2 days agoESPN's Jordan Reid reports that University of North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton has declared for the 2025 NFL draft. Hampton finished second in FBS in rushing yards (1,660) and yards after first contact (1,026) in 2024 and added an impressive 15 touchdowns for the Tar Heels. The 21-year-old running back was extremely impressive in his final two collegiate seasons, putting up two straight 1,500-yard rushing campaigns. He also added 67 catches for 595 yards and three touchdowns in his career at North Carolina as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. There's a case to be made that he will be taken in the first round of the upcoming draft this April, although concerns about his abilities in pass-protection could make NFL teams wary of making him a Day 1 selection. Still, he could be the second RB off the board behind Ashton Jeanty in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jordan Reid
2 days agoThe New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end
Giovanni Ricci (knee) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday. Ricci was on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in 2024 but never was active for a regular-season game and was cut in August due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan made his NFL debut in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, with all 36 of his career games coming with Carolina. In three NFL seasons, Ricci has caught only nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and no touchdowns with the Panthers. Ricci is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher and will now represent tight end depth for the Patriots throughout the offseason and into training camp this summer. The most likely scenario is that he'll effective serve as a fullback for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New England Patriots
2 days agoThe Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent offensive guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu (back) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday, according to Seahawks.com's John Boyle. Aumavae-Laulu was originally a sixth-round pick (199th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL draft out of Oregon. The 25-year-old was active for the Ravens in Weeks 4 and 5 but was cut in Week 6 due to a back injury. He was a three-year starter for the Ducks in college and was a Pac-12 honorable mention as a senior, when he started all 13 games at right tackle and played a team-high 902 offensive snaps. Most of Aumavae-Laulu's time at the NFL level has come on the Ravens' practice squad. He'll now head to Seattle to continue his development and will likely enter the 2025 season on their practice squad if he makes the team out of training camp.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
2 days agoESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Washington Commanders impending free-agent quarterback
Marcus Mariota is very much on the Miami Dolphins' and Las Vegas Raiders' radar this offseason as they seek to add a proven, established No. 2 QB. The Dolphins are seeking insurance for quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa, whose history of head injuries are well-documented. In Vegas, the Raiders could look to reunite Mariota with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who coached Mariota for two years at Oregon. The 31-year-old played well in limited action in 2024 with Washington, going 34-for-44 for 364 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He's started 74 games in the NFL and has a 90.1 career passer rating, 97 TDs and 55 interceptions after the Titans made him the second overall pick in 2015. If Miami can't sign Mariota, they could pivot to 37-year-old
Andy Dalton.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Miami Herald - Barry Jackson
2 days agoNFL commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday that the league will look into the "serious issues" involving multiple sexual-misconduct allegations that recently surfaced against Baltimore Ravens kicker
Justin Tucker. Goodell also noted that it could be both civil and criminal. In total, nine massage therapists in the Baltimore area have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior, with all of the incidents reportedly happening from 2012-16, Tucker's first five seasons in the NFL. His lawyer's have called the allegations "unequivocally false." The 35-year-old had the worst season of his career in 2024, but he's a seven-time Pro Bowler and is still the most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 89.1% success rate on his 468 attempted field goals over 13 seasons. Depending on what the league finds in its investigation, Tucker could be subject to a lengthy suspension under the NFL's personal-conduct policy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
2 days agoThe Houston Texans hired Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Nick Caley as their new offensive coordinator on Monday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Caley spent the last two seasons in L.A. under head coach Sean McVay and will now replace Bobby Slowik, who was fired by Houston after two seasons on the job. Before joining the Rams, Caley spent six seasons as the New England Patriots' tight ends coach. The 42-year-old will be calling Houston's offensive plays in 2025 as a first-time offensive coordinator. He has plenty to work with, though, including quarterback
C.J. Stroud, running back
Joe Mixon and receiver
Nico Collins. The expectation were high for the Texans offense in 2024 after a strong rookie campaign from Stroud in 2023, but they ranked 22nd in total offense (319.7 yards per game) and 18th in offensive points per game (20.5).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
2 days agoOn Friday, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase told ESPN's Laura Rutledge that he's hoping to get "what's fair" regarding his new contract. "Hopefully, I don't put too much pressure on anybody, but I just want it to be fair, that's all." As for what's "fair" from the 24-year-old's point of view: "I can't really say everything I want to say. It's what I deserve." Chase is coming off his best season as a pro, and it couldn't come at a better time for his looming contract. The superstar wideout became just the sixth pass-catcher in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- effectively taking home the Triple Crown. It appears he's insinuating he wants to match or exceed his former LSU teammate
Justin Jefferson's contract value, which would make him the highest-paid non-QB in the league. Hopefully, the negotiations don't linger into the summer, as it's the only outcome that could prevent Chase from being a highly-selected fantasy asset in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Michael Baca
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2 days agoPer Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the Seattle Seahawks have hired ex-New Orleans Saints coaches Andrew Janocko and John Benton to fill their quarterback and offensive-line coaching positions. Janocko has now been the QB coach for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak at three separate stops (New Orleans, Minnesota [2021]), holding the same position in Chicago for the Bears from 22-'23. Benton also has strong ties to the Kubiak family, as he previously worked for Klint's father, Gary Kubiak, in Houston. Additionally, he served four seasons under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco before linking up with his new OC in New Orleans last season. There have been rumblings recently that quarterback
Geno Smith is a good fit for Kubiak's system -- if he remains the team's signal-caller in 2025 -- and if that's the case, it's exciting to see the OC bring in people around him that he trusts.
