Texans Acquire No. 123, Select Ohio State TE Cade Stover
The Eagles have made yet another trade. Philly is sending No. 123 to the Texans for No. 127 and a 2025 fifth-round pick, per Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano.
Houston has used their new pick on tight end Cade Stover. The Ohio State product is the eighth TE off the board, including the fifth of the fourth round.
The six-foot-four, 255-pound tight end had productive 2022 and 2023 seasons at Ohio State, combining for 77 receptions, 982 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.
The Texans continue to add to their offense. Besides the team’s headline-grabbing Stefon Diggs trade, the team has also signed lineman David Sharpe and drafted lineman Blake Fisher. Now, they’ll be adding Stover to a depth chart that is led by veteran Dalton Schultz.
Dolphins Acquire No. 120, Select RB Jaylen Wright
The Dolphins have given up a future pick to trade into the fourth round. Miami has acquired pick No. 120 from the Eagles, sending Philly a 2025 third-round pick (per ESPN’s Field Yates).
The Dolphins have used their pick on Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright. Miami wasn’t set to pick until No. 158, so the team believed strongly enough in the prospect to sacrifice a surefire earlier pick in the 2025 draft.
After finishing his first season as a starting RB with 883 yards from scrimmage, Wright took it to another level in 2023. The prospect led the Tennessee offense with 1,154 yards from scrimmage, although he only finished the campaign with four touchdowns (down from the 10 touchdowns he scored in 2022).
The Dolphins used a third-round pick in last year’s draft on De’Von Achane, and they’re still rostering veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.. Wright is known for his dynamic speed (he ran a sub-4.4-second 40 time), so Mike McDaniel will surely find a way to use his newest weapon.
Packers Acquire No. 111, Select Oregon S Evan Williams
The Packers and Jets have been frequent trade partners in recent years, and the teams have pulled off another deal. The Packers have jumped to No. 111, with New York acquiring picks No. 126 and No. 190.
The Packers will use their new pick on Oregon safety Evan Williams. There’s been a run on Ducks players today, with Williams representing the fourth Oregon player to be selected in the fourth round.
After leading the Fresno State defense for four seasons, Williams transferred to Oregon for the 2023 campaign. He proceeded to earn second team All-Pac-12 honors after compiling 82 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. While the defensive back didn’t posses the same upside as other prospects at the position, his defensive savvy should keep him on NFL rosters.
The Packers have been one of the more active teams through the first two days of the draft, selecting five rookies. The team added Georgia’s Javon Bullard in the second round, and the two rookies will join a new-look safeties room that also features new addition Xavier McKinney.
Broncos Acquire No. 102, Select Oregon WR Troy Franklin
The Broncos have traded for the second selection of Day 3. Denver has acquired picks No. 102 and No. 235 from the Seahawks, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In return, Seattle will receive picks No. 121, No. 136, and No. 207.
The Broncos have used the pick on Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin.
Following a breakout 2022 campaign, Franklin had an even bigger season in 2023. He finished the year setting a school record with 14 receiving touchdowns, and he compiled 1,383 yards on 81 receptions. Knocked for his size and physicality, Franklin wasn’t able to parlay his performance into a selection in the first three rounds. Fortunately, he’ll land in a perfect spot in Denver.
Franklin, of course, is plenty familiar with new Broncos QB Bo Nix, with the duo playing alongside each other for the past two seasons. The Broncos reportedly had their eye on several Ducks players, as Mike Klis of 9News in Denver notes that the team hosted Nix, Franklin, and running back Bucky Irving for private workouts on the same day.
With Jerry Jeudy out of the picture, the rookie could carve out a role on a Denver depth chart that also includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and offseason acquisition Josh Reynolds.
Chargers Pick Up OT Rashawn Slater’s Fifth-Year Option
After snagging the draft’s top offensive line prospect, the Chargers have committed to another first-round lineman through the 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chargers have picked up Rashawn Slater‘s fifth-year option.
[RELATED: Chargers Select Joe Alt At No. 5]
As our 2025 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker shows, Slater will now be attached to a fully guaranteed $19MM for the 2025 campaign. The lineman will earn a $2.9MM base salary in 2024 via the fourth year of his rookie contract.
The 13th-overall pick in the 2021 draft (and the second offensive lineman off the board), Slater has started all 36 of his appearances since joining the Chargers. The Northwestern product had a standout rookie season, earning a second-team All-Pro nod after starting all 16 of his games. He ruptured his biceps tendon three games into the 2022 campaign, ending his sophomore season prematurely.
