| Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on the lack of angst in signing rookie draft picks, with one possible hiccup to come: Before 2011, few rookies signed their initial NFL contracts before the Fourth of July. Now, most are signed, sealed, and delivered before Memorial Day. This year, less than two weeks after the draft ended, 58 percent of all picks had signed their rookie deals. That was the official number as of Friday. Of 257 selections, 148 had agreed to terms. Only the Rams and Seahawks had signed none of their draft picks, as of Friday. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, the sixth overall pick, is the highest selection under contract. Six of 32 first-round picks have signed. One trend to watch will be round two. The first two picks — Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Texans receiver Jayden Higgins — secured fully-guaranteed four-year deals. They’re the first second-rounders to get every penny of their rookie deals guaranteed. The question becomes how far into the second round the trend will continue. Last year, each of the first eleven second-round picks received a partial guarantee in year four. The first twelve received full guarantees through year three. Beyond the question of the amount of full guarantees that will hover over the first third or so of round two, there’s no reason for delay. Rookie contracts have few sticking points. The biggest issues, if any, are signing bonus payout, language for voiding guarantees, and guarantee offsets. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSJonathan Jones of CBSSports.com on why the Giants are feeling good about QB JAXSON DART: Here’s all you need to know about the confidence of Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart: Making his on-field debut Friday at rookie minicamp, the first-round pick and future face of the franchise wore a sparkling diamond chain around his neck. Then, with no hint of sarcasm, told the story of how it was originally his little sister’s before it caught his eye during Christmas break and asked to borrow it. The diamonds were fake, but he had no reason to explain that. He didn’t mind offering up how he landed on his sartorial choice, either. His confidence comes that easily. Dart will one day be the starting quarterback of the New York Giants. If all goes to plan, it won’t be in Week 1 as Russell Wilson goes for his fourth act in the NFL. But at some point, the team will be his, and it’s obvious why. Dart shared the field this weekend with more players who will likely never play an NFL game than those who will, yet on Thursday night he gathered the temps to talk through the offensive script and walk through it. The plays were all extremely basic concepts to Dart — most of which he likely ran at the University of Mississippi — but he spent the night making sure everyone would be on the same page. He has an unusual ability to retain information as a rookie quarterback. Fellow rookie Cam Skattebo recognized it within 24 hours of being around him, and the Giants organization has teased some of those moments during their internal video series (that is definitely not “Hard Knocks”). “We do a variety of things with our evaluations, whether it’s being prepared, doing a good job of answering things quickly, changing the picture and being able to fix it, workouts, dinners, senior Bowl, combine,” head coach Brian Daboll told me before the start of rookie minicamp Friday. “He did a nice job in all the areas and touchpoints of responding in the right way. And that’s all important… and then he was good on tape.” And then there’s the question about cadence. The Giants drafted two franchise pillars in the first round of a draft that took place two weeks ago, and all anyone can talk about are jersey numbers and clapping. Former NFL coach Jon Gruden asked Dart in a predraft media exercise to let him hear the snap count, to which Dart just clapped. It made the rounds, and it gave the appearance that Dart was a football mute when cadence is hardly an emphasis in today’s college game. So when he was asked about his work on the snap count Friday, Dart was unsurprisingly ready. “Did you guys hear me good when I was out there?” Dart said to the media quickly, with the exact right balance of arrogance and humor that only someone confident in themselves could deliver in that moment. However long the wait for Dart to finally start is, the Giants’ path to him was longer. Dart had just finished his sophomore season at (and first season with) Mississippi when the Giants signed playoff-winning quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract. The Giants did a nationwide tour of college quarterbacks during the 2023 season, even before Jones tore his ACL but especially afterward. Sometimes a team is bad, but they get lucky. Chicago, Washington and New England all stunk in 2023 and were rewarded with a 2024 draft class where they could pick their franchise quarterback without moving a muscle. The Giants, equally stinky but challenged with the sixth overall pick, did not have the same luxury. After starting three different quarterbacks last season and playing a fourth, the Giants spent this offseason not being in the same position. They signed Wilson and Jameis Winston for 2024 at a combined price of what one Jones cost the Colts so that they didn’t enter the draft hungry. “In terms of options out there we were comfortable with that, and we didn’t want to force ourselves into a corner if we had to take one if the value didn’t match up,” Giants general manager Joe Schoen explained Friday afternoon. “Once we were able to get Jaxson and get him for what we did, and still build a team around him with some pieces, it was a big relief. It was a big relief. “Because it’s a tedious process. It’s long. It’s travel, it’s workouts, it’s bringing them in, being gone in the fall, meeting the team at games, going to a lot of quarterback games. It was a really long year, coupled with a three-win season.” Daboll liked Dart in the pre-draft process. The personnel department had done plenty of work on him. And Schoen went into the draft believing Abdul Carter would be available for them at No. 3 and hoping that Dart would make it past the Steelers at No. 21. As the draft got later, Schoen checked with his head coach about the potential move up from No. 34 back into the first round. He could give away his 65th overall pick in 2025 and next year’s third to ensure he’d get Dart, or he could stay patient and part with a compensatory 2025 pick with next year’s third in order to get the quarterback. ‘When you’re in my role and you’re going through the thought process and you’re going to move up, you want to give up as little as you can and still get the player,” Schoen says. “So how can we thread the needle and not give up pick 65 and only give up 99 and next year’s third. “However, if you get cute and somebody else comes up and gets him, and you don’t get the player you want because of pick 65, are you going to kick yourself?” A general manager who has taken his fair share of licks in this role could have gotten greedy. He stayed patient, found an opening and got his guy. |
