Articles by Mark Schofield

With the 2025 NFL Draft just hours away, we have yet to see a trade in the first round. This marks the longest offseason cycle in the modern draft era that we have not seen a trade, since Joe Montana was traded just five days before the 1993 NFL Draft.
But that might be about to change.
According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, the Chicago Bears are calling the teams ahead of them in the first round, looking to move up from the tenth-overall selection on Thursday night. Leonard also notes that “six” teams ahead of the Bears are looking to move back:

League source text: “Chicago Bears looking to move up”Another league source: SIX teams ahead of the Bears at No. 10 are open to moving back#NFLDraft— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) April 23, 2025

With Leonard sharing this report, one might think that the Bears could be looking to get to No. 3, where the New York Giants currently sit in the first round, for a chance to draft Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter. This could also be a move from the Bears to move up and draft Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter Jr.
However, there is probably another player Chicago is targeting, and that speaks to just how much the NFL has changed in recent years.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
The dots are not hard to connect.
According to an ESPN Insider column over the weekend, Adam Schefter reported that league insiders believe the Bears are “praying” that the Boise State running back falls to them at No. 10.
“There are multiple personnel people who believe the Bears are praying that Jeanty slips to them at No. 10. They think new Bears coach Ben Johnson could feature Jeanty and D’Andre Swift as a two-headed duo the way the Lions did with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator,” wrote Schefter this weekend.
A sticking point in that plan? The Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6. Throughout the entire draft cycle, Jeanty to the Raiders in that spot has been one of the easiest lines to fill out in a mock draft.
But could the Bears instead try to leap ahead of Las Vegas via a trade, say with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5, to land Jeanty?
That could be the reason for these latest rumors.
Chicago general manager Ryan Poles hinted at some moves to come during his pre-draft press conference. “I think this one’s going to be a little wild but we’re going to be prepared for all the different scenarios that pop up,” said Poles on Tuesday.
Assistant GM Ian Cunningham predicted that the first round would be “wild.”
“It could get wild, It could get wild. Sit back and watch. We have no feel right now. We’ll see,” added Cunningham.
Trading UP in the first round for a running back? That would indeed be wild. […]

At the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, Netflix announced their latetst foray into the world of sports docuseries productions.
Now, the upcoming “F1: The Academy” series has a launch date.
Produced in partnership with Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine, “F1: The Academy” will take fans behind-the-scenes of the all-female series, documenting the 2024 campaign. “Through exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, “F1: The Academy” highlights the drama of the races, as well as the personal stories and high stakes for these incredible drivers and the teams around the, as they break barriers in one of the most demanding sports in the world.”
The series will launch on Netflix on May 28, 2025, and consist of seven episodes. The streaming service had this to say about the upcoming docuseries:

Premiering May 28, the seven-part series offers unprecedented access to the adrenaline, grit, and emotional turmoil on race day and beyond. At the center of it all is Susie Wolff, a former professional driver and now managing director of F1 Academy, and the first woman to participate in a Formula 1 weekend in 22 years. As one of the most respected women in motorsport, Wolff leads the new stable of women drivers with a rare blend of strategic vision and firsthand experience.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. For many of the women featured in F1: The Academy, this is more than just another big race. It’s a shot at changing the game. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access, the series tracks rivalries, setbacks, victories, and the quiet moments in between, revealing what it really takes to succeed in the high-octane world of Formula 1.

F1 Academy returns to action for the third race weekend of the 2025 season at next week’s Miami Grand Prix, and SB Nation will be on the ground covering the two F1 Academy races every step of the way. […]

The incoming General Motors/Cadillac Formula 1 team took another big step on their way to the grid on Wednesday.
F1’s governing body announced that the incoming team was officially approved as a power unit supplier for the 2029 F1 season. In a statement released on social media, the FIA announced that GM Performance Power Units LLC “has officially been approved by the FIA as a power unit supplier for the FIA Formula One World Championship starting in 2029.”
As noted by the FIA’s statement, the incoming Cadillac team will utilize Ferrari power units until 2029.
Russ O’Blenes, the CEO of GM Performance Power Units LLC, noted that the approval will allow the team to “continue to accelerate our efforts to bring an American-built F1 power unit to the grid.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem praised the approval, and stated that it marked “another step” in the growth of the sport worldwide.
“Welcoming GM Performance Power Units LLC. as an approved power unit supplier for the Championship starting in 2029 marks another step in the global expansion of Formula 1 and highlights the growing interest from world-class automotive manufacturers like General Motors,” began Ben Sulayem.
“Their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and competition is fully aligned with the FIA’s vision for the future of our sport. It also strengthens our commitment to making motorsport more accessible and inclusive worldwide — welcoming new manufacturers, advancing technology, and connecting with a broader, more diverse fan base.”
The F1 grid is back next week with the Miami Grand Prix, and SB Nation will be on the ground covering all the action, so check back early and often! […]

One day more.
I would include the video from Les Misérables but it’s probably already in your head now, so mission accomplished.
Despite the proximity to the 2025 NFL Draft, the rumors have not slowed down at all. If anything, they have picked up as the draft approaches. So let’s get to the latest spin around the rumor carousel.
Trade talk heating up?
One of the interesting elements of the 2025 NFL Draft — so far — has been the lack of trades.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter noted over the weekend that in the “Common Draft Era,” this is the closest we have come to the start of the draft without a trade for first-round picks, surpassing the 1993 NFL Draft. That year the San Francisco 49ers traded legendary quarterback Joe Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs just five days before the draft began:

