Draft Rumors: Dolphins, Johnson, Harmon
The Dolphins are reportedly doing some homework on high-ranked tight end prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. Though, at No. 13 overall, Miami may be out of range of top tight end prospect Tyler Warren of Penn State, the team took a look at two options that could be around for their second-round pick.
According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, LSU’s Mason Taylor was onsite yesterday. Taylor is the son of Dolphins legend Jason Taylor. The younger Taylor is projected to be a fringe first-round prospect, but with tight ends, the ranges can certainly be wider. Taylor did a top-30 visit with the Browns on Monday and has also visited the Seahawks and Chargers.
Earlier this week, the Dolphins also hosted local tight prospect Elijah Arroyo out of Miami (FL), per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Arroyo had a breakout season for the Hurricanes this year and caught lots of attention at the Senior Bowl. After visiting Miami on Monday, Arroyo met with the Browns on Tuesday and Giants on Wednesday. Mike Cugno of CBS Sports adds that teammates Xavier Restrepo and Arroyo have both spent plenty of time around the Dolphins facility in the last couple of days.
Miami saw veteran Jonnu Smith rival Tyreek Hill in the receiving game for the Dolphins last year, but Smith’s contract expires after this season, so Taylor or Arroyo may be viewed as strong TE2 options or potential tight ends of the future.
Here are a few other draft visits we’ve seen reported in recent days:
- All-American running back Kaleb Johnson has been making the rounds lately. After visiting the Steelers last weekend, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that Johnson has visited the Titans, Broncos, Texans, and Bengals. Johnson is widely considered the third-best running back prospect in the class behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. Based on interest from the Titans, Johnson could go anywhere from the early-second to early-third round.
- Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon visited the Jets yesterday. He hasn’t often been mocked in range of the Jets‘ No. 7 overall pick so far, but he could certainly be a candidate to find New York early in the second round or perhaps in the late-first, should the Jets opt to trade back up. Garafolo notes that Harmon has also visited the Browns and Steelers this week.
AFC North Draft Rumors: Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens
Recently, we saw the Browns host a few probable Day 2 quarterback prospects, and it made us think that Cleveland is less likely to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and more likely to take his teammate Travis Hunter or Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter then pick a quarterback at the top of the second round. During an interview on ESPN’s The Daily Grossi, Tony Grossi seemed to support this notion.
Grossi seemed to confirm that the Browns like Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe “a lot” and that they could easily select him near the second round after addressing another position at No. 2 overall. I say “near the second round” because it’s likely that Cleveland could trade up a short distance back into the first round to secure a fifth-round option for a young passer.
This fits well with Milroe’s projected draft range, which Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports puts anywhere from pick No. 20 overall to pick No. 50. Cleveland holds the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall).
Here are a few other draft rumors coming out of the AFC North division:
- After spending most of their offseason so far (and a huge portion of their salary cap) on the wide receiver position, the Bengals are expected to use most of their six draft picks on defense, according to Jordan Reid of ESPN. With the team so far failing to reach a new agreement with defensive end Trey Hendrickson and potentially even including him in a Draft Day trade deal, defensive end could be an obvious target in the first round. Tony Pauline of sportskeeda predicts that if Cincinatti does go pass rusher, assuming Carter and Georgia’s Mykel Williams are already off the table, it could trigger a run of pass rushers instead of allowing them to continue to slide later and later into the first round.
- While the Steelers are expected to spend one of their two picks in the first three rounds of the draft on a quarterback, Reid claims that they could use the other on a defensive tackle or wide receiver. The team has done plenty of research on both positions, notably checking out defensive tackles Joshua Farmer from Florida State and JJ Pegues from Ole Miss and wide receivers Matthew Golden from Texas and Savion Williams from TCU.
- Lastly, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley predicts that the most likely first-round scenario sees the Ravens bolstering their defensive line. Kyle Van Noy returns after giving the team 21.5 sacks in the last two years, and Odafe Oweh finally broke out with a 10.0-sack performance in 2024, but David Ojabo and Adisa Isaac — both drafted in the top three rounds of their respective drafts — have yet to make an impact. With Michael Pierce retiring and Travis Jones entering a contract year, defensive tackle could make a lot of sense. The first round is extremely deep at the position with players like Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Ole Miss’s Walter Nolen, and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams all projected to be selected somewhere around Baltimore’s 27th overall pick. More likely, though, the Ravens tend to let the draft fall to them and select the best player available regardless of position. With few true holes on the roster, this should give them a bevy of options.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Extension Could Be More Expensive Than Anticipated?
