4 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals took running back Chase Brown out of Illinois in the fifth round at pick No. 163 overall on Saturday. He projects more as a ball-carrying first- and second-down back than a third-down back you'd expect to complement Joe Mixon. "He'd be an effective pass-catcher," offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. "He's still a better runner than he is a catcher at this point, but he's got the skills to perform in the passing game." Brown admitted that he needs to improve his pass protection, and he's probably not a realistic threat to steal touches away from Mixon in his rookie year. Depending on if the Bengals bring in another veteran at the position, Trayveon Williams could be asked to step up in the team's third-down role with Samaje Perine now in Denver.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.

4 weeks agoCincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Charlie Jones, who was taken in the fourth round at No. 131 overall on Saturday, could have an immediate impact on special teams in the return game. Jones was the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021 for Iowa and has two return touchdowns in his career. He could also be thrust into a prominent receiving role out of the slot if any of Cincy's big three receivers goes down with an injury in 2023. The 24-year-old wideout has the potential to be the team's slot receiver of the future once Tyler Boyd's contract expires following this season. Jones brings positional versatility with deep speed (4.43-second 40) and impressive contested-catch ability.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Paul Dehner Jr.

4 weeks agoThe Carolina Panthers traded top wideout DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears in order to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to take quarterback Bryce Young. Nobody can match Moore's individual production, but Carolina's receiverread more...

4 weeks agoCarolina Panthers quarterback Matt Corral, last year's third-round pick, fired off a post on Instagram not long after the team took Bryce Young first overall in the first round last Thursday night with a quote that included not staying "in a place where no one sees your value." General manager Scott Fitterer said Corral showed up this spring at 220 pounds (15 more than his rookie year) and looked like a different player. The 24-year-old could stick around as the third-stringer behind Young and Andy Dalton, but this situation is worth watching this offseason. Corral is also recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury and may not be fully ready for organized team activities later this month.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person

1 month agoThe Carolina Panthers took quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall pick in last week's NFL draft, but he'll be eased into the starting role this summer. When the team takes the field for their first full-squad organized team activities later this month, quarterback Andy Dalton will take the first-team repetitions. "He'll have to earn it. Obviously, that's the way it should be. We'll know when the right time is," head coach Frank Reich said. The Panthers don't want to overwhelm Young too soon while giving him a chance to learn the offense. Young is a quick study, though, so it shouldn't take him too long before he's running the first-team offense. It would be a big surprise if Young isn't the starter in Week 1 of his rookie season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Joseph Person

1 month agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars declined the fifth-year option for edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson on Monday, according to a source. Chaisson now enters a contract year in 2023 with an opportunity to cash in on the open market next offseason with a big season. He played in just nine games (zero starts) for Jacksonville in 2022 due to a knee injury and finished his third year in the NFL with only 10 tackles (seven solo), one sack and two QB hits. Chaisson has exactly three sacks in his three seasons with the Jags, also compiling a total of 60 tackles (39 solo), seven tackles for loss and 15 QB hits in 40 games played (11 starts). The 23-year-old will need to step up if he wants a chance to stay in Jacksonville beyond this season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

1 month agoThe Buffalo Bills signed free-agent running back Latavius Murray to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday. Murray will stay in the AFC in 2023 for his 10th NFL season after spending time with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos last year. He joined Denver for 12 games in 2022 after playing in just one contest with the Saints. In his time in Denver, he had 160 carries for 703 yards and five touchdowns, adding 26 receptions for 124 yards. The 33-year-old had a decent 4.4 yards per carry for the Broncos, but in Buffalo he's unlikely to see many opportunities as running back depth behind James Cook, Damien Harris and Nyheim Hines. Murray should be left to the waiver wire in most leagues to start the 2023 season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bills Twitter

