4 weeks agoThe Philadelphia Eagles need help at cornerback, which is why The Athletic's Bruce Feldman predicts them taking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Kool-Aid McKinstry could also be their pick in this spot, but the 6-foot-1, 173-pound Wiggins has ridiculous recovery speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and tons of upside. The 20-year-old led the Tigers in pass breakups in 2023 with nine and also had two interceptions, one of which was run back for a touchdown. "I think he's the best kid we played. I love that kid. Love his effort, how he competes. Great speed. Great burst, and he plays hard. He's got the measurables. Two plays stuck out in my mind. They're playing Miami and he ran a kid down and stripped him on the goal line. Then, he did the same thing to a guy at Carolina. I think he's an All-Pro caliber player," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Miami Dolphins could be tempted to select Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton with the No. 21 pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft after Christian Wilkins went to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency this offseason. If the Dolphins decide to upgrade their offensive line, Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson or West Virginia's Zach Frazier could be the pick for Miami. Newton, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 304 pounds, was a force to be reckoned with for the Illini the last two years and had 114 tackles, 13 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in that span, which is a lot of production from an interior defensive lineman. He also blocked a school-record four kicks in 2023. "He is crafty and slick with some good moves and heavy hands. He's just got a great feel for things in there. This guy is a stud," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman has a hunch that the Pittsburgh Steelers grab Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu with the 20th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft over JC Latham, Amarius Mims and Tyler Guyton. If they don't go with Fashanu, Oregon strongman center Jackson Powers-Johnson could be the pick. Fashanu was inconsistent in his final year with the Nittany Lions, but he has a lot of potential at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds. Feldman thinks the 21-year-old offensive lineman is a good bet to continue to polish his game at the next level because of his intelligence. "This is a big, great-looking dude. He comes off the ball well and is good with his hands, but there are times you'd expect him to finish better," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Chargers have relied too heavily on the arm of quarterback
Justin Herbert in recent seasons, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff plan to change that trend quickly in 2024. They plan to lean on their running backs to keep defenses puzzled and Herbert's life easier. It's the only kind of offense that new coordinator Greg Roman has operated in his career. Run-game coordinator and tight ends coach Andy Bischoff said the team will strive for a "balanced offense that brings out the greatest strengths in everyone on the unit." They'll be looking to be more physical up front with the offensive line. While this type of offense will mean less attempts for Herbert, it could make him more efficient when he does drop back to pass. RB
Gus Edwards scored a career-high 13 TDs last year in Baltimore and should once again have plenty of fantasy appeal.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
4 weeks agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars and pass-rusher
Josh Allen agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract extension on Wednesday, according to a source. Allen is set to earn $88 million guaranteed as part of the deal. The Jaguars had placed the franchise tag on Allen before the start of free agency but now have locked the rising star into a long-term deal. The 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowler set a franchise record in 2023 by recording 17.5 sacks while adding 66 tackles (43 solo), 17 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, one interception and two forced fumbles in 17 starts. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of Kentucky is one of the best young pass-rushers in the NFL and will be highly coveted on draft day in IDP fantasy formats at defensive line.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CBS Sports - Jonathan Jones
4 weeks agoThe Arizona Cardinals are hosting former Texas wide receiver
Xavier Worthy on a visit on Tuesday. The speedster notably broke the NFL Combine record for the fastest 40-yard-dash (4.21) in February, making him a potential riser ahead of this month's NFL Draft. Arizona holds the No. 4 and No. 27 (via Houston) overall picks, and Worthy could be a potential target with their later selection. The 20-year-old posted 197 receptions for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns during his three seasons in college, including 981 yards and 12 scores as a true freshman. His slight frame (165 pounds) could be a concern for some NFL teams, but
DeVonta Smith and
Tank Dell have excelled in recent seasons, and he remains in the thick of the first-round discussion.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoFlorida State edge defender Jared Verse is set to visit the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The 23-year-old has already met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will meet with the Denver Broncos soon. Verse is a projected first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after posting 89 tackles (45 solo), 29.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over the last two seasons in Tallahassee. Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Denver all have needs at edge rusher, so any of the three franchises could be a good fit. The two-time first-team All-American registered elite speed and explosion grades during his pre-draft athletic testing, so he could be picked as high as Denver's No. 12 selection.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Mike Garafolo
4 weeks agoThe New York Giants signed free-agent wide receiver
