NFL Player News

Taylor hauled in a 57-yard reception in the Jets Hall of Fame game against the Browns but caught only one additional pass throughout the preseason. In addition to Taylor, the Jets also released/waived QB Tim Boyle, FB Nick Bawden, RB Travis Dye, RB Zonovan Knight, WR Alex Erickson, WR Jerome Kapp, WR TJ Luther, TE E.J. Jenkins, TE Zack Kuntz, C Trystan Colon, OL Chris Glaser, OL Grant Hermanns OL Brent Laing, OL Adam Pankey, OL Greg Senat, DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Bruce Hector, DL Jalyn Holmes, DL Tanzel Smart, DL Marquiss Spencer, DL Pita Taumeopenu, LB Claudin Cherelus, LB Samuel Eguavoen, LB Caleb Johnson, LB Nick Vigil, S Jarrick Bernard-Conversee, S Trey Dean, CB Brandin Echols, S Craig James, CB Derrick Langford, CB Nehemiah Shelton, S Marquis Waters, CB Jimmy Moreland, P Thomas Morstead.

Spytek philosophized on the running back position’s current state and celebrated his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for continuing to value the position. Although he refrained from opining on Jeanty, specifically, Spytek said, “when you sit, where we sit,” ostensibly referencing the No. 6 overall pick, “the idea is to add elite players at any position.” Jeanty certainly qualifies, and he would understand command a first-round fantasy pick were he to play under head coach Pete Carroll and OC Chip Kelly.

Wilson said that the idea is to pair “a speed back to go with Joe Mixon,” noting that the Texans actually told Texas RB Jaydon Blue that they plan to draft a running back. Blue was clocked at the second-fastest 40-yard-dash time, positionally, running it in 4.38 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is an accomplished receiver out of the backfield and would fit the mold as a passing-down complement to Mixon. In his 2024 regular season at Texas, Blue rushed 125 times for 706 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 33-of-48 targets for 302 yards and four touchdowns.

Earlier this offseason, the Ravens extended a one-year tender to Washington, giving them the right of first refusal if another team wished to sign him. Had Washington departed, the Ravens would not have received any compensation. The deadline for an outside offer expired at the end of the business day today, which leaves Washington with only two options: Sign the tender sheet and play for the Ravens this season or sit out. Washington understandably opted to test free agency after a breakout 2024 campaign in which he forced seven incompletions, 46 tackles, four tackles for a loss or no gain and one sack. He tacked on one forced incompletion, nine tackles and one tackle for a loss or no gain in the Ravens’ two playoff games.

Dulac said that defensive tackle prospects Mason Graham, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon and Kenneth Grant sit atop the Steelers’ draft board. The Steelers have reportedly offered Aaron Rodgers a one-year deal and are “willing to wait” for his decision, at least for now. Dulac said that the Steelers “are still spooked by the whole Kenny Pickett evaluation,” adding that “they took the best quarterback of a very average draft class, and I don’t think they want to make that mistake again.” Per Dulac, both Dart and Sanders will be “in the conversation” for the Steelers, if their preferred defensive linemen prospects are gone, but the “pecking order” is believed to be “defensive line, running back, wide receiver and quarterback, and you throw a cornerback in there somewhere.” Dulac “firmly” believes that the Steelers are “all in” on trading up for a “marquee” quarterback prospect in 2026, if nothing pans out this year.

Smith spent much of the 2024 season on the Texans’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in December. He secured his lone 2024 target for a two-yard reception. Smith will potentially slot in as the team’s No. 4 tight end. He does not need to be on fantasy radars.

Speculation as to what the Saints will do with the No. 9 overall pick has increased lately, with commentators commonly linking them to Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. Underhill’s “guess” is “that pick is not going to be a quarterback,” instead labeling the Saints’ No. 40 overall pick as “the sweet spot” for the position. Underhill does not believe there “exists” a quarterback prospect that the team deems worthy of the No. 9 pick, and addressed Derek Carr’s recent shoulder-injury saga by saying, “if [that type of quarterback prospect] didn’t exist before all of this happened, it probably doesn’t exist now.” Should Carr remain a Saint for 2025, he may be battling a second-round rookie for the starting role.

This is likely a non-story. Golden was timed at 4.29 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, registering the fastest time among wide receiver prospects. While Golden is probably just keeping himself atop news cycles, we can quietly make note of his claim regarding the ankle. Golden reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain in January. If the ankle really is still bothering him three months later, it could be something to monitor. He was healthy enough to lead his position group at the combine’s most-watched event, though, so fans and fantasy managers alike should not be overly concerned.

Geno Smith’s recent contract extension effectively locks him into the 2025 starting role. Could the Raiders add a quarterback this year, with the intent to let him compete with Smith in 2026? Yes, they certainly could, and doing so gels with Pete Carroll’s mantra of facilitating competition at all positions, at all times. While Cam Ward is all but guaranteed to have been drafted when the Raiders pick at No. 6, they could have their pick of the remaining quarterback class.

Hortiz discussed the Chargers’ need to find an impactful boundary wide receiver to pair with star slot receiver Ladd McConkey. When discussing specific traits that the player must possess, Hortiz highlighted the ability to gain separation from a defender and the importance of working the “vertical stem.” He also explained that size was not viewed as a critical factor for the role and that there are “different sizes and profiles of each guy.” Hortiz also adds that they view this class as being deep, saying, “if I showed you our board, you would say, ‘Wow, they got a lot of options.’” Although the Chargers have Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston in-house, Popper believes Williams cannot be relied upon due to his “age and injury history.” Johnston has failed to meet expectations since being drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft’s first round and is perhaps best suited to a No. 3 role as a post-catch producer, rather than operating as the primary perimeter field-stretcher.

Kyler Murray retains his shifty slot receiver. Dortch flashes fun talent at times but has largely settled into a complementary role at this point. He caught 37-of-46 targets for 342 yards and three touchdowns last season and has a chance to produce similarly this year. Should Marvin Harrison Jr. make a second-year leap, Dortch’s target share will likely be impacted, though.