The Houston Texans released safety Tashaun Gipson, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.The move creates $3.2 million in cap space and leaves $4.25 million in dead money, per Over The Cap.Gipson, 29, was signed to a three-year, $22.5-million deal as a free agent last March.The veteran started 14 games for the Texans in 2019 before being placed on injured reserve with a back injury.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers will give rookie quarterback Justin Herbert a chance to win the starting role during 2020.While Tyrod Taylor will begin the offseason program atop the depth chart, head coach Anthony Lynn won't rule out the No. 6 overall pick taking the job from the 10th-year pro."We're going into this thing: Day 1, Tyrod Taylor's going to be starting it off," Lynn told Albert Breer of The MMQB. "He's earned that right. His teammates respect the hell out of him, he's a leader on this football team. Our young quarterback's gonna learn a lot from Tyrod Taylor. Tyrod Taylor's one of the most respected players on our team, and he doesn't say a whole lot either. …"(But) it's a competition, bro. There's a competition at every position, not just this one. I can't just say Tyrod's gonna be the starting quarterback for the whole year if this young man goes in there and wins the job."Prior to the draft, the Chargers were reportedly prepared to roll with Taylor as their starter instead of bringing in another veteran passer. But L.A. used its first-round pick on Herbert, anointing the former Oregon standout as the ideal long-term successor to Philip Rivers, who left in free agency.It's rare for a rookie quarterback to sit early in their career, especially those taken within the top 10 of the draft. Moreover, Herbert started 43 games for the Ducks before leaving as a senior, making him one of the more experienced first-year signal-callers.Taylor, meanwhile, has been in this situation before. In 2018, he started three games for the Cleveland Browns before losing the job to No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are expected to exercise the fifth-year option in quarterback Deshaun Watson's rookie contract, a source told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.With the Texans and Watson reportedly engaged in preliminary talks about a big-money extension, the move to pick up the 2021 option has been widely viewed as a formality.Watson is projected to earn around $17.3 million in 2021 if a new contract isn't agreed upon.NFL teams have until May 4 to decide whether to pick up options on 2017 first-round picks.Whenever he signs his next deal, the 24-year-old Watson is likely to challenge for a place among the league's highest-paid quarterbacks after receiving back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in his first two seasons as Houston's full-time starter.The signal-caller will lead a new-look Texans offense in 2020 after the blockbuster trade of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals and the additions of wideouts Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News sectionThe goal of a way-too-early mock draft is to get readers familiarized with players who should be atop the big boards in 2021. That Trevor Lawrence fella out of Clemson? He might be a name you recognize on every single one of them.Unlike Joe Burrow's unconventional rise to the No. 1 pick, Lawrence's path has been traditional. He was the hottest commodity coming out of high school and already has two national title appearances under his belt as an underclassman. At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Lawrence also has the tools to become an elite quarterback at the pro level.Unsurprisingly, he's the heavy favorite to be picked first next spring.Odds to go No. 1 in 2021 NFL DraftPlayerSchoolOddsQB Trevor LawrenceClemson-300QB Justin FieldsOhio State+300OT Penei SewellOregon+400QB D'Eriq KingMiami+1800LB Micah ParsonsPenn State+2500QB Jamie NewmanGeorgia+3300DE Gregory RousseauMiami+3300WR Ja'Marr ChaseLSU+5000WR Devonta SmithAlabama+5000WR Jaylen WaddleAlabama+5000RB Travis EtienneClemson+5000DB Patrick Surtain IIAlabama+5000DB Shaun WadeOhio State+5000RB Chuba HubbardOklahoma State+6600OT Sam CosmiTexas+6600RB Najee HarrisAlabama+8000QB Kellen MondTexas A&M+8000Only displaying odds shorter than 100-1Of course, taking stabs at the first overall selection roughly a full year out from the draft is more recreational than business. After all, Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa was the consensus favorite to go No. 1 in 2020 prior to last season, yet he wasn't even the first quarterback in his conference to come off the board.Let's consider who has the potential to usurp Lawrence by the time the 2021 draft rolls around.BuyPenei Sewell (+400)How many teams in the league would bypass Lawrence for a tackle if they had the No. 1 pick? Not a whole lot. But had the Clemson quarterback come out in any other class, Sewell would more than likely be the best prospect in this field.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses the players whose fantasy stock rose or fell the most based on the 2020 NFL Draft, some late-round/undrafted rookies to watch for, and the fallout from the 49ers' recent trades.

