5 days agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman predicts the Green Bay Packers to take Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft. Feldman has the Packers trading up one spot from 25th overall with the Dallas Cowboys to get Latham, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 342 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms and 11-inch hands. He's a giant specimen with a lot of experience and seasoning. Latham started the last 27 games for Alabama at right tackle but also could slide inside at the next level, if needed. "He's got some serious knock-back power with explosive hips and those meat hooks. He knows how to finish. I think he's a beast at right tackle," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
5 days agoThe Athletic's Bruce Feldman has the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft after trading back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. McKinstry was a three-year starter in a complex defensive system and has high intelligence with good leadership qualities. He's polished but not exactly a burner and is coming off a Jones fracture in one of his toes that required surgery this year. In his three years at Alabama, the 21-year-old defensive back had 62 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. McKinstry was an All-American in 2023. "Really smart and savvy. Not as quick out of his break as Arnold. He uses his hands to make up for his feet. Will jump routes," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
5 days agoThe New York Jets re-signed safety Ashtyn Davis to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to a source. The 2020 third-round pick by the Jets in 2020 out of California was drawing interest from a few teams on the free-agent market after posting a career-high three interceptions in 17 games last year but he wanted another year with head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ullbrich. The 27-year-old will return to a reserve role in New York's secondary in 2024 and will also be involved on special teams. In addition to his career-high three picks in 2023, Davis had 37 tackles (23 solo), eight passes defended and a career-high three fumble recoveries. Davis won't be on the IDP fantasy radar.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
5 days agoThe Washington Commanders will host Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy, North Carolina QB
Drake Maye and LSU QB
Jayden Daniels for visits next week, according to sources. The Commanders are taking a long look at all three signal-callers as they hold the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The Chicago Bears are fully expected to take USC QB
Caleb Williams first overall, but if the Commanders don't trade out of the No. 2 pick, they'll have their choice of McCarthy, Maye and Daniels after trading last year's starter,
Sam Howell, to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. McCarthy going second overall would be a pretty big surprise despite the fact his draft stock has been rising since his impressive pro day. If any team is going to trade up to No. 2, it might be the Las Vegas Raiders in order to take Daniels.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
5 days agoThe Cleveland Browns and star running back
Nick Chubb (knee) agreed on a reworked contract for the 2024 season on Thursday to lower his base salary of $11.775 million, according to sources. Chubb will have a chance to earn it back via incentives after working his way back from a gruesome season-ending left-knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 28-year-old isn't going anywhere, but he won't be as much of a sure thing as an RB1 in fantasy leagues after tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus in 2023. Even if he's ready to go for Week 1 this fall for the Browns, Cleveland could choose to ease Chubb in and give more touches to
Jerome Ford,
D'Onta Foreman and
Nyheim Hines. We'll keep a close eye on Chubb's recovery this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
5 days agoThe Green Bay Packers signed free-agent cornerback Gemon Green to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Green was originally was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants out of Michigan in May of 2023. However, he was released after training camp after being on the team's practice squad briefly. The 24-year-old had 71 tackles (49 solo), an interception and 15 passes defended in his college career with the Wolverines in 42 games (24 starts). Green was an All-Big Ten honorable mention from coaches and media in 2022. If he makes the Packers' roster at all in 2024 and plays in a game during the regular season, it will be his NFL debut.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Packers.com
5 days agoLas Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has obviously been pining for an upgrade over quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew and
Aidan O'Connell with the NFL draft coming later this month. The Raiders have been heavily linked to LSU Heisman Trophy winner
Jayden Daniels but would have to move up probably 11 slots -- they currently hold the No. 13 pick -- to "assure" themselves a chance to draft Daniels. Pierce recruited and coached Daniels at Arizona State before he transferred to LSU. It would likely cost the Raiders at least three first-rounders and a third-rounder. "I think everything's on the table," Pierce said. Even if the Raiders are sold on Daniels and want him, it remains to be seen if the Washington Commanders are open for business at second overall. Sources said owner Mark Davis has given his blessing for GM Tom Telesco and Pierce to make a move if it makes sense.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
5 days agoFormer All-Pro return man and wide receiver
Deonte Harty signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. In his lone season with the Buffalo Bills last year, Harty had 15 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown in 16 regular-season games (one start) on offense. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Assumption will likely make his biggest impact in Baltimore as a kick returner to help replace
Devin Duvernay while also providing receiver depth behind
Zay Flowers,
Rashod Bateman and
