3 hours agoDespite taking quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick in this year's NFL draft on Thursday night, the New England Patriots selected Tennessee QB Joe Milton III in the sixth round on Saturday at pick No.read more...
3 hours agoDespite the Atlanta Falcons shockingly taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, veteran QB Kirk Cousins' position as the team's starting signal-caller of the foreseeable future has not changed, according to head coach Raheem Morris. Minnesota signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million, with $100 million guaranteed, in free agency in March. Morris said Cousins doesn't have to look over his shoulder, and that there is no QB controversy at all. Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, said there was frustration and confusion coming from his camp because the team didn't use their first-round pick to improve the team in 2024. Cousins will be Atlanta's starter in 2024, but perhaps the Falcons are just giving themselves some extra insurance with Cousins coming off an Achilles tear.Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
4 hours agoDespite taking a brief pause in contract negotiations during NFL draft weekend, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team and wide receiver Justin Jefferson continue to make progress. "We continue to have great dialogue with their representatives," Adofo-Mensah said. "The process is still ongoing. We did say, 'Hey, [let's pause] a couple days.' The draft's coming. They have players they represent. We have our process." The two sides have been discussing a new deal for more than a year, with the GM saying previously they got "unbelievably close" to a deal last summer. Despite going on Injured Reserve in 2023 with a hamstring injury, Jefferson still went over 1,000 yards receiving and scored five touchdowns. Sooner than later, he's going to become the league's highest-paid wideout.Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
4 hours agoThe Minnesota Vikings drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy 10th overall in this year's NFL draft for him to be their future starter, but the team is poised to err on the side of methodical caution with their young signal-caller. "We're not going to rush his development," general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term." McCarthy will be required to hit specific benchmarks in his development, and head coach Kevin O'Connell will have full authority to make the decision on when he thinks McCarthy is ready to start. It's a big reason the Vikings spent $10 million to sign veteran Sam Darnold as a bridge starter. McCarthy just turned 21 in January and played in an offense at Michigan that had him throw an average of 22.1 passes per game in 2023, fewer than 93 other college QBs.Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
4 hours agoThe Denver Broncos acquired defensive end John Franklin-Myers from the New York Jets on Saturday in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2026, according to sources. It's the second trade these two teams have pulled off in the last week, with the Jets also sending former first-round quarterback Zach Wilson to Denver. Franklin-Myers, a former fourth-rounder by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018 out of Stephen F. Austin, started 52 games for the Jets in the last four seasons and racked up 56 solo tackles, 17.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 61 QB hits, one interception, seven passes defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in that span. The 27-year-old should immediately become a starting edge rusher for the Broncos in 2024, but he won't be on the IDP fantasy radar with a career-high six-sack season coming back in 2021.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 hours agoFormer Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants wide receiver John Ross, whose 4.22-second 40-yard dash was the NFL scouting combine record until Xavier Worthy broke it earlier this year, will take part in the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie camp this week on a tryout basis, according to sources. Ross had retired last year but is now attempting to make a comeback. The 28-year-old speedster ended up being a bust after the Bengals took him with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Washington. Ross last played for the G-Men in 2021 and had 11 catches for 224 yards and one touchdown in 10 games (one start). In his five years in the NFL, he caught 62 of 143 targets for 957 yards and 11 scores in 37 games (21 starts). Ross will be a long shot to make the Eagles' active roster in 2024, let alone be fantasy relevant.Source: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
4 hours agoFormer Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who was reinstated last week after being suspended for all of last season for violating the NFL's gambling policies, reached an undisclosed agreement with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, according to his agents. The 26-year-old former fifth-round pick (166th overall) by the Lions in 2020 out of Wisconsin has a total of 37 receptions on 60 targets for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games (six starts) in his three seasons in the league. The Bills are notably lacking receiver depth after trading Stefon Diggs to the Texans and losing Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, so Cephus will have a chance to carve out a spot as receiving depth in Buffalo this summer in training camp. His best season came in his rookie year in 2020, when he caught 20 of 35 targets for 349 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (two starts).Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 hours agoJacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said on Saturday that the team is picking up the fifth-year option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. It's no surprise that the Jags will pick upread more...