The Cleveland Browns will exercise the fifth-year options on star pass-rusher Myles Garrett and tight end David Njoku, a source told ESPN's Jake Trotter.Those players were two of Cleveland's three first-round picks in the 2017 draft. Jabrill Peppers, the other first-round selection, was traded to the New York Giants last offseason.Garrett - the first overall pick in 2017 - was in the midst of a dominant 2019 campaign but was suspended for the remainder of the season after ripping off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hitting him in the head with it during Week 11.The Browns' decision to pick up Njoku's option is somewhat surprising. The tight end injured his wrist and suffered a concussion on the same play in Week 2 last season and played in just two more games during the campaign.Additionally, Cleveland made Austin Hooper the league's highest-paid tight end this offseason and then selected fellow TE Harrison Bryant in the fourth round of the 2020 draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The decreased demand for quarterbacks was on full display at the 2020 NFL Draft. Just five signal-callers were taken in the first 121 picks, speaking to the uniquely soft nature of the current market.One team that was expected to select a quarterback on Day 2 of the draft was the New England Patriots, with many analysts mocking Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, or Jake Fromm as the team's newest passer.But after Bill Belichick and Co. opted not to draft a quarterback, they find themselves the heavy favorites to land current free agent and former first overall pick Cam Newton at some point before next season.TEAMODDS (April 27)ODDS (April 1)New England Patriots-190+650Jacksonville Jaguars+300+470Denver Broncos+1000+600Chicago Bears+1100N/ALas Vegas Raiders+1500+1200Washington Redskins+1500+900Los Angeles ChargersN/A-150New England Patriots (-190)There was plenty of pre-draft speculation that the Patriots could make an aggressive move to secure a quarterback, but none of it proved to be true. Instead, the team's willingness to continually ignore the position suggests Belichick is more than content to roll with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer as his quarterbacks in 2020.Still, something just feels off about that last sentence, and oddsmakers obviously agree. But if the Patriots wanted to sign Newton, wouldn't they have done so already? After the Indianapolis Colts drafted Eason, a trade to bring back Jacoby Brissett seems like the likelier course of action for New England. Laying the chalk doesn't feel like the smart play here.Jacksonville Jaguars (+300)The Jaguars have made clear their intent to give Gardner Minshew the reigns this season, but are they really content letting Joshua Dobbs and sixth-round pick Jake Luton fight for the backup job? There's an obvious need for a veteran option off the bench should Minshew falter. Though Newton doesn't necessarily fit with Jacksonville's desire to change the culture in the room, the reward may outweigh the risk.Denver Broncos (+1000)There's no doubt the Broncos are all-in on Drew Lock, with John Elway likely eager to see what his young quarterback can do with all those new toys. Denver brought in Jeff Driskel this offseason to serve as Lock's backup, and there's little chance Elway would go the veteran route again after the Joe Flacco experiment failed so miserably last year. The Broncos are set under center.Washington Redskins (+1500)The Ron Rivera connection might be difficult to overlook, but don't waste your money here. Though the Redskins' new head coach isn't tethered to Dwayne Haskins, Rivera had a choice as to which former Panthers quarterback to bring to Washington and opted to trade for Kyle Allen. That move put a concrete end to the Newton speculation.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals knew their plans for the No. 1 overall pick weeks before the 2020 NFL Draft.In a meeting with owner Mike Brown, executive vice president Katie Blackburn, and vice president Troy Blackburn in late March, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor finalized the decision to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow."Everybody got to speak," said Tobin told MMQB's Albert Breer. "Everybody was on the same page. It was universal agreement in that meeting. No doubters. No detractors. It was basically, 'This is the guy that this whole group sees as No. 1. We think it's clear. Here are the reasons. ... We're all comfortable with this, this is where we're going, let’s move forward.'"Although Cincinnati knew what its Round 1 draft plans were in March - and most of the football world figured it out months earlier - the team opted not to tell Burrow before last Thursday."We never outright told him, 'Hey, you're the No, 1 pick,'" Taylor said. "It was possible the way I phrased a lot of things, where he's a smart guy, he can put two and two together. There was never a moment where we said, 'Hey, Joe, we're picking you at No. 1, congratulations.' That never happened until the actual phone call on draft night. But again, he's a smart guy and I think he was probably able to piece together some things I said."Taylor added, "The cool thing is (the pick) never changed. It never flopped. It never wavered."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With all seven rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft complete, we evaluate which teams and individuals benefited most, and who received our lowest marks.Winner: Tom BradyTampa Bay did everything it could to provide Tom Brady with what he needs to chase a championship.Before the draft even started, the Buccaneers used a fourth-round pick to bring future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski out of retirement. With the 2020 offseason program and preseason in question due to the coronavirus pandemic, giving Brady a familiar target and someone with whom he already has chemistry should prove valuable.Sitting at No. 14 with their first-round pick, the Bucs were thought to be out of the running for one of the top four tackles in this year's draft. Then, Tristan Wirfs slid into the teens. It cost Tampa only a fourth-rounder to move up one spot and get someone who had been projected to go as high as the fourth pick. Wirfs should provide immediate protection for the Bucs' soon-to-be 43-year-old quarterback and plug a hole on their offensive line.In the third and fifth rounds, respectively, Tampa added a pass-catching running back - something Brady has excelled with - in Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and a tough receiver in Tyler Johnson to replace Breshad Perriman.Both Brady and the Bucs are now all-in on the 2020 season.