Nelson Agholor. Harty is unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset. In his four seasons with the New Orleans Saints to begin his career, Harty had 64 catches (92 targets) for 793 yards and four touchdowns in 40 games (four starts).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
5 days agoTennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz sees running backs
Tyjae Spears and
Tony Pollard as 1A and 1B in some combination at the RB position for the team heading into the 2024 season. Holz said both backs will get a lot of touches. It's clearly bad news for Pollard's fantasy value after he served as the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, recording his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with six touchdowns but a career-low 4.0 yards per carry in 17 regular-season starts. Expecting a third straight 1,000-yard season in his first year in Tennessee would be unwise. If both Spears -- who had 453 rushing yards and 385 receiving yards with three total TDs as a rookies last year, -- and Pollard split the backfield work evenly, they'd both be more of RB3/flex plays in fantasy on a weekly basis in an offense that could be transitioning to more of a balanced attack rather than run-heavy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: TitansInsider.com - Terry McCormick
5 days agoAn arrest warrant has been issued for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Rashee Rice in connection with his involvement in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in late March. The 23-year-old is facing eight charges in the case -- six counts of collision involving bodily injury, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and one count of aggravated assault, according to the arrest warrant. All of the charges are felonies. Rice already acknowledged he was driving the Lamborghini SUV involved in the crash after renting the vehicle. It's good that he's cooperating with the authorities, but the NFL is closely monitoring the proceedings and will surely investigate the matter themselves after the legal situation plays out. There's a good chance Rice could be subject to a suspension by the league in 2024, which puts a cloud over his 2024 fantasy value after a strong rookie season in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: WFAA
6 days agoDuring a medical examination at the 2024 NFL Combine, Former Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (foot) was found to have a Jones fracture in his right foot. He did not participate in on-field work, but he did participate in Alabama's Pro Day before having surgery to repair his injury. According to sources, doctors deemed his recovery from surgery to be on track and as expected. This is good news for the 2023 first-team All-American, and hopefully, it will keep his stock from falling. Over the last two seasons, McKinstry totaled 67 tackles, 22 passes defended, and one interception for the Crimson Tide. He also racked up over 400 yards as a punt returner. The 21-year-old is expected to be a late-first-round pick later this month.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
6 days agoFree-agent kicker
Matthew Wright signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced on X on Wednesday. Wright went undrafted after his final season at UCF in 2018 and has spent time with eight NFL organizations, including three stints with the Steelers. In 20 NFL games, the 28-year-old has connected on 40 of his 47 field goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra point tries. In all likelihood, veteran kicker
Chris Boswell, who has been with Pittsburgh since 2015, will remain the starter. If Wright surprisingly wins the kicking job this offseason, he could have streaming viability in 2024 fantasy football.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh Steelers On X
6 days agoFormer LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels is going on a top-30 visit with the New York Giants on Monday, reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is projected to be taken as high as No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, but New York has remained interested in meeting and visiting with him. In his fifth collegiate season, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions and rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards and ten scores. Giants head coach Brian Daboll has had success with mobile quarterbacks like
Josh Allen and
Daniel Jones, so this could be a great fit. The G-Men are slated to pick No. 6 overall, meaning they'd likely have to trade up to acquire Daniels. Wherever Daniels lands, he has top-12 potential in fantasy football right away thanks to his elite rushing upside.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
6 days agoSeattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (pectoral) suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in October of the 2023 campaign, but he said he expects to be ready for training camp this offseason. The former Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick in 2018 had his best season as a pro in his first year with Seattle (2022), totaling career highs in tackles (66), sacks (9.5), forced fumbles (three), and run stuffs (12.5). The 27-year-old appeared in just six games last year and collected two sacks. Nwosu is projected to be a starter in the first season under new head coach Mike Macdonald, who is known for helping develop defenders.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Brady Henderson -- ESPN
6 days agoThe Philadelphia Eagles need help at cornerback, which is why The Athletic's Bruce Feldman predicts them taking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of this year's NFL draft. Kool-Aid McKinstry could also be their pick in this spot, but the 6-foot-1, 173-pound Wiggins has ridiculous recovery speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and tons of upside. The 20-year-old led the Tigers in pass breakups in 2023 with nine and also had two interceptions, one of which was run back for a touchdown. "I think he's the best kid we played. I love that kid. Love his effort, how he competes. Great speed. Great burst, and he plays hard. He's got the measurables. Two plays stuck out in my mind. They're playing Miami and he ran a kid down and stripped him on the goal line. Then, he did the same thing to a guy at Carolina. I think he's an All-Pro caliber player," one coach said.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Bruce Feldman
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