Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was noncommittal on playing the 2024 season without a new contract."We'll see," Love said Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. "I don't know yet."Love apparently didn't indicate that he's worried about reaching an agreement. He also said his agents haven't told him to sit out camp if a new contract isn't signed by July, Demovsky adds.The 25-year-old signed a one-year extension worth up to $22.5 million with $13.5 million guaranteed last offseason. The deal was a substitute for picking up his fifth-year option. Love is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier in 2024 that the club would like to get a long-term deal done."I think that will be important for our football team to have some stability there," Gutekunst stated. "Jordan and his representation, they're really good people, so we will start working toward that sometime in the next couple months."Love's $13.5 million guaranteed in 2024 would make him the league's 18th-highest-paid quarterback next season, according to Over The Cap. Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow, who were all selected in the same draft class as Love, all inked multi-year deals worth more than $50 million per year last offseason.The Utah State product has attended Green Bay's offseason programs in 2024, including OTAs this week."I mean, that's just something that I've always done - trying to be here, get the reps in, get the work in with the guys, and just start building that chemistry and getting ready for the season," Love said.Love had a breakout campaign last year, ranking fifth in EPA/play among signal-callers, according to Ben Baldwin's database. He led the Packers to the divisional round, totaling 4,159 passing yards with 31 touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots defensive lineman Keion White has noticed one notable change between new head coach Jerod Mayo and predecessor Bill Belichick."We don't got Bill cursing us out every play anymore, but it's still pretty similar," White said following the at Patriots' first OTA practice Monday.White, who's entering his second season in the NFL, went on to explain that he enjoyed Belichick's "hard-ass" coaching style."I miss it. Nah, I like Bill," the 25-year-old said. "He's my type of coach, like a hard-ass. I like that. I respond well to things like that, but Mayo's doing a pretty good job, too. It's all different. Mayo's doing a really good job of staying true to himself, not trying to fill somebody else's shoes, but create his own path, and I really respect that."Belichick parted ways with the Patriots in January after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl championships together. Mayo was hired as his replacement soon after, becoming the 15th head coach in franchise history.White appeared in 16 games and made four starts for the Patriots last season, registering 26 tackles and one sack.Copyright (C) 2024 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 2023 breakout players will continue their success in 2024.We looked at offense first. Next up are the defensive players. Rookies from last season weren't considered.2023 stats: 56 tackles, 13 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumbleFew teams develop defensive linemen like the Baltimore Ravens, and Madubuike authored one of the most productive seasons in franchise history. And he didn't rely on one or two standout performances: He was consistent week-to-week, playing 13 games with at least half a sack, 10 with at least one tackle for loss, and eight with double-digit quarterback hits.Madubuike kept some Hall of Fame-caliber company in 2023. His 33 total pressures and 16 QB knockdowns were both second behind Chris Jones and just ahead of Aaron Donald among defensive tackles. The other defensive tackles who put up Madubuike's kind of pressure stats are almost exclusively stars.Additionally, Madubuike is one of just five defensive tackles with 10-plus sacks and 30-plus QB hits in a season since 2009. Again, he's in outstanding company with Donald (twice), Williams, and Cox.Madubuike isn't a one-trick pony either. He had the sixth-best missed tackle percentage last season among defensive tackles with at least 40 combined tackles. The 26-year-old might be a pass-rusher first, but opposing offenses can't exploit him in run defense.Re-signing Madubuike to a big-money extension shows that the Ravens view him as a long-term star. Baltimore has a long history of allowing defenders to walk as free agents instead of giving them a second contract - like Matthew Judon, C.J. Mosley, and Za'Darius Smith, among others - so it's notable that the team considered Madubuike a must-keep player.There is some concern that former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's exit to the Seattle Seahawks could cause Madubuike to regress, but Baltimore promoted from within by hiring Zach Orr, so there should be scheme continuity. Madubuike wasn't on many people's radar entering 2023, but he seems poised to scare quarterbacks for many years to come.Verdict: BREAKOUT2023 stats: 66 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interceptionWith a huge contract on the line, Allen finally reached the elite level of production many expected of him when he was drafted No. 7 overall in 2019. But the pass-rusher didn't suddenly become great just because his first major NFL payday was riding on it.Allen bested his previous career-high sack total (10.5 in his rookie season) in by seven in 2023. But sacks can be volatile year-to-year, with pressures often a better indicator of future success. Allen only had seven sacks in 2022, but there were signs that a breakout season was coming, as he finished seventh in total pressures with 40. He was also 13th in PFF's PRP metric, which combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to how many times a player rushes the passer.The 26-year-old bumped up his pressure total to 46 in 2023 - which ranked second in the league - while his 33 QB hits were third and his 13 QB knockdowns were seventh. Meanwhile, only Myles Garrett had a better true-pass-set win percentage, with Allen beating his blocker 33.5% of the time, per PFF.The main flaw in Allen's game remains his inconsistency against the run. His missed tackle percentage of 9.6% was the 17th-worst mark among 41 edge defenders with at least 30 combined tackles. But that's often the trade-off required to be a dominant pass-rusher.With a steady upward trend in performance culminating in his outstanding 2023 season, Allen is a safe bet to stay at this level. He might not be in the elite tier of pass-rushers with the likes of Garrett and T.J. Watt, but he's firmly at the top of the next-best group and well worth the five-year, $141.25-million extension he received this offseason.Verdict: BREAKOUT2023 stats: 52 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumbleThe Vikings rewarded Greenard with a four-year contract worth a reported $76 million after a breakout 12.5-sack season. His $19-million average annual value is 14th among all edge rushers, per Over The Cap. But there are serious questions about whether the pass-rusher's price tag will match his production.Greenard certainly got to the quarterback and made the most of his opportunities. However, his total number of opportunities and his efficiency left a lot to be desired. The former Houston Texan recorded 48 pressures in the regular season, good enough for 53rd in the NFL among players with at least 300 pass-rush snaps, per PFF. His win rate was also 49th in the NFL, according to PFF's data.Out of all the pass-rushers who matched or bettered Greenard's 12.5 sacks in 2023, only one player had a worse pass-rush win rate.While Greenard posted an eight-sack campaign in 2021 in a smaller sample size, his efficiency was lacking then, too. His win rate came in at 14.4% - better than 2023, but only 27th among defenders with at least 200 pass-rush snaps.The Vikings signed Greenard in hopes that he could replace Danielle Hunter, who departed for the Texans after a monster 16.5-sack campaign. Although the new signee is three years younger, Greenard might still represent a step down compared to Hunter and other dominant pass-rushers.Verdict: FAKEOUT2023 stats: 139 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 10 passes defendedQuincy, the older brother to Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, was a boom-or-bust defender in 2023. He parlayed frequent booms into a first-team All-Pro nod, but that won't be easy to repeat.We'll start with the good: Williams had 80 stops, which PFF defines as a tackle that prevents an opposing player from gaining more than 45% of the necessary yardage for a new set of downs on first down, preventing a gain of 60% or more on second down, and stopping a first down on both third and fourth downs.His 52 stops in the run game ranked first among all linebackers, and his 11.3% stop rate ranked fourth. Unfortunately, it's difficult to keep producing stops at that rate. Only eight linebackers have had multiple seasons with 300 or more run-defense snaps and a run-stop rate of 10% or higher since 2014, per PFF:

The NFL will trial optical tracking systems for line-to-gain rulings during the 2024 preseason, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.If the league is happy with the technology, it could potentially use the systems on a full-time basis in the future. However, using the chains will still be an option, Fowler adds.MetLife Stadium and Hard Rock Stadium already had the optical tracking system last season, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.The NFL's competition committee voted in favor of the preseason trial in March.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is ready to challenge Russell Wilson for the team's starting job."I definitely don't have the mindset of sitting all year," Fields said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I'm coming in every day, giving it all I got. Pushing (Wilson) to be his best, and he's pushing me to be my best each and every day."The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears in March. Fields said he told Bears general manager Ryan Poles that Pittsburgh was his ideal destination."He honored that, and I appreciate him for that and glad he was able to put me in a spot where I wanted to be," Fields said.Fields started 38 games for the Bears across three seasons after being drafted 11th overall in 2021. He completed 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions and added 2,220 yards and 14 scores on the ground.The 25-year-old arrived after Wilson signed with the team following his release from the Denver Broncos. Reports emerged after Fields' acquisition that Wilson would be the starter, but the former says he will continue to challenge for playing time."I'm definitely competing," the dual-threat QB said. "I think Russ knows that. We're competing against each other every day. ... Helps me get better, us pushing each other."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams won't practice until training camp because of a "foot issue," head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday, according to team writer Stu Jackson.McVay added that withholding Williams from the team's offseason program is for precautionary reasons and that the ailment is "nothing to worry about," Jackson reports.Williams missed four games with an ankle injury last season.Rookie running back Blake Corum, whom the Rams selected in the third round of April's draft, is expected to handle most of the first-team reps while Williams is out. Depth players Zach Evans, Boston Scott, and Ronnie Rivers could also see an uptick in practice snaps.Williams had a breakout 2023 campaign, leading the league in rushing yards per game (95.3) over 12 appearances. The 23-year-old finished the season with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground and 206 yards and three scores through the air.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

The San Francisco 49ers and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk aren't close on a contract extension, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Aiyuk hasn't attended OTAs and isn't expected to participate in any voluntary team activities this offseason unless a deal is signed, Garafolo reports.The 26-year-old was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the draft, but general manager John Lynch said earlier in May that the team is 'past' any trade discussions involving the wideout. Aiyuk also hasn't requested a trade, Garafolo adds.Many high-profile wide receivers have received long-term contract extensions this offseason. Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown became the highest-paid receiver in the league on draft weekend, signing a three-year, $96-million contract extension. Detroit Lions' Amon-Ra St.Brown also recently signed a massive deal, inking a four-year, $120-million extension.The 49ers picked up Aiyuk's fifth-year option last offseason. He'll make $14.1 million this year and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next March.San Francisco has $5.4 million in cap space and projects to be $23.3 million over the cap in 2025, according to Spotrac. The club is also bracing to sign quarterback Brock Purdy to an extension next offseason when he becomes eligible.Aiyuk had a tremendous 2023 campaign, leading the team in targets (105), receptions (75), and receiving yards (1,342) to earn second-team All-Pro honors.The Arizona State product has 3,931 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in 62 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland said new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is a "complete 180" from former defensive boss Vic Fangio, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe."It's the fact that he's a good person that makes a difference," Holland added, per Wolfe.The Dolphins and Fangio parted ways after one season. Questions about Holland's perception of Fangio grew after the safety posted a video of him kicking rocks following news of Fangio's departure.Miami's defense ranked 22nd in points allowed and 10th in yardage allowed under Fangio, who rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason to serve as their defensive coordinator.Weaver spent the last three seasons as the Ravens' defensive line coach. He was previously the Houston Texans' defensive coordinator in 2020.Holland is entering the last year of his rookie contract. However, the safety says he won't let contract talks affect his "day-to-day.""I mean, it'd be great to get it done. It's on my mind - like obviously, it's my career," Holland told reporters, including the South Florida Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins. Holland added, "It's going to come when it's going to come."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said playing time at the wide receiver position is for the taking this offseason."It's a wide-open competition," Mayo told reporters Monday, per The Coachspeak Index. "We have some young bulls, we have some older players. We have guys who are really unproven. So, this is an opportunity for them to really get a leg up going forward, especially when you don't have a guy like (Kendrick) Bourne out here during the spring. Guys will have opportunities."New England drafted Ja'Lynn Polk in the second round and Javon Baker in the fourth round of last month's NFL draft. The club also signed former Minnesota Vikings wideout K.J. Osborn to a one-year deal in free agency.They'll join a wide receiver room that includes DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte, and Bourne, who signed a three-year, $33-million extension with the Patriots in March. Bourne won't participate in spring activities as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered last season.Smith-Schuster, who inked a three-year, $33-million deal with New England in free agency last year, struggled in his first campaign with the Patriots. In 11 contests, he totaled 29 catches, 260 yards, and only one touchdown. However, the 27-year-old was battling a knee ailment all campaign, forcing him to miss offseason programs in 2023."I had some injuries that I was dealing with, and I just kept pushing through it and playing. That's just the competitiveness in me. I don't mind that. So this year, it's a lot different than how it was," Smith-Schuster said Monday, according to Conor Ryan of Boston.com.New England hasn't had a 1,000-plus-yard wide receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs has no intention of reporting to OTAs as he seeks a contract extension, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.Wirfs and the Buccaneers haven't made progress on a new deal, Fowler adds.Head coach Todd Bowles seemed unconcerned with Wirfs' absence, telling reporters after Tuesday's practice that he's talked to the lineman, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. Bowles also stressed that OTAs are ultimately voluntary.The 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Wirfs is entering the final season of his rookie contract after having his fifth-year option picked up last offseason.The 25-year-old has become one of the NFL's biggest offensive line talents. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2021.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman delivered a hilarious comparison when asked about his first impression of head coach Jim Harbaugh."I don't want to get in trouble for this, but he reminds me of Will Ferrell," Perryman said. "The way that he talks, his analogies and everything. They really remind me of Will Ferrell."Perryman didn't say which one of Ferrell's characters Harbaugh resembles. He did say a "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" reference would probably land him in trouble."It's funny to me. I know that he means well and everything's coming from the heart, but I feel like you gotta have a sense of humor to understand some of his lines and gimmicks," Perryman added.Perryman hasn't told his new coach about his similarities to the Hollywood star but was confident the two would discuss it soon.Harbaugh, who recently won a national championship as Michigan's coach, is known for his boisterous personality, positive mindset, and comical statements.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn is confident he can prove he's one of the NFL's best defensive backs next season."I watch tape, I know what I'm capable of, and I still feel like I'm one of the best DBs in this league," Horn said, according to Nick Shook of NFL Network. "I've just got to be out there to show it. That's what I'm looking forward to doing."Since entering the league in 2021, Horn has struggled to stay healthy. He's only suited up in 22 of a possible 51 regular-season contests and has played fewer than seven games in two of his three campaigns.The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring ailment in Week 1 last season, forcing him to injured reserve. Horn allowed 18 catches on 31 targets for 170 yards in six games last year, per Pro Football Reference.Carolina picked up Horn's fifth-year option in April, keeping him under contract with the club through the 2025 season."It felt good, felt good just knowing they believe in me, seeing the work I put in," Horn said of the team's decision to exercise the option. "Now it's just staying on the field, controlling what I can control, and playing good football."The South Carolina product has 85 tackles and 13 passes defended in his 22 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is visiting the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Adams spent the last four seasons with the Seahawks before being released this offseason. A former Pro Bowler, the safety has struggled with injuries in recent years, playing just 10 games combined over the last two seasons.It was previously reported that the 28-year-old had remained in contact with Seattle about a possible return in addition to the San Francisco 49ers.Adams made three straight Pro Bowls from 2018-20 as he developed a reputation for his play near the line of scrimmage. He recorded a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2020, his first season with the Seahawks, but hasn't registered a sack since.The Ravens' depth chart at safety is headlined by starters Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins hasn't signed the franchise tag and isn't expected to ahead of the team's OTAs next week, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Higgins would earn $21.8 million under the one-year tender. The two sides haven't discussed an extension in over a year, per ESPN's Ben Baby. He'll be ineligible to participate in any of the club's team activities until he signs the tag or agrees to a new deal.Higgins is the only player this offseason to be tagged and not receive a multiyear