NFL Draft rumors: Cowboys ‘curveball,’ Ashton Jeanty commerce up spots, and extra

We’re getting nearer and nearer to the 2025 NFL Draft, and the rumors are solely selecting up steam.

Let’s get straight to the most recent rumors roundup, as there are solely so many hours within the day.

Jalen Milroe garners a lofty comparability

Past Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, a lot of the dialogue concerning quarterbacks in latest days has centered on each Mississippi passer Jaxson Dart, and Louisville QB Tyler Shough.

However because of Tom Pelissero of the NFL Community, it’s time to discuss Jalen Milroe once more.

Throughout an look on Good Morning Soccer on Monday, Pelissero relayed a few of what NFL coaches and scouts are telling him in regards to the Alabama quarterback. And once you hear lofty comparisons like this, you have a tendency to concentrate.

“A number of — not one — a number of coaches and scouts advised me as I used to be making calls about all these quarterbacks is Jalen Milroe is the best runner of the soccer they’ve ever evaluated on the quarterback place,” Pelissero stated on Monday. “Not Lamar Jackson — Jalen Milroe is the very best runner that they’ve ever seen.”

Milroe did rank second within the FBS with 20 dashing touchdowns and led Alabama in dashing yards through the 2024 marketing campaign. However a comparability to Lamar Jackson? That’s quite lofty, certainly.

Might a crew commerce up for Ashton Jeanty?

Ashton Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders has felt like a simple pairing to make, however the nearer we get to the draft, the extra it feels just like the Boise State working again may land elsewhere.

There was some chatter on Monday that the Jacksonville Jaguars may very well be a touchdown spot for him at No. 5, the choose proper earlier than the Raiders are on the clock. However Pelissero famous on Monday that whereas Jeanty may come off the board at that choose, it won’t essentially be to the Jaguars. Groups that wish to choose Jeanty may wish to get forward of the Raiders at No. 6, given all of the pre-draft dialogue about Las Vegas selecting the Boise State product. Pelissero pointed to 2 groups — the Chicago Bears at No. 10 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 — that introduced the working again in for a High 30 go to this spring.

As we mentioned yesterday, the Bears are hoping that Jeanty falls to them at No. 10. However possibly they press the problem as a substitute, and attempt to get forward of the Raiders by way of a trade-up.

Saints to attend on QB?

The second information broke about Derek Carr probably needing shoulder surgical procedure — which might put the beginning of his 2025 season in jeopardy — folks started linking the New Orleans Saints with quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

It’s me. I’m folks.

However some large names within the NFL media house are pouring chilly water on that concept: One a draft analyst, the opposite a giant participant within the Saints media house, the third one of many largest NFL insiders, and the fourth a longtime native beat author.

First up is Nick Underhill, who runs NewOrleans.Soccer, relayed shortly after the Carr information that the group was not shocked by the harm:

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

Underhill believes the “candy spot” for New Orleans to take a quarterback is with their second choose, which slots in a No. 40, the eighth choice within the second spherical.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller echoed Underhill’s ideas over the weekend:

Then there was Adam Schefter’s column on Monday, which was a roundup of all the things the legendary insider is listening to earlier than the draft. As Schefter wrote, the Saints are considering quarterback, however most likely not at No. 9 and doubtless not Sanders.

“The idea is that they wish to draft a quarterback — simply possibly not at No. 9, and possibly not Sanders. As one other personnel government stated, ‘I don’t suppose New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I feel they’re sizzling and heavy on Jaxson Dart,’” Schefter wrote.

“Talking of Dart, there may be skepticism about whether or not the Saints would take the Ole Miss passer at No. 9 — it feels excessive to many across the league. Dart would determine to be squarely in play for the Saints’ subsequent choose, whether or not that’s within the second spherical (No. 40) or in a trade-up.”

If that was not sufficient, Tuesday introduced this from Jeff Duncan of The Occasions-Picayune:

4 insiders, all of an identical thoughts.

As for what the Saints may do at No. 9, the retirement of Ryan Ramczyk may see New Orleans tackle offensive sort out in that spot.

Cowboys to throw a giant ‘curveball’ at No. 12?

Typical knowledge has the Dallas Cowboys drafting a large receiver at No. 12 to pair with CeeDee Lamb. Stephen Jones talked in regards to the group discovering a No. 2 to place throughout from Lamb on the League Conferences in March, and each Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan and Texas WR Matthew Golden have been linked to the legendary franchise.

There’s additionally the Jeanty curiosity as famous above.

However may Dallas throw a giant “curveball” at No. 12?

That may be a chance floated by Albert Breer in his huge pre-draft piece for Sports activities Illustrated. Working by way of every crew within the first spherical Breer mentioned potential choices, and when it got here to the Cowboys whereas he led with each McMillan and Golden, he addressed two completely different positions past WR.

First was cornerback, the place Breer talked about that Michigan CB Will Johnson can be a match, however his knee concern and questions over his lengthy pace may see him fall.

Then Breer threw the curveball:

The identify that a few folks introduced as much as me right here as a possible curveball is North Dakota State OL Gray Zabel. Sure, this may be a little bit early for Zabel. However he’s thought-about a choose that’s protected like Duke C Graham Barton was a 12 months in the past, and Barton had a really strong rookie 12 months for the Buccaneers. Everybody appears to love Zabel, and I’d wager he gained’t make it out of the teenagers, so this isn’t an excessive amount of of a attain.

This is able to not be too far exterior consensus, as based on NFL Mock Draft Database Zabel is projected to come back off the board at No. 18 to the Seattle Seahawks.

Whereas Zabel performed left sort out at North Dakota State, he’s projected to slip inside to protect within the NFL. Might he be the Zack Martin alternative the crew is in search of?

Chargers so as to add assist for Justin Herbert

A well-liked choose for the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 is Michigan defensive sort out Kenneth Grant. Thought of one of many prime prospects on the place, Grant would supply a lift to the Chargers’ line of defense.

However may Jim Harbaugh be taking a look at a unique Michigan prospect at No. 22?

That may be a rumor that Marcus Mosher of The thirty third Workforce is “shopping for,” as he appears to be like on the Chargers drafting Michigan tight finish Colston Loveland at No. 22. As Moshwer writes:

Chargers desperately want a pass-catching tight finish, and Loveland is an ideal match with Justin Herbert. The one query is that if he’ll fall to No. 22.

If Loveland have been to be accessible at choose No. 22, it’s exhausting to see the Chargers stepping into a unique path. We all know they worth the trenches, and that can possible be the best way they go if Loveland isn’t on the board. However he fills a large want and there’s a nice likelihood he’ll be the very best participant accessible when the Chargers are on the clock.

Due to positional worth and health-related causes, don’t be shocked if this choose occurs on Thursday night time. And that will be an A+ choose for the Chargers if they’ll pull it off.

Loveland is a captivating participant, and as Mosher notes, this may be a house run choice for Los Angeles.

Derrick Harmon harm issues?

We have now talked loads about Oregon defensive sort out Derrick Harmon in latest days, going so far as to invest yesterday that Harmon may wish to simply go forward and begin pricing Pittsburgh actual property.

However then phrase broke about some “medical data” that might trigger him to slip a bit. Each Benjamin Allbright of KOA and Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan talked about Harmon having some medical issues:

Whether or not there may be smoke to this specific fireplace stays to be seen, but when Harmon surprisingly slides previous Pittsburgh at No. 21, this may be why.