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Ravens Select Mike Green With 59th Pick

April 25th, 2025 at 8:14pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens have selected Marshall edge rusher Mike Green with the 59th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, ending the 21-year-old’s slide after an initial first-round projection.

Accusations of sexual assault have raised significant character concerns about Green, who racked up 17.0 sacks in 2024 and posted elite agility numbers at his pro day. He was linked to multiple teams in the first round, including the Falcons, but concerns about his past knocked him off of multiple teams’ boards, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Green’s selection by the Ravens will shine a spotlight on the allegations against him with the team already waiting for the results of a league investigation into Justin Tucker. Baltimore’s front office has historically prioritized high-character prospects in the draft, such as Malaki Starks, last night’s first-round selection. The team has largely avoided questions about Tucker this offseason, but drafting Green will put more attention on their approach to players with allegations of sexual misconduct off the field.

As a player, though, Green profiles as a complete edge rusher with the athleticism, bend, and violence to be a consistent sack-getter in the NFL. Against the run, he compensates for his lack of size with power and effort to set a hard edge. He played against lesser competition in the Sun Belt in college and will face a significant jump in the NFL, but his tape clearly shows the potential to be an elite pass-rusher in the pros.

Lions Acquire No. 57 From Broncos

April 25th, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly after moving down the No. 57, the Broncos have traded down once again. Denver has sent that pick and No. 230 to the the Lions for Nos. 60 and 130 (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).

With the newly-acquired selection, Detroit has added Tate Ratledge. The Georgia guard was the Lions’ pick in PFR’s first-round mock, and he is indeed headed to the Motor City. Ratledge will likely compete for a starting spot as a rookie.

Ratledge redshirted in 2020 and a foot injury limited him to only one game the following season. From that point on, he operated as a starter for the Bulldogs. Over the past two seasons, Ratledge earned first-team All-SEC acclaim; he added a first-team All-American nod in 2024.

The Lions have had one of the NFL’s top offensive lines for years. That is expected to remain the case moving forward, but the past two offseasons have seen guards Jonah Jackson and Kevin Zeitler depart in free agency. As a result, that position represented a logical target for an early draft addition on the part of Detroit.

The Lions addressed the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball last night, adding defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at No. 28. That move did not involve a trade-up maneuver, but the fact this one did illustrates how highly-regarded Ratledge is in the organization. If he delivers on investment at the NFL level, Detroit’s offense will remain strong up front for years to come.

Broncos Deal No. 51 To Panthers In Eight-Pick Swap

April 25th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

After entertaining trade-down options in Round 1, the Broncos stayed at No. 20. They are, however, moving down tonight. Denver will send No. 51 to Carolina.

This is an eight-pick trade, the largest of this draft thus far. The Panthers will pick up Nos. 51, 85, 122 and 208; the Broncos will obtain Nos. 57, 74, 111 and 230. With the pick, Carolina is choosing Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton.

After Carolina eschewed its EDGE need by taking Tetairoa McMillan in Round 1, ex-Broncos DC Ejiro Evero will have a high-end piece to mold. The team did not do much to replace Brian Burns in 2024, but it has gotten back to work this offseason. Scourton joins ex-Vikings rotational rusher Patrick Jones as new Panthers additions at OLB.

A Purdue transfer, Scourton is coming off a five-sack season in College Station. With the Boilermakers in 2023, however, Scourton ripped off 10 sacks. Scourton still managed to remain consistent in backfield disruption, following a 15-TFL sophomore season with a 14-TFL junior slate. He will join a Panthers team coming off a last-place season defensively. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Scourton as this draft class’ 12th-best EDGE prospect.

Carolina carried a dire EDGE need into the draft, after having addressed its D-line (via Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown) in free agency. The Broncos have not yet addressed their running back need, seeing two more potential targets (ex-Ohio State runners Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson) go off the board tonight. Denver, however, will move up in Rounds 3 and 4 via this trade.

Texans Acquire No. 48 From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

April 25th, 2025 at 7:21pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Raiders are trading down for the second time in the second round. After their Dolphins agreement, the Raiders will drop out of their No. 48 spot, sending the pick to the Texans.

Moving back up the board after its significant drop on Day 1, Houston will send Las Vegas Nos. 58 and 99 for 48, which they used on Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery.

The Texans badly need help along the offensive line after moving on from Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, and Shaq Mason this offseason. They were widely expected to use a first-round pick on an O-lineman and even explored trading up in Round 1 to land their preferred blocker. Such a deal never came to fruition, and the Texans instead traded their first-rounder (No. 24 overall) to the Giants in exchange for the 34th and 99th picks, as well as a 2026 third-rounder.

Houston even used the 34th pick on wide receiver Jayden Higgins, but they moved back up to bolster their offensive line with Ersery, a 6-foot-6, 331-pound offensive tackle who profiles as a long-term blindside blocker for C.J. Stroud. The Texans signed Cam Robinson to a one-year deal in March, so he’ll likely start at left tackle in 2025, giving Ersery time to develop his technique and consistency.

