The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to contract terms with free-agent quarterback Nick Mullens, the team announced Monday.Mullens, who started 16 games over the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, will join Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco in the Eagles' quarterbacks room.The former undrafted free agent turned heads in 2018 when he threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns in his NFL debut against the then-Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football.The Southern Miss product has played well at times since that dazzling debut, but he wasn't able to establish himself as a quality starter when the opportunity arose in San Francisco.Mullens has thrown for 4,714 yards with 25 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 19 career appearances. Presumably, he'll compete with Flacco for the primary backup role in Philadelphia.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyrann Mathieu is defending his head coach.Mathieu responded to free-agent running back Le'Veon Bell's comments that he'd rather retire than play for Kansas City Chiefs sideline boss Andy Reid again.

NFL teams will head into training camp in just over six weeks to begin preparations for the 2021 season.While the majority of player movement is in the rear-view mirror, there are a handful of notable free agents still trying to find their next NFL home.Here, we predict where the biggest names will sign:Richard Sherman Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySherman is arguably the most surprising inclusion on this list. The veteran is admittedly past his prime and missed 11 games last season due to a calf injury, but he was a second-team All-Pro for the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. The 33-year-old cornerback should still be, at worst, a competent starter, as his game has always been based more on smarts rather than physical tools.The New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys have previously been rumored as landing spots for Sherman. However, Dallas loaded up on cornerbacks in the draft, and Las Vegas added several seasoned options recently. If a spot with a contender doesn't materialize, the next best bet for Sherman is reuniting with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.Prediction: Signs with JetsTodd GurleyGurley's fall from superstar to borderline starter has been historically dramatic, with the former Los Angeles Rams running back going from winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 to averaging 3.5 yards per carry with the Atlanta Falcons last season. But Gurley could still be a valuable asset to a team that can set its expectations based on who he is now rather than who he used to be.The veteran back has reportedly met with the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens recently, and the latter is a far more preferable landing spot. Baltimore's depth at the position would allow Gurley to take on a less taxing role, and while his receiving skills have waned, he would still be the best pass-catcher in the AFC North club's backfield.Prediction: Signs with RavensLe'Veon Bell Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyBell couldn't resurrect his career with the Kansas City Chiefs last season despite being part of the NFL's most prolific offense. While Bell is still blaming his surroundings for his declining production, his days as a star are almost certainly done. Moreover, Bell's unwillingness to acknowledge his shortcomings and desire to regain the type of workload he had with the Pittsburgh Steelers could limit his options.The Falcons don't have much depth behind Mike Davis ahead of transitioning to head coach Arthur Smith's run-heavy scheme. The Miami Dolphins similarly could use more bodies behind Myles Gaskin after opting not to take a rusher with a high pick. And at 29 years old, Bell might realistically struggle to even find another job in the NFL.Prediction: Signs with DolphinsK.J. WrightWhile Wright began to show signs of decline last season, with inconsistent tackling being the most glaring issue, he remains an above-average linebacker who excels in coverage. A few teams don't need better play against the pass from their linebackers, but it seems most are looking to go the younger, cheaper route at the position. Wright, meanwhile, will turn 32 in July.The longtime Seattle Seahawks standout was intent on joining the Cowboys, but that door has seemingly closed after Dallas drafted Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox. While the Indianapolis Colts have reportedly shown interest after losing Anthony Walker in free agency, their offer likely wouldn't be significant ahead of Darius Leonard's major payday. Wright will ultimately realize his best option is to head home.Prediction: Signs with SeahawksMelvin Ingram Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIngram's continued unemployment isn't a surprise. The South Carolina product's been a solid pass-rusher in the past, but clubs are likely concerned since he failed to register a single sack last season before an injury ended his year after just seven games. It will likely take a veteran lineman going down in training camp for Ingram's market to heat up.The Dolphins and Chiefs both hosted the 32-year-old in May. A return to the Los Angeles Chargers could also make sense now that Ingram's price tag will likely be more palatable. However, Miami is also a logical fit - the options of rookie Jaelen Phillips and Emmanuel Ogbah are underwhelming.Prediction: Signs with DolphinsAdrian PetersonPeterson continues to fight back harder against Father Time than anyone in the NFL not named Tom Brady. After two solid seasons in Washington, the 36-year-old had 604 yards and seven touchdowns for the Lions in 2020. Peterson needs just 450 more to pass Barry Sanders for fourth on the all-time rushing list, so it's a given he will try and play at least one more campaign.However, finding a landing spot for him is hard. Peterson's lack of receiving skills makes him an awkward fit as a No. 2, but he will almost certainly need to take on a backup role to an established starter, perhaps Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants or Austin Ekeler of the Chargers. But perhaps the Oklahoma product's best chance of earning a ring and getting enough work to pass Sanders could be with the run-happy Seahawks.Prediction: Signs with GiantsSteven Nelson Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Steelers granted Nelson's request to be released in May. It was assumed the cornerback wouldn't be on the market for long, as he boasts significant starting experience across six seasons for Pittsburgh and Kansas City. But it seems Nelson, who was set to earn $8.25 million in 2021, is waiting for someone to meet his contract demands.The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals are two teams that could benefit from a solid veteran addition at corner, but the Buffalo Bills will likely be in the mix for Nelson, as well. While Buffalo does already have a solid cornerback group led by Tre'Davious White, usurping the Chiefs is the priority, and that will require as strong a secondary as possible.Prediction: Signs with BillsJustin HoustonOnce one of the most feared pass-rushers in the NFL, Houston is now in the twilight of his career. But the 32-year-old, who has at least eight sacks in each of the last four seasons, should still be capable of making a significant impact as a secondary option for a contender.The possibility of returning to his former squad ended after the Colts used a first-round pick on Kwity Paye. However, the Minnesota Vikings could use some insurance with Danielle Hunter coming off an injury. Houston's other likely options are joining the Ravens or returning to the Chiefs. Both AFC teams have plenty of defensive ends but should be intent on fielding the strongest defense possible to help their star quarterbacks.Prediction: Signs with RavensGolden Tate Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyTate's production has steadily dropped off over the past three seasons. The 32-year-old had 795 yards while splitting time between the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 before producing 676 and 388 yards in 2019 and 2020, respectively, for the New York Giants. With an influx of young talent at wide receiver across the league, Tate will likely have to wait until camps begin to find a new home.A return to Detroit, which is severely lacking in weapons for Jared Goff after letting Kenny Golladay walk, could also make sense. If the Bears do trade Anthony Miller, Tate would be a decent replacement in the slot. But Atlanta needs another wide receiver behind Calvin Ridley after trading Julio Jones and now has the cap space to make some minor veteran moves.Prediction: Signs with FalconsCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ex-Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell is doubling down after he wrote on Instagram that he'd rather retire than play for Kansas City head coach Andy Reid again.Although the free-agent rusher didn't explain the remarks Sunday, he said he doesn't regret his words despite wishing he would've kept them private.

The Miami Dolphins and linebacker Jerome Baker have agreed to a three-year, $39-million contract extension, his agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal includes $28.4 million guaranteed.Baker led the Dolphins in tackles in each of the last two seasons, eclipsing the 100-tackle benchmark both years. He notched seven sacks in 2020, ranking second on the team.Baker, 24, was scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season. Miami selected the Ohio State product in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft."I want to play here the rest of my career," he told reporters Friday, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "I love it here. I love the fans, I love the organization. I love everyone here. I can definitely see myself playing here a long time."The Dolphins shuffled their linebacker corps this offseason, acquiring Benardrick McKinney to start alongside Baker in the middle of the defense.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey has settled on No. 5 as his new jersey number after moving on from No. 20.The All-Pro defender flirted with the idea of taking No. 2 earlier in the offseason, but the Rams assigned that to wide receiver Robert Woods, who switched from 17. Ramsey has been sporting No. 5 at Rams minicamp.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry not only believes teammate Odell Beckham Jr. will successfully recover from a torn ACL, but he's optimistic Beckham will return in an improved form."He's even better than he was last year," Landry said of Beckham before the former's celebrity softball game Saturday, according to the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich.Landry and Beckham were among multiple Browns players who worked out with quarterback Baker Mayfield in Texas this past week."(Beckham) looked amazing," Landry added, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "I can't wait for you guys to see him. I can't wait for him to get back out there.""... He's already doing some things that will blow your mind away," he continued.Beckham underwent surgery last November to repair a torn ACL suffered during a game in October. The 28-year-old is expected to be on the field for Cleveland's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 12, according to Cabot.The three-time Pro Bowler - who topped 1,000 receiving yards during his first year with the Browns in 2019 - was held to 23 catches, 319 yards, and three touchdown grabs over seven appearances last season. Beckham has now failed to receive a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past four campaigns.Landry and Beckham, who have been playing together in Cleveland since the 2019 season, also shared the field at LSU.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will Fuller is settling in nicely with the Miami Dolphins after inking a one-year deal to join the team in free agency."Ever since I've been here, it's been great," the former Houston Texans wide receiver said Friday, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com. "I love the culture here. It's just been easy to be here. Like I said, I've been in the building as much as I can. I enjoy being here. I'm happy the Dolphins took a chance on me."Miami gave Fuller a $10-million contract to bolster a receiving corps that struggled in 2020. The Dolphins also drafted Jaylen Waddle sixth overall and will add the two speedsters to a group that already features DeVante Parker and Preston Williams."You can't teach speed, and we do have that on this team," said Fuller. "Not just me and Waddle, there are other players with speed, too. It's going to be fun. We're going to do what the coaches ask of us, and we just going to be playing fast, and we going to make some stuff happen."Fuller was in the midst of a career year last season, posting 879 yards and eight touchdowns across 11 contests, before being suspended six games for a failed drug test. He'll serve the end of his ban in Week 1 of the 2021 campaign and debut against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.The Dolphins went 10-6 last year but ranked 22nd in offense and missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. Along with the changes out wide, Miami shook up its offensive coaching staff, naming Eric Studesville and George Godsey co-coordinators to take over for Chan Gailey.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons' trade of wideout Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans wasn't just a megadeal with the potential to alter both franchises' near-term fortunes. It also represents a fascinating case study in modern NFL salary-cap dynamics.Before making the deal, the Titans had just $3.1 million in cap space for 2021. Nevertheless, they were able to take on the entire remainder of Jones' existing contract, which includes a fully guaranteed $15.3 million next season. Tennessee accomplished this feat by restructuring quarterback Ryan Tannehill's deal, which freed up $18.4 million in 2021 cap space. Tannehill didn't have to take a pay cut, and the Titans don't have to pay him an additional cent. Presto!This sort of balance-sheet gimmickry - and the ease with which teams can wield it - prompts a sequence of questions: Does the NFL's salary cap even matter? If so, when and why?"Basically, in the short term, the cap is meaningless," Over The Cap founder Jason Fitzgerald told theScore. "Anyone can make moves to get cap compliant, sign a player, and so on. Long term, it's more difficult if you do it over and over and over again."Why this is so: A salary restructure is the simple act of moving money around by borrowing cap resources from a given year and incrementally stretching the payouts into future seasons. It's a short-term solution, but the consequences create the potential for long-term problems. Carmen Mandato / Getty ImagesThis is going to get a bit math-y, but take what Tennessee did with Tannehill. He was set to earn $24.5 million in salary in 2021, with a $29.5-million cap hit. However, they converted $23 million of that salary into a signing bonus, thereby reducing Tannehill's salary to $1.5 million, or just above the league minimum for a veteran with seven or more accrued seasons. As a result, the Titans were able to spread the bonus across the remainder of Tannehill's contract, rather than have it all count in 2021. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team also added two voidable years to Tannehill's contract, which is set to expire after the 2023 campaign, to spread the bonus even further.As a result, the cap accounting for that $23 million converted bonus is prorated in annual installments of $4.6 million for the next five seasons. Tannehill's 2021 cap number was thus reduced to $11.1 million in 2021, which breaks down to $1.5 million in salary, $4.6 million in bonus proration, and $5 million in proration from the $20-million signing bonus he received when he signed his new deal in March 2020. That's $18.4 million in cap 2021 savings, but that money will have to be accounted for in future years.Per Over The Cap, Tannehill's 2022 and 2023 cap numbers now stand at $38.6 million and $36.6 million, respectively, but the addition of those voidable years gives the Titans the option to kick the can even further down the road if need be. Tannehill is 33, but Tennessee is clearly counting on him to remain its quarterback for years to come.As it happens, the Falcons are a perfect example of what Fitzgerald meant when he described the long-term implications of repeatedly playing chicken with the cap. Part of the reason Atlanta traded Jones was its own cap situation; it had become so untenable that the team had no option to move any money around to create any more cap space.Before trading Jones, the Falcons had less than $400,000 in cap room, which wasn't enough to pay sixth-round pick Frank Darby, let alone the other seven selections from this year's draft class. Atlanta had also restructured its deals with several of its most expensive veterans, including quarterback Matt Ryan, left tackle Jake Matthews, and linebacker Deion Jones, in addition to getting edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to take a pay cut.Even though he was traded, Jones will still take up $7.75 million of cap resources for Atlanta in 2021, plus an additional $15.5 million in 2022. That's not money the Falcons will be paying Jones, but rather just the bookkeeping for what he's already received from the organization. The Falcons only waited until now to trade him so that they could massage his $23.25 million in cap accounting across two years instead of one. The bills always come due eventually.The salary cap is yoked to league revenues, and the 8% reduction in the 2021 cap due to the pandemic created a bit of a shock for teams that had grown accustomed to consistent cap growth. Between 2013 and 2020, the cap rose by an average of $10.7 million per year. Pandemic-related progress, along with the addition of a 17th game and the new television contracts that are slated to kick in beginning in 2023, should set the cap back on an upward trajectory in the years ahead. This ought to soften the blow somewhat for teams that keep pushing more and more of the cap's impact forward. Kevin C. Cox / Getty ImagesThe cap seems to matter less than it used to, for a few reasons. The rookie pay scale that went into effect in 2011 prevented teams from having their hands tied by expensive, lengthy deals going to unproven players while also providing a cost-efficient way for teams to restock their rosters with younger, fresher talent."You can't understate how much the rookie wage scale changed the game," Fitzgerald said. "That protected teams from themselves."The New Orleans Saints are the team most notorious for playing roulette with the cap. Yet one of the primary reasons the Saints remained a consistent playoff threat in recent years is their fantastic 2017 draft class, which provided a ton of surplus value and only now is aging into veteran contract status. But New Orleans went 7-9 in three straight seasons before 2017, in no small part because of how it handles the cap.Teams have also gotten away from doling out a lot of enormous signing bonuses on veteran contracts, which can leave leftover prorations even after a team is ready to move on from a player. Also, Fitzgerald added, there's been a big shift in recent years in how clubs view competing through a cap crunch. Teams such as the Buffalo Bills in 2018 ($53.9 million) and the Miami Dolphins in 2019 ($37.5 million) are now willing to take on a fortune in dead money all at once to clear the books to prepare for a quicker rebuild."Teams are willing now to just blow things up rather than deal with years of problems," Fitzgerald said. "Ten, 15 years ago most GMs would have doubled and tripled down on those players for cap relief. Now, I think a majority of teams are willing to just give up if the contracts become too messy." Brett Carlsen / Getty ImagesThere are other examples in recent years of teams finding themselves in binds similar to the Falcons'. The Saints had to clear more than $100 million from their books this offseason, which they achieved through a combination of Drew Brees retiring and taking a pay cut (saving $24 million), a slew of cuts and trades ($35 million), and eight restructures ($52 million). That was before this week's restructuring of cornerback Marshon Lattimore's fifth-year option, which allowed New Orleans to sign its draft class by finding another $7.4 million in 2021 cap space buried beneath the couch cushions.The fallout has left the Saints with $33.7 million in dead money on 2021's cap, plus $180 million in cap commitments to just 27 players in 2022, according to ESPN. In addition, as Fitzgerald noted, they're faced with $32 million in potential cap charges for deals that void after 2021, while also surrendering a boatload of leverage on potential new contracts for Lattimore and left tackle Terron Armstead, since letting them walk would result in dead-money hits of $7.4 million and $13 million, respectively.It's not just the Falcons and Saints, either. The Philadelphia Eagles restructured their deals with defensive lineman Malik Jackson and wideout Alshon Jeffery in February just so they could release them. The moves saved Philly roughly $19 million on 2021's cap, but both players will still count for $9.2 million on 2021's cap and roughly $15 million in 2022. The Chicago Bears saved $20 million by releasing a pair of solid players at premium positions in left tackle Charles Leno Jr. and cornerback Kyle Fuller. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did a bunch of restructures with voidable years to run it back with the same 22 starters who just won the Super Bowl. The Bucs have an immediate window to keep winning championships, but someday they'll likely have to reckon with the costs of those decisions.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman headlines a list of high-profile NFL players who remain free agents this offseason. But the five-time Pro Bowl cornerback, who spent the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, doesn't want to rush his decision on where he'll sign next."It's still a process," Sherman said, according to Ritika Gupta of Bloomberg. "As you get older and you get in this position, you get a little more freedom to pick your destination. You gotta have patience in it because it's not like I want to go and try to help a team rebuild or anything like that."I want to get to a team that's competing for a championship. That's what I'm focused on and waiting for the right opportunity. When it comes, that's where I'll be."In February, Sherman expressed his desire to join a Super Bowl contender and revealed he only wants to play two more years.The 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, and Las Vegas Raiders have all been linked to Sherman since free agency began in March.The 33-year-old battled injuries and appeared in just five games last season, the lowest total of his career. He earned one Pro Bowl berth while averaging 54 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two interceptions per 16 games in three years in San Francisco.Selected in the fifth round in 2011, the Stanford product spent his first seven NFL seasons on the Seahawks, helping Seattle win Super Bowl XLVIII.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Rivera isn't ready to name Ryan Fitzpatrick the Washington Football Team's starting quarterback just yet.The head coach is planning an open competition that will see Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, and Kyle Allen enter training camp pitted against one another."It's going to be a good competition," Rivera said, according to ESPN's John Keim. "I look forward to it. It's going to push our football team and make our football team better. ... They are going to compete, they are going to push, and I'm looking forward to it."A quarterback battle marks a departure from Rivera's approach in 2020 when he named Dwayne Haskins as the team's starter ahead of training camp. The second-year passer received most of the first-team reps and started four contests before being benched.Rivera is hoping to avoid making the wrong decision two seasons in a row."The mistake I made was that my approach was wrong," he said. "I should have made as big a competition as possible, and that's on me."Fitzpatrick is presumably the front-runner to win the starting job in 2021 given his 17 years of NFL experience. The 38-year-old will likely receive most of the first-team reps after signing a one-year, $10-million contract with Washington earlier this offseason.Washington will look to defend its NFC East crown in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers tight end Jace Sternberger has been suspended without pay for the first two games of the 2021 season for violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse, the league announced Thursday.The 24-year-old will be eligible to return to the Packers' active roster Sept. 21 following the team's Week 2 matchup against the Detroit Lions.Sternberger revealed he consumed alcohol while on antidepressants and fell asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle in February 2020. He apologized to the organization and has been attending therapy since the incident.

Kyler Murray still hopes to someday be a two-sport star.The first overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft is entering a pivotal third season with the Arizona Cardinals, but he's let it be known he still envisions playing Major League Baseball as well."If the time came where I got to do what I wanted to do, which - I don't know, but I'm leaving it open. I think I can still play for sure," the quarterback said Thursday, according to team reporter Darren Urban.Drafted ninth overall by MLB's Oakland Athletics in 2018, Murray famously chose football over baseball after winning the Heisman Trophy with Oklahoma later that year.The 23-year-old's NFL contract prohibits him from playing baseball, and he knows the Cardinals wouldn't be thrilled about his desire to play two sports at once."I know everybody around (the team) probably feels different about it," he said. "But, me personally, I played the game my whole life. If I ever had the opportunity, for sure, I would definitely go for it."But with Arizona recently completing a busy offseason that included signing veteran stars J.J. Watt and A.J. Green and the club looking to end its five-year playoff drought, Murray emphasized that he doesn't want his baseball dreams to be a distraction."I'm not trying to start anything," he said. "I'm just talking."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julio Jones is eager to silence doubters with his new team.The star receiver, who made his practice debut with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, admitted that battling through hamstring issues was tough last season, but he said injuries won't slow him down in 2021."I know what I have in the tank," Jones told reporters, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi. "For those that questioned my health, stay tuned."He added that he didn't take enough time to heal properly last year, per Paul Kuharsky.Jones was traded to Tennessee after spending his first 10 NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. While injuries led to career lows across the board in 2020, the seven-time Pro Bowler is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.The 32-year-old had been the focal point of Atlanta's offense since entering the league. He noted that one factor in his excitement to join the Titans was their balance on offense with star weapons Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown."Defenses are really going to have to pick their poison," Jones said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra."At the end of the day," he added via ESPN's Turron Davenport, "you want to create a winning culture. My whole career, I've never been a stat guy. I'm a team guy. I'm excited to be a part of this organization, and whatever they need me to be, I'm going to play my role."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens could make a big-name addition to their backfield.Three-time Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley is visiting the Ravens on Thursday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Baltimore already owns a stacked backfield that includes J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill. The Lamar Jackson-led offense has topped the NFL in rushing attempts in each of the last two seasons, with the star quarterback producing back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns.Gurley, a Baltimore native, spent the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons after five years with the Los Angeles Rams, during which he was considered one of the best running backs in the league.But the 26-year-old's rapid decline in production continued in Atlanta. He rushed for just 678 yards on 195 carries (3.5 average) and had a career-low 164 receiving yards, though he did rack up nine touchdowns on the ground.Gurley led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2017 and 2018 and was named a first-team All-Pro in both seasons. He also took home the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2017.In March 2020, the Rams released Gurley - who reportedly has arthritis in his left knee - less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $60-million contract extension.The veteran running back has also received interest from the Detroit Lions, who traded for his former Rams teammate, quarterback Jared Goff, this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is leaving Adidas to sign a five-year contract with Jordan Brand, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Prescott will reportedly become the only quarterback tied to Jordan Brand and the highest-paid NFL player on its roster.

