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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.

Colts Sign TE Tyler Warren, Six Other Draft Picks

May 9th, 2025 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Seven of the Colts’ nine draft picks are on the books. First-round tight end Tyler Warren is among the draftees who are officially under contract, the team announced on Friday.

Warren’s four-year pact is worth $20.96MM, as noted by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That figure is guaranteed in full and it includes an $11.88MM signing bonus. Like all Day 1 selections, Warren will be eligible to have his 2029 fifth-year option picked up.

The Penn State product entered the 2024 campaign ranked by many behind Colston Loveland as the top tight end in this year’s draft class. Warren made a strong push to change that perspective over the course of the campaign, though, finding success in a number of capacities on offense. During the pre-draft process, a number of evaluators saw him as TE1 as a result.

Just like Loveland, Warren was regularly connected to the Colts. Indianapolis has long struggled to find a productive contributor at the tight end position, and the No. 14 pick represented a prime opportunity to make an addition at that spot. Loveland came off the board 10th overall, but Warren was available when the Colts were on the clock. The team had the opportunity to trade down but chose to stay in place and add the Mackey Award winner. Warren will be counted on to contribute in the run and pass games right away, and if he develops as hoped he will serve a key role for years to come.

Indianapolis has also agreed to terms with cornerback Justin Walley (third round, Minnesota), offensive tackle Jalen Travis (fourth round, Iowa State), running back DJ Giddens (fifth round, Kansas State), quarterback Riley Leonard (sixth round, Notre Dame), defensive tackle Tim Smith (sixth round, Alabama) and safety Hunter Wohler (seventh round, Wisconsin). As a result, only second-round edge rusher J.T. Tuimoloau and sixth-round quarterback Graham Mertz remain unsigned.

Dolphins Sign First-Round DT Kenneth Grant, Six Others

May 9th, 2025 at 8:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Many teams around the NFL are busy inking draft picks to their rookie deals. In the case of the Dolphins, that includes their top selection now being on the books.

Kenneth Grant has signed his rookie deal, the team announced on Friday. The defensive tackle was one of several prospects at his position seen as a strong candidate to hear his name called during the first round. While it therefore came as little surprise he came off the board on Day 1, the No. 13 draft slot was seen by many as a slight reach.

Grant spent each of his three college seasons at Michigan, handling a notable role along the defensive interior alongside Mason Graham. Those two were both key contributors in the Wolverines’ national title in 2023 and they remained impactful players last year. Whereas Graham showcased plenty of potential against the pass, though, Grant has not developed as much in that area. Still, the latter will be counted on to be an impactful producer on early downs as he transitions to the pro game.

In 2024 – their first season following Christian Wilkins‘ free agent departure – the Dolphins ranked ninth against the run. That level of success is a testament in part to the team’s D-line, a unit which lost Calais Campbell this spring. Grant will compete for snaps alongside Zach Sieler and Benito Jones; Miami had Neil Farrell in the fold until yesterday, when he was among the veterans cut in anticipation of rookie minicamp beginning.

Now, Grant will join fellow rookies Jordan Phillips (fifth round, Maryland) and Zeek Biggers (seventh round, Georgia Tech) in vying for playing time along the defensive line. Both Phillips and Biggers have signed their respective four-year contracts. The same is also true of fifth-round cornerback Jason Marshall (Florida), fifth-round safety Dante Trader (Maryland), sixth-round running back Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State) and seventh-round quarterback Quinn Ewers (Texas).

As a result, seven of the team’s eight draftees are on the books at this point. The lone exception is Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea, whom the Dolphins traded up to select in the second round.

Panthers Release Jadeveon Clowney

May 8th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ offseason roster cuts will include Jadeveon Clowney. The veteran pass rusher is being released, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The move is now official.

Clowney’s future in Carolina has been a talking point this offseason, with the team engaging in trade talks prior to the draft. No deal was worked out during the event, but the Panthers added a pair of edge rushers on Day 2. As a result, Clowney’s tenure remained far from certain. Now, the former No. 1 pick will face free agency yet again.

2025 marked the final year of Clowney’s deal, the most recent short-term accord in his journeyman NFL career. This release will generate $7.78MM in cap savings while incurring a dead money charge of $6MM presuming it is not processed with a post-June 1 designation.

A Rock Hill, SC native and South Carolina alum, Clowney’s homecoming last spring set him up to handle a key role as the Panthers began the post-Brian Burns era along the edge. He started all 14 of his appearances, totaling 5.5 sacks along the way. Carolina will move forward without him in the fold, though, with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen on the books for the next four years.

The Panthers were widely expected to target a defender with the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, and Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker were still on the board when they were on the clock. Instead, the team went the receiver route by drafting Tetairoa McMillan. That decision was based in part on Carolina’s view that Day 2 offered better options along the edge than at the WR spot. The team is certainly confident its new additions on defense will be able to make an impact right away since efforts to land draft capital in return for Clowney have now ended.

The 32-year-old had one-and-done tenures with the Seahawks and Titans following his five years in Houston to begin his career. Clowney then spent two seasons in Cleveland, a stretch which included a downturn in production with only a pair of sacks in 2022. He enjoyed a bounce-back campaign with the Ravens the following year, matching his career high with 9.5 sacks. Baltimore was interested in retaining him, and the Jets were in the market as well. In the end, Carolina’s two-year offer won out, although that has proven to only amount to a one-year commitment.

The Panthers ranked last in the NFL in scoring and total defense, and their 32 sacks placed the team 29th in the league. Improvement in that regard will be a key goal, but Clowney will not play a role in that effort. He will now join the likes of Von Miller, Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon as veteran edge rushers still on the market.

Panthers Place Jonathon Brooks On PUP List

May 8th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Among the many roster moves the Panthers made on Thursday was the decision to place Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list. As a result, the second-year running back will miss the entire 2025 campaign.

Brooks’ college career ended due to an ACL tear. The injury delayed his NFL debut, and Brooks wound up making only three appearances as a rookie. The top running back in last year’s draft suffered another ACL tear in December, however, which cut short his season and led to questions about his 2025 availability. Now, his attention will turn to a lengthy rehab timeline.

By January, Brooks had undergone surgery on his right knee, the same one affected by his previous ACL tear. The timing of that procedure left the door open to a return late in the 2025 season, but that is no longer the case. The 21-year-old – whose rookie contract runs through 2027 – will look to return to full health by next fall in a bid to live up to expectations in Carolina.

In the meantime, the Panthers will move forward with a backfield which will likely once again be led by Chuba Hubbard. The 25-year-old Canadian enjoyed a career year last season and he earned a four-year extension along the way. Hubbard can be expected to reprise his role as Carolina’s top running back as the team looks to take a needed step forward in the passing game in 2025. Free agent addition Rico Dowdle (who parlayed his one and only year as a Cowboys starter into a 1,000-yard campaign) is also in the mix.

The Panthers also made an addition at the RB spot during the draft. Trevor Etienne was selected in the fourth round, and he could provide depth contributions as a rookie with Brooks out of the picture for this season. The latter enjoyed a successful final year at Texas, topping 1,400 scrimmage yards and scoring 11 total touchdowns. That helped make him a second-round pick, but to date things have not gone according to plan at the pro level.

While efficiency through the air was an issue for Carolina in 2024, the team finished mid-pack in rushing production. Brooks could have been counted on to play a role in duplicating or improving upon that mark late this season, but that will no longer be the case.

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