extension ahead of the July 15 deadline. Nov. 15 is the final day that franchise-tagged players would be able to sign the deal and be eligible to play this season.Despite requesting a trade in March, Higgins later said in April that he expects to play for Cincinnati next campaign.The former second-round receiver has proven to be one of the more productive pieces of the Bengals' offense. Higgins has tallied 900 or more yards in his first three seasons. A combination of rib and hamstring injuries limited him to appearing in 12 games in 2023, which resulted in career lows with 42 catches, 656 yards, and five scores.Defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who also requested a trade this offseason, has said he's planning to play for the team after attending the Bengals' voluntary workout sessions.Copyright (C) 2024 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 2023 breakout players will continue their success in 2024.First up are the offensive stars, with defensive players on deck. Rookies from last season weren't considered.2023 stats: 4,280 yards, 31 TDs/11 INTs, 69.4% completion rate, 113.0 passer ratingPurdy is coming off a terrific 2023 campaign in which he was in the conversation for MVP thanks to his line of 31 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, and 4,280 passing yards. He also led the NFL in yards per attempt (9.6), yards per completion (13.9), and passer rating (113.0). But was this fine continuation of his 2022 season a mirage or was it the real deal?Detractors will point to Kyle Shanahan and say the offensive mastermind's system is incredibly quarterback-friendly. The argument is based in truth, but it's not one that should be used against Purdy. While he may not have the physical talent that other top quarterbacks possess, he executes what he's asked to do. It's also worth mentioning that no 49ers quarterback has lifted their level of play to Purdy's since Shanahan took over in 2017.Purdy's 2023 campaign put him in rare territory, too. Only four quarterbacks have replicated his 9.6 yards per pass attempt and 13.9 yards per completion in a season (minimum 200 pass attempts, 10 games played). Three of the other four are Hall of Famers:

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVante Parker is retiring after nine NFL seasons, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Parker, who previously played for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, signed a one-year deal with the Eagles earlier this offseason.The 31-year-old wants to spend more time with his family and kids, he told Schefter."I also appreciate the Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the opportunity," Parker said, per Schefter. "I always will have love for the Dolphins and their organization. And I want to thank all the teams, the Patriots and the Eagles, too."Miami selected Parker out of Louisville with the 14th pick in the 2015 draft. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Dolphins before playing in New England for two seasons.Parker totaled 5,660 yards and 27 touchdowns on 402 career receptions. His 2019 campaign was the best of his NFL tenure, as Parker recorded 72 receptions for 1,202 yards and nine scores.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Scott Connor of Destination Devy joins Boone to discuss which players you should buy low on right now.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is eager to work with the team's newest additions on offense as he prepares for his second season."I'm really excited to have some new pieces," Young said Monday. "Now it's on us to put the work in, to build the chemistry, to get the reps on the field and to make it translate. I'm grateful the guys are coming in. They all have really good work ethics, great attitudes, great outlooks. We all want the same thing. We all want to win. ..."It's always good to just have new juice (and) have different juice. Now it's on us to do the work to make it translate."The 2023 first overall pick struggled in his debut campaign, passing for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions with a 59.8% completion rate. Carolina finished with a league-low 2-15 record.Carolina traded its 2024 first overall pick to select Young and is attempting to improve the roster around the 22-year-old to help spur his development.The Panthers restructured the interior of the offensive line by signing Robert Hunt, Austin Corbett, and Damien Lewis in free agency. The pass-catching group added a veteran presence in Diontae Johnson via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers and brought Ihmir Smith-Marsette back to Carolina. Rookie receiver Xavier Legette could also be a factor this season.After a revolving door at head coach in recent years, Dave Canales will make his head coaching debut and is tasked with helping Young grow into a franchise quarterback. Canales praised Young's ability to pick up the new playbook and credited his accuracy during workouts.Young's rookie production was a far cry from what many projected after he declared for the draft. The Alabama product threw for 8,356 yards and accounted for 87 total touchdowns at the college level. He was awarded the Heisman Trophy after racking up 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns, and seven interceptions with a 167.5 passer rating in 2021.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson hopes contract negotiations with star quarterback Trevor Lawrence progress quickly and painlessly."I think it's part of the business," Pederson said Monday, according to Eric Edholm of NFL.com. "Obviously, the sooner you get it done, right, it's behind everybody, and now we focus on football, and so that's not lingering and that's not out there."I know (Jaguars general manager) Trent (Baalke) and (Lawrence's) agent, they've continued to talk and will talk, and they're working hard and tirelessly. I've just got to coach Trevor and coach football, and, hopefully, it gets done, and it will."Lawrence is one of many quarterbacks in line to get a major payday during the 2024 offseason. Jared Goff already became the second-highest-paid passer in the NFL earlier this offseason with a four-year deal reportedly worth $212 million. Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott, and Jordan Love could also receive big-money extensions.Joe Burrow currently tops the market with a deal worth $55 million a year, and three other passers - Goff, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts - all take home over $50 million annually.Lawrence's per-season value is projected to be $46.4 million per campaign, according to Spotrac. However, Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday that the 24-year-old is expected to break the $50-million mark, per Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report.In April, the former No. 1 pick confirmed that contract talks with the Jaguars were underway."I'd love to, obviously, be a Jag for as long as possible," Lawrence said, according to Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports. "We love it here, and I love where we're headed as an organization and feel like I'm just getting better every year. My best ball is definitely ahead of me. So, from that standpoint, obviously, yeah, that would be great."Lawrence finished his third NFL season with 4,016 yards and 21 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.While his production was down from a season ago, Lawrence battled through multiple injuries - including a knee ailment, a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a sprained right shoulder - and only missed one game.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants edge rusher Brian Burns is excited about what he, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux can accomplish together."That is soon to be found out," Burns told a group of reporters, including Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, of the trio's potential. "As of right now, we're just trying to get better every day. With our combined talents, I think the sky's the limit. We can really do anything. And we're all young, so hopefully, this is years to come."The Giants acquired Burns from the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster trade this offseason, sending second and fifth-round draft picks the other way. New York immediately signed the 26-year-old to a five-year, $141-million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed.Burns is one of the most talented young pass-rushers in the league, racking up 46 sacks and 142 pressures in 80 career games. He was taken one pick before the Giants selected Lawrence 17th in the 2019 NFL Draft."He commands a lot," Burns said of Lawrence, per Leonard. "I'm excited for it because I know they really have to key in on him, and also having somebody opposite of me, they're pretty much going to have to pick their poison on who they're going to key or slide to."With Dex demanding so much attention and Kayvon also demanding attention, it's going to free us up a lot."Lawrence has emerged as one of the best interior defenders in the NFL, securing Pro Bowl nods in back-to-back campaigns while earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. Thibodeaux, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, racked up 35 pressures last season and finished fourth in the NFC in sacks with 11.5.New York's defense hasn't ranked in the top 20 in sacks per contest for the last three years.