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theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is optimistic he can return to action when training camp gets underway.Jones was at the team facility with other players for the first day of the Giants' offseason program Monday."The plan is to be ready to go by training camp. ... I haven't had any setbacks, fortunately, to this point," Jones said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "It's a process, and there have certainly been better days and then days where you don't make as much progress, but overall, it has been a good process with these guys."Jones tore his right ACL during the Nov. 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders and missed the remainder of the 2023 season. His recovery was expected to take about eight months, which would fall close to the start of training camp in July.Jones also missed three games due to a neck injury. It was the 26-year-old's second neck injury in three seasons. However, he said his neck is "100% healthy," describing last season's ailment as a common impact injury.The Giants signed Drew Lock in March to provide a veteran option on the depth chart. New York is also meeting with quarterback prospects as it explores its options with the No. 6 pick in the draft.Jones, the No. 6 selection in the 2019 draft, said he thinks he'll be the Giants' best option even if they draft a quarterback."The best way to handle that is to focus on what I'm doing, focus on myself, making sure I'm healthy and ready to play good football," Jones added, according to Fox Sport's Ralph Vacchiano. "That's what I can control."Jones signed a four-year, $160-million extension in March 2023. The former Duke star has thrown for 12,512 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions in 60 games with the Giants. He's also rushed for 1,914 yards and 13 scores over five seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver DeVonta Smith and signed him to a three-year extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Monday.The three-year deal is worth $75 million and contains $51 million in guaranteed money, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Smith's extension averages $25 million per year, which ties him with teammate A.J. Brown for fourth highest among NFL receivers, per Spotrac. Brown signed his four-year, $100-million deal in 2022.Smith, who was a top-10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has surpassed 900 receiving yards in each of his three NFL seasons. He caught 81 passes for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.His best season came in 2022 when he set personal bests in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,196).The Eagles now have Smith and quarterback Jalen Hurts under contract through the 2028 season. Brown's deal expires following the 2026 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets revealed their new uniforms and logo for the 2024 season, which will make their "Sack Exchange" throwback uniforms permanent.

The Indianapolis Colts and Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner agreed to a contract extension, the team announced Monday.Buckner's deal is two years and $46 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 30-year-old was set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. His new deal keeps him under contract through the 2026 campaign.He has been one of the Colts' most consistent players since the club acquired him in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He's recorded at least seven sacks in each of his four seasons in Indianapolis.Buckner is coming off a third Pro Bowl season after recording eight sacks, two forced fumbles, 11 tackles for a loss, and 21 quarterback hits. He also scored a defensive touchdown off a fumble recovery.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star receiver Tee Higgins said Sunday he expects to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2024 campaign despite reportedly requesting a trade earlier in the offseason."We'll see. I do anticipate it," said Higgins when asked about staying in Cincinnati, according to Charlie Clifford of WLWT. "I've grown a love for Cincy that I didn't think I would, but (I'm) looking forward to it."The franchise-tagged wideout was reportedly disappointed that the Bengals haven't engaged in extension talks since March 2023.If Higgins remains with the Bengals but doesn't get a new deal, he'll play next season on the $21.8-million tag.Nine players received the franchise tag this offseason, and the 25-year-old Higgins is one of the last two yet to get a long-term extension, alongside Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr.Higgins had back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021 and 2022 but finished with 656 yards last season after being limited to just 12 games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Raiders receiver Davante Adams made it clear Sunday that he doesn't want to play anywhere other than Las Vegas despite speculation about his future earlier in the offseason."If I wanted to be gone, I'd be gone by now. ... This is where I want to be," said Adams at his third annual youth football camp, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic.It was reported in February that Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Adams' former teammate with the Green Bay Packers, was trying to convince the star pass-catcher to join him in New York. The Jets reportedly also attempted to land Adams at last season's trade deadline.The Raiders' lack of an established starter under center also fueled rumors about Adams, with free-agent signing Gardner Minshew set to compete with sophomore Aidan O'Connell unless the club drafts a quarterback.But with a new era underway in Las Vegas led by head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, the six-time Pro Bowl receiver is locked in for 2024.

All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's agent denied a report that his client requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers.

theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

Andrew Luck's retirement remains arguably the most shocking one in NFL history, and the abruptness of the decision led to years of speculation that the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback would eventually change his mind.But Luck, making a rare public appearance in Indianapolis for former coach Chuck Pagano's charity fundraiser Friday, said he never considered returning to football after walking away on the eve of the 2019 season."When I retired, that part of it was put to bed in my mind," said Luck, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. "... I certainly realize I still love this game, and I want to have it integrated in my life."After years of battling injuries, the 2012 No. 1 overall pick retired at age 29. Luck's decision was leaked during a preseason game, and he was met with boos by the Colts crowd as he exited from the sideline to formally announce his retirement in a press conference.Luck led the Colts to three straight playoff appearances to begin his career. Indianapolis struggled from 2015-17 as the passer dealt with injuries but looked primed to become a consistent contender again after Luck led the club to a 10-6 record while earning his fourth Pro Bowl nomination in 2018."We were not perfect," said Luck, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. "I know I was not perfect. All of us wished we'd had multiple Super Bowls and done things and sort of vanquished some of those enemies that we didn't quite ever get to."But I could probably speak for all the other guys, and I know I could speak for myself again - it wasn't perfect, but we tried our best. We tried our hardest, and I hope we gave folks something to cheer about and something to be proud of. And I do get the sense that we (did)."

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins is confident his team can still compete following the departures of multiple key contributors."The Stefon Diggs one, it was definitely a haymaker," Dawkins said on "The Jim Rome Show" on Friday. "A blind haymaker. But, you know, I have learned that in this world, in this career that I'm in, that pieces shuffle and things move around all of the time."He added: "I am loyal to my organization. So I trust them. I think that they know what they're doing. I know that they know what they're doing. But we got (No.) 17, and when you got Josh (Allen), anything is possible, truly."Diggs racked up four consecutive 1,100 receiving-yard seasons with Buffalo since being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020. However, Diggs had the worst stretch of his Bills tenure in the second half of the 2024 season.The 30-year-old didn't eclipse seven receptions in a single contest after Week 9 and failed to have a 100-yard receiving game following Week 6. Buffalo's offense became a run-first scheme later in the season, with the club ranking third in rushing attempts per contest last campaign.Despite throwing 18 interceptions, Allen still had a productive year. He totaled 4,830 yards with 44 touchdowns and ranked third in EPA/play out of 30 qualified quarterbacks, according to Ben Baldwin's database."As long as Josh is at quarterback, that's what I can talk for. (Sean) McDermott is our coach, and the Pegulas is our owner, and (Brandon) Beane is our GM, that window is open forever," Dawkins said.The Bills also lost Jordan Poyer, Tre'Davious White, and Micah Hyde and will look to use their 10 picks in the upcoming draft to fill holes on the roster.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has no issue with players taunting each other during games.While speaking with Travis and Jason Kelce at a live taping of the "New Heights" podcast Thursday night, Burrow said he's "pro-taunting" and doesn't take offense when others celebrate that way."We're all grown adults that work really hard at what we do. And sometimes we'd like to show it," Burrow said, according to Olivia Ray of WLWT. "I'm not gonna get my feelings hurt if somebody sacks me and taunts me like you made a play."Burrow has made his stance known before. After Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was flagged for taunting during the AFC Championship Game in January, Burrow called on the NFL to "let the guys taunt."

Joe Burrow said the Cincinnati Bengals are constructed to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs."Both teams have great players. We are kind of built to beat them," Burrow said on a live edition of the "New Heights" podcast, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.When Burrow was introduced to do the podcast at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, fans gave him a massive ovation.

