2025 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Bryce Young Pushed For Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan Selection; Rams Showed Interest

April 25th, 2025 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Many expected the Panthers to explore trading down during last night’s opening round. Failing that, a defensive addition was seen as a logical target. Wideout Tetairoa McMillan emerged as a name to watch, however, and the Arizona wideout was taken with the No. 8 pick.

In the wake of that decision, further details have emerged on the McMillan pick. Carolina elected to draft a wideout for the second offseason in a row, after general manager Dan Morgan and Co. went with Xavier Legette in 2024. McMillan had a strong advocate in the form of quarterback Bryce Young, something he touched on shortly after hearing his name called.

“Going into Mr. Morgan’s office, going into coach [Dave] Canales’ office and really just sitting on the table for me and telling them, ‘Hey, man, we need to pick this guy,’” McMillan said, via Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). “Although I feel like I did what I needed to do to be in this position, I give credit to Bryce for vouching for me and ultimately for them taking a chance on me.”

Over the course of his three years in college, the All-American demonstrated a strong ability with respect to contested catches in particular. While questions linger about McMillan’s deep speed and ability to separate at the NFL level, his skillset will be welcomed on a offense which ranked 30th in passing yardage last season. It will be interesting to see how Young and McMillan operate together given the former No. 1 pick’s role in the latter’s arrival in Charlotte.

Morgan said (via Person) there was trade interest in the Panthers’ top pick, which comes as no surprise. The Rams were among those looking to move up the board, with Person’s colleague Dianna Russini reporting McMillan was viewed as the target for that effort. Los Angeles moved on from Cooper Kupp this offseason, leaving Puka Nacua and free agent addition Davante Adams atop the depth chart at the WR spot. After seeing McMillan (along with fellow wideouts Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden) hear their names called on Day 1, the Rams ultimately traded out of the first round.

For the Panthers, meanwhile, McMillan will be expected to handle a notable workload right away alongside Legette and (for at least one season) veteran Adam Thielen. If he develops as planned, the team could have a strong receiver tandem in place for years to come.

Giants Draft Fallout: Wilson, Dart, Daboll, Sanders, Schoen, Browns, Rams, Pack, Vikes

April 25th, 2025 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Post-draft, Brian Daboll confirmed Russell Wilson will remain the Giants‘ starter entering the season. Considering Jaxson Dart‘s profile, it should not be expected the former Ole Miss and USC passer would have a good chance to overtake Wilson before the season. But Daboll and GM Joe Schoen’s New York fates are almost definitely tethered to Dart now.

After passing on Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix last year, the Giants traded three Day 2 picks to land Dart at No. 25. They did not view any of the non-Cam Ward QBs in this class as worthy of No. 3 overall, where Abdul Carter went as expected. But the decision to go with Dart over Shedeur Sanders provided a signature sequence during this draft’s opening night.

A pre-draft report indicated the Giants were split on Sanders (as the Dart pairing gained steam), and while the QB still had support in the building going into the draft, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates the Colorado prospect’s momentum cooled as the coaches became involved in the evaluation process. Rumblings of Daboll preferring Dart look to have been accurate. The Giants did more work on Sanders compared to Dart, per the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard, who indicates Schoen scouted on in-person Dart performance. Conversely, a pre-draft assessment tabbed the fourth-year Giants GM as having “lived in Boulder.”

It would appear Daboll drove the bus for Dart, as Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz offers, and teams’ reported issues with Sanders’ attitude look to have included a Giants encounter. A Daboll-Sanders pre-draft meeting did not go well, according to The Ringer’s Todd McShay (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy). A quarterback who had entered the pre-draft process as a fairly safe top-10 pick fell out of the first round, with Giants and Steelers decisions defining the second-generation NFL prospect’s night. The Steelers chose Oregon D-lineman Derrick Harmon four picks before the Giants moved back into Round 1 for Dart.

The Giants initially contacted other teams about trading up, as Duggan adds Schoen saw some of his offers to move back up rejected. We heard midway through the first round the Giants had launched their effort to move back into Round 1 — a rumored pursuit that we now know was Dart-based — but he did not see the offers gain much traction until around 22.

