May 12, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons signed rookie first-round edge rusher James Pearce Jr. to a four-year, fully guaranteed deal on Monday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Falcons made a big trade back up -- they gave up a second-rounder this year and a first-rounder next year -- into the first round of this year's draft to take Pearce with the 26th overall pick to help bolster the defensive side of the ball. The team also took linebacker Jalon Walker at 15th overall. Pearce was originally a potential top-five draft pick before he underwhelmed a bit in his senior season at Tennessee with 7.5 sacks. His size is a question mark for an outside edge rusher, but Pearce's athleticism isn't in question. The Falcons are hoping their selections of both Pearce and Walker pay off immediately and boost their pass rush in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
May 12, 2025
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round running back
Kaleb Johnson knows he must improve his pass-blocking skills if he wants to earn the coaching staff's trust with the hope of becoming an "every-down back" sooner than later. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,537), rushing touchdowns (21) and all-purpose yards (1,725) at Iowa in 2024. He's a scheme fit for Pittsburgh's zone-centric offense given his efficient production, writes The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. Even if the 21-year-old doesn't catch a ton of passes, he could stand out in fantasy with his big-play ability. There's opportunity in the Steel City, too, with
Najee Harris no longer in town. Johnson is likely going to share touches with
Jaylen Warren and
Kenneth Gainwell, but he probably has the highest fantasy upside of the trio already.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
May 12, 2025
The NFL announced on Monday that the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys will square off to open the 2025 regular season this fall in Week 1 on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 4. The Eagles and quarterback
Jalen Hurts and All-Pro running back
Saquon Barkley will look to get things started on the right foot in defense of their Super Bowl title in Brian Schottenheimer's first game as the head coach for Dallas. The Cowboys and quarterback
Dak Prescott, who is coming off a torn hamstring in 2024, will also be looking to start out strong after going a disappointing 7-10 last year and missing the playoffs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL
May
11,
2025
The
Houston
Texans
have
signed
fourth-round
rookie
running
back
Woody
Marks
to
a
four-year,
$5.2
million
deal.
Houston
traded
up
to
acquire
the
rights
to
the
USC
alum,
sending
a
future
third-rounder
to
the
Miami
Dolphins.
read more...
May 11, 2025
Former Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Isaiah Iton has agreed to terms on a one-year, $840,000 contract with the New England Patriots. The Houston native signed as an undrafted free agent with Tennessee following the 2024 NFL Draft, but did not make the team's active roster. Instead, he spent the entirety of last season on the Titans' practice squad. Iton spent his three collegiate seasons with two schools, transferring to Rutgers to complete his senior year after two campaigns with Ole Miss. Over 36 games at the college level, the 23-year-old amassed an unremarkable 62 tackles, one sack, and five tackles for loss. He'll compete for snaps on the Patriots' defensive front and is currently listed third at right-defensive end (unofficially) behind teammates Christian Barmore and Joshua Farmer.
--Alex CiullaSource: Bobby Deren
May 11, 2025
Per the team, the Washington Commanders have signed free agent offensive lineman Tyre Phillips to an undisclosed contract. The Mississippi State product spent his first two seasons in Baltimore when the organization selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 13 of 22 games as a Raven. After bouncing around between the Giants' and Eagles' practice squads over the prior three years, Phillips will continue his tenure in the NFC East as a member of the Commanders. The 28-year-old has generally graded as a better pass-blocker than run-blocker throughout his career, and stands to serve as a depth piece on Washington's offensive front. The Commanders have added six offensive linemen in free agency, and spent their first-round pick on tackle Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon, shoring up their protection in front of second-year signal-caller
Jayden Daniels.
--Alex CiullaSource: Zach Selby
May 11, 2025
Free-agent linebacker Jaylon Smith has agreed to terms on an undisclosed contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news. The soon-to-be 30-year-old last suited up briefly with the Raiders back in 2023, but was released after one appearance and found no new work in 2024. In an attempt to restart his career, Smith was held on a tryout basis during Las Vegas' minicamp over the weekend and made a good enough impression to get a shot at the team. The Notre Dame product was a productive player during his last full season (2020), racking up 154 tackles in 16 games, and more recently accruing 88 takedowns over 13 contests as a Giant in 2022. A veteran presence in the Raiders' linebacker room would be a welcome addition, but there's no telling what kind of condition he'll be in after nearly two years off. He likely operates in a depth role on defense, with the opportunity for more depending on his performance.
