Cleveland Browns: Top Pick Vomits at Practice; Rookie QB Competition Drama Starts
Browns reporters have no shortage of storylines at rookie minicamp.
After trading back from the No. 2-overall pick and two-way talent Travis Hunter, Cleveland used the fifth-overall pick to select defensive tackle Mason Graham. Then Cleveland used a third-round pick to draft quarterback Dillon Gabriel, followed by a fifth-round pick on quarterback Shedeur Sanders, whose drop was the biggest story of the draft.
Those picks and players were under a microscope at Browns rookie minicamp, and they certainly generated attention.
In his second practice of rookie minicamp, clips of Graham's individual drills and photos of him vomiting during practice went viral.
Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski joked that Graham got sick because he ate too many chicken wings before practice.
Sanders is already a lightning rod for attention, and the fact that he's competing with another rookie has only added more intrigue in Cleveland. Sanders posted a rookie group photo after minicamp, but readers noticed Gabriel wasn't in the shot.
Gabriel was asked about fans comparing his practice reps to Sanders' and how he'll handle the increased scrutiny.
"I think the more questions I get asked like that, it just divides the team," he said.
Sanders is seemingly trying to tamp down the extra attention. He was also asked about a text message he got from a post-draft text he got from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, a former sixth-round pick.
"That was it, [he texted] that my story's going to be similar," Sanders said. "I was a late-round draft pick, but we're here now, so none of that stuff matters. That just mattered on the day, and I'm just excited to be here, ready to work."
In other Browns news, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been placed on the Reserve/PUP list and will not play in the 2025 season, the team announced. Owusu-Koramoah hasn't played since a collision with Ravens running back Derrick Henry in Week 8 of last season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Top Pick Shemar Stewart Holds Out; Trey Hendrickson Speaks Out on Lack of Contract Talks
The Bengals have some contract issues on their hands.
Cincinnati didn't get to see its top prospects on the field at rookie minicamp because first-round defensive end Shemar Stewart and second-round inside linebacker Demetrius Knight held out reportedly due to contract issues. Stewart and Knight are the only Bengals rookies who have not inked their contracts.
"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bengals tried to get Stewart signed. As we understand it, the talks bogged down regarding the percentage of compensation in future years to be paid as a training-camp roster bonus," Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote.
"The training-camp roster bonus has become a device for putting a sizable chunk of the player's pay in his pockets in future years, early in the season. In this case, the numbers offered by the Bengals reflected a lower percentage than the 17th overall pick received in 2024."
Stewart said he "just decided not to sign those papers" and hopes to join practice soon.
Meanwhile, star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson issued a statement to ESPN outlining a lack of contract talks between he and the Bengals. Hendrickson requested to be traded for the second straight offseason, but this year the Bengals granted him permission to seek out a new team.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Veteran Running Back Signed After Rookie Minicamp
While rookie minicamp is generally for the rookies, veterans searching for a new deal can sometimes get a shot to impress. That's what happened this weekend with veteran running back Trey Sermon, who will ink a one-year deal with the Steelers.
Sermon, 26, ran for 159 yards on 56 carries last season with the Indianapolis Colts. He's a former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
The Steelers let Najee Harris leave in free agency (Los Angeles Chargers) this offseason and have Jaylen Warren returning the lead role. They drafted Iowa's Kaleb Johnson in the third round and also inked veteran Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal this offseason.
