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The Baltimore Ravens re-signed linebacker Kyle Van Noy to a two-year deal, the team announced Thursday.The contract is worth $9 million and includes up to $1 million per year in incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Van Noy signed a one-year, $1.4-million deal with Baltimore last offseason after spending the 2022 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers. He had previous stints with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions.The 33-year-old enjoyed a career year with the Ravens, racking up a personal-best nine sacks in 14 contests. Baltimore deployed Van Noy primarily as a pass-rusher after he spent time as an off-ball linebacker on other teams.The move paid off for the Ravens as Van Noy racked up 53 pressures, per PFF: fourth on the team and his second-highest total in a single season since 2019.Detroit selected Van Noy in the second round of the 2014 draft. The BYU product has 500 tackles and 42.5 sacks in 142 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas mayor Eric Johnson thinks it's time for the Kansas City Chiefs to return to Texas.Following the news earlier this week that Jackson County, Missouri residents voted against a sales tax measure that would have helped fund renovations to Arrowhead Stadium, Johnson made a pitch for the Chiefs to join the Cowboys in Dallas."Dallas was named the top sports city in the United States because we play to win," Johnson said Wednesday in a statement to The Dallas Morning News. "As I have said previously, our market is big enough, growing enough, and loves football more than enough to support a second NFL team - especially a franchise (and an owner) with deep roots here."The Chiefs were founded in 1959 as the Dallas Texans, one of the original teams in the American Football League. The franchise relocated to Kansas City in 1963 and rebranded as the Chiefs.

The Philadelphia Eagles and left tackle Jordan Mailata have agreed to a three-year extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Thursday.Financial details of the pact weren't disclosed, but the three-year deal is worth $66 million and contains $48 million in guarantees and a $20-million signing bonus, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Mailata's $22-million average salary is the fourth-highest among offensive tackles, adds Schefter.The 27-year-old is the second Eagles offensive lineman to receive a new deal this offseason after guard Landon Dickerson inked a position-record four-year, $84-million extension in March.Locking down both Mailata and Dickerson for the foreseeable future ensures continuity for a unit that lost star center Jason Kelce to retirement. Mailata was PFF's third-ranked offensive tackle last season after allowing just three sacks in 17 games.The Eagles selected the Australian former rugby player in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft after he went through the International Player Pathway.Mailata didn't appear in any games his first two seasons because he was a backup and due to injury, but he's been a constant presence on Philadelphia's offensive line over the last four years, appearing in 62 games with 57 starts. He signed a four-year, $64-million extension before the 2021 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are giving cornerback Avonte Maddox a one-year deal after releasing him in early March, the team announced Thursday.Maddox was set to have a $9.6-million cap hit in 2024, and Philadelphia saved close to $2 million by releasing him. He signed a three-year, $22.5-million deal with the team in 2021.The Eagles selected Maddox in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, and the 28-year-old was a reliable piece for Philadelphia's defense before he signed the extension. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years.Maddox played 13 games over the last two seasons, including four in the 2023 campaign. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve. He returned in Week 17 and started at safety for the Eagles in their wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to multiple injuries at the position.The Pittsburgh product will likely compete for the starting slot cornerback job in training camp. Other players at the position on the roster include Mario Goodrich, Tyler Hall, and Zech McPhearson.Maddox has 250 tackles, 31 passes defended, and four interceptions in 64 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to trade four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in a blockbuster move, the Bills announced Wednesday.The Bills will receive a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings), while the Texans get Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-rounder.The move for Diggs caps an aggressive offseason for Houston after Offensive Rookie of the Year winner C.J. Stroud helped the Texans to a shocking last-to-first turnaround in the AFC South in 2023.Houston also signed pass-rusher Danielle Hunter to a two-year, $49-million deal in free agency, traded for running back Joe Mixon and signed him to a three-year, $27-million extension, and retained tight end Dalton Schultz on a three-year, $36 million contract.Diggs will join a Texans pass-catching group headlined by 2023 breakout star Nico Collins and Tank Dell, who produced a standout rookie year before a season-ending leg injury.The Bills' decision to trade Diggs, their leading receiver in his four seasons with the club, leaves Josh Allen with a new-look wideout group of Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and Mack Hollins. Buffalo added Samuel and Hollins through free agency."Are we better today? Probably not," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. "I just hope people know I'm competitive as hell."Beane also declined to answer if Diggs requested a trade and said he hasn't spoken with Allen since the transaction went through, per Buscaglia.Diggs was rumored to be a potential trade candidate. However, his contract appeared to be a big hurdle, with a pre-June 1 trade giving the Bills a non-quarterback record dead cap hit of $31.096 million in 2024, according to Over The Cap's Jason Fitzgerald.Buffalo will also lose around $4 million in 2024 cap space, as Diggs was set to carry a $27.85-million hit after signing a four-year, $104-million extension in April 2022.Diggs has been among the most productive NFL receivers since joining the Bills in 2020 in a trade from the Vikings, ranking first in catches (445) and fourth in receiving yards (5,372) and touchdowns (37).But Diggs' role in Buffalo's offense diminished last season. After producing five 100-yard games in the first six weeks, the veteran failed to hit that milestone for the rest of the campaign, culminating with a three-catch, 21-yard performance in the divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.Diggs is the latest key veteran player the Bills have parted ways with this offseason, along with receiver Gabe Davis, cornerback Tre'Davious White, center Mitch Morse, and safety Jordan Poyer."I can't begin to express the amount of love and respect I have for the city of Buffalo. Four of the best years of my life; the city welcomed me with open arms. I'm forever grateful for you all and the Buffalo Bills organization," Diggs wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.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.This time last year, we didn't know who was going No. 1. The signs started to point toward Bryce Young, but there was enough reason to believe C.J. Stroud might be in the mix that it wasn't worth betting until the price became too prohibitive.The lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft is more like when Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence went first overall, as Caleb Williams (no better than -400 throughout the 2023 season) is now -5000 to go No. 1 to the Bears. Therefore, the second pick, held by the Commanders, gets the spotlight for bettors.No two drafts are the same, but it's worth remembering that after Young went No. 1 last year, there were plenty of juicy payouts for the subsequent picks in the 2023 draft (odds as of nine days before).Player to be drafted 2nd overallPLAYERODDSJayden Daniels-135Drake Maye-110J.J. McCarthy+400Caleb Williams+4000Marvin Harrison Jr.+5000(Odds source: theScore Bet)Last year: C.J. Stroud (+350)The debate between quarterbacks for the second overall pick is similar to the debate between Young and Stroud for No. 1 last year. Jayden Daniels recently nudged ahead of Drake Maye as the favorite.The Heisman Trophy winner is probably still a good bet at -135 (57.4% implied probability) or better. But with weeks of subterfuge still to come, a better payout may become available (like Stroud last year), or Washington could admit that Daniels is its choice, and his odds become prohibitive.Player to be drafted 3rd overallPLAYERODDSDrake Maye-115Jayden Daniels+130J.J. McCarthy+350Marvin Harrison Jr.+1200*Players with odds 60-1 or longer not listedLast year: Will Anderson Jr. (+275)It's easy to remember the top of the 2023 NFL Draft as Young versus Stroud, but just three days before, Stroud was available for as long as +400. With Williams a lock to go first overall, that scenario might manifest itself with the second and third picks. Daniels could go No. 2, but the Patriots are a team with new decision-makers who look ready for anything. That could mean taking the third-best QB available (Maye at -115), trading the pick, or taking the shiniest bauble outside of the quarterbacks.Player to be drafted 4th overallPLAYERODDSMarvin Harrison Jr.