4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman is projecting the Washington Commanders taking LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. General manager Adam Peters is reportedly enamored with Daniels, and the team traded last year's starter,
Sam Howell, to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. "I tell people this: Outside of
Patrick Mahomes, I haven't coached against someone like this. He's just very hard to defend. We tried to force him to run it to take it out of his hands. The throws he makes and the timing he has, I thought was second to none. He throws the deep ball extremely accurately," one coach said. Daniels has above-average arm strength and all kinds of athleticism, but one of the biggest concerns about him is his size and whether he'll hold up health-wise at the next level.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoWashington quarterback Michael Penix has been a rising draft prospect since his pro day, and scouts believe in his elite arm talent. The Athletic's Dane Brugler projects the Las Vegas Raiders taking Penix at 13th overall in the first round of this year's NFL draft as an upgrade over both
Gardner Minshew and
Aidan O'Connell. Penix's health is a polarizing subject in draft circles -- he had four season-ending injuries at Indiana -- but he was healthy for the Huskies and got positive medical evaluations at the scouting combine. "His arm talent is as good as I've ever seen. He can throw every single ball on a rope. I just wanted to blitz him. I felt like he didn't handle pressure as some others. We lived and died by the blitz, but he got his yards," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe New York Giants agreed to undisclosed terms to re-sign safety/linebacker Isaiah Simmons on Friday, pending a physical. The Giants acquired Simmons via trade from the Arizona Cardinals before the start of the 2023 season. In all 17 games last year with the G-Men, he started four games and recorded 50 tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown in Week 11. The former eighth overall pick by the Cardinals in 2020 out of Clemson has never missed a game in his NFL career to this point, appearing in 67 games in the regular season (41 starts). The 25-year-old isn't exactly an IDP fantasy asset, but he's extremely valuable to the Giants' defense because of his versatility and ability to move in and out as either a linebacker or safety.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Giants.com - Dan Salomne
4 weeks agoFormer Buffalo Bills wide receiver and return man
Deonte Harty is visiting with the Baltimore Ravens on Friday. Harty is a Baltimore native and could provide some decent receiving depth for the Ravens in 2024 behind
Zay Flowers,
Rashod Bateman and
Nelson Agholor now that it's looking unlikely that the team will re-sign
Odell Beckham Jr. The 26-year-old entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Assumption in 2019 with the New Orleans Saints and was a first-team All-Pro as a returner in his rookie year. Baltimore also lost returner
Devin Duvernay this offseason, so Harty would be a natural fit in the return game to replace him on special teams. With just 79 receptions (113 targets) for 943 yards and five touchdowns on offense in his five seasons in the NFL, Harty isn't really on the fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec
4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers and defensive tackle Derrick Brown agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract extension on Friday, according to a source. The deal includes $63.165 million guaranteed. The $24 million per-year average on the extension is the fourth-highest in the league for a defensive tackle, trailing only Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins and Justin Madubuike. The 25-year-old Brown was a Pro Bowler for the first time in 2023 after posting a defensive lineman-record 103 tackles while leading the NFL with a 47 percent run-stop win rate, according to ESPN Analytics/NextGen Stats. Brown was the former seventh overall pick in 2020 and has eight sacks and two interceptions in his four-year career. This is a key move for a Panthers defense that lost pass-rusher Brian Burns this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com
4 weeks agoFree-agent tight end
MyCole Pruitt agreed to terms on an undisclosed deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, according to a source. Pruitt will reunite with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith after working with him in both Tennessee and Atlanta. The 32-year-old veteran had 25 receptions on 33 targets for 260 yards and five touchdowns in 30 games (12 starts) in the last two years with the Falcons. The former fifth-round pick (143rd overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 out of Southern Illinois has mostly been a blocking tight end in his nine years in the NFL and has never really been on the fantasy radar. In Pittsburgh, both Pruitt and
Darnell Washington will pair to provide blocking for the team's running game, with
Pat Freiermuth to continue his role as the primary pass-catching tight end.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
4 weeks agoLSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner
Jayden Daniels is set to meet with the New England Patriots on Monday, according to his agent. The Chicago Bears are fully expected to take USC QB
Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in this year's NFL draft. The Washington Commanders are on the clock at No. 2 overall and are expected to choose between Daniels and North Carolina QB
Drake Maye. Whoever the Commanders pass on, the Patriots are likely to choose as their next franchise signal-caller after giving up on the
Mac Jones experiment and trading him to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. Daniels probably possesses more immediate upside at the next level, but both he and Maye have higher ceilings than Jones as the Pats look for a solution in the post-
Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe New England Patriots are hosting North Carolina quarterback
