New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick isn't relying on the championship success experienced during his 23-year tenure when looking ahead to the 2023 season."We're not resting on our past laurels; that's not the message to the team or the fans," Belichick said, according to The Boston Globe's Jim McBride.The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach appeared to clarify a previous statement he made on Monday when asked what he would say to Patriots fans for them to be optimistic about next season, replying, "The last 25 years."Belichick is set to embark on his 24th season with New England. The franchise has won six Super Bowls and nine AFC championships during his tenure. He's just 19 wins shy of breaking the all-time record held by Don Shula (347).The soon-to-be 71-year-old says he isn't paying much attention to his accomplishments and legacy as he turns his focus to preparing for next season.Team owner Robert Kraft expressed confidence in his head coach earlier this week, saying, "I still believe in Bill."Belichick brought in Bill O'Brien to be his offensive coordinator and Adrian Klemm as the offensive line coach after New England finished 8-9 in 2022.Belichick said at the annual league meeting that he's optimistic the changes to the coaching staff and free-agent additions will help the Patriots be competitive next season."I think we've been pretty competitive every year that I've been here with the Patriots. That's our overall plan."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions are signing wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. to a one-year, $3-million contract, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Jones, 33, starred for five seasons in Detroit from 2016-20. He spent the past two campaigns with the Jacksonville Jaguars.Jones shared his excitement about returning to the Lions on Twitter.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is fighting back against speculation that he sat out at the end of the 2022 campaign due to the lack of a long-term deal.A PCL injury sidelined Jackson for the last six games of the season, including the Ravens' playoff defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals. On Tuesday, Jackson stood by his decision not to return down the stretch."Let's get real," Jackson said on Twitter. "I rather have a 100% PCL than go out there and play horrible, forcing myself to put my guys in a bad situation. Now that's selfish to me."

Former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Falcons hosted the 36-year-old on a free-agent visit prior to his signing and were one of many teams to show interest in his services. The Ravens surprisingly released Campbell earlier this month after three seasons with the organization.A six-time Pro Bowler, Campbell adds a veteran pass-rushing presence to the Falcons' defense. He's recorded 99 career sacks since coming into the league as a second-round pick in 2008. Campbell ended the 2022 campaign with 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.Atlanta has been busy in free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to Campbell, the Falcons also signed safety Jessie Bates, defensive tackle David Onyemata, linebacker Kaden Elliss, and cornerback Mike Hughes, among others.The Falcons aim to improve on a 7-10 showing in 2022, in which the defense ranked 23rd in points allowed and 27th in yardage.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Pete Carroll attempted to dispel speculation that the Seattle Seahawks are considering moving on from safety Jamal Adams after signing Julian Love."I know there's some conversation about what we did with Julian, does that have some impact on Jamal or Quandre (Diggs)? It doesn't," Carroll said Tuesday, according to team reporter John Boyle. "We have a clear thought of what we're going to do with our guys and how we want to play them, and we feel very fortunate to have all of our guys."Seattle acquired Adams in a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets in 2020. The 2019 first-team All-Pro provided an immediate boost to the Seahawks' defense by setting the single-season record for sacks by a defensive back (9.5).Adams then signed a four-year, $70.6-million contract in 2021 but has been unable to replicate his early production.The three-time Pro Bowler has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons, playing in just 25 of a possible 50 games since joining the Seahawks. He's recovering from a torn quadriceps tendon, which is leaving his status for the start of training camp in question.Adams is set to carry an $18.1-million cap hit in 2023, per Spotrac.Meanwhile, Carroll called Love a "remarkable player" and said the club jumped at the opportunity to get him. The Seahawks boss also likes Love's versatility to play deep safety, nickel, or close to the line of scrimmage.Love signed a two-year, $12-million contract with Seattle earlier in March. The 25-year-old racked up 124 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two interceptions in his first season as a full-time starter for the New York Giants in 2022.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL team owners approved a proposal Tuesday allowing players to wear No. 0 this season.Any player can wear the new jersey number except offensive and defensive linemen. It's the second time in the last three years that NFL owners have approved a new number rule, as they expanded the use of single-digit numerals on jerseys for more positions starting in the 2021 season.The latest change also allows kickers and punters to wear any numeral between 0-49 and 90-99. Those players were previously only allowed to wear 1-19.The NFL hasn't allowed players to wear No. 0 since the league's number standardization in 1973. Several players wore that number before in the 1960s and early 1970s.Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley announced he will switch to No. 0 shortly after the rule change was approved. Ridley, who has yet to make his debut with Jacksonville after joining the team via trade from the Atlanta Falcons last year, wore No. 18 with the Falcons.The jersey rule change was suggested by the Philadelphia Eagles, who also wanted to create a fourth-and-20 alternative to the onside kick. That latter proposal wasn't turned down, but more discussion will be needed, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.NFL owners also tabled a proposal from the Detroit Lions to allow teams to have a third quarterback available on game days, NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay told Pelissero.Additionally, owners decided to wait until at least May to vote on a flex-scheduling plan for Thursday Night Football games, NFL chief media and business officer Brian Rolapp announced, per Pelissero.However, Rolapp added that teams can now play two Thursday night games in a season.

