“There aren’t a lot of Robert De Niros at the top of this draft.”
That’s how one NFL head coach described the lack of elite talent in this year’s draft class — and based on multiple conversations with those in NFL scouting departments, he’s not wrong. A current general manager added: “I don’t recall seeing a draft that was so light in the first 10 picks.”
Many evaluators have shared that some players expected to go in the top 10 are comparable to players who might still be on the board in the 20s. One league source said, “Picks 4, 5, 6 and 7 can get the same player at 20 that they can get at their current slots.”
However, there’s still legitimate potential — especially for teams looking to fill out their roster with guys who can contribute right away. Another general manager described this draft to his scouts as, “There’s not a ton of touchdown makers, star corners or QBs, but it’s all about the lines of scrimmage in this draft.”
In the final hours until the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, I’ve been talking daily with NFL personnel about a variety of topics, and here’s what I’m hearing:
• Why the NFL world is talking about the Giants • The QB2 candidates — and who could select him • Aaron Rodgers’ looming presence in his old stomping grounds • Owner involvement, for better or worse • What do pre-draft visits really mean? • Why teams read all those mock drafts (they really do!)
• Want even more draft intel? Check out our Scoop City live show, 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday
But first …
20 things I’m hearing about Round 1
1.) The Browns, Giants and Patriots are fielding calls for the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 picks, per league sources. The majority of teams looking to move up see Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter as their target should they be able to entice one of those teams, particularly Cleveland, with a suitable package. All three teams are listening.
2.) The New York Giants called the Tennessee Titans multiple times with offers to move up to the No. 1 pick. They were the most aggressive of the teams that reached out to new Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi.
3.) Sources say the Browns and the Giants, who own the first two picks of the second round, are in trade talks with teams at the back end of the first round. If either team trades up, the expectation is that it would be to select a quarterback (more on that later).
4.) The Patriots, armed with the No. 4 pick, know they have a lot of needs, and while the prospect of trading up to draft Hunter or Penn State edge Abdul Carter is appealing, New England understands the importance of building a solid foundation — and how vital draft picks are to doing it. Expect Eliot Wolf, Mike Vrabel and company to use their top selection to beef up their offensive line, and attempt to plug other holes throughout the draft.
5.) The Jaguars (5) and Raiders (6) have expressed interest in moving up, I’m told, if the player they want is available. In fact, I was told the Jaguars are hoping to keep this draft “electric” with the first-year tandem of head coach Liam Coen and GM James Gladstone, and an offensive player is on their radar. Jacksonville is also open to moving out for the right trade offer.
6.) Most of the teams picking in the top 10, outside of Tennessee, have discussed trading out and are open to more discussions with teams as we get closer to Thursday night.
7.) The Raiders, led by first-time general manager John Spytek, spent substantial time doing homework on Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, but strong cases are being made in their draft room to go offensive line instead.
8.) Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio has made at least three draft-day trades every year and 18 total trades since becoming the team’s GM in 2021. His most notable move came in 2023, selecting C.J. Stroud second before swinging big and trading up to No. 3 to take Will Anderson Jr. Whether it’s jockeying up or down the board, Houston has shown a willingness to deal under Caserio — don’t expect that to change in 2025. The Texans have been actively making calls about a potential move up, so don’t be surprised if Houston makes a jump on Thursday night.
9.) The Bears have been linked to Jeanty for weeks, and they are hoping they can snag him at 10.
10.) The Falcons are focused on building up their defense with pass rushers — Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. and Marshall’s Mike Green are in play for Atlanta.
11.) Don’t expect the same kind of fireworks from the Broncos, one year after they took Bo Nix. Sean Payton does fall in love with players, but the sense I get right now is that Denver is comfortable with sticking at pick No. 20 and selecting the player it wants — or trading back. I heard the Broncos love some of the running backs, but not enough to move up.
12.) Many sources around the league expect the Cowboys to target an offensive skill position with the No. 12 pick. Texas WR Matthew Golden and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan are names that I’m hearing could interest Dallas.
13.) Tight end Tyler Warren was Penn State’s Swiss Army knife in 2024, but what type of role could he have in a Justin Fields-led offense? Expect the Jets to have interest in tight ends, including the Mackey Award winner, with the No. 7 pick.
14.) The San Francisco 49ers are expected to stick and pick, hoping for an edge rusher.
15.) The Vikings are interested in trading back to recoup more draft capital. They have only four picks in this draft right now.
16.) Expect the Rams to once again show interest in a tight end in the first round. Last year, Los Angeles tried — and failed — to move up to select Brock Bowers. I’m told Sean McVay and Les Snead could once again try to move up to get their guy.
