Transactions News & Rumors

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/3/25

Saturday’s lone draft pick signing:

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles inked four of their draftees to rookie deals yesterday, and they have taken care of another pierce of business on that front. Half of Philadelphia’s selections are yet to be signed, including each of the team’s first three picks.

Seahawks Announce 17-Man NFL UDFA Class

The Seahawks added one of the NFL’s largest draft classes this year with 11 rookies selected last week. After there was a heavy focus on offense in the draft (nine offensive players to just two defensive), Seattle announced a 17-man undrafted free agent signing class that leaned much more heavily towards defense (11 players) than offense (six players). Here are the 17 newest additions to the team’s 28-man rookie class:

The Seahawks are bringing in four names at edge rusher, a position of need they failed to address in the draft. They felt so strongly about O’Toole that they gave him $234K guaranteed on his undrafted rookie deal, including a $30K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. O’Toole was a mildly impactful defensive end during his time with the Utes, logging only 8.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss over his four years in college.

Ivey was projected to be an early-Day 3 selection before falling out of the draft. A former Georgia Tech transfer, his last two years with the Rebels were extremely productive, seeing him tally 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. Coleman was a three-year starter in six years with the Fighting Illini. Over his three years as a starter, Coleman logged 13.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for loss, and 13 batted passes.

Woodard was projected to be a late-Day 3 pick but just slipped out. His final two years with his Rebels were extremely disruptive as he had 26.0 tackles for loss (17.0 in 2024), 21 passes defensed (16 in 2024), and five interceptions (four in 2024). His elite production in coverage could help him land a role as a pass defending linebacker in today’s pass-happy NFL.

At cornerback, Alexander was another projected early-Day 3 pick. After a couple elite seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, Alexander transferred to LSU and became an immediate starter. Though a knee injury limited him in 2023, he tallied an impressive 44 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions. He kept that production alive in 2024, as well, with six passes defensed and two more picks and was rewarded by Seattle with $249K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus, per Wilson. Waxter has a chance to be an impact defender out of Nova. After elite production in 2023 that saw him log 11 passes defensed and three interceptions, quarterbacks threw his way a lot less in 2024, but that didn’t stop him from leading the team in forced fumbles and earning first-team All-CAA honors.

On offense, Maranges showed enough during his time with the Owls to earn $250K in guarantees, per Wilson. A Puerto Rico-native, Maranges qualifies for an international roster exemption as a participant of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. The IPP program stipulates that NFL teams can include a 17th player to their practice squad (normally capped at 16 players) as long as that player qualifies for the international roster exemption.

Ravens Sign T Joseph Noteboom

The Ravens have had a busy morning of paperwork today. After announcing the signing of nine of their 11 draft picks, they’ve now announced that they’ve added some starting offensive tackle depth by agreeing to terms on a contract with Joseph Noteboom. Though contract details are not yet known, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec tells us that the soon-to-be-30-year-old will be on a one-year deal in Baltimore.

A former third-round pick out of TCU, Noteboom has had a seven-year career so far, with all seven seasons coming in Los Angeles with the Rams. After spending his rookie season mostly on special teams as a backup, Noteboom began his sophomore campaign as the team’s starting left guard before suffering a torn ACL and MCL.

His 2020 season opened the same way after recovery, but he was placed on injured reserve after only two starts with a calf injury. When he was activated later that year, he started the remainder of the season filling in for an injured Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, his first starts at tackle since college. In 2021, though, the Rams returned to their reliable pair of Whitworth and Rob Havenstein as Noteboom only started two games at tackle for the year, including his first start on the right side of the line.

With the retirement of Whitworth, Noteboom opened the 2022 campaign as the Rams’ new starter at left tackle under a new three-year, $40MM extension. Unfortunately, after only six games, his season ended with a torn Achilles tendon. Los Angeles had Alaric Jackson take over the starting left tackle role in 2023, and though Noteboom began the year as the starting right guard, he was ultimately moved around the line as a swing tackle, starting three games at right guard, three games at right tackle, and two games at left tackle. Noteboom began last year starting at left tackle as Jackson served a two-game suspension, but an ankle injury knocked him out of the game in Week 1 and would limit him as he only started and played in three games for the remainder of the season.

Luckily, in Baltimore, Noteboom’s injury history isn’t of much concern. The Ravens are certainly set at the tackle positions with veteran Ronnie Stanley re-signing on a three-year, $60MM deal this offseason and the team drafting Roger Rosengarten in the second round last year. After the free agency departures of Patrick Mekari and Josh Jones, the Ravens have been in need of a swing tackle to add depth and starting experience to the line, and Noteboom fits that bill to a T.

While seemingly a minor role on the offense, the swing tackle role has become a crucial one in Baltimore. Mekari proved the importance of that position as a Swiss Army sixth-man early in his career. Mekari started games at every position along the offensive line during his six years with the Ravens, proving to be extremely valuable during a tenure that saw Stanley miss 38 games over that stretch of time.

