4 weeks agoNew England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf said on Thursday that if the 2024 season started today, offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor would be the team's starting left tackle. The Patriots signed Okorafor on March 7 to give the club some extra offensive-line depth entering next season. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2018 to 2023, starting 59 of the 77 games that he appeared in. The 26-year-old was drafted in the third round (92nd overall) by the Steelers in 2018 out of Western Michigan. The Patriots could still add more offensive linemen in the upcoming NFL draft, but as of right now, it's looking Okorafor could be the favorite to win the left-tackle job this summer in training camp and the preseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Doug Kyed
4 weeks agoDetroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (arm) will not be cleared to practice until training camp this summer while he recovers from an arm injury. Joseph suffered the arm injury during the NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and it's going to keep him out of workouts this spring. But as long as the 23-year-old doesn't suffer a setback when he gets back on the field in training camp, he should be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season and will operate as Detroit's starting free safety. The former third-rounder in 2022 out of Illinois has recorded 164 tackles (124 solo), eight interceptions, 19 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 32 games (29 starts) in his first two years in the NFL. When healthy, Joseph is on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues for depth at the DB position.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLive - Kyle Meinke
4 weeks agoSince releasing quarterback
Russell Wilson in March, the Denver Broncos haven't added any other QB behind
Jarrett Stidham, so they have a clear need at the position heading into the first round of the NFL draft next Thursday. It's a position that has seen 13 different players make a start since Peyton Manning retired after the Super Bowl-winning 2015 season. The Broncos are open to trading up within the first round to select a rookie signal-caller, but there has to be an actual path to taking a QB that the Broncos think they can drop into their offense in 2024. And it's going to take additional draft capital for the Broncos to move up into the top five, something they don't have much of after using high draft picks to acquire Wilson and head coach Sean Payton. General manager George Paton said "forcing" a pick for a QB could leave the Broncos in a tough situation again next year, but they remain open to all ideas.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
4 weeks agoNew York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Thursday that he hasn't given tight end
Darren Waller a deadline on his retirement decision this offseason. "Hopefully he's going to make a decision in the short term, but we're giving him time and space to make a decision on what he wants to do," Schoen said. Waller said in early March that he'd have a decision soon, but that hasn't come to fruition for the 31-year-old. A hamstring injury limited him to 12 games in 2023, and he finished with 52 catches for 552 yards and one touchdown. Waller is no longer in the prime of his career like he was with the Las Vegas Raiders and will be a pretty big injury risk as a low-end TE1 in fantasy if he decides to return for another season in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Ralph Vacchiano
4 weeks agoLos Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said that recently signed running back
J.K. Dobbins (Achilles), who is coming back from a torn Achilles, "should be" ready for training camp at the end of July. Hortiz also said the Dobbins signing is not likely to change the team's draft approach at running back. "You don't want to turn away from a good player because you've signed someone," Hortiz said. The Bolts lost do-it-all back
Austin Ekeler to free agency this offseason, but they also picked up
Gus Edwards in free agency, and he should fit new offensive coordinator Greg Roman's and head coach Jim Harbaugh's offensive system extremely well. The 25-year-old Dobbins has played in just nine regular-season games the last two seasons combined due to devastating lower-body injuries, so it's fair to wonder how much he has left moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
4 weeks agoJacksonville Jaguars quarterback
Trevor Lawrence said that he and the team continue to work on a long-term contract extension, but he also said "it's not really the focus right now." General manager Trent Baalke confirmed that the team was talking about an extension with Lawrence. "We're working, but you can't force this stuff." Lawrence is entering the final year of his four-year rookie deal and is eligible to have his fifth-year option picked up, with the deadline coming on May 2. If the two sides don't work anything out by then, Jacksonville will surely pick up the option for the 2025 season and continue to work on an extension. The 24-year-old former first overall pick in 2021 out of Clemson took a slight step back from his Pro Bowl season in 2022 but was still a top-10 fantasy QB despite battling through an injury in the second half of 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Florida Times-Union - Demetrius Harvey
4 weeks agoVeteran free-agent offensive tackle Germain Ifedi is signing with the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL.com. The former first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M spent time with five organizations before joining Cleveland's roster. He has 102 games of experience with 83 starts, but he has not seen game action since 2022 or started since 2021. Cleveland recently traded Leroy Watson to the Tennessee Titans for a 2024 seventh-round pick, so Ifedi is likely being brought in to add depth to the tackle room for offseason activities and training camp. He is not guaranteed to make the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoIn an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Peter Schrager said the Indianapolis Colts could be active in moving up for a top wide receiver in the 2024 NFL draft. "I think there's a chance the Colts move up for
Marvin Harrisonread more...