-190J.J. McCarthy+200Drake Maye+550Jayden Daniels+1200Malik Nabers+1400Rome Odunze+3500Dallas Turner+4500*Players with odds 60-1 or longer not listedLast year: Anthony Richardson (+1200)Sure-fire superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. is the favorite to go No. 4, but New England could do something it never did under Bill Belichick - draft a stud wide receiver - and worry about the quarterback of the future later when they can inject one on a rookie deal into a more talented roster. Between that and some chance that the Cardinals could trade down (as they did last year) with a team interested in J.J. McCarthy, laying -190 on Harrison to be picked fourth seems like an unnecessary risk.Player to be drafted 5th overallPLAYERODDSMalik Nabers+200Marvin Harrison Jr.+225J.J. McCarthy+375Joe Alt+450Rome Odunze+1000Drake Maye+1400J.C. Latham+2000Taliese Fuaga+2000Jayden Daniels+2400Brock Bowers+3500Dallas Turner+3500*Players with odds 50-1 or longer not listedLast year: Devon Witherspoon (+3300)This brings us to McCarthy, whom former head coach Jim Harbaugh called the "best quarterback in the draft." That praise doubles as a supportive nod from their time together at Michigan while sounding like he's hoping to entice another franchise to trade up into the fifth slot. That seems like the ideal scenario for the Chargers, who suddenly have multiple holes to fill.McCarthy's stock has gone up since the end of the season, and his draft odds in every market have shortened with it. With his shortest odds of +200 (to go fourth overall), where he goes is the key to where other players fall into place. Given last year's mountain of lies and misdirection in the days leading up to the draft, that might result in some significant long shots landing in the various slots after Williams goes No. 1.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 Houston Texans made a gigantic splash Wednesday by acquiring four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.Under the full terms of the deal, the Bills are sending Diggs, a 2024 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 fifth-round selection to Houston in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings).Here's how both teams made out.TexansThe Texans already loaded up this offseason, but the acquisition of Diggs was the warning shot they needed to send to the rest of the AFC. There's no reason to dislike this deal from the Texans' point of view. A four-time Pro Bowler like Diggs upgrades Houston's offense - which already contained C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon, and Nico Collins - from dangerous to a juggernaut. For the cost of a 2025 second-round pick, that's a trade worth making 100 times out of 100.Diggs makes Stroud a legitimate MVP candidate. After throwing for over 4,000 yards in his first NFL season, the Offensive Rookie of the Year gets a three-headed monster of Diggs, Collins, and Tank Dell at receiver. Diggs is also the perfect complement to this receiving corps. While Collins and Dell posted explosive numbers in 2023, respectively averaging 16.2 and 15.1 yards per reception, Diggs is a route-running maestro who can attack both vertically and underneath. The importance of a security blanket like that can't be overstated when it comes to developing young passers like Stroud.A player of Diggs' caliber demands serious attention, which should help Collins and Dell pick up where they left off. Diggs will also affect the run game, where offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's usage of 11 personnel with Diggs, Collins, and Dell will lead to lighter boxes for Mixon to run through. There just aren't enough defenders to account for all them, let alone stop them.More than anything, though, the trade represents another stroke of genius from Texans general manager Nick Caserio. One year ago, the Texans looked set to begin a rebuild with a new coach and quarterback. A season later, they are in the conversation about the AFC's top heavyweights. Caserio deserves a lot of credit.Diggs may or may not be the final piece of Caserio's plan, but it's his biggest move to date. While there are lots of advocates for going all-in with a quarterback under a rookie contract, Caserio's calculated aggressiveness is showing how it's done. Diggs was the DEFCON 1 move, but similarly smart thinking led to the trade for Mixon and free-agent deal for Danielle Hunter. Caserio's providing a blueprint for how teams should treat their first-round quarterback investments: Leave no stone unturned and no doubt that they had the resources to give them the best possible chances of success.Although Diggs is approaching his age-31 season, there are safeguards in place should he enter his decline. He won't be expected to carry the load like he did in Buffalo where the passing offense flowed through him. His contract also has no guaranteed salary remaining after 2024, according to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap. That makes this a low-risk move even if Diggs' play falls off a cliff.For the cost of a future second-round pick, the Texans potentially raised the floor and ceiling of their championship aspirations in the coming seasons while taking on little risk. That's a home run.Grade: A+BillsBefore we consider the on-field impact of trading Diggs to the Texans (spoiler: it's bad), we have to dive into the absolutely wild financial implications for Buffalo.Diggs will carry a $31.096 million dead-money charge in 2024, a non-quarterback record by about $4 million. The Bills also lose $4 million in net cap space. Those eye-watering numbers are why so many people dismissed the Bills trading Diggs as a possibility. He seemed locked in after signing a four-year, $104-million extension in April 2022, which was restructured a year later. But Buffalo bid farewell to a host of veterans this offseason. Trading Diggs is the final confirmation that the club realizes it needs to reload instead of trying to squeeze every drop of competitiveness out of a squad that's been on the cusp in recent years but never gone all the way.Diggs will be off the books in 2025, but Buffalo paid a very high price for that freedom. The Bills did do better in draft-pick compensation than the Los Angeles Chargers, who received a fourth-round pick for Keenan Allen. But Diggs has been a far more productive and healthy player than Allen, and conventional wisdom indicates that waiting an extra year to receive a pick drops the value of the selection by a round. The Bills also had to send two Day 3 picks to Houston to seal the deal. Buffalo simply could've avoided this pain by not extending Diggs, who was under contract through 2023 on his previous pact.On the field ... Did the Bills watch Patrick Mahomes knock them out of the playoffs (again) and win the Super Bowl (again) with a weak wide receiver group and think, "Hey, that ain't a bad idea"? Buffalo now has serious questions at receiver. The team signed Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins in free agency, but you felt much better about their potential impacts with Diggs in the picture. Quarterback Josh Allen is undoubtedly talented enough to succeed without a top wideout group, but Samuel, Hollins, and Khalil Shakir won't keep many defensive coordinators up at night, and Allen has his work cut out to create chemistry with the trio.Even if Diggs was showing signs of decline - he had zero 100-yard games from Week 7 through the divisional-round loss - he's still much better than what the Bills will trot out in 2024, even if they use their first-round pick (No. 28) to land a receiver in a stacked class.This is a long-term move for Buffalo, and it could end up being the right one. Diggs has long had a reputation as a diva, and at some point, his talents were no longer going to balance out the distractions he creates. But the Bills will be worse in 2024 without him, and they can't be commended for backing themselves so thoroughly into a corner that they had to waste a year of prime Josh Allen. How quickly they reinvigorate the weapons around the star quarterback will go a long way in determining how we evaluate this trade in hindsight.Ultimately, the Bills got the bad end of this deal by taking an astronomical dead-money hit, severely weakening an offense that carried them last season, and strengthening one of their main AFC competitors.Grade: CCopyright (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.Last week, bettors got the first signal of the new season approaching as regular-season win-total markets opened.Bettors who think they have an edge on a market with a 3.5% hold and won't be paid out for 10 months immediately weighed in on some of the 32 teams. That lets us see how these teams are ordered, not just relative to their chances of winning the Super Bowl but by how many wins they're expected to record.NFL regular-season win totalsTEAMWin Total (Over odds)Chiefs11.5 (-120)Ravens11.5 (+110)49ers11.5 (+115)Bills10.5 (-130)Bengals10.5 (-125)Lions10.5 (-115)Cowboys10.5 (+100)Eagles10.5 (+110)Dolphins9.5 (-150)Packers9.5 (-140)Falcons9.5 (-140)Texans9.5 (-110)Jets9.5 (+100)Chargers8.5 (-135)Bears8.5 (-125)Jaguars8.5 (-125)Browns8.5 (-120)Rams8.5 (-120)Steelers8.5 (-110)Colts8.5 (+110)Buccaneers7.5 (-150)Seahawks7.5 (-125)Saints7.5 (-120)Vikings6.5 (-140)Raiders6.5 (-140)Cardinals6.5 (-130)Commanders6.5 (-130)Giants6.5 (+110)Titans6.5 (+115)Broncos5.5 (-150)Patriots4.5 (-145)Panthers4.5 (-135)Unsurprisingly, the three favorites for Super Bowl LIX have the highest win totals. The Chiefs went from a 2023 win total of 11.5 (-140) to Super Bowl champions, but they went under with 11 wins, so it makes sense they're being lined the same this offseason - although it may look as though their stock has dropped.As we slowly prepare for the 2024 regular season without the full schedule, let's note which teams are perceived the most differently since they played their last game.Stock rising Regardless of its record at the end of last season, every team was rated by how many wins it would be capable of if the season started today. For example, the Bengals without Joe Burrow would have been considered between an 8- and 8.5-win team if there was a Week 20. It didn't take much insight to assume Cincinnati expects to be better with Burrow under center in 2024. Now