4 weeks agoFree-agent tight end Jimmy Graham wrote on his Instagram account that he's "unsure of what the future holds" after "things ended rather quickly after the season." The 37-year-old returned to the New Orleans Saints last year and played in the NFL after sitting out in 2022 and found the end zone four times on his six catches on the season. Graham only racked up 39 receiving yards in 13 games (two starts). The five-time Pro Bowler was one of the best at his position in his prime with the Saints and Seattle Seahawks earlier in his career, but the 13-year veteran is nearing the end and could officially hang up his cleats this offseason if he doesn't get picked up by another team. If this is the end for Graham, he'd finish his successful NFL career with 719 career catches (1,115 targets) for 8,545 receiving yards and 89 touchdowns in 197 career regular-season games.Source: Jimmy Graham
4 weeks agoAccording to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns may focus on a new contract for wide receiver Amari Cooper. "We love him," said general manager Andrew Berry while addressing the topic at league meetings. "So players like that, you want to make sure that you can retain as long as possible, and we'll work through all of that at the appropriate times." Cabot believes both sides won't enter talks until after the NFL draft. But Cleveland could look to make something happen soon, considering the cost for wideouts is expected to increase. Cooper, entering the final year of his current deal, amassed a career-high 1,250 receiving yards with 72 catches and five touchdowns. He also averaged 17.4 yards per catch. The Browns added Jerry Jeudy in a trade from Denver. However, Cooper should still remain involved at a high level, especially if Deshaun Watson (shoulder) can return to form.Source: Jacob Roach
4 weeks agoAccording to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, Cincinnati hopes to keep wide receiver Tee Higgins on the roster. The wideout was franchise-tagged a few months ago but requested a trade. Although it was reported that the team would entertain phone calls, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn, speaking at league meetings, indicated that Higgins' contract is a "focus." The 25-year-old is coming off a down season, finishing the 2023-24 campaign with 656 yards and five touchdowns off 42 catches. But most concerning, he dealt with various ailments, limiting him to just 12 games. At any rate, Higgins has a chance to bounce back if he remains in Cincinnati, which appears the most likely scenario, considering there reportedly hasn't been much interest from other clubs. However, for the 2020 No. 33 overall pick to turn things around, Joe Burrow (wrist) must stay healthy. Higgins will need to figure out how to do the same.Source: Chris Roling
4 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Eagles are trading Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets for a conditional 2026 third-round pick that could turn into a second-rounder. Reddick was rumored to be on the trade block this offseason, and the Jets jumped on him after losing Bryce Huff and failing to sign Jadeveon Clowney. Reddick has posted at least 11 sacks in each of the last four seasons, despite being on three different teams (Cardinals, Panthers, Eagles). The 2022 All-Pro selection has racked up 50.5 total sacks since 2020, and he is set to join a defensive front that is already dominant. New York is clearly going all in this year as Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) is set to return.Source: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoMiami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert is signing a one-year contract extension, according to his agent Brett Tessler. 2024 was originally the last year of his deal, but the new contract extends his deal into the 2025 campaign. Mostert, who turns 32 years old in April, has enjoyed his best seasons as a pro over the last two seasons in South Beach. Since joining the team in 2022, Mostert has rushed 390 times for 1,903 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named to his first Pro Bowl after scoring 21 total touchdowns in 2023. Although De'Von Achane is younger and could be the lead back for Mike McDaniel in 2024, the team clearly still values Mostert, so he will remain on the fantasy radar moving forward.Source: Brett Tessler
4 weeks agoDetroit Lions restricted free-agent tight end Brock Wright has signed an offer sheet from the San Francisco 49ers, according to sources. The Lions now have five days to match San Fran's offer for Wright after extending the 25-year-old a one-year, $2.98 million contract tender before the start of free agency. If Detroit chooses not to match the Niners' offer, Wright will head to the Bay Area in 2024 and serve as tight end depth behind George Kittle. Wright should be recovered in time for training camp this summer after breaking his left forearm in the playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his third NFL season in 2023 with the Lions, Wright had only 13 receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown on 14 targets in 14 regular-season games (four starts).Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe New Orleans Saints signed Irish kicker Charlie Smyth to an undisclosed deal on Friday through the league's International Player Pathway, adding him to a group that also includes second-year kicker Blake Grupe. Smyth was formerly a goal keeper for the County Down Gaelic football team in the Gaelic Athletic Association. The NFL UK social media account recently shared a video of Smith making a 63-yard field goal, and he also made 12 of his 16 field-goal tries during the NFL combine in February. The 22-year-old is the first Irish player to sign an NFL contract through the IPP. The Saints would be allowed to carry an extra spot on their practice squad for Smyth if he doesn't make the active roster out of training camp. It's a cool story, but he's unlikely to overtake Grupe as the primary field-goal kicker in 2024.Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune - Luke Johnson
