NFL teams can (and will) lie about their intentions all the way up until the draft. But now that the 2025 NFL Draft is over, every team has revealed what they actually think about their roster.
That means some veterans are feeling more secure in their places on the roster, while others could be on their way out. Using each team’s draft class as a guide, let’s break down one veteran who could be cut or traded looking ahead to the rest of the offseason.
Arizona Cardinals: DT Justin Jones
The Arizona Cardinals leaned almost exclusively defense in their draft class. Six of the Cardinals’ seven picks came on that side of the ball, including each of their first five picks. That run began with defensive tackle Walter Nolen, an extremely athletic pass rusher who could thrive as the team’s new 3-technique.
One veteran who could be on his way out because of Nolen’s arrival is Justin Jones. The former Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears defensive tackle signed a three-year, $31.2 million contract with the Cardinals last offseason as one of their free agent centerpieces that year. However, after playing every game from 2022-23, Jones missed the final 14 games of 2024 with a torn triceps. He failed to record a tackle in the three games he did play in.
Still only 29, Jones likely has some value as a pass-rushing DT. But between Nolen and free-agent signings Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson, Arizona has stocked up on the defensive interior and might not have room for Jones anymore. The Cardinals can save $8.1 million in cap space this year if they trade Jones after June 1, taking a $3.25 million dead cap hit each of the next two years.
Atlanta Falcons: QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins was never going to move before the draft. The Atlanta Falcons have no financial urgency to move on from Cousins, since the most financially beneficial move is to trade him after June 1. At that point, the Falcons would eat a $12.5 million dead cap hit each of the next three years, while saving $27.5 million in cap room this year.
The Falcons’ draft picks didn’t squeeze out Cousins, but the draft as a whole solidified the narrow universe of possible trade partners. The Pittsburgh Steelers remain the team most desperately in need of a quarterback. Aaron Rodgers still looks like the solution for Pittsburgh, but the mercurial 41-year-old always feels like a threat to change his mind. Cousins would serve as a logical Plan B for Pittsburgh given that the rest of the roster is built to contend for a playoff spot.
Otherwise, the options would be tough to decipher. Trading with the archrival New Orleans Saints is probably anathema to the Falcons, but even after drafting Tyler Shough in the second round, they would probably be the most logical trade partners if Derek Carr is out for the season. If Atlanta truly doesn’t see Cousins as a starting-level QB anymore, sending him to their biggest rivals for draft capital might be a way to knock out two birds with one stone.
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Odafe Oweh
Before the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter curiously listed Odafe Oweh as a potential trade target for teams. While nothing materialized, the Baltimore Ravens’ edge rusher is set to play out his fifth-year option in 2025 (barring an extension).
On paper, Oweh seems like the type of young player the Ravens would want to extend. The former first-rounder had 10 sacks in 2024, second on the team behind only Kyle Van Noy and double his total of five sacks from 2023. However, a look under the hood reveals that Oweh’s pressure percentage actually fell from 17.2% two years ago to 11.7% last season. He converted 20.8% of his pressures into sacks, an unsustainably high rate that ranked fourth-highest among 41 players to rush the passer 400+ times last year.
If the Ravens view Oweh’s high sack total as a mirage, it would explain why they took a chance on Mike Green in the second round. Green was available that late because of his past troubling sexual assault allegations, as he was a first-round talent based on his pure pass-rush ability. His arrival could give the Ravens some leverage in extension talks with Oweh, opening up the possibility of a trade if there’s a disconnect about his true pass-rush ability.
Buffalo Bills: EDGE A.J. Epenesa
The Buffalo Bills probably aren’t looking to subtract from a Super Bowl-caliber roster. Still, front offices always have to plan ahead, and the team’s 2026 free agent class is hefty. James Cook is the headliner, but the defense also has numerous contributors entering contract years.
One of those is edge rusher A.J. Epenesa. The former second-rounder has become a dependable member of the Bills’ rotation, notching six or 6.5 sacks in three straight seasons while providing sturdy run defense. Still, despite six sacks last year, Epenesa’s pressure rate plummeted to a career-low 6.2%. That ranked dead last among edge rushers with 300+ pass rush snaps in 2024.
Now entering a contract year, Epenesa is in a far more crowded edge rusher room. The Bills signed Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht in free agency, while drafting a very similar player in Landon Jackson in the third round. Jackson doesn’t have the most natural bend, but is an explosive and strong athlete who could replicate some of Epenesa’s three-down value. You can never have enough pass rushers, but if Buffalo adds another edge rusher like Von Miller, Epenesa would be a sneaky trade candidate.
