Chargers third-round rookie LB Junior Colson garnered some early buzz for his work with the starting offense in OTAs. But more recent workouts have found him working behind second-year LB Daiyan Henley ... and others. According to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, Colson has paired with Shane Lee as the third-team ILB duo at this week's minicamp. A minor injury in May OTAs might have pushed the rookie temporarily down the depth chart. But we'll have to see whether Colson can climb it through summer.
Browns WR Amari Cooper did not report with the rest of the team for manadatory minicamp Tuesday. That followed the veteran staying away from voluntary OTAs as well. Cooper's contract runs out at the end of this season, so he's likely staying away in pursuit of an extension. We'll see whether this spills over into training camp.
Jets HC Robert Saleh suggested that WR Mike Williams might play limited snaps early this season. He's working back from a torn ACL suffered last September.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins was not present for the start of minicamp on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Higgins has still not signed his franchise tag and requested a trade (again) in late April.
Jets WR Garrett Wilson aims to rebound from a 2023 season that was high on volume and low on efficiency. He garnered 168 targets but tallied a poor 56.5% catch rate. Wilson also scored on only three of his 95 catches -- a 3.1% TD rate.
San Francisco's George Kittle remained one of the most efficient TEs in the NFL last year, despite playing most of the season at 30 years old. He led the position in both yards per route (2.22) and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. Kittle also averaged a career-high and TE-leading 15.7 yards per catch. He finished sixth among TEs in total PPR points and seventh in PPR points per game -- his sixth straight top-seven finish.
The Athletic's Alec Lewis says fans should "be keeping their eyes on" Vikings RB Ty Chandler, coming out of the team's recent minicamp. RT Brian O'Neill called Chandler one of the most explosive players on the team. "I see us having a one-two punch at running back, almost like they have in Detroit," O'Neill said, pairing Chandler with import Aaron Jones. "I don't know if that's what's happening on the offensive side, but I know that we have two true No. 1 running backs. I'd buy stock in Ty Chandler if I could." If the starting RT doesn't know how the RBs will be deployed this season, then odds are that remains a developing situation. It's worth noting that Jones -- signed immediately after the Packers released him -- turns 30 in December, has averaged 12.1 carries per game for his career, and has only reached 13.0 in a season twice across seven years.
In recapping the Vikings' just-completed minicamp, The Athletic's Alec Lewis says QB Sam Darnold "looked calm, confident and prepared for what is likely to be another starting opportunity." Lewis also highlighted the inconsistency in rookie QB J.J. McCarthy's performance, adding that it should be expected for the first-round pick. Lewis added that Darnold took every first-team rep in the minicamp and that McCarthy didn't work with starters when the Vikings split into "starters" and "developmental" groups. Minnesota signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract before the draft, with $8.75 million of that fully guaranteed. That doesn't lock in Darnold as the starter for any portion of the coming season. But it's enough money to suggest that we shouldn't be surprised if he opens the year behind center.
TE Darren Waller has told the Giants that he will retire, according to both NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Jordan Ranaan. This confirms the news we passed along a little less than a week ago. It sets up Daniel Bellinger as the likeliest season-opening starter at TE, with rookie Theo Johnson competing for time. Neither makes for an exciting 2024 fantasy football option, though you could take a shot on either low in TE3 range of your best ball draft.
Patriots new RBs coach Taylor Embree has been impressed by RB Rhamondre Stevenson's passing-game skills so far this offseason. Stevenson has averaged 4.8 targets and 3.7 catches per game over the last two years, although he's been just average in terms of efficiency. Stevenson ranked 18th among 43 qualifying RBs in yards per route in 2022 and then sunk to 27th out of 43 last year.
Rams RB Kyren Williams was back on the field for Thursday's practice. He missed some time earlier this offseason with what HC Sean McVay called a "foot issue." McVay said then that Williams would be out until training camp, but he's clearly well ahead of schedule.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a disappointing 2023 rookie season, in terms of both usage and fantasy production. He ranked 41st among WRs in targets and 48th in PPR points. But he'll be operating in a new offense this year and is a candidate to take a big leap forward in his second season. It makes him a potential post-hype value in 2024 fantasy drafts.
Coming out of OTAs, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic says that he'd call Van Jefferson the Steelers' No. 2 WR "right now." He added that the answer certainly isn't clear yet. "To be honest, you can throw [Quez] Watkins, [Cordarrelle] Patterson, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller, Marquez Callaway and Denzel Mims in there as well," Kaboly writes. Notably, he didn't include Round 3 rookie Roman Wilson in that group. Kaboly also says he expects the team to "add a legit No. 2" before the start of the regular season.
The Chiefs have agreed to a one-year deal with WR Mecole Hardman, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hardman, of course, closed out 2023 with his original team after washing out on a one-year free-agent contract with the Jets. He's still heading into just his age-26 season.
There's a definite drumbeat starting over Saints utilityman Taysom Hill getting more work in the 2024 offense. Hill says new OC Klint Kubiak has brought a "really clear, distinct vision" for the offense, which has included new stuff. "It's weird to say after seven years of doing what I've been doing, that I'm being asked to do things that I've never done before. But I think that is exciting," he said this week, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell.
Lions Jack Campbell endured a disappointing first season, considering the team drafted him 18th overall and made Campbell a starter before the middle of the year. But it sounds like he might be ready to rebound with a big Year 2. DC Aaron Glenn began speaking of Campbell's improvement even before the team hit the field for spring workouts. It has reportedly showed in the LB's play as well, including 2 INTs off Jared Goff in Tuesday's minicamp practice. Campbell seems to be trending toward more of a full-time role in 2024.
Niners first-round pick WR Ricky Pearsall has been getting first-team action during OTAs, thanks at least in part to WR Brandon Aiyuk's absence. Multiple reports have Pearsall performing well, showing good route-running and hands. (We credited him for the same in his prospect profile.) Pearsall might have a shot at the team's No. 3 WR role, although the 49ers recently re-signed WR Jauan Jennings to a two-year contract with $15.4 million in total money and nearly $8.5 million in guarantees.
Jets fourth-round rookie RB Braelon Allen "has been one of the biggest standouts during OTA practices," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt calls Allen the "clear frontrunner" for the No. 2 job behind Breece Hall, "especially because of his emergence as a legitimate option as a pass-catcher. That's especially noteworthy for Allen, who got little credit for his receiving ability coming out of Wisconsin. He totaled 49 catches across three starting seasons and averaged a mere 5.6 yards per catch.
The 49ers and RB Christian McCaffrey have agreed to a two-year extension averaging $19 million per year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. It makes McCaffrey the league's highest-paid RB and keeps him signed with San Francisco through the 2027 season. McCaffrey will be 31 when this deal expires.
Cardinals RB James Conner turned 29 in May, which tends to be a dangerous age for RBs according to our aging-curve research. But Conner has shown no signs of decline. In fact, his 80.0 rushing yards per game last year were a career high and ranked fourth league-wide behind only Kyren Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and Nick Chubb. Conner also excelled in advanced rushing metrics, ranking top-12 among 49 qualifying RBs in NFL Next Gen Stats’ Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt, yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per attempt, and Pro Football Focus rushing grade.
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