Nate Solder is returning to a different New York Giants team than the one he last suited up for.The veteran tackle opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and a previous bout with cancer.When he last played in 2019, he was the starting left tackle. Since then, 2020 fourth overall draft pick Andrew Thomas has taken over the role.As a result, Solder acknowledges he may have to come off the bench for the first time since his rookie season."One of the great things about coming back is just the opportunity to work with a group of guys. Who cares who starts?" Solder said to team reporter Michael Elsen."I just want to be a part of an excellent group that's getting better every day that plays at a really high level. I've been fortunate enough to play with some great O-lines, and nobody cares who is starting and who is not starting, because we're all part of the team and we're all necessary and we're all needed."Solder will also be playing for a new head coach - Joe Judge was hired prior to the 2020 season. However, the two have a long history together, as Judge was a special teams coach with the New England Patriots from 2012-19 and Solder spent 2011-17 with the team.Though he has two years left on his $62-million contract, Judge hasn't offered Solder the starter's job as he returns to the lineup."He said the best five are going to play," Solder said. "I've been on enough teams where there's six, seven off the bench that there's significant time, so I don't know what that's going to be. Who knows? ... I'm hoping to get some time on the field but whatever the case is going to be, I'm going to work my tail off and be the best I can to support the guys around me."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Fields continues to impress his new club.After Fields had another strong showing at Wednesday's practice, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy couldn't hide his excitement about the rookie quarterback."He has that mentality to rip your heart out," Nagy said of the former Ohio State stud, according to Mark Grote of WSCR Radio.The Bears drafted Fields 11th overall this year after parting ways with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who split starts with Nick Foles last season.Fields' performances at practice have also generated positive reviews from multiple reporters.

Being away from his teammates on the football field has been the toughest part of Saquon Barkley's injury rehab."It's the football thing, just missing being out there," the New York Giants running back said Wednesday when asked about the most challenging part of his torn ACL recovery.He added, "To be able to watch and see (my teammates) out there and not being able to participate with them right now, those are the toughest things."Barkley, 24, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in September and underwent surgery in October. The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year says he's "doing well" and can't wait to return but doesn't want to rush himself."I'm going to take it one day at a time, come in with my head down and ready to work," Barkley said, adding, "There's nothing that's going to be forced for me to come back. It's going to be whenever my body tells me I'm ready and it will show when I'm ready to go. That's when I'll be able to go out there and be, hopefully, as good as I was before or even better."The 2018 second overall pick took the NFL by storm as a rookie, leading the league with 2,208 scrimmage yards while also scoring 15 touchdowns. Barkley missed three games due to injury during his sophomore season but was still able to top 1,000 rushing yards and find the end zone eight times.Barkley refused to guarantee he'll be on the field when the Giants kick off their 2021 campaign against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12."(My teammates) want me out there when they know I can be out there," he said. "For me, it's coming to into work every single day so I can be a help to my team and we have a successful season."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeAndre Hopkins has already mocked the Houston Texans for trading him for only a second-round pick, and the Arizona Cardinals receiver now believes new Tennessee Titans wideout Julio Jones could have a chance to do the same with the Atlanta Falcons.The Titans recently acquired Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick while sending a second-round selection and a conditional 2023 fourth-rounder to the Falcons, who saved $15.3 million in cap space with the move. Hopkins thinks teams have misjudged two of football's top veteran pass-catchers."That we're not worth first-round picks, that the first-round picks are better than us; I would like to see a first-round pick who could do what Julio and myself do," Hopkins said Wednesday of his reaction to the Jones trade, per Katherine Fitzgerald of azcentral sports.In March 2020, the Texans sent Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-round pick to the Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round selection, and a 2021 fourth-rounder.Hopkins, who was coming off his third straight All-Pro campaign at the time, shined in his first year in Arizona. He led the team with 115 receptions, 1,407 yards, and six touchdowns."The receiver groups coming out of college are a little bit more advanced than I was back in my days, even though I only had, like, however many touchdowns, 15 or so touchdowns," said Hopkins, who caught 18 touchdowns in his last year at Clemson before being selected 27th overall in 2013."You've got guys like (Minnesota Vikings first-round wide receiver) Justin Jefferson who came in balling as a rookie. So there's definitely some guys that can do what Julio and myself do. But I'm surprised. I know I was only coming off a first-team All-Pro, so I kind of figured I might only go for a second-round (pick). But I was surprised a guy like Julio would only go for a second-rounder."Jones missed seven games due to injury and was held to just 771 yards and three scores last season, but he's been arguably the NFL's best receiver since entering the league as the No. 6 pick in 2011.The seven-time Pro Bowler's game average of 96.1 receiving yards is the highest in pro football history among players with at least 200 receptions.Copyright © 2021 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.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Derek Brown of FTN joins Boone to discuss the latest news and unveil their must-have players in 2021 fantasy drafts.

Dak Prescott is no longer concerned about the ankle injury that cost him the majority of the 2020 season, and he hopes the fans and media will soon join him."I've buried the injury," the Dallas Cowboys quarterback said to reporters Wednesday, including ESPN's Todd Archer. "Honestly, guys, you know me, from the point of practice, from the point of just moving forward and going about my life, I've buried it mentally. And I think you guys and a lot of people around have to help me in burying it as well as we move forward."Prescott has been participating in the team's minicamp and is on track to be a full go for training camp. It's been a long road to recovery after he suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in October.He can recall the exact moment when he realized he no longer needed to worry about the strength of the ankle."Had a good Cinco de Mayo, was a little active and at that time maybe did a some little dance moves and I felt like I'm ready to go," Prescott said. "So that was the time that I said in my head, 'the injury's gone.'"The 27-year-old is not only feeling like his former self on the dance floor but on the football field, as well."I'm sure you guys see the scramble drill that we've done a few times. That was a big one for my confidence, just being able to pivot and turn left, get out to the right, change directions, not feeling anything and then look at the tape and realize day by day that I'm running more smoother, I'm getting better, I'm using my legs more when I throw," he said. "Those are just all building blocks and stepping stones for me to get where I want to be. It's just exciting."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's recovery from offseason knee surgery appears to be going well, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback participated in Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice."(Brady) went full speed," Bucs head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times."He looked fine, I had to pull him out of a couple (of drills) in the first period," he continued, according to Fox 13's Kevin O'Donnell. "I said 'you can have four (reps)' but he kept begging to go back in. Only thing I didn't want him in was the blitz period."Brady underwent a minor left knee cleanup following his seventh Super Bowl title after reportedly playing through discomfort for most of the 2020 season, his first in Tampa Bay.After initially being unsure if he would be able to participate in minicamp, the veteran was recently given the green light to practice."The doctors sent (Brady)" Arians said. "They both said he was good to go, and we'll still be careful of what we're doing with him. But trying to stop him from playing is pretty tough."The head coach also provided other injury updates, saying tight end O.J. Howard is "really close" to returning from a torn Achilles, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. First-round rookie Joe Tryon, who underwent a knee scope earlier this year, also participated in practice.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montez Sweat isn't protected against COVID-19, and he wasn't interested in the vaccine expert the Washington Football Team brought in to educate players."I'm not a fan of it," the third-year edge rusher told reporters Wednesday, according to the Washington Post's Sam Fortier. "I probably won't get vaccinated until I get more facts and all that type of stuff. I'm not a fan of it at all."Kizzmekia S. Corbett, an assistant professor in the department of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard, spoke to players Tuesday night. Washington hoped the information she provided would encourage more players to get the shot. Less than half the team's roster was vaccinated when she began her presentation."I haven't caught COVID yet," Sweat said. "I don't see me treating COVID until I actually get COVID."All of Washington's coaches have been vaccinated, along with every employee who works in its building, head coach Ron Rivera said, according to NBC4 Sports.The NFL has been encouraging players to get vaccinated, but the league won't make it a requirement.Sweat, a first-round pick in 2019, recorded nine sacks last year, and he's notched 16 through his first two NFL seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL could soon be returning to Germany.The league announced Wednesday that it's requesting proposals for future regular-season games in Germany with the aim of identifying a host city, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network."The International Series has become a highlight of the sporting calendar in the U.K., with many fans traveling from Germany to attend," said NFL head of U.K. and Europe Brett Gosper. "We are very excited about this development of our German fan base, and this time is right to identify a partner who can execute a game at NFL standards as part of our international growth strategy."Allianz Arena in Munich, Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, and Olympiastadion in Berlin have been speculated as possible locations for NFL games.The International Series has predominantly focused on the U.K., with 28 games held in London since 2007. The NFL has also played in Mexico and Canada.Before overseas games were canceled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL had hosted at least three contests in London every year since 2014.The league will return to the U.K. this campaign, with New York Jets-Atlanta Falcons (Week 4) and Miami Dolphins-Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 6) games set for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.There's a long history between the NFL and Germany. NFL Europe, which operated from 1991 to 2007, featured five German-based teams. Five preseason games were also held in the country between 1990 and 1994.