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Falcons Sign First-Round OLB Jalon Walker

May 9th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons have one of the NFL’s smaller classes to sign after taking only five rookies in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they’ll open up their signings with their top draft selection, outside linebacker Jalon Walker. The versatile defender’s first NFL contract will be a four-year, $20.56MM deal.

For much of the pre-draft process Walker was considered a top prospect at both off-ball linebacker and pass rusher. The 21-year-old spent time all over the defense throughout his time at Georgia. His first two seasons in Athens saw him spend more time on the edge than in the box. His final year with the Bulldogs, though, saw him shift to more of an off-ball role, though he still spent about 40 percent of his time on the edge.

When Atlanta announced his selection two weeks ago, they intentionally labeled him as a “defensive end,” giving some insight into how he could be used at the next level. He and fellow first-round, former-SEC pass rusher James Pearce should push Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie for some starting snaps on the edge. Even if they can’t unseat the veterans, their presence still provides a significant improvement in the depth of the position for the Falcons.

While lacking ideal size, Walker has good length and speed to rush on the outside, and his eye for the ball and change of direction ability make him much more useful than just a pure pass rusher in the backfield. He works well through the mesh of blocks along the line, but when in a one-on-one matchup, he can often get erased. Still, his tenacity and room for growth make for a strong potential future in Atlanta.

With this being the team’s first draft pick signing of the class, here’s a look at the work they still have to do:

  • Round 1, No. 15: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) (signed)
  • Round 1, No. 26 (from Rams): James Pearce (DE, Tennessee)
  • Round 3, No. 96 (from Eagles): Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
  • Round 4, No. 118: Billy Bowman (S, Oklahoma)
  • Round 7, No. 218 (from Browns through Chargers): Jack Nelson (T, Wisconsin)

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/9/25

May 9th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor NFL transactions to close out the week:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): OL Valentin Senn

Atlanta Falcons

  • Received roster exemption (international player): K Lenny Krieg
  • Waived: DT Junior Aho

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Received roster exemption (international player): S Dante Barnett

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived (with failed physical designation): WR Jeff Foreman

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • Received roster exemption (international player): P Oscar Chapman

New York Jets

  • Received roster exemption (international player): G Leander Wiegand

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Dyson was cut from the team after news that running back Jonathon Brooks‘ placement on the physically unable to perform list would, in fact, still count him against the 90-man roster limit. They initially were told by the league that he would not count, but the updated guidance today necessitated that they lose a man.

Jackson joins Seattle’s undrafted free agent rookie class after they announced their 17 signees almost a week ago. A successful rookie minicamp tryout led to him securing a contract.

Similarly, Bentley, for whatever reason was also announced separately from the Colts’ UDFA class, even though the class was announced only a few hours before his signing. The 24-year-old hasn’t been a lead back since his 2020 season at SMU, but in three years apiece at SMU and Ole Miss, Bentley never averaged below five yards per carry in a season.

Saints Sign Round 1 T Kelvin Banks Jr., Five Other Draftees

May 9th, 2025 at 5:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

With rookie minicamp season upon us, a flood of draft signings has naturally followed. In its 15th year, the rookie-scale contract system has removed most of the drama — save for maybe some offset language buffs — associated with signing first-round picks. Many have put pen to paper over the past two days, and the Saints now have their top draftee under contract.

Kelvin Banks Jr. signed his rookie deal Friday, the team announced. Chosen ninth overall, Banks will be tied to a fully guaranteed deal worth $27.7MM. Banks will be expected to start immediately in New Orleans, which has used first-round picks on tackles in each of the past two years, having added Taliese Fuaga in 2024.

Making that could be interpreted as a late rise during the pre-draft process, Banks appeared to command a bit more respect from within the league compared to outside draft experts. The Saints made the Texas product the third tackle taken. The Raiders and Jets had been linked to Banks, with Las Vegas appearing ready to pull the trigger in the event Ashton Jeanty had gone in the top five. Instead, Banks will make his way to Louisiana to block for a team that features a muddled quarterback situation.

