Workout Notes: Griffin, Fant, Charles
Shaquill Griffin could be returning to where it all started. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, the veteran defensive back visited the Seahawks today.
It’s been quiet on the Griffin front, with today’s news representing his first reported visit of the offseason. In a free agent CB class that still features a handful of notable names (including Rasul Douglas, Asante Samuel Jr., and Mike Hilton), it’s notable that Griffin is starting to make some noise.
The former Seahawks draft pick has bounced around the NFL a bit since leaving Seattle after the 2020 season. He got a multi-year deal from the Jaguars but only lasted two campaigns in Jacksonville, and he later got into games with three teams between 2023 and 2024 (Texans, Panthers, Vikings).
He did manage to get into all 17 games for the Vikings in 2024, collecting 41 tackles and a pair of interceptions while appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. While Griffin will soon hit his age-30 season, he showed that he can still be a useful depth piece. The Seahawks are set to return their same CB starters next season (Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, and Devon Witherspoon), but he could compete with the likes of Nehemiah Pritchett for any leftover snaps.
More workout notes from around the NFL…
- George Fant was mentioned earlier tonight as a mentor to Colin Granger, but the veteran is also looking to continue his own playing career. According to Tony Pauline of Sportkeeda.com, Fant worked out for the Ravens today. It sounds like the lineman/tight end is being particular about where he continues his career, with Pauline cautioning that Fant is only eyeing teams that deliver “the right fit.” After getting into only two games with the Seahawks last season, Fant would likely be competing for a final roster spot in Baltimore.
- The Cowboys worked out veteran offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Charles suddenly retired last August, but Garafolo notes that the lineman is already considering a comeback. A former fourth-round pick by the Commanders, Charles got into 35 games across his four seasons in Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he started a career-high 10 games. While Charles played OT early in his career, he could join Brock Hoffman and Robert Jones as options to replace Zack Martin.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/7/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed RFA tender: DL Chris Williams
- Signed ERFA tender: DL Jonathan Ford, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray, DB Ameer Speed
Cleveland Browns
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Blake Whiteheart
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Lucas Krull
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: DE Arron Mosby
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed ERFA tender: DT Matthew Butler, LB LB Kana’i Mauga, G Jordan Meredith, DE Charles Snowden, CB Sam Webb
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Nahshon Wright
Patriots Notes: Barmore, Van Pelt, Milton
Christian Barmore missed most of last season with recurring symptoms from blood clots, but he’s expected to be a full participant at Patriots practices. Mike Vrabel told reporters (including ESPN’s Mike Reiss) that Barmore has been given clearance to participate in the team’s voluntary offseason program, which started today.
“He popped in the other day to see the doctors. When he walked into the training room, just his energy and presence, so I know that he’s feeling better,” Vrabel said last week (via Reiss).
“We’ll continue to evaluate him. It’s something very serious. We take the health of our players extremely serious, especially when you’re talking about something like blood clots, and we’re going to have a great plan for him.”
Barmore inked a four-year, $92MM deal ($41.8MM guaranteed) last offseason, but he proceeded to miss the first 10 games of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots. He returned for four games late in the year, but he subsequently landed on the non-football illness list after experiencing recurring symptoms.
Fortunately, it sounds like Barmore will be able to resume his NFL career in 2025. The defensive lineman had a breakout season when he was last healthy in 2023, compiling 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. The Patriots will presumably pencil Barmore in next to free agent acquisition Milton Williams on the defensive line.
More notes out of New England…
- The Patriots have made plenty of additions to their roster this offseason, but the team is still searching for help at certain positions. Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston expects the team to make an addition to their running backs corps, a group that currently consists of Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald notes that Vrabel has also expressed interest in adding to the position via the draft, while ESPN’s Mike Reiss wonders if the team could eye a versatile, pass-catching RB that resembles former Patriots mainstays like Kevin Faulk, James White, and Danny Woodhead.
- Former offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt only lasted one season in New England, and the organization’s decision to change coaching staffs will cost a pretty penny. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Patriots still owe Van Pelt a little under $6MM over the next two years. Many of the other departed coaches on Jerod Mayo‘s staff still had one year remaining on their contracts.
- The timing of the recent Joe Milton trade was plenty deliberate by the Patriots. According to Reiss, the organization wanted to deal the quarterback before the start of the team’s voluntary offseason program. Specifically, Vrabel believes this is an important date for “establishing team culture and the dynamic that ideally unfolds within each position group”…a pretty clear hint that the team wanted to avoid any type of QB controversy, no matter how unlikely. The Patriots dealt the 2024 r0okie for a fifth-round selection, leaving Joshua Dobbs as the clear backup to hopeful franchise QB Drake Maye.