Hannah McNair, the wife of Houston Texans owner Cal McNair, expressed Thursday that the team is all-in for the 2024 season."There's quite a buzz amongst the younger generation about the guys we've brought in. So, that's exciting," Hannah told Randy McIlvoy of KPRC 2 Houston.She added: "We want to win now."The Texans have been one of the more active teams this offseason, making multiple moves that signal the club's seriousness about contending for a Super Bowl in the coming years.Houston wasted no time when the new league year opened, securing the services of pass-rusher Danielle Hunter and veteran running back Joe Mixon. The team later acquired star wide receiver Stefon Diggs in a blockbuster trade with the Buffalo Bills.The Texans rank sixth out of all teams in money spent on free-agent signings and contract extensions this offseason, according to Spotrac."We embrace the expectations," Cal McNair said. "That's where we want to be. At the same time, it's about building the team, and the team being coached and working hard."It's the day-to-day things that are going to get us where we want to get to, but we got to stay focused and work hard every day to bring about where we want to go."After a challenging period from 2020-22, where the Texans had a combined record of 11-38-1, the team's fortunes took a turn for the better. Adding quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans in 2023 sparked a resurgence, as the Texans went 10-7 en route to an AFC South crown and a spot in the divisional round.Houston has nine picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, which kicks off on April 25.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent tight end C.J. Uzomah to a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.Uzomah spent the first seven years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. He produced 192 catches for 1,881 yards and 16 touchdowns with the Bengals.The veteran joined the New York Jets in 2022 after racking up career highs in catches (49), yards (493), and touchdown receptions (five) the year before. But Uzomah struggled to establish himself in New York's offense, earning 232 yards in his first season and just 58 yards in 2023.Uzomah will act as depth behind standout tight end Dallas Goedert. After Jack Stoll signed with the New York Giants in free agency, Philadelphia needed to bolster its depth chart, which also contains Grant Calcaterra, Albert Okwuegbunam, and Noah Togiai.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady is open to coming out of retirement to play in the NFL again if the right team calls."I'm not opposed to it," the seven-time Super Bowl champion said in the latest episode of the "DeepCut with VicBlends" podcast hosted by Victor Fontanez.Fontanez mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as a hypothetical landing spot for Brady, who brought up two other teams."(The New England) Patriots, it could be the (Las Vegas) Raiders, you never know," he said."I don't know if they're going to let me if I become an owner in the NFL," Brady continued. "I'm always going to be in good shape, always be able to throw the ball. So, to come in for a little bit like MJ coming back, I don't know if they let me, but I wouldn't be opposed to it."

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Thursday that the front office and coaching staff are enamored with multiple quarterback prospects ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft."We've felt that way for a long time," Adofo-Mensah said during his pre-draft press conference. "When you go back to the team element and value, there's multiple guys that we're in love with just on an outright basis. But there's other guys that we're in love with if we can get them at a certain value."He added, "A lot of times evaluators can be a little one-track mind: "This is the guy and nobody else." That's not how it's been. We've really come to appreciate how guys get to their answer a different way, and I think that's going to serve us well."The Vikings have a major question at quarterback after losing Kirk Cousins to free agency, as their depth chart at the sport's most important position features Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and the recently signed Sam Darnold.Minnesota has been heavily linked to a trade up in the draft to take a signal-caller. The team owns the 11th overall pick - a slot that may not be high enough to land a top quarterback prospect this year - but recently acquired an extra first-round selection - 23rd overall - from the Houston Texans.The draft is headlined by quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. This class also includes potential first-round passers in J.J. McCarthy - whose draft stock has been rising lately - and Michael Penix Jr.The Chicago Bears are widely expected to select Williams first overall, while the Washington Commanders are also projected to take a QB at No. 2. The New England Patriots own the third overall pick but could trade down to address other roster needs.The Vikings haven't drafted a quarterback in Round 1 since taking Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. Under Adofo-Mensah, the team's first picks in the last two drafts were safety Lewis Cine and receiver Jordan Addison.Adofo-Mensah said Thursday that he understands the risks behind drafting a quarterback early in the first round, but he's not intimidated by it."Just because something is risky doesn't mean you're scared of it," the 42-year-old executive added. "It's uncertain and we've got to take our swing, but that doesn't give us any pause."In the latest edition of theScore's NFL mock draft, the Vikings trade up to select Maye at No. 3.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff thinks it's time for members of the Detroit media to embrace the team's momentum and leave behind the franchise's past failures."I probably need to drop it pretty soon because I'm hopefully gonna be in Detroit for a long time, but I have this thing with our local media where like they almost relish in negativity at times," Goff recently said on the "Trading Cards" podcast. "And maybe that's what gets clicks and that's what sells, but it's no longer what they need to live in."The Lions won their first-ever NFC North title in 2023 and reached the NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers. Detroit - which hadn't won a division title since clinching the NFC Central in 1993 - ultimately fell short in a 34-31 defeat."Hey guys, we have a good team. We've had success," the veteran passer added. "We can be happy about that, we can celebrate that and not have to write about how we're constantly the underdog. No, teams are gonna be gunning for us now. We won the division and all that."While elaborating on the Detroit media's coverage, Goff specifically mentioned an exchange with a reporter during a January press conference leading up to the 49ers game in which he was asked about a perceived gap in skill between Detroit and San Francisco."I wasn't trying to be rude to the guy," Goff said, adding, "That's our own beat reporter that's been with us for three years. You haven't been in San Francisco. You know what our team looks like. Why do we gotta talk about how good their players are? Talk about how good our players are. That's like how I felt."Are we privileged to play this game because they have a bunch of good players? Like, is that what you're saying? So, I was like 'OK (Amon-Ra) St. Brown was first-team All-Pro. Penei Sewell was first-team All-Pro. Frank Ragnow. Sam LaPorta. You want me to keep going? I know they have a lot of good players. So do we."The first overall pick in 2016, Goff began his career with the Los Angeles Rams and was traded to the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford during the 2021 offseason. The 29-year-old has passed for 78 touchdowns against 27 interceptions since joining Detroit.In 2023, the Lions ranked fifth in total points and had their most wins in a season since 1991. Detroit - one of 12 teams that haven't won a Super Bowl - has significantly improved since Dan Campbell took over as head coach three years ago. The team won three games in 2021 and nine in 2022 before posting a 12-5 record in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off two weeks from tonight.While the first pick seems to have been locked in throughout this entire process, it's anyone's guess as to what happens after that. Here's our latest look at how the first round could shake out.Caleb Williams, QB, USCGeneral manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and new receiver Keenan Allen were all in attendance at Williams' pro day in Los Angeles. The 2022 Heisman winner was his usual brilliant self and essentially cemented the No. 1 overall selection.Jayden Daniels, QB, LSUIt's tough to ignore the buzz connecting Daniels to the Commanders at No. 2. The LSU product is a dual-threat star whose precision in the vertical passing game could make him a particularly strong fit with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.MOCK TRADE: Vikings move up from No. 11 in deal with PatriotsDrake Maye, QB, North CarolinaMost thought the Vikings were eyeing a trade to grab J.J. McCarthy, but Minnesota opts to package its first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 23) and more to move all the way to No. 3 and take Maye. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder features all the tools you'd want in a first-round quarterback and should benefit greatly from being under the watch of Kevin O'Connell.Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio StateThe consensus top three quarterbacks coming off the board to start the draft makes this less likely of a trade spot, but that's just fine with the Cardinals. Sitting tight at No. 4 and coming away with a generational receiver prospect like Harrison is a great way to upgrade the offense.Joe Alt, OT, Notre DameThere might only be one person alive who doesn't think the Chargers need a wide receiver with the fifth pick. Since that person, Jim Harbaugh, also happens to be the team's new head coach, expect the draft's best offensive tackle to be the selection.Malik Nabers, WR, LSUThe Giants could go with a quarterback here, but it's tough to force that kind of pick if you're settling for whichever one falls to you. Nabers, who some see as the WR1 over Harrison, fills another massive need in the passing game.Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon StateThe Titans add a further piece to their offseason rebuild on offense with Fuaga on the line. Fuaga can play either tackle position and will immediately be an elite blocker in the run game for the duo of Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard.Dallas Turner, EDGE, AlabamaWe've connected Turner to the Falcons for much of the pre-draft process, and we're sticking to it. Atlanta adding the top pass-rusher in the draft makes too much sense after it took care of other needs in free agency.Rome Odunze, WR, WashingtonIf the Bears can leave the opening round with both Williams and Odunze, Poles might get handed a contract extension before Day 2. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder turned in outstanding testing numbers, but it's his tape where he really shines. There isn't a better contested-catch receiver in the draft, and he'll instantly become a favorite target for his new quarterback.MOCK TRADE: Broncos move up from No. 12 in deal with JetsJ.J. McCarthy, QB, MichiganWith McCarthy falling further than expected, Sean Payton makes the move up to get his quarterback of the future. Sliding back two spots gets the Jets some additional draft capital and ensures that the Michigan star doesn't fall to the Patriots.MOCK TRADE: Pick received from Vikings in deal for No. 3Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn StateThe Patriots traded back to No. 11 likely expecting McCarthy to be available, but they have to pivot after the Broncos moved up to grab the quarterback. That sees them land the 6-foot-6 Fashanu - an intriguing athlete who needs some polish before he can dominate at the pro level.MOCK TRADE: Pick received from Broncos in deal for No. 10Brock Bowers, TE, GeorgiaBowers could be the final piece for a Jets offense that's retooled its offensive line and added Mike Williams at receiver. The Georgia standout has rare playmaking traits for a tight end.Troy Fautanu, OT, WashingtonWith four quarterbacks already off the board, the Raiders won't address that position in the opening round. Instead, Las Vegas adds some quality depth to the offensive line with Fautanu, an incredibly physical prospect who can play both guard and tackle.Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSUThe Saints have to upgrade their skill-position talent on offense. Thomas offers a rare blend of size and speed on the outside, making him an outstanding running mate for Chris Olave.Quinyon Mitchell, CB, ToledoThe Colts love to take swings on highly athletic prospects with a variety of tools - a description that fits Mitchell perfectly. His testing numbers were off the charts, and he showed throughout his college career that he's as physical a corner as there is in the draft.Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida StateA top pass-rusher falling to this spot represents an ideal scenario for the Seahawks. Verse provides a much-needed upgrade on the edge of the Seattle defense.Terrion Arnold, CB, AlabamaArnold might be available at No. 17, but he's certainly better than the 17th-best prospect in this draft. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Arnold as the top defensive player in this class, and the Jaguars will be thrilled to grab him this late in the first round.Adonai Mitchell, WR, TexasThe Bengals could already use another receiver. That position becomes a glaring need if Tee Higgins gets the trade he desires. Mitchell could be an outstanding playmaker alongside Ja'Marr Chase.Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLAThere's no way to replace Aaron Donald, but Latu could soften the blow of the All-Pro lineman's departure. The UCLA star led the nation with 21.5 tackles for loss and posted 13 sacks in his final collegiate season.JC Latham, OT, AlabamaThe Steelers have their left tackle of the future in 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones. Latham being available at this spot offers a unique opportunity to solidify the offensive line with another high-end talent at right tackle.Byron Murphy II, DL, TexasThe Dolphins address Christian Wilkins' departure in the offseason by taking Murphy at No. 21. The Texas standout is an athletic freak and pops off the page as a game-wrecker in the interior.Cooper DeJean, DB, IowaThe Eagles could use some help at both cornerback and safety. DeJean is a supremely gifted cover man who could fit in at either spot.MOCK TRADE: Pick received from Vikings in deal for No. 3Michael Penix Jr., QB, WashingtonIf Penix is available at No. 23, the Patriots will likely take a swing after passing earlier in the opening round. There are injury red flags for the Washington star, but there's no doubting his ridiculous arm and production in college.Amarius Mims, OT, GeorgiaMims may be lacking in starting experience, but he has all the traits the Cowboys will be seeking in a long-term left tackle. Landing the Georgia product in this spot would also allow Dallas to keep All-Pro guard Tyler Smith in the interior.Graham Barton, OL, DukeThe Packers need some offensive line depth, and Barton can fill multiple roles with his versatility up front. Barton might not possess the same elite physical traits as the other first-round linemen, but he plays with an edge that'll help him at the next level.Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, AlabamaAn offseason trade sending Carlton Davis to the Lions should make cornerback the top need for the Bucs on draft weekend. McKinstry is a pro-ready cover man who would fit nicely opposite Jamel Dean.Jer'Zhan Newton, DL, IllinoisThe Cardinals go with defense at No. 27 and add an impressive athlete at defensive tackle with Newton. The 6-foot-2, 304-pounder unleashed a noteworthy 22.5 tackles for loss and also blocked four kicks last season.Xavier Worthy, WR, TexasThe Bills can't go into the season without making a major move to replace Stefon Diggs at receiver. Worthy, who ran a combine-record 4.21 40-yard dash, would be a fascinating fit as a vertical threat for Josh Allen.Nate Wiggins, CB, ClemsonTo say the Lions' secondary was an issue last year would be a major understatement. Wiggins may lack slightly in size, but he possesses otherworldly recovery speed that he showed with a 4.28 40-yard dash at the combine.Ladd McConkey, WR, GeorgiaThe Ravens finally made a major addition to the receiver room with Zay Flowers in the first round last year. Finding him a long-term running mate should be a priority, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken is familiar with McConkey's underrated game as his former play-caller at Georgia.Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, OregonThe 49ers grab Powers-Johnson after the offensive line took a step back last year. The nation's top center has exceptional size and is one of the more powerful players at the position in recent memory.Tyler Guyton, OT, OklahomaThe Chiefs don't need to force a receiver pick after landing Marquise Brown in free agency. Waiting to address the left tackle spot isn't an option. Guyton is a good athlete who could be a high-level pass-protector for Patrick Mahomes.