The Saints have made premium investments to update their tackle situation, having also used a first-round pick (in 2022) on Trevor Penning. The contract-year blocker, thanks to the Saints declining his fifth-year option, appears set for a demotion from his right tackle spot.

As most high-end tackle prospects do, Banks operated as a left tackle in college. The Longhorns used the first-team All-American as a three-year LT starter. This could make for an interesting New Orleans O-line configuration, as the team had moved Fuaga — a college RT — to the left side before his rookie season.

Banks will step as the team’s highest-drafted lineman since Kyle Turley (No. 7 overall, 1998). New Orleans, however, has regularly gone to this well in Round 1 under Mickey Loomis. Dating back to their Andrus Peat pick in 2015, the Saints have used six first-round picks on O-linemen. Their 2025 roster will house four of them, with Cesar Ruiz still manning the team’s right guard post. While Derek Carr‘s 2025 status remains murky, he or Tyler Shough (or Spencer Rattler, perhaps) will take snaps behind a reloaded O-line.

The Saints also signed linebacker Danny Stutsman (Round 4, No. 112), cornerback Quincy Riley (Round 4, No. 131), running back Devin Neal (Round 6, No. 184), tight end Moliki Matavao (Round 7, No. 248) and defensive end Fadil Diggs (Round 7, No. 254) to rookie deals. Only the team’s three Day 2 draftees — Shough, Vernon Broughton, Jonas Sanker — remain unsigned from this draft class.

Broncos To Release P Matt Haack

May 9th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

No punting competition appears on tap in Denver. If one does eventually form this offseason, it does not appear it will involve Matt Haack. The Broncos released the veteran punter Friday, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

This move comes shortly after the Broncos drafted Florida punter Jeremy Crawshaw in the sixth round. Crawshaw is now the only punter on Denver’s roster. A journeyman specialist, Haack had joined the team as a free agent before the draft.

Teams who select a punter in a draft generally plan for that player to land the job. The Broncos, as of now, do not look to be making any secret of their plans to install Crawshaw as their punter in 2025 and beyond. Crawshaw’s rookie contract will run through 2028. Haack’s job status certainly changed near the end of the draft, as he would have at least been in line to compete for the gig had Denver not been the first team to draft a punter this year.

Denver made two interesting picks to close the draft, trading down to draft Crawshaw at No. 216 and then using its final choice (No. 241) on seldom-used Utah tight end Caleb Lohner, a converted basketball player. Lohner figures to be competing for a roster spot, while Crawshaw will not. The Broncos have drafted two punters over the past decade, adding Riley Dixon in the 2016 seventh round. Dixon returned to Denver in 2023, but as recent Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi takes the reins as Broncos special teams coordinator, Crawshaw will replace him.

Haack, 30, has punted for five teams over the past four seasons. The former multiyear Dolphins option punted for the Bills, Colts, Browns and Giants from 2021-24. He punted in only five games over the past two seasons, serving as a fill-in option for the past three; the Colts had added Haack as a late-summer replacement for the injured Rigoberto Sanchez.

The Broncos also cut long snapper Zach Triner, Tomasson notes. Triner came in as a temporary option while regular snapper Mitchell Fraboni recovered from back surgery. Fraboni, who became the Denver deep snapper in 2022, was expected to be ready for training camp. It is possible Triner returns, per Tomasson, as the Broncos needed to clear two roster spots by this weekend’s rookie minicamp. Triner spent five-plus seasons in Tampa before a 2024 Miami cameo.

Texans, Second-Round WR Jayden Higgins Reach Fully Guaranteed Deal

May 9th, 2025 at 4:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a move that will force the hands of at least one other team, the Texans will make draft history. Houston is fully guaranteeing Jayden Higgins‘ second-round contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

The first part of the Texans’ all-Iowa State receiver mission on Day 2 will bring an important distinction into the NFL. Higgins will become the first second-round pick to see his contract fully guaranteed.

The Texans have been known to provide friendly guarantee structures to their second-round picks, thus moving the NFL forward on this front, and their move for a player chosen 34th overall effectively boxes the Browns in while likely complicating negotiations for teams that made mid-30s selections in last month’s draft. The Texans added Higgins after trading down from No. 25 (via the Giants).

Cleveland chose Carson Schwesinger at No. 33; Houston’s decision will lead to the former UCLA linebacker’s camp mandating a fully guaranteed contract. Higgins’ will be worth $11.7MM over four years. This draft slot brought a near-full guarantee in 2024, with $9.19MM of Ladd McConkey‘s $9.99MM rookie deal locked in at signing. Even last year’s No. 33 overall choice (Bills wideout Keon Coleman) did not quite secure fully guaranteed terms, but second-rounders have been making inroads on this front for years.

It took until the 2022 draft for all first-round contracts to become guaranteed, so it makes sense the NFL has seen its second-rounders land locked-in deals. The league has come a long way in terms of guaranteed percentage for second-rounders. When the rookie scale debuted in 2011, that year’s No. 33 overall pick (the Patriots’ Ras-I Dowling) saw just $2.36MM of his $5.3MM rookie contract guaranteed. It will be interesting to see if the Seahawks (Nick Emmanwori) and Browns (Quinshon Judkins) move the full guarantee line beyond No. 34 this year.

Higgins and third-rounder Jaylin Noel, who also signed his rookie contract (per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson), will become the rare college receiver duo to each join the same NFL team in a draft. The Cyclones relied on their Jayden-Jaylin tandem last season, and after the Texans could not swing a trade-up to reunite C.J. Stroud and Emeka Egbuka in Round 1, they focused on the Big 12 program’s passing attack the following night.

The No. 46 player on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Higgins broke through for 87 receptions, 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Standing 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, Higgins will complement Noel’s slot skillset in Houston just as he did in Ames. The No. 79 overall pick, Noel (No. 50 on Jeremiah’s board) narrowly topped Higgins’ 2024 production by accumulating 1,194 yards last season — to go with eight TDs. Noel played four seasons at Iowa State, while Higgins transferred from Eastern Kentucky in 2023.

The Texans invested heavily at the receiver position after seeing Tank Dell suffer another major injury — this one threatening to sideline him throughout the 2025 season — and allowing Stefon Diggs to defect (to the Patriots) in free agency. Houston also lost complementary cog Robert Woods (to Pittsburgh). Even though it used a 2022 second-round pick on John Metchie, the team has not seen the Alabama product become a dependable piece yet. The ex-Cyclones will aim to become Nico Collins‘ top sidekicks this year.

49ers To Waive DE Drake Jackson

May 9th, 2025 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

A knee injury has sidetracked Drake Jackson‘s career, and the former second-round pick will no longer move forward as a 49er. The team is waiving the young defensive end, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Jackson missed the entire 2024 season with a patella tendon injury sustained in 2023. While Schefter adds the USC product is expected to be cleared by training camp, the 49ers are moving on via a failed physical designation Friday. One season remains on Jackson’s rookie contract.

Although Jackson had not secured a starting role before his knee injury, the issue stalled his development midway through the 2023 season. Jackson played in 15 games as a rookie but only eight in 2023. Jackson, 24, will undoubtedly generate interest as a second-chance candidate. He would be available to teams on the waiver wire until 3pm CT on Monday.

The 49ers chose Jackson 61st overall in 2022. At the time, he joined Arik Armstead and a revolving door of Nick Bosa complements. Jackson registered three sacks as a rookie and showed a bit more promise in Year 2, tallying three more during his abbreviated season. Jackson still only totaled five tackles for loss in his first 23 games, but any hope at becoming a more prominent part of San Francisco’s D-line rotation ended after the injury kept him off the field for the past 1 1/2 seasons.

Placing Jackson on IR in early November of 2023, the 49ers stashed him on the reserve/PUP list to open last season. They did not activate him, effectively creating a crossroads situation for the former well-regarded prospect. Jackson was the first 49ers pick in a 2022 draft that did not include a first-round pick (thanks to the Trey Lance trade-up). This roster move now means the 49ers are done with each of their three Day 2 draft picks from that year; the team had already cut third-rounders Tyrion Davis-Price and Danny Gray.

The 49ers will take on barely $350K in dead money, stemming from signing bonus proration, as a result of this decision. Even if Jackson clears waivers (while teams wait for his return to full strength), it would surprise if he did not land elsewhere before the 2025 season. The 49ers signaled their interest in moving on by using their No. 11 overall pick on a D-end (Mykel Williams). Although the team released Leonard Floyd after one season, Yetur Gross-Matos remains on the roster as a Bosa complementary piece.

49ers To Bring In Nicholas Petit-Frere, Andre Dillard

May 9th, 2025 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans’ preferred 2023 tackle starters, Andre Dillard and Nicholas Petit-Frere are making an interesting joint move. The one-time Tennessee first-string tackle duo is heading to San Francisco.

Despite signing D.J. Humphries after the draft, the 49ers will also bring in Dillard and Petit-Frere. Tennessee waived Petit-Frere before the draft; no team claimed him. Dillard, whom the Titans released after one season, played in Green Bay last year. Both will be tied to one-year deals.

This particular Titans tandem did not last long together. Petit-Frere, who had served as the team’s primary right tackle in 2022, missed the start of the 2023 season due to a gambling suspension. Upon return, Petit-Frere split time between RT and LT (as Dillard did not pan out). An injury early into his already-abbreviated season shut down the former third-round pick, keeping Dillard as Tennessee’s primary LT. The Titans, however, moved on from his three-year, $29MM contract after that season.

Last year, Dillard made his way to the Packers. The Chiefs had shown interest, but Dillard ended up in Green Bay as a backup. The former first-rounder played all of 13 offensive snaps for a Packers team that used Rasheed Walker as its starting LT and used a first-round pick on Jordan Morgan.

Dillard, whom the Eagles traded up for in 2019, has made 19 career starts. Most of them have come at left tackle. Humphries having an extensive injury history does open the door to the 29-year-old tackle potentially having a shot at the 49ers’ swing tackle gig. For now, he will vie for a depth role behind Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz.

Petit-Frere, 25, may be the more interesting Friday addition. While Dillard had fallen off the starter level in 2024, Petit-Frere logged 614 right tackle snaps for the Titans last season. The Ohio State product has made 28 career starts; almost all of them have come at RT. Pro Football Focus has never graded Petit-Frere outside the bottom quartile among tackles, slotting him 76th (among 81 regulars) at the position last year. But his experience is certainly notable, especially as McKivitz has not established himself as an upper-echelon option.

One season remains on McKivitz’s contract; he is entering his third season as San Francisco’s post-Mike McGlinchey option at right tackle. It would not seem Petit-Frere is a direct threat to that job, given the latter’s spotty track record. But the 49ers bringing him in this early in the offseason could bring a storyline to monitor due to the younger blocker’s age an experience.

In addition to the tackle moves (and their Drake Jackson cut), the 49ers waived offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie and waived cornerback Tre Tomlinson with an injury designation.

Dolphins To Sign LS Joe Cardona

May 9th, 2025 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

After 10 Patriots seasons, Joe Cardona joined Jonathan Jones, Deatrich Wise and David Andrews as Super Bowl-era bastions to move on this offseason. New England released the veteran long snapper following the draft.

As the Pats became the only team to draft a pure long snapper this year (in Vanderbilt’s Julian Ashby), Cardona will see another opportunity come soon. The Dolphins are signing him Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. A intra-division transfer is now in play for Cardona, who joins a Miami team that entered Friday without a long snapper.