that the regular-season win-total market has opened, we know the median expectation for the Bengals is 11 wins.Here are the other big movers from where they were rated at the end of last season (2023 close) to the current regular-season win-total market, after accounting for the juice on either side of a potential bet:TEAM2023 CLOSE2024 win totalDIFF.Falcons6.510.25+3.75Jets79.5+2.5Texans7.259.75+2.5Bears79+2Steelers6.758.75+2Packers8.510+1.5The Falcons' acquisition of Kirk Cousins sent their stock through the roof, and it helps that they play in the worst division in the NFL. The Jets, Steelers, and Bears should all get significantly different quarterback play next season, so there's cautious optimism about those teams.The Packers' and Texans' boosts are built on the expectation that their strong finishes to the season will carry into this year, with each team bringing back much of the same roster around a young quarterback.Stock falling Conversely, some teams' statuses have been downgraded since the 2023 season ended, according to their opening win totals.TEAM2023 CLOSE2024 win totalDIFF.49ers13.2511-2.25Cowboys1210.5-1.5Eagles11.510.25-1.25Ravens12.2511.25-1.0As we noted weekly last year, the 49ers were rated historically high by the end of the season. They won 12 games, but in December, they were considered on the level of a 14-win team. Following their free-agent losses, their win total is lower than last offseason.The Eagles and Cowboys were considered big deals until they lost as favorites in the playoffs. The market has tempered its enthusiasm about those two, along with the Ravens, who had the best 2023 regular-season record.There are fewer massive downward moves than significant climbs because teams like the Patriots, Broncos, and Titans - who had much higher win totals last offseason - had already cratered by the end of 2023.The win-total market will continue to mature once the draft is complete and the full schedule is released. We'll then have a better grasp of how the betting market feels about each team once sportsbooks offer Week 1 and "Game of the Year" spreads.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 Kansas City Chiefs are re-signing running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to a one-year deal, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Edwards-Helaire hit free agency for the first time in his career in 2024 after the Chiefs declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The 2020 32nd overall pick amassed 1,100 scrimmage yards in Year 1 but hasn't been able to replicate that production in recent years.The 24-year-old, who's missed 20 games due to injury since entering the NFL, had a career-low 70 rushing attempts for 223 yards (3.2 per carry) and one touchdown in 15 appearances in 2023 while serving as the team's second option behind Isiah Pacheco. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also set a career high with 75 carries last year.The Chiefs have been looking for running back depth and also met with free agent J.K. Dobbins earlier on Tuesday. The meeting between Kansas City and the former Baltimore Ravens rusher was productive for both sides, according to Nate Taylor of The Athletic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A familiar face could be returning to Lincoln Financial Field this weekend for the 40th annual WrestleMania.WWE reached out to recently retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce about making an appearance at the two-night event, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.WrestleMania XL will take place April 6-7 at Lincoln Financial Field, marking the first time that the event has been held at the Eagles' stadium. Philadelphia previously served as the host city for WrestleMania XV in 1999, which took place at what was then known as First Union Center.The 36-year-old Kelce announced his retirement last month after 13 seasons in the NFL, all of which he spent with the Eagles.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles believes wide receiver Keenan Allen is "an absolute perfect fit" for his team, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune."I don't think there's a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses," Poles said.The Bears acquired Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round pick in March. The veteran wideout had spent his entire 11-year career with the Chargers after the club selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft.Allen has been a quarterback's best friend since entering the league. Only five pass-catchers have more receiving yards since 2013, and he's showed no signs of slowing down. He racked up 1,243 yards in only 13 contests last campaign - the most he's had in a single year since 2017.The 32-year-old will join star wideout D.J. Moore, who set career highs in yards and receptions last year."It balances the field with D.J. on the other side, Cole (Kmet) and (Gerald) Everett at tight end, (D'Andre) Swift at running back. We have a lot of really cool things that can get going and allow us to be dynamic and really special."Allen is entering the final year of the four-year, $80-million extension he signed in 2020. Poles said an agreement to keep Allen in Chicago beyond the 2024 season might come "down the road.""We'll review that and see what our order looks like. But for what he stands for, I would love to have him long term."The 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on April 25 with the Bears owning the No. 1 selection.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Tennessee Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed's trade market wasn't as competitive as most expected, and some attributed that to long-term concerns about his knee.But the former Kansas City Chiefs star shrugged off that idea during his introductory presser Tuesday."Ain't nothing wrong with my knee," Sneed said, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. "I'm fine. I played the whole season. Years before that I played as well."I had a couple (of) problems before, but I'm good right now. Nothing is really wrong with the knee. ... I know what to do with my knee. I'm coming out here to play ball."Sneed suffered a knee injury during the Chiefs' postseason run in the 2022 campaign, though he didn't miss any game time.The veteran sat out a significant portion of 2023's training camp with the injury but suited up for the entire regular season (except when the Chiefs rested their players in Week 18) and the playoffs.While Sneed dismissed concerns, his knee injury "had a real effect" on his trade market and caused a deal with another team to fall through, reports Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star.Tennessee had no such worries, signing Sneed to a reported four-year, $76.4-million deal that includes $55 million guaranteed after acquiring him from the Chiefs for a 2025 third-round pick and a swap of 2024 seventh-round picks.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing quarterback Carson Wentz to a one-year deal, reports Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz.Wentz, 31, is expected to replace Blaine Gabbert as Patrick Mahomes' backup as Kansas City tries to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowl titles.The Chiefs will be Wentz's fifth different team in as many years. The former No. 2 pick played his first five NFL seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-20) before posting short stints with the Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), and Los Angeles Rams (2023).Once considered a top franchise quarterback in the NFL, Wentz joined the Rams midway through the 2023 campaign and started just one game when L.A. rested Matthew Stafford in Week 18.Wentz was an MVP contender in 2017 before suffering a torn ACL in the season's final stretch. He was replaced by Nick Foles, who helped the Eagles win their first-ever Super Bowl title that season. Wentz has lacked consistency since returning from injury and posted an 89.6 passer rating in 66 appearances from 2018-23.Wentz will be Mahomes' third different backup since the 2022 season. The three-time Super Bowl MVP hasn't missed a start due to injury since the 2019 campaign but has battled multiple postseason injuries in his career.He most recently sustained a high ankle sprain in January 2023 in a divisional-round matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Chad Henne entered the game for K.C. in the second quarter and quarterbacked a 12-play, 98-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.Not only did Mahomes return to that contest to start the third quarter, but he also managed to play through his ankle injury in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl LVII triumph over the Eagles.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Haason Reddick is optimistic he'll help an already solid New York Jets defense reach the next level after recently joining the team in a surprising trade from the Philadelphia Eagles."It's going to be fun," the veteran pass-rusher said Monday during his introductory press conference, according to NFL.com's Eric Edholm. "I don't think people are ready for what's going to happen."The Eagles sent Reddick to the Jets last week in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round pick that can become a second-rounder if he plays at least 67.5% of New York's snaps and records 10 or more sacks in 2024.Reddick has hit those milestones in each of the last four seasons, and the 29-year-old thinks he can keep producing at a high level on the Jets, who will be the fourth team of his career."I have a lot left in the tank. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here," he said. "I feel like when I don't have any more left to give, I'll retire. Until that point, I'm going to continue to try to play my best ball."The two-time Pro Bowler is looking for a new deal after not signing an extension with the Eagles, who gave former Jets pass-rusher Bryce Huff a three-year, $51.1-million pact this offseason. Reddick could hit free agency in 2025 but said he won't let his contract situation affect him on the field."Whatever happens, I'm gonna be happy," Reddick said about potentially signing a new contract with the Jets, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I'm gonna give my all no matter what, that's just who I am as a person."A first-round pick in 2017, Reddick had a relatively disappointing start to his NFL career as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, who mostly used him as an off-ball linebacker from 2017-19. Arizona finally decided to use him primarily as an edge rusher in 2020, and the Temple product stood out before hitting free agency and signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers during the 2021 offseason. He then had another double-digit-sack campaign en route to earning a three-year, $45-million contract with the Eagles in 2022.Led by cornerback Sauce Gardner and lineman Quinnen Williams, the Jets boast one of the NFL's best defenses and ranked in the top five for total yards allowed in the last two seasons. Three New York defenders (Gardner, Williams, and Jermaine Johnson) earned Pro Bowl berths in 2023. Gardner, as well as linebacker Quincy Williams, also claimed first-team All-Pro nods.The Jets, however, have struggled offensively. They traded for Aaron Rodgers last year, but the four-time NFL MVP suffered an Achilles injury four snaps into his New York debut. The team ultimately finished the campaign 7-10 and missed the playoffs for a 13th consecutive season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing safety Reed Blankenship to a one-year extension through 2025, the team announced Monday.With the new deal, Blankenship will receive $3.935 million over the next two seasons, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. He can also reportedly earn an extra $1.375 million in incentives.Blankenship started 15 games for the Eagles last year, racking up 113 tackles, three interceptions, 11 passes defended, and a fumble recovery.The 25-year-old's production and 89% defensive snap share were huge improvements on his rookie campaign: He totaled 34 tackles and one interception in 10 games as a first-year player in 2022.Blankenship earned an extra $923,059 for his efforts in 2023 thanks to the performance-based pay program, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. His payout was the second-highest in the league, trailing only Baltimore Ravens guard John Simpson. The fund awards players relative to their playing time and salary.Blankenship, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Sydney Brown are expected to lead the Eagles' safeties in snaps next season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis died Monday at the age of 35, police confirmed to ESPN.Davis was found at a residence in South Florida by the house assistant, who contacted the authorities."Preliminary information suggests that foul play is not involved," Davie police said in a statement, adding that the investigation remains active.

Free-agent running back Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys share mutual interest in reuniting, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Elliott spent the first seven seasons of his career in Dallas after being drafted fourth overall in 2016. The Cowboys released Elliott last offseason amid a decrease in production and Tony Pollard's emergence, and he signed with the New England Patriots.The 28-year-old finished as the Patriots' leading rusher, compiling 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries. However, Elliott's 3.5 yards per attempt marked a career-low and the third straight year that his YPA decreased. He started the last five games of the regular season after Rhamondre Stevenson suffered an ankle injury.The Cowboys lost Pollard in free agency this year as he signed with the Tennessee Titans.Elliott rushed for at least 876 yards in each of his seven seasons with the Cowboys. His best campaign came as a rookie when he posted personal bests in yards (1,631), touchdowns (15), and yards per attempt (5.1).Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon is excited about his team's acquisition of cornerback L'Jarius Sneed."It's a huge get," Carthon said, according to team reporter Jim Wyatt. "It gives you three top-flight corners in him and Chidobe (Awuzie) and Roger (McCreary) that can just flat-out cover people. He matches Chido's energy of being a physical, aggressive corner that can also play in run support. You see a lot of the way (the) game is going with the toss crack, and forcing the corners to come up there and play more in run support, and we have guys who are willing to stick their face in there and tackle people."The trade in which the Titans acquired Sneed and a seventh-round pick from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2025 third-rounder and their seventh-round selection became official on Friday.Carthon said it took due diligence from the Titans' front office and effort from the Chiefs to facilitate the trade."You just remain patient," Carthon said. "You did your due diligence prior to them franchising him, and then when he was franchised, you kind of got a feel on where it could possibly go."The 27-year-old defensive back reportedly agreed to a four-year, $76.4-million deal with $55 million guaranteed on Tuesday.Sneed finished his 2023 campaign with 78 tackles, 14 passes defended, and two interceptions. The fourth-year standout added another 17 total tackles, three deflections, and a forced fumble during the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII run.Tennessee has been among the more proactive franchises since the start of free agency. The Titans signed Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and Lloyd Cushenberry, among others, in an effort to improve their roster after a 6-11 finish in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are trading star pass-rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round pick, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The pick will reportedly become a second-round selection if Reddick plays 67.5% of New York's snaps and records at least 10 sacks in 2024. The 29-year-old has hit both of those milestones in each of the last four campaigns.The Eagles gave Reddick permission to seek a trade in February as he's entering the final season of his current contract. The veteran defender currently doesn't have a new deal with the Jets, according to Schefter, who adds that N.Y. would get a compensatory pick if Reddick leaves in free agency in 2025.New York is expected to take on $14.5 million of Reddick's 2024 compensation, while Philadelphia will be responsible for the $1-million roster bonus he was due in early March, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Reddick has been the Eagles' best edge rusher since joining the team on a three-year, $45-million contract during the 2022 offseason. In two years, the 2017 first-round pick led Philadelphia in sacks twice and combined for 27 sacks while earning two Pro Bowl selections.In 2022, Reddick posted a career year, leading the NFL with five forced fumbles and setting career highs with 26 quarterback hits and 16 sacks. He claimed his first second-team All-Pro nod that season.The Reddick trade marks a significant loss to the Eagles, who will now rely on pass-rushers Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, Brandon Graham, and Nolan Smith, among others. Huff joined the team this year on a three-year, $51-million deal after playing four seasons for the Jets.After losing Huff to free agency, New York was in the market for a veteran edge rusher but recently missed out on Jadeveon Clowney, who signed with the Carolina Panthers. Reddick is the Jets' first main defensive acquisition this offseason and will join a front four headlined by defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson.New York will be the fourth team of Reddick's career, as he's also played for the Arizona Cardinals (2017-20) and Panthers (2021).The Jets, who haven't advanced to the playoffs in 13 years, have been aggressive in 2024. Robert Saleh's outfit made splashes by signing receiver Mike Williams and left tackle Tyron Smith and also traded for right tackle Morgan Moses.New York's defense - the 12th-best in the NFL in scoring in 2023 - ranked in the top five for yards allowed in the last two seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Carolina Panthers pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney played with a chip on his shoulder last season and posted one of the best years of his career after multiple injury-plagued campaigns.The 2014 No. 1 pick, who revived his career on the Baltimore Ravens last year, now wants to prove he has more left in the tank in his age-31 season."That was very important, really for myself because I already knew I could play the game and make plays," Clowney said Friday about his 2023 campaign, according to ESPN's David Newton. "I tell people all the time if I play in 16, 17 games, it's going to look like a Pro Bowl season. That's all I got to do, is just be out there playing."I know I can make the plays no matter what team I'm on. I've just got to be available and take care of myself. The older I get, the more I figure out how to stay healthier."Known for his solid run defense, Clowney tied a career high with 9.5 sacks last year while playing a full season for the first time since 2017. He also had 19 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.Clowney joined Baltimore during the 2023 offseason and decided to start a new personal chapter by changing his jersey number after a disappointing 2022 season on the Cleveland Browns. The South Carolina product picked No. 24 after wearing No. 90 for most of his career, and he thinks the decision paid off."That was my Kobe Bryant year - the return of the killer," said Clowney. "I said Kobe because when I was in Cleveland, a lot of stuff happened my last year there when I didn't have my best season."In Carolina, Clowney plans to wear No. 7, the same number he wore in high school and college.The Panthers will be the sixth team of Clowney's career after the Houston Texans (2014-18), Seattle Seahawks (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020), Browns (2021-22), and Ravens (2023).Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins and running back Raheem Mostert agreed to a contract extension that keeps the rusher with Miami through the 2025 season, his agency announced Friday.It's a new two-year, $9-million deal beginning this season, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Mostert was set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season. He signed a two-year, $5.5-million deal last offseason after playing on a one-year contract with the Dolphins in 2022.The 31-year-old secured his first 1,000-yard rushing season last year and led the league in rushing touchdowns with 18. Mostert has been the Dolphins' leading rusher over the last two campaigns and was a key cog in one of the league's most lethal ground attacks.Mostert has battled injuries for most of his career but has suited up in 31 contests since joining Miami. He has 3,513 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns in 90 career contests.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jayden Daniels said there's nothing wrong with his throwing arm after a picture revealing an ugly look at his right elbow went viral on social media earlier this week.The LSU product - considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft - tweeted that his elbow is "perfectly fine."

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing Foyesade Oluokun to a three-year extension, the linebacker's agency announced Friday.The deal is worth $45 million with $22.5 million guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.Oluokun was entering the final year of a three-year, $45-million deal he signed in 2022 and had no guaranteed salary remaining. The new contract will lock him up through the 2027 campaign.The 28-year-old has been a pillar of the Jaguars' defense since joining. He led the league in tackles in 2022 and has an NFL-best 357 over the last two years.Oluokun was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round in 2018. He spent the first four years of his career in Atlanta before joining the Jaguars in free agency.The Yale product has 819 tackles and 22 passes defended in 98 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk believes he's done enough to warrant a lucrative contract extension."I'm trying to get what I deserve," Aiyuk said on the "Nightcap" podcast. "I feel like this season playing football, I figured out who I was as a person and a player - what I bring to the table, what I bring to the locker room, what I bring to the organization, the value I hold when I walk in that building. People gonna follow me because I've done it the right way since I've been in that building."Aiyuk has been highly productive over the last two seasons and is coming off a career year where he racked up 1,342 receiving yards, 75 catches, and seven touchdowns. His 17.9 yards per reception in 2023 ranked second in the NFL only behind Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens.The 26-year-old has helped the 49ers offense become one of the league's elite units. Since San Francisco drafted Aiyuk in the first round in 2020, the club ranks fourth in EPA/play and offensive success rate.Trade rumors have surrounded Aiyuk this offseason, but 49ers general manager John Lynch said earlier this week that "nothing is going on there," according to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone."We're actively talking with Brandon, trying to figure something out," Lynch said. "I always talk - we have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done to get something done, and it takes two sides. So, can we do that? We'll see."He added, "There's a number of different directions that it could go, but we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we're going to work towards making that a reality."The 49ers' cap situation isn't ideal for a player aiming for a long-term extension. They currently have $7.5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, but are projected to be $23.8 million above the cap limit in 2025, per Over The Cap. Quarterback Brock Purdy is eligible for an extension next offseason.Aiyuk has 3,931 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in 62 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson strongly denied a report stating that he had a heated exchange with head coach Robert Saleh.Colleen Wolfe of NFL Media reported Wednesday on "Around The NFL" that Johnson and Saleh had a "very heated conversation" at the league's owners meetings, citing what she described as a " very reliable source.""It was a little awkward," said Wolfe, who added that she didn't know what led to the reported incident.Johnson blasted the report Thursday on social media.

Defensive tackle Arik Armstead was disappointed by what the San Francisco 49ers offered him before he decided to join the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason."(The 49ers) extended an offer to me of $6 million for a one-year deal with incentives to go up to, like, $8 (million)," Armstead said on the latest edition of his "Third and Long" podcast. "When they sent that over, I did feel extremely disrespected. I don't feel that that level of compensation is nowhere near the type of player that I am."Armstead, who was the longest-tenured player on the 49ers last year, would've had a $17.41-million base salary in 2024 under his previous deal before San Francisco tried to restructure his contract, which would have involved a significant pay cut. The Niners released Armstead after he declined the restructured deal.The 30-year-old then signed a three-year pact worth $43.5 million with the Jaguars in free agency. The deal includes $28 million guaranteed."I wanted to sign a four-year, $80-million contract. That was the goal of mine (at the beginning of the season)," Armstead said. "That's the type of player I feel that I am. And players who are on my caliber, that's what they make."A first-round pick in 2015, Armstead has spent his entire career with the 49ers and was a cornerstone of the team's defense. However, the Oregon product battled several injuries. He's missed 13 regular-season games in the last two years, including five contests in 2023.Armstead recently said he would undergo knee surgery after playing through a torn meniscus during the postseason. The 49ers reached Super Bowl LVIII but fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.Though Armstead didn't want to leave the 49ers, he said he knew it was a possibility."Heading into this season," Armstead said, "I kind of felt like I might play myself out of being in San Francisco. ... I understand the business of football. I can see it would be hard to have two $20-million D-tackles and a $30-million defensive end and all this talent on our team."The 49ers boast one of the NFL's most well-rounded rosters with stars on both sides of the ball. San Francisco players rank in the top three in average annual salary at five different positions. That includes Christian McCaffrey - the league's highest-paid running back - and edge rusher Nick Bosa, who signed a record five-year, $170-million extension last year.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos, the team announced Thursday.The deal is worth up to $14 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Reynolds is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career. The 29-year-old ranked third on the Lions with 608 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions, which tied a career single-season high. He also caught 40 passes on 64 targets.Detroit head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that his team was interested in bringing back Reynolds."We're still in contact with J-Rey," Campbell said, according to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit. "I don't think it's a secret what we think about him as far as (what) type of player he is. The unselfishness, the dirty work, the versatility."Reynolds will presumably start in Denver while joining a wide receiver depth chart headlined by Courtland Sutton. The Broncos also roster second-year wideout Marvin Mims Jr. and Tim Patrick, among others. Sutton led the team with 772 yards and 10 touchdowns on 59 receptions in 2023.Sean Payton and Co. traded former first-round pass-catcher Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason.The Broncos will be the fourth team of Reynolds' career. The 2017 fourth-round pick played his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and then had a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 before joining the Lions.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms with European rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, a source told ESPN's Adam Teicher.Rees-Zammit is reportedly expected to have an initial role as a running back and potentially wide receiver. He worked out and impressed the Chiefs' coaching staff earlier this week, according to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz, who was the first to report the agreement between Kansas City and its new dynamic playmaker.The Wales native also visited the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, and New York Jets.Rees-Zammit could become a key contributor to the Chiefs' special teams unit as a kick returner under the NFL's new kickoff format.The 23-year-old announced his intention to quit rugby in a surprising move in January. Speed won't be an issue for him in the NFL, as he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash last week during the league's international player pathway pro day. He also posted a 29-inch vertical.NFL teams expanded their practice squads in 2024 to include a 17th roster spot for one international player.Owners of one of football's most creative offenses, the Chiefs had a down 2023 regular season largely due to their struggles at wide receiver. Kansas City had the most dropped passes by wideouts in the league last year. However, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Co. stepped up in the playoffs and led K.C. to its second consecutive Super Bowl title.Here's what the Chiefs will be getting from their new offensive weapon:

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen believes quarterback Bryce Young was put in a challenging situation in his rookie season."I think everything was stacked against him last year, unfortunately," Thielen said on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football.""And I'm not gonna get into detail why that was, but I'm just really excited for him to have a fresh start, an ability to have a good coaching staff that is gonna put a good plan together to help him be successful, and also to put people around him to help him be successful."Young did not live up to expectations in 2023, going 2-14 in 16 starts with 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Carolina traded multiple first-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore for the right to draft the Alabama product first overall in 2023.Carolina's struggles led to a series of in-season moves that complicated matters for Young. In mid-October, former head coach Frank Reich surrendered play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to try and spark the offense.Reich reassumed those duties a month later but lasted just two games before owner David Tepper fired him after a 1-10 start to the year."His maturity level over the season was really cool to see. And his ability to handle adversity," Thielen said."I don't know how much adversity Bryce has had over his football career, and to handle the amount of adversity he did, to show up every week, week in, week out, put his head down and work, try to lead to the best of his ability was really impressive, and (that) makes me excited about Year 2 with him."The Panthers completely reworked the infrastructure around Young for his second season. They hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their new bench boss, and Canales also brought in a variety of new coaches to work with Young. Canales and the Bucs staff helped revive quarterback Baker Mayfield's career in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins is scheduled to visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, his agency told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Dobbins spent the first four years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens after entering the league as a second-round pick in 2020. He has battled significant injuries, suiting up in only 24 regular-season games.The Ohio State product's most recent ailment was a torn Achilles suffered in Week 1 of last season. Dr. Neal ElAttrache wrote a letter to select teams Tuesday stating Dobbins has been cleared for all football activities and looks "outstanding," according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.When healthy, Dobbins has been very productive. He's averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 234 attempts in his career and is still only 25 years old. In February, Los Angeles hired a new offensive coordinator in Greg Roman, who served in the same position for three of Dobbins' four years in Baltimore.Los Angeles signed former Ravens running back Gus Edwards to a two-year deal this offseason. Austin Ekeler, who had been the Chargers' full-time starting rusher since 2020, inked a deal with the Washington Commanders in March. Isaiah Spiller and Edwards are the only running backs L.A. has under contract.Head coach Jim Harbaugh is looking to revamp the Chargers' rushing attack, which hasn't ranked in the top 20 in yards since 2020.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Premier 2024 quarterback prospect Jayden Daniels honored his former LSU teammate Greg Brooks Jr., who was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer last year, by donning his name and number at his pro day Wednesday.

Malik Nabers put on a show during his pro day Wednesday, and the LSU wide receiver hopes it'll help prove he's the best pass-catcher in the 2024 NFL Draft.Nabers, who ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash and posted a 42-inch vertical, said Wednesday that he's "very aware" of debate regarding who's the top wideout in the 2024 class involving him, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Rome Odunze, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk."I care about it a lot," Nabers added.

The Carolina Panthers announced Wednesday they signed veteran pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney.Terms were not announced, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the deal is for two years and $20 million. It reportedly also includes $4 million in incentives.Clowney - a South Carolina native - tied a career high with 9.5 sacks last season and was a key member of the Baltimore Ravens' top-ranked defense. Baltimore was interested in bringing him back in 2024. The 31-year-old also recently visited the New York Jets, who have been looking to add to their pass-rushing rotation after losing Bryce Huff to free agency."He spoke with Ravens. He also liked his visit with (the) Jets. Both places were fits, but the Panthers pursued the hardest. This is a special day for us," Clowney's wife, Najah, told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.By signing Clowney, the Panthers addressed a major need this year. Carolina, which recently traded star pass-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants, also tried to sign defensive end Chase Young before he joined the New Orleans Saints.None of the Panthers' three sack leaders in 2023 - Burns, Frankie Luvu, and Yetur Gross-Matos - will be back with the team in 2024. In addition to Clowney, Carolina has also signed edge rushers K'Lavon Chaisson and D.J. Wonnum.The Panthers will be the sixth team of Clowney's career. The former first overall pick has also had stints with the Houston Texans (2014-18), Seattle Seahawks (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020), and Cleveland Browns (2021-22).Clowney, who's a three-time Pro Bowler, has amassed 52.5 sacks in 126 appearances since entering the NFL. The South Carolina product has battled several injuries throughout his career but did manage to play all 17 games for Baltimore in 2023.An established defender against the run, Clowney has never topped double-digit sacks in a single season. However, he's now posted at least nine sacks in two of the last three campaigns.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ja'Marr Chase became eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to discuss a new deal with the star wide receiver."I can't say for sure where any of it will go," Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said Wednesday, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "But we certainly are going to study up on it and see what we can figure out to try to get the best result we can for the club one way or another."Chase likely wants to wait until Justin Jefferson signs an extension with the Minnesota Vikings before he begins negotiations, notes Conway.The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the NFL's best wideouts since being drafted fifth overall in 2021. Chase has averaged 101 catches for 1,404 yards and 11 touchdowns per 17 games played. He was named 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of his NFL seasons.Jefferson - Chase's teammate at LSU and a first-round pick in 2020 - is expected to reset the wide receiver market with his eventual extension. Since 2021, Jefferson ranks second behind only Tyreek Hill with 4,499 receiving yards. Chase places seventh on that list with 3,717.Chase isn't the only star Bengals receiver looking to cash in, though. Tee Higgins - a two-time 1,000-yard wideout - recently requested a trade after Cincinnati used the franchise tag to keep him off the open market at the end of his rookie contract."The plan is to certainly get through this year," Blackburn said of Higgins' contract situation, according to Conway. "Our job is to get to these next phases, start looking at the whole overall roster, and see how we can fit everything together."In September, the Bengals rewarded quarterback Joe Burrow with a five-year extension worth a record $275 million. Cincinnati already parted ways with Joe Mixon this offseason, trading its longtime running back to the Houston Texans.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York is aware a potential record-breaking contract extension for Brock Purdy is on the horizon."It's what the market is," York said at the NFL owners meetings, according to Cam Inman of The Mercury News. "Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before."Purdy signed a three-year, $3.7-million rookie deal when he was selected with the last pick in the 2022 draft. He's eligible for a contract extension next offseason and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.The 24-year-old has a $1.04-million cap hit in 2024, ranking 67th among signal-callers, according to Spotrac, He's the third-highest-paid quarterback on the 49ers this season and ranks behind players such as Aidan O'Connell, Sam Ehlinger, and Nathan Peterman.Purdy has excelled since taking over the starting job in 2022. He has a 17-4 record in 21 contests, helping lead the 49ers to the conference championship in 2022 and the Super Bowl last campaign. Out of 25 signal-callers who have taken at least 700 snaps over the last two years, Purdy ranks first in EPA/play and success rate.The 49ers have dished out a record-breaking quarterback contract in the past, making Jimmy Garoppolo the highest-paid player at the position in 2018 with a five-year, $137.5-million deal."To me, the quarterback is the most important position not just in football, but all of sports, and those guys should be paid a lot of money," York said.He added: "When we signed Jimmy several years ago, it was the largest deal in the history of the NFL, for three minutes," York said. "But Jimmy was at ($27.5 million). That's what the market is, and you have to accept the reality of the world."Purdy has 5,645 passing yards with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in his career.