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NFL: Pain in the Game

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FOXBORO – (Wire Service Report) – Pain is part of the game, but the emotional toll of NFL roster cuts warrants its own classification on the injury scale.

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All 32 teams face a 4 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday to reduce their training camp rosters from 90 to the regular-season limit of 53. That’s a total of 1,184 players receiving a public rejection notice and going from the doorstep of a pro football paycheck to the enormous queue of roster fodder fighting for a chance to stick around in one of the 16 practice-squad spots available to every team.

“It’s tough when you’re in the position of having to tell a guy who worked his entire life, it’s been his dream since childhood to make an NFL roster and be an impact player,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But to be able to tell him no is difficult for me, still. It never gets easy.”

For players in backup roles who survive the initial roster cut to 53 on Aug. 26, the stress is far from over.

Unless a player is waived with an injury designation and reverted back to the team’s injured reserve list, non-vested veterans (less than four accrued seasons in the NFL) will be subject to waivers with no control over where they could wind up by this time next week.

If a player is claimed via waivers, he is automatically placed on that team’s 53-man roster. The claiming team must execute a corresponding move, which can involve injured lists — injured reserve, physically unable to perform, non-football injury — or necessitate cutting a player who made the initial 53-man roster only to be kicked to the curb before the start of the regular season.

For the first three weeks of the regular season, the Tennessee Titans are No. 1 in the waiver order, which follows the original draft order from the prior season with no regard to trades. That means the Jacksonville Jaguars are not No. 2 in line despite trading up for Travis Hunter. That spot still belongs to the Cleveland Browns, followed by the New York Giants.

Titans coach Brian Callahan and first-time general manager Mike Borgonzi are planning to be selective working the wire next week, but neither is hiding from the idea of finding talent capable of helping the franchise rebuild.

“You don’t just claim a player to claim one,” Callahan said. “You’ve got to feel like it’s a real talent upgrade for an opportunity to help your team. And you don’t just dismiss guys because we’ve also poured a lot of work into these players that have been here for the better part of six months.

“… So that’s the fine line you walk at this time of year. And again, having the No. 1 waiver claim allows us to be aggressive if we choose to be.”

Established veterans aren’t immune to being cut. They’re typically more expensive and contracts become fully guaranteed for vested veterans on the roster Week 1.

The Kansas City Chiefs have never been afraid to part with a vested veteran. They cut wide receiver Kadarius Toney last August and the Minnesota Vikings cut another former first-round pick, safety Lewis Cine, without an injury designation. Quarterback Desmond Ridder was cut by the Cardinals in the late-August roster culling in 2024 after being acquired in a trade from the Falcons.

Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has seen almost everything in his NFL career. Only a year ago, about two weeks separated Smith-Schuster being released by the Patriots (Aug. 9) and signed by the Chiefs (Aug. 26) as Toney was sent packing. This summer, coaches are applauding his approach to mentoring younger receivers and helping players who might wind up with his paycheck on the finer points of being a pro.

“Make the most of your opportunities,” Smith-Schuster said of what advice he shared with younger players. “For a lot of them, what they put on tape, they’re all getting evaluated (by 31 other teams).”

Smith-Schuster, 28, said being released by the Patriots turned out to be a blessing because he feels at home in Kansas City. The long view is part of the reason he spent an hour after training camp practices working with backup receivers, and the end result was a message he wants younger players to hear.

“I think naturally I’m a people person. I like helping out the guys. For me, I remember when I was a rookie. Some of the veteran guys took time out of their day, guys with families,” he said. “This is their livelihood. They’ve been playing football since they were kids. For them the more they can get out of a veteran — I know it goes a long way not only for them but the future.”

Ryans doesn’t necessarily have time for the long view.

He and Texans personnel boss Nick Caserio have already begun shaping what the final 53 will look like entering the preseason finale at Detroit on Saturday. From there he’ll be facing what he said is the worst time of the year as a head coach, collecting playbooks and erasing roster numbers.