Now that the NFL draft is four days away, this is the closest to the start of it that there have been no trades for first-round picks in the Common Draft Era, per ESPN’s @EpKap.The Joe Montana trade in 1993 came five days before the draft; this year now has surpassed that. pic.twitter.com/ARb2qEWzTF— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2025

But that might be about to change.
Multiple insiders have reported in the last 24 hours that trade talks are heating up. Peter Schrager on Tuesday noted that both the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants were fielding calls from teams looking to move up, and most interestingly, “neither team is outwardly rejecting those overtures.”
Then on Wednesday morning Dianna Russini of The Athletic dropped her big pre-draft column, reporting that “[t]he 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.”
Trades have not been a big part of the story yet, but it seems that is about to change.
A Kirk Cousins Saturday Special?
Among the many interesting tidbits from Russini’s column on Wednesday morning involved current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. According to Russini three teams — Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota — could be involved in a potential trade for the quarterback:
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.
Of course, there is still the lingering Aaron Rodgers situation, but Russini notes that the Steelers are in a “holding pattern” regarding the veteran quarterback, and have not received any updates from Rodgers since his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week.
Peter Schrager’s only mock draft has some surprises
Returning to the new ESPN insider, Schrager released his one and only mock draft of the season on Wednesday morning, a predictive mock based on “how I’d sort through the top 32 picks based on what I’m hearing from my sources around the league.”
It contained a few surprises.
The first was Ashton Jeanty to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 5. There has been some buzz about Jeanty coming off the board in that spot recently, but perhaps via a team trading up to get ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6, who have been linked to the Boise State running back throughout the pre-draft process.
Instead, Schrager thinks that new general manager James Gladstone “won’t be timid in his debut draft.”
Another surprise? The New Orleans Saints drafting Georgia pass rusher Mykel Williams at No. 9. The news of Derek Carr’s shoulder injury had many thinking quarterback in that spot — Shedeur Sanders perhaps? — while recent reporting out of New Orleans linked the Saints with an offensive lineman at No. 9.
Instead, Schrager believes the Saints are going to deliver “one of the early “wow” picks of Round 1, grabbing an elite defender who’ll carry the torch from Cameron Jordan for the next decade.”
Schrager’s entire mock draft is worth the read, as it is every year.
The Steelers are adding two more quarterbacks
You can put this into the “fact” category, and not the “rumor” category, given the source.
During his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, Steelers general manager Omar Khan made it clear that the team is not done adding quarterbacks:

Steelers GM Omar Khan told reporters today at a pre-draft press conference: “We go to camp with four quarterbacks. Right now, we have two on the roster. All options are on the table on how we acquire those last two.”— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2025

Of course, the bigger question is how they add the other two. Cousins? Rodgers? Sanders? Some combination thereof?
New England to double up on OL?
The closer the draft gets, the more it seems like the New England Patriots are locked into LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell at No. 4. Campbell was a standout at left tackle for the Tigers but has faced questions about moving inside to guard given his arm length.
But with protecting Drake Maye a priority, adding offensive linemen should be at the top of the to-do list in Foxborough. This is why one ESPN draft analyst believes that the Patriots should not stop with Campbell at No. 4. Jordan Reid outlines a plan for New England to add another offensive lineman at the top of the second round, one that could be an interesting pairing with Campbell.
Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson.
“The Patriots should entertain the idea of doubling up on offensive linemen with their first two picks,” Reid wrote. “Jackson is a scheme-versatile blocker who subbed in for Josh Simmons at left tackle last season after playing only guard before that. He projects as a guard, but Jackson’s versatility combined with Will Campbell would give the Patriots’ O-line a significant makeover.”
Some first-round sleepers
On Tuesday our own JP Acosta identified five potential first-round sleepers: North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel, Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos, Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel, Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams, and Texas A&M pass rusher Nic Scourton.
In the latest ESPN Insider pre-draft notebook (subscription required), Jeremy Fowler shared his list of potential first-round sleepers:
It’s always fun to ask teams for their sleeper first-rounders — names that would be a mild surprise to the common fan but not necessarily to those in the draft rooms. Here are a few I’ve heard: South Carolina defensive lineman T.J. Sanders, Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson and East Carolina corner Shavon Revel Jr. (Kansas State corner Jacob Parrish and Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner are deeper sleepers mentioned for Day 2.)
Ersery is a name that continues to rise closer to the draft.
The Giants’ path to a quarterback
The New York Giants, sitting with the third-overall selection in the draft, need a quarterback. Yes the organization added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston this offseason, but with both quarterbacks on one-year deals, the need to secure the QB of the future remains near the top of general manager Joe Schoen’s to-do list.
But with the opportunity to draft either Travis Hunter Jr. or Abdul Carter staring them in the face, QB at No. 3 does not seem like the move.
So how can the Giants add a quarterback, and who might that be? According to Todd McShay of The Ringer, that likely comes through a trade back into the first round, and the draft analyst believes he knows who Brian Daboll prefers.
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Speaking on the latest installment of “The McShay Show,” the insider noted that Daboll has his preference for Dart, and is pushing inside the building for the Giants to simply draft him at No. 3. “Daboll is not a Shedeur guy, and Daboll prefers Jaxson Dart,” McShay said. “I don’t know to what level. There’s speculation in league circles that there’s a push from Daboll to use the Giants’ first pick on the quarterback.”
However, taking Dart at No. 3 means passing up on Carter, which McShay does not believe is a wise course of action.
“I love Brian and I just told you how much I appreciate and respect him. I don’t let the coach make the decision on when we’re going to take him [Dart, if he is the target],” McShay said. “This is why the GM has to make this decision because you don’t take Jaxson Dart at three and why don’t you take Dart at three even if you love him [is] because Abdul Carter’s sitting there.”
As McShay sees it, the Giants can take Carter at No. 3, and then start calling teams about moving back into the first round to draft Dart, using Kayvon Thibodeaux as part of the package.
“I’ve got Kayvon Thibodeaux, by the way, who we’re not sure we want to we want to sign, we haven’t done the the fifth-year deal,” McShay said. “I’ve actually heard one potential scenario is you take Abdul Carter 3 you use Kayvon Thibodeaux as part of a package to then move back into the first round to get Jaxson Dart.”
We’ll see if the Giants follow this path. […]

