NFL Player News

The Jets/Reddick saga continues to reek of ineptitude from the team and their front office. Reddick’s desire for a new contract is what ultimately led to him being traded from the Eagles to the Jets earlier this offseason, but the team seemingly has no interest in giving him the extension he desires. Because of this, Reddick has held out from OTAs, mandatory minicamp, and now training camp and is now looking to be traded for the second time in the last five months. Reddick has totaled 38 sacks in his last three seasons and led the league with 16 sacks in 2022. He has one year remaining on his current deal and will turn 30 shortly after the start of the season. Whether this leads to a trade or not, this almost certainly won’t be the last we hear of one of the offseason’s stranger stories.

It’s not exactly a vote of confidence in the contract-year tight end. Goedert has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason and the team has seemingly been hearing out offers for a while. Still, nothing has come of them yet and the Eagles did not add a tight end at any point during the draft. If Roseman thought Goedert would be gone come Week 1, he would likely have come up with a contingency plan at some point. For now, fantasy managers can pencil in Goedert as the team’s starter and a low-end TE1, but the situation could change at any moment.

Jackson (6’2/229) started his career at Texas in 2020 but left after one season and enrolled at Utah. He saw limited action in his first season with the Utes, but appeared in 13 games in 2022, rushing for 78-531-9 while averaging 6.8 YPC, a career best. Jackson rushed for 161-797-4 during his 2023 campaign at Utah, but transferred to Arkansas to close out his career. Jackson led the Razorbacks’ running backs in carries (149), rushing yards (790), and rushing touchdowns (15) last season. He’s consistently utilized his size to his advantage, but lacks breakaway speed, as evidenced by his 5.8 percent breakaway run rate, per PFF, and the 4.75 40 time he logged at his Pro Day. With no receiving upside to speak of (23 career receptions), Jackson’s ceiling as a pro will be limited to that of an early-down grinder. He’ll likely make his rounds on the practice squad to start his career.

Johnson (5’11/212) was Florida’s leading rusher from 2022-2023, missing three games to a knee injury in 2024. He saw college career-highs in carries (162) and rushing touchdowns (12) as a freshman at Louisiana, entering a committee after transferring to Florida. Johnson tested in the top five among running backs at the NFL Combine for the 40-yard dash and 20-yard shuttle, showing quick speed that made him a hard runner with the Gators. He was seldom used as a receiver outside of a 30-reception 2023 and was not asked to pass-block much. Knee injuries hampered his 2024, but Johnson showed enough to be a contributor at the end of a running back rotation at the next level. He could crack a shallow Philly depth chart beyond Saquon Barkley with a strong showing in training camp, but a season on the practice squad is the most likely outcome for Johnson.

Pierce (6’8/341) is a mountain of a man who has started 12-plus games in each of the last four seasons while earning Second Team All-Big Ten recognition last year. He recorded 80th percentile grades in both run and pass blocking while allowing just two sacks and 31 pressures over 772 pass reps the last two years. One of the largest linemen in the OL group, Pierce’s mass is difficult for defenders to triangulate, and he’s a bruiser who uses his 36” arms to engulf opponents and hold them at bay. His slow feet and lumbering frame leave him vulnerable to twitchy, elusive pass rushers that can catch him leaning into contact. Movement concerns aside, Pierce has a prototype NFL body which could help him develop into a valued swing with starting right tackle upside.

A rotational nose tackle with power-packed flashes, Simmons (6’1/334) played 55 career games for the Vols but managed just 840 defensive snaps across six seasons. His production—59 tackles, 7 TFLs, 0.5 sacks—reads like one solid year spread over a career, but Simmons makes up for it with torque and trench toughness. He explodes out of his hips to create knockback when fresh and plays stout with heavy hands and a low center of gravity. His 3.47 RAS underscores his limited athletic ceiling (5.37 forty, 1.87 10-yard split), and he has no pass rush juice to speak of (1 pressure in 2024). Still, Simmons posted a 76.3 run defense grade and showcased upside as an early-down brawler capable of fighting off doubles when locked in. There’s moldable mass here, but NFL coaches will need to unlock more snap-to-snap consistency.

