NFL Player News

The Washington Post considers it the offense’s biggest need, ahead of a playmaking wide receiver. Post beat writer Mike Jones suggests the Skins are high on journeyman free agent Paul McQuistan, who has experience in Seattle’s zone-blocking system.

“We thought we had the quarterback, we didn’t and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we’ve got to dig ourselves out of that hole. (It) was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee and I, so hold us accountable,” Haslam continued. How we’re supposed to be holding an NFL owner accountable aside, we’ve heard all offseason that the Browns would likely never let Watson play another meaningful snap. The owner talking about Watson in the past tense is truly confirmation that this is over. Cleveland would roll out Kenny Pickett as their starter if the season started tomorrow, but thankfully for them, it doesn’t.

Williams overcame disappointing 2022 and 2023 campaigns to finally put together a strong season in 2024. The former first-round pick caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 17.3 YPR — the fourth-highest YPR amongst receivers with 50 or more targets. Williams will have a chance to duplicate that success next season and can then play out the 2026 season on his fifth-year option if the Lions prefer to see a bit more out of him before signing him to a long-term deal. Williams is an explosive playmaker who turned in six top-24 PPR performances last season. As long as he continues to share the field with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, Williams will likely remain a boom-or-bust fantasy option.

Ehlinger will compete with Jarrett Stidham for backup duties this offseason. The former sixth-round pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Colts, appearing in eight games while throwing for 573-3-3 in those games. He’s no lock to make the 53-man roster.

The Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers, who is far and away their best veteran option now that Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are with the Giants and Justin Fields is with the Jets. The Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph on a two-year deal earlier this offseason, but Rudolph is little more than a reliable backup at this stage in his career. He’s appeared in 29 games while making 18 starts and has a career passing line of 4,615-28-20. If Rodgers doesn’t join the Steelers, other veteran quarterbacks still available include Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, and Carson Wentz, to name a few.

This was to be expected. Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but with the 49ers set to pay him a $22.85 million bonus on April 1 and no trade offers of note currently on the table, the Niners will prepare to keep the star receiver on the roster this upcoming season. Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL last season and likely won’t even be ready at the start of the season as he continues to rehab. Lynch said Aiyuk did “very well” at his latest check-in with Dr. ElAttrache, whom he has worked with since his injury. With Deebo Samuel now in Washington and Ricky Pearsall entering his second season, Aiyuk should be in line to see plenty of targets once he’s healthy and back in action.

Payton said he expects Sutton to be at the team’s offseason activities once they ramp up in the coming months. Sutton is coming off one of his best seasons as a pro. The soon-to-be eighth-year vet caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for just the second time in his career. Sutton was only given a “bandaid” adjustment last offseason on his contract after missing team activities and assuredly will want a new deal before the season starts.

Campbell will turn 39 in September and is deciding whether to return for an 18th season. According to Jackson, retirement “isn’t out of the question, either,” for Campbell, who continues to play well despite his age. Campbell totaled 52 tackles and five sacks for the Dolphins last season and has had five or more sacks in each of his last three seasons.

This aligns with previous reports from earlier in the month that said the Bengals were still hoping to get a new deal done for Hendrickson, who is in the final year of his contract. The Bengals recently gave record-setting deals to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and have reportedly been working on a deal with Hendrickson for the last few weeks. Hendrickson is one of the premiere pass rushers in the league and has totaled 35 sacks over the last two seasons. If he and the Bengals can’t agree to a new deal, several teams will be lining up to trade for and extend the 30-year-old star.

Javonte Williams is now with the Cowboys, and the duo of Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime won’t intimidate many defenses. Paton pointed out the strength of this year’s incoming running backs class when speaking with the media at the NFL owner’s meetings and seems more than ready to find a difference-making back to help Sean Payton’s offense this upcoming season. The Broncos hold the No. 20 pick in the draft and could take a shot on a back in that spot, but with several talented backs expected to be available on Day 2, they’ll have plenty of other options available to them if they prefer to spend their top draft capital elsewhere.

Smith is entering the final year of his deal and declined an offer from the Seahawks shortly before the team moved him to Vegas. The desire for the extension is the whole reason Smith is in Las Vegas. The 34-year-old signal-caller will be a lock to start for the Raiders this season, but he could also serve as a reliable bridge to whoever the Raiders add in the draft to be their eventual franchise QB. Keeping Smith in tow for the next few seasons would bode well for both parties in the short and long term.