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The Examiner Fantasy Football League Est. 2002
FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Ramifications of NCAA's new world reach NFL draft

Sat Apr 26 1:40am ET
Field Level Media

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Quarterbacks Tyler Shough and Dillon Gabriel, both taken on the second day of the draft, might be considered rookies by the NFL, but their extensive game experience reflects the current nomadic culture of college football.

Each of their paths -- with three schools apiece, a combined 106 games, and parts of 13 seasons -- included a stop at Oregon.

Shough, a 25-year-old taken in the second round by the New Orleans Saints at No. 40, spent his first three seasons at Oregon (2018-20), followed by three at Texas Tech and his final season at Louisville.

Gabriel, 24, was selected in the third round by the Cleveland Browns with the 94th pick. He began his college career with three seasons at Central Florida, followed by two at Oklahoma, then last season at Oregon.

Shough's college career was plagued by a smorgasbord of injuries. The list includes broken collarbones in back-to-back season and a broken left fibula in 2023 in his final season at Texas Tech.

"In my case, I didn't necessarily benefit from the changes of eligibility," Shough said after he was selected. "I had a redshirt, and then it was COVID year, and then I had a medical. It was just unfortunate timing with some of the stuff, but for me, like I said, it's prepared me so much mentally to kind of deal with a lot of the adversity on and off the field. Some of the circumstances are out of your control and you have to respond to that."

Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the first overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, spent two seasons at FCS school Incarnate Word, then two seasons at Washington State before his final season with the Hurricanes.

Jackson Dart, taken at No. 25 in the first round by the Giants, spent one season at Southern California followed by three at Ole Miss.

Alabama's Jalen Milroe was the only other QB taken in the first two days, selected two picks in front of Gabriel by the Seattle Seahawks. He spent all four college seasons with the Crimson Tide.

--Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

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Player Notes
Sam Howell Apr 26 1:20pm CT
Sam Howell

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Sam Howell and the 172nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 142nd overall pick, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Vikings were in need of a backup quarterback after a busy offseason that saw Sam Darnold depart in free agency, leaving J.J. McCarthy (knee) as the team's presumptive starter. Ironically, Darnold went to the Seahawks, and Seattle also drafted Jalen Milroe on Friday, leaving Howell as the odd man out. Now, he'll bring his experience and leadership to Minnesota. It's an important addition for the Vikings given that McCarthy, who was last year's first-round pick, has not played a regular-season snap yet. He should start Week 1 this season, but Howell will be next in line if McCarthy suffers another injury or struggles.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Apr 26 1:20pm CT
Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns have selected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 144th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After one of the most historic slides in draft history, Sanders is finally off the board. There were times when Sanders was mocked to the Giants at No. 3 overall, so seeing him fall to the fifth round was truly fascinating. The general consensus around the league seems to be that Sanders possesses clear arm talent and quarterbacking skills, but his character is a major concern. Plus, many teams likely passed on him because they didn't want their backup quarterback to be a potential distraction. Whatever the reason, his slide ended with the Browns. Cleveland has an extremely crowded quarterback room with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) recovering from injury, followed by Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders. Any of those quarterbacks could make the 53-man roster, so Sanders will need to have a very strong training camp if he wants to earn a roster spot or playing time.

From RotoBaller

Cam Skattebo Apr 26 1:13pm CT
Cam Skattebo

Dynasty | The New York Giants select Cam Skattebo with the 105th overall selection. Dynasty Analysis: Tyrone Tracy did a great job with his allotted snaps as a rookie last season, but it was always assumed the team would add more of an early-down grinder to complement him as Devin Singletary continues to age. The selection of Skattebo could push Tracy into more of a third-down specialist, which pushes him down toward the lower end of RB2 Dynasty consideration.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Ashton Jeanty Apr 26 1:13pm CT
Ashton Jeanty

Dynasty | The Las Vegas Raiders select WR Dont'e Thornton with the 108th pick. Dynasty Analysis: In addition to Jack Bech in the second round, the Raiders now add 6'4", 4.3-40-yard dash wide receiver Dont'e Thornton. The team is clearly attempting to add some dynamism to their offense, as evidenced by their sixth-overall selection of Ashton Jeanty. Jakobi Meyers has preformed admirably as the de facto WR1, but with so many more mouths to feed, he is being pushed down to WR5/6 status as a Dynasty asset.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Elic Ayomanor Apr 26 1:10pm CT
Elic Ayomanor

