NFL Player News

A local product who grew up in Blythewood, S.C., Smith (6’1/180) is a former four-star recruit who participated in the U.S. Army All-American game. He broke out in 2021 by holding opponents to just 15 receptions on 32 targets for 184 yards and a sparkling 36.5 passer rating when targeted while finishing second in the SEC with 11 PBU and earning Second-Team All-SEC recognition. While Smith’s elite play from 2021 slipped a bit last year, going from a lofty 89.7 PFF coverage grade to a middling 64.4 in 2022. Smith logged 196 snaps in the slot and 356 outside last season, a stark increase in slot duties from the 32 slot reps he played in his breakout 2021 campaign. A big reason for the increased slot usage could be the 11 penalties he committed last season, as Smith has a tendency to get grabby when out of phase. Though receivers were able to get by him at times, his 4.43s 40 was a strong 87th% mark and his 10-yard split of 1.48s is a legitimately blazing 97th percentile time. Toss in a pair of excellent jumps, and Smith’s 9.68 RAS score is a major green flag for his transition to the pros. He ramps up extremely well and has that dawg in him in coverage, but Smith can get manhandled in the run games at times. His sound instincts and versatility to play inside or out makes Smith an intriguing second corner option for zone-based defenses.

Jones also interviewed with the Jaguars and Bears this offseason after serving as the pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Vikings for the previous three seasons. The 2024 version of the Minnesota defense held opponents to 6.5 yards per pass attempt, ranking 11th in the league, while also leading the league with 24 interceptions. Jones was first linked to the Saints on Thursday.

Jones’ contract was set to void this upcoming Monday, but both sides have agreed to allow more time to reach a new deal. Without this contract tweak, Jones’ $3.2 million in dead money would’ve hit Minnesota’s 2025 in full on Monday. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said last week that he hopes to get Jones back for next season. The 30-year-old running back had a career-high 255 rushing attempts with the Vikings last season and a solid 4.5 yards per attempt. It’s unclear what kind of contract Jones is looking for at this point in his career or how likely the Vikings might be to meet his demands.

DeMeco Ryans recently told reporters that Dell is “on the right track” in his recovery from a season-ending knee injury. We now know the specifics that prompted Ryans’ comment; two of the three injured ligaments have been successfully repaired. Whether Dell returns in time to take snaps in 2025 remains unknown but these are tangible, positive developments for the young receiver.

Kelly has ascended through the ranks of the Broncos, Bears and Raiders’ personnel departments over the last 17 seasons. He briefly held the Raiders’ 2023 interim general manager position but returned to the assistant role for 2024. The Jaguars announced that Kelly’s interview “concludes [their] virtual interviews” and that they “will begin in-person interviews next week.”

Smith’s brief Steelers tenure comes to a close. The team traded for the then-disgruntled Packer in Week 10, when Smith made clear he felt out of sorts in the Packers’ newly installed 4-3 defensive scheme. The 32-year-old pass rusher notched 4.5 NFL sacks in 2024 and can likely still contribute as a rotational player elsewhere in 2025. The move saves the Steelers $27.5 million over the next two seasons.

Sullivan has interviewed with the Jets and Titans while also drawing interest from the Raiders. The Packers’ VP of player personnel is understandably in demand, given his team’s successes in building a talented NFC North contender.

A concussion and knee injury kept Fuller sidelined for multiple games this season and the once-reliable starter is perhaps entering the rotational phase of his career. Fuller should get picked up by another soon enough and can still meaningfully contribute to an NFL secondary.

The signing reunites Rizzi with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who hired him with the Saints back in 2019. The Broncos already featured a solid special teams unit, ranking eighth in the NFL with an 87.5 PFF special teams grade. Rizzi’s top-tier coaching should only further strengthen it. The assistant head coaching role will help Rizzi develop his leaderships skills and increase his odds of securing a future head coaching role.

The Dolphins drafted Smythe with a 2018 fourth-round NFL draft pick and while never cleared 400 receiving yards in a single season, he successfully contributed to the offense’s successes as a blocker. The 29-year-old will likely sign on with another team soon enough, filling a similar role.

Doyle announced that this is sadly a medical retirement. Doyle suffered ACL tears in consecutive seasons, back in 2022 and 2023. He spent 2024 on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Doyle notably caught a one-yard touchdown pass in the Bills’ 2021, 47-17 Wild Card Weekend win over the Patriots.