ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars will be signing CB Darious Williams to a 3-year, $39 million deal. Williams spent most of the past 2 seasons starting for the Rams. After snagging 4 INTs and tallying 14 passes defensed in 2020, he went without a pick in 14 games last season -- navigating around injury. Williams should be IDP relevant in Jacksonville but doesn't look like a high-level factor.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that the Browns are releasing TE Austin Hooper (with a post-June 1 designation). That will send Hooper to a free-agent market that has seen little TE movement in the early days. His departure leaves room for David Njoku to take over the lead TE spot, with 3rd-year TE Harrison Bryant behind him. Njoku has remained a solid value in best-ball drafting since re-signing with Cleveland. We'll see how much his ADP climbs with the Hooper news. Fowler says the Browns planned to keep Hooper but that acquiring WR Amari Cooper and pursuing QB Deshaun Watson changed the cap situation.
The Browns are signing WR/returner Jakeem Grant to a 3-year deal worth up to $13.8 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That seems like a lot of money for a guy to primarily just be counted on in the return game, but Grant's offensive skill set also seems to align with 2nd-year WR Anthony Schwartz. We're not betting on Grant proving fantasy relevant outside of return-yardage leagues this year.
The Saints have agreed with S Marcus Maye to a 3-year, $28.5 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. With Malcolm Jenkins still under contract, Maye looks like the replacement for Marcus Williams. That's a downward move for his IDP value, as Williams posted weak tackle numbers in New Orleans.
ESPN's Dianna Russini reports that each of the teams meeting with QB Deshaun Watson -- the Saints, Panthers and Browns -- 1st had to present a trade package to Houston for approval. That indicates a Watson trade is merely waiting on the QB to select his destination. We'll be watching for the announcement. If you're drafting in the meantime, D.J. Moore, Michael Thomas and Amari Cooper -- along with later pass-catchers for each potential suitor -- are stackable with Watson on best-ball tournament entries.
CB Levi Wallace is joining the Steelers on a 2-year, $8 million deal, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. Wallace started 52 games over 4 seasons with the Bills, including all 17 last year. Wallace has been relevant for IDP leagues, especially those that require CBs. But he's not a special fantasy football option -- and likely won't be with the Steelers.
LB Jordan Hicks is expected to sign a 2-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, according to multiple reports. NFL insider Adam Caplan reports that it has a max value of $12 million and carries $6.5 million in guaranteed money. The Cardinals released Hicks this offseason, but the money from Minnesota points to him landing a starting gig next to Eric Kendricks. Expect LB Anthony Barr -- also a free agent -- to land elsewhere.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Giants are expected to sign QB Tyrod Taylor to a 2-year, $17 million deal, with $8.5 million of that guaranteed. Taylor will back up Daniel Jones, and his work with Houston last year -- where he lost the starting job to 3rd-round rookie Davis Mills -- points to Taylor not being a threat to Jones' job. So this move looks like good news or Jones' chances of making it through 2022 as the Giants starter.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that RB D'Onta Foreman is signing with the Panthers. the quick move (ahead of Wednesday's official opening of the new league year) points to Carolina prioritizing the former Titans RB. Foreman, of course, had his best stretch in the pros last year with Tennessee after RB Derrick Henry went down. He now looks like the best bet to lead the Panthers in carries should Christian McCaffrey go down. Foreman's quick arrival also looks like bad news for 2nd-year RB Chuba Hubbard, who saw his workload decrease late in his rookie campaign.
The Lions are re-signing WR/KR Kalif Raymond, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Raymond caught a career-high 48 balls in 2021, his 1st year with Detroit. We wouldn't bet on a repeat, though, with T.J. Hockenson and D'Andre Swift returning from injuries, Amon-Ra St. Brown having broken out late in the year and D.J. Chark arriving in free agency. (Plus, we'll see what the team does in the NFL Draft.)
The Texans have agreed to a 1-year, $4 million deal to keep TE Pharaoh Brown on the roster. Brown quietly led all Houston TEs with 34 targets last season. We'd still bet on Brevin Jordan 1st among Texans receiving TEs for 2022, but it could be a crowded position group once again. Houston previously re-signed TE Anthony Auclair, but he has served primarily as a blocker.
The Jets are signing former Buccaneers S Jordan Whitehead to a 2-year, $14.5 million deal, according to multiple reports. Whitehead spent most of the past 4 years in Tampa Bay's starting lineup, including all 44 of his appearances over the past 3 years. This money says he'll land in the starting lineup with his new team -- likely in place of Marcus Maye, who is also an unrestricted free agent after playing last season on the franchise tag. Whitehead has been a solid tackle collector with the Bucs and should be in a good spot for more of the same with the Jets. S Mike Edwards looks like the best current bet on Tampa Bay's roster to replace Whitehead. We'll see whether the Bucs make further moves at the position, though.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Jaguars are releasing LB Myles Jack. He's still just 26 and had remained a starter for Jacksonville, but Jack's contract has outweighed his contributions. His release will save the team $8.35 million in cap space. Expect Jack to land at least a shot at a starting job elsewhere.
The Jets have agreed to a 3-year, $33 million deal with CB D.J. Reed, according to multiple reports. that position's the former Seahawk as the Jets' top corner. Reed spent just 1.5 of his 4 seasons in Seattle as a starter after arriving with some question as to whether he'd play safety or corner. In 2021, however, Pro Football Focus graded him 16th-best in coverage among 129 CBs who played at least 200 snaps. Reed won't turn 26 until November and will be well worth a look in CB-required IDP leagues.
Former Falcons WR Russell Gage is expected to sign with the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports. That ensures Atlanta will lose its 2nd leading receiving from last year and likely delivers Tampa Bay's new slot man. Gage went from running out of the slot on two-thirds of his routes each of the previous 2 seasons to just half the time last year. WR Chris Godwin, meanwhile, has seen his slot rate grow every season. According to Pro Football Focus, he spent 70% of pass snaps in the slot last year. So we'll see whether the Gage signing pushes Godwin back outside or injects Gage into Antonio Brown's spot (about 21% slot). That could depend, in part, on whether Godwin's torn ACL allows him to start the 2022 season on time. Either way, Gage's arrival challenges the target-share ceilings for Godwin and Mike Evans vs. what they might have been with Brown gone and a lesser replacement.
Update: ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that it's a 3-year, $30 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.
The Broncos are signing LB Josey Jewell to a 2-year, $11 million deal (with $6 million guaranteed), according to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. Jewell saw some fluctuation in his role over his 1st 3 years with the team before tearing a pectoral muscle in Week 2 last season and missing the rest of the year. This contract points to Jewell retaining a starting gig for at least 2022. There have been reports of QB Russell Wilson recruiting former Seahawks teammate Bobby Wagner to Denver, but we'd bet on 2nd-year LB Baron Browning occupying the other off-ball LB post for the Broncos this season. Jewell figures to present some sleeper-type upside in LB3-4 range of IDP drafts this summer.
The Falcons have agreed to a 5-year, $24.25 million deal with K Younghoe Koo -- including $11.5 million guaranteed -- according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Koo has hit 64 of 68 FG attempts over the past 2 seasons and led the NFL in made FGs in 2020 despite missing a game. No word yet on who besides TE Kyle Pitts will actually help Atlanta get into FG range in 2022.
The Ravens have agreed to a 5-year, $70 million deal with S Marcus Williams, according to multiple reports. Williams will get $37 million guaranteed. Williams takes over the FS spot in Baltimore and leaves a significant hole in New Orleans' secondary. He's not a strong IDP option.
RB James White has re-signed with the Patriots for $5 million over 2 years, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That's not enough money to guarantee that White will make the 2022 roster. But he's available through the end of drafts right now and is thus a low-risk option with significant PPR upside. White caught 40+ passes in 6 straight seasons before the hip injury that knocked him out in his 3rd game last season. White was averaging 4 receptions per game when he went down.
In a surprise, DE Randy Gregory will be getting his 5-year, $70 million deal from the Broncos instead of the Cowboys, according to NFL Network. Gregory has been in Dallas since arriving as a 2nd-round pick in 2015. He had his most effective season yet in 2021 and should settle in on the edge opposite Bradley Chubb with his new squad. Gregory will turn 30 in November.
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