2 weeks agoThe Las Vegas Raiders informed quarterback
Desmond Ridder that they will not tender him an offer as a restricted free agent this offseason, a source tells NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ridder will now hit the open market next month after playing in six games (one start) in his lone season for the Raiders in 2024. He went 52-for-85 for 458 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as a backup in Vegas. The 25-year-old former third-round selection (74th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of the University of Cincinnati appeared in 19 games (17 starts) in his first two years in the NFL in Atlanta before the Falcons moved on. Ridder briefly latched on as a backup option with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Raiders this past season. He has plenty of starting experience since entering the league, but Ridder will just be hoping for a chance to earn a backup gig somewhere else in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoThe Las Vegas Raiders are now expected to investigate veteran quarterback options that include free-agents
Russell Wilson,
Justin Fields and
Sam Darnold, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Raiders recently met with quarterback
Matthew Stafford and reportedly offered him a two-year deal worth up to $90-100 million guaranteed, but Stafford instead chose to restructure his deal to stay in L.A. With Stafford now off the table, Vegas will turn to their backup options, including both of the Pittsburgh Steelers' impending free-agent signal-callers.
Aidan O'Connell and
Gardner Minshew III are currently on the roster, but the new Raiders coaching staff prefers a veteran with experience, and Minshew is expected to be released. The most obvious fit is Wilson due to his history with head coach Pete Carroll in Seattle, but he's also 36 years old and fizzled out down the stretch in his first year in the Steel City.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2
weeks
agoMinnesota
Vikings
impending
free-agent
quarterback
Sam
Darnold
was
a
name
brought
up
to
ESPN
New
York's
Jordan
Raanan
on
Friday
as
a
potential
option
for
the
New
York
Giants.
The
G-Men
were
interested
in
Darnold
last
offseason
before
he
signed
a
one-year
contract
with
read more...
2
weeks
agoThe
Athletic's
Tashan
Reed
and
Vic
Tafur
feel
that
it's
unlikely
that
the
Las
Vegas
Raiders
will
make
a
large
financial
commitment
to
a
veteran
quarterback
who
is
expected
to
be
available
this
offseason,
according
to
league
sources.
The
Raiders
reportedly
offered
a
two-year
deal
worth
up
to
read more...
2 weeks agoThere has been no contact or negotiations as of now between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks regarding wide receiver
DK Metcalf, a source told The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. A report earlier on Friday suggested that the Packers had already offered an enticing package to the Seahawks to potentially acquired Metcalf this offseason. While the Seahawks aren't necessarily shopping Metcalf, it's clear that some teams are calling about his availability after back-to-back seasons of only 66 receptions for the two-time Pro Bowler. While the 27-year-old former second-rounder still had a healthy 992 receiving yards in 15 games in 2024, he also had a career-low five touchdowns and took a back seat to breakout wideout
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Metcalf moving to Green Bay would certainly make him an intriguing bounce-back candidate, especially with
Christian Watson (knee) expected to miss at least half the season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
2 weeks agoThe New York Giants are investigating all veteran quarterback options this offseason, including New York Jets quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Giants reportedly offered Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford a two-year deal worth $90-100 million guaranteed, but Stafford and the Rams agreed to a restructured deal on Friday, so he's off the table for the G-Men. While the Giants, who could take a rookie signal-caller with the No. 3 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, could still sign a veteran QB like Rodgers or trade for one. Rodgers, who is expected to be designated as a post-June 1 cut by the New York Jets soon, has reportedly already reached out to the Giants. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer will probably only play one more season in the NFL, and after tearing his Achilles in Week 1 in 2023, he was very inconsistent and looked his age in 2024 in a disappointing year with the Jets.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoThe Los Angeles Rams and quarterback
Matthew Stafford reached an agreement on Friday on a restructured deal that will keep him in L.A., sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Financial terms of the restructure weren't immediately available, but this now squashes all trade rumors this offseason after the Rams gave permission to Stafford to talk with other teams about a new contract. Both the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants reportedly discussed two-year deals with the veteran signal-caller that included between $90-100 million guaranteed, but after meeting with the Rams on Friday, Stafford has decided to stay in Los Angeles. The 37-year-old was the QB19 in fantasy in 2024, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 16 regular-season games. Although he won't be a QB1 in fantasy in 2025, he was playing his best ball late last season and nearly led the Rams to the NFC Championship.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
2 weeks agoSan Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. is expected to be traded this offseason, and the Washington Commanders and Houston Texans have had significant interest in trading for him, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos have also checked in, among other teams, but Washington and Houston are believed to be the most aggressive in trade talks. Samuel has spent his entire career with Niners since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has posted 334 receptions for 4,792 yards, and 22 touchdowns in 81 games. He has added 1,143 yards and 20 touchdowns as a runner. Both Washington and Houston have quarterbacks on rookie deals and see their Super Bowl window as wide open, making them formidable suitors for the veteran wideout.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Jordan Schultz