For some football fans, the NFL Draft is a year-long event. The moment that one draft ends, and before all the undrafted free agents are even signed, the next one begins. The “way too early” mock drafts are published, the summer scouting work begins, and the entire process starts over as fans and media analysts begin the search for the next No. 1 pick.
For some other football fans, they will wake up on Thursday morning, remember that it is Draft Day, and will start paying attention.
If you find yourself in that latter category, this piece is for you. The starter’s guide to the 2025 NFL Draft.
When is the 2025 NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft is a three day event starting with the first round on Thursday, April 24 at 8 p.m. ET.
The second and third rounds will take place on Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. ET.
Finally the draft wraps up on Saturday, April 26 for rounds four through seven, starting at 12 p.m. ET.
Where is the 2025 NFL Draft?
Each year the NFL Draft changes cities with the 2025 Draft taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
What is the order for the first round?

Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears
San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys
Miami Dolphins
Indianapolis Colts
Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Denver Broncos
Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Rams
Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions
Washington Commanders
Buffalo Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles

How is the draft order determined?
Picks No. 1 through No. 18 are determined by win/loss record from the prior season, with the worst team in the NFL getting the highest pick. If one or more teams are tied on record a tiebreaker procedure is used including strength of schedule, and losing streak to close out the season.
Picks No. 19 to No. 32 are all teams who made the playoffs. Their draft position is determined by the order they were eliminated in, with then the same tiebreaking procedure being applied.
Who will be the No. 1 overall pick?

The first pick this year will be Miami (FL) quarterback Cam Ward. The Tennessee Titans honed in on Ward early in the process, and it’s somewhat of a controversial pick with many big boards not having Ward as the best player available. However, in football it’s all about the QB — which is pressuring the Titans to make this pick.
Who are some other players to watch?
The two players widely considered as the best in this class are Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, and Heisman trophy winner CB/WR Travis Hunter. Hunter plays both positions, and could be the ultimate weapon in the NFL.
Another player to keep an eye on is Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. The son of Deion Sanders, Shedeur is very talented — but questions about his arm strength, as well as how much of a headache his father will be has pushed him down the board.
What are the major storylines?
This is a draft class that is lacking high-end, elite NFL talent — but incredibly deep when it comes to great football players. There isn’t much of a difference between picking 9th or 29th, which has led to a lot of speculation teams may look to trade down and accumulate more picks. This means it could be fairly cheap to move up compared to past years, opening the door for teams to land the one player they believe in the most.
There are some fascinating positions groups in the draft. We can start with running back, and one of the most talented groups of ball carriers in recent memory. Ashton Jeanty is expected to be one of the first players drafted on Thursday night, and could come off the board as high as No. 5, which would make him the earliest running back selected since Saquon Barkley came off the board at No. 2 back in 2018.
But Jeanty is not the only running back anticipated to be drafted on Thursday night. North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton is another talented back to watch, and could be in the mix for the Denver Broncos at No. 20. The Ohio State duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are likely Day Two picks, along with Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, and Dylan Sampson from Tennessee. Miami RB Damien Martinez could sneak into Day Two as well.
Pass rusher is another deep group, and while Carter leads the way we could see as many as seven or even eight EDGE defenders come off the board Thursday night. Other pass rushers to watch on Thursday night include Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, Shemar Steward and Nic Scourton from Texas A&M, Mike Green from Marshall, James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee, and Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College.
Of course, quarterbacks always move the needle. As noted above Ward is the likely first-overall selection, with Sanders also expected to be drafted on Thursday night.
After that is anyone’s guess. As is tradition several other quarterbacks have been discussed as potential first-round picks, including Jaxson Dart from Mississippi, Jalen Milroe from Alabama, and Tyler Shough from Louisville. Positional value could push one or more into the first round, but you might see some waiting until Day Two.
Other quarterbacks to watch on Day Two or Day Three include Will Howard from Ohio State, Quinn Ewers from Texas, Kyle McCord from Syracuse, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, and Riley Leonard from Notre Dame.
Those looking for a real deep sleeper at the quarterback position should get to know Taylor Elgersma from Wilfrid Laurier University. WLU is a school in Waterloo, Ontario, and Elgersma led the Golden Hawks to an 8-0 regular season record and a spot in the Vanier Cup, the Canadian College Football Championship Game. While Laurier lost that game, Elgersma won the Hec Crighton Trophy, Canada’s version of the Heisman Trophy.
He earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, becoming just the second U Sports player to receive an invitation. He completed 4-of-7 passes for 57 yards in the game.
If drafted Elgersma would become the first QB from a Canadian university drafted since the NFL went to a seven-round format in 1994.
Who are the best players in the draft?
As far as the best players in the draft, we have you covered here with JP Acosta’s big board, featuring his top 100 players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Leading the way? Hunter, the dual threat player from Colorado. Abdul Carter, Ashton Jeanty, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, and Georgia safety Malaki Starks round out the top five:

2025 Top 100 Big Board

b

Name

Position

School

Year

b

Name

Position

School

Year

1

Travis Hunter

CB/WR

Colorado

Junior

2

Abdul Carter

EDGE

Penn State

Junior

3

Ashton Jeanty

RB

Boise State

Junior

4

Mason Graham

DT

Michigan

Junior

5

Malaki Starks

S

Georgia

Junior

6

Tyler Warren

TE

Penn State

Senior

7

Jalon Walker

LB/EDGE

Georgia

Junior

8

Shemar Stewart

EDGE

Texas A&M

Junior

9

Will Johnson

CB

Michigan

Junior

10

Will Campbell

OL

LSU

Junior

11

Armand Membou

OT

Missouri

Junior

12

Josh Simmons

OT

Ohio State

Junior (RS)

13

Tetairoa McMillan

WR

Arizona

Junior

14

Jihaad Campbell

LB

Alabama

Junior

15

Mykel Williams

EDGE

Georgia

Junior

16

Colston Loveland

TE

Michigan

Junior

17

Donovan Ezeiruaku

EDGE

Boston College

Senior

18

Mike Green

EDGE

Marshall

Junior (RS)

19

Derrick Harmon

DT

Oregon

Senior

20

Emeka Egbuka

WR

Ohio State

Senior

21

Kenneth Grant

DT

Michigan

Junior

22

Donovan Jackson

OG

Ohio State

Senior

23

Luther Burden III

WR

Missouri

Junior

24

Jahdae Barron

CB

Texas

Junior

25

Shedeur Sanders

QB

Colorado

Senior

26

Cam Ward

QB

Miami

Senior

27

Azareye’h Thomas

CB

Florida State

Junior

28

Shavon Revel Jr.

CB

East Carolina

Junior

29

Kaleb Johnson

RB

Iowa

Junior

30

Kelvin Banks

OL

Texas

Junior

31

Tyler Booker

OG

Alabama

Junior

32

Marcus Mbow

OG

Purdue

Junior

33

Omarion Hampton

RB

North Carolina

Junior

34

Matthew Golden

WR

Texas

Junior

35

Walter Nolen

DT

Ole Miss

Junior

36

Josh Conerly

OT

Oregon

Junior

37

James Pearce Jr

EDGE

Tennessee

Junior

38

Carson Schwesinger

LB

UCLA

Senior

39

Tyliek Williams

DT

Ohio State

Senior

40

Nic Scourton

EDGE

Texas A&M

Junior

41

Trey Amos

CB

Ole Miss

Senior

42

Maxwell Hairston

CB

Kentucky

Junior (RS)

43

Darius Alexander

DT

Toledo

Senior

44

Jaylin Noel

WR

Iowa State

Senior

45

Omarr Norman-Lott

DT

Tennessee

Senior

46

Xavier Watts

S

Notre Dame

Senior

47

Alfred Collins

DT

Texas

Senior

48

Aireontae Ersery

OT

Minnesota

Senior

49

Charles Grant

OT

William and Mary

Senior

50

Nick Emmanwori

S

South Carolina

Junior

51

Jayden Higgins

WR

Iowa State

Senior

52

Elic Ayomanor

WR

Stanford

Senior

53

Landon Jackson

EDGE

Arkansas

Senior

54

Treyveon Henderson

RB

Ohio State

Senior

55

Tate Ratledge

OG

Georgia

Senior

56

Jamaree Caldwell

DT

Oregon

Senior

57

Tre Harris

WR

Ole Miss

Senior

58

Grey Zabel

OG

North Dakota State

Senior

59

Jonah Savaiinaea

OG

Arizona

Senior

60

Gunnar Helm

TE

Texas

Senior

61

Billy Bowman Jr.