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns and running back Nick Chubb agreed to a reworked contract that lowers his $11.775-million base salary in 2024, sources told Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Chubb can earn up to $12.2 million through incentives, while his salary-cap hit will be reduced from $15.85 million to $6.275 million, Jake Trotter and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.The 28-year-old, who's entering the final year of his deal, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last campaign. Chubb first had surgery to repair a torn MCL and meniscus in September before fixing his ACL in a second procedure in November.After Chubb's second surgery, the Browns said the star running back was expected to "be able to return to play during the 2024 season."Chubb led Cleveland in rushing each year from 2018-22 and had a career-high 1,525 yards in 2022. He earned four Pro Bowl nominations and one second-team All-Pro nod while producing 6,511 yards and 48 scores in his six seasons with the AFC North club.The Browns relied on Jerome Ford, Kareem Hunt, and Pierre Strong in Chubb's absence last year, with Cleveland's rushing offense ranking sixth in 2022 and falling to 12th in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even though Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has quashed any potential for a quarterback competition between Geno Smith and Sam Howell, Smith isn't taking anything for granted."New coaching staff, old coaching staff, I've got everything to prove," Smith said Wednesday, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.He added: "I'm competing with everybody in this building to be the best that I can be, so I really don't approach it any other way."Speculation began regarding a possible battle for Seattle's starting quarterback job after the Seahawks traded for Howell last month. However, Macdonald confirmed later in March that Smith will be the starter heading into training camp.The 33-year-old Smith didn't have a smooth season last year after an impressive 2022 campaign. He went 8-7 in 15 starts during 2023 while throwing only 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Seattle can move on from Smith with little salary ramifications next offseason when he has no guaranteed money on the three-year, $75-million contract he signed last March.Despite his desire to prove himself, Smith praised Howell, who threw for 21 touchdowns and a league-leading 21 interceptions across 17 starts for the Washington Commanders last year."I'm very impressed with Sam," Smith said.He added: "You can tell he's a hard worker. You can tell he's competitive, and he wants to learn, and he asks the right questions in the meeting room. Obviously, he's a guy who has played games in the NFL, and he's done well."Smith has 14,823 passing yards with 84 touchdowns and 57 interceptions in 77 career contests.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers admitted that he didn't think he'd play again after suffering an Achilles injury last year."I was really thinking, 'This is it. You don't come back from this injury,'" Rodgers recently said on the "I Can Fly" podcast.Rodgers posted a decorated 18-year career with the Green Bay Packers before being traded to the Jets during the 2023 offseason. The four-time NFL MVP, who considered retirement multiple times over his final years with the Packers, said he fell "back in love with the game" in New York."I had this incredible offseason experience in a new city, in a new town, with new teammates, a new organization, an owner for the first time," the 40-year-old said."It was absolutely beautiful and special and deep and rich and yummy and just incredible," he added.After an exciting 2023 offseason, Rodgers made his long-waited Jets debut on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills last September but tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into the game."One of the most heartbreaking nights of my life, when I played four plays. Talk about an ego death," he said.Rodgers underwent an innovative surgery on his torn left Achilles to speed up his recovery and was a limited participant at practice in late December. With New York eliminated from playoff contention in the season's final stretch, however, the veteran signal-caller was shut down for the remainder of the campaign.The Jets, who haven't made the playoffs since the 2010 season, made aggressive moves this offseason, singing receiver Mike Williams and left tackle Tyron Smith, among others. New York also traded for edge rusher Haason Reddick and right tackle Morgan Moses."I'm excited about playing again," Rodgers said. "I love playing. I fell back in love with the game and then I had it taken away after four plays. I miss being out there, I love competing."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Caleb Williams seems like a shoo-in to go first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, that means he'll be the first quarterback drafted.Part of the allure of the NFL draft is the positional nature of the sport. You can pick 23rd and still get the best available player at a position. In turn, each position group has its corresponding market to bet for the first player to hear his name called.First wide receiver draftedPLAYERODDSMarvin Harrison Jr.-600Malik Nabers+250Rome Odunze+2500Players listed at 100-1 or longer are not listedThis market is similarly prohibitive to where the No. 1 overall pick market sat all season, with Marvin Harrison Jr. priced as 85.7% likely to become the first receiver off the board. It asks the bettor to either be sure that the presumed pick is a certainty - like in the case of Williams - or to come up with an alternative player whose stock may soar at the last minute.First running back draftedPLAYER ODDSTrey Benson+150Jonathon Brooks+250Jaylen Wright+400Blake Corum+500MarShawn Lloyd+500Braelon Allen+2500Audric Estime+3000Bucky Irving+3000Players listed at 40-1 or longer are not listedThe odds for a tailback to go in the first round aren't high, meaning we likely won't see one picked until the second. Any number of teams could take a flier on a running back that fits their needs (zone-blocking scheme, heavy pass offense, pass-protection responsibilities, etc.). Trey Benson might have the most talent, but he may not be the best fit. So, looking at an underdog here is the move.First offensive lineman draftedPLAYER ODDSJoe Alt-400Taliese Fuaga+350Olumuyiwa Fashanu+650JC Latham+1000Troy Fautanu+2300Amarius Mims+4000Players listed at 100-1 or longer are not listedAt -400, the implication is that Notre Dame's Joe Alt is 80% likely to be the first offensive lineman selected. That assessment might be low given his potential at left tackle, but it's best to steer clear from laying four units to win one two weeks out with four other offensive linemen capable of going in the top half of the first round.First defensive player draftedPLAYER ODDSDallas Turner-190Laiatu Latu+400Jared Verse+600Quinyon Mitchell+600Byron Murphy II+1200Terrion Arnold+2500Chop Robinson+4500Players listed at 80-1 or longer are not listedLike former Alabama teammate Will Anderson last year, Dallas Turner is the favorite to become the first defensive player off the board in 2024. However, the markets for offensive linemen and wide receivers are more certain than here. Mel Kiper has Turner (No. 8) four spots ahead of Quinyon Mitchell (No. 12) in his latest mock draft, but the key is positional scarcity.Top edge rushers are relatively scarce this year, so teams are incentivized to pounce on the one or two standouts. The Falcons (No. 8) have an obvious need at edge rusher, which also increases Turner's chances of going first among defenders.First cornerback draftedPLAYER ODDSQuinyon Mitchell-200Terrion Arnold+200Cooper DeJean+500Nate Wiggins+2000Kool-Aid McKinstry+5000Players listed at 100-1 or longer are not listedMitchell has shorter odds here than Turner has among defensive players. However, four corners, including Mitchell, are slotted in between No. 12 and No. 22 in Kiper's mock draft. Cornerback is rife with viable options, so that cluster may collectively drift down in favor of players manning more scarce positions. At which point, Arnold, DeJean, Wiggins, or even McKinstry could be taken over Mitchell if a team prefers their skill set for its defensive scheme.As you can see, there are a multitude of ways to think about these markets with two weeks to go until the 2024 NFL Draft.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed franchise-tagged pass-rusher Josh Allen to a five-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.Allen's extension is worth $150 million and includes $88 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Allen's reported $30-million average annual salary ranks third among defenders, behind Nick Bosa ($34 million) and Chris Jones ($31.75 million), according to Spotrac.The Jaguars used the one-year, $24-million tender on Allen in early March after he set a franchise record in 2023 with 17.5 sacks, a career-high mark that tied for second in the NFL.Jacksonville general manager Trent Baalke promised in January that the star defender wouldn't be allowed to leave the AFC South club.Allen is the seventh player hit with the franchise tag this offseason to land a long-term contract. Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins - who reportedly requested a trade - are the only franchise-tagged players yet to sign.

