NFL DRAFT ROOKIE GUIDE IS NOW LIVE!
Veteran free-agent punter Trenton Gill is signing with the Denver Broncos, according to NFL.com. The 25-year-old was released after two seasons with the Chicago Bears following the organization selecting Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Gill has punted 133 times for an average of 46.1 yards per punt and pinned 38 kicks inside the 20-yard line in 34 career games. If he beats out Riley Dixon for the starting punting duties, he'll get to kick in Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, which gives kickers and punters extra distance thanks to its high elevation.
May 15, 2024 4:22 PM EST
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs will square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Houston Texans will host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day during the 2024 NFL season. For different reasons, all four teams will be interesting to monitor this year. Kansas City is aiming to be the first franchise to win three straight Super Bowls, Pittsburgh will be led by Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, Baltimore looks to get over the hump in search of a Lombardi Trophy, and Houston was one of last year's big surprise teams to contend in the playoffs. With no shortage of disappointing primetime matchups over the last few years, games featuring stars like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, T.J. Watt, and more on Christmas should be exciting. These two Christmas Day games will be streamed exclusively on Netflix.
May 15, 2024 4:13 PM EST
The New York Giants will debut on the HBO show Hard Knocks: Offseason in 2024 in their 100th season in the NFL. The show will feature the Giants for the first time since the series' debut in 2001 as the four-time Super Bowl-winning franchise prepares for its 100th season. It will be the first iteration of Hard Knocks to document the NFL offseason, chronicling the G-Men's moves from January to July. The five-episode season will debut on Tuesday, July 2. Hard Knocks has been in New York twice before with the Jets in 2010 and 2023 and has also followed the Dallas Cowboys three different times (2002, 2008, 2021). In New York, this will be their first year without running back Saquon Barkley while quarterback Daniel Jones (knee) tries to come back from a torn ACL in 2023. New York took receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick in this year's draft.
May 15, 2024 2:53 PM EST
The National Football League revealed the entire 2024 season schedule on Monday. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will face off to open the international slate in Week 1 on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They will be followed by the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 6 in London, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears on Oct. 13 in London, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 20 in London, and the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers on Nov. 10 in Munich, Germany. Six of the top 11 picks in last month's NFL draft and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will all appear internationally this year. The Jaguars will play back-to-back London games for the second season in a row.
May 15, 2024 2:19 PM EST
Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod said that he will retire following the 2024 season, which will be his 13th year in the league. "This is the last lap for me," McLeod said Monday during an appearance on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access." He will turn 34 in June and signed a one-year deal this offseason to return to the Browns for a second season. McLeod entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia in 2012. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams before joining the Eagles from 2016-21. McLeod was with the Colts in 2022 and had 29 tackles (16 solo) and a pass defended in 10 regular season games (five starts) last year. He suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Week 11. It sounds as though McLeod is now healthy as he looks to provide veteran secondary depth for Cleveland in 2024.
May 15, 2024 2:12 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (knee) is not practicing on Tuesday, according to head coach Raheem Morris. The two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro suffered a torn ACL in the Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans last year, so he'll likely be eased into action this offseason and beyond. Jarrett has compiled three seasons of at least six sacks, but he only charted 1.5 sacks in eight games last season. Atlanta's pass rush has been an issue over the last few years, and the organization opted to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick instead of a defender, so Jarrett's early-season availability and effectiveness will be key as the Falcons look to contend for a Super Bowl with Kirk Cousins under center.
May 14, 2024 4:18 PM EST
The back-to-back Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs will begin their attempt for the first-ever three-peat in 2024 when they host the Baltimore Ravens in the league's annual prime-time season opener, which will be played on Thursday, Sept. 5. It will be a rematch of last year's AFC Championship, which the Chiefs won 17-10 before beating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs will then face the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead in Week 2. The Week 1 matchup against Baltimore features two of the game's top QBs in Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl MVP the last two years, and Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL MVP. Mahomes has gone 4-1 in the matchup against Jackson, including in the playoffs. KC has opened as a 2.5-point favorite and are 2-1 in the NFL kickoff game since it was introduced in 2002.