S

Oklahoma

Senior

62

Andrew Mukuba

S

Texas

Senior

63

DJ Giddens

RB

Kansas State

Senior

64

Jack Bech

WR

TCU

Senior

65

RJ Harvey

RB

UCF

Senior

66

Jalen Milroe

QB

Alabama

Junior

67

Darien Porter

CB

Iowa State

Senior

68

Ashton Gillotte

EDGE

Louisville

Senior

69

Bradyn Swinson

EDGE

LSU

Senior

70

Jalen Royals

WR

Utah State

Senior

71

Jacob Parrish

CB

Kansas State

Senior

72

Quinshon Judkins

RB

Ohio State

Junior

73

JT Tuimoloau

EDGE

Ohio State

Senior

74

Oluwafemi Oladejo

EDGE

UCLA

Senior

75

Harold Fannin Jr

TE

Bowling Green

Junior

76

Jalen Travis

OT

Iowa State

Senior

77

Elijah Arroyo

TE

Miami

Senior

78

Benjamin Morrison

CB

Notre Dame

Senior

79

Mason Taylor

TE

LSU

Junior

80

Danny Stutsman

LB

Oklahoma

Senior

81

Princely Umanmielen

EDGE

Ole Miss

Senior

82

TJ Sanders

DT

South Carolina

Senior

83

Kyle Kennard

EDGE

South Carolina

Senior

84

Tory Horton

WR

Colorado State

Senior

85

Demetrius Knight Jr

LB

South Carolina

Senior

86

Kain Medrano

LB

UCLA

Senior

87

Kevin Winston Jr

S

Penn State

Junior

88

Kyle Williams

WR

Washington State

Senior

89

CJ West

DT

Indiana

Senior

90

Quincy Riley

CB

Louisville

Senior

91

Tyler Shough

QB

Louisville

Senior

92

Devin Neal

RB

Kansas

Senior

93

Terrance Ferguson

TE

Oregon

Senior

94

Saivion Williams

WR

TCU

Senior

95

Jonas Sanker

S

Virginia

Senior

96

Jaxson Dart

QB

Ole Miss

Junior

97

Damien Martinez

RB

Miami

Senior

98

Ozzy Trapailo

OT

Boston College

Senior

99

Josh Farmer

DT

Florida State

Senior

100

Jordan Phillips

DT

Maryland

Senior […]

We are getting closer and closer to the 2025 NFL Draft, and the rumors are only picking up steam.
Let’s get straight to the latest rumors roundup, as there are only so many hours in the day.
Jalen Milroe garners a lofty comparison
Beyond Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, much of the discussion regarding quarterbacks in recent days has focused on both Mississippi passer Jaxson Dart, and Louisville QB Tyler Shough.
But thanks to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, it is time to talk about Jalen Milroe again.
During an appearance on Good Morning Football on Monday, Pelissero relayed some of what NFL coaches and scouts are telling him about the Alabama quarterback. And when you hear lofty comparisons like this, you tend to pay attention.
“Several — not one — several coaches and scouts told me as I was making calls about all these quarterbacks is Jalen Milroe is the greatest runner of the football they’ve ever evaluated at the quarterback position,” Pelissero said on Monday. “Not Lamar Jackson — Jalen Milroe is the best runner that they’ve ever seen.”
Milroe did rank second in the FBS with 20 rushing touchdowns and led Alabama in rushing yards during the 2024 campaign. But a comparison to Lamar Jackson? That is rather lofty, indeed.
Could a team trade up for Ashton Jeanty?
Ashton Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders has felt like an easy pairing to make, but the closer we get to the draft, the more it feels like the Boise State running back could land elsewhere.
There was some chatter on Monday that the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a landing spot for him at No. 5, the pick right before the Raiders are on the clock. But Pelissero noted on Monday that while Jeanty could come off the board at that pick, it might not necessarily be to the Jaguars. Teams that want to pick Jeanty might want to get ahead of the Raiders at No. 6, given all the pre-draft discussion about Las Vegas picking the Boise State product. Pelissero pointed to two teams — the Chicago Bears at No. 10 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 — that brought the running back in for a Top 30 visit this spring.
As we discussed yesterday, the Bears are hoping that Jeanty falls to them at No. 10. But maybe they press the issue instead, and try to get ahead of the Raiders via a trade-up.
Saints to wait on QB?
The moment news broke about Derek Carr potentially needing shoulder surgery — which would put the start of his 2025 season in jeopardy — people began linking the New Orleans Saints with quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
It’s me. I’m people.
But some big names in the NFL media space are pouring cold water on that theory: One a draft analyst, the other a big player in the Saints media space, the third one of the biggest NFL insiders, and the fourth a longtime local beat writer.
First up is Nick Underhill, who runs NewOrleans.Football, relayed shortly after the Carr news that the organization was not surprised by the injury:

Derek Carr and the Saints have been in communication about the quarterback’s injury situation for a while, I’m told. No surprises there.— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) April 12, 2025

In fact, Underhill believes the Saints “wait” on drafting a QB:

Underhill believes the “sweet spot” for New Orleans to take a quarterback is with their second pick, which slots in a No. 40, the eighth selection in the second round.
ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller echoed Underhill’s thoughts over the weekend:

Then there was Adam Schefter’s column on Monday, which was a roundup of everything the legendary insider is hearing before the draft. As Schefter wrote, the Saints are thinking quarterback, but probably not at No. 9 and probably not Sanders.
“The belief is they want to draft a quarterback — just maybe not at No. 9, and maybe not Sanders. As another personnel executive said, ‘I don’t think New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I think they’re hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart,’” Schefter wrote.
“Speaking of Dart, there is skepticism about whether the Saints would take the Ole Miss passer at No. 9 — it feels high to many around the league. Dart would figure to be squarely in play for the Saints’ next pick, whether that’s in the second round (No. 40) or in a trade-up.”
If that was not enough, Tuesday brought this from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune:

I’m not sure who the Saints are going to pick at No. 9 on Thursday night. But I think I can safely say that it won’t be Shedeur Sanders.— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) April 22, 2025