“But the players do a great job of handling that by wanting to know, ‘Hey, what can I do to get better? What are the steps for me to make a team? Where do you see I need to improve?’ I have a lot of guys who ask that question. And I’m happy to give them the advice that I think can help them out,” Ryans said. “In my role, my biggest aim for all of our guys is: How do I help and assist players to make the NFL? It may not be our 53-man roster here with the Texans, but there are 31 other teams. Can I help those guys in any way make their dreams a reality?”

–Field Level Media

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White Named to NFL Players’ Post

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – Less than three weeks after NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned amid numerous allegations of impropriety, the union elected David White as it interim executive director.

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White is the chief executive officer of consulting firm 3CG Ventures and the former national executive director and chief negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). He was a finalist for the NFLPA post when a the board of 32 player representatives elected Howell in June 2023, according to multiple media reports.

NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin said in a statement regarding the move by the Board of Player Representatives to appoint White, “This decision is the result of a comprehensive, player-led process. We understood the urgency to fill this role and did our due diligence to identify the right person to lead our union in this moment.

“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership. David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.”

White added in a statement, “I am grateful to the NFLPA’s player leadership for entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility to guide their union as interim executive director. It’s a duty I do not take lightly, and I’m committed to reestablishing trust and ensuring the union is serving its members best. I look forward to working with the entire NFLPA team to protect players’ health and safety, secure their financial well-being, and further strengthen their voice to shape their futures.”

Howell stepped down on July 17 to no longer be a “distraction” for the NFLPA. During his tenure, he allegedly reached a confidentiality agreement with the NFL over a collusion case, worked for a private equity firm approved to pursue NFL minority ownership stakes and made inappropriate charges to the union, include a strip club visit.

Commanders Get Their New Home

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WASH DC – (Wire Service Report) – After nearly three decades of playing in Maryland, the Washington Commanders have the green light to build a new $3.7 billion stadium in D.C. that should bring them back to the nation’s capital by 2030.

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The D.C. Council voted 9-3 on Friday to ratify the deal between the city and the NFL team. The site of the new 174-acre complex will be the same as RFK Stadium, which remains in place even though the team moved out prior to the 1997 season.

“This is a historic moment,” Commanders managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement. “This project is about more than delivering a world-class stadium worthy of our players, fans and the region. It’s about revitalizing a critical part of our city, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking long-term economic benefits for the District. We look forward to working with our fans, residents, community leaders and elected officials to deliver on this vision.”

The franchise enjoyed its finest years at the RFK site, which opened in 1961 as District of Columbia Stadium. During the team’s 36 seasons at RFK, it won Super Bowls VII, XXII and XXVI while appearing in two more and earning eight other playoff appearances.

Since former owner Dan Snyder moved the team to now-Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., in 1997, Washington has amassed just seven playoff appearances in 28 years. Last season’s run to the NFC title game was the Commanders’ first push past the divisional round since 1991.

Snyder’s decision to sell his team in 2022 – a move encouraged by the NFL – helped pave the way for the franchise’s return to D.C. In addition, Harris indicated his willingness to foot more of the bill than most owners.

According to details of the deal, the Commanders are expected to handle $2.7 billion of the stadium’s cost along with any overruns. The District of Columbia will pay $1 billion, but much of that is expected to be recouped over the long haul in taxes and other revenue streams.

–Field Level Media

NFL Training Camp Dates

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NEW YORK – The 2025 NFL season is quickly approaching, and nothing signifies the return of football like training camp.

The NFL announced training camp reporting dates and locations for all 32 teams.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, who will kickoff the Hall of Fame game on July 31, will be the first two teams to have rookies and veterans report. Chargers veterans report on July 16, while Lions veterans report on July 19.

Here’s a team-by-team look at every camp location and key date for the 2025 season:

Arizona Cardinals
Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Atlanta Falcons
Location: IBM Performance Field, Flowery Branch, Ga.
Rookie Report Date: July 23
Veteran Report Date: July 23

Baltimore Ravens
Location: Under Armour Performance Center, Owings Mills, Md.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Buffalo Bills
Location: St. John Fisher University, Rochester, N.Y.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Carolina Panthers
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Rookie Report Date: July 21
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Chicago Bears
Location: Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Ill.
Rookie Report Date: July 19
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Cincinnati Bengals
Location: Kettering Health Practice Fields, Cincinnati, Ohio
Rookie Report Date: July 19
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Cleveland Browns
Location: CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Berea, Ohio
Rookie Report Date: July 18
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Dallas Cowboys
Location: Staybridge Suites, Oxnard, Calif.
Rookie Report Date: July 21
Veteran Report Date: July 21