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans running back David Johnson retired from the NFL, he announced Sunday on Instagram."The relationships and brotherhoods I've formed with so many of my dawgs will never be forgotten. I'm going to miss the locker room, dining hall, and before-meeting vibes," Johnson said in the statement."Guys from different backgrounds, ethnicities, struggles, and countries just talking about all aspects of life and of course joking around. When it's all said and done, I really hope I impacted at least one person on and off the field in a positive way."The Cardinals selected Johnson in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa. It didn't take long for Johnson to make his mark, as he became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing, receiving, and kick return touchdown in the first two games of their career. His cleats and jersey were entered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the achievement.Johnson took over the Cardinals' starting running back job late into his rookie campaign. He began to excel in his second season and earned first-team All-Pro honors after leading the league in scrimmage yards (2,118) and total touchdowns (20).The 32-year-old spent three more seasons in Arizona before being dealt to the Houston Texans in a blockbuster trade that sent star wideout DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. Johnson racked up only 919 rushing yards in two campaigns with Houston and played five contests with the New Orleans Saints in 2022.Johnson finishes his career with 4,071 rushing yards, 2,805 receiving yards, and 57 total touchdowns in 92 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fanatics filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court on Saturday against Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. for alleged breach of contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.The merchandise company states the two sides signed an agreement last May while he was at Ohio State, but Harrison's team says no deal was signed, Schefter adds.The alleged deal is worth more than $1 million and allows Fanatics to sell autographs, signed trading cards, game-worn apparel, and other marketing opportunities, a source told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.The lawsuit states that Harrison told Fanatics a "larger competitor" and other companies had made "competing offers," and he demanded that Fanatics exceed those offers, per Weinfuss. However, the merchandise company claims Harrison has yet to detail what the other offers are.His father, Marvin Harrison Sr., who allegedly represented Harrison Jr. during the initial Fanatics deal last year, reportedly asked Fanatics for a copy of the contract. Once Harrison Sr. received a copy of the deal, Fanatics claims the Harrisons told them no deal was ever inked, according to Weinfuss.Harrison has yet to sign the NFLPA licensing deal, preventing Fanatics from selling his Cardinals jersey and other companies from using his name, image, and likeness. He hasn't signed the NFLPA deal because he wants to renegotiate the Fanatics contract that was allegedly signed last year, Weinfuss reports.The 21-year-old sells signed memorabilia and his Ohio State jersey, among other items, on his personal website. "The Official Harrison Collection LLC" was also reportedly listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, and the website claims it's the only place Harrison memorabilia can be purchased, per Weinfuss.Arizona selected Harrison with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the top wideout off the board and the highest wide receiver selected since Amari Cooper in 2015.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell praised head coach Antonio Pierce for giving him the chance to win the starting quarterback job in training camp."Since really AP started, he's put a lot of confidence in me. He's given me a great opportunity," O'Connell said Saturday, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal."I'm just trying to make the most of the opportunity. It really is a privilege and an opportunity to get to play on the team and get reps at the quarterback position."Before the draft, Pierce said the 25-year-old O'Connell had earned the right to start training camp as the team's top signal-caller. The club didn't draft a quarterback but had previously signed veteran Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25-million deal in free agency. Minshew has started 37 games in his career, 13 of which came with the Indianapolis Colts last season.The 28-year-old took over Indy's starting job in Week 6 after then-rookie Anthony Richardson went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. He went 7-6 while throwing for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Indianapolis' offense ranked 22nd in passing success rate during Minshew's time as the starter.O'Connell was thrust into the Raiders' lead signal-caller job in Week 9 of last season after Pierce replaced the fired Josh McDaniels. He went 5-6 in 11 starts, totaling 2,218 passing yards with 12 scores and seven picks."I'm not gonna be perfect," O'Connell said. "I have to remind myself that. I so badly wanna be perfect every time I go out there ... trying to find that balance, I think, is something that's really hard but also a challenge I enjoy."Las Vegas selected O'Connell in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Purdue.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After donning No. 18 during his rookie campaign, linebacker BJ Ojulari was more than willing to give it up to promising rookie Marvin Harrison Jr."(Marvin) wore 18 in college, I wore 18 in college, and it means a lot to both of us, but we all came to an agreement to let him have 18," Ojulari said, according to team reporter Darren Urban. "He's going to be a big part of our offense this year, and he's a great guy.""He's deserving of 18 as a number, and he'll score touchdowns, and I'll get sacks," Ojulari added.Harrison contacted Ojulari, who said the two had a "good conversation." The 22-year-old defender said there was no transaction involved, calling it an "agreement between mutual parties." Ojulari will wear No. 9 next season, which he wore when playing youth football.Ojulari battled knee issues last year that hampered his growth, but he still tallied 40 tackles, five tackles for loss, and four sacks.The former second-round pick is targeting a big leap entering Year 2. Ojulari finds himself in an outside linebacker group that's headlined by Zaven Collins and includes Dennis Gardeck, Victor Dimukeje, and others.Harrison hauled in 67 catches for 1,211 and 14 touchdowns wearing his treasured No. 18 at Ohio State last season. The fourth overall pick is projected to be among the top targets for quarterback Kyler Murray next season, alongside tight end Trey McBride.While there was no tension between Ojulari and Harrison, the former believes that production, not a jersey number, defines players."At the end of the day, your play is going to talk for you, no matter what number you're wearing," Ojulari said.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers may have to begin the regular season without one of their star defenders in the lineup.Niners linebacker Dre Greenlaw recently revealed that he's still on the mend after tearing his Achilles in the second quarter of San Francisco's Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in February."It's a long, slow process, I'm feeling really, really good though," Greenlaw said earlier in the week at a fundraising event, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Jordan Elliott."I'm happy to be able to walk on the stage, actually. It's been about three months since the injury; I just recently got out of the (walking) boot. Just slowly every day rehabbing, getting the strength, getting the mobility, and doing whatever it takes to get on the field as soon as possible."The 49ers prepared for Greenlaw to potentially miss the start of the 2024 campaign as he continues his rehab, signing linebacker De'Vondre Campbell to a one-year contract in March. General manager John Lynch said adding the veteran serves as an insurance policy if Greenlaw isn't ready to take the field in September."(Greenlaw) will tell you he's going to be back Week 1, but we have to be smart," Lynch said, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch. "That may be a PUP situation. De'Vondre gives us an opportunity to fill in for Dre if he's not there."The timeline to recover from a torn Achilles is typically 9-12 months. If placed on the PUP list, Greenlaw would miss at least the first four games of the regular season.Issues with both Achilles hampered Greenlaw during the 2023 campaign. He said he played through pain in his right Achilles for about six weeks before the Super Bowl.Greenlaw, an instrumental member of the Niners' defense, finished second on the team with 120 tackles last season behind All-Pro Fred Warner. The 26-year-old also recorded 18 tackles and two interceptions in the team's postseason run to Super Bowl LVIII.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is focused on cleaning up his diet and losing weight as he enters the final year of his rookie contract with a chip on his shoulder."He's motivated, to say the least," Harris' trainer, Josh Scott, recently told Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Harris - a first-round pick in 2021 - recently had the fifth-year option on his rookie deal declined in a somewhat surprising move. The Alabama product has rushed for at least 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns each season since entering the league, but he's averaged only 3.9 yards per carry.The 26-year-old finished 2023 with 1,205 scrimmage yards and eight total TDs in 17 games."It's all fueling his fire to have an even better season than last year and prove a lot of people wrong," Scott added. "There's a lot of people that hate on him for whatever reason, but he's been as consistent as you can be. He's durable. I think he's going to continue with that. I mean, contract season, that pretty much speaks for itself."The 6-foot-1 Harris is listed at 242 pounds on the Steelers website, but Scott thinks the tailback has dropped to around 235 pounds."One of the main things he's done, personally, was make some big changes to his eating habits," Scott said. "Anytime you're looking to recomposition your body and drop body fat, that's going to be the first place you look."The trainer continued: "Much more durable, much more nimble dropping that maybe eight or 10 pounds, whatever it was, of body fat but then replacing some of that with some good, lean tissue. And that's really shown in his movement. He's looking really, really springy; really, really light off the ground and more agile."Harris' weight has been a topic since early in his NFL career, and former Steelers All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell said last year that losing weight would make a big difference in improving his game.In what could be Harris' last year in Pittsburgh, it's safe to say the Steelers' offense will look a lot different in 2024. Pittsburgh signed quarterback Russell Wilson, traded for QB Justin Fields, and hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator this offseason.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Boone discusses his fantasy takeaways from the 2024 NFL schedule.

