Dianna Russini

New Jersey

Senior NFL Insider at The Athletic

Podcast Host at Scoop City: A show about the NFL

Featured in: Favicon

espn.com (+1) Favicon

go.com

nbcwashington.com Favicon

thescore.com Favicon

thebiglead.com Favicon

espn.com.au Favicon

wnypapers.com Favicon

saintsreport.com Favicon

theathletic.com Favicon

nytimes.com + 44 more

Articles

Cowboys-Steelers blockbuster for George Pickens, Justin Tucker released & Raiders new culture

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Jacob Robinson |Dianna Russini

Inside: So much to cover, from the George Pickens trade to Justin Tucker's release. That, plus a new-look Raiders team. Let's go. This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic's NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. Is Dallas the team to outsmart Pittsburgh? Yours for a third- and fifth-round pick: a 24-year-old deep-ball threat who, before an injury, ranked top-10 in receiving yards and yards per route run last season.
The reason Dillon Gabriel was drafted before Shedeur Sanders

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Dianna Russini |Dane Brugler

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 NFL Draft with plenty of quarterback uncertainty; Deshaun Watson is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury, and the top of the depth chart might be veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett. The Browns needed to leave draft weekend with a quarterback - they left with two, in Oregon's Dillon Gabriel and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, taken with the 94th and 144th picks, respectively.
NFL fines Falcons, DC Jeff Ulbrich for leak leading to Shedeur Sanders prank call: Source

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dianna Russini |Cale Clinton

The NFL has fined the Atlanta Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 over the leak of Shedeur Sanders' phone number before the 2025 NFL Draft, according to a league source. Specifically, the league's fines stem from the organization's failure to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft.
Teams trending ðŸ“‰ ðŸ“ˆ as NFL draft approaches, plus three mock draft clues

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jacob Robinson |Dianna Russini

Inside: Our final beat reporter mock draft, an update on the Kirk Cousins situation and how teams are trending before the draft begins tomorrow night. This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic's NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. 📈 Trending 📉: Pre-draft risers and fallersHow is each team trending ahead of the draft? BetMGM's win totals offer perspective on where expectations are for each team.
Giants, Sanders, Ward and more

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dianna Russini

The 2025 NFL Draft is nearly here and "Scoop City" is the place to get all the info before Roger Goodell takes the stage. The Athletic 's senior NFL insider Dianna Russini and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel will reveal everything they've heard ahead of this year's draft. Will Travis Hunter be the No. 2 pick by the Cleveland Browns? Are the New York Giants the biggest wild card? Will Shedeur Sanders be the second quarterback drafted on Thursday night?
Teams Monitoring Potential George Kittle Trade Amid Extension Talks

3 weeks ago | football.realgm.com | Dianna Russini

George Kittle was absent from the San Francisco 49ers' organized team activities on Tuesday as contract negotiations between the star tight end and the organization continue. Kittle is reportedly seeking to become the NFL's highest-paid tight end. The market for elite tight ends was recently reset when Trey McBride signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this offseason.
Kirk Cousins could be targeted by Browns, Steelers, Vikings in potential trade: Sources

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Josh Kendall |Dianna Russini

Atlanta Falcons executives will have many conversations with their counterparts throughout NFL Draft week, and quarterback Kirk Cousins' name is bound to come up, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot acknowledged Wednesday at the team's pre-draft news conference. "There are a lot of phone calls this time of year with me and other GMs," Fontenot said.
Brock Purdy, 49ers Nearing Long-Term Extension

3 weeks ago | football.realgm.com | Dianna Russini

Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers are moving closer to an agreement on a long-term contract extension, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The deal is expected to place Purdy among the top-10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL based on average annual value. Purdy has already reported for the 49ers' organized team activities (OTAs), which is a signal on how the ongoing contract discussions are progressing.
2025 NFL Draft Labeled 'Weak' In Top-End Talent By Multiple Execs

3 weeks ago | football.realgm.com | Dianna Russini

The upcoming 2025 NFL Draft is being widely assessed as unusually weak in elite talent, with multiple team executives expressing concern about the quality of prospects available in the top-10 selections. "I don't recall seeing a draft that was so light in the first 10 picks," one general manager told The Athletic, reflecting a sentiment that appears widespread throughout league front offices.
The buzz about Giants, Sanders and the QB2 race

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Dianna Russini

"There aren't a lot of Robert De Niros at the top of this draft."That's how one NFL head coach described the lack of elite talent in this year's draft class - and based on multiple conversations with those in NFL scouting departments, he's not wrong. A current general manager added: "I don't recall seeing a draft that was so light in the first 10 picks."Many evaluators have shared that some players expected to go in the top 10 are comparable to players who might still be on the board in the 20s.