2 days agoThe Athletic's Chad Graff believes the New England Patriots will be content cutting both wide receivers
JuJu Smith-Schuster and
Tyquan Thornton this year after they added rookies
Ja'Lynn Polk and
Javon Baker with two of their first five draft picks this year. The team would have to eat more than $9 million in dead money if they decide to cut Smith-Schuster. Thornton is the only true speedster in the receiver room, but the former second-rounder in 2022 out of Baylor has been a disappointment in his first two NFL seasons. In 22 total games (12 starts), the 23-year-old has just 35 receptions on 68 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Right now,
Kendrick Bourne, Polk,
Demario Douglas, Baker,
K.J. Osborn and
Jalen Reagor figure to be on the final roster at the position.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Chad Graff
2 days agoThe New Orleans Saints took former South Carolina quarterback
Spencer Rattler in the fifth round, mainly because two teams that were very high on him -- the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos -- drafted QBs in the top 12 this year. Despite his drop in this year's NFL draft, Rattler is not perceived as 138 picks worse than
Bo Nix, as some evaluators had Rattler awfully close to the same tier as Nix, who went 12th overall to Denver. One team source had zero issues with the perceived image concerns facing Rattler, who appearance in the documentary "QB1" during his high school career didn't portray his personality in the best light. Going into his first NFL season in New Orleans, Rattler is facing an uphill battle to win the No. 2 job from
Jake Haener in training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 days agoCarolina Panthers wide receiver
Xavier Legette, who was taken with the final pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft after the Panthers traded up, has drawn comparisons from scouts to Seattle Seahawks receiver
DK Metcalf, mainly because of his 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame. "Not quite the athlete Metcalf is but he's got some game-breaking ability like that, and he can do a little more with versatility as a runner and pass-catcher," an NFL personnel evaluator said. Second-year quarterback
Bryce Young could certainly use some more playmakers like that after a disastrous rookie season. The 23-year-old Legette is probably going to struggle to produce consistently for fantasy managers in single-year leagues in 2024, especially after Carolina also added wideout
Diontae Johnson in free agency this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 days agoThe Atlanta Falcons shocked the world in this year's NFL draft when they took quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. at eighth overall despite just signing
Kirk Cousins to a big deal in free agency in the offseason. Word spread a week before the draft that the Falcons loved Penix, to the extent that he ranked as high as No. 2 overall at the QB position. The team's brass flew to Seattle to watch Penix throw for a few hours in a private setting on April 5. According to sources, owner Arthur Blank fully endorsed long-term stability at the position. Cousins is 35 years old and coming off a torn Achilles last year, so Penix will give them that long-term stability at the position that Blank was seeking. Atlanta was criticized for the pick since they had plenty of other needs, but they could look smart years down the line when they transition Penix into the starting role.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 days agoThe Washington Commanders took Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton on Day 2 of this year's NFL draft, giving the team three talented tackles in Newton and Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. A few league executives are now wondering if Washington will ever consider trade offers for Allen, who is due $15.4 million in 2024 and $16.5 million next year, both figures below market for high-end tackles. Sources believe the Commanders will either need to rework Allen's contract eventually or decide whether they will entertain trade offers, which they have so far rebuffed in the past. For now, head coach Dan Quinn can concoct a plan to get all three defensive tackles on the field. The 29-year-old Allen finished last year with 53 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 sacks and a pass defended in 16 games. Because of his struggles last year defending the run, perhaps he's moved outside more after the addition of Newton.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 days agoNew England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) said that he's mostly recovered from the shoulder injury that he suffered in his rookie season in 2023. "That's in the past. I'm ready for right now," Gonzalez said. However, he's unsure what his participation will be like for organized team activities this offseason. The 21-year-old was the 17th overall pick in 2023 out of Oregon but only played in four games last year before his first year in the NFL was cut short due a torn labrum in his right shoulder that required surgery. He's likely to be limited in offseason workouts and possibly even for the start of training camp, but barring a setback, it sounds like he'll be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. It's great news for New England's secondary.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
2 days agoThe Tennessee Titans are signing veteran free-agent wide receiver
Tyler Boyd to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former Cincinnati Bengal visited Tennessee last week and will now reunite with his former offensive coordinator and
read more...
