NFL Player News

Gainwell continued operating as the Steelers’ primary pass-catching back, seeing the second-most targets among Pittsburgh players behind DK Metcalf. Gainwell ran a pass route on 19 of the team’s 36 drop backs while Jaylen Warren had 16 routes and four receptions on four targets, including a touchdown. Gainwell entered Week 14 as the seventh-most targeted running back in the NFL. Gainwell’s role in the Steelers offense has kept him viable in PPR formats. He should remain a flex play in 14-team formats next week against the Dolphins, who have been generous to pass catchers out of the backfield in 2025.

Per NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson, Klare has met “extensively” with the Texans, Buccaneers, Rams, Broncos and Panthers. Klare could be the second tight drafted next week, profiling as a potential every-down player. Although he performed better as a receiver at Purdue in 2024, he earned a respectable 71.6 PFF run-blocking grade at Ohio State last year. Klare could be a year one contributor, but he is not guaranteed to reach the TE1 ranks in fantasy.

The Packers also waived TE McCallan Castles and CB Tyron Herring. Johnson and Herring were 2025 undrafted free agents. Castles was an undrafted free agent the year prior. Johnson logged defensive snaps in three games late last season, totaling three solo tackles, one TFL, one quarterback pressure and one forced incompletion. Herring and Castles never took the field on defense or offense.

Both players are ahead of schedule, though Ortiz smartly notes, “coming back from injuries, you don’t rush anything.” The goal is for both players to be ready for the start of training camp. Slater ruptured a patellar tendon last August, ending his 2025 season before it began. Alt attempted to come back from a high-ankle sprain in-season last year before suffering a second high-ankle sprain in the same joint, ending his season.

The question as to where Love should be ranked on a team’s big board remains, however. The running back position is generally placed in the non-premium category, making it difficult for teams to treat them as justifiable picks early in the first round. That said, the positive drumbeats continue for Love, who Raanan yesterday said Giants head coach John Harbaugh “is going to want to draft” if he is available with the fifth overall pick.

Sarratt spent “several quality moments” with Colts WR coach Reggie Wayne and the team’s local Pro Day earlier this month. Chappell wonders if the meeting “was a preview of coming attractions.” Per Chappell, EDGE is the Colts’ top need, followed by an NFL-ready linebacker. They do not possess a first-round pick and are armed with just one apiece in Rounds 3-6, plus two in the seventh. Although Chappell views linebacker as the No. 2 need, he will still lobby for a wide receiver in the third or fourth round. Adding another piece to the passing game puzzle would benefit QB Daniel Jones, who is coming off a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture. Were Sarratt to land in Indianapolis, it could be tough for him to produce fantasy-relevant numbers in year one, competing with TE Tyler Warren, WR Alec Pierce and WR Josh Downs.

Orhorhoro was drafted with the 35th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith was drafted shortly after that via the 48th overall pick. Both players have had bumpy starts to their careers, but Orhorhoro was slightly more productive last year, totaling 12 solo tackles, two TFLs, 30 quarterback pressures and four sacks. Smith totaled seven solo tackles, two TFLs, 11 quarterback pressures and zero sacks. He also missed three games at the end of the year. Both players are under 25 years old. The trade gives them a fresh start.

Tyson has dealt with recurring hamstring injuries over the past year, sidelining him for the NFL Scouting Combine and Arizona State’s Pro Day. Tyson also sprained an ankle during a 2025 spring practice, fractured his left collarbone in 2024 and tore his ACL, PCL and MCL in 2022. Today’s report seemingly indicates that today’s private workout went well and many, if not all, 20 NFL teams in attendance were able to medically clear him. This is great news for Tyson, the team that drafts him and fantasy managers alike. Tyson is one of the most talented wide receivers in this year’s incoming rookie class. First-round draft capital should get him a chance to earn a starter role in year one.

Brissett has one year remaining on his current deal. The 33-year-old vet is set to earn $9.06 million next season, but only $1.5 million of that is guaranteed. Brissett, who threw for 3,366-23-8 last season, is expected to start next season as the Cardinals’ QB1, although it’s worth noting that his decision to hold out for a new deal comes just a day after GM Monti Ossenfort said the team was “not really naming anybody” as their starter this early in the offseason. It goes without saying that Brissett is not the long-term solution for the Cardinals at quarterback, but he could serve as a solid bridge to a potential rookie, should the team look to add another signal-caller in next week’s draft. In addition to Brissett, the Cardinals also have Gardner Minshew under contract after signing him earlier this offseason.

Anderson’s deal will make him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. The star pass rusher will receiver $134 million in guaranteed money on his new deal and is now under contract with the Texans through the 2023 season. Anderson entered the league in 2023 after molding himself into the nation’s top pass rusher at Alabama. He has shown steady growth during each of his three seasons and has posted double-digit sack totals in each of his last two seasons, earning First-team All-Pro honors in 2025 while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. With Anderson now extended, the Texans can now shift their focus to C.J. Stroud, whose fifth-year option they recently picked up to keep him under contract through 2027. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Anderson’s deal will also include a no-trade clause.

The only QB not named Fernando Mendoza who is believed to have a chance to go in the first round is Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who did meet with the Steelers earlier in the pre-draft process. As Pryor notes, the Steelers “continue to believe Aaron Rodgers will ultimately return for another season,” and that they will likely pass on a QB with the 21st overall pick. The Steelers currently hold 12 draft picks, which include four Day 2 picks. If they were to take a quarterback, it’s possible they would use one of those Day 2 picks to take a shot on a guy who would have a chance to redshirt his rookie season, presumably behind Rodgers, before having a chance ot start in his second year.