NFL Player News

Joeckel was able to land a fully-guaranteed four-year, $21.2 million deal. His $13.8 million signing bonus is also the largest given to a rookie this season. With the Dolphins expected to insist on offset language, the deal could have an impact on negotiations with No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan.

FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz was the first to report the deal. The former third-round pick worked out with the Steelers on a tryout basis during the team’s rookie minicamp and will now have a chance to earn a spot on the 53-man roster this summer. Sermon ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 56 carries last season while averaging an underwhelming 2.8 YPC. Sermon will face an uphill battle to make the Steelers’ roster with Cordarrelle Patterson and free agent signee Kenneth Gainwell presumably set to serve as the RB3 and RB4 behind Kaleb Johnson and Jaylen Warren.

Phillips was a third-round pick by the Ravens back in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons with the Giants. The four-year vet is presumably joining the Commanders on a “prove-it” deal and will likely battle for a depth spot in training camp. Phillips has started 28 of the 47 games he appeared in for his career and appeared in only three games last season after joining the Giants’ practice squad in November.

Marks has a chance to serve as Joe Mixon’s change-of-pace back in 2025, but will need to usurp a handful of veterans on the depth chart in camp if he hopes to earn that role. The former USC Trojan ran for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns in his last and only season at the program, but most notably caught 261 passes for 1,546 yards and five touchdowns over his five-year college career. He possesses a legitimate three-down skillset and could have good value as a handcuff for Mixon should the veteran back miss any time this season.

It’s music to fantasy managers’ ears. Speaking Saturday, Payton said he doesn’t know “how often the running back is built into the passing game” of a college offense, before going on to say the team installed “two or three schemes” that would get Harvey more involved in Denver’s passing game. He also added that Harvey will have a chance to be a three-down back. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Harvey, who was selected 60th overall last month, is expected to see a significant role in his rookie season. The former UCF Knight caught 61 passes over his final three seasons, but averaged an explosive 11.8 YPR while also scoring four times. Boasting a 4.40 40-yard dash time and a solid 8.94 RAS, Harvey has athleticism to spare and is competing for touches in a running back room that massively underwhelmed last season. He should have every chance to become Payton’s every-down back in camp.

The No. 2 overall pick began rookie minicamp by focusing on the offensive side of the ball, with head coach Liam Coen indicating he will begin to see defensive reps next week. The way the team has been bringing him along in practice seems to back up previous reports that the two-way phenom would primarily play on offense while being mixed in to specific packages on defense. Hunter’s fantasy upside remains sky-high while operating in a Coen offense that just ranked fourth in the league in scoring in 2024 while with the Buccaneers.

There continues to be positive news out of Denver regarding the status of recent addition Dre Greenlaw, who enters the 2025 season coming off a significant quad injury sustained in a private workout that initially jeopardized his season. The injury was reported to be a torn quad muscle but the superstar linebacker avoided surgery and appears to be tracking for the start of the team’s offseason preparations. Expect Greenlaw to amplify a Broncos interior that also includes standout linebacker Alex Singleton.

The Saints selected rookie Tyler Shough in the second round of this year’s draft and still have holdovers Jake Heaner and Spencer Rattler on the roster. Both Haener and Rattler received extended looks last season following Carr’s injury, so it would stand to reason that Shough will be given every chance to earn the starting gig under center for the Saints. That said, Moore mentioned today that “there’s a blank slate there,” indicating the team will be patient with their decision and let it play out through OTAs, camp, and the preseason. On if the team would consider adding a veteran quarterback, Moore stated, “we’ll certainly have awareness to it.” Stay tuned.

The electric rookie tight end underwent offseason shoulder surgery and has not yet been cleared to participate in rookie minicamp. Loveland was not only present but was seen with a helmet on while warming up to the side on Friday, indicating he may be close to a return to the practice field. He should immediately be considered a TE1 in fantasy circles after being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by Ben Johnson’s Bears.

Wow, to put it mildly. The news was announced by the team itself. Saints insider Nick Underhill reports Carr “tried all his options to get back on the field and ultimately decided against having another surgery and will retire.” He also reports the Saints will “recoup the money from this offseason’s restructure and will get cap relief.” In a statement, the team said Carr was dealing with a “labral tear and also had significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff,” and that surgery would not guarantee a return to full effectiveness. It’s a sad end for a player who spent most of his career overachieving, though perhaps not surprising. Carr, who almost never missed time before last season, had grown increasingly prone to playing through injury. It apparently was no longer sustainable. Carr never won a playoff game but qualified for four Pro Bowls. He was ultimately a high-floor, limited-ceiling player who maximized every ounce of his talent to start over a decade in the league. Carr’s retirement means rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough will now begin the season as Saints starter barring something truly surprising happening in training camp.

Petit-Frere hasn’t lived up to expectations since being drafted back in the third round back in 2022, but he represents a worthwhile low-risk dice role for the 49ers as a backup tackle. There’s still some potential upside here since he won’t turn 26 years old until mid-September. He’s started 28 games over the last three seasons. There are worse depth option out there.