3 days agoPittsburgh Steelers six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Heyward hasn't attended the team's voluntary offseason workouts and doesn't plan to attend organized team activities as he seeks a contract extension, according to sources. Heyward is a long-time team captain who has never missed an offseason program. The 35-year-old former 31st overall pick by the Steelers in 2011 out of Ohio State is entering the final year of his four-year, $65 million deal. The 35-year-old has obviously been one of the faces of the franchises for a long time now, but he played in only 11 games due to a core injury in 2023 and finished with just 33 tackles (25 solo), two sacks, six tackles for loss and a pass defended. Contract issues aside, Heyward is expected to be a full-go for the start of training camp and the 2024 regular season. He has 80.5 career sacks and could be streamer in IDP leagues in good matchups if he's healthy in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver
Jermaine Burton has left a positive impression on the coaching staff despite being drafted less than two weeks ago. According to SI's Albert Breer, Burton has already shown the Bengals that he is a "competitive kid who has good ball skills and the explosiveness to separate from coverage in the NFL." Breer noted that Burton has worked through some off-the-field issues but has the talent needed to make an impact at the pro level. He's currently competing for the No. 3 receiver role behind
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins. Such a position on the depth chart was most recently occupied by
Tyler Boyd. The Bengals would love to get production out of Burton in his first pro season, and as Breer points out, he could benefit from Chase and Higgins drawing away coverage.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Albert Breer
3 days agoIndianapolis Colts quarterback
Anthony Richardson (shoulder) has demonstrated more knowledge and maturity this offseason, quarterbacks coach Cam Turner told the media. "He's the same athletic Anthony that we know, but in the meeting room, he's taking that step as far as the knowledge
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3 days agoThe Washington Commanders have signed free agent wide receiver
Damiere Byrd following a workout, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The veteran is entering his ninth season in the league, but he's never finished higher than the WR67 in fantasy football. He spent the last two years with the Atlanta Falcons but registered just two targets during one game in 2023. Byrd represents a low-risk signing for the Commanders, and he'll be tasked with competing for a roster spot while leaving his veteran impact on some of his younger teammates in Washington.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoCincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins continues to grow frustrated as his trade request from last month has gone unanswered. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Higgins is "pissed" about the lack of a shared vision between himself and the team. Higgins was once said to be seeking a deal similar to
Michael Pittman Jr.'s three-year, $70 million pact, but Cincinnati reportedly never came close to that price tag. This prompted the talented receiver to request a trade, but the Bengals made it clear (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN) that they have "no plans" to trade him. Therefore, the stalemate continues between Cincinnati and Higgins. One has to wonder if too many bridges have been burned and a holdout might be in the cards.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars signed undrafted free-agent wide receiver
Wayne Ruby on Wednesday, according to NFL.com. Ruby played his college football at the University of Mount Union of Division III, and his final three seasons put him on the NFL radar. From 2021 to 2023, Ruby caught 285 passes for 4,382 yards and a whopping 58 touchdowns, according to the school's website. He'll have a shot at competing for a roster spot this offseason. Although he's unlikely to see meaningful playing time in 2024, he could beat out end-of-the-bench wideouts like
Tim Jones,
Seth Williams, and
Elijah Cooks to earn a special teams role as a rookie.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoChicago Bears quarterback and No. 1 overall pick
Caleb Williams will begin his career at home against the Tennessee Titans, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The former USC star will have no shortage of weapons to work with to begin his career, so he could get out to a hot start with
Keenan Allen,
DJ Moore, and Rome Oduzne out wide. Tennessee was a middle-of-the-pack team against the pass last season, but the organization signed former Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator and added cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie to the back end of the defense. Overall, it should be a great first test for one of the highest-regarded quarterback prospects of the 21st century.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
3 days agoVeteran free-agent punter Trenton Gill is signing with the Denver Broncos, according to NFL.com. The 25-year-old was released after two seasons with the Chicago Bears following the organization selecting Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Gill has punted 133 times for an average of 46.1 yards per punt and pinned 38 kicks inside the 20-yard line in 34 career games. If he beats out Riley Dixon for the starting punting duties, he'll get to kick in Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, which gives kickers and punters extra distance thanks to its high elevation.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
