The 49ers re-signed RB Jeff Wilson. The 26-year-old had surgery last May to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and slogged his way to just 3.7 yards per carry after returning in November. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry over his first 3 NFL seasons. Wilson figures to compete for backup duties behind Elijah Mitchell this summer.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Patriots are signing CB Malcolm Butler to a 2-year deal that could be worth up to $9 million. The money suggests they hope Butler can start for them but doesn't necessarily lock him into their top 3 at the position. Butler missed last season after "retiring" but has clearly been inspired by Tom Brady. When active, Butler is capable of delivering useful IDP numbers -- at least in part because QBs like to throw at him.
The Chiefs are trading WR Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in exchange for the 29th overall pick of this year's draft, plus 2022 2nd- and 4th-round picks and 2023 4th- and 6th-rounders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hill will reportedly get a contract extension from Miami that will make him among the highest-paid WRs in the league. His fantasy value takes a hit with the move. He goes from QB Patrick Mahomes to QB Tua Tagovailoa and from a pass-heavy offense to what figures to be a more balanced offense under new Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel. Hill remains arguably the most electric playmaker in the NFL, though, and should garner a big target share in Miami. He's still a WR1. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are currently left with WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Josh Gordon, Justin Watson, Cornell Powell and Corey Coleman. They figure to add to the group in free agency and/or the draft, but Smith-Schuster and Hardman gets sizable boosts with Hill's departure.
Update: Miami is giving Hill a 4-year, $120 million extension with $72.2 million guaranteed, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. That $30 million per year puts Hill a couple million ahead of new Raider Davante Adams for highest-paid WR.
The Chiefs have given WR Tyreek Hill permission to seek a trade, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 2 sides have been working on a long-term deal, and Kansas City has reportedly made an offer that would make Hill 1 of the league's highest-paid WRs. But "talks have stalled," Rapoport says. The Dolphins have been among the most interested teams so far, Rapoport adds. We'd be surprised if the Chiefs let Hill get away but will certainly keep a close eye on the situation. In likely related news, Kansas City is hosting free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Wednesday.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets, "Jets and Dolphins are in serious talks to trade for Chiefs’ WR Tyreek Hill, per league sources. Hill and Chiefs are mulling what to do but Hill’s time in KC looks like it could be coming to an end."
The Raiders signed WR Demarcus Robinson to a 1-year deal. Despite playing with QB Patrick Mahomes the past 4 seasons, Robinson has never reached 500 receiving yards. As Vegas' depth chart currently stands, Robinson and Bryan Edwards will be duking it out for the #3 WR job behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow.
The Vikings are signing EDGE Za'Darius Smith to a 3-year, $42 million deal with a top value of $47 million, according to multiple reports. Smith nearly signed with the Ravens but backed off that and lands with a Minnesota defense that will position him opposite DE Danielle Hunter. It's not yet clear how the new Vikings staff will primarily align its front 7. That only matters for how the positional designations will settle out for IDP leagues. The contract -- and the fact that 2 teams were willing to pay him -- indicates that Smith should be ready to return from the back surgery that halted his 2021 campaign. He has a chance to be a nice value in pressure-friendly fantasy football leagues. Smith totaled 26 sacks over his past 2 healthy campaigns.
After acquiring QB Matt Ryan via trade Monday, the Colts are restructuring the veteran's contract. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the altered deal "locks him in at two years and $53.9 million." For fantasy football purposes, that means we should expect Ryan to be Indy's starter through the coming season and 2023, at least.
The Buccaneers are re-signing RB Leonard Fournette to a 3-year, $21 million deal that could be worth up to $24 million. We'd bet there's some fluff built into that contract to inflate the overall numbers, but even in that case it's a much more significant commitment than the 1-year, $3 million pact that brought Fournette back for last season. Expect the 27-year-old to open the year as Tampa Bay's lead back and potentially continue operating as a true workhorse. For fantasy, expect Fournette's ADP to now work inside the top 4 rounds.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the contract includes $11 million in guarantees, which should make it at least a 2-year deal.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Saints QB Jameis Winston is expected to be ready for training camp "if everything continues to go smoothly with his rehab." This doesn't come as a surprise after New Orleans committed to Winston financially earlier in the week, but it's good confirmation for those jumping into early best-ball fantasy football drafts.
WR Laquon Treadwell re-signed with the Jaguars. The former 1st-rounder had 1 of his better stretches as a pro over the 2nd half of last season, averaging 4.4 catches and 57.9 yards across the final 7 games. It doesn't look like he drew much interest on the open market, though, and returns to a Jaguars team that previously added WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones to Marvin Jones, Laviska Shenault and Jamal Agnew. We'll see how the WR room shakes out this summer, but Treadwell isn't a recommended target in early best-ball drafts.