--Alex CiullaSource: Bob Condotta
2 days agoSan Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner expressed his enthusiasm about the team's hiring of ex-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando. "It means a lot," said Warner. "Obviously, coach Saleh has been amazing for us...So it will be interesting, being the old guy now, myself, being with him again. It's going to be fun, though." The All-Pro also noted that he believes the unit can return to its dominant ways. 2024 was a strange season for the 49ers; the same can be said for Saleh. However, his Jets allowed the fewest passing yards per game from 2022-2023 (178.9), and New York's defense was noticeably worse off after his departure this past season. Despite finishing 2024 eighth in yards per game allowed (317.4), the 49ers gave up 25.6 points per game (29th). San Francisco will likely bounce back as a team next season, and they've already started on the right foot defensively.
--Alex CiullaSource: Christian Gonzalez
2 days agoSports Illustrated's John Shipley reports that former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the weekend for an undisclosed coaching role, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. It would make logical sense for Rivera to join Jacksonville as a senior assistant for first-time head coach Liam Coen to lean on. In addition to Coen being a first-time head coach, they have a first-time defensive coordinator in Anthony Campanile. The 63-year-old Rivera interviewed for head-coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets this cycle, so he clearly has a desire to return to the NFL after he was out of football in 2024. Rivera went 26-40-1 with the Commanders from 2020-23 and led the Panthers to seven playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl, from 2011-19.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SI.com - John Shipley
2 days agoThe Philadelphia Eagles re-signed tight end
Nick Muse to their practice squad over the weekend and released running back
Lew Nichols in a corresponding move. Muse was cut from Philly's practice squad last Thursday but is quickly back with the organization as additional tight end depth as the Eagles prepare for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, against the Kansas City Chiefs. Muse, a 26-year-old former seventh-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, spent most of the 2024 season with the Vikings. He was active for four regular-season games but was not targeted at all in the passing game. In his first two years in the league with Minnesota, Muse played in 12 games and caught his only target for a gain of 22 yards. Muse will most likely not be active for the Eagles for the Super Bowl.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
2 days agoLos Angeles Rams offensive assistant/passing-game specialist Nate Scheelhaase has emerged as a leading candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive-coordinator job, multiple sources told KPRC's Aaron Wilson. The expectation is that Scheelhaase will ultimately be hired for the position to assist first-time head coach Liam Coen in Jacksonville. Scheelhaase interviewed with the Jaguars for the offensive-coordinator job after he interviewed for the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before spending the last four years with the Rams, he was the offensive coordinator at Iowa State. Scheelhaase began his coaching career at Illinois after he w a second-team All-Big Ten quarterback in 2013. The 34-year-old has quickly developed a reputation for being a bright offensive mind. Coen has already announced that he will call plays for the Jaguars offense in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
2 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars hired Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli, who was the first pick in franchise history, as their new executive vice president of football operations. Boselli will be in charge of player engagement, football technology, football travel and logistics, equipment, sports performance, team security and football communications. He helped advise owner Shad Khan during the team's recent coaching search and sat in during in-person head-coaching interviews. "My job is not to pick players, my job is not to coach and surely my job is not to go play," Boselli said. "My job is to support (the coach and the GM), and that's what I'll do." He was a five-time Pro Bowler and spent seven seasons playing for the Jaguars, but his playing days in the NFL were cut short due to a botched shoulder surgery.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Associated Press - Mark Long
2 days agoCleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett has officially requested a trade. However, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Browns "are sticking to their stance and do not intend to have any conversations or trade Garrett." During last year's trading deadline, teams were interested in acquiring Garrett, but the Browns were adamant that Garrett was not available. With Garrett wanting to be traded now and the Browns sticking to their stance, things could get ugly going forward and Garrett could hold out of the entire offseason with Cleveland. The 29-year-old was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and has had at least 14 sacks in each of the last four seasons. Garrett is a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro with 102.5 sacks in eight years in Cleveland. If the Browns give in and trade him, they'll likely be seeking two first-round picks for Garrett.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
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