The Tennessee Titans have selected Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor with the 136th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Less than two days after drafting quarterback Cam Ward, the Titans are making a clear effort to support him with young pass-catchers. Their first three Day 3 picks were used on a pair of wide receivers and a tight end. Ayomanor is a playmaker who can work vertically and projects to contribute in a depth role at the NFL level. He and fellow fourth-round pick Chimere Dike will presumably open the year behind Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, and perhaps Van Jefferson.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Royals Apr 26 12:50pm CT
Jalen Royals

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected Jalen Royals with the 133rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Royals, who was a candidate to be selected on Day 2, represents the Chiefs' latest attempt to bolster the wide receiver room for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He caught 126 passes for 1,914 yards and 21 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. He is a versatile, well-rounded receiver who can make an impact right away, though he could initially be blocked on the depth chart by Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Marquise Brown.

From RotoBaller

Jaylin Lane Apr 26 12:40pm CT
Jaylin Lane

The Washington Commanders selected Virginia Tech wide receiver Jaylin Lane with the 128th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Lane is a physical and speedy runner who is capable of accruing yards after the catch, but his route running needs improvement. He caught 79 passes for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons. Washington's wide receiver room already features Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Michael Gallup, and Noah Brown, so Lane's best route to earning playing time could be special teams. The Commanders also presumably aren't ready to give up on Luke McCaffrey, who was last year's third-round pick.

From RotoBaller

Dylan Sampson Apr 26 12:30pm CT
Dylan Sampson

The Cleveland Browns have selected Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson with the 126th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sampson has previously dealt with fumbling issues, but he possesses a high football IQ and has shown an ability to fight for extra yards after first contact. He is also capable of being a workhorse back, which was on display as he rushed 258 times for 1,491 and 22 touchdowns as a senior last season. It will be interesting to monitor the running back competition in Cleveland this summer. The Browns already had Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., and now they've added Sampson and Quinshon Judkins via the draft.

From RotoBaller

Gunnar Helm Apr 26 12:20pm CT
Gunnar Helm

The Tennessee Titans continued to add to their offense by selecting Texas tight end Gunnar Helm at pick No. 122 overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The big man's third year at Texas put him firmly on draft radars with a breakout season of 60 catches for 786 yards and seven touchdowns as the Longhorns made the College Football Playoff. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Helm is a big target for new quarterback Cameron Ward, whom the Titans selected first overall. Tennessee added Florida receiver Chimere Dike earlier in the day and recently signed veteran Tyler Lockett, giving the young signal caller some options in the passing game.

From RotoBaller

Cam Ward Apr 26 12:13pm CT
Cam Ward

Dynasty | The Tennessee Titans select WR Chimere Dike with the first pick of the fourth round (103). Dynasty Analysis: This is no immediate threat to Calvin Ridley or the top of the Titans' WR depth chart, but Dike can be a nice perimeter piece to rotate in for Cam Ward. Dike could be worth a deep rookie selection, but is more likely to be a waiver wire placeholder with a wait-and-see approach.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Bhayshul Tuten Apr 26 12:13pm CT
Bhayshul Tuten

Dynasty | The Jacksonville Jaguars selected RB Bhayshul Tuten with the 104th overall pick. Dynasty Analysis: Jacksonville was quite clearly looking to pull back on Travis Etienne's workload last season, and this is just one more domino to continue his fall. There were rumors that the veteran running back might be moved on Draft weekend, but it hasn't happened quite yet, which puts his Dynasty value in serious jeopardy.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Woody Marks Apr 26 12:10pm CT
Woody Marks

The Houston Texans have selected USC running back Woody Marks with the 116th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Houston traded a future third-round pick for the right to select Marks in the fourth round. Marks is an advanced runner with good vision and decision-making at the line of scrimmage. He can contribute in all facets of the offense with his blocking skills in protection, his ability to create missed tackles in the rushing attack, and his reliable hands in the passing game. He showcased this multi-threat ability at USC with 1,133 rushing yards, 321 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns as a senior. Joe Mixon is still the No. 1 running back in Houston, but Marks has a strong chance to usurp Dameon Pierce as Mixon's backup.