The fantasy strength of schedule matrix is used to determine the overall difficulty of players' matchups from Week 1 to Week 17.The No. 1-ranked team is forecasted to see the easiest slate, while the No. 32-rated side will face defenses projected to allow the fewest fantasy points to that position.Our model considers several variables, including historical defensive data, offseason roster changes, new coaching staffs, home/road splits, individual player matchups, and more.Don't decide whether to draft someone based on this table. Rather, it should serve as an additional data point to help break ties between players you're considering. The impact on players at the extremes (green or red) will be far greater than the differences among those in the middle range (yellow).Fantasy Strength of ScheduleQuarterbacks

Atlanta Falcons star tight end Kyle Pitts may be preparing for his fourth NFL season but is approaching the 2024 campaign as if it's his first."I would say I'm a super rookie," Pitts said earlier this week, according to team reporter Terrin Waack. "I'm not a rookie rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh."There are plenty of new faces within the Falcons locker room this season. Raheem Morris is now the team's head coach, and Zac Robinson was named the club's offensive coordinator. Pitts will also have a fresh face in the offensive huddle after Atlanta signed free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. The addition of rookie signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. creates an intriguing dynamic despite the club's affirmation that Cousins will be under center for the immediate future.Pitts, a former first-round pick, may be reminiscing about his rookie campaign, which proved to be his most productive to date. The Florida product hauled in 68 receptions for 1,026 yards and a touchdown, earning himself a 2021 Pro Bowl nod.The 6-foot-6, 246-pound tight end struggled to replicate those numbers in the following two seasons. A knee injury in Atlanta's Week 11 matchup against the Chicago Bears ended Pitts' 2022 campaign, hurting his outputs. Although he was active for all 17 games last season, the 23-year-old admits he wasn't completely healthy despite recording a career-high three touchdowns to go along with 53 catches for 667 yards.Pitts said it wasn't the games that hurt him, but the effort leading up to them. "It was more the preparation during the week, just dealing with soreness and tightness all through the week," he said. "Then Sunday is show day, so I figured it out."But Pitts now declares himself healthy as the team prepares for OTAs. The Falcons front office displayed confidence in the Philadelphia native by picking up the fifth-year option in his rookie contract that will carry a base salary of $10.8 million in 2025, per Over the Cap."Definitely it's a blessing for the upstairs to still have faith in me," Pitts said. "I'll try to show them I can do something different this year."Pitts joins Drake London and Bijan Robinson as part of the Falcons' young, talented nucleus. Atlanta aims to improve on a 7-10 mark in 2023 that extended the team's playoff drought to six seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Will Levis is excited about the Tennessee Titans' potential ahead of his sophomore season."I made it a point to stick around here for the most part and get to know the new everything. And I feel like it paid off," Levis said, according to team reporter Jim Wyatt. "Once OTA season came around, things have been going smoothly, and I've just been loving everybody and everything about it."He continued: "And I love (what we've done with new additions). For one, it means (the front office isn't) afraid to make those investments, and they want to go win, which is awesome to see. We know we had the guys to make it work, but adding more guys certainly doesn't hurt, and it creates more competition and more options."Expectations for the Titans have elevated over recent months after the club made several high-profile acquisitions. Tennessee signed veteran Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to create one of the more formidable receiving trios alongside DeAndre Hopkins. After letting former All-Pro tailback Derrick Henry leave in free agency, the Titans inked Tony Pollard to pair with Tyjae Spears in the backfield.Tennessee will also look for Levis to step up from his rookie campaign and help meet the team's goals in 2024.The Titans ruled Levis inactive for the first six games of the 2023 season before he recorded his first career start in Week 8. The former second-rounder finished the campaign by throwing for 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, with a 58.4% completion rate over nine games. The Titans posted a 3-6 mark in Levis' starts.Ankle and foot injuries kept Levis inactive for Tennessee's final two contests of 2023. However, the ailments don't appear to be issues ahead of OTAs in a few weeks, with Levis saying he feels "great.""That is one of the things I was looking to improve the most this offseason - getting healthy, getting my stuff back, and being able to play the game like I know I can," Levis said.Levis also credited first-year head coach Brian Callahan with creating an environment encouraging players to come out of their shells.Tennessee finished with a 6-11 record last season and dismissed head coach Mike Vrabel following back-to-back sub-.500 campaigns.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lot has changed over the last year for Puka Nacua, who went from being an unknown fifth-round receiver on the Los Angeles Rams to earning an All-Pro berth after a historic rookie season.The expectations are high for Nacua in Year 2, but the BYU product said he isn't feeling any extra pressure."Every week presented a different challenge and who we were playing against and also just trying to make sure I could prepare myself the best way to be able to be there on Sunday and perform my best," Nacua recently said, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. "I think coming into this year, I think it definitely presents a challenge of just trying to reset the standard."Nacua - the 20th wide receiver off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft - set single-season rookie records for catches (105) and receiving yards (1,486) last year while being targeted a team-high 160 times. The 22-year-old also had 15 receptions in a game (another rookie record) in addition to six touchdowns to help the Rams reach the playoffs with a 10-7 record."Last year, from what I put on tape and tried to improve in the ways I know I'm capable of and then being there for my team in every which way coach (Sean) McVay asks a lot of us from the offensive side of the ball. I'm super excited for the challenges that come up this year," Nacua added.The Rams fell short in the wild-card round against the Lions this past season, but Los Angeles will open its 2024 season with a rematch versus Detroit on Sunday Night Football."Being able to be back in Detroit is going to be a fun one in Week 1," Nacua said.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets have failed to meet expectations in recent years - including last season - but the NFL wasn't afraid of putting them in prime time in 2024.New York will have six prime-time games this season, tied for the most in the league. The Jets are the first team to have that many within the first 11 weeks in the Super Bowl era."Yes, it's an awful lot of prime-time games early in the season, but, obviously, I feel like Jets kind of owe us one," Mike North, the NFL's vice president of broadcast partners, said Thursday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.The Jets will kick off their 2024 slate on the road versus the San Francisco 49ers in the season's Monday Night Football opener. The matchup will mark the return of four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who sustained an Achilles injury four snaps into his Jets debut last year during the first Monday night of the campaign.Rodgers was a big factor in determining N.Y.'s schedule once again, according to North."When we had this conversation a year ago, we were - all of us - all-in on the Jets, and for that guy to last four plays was disheartening for many of us," North added. "I feel like we could run it back, and certainly our broadcast partners, when they came to us early in the process talking about what storylines they want to focus on early in the season, obviously Aaron Rodgers' return was a key one for everybody."The Jets, who haven't made the playoffs since the 2010 campaign, went 7-10 in 2023. New York has had an elite defense over the last two years, but its offensive struggles - particularly at quarterback - have held the team back.The AFC East club had a busy offseason and added significant offensive players, including receiver Mike Williams and tackle Tyron Smith, among others. The team also traded for Pro Bowl pass-rusher Haason Reddick."Hopefully, (Rodgers) stays healthy and, hopefully, they're relevant," said North, who added that New York can still get more games in prime time because of the NFL's flex scheduling later on the season.Here are the Jets' 2024 prime-time games:Opp.WeekEventat SF1MNFvs. NE3TNFvs. BUF6MNFat PIT7SNFvs. HOU9TNFvs. IND11SNFCopyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams again got creative and stole the show while announcing their full schedules for the 2024 season. From the Los Angeles Chargers meeting The Sims to the Dallas Cowboys calling Eli Manning, this year's ideas are must-see.Here, we rank each team's schedule release video:32) New York GiantsA solid schedule release actually shows a team's schedule at some point, right? Not for the Giants this year.