Quarterback Desmond Ridder will begin next season as the Atlanta Falcons' starter, head coach Arthur Smith announced Tuesday."The plan is to start Desmond," Smith told reporters at the league's annual meetings, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein. "That's our plan going forward right now."Ridder, 23, was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati product spent most of the season backing up Marcus Mariota. He was elevated to the starring role following the team's Week 14 bye, starting the final four games of the regular season.The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Ridder posted a 2-2 record. He passed for 708 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions with a 63.5% completion rate.Atlanta signed Taylor Heinicke earlier in March after releasing Mariota in February. The former Washington Commanders signal-caller said he was joining the Falcons as a backup.Smith didn't want to address the Falcons' potential interest in former MVP Lamar Jackson, who requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens."I'm always going to focus on us," Smith said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. "I don't want to speculate about guys that are not on our roster."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers entered negotiations regarding a long-term contract extension with quarterback Justin Herbert and are "confident" of completing a deal, head coach Brandon Staley said Tuesday."We're at the beginning of all that but all know how we feel about him," Staley said, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry.The coach added: "Navigating this process, we have a very good relationship with his team. I'm confident that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback for a long time and that we'll make sure that we get a deal done."Staley refused to say whether he'd like to have a deal signed before training camp in July."(We've got to) just be patient," he said. "But the major takeaway is that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback, and we're so excited that he is leading our franchise."Herbert became eligible to negotiate a new deal this offseason. The 2020 first-round pick is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and is set to earn $4.23 million in 2023. The Chargers are expected to exercise the fifth-year option on his deal before the May 1 deadline.The 25-year-old will likely become one of the NFL's highest-paid players ever and earn a deal with an average annual salary north of $50 million. He's taken the NFL by storm since being drafted sixth overall, posting a 66.9% completion rate with 94 touchdowns and 14,089 passing yards, the most through any quarterback's first three seasons.The Oregon product isn't the only superstar set to reset the QB market. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts are also eligible to sign extensions, while Lamar Jackson hasn't agreed to terms on a new contract with the Baltimore Ravens.Aaron Rodgers leads the position with a $50-million average annual salary.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said there will be an open competition for the team's No. 1 quarterback role."I'm going to play the guy we believe gives us the best chance to win football games," Rivera said Tuesday, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.The Commanders signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8-million deal on March 15. Sam Howell and Jake Fromm are the other quarterbacks on the roster.Rivera said he believes Howell has many of the same qualities as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Howell made his NFL debut in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys, totaling 204 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Commanders selected the 22-year-old in the fifth round of the 2022 draft.Rivera did not rule out the possibility of drafting a quarterback in the first round this year."We want to make a decision on the best player for us, the best player available," Rivera said, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. The Commanders hold the 16th overall pick.Rivera ruled out the possibility of Washington pursuing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson but described him as a "tremendous talent," according to Rapoport.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock Purdy might be penciled in as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback, but that doesn't mean Trey Lance is out of the running yet.49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Lance has "a chance to regain" the starting job with Purdy sidelined following offseason elbow surgery, according to The Athletic's David Lombardi.Purdy's recovery is expected to take anywhere from six-to-eight months, though Shanahan said the team will have more clarity around the three-month mark, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Shanahan offered a timeline of Weeks 1-4 for a potential return.Lance is also coming back from an ankle injury that ended his 2022 campaign after two starts. He'll be joined by free-agent signing Sam Darnold in the quarterback room while Purdy rehabs his injury.Shanahan added that he expects Lance and Darnold to both get first-team reps this offseason.General manager John Lynch said Monday that Purdy figured to be the club's starter heading into the 2023 season. The 2022 seventh-rounder took the league by storm last year, throwing for 16 touchdowns to four interceptions while also winning his first seven starts (including playoffs) before getting hurt in the NFC Championship Game.The 49ers traded up to No. 3 overall in 2021 to select Lance with the hopes he would be their future franchise quarterback. However, he has started just four career games and has thrown for five touchdowns to three interceptions.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed quarterback Matthew Stafford is fully healthy and will have a full offseason workload ahead of the 2023 season."There will be no limitations. He'll be ready to roll," McVay said, according to Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network.McVay added he sees a "renewed sense of urgency" from Stafford and other players who were injured last season, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.After leading the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2021, Stafford took a step back last season due to a variety of reasons, including injuries.Stafford suffered a spinal cord contusion that landed him on injured reserve in early December. He threw for 2,087 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games, compiling a 3-6 record.The 35-year-old Stafford signed a four-year, $160-million contract extension in March 2022.Wide receiver Cooper Kupp played in nine games last season due to injuries and was the only Rams receiver to amass at least 400 receiving yards.The Rams have interest in bringing back wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., McVay said, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He added there are a lot of other teams interested, and they'll see how it plays out.Beckham was with the Rams in 2021 for eight games, totaling 305 yards with five scores. He found the end zone in the Rams' Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur is looking forward to working with Jordan Love as the team's new starting quarterback, but he admitted the offense will be a "work in progress," according to USA Today's Tyler Dragon.Love is expected to get his first crack at the full-time starting job once the Packers finalize a trade to send franchise icon Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. LaFleur stressed caution for the transition to Love, who has started just one game since being drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft."We all have to kind of temper our expectations for him," LaFleur told reporters, including Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, on Tuesday."I think we're fooling ourselves if we think he's going to go out and perform to a level of the likes of Aaron Rodgers," LaFleur added, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today. "(Rodgers) is a generational, once-in-a-lifetime talent, and I don't think he started in that role. It was a progression."LaFleur declined to discuss Rodgers extensively but said he has "nothing but love and appreciation" for what the 39-year-old has done for the franchise, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Rodgers and LaFleur led Green Bay to two NFC title games during their four years together but failed to reach the Super Bowl, which LaFleur called "disappointing." Rodgers also collected two MVP awards playing in the coach's offense.Rodgers said earlier this offseason he intends to play for the Jets in 2023 after claiming he learned the Packers were trying to move on from him after 18 years together.