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In this two-part series, theScore's football editors give a verdict on whether 2020 breakout players will continue their success in 2021.We looked at offense first. Next up are the defensive players. For the purpose of this exercise, rookies from the past season were not considered.Fred Warner, LB, 49ers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2020 stats: 125 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 6 passes defendedWarner certainly wasn't a liability during his first two NFL campaigns, but he truly broke out in his third year. Cementing himself as a premier linebacker in the league, the 2018 third-rounder shined in the middle of Robert Saleh's defense and was awarded his first All-Pro selection.The 24-year-old displayed elite coverage chops in 2020, and there's little doubt he can continue this success moving forward given his skill set. Warner possesses elite athleticism and processing and forced a tight window on 16% of his targets, per Next Gen Stats, despite linebackers rarely lining up directly across from an offensive opponent. He also allowed a 54% completion rate when targeted, the lowest mark for a linebacker since Next Gen Stats began recording players in 2016.Warner is no slouch against the run, either, accumulating 25 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage, according to Pro Football Focus. He's even a weapon on blitzes, as only seven linebackers earned more than his 10 pressures last season.The ascending young defender is the poster boy for a new age at his position, matching up against dynamic tight ends and running backs while patrolling the middle of the field in zone coverage. Saleh may have left for the New York Jets, but Warner is too talented, both mentally and physically, for 2020 to be an anomaly.Verdict: BREAKOUTTrey Hendrickson, DE, Bengals2020 stats: 25 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumbleNo one saw Hendrickson's 13.5-sack outburst coming in 2020 after he took quarterbacks down a total of 6.5 times over his first three seasons. But with Marcus Davenport missing time due to injuries and Cameron Jordan garnering plenty of attention, the 2017 third-round pick produced hugely with his playing time increased.Can Hendrickson repeat his success after leaving the New Orleans Saints to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals? His advanced stats may suggest otherwise. The 26-year-old ranked 21st among edge rushers with 49 total pressures, per PFF, and placed a solid, if unspectacular, 26th in pass-rush win rate. He deserves credit for finishing plays but wasn't as consistent as the raw numbers suggest.Hendrickson is set to take on a larger role in Cincinnati. The former Florida Atlantic star's breakout 2020 and big-money contract will result in more eyes on him from offensive coordinators and blockers alike. We're not saying his game will fall off a cliff, but expecting another double-digit sack campaign from Hendrickson wouldn't be wise.Verdict: FAKEOUTJames Bradberry, CB, Giants Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 54 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 18 passes defendedBradberry was a solid starter across his first four years with the Carolina Panthers but took his game to the next level after signing with the Giants last spring. Playing primarily zone coverage under Patrick Graham, the crafty defender often erased an entire side of the field while thriving in one-on-one matchups against the league's top receivers.OpponentReceptionsYardsTDAllen Robinson1140Robert Woods220Amari Cooper (2 games)4250Terry McLaurin (2 games)4300DK Metcalf4620DeAndre Hopkins2230Bradberry displayed everything teams look for in a starting outside cornerback last year - his combination of physicality, mental processing, and ball skills was among the NFL's elite. He forced 17 incompletions in coverage, good for 21.8% of his targets. Both marks placed first at his position, per PFF. Ahead of his second season in New York, there's little reason to believe Bradberry can't keep this up. He's that good.Verdict: BREAKOUTHaason Reddick, Edge, Panthers2020 stats: 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, 4 passes defendedLike Hendrickson, Reddick enjoyed a massive breakout that landed him a significant pay raise with a new club this offseason. The former first-round pick accumulated 7.5 sacks in his first three years with the Arizona Cardinals before exploding for 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2020. The difference? He was finally placed in his most comfortable position.YearOff-ball LB snapsEdge snapsPass-rush snaps201884%15%23%201979%20%27%20209%90%73%Reddick was slotted at linebacker for most of his career prior to last season, resulting in him being viewed around the league as a disappointment. The versatile defender profiled as an athletic pass-rusher coming out of Temple in 2017, so it was surprising to see Arizona play him out of position until recently.Now with the Panthers, Reddick has every chance to duplicate his success in a new system. Head coach Matt Rhule should utilize the defender's skill set next to young linemen Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Yetur Gross-Matos. While Reddick may still be labeled as a linebacker with his new squad, expect him to rush the passer productively in 2021.Verdict: BREAKOUTJessie Bates, S, Bengals Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2020 stats: 109 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 15 passes defendedBates enjoyed an excellent 2020 campaign roaming the back end of Cincinnati's defense. While staying stout against the run, he was even more productive in college, leading all safeties with 12 forced incompletions.The 24-year-old can remain a quality defender in the immediate future, but a second straight All Pro-caliber season (he was voted a second-team member last year) isn't guaranteed. Safety play often fluctuates, and Bates is likely to take on more responsibilities after William Jackson departed for the Washington Football Team in free agency.The Bengals' pass rush likely won't improve much either, if at all, with Geno Atkins and Carl Lawson no longer on the squad. This will surely impact the secondary and its overall production. Bates is a good player, but it's unlikely he'll replicate his incredible level of play moving forward.Verdict: FAKEOUTDevin White, LB, Buccaneers2020 stats: 140 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 4 passes defendedThere wasn't a defender in football who stuffed the stat sheet like White did in 2020. Possessing elite speed in the middle of a talented Bucs defense, the former first-rounder was a highlight waiting to happen.It's easy to see how talented White is and how his skill set is perfect for the modern game. No linebacker has made more tackles for a loss or no gain over the past two seasons. He was also a weapon in other phases, ranking in a tie for second at his position in pass breakups, first in sacks, and second with 31 quarterback pressures, according to PFF.The scary part, at least for opponents, is White will only get better. The 23-year-old's biggest weakness is his propensity to miss tackles. Only four linebackers whiffed more often than White did last year, but his aggressive playing style is likely a factor here. The sky's the limit once he cleans up his technique.Verdict: BREAKOUTDarious Williams, CB, Rams Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 44 tackles, 4 interceptions, 14 passes defendedNot many fans outside of Los Angeles knew who Williams was going into the 2020 campaign. After playing just 225 snaps in his first two seasons, the former undrafted free agent broke out as a boundary corner opposite Jalen Ramsey.Williams was a difference-maker on a talented Rams unit, making numerous plays on the ball and only allowing 50% of his targets to be caught. Opposing quarterbacks earned a measly 59.9 passer rating when throwing into his coverage, fifth best at his position. L.A. played in zone more than any other club, and the feisty defender thrived coming off the line of scrimmage.However, we're not entirely bullish on Williams moving forward, with the primary reason being a change in scheme. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley left the Rams to lead the Los Angeles Chargers, and Raheem Morris replaced him. Morris didn't exactly get the most out of his defensive backs with the Atlanta Falcons running Dan Quinn's 4-3 defense, but he at least called a significant amount of zone coverage plays. With Staley gone and quarterbacks sure to target Williams often, fluctuating production should be expected in 2021.Verdict: FAKEOUTDavid Onyemata, DT, Saints2020 stats: 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 interceptionLost in the "same old, same old" crop of elite defensive tackles was a breakout year from Onyemata. The Nigerian-born defender set career high's across the board after seeing his role increased on New Orleans' front four - only Cameron Jordan logged more snaps in 2020 - and he excelled in all phases.As a pass-rusher, Onyemata is only beginning to bloom. He ranked sixth among interior defenders with a 17.3% win rate, per PFF, and placed 13th with 46 pressures despite playing fewer snaps than most players ahead of him. He also played his usual stout run defense and lowered his missed tackle rate in each of the last two seasons.Onyemata is newer to football than most NFLers, which could explain why he broke out in his fifth campaign. It also means he'll only get better as he's still on the right side of 30. Due for an increased role on a strong line in 2021, the talented defender will be more of a household name in no time.Verdict: BREAKOUTEmmanuel Ogbah, DE, Dolphins Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 42 tackles, 9 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveryPlaying on his third team in three years, Ogbah finally hit his stride under Brian Flores while setting career highs in nearly every major category. The former second-round pick led Miami with 66 total pressures and was a force against opposing quarterbacks.However, Ogbah's raw stats may not tell the entire story. The towering edge defender only ranked 52nd at his position in PFF's pass-rush win rate, while 50% of his pressures were classified as unblocked or cleanup opportunities.Unlikely to see as many similar opportunities in 2021, Ogbah's production could take a significant hit. We'd feel better about his long-term outlook if he displayed more consistency over his first five years in the league. He's a fine player, but don't expect him to approach double-digit sacks again.Verdict: FAKEOUTCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFLPA will provide $1 million in funding for research regarding pain management and cannabinoids, according to Judy Battista of NFL.com.The league is interested in learning about how safe cannabis and CBD are as alternatives to opioids, which is a contrast to the NFL's previous stand on marijuana. For years, the league suspended players if they tested positive for the drug multiple times.However, the NFL reversed course on punishing players who tested positive in its latest collective bargaining agreement.Dr. Kevin Hill, the co-chair of the pain management committee, said the group is hearing mixed results from players about using medicinal marijuana to treat pain. Hill said the level of interest exceeds the level of evidence available.Hill joined Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, in questioning how cannabis would impact the performance of elite athletes."When we talk about having elite athletes use CBD to treat pain, we want to make sure it's, No. 1 safe, and No. 2 efficacious. I don't think we're at that point yet," Hill said.The committee is expected to award five grants in November.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Davante Adams said he supports Aaron Rodgers despite the quarterback's absence from mandatory minicamp due to a dispute with the Green Bay Packers."I've got his back through everything so he knows that, at the end of the day, if there's ever a wonder if he's lost a teammate or something because of all that's come out, he knows where I stand," Adams said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky."I'll stand on the f------ mountain and scream on the mountaintop that I've got his back."Rodgers officially signaled the start of his holdout Tuesday by not showing up to minicamp. His frustration with the Packers organization reportedly stems from issues with general manager Brian Gutekunst and the front office's philosophy.Adams said he doesn't think expressing support for Rodgers is a slight against Green Bay's brass."I think that any GM, any president, any owner, they should want the type of guys that are backing their players, especially a player like that," Adams said. "That's just a good trait to have. It's not like I'm saying, 'Forget the front office,' like I don't respect what they have going on."The star receiver wasn't the only Packers player who stood by the veteran quarterback. Left tackle David Bakhtiari said he cares about Rodgers "from a friend perspective" and wouldn't hold a grudge regardless of how the situation unfolds."Now, as a teammate, I would be idiotic to say that I don't want the MVP back," Bakhtiari said. "He's the MVP of the league last year. He's done amazing things as (far as) from the quarterback perspective, our quarterback position, but not only for the franchise."Rodgers, 37, can be fined up to $93,085 for missing the mandatory workouts. Head coach Matt LaFleur declined to say whether Rodgers' absence would be excused.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers' contract situation with the Packers is garnering all of the headlines, but there's another star player reaching the end of his current deal in Green Bay.Wideout Davante Adams, who led the league last season with 18 receiving touchdowns, is entering the final year of his contract.Unlike his quarterback, who is staying away from the team, Adams attended the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and said he'll be present for this summer's training camp even if he's not signed to an extension by then."Yeah, I'll be here, man. I signed up to go to work and play. I'm from East Palo Alto, California. I grew up with zero dollars. I'm not forfeiting any of my money that I've earned and signed for already," Adams said. "I'll be there for sure."Adams was one of five Packers receivers who didn't show up for OTAs in May. He said the no-show wasn't coordinated and he was both looking after his body and spending more time with his young daughter."I don't think I need to prove too much in OTAs right now," he said. "Just keep making sure I'm in shape and still get my workouts in. That's what matters."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals do not expect linebacker Chandler Jones to attend mandatory minicamp, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said, according to team reporter Darren Urban.Fellow Cardinals linebacker Jordan Hicks did not attend Tuesday's opening session; Arizona gave the 28-year-old permission to seek a trade after it drafted Zaven Collins to be its starting middle linebacker."We've been in communication with both guys, we know the situations, and I'll leave that dialogue between us," Kingsbury said. "Nothing else to report on that."Jones, 31, is entering the final season of a five-year, $82-million contract he signed in March 2017. He's set to earn $15.5 million in 2021.The three-time Pro Bowler missed all but five games last year after suffering a torn biceps in Week 5. Jones earned the second first-team All-Pro nod of his career in 2019 after racking up 53 tackles, 19 sacks, and 11 tackles for loss.Jones has not publicly commented on his contract status. Despite his absence, other Cardinals players such as Budda Baker backed the pass-rusher."This is an NFL business league, and we support Chan in whatever he is doing," Baker said. "When we see him, we see him."Jones did show up to the Cardinals' media day, posing with new teammate J.J. Watt.