The Steelers passing undoubtedly intensified the Giants’ effort to land their second-favorite QB in this class (after Ward trade efforts failed). The Chargers passed to draft Omarion Hampton, but the Texans allowed the Giants to move up three spots later. It cost the team Nos. 34, 99 and a 2026 third-round pick. The Giants held a second third-rounder this year, helping move the trade across the goal line.

Green Bay and Minnesota turned down trade offers for the Nos. 23 and 24 overall picks, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman and the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. It is safe to assume Schoen made calls to both NFC North teams, as he was leery of another QB-needy club swooping in. The Browns, Saints and Rams had been connected to making a move at this juncture of the draft, while the Steelers’ need remained after their Harmon pick.

Several teams made the Packers offers, Brian Gutekunst said. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said talks intensified shortly before his team’s No. 24 pick. In addition to the QB-needy lot, the Falcons were angling to move up for edge rusher James Pearce Jr., which they did (via the Rams) at No. 26. That move cost a first-round pick, while the Giants escaped without needing to part with their 2026 first.

New York’s move came in part because of a fear the Browns were eyeing Dart, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets. Other teams shared this view, even though a draft-day report connected the Steelers, Rams and Saints to Dart. Though, the Browns were able to keep their Travis Hunter negotiations with the Jaguars quiet for weeks; they look to have done the same with Dart. Holding the top pick in Round 2 and a second selection three spots later (thanks to the Hunter swap), Cleveland now has its choice of the remaining QBs. The team could have put together an enticing package to move up, but it stood down. The Giants just made sure the AFC North club could not choose Dart. The Rams were not a factor for Dart, per Raanan and SNY’s Connor Hughes.

Although the Giants were still meeting on QBs this week, per Schoen, Leonard adds Daboll and Dart had begun texting daily after the Giants sent a sizable contingent to Ole Miss’ mid-March pro day. That communication understandably cooled before the draft, leaving Dart in the dark, but he will be asked to do what Daniel Jones could not. (That said, Jones was still a six-year Giants starter.) His tenure, however, moved Daboll and Schoen to the hot seat. Considering Jones was a Dave Gettleman pick, it had always seemed logical — despite the Wilson and Jameis Winston signings — this regime would tab its QB in this draft.

The Giants will aim to give Dart a full-season redshirt, Duggan adds. A previous plan did not get off the ground, as Jones replaced Eli Manning in Week 2 of his rookie season. Wilson’s post-Seattle play also may not be enough to hold off Dart, but the RPO-based college passer will almost definitely require some in-season acclimation time. Calls for the rookie will likely be loud, especially as the Giants’ schedule includes eight games against the NFC North and AFC West — not to mention the four against the teams that played for the NFC title last season.

The Schoen-Daboll regime also stands to be eager to sink or swim with a quarterback it drafted, rather than allow Wilson to steer the ship too far off course while John Mara evaluates the current power structure’s future. Going into training camp, however, Wilson will have a firm grip on the job. This will be new territory for the potential Hall of Famer, however, as he has not needed to fend off a highly drafted rookie previously.

Payton: Broncos Did Not Seek Trade-Up, Eyeing RB Depth In Draft

April 25th, 2025 at 11:07am CST by Sam Robinson

Higher-profile storylines — particularly Shedeur Sanders‘ destination — will take shape on Day 2, but the Broncos making a best-player-available pick Thursday night will ramp up some pressure on the team to add to their skill-position group. But their rumored effort to trade up may well have been a second straight Round 1 smokescreen for the team.

Payton, who admitted to playing a lead role in a 2024 smokescreen effort related to the team’s first-round strategy, said post-draft (via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) the Broncos were not interested in moving up. Calling eventual No. 20 overall pick Jahdae Barron “too unique to pass up,” the third-year Broncos HC pointed to this class’ running back depth as a reason they went with the Texas cornerback.