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is considering taking over offensive play-calling duties next season."It's something I'm looking into," Daboll said at the NFL owners meetings, according to team writer Michael Eisen. "I think there's 20 head coaches at this point in time that call plays in the league. ... There might (even) be a little bit more."I've been doing a bunch of research, but no decision has been made. I'm still going through that process, thinking about what we need to do."Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has been the primary play-caller since Daboll hired him in 2022. In February, he was named assistant head coach and received head coaching interviews from the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans this offseason.Kafka flourished in his first season as New York's offensive coordinator. The Giants went 9-7-1 in 2022 en route to a spot in the divisional round after upsetting the Minnesota Vikings on Wild-Card Weekend. Kafka's offense exceeded expectations, ranking ninth in EPA/play, with quarterback Daniel Jones having a career year.However, New York's offense took a step back last season, ranking 31st in offensive success rate and struggling to move the ball. Injuries played a factor, with three signal-callers attempting at least 160 passes.Daboll most recently called plays for the Buffalo Bills from 2018-2021. He helped develop star quarterback Josh Allen and was a key component of one of the league's best offenses in his final year."Certainly," Daboll responded when asked if he misses calling plays. "I did it for a long time. There's a lot of things that go into it. ... I take my time and do what I think is best for the team."Daboll is 15-18-1 in two seasons as New York's head coach.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams are signing former Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, his agents confirmed to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The Rams were one of the few teams White visited before his new agreement. He was also reportedly hosted by the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders.The Bills released White earlier this offseason after seven seasons.White will be working his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered in October, which ended his 2023 campaign after just four games.A two-time Pro Bowler, White was once one of the game's most productive cornerbacks but has struggled to stay healthy in recent years. He's played only 10 games since 2022 after a torn ACL ended his 2021 campaign and delayed his 2022 on-field debut.White has a connection to the Rams: Their team doctor Neal ElAttrache repaired his torn Achilles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 29-year-old has recorded 18 career interceptions, including a league-high six in 2019.He's the second significant addition the Rams have made at cornerback this offseason following their signing of Darious Williams earlier in free agency.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys have yet to offer quarterback Dak Prescott a contract extension, and there's no indication a deal is coming, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.There's a mutual understanding from both sides, Rapoport adds.Prescott is set to enter the final season of a four-year, $160-million extension he signed in 2021. The contract includes a no-trade or tag clause, and if the two sides don't agree on a deal, he'll become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.The 30-year-old is scheduled to have a $55.4-million cap hit in 2024. His enormous cap hit is a big reason why the Cowboys have been unable to spend money in free agency, as the club currently ranks 29th in 2024 cap space.Dallas and Prescott were reportedly expected to negotiate a new deal this offseason. However, owner Jerry Jones said in early March that a fresh contract wasn't something the team needed to get done."We don't need to (extend Prescott), but we can if everybody wants to solve it," Jones said at the NFL combine, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "If you can't, what we have in place works."Prescott is coming off a tremendous 2023 regular season, throwing for 4,516 yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns. His efficiency numbers were off the charts, ranking second in success rate and EPA/play out of 30 qualified quarterbacks, according to Ben Baldwin's database.However, Prescott's inability to lead Dallas far in the playoffs struck again last campaign. He threw two crucial interceptions in the club's wild-card round defeat to the Green Bay Packers and now owns a 2-5 record in the postseason."I think there are a handful or more of quarterbacks playing who haven't won a Super Bowl that will win a Super Bowl. I think Dak is one of them. I'm firm there," Jones said Sunday, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Prescott has a 73-41 record in 114 starts as the Cowboys starting quarterback.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Harbaugh may be the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, but that doesn't mean he's been living up in the Hollywood Hills.The Chargers head coach revealed that he's been living in a RV since being hired by the franchise earlier this year."It's been great," Harbaugh said to MLive's Kyle Meinke. "Just being myself. I always wanted to do that. It worked out great. I'm 100 feet from (offensive coordinator) Greg Roman, who has a really, really good RV."While Harbaugh says his time living in an RV has been "awesome," he's looking forward to reuniting with his family in a California home soon."Now that's coming to an end - happily coming to an end - because my family is coming to California," Harbaugh added. "They're all here on this trip, and we're all going to California together. We'll be moving into our rental house, and that's even better."Harbaugh took the NFL job after his nine-season run at Michigan culminated in a College Football Playoff National Championship.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with former Atlanta Falcons returner Cordarrelle Patterson on a two-year contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The two-year deal is worth $6 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.The signing comes on the heels of the NFL approving a new kickoff format for 2024, which was implemented to increase the number of returns.Patterson is one of the most dangerous return men of all time with an NFL-record nine kickoff return touchdowns over his career. He's recorded over 1,000 return yards on kickoffs in three seasons and twice led the league in kickoff return yardage. Additionally, he's scored at least one return touchdown in seven of his 11 NFL seasons.The 33-year-old also brings versatility to the Steelers' offense. After initially entering the NFL as a wide receiver, he's predominantly played running back over his last three seasons with the Falcons.He'll reunite with former Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who's now the Steelers' offensive coordinator.Patterson recorded 1,494 rushing yards across three campaigns in Atlanta and also added 82 receptions for 708 yards.A first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, Patterson has also notched four Pro Bowl invites and four All-Pro selections as a returner.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

HBO's in-season version of "Hard Knocks" is getting a new format.The show will now focus on a division rather than one team, the NFL's chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp said, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.The NFL expects to decide which division HBO will focus on in about a month, according to Art Stapleton of USA Today.League proponents wanted the change to help lighten the load on one specific team, help producers with storytelling, and ease competitive concerns, per Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal.The 2024 campaign will be the fourth year HBO has done an in-season edition. The Indianapolis Colts (2021), Arizona Cardinals (2022), and Miami Dolphins (2023) were previously featured. The training camp edition has aired since 2001.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan is preparing to deploy newly acquired wide receiver Calvin Ridley the same way the Cincinnati Bengals utilize star wideout Ja'Marr Chase."You're looking at a very similar role that Ja'Marr played in terms of his ability to move, move around the formation, use him in motion," Callahan told Kevin Clark of ESPN. "(Ridley has) got such a unique skill set. He's got great quickness, he's got great speed."Callahan added: "I'm excited about that, finding where he fits. But if you looked at how we used Ja'Marr, there's gonna be some similarities in how we use Calvin."Callahan was Chase's offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. The 24-year-old has been one of the NFL's most productive pass-catchers over the last three seasons, totaling 268 catches for 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns in 45 career games.Ridley led the Jacksonville Jaguars in receiving yards (1,016) and touchdowns (eight) last year. He'll be tasked with helping a Titans air attack that ranked 29th in passing yards per game in 2023.Ridley will be paired with quarterback Will Levis, who's set to enter his first season as the full-time starter after taking over the reins in Week 8 last year. Callahan expressed the importance of them getting on the same page."The time on task is important ... There's a million different things that go into the nuance of the routes and what the quarterback sees to what the receiver sees," he said. "The more conversations you have like that in the offseason, the more chances are that it just starts to happen when you play."Callahan is taking over for Mike Vrabel after the Titans went 6-11 last season. The 39-year-old Callahan helped produce two top-10 scoring offenses in five years as the Bengals' offensive coordinator.