Four insiders, all of a similar mind.
As for what the Saints might do at No. 9, the retirement of Ryan Ramczyk might see New Orleans address offensive tackle in that spot.
Cowboys to throw a big ‘curveball’ at No. 12?
Conventional wisdom has the Dallas Cowboys drafting a wide receiver at No. 12 to pair with CeeDee Lamb. Stephen Jones talked about the organization finding a No. 2 to put across from Lamb at the League Meetings in March, and both Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan and Texas WR Matthew Golden have been linked to the legendary franchise.
There is also the Jeanty interest as noted above.
But could Dallas throw a big “curveball” at No. 12?
That is a possibility floated by Albert Breer in his massive pre-draft piece for Sports Illustrated. Working through each team in the first round Breer discussed potential options, and when it came to the Cowboys while he led with both McMillan and Golden, he addressed two different positions beyond WR.
First was cornerback, where Breer mentioned that Michigan CB Will Johnson would be a fit, but his knee issue and questions over his long speed could see him fall.
Then Breer threw the curveball:
The name that a couple of people brought up to me here as a potential curveball is North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel. Yes, this would be a little early for Zabel. But he’s considered a pick that’s safe like Duke C Graham Barton was a year ago, and Barton had a very solid rookie year for the Buccaneers. Everyone seems to like Zabel, and I’d bet he won’t make it out of the teens, so this isn’t too much of a reach.
This would not be too far outside consensus, as according to NFL Mock Draft Database Zabel is projected to come off the board at No. 18 to the Seattle Seahawks.
While Zabel played left tackle at North Dakota State, he is projected to slide inside to guard in the NFL. Could he be the Zack Martin replacement the team is looking for?
Chargers to add help for Justin Herbert
A popular pick for the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 is Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Considered one of the top prospects at the position, Grant would provide a boost to the Chargers’ defensive line.
But could Jim Harbaugh be looking at a different Michigan prospect at No. 22?
That is a rumor that Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team is “buying,” as he looks at the Chargers drafting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 22. As Moshwer writes:

Chargers desperately need a pass-catching tight end, and Loveland is a perfect fit with Justin Herbert. The only question is if he will fall to No. 22.
If Loveland were to be available at pick No. 22, it’s hard to see the Chargers going in a different direction. We know they value the trenches, and that will likely be the way they go if Loveland isn’t on the board. But he fills a massive need and there is a great chance he’ll be the best player available when the Chargers are on the clock.
Because of positional value and health-related reasons, don’t be surprised if this pick happens on Thursday night. And that would be an A+ pick for the Chargers if they can pull it off.

Loveland is a fascinating player, and as Mosher notes, this would be a home run selection for Los Angeles.
Derrick Harmon injury concerns?
We have talked a lot about Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in recent days, going as far as to speculate yesterday that Harmon might want to just go ahead and start pricing Pittsburgh real estate.
But then word broke about some “medical information” that could cause him to slide a bit. Both Benjamin Allbright of KOA and Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan talked about Harmon having some medical concerns:

I don’t think it’s gonna be Harmon. There’s some medical there.— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) April 18, 2025

Whether there is smoke to this particular fire remains to be seen, but if Harmon surprisingly slides past Pittsburgh at No. 21, this might be why. […]

Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari, as well as his arrival at the Scuderia, dominated the Formula 1 headlines for the past year. A seven-time Drivers’ Champion heading to one of the iconic teams in the sport? The headlines wrote themselves.
However, the headlines have not been as positive as the Tifosi may have hoped. While Hamilton did secure his first Ferrari win in the F1 Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, his results have been rather uneven since joining the team. His best Grand Prix finish, a P5, came at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He’s also delivered a pair of P7 finishes (in Japan and Saudi Arabia), a P10 in his debut at the Australian Grand Prix, and a disqualification after his SF-25 failed post-race inspections at the Chinese Grand Prix itself.
Those results have Hamilton sitting on 31 points this season, and seventh in the standings.
He is also seven points behind rookie Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old driver who replaced him at Mercedes.
Still, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur remains confident in the team’s newest driver, as the Team Principal gave an emotional endorsement of Hamilton following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Speaking with the assembled media after the race, Vasseur addressed Hamilton’s own comments after the race — that it would be a “struggle” for him this season — by backing his driver.
“I will be 2000 percent behind him. I will give him support and we will start from tomorrow morning to try to find solutions and reasons and to work on it early in the morning,” began Vasseur.
“But honestly, I am not too worried. If you have a look on what he did in China or what he did in the race in Bahrain last week or even on the first part of the session in this weekend, the potential is there for sure.”
Vasseur then highlighted areas the team wants to improve the SF-25 for Hamilton, and therefore his performance.
“We just have to adjust the balance because we are, collectively, Lewis and us, we are struggling with the balance of his car and [how] he is working the tires,” continued Vasseur. “It’s a kind of negative spot but I think the potential of the car is there and we will try to solve that.”
The Ferrari boss was then pressed on Hamilton’s performance, and how the results had fallen off “dramatically.” Vasseur disavowed that viewpoint, noting that we are just five race weekends into the season.
“It’s not dramatically. We did five races so far,” started Vasseur. “At the end of the day, we are in competition. You have ups and downs. When we have up, we are not world champions. When we have down, we are not nowhere. It’s just a competition.
The competition is tight.
“You have 10 cars and a couple of tenths. Have a look at Max [Verstappen]. He won in Japan. He finished 30 seconds behind [Oscar] Piastri in Bahrain, and in Saudi Arabia he was P2 and had pole position.”
The Ferrari boss also took solace in Hamilton’s frustration. In his eyes, the fact that the legendary driver was frustrated is a good thing, because it illustrates his competitive spirit, and his desire to succeed.
“It’s not a transitional time, but for sure he’s down because when you finish the race in sixth your team-mate is on the podium,” Vassuer said.
“Honestly, I take it as positive that Lewis is down because if he was happy with this, it wouldn’t be normal. He’s a racer, he’s a competitor, he wants to get the best from what he has and for sure he’s disappointed.
“Now we have to work together to react together, and it will be the only way to move forward.”
Vasseur’s comments are more than a team boss backing their driver, they are a complete and accurate reflection of where we are in this F1 season. The competition is tight, and Vasseur’s illustration regarding Verstappen is a good point. One week you can be fighting at the front of the field, the next you can be fighting for Q3.
Then there is the adjustment period that Hamilton is going through. While Vasseur dismissed the idea that this is a “transitional” season for the legendary driver, he is having to unlearn everything he did at Mercedes and learn a new operation at Ferrari. Right down to the steering wheel. Ferrari made some accommodations for Hamilton to mirror what he was familiar with given his Mercedes days, but as the driver admitted before the season, it takes time.
“It’s rare that you jump in and it just fits,” Hamilton admitted ahead of pre-season testing.
“All the switch settings are completely different. The software is different and everything. I am adapting to a car that’s made quite differently to what I’ve worked with in the past.”
This will take time, but Vasseur has his back.
As he should. […]

