2 weeks agoEight-time Pro Bowl defensive end and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack will stay with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and free up salary cap space for the team by agreeing to restructure his deal, according to sources. That wasn't the case for receiver Mike Williams, who was released on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Mack, the former fifth overall pick in 2014 by the Las Vegas Raiders out of Buffalo, had a career-high 17 sacks in 17 games for the Bolts in his second year with the team, adding 74 tackles (57 solo), 21 tackles for loss 22 QB hits, 10 passes defended and five forced fumbles as LA's most consistent pass-rusher. While fantasy managers in IDP leagues shouldn't expect a repeat in 2024, Mack showed last year that he can still be a disruptive pass-rushing force after previously not reaching double-digit sacks since 2018.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoVeteran wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) is being released by the Los Angeles Chargers after seven seasons with the organization, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The move clears $20 million in cap space for L.A. Originally the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Chargers, Williams has racked up 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns in 88 games. He's flashed plenty of upside in his career, but injuries have been an issue. The 29-year-old has not played a full season since 2018 and was limited to just three games last year before suffering a torn ACL. Either way, there should be plenty of interest from other teams for the contested catch specialist given the premium that is placed on wide receivers in today's game.Source: Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoThe Baltimore Ravens are trading starting right tackle Morgan Moses and the No. 134 overall pick to the New York Jets in exchange for the No. 112 and No. 218 picks in the 2024 NFL draft. The 33-year-old veteran played for the Jets in 2021, and now he returns to help protect Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) in 2024. The Jets also agreed to terms with former Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson earlier this week. Moses, a 2014 third-round pick, has played in 152 games with 144 career starts. Although he has never made a Pro Bowl or been named to an All-Pro team, he is viewed as an above-average starting tackle and should be a significant upgrade from last year's Jets' tackle. The team is prioritizing keeping Rodgers upright after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 last year, and they're likely just missing a starting left tackle to complete the rebuilt offensive line.Source: Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoFormer Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker is scheduled to visit with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. Baker had 78 tackles (51 solo), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and three passes defended in 13 games (12 starts) for Miami in 2023. Baker was released by the Dolphins on March 5 due to a failed-physical designation because of a wrist injury, but the 27-year-old's release was mostly about creating salary cap space. Baker was a former third-round pick by the Dolphins in 2018 out of Ohio State. In his six years in the NFL, he's recorded 22.5 sacks and has gone over 100 total tackles three times in 94 total games played (82 starts) with Miami. Baker should land on his feet somewhere else soon.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoIn another move to create salary cap savings this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens are releasing veteran outside linebacker Tyus Bowser (knee) on Wednesday, according to sources. The move will create around $5.5 million of salary cap space for 2024. The 28-year-old didn't play at all last year due to a knee injury and has played in just nine games for Baltimore in the last two years. Bowser has been a bust since the Ravens took him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Houston. In his six years played in the NFL, he has 152 tackles (93 solo), 19.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 48 QB hits, four interceptions and a forced fumble in 89 games (23 starts). If Bowser can prove he's healthy and past his knee and Achilles issues, he could play a rotational role on defense with another team in 2024.Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
2 weeks agoThe New England Patriots re-signed linebacker Anfernee Jennings to an undisclosed three-year deal on Wednesday, according to sources. This was an expected move after Jennings started 14 games and had 66 tackles for the Patriots in his third year with the team in 2023. In addition to his 66 tackles (49 solo), Jennings had 1.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, four QB hits and a fumble recovery. The 26-year-old was New England's third-round pick in 2020 out of Alabama. In his three years in the NFL, he's recorded a total of 113 tackles (74 solo), three sacks, 15 tackles for loss, nine QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 45 games played (21 starts). Jennings will need to continue improving to hold onto a starting role in New England.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoThe San Francisco 49ers signed former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Kendricks was a Chargers captain in 2023, when he started 14 games and finished second on the team with 117 tackles (79 solo). He also added 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, seven QB hits, six passes defended and one forced fumble in his lone season in LA. The 32-year-old former second-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 from UCLA was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2019 and has had 100-plus combined tackles in eight of his nine NFL campaigns, with the outlier being his rookie season in 2015. Kendricks will be a solid replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl.Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoFree-agent running back AJ Dillon has several options in free agency outside of the Green Bay Packers, with sources saying that he's looking at the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys. The Giants lost Saquon Barkley to the division-rival Eagles, but they also recently added Devin Singletary to be their lead back. The Colts are looking for a complement to starter Jonathan Taylor after Zack Moss signed with the Bengals. The Cowboys, who lost Tony Pollard to the Titans, would be the best fit for Dillon from a playing-time perspective. the 25-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 out of Boston College had a career-low 3.4 yards per carry in 15 regular-season games for Green Bay last year and hasn't proven that he can handle a lead-back role in his four years in the NFL.