NFL Player News

Kneeland (6’3/267) was a largely unrecruited two-star prospect at the FBS level who also played basketball and ran track in high school. He played sparsely for his first couple of seasons before earning a starting role in 2022, racking up 25 pressures and 24 stops to go with a 77th percentile PFF overall grade in nine games. He has had trouble staying on the field at times, missing multiple games in each of the last two campaigns with calf and elbow injuries. Being a small school athlete, Kneeland’s combine testing was an important part of his evaluation process. While the straight line speed marks were decent with a 4.75s 40-yard dash (79th%) and 1.65s 10-yard split (77th%), his 4.18s shuttle (97th%) and 7.02s 3-Cone (91st%) were outstanding. His solid 35.5” vert (88th%) and 9’11” broad jump (81st%) helped elevate Kneeland’s Relative Athletic Score to a very respectable 9.08 RAS. A rare power-edge in a speed-rusher-dominated draft class, Kneeland explodes into contact with the intention of caving in his opponent’s chest and driving him into the backfield. What Kneeland lacks in refined technique, he makes up for in sheer tenacity and desire. Kneeland has the requisite strength and athleticism to develop into a fearsome edge-setting defensive end if he can develop his moveset with NFL-level coaching.

Jones has visited the Titans, Cardinals, and Cowboys so far in his free agency. He was released by the Jaguars after they added Brian Thomas in the 2024 NFL Draft. Though Jones battled injuries for much of last season, he hit a career-high 8-823-5 mark with the Jaguars in 2022. Meanwhile, the Chiefs may be without Rashee Rice for much of next season if he is suspended for his legal troubles. The 29-year-old Jones would add a bigger target for Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs offense, which added Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy as well. Kansas City will be the fourth city in Jones’ free agency tour.

Initially a second-round pick in 2011, Vereen split his NFL career between the Patriots and Giants. He was last on the Saints’ practice squad in 2019, and has been out of the NFL since then. Vereen is best known for his Super Bowl XLIX performance with the Pats, totaling 11 receptions for 64 yards en route to a ring. Through seven seasons, Vereen ended with 107 receptions for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 217 carries for 907 yards and seven touchdowns. DeMeco Ryans now adds the former running back to his Texans staff as a player personnel assistant.

The Patriots interviewed Eagles exec Brandon Hunt and former Panthers cap manager Samir Suleiman for a new front office role. The team’s director of scouting, Eliot Wolf, also remains a strong candidate. Breer reports the Pats registered the title with the league office as Executive Vice President of Player Personnel. It seems Robert Kraft will continue to not hand over a general manager title as the Pats’ new front office takes shape. This role is expected to be the de facto general manager role, whether Hunt, Suleiman, Wolf, or someone else step into it.

Gonzalez said his shoulder injury is in the past but couldn’t give a definitive timeline for his return to practice. The first-round corner got off to a hot start as a rookie before suffering a torn Labrum in Week 4 against the Cowboys. Through four weeks, Gonzalez had one pick, three pass breakups, and a sack. Barring a setback, Gonzalez should get to participate in the bulk of the Patriots’ offseason program.

The Saints also waived offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer. Mond was signed by the Saints in April. After drafting Spencer Rattler in the fifth round, New Orleans no longer had a need for Mond. He landed on the Colts’ practice squad last year and will likely be stuck on another practice squad for the 2024 season.

Byrant signed with the Cowboys’ practice squad during the 2023 season. He was released before the end of the season but landed a reserve/futures contract with Dallas less than two weeks later. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “Other teams are interested and expected to bring him in for a look.” Bryant hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2018 but may get a shot at making a 53-man roster this summer.

After hiring Arthur Smith to be their next offensive coordinator, the Steelers have made it abundantly clear that they plan to run Smith’s offense from Atlanta. They have already signed Cordarrelle Patterson, Van Jefferson, and Miller, all of whom played under Smith in 2023, this offseason. Miller went for 161 yards and two scores on 11 grabs last year. He figures to see most of his work on special teams in Pittsburgh.

DiNucci, a former XFL star, has bounced on and off the Broncos roster over the past year and a half. He’s completed 23 of 43 NFL passes for 219 scoreless yards over three regular season games. The Broncos will roll with first-rounder Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Jets castoff Zach Wilson in summer practices. He could end up on Denver’s practice squad this summer.

Despite rampant speculation and reporting that the team had dangled Aiyuk as a trade candidate before and during the NFL Draft, Rapoport said the 49ers view Aiyuk as a “key piece” of Kyle Shanahan’s offense and have no desire to ship him to another team (it should be noted that 49ers general manager John Lynch denied reports that the team entertained a pre-draft trade of Aiyuk). Rapoport suggested Aiyuk could land a long-term deal similar to Devonta Smith, who last month signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $75 million. It seems likely Aiyuk will remain with the Niners for at least the 2024 season.

Rourke is a former CFL star, passing for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with the BC Lions in 2022. He signed with the Jaguars for 2023, but was released towards the end of the season. The Patriots briefly scooped up Rourke, who was the odd man out after April’s draft saw Drake Maye and Joe Milton both join the Pats. Rourke now joins Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito in the Giants’ quarterback room.