This move comes a day after the Dolphins released deep snapper Blake Ferguson, who did not finish the season with the team. Ferguson had stepped away due to an undisclosed medical issue, landing on the reserve/NFI list last season. Veteran Jake McQuaide finished the season as Miami’s long snapper. McQuaide, 37, is unsigned.

Patriots-to-Dolphins paths were more common during the Brian Flores era in Miami, but Cardona will bring extensive experience nonetheless. The Pats drafted him in the 2015 fifth round, as Bill Belichick regularly placed a premium on special teams play. He suited up for all but four Patriots games from 2015-24, playing in three Super Bowls and collecting two rings in that span.

Although Cardona has never made a Pro Bowl, the Navy alum is certainly a well-regarded snapper. He probably will not become the first deep snapper to break the $2MM-AAV barrier, as we may still be years away from that benchmark being cleared, but he now has a clear path to continuing his career with a Pats rival. Cardona, Jones and Wise have found new homes; the latter two landed in Washington. Following another season featuring a lengthy absence, Andrews remains without a team.

Buccaneers Sign First-Round WR Emeka Egbuka, Four Other Draftees

May 9th, 2025 at 1:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Five of the Buccaneers’ six draft picks are under contract. First-round wideout Emeka Egbuka is among the rookies who have signed their initial NFL pacts, per a team announcement.

Egbuka’s four-year contract is worth a total of $18.1MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. That figure is fully guaranteed, per standard operating procedure for Day 1 selections. Egbuka can be kept under team control through 2029 provided Tampa Bay exercises his fifth-year option.

The Ohio State product was surrounded by recent first-rounders (and wideouts who will no doubt be selected early in future drafts) throughout his four-year career. In spite of that, Egbuka’s 205 receptions are the most in school history and his 2,868 yards rank second. His route-running and other fundamentals made him one of the safest WR prospects in the 2025 class.

Given the Bucs’ needs at other positions, though, some eyebrows were raised when they selected Egbuka 19th overall. Tampa Bay’s effective tandem of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is still intact, and 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan scored eight touchdowns as a rookie. Nevertheless, Egbuka is in position to compete for a rotational role early in his career with the potential to replace Godwin as a mainstay in the slot down the road.

Had the Buccaneers looked to move down the board, Egbuka would not have been available to them. The three-time All-Big Ten performer was the subject of trade interest from teams like the Texans and Rams, with the Broncos also eyeing him at pick No. 20. Given that level of interest, Egbuka will be expected to provide Tampa Bay with consistent production early and often in his pro career.

The Bucs have also signed cornerback Jacob Parrish (third round, Kansas State), edge rusher David Walker (fourth round, Central Arkansas), defensive lineman Elijah Roberts (fifth round, SMU) and receiver Tez Johnson (seventh round, Oregon) to their rookie deals. As a result, only second-round corner Benjamin Morrison has yet to ink his first NFL pact.

Commanders Sign 10 UDFAs

May 9th, 2025 at 12:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders made only five selections during the draft, leaving plenty of room for undrafted free agents to compete for a roster spot this summer. Washington has signed these 10 UDFAs:

Like all teams, Washington made a few noteworthy commitments in terms of guaranteed compensation on the UDFA front. McKay secured $275K locked in with his pact, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 6-4, 311-pounder suffered a pectoral tear during his Pro Day, Pelissero notes. That helped contribute to the fact his name was not called during the draft, but he will now turn his attention to carving out a depth role along the interior of the O-line.

Vigers also received a lucrative incentive to head to the nation’s capital. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports his deal contains $259K in guarantees. At 6-1 and 205 pounds, Vigers has NFL size at the CB spot, although a lack of ball production (two interceptions, six pass deflections over the past three years) confirms his path to a roster spot will come via special teams.

Wilson also notes that Cypress secured $145K in guarantees. His entire college career was spent in the ACC (four years at Virginia followed by a pair of campaigns at Florida State). That tenure only included one interception, but in 2022 he racked up 14 pass deflections as part of his career total of 27. Cypress will likewise aim to earn playing time on special teams with a defensive role likely unattainable.

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