2 days agoThe Los Angeles Chargers exercised the 2025 fifth-year option on left tackle Rashawn Slater on Saturday, according to a source. Slater and Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, will now bookend the team's offensive line for quarterback
Justin Herbert going forward. This one comes as no surprise as new head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman look to shore up the team's offensive line with a new emphasis on the ground game in 2024 and beyond. Slater graded out as Pro Football Focus' fourth-best pass-blocking offensive lineman on Herbert's blind side. The addition of Alt to the right side should only strengthen Herbert's protection while also being good news for LA's ground game.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
2 days agoThe Denver Broncos traded up to the No. 102 spot with the Seattle Seahawks to select Oregon wide receiver
Troy Franklin in the fourth round of this year's draft. Franklin now reunites with his former quarterback,
Bo Nix, who the Broncos selected on Thursday evening with the 12th overall pick. Franklin has elite speed and can easily create separation from the defense. The 21-year-old has excellent YAC ability and should be considered an explosive playmaker. Franklin totaled 1,383 receiving yards and 14 scores on 81 catches last year. Franklin joins a wide receiver room in Denver that finished towards the bottom in total receiving yards last season, which could open the door for him to contribute immediately in fantasy. He should slot behind veteran
Courtland Sutton at the start of the season but could easily carve out a role, making him viable in redraft formats. Franklin should be a popular second-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoAfter plenty of trade rumors swirling around wide receivers
Deebo Samuel and
Brandon Aiyuk leading up to this year's draft, the San Francisco 49ers have not dealt either of them through the first three rounds. "We didn't entertain any of that today. We're happy with our wide receiver group. Actually, more than happy. We're thrilled with it. And thrilled to add Ricky to it to make it stronger," general manager John Lynch said. The Niners have definitely been listening to trade offers for both wideouts, but apparently they just haven't been able to work anything out. Aiyuk is looking for a new long-term deal as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal, while Samuel is set to count over $20 million against the salary cap next year. Something's got to give. Now that we're onto Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, it's more likely than not that both Aiyuk and Samuel will stick around for the 2024 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Jose Mercury News - Cam Inman
3 days agoThe Washington Commanders have selected Rice University wide receiver
Luke McCaffrey with the 100th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The pick marked the end of Round 3 and Day 2 of the draft. McCaffrey is a converted quarterback who transferred from Nebraska to Rice during the middle of his collegiate career. He truly broke out during his final season with the Owls, catching 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for an additional 117 yards on the ground. The brother of 49ers star
Christian McCaffrey and son of three-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey, Luke demonstrated extreme leadership, football IQ, physicality, athleticism, and route running skills at Rice. He excelled in contested catch scenarios and should be a very reliable weapon for the Commanders and new quarterback
Jayden Daniels. He figures to enter training camp as Washington's No. 3 wide receiver behind
Terry McLaurin and
Jahan Dotson.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Washington wide receiver
Jalen McMillan with the 92nd overall pick in the NFL draft. McMillan totaled 559 yards on 45 catches with five scores in 11 games last season. He plays mostly from the slot and did have a nagging knee injury that limited his catches considerably compared to 2022, where he caught 79 passes. The 22-year-old does well in changing speeds in a route to put defensive backs on their heels. McMillan joins a veteran-led wide receiver room with
Mike Evans and
Chris Godwin. McMillan should be in contention to serve as the number three option with
Trey Palmer, who Tampa selected last season. McMillan should be a popular pick in rookie drafts and could carve out a role in redraft as well.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe Green Bay Packers selected USC running back
MarShawn Lloyd with the 88th pick in the NFL draft. Lloyd is credited for having great acceleration and the ability to bounce outside the tackles. He averaged over seven yards per carry last season, which showcases his big-play ability. The 23-year-old ran for 820 yards and nine scores last season. Lloyd joins a running back room that just welcomed
Josh Jacobs, which will limit his fantasy value early on, but he could grow into a part-time contributor over the course of his rookie season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe Cardinals selected University of Illinois tight end
Tip Reiman with the No. 82 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He played four years at Illinois, totaling 420 yards and five touchdowns off 41 catches. While the 22-year-old has plenty of positive attributes, he wasn't as productive at the collegiate level as others in his class. With that said, Reiman will have a chance to carve out playing time in Arizona, a team in a transition phase. However, he'll need to compete for snaps with
Trey McBride, one of the league's emerging tight ends.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers have selected University of Michigan wide receiver
Roman Wilson with the No. 84 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old was one of
J.J. McCarthy's favorite targets on the national champion Wolverines. He caught 49 passes for 789 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, showcasing his speed, hands, and route running skills on a national stage. The Steelers have been looking for wide receiver help ever since trading
Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Wilson could immediately slot into the Steelers' No. 2 wide receiver role alongside
George Pickens, giving him appeal in both redraft and dynasty leagues.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoThe Los Angeles Rams have selected University of Michigan running back
Blake Corum with the No. 83 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The national champion is the third running back off the board following Texas'
Jonathon Brooks and Florida State's
Trey Benson. He totaled 2,905 scrimmage yards and a whopping 47 touchdowns over his last two seasons. He's not a major contributor in the passing game but clearly carves out plenty of work on the ground and near the goal line.
Kyren Williams is still Los Angeles' top running back, but Corum should carve out a role and could even have immediate fantasy appeal given his nose for the end zone.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoThe Bengals selected Alabama wide receiver
Jermaine Burton with the No. 80 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The 22-year-old began his collegiate career at Georgia. However, he played at Alabama in the last two seasons. During his time with the Crimson Tide, he totaled 79 catches for 1,479 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also averaged 20.5 yards per catch as a senior. It will be tough for anyone to get consistently involved offensively with
Ja'Marr Chase and potentially
Tee Higgins in the equation. However, If Burton gets snaps, he could flourish catching passes from
Joe Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoThe Arizona Cardinals selected Florida State running back
Trey Benson with the 66th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Benson could be the most complete running back in the draft class. He excelled at breaking tackles, setting the single-season FBS record by forcing 0.51 missed tackles per run. The 21-year-old also possesses great breakaway speed with 14 runs of 20 or more yards (ninth in FBS). Last season, Benson ran for 906 yards on the ground and 227 through the air and 15 total scores. He will join veteran James Connor, who could limit his fantasy value early on, but he should be an early second-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe New York Jets traded up with the Carolina Panthers to select Western Kentucky wide receiver
Malachi Corley. Corley led the nation in yards after catch over the past two seasons, has great elusiveness, and had the most receptions in the FBS over the past three seasons with 253. The 22-year-old can threaten vertically as well and should be a strong deep threat option for
Aaron Rodgers. Corley joins a wide receiver room with star
Garrett Wilson and newly acquired
Mike Williams. Corley could be a sleeper pick in fantasy this season as he could slot in as the number two option with the injury-prone Mike Williams.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoThe Commanders selected Kansas State tight end
Ben Sinnott with the No. 53 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 21-year-old is coming off the best collegiate season of his career, totaling 49 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns. While he's still young, he has the tools needed to be a potent pass-catcher moving ahead. Of course, Sinnott will have to contend with
Zach Ertz for playing time. It could also take
Jayden Daniels some time to find his rhythm in Washington, meaning Sinnott might not be productive immediately.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Ari Meirov
3 days agoThe Indianapolis Colts selected Texas wide receiver
Adonai Mitchell with the No. 52 overall pick of the second round in the 2024 NFL draft. Mitchell was rumored to be taken as high as the middle of Round 1, but he ultimately fell a bit and landed with quarterback Anthony Richarson. Mitchell spent two seasons at Georgia before transferring to the Longhorns, where he racked up 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing alongside
Xavier Worthy and J'Tavion Sanders. With
Michael Pittman Jr. in town, Mitchell might be capped in the WR2 role, but the development of Richardson will dictate how much upside he may have.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoThe Carolina Panthers traded with the Indianapolis Colts to move up to the 46th spot to select Texas Longhorns running back
Jonathon Brooks (knee). He was behind
Bijan Robinson and
Roschon Johnson on the Texas depth chart for two seasons. However, he broke out in 2023 with 1,139 yards and 10 rushing scores and was named second-team All-Big 12. The 20-year-old tore his ACL late in the season but should be ready for training camp. Brooks joins a crowded running back room with
Chuba Hubbard and
Miles Sanders, which could limit his fantasy value early in the season, but he should be a late first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
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