NFL Player News

The Rams initially released Barron in early March with the idea they could re-sign him in the open market. He’ll instead play behind Vince Williams in the middle of DC Keith Butler’s modified version of the 4-3 defense. 30 in October, Barron’s play plummeted last season and will need to be much better if he expects to compete for reps ahead of ILB Jon Bostic.

The deal includes $10 million in guaranteed money and $5.85 million in playing time and team performance incentives, bringing the potential total value to $19.5 million. It was previously reported that Rodgers would play for around $10 million this season with his new deal in Pittsburgh bringing that much in guarantees. The veteran quarterback would have made $37.5 million playing with the Jets this season, but the team has since moved on in favor of a cheaper contract with Justin Fields. Rodgers should not be expected to throw more than 30-33 times per-game based on the strength of Pittsburgh’s outstanding defense, which limits his fantasy appeal to deeper leagues and two-quarterback formats.

Conley, who appeared in 23 games for the 49ers over the last two seasons, is hanging up his cleats after a 10-year career in the NFL. Drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Chiefs, Conley is perhaps best known for his time in Jacksonville. The 32-year-old receiver had 775 yards on 47 catches and five touchdowns in 2019 with the Jaguars. Conley is heading to film school at the University of Georgia, according to Rapoport.

This one is mostly for dynasty managers. Klotz has been drawing positive reviews from beat reporters thus far. Klotz never made a large impact as a receiver at his alma mater, Iowa State, but performed well as a blocker. Per Popper, he notably “caught five passes in Tuesday’s team drills,” though, and Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh believes he could be an “above-average core special teams” player. The front office curiously signed him to a three-year, $2.97 million contract, albeit a team-friendly one.

The comment comes during an NFL Insider’s spot in which Rapoport broke down the Ravens’ need to extend and restructure Lamar Jackson’s current deal. One week ago, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he wants to see Likely “be an All-Pro” this season, helpfully providing the 25-year-old tight end with positive commentary for the negotiating table. Likely has proven himself as an above-average receiver at the position but has been limited by his sidekick role behind Mark Andrews. Hopefully, all this talk about lofty expectations and a big payday signals a breakout campaign for Likely. He is scheduled to hit free agency at the end of the season, and if Harbaugh plans to feature him in the passing attack, it would make sense for the team to get a deal done beforehand.

Rapoport suggests that extending Jackson well before his contract’s scheduled end following the 2027 season was all part of the plan. The Ravens inserted “really high” salary cap numbers partway through the deal, in order to facilitate Jackson’s $72.8 million prorated signing bonus. Indeed, his hefty $43.5 million salary cap number in 2025 looks small compared to the consecutive $74.5 million salary cap hits scheduled in each of the next two seasons. Signing Jackson to an extension would help free up salary cap space and allow the Ravens to “potentially do” some other deals, including an extension for TE Isaiah Likely.

Per Popper, “Johnston has been working consistently with the first-team offense” while rookie WRs Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith work through their “acclimation plan,” following time spent on the pre-draft “banquet circuit.” Mike Williams is also expected to "[push] Johnston for playing time on the outside.” We can’t put too much stock in Lal’s “starter” comments for Johnston, as he is effectively competing against himself at this point, but it appears as though he is at least in the No. 2 wide receiver role, rather than being immediately supplanted by Williams, who returned to the team back in March. Johnston could still have mild fantasy relevance if he can secure one of the Nos. 2 or 3 wide receiver roles.

McConkey dealt with hip, shoulder, knee and toe injuries last year but missed only Week 14, tying Jerry Jeudy for the PPR WR12 finish. WR coach Sanjay Lal reportedly provided McConkey with clips of Julian Edelman and Tyler Lockett as “teaching tape.” Per McConkey, Edelman “does a great job of falling forward and getting some extra yards,” and Lal adds that Lockett “had [a] great feel of when to go down.” Although fantasy managers may always be awaiting the big-play, embracing the art of falling could help McConkey produce WR1 finishes for years to come. Per Popper, McConkey and Justin Herbert “have picked up where they left off last season,” and have looked great at voluntary organized team activities.

Bears rookies will return for one last organized team activities (OTAs) stretch next week, before the team’s month-plus break begins. Ideally, Burden returns and is able to re-establish himself as a must-start weapon in head coach Ben Johnson’s eyes. With Johnson’s reported intent to feature TEs Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in 12 personnel groupings, Burden has given the once-dog-housed DJ Moore and second-year WR Rome Odunze a chance to box out the rookie. While Burden is likely at least lock up No. 3/slot receiver duties, gaining access to two-receiver sets is critical for immediate, impactful fantasy football successes. Burden has also not yet signed his rookie contract, and one wonders what else he could be prioritizing while sidelined. Stay tuned for Burden’s hopeful participation on Monday. Final rookie OTAs run from June 9-11.

Jones has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 16 last year. Second-round rookie OT Ozzy Trapilo and 2024 third-round OT Kiran Amegadjie have been competing at left tackle during the team’s mandatory minicamp, though the Bears will allow all three to compete for the role in training camp. Head coach Ben Johnson stated the obvious by saying, “the No. 1 job of an offensive tackle, doesn’t matter right or left, is to pass protect... and everything we can get out of them in the run game will be gravy on top of it.” Though he notably adds that the same is true “for all five guys up front.” His former Lions’ line fielded two top-tier pass protectors in LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell, though they maintained a league-high neutral game run-play rate (51.6 percent) last year. He will likely employ a similar approach this season.

The Jaguars drafted Robinson in the fifth round last year. He logged six offensive snaps and 50 special teams snaps, touching the ball twice all year via a pair of kickoff returns. The Eagles now roster eight running backs and will likely cut half of them before Week 1 kicks off. The Eagles waived WR Ife Adeyi in a corresponding move.