NFL

The New York Jets declined to add any quarterbacks during the 2025 NFL draft after signing Justin Fields earlier in the offseason, sticking with Tyrod Taylor as the backup. And not everybody saw the logic in that decision.

"I thought the Jets should have been in play for Jalen Milroe," an executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "They draft [offensive tackle Armand Membou], so they are prioritizing the line of scrimmage a second year in a row. They are going to be a clear running threat with Fields, but when you play that way, you open him up to potential injury. Milroe would let them continue playing that style."

The alternate view to that, of course, is that signing Fields and immediately drafting a potential backup plan—rather than using those resources to improve the roster around him—isn't exactly the biggest vote of confidence (and an odd way to start a relationship). The Atlanta Falcons did that a season ago with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., much to the astonishment of basically everyone (though Milroe wasn't selected until the third round by the Seattle Seahawks, whereas Penis was a first-round pick).

Either way, the Jets are definitively Fields' team, at least for now, and the team's focus with three of its first four picks—Membou in the first round, tight end Mason Taylor in the second, wideout Arian Smith in the fourth—was clearly honed in on making his life easier. Time will tell if they've succeeded.

The 2022 NFL draft class now has three years of experience in the league, meaning each team will decide on exercising the fifth-year options on the rookie contracts of former first-round picks.

The deadline for teams to pick up fifth-year options is Thursday, while the exact salary amounts for each fifth year are determined by playing time as well as potential Pro Bowl appearances.

Some players have made the decision easy by quickly blossoming into stars including Detroit Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton.

Here's the full list of players from the 2022 draft class and the decisions made from their respective teams, via NFL.com.

Option Exercised

• Jacksonville Jaguars DE Travon Walker
• Detroit Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson
• Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.
• New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner
• New York Giants Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
• Carolina Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu
• Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London
• Seattle Seahawks OT Charles Cross
• New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson
• New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave
• Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams
• Philadelphia Eagles DT Jordan Davis
• Baltimore Ravens S Kyle Hamilton
• Kansas City Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie
• Dallas Cowboys OG Tyler Smith
• New York Jets Edge Jermaine Johnson II
• Kansas City Chiefs DE George Karlaftis
• Cincinnati Bengals DB Dax Hill

Option Declined

• New York Giants OT Evan Neal
• Philadelphia Eagles OT Kenyon Green
• Philadelphia Eagles WR Jahan Dotson
• New Orleans Saints OT Trevor Penning
• Cleveland Browns QB Kenny Pickett
• Baltimore Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum
• Green Bay Packers LB Quay Walker
• Tennessee Titans WR Treylon Burks
• Dallas Cowboys CB Kaiir Elam

No Decision

• Los Angeles Chargers OG Zion Johnson
• Jacksonville Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd
• Green Bay Packers DT Devonte Wyatt
• New England Patriots OG Cole Strange

Other Circumstances

• Philadelphia Eagles S Lewis Cine (cut in 2024, ineligible for fifth-year option)

The 2022 draft didn't feature any top quarterback prospects compared to typical drafts, and teams were wise to stay away from reaching for signal-callers in the first round.

Kenny Pickett was the only passer selected within the first 32 picks, but he failed to meet expectations throughout two years as a starter on the Pittsburgh Steelers before serving in a backup role for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.

While he has an opportunity to compete for a starting spot on the Cleveland Browns in 2025, it wasn't enough to warrant the team picking up his fifth-year option.

Instead, front offices focused on the other side of the ball early in the draft. Each of the top five picks in 2022 were defensive players, and all of them had their fifth-year options exercised by their respective teams.

Hutchinson, Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. have all made Pro Bowl appearances to start their careers. Travon Walker and Kayvon Thibodeaux haven't been able to do the same, but they still combined to record 16 sacks in 2024.

Stingley is the only member of the first round of the 2022 draft to receive an extension so far, signing a three-year deal worth $90 million with the Houston Texans on March 17.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta confirmed that the team is focused on handing Hamilton a long-term extension, though.

Teams found success at wide receiver in the middle of the first round in 2022 as well. Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams have all developed into key contributors in the passing attack of their respective teams and saw their fifth-year options picked up.