Denver Broncos
Location: Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit, Englewood, Colo.
Rookie Report Date: July 16
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Detroit Lions
Location: Detroit Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, Mich.
Rookie Report Date: July 16
Veteran Report Date: July 19

Green Bay Packers
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.
Rookie Report Date: July 18
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Houston Texans
Location: Houston Methodist Training Center, Houston, Texas
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Indianapolis Colts
Location: Grand Park, Westfield, Ind.
Rookie Report Date: July 21
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Jacksonville Jaguars
Location: Miller Electric Center, Jacksonville, Fla.
Rookie Report Date: July 19
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Kansas City Chiefs
Location: Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo.
Rookie Report Date: July 21
Veteran Report Date: July 21

Las Vegas Raiders
Location: Intermountain Health Performance Center, Henderson, Nev.
Rookie Report Date: July 17
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Los Angeles Chargers
Location: The Bolt, El Segundo, Calif.
Rookie Report Date: July 12
Veteran Report Date: July 16

Los Angeles Rams
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Miami Dolphins
Location: Baptist Health Training Complex, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Minnesota Vikings
Location: TCO Performance Center, Eagan, Minn.
Rookie Report Date: July 20
Veteran Report Date: July 22

New England Patriots
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Rookie Report Date: July 19
Veteran Report Date: July 22

New Orleans Saints
Location: Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, La.
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

New York Giants
Location: Quest Diagnostics Training Facility, East Rutherford, N.J.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

New York Jets
Location: Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, Florham Park, N.J.
Rookie Report Date: July 19
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Philadelphia Eagles
Location: NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Pittsburgh Steelers
Location: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.
Rookie Report Date: July 23
Veteran Report Date: July 23

San Francisco 49ers
Location: SAP Performance Facility, Santa Clara, Calif.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Seattle Seahawks
Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Wash.
Rookie Report Date: July 15
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Location: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Fla.
Rookie Report Date: July 21
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Tennessee Titans
Location: Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, Nashville, Tenn.
Rookie Report Date: July 22
Veteran Report Date: July 22

Washington Commanders
Location: OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, Ashburn, Va.
Rookie Report Date: July 18
Veteran Report Date: July 22

NFLPA’s Lloyd Howell Jr. Steps Down

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director of the NFL Players Association on Thursday night following weeks of scrutiny for multiple blunders, including a reported conflict of interest and a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players

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“It’s clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,” Howell said in a statement. “For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.

“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years. I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football’s future.”

Last week, ESPN reported that Howell held a part-time role as a consultant for The Carlyle Group, one of a small handful of private equity firms that the NFL has approved to pursue minority ownership in franchises.

ESPN’s reporting included a former lead outside counsel for the NFLPA, Jim Quinn, calling it “an outrageous conflict for the head of a labor union to have an interest in a third party that is aligned with the NFL.”

It was not the first blow to Howell’s reputation this offseason. In June, the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast published an arbitrator’s report from January, when the NFLPA and the league were at odds over potential collusion by team owners to tamp down the growth of quarterback contracts.

The arbitrator, Christopher Droney, ruled that there wasn’t sufficient evidence of collusion between owners — but he went on to say that “by a clear preponderance of the evidence,” commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL’s general counsel encouraged owners to restrict guaranteed money in player contracts.

Howell and the union reportedly had a confidentiality agreement with the NFL to keep the full report from getting out. Howell briefed the players but didn’t provide them copies of the report, according to ESPN.

Furthermore, Howell sits on the board of OneTeam Partners, a group licensing firm that is under investigation by the FBI.

Sports TV Biz: ESPN Extends Orlovsky

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BRISTOL – (Wire Service Report) – Dan Orlovsky, who has served as an NFL analyst with ESPN since 2018, has agreed to terms on a long-term contract, Front Office Sports reported.

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Per the report, the former NFL quarterback will remain as a game analyst for the second-string team on “Monday Night Football” with Chris Fowler, Louis Riddick and Laura Rutledge. Orlovsky, 41, will also continue to appear on “NFL Live,” “SportsCenter,” “Get Up” and “First Take.”

Orlovsky’s new contract is not final but he is apparently “at the 1-yard line” with the network, per the report.

Before the holiday weekend, the former Detroit Lions QB posted a picture on social media toasting himself and on his Instagram story, he wrote, “Here’s to what’s next.”

He wrote on his X account on Monday: “Gotta keep working. Gotta keep proving yourself. Gotta stay hungry. It’s always the journey.”

Orlovsky, whose NFL career began in 2005 and lasted until 2017, is a popular figure at ESPN who has apparently shown interest in becoming a coach in the NFL.

“Dan’s been talking to some teams and seeing if there’s something that interests him and is worthwhile for him,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter told Pat McAfee in an interview.

In February, Front Office Sports reported that Orlovsky was “exploring his options” regarding potential free agency. Last month, it was reported by The Athletic that Orlovsky would likely return to ESPN.

ESPN declined to comment on Monday’s report.

–Field Level Media

Patriots: Diggs Stays Mumm

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FOXBOROUGH – At the final practice of Patriots mandatory minicamp in Massachusetts on Tuesday, newly acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs spoke with reporters but did not address a viral video that has inspired speculation about his future with the team.

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In the video, posted to social media, Diggs is seen enjoying himself on a boat with three bikini-clad women that included top-selling rapper Cardi B, but he’s also seen brandishing a plastic bag filled with a mysterious pink substance.

The 31-year-old Diggs has refrained from speaking about the incident, and did so again Tuesday despite some observers wondering if the four-time Pro Bowler could be in hot water with either his new team or the NFL at large.

First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke recently on the importance of players making “good decisions.”

“I kind of keep my personal life personal,” Diggs said. “I had a conversation with Vrabel, obviously, and I’m going to echo everything that he said. Hope everyone makes good decisions. I had some conversations with people in the building as well. So, everything else is everything else, and the particulars are all internal.”

A First-Team All-Pro in 2020, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in March.

He has described his rapport with Vrabel as being positive and expressed admiration for Vrabel’s championship pedigree.

“I’m a huge fan of him,” Diggs said. “I can’t wait to play for him. He’s got that itch that you want to run through a wall for him. I look forward to it. Me and him go back and forth in practice, and I’m not even participating.”

A year ago, Diggs played in just eight games for the Houston Texans due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, breaking a string of six straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. He has amassed 857 receptions for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns during his 10-year career split among the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans (2024).

–Field Level Media

Patriots DT Barmore Cleared

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots starting defensive tackle Christian Barmore told local reporters that he’s been cleared for football activities and expects to play in the team’s season opener.

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Barmore, 25, was limited to four games last season while experiencing blood clots. He said he’s been a full participant in the team’s offseason workout program.

“Yeah. That’s the goal,” Barmore said of playing in Week 1. “I just have to keep following the medical team. But everything is looking really (good).”

Patriots first-year head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters at the NFL’s annual meeting on March 31 that he could tell by Barmore’s “energy and presence” that he was feeling better.

Barmore, taken by the Patriots in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, missed the first 10 games last season before playing in the next four. He then missed the rest of the season due to a recurrence of the blood clots.

In 48 career games (11 starts), Barmore has 13.5 sacks, 139 tackles, 33 quarterback hits and one forced fumble. He signed four-year, $83 million contract extension with the franchise on April 29, 2024.

Way Too Soon NFL Draft Grades

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – To properly judge an NFL Draft class, it probably takes about three or four years to determine the overall impact. This week, media throughout the land will be providing “grades” for the various NFL team front offices. Admittedly, it’s ridiculous. But, it’s done in fun, not seriously. Here are some of the team selection grades:

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Cleveland Browns:

Grade: B

Best Pick: Harold Fannin Jr., No. 67 Overall

What We Liked: Lots of talented guys made their way onto the Browns roster through this class. It’s a very productive group that isn’t lacking in potential. Defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 5) plays with a fury that should scare opponents, the new running back duo of Quinshon Judkins (No. 36) and Dylan Sampson (No. 126) has a lot of athleticism and should create a nice one-two punch. Fannin adds a dynamic weapon to the receiving corps that can be used in a wealth of ways. The support system for whoever is playing quarterback is going to be boosted.

Not Sure About: There’s an old adage that if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks. Forcing a Dillon Gabriel (No. 94) vs. Shedeur Sanders (No. 144) quarterback competition seems like a move that will ultimately cause distractions. It’s classic Browns, never able to quite solve the quarterback problem as they intend to, and always with more drama than necessary. Carson Schwesinger (No. 33) also got taken a little early for my liking, but the value at linebacker in the second round wasn’t there for anyone.

Tennessee Titans

Grade: B+

Best Pick: QB Cameron Ward, No. 1 Overall

What We Liked: An all-around good draft for the Titans, who are putting together a crack offense in an attempt to actually win some games this year. Ward was the clear QB1 this year. His confidence and ability to handle lots of responsibilities will make the lives of his coordinators easier. Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor (No. 136) and tight end Gunnar Helm (No. 120) will be great support for Ward and provide reliable hands to help him get his rhythm going at the professional level. Safety Kevin Winston Jr. (No. 82) headlines the defensive picks for me. Though he was injured last year, he gave his all in 2023 and kept a day three slot because of it.

Not Sure About: I’m still not convinced Oluwafemi Oladejo (No. 52) is a real edge rusher. He just feels like a square peg being pushed into a round hole. I’ve mentioned the idea of “positionless defenses” but this guy has a position: It’s just not the one he’s playing at the moment. It also felt like a stretch to take wide receiver Chimere Dike (No. 103) in the fourth round, another speedster who does not do a lot else to provide value to the team.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: B

Best Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter, No. 2 Overall

What We Liked: That Travis Hunter trade was incredible. Getting two top-end weapons for the price of one is worth any amount of pick capital you have to pay to get up there. James Gladstone is making an incredible splash in his first year as a general manager with this trade and did lots of draft maneuvering that worked to his advantage. The pickup of guard Wyatt Milum (No. 89) solidifies the offensive line well, and running back Bhayshul Tuten (No. 104) should be a really strong dynamic duo with Tank Bigsby to take pressure off Trevor Lawrence.

Not Sure About: Hmm, lots of announcing guys who aren’t going to play the
position they did in college, shifting over to somewhere else. Caleb Ransaw (No. 88) played all slot corner last year and is looking to be used at safety; Jalen McLeod (No. 194) got announced as a linebacker when his natural fit is as an edge rusher; and Milum is likely shifting from tackle to guard. If these guys don’t do well at their next position, the Jaguars’ depth class is pretty much toast.

New York Giants

Grade: C-

Best Pick: Edge Abdul Carter, No. 3 Overall

What we liked: Carter is a great player. Pairing him with Brian Burns will turn a middling edge rusher unit into a force to be reckoned with. Focusing on the defensive trenches was a good decision for the Giants, who despite having lots of talent, really only felt like they were getting halfway decent results. Picking up defensive tackle Darius Alexander (No. 65) to supplement Dexter Lawrence should play out well, too. That defense could easily become a top-10 unit next year with the added talent.

Not Sure About: I know when you see a guy who could be a franchise quarterback on the board, you should do anything to get him, but is Jaxson Dart (No. 25) really that guy? Not only did the Giants take a quarterback propped up by an incredibly friendly system, they traded up to get him. After the first read, Dart often crumbled. I’m not sure I can see a world where Dart takes the Giants any further than Daniel Jones did. At least Jones could push the ball all the way downfield.

New England Patriots

Grade: A+

Best Pick: C Jared Wilson, No. 95 Overall

What We Liked: Lots of rock-solid picks building in Mike Vrabel’s first year as the head coach. The offensive line is molding into more of a unit than a series of disparate parts, the Patriots have a new running back in TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38) who can hopefully carry the workload. Wide receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69) gives quarterback Drake Maye one more weapon. This feels like a draft driven by logic and smart team-building.

Not Sure About: It was a little early for safety Craig Woodson (No. 106) for the liking. Woodson has trouble run-stopping and struck me as more of a developmental player than a solution to a safety problem. Other than that, nothing to complain about.

