Mon Apr 28 1:52pm ET
Field Level Media
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said drafting two quarterbacks "wasn't necessarily the plan" entering last weekend, but he generated the most compelling QB battle ahead of the 2025 season by doing exactly that.
The Browns accepted the intense spotlight that came with selecting Colorado's record-setting quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. That was 50 picks after making Oregon's Dillon Gabriel the fifth quarterback off the board in the third round.
The rookies joined a crowded depth chart alongside veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson.
Watson is in the equation by name only. He's expected to miss the 2025 season following a second Achilles injury, and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam recently acknowledged Watson's acquisition three years ago as a "big swing and miss."
So out of the four remaining quarterbacks, which one is best positioned to be under center when Cleveland kicks off its 2025 regular season?
DraftKings installed Pickett as the -110 favorite. The former first-round pick by Pittsburgh was acquired from Philadelphia earlier this offseason. He has 25 career starts, including one last year, and is still only 26 years old.
That's 14 years younger than Joe Flacco, who was signed a few weeks before the draft as somewhat of an insurance policy. He played last season in Indianapolis after coming off his couch to guide Cleveland to the playoffs in the 2023 season.
However, Flacco was installed as a +1500 longshot to open Week 1 as the Browns' starter following the draft.
Of more intrigue is that the sportsbook is offering far shorter odds on Sanders (+175) than Gabriel (+475) to start the opener.
Both enter the NFL with a wealth of experience at the college level.
Sanders, 23, was the sixth quarterback off the board despite being named a second-team All-American last season. He also had his jersey retired -- someone controversially -- by Colorado after finishing his college career by completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns and just 27 interceptions in 50 games at Jackson State and Colorado.
Gabriel, who is a year older at 24, led Oregon to the College Football Playoffs last year after his own statistically packed time at Oklahoma. In all, he left college with 18,722 passing yards and an FBS/Division I-A record 155 touchdowns across six seasons with UCF (three), Oklahoma (two) and Oregon.
But the Browns did think enough of Sanders to trade the 166th and 192nd overall picks to move up to halt his unexpected freefall with the 144th pick.
How Cleveland establishes the pecking order -- and the plan -- for its quarterback competition entering training camp promises to be one of the offseason's juiciest storylines.
"Obviously, you may not divide (training camp reps) 25, 25, 25, 25, but we feel really confident that we'll have a plan that is fair to each player and fair to the team as well," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.
The Dallas Cowboys announced on Wednesday that they waived running back Malik Davis, offensive linemen Jack Anderson and Earl Bostick and linebacker Brock Mogensen. Davis spent the entire 2024 season on the Cowboys' practice squad and then signed a Reserve/Futures deal with the organization in early January. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of the University of Florida played in only three games with Dallas in 2023 and has 38 rushing attempts for 161 yards and one touchdown in his two years in the NFL. Davis played 45 snaps on special teams in three games in 2023 and wasn't used at all on offense. He will now be looking to join another team before training camps kick off at the end of July.
From RotoBaller
The Kansas City Chiefs released tight ends Anthony Firkser and Baylor Cupp, linebacker Shaun Bradley, offensive guard McKade Mettauer and safety Jason Taylor on Wednesday, according to KPRC's Aaron Wilson. They also received an international exemption for offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick. Firkser is the biggest name of the bunch. The 30-year-old veteran tight end played for both the Chiefs and New York Jets last year but didn't contribute at all on offense and wasn't targeted in the passing game in seven total games with both teams. He signed a Reserve/Futures deal after KC's Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles but will now be searching for a new organization after the 2025 NFL draft. Firkser hasn't caught a pass in the NFL since 2022 with the Atlanta Falcons.
From RotoBaller
The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander projects Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III to be left off the 53-man roster entering the start of the 2025 season this fall after the team added receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in last week's draft. Houston also added Christian Kirk, Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios in free agency this offseason, creating a lot of competition for the 24-year-old, who has battled injuries and a cancer scare to produce just 40 catches for 412 yards and one touchdown since being drafted in the second round (44th overall) in 2022 out of Alabama. Alexander expects Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson, Berrios and Watson to be battling for the final two receiver spots this summer behind Higgins, Kirk and Nico Collins. Metchie is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and could be a trade candidate if it's clear he's not going to make the roster.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns free-agent wide receiver Elijah Moore signed with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday on a one-year deal for $5 million maximum, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Moore will head to the AFC East to give quarterback Josh Allen another weapon alongside wideouts Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Curtis Samuel and rookie Kaden Prather. The 25-year-old former second-rounder (34th overall) by the New York Jets in 2021 out of Mississippi caught a career-high 61 passes on 102 targets for 538 yards and one touchdown in 17 games (13 starts) in 2024 in his second year with Cleveland. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder could have a tough time standing out in fantasy yet again in a Buffalo offense that prided itself on spreading things around a season ago. Moore has never had more than 640 receiving yards or five touchdowns in a single season since debuting in the NFL in 2021.