The Chargers chose Omarion Hampton two spots after the Broncos passed on him to strengthen their secondary, and Denver does not hold another pick until No. 51. This runs the risk of the AFC West team missing out on more RB targets, as Ohio State backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins — both of whom logged “30” visits with the Broncos, joining Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson in doing so — could be off the board by then. Payton has shown an early pattern of trading up on Day 2, having climbed for both Marvin Mims and Riley Moss. The team may need to consider a move up if it intends to land one of the top remaining RBs.

George Paton said before the draft the team would select a running back this year, and the fifth-year Denver GM reaffirmed that pledge after the Barron pick. Paton also indicated one back drew the team’s interest in a trade-down scenario, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Hampton was the only non-Ashton Jeanty RB to be taken on Day 1, but the Broncos could have eyed one of the above-referenced backs had they moved down from No. 20.

Rumblings about the Broncos moving up surfaced early in the week, but trade-down rumors then emerged. After it appeared that would be Denver’s aim, another batch of trade-up rumors came in just before Round 1. This convoluted messaging about the team’s route reminded of 2024, when the team was connected to an aggressive trade-up — with All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain potentially involved in a package — to land a quarterback. Payton later admitted he helped orchestrate that scheme, only to eventually nix any trade-down talk when the Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. The Broncos stayed at 12 and chose Bo Nix.

The team likely wants a starter-level back to lead a group housing former UDFA Jaleel McLaughlin and 2024 fifth-rounder Audric Estime, who did not see much time as a rookie. Wide receiver also came up for the Broncos, but they chose Barron over former Texas teammate Matthew Golden. As Barron will prepare to join Surtain and Co. in Denver’s secondary, the team’s RB need will take center stage Friday night.

WR Will Be Travis Hunter’s Primary Position; Latest On Jaguars’ Trade-Up Move

April 25th, 2025 at 10:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Jaguars provided a shocker early in the draft by trading up for Travis Hunter, they had worked out terms of this swap with the Browns weeks ago. Ownership involvement became necessary, but The Athletic’s Michael Silver reports GMs James Gladstone and Andrew Berry agreed to the swap for No. 2 overall April 7.

Rumblings surfaced about a deal midway through the week, gaining steam as draft day progressed, but Gladstone initially approached fellow Jags bigwigs — HC Liam Coen and Hall of Fame tackle-turned-exec Tony Boselli — about trading up. Shad Khan then signed off on the move, which cost the Jags their second-rounder and 2026 first. The sides agreed, per Silver, on the trade only on the condition the Titans began the draft with Cam Ward, explaining why the Browns needed to go on the clock before the deal became official.

The trade helps arm the Browns with a key future asset, in the event they do not land their quarterback of the future Friday night. Hunter, meanwhile, will head to Jacksonville — after it had been assumed for weeks he would be Cleveland-bound. At least one other team discussed No. 2 overall with the Browns, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. We heard this week the Raiders connected to trading up from No. 6, though a stealth suitor may well have been in the mix along with the Jags.

“We had a pretty good idea for probably the last couple of weeks that this was going to likely come to fruition,” Gladstone said, via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco. “Obviously, you never know until it actually does in fact take place, but we’re certainly happy that it did.”

Berry confirmed (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) the 2026 quarterback class was “tangentially related” to this exchange. The Browns still have Deshaun Watson‘s albatross contract on their books through 2026, and although an insurance measure on the QB’s sunk-cost contract could provide notable cap relief, Cleveland will face a dead money record — thanks to four restructures on the deal — if it releases Watson next year. They will have some prime opportunities, beginning tonight, to add premium rookie-scale assets.

As for the Jaguars’ plans, Gladstone said they will begin Hunter at wide receiver. Berry had said, when it looked like the Browns would draft Hunter, he would play receiver in Cleveland. But Boselli made clear (via Silver) the team has designs on capitalizing on Hunter’s two-way skillset. Surpassing 700 snaps on both offense and defense last season, Hunter offers the Jags a player who should immediately upgrade their passing attack alongside Brian Thomas Jr. while also eventually providing help at cornerback when paired with Tyson Campbell.