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he's "absolutely" open to the possibility of running back Ezekiel Elliott rejoining the team."I think you always keep the door open. Absolutely," McCarthy said Monday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Cowboys released Elliott after seven seasons earlier in March, a decision McCarthy said was "very difficult" to make."No one felt good about that," he said. "I mean, Zeke has such a bright light to him, too. He's a great teammate. There's so much love for him in the building, but you get to these spots, you know, the longer you're in this league, these are tough decisions."Elliott, a 2016 first-round pick, burst onto the scene, establishing himself as the league's leading rusher in two of his first three seasons. He ran for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns while adding 305 receptions for 2,336 yards and 12 scores during his tenure with the Cowboys.The 27-year-old hasn't been able to match his production from the start of his career. He turned in career lows in 2022 with 876 rushing yards and 3.8 yards per carry while adding 12 touchdowns.The veteran tailback reportedly whittled his list of finalists for a new team down to the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys saved nearly $10 million by designating Elliott as a post-June 1 cut.Elliott also likely became expendable because of Tony Pollard's emergence last season.Dallas placed the franchise tag on Pollard, who recently signed the one-year tender that will pay him just over $10 million in 2023. The 26-year-old posted a career-high 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns last year to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard confirmed Monday that the club will consider making a move for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson."Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you've got to do the work," Ballard said, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. "I'm not gonna get into deep discussions on where it's at or what we're doing or what we might do. But what I'll tell you is he's a really good player, really special player. But you never know how any of this will work out."Jackson said Monday that he requested a trade on March 2.The Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson on March 7. Baltimore can trade the former NFL MVP to another club if he signs the tender.The quarterback position is Indianapolis' biggest issue this year. The Colts recently added Gardner Minshew, but the veteran is expected to compete for the backup role with the likes of Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles."If you don't feel like you have one that can absolutely change the franchise in terms of leading you every year, I think you're always going to feel some pressure to get that player right," Ballard added.Another option for Indy is to go with a quarterback in next month's NFL draft. The Colts own the No. 4 pick.Ballard said Indianapolis considered trading up to No. 1 but suggested he wasn't sold on who the team would be moving up for. The Carolina Panthers ultimately acquired the top selection from the Chicago Bears."I didn't want to make a blind decision without all the information," Ballard said of a potential trade. "I know people might not understand that, but I think just history kind of tells you that when you do that, you better know what you're getting."The Colts have started four different Week 1 quarterbacks in as many seasons since Andrew Luck retired in August 2019, including Carson Wentz in 2021 and Matt Ryan in 2022.Ryan was acquired via trade during the 2022 offseason to replace Wentz but didn't live up to the hype as the club missed the playoffs for the second straight year. Indy cut Ryan on March 14.The Colts finished last season 4-12-1, down from 9-8 in 2021.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said it's "no secret" the team wants to sign quarterback Jalen Hurts to a contract extension "relatively soon," according to ESPN's Tim McManus."Our whole roster-building is going to turn a little bit here from a quarterback on a rookie deal towards a quarterback hopefully on a long-term deal," Roseman said."Not that we have anything done, but obviously our goal is to keep Jalen here for a long time."Hurts, 24, established himself as the franchise passer after leading the Eagles to a 14-1 mark and a Super Bowl LVII appearance as a starter during the 2022 season. He racked up 4,461 total yards and 35 touchdowns (22 passing, 13 rushing).The MVP candidate's potential new deal is expected to be worth north of $45 million per season, which would put him on par with the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson are also expected to command big paydays in the near future.Roseman indicated that potential deals for other quarterbacks won't influence Philadelphia's negotiation timeline.Hurts is entering the final year of a rookie contract that would pay him just over $4 million in 2023, according to Over the Cap."I think you have to navigate the offseason understanding we're not going to lose our franchise quarterback with one year left on his deal," he said.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said a first-round pick from the New York Jets isn't "necessary" to facilitate a deal for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, according to Ryan Woods of USA Today.Gutekunst added that he wants fair value and said there's no timeline for a potential trade involving Rodgers, who said on March 15 that he intends to play for the Jets.The AFC East team owns the 13th overall pick in April's draft, as well as two second-round selections.Rodgers cited Green Bay's attempt to move on from him as the reason he wants to play elsewhere.Gutekunst said he unsuccessfully tried to reach Rodgers "many times" following the 2022 season to determine if they were on the same page."You come out of the season, you have a lot of conversations … (to) get an idea of where you're gonna move to as a team, how you're gonna go forward," Gutekunst said, according to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman."I was really looking forward to the conversations with Aaron to see how he'd fit into that. Those never transpired, so there came a time where we had to make some decisions."We went through his representatives to talk to him (about) where we're going with our team, and at that point, they informed us that he'd like to be traded to the Jets."Gutekunst said he wished Rodgers handled the situation differently."Whenever a player may have issues, you prefer that they talk to you directly and not do it in the media, but that's not necessarily the way he goes about it, and that's OK," the GM said.Rodgers spent his entire NFL career with the Packers, who drafted him 24th overall in 2005. He's the franchise's all-time leader with 475 touchdown passes.Green Bay, which is now expected to move on with Jordan Love under center, went 8-9 in 2022, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed confidence in head coach Bill Belichick on Monday."I think we've made some moves this year that I personally am comfortable with, and I still believe in Bill," Kraft said, according to MassLive's Chris Mason.The Patriots made changes to the coaching staff and roster this offseason, including bringing back Bill O'Brien, who was with the team from 2007-11, as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.New England also added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki during free agency to bolster the weapons around quarterback Mac Jones, who's entering his third year.With 329 wins as a coach, Belichick is just 19 shy of breaking Don Shula's all-time record (347)."I'd like him to break Don Shula's record, but I'm not looking for any of our players to get great stats," Kraft said. "We're about winning and doing whatever we can to win. That's what our focus is now. It's very important to me that we make the playoffs. That's what I hope happens next year."The Patriots posted an 8-9 mark in 2022, averaging 314.6 yards per game (26th in the league) and scoring 21.4 points per game. It was their second losing campaign in the past three years. They haven't won a postseason contest since claiming the Super Bowl LIII title to cap their 2018 campaign.Kraft also said that rapper Meek Mill informed him via text that disgruntled Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson "wants to come to the Patriots," per MassLive's Mark Daniels. Jackson announced his desire to be traded earlier Monday."That's Bill Belichick's decision," Kraft said.Kraft added that he's a "big fan" of Jones and is "very positive and hopeful" his quarterback can achieve success this coming season.Bailey Zappe, who started two games last year, is the only other passer on the team's roster.Belichick said earlier Monday he wouldn't "talk about players on any other team."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Monday that he has a lot of respect for Austin Ekeler but understands why the disgruntled running back might want a change of scenery as the two sides negotiate a long-term contract."The respect for Austin I think from our side of things is at the highest they could be for a player," Staley said, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. "The position that he's in we're certainly respectful of and I think there's been communication with his team and so we're understanding of that position."The coach added: "We see him as someone that is going to help us win a world championship. But we're also respectful of the position he's in within his career and what he's looking for, too, so we're going to be patient but we love Austin Ekeler."Ekeler has been looking for a long-term extension and requested permission to speak to other teams about a trade on March 13 amid stalled contract talks with the Chargers. Los Angeles has granted him permission.The 27-year-old, who signed a four-year, $24.5-million contract with L.A. in March 2020, has one season left on his current deal."Those talks are ongoing," Staley said. "We're at the beginning of all that, but we all know how we feel about him and I think navigating this process, we have a very good relationship with his team."Ekeler's $6.13-million average annual salary ranks 15th among running backs. Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers tops the position at $16 million.Ekeler recently said he feels like he's "so underpaid" and is "relentlessly" looking to sign a long-term deal in the NFL.An undrafted free agent in 2017, Ekeler has established himself as one of football's most versatile running backs, topping 1,500 scrimmage yards in three of the last four campaigns. The Western Colorado product leads the league with 38 total touchdowns since 2021.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday that Brock Purdy is in the driver's seat to be the team's starting quarterback over Trey Lance heading into the 2023 season."Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse at that," Lynch said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I'll let (coach) Kyle (Shanahan) make those kinds of decisions, but I know when we talk, Brock has probably earned that right to be the guy. If we were to line up, he'd probably take that first snap."Purdy began last season as San Francisco's third-string quarterback after entering the NFL as the last pick in the 2022 draft. However, he stepped up and helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game as the NFC's No. 2 seed after both Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down with season-ending injuries.Lance, the club's starter in the season opener, suffered an ankle ailment in Week 2, while Garoppolo was sidelined in Week 13. Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.Lance, whom the 49ers drafted third overall in 2021, has started only four games since entering the league. He was Garoppolo's backup for most of his rookie campaign.San Francisco also added veteran quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency this year."We've always said we don't care where you were drafted, if you were drafted, that's always been our stance," Lynch said. "... We're still very excited about Trey but I think the way Brock played, he probably has earned that right to be the guy. But it's certainly a competition, we'll always have that."Purdy is battling an injury of his own, though, as he suffered a complete tear of the UCL in his throwing elbow in the NFC title game. The 23-year-old underwent surgery this offseason and is expected to begin throwing again in 12 weeks."Like a lot of those things, timelines are just guidelines," Lynch said. "Every person is different. There probably is some amount of time in talking to the docs that you want to make sure you get to that point before he's out there but our hope is he's ready to go in training camp."Purdy posted a 7-1 record as a starter last season, including the playoffs. He finished those eight starts with 14 touchdown passes and two TDs on the ground against three interceptions.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh isn't worried that a trade for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn't happened yet."I'm a positive thinker. I'm sure eventually they'll figure something out," Saleh said Monday when asked if he has any doubt a Rodgers trade will happen, according to SNY TV.Rodgers told "The Pat McAfee Show" that he wants to play for the Jets next season. The two sides have engaged in trade talks but haven't reached an agreement on compensation."It takes two to tango," Saleh said, per SNY TV. He added: "It's a process, we respect the process, and whenever it gets done, it'll get done."Quarterback play was an issue for the Jets last season, with Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco all getting at least four starts each. Wilson started nine games but struggled to move the ball consistently. Of 34 quarterbacks who threw at least 200 passes in 2022, he ranked last in QBR.Despite Wilson's struggles, Saleh confirmed the former second overall pick will be the Jets' backup quarterback next season."He's our No. 2," Saleh said, according to SNY TV.He added: "I really still think Zach has a future in this league to be a really good quarterback, I really do. He has the work ethic, he has the mindset, and he's coming in here to attack it. But we're counting on him to be a fixture here for a while."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens on March 2, the passer said in a series of tweets Monday.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen refused to say if he'll name quarterback Gardner Minshew the starter."Right now, obviously, he's coming in to just compete and be the best he can be," Steichen told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Sunday. "That's where we feel he's at right now, and that's his role right now."The Colts signed Minshew to a one-year, $3.5-million deal on March 16, adding him to a quarterback room with Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger. Steichen and Minshew spent two years together in Philadelphia.Minshew played in fives games last season for the Eagles, including two starts in Weeks 15 and 16 while Jalen Hurts recovered from a shoulder injury. Minshew went 0-2 in those starts, throwing for 629 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions."Gardner's awesome," Steichen said. "You know, I got to spend the two years with him in Philly and just the way he sees the game and processes the game. It's like a coach, you know, he sees it really well. He was great."Indianapolis holds the fourth pick in the upcoming draft and is expected to select a quarterback in the first round. The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans, both slotted to pick ahead of the Colts, are also likely to consider taking a signal-caller."I just think every year, no matter where we've picked or any team I've been a part of, you do that, the work on the quarterbacks regardless, no matter what happens, where you're picking, who you're thinking of picking, you always wanted to do the research on those guys," Steichen said.The 26-year-old Minshew has appeared in 32 career games, compiling an 8-16 record in 24 starts. He's thrown for 6,632 yards with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions since 2019.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rosters around the NFL look a whole lot different after the first wave of free-agent signings and trades to kick off the offseason.While every organization will try to claim that they simply draft the best player on the board, the flurry of moves will no doubt have an impact on how teams approach the early stages of the upcoming draft.Here's an updated look at how we see the first round playing out.Bryce Young, QB, AlabamaWe'll probably go back and forth on this one until draft day. As things currently stand, Young has just as strong a case to be the No. 1 pick as anyone else. Even with the size concerns, which make him an all-time outlier at the position, he's still the best quarterback in this draft. The Panthers get the potential superstar they were seeking when they traded up with the Bears.C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio StateWhile the Panthers sent a whopping 14 people to Stroud's pro day at Ohio State, the Texans only had three in attendance. That shouldn't make people think Houston would pass on the Buckeyes star, though. If Young goes first, Stroud is the clear choice to take over the Texans' offense.MOCK TRADE: Colts move up from No. 4 in deal with CardinalsAnthony Richardson, QB, FloridaMoving up one spot is unconventional but perhaps necessary for the Colts to prevent another team from jumping them for Richardson. Sending a mid-round pick to the Cardinals is a small price to pay to ensure that you land this year's most captivating quarterback. Richardson, one of the most athletic quarterback prospects in draft history, could flourish in a similar offense to the one Shane Steichen ran with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.MOCK TRADE: Cardinals move down from No. 3 in deal with ColtsWill Anderson, EDGE, AlabamaThe Cardinals take advantage of being the only team in the top four that doesn't need a quarterback. Trading down one spot still allows them to take the top defensive player on the board: Alabama's Anderson. Arizona ranked 23rd in sacks per game last season, a problem Anderson should fix after posting a whopping 34.5 in three seasons with the Crimson Tide.Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas TechJalen Carter would garner significant consideration here, but the Seahawks making a free-agent splash with Dre'Mont Jones takes care of the three-technique spot for the foreseeable future. Wilson's freak athleticism on the edge would be another major addition to a new-look defensive front.Jalen Carter, DL, GeorgiaThe Lions take advantage of Carter falling due to off-the-field issues to grab the Georgia star at No. 6. Detroit was 28th in the league last year in points allowed, but pairing Carter with Aidan Hutchinson gives the Lions one of the most exciting defensive line duos in football.Christian Gonzalez, CB, OregonSigning Jimmy Garoppolo will help the Raiders avoid forcing a quarterback pick if their top-ranked signal-callers are already off the board. The defense still needs all the help it can get, and the supremely athletic Gonzalez would finally give that group a potential lockdown cornerback.Devon Witherspoon, CB, IllinoisThe Falcons were 29th in the league in passer rating allowed last season and need a ton of help in the secondary to fix that. Enter Witherspoon, who instantly brings physicality and solid ball skills to the position. The Illini star is also arguably the best run-stopping corner in the draft.Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio StateThe Bears being unwilling to meet the price tags of top free agents on the offensive line and instead choosing to do their spending elsewhere makes it appear likely that this becomes their focus early in the draft. Adding Johnson as a cornerstone left tackle would be a major step in improving the protection for Justin Fields.MOCK TRADE: Lions move up from No. 18 in deal with EaglesWill Levis, QB, KentuckyThe Lions read the draft board and move up to grab the quarterback of the future in Levis. There are plenty of questions surrounding the Kentucky star's ability to start on Day 1, but that won't be an issue with Jared Goff still clearly QB1 in Motown. Levis will be able to sit for a season and get acclimated to the professional game behind the veteran passer. Dan Campbell will love the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder's toughness to match his impressive arm talent.Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio StateQuarterback could have been an option for Tennessee if Levis made it to this spot, but addressing a dreadful passing attack should be a priority either way. Smith-Njigba's route-running ability could be a strong complement to the physicality of 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks in the Titans' receiving corps.Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, IowaAfter grabbing Stroud at No. 2 to reset the offense, the Texans grab a game-breaker on defense with Van Ness. The Iowa star posted 13.5 sacks in two seasons - despite not starting - and also blocked two kicks in his final collegiate campaign. Van Ness' ability to play both inside and out makes him an attractive pick at No. 12.Peter Skoronski, OT, NorthwesternThe Packers have their sights set on this pick to complete the seemingly inevitable Aaron Rodgers trade, but we don't see the Jets budging on that. Landing the Hall of Fame quarterback for some combination of mid-round selections and/or future conditional picks and using No. 13 to make a major upgrade at offensive tackle would be a perfect scenario for New York.Myles Murphy, EDGE, ClemsonThe Patriots need receiver help, but No. 14 seems too high for Bill Belichick to reach for someone with Smith-Njigba off the board. New England is very likely to trade back from this pick, but a twitchy edge-rusher with big upside like Murphy could make them stay.Michael Mayer, TE, Notre DameWe know the Packers aren't big on drafting receivers in the first round. But what about an elite tight end prospect who can also be a plus contributor as an in-line blocker in the run game? Adding a weapon like Mayer would be key for Jordan Love's development as he steps into the starting role with Rodgers on the way out.Dalton Kincaid, TE, UtahThe Commanders will be looking to make life as easy as possible for new starting quarterback Sam Howell. Adding Kincaid to a list of pass-catchers that includes Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson is a good way to do that. Kincaid starred in his final season at Utah, highlighted by an outrageous 16-catch, 234-yard performance versus USC.Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn StateThis is going to be one of the more popular mid-first-round connections you're going to see throughout the draft cycle, and for good reason. The Steelers desperately need help in the secondary, Porter is a potential stud at the next level, and his father was a star pass-rusher in Pittsburgh before later coaching on Mike Tomlin's staff.MOCK TRADE: Eagles move down from No. 10 in deal with LionsNolan Smith, EDGE, GeorgiaThe Eagles trade back from No. 10 and opt to beef up the defensive line with Smith out of Georgia. Smith missed the end of the Bulldogs' second straight national title-winning season but absolutely dominated the combine. He threw down a ridiculous 4.39 40-yard dash at 238 pounds while also posting 41.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10-foot-8 in the broad jump.Broderick Jones, OT, GeorgiaThe tackle spot opposite Tristan Wirfs is far and away the Bucs' most glaring need heading into the draft. Whether Wirfs settles in at left or right tackle going forward, Jones is an appealing bookend option to give the offensive line a second young cornerstone.Jordan Addison, WR, USCWith Geno Smith back in the fold, the Seahawks can keep the quarterback happy by adding an electric weapon in Addison. The 2021 Biletnikoff winner as college football's best receiver is a smooth route-runner who offers a ton of after-the-catch ability. The trio of Addison, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett could prove to be a handful for opposing defensive units in 2023.Bijan Robinson, RB, TexasThis is a fun spot for the consensus No. 1 running back and one of the best overall players in this draft. Austin Ekeler requesting a trade creates a massive need at the position, but the reality is that the Chargers needed to find a way to get better at running between the tackles regardless. Robinson helps them do exactly that, along with everything else you could possibly want from a running back.Quentin Johnston, WR, TCUFor the third time in the last five drafts, the Ravens go with a wide receiver in the first round. Johnston's ceiling might be the highest of any pass-catcher in the draft, as the 6-foot-3 TCU star showed off a 40.5-inch vertical at the combine. That's exactly the type of big-play weapon the Baltimore offense has been lacking.Zay Flowers, WR, Boston CollegeThe Vikings moving on from Adam Thielen creates a major void opposite Justin Jefferson, and there hasn't been any urgency to fill it to this point in free agency. Flowers would be an outstanding fit alongside one of the game's premier receivers.Brian Branch, DB, AlabamaThe Jaguars sent their cornerbacks coach to Branch's pro day for an individual workout, fueling speculation that he's the target at No. 24. The Alabama star has outstanding instincts on the field and showed he's comfortable at numerous positions while with the Crimson Tide.Deonte Banks, CB, MarylandThe Giants have been one of the NFL's busiest teams this offseason, making important additions at wide receiver, tight end, and linebacker. Defensive back still stands out as an area of need, though, and Banks, whose stock is on the rise after an impressive combine performance, would fit in nicely.Calijah Kancey, DL, PittAn undersized defensive tackle from Pitt with explosive quickness on the line? No, he's not Aaron Donald, but Kancey is a very solid value for the Cowboys at No. 26. Kancey's 4.67 40-yard dash at the combine was the fastest by a defensive tackle since 2006. That's the type of eye-popping athleticism that will be very appealing to Jerry Jones.Mazi Smith, DL, MichiganThere have been some rumblings about the Bills being in on DeAndre Hopkins, so we're going to go out on a limb and assume they find a way to fill a need at receiver in the coming weeks. Such a move would clear the way for the Bills to focus on the interior defensive line in the first round. Smith has every-down potential.Darnell Washington, TE, GeorgiaPlaying Washington as an in-line tight end is essentially adding a sixth offensive lineman to the fold. Given the Bengals' issues in protecting Joe Burrow, that could be a very attractive proposition. The 6-foot-7, 270-pounder is an absolute mauler in the run game but also flashed outstanding athleticism in limited targets while at Georgia.Bryan Bresee, DL, ClemsonThe Saints' defensive line lost several key pieces in free agency. If winning now is the idea, as their other moves indicate, those spots have to be filled with pro-ready players. Bresee fits the bill.Kelee Ringo, CB, GeorgiaFor the second straight year, five different Georgia players are taken in the opening round of the NFL draft. The Eagles took Jordan Davis in the first round last year and already grabbed Smith earlier in the night in our mock. Ringo makes it a trio of first-round Bulldogs the last two years for Philly, with the talented corner bringing solid physicality and athleticism to the position for the NFC champs.Darnell Wright, OT, TennesseeThe Chiefs let Orlando Brown walk in free agency and signed Jawaan Taylor as his replacement at left tackle. Drafting Wright to play on the opposite side would round out a fantastic front five.