NFL Player movement: WR Williams from Chargers to Jets
WR Mike Williams
Heading to NY Jets
KNEE - ACL
March 19, 2024
Williams is set to sign a one-year deal with the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
FACTS: Per Schefter, Williams' deal with New York is worth up to $15 million. The 2017 first-rounder is bouncing back from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 3 while with the Chargers last season. Given the timing of the injury, Williams should be ready to go before the start of the 2024 season, at which point he'll provide the Jets with a viable starting wideout option opposite Garrett Wilson.
WR James Proche
Re-signs with Cleveland
March 19, 2024
FACTS: While Proche didn't catch any of his five targets in 10 games with Cleveland during the 2023 regular season, the 2020 sixth-rounder did contribute on special teams by returning 22 punts for 197 yards as well as one kickoff for 19 yards. Now that he's back in the fold, Proche will have a chance to retain his depth WR/special teams role with the Browns in 2024.
DE Chase Young
In line for neck surgery
New Orleans Saints
March 19, 2024
Young is slated to undergo neck surgery that will keep him sidelined until at least training camp, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
FACTS: On the heels of signing a one-year, $13 million contract with the Saints on Monday, Young now will address an injury that may stem from the stinger that he suffered back in the 2023 preseason and resulted in him being inactive for Week 1. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, he spent the first three and a half seasons of his career with Washington before landing with the 49ers at the trade deadline in October. Young has 16.5 sacks among his 100 tackles in 43 career contests.
WR Jerry Jeudy
Lands three-year extension
March 19, 2024
The Browns and Jeudy agreed to a three-year extension Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
FACTS: Prior to free agency opening last week, Cleveland acquired Jeudy from Denver for a pair of Day 3 picks in the 2024 Draft. The two sides then restructured his contract for the upcoming season, creating about $10 million in cap space. With this new deal, which includes $41 million in guaranteed money and up to $58 million overall, Jeudy is locked in through the 2027 campaign. Through four years as a pro, he's averaged 14.5 YPC and 8.6 YPT, amounting to 211 catches, 3.053 yards and 11 touchdowns in 57 games. Jeudy is slotted in as the No. 2 WR on the Browns behind Amari Cooper.
RB Zamir White
Backfield depth added by Las Vegas
March 19, 2024
White is the Raiders' expected starter at running back following the departure of Josh Jacobs, with the recently signed Alexander Mattison likely to serve as his top backup, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic.
FACTS: Once Josh Jacobs headed to Green Bay, it seemed inevitable that the Raiders would fortify their running back corps, either through free agency, the draft, or both. In Mattison, the team adds a player who made 13 starts for the Vikings last season, but at this stage it appears as though White -- who had an impressive finish to the 2023 regular season -- has the inside track to lead Las Vegas' backfield in 2024. In such a scenario, White would maintain fantasy utility, though his upside in that regard could hinge on how much volume he cedes to Mattison, who has three-down experience. Meanwhile, Ameer Abdullah remains on hand to provide a change-of-pace presence, with Brittain Brown, Sincere McCormick and Tyreik McAllister also in the mix.
QB Deshaun Watson
Could begin throwing Tuesday
Cleveland Browns
Watson (shoulder) could begin light throwing as soon as Tuesday, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
FACTS: Watson will have limitations this spring after underdoing surgery Nov. 21 to repair a displaced fracture in his right shoulder socket, but the Browns expect him to be ready for training camp in late July. He's been rehabbing in Los Angeles, with private QBs coach Quincy Avery and Browns TE David Njoku flying out Monday to join him. While a fully guaranteed contract ensures Watson will get another chance as the starting QB after two disappointing seasons in Cleveland, the team has much better depth at his position for 2024 after signing Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley earlier in March.
DE Chase Young
Officially joins New Orleans
March 18, 2024
The Saints and Young agreed to a contract Monday.
FACTS: According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, Young's new deal will be for one year. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Young earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors to kick off his career, but his next two seasons were derailed by injuries, and he split 2023 between the Commanders and 49ers. With 16.5 sacks in 43 games in his first four campaigns, he'll be a part of a New Orleans pass rush that features Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson.
QB Joshua Dobbs
Finds work in San Francisco
March 18, 2024
The 49ers and Dobbs agreed to a contract Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
FACTS: In 13 games (12 starts) between the Cardinals and Vikings this past season, Dobbs completed 262 of 417 (62.8 percent) of his passes for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also was viable as a runner, averaging 5.5 yards on his 77 carries while scoring six TDs on the ground. Brock Purdy is the unquestioned starting quarterback for San Francisco, but Dobbs' recent on-field work should give him a leg up on the backup job ahead of holdover Brandon Allen.
RB Rico Dowdle
Remaining with Dallas
March 18, 2024
Dowdle is set to re-sign with the Cowboys, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
FACTS: Following the free-agent departure of Tony Pollard, Dowdle is poised to reclaim his role in a Dallas backfield that also currently includes Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis and Snoop Conner. Chances are, the Cowboys will add further RB depth via free agency or the draft, so until the team's personnel at the position is settled, Dowdle's fantasy upside for the 2024 season will be difficult to gauge.
RB Alexander Mattison
Set to join Las Vegas backfield
March 18, 2024
Mattison is in line to sign with the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
FACTS: In 16 games for the Vikings during the 2023 regular season, Mattison had 180 carries for 700 yards and caught 30 of his 44 targets for 192 yards and three receiving TDs. With the Raiders, Mattison -- who turns 26 in June -- is slated to provide the team with needed backfield depth and a complementary option alongside 2022 fourth-rounder Zamir White following the free-agent departure of Josh Jacobs. Assuming White serves as Las Vegas' top RB option, Mattison's weekly upside will be modest, but if White is injured or struggles at all as the 2024 season progresses, Mattison could reenter the fantasy lineup equation.
LB Leighton Vander Esch
Announces retirement from NFL
March 18, 2024
Vander Esch (neck) announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
FACTS: Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick, earned a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors, but he now retires from the NFL after six seasons after having been released by the Cowboys last week. Injuries disrupted the promising linebacker's career, including the 2023 campaign, in which he missed the final 12 games due to a recurring neck issue. Vander Esch retires with 71 regular-season appearances, 469 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed and three forced fumbles under his belt and as a forever 'what-if' for Cowboys fans imagining scenarios wherein the Boise State product had managed to stay healthier.
WR Odell Beckham
Says goodbye to Baltimore
March 18, 2024
Beckham posted a goodbye message to Baltimore and Ravens fans on Instagram this Sunday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
FACTS: The implication is that Beckham will find a new team rather than re-sign with the Ravens. He was reasonably productive on a per-snap basis in his one year with the team -- his 2.03 yards per route ranked 26th among WRs with at least 200 routes -- but he never reached 60 percent snap share in a game after Week 1 and had only 34 yards in two playoff appearances. The 31-year-old may end up in a part-time role again in 2024, though it's also possible a new team would see if he can hold up to a typical starter's workload.
QB Dak Prescott
Restructures bonus in Dallas contract
March 18, 2024
Prescott restructured his contract over the weekend, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
FACTS: The Cowboys converted a $5 million roster bonus into a signing bonus and added two void years to free up $4 million in 2024 cap space. They can further reduce Prescott's present-year cap hit by either extending him or doing a similar restructure with the $29 million base salary for the final year of his contract. Dallas hasn't done much else through the first week of free agency, despite losing last year's starters at left tackle (Tyron Smith - Jets) and center (Tyler Biadasz - Commanders).
PK Joey Slye
Signing with Jacksonville
March 18, 2024
Slye is signing a one-year contract with the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
FACTS: The Jags and Commanders now have swapped kickers, after Brandon McManus signed with Washington last week. The difference is that McManus figures to essentially be handed a starting job, whereas Slye is less proven and may have to compete with reserve/future signee Riley Patterson. Slye's career field-goal percentage (82.3) and PAT percentage (88.5) both are subpar by modern standards, though he does have a strong leg and has made 20 of 32 tries from 50-plus yards in his career.
WR Tank Dell
Running full speed already
March 18, 2024
Texans’ WR Dell (leg) recently resumed workouts with private coach Delfonte Diamond, who said the wide receiver will be "more than ready" for OTAs this spring, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
FACTS: Diamond told KPRC 2 that Dell "hasn't lost a beat" and has been running full speed. The workouts reportedly included sprints and sharp cuts, demonstrating that the 24-year-old has made great progress since a broken fibula ended his rookie season Dec. 3. Prior to the injury, Dell had three 100-yard performances and seven touchdowns in 10 games, including a four-week stretch with 369 receiving yards, 43 targets and five TDs right before the game he left early. He, Nico Collins and TE Dalton Schultz figure to be the top pass catchers for second-year QB C.J. Stroud in 2024.
WR K.J. Osborn
Heading to New England
March 17, 2024
Osborn signed a contract with the Patriots on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
FACTS: Osborn will join up with the Patriots on a one-year, $4 million deal, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. The 2020 fifth-round pick is coming off three solid seasons with Minnesota, producing an average stat line of 52.7-615-5.3 while starting all but one regular-season game over that span. His numbers did take a slight dip despite the absence of star Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson for seven games in 2023, as Osborn logged 48 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns over 16 games. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old slot receiver should see a healthy workload in a New England receiving corps that is in need of help. Osborn will likely compete with Demario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) for a starting role alongside Kendrick Bourne (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle).
QB Tyler Huntley
Lands with Cleveland
March 17, 2024
Huntley agreed to a contract with the Browns on Sunday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
FACTS: Huntley will stick in the AFC North after serving as one of the primary backup quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson in Baltimore over the past four seasons. The 26-year-old is set to join Cleveland on a veteran minimum deal, according to Tom Withers of the Associated Press. With four accrued seasons under Huntley's belt, this veteran minimum deal should carry a base value of one-year, $1.13 million. He'll likely compete with Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) for the primary backup role behind starting quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder).
QB Justin Fields
Viewed as backup to Russell Wilson at Pittsburgh
March 16, 2024
Fields, whom the Steelers acquired from the Bears on Saturday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, isn't expected to compete for Pittsburgh's starting quarterback job and is line to serve as a backup to Russell Wilson during the 2024 season, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
FACTS: Though Fields is due a larger salary in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 than Wilson will earn on his one-year, $1.21 million contract, the Steelers are inclined to have Fields learn from Wilson rather than looking for the 25-year-old to directly challenge the nine-time Pro Bowler for the top spot on the depth chart. While Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that the Steelers are expected to decline Fields' pricey $25.66 million player option for 2025 prior to the May 2 deadline to do so, such a move wouldn't necessarily preclude Pittsburgh from re-signing the signal-caller next offseason if they're satisfied with his work in practices or in any action he might see in place of Wilson during his first season in the organization. Given that the 2025 sixth-round pick the Steelers gave up to acquire Fields would turn into a fourth-round pick if he plays more than 51 percent of the team's snaps this season, Pittsburgh has some extra incentive to stay committed to Wilson, at least for the early part of the campaign. Fields' fantasy outlook could brighten in 2025 if the Steelers commit to him as a starter or if he lands a more favorable opportunity elsewhere in free agency next spring, but at least for the upcoming season, he doesn't look as though he'll be anything more than a luxury stash in most redraft leagues.
QB Russell Wilson
Will start over Fields at Pittsburgh
March 16, 2024
Wilson is expected to serve as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback in 2024, even after the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Bears on Saturday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
FACTS: The Steelers acquired Fields one day after officially inking Wilson to a one-year contract, but the addition of Fields doesn't look as though it'll affect Wilson's standing as the team's projected starting quarterback during the upcoming season. As such, the 25-year-old Fields is slated to serve in a backup role to the 35-year-old Wilson, who is coming off a pair of underwhelming campaigns with Denver. The acquisition of Fields could still influence Pittsburgh's quarterback plans beyond 2024, and at a minimum, the Steelers would have a talented and experienced signal-caller waiting in the wings should Wilson suffer an injury or struggle early on in the season to ignite the team's passing game.
LB Jerome Baker
Inks deal with Seattle
March 16, 2024
The Seahawks signed Baker (wrist) to a one-year, $7 million deal Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
FACTS: Baker was released by the Dolphins with a failed injury designation earlier this month, and he's now found a new home in Seattle. The 2018 third-round pick dealt with a wrist injury that forced him to miss four games in 2023, but he was still productive when on the field, recording 78 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, while also intercepting two passes. Baker is expected to be an integral part of the Seahawks' linebacker corps in 2024, as the team lost both Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner in free agency.
WR Braxton Berrios
Returns to Miami
March 16, 2024
Berrios signed a one-year contract worth up to $3 million with the Dolphins on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPNreports.
FACTS: Berrios tallied just seven receptions for 44 yards over the Dolphins' final nine contests, which is surprising given he played at minimum 40 percent of the offensive snaps in every contest. Expect the veteran to primarily be the team's return man once again, a role that allowed him to tally 676 total return yards last season.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Staying in Detroit
March 16, 2024
Peoples-Jones has agreed on a one-year, $2 million deal to re-sign with the Lions. Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
FACTS: Peoples-Jones played seven games with the Browns in 2023 before finishing the second half of the season in Detroit. He finished the regular season with 13 receptions on 25 targets for 155 yards between both teams. The 25-year-old will now look to solidify a role for himself as a pass catcher during the offseason, but he also has the potential to contribute as a returner on special teams.
WR Van Jefferson
Moves on to Pittsburgh
March 15, 2024
The Steelers and Jefferson agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
FACTS: Jefferson has a 50-802-6 line on 89 targets in 17 regular-season games from 2021 with the Rams on his resume, but the 2020 second-round pick otherwise has put together 63 catch