Carolina Panthers: EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
After missing out on most of the edge rushing class in free agency, the Carolina Panthers wisely invested in the position in the draft. The Panthers double-dipped on the edge on Day 2, adding Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen to spruce up their pass rush, which ranked last in pressure rate in 2024.
With Carolina improving but still in its rebuild phase, the Panthers should allow the rookies every opportunity to play in 2025. That could put a player like Jadeveon Clowney on the trade block, both this offseason and ahead of the in-season trade deadline.
At 32 years old in a contract year, Clowney is one of the more obvious trade targets league-wide. His age means he doesn’t really fit in with the Panthers’ timeline, but he’s still effective enough that contending teams should love to have the former first overall pick in their pass-rushing rotation. Even if Clowney wants to stay home in the Carolinas, the Panthers should look at adding more draft capital given that contenders like the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and Philadelphia Eagles could all use another edge rusher.
Chicago Bears: TE Cole Kmet
After an offense-heavy free agency and trade period, the Chicago Bears continued to lean into stacking the offense in Ben Johnson’s first draft. The Bears made Colston Loveland the first tight end off the board with the 10th overall pick, giving Chicago the TE prospect with the highest receiving upside and extensive experience in Michigan’s pro-style system.
All that raises questions about Cole Kmet’s future. On one hand, the Lions used multi-tight end sets at the seventh-highest rate last season (42.5%). It’s entirely possible Johnson intends to pair Loveland and Kmet together and play both significant snaps. However, the Bears also drafted receiver Luther Burden III in the second round and have a host of other veteran receivers that could allow Chicago to lean into 11 personnel more successfully than last year.
Kmet is likely no higher than fourth in the receiving pecking order, and potentially fifth depending on Burden’s development. A post-June 1 trade would save the Bears $10 million in cap space, and the dead money would be a minuscule $1.6 million each of the next three years. With three years left of team control, the 26-year-old Kmet could likely fetch a solid return if the Bears pull the plug.
Cincinnati Bengals: LB Germaine Pratt
The Cincinnati Bengals only made six draft picks this year. However, two of those were spent at linebacker, with second-rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. and fourth-rounder Barrett Carter. After years of Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt in the middle, Knight and Carter might be the next iteration of the Bengals’ linebacker pairing.
That leaves Pratt’s future in Cincinnati in dicey shape. Whereas Wilson still has three years left on his contract, Pratt is in a contract year and can be cut or traded with no pain. The Bengals would save $5.85 million in cap space if they cut or trade Pratt at any point the rest of the offseason.
Either way, with the big contracts on offense and Trey Hendrickson potentially getting his own huge extension soon, there likely isn’t any money left in the banana stand for Pratt. If the Bengals feel confident that Knight and/or Carter can contribute right away next to Wilson, Pratt might have more value to a different team.
Cleveland Browns: TE David Njoku
It’s a total mystery who will play quarterback for the Cleveland Browns for the majority of the 2025 season. What doesn’t feel like a mystery is who the quarterback’s top two targets will be. Jerry Jeudy broke out last year when Jameis Winston gave the Browns a brief stint of exciting quarterback play, while David Njoku has been a fixture in the offense since being a first-round pick in 2017.
However, Njoku is nearing the end of his second contract, with 2025 being the last year of his deal. Cleveland potentially implemented a succession plan during the draft, using a third-round pick on Harold Fannin Jr. The Bowling Green tight end will need to adjust to a massive jump in competition, but the 2024 FBS leader in receiving yards could be a passing game weapon right away.
For a rebuilding Browns team, that may make Njoku a valuable trade commodity. Despite entering his ninth season, Njoku will still be 29 years old for all of next season. A team could reasonably want to trade and extend him, giving the Browns a chance to add even more draft capital as they seek to potentially make a move to the top of the 2026 draft for a franchise quarterback.
Dallas Cowboys: CB DaRon Bland
On paper, the Dallas Cowboys should have one of the NFL’s best cornerback duos between Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. Both have been First Team All-Pro selections and highly disruptive ball hawks at different points in their career. However, because of injuries, the two played only one game together in 2024.