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans are signing cornerback L'Jarius Sneed to a four-year, $76.4-million deal that includes $55 million guaranteed and a $20-million signing bonus, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Sneed was recently traded to Tennessee after being franchise tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs. The deal matches what Sneed was expected to sign shortly after being dealt to the Titans, per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz.Sneed's $19.1-million average ranks sixth at his position, trailing Jaire Alexander, Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, Marlon Humphrey, and Trevon Diggs, according to Spotrac.However, Sneed's guarantees rank fourth among corners, coming in behind Ward, Humphrey, and Lattimore, per Spotrac.The 27-year-old totaled 17 total tackles, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble during the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning playoff run in 2023.Sneed has appeared in 57 games, making 54 starts, since being selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech. He owns 303 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 40 pass deflections, and four forced fumbles.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL approved several minor rule changes in addition to the radical new kickoff format on Tuesday, including moving the trade deadline back one week, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The cutoff to make trades will now come on the Tuesday following Week 9 games. The deadline for the 2024 season will be Nov. 5.Teams can now promote practice-squad passers to the active roster for games to fill the emergency third-quarterback role as often as needed. Previously, the emergency signal-caller couldn't be a practice-squad elevation.Clubs will now also have an unlimited number of designated for return transactions in the postseason.In addition to these updates, there'll now be a replay review anytime there's objective evidence that the game clock expired before a team snapped the ball. This previously wasn't reviewable in any capacity.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners voted to approve a new kickoff format Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The format will be implemented for the 2024 campaign and revisited next offseason.It's inspired by the setup that the XFL used before it merged with the USFL.

The New Orleans Saints are preparing for the possibility that offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk won't be medically able to play in 2024 because of knee issues, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Head coach Dennis Allen said Ramczyk's knee could be a concern entering the season because it isn't where they hoped after surgery, according to New Orleans Football Network's Nick Underhill.Ramczyk played in 12 games a year ago before finishing the season on injured reserve. The 29-year-old is dealing with a cartilage defect in his knee.The 6-foot-6, 314-pounder was one of the league's most consistent tackles from 2018-20, earning a first-team All-Pro berth in 2019 as well as two second-team All-Pro nods. However, he's missed 13 games over the last three seasons.Ramczyk has spent his entire career with the Saints after being selected with the No. 32 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank insists that his team didn't break league rules while pursuing quarterback Kirk Cousins during free agency.The NFL is investigating whether or not the Falcons violated league rules when they signed Cousins earlier this month. It's also probing the Philadelphia Eagles' agreement with Saquon Barkley for potential tampering."I know there was no tampering from our standpoint," Blank said, according to USA Today's Jarrett Bell. "Whatever conversation there was was very innocent. We'll see. Whatever the league decides, we'll deal with it."The examination comes after Cousins, who's rehabbing a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 campaign, revealed that he spoke with the team's trainer and head of public relations a day before the start of free agency. NFL rules allow agents to meet with teams during the two-day negotiation window, but players are not eligible to speak to team officials during what's also known as the legal tampering period.Cousins was one of the most coveted free agents before the Falcons handed him a four-year, $180-million deal, which includes $100 million in guaranteed money. The four-time Pro Bowler spent the previous six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings."There was nothing intentional," Blank said. "Minnesota understands that. The player understands that."The Falcons have reshaped their roster ahead of their first season under head coach Raheem Morris. Former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason, so Cousins is expected to lead an offense that features young starters such as Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite granting the quarterback permission to seek a trade, the New York Jets aren't ruling out bringing back Zach Wilson."If we don't trade him, we're going to keep him," Jets owner Woody Johnson told reporters Monday, including ESPN's Rich Cimini.Johnson also described Wilson as a "valuable asset," contrasting the owner's February comments when he said New York needed "a backup quarterback. We didn't have one last year." However, Johnson appeared to walk back those remarks Monday, saying it wasn't fair to blame one person for the team's offensive struggles in 2023.Although Johnson said New York could keep Wilson on the roster, he acknowledged that the 2021 second overall pick might benefit from a fresh start with a new team."He needs to be in a place where he can observe for a while. He's got the skill. He can do everything. There's a reason we drafted him No. 2 overall, and I have confidence that he'll get there at some point," Johnson said.Wilson hasn't gotten much downtime to watch and learn in his first three NFL seasons. The Jets elevated Wilson into the starting role during his 2021 rookie campaign, and the signal-caller compiled 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He was also sacked 44 times.The former BYU passer recorded 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 60.1% completion rate in 2023 after starter Aaron Rodgers sustained a torn Achilles just four snaps into the campaign's first game. New York benched Wilson for the season's final two contests.Jets general manager Joe Douglas said Monday that while the team has discussed trading Wilson, "nothing is close" to being done.New York is optimistic about Rodgers' progress from his season-ending injury. The club also signed Tyrod Taylor in free agency to upgrade the backup quarterback position.Wilson will earn $5.45 million guaranteed in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 and is set to account for an $11.1-million cap hit, according to Over the Cap.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants co-owner John Mara is giving the team the go-ahead to draft a signal-caller in the first round."If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it's worth pick No. 6 or moving up, I certainly would support that," Mara told reporters Monday, including ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Mara added that the Giants' front office told him this year's draft class is the "most talented group (of quarterbacks) to come out in years.""They've gone to some of the pro day, we've had some of those guys in. I don't think they're even close to making a final determination yet as to which way we're going to go on that," Mara said.New York holds the No. 6 overall selection in a draft headlined by several talented passers, including Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy, among others.However, Mara said he's still confident in quarterback Daniel Jones, who's recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2023 campaign early. Jones signed a four-year, $160-million extension in the previous offseason before posting just two touchdowns and six interceptions in six games last campaign. Head coach Brian Daboll recently confirmed that the former first-round pick will remain the starter to begin next season if he's healthy.New York also added Drew Lock to the QB room for insurance behind Jones.Mara said he doesn't envision a problem with Jones competing against a rookie for the starting role ahead of the 2024 campaign."Why not let them both compete? Let them both compete and let the better man win," the owner added.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday that his team hasn't engaged in trade discussions involving Brandon Aiyuk and is "actively talking" with the star receiver about an extension."There are a number of different directions it can go," Lynch said, according to David Lombardi and Matt Barrows of The Athletic. "But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we're going to work towards making that a reality."Aiyuk has been the subject of trade rumors ever since his girlfriend and friend both posted on social media about a potential exit from San Francisco shortly after the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.The wideout fueled speculation further last week when he posted on X about Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.