trouble. Watson has sustained two Achilles tears since October, seemingly moving him out of the picture in Cleveland. As Shedeur Sanders and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel receive considerable attention as prospective starters — joining Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in this mix — Watson appears to be working his way back into the equation.

[RELATED: Browns Not Planning Quarterback Trade]

The embattled quarterback has shed his walking boot and has resumed throwing, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. Watson has been throwing to Jerry Jeudy and David Bell at the team’s facility, with Cabot indicating he shed the boot weeks ago. This certainly does not mean Watson will resume command here, as it is not even known if he will throw another pass with Cleveland, but it is an interesting development considering the team’s QB efforts this offseason.

Word of Watson’s second Achilles tear surfaced in mid-January, and Haslam labeled the trade a mistake in April. Watson, 29, submitted a woeful run of performances before his first tear occurred last season. Kevin Stefanski repeatedly insisted he would not bench the high-priced QB, but the former Texans Pro Bowler had not been close to what the Browns hoped when they (via an outlier $230MM guarantee) beat out the Falcons, Saints and Panthers for him. Cleveland went three years without a first-round pick thanks to the trade, and it passed on Travis Hunter to acquire a 2026 first-round pick — and it should be expected the team will be closely linked to the ’26 QB class as a result.

Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), still runs through 2026. The Browns would be on the hook for an unfathomable dead money amount if they cut him next year; they would surely spread the $131.16MM across two years via a post-June 1 designation. Cleveland is also setting up for a potential battle via an insurance measure taken out on the contract. Watson being unable to play this season puts a $44.27MM sum in play for the Browns to recover. Although the team could collect on other components of the policy to help soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being healthy enough to play in 2025 would affect a sizable chunk of the return.

News of the second tear was believed set to sideline Watson for most or all of the 2025 season, and the Browns responded by trading for a passer, signing another and then drafting two more. PFR’s poll about which one would log the most starts this season did include Watson, but few expect him to play a notable role for the team this season. Watson’s recovery, however, will be a storyline to follow, as the Browns look to be prepared to move on.

It will be interesting to learn about a potential clearance expectation later this year. Watson is likely to begin the season on the Browns’ reserve/PUP list, but if he receives clearance during the season, seeing how the team handles it will become a front-burner matter. The Texans made Watson a healthy scratch throughout the 2021 season, as the QB’s list of sexual assault and/or sexual misconduct accusers piled up after he had requested a trade. A similar plan could conceivably form in Cleveland, should Watson be ready to go at some point later this year.

Packers Reveal New Language For Proposed Tush Push Ban

May 19th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Packers have officially submitted their revised rule change to ban the tush push, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It includes expanded language that is expected to garner more support around the league after their initial proposal was tabled last month.

If approved, Rule 12, Section 1, Article 4 of the NFL rulebook would be amended to ban all instances of pushing or pulling of ballcarriers with a 10-yard penalty for any infractions. Green Bay’s new proposal reflects a return to pre-2005 rules, consistent with messaging coming out of the last league meetings where the original rule change was tabled.

Currently, offensive players are prohibited from pulling ballcarriers “in any direction at any time.” The new rule also bans pushing and lifting runners to their feet, along with a more general restriction against assisting them “except by individually blocking opponents for him.”

The revised language is far broader than the Packers’ original proposal, which specified timing (“immediately at the snap”) and position of the ballcarrier (“lined up directly behind the snapper and received the snap.”) Those changes are meant to assuage concerns that the rule specifically targets teams that use the tush push more often than others, namely the Bills and the Eagles.

However, the newer, more general language is open to criticism for being vague and leaving enforcement up to individual referees on a game-by-game basis. The league will have to devise a consistent way to officiate offensive players trying to move the pile after a ballcarrier’s initial momentum has been stopped. Moving the pile is a common practice in the NFL, but the wording of the revised proposal would appear to ban such an action. It’s also unclear if supporting a teammate to keep them upright falls under the umbrella of pushing or lifting a runner.

The Packers’ proposal retains language that prevents players from pushing or throwing their bodies “against a teammate to aid him in an attempt to obstruct an opponent or to recover a loose ball.” Reported versions of the new language differ on whether or not interlocking interference is still banned. Interlocking interference is a rarely called penalty for a blocker “grasping a teammate or…using his hands or arms to encircle the body of a teammate in an effort to block an opponent.” (Essentially, offensive players may not form a protective cordon around ballcarriers that prevents defenders from attempting tackles.)

Teams were split on the Packers’ first attempt to ban the tush push, but the revision has a legitimate chance to reach the 24 votes required to pass. The Eagles remain staunch opponents, having made a last-ditch effort to find votes against a ban, but concerns over player safety have persisted despite a lack of injuries stemming from the play in recent years. Teams are also concerned about the potential impact on pace of play after the Commanders committed repeated penalties while trying to stop the tush push in the playoffs, which slowed the game to a crawl.

With an official revision submitted, the league will likely take a full vote on the measure this week in Minneapolis.

The competition committee is also considering a proposal to change the onside kick, according to Pelissero. The NFL’s new kickoff implemented last year only allowed teams to try an onside kick when trailing in the fourth quarter. Teams will still be required to declare onside kicks under the new rule, but they may do so anytime. They will also be permitted to line up one yard closer to their opponents in an effort to improve onside kick success rates from six percent in 2024.

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