Cowboys’ potential ‘curveball’ at No. 12 could throw NFL Draft for a loop

We are getting closer and closer to the 2025 NFL Draft, and the rumors are only picking up steam.

Let’s get straight to the latest rumors roundup, as there are only so many hours in the day.

Jalen Milroe garners a lofty comparison

Beyond Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, much of the discussion regarding quarterbacks in recent days has focused on both Mississippi passer Jaxson Dart, and Louisville QB Tyler Shough.

But thanks to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, it is time to talk about Jalen Milroe again.

During an appearance on Good Morning Football on Monday, Pelissero relayed some of what NFL coaches and scouts are telling him about the Alabama quarterback. And when you hear lofty comparisons like this, you tend to pay attention.

“Several — not one — several coaches and scouts told me as I was making calls about all these quarterbacks is Jalen Milroe is the greatest runner of the football they’ve ever evaluated at the quarterback position,” Pelissero said on Monday. “Not Lamar Jackson — Jalen Milroe is the best runner that they’ve ever seen.”

Milroe did rank second in the FBS with 20 rushing touchdowns and led Alabama in rushing yards during the 2024 campaign. But a comparison to Lamar Jackson? That is rather lofty, indeed.

Could a team trade up for Ashton Jeanty?

Ashton Jeanty to the Las Vegas Raiders has felt like an easy pairing to make, but the closer we get to the draft, the more it feels like the Boise State running back could land elsewhere.

There was some chatter on Monday that the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a landing spot for him at No. 5, the pick right before the Raiders are on the clock. But Pelissero noted on Monday that while Jeanty could come off the board at that pick, it might not necessarily be to the Jaguars. Teams that want to pick Jeanty might want to get ahead of the Raiders at No. 6, given all the pre-draft discussion about Las Vegas picking the Boise State product. Pelissero pointed to two teams — the Chicago Bears at No. 10 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 — that brought the running back in for a Top 30 visit this spring.

As we discussed yesterday, the Bears are hoping that Jeanty falls to them at No. 10. But maybe they press the issue instead, and try to get ahead of the Raiders via a trade-up.

Saints to wait on QB?

The moment news broke about Derek Carr potentially needing shoulder surgery — which would put the start of his 2025 season in jeopardy — people began linking the New Orleans Saints with quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

It’s me. I’m people.

But some big names in the NFL media space are pouring cold water on that theory: One a draft analyst, the other a big player in the Saints media space, the third one of the biggest NFL insiders, and the fourth a longtime local beat writer.

First up is Nick Underhill, who runs NewOrleans.Football, relayed shortly after the Carr news that the organization was not surprised by the injury:

In fact, Underhill believes the Saints “wait” on drafting a QB:

Underhill believes the “sweet spot” for New Orleans to take a quarterback is with their second pick, which slots in a No. 40, the eighth selection in the second round.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller echoed Underhill’s thoughts over the weekend:

Then there was Adam Schefter’s column on Monday, which was a roundup of everything the legendary insider is hearing before the draft. As Schefter wrote, the Saints are thinking quarterback, but probably not at No. 9 and probably not Sanders.

“The belief is they want to draft a quarterback — just maybe not at No. 9, and maybe not Sanders. As another personnel executive said, ‘I don’t think New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I think they’re hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart,’” Schefter wrote.

“Speaking of Dart, there is skepticism about whether the Saints would take the Ole Miss passer at No. 9 — it feels high to many around the league. Dart would figure to be squarely in play for the Saints’ next pick, whether that’s in the second round (No. 40) or in a trade-up.”

If that was not enough, Tuesday brought this from Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune:

Four insiders, all of a similar mind.

As for what the Saints might do at No. 9, the retirement of Ryan Ramczyk might see New Orleans address offensive tackle in that spot.

Cowboys to throw a big ‘curveball’ at No. 12?

Conventional wisdom has the Dallas Cowboys drafting a wide receiver at No. 12 to pair with CeeDee Lamb. Stephen Jones talked about the organization finding a No. 2 to put across from Lamb at the League Meetings in March, and both Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan and Texas WR Matthew Golden have been linked to the legendary franchise.

There is also the Jeanty interest as noted above.

But could Dallas throw a big “curveball” at No. 12?

That is a possibility floated by Albert Breer in his massive pre-draft piece for Sports Illustrated. Working through each team in the first round Breer discussed potential options, and when it came to the Cowboys while he led with both McMillan and Golden, he addressed two different positions beyond WR.

First was cornerback, where Breer mentioned that Michigan CB Will Johnson would be a fit, but his knee issue and questions over his long speed could see him fall.

Then Breer threw the curveball:

The name that a couple of people brought up to me here as a potential curveball is North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel. Yes, this would be a little early for Zabel. But he’s considered a pick that’s safe like Duke C Graham Barton was a year ago, and Barton had a very solid rookie year for the Buccaneers. Everyone seems to like Zabel, and I’d bet he won’t make it out of the teens, so this isn’t too much of a reach.

This would not be too far outside consensus, as according to NFL Mock Draft Database Zabel is projected to come off the board at No. 18 to the Seattle Seahawks.

While Zabel played left tackle at North Dakota State, he is projected to slide inside to guard in the NFL. Could he be the Zack Martin replacement the team is looking for?

Chargers to add help for Justin Herbert

A popular pick for the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 is Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Considered one of the top prospects at the position, Grant would provide a boost to the Chargers’ defensive line.

But could Jim Harbaugh be looking at a different Michigan prospect at No. 22?

That is a rumor that Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team is “buying,” as he looks at the Chargers drafting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 22. As Moshwer writes:

Chargers desperately need a pass-catching tight end, and Loveland is a perfect fit with Justin Herbert. The only question is if he will fall to No. 22.

If Loveland were to be available at pick No. 22, it’s hard to see the Chargers going in a different direction. We know they value the trenches, and that will likely be the way they go if Loveland isn’t on the board. But he fills a massive need and there is a great chance he’ll be the best player available when the Chargers are on the clock.

Because of positional value and health-related reasons, don’t be surprised if this pick happens on Thursday night. And that would be an A+ pick for the Chargers if they can pull it off.

Loveland is a fascinating player, and as Mosher notes, this would be a home run selection for Los Angeles.

Derrick Harmon injury concerns?

We have talked a lot about Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in recent days, going as far as to speculate yesterday that Harmon might want to just go ahead and start pricing Pittsburgh real estate.

But then word broke about some “medical information” that could cause him to slide a bit. Both Benjamin Allbright of KOA and Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan talked about Harmon having some medical concerns:

Whether there is smoke to this particular fire remains to be seen, but if Harmon surprisingly slides past Pittsburgh at No. 21, this might be why.