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a lot of optimism in Pittsburgh over the development of Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.Head coach Mike Tomlin detailed why he's looking forward to seeing Pickett in his second season as a pro."I'm excited about Kenny individually in terms of the growth that he's capable of making ... and what he's willing to do to realize that," Tomlin said Sunday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I think I'm probably more excited about that because I've just been around him intimately now for 12 months."The 2022 first-round pick finished his rookie season as the Steelers' starting quarterback and showed promise down the stretch. Pickett won five of his final six starts, with his only defeat coming in a Week 14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that saw him play only eight snaps due to a concussion. He also notched memorable fourth-quarter comebacks in wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Ravens in Weeks 16 and 17.The Steelers have spent the offseason prioritizing the offensive line with the signings of Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig. Pickett landed in the concussion protocol twice last season and was sacked 27 times across 13 games.Pickett finished his rookie campaign with a winning record (7-5) and seven touchdowns to nine interceptions. He also added another three scores with his legs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton threw cold water on trade rumors surrounding wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.He told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Sunday that the team is "not trading" either of its two star receivers.Payton added that the club has received calls for Jeudy and Sutton, but the Broncos are more focused on improving their team rather than shipping out talent."Those are two good football players. But we're in the business of gathering talent right now," Payton said. "Why do people call? Because they know we're void of draft picks and that we might because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group that we're working with."Both Sutton and Jeudy have been linked to trade rumors over the last year. It was previously reported that Denver was seeking at least a first-round pick for Jeudy. The New England Patriots apparently inquired about Jeudy's availability.A first-round selection in 2020, Jeudy had his best season last year with 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Sutton enjoyed another productive campaign with 829 yards, his highest in a season since 2019.Payton was brought in to spearhead a revival on offense after Denver underperformed to a 5-12 record in 2022 with quarterback Russell Wilson. The unit finished last in the NFL with an average of 16.9 points per game.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he's proud of what his team is building, adding that Aaron Rodgers being interested in playing in the Big Apple this year shows how much N.Y. has improved lately."Two years ago when we first got there, just thinking about where we were and how far we've come," Saleh said, according to Bobby Kownack of NFL.com. "To have a guy like him want to play for us is pretty cool and shows how far we've come. But we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do."Rodgers recently said he intends to play for New York in 2023. The Jets and Green Bay Packers have been engaged in conversations regarding a trade involving the four-time NFL MVP, who's spent his entire career in Green Bay.The Jets posted a 7-10 record in 2022, up from 4-13 in 2021 during Saleh's first year as head coach. New York also significantly improved on defense, ranking fourth in points allowed just a year after finishing dead last in that category.However, the team struggled offensively - particularly at quarterback - and missed the playoffs for the 12th straight season. N.Y. started four different QBs last year.The Jets have also revamped their wide receiver depth chart, trading away Elijah Moore and signing Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman. New York still rosters 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis, among others."It's a dynamic room," Saleh said. "Lazard and Corey make our two very big receivers who can provide a lot in terms of the run game and getting those big-body, big-boy routes and those hard, over-the-middle concepts. And you've got Mecole Hardman, who just has blazing speed. Adding that speed element to our group."It's a really exciting group of receivers," he added.New York hasn't had a winning season since 2015.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner is reuniting with the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year contract worth $7 million, sources told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be counting on Skyy Moore to take a big step in 2023 following the losses of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency."We are expecting Skyy Moore to step up," head coach Andy Reid told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Saturday. "We'll just see how everything else works. We got the same guys coming back that we had, and we like that group with the exception of JuJu. Mecole was banged up a little bit so he didn't have a chance to play as much as he would have wanted. We'll work out the thing without JuJu. Somebody will have to step up and take that spot."A second-round pick last season, Moore played just 29% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps and recorded 22 catches for 250 yards. His best performance came in a Week 11 win over the Los Angeles Chargers when he caught five passes for a personal best 63 yards.Kansas City lost Smith-Schuster to the New England Patriots in free agency while Hardman signed with the New York Jets. Smith-Schuster's 78 receptions and 933 yards for the Chiefs only trailed star tight end Travis Kelce in 2022. Meanwhile, Hardman leaves after recording over 2,000 receiving yards across a four-year stint in Kansas City.Moore projects to slide in behind Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney in the team's receiver pecking order.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard remains confident he'll be reunited with former Green Bay Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers."There's no worry on my end, especially knowing that Aaron has his full-on commitment to be a New York Jet this year," Lazard told TMZ Sports. "It's really on the guys upstairs to handle the business side of things.""A lot of us are obviously eager for this to get through," he added.However, Lazard said that with no OTAs scheduled and the first game of the season in September, there's "no rush in getting this process done.""I know once it goes through and we're able to get in the classroom together, the field together, we're going to be cooking up something special," he said.Rodgers stated his intention to play for the Jets earlier in March. Joining New York would bring an end to his illustrious 18-year tenure in Green Bay, in which he won a Super Bowl title and was named league MVP four times.Lazard, 27, signed a four-year, $44-million contract with Jets after spending the first five years of his career with the Packers. He emerged as one of Rodgers' most-reliable targets last season, recording 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns.The Iowa State product cited Rodgers' potential addition and the presence of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as the two main factors in his decision to join the team. Hackett served as Green Bay's offensive coordinator from 2019-21."Nathaniel Hackett - I think that was probably the biggest piece of the puzzle for me," Lazard said. "Someone I've worked with for four of the past five seasons."Lazard is projected to be a key weapon in a revamped Jets passing attack. The club added Mecole Hardman after trading Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday. New York is also among the many suitors vying to land free-agent wideout Odell Beckham Jr.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent defensive lineman Calais Campbell is scheduled to visit the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets next week, a source told Tiffany Blackmon of 92.9 The Game.The Baltimore Ravens released Campbell on March 13 after three seasons with the team. The 36-year-old has reportedly already visited the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars.The Bills have been relatively quiet in free agency, especially on the defensive side. Buffalo has yet to add any outside free agents to a defense that gave up 412 yards to the Cincinnati Bengals in its divisional-round loss.New York ranked second in points per game allowed last season and racked up 45 sacks, good for seventh in the league. The Jets also haven't added any outside free agents on defense.Campbell has 99 sacks and 165 tackles for loss in 227 career games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens are signing veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor to a one-year contract worth up to $6.25 million, sources told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses the biggest fantasy risers and fallers from free agency.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed safety Terrell Edmunds to a one-year deal, the club announced Friday.The athletic safety heads to Philly just days after former Eagles starter C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions.Edmunds, 26, spent the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being selected 28th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He's amassed 410 total tackles, five interceptions, 26 pass breakups, and five sacks in 79 career games.Philadelphia's safety room also includes K'Von Wallace and Reed Blankenship, among others. Edmunds will likely compete for a starting role in the Eagles' secondary.He's the older brother of Chicago Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are adding an extra year and $33 million to Lane Johnson's contract, giving the All-Pro right tackle a pay bump and signing him through 2026, reports NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The deal reportedly includes $30 million guaranteed.

