NFL Player News

Torrence (6'5/332) hitting the transfer portal could mark a big loss for Louisiana and new head coach Michale Desormeaux, as Torrence started every game at right guard for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2021. Per Pro Football Focus, Torrence one of the top guards in the nation, receiving an overall grade on the year of 88.2, while excelling in both run blocking and pass blocking. On 807 offensive snaps, he allowed just five quarterback pressures and no sacks on the season, which should make him one of the more coveted offensive linemen now in the portal. Per 247Sports.com, Torrence is now the highest-rated interior offensive lineman in the portal, and could consider rejoining former head coach Billy Napier at Florida.

The plan is for the league to move to Christmas Day games every year for the foreseeable future, per Goodell. While he did acknowledge that games would not be played if Christmas fell on a Tuesday or Wednesday. The NFL has already cornered the Thanksgiving Day market and worked in Black Friday games in recent years, and featured two or three Christmas Day games in each of the last four seasons. While the Chiefs have expressed interest in becoming the face of Christmas games like the Lions and Cowboys are for Thanksgiving, Goodell said, “I think we’ll continue to rotate” the teams that play on Christmas.

Jones can say what he wants, but a running back room featuring Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, and Malik Davis seems untenable. The Cowboys ranked 27th in total rushing yards (1,705) and 30th in yards per carry (4.0) as a team last season and only scored six touchdowns on the ground — the fewest of any team in the league. Jones noted that he likes the moves the team made in free agency, but you’d be hard pressed to find a front office executive who won’t say that about their team in April. Currently holding two Day 2 picks for Friday’s portion of the draft, it’s hard to imagine the Cowboys not adding a rookie back to lead what appears to be an underwhelming backfield next season.

In a draft that’s ripe with running backs across all three days of the draft, the Steelers should have plenty of high-end options to pair with incumbent Jaylen Warren. The Steelers met with Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson but could hear his name called in the second round on Friday, while Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson could also be on the radar to fill the vacancy left by Najee Harris in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense. Warren signed his restricted free agent tender earlier this month and has a chance to see more work in what will be his fourth season in the league. That said, the former UDFA has averaged 9.9 touches per game for his career, and may not be viewed as a one-for-one replacement for Harris, who averaged 17.6 touches/gm over that same span. The Steelers don’t currently hold a second-round pick, so anybody in that range would require a trade-up to get. Otherwise, they could be waiting until they’re on the clock with the No. 83 pick to send in the card on a potential back.

The Rams ultimately decided on a deal with the Falcons, which landed them a first-round pick in 2026 in exchange for this year’s 26th overall pick. The deal also gave the Rams a pick in tonight’s second round. “To be able to get a future (No.) 1 is a big deal,” said Rams HC Sean McVay, “to just move back 20 spots.” Rams general manager Les Snead added “The value going up there, teams were asking too much — more than we would give.” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini earlier reported that teams which received calls from the Rams believed they were targeting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who eventually went to the Panthers at No. 8.

The Panthers desperately needed to add a receiver this offseason, but it sounds like Young got his guy in McMillan. The 6-foot-4 wideout will provide an immediate upgrade to a receiving corps that saw Xavier Legette, David Moore, and Adam Thielen as their top three route runners last season, per PFF. McMillan provides a wide catch radius and caught 60 percent of the contested targets that came his way last season at Arizona. McMillan was already expected to see plenty of targets funneled his way early into his Panthers tenure, but having his quarterback personally vouch for his selection is a good anecdotal sign for an incoming rookie.

Detroit is reportedly working towards a long-term extension with Hutchinson, so this is a no-brainer for them. Hutchinson fractured his fibula against the Cowboys in Week 6, but was looking like he’d taken a turn towards stardom before that. He finished the 2025 campaign with 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble, as well as a 94.9 PFF defensive grade. Entering his age-25 season, the return of Hutchinson should help keep the Lions near the top of the NFC North in 2025.

In his first full season as a pro, Williams flashed the potential the Lions hoped to see when they selected him No. 12 overall in 2022. The former Alabama product tallied career highs in receptions (58), receiving yards (1,001), and receiving touchdowns (7), while averaging 17.3 YPR. Now under contract through the 2026 season, the Lions will get at least two more years of Williams at an affordable price before they would have to consider offering him a long-term extension.

It’s great news for fantasy managers, who were hopeful the 2024 Heisman Trophy Winner would have a chance to make an impact for them on the offensive side of the ball. In two seasons at Colorado, Hunter caught 153 passes for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns, and led the Big 12 with 96 receptions last season. He’s a dynamic player on both sides of the ball, and according to Pelissero, Hunter will still “meet with the defensive backs” and “have him practice some” on defense, but it appears the Jaguars are intent on utilizing him in a starting receiver role.

Previous reports had Williams as a possible trade candidate ahead of the draft, but nothing came of them, and Holmes made it clear that a trade was never on the table. Detroit ultimately took Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 pick, adding to a front seven that was crushed by injuries in 2025. Williams will remain the team’s WR2 for the upcoming season, offering an elite weekly ceiling despite his limited role in the Detroit offense. The Lions are expected to pick up Williams’ fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through the 2026 season.

Originally considered a four-star guard coming out of Helix High School in San Diego, CA, Simmons (6’5/317) redshirted in 2021 before starting every game at right tackle for San Diego State in 2022. Despite allowing 24 pressures with a 47.1 PFF overall grade, Ohio State coach Ryan Day plucked Simmons from the transfer portal and crowned him as the OSU starting LT for the next two seasons. He proceeded to allow just one sack and four quarterback hits over 1,131 snaps for the Buckeyes. Unfortunately, Simmons suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear Week 7 against Oregon, which prematurely ended his final collegiate campaign. He was unable to test at the Combine, but registered 10-inch hands with 33-inch arms and profiles as a plus athlete. Simmons’ nimble feet and balanced movement allow him to effectively mirror opposing rushers and react to counters seamlessly. He stabs opponents with one hand and posts them to neutralize outside rushes. Simmons shoots out of his stance and gets to his mark on run plays, but can be crossed up on stunts/blitz pickups and isn’t overpowering at the point of attack. Similar to many top tackles in the class, he has tweener length and proportions, but is a very athletic prospect who should have a productive NFL career.