Cody Barton Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
Source: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton has already become a mentor to the team's young inside linebackers, especially second-year linebacker James Williams, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Barton is proving to be a much-needed savvy veteran for the Titans after signing a three-year deal worth $21 million in free agency this offseason. The 28-year-old has been a vocal presence on the field during offseason workouts for a Titans defense that struggled in coverage in 2024 and often found themselves out of position. He's been useful in IDP fantasy formats each of the last three seasons with three different teams -- Seattle, Washington and Denver -- racking up a combined 363 tackles (204 solo). Barton had an expanded role with the Broncos in 2024 and will likely be counted on to play an every-down role in Tennessee.Montaric Brown has Worked With Starters
Travis Hunter. Brown, 25, is also coming off a career year in 2024 in which he had 75 tackles (55 solo), six tackles for loss, an interception and eight pass breakups in 17 games.Source: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown worked with the starters during offseason workouts and consistently made plays during spring practices, including two end-zone pass breakups in red-zone drills in minicamp. ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that he has the advantage heading into training camp as a starter opposite Tyson Campbell. Second-year corner Jarrian Jones played well at nickel late in his rookie season, but he's still learning the zone scheme, which is expected to be a staple of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile's scheme. In addition to Jones needing plenty of schooling on the zone scheme, the Jaguars are still working through how many defensive snaps per game they'll be able to get out of rookie first-rounder Maxwell Hairston Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Source: WKBW.com
Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston has been named in a civil lawsuit related to an alleged incident that happened in 2021, according to WKBW.com. Bryant Law Center and Meyers & Flowers filed the Lawsuit on Tuesday, and a woman is accusing Hairston of sexual assault while he was a student at the University of Kentucky. Hairston was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft (No. 30 overall) after a stellar career for the Wildcats. In 32 games, he compiled 87 tackles, six interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. This is a situation worth monitoring as he heads into his first NFL training camp.Tai Felton's Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
Tai
Felton
was
a
third-round
selection
by
the
organization
in
the
2025
NFL
Draft.
Needless
to
say,
he
joined
a
crowded
pass-catching
group
consisting
of
Justin
Jefferson,
read more...
Minnesota
Vikings
wide
receiver
LeQuint Allen Jr. to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
LeQuint
Allen
Jr.
landed
in
a
crowded
backfield
after
being
selected
by
the
team
in
the
seventh
round
of
the
2025
NFL
Draft
out
of
Syracuse.
The
Jags
also
selected
Virginia
Tech
runningread more...
Jacksonville
Jaguars
running
back
Justin Walley Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Source: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
Indianapolis Colts rookie third-round cornerback Justin Walley has been turning heads throughout the offseason program with his aggressiveness and impressive instincts, giving him a chance to have a significant role on defense in his first year in the NFL, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. Walley has shown potential in dime packages during offseason workouts, and the Colts are expected to play a greater variety of coverages in 2025. Head coach Shane Steichen said the 22-year-old defensive back is "really sticky in coverage." "Has been making a ton of plays through OTAs. So, very pleased with where he is at." It was an interesting fit when Indy took Walley in the third round, as they already have Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Jones as starters on the outside, with Kenny Moore playing the slot. If Walley continues his rise, the Colts secondary could be nasty in 2025.Jamari Thrash Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Jamari Thrash, who caught only three passes as a rookie in 2024 after being taken in the fifth round, took advantage of opportunities in an unproven receiver room during offseason workouts and established himself as a reliable option in the passing game. "He's had a really strong spring," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He is here all the time working on his body. Very intelligent player, can line up in multiple positions which I think is valuable. And then he showed up, he's caught the ball well and you know the quarterbacks like how he gets open. He finds a way to get open versus zone, versus man." Since the 24-year-old isn't really an option on special teams, he's going to need to continue standing out in training camp and the preseason to win a spot on the 53-man roster heading into the regular season.Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi writes that Cleveland Browns wide receiver Grayson Murphy Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Source: ESPN.com - Marcel Louis-Jacques
