The 2025 NFL expansion series began with Part I determining the city, brand, and coaching staff and showcasing how an NFL expansion team might begin. Part II might be the highlight of the expansion series, with the 2025 NFL expansion draft setting the foundation for the roster of the Austin Rogues. If you don’t know about expansion drafts, basically we pick from players on other teams around the league—with each NFL franchise forced to pick five players to make available for the expansion club to add.
Expansion Draft Rules
While the NFL has changed over the past two-plus decades, we’ll mostly be using the same rules from the 2002 NFL expansion draft:
- Every team in the league must put up five players from their current roster into the player pool for the expansion draft.
- Once a player is selected from an existing team, one player may be removed from the list. And if two players from one team are selected, all remaining players may be pulled.
- Players cannot be entering 2025 free agency.
- Players cannot be specialists (i.e., kicker, punter, long snapper)
- Players cannot have been placed on injured reserve before the previous season (though given the updated nature of IR in the NFL, we will waive that if they are activated during the season).
But while keeping in mind that things have changed with IR activations and expanded practice squads, we are going easier on the rule of not allowing two players that were placed on Injured Reserve during the season to be included and the rule of not allowing multiple players with 10-plus years of experience to be included.
The Austin Rogues must select either a) at least 30 players, or b) have the salaries take up at least 38% of the salary cap for the 2025 season.
Available Players
Some of the players available on the player pool—like those who were genuinely released (e.g., Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams by the Jets), and someone like Kirk Cousins with an enormous contract as a backup for the Falcons—were very easy. For some squads like the Eagles and Chiefs, it was more difficult to decide on the five they’d put up. There are many variables, including teams attempting to slip guys through and trying to determine who those players are.
Arizona Cardinals
WR Xavier Weaver
WR Tejhuan Palmer
RB DeeJay Dallas
RB Emari Demercado
QB Clayton Tune
Atlanta Falcons
QB Kirk Cousins
DL Grady Jarrett
RB Jase McClellan
LB DeAngelo Malone
WR Casey Washington
Baltimore Ravens
S Marcus Williams
CB Arthur Maulet
S Sanoussi Kane
RB Rasheen Ali
S Beau Brade
Buffalo Bills
EDGE Von Miller
LB Joe Andreessen
WR Curtis Samuel
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
LB Baylon Spector
Carolina Panthers
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
CB Dane Jackson
RB Miles Sanders
G Jarrett Kingston
LB Jon Rhattigan
Chicago Bears
TE Gerald Everett
EDGE DeMarcus Walker
WR Tyler Scott
LB Noah Sewell
QB Tyson Bagent
Cincinnati Bengals
LB Germaine Pratt
DL Sheldon Rankins
G Alex Cappa
QB Jake Browning
TE Tanner McLachlan
Cleveland Browns
QB Deshaun Watson
DL Dalvin Tomlinson
S Juan Thornhill
RB Pierre Strong
EDGE Cameron Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford
RB Deuce Vaughn
WR Ryan Flournoy
WR Jalen Brooks
FB Hunter Luepke
Denver Broncos
EDGE Eyioma Uwazurike
S JL Skinner
TE Nate Adkins
CB Damarri Mathis
S P.J. Locke
Detroit Lions
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
OT Colby Sorsdal
DL Brodric Martin
DL Mekhi Wingo
QB Hendon Hooker
Green Bay Packers
CB Jaire Alexander
S Kitan Oladapo
TE Ben Sims
WR Bo Melton
WR Malik Heath
Houston Texans
G Shaq Mason
LB Jamal Hill
WR Xavier Hutchinson
FB British Brooks
RB Dameon Pierce
Indianapolis Colts
TE Drew Ogletree
TE Will Mallory
EDGE Isaiah Land
S Rodney Thomas II
G Dalton Tucker
Jacksonville Jaguars
TE Evan Engram
WR Gabe Davis
WR Josh Reynolds
WR Devin Duvernay
EDGE Myles Cole
Kansas City Chiefs
OT Jawaan Taylor
G C.J. Hanson
WR Skyy Moore
CB Christian Roland-Wallace
RB Carson Steele
Las Vegas Raiders
C Andre James
QB Gardner Minshew
RB Zamir White
S Trey Taylor
S Chris Smith II
Los Angeles Chargers
EDGE Joey Bosa
RB Gus Edwards
CB Deane Leonard
RB Hassan Haskins
RB Kimani Vidal
Los Angeles Rams
WR Cooper Kupp
G Jonah Jackson
RB Cody Schrader
CB Josh Wallace
TE Davis Allen
Miami Dolphins
CB Kendall Fuller
RB Raheem Mostert
TE Durham Smythe
S Patrick McMorris
FB Alec Ingold
Minnesota Vikings
C Garrett Bradbury
DL Levi Drake Rodriguez
CB Dwight McGlothern
DL Taki Taimani
RB Ty Chandler
New England Patriots
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
LB Sione Takitaki
WR Kayshon Boutte
TE Jaheim Bell
WR Javon Baker
New Orleans Saints
RB Jamaal Williams
TE Dallin Holker
DL John Ridgeway III
DL Khristian Boyd
WR Mason Tipton
New York Giants
S Anthony Johnson Jr.