Cardinals Draft CB Will Johnson At No. 47

April 25th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Will Johnson‘s slide down the board has come to an end. The Cardinals used pick No. 47 on the Michigan cornerback.

Johnson was long seen as one of the top defenders in general and cover men in particular in the 2025 draft class. He was thus regarded as a first-round lock for much of the pre-draft process. However, concerns over a knee injury recently opened the door for Johnson needing to wait awhile to hear his name called.

A three-year contributor with the Wolverines, the junior faced high expectations entering the 2024 season. During Michigan’s title run the year before, Johnson proved to be a pivotal figure; the All-American earned Defensive MVP honors in the national championship game. Last year, however, he dealt with multiple injuries and was limited to just six games as a result.

Johnson faced questions about his long speed, and his decision to not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine or his Pro Day furthered concerns on that front. Nevertheless, the potential remains for him to operate as a starting boundary corner at the NFL level based on his footwork and football IQ. He will look to do so upon arrival in Arizona.

The Cardinals ranked mid-pack in terms of passing yards allowed last season. Still, plenty of room exists for upgrading in the secondary, especially after the team addressed the defensive front last night (Walter Nolen). Johnson will join a CB room led by Sean Murphy-Bunting along with recent draftees Garrett Williams, Elijah Jones and Max Melton.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported early today some teams see Johnson as a one-contract player due to his knee issue. The Cardinals are clearly not one of them, but it will be interesting to see how his early NFL career tenure plays out on the health front.

Bills Obtain No. 41 From Bears In Six-Pick Swap

April 25th, 2025 at 6:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Buffalo will use one of its two second-round picks to move up the board. The Bills are acquiring No. 41 from the Bears in a six-pick trade.

The Bills will add Nos. 41, 72 and 240, while the Bears are picking up Nos. 56, 62 and 109. Chicago came into the draft with two second-rounders as well, holding an extra pick from the 2023 Bryce Young swap. Buffalo selected South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders.

Defensive tackle was seen as a roster need entering the draft for Buffalo. As a result, many pointed to the opening round as a time when adding along the D-line could be targeted. Instead, the Bills made a notable secondary addition by drafting cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Now, Sanders has been selected as a contender to see plenty of playing time right away.

Yet to turn 22, Sanders demonstrated plenty of potential over the course of his final two campaigns with the Gamecocks. He totaled 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during that span. While concerns have been raised about his run defense, Sanders will be counted on to provide a pass-rush presence early and often in Buffalo. The team compiled 37 sacks last season, 21st in the NFL.

Ed Oliver remains attached to a $17MM-per-year contract, and he will be tasked with reprising his starting gig in 2025. Veteran DaQuan Jones and free agent addition Larry Ogunjobi are also in the fold, as is 2024 third-rounder DeWayne Carter. Plenty of snaps will be devoted to that group, but the Bills’ decision to trade up for Sanders indicates he should be involved as a rookie as well. If he develops as hoped, he will provide Buffalo with another long-term option along the defensive interior.

Patriots Select RB TreVeyon Henderson At No. 38

April 25th, 2025 at 6:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

After making an expected addition along the offensive line last night, the Patriots have targeted a backfield move in the second round. New England has drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38.

The Ohio State product remained a key figure on offense during his four years with the program. That included a carer-best 7.1 yards per carry average in 2024 as he helped the Buckeyes to a national championship. Henderson also matched his personal best with 27 receptions last year, further demonstrating his two-way skillset.

Efficiency on the ground and through the air helped endear Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to Henderson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes. Strong work with respect to pass protection is always a solid path to playing time for young running backs as they enter the NFL. In this case, that should result in plenty of opportunities in New England for 2025.

The Patriots finished 31st in the league in total offense last season. While the team ranked in the top half of the NFL in terms of rushing totals, it comes as little surprise a rookie backfield addition has been made early in the draft. Henderson will now join veterans Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson at the RB spot with New England.

Stevenson was benched at times in 2024 due to fumbling issues, leaving Gibson in place as the team’s lead back. Both are on the books for multiple years, so they should remain in the fold for at least next season. However, Henderson should be able to carve out a role for himself on third downs given his strength in pass protection. It will be interesting to see if his workload expands beyond that early on.

Protecting quarterback Drake Maye was a priority on Thursday with the selection of offensive tackle Will Campbell fourth overall. That has remained a goal into Day 2 as New England looks to continue making changes on offense under head coach Mike Vrabel.

Dolphins Acquire No. 37 From Raiders

April 25th, 2025 at 6:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins are jumping up to No. 37, acquiring the pick from the Raiders. Miami will send Las Vegas Nos. 48, 98 and 135 for Nos. 37 and 143, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

Jonah Savaiinaea is heading to South Beach with the newly acquired pick. The Arizona O-lineman will help a Dolphins team that was linked to blockers in Round 1. Miami, however, went with Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. But it is circling back to an interior O-line need.