Quarterback Caleb Williams, widely considered the top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, strongly criticized the idea that he didn't experience enough adversity during his college football career.Williams took to social media to address the comments made by ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who said not having a chip on his shoulder could be a concern for Williams."Caleb Williams, from the time he stepped on campus at Oklahoma to the time he stepped on campus at USC, he has never experienced adversity," McElroy recently said on "This Is Football" podcast. "Very little adversity as far as how he was received and how he was portrayed as the next best guy. ... I do wonder about, is there a sense of entitlement, is there the chip on the shoulder that's going to keep him going 10-12 years down the road the way it does (Patrick) Mahomes, who's still pissed that he got drafted 10th."McElroy added: "The chip-on-the-shoulder aspect is something that I've valued more in recent years, and I'm just not 100% sure that Caleb Williams has that."The comments didn't sit well with Williams."Let's go back to school again," Williams wrote in his response to McElroy before listing three challenges he faced in college, including a hamstring injury and USC's disappointing 2023 season.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.Follow the links below to see his 2024 rankings.Half PPR

theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

theScore's prospect rankings series takes a position-by-position look at the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft.QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Antoine Winfield Jr. are working toward a new deal that would make the franchise-tagged star the NFL's highest-paid safety, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.There's optimism an extension will be completed, adds Schefter.Los Angeles Chargers' Derwin James is the league's highest-paid safety at $19 million per year.Winfield and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins are the two remaining franchise-tagged players who haven't signed a long-term deal this offseason. Seven others received extensions.Winfield, the No. 45 pick in the 2020 draft, was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2023 after producing 122 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, and six forced fumbles.The Bucs and Winfield have until July 15 to come to an agreement, or the defensive back will play on the $17.1-million tender.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was reportedly approached to be U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr's running mate. However, Kennedy ultimately selected a different candidate, and Jets owner Woody Johnson is confident the story won't be an issue for his club moving forward."He (Rodgers) is getting back to football 100 percent," Johnson said in an interview with Fox News, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "He never left football. That was a momentary distraction."Johnson added: "But he's back 100%. Great leader. I tell the receivers: 'You count to 10, hold your hands up and look around, the ball will be there.'"Rodgers is set to return in 2024 from a torn Achilles he suffered just four snaps into his Jets tenure. The four-time MVP was acquired by New York in a trade with the Green Bay Packers last offseason for multiple draft selections and a 2023 pick swap.The Jets have made several moves across the offensive line to help Rodgers stay healthy next season. They signed eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith, guard John Simpson, and traded for veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses.New York ranked 28th in sacks allowed per game last campaign."If we can keep him on his feet, which I think we can, it's going to be an exciting start to the season," Johnson said.Rodgers is under contract with the Jets through the 2025 season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh showed support for the NFL banning the hip-drop tackle, saying that defensive players shouldn't have an issue making stops despite the change."It's really a bad play, and it needed to be out," Harbaugh said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "And guys are going to tackle just fine without the quote-unquote hip-drop tackle, because they tackled just fine without it for 100 years of football before that, when you never saw it, really."NFL owners unanimously approved to ban the hip-drop tackle last month following several injuries resulting from the technique. The rule change - which will result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down - seeks to prevent defenders from dropping their weight onto the legs of offensive players. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews missed seven games (including the playoffs) after suffering an ankle injury on a hip-drop tackle made by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson last year.Data reportedly indicated that the hip-drop tackle had an injury rate 20-to-25 times higher than that of other tackles."When did you ever hear about the hip-drop tackle until like two years ago, three years ago, right?" Harbaugh added. "That's because it was discovered, probably, in rugby and started being executed as a standalone technique."It's a three-part movement, (and) you've got to execute that play. You've got to be close enough to that ball carrier to actually get him around the hips, pull him close to yourself, swing your hips through, and drop on the back of his legs. If you're that close, wrap him up, tackle him, and take him to the ground, like Ray Lewis used to do and everybody did for 100 years before that."The NFL Players Association disagrees with the league's decision to prohibit the hip-drop tackle technique.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts defensive back Julian Blackmon is disappointed by the state of the safety market this offseason."It's a one-year deal, and for me, I feel like my value is worth more than one year, but unfortunately, we all saw how the market went," said Blackmon, who recently re-signed with Indianapolis on a one-year deal worth up to $7.7 million, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.Xavier McKinney and Kyle Dugger are the only safeties who signed deals worth more than $10 million this offseason. McKinney - a former New York Giants starter - joined the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, $67-million contract, while Dugger recently inked a four-year, $58-million pact with the Patriots after receiving the transition tag from New England in March.Other safeties who signed multi-year deals include C.J. Gardner-Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles (three years, $27 million), Kevin Byard of the Chicago Bears (two years, $15 million), and Darnell Savage of the Jacksonville Jaguars (three years, $21.7 million).Meanwhile, former Pro Bowl safeties Justin Simmons, Eddie Jackson, Quandre Diggs, Micah Hyde, and Jamal Adams remain unsigned. Simmons, who was released by the Denver Broncos this year, earned his fourth career All-Pro berth in 2023."I think it was something similar to how it was for the running backs a year ago," Blackmon added. "It just kind of shows you that you've got to be prepared for anything. It's one of those things where you can never truly say that you've got it. Especially when there's so much talent in the NFL. For me, it's just one of those things where I just tried to take it for what it was. It was a unique situation, especially going into my first free agency."The state of the running back market was a hot topic around the NFL last year after Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard - who all received the franchise tag in 2023 - didn't ink multi-year deals and had to play on one-year contracts. Several star tailbacks held a Zoom meeting to discuss contract issues for the position in July. Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard signed multi-year pacts while joining new teams in 2024.Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers is currently the NFL's highest-paid safety with a $19.13-million average annual salary, according to Spotrac. He's followed by Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers ($18.4 million) and Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($17.1 million)Blackmon may not have signed as lucrative a contract as he would've liked, but the 25-year-old said he's happy to return to the Colts for his fifth season with the club."This was home. This is the place where it started, and this is the place I want to finish if I can," he said Monday. "Everybody knows how free agency went this year for safeties. We just wanted to be patient with the whole process, and we were able to come up with something that everybody was happy with."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite big changes to AFC East teams this offseason, Pro Bowl offensive tackle Terron Armstead is confident the Miami Dolphins possess the pieces to compete in the division."It's all in house, it's all in house," he said Monday, according to the NFL Network's Kevin Patra. "We don't really look at all the other moving pieces within the division or around the league because we feel like we have enough. We're talented enough, we're skilled enough, we're tough enough, we just have to do."Armstead added that the Dolphins aren't focusing on action outside the team's facility."It doesn't matter who's traded, we don't look at that. We have enough to beat anybody at full strength, and that's really our mindset. It's our mentality," Armstead said.Significant changes took place across the AFC East this offseason. Jerod Mayo will make his head coaching debut in 2024 after the New England Patriots parted ways with Bill Belichick. The Buffalo Bills traded star wideout Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. The New York Jets appear poised to take another step, signing Mike Williams and acquiring Haason Reddick this winter.The Dolphins were on pace to win the AFC East last year for the first time since 2008 but lost three of their final five regular-season games to drop the division crown. The team ended the campaign by losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.Miami lost starters Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, and Jerome Baker to free agency this offseason but managed to ink Shaq Barrett, Jordan Poyer, and Kendall Fuller to contracts.Armstead said Monday that he contemplated retirement over the past few seasons. The 32-year-old standout left tackle added that he told the Dolphins this offseason that he was considering ending his playing career. However, he informed the club in March that he intended to return for a 12th season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran defensive back Logan Ryan announced his retirement Tuesday."Man, what a great career. What a ride it was. A beautiful journey of highs and lows," Ryan said in a video posted to X. "Shout out to my friends, my family, my teammates. All those who supported me. I tried to play the right way."

