NFL Player News

According to Smith-Schuster, he felt about “60 percent” healthy during this time last season. The veteran receiver was dealing with a knee injury that carried over from his 2022 season with the Chiefs and said he never reached a point of feeling 100 percent healthy. Now, that’s all changed. Speaking Monday at OTAs, Smith-Schuster said he feels like he is in full health, which is good news for the Patriots, who signed him to a three-year, $25 million contract last offseason. Smith-Schuster caught 29 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games for the Patriots last season, looking like a fraction of the player he was in 2022 when he went for 78-933-3 with the Chiefs. If healthy, he should be the best receiver in New England’s underwhelming wide receiver room. With that said, it’s hard to imagine him having anything more than WR4 fantasy upside until we get a chance to see him on the field.

The $19 million average value per year makes McBride the highest paid tight end in NFL history and includes $43 million in guaranteed money. The soon-to-be fourth-year tight end set career highs in targets, receptions, and yardage in 2024 but has still managed only six receiving touchdowns during his three-year professional career. Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort said in late February that extending McBride was a priority this offseason, making good on his promise in spectacular fashion.

The max value extension includes $66.5 million in guarantees and ties him to the franchise through the 2027 season. Many had their doubts about the longevity of Smith in Las Vegas but it now appears the team will treat him as their clear starter for the coming three seasons before forced to address the position again. It’s a definite boost to the fantasy value of second-year phenom tight end Brock Bowers considering Smith’s hefty career tight end target rates.

It’s a minor reunion for Edwards, who spent the 2023 season in Kansas City and won a Super Bowl. Edwards signed with the Bills last offseason but only appeared in three games before being cut. The Titans then took a shot on Edwards but also cut him. He ended the year back in Tampa Bay after originally entering the league as a Buc in 2019. Edwards was a third safety for the Chiefs in 2023 and will likely hold a similar role this year.

The 2024 sixth-round pick made one appearance as a rookie, taking over for Drake Maye mid-game in a meaningless Week 18 affair. Milton played extremely well in his brief time in the spotlight, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 16 yards and another score. The Pats signed Joshua Dobbs to a two-year deal in free agency, locking him in as the backup to Maye for 2025. In turn, the team got what it could for Milton and gave him a chance to be a QB2 behind Dak Prescott. With Prescott under contract through 2028, Milton doesn’t have much fantasy value, even in deep dynasty leagues.

Rapoport made it surprisingly clear that Derek Carr is not the long-term option for New Orleans, even if he is penciled in as the starter for most of the 2025 season. The Saints hold the No. 9 pick, putting them in position to grab Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders if he falls a few picks. As Rapoport noted, they could also move back into the first round to grab a passer, potentially Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, at the end of night one. The Saints have been active in their scouting of the rookie quarterbacks so far, hosting Texas’s Quinn Ewers for a visit after having a notable presence at Dart’s pro day. Carr’s days as the team’s starter are numbered.

Petaia is a 6-foot-3, 226-pound rugby player from Australia now joining the Chargers as a tight end. He debuted on Australia’s national rugby team at 19-years-old and is the youngest player to appear in two Rugby World Cups. The Chargers add Petaia to a tight end room that has Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin leading the way. Jim Harbaugh loves his tight ends and though it may be difficult for Petaia to earn meaningful regular season snaps, his adjustment to the NFL will be one to follow heading into the preseason.

The Vikings quarterback room continues to have a lot of questions thrown at it with Aaron Rodgers still a free agent and J.J. McCarthy coming back from a torn meniscus from his rookie season. However, Vikings management continues to praise McCarthy’s return from injury, with Adofo-Mensah saying “every checkpoint he’s exceeded.” Selected No. 10 overall last season, McCarthy currently leads the Minnesota quarterback room ahead of Brett Rypien. Adofo-Mensah did not rule out adding more quarterbacks, saying the team is going to look to “always add depth to that room.” For now, McCarthy has a lot of confidence behind him to lead an offense well-equipped to help a quarterback succeed.

Winfield had a $21 million base salary that was shifted to a minimum salary and bonus, with the Bucs also adding a void year. He signed a four-year, $84.1 million contract last offseason and now Tampa Bay frees up $15.86 million in cap space for 2025 by restructuring a contract that ends in 2027. The Bucs also restructured WR Mike Evans’ contract, though it was not for any cap savings. Evans had some compensation moved forward to pay him sooner, but cap space was not created.

Pre-draft visits aren’t everything, but the Steelers have historically drafted from their visit list at a strikingly high clip. Five of Pittsburgh’s seven draft picks last year were brought in for a visit. Golden was a Day One hopeful after going for 987 yards and nine scores at Texas last year. He then cemented his status as a first-round wideout at the NFL Combine with a 4.29 Forty. With George Pickens entering a contract year, the Steelers could be looking for his successor via the draft, even with DK Metcalf also on the roster.

Hendrickson said the Bengals told him a deal would get done this offseason. He also noted that he began asking for a long-term deal with guaranteed money three years ago. Earlier this week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said the team is still working on a potential extension, though Hendrickson didn’t make it sound like a deal was imminent when talking to McAfee. The Bengals have prioritized bringing their offensive players back in thus far. Ja’Marr Chase was made the highest-paid non-quarterback this offseason while Tee Higgins got a healthy contract extension as well. Hendrickson is currently the odd man out and could be headed for free agency next offseason.