Browns Seen As Favorite To Draft Travis Hunter At No. 2?
Provided the Titans select Cam Ward first overall, the Browns will have their choice of the consensus top two prospects in the 2025 draft class. Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter have each received plenty of attention from teams at the top of the board, and it would come as no surprise if one wound up being selected by Cleveland second overall. 
A report from last week stated Carter was in the lead with respect to which way the Browns were leaning. Cleveland has done extensive work on him, of course, but more recently signs have emerged that teams do not feel Carter will be the eventual pick at the No. 2 slot. If that proves to be true, Hunter looms as a logical option.
On that point, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports there is a “growing belief” around the NFL that the Heisman winner is the Browns’ top choice at this point (subscription required). Howe adds Cleveland’s evaluations of Hunter have been strong throughout the pre-draft process. Taking that route would still leave the Browns in need of a quarterback addition, something of note given the team’s homework including Ward (who is seen as out of reach) as well as Shedeur Sanders.
The latter would give Cleveland a potential long-term answer under center, something needed given the extent to which the Deshaun Watson acquisition has not paid off. Questions about Sanders’ NFL ceiling have led to a wide range regarding his draft stock, though, a stark contrast to the cases of both Carter and Hunter. Both of those prospects are seen as locks for the top five, although Hunter’s transition to the NFL will require a decision regarding his position. Cleveland has been linked to using the Fred Biletnikoff winner as a receiver, something which appears to be in line with the current view of other teams as well.
Hunter had previously been seen more as a corner, something which came as little surprise given his success on the defensive side of the ball (culminating in his Chuck Bednarik award win in 2024) and the comparative scarcity of true No. 1 cover men in the NFL. In any case, where Hunter lands will be key in determining his workload early in his career. The Giants (set to draft third overall) and Patriots (fourth) represent suitable and expected destinations in the event the Browns go in another direction.
During Colorado’s Friday pro day, the Browns and Giants had large groups on hand. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes 14 members of New York’s organization were present; in Cleveland’s case, 11 people – including general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski – were in attendance. Plenty of time remains for opinions to be changed in either camp, but Hunter will no doubt remain a key target for both teams leading up to the first round.
Roger Goodell Praises Revamped Playoff Proposal
The NFL began using record-based home-field advantage in the playoffs in 1975, but it took until 1990 for every division winner to receive a guaranteed postseason home game. The Lions have challenged a long-held norm by proposing a change to remove the guarantee of a division champion being assured at least one January home tilt.
No change in the NFL’s playoff structure occurred at the league meetings this week, but the Detroit proposal was not voted down. No vote took place, as the league tabled the measure, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. However, some teams supported it. More notably, Roger Goodell offered some praise to what would be a significant change — one that had already come up before the Lions made an official proposal.
“I thought it is a very healthy proposal and a very healthy point that we need to evaluate and continue to look at,” Goodell said, via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. “It went through many different forms. There was some great data to show that we should really look at some form or version of this. But there was also a really strong point of view that winning the division was the No. 1 thing. When you come into training camp, that’s the goal: win that division first. And should that reward for winning that division be you’re in the playoffs and a home game?”
While competition committee member Mike Tomlin pushed back against stripping division champs of first-round home games, Jones notes the Cowboys were one of the teams that supported a format in which a team’s record — regardless of its divisional finish — dictated the postseason sites. This would have benefited the Vikings last year, as the Lions’ Week 18 win over their division rival pushed 14-3 Minnesota to the No. 5 seed — ahead of an eventual loss to the 10-7 Rams, who rested starters after being assured of a home game by virtue of an NFC West title.
The NFL’s first five post-merger playoff brackets came without records determining home fields, as the sites rotated annually. The 14-0 Dolphins famously had to play the 1972 AFC championship game at Three Rivers Stadium. When the league shifted to record-based home-field determination in 1975, the division winner with the third-best record still had to begin on the road due to only four teams per conference making the playoffs. From 1978-89, each conference’s third-best division champ also began on the road against the No. 2 seed — under a setup featuring one wild-card game and three teams holding first-round byes per conference. The NFL’s move to six-team playoff brackets in 1990 began guaranteeing home games to division champs.
