NFL Player News

In all likelihood, the backup job will go to Bailey Zappe in Week 1. The second-year quarterback who was waived on roster cutdown day was signed to the team’s practice squad the following day, and should have the inside edge on Matt Corral, who the team claimed off waivers late last week. Zappe has spent all summer playing in the Patriots’ new offensive scheme, and was a reliable backup last season, going 2-0 in his starts while throwing for 781 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Belichick sounds like he’s leaving the door open for Corral to be the backup heading into this week, but as he noted on Monday, “He hasn’t even been on the field yet.”

The deal includes $40 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. After denying a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini that he was aiming to become the game’s highest paid tight end, Kittle signs a monster extension that eclipses Trey McBride’s recent deal. Kittle last year ranked third in tight end receiving yards and led the position in yards per route run. He has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass catchers for years and will enter his age-32 season as an important part of a San Francisco passing attack that is now without Deebo Samuel.

Schrager said Rodgers has told teams — including the Giants and Steelers — that they should feel free to move on in their quarterback search if Rodgers’ timetable doesn’t fit theirs. Rodgers, 41, told ESPN’s Pat McAfee this month that he was dealing with personal issues and indicated he was in no hurry to sign with the team for 2025. The Steelers could enter the summer with Mason Rudolph and rookie QB Will Howard atop their quarterback depth chart.

Cross now remains tied to the organization through the 2026 season. PFF gave the towering 24-year-old tackle exemplary marks in 2024, ranking him 10th of 140 qualified tackles, including 15th in pass protection and 16th in run blocking. The Seahawks extend the negotiating window on one of the key pieces of their offensive front.

The former Steeler wasn’t able to carve out a significant role with the Panthers, Ravens, or Texans in 2024 after a 717-yard 2023 season. The Browns apparently saw enough during his visit with the team Monday to sign him to a one-year contract, the details of which have yet to be released. Expect Johnson to start opposite Cedric Tillman on the perimeter while Jerry Jeudy works the slot.

Moore visited the Bills on Monday and then saw the Browns place the unrestricted free agent tender on him. Per Field Yates, this means that Moore will count against the compensatory free agent formula should he sign with another team. If he is unable to sign with another team prior to the first day of training camp, the Browns would retain exclusive negotiating rights at 110 percent of Moore’s 2024 salary. That carries a value of $3.428 million in his case.

The former first-round hybrid linebacker and safety has yet to live up to his No. 8 overall selection in the 2020 draft, but brings the unique ability to fill multiple positions over the middle of the field to a Packers defense that prefers to play a more inside-out style. There is upside in his athletic profile and versatility -- perhaps another change of scenery will serve to unlock some of that potential.

The 33-year-old wide receiver has long since seen his days of 100-target seasons fall by the wayside, but he still adds a veteran presence to a relatively young wide receiver room in Pittsburgh. Woods played over 60 percent of the offensive snaps for the Texans just twice in 2024 after doing so 13 times in 2023, indicating a high likelihood he was brought in for his locker room presence and veteran savvy rather than as a consistent contributor to the offense. The low-risk signing makes sense for both parties considering Woods’ age and the state of the Pittsburgh pass-catching corps.

Johnson had a forgettable 2024, to put it mildly. The former Steelers receiver saw himself traded to the Panthers last offseason only to later be traded to the Ravens, where his lack of playing time eventually led to his release. He then found his way to the wide receiver-needy Texans, who rostered him for just over three weeks. He was then claimed off waivers by the Ravens but was not eligible to play during the postseason. Now a free agent, Johnson, 28, has not enjoyed the market many expected him to see this time last year. He’s a productive receiver who has amassed 424 catches for 4,738 yards and 28 touchdowns in his six-year career, but it goes without saying that he’s likely in brand rebuilding mode as far as this offseason is concerned. This is the first visit we’ve heard of for Johnson, who may meet with other teams before signing.

Brooks (6’2/184) was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school and committed to Alabama with offers from Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Penn State among others. Brooks got on the map as a sophomore with 674 yards and eight touchdowns. He didn’t play much as a junior while dealing with a shoulder injury and transferred to Louisville for his senior season. Brooks returned to form in 2024 with a 61/1,013/9 receiving line as the Cardinals’ leading receiver. Louisville used Brooks to stretch the field with a 15.1 aDOT. Brooks doesn’t have a speedy top gear, meaning he was forced to win contested targets. Over a quarter of his looks were contested in his final season, but he did manage to reel in nearly 70 percent of those looks. Brooks also struggled with drops throughout his career and logged a 10 percent drop rate in 2024. Brooks needs to flesh out his route tree and clean up the drops to find a consistent role in the pros.

Fortune (6’1/189) played five years with South Carolina, starting his final two years with the Gamecocks. His best season came in 2024, where he finished with 47 total tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions, and three pass defections. Against the rush, Fortune posted a lackluster 54.0 run defense grade with 20.7 percent missed tackle rate. He is quick and has good vision, however there are times where he hesitates, causing him to miss important tackle opportunities. Fortune blossomed on the outside though, posting a pristine 90.1 PFF coverage grade in 2024. He’s not as physical as he could be in contested-catch situations and can be sluggish in his transitions. Despite his limitations versus the run, the potential is there for Fortune to become a regular on nickel packages as a coverage specialist.