From RotoBaller
The Green Bay Packers have officially picked up defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt's fifth-year option ahead of the May 1 deadline, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Wyatt was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia and has tallied 74 tackles (43 solo), 12 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and 12 run stuffs in 47 career games. The 300-pounder has pass-rush skills from the interior that are valuable to any defense. He is now locked in with the organization through the 2026 campaign and will earn $12.9 million guaranteed on the final year of his rookie deal.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets quarterback Jordan Travis (leg) is retiring from football after being medically advised to end his career, he announced on X. The former Florida State quarterback suffered a major leg injury in November of 2023 after leading the Seminoles to an 11-0 record. His season ended ahead of postseason action, but he was still selected by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Travis spent the entire 2024 season rehabilitating his injury, but rehab efforts were unsuccessful. Travis never got to play a snap in the NFL, but he'll end his football journey at age 24 with an ACC Offensive Player of the Year award and two all-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers released defensive lineman Montravius Adams on Wednesday, the team announced on X. Adams spent the last four seasons with the Steelers following one season with the New Orleans Saints and four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The former third-round pick out of Auburn in 2017 saw his playing time dramatical dip in 2024, recording zero starts after making 17 starts in the two seasons prior. Overall, the veteran has tallied 123 tackles (61 solo), 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass deflections, and 14.5 run stuffs in 96 career games. While he's unlikely to be a clear-cut starter moving forward, there are plenty of teams lacking interior defensive line depth that could be interested in his services.
From RotoBaller
The Philadelphia Eagles exercised the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Jordan Davis, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Davis, the former No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia, has tallied 90 tackles (41 solo), 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, four pass deflections, and 13 run stuffs in 47 career games. His counting stats don't do his play justice as an interior run-clogger, but he's an important piece on the dominant Philly defensive front, so this move comes as no surprise. This will keep Davis with the organization through the 2026 campaign, barring a trade or unexpected situation.
From RotoBaller
The NFL is fining the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 due to the leak of quarterback Shedeur Sanders' phone number ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo. Ulbrich's son, Jax, used the phone number to prank call Sanders on Day 2 of last week's draft. The 21-year-old issued a public apology days later, and the NFL is looking into ways to stop this from happening in the future.
From RotoBaller
The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot writes that it is going to be a steep climb for rookie fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders to beat out Steelers 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel and fan favorite Joe Flacco for the starting job in 2025. The Browns passed on Sanders six times in last week's draft, including at No. 94 when they took Oregon product Gabriel. Cleveland only traded up to take Sanders at 144th overall because the "steep discount" was too good to pass up. Cabot thinks the 23-year-old will have to outperform the other three QBs on the roster, and he'll have to do it with limited reps this summer. If the season started tomorrow, Pickett might be the current favorite to start under center for the Browns. If Sanders doesn't look good in training camp, he could eventually be cut before the start of the 2025 season this fall.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III has the inside track to win the starting job in the slot in 2025, with DK Metcalf and George Pickens locked in to start on the outside. However, Roman Wilson will challenge Austin for playing time in training camp this summer after missing virtually his entire rookie season due to multiple injuries. Metcalf, Pickens, Austin and Wilson are probably locks for the 53-man roster, with Ben Skowronek the most likely candidate for the fifth spot because of his value on special teams as a gunner. The Steelers could also elect to take newcomer Robert Woods as a big-bodied slot receiver and willing blocker. With questions at quarterback in Pittsburgh, it's hard to get excited about anyone in fantasy beyond Metcalf and Pickens for the 2025 season.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo lists Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson as a co-starter with Jaylen Warren in an early look at the team's positional battles this offseason. Johnson, who stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, is a physical back that is built to carry the load. It remains to be seen how the Steelers will divvy up the touches in their backfield in 2025, but it's widely believed that Johnson was taken with the 83rd overall pick to essentially replace Najee Harris, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. The 21-year-old had 240 carries for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for Iowa in 2024 and also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and two more TDs. Warren starred in a third-down role for Pittsburgh his first three years and will take valuable touches away from Johnson in his rookie campaign, even if Johnson is the go-to guy on early downs.