2 weeks agoLos Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford, who is scheduled to meet with the Rams on Friday, feels more likely to return to L.A., according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Nothing is final, but it's looking like a reunion between Stafford and the Rams is more likely than a few days ago when it looked like he would leave. Both the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants have discussed a two-year deal for Stafford that includes $90-100 million guaranteed, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini. A resolution is expected by the end of the NFL Combine this weekend. The Rams' preference is to stay year-to-year on a potential deal with Stafford -- they've typically averaged an annual salary of $40-45 million for him. It's a figure that ranks around the middle of the NFL this year, while Stafford has mostly produced like a top-10 QB in his time in L.A., including a Super Bowl victory.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 weeks agoBaltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams is preparing for free agency with the full expectation that he will be released, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A recent restructure of Williams' contract included a significant trigger that comes due on March 13, and Baltimore is expected to try and avoid that after he was benched in 2024. The 28-year-old played in only 11 regular-season games last year and finished with 33 tackles (26 solo), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery after beginning the year as the starting safety next to Kyle Hamilton. Williams was a healthy scratch for the final five regular-season games of the year and for both of their playoff contests after Ar'Darius Washington took over his starting spot in Baltimore's secondary. He signed a five-year, $70 million deal before the 2022 season and has recorded 20 interceptions in his eight years in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
2 weeks agoThe Seattle Seahawks have spoken with a couple of teams about wide receiver
DK Metcalf's availability this week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, according to multiple sources. However, general manager John Schneider has pointed out before that simply talking to another team doesn't mean a trade is imminent. The Seahawks aren't actively shopping Metcalf, but at least one team that has inquired about him thinks they have a trade package in place that would make Schneider strongly consider pulling the trigger on a trade. A source indicated that the Green Bay Packers have had talks with Seattle this week and have an offer on the table that includes a high pick and a young receiver on roster for Metcalf. The 27-year-old failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight year and scored a career-low five TDs in 15 games in 2024, but a possible move to Green Bay, where he'd be the clear WR1, could easily rejuvenate his fantasy value. Stay tuned.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Corbin K. Smith
2 weeks agoThe Athletic's Dane Brugler reports that University of Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan will not do any workouts for scouts at the NFL Combine this weekend in Indianapolis. McMillan apparently is dealing with an undisclosed injury that he suffered recently, which would make sense why he'd be skipping on-field workouts at the Combine. "He got hurt in the spring and I don't know that he ever made it back to 100 percent. The 2023 tape gives you a better idea of who he is," according to an AFC scouting director. The 21-year-old is a possession receiver with the size (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) and ball skills to succeed as a downfield threat at the next level. While McMillan should easily be a first-round selection in this year's NFL draft, he could struggle with physical cornerbacks and might not be a huge asset in run-after-the-catch production.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dane Brugler
2 weeks agoUniversity of Miami quarterback Cam Ward said he will not throw at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday. Ward says his tape speaks for itself and he will instead throw at his school's Pro Day on March 24. It's no surprise, with most of the top prospects sitting out Combine workouts in favor of more controlled environments at their Pro Days. The 22-year-old signal-caller spent one year with the Hurricanes in 2024 and threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. With elite athleticism as a dual-threat QB, Ward is in play to be the top overall pick in this year's NFL draft, along with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter. In addition to his 4,000-plus passing yards and 39 TDs through the air, Ward had 60 rushing attempts for 204 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Laura Rutledge
2 weeks agoThe NFL and NFL Players Association on Thursday agreed to a 2025 salary cap of $279.2 million per team, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. It's another record high. The league projected the cap to land between $277.5 million and $281.5 million just last week. The new figure of $279.2 million in 2025 is a $23.8 million jump from last year's cap of $255.4 million. The newest jump in the salary cap is more than $100 million more than what it was in 2018 ($177 million) and almost $200 million more than it was in 2005 ($85.5 million). NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy said that the total projected player costs are slotted at $362.48 million for all 32 teams. Back in 1994, the first year of the salary cap, the NFL's cap per team was a mere $34.608 million.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 weeks agoUniversity of Michigan cornerback Will Johnson (toe) will not work out at the NFL Combine this week in Indianapolis, sources told ESPN's Jordan Reid. Instead, Johnson will fully participate in Michigan's Pro Day on March 21. The 21-year-old defensive back suffered a turf-toe injury in his final collegiate season and was forced to miss the final six games in 2024. Despite his injury, he's projected to be one of the top cornerback prospects in the 2025 draft class after recording 68 total tackles, nine interceptions and three touchdowns in his three years with the Wolverines. Johnson's foot injury shouldn't be an issue for the start of his rookie season in the NFL this fall. He was an All-American in 2023 and was mentioned as a potential option for the first overall selection in the 2025 draft before the 2024 season. Johnson was named the defensive MVP in the national championship victory over Washington in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jordan Reid
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