Minor NFL Transactions: 10/24/25
Here are today’s minor moves as we head into the eighth weekend of the regular season:
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- Waived: RB Velus Jones
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Kobe King
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Eric Saubert
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: WR Mason Kinsey
Mitchell-Paden, an undrafted free agent back in 2022, saw the first regular season snaps of his NFL career earlier this year as the Ravens dealt with the absence of a then-injured Isaiah Likely. Mitchell-Paden was waived yesterday in order to make room for practice squad quarterback Tyler Huntley, and New Orleans took the initiative to bring him on, cutting Jones, who had been promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday, to make room on the 53-man roster.
King was waived so that Minnesota could make room for running back Aaron Jones to come off of injured reserve, and Kinsey is getting promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster in Tennessee after appearing as an elevation is last week’s game. Saubert’s brief stint on the free agent market appears to have had some procedural purpose. Seattle released the veteran on Wednesday, and no other roster spot juggling was done before the team signed him back today.
Vikings Activate RB Aaron Jones From IR
The Vikings are now halfway through their injury activations for the regular season. The fourth is being used on a quick activation. Aaron Jones is back on Minnesota’s active roster two days after being designated for return.
This certainly reveals the team’s confidence in its highest-paid running back, who will come off IR in time for tonight’s Vikings-Chargers matchup. The Vikings waived linebacker Kobe King to clear roster space. They are also making guard Henry Byrd a gameday elevation.
Minnesota used two of its injury activations this summer, taking advantage of the NFL’s 2024 rule change that allows for up to two IR-return slots to be used to preserve roster spots on cutdown day. Those went to fullback C.J. Ham and linebacker Tyler Batty. The team also activated linebacker Blake Cashman off IR. Jones, though, profiles as the most significant of Minnesota’s early-season IR-return moves.
Thursday’s move marks the second time Jones, who is coming off a hamstring injury sustained in Week 2, has been activated from IR. The Packers did so in 2023 and proceeded to watch him finish the season with five straight 100-yard rushing efforts. Jones is now 30, and trade pickup Jordan Mason has been the Vikings’ lead back this season. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota reintegrates Jones, who delivered a strong season in his Twin Cities debut.
On a one-year, $7MM deal in 2024, Jones posted a career-high 1,138 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground. The Vikings gave him a two-year, $20MM contract to re-sign, though they traded for Mason days later. Mason has played well in Jones’ absence, totaling 380 yards (4.5 per tote) and four rushing TDs. The duo will work in tandem again beginning tonight in Los Angeles, which will feature another Carson Wentz start. The team has still deemed J.J. McCarthy unready to return from a Week 2 high ankle sprain.
Only a one-time Pro Bowler despite having four 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and remaining a productive starting back into his early 30s, Jones has a chance to reestablish the momentum he did in Year 1 with Kevin O’Connell. A strong second half would give the ninth-year veteran a chance to stick in Minnesota for a third year.
The Vikings will see $2MM of Jones’ $9MM 2026 base salary become guaranteed on Day 3 of the ’26 league year. Jones may not be able to afford another injury absence, as that $9MM number — coupled with Mason’s more affordable deal and far lower mileage — makes the vet a cut candidate. For now, Jones will attempt to play a key role in the Vikings booking their third O’Connell-era playoff berth.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/25
We saw a busy day of 2025 NFL Draft pick signings today. Here are the mid- to late-round picks who inked their four-year rookie deals:
Arizona Cardinals
- OLB Jordan Burch (third round, Oregon)
- CB Denzel Burke (fifth round, Ohio State)
- G Hayden Conner (sixth round, Texas)
- S Kitan Crawford (seventh round, Nevada)
Buffalo Bills
- DE Landon Jackson (third round, Arkansas)
- CB Jordan Hancock (fifth round, Ohio State)
- TE Jackson Hawes (fifth round, Georgia Tech)
- CB Dorian Strong (sixth round, Virginia Tech)
- T Chase Lundt (sixth round, Connecticut)
- WR Kaden Prather (seventh round, Maryland)
Cincinnati Bengals
- G Dylan Fairchild (third round, Georgia)
- LB Barrett Carter (fourth round, Clemson)
- T Jalen Rivers (fifth round, Miami)
- RB Tahj Brooks (sixth round, Texas Tech)
Detroit Lions
- G Miles Frazier (fifth round, LSU)
- DE Ahmed Hassanein (sixth round, Boise State)
- S Dan Jackson (seventh round, Georgia)
- WR Dominic Lovett (seventh round, Georgia)
Houston Texans
- S Jaylen Reed (sixth round, Penn State)
- QB Graham Mertz (sixth round, Florida)
- DT Kyonte Hamilton (seventh round, Rutgers)
- TE Luke Lachey (seventh round, Iowa)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CB Caleb Ransaw (third round, Tulane)
- G Wyatt Milum (third round (West Virginia)
- LB Jalen McLeod (sixth round, Auburn)
- S Rayuan Lane III (sixth round, Navy)
- C Jonah Monheim (seventh round, USC)
- RB LeQuint Allen (seventh round, Syracuse)
Las Vegas Raiders
- WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (fourth round, Tennessee)
Los Angeles Chargers
- DT Jamaree Caldwell (third round, Oregon)
- OLB Kyle Kennard (fourth round, South Carolina)
- WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (fifth round, Auburn)
- TE Oronde Gadsden II (fifth round, Syracuse)
- G Branson Taylor (sixth round, Pittsburgh)
- S RJ Mickens (sixth round, Clemson)
- S Trikweze Bridges (seventh round, Florida)
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Tai Felton (third round, Maryland)
- DE Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (fifth round, Georgia)
- LB Kobe King (sixth round, Penn State)
- TE Gavin Bartholomew (sixth round, Pittsburgh)
New England Patriots
- WR Kyle Williams (third round, Washington State)
- C Jared Wilson (third round, Georgia)
- DT Joshua Farmer (fourth round, Florida State)
- OLB Bradyn Swinson (fifth round, LSU)
- K Andy Borregales (sixth round, Miami)
- T Marcus Bryant (seventh round, Missouri)
- LS Julian Ashby (seventh round, Vanderbilt)
- CB Kobee Minor (seventh round, Memphis)
New York Giants
- G Marcus Mbow (fifth round, Purdue)
- TE Thomas Fidone II (seventh round, Nebraska)
New York Jets
- CB Korie Black (seventh round, Oklahoma State)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Kaleb Johnson (third round, Iowa)
- OLB Jack Sawyer (fourth round, Ohio State)
- DT Yahya Black (fifth round, Iowa)
- QB Will Howard (sixth round, Ohio State)
- LB Carson Bruener (seventh round, Washington)
- CB Donte Kent (seventh round, Central Michigan)
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Nick Martin (third round, Oklahoma State)
- CB Upton Stout (third round, Western Kentucky)
- WR Jordan Watkins (fourth round, Ole Miss)
- RB Jordan James (fifth round, Oregon)
- S Marques Sigle (fifth round, Kansas State)
- G Connor Colby (seventh round, Iowa)
- WR Junior Bergen (seventh round, Montana)
Tennessee Titans
- S Kevin Winston Jr. (third round, Penn State)
- WR Elic Ayomanor (fourth round, Stanford)
- G Jackson Slater (fifth round, Sacramento State)
- CB Marcus Harris (sixth round, California)
- RB Kalel Mullings (sixth round, Michigan)
Washington Commanders
- WR Jaylin Lane (fourth round, Virginia Tech)
- LB Kain Medrano (sixth round, UCLA)
- RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (seventh round, Arizona)