NFL

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.

After signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, safety Shilo Sanders wasted no time in preparing for his upcoming rookie minicamp.

Sanders posted a video of his training regimen before he joins the Buc, and it featured a surprise cameo from New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara:

"You in my division now," Kamara told Sanders after they embraced. "You ain't on my team, you got to play against me."

"Oh, you right," Sanders said after realizing that his friend is now his opponent. "I'm gon' have to do it to you, but you're such a great guy that I don't wanna do it to you."

Kamara ended the playful interaction by congratulating Sanders on making it to the NFL before getting to his own training started.

The older brother of quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Shilo watched as the signal-caller surprisingly slid to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft before being selected by the Cleveland Browns. While he also hoped to hear his name on draft night, he was happy to receive a chance from the Bucs to work his way into the league.

Following his surprising slide to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, new Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders discussed some major topics upon his arrival in Cleveland this week.

Sanders made a surprise visit to John Marshall High School in Cleveland on Wednesday, and he fielded questions from the students in attendance:

Per Jacob Camenker of USA Today, Sanders made his ultimate goal clear, saying: "I'm trying to bring Cleveland, of course, a Super Bowl."

Sanders also talked about the influence of his father, Deion Sanders, who was his head coach at the University of Colorado in addition to being a Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback.

This week on the Scoop City podcast (beginning at the 8:50 mark), former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel suggested that comments Deion made last year contributed to Shedeur falling to the fifth round, saying:

"And then also we go back to the Deion thing. I think he's doing the right thing for his son, but he hinted it over a year ago, OK, that he might pull an Eli for his son because his son's a top-five guy in the draft. Do you think that went over well in draft rooms? Like, we don't have to have hot takes. This is just pure, simply stated facts."

Daniel was referencing Deion's appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast (h/t ESPN.com) in March 2024 when he said, "It's going to be an Eli," after being asked about a team Shedeur potentially didn't want to play for trying to draft him.

That was an allusion to the 2004 draft when quarterback Eli Manning made it clear he didn't want to play for the San Diego Chargers, which led to them trading him to the New York Giants after selecting him first overall.

Despite the talk of Deion adversely impacting his stock, Shedeur said Deion's presence has been a "positive," adding: "I'm thankful my dad took the opportunity to do what he was supposed to do. I don't never feel shame or anything like that. ... My dad's who he is, and I'm gonna be who I am regardless. I'm always gonna be his son."

In the end, Sanders landed with a team that may give him a legitimate chance to win the starting job as a rookie.

The Browns took Sanders with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round, adding him to a quarterback room that includes Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco and Dillion Gabriel, who Cleveland selected with the 94th overall pick in the third round.

Since Deshaun Watson is in danger of missing much or all of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, there figures to be a four-way battle for the starting job in training camp between Sanders, Pickett, Flacco and Gabriel.

Now that the initial shock of Sanders falling to Day 3 despite having first-round hype has worn off, he will have the opportunity to prove the rest of the league wrong for passing on him.

It's not every day that a fifth-round draft pick generates plenty of hype for a rookie card, but Shedeur Sanders is far from a typical fifth-round draft pick.

The Cleveland Browns' newest quarterback revealed his first Panini Instant rookie card for his NFL career on Thursday:

Notably, the card has "Pick #144" on the front, which is where Sanders fell to as the draft progressed.

He was one of the biggest names of the draft going into the event, and it became the biggest story of the entire event when he wasn't selected in the first round. That story only grew as teams continued to pass on him in the second, third and fourth rounds.

The Browns eventually stopped the slide with a fifth-round pick, which isn't what the Colorado product who was once seen as a surefire first-rounder envisioned as he turned his attention toward his NFL career.

Cleveland also selected Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in the third round, which made the pick all the more noteworthy.

While Sanders surely didn't want to fall so far in the draft, going to the Browns does give him an opportunity to compete for a starting role right away.

The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year likely won't have to worry about Deshaun Watson, given the veteran's Achilles injury. That means competing against an unproven Kenny Pickett, a 40-year-old Joe Flacco and a fellow middle-round draft pick in Gabriel.

Winning the starting job would make that first rookie card all the more valuable.

An anonymous NFL executive backed Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane this week after the GM went viral for clapping back against criticism for not selecting a wide receiver until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, the exec praised the job Beane has done with the Bills and suggested that fans and media in Buffalo have perhaps taken his accomplishments for granted, saying: "If it was anybody but a handful of GMs, I'd say that is bad form, but he has walked the walk, and he has backed it up. When you do that, you earn that. Their fan base and media are a little spoiled. Don't forget how bad it was before."

On Monday, Beane joined the Jeremy and Joe Show on Buffalo's local sports talk radio station WGR 550 to discuss what he did during the draft:

Beane came in hot, accusing hosts Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase of "b---hing" about the Bills not using an early- or mid-round pick on a wideout.

The 48-year-old GM called it "one of the dumbest arguments I've heard," before pointing to the Bills' offensive success last season as the reason why he went heavy on defense and didn't take a wide receiver until Maryland's Kaden Prather with the 240th overall pick in the seventh round:

"We just scored 30 points in a row for eight straight games. A year ago, I get you guys asking why we didn't have receivers, but I don't understand it now. You just saw us lead the league in points, when you add all the postseason [points], no one scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, including the Super Bowl champions."

In 2024, the Bills were second in the NFL in scoring during the regular season, averaging 30.9 points per game. They parlayed that into a trip to the AFC Championship Game, and when combining regular-season and postseason points, Buffalo scored the most with 612.

On top of that, quarterback Josh Allen was named NFL MVP for the first time, as he completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and a career-low six interceptions, while also rushing for 531 yards and 12 scores.

Allen did all of that without a true No. 1 receiver, as his leading pass-catcher was slot receiver Khalil Shakir, who had 76 receptions for 821 yards.

The Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans last offseason on the heels of four consecutive seasons with at least 1,100 receiving yards in Buffalo, and he was not replaced with a clear WR1.

Instead, Beane used an early second-round pick on Keon Coleman, signed Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency and acquired Amari Cooper at the deadline.

This offseason, both Cooper and Hollins hit free agency, and the Bills replaced them with Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore.

While it remains to be seen how that wide receiver room will perform, there is little doubt that defense was a far bigger need for the Bills, as they ranked 11th in scoring defense and 17th in scoring defense last season.

The defense has also come up short in the playoffs time and time again, including last season when it allowed 32 points to the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Championship Game loss.

Although the Bills have not reached a Super Bowl under Beane, they have made the playoffs in six straight years and won five consecutive AFC East titles.

The Bills didn't reach the playoffs once from 2000 to 2016, but now they have become a perennial playoff team and won at least one playoff game in five straight seasons.

Beane's team building is a big reason why, which should perhaps earn him the benefit of the doubt regarding his decision to go all defense with the Bills' first five picks in the 2025 NFL draft.