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings reached an agreement on Tuesday with linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel on a one-year, $23 million contract extension that includes $22.4 million guaranteed, according to his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. The Vikings liked what they saw from Van Ginkel in his first year in Minnesota in 2024, when he totaled a career-high 79 tackles (50 solo), a career-high 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 19 QB hits, two interceptions returned for touchdowns, six pass breakups and one forced fumble in 17 regular-season starts for his first Pro Bowl selection. Fantasy managers in IDP formats may want to temper expectations going into 2025 because of the fact that he hadn't produced more than six sacks in a single season in his first five years in the NFL. Still, the 29-year-old has big-play ability at the linebacker position.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens announced on Wednesday that they are exercising the fifth-year option for the 2026 season on safety Kyle Hamilton, according to general manager Eric DeCosta. The GM also said that the team is open to working out a long-term contract extension with Hamilton. It's no surprise for Hamilton, who has been a Pro Bowler each of the last two years and a first-team All-Pro in 2023. The 24-year-old defensive back had a career-high 107 tackles (77 solo), two sacks, six QB hits, one interception, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 17 regular-season starts last year. Hamilton's numbers last year were good enough to make him a top-10 defensive back in IDP fantasy formats. He had double-digit tackles in five regular-season games and played every snap in nine contests. Hamilton will be a must-start defensive back in IDP lineups again in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton says that rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant, who the team took at No. 74 overall in the third round in last week's NFL draft, reminds him of former New Orleans Saints wideout Michael Thomas. "(Bryant) has just a lot of traits that Mike had," Payton said. "Especially at the line of scrimmage." Bryant was a surprise top-75 pick because of his lack of speed -- he ran the second-slowest 40-yard dash (4.61 seconds) at the combine among receivers. While the 22-year-old didn't show off-the-charts athleticism, the Broncos think he'll bring an edge to the receiver room and push second-year players Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin in the passing attack. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder had 17 touchdowns at Illinois in his last two seasons. Behind WR1 Courtland Sutton, Bryant will be competing with Vele, Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. for playing time in his first year in the NFL.
Dynasty | Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was not traded during the 2025 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: With the Falcons picking up his option and now with both free agency and the NFL Draft essentially complete, the obvious window of time to move on from Cousins has come and gone. At this point, it looks like he's going to be a very high-priced backup quarterback for Atlanta. Still, the phone could certainly ring at some point here should Aaron Rodgers choose to retire and not go to the Steelers or if another team loses their starters in camp. At this point, Cousins is a weak hold in dynasty leagues.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Nick Nash, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of San Jose State, could find himself in the team's receiver rotation in 2025 after leading all FBS pass-catchers in 2024 in catches (104), touchdowns (16) and receiving yards (1,382). The converted quarterback played half of his 2,169 collegiate snaps under center, giving him a unique perspective at the receiver position. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder gives QBs a wide catch radius, but for now, excelling on special teams could be his ticket to the main roster. He's old for a rookie at 26 years old and is relatively new to the receiver position, too, so at best, Nash will probably work in four- or five-receiver sets for the Falcons behind Drake London, Ray-Ray McCloud III and Darnell Mooney. He'll have to make up for his lack of long speed with his size and precise route-running.
From RotoBaller
The Atlanta Falcons exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Drake London on Wednesday, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter. This was a no-brainer decision after London posted career-highs in catches (100), targets (158), receiving yards (1,271) and touchdowns (nine) in 17 starts in 2024 in his third year in the NFL. The 23-year-old eighth overall pick in 2022 will now be under contract with the Falcons through the 2026 season, but he could sign a long-term extension well before that if he has another big year in 2025. It was impressive performance for London last year, especially when considering that quarterback Kirk Cousins fell flat in his first year back from an Achilles tear and was benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. late in the season. It's good news that he caught 22 passes for 352 yards and two TDs in the final three games with Penix. London is a surefire WR1 in fantasy.
From RotoBaller
Updating previous reports, Green Bay Packers CB Jaire Alexander could remain with the team as all options are on the table. Those include a trade, a release or a reconciliation.
From TheHuddle
Free-agent DL Johnathan Hankins (Seahawks) is re-signing with the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Tuesday, April 29. Financial terms were not disclosed.
From TheHuddle