Raiders Sign Rookie Darien Porter
Source: Las Vegas Raiders
Per the team, the Las Vegas Raiders have signed third-round rookie defensive back Darien Porter to an undisclosed contract. The Iowa State alum played six seasons with the team, but put up his best numbers in 2024 -- notching 18 tackles and three interceptions in 12 games. Although Porter was a one-year starter, he possesses elite athleticism and is a savvy special-teams player, positioning him to make an immediate impact on the field. While some seasoning on the defensive side of the ball is still required, his innate physical gifts should help to mitigate some of his faults. If everything breaks right for the 6-foot-3 DB, he could settle in nicely as a second or third cornerback. For now, look for him to get his start on special teams. Porter is listed second on the team's unofficial depth chart behind defensive back Eric Stokes.Keith Cooper Jr. Inks Rookie Deal With Lions
Source: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have signed rookie undrafted free agent defensive lineman Keith Cooper to a three-year, $2.98 million deal. Cooper Jr. played in 12 or more games in each of his four collegiate seasons with Tulane and Houston, totaling 119 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, eight passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 51 appearances. With teammates Alim McNeill and DJ Reader set to man the starting roster, his path to playing time is not exactly clear. Still, he should provide solid depth behind them as part of one of the league's better front seven. The unit allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game (103.0) last season, and should again challenge as one of the more staunch fantasy matchups in 2025.Kaimon Rucker Signs With Baltimore
Source: Matt Ryan
Per the team, the Baltimore Ravens have signed undrafted rookie free agent linebacker Kaimon Rucker to an undisclosed contract. The 23-year-old started 36 games over five seasons at North Carolina, but he never recorded more than 34 tackles or 8.5 sacks in a single campaign. However, he got to the quarterback six times in 2024 in only eight contests and seemed well on his way to setting a career best in the metric before a broken fibula ended his season early. Rucker has the length and athleticism to make plays off the edge, but his smaller stature makes him liable to be pushed around at the point of attack. Still, he could do well as a rotational pass-rusher on the Ravens' defensive front. The former Tar Heel will join a unit that ranked second in the league last year in total sacks (54).Ar'Darius Washington Could Miss All Of 2025
Source: Ian Rapoport
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (Achilles) will miss most of, if not all, the 2025 season after his MRI confirmed a torn Achilles tendon. Per Rapoport, the injury occurred during conditioning. It's devastating news for the 25-year-old and the Ravens' defense, as 2024 was his best season as a pro. After appearing in just eight games (one start) over his first three campaigns with the team, Washington played in all of them last season, starting ten games and boasting career-highs in tackles (62) and securing his first two interceptions. Despite being listed as a second-string defensive back, the TCU product logged nearly 65% of Baltimore's defensive snaps in 2024. Teammates Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade currently project as the players who will benefit most regarding playing time, though the team could use a mix of assets to play in his stead.Jets Releasing Thomas Morstead
Source: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
The New York Jets are releasing veteran punter Thomas Morstead, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The 39-year-old former Pro Bowler spent the last two seasons with New York as part of his 16-year NFL career. Overall, the SMU product and 2005 fifth-round pick has played in 255 career games, booting 960 punts. He has averaged 46.8 yards per punt with 352 kicks pinned inside the 20-yard line to just 67 touchbacks. Although he is likely in the last stages of his career, he is still a starting-caliber punter and should find a new home quickly, assuming he wants to continue playing.Texans Release Gregory Junior
Source: NFL.com
The Houston Texans released cornerback Gregory Junior on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The 2022 sixth-round pick out of Ouachita Baptist by the Jacksonville Jaguars did not appear in a game in 2024 after collecting 17 tackles (11 solo), one pass deflection, and one run stuff in 10 games in 2022 and 2023. He was waived by Jacksonville with an injury designation last offseason and spent time with the Colts' and Texans' practice squads a season ago. While the 25-year-old could be given another opportunity to make an active roster, his chances of becoming a real contributor in a secondary are looking slim heading into 2025.Lions Offensive Coordinator Expects "Huge" Season For Jameson Williams
Jameson Williams notched his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2024, snagging 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. The former No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft looked to be headed toward a "bust" label after his first two seasons in the league, but his production last year was promising, and new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton expects a "huge" season from the speedster in 2025. While Williams is likely to continue to be a boom-or-bust player in a crowded offense, he has reportedly been great in meetings and has picked up his attention to detail. The 24-year-old finished as the overall WR19 in half-PPR formats a season ago and delivered seven top-24 weekly finishes. According to ESPN, he is being selected as the WR32 in early fantasy football drafts, so he could be a tremendous value pick if Morton's forecast comes to fruition.Source: Tim Twentyman
Detroit Lions wide receiver Titans Adding Familiar Concepts To Offense For Cam Ward
The Tennessee Titans are working to make rookie quarterback Cam Ward as comfortable as possible in his new NFL offense, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Head coach Brian Callahan and company are integrating passing concepts fromread more...