- Michael McClymontLoser: Aaron RodgersWatching the receiver-needy Packers not select a single wideout - in the deepest receiver class in years, no less - would likely have been enough to send the famously ornery Rodgers off of the deep end.But that wasn't even the worst part of the draft for Rodgers. Instead, 15 years after the Packers stunned the football world by ending Rodgers' draft-day freefall despite the presence of beloved franchise icon Brett Favre, Green Bay took a giant leap toward the future by trading up to draft Jordan Love.Even if Rodgers was close to retirement, Love would still be the riskiest selection of the draft. The Utah State product has been called a poor man's Patrick Mahomes, but even that is probably wishful thinking. After 32 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a redshirt sophomore, Love regressed, leading the nation with 17 interceptions in 2019. Generous appraisals of his development suggest he's a few years away from being pro-ready.But Rodgers probably isn't at the end of his career. Unlike Favre in 2005, Rodgers has given no indication he's contemplating retirement. His play has undoubtedly fallen off from his MVP years but he still took the Packers to within one game of the Super Bowl in 2019 despite a clear lack of receiving weapons.Tom Brady won a Super Bowl at 41; Aaron Rodgers is 36 and has indicated he also wants to play into his 40s. If he does, the Packers' investment in Love means Rodgers will probably have to play his final seasons elsewhere. Before Thursday, that notion was unthinkable.- David P. WoodsWinner: Mike McCarthyMichael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / GettyMike McCarthy faces his share of doubters upon making his return to the sideline with the Cowboys, as the end of his Packers tenure raised significant questions about how well he's adapted to the modern game. We won't have answers in that regard for another few months, but one thing is certain: McCarthy is set up for success in Dallas.CeeDee Lamb falling to the Cowboys at No. 17 was a twist nobody saw coming. Dallas had more pressing needs, but the opportunity to have the Oklahoma standout form a three-headed monster with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup was too good to pass up. Nobody would have batted an eye had the Cowboys drafted Trevon Diggs instead to address their cornerback need, but the Alabama product fell to them in the second round, anyway. Neville Gallimore was another good value pick to bolster the defensive line in the third, and Dallas may have found its replacement for recently retired center Travis Frederick in fourth-round pick Tyler Biadasz. All in all, an outstanding haul.McCarthy couldn't have asked for a more perfect situation to step into after a year out of the league. This is without question one of football's most talented rosters, with no shortage of offensive weapons to do anything McCarthy wants. He'd never say it, but it must feel pretty good to be in such an enviable position while the team that fired him seems perfectly content to not give Aaron Rodgers what he needs for another Super Bowl run.- Dan WilkinsLoser: AFC West defensesComing off of a Super Bowl title with an offense that may well be impossible to stop, the rest of the NFL finds itself chasing the Chiefs. And no teams are fighting that battle harder than Kansas City's biggest rivals, who each have the unfortunate task of facing Patrick Mahomes twice a year. Every AFC West team made major additions to their offense in this draft. Some were to be anticipated due to obvious roster needs, but it's tough to not also associate the clear focus on one thing: trying to catch the champs.With two early receiver picks in Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler, and a mid-round tight end with plenty of upside in Albert Okwuegbunam, the Broncos have suddenly surrounded second-year quarterback Drew Lock with a potent supporting cast.The Raiders also placed an emphasis on offensive playmakers, starting their draft with Henry Ruggs III - the fastest receiver in this class - before selecting consecutive skill-position players in the third round in do-it-all weapon Lynn Bowden Jr. and receiver Bryan Edwards.The Chargers already had a bunch of offensive talent, and drafting Justin Herbert to replace Philip Rivers gives them an athletic young quarterback who could potentially unlock even more upside for that group in the future.Oh, and the Chiefs added to their already ridiculous offense with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a phenomenal receiving back who just may be the perfect fit for Andy Reid's offense. Good luck to the AFC West defenses over the next few years.- WilkinsWinner: SmokescreensJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Dolphins haven't exactly been the shining example of a well-run organization in recent years. They still have a long way to go before they're deserving of any sort of confidence, but the way they played their hand during the draft process suggests they could be headed in the right direction. Reeling in Tua Tagovailoa was the assumed goal when Miami sold off assets and effectively threw in the towel last season. However, the Dolphins got hot down the stretch, earned more wins than anyone expected, and, suddenly, the No. 5 overall pick left them vulnerable to another team trading up and beating them to the punch.But as the predraft process continued, rumblings about Miami passing on Tagovailoa in favor of Justin Herbert - or even an offensive lineman - were so loud that they became almost impossible to ignore. And you can bet the same was true for those around the league.In doing so, the Dolphins could have theoretically dissuaded a quarterback-needy team - such as the Los Angeles Chargers - from parting with the necessary assets to move up to No. 3 or No. 4 to get Tagovailoa. At the same time, Miami made it difficult for the New York Giants, who took Andrew Thomas at No. 4, to trade out of that spot and risk not getting their guy.Nobody can say for certain whether the Chargers, or any other team, would have jumped Miami for Tagovailoa had it been more clear the Dolphins wanted him, but the organization certainly did its part in trying to prevent such a scenario. The Dolphins kept everyone on their toes with what was always a no-brainer pick. That isn't easy to do.- WilkinsLoser: RedskinsThe Redskins did get the draft's consensus top prospect in Chase Young with the second overall pick, but this evaluation is more about their draft-day trade.After months of back-and-forth trade negotiations, Washington finally agreed to deal Trent Williams. And though the team insisted it wouldn't accept anything less than market value - and even sought a second-round pick - for the seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle, the trade left much to be desired.Backed into a corner on Day 3 of the draft, the Redskins received a fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-rounder from San Francisco for a 31-year-old who is still thought of as one of the best players at one of football's most important positions. The Niners were just as desperate to find a premier tackle with Joe Staley headed for retirement, but general manager John Lynch flexed his negotiating muscles.The Redskins-Williams union ended in an ugly divorce, and the trade Washington ultimately agreed upon was just as bad.- McClymontWinner: Virtual draftThis first-ever "virtual" draft seemed doomed to fail. The NFL's trial run revealed a multitude of technical issues. Social distancing restrictions meant the broadcast had almost nothing in the way of the draft's typical glitz and glamor. No red carpet, no screaming fans, no fireworks - all seemingly necessary supplements to the mundanity of three straight days of names being read off a card.And then ... it just kinda worked.Coaches and GMs made picks from their homes (some of them opulent, but many more of them surprisingly plain), offering fans unprecedented access to their lives in a way that humanized these typically larger-than-life figures.