The Tennessee Titans looked to Ryan Tannehill to help finalize the acquisition of Julio Jones.The Titans quarterback agreed to restructure his contract, creating over $18 million in cap space while adding two voidable years to the end of his deal, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. The restructuring makes room for Jones, who is due $15.3 million guaranteed this season.Tannehill is in the midst of a four-year, $118-million deal and is under contract through the 2023 season, per Spotrac. Jones is also under contract until the end of 2023.Tennessee added the star receiver Sunday in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, sending a 2022 second-round pick and 2023 fourth-rounder for Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick.The 32-year-old missed seven games last year due to injury. However, Jones has been one of the NFL's best receivers when healthy, recording 12,896 receiving yards over his 10-year career.His arrival bolsters a Titans offense that ranked fourth in scoring last season. He's set to pair with A.J. Brown to give Tannehill two top receiving options while Derrick Henry will lead the team's rushing attack.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dak Prescott is ready to be unleashed.Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that the quarterback is expected to fully participate in the team's training camp in July."He hasn't missed anything that's been slated. He's doing a lot of extra frankly so the anticipation would be for him to go every day is the outlook," McCarthy said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer."We're not naive," he continued. "It's just like any player that comes back from injury, especially a major joint injury, the first year back there's going to be some things you have to work through, but I would anticipate we'd start with him in full mode, get him into the team periods, and get back to playing football."Prescott has been a limited participant in the team's offseason program while recovering from a dislocation and compound fracture of his right ankle suffered last October.The signal-caller has been held out of 11-on-11 sessions, but he's seemed close to full mobility during practice."He's definitely had some moments from workouts, probably three-to-four weeks back, where I definitely felt once we were able to see him move in the pocket, out of the pocket-type drills, scramble drills," McCarthy said. "We're doing more of that work by design for a number of reasons and that only helps him. ...Physically I think he's right where he needs to be."

Mason Rudolph wants to be the future starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers."That's my goal, to be a starting quarterback in this league and for our team, and I'm working toward that goal every single day," Rudolph said when asked about his 2022 aspirations, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Rudolph is penciled in behind Ben Roethlisberger on the Steelers' depth chart for 2021. However, the future remains unclear for the 39-year-old Roethlisberger, and Rudolph is the only passer on the team's roster under contract for next season after signing a one-year extension worth $5 million.The Steelers made Rudolph a third-round pick in 2018, eyeing him as Roethlisberger's possible successor. The 25-year-old didn't play during his rookie campaign, but he received an extended look as a starter in 2019 due to an injury to Roethlisberger, throwing 13 touchdown passes against nine interceptions over 10 games.Rudolph also made one start last season, throwing for two touchdowns and one interception with 315 yards against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17.Pittsburgh has added to its quarterback room this offseason, signing Dwayne Haskins and bringing back Josh Dobbs on a one-year deal. Rudolph said he's excited about the increased competition."I think you're always excited and looking forward to competition. You know that it's going to be there each and every year, it's just a matter of who," Rudolph said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was surprised with a new Bentley from some of his celebrity friends for his 80th birthday Sunday.A video posted on rapper Meek Mill's Instagram account shows Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin presenting the car to Kraft. Jay-Z also pitched in for the gift."How the fudge did you get it?" Kraft asked Rubin. "We couldn't get it."

Before his death in August 2018 at the age of 78, George Andrie was diagnosed with dementia by four different doctors. Posthumously, researchers who examined his brain discovered he suffered from Stage 4 chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Yet Andrie, the ex-Dallas Cowboys defensive great, had his NFL concussion settlement claim denied not once, but twice.After an appeal, Andrie eventually received a payout shortly before his death, though the amount was far less than the settlement's guidelines suggested he deserved. He only received an award because of the persistence of his daughter, Mary Brooks, who once shared with me the exasperating story of how she made it her mission to understand the excessively confusing claims process. Even after all that aggravation, Brooks still didn't know which settlement guidelines were followed to grant her dad's approval until a claims administrator explained it to her over the phone.“They threw me a bone to shut me up," Brooks told me at the time. "They got to put it on their books they paid another claim. Which makes them look good."The concussion settlement is back in the news because the NFL and the lead attorney for the players' side agreed last week to end the practice of "race-norming," a neuropsychological and actuarial practice that assumes Black people have lower baseline cognitive ability, thus making it more difficult for Black former players to prove they qualify for a payout.George Andrie. Focus On Sport / Getty ImagesWhat does this have to do with George Andrie, who was white, and therefore not subject to the depredations of race-norming? Just that indignities like race-norming are a feature of the concussion settlement, rather than a bug. It took a (since-dismissed) lawsuit filed by former players Kevin Henry and Najeh Davenport to make a headline story out of the way the settlement has been a disaster for many players. It also took some dogged reporting by ABC News, which has since shamed both the NFL and the lead players' lawyer, Christopher Seeger, into admitting the settlement's baked-in racial bias needs to be corrected after both insisted as recently as March that said bias didn't exist."We are committed to eliminating race-based norms in the program and more broadly in the neuropsychological community," the NFL said in a statement provided to the Washington Post.The concussion settlement is a mass tort that was established to compensate a class of more than 20,000 former players who accused the NFL of denying and fudging the science surrounding brain injuries. It was finalized in January 2017; former players who are registered claimants have 65 years to file for a payout should they experience cognitive decline later in life.Leave it to the NFL to manipulate a system designed to hold it accountable for manipulating players' health. The settlement has no financial limit, a fact that has caused the league to use the agreement's complex guidelines and inscrutable diagnostic criteria to aggressively fight potential payments. According to the latest claims report, more than $858 million in claims has been approved. That's obviously a lot of money, but the figure also reveals how deep the problem of former players with cognitive impairment really goes: The original settlement Seeger and the league agreed to - before a judge threw it out in 2013 - called for a cap of $765 million. And that $858 million covers just 40% of the 3,211 claims filed so far, with the remaining majority having been denied, withdrawn, or sent back for additional documentation.Former Raiders defensive linemen Otis Sistrunk, left, and Bubba Smith. Smith, who died in 2011, was posthumously found to have Stage 3 CTE. Michael Zagaris / Getty ImagesIn particular, the NFL has zeroed in on dementia claims, which are defined by the settlement in lawyerly rather than clinical terms. As a result, what the settlement considers early or moderate dementia is trickier to diagnose than ALS, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or death with CTE.Dementia sufferers can be lucid and sometimes appear to live outwardly normal lives, which the NFL has used to chip away at what it described three years ago in court papers as "deep and widespread" fraud within the system - an allegation that even Seeger sympathized with and one that led the court to appoint a special fraud investigator. It's true that some players, lawyers, and even doctors have tried to game the system. But while dementia accounts for 63% of all claims submitted, just 31% of those dementia claims have been approved."Nothing has changed, nothing's improved," Sheilla Dingus, the founder of the non-profit Advocacy for Fairness in Sports and a frequent critic of the settlement, told me. "But with the national climate and racial tension, when the race-norming came out, that finally got some attention."From the outset, the settlement has been a mess. The thicket of the claims process includes a webpage with more than 300 Frequently Asked Questions, a legalistic morass that can be difficult for a player's family to parse, particularly if they lack the resources to hire a good lawyer. Unscrupulous actors have been accused of predatory lending. Unsuspecting families like Andrie's are frequently blindsided by liens that can eat into payments or even swallow them whole. Andrie's daughter told me it took weeks of phone calls to get three liens removed so her father could at last get paid.Eagles safety Andre Waters died by suicide in 2006 and a study of his brain later found evidence of CTE. George Gojkovich / Getty ImagesIndividual plaintiffs' lawyers representing thousands of former players have taken aim at Seeger for not being as aggressive in standing up to the NFL as many would like. Seeger has hoovered up most of the more than $100 million the settlement set aside for legal fees. The federal judge overseeing the settlement shot down most of these other lawyers' efforts to bring the court's attention to the way it was failing players, including Seeger's approach. Those rejected appeals certainly seemed justified when Seeger appeared to side with the NFL on the topic of race-norming in March. Responding to ABC's report that some doctors felt the settlement's recommended protocols were discriminatory, Seeger said he had "investigated this issue" and had "not seen any evidence of racial bias in the settlement program." You could practically hear the high-fiving from NFL headquarters.Seeger only reversed course - shockingly telling ABC last week he was "wrong" and that he didn't "have a full appreciation of the scope of the problem" - after that same judge ordered him and the league and into mediation to address race-norming. But given the stakes, how could he not have noticed until now?The settlement also featured a striking lack of transparency, with the NFL, the judge, and Seeger frequently huddling out of public view and without the input of other lawyers to hammer out many of the issues related to the agreement. It's noteworthy that Henry's and Davenport's lawyers have been granted the opportunity to intervene in the race-norming mediation.That Seeger apologized, vowed to look into every claim to see where race-norming was applied, and said he'll work to ensure those claims get fixed is undoubtedly a welcome development. A lot of good can come from this, including a re-evaluation of the widespread use of race-norming in medical assessments that have nothing to do with football. But because of the way the NFL does business, and because it took this long for Seeger to finally come around on the issue, there's reason to be skeptical that many of the settlement's wrongs can be righted.The Colts and Cowboys in Super Bowl V. Diamond Images / Getty ImagesGeorge Andrie wasn't race-normed. His family didn't need his settlement payout. His daughter told me she went public with her story to be an example for others, to shine a light on a deeply flawed system that seems designed to get players and their families to give up. Plenty of other players and their families desperately do need that money. Many of them are dealing with the physical and emotional fallout of degenerative brain disease from football along with substantial medical bills, and they've been reluctant to speak up because they fear jeopardizing their claims.A stated commitment to equal treatment for Black players in the settlement is a start, but it ought to be viewed as just that: a start. For that commitment to mean anything, there has to be follow-through, no matter how much money it costs the NFL.As former NFL running back Ken Jenkins said to the Washington Post last week, "I'll believe it when I see it."Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arthur Smith is focusing on the players currently on his roster ahead of the head coach's first campaign leading the Atlanta Falcons.Smith says Atlanta's blockbuster deal that sent Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans isn't on his mind moving forward."I don't worry about players I never coached," Smith told reporters, including NFL Network's Michael Giardi."... We got a lot of respect and appreciation for what (Jones) did here," He continued. (We) wish him well in (Tennessee), but my main concern is our roster and getting ready for this fall."The Falcons fired former head coach Dan Quinn after an 0-5 start in 2020, a campaign that ended with a disappointing 4-12 record. Smith was hired this offseason following a successful stint as the Titans' offensive coordinator.With major changes on both sides of the ball, the first-year coach is taking a thorough approach with a rebuilding team."We're still in the teaching, learning, and development stage of the offseason," Smith said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We've got certain players (who) may be out there and may not because there are different phases of the offseason program."But really our objective is to keep continuing to attack this playbook, get used to each other in communication, and ultimately get ready to go when training camp starts."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers is officially holding out.The star quarterback wasn't in attendance when the Green Bay Packers kicked off their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday morning, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Green Bay expected Rodgers' absence as he opted not to attend OTAs amid a dispute with the organization.The 37-year-old can be fined $93,085 for not attending the mandatory camp and has already forfeited a $500,000 workout bonus for skipping voluntary practices last month, according to Pelissero.Rodgers reportedly has taken issue with general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers' philosophy. Green Bay has held firm on not trading the reigning MVP thus far.Jordan Love is expected to take the starters' snaps during head coach Matt LaFleur's practices running from June 8-10.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Lock may already be feeling the pressure of the Denver Broncos' quarterback battle.The third-year pro threw two interceptions during 11-on-11 drills at Monday's OTA session, according to Mike Klis of 9News.However, Broncos head coach Vic Fangio wasn't worried about the 24-year-old's performance."I think it's too early to come to any conclusions one way or the other, even a small conclusion," Fangio said when asked if Lock is second-guessing himself. "(Quarterbacks coach) Mike Shula and (offensive coordinator) Pat Shurmur are working with him on that stuff. I'm not worried about it at this point."The coach also provided a possible reason for Lock's off-target throws."I think he had a little blister on one of his fingers," Fangio said. "That was part of the issue that you might be alluding to. I don't know how much it bothered him."Lock completed 57% of his passes and threw 15 picks against 16 touchdowns in 13 games last season.The Broncos brought in quarterback competition by trading for veteran Teddy Bridgewater prior to April's draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years.Follow the links below to see his updated 2021 rankings.Half PPR

Reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers is not expected to attend the Green Bay Packers' mandatory minicamp when it begins Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The star quarterback wasn't at OTAs amid a dispute with the organization and there appears to be no end in sight to the stalemate.The 37-year-old signal-caller can be fined $93,085 for not attending the mandatory minicamp. However, the Packers have discussed excusing him, which would make Rodgers ineligible to be fined.Rodgers opened up about his disagreement with the team during an appearance on "Sportscenter" in May, pointing to issues with the club's philosophy. Green Bay is reportedly holding firm on not trading the 2020 MVP.The Packers are poised to get their top wide receivers back, though, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Packers were without their top five receivers for OTAs last month as Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, and Equanimeous St. Brown didn't participate. All five are currently in town or expected to arrive. Head coach Matt LaFleur previously said there's no reason for him to believe the wide receivers coordinated their absences from the voluntary sessions.The Packers' mandatory minicamp is scheduled to run June 8-10.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rewarding their head coach and general manager following last season's Super Bowl title.Bruce Arians is receiving a pay raise, while Jason Licht earned a contract extension, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Licht, who's been Tampa Bay's GM since 2014, retained all of the Buccaneers' starters from their championship-winning squad this past offseason. He also lured Tom Brady as a free agent in 2020 and has made numerous successful draft selections, including Devin White, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans.Arians will be entering his third season as Tampa Bay's head coach. He led the Bucs to a 7-9 showing in 2019 and an 11-5 record in 2020. His club won eight straight games last campaign en route to capturing the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy.It's expected Arians will be the Buccaneers' head coach for the foreseeable future. He previously said he has no plans to retire before the end of his contract, which expires after the 2023 season.Copyright © 2021 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.June can be a quiet time on the fantasy calendar, but the Tennessee Titans kept the excitement going with their acquisition of All-Pro wideout Julio Jones from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a package of picks.Let's take a look at the biggest fantasy winners and losers on both teams moving forward.TitansJulio JonesCalvin Ridley's rise and Kyle Pitts' arrival in Atlanta had already moved Jones into the low-end WR1 range in my rankings prior to this trade. Now the veteran goes to a team with far less competition for targets, but the Titans' passing volume is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.The Falcons were fourth in the NFL in passing attempts in 2020 (628), while the Titans were 30th (485). That looks problematic until you realize there are 150 vacated targets in Tennessee at receiver alone with guys like Corey Davis and Adam Humphries no longer on the roster. And the team lacks a proven third option in the passing game, which guarantees Jones and A.J. Brown will dominate targets.Concerns about Jones' durability at 32 years old are understandable after he missed seven games last year, and receivers his size historically don't age well.However, it's hard to fathom Jones completely falling off a cliff in 2021, as he's just a season removed from one of the greatest six-year stretches ever at his position.YearGamesRecsYdsTDs20209517713201915991394620181611316778201716881444320161483140962015161361871820141510415936Even if he misses some games, there should be plenty left in Jones' tank, and he can make an impact for at least another few seasons while writing a new chapter in his career.Though his overall stats might take a hit, he still warrants a top-15 spot as a fantasy receiver in an offense that should continue to be extremely efficient through the air, despite being built around Derrick Henry and the run game. Verdict: Small LoserA.J. BrownPrior to this trade, Brown's main competition for targets was going to be Josh Reynolds and Anthony Firkser. While both players maintained strong sleeper appeal, Brown was positioned for a sizeable increase in volume.Following a year when he finished as the WR6 in fantasy points per game (17.7), it wasn't a stretch to view him as a contender to rise to the top of that list in 2021.Sadly, fantasy managers banking on that ascension this season need to recalibrate after Jones' addition. Defenses won't be able to focus on Brown with Julio lining up on the other side of the field, but his targets won't reach the level required to push for the fantasy-receiver crown.This isn't a death knell for the young wideout's stock, as he still deserves to be drafted as a low-end WR1. Just know that his ceiling is capped unless the offense puts more emphasis on passing. Verdict: LoserRyan TannehillTannehill is the Titan's biggest winner after his fantasy outlook was expected to take a hit following the losses of weapons like Davis, Humphries, and tight end Jonnu Smith.Doubts over whether Tannehill can maintain his insane efficiency since taking over in Tennessee were moving him down draft boards, but that fall will end now.Jones joining the mix provides Tannehill with the league's best receiver tandem, while Henry's power running continues to take pressure off his quarterback.A career year is definitely in play for the 32-year-old, and in 2020 he posted his best touchdown total since entering the NFL while notching 40 combined scores (33 passing, seven rushing).At worst, Tannehill belongs in the low-end fantasy QB1 conversation once again thanks to an excellent supporting cast (including the return of tackle Taylor Lewan), and his strong rushing numbers. Verdict: WinnerDerrick HenryIt was going to be tough for Henry to match his 2020 performance, regardless of who's on the roster around him. Trying to repeat a season when he rushed for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns is nearly impossible, so expectations needed to be realistic, and his value was adjusted accordingly well before this deal.However, Jones' presence will make it much more difficult for teams to stack the box on Henry, meaning you should get ready for another top-five fantasy campaign from the power back - if he can hold up while shouldering another big workload. Verdict: Value UnchangedAnthony FirkserWe had high expectations for Firkser potentially emerging as the de facto No. 2 pass-catcher in Tennessee. Those dreams are gone now, as he'll sink into a far less appealing TE2 role in fantasy.The Titans still love using their tight ends, and Firsker is more than capable of producing if given the opportunity. But the volume simply won't be there with Jones in town. Verdict: LoserJosh ReynoldsSimilar to Firkser, Reynolds would have assumed a larger role in the Titans' offense - maybe even sliding in as the replacement for Davis.Now he'll need an injury to Brown or Jones before returning to the fantasy radar as anything more than a dynasty stash. Verdict: LoserFalconsCalvin RidleyJones’ departure does have its downsides for Ridley, like an increase in defensive attention paid to the team’s new No. 1 wideout. However, that transition arguably already began in 2020 when we saw a seven-game sample size of life for Ridley without Julio in the lineup. The 26-year-old averaged seven catches and 109 yards per game in those contests while scoring three touchdowns.This trade also gives Ridley a chance to lead the league in total targets, a category he finished seventh in last season. That would position him to push for the title of fantasy’s best receiver in 2021.As it stands, he’s fourth in my rankings, and someone I’ll be targeting heavily in all my drafts. Verdict: WinnerKyle PittsIt’s scary to see Pitts already being anointed as a superstar before playing a game, especially since we’ve watched many tight ends struggle to live up to the hype as rookies. But it’s impossible to ignore the opportunity in front of him as he steps into the Falcons’ offense as their new big-bodied freak athlete and matchup nightmare.How fast he can find his footing will be something to monitor, but he’s set up as well as any tight end ever has been as a rookie. If all goes well, he could join the small group of elite tight ends this year, making him worthy of being valued as a top-five fantasy option at the position.My only fear is his ADP will rise following the Jones trade, likely pushing Pitts into the first three rounds and making him a riskier pick. Verdict: WinnerMatt RyanLosing a Hall of Fame talent like Jones will clearly hurt Ryan’s fantasy stock.He averaged 310 passing yards per outing in the nine games with Julio available last year, and only 263 yards per appearance without him. Unfortunately for Ryan, the rest of his numbers also take a turn for the worse.