Losing Robert Hunt in free agency last year, the Dolphins are attacking their guard need this offseason by adding James Daniels (after his three-year Steelers stint) and now bringing in a second-round reinforcement. Savaiinaea profiles as a guard for the Dolphins, who had lost 2024 starter Robert Jones to the Cowboys in free agency. While Miami re-signed Liam Eichenberg, the former second-rounder profiles as more stopgap at this point. He is on a one-year deal.

A three-year Arizona starter, Savaiinaea only earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors last season — as the conference expanded significantly — and honorable mention All-Pac-12 acclaim in 2023. But he ranked highly during the pre-draft process. The powerful blocker checked in at 324 pounds and rated as the fourth-ranked guard in this class, per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Savaiinaea also saw extensive time at right tackle with the Wildcats, teaming with 2024 Packers first-rounder Jordan Morgan.

Miami has Austin Jackson signed for two more years at right tackle, and the former first-rounder has strung together two mostly healthy seasons. Savaiinaea, however, should have a clear path to start opposite Daniels at Miami’s other guard spot, as Aaron Brewer remains in place at center on a line that will feature 2024 second-rounder Patrick Paul stepping in for Terron Armstead at LT.

Browns Draft Carson Schwesinger At No. 33

April 25th, 2025 at 6:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns have kicked off the second night of the draft with a defensive addition. UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been selected with the No. 33 pick.

Cleveland was in position to take Travis Hunter second overall last night, but the team’s long-negotiated trade with the Jaguars became official. As a result, the Browns acquired capital for this year and next and added along the defensive line by selecting Michigan’s Mason Graham. Today’s opening pick marks another selection aimed at upgrading the front seven.

Schwesinger was a no-star recruit who failed to start a game during his first two seasons in college. As a result, it would have been seen as a surprise at the start of the 2024 campaign that he would be drafted early on Day 2. Given how the season played out, though, the junior entered the pre-draft process as the consensus No. 2 linebacker prospect in this year’s class. Jihaad Campbell (Eagles) went 31st overall yesterday, and Schwesinger has come off the board shortly thereafter.

In 2024, Schwesinger’s production erupted with 136 tackles (including 8.5 for loss), four sacks and a pair of interceptions. His work in coverage in particular led to a dramatic rise in his draft stock. The first-team All-American profiles as a candidate to see plenty of playing time early in his career as he looks to help a defense which ranked just 21st in the NFL against the run last season.

A neck injury limited Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to eight games in 2024, and his return timeline remains unclear at this point. The Browns hope to have him back in the fold at some point next season, but Schwesinger could step into a starting gig early on if Week 1 does not prove to be feasible. In any case, the latter will be expected to operate as a core defender in Cleveland for years to come.

Draft Trade Notes: Chargers, Campbell, Loveland, Cowboys, Ravens, Conerly

April 25th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles wound up moving one spot up the first-round order last night. The move ensured the Super Bowl champions were able to select Jihaad Campbell, but that was not the only effort made to trade up the board.

Philadelphia negotiated with the Chargers about acquiring the No. 22 pick, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. He adds Los Angeles was in conversation with multiple teams while on the clock, but the proposed deal with the Eagles may very well have fallen through due to an “issue” communicating it to the league.

By rule, both teams must contact the NFL separately to report the terms of a trade agreement. Since that did not take place in time, the Bolts retained their pick and drafted North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. The Eagles still wound up acquiring Campbell – the target of the attempted Chargers trade, per Florio – at No. 31. The Alabama product will look to make an immediate impact at the second level and/or on the edge during his rookie season.

Here are some other draft-related notes from last night’s opening round:

Colston Loveland was the first tight end to hear his name called on Thursday night. The Michigan alum went 10th overall to the Bears, a team which received interest for their top selection. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Loveland was the subject of trade calls leading up to Chicago’s pick. Movement on the trade front only took place much later in the round after the Bears committed to staying put. When speaking to the media on Friday, Loveland revealed (via Scott Bair of Marquee Sports) he is halfway through his shoulder rehab; with progress continuing to be made, he will aim to return to full health in time for the start of his rookie campaign.
For the third time in the past four years, the Cowboys looked to the offensive line during the first round of the draft. Alabama Guard Tyler Booker went 12th overall, a move which came as no surprise considering where the team’s board stood at the time. David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports Booker was the highest-rated player available at that point out of the remaining prospects. Moore adds the Cowboys had 12 prospects with a first-round grade, which helps explain the decision to remain in place instead of trading down.
When speaking to the media, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) opportunities were presented to move down the order. Instead, Baltimore stayed put at No. 27 and took Georgia safety Malaki Starks. DeCosta said the team’s strong Starks evaluation allowed for the potential of a trade-down move to be outweighed by the upside of selecting him.
The Browns and Texans own the top two selections in the second round, and to no surprise both teams are receiving calls. Last night, though, Cleveland and Houston showed interest in acquiring a late Day 1 selection; Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the target in both cases was Josh Conerly Jr. The Oregon tackle came off the board at No. 29 (Commanders), which put an end to those efforts. Of course, that suggests help along the O-line will be a priority tonight for those teams.