Now, with Bland in a contract year, it’s questionable if we’ll see him in a Cowboys uniform for much longer. Dallas took one of the most intriguing swings of any team on Day 2 by drafting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. Although his draft stock sank due to a September torn ACL, Revel profiled as a first-round talent due to his press-man coverage ability and ball skills. If Revel is healthy, it could be difficult to keep him off the field.
The saving grace for Bland is that both Revel and Diggs have uncertain health situations, with the latter undergoing a major knee procedure in January. Still, Bland should continue to hold trade value into the season, and he could be a strong midseason trade candidate if the Cowboys’ season goes sideways again.
Denver Broncos: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
One of the more surprising but praised first-round picks was the Denver Broncos’ selection of Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Many expected the Broncos to pick an offensive skill position player with the 20th overall pick, but instead, they opted for one of the best and most versatile coverage corners in the class.
With Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss locks on the outside, Barron’s arrival would seemingly squeeze out slot cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. A former undrafted free agent, McMillian has developed into an effective and underrated slot corner. Last season, he held opponents to 6.8 yards per target and an 85.7 passer rating in coverage, recording 10 passes defended.
An exclusive rights restricted free agent, McMillian didn’t receive a multi-year extension from the Broncos this offseason, instead getting a one-year, $1.03 million tender. That’s peanuts for a starting-level slot corner and gives him more trade value than you might expect for a non-household name. With no clear role after Barron’s arrival, McMillian is a decent trade chip the Broncos could cash in for either 2026 picks or immediate help.
Detroit Lions: DT Levi Onwuzurike
Although edge rusher might loom as a bigger need, the Detroit Lions now have plenty of beef on the interior of the defensive line. First-round DT Tyleik Williams profiles as a plug-and-play option from Day 1. D.J. Reader and Roy Lopez are reliable veteran run-stuffers as well, while big edge rushers like Brodric Martin and Josh Paschal can kick inside on passing downs.
Levi Onwuzurike fits that big edge prototype as well, but he could get squeezed out in a numbers game. The former second-rounder hasn’t quite met the expectations many had for him when he entered the NFL, though he did tie for the team lead with 45 pressures last year. Still, that wasn’t enough to earn a multi-year deal in free agency, with Onwuzurike re-signing on a one-year, $4 million contract.
That’s modest enough to make him a trade candidate, given that he was solid in a rotational role in 2024 and has pedigree as a high draft pick. The only question is the recovery timeline from Alim McNeill, as the Lions may not want to leave themselves short-handed on the interior if McNeill is expected to miss most of 2025. However, if Onwuzurike fails to impress in the preseason, the Lions might be better served getting a Day 3 pick in return instead of cutting him.
Green Bay Packers: WR Romeo Doubs
PFSN had Romeo Doubs as a prime Green Bay Packers trade candidate before the draft. Then, Brian Gutekunst drafted the franchise’s first first-round wide receiver in 23 years, while also adding another receiver in the third round.
Matthew Golden and Savion Williams now make for an extremely crowded receiver room. With Doubs entering the last year of his contract, the Packers’ draft picks indicate that he’s likely done with the team after 2025, particularly with Jayden Reed and Christian Watson also due for extensions.
In fairness, Watson’s torn ACL from Week 18 could be what saves Doubs’ roster spot in the short term. It’s possible Watson misses a large chunk of 2025. If that happens, the Packers may not feel comfortable relying on a pair of rookies to play meaningful snaps right away. Still, Doubs will need to earn his role in the preseason and could prove expendable if the rookies play well early and/or if Watson recovers faster than expected.
Houston Texans: WR Christian Kirk
Wide receiver was a need for the Houston Texans entering the draft. Stefon Diggs left the team in free agency, while Tank Dell may not play until 2026 following his gruesome December knee injury. The Texans checked off that need and then some by picking Iowa State teammates Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, giving them a very high-upside top three along with Nico Collins.
However, that means no other wide receiver on the roster is assured of a place on the team. That includes veteran Christian Kirk, whom the Texans just acquired in a trade for a seventh-round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in March.
That’s a tiny investment, and it didn’t stop the Texans from picking a slot receiver prospect in Noel, who could easily make Kirk redundant. There was no way for Houston to know they were picking Noel, of course. Now, though, the Texans could flip Kirk to a team that didn’t address its slot receiver needs in the draft and recoup their Day 3 pick if Noel proves ready to play.
Indianapolis Colts: RB Khalil Herbert
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t have an adequate backup running back situation in 2024. Now, however, the Colts have a far deeper backfield behind Jonathan Taylor after signing Khalil Herbert in free agency and taking an intriguing upside swing on Kansas State running back D.J. Giddens in the fifth round.
