May 9, 2025
Chicago Bears rookie first-round tight end
Colston Loveland (shoulder) has been unavailable during practice during rookie minicamp while rehabbing from surgery that he had on his shoulder in January. While he's unavailable for on-field work, Loveland is focusing on the mental side of things, learning the offensive scheme and developing chemistry with quarterback
Caleb Williams. The 21-year-old 10th overall pick in this year's NFL draft is expected to increase his activity by the time mandatory minicamp rolls around early next month, and he should be fully ready to go by training camp this summer as he enters his first year in the NFL. The Bears still have
Cole Kmet at the position, but the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Loveland could be Chicago's top pass-catching TE by season's end. As he shares playing time with Kmet in Year 1, fantasy managers should temper expectations in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Marquee Sports Network - Scott Bair
May 9, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver
Tai Felton, defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, linebacker Kobe King, and tight end
Gavin Bartholomew to their rookie deals on Friday. As for Felton, his contract is a four-year, $6.13 million agreement after the team selected him with the final pick of the third round of April's draft. He'll join one of the better WR corps in Minnesota alongside starters
Jalen Nailor,
Jordan Addison, and
Justin Jefferson. Furthermore, tight end
T.J. Hockenson poses a decent target threat at tight end. The Maryland alum has a ways to go before he sees playing time, but he's uber-athletic (4.37 40-yard dash), and it wouldn't be surprising to see him surpass Nailor in the pecking order in due time. Felton had a strong final season at Maryland (94/1,124/9).
--Alex CiullaSource: Craig Peters
May 9, 2025
Per the team's transaction logs, the Houston Texans have signed third-round wide receiver
Jaylin Noel to a four-year, $6.46 million deal. Noel was the No. 79 overall pick and the second of two Iowa State wideouts selected by the Texans, joining second-rounder and fellow Cyclone
Jayden Higgins. With the news that WR
Tank Dell (knee) will likely miss the 2025 season, the door is open for both pass catchers to compete for snaps and impact the field. Veteran wideout
Christian Kirk does pose a threat and significant target competition. Particularly for Noel, who profiles more like Kirk, considering he operated out of the slot in college. However, the rookie bolsters much more juice than the veteran (4.39 40-yard dash) and should eventually make his way to the starting roster. He caught 80 balls for 1,194 yards last season (eight TDs) and is also a seasoned returner.
--Alex CiullaSource: Houston Texans
May 9, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the New England Patriots have signed rookie wide receiver
Kyle Williams to an undisclosed contract. The 22-year-old was selected with the fifth pick in the third round of April's draft, and projects to immediately compete for snaps in a Patriots' wide receiver corps that offers little behind veteran
Stefon Diggs (knee). While Diggs is reportedly working back quickly from a torn ACL, Williams offers lethal playmaking ability as a deep threat. He gives New England's offense a new dimension as they continue to build around young signal-caller
Drake Maye. Despite the Washington State product's more diminutive stature, he spent most of his time out wide during his final season in college. It seems likely he'll move into more of a slot role in the NFL, but it shows his versatility and only stands to benefit him as he adjusts to the pros.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
May 9, 2025
ESPN.com's Daniel Oyefusi reports that, per general manager Andrew Berry, it's becoming "increasingly unlikely" that the team will re-sign running back
Nick Chubb after they selected two rushers in April's draft. "I wouldn't rule anything out, but I would say that it's probably increasingly unlikely," said Berry. The Browns' GM also noted that
Jerome Ford will play a role. This was the expectation after Cleveland selected Ohio State's
Quinshon Judkins in the second round, and Tennessee's
Dylan Sampson in the fourth, and now it's all but confirmed. Aside from his injury-marred seasons, Chubb had a fantastic run as a Brown. If this is it for him at that destination, he'll end his tenure as the organization's third-leading rusher (6,843 yards). It remains to be seen if he'll find work again in 2025, though it seems likely he will at some point.
--Alex CiullaSource: Daniel Oyefusi
May
9,
2025
The
New
Orleans
Saints
are
hosting
free-agent
wide
receiver
Donovan
Peoples-Jones
for
a
tryout
during
minicamp,
according
to
NOF's
John
Hendrix.
Peoples-Jones
totaled
just
155
yards
through
15
games
in
2023,
and
he
spent
all
of
last
read more...
May 9, 2025
The Miami Dolphins and first-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant agreed to a four-year rookie deal on Friday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Dolphins decided to beef up the interior of their defensive line with the 13th overall pick in this year's NFL draft by taking Grant out of Michigan. The 21-year-old is big and powerful at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, but he's also extremely athletic and can succeed while being double-teamed. Grant can help bolster Miami's rush defense while also being disruptive in the backfield because of his quickness and athleticism. In his final season with the Wolverines in 2024, Grant had 32 tackles, three sacks and seven tackles for loss. He will certainly help fill the void on the interior of Miami's D-line after Christian Wilkins left last season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
May 9, 2025
New York Jets first-round offensive tackle Armand Membou signed his four-year rookie deal with the team on Thursday, according to the Jets. Membou's four-year deal is worth around $31.9 million, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. The 21-year-old out of Missouri was taken by the Jets with the seventh overall pick as they look to improve their offensive line further in front of new quarterback
Justin Fields in 2025. Membou is a mauler on the offensive line at 6-foot-4, 332 pounds and has a rare combination of brute strength and athleticism. His strength and mobility should make him an immediate asset for the Jets' ground game and passing attack in his rookie season, which is good news for both RB
Breece Hall and Fields. The Jets could have one of the better tackle combinations moving forward with Membou and Olu Fashanu.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
May 9, 2025
The Indianapolis Colts signed rookie first-round tight end
Tyler Warren to a four-year, fully-guaranteed $20.9 million contract on Friday that includes an $11.88 million signing bonus, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Colts also signed six other draft picks, including cornerback Justin Walley, tackle Jalen Travis, running back
DJ Giddens, quarterback
Riley Leonard, defensive tackle Tim Smith and safety Hunter Wohler. The Colts took Warren with the 14th overall pick in this year's draft out of Penn State, and they're hoping he can be the standout pass-catching TE they've been searching for for quite a while. He has a huge frame at 6-foot-5, 256 pounds and has plenty of after-the-catch ability, but fantasy managers should probably pump the brakes on Warren being the next
Sam LaPorta or
Brock Bowers in his rookie season given the uncertainty at the QB position in Indy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
May
9,
2025
The
Tampa
Bay
Buccaneers
signed
first-round
rookie
wide
receiver
Emeka
Egbuka
to
a
four-year,
$18.1
million
contract
on
Friday,
according
to
ESPN's
Adam
Schefter.
Despite
the
fact
the
Bucs
still
have
Mikeread more...
May
9,
2025
According
to
the
league's
transaction
wire,
the
Jacksonville
Jaguars
officially
released
wide
receiver
Gabe
Davis
(knee)
on
Thursday
with
a
failed-physical
designation.
A
torn
meniscus
ended
Davis'
first
and
only
season
in
Jacksonville
last
year
after
just
read more...
May 9, 2025
San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said that running back
Christian McCaffrey (knee) "looks awesome" this offseason and also said that "we're going to do everything we can to get him the ball as much as we can." McCaffrey was a big-time fantasy bust as the No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy drafts in 2024, as he didn't make his season debut until Week 10 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis before spraining his PCL in Week 14 and being shut down for the rest of the year. The 28-year-old All-Pro has no restrictions during the team's offseason program, though, and should be fully healthy for Week 1 in 2025. It doesn't sound like the Niners plan to reduce his workload this year, but fantasy managers are surely skeptical about CMC staying healthy for a full season. McCaffrey is a league-winner if he stays healthy, but he's played fewer than eight games three times in the last five years.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
May 9, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and cornerback
Travis Hunter will "primarily" practice with the offense during rookie minicamp, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. The Jaguars plan to add defensive reps to his practice regimen eventually, but it's unclear if that will happen before the end of minicamp. Hunter is arguably the most athletic player in this year's rookie class, dominating as an offensive and defensive superstar at Colorado. As a receiver, he led the Big 12 with 96 catches and 15 touchdowns. While most fantasy members will only be able to get points for Hunter's offensive or defensive contributions (not both), he's still a high-upside fantasy option given his skill set and track record. Hunter's injury risk will have to be taken into consideration since he could be playing twice as many snaps as a typical player, but there's no denying his ability to produce when called upon.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Cameron Wolfe
May 8, 2025
The Carolina Panthers have signed rookie first-round wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan to a four-year, $27.93 million contract. McMillan was the first receiver selected in April's draft, chosen No. 8 overall by Carolina. The hulking pass-catcher (6-foot-4) will reportedly operate as the team's X receiver with veteran
Adam Thielen manning the slot and
Xavier Legette rounding out the corps at the Z. It's a natural fit for the Arizona product, as his frame and metrics support the position. He was excellent during his final two seasons at college, amassing 174 receptions, 2,721 yards, and 18 touchdowns, and projects to slot in as a high-volume target for quarterback
Bryce Young. McMillan is a superb selection early in rookie drafts, and could garner appeal in redraft leagues if Young's improvements from the tail end of 2024 stick.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
May 8, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Houston Texans second-round wide receiver
Jayden Higgins has signed his four-year, $11.7 million rookie deal. The Texans chose the 22-year-old with the second pick of the second round (their first selection) in last month's draft -- the first of two wideouts taken, joining third-rounder
Jaylin Noel. With the news that teammate
Tank Dell (knee) will most likely miss the 2025 season due to a complex knee injury he suffered last December, Higgins should get an immediate opportunity to make an impact on the field. The Iowa state alum is a big-bodied receiver with burst, who should operate nicely across from incumbent starter
Nico Collins. Fortunately for him, he needs only beat out
Christian Kirk to operate as the team's second wideout, and Kirk typically runs from the slot, where Higgins doesn't project to line up.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
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