WR Sterling Shepard has agreed to a restructured contract to remain with the Giants. It's a 1-year deal, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Shepard was previously signed through the 2023 campaign. He'll spend this offseason rehabbing the torn left Achilles he suffered in December. Raanan hears that Shepard's rehab is going well and that he has a shot to be ready for the start of the season. But he's an unexciting pick in early best-ball drafts.
The Browns plan to tender restricted free agent RB D'Ernest Johnson at the "right of 1st refusal" level, according to multiple reports. That tells us the team wants to see what the market is for the 26-year-old RB and doesn't fear the prospect of losing him. We'll see what the market determines. Johnson, of course, delivered several big games with Nick Chubb and/or Kareem Hunt out last season. He has just 165 total touches through 4 pro seasons, though.
The Bears have agreed to send EDGE Khalil Mack to the Chargers for 2nd- and 6th-round picks in the 2023 draft. Mack has 3 years left on the deal he signed with Chicago, which would run through his age-33 season. Mack missed 10 games last season with a foot injury that required surgery. He'll need to pass a physical for this trade to go through, so there should be no concern for the issue if it happens. The trade will reunite Mack with Chargers HC Brandon Staley, who served as LBs coach in Chicago before taking the DC post with the Rams in 2020. It will also position him opposite Joey Bosa in what will be 1 of the NFL's toughest pass rushes. Expect the Chargers' D to land high in our 2022 fantasy football rankings. Mack -- after posting 6 sacks in just 7 games last season -- should remain a good option in sack/pressure-friendly IDP leagues. As for Chicago, Trevis Gipson looks like the top incumbent candidate to replace Mack. Gipson got 9 starts in his 2nd season -- with Mack out -- and tallied 7 sacks.
Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Lions have told EDGE Trey Flowers they plan to release him on the 1st day of the new league year (March 16). Flowers played out 3 seasons of his 5-year deal with Detroit but missed 19 of 33 possible games over the past 2 campaigns. Releasing him clears about $10 million in cap space but leaves about $12.9 million in dead cap on the roll, according to Spotrac. We'll see where he lands ahead of his age-29 season.
The Commanders are expected to release S Landon Collins after attempts at restructuring his contract couldn't reach a deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Collins rebounded decently from a 2020 Achilles' tendon tear to play in 13 games last season, average 6.2 total tackles per game, grab a pair of INTs and tally 3 sacks. He spent time in safety and LB roles for a Washington defense that disappointed overall. Collins figures to get a shot at another starting job elsewhere this offseason.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Cardinals are releasing LB Jordan Hicks. The 30-year-old was reportedly on the trade block last summer after Arizona drafted LB Zaven Collins in Round 1, but Hicks remained and spent the whole season as a full-timer. He finished among the top 20 fantasy LBs. Hicks' departure should clear the way for Collins to step in next to Isaiah Simmons -- assuming Collins is ready. His wildly disappointing debut campaign figures to keep Collins' price from climbing too high in 2022 IDP drafts. We'll see whether Hicks lands anywhere.
The Colts traded QB Carson Wentz to the Commanders. Indianapolis is receiving "a package of picks that is thought to include two third-round picks," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Washington is also paying the full $28 million that Wentz is owed for 2022. The 29-year-old was just ok for the Colts last season, posting a 62.4% completion rate, 6.9 yards-per-attempt average and 27 TDs vs. 7 INTs. Pro Football Focus graded Wentz 20th among 31 qualifiers. He's not a difference-maker at the position but should be an upgrade over Washington's Taylor Heinicke-led QB room last year. Consider Wentz's arrival a slight boost for WR Terry McLaurin, RB Antonio Gibson and the rest of the Commanders' skill-position players. Wentz should provide some spot-start fantasy value but isn't an exciting pick in early drafts. We'll see what the Colts plan to do at QB. They're currently left with Sam Ehlinger and James Morgan.
Update: Per Schefter, the Commanders are getting Wentz and a 2022 2nd-round pick in exchange for 2022 2nd- and 3rd-rounders and a 2023 3rd-rounder that becomes a 2nd if Wentz plays 70+% of the offensive snaps this season.
The Panthers have re-signed K Zane Gonzalez to a 2-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. In 12 games for Carolina last season, Gonzalez drilled 20 of 22 FG tries and 22 of 23 XPs. He ranked outside the top 20 Ks in fantasy points per game, though, and won't be an appealing option in 2022 unless the Panthers upgrade at QB.
The Chiefs on Tuesday re-signed WR Josh Gordon ahead of free agency. The wideout -- who will turn 31 in mid-April -- caught only 5 passes (among 14 targets) in 12 games for the 2021 Chiefs. Odds remain against him becoming a fantasy factor.