Giddens was a Day 2 talent who fell in part because the running back crop was so deep this year. He was highly productive as a two-year starter at Kansas State, piling up 2,569 rushing yards and 581 receiving yards over the past two seasons. Although he needs to get stronger and improve in pass protection, Giddens looks like a high-upside complement to Taylor.
That makes for an interesting training camp battle with the veteran Herbert. Although Herbert has more experience, he struggled between the Bears and Bengals last year, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. On a cheap one-year deal, Herbert shouldn’t feel secure as Taylor’s backup with Giddens’ arrival.
Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
PFSN highlighted Travis Etienne Jr. as a top pre-draft trade candidate for the Jaguars. That noise will only grow louder after the Jags used their first Day 3 pick on super-athlete Bhayshul Tuten, who tore up the NFL Combine with a 4.32 40-yard dash at 206 pounds.
With Etienne in the final year of his contract, his future in Jacksonville continues to look murky. The Jaguars could feasibly get by with a duo of Tuten and Tank Bigsby in 2025, if the rookie looks ready to play. Etienne had his least efficient season in 2024, averaging career-lows in yards per carry (3.7) and yards per touch (4.3).
Liam Coen’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense did utilize a three-headed monster last year between Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker. However, the rookie Irving was clearly the most talented player and seized control of the backfield by season’s end. If Tuten pops sooner than Irving did, Etienne would serve the Jaguars better as a trade chip for a more RB-needy team like the Cowboys or Bears.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Hollywood Brown
Hollywood Brown was our main pre-draft trade candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs. There’s no reason to move off that stance after the defending AFC champs picked Jalen Royals, a true X receiver who could displace Brown.
Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy should eat up most of the snaps in the slot and flanker positions, with JuJu Smith-Schuster tapping in for some slot work. Brown would seemingly be the favorite over the rookie Royals to play X receiver snaps. However, Brown was essentially out of the mix in the playoffs (five catches on 13 targets) and only received a one-year deal in free agency.
There’s a scenario where Royals adds a vertical contested catch element that Brown can’t replicate, squeezing Hollywood out of the rotation yet again. He’s likely the No. 4 target right now anyway with Rice, Worthy, and Travis Kelce ahead of Brown in the pecking order. If Royals flashes with his camp and preseason reps, Brown could easily be on the move.
Las Vegas Raiders: RB Raheem Mostert
It’s obvious that Ashton Jeanty will be the bellcow running back for the Las Vegas Raiders from Day 1. The sixth overall pick was the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018, and he profiles as a three-down superstar who should be able to carry the backfield for the Raiders right away.
All that leaves the rest of the backfield in an uncertain state. The Raiders still have Zamir White, while Sincere McCormick showed promise in a cameo starting role at the end of 2024. Las Vegas also signed Raheem Mostert to a one-year deal in free agency before they could’ve known they’d be landing Jeanty. While running back was a need even after Mostert’s arrival, the veteran could be the logical candidate to move.
The 33-year-old hasn’t played on special teams much in years, with 112 special teams snaps over the last five seasons combined. McCormick showed enough promise that he shouldn’t be phased out of the offense completely, but there will be scant touches behind Jeanty. If the Raiders feel comfortable with Jeanty and McCormick as a young duo capable of soaking up the backfield snaps, Mostert could be moved to a team that needs an upgrade at its RB2 spot.
Los Angeles Chargers: WR Quentin Johnston
Reuniting with former first-round pick Mike Williams was a cute story, but the Los Angeles Chargers still needed a true perimeter wide receiver entering the draft. The Chargers checked that need off early, picking Ole Miss wideout Tre Harris in the second round and adding Auburn speedster KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth.
Williams is on a one-year deal, so he’s obviously not a roster lock. However, Quentin Johnston should also be on red alert after the Chargers’ draft activity. The 2023 first-rounder had a much better second season, but the eight touchdowns overstated his impact on the offense. Johnston had fewer than 50 receiving yards in 13 out of 16 games, including the playoffs, while his five drops from Week 12 on were tied for fourth-most in the NFL.
If the Chargers traded Johnston after June 1, he would leave behind a minimal $1.8 million dead cap hit the next two seasons. His inconsistency obscures his physical talent and size, so Johnston will need to outperform Williams and Harris this offseason to ensure he still has a role on the team.