After months of speculation and rumors claiming the Miami Dolphins were interested in other prospects, the franchise selected Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 draft.At one point, Tagovailoa had been the consensus top prospect in his class, but durability questions arose after a hip injury ended his final college campaign and other previous injuries came to light. But despite reported concerns leading up to the draft, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier was prepared to make the former Alabama star his franchise quarterback."We're very comfortable," Grier told MMQB's Albert Breer. "Really, it's nothing different. We all know in this game, people get hurt. He's had some injuries that people talk about, but the part that people miss is a couple of the surgeries he had, he was doing it to rush back sooner, to be with his teammates and play. Some people may have elected not to do it, and kind of ride it out. He handled adversity well and showed his mental toughness and his work ethic to come back from those things."Our doctors and trainers did an outstanding job, like they do on every player. With him specifically, they did nothing above and beyond of the same thing they do. They checked all the boxes and made sure we were all comfortable and feeling good about it. (Head coach) Brian (Flores), myself, ownership, we were very comfortable with it."Miami's doctors held a final medical meeting with Tagovailoa on the week of the draft. Afterward, they gave team executives the go-ahead to select him.While Grier spoke highly of the lefty's on-field talent, he also believes Tagovailoa possesses traits that can't be coached."It's how he carried himself," the GM said. "And how everyone talked about him. Our guys did a lot of work on him, going back to high school. We felt like he had a lot of intangibles that we like, that you look for in leaders of programs. We would spend time talking to some of the other Alabama players, and they just raved about him as a person."Grier added that the Dolphins "just thought he was the right guy."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks released guard D.J. Fluker and center Justin Britt on Sunday.Fluker announced on Twitter the end of his two-season stint in Seattle:

The 2020 NFL Draft was the most-watched edition of the event in league history.The draft, which was held in a virtual format and took place during a global pandemic, drew more than 55 million viewers across three days, the NFL announced. Viewership was up 16% from the 2019 event.An average of 8.4 million viewers watched all three days of the broadcast."I couldn't be more proud of the efforts and collaboration of our clubs, league personnel, and our partners to conduct an efficient draft and share an unforgettable experience with millions of fans during these uncertain times," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.The unique format featured Goodell announcing picks in the first, second, and third rounds from the basement of his home. It also included live look-ins at draft prospects celebrating with their families, and at general managers and coaches making picks from rooms in their homes.Additionally, the league's Draft-A-Thon livestream raised $6.6 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.Copyright © 2020 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.Opportunity is everything in fantasy football. If a player can't get on the field, they won't have a chance to produce on your roster.The following depth charts, which will be updated throughout the offseason, are designed to give fantasy owners insight into the players who are projected for starting roles, as well as the backups who are next in line in case of injury or ineffectiveness.These depth charts reflect a combination of current rosters and projected fantasy value. They are not directly based on official team depth charts.Fantasy Depth Charts

After missing out on quarterbacks during the NFL draft, the New England Patriots signed undrafted free agent Brian Lewerke out of Michigan State, the passer's agent, Mike McCartney announced Sunday.The Patriots also plan to sign former Louisiana Tech quarterback J'Mar Smith, though head coach Bill Belichick confirmed a contract has yet to be finalized, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.Belichick admitted Saturday that going through the three-day draft without selecting a QB "wasn't by design." With just Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer on the roster, the team intended to add more help under center.Lewerke started for the Spartans over his last three years in college. He threw for 3,079 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in his senior year, which culminated in a Pinstripe Bowl victory after going 7-6.Smith threw for 2,977 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 picks and also added four rushing scores for the 10-3 Bulldogs. The senior was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots exited the 2020 NFL Draft without an immediate solution at quarterback.Prospects Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, and Jake Fromm were on the board at various points, but New England opted against selecting any of them. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick insisted Saturday that the right QBs just didn't align with where they picked."Didn't work out the last three days. That wasn't by design. We just tried to do the best we could with what we had this weekend," Belichick said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.New England now plans to sign J'Mar Smith out of Louisiana Tech as an undrafted free agent, Reiss reports.Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said ahead of Day 3 of the draft that the club intended to add a third quarterback to a depth chart that also includes 2019 pick Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints signed quarterback Taysom Hill to a two-year contract on Sunday.The deal is worth $21 million and includes $16 million guaranteed, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.New Orleans entered this offseason with all three of its quarterbacks from 2019 unsigned. The team has since retained Hill and Drew Brees. The franchise is also reportedly finalizing a deal with free agent Jameis Winston.Hill has proven to be a unique weapon in the Saints' offense.Last season, he averaged 5.8 yards on 27 carries, caught six touchdown passes, attempted six passes, and starred on special teams.Though head coach Sean Payton has publicly stated he believes in Hill's future as a quarterback, the 29-year-old will again back up Brees in 2020 while continuing to operate as a utility player at other positions.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rather than adding an immediate difference-maker with their first-round pick in the 2020 draft, the Green Bay Packers traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love.It was a decision that could lead to problems in a quarterback room that already features Aaron Rodgers - something Rodgers experienced when he was drafted as Brett Favre's future replacement back in 2005. However, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur doesn't foresee any issues between the veteran and the rookie who could eventually succeed him."I can't say enough about his leadership, his value, his importance to this football team," LaFleur said of Rodgers, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "He is the one that leads us out there. I know he's going to be a great mentor and I'm excited to get back to work with all these guys."Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst can envision a scenario playing out that's similar to what took place with Rodgers and Favre. Rodgers was a backup for the first three years of his career before Green Bay handed him the controls."The reason that back when we moved from Brett to Aaron was because of what Aaron had done his first three years here, and that's got to happen with Jordan," Gutekunst said."He has to be able to do the work and he has to do that for us to make us believe that he can be a starting quarterback in the National Football League. We drafted him in the first round, we certainly think he has that kind of talent. But that's not enough in the National Football League. You've got to work, you've got to earn it, you've got to become a good enough player."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Indianapolis Colts used a fourth-round pick on Jacob Eason, many wrote his name in ink as the team's quarterback of the future.But general manager Chris Ballard isn't ready to slap that tag on the No. 122 overall selection."He has talent, but there's a long way to go," Ballard said of Eason, according to ESPN's Mike Wells."Like any of them, they have to earn it. Right now, he's competing with Chad Kelly. Philip Rivers and Jacoby (Brissett) are our first two (quarterbacks). Let's slow our roll a little bit in terms of tagging this guy as the next messiah walking into town. He was a fourth-round pick. We didn't move up to the first pick of the draft."Rivers is expected to be under center in 2020 and has said he'd be open to returning for a second season in Indianapolis if all goes well. Meanwhile, Brissett and Kelly are only under contract for the upcoming campaign.That could clear the way for Eason to be the long-term solution - something Ballard believes is possible with proper development. "Jacob has talent," the GM said. "He has to work and he has to earn it."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Individuals around the NFL believe the Chicago Bears will not pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The Bears have until May 4 to make a decision.Chicago traded four picks to move up from No. 3 overall and make Trubisky the second overall selection of the 2017 NFL Draft. He's now entering the final year of his four-year, $29-million rookie deal.Trubisky was named an alternate to the 2018 Pro Bowl after helping the Bears to a 12-4 record and a playoff appearance. The 25-year-old took a significant step back in 2019, however, prompting Chicago to acquire Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars after an 8-8 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are finalizing a one-year contract with free-agent quarterback Jameis Winston, sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.The deal is expected to wrap up shortly now that the NFL draft is over, reports Robinson, who adds it should be an economical union for the Saints as they face a cap crunch.Winston, 26, led the NFL in passing last season with 5,109 yards but threw a league-high 30 interceptions.The Saints lost backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to the Carolina Panthers in free agency but retained restricted free agent Taysom Hill. New Orleans also drafted Tommy Stevens in the seventh round Saturday.Winston is expected to compete with Hill for the right to be Drew Brees' immediate backup and will have a shot to eventually succeed Brees, who's reportedly already signed a deal with NBC to join its broadcast booth at the end of his playing career.Copyright © 2020 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.After Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the lone running back selected in the first round of the NFL draft, four ball carriers found very promising homes in Round 2.While each has a chance to emerge as an immediate fantasy star, they'll all face varying levels of competition for touches during their rookie seasons.Let's take a closer look at what their fantasy futures might hold, including early projections for 2020.1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (32nd)Star potential: ★★★★★