Xavier Restrepo Has "Uphill Climb" To Make Active Roster
Rookie wide receiver Xavier Restrepo signed with the Tennessee Titans after going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he has reportedly had a strong start to practice. The 23-year-old was quarterback read more...
Trevor Etienne Officially Signs With Panthers
Trevor Etienne officially signed his rookie deal with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The former Florida Gator and Georgia Bulldog is the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. He racked up 2,081 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground and 432 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 collegiate games. Etienne will have a chance to compete for touches with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle in a backfield that could shake out to be a pure committee. He could be on the fantasy radar in deep leagues, but he will likely go undrafted in most standard-sized 12-team setups. With Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for the season, Etienne should be monitored as a rookie as a potential late-season waiver-wire add.Source: NFL.com
Fourth-round rookie running back Rasul Douglas Visiting With Seahawks
Source: NFL.com
Free-agent cornerback Rasul Douglas is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 30-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills after being traded from the Green Bay Packers. Overall, the West Virginia product and former third-round pick has spent time with seven NFL organizations, appearing in regular-season games for four. He has compiled 441 tackles (356 solo), 19 interceptions, 79 pass deflections, three defensive touchdowns, two sacks, and three forced fumbles across 120 games. If he signs in Seattle, he'll provide depth as a versatile veteran behind Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Riq Woolen.Commanders-Dolphins To Square Off In Spain In 2025
Jayden Daniels played well above expectations in his rookie campaign in 2024 and surprisingly led the team to an NFC Championship appearance in his first season. The Dolphins disappointed and did not make the postseason in 2024, but if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy, Miami still has one of the best one-two punches at wide receiver in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Needless to say, fantasy managers will probably have a a lot of skin in this game in Spain.Source: Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders announced on Tuesday that they will square off against the Miami Dolphins in the league's first-even game in Spain in Madrid in Week 11 on Nov. 16 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. It will be the final game of the 2025 international NFL slate, and it could be a high-scoring affair between two teams with above-average offenses. Quarterback Vikings To Play Back-To-Back International Games In Different Countries
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Minnesota Vikings will become the first NFL team to play in back-to-back international games in 2025 in different countries, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Dublin, Ireland, on Sept. 28. The Vikings will then travel to London, England, to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 5. Minnesota will be the road team for both international games. In four previous regular-season games in London, the Vikings have won all four, including last year's win over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The international games for Minnesota will keep them from playing at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, where they've never won, and in Cleveland, where they have one win since 1989.George Pickens Should See More One-On-One Coverage In Dallas
George Pickens or shaded a safety to his side. Now with the Dallas Cowboys, The Athletic's Ted Nguyen and Saad Yousuf think that teams will continue to double-team CeeDee Lamb, which will mean more one-on-one coverage for Pickens. The 24-year-old was dealt for a third-round pick because of his inconsistent effort on the field in Pittsburgh, but on paper, he's the perfect complement to Lamb as one of the league's best go-ball receivers that can really stretch a defense down the field. While his effort is lacking and Lamb will draw his fair share of targets, there's no denying that Pickens will be playing with the best QB of his career in Dak Prescott in an offense that should be pass-happy. If Pickens can stay healthy, he'll have a chance for a career year in 2025.Source: The Athletic - Ted Nguyen, Saad Yousuf
While with the Pittsburgh Steelers, opposing defenses often double-teamed wide receiver Trey Hendrickson Says He Won't Play Without A New Contract
Source: SI.com - Jay Morrison
When asked by Cincinnati Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. if he envisions any scenario where he will play in 2025 on his current deal, All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson said, "No." Although Hendrickson is present for the team's voluntary practice on Tuesday, he voiced his displeasure with the team's lack of communication with him on a potential long-term contract extension since the NFL draft in late April. The 30-year-old said that the Bengals have been pushing a short-term extension with Hendrickson after giving him permission to seek a trade back in March. It doesn't sound like Hendrickson is interested in a short-term deal, and this situation could get even messier if no progress is made closer to the start of the regular season this fall. Hendrickson has a $15.8 million base salary for 2025 after recording 17.5 sacks in each of the last two years.