Free agent QB Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos have agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $10 million. This deal includes $5 million in guaranteed money and locks Stidham into serving as QB Russell Wilson's backup. Stidham started two games with the Raiders at the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, tallying 584 passing yards with 4 TDs and 3 INTs. He should carry some appeal as a depth option in superflex leagues should any injury occur to Wilson in what should be a much-improved offense under new HC Sean Payton. Not all backup QBs are worth spending too much time thinking about for fantasy purposes, but Stidham is fairly intriguing here if nothing else.
The 49ers have agreed to a four-year deal with DT Javon Hargrave. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that it's worth $84 million overall, with $40 million of that guaranteed at signing. Hargrave delivered a career-high 11 sacks in 2022, his third season with the Eagles after arriving as a free agent. He racked up 34 QB hits over the past two years after topping out at 8 over his first five seasons. Hargrave's arrival could challenge the role of fourth-year DT Javon Kinlaw. The former first-round pick played in just 10 total games over the past two seasons because of injuries. Arik Armstead remains as well. Hargrave played 64.4% and 68.4% of the snaps over the past two years, so there's room for a three-man rotation. Hargrave should be the first (and maybe only in most cases) among the three to go in 2023 IDP drafts.
The Bears have agreed to a three-year deal with LB T.J. Edwards, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The length of the deal and timing -- right at the start of "legal tampering" -- points to Edwards taking a starting role in Chicago. The Bears have 2022 starter Nicholas Morrow hitting free agency, so there's room for 2022 rookie Jack Sanborn to remain in the starting lineup with Edwards. We'll see, of course, how the rest of free agency and the NFL Draft play out. The deal solidifies Edwards' short-term dynasty outlook, giving him a bump up our dynasty rankings. We'd hang on to Sanborn for now as well. He proved quite productive across five full outings after Roquan Smith left, before an ankle injury cost Sanborn the final three games.
The Patriots are trading TE Jonnu Smith to the Falcons, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move primarily looks like a salary dump for New England. Smith caught just 55 passes at 9.8 yards per reception across two seasons after signing a $50 million deal as a 2021 free agent. Atlanta might seem like an awkward fit for him as well, with TE Kyle Pitts already on hand. But the third-year Falcon is more receiver than TE. He has played just 21.8% and 25.6% of pass snaps from an inline position the past two years. Smith, meanwhile, has never run less than 52.6% from there. He was inline on 59.5% of routes last year and topped 64% in each of his first three NFL seasons. He spent those three years -- plus one more -- playing under current Falcons HC Arthur Smith. In Tennessee, Smith served as TEs coach over Smith's first two years, and then OC for the other two. Smith increased his receptions every season there but topped out with a 41-448-8 receiving line in 2020. It'll be similarly tough for Smith to find much fantasy value in Atlanta's run-heavy offense. And we're not downgrading Pitts' outlook for the short or long term on Smith's arrival. Check our dynasty rankings to see how optimistic we remain on Pitts. Smith's departure from New England, meanwhile, certainly can't hurt TE Hunter Henry's opportunities.
The Vikings have agreed to a contract restructure with LB Jordan Hicks that will keep the veteran around for 2023. That's noteworthy because it comes shortly after Minnesota released longtime LB Eric Kendricks. Hicks turns 31 in June and saw his playing time slip late last season. That included snap shares of less than 70% in each of the final four contests (before the Vikings yanked most starters in a meaningless finale). We'd bet on Hicks remaining a 2023 starter, but he's far from a lock for full playing time. Youngsters Troy Dye and Brian Asamoah should compete for time as well. And we'll see whether the team makes any significant LB additions via free agency or the NFL Draft.
The Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with WR Sterling Shepard ahead of free agency. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reports that Shepard will make just $1.317 million. That's not enough to guarantee any significant role on offense. Our guess is that Shepard (and his representation) didn't expect to find much of a market. So he elected to stick with the familiar team on a "prove it" deal. He's not more than an end-of-draft flyer for best ball formats at the moment -- and an unexciting option even there.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says trying to sign QB Baker Mayfield is "certainly going to be a priority" for the Buccaneers in free agency. Rapoport says that would set up a training-camp competition between Mayfield and Kyle Trask, but we'd certainly bet on Mayfield in that scenario. Mayfield is going very late in best ball ADP right now. So go ahead and toss him onto some rosters with WRs Chris Godwin and/or Mike Evans -- and/or Russell Gage. The Gage-Mayfield pairing, in particular, can be had over the final few rounds of your draft. That means very little risk.
The Jets and LB Quincy Williams have agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Incentives could push the total value to $21 million. Either way, it signals continued starter duty for Williams. And it's particularly noteworthy because Williams' playing time fluctuated each of the past two years. He closed out 2022 playing more than 80% of snaps in five of the final six games, including more than 90% in each of the final two. This contract makes it look like we can expect more of the same, which boosts the IDP outlook for the 26-year-old (until Aug. 28). Check out where Williams sits in our dynasty LB rankings after this boost.
The Rams are trading CB Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins for a third-round pick in this year's NFL Draft and TE Hunter Long. L.A. is obviously clearing salary amid what looks like a necessary rebuild. Ramsey is also coming off a down season that included allowing a career-high 98.6 passer rating in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. But he wasn't terrible and doesn't turn 29 until late October. So there's room to bounce back. And getting Ramsey can only help a Miami defense that missed CB Byron Jones for all of last season after Achilles' tendon surgery. Long is the sneaky fantasy move here. It's not great that he caught just one pass across two seasons since arriving as a third-round pick. But the current Miami regime didn't draft him. And if Long were just a throw-in here, we'd bet on the Rams targeting a different position. The team still has TEs Tyler Higbee and Brycen Hopkins under contract. We're guessing L.A. views Long as an upside player. He delivered an elite-level 8.61 Relative Athletic Score as a draft prospect. That followed 89 catches and 14.6 yards per reception across three seasons at Boston College. Long looks worth stashing in dynasty leagues over the two years left on his rookie contract. Higbee's deal runs out after 2023.
The Broncos released RB Chase Edmonds, saving $5.9 million against the 2023 salary cap. A colossal free-agent bust for the Dolphins last year, Edmonds mustered just 2.9 yards per carry on 42 attempts before being traded to Denver as part of the Bradley Chubb deal in November. Edmonds averaged 4.8 yards on 26 attempts across 5 games for the Broncos -- 2 before hurting his ankle and 3 after. Edmonds turns just 27 in April but seems headed for a secondary role in 2023. We'll see where he lands, but consider Edmonds no more than a late-round flier in early best-ball drafts.
WR Greg Dortch has signed his one-year tender from the Cardinals. It keeps the four-year veteran from reaching free agency, but he would have been an exclusive-rights free agent. So Arizona would have controlled his options. Dortch broke through for 52 catches and 467 yards last year, ranking fourth on the team in targets and third in receptions. He disappeared from the lineup when DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, and Rondale Moore were all healthy, though. Dortch will need a Hopkins trade to create him 2023 opportunity
The Texans have signed WR Robert Woods to a two-year deal. The pact includes $10 million guaranteed and could be worth as much as $17 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This signing ahead of NFL free agency opening signals that Houston either wants Woods to replace WR Brandon Cooks once he’s traded or that it prefers Woods to Nico Collins as the No. 2 receiver. Woods has been going near the end of best ball drafts, so signing anywhere helps his outlook. We’ll see what the Texans do at QB and whether they make any other WR moves before determine the veteran’s ultimate value
The Bears agreed to a trade sending the number one overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Panthers in exchange for the ninth overall pick in 2023, the 61st pick in 2023, two future picks, and WR D.J. Moore. There's certainly a lot to take in here. GM Ryan Poles managing to swing a high-end WR in Moore to go with QB Justin Fields is a tremendous boost for the team's future. Any doubts surrounding Fields and his cast of receivers are gone, solidifying his status as a top-end dynasty QB. There's got to be bad news for someone here, though. Between this move and the deadline deal that brought WR Chase Claypool over from the Steelers, it's hard to imagine a ton of fantasy upside for WR Darnell Mooney in this offense now. TE Cole Kmet also loses some value now that he seems doomed to be stuck between third or fourth in the pecking order for targets. As far as the Panthers are concerned, this is a significant investment made into finally solving their QB woes. Going up to number one enables the franchise to put an end to exploring retread experiments as they tried with QBs Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. New HC Frank Reich will have his pick of a young signal-caller to build toward the future with. One of either Alabama QB Bryce Young or Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud feels like a natural fit to plug in right away to a pro-style offense. Unfortunately, without Moore in the mix, this Panthers' offense is devoid of weapons for whoever ends up under center. It's tough to say right now who, if anyone, emerges from this Panthers' offense as a fantasy contributor. Free agency and the NFL Draft in April will help color in those missing pieces of information. Keep up with our coverage here at Draft Sharks as the offseason continues to unfold.