17.) The Chiefs could be interested in moving up a couple of slots, depending on the price.
18.) The Dolphins are open to trading down.
19.) Players who could be traded during the draft include QBs Kirk Cousins, Aidan O’Connell, Will Levis and Sam Howell.
20.) The Browns, Steelers and possibly Vikings could be involved in a Cousins trade. Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year. If a trade were to happen, I’d expect it to go down on Saturday.
Big Blue’s bizarre situation
No team has been generating more buzz around the NFL than the New York Giants — and league sources I spoke to seem split on what they’ll do.
It’s widely known that both head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are running out of time, the roster has glaring needs, and the pressure to turn Big Blue into a contender again is real, especially in a division with the defending Super Bowl champions. One head coach asked: “Can they really put their future — and maybe their jobs — in the hands of a QB room led by Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston?”
There’s a dilemma at No. 3 overall. Is it worth spending that pick on a quarterback, even if they aren’t sold on one? Or would it be smarter to grab the best blue-chip talent on the board and find a different way to address QB?
An AFC GM summarized New York’s conundrum as: “Throw a Hail Mary and save yourself or do what’s good for the team’s future?”
The Giants made waves last week by scheduling last-minute private workouts with quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough. I’m told those workouts didn’t necessarily seal any decisions, but it’s clear New York is doing its homework. The team had Sanders ranked as its No. 1 quarterback headed into the combine, but things have since shifted.
For now, I’m told they want to be ready for anything — including the possibility of drafting a non-quarterback at No. 3 and then trading back into the first round later to grab “their guy” at QB. Which brings us to …
Quarterbacks: Cam Ward, and then who?
With Cam Ward expected to go to Tennessee with the No. 1 pick, the rest of the QB options come with their own set of concerns and questions.
Sanders is easily the most discussed quarterback in this class and, according to evaluators around the league, his value is all over the map. One veteran offensive coach I spoke with had concerns not about Sanders’ personality (which he likes), but about how his game will translate.
“Show me a QB that takes a lot of sacks in college and can translate his game to the NFL,” the coach said.
It’s a fair point. Sanders was sacked 92 times over two seasons at Colorado. He spent a lot of time running for his life. Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft expert, noted recently that Sanders’ three worst games on tape came against Colorado’s three toughest Big 12 opponents. So the question becomes: Can a team like the Giants — with Daboll and Schoen under real pressure — afford to take on a quarterback who might need time to sit, learn and adjust?
One name that keeps coming up more and more is Shough of Louisville. Despite being a bit older (he’ll turn 26 in September), there are coaches out there who believe in him — one even told me he thinks Shough could end up being the best QB in this class if he lands in the right situation. This coach had him graded above Cam Ward.
Whether it’s Sanders, Shough, Jaxson Dart or Milroe, the options are limited, but don’t underestimate the desperation factor. It’s a tough year to be hunting for a franchise QB, which makes the situations in places like New Orleans and Pittsburgh — both of which want to add a quarterback this draft — very interesting.
The Steelers’ and Saints’ QB searches
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Steelers are in a holding pattern in regards to Aaron Rodgers. Sources tell me Pittsburgh has not received further updates from the four-time MVP following his “Pat McAfee Show” appearance last Thursday, in which he said he was “open to anything and attached to nothing” while he continued to focus on off-field matters. Recently, my colleague Mike Silver spoke to Rodgers’ former Packers and Jets teammate and current Ram Davante Adams about his friend’s next move. He believes Rodgers still wants to play football.
In the meantime, the Steelers must turn their attention to the draft — specifically their first-round selection, No. 21 overall. Signing Rodgers does not remove the need to secure a long-term QB for GM Omar Khan, but with Rodgers’ status in limbo and Pittsburgh’s offseason program already underway, the urgency is there.
Additionally, Pittsburgh has been doing extensive work on running backs after Najee Harris signed with the Chargers in free agency. This RB class gives the Steelers a real chance to find value in the middle rounds — even after dealing their second-round pick to Seattle for DK Metcalf.
As for New Orleans: After redoing Derek Carr’s deal in lieu of cutting him, Carr’s shoulder issue does not dissuade the Saints from their initial plan: landing a QB in this draft. With a talented group of defensive players likely available at No. 9, the sense I get is that New Orleans would be open to taking the best player available in Round 1 and dipping into the QB pool later on.
The reasons behind the curious timing of Carr’s shoulder news remain unknown, but it’s possible that he did not want to find himself in a similar situation to Cousins a year ago — playing with a highly drafted QB sitting behind him. How the Saints navigate the situation with Carr is interesting, especially given the hefty dead cap hits he would cost the team the next two seasons.