4 weeks agoThe Houston Texans restructured veteran offensive lineman Tytus Howard's $56 million contract on Friday to create $10.3 million in salary cap space for this year, according to a league source. Howard was due a $14 million base salary in 2024, but the team converted $12.875 million of that into a fully guaranteed signing bonus. His new base salary is now the minimum $1.125 million, and his salary cap figure is down from $18.705 million to $8.405 million. The team also recently restructured guard Shaq Mason's contract to create another $6.4 million in cap space. Howard, a first-rounder (23rd overall) in 2019 out of Alabama State, only played in seven games in 2023 and needed surgery to fix patellar-tendon issues, so it's unclear if the starting right tackle will be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season.Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers agreed to an undisclosed deal to re-sign linebacker Tae Davis on Friday. Davis began last year with the Atlanta Falcons before joining the Panthers in November. The 27-year-old finished the season with just seven tackles (two solo) in 16 games played (zero starts). He was a key special teams contributor for the Panthers in eight games in 2023 and should reprise that role in 2024. Davis entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Chattanooga in 2018 with the New York Giants. In his five years in the league, he's recorded just 64 tackles (44 solo), two sacks, five QB hits and two passes defended in 61 games (five starts). Davis is clearly not on the IDP fantasy radar.Source: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
4 weeks agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars signed linebacker Foye Oluokun to a four-year, $45 million contract extension on Friday. The deal reportedly includes $22 million guaranteed at signing. The top fantasy linebacker in IDP leagues last year will now stick around in Jacksonville long term. The Atlanta Falcons took the 28-year-old in the sixth round (200th overall) in 2018 out of Yale. He spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Atlanta before spending the last two years in Jacksonville. In the last three seasons combined, Oluokun has a whopping 341 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 17 passes defended, four forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 51 starts. Given his immense production in recent years, Oluokun should be one of the first linebackers off the board in IDP drafts this fall.Source: Jacksonville Jaguars
4 weeks agoNorth Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker had an up-and-down Senior Bowl last week but then ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and opened eyes in both the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (11-foot-2). He had a few drops while catching passes from quarterback Drake Maye at their Pro Day on Thursday, but he seemed to get better the deeper the passes were. "Definitely speed," Walker said when asked what his superpower was. "Being able to win vertically, throw it over any defense -- I take pride in that. I feel like I can win a foot race with anybody, so I try to make everything a foot race." Walker still has plenty of things to work on as he transitions to the next level in the NFL, but his speed alone could eventually make him intriguing as a deep threat in fantasy.Source: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
4 weeks agoNorth Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who is expected to be a top-five overall pick in this year's NFL draft, showed off his arm at his school's pro day on Thursday. The 6-foot-4, 223-pounder didn't throw at the scouting combine in February but showcased his arm talent while attempting 70-plus passes. "I know it's not perfect and pro day performances, as much as we want them to be perfect, I actually am more encouraged by the misses and the corrections after the misses than anything. The talent is there. He is the prototype," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said. Maye's arm talent isn't in question, but his lack of experience -- he played only two of the last four years -- is. He's expected to have a meeting with the New York Giants "in the coming days." The G-Men are far from the only team showing interest in Maye, though.Source: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers have agreed on a deal with running back Raheem Blackshear. The two sides have agreed on a one year deal worth $985,000 for the 2024 season. The 24-year-old will return to Carolina after spending each of the last two seasons with the organization. He has mainly been used as a reserve back and special teams player. Through two seasons, Blackshear has 37 carries for 123 yards and three touchdowns in 25 games. There is unlikely to be fantasy value here unless Carolina loses one or two running backs due to injury.Source: Pro Football Talk
4 weeks agoWashington quarterback Michael Penix appears to have impressed during his recent pro day. The young signal-caller ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and posted a 36.5-inch vertical leap at Washington's pro day. After that, an unknown NFL coach has reportedly called Penix a locked in first round pick. Everyone should take this with a grain of salt because we don't know who the coach was who said this. However, the five-year prospect has looked impressive, so this isn't a crazy take. Currently, Penix is viewed more as a Day 2 prospect, but it wouldn't be shocking if he does sneak into the late first round after a strong showing on Thursday.Source: Jordan Schultz
4 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons have released offensive lineman Justin Shaffer, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN. Shaffer was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Falcons out of the University of Georgia, and his stint with the team is set to end after just two seasons. The 25-year-old has been on and off Atlanta's practice squad during his career, and he has not appeared in a regular season game. He'll likely get a chance with another franchise, but it'll likely be on a cheap, one-year deal with the possibility of him being released before the 2024 campaign begins.Source: Mike Rothstein