4 weeks agoThe Washington Commanders will host Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, North Carolina QB Drake Maye and LSU QB Jayden Daniels for visits next week, according to sources. The Commanders are taking a long look at all three signal-callers as they hold the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The Chicago Bears are fully expected to take USC QB Caleb Williams first overall, but if the Commanders don't trade out of the No. 2 pick, they'll have their choice of McCarthy, Maye and Daniels after trading last year's starter, Sam Howell, to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. McCarthy going second overall would be a pretty big surprise despite the fact his draft stock has been rising since his impressive pro day. If any team is going to trade up to No. 2, it might be the Las Vegas Raiders in order to take Daniels.Source: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
4 weeks agoThe Cleveland Browns and star running back Nick Chubb (knee) agreed on a reworked contract for the 2024 season on Thursday to lower his base salary of $11.775 million, according to sources. Chubb will have a chance to earn it back via incentives after working his way back from a gruesome season-ending left-knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 28-year-old isn't going anywhere, but he won't be as much of a sure thing as an RB1 in fantasy leagues after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus in 2023. Even if he's ready to go for Week 1 this fall for the Browns, Cleveland could choose to ease Chubb in and give more touches to Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines. We'll keep a close eye on Chubb's recovery this offseason.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe Green Bay Packers signed free-agent cornerback Gemon Green to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Green was originally was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Michigan in May of 2023. However, he was released after training camp after being on the team's practice squad briefly. The 24-year-old had 71 tackles (49 solo), an interception and 15 passes defended in his college career with the Wolverines in 42 games (24 starts). Green was an All-Big Ten honorable mention from coaches and media in 2022. If he makes the Packers' roster at all in 2024 and plays in a game during the regular season, it will be his NFL debut.Source: Packers.com
4 weeks agoLas Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has obviously been pining for an upgrade over quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell with the NFL draft coming later this month. The Raiders have been heavily linked to LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels but would have to move up probably 11 slots -- they currently hold the No. 13 pick -- to "assure" themselves a chance to draft Daniels. Pierce recruited and coached Daniels at Arizona State before he transferred to LSU. It would likely cost the Raiders at least three first-rounders and a third-rounder. "I think everything's on the table," Pierce said. Even if the Raiders are sold on Daniels and want him, it remains to be seen if the Washington Commanders are open for business at second overall. Sources said owner Mark Davis has given his blessing for GM Tom Telesco and Pierce to make a move if it makes sense.Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
4 weeks agoFormer All-Pro return man and wide receiver Deonte Harty signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. In his lone season with the Buffalo Bills last year, Harty had 15 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown in 16 regular-season games (one start) on offense. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Assumption will likely make his biggest impact in Baltimore as a kick returner to help replace Devin Duvernay while also providing receiver depth behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. Harty is unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset. In his four seasons with the New Orleans Saints to begin his career, Harty had 64 catches (92 targets) for 793 yards and four touchdowns in 40 games (four starts).Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
4 weeks agoTennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz sees running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard as 1A and 1B in some combination at the RB position for the team heading into the 2024 season. Holz said both backs will get a lot of touches. It's clearly bad news for Pollard's fantasy value after he served as the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, recording his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with six touchdowns but a career-low 4.0 yards per carry in 17 regular-season starts. Expecting a third straight 1,000-yard season in his first year in Tennessee would be unwise. If both Spears -- who had 453 rushing yards and 385 receiving yards with three total TDs as a rookies last year, -- and Pollard split the backfield work evenly, they'd both be more of RB3/flex plays in fantasy on a weekly basis in an offense that could be transitioning to more of a balanced attack rather than run-heavy.Source: TitansInsider.com - Terry McCormick
4 weeks agoAn arrest warrant has been issued for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice in connection with his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in late March. The 23-year-old is facing eight charges in the case -- six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated assault, according to the arrest warrant. All of the charges are felonies. Rice already acknowledged he was driving the Lamborghini SUV involved in the crash after renting the vehicle. It's good that he's cooperating with the authorities, but the NFL is closely monitoring the proceedings and will surely investigate the matter themselves after the legal situation plays out. There's a good chance Rice could be subject to a suspension by the league in 2024, which puts a cloud over his 2024 fantasy value after a strong rookie season in 2023.Source: WFAA
4 weeks agoDuring a medical examination at the 2024 NFL Combine, Former Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (foot) was found to have a Jones fracture in his right foot. He did not participate in on-field work, but he did participate in Alabama's Pro Day before having surgery to repair his injury. According to sources, doctors deemed his recovery from surgery to be on track and as expected. This is good news for the 2023 first-team All-American, and hopefully, it will keep his stock from falling. Over the last two seasons, McKinstry totaled 67 tackles, 22 passes defended, and one interception for the Crimson Tide. He also racked up over 400 yards as a punt returner. The 21-year-old is expected to be a late-first-round pick later this month.Source: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoFree-agent kicker Matthew Wright signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced on X on Wednesday. Wright went undrafted after his final season at UCF in 2018 and has spent time with eight NFL organizations, including three stints with the Steelers. In 20 NFL games, the 28-year-old has connected on 40 of his 47 field goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra point tries. In all likelihood, veteran kicker Chris Boswell, who has been with Pittsburgh since 2015, will remain the starter. If Wright surprisingly wins the kicking job this offseason, he could have streaming viability in 2024 fantasy football.Source: Pittsburgh Steelers On X
4 weeks agoFormer LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is going on a top-30 visit with the New York Giants on Monday, reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is projected to be taken as high as No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, but New York has remained interested in meeting and visiting with him. In his fifth collegiate season, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions and rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards and ten scores. Giants head coach Brian Daboll has had success with mobile quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Daniel Jones, so this could be a great fit. The G-Men are slated to pick No. 6 overall, meaning they'd likely have to trade up to acquire Daniels. Wherever Daniels lands, he has top-12 potential in fantasy football right away thanks to his elite rushing upside.Source: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoSeattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (pectoral) suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in October of the 2023 campaign, but he said he expects to be ready for training camp this offseason. The former Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick in 2018 had his best season as a pro in his first year with Seattle (2022), totaling career highs in tackles (66), sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (three), and run stuffs (12.5). The 27-year-old appeared in just six games last year and collected two sacks. Nwosu is projected to be a starter in the first season under new head coach Mike Macdonald, who is known for helping develop defenders.Source: Brady Henderson -- ESPN
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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim