1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New Orleans Times-Picayune - Luke Johnson
1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Jacksonville Jaguars
1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
1 month 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
1 month 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.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk
1 month 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.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
1 month 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.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Mike Rothstein
1 month agoVeteran safety Cody Davis is retiring from the NFL, according to his X account on Thursday. Davis originally went undrafted out of Texas Tech in 2013, but he was signed by the St. Louis Rams as a free agent and spent five years with the organization. He then played two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars before four years with the New England Patriots. Overall, the 34-year-old compiled 117 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and eight passes defended in 144 games over 11 years. He was primarily a special teamer and depth player, so it's not a significant loss for the Patriots heading into 2024.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Cody Davis
1 month agoFree-agent wide receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus has agreed to terms to sign with the Washington Commanders, according to John Keim of ESPN. Zaccheaus was originally undrafted out of Virginia in the 2019 class, and he spent four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before one year with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Overall, the 26-year-old has hauled in 104 passes for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first 72 NFL games. With
Terry McLaurin and
Jahan Dotson on the roster and Washington likely to take shots on wide receivers in next month's draft, Zaccheaus is unlikely to have a path toward fantasy success in 2024, barring injury. He's likely just a depth piece for a franchise looking to rebuild on the fly.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: John Keim
1 month agoFormer Washington Huskies wide receiver
Rome Odunze has upcoming meetings with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears at their respective facilities, he told Brady Henderson of ESPN. The 21-year-old is projected to be selected in the early first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and most analysts rank him just behind Ohio State's
Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU's
Malik Nabers. He is coming off a 92-catch, 1,640-yard, 13-touchdown season in 2023, and he impressed at the NFL Combine. Arizona holds the No. 4 pick, New York holds the No. 10 pick, and Chicago owns the No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks. Oduzne will be a highly sought-after fantasy football rookie next year regardless of his landing spot, but target competition in Chicago and New York could make it tough for him to have a massive breakout in his first season as a pro. That said, he's viewed as an elite prospect, so anything is possible.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Brady Henderson
1 month agoAlthough LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. stands in the shadow of teammate
Malik Nabers for the upcoming NFL draft, the 6-foot-2 7/8, 209-pounder is viewed as a possible top-20 pick in April. "He's about as naturally talented as you can find at the position," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said. "Big, fast, physical. Runs great routes. Natural catcher. Does a really good job of watching the ball into his hands. He can shine." The biggest question for Thomas is whether he can step outside the shadow of Nabors and be an alpha dog for an NFL team. Because he didn't work out at LSU's pro day on Wednesday, Thomas may not have answered that question completely, but it doesn't mean that a receiver-needy team won't be willing to take him in the first round in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
1 month agoLSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels had a solid workout during his school's pro day on Wednesday after he chose not to throw at the NFL scouting combine in February. Daniels measured in at 6-foot-3 5/8 and 210 pounds with 9 3/8-inch hands. He didn't run a 40-yard dash or do any other athletic testing, but he completed 52 of his 56 passes. Most of Daniels' misfires came on deeper passes and throws outside the numbers. He appeared to improve as his throwing session went on. "I can't say that it's been an A-plus workout, but it's been solid," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said. Daniels' pro day session might not have been a game-changer for his outlook, but he was pleased with the results as a whole, and he's still expected to be a top-five pick in the upcoming NFL draft, possibly as early as No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Eric Edholm
1 month agoThe Buffalo Bills signed free-agent defensive tackle DeShawn Williams to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday. Williams will give the Bills continued depth for their defensive tackle room that went into free agency with just Ed Oliver and Eli Ankou under contract. The 31-year-old Williams played in 16 games (10 starts) for the Carolina Panthers last year and finished with 33 tackles (13 solo) and seven QB hits. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2016 with the Cincinnati Bengals out of Clemson, and the Bills will be the fourth different team he's played for in six seasons. In total, Williams has racked up 148 tackles (72 solo), nine sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 30 QB hits, one interception and nine passes defended in 66 games (44 starts). Williams will be off the IDP fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
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