2 days agoFormer Southern California and South Carolina running back
MarShawn Lloyd is viewed as a top-five running back in the 2024 NFL Draft class, and NFL insider Tom Pelissero believes he could be the first ball carrier selected. The 23-year-old missed his entire freshman season at South Carolina with a torn ACL and handled just 196 touches for 1,021 yards and 12 total touchdowns over his next two seasons. He transferred to Southern Cal for the 2023 campaign and posted 820 rushing yards (7.1 YPC), 232 receiving yards (17.8 YPR), and nine total touchdowns. He turned heads at the 2024 NFL Combine with a 4.46 forty-yard dash time at 220 pounds, and in a weak running back draft class, that might have been enough to push him into the RB1 spot for some NFL squads.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 days agoFormer Oklahoma and South Carolina quarterback
Spencer Rattler was once viewed as a potential first-round pick after being a five-star recruit in the high-school class of 2019. His career did not go as expected, but he's thought to be the next-best quarterback on the board in the 2024 NFL draft. The first round saw six signal-callers selected in the top 12 picks, and any other teams looking to take a flyer on a quarterback likely have Rattler on their radar. The Around The NFL staff at NFL.com expects the 23-year-old to be selected in Round 3, but the run of quarterbacks on Day 1 could push him up to Round 2. Rattler threw for 10,807 yards, 77 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 48 games with the Sooners and Gamecocks.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 days agoThe Carolina Panthers officially picked up the fifth-year option for standout cornerback Jaycee Horn on Friday, according to sources. Despite playing in only six games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, Horn will have his fifth-year option picked up. The 24-year-old former eighth overall pick by Carolina in 2021 out of South Carolina had 27 tackles (20 solo) and five passes defensed in his six starts last season. He's only played in 22 games in his first three years in the league due to injuries, so picking up Horn's fifth-year option was far from a guarantee. In his three years in the NFL, Horn has produced 85 tackles (60 solo), four interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 22 starts. The Panthers are taking a bit of a gamble and are hoping the defensive back can avoid the injury bug moving forward.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Buffalo Bills have interest in trading for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Deebo Samuel, according to league sources. Now that the first round of the 2024 NFL draft is in the books, Niners wideout
Brandon Aiyuk is less likely to be traded than Samuel, who has a 2025 salary cap number over $20 million. Not only are the Bills extremely desperate for a receiver after trading
Stefon Diggs and losing
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, but they acquired extra picks in this year's draft by trading down twice late in the first round on Thursday night. A move to Buffalo would immediately make Samuel the team's top wideout for Pro Bowl quarterback
Josh Allen and allow him to retain plenty of fantasy value given his after-the-catch abilities. Stay tuned.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Sports Journal - Mike Giardi
2 days agoRookie quarterback
Drake Maye, who was taken third overall in this year's NFL draft by the New England Patriots on Thursday night, will initially compete with veteran
Jacoby Brissett for the starting job in 2024. The Patriots also
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2 days agoThe Buffalo Bills traded down twice on Thursday night to drop out of the first round of the NFL draft and now hold the 33rd pick, the first selection in the second round. There are a few players they really like who are under consideration, but they've already received calls from teams considering trading up. After trading down twice on Thursday night, the Bills moved up 38 spots in the later rounds with their first trade and 59 spots with their second swap. Buffalo was criticized heavily for trading back twice late in the first round, only to see both the Chiefs and Panthers take receivers with those picks. The Bills are desperately in need of receiving help after trading
Stefon Diggs and losing
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, but they could still select one they are high on at No. 33 overall.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said former Texas running back
Jonathon Brooks had the best pre-draft interview of any young prospect Jones has spoken to in 30 years. "We got him high, high (on our board). He's a good player," Jones said. Meanwhile, the
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2 days agoThe Dallas Cowboys could draft a running back on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday night with one of their three picks, but that choice won't change the expectation that free-agent running back
Ezekiel Elliott will return to Dallas' backfield in 2024 to complement and help mentor a rookie. Dallas Morning News' Michael Gehlken is reporting that Elliott's signing with the Cowboys is increasingly imminent. Elliott's agent met with Dallas on Wednesday, and the Cowboys have been connected with the 28-year-old RB throughout the offseason. The Cowboys lost
Tony Pollard to free agency this offseason but have
Rico Dowdle and
Deuce Vaughn. If Elliott were to return to Big D, he'll be in a complementary role and will be an RB3/flex, at best, in fantasy after putting up a career-low 3.5 yards per carry in 2023 with New England.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Michael Gehlken