One of the greatest events in all of motorsport is just a few weeks away: The 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500.
On Monday Arrow McLaren unveiled their special liveries for their three full-time drivers — Pato O’Ward, Nolan Siegel, and Christian Lundgaard — that will match that of NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, who is again attempting to “do the double” as he will try and drive in both the Indianapolis 500 early in the day, and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 later in the evening.
A common theme for all four Arrow McLaren cars at the Indianapolis 500? White. According to a press release from the team the “bold white, alongside hints of iconic papaya and identifiable partner colors, symbolizes a blank canvas for Arrow McLaren entering the Month of May and the opportunity to write new stories with renewed passion and determination to race at the front of the grid.”
Another feature of the liveries is reference to McLaren’s “Never Stop Racing” campaign, which runs through all their motorsport teams. As outlined by Arrow McLaren, the slogan “centers around the idea that racing doesn’t only exist from green to checkered flag – it’s always on. The culture of constantly pushing, innovating and chasing high performance has and always will be central to the identity of McLaren Racing, and that attitude doesn’t stop at the track. Across sports, lifestyle and culture, we’re here to make racing exciting, accessible and engaging for everyone.”
O’Ward’s No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet has a hint of black in addition to the white, with VELO featured prominently, one of the team’s partners, as well as Arrow, as Arrow Electronics is the title partner of McLaren’s IndyCar team:

Arrow McLaren

Siegel’s No. 6 Chevrolet has a blue theme, with partners such as NTT DATA (the team’s Official IT Services Partner) as well as onsemi, another official partner and a global semiconductor company:

Lundgaard’s No. 7 leans into McLaren’s iconic papaya paint scheme, with both VELO and Arrow featured:

“The Indianapolis 500 is the biggest stage in racing, and our liveries this year reflect that in every detail,” said Arrow McLaren Team Principal Tony Kanaan in the announcement. The design is more than just a new look – it represents the precision, performance, and passion that fuel McLaren Racing. Through our Never Stop Racing campaign, these liveries capture the endless spirit of competition that drives us forward, no matter what.”
The team also launched the bespoke liveries with a video on social media Monday:

The 17 car of Larson was unveiled earlier this month, and features a predominantly white scheme with blue elements, and prominent branding from HendrickCars.com. Larson drives for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.
All four cars will be on the track this week at the open testing session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 23 and 24. Opening Day for Month of May Indy 500 track action is Tuesday, May 13.
It all builds to the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25. […]

It was a difficult weekend for F1 Academy driver Rafaela Ferreira at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Now the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver is already looking forward to the Miami Grand Prix in two weeks as a chance to put everything she learned at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit into action.
Ferreira qualified in P13 for the F1 Academy races at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and finished the first race in that same position. In the second race she climbed up to P8 and was running in the points, but contact with Emma Felbermayr on Lap 2 saw Ferreira hit with a ten-second penalty, which dropped her down to P13 in the final classification.
“It was a difficult weekend for us, I think I struggled with the track a little, but we were improving every time we went out,” said Ferreira in the team’s post-race report. “Qualifying is something I need to maximize a little better. Race 1, I struggled a little but Race 2 was better. We overtook four cars on the start and got up to P8. It was a good race to be honest, I was pushing as much as I could every single lap to open up a gap.
“I hit the car in front which gave me a 10-second penalty which was a shame as we were in the points and we needed them.”
Ferreira now wants to take the lessons she learned on the quick street circuit in Saudi Arabia and put them into action in Miami, another street circuit.
“I’m now looking forward to Miami and I’m excited about it. We want to start the weekend there as we ended it here. I think we take everything we learnt here and take it into Miami,” added Ferreira. “It’s another street circuit and I’m excited to go racing there.”
F1 Academy, along with the rest of the F1 grid, heads to Miami for the Miami Grand Prix next week. SB Nation will have coverage on the ground all week long, so check back early and often! […]

