4 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons signed free-agent tight end
Ross Dwelley on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Dwelley was undrafted out of the University of San Diego in 2018, but he stuck around on the San Francisco 49ers' roster for six seasons and played in 84 games. Overall, the 29-year-old has 44 receptions for 518 yards and five receiving touchdowns to his name. He'll look to compete with
Charlie Woerner and
John FitzPatrick to see the field in multi-tight end sets and to be
Kyle Pitts' direct backup in 2024. For now, he's nowhere near the fantasy football radar heading into his seventh NFL campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers signed outside linebacker Cam Gill and defensive lineman TJ Smith following a workout on Monday, the team announced on X. Gill spent the last four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted in 2020 out of Wagner College. He was mostly a depth and special teams player for Tampa, collecting 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 40 career games. Smith, who was also undrafted out of the class of 2020, spent the last three years with the Minnesota Vikings and appeared in just five total games. Neither player is likely to push for a starting role, but depth jobs are up for grabs in the offseason and training camp, especially for a rebuilding franchise like Carolina.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Panthers on X
4 weeks agoFree-agent tight end
Nick Vannett is signing with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. The 31-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers and caught one pass for three yards in eight games played. Vannett is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and has spent time with seven organizations in seven years. Overall, he's hauled in 91 of his 130 career targets for 877 yards and six touchdowns. He'll likely compete with 2023 fifth-round pick
Josh Whyle for the TE2 role in 2024, but
Chigoziem Okonkwo remains the lead tight end for quarterback
Will Levis after this signing.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Turron Davenport
4 weeks agoThe Detroit Lions signed free-agent tight end
Parker Hesse to an undisclosed deal on Monday. Hesse entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He has spent all three of his seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and has totaled 14 receptions on 17 targets for 132 yards and no touchdowns in 28 games played (eight starts). The 28-year-old tight end played in only three games last year in Atlanta while also playing 28 snaps on special teams. In his three games played, Hesse wasn't targeted at all in the passing game. He'll merely be hoping to stick around on Detroit's roster after training camp and the preseason while providing depth at the position behind
Sam LaPorta,
Brock Wright,
James Mitchell and
Shane Zylstra.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Lions
4 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers and star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. reached an agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million on Monday that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, according to sources. It's the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First. The new extension for the 25-year-old means Winfield won't have to play the 2024 season on the franchise tag, which would have paid him $17.1 million this year. The All-Pro safety is one of the most productive players at the defensive back position in IDP fantasy formats and had 122 tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 17 stars in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent cornerback Anthony Averett to an undisclosed one-year deal on Sunday, according to a source. The deal for Averett comes after he worked out at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old split time between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions last year but didn't play in any regular-season games. His last NFL action came in 2022 with the Las Vegas Raiders, when he recorded 13 tackles and a pass defended in seven games (six starts). He was originally a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 out of Alabama. In his four seasons in Baltimore, he had 101 tackles, three interceptions and 22 passes defended. Averett will have plenty of competition at the cornerback position in training camp this summer as he tries to make the final roster.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DK Pgh Sports - Chris Halicke
4 weeks agoThe Cleveland Browns signed undrafted free-agent quarterback
Jacob Sirmon to an undisclosed deal on Sunday. Sirmon finished his college career at Northern Colorado and was signed by Cleveland after taking part this past weekend at the Browns' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. He attended the University of Washington and Central Michigan before transferring to North Colorado in 2022. Sirmon went 133-for-236 for 1,355 passing yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season last year. He will strictly be a depth addition at the position this offseason for the Browns behind starter
Deshaun Watson,
Jameis Winston,
Tyler Huntley and
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ClevelandBrowns.com
4 weeks agoThe New York Jets agreed to terms with first-round pick Olu Fashanu on his rookie deal on Monday. The deal is for four years and $20,510,710 fully guaranteed and includes the standard fifth-year team option. It was reported on Sunday that Fashanu strained his quadriceps while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and could miss some or all of the Jets' organized team activities this offseason. The Jets took the 21-year-old with the 11th overall pick in this year's NFL draft to give veteran quarterback