The Dolphins have picked up QB Tua Tagovailoa’s 5th-year option. In doing so, Miami guarantees his $23.4 million salary for 2024. Essentially, he’s locked in as their short-term starter. Consider Tua-Tyreek Hill and Tua-Jaylen Waddle fine best ball stacks at cost.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings are releasing WR Adam Thielen. It's been a long-rumored, contract-related move. The 32-year-old (until August) has seen his target share decline for two straight seasons. Thielen also tallied a career-low 10.2 yards per catch last season and posted his second smallest averages in both receptions and yards per game since becoming a starter in 2016. We'd still bet on Thielen finding opportunity somewhere else, but it's tough to know how big a role to expect until he lands. You can take some shots on Thielen at his already depressed ADP in current best ball drafts. But don't target him too heavily or expect a huge payoff. Thielen's departure leaves opportunity for WR K.J. Osborn and TE T.J. Hockenson. Don't be surprised, though, if Minnesota adds a wide receiver early in the NFL Draft.
The Chargers have restructured WR Keenan Allen's contract, shaving $8.9 million off his 2023 salary cap number, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That's big for two reasons: 1) The team opened the offseason with one of the league's worst cap situations. 2) That plus Allen's contract had driven speculation the Chargers would cut or trade him. You can now bet on that not happening. And that makes Allen a strong value in current best ball drafting. His ADP has sat in WR3 range since 2023 drafting began. Even with big-time injury issues last year, Allen still finished the season 12th among WRs in PPR points per game and 13th in half-PPR. L.A. also restructured WR Mike Williams' contract to save another $5.5 million in cap space.
The Cardinals have released WR Chosen (Robby) Anderson. Last year, he managed only 20 catches, 282 yards and 1 score across 16 games. Going on 30, we’d bet against the veteran re-emerging as a fantasy factor.
The Giants are applying the franchise tag to RB Saquon Barkley. It's not yet clear whether it's the exclusive version, which would keep Barkley from being able to negotiate with other teams. But the tag effectively keeps him with the Giants. It's unlikely another franchise would give two first-round picks for the right to sign Barkley. Expect the star RB to stick with the team that allowed him to finish fifth at the position in PPR points per game this past season.
The Giants have agreed to a four-year deal with QB Daniel Jones. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the contract will pay him $160 million, with another $35 million available in incentives. And it pays $82 million over the first two years. The agreement came just before the franchise-tag deadline, allowing the Giants to use the tag on RB Saquon Barkley. Now we'll see what the team can add at WR to help Jones' fantasy upside.
The Ravens are placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson. That means Jackson can negotiate with other teams after NFL free agency opens. If he reaches agreement with another team, Baltimore would have the option to match or get two first-round picks from the new team. Given that the two sides haven't been able to agree on a new deal yet, this move makes sense. Now the Ravens can let the market set Jackson's value. We'd still bet on him re-signing, but it'll be an interesting situation to watch. We'll also see whether the uncertainty can push Jackson's best ball ADP down any further. (If so, pounce.)
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