3 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Houston Texans will host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day during the 2024 NFL season. For different reasons, all four teams will be interesting to monitor this year. Kansas City is aiming to be the first franchise to win three straight Super Bowls, Pittsburgh will be led by
Russell Wilson or
Justin Fields, Baltimore looks to get over the hump in search of a Lombardi Trophy, and Houston was one of last year's big surprise teams to contend in the playoffs. With no shortage of disappointing primetime matchups over the last few years, games featuring stars like
Patrick Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson,
C.J. Stroud, T.J. Watt, and more on Christmas should be exciting. These two Christmas Day games will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
3 days agoThe New York Giants will debut on the HBO show Hard Knocks: Offseason in 2024 in their 100th season in the NFL. The show will feature the Giants for the first time since the series' debut in 2001 as the four-time Super Bowl-winning franchise prepares for its 100th season. It will be the first iteration of Hard Knocks to document the NFL offseason, chronicling the G-Men's moves from January to July. The five-episode season will debut on Tuesday, July 2. Hard Knocks has been in New York twice before with the Jets in 2010 and 2023 and has also followed the Dallas Cowboys three different times (2002, 2008, 2021). In New York, this will be their first year without running back
Saquon Barkley while quarterback
Daniel Jones (knee) tries to come back from a torn ACL in 2023. New York took receiver
Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick in this year's draft.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com - Grant Gordon
3 days agoThe National Football League revealed the entire 2024 season schedule on Monday. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will face off to open the international slate in Week 1 on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They will be followed by the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 6 in London, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears on Oct. 13 in London, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 20 in London, and the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10 in Munich, Germany. Six of the top 11 picks in last month's NFL draft and veteran quarterback
Aaron Rodgers will all appear internationally this year. The Jaguars will play back-to-back London games for the second season in a row.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Michael DiRocco
3 days agoCleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod said that he will retire following the 2024 season, which will be his 13th year in the league. "This is the last lap for me," McLeod said Monday during an appearance on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access." He will turn 34 in June and signed a one-year deal this offseason to return to the Browns for a second season. McLeod entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2012. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams before joining the Eagles from 2016-21. McLeod was with the Colts in 2022 and had 29 tackles (16 solo) and a pass defended in 10 regular season games (five starts) last year. He suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Week 11. It sounds as though McLeod is now healthy as he looks to provide veteran secondary depth for Cleveland in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
3 days agoChicago Bears running back
D'Andre Swift will be taking over the team's lead running back in 2024 after he signed with the team minutes into the start of free agency in early March. "He's exciting to watch, man. That guy, he's got so
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3 days agoChicago Bears wide receiver/return man
Velus Jones Jr. should only benefit from the new kickoff rules in the NFL that will start for the 2024 season. "How it pertains to our team, you can only think about a guy like Velus Jones. Great example," special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. "A guy like that with his type of skill set, with the speed and the power that he has, and he's coming full speed ahead at you, it's like a damn freight train running at you." Jones' average of 27.4 yards per return trails only Keisean Nixon over the last two years. He hasn't worked out as a punt returner and also hasn't had much of a role in the offense since entering the league in 2022, but the 27-year-old's size/speed combo could come in handy for the Bears on kickoffs this year. The Bears could also use running back
Khalil Herbert on kickoffs.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
4 days agoNew England Patriots rookie wide receiver
Javon Baker flashed significant promise during his first NFL practice this week, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe notes that Baker made several impressive plays. He reached to save a sailing throw, utilized "nifty footwork" to get out of his break on a crossing route, and generally demonstrated smooth route-running." There will be growing pains in 2024 as head coach Jerod Mayo, quarterback
Drake Maye, and receivers
Ja'Lynn Polk and Baker embark on their rookie seasons. However, early indications suggest that Baker could make an immediate impact in New England, earning opportunities over the likes of Polk,
Kendrick Bourne, and
Demario Douglas. He's a fringe top-30 rookie in fantasy football dynasty leagues.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Jeff Howe
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