Panthers Sign Former College Basketball Player Colin Granger
The Panthers are turning to the hardwood for some help at tight end. The team announced today that they’ve signed former Division I college basketball player Colin Granger as a TE.
Granger spent five seasons playing basketball at Ohio, Western Carolina and Coastal Carolina, where he totaled 414 points and 322 rebounds. As ESPN’s David Newton notes, Granger was eligible to sign with any team since he’s five years removed from high school.
Granger hasn’t played football since the eighth grade, but he has the size to compete at the tight end spot. The rookie is listed at 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, and he’s instantly the tallest player on the Panthers roster. Considering his size, it shouldn’t be a surprise that plenty of teams considered adding Granger as a prospect.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportkeeda.com, there was “legitimate interest in his talents,” and six teams attended Granger’s Pro Day last Friday. In addition to the Panthers (who actually hosted Granger on an official-3o visit), the attendees included the Falcons, Texans, Eagles, Seahawks, and Vikings, per Pauline.
Ultimately, the Panthers’ efforts worked out, and Granger will now join a growing list of former basketball players who are hoping to follow the successful paths laid out by Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Jimmy Graham. As Newton points out, Panthers head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan had success with a previous project when George Fant made the Seahawks as a tackle/tight end. According to Newton, Fant has worked with Granger and informed the Panthers leadership of his ability.
The Panthers have plenty of depth at tight end, but the team will presumably consider all of their options as they look to squeeze any production out of the position. The team’s current grouping includes the likes of Tommy Tremble, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews, James Mitchell, and Dominique Dafney.
Steelers Re-Sign T Calvin Anderson
Calvin Anderson debuted with the Steelers in 2024, and he will remain in the fold moving forward. The veteran offensive tackle re-signed with Pittsburgh on a two-year deal Monday, per a team announcement. 
Anderson began his career with the Broncos, spending three seasons in Denver. During that stretch, he made 41 appearances and 12 starts. The former undrafted free agent was with the Patriots in 2023, though he was limited to just five games played. As a result, it came as little surprise a lengthy wait in free agency ensued last offseason.
Anderson remained on the open market past the start of the 2025 campaign. After the Steelers saw first-round rookie Troy Fautanu go down with a knee injury (one which led to an IR stint and limited him to just one game), though, depth was needed. That led to an Anderson agreement being worked out in September, and the 29-year-old played in four games shortly upon arrival.
Anderson was placed on injured reserve not long after, however, and he remained unavailable for the rest of the regular season. The Rice and Texas product was activated in time for the playoffs, and he played in the Steelers’ wild-card loss. None of his five total appearances included starting duties, but Anderson clearly made a strong enough impression with Pittsburgh’s staff to remain in place for 2025 and ’26.
The offensive tackle position has been a point of emphasis for the Steelers in recent years. The team used a first-round pick on Broderick Jones in 2023, then added Fautanu during Day 1 last spring. Especially with veteran Dan Moore Jr. no longer in the picture (after he took a lucrative Titans deal in free agency), Jones is in position to move from right to left tackle next season. That will leave Fautanu to occupy the RT spot in the starting lineup, but Anderson will be an option to fill in if required.
Roger Goodell: NFL Players Aim To Participate In 2028 Olympics
APRIL 7: Tension appears to exist between the NFL and owners on the matter of Olympic participation, as noted by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Members of the latter group are understandably hesitant about players getting injured in a non-NFL environment and missing offseason time with their respective teams in the process. It will be interesting to see if progress toward an agreement addressing this matter comes about in the near future.
APRIL 6: 2028 will mark the debut of flag football as an Olympic event. The prospect of NFL players taking part has been raised on several occasions, so to no surprise it was a topic of discussion at the recent league meetings. 
When speaking to the media on the subject, commissioner Roger Goodell said he has heard from several players (American and otherwise) expressing a desire to play at the Olympics. Several matters related to insurance and timing will need to be worked out for that to be feasible, since the Games are scheduled for July 14-30. Discussions related to moving training camp and other issues have taken place, and further progress could be coming soon.
“I think that’s something that we’ll continue to discuss with, not just the union, but also the clubs,” Goodell said, via ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “I think both of those [injuries and scheduling] are things that we’ll probably resolve sometime in the next 60 days.”
Clarity for all parties involved would be welcomed as NFL players look ahead to playing on the international stage. It was clear last February a mutual interest existed between the league and the NFLPA for an agreement paving the way for participation to be made possible. Wideouts Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans are among the active players who have publicly stated a desire to take part in the Olympics.
The NFL played a central role in making flag football an Olympic event, and having strong representation from the league could help lead to further interest in the sport on a global level. The NFL’s continued exploration of international venues for regular season contests marks another sign of its willingness to grow football in general and flag in particular. On that note, it was reported around the time of the Super Bowl that work was taking place for the creation of a professional flag football league.
