HEADLINES

Month: April 2025

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.”

Lions To Exercise Fifth-Year Options On Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams

April 25th, 2025 at 9:12am CST by Sam Robinson

Extension-eligible this offseason, Aidan Hutchinson is poised to land a monster payday despite missing most of last season due to injury. As the standout edge rusher is readying to return from the broken leg he sustained in October, the Lions will construct a bridge toward a potential market-setting payday.

They will make the easy decision to exercise Hutchinson’s fifth-year option Friday, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports. Detroit had been expected to make the same move for Jameson Williams, and Yates adds that will take place as well. This will move both 2022 first-rounders’ contracts through 2026.

The Lions hit big when they chose Hutchinson second overall in 2022, benefiting from the Jaguars’ potential-over-production selection of Travon Walker at No. 1. While Walker has certainly not been a bust, Hutchinson has moved into a higher tier among pass rushers thus far during his career. The Michigan alum led the NFL in pressures in 2023 and had launched a Defensive Player of the Year campaign by producing 7.5 sacks in fewer than five full games. Going into his age-25 season, Hutchinson has already established himself as one of the NFL’s best pass rushers.

Although Hutchinson fell short of the 50% snap threshold last season, his 2023 original-ballot Pro Bowl nod makes him eligible for the second tier among defensive end options. If the Lions classify Hutchinson as a D-end — which would be the cheaper move, a la the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons 2024 designation — he would be tied to a $19.87MM 2026 salary. That doubles as the transition tag number. The linebacker number is $20.86MM.

Hutchinson’s broken leg gutted the Lions’ pass rush, as they still saw their ace EDGE lead the team (by a significant margin) in sacks. Detroit also lost top Hutchinson sidekick Marcus Davenport to a season-ending injury. Although Davenport is back at a reduced rate, the team still has a need at the position. The two-time defending NFC North champs have not re-signed Za’Darius Smith, and nothing is in the works just yet. Hutchinson finishing the 2023 season with 11.5 sacks and being on pace for a much better season last year is more impressive considering the Lions’ lack of a complementary rusher. Tonight represents an avenue for the team to add an important piece there, as that player would be tied to a rookie-level deal through 2028.

The extensions given to Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett likely moved Hutchinson’s asking price past $40MM per year, and the Parsons, T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson markets stand to influence the price point as well. The Lions are certainly budgeting for a long-term Hutchinson extension, and while they have some time thanks to this option, the price could rise significantly as the offseason continues. The Lions were early on Penei Sewell‘s payday last year, giving the 2021 first-rounder a record-setting extension before the draft. Will they act early on Hutchinson to beat the Parsons- and Watt-generated market bump?

Brad Holmes shot down Williams trade rumors after the draft, and while that scenario could conceivably be in play thanks to Williams’ rocky Detroit run and the Lions’ escalating roster costs, the team saw the former No. 12 overall pick reward its patience via a 1,000-yard 2024 season. Williams showed electric ability, and his deep-threat skillset complements Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s work well.

Williams will be tied to a $15.49MM salary in 2026 via this option call, and that decision will buy the Lions time regarding a potential long-term fit. Considering Williams’ two suspensions (under the gambling and PED policies) and 2024 gun-related incident — which did not ultimately produce an arrest and will not bring an NFL ban — it would surprise if the Lions signed off on a extension without seeing more.

Lions GM: No Conversations About Trading Jameson Williams

April 25th, 2025 at 9:08am CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions doled out another market-setting extension this week, making Kerby Joseph the league’s highest-paid safety. Last April, the team gave Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell position-record extensions during an offseason in which Jared Goff, Taylor Decker and Alim McNeill scored big-ticket extensions.

As the likes of Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch and Jahmyr Gibbs have either reached extension eligibility or are moving toward it, Detroit will need to make tough decisions. One potential avenue to recoup value for a player potentially not in the team’s long-term plans surfaced this week, with a Jameson Williams trade rumor coming out. As of now, however, GM Brad Holmes said nothing along those lines is in the offing.

“That’s something that we have never entertained,” Holmes said (via Detroitfootball.net’s Justin Rogers). “I don’t know where that report came from, but that’s not a conversation that me and Dan [Campbell] have ever had.”