For the players who had their options declined, they're now set to hit free agency at the end of the 2025 season.

At least one NFL executive believes the Pittsburgh Steelers' "meandering" approach to filling the quarterback position might work out for the franchise in the long term.

The Pittsburgh depth chart is currently led by Mason Rudolph following the free agency departures of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and the indecision of free agent Aaron Rodgers. The team added to its quarterback depth chart last week, however, by drafting former Ohio State signal-caller Will Howard in the sixth round.

“They are meandering in the wilderness here, and they are going to continue to do that until there is somebody they like, and then they will draft him,” an executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. “They are doing what they do, and it has proven to work out pretty darn well for them on the whole.

"Could this year be rough? Would that be a bad thing? Probably not.”

Another NFL executive speaking with Sando was less positive about the franchise's technique: “They have overcome it for a number of reasons, but ultimately it will be their downfall. The guys they have drafted and signed to play with since Ben (Roethlisberger) suggest they might not be very good at evaluating the position.”

The Steelers held three picks in the first four rounds of the draft. After selecting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 21, Pittsburgh targeted a running back (Kaleb Johnson, No. 83) and edge rusher (Jack Sawyer, No. 123) rather than select a signal caller.

Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was ultimately drafted by the Cleveland Browns, was available at each of those selections.

But Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette told Rich Eisen earlier this week that the Steelers had never prioritized quarterbacks heading into the draft because "they are all in on 2026, on moving up and trying to get what they believe to be their next franchise quarterback or certainly their starter for a number of years."

Penn State's Drew Allar and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier are projected as potential top quarterback options heading into the 2026 draft. Teams will also have an eye on Texas' Arch Manning should he decide to go pro after his first college season as a projected starter.

For now, the Steelers' options under center for the 2025 season continue to hinge on Rodgers. The former Jets starter expressed uncertainty about both joining the Steelers and returning to the NFL in general on an April appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported those comments weren't expected to "change a whole lot" regarding Pittsburgh's approach to the draft.

Amid contract talks with the Green Bay Packers, cornerback Jaire Alexander reportedly prefers to be released rather than traded this offseason.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the Packers adjusting Alexander's contract and then trading him might not be on the table.

"Alexander, meanwhile, would rather be cut so he can pick his destination, and he might not be willing to help with a contract adjustment to facilitate a trade," Breer wrote.

Breer noted that the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs might be interested in Alexander after those teams didn't take a cornerback in the first two rounds of the draft, but Alexander's contract might deter them from trading for him.

Alexander is currently on a four-year, $84 million contract and is set to earn a base salary of $16.15 million in 2025.

That salary is somewhat pricey considering Alexander's recent injury struggles. The two-time Pro Bowler played a combined 14 games over the past two seasons. In 2024, he logged just 16 tackles while missing 10 games due to a handful of injuries. He still managed to haul in a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

In his last healthy season in 2022, Alexander had 56 tackles, 14 passes defended and five interceptions. If teams were getting that version of Alexander, they'd likely be quick to pull the trigger on a trade, but his injuries make such a move a bit more risky.

Releasing Alexander seems like the Packers' most realistic move, which would save them some money.

The Los Angeles Chargers are earning rave reviews for the decision to draft North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick at last week's NFL draft.

"He's a really good player, and he fits exactly what [Jim] Harbaugh wants to be and helps the quarterback," an executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando. "He's like Frank Gore, but more dynamic."

High praise, and it didn't come at the cost of good process or value.

"Where they took Hampton was really good value, and it speaks to their identity,” another executive told Sando. "They needed to add some dynamic components to that offense."

Hampton rushed for at least 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, fantastic production, and now he'll be featured in Harbaugh's ground-and-pound offensive scheme.

Justin Herbert will surely be pleased. The Chargers continue to add playmakers for him, with Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and incoming rookie wideout Tre Harris making up an intriguing young group of skill-position players.

The Dallas Cowboys will not pick up cornerback Kaiir Elam's $12.7 million option for the 2026 season, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Cowboys acquired Elam from the Bills in March in exchange for a 2025 late-round pick swap and a 2026 seventh-rounder.