One day closer, dear readers.
Monday brings the start of a new work week, and brings us one day closer to the 2025 NFL Draft. This is the time of the draft cycle when the rumors truly kick into gear, so let’s not waste any time.
Could a team trade to No. 2 for Shedeur Sanders?
The closer we get to the draft, the bigger the rumors become.
Perhaps the biggest rumor to emerge on Easter Sunday came from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
That a team could trade to No. 2 with the Cleveland Browns and select quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“And then there’s the nuttiest one we’ve heard in recent days. At least one experienced and accomplished evaluator of talent thinks there’s a chance someone trades all the way up to No. 2 to get Sanders,” wrote Florio.
Our own Jared Mueller addressed that rumor as well, writing at Dawgs by Nature that such a move would be an “unlikely possibility.” Many believe that it is more likely that Sanders will slide deep into the first round than it is a team trades up to No. 2 for him.
While it may seem like Sanders’ stock is falling, the Colorado quarterback does have support around the league. According to ESPN draft insider Jordan Reid, one assistant general manager told Reid that they were impressed with Sanders’ “on-field demeanor.”
Now, these could be the same person, that is possible too. But remember: It only takes one team to fall in love with a player.
Commanders looking at wide receivers
The Washington Commanders are building around second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels and already made several key additions on the offensive side of the football in free agency.
But it seems they are not done adding weapons for their talented young passer.
According to Tony Pauline, the Commanders are looking to add a wide receiver or two out of this draft class. While Washington traded for Deebo Samuel already this off-season — who might be an ideal match for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense — only Luke McCaffrey is under contract with the Commanders beyond 2025.
Pauline mentions Maryland WR Tai Felton as one option for the Commanders.
What may prove tricky for Washington and general manager Adam Peters to navigate is the big gap between their second pick (Pick 29 in the second round, 61 overall) and their third pick (Pick 26 in the fourth round, pick 128 overall). Does Washington look to bridge that gap via a trade, to add a receiver sometime in the third? Or will they stay at 61 and pick the receiver they like?
Should Derrick Harmon just buy a house in Pittsburgh already?
Last week we highlighted a pre-draft rumor involving the Pittsburgh Steelers, which linked Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon to the team. According to radio host Andrew Fillipponi, the Oregon DT has emerged as the “clear favorite” for the team in the first round:

Source: Derrick Harmon has emerged as the “clear favorite” to be the Steelers 1st round pick. Quote: “he’s the total package.” Art Rooney II has been very vocal about Steelers addressing d-line. Something that didn’t happen in free agency. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/KduIfelAip— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) April 16, 2025

Now another NFL insider has added their voice to the chorus.
Writing in The Washington Post, NFL Insider Jason LaCanfora also connected Harmon to the Steelers. LaCanfora relayed one analysis of Harmon from an NFL evaluator, which held that “[Harmon] fits whatever defense you want to run if you know what you’re doing.”
Certainly seems like there is a lot of smoke around this pairing.
It is also worth noting that Gerry Dulac in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote Saturday that while the team has a first-round grade on Jaxson Dart and “likes” Sanders, taking a quarterback at No. 21 is “unlikely.”
Could the Jaguars surprise everyone?
Adam Schefter’s column on Monday on ESPN+ (subscription required) is filled with fascinating bits of pre-draft intel.
One such bit involves the Jacksonville Jaguars. Conventional wisdom holds that the Jaguars will draft Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth-overall selection. But Schefter relays this message from a league executive: “Jacksonville is a wild card — watch.”
Who might the Jaguars pick in that spot? Schefter mentions Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who has the ESPN insider notes has drawn comparisons to Mike Evans. That might be the kind of player that new Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen — who coached Evans last year in Tampa Bay — was to build his new Jaguars offense around.
A surprise team to watch for Ashton Jeanty
Again from Schefter’s column, the ESPN insider lists a surprise team to watch for Ashton Jeanty.
The Chicago Bears.
“There are multiple personnel people who believe the Bears are praying that Jeanty slips to them at No. 10,” writes Schefter. “They think new Bears coach Ben Johnson could feature Jeanty and D’Andre Swift as a two-headed duo the way the Lions did with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs when Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator.”
What Chicago does in Johnson’s first draft with the Bears will be fascinating to watch. The idea that Johnson will push Ryan Poles to build an offense similar to what he had in Detroit makes a great deal of sense, and when you look at the Bears’ options at No. 10, the offensive line and tight end also stand out.
But the value Jeanty offers might be too hard to pass up if he were to slide to No. 10.
Trade candidates to watch
In another bit of ESPN+ content, draft analyst Matt Miller identified three teams that might be looking to trade on Thursday night: Two teams looking to move down, and one team looking to move up.
According to Miller, the Carolina Panthers and the Minnesota Vikings are looking to move down. Carolina, a team linked with wide receivers and pass rushers, is looking to add more picks on Day 2 of the draft given the depth at those two position groups. The Panthers currently have nine draft picks, including two in the fourth round and three in the fifth round, but have just No. 57 and No. 74 on Day 2.
The other trade-down candidate? The Minnesota Vikings. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has just four picks to work with: One in the first round (No. 24), one in the third round (No. 97), one in the fifth round (No. 139), and one in the sixth round (No. 187). Minnesota would love to add more picks via a trade-down if possible, and No. 24 might be a good spot for a team coming up to draft a quarterback.
As far as a team looking to move up — not for a quarterback — Miller lists the Kansas City Chiefs as that team. With a need along the offensive line, Miller believes the Chiefs would move up if an OT they like slides down the board.
The ESPN analyst taps the Houston Texans at No. 25 and the Los Angeles Rams at No. 26 as potential trading partners with the Chiefs. […]