1 week agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Minnesota Vikings and impending free-agent quarterback
Sam Darnold continue to negotiate this week after the Vikings decided not to place the franchise tag on him by the deadline this past Tuesday. Minnesota continues to say that they would like to re-sign Darnold for less than the franchise tag ($40 million), which would make it manageable to build the team around him in 2025. It's a delicate situation, as last year's first-rounder
J.J. McCarthy (knee), who the Vikings still have faith in as their future franchise signal-caller, will be back this year after missing all of 2024 due to a season-ending knee injury that he suffered last preseason. Their willingness to bring Darnold back could mean they'd be fine having McCarthy sit and learn as the backup in 2025 before finally taking over in 2026. Either way, Darnold's best path to his highest fantasy ceiling in 2025 will be to stay in Minnesota.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 week agoSeattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said on Seattle Sports that the team is "talking to a ton of teams, taking offers, seeing what that looks like" after wide receiver
DK Metcalf officially requested a trade this week. The GM also said "everything is in a very cordial, professional place." Schneider said if there's a deadline to get a trade done, it would be by the draft. However, he also noted the Seahawks don't have to do anything right now with Metcalf under contract for one more year. "Worst-case scenario we have an amazing, explosive, powerful athlete playing receiver for us again in 2025, so we'll see where this goes." Seattle released veteran
Tyler Lockett this week as well, so if Metcalf were to be traded, their receiver depth would be very thin behind
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks reportedly will be seeking first- and third-round picks for Metcalf, who had a career-low five touchdowns in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
1 week agoThe Washington Commanders re-signed standout linebacker Bobby Wagner to a one-year deal worth up to $9.5 million on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal contains $8 million guaranteed. Wagner, a 10-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro, represented himself on the deal. In his first year in D.C. in 2024, the 34-year-old veteran continued to be a playmaker, recording 132 tackles (75 solo), two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, eight QB hits, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 17 regular-season starts. While his 132 combined tackles were his fewest in a season since 2015, Wagner was still a key player for the Commanders and remained fantasy relevant in IDP formats. Wagner isn't a top-end fantasy linebacker anymore but he still finished at No. 18 at his position in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars released tight end
Evan Engram (shoulder) on Thursday, per multiple reports. Engram was scheduled to make $14.75 million in 2025, with none of it being guaranteed, but the new coaching staff and front office apparently have decided to move on. The move to cut Engram comes just after the organization traded wide receiver
Christian Kirk (collarbone) to the division-rival Houston Texans in exchange for a seventh-round selection in 2026. Engram had a career year in his second year in Jacksonville in 2023 with a 114-963-4 line in 17 games (15 starts) but only ended up playing in nine games in 2024 due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery in mid-December. Jacksonville will free up $5.98 million in salary cap space with Engram's release.
Brenton Strange is now their top TE, but the Jags could address the position in free agency or the 2025 NFL draft.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
2 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons will not tender an offer to restricted free-agent linebacker Nate Landman, who has 191 tackles in 23 starts over the last two years, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. While the 26-year-old could return to Atlanta on a lesser deal, he will now become an unrestricted free agent next week. The former undrafted free agent out of the University of Colorado should have a decent market in free agency after posting 81 tackles (39 solo) and three forced fumbles in only 13 games (nine starts) in his third year in the league. 2023 was his best year, though, when he finished with a career-high 110 tackles (66 solo), two sacks, seven tackles for loss, his only career interception and three forced fumbles in 16 games (14 starts). Wherever Landman lands for the 2025 season, he'll provide valuable linebacker depth.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
2 weeks agoThe Cincinnati Bengals have granted All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade this offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "It's been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years," said Hendrickson, the NFL's sack leader. "I love this city and organization. I appreciate the privilege of now being allowed to explore my options." The Bengals are trying to sign Hendrickson and receivers
Ja'Marr Chase and
Tee Higgins to contract extensions this offseason, but that was always going to be a tall task. The 30-year-old Hendrickson is heading into the final year of his deal in 2025 but wants a new contract after leading the league with 17.5 sacks in 2024. Of the trio of stars that the Bengals hope to keep, Hendrickson was always viewed as the least likely to stay. He has 35 sacks the last two years and will be a high-end defensive lineman in IDP leagues, regardless of where he's playing.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2
weeks
agoThe
Houston
Texans
are
acquiring
wide
receiver
Christian
Kirk
(collarbone)
from
the
Jacksonville
Jaguars
on
Thursday
in
exchange
for
a
seventh-round
draft
pick
in
2026,
according
to
NFL
Network's
Tom
Pelissero.