A Florida State recruit who flipped to Jackson State in 2022, Hunter followed Deion Sanders to Colorado last year. After a 721-yard receiving season in his Buffaloes debut — an injury-shortened, nine-game year — the 6-foot-1 weapon posted 1,258 receiving yards and totaled 16 touchdowns during a Heisman-winning 2024 slate. The Jags, who moved on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram this offseason, will now pair Thomas and Hunter’s rookie contracts with Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. The Jags will have this package secured at a rookie-deal rate through 2028, with a fifth-year option in place to move the deal through decade’s end.

This trade-up effort partially explains why the Jaguars did not conduct “30” visits, and Hunter said during the draft he only spoke with the Jags at the Combine. A “30” visit with Hunter would have tripped some alarms, and while it is still interesting Jacksonville’s new regime passed on these key meetings altogether, the club made probably the splashiest move in its 31-draft history by obtaining Hunter via this trade-up.

The deal represents an obvious swing for Gladstone, a 34-year-old exec hired after Khan backtracked on retaining Trent Baalke. The Jags had kept the embattled GM on to run their coaching search, one that had sputtered after Coen initially turned down a second interview. Gladstone is working alongside the empowered HC, but it appears he drove the bus on this trade. For the foreseeable future, the ex-Rams staffer will be judged on how it works out.

Meanwhile, Berry’s tenure — the Browns’ two playoff berths notwithstanding — is defined by the Watson miss. Jimmy Haslam has stuck with his GM, representing a course change from the owner’s early years in charge, but Berry added a notable legacy point Thursday night by passing on Hunter, whom he had likened to MLB all-time great Shohei Ohtani. The Browns will attempt to make their draft haul count, as they still consider a quarterback move to move the Watson saga toward its conclusion.

“We obviously had a strong affinity for Travis, no different than we had strong affinity for a number of players at the top,” Berry said, via Cabot. “I think the thing for us is there are a lot of good players in every class, and as much as we liked Travis or Abdul (Carter) or Ashton Jeanty, or whoever that may be, the opportunity still to get a premier prospect and add significantly to our resources, which gives us added flexibility to build the team, we felt like it was an opportunity that made sense.”

Giants Acquire No. 25, Select QB Jaxson Dart

April 24th, 2025 at 11:22pm CST by Ben Levine

There was some speculation about the Giants jumping back into the first round as they pursued a QB, and the front office has made that a reality. Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that the team has acquired pick No. 25 from the Texans. The Giants will use their new pick to select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.

Full trade details:

Giants acquire:

2025 first-round pick (No. 25)

Texans acquire:

2025 second-round pick (No. 34)
2025 third-round pick (No. 99)
2026 third-round pick

With the Titans committed to Cam Ward at No. 1, holding there despite multiple Giants offers (one of which including the team’s 2026 first-round pick), Big Blue pivoted to the draft’s second wave of QBs. The team did extensive homework on some of the draft’s other top passing prospects. That included Dart, but it also included Shedeur Sanders, who was generally considered the second-best player at his position.

There was some speculation that a team could make a move up the draft board to select the Colorado product early in the first round, and there was some belief that the Giants could even ignore the draft’s blue chip prospects and simply use No. 3 on Sanders. Instead, Sanders — after a report the Giants were split on the two-year Colorado starter — ended up falling all the way to No. 25, and the Giants made the move…to select Dart.

It’s a pretty stunning development, but it may not be as much of an indictment on Sanders as it is a vote of confidence for Dart. The Ole Miss product recently came up as a player Brian Daboll liked, and the prospect quickly evolved from a potential Day 2 pick into a potential Day 1 pick throughout the pre-draft process. Daboll-Dart connections had developed for a bit leading up to the draft, and the fourth-year HC may well be staking his job on the SEC prospect — after Dave Gettleman-era draftee Daniel Jones defined the first three years of Daboll and GM Joe Schoen‘s tenure.

Dart had three strong seasons at Ole Miss, but he took it to another level in 2024. The prospect finished the campaign having completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Dart also continued to show some ability on the ground, compiling 495 rushing yards on 124 carries. Thanks to an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl, Dart separated himself from the likes of Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe…and he apparently did enough to jump Sanders on the draft board.