Even with Stanley returning to health to start all 17 games last year, and with Mekari becoming a mainstay at left guard, Jones saw plenty of action as a sixth-man on the offensive line for Baltimore in 2024. Jones didn’t make any starts last season, but his versatility allowed the Ravens to use him everywhere, as he’s started games at every position but center during his NFL career. A Baltimore offense that led the NFL in rushing in 2024 often depended on jumbo sets including a sixth offensive lineman, and Jones was often the man called to fill that role.

With Mekari and Jones both gone, the Ravens will now turn to Noteboom to man that job. Noteboom has similar versatility as Mekari and Jones — he’s also missing starts at only center — and should be utilized in a similar manner. The Ravens spent two draft picks on rookie tackles Emery Jones Jr. (third round, LSU) and Carson Vinson (fifth round, Alabama A&M) this year, and both should help add depth, but Noteboom’s starting experience and versatility should prove to be incredibly valuable in 2025.

Ravens Sign 9 Of 11 2025 Draft Picks

The Ravens have officially signed nine of their league-high 11 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, per a team announcement.

Today’s signings include third-rounder Emery Jones, fourth-rounder Teddye Buchanan, fifth-rounder Carson Vinson, and seventh-rounder Garrett Dellinger. The team also signed all five of their sixth-round picks: Bilhal Kone, Tyler Loop, LaJohntay Wester, Aeneas Peebles, and Robert Longerbeam.

As prescribed by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, all nine players have four years on their first contracts. With escalating cap hits for key players in the next few years, the Ravens are hoping that several members of their rookie class can play significant roles in the team’s future.

Jones and Dellinger both started for LSU’s stellar offensive line across the last three years at right tackle and left guard, respectively. Jones’ best fit might be at guard, where he could compete for a starting job as a rookie. He’ll also provide valuable depth behind Roger Rosengarten at right tackle, though he’ll have to make significant strides to have a chance at replacing Ronnie Stanley on the blindside at the end of his rookie deal. Dellinger will be fighting for a roster spot before he gets a shot at a starting job, but he brings a high-floor as a backup guard, the likes of which the Ravens have consistently turned into starters in recent years.

The Ravens prized Buchanan’s athleticism and intangibles enough to prioritize him on Day 3, but predictions of him supplanting Trenton Simpson in the starting lineup may be premature. After just one year at the FBS level, Buchanan face another, more significant jump to the speed of the NFL, which is especially significant at the linebacker position. He’ll likely be a core special teams contributor as a rookie, but his passing down abilities in coverage and as a blitzer will give him a strong chance at long-term playing time.

Baltimore double-dipped on Day 3 cornerbacks when they had 11 picks in 2022, taking a boundary corner in Jalyn Armour-Davis and a prospective nickel in Damarion Williams. They did so again this year with the long, speedy Kone and a likely slot-convert in Longerbeam. The Ravens have plenty of defensive back depth after signing Chidobie Awuzie and drafting Starks, so their Day 3 DBs will likely begin on special teams as they acclimate to their new defense and train to battle for starting roles in the future.

General manager Eric DeCosta values all of his draft picks, so using one on Loop is a clear sign that the team is seriously considering replacing Justin Tucker this year. Loop was widely considered the most powerful kicker in the draft, but he made less than 80% of his field goal attempts in his last two years at Arizona. He’ll need to quickly take to the tutelage of special teams coach Randy Brown to win a roster spot.

Head coach John Harbaugh said before the draft that the team wanted to add a punt returner, and they found one in Wester. He returned 66 punts for 740 yards (11.2 yards per return) in college and could take over a similar role right away in Baltimore. The Colorado product will be blocked on the offensive depth chart at first, but he was very productive in college and could develop into a rotational contributor out of the slot.

The Ravens surprised many by waiting until the end of Day 3 to address the interior of their defensive line after the retirement of Michael Pierce this offseason. Peebles is too undersized to fill Pierce’s role as a behemoth, space-eating nose tackle, but his pass-rushing chops could help him carve out a situational role as a rookie. While he may never be big enough to anchor the defensive line against the run, his athleticism and active hands give him three-down potential in the long-term.

The Ravens still have to sign their first two picks – first-round safety Malaki Starks and second-round edge rusher Mike Green. Starks’ fully-guaranteed contract should be a formality, but Green may wait for players drafted ahead of him to sign to ensure he gets a commensurate guarantee structure.

Here is a full list of Baltimore’s 2025 draft class:

  • Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
  • Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green (OLB, Marshall)
  • Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones (T, LSU) (signed)
  • Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan (LB, Cal) (signed)
  • Round 5, No. 141* (from Titans): Carson Vinson (T, Alabama A&M) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 178 (from Titans): Bilhal Kone (CB, Western Michigan) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 186 (from Jets): Tyler Loop (K, Arizona) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester (WR, Colorado) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 210*: Aeneas Peebles (DT, Virginia Tech) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 212*: Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) (signed)
  • Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger (G, LSU) (signed)

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/2/25

We’re getting our first batch of 2025 NFL Draft pick signings, and more are soon to come with rookie minicamps on the horizon. Here is our first group of mid- to late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie contracts:

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/25

Today’s only minor NFL move:

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Dwelley returns home to California with today’s signing. The SoCal native spent the first six years of his NFL career with the 49ers after signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego. He spent his first season with a new team last year when he signed with the Falcons.

