NFL Player News

The Cowboys selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 152nd overall.

The Cowboys traded up to take James, who started 25 games over three seasons at Florida and tallied 166 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He'll turn 21 years old this summer. James (6-foot-1, 222 pounds) is a dependable run defender with impressive athleticism, and while he still needs development in pass coverage, he could develop into a starter eventually. The Cowboys currently have Jack Sanborn -- who has 19 NFL starts through three seasons -- atop the depth chart at middle linebacker. James can push for the starting gig, but he'll likely have to wait his turn while contributing on special teams.

Howell was traded from the Seahawks to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This was a likely outcome for Howell after Seattle drafted Jalen Milroe on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Howell has starting experience and is a serviceable backup behind J.J. McCarthy, who is set to take over as the new starter in Minnesota.

The Cowboys selected Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 149th overall.

The Texas product is staying home, as he'll join the Cowboys' backfield. Blue brings a much-needed infusion of speed to the backfield (4.38 40-yard dash) to complement the power running styles of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. The rookie doesn't have a workhorse frame (5-foot-9, 196) but he has promise as a change-of-pace option with a bit of pass-catching upside (42 receptions, 368 yards, six receiving touchdowns in 2024). His home run hitting ability makes him interesting even though his volume projection is a concern.

The 49ers selected James in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 147th overall.

James initially saw work as a part-time contributor with the Oregon Ducks in 2023, when he racked up 107 carries for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns working in tandem with Bucky Irving, but the former took over the lead job last season and posted workhorse numbers, racking up 233 totes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Big Ten honors. He didn't test particularly well at the combine and isn't viewed as a home-run threat, but he's quick to find the hole and get downhill. James joins a 49ers team that dealt Jordan Mason to the Vikings this offseason, leaving Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo (knee/ankle) at the top of the depth chart. Given McCaffrey's injury history, there's a non-zero chance James will see the field as a rookie if he can beat out Patrick Taylor for third-string duties.

The Patriots selected Swinson in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 146th overall.

The Patriots addressed their defense for the third time Saturday by taking Swinson after a dominant season at LSU where he piled up 58 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The 22-year-old didn't test at the 2025 NFL Combine but measured in at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, which is on the smaller side for edge rushers. However, he flashed plenty of athleticism and motor by chasing down ball carriers and getting upfield quickly on the pass rush, signaling a high-upside selection for the Pats.

The Rams selected Hamilton in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 148th overall.

Hamilton (6-foot-3, 299 pounds) looks like a nice value for the Rams this late, because he stood out while starting the last two years for Ohio State and demonstrated plus athleticism at the Ohio State Pro Day. Hamilton logged a 4.95-second pro day 40 while jumping 32 inches in the vertical, so Hamilton should have legitimate pass-rushing potential in the NFL. The downside to Hamilton is that he might not have the anchor and reach to hold gaps in run defense, but as a one-gap attacker Hamilton should fit in fine.

Philadelphia selected McWilliams in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 145th overall.

McWilliams demonstrated his versatility in the secondary by playing both in the slot and outside corner positions, and he finished the 2024 season at UCF with 32 tackles (25 solo), including 1.0 sacks, two pass defenses (one interception) and one forced fumble in 11 games. McWilliams showed off his speed at the 2025 NFL Combine with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, and his quickness should give him a chance at contributing immediately for the Eagles in his rookie season.

The Browns selected Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 144th overall.

Sanders was the biggest faller of the draft, as he began the process this winter as a contender to go as the first overall pick. Instead, the Colorado product was the sixth quarterback to be selected and the second player at the position to be picked by the Browns, who also invested a third-round pick on Dillon Gabriel. The reasons for Sanders' slide aren't officially reported at this point, but he'll now likely be battling for the third spot on the depth chart to begin the 2025 season.

The Seahawks selected Mills in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 142nd overall.

Mills (6-foot-5, 291 pounds) might be upright enough that he'd fit better as a 3-4 defensive end than a 4-3 defensive tackle, but wherever he lines up Mills offers some amount of motor and disruptiveness after piling up 20 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his three years as starter at Notre Dame. It's possible that the Seahawks see Mills as a rotational player who mostly plays end in three-man fronts and a passing-down specialist defensive tackle in four-man fronts.

The Panthers selected Jackson in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 140th overall.

Jackson's an imposing force at defensive tackle, measuring in at 6-foot-6, 328 pounds. His wingspan is nearly 82 inches, and he swallows up running backs at the line of scrimmage. However, the 22-year-old offered limited impact as a pass rusher through five seasons (35 starts) between Memphis and Florida with 120 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss but just 4.0 sacks. The Panthers already have Bobby Brown and Shy Tuttle on the roster at nose tackle, so Jackson's playing time could be sparse right out of the gate, and he may be limited to early downs.