The Carolina Panthers are signing wide receiver DJ Chark to a one-year deal, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Aaron Rodgers wants to be a New York Jet, and the Jets want him to be a Jet. This will get done. But the holdup is trade compensation, specifically that Green Bay wants a first-round pick for the four-time MVP. New York believes that's too rich.However, there is a solution: good old conditional picks. Let Rodgers' play do the talking and ultimately determine what the Packers receive after the season. That would appear to be the only way both teams won't feel slighted. Remember, we're now less than one month away from OTAs. That's normally a yawn for veteran players, but not if you're welcoming Rodgers into your building for the first time.When Rodgers finally becomes a Jet, he'll see a familiar face: Allen Lazard. Lazard had substantial interest from several teams after a career-best campaign with 60 catches, 788 yards, and six touchdowns in 15 games in Green Bay.The Broncos, according to sources, made a strong push for his services as well, specifically valuing Lazard's toughness and route-running. Lazard ultimately signed with Gang Green for four years and $44 million, with $22 million guaranteed. An excellent deal, especially when we consider the bearish receiver market. But it just goes to show you how fluid free agency is.We know the Broncos have fielded calls about their own receivers, including Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler. Given the scope of Wilson's megadeal, it wouldn't have been sensible to have all three contracts as well as Lazard's on their books. General manager George Paton knows he has an alpha and an innovator in his new head coach and is exhausting all options to not repeat a disastrous 2022 season.Short yardage◾️ What should we make of the Jarrett Stidham addition in Denver? Is Sean Payton all-in on Russell Wilson and merely looking for insurance? If I'm Stidham, I'm thrilled. Not only am I learning from Payton, one of the game's true offensive masterminds, but I might just sneak my way into the QB1 role if Wilson struggles again.Don't forget that in Week 17 while playing for Las Vegas, Stidham passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers' top-ranked defense. He then signed a two-year, $10-million deal with Denver that includes $5 million guaranteed. Bottom line: Payton clearly believes in his talent.◾️ Brock Purdy went from Mr. Irrelevant to overnight sensation, helping guide San Francisco to a pair of playoff wins along the way. He was undoubtedly one of the season's best stories. We also have Trey Lance, who should be healthy and is just two years removed from being drafted third overall after the Niners paid a handsome price to move up to select him.Everyone I've spoken to about Lance - who's still just 22 - says he's a tireless worker and natural leader, not to mention he has enormous talent. The problem is the sample size, or lack thereof. During his first two seasons, Lance made just four starts. He's flashed some brilliance - huge arm, great feet, playmaker for sure - but Lance and Garoppolo's injuries allowed Purdy to become a known commodity. The Niners also signed veteran Sam Darnold. There remain unknowns about Purdy's recovery timeline, but does general manager John Lynch really need three starting-caliber quarterbacks?◾️ I like what the Raiders are doing. They replaced Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo, a solid starting quarterback and proven winner (40-17 for his career). Trading tight end Darren Waller wasn't awesome, but reuniting wide receiver Jakobi Meyers with head coach Josh McDaniels was. I also loved the signing of two-time Pro Bowl tight end Austin Hooper, who I'd expect Garoppolo to lean heavily on. Add in slot machine Hunter Renfrow and all-world Davante Adams, along with rushing champ Josh Jacobs, and this offense should be a serious threat every Sunday.Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners will vote on a flex-scheduling plan for late-season Thursday Night Football games at next week's league meetings, sources told Ben Fischer and John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal.If passed, the NFL reportedly would be able to move Sunday afternoon games to Thursday night during Weeks 14-17 as long as 15 days' notice is provided. Additionally, teams would be able to play two Thursday games that follow a Sunday contest instead of only one.It's uncertain when the flex scheduling would take effect.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell first brought up the possibility of flexing TNF games at his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference.TNF moved exclusively to Amazon Prime Video in 2022. Amazon assembled a star crew of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit to commentate the games, but the broadcast averaged just 9.6 million viewers for the season, a decline from 2021. The Thursday matchups were criticized throughout the year for a perceived lack of competitiveness and stakes.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott appears to have narrowed his search for a new team down to three options.The former Dallas Cowboys running back is deciding between the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The three-time Pro Bowler, who was recently released by the Cowboys, reportedly wants to decide on his future by the end of next week.The Eagles have not engaged in conversations with Elliott about adding him to the team and are happy with their current running backs, reports John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia.Dallas decided to move forward with running back Tony Pollard, designating Elliott as a post-June 1 cut and saving $10.9 million in cap space.The 27-year-old spent seven seasons with the Cowboys after they drafted him fourth overall in 2016. The Ohio State product took the NFL by storm, leading the league in rushing yards twice in his first four seasons.However, he hasn't made the Pro Bowl since 2019 and failed to top 1,000 scrimmage yards for the first time in his career in 2022. Elliott, who's still a solid pass-blocking running back, finished last season with 876 rushing yards (3.8 per carry) to go along with 12 touchdowns.The Bengals could use some reinforcements at the position after losing Samaje Perine to the Denver Broncos. Perine racked up 681 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in 2022 while running behind Joe Mixon.Meanwhile, the Jets have been trying to revamp their offense this offseason and are expected to land quarterback Aaron Rodgers. New York rosters running backs Breece Hall, who suffered a torn ACL as a rookie in 2022, and Michael Carter.Philadelphia, arguably Dallas' biggest rival, boasts perhaps the league's top offensive line. The Eagles brought in running back Rashaad Penny in free agency to replace Miles Sanders, who's now with the Carolina Panthers. Philly's running back depth chart also features Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott, among others.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Nick Saban isn't buying the skepticism regarding Bryce Young's size."I don't have any issues with his measurables," head coach Nick Saban said at Alabama's pro day Thursday, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Saban added: "His 5-foot-10 frame has never really had an impact on his productivity in a league where most of the players you're playing against are the same guys you're going to be playing against at the next level."Young, along with fellow star passers C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis, is vying to be selected first overall in next month's draft. However, there's concern about whether Young's light frame will withstand a full NFL schedule.The 21-year-old stood 5-foot-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month. He opted against being measured again Thursday, choosing just to throw.The former All-American standout shrugged off concerns about his size earlier this month."I've been this size, respectfully, my whole life," Young said, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "I know who I am, I know what I can do."Young is one of the most prolific passers in Crimson Tide history. He passed for 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a 65.8% completion rate.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are among the teams interested in trading for Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, reports Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.Multiple teams have reportedly been looking into potentially making a move for the five-time Pro Bowler, including the New England Patriots.The Cardinals apparently made Hopkins available this offseason. The 30-year-old has two years and $34.36 million left on his current deal. He's set to earn $19.45 million in base salary and carries a $30.75-million cap hit for the 2023 season, per Spotrac.Buffalo made wide receiver one of its priorities this year. The Bills roster All-Pro pass-catcher Stefon Diggs, but the rest of their wideout depth chart currently features Gabe Davis and Khalil Shakir, among others. Davis was considered a potential breakout candidate entering the 2022 season but struggled with drops, finishing the campaign with 836 yards (17.4 per catch) and seven touchdowns.Hopkins didn't make the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons as injuries have forced him to miss 15 games since 2021. He caught 64 passes for 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine appearances last year.The Clemson product has amassed 2,696 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 receptions since joining Arizona via a trade from the Houston Texans in 2020.