The Los Angeles Chargers' new coaching staff has sky-high expectations for their offensive unit in 2024."We're trying to create something epic," run game coordinator and tight ends coach Andy Bischoff said Monday. "This morning in our team meeting with the offense, (offensive coordinator Greg Roman) used the word 'epic' in front of the guys and defined it. Why not create something different that's never been done? As much success as we've all had in different places in doing different things, none of that matters. All that matters is right now and creating that here."The Chargers hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach in one of this offseason's biggest moves. The 2011 NFL Coach of the Year put together a new coaching staff that features Roman, Bischoff, and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who worked with him at Michigan. Los Angeles also named Joe Hortiz as its new general manager.The main goal behind L.A.'s coaching changes is to help Justin Herbert - one of the league's most talented quarterbacks - take his team to the next level. Herbert, who was limited to 13 games in 2023 due to injury, has played just one playoff game since being drafted sixth overall in 2020."Epic is scoring points," Bischoff added. "You have to not turn the ball over. ... You want numbers that have never been seen before."Prior to last season, the Chargers' offense had never ranked outside the top 10 in yards with Herbert. However, the defense has been below average for most of the quarterback's time in the NFL.Hortiz, Harbaugh, and Co. stole headlines this offseason after trading receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears in a stunning move and releasing wideout Mike Williams. Defensively, the Chargers managed to keep veteran edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa by restructuring their contracts.Los Angeles' most notable offensive additions have been running back Gus Edwards and tight ends Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst. The team owns the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft."We want a group of men that are smart, tough, dependable, vicious players," Bischoff said of his squad. "It doesn't only have to involve the run game. Every down provides the opportunity for a competitive down, and we want that, and we're going to build that kind of a team through Joe's and Jim's leadership, and through the vision of our offense."It'll be fascinating to see how the Chargers' new coaching staff explores Herbert's skill set and builds around him. The 26-year-old ranks second in the NFL in pass attempts over the last four seasons behind only Patrick Mahomes. Meanwhile, Roman is known for his run-heavy schemes.The former NFL Assistant Coach of the Year said in February that the Chargers are focused on building "a great running game" around Herbert. With Roman on the sideline, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named NFL MVP back in 2019.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

CeeDee Lamb's contract situation with the Dallas Cowboys remains uncertain, but the All-Pro receiver expects to stay with the team this season."Yeah, I'll be in Dallas," Lamb said Monday when asked about his future, according to TMZ Sports.Lamb is entering the last year of his rookie contract. The 2020 first-round pick is expected to become one of the NFL's highest-paid wideouts when he signs a new deal, but it's unclear when Dallas will reward its top weapon with a lucrative extension.Without a new contract, Lamb is expected to skip his team's voluntary work this offseason, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, who adds that the pass-catcher may also hold out of mandatory work.The 25-year-old, who's led Dallas in receiving in the last three seasons, is coming off a career year. He topped the NFL with 135 receptions in 2023 while setting career highs with 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Oklahoma product added two scores on the ground en route to earning a Pro Bowl berth for the third consecutive campaign."Looking forward to winning, being out there with my guys, and making another run at this thing," Lamb said of his 2024 expectations, per TMZ.The Cowboys have posted a 12-5 record in each of the last three seasons. Mike McCarthy's outfit, however, is only 1-3 in the playoffs in that span. Dallas suffered a wild-card home loss to the Green Bay Packers in January.Lamb isn't the only star Cowboys player looking for a new deal, though. Quarterback Dak Prescott, whose contract also expires at the end of the season, reportedly hasn't received extension offers. Star linebacker Micah Parsons is eligible to sign a new deal but said in February that extending Lamb should be Dallas' priority.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The quarterback-needy New England Patriots are heading into the 2024 NFL Draft trying to replicate the Houston Texans, who selected star passer C.J. Stroud and made a stunning last-to-first turnaround in the AFC South. However, head coach Jerod Mayo doesn't think fixing the issue at the sport's most important position will instantly put New England back on the right track."Remember, (Texans general manager Nick) Caserio had been building that team for (two) years before they got C.J. Stroud in that position," Mayo recently told ESPN's Mike Reiss. "So when you look at our team, I'm not asking for patience, but I kind of am. It's a process. It's not only about the quarterback. Obviously, you want to have that QB1 and build around him, but it doesn't always happen when you want it."The Patriots hired Mayo to replace Bill Belichick after they went 4-13 in 2023. New England, which traded quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, is now in a position to draft one of this year's top quarterback prospects at No. 3 overall.Mayo's outfit also signed Jacoby Brissett, adding the veteran signal-caller to a quarterback depth chart that also features Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke."We could bring a QB in here, and he may not be ready to play, realistically," Mayo added. "That's why we have a guy like Jacoby coming along. Jacoby is great. He can still play football and also mentor someone in that room, and he has a connection to that offense with (offensive coordinator Alex) Van Pelt, so he can always be that teacher. That's how we're looking at it."The Patriots have lacked consistency at quarterback since Tom Brady left the team. Jones was solid as a first-round rookie in 2021 but couldn't replicate that success over the last two seasons. He started 11 games in 2023, while Zappe posted six starts. New England's combined 73.8 passer rating ranked 30th in the NFL last year.Three quarterbacks - Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels - headline the 2024 draft. The Chicago Bears are widely expected to take Williams first overall, while the Washington Commanders are also projected to select a passer with the No. 2 pick. New England is scheduled to meet with Maye, Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy, whose draft stock has been rising lately.Aside from picking a quarterback, the Patriots could choose to address other roster needs at No. 3. Top receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has also been linked to the club.In the latest edition of theScore's NFL mock draft, New England lands offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu at No. 13 after trading the third overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is eager to return to action after a shoulder injury prematurely ended his rookie campaign in 2023."I've never waited this long to get back to playing football," Richardson told ESPN's Stephen Holder. "I'm just on a mission this year. Once that mission's complete, then I'll be good."Richardson's first pro campaign ended after he underwent surgery to repair an AC joint sprain in October. The 2023 first-round pick was limited to four games, passing for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He added 136 rushing yards for an additional four scores."People didn't really get to see everything I could do on the field. So, it's kind of like a rookie season for me still," Richardson said. "But now, I've gained a lot more knowledge and understanding about football and the NFL. So, I'm a rookie at heart, but now I'm slowly turning into the leader that my team needs me to be."Colts head coach Shane Steichen expressed excitement about the prospect of Richardson being cleared to participate in offseason workouts with the team later this month.Doctors cleared Richardson to resume throwing in February. The young passing prospect is six-to-eight weeks ahead of his projected recovery schedule, per Holder.The 21-year-old is taking a positive outlook on his journey through rehab."It'll make me stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally. So, I'm thankful for it because it's given me a different outlook on myself and the season I'm about to have," he said.The Colts concluded the 2023 season with a 9-8 record. Gardner Minshew served as the starting QB in 13 games. Indianapolis signed last year's Comeback Player of the Year winner, Joe Flacco, in March to back up Richardson.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell believes teammate Saquon Barkley is the best player at his position."He's going to show people why he's the best running back in the league," Campbell said, according to Olivia Reiner of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I know there's a bunch of debate between him and Christian McCaffrey. And don't get me wrong, Christian McCaffrey's by far one of the best running backs in the league."But being able to see Saquon up close and personal, being in the same locker room, on the same team, man, he's a different guy when he's on that field."Campbell also played alongside Barkley on the New York Giants last year. Barkley had a down year as New York's offense struggled to move the ball. In 2022, Barkley had a terrific campaign, totaling 1,650 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also led the league in yards from scrimmage in his rookie season.McCaffrey was the league's most productive offensive player last year. He led the league in rushing yards, scrimmage yards, and touches. The 27-year-old has been outstanding since joining the San Francisco 49ers, racking up 3,233 yards and 31 touchdowns in 27 games.Campbell emphasized that Barkley's new offensive infrastructure in Philadelphia will help him show off his skill set."Running behind that offensive line that we have, I think it's going to be pretty scary for defenses," Campbell said. "You pair that with Jalen (Hurts) and the things he can do with his feet, just as far as extending plays, getting outside the pocket, I'm sure there will be some type of read-option game that we go on and RPO stuff that'll happen."Since the Eagles hired head coach Nick Sirianni in 2021, they've led the league in EPA per rush and rushing success rate, according to Ben Baldwin's database.Philadelphia signed Barkley to a three-year contract in March. The 27-year-old has 7,311 total yards and 47 touchdowns in 74 career contests.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent running back Dalvin Cook believes he can still be a productive rusher in the NFL."I've got it all," Cook said, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC Houston. "The tools are still here. I didn't really get no reps last year. So, the legs are fresh, so the resume speaks for itself. I'm still Dalvin Cook. I'm still that guy."He added: "I don't like to toot my own horn. I just like to go out there, put my helmet on, and line up on the grass."Cook signed a one-year, $7-million deal with the New York Jets last August after being released by the Minnesota Vikings. He played 50% of the offensive snaps Week 1, but his playing time rapidly declined as the season progressed.The Jets and Cook agreed to part ways a few days after the club's Week 17 contest against the Cleveland Browns, in which he didn't play a single snap. He totaled only 214 yards on 67 carries and zero touchdowns. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens for their playoff run but didn't play in the conference championship."I think last year was really like a learning curve for me," Cook said. "I got kind of itchy.""I'm going to go earn my spot wherever I go," the four-time Pro Bowler added. "For now, (I'll) just see how everything is going to fill out for everybody. And then, you know me, I'll show up on the scene."The 28-year-old has 6,207 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns in 88 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are signing safety Kyle Dugger to a four-year, $58-million contract, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Dugger's deal could rise to $66 million, and it includes $32.5 million guaranteed, Rapoport adds.The Patriots placed the transition tag on Dugger in March. The tag allowed him to negotiate with other teams while providing New England the opportunity to match any contract offered to the safety."Kyle is a talented player with a strong work ethic who has improved every year and been extremely productive since joining our team in 2020," head coach Jerod Mayo said after the team tagged Dugger."We value players with high character and chose to use the transition designation to give both sides more time to try to reach a long-term agreement, which is our goal with Kyle."The 28-year-old has been a key player for New England's defense since entering the league as a second-round pick. He's a versatile player, racking up at least 150 snaps at slot corner, free safety, and as a box safety in 2023, per PFF.Dugger has 343 tackles, 20 passes defended, and nine interceptions in 61 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Donald picked his successor as the best defensive player in the NFL."I think it's T.J. Watt," Donald said on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast. "You talk about a guy that's consistent. Been doing it year in, year out, consistently, that's gonna get you 15 sacks, 13 sacks, 22 sacks, consistent. He's the guy who's been doing it consistently, interceptions every year, touchdowns. His stats are ridiculous every single year. He's that guy to me."Donald, who recently retired after a 10-year career with the Los Angeles Rams, and Watt have often been in the mix for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year accolade. Donald won the honor three times and finished in the top five in voting on seven occasions, while Watt has won it once and placed in the top five in voting four times.Watt finished runner-up for 2023 Defensive Player of the Year behind Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett, with Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons placing third. However, Donald said Watt's consistency gives him the edge over his rivals."I know you've got Micah Parsons that's coming up, you've got Myles Garrett, you've got a bunch of good players," Donald added. "But in my opinion, in the time I've seen T.J. Watt in this league, from the first time I've seen him to last year, he's consistently been dominating in this league. So a lot of respect for him."Watt has recorded an NFL-leading 96.5 sacks since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2017.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins remain interested in adding Odell Beckham Jr.Miami has possibly made up to two contract offers to the veteran wideout, reports ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed in March that his team offered Beckham a deal after he visited the club. However, both sides have yet to agree to financial terms, according to Fowler.The wideout is reportedly willing to wait to sign if needed.The latest report on Beckham comes after Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill posted a photo of him with the 31-year-old on Snapchat."OBJ to Miami confirmed," Hill wrote on the post, which quickly went viral around the NFL.