2 days agoThe New England Patriots had preliminary trade discussions on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Deebo Samuel prior to the start of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, according to a source. Niners receiver
Brandon Aiyuk has been in trade talks all offseason, but Samuel's name has surfaced of late, and a report on Thursday night suggested he's now more likely to be dealt by San Fran than Aiyuk. The 49ers also took wideout
Ricky Pearsall with their first-round pick (31st overall) on Thursday night, suggesting they could be beefing up their receiver room in the event they trade one of Samuel or Aiyuk. The Patriots are desperate to add a receiver, especially after taking rookie quarterback
Drake Maye third overall in the first round. Samuel's fantasy stock would take a big hit if he were to move to New England.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: CBS Sports - Josina Anderson
2 days agoCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson requested a trade on Wednesday, according to his agent, Harold Lewis, as he seeks more long-term security after the two sides settled on a one-year extension last year worth $21 million. However, a source said that the Bengals are not interested in trading Hendrickson. It's not surprise that Hendrickson is looking for a new deal after posting a career-high 17.5 sacks, which was second in the NFL behind Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt. It was the highest total for a Bengals player since sacks became a statistic in 1982. He also finished 11th in pass-rush win rate as an edge rusher and created the second-most sacks (18) in the league. Contract issues aside, Hendrickson is going to be a very coveted defensive lineman in IDP fantasy formats this fall after his big 2023 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Ben Baby
2 days agoIn recent weeks, both the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings reached out to the Los Angeles Chargers to see if they had any interest in trading quarterback
Justin Herbert, according to league sources. The answer they got very quickly was "a flat
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2 days agoThe San Francisco 49ers are "more likely" to trade wide receiver
Deebo Samuel than
Brandon Aiyuk during this year's 2024 NFL draft. Aiyuk's name has been mentioned in trade rumors all offseason, but now Samuel is the more likely pass-catcher to be dealt. Samuel, 28, is two years older than Aiyuk but has more versatility in the offense. However, Samuel also has a salary cap hit north of $20 million in 2025. Aiyuk is looking for a new long-term deal as he heads into the fifth and final contract of his rookie deal, but the Niners have been hesitant to give him a market deal given their other financial commitments. San Francisco took rookie pass-catcher
Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick in the first round on Thursday night, potentially foreshadowing a trade of either Samuel or Aiyuk in the coming days.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Michael Silver
2 days agoThe Carolina Panthers traded up with the Buffalo Bills at No. 32 overall to select South Carolina wide receiver
Xavier Legette to close out the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. The Bills curiously traded down twice from their initial pick of No. 28 to land at No. 33 (first pick of Round 2) despite desperately needing receiver help, and three wideouts came off the board to close out the first round. Legette, 23, is a much-needed offensive weapon for second-year QB
Bryce Young and will join
Diontae Johnson,
Jonathan Mingo and veteran
Adam Thielen in their WR room in 2024. Legette isn't the greatest of route-runners and is susceptible to press coverage at the line, but he has excellent ball skills and could be a solid deep and red-zone threat for Young. The landing spot isn't great for Legette's potential for fantasy value in Year 1.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 days agoThe San Francisco 49ers selected Florida wide receiver
Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. The 49ers have questions about their top three receivers in
Brandon Aiyuk,
Deebo Samuel and
Jauan Jennings, with Aiyuk and Samuel being potential trade options during the draft, so the selection of the 23-year-old Pearsall makes sense for the organization. Pearsall tested very well at the scouting combine with a 42.5-inch vertical jump. He was an intriguing prospect to begin with and now gains some steam going to San Fran, especially if the Niners eventually trade one of Aiyuk or Samuel. Pearsall is old for a rookie, but he can make plays all over the field and has strong hands and great body control. Depending on what happens with Aiyuk/Samuel, Pearsall could have some sleeper value in rookie-only fantasy drafts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 days agoThe Baltimore Ravens selected Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Wiggins is tall, long and fast with rare recovery speed at the cornerback position. "He has better physical talent than Devon Witherspoon, but he doesn't have that same level of dog in him. That's probably the biggest difference right now. I think Wiggins is the better prospect, though," according to an NFC national scout. If Wiggins can play with more decisiveness, he could very well become a Pro Bowler at the next level. The 20-year-old isn't very big (6-foot-1, 173 pounds), though, and he could have trouble wrapping up and stopping the run. Wiggins needs to get bigger and stronger, but early on, his elite speed will cover up some of his weaknesses.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
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