WR Jamison Crowder has inked a 1-year deal with the Bills worth "up to" $4 million, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Crowder is coming off a disappointing 2021 season, averaging a career-low 8.8 yards on 51 catches across 12 games for the Jets. But he'll turn just 29 in June and averaged 4.9 catches and 54.4 yards per game between 2019 and 2020. Crowder looks like a natural replacement in Buffalo for Cole Beasley, who finished 34th, 27th and 41st among WRs in PPR points the last 3 seasons.
The Eagles signed former Colts WR Zach Pascal to a 1-year deal. This reunites Pascal with Nick Sirianni, Indy’s OC from 2018-2020. The 27-year-old pass catcher brings some size (6’2, 214) to Philly’s WR corps, but he averaged just 540 yards across 2019-2011. Pascal isn’t someone to chase in early best ball drafts.
The Falcons announced Monday they have agreed to a 2-year deal with QB Marcus Mariota. He's likely a step down in passing from Matt Ryan. At the least, Mariota will have to prove otherwise after he washed out with Tennessee and then spent the past 2 years backing up Derek Carr. But his rushing ability makes him a far more attractive fantasy option than Ryan. Mariota has experience with HC Arthur Smith from their Titans days, which can only help speed his acclimation to the offense. The QB's arrival might be negative for Cordarrelle Patterson's target upside, but we'll let the situation play out a little further before making any significant change to the RB-WR hybrid's outlook.
NFL Network reports that QB Jameis Winston is re-signing with the Saints on a 2-year, $28 million deal that includes $21 million guaranteed. The money involved suggests New Orleans isn't too worried about the recovery of the ACL tear that ended Winston's 2021 on Halloween. It also obviously means that Winston will jump back into the starting lineup as soon as he's ready. Winston has been going in mid-to-low QB2 range in early best-ball drafting. The knee injury -- plus his general inconsistency -- will make it risky to draft Winston much higher than that, at least until he proves healthy.
The Falcons are sending QB Matt Ryan to the Colts for a 3rd-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. That lands Ryan in 1 of the league's more run-leaning offense and with a pass-catching corps that doesn't boast much proven talent beyond WR Michael Pittman. We'll see what else the Colts add to that group. Ryan hasn't been terrific lately, but he marks a lateral move -- at worst -- from Carson Wentz for Pittman and the Colts' other pass-catchers. Ryan brings more consistent accuracy, which could boost Pittman's efficiency. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Falcons are now expected to pursue QB Marcus Mariota. The former Raider would land in an even more barren pass offense. We'll assess that situation further once it comes to fruition.
The Bills reached a 1-year deal with RB Duke Johnson, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Buffalo tried to sign RB J.D. McKissic last week before he opted to return to Washington, so the team is clearly looking to add depth behind RBs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. Johnson spent much of last year unsigned or on Miami's practice squad. But he flashed late with 312 yards and 3 TDs on 4.7 yards per carry over the final 4 games of the season. Johnson turns 29 in September and probably isn't a candidate for lead duties in Buffalo. But he could siphon touches from Singletary.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that "if (Matt) Ryan is traded, it'll almost certainly be Indy." It doesn't sound like a move is imminent, and it's important to note that Ryan still might not move. But keep this report in mind if you're jumping into live best-ball drafts today. We'll see what Atlanta's replacement plan would be if Ryan leaves and where the Colts would turn if a deal does not happen.
The Giants signed RB Matt Breida. The 27-year-old flashed over his first 3 NFL seasons under HC Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco but has disappointed in Miami and Buffalo the past 2 years. Breida joins Gary Brightwell and Antonio Williams behind Saquon Barkley in New York's backfield. We'll see what else the G-Men do at the position this offseason.
The Chargers signed TE Gerald Everett to a reported 2-year, $12 million deal. That contract makes him the favorite for starting duties in a top-notch passing game. Everett set career highs across the board in Seattle last season with 48 catches, 478 yards and 4 TDs in 15 games, finishing 20th among TEs in PPR points per game. That was 1 spot ahead of Jared Cook, who was the Chargers' lead TE last year. Everett might not reach TE1 territory in 2022 but should bring exciting weekly upside.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Seahawks have agree to a 1-year deal, $5.75 million deal with RB Rashaad Penny — with another $750,000 available via incentives. Penny exploded late last season when thrust into the lead role. If Chris Carson is all the way back from the neck injury that required surgery, we’ll likely be looking at some level of workload split here. We’ll watch reports on the situation as we move toward training camp
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