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore said he doesn't want to think about the New York Jets' quarterback situation and what he'll be missing out on if Aaron Rodgers lands with his former team."All I know is I'm a Cleveland Brown, and I'm super excited to be here," Moore said Thursday when asked whether he would've liked to play with Rodgers, according to Nick Karns of Network 216.The Jets struggled offensively last season and started four different quarterbacks throughout the campaign en route to finishing the year as the NFL's 29th-ranked offense.New York is revamping its offensive unit in 2023 and recently engaged in trade talks with the Green Bay Packers for Rodgers, who said he intends to play for the Jets. N.Y. also signed receivers Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman.The Jets traded Moore and a third-round pick to the Browns on Wednesday in exchange for a second-round selection.Moore originally requested a trade from New York in October amid the team's quarterback struggles. The 2021 second-rounder finished last season with 37 receptions for 446 yards and one touchdown in 16 appearances.The Ole Miss product said he's now happy Deshaun Watson is his new quarterback."Going through four quarterbacks, I feel like, was just a huge blessing for me because I got to see what that's like," Moore said, according to The Chronicle-Telegram's Scott Petrak. "And now, with being with someone like Deshaun, it'll just make life way easier.""(The trade) was out of nowhere. I'm super excited. ... Just the whole team is a very good mesh," he added, per 92.3 The Fan.Moore said he doesn't hold anything against New York."I wouldn't do anything over," he said. "I'm in a space now where I feel like everything happens for a reason. I'm going to move forward."The Browns will host the Jets in 2023.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants keep adding to their receiving corps.Veteran wideout Jamison Crowder is signing a one-year contract with New York, a source told CBS Sports' Josina Anderson.Crowder, who established himself as a reliable target in the slot throughout his career, spent the 2022 season with the Buffalo Bills. A broken ankle limited him to only four games and six catches last year.A fourth-round pick in 2015, Crowder spent time with the Washington Commanders (2015-18) and New York Jets (2019-21). The 29-year-old led the Jets in receiving in his first two seasons with the team, setting career highs with 78 receptions and 833 yards in 2019. He also caught six touchdowns that year.The Giants inked quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160-million extension this offseason and have since been trying to improve their receiving corps. New York traded for tight end Darren Waller and signed wide receiver Parris Campbell. The team also brought back Darius Slayton on a two-year deal.Slayton led the Giants with 724 receiving yards in 2022. He also amassed 46 receptions and two touchdowns.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are signing wide receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, the team announced Thursday.Hardman spent the last four years with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2019 and won two Super Bowls.The 25-year-old speedster has accumulated 2,088 receiving yards on 151 receptions in his career. He's also scored 18 scrimmage touchdowns, including two rushing scores.Hardman can contribute in the return game, too. He's returned 62 punts for 555 yards and a touchdown and has 39 kick returns for 927 yards and a score.Hardman joins a wide receiver room that includes fellow free-agent arrival Allen Lazard and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, among others.New York sent receiver Elijah Moore and a third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a second-round selection on Wednesday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome admitted that the team's standoff with star quarterback Lamar Jackson is due in part to a precedent set by an AFC North rival.Newsome said owner Steve Bisciotti partly blames Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million Cleveland Browns contract for the impasse."I don't worry about what other people do, but our owner did say that contract did create some problems," Newsome said on the "Bernie Kosar Show" on Wednesday. "We have to figure out if that's going to be the norm or is that an outlier. We don't know."The Ravens and Jackson have been negotiating a long-term contract for several months but reportedly aren't close to a deal. The two-time Pro Bowler blasted a report earlier this month that suggested he turned down a contract for $200 million guaranteed, instead suggesting the offer was worth $133 million guaranteed.Baltimore placed the non-exclusive tag on Jackson last month, which allows interested suitors to sign the former MVP to an offer sheet. The Ravens would be compensated with two first-rounders if they decline to match any offer Jackson signs.Baltimore and Jackson have until the July 17 deadline for franchise-tagged players to negotiate a long-term contract.A representative for Jackson has reached out to multiple teams on his behalf in order to spark negotiations for an offer sheet, sources told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.However, many quarterback-needy clubs have quickly dismissed interest in the 26-year-old one week into free agency.Jackson has posted a 45-16 record while passing for 12,209 yards, 101 touchdowns, and 38 interceptions with a 63.7% completion rate during his five-year career. The dual-threat passer has also rushed for 4,437 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, Jackson has missed five games in the final stretch of the regular season in each of the past two years.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent tight end Foster Moreau is stepping away from football after a physical with the New Orleans Saints revealed he has Hodgkin's lymphoma."Through somewhat of a miraculous process, this free agency period has been life changing for me," Moreau said Wednesday on Twitter. "During a routine physical conducted by the Saints' medical team down in New Orleans, I’ve come to learn that I have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and will be stepping away from football at this time to fight a new opponent: cancer."He added: "I’m grateful for the support and thankful for people who have stood firm with me. There hasn’t been a single step I’ve taken without hundreds of people lighting the path before me, and I will continue to seek their guidance."

The New York Jets traded wide receiver Elijah Moore and their third-round pick to the Browns for Cleveland's second-rounder, the teams announced Wednesday.The move comes shortly after the Jets reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent receiver Mecole Hardman.The deal also comes amid Aaron Rodgers trade talks between the Jets and the Green Bay Packers, who reportedly aren't close to an agreement.Moore requested a trade during the 2022 campaign. He finished the year with 37 receptions, 446 yards, and one touchdown in 16 games.The soon-to-be 23-year-old wideout was selected by the Jets with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 draft. He's accumulated 984 yards and six touchdowns through his first two NFL seasons.Cleveland's leading receivers in 2022 were Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and tight end David Njoku. All three put up at least 625 yards and three touchdowns while catching passes from the combination of Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders are signing veteran tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year contract, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.It is a $2.75-million deal worth up to $3.5 million, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.The Raiders confirmed the signing later Wednesday.The 28-year-old spent the 2022 season with the Tennessee Titans, catching 41 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns. He previously played with the Atlanta Falcons (2016-19) and Cleveland Browns (2020-21).A third-round pick in 2016, Hooper earned consecutive Pro Bowl nods with the Falcons in 2018 and 2019. The Stanford product posted career highs with 75 receptions, 787 yards, and six touchdowns in 2019.Hooper could start for the Raiders, who recently traded star tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants. Las Vegas signed tight end O.J. Howard on Monday as well.Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, among others, are also joining the AFC West club in 2023.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos has joined the list of potential bidders interested in purchasing the Washington Commanders, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Brian Windhorst.Apostolopoulos is the founder of Six Ventures Inc., a private equity venture fund. The Toronto-born businessman reportedly toured Washington's stadium and training facility.Apostolopoulos was also involved in discussions to buy the Charlotte Hornets from Michael Jordan but is instead putting his focus toward the opportunity to purchase the Washington franchise, Schefter and Windhorst report.There are currently three known bidders for the franchise, including a group led by Philadelphia Sixers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris. There's speculation that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also interested in joining the bidding process, but he hasn't formally made an offer.Commanders owners Dan and Tanya Snyder announced that they had begun the process of selling the team last November. It's unlikely that Washington will present a buyer to the league at next week's annual owners meeting, barring an accelerated process, according to MMQB's Albert Breer.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee following the 2022 campaign, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The signal-caller reportedly underwent the procedure to fix an issue that had been bothering him for a few seasons.Wilson is already working out and should be good to go for the club's OTAs, Rapoport adds.The 34-year-old will look to rebound after his disappointing first season with the Broncos. Wilson had the lowest touchdown total of his 11-year career with just 16 through the air and three on the ground. He also finished with a career-worst passer rating of 84.4 as Denver finished last in the AFC West with a 5-12 record.Wilson signed a five-year, $242.6-million extension with the Broncos last offseason after being acquired from the Seattle Seahawks. He's under contract through the 2028 campaign.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.