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson thinks he can get even better after a productive 2023 campaign."To me, I think I'm not even scratching my surface," Ferguson said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "There's so many things that I want to get better at and I know I can get better at. We watch film every day of different games, even the practices we're doing now and I'm like, 'OK, I can get a lot better still.'"He added: "In this league you can't be complacent. You've got to just keep going. You've got to keep getting better and that's what I aim to do."The 23-year-old emerged as the No. 1 positional option in 2023, hauling in 71 receptions for 761 yards and five touchdowns on his way to a Pro Bowl nod. His production far exceeded the 19 catches, 174 yards, and two scores he tallied as a rookie the season earlier.After the Wisconsin product made huge strides from his first campaign to his second, some within the team facility have drawn parallels to Cowboys legend Jason Witten. The retired tight end also earned a Pro Bowl nod after experiencing a sizeable leap in production in his sophomore season with the Cowboys. Witten praised Ferguson's willingness and chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott."I think he can do it all," the former All-Pro said.Ferguson is trying to add more weight to his frame this offseason to be a bigger factor in the Cowboys' run game. After winning a positional battle against Luke Schoonmaker and Peyton Hendershot last year, Ferguson will begin the 2024 campaign as the unquestioned starter at tight end this fall.The former fourth-round selection could also see more targets next season as Dallas attempts to sort out its receiving options behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jared Goff broke the bank when he landed his new extension, but the Lions quarterback focused more on controlling his future than squeezing every possible dollar out of Detroit."It was mostly security," Goff said Thursday when asked what was most important to him in contract talks, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. "You can go back and forth on the numbers and whatnot, and that wasn't really the thing that (I) was ever something extremely concerned with."The security, the no-trade clause, and all that stuff - knowing that was in there. Feeling secure and knowing that I can now put that behind me and be excited about what's to come."While Goff wasn't prioritizing money, he still became the NFL's second-highest-paid player behind only Joe Burrow. The deal, formally announced Thursday, is reportedly a four-year, $212-million extension that includes $170 million guaranteed.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Following the slow-drip release of the NFL schedule Wednesday, oddsmakers put together point spreads for Week 1 and many of this year's most notable games.There's little risk in offering low-limit wagers for contests nearly four months away since bettors will anxiously register their opinion, giving oddsmakers an even better understanding of how the market feels about each team beyond how they've been bet in long-ago-released regular-season win-total markets.Team ratingsHere's a refresher on how we used the regular-season win-total market to create a power rating (out of 100) for each NFL team, accounting for their strength of schedule.TEAMWIN TOTALRATING (%)Chiefs11.5 (-120)71Ravens11.5 (+115)71Bengals10.5 (-125)7149ers11.5 (+115)67Lions10.5 (-115)65Bills10.5 (-130)63Cowboys10.5 (+100)62Eagles10.5 (+110)62Dolphins9.5 (-150)62Packers9.5 (-140)61Jets9.5 (+100)61Texans9.5 (-110)60Falcons9.5 (-140)58Browns8.5 (-120)58Steelers8.5 (-110)57Bears8.5 (-125)56Chargers8.5 (-135)55Rams8.5 (-120)54Jaguars8.5 (-125)52Colts8.5 (+110)49Seahawks7.5 (-125)48Buccaneers7.5 (-150)47Saints7.5 (-120)44Cardinals6.5 (-130)43Vikings6.5 (-140)42Raiders6.5 (-140)42Commanders6.5 (-130)39Giants6.5 (+110)38Titans6.5 (+115)37Broncos5.5 (-150)36Patriots4.5 (-145)30Panthers4.5 (-135)27Using a point-spread scale of 27 - the highest conceivable point spread for two teams in 2024 - each club's rating percentage is multiplied into 27. The difference, plus home-field advantage, should be the projected point spread.Week 1 opening linesMATCHUPRATINGOPENING LINERavens @ ChiefsBAL (19.2)KC (19.2)KC -2.5Packers vs. Eagles (Brazil)GB (16.6)PHI (16.7)PHI -1.5Steelers @ FalconsPIT (15.4)ATL (15.7)ATL -3Cardinals @ BillsAZ (11.6)BUF (16.9)BUF -7Titans @ BearsTEN (9.9)CHI (15.1)CHI -5Patriots @ BengalsNE (8.2)CIN (19.4)CIN -8Texans @ ColtsHOU (16.1)IND (13.1)HOU -1.5Jaguars @ DolphinsJAX (14.0)MIA (16.8)MIA -3.5Panthers @ SaintsCAR (7.4)NO (11.9)NO -4.5Vikings @ GiantsMIN (11.3)NYG (10.1)MIN PKRaiders @ ChargersLV (11.3)LAC (15.0)LAC -3Broncos @ SeahawksDEN (9.7)SEA (13.1)SEA -4.5Commanders @ BuccaneersWSH (10.5)TB (12.6)TB -4Cowboys @ BrownsDAL (16.7)CLE (15.5)DAL PKRams @ LionsLAR (14.7)DET (17.5)DET -3.5Jets @ 49ersNYJ (16.3)SF (18.0)SF -5.5The Chiefs opened as a 3-point favorite in their season-opening game against the Ravens. Instinctively, that line was deemed too high and was quickly adjusted to Chiefs -2.5 or Ravens +3 (-120).The Eagles are getting a little more credit than they deserve against the Packers considering the two teams have similar win totals and will play in a neutral-site game.The only reason to make a bet now is to secure a key number that seems valuable. The Steelers (+3) appear likely to draw enough money in their opener in Atlanta to take them off the most crucial number in football betting.Buffalo's win total has dropped by around 0.8 wins since the team traded Stefon Diggs. Like many of Week 1's games, extrapolating from the win-total market is fair for Buffalo's matchup with Arizona.It's a minor surprise that the Bears aren't lined higher against the Titans, the league's fourth-worst-rated team, given all the excitement about Chicago's offseason additions. However, laying a big number with an unproven commodity is rarely a good idea.Similarly, the Bengals are projected to win 11 games this season out of the tough AFC North based on their win total. Their -8 line seems short against the Patriots, unless Cincinnati's win total is too high to begin with.Betting on the Saints as a favorite was a losing proposition last season, which might be why their line seems a little short against Carolina. The Panthers have a fresh outlook with new head coach Dave Canales, which might prevent this line from moving closer to +6.Speaking of fresh looks, there's no reason not to grab the Chargers at -3 (-110) given the Jim Harbaugh-Antonio Pierce coaching matchup. Even with little-to-no home-field advantage, they're an estimated 3.7 points better than the Raiders.Aaron Rodgers brings the Jets into the Bay Area as more of an underdog than what each team's win total would suggest. However, bettors looking to back New York can wait and see if a +6 shows up this summer. Remember, 5.5 isn't a key number, and +4.5 isn't likely to be the difference between a win or loss.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We can begin to adjust our 2024 fantasy projections following Thursday's release of the NFL's regular-season schedule.While injuries can majorly impact a campaign's latter stages, you can gain an advantage by focusing on the first few weeks to draft players set for hot starts or avoiding those destined to struggle through a tough streak of opponents.Players with difficult schedules in the early going are prime trade targets after the first few weeks when managers begin to question their value.We'll also soon publish a detailed fantasy strength-of-schedule matrix for the entire year. For now, let's take a quick look at the teams with the easiest and hardest early-season slates.EasiestDetroit LionsWeekOpponent1vs. Rams2vs. Buccaneers3at Cardinals4vs. SeahawksDespite Jared Goff's sizeable new contract extension, he's nowhere near being considered one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. However, with the strong supporting cast the Lions have surrounded him with and the protection of a dome in Detroit, Goff can be a high-end fantasy QB2 who flirts with low-end QB1 numbers.Fortunately for Goff and Co., the Lions play four dome games in the opening month, including three at home. That trend continues throughout the season with just three outdoor games, the first not occurring until