2 days agoNew Orleans Saints quarterback
Spencer Rattler has an uphill climb to earn backup duties to veteran
Derek Carr in his rookie season, which is why
Jake Haener currently looks to be the favorite
read more...
2 days agoFormer New Orleans Saints starting offensive lineman Andrus Peat signed an undisclosed deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, according to a source. The move will give the Raiders some additional offensive-line depth after this year's draft. The 30-year-old was originally the 13th overall pick by the Saints in 2015 out of Stanford. Peat spent the first nine years of his NFL career in New Orleans before joining the Raiders this offseason. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls in 2018 through 2020, but he'll enter the 2024 campaign as a backup behind starting left guard
Dylan Parham. In his nine NFL seasons, Peat has started 102 of the 111 games in which he's appeared in.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe New England Patriots informed quarterback
Nathan Rourke that he is being waived on Monday, according to sources. The move thins the team's quarterback room to four -- veteran
Jacoby Brissett, rookie third overall pick
Drake Maye,
Bailey Zappe and rookie
Joe Milton III. The move shouldn't come as a surprise after the Patriots selected two quarterbacks in this year's NFL draft. The 25-year-old Rourke has never appeared in an NFL game, although he did make 11 starts in 2021 and 2022 with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Rourke will now look for another opportunity elsewhere as a depth option at the position with another NFL team.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
2 days agoCincinnati Bengals quarterback
Joe Burrow (wrist) got glowing reviews while throwing at Monday's offseason workout. Burrow has been throwing during the offseason as he recovers from his injured right wrist, but Monday was the first day of Phase 2 of the team's offseason program. "He didn't miss a beat. Whatever he did in the offseason worked," receiver Kwamie Lassiter said. Burrow went through everything new QBs coach Brad Kragthorpe asked of him during the one-hour workout, which included footwork drills around obstacles. "I think he looked as quick and as athletic as I've seen him look," Kragthorpe said. "He looked like the Joe Burrow we're used to seeing. I didn't see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I'm happy where he's at."
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bengals.com - Geoff Hobson
2 days agoHouston Texans wide receiver
Tank Dell (leg) continues to recover from a gunshot wound sustained nearly a week ago. The 24-year-old, who was an innocent bystander during the shooting, still has some hurdles to clear, especially after also sustaining a fractured Fibula at the end of last season. However, he's expected to be cleared before training camp, although his status for Week 1 remains uncertain. Yet, if things continue to move positively, there's a good chance he'll be out there when the Texans begin their season. Dell finished the 2023-24 campaign by amassing 709 yards and seven touchdowns off 47 receptions. While fantasy managers are concerned about the injury and the potential for a decrease in production after the team added
Stefon Diggs, Dell could still find himself surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark in the Texans' high-powered offense.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
2 days agoCleveland Browns quarterback
Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has had well-documented struggles since being traded from the Houston Texans ahead of the 2022 season. He's appeared in just 12 games over the last two years, completing just under 60% of his passes for 2,217 yards,
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2 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy is coming along quickly at rookie minicamp, according to head coach Andy Reid. "I thought he did a nice job picking things up," Reid said "We asked him to do a whole lot of stuff there. He was put in mostly the primary spots, so it was good for him to get in there and move around a little bit." The speedster out of Texas recorded two touchdowns in 7-on-7 drills on Monday, according to ArrowHeadPride.com. This year's No. 28 overall pick will have sky-high expectations right away because of his situation with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes and his record-breaking 4.21 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine. However, Kansas City has a complex offense to learn, and the pass-catching trio of
Travis Kelce,
Marquise Brown, and
Rashee Rice presents stiff target competition for Worthy in Year 1.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ArrowHeadPride.com
2 days agoTampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Rachaad White saw 75.3% of the team's running back carries and targets in 2023, but running back coach Skip Peete said there will be more competition for touches this season. Tampa Bay selected Oregon running back
Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while
Chase Edmonds and 2023 undrafted free agent
Sean Tucker remain on the roster. Ultimately, none of the running backs behind White are expensive investments for the organization, and it's always tricky to know whether a coach is being transparent or just trying to motivate the players in his position room. White was the RB4 overall (PPR) last season behind 990 rushing yards, 549 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. Although he could see his rushing volume take a hit, his receiving skill set that he's flashed since his collegiate career at Arizona State should keep him on the field for high-yield fantasy situations.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pewter Report
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