T.J. Watt is one of several edge rushers still in line for a new contract this offseason. The position’s market has jumped thanks to Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett working out raises with their respective teams, and that could push the value Watt’s next Steelers pact upward. 
One season remains on the former Defensive Player of the Year’s deal, one which carries a 2025 cap charge of $31.42MM. That figure could be lowered with an extension, although a third Pittsburgh contract will require a raise in annual average value. Watt’s existing pact is worth an average of just over $28MM per season, whereas Garrett’s has an AAV of $40MM.
Resetting the market once again may not be necessary, but a sign indicating talks have not gone well to date emerged on Wednesday. An Instagram post from Watt which shows him holding up the peace sign while walking off the field has led to speculation about his desire to remain in Pittsburgh moving forward. Such developments rarely prove to be particularly relevant during contract talks, but Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes this situation remains worth watching closely.
Watt, 30, has expressed a desire to remain with the Steelers, and general manager Omar Khan recently confirmed the team’s goal of ensuring he finishes his career in Pittsburgh. Kaboly predicts this situation will still likely end with an extension agreement, although he adds the price of doing so may prove to be higher than initially thought. The Steelers already have high price tags (with respect to cap charges) to deal with in the form of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward and Patrick Queen.
Adding further to the team’s commitments on defense could prove to be challenging, but as a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL sack leader Watt certainly has a case to receive another major pay day. Alex Highsmith is on the books as a strong complementary option along the edge, though Watt would of course be expected to remain a foundational presence on defense if he were to remain in the fold for 2025 and beyond.
The likes of Micah Parsons, Trey Hendrickson and Aidan Hutchinson could all have lucrative new deals in place soon. If the bar moves any higher in terms of EDGE compensation, Watt’s earning potential could increase even further. Whether or not his next contract will come from the Steelers will remain a talking point until and unless an agreement can be reached, though.
Steelers Host Derrick Harmon, Omarion Hampton On Top-30 Visits
The Steelers are continuing to assess options for their 2025 draft class by hosting Oregon defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton on top-30 visits, per Ray Fittpaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Both Harmon and Hampton are projected to go in the first round of April’s draft in which the Steelers hold the 21st overall pick. Either player could contribute in Pittsburgh right away with the team needing to add long-term contributors at both positions.
The Steelers released Larry Ogunjobi in March, leaving behind a defensive line that only has one player – 2024 sixth-rounder Logan Lee – signed past the 2026 season. Keeanu Benton could be re-signed as a long-term starter, but Cameron Heyward will be 37 when his contract expires. DeMarvin Leal, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams are all entering contract years, further heightening the need to add in the trenches.
Harmon, the 21st-ranked prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s big board, could fit the bill. He is a three-year starter who posted career-highs of 5.0 sacks and 11 tackles for loss during his senior year at Oregon after spending his first three college seasons at Michigan State. He has the football I.Q. and competitiveness that defensive line coaches will covet, though he does not profile as an elite athlete compared to the rest of the draft class.
The Steelers will also need to add to their backfield after letting Najee Harris walk in free agency. Pittsburgh retained restricted free agent Jaylen Warren and signed Kenneth Gainwell, but Hampton offers a higher-long term ceiling with his size, athleticism, and three-down ability. He is Jeremiah’s 13th-ranked prospect after two outstanding seasons for the Tar Heels and an excellent showing at the NFL Combine.
Browns Host Several QB Prospects; Raiders To Meet With Jaxson Dart
Tuesday was a busy day in Cleveland, where the Browns hosted a number of quarterback prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. According to a few different sources, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Louisville’s Tyler Shough all were on site for visits in Cleveland today. 
Don’t be mistaken, despite recent buzz for Dart and Milroe as potential first-rounders, neither player is likely being considered a target at No. 2 overall. More likely, the Browns are exploring the possibility of utilizing their current first-round pick on one of either Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado athlete Travis Hunter then either taking a quarterback at the top of the second round or trading back into the first round for one.
Dart seems like the least likely to land in Cleveland. In order to draft Dart, it’s starting to look like the Browns would need to trade well into the first round. Dart has been noted as a player under consideration as the Saints (No. 9 overall pick) explore their options for a quarterback of the future. If Dart gets passed over in favor of a sliding Shedeur Sanders or some other prospect, the Steelers could move on the Ole Miss product to take over after Aaron Rodgers (or if Rodgers never signs). After visiting with the Browns today, Dart will visit next with the Raiders, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He’s also spent “considerable time” with the Giants and Rams.
If Dart does go to New Orleans or some other team early, the Steelers have also been linked to Milroe. Pittsburgh really likes Milroe due to his elite athleticism. The Alabama product has plenty of shortcomings as a quarterback prospect, but many believe that, if they can coach up some of those areas of concern, his athleticism will be too big of an asset to pass up. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Milroe had private workouts with both Cleveland and New Orleans that were described as “impressive.” Today’s top-30 visit with the Browns was reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cabot also reported Shough’s participation.
Shough has not really been the subject of many rumblings about the first round, but as a quarterback, he may just sneak in. Should Cam Ward, Sanders, Dart, and Milroe all come off the board after Pittsburgh is done selecting at No. 21 overall, the Browns may find it safe to trade up a pick or two into the first round to take Shough.
While it would be a safe bet that Shough could fall to them at the top of the second round, moving up slightly likely wouldn’t cost Cleveland too much draft capital. Also, trading into the first round for any of the above prospects would provide Cleveland the luxury of a fifth-year option, giving them more time to develop whatever young passer they may acquire.
Shedeur Sanders To Visit Steelers
The Steelers are hosting Colorado quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders on a top-30 visit, another indication that the team is considering using a first-round pick on a quarterback in April’s draft.
Sanders will visit Pittsburgh on Thursday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Steelers currently hold the 21st overall pick, which is considered the floor for Sanders’ draft spot. They have also been linked with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who was invited to attend the first night of the draft in person, indicating that the league believes he will be a first-round pick.
The Steelers’ quarterback room currently consists of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, who were both acquired this offseason. Mike Tomlin has said he is comfortable entering the 2025 season with Rudolph as the team’s starter, though he doesn’t profile as a long-term franchise quarterback. Pittsburgh has been looking for such a player since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger in 2022.
Sanders could fit the bill. He is widely thought to be the second-best quarterback in his draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward, who is expected to be drafted by the Titans with the No. 1 pick. However, Sanders could be taken in the first five picks after being frequently linked with the Browns and the Giants, so the Steelers may have to trade up if they want to bring him to Pittsburgh.
Teams also use top-30 visit to scout players they expect to face in the NFL. If the Browns take Sanders, the Steelers will have to play him twice a year for the foreseeable future, so their coaching staff will want as much information about his playing style and tendencies as possible.
Steelers Remain Optimistic About Aaron Rodgers Deal; Latest On Vikings’ Interest
During the recent league meetings, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed signs continue to point to Aaron Rodgers signing with the team. The future Hall of Fame quarterback has yet to make a decision on his future, but Pittsburgh continues to loom as his likeliest destination. 
[RELATED: Titans Did Not Pursue Rodgers]
The Giants are out of the running having signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston; the former operated as Pittsburgh’s starter for much of last season. Backup Justin Fields was known to be a priority for the Steelers, but early in free agency he took a two-year pact with the Jets. That led to a pivot on Pittsburgh’s part, and the team’s reunion with Mason Rudolph has him atop the QB depth chart for the time being.
The Steelers made an offer early in free agency, and with a clear lack of other suitors in play it has not yet been increased. Pittsburgh is prepared to wait for a unknown period of time, but the draft looms as a logical deadline for an agreement to be reached. As the NFL world continues to wait on this front, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Steelers are still “optimistic” about a Rodgers signing taking place (h/t Bleacher Report). He adds, though, that no movement has taken place since Rooney’s remarks pointed to a contract being on the horizon.
Retirement looms as a possibility for Rodgers, although the 41-year-old preferred to remain with the Jets for at least the 2025 campaign. Hanging up his cleats was mentioned as an option for the four-time MVP at the time the Vikings were a possible landing spot, something which technically remains the case at this point. Even though Rodgers made it known to the team Minnesota was his preferred destination, Fowler confirms the Vikings are out of the running unless the parties circle back to one another in the summer.
It was learned last week Rodgers reached out to Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell to relay his interest in playing for Minnesota. Several conversations took between the two, and Fowler’s colleague Kevin Seifert notes a number of players – including projected 2025 starter J.J. McCarthy – were made aware of those talks. O’Connell also spoke with the likes of wideout Justin Jefferson and right tackle Brian O’Neill about the prospect of signing Rodgers. Such a move had support from some in the organization, but it would now come as a surprise if it were to take place.
On the topic of retirement, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports it should be considered unlikely at this point (video link). He confirms no progress toward a Rodgers-Steelers agreement appears to have been made over the coming days, although Rodgers’ recent throwing session with trade acquisition D.K. Metcalf has continued to fuel the belief one will come into play at some point this offseason. If that proves to be the case, Pittsburgh’s short-term setup at the QB spot will be secure, while the Vikings will continue to be in the market for a veteran insurance option.
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.
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.
2025 NFL Draft Visits: Schwesinger, Cowboys, Nolen, Ezeiruaku, Burden, Turner, Bond, Steelers, Emmanwori
This isn’t exactly a visit in the sense of top-30 visits, like most of the rest of bullets that follow this will be, but UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger held a private pro day earlier this week in Los Angeles and had 30 teams in attendance, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While, obviously, not a comprehensive list, Schefter specifically mentions the Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Chargers, and Broncos, and notes that the linebackers coaches from Dallas, New York, and New Orleans all met privately with Schwesinger.
Schwesinger is not currently the top-ranked linebacker prospect in most analysts’ eyes, but he often slides in as the second-best off-ball linebacker in the class behind Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell — third if you count Georgia defender Jalon Walker, who has the ability to play every linebacker spot at the next level. Some thought Schwesinger may sneak into the back end of the first round at the end of the month, but more likely is that he hears his name on Day 2. Per Tony Pauline of sportskeeda, it would be surprising to see him fall past the first half of the second round.
Here are some more prospect-NFL team connections we’ve seen recent reports on:
- The Cowboys have certainly been very busy in the runup to the 2025 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team held their invite-only “Dallas Day,” hosting draft prospects without the visits counting towards their top-30 visits. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton met with the team at “Dallas Day.” The well-balanced rusher continues to skyrocket up draft boards, is likely to join Ashton Jeanty in the first round, and has several other visits lined up.
- Jeanty was also in attendance on Friday, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. We had relayed that Jeanty would be taking a top-30 visit with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear whether this is what was meant in that original report. Also in attendance for “Dallas Day” were Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon, TCU wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech, Texas quarterback and offensive lineman Quinn Ewers and Cameron Williams, and Miami tight end and running back Elijah Arroyo and Damien Martinez.
- Also in attendance at “Dallas Day” was Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Nolen will follow up his Dallas visit with a visit with the Panthers on Monday and a visit with the Bengals some other time this week.
- Joining Nolen in Carolina on Monday will be Boston College pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, per Joe Person of The Athletic. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has been a hot topic with multiple scouts of late, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid. He’s currently viewed as an early-Day 2 prospect, and his stock continues to rise.
- Speaking of another “Dallas Day” athlete, Wilson of KPRC 2 provided an updated list of teams that Turner, from Texas A&M, is set to visit with. We already noted his recent visit in New Orleans, but Wilson tells us that Turner has also visited the Texans and plans to visit the Ravens, Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Colts, Buccaneers, and Cardinals.
- According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos hosted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden for a top-30 visit last week. The talented wideout fell off in 2024 after an incredible sophomore campaign with the Tigers, but his high ceiling makes him a borderline first-round prospect. Denver would love to bring in another talented weapon for young quarterback Bo Nix.
- We already reported recent visits for Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond in Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, and Los Angeles, but we now have a couple sources adding some new locations for the Longhorn. Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Bond had dinner with the Bills before a private workout Friday and a top-30 visit as well as visits with the Browns and Packers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that Bond has visits scheduled with the Chiefs and Titans, as well.
- Brooke Pryor of ESPN tells us that the Steelers hosted a full house on Thursday. Prospects on hand last week included Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, and Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
- Lastly, Pryor adds that Pittsburgh was one of the recent teams to host South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. The pre-draft standout had reportedly lined up visits with Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami already. The Steelers’ interest in the Gamecock is no surprise as he’s trending towards being a Day 1 selection at this point.