Aaron Rodgers some more protection in 2024. Barring a setback, Fashanu should be ready to go for the start of his rookie season this fall. So far, he's been working off to the side with trainers during the team's rookie minicamp.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoThe Detroit Lions have signed wide receiver
Kaden Davis to a one-year deal on Sunday. The 25-year-old was waived by the Arizona Cardinals in April. Davis spent most of the season with Arizona but was only active for one game. He attended the Lions rookie camp and impressed the team enough to earn a contract. He'll have an uphill battle to make the roster but has a chance to hang on as a depth option heading into next season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Mike Garafolo
4 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed undrafted free agent running back
Ramon Jefferson on Sunday. Jefferson was one of 26 players that the Bucs brought in for tryouts over the weekend. It appears the Bucs liked what they saw as they've decided to ink Jefferson to a deal. The rookie back played at four different schools during his time in college. Most notably, Jefferson logged in 1,907 rushing yards on 299 carries across two years with FCS Sam Houston. He'll have an uphill battle in camp but has a chance to crack what is a thin running back group in Tampa Bay.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Greg Auman
4 weeks agoThe New Orleans Saints have signed free-agent guard Lucas Patrick on Sunday. The seven-year guard has spent each of the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears. He made 15 starts for the Bears last season and was a viable option for them. Patrick entered the league with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He played at both the guard and center spot while in Green Bay. He's a versatile player that can be a solid contributor for this offensive line next season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Nick Underhill
4 weeks agoCarolina Panthers rookie tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders said his goal in the NFL is to be as good as former All-Pro Greg Olsen. Sanders, a converted receiver at Texas, averaged 49.5 catches a year with the Longhorns with an average of 648 yards and 3.5 touchdowns. His role with the Panthers is not clear yet, but head coach Dave Canales said on Saturday that Sanders will play both the "F" and the "Y" roles, dependent on pass plays versus 12 personnel. "He's a guy, you can move around a little bit more, maybe play him in the slot a little bit," Canales said, adding, "we look for those versatile type of tight ends." The 21-year-old was taken with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round this year but could immediately become the team's best pass-catching tight end over both
Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas. Still, fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2024 should temper expectations for Sanders in Carolina's offense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Panthers.com - Kassidy Hill
4 weeks agoDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he liked what he saw from rookie quarterback
Bo Nix during practices at the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. "He had two or three down the field throws [Saturday]," Payton said. "It's almost like watching a good golfer when you watch his game ... there's a patience to how he plays, the ball comes out." The Broncos took Nix 12th overall, which many thought was a massive reach, and hope he will become their next franchise signal-caller. With only
Jarrett Stidham and
Zach Wilson to compete with, Nix has a clear path to the starting job right away in his first season in the NFL, but the Broncos aren't getting ahead of themselves. "We'll figure it out, we'll figure it out ... We'll have a rotation and we'll go from there," Payton said when asked how the team's QB competition will unfold in the weeks ahead.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
4 weeks agoNew England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie quarterback Drake May, who was taken third overall in last month's NFL draft, "has a lot to work on." Saturday's practice featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals, with Maye spending the first few periods of practice taking snaps directly under center instead of the shotgun, which he mostly used the last two years at North Carolina. "The guy can sling it, man," said wide receiver
Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington. "He's very confident. He's a leader, very vocal; he's setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving around and operating at a high level." Maye is expected to compete with veteran
Jacoby Brissett for starting duties in 2024. The Patriots aren't going to rush Maye's development, so he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset in fantasy this year than a redraft one.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
4 weeks agoFree-agent tight end
Tommy Sweeney signed an undisclosed deal with the Chicago Bears on Sunday after a tryout at their rookie minicamp, according to a source. Sweeney was with the New York Giants most of last year but sat out after he collapsed and had a "medical event" on the practice field. The 28-year-old was originally drafted in the seventh round (228th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in 2019 out of Boston College. All three of his NFL seasons came with Buffalo, and Sweeney has caught a total of 18 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown on 26 targets in just 24 games played (four starts). Sweeney will be competing for a roster spot in training camp this summer among a tight end group in Chicago that already includes
Cole Kmet,
Gerald Everett,
Stephen Carlson and rookie
Brenden Bates.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
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