RB Eric Gray
RB Devin Singletary
TE Greg Dulcich
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton
New York Jets
QB Aaron Rodgers
WR Davante Adams
LB C.J. Mosley
WR Allen Lazard
WR Xavier Gipson
Philadelphia Eagles
CB Darius Slay
DE Bryce Huff
WR Johnny Wilson
WR Ainias Smith
CB Eli Ricks
Pittsburgh Steelers
DL Larry Ogunjobi
EDGE Preston Smith
DL Montravius Adams Sr.
EDGE Mark Robinson
TE Connor Heyward
San Francisco 49ers
EDGE Leonard Floyd
DL Javon Hargrave
DL Maliek Collins
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
DL Kalia Davis
Seattle Seahawks
WR Tyler Lockett
DL Dre’Mont Jones
DL Roy Robertson-Harris
OT George Fant
S Rayshawn Jenkins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Kameron Johnson
CB Tyrek Funderburk
TE Ko Kieft
TE Devin Culp
WR Trey Palmer
Tennessee Titans
EDGE Harold Landry III
CB Chidobe Awuzie
OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
S Julius Wood
LB Jaylen Harrell
Washington Commanders
DL Jonathan Allen
G Chris Paul
TE Colson Yankoff
EDGE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
S Tyler Owens
The Selections
With all the veteran cuts around the NFL in 2025, there were plenty of high-cost options to consider. With the salary cap continuing to expand and now at $279.2 million, we’re taking an aggressive approach to be competitive in our inaugural season. However, offensive line is a thin position group, and there’s an eye toward free agency.
Pick 1: WR Davante Adams ($38,340,000)
It admittedly might be difficult to get Davante Adams totally on board with joining our expansion club, but the Jets would obviously make his contract available—and we’re not letting a touchdown-machine of his caliber out of our grasp. The cap hit of around $40 million isn’t easy to take on—and I initially wasn’t going to pull the trigger—but the All-Pro wide receiver will help us get the ball in the end zone and gives us a much more dangerous offensive attack. Plus, Coach Gruden has said he’d throw the ball to Adams every play if he had him, and Adams himself previously said after Gruden resigned from the Raiders he wasn’t sure if he still wanted to play for Vegas as he planned to make happen.
Pick 2: CB Jaire Alexander ($24,636,355)
Let’s add another former Packers star on defense, with Jaire Alexander (recently released in real life after a saga with the team that’s gone on for a couple of years) worth the gamble even at this salary. Injuries have been the only question for Alexander, who is a sticky cover man who also brings a confident and fearless edge on the perimeter.
Pick 3: TE Evan Engram ($19,490,000)
We went with Adams’ massive contract because an expansion team can be a struggle to move the ball with, and that theme continues with Evan Engram at tight end. While a cap hit nearing $20 million obviously isn’t ideal, Engram will be a trusted weapon for our quarterback and just caught 114 passes a couple of seasons ago. He can be moved all over the field and threatens the defense at all three levels.
Pick 4: EDGE Leonard Floyd ($10,108,000)
Leonard Floyd’s lone season with the 49ers extended his streak of seasons with 8.5+ sacks to five. The former first-round pick is now 32, but he’s a versatile defender who has long brought consistent production off the edge.
Pick 5: DL Javon Hargrave ($10,305,000)
Let’s double up with big-contract players the 49ers parted ways with, hoping Javon Hargrave is healthy. Hargrave can generate push up the middle, and he had sack totals of 7.0. 11.0, and 7.5 in his past three healthy campaigns.
Pick 6: LB Germaine Pratt ($8,183,334)
Germaine Pratt was a late cut by the Bengals in reality, so I’d think they would’ve made him available as one of their five players exposed to the expansion draft. Pratt is a team leader, has two interceptions in each of the past three seasons, and just set a career-high with 143 tackles.
Pick 7: EDGE Bryce Huff ($7,500,000)
He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles, but 2024 was a disappointment from a personal production standpoint for pass rusher Bryce Huff. This selection carries some risk taking on the final two years of a $51 million deal; but ideally, we’ll get Huff into more of a third-down pass rush situation like how he did serious damage with the Jets for his first four years in the league.
Pick 8: G Jonah Jackson ($14,750,000)
Jonah Jackson is another player we’d be betting on a return to form, worthy of the risk for an expansion franchise to take on—particularly with offensive line looking thin both in free agency and the draft. Jackson will play one of the two guard spots, but for now we’ll slot him at left guard where he was a Pro Bowler for the Lions.