Dart, 22 in May, will now join a Giants squad that was clearly hunting for a future signal caller. The Giants obviously believe in Dart’s ability considering the investment, but with Daboll and Schoen on the hot seat, leadership may not be inclined to immediately toss the rookie into the starting lineup.

The Jones era came to an end last season, and Tommy DeVito is the only holdover from the former QB grouping. Since free agency started, the team added a pair of notable veterans in Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and both of those players will surely sit above their new rookie teammate on the depth chart. Wilson notably only inked a one-year contract with New York, and while Winston’s deal is for two seasons, Dart could have a pathway to a starting gig in 2026. Whether the current regime is around to see it remains to be seen.

Chiefs Select T Josh Simmons At No. 32

April 24th, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

To no surprise, the Chiefs have looked at the offensive tackle spot to close out the first round of the draft. Ohio State’s Josh Simmons is headed to Kansas City. With Simmons on the roster, the team now has plenty of bodies to work with on the line, if they can just figure out the right combination.

It’s a good thing the Chiefs have so many bodies, too, since Simmons could be a bit of a project in the NFL. After a redshirt season at San Diego State, Simmons started a season at right tackle before transferring to Columbus and switching to left tackle. As a redshirt junior, Simmons returned to start on the left side before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Still, the 22-year-old has displayed quickness off the line of scrimmage and impressive balance in his time as a starter.

Last year’s starting tackles for the Chiefs, Jawaan Taylor and Wanya Morris, were anything but impressive in 2024. The team still has last year’s second-round pick, Kingsley Suamataia, and free agent signing Jaylon Moore to work with, but plenty of question marks remain on the depth chart. Luckily, enough of those players can man the offensive line effectively until Simmons is recovered and ready to contribute.

Simmons certainly holds the potential to act as an improvement at tackle in Kansas City, but most of his impact in 2025 will depend on his injury outlook. If Simmons can recover quickly, he stands a chance of making a significant impact in the coming year. If not, the Chiefs will hope he can contribute in the near future.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Eagles Acquire No. 31, Draft Jihaad Campbell

April 24th, 2025 at 10:38pm CST by Ben Levine

The Eagles have pulled off a one-pick swap at the back of the first round. Philadelphia has acquired No. 31 from the Chiefs, sending Kansas City Nos. 32 and 164 (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

With the pick, the Eagles have selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Lingering as one of the best available prospects for an extended stretch tonight, Campbell will join the defending Super Bowl champions — after their trade with the team they walloped in February. As the Chiefs moved to draft tackle Josh Simmons at No. 32, the Eagles bolstered their linebacking corps with a rookie-scale asset.

Campbell established himself as a late-Day 1 or early-Day 2 pick following a strong showing in 2024. The Alabama linebacker finished the season with 117 tackles, five sacks, and 12 tackles for loss, a performance that earned him All-SEC honors.

Campbell drew praise for his coverage ability thanks to his athleticism and acceleration. Scouts weren’t as high on his run-stopping ability, although he lands in a good spot for his development in Philly. The prospect ultimately profiles as more of a middle linebacker, although he possesses the versatility and pass-rush prowess to also play on the edge.

The Eagles are apparently enamored with Campbell’s ability, as the team reportedly tried to trade up earlier in the first round to select the Alabama product. The player’s recovery from a shoulder injury may have slightly hurt his draft stock, a development that ended up working in Philly’s favor.

As Nakobe Dean recovers from a torn patellar tendon, Campbell could be called on to start at middle linebacker to begin the 2025 campaign. When the whole grouping is entirely healthy, Campbell may find himself in a rotational role playing behind Dean and Zack Baun. Campbell’s contract becomes critical now that the Eagles have paid Baun, who has gone from a one-year, $3.5MM deal to a three-year, $51MM pact after his first-team All-Pro season. With injuries marring Dean’s rookie contract, the Eagles paid up to make a more significant investment in a position they had recently devoted minimal resources to stocking.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Bills Select CB Maxwell Hairston At No. 30

April 24th, 2025 at 10:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

To no surprise, the Bills have gone the cornerback route with their top pick. Buffalo has selected Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston at No. 30 overall. A relatively new-look secondary will now feature the former Wildcat in 2025.