Miami Dolphins linebacker Grayson Murphy could provide situational or rotational pass-rush depth if he continues his production from offseason workouts into training camp this summer, writes ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. Murphy made splash plays during spring practices on a team that features pass-rushers Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson. It's been difficult for Chubb, Phillips and Robinson to stay healthy, and Murphy also landed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury in August after signing as an undrafted free agent last year. The 24-year-old is healthy now, though, and appears primed to serve in a backup role at outside linebacker for Miami's defense in 2025.Joe Andreessen in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
Josh Allen. Andreessen saw action in 13 regular-season games (one start) for Buffalo in his rookie season and recorded 26 tackles (12 solo) with one tackle for loss and a QB hit. He saw extended run in Week 17 in a 40-14 win over the New York Jets and led the team with eight tackles.Source: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
Buffalo Bills linebacker Joe Andreessen has put himself in a good position to compete for the backup middle linebacker job in training camp this summer, according to ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. Andreessen was mostly a special-teams player as a rookie in 2024 after being signed following a minicamp tryout. The 25-year-old saw increased time during minicamp due to Baylon Spector's injury and made multiple plys, including picking off quarterback Bhayshul Tuten Needs to Improve Pass Protection
Bhayshul Tuten was one of the fastest players in the 2025 NFL draft and ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, which was the fastest among RBs. Tuten has often been compared to Miami's De'Von Achane for his home run ability. However, he's on the small side at 5-foot-9 and 209 pounds, and head coach Liam Coen said that Tuten needs to improve in pass protection as he heads into his first year in the NFL. Barring a significant change in training camp and the preseason, Travis Etienne Jr. is expected to remain the team's starting back. The 23-year-old had 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns in 183 rushing yards last year at Virginia Tech. He's raw and needs to improve his ball security and pass protection, but his elite speed could get him on the field sooner than later in Jacksonville.Source: Jacksonville Florida Times-Union - Demetrius Harvey
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Watt Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac said on the Rich Eisen Show that Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is in a stalemate with the team regarding a contract extension because he "wants to be the highest-paid non-quarterback" in the league. Watt will turn 31 years old in October, so the Steelers don't want to do an extension for anything less than five years in order to spread the money out in terms of guarantees and a signing bonus. The Steelers want to bring Watt, one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, but they know it's not a smart business decision after they noticed a decline in his performance last year when he dropped from a league-leading 19 sacks in 2023 to 11.5 last year in 17 regular-season starts. The Steelers usually don't play hard ball with their stars, but this is something that could stretch well into training camp and the preseason.Joshua Palmer Could be a Sleeper
Joshua
Palmer
listed
as
a
sleeper
after
signing
a
three-year
deal
with
the
team
in
the
offseason.
Buscaglia
writes
that
Palmer's
potential
role
and
impact
in
thisread more...
The
Athletic's
Joe
Buscaglia
has
Buffalo
Bills
wide
receiver
Laviska Shenault Jr. on the Bubble
Laviska Shenault Jr. on the bubble watch heading into training camp. Shenault is likely best suited for the X receiver role behind Keon Coleman, and his run-after-the-catch skills and speed give him a real shot to with the kickoff-return job. The Bills made a low-cost investment in Shenault after liking him in the pre-draft process before his draft year. Despite all those things that Buscaglia mentions, he also writes that the odds are that Shenault doesn't make the team beyond training camp because they'll have answers elsewhere to the value he'd provide. If the 26-year-old doesn't make the 53-man roster, he'll be a prime candidate to be stashed on the practice squad for depth. Shenault caught just five passes for 36 yards as mostly a kickoff returner in 2024 with the Seahawks and Chargers.Source: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia lists Buffalo Bills wide receiver Raheem Blackshear to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Raheem
Blackshear
will
"almost
exclusively
be
a
special
teams
player"
in
2025
if
the
team
elects
to
keep
a
fourth
RB
around
beyond
training
camp,
writes
The
Charlotte
Observer's
Alex
Zietlow.
Theread more...
Carolina
Panthers
running
back
Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Rico
Dowdle
will
split
carries
with
rookie
Trevor
Etienne
as
the
backups
to
lead
back
Chubaread more...
The
Charlotte
Observer's
Alex
Zietlow
writes
that
Carolina
Panthers
running
back