The
Texans
will
take
on
Kirk's
existing
contract,
which
is
scheduled
to
pay
read more...
2 weeks agoThe Seattle Seahawks re-signed restricted free-agent cornerback Josh Jobe (knee) on Thursday. In his first year with Seattle in 2024, Jobe appeared in 10 games (six starts) and had a career-high 37 tackles (29 solo), his first career interception and seven pass breakups before being put on Injured Reserve before the Week 18 regular-season finale due to a knee injury. The 26-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of college at the University of Alabama before latching on with the Philadelphia Eagles and making his NFL debut in 2022. In his two years with the Eagles, Jobe had only 23 tackles (20 solo), four pass breakups and a forced fumble in 28 games (three starts). Now that he's back in Seattle for the 2025 season, Jobe will most likely be battling for a 40-man roster spot in training camp this summer.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SportsTrust Advisors
2 weeks agoThe Atlanta Falcons will not tender restricted free-agent cornerback Dee Alford, meaning he will hit the open free-agent market when it begins on March 12. Alford joined the Falcons in 2022 after two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and has played in 48 games with the organization. Overall, the 27-year-old has racked up 104 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, and 24 passes defended. Alford should draw interest on the open market in a league that requires defensive-back depth.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Greg Auman
2 weeks agoMinnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson signed a two-year, $12.6 million contract extension to remain with the organization through 2027, according to NFL.com. Jackson was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee but did not make the active roster and landed with the Vikings to begin his career. In three seasons with Minnesota, he has racked up 47 total tackles (29 solo), two interceptions, and four pass deflections in 43 games. Jackson has special teams ability and is a valuable depth piece in Minnesota's secondary led by Brian Flores.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks agoThe Tennessee Titans hired Mike McCoy as a senior offensive assistant, completing the team's staff for the 2025 season. McCoy began his NFL coaching career in 2000 as an offensive assistant with the Carolina Panthers and has held roles as the offensive coordinator for two organizations. He was the head coach of the San Diego Chargers from 2013 to 2016, compiling a 27-37 record with one playoff appearance. The 52-year-old spent the last three seasons as
Trevor Lawrence's quarterback coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He'll now be tasked with working with young head coach Brian Callahan and whoever emerges as the starting QB in Tennessee.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks agoJacksonville Jaguars center Mitch Morse announced his retirement on Thursday after 10 NFL seasons. Morse was a second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 out of Missouri and spent four seasons with the organization before five seasons with the Buffalo Bills and one season with the Jaguars. Overall, the 32-year-old started in 143 games and appeared in at least 13 games in eight of his 10 campaigns. Morse earned his only Pro Bowl nod in 2022 as a member of the Bills.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks agoThe Chicago Bears signed former Miami Dolphins tight end
Durham Smythe to a one-year deal on Thursday, according to NFL.com. The former fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame has played his entire seven-year career with Miami but was released this offseason. Overall, the 28-year-old has hauled in 132 receptions for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns in 112 career games. Smythe is best utilized as a blocker, and with Chicago trading for former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, it's evident they want to improve quickly in run and pass blocking. Smythe could help Chicago's offense in 2025 under new head coach Ben Johnson, but he's unlikely to be on the fantasy football radar.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
2 weeks 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
2 weeks 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
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