| PHILADELPHIAAll the predictive stories that said the Rams or the Bears or the Lions would be the Kickoff Night opponent were wrong. Don’t ever bet against America’s Team when it comes to getting prime TV assignments. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: The Cowboys will head to Philadelphia for the first game of the 2025 NFL season. Cowboys-Eagles has officially been announced as the league’s opener, with the game in Philadelphia for the traditional Thursday night kickoff at the home of the Super Bowl champions. The NFL is starting the season with a game sure to generate a big audience, with the Eagles as the defending champs taking on their NFC East rivals from Dallas. The game will be the first for new Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who was hired this offseason, and his Cowboys will be underdogs on the road in a hostile environment. It will also be the first chance to see a new-look Eagles defense that has had significant personnel changes this offseason. Kickoff time is 8:20 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 4, and the game will air on NBC and Peacock. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| NEW ORLEANSKatherine Terrell and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com on the retirement of QB DEREK CARR: With Derek Carr announcing his retirement Saturday, the New Orleans Saints got the clarity they had been waiting for. But it’s a result that leaves an instant void at quarterback. Medical scans determined that Carr, 34, had sustained a labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff, so playing in 2025 was in jeopardy. It’s the closure New Orleans has been looking for since April 11, when the news of Carr’s injury broke. Now that Carr has made his status official, what’s left for the Saints? They drafted Tyler Shough last month in the second round and have second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler and third-year quarterback Jake Haener on the roster, but New Orleans went 0-7 last season in games Carr didn’t start. Do the Saints bring in more help? Do they roll with the players they have? NFL Nation reporter Katherine Terrell and national NFL writer Jeremy Fowler tackle the biggest questions surrounding the domino effect of Carr’s retirement. What does this timing mean for the Saints?The Saints were already bracing for the possibility of playing without Carr — now it’s a certainty. Carr’s retirement was made official during the team’s rookie minicamp, which is the team’s first extended look at Shough. Now New Orleans will be able to install its offense with one of its young quarterbacks in mind and remove any controversy about Carr’s decision early in the offseason. This could have been a distraction if things had dragged on into training camp, but now it’s essentially a clean slate for the coaching staff and the young quarterbacks. Shough, Rattler and Haener will split the quarterback reps when OTAs begin later in the month. If the Saints elect to make Shough the starter this season, they could make a decision early and without Carr’s potential shadow looming over him. This also makes their 2026 plans easier. Since Carr chose to retire instead of going on injured reserve, they won’t have to decide his future when the 2026 offseason begins. That clears one task off the 2026 checklist, which could be lengthy with a number of aging players on the roster. — Terrell How will the Saints proceed at quarterback? Could they bring in another QB?Coach Kellen Moore seemed noncommittal about Carr as a starter when he had his first news conference as New Orleans head coach in February. Although Moore backed Carr publicly over the next few months, it always seemed likely that he would want to bring in his own guy, and that decision was sealed when the Saints took Shough in the second round. This staff can now mold the room any way it wants. Right now, it’s a room that has three young quarterbacks — New Orleans could choose to bring in a veteran (it recently released Ben DiNucci) to help mentor, or it could roll with youth at the position and keep things status quo. The Saints also brought Hunter Dekkers in as a tryout player for rookie minicamp — another young quarterback who could try to contend for a practice squad spot if the Saints like what they see. — Terrell What are the contract/salary cap implications of the move?Carr was due to make $40 million this season — $30 million in base salary and a $10 million roster bonus. The Saints restructured his contract for salary cap purposes, which brought his base salary down to the league minimum and turned the rest into a signing bonus of $28.75 million, to be paid out weekly during the season. According to his contract, that signing bonus was contingent on “receiving medical clearance to practice and play.” The contract also had contingencies to void the money if he retired from the NFL. According to the retirement agreement, Carr will forfeit the $30 million base salary but retain the $10 million signing bonus. If he does not file retirement papers until June 1, the Saints will be facing most of the cap implications in 2026. — Terrell What is the likelihood Carr’s retirement is permanent?The people I’ve talked to Saturday would be pretty surprised if he tried to return. What became clear over the last few months is that Carr’s status as a bona fide QB1 was in question. Is he, as of right now, still one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league? Most certainly. But there wasn’t a clear-cut home for him this season, outside of the Saints, and recovering from a serious shoulder injury is an arduous task for a quarterback who turned 34 in March. He will have made more than $200 million for his career when accounting for his 2025 pay on his way out of New Orleans. It just feels like a return would be an uphill battle — though you can’t discount a player’s potential eagerness to attempt a comeback if fully healed. — Fowler If he doesn’t return to the NFL, what is Carr’s legacy?Carr’s career was underrated in some ways. He played for six head coaches (two interim) and five playcallers during his nine years with the Raiders, plus a new coordinator in each of his seasons with the Saints. Thriving despite that turnover — going on to make four Pro Bowls — was an impressive feat. He was also durable before his last year in New Orleans, playing 15 or more games in each of his first 10 NFL seasons. In his prime, he was knocking on the door of the top 10 at his position. But he was largely considered a good player who couldn’t get a team over the hump and carry it to glory. Carr lost his only playoff appearance, an AFC wild-card game with the Raiders in 2022. — Fowler Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media proposes a trade: The Jameis Winston-Giants era could be over before it even begins. The Saints are likely in the market for a new veteran quarterback, following the announcement of Derek Carr‘s retirement on Saturday, and the Giants may just be the perfect trade partner for them. The Giants’ QB room — made up of Russell Wilson, first-round pick Jaxson Dart, Winston and Tommy DeVito — is getting packed, so there’s really no need to have Winston (unless having the best emergency third QB in the league is their goal). The Saints have plenty of quarterbacks too, but their situation is a bit… uglier. New Orleans is planning on rolling with second-round pick Tyler Shough as their starter, with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener backing him up. That is the worst QB room in the NFL by far. This is where a potential Winston deal could come into play. It makes sense for New Orleans to take another shot on Winston, who played there from 2020-2023, starting 10 games over four seasons. The 31-year-old vet — who started seven games with the Browns last season — would be the best bridge option they could hope for right now. Given their dire situation at the position, Giants general manager Joe Schoen could probably squeeze as much value out of Saints GM Mickey Loomis as possible, too. Regardless of the return, the Giants no longer have a need for Winston, so they should strike a deal while a team is desperate. The DB is going to hazard a guess that it will be Saints at Titans in Week 1 – the battle of rookie QBs TYLER SHOUGH and CAM WARD. Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com wonders if QB AARON RODGERS has noticed: Not once during the 2025 NFL offseason has Aaron Rodgers signaled he’s on the verge of making a decision about his football future. Yes, the veteran quarterback acknowledged discussions with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And yes, Steelers owner Art Rooney II all but forecast Rodgers’ signing at NFL owners meetings months ago. With spring practices fast approaching, however, Rodgers remains a free agent. What if it’s not the Steelers that ultimately draws him to play, but another team entirely? No, not the Minnesota Vikings, who are fully rolling with J.J. McCarthy after letting the Rodgers ship sail. How about the New Orleans Saints, whose suddenly iffy relationship with incumbent starter Derek Carr took a dramatic turn this week when Carr announced his retirement at age 34? The Saints just spent a second-round draft pick on Louisville’s Tyler Shough, who at 25 might already be under some unspoken pressure to replace Carr atop the lineup. But let’s be clear: By broadcasting their plans to hold an open competition for Carr’s old job, the Saints aren’t exactly signaling they’re all in on any one young quarterback, be it Shough or incumbent reserve Spencer Rattler. Are we positively sure, in Year 1 of the Kellen Moore regime, they’re comfortable pushing all their chips on such a green prospect? Rodgers, remember, is a one- or two-year rental at most. His signing wouldn’t necessarily prohibit a team from developing an heir apparent behind the scenes. In fact, you’d hope his eventual team is proactive about preparing for his inevitable retirement. Now consider you’re the Saints. Is there really that much downside to rostering Rodgers for one season, allowing Moore to have a veteran’s help in installing his system, while simultaneously allowing Shough to watch and learn and grow in anticipation of 2026? No, New Orleans isn’t necessarily built to “win now.” But are the Steelers that much more equipped for a title run? Is DK Metcalf that much more of an upgrade than a healthy Chris Olave? Is Jaylen Warren more enticing than Alvin Kamara? Is Broderick Jones a much sturdier left tackle than Taliese Fuaga? The Saints aren’t “elite,” but neither is a Pittsburgh organization that’s failed to win a single playoff game over the last eight years. New Orleans also boasts some nice personal connections for A-Rod. Quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien once spent three seasons as Rodgers’ backup with the Packers, developing a close relationship with the ex-Green Bay star. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks was reportedly on the Packers’ radar during the 2022 season, Rodgers’ final year in Green Bay. And longtime Saints utility man Taysom Hill began his NFL career learning from Rodgers as an undrafted signing of the Packers back in 2017. But here’s the greatest rub, for both Rodgers and the Saints: Unlike the Steelers, the Saints do not play in the AFC North, which includes a pair of justified Super Bowl aspirants in the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. They play in the NFC South, which over the last three seasons has crowned a champion with these final records: 8-9, 9-8, 10-7. Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been scrappy, but this isn’t exactly the league’s treasure trove of powerhouses here. In fact, the NFC South’s combined record over the last half-decade or so easily puts it among the NFL’s worst quartets. If you’re Rodgers, at 41 years old, admittedly on your last NFL legs, hesitant about signing up for the one-and-done Steelers show, that should scream “potentially better opportunity.” Maybe it’s not a slam dunk. But the idea of outlasting the Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers for the chance at a home playoff game sure sounds just as, if not more, enticing than wearing the black and gold just to go toe to toe with Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, etc. That’s, of course, if the Saints ever show any legitimate interest. Or if Rodgers doesn’t hold out even longer, for rosier offerings. But among the slim options that exist, it’s hard not to see some appeal here. Jared Dubin, also of CBSSports.com looks at other options: There are several different directions in which the team can go, and we want to take a minute to examine each of them here. Start Tyler ShoughThis is the option that makes the most sense. The Saints just selected Shough with a second-round pick — No. 40 overall. He was the second draft pick of the Kellen Moore era, and New Orleans clearly felt good enough about him to invest significant resources in acquiring him. Shough was also touted as being an NFL-ready prospect due to his age (he turns 26 years old in September) and extensive college experience (he appeared in 42 total games and made 32 starts across seven seasons at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville). The Saints would also benefit from getting a long look at Shough before deciding whether they need to invest in a first-round quarterback next offseason, with a draft class that is considered much more top-heavy than this year’s. If he plays well, great; they have their long-term answer. If he doesn’t, they’ll likely be in good position to draft someone in 2026. Start Spencer Rattler or Jake HaenerNeither of these options makes much sense. Both Rattler and Haener were drafted by a previous regime in New Orleans, and they were both Day 3 picks. The Saints do not have much invested in either of them. We’ve also seen them make starts, and the results were not good. If they’re going to start a player currently on the roster, it should without question be Shough. Sign Aaron Rodgers (or Carson Wentz)This is the big domino waiting to fall all offseason. Rodgers has been taking his sweet time making a decision, first on whether or not to even play in 2025, and then on which team to play for if he does. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been seen as the front-runners for his services, and it has seemed almost like a foregone conclusion that he’d go to Pittsburgh if he goes anywhere. Could New Orleans now get in the mix? It would almost certainly be a one-year bridge solution, but given the Saints’ situation, it’s probably not the best idea. They’re not really in position to contend given the overall state of their roster, so all they’d be doing is giving themselves a higher floor for the 2025 season and making it more difficult to find a long-term answer in 2026. If the Saints are looking for a veteran free agent signing who will be more low-maintenance and perhaps provide even more volatility in terms of floor outcomes, Wentz is still available as well. Trade for Kirk CousinsThe same rationale as above applies to a trade for Cousins, except it would make even less sense to pursue this option because the Saints would also be forced to surrender draft capital to acquire him. Cousins’ $27.5 million base salary is also prohibitive here, as New Orleans only has $27 million in cap room. Barring a restructure (a very bad idea) or Atlanta eating some of the salary as part of the deal (which could raise the price in terms of draft compensation), the financial realities of this type of trade should make it a nonstarter even before we get to the team-building reasons why it doesn’t make that much sense. Trade for somebody elseIf the Saints are absolutely dead set on having a veteran option beyond Shough, there are other players out there. They could bring back Jameis Winston by making a deal with the Giants. (Or they could trade for Russell Wilson instead.) Perhaps the Rams would be willing to part with Jimmy Garoppolo, or the 49ers with Mac Jones. There are players still on their rookie contacts who might be some degree of gettable based on appetite and compensation, with guys like Tanner McKee, Will Levis and Aidan O’Connell coming to mind. But none of those seems preferable to just starting Shough. The same applies to going after veteran backups like Kenny Pickett or Jarrett Stidham. |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSMike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com with some interesting thoughts on why the Chiefs are opening “at” the Chargers in Brazil. The Chargers could have kept their “home” game against the Chiefs at home. They decided not to. The league reportedly has picked the Chiefs to be the Week 1 Friday night opponent for the Chargers in Brazil. The Chiefs game was not one of the two home games that Chargers chose to protect. As recently explained by Ben Fischer and Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal, teams exporting home games to the international series can protect up to two games. The Chargers, per the report, did not protect any of their three AFC West home games. The Chargers host the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders every year. They opted to focus on teams that visit less frequently, with the Steelers, Commanders, and Eagles specifically named as the games the Chargers were more inclined to protect. The specific two the Chargers protected haven’t been identified. It doesn’t matter. If the report that it will be the Chiefs is accurate (the official announcement comes Tuesday morning), the Chiefs game goes to São Paulo, and the other eight (Steelers, Eagles, Commanders, Texans, Colts, Vikings, Raiders, and Broncos) will stay at SoFi. It means that a lot of Chiefs fans will have to migrate to Sao Paolo instead of to Los Angeles. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CINCINNATIEDGE TREY HENDRICKSON hasn’t heard from the Bengals about an extension. Ben Baby of ESPN.com: – Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson said the team has cut off contract talks amid a dispute regarding a new deal. In a statement to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday, Hendrickson said “no communication has taken place between my camp and the organization” following the NFL draft in April. Hendrickson also said the offers presented by the Bengals “did not reflect the vision we shared and were promised” if he continued to play at a high level. According to Hendrickson, discussions toward a new deal have stalled out. “Rather than using collaboration to get us to a point to bring me home to the team, THEY are no longer communicating. I have been eagerly awaiting a resolution of this situation, but that’s hard to do when there is no discussion and an evident lack of interest in reaching mutual goals,” Hendrickson said in the statement. Hendrickson, 30, is entering the final year of his contract and is coming off his best season in the NFL. He led the league with 17.5 sacks last season and was named to The Associated Press All-Pro team, marking one of the Bengals’ first selections to the list since 2015. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati’s other All-Pro selection last season, got a new $161 million contract this offseason that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. Hendrickson has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons with Cincinnati. In 2023, he was given a one-year extension on the four-year, $60 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2021. Last offseason, he requested a trade after the team opted not to give him a new deal. He ultimately reported for voluntary workouts. Hendrickson’s comments Monday were the latest public development in the ongoing contract saga. Last month, in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Hendrickson expressed his disappointment with Bengals executive Katie Blackburn’s comments made at the NFL’s annual league meeting on his contract talks with the team. “I think he should be happy at certain rates that maybe he doesn’t think he’d be happy at,” Blackburn said April 1. “I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he’s not, that’s what holds it up sometimes. It takes him to say yes to something. We have all the respect in the world for him.” During his appearance on McAfee’s show, Hendrickson said he was disappointed with Blackburn’s comments “because the communication has been poor over the last couple of months.” He also said the Bengals have not communicated with his agent directly about his contract, saying that has “been something that’s been a little bit frustrating.” Last Friday, Bengals coach Zac Taylor did not have an update on Hendrickson’s contract when he met with the media after the team’s rookie minicamp. Hendrickson is set to earn $15.8 million in base salary this season, the final year of his contract. On McAfee’s show, Hendrickson said that he’s not seeking to become the highest-paid defensive end or “first in line” to get a deal but that there is an urgency to get something done. The Bengals will begin organized team activities later this month. Hendrickson isn’t the only defensive end on the roster looking to resolve a contract issue. Shemar Stewart, the 17th pick in this year’s draft, did not participate in last week’s rookie minicamp because his contract remained unsigned. |
| CLEVELANDDL MASON GRAHAM did NOT impress in his first work with the Browns. Billy Heyen of The Sporting News: The Cleveland Browns took a risk in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Rather than stay at the No. 2 overall pick and select two-way sensation Travis Hunter, they traded down. And with the No. 5 pick, they took defensive tackle Mason Graham out of Michigan. Cleveland did the deal in large part to also pick up the No. 36 pick (used on RB Quinshon Judkins) and Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder, which could wind up being used on a quarterback. But the risk is this: If Graham isn’t good enough, and Hunter is a generational superstar, it’ll feel like a loss unless that next year first turns into a perennial Pro-Bowl QB. Cleveland fans are a bit concerned after the first clips of Graham at rookie minicamp have emerged. Some commenters have suggested he looks out of shape. Others are wondering if Graham is even as good as advertised. An interior defensive lineman is rarely going to look astounding in on-field drills against no blockers, but that also makes it tougher to get excited about a player. When the photo of Graham puking mid-practice emerged on Saturday, it was a serious vibe check for Cleveland fans. |
| PITTSBURGHWR GEORGE PICKENS with a love note to the Steelers from the safety of Dallas. The RedZone.org: On Sunday, George Pickens just showed the NFL why the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him away in the first place. After the knee-jerk reactions surrounding the Pickens trade began to settle, the former Steelers disgruntled receiver apparently decided things were too peaceful — and took to social media to air out grievances, Andrew Vasquez of Steelers Wire reports. In classic Pickens fashion, the new Cowboys WR blasted the Steelers organization with an Instagram comment now going viral: “They the cheapest organization. Ain’t no stacking year after year they gone let them (expletive) go too soon as it’s time Lmaoo.” He is, of course, referencing the decision to trade wide receivers away at the end of their deals rather than signing them to massive extensions — but newsflash to Pickens, your replacement DK Metcalf just got one. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com with more on the Steelers jettisoning WRs before their second contract: By sending George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week, the Steelers guaranteed that yet another wide receiver drafted by the team won’t see a second contract in Pittsburgh. Of 16 extension-eligible wide receivers drafted by the team since 2007, three have received second contracts. Five played out their four-year deals and departed in free agency. Two were traded during their rookie deals. Four were cut before finishing those deals and one was signed off the Steelers’ practice squad to another team’s active roster. Though the organization has a reputation of successfully drafting and developing its wide receivers, the Steelers’ recent history reflects the leaguewide challenges that come with evaluating the position and cultivating homegrown talent. The first predicament teams face is sifting through the sheer volume of players at the position, one talent evaluator told ESPN. Thanks in part to pass-heavy offenses and a scarcity of elite cornerback play in college football, each draft class has a wealth of wide receivers with big numbers. Those college offenses often require receivers to run far fewer routes than they would in the NFL, meaning there’s more guesswork involved in determining a wide receiver’s NFL potential. “It’s a true projection,” the evaluator said. Though most of their receivers didn’t get second contracts, the Steelers had a stretch of success from 2009-10 in identifying and drafting Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. But in many cases, teams across the league struggle to hit on wide receivers. And as the haystack around the needle grows thicker with each draft class, bringing in a veteran via trade is a preferred roster-building method. The Steelers did just that this offseason by acquiring DK Metcalf in a trade from Seattle and forgoing a wide receiver in the draft. The team also signed veteran Robert Woods to a one-year deal, continuing a recent trend of rounding out its receiving corps with older players like Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson. And after bringing in a known performer in Metcalf — and subsequently signing him to a four-year, $132 million contract extension — the door opened to finally move on from Pickens. Pickens is the sixth receiver in the Mike Tomlin era to be drafted by Pittsburgh and eventually traded to another team. Five of those players — Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Martavis Bryant and Brown — were dealt in part because of concerns involving their conduct. The trade that sent Sammie Coates, a 2015 third-round pick, to the Cleveland Browns was more about his injury history and roster fit. But general manager Omar Khan said the pattern of trades isn’t going to impact how the organization builds its receiver depth. “Some of that’s just really coincidence how it’s played out with the position. We’re always trying to get good players regardless of what position it’s at and at any point in the year,” Khan said. “We’re chasing a championship, and every decision we make is based on trying to win a championship not only in the future but this year.” Even before trading Pickens, Steelers owner Art Rooney II was asked in his end-of-season news conference if the pattern of troubling behavior from Steelers wide receivers could impact how the team evaluates the position. “I think every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that you have to manage them correctly,” Rooney said in January. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has. Who knows if we can get there? We’ll see. But when you have guys that are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful.” But in the past five months, the Steelers reached the same determination with Pickens that they previously reached with Brown, Johnson, Bryant and Claypool. While it’s unclear if the Steelers saw warning signs of potentially disruptive behavior in their predraft evaluations of the four previously traded wide receivers, Pickens had several red flags. He was ejected for fighting in a game against Georgia Tech in 2019, and as a result was suspended for the first half of the SEC championship game against LSU. At least one NFL team took him off their draft board after being turned off by his behavior during his predraft visit, according to a high-ranking team executive. The Steelers, though, dismissed any character concerns. “I don’t even understand where that’s coming from,” Tomlin said in October 2022 when asked about Pickens’ playing style deterring other teams in the predraft process. “This guy is doing everything that we ask him to. He’s playing good ball. A lot of people have incidents in their college background. I’m certainly not going to hold that against him. We did our due diligence. We were completely comfortable with his character. He has displayed that since he’s been here. So, I somewhat resent that.” And yet, those incidents continued through his professional career. Outbursts at teammates and throwing his helmet on the sideline. Grabbing another player by his face mask and yanking him down after the game. Fighting with another player during an onside kick return. Fighting with a different player during a Hail Mary attempt. For as talented as Pickens is, the noise around everything else that comes with him seemed to reach a crescendo for the Steelers. “I can’t really change anyone’s opinion,” Pickens said of outside perceptions during his introductory news conference call in Dallas. “Me, personally, I just continue to grow. I feel like everybody in the world has to grow. You get older and older as you grow, and I’m just trying to build a winning culture, which they already have at the Cowboys. I’m just glad to be joining it.” Though Pickens could still change the narrative depending on the outcome of his Steelers career, recent history suggests the Steelers are successful at timing these decisions. Prior to Pickens, the team’s two previous trades involving drafted wide receivers sent Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Donte Jackson and a picks swap, while Claypool went to Chicago for a No. 32 pick the Steelers used to take CB Joey Porter Jr. Claypool, once a second-round pick, managed just 217 total receiving yards with the Bears and Miami Dolphins. He