7 hours agoFree-agent tight end Irv Smith Jr. agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, according to a source. Smith is a much-needed addition for the Bengals at the tight end position after they lost Hayden Hurst in free agency. Cincinnati also has Devin Asiasi, Tanner Hudson and Nick Bowers at the position. Smith should be the team's top pass-catcher at the position, but the Bengals could also add to the position in the draft. The 24-year-old former second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 hasn't been healthy the last two years and played in just eight games for the Vikes in 2022. If he can stay on the field, Smith could be a very sneaky fantasy option at the tight end position in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Peter Schrager

20 hours agoNew England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said on Monday that he hopes linebackers coach Jerod Mayo will eventually be the team's head coach whenever Bill Belichick decides to end his Hall of Fame career. "There's no ceiling on his ability to be a head coach, and he'll be a head coach," Kraft said at the owners meetings on Monday. "I'm sure of that. I hope he's with us. So we'll see what happens." Mayo has interviewed for head-coaching jobs in the last couple of years before agreeing to a long-term extension with the Patriots this offseason. He's been a de facto defensive coordinator alongside Steve Belichick for the last several years. Before he started coaching, the 37-year-old was a Pro Bowler and a highly respected captain in New England. Belichick, who turns 71 in April, is just 18 wins shy of matching Don Shula for the most wins in NFL history.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NESN - Zack Cox

20 hours agoFree-agent safety Taylor Rapp signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills on Monday, according to a source. Rapp was a former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, and he also visited with the New England Patriots in free agency before choosing the Bills. The 25-year-old spent his first four seasons in the NFL in LA, racking up 330 tackles (216 solo), 1.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, five QB hits, nine interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 23 passes defensed, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries in 57 games (48 starts). Rapp joins a team that already has safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, so he probably won't have a full-time starting role like he did with the Rams.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter

20 hours agoDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton thinks quarterback Jarrett Stidham was an "important signing" and believes he could one day become a starting QB in the NFL. The Broncos signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal in free agency to back up Russell Wilson in 2023. Wilson struggled mightily in his first year with Denver in 2022, but the team did not bring Stidham in to put pressure on him for the starting job. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2019 has played in 13 games (two starts) in his three NFL seasons, throwing for 926 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. In five games (two starts) with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, Stidham threw for 656 yards, four TDs and three interceptions.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens

20 hours agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew will compete for the team's starting job under center in 2023, according to new head coach Shane Steichen. "Right now, obviously, he's coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that's where we're going," Steichen said on if Minshew will be named the starter. "That's where we feel he's at right now and that's his role right now." Minshew and Steichen have spent the last two years together with the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Colts also have the No. 4 overall pick in next month's draft and could elect to take a franchise QB with that pick. If the Colts take a QB with their first pick, the 26-year-old Minshew will compete for the starting gig with him. Minshew started only four games the last two years with Philly, but he has 24 games of starting experience in the NFL in four seasons.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Brenna White

20 hours agoNew England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hinted that the team will have a competition at quarterback in 2023 between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Jones made the Pro Bowl and led the team to the playoffs as a rookie in 2021, but he regressed last year after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach. "Everybody will get a chance to play," Belichick said. "We'll play the best player." Owner Robert Kraft continues to support Jones publicly. The addition of offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien should put Jones in a better position to succeed again, but he'll have to win the job over Zappe in training camp this summer. Even if Jones remains the team's starter in 2023, he'll be an unappealing low-end QB2 in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Eric Edholm

20 hours agoDenver Broncos running back Samaje Perine could serve as the team's starting running back if Javonte Williams (knee) isn't ready to go for the start of the 2023 season. "Samaje (Perine), he can be a starter. He's good on first, second down. He's good on third down. He has really good hands. He's solid in protection. And we like Latavius Murray. We'll see where that goes," general manager George Paton said. Denver added Perine on a two-year, $7.5 million deal in free agency to add more depth to the position behind Williams, but Williams is coming off a serious knee injury in 2022 and might have to be eased in early on. Murray remains a free agent, and even if he were to re-sign, Perine could be ahead of him on the depth chart. The 27-year-old will be a handcuff option for those that draft Williams, and he could be an RB3/flex option in Week 1 if he's the starter.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Denver Gazette - Chris Tomasson

20 hours agoLos Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said he's "confident that Justin Herbert is gonna be our quarterback for a long time." Staley also said that contract-extension talks with Herbert and his representatives are in the early stages, but in the end, the two sides should be able to work something out. The Chargers are going to have to shell out quite a bit of money to keep the 25-year-old around. He hasn't had any postseason success in his first three NFL seasons, but the former first-rounder won the Rookie of the Year in 2020 and has proven to be one of the better signal-callers in the NFL, throwing for 14,089 yards, 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions in his first three NFL seasons. Herbert isn't an elite fantasy QB1, but he should at least be considered a midrange QB1 heading into 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chargers Twitter