Goodell said at the league meetings (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) bids are coming in with respect to a flag league getting off the ground. On that front as well, Goodell expects progress to be made in the near future. Provided things go according to plan, flag football will – in more than one capacity – remain a key priority for the league now and for several years to come.
Falcons Re-Sign CB Dee Alford
Dee Alford did not receive an RFA tender from the Falcons this offseason. That decision left the former undrafted free agent in line to join a new team, but instead he will remain in Atlanta for 2025. 
[RELATED: Falcons Likely To Prioritize Defensive Draft Additions]
The team announced on Monday that Alford has been re-signed. He has spent the past three years with Atlanta, taking on a larger defensive workload with each passing campaign. In 2024, Alford handled a snap share of 69%, a factor which made it somewhat surprising he was non-tendered. The least expensive RFA tender checked in at $3.26MM this offseason, so this pact will likely carry a price tag lower than that figure.
Alford made five starts in 2023 and another 11 this past campaign, operating almost entirely in the slot during that time. The 27-year-old set a new career high with 11 pass breakups in 2024, and his 83 tackles were by the most in his NFL tenure. Alford surrendered eight touchdowns in coverage as the nearest defender, however, and his PFF evaluation for 2024 was worse than that of the previous two campaigns.
As a result, a first-team spot is not assured entering training camp. Atlanta has 2023 fourth-rounder Clark Phillips in place as a candidate to handle starting duties on the inside. His playing time dropped last season compared to his rookie campaign, but a rebound could take place depending on how the summer unfolds. Alford has previously seen return duties, but aside from that he does not have a track record of special teams experience.
The Falcons already have A.J. Terrell on the books as their top perimeter corner, and they re-signed Mike Hughes on a three-year deal last month. Those two will continue to see time as boundary cover men, while Alford could once again find himself occupying a notable role in the slot.
Browns Conduct Second Abdul Carter Meeting; DE To Wrap Visits With Giants, Pats
APRIL 7: Carter had breakfast with Daboll yesterday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Carter’s Giants visit will take place on Thursday, he adds. With momentum building for Hunter to be taken second overall by the Browns, New York and New England remain teams to watch closely on this front.
MARCH 28: Abdul Carter will not go through an extensive pre-draft tour. The Penn State prospect expects to be drafted in the top four, and he will cut off access beyond those teams.
Already meeting with the Browns, the standout edge rusher circled back with the team holding the No. 2 overall pick by dining with team brass Thursday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. This meeting included owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry. The Browns have been closely linked to Carter at No. 2 overall.
[RELATED: Browns, Titans To Work Out Shedeur Sanders]
Holding the Nos. 3 and 4 picks, the Giants and Patriots also made the cut for Carter meetings, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. The Titans already met with Carter, and unless another team convinces him a meeting is worthwhile, no more are on tap for one of this year’s premier prospects.
The Giants made a move that could impact their No. 3 choice, having signed Russell Wilson shortly after their Jameis Winston deal. Wilson gives the team a starter-caliber passer, albeit one who has declined in recent years, who could give Joe Schoen and Co. cover if they are not sold on Shedeur Sanders — or if the Browns are and select the Colorado prospect second overall. The Giants have been connected to eyeing a QB choice beyond No. 3 overall, and although that would be a risk given Schoen and Brian Daboll‘s tenuous job statuses, Wilson could allow for a best-player-available pick.
Sanders going in the top three would represent excellent news for the Patriots, who would then presumably — assuming all this Titans-Cam Ward smoke produces a pick at No. 1 — have Carter or Travis Hunter still on the board at No. 4. Either would slot in as an instant starter for a team attempting to recover from its worst two-year stretch in decades.
If the Titans are becoming Ward-committed, the Browns become the team that must decide if Sanders is worthy of such a lofty draft investment. The second-generation NFL prospect has seen a gap form between he and Ward, and while a potential fall out of the first round is not viewed a realistic, Carter is viewed as a safer bet. Browns brass already met with Carter this month, doing so as they hosted Ward, Sanders and Hunter on “30” visits. Carter-to-Cleveland as a low-cost Myles Garrett complement has since gained steam.
Carter is coming off a dominant college season, having led Division I-FBS with 24 tackles for loss. Helping Penn State to the CFP semifinals, Carter posted 12 sacks and four pass deflections as well. Carter passed on Combine workouts, not being the only top prospect to do so, after a foot injury (a stress reaction) became known. Carter did not need surgery, but he is passing on working out at the Nittany Lions’ pro day. Friday. The Browns have college scouting director Max Paulus on-hand anyway.