Week 9 in Green Bay.Goff averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game indoors over the last two years while posting just 13.0 fantasy points outside, according to FantasyPoints.com.A favorable first four weeks will also help the Lions, as they face three defenses that finished last season inside the top seven for fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs.Early upgrades: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Jameson WilliamsTampa Bay BuccaneersWeekOpponent1vs. Commanders2at Lions3vs. Broncos4vs. EaglesBaker Mayfield emerged as a competent veteran quarterback in the Buccaneers' system to help them become a surprise division winner in 2023. Now, Tampa Bay will have a chance to build off that campaign with one of the easier starting slates in 2024.All four of the Buccaneers' opponents in September ranked in the top 10 in passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed last year. While each defense has made attempts to address those issues in the offseason, it's an area that remains a projected weakness for those clubs.Mayfield is also lucky to get his top weapons back (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rachaad White, Cade Otton) and have rookies Jalen McMillan and Bucky Irving added to the mix.Tampa's schedule toughens in the middle of the season before easing up down the stretch, including two matchups with the Panthers (one of which takes place in the fantasy championship week).Early upgrades: Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rachaad WhiteHonorable mentions

Mark your calendars, football fans.The NFL announced its full schedule for the 2024 regular season Thursday. Featuring nine 2023 playoff rematches, this year's slate starts with a bang and includes several high-profile matchups in the second-last week of the year.Here are the season's five best weeks.- Prime-time game

The NFL released its complete schedule for the 2024 regular season Wednesday evening.Follow the links below to see team-by-team schedules.NFC

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward won't attend offseason training activities as he eyes a contract extension, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Heyward hasn't missed a team offseason program before, Fowler notes.Heyward's contract expires following the 2024 season. The reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year is slated to make $16 million in base salary in his final year under contract, per Over the Cap.The 35-year-old has spent his entire career with the Steelers and has been a focal point of their defensive line. He has put up 80.5 sacks over his 13-year career and earned six Pro Bowl nods, which came consecutively from 2017-2022.Heyward played just 11 games last season due to a groin injury, and his two sacks were his lowest since 2012.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced the dates and matchups for five international games Wednesday.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, and Google.In this episode, Boone discusses the biggest offseason risers and fallers for every NFC team.

Netflix will become the global home over the next three years for the NFL's annual Christmas Day games, the league announced Wednesday.The streaming platform will broadcast two Christmas Day games this year and will air at least one holiday matchup each season though 2026.The Christmas 2024 slate will include a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as a rematch of last year's divisional round between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens, Netflix confirmed. The full 2024 schedule is set to be unveiled Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. ET."Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live, tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports, and more," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. "There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We're so excited that the NFL's Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix.""We couldn't be more excited to be the first professional sports league to partner with Netflix to bring live games to fans around the world," said Hans Schroeder, NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution. "The NFL on Christmas has become a tradition, and to partner with Netflix, a service whose biggest day of the year is typically this holiday, is the perfect combination to grow this event globally for NFL fans."Netflix has been proactive in adding NFL content to its platform in recent years. Following the success of its "Quarterback" series, which featured Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota, the broadcaster is set to air "Receiver," which will shadow some of the leagues most dynamic pass-catchers in Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams, and George Kittle, among others.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wants to make a statement as he enters the twilight of his career."I'm always here to prove something," Beckham said during his introductory press conference Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. "It's about finishing strong - ending my career on my terms, however long that is, one year, two years, three years. If this is my last year ... want to finish it on a high note."The 31-year-old agreed to terms on a one-year deal with a base salary of $3 million with the Dolphins earlier in May.In his sensational rookie campaign, Beckham recorded 91 receptions, 1,305 yards, and 12 touchdowns, earning him the 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The former first-round pick went on to record at least 1,300 yards and 10 TDs in each of his first three seasons with the New York Giants.The LSU product, who's known for his one-handed grabs, has struggled to regain his Pro Bowl form after the Giants traded him to the Cleveland Browns in March 2019. Since his 1,035-yard debut season in Cleveland, Beckham hasn't approached 1,000 yards in a campaign.Beckham was a member of the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI roster but suffered a torn ACL in the game that sidelined him for the 2022 season. In 2023, Beckham served as a veteran presence for the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal. He compiled 565 yards to go along with 35 catches for three scores.Miami boasts an offense that is predicated on speed. "I gotta get back on the track, because (there's) some speed down here," Beckham said. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are among the top pass-catching options for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.The veteran wideout credited head coach Mike McDaniel with selling him on joining the team. "It's just his energy. We speak the same language. The conversations we had about football," Beckham said, according to The Palm Beach Post's Joe Schad.Beckham said he's more at peace on and off the field after carrying anger and resentment earlier in his career and no longer needs to be the top option in the passing game. Having endured some setbacks in recent years, the veteran is eager to finish his career on his own terms."I'm a competitor," Beckham said of his career. "Forget the middle part. You read a book. The start is going to capture us. You read the body of the story. And how's it going to end? That's where I'm at. Let's have a great ending to this story."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said quarterback Trey Lance's workload will increase this summer."The guy's obviously an unbelievable athlete, but we need to get him the reps," Schottenheimer said, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "How do you learn to play the position of quarterback unless you're playing?""We know Dak (Prescott). We know (Cooper Rush). (Lance) is the question mark. ... It's gonna be all about getting him a ton of reps throughout OTAs, minicamp, and then training camp. You're gonna see him getting a ton leading into the preseason."Dallas acquired Lance for a fourth-round pick last August in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys declined to pick up his fifth-year option earlier in May, and he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 campaign.Lance, a former third overall pick, has only four starts in his NFL career. He went 2-2 with 1,032 total yards, six touchdowns, and three turnovers. The 24-year-old entered the NFL with little experience, attempting only 318 passes at North Dakota State."The best thing he does to this day is still improvise and move. So now, let's see what concepts he likes to see what he's comfortable doing," Schottenheimer said.He added: "Over the time, we're gonna get that figured out so we could put together a really good package for him."Prescott, Dallas' starting quarterback, is set for a massive 2024 season as he'll also become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. He has a $55.1-million cap hit this year, and the Cowboys will eat a $40.1-million cap hit in 2025 if he leaves in free agency.Dallas doesn't have a signal-caller under contract for the 2025 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.Following an interminable buildup, the 2024 NFL Draft has mercifully come and gone. Reports from early offseason workouts insist that all the incoming rookies are can't-miss. While we know where the coveted rookies will play, we'll find out more about their prospects when their teams aren't the only ones controlling the message.We do have one outside clue about rookie expectations, as a pair of award markets are up for betting: Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, even if we should use these as a hint more than something worth investing into this far ahead of the season.Offensive Rookie of the Year oddsPLAYERODDSCaleb Williams+185Marvin Harrison Jr.