If there’s one thing we know about Badgers offensive lineman, it’s the amount of experience they bring to the table. Huber (6’5/310) was one of Luke Fickell’s guys who followed him to Wisconsin from Cincinnati. In 2024, Huber had just nine pressures and one sack all season. He brings a ton of versatility to the table. He started 12 games at left tackle during his time at Cincinnati. He’s played three of the five positions on the offensive line. Most recently, Huber played 765 snaps at right guard in 2024. As a pass blocker, Huber shows good vision off the ball, with his ability to shed off one opponent to the next. His combination of vision and footwork are good. But, there are times when he isn’t quick enough moving from one guy to the next. He posted a 76.2 pass blocking grade from PFF in 2024. As a run blocker, Huber is explosive and quick off the ball. He is a bit inconsistent with his hands. Against Purdue in 2024, Huber would get best right away on some of those counter plays, and he wouldn’t capitalize off those struggling plays. Overall, Huber displays a ton of versatility, and has the talent to carve out a productive UDFA career in the NFL.

Cox fits the zone-blocking center archetype with solid explosiveness numbers. He ranked in the 71st percentile or higher in all the jumps, shuttles, and dashes at the NFL Combine. His problems are: 1. His 31-inch Tyrannosaurus rex arms and 2. His run-blocking impact. In 2024 he had 45 negatively graded run plays in PFF’s charting against just 23 in the green. He also didn’t do the bench press at the Combine, though he did do 25 reps at his Pro Day. We have questions over his ability to be a run blocker in the pros, but if he can do that, Cox has a chance to carve out reserve pivot duties in 2025.

Bryant (6’0/180) is a tone-setting outside corner with four years of starting experience in Brian Borland’s zone-heavy scheme. A three-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection, Bryant tied Aqib Talib for the second-most career interceptions in Kansas history (13), showing off elite ball production, physicality, and a knack for momentum-shifting plays, returning four turnovers for scores in three different ways. His tape jumps with alpha energy and fearless run support, despite a wiry frame and average play strength. Bryant has plus instincts, closes quickly from zone, and isn’t afraid to chirp or throw his weight around (see his hit-stick fumble vs. BYU). However, his aggressiveness can burn him, biting on double moves and drawing flags in trail coverage. He’s a dogged competitor with functional speed (4.53), though limited twitch and recovery tools may confine him to off-man or nickel roles. Ideal fit for zone-based defenses seeking toughness, ball skills, and a little swagger on the boundary.

Egads. Draft Saturday is a bizarre time to learn a regular season ACL tear three months prior, but the league moves in mysterious ways. A 2024 fourth-rounder, Mustapha had a strong rookie campaign as a near every-down player. He did battle through an ankle issue. He was solid in run coverage, and notched a pick. The 49ers were expecting even more in 2025 after losing Talanoa Hufanga in free agency. San Francisco’s entire defense could be for an uptick in 2025 play under returning DC Robert Saleh, but Mustapha appears ticketed to begin the year on the reserve/PUP list.

Gray (6’5/299) brings a ton of experience to the table. He ended his collegiate career playing in 56 games for the Beavers, which is a program record for him. He is an above-average pass blocker, posting a 63.1 PFF grade. Gray also allowed just one sack and one penalty the entire season on over 900 offensive snaps. As a pass blocker, Gray is physical off the ball and is well balanced on his feet. However, there are times where he isn’t quick enough peeling off from one guy to the other. He has late reactions to guys coming through on his inside. As a run blocker, Gray shows quickness off the ball. However, he has short arms and has average upper body strength. Overall, Gray is an above-average pass blocker. He does have some tools he’ll need to polish up in the run game. But, the potential is there for Gray.