NFL Player News

The Cowboys’ depth chart has veteran Ezekiel Elliott leading the way with Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, and others competing in the backfield. In a projection of the Cowboys’ 53-man roster, Machota projects Elliott, Dowdle, Freeman, and fullback Hunter Luepke to be the team’s backs. He especially said, “at this point, it would be a surprise for Dowdle not to make it” onto the roster. Elliott will likely be the No. 1 back with the veteran status and production he’s given the Cowboys in his career. However, the 26-year-old Dowdle has been doing well in camp and now Machota has him as the “favorite to lead the team in rushing.” There are still preseason games to see the backfield pecking order, but Dowdle is catching some steam to be a major value at his current price in fantasy.

The 2024 fourth-round draft pick is not resting on his laurels he established as a rookie. “Nobody cares about what you did last year,” said Irving, who led all rookies with 1,122 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns last year. “It’s, ‘What can you do for me now?’ But I’ve always been that guy that pretty much never gets stuck in the past and always [am] where my feet [are] and work hard every day.” In April’s NFL Draft, the Buccaneers added to their depth on offense by adding Emeka Egbuka to a receiving corps that already features Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. That combined with Irving and Rachaad White in the backfield, and Baker Mayfield at quarterback should have the Buccaneers poised to win a fifth straight NFC South title.

Originally drafted by the Ravens in 2014, Mosley made five career Pro Bowls and had 1,083 career combined tackles, 10 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, and 12 sacks over his 10-season career. Mosley joined the jets in 2019, and was a team captain on defense. Mosley’s 2024 season was limited to just four games due to a neck injury, and he managed just 17 total tackles in the games he appeared in.

“For lack of a better term, we laid an egg as an offense,” Darnold said on how the 2024 season ended. In the Vikings’ final two games, including a playoff loss, the team averaged only nine points. Darnold, who put up career highs in both passing yards and touchdowns during his lone season in Minnesota, signed a three-year contract worth $100.5 million with the Seahawks in March. One key player who is enthusiastic about Darnold’s future is wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who also signed with the Seahawks during the offseason. “I think without a doubt, he’s got his best football ahead of him,” said the Super Bowl LVI MVP. “I love his competitiveness. He’s not OK with things being just OK.”

Sanders was caught doing 101 miles per hour in a 60 MPH zone in Strongsville, Ohio. He must either pay a $250 fine for the fourth-degree misdemeanor or fight the ticket in Strongsville Mayor’s Court on July 3. Sanders, 23, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is competing for the Browns starting job with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dillon Gabriel, though The Athletic reported in May that there is “almost no scenario” in which Sanders or Gabriel get the Week 1 starting nod. We’ll see if this incident affects his standing with the organization.

Person relayed that head coach Dave Canales thinks the competition for the last couple spots on the depth chart will be “very difficult”. With Adam Thielen, Tetairoa McMillan, and Xavier Legette locks for the roster, sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr., 2024 UDFA Jalen Coker, and veteran Hunter Renfrow are among those in the mix to fill out the rest of the group. Horn could be the team’s punt returner while Coker posted 478 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie last season. Renfrow was a 2021 Pro-Bowler, but did not play last season. It is notable that Canales seems to think the competition is fierce and Carolina’s depth chart is one to keep an eye on, given Thielen will be 35-years-old soon.

The long-time Chiefs tight end will turn 36-years-old this upcoming season and has had rumors floating around about retirement. However, he indicated that choosing to play over retirement was not a difficult choice. Kelce said, “I know I’m getting older, but at the same time I still feel like I’ve got a lot I can prove in this league.” He is on the final year of his contract, which he addressed as well by saying “I got one year on this contract, I know that, and we’ll try and figure out something for next year...right now I’m focused on winning a championship this year.” Kelce is open to returning for more years beyond 2025. A championship run may be a driving factor behind that, as the Kansas City organization is perennially in the mix, thanks in large part to Kelce and his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes.

The former fourth-round pick spent the first two years of his career with the Rams before landing in Green Bay. Rochell appeared in 20 games for the Packers across two seasons, playing exclusively on special teams. He could see some run as a rotational corner in Dallas, but his role on special teams will once again determine whether he cracks the 53-man roster.

Skattebo has already drawn some buzz during the offseason program, with SNY’s Connor Hughes saying it wouldn’t be surprising for the rookie to slot in as the Giants’ third-down back. At 5'10/219, Skattebo has the size of a thumper but the profile of an elite pass-catcher. He caught 45 passes for 605 yards and three scores in 2024 while also running for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Skattebo is a player who could quickly rise up fantasy draft boards if the drumbeat continues into training camp.

The former first-round pick flamed out quickly in Las Vegas before bouncing around the league with brief stints in Miami and Kansas City. The Chiefs released him after he was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances. Arnette eventually found his way to the UFL where he totaled five pass breakups and a pick-six for the Roughnecks. He will look to earn a depth role on the Texans over the summer.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Alexander can make another $2 million via incentives. Green Bay explored trade options for the disgruntled corner this offseason and also made an offer to keep him in town on a restructured deal, but nothing came of their efforts. They eventually chose to release Alexander after no other resolution was found. As they tend to do, the Ravens quickly swooped in to sign the former shutdown corner. Alexander has still been effective when on the field in recent seasons, but his health has been a constant issue and was reportedly a source of frustration for the Packers organization. He has appeared in more than seven games just once in the past four seasons. Baltimore’s pass defense was a disaster over the first half of the 2024 season before turning the corner over the final two months. Bolstering the secondary with Alexander should help prevent a potential backslide in 2025.