22 hours agoThe Dallas Cowboys are open to re-signing running back Ezekiel Elliott after cutting the former No. 4 overall pick earlier this month after seven years with the team. The Cowboys saved over $10 million on the 2023 salary cap with the move, but head coach Mike McCarthy said the team might be willing to work something out to bring him back at a lower cost. Elliott scored 12 touchdowns in 2022, but he also had a career-low 876 rushing yards and was far less explosive than backfield mate Tony Pollard. The 27-year-old Elliott averaged 3.8 yards per attempt last year and is now more of a short-yardage/goal-line back in the NFL. Elliott has narrowed down his list of teams to the Eagles, Jets and Bengals, but it remains to be seen if that trio of teams wants to take on the aging back.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Kevin Patra

22 hours agoBaltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had a positive update on wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) at the NFL owners meetings on Monday. "Rashod is in a great place... He's healthy and going to be running in three weeks. I'm a big believer in Rashod Bateman," Harbaugh said. Bateman was only able to play in six games for Baltimore in 2022 due to a Lisfranc injury that required surgery. He finished with 15 catches on 28 targets for 285 yards and two touchdowns. The 23-year-old former first-rounder should be fully ready for training camp this summer and will be the team's top wideout once again in 2023. However, the situation looming with quarterback Lamar Jackson could cause Bateman's fantasy stock to plummet if the dual-threat QB ends up playing elsewhere.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Ravens Twitter

22 hours agoThe New York Giants are open to a potential reunion with free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The team's former first-round pick in 2014 played the first five years of his NFL career in New York before being traded to the Cleveland Browns. "We certainly haven't closed that door," owner John Mara said. "That's going to be up to Joe and [head coach Brian Daboll]. I certainly would be in favor of that it they can make it happen." The New York Jets are also very interested in adding Beckham, who is good friends with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. OBJ hasn't played since tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl two years ago with the Los Angeles Rams, but he looks healthy now and should join a team at some point this offseason. The G-Men have added Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder at the position already, but they could use more additions at wideout.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano

22 hours agoThe New York Giants placed the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley three weeks ago, but they have continued negotiations on a potential long-term contract extension. The two sides have until July 15 to sign a long-term deal before the start of the new season. Otherwise, Barkley will play 2023 on a one-year, $10.091 million deal. "I told Saquon we want him to be a Giant for his entire career," owner John Mara said during the owners meetings on Monday. Barkley was able to stay healthy in 2022 and was basically the Giants' entire offense, logging 295 carries for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, adding 57 receptions for 338 yards in 16 regular season games. He'll enter 2023 fantasy drafts as a high-end RB1.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano

22 hours agoThe Washington Commanders won't be one of the team's pursuing Baltimore Ravens franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson this offseason. "There are a number of reasons. I won't get into specifics. He's a very talented guy. He's one of the better QBs in this league. For us right now, we're moving forward with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett," general manager Martin Mayhew said. Jackson publicly requested a trade on Monday, but it remains to be seen if any team will step up to the plate and give Baltimore two first-round picks for the 26-year-old dual-threat QB. Jackson has missed some time at the end of the last two seasons due to injuries, but when healthy, he has been one of the most dynamic players at his position in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Ralph Vacchiano

22 hours agoIndianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard isn't ruling out the possibility that the team will pursue Baltimore Ravens franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson. "But I think anytime at that position we have a chance to acquire a guy, you've got do your work on it to see if it's doable. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not," Ballard said. Jackson formally requested a trade on his social-media account on Monday, and the Colts are the one team that hasn't denied being interested in landing the dual-threat QB this offseason. The Colts also have the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft, so if they can't find a way to get Jackson, they could certainly take their next franchise signal-caller in the draft.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder

22 hours agoGreen Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Monday that there is no timeline on trading quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but hopefully something will get done soon. The Packers don't necessarily need a first-round pick as compensation for the future Hall of Famer. Asked if there was any chance Rodgers would return to Green Bay, Gutekunst said it's not trending that way but that "all options are on the table." Rodgers wants to play for the Jets in 2023, and head coach Robert Saleh remains "confident" that they'll acquire Rodgers in a trade, according to ESPN New York's Rich Cimini. The Jets also are in no rush to do a trade, with Saleh saying the two sides could wait until training camp in late July. While it's still likely that Rodgers will be playing for the Jets in 2023, we'll continue to wait for something official.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero