The Steelers on Thursday signed LB Myles Jack to a 2-year, $16 million deal with $6.5 million guaranteed. That's starter money for 2022 at least. According to Spotrac, the contract seems to be structured in a way that Pittsburgh can decide about 2023 after seeing Jack for a year. The 26-year-old (until September) washed out with the team that drafted him and then extended him. We'd be surprised if he turns into a terrific real-life player in Pittsburgh. For fantasy football, on the other hand, Jack lands well in what should be a full-time role next to a LB (Devin Bush) who has been more disappointing relative to 1st-round draft status. Depending on where Jack lands in IDP drafts this summer, the new Steeler could be a nice value.
The agent for RB Damien Williams said Thursday his client is signing with the Falcons, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's a 1-year contract, which doesn't lock Williams into anything. We'll see about the money, but it's tough to expect much. Atlanta surely isn't done supplying its backfield. We wouldn't bother with Williams in best-ball drafts for now -- other than as an occasional end-of-draft consideration.
NFL Network reports that the Panthers have been told they're out of the running for QB Deshaun Watson. With the Browns also out, the race is now reportedly down to the Falcons and Saints. We'll be watching for the final decision -- and any ensuing moves.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that WR Byron Pringle will be signing a 1-year deal with the Bears. The contract includes $4 million guaranteed, with another $2 million available via incentives. Pringle set career highs of 60 targets, 42 catches, 568 yards and 5 TDs with the Chiefs last season. He heads to a Chicago offense with little at WR outside of Darnell Mooney. Pringle's contract also doesn't necessarily lock him into a top 2 -- or even top 3 -- role, though. We'll see what else the Bears do.
Both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport report that the Packers are trading WR Davante Adams to the Raiders. Rapoport says Vegas is dealing a 1st-round pick "potentially more picks and a player," while Schefter says "two prime 2022 picks" are involved. Both also report that Adams is getting a 5-year contract from his new team that will make him the highest paid WR ever. The move reunites Adams with QB Derek Carr, who he played with at Fresno State. Adams, of course, has spent nearly all of his pro career to date working with QB Aaron Rodgers. The Packers QB, meanwhile, is now left without a lead WR. The trade has reportedly been quietly in the works for days, so we'll assume this news isn't being broken to Rodgers. We'll see how Green Bay addresses its pass-catching corps for 2022 (and beyond) after keeping Rodgers in town this offseason with an extension. Adams loses some draft value, for both the general uncertainty and joining an offense that has treated TE Darren Waller as the clear lead target in recent years. Adams should easily snatch the lead wideout role from 2021 target leader Hunter Renfrow, but we'd bet Adams' target ceiling coming down. Waller loses some target upside as well but should be operating in the best pass offense he's been in to date. We're not moving him significantly in 2022 outlook right now.
The Bengals agreed to a 1-year deal with TE Hayden Hurst. It's a solid landing spot for the former 1st-round pick. Hurst figures to step into C.J. Uzomah's role, which produced a 49-493-5 line in 16 games last season. Uzomah finished 19th among TEs in PPR points while seeing 12% of Bengals targets. Hurst will likely struggle to reach every-week TE1 status without injuries to Cincinnati's WR corps. But he should bring intriguing upside as a spot-start option in lineup-setting leagues and is a fine TE2 target in best ball.
QB Baker Mayfield has asked the Browns to trade him, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Jake Trotter reports, however, that the team has told Mayfield it is "not accommodating his request." This, of course, follows Cleveland making a push for Deshaun Watson, which got denied. We'll see how the Mayfield situation develops. Should the Browns decide to trade Mayfield, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the QB has "strong interest" in the Colts. Mayfield is now in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract.
Giants DB Logan Ryan seemed to indicate via Twitter Thursday that the team is releasing him. It's a salary-cutting move for a guy who had a $3 million guarantee set to trigger, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Ryan spent the past 2 years as a full-timer for the Giants, seeing action at safety and corner. We wouldn't be surprised to see the 31-year-old land a gig elsewhere, but Ryan is no lock to do so.
The Rams are signing WR Allen Robinson to a 3-year, $46.5 million deal. It's a particularly surprising move considering the money. The Rams obviously return Cooper Kupp, get Robert Woods back from his ACL tear and retain Van Jefferson. There had also been reports of the team being interested in re-signing Odell Beckham Jr. (whose Super Bowl ACL tear makes it unlikely that he begins the season on time). The investment in Robinson clearly points to the team believing the veteran wideout will rebound from his 2021 performance. We'll see whether it also indicates concern for Woods' recovery or means that Jefferson's role will shrink. Robinson could have landed in better situations for his target volume, but Matthew Stafford will easily be the best QB he has played with. Robinson has been going low in WR4 range of early best-ball drafts and remains a solid-to-good shot to take if he continues to go in that range.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that EDGE Za'Darius Smith is not signing with the Ravens, despite previous reports that they'd agreed to terms. So he remains on the free-agent market after his release from the Packers.