Of the three teams in the Carter mix, the Giants would seem to need him least. While the Browns would benefit from a Garrett sidekick and Patriots from a long-term edge anchor, the Giants traded for Brian Burns two years after drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 5. This organization has a history of strengthening this position when it already appeared fortified — drafting Jason Pierre-Paul in Round 1 despite rostering Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka — but Hunter could be a higher priority if a need tiebreaker emerged. That said, the Giants viewing a gap between Carter and Hunter would make for a fascinating decision should both be on the board.
Buccaneers Targeting CB Draft Addition; Team Open To Adding Rookie Edge Rusher
The Buccaneers were not among the teams which made a major free agent splash at the cornerback spot. That position thus represents one to watch on the draft front. 
“We don’t have a lot of depth,” head coach Todd Bowles said during the league meetings (via NFL.com). “That’s crystal clear — we don’t have a lot of depth. We hope to address that at some point in the draft, as well. We didn’t sign many [corners] in free agency… We’re going to address that in the draft.”
Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum represent the top options on Tampa Bay’s depth chart, although Bowles noted Dean’s injury history is a concern. The 28-year-old has yet to handle a full campaign during his six seasons in Tampa Bay, and he was limited to a career-low 12 games in 2024. A fifth-round pick in 2022, McCollum is entering his walk year as things stand but he is a core member of the team’s secondary after handling over 1,000 defensive snaps last season.
While it would come as no surprise if McCollum were to receive a new deal this offseason as a result, he and Dean (on the books for two more years) will likely soon have company on the depth chart. The Bucs added Kindle Vildor from the Lions in free agency while losing special teamer Tavierre Thomas. Tampa Bay also re-signed Bryce Hall after he was limited to just one game in 2024. Defensive depth (or, potentially, competition for a starting gig) would be welcomed during this month’s draft.
Tampa Bay’s offseason has also included a one-year deal for Haason Reddick. The two-time Pro Bowler’s Jets tenure consisted a lengthy holdout and, ultimately, 10 largely ineffective games to close out the campaign. As one would expect, the Reddick addition will not drastically alter the Buccaneers’ draft strategy. General manager Jason Licht said the team could still select an edge rusher despite Reddick’s presence (video link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times).
Shaquil Barrett intends to play in 2025, and another Tampa stint could give the team a veteran presence on the edge. A rookie could also be in play early in the draft, though, with Bowles’ comments confirming the same is true at the cornerback position. The Buccaneers will have options to consider at both positions with the No. 19 pick.
Omar Khan: Steelers Hopeful T.J. Watt Finishes Career In Pittsburgh
One year remains on T.J. Watt‘s contract, and he could be the next high-profile edge rusher in the NFL to secure a notable payday. An extension is known to be on the Steelers’ to-do list, and further signs are pointing to one being worked out. 
When speaking to the media about Watt’s situation and the shifting financial landscape for edge rushers, general manager Omar Khan replied, “I’ll just say that I’m very hopeful that T.J. will finish his career as a Steeler” (h/t team reporter Dave Lolley). Pittsburgh has seen Maxx Crosby (Raiders) and, shortly thereafter, Myles Garrett (Browns) reset the position’s market this offseason. The latter is now attached to an AAV of $40MM.
Watt’s current deal – his 2021 extension – is worth just over $28MM on average. The former Defensive Player of the Year is in line for a raise based on the continued upward movement of the cap, although it remains to be seen what the terms of a third Steelers contract will look like. Watt has previously indicated his desire to remain in Pittsburgh past the coming campaign, so a mutual interest between team and player should help yield progress at the negotiating table.
Stating an extension for the seven-time Pro Bowler is “just a matter of when and how much,” Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show predicts Watt will agree to a pact in the range of three years and $105MM in new money. He adds it is unlikely an extension will move the 30-year-old back to the top of the position’s pecking order, but a renewed commitment will of course represent a major cap commitment for Pittsburgh. Watt has logged a full season each of the past two years, totaling 30.5 sacks and 10 forced fumbles during that stretch. While age will be a consideration in his case, expectations will be high once a new pact is in hand.
The Steelers already have Alex Highsmith on the books for another three years (although none of his scheduled base salaries over that stretch are guaranteed). The former third-rounder has proven to be an effective complementary option to Watt, recording at least six sacks each year since becoming a full-time starter. Highsmith’s scheduled cap hits range from $18.6MM to $21.1MM, though, so keeping Watt in the fold on a more lucrative deal will bring about financial challenges for Pittsburgh.
Watt is currently scheduled to collect $21.05MM next season with a cap hit of $30.42MM. An extension could lower the latter figure while meeting the team’s goal of keeping him in the fold for the foreseeable future. No timeline is in place for an agreement to be worked out, but doing so before the likes of Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and Aidan Hutchinson have new deals with their respective teams would likely allow for a lower price tag.