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the most important fantasy-relevant offensive selections from Rounds 4-7 of the 2020 NFL Draft.Fantasy analysis

With the 2020 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared over the course of the three-day event.NFC

The Washington Redskins have traded left tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-round selection.The fifth-round pick is No. 156 overall in Saturday's draft. The deal is pending a physical.San Francisco's move for the seven-time Pro Bowler took place minutes before six-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley announced his retirement after 13 seasons in the NFL.Williams had one year and $12.5 million left on his contract with the Redskins and had indicated his desire for a new contract. He and the 49ers are expected to restructure the last season of his current deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The 31-year-old is considered one of the best left tackles in football. He'll reunite with Kyle Shanahan, his offensive coordinator with the Redskins from 2010-13 and San Francisco's current head coach.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Upon the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft on Saturday, commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league raised over $100 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.

The New York Giants ended the 2020 NFL Draft by making Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder this year's "Mr. Irrelevant."The 255th pick came to Athens as part of the Class of 2015 as an offensive player - some labeled him as a tight end while he started his college career at running back.After converting to linebacker, Crowder played in 32 games for the Bulldogs. He racked up 62 tackles and one fumble recovery in 2019.New York last landed "Mr. Irrelevant" in the 1991 NFL Draft when the team selected quarterback Larry Wanke.Crowder will join a Giants linebacking corps that features Blake Martinez, David Mayo, and Ryan Connelly.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LSU had 14 players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, tying Ohio State in 2004 for the all-time record.Thirteen teams picked at least one player off of the college football national champions, beginning with the Cincinnati Bengals, who took quarterback Joe Burrow first overall.The Tigers were represented five times in Round 1, twice in Round 2, three times in Round 3, twice in Round 4, and one time apiece in Rounds 6 and 7.LSU players selected in 2020 NFL DraftPickPlayerTeamPosition1Joe BurrowBengalsQB20K'Lavon ChaissonJaguarsLB22Justin JeffersonVikingsWR28Patrick QueenRavensLB32Clyde Edwards-HelaireChiefsRB44Grant DelpitBrownsS61Kristian FultonTitansCB69Damien LewisSeahawksG83Lloyd CushenberryBroncosC97Jacob PhillipsBrownsLB108Saahdiq CharlesRedskinsOT131Rashard LawrenceCardinalsDT185Blake FergusonDolphinsLS251Stephen SullivanSeahawksTEOne former Tiger who didn't get drafted was tight end Thaddeus Moss, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots created a stir on social media when they selected kicker Justin Rohrwasser out of Marshall in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft - and not because they actually drafted a kicker.Eagle-eyed Twitter users noted a tattoo on Rohrwasser's arm appears to be a symbol used by the "Three Percenters," a far-right militia movement that advocates for gun ownership rights and resisting the U.S. federal government's reach.

The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback Jake Fromm out of Georgia in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 167th overall, ending the slide of a player once considered to be a potential first-round pick.Fromm, a three-year starter with the Bulldogs, was the eighth quarterback taken in the draft despite his winning college pedigree (35-7 record). Until recently, he was widely tipped to be selected on Day 2. Instead, he didn't hear his name called until well into Day 3.Bills general manager Brandon Beane told ESPN's Chris Mortensen in a text message that he "wasn't planning on drafting a quarterback today," but described Fromm as "too good to pass up" in the fifth round.Fromm threw for 2,860 yards and 24 touchdowns against five interceptions in 2019, but concerns about his limited upside as a pro may have caused his slide.The 21-year-old will likely battle Matt Barkley for the right to be Josh Allen's backup in 2020.Prospect ProfileSchool: Georgia

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired wide receiver Marquise Goodwin from the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal involves a swap of sixth-round picks, according to Schefter.Goodwin spent three seasons in San Francisco. He enjoyed a breakout 2017 campaign, posting 962 yards and two touchdowns, but his production fell off in the last two years while coping with injuries and family issues. The 29-year-old had only 186 yards and one touchdown in nine appearances in 2019.The Eagles prioritized receiving upgrades entering the draft, evidenced by their first-round selection of Jalen Reagor. Philadelphia received minimal production from their wideouts last season. Like Reagor, Goodwin has the speed to take the top off opposing defenses.After drafting a wide receiver of his own in the first round, 49ers general manager John Lynch acknowledged he was working to find Goodwin a new home.Goodwin has two years and over $10 million left on his contract, though none of his remaining salary is guaranteed.A former third-round pick out of Texas, Goodwin played four seasons for the Buffalo Bills before going to the 49ers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley retired Saturday due to health concerns.