Pick 9: DL Sheldon Rankins ($11,618,000)
Sticking with the interior, Sheldon Rankins had a down year with the Bengals due in part to appearing in just seven games because of injury. He can pair nicely with Javon Hargrave to disrupt the quarterback up the middle with our front four in sub packages.
Pick 10: C Garrett Bradbury ($6,060,000)
The available options on the offensive line aren’t ideal, to be honest, but Garrett Bradbury at around $6 million at least brings us experience after six years with the Vikings. Bradbury played every snap for Minnesota last season and can help open lanes in the run game.
Pick 11: RB Dameon Pierce ($1,303,858)
It’s been an up and down start for Dameon Pierce through three seasons with the Texans. He ran for 939 yards as a rookie before taking a step back in 2023 and then averaging 7.3 yards per carry on 40 attempts while Joe Mixon took over the backfield last year. We know for sure that Pierce will run hard, helping set the tone for the Rogues.
Pick 12: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin ($4,650,000)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin brings value on special teams, competence at linebacker, and leadership as a former team captain for the Lions. Special teams is certainly where we expect the biggest impact. Detroit pulled back quarterback Hendon Hooker after this selection.
Pick 13: TE Drew Ogletree ($1,144,547)
The wide receiver and running back options in the expansion draft are slim, but Drew Ogletree is an excellent blocker at tight end and can help us run two-tight-end sets in Year 1.
Pick 14: TE Greg Dulcich ($1,422,155)
I like the receiving upside of Greg Dulcich enough to bring him onboard as a third tight end, essentially backing up Evan Engram, who has had some durability issues in his career.
Pick 15: WR Javon Baker ($1,164,149)
Javon Baker caught one pass as a rookie for the Patriots last season, but his skill level is worth a flier in this player pool. Being put up as an expansion draft option after barely playing for New England could work as a bit of a wakeup call.
Pick 16: S Beau Brade ($968,333)
Beau Brade made the Ravens’ roster as an undrafted rookie last summer, which is no easy task and speaks to his effort, intelligence, and versatility. The former Maryland star can be a starter for us if necessary.
Pick 17: LB Baylon Spector ($1,125,931)
Seeing a good amount of playing time for an injured Bills defense last season, Baylon Spector is coming off his best year with 40 tackles and 1.5 sacks. There might be upside for more, but Buffalo had some tough decision to make on deciding their five.
Pick 18: WR Bo Melton ($1,030,000)
The wide receiver group for the Packers is extremely crowded, and we’re able to get Bo Melton (who was actually working out at cornerback in OTAs). Working at another position like that exemplifies Melton’s team-first mindset.
Pick 19: RB Deuce Vaughn ($1,063,334)
Deuce Vaughn was very productive at Kansas State, and an expansion club could potentially give him a shot to hit the field more than he would for the Cowboys—that includes as a potential return option, where he’s blocked by All-Pro KaVontae Turpin in Dallas.
Pick 20: DL Mekhi Wingo ($1,006,700)
Apologies to the Lions, who were hammered with injuries on defense last season—but we’re taking some of their depth with second-year pro Mekhi Wingo. Before a season-ending meniscus injury, Wingo was seeing snaps for that injured defense, and he has SEC experience from his college career.
Pick 21: S Chris Smith II ($1,102,648)
Chris Smith II won back-to-back national titles with Georgia in his final two college seasons and was named a unanimous All-American in his final year with the Bulldogs in 2022. Smith hasn’t seen much time on the field, but he’ll at least be solid depth on the backend.
Pick 22: LB Noah Sewell ($1,111,237)
The expansion draft ends with another player who had a very productive college career and has found their footing in the league through two seasons. Noah Sewell brings toughness and some thump at linebacker.
Current Roster
We made just 22 selections, speaking to the lack of depth in the expansion player pool—and a big reason we decided to go with some high-priced players in this team build. That said, thanks to the NFL’s salary cap continuing to increase by large numbers, we have over $100 million in cap space to target the right fits in free agency.
Right now, the offensive line and the secondary outside of Jaire Alexander are the critical concerns. We aren’t going to reach for positions of need, but hopefully free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft lead to the Rogues naturally rounding out the roster.
Salary cap: $279,200,000
Total payroll: $168,083,581
Cap space: $111,116,419
QB:
RB: Dameon Pierce / Deuce Vaughn
WR: Davante Adams
WR: Javon Baker
WR: Bo Melton
TE: Evan Engram / Drew Ogletree / Greg Dulcich
OT:
OG: Jonah Jackson
C: Garrett Bradbury
OG:
OT:
EDGE: Leonard Floyd
DL: Javon Hargrave / Mekhi Wingo
DL: Sheldon Rankins
EDGE: Bryce Huff
LB: Germaine Pratt / Noah Sewell
LB: Baylon Spector / Jalen Reeves-Maybin
CB: Jaire Alexander
S: Beau Brade
S: Chris Smith II
CB:
NB:
K:
P:
LS:
Check back tomorrow for Part III of the 2025 NFL expansion series, with free agency!