Hairston put himself on the map with a school-record three interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2023, but he followed up the five-pick campaign with only one interception and five passes defensed in an abbreviated 2024, though that singular pick was also returned for a score.

Hairston’s ball-skills draw the most attention, but he works with a keen awareness of how the defense around him is unfolding. Obviously, the shoulder injury that caused him to miss five games last year is something to watch moving forward, but as long as he stays healthy, the Bills have landed a playmaker on the outside.

Buffalo relied heavily on Christian Benford in 2024 as Rasul Douglas and Kaiir Elam — both since departed — returned middling campaigns. The team brought back a familiar face in free agency in Dane Jackson, but Jackson didn’t fare much better than Douglas and Elam during his time in Carolina. Hairston should be able to slide into a starting role as a rookie, but if he needs a bit of time to develop, another familiar, veteran face, Tre’Davious White, should be able to hold down the position to start 2025.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Commanders Draft Josh Conerly Jr. At No. 29

April 24th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders have added further along the offensive line with their first-round pick. Washington has selected Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29.

Following Oregon teammate Derrick Harmon off the board in the 20s, Conerly represents the second big swing the Commanders have taken at tackle this offseason. They traded for Laremy Tunsil on Day 1 of free agency; on Day 1 of the draft, they have likely landed their other tackle.

A Washington O-line investment came up this week, and Conerly had been rumored as a target. Rather than potentially replacing Nick Allegretti at guard, the Commanders appear prepared to displace Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Wylie is returning but doing so after accepting a pay cut. The team is prepared to slide Brandon Coleman to the right side, but the 2024 third-round pick — a 12-game LT starter as a rookie — now looks more likely to end up as the Commanders’ swing tackle. Wylie has a past as a guard, but his future in the nation’s capital suddenly looks foggy.

Conerly will head to D.C. after elevating his stock during the Ducks’ Big Ten debut. Working as Oregon’s left tackle, Conerly finished as a first-team all-conference pick for a team that advanced to the CFP quarterfinals. Tunsil has not played anywhere but left tackle since giving way to Branden Albert as a Dolphins rookie in 2016, when he played guard, so Conerly will need to shift to the right side. Most of the tackles chosen in last year’s first round flipped sides, and Conerly will have a full offseason program to develop at RT.

The Commanders had worked with a Day 2 pick and a stopgap (Cornelius Lucas) at LT last season, with a middling veteran (Wylie) on the right side. After Jayden Daniels dazzled as the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year, the franchise is serious about upgrading their new star QB’s edge protection. Although Conerly has much to learn at the pro level, Daniels will be in line to be better protected in 2025.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Lions Draft DT Tyleik Williams At No. 28

April 24th, 2025 at 10:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions have continued a strong opening night along the defensive line. Detroit has selected Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams at No. 28.

Despite rostering D.J. Reader and extending Alim McNeill, the Lions were continually mentioned as a potential landing spot for defensive line prospects during the pre-draft process. The organization ultimately landed on Williams, who has garnered increased attention in the weeks leading up to the draft.

The Ohio State product is plenty familiar to Buckeyes fans, having appeared in 51 games across four seasons. He showed some top-end pass-rush ability as a freshman, finishing with five sacks. Since then, he’s only compiled 6.5 sacks, but he still did enough to draw the attention of NFL teams. Listed at six-foot-three and 330 pounds, there’s hope that Williams can command multiple blockers when he’s playing at his best.

There may not be an immediate role for Williams in Detroit, but the rookie will surely be counted on moving forward. In addition to Reader and McNeill, the Lions also signed Levi Onwuzurike to a one-year deal in March. That’s enough depth to temporarily bury the rookie on the depth chart.

Considering that depth, there was some speculation that the organization would pursue an Aidan Hutchinson wingman with their first-round selection. However, the organization also understood that Reader will turn 31 in July and McNeill is coming off an ACL tear. If either of those players see a drop off, the team already had a solution in their 2025 first-round pick.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

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