This has produced some interesting matchups, with .500-or-worse teams using the home game to upend better opposition. The 2008 Chargers went from 5-8 to 8-8 and upset the 12-4 Colts in overtime, while Marshawn Lynch‘s “Beastquake” journey powered the 7-9 Seahawks to a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints (11-5) in 2010. A Tim Tebow-to-Demaryius Thomas game-winner propelled the 8-8 Broncos to a 2011 wild-card win over the 12-4 Steelers, while a 7-8-1 Panthers team defeated an 11-5 Cardinals squad — one using a third-string QB — in 2014. Washington (2020) and Tampa Bay (2022) also hosted games as sub-.500 teams. Those instances appear to have come up at the meetings.
“There was some discussion potentially about if you’re .500 or less and you won that division, should you also get the home game? I think there was some interest in that also,” Goodell said. “But I think the reality is it was very healthy and I think there will be more discussion of it.”
As a move to 18 games appears inevitable in the not-too-distant future, the prospect of clubs clinching divisions earlier looms. A balance between guaranteeing a division winner a playoff spot but not a home game could help force teams — particularly those with stronger home-field advantages — to keep pushing for higher seeds. Resting starters in Week 18 has become fairly common since the schedule expanded, and this figures to come up — especially with an 18th game all but certain to be added before the 2020s wrap — when owners revisit this discussion.
While the NFL yanking a home game away from division champs would devalue the accomplishment to a degree, it would seem unlikely the divisions would devolve into the fairly meaningless coalitions the NBA uses. Goodell regularly drives changes, and his not dismissing Detroit’s proposal opens the door to this becoming a serious talking point.
Dolphins LT Terron Armstead To Retire
The Dolphins will indeed be without Terron Armstead for 2025 and beyond. The veteran left tackle is retiring, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
Armstead’s playing future has been in question this offseason, with many indications pointing to him hanging up his cleats. Miami entered free agency with the presumption that would be the case, and today’s update confirms the team will need to make other plans on the blindside. Armstead’s NFL career will end after 12 seasons.
The most recent comments on the subject from Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel noted the Dolphins were unaware of Armstead’s intentions. This development will not come as a surprise, though, and with plenty of time remaining before the draft Miami will be able to look even more closely into left tackle prospects. Whichever option – in-house or otherwise – takes on a starting gig, replacing Armstead will prove to be a challenge.
The 33-year-old managed to play 15 games in 2024, but as usual he dealt with a number of ailments along the way. Injuries were a constant issue for Armstead, whose three-year Dolphins tenure was preceded by a strong run with the Saints. When at (or even near) full strength, he was among the top left tackles in the league, as illustrated by his five Pro Bowl nods. Rather than trying to manage nagging ailments once again in 2025, though, Armstead will turn his attention to his post-playing days.
One non-void year remains on the former third-rounder’s contract, one which included a pay cut last offseason. Armstead was reported in February to be prepared to once again reduce his base pay, a helpful move given the Dolphins’ cap constraints. None of his base salary (set to check in at the veteran minimum) was locked in as of the 2024 restructure.
In spite of that, Armstead’s pro career proved to be quite lucrative. Starting all but four games (during his rookie year) across his Saints tenure, the Arkansas Pine-Bluff product secured $13MM per season on a five-year New Orleans extension in 2016. While playing out that deal, Armstead remained a consistent performer in terms of PFF evaluation, earning a stellar 90.4 grade in 2018. At no point was he able to log a full season, however, something which informed his free agent departure.
Miami added Armstead on a five-year, $75MM pact in 2022. Expectations were high as a result, and he delivered strong performances when on the field; this past campaign, Armstead registered the fourth-highest PFF grade amongst offensive tackles. Miami will be hard-pressed to enjoy that level of play with a replacement (likely Patrick Paul) next year, but a run of durability will nevertheless be welcomed.
Selected in the second round of last year’s draft, Paul made three starts and logged a 30% snap share. The Houston product could be in line for a much heavier workload in 2025, although Miami could look to this month’s draft to add a starting-caliber option early on. By this point in free agency, few veterans capable of stepping into a first-team role remain on the market.
Overall, Armstead will hang up his cleats after playing 146 combined regular and postseason games. He accumulated roughly $115MM in career earnings.
Cowboys Aiming For WR Addition
In 2025, CeeDee Lamb will of course operate as the focal point of the Cowboys’ passing attack. The team is lacking in depth beyond him at the receiver position as things stand, so to no surprise an addition is being sought out. 
“We’re still open to looking at a really explosive number two that could upgrade us,” Stephen Jones told the media at the league meetings (via the team’s website). “But as I said, I like our room and certainly like the players we currently have.”