From RotoBaller

Jarquez Hunter Apr 26 12:10pm CT
Jarquez Hunter

The Los Angeles Rams selected Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter with the 117th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hunter is a physical runner known for his ability to earn extra yards after first contact. He demonstrates good decision-making skills and football IQ, which, paired with his physicality, makes him an intriguing option in short-yardage situations. With that said, Hunter might not be limited to only short-yardage plays; he led the SEC with 6.4 yards per carry last season. He totaled 1,201 yards on the ground and scored nine touchdowns along the way. Los Angeles' young backfield now features Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Hunter.

From RotoBaller

Trevor Etienne Apr 26 12:00pm CT
Trevor Etienne

The Carolina Panthers have selected Georgia running back Trevor Etienne with the 114th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is the brother of current Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. The younger Etienne is known for his ability to make good cuts at the line of scrimmage, identify gaps, and avoid tacklers. He doesn't have great burst and isn't going to break a lot of tackles, but he still runs well and makes up for any deficiencies with his vision and football IQ. During his senior campaign at Georgia, Etienne totaled 609 rushing yards, 194 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. He is capable of being a dual-threat running back but might not earn snaps right away in a backfield that features Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle. Don't forget that the organization also has young running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) recovering from a season-ending ACL tear.

From RotoBaller

Arian Smith Apr 26 12:00pm CT
Arian Smith

The New York Jets have selected Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith with the 110th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He caught 48 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns during his senior campaign with the Bulldogs. Smith's speed is undeniable, but there are legitimate concerns about his hands and his ability to come down with contested catches. He should be viewed as a developmental piece for the Jets, as it appears unlikely that he would start over Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, or Josh Reynolds.

From RotoBaller

Bhayshul Tuten Apr 26 11:40am CT
Bhayshul Tuten

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten at pick No. 104 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Hokie surpassed 1,100 yards rushing last season, had the fastest running back time at the NFL Combine, and worked his way into serious Day 2 consideration before ultimately being one of the first picks of Day 3. The Jags, who paid the price to move up and select Colorado's Travis Hunter in the first round, continued to add to their offense with yet another running back. Tuten will join a backfield that already includes Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, the latter of whom is currently scheduled to be a free agent in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Cam Skattebo Apr 26 11:40am CT
Cam Skattebo

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo is headed to the New York Giants with pick No. 105 in the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Sun Devil starred in his team's surprise run to the College Football Playoff, compiling an effective 1,711 yards and a whopping 21 touchdowns on the year. Skattebo projects as a power back with tackle-breaking potential, a solid fit for a Giants team that saw an encouraging rookie season from fellow running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. last season. New York has totally revamped its offense during the past 12 months, drafting wide receiver Malik Nabers, moving on from quarterback Daniel Jones, signing Russell Wilson, drafting Jaxson Dart, and now selecting a second high-profile back who will be on a rookie contract.

From RotoBaller

Chimere Dike Apr 26 11:30am CT
Chimere Dike

Florida wide receiver Chimere Dike is off the board to the Tennessee Titans at No. 103 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the first pick of the fourth round. The Wisconsin transfer had a so-so final college season, pulling in 42 passes for 783 yards and two touchdowns. At a flat 6-foot and 195, Dike doesn't have great size, but he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine that helped his pro prospects. With Tennessee already having selected quarterback Cameron Ward at No. 1 overall, the franchise went in search of a weapon with some speed. He'll join a receiver room with Calvin Ridley and the recently signed Tyler Lockett.

From RotoBaller

Tai Felton Apr 25 11:13pm CT
Tai Felton

Dynasty | The Vikings drafted Maryland receiver Tai Felton with the final pick of the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: Felton was the final pick of the third round, landing with the Minnesota Vikings in the process. He's a thin receiver and a bit of a product of his environment, but he could also be a late bloomer. After being taken on the second day, his stock seems to be on the rise and he should make for a solid mid-round rookie flier as a result.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Isaiah Bond Apr 25 11:13pm CT
Isaiah Bond

Dynasty | Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond was not taken on day two of the NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: This isn't exactly shocking considering the fact Bond is under investigation for misconduct. Still, it's notable as his talent is clearly better than that of a third day pick. We'll see what happens tomorrow, but he's looking like a late round flier in rookie drafts at best right now.

From Dynasty League Fantasy