--Alex CiullaSource: ESPN
May 11, 2025
Tennessee Titans rookie running back
Kalel Mullings (abdomen) is recovering from offseason core-muscle surgery and will be limited at the team's rookie minicamp, according to the Nashville Post's John Glennon. Additionally, rookie safety Kevin Winston Jr. (knee) is not participating at minicamp, although he's getting closer to a return from his knee injury. The 22-year-old Mullings was taken in the sixth round of this year's NFL draft. When he's cleared from his injury, he will compete for the RB3 role in Tennessee in his first year in the league behind running backs
Tony Pollard and
Tyjae Spears. Mullings won't have any redraft fantasy value in 2025 unless one of Pollard or Spears miss time with injury. Winston, who was taken in the third round, is recovering from a torn right ACL that caused him to miss most of the 2024 season at Penn State.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Nashville Post - John Glennon
May 11, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent running back
Trey Sermon to an undisclosed one-year deal on Sunday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Sermon will head to the AFC North after spending the last two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts as a backup to
Jonathan Taylor, where he saw 91 carries for 319 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns on the ground in 31 games (three starts). He added 19 receptions on 25 targets for 112 yards through the air. The 26-year-old former third-rounder (88th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 out of Ohio State will now join a crowded backfield in Pittsburgh that includes rookie third-rounder
Kaleb Johnson,
Jaylen Warren and free-agent acquisition
Kenneth Gainwell. Sermon only averaged 2.8 yards a carry in 2024 and will likely need an injury or two to resurface on the fantasy radar in the Steel City.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
May 11, 2025
New Orleans Saints rookie fourth-round cornerback Quincy Riley (undisclosed) is recovering from an undisclosed surgery and did not take part in drills at rookie minicamp on Saturday, according to The New Orleans Times-Picayune's Matthew Paras. Head coach Kellen Moore said that Riley's surgery was not related to the ankle injury that he dealt with in college at Louisville. The young defensive back is missing valuable reps with the rest of the team's rookies, and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready for on-field work during organized team activities in late May. Hopefully, Riley will at least be ready for the start of training camp at the end of July. Even if Riley is ready to go for OTAs later this month and mandatory minicamp in June, he'll be competing for a depth role with the Saints as he heads into his first year in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The New Orleans Times-Picayune - Matthew Paras
May
11,
2025
In
the
wake
of
quarterback
Derek
Carr's
(shoulder)
retirement
on
Saturday,
New
Orleans
Saints
head
coach
Kellen
Moore
said
that
the
team
will
rotation
all
of
their
quarterbacks
--
rookie
second-rounder
Tylerread more...
May 11, 2025
The Denver Broncos have intentionally been getting rookie second-round running back
RJ Harvey pass-catching reps in rookie minicamp. General manager George Paton said that Harvey might have the best vision of any RB in this year's NFL draft. The young runner set Central Florida's all-time touchdown record and led the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns in his final season in 2024. He also became the second player in school history to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Harvey caught only 20 passes at UCF last season, but head coach Sean Payton said Harvey will have the ability to play on third down -- in addition to first and second own -- because of a variety of protection options. It sounds like Payton plans on using Harvey more as a pass-catcher at the next level, and he has the skills to become a three-down back sooner than later for the Broncos in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DenverBroncos.com - Aric DiLalla
May
11,
2025
Chicago
Bears
rookie
second-round
wide
receiver
Luther
Burden
III
still
feels
disrespected
that
he
wasn't
selected
in
the
first
round
of
this
year's
NFL
draft.
"I
feel
like
teams
that
passed
up
on
me
are
read more...
May 10, 2025
Per the team's transaction log, the Cleveland Browns have signed fourth-round running back
Dylan Sampson and second-round linebacker Carson Schwesinger to their rookie contracts. Schwesinger will make $11.8 million over his four-year deal, while Sampson is set to make $5.13 million over his. Sampson, 20, broke out in his final season at Tennessee with a stellar 1,491 yards and 22 TDs over 258 carries, adding another 20 catches and 143 yards through the air. He took home SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Schwesinger, on the other hand, was a Butkus Award finalist (nation's best linebacker) and ranked third in the FBS with 136 total tackles. Sampson's path to playing time is a little murkier than Schwesinger's, as the latter should push for immediate snaps in the Browns' linebacker room. Still, both players stand to make an impact on a rebuilding Cleveland roster in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Cleveland Browns
May 10, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts have signed rookie wide receiver
Blayne Taylor, among 13 other undrafted free agents, on Friday. Taylor appeared in 51 games over three years at Abilene Christian and one at Cisco College, but did his best work in his final season as a Wildcat. In 2024, the Texas native garnered Second Team All-UAC honors with 73 receptions, 1,117 yards, and eight touchdowns. He's a big, explosive, wideout who tested well at his pro day and would be an exciting NFL talent if he could put it all together at the next level. However, Taylor still has some holes in his game and requires polish. The 6-foot-3 wideout's athleticism alone gives him a shot in the NFL. We'll see if he can do enough to make the team's roster over the next few months.
--Alex CiullaSource: Indianapolis Colts
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