Las Vegas Raiders:

Grade: A+

Best Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, No. 6 Overall

What We Liked: The Raiders got a blue-chip guy at six, hard to argue with
that. Jeanty is a big-time impact player for a team that never really had an
offense that chugged. However, one great pick does not make an A+ draft
class. The Raiders knocked it out of the park with virtually every pick. Their
new wide receiver room combines high-floor prospects like Jack Bech (No. 58) with big-upside swings like Dont’e Thornton Jr. (No. 108). Their two offensive linemen picks are both big-time athletes who could start early. Darien Porter (No. 68) may be old for a draft pick, but he’s the perfect Pete Carroll corner. Raiders fans, get excited.

Not Sure About: The two late defensive tackle picks don’t really have any
special skills and have limited upside. I would expect them to be rotational
players at best. If JJ Pegues (No. 180) starts getting reps at fullback, then get worried about these being wasted picks. I personally would have added a safety earlier, but that’s a nitpick on a top-tier draft class.

New York Jets

Grade: B

Best Pick: OT Armand Membou, No. 7 Overall

What We Liked: The Jets hit home runs with their first three selections. Membou can bring his athleticism to an offensive line that really needed only one more piece and create a rushing powerhouse for quarterback Justin Fields and running back Breece Hall. Tight end Mason Taylor (No. 42) sets Fields up with a quick dump-off weapon and with with good run-after-catch ability. Cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (No. 73) does great work in both zone and man and should quickly become part of the rotation. It’s now up to the free agent class to make it work.

Not Sure About: The day three selections were nothing to write home about. Wide receiver Arian Smith (No. 110) is very fast, but when it’s not game-breaking and it’s your main trait, it’s hard to be too impressed. Safety Malachi Moore is also a good athlete, but he doesn’t quite have the mental finesse to keep pass-catchers in his view consistently. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (No. 162) is good, but where will he play?

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B+

Best Pick: Edge Nic Scourton, No. 51 Overall

What We Liked: Getting two edge rushers (Scourton and Princely Umanmielen at No. 77) feels like a great maneuver to fill out the room. Especially adding Scourton to the mix, a crazy good power rusher whose hands will make waste to offensive lines across the southeast. The Panthers hit on all of their day three picks as well, especially Lathan Ransom (No. 122) and Cam Jackson (No. 140), who can make an immediate impact at safety and nose tackle. The depth on the team just got a lot stronger.

Not Sure About: It feels like the Panthers already have a lot of tall wideouts who can’t really separate consistently. Tetairoa McMillan (No. 8) does not add much to the room that quarterback Bryce Young doesn’t already have. Umanmielen doesn’t move me as an edge rusher, and while he isn’t a bad value in the third round, it doesn’t strengthen their bid for the NFC South. Running back might have been a higher priority.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: D

Best Pick: OT Kelvin Banks, No. 9 Overall

What We Liked: Banks is a good tackle who fits the mauling mold the Saints seem to look for. He feels a lot like Trevor Penning, but with more experience facing NFL talent and less frenzy. Jonas Sanker (No. 93) can fill a safety slot once their older guys age out, and he’s versatile enough where you can evaluate his strengths and slot a new guy in next to him pretty easily. Quincy Riley (No. 131) adds some speed to the cornerback room.

Not Sure About: Taking Tyler Shough (No. 40) is just begging to have the Brandon Weeden experience for yourself. If this is your plan at quarterback, you’ll be taking another big swing in 2026. It’s not like they have given him any support this year either. If the Saints had given him an earlier wideout, then perhaps it could be fine, but if the injuries return, it honestly could be an 0-17 season.

Chicago Bears:

Grade: A-

Best Pick: OT Ozzy Trapilo, No. 56 Overall

What We Liked: The Bears kept a good balance of need and overall player
value for much of the draft. Starting off with tight end Colston Loveland (No. 10) was a welcome surprise, as much of the buzz was around the inferior (sorry) Tyler Warren. Continuing to support Caleb Williams, the next two picks were another weapon in wide receiver Luther Burden III, who can really cook with the ball in his hands, and added protection from Trapilo. Their defensive picks mostly landed as well with defensive tackle Shemar Turner (No. 62) and cornerback Zah Frazier (No. 169) being high-floor prospects with decent athleticism and physicality.