Free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has nothing but good things to say about Aaron Rodgers as a teammate.Valdes-Scantling, who played with Rodgers for four seasons on the Green Bay Packers, came to the New York Jets quarterback's defense Thursday on CBS Sports Radio's "The Zach Gelb Show," calling him "one of the greatest teammates" ever."Man, he's one of the greatest teammates you'll ever find," Valdes-Scantling said. "He cares more about his teammates than about the game of football. I think that's something that people don't really understand. Because people get this perception of him that he's this, whatever, this diva or that he's all about himself, and that's the furthest thing from the truth."Aaron has taught me so much stuff on the field and off the field. He's a big advocate of mental health and how you approach life, not even just football. The things that he's gone through over the years, he shares that and kind of just lets you know, like, 'Hey, I'm human too. I may throw this football really, really well, but I'm human too, and I have bad days, I have good days.' And just for him to be able to open that up and be a great friend to me, not even just a teammate, be a great friend to me, I'm forever indebted to him."Valdes-Scantling spent the past two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning back-to-back Super Bowls. The team released him in February.The 29-year-old didn't reveal whether the Jets have expressed interest in signing him but did say that he and Rodgers have been in touch.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers signed defensive tackle Derrick Brown to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.Financial details weren't confirmed, but it's a new four-year, $96-million deal that includes $63.165 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Brown, who had one year remaining on his rookie deal, is now contracted through the 2028 season. His $24-million average salary is tied for fourth among all defensive tackles, while his guaranteed money ranks fifth, according to Spotrac.The 2020 first-round pick earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2023 after setting an NFL record for a defensive lineman with 103 total tackles. He added two sacks and 15 quarterback hits.Brown has appeared in 66 games in four years with the Panthers, racking up 245 tackles, eight sacks, and 48 quarterback hits.The 25-year-old is the key player on Carolina's defense after the club traded star pass-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants in March.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NBA's investigation into Jontay Porter for betting irregularities is the most high profile such case in North American sports in more than a decade, and it raises questions about the legal penalties athletes may face.ESPN reported March 25 that Porter was being investigated by the league for a type of match manipulation sometimes referred to as spot-fixing. Two of Porter's performances - Jan. 26 and March 20 - triggered the probe. In both cases, Porter left the game early, resulting in his points, rebounds, and 3-pointers falling significantly under the prop bet over-under lines available to bettors.Leagues and teams can ban or suspend athletes or other insiders who are found to have contravened betting policies. But legal punishments are a more complex issue.Jeremy Luke, president and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, said his team is leading a charge to make match-fixing illegal and criminal. Currently, there are no federal laws in either Canada or the United States specifically criminalizing competitive manipulation in sports."Leagues themselves have policies in place to deal with issues like this," Luke said. "If someone does something that would violate that policy, the league would be investigating that particular issue. And these leagues have ways to be able to monitor betting lines and have any irregularities reported to them, and the ability to investigate these types of things. They ultimately have the ability to take action and from a sport perspective to prohibit individuals from participating in their sports."Laying criminal charges in such cases wouldn't be straightforward because of the laws on the books in both countries."In this particular case with Porter, it would have to be proven that he intentionally influenced the outcome of the bets on him with the intent of benefiting from it," Ben Michael, an attorney at M&A Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin, Texas, wrote in an email to theScore. "Though it may seem clear that this is what he did to most people, actually proving his actions and intent may not be so easy."Financial and health records, in addition to personal communications, will be vital if evidence of any wrongdoing is to be proven.The NBA is currently investigating Jontay Porter for irregularities in two of his performances Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe NBA has had no further comment on its investigation, and it's not clear whether any law-enforcement agencies in Canada or the U.S. are also looking into the matter. The Canadian Press reported March 26 that Toronto police were not looking into the matter.Sportradar Integrity Services, a branch of the global data services company, reported in March that it found 1,329 suspicious matches in 11 sports around the world in 2023, which represented just 0.5% of competitions. Only 35 of those irregular findings happened in North America.Betting irregularities are not just the domain of teams and leagues. ESPN reported that DraftKings said prop bets on Porter, who averages only 14 minutes a game, in the two games flagged were the biggest winning prop bets of the night.Sports betting became legal under federal law in the U.S. in 2018 after a Supreme Court ruling struck down a 1992 law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Individual states have since enacted their own frameworks to regulate the industry. Betting is legal now in 38 states.Canada's law was amended in 2021 to allow single-game betting. Only one province, Ontario, has opened a regulated market to betting companies. Other provinces have government-run betting operations within their lottery commissions.The advent of legal sports betting in North America means integrity issues will crop up more often. "With that comes great risks of competition manipulation, both the outcome of competitions, but also component parts of competitions that people are wagering on," Luke said. "It's a very, very serious issue."The increase in popularity of prop bets has underscored the risk of spot-fixing in particular. "It's not specific to the outcome of a competition and trying to fix the outcome," Luke added.The rise in popularity of prop bets, such as the color of the Gatorade at the Super Bowl, has created more opportunities for spot-fixing Michael Zagaris / Getty ImagesJurisdictions worldwide grapple with how best to address match-fixing. In 2014, European nations adopted the Macolin Convention - currently the only rule of international law on the subject of match-fixing. Nine European nations have ratified it and 32 more have signed the treaty. Australia and Morocco are also signatories."What that convention does is that it requires governments to put in place regulatory approaches to protect the integrity of competitions and to make sure that any issues related to manipulation can be reported, that they can be identified, and that they can be investigated, so that the public can have confidence in our support system and we can also know that we're protecting the health and safety of our athletes," Luke said. "It speaks to how significant an issue it is, when there's an international convention signed on by over 30 different countries."Other jurisdictions have developed homegrown solutions. Germany amended its criminal code in 2017 to address betting fraud in sports and the manipulation of professional sports competitions. This amendment was passed in response to a 2005 match-fixing scandal involving a German football referee.In North America, there are no specific provisions in U.S. or Canadian federal law to directly address match-fixing or spot-fixing. In Canada, the "cheating at play" provision of Section 209 of the Criminal Code is perhaps the closest legislation on the books. It is worded to include, "Everyone who, with the intent to defraud any person, cheats while playing a game ..." However, it's thought that professional sporting events would not fall under the legal definition of a "game" because they do not involve the required amount of chance."The challenge for us in Canada is that we are far behind what those other countries have put in place. While we recently legalized all that sports betting and people are becoming more and more familiar with the issue, the reality is other countries have done a lot to protect their athletes and it's incumbent on us to be doing the same right now," Luke said. Over the last five years, his organization has held two symposiums on match-fixing, and has openly called on the Canadian government to adopt the Macolin Convention.In the U.S., the federal Sports Bribery Act makes it a felony to bribe anyone involved in a sporting event to intentionally influence the outcome. But there is no provision for cases where trainers, referees, coaches, or athletes may be influencing games without payment from others.In one of the few American precedents, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his role in a gambling scandal. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and transmitting wagering information but wasn't charged for betting on games or affecting outcomes. If an athlete was charged with an offense related to match-fixing or spot-fixing, prosecutors would likely have to prove the more general fraud charge.Basketball referee Tim Donaghy received a 15-month prison sentence for his role in a 2006 gambling scandal Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty ImagesCriminal fraud may not be the only legal trouble awaiting an athlete. Chicago-area attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld said an athlete may face disciplinary action from regulators in the form of a fine. "Sports betting regulations, established by governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, often prohibit actions that compromise the fairness of betting outcomes," Rosenfeld wrote in an email.An athlete also could face civil liabilities. "Affected parties, such as betting agencies or sponsors, may pursue legal action to recover damages resulting from the misconduct," Rosenfeld said. This is all in addition to league sanctions and contract termination, which are likely if the allegations are proven.The NFL and NHL have taken such actions for other infractions of their codes of conduct. Three NFL players last season were suspended for six games for betting on other sports inside their team facilities. Nine others have been handed minimum one-year suspensions for betting on NFL games since 2019. Several of those players had their contracts terminated by their teams.Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators was suspended for half the current NHL season for violating the league's gambling policy. It was found he didn't bet on NHL games, although no further details were provided.Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators received a 41-game suspension for violating the NHL's betting policy Rich Graessle / National Hockey League / Getty ImagesLuke believes that beyond criminalizing match-fixing, the best solution is for all sports to adopt a system similar to what the World Anti-Doping Association uses to penalize athletes who use banned substances."I'd like to see a sport system where we treat competition manipulation at the same level and with the same severity that we do doping issues, where we have a global regulator, we have a very sophisticated set of rules, we have organizations that have been set up specifically with a mandate to deal with those things and to investigate them," Luke said."I think we will see more and more cases like this. And we need the systems in place to be able to protect the integrity of our sports and health for athletes."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DALLAS (AP) - Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice was the driver of one of two speeding sports cars who left after causing a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway over the weekend, the wide receiver's attorney said Thursday.Why Rice left the crash Saturday was a good question that's still being investigated," said Rice's attorney, state Sen. Royce West, but he declined to elaborate. West expects charges to be filed against Rice, who was driving a Lamborghini sport utility vehicle, he said at a news conference without his client.He's a young man that made a mistake," West said Thursday, adding that Rice's heart goes out" to those who were injured. The crash involved the Lamborghini, a Corvette and four other vehicles and left four people with minor injuries, police said.The driver of the Corvette also left without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, police said. The Corvette belongs to Rice, West said Thursday, but no information has been released on the driver.Rice posted to his Instagram Story on Wednesday that he was taking full responsibility" for his part in the wreck.Police have said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing the chain collision.West said that Rice, who is 23, will do everything in his power to bring their life back to as normal as possible in terms of injuries, in terms of property damage."Investigators are interviewing witnesses, victims and others who may have been involved, police said Thursday.Rice was leasing the Lamborghini from The Classic Lifestyle, said Kyle Coker, an attorney for the Dallas-based exotic car rental company.Rice was born in Philadelphia but grew up in the Fort Worth, Texas, suburb of North Richland Hills. He played college football at nearby SMU, where a breakout senior season in 2022 put the wide receiver on the radar of NFL teams. The Chiefs selected him in the second round of last year's draft, and he quickly became one of the only dependable options in their passing game.___Associated Press Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report from Kansas City, Missouri.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflCopyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Deshaun Watson is excited about what the Cleveland Browns have built ahead of his third season with the team."That's the plan, being able to pull out a full season. ... We get one full season, and it's going to be a special thing. I really believe that, the organization believes that, and the locker room believes it, too. We're putting together a great contender," the quarterback said Thursday about the 2024 campaign, per Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland.Watson was traded to the Browns from the Houston Texans during the 2022 offseason but has yet to play a full season with Cleveland. He served an 11-game suspension in his first year with the team, and a shoulder injury limited him to six appearances in 2023.Injuries forced the Browns to start four different quarterbacks in 2023. Despite that, Kevin Stefanski's outfit reached the playoffs before suffering a wild-card loss to the Texans. It was a special season in Cleveland, as Stefanski was named Coach of the Year and Myles Garrett earned the Defensive Player of the Year award. Additionally, quarterback Joe Flacco claimed Comeback Player of the Year honors, while defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was named Assistant Coach of the Year.Watson - a three-time Pro Bowler in Houston - hasn't been able to replicate that success with the Browns. The 28-year-old has completed only 59.8% of his passes for 2,217 yards and 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 12 starts in Cleveland, good for a passer rating of 81.7.He remains optimistic about finding his best form again soon, though."(I'm) passionate about getting out there on the field and being a success so we can bring that championship back to Cleveland where it belongs," Watson said. "I'm gonna do whatever I need to on and off the field to be able to have that goal achieved."The Browns gave Watson a new weapon this offseason, landing former first-round receiver Jerry Jeudy in a trade from the Denver Broncos. Watson described Jeudy's arrival as "amazing.""It's gonna be a great addition with Amari (Cooper) and Elijah (Moore), and those three guys already been together this offseason. ... It's gonna be fun to be able to toss the ball around to those guys," he added.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans made a significant change to Stefon Diggs' contract as part of the recent trade for the star receiver from the Buffalo Bills.Houston wiped out the final three years on Diggs' contract, which gives him the ability to hit free agency in 2025, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Texans also reportedly moved $3.5 million guaranteed that Diggs had in his contract beyond 2024 and moved it up into this season. The veteran wideout will now earn $22.5 million in guaranteed money this year.By giving Diggs the ability to cash in during the 2025 offseason as a free agent, the AFC South club expects to have the best version of the four-time Pro Bowler on the field in 2024, notes Schefter.The Texans acquired Diggs, as well as a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round selection, in exchange for a 2025 second-round choice (via the Minnesota Vikings).Diggs had signed a four-year, $104-million extension with the Bills in April 2022. Buffalo will eat a non-quarterback record dead cap hit of $31.1 million this year.Diggs, who joined the Bills in 2020 in a trade from the Vikings, topped 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each of his seasons in Buffalo while catching 37 touchdowns across 66 regular-season appearances. His 445 receptions rank first in the NFL over the last four campaigns.After drafting their quarterback of the future in C.J. Stroud last year, the Texans have been aggressive this offseason. In addition to Diggs, Houston also acquired running back Joe Mixon and signed pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, among other moves.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.