Cowboys Add Nine UDFAs

The Cowboys’ rookie minicamp began on Friday. The group of players taking part included these undrafted free agents:

Clark received a notable commitment from the Cowboys to take part in their offseason program. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports his deal contains a $25K signing bonus in addition to $234K in guaranteed base salary. A transfer from Rutgers following his freshman season, Clark racked up 183 tackles and nine pass breakups during his time at Syracuse.

Barron began his college career as a receiver before transitioning to defense in 2020. Over the remainder of his time with the Orange, he saw time at safety and slot corner in addition to linebacker. The 6-5, 224-pounder posted at least 90 tackles over each of the past two years and his special teams experience will give him a strong chance to earn a roster spot.

Before and after the draft, receiver has been named as a position of need for the Cowboys. Holden saw his production increase every year during his college career, which included time at Alabama from 2020-22. At 6-2, he will look to provide the Cowboys with size at the WR spot if he makes the team. Kelly – who played at Fresno State and Washington State before his single campaign with the Red Raiders – topped 1,000 yards in 2024 and will aim to parlay that production into a roster spot this summer.

RB Jerome Ford Agrees To Browns Pay Cut

Jerome Ford saw the Browns make a pair of running back additions during the draft, something which may have opened the door to a trade taking place. Instead, the three-year veteran will remain in Cleveland for 2025.

Ford has agreed to a pay cut, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. The 25-year-old was on track to collect $3.49MM next season, but that figure has now dropped to $1.75MM (which has been guaranteed). Ford remains on track for free agency in 2026.

The former fifth-rounder saw just eight carries during his rookie campaign, but his workload increased dramatically the following year. Nick Chubb‘s knee injury opened the door for Ford to take on a starting role, and he used it to total 1,132 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns. The passing game in particular saw Ford thrive with an average of 7.3 yards per reception.

The Browns did not bring back Kareem Hunt for the 2024 campaign, but Chubb returned midway through the season. That led to a drop in Ford’s workload (104 carries), although he saw his efficiency spike to 5.4 yards per carry. He will spend the offseason competing for snaps as part of a backfield which also includes Pierre Strong as well as the two rookies (Quinshon JudkinsDylan Sampson) added via the draft.

Of course, one of the main takeaways from today’s move is the fact it represents another sign Chubb will be playing elsewhere in 2025. Not long after the draft took place, general manager Andrew Berry noted the team was evaluating its options in the backfield, something which hinted toward Chubb not being retained. A Ford trade could have allowed for a deal to be worked out on that front, but that will not be the case. Chubb’s free agent market will remain worth monitoring, while Ford will look to help his free agent stock with a strong showing in 2025.

Eagles Sign Nine UDFAs

The Eagles added 10 players during the draft, and their rookie class has expanded further today. Philadelphia has signed the following undrafted free agents:

The Super Bowl champions, like all other teams, made a few notable investments as part of the process of putting together their UDFA class. Pierce received $180K in guarantees, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. He will spend the offseason competing for a depth role behind one of the best O-lines in the NFL.

Brandon Johnson also landed a six-figure commitment from Philadelphia. Per Wilson, the 5-11, 180-pounder received $170K guaranteed. After three years at Duke, Johnson played out his senior season with the Ducks. He recorded one interception and a scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in 2024. Johnson will aim to carve out a roster spot via a special teams role.

Hook will likewise aim to earn a spot as a third phase contributor while providing depth on defense. His five-year stint at Toledo included three consecutive campaigns with first-team All-MAC honors. Hook totaled seven interceptions over that span, and in 2024 he set a new career high with 107 tackles.

Cowboys Agree To Terms With Tyler Booker

The first Day 1 selection of the 2025 draft has agreed to terms with their new team. Guard Tyler Booker has a deal in place with the Cowboys, as first reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer.

[RELATED: Team-By-Team Draft Results]

Booker was selected 12th overall, a slot which contains plenty of upfront money as part of the fully guaranteed compensation first-round picks receive on their initial contracts. Archer notes the pact is worth a total of $22.55MM. Booker will collect a $13MM signing bonus.

Dallas was linked to other positions in the build-up to Day 1, but the team had Booker as its top remaining player when on the clock at No. 12. As a result, the Cowboys added the Alabama product and by doing so used a first-round pick on an offensive linemen for the third time in the past four years. Booker will aim to join Tyler Smith and Tyler Guyton as a starter up front in 2025 and for years to come.

As expected, future Hall of Famer Zack Martin retired this offseason, ending his decorated 11-year run in Dallas. That decision created a vacancy in the starting lineup at right guard, and Booker could step into it as a rookie. He is on the books for at least the next four years, but the team will be able to keep him in place through the 2029 campaign by means of the fifth-year option.

Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan would have been Dallas’ pick had he been available. Instead, the Panthers drafted him at No. 8, leading the Cowboys to pivot to Booker; that has left a need at the receiver spot deep into the offseason. As the Cowboys explore their options on that front with their rookie camp opening today, Booker will begin competing for a first-team gig.