Williams has shown flashes of high-end talent, most notably during a 2024 season in which he posted 1,001 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns, but he has also run into off-field trouble. The 2022 first-rounder has been suspended under the NFL’s PED and gambling policies, and an arrest last fall — a gun-related incident not expected to produce an NFL suspension — transpired as well. The former Alabama and Ohio State pass catcher also missed most of his rookie season due to ACL rehab, but the Lions still started to see their 2022 plan for the receiver come to fruition via his 2024 performance.

The Lions can keep the 24-year-old weapon signed through 2026 by exercising his fifth-year option by next week’s deadline, and Holmes confirmed last month the team will likely do so. That would tie Williams to a fully guaranteed $15.49MM 2026 salary, which would impact the receiver’s trade value. The Lions could land a notable asset by moving the deep threat, but having a rookie-scale asset to complement St. Brown for another season may be too valuable to pass up — especially as costs rise at other spots on the roster.

Williams’ past points to the Lions proceeding cautiously regarding a potential extension, even as his price could spike with another 1,000-yard season in 2025. The Lions have the former No. 11 overall pick tied to a $2.64MM base salary in 2025, and the fifth-year option would give the team more evaluation time — as St. Brown’s cap numbers rise.

Giants To Exercise Kayvon Thibodeaux’s Fifth-Year Option

April 25th, 2025 at 8:09am CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 25: Carter indeed became the Giants’ pick at No. 3, but Schoen confirmed (via The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson) the Giants will exercise Thibodeaux’s 2026 option. The Giants will now have their formidable three-EDGE group signed beyond 2025. Burns’ deal runs through 2028, while Carter’s rookie-scale contract — which will include a fifth-year option — can go through 2029.

APRIL 24: While their attention remains focused on the opening round of tonight’s draft, the Giants will soon have a decision to make with respect to Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s short-term future. May 1 looms as the deadline to exercise or decline his fifth-year option.

In February, it was reported New York could be expected to pick up the option for 2026. Doing so would put Thibodeaux in line to collect $14.75MM that season, a figure well short of the top of the current edge rush market. The former fifth overall pick has battled inconsistency during his first three years in the league, however, something which has made the looming option decision a talking point.

On that note, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports the Giants are still “likely” to exercise Thibodeaux’s option. The 24-year-old has plenty of time to develop further, and a repeat of his 11.5-sack 2023 campaign would certainly make a short-term investment worthwhile. With 2024 trade acquisition Brian Burns already attached to a lucrative deal, though, moving on from Thibodeaux and replacing him with a rookie like Abdul Carter tonight has been mentioned as a possible maneuver for general manager Joe Schoen and Co.

As Schwartz writes, however, the Giants’ plans on the Thibodeaux front are unlikely to change even if Carter (seen by many as the favorite for the No. 3 pick) is selected. The Penn State product has experience as an inside linebacker, something which could help New York find ways to keep him along with Thibodeaux and Burns on the field together. Especially if the Giants elect to keep Thibodeaux in the fold for at least the next two years, the matter of a long-term arrangement will become something to watch.

The Oregon product has expressed a desire to remain in the Big Apple, although he does not expect negotiations on a multi-year accord to take place this offseason. Thibodeaux’s production in terms of sacks and pressures took a notable step back in 2024 compared to the previous campaign. That can partially be attributed to the fact he was limited to 12 games last year, but questions remain about the potential for a long-term stretch of production matching the talent he showed in college.

The Giants currently sit mid-pack in the NFL in projected 2026 cap space, and absorbing a spike in pay with respect to Thibodeaux that year would not be a challenge. By this time next week, it will be known if he will remain in place beyond the coming campaign.

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.

Jaguars Acquire No. 2 Pick, Select WR/CB Travis Hunter

April 24th, 2025 at 11:20pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars are making major moves up the draft board. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Jacksonville has acquired the No. 2 pick from the Browns. The Jaguars are using that second overall selection on Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

Full details of the trade:

Jaguars acquire:

  • 2025 first-round pick (No. 2)
  • 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104)
  • 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 200)

Browns acquire:

  • 2025 first-round pick (No. 5)
  • 2025 second-round pick (No. 36)
  • 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126)
  • Browns 2026 first-round pick

It’s a stunning development, although not completely unfounded. We heard earlier today that the Jaguars were sniffing around at a trade up the draft board, with their sights set on Hunter. There were occasional rumblings that the Browns would consider moving back, but it was assumed they’d stay put and select one of the draft’s few blue chip prospects.