Slater managed to return for the start of the 2023 season and proceeded to appear in every offensive snap for the Chargers. Pro Football Focus ranked Slater 17th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles last season, including one of the highest grades at the position for pass blocking.
The Chargers selected Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt with the fifth-overall pick. While Slater has more than proven himself at LT in front of Justin Herbert, the organization is leaving the door open to Alt taking over the blind side.
“We don’t know yet. Those things are to be determined,” coach Jim Harbaugh said of the OL configuration (via the team’s website). “Count on us playing our best five offensive linemen. What position each guy plays within the offense and within the offensive line is to be determined.”
Steelers Draft NC State LB Payton Wilson Near End Of Third Round
The freefall is over for NC State linebacker Payton Wilson. Despite being ranked as the 48th overall best prospect, according to ESPN, Wilson finally comes off the board late in the third round at 98th overall to the Steelers. The Steelers used the top pick acquired in the trade that sent Kenny Pickett across the state to Philadelphia to select their new defender.
ESPN weren’t the only ones to like Wilson coming out of Raleigh. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranked Wilson as the 41st best prospect on his board. Wilson received lots of interest from NFL teams, as well, with both the Lions and Cowboys showing interest in particular.
Medical concerns will be the main reason people point to for his fall to the back of the third round. Wilson suffered season-ending knee and shoulder injuries in 2018 and 2021, respectively, but had been healthy over his last two seasons with the Wolfpack. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network mentioned in draft coverage that one of Wilson’s knees doesn’t even have an ACL, making his collegiate accomplishments all the more impressive.
Despite starting only one game in his redshirt freshman season, following the knee surgery in 2018, Wilson led NC State in tackles. As a full-time starter again in 2020, Wilson earned first-team All-ACC honors while leading the team in tackles and tackles for loss. He rebounded strongly after 2021’s season-ending injury but really shined as a sixth-year redshirt senior last year.
In his final season with the Wolfpack, Wilson saw career highs in tackles (138), tackles for loss (17.5), sacks (6.0), forced fumbles (1), passes defensed (9), and interceptions (3) en route to unanimous All-American honors. He was given the Butkus Award for the best linebacker in the FBS and was named First-Team All-ACC after leading the conference in tackles. His injury history aside, Wilson makes plays all over the field with instincts, effort, and toughness. If his health can keep him on the field, he’ll be the kind of four-down linebacker that we don’t see often anymore.
The Steelers bring Wilson into a strong group, where he’ll have to compete for snaps. Pittsburgh upgraded the position group in a big way by signing Patrick Queen from their division rival this spring. Now they’ll add Wilson to a group that also returns starters Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. This takes a little pressure off of Wilson, in case there are any injury bugs that still need to get worked out, but entering the NFL at 24 years old, Wilson won’t be content to sit and learn.
If health provides to limits to Wilson’s rookie year, he could step into a talented group of linebackers and potentially earn significant snaps next to Queen, who isn’t likely to come off the field very often. Depending on how he compares to the incumbent starters Holcomb and Roberts, Wilson could be a surprise third-round contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
49ers Acquire No. 86 Pick From Eagles
The 49ers have traded up the third-round order, swapping places with the Eagles. San Francisco has dealt Nos. 94 and 132 to Philadelphia in exchange for the 86th pick. 
Taking advantage of the move up the board, the 49ers have drafted Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni. He has experience at tackle but also on the inside, and it will be interesting to see where he is used at the pro game. This marks the first selection on either side of the ball with respect to line of scrimmage additions during this year’s draft for San Francisco.
The 49ers have been deemed a team which could be in the market for help along the offensive line, though they elected to add at the receiver spot on Thursday night by selecting wideout Ricky Pearsall. That was followed by the decision to help fill the cornerback spot (Renardo Green), but Puni has the potential to see action early in his career, particularly if he is shifted to guard.
The latter began his college career at Division II Central Missouri. Puni spent four years there, seeing time at left and right tackle. That was followed by his decision to transfer to Kansas, and he was a first-teamer with the Jayhawks as well. Puni started all 13 of his appearances in 2022 at the left guard spot before kicking back to the blindside during this past season.
San Francisco has Trent Williams entrenched as a foundational offensive piece at the left tackle position, although his future has been called into question with retirement as an option in the not-too-distant future. Colton McKivitz is on the books for the next two years, meanwhile, and he is in line on the right side. Puni’s quickest path to playing time will thus come at guard, and he is regarded as having starting upside – something which would go a long way to filling a notable need for the NFC champions.