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoThe Buffalo Bills agreed to terms with free-agent wide receiver Mack Hollins on an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to sources. As of right now, Hollins is essentially replacing Gabe Davis, who agreed to join the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency earlier this week. In a run-heavy offensive scheme with the Atlanta Falcons with inconsistency all year at quarterback, Hollins caught just 18 passes for 251 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games in 2023. However, the year before in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders, the 30-year-old had a career-best 57-690-4 line in 17 games. The Bills will probably be looking to add more help to the receiver room through free agency and the draft, but as of right now, Hollins' fantasy stock in deeper leagues is trending up with the move to Buffalo.Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 weeks agoThe Las Vegas Raiders are releasing wide receiver Hunter Renfrow when the new league year begins later on Wednesday, according to a source. Renfrow was to count $13.7 million against the 2024 salary cap. Along with Renfrow, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being released, as expected. The move to cut Renfrow saves the Raiders $8.21 million in cap space this year. The 28-year-old veteran had a career year in 2021 by catching 103 passes for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns, but he had just 61 combined receptions for 585 yards and two touchdowns in 27 games the last two years, making him an easy salary cap casualty this year. Depending on what other additions Vegas makes at the receiver position, Tre Tucker currently stands to benefit as the team's No. 3 wideout with the subtraction of Renfrow, behind top receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoAt the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah aggressively rejected the idea of trading star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings came close to extending Jefferson last offseason, and the team still has no plans to trade him despite quarterback Kirk Cousins' departure to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, according to sources. The 25-year-old pass-catcher is currently signed through the 2024 season. With Cousins gone, the Vikings signed former first-rounder Sam Darnold. Unless the team makes a splash in the upcoming NFL draft for a rookie signal-caller, all signs point to Darnold taking over the starting gig in Minnesota, which would give Jefferson far less upside as an elite WR1 for fantasy purposes.Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
2 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Rams placed a second-round tender, which is worth $4.89 million, on restricted free-agent left tackle Alaric Jackson on Tuesday. Jackson is still free to negotiate with any teams. If the Rams do not match a contract offer from another team for Jackson, they would be entitled to a second-round pick from his new team. It essentially means that the 6-foot-7, 285-pounder will stay in LA in 2024. The 25-year-old started 15 games at left tackle and helped the Rams offensive line allow the seventh-lowest sack rate (5.5%) in 2023. Jackson only allowed one sack all season, which was the best among tackles who played 500-plus offensive snaps. The Rams will most likely retain Jackson and also added guards Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson in free agency as they prioritize stabilizing their O-line heading into next season.Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoThe Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms to re-sign wide receiver Brandon Powell to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday night, according to a source. Powell caught 29 passes for a career-high 324 yards and a key touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on 44 targets in 17 games (two starts) in 2023 in his first year with the Vikings and fifth year in the NFL. Normally more of a punt returner, Powell was relied on more often due to injuries to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida has bounced around with four different teams in his five NFL seasons, but he'll stay put in Minnesota in 2024 and could be the team's starting slot wideout if Osborn doesn't re-sign. Still, with quarterback Sam Darnold potentially Minnesota's starter under center in 2024, Powell will be off the fantasy radar in most leagues.Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
2 weeks agoFree-agent tight end Pharaoh Brown is signing a one-year, $3.2 million base-value deal with the Seattle Seahawks this week, according to a source. Brown can make a maximum of $3.9 million on incentives. He will give quarterback Geno Smith another veteran option in the passing game in 2024 after catching 15 passes for a career-high 208 yards and one touchdown in 17 games (11 starts) with the New England Patriots last season. The 29-year-old has just 64 receptions (88 targets) for 686 yards and three touchdowns in his six years in the NFL, so nobody is expecting Brown to become a very big part of Seattle's passing attack in 2024, especially while he plays second fiddle to primary pass-catching tight end Noah Fant. Brown had a career-high 23 receptions in 2021 with the Houston Texans.Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 weeks agoLas Vegas Raiders free-agent tight end Austin Hooper is expected to sign a one-year deal worth up to $4.25 million with the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The veteran tight end will reunite with new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who was with Hooper with the Cleveland Browns. Hooper made the Pro Bowl two straight years from 2018-19 while with the Atlanta Falcons, but he hasn't been nearly as involved as he was then in the last four seasons with the Browns, Titans and Raiders. In 17 games (nine starts) last year in Vegas, the 29-year-old caught just 25 of 31 targets for 234 yards and no touchdowns. With both Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown now gone, Hooper figures to serve as New England's No. 2 TE behind Hunter Henry in 2024. Unless Henry gets hurt, Hooper is unlikely to have a significant enough role to warrant fantasy consideration in standard-sized leagues.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport