1 week agoThe Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee) agreed to a revised contract on Thursday that will clear $4 million in salary cap space in 2025, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Holcomb suffered a season-ending dislocated knee on Nov. 2 of 2023 and didn't play at all last year, but he's considered fully healthy now and is expected to play in 2025. Before the contract restructure, the 28-year-old was set to count $7.6 million against this year's cap. In his first year with the Steelers in 2023 before suffering his serious knee injury, he had 54 tackles (31 solo), two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in eight starts. Holcomb's last full season came in 2021 with the Washington Commanders, when he recorded a career-high 142 tackles (83 solo), a sack, two interceptions (one returned for a TD), seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
1 week agoThe Washington Commanders re-signed kicker
Zane Gonzalez to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gonzalez took over for an injured
Austin Seibert (hip) before Week 13 last season and finished the year (including three playoff games) by making 12 of his 15 field-goal attempts and all 27 of his extra-point tries in nine games. That was enough to convince the Commanders that the 29-year-old deserves a shot to open the 2025 season as their primary placekicker. Gonzalez was returning to the NFL in 2024 for the first time since he kicked in 12 games for the Carolina Panthers back in 2021. Washington is one of the better up-and-coming offenses in the NFL after quarterback
Jayden Daniels led them to the NFC Championship in his rookie season, so at the very least, Gonzalez will be a fantasy streaming option to open next season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
1 week agoThe Los Angeles Rams are signing wide receiver
Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed contract. The 2021 second-round pick out of Louisville was set to be a free agent with his rookie deal expiring, but he'll remain with the organization for at least one more season. Atwell has hauled in 99 receptions for 1,343 yards and four touchdowns in 54 career games. The speedster posted career highs in receptions (42) and receiving yards (562) in 2024. With
Cooper Kupp likely to be traded, the organization keeps one of its depth wideouts to play behind
Puka Nacua and whoever the team brings in this offseason. While Atwell is not a target hog or high-end producer, he stretches the field for Sean McVay's passing offense and could see an increased role in 2025.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
1 week agoNew York Giants exclusive-rights free-agent quarterback
Tommy DeVito will sign his tender at some point this weekend, sources tell The Bergen Record's Art Stapleton. DeVito will be the only current QB on the Giants' roster with free agency kicking off next week. DeVito has played in 12 games, including eight starts, for the G-Men the last two seasons, but he's expected to continue in a depth role in 2025. The Giants swung and missed in their attempt to trade for Los Angeles Rams QB
Matthew Stafford last week, but they are fully expected to sign or trade for a veteran signal-caller while also drafting a young QB in this year's draft. Reports suggest that they could be one of the most aggressive teams in trying to trade up for the No. 1 overall pick this year. The 26-year-old DeVito went 31-for-44 for 257 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in his three games (two starts) in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Bergen Record - Art Stapleton
1 week agoThe Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that multiple NFL teams have contacted the Cincinnati Bengals about the availability of wide receiver
Tee Higgins after the Bengals placed the franchise tag on him on Monday, according to sources. Those teams have been told that Higgins remains unavailable as the Bengals work on giving him a long-term deal. Had the 26-year-old been allowed to reach the free-agent market next week, he would have been the top pass-catcher on the open market. But instead, it looks like the Bengals are going to keep him, at least for the 2025 season. If Cincy doesn't change their stance if contract talks break down,
Chris Godwin would be the best free-agent wideout this offseason. Despite playing in only 12 regular-season games in 2024 due to injury, Higgins was the WR17 in half-PPR scoring with 73 receptions, 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He'll be a strong WR2 if he stays in Cincy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
1 week agoThe Cleveland Browns converted $44.75 million of quarterback
Deshaun Watson's (Achilles) 2025 salary into a signing bonus, creating $35.8 million of salary cap space. The team has already reworked Watson's contract in the past but is continuing to make moves to make it less of a financial burden in the future. Watson signed a five-year, $230 million contract with Cleveland ahead of the 2022 campaign, but it's been a disastrous tenure for the former Houston Texans first-round pick. Watson has compiled a 9-10 record across three seasons behind 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. The 29-year-old's 2023 season ended with a major shoulder injury, and his 2024 season was cut short after suffering a torn Achilles. Since his in-game Achilles tear, he has suffered another Achilles setback. Watson is not expected to play in 2025, and it would be a surprise if he sees any playing time for Cleveland in 2026.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tom Pelissero
1 week agoLong-time Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa was released by the organization on Wednesday, and according to Cam Inman of The Mercury News, the San Francisco 49ers could be interested in reuniting Bosa with his brother. The team needs a complementary rusher opposite Nick Bosa, and Joey Bosa could be a value on the open market given his age and injury concerns. Bosa was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers, but he played in just 28 games over the last three years and collected 14 sacks during that stretch. Bosa is free to sign at any point this offseason since he was released, so if the 49ers are interested, the signing could happen sooner rather than later.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Cam Inman
1 week agoAccording to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Seattle Seahawks are seeking a first- and third-round pick for wide receiver
DK Metcalf, who recently requested a trade. The 27-year-old is seeking a $30 million per season contract with whatever organization he lands with. Multiple teams have reached out to Seattle, but it remains to be seen if one of them is willing to part with a first-round selection. Metcalf, who entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2019, has racked up 438 receptions for 6,324 yards and 48 touchdowns in 97 career games. He is one of the NFL's top-size-speed specimens and could help a team open up its passing game in 2025. The Green Bay Packers have been a popular potential landing spot for Metcalf in the trade rumor mill.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Dianna Russini -- The Athletic
1 week agoESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that if Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver
Chris Godwin makes it to free agency, don't be surprised if the New England Patriots get involved. It's no secret that the Patriots are looking to upgrade their receiving corps with a bona fide No. 1 wideout this offseason, and after the Cincinnati Bengals placed the franchise tag on wideout
Tee Higgins, Godwin would be by far and away the top available pass-catcher on the open market. However, Tampa has made Godwin a priority, and the feeling around the NFL is that they will make him a Buc for the rest of his career. It wasn't financially feasible for the Bucs to use the franchise tag on Godwin for a third straight season, but they may look to lock him up before he becomes available to other teams. The 29-year-old was on his way to a career year in 2024 alongside
Mike Evans before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in mid-October.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
1
week
agoESPN's
Jeremy
Fowler
writes
that
the
Cincinnati
Bengals
were
happy
with
impending
free-agent
tight
end
Mike
Gesicki
last
year
and
would
like
to
re-sign
him,
even
though
they
are
also
trying
to
keep
all
three
star
players
in
receivers
read more...
1 week agoTeams that ESPN's Jeremy Fowler talked to at last week's NFL Combine are putting New Orleans Saints impending free-agent defensive end Chase Young high on the pecking order in the free-agent pass-rush market. Although Young functioned as a backup in 2024 with the Saints, the former second overall pick is still only 25 years old and is completely healthy now after he dealt with a neck injury last offseason. If he's fully healthy in 2025, Young could have a breakout season, which is why the Saints are expected to be in play to re-sign him. Despite not being an every-down player last year, Young was productive and finished with 31 tackles (21 solo), 5.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, a career-high 21 QB hits and a forced fumble in 17 games played. While he may never live up to his draft pedigree in the NFL, Young could be a key situational pass-rusher in 2025 wherever he lands.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
1
week
agoThe
Chicago
Bears
are
targeting
free-agent
tight
end
Durham
Smythe,
sources
tell
ESPN's
Jeremy
Fowler.
This
one
makes
sense
on
multiple
levels
after
the
Miami
Dolphins
released
Smythe
last
month.
The
Bears
also
cut
veteran
tight
end
Gerald
Everett
last
read more...
1 week agoExclusive-rights free-agent cornerback Alex Austin signed his tender offer on Wednesday to return to the New England Patriots, sources tell ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss. The 6-foot-1, 191-pounder is entering his third NFL season in 2025 after he was originally selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (252nd overall) in 2023 out of Oregon State. The 23-year-old defensive back played for the both the Houston Texans and Patriots in his first year in the NFL in 2023 before seeing action in nine games (three starts) last year and recording only nine tackles (eight solo) and five pass breakups. Austin looked better towards the end of the 2024 campaign and is expected to be among the group of cornerbacks that will be competing to start opposite of Christian Gonzalez in training camp this summer. He will be a restricted free agent in 2026.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
1 week agoThe Seattle Times' Bob Condotta reports that Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV (knee) had knee surgery shortly after the end of the 2024 regular season, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. The surgery was a clean-up of his knee that isn't viewed as overly serious, and Jones could be ready for football activities as early as June, if not sooner. Because interested teams will likely want to put Jones through a physical, it could draw out his free-agent process and give Seattle more time to negotiate to re-sign him. The 25-year-old had 94 tackles (48 solo), half a sack, one interception and a forced fumble in 10 starts (100% of the snaps) after Seattle acquired him in a trade with the Titans despite battling through his knee injury for most of the year. Jones helped improve Seattle's defense immensely after he was brought in, so expect the Seahawks to make a strong effort to retain him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
1 week agoA source told The Associated Press' Rob Maaddi that a reunion between Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback
Russell Wilson and new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is unlikely. The Steelers are looking to re-sign one of Wilson or free-agent QB
Justin Fields, but all indications so far are that their preference is to retain the younger Fields. The 36-year-old Wilson initially gave the Steelers a spark when he took over as the starter in Pittsburgh last year for Fields, but he collapsed down the stretch and is no longer the QB he once was in Seattle with Carroll. If Wilson doesn't return to the Steelers, his most likely landing spots could be either the New York Giants or New York Jets as they potentially look for a veteran bridge starter for a year or two. Wilson started 11 games in 2024 and threw for 2,482 yards while throwing 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press - Rob Maaddi
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