Second-year LB Trenton Simpson looks like he's ready to take over the starting job vacated by Patrick Queen's free-agent departure.
The Ravens have wrapped up offseason workouts, and Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic highlighted TE Isaiah Likely as a spring standout. "Likely's work in OTAs and minicamp gave Monken even more reason to polish those multiple tight end sets," Zrebiec writes. "From making highlight-reel, one-handed catches in the middle of the field to finding openings underneath to pulling away from defenders after receptions, Likely looked like a player who will be hard to keep off the field."
The Athletic's Jon Machota highlighted Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks as one of the team's standouts in spring workouts. Cooks has shown improved chemistry with QB Dak Prescott in their second offseason together.
Panthers WR Xavier Legette missed the last three weeks of spring workouts with a hamstring injury. “We’ve gotta get him back out there,” HC Dave Canales said, “so we can work him through that.”
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel plans to diversify RB De'Von Achane's role and get him the ball in more ways this season. Smart idea. Achane averaged an NFL-record 7.8 yards per carry last year. There's seemingly still meat on the bone in the passing game, though, where Achane averaged just 7.3 yards per catch.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic highlights Jets TE Tyler Conklin as a "notable standout" in the team's offseason program. "He made highlight reel catches all spring," Rosenblatt writes. "If Rodgers can stay healthy, Conklin is in line for a big season."
The Athletic's Mark Kaboly named Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth one of the team's winners coming out of spring workouts. "Nobody performed better and more consistently for four weeks than Freiermuth," Kaboly wrote. "He had an instant connection with Russell Wilson and came across as a potential playmaker in Arthur Smith’s tight-end-heavy offense. ... Freiermuth might not have dropped a pass all month, and he’s talented enough to take a short pass and turn it into something big. Entering his fourth season, it’s the best he has looked."
Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports says Chiefs rookie TE Jared Wiley is "already getting a lot of play with the starters" in team workouts -- including red-zone opportunities. Wiley's obviously not going to challenge TE Travis Kelce's standing anytime soon. But there's room for him to compete with Noah Gray for the No. 2 spot. Gray played 52.4% of K.C.'s offensive snaps last season, thanks in part to Kelce missing two games. Gray also finished sixth on the team in targets and fourth in receptions.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins signed his franchise tag. He'll make $21.8 million on the one-year contract. Looking for a long-term deal, Higgins requested a trade multiple times this offseason and skipped last week's mandatory minicamp. But this should be the last we hear of his contract situation this year. Higgins will hit free agency next offseason.
New Commanders RB Austin Ekeler endured a forgettable 2023 season. It started with a Week 1 high-ankle sprain, one that lingered upon returning in Week 6. The now 29-year-old set career lows in yards per carry (3.5), yards after contact per attempt (2.64) and Pro Football Focus Elusive Rating (49.4). With better health, can Ekeler rebound in Washington?
Multiple Jets beat writers have WR Xavier Gipson ahead of WR Malachi Corley on the depth chart heading to training camp. Those two are battling for the slot role between boundary WRs Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams.
Bills GM Brandon Beane suggested recently that WR Keon Coleman still has a lot of developing to do. Beane noted the big difference between college and NFL playbooks and that Coleman will need to learn to stay engaged on run plays.
Chargers RB Gus Edwards is sidelined with an undisclosed injury but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, HC Jim Harbaugh said on Thursday.
The Jaguars and QB Trevor Lawrence agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract extension with $200 million guaranteed, ESPN reports. Lawrence now ranks second in the NFL in average annual salary and fourth in guaranteed money. The extension tacks on to the final two years of his current contract, meaning that Lawrence is now signed with the Jaguars through the 2030 season. He'll be 32 when the deal expires.
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson looks to build off a breakout second season. His 2023 included top-10 finishes among TEs in targets, catches, yards, and TDs. As a result, the 25-year-old slotted ninth in total PPR points.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Sam Darnold will open training camp as the team's No. 1 QB. O'Connell did not commit to anything beyond that, though, saying that he plans for a "competitive" training camp.
Steelers WR George Pickens has been lining up in the slot more in new OC Arthur Smith's offense. Pickens played just 15.4% of his snaps inside as a rookie in 2022 and 16.9% last year. It sounds like that number will rise considerably in 2024.
Nick Underhill of Saints.football reports that Saints TE Juwan Johnson "suffered a lower leg injury and is expected to miss a good amount of time." We'll watch for more specifics on the injury, but that sounds pretty ominous. Underhill did add that he hasn't heard that Johnson will be sidelined into the regular season.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Johnson will undergo foot surgery. He's expected to be sidelined “a while," Schefter adds, but "the hope and belief for now is that he will be back for the start of the season."
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels spoke glowingly about OC Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Of course, it'd be a much bigger surprise if a rookie QB had anything negative to say about his OC. But it's noteworthy after Kingsbury helped QB Kyler Murray to a strong rookie season in Arizona back in 2019.
Chargers second-round rookie WR Ladd McConkey is reportedly meshing well with QB Justin Herbert in team workouts so far. Daniel Popper of The Athletic says McConkey has played "mostly in the slot." That probably lines up with most fans' expectations but doesn't align with his college usage. McConkey spent just 29.6% of his pass snaps in the slot across three seasons at Georgia, decreasing that rate each year.
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