In this two-part series, theScore's football editors give a verdict on whether 2020 breakout players will continue their success in 2021.First up are the offensive players. For the purpose of this exercise, rookies from the past season were not considered.Josh Allen, QB, Bills Fred Vuich / Sports Illustrated / Getty2020 stats: 4,544 yards, 37 TDs/10 INTs, 69.2% completion rate, 107.2 passer ratingYou don't often see a quarterback turn himself into a sudden MVP candidate after being a two-year liability, yet that's precisely what Josh Allen did in 2020. The 25-year-old completed less than 60% of his passes in both of his first two seasons while boneheaded decisions offset his occasional splash plays. However, he reversed those trends in his third campaign.Last year, Allen threw more touchdowns than he did in 2018 and 2019 combined. His completion percentage rose 10 points from the previous season, and his number of turnover-worthy throws diminished. He excelled against the blitz, posting a passer rating of 109.6 on such plays.An improved Bills offensive line allowed him to hold the ball for 3.3 seconds per throw, the third-highest figure among quarterbacks with at least 128 attempts. To be fair, Allen has the mobility to extends plays, and will always be able to give himself some extra time to hold the ball as a result.Though blitzing him proved to be an ineffective strategy, Allen still reverted to a feast-or-famine mentality when pressured. In those situations, he tied for the fourth-most big-time throws (a stat that essentially quantifies difficult passes down the field) with 16, but also had the most turnover-worthy plays with 16. He had the fifth-highest average depth of target under pressure, yet his adjusted completion percentage under pressure ranked 28th - meaning he launched the ball downfield a lot but rarely hit his target.Still, Allen's overall progress has been undeniable. Even if he regresses in some areas, Allen should remain a top-10 quarterback.Verdict: BREAKOUTBaker Mayfield, QB, Browns2020 stats: 3,563 yards, 26 TDs/8 INTs, 62.8% completion rate, 95.9 passer ratingMayfield's completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns weren't the best of his career, but he did a tremendous job of drastically fixing the biggest flaws in his game, which eventually led to the Browns ending their playoff drought.In his first 30 career appearances, Mayfield's interceptions (35) and interception percentage when attempting a pass (3.4%) were both the second-worst in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 700 passes from 2018-19. The former first overall pick was 12-17 as a starter in that span.However, Mayfield tossed just eight interceptions last season and was picked off in just 1.6% of his passes, the ninth-best mark among signal-callers with at least 200 attempts. His turnover-worthy play rate also dropped from 3.7% in 2019 to 2.8% in 2020, according to PFF.Mayfield deserves credit for his development, but so does a series of other factors, including head coach Kevin Stefanski and Cleveland's improved offensive line, which gave Mayfield a career-best 2.7 pressure-free seconds in the pocket in 2020.While it's unclear whether Mayfield would've succeeded under less-stable circumstances, the Browns' front office seems to know exactly how to build an elite supporting cast for its quarterback, who will have receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back from a torn ACL in 2021. Mayfield took a huge step last year, and his best football is still ahead of him.Verdict: BREAKOUTDK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty2020 stats: 83 catches, 1,303 yards, 10 TDsWe realized Metcalf was one of the biggest steals from the 2019 draft once he recorded 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. But after a jaw-dropping 2020 campaign, the wideout has now solidified himself as one of the NFL's top pass-catchers.Metcalf's explosiveness, strength, and athletic ability created unfair individual matchups for opponents last year. He was the perfect weapon for Russell Wilson - one of football's best deep-throwers - averaging over 15.5 yards per catch for the second straight year while leading the league with 475 vertical route yards. Metcalf also ranks in the top 10 in both contested catches and broken tackles after the reception since entering the NFL.The Seahawks' late-season offensive struggles were probably the only reason why the former second-round pick didn't lead the league in receiving yards. And while some questions about Seattle's offense and Wilson's future may still be unanswered, there are no reasons to second-guess Metcalf. The sky is the limit for him as he enters his age-24 campaign.Verdict: BREAKOUTWill Fuller, WR, Dolphins2020 stats: 53 catches, 879 yards, 8 TDs (11 games)A first-round pick of the Texans in 2016, Fuller finally looked like a legitimate No. 1 option last year after assuming the role DeAndre Hopkins vacated. The 27-year-old always had great vertical speed, but he rounded off his route tree to become a more complete receiver, and his newfound ability to win all over the field led him to a new career high in receptions.Fuller should continue to put up solid numbers as he transitions to the Dolphins, but perhaps not such prolific ones. Fuller got popped for performance-enhancing drugs last season, which may have contributed to his uptick in production. The Notre Dame product also stayed healthy for the first time in his career, and it's hard to bank on that continuing given his track record.There's also the fact Fuller is going from Deshaun Watson - one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, who's particularly adept at throwing deep - to the uncertainty of Tua Tagovailoa. Fuller's best asset is his ability to get open down the field, but Tagovailoa must adjust his eye level or it won't matter in Miami.Verdict: FAKEOUTDavid Montgomery, RB, Bears Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 247 carries, 1,070 yards, 8 TDs; 54 receptions, 438 yards, 2 TDsMontgomery had two different seasons in 2020. What initially looked like a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign ended up being a breakout year that placed him among the NFL's best running backs. The former third-round pick failed to eclipse 90 rushing yards in a game through the first eight weeks but then topped that mark four times in the final seven contests to help Chicago reach the playoffs.Here's his production in 2020:GamesRush. AttYdsAvgTDsCatchesRec. YdsWeeks 1-881174423.7127200Weeks 9-1771306284.8727238Though Montgomery had his own share of fault for the early season struggles, it'd be hard for most runners to succeed in the Bears' offense. Chicago used six different combinations of offensive linemen last year and its lack of backfield depth was exposed after Tarik Cohen's season-ending injury. Despite the unstable supporting cast, Montgomery still ranked fourth in the NFL in missed tackles forced and sixth in first downs created.The Bears addressed those issues this offseason, and while the return of Cohen and arrivals of running backs Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert could reduce Montgomery's touches, they should make for a more balanced offense, helping him become more effective in his third pro season.Verdict: BREAKOUTCorey Davis, WR, Jets2020 stats: 65 catches, 984 yards, 5 TDsDavis picked the perfect time to bust out, parlaying a near 1,000-yard season into a three-year, $37.5-million deal with the Jets in free agency. After struggling to carve out a niche early in his career, Davis settled in nicely as the Titans' No. 2 receiver once A.J. Brown took over as the No. 1.The issue in New York is that Davis will be cast as the No. 1 receiver, a role he failed to master in Tennessee. He doesn't offer much value after the catch, and his success in contested situations could tail off as he draws better cornerback assignments.To his credit, Davis has grown into a quality receiver after a disappointing start to his career. However, he wins down the field, and the Jets probably won't be looking there much with a rookie quarterback and an iffy offensive line. It's hard to see how he builds on the numbers he posted last year.Verdict: FAKEOUTCalvin Ridley, WR, Falcons2020 stats: 90 catches, 1,374 yards, 9 TDsRidley proved his scoring ability after catching 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2018, but last year the wideout showed he can handle the No. 1 role by setting career highs in receptions and yards.Granted, playing on the Falcons' passing attack certainly helps, and Julio Jones received most of the attention from opposing defenders in the past. But Ridley showed this past season he can succeed even without Jones on the field, racking up 50 receptions for 765 yards and three touchdowns in the seven games the seven-time Pro Bower missed due to injury.The Falcons hired one of the NFL's best offensive play-callers this offseason in head coach Arthur Smith and added top tight end prospect Kyle Pitts in the draft. With Jones heading to Tennessee, Ridley's workload and production should soar in the coming seasons.Verdict: BREAKOUTRobert Tonyan, TE, Packers Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 52 catches, 586 yards, 11 TDsTonyan entered last season with only 14 career receptions but finished the year tied with Travis Kelce with a position-high 11 touchdown catches despite having less than half the targets. The former undrafted pass-catcher also created 4.2 yards of separation per target in 2020, the second-most of any player since 2016.However, it's hard to ignore what surrounded Tonyan last year; Aaron Rodgers was named regular-season MVP after tossing a career-high 48 touchdowns. Rodgers' magical year inflated everyone's numbers in Green Bay, including All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, who led the NFL with 18 touchdown catches despite missing two games. It's unlikely this offense will repeat its production in back-to-back years. In fact, Green Bay has no guarantees that Rodgers will even return this year, as the quarterback has reportedly requested a trade.Finally, Tonyan will have greater competition in 2021, as Green Bay drafted wide receiver Amari Rodgers and will have a healthier Allen Lazard after the wideout missed six games last season. Tonyan should still be a quality starter for the Packers, but his 2020 stat line will likely be an outlier.Verdict: FAKEOUTNelson Agholor, WR, Patriots2020 stats: 48 catches, 896 yards, 8 TDsMaligned for years with the Eagles, Agholor flourished as a vertical threat in his lone campaign with the Raiders. Darren Waller helped open space down the field and Derek Carr was accurate with the deep ball, but maybe Agholor simply needed to get out of Philadelphia to break through.The Patriots signed Agholor as a free agent, and now we'll find out whether his emergence in Las Vegas was a fluke. Despite his production, Agholor still struggled with drops as a Raider - something that ate him up in Philly. The Patriots' offense isn't designed to create a ton of explosive plays, and Cam Newton doesn't have Carr's touch downfield, so Agholor will need to get his numbers in different ways.Verdict: FAKEOUTLogan Thomas, TE, Washington Greg Fiume / Getty Images Sport / Getty2020 stats: 72 catches, 670 yards, 6 TDsWho could've thought Thomas, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round quarterback seven years ago, would now become one of football's most productive tight ends?In 2020, Thomas ranked in the top 10 in each major category among tight ends, including third in catches. He was also one of the few standouts on Washington's offense, placing second on the team in receiving yards and first in touchdowns. Additionally, half of Thomas' receptions resulted in first downs and his versatility even let Washington call trick plays with him lined up under center.The club addressed its issues under center by signing veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who arguably played his best football in the past two seasons while making Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki one of his top targets. Gesicki racked up 68 receptions, 835 yards, and eight touchdowns during Fitzpatrick's 20 starts in Miami.Fitzpatrick's arrival combined with Washington's rising offense should keep Thomas in a position to shine.Verdict: BREAKOUTCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James is signing a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens worth up to $9 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.James, who ruptured his Achilles in early May, will make $500,000 in guaranteed money this year as he rehabs and more than $8 million in 2022, Schefter reports. He's expected to miss the entire 2021 campaign.The 29-year-old opted out of last season due to COVID-19 concerns.James signed a four-year, $51-million deal with the Denver Broncos in 2019 but the club released him shortly after he injured his Achilles. Denver deemed the incident a non-football injury since it occurred while he was working out away from the team facility.In response, the veteran blocker filed a grievance against the Broncos on Monday. He's seeking to recover his $10-million salary for the 2021 season and $5 million (his guarantees) for 2022.James was one of the league's better right tackles when healthy and could provide stability at the position in 2022 for a Ravens squad that dealt Orlando Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason.Alejandro Villanueva, who was brought in after the Brown trade, is expected to start at right tackle in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Gus Edwards to a two-year, $10-million extension, his agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Edwards is now tied to the club through the 2023 campaign.The 26-year-old has served as Baltimore's power back for the last three seasons, finishing each of them with over 700 yards on the ground while averaging at least five yards per carry.Though he isn't the shiftiest player, Edwards has picked up positive yardage more consistently than any other rusher since he broke into the NFL.

Offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James filed a grievance against the Denver Broncos on Monday, seeking to recover his $10-million salary for the 2021 season and $5 million (his guarantees) for 2022, according to a copy of the document that Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio obtained.The Broncos released James in May after he tore his Achilles while training away from the team's facility. Denver deemed it a non-football injury, but the veteran lineman disagrees with the classification.“(James) was not working out on his own," the grievance reads. "(James) was working out as expressly and/or impliedly authorized and/or instructed by respondent's agents, including but not limited to the instructions and/or direction of the coach of respondent and/or other agents of respondent."(James) was working out with other players on the team at the facility and mentoring younger players as requested and/or expressly and/or impliedly authorized by respondent through its agent and/or agents."James, who opted out of the 2020 season, also claims that Denver's facilities weren't in compliance with relevant COVID-19 guidelines.The NFL released a memo immediately after the 29-year-old was hurt, stating that "injuries sustained while a player is working out 'on his own' in a location other than an NFL facility are considered 'non-football injuries' and are outside the scope of typical skill, injury, and cap guarantee."James signed a four-year, $51-million deal with the Broncos in 2019, which was then a record for right tackles. Denver will get a chance to defend itself and respond to his grievance.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans made a clear statement to the rest of the NFL on Sunday, finalizing a blockbuster trade for wide receiver Julio Jones.With the Titans looking to make a Super Bowl run in 2021, general manager Jon Robinson knows how significant the acquisition of the star pass-catcher could be for his team's chances."Excited to add Julio to the football team. He's excited to be part of what we've got going on in Nashville. It's a big day for our team," Titans general manager Jon Robinson said Sunday, according to ESPN.Jones is among the most accomplished receivers of the last decade. The 32-year-old has racked up a league-leading 12,896 yards since being drafted in 2011. He has also earned seven Pro Bowl nominations and made the All-Pro first team twice and the second team on three occasions.The Titans reportedly beat out the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks to get Jones, ultimately sending a second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons for the wideout and a 2023 sixth-rounder.The addition of Jones to an offense that already boasts running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver A.J. Brown means the Titans will arguably field one of the most talented units in the league.While the Titans are thrilled with their new weapon, the Falcons are losing one of the most beloved players in franchise history.Owner Arthur Blank, who once said he wanted Jones to play his entire career in Atlanta, paid tribute to the wide receiver in a statement."Julio Jones will always be part of the Falcons story, having set numerous records and creating many great memories for all our fans, including me, since the day we drafted him," he said. "He has been a fixture on our team for almost half the time I have owned the Falcons."As we both move in another direction, I'm deeply grateful for what Julio has done for our team and what he has meant to our city and, in my mind, he will always be part of the Falcons family. I wish him nothing but the best in Tennessee and throughout his life."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans won the Julio Jones sweepstakes Sunday, sending a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons for the star wide receiver and a 2023 sixth-rounder.The writing was on the wall for Jones' time with the Falcons ever since he essentially called to be traded on "Undisputed" in late May, telling Shannon Sharpe he was "outta there."Here, we examine whether Atlanta or Tennessee came off better in the blockbuster deal:Tennessee Titans Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Titans' offense now boasts rushing king Derrick Henry, rising star A.J. Brown, and Jones. That's an astonishing trio, and opposing defenses will drive themselves crazy trying to figure out who to stop. Tennessee needed a second receiving threat after losing Corey Davis to the New York Jets in free agency, and landing Jones was the dream scenario.Yes, Jones just turned 32 years old and is coming off an injury-shortened campaign. But even if the seven-time Pro Bowler is no longer at the peak of his powers, he's still very close to it. Jones was fourth in yards per route run last season (right behind new teammate Brown), per Adam Levitan of Establish The Run. Moreover, the wideout's average of 85.7 yards per game ranked seventh, and he's just a year removed from racking up the second-most yards in the league with 1,394.Perhaps Jones' hamstring issues last year and his foot injury in 2019 are signs that his body is breaking down. We've seen leg injuries sap other uber-athletic receivers toward the tail end of their careers before, with Calvin Johnson - who retired while two years younger than Jones is now - among the most notable examples. But considering the former Falcons pass-catcher missed only four games over the six campaigns prior to 2020, it's definitely a risk worth taking for Tennessee.With quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing the best football of his career and Henry likely having two or three years of dominant football left in the tank, the Titans are in win-now mode. Yet Tennessee was arguably in the third tier of AFC teams prior to this move, with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills a step ahead and the Kansas City Chiefs in a group of their own.But the Titans can now argue they're just as much of a threat to the Chiefs as the Ravens or Bills for the reasonable cost of a second-rounder, a swap of Day 3 picks in 2023, and a contract with cap hits of $15.3 million in 2021 and $11.5 million in 2022 and 2023, per Spotrac.To beat Kansas City, it's no secret you need firepower. A strong running game and a stingy defense will only contain Patrick Mahomes and Co. for so long, and Tennessee doesn't even have the defense. At some point, you'll need to go touchdown for touchdown with Mahomes to win the AFC crown. The Titans lacked that gear in their 20-13 wild-card loss to Baltimore. Now, with Jones in town, they might stand the best chance of keeping pace with the Chiefs.Grade: A-Atlanta Falcons Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat's the plan in Atlanta? Are the Falcons retooling for another run or rebuilding under new head coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot? Their offseason moves haven't been consistent with either path, and they're in danger of failing on both fronts while trying to walk the line between competitiveness and building for the future.Let's look at the Falcons' three major decisions following a 4-12 season. They gained $14 million in cap space after restructuring quarterback Matt Ryan's contract in March, but he now accounts for cap hits of $48.6 million in 2022 and $43.6 million in 2023. If Ryan - who's 36 and has been good but not great since winning MVP in 2016 - is released or traded after this season, Atlanta would incur a near-unworkable dead-money hit of $40.525 million, per Spotrac.Prior to Ryan's restructure, which likely locks him as the starter until 2023, it was speculated Atlanta could take a quarterback at No. 4 overall or trade down to receive more assets and retool. But even with Justin Fields available, the Falcons passed on both options in favor of tight end Kyle Pitts.It made some sense prior to trading Jones. A trio of Pitts, Jones, and Calvin Ridley meant Atlanta could potentially field a top-five offense that would help it compete in the competitive NFC South despite a lackluster defense. Also, the Falcons wouldn't have reaped the massive benefits of a starter on a rookie contract with Ryan's deal stuck on the books.Now that Jones is gone, the addition of Pitts, at best, keeps the Falcons' offense at the same mid-tier level of 2020 and 2019. And even that's optimistic. While Pitts is the best tight end prospect in recent memory, rookies at the position historically struggle to produce in their first season. By the time he's a star, Atlanta could be moving on from Ryan and scrambling to find the quarterback's successor. Pitts seems even more like a luxury pick for a team that hasn't come close to the playoffs in three years.Moreover, Atlanta arguably didn't even maximize Jones' trade value. Its leverage was admittedly lost somewhat by the wide receiver's public comments on his future, but the team has to bear responsibility for allowing its relationship with Jones to reportedly sour to the point that he wanted to force his way out.The Titans have won at least nine games for five straight years, so the Falcons will likely receive a pick in the mid-to-late 50s plus some change for the greatest player in franchise history. That's decent, but it's far from enough to compensate for the loss of Jones' All-Pro contributions and help the team acquire a future Ryan replacement.The Falcons' cap situation is undeniably ugly. But time and time again, other teams have proven that, with enough creative thinking, no financial issues can't be worked around. If Atlanta wanted to keep the Pro Bowler, it could've found a way around the cap, as Tori McElhaney and Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reported in late May. Smith and Fontenot inherited the issues with Jones and the poor cap situation, but their decisions this offseason might've doomed Atlanta to more mediocrity for the foreseeable future.Grade: CCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julio Jones' time with the Atlanta Falcons is over.Atlanta is dealing its star receiver and a 2023 sixth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-rounder, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The trade may not be finalized for a few days, as Jones must pass a physical, Rapoport adds. The Falcons were initially hoping to land a first-round pick in the blockbuster deal.Jones has been among the NFL's most prolific receivers since entering the league in 2011. He made seven Pro Bowls and earned two All-Pro nods with the Falcons, but Jones reportedly requested a move months ago before recently signaling his desire to leave the team in an interview with "Undisputed."Tennessee was long viewed as a contender for the veteran wideout. A.J. Brown even attempted to recruit his new teammate last month. The Titans were in need of an upgrade on the perimeter after losing Corey Davis in free agency.Jones will now join the reigning AFC South champions' dangerous offense, which already includes Brown, Ryan Tannehill, and 2020 leading rusher Derrick Henry.The Falcons will free up $15.3 million in cap space with the move. They'll be able to sign their 2021 draft class following the trade.Jones missed seven games due to injury last season and finished with just 51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns. The 32-year-old is Atlanta's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Members of the Washington Football Team are quickly becoming enamored with Ryan Fitzpatrick.The 38-year-old quarterback signed with Washington in March and has already made an impression during OTAs."Fitz is fun," receiver Terry McLaurin said, according to Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington."Fitz is great. The first thing that struck me about him is just that he has a (really) cool, calm demeanor about him. When he's in the huddle, it's just really collected."Washington will be the ninth stop on Fitzpatrick's tour through the NFL, and he'll be the seventh quarterback in McLaurin's three-year career.Both players are looking to create some chemistry that will lead to more stability for all parties."We've definitely been able to iron out some things early and made some connection over the past few days," McLaurin said. "It's starting to feel a lot more natural, and being able to get that head start before camp is (really) good."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.