Dallas re-signed returner KaVontae Turpin to a three-year, $13.5MM deal this offseason. He has seen his offensive usage increase each year to date, and a continuation of that trend could result in a rotational role in the passing game. The Cowboys’ lone outside WR addition so far is Parris Campbell, who should not be considered a roster lock based on his play with the Colts and Eagles.
Even if Turpin and Campbell wind up carving out a role, though, Dallas could stand to add at the position. Veteran Brandin Cooks departed by returning to the Saints, leaving a vacancy after he spent two years as a veteran No. 2 option. The Cowboys could turn to free agency for an experienced pass-catcher; ex-Dallas wideout Amari Cooper, along with the likes of Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd and Elijah Moore remain unsigned.
Jones recently said the Cowboys were not finished in free agency, even though many teams often wait until after the draft to make moves on the open market at this point of the offseason. Efforts to make a short-term acquisition could very well include adding at the WR spot. Dallas currently has roughly $36.66MM in cap space, although internal moves like extensions for Micah Parsons and several others need to be accounted for as well.
“Yes. We could,” Jerry Jones confirmed (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) when asked if the Cowboys could make an addition prior to the draft. “We certainly don’t know that because to do either or, that I’m anticipating, involves other teams. But I would suspect we may do something.”
Indeed, a trade – like the one which brought in Jonathan Mingo from the Panthers in 2024 – could be explored to make a move or two at any number of positions. Receiver in particular looms as one to watch for as the offseason unfolds.
Panthers Planning S Addition
The Panthers made a number of lucrative additions on the defensive side of the ball early in free agency. That effort included a three-year deal for Tre’von Moehrig, but more can be expected at the safety position. 
Moehrig enjoyed a strong walk year in 2024, his fourth and final campaign with the Raiders. The 25-year-old posted 104 tackles, adding a pair of interceptions, 10 pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. Moehrig has established himself as a notable contributor near the line of scrimmage in particular, and a workload along those lines in Carolina would not come as a surprise.
The Panthers’ depth chart also includes veteran Nick Scott and 2024 UDFA Demani Richardson. Bringing in one or more contributors through free agency or the draft could bring about competition for a starting gig or depth in the secondary. Especially after losing Xavier Woods on the open market, adding a deep safety to complement Moehrig’s skillset would be a feasible approach.
“We’ll see what happens there,” general manager Dan Morgan said when speaking about the safety position (via the team’s website). “The numbers aren’t where they need to be there, but we’ll get there, and, you know, we just gotta stay patient, stay with the plan, and let it happen. But in terms of a ball hawk on the backside, yeah, we’re going to look for somebody, we’re going to look for players to take the ball away. Who that is, I don’t know, but we’re actively pursuing and we’ll be aggressive when the time comes.”
Carolina recently hosted free agent Julian Blackmon on a visit, and Morgan noted the same is true of Marcus Williams. Blackmon remained a Colts starter while playing on a one-year deal in 2024, while Williams was benched midway through the season before expectedly being released by the Ravens. A deal with one of those – or another experienced option like Justin Simmons – would add a starting-caliber option to the mix.
The Panthers are one of many teams which have conducted a pre-draft visit with Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina product is seen as one of the two first-round safety prospects in this year’s class (Georgia’s Malaki Starks being the other), although taking him eighth overall would be seen by many as a reach. In any case, the Panthers are worth watching with respect to adding further at the safety spot before the season begins.
Bears Eyeing CB Kyler Gordon Extension
Kyler Gordon is among the extension candidates on Chicago’s roster, and a new deal was floated as a likely objective for the team earlier this offseason. The latest comments on that front from general manager Ryan Poles confirm that is the case. 
“That will still be a priority,” Poles said of a Gordon extension (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “For me, in our exit meetings at the end of last season, I told all the guys in terms of future, if it was contracts, coming back… the important thing is I’ve got to get with our new coaching staff and kind of see how the different players fit based on the scheme. We’ve been able to have those conversations and I know Kyler is a guy that we want to be a part of this moving forward.
“So the timing of that, I’m not sure how that all is going work out, but that is a priority.”
A second-round pick in 2022, Gordon has established himself as a core member of Chicago’s secondary. He has made 34 starts to date, and another campaign of primarily operating in the slot can be expected for 2025. The 25-year-old could command a lucrative deal on the open market next offseason if he gets the opportunity, especially if he builds off his five career interceptions and 17 pass breakups.
Given Poles’ remarks, though, it is clear avoiding such as scenario is a goal for the Bears. Chicago made a major investment in fellow corner Jaylon Johnson last offseason, inking him to a four-year, $76MM extension after using the franchise tag. Adding considerably to the resources devoted to the secondary with a second Gordon contract would lead to challenges at other positions, of course, but especially with quarterback Caleb Williams on his rookie deal doing so would be feasible.