1 day agoThe New Orleans Saints selected South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler with the No. 150 pick in the fifth round on Saturday of the 2024 NFL Draft. The drought is over as a new quarterback record of 138 picks between selections of Bo Nix (12th overall) and Rattler. The 23-year-old slipped further in drafts than anticipated and ended up in New Orleans. He had a 99.1 passing rating, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt with a 19:8 TD: INT ratio for South Carolina in 2023. Some of Rattler's strengths are that he has a solid pocket presence and excellent footwork. Rattler will compete for a chance to back up starter Derek Carr, but the rookie QB is mainly an option in dynasty leagues heading into 2024 fantasy drafts.Source: Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network
1 day agoThe Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan tight end AJ Barner with the No. 121 overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday in the 2024 NFL draft. Barner is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, but his lack of production in four seasons at Indiana and Michigan (64 catches, 610 yards, five touchdowns) leaves a lot to be desired as he moves to the next level. The 21-year-old also isn't extremely athletic, but he'll have some opportunity in Seattle to make a name for himself as he starts out behind Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown on the tight end depth chart in his rookie season in 2024. Fantasy managers should only consider Barner as a developmental prospect in deep rookie-only drafts this fall.Source: NFL.com
1 day agoThe Miami Dolphins selected Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright to help beef up their RB room in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday at pick No. 120. Wright, who ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, adds even more blazing speed to Miami's backfield alongside Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane. The 21-year-old isn't going to have much of a role in 2024 as long as both Mostert and Achane stay healthy, but it's a good long-term fit for those in dynasty/keeper leagues. Wright will see touches in his rookie season as the Dolphins look to manage the workloads of both Mostert and Achane, but it's not going to be enough to warrant attention in single-season leagues. He stands at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds.Source: NFL.com
1 day agoThe Cincinnati Bengals selected Iowa tight end Erick All with the No. 115 overall selection in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. All will join a tight end corps in Cincinnati that already includes newcomer Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample. All led Iowa in receiving yards (299) and touchdowns (three) last year despite missing half of the year due to a torn ACL. He also had spinal surgery in 2022, so there is a real injury concern with All at the next level. When he's healthy, though, he's an intriguing tight end prospect for a Bengals team that lacks any real big-name player at the position. Even if All is healthy in his rookie year in 2024, it's hard to envision him becoming a major player in an offense that already has plenty of mouths to feed.Source: NFL.com
1 day agoThe Baltimore Ravens selected North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker with the No. 113 overall pick on Saturday in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Walker was highly productive at Kent State before eventually transferring to play for the Tar Heels and with quarterback Drake Maye, who went third overall to the Patriots in the first round on Thursday. The 22-year-old ended up playing in only eight games in 2023, but he still led the team in touchdowns. His 4.36-second 40-yard dash speed will make him a threat deep down the field at the NFL level, although he's unlikely to make a big impact right away for a run-first Ravens team that already has receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman as their top two options, not to mention tight end Mark Andrews.Source: NFL.com
1 day agoThe New England Patriots continue to try and beef up their receiving corps for new franchise quarterback Drake Maye, taking Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. The Pats also added wideout Ja'Lynn Polk with the 34th overall pick early in the second round on Friday. Before starring at Central Florida, the 22-year-old spent two years trying to make a name for himself at Alabama before eventually transferring. He showed his big-play abilities when he finally got playing time at Central Florida, catching 108 passes for 1,936 yards and 12 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Baker will have to overcome his mediocre speed at the NFL level and will merely be a receiver project for a team looking for players to step up at the position.Source: NFL.com
1 day agoThe New York Giants selected Penn State tight end Theo Johnson with the No. 107 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft on Saturday. This pick makes a lot of sense with the Giants still unsure if Darren Waller will hang up his cleats. The 23-year-old Johnson is extremely athletic with plenty of speed to spare despite standing at a monstrous 6-foot-6 and 259 pounds. In his final year with the Nittany Lions in 2023, he had seven touchdowns, although it came on just 34 receptions and 341 yards. Even if Waller decides to retire, Johnson may have an uphill battle to climb to reach any kind of fantasy relevance in single-year leagues with Daniel Bellinger still around. At best, he'll probably be a red-zone weapon for quarterback Daniel Jones.Source: NFL.com