Colts Move Up To No. 79
The Colts have moved up the third-round order, swapping places with the Cardinals. Indianapolis has acquired No. 79 in exchange for 82 and 191.
With the newly-acquired pick, the Colts have drafted Pitt offensive tackle Matt Goncalves. That makes him the second player taken on the offensive side of the ball to join the Colts today, after the team selected the first defender (Laiatu Latu) during Thursday’s opening round. This latest choice will provide depth up front after wideout Adonai Mitchell was added in the second round.
Goncalves spent four seasons at Pitt, redshirting in his freshman campaign. After that point, though, he developed into a key figure on the Panthers’ offensive line by seeing time at both tackle spots. The 6-6, 330-pounder started three of nine contests in 2021 before becoming a full-time starter in the following campaign. He split his time between left and right tackle that year.
Goncalves entered the 2023 season with high expectations, and he was the only Pitt player named to the preseason All-ACC list. His senior year came to an abrupt end after just three contests due to injury, however, something which no doubt impacted his draft stock. Goncalves, if healthy, will provide a high-floor option capable of seeing time at either tackle spot early in his time with the Colts.
Indianapolis has Bernhard Raimann in place on the blindside along with high-priced Braden Smith at the right tackle spot with respect to first-team options. Both players are under contract for multiple years, so Goncalves will likely not have a path to a starting spot right away. He could serve as a capable backup in the short- and long-term, though.
Texans Move Up Eight Spots In Third Round, Trade With Eagles
The Texans have made a big move in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, trading up eight spots to select in the slot formerly owned by the Eagles. Houston is sending the Eagles its third- (86th) and fourth-round (123rd) picks in exchange for the 78th overall pick in third round.
With the pick, the Texans have selected USC safety Calen Bullock, ballhawk in Los Angeles for the Trojans. Earning a starting role partway through his freshman season, Bullock tallied two interceptions and five passes defensed en route to Freshman All-American honors. Bullock exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, leading USC with five interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors for his efforts.
Last year, despite opposing quarterbacks having plenty of tape telling them not to throw his way, Bullock continued to dominate. With 61 tackles, two interceptions, and nine passes defensed, Bullock finished his collegiate career with first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
It was interesting to hear the team announce Bullock as a “defensive back” as some NFL draft boards had Bullock as a cornerback at the professional level. He has the ball skills and body control to play cornerback, though his college production came at safety and nickel.
Steven Nelson, a two-year Houston starting CB, remains in free agency; the Texans needed to find a cornerback to start opposite Derek Stingley. They brought in Jeff Okudah, a former top-three overall pick who has struggled so far at the NFL level, and then drafted Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter earlier tonight in the third round. Lassiter could thrive more in a nickelback role, though, so perhaps Houston doesn’t see Bullock as a cornerback.
Perhaps, the Texans see Bullock as the eventual replacement to veteran safety Jimmie Ward, who missed seven regular-season games and two playoff matchups in his age-32 season. Ward’s two-year deal concludes after this season, so Bullock may be seen as the eventual starter next to Jalen Pitre in 2025 and beyond. Regardless, Bullock’s versatility should help him see the field plenty as a rookie.
Jets Acquire No. 65 From Panthers
The Jets have jumped up the board to begin the third round. New York has sent Nos. 72 and 157 to the Panthers in exchange for the 64th selection. 
New York has opted to choose Western Kentucky receiver Malachi Corley. He will add a unique skillset to the team’s receiving room, having frequently drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel in the pre-draft process. Corley’s abilities as a receiver, rusher and returner make him one of the more intriguing members of a deep WR class.
The Jets addressed the receiver spot earlier this offseason by signing Mike Williams to a one-year deal. The ex-Chargers Pro Bowler will provide a vertical threat on his new team, whereas Corley will likely operate in a different capacity. The latter thrived on turning short passes into notable run-after-catch gains during his time in college.
Corley flashed considerable potential in 2021 when he amassed 691 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up with a stellar campaign, leading Conference USA in catches (101) and yards (1,295), adding 11 scores. That led to high expectations this past season, and Corley delivered again with a 79-984-11 statline.
New York already has Garrett Wilson atop the depth chart in terms of pass-catching options, and the team is open to bringing back Corey Davis. Regardless of if the latter winds up in the fold for the 2024 campaign, Corley should be able to carve out a role in the team’s offense for the short- and long-term future.