May 14, 2024 2:32 PM EST
The New York Jets and quarterback Aaron Rodgers will travel to face the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9 on ESPN's Monday Night Football in Week 1 of the 2024 season this fall. It's the second straight season Rodgers and the Jets will play a prime-time game in Week 1. Rodgers' Jets debut on Sept. 11 of last year ended with the four-time MVP tearing his left Achilles on just the fourth offensive snap, causing him to miss the rest of the season. Rodgers will square off against QB Brock Purdy, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant (last pick in the draft) who has turned into an amazing success story. The Jets are coming off a disappointing 7-10 season, but Rodgers has a 6-3 career mark against the 49ers. The Jets have plenty of weapons for Rodgers to bounce back in 2024 from his injury, but the San Fran defense will present a tough challenge right away.
May 14, 2024 2:26 PM EST
When asked who would be calling the team's offensive plays in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson remained non-committal. "Don't play a game until September. So, we've got some time," Pederson said. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor was responsible for calling most of the team's plays in a disappointing 2023 season, so Pederson is seriously considering taking back those duties in 2024. A lot of the team's offensive struggles in the second half of last year had to do with the fact that quarterback Trevor Lawrence was playing injured, and that they were missing one of their top receivers in Christian Kirk. The Jaguars finished with 339.5 total yards per game (13th in the league) and 22.2 points per game (tied for 13th).
May 10, 2024 1:13 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks could be heavily involved in the passing game this season. According to head coach Dave Canales, the rookie running back's versatility is "probably the biggest thing that stood out" when the Panthers studied Brooks prior to last month's draft. Although he's recovering from a torn ACL, Brooks was still the first running back off the board, emphasizing Carolina's interest in deploying him as soon as he's healthy. Brooks will compete for touches in a backfield that consists of Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, and Rashaad Penny, but he might be the best pass-catching option of that group. Canales' glowing comments boost Brooks' fantasy value, and so does the new head coach's experience in Tampa Bay. As Buccaneers offensive coordinator, Canales helped funnel plenty of targets to emerging dual-threat back Rachaad White. White finished last season as the RB4 in PPR leagues, so it's safe to say that Brooks' upside is quite high if he can indeed get involved both on the ground and through the air. Perhaps the biggest obstacle will be the Panthers' offense, which may have to prioritize throwing deeper if they're playing from behind in 2024.
May 7, 2024 11:05 PM EST
Cornerback Mike Jackson agreed to a new deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, according to a source. Jackson now has a league-minimum base salary of $1.055 million (not guaranteed) and will now get a $167,500 signing bonus. The move drops his salary cap number from $3.116 million to $1,222,500, which creates around $1.89 million in salary cap space for the team in 2024. Jackson was tendered as a restricted free agent in March, but the $3.116 million contract always seemed like a placeholder for a reworked deal. The 27-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Miami took a step back in 2023 after recording a career-high 75 combined tackles in 2022. Jackson was in more of a depth role last year and is unlikely to emerge on the IDP fantasy radar in 2024.
May 6, 2024 2:53 PM EST
The Kansas City Chiefs recently signed undrafted free-agent running back Emani Bailey, defensive back Miles Battle, linebacker Swayze Bozeman, wide receiver Phillip Brooks, wide receiver Reggie Brown, tight end Baylor Cupp, offensive lineman Ethan Driskell, linebacker Curtis Jacobs, defensive lineman Fabien Lovett Sr., offensive lineman Griffin McDowell, offensive lineman McKade Mettauer, defensive back Derrick Miller, punter Ryan Rehkow, defensive back Christian Roland-Wallace, running back Carson Steele, offensive lineman Nick Torres and linebacker Luquay Washington on Saturday. All of these players will be fighting an uphill battle to make the Chiefs' final roster out of training camp this summer, but they could stick around on the team's practice squad if they impress the coaching staff.
May 5, 2024 1:14 PM EST
The New York Jets signed undrafted free-agent cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Myles Jones, wide receivers Tyler Harrell and Marcus Riley, edge rushers Tyreek Johnson and Braiden McGregor, tight end Lincoln Sefcik, offensive linemen Willie Tyler and Brady Latham, safeties Al Blades Sr. and Jarius Monroe, quarterback Peewee Jarrett, linebackers Jackson Sirmon, Jimmy Ciarlo and Tre Jenkins and defensive linemen Eric Watts and Leonard Taylor III on Friday. Jarrett, who played at West Florida, threw for 2,989 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions in college in 2023. Sefcik, 24, caught just 17 passes for 165 yards in 2023 and was limited to just nine games due to injuries at South Alabama. All of these players will be fighting an uphill battle to make New York's roster out of training camp.