+650Jayden Daniels+700J.J. McCarthy+1000Malik Nabers+1400Xavier Worthy+1500Bo Nix+1800Drake Maye+1800Keon Coleman+2200Rome Odunze+2500Brian Thomas Jr.+2500Ladd McConkey+2500Brock Bowers+3000Jonathon Brooks+4000Jaylen Wright+4000Adonai Mitchell+5000Ricky Pearsall+5000Trey Benson+5000Xavier Legette+5000Others listed at theScore Bet at 60-1 or longerThe favoritesReigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels (+700) has the same explosive, highlight-reel ability as his 2022 counterpart Caleb Williams but three times the payout as the No. 1 pick. Too large a discrepancy exists on the oddsboard between players with similar situations, pedigree, and potential. While the preseason doesn't mean everything, seeing how each quarterback fares with the offense around him in limited action can help us pinpoint a few targets.With four quarterbacks taken in the top five draft picks, a skill-position winner is unlikely. However, with Williams (35.1%), Daniels (12.5%), Drake Maye (5.3%), J.J. McCarthy (9.1%), and Bo Nix (5.3%) taking up well over half of the implied probability pie, that's built into the odds for the receivers and running backs.Mid-tier optionsIn this area, we'll be looking for players whose teams have a reason to make them a focal point and a quarterback capable of doing so. The Jaguars' Brian Thomas (+2500) can be almost instantly slotted into the role left by Calvin Ridley (76 receptions, 1016 receiving yards). If he can find some chemistry with Trevor Lawrence, he could surpass Garrett Wilson's 1,000-yard OROY season in 2022 and approach Ja'Marr Chase's, Justin Jefferson's, and Puka Nacua's 1,400-yard rookie years. The latter two were topped by standout quarterbacks (Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud), but Thomas's odds of 25-1 are long enough for a small investment in the hopes this year's QBs don't have the stats of the 2020 and 2023 winners.A tailback hasn't won Offensive Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley in 2018, and it's become less and less likely as teams favor a committee approach at the position. However, the Panthers could provide the path for a long-shot OROY winner. They used a high draft choice to fill a hole at the goal line and are looking to protect a young quarterback with a run-heavy approach. Jonathon Brooks (+5000) has Chuba Hubbard (3.8 yards per carry and five touchdowns) in front of him on their depth chart. Meanwhile, new Carolina head coach Dave Canales increased the Buccaneers' carries per game by 3.3 as their offensive coordinator last year despite lacking an obvious bell-cow runner.Long-shot hopefulsWith so many viable candidates atop the oddsboard, all we're looking for is someone to get enough preseason attention for their odds to shorten before the season.As a tailback from USC often does, MarShawn Lloyd (+7500) has the talent to be a key player for the Packers, but Josh Jacobs is in his way. Jacobs has some significant miles on him though, and Lloyd's one injury away from being a big factor on a top-notch offense.Jalen McMillan (+15000) was overshadowed by Rome Odunze at Washington, but that might have been partly due to injuries in his final season. Playing on the opposite side of Mike Evans, with little in the way of youthful competition for playing time, a healthy version of McMillan might make an early splash.He's currently listed fourth on the Texans' depth chart, but it's not like any of those names lit it up last year. What if Louisville's Jawhar Jordan (+20000) can translate college production into NFL success? He may be available at 200-1 before a big preseason game drastically cuts his odds.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants will be featured on HBO Max's offseason version of "Hard Knocks," debuting on July 2.This is a new addition to the "Hard Knocks" brand and will run ahead of the traditional training camp series.

Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.The Offensive Rookie of the Year is usually more predictable than its defensive counterpart. Top rookie quarterbacks effectively have the right of first refusal, and if no one in the new crop excels, the award goes to the offensive threat with the best statistics. With the first 14 picks in this year's draft coming on that side of the ball, it was almost like the NFL deemed this year's class of defenders second-class citizens.In the Defensive Rookie of the Year betting market, it shouldn't matter where the eligible players were drafted. However, if there are no impact rookie defenders, the bar for stats needed to win the award is lower than usual, making a wide-open market.Defensive Rookie of the Year oddsPLAYERODDSDallas Turner+400Laiatu Latu+650Jared Verse+1000Quinyon Mitchell+1000Terrion Arnold+1000Byron Murphy+1200Chop Robinson+1500Cooper DeJean+2500Kool-Aid McKinstry+2500Nate Wiggins+2500Darius Robinson+3000Edgerrin Cooper+3000Payton Wilson+3000Tyler Nubin+3000Bralen Trice+4000Jer'Zhan Newton+4000Mike Sainristil+4000Others listed at theScore Bet at 50-1 or longerThe favoritesLast year, seven sacks were enough for Will Anderson as he continued a run where 12 of the previous 14 DROY winners were taken in the top 14 picks of the NFL draft. But what if, like this year, there are no top-14 picks on defense?Pass-rushers like Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, and Jared Verse are the best in this class, but if they're not surefire prospects like Von Miller, Aaron Donald, or the Bosa brothers, is backing any of them at a short price a good idea?Mid-tier optionsGiven the uncertainty with the defenders in this draft, there's very little on which to base the odds above. Bluntly, they're largely made up from thin air. As such, none of the players we're monitoring during the preseason are 40-1 or shorter.Chris Braswell (+5000) didn't start at Alabama, but he was productive, showing explosiveness and playmaking (key DROY criterion) with 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. The Buccaneers will use their second-rounder to fly off the edge, and he may be just as likely as the first-round pass-rushers to have nice rookie season statistics.Ennis Rakestraw (+5000) gives the Lions exactly what they need: a dangerous cornerback. If Detroit's pass defense improves, he may get some added credit as the new piece to the puzzle. Meanwhile, Max Melton (+5000) might do the same for the Cardinals. Cornerback provides the best chance for a few flashy plays (interceptions) to turn into attention, so finding the defensive backs who'll be on the field is half the battle in trying to get lucky with a long shot.Javon Bullard (+5000) qualifies under that criteria but from the safety position. Arguably the best safety in the draft, the Packers will be on national television enough that the Georgia product will be in the spotlight more than most while in a playmaking role.Long-shot hopefulsAfter a dramatic first round, the Falcons loaded up on defensive linemen. Who would you rather have: second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro at 200-1 or third-rounder Bralen Trice at 40-1? Either could earn most of their playing time from the defensive end spot in Atlanta's 3-4 scheme, but we'll play the odds that Orhorhoro, the versatile former Clemson player, makes enough of an impact in the preseason for his odds to shorten to the same tier as his new teammate.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year contract on Tuesday, the team announced.Valdes-Scantling visited the Bills on Tuesday.The former Kansas City Chiefs receiver's deal with the Bills is worth up to $4.5 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The contract reportedly includes a $1.125-million signing bonus.Valdes-Scantling caught 21 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown in 2023 with the Chiefs. He also scored a touchdown in the team's Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers in February.The 29-year-old's best performance came in 2020 when he recorded a career-high 690 receiving yards and led the NFL with 20.9 yards per reception.The Bills have remodeled their wide receiver room this offseason following the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. In addition to Valdes-Scantling, Buffalo signed Curtis Samuel and drafted Keon Coleman.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.