The Bills are releasing WR Cole Beasley, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, saving a little over $6 million against the 2022 cap. That leaves Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie as the team's top 3 WRs currently. We'll see what else they do at the position in free agency and the draft. Buffalo signed TE O.J. Howard on Wednesday, so we could see more 2-TE sets with Howard and Dawson Knox this season.
Speaking Wednesday, new Broncos QB Russell Wilson discussed how long he’d like to remain an NFL QB. “My goal is to play 10 or 12 more years and hopefully win three or four more Super Bowls. That’s the plan,” Wilson said via NBC Sports. “That’s the mindset. That’s why I came here, to finish my career here and hopefully finish on top as a champion. And do it multiple times.” Wilson turns 34 in November, so playing as long as he wants is a major long-shot. Still, the move to Denver — and his current mindset — looks favorable for his dynasty value.
The Buccaneers and WR Chris Godwin have reached agreement on a 3-year, $60 million deal that includes $40 million in guarantees, according to multiple reports. Godwin had received the franchise tag, so we knew he wasn't going anywhere. This locks him in for the next 3 seasons and sets him up to hit the open market ahead of his age-29 campaign.
The Ravens have agreed to a 4-year, $35 million deal with EDGE Za'Darius Smith, according to multiple reports. Smith played his 1st 4 seasons with Baltimore before leaving for Green Bay in free agency. Smith racked up 26 sacks over 2 years with the Packers before missing nearly all of last season with a back injury. He returns to a Baltimore defense that needs the pass-rush help. The money says the Ravens believe Smith will be all the way back, but we'll keep an eye on his status through the offseason.
NFL Network reports that the Jets are signing TE Tyler Conklin. It's a somewhat curious move for both sides this early in the free-agent cycle, given that the Jets have already agreed to a deal with TE C.J. Uzomah. The arrival of both players lowers the fantasy ceiling for each. Expect both to settle well down into reserve territory in our TE rankings.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Dolphins are expected to sign RB Raheem Mostert. The veteran RB, of course, played under new Miami HC Mike McDaniel in San Francisco, where McDaniel spent 2021 as OC after 4 seasons as run-game coordinator. We'll see about the plan for Mostert in a backfield that has already added RB Chase Edmonds in free agency. Mostert is going in the late rounds of early best-ball drafting, which gives him upside at a low-risk price. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports it's a 1-year, $3.25 million deal.
The Bills are signing EDGE Von Miller to a 6-year deal, according to multiple reports. We'd bet against the 33-year-old (as of March 26) defender playing out that whole contract, but the reported $51.5 million guaranteed makes it sound like 3 years would be a solid bet. Most importantly, of course, Buffalo gains the best pass-rusher it will have had in HC Sean McDermott's stint. Miller racked up 82 total pressures last season, 5th most among all edge defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. He leaves behind a void for a Rams team lacking a 1st-round draft pick. Landing in Buffalo should also give Miller DE eligibility (perhaps for the 1st time ever in many fantasy football leagues). If that happens, it'll boost his IDP value.
The Bills signed TE O.J. Howard to a 1-year deal. It has a $3.5 million base value that can climb to $5 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The relative cheapness of the contract points to where Howard's career is at. The 19th overall pick of the 2017 draft dealt with ankle, foot and hamstring injuries over his first 3 seasons but averaged 15.5 yards per catch and scored 12 TDs. A torn Achilles ended his 2020 season in Week 4, though, and Howard caught just 14 balls behind Rob Gronkowski this past year. Still, he's just 27 with a strong pedigree. And he lands in a top-notch Bills offense. TE Dawson Knox is the incumbent in Buffalo, coming off a career-best 49-587-9 line in his 3rd season. But we imagine that this will be an open competition for the starting job this summer.
The Titans are releasing WR Julio Jones, according to multiple reports. The move saves some cap space but also leaves behind $8.4 million in dead cap, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ranked 2nd among Titans (behind A.J. Brown) in targets, receptions, receiving yards and TD catches last season, and stands as the most immediate beneficiary. But we'd be shocked if this offense doesn't make at least a couple of significant pass-catching additions -- either in free agency or the NFL Draft. Jones turned 33 in February and will be heading into his 12th NFL season this fall (assuming he continues playing).
The Raiders are sending DE Yannick Ngakoue to the Colts for CB Rock Ya-Sin. Ngakoue tied for 21st in the league with 63 total pressures last season, his lone year with the Raiders. The 27-year-old (as of March 31) is heading into the final year of his contract and coming off his 1st double-digit sack total since 2017. Indianapolis will be Ngakoue's 5th team since 2019. Pro Football Focus ranked Ya-Sin 34th in coverage among all 236 active CBs last year. He should claim a starting gig opposite Trayvon Mullen in Vegas, with CB Casey Hayward an unrestricted free agent. We'll see whether the Raiders make other moves at the position.
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