Los Angeles Rams: TE Tyler Higbee
Apart from the 2020 season, the Los Angeles Rams have never played multi-tight end sets more than 25% of the time in Sean McVay’s eight seasons. The Rams were a little more diverse than usual in 2024, but still ranked second in 11 personnel usage (84%) and 30th in multi-TE usage (15.8%).
That makes Tyler Higbee’s future with the franchise an open question. Higbee is in the last year of his deal before his contract automatically voids in 2026. The Rams used a second-round pick on Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson, the franchise’s highest pick on a TE since Gerald Everett in 2017. Ferguson was a four-year starter for the Ducks and could conceivably soak up starter-level snaps right away, even at a position that’s notoriously difficult to play as a rookie.
With Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen serving as solid depth tight ends, Ferguson could make Higbee extraneous on a team that has a lot of depth and will be facing some tough roster cutdown choices. Higbee ended 2024 well with three touchdowns and 178 yards in five games (including the playoffs), showing he still has some juice left after a torn ACL from 2023 limited him to three regular-season games. That should aid his trade value if the Rams decide they want to load up with another pick for 2026.
Miami Dolphins: G/C Liam Eichenberg
Everyone knows that Jalen Ramsey is the top candidate to get traded from the Miami Dolphins, but that’s more a case of player preference rather than roster construction. In reality, the Dolphins badly need Ramsey’s stability for a shaky cornerback group, but appear likely to honor his request to move on.
The one player who almost certainly lost a starting job because of the draft was guard Liam Eichenberg. Miami traded up in the second round to pick Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea, who played tackle in college but will likely kick inside for the Dolphins. That gives Miami a fairly clear starting five on the offensive line, with Savaiinaea joining free-agent signing James Daniels at the guard spots.
Eichenberg could certainly stick on the roster as a top backup, though the Dolphins could also see what kind of return an OL-needy team would offer. Eichenberg’s versatility is a nice selling point, as he’s played all five positions in his NFL career and at least 500 snaps at all of them except right tackle. However, that would also make him an ideal backup for Miami if none of the depth pieces stand out in the preseason.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Jalen Nailor
With only five draft picks, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t have much of an opportunity to heavily impact their pre-existing roster. However, in taking wide receiver Tai Felton in Round 3, the Vikings added to a position that already felt solidified, putting some of the non-Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison wideouts on alert.
One of those is Jalen Nailor, the clear No. 3 receiver for Minnesota last season. The former sixth-round pick is in the final season of his rookie contract and has played roughly 60% of his career snaps out wide, with Jefferson largely playing the slot in three-receiver sets.
Felton is also primarily a perimeter receiver, meaning the Vikings could see him as Nailor’s successor in 11 personnel. If Minnesota doesn’t intend to extend Nailor and Felton has a strong preseason, he might not have a ton of roster value given his limited special-teams value (56 special-teams snaps in the last two seasons combined).
New England Patriots: WR Ja’Lynn Polk
When a new coaching regime comes in, the players most in danger are disappointing high draft picks of the former regime. Ja’Lynn Polk has only had one season, but the 2024 second-round pick had a disastrous rookie year and could now get squeezed out of a very crowded receiver room in New England.
After signing Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency, the Patriots drafted Kyle Williams in the third round. All three of those receivers would seem to be roster locks based on their pedigree and contracts, while Demario Douglas should be considered a heavy roster favorite as well given his consistent production in his first two seasons.
That doesn’t leave much room for a mosh pit that includes Polk, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Javon Baker. Polk would likely fetch a Day 3 pick in return given his status as a recent high second-round pick, but he’ll need to impress in the preseason to see a second year in Foxboro.
New Orleans Saints: QB Spencer Rattler
Spencer Rattler was thrust into an unfair position as a fifth-round rookie for the New Orleans Saints last year. It was painfully obvious how overmatched Rattler was in his six starts, all of which the Saints lost. Rattler’s 56.2 (F) QB+ grade was the second-worst among 39 qualifying quarterbacks last season, ahead of only Browns QB Deshaun Watson.
With Derek Carr potentially missing all of 2025, the Saints will need far better play than what Rattler and Jake Haener provided in 2024 if they hope to remain remotely competitive. That desire seemingly motivated New Orleans to take Tyler Shough in the second round. After six seasons in college, Shough comes with less physical upside than some of the other rookie passers, but more experience should he need to play right away.