Not Sure About: That pick of linebacker Ruben Hyppolite (No. 132) was an insane miscue. It was sort of like acing a history test and then writing gibberish on one of the essay questions. Does anyone outside of the Maryland fan base and obsessive pro day watchers like myself even know who Hyppolite is? Surely they could have gotten him later. The Bears don’t even really need a linebacker, which means they must have really loved this guy. Very odd pick from an otherwise very logical set of selections.

San Francisco 49ers:

Grade: C

Best Pick: LB Nick Martin, No. 75 Overall

What We Liked: Coach Mike Shanahan found some very good value outside of the first round. Martin was vastly underrated after getting injured early in the season, but he should bring sideline-to-sideline range that he couples with great instincts. Jordan Watkins (No. 138) has WR1 upside but at the very least projects as a WR2 for the offense. He was almost an Emeka Egbuka type in college who kept getting pushed by really impressive talents and not given a chance to shine.

Not Sure About: The first two rounds made me shrug. Edge Mykel Williams (11) is better on paper than on the field, but this isn’t a Strat-O-Matic game. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins (43) doesn’t have the strength or agility to be a game-wrecker, so the whole defensive line feels stagnant. There’s still a glaring hole at offensive tackle that needs more capital investment.

Dallas Cowboys:

Grade: C+

Best Pick: CB Shavon Revel Jr., No. 76 Overall

What We Liked: The Revel pick was impressive value for the spot. The once-incredible Cowboys cornerback room took a major step back, and Ravel should be able to make it afloat again. Guard Tyler Booker (No. 12) is a really good player who fits with the scheme of the Cowboys with his overwhelming power profile. The Cowboys addressed the majority of their needs and at least should have new competition at the spot.

Not Sure About: Can edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (No. 44) keep up his high production in the pros when he’s at an athletic disadvantage? The value is better in the second than his first-round projection, but it still is a worrying projection. Running back Jaydon Blue does not seem equipped to take on a bell cow role and feels like more of a special teams add.

Miami Dolphins:

Grade: C

Best Pick: DT Kenneth Grant, No. 13 Overall

What We Liked: Effort was made to replace the big-time players who have
left Miami for greener pastures. Grant is clearly meant to be the
next force up the middle, similar to how Christian Wilkins operated for the
Dolphins, and safety Dante Trader Jr. (No. 155) is kind of like if you got Jevon Holland from the 99-cent store: lots of strong play with a much lower paycheck attached. Guard Jonah Savaiinaea (No. 37) feels like one more step in the right direction to fixing an offensive line that has led to Tua Tagovailoa concussions. The needs are being addressed.

Not Sure About: Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (No. 143) was a prospect that got first-round hype early in the cycle, but that tapered off when everyone realized that rumors of his athleticism were greatly exaggerated. Even the fifth round feels out of the range I would want someone of his production caliber. Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (No. 150) is a similar former high-upside project player who just never did much of anything. Miami needs some players who can actually make an impact —
outside of their offense, they lack star power.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: B+

Best Pick: RB DJ Giddens, No. 151 Overall

What We Liked: The Chris Ballard strategy of taking exclusively pure athletes seems to have cooled off, as now Ballard is taking guys who also play good football. After a few years of middling draft classes, this is a group of guys you can feel confident in. Tight end Tyler Warren (No. 14) will provide more ways to ease Anthony Richardson’s quarterback responsibilities, and edge JT Tuimoloau (No. 45) and cornerback Justin Walley (No. 80) are good enough athletes but really excel in technical skill. The best pick, though, is Giddens in the fifth round. He has a balanced skill set that could make him a great supplement to Jonathan Taylor and even potentially be a full-time starter.

Not Sure About: Tim Smith seems to have been picked because he’s an Alabama defensive tackle. Really just another body for that rotation. I’m not
in love with the Warren pick, either. As dynamic as he was at the
college level, I’m not sure an offense can really be built around him in the pros without his athletic limitations showing through. Adding Riley Leonard (No. 189) to the quarterback room when he mostly just runs feels underwhelming for a team that’s sorely missing an actual passer.