Cleveland was a popular potential landing spot for Hunter, but instead the two-way threat will suddenly land in Jacksonville. The Heisman winner has remained insistent that he aims to continue playing at both receiver and cornerback as a pro. Hunter also indicated that teams were receptive to that idea, stating that the concept of playing on offense and defense in the NFL has not been an issue for the teams he has spoken with.

The Jaguars are coming off a disappointing season that led to sweeping changes in leadership. Liam Coen has been brought in as head coach, with ex-Rams exec James Gladstone guiding the front office. That duo is making an immediate swing that they’re hoping will turn around the fortunes of the organization.

On offense, Hunter would provide Trevor Lawrence with another dynamic option. 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas was a hit, as the wideout finished his rookie campaign with 1,330 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Hunter and Thomas will form perhaps the best young receiver duo in the NFL, and there’s a belief the 2025 second-overall pick will ultimately settle into an offensive role.

The team may not feel as much urgency to use the rookie on the defensive side of the ball, although Hunter is also considered an elite prospect at cornerback. He split snaps nearly evenly during his Heisman-winning 2024 season. The team returns their top three CBs from 2024 (Tyson Campbell, Jarrian Jones, Montaric Brown) and they added Jourdan Lewis in free agency. That could allow Hunter to serve in a rotational role as he juggles playing both sides of the ball as a professional.

Hunter was considered one of the draft’s elite prospects following his headline-grabbing 2024 campaign. The Colorado star finished the season with 1,263 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns, and he added another 36 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He beat out Ashton Jeanty narrowly for the Heisman and had been earmarked for the No. 2 draft slot for weeks.

After making a pre-draft trade with Houston involving Day 3 picks — including a fifth-rounder this year — Cleveland will now land the fifth overall pick, plus an early second and a future first. The Browns were often connected to Hunter or Abdul Carter, and it was expected that they’d resist trade inquiries and opt for the blue chip prospect. Instead, the Browns will turn to the second tier of draft options.

Issues Between Jalen Ramsey, Mike McDaniel Led To Trade Talks

April 24th, 2025 at 11:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins continue to seek trade options that would send the star cornerback out of Miami. With the draft representing an opportunity for the two sides to finalize a divorce, we’re getting more details on how we even got here in the first place.

According to Armando Salguero of Outkick, issues between the two sides aren’t connected to finances. Instead, a potential Ramsey exit is because the player doesn’t “see eye to eye” with head coach Mike McDaniel. In fact, Salguero goes as far as describing the relationship between the two as “irreparably broken,” and he says it’s hard to envision the cornerback playing again for head coach.

This actually isn’t the first time we’ve heard of potential issues in the locker room, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com reported earlier today that McDaniel has “rubbed a lot of the veterans the wrong way” following the coach’s strong start to his career. Many of those defensive players would prefer to play elsewhere vs. sticking in Miami, and Pauline hints that’s a big reason why the organization has struggled to re-sign players on that side of the ball (and recruit replacements).

The Dolphins have told Ramsey that they’ll work with him to find a favorable landing spot, and this is probably a big reason why Salguero notes that the player has “respect” for GM Chris Grier. The Rams have already been mentioned as a landing spot for their former All-Pro cornerback, and there’s a chance more teams emerge if a trade isn’t consummated during the draft.

It’s been assumed the two sides were seeking a separation after Ramsey refused a pay cut, although Salguero says that’s not the reason for the inevitable trade. Further, the front office seemingly placated the player when they handed him more guaranteed money — via a September 2024 extension (three years, $72.3MM) — soon after Patrick Surtain reset the cornerback market.

The current issue with a Ramsey trade is timing, as a pre-June 1 trade would cost the Dolphins $25.2MM in dead money. The draft could be the best opportunity for the organization to get an offer built on draft picks, but they may just prefer to wait for financial flexibility.

Either way, it appears there’s no chance of Ramsey reversing course and returning to Miami next season.

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.

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