6
days
agoPer
The
Athletic's
Dianna
Russini,
the
Seattle
Seahawks
are
expected
to
talk
with
quarterback
Aaron
Rodgers
regarding
their
hole
at
the
QB
position.
With
free
agency
set
to
begin
on
Monday
at
noon,
things
are
starting
to
heat
up,
and
with
former
Seattle
starter
read more...
6 days agoNFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a two-year, $45 million extension with left tackle Jake Matthews. The 33-year-old will get $38 million fully guaranteed over the next two seasons, and he's now set up to play his 12h and 13th seasons with the team after being selected sixth overall by the Falcons in the 2014 NFL Draft. The epitome of durability, Matthews has missed just one game (back in his debut season) in his entire 11-year career. It's a smart move by Atlanta, who has secured the front side of their young quarterback,
Michael Penix Jr., for at least the next two seasons. The Falcons still have some moves to make before they're a formidable opponent, but protecting their second-year signal-caller is undoubtedly a prime concern.
--Alex CiullaSource: Mike Garafolo
6 days agoESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that safety Markquese Bell (shoulder) and the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms on a three-year, $12 million deal. Bell appeared in just nine games for the Cowboys in 2024, as he was hindered by an ankle sprain early in the year and ended the season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury he picked up in mid-November. However, the 26-year-old racked up 94 tackles in 2023 (second-most on the team) while logging the seventh-most snaps of any Dallas defensive back. Despite the lack of playing time across his first three seasons in the league (31 games), the Cowboys saw fit to lock up the safety for at least three more years. He'll likely assume his backup role in Dallas' defensive backfield again in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Jeremy Fowler
6 days agoThe NFL's Ian Rapoport reports that the Denver Broncos are bringing back quarterback
Jarrett Stidham on a two-year, $12 million contract with $7 million guaranteed. The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons with the team, appearing in seven games. However, he did not attempt a pass in 2024 and served solely as a backup to rookie sensation
Bo Nix. Stidham figures to occupy that role again in 2025, barring an injury to Nix, and reportedly would have garnered significant interest as a potential backup on the open market. However, the Broncos sought to lock up their second-string option with extensive knowledge of the team's current system. The Auburn product can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes sans a bench stash in deep superflex dynasty formats.
--Alex CiullaSource: Ian Rapoport
6 days agoThe New England Patriots are re-signing veteran tight end
Austin Hooper to a one-year, $5 million deal with a max value of $7 million. Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowler, notched 45 receptions and 476 yards with New England a season ago, his highest marks since his 2021 stint with the Cleveland Browns. While he began the 2024 season cold, the 30-year-old picked it up over the back half -- racking up four catches in five of his last seven appearances as then-rookie signal-caller
Drake Maye got acclimated to the NFL. The Stanford product played second fiddle to fellow tight end
Hunter Henry last season and figures to do so again if his teammate stays healthy, as the latter out-paced the former handily in snaps (835-575) despite playing in one fewer contest. It's possible Hooper returns some TE2 value this upcoming season, but he's better off left to waivers until he proves otherwise.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
7 days agoThe New England Patriots are signing defensive end Harold Landry III to a three-year, $43.5 million deal with $26 million guaranteed and a maximum value of $48 million. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the news. Landry spent his entire seven-year career with the Tennessee Titans and was a formidable pass-rusher for the team. In 2024, he registered 71 total tackles and led the team with nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss. It's some much-needed help for New England, who ranked 12th-worst in points (24.5) and yards (342.9) allowed per game. Additionally, they clocked in dead-last in sack percentage at just 4.99% of plays. With quarterback
Drake Maye on his rookie deal, now would be the time for the Patriots to spend big and build a team around him. Help on defense was high on their list of priorities, and rightfully so.
--Alex CiullaSource: Tom Pelissero
7 days agoESPN's Adam Schefter reports that linebacker Jamien Sherwood is returning to the New York Jets on a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $30 million fully guaranteed. New York selected Sherwood in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he has logged 17 games in each of the prior three seasons with the team. The Auburn product broke out in 2024, racking up 158 total tackles -- leading the team -- after not having eclipsed more than 35 from 2021-23. Additionally, the 25-year-old notched the second-most snaps of all Jets linebackers (1,065) behind Quincy Williams. New York's defense was hit-or-miss after the firing of former head coach Robert Saleh in 2024 but finished the year with the fifth-fewest yards per game allowed (313.8). However, they ranked in the league's bottom half in terms of PPG let up with 23.8. It's a step in the right direction for the Jets' defense, but they still have some tweaking to do ahead of the 2025 season.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
7 days agoESPN's Jeremy Fowler states that free agent quarterback
Justin Fields wants to test the free agency market in an attempt to make an informed decision. However, a reunion with the Pittsburgh Steelers is still on the table. Reportedly, both sides are open to a reunion, but Fields wants to "truly see how teams view him." Fowler also mentioned that the New York Jets' interest has "percolated" since before the combine. The 26-year-old led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record through six weeks in 2024, though he only eclipsed 156 passing yards twice and tossed just five touchdowns before being replaced by
Russell Wilson to close out the season. Whether Fields will start in 2025 remains to be seen, but there are still a few quarterback-needy teams, and this year's draft class does not feature as many strong QB prospects as the prior offseason. Even if Fields does land in a favorable spot, there's no guarantee he'll be given the reigns of an offense.
--Alex CiullaSource: Jeremy Fowler
7 days agoPer the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Pittsburgh Steelers are trading for wide receiver
DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers are forfeiting their 2025 second-round pick in return and are signing Metcalf to a brand new, five-year, $150 million contract. Pittsburgh may not know who their next quarterback will be, but they're doing their best to surround him with standout talent. The 27-year-old will presumably slot in as the team's No. 1 wideout and, at worst, the 1A or 1B across from standing No. 1 pass-catcher
George Pickens. It's an intriguing turn of events for Pittsburgh, though a necessary move for a team that's ranked in the league's bottom half in points per game since 2021. Metcalf started 2024 hot but fell off after a knee injury coincided with former teammate
Jaxon Smith-Njigba's breakout. Still, at 27, the Ole Miss product should help bolster Pittsburgh's WR corps.
--Alex CiullaSource: Tom Pelissero
7 days agoThe Buffalo Bills have reached an agreement with quarterback
Josh Allen on a record-breaking deal. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news. Allen's new contract is a six-year $330 million deal, including $250 million in guaranteed money -- the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL player. Wow. The 28-year-old is fresh off an MVP season -- his first -- and undoubtedly deserves the contract. In addition to 4,262 yards of total offense and 40 combined touchdowns, Allen tossed the fewest interceptions of his career (six). In fact, the Wyoming product accrued the lowest percentage of plays resulting in a sack or turnover (4.17%) since 1970, besting Peyton Manning's mark of 4.21% from the 2006-07 season. This move by Buffalo resets the market and firmly entrenches the star signal-caller where he belongs -- at the top of the list.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
7 days agoPer NFL Insider Josina Anderson, the Philadelphia Eagles expect at least a fourth-round pick for tight end
Dallas Goedert in a potential trade. Anderson reports the team would be willing to accept a pick from the 2026 or 2027 draft. Furthermore, a lower pick and salary adjustment from some teams could get the job done. Health has been a knock on Goedert. The 30-year-old veteran missed seven games in 2024 while battling through knee and hamstring injuries and has played just one full season -- his first -- despite seven years in the league. However, he's been productive when healthy and even had a ten-catch, 170-yard performance as recent as Week 3 this past season. Trades in the NFL don't typically go at the asking price, but a fourth-round pick seems reasonable for a player who still has some juice left in the tank. Additionally, several teams could use a dynamic receiving tight end.
--Alex CiullaSource: Josina Anderson
7 days agoAccording to ESPN's Adam Schefter, former New York Jets wide receiver
Davante Adams is signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. The contract is worth up to $46 million, with $26 million guaranteed. Wow. Adams is coming off an up-and-down season that started in Las Vegas but ended in New York with the Jets after a mid-October trade that reunited him with long-time teammate and quarterback
Aaron Rodgers. The sentiment was that the veteran wideout would follow Rodgers to his new destination; however, it appears the Rams got to him first. It's excellent timing for LA, who is preparing to move on from star WR
Cooper Kupp. Adams will now line up across from
Puka Nacua, spelling a formidable duo for any defensive backfield to run with. With the news that
Matthew Stafford is returning to the team, too, the Rams' offense just got a whole lot more interesting for 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
7 days agoPer The Athletic's Dianna Russini, defensive end Joey Bosa is expected to "garner strong interest" from the Miami Dolphins. It is known that the Ohio State alum is looking to play with his brother, Nick, in San Francisco. However, the veteran could help any number of teams if he can stay healthy, and the Dolphins certainly qualify, as they recorded the sixth-fewest sacks of any team in 2024. Health is the question, though, considering Bosa has played just 28 of a possible 51 games since the 2022 season while dealing with a litany of injuries. Still, the long-time Charger is capable of providing some juice on the front seven, and not many teams require pass-rush help like the Dolphins. Stay tuned.
--Alex CiullaSource: Dianna Russini
7 days agoDianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to make an offer to free-agent quarterback
Sam Darnold. Per Russini, many around the league believe that the 27-year-old will wind up landing in Seattle with the Seahawks. However, the Steelers are exhausting every option in search of their next field general. Darnold is coming off his best season as a pro -- setting career highs across the board en route to a 14-3 record with Minnesota. While some may be left with a bad taste in their mouth due to his meltdown at the end of the regular season that continued into the playoffs, the former USC Trojan was mainly stellar in 2024 and finished as a top-ten fantasy quarterback. Whether he can repeat his success outside Minnesota remains to be seen, but he's undoubtedly drawing strong interest around the league.
--Alex CiullaSource: Dianna Russini
7 days agoThe Minnesota Vikings are re-signing running back
Aaron Jones, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones' new agreement is a two-year $20 million deal, including $13 million guaranteed. The UTEP product is fresh off his first season with the team, in which he set career-highs in touches (306), carries (255), and rushing yards (1,138) -- totaling seven touchdowns. It was just the third time he'd participated in a full slate of games in his career. The move makes sense for the Vikes, as the 30-year-old was still productive despite dealing with rib, hip, and quad injuries during the 2024 season. It will be interesting to see who the team's signal-caller will be, as
J.J. McCarthy (knee) is slated to begin practicing in the spring, though to what extent is unknown. Still, Minnesota has their lead back locked up, and he'll likely be among the first 15-20 backs taken off the board in fantasy drafts this summer.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
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