wasn’t on a roster in 2024. Johnson, meanwhile, had 375 combined receiving yards as he pinballed around the league in tumultuous stints with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. And perhaps the most notable well-timed trade by the Steelers was the move to send Brown to the Raiders after the 2018 season. The Steelers won three divisional titles and three playoff games from 2014 to 2018 thanks in large part to Brown’s consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. But an escalation of the wide receiver’s actions during the 2018 season — skipping practices, blowing up at teammates and getting into a social media altercation with a team employee — led to the team dealing him in the offseason. Though Brown won a Super Bowl as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leaving Pittsburgh, his final years in the NFL were punctuated by even more drama. He finished with just 1,084 yards over three years after posting six consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 yards. In the timing of the trade and its aftermath, the Steelers appeared to maximize Brown’s talent while minimizing his negative traits. Trading away one of the team’s best offensive playmakers — especially after the NFL draft — with seemingly limited options to backfill the WR2 position is risky. But it’s just as risky to keep a player who incurred costly on-field penalties, showed up late to games, threatened to fight a fan in a social media comment and wrote an explicit message on his eye black for a prime-time game. If the Steelers’ prior experience is any indication, it “made sense for everyone.” |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEThis on the special nature of ATH TRAVIS HUNTER from Camden Markel of the New York Post: Travis Hunter isn’t just a standout football player. On a flight back home from Denver, Sandy Hawkins Combs was seated next to the Jaguars’ newest star. But before learning how special of a player Hunter is, she learned how special of a human he is. “I had the most wonderful flight home from Denver. I met the nicest young man who sat next to me,” Combs posted to Facebook. “He offered to put my bag in the overhead compartment and helped me with my tray. He was always polite, saying ‘yes ma’am’ or ‘no ma’am.’ Anyone would be proud to have him as a son or grandson—so polite.” When other passengers on the United Airlines flight began congratulating Hunter on being drafted to Jacksonville and even taking pictures with him, Combs started to question who exactly this man seated next to her was. “I turned and asked him, ‘Who am I sitting next to?’” Combs continued in the post. “I looked at his Jaguar pants, smiled, and asked, ‘Are you an athlete?’ “He smiled and said, ‘I’m Travis. Yes, I was drafted by the Jags.’ I already told my sons I want his jersey.” With even the most unsuspecting people quickly becoming fans, Hunter’s off to a good start with his new NFL home and its fanbase. The Jaguars clearly liked what they saw from the former Colorado Buffalo during his collegiate career as they traded up to snatch the No. 2 pick in the draft to select him. And with run-ins like these in a public setting, it’s looking like Jacksonville’s choice to select the most recent Heisman Trophy winner went beyond just the football field. Hunter’s character earned himself a new fan and the team a future customer. “He’s so humble and down-to-earth—I would have never guessed he was a professional athlete,” Combs wrote. “JACKSONVILLE JAGS, you did good! I will be buying tickets.” This from Mia O’Brien: @MiaOBrienTVTravis Hunter says the first thing he ordered on Amazon after being drafted was the #Jaguars pajama pants he wore under his graduation gown at Colorado Thursday 😂 #Jaguars | #DUUUVAL We note approvingly that he was graduating. More on that: Hunter completed his time at the University of Colorado, graduating with a degree in Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of the origin, development, and behavior of human beings from the past to the present. Hunter found time to excel in his studies despite his sports career, finishing with a 4.0 GPA and earning first-team Academic All-American honors twice. The Academic All-Americans are student-athletes who perform exceptionally well in both academics and sports. WNBA star Caitlin Clark was among the recipients when she was at Iowa. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| IMPACT ROOKIES – ROUNDS 2 TO 7Field Yates of ESPN.com has 27 rookies who were drafted after the first round that he thinks will be major contributors in 2025: Offensive players 1. Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints (No. 40)Derek Carr retiring from football means the Saints will go into training camp with a quarterback competition. And I believe Shough will beat out Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting job. Now, the Saints’ roster might not be set up for the immediate success of a rookie quarterback, but they will likely give Shough every chance to show he can become their long-term fixture under center. Shough’s arm talent, ability to read the defense and mobility are the foundation of an impressive skill set. He threw 23 touchdown passes last season and has 32 career starts under his belt. 2. RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos (No. 60)The Broncos entered the draft needing a running back, and many — myself included — thought they might take one with their first-round pick at No. 20. Instead, the Broncos got their guy 40 picks later. Harvey can be the “joker” in Sean Payton’s offense, impacting the game as both a runner and receiver. He actually reminds me of Bucky Irving, who was on this list last year and went on to a great rookie season. Harvey is a compact back who plays with a big-back mentality, running through defenders without sacrificing quickness. He’s an adept pass catcher, too. 3. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Miami Dolphins (No. 37)It was clear that Miami valued Savaiinaea during the draft, making an aggressive push up the board to get him. He gives the Dolphins a legitimate starting guard candidate right out of the gate; they had a desperate need to upgrade the position. Savaiinaea showed excellent positional versatility in college, but he should slide inside as a starting guard in Miami’s zone-heavy scheme. He allowed only two sacks over three seasons at Arizona. 4. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns (No. 36)The Browns snagged a pair of running backs in the first four rounds of the draft, as Judkins and Dylan Sampson (No. 126) give this offense a power and speed duo. Judkins was excellent at both stops in his college career. He showed that he can dominate between the tackles at Ohio State, but he also proved he can be a do-it-all back who even impacts the passing game at Ole Miss. Judkins is a decisive, physical runner who should fit perfectly in the AFC North. Nick Chubb returning seems unlikely, which means Judkins will only have to battle Jerome Ford and Sampson for work. 5. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots (No. 38)Henderson is one of the most explosive players in the rookie class, and he will be a big-time factor on third down in New England because of his pass-catching and pass-protecting traits. He provided the lightning to Judkins’ thunder for Ohio State last season, and I see a similar profile with the Patriots. Henderson could complement Rhamondre Stevenson well in New England. He provides instant offense as a runner and receiver. 6. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 83)The Steelers saw Najee Harris depart in free agency this offseason, making running back a strong priority for them at some point early in the draft. Johnson had an outstanding 2024 season at Iowa, using his size, physicality and pass-game acumen to become one of FBS’s best RBs. He ran for 1,537 yards and scored 23 touchdowns from scrimmage. Jaylen Warren will of course play a useful role for Pittsburgh, but offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has a well-established affinity for bigger, bruising backs like Johnson. It won’t surprise me at all if he leads Pittsburgh in carries this season. 7. Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (No. 42)The Jets’ hole at tight end was one of the most glaring position needs in the league entering the draft. Their top returning player, Jeremy Ruckert, has zero touchdowns in three seasons. But Taylor is a pro-ready fix. He can hold his own as a blocker and has the ultrareliable hands necessary to work the middle of the field and provide a safety net for quarterback Justin Fields. 8. Tate Ratledge, G, Detroit Lions (No. 57)Lions GM Brad Holmes has made it a point to target reliable and extremely tough players in the draft. That describes Ratledge well. He allowed only one sack in each of the past two seasons at Georgia and exudes toughness on tape. Kevin Zeitler’s departure to Tennessee opens a starting guard job in Detroit, and I like Ratledge’s chances to fill that role. 9. Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans (No. 34)The Texans had to remake their wide receiver room this offseason, with Tank Dell’s timeline to return from his knee injury still uncertain and Stefon Diggs departing for the Patriots. Higgins will join Christian Kirk and fellow draft pick Jaylin Noel in trying to fill that void. Higgins brings an excellent combination of size and speed to the position, similar to teammate Nico Collins. He showed very good discipline and body control on passes thrown his way on the sideline in college, and that should help him build chemistry with C.J. Stroud in a hurry. 10. Dylan Fairchild, G, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 81)The Bengals came into the draft with an obvious need at guard, using a pair of picks on Fairchild and Jalen Rivers in the fifth round. I view Fairchild as the superior prospect, and he should have the inside track to start right away for Cincinnati. He brings reliable pass protection — he allowed pressure on 0.4% of his pass-block reps during the 2024 season — and toughness. Fairchild rarely found himself out of position in college and has an excellent temperament. He plays every snap with a level of consistency that offensive line coaches love. Four more to watch Gunnar Helm, TE, Tennessee Titans (No. 120): Helm will have the opportunity to be Cam Ward’s best friend as a safety valve at tight end. Helm isn’t going to provide explosive plays, but he showed great hands and middle-of-the-field instincts at Texas. He finds soft spots in zone coverage and is effective staying alive in unscripted situations. He’ll pair well with Ward in this offense. Jaylin Lane, WR/PR, Washington Commanders (No. 128): While Lane will have a chance to earn receiver snaps for Washington, what most excites me about his early impact is in the kicking game. Lane is arguably the best punt returner in the draft class. Back in 2021, he averaged 15.5 yards per return, second best in FBS. He’s shifty and instinctive, and he can flat-out fly. Olamide Zaccheaus handled the highest number of punt returns for the Commanders in 2024 but signed with the Bears this offseason. Lane should help pile up hidden yards. Robbie Ouzts, FB, Seattle Seahawks (No. 175): Ouzts did not see the football much at Alabama (16 career catches), but he is a rugged and versatile blocker. The Seahawks hired Klint Kubiak this offseason and will rely much more on two-RB sets. Ouzts will make the move to fullback and compete for that starting role. His combination of power at the point of attack and understanding of angles as a run blocker should allow him to make the position switch relatively seamlessly. Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 228): There were several late-round running backs I could have chosen here, as the exceptional depth of the class pushed many of them down the board. Smith switched from wide receiver at Miami to running back at SMU, which speaks to his unique versatility that should lead to schemed touches for him in Kansas City. Smith is great after the catch and shows fantastic lateral agility and straight-line speed. Defensive players 1. Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns (No. 33)There is uncertainty surrounding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s health after his neck injury last season, and that likely played a role in the Browns opening the second round with Schwesinger, whose movement skills have some shades of JOK. Schwesinger broke out in 2024, piling up 115 tackles and playing excellent coverage. His ability to carry pass catchers up the middle of the field and find space in zone drops make him an every-down player for Cleveland. 2. Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks (No. 35)Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald maximizes the talent of safeties, and few safeties have entered the NFL with Emmanwori’s physical traits. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has 4.38 speed and explosiveness. The Seahawks moving up the board for him signals they believe Emmanwori can fit in somewhere from the jump. He certainly has the speed and range to play center field, but I also see the size and physicality to play in the box as a “big nickel” safety/linebacker hybrid. 3. Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 47)Man, what value at No. 47, even with the knee injury concerns. I actually liked Johnson as a fit at No. 16 for Arizona, given his skill set and the team’s need at corner. Getting him in Round 2 is even better. Johnson has excellent ball skills and size, along with the instincts to thrive in Arizona’s zone-heavy scheme. The Cardinals played 61.0% of their coverage snaps in zone in 2024. 4. Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 49)Cincinnati has worked to overhaul its defense this offseason and found a plug-and-play starter in Knight, whose hard-hitting, physical nature should bring an attitude adjustment to the Bengals’ D. Knight finished his college career at South Carolina and was around the ball often. He had three forced fumbles, a pair of sacks and an interception last season. Remember, Germaine Pratt requested a trade, too, so there could be plenty of snaps on the table for Knight. 5. Nick Martin, LB, San Francisco 49ers (No. 75)The 49ers entered the draft with a need at one starting linebacker spot after Dre Greenlaw left in free agency, and Martin can fill it. He lacks ideal size at 6-foot and 197 pounds, but he makes up for it with electric speed and a fearless nature on every snap. Martin showed legitimate pass-rush instincts in 2023, too, with six sacks. And while he was injured for most of 2024, his 140 tackles in 2023 were the most by any Oklahoma State player since 1984. 6. JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Indianapolis Colts (No. 45)Regardless of where Tuimoloau ended up, I was always going to feel really good about his prospects of playing early. JTT was a three-year starter and four-year contributor at Ohio State, and he displays terrific instincts, power, hand usage and explosion off the edge. In Indy, I think he can make a real impact as a pass rusher and run defender. Tuimoloau had 12.5 sacks in 2024, often looking his best during the biggest moments. 7. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 63)Adding another defensive tackle was a priority for the Chiefs early in this draft, considering they lost Tershawn Wharton in free agency. Having another big body on the defensive line can make life easier for Chris Jones. Norman-Lott is a standout pass rusher from inside, showing disruptive up-field rush skills that helped him to 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Playing next to Jones should create plenty of one-on-one rush reps for him. 8. Nic Scourton, Edge, Carolina Panthers (No. 51)I don’t think any other edge rusher in this year’s class takes his run stuffing/edge setting responsibilities as pridefully as Scourton. He’s a heavy-handed, powerful and intense player on every single down. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will trust Scourton in any situation given that dependability as a run defender and his pass-rush prowess. While his sack production dipped in 2024 (five), he led the Big Ten in sacks at Purdue in 2023 (10). Scourton arrives in Carolina with an advanced arsenal of rush tactics and can contribute right away — especially since the team cut Jadeveon Clowney. 9. Andrew Mukuba, S, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 64)The Eagles’ remodel of their secondary continued into the draft, as they used the final pick of the second round on the instinctive, pro-ready Mukuba. I love his football IQ, and while Mukuba has a smaller frame for a safety (he was only 186 pounds at the combine), he packs a lot of power as a physical tackler. His versatility to play in the slot a little bit should only increase early playing time. 10. Jacob Parrish, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 84)Tampa Bay doubled-dipped at cornerback on Day 2, selecting Parrish in Round 3 after taking Benjamin Morrison in Round 2. Parrish finished 64th on my final board, and I believe he can translate his versatile game to the pro level. He played 395 snaps as an outside corner and 201 snaps as a slot corner in 2024. Parrish has premier speed and capable ball skills, and he is a very skilled blitzer. That should shine on a Todd Bowles-coached team. Three more to watch Barryn Sorrell, Edge, Green Bay Packers (No. 124): The Packers were tied for the highest percentage of snaps in zone coverage last season at 70.2%, but I think defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wants more man coverage. He just didn’t have the right personnel. The best way to help corners in man coverage is having an impactful pass rush. Sorrel brings value because of his versatility, as Texas did a very good job of letting him rush from multiple alignments, including as an interior rusher. That’s a blueprint Green Bay can follow. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Minnesota Vikings (No. 139): Minnesota overhauled its defensive line this offseason with a pair of big-ticket veteran additions in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, so Ingram-Dawkins does not have a clear path to a large role. But his versatility is key. Georgia played him in multiple spots along the defensive front, and while his sack production was not robust, he was a havoc wreaker with his length, burst and strength. Coordinator Brian Flores is among the most innovative defensive minds in the league and will throw out some wonky fronts that can confuse quarterbacks. Ingram-Dawkins has the traits to be a movable chess piece along the D-line as depth in Minnesota. Jordan Phillips, DT, Miami Dolphins (No. 143): Phillips was a wrestler and weightlifter in high school, and that shows up on his tape. He is one of the most physical run defenders in the rookie class and plays with excellent leverage. Miami landed Kenneth Grant with its first-round pick, but Phillips will also help the Dolphins become much more physical and tougher on the defensive front. |
| BROADCAST NEWSRich Eisen will return to ESPN. Andrew Marcand of The Athletic: More than two decades after leaving ESPN, Rich Eisen is returning to the network as part of its forthcoming direct-to-consumer offering, sources briefed on the move said Monday. Eisen will take “The Rich Eisen Show” from Roku to ESPN in the fall. There is a strong possibility that the program, which runs from noon to 3 p.m. ET, could also land on ESPN Radio, where it would be viewed as an anchor for the network, but those details are not yet ironed out. Similarly to “The Pat McAfee Show,” Eisen’s program will be licensed by ESPN, meaning he is expected to maintain ownership and editorial control. The terms of the deal are not yet known. Eisen, 55, left ESPN for NFL Network in 2003 to become the face of the league-owned entity. He will remain the featured host on NFL Network’s “GameDay” and its draft coverage. He also calls select regular-season games for the network. Eisen previously worked at ESPN from 1996 to 2003, becoming one of the faces of “SportsCenter” in the late 1990s. ESPN is set to launch a direct-to-consumer offering in the fall, which will allow customers to forgo cable to subscribe. The addition of Eisen’s show is its latest effort to ramp up content on the platform, but Eisen is not the only personality ESPN has tried to recruit for it. The Athletic previously reported ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro met with Colin Cowherd about a deal, but Cowherd decided to stay at Fox Sports and run his podcast business, The Volume. Eisen’s program will also be featured on ESPN+, the network’s current, niche streaming-only option, and Disney+. With ESPN in advanced talks for NFL Media, the partnership between Eisen and the network could grow. ESPN and the league have been in talks for years about NFL Media’s assets. As ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service nears launch, sources have indicated a deal, which has been in the red zone before, has its best chance of being completed. The addition of Eisen is considered a complement to “The Pat McAfee Show,” which is also scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. ET daily, with placement on ESPN’s top channel for its first two hours. When ESPN licensed McAfee’s program on a five-year deal for more than $85 million, a big part of its thinking was its reimagined app and the direct-to-consumer product. Like McAfee, Eisen figures to have prominent placement on the app. Eisen will not be on any of ESPN’s linear networks, which include ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNews. On ESPN Radio, the network has “Joe and Q,” featuring Joe Fortenbaugh and Qiant “Q” Myers, from noon to 3 p.m. ET. Eisen has built a business around having a network base and licensing his talk show program, which began in 2014, to suitors. The show aired on NBC Sports Network and Peacock before moving to Roku in 2022. It is currently distributed by Westwood One across the country on radio and also airs on SiriusXM. We don’t see any mention of Eisen’s play-by-play work for NFL Network and the continued production of NFL games in that forum. |