Tyrique Stevenson has started all but two games to date in his career, and he could again find himself as a first-team option next season. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes, though, Terell Smith could compete for that role this summer. Regardless of how that shakes out, adding further options at the position could be a goal during the draft, Biggs adds. Any moves for slot corners would be viewed as a depth addition, given Gordon’s presence on a defense which will be led by Dennis Allen moving forward.
The Washington product is slated to earn $1.89MM in 2025 as things stand. That figure could rise considerably in the form of a signing bonus should a long-term pact be worked out, something to watch for as the offseason unfolds.
Titans Cancel Travis Hunter Workout
It was learned earlier today the Titans will not conduct a private workout with quarterback Shedeur Sanders. One had been on the books, with the same being true of his Colorado teammate Travis Hunter. 
Now, though, Tennessee will also pass on a Hunter workout. The Ringer’s Todd McShay notes no workout with the Heisman winner will take place. That represents another sign Miami quarterback Cam Ward will hear his name called first overall when the draft kicks off later this month. In addition, it obviously brings about further intrigue about where Hunter will wind up.
The Titans had already narrowed down their list of options for the top pick to the prospects frequently linked to the top of the board. Ward, Hunter, Sanders and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter were recently named by head coach Brian Callahan as those receiving consideration. One or more members of the Colorado pair could still be in play, of course, and the same applies to Carter. Barring a trade down – something which some in the building support – though, Ward can be expected to operate as Tennessee’s next starting signal-caller.
As for Hunter, McShay echoes previous reporting which points to the Browns leaning in that direction. Cleveland owns the second overall pick, and taking Hunter would likely allow the team to make a notable addition at the receiver position. The Browns are believed to see the two-way standout primarily as an offensive player, and in general the sentiment around the league seems to have shifted that way (after previously being pointed toward Hunter playing mainly as a cornerback).
The Browns entered the offseason in need of a starting quarterback with Deshaun Watson likely to miss a portion of the 2025 season (if not the entire campaign). The team swung a deal for former first-rounder Kenny Pickett, but more additions could be coming. Cleveland has frequently been linked to a Kirk Cousins acquisition. It remains to be seen if the Falcons will be prepared to trade him, however, and if a team will be willing to absorb most of his scheduled 2025 compensation in the process.
Selecting Hunter could ultimately result in Pickett – whose brief run as the Steelers’ starter did not go as planned – handling QB1 duties in Cleveland, or the team could add a rookie later in the draft. Either way, the Browns are the team worth watching the closest with respect to his stock at this point as the Titans further signal their intentions at the top of the board.
Serious Discussions On 18-Game Schedule Yet To Begin; 2027 Implementation Possible
In the lead-in to the recent league meetings, it was reported talks on expanding the NFL schedule to 18 regular season games would likely be a topic of serious discussion. That did not prove to be the case, but the universal expectation remains that adding one regular season contest is a goal the league will accomplish soon. 
“I would say that there’s a lot of talk about it,” Cowboys owner (and strong proponent of an 18-game slate) Jerry Jones said (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “But certainly it’s in the future…. But it wasn’t really a main topic [at this year’s league meetings].”
The league is expected to ramp up efforts on working out an arrangement to implement an 18-game schedule this offseason. Any agreement on that front needs to be collectively bargained, and the current CBA runs through the 2030 campaign. A deal could be reached well before that point, though, and it would come as no surprise if negotiations with the NFLPA picked up with a more firm target in place.
On that point, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the 2027 season is viewed as the earliest point at which an 18-game schedule could be instituted. That falls in line with previous indications regarding schedule expansion, as well as the views of many other observers. The date for each of the next two Super Bowls is already locked in, but that is not the case for the one which will conclude the 2027 season. Finalizing the details for Super Bowl LXII could very well wait until a new scheduling agreement is in place. The timing of new media rights agreements (which could be re-negotiated after the 2029 campaign) also looms as a factor in this situation.
The possibility of removing one exhibition contest and adding a second bye week to the season has been raised as part of the discussion on scheduling changes. Doing each of those – along with starting the year on Labor Day weekend – would line up the Super Bowl on Presidents Day, something commissioner Roger Goodell has spoken in favor of. In addition to adding a bye week (something viewed as “non-negotiable” from its perspective), the union has been linked to seeking concessions on issues like compensation, travel and roster size to get finalize an agreement.