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: B-

Best Pick: S Xavier Watts, No. 96 Overall

What we liked: The selections were impressive values in comparison to consensus. Edge Jalon Walker (No. 15) was seen by many as a potential top 10 pick thanks to his explosive nature; the testing numbers of edge James Pearce Jr. (No. 26) make his potential impressive, and getting Watts at the back half of day two after a slide could change their secondary. The values on these guys was impressive, and the Falcons betting on upside is a great choice in a weak division where any team could cement itself as the front-runner for the next five years. If these players pan out along with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., they could be a perennial playoff team.

Not Sure About: Trading up with a future first-round pick for a player at a position you already took in the top 15 feels like a poor use of resources. That defensive line certainly needed sprucing up, but it only matters so much if they’re not getting any interior pressure, and they certainly did not invest in defensive tackle as many expected. Not only that, they doubled up on doubling up. They took two safeties too! There are more holes on the roster than that! Solve your other problems!

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: A

Best Pick: CB Will Johnson, No. 47 Overall

What We Liked: Everything. The Cardinals went for the best football player available at every turn, from ending the surprising fall to the second round for cornerback Will Johnson (No. 47) to their first pick of Walter Nolen (No. 16), who got some of the best production of any defensive tackle in the SEC.

Even their day two and three selections were great choices, taking edge Jordan Burch (No. 78), who performed admirably at Oregon, and Cody Simon (No. 115), who led the linebacker corps for Ohio State. I had Burch as a top 50 guy, and Simon as one of the most underrated linebackers in the class. It solves a lot of problems for them very quickly.

NFL Draft: Sanders Remains Undrafted

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GREEN BAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After two days, three rounds and 102 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders is still waiting to hear his name called. One must wonder, “who will be drafted first, Sanders or Cooper Flagg?”

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The highly hyped Colorado quarterback, who stunningly fell out of the first round on Thursday night, was not among the 70 players selected in the second and third rounds on Friday.

Three more quarterbacks were taken on Friday after two were called in the first round at the draft held in Green Bay, Wis. However, none of them was the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s head coach at Colorado.

The first quarterback off the board Friday came eight picks in, as the New Orleans Saints selected Tyler Shough with the eighth choice in the second round. Shough actually played in seven different seasons in college, starting at Oregon in 2018 before transferring to Texas Tech for the 2021 season and then Louisville for 2024.

The next two quarterbacks went late in the third round, with the Seattle Seahawks taking Alabama’s Jalen Milroe with the 92nd overall pick and the Cleveland Browns taking Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel two picks later.

Sanders’ statistics suggested he might be more highly prized by NFL teams targeting their next long-term quarterback. During his senior year at Colorado, Sanders led the Big 12 in passing yards (4,134), touchdowns (37) and passer-efficiency rating (168.2). He topped the nation with a 74 percent completion rate.

He led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record, finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and earned Associated Press second-team all-American acclaim, with Miami’s Cam Ward receiving the first-team selection. Ward was the first overall pick in the draft Thursday, taken by the Tennessee Titans.

That capped a stellar four-year career playing for his father. In two seasons at Jackson State and two at Colorado, Sanders completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions.

The spotlight followed every move the Sanders family made over the last two years at Colorado, which carried over during the lengthy pre-draft process. Sanders’ potential destination was a hot topic on sports talk shows. Depending on the day, he was viewed as an ideal prospect for the Giants (who held the third overall pick), the Saints (ninth overall pick) and, worst-case scenario, the Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall pick).

Sanders attended the NFL combine in February and measured in at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, but he did not throw for scouts until Colorado’s pro day in early April. On Saturday, the Buffaloes immortalized Sanders (and Heisman Trophy-winning teammate Travis Hunter) by retiring their numbers. There was still no sign that Sanders would be anything but a first-round selection.

But as draft day approached and uncomplimentary reports of Sanders’ interview skills and overly confident demeanor became public, the narrative shifted.

The final day of the draft is Saturday, with the fourth through seventh rounds. Of the teams believed to be most in need of a quarterback entering the draft, only the Steelers have yet to select one.

The Steelers are currently with the 21th pick of the fourth round, No. 123 overall.

–Field Level Media