Miles Boykin on Tuesday, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The former third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after three years with the Baltimore Ravens. In 73 NFL games, the 27-year-old has hauled in just 38 receptions for 498 yards and seven touchdowns. Although New York has one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the league, it's hard to find a path toward fantasy football success for Boykin based on his lack of productivity to begin his career. In all likelihood, he will be a backup wideout or fail to make the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov -- 33rd Team
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Chiefs re-signed exclusive-rights free-agent safety Nazeeh Johnson (knee) and offensive lineman Mike Caliendo on Tuesday, the team announced. Johnson, 25, was taken by the Chiefs in the seventh round (259th overall) in the 2022 draft out of Marshall. He spent all of last year on Injured Reserve with a torn ACL and had only eight tackles (five solo) in 11 games (zero starts) in his rookie campaign in 2022 while only playing on special teams. If fully healthy this summer, Johnson could compete for a bigger role on defense in 2024. Caliendo, 26, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan last year with the Chiefs and played in eight regular-season games (zero starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Kansas City Chiefs
4 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Rams have the impossible task of trying to replace the retired Aaron Donald this year, but it would be a big win if they were able to land UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the 19th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound former rugby standout was the nation's top lineman in 2023 after he led the FBS with 21.5 tackles for loss while also recording 13 sacks, 49 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The 23-year-old emerged as a dominant player for the Bruins after a serious neck injury he suffered at Washington. He tested well at the scouting combine and has received rave reviews from coaches. "His arsenal of pass rush is legit. I started writing down the different ways he wins and I was getting up near eight, nine or 10. That's a lot!" one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals' signing of Trent Brown this offseason diminishes their need to take an offensive lineman in the first round of this year's NFL draft, although it would still be tempting to go with either JC Latham or Olu Fashanu. The Athletic's Bruce Feldman thinks Cincy will go with Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the 18th overall pick in the first round later this month after losing D.J. Reader. T'Vondre Sweat has received more hype than Murphy from Texas, but opposing coaches say that Murphy gave them more headaches on game day. The 21-year-old has freaky athleticism and showed it at the scouting combine in February. "He was almost unblockable because he's so quick and twitchy and has balance like a big running back. He's been coached well. The guy is just really disruptive. He was much more of a problem (than T'Vondre Sweat)," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman predicts that the Jacksonville Jaguars will trade the 17th overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft to the Minnesota Vikings, who will take Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse. The Vikings lost edge players Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum this winter but added Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. Verse would bring a disruptive playing style along the defensive line after he made a smooth transition to Florida State from Albany. In two seasons with the Seminoles, the 23-year-old had 18 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 88 tackles. "He's very physical. He gets after people in the run game. Has some mitts and uses those hands well. He's an explosive athlete and has good burst. Plays like he's always trying to prove he belongs in big-time football," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
4 weeks agoCornerback Logan Ryan officially announced his retirement from professional football on his social-media account on Tuesday. "Thank you to all my family, friends and teammates for the guidance and support! Thanks to the fans for watching! Won two Super Bowls and got out happy and healthy to be the best father for my children! Thanks again for 11 seasons! Cheers to what's next," Ryan wrote. The 33-year-old spent 11 years in the league after the New England Patriots took him in the third round (83rd overall) in 2013 out of Rutgers. He played in just five games (two starts) with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and will finish his lengthy career with a total of 755 tackles (545 solo), 13 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 26 QB hits, 19 interceptions (one returned for a TD), 98 passes defended, 15 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 154 regular-season games (123 starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Logan Ryan
4 weeks agoIt sounds as though the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers will be facing off in Week 1 in Brazil based on comments that Packers president Mark Murphy made on Tuesday morning. "We're either the first- or second-most popular team in Brazil," Murphy said. The NFL continues to try and expand the game internationally and there will be a game in Brazil on Friday of the first week of the regular season this fall. The Eagles will be eager to get the bitter taste out of their mouth after falling apart late last year, including a dispiriting wild-card loss on the road to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, quarterback
Jordan Love and the Packers will look to keep things going after impressing in 2023 with a first-round playoff upset over the Dallas Cowboys.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
4 weeks agoFree-agent pass-rusher James Smith-Williams agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The 26-year-old defensive end entered the league as a seventh-round pick (229th overall) by the Washington Commanders in 2020 out of North Carolina State and spent the first four years of his NFL career in D.C., racking up just 85 tackles (42 solo), seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 31 QB hits in 55 games played (27 starts). He had only 22 tackles (11 solo), one sack and eight QB hits for Washington in 13 games (seven starts) in 2023 and will provide interior defensive-line depth for the Falcons in 2024 behind the likes of Grady Jarrett, Ta'Quon Graham and Zach Harrison.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
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