May 4, 2024 1:52 PM EST
The Seattle Seahawks signed undrafted free-agent linebackers Sunny Anderson, Nelson Ceaser, Easton Gibbs and Rason Williams II, quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, offensive tackle Garret Greenfield, wide receivers Hayden Hatten and Dee Williams, running backs George Holani, Kobe Lewis and TaMerik Williams, cornerbacks Carlton Johnson and Ro Torrence, defensive end DeVere Levelston, center Mike Novitsky and tight end Jack Westover on Friday. Cordeiro, who is out of San Jose State, was the Mountain West Conference's all-time leader in total touchdowns, total yards and completions. Ceaser, from Houston, was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and team captain who led his team with 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2023. Greenfield was a three-time first-team FCS All-American.
May 4, 2024 1:03 PM EST
New York Jets offensive tackle Olu Fashanu (quad) said he has been rehabbing a quad strain that he suffered during the forty-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Combine. Although it's unfortunate that he's dealing with an injury heading into his pro career, it should not affect his offseason activities much. The Penn State product was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft last week, despite the team adding two new starting tackles this offseason. New York signed future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith and traded for former Baltimore Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses. However, both players are 33 years old, and you can never have enough depth on the offensive line. He could play a part in protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) in 2024.
May 3, 2024 4:28 PM EST
The Indianapolis Colts have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Kwity Paye, the team announced on X on Thursday. The former No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan hasn't been an elite rusher since entering the league, but he posted a career-high 8.5 sacks in 2023. Over his first 43 NFL games, he's racked up 129 tackles (79 solo), 18.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 18 run stuffs, and one pass deflection. He's played well enough to warrant another year under contract, so he won't hit free agency until at least the 2026 offseason.
May 2, 2024 4:33 PM EST
The Los Angeles Chargers officially picked up left tackle Rashawn Slater's fifth-year option for the 2025 season on Thursday. Slater, who was taken with the 13th overall pick in 2021 out of Northwestern, was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season before playing in just three games in 2022 due to a torn biceps. The 25-year-old returned last year to start all 17 games for the Chargers while protecting quarterback Justin Herbert's blind side. The Bolts added offensive tackle Joe Alt with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, but he will shift over to right tackle as long as Slater remains healthy. If he returns to his rookie-year form and Alt lives up to his draft stock, LA's new run-first offense should be in excellent shape to begin the Jim Harbaugh era in 2024.
May 2, 2024 3:02 PM EST
The New York Giants could look to add a veteran presence to their backfield before the 2024 NFL season, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. "This is a spot that could call for a cheap veteran reinforcement, even if that's just re-signing Matt Breida," Duggan writes. New York's backfield is currently led by Devin Singletary who flashed potential in Houston last season but has never been an every-down back. Below Singletary on the depth chart are rookies Dante Miller and Tyrone Tracy, as well as Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell, Deon Jackson, and Jashaun Corbin, who are most likely non-factors. The Giants' offense consistently gave Saquon Barkley 20-plus touches, but Singletary can't handle that workload on his own. Signing another veteran running back to take some pressure off the 26-year-old makes plenty of sense. For now, though, Singletary remains the only Giants running back worth rostering in redraft leagues.
May 2, 2024 12:30 AM EST
New York Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker (Achilles), who just had his fifth-year option picked up, said he is "on pace for a good start to the season." The No. 14 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft suffered a torn Achilles in Week 5 of last season and missed the remainder of the year on Injured Reserve. He was limited to just seven games in 2022 due to a torn tricep, so it's a positive sign that he's optimistic about his recovery. Tucker has played both guard and tackle for New York, but he's a more natural fit at guard and is projected to play on the best offensive line of his pro career. This offseason, New York signed future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith, traded for veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, and drafted Penn State rookie Olu Fashanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Clearly, the team wants to do a much better job of protecting Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) this season, and Vera-Tucker staying healthy will play a factor in doing so.
May 1, 2024 4:58 PM EST
The Baltimore Ravens have picked up the fifth-year option on linebacker Odafe Oweh, the team announced on X. The No. 31 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is now under contract with Baltimore through the 2025 season. Though Oweh's first 45 NFL games, he has racked up 99 tackles (73 solo), 13 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one pass deflection, and 14.5 run stuffs. The former Penn State Nittany Lion hasn't been a star since entering the league, but he's a productive rotational pass rusher on a strong defense. He might see more action this year after the departure of Jadeveon Clowney.
Apr 30, 2024 4:11 PM EST
Copyright 2024 Fantasy Football Calculator | Image Source: Icon Sportswire. Not affiliated with the National Football League (NFL).
Stats powered by FantasyData.com.