4 weeks agoWashington Commanders general manager Adam Peters said the team is "real close" to finalizing their decision of who they will select on Thursday when the 2024 NFL draft begins and confirmed they will not trade out of the No. 2 overall pick. The Commanders desperately need a franchise quarterback, and they are presumably deciding between LSU's
Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's
Drake Maye. The 21-year-old Maye is viewed as more of a project with a sky-high ceiling, while Daniels, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, is 23 years old and ready to contribute right away. Either quarterback will have plenty of fantasy football intrigue in Washington, as both have plenty of mobility and could be throwing passes to
Terry McLaurin in their rookie season.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
4 weeks agoThe NFL reinstated Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney and free agents C.J. Moore, Rashod Berry,
Quintez Cephus, and Demetrius Taylor on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The five players were suspended for the entire 2023 campaign for violating the league's gambling policy. Toney is the only player who remained on an NFL roster following the suspension, and it could be tough for the other four players to find landing spots considering their actions from last offseason. With major sports leagues trying to crack down on any suspicious gambling activity, this will be a situation worth monitoring over the next few years.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoFree-agent offensive tackle Andre Dillard signed with the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov. The 28-year-old spent last season with the Tennessee Titans after four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft struggled mightily with Tennessee, giving up a league-high 12 sacks despite playing the 65th most snaps among tackles (562). Either way, Dillard has exceptional athleticism from the tackle spot, so he'll get another chance to prove he belongs in the league with a third team.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
4 weeks agoBaltimore Ravens wide receiver
Zay Flowers was allegedly involved in a domestic investigation in February, leading to uncertainty surrounding his status on the field in 2024. On Thursday, the NFL announced there was insufficient evidence that Flowers engaged in any activity that violated the league's personal conduct policy. That said, there will be no action taken by the NFL, and Flowers is free to participate in all team activities. The 23-year-old is on track to contribute in 2024 after a 77-catch, 858-yard, five-touchdown rookie campaign. Although he did a lot of his damage with
Mark Andrews (ankle) out of action, the former Boston College star has plenty of ability and should push to compile WR2 numbers in his sophomore campaign.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoWashington Commanders general manager Adam Peters may not be looking to trade out of the No. 2 overall pick in the first round of next week's NFL draft. "We feel great about staying at No. 2. Don't see a lot of scenarios where we trade down," Peters said. This shouldn't be a big surprise after Washington dealt last year's starter,
Sam Howell, to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. As of right now, veteran
Marcus Mariota is atop the QB depth chart in D.C., but the Commanders will most likely take either LSU's
Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's
Drake Maye with the second overall pick next Thursday night if another club like the Minnesota Vikings doesn't made an offer that the Commanders can't refuse to move up into the No. 2 spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe Minnesota Vikings brass is scheduled to meet with LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels for dinner on Thursday night in Baton Rouge, according to agent Ron Butler. Daniels is widely expected to come off the board in the top three picks of next week's NFL draft, so if the Vikings are going to land the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, they would need to trade up within the first round. Minnesota acquired the No. 23 overall pick in a trade this spring with the Houston Texans, so they now hold two first-round selections at Nos. 11 and 23. The Vikings are clearly in the market for a signal-caller after
Kirk Cousins left in free agency and signed with the Atlanta Falcons, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the team trade up within the first five picks to select Daniels or another QB prospect.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoThe New England Patriots and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson agreed to a renegotiated contract on Thursday that slightly reduces the base value of his deal in 2024 down from $3.35 million. The move creates $990,000 in salary cap space for the Patriots this year. Anderson entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2020 with the Denver Broncos and he played his first three seasons in the NFL in Denver before playing for the Patriots last year. He played in just five games (two starts) for New England last year and has appeared in 46 games (14 starts) in his four years in the league. The 28-year-old also finished the 2023 campaign on the Injured Reserve. When healthy, he'll likely operate as tackle depth for the Pats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
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