NFL Player News

Or, Jackson posits, the door is “cracked” for the Browns potentially taking Shedeur Sanders No. 2 overall. With the Falcons holding on to Kirk Cousins, the easy way for the Browns to address the quarterback room appears shut at the moment. How the Aaron Rodgers free agency circus unfolds may help Cleveland find a way to a quarterback like Russell Wilson, but there are scenarios where the Browns would be out-and-out shutout of doing better than Kenny Pickett under center this offseason. If that is the case, this level of desperation would probably be warranted, and the cost of a potential trade up would likely be weighed against Sanders or a quarterback in the second round.

Adofo-Mensah said the Vikings considered Aaron Rodgers before telling reporters he was happy with the team’s quarterback room. He, of course, added the “right now” caveat, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see the team add a veteran to the mix at some point. Minnesota only has Brett Rypien on the roster after J.J. McCarthy. On the second-year quarterback, Adofo-Mensah said McCarthy has met the bar “at every checkpoint, whether it was the draft process or practice until the injury, or the offseason now.” It’s not the most enthusiastic endorsement, but leaving free agency without a notable backup is a more emphatic endorsement than anything Adofo-Mensah could have said on the podium. McCarthy is currently recovering from the torn meniscus he suffered just before the start of the season. All signs point to him being ready to take on the starting role in Week 1.

Mays was a restrcited free agent and the Panthers chose to tender him at the original round level. As a former sixth-round pick, Mays was then allowed to look for an offer as a free agent. The Panthers could then match that offer or let him walk in exchange for a sixth-round pick from his new team. With no takers on the open market, Mays returns for a camp battle with Austin Corbett for the starting center job this summer.

Burton has spent the past two years in Denver, appearing in all 34 regular season games. He operates as the team’s primary fullback but is also a special teams ace, logging 584 special teams snaps as a Bronco. On offense, Burton turned 17 touches into 73 yards and two scores last year.

The proposal would move the spot of touchbacks from the 30-to the 35-yard line in hopes of increasing the rate of returns. The league boosted its kickoff return rate from 21.8 percent in 2023 to 32.8 percent in 2024 by introducing the dynamic kickoff last season. It still was the second-lowest return rate in NFL history as only 21.5 percent kicks landed in the 20-yard landing zone. Any proposed rules changes require the approval of 24 owners. The league’s annual meetings will be held next week in Palm Beach, Florida.

Rodgers’ recent visit with the Steelers reportedly went well. Smith joined Rodgers, and they “watched film together and chatted about their thoughts,” Anderson said. “From Pittsburgh’s viewpoint, I heard they walked away that day feeling really good about the vibe of the meeting, per a league source.” If he indeed signs with the Steelers, Rodgers would helm Smith’s massively run heavy offense, one that was 4.3 percent below its expected pass rate in 2024, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL. It would be a far different situation than the one Rodgers, 41, had in New York, where he appointed offensive coaches, including OC Nathaniel Hackett.

The 34-year old veteran defensive end was set to make a total of $9 million in the second year of a two-year deal he signed in 2024. The reworked contract converts a portion of that salary to a signing bonus. Autry will now make $7.5 million in total pay this season. Autry has $1 million available in per-game roster bonuses. The deal will save the Texans nearly $4 million in cap space. A six-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug policy violation limited Autry’s availability in 2024. He had 13 tackles and 3 sacks in 10 regular season games and added a sack in the playoffs.

This comes after Lance received no interest in free agency. Entering his age-25 season, Lance has thrown a grand total of 461 passes since high school and has never appeared to be an NFL-caliber quarterback. Last year with the Cowboys, Lance completed 25 of 41 pass attempts for 266 yards and an interception. He added 11 rushes for 41 scoreless yards over four appearances for Dallas. He has five touchdown passes over 12 games in the NFL since the start of 2021. Lance could finally get some playing time north of the border and perhaps revive his NFL career in the coming years. There’s a good chance Lance has taken his final snap in the NFL, however.

Russell Wilson signing with the Giants means Rodgers is down to one — maybe two — options if he’s going to return in 2025 following his catastrophic two years with the Jets. Rodgers would face precious little competition for the Week 1 starting job in Pittsburgh, with Mason Rudolph the only other viable quarterback on the roster right now. Rodgers, 41, ranked 24th out of 39 qualifying quarterbacks in drop back success rate in 2024. He would very likely represent a QB upgrade for Steelers pass catchers in 2025.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Diggs’ contract includes $26 million guaranteed. The 31-year-old tore his ACL in Week 8 last season and may not be ready for Week 1. However, the Patriots needed a veteran wide receiver to add to a middling group that saw no wideouts over 700 receiving yards and just DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte over 400 yards last season. With less than half of the deal guaranteed, the Pats mitigate the risk that Diggs does not return healthy and productive. He was a Pro-Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver each season from 2020-2023 with the Bills and caught 47 passes for 497 yards and three touchdowns for the Texans in 2024. Still a top target-earner when healthy, Diggs will aid QB Drake Maye’s development while the Pats grow the offense. Fantasy managers can treat Diggs as a stash that will have fantasy WR2 upside as the season goes on.

The Seahawks add more competition at kick returner with the addition of Sims. He returned 21 punts for 122 yards and seven kicks for 195 yards between the Ravens and Texans last season. As a receiver, he offers depth, though he did not have a regular season reception in 2024. He totaled 19 yards on two offensive touches in the playoffs for the Ravens. Ultimately, Sims adds a little offensive depth but will more likely compete for return specialist snaps for the Seahawks.