The Miami Dolphins have acquired running back Matt Breida from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick.San Francisco received the 154th overall selection in the 2020 draft in the deal and used it on West Virginia offensive lineman Colton McKivitz.Breida, who offers intriguing speed and playmaking ability, was deemed the odd man out in a loaded 49ers backfield. Kyle Shanahan's offense also rostered Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson, and Jerick McKinnon at the position.The 25-year-old will likely share Miami's backfield with Jordan Howard in 2020. The Dolphins rushing attack struggled mightily a season ago with Kalen Ballage and Patrick Laird leading the charge for most of the year.Miami initially had trade conversations with the Los Angeles Rams regarding Todd Gurley and with the Jacksonville Jaguars about Leonard Fournette before adding Breida, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys selected center Tyler Biadasz out of Wisconsin in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 146th overall.The Cowboys made a rare trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to land Biadasz, sending No. 164 and a 2021 fifth-rounder to their divisional rivals in exchange for No. 146.Dallas needed a center after five-time Pro Bowler Travis Frederick retired at 29 years old in March. Frederick also played at Wisconsin in college.Prospect ProfileSchool: Wisconsin

Thirteen wide receivers were selected in the opening two rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, setting a new league record.The previous high was 12 during the star-studded 2014 draft that featured Odell Beckham Jr., Davante Adams, and Mike Evans, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Here's the full list of wideouts drafted within the opening 64 picks of this year's draft:Player (School)TeamPickHenry Ruggs III (Alabama)Raiders12Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)Broncos15CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)Cowboys17Jalen Reagor (Texas Christian)Eagles21Justin Jefferson (LSU)Vikings22Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State)49ers25Tee Higgins (Clemson)Bengals33Michael Pittman (USC)Colts34Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado)Jaguars42K.J. Hamler (Penn State)Broncos46Chase Claypool (Notre Dame)Steelers49Van Jefferson (Florida)Chargers57Denzel Mims (Baylor)Jets59Six receivers were selected in the first round, while seven followed in Round 2.Coverage of the last four rounds of the NFL draft begins Saturday at noon.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Anthony McFarland Jr. out of Maryland in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, No. 124 overall.McFarland joins a crowded running back room in Pittsburgh that includes James Conner, Jaylen Samuels, and Benny Snell. It's the third straight year the Steelers added a tailback in the middle rounds of the draft.Prospect ProfileSchool: Maryland

The New York Jets selected quarterback James Morgan out of Florida International in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 125th overall.Morgan gives the Jets a developmental quarterback and a possible competitor for the backup role behind Sam Darnold. New York's newest signal-caller passed for 2,585 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019.Prospect ProfileSchool: Florida International

The Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback Jacob Eason out of Washington in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 122nd overall.Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett are only contracted for the 2020 season, and the Colts were widely expected to take a rookie quarterback as a result.The AFC South club was connected to the likes of Jordan Love (taken in Round 1) and Jalen Hurts (taken in Round 2) throughout the draft process.The ex-Washington standout will need time to develop, but landed in one of the most suitable landing spots to do so with offensive-minded head coach Frank Reich and an elite offensive line.Eason, who began his college career at Georgia before transferring, will be able to sit behind Rivers in 2020 and improve his decision-making and pocket presence issues.In 2019 as a junior, Eason threw for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions.Prospect ProfileSchool: Washington

Tom Brady's friendship with Julian Edelman came into question earlier this week after Edelman appeared to briefly unfollow Brady on Instagram, but the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback says the two remain close."Jules knows how I feel about him. I love that guy. He's like a brother to me," Brady said Thursday, according to WEEI's Ryan Hannable. "We have been through so much and nobody is as big a fan (of) Julian than me. He will be great (with) whoever he plays with."As you guys know, there's a business side to sports. Things happen. You have to take it day by day like we're all experiencing. Things change pretty quickly in the world and in our lives."There's one thing I said about the very, very unfortunate passing of Kobe Bryant is we never know when our day is. You think one day you are just waking up to do something really routine in your life, we're planning for the future 30, 40 years from now, but the reality is, seize the day."Brady and Edelman were teammates for 10 seasons with the New England Patriots and won three Super Bowl championships together during that time. Edelman campaigned hard for Brady to return to New England in free agency, even launching a "Stay Tom 2020" apparel line.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has yet to publicly comment on the Green Bay Packers' decision to use their first-round pick to draft his eventual successor, but he did make sure to congratulate his new teammate."Yeah, I was able to talk to him earlier," Jordan Love told ESPN's Maria Taylor, according to Rob Demovsky of the same network. "You know, really good guy. Just congratulating me, and I was just letting him know that I was excited to be able to work with him."Rodgers, 36, reportedly initiated the conversation that took place less than 24 hours after the Packers made the Utah State product their surprise pick at 26th overall.Though Rodgers is under contract until 2023 and had publicly expressed hope that Green Bay would add a skill-position player after coming within one win of a Super Bowl berth last season, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst believes the veteran will have no problem mentoring his new backup.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams says he did not nix a potential trade that would have sent him to the Minnesota Vikings."No, that's not true," Williams said, according to ESPN's John Keim and Courtney Cronin.Yet sources told Keim and Cronin that Washington informed potential suitors on Friday that Williams didn't want to play for Minnesota.The Redskins have been working to trade Williams as the disgruntled 31-year-old presses for a move out of Washington. But it reportedly wasn't until Friday morning - Day 2 of the NFL draft - that discussions began to accelerate when the Vikings included a second late-round draft pick in a potential deal.Nonetheless, no trade materialized, and the Vikings selected tackle Ezra Cleveland with their second-round draft pick.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill O'Brien's acting chops were on full display Friday night.During the second night of the NFL draft, the Houston Texans coach appeared to go on a tirade as broadcast cameras showed him screaming at his computers. The video quickly went viral.