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell initially struck a tone suggesting he would be open to discussing an expanded schedule, although more recently he has publicly confirmed there is no appetite for the move amongst players. In spite of that, Jones’ report (which notes no formal presentation was made to owners about a revised schedule) states the matter of 18 games was treated as “a fait accompli” at the league meetings. Alterations to the offseason setup, including a shortened or removed voluntary workout program and a longer training camp period, could accompany a new schedule format.
Jones adds that tanking remains a potential concern for the NFL. Lengthening the season would open the door to additional games amongst teams eyeing the coming draft more than a competitive end to the campaign. That factor has informed matters like the hesitation to move back the trade deadline, one of many matters which could be subject to change in the event an 18-game schedule were to come into existence. While nothing is imminent on that front, 2027 represents a logical timeframe for all parties involved to keep in mind.
Bengals Approaching Deadline On Stadium Lease Agreement
Negotiations are ongoing between the Bengals and Hamilton County over the future of Paycor Stadium. A June 30 deadline looms which will play a key role in deciding how the franchise proceeds with respect to its location. 
The Bengals will have to choose by that date on exercising an option to maintain the current lease with Paycor Stadium and thus remain in the downtown Cincinnati area. Doing so would represent the first of five two-year rolling extensions of the current agreement. Talks on an deal for stadium renovations have not yielded much in the way of recent progress, however.
“We wish there was a little more urgency and it was moving faster,” EVP Katie Blackburn said at the annual league meetings, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required). “I do believe that the county would like to get something done. We just seem to be very slow in making it happen.”
Finances are among the issues yet to be worked out in this case. A $1.3 billion renovation project was proposed in September, but no arrangement has been made with respect to how it would be funded. Use of state money could be an option, although nothing has been decided in that respect yet. A consultant was recently hired by the county to help bridge the gap between the parties; unless significant progress can be made in the coming weeks, though, the situation could notably change.
In the event the Bengals do not pick up the option by the looming deadline, the team’s lease will expire on June 30, 2026. If that were to be the case, the door would be open to the team exploring other locations for the future. Such a scenario would be unlikely, but discussions on that front will no doubt increase unless an agreement can be reached shortly.
“We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year if we didn’t pick the option up,” Blackburn added. “We’ll see… We are having discussions, and so we’re hopeful that the county is thinking about it a lot, too, and wants to get it addressed in a way that would be beneficial to both of us.”
Blackburn noted the Bengals’ affinity for remaining in place as negotiations continue. Depending on how they proceed, the possibility of a change in location could become a key talking point for the franchise this offseason.
Shedeur Sanders To Work Out With Browns; Titans Visit Canceled
APRIL 5: In the wake of Colorado’s pro day, Titans officials met with Sanders and his camp. A decision was made to cancel his Tennessee workout, as noted by team reporter Jim Wyatt. Ward remains the favorite to go No. 1 in the draft, and this development certainly represents another indication that will be the case.
MARCH 27: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will privately work out for the Titans and the Browns, who hold the first and second overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The workouts are scheduled for the days following Colorado’s April 4 pro day, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Sanders has already spent time with both teams; he interviewed with the Titans at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January and went to Cleveland on a top-30 visit at the beginning of March.
At the moment, Sanders is not the expected pick for either team. The Titans are working out Miami quarterback Cam Ward for a second time on Friday, and the Browns are “leaning towards” Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 2.
But with the draft still a month away, nothing is set in stone. Last month, the Titans were expected to trade the first pick and the Browns were trying to fend off Myles Garrett trade suitors. Now, Tennessee appears to view Ward as its quarterback of the future, and Cleveland signed Garrett to a massive extension.
Garrett’s trade request partially stemmed from the Browns’ lack of direction at quarterback. While his $40MM APY seems like enough motivation on its own, he insisted the extension wasn’t only about money. Garrett also said on a podcast (via the Browns’ social media) that he has an idea of who the Browns will start at quarterback in 2025 and likes it enough to stay in Cleveland.
However, the Browns’ only quarterback addition this offseason was Kenny Pickett. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was sent to the Eagles as part of the deal to acquire Pickett, and both Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe signed with other teams in free agency. The Browns also missed out on Russell Wilson, leaving 2024 backups like Joe Flacco and Carson Wentz as Cleveland’s remaining options.
That quarterback room doesn’t inspire much confidence, indicating the Browns still have another plan to address the position. That could involve drafting Sanders (or another rookie QB), or a post-draft trade for Kirk Cousins.