Drake Maye on a top-30 visit on Friday at Gillette Stadium, according to sources. The Patriots hold the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and also met with Maye at the scouting combine in February and again before his pro day. The Patriots traded
Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars and are looking to draft their next franchise signal-caller this year. Veteran
Jacoby Brissett could be the bridge QB if the rookie that New England takes isn't ready to start in Week 1 this fall. The Bears are fully expected to take USC QB
Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, and the Patriots could take Maye third overall if the Commanders go with LSU QB
Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Boston - Albert Breer
4 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons are signing cornerback Antonio Hamilton, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN. Hamilton spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals following one year with the Kansas City Chiefs, two years with the New York Giants, and two years with the Oakland Raiders. In 99 career games, the former undrafted free agent has tallied 172 tackles (140 solo), two interceptions, and 25 pass deflections. The 31-year-old has started just 18 games in his eight-year career, so he's unlikely to compete for a starting spot in Atlanta.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Michael Rothstein
4 weeks agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice is expected to have charges filed against him for his role in a multi-vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday in Dallas. The 23-year-old met with police on Wednesday, and according to sources, he admitted to driving the Lamborghini involved in the chain reaction collision. Police say they will file charges once they have collected evidence proving the extent of all the victims' injuries. The legal process will play out over the coming weeks or months, and this is certainly a situation to monitor.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: WFAA.com
4 weeks agoThe Buffalo Bills are signing veteran offensive tackle La'El Collins to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. Collins was initially viewed as a top-ten prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft class, but off-the-field noise led to him being undrafted and signing with the Dallas Cowboys following the seventh round. He started in 71 games from 2015 to 2021 with America's Team before making 15 starts for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. The 30-year-old missed the entire 2023 season after a late-season ACL and MCL tear the year prior. Buffalo has parted ways with several key veteran contributors this offseason, so they'll likely be in the market for inexpensive veteran starters or depth pieces moving forward. Collins will compete for a starting role on the offensive line in 2024.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
4 weeks agoThe Baltimore Ravens are re-signing outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million. His new contract will pay him $5.25 million in 2024. Originally selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of BYU, Van Noy has appeared in games for five organizations. In 142 games with the Lions, Patriots, Dolphins, Chargers, and Ravens, he has racked up 500 tackles (338 solo), 42.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown, and 28 run stuffs. In his lone season with Baltimore, he set a career-high in sacks with nine. The 33-year-old is likely at the tail end of his career, but the Ravens are ensuring he's on the roster to help disrupt quarterbacks in 2024 and 2025.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoNewly acquired Houston Texans wide receiver
Stefon Diggs can become a free agent after his 2024 campaign, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The organization wiped out the final three years of Diggs' contract and moved up $3.5 million in guarantees for next season into this year. He will earn a total of $22.52 million in guaranteed money in 2024. This move should add an extra incentive for Diggs to perform his best, and it will be interesting to see if the Texans can lock him up long-term next offseason. Diggs, who turns 31 next season, has accumulated at least 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns in each of his last six campaigns dating back to his time with the Minnesota Vikings.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata is signing a three-year, $66 million contract extension to remain with the organization long-term, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and $48 million in guarantees. The new contract puts Mailata only behind Laremy Tunsil, Trent Williams, and Andrew Thomas in average salary among NFL tackles. The 27-year-old was a seventh-round pick by the Eagles in 2018 after his rugby career in Europe. His transition to American football has been impressive, as he's blossomed into one of the league's best blind-side protectors. With future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce hanging up his cleats this offseason, it's a significant move for the Eagles to keep one of their keystone offensive linemen for the foreseeable future.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
4 weeks agoThe Denver Broncos signed veteran free-agent center Sam Mustipher to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to a source. The 27-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens after playing the previous three years with the Chicago Bears. He'll be a veteran depth option for the middle of Denver's offensive line in 2024. Mustipher entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame with the Bears. In his four seasons in the NFL, he has started 42 of the 52 contests that he's appeared in. Last year in Baltimore, Mustipher played in only nine regular-season games and started two of them.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
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