The Buffalo Bills selected running back Zack Moss out of Utah in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 86th overall.Moss is an ideal complement to Devin Singletary. The rookie power runner can handle early-down carries while Singletary soaks up the passing targets.Moss will jump in as the replacement for Frank Gore, who was allowed to hit free agency. Singletary was taken in the third round of last year's draft.Prospect ProfileSchool: Utah

The Philadelphia Eagles insisted Friday they haven't lost faith in Carson Wentz as their franchise quarterback despite drafting Jalen Hurts in the second round."For better or worse, we're quarterback developers," general manager Howie Roseman told reporters, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "We want to be a quarterback factory."The Hurts pick came a year after Philadelphia handed Wentz, who hasn't finished any of the last three seasons due to injuries, a four-year, $128-million contract extension. The Eagles went with a signal-caller in Round 2 instead of addressing one of their more pronounced positional needs."He has a unique skill set," said head coach Doug Pederson, who noted the Eagles may use Hurts in a gadget role as a rookie, similar to how the New Orleans Saints deploy Taysom Hill."It's something we're going to explore," Pederson said.The Eagles used a fifth-round selection on a quarterback last year, taking Northwestern's Clayton Thorson, but he failed to make the final roster and the Eagles signed journeyman Josh McCown to back up Wentz.Hurts figures to slot in as the primary backup in 2020.He threw for 3,851 yards with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year at Oklahoma while adding 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. The former Alabama national champion was rewarded with a Heisman Trophy nomination for his sensational season.Hurts was the fifth quarterback drafted in 2020, following Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn out of Vanderbilt in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 76th overall.The Buccaneers favored Vaughn over a trade for Leonard Fournette of the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Vaughn will join a backfield in Tampa Bay led by Ronald Jones II, who hasn't lived up to the expectations that accompanied him as a second-round pick in 2018.Prospect ProfileSchool: Vanderbilt

The New Orleans Saints selected linebacker Zack Baun out of Wisconsin in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 74th overall.The Saints traded the No. 88 overall pick and a 2021 third-round selection to the Cleveland Browns for the right to take Baun at No. 74 overall and the No. 244 selection.Baun was initially believed to be a possible first-round selection but fell due to medical concerns.Prospect ProfileSchool: Wisconsin

The Philadelphia Eagles sent social media into a frenzy Friday with their shocking selection of Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round.The Eagles, of course, have Carson Wentz on their roster with five years and more than $100 million left on his contract. However, Wentz is often injured, so perhaps it's prudent for the team to invest in the backup position.But if you ask Twitter, Hurts is definitely coming for Wentz's job:

The New York Jets selected wide receiver Denzel Mims out of Baylor in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 59th overall.After racking up 1,020 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his final year of college, Mims becomes the newest target for quarterback Sam Darnold.Prospect ProfileSchool: Baylor

The Philadelphia Eagles made the first shocking move of Day 2, selecting quarterback Jalen Hurts out of Oklahoma in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 53rd overall.The 2019 Heisman finalist was widely tipped to be taken in the second round, but his landing spot is surprising considering the presence of Carson Wentz and with Philadelphia looking to compete for a Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens selected running back J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 55th overall.A three-down running back with the Buckeyes, Dobbins ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns last year, adding 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a receiver.He will join a Ravens backfield that also includes veteran Mark Ingram, power runner Gus Edwards, and sophomore Justice Hill. Ingram is signed through 2021, while Edwards is on track to become a restricted free agent after the 2020 campaign.Prospect ProfileSchool: Ohio State

The Los Angeles Rams selected running back Cam Akers out of Florida State in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 52nd overall.Akers will join a backfield looking to replace Todd Gurley, a three-time Pro Bowler who was released at the beginning of the offseason.Akers posted a pair of 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in three seasons at Florida State, slashing his way to a career-high 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.A lack of explosion from the running game in 2019 hindered the Rams' once-prolific offense. Without Gurley in top form, Los Angeles went from NFC champions in 2018 to out of the playoffs the next year.The Rams had Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson Jr., and John Kelly at running back prior to drafting Akers.Prospect ProfileSchool: Florida State