Elam is set to make a base salary of $2.6 million in the final season of his rookie contract, per Spotrac. He is now on track to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2025 season.

The Bills used the No. 170 pick received in the trade to draft Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock, who could serve as Elam's roster replacement.

Buffalo traded up to the No. 23 pick of the 2022 NFL draft to draft Elam out of Florida. At the time the Bills were hoping Elam could starting cornerback Levi Wallace, who had just departed in free agency.

But Elam struggled to fit in on Sean McDermott's man-to-man coverage defense, ultimately losing out on the starting job to 2022 sixth-round pick Christian Benford. His Bills career ended in an AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, when he was exposed several times while filling in for Benford.

Elam told DallasCowboys.com's Patrik Walker that he had "a chip on my shoulder" after the trade.

"On the athletic side of the ball, I've always been a great athlete, but I feel like I've strengthened my mental and sharpened my game when it comes to the nuances of the things I didn't know as a younger player," Elam told Walker.

Elam will now look to prove he has upped his game under new Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

Eberflus was working as linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys while Elam's father, Abram, was playing for both teams.

ESPN's Todd Archer reported last month that Elam was "thought of highly" during Eberflus' approach to the 2022 draft as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Elam will now look to prove to Eberflus he can be a more reliable option in the Cowboys' defensive scheme as he heads into his contract season.

Retired NFL quarterback Cam Newton called on Cleveland Browns draft pick Shedeur Sanders to "lead with work, not clout" as he embarks on his rookie season.

Newton suggested on his 4th & 1 show that Sanders "took on the persona of a DB, not a QB." There's a distinction between the two in the eyes of the 2015 MVP because a quarterback is the "CEO" for his franchise:

NFL teams sent a pretty clear message to Sanders by letting him fall to the fifth round of the NFL draft. They saw some flaws in his game, enough to think he's not a nailed-on starter in the league. They weren't enamored with how he approached the predraft process, either.

After getting picked by Cleveland, Sanders told reporters he's ready for "whatever role" the team envisions for him straight out of the gate. It's safe to assume his ceiling early on is to back up the Week 1 starter, whether that's Kenny Pickett or Joe Flacco.

Sanders has a lot of skeptics to overcome, both around the NFL and within his own organization. After all, the Browns took Dillon Gabriel two rounds ahead of him.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner has to let his performance and effort level in practice do the talking from here on out.

Deion Sanders' daily social-media message for Thursday could be interpreted as yet another post about the rumors floating around abo`ut Shedeur Sanders and the 2025 NFL draft.

In his post on X, Sanders wrote about living "in truth" and avoiding lies because they get out fast but the truth is both "seen & heard with a track record to support."

Shedeur became the star of the draft last week when he stayed on the board far longer than anyone was expecting before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.

In the midst of Shedeur's fall, stories about why teams were continuing to pass on him began to trickle out.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones said prior to the start of day three on Saturday that Shedeur "more or less sandbagged" interviews with teams he didn't want to be drafted by.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that one NFL executive described Shedeur as approaching his pre-draft meetings with teams "as a recruiting trip versus a job interview."

Even before the draft started, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero quoted one longtime NFL assistant coach as saying Shedeur gave "the worst formal interview I've ever been in in my life," calling him "entitled" and someone who "blames teammates" when things don't go right.

Deion wasn't immune from the rumors about why his son fell to day three. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel said Tuesday on the Scoop City podcast that Coach Prime's comment from 2024 about pulling an Eli Manning to dictate where Shedeur got drafted impacted his stock.

While Deion did back off that stance, he was still making it known there were teams he would try to ward off taking his son as recently as February. It wasn't until late March when he finally started to say publicly he would be "happy" wherever Shedeur goes in the NFL.

If Shedeur becomes a star quarterback in Cleveland, his draft slide will merely be a footnote in the story of his football career. All of these stories about what happened during the pre-draft process will look like dramatic overreactions.

The only thing that's certain right now is Deion will be standing behind his son every step of the way to support him on his journey with the Browns.