Given that Rattler got a longer look than Haener, the Saints might be more willing to move on from him if the competition is close in training camp and the preseason. And if Carr turns out to be healthy, it’s highly improbable the Saints would keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, leaving Rattler and Haener competing for one spot.
New York Giants: RB Devin Singletary
Signed to be the stopgap starter after Saquon Barkley’s departure, Devin Singletary never got off the ground in his first season with the New York Giants. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. surpassed Singletary on the depth chart, leaving the veteran in a tenuous spot after a career-low 437 rushing yards.
Singletary’s place on the team looks even shakier after the Giants picked Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo in the fourth round. While there are questions about his long speed and if his bull-in-a-china-shop play style will hold up against NFL defenders, Skattebo comes as a polished prospect who can contribute right away on all three downs.
Coupled with Tracy’s impressive rookie season, the Giants don’t have an obvious role for Singletary. He’s never provided special teams value, playing 23 special teams snaps during the entirety of his six-year career. Singletary would only leave behind $4.75 million in dead money this year and $1.25 million next year if the Giants move on after June 1, which feels like a plausible outcome if they can’t salvage a minor trade return.
New York Jets: WR Allen Lazard
Allen Lazard arrived to the New York Jets as part of the Aaron Rodgers cabal. As such, it was a little surprising to see the Jets restructure Lazard’s contract even with Rodgers gone, with Lazard taking a pay cut for an opportunity to stick around.
Still, that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to make the 2025 roster. Lazard is part of a litany of veteran receivers behind Garrett Wilson, as he’ll be competing with Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson as well. Coupled with fourth-round rookie Arian Wilson and second-year pro Malachi Corley, the Jets have a very crowded competition for the roster spots behind Wilson.
Lazard might have some natural appeal to the team that signs Rodgers. The Steelers already have a pair of perimeter vertical threats in DK Metcalf and George Pickens, though the latter has been in trade rumors and could still be moved. If Rodgers does end up in Pittsburgh, though, it wouldn’t be shocking to eventually see Lazard follow suit.
Philadelphia Eagles: CB Kelee Ringo
A fourth-round pick in 2023, Kelee Ringo’s career hasn’t quite gotten off the ground with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Georgia product has been buried on a deep cornerback depth chart, limiting him to 295 defensive snaps during his first two seasons combined.
With Darius Slay and James Bradberry gone, 2025 would seemingly be a chance for Ringo to emerge as the third cornerback behind Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. However, between free agent signing Adoree’ Jackson and fifth-round rookie Mac McWilliams, Ringo could be looking at a make-or-break summer in terms of his place on the roster.
Because he’s on a cheap rookie deal, Ringo would leave behind minimal dead money if the Eagles move on. He does have two years left on that rookie contract though, which would give an acquiring team multiple years of team control if they want to take a look at the former 105th overall pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Jaylen Warren
Najee Harris’ departure seemingly opened up the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield for Jaylen Warren. Warren signed his restricted free agent tender shortly before the draft, locking him into a one-year, $5.3 million contract for 2025 before he hits unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Of course, that’s hardly a commitment that prevents Pittsburgh from moving on should they prefer a different backfield option. The Steelers used their third-round pick on Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who immediately looks like one of the best scheme fits in the whole draft. Johnson’s prowess in the Hawkeyes’ outside zone system marries extremely well to Arthur Smith’s run scheme, which relies on very similar concepts.
Warren could still provide passing down value, as Johnson only caught 29 passes in three seasons at Iowa. However, veteran free agent Kenneth Gainwell has a similar receiving down skill set, and could capably fill in as the No. 2 back as he did for the Eagles last season. Given the explosiveness Warren has shown as the 1B back in recent seasons, it’s possible the Steelers could recoup a decent pick if he doesn’t win a clear role over Johnson or Gainwell.
San Francisco 49ers: RB Isaac Guerendo
The San Francisco 49ers can never resist an enticing mid-round running back prospect. Last year, Isaac Guerendo was the target, but he might already be old news. The Niners drafted bruising Oregon back Jordan James in the fifth round, a solid value for a player some felt could go on Day 2. Subsequently, San Francisco signed PFSN’s top-rated UDFA running back, Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner.
Kiner is intriguing not only because of his pre-draft rank, but also because of his experience in the Bearcats’ zone running scheme. That should make him a solid fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and give Kiner a better chance of making the final roster than most undrafted rookies. With two locks in Christian McCaffrey and James, there are likely only a couple spots left in the backfield.
