We’re simply two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Two weeks from tonight Roger Goodell will stroll throughout a stage exterior Lambeau Subject in Inexperienced Bay to formally open the Draft, and announce that the Tennessee Titans are on the clock.
If all the things goes in keeping with plan, moments later Goodell will return to the stage to announce that the Titans have chosen Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
What occurs after that’s anybody’s guess.
With that in thoughts, let’s dive into the most recent rumors two weeks out from the draft.
Steelers QBs as Rodgers choice looms
The continued “will he or gained’t he” dialogue relating to Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers drags on to a different week, with indicators persevering with to level to the veteran quarterback becoming a member of the Steelers sooner or later this offseason.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply the Steelers are usually not doing their homework on quarterbacks within the class. That features Colorado passer Shedeur Sanders, who is about to go to the Steelers at the moment in a pre-draft go to.
Sanders has been linked to groups inside the highest ten, together with just lately the New Orleans Saints at No. 9, so this may very well be a matter of easy due diligence in case he falls two weeks from tonight.
One other quarterback the Steelers have been linked to in current weeks is Mississippi passer Jaxson Dart. He stays a consensus decide for Pittsburgh in mock drafts, with notable names corresponding to Pete Prisco and Rob Rang linking the Mississippi QB to the Steelers prior to now week.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport went so far as to put in writing that Dart to the Steelers at No. 21 is considered one of their “inevitable” picks within the upcoming draft.
That transfer would possibly give Steelers followers Kenny Pickett flashbacks. In any case, Pittsburgh chosen Pickett with the twentieth decide again in 2022, one spot earlier than they’re on the clock within the first spherical two weeks from tonight. However Dart’s capacity to “take a punch” ought to ease his NFL transition … particularly if he can wait a bit behind a veteran QB.
Like Rodgers.
Browns locking in on Hunter at 2
With the Titans locking in on Ward with the first-overall choice, consideration will rapidly flip to the Cleveland Browns at No. 2. Proper now Cleveland has none apart from the aforementioned Pickett as their high possibility at quarterback, which means the Browns might look to Sanders on this spot.
However within the wake of Colorado’s NFL Showcase, rumors have the Browns going with one other Colorado prospect on this spot: WR/CB Travis Hunter Jr. Jeff Howe of The Athleticreported that Cleveland has been excessive on Hunter all through the pre-draft course of, and common supervisor Andrew Berry was at Colorado’s NFL Showcase as effectively. Browns beat author Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal made that case earlier this week,
ESPN insider Mel Kiper Jr. additionally had Hunter to the Browns in his ultimate mock draft, declaring “I debated Hunter vs. Penn State’s Abdul Carter for Cleveland,” Kiper wrote. “There’s little doubt that slotting Carter reverse Myles Garrett would destroy opponents’ sport plans. However Hunter is a particular prospect in so some ways, and he’d examine a giant field for the Browns — primarily as a receiver.”
Which may nonetheless depart a necessity at QB for Cleveland. Extra on that in a second.
Jalen Milroe “gaining steam” as draft approaches
Demise, taxes, and mock drafts forcing quarterbacks into the primary spherical.
It’s a story as previous as time. I’m sufficiently old to recollect such first-round passers as Davis Webb, Nathan Peterman, and Mason Rudolph. Dart just isn’t the one passer to select up some first-round buzz in current weeks, as Alabama passer Jalen Milroe is “gaining steam” in keeping with Jordan Schultz.
Milroe has already taken a go to with the Browns and has visits with different groups such because the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Seattle Seahawks scheduled. Schultz additionally reported that Milroe had non-public exercises with each the Browns and the Saints that had been “spectacular.”
Our associates at Dawgs by Nature have been beating the “Milroe-to-Cleveland” drum for a very long time. With the Browns selecting on the high of the second spherical, that is perhaps the spot for Cleveland to deal with QB, offered they go in a unique course at No. 2.
Jalon Walker to New England at No. 4?
The primary crew on the clock in two weeks that doesn’t want a quarterback?
That may be the New England Patriots at No. 4.
Drake Maye has given Patriots followers hope, after a strong rookie marketing campaign, and now the group has a window to construct round their younger passer. New England entered the offseason with a ton of cap area and has put a few of that to make use of, bringing in gamers corresponding to Carlton Davis III, Stefon Diggs, Garrett Bradbury, Morgan Moses, Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and Harold Landry III.
However there are nonetheless wants, together with alongside the offensive line. The Patriots have been linked to a number of offensive tackles with the fourth-overall choice, together with LSU sort out Will Campbell and Missouri sort out Armand Membou, and extensive receiver stays a well-liked decide for them, particularly Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan.
Nevertheless, Mike Giardi, the previous NESCAC participant and long-time Patriots whisperer, floated a a lot totally different title for the Patriots just lately.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.
“You didn’t see this coming, did you? Walker could also be the very best participant within the draft (not named Hunter or Carter), and he has a whole lot of followers at One Patriot Place,” Giardi wrote within the Boston Sports activities Journal. “Nothing the Pats did on the defensive facet of the ball in free company would stop Vrabel & Co from tabbing the 21-year-old with this mixture of athleticism, stunning energy in his 245-pound body, and the very best soccer character (Georgia workers LOVES him). Is he an edge? An off-ball linebacker? He break up reps for the Bulldogs, however the extra I’ve watched his tape, the extra I foresee him on the surface for the Pats.”
Our personal JP Acosta dove into Walker this week and appreciated what he noticed.
Does New England?
Rams proceed to do homework on QBs
Probably the most attention-grabbing picks in Kiper’s newest mock draft?
Dart to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 26.
This decide requires a little bit of context. As Kiper wrote in his mock draft he didn’t ship a quarterback to Pittsburgh, given the continued rumors about Rodgers going to the Steelers. That took a typical touchdown spot for Dart out of competition in his mock draft.
However there have been rumors about Dart to the Rams all through the method, and the Rams have been doing their homework on quarterbacks this cycle. Whereas Los Angeles reached settlement on a brand new deal for Matthew Stafford, common supervisor Les Snead has indicated he’s is ”open” to drafting a quarterback, and has talked about including a younger QB to the roster this low season.
Based on Adam Schefter, the Rams spent “appreciable time” with Dart through the analysis course of:
Sources: Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart visited at the moment with the Cleveland Browns, and can subsequent fly to Las Vegas to go to the Raiders, sources inform me and @FieldYates.
Dart additionally has spent “appreciable time” throughout this interview course of with the Giants, Saints and Rams. pic.twitter.com/M6rY1SLGkl
– Adam Scha after (@Adamscha after) April 8, 2025
As well as, as famous above the Rams are set to satisfy with Milroe forward of the draft.
Abdul Carter to go to New England
One of many different names generally linked to the Patriots at No. 4?
Penn State cross rusher Abdul Carter.
Largely thought of the very best cross rusher within the NFL Draft, Carter will take a pre-draft go to to Foxborough early subsequent week. Carter’s go to to New England will probably be his fourth — and ultimate — pre-draft go to. The Penn State product has additionally visited with the three groups selecting forward of the Patriots, and people will probably be his solely visits of the cycle.
It might appear that 4 is the ground for Carter.