Purdy, Kittle contract updates
The San Francisco 49ers and Brock Purdy are inching closer to a long-term extension, according to sources close to the situation. The contract is expected to include an average annual value that ranks in the top 10 in the NFL (and at Purdy’s position).
Purdy showed up for the start of 49ers OTAs, while star teammate George Kittle did not. Kittle wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid tight end, per a league source. Trey McBride reset the market earlier this offseason; the 25-year-old inked a four-year, $76 million pact with Arizona. San Francisco’s offers to Kittle have thus far been rebuffed, and the two sides remain apart as Kittle, who will be 32 in October, enters the final year of his deal. I’m told no trade request has been made, but other teams are keeping an eye on it.
Process, process, process
It’s always interesting to see how teams operate around this time of year. For some, the GM stayed in place after 2024 while a new head coach was installed (Chicago, New England, New Orleans). For many, it’s simply running things back again. And for others, such as the Jaguars, Jets and Raiders, it’s a full regime change.
How will these new (or reworked) braintrusts operate? Who will have the final say? Will certain owners intervene? It all bears monitoring as those in the war rooms assemble the futures of their teams.
Don’t discount owners when it comes to discussions this time of year. I was speaking with a veteran head coach who estimates that 13 to 14 of the league’s owners are heavily involved in their teams’ processes — sometimes speaking to the character of the players they want their front offices to draft, or even being more direct in certain cases.
It’s a reminder that the power dynamics around draft time are more complicated than just the front office and coaching staff. Ownership can have a major impact on decisions — for better or worse.
Fantasy managers: Prepare for a loaded RB class
Despite a lack of top-end talent, this draft class does have its positions of strength: specifically, running back.
A lot was made after the 2024 season about the key roles Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs played in helping their new teams make the playoffs. Late last season, people wondered if it could revitalize the market for the position.
Fast-forward to now, and Barkley has reset the market again after inking a hefty two-year extension in March. But beyond Aaron Jones’ two-year, $20 million deal with Minnesota, no other RB contract handed out this year has even topped $11 million. The largest free-agent deal went to Rico Dowdle, who left Dallas to join Carolina on a one-year, $6.25 million pact.
A big reason can be found in some of the names we will hear called on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Jeanty and Omarion Hampton headline a class that also features Quinshon Judkins, Kaleb Johnson and CFP fan favorite Cam Skattebo.
When these backs will be selected remains to be seen, but any team interested in one should have a wealth of options from which to choose.
Final thoughts (for now)
I’ll have more on the “Scoop City” live draft special (at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday), but for now, I’ll leave you with these five thoughts …
What a prospect visit really means: Many teams and fans like to read the tea leaves leading up to the draft, including what teams will do based on the 30 player visits they have set up over the past few weeks. As one successful general manager explained: “Just because a player visits doesn’t necessarily mean the team is interested. Sometimes it’s to be certain they are actually out on a player.”
This is also a chance to follow-up on players with medical questions or new injuries, especially if they didn’t work out at the NFL combine. Another head coach shared that some teams will even host prospects who won’t be drafted this week, as a way to get ahead in recruiting them as undrafted free agents. It’s all about collecting information, and sometimes just getting ahead of other teams.
Is interior O-line where it’s at? Multiple decision-makers and scouts seem to think they can find solid value in centers and guards in this draft — players who can give you close to the same level of production without the big price tag. Because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised if some teams double up on those positions. It’s a smart way to stretch your cap and still build quality depth.
How all those mock drafts are put to use: There have been hundreds of mock drafts drawn up over the last year, and, believe it or not, teams read them. In fact, there is one team that keeps score of which draft experts and insiders get the most accurate information over the years! One general manager said, “Mocks give you a feel for where a player might land. They’re not just guessing; they’re getting info from scouts, execs, agents … so even if the final order’s off, the buzz around a player’s range usually comes from somewhere legit.”
Don’t forget about the lingering free agents: Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned, but plenty of other veteran talent is on the market, waiting for teams to finish plugging roster holes they aren’t able to fill at the draft. Stephon Gilmore, Gerald Everett, Asante Samuel Jr., J.K. Dobbins, C.J. Mosley and others could be in line to sign contracts once the draft is in the rearview.
Final words of wisdom: As you are getting ready to watch the draft and feel good about what your team is going to do based on need and options, I’ll share with you what a Super Bowl-winning coach once told me: “Don’t ever discount that there are dumbass teams.”
(Top photo of Shedeur Sanders: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