The Titans have reached a 5-year deal with OLB Harold Landry worth $87.5 million, including $52.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. Tennessee elected not to use the franchise tag on Landry by Tuesday afternoon's deadline. Now it's clear that move was a bet that the 2 sides could finalize the new contract. Landry is coming off season highs in sacks (12), QB hits (22) and tackles (75). He'll turn 26 in June.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Seahawks have told LB Bobby Wagner that they're releasing him. It's not a shocking move for a couple of reasons. First, it saves Seattle $16.6 million in cap space in 2022. Second, the Seahawks' trade of QB Russell Wilson to Denver signals at least somewhat of a rebuild. This was to be the final year on Wagner's contract. The 32-year-old (in June) remains a productive player and is sure to land another gig -- assuming he wants to continue playing. Cody Barton might be a candidate to replace Wagner, but we'd bet on the team also bringing in more at LB via free agency or the NFL Draft.
The Bucs have officially used their franchise tag on WR Chris Godwin. It's his 2nd straight year getting tagged, so he's currently set to make a little over $19 million this season. The 2 sides are reportedly working toward a long-term deal, though, which would presumably lower Godwin's cap hit. The 26-year-old has finished top 15 among WRs in PPR points per game in 3 straight seasons. But he sits much lower than that in our early 2022 rankings because of his December ACL tear and Tampa's QB question.
The Packers have applied the franchise tag to WR Davante Adams, keeping him off the free-agent market. The 2 sides will likely try to work out a longer-term deal, especially after Green Bay extended QB Aaron Rodgers. For fantasy football purposes, though, we can comfortably bet on Adams sticking with the Packers for at least 2022 (with his QB). Adams remains 1 of the safest early picks across fantasy formats.
The Broncos have traded TE Noah Fant to Seattle as part of the Russell Wilson deal. That lands Fant in an offense with a TE void. Gerald Everett and Will Dissly are each set to hit free agency this month. His departure also leaves Albert Okwuegbunam as Denver's top incumbent at the position. Fant's new team will need to answer a big question at QB, where Drew Lock looks like the best current option. He faces potential opportunity but also joins an offensive system that didn't even go pass-heavy with Wilson at the helm. That fails to excite us for Fant's fantasy outlook. Okwuegbunam, meanwhile, brings physical upside -- albeit in a still-crowded offense. If he remains in the late rounds of current best-ball drafting, though, the 3rd-year player could be a terrific sleeper.
The Broncos have acquired QB Russell Wilson from the Seahawks for what NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is calling a "massive haul" that includes "multiple" 1st-round picks, players and other picks. We'll see about the final compensation. ESPN's Adam Schefter adds that QB Drew Lock is part of the package heading to Seattle. Wilson leaves 1 of the league's best WR tandems in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett but lands in a talented offense. Denver returns WR Jerry Jeudy for his 3rd season, extended WRs Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick last year, get KJ Hamler back from his ACL tear and sports Albert Okwuegbunam at TE. We'll see about the specific offensive plans of new HC Nathaniel Hackett, who arrived this offseason after 3 years as Packers OC. For now, Wilson seems appropriately valued at his QB12 ADP. Lock should get a chance at winning the 2022 starting gig in Seattle, though we'll see what else the team has planned at the position. Metcalf and Lockett necessarily get fantasy downgrades after opening their careers with 1 of the most efficient passers in NFL history. Stay tuned for updates as more details get released.
Update: Full details of the trade: Denver gets Wilson plus a 4th-round pick. Seattle gets QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, 2 first-round picks, 2 second-round picks and a 5th-round pick.
According to multiple reports, WR Mike Williams is on the verge of signing a 3-year, $60 million deal with the Chargers that will include $40 million in guarantees. This news comes ahead of today's 4 p.m. ET deadline for team's to apply franchise tags. Williams stays with an ascending QB in a strong offense and should remain a high-ceiling fantasy wideout.
The Lions signed WR Josh Reynolds to a 2-year deal with a "max value of $12 million," according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Reynolds joined Detroit last November after getting dumped by the Titans. He played 63+% of the offensive snaps in all 7 of his games with the Lions but averaged just 5.1 targets, 2.7 catches and 43.7 yards per game. We'll see what else Detroit does to address the WR room this offseason, but Reynolds isn't a great bet to be a real fantasy asset in 2022.
The Cowboys are re-signing WR Noah Brown to a 1-year deal, according to Nick Eatman of the team website. Brown ranked 5th among Dallas WRs in targets each of the past 2 years and figures to remain in a similar role going forward. The former 7th-round pick heads into his 6th season in the league and turned 26 in January.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers have reached a new deal with QB Aaron Rodgers that will pay him $200 million over 4 years, with $153 million guaranteed. That tells us we should expect at least 3 more years of Rodgers as the Green Bay starter (assuming health and no retirement, of course). It also means that Jordan Love will have to wait even longer than Rodgers once did for his own NFL starting shot -- barring a trade out of town.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are expected to apply the franchise tag to TE Dalton Schultz today. Dallas is up against the salary cap, so the team would surely prefer to knock out a longer-term deal with Schultz. For fantasy football purposes, draft as though Schultz will remain a Cowboy at least through 2022. He could find himself in an even better situation for target volume than last year, with WR Amari Cooper expected to leave and WR Michael Gallup coming off an ACL tear.
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