Guerendo should still be viewed as a favorite to earn one of those spots. Still, it’s interesting that the 49ers added a pair of rookies known for their decisive running styles. For all his physical gifts, Guerendo’s tendency to dance was frustrating at times, as he was an extremely boom-or-bust option in a small sample of carries. His athleticism should carry the day if he’s improved his decisiveness this offseason, but the 49ers have some other options if Shanahan doesn’t trust Guerendo with the RB2 role.
Seattle Seahawks: TE Noah Fant
Since arriving in the Russell Wilson trade package, Noah Fant has been a competent but unspectacular starting tight end for the Seattle Seahawks. Fant has missed only three games in three seasons with the Seahawks, but averaged 467 receiving yards per season with just five total receiving scores during his tenure.
Second-round pick Elijah Arroyo comes with the type of receiving upside many expected for Fant when he was a first-round pick back in 2019. It’s the second straight season the Seahawks have invested a notable pick in a tight end, with fourth-rounder A.J. Barner playing 46% of the snaps as a rookie and finishing third on the team with four receiving touchdowns.
Fant is in the final year of his contract, making him a prime candidate to be moved if the Seahawks feel confident in the young Arroyo-Barner duo. They might have to eat some of his $8.5 million base salary to move him, but they’d also free up $8.9 million in cap room. Either way, Fant’s time in Seattle is probably winding down with the draft investments the team has made at his position.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Jamel Dean
PFSN highlighted Jamel Dean as a potential trade candidate in other articles this offseason. That speculation could be cranked up after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent both of their Day 2 picks on cornerbacks, bringing in Benjamin Morrison in the second round and Jacob Parrish in the third.
Parrish profiles as a slot corner and shouldn’t directly overlap with Dean. However, Morrison was a Round 1 talent who fell due to injury concerns, which included a hip procedure that shortened his 2024 campaign with Notre Dame. However, the early indication is that Morrison shouldn’t have any limitations this offseason, giving him an opportunity to win one of the two starting perimeter cornerback spots along with Dean and Zyon McCollum.
Dean’s injury history likely played a factor in some of Tampa’s draft choices. In six NFL seasons, Dean has missed multiple games every year. That included a career-low 12 games in 2024. He has two years left on his contract, which would give an acquiring team some control. If the Bucs were to move Dean after June 1, they’d save $12.9 million in cap space this year while taking on $2.3 million in dead money from 2025 through 2027.
Tennessee Titans: QB Will Levis
The most obvious pick of the entire draft was Cam Ward going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans. That reality became inevitable after Will Levis flamed out in his second season, with Brian Callahan visibly losing patience with Levis’ mistakes at multiple points during the 2024 season.
Now, Levis is in an awkward position as the ostensible QB2 on the Titans’ depth chart. Given how last year went, it’s unclear if Callahan would be willing to trust Levis to fill in for any period of time if needed. Even if Tennessee doesn’t fully trust Brandon Allen as its top backup, other options like Carson Wentz and Tyler Huntley have spent more time in the backup role.
A fresh start would be helpful for both sides. Mike Vrabel was the Titans coach when the franchise drafted Levis, and the New England Patriots’ current backup behind Drake Maye is journeyman Joshua Dobbs. In addition, Levis’ collegiate offensive coordinator was Liam Coen, and the Jaguars’ current backup QB is Nick Mullens. Either could be an opportunity for Levis to start over with a familiar coaching staff.
Washington Commanders: CB Noah Igbinoghene
The Washington Commanders only made five draft picks, with three of them going on offense. However, they did add Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos in the second round. A feisty man cornerback, Amos mostly played on the perimeter in college and should slot in there opposite Marshon Lattimore. That would allow second-year pro Mike Sainristil to shift back into the slot, where he mostly played at Michigan.
Of course, that means veteran cornerback Noah Igbinoghene could get squeezed out of a job. The former Dolphins first-rounder found his footing last year, playing more defensive snaps (774) than he did his first four seasons combined (593). He spent 71% of those snaps in the slot, allowing just 5.6 yards per target in that role.
Because of how he performed, it’s no lock Igbinoghene is a goner. Still, it’ll be tough for him to beat out a pair of recent second-round picks, which could leave him as a decent trade asset for Washington. Given his pedigree and promising 2024 performance, Igbinoghene would be a sneaky trade target for teams needing help in the slot.