The NFL information cycle is in full swing with free company and commerce information coming quick and livid. What does it imply for fantasy soccer in 2024? Matt Harmon breaks down the important thing signings, offers and hypothesis by place that will help you kind via all of it.
You too can comply with all the newest developments with Yahoo Sports activities’ NFL free company tracker.
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields lastly will get traded … to the Steelers
In response to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the sixth-round decide will turn into a fourth-round decide if Fields performs 51% of the snaps this season. The Steelers have now fully refurbished their 2023 catastrophe of a quarterback room right into a Russell Wilson-Justin Fields mixture for the low price of $1.2 million and a Day 3 draft decide.
That’s some strong work.
The concept any crew would stroll into this season with Russell Wilson as their solely sensible possibility at quarterback, after what he’s placed on movie the final two years, was nothing in need of madness. When the Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles on Saturday, that was the speaking level put out by insiders. This commerce places that concept to mattress.
Fields is certainly not a certain wager to be a long-term reply or perhaps a good short-term starter. The shortage of curiosity in his providers across the league proves that’s the perception. Nonetheless, he can push Wilson if the veteran quarterback can’t run Arthur Smith’s offense persistently and, on the very least, offers them a far superior developmental possibility than Pickett.
Pittsburgh has been my favourite touchdown spot for Justin Fields for some time. With Russ within the combine too, this will probably be an enchanting QB room to trace all through the offseason and into the season. https://t.co/EJy6kuAUVx
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) March 16, 2024
If Fields makes begins, he could have fantasy soccer enchantment due to his capability as a runner. Given what we noticed out of Smith’s offense with Marcus Mariota in 2022, there’s way more upside to the quarterback run sport in this system than something Fields operated in throughout his Chicago seasons. I additionally suppose the connection Fields developed with DJ Moore on man-coverage-beating routes maps properly with George Pickens. After all, that is all hypothetical as a result of it seems Wilson should lose maintain of the job for Fields to play — an honest chance, given how the final two seasons unfolded.
The chances he turns into Pittsburgh’s long-term reply at quarterback are for much longer than his possibilities to assist fantasy gamers. However it might’t be dominated out solely. That’s what makes this an amazing transaction for Pittsburgh, particularly throughout the context of their dealing with of the quarterback room this offseason.
Falcons go all-in for Kirk Cousins
The Falcons did what they needed to do to get this finished. Atlanta was too good final yr to land one of many prime quarterback prospects on this yr’s draft, and with the expertise on the roster, that was prone to be the case subsequent offseason, as properly. Cousins was the one veteran in the marketplace who has proven he can supply properly above replacement-level quarterback play over a number of seasons.
Cousins wasn’t simply the Falcons’ finest hope at quarterback this season; he was their solely hope.
Cousins isn’t with out his warts — he’s deep into his thirties and is coming off an Achilles damage. But, if he’s wholesome, he’s the right quarterback for this offense. He has familiarity with Raheem Morris courting again to their days in Washington. There’s loads of schematic crossover with what Kevin O’Connell requested of Cousins in Minnesota and what former Rams passing sport coordinator Zac Robinson will set up with the Falcons.
On the naked minimal, we’ll see a grownup NFL passing sport in Atlanta.
Everybody on the Falcons’ roster is a big winner. Drake London has the abilities wanted to be a prototypical No. 1 star-caliber X-receiver. After coping with bottom-barrel quarterback play in his first two seasons, Cousins’ arrival places London on the prime of any large receiver breakout listing. Cousins’ willingness to focus on wideouts in tight protection and work over the center match like a glove with London. Bijan Robinson was already destined to be a excessive fantasy draft decide however being paired with a high quality quarterback solely cements his optimistic outlook. You may even be happy to carry out hope for Kyle Pitts after a number of injury-marred seasons. The ecosystem trending up could be the rising tide that lifts all boats for the Falcons offense.
Once more, there are some dangers with Cousins at this stage of his profession and there’s a lot of newness that should gel across the proficient skill-position gamers. It’d take a while for us to achieve the tantalizing ceiling proposition this transfer now brings into view. Nonetheless, the truth that that ceiling is even sensible is a welcome change of tempo.
Steelers and Russell Wilson a match, however removed from a assure
EDITOR’S NOTE: This was revealed earlier than the Justin Fields-Steelers commerce
The offset language in Wilson’s contract allowed him to comply with an ultra-cheap deal as a free agent and nonetheless recoup the stability of the $39 million Denver owes him this season. That made him the right addition to any crew that wanted a legit choice to compete with, and greater than probably in the end change a younger incumbent underperformer. The Steelers match the invoice to a tee. Contemplating what they’re paying him, this can be a innocent transfer by Pittsburgh, even when you’d ideally need them to shoot for the next ceiling at quarterback.
A few of Wilson’s 2023 uncooked stats look strong, however they don’t move the take a look at while you open the hood and observe the overly simplistic nature of his project. Joe Dolan makes an awesome comparability to a number of the notes parroted about Carson Wentz following his one-year Colts tenure.
I do know Russell Wilson was “higher” in 2023 than 2022, however the eye take a look at instructed me one thing was lacking… his “bounceback” from catastrophe appeared to be like Carson Wentz’s 2021 in Indy after his Philly implosion.
Stats had been objectively strong, play wasn’t ok.
And welp… pic.twitter.com/0p6WvCb7OP
— Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) March 4, 2024
That mentioned, I feel Wilson can offer you acceptable starting-level quarterback play. That’s an uninspiring ceiling however greater than you might say about what the Steelers have acquired from Kenny Pickett the final two seasons. New Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith should regulate his offense a bit as a result of Wilson has by no means operated properly throwing over the center of the sector. However the under-center, deep play motion drop ideas are the guardrails that Wilson wants at this stage of his profession.
Total, I count on the Steelers to be a run-heavy offense with Wilson underneath heart that makes an attempt to win on the margins. So, not a lot totally different than what they’ve wished to be the previous couple of years however at the least they’ll even have a grownup NFL scheme in place with Smith changing Matt Canada’s highschool offense. Loads of dashing quantity will come the way in which of each Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, with the latter particularly standing to profit from Wilson’s fast set off for the check-down move the final two seasons (league-high 18.6% of his throws in 2023). Within the receiver room, George Pickens suits the profile of the ball-winning straight-line X-receiver that Wilson has most well-liked within the latter chapter of his profession. Pickens is in place to dominate Wilson’s targets with Diontae Johnson being dealt.
After all, this all assumes that Wilson is the Week 1 starter, by no means thoughts the starter for all 17 video games for Pittsburgh this season. Based mostly on the movie he is put out the final two seasons, do not imagine for a second that both is a assure.
Seahawks get Sam Howell — to compete with Geno?
-
Deal particulars: Commanders get third and fifth-round picks; Seahawks get Howell, fourth and sixth-round picks
It was a near-lock the Commanders would commerce Howell after signing veteran backup Marcus Mariota. Howell’s uncooked fantasy manufacturing was spectacular at instances however didn’t lead to good offense for the Commanders over the course of the season. That’s not all on him and I got here away from 2023 considering Howell has a protracted future as an awesome backup and thrilling short-term starter within the NFL.
The Seahawks wanted a backup quarterback within the wake of Drew Lock signing with the Giants. My preliminary lean is that’s what all that is, but it surely at the least bought my consideration when ESPN’s Adam Schefter talked about that Howell “can compete” for the beginning job whereas breaking this information. Geno Smith is a high quality starter, in my eyes, however this can be a new teaching employees that will wish to depart its choices open. If Howell has to begin video games for any purpose, he can push the ball down the sector and preserve this offense with its three proficient receivers viable.
Gardner Minshew ought to solely be small a part of Raiders’ QB plan
That is high-end backup quarterback cash for Minshew. So there’s no have to freak out concerning the Minshew vs. Aidan O’Connell quarterback competitors. The Raiders need to have greater than this deliberate … proper?
Minshew is an effective backup quarterback however anybody who tells you he was secretly nice for the Colts final season was not watching the video games. He places a tough ceiling in your offense from a vertical passing and total processing standpoint. O’Connell actually seemed like a man who may stick across the league as a rookie however ranked twenty third in EPA per dropback final season — Minshew was twenty first in a well-designed offense, for what it’s price.
The Raiders have expertise on offense and may very well be a high quality ecosystem to develop a younger passer. So long as this Minshew addition is merely a bridge to a rookie quarterback they choose in April, that is wonderful.
Buccaneers preserve Baker Mayfield within the fold
It wouldn’t make sense for both social gathering to have gone in a unique route. Mayfield has moved between so many groups and offenses, beginning over elsewhere could be foolish after the success he loved with the 2023 Bucs. For the crew’s sake, there was no path ahead on the place past Mayfield. His contract is available in proper together with what Geno Smith bought from the Seahawks after his beautiful 2022 season. It seems that we’ve got formally set the middle-class quarterback contract for a league that basically wanted that readability.
Mayfield’s return makes projecting any of the Bucs’ identified commodities on offense — Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Rachaad White — way more snug. The Bucs did lose offensive play-caller Dave Canales to the Panthers, so that may be a variable in all of this. Maybe we received’t see the very same output from Tampa Bay this season however the certainty Mayfield will probably be on the controls offers us a sure diploma of confidence.
Patriots, Jacoby Brissett reunite
I’ll by no means have the ability to get Brissett’s tenure because the Browns bridge starter — when he had them as top-12 passing EPA unit previous to Deshaun Watson’s return — out of my head. He additionally performed some glorious soccer in very temporary glimpses with Washington final season. A reunion with New England makes all of the sense on this planet. You can begin Brissett with a straight face whilst you both groom a younger quarterback or just keep the course this season and attempt to develop the roster round a passer you purchase subsequent season. Brissett ought to at the least make the offense practical for so long as he begins.
Vikings transfer into the post-Kirk Cousins period with Sam Darnold
The Vikings have their potential stopgap possibility in place after Kirk Cousins’ exit. You’ll discover some long-time, card-carrying Sam Darnold fan membership members in good soccer media sections. I’ve been a bit skeptical of that upside. Darnold did play the a part of an environment friendly however low-volume caretaker down the stretch for the 2022 Panthers and that’s probably what the Vikings will ask of him. Minnesota will draft a quarterback in April, however Darnold may very well be throwing passes to Justin Jefferson in September.
Jameis Winston joins Browns
The Browns completely had so as to add quarterback insurance coverage this season given Deshaun Watson’s play and sturdiness issues. A Joe Flacco reunion was unlikely however Winston brings a number of the similar splash enchantment. Winston and Flacco share a number of the similar “satan might care” aggressiveness DNA as quarterbacks. If Watson goes down, Winston ought to pump manufacturing to gamers like Amari Cooper and David Njoku.
Commanders and QB Marcus Mariota agree on a one-year, $6 million deal
Mariota is a succesful backup quarterback and can sit behind the participant the Commanders choose at second total. Some will learn into Mariota’s choice because the backup as a clue to the crew favoring Jayden Daniels due to his play model. I’m not so certain about that simply but. Nonetheless, this does sign that the crew could also be keen to maneuver Sam Howell in a commerce.
Operating Backs
Ravens and Derrick Henry lastly come collectively
It was too good to not occur. The Ravens inquired about Derrick Henry on the commerce deadline final season and in the end sealed the cope with the star again in free company. Henry is 30 years outdated and has endured an intense workload with 1,645 touches since 2019. Nonetheless, he’s proven no tangible indicators of decline and is sensible for a win-now crew like Baltimore.
Henry additionally suits this power-run offense and will profit from the expanded run lanes afforded to backs by Lamar Jackson. The important thing with Henry is you need him to have the ability to construct up a head of steam and get to the second degree. Baltimore options the distinctive kind of run sport that may spring a again like him.
The Ravens had been third in dashing EPA and success price final season however this transfer is akin to what I talk about within the Saquon Barkley blurb under. Sure, the Ravens ought to really feel assured sufficient of their ecosystem to throw any working again on the market and get a functional-to-great run sport. However a uniquely gifted, really one-of-one, bodily participant like Henry being dropped into this offense weaponizes that ecosystem. It’s an enormous win for either side and I’ll probably be fairly fascinated by drafting Henry in fantasy soccer this season.
Texans make big-name addition to backfield, commerce for Joe Mixon
Houston’s main rusher, Devin Singletary, went to the Giants in free company and Dameon Pierce isn’t a system match. There was no likelihood this crew would come out of free company with out addressing the working again place and Mixon is a inventive resolution to their issues.
Mixon was going to be launched by the Bengals after they added Moss earlier than the Texans swooped within the subsequent morning, so that offers us an correct image of the place he’s at this stage of his profession. Mixon ranked eighth amongst 23 backs with 200-plus carries in zone dashing success price (52.6%) final season. He carried out significantly better on these performs than hole runs. So he’s a pure veteran match with what the Texans wish to do of their conventional Shanahan-style run sport.
That mentioned, Mixon is on the stage of his profession when we have to fear about trajectory, particularly contemplating how his long-time crew was so prepared to maneuver on. The Texans will probably add extra working again assist in the draft, and that participant may type a near-even cut up with Mixon. That is nonetheless nearly as good a touchdown spot as you might think about for any veteran working again in the marketplace, given the way in which C.J. Stroud performed as a rookie. Mixon has plenty of upside with how the depth chart stands at this time.
Austin Ekeler finds a brand new house in Washington — however is it good for fantasy?
Ekeler will play for a brand new crew coming off a down season after struggling a high-ankle sprain in Week 1. He has some familiarity with Commanders’ run sport coordinator Anthony Lynn so this can be a pure pairing. Whereas offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s passing offenses have been a constant supply of frustration, he did have some environment friendly run video games throughout his time because the Cardinals head coach. And Ekeler may very well be in a main receiving-down function for a rookie quarterback behind a leaky offensive line.
You may inform your self a narrative about this being touchdown spot for Ekeler but it surely comes all the way down to how a lot Ekeler has left. Ekeler spoke usually on our present final yr about how tough it was to work again from that high-ankle sprain and even appeared open to a receiving-specialist function within the season finale. That is sensible to me as he transitions to a brand new section of his profession and Washington incumbent Brian Robinson is the perfect early-down banger again.
My curiosity in both member of this backfield will come all the way down to how the remainder of the Commanders offense clicks into place round them.
Eagles, Saquon Barkley pairing stuffed with fantasy upside
Just a few strikes have helped shift and problem the way in which I view working backs amid numerous hours of discourse over how the place has been valued the previous couple of years. The 49ers buying and selling for Christian McCaffrey and the Lions drafting Jahmyr Gibbs had been two conditions the place a crew had tangible proof that its ecosystem was ok to drop in any replacement-level again and get high quality manufacturing. And but, each groups (led by sharp mind trusts) elected not simply to raise common expertise at working again however really spend actual sources to amass difference-making expertise to weaponize the ecosystem.
My guess is that the Eagles have seen what has labored for these NFC rivals and recognized Saquon Barkley as their technique of copying the tactic.
Barkley isn’t fairly at McCaffrey’s degree as a participant and isn’t as recent or explosive as Gibbs. Nonetheless, he could be Howie Roseman’s low cost model of these strikes. The Eagles have each purpose to imagine that behind a high quality offensive line — even one with out Jason Kelce — and the matchups Jalen Hurts supplies as a rusher, they’ve an ecosystem price maximizing.
Dropping Barkley into this offense makes for a tantalizing fantasy proposition. Any gifted again tethered to offense is interesting, particularly one that might development run-heavy underneath new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Barkley ought to find yourself being a pleasant second-round choice this summer time.
Vikings mine divisional rival for brand spanking new RB, land Aaron Jones
Jones turns into the most recent beloved Packers participant to don the purple for the Vikings later of their profession. This one makes all of the sense on this planet. You may perceive why the Packers wished to get youthful on the place and felt they may not depend on Jones to be persistently accessible, however the man can nonetheless ball. Jones cleared 100 dashing yards in every of his last 5 video games final season and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He was a legit difference-maker for the 2023 Packers.
Minnesota’s efforts to remake their run sport within the post-Dalvin Prepare dinner period final yr didn’t work out. Jones offers them some competency and juice as they proceed constructing for the long run. There’s some overlap in his explosive talent set with holdover Ty Chandler, so Minnesota might not expertise the identical dramatic dropoff the Packers did if Jones misses time. There are many questions concerning the Vikings offense total with Kirk Cousins leaving city so proper now, I can’t say how intrigued I’m by this ecosystem. That may dictate my willingness to put money into the backfield.
Packers construct on momentum, change Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs
The 2023 season revealed that the Packers struck gold with their improvement plan for Jordan Love they usually had been all of a sudden deep at pass-catcher after a bevy of profitable picks at large receiver and tight finish. It additionally revealed how a lot a profitable run sport strikes the needle for this unit. This was a really totally different offense when Aaron Jones was on the sector and main an impactful floor sport. The dropoff behind Jones was an excessive amount of for the offense to bear.
Finally, it appears the Packers not had religion in Jones’ capability to be persistently accessible because the crew plans to signal Jacobs and launch Jones.
Jacobs is a confirmed high-end rusher who has been efficient in each hole and zone runs when wholesome for the Raiders. The Packers have the pliability to throw out any run scheme they need with a again like Jacobs and may belief his contributions within the passing sport. With so many younger pass-catchers on rookie offers, they will afford to pay a working again to safe their backfield.
Tethered to a high quality passing sport and certain ticketed for workhorse-level touches, Jacobs will probably be one in all my favourite working again targets in fantasy soccer.
Few offenses have me extra excited than the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ unit.
Titans surprisingly prioritize Tony Pollard
Pollard joins a backfield with Tyjae Spears because the Titans look to interchange franchise legend Derrick Henry. I’ll admit to being stunned by this one.
Spears was going to be atop the breakout listing for fantasy soccer this coming season however Tennessee was probably planning so as to add some sort of supporting piece all alongside. At first blush, Pollard’s talent set strikes me as a bit bit extra overlapping slightly than complementary to Spears. That may make this a tough backfield cut up to parse out. I’d be suspicious of anybody who speaks with a lot conviction about how the outcomes of this rotation will shake out right here in March or actually, at any level earlier than coaching camp opens.
Pollard instructed me final month that he didn’t really feel like his outdated self till round Week 11 of final season whereas working again from a 2022 playoff sport damage. Spears was a fireball of electrical energy as a rookie. I could be bought that each are glorious and explosive choices this season. The truth that they play collectively on an offense the place we’ve got preexisting questions makes me really feel like we should be prepared for a presumably efficient however mysterious committee.
Bears, in midst of offensive makeover, transfer shortly on D’Andre Swift
Swift wouldn’t have been my guess for the primary working again off the board on this free company market. The truth that the deal was reported as shortly because it was tells us this was a very particular and focused transfer from Chicago’s entrance workplace. Swift’s deal is barely higher than the one Miles Sanders bought from Carolina in free company final yr, each when it comes to per-year wage and ensures (reportedly $15.3 million).
Operating again was a necessity for the Bears and Swift brings a dimension to their room they didn’t have beforehand. He’s an explosive runner with some glorious moments within the Eagles’ zone-heavy run scheme. There’s additionally some untapped passing-game capability that Philadelphia, given their offensive construction, didn’t look to mine. Holdovers Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson are NFL-caliber function gamers however neither is a clear-cut starter. I’d count on them to combine in with Swift to some extent however for Swift to be the odds-on favourite to steer the crew in touches.
The secret is stacking expertise on the roster round future No. 1 total decide, Caleb Williams. Swift is the primary and never prone to be the final transfer in Chicago’s effort to just do that.
Sanders’ 2023 story supplies a cautionary story although, each towards utilizing contract phrases as an enormous level in favor of a working again in fantasy and the hazards in projecting former Eagles backs outdoors of that ecosystem. Swift’ll fall someplace within the normally murky mid-round waters in fantasy drafts this season and is somebody I don’t suppose I’ll have a powerful stance on.
With Mixon commerce in place, Bengals usher in Zack Moss on a two-year, $8 million deal
The Bengals saved $6 million by transferring on from Mixon and elected to show round and provides chunk of that to Moss. Basically, the Bengals are making a close to one-to-one swap of those two backs and with the way in which they every performed in 2023, it’s arduous in charge them.
Moss was hyperproductive on zone run ideas (78% of his carries, per Fantasy Factors Information) for the Colts final season with 4.3 yards per carry, 5 scores and a 50.3% success price. He proved to be an efficient lead rusher in the correct ecosystem. Cincinnati actually qualifies as that kind of vacation spot. Moss additionally graded out because the Tenth-best working again on true pass-blocking units final season per Professional Soccer Focus, whereas Mixon, who has lengthy misplaced snaps on third down for that reason, checked in 66th out of 74 qualifying backs.
I’m in favor of the Bengals getting youthful, cheaper and maybe higher on the working again spot with this transfer.
Moss goes to be a extremely debated participant in fantasy circles this offseason. He’ll probably cut up work with Chase Brown, who flashed some juice as a rookie final yr. Nonetheless, Moss needs to be thought-about the favourite for early-down runs and goal-line work for an offense that can push for a top-five end if Joe Burrow is wholesome. That feels like a purchase to me.
Patriots get pass-catching again in Antonio Gibson
I didn’t count on Gibson to get a deal on the primary day of the authorized negotiating interval. The Patriots are starved for pass-catching expertise and total juice on offense. Gibson isn’t a bell-cow again however can help in these pursuits. Rhamondre Stevenson isn’t ever going to be a workhorse again and this, together with the Ezekiel Elliott transfer final yr, appears to verify that concept. Stevenson ought to nonetheless be the lead again however Gibson will work in on each early and late downs.
Giants start backfield transition with Devin Singletary addition
Singletary is a strong function participant who could be a change-of-pace again within the NFL. He’s not the only real Giants reply for the post-Saquon Barkley period however he could be part of the equation. Singletary had some very nice moments for the Texans of their zone-run-heavy offense and performed underneath Brian Daboll in Buffalo. Nonetheless, New York will add to this room earlier than the offseason ends.
Chargers make energy transfer, land Gus Edwards
Los Angeles had a determined want for working backs with each Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley hitting free company. Edwards is sensible as an addition given his familiarity with offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The Chargers actually are usually not finished on the place and are a lock so as to add to the room through the NFL draft. Edwards is a pleasant power-based complement and will find yourself siphoning goal-line carries.
The Chargers additionally introduced in Will Dissly on a three-year deal after the earlier employees featured one of many all-time unserious tight finish blocking rooms the final two seasons. Each strikes sign that the Chargers wish to prioritize including some beef and being a legit dashing operation.
Huge Receivers
Titans make a giant swing, signal Calvin Ridley
The Titans swooped in and thwarted the Jaguars’ plans to signal Ridley after the beginning of the league yr. Tennessee desperately wanted large receiver assist, particularly somebody who can separate. DeAndre Hopkins was the one viable wideout on their roster after the earlier regime swung and missed on Treylon Burks.
Whereas this can be a sizable “overpay” for Ridley contemplating his rating amongst NFL receivers … who cares? He was one of the best accessible receiver in the marketplace by fairly a bit, and the Titans had limitless quantities of cap area. You don’t have to win each deal, you could win video games. The Titans’ and Brian Callahan’s teaching employees want an actual analysis of Will Levis with the intention to accomplish that process. You wouldn’t get an actual analysis on Levis with the unserious receiver room they’d earlier than Ridley’s signing.
Ridley’s volatility final season requires a multi-level rationalization. The blame lies partly on his total rust and particularly points coping with press protection in his first season again, and primarily with the Jaguars’ confounding deployment of the star-level route runner. Ridley’s static 2023 utilization because the ISO X-receiver lends itself to a straight-line route tree and invited low-percentage targets for Trevor Lawrence.
Hopkins is on the again 9 of his profession however is probably going the chief within the clubhouse to take snaps because the X-receiver. This permits Ridley to line up off the ball as a flanker, transfer into the slot or movement into condensed splits extra usually. He had his finest success final season when that was the deployment plan.
Fantasy gamers will probably be too burned by Ridley’s 2023 disappointment season to rank him that extremely and there are many questions on Levis and the ecosystem in Tennessee. If Levis can play and Callahan brings over a reputable offensive system, Ridley may very well be a quantity sponge and a little bit of a worth. However these “ifs” ought to preserve him in a sensible and, frankly, crowded tier of receivers in eventual fantasy draft rankings.
Bears load up for brand spanking new period, commerce for Keenan Allen
Given how productive Allen has been recently and his long-time standing as a premier receiver within the league, the preliminary public response was that the Chargers bought fleeced. Nonetheless, that is simply the overall marketplace for a soon-to-be 32-year-old large receiver with a hefty $34.7 million cap hit on the ultimate yr of his contract. Allen reportedly declined a pay lower with the Chargers that led to this deal.
Nonetheless, there’s no query that this commerce along with the Mike Williams launch leaves the Chargers with the worst large receiver room within the NFL. Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston are the first outdoors receivers with little depth behind them. Even when the Jim Harbaugh-Greg Roman offense desires to run the ball a ton, count on extra wideouts to return through the draft in April. Even then, Justin Herbert will probably be a tricky projection with an especially younger group.
This can be a savvy transfer for the Bears, even when they’re now fairly gentle on draft picks and Allen is older with a prolonged damage historical past. Caleb Williams is about to be dropped into an offense with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen as the highest two receivers. I’d have to return and give it some thought however I’d be hard-pressed to recollect a rookie quarterback being developed in an offense with a greater pair of separators. Chicago was all the time probably so as to add a target-commanding large receiver in some unspecified time in the future this offseason, so Moore’s outlook doesn’t change a lot to me. Allen will probably be a dependable slot receiver with some reception-based worth in fantasy however received’t come near matching his Chargers’ totals of the final three seasons.
I can’t wait to see how this offense comes collectively.
Chiefs get Mahomes a brand new weapon, signal Hollywood Brown
After Ridley signed with the Titans, Brown remained as one of many few clear-cut starters left on the large receiver free-agent market. There isn’t any different crew within the league that might have satisfied him to take this deal, as he desires to place in a “prove-it” season alongside Patrick Mahomes earlier than hitting the market once more.
There isn’t any a part of me that doubts Brown is an effective large receiver, however he’s a little bit of a restricted utility participant. Given his dimension, he struggles with bodily press/man protection off the road and isn’t a tackle-breaker in open area. Nonetheless, he has been a strong zone-beater since he entered the NFL — you possibly can’t say that about any 2023 Chiefs receiver past Rashee Rice — who runs high quality routes within the intermediate space. He and Rice can alternate between flanker and slot to ensure their strengths are highlighted and their weaknesses are masked.
Regardless of this addition, the Chiefs can and certain ought to nonetheless pursue a receiver within the draft. They now have a transparent imaginative and prescient of the sort they’re after: somebody alongside the massive X-receiver archetype. I belief this teaching employees to deploy Brown in the correct means and total like this transfer for either side. Brown doesn’t have fantasy league-winning upside however he’ll make a large dent within the goal pecking order for the Chiefs.
Payments signal WR Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal
Curtis Samuel has been one in all my favourite under-the-radar gem receivers for years now. To see him land in Buffalo, making good on connections with their teaching employees, is thrilling.
Samuel is a powerful route runner with layers of versatility. He could be lined up within the backfield or within the slot and is a powerful possibility as a pre-snap movement candidate. The Payments applied way more motion of their offense as soon as Joe Brady took over and Samuel performed in Brady’s offense in his career-best 2020 marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, Samuel additionally has the man-coverage-beating route chops to win as a flanker outdoors. My guess is that the three-receiver set will probably be Stefon Diggs at X, Samuel at flanker and intriguing third-year receiver Khalil Shakir at slot. Nonetheless, all these guys can transfer round and aren’t limited-application receivers. The Payments can nonetheless draft a receiver, however now it’s not a obvious roster want, they usually can slim their scope on the place with the flexibility these three current.
Panthers lastly make a WR splash, commerce for Diontae Johnson
The Steelers had been listening to commerce gives for Johnson, who’s within the last yr of his contract and was not a part of their future. They handle their want for secondary assist with the addition of Jackson whereas the Panthers get a desperately wanted enhance within the large receiver room.
Johnson is without doubt one of the finest route runners within the NFL and has been a top-level separator since he was drafted by the Steelers in 2019. The Panthers’ outdoors large receivers had been among the many worst at getting open final season. That’s Johnson’s specialty. Including Johnson on the prime of the large receiver room will permit the crew to get an actual analysis of Bryce Younger in 12 months 2. The Panthers will probably proceed including to the pass-catching corps within the draft as properly.
Regardless of taking part in in Matt Canada’s highschool offense for many of his season, Johnson has been a productive receiver who garners a ton of quantity. New head coach Dave Canales did some sensible work mixing up Mike Evans’ route tree in Tampa Bay final yr and that will probably be a welcome improvement for Johnson. Younger’s capability is actually nonetheless in query however Johnson is a quarterback-friendly large receiver due to his capability to separate. At worst, this can be a lateral transfer for Johnson when it comes to quarterback high quality.
You must love this inventive resolution made by Carolina to handle its wideout points and the goal projection headed Johnson’s means in 2024.
Falcons add to offense once more, this time with Darnell Mooney
The one large receivers on the Falcons’ depth chart past Drake London heading into free company had been Josh Ali, Chris Blair and Austin Mack. So, the large receiver place was an important want on this roster. Mooney is finest as a No. 3 large receiver and Atlanta will add to this spot within the NFL Draft. Nonetheless, he brings much-needed velocity to this room and may play flanker or slot in 11-personnel. Outdoors of some splash video games, he received’t be on the weekly fantasy soccer radar however he’ll fill an essential function on the offense.
Jerry Jeudy will get a recent begin with Browns
I’ve been a lot decrease than normal consensus on Jeudy as a route runner and as an total participant for fairly a while. Nonetheless, I like this transfer for Cleveland, which justifiably believed it wanted extra large receivers. The Browns have proven a real willingness to be inventive to amass expertise at a premium place, mining distressed-asset wideouts in every of the final three offseasons. It’s not an ideal room however they’ve now amassed a trio of Jeudy, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore for 2 fifth-round picks, a sixth-rounder and a transfer again from the second to 3rd spherical. Contemplating what different groups pay for this place, that’s not dangerous.
Jeudy wanted a change of surroundings however don’t take heed to anybody who tells you his disappointing begin to his profession is only the operate of a dysfunctional Denver offense. He isn’t the constant separator he was billed to be popping out of faculty and is extraordinarily unstable as a person participant. Hopefully, he can construct some new momentum rotating between the slot and flanker place with Moore within the Browns’ vertical play-action passing sport.
As a rule, I don’t like to put money into offenses with main quarterback questions that additionally seem like they may very well be in for a goal squeeze. We may very well be heading there in Cleveland with Jeudy and Moore combating for appears to be like behind Cooper and David Njoku. The truth that I nonetheless have main questions on Jeudy’s capability to play to his expertise persistently simply offers extra credence to the fade.
I haven’t been keen to make the leap on Jeudy in fantasy soccer the earlier two seasons and I doubt that can change together with his transfer to Cleveland.
Jaguars should not be finished at WR after bringing in Gabe Davis
My analysis of Davis as a participant has by no means modified over his four-year profession, even because the fantasy soccer trade has ridden a curler coaster of feelings for the way they understand him. Davis will not be constant sufficient as a separator to be a real No. 2 large receiver to whom you give vital quantity. Nonetheless, he brings worth as a downfield X-receiver who can uncover on scramble drills. So long as you have got different viable high-volume gamers, Davis can fill a job in a passing sport.
The Jaguars did want a vertical X-receiver, and at $13 million per yr, Davis isn’t an offensive overpay within the present large receiver market. He shouldn’t out-target superior gamers like Christian Kirk or Evan Engram. Frankly, his presence alone shouldn’t preclude the Jaguars from including extra wide-receiver assist, particularly since this transfer alerts a Calvin Ridley departure.
Davis doesn’t seem like somebody who needs to be any sort of precedence fantasy decide this summer time. And from Jacksonville’s sense, the crew continues to gather narrow-application function gamers to fill out an total common set of pass-catchers round Trevor Lawrence.
Tee Higgins requests a commerce from the Bengals
A predictable transfer within the dance between a disgruntled franchise tag participant and their crew. Maybe nothing comes of this request however Higgins quietly taking part in on the franchise tag — when he and his agent know with certainty that there are a lot of different groups on the market keen to pay him on a long-term extension — all the time reeked of a pipe dream.
The way in which I’ve understood this example is that the Bengals would not have any hopes of retaining Higgins long-term however particularly structured their wage plans to maintain him with the tag in 2024. Higgins doesn’t have a lot leverage within the state of affairs to change these targets except he’s keen to sit down out a season, which I’ll imagine after I see it. Nonetheless, that is the mechanism in place for Higgins to place public strain on the Bengals and ship up the sign for different groups to get in a “too good to refuse” supply. I all the time assumed Cincinnati could be keen to take heed to mentioned proposals and transfer Higgins, even when in a super world it’d slightly have him this yr.
If I needed to wager on it proper now, I’d say it’s 70/30 that Higgins performs for the Bengals this season. Regardless of the siren tune of a promotion to a real No. 1 large receiver function elsewhere, Higgins’ finest spot for pure manufacturing might be in Cincinnati.
For starters, there aren’t many locations Higgins could be matched with a greater quarterback than Joe Burrow. I doubt a commerce for Higgins is within the plans for the Chiefs or Payments, to not point out the Bengals would dangle up the telephone on their prime convention rivals in lower than 15 seconds. I additionally suppose there ought to nonetheless be excellent questions relating to whether or not Higgins could be a legit No. 1 wideout or if he’s topped out as an elite No. 2.
If I’m plotting some sensible touchdown spots, the Panthers and Titans could be close to the highest of my listing. Then there are much less probably spots that may’t be dominated out just like the Jaguars, Texans and Lions. All three of these touchdown spots would current their very own set of professionals and cons if we’re projecting out Higgins for 2024 alone.
This case bears monitoring. My guess is we both get a commerce decision with haste within the subsequent week or a pissed off Higgins will report someday in coaching camp after dropping a stare-down with a entrance workplace that’s been via these fights earlier than.
Patriots re-sign WR Kendrick Bourne to a three-year, $19.5 million deal
Bourne was off to a pleasant begin final season as an out of doors receiver earlier than tearing his ACL. That damage makes him a wild card returning subsequent season however New England’s complete offensive roster is barren so it is sensible for them to hold onto a strong participant they know. The Patriots aren’t finished including pass-catchers.
Tight Ends
Bengals’ subsequent TE reclamation challenge: Mike Gesicki
The Bengals tried to revive the careers of tight ends in back-to-back seasons with Hayden Hurst in 2022 and Irv Smith in 2023. One labored out, one not a lot. They’ll go for a three-peat right here with Gesicki and hope to get outcomes nearer to Hurst’s 2022 marketing campaign. I just like the transfer as a low-risk deal. Gesicki also can run routes out of the slot, the place the Bengals are probably dropping Tyler Boyd. With Higgins’ future with the crew additionally in flux, the Bengals might need to get extra inventive with how they’ve cut up up targets of their offense than in years previous.
Rams get a brand new TE in Colby Parkinson
Parkinson has flashed as a pass-catcher and may operate in each phases. Tyler Higbee is coming off a serious damage, so Parkinson might need to play a giant function alongside Davis Allen this yr. Parkinson’s addition along with the re-signing of Kevin Dotson and addition of Jonah Jackson at guard for a mixed $99 million is a transparent signal the Rams intend to double down on their power-man and duo-heavy dashing sport from 2023.
Seahawks re-sign TE Noah Fant
Fant is the kind of tight finish I’d wish to wager on as a bodily gifted participant going into his second contract. The truth that a brand new teaching employees elected to hold onto him and let a number of different tight ends stroll is an effective signal they’re considering alongside the identical traces. Fant received’t crack the highest three target-getters in Seattle however he’ll have some massive weeks and make crucial performs.