1 month agoBaltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen could be a potential trade candidate, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. It might be insane to think that the Ravens would trade the former first round pick. However, the Ravens have been dancing around the idea of picking up Queen's fifth-year option. The stud linebacker is going to need an extension soon, but are the Ravens willing to give it to him? They recently signed Roquan Smith to a huge extension. It'll be interesting to see if the organization is willing to give two linebacker hefty extensions. It's also worth noting that the Ravens selected Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round of this year's draft. The addition of Simpson might be enough to make Queen expendable. For now, the Ravens will attempt to use all three linebacker on their defense, which could make for a dangerous unit.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic

1 month agoFree-agent safety Adrian Amos might be back with the Green Bay Packers soon. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters they aren't closing the door on Amos returning to the team. The Packers have failed to address the safety position with Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage at the top of the depth chart. Amos has spent each of the last four seasons with Green Bay. The 30-year-old has been a reliable option for them, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the organization decide to bring him back. It sounds like the Packers continue to remain in communication with Amos.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic

1 month agoCincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. is expected to be the primary option at tight end for this offense heading into next season. It was a bit surprising to see the Bengals pass on drafting a tight end during the most recent NFL Draft. Hayden Hurst left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency. That left Drew Sample and Smith as the primary tight ends on this roster. It appears that the Bengals are completely fine with their current situation at tight end. To be fair, this offense is loaded at wide receiver, so they might not target the tight end spot frequently next season. Regardless, it appears Smith has the No. 1 spot at tight end locked up right now.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic

1 month agoNew England Patriots kicker Chad Ryland appears to have a legitimate shot at winning the starting job in training camp. The Pats selected Ryland in the fourth-round of the most recent NFL Draft. The Maryland product landed 19-of-23 field goals last season, while only missing one extra point attempt. It's worth noting that the Patriots do have veteran kicker Nick Folk under contract for next season. The 38-year-old connected on 32-of-37 field goals last season for New England. Folk has been a fairly reliable kicker over the last few years for the Patriots, so it's a bit odd to see them drafting Ryland. Regardless, they clearly believe Ryland is their future at kicker, so it would be shocking to see Folk being traded or cut at some point down the road.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoCincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon is expected to remain the workhorse back for the team heading into next season. Head coach Zac Taylor confirmed that Mixon's future is with the Bengals. This comes after the Bengals drafted Chase Brown in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Illinois product appears to be added as depth, which could be a smart move given Mixon's off-the-field issues lately. It appears the Bengals are still committed to Mixon, but they might still ask him to take a paycut. Regardless, it sounds like the Bengals believe in Mixon going forward.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: ESPN

1 month agoCarolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich expects offensive guard Austin Corbett (knee) to miss time to start the 2023 regular season this fall. It's not a huge surprise after Corbett suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale and had surgery to fix his knee in January. It's not idea for the Panthers' offensive line, but it would be good news if he can avoid landing on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would require him to miss the first six games of the season. The 27-year-old started all 17 games in 2022 before suffering his knee injury. The former second-rounder in 2018 should resume his starting duties on the O-line when he's fully recovered.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - David Newton

1 month agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggests that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance could be the team's No. 3 QB when the 2023 season starts behind Brock Purdy (elbow) and Sam Darnold. It's why the Niners have considered trading the former No. 3 overall pick this offseason. Nothing is imminent right now, but there's a better chance that Lance is dealt in August if another team's QB goes down with an injury in training camp and Purdy appears to be on track to be ready for Week 1. Lance is only 22 years old, and although he hasn't had great injury luck, there surely are some teams out there that wouldn't mind taking him on to see what he can do with an opportunity. For now, Lance's stock in dynasty/keeper leagues continues to plummet.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

1 month agoHouston Texans rookie wide receiver Nathaniel Dell will likely play in the slot in his first year in the NFL in 2023. Because of his size (5-foot-8, 165 pounds), most scouts project the 23-year-old pass-catcher to stay on the inside at the next level after Houston selected him in the third round over the weekend. Dell will be competing with the likes of Robert Woods, Nico Collins and John Metchie III for a role in the passing attack in his first year in the NFL. None of the players he'll be competing with really stand out, so there is opportunity for Dell to see substantial targets from rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud right away. If he has a good training camp this summer, Dell might be worth a late-round flier in single-year PPR leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander